text:
Handicapping Theory (1/3) Model Handicapping
By: Dr. Bob
Handicapping Theory There are three general theories of how a bettor can gain an edge handicapping sports: Model Handicapping, Fundamental Analysis and Technical Analysis. In this three-part article, I explain each of these theories independently, and how I combine them to produce my Best Bets.
Model Handicapping The core of my handicapping comes from the mathematical model I have built which predicts the results of games more accurately than the public or Las Vegas odds makers. Less sophisticated simulators that try to come up with a formula to predict future games tend to make the same mistake; they use regression analysis to find the correlation between different statistics and point differential. While that exercise is very useful for explaining which statistics impact a game's result, regression is not necessarily useful in using past statistical averages to predict future results since some important statistics simply don't correlate very highly to the future. For example, turnovers are the number one factor in point differential in football, but turnovers are also the least predictable statistic. A model that is based on regression analysis will weigh turnovers very highly, but since past turnovers do not correlate highly with future turnovers such models will over-weigh the affect of past turnovers - creating a model that is good at explaining what has happened but not very good at predicting what will happen.
Fumbles in particular are almost 90% due to variance - that is to say that historically, if you took all of the teams that fumbled a lot over the first 8 games of a season, and all of the teams that fumbled very little over the first 8 games, those two groups of teams fumbled at a similar rate over their last 4 games. In other words, fumbles are almost completely random, and if 119 teams play 8 games each, you'll have some team with lots of fumbles and some teams with almost no fumbles, but going forward, those statistics are not predictive of future performance. In other words, when the talking heads on ESPN praise teams that 'hold on to the football' and criticize teams with 'fumbilitis,' one must realize that such labels are just fooling you with randomness, and that in future games, the 'hold on to the football' teams will not necessarily fumble less than the 'fumbilitis' teams. (Of course, when this happens, the talking heads then say, "Iowa fumbled 10 times in the first 5 games, but has only fumbled once in the 5 games since then. They have learned how to take care of the football!") This is just the most obvious of literally hundreds of different metrics which are factored into my mathematical model, and is one of the reasons that my model is much better than regressive models and has a consistent, winning track record to prove it.
My math model incorporates the predictability of past statistics to future games and uses each team's compensated statistics rather than their raw stats, which adds to the accuracy of my prediction. Compensated statistics are derived by comparing a team's statistics to the statistics of the opponents that they have faced.
For instance, if Oregon is averaging 3.6 yards per carry, and Rutgers is averaging 4.0 yards per carry, but Oregon's opponents (when adjusted for schedule strength) only project to allow a combined 3.4 ypc against an average opponent, and Rutgers' opponents project to allow a combined 4.2 ypc against an average opponent, then compensated statistical analysis (which I have tested over a sample size of tens of thousands of games) predicts that Oregon is actually likely to fare better rushing against an average run defense than would Rutgers, despite the fact that Rutgers is running at a rate of 4.0 ypc to Oregon's 3.6. Using compensated statistics in combination with the predictive nature of each statistic used in my model produces an accurate measure of the true differences between two teams future performances - not the difference between their past performances.
I also adjust my projected numbers based on current personnel for each team and those extra hours of statistical work have paid off handsomely over the years (and I get better each year at making those adjustments). A lot of my edge comes from some complex defensive player analysis models which I have built to evaluate the effects of defensive injuries. Most other handicappers - even the most sophisticated ones - all but ignore defense, and their lines are often off as a result. I also remove meaningless plays from my data set such as kneel downs at the end of a half or game and quarterback spikes, so the game statistics that I use are more representative of a team's performance than the statistics used by other handicappers who take a lazier approach and just plug in box scores.
I have been using my current NFL model for 8 years, and my NCAA math model since 2001 (with major upgrades in 2005). As you can see in my Past Performance (link to Past Performance Page) section, the results have been fantastic. The NFL model begins in Week 1 of each year (since I have so much reliable data from previous years), while the NCAA model kicks in Week 5.
Determining Value One of the critical advantages of Model Handicapping is that it allows me to quantify my edge. That is to say, that over many years my model not only identifies advantageous lines, but also can give me a rough percentage estimate of how likely a given team is to cover. We delve much further into the significance of this in the Investment Strategies (link to MM Summary Essay) article, but briefly, quantifying my edge allows bettors to adjust my bet sizes for optimal bankroll growth, which allows my customers to make more money.
It takes years of careful tweaking and analysis to really determine how much value each point of difference between a bettor's own lines and Vegas' lines is worth. I have used statistical software to create a regression equation predicting home team spread result as a function of the line differential of my power ratings/math model from the actual line. For instance, I have 10 years using my NFL math model and the equation to predict the chance that the home team covers the spread is .505 + 0.0128xLD, where LD is the line differential between my math model prediction and the line. So, for every point differential, I can add 1.28% to my chance of winning. Each NFL game has an unknown hypothetical 'perfect' line where each side would cover exactly 50% of the time, and I try my best to arrive at that line. If I had 'perfect' lines, then I would have about a 3% advantage per point differential between my lines and the Vegas' lines. Over the last two decades, my advantage has been 1.28% per point, meaning that I have clearly demonstrated that my lines are superior to Vegas' lines, but that they aren't 'perfect' yet. I spend the majority of each summer researching my methods and fine tuning my analysis, and my lines have become more and more accurate each year.
Remember, it doesn't matter how much of a differential there is between your ratings/math model if your line is not proven to be better than the actual point spread, as my lines have!
Power Ratings Many handicappers have a set of ratings, most often referred to as power ratings, that gauge the overall strength of each team in comparison to every other team. They then take the difference in ratings between two teams as the predicted point differential between the teams if they met on a neutral field. Of course, teams don't usually meet on a neutral field so points are added to the home team to compensate for the advantage that most teams have playing at home. The home field advantage can be a set amount for all teams (such as 2.5 or 3 points in the NFL) or can vary from team to team depending on their individual variance in their level of play at home and on the road.
While the concept of power ratings is rather simple, it is very difficult to come up with a set of accurate ratings. The problem with most power ratings methods is that the ratings are generated using some sort of mathematical process based on the past performance of each team and the level of opposition that they have faced. An example of this is the Sagarin Ratings seen in USA Today each week. I've talked to many amateur handicappers that use the Sagarin Ratings to figure out if the point spread is too high or low on a particular game. What is important to remember is that the Sagarin Ratings, and any other mathematically produced set of ratings, explain what has already happened rather than what will happen. In other words, while it is true that these ratings accurately reflect the difference in the performance of each team up to that point of the season they are not a predictive tool to be used to forecast the future performance level of teams, which is what we are truly interested in as handicappers.
If beating the point spread were as easy as picking up the Tuesday USA Today, checking the Sagarin Ratings and making your wagers based on that, then everyone would be winning and sports books would all be out of business. Obviously, that is not the case. So, while the Sagarin Ratings can be used to see how teams have performed up to that point of the season, do not depend on them to forecast how teams will perform in their next game.
Power ratings are typically based off of the final scores of games - in football, there is a lot of 'noise' and 'variance' in scoring, and points are not nearly as useful for predicting the outcomes of games. Furthermore, power ratings which reduce every team to a single number ignore the enormous importance of matchups. If Texas Tech and Georgia Tech have similarly rated offenses, then you would expect them to fair similarly against a defense that had an average rating across the board in all defensive metrics. However, against a defense with an average overall rating, but on a more specific level, with very high run-defense ratings (allowing 3.1 ypc against opponents who combine for an adjusted 4.5 ypc) and very bad pass-defense ratings (allowing 9.8 ypa against opponents who combine for an adjusted 6.4 ypa), you would expect Texas Tech's pass-heavy offense to fair comparably better than Georgia Tech's run-heavy offense, even though the two offenses are rated similarly overall. Obviously analyzing matchups is much deeper and more complex than this, and often gets into very technical data concerning advantages at individual positions, but this simple example illustrates the overall concept of how power ratings do not factor matchups.
Bob Stoll of Dr. Bob Sports can be reached at DrBobSports.com.
Leave a Reply.
October 2013


text:
Wednesday, 28. November 2018
TKH has acquired 100% of the shares of Lakesight Technologies. The activities of Lakesight will strengthen TKH's sub-segment vision & security in the business segment Building Solutions and will contribute to the earnings per share of TKH as from 2019.
Lakesight, with its headquarters in Germany, consists of three operating entities: Chromasens GmbH (Germany), Mikrotron GmbH (Germany) and Tattile Srl (Italy). With 169 employees, Lakesight realises an annual turnover of about € 45 million.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Our favourite easy lasagna recipe, has a filling of a tomato beef mince sauce.
Lasagna originates in Italy (lasagne is the plural of lasagna). Lasanga is made up of a combination of pasta sheets, cheese sauce and a filling of your choice. Traditionally a mince and tomato filling is used. Modern lasagna can be adapted to fit your personal diet. My favourite is salmon lasagna which is an example of how you can experiment and modify the traditional methods to meet your taste buds.
Serves: 4 people
Baking tray: approximately 29 by 21 cm
Filling for the meat lasagna recipe:
Cook meat thoroughly then add the onions and spices (oregano, basil, clove, pepper, salt and paprika). Add the vegetable stock and tomato paste then stir well before adding the water. Reduce to the lowest heat and let simmer for 20 minutes, if
there is not enough water add more. This process lets the flavour develop.
Get new recipes and insights with our monthly e-zine.
While the filling is simmering prepare the béchamel sauce. Melt butter and stir the flour in in a pot on low heat. When butter and flour become one mass without lumps pour milk in slowly while stirring, to prevent the flour butter mixing from clumping. Add the cheese, flavouring and stock. Let simmer and stir until the cheese has melted.
Preheat the oven to 200C°. Convert!
Putting the easy lasagna recipe together:
Oil the tray, then lay it out with the first layer pasta sheets. Cover it with 1/3 of the béchamel sauce on which you spread 1/2 of the lasagna filling topped with a layer of pasta sheets. Then repeat these steps. Finish of with a layer of pasta sheets, béchamel sauce and sprinkle with cheese to top it off.
Place the tray in the oven. With ready made lasagna sheets it will take about half an hour, with homemade pasta sheets it will take between 20 – 30 minutes. Always check in the last few minutes because cooking time always depends on your oven's heat.
For thoughts and comment on the easy lasagna recipe please use the FB plug-in.
Coming from Italy Lasagna is one of the popular layered oven baked dishes that travel around the world that is easily adjusted to fit different tastes and diets.
From Balkan the dish Moussaka enjoys similar popularity and versatility.
Do you have a favourite layered dish or an adaptation to the above mentioned your family is fond of? Build a page, document it with up to four images and share it!
Do you have a favourite recipe? Share it!


