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Cafes in Sydney aren't what they used to be. Fine dining is no longer restricted to dinner and degustations. Breakfast in Sydney is now just as complex and creative. Here are our favourites of the year so far.
If you've never been to Rhodes before, now you have a reason to go. Ashley Patfield is in the kitchen here, a man with experience at multiple award-winning restaurants, such as est., Guillaume, Wheelers St James and The Gilbert Scott. Left Field and another newcomer, Cavalier Specialty Coffee, are not in the business of serving typical cafe food. As Left Field's co-owner Matthew Abi-Arrage says, they're now daytime restaurants.
The theatre here is incredible. There's a massive custom-built oven glowing with wood chips, a tattoo-sleeved dude wielding bagel dough like a master pizzaiolo, and bewitching smells from both the bakery and the coffee counter. Here the bagels are as traditionally Montrealian as possible. But the toppings are far from it. Coffee comes from Sensory Lab and Toby Smith, a tribute to the building's previous occupant, Toby's Estate.
The brown-rice chicken congee with ginger, carrot and bacon jam served in a bespoke bowl from Magnolia Mountain and a Reuben Hills espresso is one of the best breakfast experiences in inner Sydney. With Cross Eatery, Zeitgeist and now Reuben Hills and Paramount Coffee Project's Hills Bros, these days the CBD is one of the best-served areas in Sydney.
Is this Sydney's cutest cafe? Ex-Two Chaps barista Graeme Alexander has defied current minimalist, industrial interior trends to create something more homey and Wes Anderson-esque. As with the expertly foraged furniture, the food here is all about character. The chefs, Alexander, his partner Jax, their barista and Jax's 90-year-old German grandmother, keep things simple with classic cakes, cheesy toasties and hearty soups and salads.
After only one week people were referring to Neighbourhood as one of the best coffee dealers in Sydney. The tiny, coffee-only blip on Buckingham Street has as much consistency and expertise as you can reasonably ask for. Most of that is down to ex-Artificer man Sean McManus not only running the joint but being there every single day behind the espresso machine.
This could have also fit into our best restaurants list, but out of everything on the Rising Sun menu, it's the breakfast that has us the most excited. Chef Nick Smith has imagined what a cafe would be like if it was representative of our geographic region. The answer: bento boxes; Thai bacon and eggs; kaya toast; breakfast ramen and speciality coffee from Single Origin.
The onset of Asian influences on our cafe cuisine is one of the most exciting things to hit Sydney over the past few years. It's exciting because the trend isn't delivering pastiche representations of other cuisines, but rather new dishes and venue designs that merge what was already in Sydney with what's popular in Malaysia, Thailand, Japan and Hong Kong. Café Rumah is one of its best exponents, with dishes like the kopitiam breakfast (buttery kaya toast with two soft onsen eggs) and drinks like the rose and milk soda.
Henry Lee's is a cafe born out of collaboration. The porridge uses honey from local Urban Beehive; the bacon is from nearby LP's Quality Meats; other meats are cured or braised in Poor Tom's Gin or Grifter Brewing's Watermelon Pilsner; and coffee comes from St Peters roaster Little Marionette. The cafe itself has a particularly industrial and minimalist look, and is situated in the new Eveleigh arts and culture precinct.
Meet Gerard is by two hospitality stars. The duo is made up of Mariella Traina (ex-owner of The Counter) and Sarah McWilliam (ex- chef at West Juliett). There are a few more standard cafe dishes on the menu here (scrambled eggs, bacon-and-egg roll etc.) than at some of the other cafes on this list, but each has a distinct twist. The avo on toast, for example, is dressed with pickled chilli, feta, lime and yuzu sesame.
This miniature version of Marrickville vegetarian cafe Two Chaps is both an excellent eatery in its own right and a sign of something much bigger and better to come. The cafe's current iteration serves many of Two Chaps' more portable options along with purple-corn tortillas, mushroom jaffles and a few specials. In the future it will be a 50–80-seat pasta bar.
Honorary mention:
It's more of a cake store than a cafe, but everything about its output is excellent.


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Tuesday, April 17, 2012
more wips
18 comments:
- Numinosity said...
The old papers and text are magical to work with and you breathe life into them again, Cat.
xoxo Kim
- April 17, 2012 at 10:29 AM
- Yvonne said...
Collage is so interesting. You sand the piece? I love hearing about your process, you are so talented.
- April 17, 2012 at 10:49 AM
- Deb L. said...
These little snippets are beautiful even before they are incorporated into your final piece! How I love old paper ((sigh)). Sending love....
- April 17, 2012 at 11:09 AM
- Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...
I truly enjoy my visit to your studio and a view of the process. Not sure I understand what you are doing right now (in this post), but I look forward to the next step so maybe I'll understand what is going on. Have a super fruitful week.
- April 17, 2012 at 11:52 AM
Like roman walls....xox
- April 17, 2012 at 12:25 PM
- Fleur de Boheme said...
Love the faded beauty of paper, especially with the doily ;-) Can´t wait to see the next pictures! xxx Kirsten
- April 17, 2012 at 3:05 PM
- ~*~Patty S said...
old papers and snippets of fabric do hold magic and mystery especially in your artful hands dear Cat
- April 17, 2012 at 7:48 PM
- Tina said...
Beautiful work - I love the texture in these
- April 18, 2012 at 2:11 AM
- Judy Martin said...
There is a mystery indeed. Old antique paper, from someone else's hands to yours, a language that is romantic and exotic to many -
Your composition sense is what makes the magic however.
- April 18, 2012 at 11:54 AM
- mansuetude said...
nice isn't it that a torn or folded edge of paper
can be such a door to an inner intimacy or joy.
the way you write about it too!
- April 19, 2012 at 10:57 AM
- Zom said...
So evocative. I like seeing works in progress, thanks.
- April 20, 2012 at 4:53 PM
- Sharmon Davidson said...
Oh, good! Please don't forget to take those pics- I want to see every step along the way, especially the painting part! (I'm really an art voyeur, you know...)
- April 20, 2012 at 8:15 PM
- Sophie Munns said...
Gorgeous papers Cat. Lovely to see the works evolving.
Hope you are having a lovely spring over there...
S xo
- April 21, 2012 at 4:56 AM
- layers said...
I love your bits of mail art in your collages.. minimal and subdued = lovely
- April 22, 2012 at 12:57 AM
- Unknown said...
peaceful and lovely, as usual. hugs.
- April 23, 2012 at 2:39 AM
- Steph said...
old envelopes and papers inspire me and I am so looking forward to see the end result of these....Have an artful week....
- April 23, 2012 at 7:25 PM
- audrey said...
Lovely, Cat. The show is going to be beautiful with your mixed media and paper works of art. Anything French stirs romantic feelings and makes me think of days gone by. I love seeing your WIPS and your finished works. Looking forward to seeing some of these completed.
♥ audrey
- April 24, 2012 at 6:41 PM
- CATHY said...
Hi Caterina,
Just a quick note to tell you how gorgeous your bird quilts were in the winter SS sew magazine. Then I wandered into your blog to find more stunning collages. I love love love your style! I have bookmarked your blog and will be back to visit! Cheers.
- April 30, 2012 at 12:15 AM

subset: commoncrawl


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Could you please tell us briefly about your background and how you developed an interest in astrology?
My initial education was Masters in Civil Engineering. My Karmas of the past life drifted my attention from technocracy to the spiritual science of astrology. It is now nearly 24 years that I am practising on this amazing erudition. I started with the basic but the quest to know more made me go circles in Haridwar, Varanasi, Chennai, etc. As one gets hooked on a video game and strives for yet another level, astrology captivated me to secure two doctorates in different fields of it.
What are the main focuses of astrology? What are the varieties and aspects of Indian astrology?
Indian Vedic Jyotish is a bit different from western astrology . Western astrology reads the present & future whereas the Indian Jyotish lays its emphasis on reading the past lives. The positioning of planets in one's horoscope is not random but a direct result of past life karmas. Reading the past life of its negativities ,to oversee those are not repeated in this life thereby improving the karmas in this life is the focus of Indian Vedic astrology. Parashari technique, the mother of Vedic astrology with many other modes like the Bhrigu, Ravana, Krishnamurthy and the South Indian Nadis operated at tandem makes the Indian astrology a comprehensive & flawless tool of accurate prediction & guidance.
Could you please tell us a bit about the relevance of astrology in this modern scientific era?
As I told you earlier, I, myself, am a post graduate in Morden sciences who believe in things not before it has some base. Most of the Vedic astrology is analytical, based on firm mathematical grounds. The influence of planets on us human beings is still beyond the reach of presently known science, but what cannot be quantified by it right now, may perhaps will in the future. But what known is the Newtonian gravitational pull, a planet if chucked out from its orbit will result in a collapse of entire solar system.
Till the time you are doing great, you may not find the need of visiting an astrologer or even visiting a temple for that matter , but the time when stress crop in, the stakes rise and the fear of losing start hounding. One may need someone who could offer a consoling touch after giving a futuristic reading. You must have heard a saying millionaire do not need an astrologer but billionaires do. And quite rightly those souls who desire of a meteoric rise will find the need of one.
What is your client base like, and what do you have to offer them? Particularly in this time when everyone looks for value for money what do you offer your clients?
It is practically from all walks of life with all types of problems. A small but timely consultation can prevent large money and time going waste, fends off a wrong business partner, blocks enemies, check marriage harmony, arrests ill investments, averts wrong matrimony match and intercepts all the negativity is much more than what you call value for money.
Is it possible to predict the future, particularly when it is generally known everything is predestined? Why is Karma important in astrology? How come you are known as a Karma Corrector in the field of Jyotish?
A human is born with two types of karma, one is Dridh karma( fixed karma) and the other is Adridh Karma (fluid karma). Whereas one has to reap the effects of the Dridh Karma ( span of life, diseases, etc) the manipulation with Adridh karma can be done. Jyotish lays its emphasis on this Adridh karma which preaches the native to be a karma yogi (the one who believes in efforts). A point worth a mention here is that the Karmas of this life form the basis of Dridh karma of the next life.
Rightly manipulating the Adridh karma, called karma correction, brings prosperity with peace. I explain this with an example. Jupiter is a planet of expansion, through wealth, kids and education one expands externally, and through belief and faith, one expands internally. An uncontrolled Jupiter can lack in hope, can have unrealistic desires, and unwise optimism. This Jupiter though uncontrolled will think of expansion & the native will err in the modus operandi. The karma correction is to help the native negate this lower operating Jupiter and replace it with the higher operative Jupiter.
I gauge the strength of planets and suggest the karma correction be done (not rituals mind you), and this helps the native to let all his planets operate to give optimal positive results.
What impact does Jyotish have in changing the fortunes of business enterprises?
Assessing the horoscope for employer & employee yoga is the most important revelation which alters the path of the native. Then comes the advice on type ,nature & right timings of business, optimally managing or borrowing funds, handling debts, etc. All these intricacies lies embed in different divisional charts of the native. It is always beneficial to get these divisional charts evaluated then basing the decisions purely on emotions, precedents or peer pressures.
What is the relevance of Jyotish in marital alliances?
Gone are the days when the females had to adjust with their in-laws in all circumstances. The modern women are self-dependent may be better earners than male at times. The Jyotish insight to judge the compatibility based on interrelationship of spouse with their respective in-laws, the longevity of the married life, the longevity of the individuals, progeny issues, the earning capability, , extramarital fling, mutual respect, love and care between them can all be pre-calculated and most importantly a path to counter the problems can be worked out based on the charts.


