text:
|Park Jin-young. Yonhap
By Dong Sun-hwa
JYP Entertainment founder Park Jin-young will seek an investigation into alleged music chart manipulation.
"Fair competition and evaluation are cornerstones for development," he wrote on Instagram, Wednesday. "The recent suspicions about manipulation of music charts need to be fully investigated."
|Singer SHAUN captured from Instagram
Industry sources said Park might be referring to Korean singer SHAUN, who allegedly stockpiled his song "Way Back Home," and suddenly topped several music charts this week.
The singer's mini album, "Take" was released on June 27.
Park added: "I know that some companies have already asked the Ministry of Culture and Sport, the relevant department, to investigate. Our company will discuss the issue with other companies within the industry and then ask the ministry and the Fair Trade Commission to investigate."
Park said that depending on the result of the investigation, JYP might get prosecutors involved.
SHAUN's agency, which has been denying the allegation, requested the prosecution for the investigation of the case on Thursday as well.


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If pressed, most rescuers will grudgedly admit that breeding dogs is OK, but only if it's done by "responsible breeders". Trouble is, our current, loose definition of "responsible breeder" is all wrong, and will hurt the long-term health of the dogs we love so much.
For example, consider this sale ad that came through my Facebook feed last year for Chesapeake Bay Retriever / German Shorthair Pointer cross puppies:
Or, for another example: that same year, a friend of mine had a litter of fourteen Labrador / German shorthair pointer cross puppies. They sold like hotcakes. Some people drove hundreds of miles to pick one up. Some went to pet homes, but most went to people who wanted an all-around hunting dog.
Both examples we'd probably call "backyard breeders". Bad, irresponsible people making mutts and taking away homes from shelter dogs, right? And yet we, as a dog-loving rescue community, should not only be OK with these breeders, we should be glad they bred their dogs. And we should hope that a few of the puppies from this litter grow up to have a few puppies of their own.
Why? Because our current definition of "responsible breeding" is leading to a devastating loss of genetic diversity, increased accumulation of genetic disease, and dogs that suffer from extreme physical deformities that affect their quality of life.
This is a real problem that hardly anyone is talking about. Inbreeding causes problems all by itself, and so many people either aren't thinking about this, or are in denial about it. There is also the related but separate problem of genetic disorders that build up in purebred dogs over time. So many "responsible" dog breeders think that if they just breed "the best to the best", it will solve all genetic problems. This just isn't true.
There is no earthly reason that "responsible" should mean "pure bred". Crossbreeds are, on average, healthier and live longer than their "pure bred" counterparts. Closed stud books are a new and not terribly great idea. Most people also forget that closed stud books ignore breed histories where one or more closely related breeds traditionally mixed, but are now isolated. For no good reason.
The examples I gave above are not mutts. They are a crossbreed of two complimentary dogs. This particular example happen to be hunting dogs, but crossbreeding is a fine idea if you want to make a dog who's job is to be a cute companion, too.
We rescue folks act like the shelters are over-flowing with puppies "from irresponsible breeders", but look around - you never see a lot of puppies in a shelter, or if you do, you won't see the same puppies if you visit a week later. Puppies are always in high demand. At the Oregon Humane Society, the largest animal shelter in Oregon, puppies are usually adopted the same day they hit the adoption room floor. They sometimes have to call other shelters looking for more puppies because they have more demand than supply.
There are a lot of reasons that dogs end up in shelters, but it's not because of "too many puppies". Take the two examples at the top of the page - those two litters of puppies went to homes that wouldn't have gone to a shelter anyway.
Now, let's look at a "responsible breeder".
Photo by Anne Goetz*
Anne Latimer Goetz breeds purebred, AKC-registered Neapolitan Mastiffs. She takes her dogs to shows, and wins prizes. They sleep in the house with her, get lots of cuddles and treats, and have a nice big yard to play in. She doesn't breed very often, and sells the puppies for a lot of money to select homes with a contract. She always allows buyers to meet the parents. I'm checking off all the little boxes on this form and, hey, it looks like we have bonafide "responsible breeder", right?
Photo by Anne Goetz*
Except that this woman is scum who should be criminally charged with animal abuse. The dogs she creates on purpose are deformed freaks who have never lived a fully comfortable day in their short, pain-filled lives. And that's just from their physical deformities. They're also an inbred, genetic mess, riddled with heritable disease that Anne (and so many like her) ignore or deny to avoid changing the way they do business.
Does Anne love her dogs? Probably. Is she an ethical dog breeder? Absolutely not.
Throw out the damn checklist, and stop using "backyard breeder" like it's a four-letter word. It's people like Anne who should be shunned from polite society. And she certainly doesn't deserve to be called "responsible".
EDITED 4/24/14: here are my revised suggested guidelines for what an ethical breeder actually looks like.
*Photos used under Fair Use doctrine for purposes of scholarly criticism. In case that wasn't clear.

subset: commoncrawl


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Lord, Please Do NOT Bless Me If…………….
SOURCE: Taken from an article by Barbara Rainey/Family Life Ministry
Beware of Blessings?
Then your heart will become proud and you will forget the LORD your God.
Deuteronomy 8:14
I remember driving home alone in my car years ago and contemplating this question: How did I get to this place where I (and everyone else I know) feel out of breath from the daily race?
I found myself imagining how much simpler life must have been in Little House on the Prairie days.
If I were living on a farm in the 1800s, I wouldn't worry about having my hair cut and frosted (which is where I'd been for the past two hours). We'd be living miles from our nearest neighbors, so I wouldn't have a whole town full of people to compare my house with. Running errands would be a simple event with only one store in town that would have everything we needed.
But is living in the twenty-first century the only reason why our lives are so cluttered with lessons, parties, activities, trips, classes, events and meetings?
We live this way because we can — and because we choose to. Because we're prosperous enough to do so. That's the only explanation for why we work countless hours earning money to spend on countless things we don't really need.
Prosperity is a blessing from God; His Word makes that clear. But He also makes it clear that prosperity can kill us, because abundance brings with it the very real danger that we will forget God, the true source of it all.
Thomas Carlyle said, "For every one hundred people who can handle adversity, I can only show you one who can handle prosperity." Adversity reduces our choices and many times crystallizes our priorities. Prosperity, however, increases our options and activity. Stress soon follows!
Always be wary of prosperity and what it's capable of doing in you.
What is more important to you than success? And how much of your average week is spent on those priorities?
Commit to the daily exercise of remembering who you belong to and why you have anything.


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Carousels are magic. They truly are. An adult can look at a merry-go-round in a play yard and safely think it's just for kids. You make that same merry-go-round two stories tall and full of expertly carved animals, lights, and calliope music and suddenly grown people will elbow each other in solar plexus to get on an ostrich.
The greater Houston area has some really keen carousels, and having a four-year-old daughter I have been on every damned one of them. In case you feel the need to go on a carousel quest yourself, here's the order it is best to proceed in.
10. The Katy Mills Mall Carousel: Probably the weakest of the mall carousels in Houston is the Island Carousel in Katy Mills Mall. In addition to being quite a drive out to ride it, it's sort of small and scrunched right into the middle of the food court. Still, it's sort of cute, like a miniature carousel, even if it is otherwise sort of pedestrian.
9. San Jacinto Mall Carousel:It's sad to see what's become of the San Jacinto Mall over the last 20 years. Once upon a time the Mall sported a play area that was honestly better than a full amusement park at times, and I spent a lot of my childhood playing there. Unfortunately, it's slowly running down and I don't expect it will be around much longer. The carousel is still there, though, and it's a bigger and better version than the one at Katy Mills.
8. The Woodlands Mall Carousel: Considering the amount of money that goes in and out of The Woodlands Mall you'd think they would have one of those massive double-decker affairs. The reality is a more modest carousel that is less dinky than Katy Mills and has far less depressing surroundings that San Jacinto. Plus, The Woodlands Mall has a lot more fun things to offer around it like boat rides, which makes it a better cheap day out destination.
7. The Rodeo Carousel: The midway at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo usually features a pretty solid carousel that is predictably big on horses over other animals. If you're a soldier it's an even better deal because the Rodeo annually holds an Armed Forces Appreciation Day that allows service members and their families free activities and performances. Living animal carousels are often featured as well if that's more your style.
6. The Aquarium Carousel: Though it's only a single story carousel, the Aquarium's merry-go-round gets extra points for its customized nature. Sharks and other sea life replace the more standard fare, and the artistry is really, really well done. It's not as much fun as the nearby shark train, but it's up there.
This story continues on the next page.
5. The Astroworld Carousel: The carousel at the former Six Flags Astroworld was a thing of absolute majesty. It was more than 100 years old, and when it was first installed at Pen Mar Park it was already called the Grand Carousel for the amazing detail of the animals. In 1968 Roy Hofheinz himself bought the carousel and had it installed in Astroworld where it remained until the park closed in 2005.
So why is it on this list if it's gone? That's just it, the Astroworld carousel is returning to Houston! Dan Horenberger of Brass Ring Entertainment bought the carousel at auction and had it given a museum quality renovation. Now it's slated to be part of the new Grand Texas Theme Park opening next year. How wonderful that a piece of our history will once again offer riders another go-round.
4. Houston Zoo Wildlife Carousel:For variety, nothing beats the Houston Zoo's Wildlife carousel. There are more different varieties of animals offered to riders than in any two of the other entries on this list combined. Plus, it's a nice shaded break from the heat when wandering around the zoo in the summer, and a welcome chance for tired parents to sit down.
3. Kemah Boardwalk Carousel:Probably the most elegant carousel in Houston is on the Kemah boardwalk, which sports a real upper-class approach to its presentation with the graceful staircases and one of the more impressive light set ups. With all that's going on around it sometimes it often gets overlooked, but that sometimes means it's a little less crowded than other attractions. Up close it is just beautiful, and more than enough reason to make the drive out.
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2. Memorial City Mall Carousel: For my money almost no place in Houston is better to waste a day on a budget than the Memorial City Mall. They have the best indoor playcastle in Houston for free with security, a train that takes you around the mall and sometimes nets you popcorn samples, comfy chairs in front of the fireplace to snuggle and watch Netflix movies in, and a huge carousel that is second to none in terms of mall carousels. It's honestly way too impressive to be in a mall, but I'm glad that it is. By the way, parents don't need to pay to just get on and hold young children. Sometimes they forget to tell you that.
1. Pleasure Pier Carousel: The best carousel in Houston involves a drive down to Galveston, but it's worth it. It has everything. One of a kind animals like the Zoo and Aquarium ones, the impressive size of the Memorial City Mall one, and a touch of the opulence that you see in the Kemah offering. It's just everything a carousel can be, though we may have to re-evaluate that once we see the restoration of the Astroworld Carousel. Until then, though, Pleasure Pier reigns supreme.
Jef has a new story, a tale of headless strippers and The Rolling Stones, available now in Broken Mirrors, Fractured Minds. You can also connect with him on Facebook.


