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A recent study applies artificial intelligence to imaging analysis of CT brain scans.
artificial intelligence
What's Next: Predicting the Top Scientific Breakthroughs of 2018
Despite a successful 2017, with reports of a genetically modified human embryo and vast improvements in machine learning, 2018 is poised to be even bigger.
Is Democracy Dying?
The free world stands at a crossroads. Are recent technological advances such as big data, artificial intelligence and cybernetics affecting our current democratic institutions?
Deep Learning AI effectively diagnoses Tuberculosis
Doctors develop AI that diagnoses tuberculosis with 96 percent accuracy, and may lead to improved screening and better treatment success rates
Café Scientifique: Computing Communities
Discover social science on a massive scale, powered by machine learning. Studying how people interact in communities is complex and difficult. Scale up to a community the size of the US political system, and the detail is overwhelming. Using computers that learn for themselves, Hanna Wallach is unpicking the patterns of massive social structures, crunching […]
Interviewing Murray Shanahan – Ex Machina's scientific advisor
Artificial Intelligence expert Professor Shanahan talks about the 2015 sci-fi film he helped inform, and discusses the future of AI.
Google's A.I. Masters New Game
A.I. Milestone Reached as Google Robot beats European Champion of the game Go, also known as Weiqi.
Designing objects for human interaction on long-duration space flights
Anne Petzold finds that robots might help long space flights just by being good company
Achieving singularity
Tim Ellis examines how neuroimaging could lead to engineering an artificial human brain through advancing our understanding of consciousness
I,Science short audio fiction: The Turing Test
Rory Galloway reads his short story, "The Turing Test"
Is the Brain a Predictive Machine?
Is the world you are experiencing a mere forecast created by your brain? Research in neuroscience has suggested that you don't see the colour of the sky but you anticipate its blueness and use your sense of vision to adjust this prediction. This radical idea explains how your brain can be one step ahead of reality, but also susceptible to placebos and illusions.
Who am I? – Is free will an illusion?
What is consciousness? Who or what is the 'me' that I call my 'self'? And does that 'self' control what I do, or is that an illusion?
Passing the Turing test and more
Themes of the last fortnight have included passing the Turing test and Space science …
From man to machine
We may soon be merging our minds with computers and the internet to create a 'singularity' of consciousness …
Counting chimp
Are we really the most intelligent creatures on Earth? In at least one area, chimps have the upper hand …
Man, Remade
Are we on the brink of a future society, or already living in one? Michael Cook looks at the relationship between human and machine. Back in 1998 Kevin Warwick, now Professor of Cybernetics at the University of Reading, underwent an operation to have an RFID chip inserted into his own body, a small piece of […]
Review: The Hunt for AI
Watson plays Jeopardy! Horizon: The Hunt for AI BBC HD, 3 April 2012 As the stern grandfather of the BBC's science output, Horizon is as topical as ever with its latest programme exploring the search for artificial intelligence. In reference to all things brainy, modern-day mathematician and Professor of Public Understanding of Science Marcus du […]
Podcast: An Audience With Cleverbot
Cleverbot was recently judged to be 59% human, whatever that might mean. In honour of this achievement, Imogen Ogilvie, Jennifer Whyntie, and Jade Hoffman cornered him for a chat. An Audience With Cleverbot by iscience
Podcast: "You. Tickle. Me."
Primitive AI or just clever tricks? And what's the difference anyway? Sacha Thorpe and Elliot Black sit down with a Furby to ask just that. An Interview with a Furby by iscience Image: flickr | blamethecrane
As computers have become more developed and intricate they have been given responsibility for many tasks that people used to carry out. However, how close are we to them taking over everything we do, resulting in a Hollywood-esque robotic revolution? Turing intelligence Scientists have been asking this question for a very long time. The famous […]


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I know it's a sad excuse, but I've just been too busy to blog. Well maybe I should say that I haven't set aside time to blog. Lately I haven't felt like preparing anything extraordinary or blog-worthy, mainly because I've been too busy writing and developing recipes for other sites. I recently tested a recipe from Michael Psilakis' new cookbook, How to Roast a Lamb: new greek classic cooking, and posted a very positive review on Project Foodie. My favorite recipe (so far) is his Lamb Burgers. I've made my own version of lamb burgers many times, but the results were never this great. It could be his liberal use of fresh herbs, the delicious red pepper-feta sauce, or the caramelized onions that he incorporated in this tasty treat. I tweaked the recipe slightly, eliminating a couple of his steps. Generally, I don't like to when transcribing someone else's recipe, but by doing so saves a considerable amount of time and sourcing. If you don't own a Greek cookbook or would like to update your collection, I really think this one is great…that is until mine comes out. Someday soon I hope.
Lamb Burgers
From Michael Psilakis' How to Roast a Lamb: new greek classic cooking (Hachette Book Group, New York, New York. 2009) This recipe makes 2 burgers and easily doubles (which I did) for 4.
2 medium-thick slices of Spanish or sweet onion
Canola oil
Kosher salt and fresh-ground black pepper
7 oz. ground lamb
3 oz. ground pork
1 Tbsp. Dijon mustard
1/2 tsp. ground coriander
1 Tbsp. finely chopped parsley
1 Tbsp. finely chopped dill
1 scallion, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, pressed
1/2 tsp. ground cumin
1/2 tsp. ground fennel
2 rolls or buns
Htipiti (see below)
1. Brush onion slices with a little oil and place in a non-stick or cast iron skillet on medium-high heat. Season with salt and pepper and grill until tender, about 3 minutes on each side. Separate and chop; set aside.
2. In a bowl, combine the onion, lamb, pork, mustard, coriander, parsley, dill, scallion, and garlic. Season liberally with salt and pepper. With clean hands, combine mixture evenly and divide in half.
3. Shape each half into patties and grill or fry on medium-high heat until desired doneness. Transfer to bun and top with Htipiti.
This makes more than enough for the burgers. Save remaining sauce and use as dip, or serve alongside other grilled meats.
1/2 Spanish or sweet onion, thickly sliced
Extra-virgin olive oil
Kosher salt and fresh-ground black pepper
1 cup crumbled feta cheese
2 fire-roasted red peppers, cut into strips
1 to 2 pepperoncini, sliced
1/2 tsp. dry Greek oregano
2 pinches ground coriander
2 pinches ground cumin
4 small picked parsley sprigs
4 small picked dill sprigs
1 Tbsp. finely chopped scallions
1/4 tsp. fresh lemon zest
1. Brush onion slices with a little olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Place onion in a non-stick or cast iron skillet and grill on medium-high heat until tender; separate into rings.
2. In a food processor, combine all the remaining ingredients and process until very smooth. Taste for seasoning, but be careful not to add too much salt, as the feta is very salty.

