text:
|A function on a watch that will make a sound or vibration at a pre-set time.
|An altimeter measures altitude, or height above sea level. Recording ascent and descent, an altimeter watch is an important piece of equipment for climbers, walkers, mountaineers and, of course, aviators.
|Anadigi display
|A display that shows the time both by hour and minute hands (an analogue display) and by numbers (a digital display). This is also known as duo display.
|A watch that uses hands and a dial to tell the time.
|A small opening found in the dials of some watches in which certain indications are given, such as the date or moonphase.
|Auto repeat countdown timer
|A countdown timer that resets itself as soon as the preset time has elapsed and starts again. The countdown is repeated continuously until the stop button is pushed.
|An automatic watch is a mechanical watch that typically has a balance wheel escapement which automatically winds the watch in response to the movement of the wearers arm. In other words, the wearer's movement winds the watch up. Automatic watches can be stored on a winder to rotate the watch when it's not being worn. They may gain or lose a few minutes per month. If not worn for a few days they will stop.
|Automatic watch
|A self winding mechanical watch. The oscillating weight moves around under the influence of gravity as the wearer�s wrist moves. As this weight moves the mainspring is wound. Originally invented by Abraham-Louis Perrelet in the 18th century, and refined by many other manufacturers since.
|Automatic winding
|Winding that occurs through movement of the wearer's arm, rather than by turning the winder. A rotor turns in response to motion, winding up the watch's mainspring. An automatic watch that is not worn for a day or two will wind down and may need to be rewound by hand to get it started again. This is also known as self-winding.
|Balance spring
|A very fine spring in a mechanical watch that causes the recoil of the balance wheel. The adjustment of its length regulates the timekeeping. This is also known as the hairspring.
|Balance wheel
|The part of a mechanical watch movement that oscillates, dividing time into equal segments. This is the regulating mechanism that controls the watch's timekeeping accuracy.
|A drum that holds the mainspring in a mechanical watch. The toothed rim of the barrel drives the train.
|The ring on the outside of the watch case, around the dial, or the rim that holds the watch glass. It may have calibrated markings, especially on sports or divers watches, or be made of precious metal, and sometimes set with precious stones.
|Bi-directional rotating bezel
|A bezel that can be moved clockwise or anti-clockwise. It is used for keeping track of elapsed time, or a different time zone.
|The metal strap that goes around the wearer's wrist. A watch bracelet is often made up of flexible, separate links that can be removed to adjust the bracelet's length.
|Branded Watch Movements
|Branded Quartz Watches. Seiko Kinetic: Seiko use an innovative movement that responds to the wearer's wrist motion, storing energy and maintaining quartz accuracy. A power reserve indicator shows exactly how much energy you've created. Citizen Eco-Drive: Light powered, developed by Citizen, the Eco-Drive system converts natural and artificial light into energy to give quartz accuracy. They can store power for up to 5 years.
|A part that is fixed to the main plate to form the frame of a watch movement. All other parts are mounted inside the frame, giving them freedom to turn.
|A function that indicates day of the month and sometimes day of the week and the year. This usually has to be adjusted manually at the end of months with 28, 29 or 30 days. A Perpetual calendar adjusts the calendar automatically to compensate for the short months.
|The model reference of the watch movement.
|This refers to an arched or curved dial or bezel.
|The housing that contains a watch's parts. Stainless steel is most commonly used although titanium, platinum, gold and silver can also be found. Less expensive watches are often made of brass and plated with gold-coloured or silver-coloured metals. Some cases are also made of coloured resin.
|A watch that tells the time and acts as a stopwatch. The timing element can be stopped and started without interfering with the ability to tell the time. There are many different types. Some have a centre seconds hand which keeps time on the watch's main dial. Some use smaller subsidiary dials or a digital display to show elapsed time. A chronograph used in conjunction with specialized scales on the watch face can determine speed and distance. Some can time more than one event at one time.
|A watch that has been vigorously tested in various positions and temperatures to ensure that it meets high standards of accuracy demanded by COSC, the official Swiss chronometer testing Institute. To be called a chronometer, the mechanical movement must achieve an average rate of between -4/+6 seconds per day.
|A watch function other than timekeeping. These include chronograph, perpetual calendar, tourbillon and minute repeater. A watch with any additional function is called a complicated watch.
|Countdown timer
|This allows the wearer to know how much of a pre-set time has passed. Some sound a warning a few seconds before the pre-set time has elapsed.
|The grooved button on the side of the watch case, used for setting the hands on a watch, and the day and date, where applicable. It is also used for winding the mainspring of a mechanical watch. The crown is also known as a winder, and can in some cases be screwed down to make a watch water-resistant.
|This is the clear cover on the watch face (dial). It may be made of glass, plastic, mineral crystal or sapphire crystal (a scratch-resistant synthetic material). Its purpose is to protect the watch face.
|A watch that shows the day and the date, either through apertures in the dial, or by hands on sub dials.
|Day/night indicator
|A coloured or shaded band on a world time that shows which time zones are in daylight and which are in night-time.
|Deployment buckle
|This refers to two curved strips of hinged metal on a watch with a strap that fastens the strap tightly to the wrist. It tends to be a feature of quality watches. This clasp effectively makes the strap into a Leather bracelet.
|Deployment clasp
|This is similar to a deployment buckle but refers to a fastening on a metal watch bracelet.
|This is the dial of the watch, showing the time with the numbers or minutes marked on, that the hands show the time against.
|Digital display
|A watch that shows the time in numbers, or digits, rather than hands and a dial. Liquid crystal display (LCD)is commonly used.
|Dual time/GMT
|A watch that shows local time and the time in at least one other time zone, often home time if travelling abroad.
|Duo display
|A display that shows the time both by hour and minute hands (an analogue display) and by numbers (a digital display). This is also known as anadigi display.
|Elapsed time rotating bezel
|A graduated rotating bezel that is used to keep track of periods of time. The bezel can be rotated so the wearer can align the zero of the bezel with the watch's minutes or seconds hand. The elapsed time can then be read off the bezel, rather than the wearer having to perform a subtraction necessary if he used the watch's regular dial.
|Electronic Watch Movements
|As with the mechanical watches, electronic movement comes in a variety of forms. Quartz and electronic watches: They are driven by an electrical charge (from the battery) which makes a small piece of quartz vibrate at a set frequency to regulate the time. Most modern electronic movements use something called a piezolectronic effect on a tiny quartz crystal to make it vibrate, which in turn drives the mechanism and allows the watch to keep extremely consistent time, typically only gaining or losing 10 seconds per month. The principle is significantly less complicated and therefore cheaper to manufacture than mechanical or automatic movements.
|Engine turning
|This is a centuries-old craft that, today, involves the use of antique machines to engrave delicate patterns on metal watch components, including cases, dials, bezels and movements. It is also known as guilloche when covered with enamel.
|This is the end-of-life indication in quartz battery powered watches. The seconds hand will move in 5 second steps.
|The device in a mechanical movement that controls the rotation of the gear train and impulses the balance wheel at regular intervals.
|Flyback hand
|A seconds hand on some chronograph watches that can be used to measure time lapsed or determine the finishing times for several race competitors. It is a function also known as Rattrapante.
|Gear train
|The system of gears which transmits power from the mainspring of the watch to the escapement.
|Gold plating
|A layer of gold that is plated onto a base metal case or bracelet, using electroplating, to enhance its looks. The thickness of the plating is measured in microns (1000th of a mm).
|Grand complication
|A watch with a grand complication has at least three functions, or complications, in addition to timekeeping. Often chronograph, minute repeater and day & night together.
|The science of time measurement, encompassing the art of designing and constructing watches.
|An hour indicator on an analogue watch dial or bezel, used instead of numeral.
|Integral bracelet
|A bracelet that is shaped and attached to the case of a watch in such a way that it appears to be part of the watch, with the lines of the case smoothly continuing into the bracelet.
|Synthetic ruby gemstones that act as bearings for the gear trains, reducing friction and wear.
|Lap timer
|A function in a chronograph watch that allows the wearer to time segments of a race. At the end of a lap, the timer is stopped and then returns to zero to begin timing the next segment.
|Liquid crystal display
|Liquid crystal display (LCD) watches show a numeric display continuously by means of the liquid held in a thin layer between two transparent plates. The numbers are made up from seven segments that form the number 8 when all are activated. They are activated by an electronic impulse.
|The arms of the watch case that hold the strap or bracelet.
|Main plate
|The base plate upon which all other parts of a watch movement are mounted.
|The coiled spring which provides the power to drive a mechanical watch movement.
|Manual Wind
|There is something classic and enjoyable about interacting with a well made watch and a more traditional watch wearer might enjoy the contact that comes with winding up their watch. However, you do have to remember to wind your watch up every day and even when doing so they can gain or lose up to 10 seconds per day. Hand-wound watches store energy in reserve so you can take it off but typically not for more than a day or two
|Marine chronometer
|A highly accurate mechanical or electronic timekeeper that is enclosed in a box and is used for determining the longitude on board a ship. Marine chronometers with mechanical movements are mounted on gimbals so they are always in the horizontal position that is essential for their precision.
|Measurement conversion
|A feature that allows the wearer to convert one type of measurement into another. It usually consists of a graduated scale on the bezel or dial.
|Mechanical movement
|This is the traditional watch movement. A mechanical watch is driven by a slow release of power from a mainspring via a set of small toothed wheels. The spring is wound up manually.
|This is a thousandth of a millimeter and is a measurement used for the thickness of gold plating.
|Minute repeater
|A function on a watch that sound the time in hours, quarters or minutes.
|An indicator or hand on a watch which indicates the phases of the moon through 29 ½ days. Some moonphase watches incorporate a correction for the extra 44 minutes per month.
|Mother of pearl
|The iridescent interior of a freshwater mollusc, that is often used to decorate watch dials. Its colours include milky white, blue and pink. Each piece is completely unique.
|Multi functional
|A watch that can perform different functions, such as a stopwatch or a countdown time, whilst still giving the correct time.
|Perpetual calendar
|A watch that automatically takes into account variations in the length of the month and leap years, and alters the calendar accordingly.
|Platinum is one of the rarest and most durable of precious metals. It doesn't tarnish and has a radiant, beautiful white lustre. It is a popular choice for prestigious watches set with gemstones.
|Power reserve indicator
|A feature of some mechanical watches which indicates how much longer the watch will operate before it needs to be wound again. It is also known as the Reserve de Marche.
|A scale on a chronograph which is used for measuring pulse rate.
|A button that is pressed to work a watch function such as a chronograph and an alarm. It can also be a corrector for a day/date/month indicator.
|Quartz crystal
|The slice of synthetic quartz crystal within a quartz movement watch. When an electric current is passed through the quartz it oscillates. It oscillates at the rate of 32.768 hertz, the circuit measures this and uses the vibrations to regulate the time.
|Quartz movement
|This is an electronic watch movement with a quartz crystal that oscillates when a current is applied to it. The power to run the watch is normally provided by a battery or a capacitor. A quartz movement is generally more accurate than a mechanical movement.
|A seconds hand on some chronographs that can be used to measure time lapsed or determine the finishing times for several race competitors. Also known as a flyback hand.
|A regulator watch/clock shows hours and minutes and seconds on separate dials, or sub dials, each with individual hands.
|Rotating bezel
|A bezel around the watch that can be rotated. It has various timekeeping functions.
|This is the oscillating part of an automatic watch that winds the mainspring.
|Sapphire crystal
|A crystal, the cover that protects the watch face, made of synthetic sapphire - a transparent, scratch resistant substance.
|Screw down crown
|A crown which screws down into a threaded tube to aid a watch's water resistancy.
|Second time zone indicator
|An additional dial that can be set to the time in another time zone. This allows the wearer to know the time in two zones simultaneously. Usually referred to as a GMT function.
|Shock absorber
|A resilient bearing which takes up the shocks received by the watch's balance staff and protects its pivots from damage when knocked or dropped.
|Shock resistance
|A watch's ability to withstand an impact equal to that of being dropped onto wood floor from a height of three feet.
|Skeleton case
|A watch case with a transparent front or back, allowing visibility of the watch's movement.
|Slide rule
|A device consisting of a scale on the outer edge of a watch case which enables mathematical calculations.
|Solar powered batteries
|Batteries in a quartz watch that are recharged via solar panels on the watch dial.
|Split seconds hand
|This refers to two hands - a flyback (rattrapante) hand and a regular chronograph hand. Both hands move together but, to time laps or finishing times, the wearer can stop the flyback hand while the chronograph hand continues. This, in effect, splits the hand in two.
|Stainless steel
|A durable metal alloy that is almost rust resistant and rarely corrodes or discolours and, therefore, is highly suitable for watch case and bracelets. It is sometimes used on the case backs of watches made of other metals.
|A watch with a seconds hand that measures intervals of time. When a stopwatch is incorporated into a watch, both the stopwatch and the standard watch are called a chronograph.
|Stepping motor
|The part of a quartz analogue movement that moves the gear train and in turn moves the watch's hands.
|Sterling silver
|Sterling silver is a highly reflective precious metal, which is 92.5% pure and is often used in ladies watches.
|Also known as subsidiary dial. A small dial on a watch face used for purposes such as indicating the date or keeping track of elapsed time.
|Swiss A.O.S.C.
|A certificate of origin – a mark that identifies that a watch has been assembled in Switzerland and has components of Swiss origin.
|A watch can only be said to be Swiss-made if its movement was assembled, started, adjusted and controlled by the manufacturer in Switzerland.
|A set of markings on the bezel or chapter ring of a watch which measures the wearer's speed over a known distance. This is used in conjunction with the chronograph seconds hand.
|Thirty minute counter
|A subsidiary dial on a chronograph that can time periods of up to 30 minutes.
|A device for registering intervals of time with out any indication of the time of day.
|A metal with a silvery appearance that is stronger and lighter than steel. Titanium is used increasingly in watchmaking, especially for sports and divers watches as it is resistant to salt water corrosion.
|A tonneau watch is shaped like a barrel with two convex sides.
|A mechanism that keeps track of and displays elasped time, often on a subsidiary dial.
|A tourbillon is found in mechanical watches and is a device that eliminates timekeeping errors caused by the small differences in the rates a watch runs in the vertical positions. It consists of a round cage, holding the balance and escapement. It rotates continuously at the rate of one rotation per minute.
|Uni-directional rotating bezel
|A bezel that can be rotated in one direction only and is used to monitor elapsed time. A ratchet mechanism is often in place to prevent it rotating in the other direction. It is found on diver�s watches to prevent the diver from running out of air by overestimating remaining air supply if the bezel is accidentally knocked off its position. The fact the bezel moves in one direction only means the diver can only underestimate remaining air supply.
|This refers to the movement of a watch balance rotating back and forth. The balance of a mechanical watch usually vibrates at a rate of five or six times a second.
|Water resistance
|The ability of a watch to withstand water ingress to various pressures, as specified by the manufacturer.
|This is the action of tightening the mainspring of a watch. It can be done manually, by means of the crown, or automatically, via a rotor which is made to swing by the movement of the wearer's wrist.
|Winding stem
|The winding stem connects the rotation of the watch crown to the movement of the watch, allowing the time and date to be set and, if mechanical/automatic, the watch to be manually wound.
|World time dial
|A dial that tells the time of up to 24 time zones around the world. The names of the cities are printed on the dial. The hour in a particular zone can be read by looking at the scale next to the city that the hour hand is pointing to. The minutes are read in the normal way. The dial is usually found on the outer edge of the watch face. Watches with this function are called world timers.
|Yacht timer
|A countdown time which shows or sounds warning signals during the countdown to a boat race.


