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This is a succinct documentary on the library at Alexandria. It is much better than the 'ancient mystery' label would suggest
Monthly Archives: December 2017
Prisca Theologia
This brief article is intended as an introduction to a much larger study of the relationship between enlightened wisdom versus narrow-minded dogma. In the process, I will focus on the Universal approach to religion as taught by Zoroaster and demonstrated by the extraordinary tolerance and benevolence of Darius I, king of the Persian Achaemenid Empire. The Persian Empire at this time included most West Asia, the Caucasus, Thrace, -Macedonia, and Paeonia. It also reached the Black Sea coastal regions, the North Caucasus, and Central Asia
Darius was the author of the first bill of rights, was the liberator of the Jews, banishment of slavery and subscribed policy of noninterference with the religions of other groups. This meant that the religion of Zoroaster had been spread through most of the known world. long before Alexander.
The Prisca Theologia is one of the most important ideas in the history of at least the last two millennia. This is true for a number of reasons. First and foremost it frees the mind to consider all sources of wisdom on an equal basis – without pre-conceived ideas. If we can allow that all religions might be called Pagan by somebody, even if they don't match the definition. The most problematic religious beliefs are the Abrahamic religions – Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
The problem lies in an extraordinary and ingrained intolerance in virtually all forms of these religions. With particular reference to the last two, it is common for one sect to be at war with others, even though the differences in thought do not seem extreme enough to warrant the degree of conflict we see on an ongoing basis. Sufis have a reputation for deep and benign mysticism expressed through music and art, including dancing. Yet Sunni Muslims destroy their shrines in Pakistan and parts of Africa.
Afghanistan used to be a Buddhist country, but in the contemporary nation of Afghanistan, under the Taliban, saw fit to destroy the Bamiyan Buddhas. The religious scholars could not distinguish art from idolatry. In my mind, the inability to distinguish shows a spiritual blindness. This paranoid mindset has dogged us through the centuries, sapped our creativity as well as our acceptance of other points of view and other values as well. It is both ironic and inevitable that these qualities have ultimately lead to a preference for atheism.and secularism.
The Abrahamic religions tend to take the position of 'us and them.' Certainly, something like astrology takes more than it's fair share of abuse, even though all three Abrahamic religions support at least some forms of astrology. Rigid religious think has never been capable of expressing great creativity and closed minds are considered safe minds. If it could be shown that all true wisdom comes from a single source, we could no doubt diminish conflict. However, it is not true that all paths lead to Paradise. The latter is a New Age view which is patently false. We make little or no progress by pretending that all paths as laid down are the same, but we make the ultimate progress when we discover common roots and through the process of learning and inspired discernment, we can indeed find the pearl of great price. The metaphor of the pearl and also the that of the mustard seed show us what needs to be done.
If we turn the clocks back to the European Renaissance and the fortunate fall of Byzantium the means by which the opening of an inexhaustible mine of wisdom and inspiration became apparent. The details of the various traditions will be spelled out in further articles, although some have already been covered in some depth.
The philosophy of Plotinus, a Neo-Platonist, is full of imagery – such as a fountain of light – that provide powerful insights into the nature of creation and the divine. Plato himself, as well as Pythagoras, claimed connections with the Magi. Judaism would be almost unrecogbizable if the Zoroastrian influence was somehow removed.
The Hermetic Philosophy is so radically compatible with neo-Platonism, Pythagoreanism, Gnosticism, mystical Judaism, Christianity, and Zoroastrianism, that it can come as no surprise that Marsilio Ficino put everything else aside to translate the Hermetica – this included putting some of the translations of Plato aside to focus on the translation of the new prize. This is highly significant because Ficino's ultimate creation was his Theologia Platonica. He was fascinated by what was alleged to be Plato's astrological chart. it would be exceedingly difficult to find anyone with a greater devotion, some would say obsession with all things Platonic.
Recently, I had the good chance to come upon a paper on the subject of the Hermetica. The author was clearly well versed in the many traditions that shadow or are informed by the tradition. I had only recently written a modest piece on Zoroastrian magic. Ficino is usually studied with an understanding of his fascination with the prisca theologia or "ancient theology," the doctrine that asserts that a single, true theology exists, was drawn from a common divine source. The term appears to have been first used by Ficino. Nevertheless, I'm not sure that it is well understood how right Ficino really was!
There are essentially two sources of knowledge regarding the date of Zoroaster and the first revealed monotheistic religion. The first is Greek. It tells us he was born in about 6,000 b.c. The second is also Greek and places him at around 600 n.c. The latter appears to be a fairly arbitrary date prior to the invasion of Alexander the Great. There is no actual evidence for the latter date whatsoever. The earlier date was the one accepted by Plato, Pythagoras and others who clearly had contact with magi and Zoroastrians. What we lack in incontrovertible facts, we have in abundance the testimonies of ancients and the unmistakable similarities that point us to a single source. I admit that this requires a willing suspension of disbelief, but the usual alternatives are not available. If we consider the earlier date, then the earliest Hindu writings and the person of Abraham may be considered as deriving from Zoroastrianism. It has been said that Abraham and Sara are Ram and Saraswati. We may never know and that is part of the point.
Cristian Violatti provides an excellent and concise account of the arguments for an earlier date from classical; sources: "The dates of Zoroaster are also discussed by some classical authors. Herodotus, who we would expect to deal with this issue, does not mention Zoroaster. Plutarch estimated that Zoroaster lived 5,000 years before the Trojan War; the ancients believed that the date of the Trojan War was 1184 BCE (according to Eratosthenes' estimations), which would make 6184 BCE a date consistent with Plutarch's opinion. In the 3rd century CE, Diogenes Laertius, based on a claim of Xanthos of Lydia (a contemporary of Herodotus), places Zoroaster's life 6,000 years before Xerxes' military campaign against the Greeks, which took place in 480 BCE. Thus, according to Diogenes, 6480 BCE was the time when Zoroaster lived." (Ancient History Encyclopedia).
One of Ficino's most brilliant students was a young scholar named Pico della Mirandola. He is most famous for his Oration on the Dignity of Man In it, he addresses 'the fathers' – representative of the religious and moral establishment — with a fiery, eloquent and extraordinarily erudite oration. He was just 22 years of age, The flowering of the Italian Renaissance was in some respects more impressive that the Classical culture it wanted to emulate. It was like a precious bloom that fell as a result of its own weight.
It is necessary here to make a mercifully short digression. The world that had meant to be a renaissance of the Platonic Academy and more was to fall by way of a very stupid, possibly psychotic priest named Girolamo Savonarola (Italian: [dʒiˈrɔːlamo savonaˈrɔːla]; 21 September 1452 – 23 May 1498). He was an Italian Dominican friar and preacher active in Renaissance Florence. He gained a reputation prophecy and was clearly strongly charismatic. He was obsessed with the destruction of secular art and culture. He managed to terrify Florence to such an extent that its citizens jettisoned books and magnificent works of art on the original bonfire of the vanities. He managed to get the population to turn on itself. Sexuality was demonized and creativity suspected of evil intentions. Whenever and wherever these thoughts become dominant, death of all kinds is at hand. Creativity and sexuality are part of a healthy life.
Not for the last time in history, reason, creativity, and passion were swapped for mortification of the flesh, morbid and delusional fears, mixed with paranoia and absurd accusations (read projections). A salivating lunatic, barking mad as he obviously was, convinced the mobs that he was a holy man. Eben Pico succumbed. Savonarola effectively snuffed one the greatest flourishings of art and culture. It seems particularly ironic that his central prophecy was that a second Darius would come from the North and restore Christianity. When the French king invaded, he saw that as proof that his prophecy had been genuine.
The most tragic element here is that there was an early chance for Christianity to take its place as a cherished expression of the prisci theologia, confident enough to stand without wanting to see everyone else fail. The ensuing years saw the fracturing of the Church, a Reformation that for the most part only made things worse, while inadvertently creating the perfect soil for nutty extremists who saw witches behind every tree. The cult of accusation is always evil. It always seeks a guilty verdict no matter what. A decent Christian or Zoroastrian would see the evil for what it was. The witch hunts didn't only target witches. It was an easy way to appropriate land and wealth while inflicting the most awful suffering. We see this same spirit at work today.
The ugly religion of Savonarola and his ilk would be considered symptomatic of dark forces and druje in Zoroastrianism.: Jayaram V points out that "Angra Mainyu is the architect of evil, the anti-God principle, who represents evil, untruth, arrogance and death and subjects people to torment once they come under his influence, Ahura Mazda created the twin spirits, the good Spenta Mainyu and the other named Angra Mainyu or Ahirman." (Zoroastrianism, The Battle Between Good and Evil).
Some years ago, when Pakistan acquired the atomic bomb, I recall a young man in Islamabad stating "the Christians have the bomb, the Hindus have the bomb and now the Muslims have the bomb.' The celebrations around this event were quite extraordinary, but my first thought was that this young man and many others. saw the world as being divided up by religions – not as a matter of choice, but as a matter of birth. Hindus were not like Muslims. This kind if thinking should have extinguished itself centuries ago, but in fact, it is strong and unlikely to reverse anytime soon. It's obvious that the world is still reeling under the weight of massively scaled conflicts. These conflicts are migrating and attempts at multiculturalism on a grand scale fail largely due to religious intolerance.
The beginning of wisdom might be a revisiting of Ficino's vision with both a mystical and a practical eye. Ficino was an ordained priest. He was the mentor of Botticelli, Raphael, a score of poets, scholars, and philosophers. He had part of his villa painted with astrological images. His medical knowledge was commendable. It isn't easy to understand that before Ficino, all but a few, relatively unimportant works by Plato and none of the Corpus Hermeticum was available to the west His wealthy patrons arranged for the purchase of valuable greek texts that survived the fall of Constantinople. Intellectual and scholarly life before and after Ficino were entirely different. Italian scholars finally had what they needed to revive something of the Classical world.