subset: commoncrawl


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Articles and posts by or about travellers working their way around the world
Various & General Working Abroad
How to Make Money Traveling & Living Abroad: Being Location Independent to Volunteering (Part I Travel Jobs)
Christine Ka'aloa offers a number of ideas and resources for finding work abroad.
Working With Race Horses Sounded Cool…
The reality though is "working with horses" is code in the industry for "showing up to work at 3.45am to shovel horse poop."
This is the Ideal Travel Work Skill Set
Wade Sheppard says you will find yourself financially bulletproof anywhere in the world if you have experience in three professions, at least one continuous stream of online income, and something that you can do in the streets.
The Jobs We've Had Working Around the World
Caz and Craig Makepeace get inundated with emails and questions asking how someone can travel around the world. Their answer, gained from their own experience, is always make it a working holiday.
9 Ways To Travel The World For Free (Or Even Get Paid To Do It!)
Yara Coelho found ways to move around despite her lack of money and presents some ways you can too.
Which Countries Offer Working Holiday Visas for Canadians?
Kelly Dunning shares information with fellow Canucks that have dreamed of working abroad.
Reader Story: How Jessica and Her Boyfriend Worked Their Way Around the World
Nomadic Matt talks to Jessica and Brent on how they work odd jobs overseas to pay for their travels.
Reader Story: How Arielle Found a Job Working on a Yacht
Arielle explains to Nomadic Matt how she found a job working on a yacht in order to realize her dream of seeing the world.
Hostel Jobs
Working In Hostels – The Ultimate Guide
What it's like to work at a backpacker hostel, whether as a paid worker or volunteer.
My Volunteer Work in Paracas, Peru: Bartending
Peru gave Trisha Velarmino new and unique experiences, including working as a hostel bar manager.
Ski Resort Jobs
A Day in the Life of a PGL Ski Rep
Euan Aitken, who has previously taken groups to Gerlitzen, Zell am See, Saalbach, and Axamer Lizum, in Austria, and to the USA, speaks to Natives about why he loves his job.
Teaching English
Everything you Need to Know about the Auxiliar de Conversacion Program in Spain
Kate Peregrina describes Spain's Language and Culture Assistants programme as the most rewarding, most stressful, and easiest job she's ever had.
How I Survived My First Year Teaching English Abroad (And How You Can Too!)
Jessica didn't know just how unprepared she was for teaching abroad for a year before she headed to Thailand.
Working Abroad in Greece – TEFL
Rebecca Hall half hoped she might swan around the world for a while, teaching English somewhere hot like Thailand or Vietnam. Instead one of the steepest learning curves awaited her when she went to teach in Greece.
How To Get the Most out of TEFL in Thailand
Robert Oakden says Teaching English as a Foreign Language gives you an excellent opportunity to travel, gain work experience, and earn good money at the same time.
TV Production
Working Crew on Amazon Survivor pt 4 – My Job on the Dream Team
Once again we join Lash in the Brazilian Amazon.
Au Pairs & Nannies
Live Abroad as an Au Pair
Deciding to become an au pair can be one of the best choices if you are a travel lover and interested in learning a new language and culture, says Yara Coelho.
Writing, Blogging & Photography
How to Sign a Digital Document and Email Without a Scanner and Printer
A very handy tip from Wade Shepard.
22 Things I've Learned as a Digital Nomad
Clayton Cornell pauses in Lombok to reflect on the things he has learnt since quitting his job two years previously.
Thinking of Starting a Travel Blog? Go For it!
Vicki Philpot offers some encouragement.
Travel the World for a Living! 14 Travel Bloggers Share Their Secrets
Lauren share the advice of 14 travel bloggers.
Freelancing on the Road With Lauren Razavi
Multi tasking freelancing and everything but love for monotony have taken Lauren from Norwich to some of the most amazing spots on the planet. Inma puts the questions to her.
Work-Life Haven: Why Entrepreneurs and Digital Nomads are Settling in Bali
Bright, driven folk striking out on their own have realised they can live and work in paradise, rather than just holiday in it. So what business realisations are travellers having on their wanderings around Bali?
IamA Digital Nomad and Traveller, 5 Years Ago I Quit My Job to Travel. 5 Continents, 30+ Countries and Counting
Lee Carter of Global Goose goes on Reddit and says 'ask me anything'.
Running a Business
Dream Meets Reality: Life As An Expat Entrepreneur
Justin Cooke shows a picture of a beach and asks if this is your next office?
Volunteering & Gap Year
The Safari Park Zoo Volunteer Project
I have fond memories of being chased by a lion at this great volunteer project in Thailand. Tessa and Nicole spent a week there feeding monkeys, walking lions and tigers, bottle feeding young leopards, and cleaning up poo.
8 Ways to Avoid Being a Poser of a Voluntourist
How to find a genuine low cost volunteering abroad programme and avoid falling into the category of 'poser do-gooder.'
Spotlight on BAWA, Volunteering in Bali
Michael Huxley advocates working for the Bali Animal Welfare Society.
An Average Helpx Day (With Horses!)
Danalynn and Chris round out their time in Southern Africa on a horse ranch, helping out with guided horse tours in the Garden Route of South Africa.
Volunteering with Children in Phuket
The Phuket Has Been Good To Us Foundation welcomes a new Office Fellow to work in their administrative office for at least 6 months.
The 10 Most Important Things I Learned While Volunteering Abroad
Lessons learnt on Jessie's journey teaching English in Thailand and doing orphanage volunteer work in Ghana.
My New Adventure
Rachel starts a Christian gap year course called Soul Edge in Saskatchewan, Canada, that will involves three months of leadership training and two months of mission outreach to the First Nations people living in Pelican Narrows.
IamA a 19 y/o Guy Who Took a Gap Year and WWOOFed, Helpxed, and Couchsurfed Around Europe for 6 Months (on the Cheap!)
Questions answered on Reddit.
House Sitting & Home Exchange
My Housesitting Guide
Talon Windwalker puts together a…
My Housesitting Guide, Part 2
…two part guide to living rent free in someone else's home.
Flight Attendant to Nomad Caretaker: How One Woman is Creating Her Dream Travel Lifestyle
Alethea Smartt LaRowe got the travel bug early and made sure her career enabled her to travel. When she left her job with an airline she took on the role of a property caretaker in Portland.
What's with the House Sitting and How Does it Work?
House sitting from the prospective of a travelling family.
Semper Gumby
The Coast Guard Couple end their east coast Australia adventure with a spot of hostel work before picking flying to New Zealand to deliver a yacht back across the Tasman Sea.
What NOT to do When Looking for a Yacht Crew Job!
If you are an obese, smelly, unpunctual loud drunkard and don't know your place you are unlikely to land a crewing job any time soon.
Study Abroad
What to Pack When Studying Abroad
Adam Groffman decides what needs to be in his bags for a month studying in Spain.
For short profiles of Working Travellers and links to more articles on working abroad please visit our sister site, the Overseas Job Centre
If you are a volunteer coordinator or employer please feel free to advertise your vacancies for free in the Jobs Abroad Bulletin


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| 16.6°C Dublin
The grieving family of an Irish pilot who died in a plane crash in Hawaii have said he was "ambitious" and "full of life".
Damien Horan (30), from Tullamore, Co Offaly, was killed when the single-engined light aircraft he was flying crashed on Monday.
His family last night paid tribute to a "loving son and caring brother".
"Although Damien's life ended so soon he lived life to the fullest," they said.
It is understood Damien was flying a group of skydivers when difficulties arose shortly after take-off.
Four of those on board were killed at the scene, while a fifth person died in hospital.
Witnesses said the Cessna 182H had just taken off when the engine failed.
One said he watched it "fall out of the sky" and burst into flames.
Damien's devastated parents, Teresa and Dermot, sisters Ciara and Briana and future brother-in-law Bobby Winder paid tribute to him last night.
The family said he "cared so deeply" for his siblings and friends and was "very close" to his family.
His love of flying dated from when he was a little boy.
"From the young age of five his dream was to become a pilot," said Ciara, speaking on behalf of the family.
"He never strayed from his dream.
"During his Leaving Certificate year, his classmates were asked where they saw themselves in 10 years' time, to which his reply was 'to travel the world and be a pilot'."
Damien pursued his interest in aviation and graduated from the University of Limerick with a degree in aeronautical engineering.
Ten years after his graduation, he had attained both his private and commercial pilot's licences.
He travelled extensively, including in the US, Asia and Dubai.
However, his love of Australia kept him there for six years, working with farmer Brad Jones in Tammin, 180km east of Perth.
The Horan family said Damien formed a close bond with Mr Jones, who he worked with for four years.
"He was part of the Jones family and he is sadly missed by the Tammin community. Brad Jones was instrumental in encouraging his dreams," said Ciara.
"Damien had a wonderful work ethic which was instilled in him by his father and he worked in the family business from an early age.
"Although Damien's life ended so soon, he lived it to the fullest."
Damien's parents said they "couldn't be prouder" of their son for "following his dreams, reaching his goals and for the loving young man that he became".
The family added: "Damien was ambitious, determined and full of life and seemed to have the gift of always knowing a friend when meeting new faces all over the world.
"We had no idea just how many lives he had touched until a continuous flow of stories and memories were recently shared.
"This has greatly added to our comfort at this time.
"To take a quote that one of his dear friends shared with us from the life of an extreme sports enthusiast, 'the only regret he had at the end was to die, because he truly knew what is was to live'."
Damien's extended family and friends in the United States - he was a US citizen - are in "great shock" following his death.
The family last night said funeral arrangements are still being made.
An investigation into the accident is continuing and is expected to take several weeks.
The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration are examining the wreckage of the plane.
Retired Air Force mechanic Cisco Campos said he was fishing on Monday morning when he saw the Skydive Kauai plane take off and noticed that the engine sounded strange.
In an interview with Hawaii New Now, he said it was only about "a flag pole's height off the ground" when the engine appeared to stutter and then cut out.
Mr Campos said the plane looked to be turning back to the airport when the engine burst into flames.
He said it "fell out of the sky," and exploded on impact with the runway.


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I have been fascinated by the world of comic books since I was little; from #Superman to the Fantastic Four to #Spiderman and the #Avengers. With all my favorites coming to life on the big and small screen, I am sure you can imagine why I am loving this Golden Age of #superhero movies and television shows.
In the spirit of #Thanksgiving, I have compiled a list of things I have been thankful for in the year 2016.
6. Supergirl Switches To The CW
Probably the best move in recent television history. Under CBS' flag, #Supergirl was a story that was bland, predictable and some episodes were just plain boring. When the show moved to The #CW, it became the show it was supposed to be. It became action-packed, a solid, fast-paced story, combined with familiar faces of the #DCUniverse such as #Superman, Miss Martian and Mon-El and cameos by Dean Cain and Lynda Carter. Supergirl just became the best show on The CW. Hats off to you!
5. Luke Cage: A Cup Of Coffee?
When #Marvel decided to expand from the big screen to the small screen, I was initially skeptical. Yes, I do like #AgentsOf SHIELD and thoroughly enjoyed #AgentCarter, but the stories of those shows were not exactly enticing. When Marvel announced the Netflix deal and included #LukeCage, I wasn't really sure if a superhero like Luke Cage would actually work in a 2016 setting, especially because Luke Cage was created as the first black superhero at the height of the Blaxploitation movies. Clearly I was wrong. The show held its own, and its social critiques were spot on. For example: Luke Cage wears a hoodie in a lot of the episodes as a nod to Trayvon Martin.
The only critique I can give the show is that 13 episodes was either too many or they could have used some of the episodes to flesh out Willis Stryker / Diamondback rather than have him appear out of nowhere.
Side note: Who else uses the "coffee?" pick-up line over "Netflix and chill"?
4. Daredevil: She's Elektra, Can I Be Elektra Too?
#Daredevil Season 1 was great, but Daredevil Season 2 was even better. Yes, it was messy and chaotic at times, with several storylines, including the Punisher interfering with Matt Murdock's daytime life. In turn, Elektra's storyline was almost forced into this season Daredevil, but the mystery remained, even without the Big Bad Kingpin.
3. Arrow Season 5: Back To Basics
After the ending of Season 4 and the backlash from fans and pundits over Olicity, the death of Black Canary and #Arrow's dealings with magic, writers and producers decided it was time to go back to basics. I must say it worked out amazingly well. No more magic, no more backdoor piloting for new shows such as The Flash, #LegendsOfTomorrow or #Vixen. The show is going back to doing what made the show great in the first place: grounded villains instead of magic and Oliver working solo again. The show has lost a lot of viewers but believe me when I say: You do not want to miss Season 5.
2. The Flash: Not The Reverse, But An Infinite Loop
Season 2 ended on a high note and kept us in suspense for almost four months when Barry ran back and created Flashpoint. So when October came, I was glued to my screen to watch — and it did not disappoint. While many hoped for Geoff John's Flashpoint comic book come to life, this Flashpoint actually served as the opener of a very strong Season 3, where the consequences of Barry's actions were felt in every episode. Think of the new Killer Frost, Mirror Master, Dr. Alchemy, Savitar and Cisco's brother's death — they are all consequences of Barry's actions. It doesn't end there; Savitar made his first appearance, and even though it is yet another speedster, this one looks like he can actually handle Barry Allen. So thank you, CW, for renewing the show and introducing so many more from the #DCUniverse.
My only critique of Season 3 is that we are presented with yet another speedster. We have had them from the future (#TheReverseFlash), other Earths (#Zoom) and who knows where (#Savitar), but the thing is, why another speedster? Come on, Flash writers — you can do better than that!
1. Lucifer: Bright As A Morningstar
When #Lucifer was announced, the United States of moms and moral men were protesting with angry letters, Facebook rage and message board rants. A show about the Devil was seen as blasphemy, and that was that. But #Fox didn't care and aired all 13 episodes, and they were right to do so.Yes, it is about the Devil, but one that is morally ambiguous and witty. I have to say that despite my initial fears of the show having too many religious overtones, I do not regret ever watching it. It is essentially a cop drama with a few supernatural elements and is played out by a strong cast and good writing.
Who else is thankful for the upcoming, super crossover event on Monday?
These are the shows I am most thankful for in 2016. What about you? What shows are you most thankful for?