text:
Romans 12:1-8
Matthew 16:13-20
I remember a time in my early twenties when I was really confused about God. Not like I am today, in a good way, I think – which I will talk about in a few minutes, but in a way that at the time made God very different than something deeply inside of me could completely recognize.
I started a practice then that continues today – I would have these long conversations with God, often sitting on a beach late at night, wondering why God would not appear, walk on water towards me, or do something to answer the "other" questions that were so perplexing in my life.
Just for an instant, I wanted God to show Godself – send one of those angels or another messenger. I wanted proof, even though I wouldn't have admitted it. And, I'm a little embarrassed to say this, but more then and once in a while even now – I want something more than faith. You know, a simple appearance would do just fine.
After a while it all became too much to hold together. Yes, being gay had a lot to do with it. But I have talked with many who had debates with God and church, at the time used synonymously.
As I saw more and more what these restrictive teachings were doing to me and others, I wanted to shake everyone out of their mass acceptance of a God that punishes and separates. And, if you were not a male Caucasian in most religions of the time, you were separated from. Your role was often seen as one of sacrifice, accepting the burdens of your gender and race or condition, and conform – or leave.
It's not that I wasn't willing to accept my share of burden or sacrifice – it was just that I found that no degree of such servanthood seemed to make my life better. Shouldn't it be better if I was sacrificing, conforming, accepting my burden?!
Well, it wasn't and, in fact, attempts at imposed conformity nearly destroyed me, as it had many others to one degree or another, sometimes to the most extreme of degrees.
You know, I really wanted to believe – believe it all, from Moses to miracles. But I just couldn't. And when I sought out answers from friendly and approachable leaders in the church, they would say with a wink and a nod – "just live according to your conscience and you'll be fine."
To tell you the truth, that messed me up even more. If you're telling me God accepted and loved me as I was, then let's tell everyone. That's the Good News! Aren't we supposed to be spreading the Good News?! Where's the fairness, love, or justice in just a few of us knowing, when others are suffering from a lack of knowing?
Truthfully, It just kept getting worse and made less and less sense to me. Confusion led to near-despair, and ultimately – simply as an act of survival at some primal spiritual level – I left the church.
No indictment or indignation, I just needed to breathe. If God didn't understand that, then it didn't make any difference anyway.
I refer to the years that followed as my "desert time," a place I sometimes revisit. I wasn't there for forty years, but over nearly a decade I found solace and God in that place that somehow became a living setting of all that had been written and the one sanctuary of all creation. It was a wanderer's place, with encounters of others on the same path along the way – but in many ways a personal and solitary place. I have to admit, there are times when nothing helps like sand between the toes.
Later, I discover that my so-called "maladjustment" to conditions was a good thing.
If we tilt Paul a little on the side for a different view, it may just be that he was talking about some of these same things. From this morning's readings:
I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God – what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Is Paul saying, perhaps, that the living sacrifice requires sometimes that we give up what is comfortable, assured, even promised for certain behaviors?
And the conformity that he cautions embracing are echoed in the words of The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. when he, too, cautions about the immense pressures for cultural conformity (including the church in one's culture) a, "condition[ing] our minds and feet to move to the rhythmic drumbeat of the status quo."
I have to tell you that the status quo drives me crazy. The last thing I want to become is "status quo," and yet we can't function without some things falling into this category of expectation and dependability. Again, I rely on Dr. King for the insight for which my words fall short:
"There are some things in our world to which men [sic] of goodwill must be maladjusted. I confess that I never intend to become adjusted to the evils of segregation and the crippling effects of discrimination, to the moral degeneracy of religious bigotry and the corroding effects of narrow sectarianism, to economic conditions that deprive men [sic] of work and food, and to the insanities of militarism and the self-defeating effects of physical violence." - Dr. King's Sermon Transformed Nonconformist January 1966
Or as Dan Cleneden says, "Christian non-conformity, in other words, has a specific direction."
I think Paul would have understood this, even used the language. Paul is an exhorter, calling people to a new way of living – yes, to a new justice, to a renewed sense of the God of Israel, the God of the Shema Yisrael that would never have accepted anything less than hospitality for the stranger, a fundamental tenet of justice that is the root of love – or the other way around, if you prefer.
It should be noted that such reform ideas are incredibly powerful, and, as such – are met with strong resistance by those who prefer the status quo that favors one group (their group) over another.
Looking at my own life, if I were to draw a picture of it as a sphere, it would be constrained by my own human conditions, my shortcomings, and lack of patience, tolerance, love, and understanding – all those things that are held in place by the deep gravity of fear. And around that sphere there is another ring, like a ring of Saturn. The ring represents the growth away from self toward the other, forged by the struggles and the mistakes I have made and the kindness of others, and the grace of God. It is that edge, just a few millimeters from the surface of the sphere that has made and continues to make a difference in my life that gives it meaning. Much of that distance, for me, has been transversed in the desert.
And still, there are no "final answers" to the Big Question. Who is God?
I use the language of my tradition to talk about God, but every word is inherently limited, every word but a pointer to what cannot be described. The closest I get is "a presence that I know that guides me," the same presence that I have heard about, witnessed in others, and read about throughout the Bible and other works.
It's much easier for me to answer, "Where is God?" Everywhere.
So, let's enter for a moment into the "God is Everywhere" place and consider Matthew's writings that Sue read for us this morning. First, let's remember that Matthew's writing is tending toward the high Christology of John, that is, his purpose is to secure Jesus as the Messiah in the eschatological sense of Judaism, not just as an anointed one, such as a prophet.
A look at Gospel Parallels shows just how Matthew has enhanced this passage from what was most likely a Markan original (written around 65-70CE), relying as well on the Lost Gospel of Q.
This reading in Matthew falls between the encounter with the Syro-Phoenician woman, the feeding of the masses, and what follows in 16:21-28, the foreshadowing of the Passion of Jesus, in which Jesus rebukes Peter:
From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, 'God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you.' But he turned and said to Peter, 'Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling-block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.'
So, what is going on at Caesarea Philippi when Jesus asks the question, "Who do people say the Son of Man [this child of God] is?
In the last few weeks, we spoke about Jesus growing into his ministry, learning more about his call. Any leader, spiritual or otherwise, listens to those around them for feedback, insight, criticism.
"What do people say, Peter?" "What do you say?"
Matthew adds several lines here not in the other gospels, but setting those aside for a minute or two, one wonders if Jesus thought to himself upon hearing the answers, "What is going on here? Could this be true? Is this what all these things have meant, what this journey is about? Is this that longing inside that refuses to go away, the absolute certainty I have about how things need to be changed and what is wrong and how everything has become so confusing and wrong from what God could ever have meant it to be? How has this tradition of Moses and Abraham been so turned on its head? Have I been called to do this, to set my face to Jerusalem based on this knowing that it is what I am supposed to do? Are these people calling me the messiah speaking to me from God, the Father, the Mother? What is going on?
Oh, my God.
And when Jesus tells Peter not to say a word, maybe Jesus is just looking for some time to get to the desert or the mountaintop, to give this more thought and prayer. "Quiet, Peter. Keep this to yourself. I need some time to understand what this means and what God is calling me to do."
God, who are you?
And then, in the next passages, when Jesus know that there is danger and violence ahead that he needs to walk into, he rebukes Peter's contradiction by telling him in the terms of the day to "Be quiet and don't try to tempt me away from what I must do."
Jesus came to know, I believe, what he was called to do. More and more he is renewed in ways that raise him as a Messiah and for many as the Messiah.
Today, for me, this is the Jesus that sustains me – maybe you, too. It is the Jesus who came to know God perhaps as no other ever had, and in ways beyond my understanding, Jesus has become one with God and the Spirit. It is this "presence of God and Jesus and the Spirit" that is now everywhere for me, and I can't explain it any more, perhaps, than the Muslim, the Jew, the Native American, or believers in any tradition find their way to the God -- who I believe is One, beyond all the questions.
In the end, I know God in the feeble way I have tried to describe God. Considering that the struggle for God has been with us since creation I think I am not alone. And in the struggle and this place I have come to know God as a presence, yes – beyond all understanding and right here at my fingertips.
And, in the end, the peace and mystery come together out of a place of silence, which is also a place of grace. Perhaps no poet expresses this better than Rainer Maria Rilka:
From The Sonnets of Orpheus
First Part 1
A tree ascended there. Oh pure transcendence!
Oh Orpheus sings! Oh tall tree in the ear!
And all things hushed. Yet even in that silence
a new beginning, beckoning, change appeared
Creatures of stillness crowded from the bright
unbound forest, out of their lairs and nests;
and it was not from any dullness, not from fear,
that they were so quiet in themselves,
but from just listening. Bellow, roar, shriek
seemed small inside their hearts.
And where there had been at most a makeshift hut to receive the music,
a shelter nailed up out of their darkest longing,
with an entryway that shuddered in the wind—
you built a temple deep inside their hearing.
May that temple of grace and silence deep inside your hearing guide you well for the work you are called to do and the gifts you have been given to share. Amen.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
As if he hasn't given back to North East Ohio enough, LeBron James is shining some major light on a few Cleveland businesses.
Partnering with CNBC, LeBron and SpringHill Entertainment give four Detroit-Shoreway entrepreneurs and businesses the opportunity to prove why their company or idea's should be invested in. About six other neighborhoods were in consideration for "Cleveland Hustles", but the Detroit-Shoreway area had been recently chosen. The show was green-lit by CNBC and some of the executives from the hit show Top Chef and is co-produced by King James as well. When asked to comment on the show, CNBC executive Jim Ackerman stated that "Cleveland Hustles speaks to the network's entrepreneurial spirit and also creates an opportunity to help strengthen communities that have fallen on hard times."
While LeBron is a co-producer and will appear on the show, he is in fact not one of the investors. Nonetheless, "Cleveland Hustles" premiers August 24th on CNBC so set your calendars! Check out CNBC.com for more info.


