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Finding gifts in your faults
Do you ever wonder what your strengths are or question if you even have any? When working in reflexology, or just going about life in general it can be difficult to recognize strengths, and then use them to our benefit. I often work with people that are slow to recognize their God-given gifts and talents. When my clients ask me how they can discover theirs, I give them one powerful piece of advice. If you want to find your strengths, the first place to look is behind your weaknesses. That is often where they are hiding.
The Greatness in your Faults
Looking to your faults and weaknesses to discover your strengths may seem a bit counterintuitive. However, oftentimes we may find our weaknesses are just our strengths turned up too high. Consider the weaknesses you may find in yourself, and think of the positive qualities or motivations that are at the heart of those perceived weaknesses. Don't let the world define you. Don't let past experiences and conversations limit you. Look within to find answers. Your strengths are there. They may just be hiding behind negative labels of perceived weaknesses.
What Makes Us Unique
What makes us different, what sets us apart, those things that we may think are broken about ourselves, these are the things that can actually be the greatest gifts we have to offer the world. We can learn how to use them to benefit ourselves and others. Each of us is born with specific gifts and those gifts, in combination with the experiences we have in life, give us an individual skill set we can offer the world. No one else has your combination of talents, personality, and background. There is only one you in the world. What have you been given to offer it? What makes you unique?
Take Action
Write down a list of things that you feel are your weaknesses. Across from each, list one potential strength that could be hiding behind it. For example:
Too trusting might be paired with the ability to love and see good in clients who can't see it in themselves. Obsessive qualities could become strong focus. Being too emotional might be reflected in the ability to connect deeply and empathize with clients.
Taken from Chapter 11 of Soul Intuition by Allison H Larsen
It is important to take time to examine and write the behaviors and characteristics you like and love about yourself. The following phrases are some examples of daily affirmations taken from Dr. Mamiko Odegard's book Daily Affirmations for Love.
I know that unless I can love myself, I cannot truly love anyone else. I realize that I can be proud of who I am, which is important to my own self-esteem. My esteem and the essence of my success are not limited to career or financial achievements. Too often we criticize ourselves for falling short of reaching our own expectations. Today I celebrate my own being as I look back from where I came and see the growth I've experienced. By loving myself, I can now more fully love others.
You can use these daily affirmations, or come up with your own based on your current in position in life's journey. Learning to love yourself, to find strengths in your weaknesses, and helping others do the same will change the way you interact with clients and how you approach reflexology and life in general.
For Allison H Larsen's book Soul Intuition visit www.soulintuition.com. For Dr. Mamiko Odegard's book Daily Affirmations for Love visit drmamiko.com. You can also find these books on Amazon.
The power of "this little piggy": how a children's rhyme can help prevent colds and sinus issues
There's a whole slew of lovely games and rhymes that we use to thrill and entertain our young children. Among the most well-known is "This Little Piggy" a rhyme accompanied with wiggling a child's toes. There is a surprising power that comes with this games, when we look at it through the lens of reflexology.
In reflexology, the three middle toes are associated with the sinuses. Consequently, wiggling the three toes activates the sinus points and relieves congestion in the sinus area. There are also several oils that are excellent for these three piggies. Peppermint, oregano, and thyme work wonders for congestion and other issues due to the menthol found in peppermint, as well as the antibacterial and antiviral properties of oregano and thyme. If you child is getting a cold or having sinus troubles, simply play "This Little Piggy" with peppermint, oregano, and thyme to help prevent and alleviate symptoms,
The pinky toe is linked to the teeth, gums, and ring muscles which are the muscles found around the eye and sphincter muscles. Have a child that's shy about potty training? Play "This Little Piggy" and when the piggy goes "whee whee whee all the way home" your child will begin to relax their muscles and be more open to potty training. Putting clove on the pinky toe helps greatly with gum disease and toothache, not just in your child but in yourself as well.
The big toe is directly related to the brain. Working this toe is greatly beneficial in relieving headaches. Perhaps your child is having difficulties with comprehension or focus in school, just work their big toe. Adding the oils sandalwood and frankincense will also increase attention and understanding. So, next time you play "This Little Piggy" with your child, remember all the incredible ways you can increase your child's health while having heaps of fun!
Reflexology and essential oils
Did you know that one of the best places to use essential oils is on the feet? Why? (Click Here for more info on essential oils and how you can get free reflexology charts.)
Let me share with you 3 reasons, and 3 tips for the right oils on certain areas.
1. The feet have very large pores so the oils can absorb more quickly. Normally it takes about 20 minutes for an essential oils to fully absorb into the body, but the time is much shorter when the oils are applied to the feet.
Strengths, Not weaknesses
What makes us different, what sets us apart, those things that we may think are broken about ourselves can actually be our greatest gifts that we have to offer the world if we can learn how to use them to benefit ourselves and others. There are many examples of great leaders and innovators who were considered to have many faults at one point. What made these people so great, and ultimately the key to their success and ability to powerfully influence and change the world, was their capacity to ignore the labels that were given them and embrace their gifts.
My Secret to Total Health and Wellness
Learn my simple, yet powerful secret to achieve total health and wellness!
It has been over a year since I have felt physically ill. I am calm and confident on a daily basis and I have reached goals in the past year that I never thought were possible. Not too long ago I was a young mother struggling with anxiety, severe health challenges and trying to grow a business. Today, I am happy, healthy and successful. How did I do it?
The Solar plexus chakra
The Solar Plexus Chakra is associated with self-steem, confidence, will power and courage. This chakra drives our power to transform and make lasting positive changes in our lives.
When the solar plexus is underactive, a person may be too concerned with what others think of them and struggle to make choices on their own or are easily intimidated. An overactive solar plexus can lead to a person feeling controlling or acting stubborn.


text: Situation: I have a form with an empty table. Then I populate the table with a few data rows from a CSV file. No table cell is selected after filling the table. When I now call table1.SelectedRow the result is 0 ... so I don't know wether no cell was selected so far or wether the first row was really selected. But I am a clever one :sign0137: ... I defined a global var named actualRow and an SelectionChanged-event: So I'm able to check an explicit cell selection . Problem: This works only for the first time. After the cell selection is handled by the program I can reset actualRow to -1 but I can't deselect the cell. And if the user taps on the table header or elsewhere outside the table and deselects the cell, I have no event to get noticed about deselection. :sign0085: It would be useful if SelectedRow and SelectedCol would return -1 if no cell is actually selected. Edit: table1.Refresh or table1.SelectCell("col1", -1) don't deselect.

subset: commoncrawl


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Last night, I fell a little bit in love with a man I've never talked to (do I sound high schoolish or what?). His name is Eric Hutchinson, and he gave the best live show I've ever seen last night. I'm not exaggerating, and I've seen a lot of shows (until last night, Ani DiFranco held the title.)
Kathy and I were at the North Star Bar in Philly (what a great venue), because Kathy is a huge Meaghan Smith fan (Meaghan's set was quirky and a blast, too, as was the opening set by newbie Matt Hires, who will rock out with the Indigo Girls in five years, I predict). Kathy got copies of Eric's album (like how I'm just using his first name like we're buds now), and gave me one. It's been my office staple for a few weeks now – I adore the music (not to mention the man, who played in a suit and huge white tennis shoes.)
So let me describe his tunes – perky comes to mind, but that's not quite right. Rich – that gets some of it. Faceted – yes. Intriguing – indeed. Insightful – hm-hmm. And good – just really, really good. There's a funk/soul vibe that spins through most of the songs, dancing them into areas that most pop music (and I use that term only loosely – Brittany Spears can't touch this (get it)) neglects because it underestimates its audience. Eric doesn't do that. From the driving but complex back beats, to the chord progressions, to the lyrics, there's a depth here that doesn't usually hit Top 40.
And you can see his appeal in the audience. I stood next to a group of young women (who I did want to poke with a sharp pin for a part of the show because they made a pile of coats and purses – how much gear do you actually need for a show – in the middle of the floor) in their early to mid-20s – hair perfectly combed, cute outfits and dangly earrings all round. Across the way was a kid that reminded me of my friend Susan's 14 year old son, shaggy hair, knit cap, army jacket. Then there was me, mid-30s, organic shampoo, hemp shoes. And when Eric hit the stage, the sea of bodies moved its hips – perfumes and shoe choices aside. That's the sign of a great musician.
Plus, here's some great stuff that makes he and I a perfect match – he does a list of "seven favorite things" each month on this website; doesn't that remind you of my "good stuff Thursdays?" He's funny (see his blog), and I try to be (see this post). He makes up songs in his shows – as he did when he sung "Double-Decker," an improv number about the two levels of the North Star's performance area; I used to sing songs about clouds and God in the car when we took roadtrips. He writes great lyrics:
New life decides to come through the front door
and makes us wish we'd shown respect before
though i don't have much of a choice
i resolve to regain my voice
if i only just begin to understand it that's because
everytime i time i start to change my mind again
it gets me back to where i was
I write, or at least I try to write, great blog posts and essays. See, we're a perfect couple, if only he knew I existed . . . . do you think this blog will help? Do you think he'll read it? Do you think he'll like it? What if he likes me? What if he talks to me? OMG . . . . okay, I'm done now.
But really, look into his stuff. The woman next to me last night (she had perfectly blond hair and was wearing an adorable pink sweater) said that we were seeing Eric before he "broke out." I think so, too. So check out his album – really. Vote for his on Yahoo's Who's Next countdown. Go to a show if he's anywhere within 50 miles. And if you meet him, tell him I love him, really. Tell him to call me. (I'm making that little phone gesture with my hand held up to my ear.)