text: Combilozen is a dynamic fan club. Since we are growing in number, you can take advantage of advertising on our site. If your business has something to do with customization of items, t-shirts, badges, and caps, we'd love to hear from you. We would like to supply these customized items to our fan club members as well. Just give us the right offer, and you'll have a deal.


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book cook gout haters - Arthritis - Herbs and Ayurvedic Remedies, Arthritis Symptom and other Treatments
Arthritis - Herbs and Ayurvedic Remedies, Arthritis Symptom and other Treatments
What is Arthritis?
Arthritis is inflammation of the joints. It can occur anywhere in the body and, based on that, there are several types of arthritis. The most common type of arthritis is osteoarthritis which is the common ailment of pain in the joints observed in elderly people. Other common types of arthritic ailments are rheumatoid arthritis and gout.
Read more about Ayurveda at World's Largest Portal on
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Arthritis is an auto-immune disease, which means, it is a disease in which the human body attacks itself. It begins in one or two joints where an acute pain is felt. This is the most miserable phase of arthritis. Over time, this pain may disappear, but it could cause permanent deformities in the bones and joints.
What are the Symptoms of Arthritis?
In all types of arthritis, the following symptoms are observed:- ?? The initial pains are felt as fleeting pains in the joints, which seem to be no more than a twitching pain.
Another medical condition, referred to as the pseudo-gout, results from the deposits of calcium-based crystals in the joints. In almost 90 percent of incidences of gout, men over the age of 40 and menopausal women are affected. An "episode" often takes place during the night. Within 12 to 24 hours of the onset, the afflicted joint becomes severely inflamed and starts to ache rigorously. The gout attack usually lasts about five to 10 days.
?? Asafetida mixed with egg yolk can be applied on the affected joints to seek immediate relief. ?? Prepare a pancake from wheat flour. Roast it on one side, but leave it uncooked on the other. Then put some heated mustard oil on the uncooked side. When it is hot, tie it like a tourniquet on the affected joint, or provide fomentation with it. This provides quick relief.
(3) Septic Arthritis - Septic arthritis is a special type of arthritis which is caused when the joints get infected. (4) Gout - Gout is common old-age arthritis. It is caused when crystals of uric acid are deposited in the spaces between the joints. This type of arthritis is linked with faulty digestion.
The word arthritis is derived from two root Greek words - arthros meaning 'joint' and it is meaning 'inflammation'. Hence, arthritis literally translates as inflammation of the joints.
?? Tomatoes ?? Peppers ?? Salt Simple yogic asanas and light exercise helps proper digestion of the body and also protects it from autoimmune problems. Hence, these are beneficial in arthritis.
Gout affects about 10 % of men over the age of 50 and 10 % of the women over 60. In a large 12 year study of nearly 46,000 health care professionals ( such as surgeons , doctors , nurses and pharmacists that were over the age of 40) it was found that the risk of gout was almost 60 % lower for men who drank 6 cups of coffee a day compared to men who drank no coffee at all. Similarly for men who drank 5 cups of coffee a day the risk was reduced by almost 40 %.
Coffee may help to keep you alert, increase your thinking performance, give you insomnia and agitation, let you enjoy some socialization with co workers, friends and family at that local "Tim Horton's" Coffee Donut Shop as well with your colleagues and coworkers at the "coffee break" and help your gout. Gout, as you know, is a most painful condition which is more than common. Gout is a common form of inflammatory arthritis which can occur in any joint in the body, but most commonly in the large joint of the big toe. It has been rececently found that drinking coffee has been shown to be beneficial in the prevention and treatment of gout. So if you suffer from gout and are a heavy coffee drinker - keep drinking that coffee and enjoy it.
Arthritis that develops in 1 day Attack of arthritis in only one joint, usually the toe, ankle, or knee A painful joint that is swollen, red, and warm
Kidney failure leading to hampered elimination of uric acid from the body Diuretic medications employed in the treatment of heart failure and diabetes.
Read More on
Arthritis treatment
by Ayurveda and Arthritis Home Remedies.
The person who suffers from gout is often told to change their eating and drinking habits. Eat less red meat, no organ meats, no beer or red wine, lose weight, no shrimp. Liver, herring, salami or corned beef. But did you know that being a heavy coffee drinker can also help, not hinder your attacks from gout and help you to get over your painful gout attack? Drinking the beverage you like in the morning - coffee may well help your painful gout. If you drink a lot of coffee you are almost half as likely not to suffer from painful gout attacks.
?? Pains alternate between various joints quickly. ?? If the arthritis becomes acute, then on a particular day there is very sharp pain in a joint, and it becomes absolutely normal the next day. The next day another joint could be affected in a similar fashion.
Gout is another from of arthritis, which is known to case sudden attacks. The gout causes are known, but unfortunately this condition can not be cured. Treatments only help in reducing the severity of the gout symptoms and to prevent, as much as possible, further gout flares.
Uric acid is highly tied to gout, because the excess of this acid in your blood is actually the cause of a gout. Little crystals form as a result, they collect in the joints and cause pain and inflammation. This is gout at the beginning. The breakdown of chemicals called purines is what uric acid is made from. These chemicals can be found in different foods and alcohol. So if you suffer from gout or if you try to prevent a gout case from happening to you, try to avoid those things as much as possible.
This particular arthritis type manifests itself through sudden, painful attacks. Gout attacks develop very quickly, in a few hours time, and can last as long as three to four days, if they are untreated. Severe pain, redness, inflammation and swollen joints are the main symptoms of a gout flare, that mostly affects the joint of the big toe. Other joints can be affected by a gout attack as well. Your hand, foot, ankle and knee joints can be affected by these gout flares.
The Signs and Symptoms of Gout include: Hyperuricemia Presence of uric acid crystals in joint fluid More than one attack of acute arthritis
Why is Arthritis caused?
Different types of arthritis are caused due to different reasons. (1) Osteoarthritis - Osteoarthritis is a common old-age problem, which affects several people who have crossed the age of 40 years. In people with osteoarthritis, the bones may increase in size at their articulating points. As a result the spaces between them in the joints become less. When moving about, there is a high probability that different bones will rub against each other. This is the cause of osteoarthritis.
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Gout is also known as crystal-induced arthritis. It is a medical condition that sets in when uric acid crystals collect on the joints. At the first stage, gout usually affects the large joints in the big toe. Gradually it can spread to other parts of the body, like the ankles, the instep, the heels and the knees, the wrists and fingers of the hand and the elbows. In severe cases, even the shoulders, hips or spine can be affected. Gout does not spread from one joint to the next. Uric acid is a metabolic end product that is formed at the time the body breaks down purines present in certain food items. In normal conditions, the uric acid gets dissolved in the blood and gets eliminated from the body through the kidneys into the urine. However, people having a propensity for gout have such high levels of uric acid in their blood that the acid precipitates out in the form of crystals. The crystals get accumulated on the joints and other tissues, leading to inflammation and excruciating pain. A chronic condition can lead to the formation of tophi lumps formed under the skin due to large deposits on severely affected joints of the elbow, fingers and toes, and even on the external pinna.
Erratic lifestyle, alcohol abuse, purine-rich diet and excess weight
Surgery or sudden injury, severe illness
Proper understanding of the cause and symptoms of gout can help in achieving a successful cure for gout attacks. Want to learn more about
Gout Symptom Sign
?, feel free to visit us at:
The probable causes of gout include: Genetic defects in metabolism resulting in hyper-production and retention of uric acid in the blood
Coffee is not only an enjoyable, tasty social beverage. It can also be most helpful with your health and in helping your gout condition and bouts of attack of painful gout.
?? The pains could increase in the winter season or in cold nights.
How can Arthritis be avoided?
Arthritis cannot be avoided effectively as it is a common ailment that occurs with advancing age. One must learn to live with the problem. But there are various things which can be avoided in order to keep arthritis at bay.
Gout is excruciatingly painful. The sufferer suffers great pain and is often unable to walk on their extremities. Often the poor gout victim has to crawl on their hands on knees on the floor just to get around.
The following foods must be avoided if you have continuous arthritic pains:- ?? Animal fats ?? Fried foods ?? Foods rich in carbohydrates like potatoes
You may yourself suffer gout or have a family member or friend who suffers this deadly affliction. If you have ever had gout you would well remember your gout attack.
Diagnosing gout is not very complicated. If having any gout signs go see your doctor.He/ she will do a blood test to see what are your uric acid levels. If there is still doubt, some fluid is then taken from your joints and checked for crystals. Then, based on the results, you can be diagnosed with gout or not.
Because nothing is simple in medicine and life, irony strikes in gout case as well. There are people who have risen uric acid levels, but never actually have to deal with gout and there are others that have gout despite the fact that their levels of uric acid are normal.
Interestingly the similar popular beverage tea did not have any effect in reducing gout. Decaffeinated coffee was helpful in reducing gout but not as much as the real high-test power regular non decaffeinated coffee.
?? Put two teaspoons of cumin into a glass of water. Bring this to a boil. When the water is still hot, soak a towel in it and foment the affected region with this towel. This will provide relief from the pain within a few hours.
If you have recurrent pains in the joints, then do not keep the joint covered. As far as possible, keep the joint exposed to the air. For example, if you have pain in the knee joints, then do not wear tight denim clothing; shorts would be a good idea. This will provide freer circulation of blood in the joint and reduce the pains.
There are some lucky gout patients that only suffer from a gout attack once in their lives. However, for the majority of the gout patients, those flares will return. If you do not treat the gout attacks when they happen, as time passes by, they will become more and more severe and last even longer than the previous gout flares.
?? Applying a paste of limestone and honey on the affected joints externally provides relief. ?? Mash some mustard in warm water and apply this solution on the joints. This must be done repeatedly to get results.
(2) Rheumatoid Arthritis - Rheumatoid arthritis is a more serious problem than osteoarthritis because it can occur at any age. In people with rheumatoid arthritis, the ligaments and tendons between the joints undergo degeneration. This causes severe pain where the degeneration has taken place. Common rheumatoid arthritis pains are felt in the fingers; but other places like the wrists, hip and knees are also affected. Rheumatoid arthritis is responsible for deformation of the fingers.
How can Arthritis be controlled with Simple Home Remedies?
Some household remedies are known to provide relief from arthritic pains. The following are some of the more benefiting ones:-
?? Mix some cardamom in milk. Put a pinch of turmeric in this milk. This is to be drunk every night while going to sleep. This makes the person sleep peacefully in the morning.
If you are intersted in finding more information about gout you can click on this website
. Also you will find there valuable information about
gout diet
Foods That Cause Gout
Learn More about Natural Gout Remedy
Cherry Juice and Gout
Long known for their gorgeous bright red color, Tart Cherries are now found to be much, much more than simply a tart and delicious fruit. The relief gout sufferers have noticed upon drinking Gout Cherry Juice has been recorded, and some have even been able to come off of all their medications because of the great changes. The pain associated with gout is a constant menace to those...
Gout Alternative Treatments- 5 Free Gout Remedies That Relieve and Cure Gout Symptoms
Because there is no traditional cure for gout, gout alternative treatments have been the newest rave with this type of arthritis. Millions of people suffer from this painful type of arthritis that is contributed to high levels of uric acid between the joints. And these gout remedies work because they naturally lower the levels of uric acid by flushing it out of the body. Though uric acid...
7 Useful Home Remedies for Gout
This article is dedicated to know the best Home Remedies for Gout. First of all let me tell you what is Gout? Gout is a general state of arthritis. It has been identified for more than 2000 years. It is a situation that causes pain, inflammation and swelling in one or more of the joints. It generally attacks a single joint suddenly and deeply, most commonly the first...
Knockout Knee Pain
You may first feel it when attempting to bend down to pick a dropped item or possibly you experience it as morning stiffness that you feel when you first get up out of bed. But whenever it hits you knee pain will undoubtedly get your attention. The good news about knee pain is that it responds well to self care measures. There are a number of factors that can put you at risk for knee pain....
Is Acupressure an Effective Pain Relief Gout Treatment?
When suffering from the disorder, the pain relief gout remedies can offer can become one of the most important goals in your life. Though exercise is considered to be a great preventative for gout, it is neither a comfortable nor a practical method for relieving the discomfort that is felt at the time of an attack. Many people are lead to believe, therefore, that medications are their only...
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After months of delays and political posturing, both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives' Agriculture Committees began work on a new Farm Bill this week. As you'd expect, I was there along with QF's Jim Inglis to make sure the voices of our members, bird hunters and conservationists were heard. The Farm Bill remains our single most important tool for wildlife, water and hunters.
Hearing room during the House Agriculture Committee's markup of 2013 Farm Bill
In the Senate Committee
On Tuesday, May 14th, the Senate Agriculture Committee finished the Farm Bill markup in just three hours, which may be a record! Their efficiency stems from their pretty much sticking to last year's template. There are, however, a few amendments deserving attention due to their value for wildlife.
First, it was clearly demonstrated the Senate supports linking crop insurance to conservation compliance. Second, we were very excited to see the important Sodsaver language make it into the bill. Third, there were amendments to help USDA distribute technical assistance funding, which would give NRCS more flexibility to enter into agreements with Quail Forever & Pheasants Forever to deliver conservation programs. And lastly, there was some interesting language on increasing habitat for pollinators, especially honey bees. As we have mentioned before, great pollinator habitat can be great for all wildlife, particularly pheasants and quail.
Ultimately, the Senate Committee version of the Farm Bill passed by a vote of 15 to 5. That bill is now headed to the full Senate floor for a vote. In fact, there is a chance the Senate's vote may happen as early as next week.
In the House Committee
On Wednesday, May 15th, the House Ag committee began work on their Farm Bill mark. There was very little action on the Conservation Title during the session, and still no language to tie crop insurance to conservation compliance. We were certainly disappointed by that omission, but remain optimistic it can be remedied in conference committee. We are also hopeful to direct more EQIP/WHIP funding for wildlife priorities, however those amendments were withdrawn. At near midnight (14 hours after the start), the House passed their version of the Bill by a vote of 36-10.
House leadership is postulating a floor vote may occur sometime in June where we hope to strengthen some of the conservation language in the Conservation Title.
For a full list of landowner workshops, please visit www.CRPMeetings.org
Looking Ahead
A group of Quail Forever & Pheasants Forever chapter leaders, farmers, landowners and staff will be in Washington, D.C. next week meeting with our elected officials as we work to strengthen the conservation components of the bill in preparation for floor votes.
Additionally, we were excited to see the USDA open Continuous CRP practices to landowners this week and are optimistic there will be strong demand for the general CRP signup that starts on Monday, May 20th. If you are a landowner interested in learning more about CRP, please check out one of our landowner meetings taking place in coordination with the signup. A full list of landowner workshops is available at www.CRPMeetings.org and as always, your local USDA Service Center is an excellent source of CRP information.
The D.C. Minute is written by Dave Nomsen, Quail Forever's Vice President of Government Relations.
Visit Pheasants Forever
The pheasant division of our upland wildlife conservation org.
Pheasants Forever is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Your donation is tax deductible under the fullest extent of the law.