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Land & Building Inventory
Premiere Place Shopping CenterCobbs Ford Road
Prattville, AL
Shopping center is located in Midtown Prattville. Walmart, Shoe Station, Michaels, Burke's and Big Lots are some of the retailers in shopping center. Retail space and outparcels available. Annual lease rate $14 PSF NNN.
Availability: For Lease
Property Type: Commercial
Listing ID: 1023
Price Type: Per Year
Price: $14 Per Year
Square Feet: Call
Acreage: Call
Please complete the form below to request more information for this property.


text:
Children's Weekly Tokens Planner
Plan your child's week with this visual weekly planner and tokens. Use velcro to attach them with and talk about the week ahead. There's lots of space to write additional information with a whiteboard pen, like meals or additional activities.
★ TODAY token is included
★ Picture of tokens you can choose from is included. You can also request new custom tokens and wording (such as changing "mum" for "mama" or "nanny" for "grandma"). There is no extra cost.
★ Tokens are all made from aluminium
★ Printed on to an aluminium sheet - sturdy and long lasting!
★ Choose A4 or A3 for more room in the boxes
★ Please note that this board comes with a strip of velcro circles for you to put on yourself. This is so you can adjust as neccesary for your personal routine
★ Use any whiteboard pen on this board to write - handy for documenting times or places!
★ Design is copyrighted by Craftly


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MailCal connects to Exchange Server using the EWS (Exchange Web Services) protocol. Most exchange servers that expose webmail also have EWS usually open and it is used by many MS-Office communication products.
MailCal connects directly to your Exchange Server, and unlike some other EWS apps on PlayStore uses NO intermediary servers. This means no compromise on security and privacy as your credentials and your data never traverse any third party servers.
Exchange Admins, if they track the activity, would see MailCal activity as generic EWS sync calls. Such calls are made by a number of Communication applications, including Desktop Outlook and Lync clients.


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There is no Honor Among Thief's and Lori Rieman Proves it Again. In this matter, a case in which a citizen of the state is suing Cattaraugus County and Lori Rieman in federal court for various violations of law, which is nothing new for her, Rieman engaged in numerous acts of criminal conduct that led to the lawsuit. Because the system is corrupt we will go over the ways the corrupt system will most likely attempt to cover up her criminal conduct that should land her in jail…In a corrupt system, like it is here in Cattaraugus County, the system will attempt to cover up the acts of their agents by getting the victims of the corrupt system to 'overlook' or 'misdirect' their focus to something other less critical factor that will make it look like 'justice is served'.
After all, if it was any of us that committed acts like this, where do you think we would be now? Its called due process and being treated equally under the law, which in Cattaraugus County, New York they claim that does not apply to the District Attorneys or Sheriffs Office. Sorry, but it does apply to everyone, especially law enforcement and other public officials who are to be held above reproach and their conduct requires and deserves scrutiny when they in fact engaged in lawlessness. The Grand Jury mandates of the New York State Constitution prove it;
New York State Constitution, Article I, Section 6, Paragraph 2; The power of grand juries to inquire into the wilful misconduct in office of public officers, and to find indictments or to direct the filing of informations in connection with such inquiries, shall never be suspended or impaired by law. No person shall be deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law.
What has Rieman stolen from this victim of her criminal activity? His life, liberty and happiness illegally by ruining his family life, his business, throwing him in jail, etc… that is why the lawsuit occurred and it will stop it from happening to other people and reduce future potential liability issues for us, the taxpayers. Rieman has to go…
Based on the review of the case and interviews with various witnesses to the crimes committed by Rieman that led to the federal lawsuit, we believe that there are two acts of criminal conduct that the corrupt system will attempt to get Riemans victim to overlook in the Appeal so Rieman can be let off the hook, so-to-speak;
Below are the issues that a corrupt system will use to cover up, or attempt to cover up and the one they will use in an attempt to get her off the hook;
- The second amended VOP (violation of probation) that the county is claiming occurred in November of 2012 in which the victim was alleged to have failed to report contact with a police officer within 48 hours. Which he did do, calling them as well as paying a visit to the probation office along with a witness. This is what is on appeal now.
- The September 2013 court transcript that proves there was no amended violation that occurred in November 2012,
- The alleged notice to the victim that a probation violation, which was mandated the probation department to serve/notice the victim of the alleged violation pursuant to CPL § 440.40
Number one and two does not let Rieman off the hook. Number three does, however it does place the blame for the screw up on the probation department. Will Rieman and her cronies do that?
Lets look at history to determine if Rieman will throw the probation department and it's personal under the bus in this matter;
Rieman threw one of her own employees under the bus in her answer to the present lawsuit, in her answer to the lawsuit, paragraph 9 she blamed "ADA" William Preston Marshall for the whole issue that occurred which caused the lawsuit;
"9. …Plaintiff alleges that the actions of the ADA were taken on behalf of, at the direction of and/or with the knowledge of Defendant Lori Rieman. (Complaint, paragraph 57) Accepting the allegations of plaintiff at face value, and assuming arguendo that Ms. Rieman knew of the ADA's decision to move to restore plaintiff's case to the local court calendar…."
The key term here is "arguendo" which is defined as;
"When the phrase in arguendo is used by a party during the course of a trial, it indicates that his or her comment is made as a matter of argument or illustration only. The statement does not bear directly upon the remainder of the discussion."
There is no honor among thief's and here is just another example of how they throw each other bus and blame others for their crimes. I wonder how her employee William Preston Marshall feels about this? I wonder how all her employees feel about this? This "no honor among thief's" tactic also occurred in the case in which Bryan H Schwabenbauer and the Cattaraugus County Sheriffs office was sued, Schwabenbauer was accused of basically assault and perjury in which numerous individuals, including four other public officers proved he committed perjury and the county attempted to get themselves off the hook by blaming the other party named in the lawsuit. I would think twice about entering into any agreement with the county;
"The Cattaraugus County Sheriff's Office, deputy Love, and sergeant Schwabenbauer separately answered the Complaint with identical Answers (Docket Nos. 2, 3, 4), also asserting an affirmative defense and crossclaim alleging the negligence of the WVES defendants and Samborski that, if plaintiff recovers from the County defendants, the WVES defendants and Samborski should indemnify the County defendants"
The key term here is "indemnify" which is defined as;
To indemnify another party is to compensate that party for loss or damage that has already occurred, or to guarantee through a contractual agreement to repay another party for loss or damage that occurs in the future.
See how they turn on each other and blame each other for their liabilities that arose from their actions? Notice the pattern and practice here?
Back to the main aspect of this article, will the corrupt system attempt to get Lori Rieman off the hook and if so, how will they attempt to do it?
The alleged amended VOP (2nd violation of probation) that the county is claiming occurred in November of 2012. THE CRYSTAL BALL: They will attempt to get the victim to ignore this issue and overlook it. If they do this they will be able to use the failure or refusal to adhere to the CPL § 440.40 and blame the whole issue on probation department personal. There is two issues with this though;
The September 2013 court transcript that proves there was no amended violation that occurred in November 2012. This was testified too by the probation officer AND the COURT CLERK, and Rieman testified that it was amended to the original VOP in court. This is in their own words, not the victims, again: RIEMAN'S AND THE PROBATION OFFICERS OWN WORDS. I don't know how much more proof then you need then that.
For the sake of "arguendo" lets say they did testify that there was a notice of violation filed in November of 2012 and it was legitimate, again Rieman in her own words claims it was amended to the original violation that occurred months earlier, which that can't happened either because it was two separate incidents, but this is Catt County of course, so lets pretend it can.
The key term here is "amend" which is defined as;
Amend: To alter or change by adding, subtracting, or substituting. One can amend a statute, a contract or a written pleading filed in a law suit. The change is usually called an amendment.
In other words, the 2nd VOP was made part of the 1st VOP which was part of the Appeal. The Appeal of the victim was won in December of 2013, if the 2nd VOP (Nov 2012) was amended to the original VOP (May 2012) and the original VOP was thrown out then the 2nd VOP should have been thrown out too. This proves it was a completely illegal proceeding instigated by Rieman in complicity with the County Court, and others, to deny Riemans victim AGAIN of his Rights. Tell me again, who has to go?
OK, we are still in Cattaraugus County, the land of fairy tales and lies. Lets pretend that the 2nd violation was filed as a separate incident and not amended to the 1st VOP, that it did occur and was filed properly in 2012 and that the appeal was lost. The county still failed to abide by the mandates of CPL § 440.40 which violated the victims rights to notice and opportunity to defend, so this present appeal (on the 2nd VOP violation) should be upheld. We believe that this is the approach the corrupt system will attempt to use, unless they decide to actually follow the law. But again, this is Catt Co. They will throw the Cattaraugus County Probation Department under the bus and use it as the scape goat in a attempt to get the victim to overlook the more serious criminal conduct of Rieman to get her off the hook. In the interviews with the victim, he wants justice to be served in the form of criminal indictments of Rieman and her cohorts and for them to serve time in jail like they have done to so many other innocent victims.
A Blind Man Who Cannot Hear Could Easily Determine there is a Pattern and Practice Here.