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Religion Today
Associated Press Writer
An old woman wearing peasant clothes and a kerchief stands in front of a Russian church topped by gilded cupolas.
The scene could be out of a distant century if it weren't for a Ford pickup parked nearby and a TV antenna sprouting from a house.
This is "the village," a row of houses and churches in the heart of Oregon's community of Russian Old Believers, descendants of dissident Christians who split from the Russian Orthodox Church in the 17th century, then fled to the United States to escape persecution.
Struggling to preserve traditions dating back to medieval times, they cling to strict rules: No meat on Wednesdays or Fridays. Peasant-style clothing must be worn with a belt. Followers cannot eat off the same dishes as nonbelievers, so some Old Believers eat out only at fast-food restaurants where meals come in disposable containers.
"It's never been easy to be an Old Believer," said Brother Ambrose Moorman, an Old Believer monk and curator of a Russian museum at the Mount Angel Abbey.
On Jan. 7, the sect will celebrate Christmas according to the Russian Orthodox religious calendar, which runs two weeks behind the Gregorian calendar used in the West.
While most Americans decorate for Christmas, Old Believers do the opposite: All ornaments, such as religious icons, are taken down and the house is cleaned and made as bare as possible before the holiday.
Old Believers must fast for periods of time and abstain from alcohol leading up to Christmas. They celebrate the holiday with an all night Mass ending with a festive breakfast and a return of the decorations.
"We would go to church on Christmas Eve and Mom would stay home and put up the decorations," recalled Ulita Seleznev, a first-grade teacher at Heritage Elementary School in Woodburn.
The Old Believers split from the Russian Orthodox Church when the institution enacted reforms to reconcile differences between Russian religious texts and Greek originals. The Old Believers chose instead to adhere to traditional rituals.
On the surface, the schism concerned such seemingly trivial issues as how many fingers should be extended while making the sign of the cross: The Old Believers use two, modern Russian Orthodox three.
On a deeper level, the split seemed to reflect different visions of Russia's future. The Old Believers, whose faith developed in the forests and swamps of Russia's hinterlands, opposed the subordination of religion to the increasingly powerful secular government in Russia as the country became an empire.
Many Old Believers fled the country over the years. Those that remained stayed on the fringes of Russian society, typically living in remote villages in the far north or in Siberia. About 3 million people are of Old Believer descent in Russia today.
The 10,000 Old Believers in Oregon are the largest concentration of members of their faith living in the United States. Some were directed to the state by charities that helped Christians migrate from communist countries during the Cold War.
Yavhori Cam, the founder of the Old Believers' village, carved the subdivision from verdant farmland about 30 miles south of Portland in the 1960s.
On a recent Sunday service inside Pokrov Church, men in dark robes chanted as women crossed themselves and genuflected before icons illuminated by candles.
After a Sunday church service, girls and boys scampered out onto Bethlehem Road in the village in pink and red embroidered clothes, with kerchiefs and leather boots and belts, giving the quaint impression of an Old World peasant festival.
Old Believers get their fashion sense at baptism. Eight-day-old infants are dressed in an embroidered shirt, or rubashka, a homemade belt called a poyas, and a cross, and are expected to wear the same style for the rest of their lives.
For girls, a flowing dress, or platya, extending to the ankles must be worn tied with the belt.
Maintaining such traditions continues to be a challenge.
Old Believers have to observe 40 annual religious holidays, and the religion's strict rules make employment with businesses in the community at large all but impossible. About half are farmers _ one of the few occupations that meshes with their lifestyle.
Many Old Believers don't believe in education past eighth-grade, and send their children to work on farms or at construction jobs with friends and relatives.
Still, Seleznev said she sees more and more Old Believers making compromises. All drive cars and most these days watch television.
"Ten or 15 years ago people were more worried about the outside. Now you hear less about the outside" because Old Believers are becoming more a part of it, she said.
Kalin Ayhan, a Woodburn police officer and Old Believer, had to decide whether to shave his beard, an act the sect considers an insult to God, or be fired from his job. He decided to shave.
Community leaders allowed him to continue attending church, but barred him from chanting the liturgy with the men and made him stand in the back with the women. He split from the community soon after.
"They came over here and put us smack down in the middle of the United States of America but say, 'Don't take part in anything,'" he said.
His cousin, Filip Ayhan, took a different path. He grew up in the village and spoke only Russian until first grade then quit school after seventh-grade.
Ayhan began working as a painter with family members or other Russians who are contractors. He vows he will stay and raise his children in the same fashion.
"We're still closely knit, but not reclusive as before," Seleznev said. "The kids are more American growing up than when I grew up."