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For most of my life, I've lived with roommates. It started with my parents and brothers and continued through college, where I shared tiny rooms and decrepit houses with other young women. I didn't mind the shared space. At times, I even enjoyed it. And there were funny memories, of course. One cold morning my junior year roommate arose early for a run. Pre-LASIK and without glasses, I half-woke to chat with her while she got dressed. At lunch that afternoon, she informed me that now she really knew how blind I was without contacts: she had been naked from the waist up throughout our entire conversation. The laughter that followed was worth the awkwardness of sharing your most intimate space with a friend.
After a year in Atlanta – and more roommates – I decided it was time to spread my wings and have my own place. When I moved back to Philly for post-bacc, I was excited to get my own apartment in Center City. It was awesome, as anticipated. I could watch TV in my underwear for hours. I didn't have to clean up my dishes until I was good and ready to clean them. And I didn't have to clean them after someone else had used them and left them dirty. There was no noise if I didn't want noise. And if I decided to eat a pint of Ben and Jerry's for breakfast, nobody judged me. The solitary life was pretty sweet. I wouldn't have another roommate, I promised myself, until I moved in with the person I planned to be with forever.
Fast-forward a few years, and now I'm living with that person – and, as of last month, his daughter too. I've grown used to falling asleep next to a comforting presence, and to pretty much never being alone . Our little duplex is full of life, if you count the three of us and my puppy. I can't pretend that the sounds of blasting pop music don't annoy me sometimes, but I've gotten used to it.
That's why the last couple of days were so weird. I had the house to myself while my roommates were on a school trip, and it was eerily quiet and lonely. Even Riley, the pup, seems bummed by their absence. We lay forlornly on the couch together all evening, shifting only to advance through Netflix episodes of "Say Yes to the Dress: Atlanta," a show that's shockingly entertaining to watch in marathons when the house is man-free.
There's another thing I can do when the house is empty, and that's cook offensive things. One such thing is onions. Now, I love onions and many meals I prepare are completely based on them. Curry? Ecuadorian potato soup with cheese and avocado? Potato latkes? There's a trend here.
While my housemates enjoy the fruits of onion-fueled labor, they hate the process. Every single time those onions hit a hot pan and begin to sizzle, the roommates complain that it makes their eyes burn. Even when they're in another room, the fumes apparently travel throughout the house and cause eye-scorching. I've never noticed this myself, but perhaps I'm immune after years of cooking.
Regardless, when I was left alone with a bit of beef broth, my dinner menu was clear. French onion soup for one: a worthwhile endeavor.
I began with a medium onion, slicing it into thin ribbons.
I added those ribbons to a little pat of butter in my brand-new tiny saucepan.
On low heat, they cooked down and finally caramelized. Towards the end, I added a small clove of garlic that I'd minced fine. When the onions were soft and brown, I splashed them with dry white wine. It bubbled away immediately.
I added about a cup of beef stock, a little sprig of thyme, and about half of a dried bay leaf. They came to a boil, then I turned the heat down low and let my soup simmer. With a few pinches of salt and a turn of black pepper, I had the perfect amount of soup for a solitary dinner.
Some love to top their French onion soup with croutons and cheese, broiling it until the cheese is crispy and gooey all at once. Personally, I'm not a fan. Even when toasted, croutons absorb lots of broth, turning a lovely bowl of soup into alternating bites of wet bread and onion. I prefer the complete soup experience. For this meal, I topped my bowl with a small handful of Emmenthaler cheese and stuck it under the broiler for a minute. Some of the cheese browned, some sank and melted – it was still tasty.
(I am not a fan of butane torches, since they can impart an odd gas flavor into the food. Yours might not – in that case, use it! If you don't have a torch or a broiler-safe ramekin, you can still achieve the melted-cheese effect. Place a piece of toast on some aluminum foil. Pile the toast with cheese, and pop it under the broiler until the cheese is browned. Stick that cheesy toast on top of your soup and enjoy).
It is a hearty meal that brings comfort to solitude.
(If you're lucky enough to live with folks who enjoy the scent of cooking onions, feel free to double – or quadruple! – this recipe).
Recipe: French Onion Soup for One
- 1 medium onion, sliced thin
- 1 teaspoon butter
- 1 small clove garlic, minced
- Splash of dry white wine
- 1 cup beef stock
- 1 sprig thyme
- 1/2 bay leaf
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Small handful grated cheese (Emmenthaler, Gruyere, provolone, etc)
Melt butter in small saucepan over medium-low heat. Add onion and saute, stirring frequently, until soft and brown: 20-40 minutes, according to your taste. When the onions are almost ready, add garlic and continue stirring. Splash with white wine and adjust the heat to medium-high. Allow to come to a boil, and then add beef stock, thyme, and bay leaf. Let boil again, then turn the heat down to a simmer and let the flavors meld for at least 10-20 minutes. Salt and pepper to taste.
Top with grated cheese and enjoy!


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9 Smart Search Tools for Safari You Need To Try
Do you currently use a specific search engine and if so, have you simply set it as the default in your Safari settings? This is a tried and true method for sure; however, there are other options.
From search engines that donate revenue to search tools that allow you to find what you need faster Use These Safari Extensions to Speed Up Your Tasks We all want to spend less time and effort on actions that should be quick and easy, and Safari has a few terrific extensions that can help. Read More , Safari has several great and useful extensions.
If you are interested in giving back, then Lilo is a good search engine option. The company supports environmental and social projects with 50 percent of the search engine's advertising revenue. And, every time you perform a search with Lilo, you earn a drop of water that equals one point and corresponds to the money you are generating.
You can then choose from a list of projects to donate your drops of water to on the Lilo.org website. From GreenWave to Empower Generation, there are 12 different worthy options.
After you install the Lilo extension, you use it by just clicking the button in the Safari toolbar. Then select New Search and you will land on the Lilo engine to enter your search term. The extension also offers a few settings to customize. The company states that they do not collect information and are opposed to advertisement tracking.
Another search engine that donates advertisement revenue is Ecosia. So, if you like this concept and want to help plant trees, then this is one to check out. The company donates 80 percent of their monthly profits to plant trees in Burkina Faso, West Africa.
While it is more beneficial to click on an advertisement you see when searching with Ecosia, you are still helping if you do not. Spreading the word by being an active user assists the company in their mission.
To use Ecosia for your searches, you will need to adjust your settings. Navigate to your Safari Preferences > Extensions. Make sure that Ecosia is enabled and the Forward Searches to Ecosia box is also checked. Then to search, just type your keyword into the Safari URL field and watch Ecosia kick in.
BB Toolbar for Google and Safari
Formerly named Google Toolbar 12 Extensions for Safari That Can Really Make You More Efficient Essential add-ons can add not only convenience, but more efficiency. Safari offers some terrific tools, between toolbars and buttons that can help you improve your work and even your play on this popular browser. Read More , BB Toolbar for Google and Safari, provides the same types of Google services with plenty of features. First, as the name implies, a convenient toolbar will be displayed which is fully customizable and of course, includes a Google search box. You can then choose to add buttons for everything from YouTube to Facebook to Google Maps to Google Calendar.
The next cool feature of this extension is the pop-up accessible from the button in your Safari toolbar. This lets you open the same sites and services as the toolbar and includes a Google search box. But, it also includes tabs for your bookmarks, trending topics, and notifications (with a badge count). This pop-up feature, just like the toolbar, is customizable.
Omnikey is a unique search tool in that it allows you to enter search terms directly into your Safari URL field to search Improve Your Safari Experience with These 10 Tips Don't you wish you could fix a few Safari quirks here, speed up a few things there? A good mix of in-built features and extensions is all it takes. Read More on specific sites. You can customize the list by removing or adding sites and picking a key for each. You can also choose a default site from the drop-down box if you like.
This is a useful extension if you search for items on a particular site often. For example, with Amazon as your default, you can enter a product into your URL field and you will then be directed to that item on the Amazon website.
If you choose not to set a default, the extension works by entering the indicated key and then the item. For instance, to look for a show on RottenTomatoes.com, just enter rt in front of the show name in the URL field. Again, you will be taken directly to the item page on that site.
For searching multiple sites without having to reenter your search terms over and over, OpenSearch is a terrific extension. Just click the button in your Safari toolbar and a pop-up window will open displaying a search box. Enter your keywords Power up Safari with Your Favorite Features from Chrome and Firefox It would be convenient if you could port your favorite Chrome/Firefox features to Safari, right? We'll show you which features you can add to Safari and how to make that happen. Read More and then select the search engine from the list.
If you are not happy with the results on the site you searched, you can simply select another from the list. You do not have to reenter your search terms, which is really nice. Additionally, you can add and remove sites from the list. If you visit a site with a search plugin, the button will automatically display a badge alert letting you know along with a simple button to add that site to your list.
Search Preview
If you have used Firefox or Chrome Mac & iOS Users: Why Aren't You Using Safari Yet? Apple's browser is now a polished first-party product that's exclusive to Mac and iOS devices. So why aren't you using it? Read More in the past, they you may be familiar with Search Preview. This convenient extension displays a preview image one your search results page. What makes this a great search helper is that you can quickly scan the page for a glimpse at what the website looks like before selecting it.
So, if there is a page that you forgot to save to your bookmarks and would recognize it easily, these previews can be a big help. The extension currently works when searching with Google, Bing, Yahoo!, and DuckDuckGo.
Search Helper
If you are a fan of the Yahoo! search engine, then Search Helper is the perfect add-on for you. This handy tool will make your search terms more prominent on the results page. This allows you to see exactly what you are looking for at a glance.
With the extension, you can choose an emphasis from highlight, bold, or underline. You can also choose the color from nine options, which will apply to the whichever emphasis you pick. Then, when Yahoo! displays your search results, the specific term you used will pop out in the list for easier scanning.
SmartSearch and AnySearch
SmartSearch and AnySearch are very similar extensions that offer the same feature, which is the ability to choose your search engine from the list. Each of these makes picking the site you want to search with fast and easy.
SmartSearch provides six common sites from Amazon to Google. AnySearch, on the other hand, offers 17 options. With major sites like Bing and Yahoo! to specific ones like Facebook and YouTube, the variety is good. AnySearch also provides a custom search engine addition feature along with the option to set your default.
Do You Use Search Extensions in Safari?
From supporting environmental and social organizations to simply quicker ways to search various engines, Safari certainly has extensions The Ultimate Guide to Customizing Safari on Mac Make Safari an even better browser for your Mac by customizing it. Here's how to tweak it to your liking. Read More to help. Do you use one of these tools and swear by it? Or, do you just set the default site in your Safari settings and go?
Feel free to share your thoughts with us in the comments!
Image Credit: Watchara via Shutterstock.com
Related topics: Google Search, Image Search, Safari Browser.
Affiliate Disclosure: By buying the products we recommend, you help keep the site alive. Read more.