[Raphael, School of Athens, fresco, 1509-1511 (Stanza della Segnatura, Papal Palace, Vatican) Speakers: Dr. Steven Zucker, Dr. Beth Harris. Created by Beth Harris and Steven Zucker.]
Nevertheless, the Judeo Christian heritage wasn't something to be ignored and Pico had no qualms about Moses imbibing from the same source as Hermes. This was most easily done by reference to the Kabbalah. It is however surely noteworthy that Moses is not a central character in the co,[osition. Aristotle was no longer the last Classical word and the mystical quality of Plato became the preferred mode. The famous painting of The Academy shows Aristotle pointing toward the Earth while Plato points to the Heavens. This point in time was the first in which a prisci thelogia could have realistically been envisioned since antiquity.
In 1320 Dante Alighieri completed his Divina Commedia one year before he died. He was considered progressive insofar as he wrote literature in the vernacular. Beyond that, he lived in a Latin world, minimally touched by Greek thought. He had a degree of sympathy with only one Pagan and that was Virgil, a fellow poet and a Roman one at that. Most tellingly, Virgil plays an increasingly small role in
the Comedia after leaving the Inferno. By the end of the people, he is given no voice at all. The Roman Catholic Church must have had the sense of perfect dominion in Europe, even it was threatened on other fronts. As in the works of Chaucer, there is a sense of Europe under a fairly comfortable siege. The notion os a Universal religion or a Prisci Theologia could not have found a footing during those times. A simple comparison of the two periods yields a great deal of insight into the massively expanded view of the late 15th Century.
Let's take one more example. Dante had placed Guido Bonnati in the Inferno in Canto XX. He was to be eternally punished for seeking to see the future, in keeping with Dante's ideas of Divine Retribution. Fortune Tellers and Diviners have their heads on backward and their eyes are full of tears. These are the souls who, on Earth, tried to see too far ahead of them, and thus will spend eternity forever looking behind with blurred vision. Following the teachings of the papacy, the theme of religion is broached, because the papacy did not approve of sorcery in any form." This is the most perverse hatred and fear of vision. That such a punishment could be considered either wise or just is abundantly symptomatic of a religious view putrid to the core. .
Ficino, on the other hand, was an ordained priest who practised astrology and astrological medicine. He could hold to the Christian faith while being a mage and drawing inspiration from several Pagan sources. It needs to be said that Ficino didn't need to mention the historical Jesus in his Theologia Platonica, which would rule him out as a Christian in the minds of some. Ficino was so well protected from attacks by extraordinarily wealthy and powerful patron, including ones in the church itself, that we can imagine that a blind eye might have been turned towards his eccentric life.
However, it was by no means that cut and dried. For the most part, the upper echelons of the Church were as enamored with Ficino's circle of artists, philosophers, magi, statesmen and poets as the Medici themselves. It was a period of extraordinary learning. Latin scholars had been common since Rome itself, but greek ideas, texts, and the language enriched theology to the point that Marsilio Ficino could write The Theologia Platonica in the first place. Logos and Word were interchangeable, except that the word logos has both more specific and more general meanings. Consider this phrasing: "Grant us your favour, My Lord, show us this day your star, the one once you showed to the Magi. The star that led the Magi to Christ, may lead us to Christ's mysteries." – De Stella Magorum
The figure who embodies the greatest number of traits and qualities of this magical Prisci Thelogia was Zarathustra. But how could he be distinguished from Hermes Trismegistus? We know that what the Renaissance scholars were reading was probably a third-century work. However, reading the essence of the Hermetica, it takes no imagination to see Zoroastrian elements as well as Pythagorean and Platonic ones. At this point in history, this ought to come as no surprise. But one of the greatest pitfalls to knowledge has been the weird insistence of linear time and inevitable progress.
There are many interesting twists and turns on the theme of Prisca Theologia. A good example is to be found in Michelangelo's Bacchus. The unnamed writer at Michelangelo.org writes:
"The statue of Bacchus was commissioned by the banker Jacopo Galli for his garden and he wanted it fashioned after the models of the ancients. The body of this drunken and staggering god gives an impression of both youthfulness and of femininity. Vasari says that this strange blending of effects is the characteristic of the Greek god Dionysus. But in Michelangelo's experience, [the] sensuality of such a divine nature has a drawback for man: in his left hand the god holds with indifference a lionsksin, the symbol of death, and a bunch of grapes, the symbol of life, from which a Faun is feeding. Thus we are brought to realize, in a sudden way, what significance this miracle of pure sensuality has for man: living only for a short while he will find himself in the position of the faun, caught in the grasp of death, the lionskin. "
What the patron had understood as an image of lewdness and inebriation, is subtly turned on its head, as it were. The creative process has brought into play to reveal that the Michelangelo of the Pieta and the Sistine Chapel are not so far removed from the theme of Dionysius or Baccus.
The traditions of Platonism, Hermetical, Qabala, Pythagoreanism and Zoroastrianism, all describe a universe in which humanity has the freedom to choose and create. All of these and other traditions integrate the reading of the heavens. In the next part of this article. I would like to address the consequences of a history of the western world that has mostly ignored the contribution made to augury and astrology itself by the cultures of Northern Europe – in particular, that of the Druids
Songs from the Gathas – Removing Spells & Illness
This is another of those topics which deserve a lengthy article, but for now a blog entry will have to suffice as an introduction to a highly complex topic. The video, shown below, was made available on YouTube by a Zoroastrian gentleman who has an extraordinary channel at Fereydoun Rasti Zoroastrianism & Iran If this material interests you, I heartily recommend looking through the extensive archives of videos.
I posted this rather lengthy video because it uses the Zoroastrian scriptures known as the Gathas. The similarity to the Vedic word Gita (song) is no accident: Maneckji Nusservanji Dhalla states that "It is an uncontested fact that there is a marked closeness between the grammar,metre, and style of the Rig Veda and the Gathas." (History of Zoroastrianism p11).. The power of words is emphasized in both and the verses are meant to be sung, as the title suggests.
Zoroastrianism posits, quite sensibly in my estimation, that this world is in a battle between good and evil. There are no specific scriptural comments on astrology per se in the Gatha period at least, but astrology certainly became an important element of Persian beliefs. It was already ubiquitous. Zoroastrianism is not known as a superstitious religion. It is widely believed that Zoroaster was a priest and a prophet, associated with the Magi. He is considered a magician in the true sense.
The creator, Ahura Mazda, has always affected human reasoning and therefore actions. The aim is to reveal to humanity their innate connection to the source of light and consciousness. It should come as no surprise that Zoroastrianism was the impetus and source of Mahayana Buddhism.
There is also an angelology – the idea of celestial forces that could be called upon. Ahura Mazda is ineffable. The point for our immediate concerns are that the Gathas were sung for devotional reasons and also used to mitigate or cast out what were considered evil forces, including common illnesses. This cosmology lends itself very well to an astrological framework, but not one in which the planets or angels had a will of their own, as it were. We come back to the to the question as to whether the stars impel or compel us. The creed of Zoroastrianism comes down to "good thoughts, good speech, and good action.." With this thing in mind the practise of singing the Gathas, we find that this is more a practical application of divine principles than superstition.
The counterpart to Ahura Mazda is Angra Mainyu also known as the "evil spirit." This dark manifestation is ultimately set to be destroyed according to Zoroastrian eschatology In the meantime, the kinds of practises described in the video presentation are regarded as wise and efficacious, much in the way a Hindu or Buddhist might consider a mantra. We don't consider the practise of such things as being indicative of superstitious minds and certainly neither do those employing these remedies. This is the source of confusion for many when being introduced to the Good Religion, as it is frequently called. A Monotheistic faith that recognizes dual forces of light and darkness within that wholeness is actually a fair and apt description of life.
The study of ancient and classical astrology inevitably including spending a great deal of time on the history, culture and particularly the religion of ancient Persia. There are several reasons for this, but the primary one can be realized immediately by the strategic location of a land that once included most of what is now Afghanistan and beyond. She borders India and the Sik Road to China, promoting trade and the exchange of ideas. Moreover, she also bordered and later ruled Babylon, Assyria, and Sumeria.
The capturing of Babylon also include the liberation of the Jews by Darius, who went further and paid to gave the temple re-built. darius forbid the use of slaves. Later on, Persia was conquered by Alexander the Great, whose teacher was no less than Aristotle, Alexander's conquest of Asia was a bloody affair and many scholars and written material were lost forever when he set the torch to Persepolis, burning the city to the ground amongst an orgy of violence, in spite of the fact that the inhabitants have surrendered. That was one of the best cases that have ever been made against the excessive abuse of alcohol in decision making in all of history.
Even the most unjustly founded empires do in fact has some advantages and this is very much the case in the transmission of knowledge. The Hellenistic world united Greece with Egypt and Persia with both. The School of Alexandria was among the greatest venues for shared knowledge, from Hindu astronomers and astrologers, Buddhists, Pythagorean, numerous Solar religions, Neo-Platonists, devotees of Isis, Christians, Jews, and Zoroastrians. This place of extraordinary learning was to meet its own demise under the Muslim invasions.
It's a Persian, Indian and Greek alchemy that produced what we now call Hellenistic astrology. But that is only the beginning.
The Unwrapping of Christmas – A Brief History
Father Christmas & The Piper at the Gates of Dawn
The Longest Night must pass before the waxing of the Light. A Blessed and Merry Yule to all my friends, family and associates. At the time of the Solstice, we have the image of the Centaur giving way to Capricorn with the Holly King, appropriately riding a Goat.