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The matter of modern-day slavery came more to the fore in recent times when news about the slave trade in African migrants in Libya became known. This reminded many of older practices, of – some said – centuries ago. Their enslavers were Libyan Arabs, although often aided by Black Africans, and slave buyers mostly local Libyans. This reminds indeed of the slave trade of Africans to the Americas, in which several European nations engaged (Portugal, Spain, Britain, France, Netherlands, even Denmark and Zweden, albeit in smaller numbers). Even non-unified territories that would later unite to form Germany and Italy are not "off the hook"; Genoese and Venetians traded in African slaves alongside the Portuguese, while some German kingdoms (like Brandenburg) were active in this African slave trade too. Independent American countries like the US and Brazil continued this African slavery for a period too. Brazil (by then independent from African slavery-pioneers the Portuguese) was the last country formally abolishing slavery, in 1888. Some readers may know all this.
Though these facts are historically correct in broad terms, regarding figures – numbers of slaves transported to the Americas, or of who died along the way -, place/region of origin of enslaved Africans, and some other aspects (e.g. reason for abolition) there is more controversy and discussion. This controversy turned out to be fruitful, and also recent studies increased our knowledge of numbers of African slaves transported, their origin (aided by the discovery of DNA genetics, used in study not before the 1950s), and other – less Eurocentric – perspectives on history. I applaud that.
Well, to some the dehumanizing slave trade of powerless African migrants in Libya reminds of this African Holocaust. I agree that it does.
In the margins of the discussion of this topical issue, there is however still much uneven and untruthful information. Every person interprets the news as he/she wants. This is not unlike the controversy some issues studied regarding colonial slavery of Africans in the Americas. Often, biases and emotions, unspoken yet sensed allegiances/identifications, distort the truth. No European nation likes to have an image of "wicked enslavers of Africans", even if referring to a closed past. For that reason much distortion or avoidance is found, even in academic circles.
There is a professor in the Netherlands, White and Dutch, who kind of specializes in Dutch slavery studies, called Piet Emmer. He became criticized as apologist of slavery, going against claims of extreme cruelty and human rights violations. Emmer diminishes in his rhetoric the Dutch cruelty or even agency, and similar distortions. These, what were seen as "apologies", understandably enraged some anti-slavery activists, and led to sensible counter-opinions of other scholars.
Early enslaving nations like Portugal, and a time after that Spain, are more of the "evading tactic", as slavery of Africans is hardly discussed or studied academically as a theme, neither much by activists. Portugal was even a pioneer in slavery of Black Africans, practicing it long and widely in its extensive colony Brazil for centuries, while providing many African slaves for other states (like Spain). Also in several Spanish colonies, African slavery was common in most of its colonies and here and there even quite structurally present (Cuba, Dominican Republic, parts of Colombia and Venezuela). This slavery history receives some attention in academic circles, though also limited. It even begins to reach the political debate a bit, in both Portugal and Spain, if hesitantly. In Spain, Left-wing opposition party Podemos leader Pablo Iglesias mentioned it in passing during a televised debate about another theme. This is as "relatively much" as new attention for this slavery past in Spain.
Not that the academic or political attention in a country like the Netherlands is better, as the mentioned debate around Piet Emmer (a more general colonial historian) might suggest: there is not anywhere a – not even one - scholar active specifically regarding this part of Dutch colonial history. There is thus evasion here too. Distortion thus combines with denial in different European countries.
The slave trade in Libya also brings about another historical parallel, though. Also a matter surrounded with both distortion and denial: the Arab and Islamic slave trade and slavery. Of Africans. Myths, emotions, unspoken allegiances, and biases made many distort this history, again, even in some academic circles, though there is sometimes correction within those circles.
The biases and , let's say, an unease with this theme – Arab and Islamic slave trade – surround this theme in my opinion. Some are part of what I call "historical Pavlov reactions". Arabs or Islamicized peoples in Africa are non-Europeans and were colonized too, and are often seen as part of "the coloured peoples of the world" kept back or exploited by Western colonialism.
This is called by some by a French term "Tiersmondisme" – translateable as "Third Worldism" –, with some finding patronizing echoes of Rousseau's "noble savage" in it, but also of a naïve Orientalism or exoticism.
At the very least, categorizing all non-Europeans as "the coloured peoples" is also Eurocentric, and hopelessly simplifying. Skin tone or ethnic traits are in fact irrelevant, even without the counterargument that many Arabs, Berbers, and Persians have similar features as many people in parts of Southern European countries, like parts of Italy, Portugal, and Spain. There are after all so many differences between cultures world wide, including often within countries and continents.
I think that the fact that Libya is an Islamic country also plays a role with this unease from bias. Islam is a major world religion, like Christianity, likewise spreading and converting – or rather: conquering -, but did not become the emblem of Europe, but outside it: the Middle East, and after that Third World territories. It has therefore a better image among Tiersmondistes, one might say.
However.. do these so-called "Third Worldists" perhaps have a point in this case? Did Islam spread less violently, or imperialistic when compared to Christianity? The answer is difficult.
Important for this post is to stress the role of slavery in the early spread of Islam. According to religious laws, the first Muslims could only enslave non-Muslims, or those refusing to convert. So they did, and in quite large numbers. These included many Black Africans as Islam spread throughout Northern Africa. Sudan, Chad, Cameroun, Ethiopia, and other areas, became "sources" for slaves for Arabs and later Islamicized Berbers or Arab-Berbers too. These included relatively many women for harems, also male domestic servants, and eunuchs.
Castrating male African slaves was quite common, not only for eunuch's (being after all harem guards), but also for genetic – well, racist – reasons of rulers. Some racial mixture still took place in Islamic areas though. There are Afro-Turks for instance, people with African blood in Iran , as result of this slave trade, while in parts of South Morocco –around the city of Essaouira - there are part-sub-Saharan population groups, such as the Gnawa, with different ethnic and cultural features from other Moroccans. Also, there is a historical community of about 2 million Afro-Iraqi's (mainly around Basra), as a result of the Arab slave trade.
This may be an unpleasant truth to Islam adherents who connect with Black Africa – the US-based Nation of Islam for instance -, Islamic Black Africans, or those supposed "Tiersmondistes" among liberal white people.
Moreover, its legacies continue in the present times in several Islamic countries. Until recent decades (after 1950), a country like Mauritania had at least 10% of its population living as enslaved workers, generationally passed. These were generally the people with more sub-Saharan African blood in them, enslaved by lighter-skinned Arab-Berber groups. In 1956 it was outlawed officially, but continued for decades after it.
The treatment of African workers, from Ethiopia or Somalia for instance, in wealthy oil states like Saudi Arabia, Quwait, and Qatar includes abuse and situations of semi-slavery too. Racial discrimination of the darker "Gnawa" people is also still a social problem in Morocco, as well as of "darker" Africans in Egypt or Sudan, where many prefer to uphold an "Arab" national identity.
All unpleasant truths for some, but I prefer historical veracity, over distorting the truth for ideological reasons, or vague emotional preferences and identifications.
Such distortions are quite common, also regarding other historical epochs. Especially interesting is, I think, in this regard the discussion of slavery in Islamic Iberia: the period between the 8th and 15th c. when large parts of Spain and Portugal were under Moorish, Islamic rule.
This followed on the spread of Islam in North Africa, and by then included many Berbers alongside Arabs and other people. Arabs were highest in the hierarchy, but many soldiers in Spain and Portugal were Berbers or mixed.
Simple and plain: I find that quite some nonsense has been written about this historical epoch, though to varying degrees. The Islamic Moorish society brought several innovations (like paper, related to agriculture, architecture a.o.) to Iberia, and was relatively advanced and "modern" for the time. It was, however, also an unequal society.
I am aware that Internet is a source of ideology, bias, interests, fake news, and is not a reliable scholarly resource. Not unfiltered, anyway.
Yet, even a more "serious" website like Wikipedia includes some strange biases regarding Moorish Iberia (though of course by contributors, not by Wikipedia itself). More impartial historians (Iberian and outsiders) have studied the area, describing how there was slavery by the Moors in Spain and Portugal, that included relatively many Black Africans, like in North Africa, alongside slaves of other origins.
There was a hierarchy in Moorish Iberia: Arabs on top, Berbers below them, and converted local people, and Africans at the bottom as servants and slaves (along with slaves of other races in lesser proportions). Non-Muslims (Christians and Jews) were further second-class citizens, having also to pay special taxes, perhaps a reason why early Islamic rulers did not always convert them immediately (though this remained a goal).
The two photos above I took in the mid-1990s, and are of the Alhambra (Moorish) palace in Granada, Spain. This was said to have been built by Christian slaves.
Within all this, there was not always a sharp distinction – must be said, and there was occasional flexibility. Some "darker-skinned" Muslims could reach an higher position, and so did some converted Muslims of local origins (for instance Galician, Basque, Castilian, Valencian or Basque) , such as as kings of certain kingdoms, called Taifa's. Racial and ethnic mixture was also quite common, with resulting changes of social position.
Overall, however, the Arab image of the Black African as slave and servant, was noticeable in the general social structure of Moorish Spain and Portugal. The name of a documentary I once encountered: "The Moors in Spain: when Blacks ruled Spain" is therefore somewhat, well, mistaken, or distorted.
Some authors go further. Tidiane N'Diaye is a French-Senegalese economist and anthropologist who wrote about the Arab slave trade in his work 'Le genocide voilé' ('The veiled genocide'), first published in 2008. N'Diaye was indeed kind of groundbreaking regarding this taboo matter of Muslims enslaving Africans. His work was largely based on historical facts, and could therefore hardly be reasonably disputed.
With such an emotional theme, that includes a sensed, by now multiracial identification – Islam –of course this book has come under close scrutiny. Quite some predictable apologist nonsense by pro-Arab and pro-Muslim critics, who couldn't bothered to be impartial, and some more sensible critique the work has received, but the main historical facts remain there. Perhaps, like all authors, even scholarly ones, N'Diaye, might have some blind spots, but overall it was a balanced work, with the historical facts on its side.
N'Diaye and other authors – and current reports – confirm moreover the continued – but hidden - existence of slavery or semi-slavery in the Islamic and Arab world, often also of African people, even before the world heard about the slave trade in African migrants in Libya. Many relate this to the continued existence of racist views toward Blacks and Africans in many Arab and Muslim countries. Racism dehumanizes by definition, demeaning those affected to subservient, inferior roles in society. Human history more than proved this.
Some other intellectuals and authors were neither afraid to discuss the matter of the Arab slave trade openly. One difference is maybe that N'Diaye came himself from a (Senegalese) Muslim background.
MARCUS GARVEY Jr.
Marcus Garvey jr. is one of the sons of the early Jamaican Black Power advocate Marcus Mosiah Garvey. He continues his father's work and movement more or less; promoting Black and African self-respect and pride, against the historical and continued White and western colonial denigration and discrimination, keeping Black people in inferior positions. To this Black empowerment agenda – or as part of it -, he added attention also to what has been done to Africans, not just by the British, French, Portuguese etcetera, but also by the Arabs. This lecture – based on written material and scholarly sources – is to be found on YouTube, and is more about "facts" than anything else: hardly any "activist" or biased distortions.
Also, in works on overall other themes the issue is discussed without fear. This is the case in the work 'Cuba and its music: from the first drums to the mambo' (2004), by Ned Sublette (who is also a musician). I referred to this work in other blog posts of mine, then in relation to cultural or musical issues. Yet, it has a general historical introduction.
That the author Sublette discusses the Arab slave trade in a book about Cuban music is not so strange. This relates to Spain's Moorish, Islamic past, just prior its colonial ventures. Cuba was of course a Spanish colony, and the colonizing Spaniards were just recently under Islamic influence. This would feed partly into Cuban music, along with several influences from sub-Saharan Africans imported as slaves into Cuba.
Sublette looks from a musical perspective, and as part of that discusses the fact that many Arabs enslaved Africans, of whom many served also as musicians (and as prostitutes, domestic servants, workers and otherwise of course) in the Arab and Islamic world. He argues that with that inevitably traditional Arab music became more "rhythmical" and here and there even polyrhythmic, bringing that influence also to Spain and eventually Spanish music, and from that to other parts of Europe. Some Spanish folk music genres, like Fandango, Flamenco and Jota, are indeed relatively rhythmic (for European standards, at least). This can have other causes too, of course (earlier African migrations, colonial influences coming back to Spain etcetera), but Sublette examines all possible cultural relations.
Specifically about this Arab slave trade, anyway, Sublette even argues in this work that historically the Black African as "slave" was first "framed" in the minds as such by Arabs and early Muslims, even before the Portuguese.
He, and other authors, even go so far as to argue that the Iberians – at first the Portuguese – got the idea of "Blacks as (natural) slaves" during their Moorish period, from the Moors, and indirectly thus from Arab enslavement of Africans. Arabs and other Muslims not only enslaved Africans, but seemed to have a relative preference for them. This racist idea then would shape the Portuguese slave trade, and after that the African slavery in Portuguese and Spanish colonies. The British and Dutch (and others) later expanded and modernized plantation-based slavery in the West (the Americas), etcetera etcetera.
It is quite plausible, but on the other hand a bit too simple, perhaps. One can "copy" or adopt" practices of others by one's own choosing. Those practices that fits one's interests and prejudices are then copied, others not. It is documented that racist stereotypes - e.g. as supposed animal-like - of Black Africans existed for a long time in the Arab world. It is however likewise documented that such negative stereotypes existed in Europe before colonialism. Even in places where actual Africans were at that time hardly seen (Northern France, Northern Italy, Germany, Britain, Eastern Europe etcetera).
Broadly said, anyway, it can be impartially concluded that the seafaring Portuguese, Genoese, and soon after other Europeans, were influenced in trading in preferably Black Africans by earlier examples by the Arabs, when Islam "conquered" parts of Africa. This can hardly be denied, but does of course not rid the Europeans from own responsibility.
The current unfortunate reviving of slave trade of Black Africans by Lybians with an Arab identification is therefore "nothing new", but because of that extra tragic. Not just that slavery still exists is a scandal, but that specifically Africans are targeted (including racial motivations) makes it extra painfully reminiscent, rendering it a sad "continuity" .
With this essay I do not want to say –even if it might seem this way – that not only Europeans traded in African slaves, but also Arabs. Neither is it solely a "diss" of Islam, to use modern speak. That is not my main point. My main point is that I call for open recognition and excuses to sub-Saharan Africans populations. By both European states as Arab states, and others involved (in the Muslim world). Beyond stated excuses, even reparation is not out of the question in my opinion, especially in light of the relative wealthy that certain European countries and Arab countries nowadays are, when compared to most African countries. While it is true that Africans participated – some would say: collaborated – with this enslavement, this still seems just.
At the very least "open recognition" of these dark pages in history as severe human rights abuses and dehumanization, and factual genocide, seems to me nothing more than reasonable and just.
Persisting racism in several Islamic countries, as well as in Europe and North America, and among White Latin Americans, also relates to this denial, I think.
In the Netherlands, for instance, Black inhabitants object for some time now against the folk festivity (when children receive gifts) of Sinterklaas, taking place every 5th of December. As part of this folk tradition, Sinterklaas has traditionally Black helpers/servants, with White people wearing blackface and dressing up for the occasion. Some of these still put on fake Black people's (e.g Surinamese or Curaçaoan) accents, making it even more offensive and, well, racist. Recognizing the dark epoch of African slavery also part of Dutch colonial history, really openly recognizing it, might help White Dutch people understand the sensibilities and argumentation of Black inhabitants of the same country, feeling demeaned by Sinterklaas en Zwarte Piet ("Black Pete" as these Blackface servant is popularily known).
Likewise and more broadly, this open recognition and knowledge about it, might limit negative stereotypes about Blacks still existing more generally throughout Europe. More blatantly known in parts of Eastern Europe, but certainly also present among some Italians, Frenchmen, Spaniards, Britons, Germans, Belgians, Dutch, or Scandinavian people.
The greatest misconception is, I think, that this making excuses about the enslavement of Africans would taint the image of the national identity. I am Dutch and can only be good, also historically is a strange, disturbed, and megalomaniac way of viewing the world. It is found among other Europeans as well, and is caused by an irrational identification with a country and one's known national origins.
Of course, each nation and culture or even religion (though I personally am not a believer in such large-scale, politically dominant World religions like Islam or Christianity) has an interesting history, with intriguing aspects, teaching potentially all humanity about human development, power play, human interaction, civilizations, and cultural mixture and change.. That is what makes travelling to and visiting other places interesting for many: differences in culture and history.
The way Dutch "handled" water is for instance interesting globally – and still outstanding today -, and likewise the interesting interplay between Celtic, Roman and other cultures in what would become France, Germanic, Celtic, Roman interplays in historical Britain, or the broad Mediterranean, Moorish, Roman and other historical influences that shaped a country like Spain. Also, Arab and Islamic history has interesting aspects, that even helped shape broader human history (e.g. influencing Europe through Spain, but reaching also all the way to Indonesia)..
Recognizing the wrongs committed as part of that same history – e.g. affecting another group - only shows the continuous dynamic of an open, educational, and humanitarian zeal, also present within those countries or cultures/religions. It would not taint their image, but rather improve it.
Moreover: knowing and recognizing history helps to avoid repeating the wrongs..
Maybe the misinterpretation - mixed up, as Bob Marley sang on Stiff Necked Fools - "with vane imagination", is that when some proud (patriotic) Portuguese, Englishmen, or Arabs hear "your people once enslaved Africans", they hear more than what is said. They understand that "your people/nation is the "kind of" people that owned African slaves". This is hardly the main message, since – as I said at the start of this essay: "slavery is as old as organized man" (not just "some kind" of man).
Despite this, it certainly can be argued that Arabs and Muslims began partly "racializing" slavery, even if they had slaves from different races (also European ones, but proportionally less than Black African ones), toward an association with Black Africans. This racialization was taken to even more extremes by European colonizers later, with the Portuguese and British having and trading in numerically the most African slaves overall up to and into the 19th c.. across the Atlantic. The total number of enslaved Africans that Arabs and other Muslims transported, before that, is however not much lower than that by Europeans to the Americas.
From this perspective, the current practices of slave trade in Africans in Libya – often also by criminals – beyond being just incidental, does in fact follow a cruel historical pattern. I see no sense in denying this.