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The Lead South Australia reports that scientist David Thompson is soon to file an application for patent protection for his polymer-organic energy treatment (POET) system, which uses anaerobic digestion technology to turn a range of plastics, including polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene and expanded polystyrene, into methane. The process also produces inert, organic by-products which can be used as garden fertiliser and mulch. Thompson is looking for an investor to help his start-up build a demonstration plant capable of processing, initially, 5000 t of plastic a year. He says there has been significant global interest in his invention but potential buyers generally want to see a working demonstration plant rather than just certified test results before committing. The startup company, which is based in Adelaide, South Australia, is looking for an investment of about AU$2,5-million to help it build the 100 t a week plant.
Contact David Thompson, Balti Virtual, email@example.com


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2018 Ford Edge SEL Atlanta GA
The 2018 Ford Edge SEL is the first 2018 model year Edge trim to be unveiled by Ford, and, wow, does it have us excited here at Akins Ford near Atlanta, GA. One of the main reasons we're so excited is because the new Ford Edge SEL offers the choice between two powerful and efficient engines – a standard twin-scroll 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine or an available 3.5-liter Ti-VCT V6 engine.
But the 2018 Edge SEL is more than just a couple of exciting and impressive engine choices. It also features a comfortably roomy interior and a comprehensive suite of advanced new safety, technology, comfort and convenience features including the SYNC 3 infotainment system, a premium audio system complete with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, a rear camera, a reverse sensing system, a panoramic vista roof, a navigation system, a blind spot monitoring system and a hands-free power liftgate.
|Standard Twin-Scroll 2.0-Liter EcoBoost Engine
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The package's interior style features include Mayan gray fabric seat coverings with umber-colored Miko sueded cloth perforated inserts and umber contrast stitching, a custom copper sands textured applique throughout and carpets custom-embroidered with an umber Edge logo.
if you'd like to know more about the 2018 Ford Edge SEL and everything that comes along with it, please get in touch with our friendly and knowledgeable Akins Ford staff near Atlanta, GA.


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DENVER – More than three years after a fiery Flight for Life helicopter crash in Frisco, the Federal Aviation Administration will start requiring crash-resistant fuel systems onboard every newly built helicopter.
The change comes after a series of 9Wants to Know investigative reports detailed a loophole in federal law that had allowed, for decades, manufacturers to continue building helicopters with antiquated fuel systems.
Those fuel systems were prone to rupturing after otherwise survivable helicopter crashes.
In the Frisco crash, for example, the Flight for Life's plastic fuel tank ruptured immediately after the helicopter hit a parking lot outside of St. Anthony Summit Medical Center on July 3, 2015.
Fuel quickly poured onto flight nurse Dave Repsher's flight suit. The resulting fire left burns on more than 90 percent of his body.
The problem, one documented and largely eradicated by the military in the 1970s, had quietly plagued the civilian helicopter industry for decades.
Wednesday, the United States Senate passed the long-anticipated Federal Aviation Administration's reauthorization bill. The bill renews the FAA's budget for the next five years.
Within the reauthorization bill is a provision that now mandates helicopter manufacturers to equip all newly built helicopters with a crash-resistant fuel system.
The provision, added as an amendment by Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-Colorado) and Rep Jared Polis (D-Colorado), comes as a direct response to the Frisco crash.
Both credit 9Wants to Know's "Fueling the Fire" series as an impetus for the change.
9Wants to Know found more than 170 helicopter crashes since 1994 that resulted in catastrophic fires.
Since the 2015 Colorado crash, post-crash fires have also caused multiple deaths in Arizona and Tennessee.
President Donald Trump is expected to sign the FAA reauthorization in the coming days.


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Welcome to our website! As we have the ability to list over one million items on our website (our selection changes all of the time), it is not feasible for a company our size to record and playback the descriptions on every item on our website. However, if you have a disability we are here to help you. Please call our disability services phone line at (617) 522-4020 during regular business hours and one of our kind and friendly personal shoppers will help you navigate through our website, help conduct advanced searches, help you choose the item you are looking for with the specifications you are seeking, read you the specifications of any item and consult with you about the products themselves. There is no charge for the help of this personal shopper for anyone with a disability. Finally, your personal shopper will explain our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service, and help you place an order if you so desire.
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As we were reminded this week, the sun is no placid sphere that uniformly radiates warmth. On the contrary, our star roils, churns, belches, and, every now and then – just to remind us who really runs things in this solar system – spits fire in our direction.
Just before 9 p.m. EST on Valentine's Day, a tremendous explosion on the sun's surface unleashed a wave of charged plasma that hurtled toward our planet at more than two million miles per hour.
The solar flare and its attendant torrent of solar wind – the biggest of its kind in four years – glanced off of the Earth's North Pole, warping the electric currents in our upper atmosphere and blacking out shortwave radio transmissions in southern China.
It could have been much worse. In March 1989, a blast of solar wind tripped circuit breakers on Hydro-Québec's power grid, leaving six million people without electricity for nine hours. Later that year, another solar eruption caused computer crashes that brought trading on Toronto's stock market to a halt.
And 1989 was a mere ripple compared to the solar tsunami of 1859, which saw the biggest disruption of the earth's magnetic field in recorded history. In September of that year, the sun threw a massive cloud of charged plasma our way, lighting up the night sky with auroras as far south as Havana. Telegraph wires shorted out, igniting papers and shocking telegraph operators.
The New York Times from that week carried this extraordinary exchange between telegraphists in Boston and Portland, Maine, who disconnected their batteries and worked directly from the current in the atmosphere.
Boston operator (to Portland operator): "Please cut off your battery entirely from the line for fifteen minutes."
Portland operator: "Will do so. It is now disconnected."
Boston: "Mine is also disconnected, and we are working with the auroral current. How do you receive my writing?"
Portland: "Better than with our batteries on. Current comes and goes gradually."
Boston: "My current is very strong at times, and we can work better without batteries, as the Aurora seems to neutralise and augment our batteries alternately, making current too strong at times for our Relay magnets. Suppose we work without batteries while we are affected by this trouble."
Portland: "Very well. Shall I go ahead with business?"
Boston: "Yes. Go ahead."
According to the Times, the telegraphs ran on nothing but electrified air for two hours.
This happened at the dawn of the electric age. Today, a comparable solar flare could devastate our infrastructure. A 2008 report by the National Academy of Sciences found that a major solar storm could cause twenty times the economic damage of hurricane Katrina.
As unforeseeable as solar flares may be, the sun itself follows a fairly predictable schedule, going from a solar maximum – a period with almost-daily plasma ejections – to a solar minimum and back, every 11 years or so.
The sun has been unusually quiet in the past decade, but NASA says that it is finally starting to wake up. According to the space agency, the next solar max will occur around May 2013.