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I take issue with several recent Globe and Mail articles (Sept. 20 and Oct. 2, 2013) calling out a "deep split within feminist ranks" over the proposed Charter of Values in Quebec. In one article the only reference to the split is that "[one member] did concede she had a "very difficult" conversation with Ms. Miville-Dechêne on whether a hijab ban is good for women." I am all for people having difficult discussions, especially about such important issues as freedom of religion and equal opportunity. However, that does not mean that there is a hidden rift between feminists.
Despite the inflammatory remarks in the comment sections of the articles, I don't believe that those who support the charter are evil, but they are not feminists either. The Parti Quebecois claims that "imposed secularism, including a ban on highly visible religious symbols, is a way to ensure equality for Quebeckers in the workplace and while obtaining government services." Quite the opposite, the charter has nothing to do with guarantying equality, unless by equality they mean mandatory homogenization. Rather, it is a governmental control mechanism and power play on multiple levels.
My purpose here is to point out the obvious, that the charter does not promote women's rights, nor does it reveal a division among feminists. The charter is based upon uninformed and prejudicial understanding of religious articles of faith and rationalizes this as sufficient cause to denigrate and impose 'protection' on religious minorities. The charter and many of its vocal supporters are telling women (especially Muslim women) that their very religion is offensive and that their choices around expressing that religion is a form of participating in their own oppression. This kind of posturing is a demonstration of ignorance and arrogance, not feminism. Taking away a woman's choice is simply patriarchal. Also, we must not automatically deduce that the oppression of women in the Middle East is a valid reason to censure a woman's choice in Quebec. Nor can we conflate the historical abuses and inequalities of the Catholic church in Quebec with Sikhism, which is founded upon and has greatly demonstrated ideals of equality. To anyone who believes that it is feminist to assume that Quebec women have not made their own choice, I urge you to consider that the assumption is as oppressive and belittling as the removal of choice.
Quebec Premier Pauline Marois has stated that "a daycare educator wearing a hijab, … "gives a connotation of a gap with respect to the equality of men and women, a kind of submission." Furthering this notion one commenter on the Globe article made statements that face coverings by definition are demeaning to women and only instituted to control women, and another wrote that head coverings denote slavery and human chattel. Some Globe commenters write that religious clothing is meant to intimidate and flaunt superiority, while many write words like Premier Marois, that the same clothes enforce women's inferiority, subjugation and submission. Which is it? Instead of supporting women, the current debate about the charter is giving rise to intolerance and xenophobia. Recently numerous Mulsim women across Quebec who wore hijab have been spat upon and verbally and physically attacked.
How does insulting women who wear head coverings promote feminism or secularism?
Once more, the assumptions about face covering and the connection to an appearance of submissiveness and a less secure environment are over stated. When wearing a turban or a hijab most of the face is actually more visible because hair styles such as bangs, feathering etc do not obscure the face. The charter and much of its support reveals an imperialist and xenophobic attitude that western styles of clothing are best and anyone who does not comply with it is abusing the system with requests for "accommodation".
Even a quick study of the Muslim and Sikh faiths would reveal the sacredness of the turban and other head coverings. The wearing of these articles is part of daily religious practices. When wrapping a turban, prayers are often recited, religious history is remembered and honored, and fundamental sacraments are upheld. They are not removable as a hat or able to be tucked in like a necklace. These articles of faith are a part of the faithful, a defining characteristic of their public and private life. To remove a turban is not like asking someone to change their clothes or hairstyle. Over years or perhaps a lifetime of choosing to wear articles of faith, each time it is a conscious choice and becomes part of one's identity.
I have chosen Sikhism, not by birth, but as an adult. I have chosen to wear a turban. I feel more equal to a man and more confident wearing a turban than I had ever felt in my life before wearing a turban. I cannot speak for women in the Middle East. Choices and repression, laws and obligations are different in every country. I do know that every woman I know and have ever met that wears a turban has chosen that turban out of love, devotion and many times as a statement of grace and fundamental freedom and privilege to choose how she practices religion. There is not one iota of submission to a man or any council of men or The Man.There is not one ounce of obligation or subjugation or intimidation; it is a statement of personal accountability to our faith and our practice.
In stark contrast, there are layers upon layers of contradictions in the charter's proposal regarding head coverings. Many Sikh women wear a chuni, a Sikh scarf often worn on the head and also/or over the shoulders, but this is not banned under the proposed charter. Some women wear a chuni for religious reasons, some for cultural reasons.
The charter makes no distinction, but seems to not need to 'protect' women from the cultural practice. According to the charter, is a woman who wears a chuni less oppressed?
How would the law determine the difference? I prefer to wear a turban as part of my Sikh religious practice, but Sikh woman who chose to wear a chuni who have more work opportunities available to them because the chuni is not banned under the charter. That's not equal. There is no proposed ban on Islamic head coverings for men, so a Muslim man would have more opportunities than most Muslim women. That's not equal. Politicians would be exempt from the ban. So, the politician could wear any religious article, but the employees in their office could not. That's not equality, that's hierarchy. I would like to emphasize to Premier Marois that the only submission or control enforced upon me based on my religion would be the control of the state and the submission to its laws under the proposed charter.
Surely, living in Quebec is a choice, a choice made by many citizen and permanent resident immigrants and many people of faith including those born in Quebec and in other parts of Canada. Many have come to live here specifically for relief from religious and political discrimination in other parts of the world where the government was forcing people towards or away from certain religious practices including the wearing of head scarves, burkas, etc. In its efforts towards social cohesion, the charter would enforce the same kind of control in Quebec.
Whether a government defines what a person must wear or what a person must not wear, the action is the same; it is the removal of choice.
Further, it implies that some people's choices are correct, while others are wrong.
Through the charter, the attempt to legislate secularism through restrictions on religious minorities actually risks creating inequalities and repression. In Quebec far more women are wearing head coverings than men. Ask a woman who wears a religious head covering of any kind if she will feel more or less equal to a man when he has to make no sacrifice or compromise to comply with the law but she is asked to choose her religion or her job. Ask anyone who wears obvious religious clothing if they feel safer or more equal if no one in the health center, school, or public services wears any religious clothing? The charter states that religious clothing would also have to be removed to receive public services.
Since it is naïve to suggest that a person could remove and replace their religious clothing anytime they walk through certain buildings, the charter would compel a disappearance of religious minorities from public spaces.
This kind of forced homogenization in the government funded spheres which make up so much of Quebec public life makes me feel less safe, more outcast in all public places, and certainly is an infringement on religious freedom even for those not working in public spheres. Furthermore, the charter will require that the Quebec government change its constitution regarding religious freedom. Isn't that detrimental to all Quebeckers?
I could go on about the hypocrisy of exceptions for nearly all things Christian, but it is poignant to note that head coverings are no longer a large part of most Christian sects, so the removal of choices and the imposition of 'protectionism' and the inequality will predominantly fall upon Sikhs and Muslims and more upon women than men. If the current rhetoric continues it is unlikely that the ban will stop at clothing and necklaces, rather the "otherness" will more likely deepen and the divisions, real divisions between people of faith and the charter supporters will grow. We know this because articles like those in the Globe and Mail are already driving us there, the spitting has already begun and France is also leading the way. The charter of values would do more to guarantee inequality, unequal opportunity and spur on discrimination and hate crime than any imagined benefit of secularism in the public sphere. I do not think any feminist can support those kinds of values.


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Do you find you crave stability and order? Do you have a system for everything? Do you need goals in order to function? Chances are you have soul urge number 4. This soul urge is driven by the need for structure.
Soul urge number 4 individuals desire an order that is impossible to achieve. Life rarely cooperates with every plan. This makes you, as a 4, persistent. Don't be frustrated by the constant setbacks life provides. These setbacks help you grow. You secretly crave them. They give you an opportunity to plan and organize.
Four is a stable number. It is the number of builders, law and order. You appreciate these qualities and reflect them in your own nature. You are practical, conservative, and strong. Your patience and persistence pays off in career and social spheres, and you tend to defend the weak.
Social 4s
Your friends know you are a loving and stable influence. You can also be blunt and rude. You never mean to hurt their feelings. Your practical nature and desire for order sometimes overrides your ability to intuit others' emotional needs. Emotional intelligence is not your strong suit. You have trouble intuiting the needs of others, especially those more driven by emotion. It is important for fours to remind the ones they love that they love them. Don't assume your loved ones know how you feel. Make an effort to tell them how important they are to you.
Your loved ones do not always cooperate with the ordered world you build for yourself. Avoid trying to enforce order on others. The attempt will frustrate both of you and can damage the relationship.
Careers For 4s
You crave order and stability. You are also quick to violate the law if you believe the law is wrong. Your rebel nature may not make sense to others. You are balanced and practical. What they do not understand is that you have very firm ideas about right and wrong and feel it is your duty to implement them. Effecting necessary change is as important to you as is upholding order.
You desire to improve the world. Politics or a spiritual calling suits your nature and fulfills you. Money is only important to you in that it allows you to be generous to others. Your generosity leads others to believe you have more material wealth than you actually possess.
Romance And 4s
You have a hard time opening up to others. This conflicts directly with the deep feelings of love and affection you feel for your partner. It will always be difficult for you to share your deepest secrets and feelings. The effort is worth it however.
Negative Nature
There are several qualities in your nature you need to be cautious of as a 4. Your inability to open up and to trust others is damaging to your interpersonal relations. Your tendency to criticize does not enrich your life. It only offends others, alienating potential friends, allies, and lovers. Make an effort to appreciate the good in others.
You have a hard time expressing emotion and so you compensate with generosity. Be careful about spending beyond your means. Sometimes a kind word is more meaningful than an expensive gift.
Connecting with others is difficult for you. Push through it. Solitude is not good for people with soul urge number 4. You need other people to balance you out, no matter how organized you believe your life to be. Remember that disruption builds character. Embrace the duality of order. Order comes from chaos, and one cannot exist without the other.


