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I'd like to thank Christian Focus Publications for providing me with a copy of God's Story: A Student's Guide to Church History by Brian Cosby in return for my honest review.
I love (love, love) Christian history told in a biographical format. I think the stories of the saints have the power to inspire, educate and transform. That said, when teaching history, it's important to be able to step back and give an overview.
Brian Cosby's new book God's Story: A Student's Guide to Church History (Christian Focus Publications, 2014) does a fabulous job of giving an overview of church history from a theologically conservative, Protestant viewpoint. Mr. Cosby writes in a conversational narrative that's not pretentious, but it's also not condescending. His voice and tone are perfect for middle and high school students.
In 138 pages, Brian Cosby takes us through the important points of church history beginning in the Old Testament and ending with the challenges and blessings facing today's Church. The chapters are short (10-12 pages) and are subtitled, providing nice stopping points if you'd like to use the book as a devotional in family worship. Each chapter ends with a few discussion questions meant to improve critical thinking about the information read.
In Why Study Church History?, Brian Cosby gives four reasons students can find relevance in the history of Christianity. I think it's so important to give kids an objective before teaching them anything. They do so much better when they're "on board" with what they're learning (aren't we all like that?). Mr. Cosby does a great job of drawing them in. My boys were overheard discussing this chapter (and giggling) the day they finished reading it. They must have enjoyed the chapter, because there are blueberry-stained fingerprints all over it.
The Church and Its Old Testament Roots covers the difference between the invisible and visible church, talks about the Old Testament church and the promise of the coming Messiah. I love the fact that each chapter begins with a personal narrative that draws students in, then leads into history, carrying through the theme of the narrative.
The New Testament Church and Apostolic Fathers (A.D. 1-100) covers the life of Jesus as told through the Gospels, his resurrection, and the subsequent spread of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Acts is covered, along with the martyrdom of the apostles, and there's a section on the apostolic fathers. Mr. Cosby highlights in particular: Clement of Rome, Ignatius of Antioch, and Polycarp of Smyrna.
Creeds, Councils and Christ (A.D. 100-500) explains the impact made by Constantine, Gnosticism, Arianism, and the early ecumenical councils, particularly the First Council of Nicaea, the First Council of Constantinople, and the Council of Chalcedon. I love that the text of the amended Nicene Creed is included. The chapter finishes with short section on Augustine of Hippo and Jerome.
The Church in the Dark Ages (A.D. 500-1000) briefly explains the Dark Ages and why they deserve to be separated from a general discussion of the Middle Ages before highlighting the sack of Rome, the pope and papacy, and the rise of Islam. While this book is certainly written from a Protestant perspective, I think Mr. Cosby was very charitable in his discussion of the papacy. He explains why we don't accept Matthew 16:18 ("On this rock I will build my church") as an accurate interpretation to support the papacy and papal succession is not supported in Scripture. Yet, he describes the early papacy kindly, including many good points in the ministry of Gregory the Great. The turning point rests with Charlemagne. Islam is explained similarly – in a narrative format with some commentary, but certainly not in a dogmatic manner. I really appreciated that. I want our children to understand the theological differences, but I want them to learn those without venom.
Divide and Conquer (A.D. 1000-1300) does a good job of covering some key (confusing!) issues. Mr. Cosby writes about the split between the church in the East and West, monks and monasteries, the Crusades (talk about tough subject matter!), transubstantiation (whoa), and scholasticism. Again, the stories are told from a clearly Protestant standpoint, but they don't skirt the fault of those involved — even those claiming the name of Christ. In fact, one of the study questions is: "How would you respond to an atheist who says, 'Well, your religion isn't a religion of peace, just look at what you Christians did during the Crusades!'?" <– See what I mean? Critical thinking questions are so important at this age!
The Road to Reformation (A.D. 1300-1500) first discusses a number of issues that led to the unrest which contributed to the Reformation occurring at the time it did. Famine, the Black Death, superstitions, mysticism, spiritual and physical abuses of the Roman Catholic Church, moral corruption in the clergy, and indulgences all created a powder keg. Mr. Cosby briefly highlights a number of Reformers and scholars in this chapter including John Wycliffe, John Huss (or Jan Hus), Lorenzo Valla, Erasmus, Martin Luther and John Calvin.
In The Continental Reformation (A.D. 1500-1600), there is a more in-depth analysis of the contributions of Luther and Calvin, along with a brief explanation of the five "Solas" (common to most modern Protestant churches) and also "TULIP" or the Five Points of Calvinism. Even if a student's family isn't Reformed, it's important to understand that these exist. Mr. Cosby also briefly highlights the Council of Trent, and a few of Radical Reformation churches such as the Anabaptists.
The English Reformation and the Puritans (A.D. 1500-1700) covers the unique path taken in England with Henry VIII forming the Church of England, and the (sometimes bloody) legacy of his heirs. Elizabethan rule, the Puritans, and the King James Bible are all explained before the Scottish Reformation is explored. There is a brief biography of John Knox, an explanation of Charles I's war with his own Parliament, and the Westminster Confession of Faith. Mr. Cosby also explains the Great Persecution under Charles II and William and Mary.
With three chapters remaining in God's Story, we move into more recent history. Your students will begin to recognize the effects of these chapters in their own lives. Enlightenment and Awakening (A.D. 1700-1800) explores the move of Separatists to the United States and the rejection of institutional religion amongst a number of people in Europe. Mr. Cosby covers the Enlightenment and the rise of Deism, championed by Isaac Newton. He also explains Pietism and the efforts of Count Nicolaus Zinzendorf and the Moravian Brethren. Students will read about John Wesley and the Methodists, and The Great Awakening led by George Whitefield and Jonathan Edwards. He also covers David Brainerd and his missions work among the Native Americans as well as the work done by John Eliot.
Abandoning the Bible (A.D. 1800-1900) covers four departures from historical, Scriptural, orthodox Christian faith. The section on Revivalism covers the Second Great Awakening, Postmillennialism, revivalism as let by Charles Finney (and some of his departures from orthodoxy), the invention of Sunday School, abolitionism, and Dispensationalism. The section on Liberalism covers the Civil War, the rise of liberal theology and the rejection of the supernatural, the emphasis of "feeling" in religion, and the subsequent decrease of attendance in liberal churches (70%!) as they began to look just like the world. In the section on cults, students will learn of the invention of Mormonism and Jehovah's Witnesses. Lastly, they will read of Evolution; the theory is explained along with the impact. The end of the chapter highlights a few preachers who stood in opposition to the hijacking of the true gospel.
The last section in God's Story is Fundamentalism, Evangelicalism, and Global Christianity (A.D. 1900-Present). This section covers Fundamentalism and its emphasis on the non-negotiable pillars of the Christian faith as well as the Scopes "Monkey" Trial, Neo-orthodoxy and the emphasis on God's true nature, Pentacostalism and its many branches as well as the tendency toward emphasis on personal power, and Evangelicalism along with the rise of youth culture zeal and efforts to restore a theologically conservative Christianity.
God's Story: A Student's Guide to History is a brief, theologically conservative look at the history of the Christian Church for middle school and high school students. Brian Cosby, a minister in the Presbyterian Church of America, is interesting, relative, and charitable in his historical overview. Church history is important. It helps us identify trends, movements and departures from the historic Christian faith. I highly recommend this book for your family.
You can purchase God's Story: A Student's Guide to Church History at:
Amazon: God's Story: A Student's Guide to Church History
Christian Book: God's Story: A Student's Guide to Church History
Other books for students by Brian Cosby:
- Rebels Rescued: A Student's Guide to Reformed Theology
- David Brainerd: A Love for the Lost (Trailblazers)
- John Bunyan: Journey of a Pilgrim (Trailblazers)
Other books for older students reviewed on Thinking Kids:
- Backchat: Answering Christianity's Critics by Chris Sinkinson
- Water the Earth: A Student's Guide to Missions by Aaron Little
- Bitesize Theology: An ABC of the Christian Faith by Peter Jeffrey
- Titanic, the Ship of Dreams: John Harper by Robert Plant
- Questions God Asks by Israel Wayne
More Thinking Kids Posts You'll Love
When Lightning Struck!: The Story of Martin LutherWonderfully Made: God's Story of Life from Conception to BirthMy Book Log: A Notebooking JourneyBible Verse Coloring Pages for Teens {& Their Moms}Best Books About Prayer for FamiliesBible Story Books for Kids26 Fabulous Christian Picture Books for ChildrenChristian Children's Books about the Birds and the BeesBooks about the Bible for Kids and TeensBooks of the Bible BookmarksBuild Your Library of Christian Children's BooksThe Absolutely Enormous List of Christian History Books | By Grade and Time PeriodBest Books on the ReformationColoring Books for Christian TeensWays to Get YOUR Kids Reading BooksChristian Books for Girls | Real Life HeroesChristian Books for Boys | Real Life Heroes10 Faith-Growing Christian Books for Your Teen to ReadAwesome Christian Books for Children They Won't Put DownChristian Children's Books about the Birds and the BeesBooks on Christian Dating for Your TeenChristian Magazines for Teens that They'll LoveChristian Magazines for Kids that Moms Love and Kids Read!History Coloring Books for Kids
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|Picture by Tami Bahat
The song is taken from the LA band's EP Lights, which is due out very soon.
It was produced by Jason LaRocca and mastered by Grammy winner Erick Labson.
For more on the band visit theactiveset.com or check out the Q&A the band did with RealSoundsOK at the end of last year here.
And you can listen to Actual Factual at soundcloud.com/theactiveset/actual-factual