There are some variations on the theme of the Holly and the Oak Kings. First of all, they are two faces of the same life force, with strong natural, seasonal, agricultural and mythical significance. Form a traditional astrological point of view, the two signs of Saturn oppose both luminaries – Capricorn opposes the domicile of the Moon and Aquarius the domicile of the Sun. It is, after all, a dark time of year with the seeds of the waxing light.Beyond all other considerations, the celebrations taking place cross-culturally and around the world celebrate and exalt this seed of light.
The story of Pan and his contest with Apollo is an archetypal portrayal of Saturn vs the Sun. Pan is remembered for competing with his flute against Apollo's lyre. Rhe contest was judged by Timolus to be inferior to Apollo's lyre. Everyone present agreed with the judgment except for King Midas, who considered it unjust. For his insolence, Midas acquired, by the will of Apollo, the ears of an ass, which he tried, unsuccessfully, to conceal under a turban.
I'm also reminded of the passage by C.S. Lewis wherein Mr. and Mrs. Beaver tell the children that Narnia is under the spell of a malevolent despot. There is neither joy nor peace. Narnia has become a land where hope is little more than an act of folly and oppression is the order of the night, Every day is as if it is "always winter but never Christmas." Not long after, there is the sound of sleigh bells and it becomes apparent that the dark force is losing its strength.
Lewis is drawing from ancient sources and a theme that is ubiquitous. Christmas is, of course, a Christian festival, but The Oak King and the Holly King each rule for half the year. The evergreen holly and the sacred oak symbolically vanquish each other every six months, to rule for half the year. In reality, they are two sides of the same force. Indeed, the etymology of the word Holly in Latin means the holm-oak or evergreen oak (Quercus ilex).
These battles are usually considered to take place at the Solstices, but this seems to be the result of a misunderstanding regarding the nature of the seasons.
The battles take place at the Equinoxes – Samhain, and Beltane so that the Oak King is at his strongest during Midsummer or Litha, and the Holly King is dominant during Yule. In the Celtic tradition, Samhain is the end of Summer and the beginning of a new year. Beltane is a time of new life – a celebration of mating and regeneration. The association of Pan with Capricorn shouldn't be missed. At his peak, the Holly King is very much like the Lord of Misrule, thriving as he does under two consecutive Saturnine signs.
I think Lewis is also pointing to a parallel tradition in which a faun might be interpreted as a child of Pan. In the engraving above, Father Christmas or the Holly King has an unmistakably lecherous grin and he appears to be well- stocked up with wine. The goat is synonymous with lust and of course, Pan himself is half goat. We have a mischievous Father Christmas who could also be seen as the Lord of Misrule, found at the center of Saturnalia. The Holly Kings is also merry. The mythic elements are also decidedly chthonic and celebratory of nourishment found in barren places. Goats thrive in the most hostile environments due to their extraordinary sure-footedness and ability to find food even in the most remote places, including high elevations and extreme temperatures.
It would be naive to interpret the Holly King as a Santa Claus, but the fact is they will forever be associated with most of the same themes that we associate with Christmas and Yule and the dozens of other festival occurring at the same time. Pan is the Piper at the Gates of Dawn. Syd Barret, a Capricorn, chose this title for Pink Floyd's first studio lp. No doubt, he got the namer and the inspiration from 'The Wind in the Willows' by Kenneth Grahame; illustrated by Nancy Barnhart and Published 1913. The Piper goes back much further, however, and he was the subject of Pre-raphaelite artists.
Pan's is a primal music and his nature is the origin of the word 'panic.' But authentic music is not merely cerebral. It evokes other states of consciousness – some sweet and some dark
The Season is a celebration of Peace and Good-Will as much as it is a recognition of our most primal nature and the transmutation required to embrace both. We are all the Piper at the Gates.
The Turning of the Wheel – Winter Solstice
I believe that the pivotal charts for the two Equinoxes and Solstices are not so much a time for analysis as they are of seasonal observation. They are times of celebration. I will make just a few brief observations on the chart for the time of the Solstice. Before we do that, I'd like to take some time to recognize the nature and symbolism of the Winter Solstice.
This is a particularly auspicious day for people of widely diverse cultures, ranging from the St Lucia Day celebrations in Scandinavia, Saturnalia and its modern variants, Chanukah, Christmas and many Pagan celebrations that go back to the dawn of time. Less well known perhaps is the Persian festival Yalda, or Shab-e Yalda . It's a celebration of the Winter Solstice in Persia that began in ancient times. It marks the end of the month of Azar. Yalda is symbolic of the victory of light over dark ar the time of the longest night. It is the birthday assigned to the Sun god, Mithra. There are family celebrations with traditional foods like nuts and pomegranates. The intent is to stay awake all night long in order to welcome the rising Sun.
In my indigenous Celtic tradition, we bring the symbolism of Father Christmas, holly, the Yule Log, Mistletoe, the Christmas Tree and almost everything else we think of at this time of year in European cultures and increasingly in Asian ones as well. Yule is a Pagan holiday that celebrates the Winter Solstice. Every detail has significance. While it is true that Santa Claus and the Christmas tree also originate in part from different, but parallel traditions, the core symbolism of the point of greatest darkness is the seed for the renewal of the light – the waning of the light gives way to the waxing of the light force.
The symbolism is shown in the wheel of the year, constantly turning, waxing and waning throughout the year. On this spoke of the wheel, the Oak King, representative of the light half of the year, changes places with the Holly King, representing the dark half of the year. This ensures that the light and warmth of the Sun will begin to wax each day until the cycles begin again. The universality of celebrations with similar themes are evidence of our deep connection to the cycles of Earth and Heaven.
On this particular Winter Solstice, of particular note is that Saturn enters his own domicile of Capricorn on the day of the Solstice. This is a very good thing. Saturn is relatively miserable in Sagittarius and when Saturn is in a sign that is not congenial, it augurs for more difficulties. You might think of this as something of a homecoming, with Saturn stepping into Capricorn with the Sun.
The warm expressiveness of the Sun is contrasted with the cold, dry astringency of Saturn. Still, I see this as more of a congenial meeting, particularly because Saturn is in Cazimi. This is a very rare occurrence for the Sun and Saturn to be in this relationship right at the moment of the Winter Solstice. Saturn ends up with the highest score when accidental dignities are considered. It's an auspicious event to see Saturn enter into his own domicile in this way.
To better understand Cazimi, it's important to note that traditional astrologers maintain that the proximity of Saturn to the Sun, within approximately 10 degrees, is combust. Combustion is a term of Medieval origin that indicates that a planet is, as it were, swallowed by the beams or fire of the Sun. When a planet is combust, it won't be visible. Because light is an essential element in traditional astrology, this further points towards the poor condition of the planet. However, the ancient astrological tradition also recognizes an important exception. This exception is named Cazimi, a transliteration of the Arabic term kaṣmīmī. This empowers the planet greatly. Saturn, as William Lilly stated "will be 'wonderous strong.'
The Almuten or Guardian Spirit of the moment is Jupiter. He is the Face ruler of the Sun but has none of the essential Dignity rulers of the Sun. Jupiter then collects light from both luminaries. This makes him a more powerful participant than may be obvious at first glance. Mars has greater dignity and is in his domicile. These two in the Fifth House under Mars can be a boisterous combination. The more difficult elements are not so easily obvious either. For example, the Moon is in the Eighth House. This is the House of death and the place of Aquarius in the Thema Mundi and she is the ruler of the Ascendant. This augurs caution, particularly in London at this time. This a wonderful time to celebrate at home with family and loved ones.
Reading Māshā'allāh : Sassanian Ayanamsa
Before we begin, I would like to make it abundantly clear that it is not my intention to replace the chart we have for the foundation of Baghdad This is in most respects as well-sourced as can be expected. What I would like to do, however, is to explore what happens when we decide not to take the best of intentions as the only possible motivation and that, further, the shifting of one element in the charts' construction can change the meaning dramatically and with often unexpected results. Scientists and other researchers understand the necessity of ridding ourselves, as much as is humanly possible, of preconceptions. I think it only fair to read Māshā'allāh using the Sassanian Ayansama to see what might be found. I will add that this study makes me uncomfortable for all the right reasons and I most certainly mean no disrespect to Māshā'allāh.
Māshā'allāh (from mā shā' Allāh, i.e. "that which God intends") was a Jewish astrologer from Basra. Ibn al-Nadīm says in his Fihrist that his name was Mīshā, meaning Yithro (Jethro). Māshā'allāh was one of the leading astrologers in the eighth- and early ninth-century Baghdad under the caliphates from the time of al-Manṣūr to Ma'mūn, and together with al-Nawbakht worked on the horoscope for the foundation of Baghdad in 762. (See Māshā'allāh ibn Atharī (or Sāriya) [Messahala]
The chart that he was commissioned for the construction of Baghdad comes down to us from Al Biruni, a fellow Persian from modern-day Uzbekistan / Turkmenistan, in his monumental work The Chronology of Nations. He is less commonly known by his full name of Abū Rayḥān Muḥammad ibn Aḥmad Al-Bīrūnī (4/5 September 973 – 13 December 1048). Biruni gives us the time, place and date, but makes no mention of the House System or Ayanamsa used for the chart. It's normally considered that Māshā'allāh used Whole Signs and we know his most famous student did also. This still leaves the thorny question of which Ayanamsa he used.
If he used the Sassanian Ayanamsa along with material available to him in the Greater Bundahishn. This would change a great many things and would certainly challenge some of our more cherished notions, such as the Chart for Baghdad being done in good faith in the hope of the greatest possible benevolence. Before proceeding any further, it needs to be said that this chart has been subjected to all kinds of tortuous logic by several astrologers, including my initial article on this chart a decade ago. It has always seems to have been discussed with a touch of reticence.