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This project targets retrofit stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs) on public land to assist partnering Local Government Units (LGUs) achieve water quality goals identified in local stormwater plans. The Dakota County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) provides technical assistance and distributes Clean Water Funding (CWF) to leverage local funding through its time-proven Stormwater Retrofit Partnership (Partnership) cost share program.
This project is a continuation of the Dakota County Community Initiative, which has received Clean Water Funds in 2012 and 2013. It will provide cost share funding to organizations and associations who voluntarily construct medium sized water quality best management practices (BMPs) in Dakota County.
The Faribault Soil and Water Conservation District will provide mini-grants to conservation-conscious community organizations who voluntarily construct best management practices that provide storage and treatment of stormwater runoff at its source.
This project will use the Dakota County Soil and Water Conservation District's existing Conservation Initiative Funding program to provide technical assistance and monetary incentives for targeted, medium-sized projects such as raingardens, bioinfiltration, biofiltration, bioswales, shoreline stabilizations, and other best management practices (BMPs). Project proposals will be solicited from faith based organizations, homeowner associations, school organizations, lake associations, and others that own or manage large areas of land.
The Vermillion River Watershed Joint Powers Organization, in partnership with the City of Burnsville, is planning an overall improvement in the Alimagnet Lake subwatershed that consists retrofit two existing stormwater ponds that drain to Alimagnet Lake, a nutrient impaired water, with iron-enhanced sand filter benches. It is estimated that a significant amount of phosphorus reduction will be achieved by implementing this project, bringing Alimagnet Lake closer to state water quality standards.
As part of the Dakota County Transportation Department's highway 78 road reconstruction project, the Vermillion River Watershed Joint Powers Organization is partnering with Dakota County to install a nitrate treatment practice on a tributary to the South Branch Vermillion River adjacent to the road. The South Branch Vermillion River subwatershed is the highest nitrate loading subwatershed in the Vermillion River Watershed and is a significant contributor to contaminated drinking water in the eastern portion of the watershed.
South Creek is a tributary to the Vermillion River and a DNR-designated trout stream. Currently, the creek is not meeting state water quality standards for sediment, temperature and dissolved oxygen The Vermillion River Watershed Joint Powers Organization and the City of Lakeville propose to retrofit an existing stormwater pipe with a hydrodynamic separator to reduce the sediment load reaching South Creek and the Vermillion River. One hydrodynamic separator will be installed and is estimated to reduce sediment loads to South Creek and the Vermillion River by 4 tons per year.
The Vermillion River Watershed JPO is partnering with Dakota County and the City of Lakeville to enhance stormwater management along County Road 50. A treatment train approach with an iron-enhanced sand filter at the tail end to remove dissolved phosphorus will be implemented to treat a drainage area including a portion of the upstream neighborhoods that currently receive little to no stormwater treatment. The practice is anticipated to reduce 20 pounds of phosphorus annually from reaching Lake Marion, a water resource with high recreational value targeted for protection.
South Creek, a tributary to the Vermillion River and a DNR-designated trout stream. Currently, the creek is not meeting state water quality standards for sediment, temperature and dissolved oxygen and it flows through a large stormwater basin in the City of Lakeville. The Vermillion River Watershed Joint Powers Organization, in partnership with the city, propose to create a new channel for the creek in order to separate it from the pond. The result would be significantly cooler temperatures, increased dissolved oxygen, and less sediment-laden water in South Creek.
This project will address nutrient impairments of the Sauk River and Sauk River Chain of Lakes (SRCL) by minimizing runoff from 5 high priority feedlots. Specifically, contaminated runoff from 5 feedlots upstream of the SRCL will be eliminated. The sites were prioritized based on the Minnesota Feedlot Annualized Runoff Model index ratings and the location of these feedlots are within a Drinking Water Supply Management Areas.
The Stearns County Soil and Water Conservation District will hire an Accelerated Water Quality Technician to focus on projects in the Middle Sauk area showing the greatest pollution reductions. After identifying and prioritizing targeted sites with the highest pollution potential, the Stearns County SWCD will begin surveys and designs and complete them in a timely fashion while current implementation funds are available. The accelerated survey and design in Stearns County will relieve our natural resources of the current strain put on them by the environment and land use.
The AgBMP Loan Program provides needed funding for local implementation of clean water practices at an extremely low cost, is unique in its structure and is not duplicated by any other source of funding.The AgBMP loan program provides 3% loans through local lenders to farmers, rural landowners, and agriculture supply businesses.
Peer Engineering, Inc. (Peer) will evaluate and recommend to MPCA groundwater monitoring staff prospective sites/locations for the installation of groundwater monitoring wells to evaluate contaminant/pollutant concentrations from various sources. Peer will oversee the installation of monitoring wells by retaining a state drilling contractor or preparing bid documents to retain well driller through the Department of Administration. Superfund staff will assist in the project by providing oversight of contractual requirements and provide technical assistance as needed.
The Ashley Creek and Adley Creek Inventory Project will involve desk top analysis and a field scale inventory of riparian areas to determine priority areas to install erosion control Best Management Practices and vegetative buffers for nutrient reduction. Assessments will also be made for potential E.coli bacteria sources. Inventory data will be shared with local partners to further develop an implementation plan to address nutrient loading and the listed impairments on each creek.
With over 500 public water lakes in Becker County, we are blessed with abundant and diverse lake resources that, like those of much of lake country, are at risk of degradation due to increasing development pressures, redevelopment of non-conforming lots, rising stormwater runoff and land use changes within their watersheds.
The Crow Wing Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) will engage citizen and nonprofit groups to enhance, improve, and protect Crow Wing County (CWC) lakes and rivers. To do this, the SWCD will partner with the University of Minnesota Extension, MN DNR, CWC, nonprofits, and lake associations to implement a mini grant program and provide grant funds to 20 community groups.
The Crow Wing Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) will partner with citizen groups and nonprofit groups to complete projects to reduce stormwater runoff and retain water on the land in Crow Wing County's (CWC) 125 minor watersheds. The SWCD will implement a mini grant program and provide competitive grant funds to an anticipated 12 groups. This project will also address CWC Water Plan priorities one, two, and six, which involve stormwater management and sediment control, shoreline buffers, and agriculture best management practices.
The Crow Wing Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) proposes to partner with citizen groups and nonprofit groups to complete projects that will reduce polluted runoff and keep water on the land in Crow Wing County's (CWC) 125 minor watersheds. To do this, the SWCD will implement a mini grant program and provide competitive grant funds to an anticipated 12 groups. Citizens groups will use their innovation and creativity to apply for project funds through the SWCD.
Once thought to have an essentially inexhaustible groundwater supply, Minnesotans are now realizing our rates of use are regionally unsustainable. Recent advanced modeling by the MN DNR and Metropolitan Council of aquifer supplies, in conjunction with predicted demand, indicate the major metropolitan area aquifers are currently subject to extraction rates that exceed recharge. Simply stated, we are mining our groundwater.
This monitoring project includes lake and stream monitoring and encompasses all of Cass County, and surrounding counties. The project will obtain water quality data for streams; in 2009, lakeshed assessments indicated that many surface waters throughout the county were data deficient. This project will address the need for sufficient data on a county-wide basis and fulfill the State's intensive watershed monitoring program goals by obtaining water quality data at targeted lake and stream sites.
The Chain of Lakes Targeted Reduction project will utilize Clean Water Funds to address bank erosion and install vegetated buffers along tributaries to the Eden Valley Chain of Lakes using the SRWD's incentivized Hayed Buffer Program. The Eden Valley Chain of Lakes (Vails Lake, Eden Lake and North Browns Lake) drain into the main segment of the Sauk River Chain of Lakes (SRCL) from the south. Impaired for excessive nutrients, this southern series of lakes is influenced by inflows from private ditches and perennial and intermittent streams.
The City of Inver Grove Heights will remove PAH contaminated sediment from the 79th Street Pond. Approximately 2,300 cubic yards of sediment will be dredged and disposed of at the Pine Bend Landfill located in the City of Inver Grove Heights.
The City of Waconia will implement its 2012-13 Storm Pond Cleaning Project and 2012 Improvement Project which includes removal and disposal of more than 2,200 cubic yards of PAH contaminated sediment from 3 stormwater ponds. The contaminated sediment will be disposed of in the Waste Management industrial landfill located in Burnsville, MN.
This project is to develop a watershed restoration and protection strategies report that provides quantitative pollutant source estimates and a set of pollutant reduction and watershed management strategies to protect and achieve water quality standards for all aquatic life and aquatic recreation impairments in the watershed. The strategies will be understood and adoptable by local units of government and other stakeholders. New understandings and new relationships will inform and lead to eventual environmental improvements.
The St. Cloud Waste Water Treatment Facility (SCWWTF) is currently conducting long term planning for future biosolids management. The most likely path forward includes dewatering of the digested biosolids, which will produce a supernatant stream with significant phosphorus and ammonia loads that would be returned to the liquids treatment portion of the WWTF. Returning these nutrient loads to the liquids train would result in increases to effluent concentrations, increases in power consumption, or both.
The City of Cold Spring is looking to retrofit 24 acres of existing development within a 138 acre subcatchment of the City to improve the water quality of Cold Spring Creek, a designated trout stream. The large amounts of hard surfaces within the subcatchment area do not allow for rainfall or snow melt to soak into the ground. The stormwater carries with it sediment, bacteria, automotive fluids, and other pollutants. Cold Spring staff has frequently witnessed sediment plumes, the color of chocolate milk, at the storm sewer outfalls.
Crow Wing County, in cooperation with the municipalities within the County, plans to continue its successful well sealing program that pays 50% of the cost to seal unused/abandoned wells up to a maximum of $1000 per well. The amount of funding requested is $31,000 which is estimated to allow for the sealing of 80-100 wells. From 2012 to 2015, Crow Wing County sealed 65 wells as part of an earlier MDH well sealing grant from the Clean Water Fund. Priority will be given to wells located in or near existing wellhead protection areas.
This project will provide Stressor ID work and assistance for the development of a work plan for the Major Watershed Project. The Major Watershed Project will include a plan for civic engagement and outreach, with assistance from ten Local Government Units from the Crow Wing River Watershed.
This project will develop a TMDL for all impaired lakes within the Crow Wing Watershed by furthering data collection in the watershed, analysis of data, allocation calculations, and introducing outreach and stakeholder participation activities.
This project will initiate project coordination among project partners. It will enhance civic engagement and outreach endeavors activities to support Phase 2 of TMDL project. It will also support field activities associated with stressor ID work.
This project will conduct a 2017 revision of the South Fork Crow River, North Fork Crow River and Sauk River Watershed Hydrological Simulation Program FORTRAN (HSPF) models and review of the Pine River Watershed HSPF model.
This project will collect a complete Trophic Site Index (TSI) data set for Crow Wing County lakes and a complete data set for streams and rivers for the Intensive Monitoring Program (IMP). Crow Wing County, Cass County, Wadena County, Morrison County and Hubbard County are partnering to ensure that all target lakes and rivers within the Crow Wing River watershed are monitored efficiently.
This first year of the project will collect available data relevant to the TMDL development, determine the data sets best suited for the TMDL development. Gain a better understanding of the watershed and impaired lakes, and assessment of all potential sources (internal and external) of the causes of lake impairment. EOR will also review the data produced by the MPCA for the impairment assessment for each of the lakes during year 1 of the project.
This project will support a civic engagement cohort that will be offered in southwest Minnesota to foster partnering and build capacity of local government, organizations, and residents for effective civic engagement in water protection and restoration. This project will also build networks and the skill set of local resource professionals to do effective civic engagement work for water restoration and protection. The cohort will be administered through the Minnesota River Board (MRB), established in 1995 with a goal of focusing water management efforts on the local level.
This project will finalize HSPF watershed model construction by incorporating internal phosphorus loading in modeled lakes, run a suite of implementation scenarios and generate a GenScn project containing model output. The consultant will produce HSPF watershed models that can readily be used to provide information to support conventional parameter TMDLs. The consultant will deliver all modeling files for baseline and implementation scenarios and provide a GenScn project containing model output.
This project will consist of identifying the candidate causes of biological stress and to develop and implement a public and stakeholder participation process that encourages local ownership of water quality problems and solutions. The Stressor ID process will be done using existing data, identifying data gaps, gathering new data, developing load duration curves, and refinement of the candidate causes. The civic engagement work will include compiling and reviewing existing data on community capacity and assessing that information.
This project will build network and the skill set of local resource professionals to do effective civic engagement work for water restoration and protection in Southeast Minnesota. The cohort will be administered through the Southeast Minnesota Water Resources Board (SE MN WRB) which is an area wide Joint Powers Board (JPB) established to help improve and protect the water resources of the area through coordinating local water planning efforts. This JPB has successfully administered water quality grants in the past that have positively impacted the water resources of this region.
This project will complete a pollutant source identification and subwatershed information report and support the development of a Draft Restoration and Protection Plan (RAPP). It will also support the devlopment of a Implementation Plan that will identify target areas for BMP implementation for bacteria reductions.