subset: commoncrawl


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Take the next step as a runner with this easy-to-use GPS watch that tracks how far, how fast and how long you're running. Stay connected on your runs with call and text alerts when paired with a smartphone.
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- Up to 8 hours (small) or 10 hours (large) of battery life with GPS on or 8 weeks (small) or 10 weeks (large) in watch/activity tracking mode
- Save, plan and share your activities at Garmin Connect™
- Watch Only model includes: Forerunner 25, Charging/data cable, and Owner's Manual
Train with More HeartHeart rate compatibility allows you to train with heart rate zones so you know when to push it on that last mile or when to reign it in. It also provides more accurate information about your calories burned.
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Get ConnectedWith a paired compatible smartphone or a simple computer connection, you can upload your activities to our free online fitness community, Garmin Connect. Here, you can see your run on a map, get more detail on each mile, see a daily summary of your activities and share with friends. You can also join online challenges and earn virtual badges for extra motivation. Additional connected features include live tracking, where you can let your family and friends follow your run in real time.
Additional Information
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Thunder God Tribe & Ichiya Vandalay Kotobuki vs. Wall Eehto is a fight fought between one of Fairy Tail's strongest teams: the Thunder God Tribe; and Blue Pegasus Mage Ichiya Vandalay Kotobuki, and Wall Eehto of the Spriggan 12.
After Ajeel spearheads the Alvarez Empire's assault on Magnolia, and thus Fairy Tail,[1] Wall leads his own assault on the ground; he rips open a hole in Freed's Jutsu Shiki barrier, which allows him and his subordinates to enter Magnolia, though he remarks that the strength of Freed's barrier almost gave him some trouble, finishing his thought with the promise that he will show Fairy Tail the might of Alvarez.[2] Wall then oversees his minions as they do battle with Gray and Juvia, and ultimately Elfman, Lisanna and Mirajane Strauss; however, when the latter uses her Mirajane Seilah Take Over, and subsequently the Curse Macro, to put the majority of Wall's squadron to sleep, Wall takes notice of the usage of Curse Power and thinks Mirajane to be one of Emperor Spriggan's toys.[3] A bit later, when Ajeel is pressured to the point of using Sand World in his fight with Erza above the skies of Magnolia, Wall recognizes the attack as belonging to Ajeel and finds amusement in the idea that someone has pressured him into using it.[4]
After Ajeel is defeated and the sandstorm subsides, five machines stand in the setting dust; the five machines attack, with one of them revealing the ability to negate Juvia's Water Body by releasing an excess of heat from its fist. In response, Gray tries to attack that machine, but another one melts his Ice-Make with extremely hot flames, and Gray notices that Elfman and Lisanna are up against fast and incredibly durable robots, respectively, and Gray realizes that the robots they are fighting were made specifically to counter their own weaknesses. Gray then wonders why Mirajane would have a robot and turns around to find out what her weakness could possibly be, and sees that it's a robot with Elfman's face on it that is continuously hitting her (much to her protest), causing him to cry out in shock as she isn't fighting back against a clearly fake robot.[5]
At this point, Elfman questions how the enemy could be aware of their weakness so readily, and Wall reveals that it is due to his Magic, Weakness, that allows him to construct soldiers to exploit the weaknesses of his enemies, additionally citing that he has the power to look into the good and bad of humans. With this, Wall resolves to leave his Weakness Soldiers to slaughter those in front of him, and then subsequently leaves to deal with the creator of the Jutsu Shiki barrier that is currently encompassing the town.[6]
In the Kardia Cathedral, Freed struggles yet still to maintain his barrier, but Evergreen and Bickslow encourage him by stating that Bisca and Erza took out one of the Spriggan 12 and that the fleet attacking the city from the West is almost wiped out. At that moment, Wall arrives at the cathedral and mentions that Ajeel was a shame upon the 12; his arrival surprises Bickslow and Evergreen, and Freed tells them to cover for him as when he uses a high-rank Jutsu Shiki, he can't move. For the glory of the name "Thunder God Tribe", Bickslow and Evergreen resolve to do so, but Wall says that he says that he sees through their weaknesses and creates Weakness Soldiers to deal with them. Bickslow starts off by attacking with his Line Formation, but the soldier he is fighting utilizes White Magic and removes the souls from Bickslow's dolls, after which he punches him away. Evergreen, meanwhile, attempts to use Fairy Bomb: Gremlin, but her soldier releases mist that weighs down her scale dust, after which it, too, hits her away. Freed reminds them to use their Eye Magic since their regular Magic is ineffective, but it doesn't work on the soldiers; Freed tells them to aim for Wall, and Evergreen tries to use Stone Eyes on him, but it is ineffective, as he reveals himself to be a Machias, and therefore is not human. With everyone shocked, the Weakness Soldiers are suddenly struck by lightning, and the Thunder God Tribe begins to rejoice, believing Laxus to have arrived, but they ultimately left dumbfounded when they see that it is Ichiya, who is confidently remarking upon the effectiveness of his Thunder Perfume on the machines.[7]
Bickslow and Evergreen wonder aloud as to why Ichiya is there; Ichiya questions if they have forgotten their treatment of him, but says that before that matter is dealt with, he will deal with the "ruffian". As Freed shamefully realizes he almost mistook Ichiya for Laxus, Wall moves to analyze Ichiya to get his weakness, but ends up loading an analysis error, as Ichiya has too many weaknesses. Ichiya then goes on to state that even though it was for a short while, the Thunder God Tribe were part of Blue Pegasus, therefore they are part of his family, and that he will not forgive anyone who harms his family. Ichiya then calls for Wall to smell his overwhelming perfume, but Wall tells Ichiya he does not have a function that detects smells, and Ichiya realizes that Wall is a robot and wouldn't have a nose to begin with.[8]
Wall lunges toward Ichiya and knocks him down, claiming that his overabundance of weaknesses caused him to hesitate, but that it ultimately makes him just pathetically weak. He then turns around and deals with Bickslow (while Evergreen still struggles against her Weakness Soldier); Ichiya however, is not down yet, and directly inhales his Thunder Perfume to execute his Justice Thunder Men to deal with the supposed electricity weakness that the robots have. When Wall is hit, Freed appears impressed with Ichiya, but Wall reveals that he has overcome his weakness to electricity and executes his Voltex Charge to absorb the lightning and change to a stronger, more powerful form; the stress of the form change damages the cathedral, and as Ichiya, Bickslow and Evergreen are damaged by the explosion and blown away, Freed marvels at the existence of a machine like Wall that can alter his form and augment his physical strength to new heights.[9]