This is no more than a 'what if' because we cannot absolutely prove it either way. As a Persian Jew, Māshā'allāh had good reasons to dislike and resent the Islamic invasion of Persia and the slaughter of Jewish tribes in the Arabian peninsula and elsewhere. Jews had enjoyed a good life in Persia for millennia, as they do to this day. It would be extraordinary if he had no reservations whatsoever.
Here we have the chart with all the information passed on to us by Al Biruni, using Whole Sign houses, calculated using the Sassanian Ayanamsa. This strikes me as a struggling chart with little to commend it. But the chart has never been unequivocally beneficent in any of its forms, using other house systems and the sidereal zodiac, for example. This has been part of the confusion. Baghdad was indeed a great centre of learning with widespread influence, both through space and time. However, it has also suffered excessive calamities and violence over the centuries and still suffers to this day.
A brief history of the city shows us that Baghdad's early meteoric growth was stifled due to problems within the Caliphate itself, including a relocation of the capital to Samarra (during 808–819 and 836–892), the loss of the western and easternmost provinces, and periods of political domination by the Iranian Buwayhids (945–1055) and Seljuk Turks (1055–1135).
Nevertheless, Baghdad held her place and continued as a major cultural and commercial centre in the Islamic world. Then tragedy struck on a massive scale. On February 10, 1258, the city was sacked by the Mongols under the command of Hulagu Khan. The Mongols killed most of the inhabitants, including the Abbasid Caliph Al-Musta'sim. They also destroyed large sections of the city. Even the canals and dikes forming the city's irrigation system were destroyed. The attack ended Abbasid Caliphate. It has often been noted that Islamic civilization never completely recovered.
In 1401, Baghdad was again vanquished by Timur. So it continued, until the incursion of the Ottoman Turks. It's difficult to make the case that Bagdad has not had far more than its share of sorrows and reversals of fortune. It is equally difficult not to recognize the measure of success and abundance.
We are used to thinking of the Royal Stars of Persia – the Watchers of the Directions – as Regulus, Aldebaran, Fomalhaut, and Antares, representing the four Fixed Signs and hear we see them on the angles. However, the Sassanian model put the emphasis on Sirius. canopus is used in Islam for the orientation of places of worship. For those reasons, I have included them. It is crucial to consider the Horoscope of the World which we examined in a previous article. In that schema, the House of Life (the Ascendant) was at the nineteenth degree of Cancer, the asterism Azara too was disposed in the star Sirius, which in the chart we have falls in the House of death at 24°18. I cannot see how he could have missed this. He was certainly aware of the Horoscope and the extraordinary power of Sirius.
In the Great Bundahishn
in Chapter 2, sections 3 & 4, in the translation by Behramgore Tehmuras Anklesariawe, we find:
"3. Over these constellations, He appointed four chieftains, in four directions; He appointed a chieftain over these chieftains; He appointed many innumerable stars that are recognized by name, in various directions and various places, as givers of vigour, by cooperation, to these Constellations.
4. As one says: "Sirius [Tishtar] is the chieftain of the East, Sataves the chieftain of the South, Antares [Vanand] the chieftain of the West, the Seven Bears [Haptoring] the chieftain of the North; the Lord of the throne, Capricornus, whom they call the Lord of Mid- Heaven, [is the chieftain of chieftains; Parand, Mazd-tat, and others of this list are also chiefs of the directions."
Ibn al-Nadīm lists some twenty-one titles of works attributed to Māshā'allāh; these are mostly astrological, but some deal with astronomical topics and provide us information (directly or
indirectly) about sources used which included Persian, Syriac, and Greek) He was a learned, brilliant and extremely talented man. We wouldn't expect him to simply make a mistake.
Most strikingly, we have both Sun and Moon in Leo in the tenth house. This is a great place for the Sun, but the Moon is weak as a Lord of the Ninth House – a very important placing when higher education, the meeting of foreign cultures and of course, religion. We find Mercury Retrograde and conjunct the South Node.
The Eighth House of Death is lord of the Twelfth House of hidden enemies and Venus also takes the place of open enemies. Jupiter that rises in the charts using the tropical zodiac is here relegated to the Second House (the purse) in his dignity, but retrograde. Saturn is in his Fall in an unfortunate, but an unproductive house.
I see no useful reason to further elaborate on this. It is after all entirely speculative, even if plausible. I realize this turns the old enigma in its head, but sometimes an entirely new way of looking at something can be useful. At the very least, it ought to raise awareness of just how different a chart can appear when the astrologer is using an Ayanamsa that may not have occurred. It also asks the astrologer to consider the cultural differences between practitioners that may very well, on the source be in agreement on virtually everything. This demands that we read far beyond the astrology itself, to the very ground of being which informs us all.
Note: shortly after publishing this brief article, I became aware of another, written in 2003: The Horoscope of Baghdad: historical, astronomical, and astrological notes by Juan Antonio Revilla. The topic is not identical, but Revilla does well in describing context, methodologies and sensibilities involved in deriving the chart. He has a familiarity with Sassanian astrology and discusses many things, such as the Tables of al-Kwarizm, which go beyond the limitations of a single blog post.


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After what was a difficult week for choosing captains last week the clock is ticking on our decision for who to captain in game week 24. With a plethora of options available this week it is likely that who you give the armband has a little more room for error this week as there are potentially 5 or 6 top candidates for the armband.
As always, we will be bringing you our top 3 FPL captain tips with the number one choice being reserved for our members.
Decent fixtures for Man City, Spurs and Liverpool will probably dominate the teams from which selections are made but with teams such as Leicester and West Ham also having favourable games it could prove a good day at the office for many.
Game Week 24 Captain Pick No.3: Harry Kane
Spurs travel to Saint Mary's in gameweek 24 as Pochettino takes his rampant Spurs side to his old club. The last time Southampton came up against an ex manager they were thumped 4-1 by Leicester and it wouldn't be surprising to see a similar scoreline in this game.
Harry Kane has to remain the top pick for Spurs despite a recent run of terrific form by Son. The only concern with Kane is that it often seems to be all or nothing but with hat-tricks and braces galore over the last few weeks (except for the double game week of course) he will still be a very popular choice this week.
Southampton were unlucky to be pegged back due to a handball goal last weekend but they way the players reacted (with almost no complaint) showed that the problems at the South Coast club are far from fixed and perhaps go a little deeper than we first thought. Add to that the fact that Southampton have kept only one clean sheet since October and it is hard to make a case for them. Kane could blow up here and is a solid option.
Game Week 24 Captain Pick No.2: Sergio Aguero
Man City look to have an excellent opportunity to bounce back from their first defeat of the season in a home game against a Newcastle side that struggled to a 1-1 draw against Swansea last time out. Aguero looks set to lead the line and whilst there are a host of other options he looks the most likely to play the full 90 and has scored big against this opposition in the past.
Newcastle played pretty well in the reverse fixture up at St James' Park but this will be a different kettle of fish and with City coming off the back of a defeat there could hardly be a worse time to play Pep Guardiola's team.
If you can't see our number one captain choice for GW24 then either log in or sign up as a member here – remember, members also get the full weekly podcast with extra time as well as the 'Last Word' article which goes out 90 minutes before every deadline.The content you are trying to access is only available to members. Sorry.
ek 2

subset: commoncrawl


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Hey Beauties!
Essence Cosmetics is coming through with their latest release of products. I'm so happy affordable makeup products are stepping up their game.
Essence G'day Sydney Eye Shadow Palette
As per the website:
These eyes shadow palettes are sure to appease your wanderlust and convince with their highly pigmented colors. Inspired by the trendiest fashion capitals of the world, the powdery eye shadows reflect the respective lifestyles. Salut Paris comes with velvety textures in rosé shades, G'DAY SYDNEY stands for earthy tones with metallic effects, Hello New York presents nuances ranging from grey to mauve in partially iridescent textures and Ola Rio offers a selection of metallic shades with a glowy finish that are inspired by the colors of the Brazilian sunset.
My Experience:
The outside packaging of this is appealing. On the inside it reminded me of the KKW eye shadow palettes especially seeing that a few of the shades are similar. I love the color story and layout of this as it provides varies looks to be achieved from this one palette.
This consists of 3 Matte shades, 2 shimmers and 4 Metallic shades as to my knowledge. All these earthy tones are highly pigmented with excellent blend-ability and even the most subtle dip with light pressure ensures sufficient color payoff.
The metallic shades are one swipe intensity and all these shades blend very well into each other with ease. You do not have to struggle to make these shades work and this is definitely comparable to high end eye shadows which completely shocked me.
I purchased mine at Clicks Pharmacy (currently only in store), Dischem Pharmacy (currently in store only) or Takealot.com for an affordable price of only R149. For this price you definitely not wasting a cent as the quality, longevity and blend-ability is of great standard.
I'd love to get my hands on the other palettes like Paris or Rio too:)
The look I created using only the eye shadow palette:
Have you tried these Essence eye shadow palettes before? What are your thoughts?
Thanks for stopping by:)


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It's official. The first two lesser black-backed gulls have been tagged with our solar-powered GSM tags and the data is already coming in. It has been alot of hard work for the Tag-n-Track team to get to this point with organising funders, paperwork, licences and locating a suitable rooftop site and it has not been without its ups and downs but now the fieldwork has begun.
On a lovely sunny day we spent the morning on the roof of Greenock Police station.
We had set traps over two of the gulls nests and hid in the plant room out of sight of the birds. The birds settled back onto the nests and were trapped ready for tagging. The two males were soon fitted with their tags as well as a BTO metal ring and a white colour ring with red writing. Both birds were released and walked back over to their nest sites before having a wee fly around. The colour rings are easily visible on the birds legs with one reading 10P:C and the other 9P5C so keep your eyes peeled and let us know if you spot them.