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Tecoma stans grow and care – shrub or small tree of the genus Tecoma also known as Yellow trumpetbush, Tecoma stans perennial evergreen or deciduous plant, used as ornamental hedge plant and attract pollinators, can grow in subtropical, mediterranean, desert, temperate or tropic climate and grow in hardiness zone 9+.
Leaves color green in elliptic shape with pinnate structure and serrated margins.
Tecoma stans flower
Flower color yellow in trumpet shape.
Tecoma stans for sale – Seeds or Plants to Buy
How to grow Tecoma stans growing and care:
Well-drained soil
What is the best way to start growing?
Plant / Seed / Vegetative reproduction
Is it necessary to graft or use vegetative reproduction?
Difficulties or problems when growing:
Planting season:
Spring / Summer / Autumn
Pests and diseases:
Pruning season:
Autumn / Winter
How to prune:
Just for design
Size of the plant?
3-5m, 6-18 feet
Growth speed in optimal condition:
Fast growing / Medium growing
Water requirement:
Small amount of water / Average amount of water
Light conditions in optimal condition for growing:
Full Sun / Half Shade
Is it possible to grow indoor as houseplant?
Growing is also possible in a planter /flowerpot / containers:
Blooming information
Bloom season?
Spring / Summer / Autumn
General information about the flower:
Trumpet shape flower in the color yellow
Scientific name:
Tecoma stans


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1. Temperature range:-50°C to 380°C (-58°F-716°F)
2. Accuracy:+/- 2°C or +/-2%
3. °C/°F adjustable
4. MAX/ MIN value, data hold
5. Resolution: 0.1°C or 0.1°F
6. Operating temperature: 10--40°C , humidity: 10-90RH
7 . Storage temperature: -10°C--40°C
8. Response time: ≤0.8 second
9.Distance to spot Ratio: 12:1
10. Emissivity adjustable: 0.1-0.99 (default value: 0.95, testing different material easy and accuracy )
11. power: 2pcs 3V battery ( easy to buy battery for replacement)
12. Battery life: 12 hours
13. Back lighting
14. Automatic power off in 10 seconds
Packaging & Delivery:
Carton size:58X31.5X40CM
Delivery time: 3-10 Daysafter payment
We are one of the leading and professional China manufacturers and suppliers specialized in manufacturing infrared thermometer non-contact gun laser ir point digital lcd temperature. With a productive factory in Taiwan, we warmly welcome you to wholesale our products made in China. The customized orders are also welcome.


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My colleague Susan Athey (in whose class I'll be guest lecturing today) speaks to NPR:
"Susan Athey: Did you know that every time you do a search on Google or Bing, you are improving the quality of the search engine? The more people click on a search advertisement from a clothing company or on a link on an online news story, the more prominently it is displayed for the next consumer. And the firms constantly experiment to get things right. They watch what consumers do and adapt their products in response to the results of their experiments.
"But designing the right experiment is difficult. To see just one example, consider spam. An e-mail provider wants to eliminate spam from your inbox. It is nuisance for all of us. That company might test out a new way to filter spam. The filter may do a great job in short-term experiments, where the spammers don't have a chance to respond. But once the new filter is introduced in practice, spammers may find a way around the filter. So, that means that some legitimate e-mail is filtered out and the end result may be that you haven't solved the spam problem at all. You could very well end up worse than where you started, even though the experimental numbers looked great.
"So, if you want to figure out whether a new product will work out the way you hope, you need to be able to anticipate how people will react to your innovation. That is, you don't just have to be a good statistician. It's not just about the numbers that come out of simple experiments; it is about predicting how people will react to the changes you make. You need to understand behavior and how to build models that reflect the choices we all make.
"Unfortunately, our universities and business schools haven't figured out how to train students to do this kind of modeling and prediction. That is, we aren't preparing students to manage the new data-driven businesses. And let's face it: This is where our economy is headed, as consumers are spending more and more of their time online. Creating new jobs in this economy is a must, but making sure that the workforce is ready for the jobs where our growth is happening is more important. The good news is that the young people who do develop the talent and skills to capitalize on this opportunity will be in high demand, which puts them in a great position in today's tough economy."
Monday, October 25, 2010
Susan Athey on online experiments
Posted by Al Roth at 2:31 AM
Labels: experiments, online
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Many of us remember playing "dress-up" as little girls: donning our mother's clothes and putting on her makeup. Most girls look forward to the day when they will be old enough to wear cosmetics. But the toxic ingredients in many of these products can be detrimental. Let's look at a ...Read More »
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How Safe is Your Cookware?
The safety of cookware has been a hot topic in recent years. After searching for the freshest, least-toxic foods for our families, we don't want to undermine our efforts with toxic cookware. Studies conducted on various materials comprising the surface of cookware can be confusing and even contradictory at times. ...Read More »


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Oh what a weekend! It was fantastic!
We had such a lovely time at Glastonbury...
we were so lucky to have constant sunshine as well as super music and entertainment!
There were so many highlights...good old Rolf Harris did a great job of opening with his wobble board! Stevie Wonder was such a great ending to the weekend, especially with Michael Eavis singing along out of tune to Happy Birthday to you! check it out here
There's so much more to Glastonbury than just the music, including very vibrant theatre and circus fields. Its a great place for all ages....we're hoping to go again and again through the coming decades!
I didn't manage to see the Wall of Death in action unfortunatley...but I had a lovely wander around The Common, Block 9 and Shangri-La while the football was on.
We camped for the first this time this year after going in a caravan the previous 2 visits! We will be back in the caravan next time!! Camping was fine but the early starts don't suit us...we're night owls so it will be back to late nights and lie ins in a caravan next time!
Glastonbury is wonderful....full of fun with a brilliant atmosphere come rain or shine!
Those who haven't been....you must! Its my top tip!


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Newbold offers the best value on GSA. We are able to rapidly deploy top talent with proven experience at lower rates than our competitors. When compared to our peers, our teams provide more experience per dollar in every labor category. The end result is quicker execution with less risk and lower costs. Newbold holds the GSA Consolidated Schedule 00CORP for both FABS 520 and MOBIS 874 Special Item Numbers (SINs):
•C874 7 Integrated Business Program Support Services
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Newbold is teaming with established SBA certified firms (8(a), women-owned, service disabled veteran owned, and minority owned) to deliver services across a wide array of contract vehicles such as:
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We provide resources who know the processes, systems, regulations, industry stakeholders, common issues, and risks before they walk in the door – improving project success rates while also reducing risk and expense resulting from re-work, failure or non-compliance.


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PRICE REDUCED! 63 mostly cleared acres located in the Weyers Cave area. This farm is enhanced by a fabulous 1890's farmhouse with numerous upgrades that has been well cared for over the years. The 63 acres is protected by a Conservation Easement that allows for several additional dwellings. Either make the farmhouse your permanent residence or build your dream home from one of the numerous building sites and use the farmhouse as a tenant house or rental.
Dead end, Easement, Oil Tank Below Ground, Public Road, Sidewalks, Storage Shed
Copyright ©2004-2020 Charlottesville Area Association of Realtors®. All rights reserved. Information deemed to be reliable but not guaranteed. The data relating to real estate for sale on this website comes in part from the IDX Program of Charlottesville Area Association of Realtors®. Listing broker has attempted to offer accurate data, but buyers are advised to confirm all items. Any use of search facilities of data on this site other than by a consumer interested in the purchase of real estate, is prohibited. Information last updated on 5/29/20 10:48 PM EDT.