Upon seeing his form change, the Thunder Gods realize that Laxus would've been the absolute worst person to fight Wall; Freed removes his Jutsu Shiki barrier to enter the fray, but Laxus finds Warren and yells at Freed telepathically to not undo his runes as the attack from the West has not ceased. Freed instantly re-erects his barrier, and Wall taunts the Mage by pointing out that Freed dispelled his runes without hesitation to prevent himself from being killed. Laxus then demands Freed's status and says that he's coming to back him up, but Freed tells Laxus to stay away, as the Thunder God Tribe exists to protect the whole guild.[10]
Bickslow and Evergreen begin to fight back against Wall, but the Weakness Soldiers attack them yet again, but Elfman tells Evergreen via Warren's Telepathy to just switch soldiers with Bickslow, as they have done the same at their location and are winning. With Ichiya lying on the ground, cursing his weakness, Evergreen and Bickslow switch robots and easily defeat them; Wall, however, walks over to Freed and prepares to blast his head off, but Natsu chimes in and tells Freed that the Western forces have been completely eliminated. Freed smiles and states that he expected nothing less of Natsu; with Ichiya rising to assist, Freed tells Wall that he can now fight to his heart's content, and together with Ichiya, their Dark Écriture: Absolute Shadow and Power Perfume: Max Men tears right through Wall, causing him to explode in defeat.[11]
With Wall defeated, Bickslow and Evergreen announce their chagrin towards Ichiya stealing their limelight, whilst Laxus smiles at Freed overtaking his opponent. Concurrently, Gray's group has taken care of their Weakness Soldiers, and Wendy lets everyone know that Erza will be fine after some rest; Lucy tells them that they managed to capture one of the Spriggan 12, even though it was due to sheer dumb luck, while Cana says that they're bringing her back to the guild. At the guild building, the Fairies rejoice at their ability to withstand Alvarez's first assault, with Makarov recognizing their survival and Mavis praising their performance. However, amidst all the joyful commotion, Wall's disembodied head smiles and begins to maliciously chuckle.[12]
After, when banter between Ichiya and the Thunder God Tribe ends, Ichiya walks over to Wall Eehto's disembodied head and stomps on it repeatedly; Freed notices that the head is preparing something and yells for Ichiya to watch out. The head explodes, but Ichiya is saved by the Thunder God Tribe, who use their bodies to protect him from the dangerous explosion. The Thunder Gods remark that by saving Ichiya they're even, and Freed tells him that to them, he is family too, causing Ichiya to shed tears.[13]
Meanwhile, 30km off the coast of Hargeon Town, a man is laughing on the ground aboard Dimaria's ship, and she tells him to silence himself. The man, revealed to be the main body of Eehto, remarks over his own laughter that things have become interesting and that the battle exceeded even his own calculations. Dimaria asks if he broke the puppet version of himself (something Wall affirms) but he says that he expected as much, adding that what really makes him laugh is that Brandish was captured and Ajeel was defeated, which causes Dimaria to chuckle as well. Wall then says that he got a laugh out of their failures, and says that Fairy Tail is impressive; Dimaria responds that they forced the emperor to deploy his whole army to fight them, but Wall declares that what isn't funny is that their army is being made fun of by the guild and attacks the guild from over 400km away with his Super Long Distance Anti-Material Magic Cannon. Right before it can destroy the guild, however, Ichiya puts the Christina in its line of fire, resulting in its destruction but thus protecting Fairy Tail. Ichiya then engages Christina's communications feature to make a broadcast to all the other major guilds across Fiore, letting them know of Alvarez's attack on Fairy Tail and Ishgar.[14]
- ↑ Fairy Tail Manga: Chapter 453, Pages 17-18
- ↑ Fairy Tail Manga: Chapter 455, Pages 14-15
- ↑ Fairy Tail Manga: Chapter 456, Pages 7-12
- ↑ Fairy Tail Manga: Chapter 458, Page 8
- ↑ Fairy Tail Manga: Chapter 459, Pages 8-12
- ↑ Fairy Tail Manga: Chapter 459, Page 13
- ↑ Fairy Tail Manga: Chapter 459, Pages 14-22
- ↑ Fairy Tail Manga: Chapter 460, Pages 2-5
- ↑ Fairy Tail Manga: Chapter 460, Pages 6-10
- ↑ Fairy Tail Manga: Chapter 460, Pages 11-13
- ↑ Fairy Tail Manga: Chapter 460, Pages 13-18
- ↑ Fairy Tail Manga: Chapter 460, Pages 18-19
- ↑ Fairy Tail Manga: Chapter 461, Pages 2-8
- ↑ Fairy Tail Manga: Chapter 461, Pages 9-19


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On behalf of Guidestone's Staff and Board of Directors, we would like to extend a resounding thank you to everyone in the community who participated in our 9th Annual Pumpkin Patch & Harvest Festival, the weekend of October 9-11. Gorgeous weather set the stage for a fantastic weekend of fun activities, and an amazing turn out of festival-goers of all ages. We are grateful to all the attendees, volunteers, sponsors and partners that helped make the weekend a success!
After all of the planning leading up to the event, it is always so exciting to finally open up the gates and watch the weekend unfold. Highlights of the event stand out to me through a variety of sensory images.
Some of my favorites include:
~The chug of Dennis Fischer's old John Deere tractor coming and going from the entrance areas, and the jingle of bells on the draft horse team's harness. These both add a quaintness and beauty to the surrounding landscape that evoke an agricultural lifestyle, and are icon's of our agricultural heritage.
~The beauty of the site itself! Sunlight brightening the contrasting colors of golden Cottonwood trees against blue sky, bright orange pumpkins against the yellow-green of pasture grass, and the South Arkansas River flowing by it all. The Hutchinson Ranch is a gem of agricultural open space, and we are so grateful to the Hutchinson Family for sharing their ranch with the community through this event.
~The sights and sounds of a community celebrating the season together. The laughter of children in the maze, the smiles on freshly-painted cheeks, parental cheers as children try to catch that apple on a string ('No hands, Mom!'), toes tapping to live music, the neigh of a pony with a bright-eyed youngster on its back, the smell of fresh-pressed apples and warm apple cider, the warmth of volunteers as they share the event with attendees young and old, a child endeavoring to carry a pumpkin much too big for their little arms.
These are just snippets of images that combined, all weave together to create a beautiful harvest festival tapestry!
The Pumpkin Patch & Harvest Festival is Guidestone's largest fundraiser of the year. Proceeds from the Pumpkin Patch support the delivery of education programs, continued preservation efforts, and general operations of the Hutchinson Homestead and Learning Center, Guidestone's homebase of operations.
Thank you again to all of the sponsors, donors, and volunteers who support the event. And a special thanks to all of this year's attendees – we couldn't do it without you!