The data we have dowloaded so far shows that both males take their turn in incubating the eggs on the police
station roof but then head off to different areas to forage with one hanging about in Greenock and the other has headed off to Port Glasgow and Auchenfoyle. The birds will both be named by Greenock Police and we will let you know what they are called and update you on their movements. Two down, ten more to go.
We are very greatful for the help we have received so far from Ruedi Nager from the University of Glasgow and Police Scotland, particularly Glen from Greenock Police Station. Thanks to our funders, Heritage Lottery Fund, Greater Renfrewshire and Inverclyde LEADER and to Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park. Also thank you to our harness sponsers Starling Learning and Wild Surveys.


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1-10 results from 1000 for query «home»
January 16, 2019 5:14 AM Australia's Barty shines brightly as compatriots stumble
MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Australia's top-ranked player Ashleigh Barty beat Wang Yafan 6-2 6-3 in a straight-forward affair on Wednesday, propelling the home country's leading prospect into the third round. The 15th-seeded Barty is the highest ranked local player — either man or woman — in the tournament and is known for her court craft and is an accomplished 4589 1
January 15, 2019 6:34 PM Jewish groups condemn Rashida Tlaib over ties to radical pro-Hezbollah, anti-Israel activist
Freshman Rep. Rashida Tlaib has been condemned after hosting a private celebratory dinner on Saturday featuring anti-Israel activists who praised terror group Hezbollah and Palestinian terrorists, said Israel has no right to exist and called for Israeli "Zionist terrorist" Jews to return to Europe. Over the weekend, Tlaib came under fire for her ties to radical 4278 1
January 15, 2019 2:33 PM Justin Trudeau's Afghan lookalike goes viral after TV performance
An Afghan reality show contestant Abdul Salam Maftoon (right) has gone viral over his likeness to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (Getty) An Afghan reality show contestant has become an unlikely hit thanks to his resemblance to Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau. Abdul Salam Maftoon, 29, is currently a finalist on the country's popular singing 452 1
January 15, 2019 11:09 AM South Carolina man escaped fire but then fatally struck by car, officials say
Officials, including the South Carolina Highway Patrol, have joined in an investigation on the death of Tyrone Bush, 53, who had escaped a fire but was fatally struck by a car on Monda, authorities said. (SC.gov) A South Carolina man who was severely burned in a camper but escaped was then fatally hit by a car Monday, officials said. Tyrone Bush, 53, had suffered 428 1
January 15, 2019 2:53 AM Mavericks ramp up efforts to deal PG Dennis Smith Jr., sources say
The Dallas Mavericks are escalating talks to trade guard Dennis Smith Jr., pushing to end a partnership that has run its course for both the franchise and former first-round pick, league sources tell ESPN. Two teams in pursuit of a point guard -- Phoenix and Orlando -- have been active in talks with the Mavericks, league sources said. Dallas has also searched 165
January 14, 2019 10:20 PM Suspect in Jayme Closs case appears in court
In his confession to police, Jake Thomas Patterson explained how he took a number of steps to carry out his plan and conceal his identity. For one, he stole a pair of license plates and put them onto his vehicle because he did not want his own plates to be spotted. He also disconnected the vehicle's dome light so that he would not be visible when he opened 181
January 14, 2019 7:38 PM Jayme Closs kidnapping suspect decided to take teen after seeing her get off a school bus, complaint says
Prosecutors are expected to formally charge 21-year-old Jake Patterson with kidnapping and murder; Matt Finn reports from the courthouse in Barron, Wisconsin. Jayme Closs' accused kidnapper began his plot to abduct the 13-year-old girl from her Wisconsin home after randomly seeing her get on a school bus one day, a moment when he said "he knew that was the girl he was going 516
January 14, 2019 4:43 PM Chiefs vs Patriots: 5 things to know about the AFC Championship game
The Kansas City Chiefs and New England Patriots will face off in the AFC Championship game Sunday, with the Patriots looking to go back to the Super Bowl and avenge their close loss from last season. The Chiefs defeated the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday, 31-13, to reach the conference championship. The Patriots defeated the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday 645
January 14, 2019 10:58 AM Kansas City Chiefs lineman rewards homeless man who got him out of bind with AFC title game tickets
FILE - In this Dec. 9, 2018, file photo, Kansas City Chiefs offensive tackle Jeff Allen during the first half of an NFL football game in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann, File) A Kansas City Chiefs offensive lineman rewarded a homeless man Saturday who helped the player get his car out of the snow before his game against the Indianapolis Colts 247
January 14, 2019 6:54 AM '90 Day Fiance' star says she's been hospitalized for kidney failure
A reality TV star on Sunday announced that she was found unresponsive inside her home and rushed to the hospital where she was diagnosed with acute kidney failure due to lupus. Ashley Martson, a star on TLC's "90 Day Fiance," posted a photo of herself where she appeared to be sleeping in a hospital bed connected to IVs. She said she will be moved to another 355


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The previous post served as an introduction to JupyterLab. In this one, we will give you hands-on instructions on setting it up, either with Docker or Amazon Deep Learning AMI.
Setting up JupyterLab in Docker
If you're not familiar with Docker, it's officially described as an open platform for developers and sysadmins to build, ship, and run distributed applications, whether on laptops, data-center VMs, or the cloud. Docker containers let a programmer or a data engineer to isolate and package an application with all the dependencies it needs (files, libraries, etc).
One of the biggest pain points in data science is sharing and reproducing experiments. The challenges are different operating systems, versioning and lack of process. Docker can help with these problems and could be, along with Git, another useful tool in a data scientist's toolbox, in addition to actual data handling, analytics and machine learning skills.
If you now want to give JupyterLab a try, here is one way to get it up and running.
We created a t2.small instance in AWS. Add the settings according to your own environment. Once you are done ssh to the ec2 machine.( ssh [email protected]"add IPv4 Public IP here").
Set up Docker with these commands:
sudo yum update -y
sudo yum install -y docker
sudo service docker start
sudo usermod -a -G docker ec2-user
Now log out and back in again to pick up the new Docker group permissions. Verify that the ec2-user can run Docker commands without sudo by running:
docker info
Now, create a password. If you have IPython installed on your local machine, you can run python on command line.
In the console that opens up, run the following commands:
from IPython import lib
lib.passwd("give your password here")
You will be given a hashed password that you will need in the next phase. Optionally you can go here to obtain the hashed password.
Now you can move on to setting up JupyterLab. First, you need to select an image you want to use. You can find the options here. We chose the datascience-notebook. To set up JupyterLab you first need to get the user ID (uid).
It can be found with the command
id and must be changed to the Docker run command. Otherwise a user 1000 is used which doesn't have the required rights.
uid=500(ec2-user) gid=500(ec2-user) groups=500(ec2-user),10(wheel),497(docker)
docker run -d --rm --name give_good_instance_name --user 500 --group-add users -e JUPYTER_ENABLE_LAB=yes -p 8888:8888 -v /home/ec2-user/notebooks/:/home/jovyan jupyter/datascience-notebook start-notebook.sh --NotebookApp.password=sha1:eccd81fb997f:687eb21737928881c8cdd5fbee419434ba6060be
Note: If you copy-paste the Docker run command from this blog and it doesn't work, the hyphens might be different compared to your own terminal. Try changing them. :)
Congratulations! JupyterLab is now running.
Here are some explanations for the parameters used:
-d = daemon, a background process which is running as long as the server is running.
--rm When the process is stopped the Docker instance is removed. Don't add this parameter if you want that the instance can be later restarted!
Some other useful commands with Docker are:
docker ps: shows all the running instances
docker ps –a: shows also the stopped instances
docker stop give_good_instance_name: stops the chosen instance
docker start give_good_instance_name: starts the chosen stopped instance
Accessing JupyterLab
Finally, you can access JupyterLab by going to your browser and typing the address to your ec2 instance's public DNS and add
:port number to the end. Now, log in with the password you defined. You should see the launcher window:
Pick e.g. the Python 3 Notebook, upload a csv file and start playing! Here's another picture of how a view can be quickly organized:
Have fun! If you don't want to use Docker here is another option for you.
Setting up JupyterLab with Amazon Deep Learning AMI
Amazon Deep Learning AMI already contains Jupyter, but some additional software needs to be installed. Create an EC2 instance (use at least t2.small, otherwise the instance may run out of memory) and run following commands in it:
conda config --system --prepend channels conda-forge
conda update -n base conda
conda install jupyterhub
conda update jupyterlab
conda update notebook
jupyter labextension install @jupyterlab/[email protected]^0.8.1
mkdir ssl
cd ssl
openssl req -x509 -nodes -days 365 -newkey rsa:1024 -keyout "cert.key" -out "cert.pem" -batch
Then open ~/.jupyter/jupyter_notebook_config.py and paste following at the end of the file:
c.NotebookApp.certfile = u'/home/ubuntu/ssl/cert.pem' # path to the certificate we generated
c.NotebookApp.keyfile = u'/home/ubuntu/ssl/cert.key' # path to the certificate key we generated
c.NotebookApp.ip = '*' # Serve notebooks locally.
c.NotebookApp.open_browser = False # Do not open a browser window by default when using notebooks.
c.NotebookApp.password = 'sha1:fc216:3a35a98ed980b9...'
Replace the c.NotebookApp.password contents with the hashed password that you generated earlier. You can start JupyterLab with command
jupyter lab.
The notebooks are saved to the instance's local disk, but if you want you can easily add S3 as a storage location for the notebooks. First run
pip install s3contents and then modify ~/.jupyter/jupyter_notebook_config.py file by adding following at the end:
c.NotebookApp.contents_manager_class = S3ContentsManager
c.S3ContentsManager.bucket = "<name of your S3 bucket>"
c.S3ContentsManager.prefix = "<optional directory inside the bucket>"
Give it a try!