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The reception to the system we presented at Whittlebury Hall over the weekend of 19 and 20 September took us by surprise. So many people were generous in their praise saying that it was the best sound at the show. Several revisited the room quite a few times. We also had the same compliments from the trade and several hifi magazine journalists. The comments that I remember to be most pertinent were:
"Spectacular sound stage"
"Sounds like you have a Steinway playing in the room"
"At last a system that understands and plays dynamics properly"
"I have not heard such transparency and sweet high frequencies elsewhere at this show"
The system we presented was:
Norma Audio REVO DS-1 CD player
APL Pure DSD DAC upsampling to 56 MHz
Edge Electronics NL Signature 1.2 battery/AC pre-amplifier and NL10.2 power amplifier
Lawrence Audio Violin SE loudspeakers – rosewood finish
All cabling including power cords and power distributor – GutWire Cables
Equipment support, isolation bases, chassis resonance control system – Harmonic Resolution Systems
Room acoustics treatments – Acustica Applicata DAAD system
We mostly played CDs through the Norma DS-1 integrated player and were pleasantly surprised by how many visitors asked us to play CDs that they brought with them. Whilst the APL DSD DAC gave a very good sound with computer files, many thought the CD had more "sparkle", detail and presented timbre more correctly.
The Lawrence Audio Violin SE loudspeakers created a seamless sound across all frequencies with a bass quality and extension that would normally be expected from a much larger floor standing model. The reaction to both their sound and unusual appearance was extremely positive.
Without the room DAAD acoustic treatments from Acustica Applicata we would not have been able to create the large soundstage we did in a relatively small room.
This style of show will always be marred by noise from the overall ambience and from other exhibitors. We would like to remind you that we will be presenting a similar system with important differences at our own Musical Event on the 17 and 18 October near Reading. This will feature the German Physiks omnidirectional loudspeakers along with the new SME Model 15 turntable. Come and listen to another excellent sound under much quieter, more relaxed circumstances.


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By Teachers, For Teachers
Higher-order thinking skills are skills such as critical thinking, analyzing, and problem solving. They are essential 21st century skills that prepare students to apply what they already know (their previous knowledge) to what they are currently learning. These skills have students use higher-level thinking instead of lower-order thinking, where students just memorize facts. It's essentially having students use complex ways to really dig deeper and think about what they are learning. They have to not only understand the concept, but infer it, as well as connect it to other concepts. Here are a few teaching strategies on how to enhance your students' higher level thinking skills, as well as a few teaching strategies on how to promote and utilize these skills through the use of technology.
While there are many teaching strategies for developing students' higher-level thinking skills, there are a few essential skills you can start with, beginning with teaching your students what higher-order thinking is. Explain to your students what it is and why they need it. You can do this by showing them how they can ask themselves questions while learning. Here are a few more suggestions.
Encourage students to ask questions, a lot of questions. A classroom where students feel free to ask questions without any negative reactions from their classmates is a classroom where students will feel free to use their minds and be creative.
Having the ability to make inferences is another higher-level thinking skill. Teach students to make inferences by giving them "Real world" examples. One way to teach young students about how to infer is to teach an easy concept like the weather. Simply have students look outside of the window and infer what the weather is.
Creative thinking is when students invent, imagine, and design what they are thinking in their minds. Using your creative senses, help students process and understand information better. Research shows that when students utilize creative higher-order thinking skills, it helps to increase their understanding. Encourage students to think "Outside of the box" and never judge them for what they are sharing.
Show students how to connect one concept to another. Teach them to connect what they already know with what they are currently learning. This will help students learn to make connections whenever it is possible, which will help them to gain even more understanding of what they are learning. Each small concept can be connected to a bigger, broader concept.
Teach students to use a step-by-step method for solving problems. This way of higher-order thinking will help them solve problems faster and easier. Encourage students to use alternative methods to solve problems as well as offer them different problem-solving methods. For example, they can use graphic organizers to help them solve a problem. Graphic organizers provide students with a nice way to frame their thoughts in an organized manner. They can also use mind movies. Students can solve a problem by closing their eyes and creating a movie in their mind.
Tablets have become increasingly popular in the classroom because of the low cost compared to a class set of computers. If a teacher doesn't have access to a class set of tablets, then they can use their own and just plug the device into a classroom projector. Here are a few popular apps that can be used to promote the development of higher order thinking skills.
This app is an amazing tool to help children learn about physics. Students get to create or build their own invention. The focus of this incredibly engaged app is that children learn by doing. Students will use their higher-level thinking skills to learn about numerous physics and engineering concepts through exploration and experimentation. In create mode, students get the opportunity to create their very own invention. In the other mode (which is more like a video game), students must arrange tools and help inventioneers complete a specific task. The full version of this app costs just $4.99, and is worth the money because it allows you to unlock the game's full potential. One of the best features of this app is that students can work in teams in the create mode.
The Robot Factory is an app that will challenge students in engineering design. This game won "App of the year" and is a "Parents' choice award winner" and favorite among STEM educators because engineering is a component of 21st century learning. Appropriate for grades K-8, The Robot Factory starts off by having students create their very own robot from scratch. Choosing parts like the head, torso, facial features and such, students can be creative and even give their robot a voice. Students can then bring their robot into the real world and navigate it throughout different obstacles. Teachers love how there is an open-ended construction kit for students to build, test, and play while developing their higher level thinking skills.
Critical thinking skills takes time to learn. Be patient and implement these strategies and your students will get there in no time.
How do you develop your students' higher order thinking skills? Do you have any teaching strategies to share? Please leave a comment in the section below, we would love to hear your thoughts on this popular educational topic.
Janelle Cox is an education writer who uses her experience and knowledge to provide creative and original writing in the field of education. Janelle holds Masters of Science in Education from the State University of New York College at Buffalo. She is a contributing writer to TeachHUB.com, TeachHUB Magazine, and Hey Teach. She was also the Elementary Education Expert for About.com for five years. You can follow her on Twitter @empoweringed, on Facebook at Empowering K12 Educators, or contact her at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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I was born in a farmer's home in the Tamang community of Nepal. I had to collect 10-12 sacks of fodder a day. I used to wake up at 5 am and bring 4-5 sacks of grass. After that I used to go to school, the place where I rested after my gruelling morning work then went back to collecting 6-7 sacks of fodder after school. We had a small farm where we grew enough food for our family. My family was poor and it was difficult to get money for my education, but I continued to study nonetheless.
After passing my SLC in 1999 I came to Kathmandu. I was unfamiliar with it and it was scary for me. The first time I was in Ratnapark, I saw many disabled and helpless people. I felt bad for them and used to give them all my travel fare and walked home instead.
I studied music but I was not a good student so I failed. On top of that my tuition fee was $35 per month, which was out of my budget range. So I just dropped out of college.
In Nepali society women are pressured to marry early or else we face the stigma of being "undesireable". To avoid this social pressure I got married at 23. Today I have two children. I have been working hard non-stop ever since. The day before I gave birth to my child, I was working and took three months maternity leave. I never wasted time and kept myself busy with work.
The first work I did was embroider shawl with glitters. I used to work day and night to earn $0.6 per day. I worked hard and eventually saved enough to buy a machine.
One day I was walking around Mary Ward School in Jhamsikhel. Karuna Lama, who was a teacher there, approached me to take a tailor training from the school without any charge. I got trained in sewing by my hands and also learnt how to use a machine for almost a year. The school provided clothes where we could learn and I was allowed to bring my baby during the trainings which gave me great flexiblity to learn. There were times when it was difficult but in order to hone my skills I had to deal with every problem that may have been on my path.
After my training was over I worked 2-3 months in a Montessori School from 7am -7pm. It was fun to be with children, but I had to leave since I couldn't give enough time to my own child. Plus I wanted to begin my dream of sewing as a career.While I was in training at the school I bagged first prize among 25 people. That is when I realized that I would make a career in tailoring, pursue it to the next level and support my family with it. I perfected myself by practising on clothes of people without charging them. I worked in a boutique for a short period of time. After sometime my neighbor informed me about an organization called Hausala Creatives. They provide co-working space, create handmade items, encourage craftsmanship, and empower women. I joined the organization and here I am today pursuing my career in tailoring. I have been using mainly Dhaka as a material to make all our products since it gives a traditional touch and is popular in the market as a typical Nepali product. Dhaka has been my main focus because I want to promote traditional Nepali fabrics in the products.
During last year's earthquake, the organization helped me a lot as my home was destroyed, but more than that it also gave me an opportunity to help other people as well. Since last year, I have been training girls and women from two villages (Dhungkharka and Chasingkharka) in weaving and stitching. To be self sustained women need skills besides an education. They should be able to survive in any corner of the world. I can vividly remember the moment when I wanted to wear fitting clothes. I used a sickle to cut the clothes and sew it with my hand. There were machines and scissors in modern and wealthy places, but we had no access to them. With my limited tools, I used to make clothes for newborn babies.
I want to perfect the skill I have. There are people in our society who label tailoring as a low form of work, but I want to change that perception and make our community understand the value of this work.
Today, in whatever little free time I have I spend it by getting involved in my local political work. Today, I am also seen as a social worker in my society.