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This anonymous quote (probably from an ex-wife) was printed in the Wall Street Journal and all of us who remember the glory days of being a fighter pilot will recall the Navy's "Tailhook Conventions." These gatherings of fun-loving pilots took the meaning of decadence and debauchery to a higher level. How we yearn for the "good old days." I would like to point out , as I did in my book, The Rogue Aviator, that I have great respect for any pilot that can land his air-machine on an aircraft carrier.
The swaggering fighter pilot is nearly extinct but for those folks who are not appalled by tough guys who fight from their airplanes, please read on.
Written by Brigadier General Greg Stroud, USAFR-Retired — a former Anchor-Clanker Navy Jet Pilot who minces no words. He tells it like it has become with the present day Air Force that is headed by Politically Correct Whoosies.
By BGEN Greg Stroud (Ret)
Some of you know that I was recently "retired" as the 162 Fighter Wing Commander.
The decision was made by Brig Gen Mike Colangelo, the Arizona Air Commander, who replaced me because he "just wants to change the culture at the 162nd" — not for cause or performance or any other reason.
This officer never commanded anything bigger than an Air Control Squadron, and somehow he wound up in charge. Heck, the guy probably got beat up in grade school everyday.
I think it is indicative of what is happening in our Air Force and reinforces what Bruce MacLennan and the anonymous author have to say below.
Well, I also have something to say about our changing Air Force and it's quickly disappearing Fighter Pilot culture.
How many scope-dope drone operators does it take to change a lightbulb?
Two. One to change the bulb — and one to kiss my ass.
That's right. I said kiss my ass — 'Cause I've had it.
The air superiority fighter and its PILOT are not dead and the Chinese are so far not impressed with drones.
I am tired of Fighter Pilots suffering at the hands of all the pencil pushing REMFs and ladder-climbing opportunists and shitty non-rated managers (who think they are leaders) just because the Air Force is currently more interested in feelings and sexual orientation than fighting.
Not all officers have what it takes to lead warriors, yet too many of them are in charge in our military. At this rate we may lose the next real war.
These shit-bird officers need to be run out of leadership positions and get out of my face already. We have too many people in our military that feel the need to play political victim and go to court instead of just dealing with it themselves. No one can have any kind of fun anymore.
Men and women can't flirt, hug, look at anyone sideways, or drink beer out of mermaid mug because of you 'victims' and your lawyers.
Are you happy?
And while I'm at it, Fighter Pilots, who are willing to die so that we can have low prices at the gas pump and shop at the mall, should be able to throw the wildest parties they can manage without one uptight biddy coming in and stopping it.
There were scads of women at The '91 Tailhook party who were having the time of their lives, voluntarily being just as debauched as any of the men were. Everyone who flew a plane, or even knew someone who flew a plane, knew how wild those parties were and what went on.
What does our society expect — a prayer service?
It's worse now than it was then.
'Victims' need to just throw some punches of their own whenever guys, gals, lesbos, or homos get out of line. Doesn't our tax money go to teach all of our military how to fight?
I'm not trying to make the idiotic 'she had it coming' argument here, which would go something like 'of course they grabbed her breasts, look how big they are.' Plus, just reaching out and grabbing some boob is wrong no matter what.
When I was at Tailhook, even at our most drunken admin parties we never acted like that.
No matter how hard I try I can't think of an excuse good enough to do something like that. But it's still nothing to lose a career over or get your panties in a wad.
Besides, fighter pilots are supposed to be aggressive assholes. That's how we used to train them. I don't know about you, but I don't want a military of fighter pilots who are gifted at giving sensitivity seminars. I want mad-dog, rabid killers going to battle for me and mine. Man or woman.
When our homeland is threatened by Middle-Eastern Muslim radicals, or when we want to force our form of government on some poor, unsuspecting poppy growing shit hole, or when uppity North Korean despots develop nuke weapons, I want to be able to call on men and women who like to fight and drink.
I want an officer who knows how to whack some drunk in the balls when he grabs her tits, not call a press conference and a lawyer. If you're a wimp who doesn't know how to find the exit at a rowdy party, go fly a kite — not a jet fighter.
Fighter Pilot should always be capitalized because it is a hard-earned title. So there!
Perhaps it's time for me to retire. Greg "Mongo" Stroud
This blog is prepared by Ace Abbott, author of The Rogue Aviator (www.therogueaviator.com)
"First Rule of Liberalism: Government failure always justifies more government."


text:
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Art from the Revised Common Lectionary resources through the Vanderbilt Library. The first is called "Alpha and Omega" from the Church of San Isidro. The second is called "Jesus Appears to Thomas."
Tag Archives: John 20:19-31
Call to Worship (3) | Second Sunday in Easter (Year C)
Submitted by Thom Shuman, author of Lectionary Liturgies.
Alleluia! Christ is risen!
Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia!
We have not seen the risen Christ,
But we see him in the lives
of those transformed by grace.
We have not seen Jesus face-to-face,
But we have seen him in the faces
of everyone whose love encourages us.
We have not touched the wounds from the cross,
But we have been called to bring healing to the scarred of the world.
Prayer for Illumination (1) | Second Sunday in Easter (Year C)
Submitted by Stephen Fearing.
Resurrected God,
though we have hidden ourselves in a locked room
and huddled together as ones who build barriers,
send your Living Word through our locked doors
and into our guarded hearts
that we might be witnesses of your grace
and couriers of your goodness.
By the power of your Holy Spirit,
grant us the trust to believe the Gospel
not because we see it
but because we have been seen by it
and transformed through it. Amen.
Trust Jesus and Elvis | Second Sunday in Easter (Year C)
The following sermon is by Susan Sparks via Day1.org
Recently, I returned from a trip to the holy land … Memphis, Tennessee. Now, Memphis is holy land for a number of reasons, not the least of which is their BBQ. Now, for those of you who are not Southerners, please understand BBQ is a holy thing. In fact, it is part of what we call the southern trinity: BBQ, Basketball and the Bible. Memphis is known for their BBQ, especially their ribs. As my neighbor used to say, "Good ribs would make an angel weep."
Now BBQ is not the only reason Memphis is considered holy land. The primary reason, of course, is because it is the home of Elvis.
While we were in Memphis, we visited Sun Records, where Elvis recorded his first song. In the studio, there was an "X" marked on the floor with duct tape indicating the exact spot where Elvis stood. The tour guide told us that just the week before, Bob Dylan had come into the studio, said not a word to anyone, walked over to the "X," got down on all fours, kissed it and walked out. For many, Elvis has reached an almost holy status.
In fact, there has been studies on the parallels between Jesus and Elvis, most notably by the renown scholar (and standup comedian) Adam Sandler. He explains:
Jesus said: "Love thy neighbor." (Matthew 22:39); Elvis said: "Don't be cruel." (RCA, 1956)
Jesus is part of the Trinity; Elvis' first band was a trio.
Jesus is the Lord's shepherd; Elvis dated Cybil Sheppard.
Given that kind of reverence, I believe that we as Jesus fans, have a lot to learn from Elvis fans. Especially in terms of faith….
Like any good pilgrims, we took time on our Memphis trip to visit the shrine of Graceland. There was the great welcome sign–a twenty-five foot high Elvis saying "Welcome to the Blingdom!" And after the requisite photographs, we got in line for tickets. As we were waiting, I turned to one of the tour guides and asked, "So, how long did Elvis actually live here?" There was an audible gasp from the surrounding crowd. The guide looked at me with shock and whispered, "We don't use the past tense here." She then pointed at her t-shirt, which read: "Graceland, where Elvis LIVES."
It didn't matter that she had never actually seen Elvis or that technically Elvis stopped walking the earth over thirty-two years ago. It didn't matter. She didn't care. Elvis fans don't care. Without any proof, they believe he lives! Elvis lives, baby. The King lives.
It's a shame we don't all live our lives with that kind of faith. I'm afraid that most of us tend more towards the disciple Thomas than the tour guide at Graceland.
Our scripture today is the familiar story of doubting Thomas. There we find the disciples locked up behind closed doors after Jesus' crucifixion. And Jesus came and stood among them. When they saw him, the disciples rejoiced. But Thomas was not there at the time. When the other disciples later told Thomas about it, he said, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger … in his side, I will not believe." A week later, when Thomas was with the disciples, Jesus appears again and invites Thomas to touch his wounds. When he put his hand in Jesus' side–he knew.