text:
Kerry Washington in Marc Jacobs
The Emmy Awards started a half hour before the Seahawks Vs. Packers game so I only got to see 30 minutes of the show, but from what I saw of Andy Samberg's intro – I probably didn't miss that much. I did, however, peep the red carpet and tonight's celebrities, winners, and presenters did not disappoint. This evening produced a lot of great looks that I'm excited to share! Normally, I would not be impressed by this dress if I saw it on the runway, but Kerry Washington is stunning in it.
Elisabeth Moss in a hot pink Oscar de la Renta gown
Lady Gaga in Brandon Maxwell
Taraji P. Henson in custom Alexander Wang
Kiernan Shipka in Dior Haute Couture – Unfortuantely this was one of my least favorite looks of the night. Kiernan really had the opportunity to do something great with her outfit this evening and instead she came dressed like a little doll. I was so disappointed. 🙁
Claire Danes in Prada
Zoe Kazan in Miu Miu – whoa this dress makes me dizzy.
Aubrey Plaza wearing Alexandre Vaultier
Sarah Hyland wearing in Zac Posen
The reverse rounded neckline is genius and her blunt haircut is perfection.
Amy Poehler in Michael Kors
Sarah Paulson in Prabal Gurung
Sofia Vergara in St. John
Laverne Cox wearing Calvin Klein Collection – this blue is so pretty!
Tatiana Maslany in Bouchra Jarrar Couture
Maisie Williams
January Jones wearing Ulyana Sergeenko
Chelsea Peretti in Gabriela Cadena
Amanda Peet in Michael Kors
Heidi Klum in Atelier Versace
Joanna Newsom in Delpozo and Andy Samberg
Ariel Winter in Romona Keveza
Ellie Kemper in Naeem Khan
Laura Prepon in Christian Siriano
Emma Roberts in custom Jenny Packham
This is one of my favorite looks! Emma always seems really scary to me cause I've heard she can be pretty mean, but at least she looks good.
Padma Lakshmi totally pulling off chartreuse in a Romona Keveza
Naomi Watts wearing Dior Haute Couture with Liev Schreiber
Uzo Aduba rocking pink in Jonathan Cohen
Julia Louis-Dreyfus in Safiyaa London
Jamie Lee Curtis in Stella McCartney
Julie Bowen wearing Georges Chakra. Amazing.
Christina Hendricks in Naeem Khan
Kathryn Hahn in Vivienne Westwood
Taylor Schilling in Stella McCartney – oh my gosh doesn't this just bring you back to Michelle Williams's iconic Vera Wang gown at the Oscars back in 2006? I love this!
Gina Rodriguez wearing Lorena Sarbu
Maggie G. in Oscar de la Renta. Looks like a prom dress
Julianne Hough in Marchesa. Who invites her to these things? Also, this gown feels inappropriate to me and she's too clean cut to try and pull this off.
Viola Davis in Carmen Marc Valvo
Amy Schumer in Zac Posen and with an award. But why does she look so sweaty?


text:
Year: 2013
Run-Time: 1 x 45 min.
Directed by Elisabeth Schönthal and Werner Müller
ORF/3sat and Werner Müller Filmproduktion in association with BMUKK
Languages: German (ORIGINAL)
Everywhere Alone
Überall alleine - Die Malerin Soshana
At the age of 11 Soshana was forced to flee from the Nazis, first to Switzerland, then to London and finally to the United States.It was there, at the age of 14, that she first got to know the then 50 year old painter, Beys Afroyim.Together they portrayed a number of prominent exiles, including Thomas Mann, Franz Werfel on his deathbed, Bruno Walter and Otto Klemperer.Their circle of acquaintances included countless artists, amongst whom were Sartre and Picasso.
With the money that she had earned as an artist, from the mid-1950s Soshana set out on the first of many overseas journeys to the furthest corners of the earth - an undertaking that was not automatically accepted for a woman at the time.She was inspired by sources as diverse as Asian calligraphy techniques and the landscapes of India and Africa.
The documentary«Everywhere Alone» portrays an internationally recognised artist, whose works were displayed across the world in museums from New York to Tokyo and not least in the Musée Picasso in Antibes.
Awards: Cannes Corporate Media & TV Awards 2014: Silver Dolphin
|Imprint Privacy Policy


text:
Pancreas Health Amylase Test (MHD1719)
This test is used to help diagnose and monitor pancreatitis. Amylase is an enzyme that is produced in the pancreas which helps digest carbohydrates. When the pancreas is inflamed, it releases amylase into the blood.
Recommended For:
Anyone who wants to monitor pancreas health. It can also be used to help diagnose certain digestive disorders.
If any of the test results are abnormal, you should follow up with a health care provider.
- Amylase, Serum
There is no preparation for this test.
Test Processing:
1 day
For more information on this test, go to labtestsonline.org.


text:
- This event has passed.
USF Sarasota-Manatee transfer student orientation
Aug 14, 2019
Event Navigation
Welcome to USF Sarasota-Manatee!
Now that you have been admitted, your next step is to sign up for an orientation session.
Completion of orientation is mandatory for all newly admitted undergraduate students.
Orientation Consists of two sections:
- General Orientation Session – Transfer students may complete the General Orientation either online, or in-person. Orientation will provide university and academic information, as well as financial aid and student information specific to USF Sarasota-Manatee. If you attend an in-person general orientation session, you will also have the opportunity to meet fellow students and get to know USF Sarasota-Manatee staff members.
- Newly Admitted Student Appointment – Click here for your advising appointment – You will meet with your academic advisor to plan for your major, and select your first semester courses.
RSVP here.


text:
You are here: Home > News > 2015 > Childhood obesity results (NI)
Health Minister welcomes safefood research that indicates parents making positive changes to children's diets and physical activity habits.
30 March, 2015. Northern Ireland parents are making positive and practical changes to their children's eating and physical activity habits in an effort to reduce the risks of childhood obesity.
That's the message today from safefood as they launch new research to coincide with the first year of their three year campaign to tackle the everyday habits which can lead to childhood obesity.
The research¹ revealed a significant increase in the daily consumption of water by children at meal times (+15%) and a reduction in the daily consumption of fizzy drinks (-5%).
It also found that parents are now serving more age-appropriate portion sizes to children (+7%) and an increase in the amount of children getting one hour of physical activity per day (+16%).
The findings highlighted a significant increase in awareness among parents that excess weight in childhood is associated with poorer health in later life (+16%) and that more parents were open to discussing the issue of their child's weight if they needed to (+21%).
Welcoming the research, Health Minister Jim Wells said:
I am grateful for all efforts to address overweight and obesity in our society. safefood is an important delivery partner in my Department's Obesity Prevention Strategy, 'A Fitter Future For All', and they contribute to public information campaigns that are designed to make both parents and children think more about their eating habits and encourage them to be more physically active in their daily routine. It is vital that we continue to raise public awareness of the risks to long term health that obesity can bring and endeavour to change behaviours that lead to a healthier lifestyle."
Dr Cliodhna Foley-Nolan, Director, Human Health & Nutrition, safefood continued: "Parents are making concrete efforts to develop everyday habits associated with a healthy weight in childhood. While it's really encouraging and heartening to see that parents report making these practical changes, it's much too early to say that we've won the battle against childhood obesity.
"As a society we didn't reach this child weight crisis overnight nor will it be solved in one year but these results highlight that our campaign messages have really resonated with parents. It's not easy to cut down on sugary foods when children have become used to overindulging but parents are making really important changes; it's vital now to keep up this positive momentum for the health of our children."
The three year, all island campaign to take on childhood obesity by safefood in partnership with the 'Fitter Futures for All' Implementation Plan in Northern Ireland and the HSE and Healthy Ireland Framework in the Republic of Ireland, urges parents to make practical changes to everyday lifestyle habits which would make a big difference to their children's future health.
Dr Tracy Owen from the Public Health Agency (PHA) added: "Childhood is a crucial time to establish healthy eating and physical activity behaviours for later life. While the findings of this research show that we are moving in the right direction, there is still much more to be done. Parents and carers have a key role in instilling a culture of eating well and engaging in physical activity from an early age. This will help ensure that children are then equipped with the knowledge and opportunity to make healthier choices throughout their lives."
To find out more about the safefood campaign including how-to videos from health experts and practical advice for parents, visit: www.safefood.eu.
ASG PR: Russell Lever 028 9080 2000 / 077 8828 8901/ firstname.lastname@example.com
safefood: Fiona Gilligan +353 (0) 87 989 1682 / Julie Carroll +353 (0) 86 601 6005 email@example.com
Consumption of water by children at mealtimes:
Consumption of fizzy drinks by children once a day or more
Serving more age appropriate portion sizes to children
Children getting at least an hour's physical activity a day
Increase in parental awareness of long-term consequences of excess weight in childhood
Parents confidence in discussing weight with their children if needed
Millward Brown/safefood 2015. Face to face survey of 919 parents with children aged under 12 on the island of Ireland.
The messages being promoted by the safefood campaign are:
¹ Millward Brown Lansdowne/safefood 2015
© The Food Safety Promotion Board