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641 University Boulevard Suite 105 Jupiter, Florida 33458
(561) 204-4240
An online resource center providing you with additional helpful information.
View the KidsDoc Symptom Checker from HealthyChildren.org
The 2000 census reported that of among the nation's 19.6 million preschoolers, grandparents took care of 21 percent, 17 percent were cared for by their father (while their mother was employed or in school); 12 percent were in day care centers; nine percent were cared for by other relatives; seven percent were cared for by a family day care provider in their home; and six percent received care in nursery schools or preschools. More than one-third of preschoolers (7.2 million) had no regular child-care arrangement and presumably were under maternal care.
Day care establishments are defined as those primarily engaged in care of infants or children, or in providing pre-kindergarten education, where medical care and/or behavioral correction are not a primary function or major element. Some may or may not have substantial educational programs, and some may care for older children when they are not in school.
Medline, a service of the National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health, reports that day care centers do pose some degree of an increased health risk for children, because of the exposure to other children who may be sick.
When your child is in a day care center, the risk is greatest for viral upper respiratory infection (affecting the nose, throat, mouth, voice box) and the common cold, ear infections, and diarrhea. Some studies have tried to link asthma to day care. Other studies suggest that being exposed to all the germs in day care actually IMPROVES your child's immune system.
Studies suggest that the average child will get eight to ten colds per year, lasting ten - 14 days each, and occurring primarily in the winter months. This means that if a child gets two colds from March to September, and eight colds from September to March, each lasting two weeks, the child will be sick more than over half of the winter.
At the same time, children in a day care environment, exposed to the exchange of upper respiratory tract viruses every day, are expected to have three to ten episodes of otitis media annually. This is four times the incidence of children staying at home.
Simply put, children become sick after being exposed to other sick children. Some guidelines to follow are:
The short answer is no. Exposure to other sick children will increase the likelihood that your child may "catch" the same illness, particularly with the common cold. The primary rule is to keep your own children at home if they are sick. However, you can:
Day care has become a necessity for millions of families. Monitoring the health of your own child is key to preventing unnecessary sickness. If a serious illness occurs, do not hesitate to have your child examined by a physician.
Questions or Comments?
We encourage you to contact us whenever you have an interest about our services. Contact us with the form to the left.


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Smooth Infusion Glossing Straightener 150ml
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This item is worth 120 loyalty pointsSign up to Liberty Loyalty to see your purchases converted into vouchers you can spend in-store or online.
- Product features
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- About
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Product features
- 150ml
- Contains a natural cellulose to maintain an all-day straight style
- Cuticle protected from hot styling tools by a hydrolysed wheat protein
- Fragranced with a fresh, citrus-floral blend of rose oil and certified organic bergamot, palmarosa and Australian sandalwood
- Vegan; Cruelty-free
Editor's notes
This innovative, glossing Aveda straightener will lock into your hair to help maintain all-day straightness and shine. Not only will it help keep curls and kinks in check, it protects against heat styling too.
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Inland flooding has been responsible for more than half of the deaths associated with hurricanes and tropical storms in the United States. And flood damage from heavy rain in the US in the spring and summer of 2011 approached $6 billion.
AccuWeather can help. Among the actionable warnings and situational information we can provide to protect your people, property and profits are:
Our flood warnings help you move property to safe locations, to monitor track and roadways, and to reroute traffic as needed to avoid flooded areas.
Let us create a custom flood warning service for your specific locations.
Learn more about AccuWeather flood warnings


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Are these cuties or what? BUDDY & VIOLET, age 4 months, are tuxedo twins! Violet has the pointed white blaze, and Buddy's blaze is more squared. They are both social and being fostered together, so would be nice if they were adopted together. Adoption fee is $100 for both, which includes spay, microchip, exam & vaccines. A great savings! Our cats are negative FELV/FIV unless otherwise indicated.
See more pictures, videos, adoption info & application on our website, www.lifelineforpets.org. Call (626)-676-9505 for a Meet & Greet. Can't adopt? Visit our website for our easy ways to support our rescue. GOOD NEWS: Orion has been adopted.


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by Steven
Halo Master Chief Costume
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Halo Master Chief Costume
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|Costumes for Boys
This homemade costume for boys entered our 2012 Halloween Costume Contest.
A word from Aaron, the 'Halo Master Chief' costume creator:
This is my son Cael who LOVES Halo. We had a friend make the pieces of armor with a machine that makes forms from molds. We then riveted the pieces together and using velcro and buckles, made a Master Chief.
He loves the costume and its nearly indestructible. The guy who made the pieces sells it! He will even paint it in any color.
Similar costumes:


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I touched on this before in my blog where I took a look at predicting the roster but there are several positions where competition should be heavy in training camp, primarily on the lines. Having said that, the back end roster spots at virtually every single position are up for grabs, so let's take a look at how that competition might play out, starting with the offense.
I projected the Titans would only carry 2 quarterbacks going into the 2013 season despite Locker's injury in 2012. Rusty Smith seems to be the odd man out in the equation as Ryan Fitzpatrick and Nathan Enderle seem to fit the pattern of what the Titans want in a quarterback. I predict Enderle will go to the practice squad and the Titans roll with Locker and Fitzpatrick.
Wide Receiver
Nate Washington, Kenny Britt, Kendall Wright and Justin Hunter would appear to be virtual locks barring some unforeseen circumstances but how many wideouts will the Titans carry this year? I think 6 at the most so that leaves 2 spots between Damian Williams, Michael Preston, Kevin Walter, Marc Mariani, Roberto Wallace, Rashad Ross, Diondre Borel, Travis Harvey and Dontel Watkins. I see the battle coming down to Williams, Preston, Mariani and Rashad Ross who has some nice return skills. It certainly is possible they elect to go with 5 and carry an extra tight end, which is my way of segueing into the next section.
Tight End
The Titans list Craig Stevens as a fullback which is interesting. It is certainly possible the Titans roll with Stevens at the full back slot and carry 3 TEs in the form of Delanie Walker, Taylor Thompson and either Brandon Barden, Martell Webb or Jack Doyle. At first I was lukewarm to this thought process but I am coming around to this idea. Jack Doyle is a guy I projected might make the roster. He was a 4 year starter for the Hilltoppers, team captain and overall fairly productive and a decent blocker. While I think it's silly for Brandon Barden's DUI to affect his roster spot (it was dismissed) character has been an area of emphasis for the Titans this offseason. Also, using Stevens as the fullback allows them to carry more running backs, which is my clever way of taking you to the running backs part of this blog.
Running Backs
The Titans depth chart lists the running backs in this order: Chris Johnson, Shonn Greene, Darius Reynaud, and then Jalen Parmele and Alvester Alexander. Reynaud has really nice return skills but he isn't much as a runner (16 carries for 33 yards and a 2.1 YPC in 2012). Jalen Parmele can return as well although he has never worked at the punt return position and yes there is a difference. Their kick return average is virtually a dead even with Reynaud at 23.4 (1 TD) and Parmele at 23.3 (0 TD) while Parmele's average YPC is 4.0. I know Reynaud is a fan favorite but I think Parmele brings more value as a running back and he is also a great blocker. The Titans could carry 4 running backs if Craig Stevens is the fullback and the run game should still be fine with an improved offensive line, which as you gather takes me to that competition.
Offensive Line
What a difference a year and an aggressive offseason has made on the line. Following a horrid performance in 2012 capped off by multiple injuries along the offensive line, the Titans made significant upgrades to a position that needed to be addressed. I know offensive line isn't sexy for most but to me this could be one of the most fascinating battles to watch. Andy Levitre, Chance Warmack, Michael Roos and David Stewart would seem to be entrenched as the starters but the center position appears to be wide open. I think Fernando Velasco has the best shot at the job but expect rookie Brian Schwenke to push him in camp. While Rob Turner has also taken snaps at center, he is listed at guard behind Chance Warmack. I predicted the Titans would carry 8 offensive lineman but it's certainly possible they could carry 9 given the debacle of 2012. I see Levitre, Warmack, Roos, Stewart, Velasco, Schwenke, and Turner as roster spot locks though Turner could certainly get pushed by someone else. The battle for those last 2 or maybe even 3? spots are going to be extremely competitive. What's the over/under on a training camp fight involving Big County? Should be fun to watch.
What say you? Who do you think is on the roster bubble on offense for the Titans in 2013?


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So first up.. I would like to introduce the super talented Blanka Biernat!!!.. (you may know her from our London Welcome Home Workshop - she was our gorgeous model).. she is a self taught illustrator/photographer working out of her South London flat. As a thank you gift for taking part in the workshop Blanka sent me and Pete an illustration.. OF US!!
OH MY GOD.. IT IS ACTUALLY US.. I was. blown. away.
Aghhhhhhhh!! AMAZING isn't it!!! We love it SO much and cannot believe how like us it is... the girl has talent huh?
"I've recently been commissioned to draw couples illustrations and I loved designing them! These have proven to be a lovely Anniversary or Valentines gift and are also perfect for wedding stationery: all are crafted to match each couple and are one of a kind."
Oh my god!! Look who it is!!...