"My Lord and my God," said Thomas.
Jesus then said to him, "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe."
We've all heard this story before. More importantly, we've all lived it. We've all had times in our lives where we've doubted, where we have said to God, "Show me a sign! Give me some proof!" Maybe it was because we were in a place of unbearable pain, or a time we faced hardship with no answers, a time when God seemed silent. We have all been at that point where, like Thomas, we yearned for a sign from God.
And why not? We live in a world where "proof" trumps faith. We send robots with cameras to the farthest ends of the universe so we can know for sure what's out there. We won't believe an assertion until a complicated mathematical equation says it's true. And anytime–anytime–there is a wall bearing a sign "wet paint," we will touch it just to be sure.
If only we could have the faith of Elvis fans, a faith driven not by empirical proof, but by the voice in our hearts. Finding that kind of faith can change our lives. For when you believe something in your heart, you begin to act it in your life.
Look at Elvis fans. They not only believe he lives, they act like he lives. For example, they are constantly looking for Elvis. The Bible says seek and ye shall find. Well, Elvis fans follow that to a tee. They are constantly looking for the King. And, sometimes, they find him. There have been Elvis sightings all over the world–from a spa in Tokyo to a Burger King in Michigan. There was even a woman who claimed that she found the image of Elvis in a taco shell.
If only we'd put even 1% of that kind of energy towards looking for Jesus, we might actually find him too. Maybe we'd find him in the eyes of a little child or the downcast gaze of a homeless stranger. Maybe we'd find him in the face of an enemy or the tears of a loved one with whom we are fighting. If you believe he lives, you'll act like he lives. You'll look for him and you'll find him.
Another thing–Elvis fans believe he lives, so they look for others who believe as well, like through Elvis fan clubs. I heard a story on the Graceland tour about a woman who was in a fan club called "Taking Care of Business." She had to have major surgery and afterwards received hundreds of cards and letters from "Elvis friends" all over the world. We Christians can learn something from this. Community is what gives us strength, support and focus in times we most need it. Finding families of faith is what helps us keep our faith. If you believe he lives, you'll look for others who believe as well.
Here's a third example, and probably the most important. Because they believe he lives, Elvis fans go out into in the world and share his message. They play Elvis' music; they dress up as Elvis impersonators; they decorate their homes with Elvis memorabilia. One of my favorite things at the Graceland gift shop was an Elvis sprinkler. It was a foot-high plastic Elvis in a sequin jumpsuit, and as he watered your yard, he would swivel his hips. Whether through word or music, impersonators or sprinklers, Elvis fans proudly proclaim the message of the King.
This provides an interesting contrast to the disciples. Before Jesus appeared in their midst, the book of John tells us that the disciples were in hiding behind locked doors. They weren't looking for Jesus. They weren't going around looking for other believers. They weren't out in the world preaching the word. They weren't proclaiming the message of the King. They were hidden in fear, locked away in shame because they didn't believe he lived.
I'm afraid that many of us live a similar existence; a life with little or no faith in the risen Christ, our hearts locked up and closed away.
A young woman on the tour told a story about how she grew up listening to Elvis. Sadly, she lived through an abusive childhood, but she talked about how she used daydreams of Elvis as an escape. "He was my safe space," she said, "my little corner of heaven." Because she believed he lived, she honored him in her heart and that enabled her to find peace in the hardest of places.
If only we would open our hearts to Jesus in the same way. When we honor the risen Christ in our hearts, we have our own safe space, our own little corner of heaven in which to rest and to heal.
If you believe he lives–you'll act like he lives. And Jesus' message is certainly a message of action. Elvis apparently felt the same way. For Elvis said early in his career, "Music and religion are similar–because both should make you wanna move."
The gospel is a living, vibrant force that should make us want to get out and move, move around in the world, move towards each other in love and compassion, move towards bringing in the kingdom–or the blingdom–or whatever.
I want a religion that makes me wanna move.
I want a savior that makes me wanna put on a sequin jump suit and sing.
I want to believe in a Jesus that lives.
Don't let the doubts and fears of life shake your belief. Don't let your faith be driven by anything but the voice of your heart. Remember: "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe." For if we believe he lives, our lives will change. We will search for and find him; we will proclaim his message; we will honor his spirit with ours.
Sometime this week, find a quiet moment, ask yourself, "Do you believe?" From the deepest parts of your heart, the answer will surely come: He lives. He lives, baby. The King lives.
Please join me in prayer.
God of all things good, barbequed ribs, basketball, Elvis and Jesus, ease our troubled hearts and calm our doubts and fears. Bring us faith so that we might act like a follower of your Son, and always, always, whisper daily the words we need to hear in our hearts, "He lives! The King lives." Amen.
Confession (2) | Second Sunday in Easter (Year C)
The following confession sequence is by Thom Shuman. You can find more of his liturgies here.
Call to Confession
When we keep our faults and failures locked safely away,
we have no need to confess.
But God comes into our hearts when we least expect,
so we can be filled with forgiveness, with hope, with peace.
Please join me as we pray together, saying,
Unison Prayer of Confession
God of empty tombs and emptier people:
when we hesitate to speak of your hope,
forgive us, and give us a voice.
When we find it difficult to love one another,
forgive us, and give us fresh compassion.
When we want to stand with the high and mighty,
forgive us, and seat us next to the poor and oppressed.
When we stay locked behind our fears and doubts,
forgive us, and send us out to share you grace.
When we cannot believe your Word of new life,
forgive us, and fill us with your joy.
Silence is kept
Assurance of Pardon
Christ comes into every shadowed corner of our lives with the light of Easter.
Christ comes into the locked rooms of our faults
and gifts us with grace and hope.
Christ comes to fill us with peace,
so we may proclaim the good news of mercy and forgiveness for all.
Thanks be to God. Amen.
Call to Worship (2) | Second Sunday in Easter (Year C)
The following Call to Worship is from the United Church of Christ.
God's strong and loving hands are outstretched to all Creation.
Let the world stretch forth and grasp God's hands with joy.
God's open hands are as the gate of righteousness.
Let us enter in to God's abundant life and give thanks.
In God's hands are new life, strength, and salvation.
Let us be thankful and sing unto our God with gladness.
Call to Worship (1) | Second Sunday in Easter (Year C)
The following Call to Worship is from Martha Spong.
One: Christ is risen!
Many: Now what?
One: The disciples clung to each other. They huddled in the upper room, waiting.
Many: Would the authorities come to take them, too?
One: Instead, Jesus himself appeared, despite the locked door.
Many: What next?
One: Next came doubts and questions, assurances and instructions, and a last word:
Many: "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe."
One: Christ is risen! Now what?
Many: Now we come together to wait for him.
One: May the risen Christ bless us as we worship what we have not seen, yet believe.
Submitted by Rev. Martha Spong, First Congregational Church, North Yarmouth Maine via LiturgyLink.Net.
Doubting Thomas | Nickel Creek | Second Sunday in Easter (Year C)
One of my favorite Nickel Creek Songs, "Doubting Thomas" is a great way to get the gears going for preparation for the Second Sunday in Lent (Year C). You can listen to the beautiful song here.
Doubting Thomas by Nickel Creek
What will be left when I've drawn my last breath
Besides the folks I've met and the folks who've known me
Will I discover a soul-saving love
Or just the dirt above and below me
I'm a doubting Thomas
I took a promise
But I do not feel safe
Oh me of little faith
Sometimes I pray for a slap in the face
Then I beg to be spared cause I'm a coward
If there's a master of death
I bet he's holding his breath
As I show the blind and tell the deaf about his power
I'm a doubting Thomas
I can't keep my promises
Cause I don't know what's safe
Oh me of little faith
Can I be used to help others find truth
When I'm scared I'll find proof that it's a lie
Can I be led down a trail dropping bread crumbs
That prove I'm not ready to die
Please give me time to decipher the signs
Please forgive me for time that I've wasted
I'm a doubting Thomas
I'll take your promise
Though I know nothin's safe
Oh me of little faith
Filed under Easter, Liturgical Practices, Music, Poetry