text:
For the vast majority of children and young people, school building will close tonight and not reopen for the forseeable future.
Taking up a place at school during this time of wider closure is the offer of a last resort, for the minority of key workers, who have no alternative.
These places will be for childcare only and not for education.
If we cannot provide enough staff to support these children the school will close completely.
Please keep yourselves and others safe.
Ashby Fields Primary School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
We have a number of policies and procedures in place that contribute to our safeguarding commitment, including our Child Protection Policy which can be viewed in the policies section on our website.
Sometimes we may need to share information and work in partnership with other agencies, when there are concerns about a child's welfare. We will ensure that our concerns about our pupils are discussed with parents/carers first, unless we have reason to believe that such a move would be contrary to the child's welfare.
We actively support the Government's Prevent Agenda to counter radicalism and extremism.
Our Designated Safeguarding Lead is Mrs Jacqui Johnson (Headteacher). Our Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead is Mrs Gemma Harvey (Deputy Headteacher). The Governor with responsibility for safeguarding in our school in Mrs Alison Solomon.
If you have any concerns about one of our pupils then do not hesitate to contact us by either telephoning the school office on 01327 310068, emailing the headteacher at firstname.lastname@example.com or speaking to us in person via the school office.
The Northamptonshire Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) can be contacted
on 0300 126 1000 or out of hours on 01604 626 938 , email firstname.lastname@example.com
Photographs and Videos
Whilst lots of parents and carers really enjoy seeing photos and videos of their children's school life we are very mindful of our duty of care towards all our pupils. We take the issue of safeguarding very seriously and this includes the use of photographic and video images.
Any photographs or videos taken by parents, carers and relatives at school productions, sports days or other events are for the enjoyment of individual families. They must not be used in any way that could potentially place a child at risk. This would include publishing images in any form of print or on the internet including social networking sites. This is emphasised before concerts and shows etc and where practical a record of parents and relatives taking photographs or videos is made.
We understand that in exceptional circumstances a parent or carer may not wish their child to be photographed or videoed in this way. If this is the case then please contact the headteacher to discuss how this can be best achieved.
Occasionally, the local press will be invited to take photographs of school events and special achievements. We also like to use photographs of our children in our prospectus and similar documents, for parent information meetings, newsletters and on our display screens around the school. We also like to use photographs, of our children, on our website. If you do not wish photographs of your child to be used for these purposes, then please contact the headteacher.
The School has adopted the definition of the term 'Safeguarding' used in the Children Act 2004.
In summary this is:
· protecting children from maltreatment;
· preventing impairment of children's health or development;
· ensuring that children are growing up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care; and
· undertaking that role so as to enable those children to have optimum life chances and to enter adulthood successfully.
The School's safeguarding arrangements cover all aspects of life at School, in particular addressing these issues:
· health and safety;
· bullying;
· other harassment and discrimination, including racism; sexism and other forms of discrimination.
· physical intervention; peer on peer abuse
* sexting
* homophobic behaviour
· meeting the needs of pupils with medical conditions;
· provision of medical first aid;
· drug and substance abuse;
· off-site visits;
· intimate care;
· internet and communications safety;
· physical security of the School site;
· protection from maltreatment; and
· recruitment and vetting of staff and visitors to the site.
In a world of ever-increasing exposure to streaming media, with cheaper and faster internet connectivity, children today are constantly accessing and creating web content.
At Ashby Fields Primary School we take great care to plan and teach the children how to stay safe in the on-line world and how to use these technologies responsibly.
For your convenience please find the following tips, guides and website links that you may find useful to help you and your children to stay safe whilst using technology on-line.
Bullying - a definition [source: https://www.gov.uk/bullying-at-school/bullying-a-definition]
There is no legal definition of bullying. However, it's usually defined as behaviour that is:
It takes many forms and can include:
The following websites may provides a helpful point of reference if you feel your child is being bullied.


text:
Richard Friedman – Pipe Maker: I have spent a lifetime as a working mariner. My wife Nancy and I are owners of a charter yacht offering weeklong private cruises for small groups in Alaska. She is the Chef and I am the Captain. With my love of the sea I have built a collection of "Sea Creature" pipes (whales, porpoises, nautilus, snails, urchins, etc.)
In 1967 My Uncle bought me my first pipe at the old Barclay Rex shop in New York. That pipe was a W.O. Larsen blasted pickaxe. I have been a pipe smoker ever since, collecting pipes ever since. My collection has always had an emphasis on Danish pipes, Larsen pipes in particular.
I had the great good fortune to meet Tonni Nielsen at the Richmond pipe show many years ago. There Tonni confirmed what I had suspected…many of the high grade Larsen pipes in my collection were carved by him. Since then Tonni and I have become close friends. A few years ago, he offered to teach me how to make pipes. I spent two weeks in Tonni's workshop, getting an invaluable jump start in the art of pipe making. It was like having Eric Clapton teach me how to play guitar.
My workshop is in our winter harbor, Bellingham, Washington. My work is seasonal allowing me a solid six months out of the year to pursue my passion for pipe making. I have been making some classical shapes but more often make Danish freehand style pipes.
Not having to earn a living from pipe making leaves me free to experiment with different ideas and innovations as well as branch out into more sculptural creations.
I have been experimenting with second chamber (reverse calabash) pipes with the second chamber incorporated in the shank to render a more conventional shape.
Contact Information:
E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com Phone: (360) 510-2213 Facebook: Richard M Friedman Website


text:
Talking Dead Airs This Sunday 10/9c With Guests Tyler James Williams (Noah), CM Punk and Yvette Nicole Brown
This Sunday at 10/9c, AMC's live The Walking Dead after show Talking Dead airs at 10/9c — immediately after The Walking Dead Episode 506, "Consumed." Joining host Chris Hardwick this week will be The Walking Dead's Tyler James Williams (Noah), wrestler CM Punk and Yvette Nicole Brown. They'll be taking questions live during the broadcast, so go to TalkingDead.com now to submit your queries. Then, during the episode, go to talkingdead.com/playdead on your phone, tablet or computer to answer real-time questions posed during the show. The results will be broadcast and discussed on the show in real time!
Come back to TalkingDead.com the next day to check out exclusive video and photos from the episode.
Talking Dead airs this Sunday at 10/9c immediately following The Walking Dead at 9/8c on AMC.Read More


text:
What is the best community for sophomores?
5 Responses to "What is the best community for sophomores?"
Bill Bourret
Morrison has a LOT of sophomores, and it's a really vibrant community. Barring that, look at mid-campus (Carmichael, Parker, Teague, Avery). A lot of first years tend to move to mid-campus for their second year to cut down on the walk time.
Either Morrison Community or Parker Community!
Richa Patel
I think Parker community is a great community for sophomores. Majority of the residents are sophomores, its a good location in terms of going to classes and attending sporting events, and the rooms are pretty nice!
Tope Elutilo
The best community from my experience as a past sophomore was definitely Morrison. Everyone is great there because everyone else was pretty much also a sophomore and it is great being surrounded by people like you.
Sanjana Bhat
I think I would be biased when I say this, but I would say that Morrison is the best community for sophomores. I stayed there my sophomore year (am a junior now) and thought it was a great transition from all the way down south around Hojo to a place still on south campus, but is closer and relatively better located. I thought what made it the best for me was that there are so many other sophomores who live in Morrison also so you get to keep getting to know others your age while being able to stay in an on-campus dorm. I would especially recommend it if you like suite-style dorms and go to the dining hall often.
Leave a Reply


text:
How do many Canberra homes perform?
In winter – turn the heating off, and the home looses heat quickly.
You're cold.
There will be little insulation, and the heat will radiate or move out of the home.
There will be air movement or leakage in all house surfaces,
and your warm air will be removed from your home.
Most homes get little winter sun into the inside of the home,
and get little natural heating.
Some times its colder inside the house then it is outside.
A lack of light may also make it dark inside.
Unfortunately, this describes many homes, and the result can be depressing.
Heating costs will be high, comfort will be low.
How does an Energy Efficient Home work?
If you put a hot cup of coffee on a outdoor table in the middle of winter,
the coffee goes cold quickly.
If it was in a thermos, the coffee would stay hot for some time.
If the thermos worked "perfectly", the coffee would not get cold.
That's the theory. Now let's use it.
If we could have a perfectly insulated building envelope,
i.e, floor, walls and ceiling, we wouldn't lose any heat?
We also need the building envelope to be air tight,
So we don't lose our heated air.
If we can face many windows to the north, and get the sun to the interior,
we can gain some heat into our building envelope.
It is common sense, not rocket science,
yet it is rarely done as Canberra will testify.
How we build an Energy Efficient Home
We have gained many years of experience with all the critical processes
needed to build a high quality energy efficient home.
A clear understanding of what works and how it works is needed to achieve
the high performance we are after.
We know it is achievable, we are building energy efficient homes now.


text:
Main Content
About the Talk
July 25, 2009 9:45 AM
London, UKLondon, UK
Mobile communication and interaction shouldn't just be limited to voice. There are many ways to effectively take advantage of mobile technology that can help us build better Rails application tailored to portable devices. Taking your application into the mobile space is easier than one would think. Find out why it's important to go mobile and just how to do so.