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Naughty or Nice? How Automakers Stacked Up in 2015
We made our list, we checked it twice—now we're going to find out which automakers were naughty or nice. 2015 was an interesting year in the industry, one that was filled with scandal worthy enough of a two-hour silver screen feature (seriously). But with the naughty, there was plenty of nice to go along with it. These eight automakers have made our list—whether it be for good or bad. We've got our bags of coal on hand. RELATED: 7 Dream Cars on the BoldRide Christmas List Volkswagen: Naughty
Self-explanatory, really. Dieselgate became the biggest automotive scandal since the whole GM fiasco back in 2008. It's still an ongoing process, but Volkswagen has a lot of work to still do if they have any hopes of being on our nice list next year (or any year really).
Chevrolet: Nice
Christmas came early when Chevrolet unveiled the all-new Camaro. For us, it was a return to form for the American sports car. The Camaro, and Chevrolet as a whole, are definitely on our nice list for 2015.
RELATED: The 2016 Camaro SS is King Once Again: Review
Honda: Nice
It was refreshing when we got behind the wheel of the 2016 Honda Civic. Honda, as a whole, truly is back to where it once was. We fully believe the Civic is just the beginning of a serious onslaught of great products.
RELATED: 7 Reasons the 2016 Honda Civic is Perfect for Millennials
Tesla: Naughty
It's difficult to put Tesla on the naughty list—but here's why we had to do it. The promise of a more affordable Model III has been long in the making, yet we still haven't seen any progress.
The good news for 2015, at least, was that we finally got a chance to see the Model X SUV in production guise; oh, and did we mention it costs nearly $100,000? Not nearly as nice to the consumer as Tesla would have hoped.
Mazda: Nice
MX-5, CX-3—Mazda is on an absolute roll with its product. They were even nice enough to let Fiat use its Miata platform for the new 124.
RELATED: Mazda MX-5 Miata vs Subaru BRZ: Review
Jaguar: Naughty
Jaguar is on the naughty list for a completely different reason than the others. They're lineup is pretty much impeccable; F-Type, F-Pace, XE. The problem we have with the British marque is its half-hearted attempt to stick its nose back into racing. Formula E is definitely an interesting approach, but if you're going to do it, go all in.
Porsche: Nice
We knew it was only a matter of time before Porsche delivered on its promise. The Mission E electric sedan will hit the market in just a few years—hopefully it's the Tesla rival everyone is making it out to be.
RELATED: See More of the 2015 Porsche Mission E Concept
Acura: Naughty/Nice
We're on the fence with Acura; nice for finally bringing the new NSX out to play, but naughty for making us wait so long (plus we hear it's not all that cracked up to be). Maybe instead of coal, we'll just fill your stocking with hard candy.
Follow @notaboatcaptain


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On the foundations of the self-discipline, mathematical researchers puzzle over issues of consistency, the character of truth, problems of logic, and figuring out means for making certain appropriate derivation of mathematical theorems. Mathematics is a good skill and must be applied in business – in accounting and finance alike. However within the attraction and mental movement produced by Music, mathematic has actually not the slightest share. The Kwantlen Mathematics Department provides courses from high school grade 12 level through to fourth yr college stage, while Qualifying Studies gives preparatory math programs.
Amongst other things, Al-Karaji used mathematical induction to prove the binomial theorem. These are all indications that mathematics is firmly entrenched in the analytic area of the L-mode (L for left) mind-set and perception. We can say that mathematics has been a human concern since written record exist.
This undertaking first involves simulating the behaviour of travelling wave alerts sent through ideal particle chains. Mathematics graduates are expected to display proficiency in writing, speaking, and problem fixing, enabling them to make connections throughout disciplines and stay open to new studying experiences.
The time which is, contracts into a mathematic level; and even that time perishes a thousand occasions before we can utter its start. Tricki , Wiki-model site that's meant to turn into a large store of useful mathematical problem-fixing techniques.
It's proven to be a great way to nurture and encourage mathematical proficiency and speedy psychological calculations functionality. Zugleich benutzerfreundlich und selbsterklärend bietet die Plattform MathemaTIC den Lehrern zu jeder Zeit die aktuellen Ergebnisse aus den Bearbeitungs- und Lösungsprozessen der Schüler.


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Welcome to the 40th issue of the #beingamother project! I'm honoured to have the lovely Becky from Cuddle Fairy to sprinkle a little positivity over this week's issue. From positive parenting, to her love of being a stay at home mum, this is what motherhood means to her…<
Being a mother has changed my life. Before I was a mother I spent seven years in University – studying philosophy and law. I loved my fashion. Loved spending time with friends. Adored the time I spent living in NYC.
Cue the now husband's entrance. Four years later, we moved to the West of Ireland. We got married within a few months of moving and baby number one arrived nine months later. So for me, life in Ireland has been life as a wife and mum. It has been a massive change from life NYC.
With our first, I was a super over protective mother. I hated anyone else to hold him. I breastfed for twelve months. It took months for me to recover from the labor – about nine months to be exact. I didn't want to work outside the home. I just wanted to be a mum.
Baby two and three arrived much easier. I was more relaxed with the second and even more laid back with the third. I breastfed them both for about 14 months each and was still a protective mom but was much more calm and happy with other people holding my babies.
I am the mum who brings my children everywhere with me – to the grocery store, clothes shopping – you name it, the kids are with me. Being a mother has been my whole life until starting my blog last year. I love being a SAH mum and love spending lots of time with my kids.
I'm also the mum who believes in healthy eating. We eat organic as much as possible and we avoid all artificial ingredients. The more I google different ingredients, the more things we have cut out. I make the majority of our meals from scratch as I think a healthy diet is so important.
Being a positive parent is important to me. I do my best to set a good example for my kids to follow – an example of kindness, gratefulness and happiness. I think treating your children with respect is an important part of being a positive parent. I hate to see parents belittling their children or cursing at them. I think making your children feel good about themselves is better for them and for the parents too. I try to uplift my children and support them in what they choose to do. All three of our children are so different and have different gifts and interests. I think it's important to support their individuality.
I have high expectations for my children. When we go out, they hold hands or hold the buggy. I expect good manners and for them to listen. This doesn't always go to plan but I do think that having high expectations have made them so well behaved. Also, bringing them everywhere with me has them used to going places.
Being a mother has made me grateful. I feel like my three children are gifts. I enjoy them, love them and look forward to spending quality time with them. My kids have taught me about what really matters in life – your family, health, a home. I feel like they have completed me and have made me a better person by being a mother.
Read more from the blog Cuddle Fairy and connect on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, Google Plus and You Tube.
Find out who else has been featured in the #beingamother project and find out how to contribute here.


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I just recently came to live on the ranch. Actually, today is my first day here.
I'm a black Labrador Retriever, and I'll soon be nine years old.
I never thought I'd em-bark on a new adventure at the people age of 63, but hey, you're never too old to try something new.
That saying about not being able to teach old dogs new tricks? It's malarkey.
Dad gave me a brand new orange collar — I think it goes good with my complexion.
I've always been a city dog, but I think I'm really gonna love it here.
There's a lot to see, and do, and learn.
I've learned a couple new things just my first day here, in fact.
There are these little furry creatures that the parents call "catz", and Mom calls them cute and cuddles them, and they make this "ththththtrrrrrring" sound when she's petting them.
Well, I got close to one of them this morning, and it suddenly morphed into a whirling, hissing creature with about 20 arms, and those arms had sharp things on the ends of them, and it attacked me!
Just for trying to say hello! Talk about the ultimate in rudeness!
It made my tongue bleed, and I cried, and Mom hugged me and said it would be OK — just to stay away from them and I'd be all right. I think I'll take her word for it.
I also heard Mom say that she's putting me on a "diet". I'm not sure what that is, but I think it'll be fun. She also said she was going to take me to get "spayed", so there's apparently a road trip in my future. Yep, I think I'm gonna like it here!


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Pengutronix TechWeek 2018: NIR for Etnaviv
Once in a year, mostly during springtime, no phone call is answered at Pengutronix, no customer Mail receives a reply, no BSP is built and no coffee machine gargles. But, no fear, this is not the end! It is just the time for something new! New ideas, focused development on new world domination plans and time to think outside the box. Yes, it's again the time for the Pengutronix TechWeek!
As every year, we hid in a green and isolated place with acceptable bandwidth and good catering. The perfect mixture for focused hacking, starting new projects and discussing the big picture.
Thanks to Freifunk Braunschweig, we could set up our own WiFi infrastructure. Besides that we enjoyed ourselves at a trip to Wisentgehege Springe, a local nature park, and on a pgp-keysigning party as well as on a BBQ.
But back to topic: On Friday morning, we had some short talks to share each team's results among our colleagues. In this and some following blog posts, we like to summarize these here as well.
Let's start with some news from our graphics team: During TechWeek 2017, Philipp Zabel and Michael Tretter had taken the first steps towards extending the etnaviv driver in Mesa with NIR compiler support. NIR is a compiler intermediate representation that is well suited for optimizing code transformations and is already used by many other Mesa drivers. Supporting NIR allows to share common optimizations with other drivers and facilitates better register allocation strategies.
Overall this will lead to faster shader code that runs in less instructions and uses fewer registers. Furthermore, using the shared NIR compiler layer will allow to work on common support for OpenCL and SPIR-V in the future.
Philipp and Michael were able to continue their work compiling NIR shaders from the GLSL compiler to Vivante machine code. The screenshot on the right shows one of the glmark2 programs, exposing some visual artefacts resulting from a still-incomplete NIR support; the work consisted of analyzing those artefacts, finding and finally fixing the reasons in the code.
While the code is far from feature complete, the current state looked promising enough that a first patch series was cleaned up and sent to the Mesa-developer ML. Hopefully people out in the community will start experimenting with the new possibilities, finding further bugs, adding features and extending the NIR support in Etnaviv.
For a TechWeek project, the challenge and fun of it was enough motivation. Thinking of future use, Etnaviv has meanwhile reached a maturity status that already enabled its use in many of our industrial customer projects, even in critical markets such as medical, automotive and aerospace. OpenCL on a full blown open source graphics stack will hopefully add interesting additional possibilities in the near future.


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Despite the image that has been portrayed worldwide, Pakistan is dearly recognized and admired for its remarkable skills and talent in different sectors. Our unique sense of mind, critical thinking and exceptional enthusiasm and that thrive to make our dreams a success is celebrated greatly across the globe. There exists a great number of example to prove our unmatchable ambition i.e. Zia Yousaf CEO Street line Inc. a global leader in smart city technology he founded $65 million application, then a proud example of Riaz Haq who is the pioneer of the PC and mobile businesses and has held senior management positions in hardware and software development of Intel's microprocessor product line. He is the founder and president of Pakalumini worldwide and he was recognized as the "person of the year" by PC Magazine for his contribution in 80386 programs. We have Ashar Aziz, founder of cyber security firm "Fire Eye" which stopped advanced cyber-attacks and advanced malware which bypassed traditional defenses.
Sadly though, the contribution made by these remarkable individuals Pakistan still hasn't made much success as it was expected. If we look into the statistics of the technological industry Pakistan is lacking behind our neighbor country India. However, entrepreneurship culture in Pakistan did saw a rise in previous years like LCE Lums Centre of Entrepreneurship was founded in 2014 which was supported by big names like Razzaq Dawood, Syed Babar, Osama Javed, Khurram Zafar etc. and initially in that year 8 entrepreneurship startups were debuted. LCE took various steps to support and facilitate the entrepreneurship ecosystem in Pakistan and in return asked for varying degrees of equity from 2.5% to 7.5%.
It is pretty much agreeable fact that entrepreneurship is not as easy as it seems, the personnel running it do not strike gold every time. Pitching the idea to the business investors and to entice them is real big of a deal. But we are extremely proud to share the news of Umaima Mendhro; she is one of those lucky entrepreneurs whose business idea made success on the every first try. But behind this success there is a lot hard work and struggle involved, her first pitch was not a piece of cake and this is totally believable because success does come at a cost. It was like a dream and her childhood ambition. Like any other determined individual in Pakistan she was motivated to build a respectable multi-national company of her own. From the very young age she sat the plans and strongly believed in making dreams a reality. She was very well aware of the limitations and restrictions that would come across to get her venture off the ground in Pakistan but she never backed up.
"Coming from part of the world, and specifically part of Pakistan, where I didn't have schools around, I grew up with the idea of building my own path… Because of that, education became something I was truly passionate about."
Therefore she started making efforts to hit the mark slowly and gradually by getting herself into Harvard University to make her dreams a reality one day. After completing her master's degree in business from the prestigious university she turned her head to fulfill the real objective-creating her own company. She pitched her start-up idea to Google venture and seeing her and and strength of mind they agreed to fund VIDA offering her $1.3 million in seed money. Her idea was one of its kinds, she wanted to combine art and commerce where artists can share their designs and merchandise from all around the world. The end-consumers can buy the designs online and the sellers would 10% of the revenue share. Even in the presence of all odds she stroked the stereotypes behind for good.


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Some new shoes for spring are sure to put a bounce in your step. Sandwiched in between winter and summer, spring is the perfect shoe-wearing season simply because of the options: Bring out the boots when the air is chilly, or slide into a sandal when the sun shines. The key to wearing shoes that look made-for-spring is to sport fruity colors, floral patterns and feminine embellishments. This way, no matter what outfit you wear, you'll send out the vibe that spring is in the air.
Wish for the Wedge
The wedge can quickly become your best friend during spring. This solid shoe has the power to elevate any outfit from mediocre to mind blowing. The trick to getting the wedge right is to hone in on your hem: Shorts, skirts and dresses should be no shorter than a few inches above the knee or you might look silly instead of stylish. Try wearing a capri pant or a pair of well-fitted jeans rolled at the bottom, and add a nude "sliver" wedge with buckle detailing like the Walnut from Franco Sarto.
Saddle Up to a Sandal
Rock your gladiator sandals or T-straps that feature fun detailing at the vamp. Or consider metallic sandals that give a hint of shimmer or a classic white-and-gold kitten-heel sandal for a polished look. The thong-style sandal, Madden Girl Tahnne, goes perfectly with a pair of mint shorts and a black halter-style blouse. Its rhinestone embellishments and multiple bungee strap sides are the perfect accents to accompany this otherwise streamlined outfit.
Feature Your Flat Shoes
The right flats can take you from errands with the kids to entertaining with adults. Wear flats in punchy colors such as pink, orange and lime, and add in a dose of dainty embellishments like minimalistic hardware, little bows and thin straps. Choose a flat tie-up as well. A bright-pink boat shoe or floral canvas sneaker like the Vans Atwood Lo takes you around town in style.
Bring on the Boots
Don't kick your boots to the curb just because the weather warms up. Team up lace, leather or nylon peep-toe ankle boots and booties with everything from your favorite skinnies to shorts and skirts. Choose a pair of black mesh boots with geometric cut-outs when the occasion calls for a little less feminine and a little more frill. Or put a spring in your step while running errands in Madden Girl's ARMIE-C ankle boots. The cream crocheted overlays and cognac coloring is the perfect spring-shoe solution whether you're rushing around town or kicking back with friends.


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The cover letter is a crucial component in the application procedure, as it determines whether or not an applicant moves forward in the hiring process. Because of its importance, many people have resorted to using cover letter services to aid them in writing the letters. Although people may assume that these services are nothing but beneficial because they are providing an extra set of helping hands, there are also many disadvantages that can come with utilizing such a service.
Most of the pros are pretty evident. Because writing cover letters is the main purpose of these services, the employees have plenty of time to focus on the quality and content of these letters. Time management is one of the most difficult tasks people attempt to accomplish in our busy world today, so having someone else do it for you will lessen your burden, and allow more time for other things such as the job search itself. Another reason they are valuable is because they can provide you with keywords that are appropriate with the specific type of job that will increase your chances of getting the reader's attention. The usage of these terms may be exactly what the employer is seeking in the candidates who they believe to be eligible for the job. Since this is their line of work, they have a lot of knowledge about what employers expect. Writing letters as their focus allows them to be unlikely to make errors, as they repeatedly proofread their work to assure accuracy.
While all the pros seem to sell this cover letter service, it is important that one is aware of the cons as well. It is obvious that the only person who can accurately describe oneself is oneself. Regardless of how much information you give the person writing your letter, the story is always told differently from a primary source. Another con is that due to the masses of cover letters that the services must produce, there is the likelihood of your "unique" cover letter resulting in a generic, "unique" cover letter, so to speak. These cover letter services can also be expensive. Your money can be going toward services that help with tasks you absolutely cannot do on your own. The most important con, however, is that with having someone else write your cover letter, you are being dishonest with the employer by advertising the writing skills as your own. This may come as a disadvantage when you are hired and the employer expects you to have the same skills.
Return from Pros and Cons of Cover Letter Services to More Cover Letters


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Chi Kung and Martial Arts Training
We conduct regular training sessions in Chi Kung and Synergetic Martial Arts.
Chi Kung
Mondays 18:30-19:30 @ The Cottages, Highview Gardens, 30 Gill str Observatory
Tuesdays 17:30-18:30 @ George Lea Park Recreation Centre, Parkmore/Sandton
Saturdays 11:45-12:45 @ Studio Kairos, Rosebank bowling club, Hume Rd. 15 Hume Rd, Dunkeld West. Click here for a map.
Synergetic Martial Arts
Private training of select members only. Venue and time to be arranged on request.
Training gear: wear loose, comfortable clothing; bring a towel and some drinking water.


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Time To Roll… Again
One good thing about a weight loss journey, you can always start over. Even when you have failed miserably, you can begin again. Even when you have started over 100 times, there is no problem with starting over the 101st time. In fact, every day is a day to start over.
My last "start over" was January of this year. I had a good run losing 8 pounds. However, I was never able to push past that amount. I got lazy. I got less disciplined. I maintained, but I did not lose. Then, of course, vacation came.
Vacation is when I turn off the switch. My yearly free-for-all. Believe it or not, I think I did better this year than any other. While my meals were not anywhere near calorie controlled, I decided I would not eat between meals. That went pretty well, a few exceptions (think "Vanilla filled churro"), but for the most part, I did okay.
However, I was still up 8 pounds. One week, 8 pounds. Amazing the damage you can do in such a short time. Took me two months to lose it. One week to gain it back.
So, it is time to start over. Start over with my disciplined eating and start over with my running.
As far as running goes, it has been a long time since I ran 5k. I am ready to get that built back up. I am going to roll back my Couch25k app back to week 4 (there are 8) and start from there building back up. I am ready again to be disciplined in my running.
A far as eating, I know how to do it. I know what I can and cannot eat. I know how much I can and cannot eat. I am ready to be disciplined in my eating again.
Time to roll.


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Welcome to Bonny Brae, Windermere
Bonny Brae Guest House is a family run Victorian Guest House. It enjoys a central location in the heart of Windermere village. The lake, station, tour buses, local shops and facilities are all within easy walking distance.
All rooms are of a good standard. We serve freshly cooked traditional English breakfast with a vegetarian option.
As always please call to discuss our best deals for your stay. 015394 22699
Lake Windermere is a 20 to 30 minute walk down the hill from us at Bowness-on-Windermere. There are regular buses during the day and a plentiful supply of reasonably priced taxis.
Teresa and Ian assure you of a warm and friendly welcome.
EV Charger
Tea/Coffee Making Facilities
Free Wifi
Secure Cycle Storage
Flat Screen TV/DVD
Ironing Facilities
Radio Alarm & Ipod Facilities
Maps & DVD's
All Rooms Ensuite
Motorcycle Off Road Parking Available
Special Occasions, i.e Chocolates & Flowers on Request
Guide Statement Available on Request


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Warning: the following prank is barely a prank. It's better classified as just a thing that happened.
When LA Galaxy players were appearing at the THIS IS LA signing event, Robbie Keane and Steven Gerrard decided they'd pull an hilarious prank on their entirely nonplussed teammate Giovani dos Santos.
The result was the powerfully underwhelming video above.
READ NEXT: This Super Healthy Pop-Up Will Open On Baggot Street For Three Days Only This Week