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Over the last 12 months Elaine has interviewed many founders of lean seven-figure companies – including some people who I've known from the fitness niche and the email marketing scene.
After my original interview with Elaine for Forbes she let me know she was working on a book that would be out more than a year later. Fortunately she and I stayed in touch and she sent me a copy last week!
Because CLVboost readers are mostly online business owners and digital marketers, I made a note to call Elaine myself and ask her for some of the common traits and habits of seven-figure one-person online companies. Here were her thoughts:
- Conscious Focus on Efficiency: The founders in the book were eager to make the most of their effort, not simply to "work", but to simplify processes and get as much done as possible with automation, outsourcing, and contractors (indeed, Elaine's book is full of examples of how bootstrapped companies used all three). This was a deliberate effort.
- Getting Out of the Fray / Thinking Big Picture: Some founders meditate, others practiced martial arts – all of them seemed to have a priority for clearing their mind that they could refresh their thoughts, and also leave the fray of "doing" to think about their business in a big picture way.
- Balance and Routine: Many of the founders in the book were in the health and fitness field, so this may have skewed the facts a bit, but Elaine found that
- Have a Coach: Elaine's guests aren't afraid to have a coach. Sometimes this was a paid professional who's "been there, done that", other times it was just a mentor in the industry. Either way, Elaine's founders often had someone coaching them actively to improve and get to the next level in their business – opening them up to new ideas and helping them avoid old mistakes. This requires the maturity of founders to put their ego aside and listen.
- Constantly Learning: Elaine told me that her interviewees were often very avid readers. Authors that came up a lot for her included Ryan Holiday, Tim Ferriss, and Verne Harnish (the latter of which I read myself, as I often highly recommend Verne's "Scaling Up"). Founders also listened to many audiobooks, and frequently used podcasts to "stay current" on their industry or area of expertise. They have a hunger for new ideas and ways to improve – not just continue with "the grind."
I'm grateful to have my Science of Skill and TechEmergence story make it's way to other budding founders who might find it helpful – and it was fun to read the stories of other founders who went through the same lean and mean beginnings to cross a million dollars in revenue.
Until next time,
– Daniel Faggella
PS: Readers of this post might be interested in Elaine's long article on Tim Ferriss's blog, featuring some "best of" snippets from the book itself.]]>


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Ryan Crane originally founded Kerloo Cellars in 2007 while residing in Walla Walla, Washington. His passion for winemaking and commitment to producing quality wines is apparent in every glass of Kerloo.
Ryan's hands-on winemaking story began as a volunteer at Animale Cellars in Seattle, years before Kerloo was founded. After falling in love with the process, Ryan probed further, eventually working crush under the keen eye of Marie-Eve Gilla at Forgeron Cellars. He then left behind his ordinary life in Seattle to pursue an AAAS in Enology and Viticulture in Walla Walla.
Ultimately his passion landed him the position of Assistant Winemaker at Va Piano Vineyards, a position to which he reported for three years. The influence and support of true luminaries in the Washington wine industry like Gilla, Justin Wylie of Va Piano, and Steve Brooks of Trust Cellars propelled Ryan forward to where he has found himself today: in the midst of his Kerloo Cellars dream-like reality.
In addition to building the Kerloo brand and pushing winemaking to new levels, Ryan has ventured into the production of concrete wine vessels (RAW Concrete Company).
In 2015 Ryan moved Kerloo Cellars to SoDo, the industrial section of Seattle. Ryan is also the proud father of his two sons, Beckett and Sullivan. Wine, family, and love sums up the core of Kerloo Cellar wines.
An OG Seattle native, Stephen began his winemaking journey out of the desire to create something unique. The allure of winemaking's combination of art and science drove him to pursue a post graduate study in wine science at the University of Auckland, New Zealand. Stephen's love of wine studies lead him to the completion of a M.Sc. in Viticulture and Enology at Hochschule Geisenheim University in Geisenheim, Germany. He then did a research thesis focusing on bud fruitfulness and canopy management at the University of Adelaide in South Australia.
Stephen has an international roster of vino experience including working at Goldie Estate on New Zealand's Waiheke Island and apprenticing at Weingut George-Müller-Stiftung in Germany's Rheingau region.
Stephen joined Kerloo for the 2016 vintage after speaking with Ryan over Skype and discovering that their approach to winemaking was very much aligned. Stephen brings his passion for winemaking and grape growing to the Kerloo crew and is in heaven making wines with a definite sense of place and character.


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Last week, Justice Gorsuch cast his first decisive vote on the Supreme Court. He voted to allow Arkansas to move forward with the execution of one Ledell Lee and several other death row inmates. The Washington Free Beacon reported that Lee "is the first inmate Arkansas has executed since 2005."
The ruling has been criticized by many on the left. So what exactly happened?
Facts of the Case
In 1993, the State of Arkansas convicted Ledell Lee of the gruesome murder of Debra Reese. Lee was accused of robbing and strangling Reese, and ultimately killing her with a tire iron. Arkansas sentenced Lee to death, but Lee maintained his innocence, and his attorneys were seeking additional DNA testing.
Arkansas sought to execute eight inmates, including Lee, within the span of eleven days. As written by Justice Breyer, who voted in opposition to Arkansas' actions, the state did not have a proper reason to execute these inmates in such haste:
Apparently the reason the state decided to proceed with these eight executions is that the "use by" date of the state's execution drug is about to expire. That factor, when considered as a determining factor separating those who live from those who die, is close to random.
The drug which Breyer is referring to is Midazolam.
A Controversial Drug
Midazolam has been criticized by some as an inhumane way to perform executions. As reported by The Atlantic: "In a high enough dose, [midazolam] should render the patient unconscious—but some experts argue that, unlike sodium thiopental and pentobarbital, midazolam cannot produce the deep, coma-like state needed to guarantee he feels no pain."
However, there are contradicting reports surrounding the drug's use in executions. According to the same Atlantic article, "Ohio used midazolam in the execution of Dennis McGuire … and witnesses reported that McGuire snorted, heaved, clenched one of his fists, and gasped for air." However, Florida officials determined that midazolam was in fact "the most humane and dignified way to do the procedure."
Despite these issues, The Supreme Court permitted use of the drug in the 2015 case Glossip v. Gross. In Glossip, the Court ruled that the use of this sedative did not violate the Eight Amendment prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment.
Explaining The Decision
Ultimately, Gorsuch's decision relied on this precedent. Justices Gorsuch, Thomas, Roberts, Kennedy, and Alito voted to allow Arkansas to move forward with the executions in light of the Glossip ruling.
Justices Ginsburg, Breyer, Sotomayor, and Kagan dissented in an effort to grant at least one of the stay requests.


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By ExecuNet Contributing Editor Marji McClure
'Tis the season for job hunting? For many job seekers, the holiday season is typically looked toward with dread, as it usually represents time lost in the job search process. But the best gift job seekers may be able to give themselves this time of year could be a combination of strategy and persistence because recruiters and employers may be more focused on filling positions than candidates think.
Consider these thoughts from successful folks in all walks of life:
"A winner is someone who recognizes his God-given talents, works his tail off to develop them into skills, and uses these skills to accomplish his goals."—Larry Bird, basketball star turned coach/team president.
Lisa K. wrote:
Help! I am looking for your wisdom and creativity – what are you doing to control costs in this environment of financial volatility without creating panic inside your organization? I've read about the Microsofts and Dells – but what are YOU doing?
1. Positive: Don't let your emotions get the best of you and be willing to learn from others who can help.
2. Proactive: Leadership candidates with the best sense for the transferability of their skills and experience to new industry environments are in the best position to surface new career opportunities.
3. Passionate: Show others you still love what you do, or demonstrate passion for where you'd next like to be.
Here are a few tips on starting your own (home-based) consulting company.
Q. What do you think is the greatest misconception about consulting?
A. Being an "Expert" in your field does not insure your success as a small business…
Q. What one "success tip" can you share?
A. Be very good at Networking!
For most people, recruiting is seldom their first career choice. Many recruiters entered the field in a round-about way or they were down on their luck and lured by the lucrative commissions. Today, the profession is better established, and recruiting is on the radar screen of many young, middle and senior level job seekers. While we've all come into the profession at different times and on different roads, the choice to be paid for performance requires a unique and totally committed individual. You will need to possess a real appreciation of the challenge and excitement of bringing skilled candidates together with employers. "WARNING! Closing the intangible sale is easily the most difficult!"
"Networking" is undoubtedly the best method for identifying career options, as 70 percent of the senior-level executives we've surveyed credit this activity for their success, and more than half of corporate and search firm recruiters reportedly find candidates this way. But "networking" is a broad term, with differing interpretations, and analysis from the ExecuNet 16th Annual Executive Job Market Intelligence Report found that this activity varies by age group.
Executives over age 50 are more apt to develop new contacts online and in-person and their networking actions mirror those of the overall survey group of 3,600+ senior-level leaders.
Steve Jobs was recently interviewed by Fortune Magazine. When asked on how he chooses the best talent for his executive team, here was his reply:
He said, "When I hire somebody really senior, competence is the ante. They have to be really smart. But the real issue for me is, Are they going to fall in love with Apple? Because if they fall in love with Apple, everything else will take care of itself. They'll want to do what's best for Apple, not what's best for them, what's best for Steve, or anybody else."
With layoffs mounting, gas prices surreal, mortgage defaults on the rise, the stock market in a swoon, and much of the U.S. staggered by truly awful weather of one kind or another, we could all use a good laugh right about now. So how about a look at the results of a new poll of hiring managers, by staffing firm OfficeTeam. The firm's researchers spoke with executives at 1,000 big U.S. companies, plus 100 in Canada, and asked them to recall the most embarrassing or bizarre interview moments they had witnessed or heard of.
Tips on Selling – Part 1
Once you understand some of the low opinions most sales prospects, customers, clients, hiring managers, or any "buyers" have you'll be in a better position to make the sale.


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4 fl. oz. Briggs & Stratton Advanced Formula
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Briggs & Stratton Replacement Snowblower Engine
Generac Motor Oil
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Synthetic Oil gives your engine better viscosity temperature response, better low temperature fluidity, better thermal stability better oxidation stability, lower volatility, better deposit control, and better wear control.
This in return reduces risk of equipment failure, promotes trouble free operation, reduces maintenance costs, extends service life, and long term engine durability.
Briggs & Stratton's best engine oil, warranty certified, for all small 4 cycle engines. The use of this high quality detergent oil assures compliance with Briggs & Stratton warranty requirements regarding the use of appropriate oil. 32 fl. oz.