text:
Sep 13, 2015
They said to one another, "Here comes this dreamer. Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits. Then we will say that a fierce animal has devoured him, and we will see what will become of his dreams."
The story of Joseph being sold into slavery by his family is one of the most famous stories in all of the Bible. On the surface it looks like a sibling rivalry gone bad, but as you did deeper, you can't help but see depravity and divinity playing above and beyond the human agents in the narrative. The beauty of God's actions are undeniable but equally mysterious. The one thing we know for sure is that the actions of evil families and people are not the last say. God has the last word and that word is Christ. Join us as we dive into the pit with Joseph and look for answers when our dreams are shattered.


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Robert Weiss LCSW, CSAT-S
Sex, porn, and love addicts have been using the Internet to act out since early 1990s. Back then, when these individuals entered recovery and sought sobriety, it was reasonable to suggest that they simply avoid the Internet and cellphones as part of their healing journey. In 2017, however, that doesn't work. Online interconnectivity and digital interactions are just too integral to modern life and society. Nowadays, recovering sex, porn, and love addicts can't just walk away from their laptops, tablets, smartphones, and other devices. What they can do is fight tech-temptations with tech-protections by installing a "parental control" software product.
As the "parental control" moniker suggests, these highly useful softwares were initially developed and marketed as a way to protect children from unwanted and/or inappropriate online content and contacts. Over time, as the programs have become more sophisticated, they have also become more versatile. Now they are every bit as useful to adults struggling with problematic online behaviors as they are to families with curious kids.
It is important to state up-front that these filtering and accountability softwares are not guarantees of sexual and romantic sobriety. Sex, porn, and love addicts can nearly always find ways to circumvent even the best of these programs. And if/when they are truly stumped by the software, they can just go out and buy a new digital device to use in secret. As such, protective softwares should be viewed as tools of recovery, rather than enforcers of recovery.
When shopping for protective software, recovering sex, porn, and love addicts should consider the following:
- Customizable Filtering and Blocking. Nearly all protective softwares have preset filtering levels ranging from settings appropriate for young children to settings appropriate for adults who wish to stay away from certain types of sites/apps. The better products also offer customizable filtering, with blacklisting of specific sites/apps that would otherwise be allowed and whitelisting of specific sites/apps that would otherwise be blocked. The best filters analyze page content in real time, which means, for example, they can allow access to a fan fiction site while blocking access to any erotic stories on that site. Ideally, filtering features are browser independent, preventing an addict from downloading a new browser or using a secure anonymizing proxy as a way to circumvent protections.
- Secondary Filtering and Blocking Features. In addition to website filtering and blocking, most products offer various secondary features, including:
- Online search filtering and blocking
- App blocking
- Social media filtering and blocking
- IM and chat blocking
- File transfer blocking (preventing the sending and/or receiving of pictures, videos, and the like)
- Video game filtering and blocking
- Profanity filtering and blocking
Obviously, some of these features are more important to recovering sex, porn, and love addicts than others. Softwares that include all of these are best, though, as even video games may contain significant sexual and romantic content.
- Time Management Features. Time management features control when an addict can use his or her digital devices, and the total amount of time each day or week that he or she can be online. Some products will allow and/or prohibit use of certain programs and apps at various times of day. This feature is most useful with children – preventing them from playing video games after a specific hour, for instance, while allowing them to still be online to finish homework. But it can also be useful to recovering sex, porn, and love addicts.
- Monitoring and Reporting (Accountability) Features. Ideally, protective software products monitor online activity and provide an addict's accountability partner with reports on usage, along with real-time alerts if the addict uses or attempts to use a digital device in a prohibited way. Available monitoring and reporting features may include:
- Websites visited
- Apps used
- Online searches
- Downloads
- Social networking
- Usernames and passwords
- IM/chat
- Screenshot playback
Ideally, reporting is available to accountability partners remotely (accessible via their own computer or phone) at regular intervals, on demand, and via real-time text and email alerts.
- Ease of Use. Protective softwares should be easy to install and to customize. Ideally, users should be able to globally configure the product, establishing settings on all of their devices simultaneously instead of dealing with each machine individually. The best softwares offer free 24/7 tech support via email, phone, and live chat.
- Compatibility. Not all softwares work on every digital device. In fact, many are quite limited and therefore not recommended for sex, porn, and love addicts, who usually have a wide array of devices on which to act out. It is important to make sure a product works on all of your devices before you purchase it. It is also important to see how many devices the license covers. Ideally, you want to cover all of your equipment with only one license.
Below are short reviews of the most commonly utilized parental control software programs. These evaluations are geared toward recovering sex, porn, and love addicts (as opposed to families with kids). The reviews are separated into two categories: recommended products, and other possible options. This rating is based solely on a program's effectiveness as a sex, porn, and love addiction recovery tool. The fact that some programs are not recommended does not mean they are bad products. It simply means they are not the best products for this purpose.
Recommended Products
Net Nanny. Net Nanny's Family Protection Pass costs $59.99 per year for up to five devices, $89.99 per year for up to ten devices, and $119.99 for up to fifteen devices. The software is usable on Windows, Android, Mac, and iOS devices. Net Nanny has long been the gold standard in online protection, and the current version is no exception, with superb filtering and blocking, excellent time management, and very good monitoring and reporting features – all of which are easily adjustable.
Qustodio Parental Control. Qustodio can be downloaded and used for free, but that version does not have the full set of features. For complete protection, recovering sex, porn, and love addicts definitely want the premium version, which costs $49.95 per year for up to five devices, or $87.95 for up to ten devices, and $125.95 for up to 15 devices. Qustodio works on Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices. The filtering and blocking features are very good. Time management is excellent. Monitoring and reporting is also very good. Pricing is comparable to Net Nanny.
WebWatcher. WebWatcher is a good program, mostly on par with Net Nanny and Qustodio, except it's really expensive at $99.95 per year for each digital device. It is usable on Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices. WebWatcher is great about capturing the content of emails and IMs, logging keystrokes, and providing actual screenshots. The filtering and blocking features are also good, as are the time management and reporting features. The company's website brags a lot about stealth and covert monitoring. I'm not a fan of that, as this type of intervention does nothing to further the development of relationship trust. Still, this is a good product, except for the fact that it's more expensive than comparable products.
CovenantEyes. CovenantEyes offers online accountability with optional Internet filtering and blocking for a total of $10.99 per month ($131.88 per year) for each user (unlimited devices) or $14.99 per month ($179.88 per year) for the entire family (unlimited devices). CovenantEyes is usable on Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices. Most features are generally good, though filtering is a notch below Net Nanny and Qustodio.
Other Possible Options
Circle With Disney. Circle costs $99. Because it's a router, rather than a download, it works with all devices. Basically, it replaces your home's traditional internet and Wi-Fi router, letting you manage every device on your network, both wired and wireless, with no additional software. Products like Circle might eventually prove useful to recovering sex, porn, and love addicts as a secondary barrier, but as a primary defense they are unlikely to help, as an addict can simply take his or her device to another Wi-Fi location and use it there.
Content Protect. Content protect costs $39.99 per machine. Content Protect works on Windows and Mac computers, but not on Android or iOS devices. The product offers above average filtering and blocking, with average time management features and below average reporting features. Content Protect is geared more toward businesses than families. In a pinch, this is a serviceable protective software product, but there are definitely some better options. The fact that this product is not usable on smartphones is a major shortcoming for recovering sex, porn, and love addicts.
CYBERSitter. CYBERsitter pricing starts at $39.95 per year for up to three computers. It is usable on Windows based computers, but not on Mac, Android, or iOS devices. The filtering and blocking features are average, as are the recording and reporting features. The primary drawback is that it is not usable on smartphones. This is a major shortcoming for recovering sex, porn, and love addicts.
Elite Keylogger. Elite Keylogger costs $49 per year for one Mac computer or $99 for up to five. For Windows based computers, it costs $79 for one machine or $249 for up to five. It does not work on Android or iOS devices. Elite Keylogger is exactly what it says it is – a monitoring and reporting program. It does nothing in terms of filtering and blocking, or even time management. As such, it is not recommended for recovering sex, porn, and love addicts.
Forcefield. Forcefield costs $11.99 per month, and $3.99 per month for each additional user. Currently, this product supports only Mac and iOS devices, which makes it less than useful for many recovering sex, porn, and love addicts. This product allows an accountability partner to monitor pretty much everything the addict does online, and to limit or even shut off access in real time. This ability is probably more useful with kids than with recovering adults.
Intego ContentBarrier and Family Protector. ContentBarrier, $39.99 per year for one computer, $79.99 per year for three devices, works with Mac computers only. Family Protector works with iOS devices only, $5 per month per family. If you're an Apple family, these products are decent. The filtering and blocking features are above average. Time management features are also pretty good. However, the monitoring and reporting features are not quite as strong as with a few other products. Other drawbacks are lack of compatibility with Windows and Android devices, and that different programs are needed for computers and phones, which is a hassle during set-up and whenever you want to change settings.
Kaspersky Safe Kids. Kaspersky Safe Kids has a free version, and a version with more features for $14.99 for one year for one device, and an additional $4.95 for multiple devices. The product is fully functional on Windows, Mac, and Android devices. It is partially functional on iOS devices. (There is no call or text monitoring on iOS devices.) This product is a newcomer to the scene, and it doesn't offer every possible feature, but it's actually pretty good, and it's definitely affordable. With some minor tweaks, this could become an excellent product for recovering sex, porn, and love addicts.