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So we were all conspircay theorists, right? There were no camps…..no intent to round up and incarcerate Americans. Well……here it is. Here is the National Guard advertising on Monster.com for "internment/resettlement" specialists. Wonder who it is they are planning on interring and resetteling? Marti Oakley https://ppjg.wordpress.com
Job Title: Corrections Officer – Internment/Resettlement Specialist
- Company: Army National Guard
- Location: Multiple locations
- Job Status: Part Time
- Job Category: Security/Protective Services
- Career Level: Student (High School)
- Experience: Less than 1 Year
- Occupations: Correctional Officer
Military Combat
General/Other: Security/Protective Services
Job Description: More


text: This reminds me too much of JonBenet Ramsey. I realize some people have fun with beauty pageants. From what I've read, the kind of costumes you are looking for are expensive. Try looking at flower girl dresses for weddings. A Halloween princess costume is not going to cut it in a competition. I'd go for a Shirley Temple look rather than the 4 yr old Hollywood bombshell. Just my opinion, but a sexy look on a 4 yr old is just wrong.


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So one the awesome things about Miami is all the media stuff the players do. There's the players party and bunch of other stuff. Like Ana and Rafa golfing, Muzz and Vee playing tennis in some street on top of some SUV. One of the staples of the Miami promos? The players swimming with dolphins, like they do it every year. So this year,these dudes participated.
As you guys can see some of my faves, participated: Ferru, Gonzo and Thomaz. There was also Sod, Marcelo Melo, Eduardo Schwank and Dick Norman ( I had to look for his profile, no idea who is this dude. He's actually a tennis player but hasn't played any matches. Wut?) I looked for this Norman guy because of this pic alone.
So cute!!! He's kissing the dolphin!!!
Ferru swimming with a Dolphin. All I can say is Squeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!
You guys know that I really don't like Sod. I have this irrational dislike for him. I think most Rafa KADs do. I have been softening up to him the past few weeks. I've been blaming a bunch of things. First his tweets( hello! tiny helicopter), then Jills who likes him. My Alexander Skarsgard love (for those who follow me on Twitter know how much I love True Blood and this BAMF Swede) so I've been saying than I've been reflecting my love for ASkars into Sod just because they're both Swedish. Stupid I know. Why do I mention all of this? Because of shit like this keeps happening.
The fucker is posing with a dolphin and it's totally melting my vitch heart.
Yes, the title of the post is all about him. Can he stop? Please. Sigh.
Filed under: Off-Court, Random | Tagged: Ferru, Gonzo, Round Robin Bo Carl, Thomaz | 5 Comments »


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Your participation as a Dedication to Community volunteer enables the organization to continue its work in advancing the social and economic conditions that are the fabric of our lives, the cornerstones of our communities.
To learn how you can support D2C as a volunteer, simply complete the brief form below to share your volunteer interests and availability. Then, "submit" the form electronically as indicated at the end of the form. A member of the D2C team will respond to your inquiry at our earliest convenience.


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Chunks of Cheddar Cheese and Jalapeño in a BOLD recipe that's a great, flavorful alternative!
Directions are based on an 1100 watt microwave.
Serving Size:1 link (66g)
Servings Per Container:6
Calories from Fat:
% of Daily Value **
Total Fat:18 g
Saturated Fat:6 g
Trans Fat:0
Cholesterol:40 mg
Sodium:490 mg
Total Carbohydrates:3 g
Dietary Fiber:0
Sugars:1 g
Total Protein:8 g
Vitamin A:
* Amount per serving
*** Amount per 100g
** Percentage Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Pork, water, pasteurized process cheddar cheese [cheddar cheese (milk, cheese culture, salt, enzymes), water, milkfat, sodium phosphate, salt, sorbic acid, apo-carotenal], less than 2% of the following: diced jalapeño peppers, corn syrup, salt, potassium lactate, green bell pepper powder, natural flavors, dehydrated jalapeño pepper, sugar, spices, dry vinegar flavor [(sodium diacetate, citric acid, potassium citrate, and glucona-delta-lactone), partially hydrogenated soybean and cottonseed oils], sodium diacetate, tomato powder, monosodium glutamate, garlic powder, dehydrated onion, sodium erythorbate, blue cheese (pasteurized milk, cheese cultures, salt, enzymes), sodium nitrite, spice extractives, collagen casings.


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You are here:
To be profitable in the resources sector you need a reliable supply of high-quality fuels and lubricants, delivered safely and with technical support that's smart and responsive to the needs of your business.
As one of the major suppliers to both the mining industry and the oil and gas sector, we know that the right products are vital. That's why our fuel, oil, grease, coolant and detergent products are world class.
We supply quality Shell lubricants needed by the resources sector, with oil, grease, coolant and detergent products designed specifically to help preserve equipment life and reduce operational costs within your industry.
But the main benefit we bring to your business is expert advice, from our experienced fuels and lubricants technical team. Our team can work with you to find the right solutions for your needs, and help you improve machine uptime to drive down production and maintenance costs.
It's pretty simple: the right products, the right infrastructure and the right service can improve efficiency – and therefore the profitability of your resources business.
We have the largest network of fuel supply locations in Australia, and our extensive national network of storage facilities for bulk and packed lubricants makes the tough job of servicing the entire country easy.
We deliver to some of the most challenging locations imaginable. Rest assured that wherever you need fuel and lubricants, our secure supply chain will maintain product quality and ensure safe and timely delivery from our Geelong refinery, 18 coastal terminals and 6 inland storage depots all the way to your facilities.
Safety is our number one priority. Our aim is to eliminate risk by identifying and dealing with every potential incident before it happens. We call this ambition 'Goal Zero' and making sure our supply chain is safe – including your sites – is built in to our service.
Our Health, Safety, Security and Environment (HSSE) policy clearly sets out how we go about our operations safely and responsibly. It's systematic, and includes ways to measure and assess our performance so we can improve.
If you want your business – and your equipment – to run like a well-oiled machine, you need to make the most of your lubricants. Here, our National Technical Manager, Darren Barwick, shares his insights on optimising your lubrication.
The correct lubrication is vital for the optimal functioning of heavy mining equipment. Our Grease Technical Specialist, Mick Castle, talks about how to ensure you're getting the best out of your excavators.
To safely transport millions of litres of fuel each year on one of the world's most treacherous roads takes a combination of guts, skill and top-notch engineering. Thanks to a unique partnership, that's exactly what's been delivered.
We work together with our customers to support their business and the communities they work in. When our customer MACA sponsored the 2017 MACA Ride to Conquer Cancer, our team was there to provide support.
Our Geelong refinery has been manufacturing low aromatic unleaded fuel (LAF) since 2014, in support of Australian Government initiatives to reduce petrol sniffing in regional and remote areas of Australia.
WA, SA, NT: Mark Illingworth, 0481 188 180
NSW, QLD, VIC, TAS: Kerry Watson, 0459 818 794


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What is in the video collection?
Our video collection includes DVDs and video cassettes (VHS). Videos in the Thompson (Main) Library are located outside the Class of '51 Reading Room on the second floor; videos on Reserve can be requested at the Main Circulation Desk. In the Music Library, videos can be paged from the Music Library Circulation Desk.
How do I find videos in our collection?
Search the online catalog for a keyword, title, or subject. Choose Videos from the pulldown menu to search within the video collection.
What are the loan periods and late fees for videos?
|3 days
|3 days
|1 week
|3 days
|3 days
|1 week
|Reserves DVD/VHS
|4 hours
|4 hours
Where Do I Pick Up a Recalled Video?
An email will be sent when your video is available, which can be picked up at the circulation desk. Please note that if you are unable to pick up your item within 3 days, it will be returned to the shelf.
How Do I Order Audiovisual Material for Our Collection?
Faculty and students may suggest videos to support their work be ordered for the collection by using the Video order form.
How Do I Book Videos for Classroom Use?
Faculty who wish to schedule a video for classroom use should complete the Video Screening Form. Videos can be picked up from the reserves office (Room 146) Mon-Fri 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m or at the circulation desk after these hours.
How Do I Put Videos on Reserve?
Place videos on reserve for a course using the Reserve Form. Videos on reserve for a course are limited to a shorter circulation period (4 hours), and their circulation is limited to students and faculty (not staff and administrators).
If you plan to host a class screening, you must also fill out a Video Screening Form in order to ensure that it will be available for the screening.


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Rubbermaid Pool Storage Box – Keeping an orderly house and minimizing clutter is a challenge for busy families. Seasonal changes attract new outerwear. Sports and activities require gear. Kids grow out of clothes that are kept for younger sisters. Whether the home is large or small, parents need someplace to put all this material. Storage boxes of every kind are an organized family's salvation!
In the attic, plastic storage boxes with lids are fantastic for storing clothing. They seal closely so that the clothes stay dry and moth free. The boxes stack easily, nesting one in another for efficient storage. Clear secondhand boxes make it simple to find out what's inside to prevent going through every box to locate the most suitable one. The size of the boxes can vary depending on how much space is in the attic and what's being stored.
rubbermaid pool storage box
Kitchens are almost always busy. The key to purchase in a kitchen is to have somewhere to put whatever. Decorative storage boxes with lids can sit on countertops and provide somewhere to put dry products, cereals, and other kitchen necessities. Small open storage boxes create a space to put papers, accounts, and notes from college that always seem to collect on the kitchen counter.
rubbermaid pool storage box
Keeping toys off the ground in playrooms and basements is easier to perform if there's someplace to put them. Basement cleanup can be simplified when using various sizes of bins and boxes. On the exterior of the box, put a picture of the toys that go indoors, so even the littlest family members will help clean up. It's a good idea to have a few boxes with pliers and a few with no bulky toys that hang over the box edge.
Large plastic boxes, sorted by sport or activity, are a great way to maintain the garage arranged. Labeling the boxes can help find exactly what you need if you need it. Staying organized throughout the entire year is a challenge. With every changing season new clothes, sports and gear have to come out of storage and return into storage. A simple method to manage this organizational change within is utilizing plastic storage boxes in various sizes to keep it all in order.


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The Legislative Corps Weekly Report is an electronic round-up delivered by e-mail of the week's legislative and regulatory actions sent to AASA Legislative Corps members. Leslie Finnan, editor.
If you are an AASA member and you would like to receive the full text of the AASA Legislative Corps Weekly Report, e-mail Leslie Finnan at firstname.lastname@example.com. Not a member? Join now!
Have you ever found yourself talking back to the television screen? Muttering to the editorial page of your newspaper? Yelling at a member of Congress on talk radio? These folks just don't get it, you may be saying. Who's advising them? Often it's just their own memories of what school was like for them.
Want to change that? Join the AASA Legislative Corps! Read a brief AASA Legislative Corps overview (PDF).


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eDevotions by Theo Groeneveld, who serves at Emmanuel Presbyterian Church, Pretoria, South Africa. Click https://bit.ly/2K6mvjW to subscribe. Theo writes on Tue-Fri during school terms. He loves God, his family and being pastor. He loves music, tinkers with tech and enjoys cycling and the outdoors. (Each October, this blog hosts the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa's Month of Mission devotions.)
Friday, August 29, 2014
EMMDEV 2014-08-29 [Faith and Hebrews11] Proof
This is the age-old struggle we have...
Why can't God simply give us irrevocable proof that He's alive and then we don't have to struggle with faith?
But what _is_ irrevocable truth?
- Isn't the size and majesty of the universe enough?
- Or what about the amazing capacity to love and be loved that exists in my soul?
- What about the legacy of faith that has continued over 2000 years in spite of the persecutions of the church (not to mention its own failures)?
In some ways there is an abundance of proof for those who would see it...
Furthermore... proof is one thing, trust is another: I may have absolute proof of someone's existence but to have friendship with them, I must still take a risk and open myself to them. As a student I knew Brenda existed. I could see her, hear her, and even throw her into the sea(!) but relationship only truly began when I took a risk and started trusting her and opening up to her.
With God it is the same:
The Israelites had some pretty convincing proofs of God's existence and power - I think walking through a sea that would later drown the Egyptian army would have me pretty convinced - but then they worshipped the golden calf - why? Because they had not reached a point of personal trust.
No matter how little proof (or how much) we have, knowing God is a _relationship_ and not an experiment or theorem. When we take the risk of seeking Him, we discover much much more than proof!
And this is why we gather for worship on Sundays - to celebrate the God who rewards those who seek Him.
Have an awesome weekend!
Theo Groeneveld firstname.lastname@example.com
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/
Thursday, August 28, 2014
EMMDEV 2014-08-28 [Faith and Hebrews11] A journey
Enoch lived for 365 years before he was taken to be with God. What's interesting is that in Genesis we are told that he walked with God for 300 years, which means that he started his walk at 65.
But what happened when he was 65? Genesis tells us that when Enoch was 65 his son, Methuselah, was born!
I know for myself, becoming a Dad gave me all sorts of insights about God. As I wheeled my baby boy to the incubator room (it was a freezing July midnight) I knew that if someone tried to take him from me I would be willing to lay down my life. I also understood how hard it was for God to watch His Son suffer on the cross. I experienced love at a kind of ferocity that is almost indescribable.
The birth of his son awakened Enoch and lit a fire of faith and relationship that was part of his life for the long haul: Watching his son grow up, get married, have children. Experiencing growing old and going through the seasons of life.
It would seem that the intensity of the becoming-a-dad experience put Enoch in a place where an intense intimacy with God became the norm for his life forward.
What a lovely way to describe it: he "walked with God."
Faith is a journey. Recognising that we get to "do" life in the presence of an awesome God. For Enoch the benchmark of that relationship was the awesome moment of becoming a dad.
What are the awesome moments you have experienced in life?
What if these became benchmarks that explained, described and epitomised the relationship and walk that we can have with God?
Then faith is a journey!! May we "walk" well!
Theo Groeneveld email@example.com
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, August 27, 2014
EMMDEV 2014-08-27 [Random Musings] Active Faith
Abel brought his best - whereas Cain did not. One can only assume that they had the same family tradition, had grown up with the same rituals and the same spiritual teaching from their parents.
But Abel's faith prompted him to act differently.
Many of us have all sorts of doubts, but in moments of what I call "decisional clarity" we act and our actions themselves are moments of trust and faith.
There are times that I see the pain of the world around me and I struggle with the heartache and the sorrow. I struggle to understand where God fits into all of this and I feel inadequate to explain the why's and wherefore's.
But then the moment comes where I'm looking someone in the eye... And that eye may be clouded by sorrow, pain or heartache and I get to say those important words: "Let's pray." And in that moment I reach out in tangible trust to a God who can do what I cannot.
There are times where the challenges in my own life seem to overwhelm and drown me in their complexity and multiplicity. Again, the doubts and fears threaten to paralyse. But faith prompts me - "Just take the next step!"
Did Abel struggle with the thought that his parents had been in paradise, but that he couldn't have it? Did he struggle with the fact that he lived in a broken world because of their failure? Maybe he did. But by his actions he makes a statement of faith and by that choice to sacrifice he gains beautiful decisional clarity.
Sometimes the best way to grow our faith is to do what is in front of us.
Theo Groeneveld email@example.com
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, August 26, 2014
EMMDEV 2014-08-26 [Random Musings] Ex nihilo
The Latin phrase "ex nihilo" means "out of nothing."
That's what the writer of Hebrews is talking about.
Human beings can _transform things: we take ore and make jewellery, we take clay and make pots, we cut down trees and make furniture. We can transform, but we can't create "ex nihilo".
Look around you. Look at the awesome beauty of creation, the abundance of variety and the vastness of space. The scientists tell us that the universe is still expanding. That's not transformation, that's creation.
I often hold my hand in front of my face and take my fingers through the various grips, gestures and movements that they are capable of. I think of touching my newborn son with these hands and thrusting these hands into the tarmac to protect my face when I took a fall off my bicycle. I think of the fingerprints on each finger and the way each finger helps me type this dev and I know that I am looking at a miracle.
I look at all the vastness and majesty in creation and I feel faith rise up in me. When I contemplate creation with open eyes and a ready heart, faith springs up in me.
All that I see around me wasn't transformed. It was not made out of what was visible. It takes too much faith to believe that this was all by accident. It's more obvious and explicable to believe in a Creator.
Creation is too big, too magnificent: I can't figure it out - I can't UNDERSTAND by myself. But by faith I look and by faith I see not only creatION but I see the CreatOR. And then I UNDERSTAND.
There's a joke around "ex nihilo" that goes like this:
The atheist scientists came to God and said "God we have figured out how to create life - we don't need you anymore."
God said: "Oh really? Show me how you create life."
And so the scientists said: "Well you take some dirt and ...."
And God said "Uh uh. Get your own dirt..."
Theo Groeneveld email@example.com
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/
Friday, August 22, 2014
EMMDEV 2014-08-22 [Random Musings] Faith 2 - Commended
Having faith becomes harder and harder as we grow older. Faith comes easily to children who trust easily and fully but it seems that as time goes by faith is eroded by disappointments, unmet expectations and modern day scepticism.
In a modern day world where expedience, "scientific fact", self-centeredness and convenience are the order of the day, faith is often questioned, criticised and maligned.
But right at the outset of his excursus on faith the writer of Hebrews indicates that we can look at others who have stayed faithful and learn from their example. In devs that follow we'll look at the Abrahams, Josephs and other faithful saints.
For now I simply want to pause at the idea that our faith has a firm foundation in its historicity. We can look back at the ancients: Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Augustine, Luther, Wesley, our grand-parents and parents.
In my own life I can look back to a grandfather who read the scriptures at the dining room table and faced crippling arthritis with courage and faith. I look to parents and a sibling who have lived out their faith with principle and with dedication. I have in-law parents and grandparents who have done the same. I've been blessed with friends who courageously remain faith-full.
In a world that is doubtful and sceptical and where modern day revisionism throws babies out with bathwater, I am grateful for the legacy of faith that I have been given.
Maybe you can prepare for Sunday by examining the legacy of faith in your own life. Give thanks to God for those in your life who have shown you the way.
Theo Groeneveld email@example.com
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/
Thursday, August 21, 2014
EMMDEV 2014-08-21 [Random Musings] Faith1
We're going to spend a few mornings reflecting on the nature of faith as it is laid out in Hebrews chapter 11...
The language of faith is never the certainty of the laboratory litmus-test or the court-room's "beyond reasonable doubt."
The language of faith is hope, trust and imagination.
You're probably are worried about me using the word "imagination"...
I don't mean imaginary (as in "not real") - I'm thinking of the high jumper who imagines themselves sailing over the bar even before they take the run up. I'm thinking of the bride-to-be imagining the wedding.
It's imagination that anticipates a certain future.
The language of faith is trust and relationship.
It's believing when we can't see.
It's trusting when the numbers are too complicated for us to add up.
Faith is about realising that I am not and cannot be ultimately in control, but that the universe is in the good hands of a God we can know.
Faith is not about knowing or controlling the future, but about knowing the One who does.
We live in a "I'll believe it when I see it" world.
But faith calls us to recognise that we can't see it all.
We are not god.
But we can know, trust and hope in the One who is...
(More tomorrow...)
Theo Groeneveld email@example.com
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, August 20, 2014
EMMDEV 2014-08-20 [Random Musings] Watch out!
The common quip that powerfully defines materialism is the saying: "Whoever dies with the most toys wins."
This little saying also clearly exposes the lie of materialism, because we all know that once we have died our "toys" remain behind.
The problem is that although we see it clearly when we take a step or two back, we often lose perspective when we are in the hurly burly of it.
Jesus gives a strong two-fold warning: "Watch out!" and "Be on your guard!" He knows how subtle this is. We mean well - we set out to provide for the family, but, before we know it, we are spending all our time and energy obtaining, paying for, insuring, maintaining and safe-guarding our possessions. It seems that the more we have, the more we have to look after and maintain.
The problem is not that we posses stuff. It is when our stuff possesses us. Jesus warns that it happens easily. This is not about guilt (which often just paralyses us) it is about watchfulness.
Take a little time right now to zoom up out of the forest and the rat race.... What are the really important and eternal gifts that you have? (Did you think of your faith, your family, your health and your friends?) This and not your possessions is your real wealth.
What "stuff-agendas" can you you push to one side today in favour of the things that are really important?
Theo Groeneveld firstname.lastname@example.com
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
EMMDEV 2014-08-19 [Random Musings] Time
There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die, A time to plant and a time to uproot, A time to kill and a time to heal, A time to tear down and a time to build, A time to weep and a time to laugh, A time to mourn and a time to dance, A time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, A time to embrace and a time to refrain, A time to search and a time to give up, A time to keep and a time to throw away, A time to tear and a time to mend, A time to be silent and a time to speak, A time to love and a time to hate, A time for war and a time for peace. Ecclesiastes3:1-8
This passage is one of the most oft read passages in the Old Testament. People have even composed songs from it. But there are some very different understandings of this passage.
For some this is pure fatalism - everything in life is pre-ordained - 'Your time is your time.' - God does as He pleases and we have little choice in the matter. For others this passage is just a description of life as it really is - 'You have to take the rough with the smooth you know...' Others have used this passage to justify themselves - almost always as an excuse to go to war or do something like that.
But what did the teacher mean?
In the verses that follow a number of perspectives emerge:
Firstly: At the end of the day, God is sovereign and nothing happens that is outside His control. But rather than giving us the sense that we live under the rule of a Tyrant, this knowledge should fill us with a sense of praise. Jesus reminded us that even the hairs on our heads are numbered. This is an indication of the Father's loving attention to detail. ('I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken away from it. God does it, so men will revere Him.' 3:14.) God's will, even though we cannot fathom it, will endure.
Secondly:We can kick against the rhythms and cycles of life or we can embrace them and find meaning in them. The Teacher uses work as an example: Work can be seen as a burden and as toil that is subject to the cycles of life ('What does the worker gain from his toil? I have seen the burden God has laid on men.' v9-10) Or we can realise that the cycles of life shape us for something greater than this life and that even when we don't understand it, God is at work. ('He has also set eternity in the hearts of men, yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live.' v.10) We are eternal creatures and the cycles of life shape us for the glory of eternity.
Thirdly, the roller-coaster of life may seem random and circumstantial to us, but when we choose to allow God to work in us and when we reach out to Him for His help, life will make better people of us. ('He has made all things beautiful in _His_ time.' This is not fatalism or even positive fatalism ("Alles sal regkom - Everything will turn out OK") - we have a role to play and we must respond to the One who wants to make us more beautiful.
What will you do with your gift of time today?
Theo Groeneveld firstname.lastname@example.com
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/
Friday, August 15, 2014
EMMDEV 2014-08-15 [Random Musings] Your personal inventory
In the movie, "Blue Thunder", the hero checks his reflexes and mental alertness by trying to estimate the passing of sixty seconds while he's doing complex maneuvers in his helicopter. One of his critics says: "So you measure your sanity with a stopwatch?" To which he replies "Well what do you use? A dipstick?"
This list in Peter's second letter identifies three movements in the spiritual journey:
- Internal Spirituality (faith, goodness and knowledge)
- Practical Consistency (self-control, perseverance and godliness)
- Reaching Others (brotherly kindness and love)
Is this list the ultimate checklist? Is it the definitive list of requirements? No! This is not salvation by works, but rather a question of personal growth.
These are qualities that show that we are in relationship with Jesus and if these qualities are missing, there's probably a problem with my connection to Him. I can use this list as a personal inventory to gauge the quality of my connection to Him.
So, how am I doing?
-Am I easily able to trust Him or am I struggling to let go?
-Am I trending more toward light and darkness in my habits?
-Do I know more about God and does that knowledge bring life & joy?
-How am I doing with temptations?
-What is my stamina like when I face spiritual and emotional uphill?
-Can others see fingerprints of God on my life?
-Do people experience kindness in my demeanour?
-Could those around me see unconditional love at work in me?
These habits are both the MEANS TO and the EVIDENCE OF a close walk with Jesus. If your evaluation didn't come out too well - focus more on God than than the habits. If your evaluation came out well - thank Him for shining through you!
Theo Groeneveld firstname.lastname@example.com
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/
Thursday, August 14, 2014
EMMDEV 2014-08-14 [Random Musings] Family Matters
and parents are the pride of their children.
I was away in Durban on Church Work on Monday (my day off) and Tuesday and got back on Wednesday morning. Brenda said that Caleb had really missed me. So I rearranged the rest of my day so that I could go and fetch him from school and take him for a toasted sarmie and milkshake.
As I sat in the Wimpy watching my son glowing from the joy of spending some time with his dad, I looked across the room and saw a couple who are new in the congregation sitting across the table from their grandson who was enjoying a burger and chips. The same happy glow emanated from him and even more so from them. I walked across to say "Hi" and learned that it was his 16th birthday... and they were all loving the moment together.
I went back to my table with a sense of gratitude and and happiness...
What a privilege to have and be family!
What a joy for us to be able to have these moments!
There's always plenty of excuses: we're busy, there's deadlines, the pressure is huge, and so on and so on. But I reflect on the power of a 45 minute window in the life of my son and of that grandson and am more determined than ever before to stay in touch with the fact that family does matter and that they are among God's greatest gifts to us.
Take a bit of time to reflect on the truth of our proverb today and make some decisions....
Theo Groeneveld firstname.lastname@example.com
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, August 13, 2014
EMMDEV 2014-08-13 [Random Musings] The works the Lord has done
2 Sing the glory of his name;
make his praise glorious!
3 Say to God, "How awesome are your deeds!
So great is your power
that your enemies cringe before you.
4 All the earth bows down to you;
they sing praise to you,
they sing praise to your name."
5 Come and see what God has done,
how awesome his works in man's behalf! Psalms66:1-5
I write this from King Shaka airport Durban, heading back after two days of visiting the Thekwini (Kzn) Presbytery as part of the Mission and Discipleship committee of General Assembly.
Our task was to come and inspire and inform the Presbytery about church growth, church planting and church development. But we return home having also been inspired!
We visited numerous congregations and saw how some congregations are re-inventing themselves, how some have entered into partnerships with other churches and in particular how some have reached out into the community.
We visited three creches being run in impoverished communities. We were bowled over by the excellence with which these children and the community were being served. We were humbled by the dedication of the staff who taught there and we were thrilled that local congregations are playing such a significant role in these outreaches.
We met with a group of ministers with fire in their bellies, hungry to see God at work in their congregations and thirsty for God to touch their communities.
We saw congregations busy with good programs and a presbytery that deliberately filled it's agenda with good news, progress reports and mission promotions instead of focussing on problems.
We came to inspire and be a blessing - we came away inspired and blessed.
"Come and see what God has done!"
Theo Groeneveld email@example.com
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/
Friday, August 8, 2014
EMMDEV 2014-08-08 [Random Musings] A timely Psalm
The Psalm that I've included below pretty accurately addresses the state of our world at the moment: Earthquakes, nations in uproar, kingdoms falling, and questions on our part as to whether wars will ever cease!
The Psalm is divided into three parts by the Hebrew word "SELAH". The scholars suggest that this might be a musical direction for a musical interlude, which allows the singers and those listening to reflect on what has just been sung.
When we look at the psalm like this, we get three assurances:
1. God is a refuge when there is chaos and uncertainty in nature.
2. There is a city (the church) where God makes Himself known and even though wars come and go, the city endures because God is with us.
3. We have to learn that God is able to work in the chaos. We are not promised the absence of trouble but we have the assurance that His purposes will triumph. And we (and the wicked war-mongers) must be still for long enough to remember that He is with us and that He will prevail.
Now read the Psalm and let these thoughts wash over your soul!!!
Psalm 46
1 God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy place where the Most High dwells.
5 God is within her, she will not fall;
God will help her at break of day.
6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
he lifts his voice, the earth melts.
7 The LORD Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
8 Come and see the works of the LORD,
the desolations he has brought on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth;
he breaks the bow and shatters the spear,
he burns the shields with fire.
10 "Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth."
11 The LORD Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
SELAH Psalms46:1-11
Have a blessed weekend.
Theo Groeneveld email@example.com
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/
Thursday, August 7, 2014
EMMDEV 2014-08-07 [Random Musings] Incognito...
(Apologies - I sent this earlier and it failed)
As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him. 43 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her. 44 She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped.
45 "Who touched me?" Jesus asked.
When they all denied it, Peter said, "Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you."
46 But Jesus said, "Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me."47 Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. 48 Then he said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace."
Incognito... We use the word to describe those who try to fly beneath the radar to remain unnoticed. If the Latin "cognito" means that we consciously recognise, think about and reflect on something, then "incognito" means to be "not recognised", "not thought about", "not seen" and "not valued."
There's a woman in Luke 8 who tries to remain "incognito"...
On His way to heal Jairus' daughter, Jesus interrupts His mission to talk with and, more importantly, to listen to a woman who had reached out to touch the hem of His garment and had been healed.
Let's imagine her story... She'd had continuously bleeding for twelve years and no doctor could help her.
Twelve years!
Levitical Law stated that her bleeding made her ceremonially unclean. It meant that anyone who touched her was unclean. It meant she could not go into the temple. It meant there could be no intimacy in her marriage. Cuddle a child or a grand-child? Not if you were a stickler for the rules!
Imagine the loneliness, the sense of rejection, and the sense of being a non-person! She was relegated to the sidelines, at best pitied and ignored, at worst avoided and rejected. Imagine what her picture of God looked like...
She was drawn to Jesus, but had embraced her status as a non-person to such an extent that she wouldn't engage Him at all – she just touched His robe. "If it doesn't work then He won't even know." She's incognito!
She is instantly healed!! But to her (and Jairus') horror Jesus stops and asks who had touched Him...
It's the stopping and asking that reveals the true beauty of this passage...
Jesus knew that healing power had flowed out of Him, and He wanted to do more than simply heal her body.
So He stops and draws her story out of her. He's not passively listening – He's actively finding out about her and her story.
He hears her desperation and recognises her loneliness, her shame and her pain. He understands the rejection that made her try to reach for healing but stay incognito.
He listens to her in a way that restores her personhood and then affirms her faith and declares her healing official so that the crowd knows she's a person.
She joined the crowd incognito - a desperate and lonely non-person. By stopping and listening Jesus is saying: You're not incognito – I see you, hear you, and know you. You are in my conscious mind and you matter to me! She went home healed and whole.
Hearts made new by Jesus should stop and listen as He did. Who are those around us who have been reduced to non-personhood (incognito-ed) by socio-economics, a distant parent, a broken marriage, a terrible mistake, a racial stereotype or some other form of brokenness?
What if, by taking time to listen and really hear them , we might restore dignity, purpose and self-worth? ? ?
It's what He would do!
--- -------------------------- Theo Groeneveld firstname.lastname@example.com You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, August 5, 2014
EMMDEV 2014-08-05 [Random Musings] Kids
Over the last few weeks I have been traumatised and enraged at the violence, neglect and brutality that society has shown to children.
Jesus said three important things about children.
1. We can learn from their exuberant and yet simple trust. Think of a child confidently leaping into a father's arms or patiently waiting for mom to make supper. Children don't overcomplicate or try to be in control - they just believe.
2. Jesus spoke about tough judgement (of the try-swimming-with-a-millstone-around-your-neck type) on those who mislead children. This misleading can be by teaching or example. Anyone who abuses a child also abuses the child's perception of God. And they _will_ answer to God!
3. Jesus reminds us that our children have a special team of angels. The writer of Hebrews tells us that angels "are ministering spirits sent to serve those who inherit salvation." Children's angels are portrayed as being especially close to the Father. I believe this is why we see children being so incredibly brave and beautiful in the face of cancer and disaster and tragedy. They are not always spared from the troubles of a broken world, but they are definitely not alone!
For today, let's strive to learn about faith and trust from the children around us. Let's celebrate their spontaneity, love and simple trust. Let's do what we can to protect them from that which would mislead them - let's give them more of ourselves and less of our entertainment-oriented and materialism-driven world. And let's be comforted that when our children struggle, God sends His best angels to be with them!
Theo Groeneveld firstname.lastname@example.com
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/
Friday, August 1, 2014
EMMDEV 2014-08-01 [Random Musings] Embracing MYSTERY
neither are your ways my ways,"
declares the LORD.
9 "As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah55:8-9
We don't always understand God's working in our lives and in our world. There are times that life doesn't make sense.
But our God is not a tame or a safe God.
We can't know everything about Him - He's too big.
We don't understand all of His ways - They are higher than ours.
I can't put God in a box - He's bigger than any box I can make.
I can't conceptualise all of God - He's the ultimate mystery.
So when life's mystery puzzles me - I hold on to MYSTERY.
I hold on to God!
The band Newsboys sing about this:
"Lord (I Don't Know)"
(Hear it at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11i4YfNHu98 )
You are the author of knowledge
You can redeem what's been done
You hold the present and all that's to come
Until your everlasting kingdom
Lord, I don't know where all this is going
Or how it all works out
Lead me to peace that is past understanding
A peace beyond all doubt
You are the God of tomorrow
Turning the darkness to dawn
Lifting the hopeless with hope to go on
You are the rock of all salvation
Lord, I don't know where all this is going
Or how it all works out
Lead me to peace that is past understanding
A peace beyond all doubt
Oh, Lord, you are the author
Redeeming what's been done
You hold us in the present
And all that is to come
Lord, we don't know where all this is going
Or how it all works out
Lead us to peace that is past understanding
A peace beyond all doubt
Have a blessed weekend!
Theo Groeneveld email@example.com
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/