text:
|Please Wait...
Yes Details Are Individual .luxury domain registrations allowed?
Yes Details Company or legal entities registrations allowed for .luxury?
No Details Are there requirements, documents, or information needed for .luxury?
Yes Details Are some .luxury domain names restricted?
Some domain names may be permanently or temporarily reserved or restricted for registry operations, as premium domain names or to comply with ICANN requirements.
To comply with ICANN requirements, all two-character domains shall be initially reserved, however may be released in the future. In addition reserved names for a) International Olympic Committee, b) International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, and c) Intergovernmental Organizations, for new gTLDs., are not available in accordance with ICANN. The list of these names can be found here.
No Details Does .luxury domain have a special use?
No Details Other information I need to know about .luxury?
No Details Are there any additional fees for .luxury?
No Details Do I need a trademark/brand name to register .luxury?
Yes Details WHOIS Privacy service available?
Trustee / Proxy service offered? Fees? No Details
|Domain Name .luxury
|Domain Name Information .luxury
|TLD Bulk & Advanced Search
|.luxury Bulk Domain Registration
|WhoIs Server
|.luxury Whois Server Information
|Domain Renewals
|Renewal Lifestyle Domains Domain .luxury
|Domain Transfer
|Transfer Domain .luxury
|Domain Hosting
|.luxury domain hosting
|SSL Certificates
|SSL Certificates
|Email Services
|.luxury Email Services
|Domain FAQ
|.luxury Domain Registration FAQ
dot .luxury registration generic .luxury TLD register .luxury gTLDs generic .luxury TLDs generic Top Level Domains .luxury generic .luxury gTLD generic .luxury Top Level Domain icann .luxury gtld .luxury generic top level domains icann generic .luxury gtld icann .luxury domain names icann .luxury generic tlds icann generic .luxury tld generic .luxury top level domain names gtld .luxury domain icann .luxury tlds generic .luxury gtld program register tld gtld gtlds generic .luxury gtld generic .luxury gtlds icann .luxury generic gtlds top level .luxury tld icann .luxury top level domain icann .luxury gtlds .luxury top level domains tld register .luxury generic Top Level Domains generic .luxury generic Top Level Domain generic .luxury TLDs generic TLD .luxury register


text:
When I logged on last night, I was told I had a "special" at 7:30p, going to the Ma'alaea Grill in (obviously) Ma'alaea. A young gentleman wanted a luxury sedan to take he and a lady out to dinner. That would be approximately a $40 run each way. Not a bad way to start the shift. ONE-NINE is a 2001 Mercury Grand Marquis, which is classified as "luxury", albeit the bottom end of that category.
I pulled in front of the address smack on 7:30p and decided I would try to make this as pleasurable as possible for them. Our "cab light" is magnetically mounted to the roof of the vehicle, so I removed it to the trunk (boot). Gave ONE-NINE a more distinquished "look". My fare, Matthew (pictured above) was impressed when he came out of his residential condo. We went to pick up his date, Brooke (pictured above) at her residence a short 3/4's of a mile away. During the short jaunt, I confirmed our destination and discovered that he had been unable to obtain reservations at Ma'alaea Grill. If fact, almost every place he called were totally booked out. He finally got a reservation at Mulligan's. Our "Irish Pub". Oh, well 2x$16 is better than nothing. I opened the door for Brooke and wished her a Happy Valentine's Day. During our journey, I made sure to "talk up" Mulligan's positive features. Hoping that it would help her impression of Matthew. This was their first date. They both work in one of our supermarkets in Kihei. I also asked to take their picture, for the blog. On arrival, I gave her my hand when I opened her door. Its just one of those courtesies that a gentleman should extend to a lady. Matthew was "talkative" nervous. It was fun watching him trying to be something, so hard, that he probably won't attain for another 10 years, at best. He wanted to be as suave as James Bond, from a 15 year old's POV. Matthew was probably 21, maybe 22 (same age guesstimate for Brooke).
I did their return pick up 3 hours later. Brooke was almost sober but, alas, poor Matthew was ripped. Their evening came to an abrupt halt right after I dropped them at her apartment. Saw him later, at bar close, in the "Triangle". He had been slamming them back, until he was requested to leave after he lost his stomach contents across the top of one bar. None of the other pubs would allow him in, due to his level of intoxication.
Between those 2 runs, I picked up another 2, out of 8 total for the shift. The first brought me back into town, where what little action there was could be found. About an hour later, I stumbled onto the second one. One of the other drivers, while on a run, had spotted a male trying to "flag" a cab by the ABC Store, on south Kihei Road. Since the pickings were lean, I said that I would check it out. Usually you arrive at the location and can't find anybody. I missed him on my first pass, He was in the shadows. Spotted him on the return. He wanted to go to Haili'imaile, which is on the lower slopes of Mt. Haleakala, just below Makawao and Pukalani. I requested a $70 deposit and he handed me a C-Note. The fare actually came to $66.20. I got an 80-cent tip. Oh, well. Sometimes the magic works and sometimes it doesn't. During my return to the southside, I got the dispatch to pick up Brooke and Matthew.
Bar close brought my next three fares.
The final run was a request by the PBX operator at the Four Seasons to gather up a guest from a private residence in Kihei. I told her to tell the lady that I would be there in about 5 minutes. Arrived and sat. Sat for 15 minutes. Called the Four Seasons. They didn't have a call-back number, so I departed. I requested the operator to get a phone number if/when she called back. 20 minutes later, I get a call from the lady, herself. I knew she was speaking English but I could only understand 2 of the words she mumbled. It didn't take a genius to put 2 and 2 together. I asked if she was the lady at (address). She muttered something that sounded like a "yes". I told her that I would be there in less than 5 minutes and for her to be outside waiting for me. Another garbled response. Naturally, when I arrived, she wasn't in sight. I decided to give a 5 minute wait. In the final 30 seconds, a guy walks around from the rear of the house and tells me it'll be "just a second". She comes around the side of the home, walking with that careful precision that only drunks can do. As she enters, I could hear large glass bottles of liquid pinging against each other in her large, cloth purse. The guy joined her in the back seat. Obviously, their party was long from being over. At the hotel she was barely capable of movement, let alone cognitive thought. He, on the other hand, was coldly sober. I looked him in the eyes and saw a deep set cruelty, buried therein. When this woman regains consciousness, eventually, she will have no idea why she is so sore in so many places, nor where all her bruises came from. I've dealt with the other end of this scenario many times in my prior life.
For this year, last nights meter was decent, but was about 50% of what I was getting last year.
Since winter has finally arrived in the northeast, maybe we'll get to see a huge influx of smurf snowbirds in the near term. God, I hope so. St. Patrick's Day and "spring break" are just around the corner. One can always hope.
Y'all come back now, hear!
Mahalo and Aloha.
"Let's all be careful out there!"


text:
We will call you with a pre-estimate before we repair your unit.
We also provide loaner equipment, upon availability, so you may continue working.
We help our customers maintain, protect, and preserve their equipment's longevity…
• Inspect and Evaluate
• Trouble Shoot
• Provide a Free Estimate
• All at No Obligation
Contact us to discuss the issues you are experiencing and to determine the best course of action… often, we are able to get you back up and running fast via telephone or on-line web conferencing.
If it is determined that you do need to send us your equipment, please package the item securely to protect it during shipping.
Skin for Life is not responsible for any damage that may occur during shipping.
Mail to:
Skin for Life, Inc.
ATTN: Service Department
15241 Telcom Dr.
Brooksville, Florida 34604


text:
Bee keeper visit » bee lady visit 002
This entry was posted on Wednesday, May 25th, 2016 at 2:40 pm and is filed under . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.
Eco-Schools Programme © 2020 All Rights Reserved.
Entries and comments.
Anubis made by Nurudin Jauhari. Hosted by Delapre Primary Blogs


text:
|Cardinal Maradiaga: Francis 'feels called to construct' a Church
The Honduran archbishop, who chairs the Council of Cardinals (C8) that advises the Pope, said Francis "feels called to construct" a Church that is, among other things: "At the service of this world by being faithful to Christ and his Gospel; free from all mundane spirituality; free from the risk of being concerned about itself, of becoming middle-class, of closing in on self, of being a clerical Church; able to offer itself as an open space in which all can meet and recognise each other because there is space for dialogue, diversity and welcome in it."
For those who believe that the problems facing the Catholic Church in the 21st century are 'new' the book of Malachi was written at some point between the 200-500 years BC and its themes seem terribly 'modern'. This is, in the One True Church which compiled the Holy Bible, the last book of the Old Testament before the New Testament begins with the Gospel of St Matthew.
Firstly, there is an indictment of the priests of the time who...
'Hold the table of the Lord in contempt'.
Does that sound a little familiar? Secondly, there is a rebuke to priests who 'sniff disdainfully at me, says the Lord Sabaoth'. Quite simply, the priests of the time do not respect or reverence God - who do not fear God.
'For I am a great king, says the Lord Sabaoth, and my name is feared throughout the nations'.
A great king? Surely Thou art the Lord who enjoys the pottery chalice, make-it-up-as-you-go liturgy, some light liturgical dancing entertainment and a clown here and there?
'The lips of the priest ought to safeguard knowledge; his mouth is where instruction should be sought, since he is the messenger of the Lord Sabaoth. But you, you have strayed from the way; you have caused many to stumble by your teaching.'
Instruction? Teaching? Sounds a bit trad to me! The priests of the time have clearly given up teaching people to sincerely fear, love, reverence and worship God, and nor do they do so themselves. Sound a little familiar?
Fourthly, the Lord makes known his hatred for mixed marriage and divorce. Yes, divorce! It's almost as if this book is for the 21st century or something. For his people, the Lord does not recommend mixed marriages.
|He no likey. God hatey!
God hates- read: hates, not 'does not particularly like or have much time for' - divorce!
'For I hate divorce, says the Lord the God of Israel, and I hate people to parade their sins on their cloaks, say the Lord Sabaoth. Respect your own life, therefore and do not break faith like this.'
The focus then shifts to the 'day of the Lord' which can equally be taken as the arrival of Our Lord Jesus Christ at his first coming, or the arrival of Our Lord Jesus Christ at His glorious Second Coming. Nothing else, it appears, is going to solve the moral and spiritual crisis of the 'particular' age whose sins we have outgrown.
You weary the Lord with your talk. You ask, 'How do we weary him? When you say, 'Any evil-doer is good as far as the Lord is concerned: indeed he likes them best.'
'I mean to visit you for the judgement and I am going to be a ready witness against sorcerer, adulterer and perjurer, against those who oppress the wage-earner, the widow and the orphan, and who rob the settler of his rights.'
Gosh, this really sounds like 'an open space in which all can meet and recognise each other because there is space for dialogue, diversity and welcome in it.' Let's face it, ultimately the new times call for a new way of 'being Church'. You know, because really, God's well, you know, chilled out. But wait...
'No; I, the Lord, do not change; and you, sons of Jacob, you are not ruined yet! Since the days of your ancestors you have evaded my statutes and not observed them. Return to me and I will return to you, says the Lord Sabaoth.'
Okay, so the Lord is not best pleased. He doesn't change after all. He goes on...
You say, 'It is useless to serve God; what is the good of keeping his commands or of walking mournfully before the Lord Sabaoth? Now we have reached the point when we call the arrogant blessed; yes, they prosper, these evil-doers; they try God's patience and yet go free.'
'The day that is coming is going to burn them up, say the Lord Sabaoth, leaving them neither root nor stalk. But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness will shine out with healing in its rays; you will leap like calves going out to pasture. You will trample on the wicked, who will be like ashes under your feet on the day I am preparing, says the Lord Sabaoth.So, how will that new Church under construction fare on that great and terrible day?
'Let them build! I will pull down.' (Malachi, 1:4)
Good luck with that new construction, Your Eminence. No Bishop, Cardinal or Pope should feel called to 'construct' a Church since Our Lord Jesus said...
'Thou art Peter and upon this rock I will build my Church' (St Matthew, 16:18)
The Church belongs to Christ. It is He who builds and it is He who pulls down!


text:
Sorry, map view is not available right now. Please search by seller location to enable map view.
CAT Grader push Blocks. New Unused
Bolt on padfoot Shell kits to suit Caterpillar CS56, CS563, CS533 2135mm wide
The item you are attempting to add to compare is a different subtype to the items(s) in your list.
Only items of the same subtype may be compared.


text:
October 23, 2018 The Virginian-Pilot "Custody law should value what's best for children" Christian Paasch, National Parents Organization of Virginia
The Virginian-Pilot has published an op-ed by Christian Paasch, Co-Chair of the Virginia chapter of National Parents Organization, on the successes of a law passed in Arizona and how passing a full shared parenting law would similarly benefit Virginia. Paasch writes, "Shared parenting is a flexible option that gives judges wide latitude in ordering parenting time arrangements, while still allowing judges to protect victims of abuse, when required. It is the modern, responsible solution today's families and children need from the family court system." Read the full op-ed here.


text:
The arithmetic mean is the average of a group of numbers and is computed by summing all numbers and dividing by the number of numbers. The arithmetic mean is also usually just called the mean.Related Topics:
A population is a collection of persons, objects or items of interest.
A sample is a portion of the whole and, if properly taken, is representative of the whole.
The population mean is represented by the Greek letter mu (μ). It is given by the formula
The capital Greek letter sigma (𝚺) is commonly used in mathematics to represent a summation of all the numbers in a grouping. N is the number of terms in the population.
The sample mean is represented by x bar . It is given by the formula
n is the number of terms in the sample.Sample mean versus population mean
Rotate to landscape screen format on a mobile phone or small tablet to use the Mathway widget, a free math problem solver that answers your questions with step-by-step explanations.
We welcome your feedback, comments and questions about this site or page. Please submit your feedback or enquiries via our Feedback page.


text:
Rocco's Prisma Lites SOUND (Bug)
Rocco, the originator of "light from anywhere" and Murphy's Magic are proud to announce PRISMA LITES SOUND™. PRISMA LITES SOUND™ are extremely fun and can be added into any routine!! Make light appear, disappear, move from hand to hand or pass through solid objects WITH BUILT IN SOUND EFFECTS! Now you can light up a lightbulb and actually hear the electrical current being transmitted, magical chimes to accompany any vanish or appearance of light and for children's entertainers there is a cute little bug sound that is perfect for enhancing the magical experience of your routine! Features:
Have a question about this product? It's possible others do too. Ask here and other AmazeKids customers will be able to respond with assistance! Alternatively, email us and we can help too.
We ship to you directly from within the UK. While most other UK magic shops hide what happens behind the scenes, we want you to know exactly how things work. Here's the timeline:
Typically takes 2 - 3 days
We send UK orders in batch to the UK from our USA warehouse every day. This way you avoid expensive international shipping fees and taxes.
We keep our most popular products in stock in the UK so often this step is skipped.
We send packages out via MyHermes the same day that we receive them. This is a popular, secure, trackable courier service.
Typically takes 2 days
As soon as the package is dispatched you'll receive a link to track it on this page. While they don't offer any guarantees, MyHermes tend to deliver your order within two days.
Amazekids.com is the ONLY one-stop shop experience for the professional children's magician. We stock more kids magic than any site on the web, and we are owned and operated by professional magicians. We carry only quality magic—the kind of magic that adds smiles to children's faces, and bookings to your diary.
We accept:
© Copyright AmazeKids. 2020 - all rights reserved.
Brought to you by Vanishing Inc. Magic


text:
Gunnedah Markets
From May 18, 2019 08:00 until May 18, 2019 13:00 Save to calendar
Posted by Tourism
Categories: Activities for Seniors , Arts & Culture , Markets & Festivals , For the Kids
Hits: 806
Come visit the Gunnedah Country Markets on the third Saturday of every month. Lots of stalls to browse through offering lots of choice. Arts, Crafts, Handmade, Homemade, Books, Plants, Home grown and pre-loved items. Jumping Castle, kids activities and food vendors.
Contact Co-Ordinator Kyle Smith if you are interested in having a stall. Set up is from 6.30am and markets close around 1.00pm.
Gunnedah Country Markets is the place to buy and sell non-commercial goods, it is also a place to showcase local community organisations and encourage community participation. The markets foster a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere of creativity and enjoyment for everyone!


text:
February 27th – March 1st at the Booz Allen Hamilton Center
Innovation 360 GroupInnovation360 Group is collaborating with The International Association of Innovation Professionals, to deliver the following events at Innova-Con 2018.
Keynote on Innovation Metrics by Magnus Penker
Join Magnus Penker, he will be keynoting on Innovation Metrics. Learn to measure innovation in your organization and set specific innovation goals, proactively rebalance innovation spending and measure results.
VIP Innovation Circle hosted by Innovation360 Group at Innova-Con
Innovation360 Group together with The International Association of Innovation Professionals, are arranging an innovation workshop at IAOIP's event, Innova-Con on February 27th from 1-4 pm.
This will be an interactive workshop where you will gain insights about your organization's strengths, weaknesses, and capabilities within innovation. We will break down strategy, culture, leadership, capabilities and innovation processes in a tangible way.
In addition, you will receive an exclusive 40-page personalized innovation assessment and benchmark report for your organization (based on InnoSurvey®).
In order to attend the workshop, you will have to purchase a ticket for IAOIP's Innova-Con Event (http://innova-con.org). To obtain a $25 discount for a one-day pass, use the code Innovation360 or the code Innova-Con2018 for a $50 discount code for the full event.
Magnus Penker is an internationally renowned thought leader on innovation, digitalization and business transformation. In 2016, Mr. Penker received the Business Magazine award as the 'Most Innovative CEO Sweden 2016' and 'Growth Strategy CEO of the Year Sweden 2016." Mr. Penker founded Innovation360 Group, an organization that has built a comprehensive innovation analytics, interactive tool solution and the largest AI-enabled innovation management database with over 6,000 organizations in 62 countries. This framework will be the basis of the workshop.
The International Association of Innovation Professionals (IAOIP) is a professional member organization and the world's only innovation membership body, providing members with the knowledge, skills and opportunities to deliver real change in their industry or field. IAOIP certified innovation professionals are equipped with the appropriate tools to make a strategic difference in their organization through knowledge exchange, research, conferences, training and publications. With individual, corporate, public and non-profit members around the world, IAOIP is the leading international membership-based organization dedicated to the professional development of individuals working in the field of innovation.
Posted on


text:
Adelaide Anne Procter was an English poet and philanthropist. She worked prominently on behalf of unemployed women and the homeless, and was actively involved with feminist groups and journals.
Procter never married. She became unhealthy, possibly due to her charity work, and died of tuberculosis at the age of 38.
© 2020 BQOTD. All rights reserved.


text:
Cats shot in Waikanae - Public assistance please
February 11, 2018
From Hannah Candy
"I am not usually one to share this type of thing... But our poor little Birman was shot in the neck a few weeks ago and we just had the slug removed which confirmed our suspicions.
Luckily she is OK! After talking to our neighbour (who also had his 2 cats shot - one died consequently) and the SPCA, we have learned this has happened a few times in our area (we think it happened around the top end of Weggery Drive near Sunset Terrace area). PLEASE if you have any information or have had the same thing happen to your pet, send me a message or contact the SPCA. The police have also been notified as it is a firearms offence. We are absolutely horrified that someone could do this to innocent animals and we hope we can get some kind of lead so this person can be found out. Please share and thanks so much for reading.
Other stories in this section:
KC News: the Internet Newspaper for the Kapiti Coast


text:
Privacy Policy
At Bodhi and Sol we are committed to protecting your privacy. We use the information we collect to process orders and to provide you the service you expect.
What do we do with the information we collect from you?
In order to process an order, we need to know such details as your name, e-mail address, shipping address, credit card number and expiration date. This information allows us to process and ship your order quickly, with no hiccups.
At Bodhi and Sol your privacy is very important to us. We will never give your name, address or any other information to any other company or individual for their promotional or financial gain. The information you submit is used to help you build and maintain your personal account.
We may also use the information we collect to notify you about important changes to Bodhi and Sol website, new services and special offers we think you will be interested in. If you would rather not receive this information, just reply to any email you receive from us with the word REMOVE in the subject or select unsubscribe.
What do we do to insure your information is kept safe?
The Bodhi and Sol website utilizes various security measures, including encryption technologies and password protection, to protect the security of your information. This ensures that only you and Bodhi and Sol see any of your personal information.
At Bodhi and Sol we respect your privacy, If you have any questions about this privacy policy, the practices of this site, or your dealings with this website, you can contact us by sending an email to firstname.lastname@example.com.
This privacy policy is subject to change at any time.


text:
Morning Grain Comments, 11/25/2015
Wednesday, November 25, 2015
The bulls have to be happy with a penny or two of gains this morning, with the grain markets weathering outside market pressure—the dollar index put in that spike over the 100-point mark for the first time in eight months, while crude subsequently tumbled $1/bbl to cut the legs out of the week's rebound thus far. Grain volume was decent overnight but trading ranges were thin overall—the trade might be content to head into the holiday and wait for further fundamental news, now that we've seen what the markets can do to build on Monday's bullish reversals (very little). We'll continue to monitor some scattered dryness in key Brazilian crop areas, mainly a story at this point only since Brazil is trying to hit that massive 100 MMT mark...
Egypt's GASC is seeking milling wheat again today for Dec 21-31 shipment; traders are estimating French wheat as the cheapest offered on a cost & freight basis, with two cargoes priced around $206/tonne C&F, and Russian and Romanian wheat not far behind in the $206-207/tonne C&F range.
Japan bought 29k tonnes of feed wheat and 16k tonnes of feed barley in their weekly SBS tender (for up to 120k/200k) for February arrival.
The USDA cut their 2015 U.S. farm income estimate to $55.9 billion, down from $58.3 billion estimated in August; that's now down 38% from 2014, and 55% below the record $123.3 bln income from 2013. It also marks the largest year-over-year drop since 1983, and the lowest absolute level since 2002.
Today's charts show price action of the spot CBOT December corn and January soybean contracts, for the day before and the day after Thanksgiving. What used to be a consistently sleepy pre-holiday session on Wednesday for CZ has
turned more volatile, with an average move of just over one penny from 1991-2008 (with a max move of three cents!), and 7.25 cents since. SF5 lost 31 cents on 11/28 last year, but was eventually supported at $10 thru mid-Jan expiry.
Unless otherwise noted, the posts on this blog should be construed as market commentary, merely observing economic, political and/or market conditions, and not intended to refer to any particular trading strategy, promotional element or quality of service provided by INTL FCStone Inc. or its subsidiaries. INTL FCStone Inc. is not responsible for any trading decisions taken by persons viewing this material. Information contained herein was obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but is not guaranteed as to its accuracy. These materials represent the opinions and viewpoints of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the viewpoints and trading strategies employed by INTL FCStone Inc. or its subsidiaries. Reproduction without authorization is prohibited. All rights reserved.


text:
Interim Chancellor Phil Moss
Dr. Phil Moss was named interim chancellor by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education in June 2006. As interim chancellor, he served as the chief executive officer for the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education until Dr. Glen D. Johnson became chancellor in January 2007. Moss retired in 2007.
While serving as interim chancellor, Moss continued in his role as vice chancellor for academic affairs. In this position, he serves as the chief academic officer for the Oklahoma State System for Higher Education and provides leadership across the divisions of Student Affairs, Pre-Collegiate Programs and Collegiate Programs. The position is responsible for the day-to-day and long-range administration of academic projects and supervision of academic personnel.
Moss began his employment with the State Regents in 1996, serving as director of instructional technology, assistant vice chancellor for instructional technology, associate vice chancellor for technology, associate vice chancellor for academic affairs and executive director for OneNet applications, and interim vice chancellor for academic affairs. Prior to coming to the State Regents, Moss served Western Oklahoma State College from 1977 to 1996 in a variety of roles, including dean of information services and distance education, director of learning resources and outreach, director of learning resources and director of instructional media.
Academic Credentials and Honors
Moss has a doctorate in adult and higher education and a master's in educational technology, both from the University of Oklahoma, and a bachelor's in language arts from Central State University (now the University of Central Oklahoma).
Among his distinguished national academic recognitions are as an active member of the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) Electronic Campus Steering Committee and the SREB Educational Technology Cooperative, including service as co-chair of the SREB Distance Learning Policy Lab Subcommittee on Faculty Issues. He is a founding member of the Multimedia Educational Resource for Learning and Online Teaching (MERLOT), serves on the Advisory Committee of the Internet2 K20 Initiative, and has been active in leadership positions in both WCET of the Western Interstate Commission on Higher Education and EDUCAUSE. He has served as a board member on the Higher Education Alumni Council of Oklahoma, as president of the Higher Education Telecommunications Association of Oklahoma, president of the Oklahoma Distance Learning Association, and as an officer in the Oklahoma Association of Community Colleges. He currently serves on the advisory board of the DaVinci Institute and is on the board of directors of Creative Oklahoma, Inc.
Moss and his wife Peggy have three children and reside in Norman.
High Resolution Photo (JPG, 3.5m)


text:
Archives by date
You are browsing the site archives by date.
#CSCLintro Case Study: Knowledge Building in Nunavut
By Nate Otto on June 11, 2011
Resources for this week in #CSCLintro include McAuley, A. and Walton, F. (2011). Decolonizing cyberspace: Online support for the Nunavut MEd. IRRODL, 12, 4. Sandy McAuley's special presentation summarizing the paper above. We will talk about this case with McAuley in about half an hour apparently here: http://piratepad.net/cscl7 Some thoughts: I wonder about the different […]
Posted in Open Education | Tagged cscl-intro, knowledge building | Leave a response


text:
Wed, 21 Feb 2018 by Haripad Verman in Credit Cards I already cancel my emi conversion request on date 21.02.2018 morning .After that proceed all emi and deduct my 10000 balence . Please return my balence Thanks Haripad Verman End no of card 5738 9927787478 Limit 59000... Read more
Sat, 27 Dec 2014 by shailu in Scam Contests My self shailesh rakholiya Cell No. 09979424010 and I want lodge the complaint against shopittoday.in company and their employee because they done fraud with me and taken Rs. 13500 from me. In the month of Oct 2014 I got a... Read more
Wed, 30 Jul 2014 by prashant in Consumer Electronics TWO STATE LIGHT NOT WORK AT LAST ONE MONTH AT WADI POMLI FALIYA AT VAIDYA PATVARTHAN GALI AT WADI VADODARA... Read more
Tue, 03 Sep 2013 by no in Business and Finances hello me manjula from kolar i went to g3infotech to wrk fr company it ws jobplacment and i got regiesterd on august 1st week and in 1month i got a jod n 2dy is ma 5th day workin in mnc... Read more
Tue, 22 May 2012 by pmanish in Cars Parts and Vehicles I have purchase a honda shine from your show room in cash at time of inquiry your marketing person will say COMPANY WILL GAVE 100 WARRANTY ON ALL PARTS AT ANY PROBLEM AGAINST OF ACCIDENT know when i have a... Read more


text:
Swarovski® Crystal Circle Necklace
Put a sparkle in her eyes with the stunning beauty of this crystal circle necklace. Exquisitely crafted by the masters at SWAROVSKI, the pendant features an inner ring of clear crystals set in the pavé style, surrounded by a rhodium-plated outer ring, all hung from a classic chain.
SWAROVSKI® clear crystal pavé circle pendant with rhodium-plated outer circle
Features rhodium-plated accents that are part of the platinum family and a 16.5"L rhodium-plated chain, making this gift a very special keepsake
Pendant measures 1"H
About Swarovski®
Swarovski is a leading producer of Austrian crystal fashion jewelry, accessories and home décor. Swarovski designs are well recognized for their impeccable sparkle. Swarovski is beloved by all with a storied heritage in the fashion and entertainment industry.


text:
Team: Montreal Expos
Position: Pitcher
Value of card: Let's just say it should be called a Cubic Zirconia King
Key 1989 stat: Zero other decent players on Expos
A fitting beginning to Atrocious Diamond Kings Week: What makes this Diamond King so atrocious? Where to begin. Let's start with the man himself. Who is Bryn Smith? No idea. Maybe he's Bryan Smith and Donruss, in the company's infinite wisdom, forgot a letter in his first name. He appears to be a pitcher - a really, really old pitcher. Start counting the wrinkles on his face and neck. One, two, three ... 613, 614, 615. OK, stop. Imagine how many there would be if that streetperson - or streetsweeper - beard wasn't covering three-quarters of his face. Well, at least the Expos' uniforms are attractive. Ummm. Let's move on. The shapes behind the mugshot illustration are works of art - if you're hallucinating after chewing 20-year-old baseball card gum. Does this card have any redeeming qualities? Well, no, but the paint splatter in the card's border is probably the closest thing.
Card and idea submitted by Greg Schindler


text:
During the month of December, we held a PetsMove Membership Drive with a $50 AMEX gift card award to the member who recruited the most NEW members. We are happy to announce the winner is AdventureDogs USA! They recruited the most new members and are great participants in PetsMove. LeaderBoard member Jake is a star member of AdventureDogs and we're happy to have him on our Featured Dogs slide show.
Other members who helped spread the PetsMove word included:
- For Love of a Dog
- Keep the Tail Wagging
- K9Fit Club
- MyGBGV Life
- Sand Spring Chesapeakes
- Something Wagging This Way Comes
- The World According to Garth Riley
- You Did What with Your Weiner
Thanks to everyone for helping support PetsMove. Keep on encouraging your readers, because we will have more membership drive in the future.
From: WINNER, WINNER!!


text:
There are six weeks and five days to go until I toe the line at the Chester Marathon wearing an England vest. I am woefully under-prepared. I haven't been able to shake off the problem with my bothersome ankle and managed not one single step of running during my 18 day holiday in Tanzania. I need to get my arse in gear.
This long-planned trip was the intended jewel in my summer sabbatical. It didn't disappoint, I had a great time.
The first part of the trip was a guided trek up the 5895m of Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa (and the highest free-standing mountain in the World), followed by a five day safari around several National Parks and conservation areas in Tanzania.
I love the wonderful haphazard craziness of Africa. The people appear infected with joyfulness and have a carefree resourcefulness that (eventually) solves most problems. They aren't the World's greatest timekeepers though.
There are several approved trekking routes up Kilimanjaro. Backpackers looking for the cheapest way up face a five day race up the crowded Marangu route. As well as being cheap and quick, this route also isn't particularly picturesque and has the lowest success rate of about 65% (due to poor acclimatisation).
We chose the longest and slowest route – the Northern circuit, which takes nine days in total including the descent. It is an expensive option, but the main advantage is the high success rate (over 90%) due to plenty of opportunities to acclimatise. The route takes in the quieter more unspoilt slopes on the Kenya-facing 'back' of the mountain.
Our party comprised eight trekkers (mainly Australian friends with whom I walked the Inca Trail in Peru in 2012), four guides and about 32 porters. That may sound a plethora of porters, but it's about the average walker to porter proportion.
The guides and porters were simply wonderful, they pampered and pandered to the softy Western tourists and never once failed to smile, laugh or sing whilst doing it. And they had to lug dozens of 25KG packs up the mountain….
To be honest, the first few days of the walk were fairly easy for me. There is a phrase in Swahili that you hear all the time on the mountain: "Pole, Pole" (pronounced: "Po-lay, Pol-lay"). It means "Slowly, slowly" and it is the absolute key to success on Kilimanjaro.
At first I was surprised just how slowly we were made to walk – to call it funereal would be to exaggerate the pace, it was much slower – something around 1 mile per hour. As we got higher and the air got thinner, we walked even more slowly – on summit night we covered six very steep kilometres in around ten hours.
Our head guide, Davis, had summited over 250 times, so we trusted in his counsel. My breathing and heart rate was comfortable at Pole Pole pace, but as soon as I tried to go even slightly quicker I felt my heart rate shoot up and breathing become laboured.
The ascent of Kilimanjaro is a trek, a walk. It's a long and arduous walk and the summit night and day is very long and testing, but provided you stay healthy and can cope with the altitude the main requirement for success is patience and determination.
Here are some photos from the first few days of the trek (photo credit Andrew Miley and Mervi Minshull)
Summit Night
We camped at School Hut – at an altitude of 4800m. We dined early – at 5.30pm and rose at 10.30pm for an 11.30pm start for the push for the summit.
It was a stunning place to camp, I have never been to a place that felt more other-Worldly, way above the clouds and many thousands of feet above the vegetation line:
We were blessed with a full moon, which washed the mountain in a pale argentine light. I turned off my head torch for most of the summit climb, I could see perfectly well by moonlight alone.
The moonlight reminded me of my favourite poem – Silver, by Walter de la Mere, which I recited to myself as we slogged up the steep slopes below the summit:
Slowly, silently, now the moon
Walks the night in her silver shoon;
This way, and that, she peers, and sees
Silver fruit upon silver trees;
One by one the casements catch
Her beams beneath the silvery thatch;
Couched in his kennel, like a log,
With paws of silver sleeps the dog;
From their shadowy cote the white breasts peep
Of doves in silver feathered sleep
A harvest mouse goes scampering by,
With silver claws, and silver eye;
And moveless fish in the water gleam,
By silver reeds in a silver stream.
The most difficult time physically was around 3 – 4 a.m., the body is used to being in a deep slumber at that time of night, not creeping up a freezing mountain in sucking in diluted oxygen. I resorted to listening to some favourite music to keep me going – The Hounds of Love by Kate Bush and Grace by Jeff Buckley.
It was very, very cold – between -10 and -15 degrees C during the night and thankfully Davis had meticulously checked our kit before we set off to ensure we would be warm enough. He made me rent an additional thick fleece jacket and leggings and I was very thankful he did – I was just about warm enough.
At around 6.30 a.m. we stopped to watch the sunrise:
At 7:30 a.m we made the first of the three summits on the crater – Gilman's point. Two hours later we got to the highest point in Africa – Uhuru Peak:
The summit peak was unusually quiet and we were able to spend around 20 minutes posing for photographs and generally larking about. After having the highest possible pee in Africa, we started a long and exhausting descent down trails of broken stones and talcum powder-like dust. At times it was almost possible to ski down.
After the exhilaration of the summit, the descent was a pain in the backside. We eventually made it to the Millenium camp (3800m) at around 4:30 pm. We had been walking for 17 hours and it had been 23 hours since we had eaten hot food. We were knackered.
Most porters don't summit and they treated us to an extra special song and dance as we shuffled exhaustedly into the camp. We ate and collpased into a deep slumber in our tents.
I won't bore you with lots of the details of the safari, I'll just insert a load of pictures mostly taken by my mate Andrew who is a far more accomplished photograper than me:
I was absolutely transfixed watching two lionesses hunting a hartebeest, though the scene was slightly spoiled by the fact that there were around twenty five jeeps all parked up with occupants gawping and snapping away. The lionesses didn't seem at all bothered by the vehicles. Quite the opposite, one walked distractedly away from the prey up the track alongside the line of cars. She then quietly turned around and then snuck around the other side of the vehicles. She was using the jeeps as cover – how amazing.
The hartebeest spotted one of the lionesses in the grass just in time and then legged it for all he was worth. Antelopes 1, Lions 0.
We visited a traditional Maasai village in the Serengeti. The chief greeted us warmly in beautiful English and politely requested USD 50 from each car.
He was a magnificent human being – tall, elegant and serene, he reminded me of David Rudisha (who is also Maasai). He wrapped his red shawl around my shoulders and invited me to compete in a Maasai jumping dance (used as part of the courtship to impress the Maasai ladies).
I was impressed enough to buy his shawl off him for USD 35 (he wanted USD 50, and later I saw them for USD 10). He was a pretty savvy businessman.
We learned about the Maasai way of life. They eat only three foodstuffs – blood from live cows, milk and meat. A lack of vegetables and carbohydrate doesn't appear to do them any harm, Maasai are tall and thin and probably very good runners.
Although I enjoyed my African adventures, after 18 days away, I was happy head to home, well aware that I needed to get running again.
Just four days after landing back in the U.K., I was off again, this time to Iceland for a long weekend primarily to run the Reykjavik half marathon with Valley Strider mates. Liz and I were staying in an Airbnb apartment with Jock, my Comrades mate. Unfortunately his partner Karen couldn't make it.
Iceland was an absolutely brilliant place, albeit eye-wateringly expensive, especially for a Scot and a Yorkshireman. My meal in a trendy tapas bar in Saturday night was basically posh fish and chips and cost me nearly £50!
Iceland blessed us with perfect running weather for the race on Saturday morning. It was crisp and cool with a massive cloudless azure sky.
At the last moment, I decided to run with Lizzie, for the first few miles at least. I wasn't sure how fit I was. I was unsure of my ankle, so there seemed little point in smashing myself to finish in around 90 minutes. Liz was hoping to run about 1 hour 40 minutes.
The first part of the course was flat and fast, but at around 10 miles Lizzie was feeling the pace after an aggressive start and told me to bugger off. I felt OK so decided to push the final 5k and test my legs. I lifted my pace to around 6:20 per mile.
I saw Jock a few hundred metres further on. He was having a storming run – well under his 1 hour 40 target pace. I was passing dozens of runners, and I expected to go sweeping past him but he latched onto me and we ran the next mile together in under 6:30.
I decided to pace him in as best I could, it seemed the least I could do after he had shepherded me home safely at Comrades last year when I was a gibbering wreck.
We finished in just outside 1:37, a great time for Jock and testament to four 70 + mile weeks of hard training. He is also running at Chester and I need to get my act together or he will be giving me a beating.
Liz finished just after us in 1:40 and a few seconds and nabbed a top ten age group finish to boot.
After a few days back home, I'm finally focussing on training again. Although my ankle isn't right, I will just have to ignore it for now and try to train through. If I break down again, then so be it. I have to gamble on four big mileage weeks so that I can line up in something like decent shape and then just try to bury myself on the day.
I'm running the third Even Splits 5K race tonight at the Brownlee cycling track. I've run 19:05 and 18:38 in the first two races. I doubt that I'll go quicker tonight.
Despite my lack of miles, one bit of good news is that my weight has remained quite low – I'm hovering at around 11 stones, which is about my racing weight. My aerobic fitness isn't too bad, its my legs that are letting me down. Time to get running!
CM- 6 weeks 4 days
10 stone 13.2 lbs
Aerobic efficiency (half marathon 992 beats per mile)


text:
|Main Page
A Tramp Steamer is a large steamship that carries freight in and out of Harbours and Docks on Sodor without a fixed schedule. There have been various different Tramp Steamers that were seen mainly at Brendam Docks.
"Izzy Gomez"
This tramp steamer was recycled from Izzy Gomez, a character from Tugs. She has made various appearances from the third to the fifth series.
The tramp steamer was first seen at Knapford Harbour in the third and fourth series, and was later shifted to Brendam in the fifth series. it was also seen bringing special loads of fruit to Arlesburgh Harbour.
It is currently unknown where the tramp steamer/Izzy Gomez's model is.
The Old Tramp Steamer
The old tramp steamer only appeared in the fifth series.
During her first appearance, she lost control and ran aground and crashed into a shed the engines were in at Brendam, causing it to collapse and knock Cranky over. The tramp steamer also brought the horrid lorries, and special funfair equipment to Brendam in its later appearances.
Her model was built by art director, Robert Gauld-Galliers and went missing in Canada, during or after production of Thomas and the Magic Railroad.
The Captain's Ship
In the seventh series episode, Salty's Stormy Tale, the captain's ship was sailing back to Brendam Docks at night. Unfortunately, the lighthouse's lamp had gone out, and the generator was broken. Without the lighthouse, the ship was steaming toward the rocks. Luckily, Fergus' flywheel was used to power up the lighthouse's light and the tramp steamer missed the rocks just in time. In the morning, the captain thanked Salty and Fergus for saving his tramp steamer from capsizing.
The captain's ship first appeared in the seventh series, and she has made several appearances since.
Other Tramp Steamers
Several Other tramp steamers have appeared in magazines and My Thomas Story Library books as well as various episodes throughout the series.