text:
Victoria Ayling, UKIP Heritage and Tourism spokesman, accused the Government of being irresponsible and short sighted over cuts in funding to our English National Parks.
She said, "Our National Parks are being starved of cash by the Government yet bring in an estimated £4bn attracting 90 million visitors per year.
"We are making a very good profit from them which will be put at risk because the funding has been cut by a quarter from 2011 to 2016 which is 40% in real terms once inflation has been taken into account. The Parks make their own money too and get grants from time to time from other sources, but rely heavily on direct Government funding.
"It is irresponsible and short sighted of the Government to starve our National Parks of cash, and will have a knock on effect on the ability to protect and maintain them with the resulting staff cuts . The National Parks cover areas which have been given unique protection due to their beauty. For centuries people have enjoyed these areas and they are an intrinsic part of our National Heritage. To ensure generations to come can still appreciate and enjoy our wonderful landscapes and areas of outstanding natural beauty our National Parks must be given adequate funding.There is also likely to be a reduction in Tourism, as the cuts have meant some National Parks are having to close some visitor centres and tourist facilities.
"It is important that we can attract tourists all year round and not just during the warmer months. Whilst National Parks get more visitors during warmer weather, there are still plenty who visit off season including many from abroad, which help sustain the surrounding shops, pubs, hotels and restaurants.
"In response to these concerns in 2015, the Government via Defra, pledged to increase the direct grant for most National Parks by 1.72% per year until 2020. This will work out at at £350m per annum, a fraction of the £4bn brought in by the Parks in Tourism.
"This is totally inadequate in view of the dramatic cuts before and quite frankly has not been properly thought out. To put at risk such an important part of our heritage and a large part of our tourist industry is irresponsible and short sighted."


text:
- 9 updates
2012 the second wettest year
2012 was the second wettest year in the UK since records began in 1910, according to provisional statistics from the Met Office. It is just a few millimetres short of the record set in 2000.
Live updates
Pictures show critically high water level in Kent lake
The water level in Bewl Water near Lamberhurst in Kent is at 93% of its capacity following heavy rain over the festive period.
These photographs, taken roughly a year apart, show the same sign.
- ITV Report
Not even the rain could dampen British spirits in 2012
Friends of the Earth: Intense rainfall likely to become common
The head of policy at environmental group Friends of the Earth, Mike Childs, has said that experts expect to see extreme weather events such as intense rainfall become more common as a result of global warming:
Levels of rainfall across the UK
This map shows levels of rainfall across the UK in 2012 in relation to the average in the 30 years up to 2010.
Everything above 100% (coloured pale to dark blue) is above the average and everything below that figure (coloured pale to dark brown) denotes less-than-average rainfall.
UK experiencing more 'extreme' rainfall
The Met Office has disclosed preliminary evidence suggesting the UK could be experiencing more intense downpours than in the past. Professor Julia Slingo, chief scientist at the Met Office, said:
- ITV Report
2012 was the second wettest on record for the UK
It's raining, it's pouring - but why?
April and June were the wettest months on record
- ITV Report
2012: The year that drenched Britain
Latest ITV News reports
Not even the rain could dampen British spirits in 2012
Even the wet weather - and there was plenty of it - failed to dampen our spirits in a great year for Britain.
2012 was the second wettest on record for the UK
It's official, 2012 was the second wettest year on record for the UK.


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Montreal Impact's Justin Mapp has won the George Gross Memorial Trophy after being selected most valuable player of the 2014 Amway Canadian Championship. Mapp won the award after leading Montreal to the 2014 national title, helping his team clinch a spot in 2014-15 CONCACAF Champions League.
Mapp, who also won the award when Montreal capture the championship in 2013, stood tall for his club in midfield, even earning him Toronto FC's head coach Ryan Nelsen praise.
The 29-year old Mapp played three of the club's four matches of the Amway Canadian Championship. The Montreal Impact eliminated FC Edmonton in the two-leg semi-final series, then eliminated Toronto FC in the two-leg championship final.
The George Gross Memorial Trophy is awarded annually to the Amway Canadian Championship's most valuable player. Previous winners are Matt Jordan in 2008, Dwayne De Rosario in 2009 and 2010, Joao Plata in 2011, and Ryan Johnson in 2012.
Mr. George Gross had a prestigious career as a sports writer in Toronto, writing for the Toronto Telegram, the Soccer and Sport News (as publisher) and Toronto Sun (as founding sports editor). He served as one of the founders of the Eastern Professional Soccer League and also general manager of Toronto City Soccer Club in the early 1960s. In recognition of his years of service to sport, he was inducted to Canada's Sports Hall of Fame in 2005 and to The Soccer Hall of Fame in 2006. He passed away on 21 March 2008 at age 85.


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Out of 80 countries, Canada ranked No. 1 in how much coffee we drink per capita in cafes. Clearly we like our java, but, if put through a blind taste-test, would you be able to tell the difference between an Americano and a Drip Coffee?
We (Yaletown BIA staff Susanna, Jillian and Joti) met with Janelle Saccucci, Marketing Director of Blenz Coffee to find out!
First things first, introductions:
Hi there! My name is Janelle and I am the Marketing Director at Blenz Coffee. It's now been 5 years since I started working with the company, straight out of university as their social media coordinator! It's been so much fun to watch and learn as my role evolved over the last few years, and ultimately, I love how creative it allows me to be.
Of course there's incredible (read: delicious) perks such as free pastries on Monday and unlimited amounts of coffee, but truly what I look forward to most is collaborating with my team and other brands, whether we're creating a new drink recipe or a fun campaign.
A little about Blenz Coffee:
For those of you who have visited a Blenz Coffee, you'll be familiar with our assortment of speciality beverages, all made in-store from only the highest quality ingredients available. We've been around for over 26 years, having first opened our doors in 1992 in Vancouver on Robson & Bute. Our Yaletown location wasn't too far behind, and actually just celebrated their 18th anniversary this January! We've since grown to over 60 locations, and we're not stopping anytime soon.
What's #SkipTheDrip?
This is our latest campaign, and it's all about getting customers to taste the difference between an Americano and Drip Coffee! We started to notice that a lot of our customers were on autopilot when they ordered their drinks, with most choosing a dark, drip coffee without ever thinking of trying anything else. We wanted to give people a chance to try a superior product, so we discounted the prices of Americanos to those of a drip coffee!
The Ultimate Coffee Taste Test:
So, back to the taste-test. With the idea that people tend to stick to one or two types of coffee drinks, we thought we'd put Yaletown BIA staff Susanna, Jillian and Joti to the test to see if A) the drinks could be properly identified, and B) the participants would surprise themselves and discover a new favourite drink. The drinks taste-tested include:
- Espresso: made with Competition Blend Espresso, it's tasting notes include toast, earthy, and slightly smoky.
- Drip Coffee: Blenz coffee actually switches up the type of beans they use for drip coffee on a regular basis. It's made by pouring hot water onto ground coffee, allowing them to brew and filter through a paper filter.
- Americano: made with Competition Blend Espresso and hot water. Smoother than drip coffee, it's full bodied with a balanced flavour comprised of toast, earthy and rich notes.
- Cappuccino: made with Competition Blend Espresso, steamed milk and dry foam. Stronger in coffee flavor than a latte, with a sweetness contrast from the milk froth.
- Cafe Latte: made with Competition Blend Espresso, steamed milk and wet foam. Easy to drink, the taste of espresso is weaker because there is more milk than in a cappuccino.
The Results:
5/5! After trying the different drinks in succession of one another, it became evident which drink was which, and their different characteristics and flavours more pronounced.
In fact, whereas before Susanna would reach for a Drip Coffee or Cafe Latte, she'd now be happy to order a Cappuccino or Americano:
Susanna – I was happily surprised about how much "more coffee" Americano tasted as well as Cappuccino. They both had a rich yet smooth flavour. I don't want my coffee too heavy but still a little bit more intense than a casual Drip.
And, whereas before Jillian would order Drip Coffee, she'd now mix it up with a Cappuccino:
Jillian – Honestly I don't drink coffee that often.. simply because I don't know too much about it. Next time I will definitely step up my game and go for a Cappuccino!
Joti remains a true Americano girl at heart:
Joti – It's just the way it is and always will be. Sometimes I add a little sugar.. but I do love my Americanos as is. They are more intense than a Drip, but not too much going on. It's simple yet tasteful!
We would like to give you the chance to enjoy your favourite coffee drink at Blenz Coffee. Enter our contest here for the chance to win a $40 gift card!
Also, don't forget to #SkipTheDrip and try an Americano for the price of Drip Coffee until March 8 at any Blenz Coffee location! Tag us at @blenzcoffee on Instagram or Twitter, and let us know what you think!


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Bikers are a pretty safe group once they have experience. It seems that the biggest problem is the way other drivers on the road behave, and being on a motorcycle puts you at a disadvantage when it comes to protection. Passenger vehicles obviously have a protective cage to safeguard occupants, while bikers are totally exposed to the elements. Even though laws regarding helmet use vary state to state, it just makes sense to wear one regardless of where you are. However, helmets aren't created equally, and choosing the wrong one could be a deadly mistake.
You Should Know the Statistics Before You Get on Motorcycle
Bikes are great. They provide the freedom to travel, are economical, and are easier on the environment than passenger vehicles. Let's be realistic, though. Bikers face serious risks, and if you start to become complacent and forget this, you're putting yourself in danger. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gathered some statistics you need to be familiar with before you get on a bike.
- Every year, 55,000 motorcyclists are hurt in accidents.
- More than 2,200 bikers die in collisions annually.
- If you're in a collision, there's more than an 80% chance you'll be hurt or killed.
- Compared to a person in a passenger vehicle, the risk of death is 16-times greater.
- You can reduce your risk of death by almost 30% if you wear a helmet.
The Design of the Helmet Matters
There are agencies like IIHS that verify the safety of all sorts of things, from vehicles to child booster seats, but there isn't one that publishes the safety data of helmets. Guidelines for helmets are created by the Department of Transportation, and they do verify helmets meet them, but they don't publish the data in any type of consumer-friendly way. Helmets that meet their guidelines are marked with a sticker, but it's important to be aware that similar decals are sold individually, and it's easy to make a helmet appear as if it meets DOT standards when it doesn't. Some manufacturers go the extra mile to get certified by American National Standards Institute (ANSI) or Snell. Because their guidelines exceed the DOT's minimum requirements, the NHTSA believes helmets that meet their approval are good choices.
A Tucson collision repair shop provides us with 5 tips for choosing a safe helmet:
- Skip novelty designs. German army and skullcap designs will not provide adequate protection in a collision. A full-face model is best.
- Avoid helmets that have embellishments. Anything that extends more than two-tenths of an inch from the helmet poses a risk. This includes visors and decorative items like spikes, which seem to be trendy right now.
- Choose a helmet that has a chinstrap and sturdy rivets. This is one of the requirements from the DOT. If a helmet does not have them, it does not meet the minimum safety requirements.
- Select a heavy helmet. Some companies will skimp on protective padding and use materials like Styrofoam. This doesn't cut it in a collision. Materials that provide optimal shock absorption are heavy, and a helmet that uses them will weigh at least one pound.
- Opt for a thick, hard helmet. The material of choice in a safe helmet is often polystyrene foam, and it should be at least one inch thick. It's also firm, so avoid helmets that feel padded or have give on the inside.
Wearing a Helmet is Essential, but Accident Prevention is Better
You may be a safe rider, but you're only as safe as the other drivers on the road. Unfortunately, people don't instinctively look for bikers, so it's up to you to compensate for their lack of concern. In addition to choosing a safe helmet, you should consider additional protective gear like gloves, over-the-ankle boots, and abrasion-resistant attire. Bright colors and reflective clothing can also help, as it catches the attention of drivers, so they become aware of your position. Experts also recommend that motorcyclists travel in groups whenever possible, simply because it increases visibility.
When you purchase your new helmet, keep these things in mind. It may be helpful to research different brands and models online before you select one. This way, you can be sure you're choosing one that's undergone safety tests and is certified. It's also worth noting that if you live in a state with strict helmet requirements, you must wear a DOT-compliant helmet to be compliant with the laws.
Jamie Hanninen is the marketing manager for Phoenix auto body


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Burt Bacharach was voted one of the sexiest men alive by America's People magazine as recently as 2000, something that is a good deal easier to understand when he's a few yards away, ruminatively tinkling a piano.
The "greatest living composer", according to the Grammy panel that gave him a lifetime achievement award this year, is 80, and he looks it; but it's an exceedingly suave 80. Long-chinned, gravel-voiced, he's the coolest person in a room where quite a few punters are 50 years his junior and palpably excited at his presence.
As a pop elder considered the don of sumptuous melody, he's an apt choice to open the third BBC Electric Proms. It specialises in big names in quirky combinations, so Bacharach is teamed with Adele, Beth Rowley and Jamie Cullum - twentysomethings singing with the king of lounge.
Bacharach strolls to his baby grand and jokes about tonight's songs having one thing in common: "They were all written by the piano player." Well, piano player and lyricist Hal David gets a namecheck later, but there's a reason Bacharach is the more celebrated of the partnership - his gift for sophisticated, heartlifting tunes endowed pop with one of its great catalogues.
He breezily announces "an extended medley", played by the BBC Concert Orchestra and with Bacharach's three regular singers. We hear 90 seconds each of Walk On By, This Guy's in Love with You, I Say a Little Prayer, Do You Know the Way to San Jose?, I'll Never Fall in Love Again - songs at the pinnacle of 1960s American pop songwriting dished up as a throwaway medley, albeit with plenty of lounge-lizardly charm. Still, 90 seconds of Walk On By beats the entire output of every X-Factor winner combined. Perhaps that thought occurs to Simon Cowell, who's in the audience.
Jazz pixie Cullum delivers a growly version of Make it Easy on Yourself; Rowley sounds like a pub singer on 24 Hours from Tulsa; and Adele has flirtatious fun with Baby, It's You.
Bacharach languidly plinks out the notes, occasionally breaking off to conduct, and only truly gets excited during a meandering new instrumental, unpromisingly titled For the Children. All that can be said in its favour is that no children actually appear, and it's swiftly forgotten during a film medley which includes Alfie, What's New, Pussycat? and The Look of Love. The greatest living composer? Bacharach has a pretty viable claim to the title.


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RDB Nominated for two Urban Music Awards
RDB are up for the Best UK Asian Act and Best Band competing against other talented and chart topping bands like The Noisettes, N Dubz and JLS. RDB have been making and producing music over a decade fusing Bhangra, Garage music and most recently working with the world's largest film industry 'Bollywood'.
RDB were the first ever British Asian artists to grace the cover of the Invincible magazine in April 2009 which is the official music magazine distributed across the world. Jordan Kensington, C.E.O personally contacted the brothers to grace the front cover to celebrate their contribution to music and breaking moulds. The award ceremony is set to be another high profile star studded affair with a brand new category for the best British Asian Act which sees, Jay Sean, M.I.A, Khiza, Talvin Singh and RDB.
Surj from RDB said "We are thrilled at the news; It's an honour that our work is getting recognised and we are pushing Asian music in the right way. It's brilliant that the UMA's have a category for British Asian Music".
Jordan Kensington C.E.O added;
"The Urban Music Awards has always been the place to find out past, present and future rising stars. Always striving to be the multi-cultural melting pot for talent, the UMA's are proud to also launch the Best Asian Music Act category to promote and increase the exposure and awareness for acts of Asian origin.
The Urban Music Awards will allow the millions of followers of music and musicians of Asian origin throughout the UK the opportunity to vote for their favourite Asian Music act to win this prestigious award. Also, the launch of this new category will also give birth to the Desi UMA rising star competition. The competition will see entries from lesser known British Asian acts from all around the UK with the winner to be selected, announced an giving an opportunity to perform live at the UMA's next month"
The UMA's take place on 1st November 2009
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Seventeen Year Old Aderyn Ryn Only Cares About Two Things Her Family, And Her Family S Graveyard And Right Now, Both Are In Dire Straits Since The Death Of Their Parents, Ryn And Her Siblings Have Been Scraping Together A Meager Existence As Gravediggers In The Remote Village Of Colbren, Which Sits At The Foot Of A Harsh And Deadly Mountain Range That Was Once Home To The Fae The Problem With Being A Gravedigger In Colbren, Though, Is That The Dead Don T Always Stay Dead.The Risen Corpses Are Known As Bone Houses, And Legend Says That They Re The Result Of A Decades Old Curse When Ellis, An Apprentice Mapmaker With A Mysterious Past, Arrives In Town, The Bone Houses Attack With New Ferocity What Is It That Draws Them Near And Importantly, How Can They Be Stopped For Good Together, Ellis And Ryn Embark On A Journey That Will Take Them Deep Into The Heart Of The Mountains, Where They Will Have To Face Both The Curse And The Long Hidden Truths About Themselves.
10 thoughts on "The Bone Houses "
September Owlcrate Unboxing Click on the link below the pic to see the GOODIES
fy nghalon cymreig mor hapus ar hyn o bryd my little welsh heart is so happy right now i can count on one hand the amount of mainstream novels that have incorporated traditional welsh influences into their stories welsh folklore and culture particularly northern welsh is rich and magical, so i am beyond happy to see a story represent it this even mentions the legend of beddgelert, which i may have lowkey freaked out about lol and i think its these influences that i hold dear to my heart which helped me fall in love with a story about zombies zombies are so not my thing but this comes from a place of myth and legend, rather than something from horror, and it makes all the difference it feels like the opposition in a fairytale and not like something you would find in a nightmare i really appreciate how emily lloyd jones took that approach and told that aspect of the story from that kind of perspective.at the end of the day, i know this might not be everyones favourite book the characters could be considered a little one dimensional and there are some moments that might be forgettable but seeing a culture i love be represented is a truly wonderful feeling, so this gets all the stars from me 4.5 stars
I never thought a book about zombies could be so elegantly told But I should have expected to be swayed by Emily Lloyd Jones, the same author who wrote The Hearts We Sold which, despite the less than pretty topic, sold me with its beautiful neat writing It s not easy to turn a fantasy story, with zombies of all things, into a fairytale complete with a moral message and universal themes of family, love and acceptance Yet this author succeeded She most certainly improved upon her previous release and I would even go as far as to say she went above and beyond what I expected.This is about two young people who set on a journey into a dangerous forest Ryn is trying to stop a deadly curse from destroying her family and Ellis is a mapmaker with huge ambition who decides to map a place no one dares explore the forest Together they face obstacles and become stronger on the inside and the outside My only issue with this book, and this author it seems, is that while her characters are not one dimensional per se, they never do turn into real beings that could jump off the page It very much feels like we are reading someone s story as opposed to someone telling us their story But this book remains a lovely and surprising experience Normally I do not read about horror ish elements but the un dead and the violence did not shock me one bit, possibly because the writing enchanted me too much Or maybe I m changing Regardless, I can t wait to see what Emily comes up with next and I am pleased to recommend this book to you.Blog Youtube Twitter Instagram Google Bloglovin
Instagram Twitter Facebook Pinterest THE BONE HOUSES is amazing, but I don t really think I agree with the comparisons to Buffy the Vampire Slayer and SKY IN THE DEEP if anything, it s like a cross between SABRIEL and THE BLACK CAULDRON THE BONE HOUSES is a fantasy set in a place that seems to be based off Wales Aderyn is a grave digger who lives with her sister, Cerridwen, and her brother, Gareth Their mother is dead, and their father and uncle have both disappeared mysteriously, leaving them all effectively orphaned.Aderyn goes into the forest to forage, but is mindful of her father s warnings that dangerous things rove in the trees after nightfall, including the bone houses or, the animated dead They only stay in the forest and they only come after dark, but lately, Aderyn has been noticing that they have been venturing closer and closer to the edges until one day, they re out.In the meantime, their village has been graced with the presence of an unusual boy a map maker with chronic pain, who won t tell them his surname or why he s come to their village Aderyn meets him when she saves his life and they end up forging an unusual alliance Both of them need to go into the forest to find a legendary castle in the lands of the faerie, and a cauldron rud to give life.So, this was fifteen different kinds of amazing The writing was lush and gorgeous, and it set the scenery of the village and the forest perfectly I was very impressed by how richly imagined this world was, considering that it was relatively simple It does for Welsh folklore what Naomi Novik did with Eastern European folklore in SPINNING SILVER and UPROOTED The faerie legends and the nod to The Black Cauldron made me so happy, and the Medieval village setting was so well done.Other things I liked about this book were the chronic pain rep understated, but rare in fantasy , especially since Ellis was never painted as weak or as a victim Aderyn is a strong female character who doesn t need to be brash or throw her weight around just her axe, heh heh to be respected I loved her close relationship with her siblings and the family goat, and her slow burn attraction to Ellis The way she fought back against the injustice of the village lord who wanted to ruin her family in his greed, and the hero s journey she goes upon to find the reason the dead are rising, were both really empowering for the character and instilled her with agency She was never passive or bland.Anyone who likes strong female fantasy characters and Welsh settings should pick up THE BONE HOUSES when it comes out, especially if, as I mentioned before, you enjoy Naomi Novik s work, or enjoyed SABRIEL and UPROOTED It has that same fun, folkloric fantasy vibe, with a gloomy, Gothic edge to keep things interesting Apparently it s a standalone too, so no need to commit Thanks to the publisher for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review 4.5 stars
This was a wonderfully atmospheric read, with lovable characters, but I couldn t shake the feeling that I was reading a MG fantasy instead of a YA one Either way, there s a lot of heart and hope here, and this was a lighter read that I would think the younger end of the YA spectrum would enjoy Full review to come Buddy read with the lovely Meltotheany Thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy.
Eeeek I m so excited to share this book with everyone There are folktales and magic and undead corpses shambling around There is a teenage gravedigger with a slightly dysfunctional family There is a mapmaker who can never find his way And my favorite character is a goat.EDIT For information about the book s release and some preorder fun, check out my website
Would definitely classify this as dark fantasy, what with the rotting corpses and reanimated dead and all, yet it s strangely funny at the most unexpected times Reads like a YA version of The Black Cauldron and features a cast of fully realized characters, including a fierce, axe wielding female protagonist, a gallant map maker, and a loveable goat A gruesome delight
3.5 stars The living had a tendency to make promises they could not keep The Bone Houses was one of my most anticipated Fall 2019 books While I didn t love it, I did enjoy it and it was the perfect book to kick off October with.The Bone Houses is a fantasy novel about Ryn, a gravedigger in a small town When a bunch of bone houses aka the dead begin to rise and attack her village every night, she sets out on a quest with a map maker to save the town I grew up thinking monsters could be slain And I grew up thinking people were the monsters There was a lot of amazing world building and imagery in this book, that s my favorite part about it Many parts of the book were written in such a way that I could see the landscape so clearly in my head I liked that we had a strong female heroine and a sweet and respectful hero The pacing was what made this a 3 star and not a 5 I had no problem putting the book down and sometimes struggled to get back into it Otherwise, a very unique and solid story The dead are dead But they don t have to be Follow me on Facebook Blog Instagram Twitter
It might seem obvious, or maybe not, but the overwhelming theme of THE BONE HOUSES, a story of a curse, magic, and reanimated dead, is grief Of letting go of the past, whether that be from a loss or from a hurt or from an unknown beginning, and moving forward Living She knew how things died And in her darkest moments, she feared she did not know how to live.My interpretation of the setting of this story is Wales, or a Wales like place, because the mythology and folklore reference beings similar to the fae, to the Tuath D Dannan, and also the character names feel Welsh Once there were magical beings in the world, and magic, but a battle saw it ended and, as time passed, the legends have become stories or morality tales But in Ryn s village, the magic isn t all gone the dead, or bone houses, still walk the forest Though with few people brave enough to venture into the dark, few believe that even that much magic still lingers It isn t until years later, her father lost, her mother dead, and at seventeen, working as a gravedigger, doing all she can to keep her siblings fed and with a roof over their heads, that something has changed The bone houses are leaving the forest This was the problem with being a gravedigger in Colbren Nothing stayed buried forever.When the village is attacked, Ryn teams up with a recent arrival, a mapmaker, to journey to the mountains where the legend of the cauldron of rebirth was said to be last seen If they destroy the cauldron, maybe it ll end the bone houses and break the curse I m a mapmaker. Why aren t you spending the night in the village I I meant to. You re lost I am not You re a mapmaker who cannot find a village I was using someone else s map. Lloyd Jones story is lush, magical, and eerie Beyond the mystical, it deals with grief, pain both emotion and physical and family and not just the two legged variety For all the horror and violence of the walking dead, Ryn is careful in dealing with them, respectful, even as she s forced to fight for her life against them She struggles with the concept of what she has to do, with how it makes her a terrible person, and though we don t suffer through endless agonies I thought enough time was spent or maybe it was just genuine enough to make it a good argument Even if there was really nothing else she could do She was a half wild creature that loved a graveyard, the first taste of misty night air, and the heft of a shovel.There s a romance, a slowburn of one, and though you see it coming early on, it nonetheless still wows you as it unfolds Gently, carefully, and sweetly These characters were both very aware of themselves and each other this felt real and believable Infact, the whole story did The family connections, the stillness and peace of the forest, the horror of what hides in the dark, the desperate things people will do when facing the death of a loved one. it might have been wrapped up in the fantastical but it was all very real Also I would die for the goat I grew up thinking monsters could be slain. And I grew up thinking people were the monsters This isn t my first read by this author a fact I just realized while grabbing info for this review but it s definitely the first one that will follow me into my dreams This one is going to stick with me for sure And I can t wait to see what she writes next I received an ARC from the publisher thank you in exchange for an honest review This review can also be found at A Take From Two Cities.
Book rising corpses and deep mystery and curses and mountains.Me Hmmmm ok ok keep going.Book.standalone Me FUCKING STOP WHAT SAY NO MORE adds book to TBR


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I had a vivid and intensedream involving me clutching an FN P-90 and fighting for my life, bullet after bullet. Most of my readers didn't know what a P-90 was, so i gave you this picture.
Indeed it showed the Belgium submachine gun I was so into, but more importantly, the woman holding it inspired me to begin drawing manga.
"Marked by a brief but intense punch of inspiration…" I had my cousin help me. But aside from some heads, we've never taken it very seriously. Tonight, another cousin showed me, and I drew my first manga girl ever!
And even though she is sinfully hideous compared to the angels Jenna draws, she's still my first. And for that, I'll love her.
Filed under: Aspiring artist, Uncategorized


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Zackie Boy wins an award
And the runner up? Proscovia Kampire Nzabanita.
Two years ago, in 2008, when he was in his senior year at Oakton HS, he supposedly started dating a Muslim woman and started getting into it. But much like other psychopaths and sociopaths of his ilk, he didn't do it reasonably. He went from 0-to-120 in less than two years, from being not interested in Islam at all to advocating war against non-Muslims.
Go read it all – good stuff. A warning for some of my more sensitive readers – language is dicey, but hilarious.


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The Great Race! Lovecraft Education Project Release.06.21.12 | Art, Fun Shit | Share this on Facebook →
The Great Race! Those cosmic scientists who have made their races work, to research every living being by exchanging consciousnesses...they take your mind and put it in their body and you can scurry about their great libraries learning about any planet at any time in history ever...as they put their vast intellectual and curious mind in your body and set about learning and taking notes about the scientific aspects of the natural world and its inhabitants...to be taken and recorded in the library of cosmic understanding and history...the Great Race welcomes you to stay awhile so that they may use your body to learn of your world...your friends may see a strange transformation in your behavior as you are now not whom you appear to be!!! these figures go on sale monday june 25 at noon! here is the link to the webstore so you may purchase it! the second to last figure in Jay222 and my lovecraft education project...the last one is coming out next month!


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Încarcă ruta:Doriţi să salvaţi modificările rutei actuale?Vă rugăm să adăugaţi mai întâi obiective la ruta dvs., pentru a fi în măsură să le salvaţi.Doriţi într-adevăr să ştergeţi ruta?Adăugaţi la rută unul sau mai multe puncte pentru a le vizualiza în planificatorul extern de traseu.Ruta dvs. este goalăScurtă descriere a destinaţiilor cu imagineLista destinaţiilor dvs.VaccinareaReligiaCondiţii pentru intrarea în ţarăVamaLimbaClimaViza
Insulele din apele continentale: locuri de vis pentru prietenii culturii
Cine vizitează insulele germane din apele continentale se scufundă într-un patrimoniu cultural UNESCO sau descoperă insula "regelui din basm" Ludovic al II-lea al Bavariei. Aceste locuri de vis au un singur lucru în comun: sunt frumuseţi feerice care încântă oaspeţii din toată lumea cu diversitatea modalităţilor de a-şi petrece timpul liber.
Whatever time of year you visit Mainau Island in Lake Constance, the sheer botanical diversity and abundance of brightly coloured flowers across 45 hectares are sure to make a big impression. The park, populated with trees over 150 years old, is just as striking as the tropical palm and citrus plant collections. And no visit to the island is complete without a tour around the baroque palace grounds and church, and a trip to the butterfly house with its 40 exotic species.
The Monastic Island of Reichenau is located in the western section of Lake Constance in southern Germany. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, this man-made landscape bears testament to the religious and cultural role played by a large Benedictine monastery in the Middle Ages. Guests on the island can find out more about Reichenau's historical significance by visiting its three Romanesque churches and fascinating museum. The island is also an ideal destination for water sports enthusiasts.
Frauenchiemsee Island in Lake Chiemsee is a delightful, car-free refuge, where you can immerse yourself in a world blessed by nature and the arts. Frauenwörth Abbey, founded in the 8th century, is still home to a community of Benedictine nuns and offers a delicious range of culinary specialities including home-made marzipan and Chiemsee abbey liqueur. The island's 400 year-old pottery and the lovely gardens in the charming fishing village are also well worth a visit at any time of year.
Harriersand Island is located in the Weser river between Bremen and Bremerhaven , directly opposite the beautiful harbour town of Brake. Measuring eleven kilometres from end to end and with a surface area of six square kilometres, Harriersand is one of the largest river islands in Europe, making it an exceptional choice for a family day out or holiday break. Visitors enjoying the island's natural sandy beaches, bike rides along the shoreline of the Weser or walks on the island's marked trails will discover nature at its best.
Herrenchiemsee, the largest of Lake Chiemsee's islands, was acquired in 1873 by King Ludwig II of Bavaria as the site of his New Palace . A great admirer of King Louis XIV of France, Ludwig had the palace built in the style of Versailles. You can still view the palace's state rooms with their fabulous baroque wall paintings, and the King Ludwig II Museum contains fascinating details about the Bavarian king's royal residences and other building projects.
Lindau's historical town centre is located on an island of the same name on Lake Constance and is connected to the mainland by a road bridge and a railway line. Situated in a scenic region of Germany near the border with Austria and Switzerland and with views of the Alps, Lindau is a popular destination with lovingly restored houses in the old quarter. A varied arts scene and plenty of shops, restaurants and cafés add to the bustling charm of this 68-hectare island.


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Usage and Testing
Installation is easy, just plug it in and you can start using it, but if you really want to get the most out of it then you'll want to install the included software.
The software has three main choices for Basic Settings, Button Assignment and Color Settings. There are also choices for Macro Editor, Firmware Update and then a link to the Func website. You can also choose between three profiles so you can have three mouse settings for how you game or what you need. There are also choices for backup and Restore just in case something happens to your settings.
On the Basic Settings page you can change the DPI settings for all three steps along with pointer sensitivity, double click speed, lift distance, scroll speed, angle snapping, pointer acceleration and polling rate. The X and Y axis settings can also be adjusted independently of each other if you wish.
The Button Assignment page let's you change all ten buttons and even change the scroll wheel.
To program the buttons you have many choices, for the basic defaults to much more.
You can pick from Default commands, Windows commands, Media functions, Recorded Macros, Single key and you can even disable it.
The default command list is basically just everything that the mouse can do.
Media functions are just what they sound like, you can program one of the buttons for media controls.
The last page is Color Settings and here you can change the scroll wheel and the Instant Aim buttons colors independently of each other. You can also disable the LEDs or make them be solid or pulse slowly.
Here's just some examples of the colors:
There are three tiny LEDs in the left seam of the MS-3 that light up to indicate the DPI level you're on, these light orange and stay lit.
The LEDs can also light up white to indicate the profile number you're on, but these only stay lit temporarily, just long enough for you to see which profile number you're on.
Macros are just what they sound like and you can record up to 255 actions in one macro. You just open up the macros editor and create them then assign them using the button assignment page.
Mouse Build / Feel / Comfort:
I'm not the type of person that palms a mouse, but you almost have to be to use the MS-3 Rev2 as it's large and where the buttons are set you have to have you hand over the mouse to access them easily.
As for comfort, it's not bad once you get accustomed to the large size of it and the hand placement. Sadly it's only for right handed gamers, which is fine for me as I'm right handed.
Tracking / Surfaces:
I tried the mouse on cloth, plastic, and glass mousepads and even just my desk surface and the MS-3 Rev2 tracked perfectly fine but I found it moved the best on the plastic smooth surface pad.
The MS-3 Rev2 tracks excellently going fast or very slow, I had no issues with tracking at all on any surface I tried.
All of the buttons worked fine, but I found the left and right mouse buttons to be very sensitive and took a bit to get accustomed to. Many times when I first got it for review I would just have my hand resting on the mouse and I would press the button without actually doing it.
The Instant Aim button is interesting, at first I thought it was more of a gimmick but then I found myself using it in game instead of switching the DPI lower so it's a rather handy button to have.
Button #7 or the button beneath the side buttons is not what I would call useful, at least not for me. At default it's set to mute the sound on your computer and one day I couldn't figure out why there was no sound. I accidentally hit the button is what happened of course. This is the first mouse I've come across with a button in that location, it's the only one I know of really. Maybe the button could become useful after using the mouse more, but right now I just have it disabled so I don't accidentally hit it again.
The buttons are very audible, left and right clicks I mean and some might not care for that. Personally it doesn't mater to me either way as I have a clicky mechanical keyboard which is loud as well.


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Setting Homepage
I created a BuddyPress theme using the template pack.
How do I set the home page?
Currently it shows as a blog page. Although I noticed that the template pack changes the index to what appears to be an activity stream.
How do I change from a standard blog homepage to an activity stream?
Viewing 1 replies (of 1 total)
Viewing 1 replies (of 1 total)
- The topic 'Setting Homepage' is closed to new replies.


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Skysun Pty Ltd has been for many years Social Entrepeneur enterprise. We have run several community relief projects in Cape town shown on our Circle of Compassion Website amongst them support Haven Shelters for Homeless People in shelters, Food relief for casual workers and families Empowering small NGOS/NPOS in the cape flats to get more direct funding
SHOULD YOU WSH TO DONATE towards MASKS for kids in impoverished areas VISORS fro soup kitchen personell OR FOOD COV PROJECTS just let us know the exact amount (however small ) local or foreign currency and your name HERE
foreign currency translates to a lot in south africa .( even small amounts) .espcially
we will set up the exact amount and you can pay by credit card ( well send you a link )
this transaction is quick and less fees than paypal and no red tape ininternaional transactions
21/05 TBA COMING SOON . we will put small amounts of UK POUNDS 5m or 10 and son and in all currency ..well also have SNAPSCAN too an easy cellphone method fomr anywhere i the workld..well also be selling instruments here for 100^ donations to maskls and so on for kids
thank you so much
Price R214
Price R428
Price R637
Price R799
Price R2103
Price R4000
Price R4562
Price R8183
Price R15000


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This evening I stumbled into a question thread on Quora about Linux and why it's so user unfriendly. I thought this was funny because yesterday I decided I wanted to switch my Ubuntu install to use the command key (ergonomically located under my thumb, next to the spacebar) as the primary modifier key, instead of control (awkwardly down in the corners of the keyboard where you basically have to use your pinky finger). A single Google search turned up 3 different ways to do it, 2 of which were pretty easy (edit a clearly-identified line of a clearly-identified config file probably being the easiest). Another 10 minutes of reading those pages and some of the alternate answers, and another Google search later, and I found a little application I could install directly from the App Center in Ubuntu that gives a nice GUI interface to swapping keys around. Voila!
For the past few years, I've been trying to figure out how to do the equivalent with Windows 7 and 10. The short answer is: you can't, without administrative access. With administrative access, it's a royal pain in the butt, and might require registry hacking, and I have yet to find a step-by-step guide to the exact edits to the registry I'd need to make. (Might be mostly-possible with some commercial macro software, but I don't use MSWindows at home enough to spend money on it, and can't install software at work.)
Then I wanted to disable the numlock key (or, more specifically, permanently enable it, so that no matter what I do, I get numbers on the number pad). Again, a quick Google search turned up at least 4 ways to do it, each cleverer than the last. More importantly, that same software I installed a few minutes earlier? It simply has a setting for "numlock always on".
Again, I've been looking for a way to do that with MSWindows for years. I figured out how to have it default to on, which is a huge improvement, but if I accidentally hit the button, it still goes off. There might be commercial macro software that can do the trick, and if I had one of a select set of Microsoft-manufactured keyboards, there's some configuration software that I could probably do it with, but I haven't otherwise figured out how to do it.
So, what is "user friendly"? I'd say the friendliest system works the way you would like without you having to do anything. But we have varying tastes, so that can't always be true. Next best would be learning what you want—OS X used to learn a spelling if you typed the same word a certain number of times, so you didn't have to explicitly tell it "yes, I mean it, and this is a word, so please learn it and stop trying to turn it into something else". If that's not possible—or it fails—easy configurability seems like it would be the next best thing.
(BTW, some of those methods I found for Linux would work on OS X, too. But it's a moot point because it already disables the stupid numlock key, and has built-in GUI tools for swapping around the modifier keys. I'm genuinely surprised that MS hasn't added that capability yet, given the number of people who prefer MSWindows for its configurability.)
So, is Windows 10 more user-friendly than Ubuntu? I suppose if you want to do everything the way it defaults, then, yes. But if you don't…
Defaults tend to run the world and choosing how to set things up from scratch is hard, so it's worth spending a little extra time to set the defaults in the best possible way. If people are used to something that is awkward, I really don't know whether the "best possible way" would be to continue that bad design, or to choose the better but unfamiliar design. I'm an Apple user, so I'm used to the notion of throwing out the old way for something new (even if I don't always agree with Apple on which changes are actually improvements—is there really some reason that going from iOS 8 to iOS 9 they had to reverse the direction you swipe to get to the home screen while within the app switcher?). But maybe if you're used to having the primary modifier key under your pinky finger, switching it to under your thumb isn't worth the re-learning unless tendonitis forces you.


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Mozilla Representative & Tech Speaker
Tagsboot2gecko, evangelism, marketing, mobile, mozilla africa, mozspeakers, developer documentation, techspeakers
Färdigheter.css2 css3 html php, .css3, .java, .javascript, android app developement, boot2gecko, bootstrap, communications, digital marketing, firefox, firefox addon, firefox club, firefox os app dev, firefox student ambassador, front end development, html5, jquery mobile, leadership, mobile web development, php web development, polymer web components
SpråkEngelska, Franska
Externa konton
- Facebook: akabrouyannick
- MDN: nyba90
- Mozilla Reps: akayannick98
- Mozilla Webmaker: nyba90
Verifierad av
Edoardo Viola
On behalf of the Reps Council, we want to thank you for participating in the Dark Funnel Campaign with this vouch. Your effort a valuable piece in the advancement of Mozilla's Mission. Thanks.
Tshepo Tamajobe
Aka is a very passionate mozillian who has been helping many Mozilla contributors find their way, I'm one of those people he has mentored to become successful mozillians and now I'm Regional Ambassador Lead-Africal all because of him. Thank you Brou Yannick
KOUADIO M'man Ange Manuela
AKA is a very committed volunteer in the SFA program and it's always a real pleasure to work with him. Always available and ready to help he participated as a member of the Ivory Coast team in the challenge launched by firefox bones Africa and to draft article for the Africa firefox OS blog It also organizes Hackathon between developer and provides an event for contribution on the MDN project. links: https://wiki.mozilla.org/StudentAmbassadors/RAL#Ivory_Coast https://www.facebook.com/events/


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Two eighth grade teams participated in this hands-on educational event. Students learned about 5 areas of environmental science: forestry, soils, wildlife, aquatics and environmental issues (composting).
Team members include Kenzie Erb, Valerie Mobley, Jonathan Brand, Brittany Wilson, Micah Burns, Allison Slutz , Macie Schrecengost, Jared Rosenberger, Kyler Strotz, Carrie Barnes and Shannon Wolfe. Mr. and Mrs. Morckel advised and accompanied the two teams. Students spent additional time after school studying and preparing for the event.
The teams would like to thank Martig Farms for donating the team shirts, "Birds Luv' Em". West Branch Middle School has an Environmental Club, that meets monthly giving students a chance to learn about the wildlife, plants, and recycling in this area.


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3D Print Show
30 young people aged between 8 and 15 went to the 3D Print Show 2013. It was absolutely amazing! 3D scanning means you can get a 3D printed version of you, the 3D printed car, furniture, shoes, dinosaurs, robots and the FAVOURITE 3Doodler pen! We…READ MORE
21 Nov 2013 Posted by editor in Events, Young People no comments


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Hi all,
I was so proud to strut out of the theatre rocking my long, natural locs after seeing Chris Rock's "Good Hair". No perm over here, homey!
I've seen some reviews from sistas on blogs and all over the net… all largely positive. I was enlightened by the information on how the chemicals in relaxer really work (that chicken example cured me from ever wanting the "creamy crack on my head AGAIN!!!) and the info on where weave really comes from. It made me wonder if some of the women I know (who are very picky and won't even eat the potato salad at a picnic if they don't know who made it) will be weary of wearing hair that might have had "bugs" in it.
Things I loved about it:
- Derek J – A tiny man in tall heels
- The scene where the white guy gets botox. Hilarious!
- The reactions to Chris selling black hair – I wonder if someone is going to have some angry customers at their weave shop after that??
- The fact that they didn't show the hair being washed and chemical treated in India – Um…did they wash and treat it? I mean he showed Dudley Product's whole set up…just wondering.
- Black men talking about how they can't touch their woman's hair.
- Exposing how bad relaxer really is for the skin and hair.
- Raven Simone – That is a REAL chick, right there! Someone who you could just hang out with. I love her!
- Nia Long needs her own TV show. She is so funny and real. Loved her comments.
- It's a shame how early some little girls are taught that their hair is "bad".
- Where are women getting thousands of dollars to spend on weave?!?! I never knew it cost so much for good quality "fake" natural hair.
Like many of the reviewers who've commented on the movie, I thought there was a lot of information missing regarding the source of self hatred when it comes to beauty in the black community and assimilation to euro standards (Sharpton did break it down, though. Nicely!). However, the movie is a winner without that information. Rock is a commedian, not an activist. I loved the movie and encourage others to see it.
Did you see the movie? What are your thoughts on "Good Hair"?
Update: One of my black young female co-workers and a white older female co-worker were talking about the movie a few mins ago. The younger one said "My boyfriend told me yesterday, "You're wearing those people's oppression on your head!", referring to her weave. Toooo Funny! Although, he does kinda have a point.


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Today, I happened upon a co-worker with his girl friend. They were especially dressed up and I just had to ask what was going on :) "We were just married!!"
Well, I thought a watercolor sketch of where they first walked as husband and wife was in order, so I used this image as the front of a card that was produced through iPhoto on Apple. Now, I anxiously await delivery of the card so I can give it to them :) I love surprises!!


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💜Hello everyone!
August is back to school month!
It is time to get inspired and Teachers Pay Teachers is the place to find your inspiration!
August 1st and 2nd is the site -wide sale.
Pop over to the Fun To Teach Store and stock up on products that will inspire you and ignite your teaching!
Check out some of our best selling products!
Happy summer!
Happy Teaching!


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Linus Torvalds' Take on Android
During the recent LinuxCon convention in Vancouver, Linux creator Linus Torvalds took the stage to answer some questions about Android. During the past few years, there has been a lot of debate in the open source community over whether Android is or is not Linux. Android is quite a bit different than most Linux distributions, and the Android drivers haven't been included in the Linux kernel since 2009.
While Android is currently something of a fork of Linux, Torvalds seemed confident that "eventually Android and Linux will come back to a common kernel, but probably not for four to five years." View article
Originally published on https://www.developer.com.
This article was originally published on August 20, 2011
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The world is moved by Team Refugees at the Olympics in Rio. They are greeted with a standing ovation at the opening ceremony. Ban Ki-moon, the United Nations secretary general, not a man given to extravagant displays of emotion, is all smiles.
President Obama tweets support for these 10 athletes who "prove that you can succeed no matter where you're from." Samantha Power, the United States ambassador to the United Nations, posts a video on Facebook in which she speaks of the world's 65 million displaced people — the largest number since World War II — and says they "are dreaming bigger because you're doing what you're doing."
Who could fail to be moved? These are brave people. They have fled anguish in search not of a better life, but of life itself. In general, you do not choose to become a refugee because you have a choice, but because you have no choice. Like Yusra Mardini, the 18-year-old Syrian refugee from a Damascus suburb, who left a country that now exists only in name, and reached Germany only after the small boat bringing her from Turkey to Greece started taking on water in heavy seas. She and her sister Sarah dived into the water and for more than three hours pushed until it reached the island of Lesbos.
In Rio, Mardini won her heat of the 100-meter butterfly, but did not advance due to her inferior time. Still, hers is a remarkable achievement.
Yes, the world is moved by Team Refugees. Yet, it is unmoved by refugees.
They die at sea. They die sealed in the back of a truck. They die anonymous deaths. Fences are erected, walls mooted. Posters decry them. They represent danger and threaten disruption. They are freeloaders. They are left in festering limbo on remote Pacific islands. There is talk of a threat to "European civilization" — read Christian Europe. There is talk of making the United States great again — read making the United States white again.
Rightist political parties thrive by scapegoating them. Nobody wants refugees. They could be terrorists or rapists. They sit in reception centers. The United States pledged to take in at least 10,000 Syrian refugees in the current fiscal year. In the previous four years, it had admitted about 1,900. This is a pittance. About 4.8 million Syrians have fled their country since the war began.
One Western country, Germany, has shown political courage commensurate with the challenge and thrown open its doors. Having plumbed the depths of depravity, it knows a moral imperative when it sees one.
The world loves Team Refugees — the two swimmers from Syria, the two judokas originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo, the marathoner from Ethiopia, the five runners from South Sudan. It admires Rami Anis, a Syrian swimmer now living in Belgium. His hometown is Aleppo, cravenly abandoned by the West to bombardment by Russian forces. Russia strolled into Syria when it realized, after several years of war, that the United States would not lift a finger.
Yes, let's cheer the refugee team in Rio, the first of its kind, but not with empty words, and not to assuage our Syrian consciences. They walk now under an Olympic flag. They want the flag of a homeland. Thomas Bach, the president of the International Olympic Committee, said: "We want to send a message of hope for all refugees in our world." But after the fanfare, will anyone remember?
The world is being pulled in two directions at once. The force of globalization, of nomadic humanity, of borderless cyberspace has engendered an equally strong counter-force of nationalism, nativist politics and anti-immigrant bigotry. The two trends are poised in a tense equilibrium.
I lived in Brazil for several years. It is a generous country. Perhaps no other nation has such a mestizo culture, such ingrained habits of mingling. It feels right that this outreach to Team Refugees should have happened in Rio, a city of miscegenation and openness.
The glorification of Team Refugees and the vilification of refugees coexist. How can they? It's the old principle: Not in my backyard. "We are getting better and we are getting worse at the same time," Paul Auster, the novelist, told me. "And at the same speed."
I am reminded of the words of my friend Fritz Stern, the distinguished historian who died this year. "I was born into a world on the cusp of avoidable disaster." He continued, "The fragility of freedom is the simplest and deepest lesson of my life and work."
Freedom cannot be built on exclusion and hatred. It is a universal human right. Brazil and the International Olympic Committee have given the world a glimpse of the humanity and aspirations of each refugee. Perhaps, after all, we are getting better faster than we are getting worse, and barriers will continue to fall — but not through words alone.