text:
Zika Conspiracy Theories on Social Media Putting Vulnerable People at Risk
Monitoring social media in real-time will be key for vaccine success
Monitoring social media in real-time will be key for vaccine success
Amsterdam, May 24, 2016
Conspiracy theories and pseudoscientific claims refuting the facts around Zika virus vaccines could be putting vulnerable people at risk, according to a new study published in Vaccine. By analyzing social media in real time, researchers were able to identify conversations about Zika virus vaccines and pinpoint the conspiracy theories being discussed.
The researchers behind the study, from George Washington University, Johns Hopkins University and the University of Georgia in the US, say health authorities could make use of their real-time social media monitoring method to keep track of and respond to conspiracy theories that could harm public health.
Zika virus is found in Asia, Africa and South America, with Brazil and neighboring countries seeing a significant rise in cases in recent months. Spread by mosquitos and through sexual intercourse, Zika virus has also been linked to babies being born with small heads and brains – a condition called microcephaly.
There is still uncertainty around the origin and effects of Zika virus. Because of this, it has been subject to many conspiracy theories and pseudo-scientific claims. These claims, while lacking authority and easily disproven, can have a lasting effect on people's health-related decisions.
One such pseudoscientific claim was that microcephaly is caused by the MMR vaccine and pharmaceutical companies are blaming Zika virus in order to profit from selling Zika vaccines. If people who are concerned and searching for information about Zika come across this story, they may be led to avoid vaccination and distrust health authorities.
"Once people have made up their minds about something it's hard for them to change their opinions," said lead author Prof. Mark Dredze from Johns Hopkins University. "I'd find it surprising if this sort of story really had no impact whatsoever, and I can't imagine it would make people more likely to pursue a healthy response."
To investigate the impact of the claims, the team monitored Twitter in real-time, which meant they could identify conversations as soon as they happened. The method gave them a fast insight into what people were talking about online. They identified nearly 140,000 Tweets between 1 January and 29 April 2016 that contained the keywords "vaccine" and "Zika." They observed a number of conspiracy theories, or pseudoscientific claims, questioning why governments wanted a vaccine.
"Even though the science is relatively clear, we found many conspiracy theories that could be affecting people's health-related decisions, such as whether to vaccinate," said corresponding author Prof. David Broniatowski from George Washington University. "Unfortunately, the people most affected are from the most vulnerable communities, with little access to the facts."
The researchers say public health authorities must address people's concerns and debunk unscientific claims if they are to ensure a vaccine is effective. One way to do this, they say, is using their method of tracking conversations on social media. The method cuts the time it takes between the researcher wondering what people are talking about and them finding out, potentially making it much faster for a public health response to be mounted.
"Shortly after Zika rose to prominence, we were able to track these conversations very quickly using our social media monitoring method," said Prof. Broniatowski. "This is a promising approach to the fast response to disease, and could help counteract the negative impact of these conspiracy theories in future."
Read more on Elsevier Connect.
Notes for Editors
The article is: "Zika Vaccine Misconceptions: A social media analysis" by Mark Dredze, David Andre Broniatowski and Karen M Hilyard (doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2016.05.008). It appears in Vaccine (May 2016), published by Elsevier.
Copies of the paper are available to credentialed journalists upon request, contact Elsevier's Newsroom at email@example.com or +31 20 485 2492.
About Vaccine
The official journal of The Edward Jenner Society and The Japanese Society for Vaccinology, Vaccine is the pre-eminent journal for those interested in vaccines and vaccination. The journal covers a wide range of vaccine-related topics, including human and veterinary vaccines for infectious and non-infectious diseases, production and manufacturing, and regulatory, societal and legislation aspects.
About Elsevier
Elsevier is a global information analytics business that helps scientists and clinicians to find new answers, reshape human knowledge, and tackle the most urgent human crises. For 140 years, we have partnered with the research world to curate and verify scientific knowledge. Today, we're committed to bringing that rigor to a new generation of platforms. Elsevier provides digital solutions and tools in the areas of strategic research management, R&D performance, clinical decision support, and professional education; including ScienceDirect, Scopus, SciVal, ClinicalKey and Sherpath. Elsevier publishes over 2,500 digitized journals, including The Lancet and Cell, 39,000 e-book titles and many iconic reference works, including Gray's Anatomy. Elsevier is part of RELX, a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. www.elsevier.com
Media contact
Matthanja Muller
+31 20 485 2861


text:
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text:
Author(s): Joel MEYEROWITZ
In 1966, Joel Meyerowitz took an initiatory journey around Europe. Upon his return to New York, he submitted his project to the Head of Photography at MoMA, leading to his monographic exhibition My European Trip. Meyerowitz toured around Spain in 1966 an 1967 and took hundreds of pictures that comprise an exceptional document of 1960's Spain. He admits that this time in Spain was precisely what marked his creative turning point as a photographer - indeed this is the one period when he takes both colour and black and white photographs before fully turning to colour photography. AUTHOR: Joel Meyerowitz (New York, 1938) is an award-winning photographer whose work has appeared in over 350 exhibitions worldwide. As an early advocate of colour photography, Meyerowitz was key in changing the attitude toward the use of colour in the medium. His first book, Cape Light, is considered a classic work of colour photography and has sold more than 150,000 copies. He has published 20 other books, including Legacy: The Preservation of Wilderness in New York City Parks (Aperture) and his retrospective book, Taking My Time (Phaidon). 100 images