text:
UI Sounds: Musical | Free & Premium SFX Library
Posted: March 23rd, 2016, 10:16 am
Hi everyone!
Here's a fresh released sound effects library from Sound Ex Machina studio.
https://soundcloud.com/soundexmachina/u ... io-preview
UI SOUNDS: MUSICAL is a collection of 300 sound elements ranging from subtle to glitch and juicy vibrant sounds, which are ready to use in any kind of electronic user interface environment (smartphone, tablet, desktop app, web based app or site), smart TV app, wearable device app, UI demonstration videos, infographics, as well as in your games.
Frequency-optimized, for both mobile and high-end speakers
Each sound is meticulously trimmed and calibrated to sound as loud as the others.
All sounds created to make developers' lives easier and delivered in .zip format, ready to be reproduced in both mobile and high-end speakers.
Great variety, multicultural touch, unique approach
Inside you'll find catchy melodic elements from Indian strings, hand drum percussions and Tibetan bowls to warm analogue electronic tones, experimentally synthesized sounds, evolving sequences and everything in-between.
Suitable for:
Filling in forms
Online and mobile Quizzes
Checkout & eCommerce
As well as for other systems or game plays.
Technical Specifications:
300 files royalty-free
24bit/96 kHz in Stereo Wav format, mp3 (320-VBR), Ogg Vorbis (Quality=7)
Library size is 216 MB
PDF, XLS files included
All files embedded with metadata
Want to try it out first?
There is also the free Lite version of the Animal Farm library which you can download by simply entering your email address in the subscription field of the product page. Right after you'll get the download link.
To all those who plan to get this pack: The 30% Discount expires on March 30 th.
Find out more:


text:
Log of Ibi
Canoe Travels: Planning, Executing, Enjoying
Friday, March 21, 2014
Sailing & Paddling with Doug
Core Sound 20 Mk.III nearing completion.
Credit: Doug Cameron
I saw a Facebook post today that led me to Doug Cameron's blog, "Sailing and Paddling with Doug." I've added a link to it in the Favorite Blog list to the right. This is the prototype, or Hull #1, of the new Core Sound 20 Mk. III by Graham Byrnes of B&B Boat Design. Doug, from Sewanee, TN, is nearing completion of the boat that is meant for either sailing or rowing. If you have an interest in pocket cruisers, you may find this really interesting. Be sure to read his post from February 7, as it gives the whole conceptual background on the boat.
Posted by
Email This
Share to Twitter
Share to Facebook
Share to Pinterest
No comments:
Post a Comment
Newer Post
Older Post
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)


text:
Resolving Conflict the Right Way (and A Look at All My Wrong Ways)
Some of the most glorious and, at times, messy parts of my life have involved deep, gospel-driven friendships. Tim Keller says in The Meaning of Marriage that the point of marriage is "for helping each other to become our future glory-selves, the new creations that God is making us." I think the same principle is true of Christian friendships. A healthy, Christ-centered friendship helps us to draw closer to Jesus and become more of the person He wants us to be someday. This has certainly been the case for me in a few key friendships (like my besties in the picture at left) over the past few decades.
But, these types of friendships don't come cheap. They reach far beyond shared hobbies, play dates with the kids, and commenting on one another's Facebook pictures–although those things can certainly foster relationships on one level. These deeper friendships require much more–taking initiative to love and serve your friend even when you don't feel much like it; opening up your life to that other person—warts and all; spurring one another on to grow in godliness; and yes (gulp)…working through conflict the right way.
Today I want to tell you a bit about what I've been learning about dealing with conflict in my own life and about a friend who recently confronted me in the right way. First, you it may be helpful to know where I began.
My History with Dealing with Conflict
When I was in college and even when I first got married, I didn't know much about dealing with personal conflict the right way. That was a problem, because I had roommates, good friends, a boyfriend or two along the way, co-workers, and eventually a sweet husband who all had to take the brunt of some of my "attempts" at dealing with conflict. Here was my M.O. at that time.
- I could be passive aggressive, like leaving not-so-nice notes around my apartment for my roommate when I was upset.
- I could simply avoid it, like leaving the house when I was mad, not coming back for a long time, and never bringing up the issue again. (This wasn't a smart idea, because it usually led to the next bullet point.)
- Sometimes I avoided the issue I was upset about so long, stuffing it away, that I would boil away inside at someone. A few times this even led to erupting in anger at a friend unnecessarily.
- I would blame others for my own actions. This is our default-mode as humans, isn't it? We like to think that the way we act and the things we say aren't the overflow of our own hearts. It's our parents' fault for the way we were raised. It's our husband's fault because he's been gone so much. It's our job's fault for making us so busy and stressed. It's PMS. Whatever made me do it, it certainly wasn't me.
The end result of these conflict-resolving "strategies" in my life was usually damage and distance to some valued friendships and even my budding relationship with God at the time. Thankfully, God taught me a lot through those situations, from my patient husband, and from His Word over time.
The Gospel Changes How We Deal with Conflict
Over the years, the most important conflict resolution strategy I've learned is simply the Gospel—what Jesus did through his life, death, and resurrection for those who believe. It's no exaggeration to say that when we "get" the Gospel, it can radically change how we view and deal with relational difficulties. And, this belief can move us toward the intimate, life-changing, real relationships that we all long for.
If we understand the Gospel* then…
- We can be humble, forbearing of other's sin, and open to input from others… because the gospel tells us we are sinful and no different than anyone else. We need God's grace just as much as our friends do.
- We can forgive our friends when we are wronged…because we have been forgiven more than we can imagine through Jesus' sacrifice on the cross for us.
- We don't need to find our ultimate worth or fulfillment in earthly friendships…because we are already loved and made much of by Jesus, our greatest Friend.
- We are freed to love and serve others despite the way we are treated…because we know that Jesus loved us so much that He died for us while we were still enemies of God. He gave his life for us when our backs were turned on him.
*Some verses that have really helped me understand the Gospel are Romans 5:8, Ephesians 2:1-10, Philippians 2:1-11, Romans 3:21-26, and John 3:16, just to name a few.
So the big picture and first step to resolving conflict is understanding the Gospel. But, you may be thinking, like I have before, "I understand the Gospel. But, I still don't know what living it out looks like practically in a friendship…especially when it comes to resolving conflict." Let me tell you a story that may help flesh out these Gospel principles a bit.
Gospel Application: My Friend's Phone Call
A few months ago, one of my best friends felt herself growing irritated with me about an issue that kept coming up in our conversations. I had no idea this was going on when I received her phone call. I could have responded in anger, felt defensive, or avoided it all together. But, her way of dealing with the conflict (coupled with God's work in my own life) helped to diffuse any of those reactions. Here are few ways I noticed her resolving conflict the right way with me in our conversation:
- She called me quickly, as soon as she began to feel upset with me about the issue, so it didn't fester and blow up into something bigger than it needed to be.
- She didn't talk to anyone else about what she was upset about, except her husband. The only reason she spoke to him was to sort through her feelings and ask him if it was even something to talk to me about. He was a good choice to discuss it with because she knew he would give her solid, godly advice and not talk to anyone else about it. As a side note, talking to a lot of other people about conflict with another person is not only unbiblical, but it can be very hurtful to your relationship with the person you are talking about. Plus, everyone you talk to about it is thinking, "I bet he/she is complaining about me to other people." Gossip can put distance between you and others and God quickly and cause even more conflict.
- She prayed for God's wisdom and perspective before calling me.
- She told me upfront that she values our friendship and was bringing up the issue because she didn't want anything to get between us. What a great way to say, "Hey, we're on the same team here. I care about you and want only the best for our friendship. So, it's important that I get perspective on this issue and we resolve it quickly."
- She assumed the best in me and told me that. "I know you probably didn't have any malintent when you…." She reiterated that several times. This completely diffused any anger or feelings of being attacked, because I knew immediately that she assumed that my heart wasn't to hurt her. Now, perhaps that isn't the case with someone you're confronting, but it's always best to assume the best.
- She explained a few key conversations and/or actions by me that had hurt her feelings and why. She was not attacking me or my character but instead explaining the concrete facts of the situation and how they made her feel.
- She asked me if she was understanding the situation correctly. She wanted to know my perspective on the situation. In essence, my dear friend was admitting that she could be wrong about the situation and she wanted to get it right. She was being humble and teachable. To me, this is the attitude that is most important when resolving conflict! If someone approaches me with a humble heart, a Christ-like attitude, it is so much easier for me to admit my wrong-doing and ask for forgiveness. My husband taught me this very early on in our marriage.
- My friend hasn't brought up the conflict since we resolved it. It's done and over. She's moved on and doesn't hang it over my head. This is the meaning of forgiveness. This is what grace looks like.
The End Result of Resolving Conflict the Right Way
Ultimately, because of the way my friend dealt with our conflict, our friendship can grow and continue to flourish. My respect for her has grown even more for the way she handled the situation, and I know I can do the same with her if I ever have conflict to resolve. It's a very freeing thing to have a relationship that shows love to one another on this level.
Resolving conflict the right way has taken a long time to learn in my life…and I certainly haven't "arrived" yet. It takes remembering the big picture implications of the Gospel in this area. It takes going to God and asking him to help me through these individually messy relational situations. It takes stepping out of my comfort zone and sometimes looking like a fool. I won't lie. I still get that sick feeling in the pit of my stomach when I think about confronting someone. But, I've seen that taking baby steps to resolve conflict the right way reaps great benefits in my life, my relationships, and even in the lives of the "little eyes" who are watching in my house.
Resources for Conflict Resolution
Here are two books that can help you grow in the area of conflict resolution and building godly relationships.
War of Words: Getting to the Heart of Your Communication Struggles by Paul Tripp – This is a go-to book for all Christians when it comes to considering the power of our words in others' lives and as it relates to our relationship with God.
The Purpose Driven Life – In particular, the short chapter entitled "Day 20: Restoring Broken Fellowship" was life-changing for me in this area. In college, a friend and I who were growing distant because of unresolved conflict both read this chapter at the same time. God convicted both of our hearts and gave us the tools to have a healthy conversation because of what we learned in this chapter! Not only that, but this book had a huge impact in my life very early on as a new Christian.


text:
The crew of Soyuz TMA-12M (Credit: NASA).
The population of humans in space is about to increase by three tomorrow night, when Soyuz TMA-12M takes to skies over the Baikonur cosmodrome in a brilliant night launch. The launch is set to occur at 21:17 Universal Time (UT) or 5:17 PM EDT on Tuesday, March 25th for a four orbit, six hour fast-track docking on Wednesday at 3:04 UT/11:04 PM EDT. [Read more...]