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The iPhone Siri that is exclusively for the iPhone 4S devices, often gives up because of the lack of connectivity, i.e. no network connection around. The Apple guys have made Siri in a way that it would let the users know when there is no network available. It would come with the few soft replies like –
- "Sorry, I"m having trouble connecting to the network."
- "Sorry, I"m not able to connect right now."
- "Sorry, something"s gone wrong. Can you try that agan?"
- "Sorry, I didn"t get that."
- "Uh oh. Something"s wrong. Can you try again?"
Now don"t keep wondering whether it was an error with the microphone or the audio input, or come to a conclusion that Siri couldn"t recognize the accent and convert the audio to online casino text. It is genuinely a problem with the network connection. And not just that, Siri being something totally new and different, is being tried by most of the iPhone 4S users all the time and this instead keeps hitting the Apple servers real hard as Siri isn"t an offline assistant.
A few users have found the fix and claimed that the trick worked, so here is how to fix the Siri network connection issue:
- Go to Settings in your iPhone and go to the Siri tab.
- Disable Siri
- Turn off the iPhone 4S
- Turn on the iPhone 4S
- Go to Settings again and enable Siri
The steps are basically about resetting Siri and it would again catch up with the network and the connection would normally happen. The fix worked for many, but a few couldn"t still resolve the problem, but keep trying and the response from Siri would be back at any point of time.
When its just a few countries and the iPhone 4S users already turning down the Apple servers, imagine what would happen when the 4S would be shipped to 20 more countries in the next few days! The Siri is available only for the iPhone 4S and can be ported to iPhone 4, given that the 4S is jailbroken (with the iOS 5 version)


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Court Ordered Sale by Private Selling Officer. No Showings. Bidding ends May 19, 2020 & is online only. According to public record this Single family home has 3 bedroom & 1 bath. Information is thought to be correct but not guaranteed. SOLD 100% AS-IS w/all faults. 10% Buyer Premium is added to the high bid. 10% deposit($1,000 min) due w/i 24 hours of bidding end.
The data relating to real estate for sale on this website comes in part from the Internet Data Exchange program of YES-MLS. Real estate listings held by brokerage firms other than Platinum Real Estate are marked with the Internet Data Exchange logo and detailed information about them includes the name of the listing broker(s). IDX information is provided exclusively for consumers' personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Copyright© 2020 YES-MLS. All rights reserved.
Listing information last updated on May 31st, 2020 at 10:46pm EDT.


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With New Year's resolution time coming up fast, now is a great time to refresh your knowledge about which foods can give you a boost in terms of brain power. Here, in Part 2 of "Eating to Improve Brain Power," we continue our list of good bets for foods that will give you a "cognitive" edge.
Caffeine. This mild stimulant found in coffee improves mental acuity, which might explain why coffee enthusiasts guzzle 120,000 tons of the stuff each year. Also, coffee's antioxidant richness helps maintain brain health. And some research suggests that drinking coffee can actually stave off depression in women.
Spinach. Spinach is rich in the antioxidant lutein, which is thought to help protect against cognitive decline. A Harvard Medical School study found that women who reported eating the most leafy green and cruciferous vegetables had a markedly lower rate of cognitive decline, compared to those who ate the least.
Dark Chocolate. Antioxidant-rich dark chocolate is healthy for your whole body, but its caffeine content is thought to play a role in maintaining mental acuity. Chocolate is rich in flavonoids, a class of antioxidant that helps to improve blood flow (and thus brain health) by regulating cholesterol and lowering blood pressure.
Avocados. Avocados are full of monounsaturated fats that improve vascular health and blood flow, making them another brain food.
Water. When a person becomes dehydrated, their brain tissue actually shrinks. Studies have shown that dehydration can affect cognitive function and impair short-term memory, focus and decision making.
Wheat Germ. Wheat germ is a rich vegetarian source of choline, a nutrient involved in the body's production of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that boosts memory. Eggs are another good choline source.
Beets. Beets are a good source of naturally-occurring nitrates, which help improve blood flow to the brain.
Garlic. Garlic may help stave off some forms of brain cancer, according to research published in Cancer, the medical journal of the American Cancer Society. Investigators found that certain compounds in garlic actually worked to kill glioblastoma cells—a type of malignant tumor cell.
Dr. Jane Stewart at Optiminds has earned a reputation for helping to improve the study, reading, math and cognitive skills of students of all ages. Learn more about Optiminds' customized tutoring programs by calling Dr. Stewart today at (248) 496-0150 or email her at: firstname.lastname@example.com. And be sure to visit the Optiminds website at www.optimindsct.com.


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The Miss Universe program is the largest pageant in the world. While watching you get to see behind the scenes exclusives and learn about the contestants.
Isabella and Genevieve Ulrich dream that one day this may a dream that they can reach. Isabella Ulrich, 9, and sister Genevieve Ulrich, 7, may not be old enough for the Miss Universe pageant, but they are very involved in preparing and exploring the pageant world.
"It is a very competitive and intense sport you have to be prepared to do," said Tara Ulrich mother of Isabelle and Genevieve. "You need to be able to wear that dress in a way you can walk on it and not trip on it but glide with grace across the stage."
Isabelle got involved in the pageant world on accident.
"I started because one day I was getting the mail," said the 9-year-old. "I saw there was a letter addressed to me it was about a pageant called NAM." NAM stands for National American Miss, said Isabelle.
"So we decided why not do it?" Isabella said. Isabella began going to more pageants and learned that she enjoyed them a lot. Her favorite thing about pageants is that she loves to make new friends.
Genevieve started going to pageants with her sister and enjoyed watching her so much that she decided to follow suit.
"She would go to the pageants with Bella and she said to me that she would like to do it," said Tara. "She tried it and has been really successful."
Genevieve is a title holder with Imperial Beauties of the World. She will be giving up her title with Imperial Beauties of the World, this July in Orlando, where she will crown her successor.
She has plans of competing with the Cinderella pageant and if she wins she will go on to complete in Dallas at the International Pageant at the end of July.
"Cinderella is a very formal pageant with strict rules," Tara said, "They do not wear evening gowns but instead wear beauty dresses that are knee length."
The dress shop, Liz Bebe's , located at Park Avenue, where the girls go to get their dresses for the pageants asked them to do a charity event.
"We get a lot of dresses there. She asked us if we would like to do a runway show and we actually enjoyed it," Isabella said. "It is similar to a pageant but you are not getting judged for it, it is actually a lot of fun so we kept doing them."
Isabella is Miss Central Florida USA Ambassador Jr. Preteen. She will be competing this July at their national pageant in Tampa.
"When they started that they became more involved with charity events because USA is a charity based program," Tara said. "The girls competed and are encouraged strongly to be involved in charity and helping others."
Tara said, "There are a lot of hours that these girls give not because they have to but because they want to."
About the Author
RaSheba is a senior at the University of Florida with a concentration in Event Management. She is an Intern for Fierce Entertainment Management; working with event production and execution at Orlando International Fashion Week and a writer for Orlando Fashion Magazine. RaSheba's interests include fashion, health/fitness, and being creative.


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If you are looking for a truly unique way to spend an evening, this Dinner & Show Riverboat Cruise is truly a night to remember. Whether you are a local or a visitor, this cruise has the perfect mix of scenery, local history, and live entertainment.
Your evening will begin with an approximately 1-hour cruise down the New River, known as the "Venice of America." Along the way, your captain you will teach you about the rich cultural history of the area while you observe from the open-air decks of the riverboat. Visit the on-board bar and enjoy a cocktail as you take in views of Millionaire's Row.
Before you know it, the boat will be docking at the private tropical island where you will have an opportunity to explore and enjoy the lush foliage and exotic creatures. Next, you'll be seated to dinner where you will enjoy a family-style BBQ feast while enjoying the sounds of a live piano player. This delicious meal is all-you-can-eat, do don't hold back! Coffee and tea are included, but additional beverages are available for purchase.
After dinner, you and your group will make your way over to the open-air theater and find your seat under the stars! The vaudeville-style variety show will last approximately 1 hour and is laugh-out-loud funny! You will be having so much fun, you won't want this night to end!
After the show, it will be time to make your way back to the boat and cruise back to the dock under the stars. In all, the experience will last about 4 hours and will be an evening you will never forget!
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Dinner is an all-you-can-eat BBQ dinner, served family style. Menu items may include (but are subject to change):
Baby Back Ribs
Peel & Eat Shrimp
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Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Alongside Surprise
You know it, of course, or if you don't, you should: J. Neil Schulman's first novel, a very nice bit of anarcho-capitalist agitprop that stands well beside Atlas Shrugged, The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress, Kings of the High Frontier (I should read more Koman), The Probability Broach and L. Neil Smith's subsequent books. It's not always that easy to find in bookstores. I had heard of it but not read it until I met Tam; she loaned me her copy and I decided I was going to get one all my own.
Update: If you'd like to read this book, do me a favor: when you go back to View From The Porch, click on Tam's link to Amazon and buy it. You'll be glad you did!
Good intentions and all, I still had not. So for a fiver, this one was a no-brainer. I didn't even look inside.
Neither had Half Price Books. Or maybe they didn't care. Showing off my find to Tam this evening, I flipped it open. Oh, dear, previous owner has put his name in it and real big.
Hey, just a derned minnit:
His...name...? Funny, it's a bit scribbly but that looks like....It is! Yep. Signed. Numbered. First edition from that printer. One of five hundred and twenty-six. For just about pocket change. Worth what a buyer would pay for it and a seller would accept, right?
13 comments:
- og said...
Now you're talking my language! I have signed first editions of Clarke, a signed copy of Dune, a bunch of signed paperbacks from a half dozen SF authors and a few mystery authors. I LOVE signed editions. SuWheeet!
- September 15, 2009 at 10:51 PM
- Alan said...
That was a good read. Nice find... I'm jealous. :)
- September 15, 2009 at 11:23 PM
Hie thee down to the Stop-N-Rob and get thyself a lottery ticket!!
Good thing you DIDN'T look inside until after the sale; I can just imagine you in line and at the register, being Ms. Pokerface while trying not to do the Happy Dance.
Going back to the scene of the crime to see if there is ANOTHER signed, numbered copy??
And I'm more jealous than Alan.
- September 16, 2009 at 12:20 AM
- kahr40 said...
I pick up copies of Alongside Night and his other novel The Rainbow Cadenza when ever I find them so I can give them to friends. Having signed copies would be neat. Congrats.
- September 16, 2009 at 12:31 AM
- sam said...
Sweet find for a sweet lady!
In case you didn't know, Schulman wrote, produced, and directed a film called Lady Magdalene's.
Haven't seen it, but it is supposed to be . . . a bit unusual.
- September 16, 2009 at 12:58 AM
- September 16, 2009 at 2:45 AM
- Turk Turon said...
Great find!
- September 16, 2009 at 9:48 AM
Am green with envy.
Agree a lottery ticket would be a good buy.
Found a signed E.E. "Doc" Smith in back corner of store in Seattle. Re-bound for a library several decades earlier so had no real collectors value past the signature but I was more happy to put down my $8.00.
- September 16, 2009 at 10:40 AM
- Unknown said...
Now for a small challenge...
Are there any writers/singers/artists/photographers that you know and can encourage? I've been thrilled over the years to buy and beg as many works as possible from my friends and contacts - these have quickly taken a place of honor in my collection.
So, if you appreciate great writing, encourage it.
... and enjoy!
- September 17, 2009 at 10:38 AM
- NotClauswitz said...
I have a signed copy of, "The Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson" by Jim Supica...
- September 17, 2009 at 4:30 PM
- Tango Juliet said...
Cool! Good for you!
- September 17, 2009 at 6:24 PM
- Tango Juliet said...
OK, clicked Tam's link.
- September 18, 2009 at 7:33 PM
- Fait said...
And if you are not aware, you can also pick up a free copy of his book "Stopping Power" in PDF form, from his website at http://www.pulpless.com/gunclock/
- September 20, 2009 at 7:44 PM