KidGuard. KidGuard costs $19.99 per month per device. That is pretty pricey for what you get. Plus, it only works on smartphones – not computers, laptops, tablets, etc. And it's more focused on "spying" on users (monitoring what they do) than on filtering and setting limits. This product is not recommended for recovering sex, porn, and love addicts.
KidsWatch Professional. KidsWatch costs $49.95 per year for up to three computers. It is usable on Windows based computers, but not on Mac computers, Android devices, or iOS devices. Kidswatch offers good filtering and blocking features and solid monitoring and reporting features. However, it does not work with Firefox or Safari browsers, nor is it usable on anything other than Windows based computers. As such, it is not recommended as a protective software for recovering sex, porn, and love addicts.
McAfee Safe Eyes. Safe Eyes is designed for computers. Safe Eyes runs $39.95 per year for use on up to three computers, either Windows or Mac. uKnowKids costs $70 per year for up to four Android devices, or $110 per year for iOS devices. Safe Eyes for Mac does not offer all of the features available with Safe Eyes for Windows. This is a major drawback for Mac users. In general, filtering and blocking is OK with Safe Eyes, while time management and monitoring/reporting features are better than average.
Mobicip. There is a free version of Mobicip, but the features are limited. The premiere version is much better. It protects up to five devices for one year for $39.99, working across pretty much any platform, including Windows and Mac computers, plus Android and iOS devices. Mobicip is awkward during set-up, and not as intuitive as the best programs. However, once it is set up properly, it provides decent filtering and blocking, time management, and monitoring and reporting.
Norton Family Premiere. Norton Family Premiere costs $49.99 per year for each device. It is usable on Windows, Android, and iOS devices (with limited features), but not Mac computers. Norton Family Premiere offers solid filtering and blocking, decent time management, and average recording and reporting. The downsides with Norton Family Premiere are that it is not compatible with Mac computers and its iOS features are limited. Moreover, at $49.99 per device, it can get expensive.
OpenDNS Home VIP. OpenDNS offers a couple of free products with limited features. For $19.99 per year you get the Home VIP version with extended features. It works with Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS systems. The filtering and blocking features are fine, as are most of the other features that are available. However, it does not filter proxy servers or social networks. Nor does it offer real-time reporting of abuses (and attempted abuses). As such, it falls a bit short for recovering sex, porn, and love addicts.
PC Pandora Pro. PC Pandora Pro costs $69.95 for up to two computers. It is usable on Windows based computers, but not Mac computers, Android devices, or iOS devices. The filtering and blocking features are average, with above average recording and reporting features. However, the fact that it can't be used on Mac computers or smartphones is a major drawback. As such, this product is not recommended as a protective software for recovering sex, porn, and love addicts.
PureSight Multi. PureSight Multi costs $39.90 per year for up to three devices, $49.90 per year for up to five devices, or $59.90 per year for up to ten devices. The product is usable on Windows based computers and Android devices, but not on Mac computers and iOS devices. The filtering and blocking features are average, as are the time management and accountability features. For Windows/Android families, PureSight is a viable (and affordable) option. However, those who prefer Apple products will need to look elsewhere.
SentryPC. SentryPC costs $59.95 per year for one computer, with additional licenses costing $19.95 per year. SentryPC is usable on Windows based computers but not on Mac computers, Android devices, or iOS devices. The filtering and blocking features are adequate, as are the recording and accountability features. The problem here is lack of compatibility with Mac and mobile devices. Because of this, SentryPC is not recommended as a protective software for recovering sex, porn, and love addicts.
SpyTech SpyAgent. SpyTech SpyAgent costs $69.95 per year for one computer. SpyAgent is usable on Windows based computers but not on Mac computers, Android devices, or iOS devices. SpyAgent is not a filtering and blocking program, though it can provide a moderate degree of filtering and blocking. Its real purpose is monitoring, recording, and reporting. Because of this, along with the fact that it is not usable on Mac, Android, or iOS devices, it is not recommended for recovering sex, porn, and love addicts.
Verity Parental Control Software. Verity costs $49.99 for a one year subscription covering one computer. The product works only on Windows based computers. It is not compatible with Android devices, iOS devices, or Mac computers. The basics of filtering and blocking, and the basics of monitoring and reporting are available here, but only the basics. Plus, it can't be used on Mac computers or smartphones of any kind, which significantly limits its potential as a protective software for recovering sex, porn, and love addicts.
Witigo Parental Filter. With Witigo Parental Filter, a one-year subscription for up to three Windows based computers costs $49.99, Mac Computers run $29.99 per machine, and Android devices are $12.99 per device. Witigo does not work with iOS devices. Filtering and blocking is solid with this product. Time management features are also decent, as are reporting and monitoring features. Unfortunately, Witigo is not yet available for use on iOS devices, and this lack of compatibility is a drawback for many recovering sex, porn, and love addicts. The need for separate programs on computers and smartphones is also a shortcoming.


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Nomination Instructions:
- Read "Award Overview" section prior to completing the nomination form.
- Type or print legibly when completing the nomination form and make sure all sections of the form are completed. For group nominations please provide names and personal information for each group member on a separate spreadsheet.
- When writing the nomination narrative (Section III), please respond to each area requested:
· Elaborate in the area most applicable to nominee's accomplishment;
· Describe specific incidents/examples which typify nominee's work effort and performance;
· Quantify accomplishments (using facts and figures) wherever possible;
· Describe what the nominee actually does in his/her job (do not assume that the reader
understands the job; you may be underselling the nominee);
· Include remarks/personal testimony of individuals or organizations regarding nominee or
programs in which nominee participates;
· Explain what makes this person an exceptional employee. Detail his/her contributions.
Describe what makes this employee exemplary.
- Attach any supporting materials or additional statements/letters of support for the nominee(s) (limit 3 attachments). The Equity in Governance Selection Committee looks closely at supporting documentation and takes it into consideration when making their selections.
- Attach the appropriate resume. For group nominations, please provide resume for group leader only (or 2-3 key members).
- Review the final submission to be submitted to HRD ensuring that the nomination is complete with resume(s) and any supporting documentation attached.
- Obtain Agency Head signature on the nomination form to verify approval of the nomination.
Complete nomination form, including resume and any supporting documentation, should be sent electronically in PDF format to firstname.lastname@example.com.
All nominations must be submitted to HRD by August 9, 2019 in order to be eligible for consideration.
Award Overview
About the Award
Equity in Government consists of: the fair, just and equitable (a) management of public agencies, (b) development and implementation of public policy; and/or, (c) delivery of and access to state services.
The Commonwealth Equity in Governance Award is given annually to an employee or group of employees who have demonstrated commitment to and attainment of the principles of equity in one or more areas of government operations: human resources activity that promotes diversity and inclusion, procurement activity that promotes the participation of minority business enterprises and women business enterprises, policy development and/or implementation (including the development and implementation of regulations, program policies, and/or rules), and/or improving access and/or accessibility (physical or programmatic) to state programs or the delivery of state services.
Any state employee who has worked in public service for 12 months as of May 23, 2019 is eligible to be nominated for the Commonwealth Equity in Governance Award. Supervisors, peers, professional colleagues (not including subordinates) and someone else who is familiar with the employee's accomplishments may nominate an individual or group.
An individual or group does not have to be a recipient of the 2019 Citation for Outstanding Performance in order to be eligible for this award.
Award Criteria
The ideal candidate for the Commonwealth Equity in Governance Award is an employee or group of employees who has:
- Demonstrated commitment to the principle of equity (non-discrimination, equal opportunity, and diversity and inclusion) in the one or more areas of government operations - human resources, procurement, policy development and/or implementation, access to state programs and activities, and/or the delivery of state services,
- Shown leadership in promoting the principle of equity,
- Achieved significant outcomes in promoting equity in governance in agency operations.
Selection Process
Screening committees throughout the individual agencies will review all submissions within their own agency. Each agency will select a nomination to forward to the Human Resources Division (HRD) for consideration.
A Selection Committee comprising, at a minimum, the Director of Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity, the Executive Director of the Supplier Diversity Office, and the Director of the Massachusetts Office on Disability will review nominations. Additional individuals (not more than five and with the approval of the Assistant Secretary for Access and Opportunity or her/his designee) with a background or experience in diversity and inclusion matters may also serve on the Selection Committee. The Selection Committee's recommendation will be forwarded to the Governor for approval.
It is expected that final candidate(s) for the Commonwealth Equity in Governance Award be in full compliance, prior to selection, with all Local, State, and Federal tax obligations, and with any court ordered child support obligation. Accordingly, the Department of Revenue will be asked to determine whether the candidate has filed all applicable tax payments and court-ordered child support payments in a timely manner.
The Governor shall make all final selection decisions.


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A Dynamic Social media Marketing Strategy defines how a corporate or organization will plan, perform, and measure all social media marketing activities. What social media platforms do you target audience use? Fish where the fish are!
Dynamic Social Media Marketing Strategy Goals
The initial step to any strategy is to know what you want out of your efforts. Social media marketing isn't about tossing a coin and calling it a day. Instead, social media development should be looked at like cooking your desired dish. Once you have your elements, you follow a recipe and wow!
But that's not always the situation. What if you have visitors and need to feed more people? What if someone is sensitive to one of the ingredients?
Suddenly, your goal goes from making a meal to confirming it will feed enough people and be eatable by all.
That's why making goals are so critical to the first part of your social media strategy
Select Your Social Networks
Which networks should you be on? Should you have numerous social media accounts for certain networks?
Learn Where Your Audience Is
You should be on the same networks as your audience. Tossing content at channels where your audience is inactive is just like shouting in a crowded room. Make a list of three to five networks that are evidently popular with your audience as you would be posting on these networks.