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As many of you know we are currently trying to get 39 more signatures for our online Child Support Petition to Hillary Clinton.
We are trying to get New York State to adopt the Colonna vs Colonna child support ruling that changed the way Pennsylvania awarded child support. PA now allows a low income non-custodial parent to get child support from a high income custodial parent in order to even out disparities in household income and make it easier for children to have a similar lifestyle in both households.
Surely we don't want to see a child living in a home in a nice middle-class neighborhood with one parent and then during parenting time with the other moving into a trailer park? This could be quite confusing to a young mind not to mention demoralizing to the non-custodial parent to see their child maybe not even wanting to visit, due to a huge disparity in living standards.
Anyway I was quite gratified to see that this standard was also being applied in other countries now.
I guess great minds think alike. Thus, we have much to thank Mary Colonna for in her courageous struggle to make custody and child support rulings fairer to everyone.
"Supreme Court of Canada upholds mother's child-custody appeal
OTTAWA (CP) - In a decision lawyers hope will clarify often-murky guidelines, the country's highest court said Thursday that support payments do not necessarily rise or fall in concert with changes to child custody.
In a majority decision, the Supreme Court of Canada upheld an appeal by a mother whose support income was significantly reduced when her ex-husband started seeing more of their child.
The high court awarded the mother $500 a month, down from the original $563 a month but more than the $339 awarded by the Ontario Court of Appeal.
Eight of nine judges said courts must take the financial situations of both parents into account when determining support payments, and courts must recognize that many child-care costs are fixed.
Indeed, the court said the cost of raising children may actually be greater in shared custody than in sole custody.
"They're saying that time, in and of itself, does not mean that child support should be reduced," said Deidre Smith, lawyer for mother Joanne Contino.
"It's an important case because it helps Canadians understand how to interpret the child-support guidelines. This issue has been bedevilling Canadians, judges and lawyers . . . across the country."
The mother had primary custody of her son after she and husband Joseph Contino separated in 1989 and divorced four years later.
The father had access to his boy on alternate weekends and Thursday nights, but his visits increased by four evenings a month to accommodate his ex-wife, who had enrolled in an evening class.
Various courts awarded wildly varying amounts over a five-year legal fight.
In September 2000, Ontario Superior Court reduced Joseph Contino's payments to $50 a month and awarded him court costs of $3,800. The Divisional Court overturned the decision and boosted his payments to $688.
The appeal court set that decision aside and ordered child support payments of $399.61 a month.
The high court essentially said such awards cannot follow a strict formula and must take into account inherent fixed costs such as car and house insurance payments.
"The determination of an equitable division of the costs of support for children in shared custody situations is a difficult matter; it is not amenable to simple solutions," Justice Michel Bastarache wrote.
"Any attempt to apply strict formulae will fail to recognize the reality of various families."
Smith said food and the like are the only things that tend to change with custody arrangements. "And as expensive as it is to feed a teenage boy, it's not the biggest ticket item on any budget."
Justice Morris Fish disagreed with his colleagues, saying child support is an "imprecise" science that should at least ensure the child's standard of living with both parents.
He said the appeal court's $399.61 award fell within the "acceptable range."
The justices did not award costs, and their decision is not retroactive. Four highly anticipated Alberta cases slated to come before them next year will likely clarify retroactivity in such cases.
"Obviously, there has been a lot of difficulty for judges to come to a consensus about how to approach this kind of situation," said Smith.
She said two important principles appear to emerge from the high court decision - ensuring as little change to the child's standard of living as possible and demanding clear evidence from parents of expenses related to custody arrangements before changes to support payments are made."