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An air conditioner unit requires frequent ac maintenance in Dubai and special attention to work at its peak. However, with some easy steps you can give a new life to an old, badly performing unit. Keep your AC in properly maintained condition to trim down energy bills and enhance its lifetime by saving money on replacement and repair. To avail highest efficiency from this appliance, home owners can follow some simple steps. Use these tips before the season begins to enjoy flawless performance throughout the summer.
Here are a few steps you must follow each year to stay cool –
Switch off the power –
No need to mention that it is dangerous to work around electricity and electronic appliance. Consequently, you should turn off the power. Look for a shut-off box on the outer condenser and disconnect it. Also, turn off the power from breaker box to be safe while AC maintenance.
Take out fragments –
Use appropriate tools like screwdriver and wrench, etc. and remove the fan confine from the outer condenser. Take away the fastener and lift the grill away from the upper side carefully. Now clean the grills and debris from the internal section using a vacuum clear. Depending on the specific condition of the air conditioner unit, use wet or dry vacuum cleaner.
Clean the fins –
In order to keep the air flow proper throughout the house, it is important to clean both condenser fins and evaporator fins. To remove the dirt, dust and debris between the fins, use a powerful watercourse from a garden hose from inside out. High pressure water can damage the air conditioner fins so it is strongly recommended not to use a pressure washer. If the fins are extremely dirty and garden hose does not work, use a fin clean spray. It can be available at nearest retail store or you can ask a technician about the same.
Adjust the shape of fins –
If the fins are bent, the efficiency of your air conditioner unit can be reduced. Use an appropriate fin-straightening instrument to straighten the twisted and curved fins. You can also use a butter knife. Fins are fragile so be gentle with them.
Keep area around the unit untainted –
Once you are done with clean-up, change the fan cage. Collect all debris and clear the area around the air conditioner unit at least 2 feet from each side to ensure appropriate airflow. If AC unit is not in use in winter season, cover the top using a plastic sheet or plywood. Don't cover it completely as moisture can be increased inside and can source deterioration. Also, completely covered AC offers perfect atmosphere to various pests. Take good care your AC even when it is not in use.
Check the level of AC –
With regular use, the pad that takes the weight off your air conditioner unit can commence to incline as the soil settles underneath it. An out-of-the level unit can lead to untimely compressor collapse. Check the level and use rot-resistant shim to take it back to level.
Check the Evaporator Coil –
Once you are done with outer cleaning, move inside. Check the evaporator coil on the indoor furnace division. To take it out, eliminate foil duct tape and remove some screws using a wrench or any other tool. Now you need a flexible brush and no-rinse coil cleaner to clean the dust and dirt coil without making any damage to it. The spray will foam up and after that drip into the exhaust pot. Clean the pot with some detergent, warm water and peroxide. If you want to keep the drain clear, you can put a drain pain tablet inside. This way, growth of algae can be slow down or avoided. Change the evaporator coil door and re-seal it using a tape if required.
Clean plugged evaporator exhaust –
The hot and moist air of a house is blown all the way through the evaporator exhaust inside the air conditioner system. The cold coil soaks up heat from air and cools it before the air is spread back into the house. The moisture in the air compresses on the cool exterior of the evaporator coil as liquid water, dripping into a pan beneath. From the pan, the water pours keen on a drain tube which is normally routed into a basement floor drain, utility sink, or outdoors.
After regular use, mold and algae can be increased and possibly block the exhaust. Thus, if the drain is not pouring properly, it will need to be unplugged. Such a drain can cause harm by overflowing onto the floor. Also, it can lead the air conditioner to stop cooling if the unit is outfitted with a drain float.
To fix this issue, locate the drain line first where it departs the evaporator coil enclosed space. Basically, the drain is a small sized pipe. Normally, the line draws off outer close to condenser unit; however it can also drain into a utility sink or floor in the case of attic division, downward an exterior surface.
Once you found it, clear the drain using a vacuum cleaner. Make sure cleaning is done carefully so that filter is not damaged in any way. Grab the hose of vacuum from an edge, use duct tape or hold a rib to fill the gap. Use the vacuum for 2-3 minutes to throw away all the dirt, dust and organic matter.
Switch the power on and test –
Once you are done with above steps, reconnect the power and test. Adjust the cooling level at low temperature initially. The air should be clean, cool and the smell must be fresh. If it is not working properly, it is the time to call an expert for professional repair or replacement.
May be, it's time to buy a new one –
Regular Ac maintenance Dubai is highly recommended to extend the life and performance of an air conditioner unit. However, sometimes it does not work. Some issues can't be fixed and if this is the case with your AC unit, it may be time to buy a new one.


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Looking for cool small fish tanks? You have come to the right spot!
- Compact and stylish 1. 5-gallon betta tank and starter kit from API.
- It includes everything you need for starting a betta aquarium.
- This beautiful aquarium features an energy-efficient LED light with 7 vibrant color selections: amber, aqua, blue, green, purple, red and white. It will really bring your aquarium to life! Plus, it's easy to set up and easy to maintain.
- Requires 2 AA batteries (not included).
- Auto-off feature after 2 hours to preserve battery life.
- Optional 4. 5V Power Adapter (AP45150T) allows you to operate aquarium's LED lights from an electrical power outlet.
- Includes free samples of API BETTA FOOD and API STRESS COAT.
- Two-year warranty.
- Measures 8. 50 x 9. 00 x 8. 50 inches (LxHxW).
- 1.5 gallon betta kit, ideal for home, dorm room, or office
Looking for more cool small fish tanks?
Check out our Smaller Kits And Bowls for other tank ideas!


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AceShowbiz - "Celebrity Family Feud" aired its season 4 premiere on Sunday night, June 10. The premiere of the new season brought in star-studded cast including the Kardashians, Jenners and Wests.
Momager Kris Jenner, sisters Khloe Kardashian and Kendall Jenner, grandmother Mary Jo Shannon, family friend Jonathan Cheban and cousin Cici Bussey were put in one team against Kanye West's team which made of his wife Kim Kardashian and Kanye's cousins Kim Wallace and Jalil Peraza.
During the episode, Kanye surprised viewers as he ditched his usual grim look and his serious demeanor. The "All Mine" rapper, who recently dropped his new album "ye", was seen smiling ear-to-ear, stealing the show.
A fan raved about Kanye's happier look at the show, tweeting, "Kanye West smile on Celebrity Family Feud is BEAUTIFUL." Another one added, "i have NEVER seen @kanyewest smile so much in my entire life."
Kanye West smile on Celebrity Family Feud is BEAUTIFUL 😁#CelebrityFamilyFeud#KanyeWest#Kanye— Dhani (@Dhani423) June 11, 2018
The Chicago-native spitter seemingly was in his best mood during the filming. "Why does @kanyewest look like the happiest child on family feud? This man is grinning from ear to ear," another fan noted. "Kanye West is playing Family Feud on National TV right now and I am getting my life," tweeted one other fan.
The episode got heated right after it started. Khloe jokingly took a jab at sister Kim, who opted to side with her husband instead of coming with her family. The mother-of-one refused to shake Kim's hand, adding, "Not here Kim. No... Not today Kim." She continued, "It's called 'Family Feud'. Not today!"
At one point, Kanye brought up laughter to the studio as he gave a hilarious answer to one of the quizes. When asked about the biggest reason why people want to kiss host Steve Harvey, the rapper confidently said it was his lips. He got it right though as it ended up being the number one answer out of 100 surveyed.
Kanye and his team led the game and was mostly like to take the crown that night. However, the Kardashians managed to turn the able and won the game. They were offered to send Khloe and Kendall to the fast money round, but they decided to give a gift to Kim because they were playing for the same charity, Children's Hospital of Los Angeles. Kanye then wrapped up the episode after winning $25,000 for charity.


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and i have a windchill , i want to create a new prt and drw in the windchill in IE browse, i use the save as ,but i can not rename them,please see the piture for more details. please tell me what can i do to resolve the problem,thank you
Add your part and your drawing to a workspace and do the save as in the workspace instead of in the commonspace as your image shows.
DID not work
Do you have the config option set correctly? (rename drawings with object = both)
Was the drawing and the model named exactly the same? (other than the extension)
The save must be done on the part.
If you are working on a folder structure (not pdmlink), I think the easiest way is to simply copy the drawing and the part to a new, empty folder. Open the drawing and the part, rename the part, rename the drawing. Save the drawing. If you need to, move something on the drawing to get it to save. Make sure you save the drawing after you've renamed the part, if you don't save it last, the drawing will still reference the old part.
Windchill or not?
If not, see my post below.
Thank you Martin!!
I think this should have been marked as a solution.
For what it's worth, the procedure/command I use is:
Upcoming October 2019
Regional User Groups


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I've been using Windows since it was released 20 years ago (I'm not proud – I'm just sayin'), yet I discovered this today:
Pressing Ctrl+C (i.e. copy) when a window's message box is displayed copies all the static text within the box.
Go on, try it: Click the Start menu, then Run, then type in "asdf" (assuming you don't have a program named that).
Press Ctrl+C (that's holding the Ctrl key and then pressing C), then paste into your favorite text editor. This is the text that's copied from the above window:
Cannot find the file 'asdf' (or one of its components). Make sure the path and filename are correct and that all required libraries are available.


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No matter where they're coming from, they're definitely in for a good time in Louisville.
Tie on a hip scarf and try something new: Bellydancing with an expert teacher.
Sunday night dance classes start this week.
The first annual Snow Flow Festival will be held on February 5, 2011 at American Turner's and will bring workshops in fire spinning, belly dancing, contact juggling, and other "flow" performance arts.
It's All Greek to Me Mediterranean Restaurant offers a cultural experience with dinner options Friday evening.


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I recently read this article about successful PhD candidates. It seems perhaps the blog is on the right track for PhD work if for no other reason. I mean I hope that something said is useful to others, leads or encouraging our holding to truth and its implications. But the article said the 'magic' number for amount of time writing to prepare a successful dissertation is about 10,000 hours. 10,000 hours will get you there. And since you can't actually get there writing the dissertation they suggest starting a blog to learn the art of writing.
Aside from that the three qualities of successful PhD candidates:
1. Perseverance: Among all the things in this characteristic what I particularly liked was the concept that "you have to get into your bunker and prepare for the onslaught of failure." It is interesting that we tend to forget that you do not persevere through good things. You enjoy good things. Perseverance necessitates adverse circumstances.
2. Tenacity: They say "You will also need to actively, even aggressively, forge relationships with scholars in your field. Researchers in your field need to know who you are and what you're doing." I especially like this concept because it explains the need to hold firm but also to maintain relevance with your peers. The need to work together.
3. Cogency: Lastly the student "must have the ability to clearly and forcefully articulate their ideas–in person and in writing." This sounds like my trademark concept: BE INTENTIONAL-everything you do matters to one degree or another.
While you may not be pursuing a PhD I believe whatever degree program you are in the same characteristics apply. Likewise in the body of Christ race we've already received the degree and now we're fulfilling the course work so to speak. Failure is not an option…its going to happen, yet neither is perseverance. When conferred the position of Christian there is no other option but with gratitude to persevere tenaciously. Out of that perseverance we develop the ability to articulate in thought word and deed the reason for the hope within us. The more hours we spend in diligent persevering service the more apt we are able to write about it, regardless of the communication medium.