Discover your Audience interest
What kind of content does your target audience need? What topics are "trending?" Who are the influencers that your audience follow?
What's going to be in your social media content library?
It's going to be vital to have attractive content that appeals to your target audience. (Do you notice a trend? We're concentrating on your target audience with each action we take!) How will we acquire content? When will shoot the video? Who might be in charge of articles? How will Graphics be generated? What will engage your audience?
Encourage and capitalize on your social media strategy
As with most marketing efforts, you will require a bit of promotion. That promotion comes in the form of social media promotion and creating a budget to boost your social media content.
You're now ready to review, test and enhance your Dynamic Social Media Marketing Strategy and observe what's working best on your social media profiles.


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Popular Vacation Spots that are perfect for the Holidays In Queensland, Mulara
Popular Destination that are best for the Holidays
Many individuals get time off over the holidays, as well as they wish to maximize that time. There are plenty of places where you can spend the vacations enjoying a beautiful getaway. Disneyland as well as Disney World are among the busiest places on holidays, consisting of Xmas day. People of any ages discover the magic kingdoms to be a wonderful area making memories for the holidays with their whole family.Since Thanksgiving landeds on a Thursday
, many individuals find themselves with a 4 or five day weekend break over that period of time. Mosting likely to Las Vegas is a wonderful location to spend this holiday as it is constantly to life with action 24 hours each day. You will additionally discover plenty of restaurants in Las Vegas that provide you the very best Thanksgiving Day dish you have actually ever been a part of.Las Vegas is also among one of the most prominent places for New Years Eve.
The entire strip is shut down from website traffic and people are dancing, drinking, as well as having fun in the streets. Lots of people compare it to the activities happening in New Orleans for Mardi Gras. Spring break is a preferred holiday for the senior high school and college groups.
They usually opt to spend that time at various beaches including those in Florida as well as California. Hotels are over run with these individuals having events all evening long and then spending their days at the coastline. Most of these coastlines host fabulous activities during springtime break making sure individuals keep coming back every year.
Real-time songs, dancings, and also numerous competitions are just an example of the various contests you can enter. Given that springtime break drops differently for various institutions, these coastlines are usually complete from the 2nd week of March till the very end of the month. Unexpected somebody you enjoy with a fun getaway to one more nation or a part of the globe they have constantly intended to see is a great method to share the
holidays. Think of waking up Christmas early morning in Spain or Paris rather than at home. There are plenty of fantastic places that you could see throughout the holidays so do not restrict your choices. The disadvantage to traveling to popular vacation spots for the vacations is that they remain in demand. That suggests you will likely pay even more to see them during that time of year than regular. You will likewise need to make your reservations early or you will discover that all the trips or the hotels have actually marketed out as well as you will not be able to spend the vacations there. Take a look at different getaway package deals to assist you save as much money as possible when you take a trip over the holidays. A lot of package for traveling include your air travel, hotel lodgings, as well as a rental car if you desire one. You could likewise decide to include tickets for shows or occasions you intend to take part in.Once you have actually chosen where you wish to spend the holidays
, you can start contrasting prices. Discover exactly what your regional travel representative can provide you and browse the internet by yourself. Don't forget to search in the traveling section of the newspaper or to capitalize on ads you enter the mail. For lots of people the capacity to be able to take a trip over the vacations will certainly depend on the price they have the ability to get the journey for
. There will additionally be even more individuals to manage at that specific destination over the holidays in most instances. If you don't such as being a part of a huge crowd or you hate to wait in line, you will certainly want to prepare on your own for these concerns while vacationing over the vacations. This way you can concentrate on having a fun time rather than getting burnt out over such concerns that you have no control over.Please check us out and also I hope you enjoy our website, Kindest Regards,< period style="color: rgb(98, 98, 98); line-height: regular;" > https://travel-zone-store.com/ [nation] Queensland Mulara 4703 [search phrase]
Tips for Finding the Best Holiday Travel Deals Online


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You are currently browsing the tag archive for the 'Quinoa' tag.
I always buy the giant tub of baby spinach, and always end up throwing away 1/3 of it, but the smaller tub is just not enough! Bittersweet irony! Finally, one day I noticed that my spinach was looking a bit peaked, and decided to cook something with it, so I wouldn't end up tossing it. That was the first time I make creamed spinach, and it changed my life–sounds dramatic, totally true.
Once I untapped my love of quinoa, I decided to marry the two into a beautiful, tastey dinner treat.
The original recipe was Emeril's, and it took a while to find one online that used fresh spinach instead of frozen. His also called for nutmeg, shallots, and heavy cream. I subbed in half and half, and skipped the shallots and nutmeg.
- 2 pounds spinach (not really measured precisely, I used what I had left) washed.
- generous splash of extra virgin olive oil–Emeril called for 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 tsp minced garlic (the kind in the jar)
- 1/2 cup half & half
Bring pot of salted water to a boil, add spinach and cook until bright green (about two minutes). Dump into fine mesh strainer and press to release as much water as possible. Chop finely and set aside.
–Note: I rinsed the spinach in cold water before dumping in the strainer so I could squeeze it out with my hands–hard to get all the water out.
Pour olive oil and garlic into sauce pan, and turn heat to medium. swish around until garlic is distributed, then add spinach. Stir to coat spinach in olive oil garlic mixture, then slowly pour in half & half. Keep stirring until all or most of the liquid is absorbed. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Then, dump the creamed spinach into another container–a "holding" container, if you will, and use the same pot to prepare the quinoa. Fewer large dishes! What's better than that?
- 1/2 cup qunioa to 1 cup water (that's what it says on my package, anyway)
- 1 cube vegetable bullion (adds salt and flavor to the quinoa, I'm a genius)
Rinse the quinoa thoroughly using french press or other fine sieve, add to saucepan, add water. Once it's heated up a bit, add the vegetable bullion cube. Stir, stir, stir until it's broken down, then cook until quinoa are uncrunchy.
–Note, I ended up having to add more water than the recipe called for. That might have something to do with the salt in the bullion (?), either way, be prepared to add more.
Serve delicious spinach on a bed of quinoa, open a beer, and watch LOST season 5.
I love squash–love, love, love it. When I was a kid, my mother tells me, I would eat squash every chance I got until my skin turned orangeish. I also ate pumpkin pie mix straight out of the can when I couldn't get squash. Turns out that Gentleman Scholar doesn't care for squash, but if he told me that before, I didn't believe him.
"You should cook with different ingredients" he told me.
"I love squash." I told him.
"You should get some hobbies." he told me.
"Cooking with squash is my hobby." I told him.
He was less enthusiastic about this recipe, but I loved it, and I'm excited I used quinoa successfully the first time. When I've had it in the past, I didn't really care for it (I didn't dislike it, but was ambivalent), but it came out really well in this case.
Quinoa Butternut Squash Gratin
1 ½ lb. butternut squash, seeded, peeled, and diced
1 cup organic quinoa
2 cups water
1 tsp. salt
3 eggs, beaten
1 ½ cup Gruyere cheese, shredded– I actually used Jarlsberg because it was on sale.
1 cup Italian Bread Crumbs– I bought a Rosemary and Olive oil loaf and tore it up into chunks rather than buy breadcrumbs.
salt and pepper to taste
- Preheat oven to 400. Spray a 2-quart baking or gratin dish with nonstick cooking spray.
Note: Who the hell has a gratin dish? I used my one casserole dish that I use for everything from baked mac and cheese to Gentleman Scholar's Apple Crisp. I don't know if I could even recognize a gratin dish if I saw one–silly.
- Peel and cube a whole squash, then put in a ziploc plastic bag and seal. Then pierce a few times with a fork and microwave on high for 3-5 minutes until squash is soft and tender.
Note: I just heaped the squash in a bowl and covered with a paper towel.
- Wash the quinoa in a fine sieve thoroughly (about 5 minutes) until water runs clear. This is very important, as quinoa has a bitter protective coating that can linger even after processing.
Note: I used my French Press to accomplish this, and it worked perfectly. I had been planning to MacGuyver something with paper towels and a colander, but that seemed like a disaster waiting to happen. French Press was exactly what I needed, I didn't lose a single grain of quinoa (except the stuff that stuck under the filter, which really wasn't much).
- Transfer squash and quinoa to a large (2 or 3-quart) pot. Add water and salt to pot and bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and allow to simmer for 15 minutes or until liquid is absorbed and the quinoa blooms into little spirals. Remove from heat and let rest.
- Mix quinoa and squash mixture, egg cheese, and salt and pepper to taste, then transfer into baking or gratin dish. Sprinkle bread crumbs over gratin. Drizzle 1 Tbsp. of olive oil on top and bake for 35-45 minutes or until top is golden brown.
This was seriously delicious, and hearty without being heavy. I might add a bit more cheese next time–cheese rules, but otherwise no complaints. The egg and quinoa made a dense but springy kind of texture, which was delightful. I did notice that about an hour after eating this, I started to feel really, really full. Perhaps quinoa continues to expand after eating(?) Either way, pretty happy with the results.


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Data Integration
TNE Software follows best-in-class practices and processes for data integration solutions. We have highly-skilled consultants with rich experience in the areas of ETL, Integration, Data Quality, Data Profiling, Data Warehouse, Reporting, Data Analysis and Data Governance.
data warehouse
Simple schematic for a data warehouse. The ETL process extracts information from the source databases.
virtual database
The virtual database interfaces with the source databases via wrapper code if required.
Data Integration tools
SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS),DataWatch,Alteryx,Analytics Canvas,Oracle Data Integration Services,Azure Data Factory,RapidMiner Studio,Informatica Platform, etc,
Data integration
Large-scale questions in science, such as global warming, invasive species spread, and resource depletion, are increasingly requiring the collection of disparate data sets for meta-analysis.