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Thanks to everyone who came out to audition for MTW's 2019 fall play, Agatha Christie's Witness for the Prosecution.
MTW is pleased to announce the following cast list:
Greta: Becca Chambers
Mrs. Carter: TJ Farrell
Jean Mayhew: Meg Kappler
Leonard Vole: David Harvill
Sir Wilfred Robarts: John Schulz
Chief Inspector Hearne: David James
Romaine Vole: Maren Cagle
Mr. Justice Wainwright: Steve Zimmerman
Myers. Q.C.: Dylan Spradlin
Court Usher: Adriana Montes
Dr. Wyatt: Skyler Cuthill
Janet Mackenzie: Julie Kuntz
Dr. Clegg: Shannon Jaynes
Other Woman: Ray Dwyer
Spectator: Cristina Cabral


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Archive for October, 2015
"The Sower Went Out to Sow!" #4
Sermon Notes (Sunday October 18th, 2015)
Rev. Mouris Yousef, Pastor
"The Sower Went Out to Sow!" #4
Psalm 126; Matthew 13:1-9
This morning we conclude our 4-week series on one of the greatest parables of Jesus, the parable of the sower based on the gospel of Matthew chapter 13. As we examine the last piece today, I believe Jesus saves the best for last. In Matthew 13:8 we read, "Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown." This is the soil of fruitful faith. Those people work the soil of their hearts, plow it, weed it, fertilize it and are therefore productive. Down in Matthew 13:23 Jesus explained what He means by the seed that fell on good soil. Jesus explained, "But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown."
The fourth type of soil, the "good soil" brings so much hope to us as individuals and as a congregation. As I reflect upon that last part of the parable, I am reminded of a few lessons this morning:
First: Be Assured of the Harvest
When we scatter seeds, when we share the gospel with others, when we lay our prayers and supplications before the Lord, let's be assured of the harvest. Yes, some of the seeds will land along the path. Some will fall on rocky soil or among the thorns. But we are assured that some will also fall on good soil, therefore we should expect a harvest. Jesus doesn't call our attention to the seed that is lost. "Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop–a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown", says Matthew 13:8. Jesus entrusted twelve people with the future of the church, twelve people who launched a campaign that changed the whole world.
The mainline church in the United States today is so consumed by worries about the future of the church. The image of the sower is not an image of worry. Friends, sometimes we are reluctant to reach out to people, to cast seeds of hope, grace, and reconciliation because we are afraid of rejection and failure. In the parable of the sower. However, Jesus teaches us there is no room for discouragement. The sower has no option but to keep sowing!
Rather than cast concerned eyes on our world wondering where all the good Christians moved off to, the parable of the sower calls us to trust that we are NOT the Lord of the harvest–that the state of our communities, like the state of the sower's soil, is not ours to worry over. The parable of the sower calls us to sow seeds of grace and mercy over new ground–worried not over where it will land–concerned only with casting as much seed as possible–leaving all the rest up to God. Leave the rest up to God? Maybe it doesn't sound so American, but it sure does sound so Christian. 1 Corinthians 3:6: "I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow."
Second: An Abundant Harvest
Jesus says that the seeds which fell on the good soil grew like mad, producing a harvest beyond the farmer's wildest dreams. Notice the amount of fruit the good soil produces. Some produce a harvest which is 30 times what was sown, others 60 times, and still others 100 times the amount of seed they received. Yes it varies, but even the least of these is a good crop. Back then, if a farmer had a yield that was seven times what was sown it would be considered a good crop. To have yields of a hundred, sixty or thirty fold would be unheard of, unnatural, even astonishing. Genesis 26:12 notes a crop of Isaac that yielded 100 fold, a mark of God's blessing. God can do a lot with a little. That's the encouraging news from this parable. A few seeds sown in good soil can ultimately revolutionize a church, a town, a school, a family, a neighborhood, or when God wills it so, an entire region. Fruit-bearing is the mark of a disciple as John 15:8 says, "This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples."
Third: Keep Sowing No Matter What
The sower in Matthew chapter 13 kept sowing no matter what. When we share the gospel with others, yes, some of the seed will land along the path. Some will fall on rocky soil or among the thorns. But some will also fall on good soil. Three of the four soils failed to produce any fruit. Is Jesus suggesting that 75% of our efforts will go for naught? I do not know. But sometimes it can seem that way. Some churches are hard to pastor, others are easier. Some soils takes longer to produce fruit, others are not that hard. Some missionaries see amazing results. Others struggle for years with little to show for their efforts.
In all cases we need to keep sowing seeds in our community. We need to keep receiving the seeds of God's Word in our lives. Have you ever noticed a plant growing where it's not supposed to? Like a seedling in the gutter of a house, or a tree in the side of a cliff, or a tulip that comes up every year in the middle of a bunch of weeds? You never know where faith will take root. You never know who is listening to what you say, watching what you do. God can plant that seed anywhere God wants to. God will take care of it. Our job is to keep scattering seeds.
Friends, we should keep sowing faith, though some may refuse to believe. We should continue sowing hope, though cynicism is so very strong. We should continue sowing love, though some are content with less. In spite of the birds, in spite of the rocks, in spite of the thorns, let's keep on sowing. The Kingdom of God is like that … the sower went out to sow. The seed may seem small and unimpressive, by it has the power of life.
You may heard the story of the Minister who came to his new church and on the first Sunday he preached a very good sermon. The second Sunday came and the Minister preached the same exact sermon again. On the third Sunday everyone was amazed to hear the identical sermon yet again. An Elder spoke to the Minister. "Reverend, do you realize," he said, "you've preached the same sermon three times?" The Minister replied, "Yes, and I'll go on preaching it until someone does something about what I am saying!" We should never give up hope. Keep on casting the seeds. We cast seeds as we encourage and challenge each other this morning to be good stewards of God's various gifts to us. We cast seeds as we commit ourselves to God's work in 2016 through our tithes, offerings, and pledges. If you ever get worry about how and when those seeds will grow, listen to the assurance of God's Word in Psalm 126. In Psalm 126:5-6 the Psalmist says, "Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them. May the God of hope grant us hope enough to go on casting seed and grant us the faith to leave the rest up to Him. In the Name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen!
"A Sower Went Out to Sow!" #3
Sermon Notes (Sunday October 11th, 2015)
Rev. Mouris Yousef, Pastor
"A Sower Went Out to Sow!" #3
Jeremiah 4:1-4; Matthew 13:1-9
One of the best-known parables that Jesus spoke was the parable of the sower. This parable has been the topic of my teaching on Sunday mornings over the last few weeks. As I mentioned a couple weeks ago, in Matthew chapter 13 Jesus describes a scene that is very familiar to His audience: A sower went out to sow grain in his field. The seed falls on four different types of ground: (1) the wayside (2) stony ground (3) among thorns and (4) on good ground. As Jesus privately interpreted later to His disciples, each type of ground represents a different category of person who hears the Word of God at some point in his or her life. Each responds differently.
The last two Sundays we covered the first two types of soil ~ the hard soil and the stony soil. This morning I would like to explore the third category, the seed that fell among thorns, and look at what we can learn from it. In Matthew 13:7 we read: "And some fell among thorns and the thorns grew up and choked it and it yielded no fruit."
Other Seed Fell among Thorns
What did Jesus mean by the "seed that fell among thorns"? Fortunately, Jesus gives us the meaning of this part of the parable down in Matthew 13:22 where He says: "The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful." In Mark's account Jesus highlights three things as thorns that might choke the word: 1) the cares of this world 2) the deceitfulness of riches and 3) the desires for other things.
The seeds fell among thorns represent the people who are attracted to the gospel message but they never get around to getting serious. They are so distracted by other things that they never fully and wholeheartedly respond to the truth of the gospel. It's like the girl to which a young man once proposed. He said, "Darling, I want you to know that I love you more than anything else in the world. I want you to marry me. I'm not rich. I don't have a yacht or a Rolls Royce like Johnny Brown, but I do love you with all my heart." She thought for a minute and then replied, "I love you with all my heart, too, but tell me more about Johnny Brown." These people have a divided heart. They love their boyfriend but still want to know about Johnny Brown. These people know they need spiritual life, but unwilling to commit to Christ. Jesus tells us that these people eventually drift away. They want to walk on both the broad road and the narrow road. They want to pursue the things of the world and the things of God. But we cannot do both.
The Gospel is Choked
As Jesus privately explained the meaning of the parable to His disciples, He highlights three reasons the gospel is choked: the worries and cares of this life, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things.
- The Worries and Cares of this Life ~ Materialism