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Numerous travellers pick areas to see after summer time when the roads are a lot less busy and they are not full of tourists. 1 of the areas which is very popular in fall is Poland. The article will show one of the places which must be considered if you prepare the trip to poland. Everyone should visit poland while his/her lifetime. Poland is full of awesome areas to visit and it is very various – every corner of Poland is various.
Źródło: http://www.flickr.com
If you want to visit Poland (sightseeing in Poland),the place which is perfect to stay in every season is Gdansk. Gdansk is situated in west part of Poland, by the Baltic Sea. There are assorted, various reasons why it is a good idea to visit the town. First of all, the town is full of history. In this destination, the 2nd World War began when the German military attacked Westerplatte. Nowadays, the tourists can observe the monument which symbolizes the events which took place over 70 years ago. Furthermore, there are lots of galleries which present history of the town. Second cause to see Gdansk is the marketplace which is described to be 1 of the most beautiful markets in Europe.
It was restored newly and for that cause, it is really worth to go to it! Furthermore, every summertime holidays (starting mid June to mid Aug) at Gdansk's marketplace is arranged St. Dominic's fair where men and females from Poland – mostly sculptures, antique dealers and artists offer their products and items which seems to be undesired or unloved. The sellers provide them 2nd lives! The 3rd advantage of going to Gdansk is the natural wonder of the town which is located by the Baltic Sea. There are a lot of awesome, sandy and clean beaches. But you should also see the capital city of Poland – Warsaw, which has a lot of brilliant monuments – here.
Additionally, if the weather is fantastic, you will sunbath and swim in the water (the most ideal moment to make it is from June to June when is summertime in Poland). To summarize, the trip to Poland will be a wonderful concept for everyone who is bored with contemporary and crowded cities. Look on example trip: clicked. Poland could provide far more than other countries. Arrive and discover oneself!


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Wedding Guide in Eilean Siar: Discover here the indispensable guide to organising your wedding as you have always imagined. All companies in Eilean Siar specialising in weddings: the best professionals in receptions, wedding venues and event planners; classic dresses or the latest trends from top designers; all the necessary details for your civil or religious wedding; and any supplier and specialist you might need to plan your dream wedding.
The Cabarfeidh Hotel is a popular wedding venue that blends modern and traditional features. Located in Stornoway, the hotel has hosted more than thirty plus weddings. A stunning venue flaunting inviting interiors, spacious event spaces suitable for hosting big and small functions, offers... (Weddings Eilean Siar)
Aperture Lane Photography by Lesley-Anne have been a passionate about photography since 2008. Lesley-Anne started with film photography and developing her own work in the dark room. Shooting on digital now she aims to pull from her traditional roots, making your portfolio of digital images emulate... (Weddings Eilean Siar)
The stunning gothic revival style castle has been a centre of activity and intrigue since the early 19th century. Overlooking Stornoway harbour, built in the mid 1800's by Sir James Matheson, Lews Castle is one of the most iconic and romantic places to get married in the U.K. It's not difficult to... (Weddings Eilean Siar)
Talla na Mara has developed a fantastic reputation for being one of the most romantic locations to tie the knot in the UK. Located on the edge of the Atlantic, surrounded by golden sandy beaches and vast expanses of rich Machair flowers Talla na Mara offers a unique and intimate setting for your... (Weddings Eilean Siar)


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This page contains Amazon International Buy Links!
These links will direct you to your Amazon store. Just click.
River City novels are full-length and have a touch of heat. The glue that holds this series together is the city. River City is a fictional, mid-sized city in the mid-Atlantic area of the USA. Many of the characters know each other or are loosely connected. They do not need to be read in order. Join the fun and meet these young people as they work their way through today's problems and find their true love.
Businessman Mac McGuire fell head over heels in love with Amanda Conner. His money has always gotten him what he wanted, but not this time. He's trying to rescue her from the poverty and violence of River City's housing projects and pull her into his glamorous world of downtown high-rises and opulence. Mac is used to risking everything and winning, but he realizes that wanting Amanda could cost him everything. Is that a price he's willing to pay?
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When Patrick Makowllen, a conservative investment adviser takes in the gifted artist Dallas Nixon, she destroys his budget, turns his life upside down, and tarnishes his sterling reputation. In spite of the chaos, she colors his life with more love and passion then he ever dreamed possible.
Thrown out of her home on her eighteenth birthday, Dallas winds up on Patrick's doorstep. He used to be the boy next door, but he'd grown up and moved downtown. All she needs is a safe place to stay. What he gives her is respect and a place to spread her wings.
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Tate Zaro is feisty and ambitious; and she is has a problem. She quit her job, then fell in love with the handsome Ari Bia, but children and marriage are not in her plans. The job she takes comes with a bare subsistent income that holds promise of great rewards in the future, but she doesn't like her new boss. Then toss in an unexpected pregnancy and a problem at work that could cause her to lose that job. Can it get any worse? Will she ever find her happily ever after?
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When Letitzia Sorrentino's father dies, she's left with her dad's construction company, but she really wants to be a developer. Family infighting gives her the chance to break out on her own, except she needs more money, and Jeffery Lister has exactly what she wants.
Jeffery Lister is an obstetrician with an understaffed, time-consuming practice. He doesn't look at women like other men, until he sees Letitzia.
Letitzia wants a no strings attached relationship. She has her own agenda, and is busy building a new development company. She needs Jeffery Lister's money, but she doesn't want his heart, and she refuses to open her own. A hardhat world of steel beams and dirt has given her a tough, foul-mouthed exterior, but under all of it, she's very much a passionate woman, and it shows in everything she does. To her life is a game, and winning is everything. If you don't play, you automatically lose.
Jeffery Lister is a doctor and it's his passion. He'd love to have a wife and children, but he doesn't have time for them, and he knows it. Letitzia awakens something inside of him and he sees through Letitzia's hard façade. But getting her to admit that the sparks that fly between them is more than physical is going to a lot of patience.
Can two very strong, independent people with busy schedules ever admit to loving each other, especially when one has had her heart broken and is determined never to allow that to happen again?
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Talk about a mess! It's not Gerald's baby, it's Joey's. Katie is a chubby redhead. Her parents are divorced, and she's been pulled between her parents in custody battles for years. Her mother is a Democrat, and her father and stepmother are Republicans. They are not going to be happy with Katie, but she's done being pulled. She's trying to stand on her own two feet, and she's going to do what's right for her son. Joey is brilliant, handsome, and his mom was 1/2 black. He's kicked Katie out and denies paternity. Gerald Olsen looks like a Nordic god, all blond and blue-eyed. He's also heir to the Riverton Chemical & Petroleum Company. But Gerald falls in love with Katie, and he's not choosing between body parts. He wants her and the son she's carrying.
Amazon International Buy Links.
When Trent Callahan brings his dinosaur-loving son to the River City Museum, Cassie Jones, curator of the museum, falls head-over-heels in love with the boy and his father. But Cassie's love drags Trent deep into her tangled web of city politics, drives a wedge between him and his mom, and shows him that history is far from boring and dreams are worth chasing.
Widowed at nineteen, Trent has been a model father to his son, thanks to the help of his mom, but his mother doesn't like the idea of her son falling for Cassie. Determined to break them up, his mom is going to do anything she can to protect her son, grandson, and herself from interference by another woman.
Does Trent dare to find personal happiness and dream once again? Or is life going to hold him to the grindstone he set in motion as a teen? Except this time, he has a son's heart to consider.
Amazon International Buy Links.
Brad Shoemaker was blindsided when he discovered that love could be silent, and Kathryn "Ryn" Demary is mute. But when Mayor Bruno Giovanni is forced into early retirement, he chooses Brad to run in his place. Ryn is determined to campaign at Brad's side, but instead of being an asset, she just might be his biggest liability. Ryn finds herself campaigning not just for Brad to become mayor but also for his love. Politics can get dirty and Ryn's caught in the middle.
Amazon International Buy Links.


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NEEL Trimarans
NEEL Overview
NEEL Trimarans designs and builds world-class cruising trimarans. Founded and managed by Eric Bruneel, NEEL Trimarans is based in France's sailing capital, La Rochelle. NEEL Trimarans surrounds itself with the best equipment and service suppliers for the construction of its trimarans.
Eric Bruneel, Entrepreneur
Eric Bruneel has more than 30 years of experience in the design and construction of multihulls, of which 26 (1983-2009) were devoted to the development of Fountaine Pajot catamarans, the world leader of cruising catamarans, whose 2000th unit was delivered in August 2009 and is listed on Alternex Paris New York Stock Exchange in June 2007. Eric was the Export and General Manager of the company where he took an active part in each catamaran's design and construction.
In 2003, he designed and built the fifty-foot trimaran Trilogic aboard which he won his class in the OSTAR 2004 solo transatlantic race as well as the 2005 Rolex Fastnet Race. He also placed second in the 2006 Route du Rhum.
It is the combination of these experiences in the world of yachting and racing that led to Eric's original concept of creating the ultimate fast and comfortable cruising trimaran.
NEEL Construction
An in-depth study:
To optimise structural integrity, NEEL trimarans collaborated with TENSYL with whom they have previously worked on the structure of the racing trimaran Trilogic.
TENSYL specialises in the structural design of multihull racing and cruising composites. Sampling is determined from the most critical cases of offshore loading on the structure, for example, catching a wave at high speed or sailing with the wind on the beam.
The analysis programs transmit relevant information that are compared to nominal values in the specs. Colour displays are particularly instructive in sample determination. The overall research programme aims to define type and quantity of construction materials best suited to each zone in order to eliminate unnecessary weight and apply suitable safety margins to load bearing elements. www.tensyl.com
Optimised construction:
NEEL trimarans are manufactured with materials and techniques best suited to their use, combining strength, rigidity and weight reduction. Hull, floats, bridges and roof are made in vacuum bonded PVC/foam and glass fibre/ isophthalic polyester resin sandwich structural material.
The boards are fabricated from honeycomb PVC, vacuum bonded with glass fibre/isophthalic polyester resin structural material.
Fibreglass is stratified according to a sampling plan determined by finite element structural analysis gained from experience in the construction of racing craft and offshore cruising. Depending on their role in the structure of the trimaran, the type and number of glass fibres are either unidirectional, bidirectional, 0 ° / 90 ° or bi-directional 45 ° / 45 °, TAFTA, roving or twill.
Phonic and thermal insulation, along with floatation (unsinkability) are provided by the interior of PVC foam sandwich laminates. This closed-cell foam is perfect for the marine environment being virtually insensitive to moisture.
Rigging and sails are designed and produced by multihull specialists in La Rochelle.
Interior coverings (linings, floor, upholstery) have all been rigorously tested in oceanic conditions before being selected for each NEEL trimaran.


text: I'm working on a custom chassis for my ST120. In the process, I'm going to use dual rectifiers and regulate the B+ voltage. The electrical grid at my home fluctuates wildly throughout the day (anywhere from 114 to 131 VAC) so I think regulating the power supply may help with the fluctuations. What I need to know is what would be the ideal B+ voltage supplied to the VTA board. Also, how much current is being drawn by the board through the B+ supply? I did notice that the power transformer gets a bit warm. I was curious as to the bias supply from the transformer. Is the bias supply a tap off of the main secondary or its own separate winding? If it is a simple tap off of the main secondary, I was going to add a separate bias supply transformer rated to 300mA to take some of the stress off of the main transformer. Any thoughts?


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We know, we know. You've got so many canvas totes from 10K runs, that Clinique makeup you bought, your daughter's gymnastics class, the list goes on and on. And on. But what else do we know? You don't use any of them. And let's be blunt: It's because they're not cute. So recycle those babies and grab one of these. Not only are they eco friendly, they'll catch everyone's eye at Trader Joe's. Why? Well, they're anything but plain and they're totally chic. Plus, the black fabric means you can spill, splatter and yes, splash all over them without worrying about stains. Glam, gorgeous and practical? If only every shopping trip could look this good. Pick up one of these and you'll be the coolest girl at the grocery store.
Save: Madewell Reusable Bien Fait Tote ($5)
Steal: Ban.Do Fries Before Guys Canvas Tote ($20)
Splurge: Rosanna Oui/Non Canvas Tote ($30)
Images courtesy Nordstrom and Madewell


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Lumbalgia y Discopatía
Low back pain is a term for pain in the lower back caused by a musculoskeletal syndrome; that is, disorders related to the lumbar vertebrae and soft tissue structures such as muscles, ligaments, nerves and intervertebral discs. It originates from different causes and forms, the most common being muscle contracture due to physical over exertion or poor posture.
There are other sources or types of back pain: facet or joint pain in the back of the vertebrae, which produces a specific discomfort characterised by hyperextension pain in the spine (bending backwards). Another type of back pain is the discogenic, where the intervertebral disc has a lesion or discopathy that generates a diffuse pain that is aggravated by flexing the spine (bending forward).
Other sources of pain would be the compression of a nerve root, where a hernia or arthrosis compresses the exit of the nerves that go towards the legs (pain irradiated towards the legs) known as sciatica, the dysfunction of the sacro-iliac joints, or pain emanated by any organsreflecting their dysfunction in the lower back such as the kidneys or the small intestine.
What is the operation of a lumbar discopathy?
The type of surgical operation will depend on the type of discopathy or underlying disease that the patient suffers from. It will be necessary to individualise each case according to the findings of the clinic and the imaging tests performed.In general terms, some guidelines could be:
Young patients with a discopathy of one or two levels, with a decrease in the height of the disc where the lumbar pain predominates with respect to the pain irradiated to the leg: anterior lumbar disc prosthesis.
Patients with instability between two vertebrae demonstrated by X-rays in flexion and extension where there is an anomalous movement: placement of screws in the vertebrae and intervertebral box replacing the disc to perform an arthrodesis or posterior immobilisation of said vertebrae.
Patients with a spondylolisthesis (one vertebra displaced forward or backward with respect to the other) with instability: placement of screws in the vertebrae and intervertebral box replacing the disc, to perform an arthrodesis or immobilisation of said vertebrae.
Recommended treatments for non-specific low back pain
Most episodes of low back pain are solved with conservative treatment, that is, with analgesic medication, relative rest and,in the face of persistent pain or repeated episodes, physiotherapy.
There are a series of general recommendations to take into account:
• Avoid bed rest – recommendations based on the available scientific evidence coincide in discouraging bed rest as a treatment for back pain. In some patientsthe intensity of pain may force them to stay in bed for a few days, usually no more than 3, especially when there is irradiated pain. But that must be considered a consequence of pain and avoided when possible. It is therefore not a treatment, since it has no beneficial effect on the duration of the episode.
• Avoid overloading your back –do not bend over with your backbut by flexing your legs.
• Do not sit on soft low surfaces like sofas and armchairs.
• Weight reduction – overweight is directly related to low back pain so, if it exists, a weight-loss diet is recommended.
• First-line drugs – painkillers, minor opiates, anti-inflammatory drugs and muscle relaxants (for no more than 5-10 days) as long as there is no contraindication.
• Application of local heat – the application of dry heat in the lumbar area is still recommended. Although its final efficacy is not evaluated, it seems to calm the pain even if it is unknown whether it improves low back pain or not. In any case, it should not be done excessively or repeatedly (maximum twice a day - 20 minutes, or three times -15 minutes).
• Exercise – in general it should be avoided during acute crises.
• Second line drugs –some antidepressants can help alleviate chronic low back pain.
• Psychological treatment (cognitive-behavioural) –in patients with long-term or intense chronic low back pain.
• Third line drugs –major opiates (tramadol,tapentadol, morphine, oxycodone). Only for patients with intense exacerbations of chronic low back pain that do not respond to other treatments.
• Rehabilitation / physiotherapy treatment.
• Facet infiltrations or rhizolysis – incases of chronic or persistent low back pain where there is a mechanical discomfortwhen standing or sitting for a long time, or when it is aggravated by hyperextension of the spine, it may be indicated to treat the nerve that picks up the sensitivity of the inflamed vertebrae's posterior joints.
• Surgical intervention – in case of persistent lumbago due to discopathy without pain irradiated to any leg, having ruled out a major cause (vertebral fracture, infection, tumour), an operation will be indicated only in strictly necessary cases and for patients who have performed a correct medical and physiotherapy treatment for a period of more than 6 months.
Lumbar Arthrodesis: Post-operative course
When the head practitioner decides the discharge, you will receive a clinical report detailing the characteristics of your illness, the type of intervention performed and the treatment to be followed at home. Likewise, it will be sent to Neurosurgery Outpatients within a specific period, in order to follow up on the evolution of your case. Recovery could be lengthy after a lumbar arthrodesis operation; sometimes you should wait up to 6 months to resumeyour normal activity. Initially you may need several medications to keep pain at bay and sometimes rehabilitation sessions could be requested to facilitate a correct recovery.
Advice after discharge from hospital
The postoperative recovery period is variable and can range from one to six months. Below you will be given a series of useful tips during the first month after surgery. Remember that during this time you should try to keep physical and mental rest, avoid trips and journeys, and take the series of measures listed below:
Usually the patient operated on a lumbar arthrodesis is discharged between 4-7 days if there are no complications. This should not make you believe that when you go home everything is over – you must accept that you will continue the period of hospitalisation at your home for at least one more week. Take the medication exactly as prescribed by your surgeon.
If you are receiving any other treatment for any other disease, you should continue to do so unless you are instructed otherwise. The surgical wound should be kept clean and dry. You can shower, with assistance, and then dry well with a sterile pad or gauze, brush the wound with povidone-iodine (PVP-I, Betadine) and finally cover the wound with sterile dressing. Please be very careful when in the shower. Skin sutures should be removed after seven days of surgery.In case of reoperation, wait at least 14 days.
Try not to sit in low chairs or seats for a period of two weeks. Avoid a sofa if yourback is not going to be completely straight. You may sit on a high stool, or place one or two cushions on a chair, preferably with armrests. During the first week you should alternate periods where you sit on a comfortable chair, 5-10 minute walksaround your house and bed rest. Do not leave home until sutures are removed.
From the second week on, walk for brief periods of time (15 min.) every day, progressively increasing the distances. Do not travel by car or other means of transport during these two weeks (except to go to a health centre or visit the doctor). The first month you will find yourself more comfortable with a lumbar belt. You must place it when you get up – there's no need to use it in bed. Try not to get too used to wearing the girdle as you should do without it after a month.
You will feel more and more recovered. It is possible that some residual symptoms– in the form of tingling or lack of sensitivity – persist in the leg(s), or that you notice pain in the lumbar region when moving. Keep in mind that complete healing requires between 6 and 8 weeks. Be patient.
The wound must be completely healed and will not require any dressing but, if you wish, you may place a piece of gauze over the scar to avoid rubbing with your clothes.
Start leaving home and walking increasingly long journeys, always on flat terrain and with sports shoes.Avoid stairs and slopes. Avoid unpaved roads. At the end of the fourth week you should go to the doctor's practice for a review.


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I'm a technologist raised in the humanities, so when the worlds of tech and art overlap I sometimes notice life imitating art and so on.
Author Archives: joeredhead
In awe of Oscar Hammerstien II
Sometimes it's surprising what makes you emotional.
This past rainy Saturday a visiting friend I took a trip to the New York MOMA. The big attraction this weekend was the Matisse découpages, but we also stumbled into special exhibition of the work of Robert Gober, who did a lot of conceptual (sometimes jolting) statuary and installation pieces. He also had a simple piece where he framed what appeared to be a torn out page from some Sound of Music libretto which contained simply the lyrics to the song Climb Ev'ry Mountain.
For anyone who has watched the Sound of Music on stage or the (amazing) Julie Andrews movie, the Climb Ev'ry Mountain song feels like a BIG moment. It's beautiful, it's inspiring, and it's a turning point in the story for Maria von Trapp. I also feel like it's the high point in the show that was a high point in the careers of two of America's greatest artists.
Here's what was startling when I saw the art piece. It's so short and so dense. The entire lyrics of the song are about 8 lines. And some of those repeat. It's literally shorter than this blog post, yet has had a huge impact on our culture.
This framed page made me read the lines so carefully and appreciate the craft of lyric writing so much more. Just in case that experience can be repeated or shared to you, the reader, here's the 8 stanzas that made me teary eyed. No copyright infringement intended.
Climb every mountain, search high and low,
Follow every highway, every path you know.
Climb every mountain, ford every stream,
Follow every rainbow, 'till you find your dream.
A dream that will need all the love you can give,
Every day of your life for as long as you live.
Climb every mountain, ford every stream,
Follow every rainbow, till you find your dream.
Guacamole Tour
I have a friend that sort of materialized out of nowhere in my life. I think that he maybe messaged me on facebook or twitter asking about… a trip I was on? I'm not sure, it's fuzzy.
But anyway, after talking for a bit we ended up making plans to meet for coffee, and the coffee shop he chose was a kind of cool, indy place called Kahve in Hell's Kitchen. I remarked about how cool the shop was and he said that it was on a list of 10 best coffee shops that had been in a magazine article (New York Magazine I think). And just like that, we agreed to go to all 10 coffee places. One per month! Along the way we added two more so we could celebrate a complete year of coffee which I have slowly become addicted to in my mid-late 20s.
And these coffee trips got more and more elaborate until we were pairing the coffees with museums and shopping trips in both Manhattan and Brooklyn. I think the furthest I went was cafe grumpy of the HBO "Girls" fame.
Well, it's over a year since that first trip. and we've completed 12 coffee dates in 12 months. But now, since we don't want to stop hanging out, we've made a simple shift! and so begins 1 full year of Guacamole. So far we've only been to Dos Caminos and had their Spicy Mango Guacamole (delicious, but gimmicky). Today will be Mesa Coyoacan, in Williamsburg. I can't wait to try it. We've been trying to come up with names for this adventure. So far I have Guacapalooza, or Woodsguac (woodstock). More names to follow. 🙂
Icy Gays and Super Powers
This Sunday Justin and I actually canceled plans to watch our DVR'd Doctor Who episode and instead accepted an invitation to watch the VMAs with a group of gays down the block. I have loved music award shows for many years after I realized that I almost always have a stake (that is to say favorites) for this type of award show, compared to the Academy Awards or the Emmys (where I usually have seen nothing).
The other reason we were excited about this invitation is that the party was in the super-fancy building on the corner of our block- luxury living for sure, and we wanted to get a peek at that! 🙂
It was a very beautiful apartment, and a very beautiful group. Everyone was young, toned, fashionable. Probably all of them were younger than me. They were not, however, outgoing. When we walked in one of the pretty guys who we knew best came over and hugged us, but the other 8 people in the room stayed firmly planted in their seats and merely glanced at us before directing their attention back to an announcer who I didn't recognize on the screen.
We floated toward the TV and after a few moments when two got up to get more drinks I made the first step and introduced myself. Conversation didn't really flow from there.
After settling into the circle I tried starting some conversation up again. "Hi, I'm Joe" I offered a handshake to one of the guys. "Hi" is all I got back. I decided that I was definitely going to make each of them shake my hand. "What's ~your~ name?" I pressed with what I hoped sounded like super-friendly interest, but it kind of sounded like I was 1st grade teacher.
After each of them accepted my introduction- including one wearing a black caftan, which he described as "just something simple" when I asked about his outfit- we returned to watching the show. There were general exclamations of "yas, gurl!" and "get it!", everyone was making A Lot of noise, but I still felt like nobody was getting to know each other. This went on for about 15 minutes.
Now I'm am fresh off a trip to Provincetown where the week's theme was Comic Books, so I've had 7 recent days of super heroes wandering around drunk and making jokes. Perhaps the most perfect, true joke I heard the entire week was someone saying that their super-power was breaking the ice. And even now when I think about that (pickup) line, I laugh because actually Ice-breaking is a great super power!
So I pressed on, asking each boy about themselves, remarking about the performances. It took a lot of work but I think I was slowly melting down these icy guys into conversation. But it wasn't until I pulled out the mother of all music conversation bombs (Ariana Grande as the next Mariah Carey?) that I truly got big full responses from the group. There was discussion, and argument, and sharing, and reminiscing, and everyone just ended up talking about how Mariah Carey is one of a kind. It was everything that I needed. So thank you Mariah, a hero does lie in you, and your power in any gay group is breaking the ice.
It's kind of a big deal.
I came across this NPR article while waiting for a mango chicken wrap from my local juice bar. "In Changing America, Gay Masculinity Has 'Many Different Shades." I chose to read instead of a competing article about the ebola virus because I didn't want to spoil my appetite with descriptions of death, but also because, hey, I'm gay.
It's a nice article about how men in Colorado (who are gay!) are playing rugby and acting tough. I scanned the screen of my phone with narrowing eyes waiting to see if the article was going to take it somewhere new or fresh; to me this rugby team was not big news. I play on a gay sports league in New York and I'll be the first to tell you: it's competitive.
The line that stood out the most (the pull quote on the top photo) takes, I think, a very defensive position about homosexuality, quoting one of the players: "I've always thought of myself as … the rugby player that happens to be gay… I never want to be the gay man who happens to play rugby."
I remember thinking that way. I remember telling people that it's a small part of who I am. I remember building consensus with my family that it wasn't important. But that philosophy is a phase, right?
I have just come back from a week-long vacation (or was it work?) hosting Absolut Vodka promos in Provincetown, MA. As I described to my mother on the phone, Ptown is a seaside artists' colony, with plenty of places to buy lobster or souvenir sweaters, that also happens to be this incredible gay mecca. Theaters, cute boutiques, gay bars, costume parties, drag acts, art galleries, and a parade. It's a very special place and I feel blessed to have visited it. I also feel blessed to have claim to it. Being gay is awesome. We create great neighborhoods, great art and culture, and I'm pretty sure a gay high school student just beat an asian high school student at teen Jeopardy (at JEOPARDY, people!).
That above comment isn't meant to be racists, only funny.
So, I didn't mean to write a diatribe this morning, nor did I intend for THIS SUBJECT to be my first post in about two years (eek), but I am really gay… like through and through. And it's maybe one of the most permanent things about me. I'm glad that this guy can self-identify as a rugby player who happens to be gay, but my life is in way to much flux to let me feel permanently identified by my career, city, hobbies, sports, etc.
In 30 years I don't know what I'll be doing, who I'll be with, or where I'll be, but I'm pretty sure I will still be gay.
Turducken Thanksgiving
I hope everyone had a lovely thanksgiving. Just recently in a conversation with a friend I was saying how much I like thanksgiving because it's one of the more calm holidays. It's not that I don't have thrill seeker genes (I do), but just that for every New Years Eve or Halloween I think it's nice that there's a holiday that's basically dedicated to good company, good food, and taking naps. I dare you to tell me any other party where nearly every person can fall asleep and the party is still a "success."
This year I had two Thanksgivings. One with my partner's family here in New York, and a second with some new-ish but very dear friends. For T2-east, as i'm going to call it (not to be confused with a standing Thanksgiving 2 tradition in California), we actually carried out one of my food bucketlist projects. We made a Turducken.
In case any body doesn't know what that is, a turducken is a Chicken, stuffed inside a Duck, stuffed inside a Turkey. and technically we made a turducken-hen because at the center of the chicken we stuffed a Cornish game hen.
The entire process was long. It took 2-3 hours to prepare and 4-5 hours to cook. The reason the prep takes such a long time is that each bird has to be de-boned. Starting at the spine on each fowl, you can make an incision and then slowly, painstakingly peal away the meat from the carcass. When you've done this for all 3 (or 4) birds you basically have each bird flayed out, as if you unzipped them down the middle, took the "meat-coat" off the skeleton, and laid it down flat.
Then, once you have all 3 sheets of meat, you spice and salt the inside of the turkey "coat" before laying the flat duck on top. Then you season the inside of the duck, and lay the flat chicken on top. Once you have all your layers you scoop the sides of the turkey back together and twine the meat, what is now essentially a roast, shut. to use the coat metaphor once more, you zip the turkey closed with the other birds inside like russian dolls. I have no pictures of this part of the process because it took all 6 hands in the kitchen to hold the slippery meat in place and tie the strings. From this point, you cook it as you would any turkey. It goes into the oven for about 4 hours. You baste, you wait, you nibble other things.
As it was cooking Alex explained to me why the Turducken is great: it's the duck. Ducks are little fatties- and Turkey and Chicken breast can be dry. When you cook a turducken the duck meat is pressed between the turkey breast and the chicken breast. As the three birds cook the duck fat keeps everybody moist, so all the white meat on the turkey and chicken comes out succulent and moist (basically it makes it more like dark meat, which is generally more awesome).
The last thing that makes a turducken fun is that when it finally does come out of the oven you can litterally slice right down the center of it as if it was bread. There no bones left (save the Turkey's wings and drumsticks which you leave on) so if you slice right down the center you get an awesome cross-section that shows each of the birds and their different colored meats. You will Instagram with pride.
I had a great time putting it all together, but if I ever do it again I will look into buying previously de-boned birds, or I will pay a butcher to de-bone them in 5 minutes and save me and my guests the 1.5 hours of knife work. Nevertheless, I'm happy that we did it ourselves this time because it was bad-ass, and because it seriously works up your appetite. 🙂
Yes We Can: A Hurricane Relief Story
I consider myself to be pretty adventurous, but sometimes even we adventurous folk fall into the awful trap of thinking you like your routine a lot more than you do. Don't get me wrong, routines are great. I like them for reasons of health, productivity, and comfort. To me, workouts and healthy eating are a matter of waking up at the right time each morning and buying groceries with enough regularity that you don't reach those scurvy-inducing busy weeks where floating pepper jack cheese into a bowl of ramen passes for dinner. I also believe that working toward your goals a little bit each day moves mountains, but man: I've been caught in a rut where my Saturdays and Sundays are dedicated to half-assed work on a few yet-outstanding projects… and I've forgotten to make time to, you know, live.
I think this is why I was so excited when a friend invited me to volunteer for the hurricane relief effort with her. By this point I had already spent a lot of breath explaining to out-of-towners that I was fine, Yes New York got crushed, Yeah I was in a lucky place, Yes I had internet, etc…. but that's really just a lot of talk for a non-experience. And I always feel like the biggest hurdles to any sort volunteering are knowing how to start and going alone. So thank you, Teresa, for tackling the hard part.
We met up in Williamsburg and took the G train out to Red Hook, the lower part of Brooklyn that got storm-pounded and very badly flooded. From the rally point we were asked to join a clean-up crew. We said yes, but stood stiffly while we waited for the
sentence details to be given to us. Eventually we were scooped up by a group leader and were off to our task.
Along with a team of 3 others we were cleaning out a warehouse down near the water. The warehouse had been flooded with up to 6 feet of water during the hurricane. If we had been there for it we would have been drowning, Teresa observed. Inside we encountered an strange landscape of toppled boxes that had melted down into soppy gook. The contents of the boxes, thousands of soda cans, were swimming in the sea-water and dirt muck. Let's assume there were a lot of bacteria.
Our task was to break off into mini teams, separate cans from garbage, bathe the cans in a wheelbarrow of bleach and then send them through a series of tub water baths until the the can was clean and could be open without fear of infecting the drinker. At the end of the line a team dried and stacked cans on a new pallet to be donated or sold on the cheap.
It ended up being a really fun adventure. We made small chat with the volunteers around us, and at one point thought Mayor Bloomberg was outside. Mis-translating the Spanish of some Puerto Rican women sent Teresa scampering after the photo op that wasn't there.
The ONLY thing that I wish had been different about this entire day is that we had been salvaging something other than soda. Wouldn't it be a much better story if it was cans of FOOD that were being used to feed other hurricane victims in the city? I like that story. I like it so much better that I have half lied twice to certain acquaintances and suggested that there was food mixed in with the rubble and pop.


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Dear Editor,
Coups for Troops is an already existing program that I just had to be a part of and I want to get others involved in as well. My name is Amber Smith, I'm an 8th grader at Appling County Middle School and I want to tell you a little bit about this program.
"Coups for Troops"
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text:
Doreen Caliente is a witch introduced in The Sims 3: Supernatural. She lives with Serena, her son-in-law Rick and her two grandchildren Zoe and Zack. She is said to be a control-freak, as she wants to manage everything, especially her daughter's relations. Unfortunately for Rick, Doreen strongly disapproves of her daughter's marriage to a normal Sim and she tries her best to tear the two apart, devoting much of her time to playing the meanest of tricks on him.
After many unsuccessful failed attempts, Doreen required the help of a fairy, who gave Rick huge ears. However, it backfired as Serena loves big ears.
She also uses her magic for personal gain: for example she used an age reversing elixir on herself (this explains why she is an Adult like her daughter).
Despite sharing their last name, Doreen's relation with the Caliente family is unknown.
Doreen seems to be a parody of Endora from the TV series "Bewitched". They both are old witches who strongly disapprove their witch daughters' marriage to a normal person and who make their son-in-law's lives a living hell. Endora and Doreen also have a striking alikeness, even sharing similar clothing and names.
Doreen also is a reference to Penny Halliwell, both dissaproves their daughters' marriage to a mortal/normal person.
Doreen would therefore be the second Sim parody of Endora, the first one being Endora Kravitz.
Doreen Caliente is also a play on the real life witch and famed author Doreen Valiente, a well known name in Wiccan culture.
Doreen is unemployed at the start of the game and has no skills learned.
|Relationship Level
|Zoe Durwood
|Best Friend
|Zack Durwood
|Best Friend
|Serena Durwood
|Best Friend Forever
|Joanie MacDuff
|Best Friend Forever
|Chauncey Grimm
|Good Friend
|Pip Goodfellow
|Good Friend
|Param Singh
|Navita Singh
|Rick Durwood
|The Durwood Family
| Doreen - Rick - Serena - Zoe - Zack


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16 May, 2019
Our friends from MOI Interiorismo have made this turnkey project for the new headquarters of the Official College of Occupational Therapists of Castilla y León (COPTOCYL).
The starting point for the project was 100m2 and a tight budget. This project was all inclusive and had to accommodate different needs, while creating a friendly space that would facility the movement of people with disabilities.
Moi interiorismo : "Construction quality, carpentry, lighting, acoustic, furniture quality, etc. everything is integrated and coordinated to give the client the result that they desired"


text:
Richard Hamilton elegantly stated once that pop art is:
"Popular (designed for mass audience); transient (short term solution); low cost; mass produced; young (aimed at youth); witty; sexy; gimmicky; glamourous; big business."
Give or take a few of those adjectives, the works that grace your screen are meant for cultural consumption by the masses. It's meant for everybody; it's meant for anybody willing to connect with the composition and allow their imagination to soar. Like many of the "Pop Artists" of the past such as Johns and Warhol, I am in pursuit of recreating and creating anew visual grammar that is fundamentally cold and offers little emotional depth but allows me to genuinely communicate about the breezy materialism constantly being fed to the public. For that reason, with all the propaganda, all the repetitive advertising assaulting the average American's mind, I am creating this art in order to spur the juices of creative genius and put the "F" meant for "Fun" back into Fine Arts. Enjoy!


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Get down like Beyoncé to Frieze Masters
Photo: Stephen Wells, Courtesy Stephen Wells/Frieze.
Last year, the stand-out booth of Frieze Masters came from Helly Nahmad who worked with a set designer to create a spectacular installation of a fictional collector's home. Ol' Beyoncé Instagramed her heart away at this exhibit and the gallery has promised something truly outstanding again this year, but what else can you expect? Lisson Gallery (E7) has dedicated their entire stand to the Cuban-born, New York-based artist Carmen Herrera in celebration of her 100th birthday. Richard Green (E2) will be bringing the Cornish coastline to the capital on his stand showing Barbara Hepworth and Ben Nicholson together. And LA-based David Kordansky (C6) is going all colourful with a solo display of twentieth century American artist Sam Gilliam.
Keep it contemporary at Frieze London
Each year Frieze London wows audiences with bright, diverse, glitzy, unexpected and Instagrammable presentations of contemporary art. With 164 galleries under one roof, where do you start? Whether you like to strategically follow the grid layout or are more inclined towards an unorthodox approach, make sure you catch Los Angeles-based Night Gallery (G27), a new addition to the fair, with their solo display of Mira Dancy. If unconventional is your thing then seek out Jeremy Herbert's underground chamber as part of Frieze Projects – there be stairs to we don't know where! And why not get involved at some of this year's live events that include a processional piece by Tunga at Galeria Franco Noero and Luhring Augustine (L6). At Arcadia Missa (L3) security guards will be asking for your mobile phones before you can encounter Amalia Ulman's performance and Ken Kagami will be creating free portraits at Misako & Rosen (G19).
Catch your breath with some free outdoor art
Photo: Linda Nylind. Courtesy of Linda Nylind/Frieze.
After you've had enough of traipsing up and down the aisles of the fairs, you can take the free Frieze Sculpture Park set within Regents Park's English Garden. It's the perfect outdoor autumnal respite, and Claire Lilley of Yorkshire Sculpture Park has once again selected an impressive line-up of new and historical works. There'll be a major installation by Richard Serra who does monumental like no-one else and Anri Sala presents his 'Holey Wall' around which live performances have been programmed.
Read our guide to Frieze London and Frieze Masters.