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text:
Let's talk about my test:
Last night it was time to get down to business and find out if I knew my rules as well as I thought I might. I found out about two hours before I was supposed to leave for the rink that there wasn't any point in arriving early as the person who was going to give the test couldn't make it, so we were told to show up at the normal time. As it was I still showed up early, at the same time as my coach, and since she had copies of the test I put on my knee pads and went off to a quiet room–one of the rink's party rooms–and sat down to start answering.
Since I have found a copy of the test online, I can show you some of the questions I had to answer. These three I gave right answers to:
7. If a Jam is called off for a Skater's injury
(other than a suspected concussion) for the
first time in a game, how long before that
Skater may return to play?
A. As soon as the Skater feels well enough
B. A minimum of three Jams
C. The beginning of the next period
D. After the medics have cleared the Skater to play
The answer is B.
22. Red Jammer legally passes four opposing
White Blockers in a scoring pass, but is
then absorbed back into the pack. Red
Jammer fights their way back past two
White Blockers and a third White Blocker
has gone to the Penalty Box. How many
points will Red Jammer receive for this
scoring pass?
The answer is again B.
40. What must a Pivot do to legally become the
Jammer after picking up the Star from the
A. Return it to the Jammer, who in turn passes it back to the Pivot.
B. Put it on their hemet
C. Hold the Star in their hand
D. Throw it to the Jammer
The answer is A.
Now you know as much as me. Aren't you happy?
By indicating I got three right, that means I must have gotten some wrong, and you're right to believe that. Here was one that I got wrong:
11. When both Jammers sit in the Penalty Box
simultaneously, how much penalty time
must be served before they return to the
A. 10 seconds
B. 20 seconds
C. 30 seconds
D. 0 seconds
I answered A, but the correct answer is D, zero seconds pass: the jammers are ordered to return to the track immediately because the rules for how to penalize jammers are strange as hell.
You are now aware that I didn't get a 100% on my test because I did miss questions. But out of the 50 on the test, how many did I miss?
Only 5.
Yeah, I had 45 correct, which means I finished with a score of 90%. In order to pass you need a minimum of 80%, so I passed with room to breathe. My friend and teammate Mary, who also took the test, got everything right–I'm assuming she did as she said she "aced it"–which means she certified and that she is now the proud owner of a jersey number and derby name. So, as a team, we were able to spend a few moments welcoming #246, Unchained Merrily, to the HARD team.
With the test out of the way I have but two things remaining before I become a certified player and I hope I get past them quickly. When I started this at the end of May I stated that, at the earliest, November would likely be the soonest I would certify, and little did I know how true that look into the future would become.
Here's hoping the next 30 pass with a change of name before it's all over.


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South Korea's latest hit drama is inspiring new travel hotspots and influencing what people throughout Asia wear, eat and buy. Starred by the influential star Jun Ji-hyun and Lee Min-ho, the drama is creating ripple effect that hits the retail market.
The using of cosmetic products in the previous drama that starred by Jun, be it Yves Saint Laurent's lipstick to Laneige's BB cushion, these items had sold out across Asia and even US and European countries. A fashion craze went viral in China as well. Worn by Jun in the drama, Jimmy Choo's "Abel" silver heels flew off the racks after appearing in the second episode.
The great support from the Korean government is a major driver to the success. For every $1 spent investing in the entertainment sector, it gives 4 times return to other industries, which is a big contribution to their economy growth.
Credited to the K-pop culture, the Korean fashion is gaining attention recently. London-based Korean designer brand Rejina Pyo, is said to be "going to be big" by the fashion world. Others like KYE, Push Button, Low Classic, etc are being worn by many fashion icons.
It is undeniable that the Korean drama is impressing the world in their very own way, creating crazes and fads that we can hardly imagine how intensive they can go. It seems that such wave is not going to end any soon, and we can expect that consumers will panic to buy for items worn by Jun Ji-hyun in her new drama (a good news to those brands though).


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Hello there folks. I have a problem with my (main) computer. I was sitting around surfing on the Internet from my IPAQ which is connected to my pc via bluetooth and trough the pc out on the Internet I had problems connecting to the Internet so I checked it out on the pc. I got the message saying "a network cable is unplugged" with 2-3 second intervalls and between the messages it worked fine. I thought this was just some bug that would be fixed by restarting so thats what I did.
Rebooted, choose to load windows XP (got dualboot with XP and windows 2000, xp for working and 2000 for gaming) and everything was fine and dandy. All of a sudden the darned thing just went black, like if the power cable had been disconnected. Now it wont start or do anything. I have tried removing networl card, dvd-rom, floppy and just about everything exept the GFX card. Still wont start. No lights flashing when I push the power switch, no dvd-rom spinning, no nothing. If I disconnect the power cord and re-insert it the power indicator on the motherboard flashes for about a split second and the fan spins a couple of times when I push the power button but then - nothing.
Could it be the power unit that's broken? Would the power indicator on the motherboard still flash if that was the case?
The system I have is a AMD XP 2000+ with a GeForce 4 MX, 256 Mb RAM, noname network card. Pretty much standard equipment all the way. I have never had any problems with it before and it was working just fine this morning.
Any idea on what might have happend?


text:
Spiration can now say it has its first marketed product. The Redmond, WA-based medical device maker said today that its partner, Tokyo-based Olympus, has started selling its device for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Europe.
Spiration will manufacture the product, called the IBV Valve System, and Olympus will market it initially to select European physicians and then broaden distribution in coming months. The device consists of tiny valves that can be implanted in the airway via a catheter threaded down a patient's windpipe; the valves block off air flow to the diseased lung, so air doesn't get trapped there and the patient can better use other parts of the lung that still work. Financial terms of the partnership with Olympus aren't being disclosed.
The opportunity is big, with an estimated 16 million people in the U.S. (mostly smokers) suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, as we wrote back in July. It is the fourth-leading cause of death in the U.S., killing 100,000 people a year, according to the National Emphysema Foundation. At least 300,000 patients in the U.S. are candidates for the valve implant, making the market worth at least $1 billion a year by almost any financial projection, said Richard Shea, Spiration's CEO, when I interviewed him in July. The valve will compete with lung-volume-reduction surgery, in which diseased parts of lung are removed. The surgery leaves some patients with air leaks in the lungs afterwards, so Spiration product will be pitched as an alternative to avoid that complication.
"I am excited that this new treatment option is now available in Europe, where there is a significant unmet need for minimally invasive approaches to improving quality of life for people with emphysema," said Vincent Ninane, of the St. Pierre Hospital in Brussels, Belgium, in a statement released by Spiration and Olympus.
Spiration, founded in 1999, doesn't yet have the IBV Valve System approved by the FDA for sale in the U.S. The company has started enrolling patients in a randomized, placebo-controlled study of 250 patients, and should be done with that by March, Shea said in July. Patients will be followed for six months after the procedure is done, and success will be determined by both a CT scan to show improvement in the lungs, and a patient questionnaire to verify it. If the trial shows a benefit, the company could have the data it needs to apply for FDA approval later next year, Shea says.


text:
- Position
- Forward
- Class
- Hometown (Last School)
- Little Washington, N.C. (High Point Christian Academy)
- Ht
- 6'10"
- Wt
- 260
- Current Team
- Kentucky Wildcats
Named a McDonald's All-American and participated in the Jordan Brand Classic game … Tabbed to the second team of the All-USA Boys Basketball Team … McDonald's All-American Game Morgan Wootten Player of the Year finalist … Made the Naismith All-America Second Team … Tabbed the North Carolina Gatorade Player of the Year … Joins Kentucky out of High Point Christian Academy in High Point, North Carolina, where he averaged 18.9 points and 13.0 rebounds his senior season … He led High Point Christian Academy to an appearance in the state title game … Ranked in the top 10 by ESPN (No. 5) and Rivals (No. 7) … Scout (No. 11) and 247Sports (No. 12) tabbed him as a top-15 prospect in the 2016 class … Ranked No. 8 overall in the Recruiting Services Consensus Index … Has USA Basketball experience and was named a MaxPreps All-American in 2013 … An honor-roll student … Also was a member of the poetry club … Was a member of the Kids Hoops service project.
Born July 18, 1997, in Newark, New Jersey … He is the son of Mariyln Blount and John Adebayo … His definition of a true hero is Martin Luther King Jr. … One thing most people don't know about him is his love for Katy Perry … He chose his jersey number as a nod to his younger "brother" Jabari … The most influential person in his life is his mother … Chose Kentucky over NC State, Auburn and Kansas.