The worries and cares of this life suffocate the seed of God's Word. These are literally the worries, anxieties and distractions of this present life that hold captive our hearts and minds to the extent that there is no room for God in our lives; no room to consider, ponder, receive and give priority to things eternal. These things dominate our attention and time. They become the focus of our lives and eventually choke the word of God and keep it from producing the desired results in our lives. These present-day cares seem so innocently legitimate; yet, the preoccupation with them obstructs the entrance of the gospel into these care-filled hearts. In Luke 12:31 Jesus gave the antidote to overcome this world's cares when He advised, "But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you."
- The Deceitfulness of Riches
That's a very powerful statement. Riches are deceiving. They promise satisfaction which they can not and do not bring. Wealth says to us, "I'll give you happiness. The more you have, the happier you will be." Many people are so persuaded by that. But it is a big lie. Some of the richest people in the world are the most miserable. Jesus described riches as deceitful because they fail to give true and lasting happiness, comfort and security to their pursuers. They promise much but satisfy little. They are deceptive. They do not satisfy the true need of the soul. Riches can become the focus of our lives and attention and will in so doing choke the word of God and keep it from accomplishing what God wants it to do in our lives. Yes, it is true that riches are not evil in themselves, but they certainly have the power to deceive. They occupy the heart to the extent that there is no room for the Word of Christ. The preaching goes over our heads. We don't see our need for the Savior. And the Word bears no fruit in our hearts and lives.
- The Desires for other things
The gospel of Mark adds another reason. In Mark 4:19 we read, "But the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful." Jesus is talking about lustful desire. Some of these desires are sinful. Yield to sinful desires will certainly rob us of our spiritual vitality. But I would add that even God-given desires and pleasures can choke out our spiritual lives if not kept in moderation. A hobby or interest in sports can be good and acceptable, but if you are spending more time with those things than with the Lord, and serving Him, then you will be unfruitful as a Christian. Paul said in 2 Timothy 4:10, "Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world." The love the of this world, and the things of this world, caused Demas to become unfruitful.
Friends, the seeds of the gospel can be easily choked in our lives and God's voice can be easily muted. I am grateful this morning for the gift of the Scriptures. I am grateful for God's reminders. Jesus warns us against the cares of this life, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things. Friends, I invite us this morning to examine our lives least the seeds of God's Word fall among the thorns. The Prophet Jeremiah exhorts us in Jeremiah 4:3 saying, "This is what the Lord says to the people of Judah and to Jerusalem: "Break up your unplowed ground and do not sow among thorns." May be it is time to put more attention to your spiritual life and your walk with the Lord. May be it is time to clear the thorns in your life so that you leave a room for God's seed to grow up and produce fruit. As we do so, may the good result described in Colossians 1:10 be manifest in God's people: "…that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God." In the Name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen!
"A Sower Went Out to Sow!" #2
Sermon Notes (Sunday October 4th, 2015)
Rev. Mouris Yousef, Pastor
"A Sower Went Out to Sow!" #2
Isaiah 27:6; Matthew 13:1-9
An old farmer who was about to die called his two sons to his bedside and said, "My sons, my farm and the fields are yours in equal shares. I leave you a little ready money but the bulk of my wealth is hidden somewhere in the ground, not more than eighteen inches from the surface. I regret that I've forgotten precisely where it lies." When the old man was dead and buried his two sons set to work to dig up every inch of ground in order to find the buried treasure. They failed to find it but as they'd gone to all the trouble of turning over the soil they thought they might as well sow a crop, which they did, reaping a good harvest. In autumn as soon as they had an opportunity they dug for the treasure again but with no better results. As their fields were turned over more thoroughly than any others in the neighborhood they reaped better harvests than anyone else. Year after year their search continued. Only when they had grown much older and wiser did they realize what their father had meant. Real treasure comes as a result of hard work and digging deeper.
The Rocky Soil
Today we continue our study on the parable of the sower from Matthew chapter 13. Last week we studied the first kind of soil, the hard soil. The second type of soil is mentioned in Mathew 13:5-6, "Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root."
The second type of soil Jesus speaks about is the "rocky places." These rocky places are very common in Palestine and were so familiar to Jesus' listeners. Often there will be an outcropping of limestone rock covered by a thin layer of topsoil. Shallow soil is common there. There's an old Arabic story that says that when God was creating the world, He entrusted all the stones to two angels, each with one full bag. As they flew over Palestine one of the bags broke spilling half the stones intended for the whole world. There must be some truth to this story because I remember looking out the window of the plane as we circled for a landing at Tel Aviv when I went to the Holy Land a few years ago I saw rocks poking out everywhere. Much of Israel is indeed very rocky and because of this it can be a tough place to farm. So, what is the problem with the rocky soil? What did Jesus mean by the stony soil? As we think about the rocky soil, please allow me to highlight a couple important observations:
First: False Profession of Faith
The rocky soil looks like it is ready to be sown. This ground looks good and productive and seed cast there will germinate and quickly spring up into a promising plant. But, because there is no depth of soil, as soon as the sun beats down on the tender plant, it withers and dies without producing any fruit. In Matthew 13:18, 20-21 Jesus said, "Listen then to what the parable of the sower means. The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away."
This kind of soil speaks of that heart that makes an emotional response to the presentation of the gospel. They receive the gospel gladly. They are excited about being a Christian. They start coming to church or Bible study. Perhaps this person heard the gospel and said, "That's what I need!" They make a profession, but it is a shallow one at best. They may even show signs of life in the Lord, but when Christianity doesn't turn out like they thought it would, they quickly fade away and disappear! They shrink away from the radical claims of Christ and the cross. They like the idea of forgiveness and heaven and receiving "God's favor," but don't want any difficulties. Notice that it doesn't say "if" trouble or persecution comes, but "when" it comes. Trouble and persecution will strengthen true believers and it also reveals those who have only had an emotional experience. It was a false profession. They only had faith on the surface. It was not truly in their heart. Romans 10:9 says, "If you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." A surface faith is not a saving faith.
So how do we prevent a false profession of faith in Christ? I don't believe we can eliminate false professions completely, but there are things we can do to make them less common. First of all, we can help people count the cost of following Jesus. We don't just present the gospel as a "get out of hell free" card, but we help people understand repentance from sin and the cost of discipleship. Secondly, we present not just a message but a person. The basic Christian confession is not "I believe the Bible," though we do, but "Jesus is Lord."
Second: It Takes Time to Develop Roots
Colossians 2:6-7 says that we need to be rooted in Christ, and so a person with no root is a person without Christ. Effort needs to be put into getting rooted and grounded in Christ. Don't dwell on the visible results. Take the example of an oak tree, for every foot above the ground there is three to four feet of roots below the ground. By the time the seedling sprouts it is already well established. Then throughout its lifecycle, it withstands the storms because the strong roots make it stable. Put your effort into your root system. Get established in Scripture and God will take care of the plume. Meditate, study, strive to understand and get some depth of soil. In the Christian life, visible results in life and ministry is a direct result of how deep your root system is.
Friends, would we examine our lives today least our hearts have become rocky ground? What kind of faith do you have? Do you have a deep root system? The only way to prove that our faith is genuine is to bear fruits. The only way to prove that we are rooted in Christ is to bear fruit. In the last chapter of the book of Hosea, in Hosea 14:6-8, the prophet repeats the image of Israel as a fruitful plant or tree watered and sustained by his relationship with the Lord: "I will be like the dew of Israel: he shall blossom like the lily; he shall strike root like the Lebanon cedar, and put forth his shoots. His splendor shall be like the olive tree and his fragrance like the Lebanon cedar. Again they shall dwell in his shade and raise grain. They shall blossom like the vine, and his fame shall be like the wine of Lebanon… Because of me you bear fruit!" And in Isaiah 27:6 we read, "In days to come Jacob will take root, Israel will bud and blossom and fill all the world with fruit." Nothing serious and major will take place in our lives until we strike root. No real growth will ever happen until we base our lives on God's teaching and Living Word, the Scripture. The health, strength, and fruitiness of the plant totally depend on how good their root system is. Friends, let's examine the soil of our heart. Let's see if our faith is shallow. Let's see if our faith needs to be deepened. Remember … it takes time and effort to develop roots and maintain them. In the Name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen!