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Kamloops, as a community, is so blessed to have the Kamloops Hospice Association here for those in need.
My mom just passed away in the Marjorie Willoughby Snowden Hospice Home much too early, yet so peacefully. Sadly, my family is all too familiar with what an amazing place it is, after already having had my dad pass away there in 2007.
After dad's passing, the hospice became a big part of mom's life as she attended grief support meetings there, receiving both love and guidance in helping her deal with the loss of her husband. Little did she know that five and half years later she herself would be spending her last month in the care of those same wonderful people.
The doctors and nurses at Royal Inland Hospital do everything they can to support palliative patients, but the hospital can be a tough place to be.
The Hospice House, as a facility, could not be a more peaceful contrast. Quiet, private rooms for the residents to spend their last days visiting peacefully with family and friends, restive, comfortable sitting areas for those same people to support one another outside their loved ones' room, and the gorgeous view of Kamloops out every window.
But, the most wonderful part of the hospice facility is the incredibly caring staff and volunteers, which deserve so much of our gratitude. They treat and look after every person in there, whether they are a patient or a loved one of a patient, as a cared for and valued friend.
It takes a very special sort of person to be willing to allow themselves to become so connected to a patient (and to friends and family) that they know will soon be passing on.
I am writing this letter to thank those incredible people that work and volunteer at the Hospice.
I also want to ask the people of this city to remember how important their financial support is to the operation of the Kamloops Hospice Association.
As pointed out by friends visiting mom from elsewhere, Kamloops is so fortunate to have this wonderful place as part of our community.


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First, yay for the Houston Texans winning on Monday Night Football. Second, hey, they are going to have a big blood drive too. Sis #1 wrote about it on her Texan's blog at the Houston Chronicle. If you go there, you also can give them my information so I get credit for that donation.
Here is the link:
Thanks Sis # and the Texans!
And thank you to anyone that donates blood products, regardless of if I get the donation credit or not. There are thousands of patients like out there like me. Waiting every day and being so overwhelmed that people really do take time out of their days to donate my blood.
In the past, I've made people who have donated blood cry before. They say that they just do it because it's kind of a habit by now, but they forget that someone actually receives those blood products. It still amazes me. I am always thankful for when I get a transfusion.
Today has been kind of a slow day. I am so hungry, but I can't keep eating ice cream and softee icees. It just doesn't feel like food to me. The mouth sores are really pretty bad and it's no longer a taste bud thing, but more of a when I chew, no matter what it is, it feels like I"m chewing broken glass.
I still am craving an Arby's Roast Beef sammich.
ok. Just got off the phone with Zoe. We hadn't really talked in a few day, so we did some catching up. At one point, I thought she started to sound sad. I told her, "Honey, please don't be sad. You know that I"m always in your heart not matter where I am."
"I just don't want you to die, Mom."
" I said me, either kiddo. But everyone dies someday. It's just that I don't feel like it's my time yet."
"Me either too." I hope that she and my mom had a good bedtime routine tonight. Some praying, reading and singling and lots of squishes. I miss that the most. Just being and snuggling with that girl.
But today I was seriously wondering, what if after this round of chemo, my body just won't go back into remission. What if they can't kick its butt? My muscles are so much weaker this go round and the chemo is stronger and not quite as tolerable. I'm only on the first round too. I get a biopsy in a day or two. Hopefully I will be able to get some results that make me feel a little calmer.
I can do this. Just lining up some ducks in a row. Next to my sammich.
Your assignment today is to thank a blood donor, or recruit some new ones.

subset: commoncrawl


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Sacramento Business Journal Names PCG in Top 5 List of PR Agencies
Top of the List: Public relations agencies
Sacramento Business Journal
Date: Friday, June 3, 2011, 8:56am PDT – Last Modified: Friday, June 3, 2011, 9:04am PDT
Each week, we show you the top five companies from our Lists printed in our Friday paper. This week, we feature public relations agencies and advertising agencies.
This week, we list public relations agencies ranked by PR fee income.
5. Perry Communications Group Inc., $1.3 million
Read more: Top of the List: Public relations agencies | Sacramento Business Journal
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Pirates Prospects has job openings for live coverage in Morgantown and Bristol. We are looking for live game coverage of the short-season teams, with availability to cover the majority of home games. For more information, see the requirements below:
To apply for any position, send an e-mail to firstname.lastname@example.com with the following information:
-What position(s) you are applying for.
-Why would you be a good addition to the site? I get a lot of requests to write for the site, so what could you provide that would separate you from other writers?
-What is your availability for game coverage?
-What is your previous experience (include links to published content)?
For any writing position the following will be very important:
-Great work ethic and independent workers
-Strong grammar/spelling
-Good statistical knowledge, including an understanding of advanced statistics
-The ability to come up with original and interesting topics
-Leaving emotional biases out of the work
-Twitter and social networking experience
-Being a Pirates fan is not a requirement
The site is run on WordPress, so any knowledge of that is a plus.


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Animal waste is something that every farm has to deal with. How that waste is stored is where we come in. We build waste storage facilities of all shapes and sizes. Whether it's a round, straight, or sloped wall design, we visit with each and every client to find what will best serve their storage needs.
Round tanks are our specialty! Our round tanks feature a curved ramp design. This allows equipment access into the tank but does not affect the superior agitation that round structures are known for. These tanks are very versatile. With the option of being placed anywhere from completely out-of-ground to completely in-ground, they can go places that other structures can't! Not to mention, our round tanks have virtually unlimited storage capacity and are NRCS pre-approved in 48 states, they are a great option for your waste storage needs!
Browse Round Tank Project Gallery
Sometimes space or location is the determining factor on what style of waste storage structure you are going to build. Straight wall tanks can fit in-between barns or in tight areas that other tanks can't. Whether its square, rectangle, or anything in-between, we can custom build it to fit your farm!
Browse Square Tank Project Gallery
Sloped wall lagoons are a common storage style. However, not all lagoons are created equally! We have the experience, custom tools, and manpower to build sloped wall lagoons the RIGHT WAY! We truly believe that we build the best-sloped wall tanks period.
If you have a waste storage need or question, we can help! Contact us and let us serve you!
"Pipping Concrete Inc. designed and built our round concrete manure tank from start to finish. We were very pleased with the professional workmanship and the quality of their crew. They were fast and met our timeline for completion. I would highly recommend them!"


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We are getting ready for this year's golf tournament. Larry Collins, manager at TPC Colorado, was just in our office for a meeting and shared with us a spot on the Golf Channel about TPC Colorado. Check it out.
If you'd like to golf in our tournament this year on Monday, August 13, CLICK HERE. We have about 30 spots left.


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THIS POST IS RELEVANT TO EARLIER VERSIONS OF BLOGENGINE (1.4.5 and earlier)
For a while, I have been using Simple Download Counter Extension provided by Al Nyveldt. I really liked it because it was easy to install and use (just like any other BlogEngine extension), and it provided me with valuable information about download counts. However, I noticed following bugs:
Quick look at the code revealed that after the file name is retrieved from the path, no URL decoding is preformed leaving special characters in URL format (space = %20, slash=%2f, etc.) The fix is very simple (for 1 and 2) and it is applied in UpdateDisplay(string body) method of the extension. Let's look at the modified code:
private string UpdateDisplay(string body)
if (body.Contains("/file.axd?file="))
int pos = body.IndexOf("/file.axd?file=");
while (pos > 0)
pos = pos + 14;
/* Bug fixes:
- http://www.amergerzic.com/post/Simple-Download-Counter-Al-Nyveldt.aspx */
int quote_pos = body.IndexOf("\"", pos);
if (quote_pos > -1)
/* Get the file name */
string url_filename = body.Substring(pos, quote_pos - pos);
/* Get rid of special characters */
string filename = HttpUtility.UrlDecode(url_filename);
/* Find where the download link ends */
int linkTextEnds = body.IndexOf("</a>", pos);
/* Serch for link begin */
int linkTextBegins = body.IndexOf("<a ", pos);
/* If we found a link begin before the link end,
then our link end does not belong to the download */
if (linkTextBegins != -1)
if (linkTextBegins < linkTextEnds)
/* Verify that we found link end in the first place */
if (linkTextEnds > -1)
/* Look up the count */
int count = GetFileCount(filename);
/* Insert the number */
body = body.Insert(linkTextEnds, " [Downloads: " + count.ToString() + "]");
pos = body.IndexOf("file.axd?file=", pos);
return body;
Before passing the file name for lookup (GetFileCount method), we need to make sure that the file name is URL decoded, for which we use static method HttpUtility.URLDecode(...). In this way, the file name that contains any special characters is properly decoded and can be matched against XML entry.
Fixing bug 3 is somewhat trickier. The solution presented here is not perfect, but it provides decent workaround. The solution consists of multiple checks:
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Amer Gerzić is Executive Vice President at Presort Services Inc. and founder of Infinity Software Solutions LLC. For further information please check LinkedIn profile.
The opinions expressed herein are my own personal and do not represent my employer's view in any way. All software and source code (except products) is published under following license (GPL v3.0). © Copyright 2012 Amer Gerzić


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Career and Technical Education
Learn more
Students and other library patrons will have a myriad of opportunities to explore possible careers and gain background in various fields, ranging from science and technology to economics and finance. Archaeology: Excavating Our Past Are We Running Out of Energy? Banking and Finance Crime Fighting Cryptography: Cracking Codes Economics and Economic Systems Energy Sources Explorers in the 20th and 21st Centuries: From Auguste Piccard to James Cameron Is Our Climate Changing? Pioneers in Astronomy and Space Exploration Pioneers in Medicine: From the Classical World to Today Pioneers in the World of Weather and Climatology Pioneers of the Green Movement: Environmental Solutions Pioneers of the Industrial Age: Breakthroughs in Technology Spy Agencies, Intelligence Operations, and the People Behind Them Technology Technology of the Ancient World Technology of the Industrial Revolution Technology of the Medieval and Early Modern Worlds Technology of the Modern World The Science of Nutrition Who Invented the Automobile? Who Invented the Computer?
Have you tried this resource?
Help someone out by sharing your thoughts!Write a review


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Soft, mild, with a touch of extra virgin olive oil for a free-formed loaf. The inside texture of the pain rustique is moist while the crust remains rich and full of flavor.
Try La Brea Bakery's other Thin Bread Loaves here!
Non-GMO Project Commitment
La Brea Bakery continues its commitment to transitioning as many of its breads to non-GMO ingredients as possible. To date, over 90% of our breads have been converted to non-GMO and bear the Non-GMO Project Verified seal. For a full statement on our non-GMO Project commitment and a list of our currently excluded items, click here.


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Multicultural Auction Fashion Show
On June the 20th, Brownhill Learning Community and Hebron Church will be working together to host another fashion show to help raise awareness of diversity in our local community. In attendance to the fashion show will be the High Crompton Morris Dancing Troupe, the Mayor of Rochdale, the Asian community and the African community. The event will be open for all our students, parents, staff, the school Governors and the local community.
At the event there will be a chance to purchase clothes and accessories and to bid in the auction.


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Despite the cold and un-spring like weather, 14 guests came together at Thyme Again Gardens on March 20th to learn how to "separate the wheat from the chaff".
Thyme Again Gardens is an organic farm located on Smokes Point Road run by Lorraine Schmid and Lori Aselstine. Down to Earth is Lorraine's nutrition & wellness business.
Until last summer, I would zoom past this lovely gem of a farm several times a day as we live at the end of Smokes Point Road. It was our daughter Vivienne who decided that this would be the ideal place for her to work throughout the summer. While working with Lorraine, Vivienne learned much in the world of organic farming, eating local, and supporting our local farmers.
In conversation with Lorraine, who recently graduated with a diploma in Holistic Nutrition, I learned that she too had been diagnosed several years ago with Rheumatoid Arthritis, a condition our eldest daughter Kate was diagnosed with when she was 14. Lorraine explained that by eliminating wheat and gluten, and many grains and legumes from her diet she was able to stay off medication and regain her health.
Upon arrival on that Thursday evening, we were each given a hand-out of healthy, grain and wheat free recipes. A lovely pitcher of lemon water was set out for everyone to enjoy.
Lorraine explained how our bodies are not meant to be bombarded on a continuous daily basis by so many "foreigners" – i.e. anti-nutrients. The effects of consuming GMOs, processed foods, and grains can have devastating effects on our health, manifesting themselves in all types of inflammatory and autoimmune conditions.
Perhaps, a little information overload for our first evening and I am sure for Lorraine, difficult to condense four years of Holistic Nutritional Schooling into a 75 minute talk. But, it got people thinking that there are alternative ways to eat and to cook, and that we can take our health into our own hands.
This evening was the first in a series of "Kitchen Table Talks". The next one is tentatively scheduled for early June. Each event will have a different theme and Lorraine will continue to share her vast knowledge and provide us with recipes, as well as the names of new ingredients and where they can be purchased.
The evening came to a close with all guests having the opportunity to sample different foods that Lorraine had prepared. Everything was absolutely delicious, and how lovely to leave with the recipes for all that we had sampled.


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Springfield, Illinois, United States / July 25, 2011
Brian Pankey bounced a beach ball on a plastic baseball bat 3,632 times.
- must use plastic baseball bat
- may use either left or right hand
- must use only one hand in the entire attempt
Nikki Cuaton
Nice one Mr. Saver!...it's actually 3,632 again good job Brian! thumbs Up!...
Nikki Cuaton
Good job Brian!... this is such a great record you didn't just doubled the original record of Alex geez! It's 2,650 ! ... I wonder who will try to break this one...(thumbs up!)...
Brian Pankey
Don't quit the bounce records Alex. I believe in you. It just takes time
Alex Cunningham
In other news, I officially retire from doing bounces of _ on _ records.
Brian Pankey
I used only one hand only for the 28 minute duration by the way
Brian Pankey
I just did this for 28 minutes straight so I should have over 2,500 bounces easily
Brian Pankey
if it is ok with Alex recordsetter moderators should add you can only use one hand as part of criteria.
Alex Cunningham
216? Wow, I REALLY lost count!


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By Preston Corbell
Kevin Smith delivers a shocking, grotesque and downright masterful look into a mad man's dream and an innocent man's nightmare.
Tusk starts out following Wallace (Justin Long) and Teddy (Hayley Joel Osment) on their podcast, which is based in Los Angeles. They discover a shocking and disturbing video of someone losing a limb and Wallace decides to hop on a plane to Canada to meet with the person in the video. The meeting falls through and Wallace is left in Canada with no story. Eager to find a story before he heads back to L.A. Wallace stumbles across an ad that promises a story that is rich of adventure and detail.
He takes a long road trip to meet the stranger (Howard) at an isolated house. Once he arrives, they exchange casualties and begin with the interview. As Howard talks, Wallace starts to feel odd from the drink he was offered by Howard. As the storyline progress, Howard talks in detail about how he had a special relationship with a walrus, a relationship he seeks to regain. The torture begins and the manhunt ensues to find Wallace.
Justin Long is genius in Tusk; the range of emotions he brings in his performance is admirable. The latter half of the film is high intensity from both a man and animal perspective. Long delivers from multiple areas helping the film progress into an astoundingly masterful ending. The lead officer is played by Johnny Depp, who in this role, is almost recognizable.
Tusk makes you sit in an uncomfortable position, feeling squeamish and uneasy. A masterful piece by Kevin Smith (Clerks, Chasing Amy, Mallrats, to name a few). An interesting note is that Mr. Smith edited the film, something not often seen in big budget films. By editing the film a director can fully express their vision without worrying how the end product will be cut. Editing is such a huge stamp on how the film is portrayed.
The one knock I have for this film is the poison in the drink idea, which in my opinion is played out; it lands a little flat and lacks the creativity I had come to expect from this film. Outside of that, the storyline is very inviting and fresh. With Kevin Smith as both director and editor, the film runs fluid and without a hitch. The pacing progressively leads up to climax that is truly unforgettable. Without a doubt Tusk is one of the most disturbing and mind bending horror films in recent years. The storyline will haunt you and the amazing imagery will leave you sleeping with one eye open. Film rating: 5/5
Preston Corbell is an Austin, Texas based filmmaker/actor and clothing designer. Check out Preston's latest film here.


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Home is wherever mom is?
Find the perfect place to buy or rent with Nomsa Nene Properties for the mom in your life to make a home for you and your family?
Happy Mothers Day to all the amazing moms, grandmas, aunts, sisters or cousins out there, wishing you all the love, peace and happiness that you all so rightfully deserve.
Click on the image to view a larger version or right click "file save as" to download (on image)


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People collect items for a variety of reasons, the most common of which is for the memory an item evokes. Some people also collect things, such as vases, old coins, stamps, etc. because they want to complete a set or a collection, while there are those who simply collect things in the hopes of using or selling them in the future. Whatever the reason may be, it is important that these memorabilia be stored the right way. Below are some tips for storing memorabilia properly.
Use Folders
If you are collecting cards made by your children or sent to you by people, then keep them in folders. There are folders that have dividers, and the best thing about them is that you can keep the cards in separated piles. For example, one plastic folder insert is for cards made by your kids, another insert for cards sent by one family, and so on.
Folders will also work very well for drawings and paper artwork made by your children or love letters you have received. This can keep the papers flat and, at the same time, protect them from creases and wrinkles.
Use Boxes and Plastic Bins
If what you are collecting are big and bulky things, then use boxes and plastic bins. Say for example that you collect hats, then these containers can not only help keep their shape, but they can also protect them from dust and grime accumulation.
Boxes and plastic bins are also perfect for photos, awards, comic books, playing cards, CDs and DVDs, stuffed toys, among others. If you need more compartments, then you can simply purchase dividers that you can place inside the box. This way, you can organize the contents better.
Use Display Cabinets
If you have a passion for ceramic figurines, vases, colored glasses, dolls, salt and pepper shakers, shot glasses, for example, then why not display them properly inside display cabinets? You can even have lights installed inside the display cabinets to showcase your collection better as well as locks to prevent your children from getting to them. Display cabinets allow you to enjoy our collection without worrying that they will get damaged.
Too Many Things, Too Little Space
If your collection is becoming too numerous to keep inside the house or if your collection is too big that they are taking up a lot of space inside your home, then think of renting a storage unit instead. Not only can you safely store your precious collections there, but you can also rest assured that you can visit and view them anytime you want to.
When storing them at a storage facility though, you have to prepare them properly. For example, you want to store your antique dining table set or living room set there, then make sure that you cover them with drape clothes. This can help keep dust and grime away. If the storage facility is prone to flooding, then it is wise to place pallets or crates that you can set the furniture on. This can help raise the floor and prevent your antiques from getting flooded. See to it, too, that you place a thick plastic cover between the furniture as well as the crates to create some sort of a water barrier.
Featured images:
- License: Creative Commons image source
Jennifer Daehn is a writer for DIY and craft blogs. Hobbies can take up a lot of space, so she recommends renting a storage facility such as US Storage Centers where you can safely store your collection.


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Kevin Sutherland, the Florida pastor who was arrested last month for allegedly attempting to sell counterfeit work by artist Damien Hirst, has been indicted, according to an announcement today from Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance, Jr. The defendant was charged with attempted grand larceny in the second degree after bringing a piece he claimed was a spin painting by Mr. Hirst to Sotheby's. The auction house determined that the signature on the back of the work, which would have been worth thousands of dollars if authentic, did not match that of the artist. Mr. Sutherland also reportedly attempted to sell counterfeit works to an undercover detective.
In his statement, Mr. Vance said:
"Over just the last three years, my Office has prosecuted the thefts of valuable paintings, including pieces by Salvador Dalí, Claude Monet and Fernand Leger, as well as a multi-million dollar art fraud scheme. New York's art scene has long been an important part of the city's culture and economy, and my Office will continue to rigorously protect the integrity of our city's art market."


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Apple's iPad continues to dominate tablet usage, peaks in late evening
Despite a recent uptick in sales for Android-based tablets, Apple's iPad remains the most-used slate by an overwhelming margin, according to new data released Wednesday.
At peak hours — Â around 9:00 p.m. Eastern time — Â tablets running Google's Android operating system are used less than 25 percent as much as the iPad, web and advertising analytics firm Chitika said in a study. Chitika analyzed tens of millions of tablet-based ad impressions in North America to come up with the numbers.
Microsoft's Surface brought up the rear at less than five percent of the iPad's peak, though the Redmond, Wash.-based company's nascent hardware platform does appear to be living up to its business-focused billing. The Surface clocked a higher share of its own daily usage during the work day as compared to the iPad and Android-based tablets.
Additionally, the iPad appears to be preferred by those using the device during their morning commute. iPad users "exhibit higher usage rates as compared to Android tablet users by several percentage points," the study says.
Though the study does not break down individual iPad models, recent data suggested that iPad buyers may have favored the full-size iPad Air and iPad 2 models slightly over the more compact iPad mini during the holiday season. Apple sold a record 27 million of the tablets over that time.


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Case Detail
Amanda A Gallegos
Case Details
Case Type: Homicide
Height: 3' 0"
Case Status: OPEN
Weight: 22 lbs
Identifying Marks:
Incident Date: 01/20/2001
Agency: Adams County Sheriff's Office
City: Brighton
Date of Birth: 05/26/1999
County: Adams
Date of Death: 01/20/2001
Agency Case #: 01-914
Age: 1
Judicial District: 17th Judicial District
Gender: Female
Year Solved:
Race: Caucasian
NamUs Case #: Unknown
Eyes: Brown
NCMEC Case #: Unknown
Hair: Brown
About this Case:
On January 20, 2001, Ms. Gallegos was found deceased in the basement at 8481 Mc Dougal Street. Anyone with information regarding this case, is asked to please contact the Adams County Sheriff's Office.
If you have any information about this case, please contact:
Adams County Sheriff's Office
ColoradoBack to Top


text:
33,893 IVF Pregnancies
Nova IVF Fertility is India's leading chain of fertility and IVF centers and has a vision to be the best-in-class in the field of infertility treatments.
Our core ethos is patient satisfaction and safety. Our mission is to provide standardised, high-quality fertility treatments in a cost-effective and transparent manner.
Nova IVF Fertility,DNo.54-15-18E, 3rd Floor, SAI Odessey, Westside Building, Opposite Executive Club. Vijayawada - 520008. Andhra Pradesh


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YouGov has released its annual BrandIndex league table for 2011, which measures the quality, value, customer satisfaction and reputation of brands according to input from 2,000 UK consumers.
Google, Amazon and Marks & Spencer remain at the top for the second year running.
YouGov says that this year's results show the importance of perception, and how long it takes to cultivate a positive image is highlighted by the fact that the 20 most highly-rated brands in 2011 contain only one new entrant, with the top six being the same as 2010.
Dove is the only new addition to the top 20, appearing at the expense of mobile phone operator Nokia. Though it's worth noting that Nokia was still the highest placed in the mobile/PDA category. Dove's ongoing 'real beauty' campaign, which maximises social media, has clearly struck a chord with consumers.
Though British Airways (BA), Android and HTC aren't exactly unknown, this could purely be a reflection of the fact that it's easier to be memorable when pitching an exciting, innovative new product than maintaining interest in an age-old brand.
But then again, where does BA – founded in 1974 - fit into that theory?
Alongside retail brands, FMCG brands are the most common in the top 20, accounting for seven entries – three of which are confectionary brands; Cadbury, Thorntons and Maltesers.
The BrandIndex measures the qualities as mentioned above, alongside 'general impression', and likelihood of consumers to recommend the brand. The average score across these six attributes is taken to create a single composite figure called the Index score.
YouGov's associate director for BrandIndex Sarah Murphy said that it's been a tough year for leading brands.
Very few have managed to improve their perceptions in consumers' eyes. However, many outside the leaders have certainly bucked that trend, most notably British Airways, Android and HTC who achieved the highest increase in consumer ratings from 2010 to 2011."


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Jerry's Snow Cones Keep You Cool and Frosty
Cool off this summer with a frozen treat from Jerry's Snow Cones & Burger Shack in Memphis.
The popular spot has been serving shaved ice out of an old Sinclair gas station since 1970 with more than 100 tasty flavors. The owners admit they didn't invent the snow cone but did come up with the World Famous Snow Cone Supreme, which adds a swirl of soft-serve vanilla or chocolate ice cream stuffed in the center.
Jerry's also serves creamy milkshakes as well as delicious food including tamales, Nathan's hot dogs, hamburgers and barbecued bologna.
Open year round but closed Sundays, Jerry's spring and summer hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday. For more information, call (901) 767-2659 or visit their website at jerryssnowcones.com.


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Young-Tack OhMichigan Mellon Design Fellow
Young-Tack Oh is an architectural designer and a founding member of the experimental studio Archipleasure. His speculative research and practice look broadly at contemporary issues of architecture, urbanism, and policy through the exploration of tactical hacks in the built environment. Always seeking critical explorations through collaborations with other professionals in different fields, the work has received a number of international awards, including the UK's Creative Conscience Award for his project "Endangered Communities Act", the Lille Design for Change Merit Award for "Guide to Counter-Foxiness", and Expanded Environments Award for "In Praise of Dust". In parallel, he has worked professionally for Shared Studios in Washington D.C. and Mapos in New York City. Young-Tack holds a Bachelor of Arts from Washington University in St. Louis and a Master of Architecture from University of Michigan where he received the Gaylord and Roberta Watts Architectural Merit Award. He is the current Michigan Mellon Design Fellow on Egalitarianism and the Metropolis and leads the ArcPrep program in Detroit.


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Motor Breakdown?
Need to get back up and running now?
It pays to hire motors, here's why, hear it from the UK's Drive and Motor experts
Put plainly, renting allows your business to better control its cash flow, maintain manageable monthly repayments and reap the benefits of government tax breaks. Whether you are an SME, partnership, start-up company, public sector organisation or a blue-chip corporation, a short term hire or long term lease from Quantum Controls can make the acquisition of costly equipment far less of a burden on your cash-hungry business. If you are thinking about upgrading your Variable Speed Drives or motors, adding to or replacing any of your motor driven applications, check below for 6 big reasons why leasing is your best option.
Why leasing is better for your business
- In case of unexpected motor failure, the goal is to get the plant back up and running as quickly as possible to avoid losing £ thousands in lost production (UK average is £12K per hour). Renting a motor means delivery in hours anywhere in UK, reduced lost production, and also give you the time to decide what the long term solution should be, repair, replace etc.
- Smaller flexible payments are easier to control and less of a strain on your finances. Because they are broken down over a longer period it gives you the chance to pay back as you earn.
- Leasing is Tax deductible.
- VAT is charged on the smaller payments and not the large fee at the start of your payment giving you more chance to earn before you pay.
- Our 'Lease' plans give you the freedom to know the service and maintenance up keep of the equipment is our responsibility and at our cost.
- Energy savings gained with the installation of high efficiency motors and or Variable Speed Drives far outweigh the low rental cost actually delivery money back to your business on most occasions.
For a limited time only!
50% off first week hire on any motor hire for first time customer's send you enquiry to firstname.lastname@example.com offer ends soon!
Got you thinking?
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text: January 9, 2015 by @mwender Leave a CommentBack in the Fast Lane – AT&T U-Verse to ComcastBack in 2012, an AT&T U-verse rep knocked on our door with a great offer. I accepted, and for the past 2+ years we've enjoyed our U-verse TV+Internet service. However, once our trial rate ended, Read More


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Skiing Reward Trip
Year 9 students went on a skiing trip at Ackers last week for those who have achieved 100% attendance and excellent behaviour this term.
They were sent on a beginners dry ski slope lesson and did very well, considering most of them have never skied before! "Students laughed and fell over, but got back up again and again until all of them managed to ski down the slope. They encouraged each other to keep trying and showed resilience. Some students enjoyed it so much that they wish to go back and take full time lessons! We are very proud of them for trying something new and giving it their best." Mrs Rowe, Year 9 Student Support Leader.
Students had an excellent time and were a credit to the academy with Ackers staff commenting on what a lovely group of students we have. A huge shout out to you all, keep up the good work.


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The Muskegon Museum of Art's 12th annual Festival of Trees community holiday celebration runs Thursday, November 17 through Sunday, November 27. The Festival will be open daily 11:00 am to 5:00 pm, noon to 5:00 pm on Sundays, and closed on Thanksgiving.
Vintage Downtown Muskegon holiday city scenes will be the backdrop of this year's event. Professionally designed themed trees and décor will set a festive holiday mood and will be available for purchase through silent auction over the 10 days of the Festival. Raffles, music, and holiday gift shopping will add to the fun. Special events include the popular Teddy Bear Breakfast, Senior Day, Family Day, Deck Your Halls holiday design workshop, and two performances of A Christmas Carol.
Purchase admission tickets at the door:
$8 Adult | $5 MMA Member | $3 child 3-17 yrs. (under 3 free) | $14 All Festival Pass
Festival Title Sponsor is Alcoa Foundation/Howmet. Nichols is Festival Co-Sponsor.
Special Festival of Trees Events
Stop in the MMA Gift Store or call 231-720-2580 to purchase tickets.
Wednesday, November 16, 6:00 – 8:00 pm
Festival of Trees Preview Party for Volunteers and Sponsors
This special party is for Festival volunteers and sponsors only. Appetizers are included with free admission and a cash bar will be available. To volunteer, call 231.720.2574 or email mcurran. To learn how to sponsor Festival events, décor items, and trees, call 231.720.2577 or email khallman. Event is sponsored by Sherry Becker and Bob Garretson, Waddell & Reed Financial Advisors.
Friday, November 18, 7:30 pm
Matinee: Sunday, November 20, 2:00 pm
A Christmas Carol
As presented by Tom Harryman
$15 per adult, $10 MMA member, $5 for 15 years and under
Join us for Tom Harryman's masterful one-man performance of the Christmas classic. The Friday night performance will be preceded by a special cocktail hour starting at 6:30 pm.
Tuesday, November 22, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Festival Senior Day
$1 off Festival admission for ages 65 and older. Enjoy free coffee and cookies, raffles, and entertainment throughout the day. Call 231.720.2571 for group bookings. Calling ahead to reserve an arrival time for your group will help us plan welcoming assistance and easier traffic flow. Sponsored by Sonus Hearing Care Professionals.
Wednesday, November 23, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Festival Family Day
Get out of the house for holiday fun the day before Thanksgiving! Discounted family rate and kids' activities will add to the fun. Call 231.720.2571 for group bookings. Sponsored by Meijer.
Thursday, November 24
Happy Thanksgiving! Museum closed.
Saturday, November 26, 8:30-10:30 am
Teddy Bear Breakfast
Grab your teddy bears and get ready for another Teddy Bear Breakfast—great fun for ages 3-8 (and their adults). Includes full breakfast, visit with Santa, craft activity, and teddy bear checkup. Like last year, the event is longer with one more breakfast seating and fewer diners per seating. This change will provide more seating room. Tickets are limited, and always sell out. Plan to purchase early. Tickets: $12 for adults/$7 ages 1-17. Includes Festival admission. Call 231.720.2580 for tickets. Sponsored by Hines Corp.
Sunday, November 27, 2:00-4:00 pm
Deck Your Halls Design Workshop
Enjoy wine, coffee, and snacks while Le Fleur Shoppe and Wasserman's Festival designers demonstrate how you can make creative and affordable décor for gifts or for your own home, using new ideas inspired by Pinterest and other DIY sites. The many items crafted during the program will be given away to one-dollar raffle winning audience members. Tickets: $20 per person/$15 MMA member/$25 at the door. Includes Festival admission. Cash bar. Call 231.720.2580 to purchase tickets.
# # #
The Muskegon Museum of Art is located at 296 W. Webster Ave., downtown Muskegon, MI.
Call (231) 720-2570 or visit www.muskegonartmuseum.org for information. Call (231)720-2580 to purchase event tickets.
Categories: Fine Art


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Latest News
Farewell to the Rapture
Posted: 11 Sep 2018
Little did Paul know how his colorful metaphors for Jesus' second coming would be misunderstood two millennia later.
The American obsession with the second coming of Jesus- especially with distorted interpretations of it- continues unabated. Seen from my side of the Atlantic, the phenomenal success of the Left Behind books appears puzzling, even bizarre. Few in the U.K. hold the belief on which the popular series of novels is based: that there will be a literal "rapture" in which believers will be snatched up to heaven, leaving empty cars crashing on freeways and kids coming home from school only to find that their parents have been taken to be with Jesus while they have been "left behind." This pseudo-theological version of Home Alone has reportedly frightened many children into some kind of (distorted) faith.
This dramatic end-time scenario is based (wrongly, as we shall see) on Paul's First Letter to the Thessalonians, where he writes: "For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout of command, with the voice of an archangel and the trumpet of God. The dead in Christ will rise first; then we, who are left alive, will be snatched up with them on clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so we shall always be with the Lord" (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).
What on earth (or in heaven) did Paul mean?
It is Paul who should be credited with creating this scenario. Jesus himself, as I have argued in various books, never predicted such an event[2]. The gospel passages about "the Son of Man coming on the clouds" (Mark 13:26, 14:62, for example) are about Jesus' vindication, his "coming" to heaven from earth. The parables about a returning king or master (for example, Luke 19:11-27) were originally about God returning to Jerusalem, not about Jesus returning to earth. This, Jesus seemed to believe, was an event within space-time history, not one that would end it forever.
The Ascension of Jesus and the Second Coming are nevertheless vital Christian doctrines[3], and I don't deny that I believe some future event will result in the personal presence of Jesus within God's new creation. This is taught throughout the New Testament outside the Gospels. But this event won't in any way resemble the Left Behind account. Understanding what will happen requires a far more sophisticated cosmology than the one in which "heaven" is somewhere up there in our universe, rather than in a different dimension, a different space-time, altogether.
The New Testament, building on ancient biblical prophecy, envisages that the creator God will remake heaven and earth entirely, affirming the goodness of the old Creation but overcoming its mortality and corruptibility (e.g., Romans 8:18-27; Revelation 21:1; Isaiah 65:17, 66:22). When that happens, Jesus will appear within the resulting new world (e.g., Colossians 3:4; 1 John 3:2).
Paul's description of Jesus' reappearance in 1 Thessalonians 4 is a brightly colored version of what he says in two other passages, 1 Corinthians 15:51-54 and Philippians 3:20-21: At Jesus' "coming" or "appearing," those who are still alive will be "changed" or "transformed" so that their mortal bodies will become incorruptible, deathless. This is all that Paul intends to say in Thessalonians, but here he borrows imagery—from biblical and political sources—to enhance his message. Little did he know how his rich metaphors would be misunderstood two millennia later.
First, Paul echoes the story of Moses coming down the mountain with the Torah. The trumpet sounds, a loud voice is heard, and after a long wait Moses comes to see what's been going on in his absence.
Second, he echoes Daniel 7, in which "the people of the saints of the Most High" (that is, the "one like a son of man") are vindicated over their pagan enemy by being raised up to sit with God in glory. This metaphor, applied to Jesus in the Gospels, is now applied to Christians who are suffering persecution.
Third, Paul conjures up images of an emperor visiting a colony or province. The citizens go out to meet him in open country and then escort him into the city. Paul's image of the people "meeting the Lord in the air" should be read with the assumption that the people will immediately turn around and lead the Lord back to the newly remade world.
Paul's mixed metaphors of trumpets blowing and the living being snatched into heaven to meet the Lord are not to be understood as literal truth, as the Left Behind series suggests, but as a vivid and biblically allusive description of the great transformation of the present world of which he speaks elsewhere.
Paul's misunderstood metaphors present a challenge for us: How can we reuse biblical imagery, including Paul's, so as to clarify the truth, not distort it? And how can we do so, as he did, in such a way as to subvert the political imagery of the dominant and dehumanizing empires of our world? We might begin by asking, What view of the world is sustained, even legitimized, by the Left Behind ideology? How might it be confronted and subverted by genuinely biblical thinking? For a start, is not the Left Behind mentality in thrall to a dualistic view of reality that allows people to pollute God's world on the grounds that it's all going to be destroyed soon? Wouldn't this be overturned if we recaptured Paul's wholistic vision of God's whole creation?


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Stand-up comedy for children, a relatively new genre, can too easily miss the mark.
Natural rapport with young audiences, spontaneous response to their uninhibited reactions, and basically simple plot, are essentials for success.
The Tim FitzHigham and Tiernan Douieb comedy duo pass these tests with flying colours with their constantly hilarious, Goon-like spoof of polar exploration, aptly staged in an inflatable igloo.
Striking intrepid poses in pith helmet and red Victorian tunic, Adventurers Club president Tim sets off for the North Pole with reluctant co-explorer Tiern, who prefers sand and sea.
They must build a plane to get there – children with arms outstretched form wings, an electric fan is a ready propeller, and everyone contributes aircraft noises.
Arriving, Tiernan trades their only map (Arctic route via Edinburgh and Brazil) for an Eskimo's fridge to hold his ice cream.
Tim, keen to find Sir John Franklin who survived the Arctic two centuries earlier by eating his shoes, fails to recognise the bearded character offering boot casserole and jellied heel.
Fleeing a polar bear in a woolly hat and practising Cleese-like silly marches to cope with snowy weather, add to the nonsense amid many surreal ad-lib responses to the children.
The soundtrack from Indiana Jones to Benny Hill heightens the zany appeal.


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About The Teacher
With a 20-plus year practice, Alicia Cheung is extremely passionate about teaching yoga. She loves connecting with and encouraging students to find and play with their edges, knowing when to push and when to surrender. Using the mat practice as a metaphor for life, she enjoys threading philosophy into her teaching to encourage people to experience themselves beyond the mat.


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Hello, we are Parel. We are a multi disciplinary creative design studio. This is our portfolio website. It is a heavily modified version of a popular wordpress theme called Brooklyn.
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There were no flower arrangements, hors d'oeuvres passed, bar or bartender. A metal coat rack in the corner held the 50 guests' coats, and an elongated table showcased sparkling water and lemonade, buckets of ice and clear plastic cups.
Room 310 at the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center in Manhattan was the perfect site for Cade Russo-Young and Max Kristula-Green's wedding on Dec. 17.
"I've been coming to the center my whole life," Ms. Russo-Young, 36, said. "It's the most historical place I know. My moms went to meetings in the basement here. I participated in their Youth Enrichment Services, and volunteered for Center Kids. To be able to enter this next chapter in my life in this room, and to know I'm giving back and acknowledging the center by having our ceremony here is huge. It goes along with the whole ethos of our wedding."
For a time, couples listed charities on their registry websites, along with their gift list. Now, they are giving back in greater, more thoughtful ways by specifically incorporating their beliefs, passions and values into their events with community-themed weddings.
Mr. Kristula-Green, 27, who made the female to male transition in August 2015, spoke similarly about their wedding location.
"This is a significant place in my life," he said. "I started going to trans-masculine meetings in this room during a time when I was too scared to go to anything else."
"Having our wedding here," he added, "is our way of thanking them."
Poonam Kaushal and Nishkaam Mehta share a concern for impoverished children. On Valentine's Day, the couple are to wed at City Hall in downtown Los Angeles, swapping a traditional, religious ceremony for the opportunity to provide a million school meals to children affected by the Boko Haram violence in Cameroon.
"An Indian wedding can cost over $100,000," Ms. Kaushal, 31, said. "The more we looked at the numbers, the more we knew we wanted to give the money to charity rather than using it for ourselves."
While researching organizations, the couple discovered ShareTheMeal, an app from the World Food Programme where a donation of 50 cents feeds a child for one day.
The couple used $20,000 of their own money, which would have gone to paying for their wedding, to kick-start the drive. Through the program's app, the pair created team #MillionMealsforLove. From Jan. 14 through Valentine's Day, a 30-day crowdfunding campaign has been organized so people can donate to the couple's cause, rather than give gifts.
"An Indian wedding is really about the two families coming together," Mr. Mehta, 31, said. "Our parents were skeptical at first. We weren't sure they understood this would be instead of our wedding or really, the wedding itself."
Instead of an elaborate celebration, rehearsal dinner or the numerous events that have become customary, 20 friends and relatives have been invited to the small ceremony with dinner at a local Indian restaurant afterward.
"The wedding sets the tone and defines how we want our marriage to start off," he said. "We wanted our wedding to reflect the life we hope we lead as a married couple."
Ms. Kaushal agreed. "I didn't need a bridal registry or more stuff," she said. "We're a young couple who already have the essentials. More things won't make us happier. If you think with an attitude of gratitude, that what you have is enough, you find the ability to give to others."
Optimistic, sure. But if they don't reach their goal, will defeat follow?
"If I was planning a large wedding, I'd have the disappointment if something didn't go right, or the negative critiquing, 'Oh, this didn't work out' or 'This wasn't good,'" Ms. Kaushal said. "There's no failure here. If we don't make a million, we've still fed hundreds of thousands of children."
This pay-it-forward mentality goes beyond donating centerpieces and floral arrangements to local nursing homes or hospitals, recycling one's wedding dress or dropping off the extra food to shelters.It is direct community involvement.
Rayna Joy Cohen, 28, married Jon Brasier, 27, on June 11 at Amazing Love Ministries, a homeless outreach organization in Tampa, Fla., that feeds more than 300 people weekly in the Ybor City area. Every Monday since June 2015, the couple have served food to the homeless there.
"There's an importance to reinvesting in your community," Ms. Brasier said. "It's a lifestyle we pursue daily. Getting married at Amazing Love brought awareness to the homeless issue and how others could get involved."
Over the course of six months, the couple and Ms. Brasier's mother made paper flowers from old Bibles found at a local flea market. Compostable plates and plantable seed paper invitations were part of the wedding as well.
"We live in a one-click Pinterest society of comparisons, which has become a game of who can have the best," Ms. Brasier said. "The whole point of us doing a wedding like this is to inspire people. My generation is becoming a social responsible one, and the more people see it, the more it will happen."
For those wanting to include animals, say 350 rescued ones — from Wilbur to Thumper — can have their wedding at the Woodstock Farm Sanctuary. Since moving to a new location in High Falls, N.Y., last year, the property has hosted four vegan weddings.
"We are meeting a need for people wanting to give back," said Jess Davis, the programs manager, who has seen an increase in inquiries and bookings for 2017. "People want to showcase their values and ethics. That's the real draw to having your wedding here. It's a nice, compassionate message to send while making sure the money is going back to the cause, which is part of this movement."
Festivities include a private tour with the animals, learning how they were rescued.
Housing Works, a nonprofit charity that concentrates on fighting AIDS and homelessness, hosts more than 50 weddings a year in its bookstore in SoHo, a number that has doubled over the past four years, and does off-site wedding catering.
"As people are making bigger cultural statements, they're also becoming more conscious about how they spend their money, where it's going, and if it can benefit others," said Nicholas Watson, a vice president of Housing Works.
The average wedding for 100 people at the bookstore can range from $25,000 to $35,000. After paying for staff and food provided by the organization, all of the proceeds go to Housing Works, a big selling point, Mr. Watson said.
Websites, too, are changing. Rather than the click-and-donate model, which offers no real feedback or user experience for the giver or the recipient, sites like Heartful.ly and Thankfulregistry.com focus on creating a higher level of involvement.
Heartful.ly lets people's donations go directly to a community's development project, say bricks and concrete to build a classroom in Tanzania, or seeds and fertilizer to start a community garden in Queens. Thankfulregistry.com, which emphasizes gratitude and social responsibility, does an annual fund-raiser each November (during Thanksgiving) that raises money and awareness for the issue of child marriage.
Then there is Blacksheepbride.com, which connects engaged couples with over 200 vendors, products and event spaces, whether it is a church or a homeless shelter, who value sustainability and who give back on a grander scale, like donating their time or a portion of their earnings to charity.
"We're not a site that focuses on a piece of paper that says we donated to this," said Danielle Calhoun, who started the site two and a half years ago. "We focus on how many ways a couple is concentrating on others rather than themselves."
To be considered for the site, couples must qualify by giving back in three ways: upcycling, donating, using local organic farms for catering, buying fair trade or using nonprofit spaces.
"When I started this, I had to beg and seek out people, and ask if I could feature them," Ms. Calhoun said. "Now our editorial calendar has a three- to six-month wait time for couples who qualify to be profiled. That's a huge increase."
While some couples highlight their wedding site as their charitable statement, others make their contribution before or after their big event.
Jackie Edelman, 26, and Steven Catania, 27, married on Dec. 31 at Vie, an event space in Philadelphia.
"My parents wanted a large, fancy wedding," Ms. Catania said. "The bigger the wedding got, the more I wanted to incorporate charitable acts. My sister knows I'm not a crazy party girl. So she planned a brown bag event as part of my bachelorette party, where we made 60 lunches for the homeless and handed them out on Halloween weekend," she said.
For four hours, eight women made and packed peanut butter and jelly sandwiches along with fruit, chips, cookies and bottles of water. Included last were handwritten notes.
Rather than a wedding after-party, the couple wanted to do another brown bag gathering. So, when the wedding and reception ended at 12:15 a.m., 50 of their 250 guests were found in the conference room at the Courtyard Philadelphia Downtown hotel, where everyone was staying. For the next hour, they filled more than 100 bags to be distributed to the homeless later that night.
"The focus is shifting away from material wealth to enriching your life," Ms. Catania said. "We're at a tipping point. If we don't do good for people, then there's no hope. Giving back makes sure we don't forget who we are.
"I love the choices we made. It was a great way to start the new year. You're not only doing a good thing for others, but we're doing this important act as husband and wife."
Ms. Russo-Young and Mr. Kristula-Green were thrilled with their wedding at the L.G.B.T. center.
"This couldn't have been any better," Mr. Kristula-Green said, while looking at his new wife. "I'm just sorry I didn't think of it first. It was Cade's idea. I was embarrassed I hadn't thought of it, too."


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Take a look at this picture. Do you notice anything unusual? Between the front wheels of this 2001 Corvette Z06, sits a small-block Ford V8. The car was built by NRC Motorsports in Aiken, South Carolina.
Ohhh I can feel the hate coming through the screen on this one. If any automobile could run off emotion, this might have a chance. I am sure many readers are asking why not use a Mustang body? Or why not use a LS based engine? There is probably a simple reason why this monster was built like this but I hope they did it just to see the internet explode.
Gallery link for more images.
Source: LS1Tech


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Oh, Art Gallery, Where have you been all my life?Art Gallery Fabrics this week, and they are positively LOVELY. I haven't used AGF before, so I was very excited to try them out. I've heard great things about this company and the quality and great hand of the fabric, and it's all true!
Pure Elements in Tile Blue, Cozumel Blue, Mirage Blue, Fresh Water, Moonstone, Ash, Mystic Grey, and Light Grey, along with Nature Elements in Charcoal. I'm really excited for this project! It's going to be a secret for a while, but I'm making a new pattern that looks pretty amazing in my head. With this gorgeous fabric, hopefully it will translate into a finished quilt the way I see it!
Tomorrow is Thanksgiving here in the US, and I am really looking forward to spending time with family and eating the peanut butter pie/cheesecake my husband is currently making. Yum. I'll be making 5 dozen rolls in the morning before we head to my sister-in-law's house. Do we need that many rolls? No, but we need enough for everyone to take leftovers home.
I've finished quilting several quilts that I really need to post pictures of. Hopefully I will do that soon.
I'm linking up today to Work In Progress Wednesday at Freshly Pieced. Thanks for visiting!


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|Book Notes - 2009
Share |
Mexican Solidarity: Citizen Participation and Volunteering. Edited by Jacqueline Butcher. Springer, (forthcoming December 2009). 300 pages. Cost: US $129. To order:http://www.springer.com.
This comprehensive volume presents research on Mexican practices of solidarity where citizens were engaged in working towards helping others voluntarily. It set out to investigate the nature and quality of the work and time that volunteers give towards obtaining the common good, in a country where the awareness of the importance of social capital needs to be reinforced for the development of democracy.
The purpose of this research was not only to present numbers, facts, and data on a national scale but also to explore the depths of citizen participation in the everyday lives and activities of the Mexican population. Mexico's Solidarity provides a strong contribution by finding ways to promote and maintain social cohesion through the best volunteer practices. The techniques and findings of this case study on Mexico provide a valuable contribution to the Nonprofit and Third Sector research internationally.
Charity in Islamic Societies. By Amy Singer. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 2008. 264 pages. Cost: Hardback £ 48, US$88.99; Paperback £16.99, US $29.99. To order: http://www.cambridge.org/us/Muslim beliefs have inspired charitable giving for over fourteen centuries, yet Islamic history has rarely been examined from this perspective. In Charity in Islamic Societies, Amy Singer explains the basic concepts and institutions of Muslim charity, including the obligation to give on an annual basis. Charitable endowments shaped Muslim societies and cultures in every era. This book demonstrates how historical circumstances, social status, gender, age and other factors interacted with religious ideals to create a rich variety of charitable practices, from the beginnings of Islam to the present day. Using written texts, buildings, images and objects to anchor the discussions in each chapter, the author explores the motivations for charity, its impact on the rich and the poor, and the politicisation of charity.
What is the worth of the social economy? What worth does the social economy produce? Co-operatives, not-for-profit and mutual benefits organizations as well as foundations share common values that color the way they perform and how they manage to do so. Yet, little is known about how the social economy is actually being evaluated, and how evaluation may reinforce or weaken this specificity. This book fills a gap in the literature about the social economy. It seeks to make a critical assessment of the interests to which the social economy of today must cater and for which questions of evaluation appear to be the most telling.
The Third Sector Research Centre (TSRC) conducts research into a range of issues surrounding the sector in the UK. Launched in 2008, the Centre has now published a series of papers, some of which are especially relevant for the sector internationally. These include a substantial amount of research on Social Enterprise – exploring how this growing subsector addresses issues such as homelessness, the delivery of housing services, or environmental concerns. A newly released paper also begins to explore the little talked about topic of failure within social enterprises.
Research is also available on 'below the radar' organisations – small, community based organisations that often don't appear on formal registers. The Centre is attempting to map some of this large and diverse subsector, and is exploring the implications this may have for policy makers.
Research teams at the Centre are also focusing on how the third sector can be defined, measured and evaluated. The importance of third sector organisations and the role they play – whether in service delivery, societal development or community well-being – rests on a belief in the positive contribution they make to society. Recently published papers explore the concept of 'value' in the sector and ask how we can appropriately measure its impact.
All research papers are available here. (http://www.tsrc.ac.uk/Publications/tabid/500/Default.aspx)
The editors of this volume offer a new way to address the changing reality of the third sector. Policy Initiatives provides information about this complex process involving different fields of practice, different levels of government, and different types of third sector organizations. Contributions from eight countries that have recently enacted policy initiatives towards the third sector include: UK, Canada, Hungary, India, Germany, Ireland, Israel and Japan, and review the current policy, enacting new laws, supervisory mechanisms, and modes of funding.
The thorough analysis in this volume will provide a new understanding of the policy initiatives in the eight countries studied, as well as guiding principles for other countries that may implement such initiatives in the future. The resulting work will give researchers in sociology, social work, third sector research, and international economics a new framework for understanding the Third Sector: its role in society, and its relationships with government, the market, and the citizens of the country.
In recent years, major social forces such as: aging populations, social trends, migration patterns, and the globalization of economies, have reshaped social welfare policies and practices across the globe. Multinational corporations, NGOs, and other international organizations have begun to influence social policy at a national and local level. Among the many ramifications of these changes is that globalizing influences may hinder the ability of individual nation-states to effect policies that are beneficial to them on a local level.
The Welfare State in Post-Industrial Society is divided into two major sections: the first draws from a number of leading social welfare researchers from diverse countries who point to the nation-state as case studies; highlighting how it goes about establishing and revising social welfare provisions. The second portion of the volume then moves to a more global perspective in its analysis and questioning of the impact of globalization on citizenship, aging and marketization.
In Understanding the Social Economy, Jack Quarter, Laurie Mook and Ann Armstrong integrate a wide array of organizations founded upon a social mission – social enterprises, nonprofits, co-operatives, credit unions, and community development associations – under the rubric of the 'social economy.' This framework facilitates a comprehensive study of Canada's social sector, an area often neglected in the business curricula despite the important role that these organizations play in Canada's economy.
Invaluable for business programs that address issues such as community economic development, co-operatives, and nonprofit studies and management, Understanding the Social Economy presents a unique set of case studies as well as chapters on organizational design and governance, finance and accounting, and accountability. The examples provide much needed context for students and allow for an original and in-depth examination of the relationships between Canada's social infrastructure and the public and private sectors. With this work, Quarter, Mook and Armstrong illuminate a neglected facet of business studies to further our understanding of the Canadian economy.
This groundbreaking volume reflects pioneering efforts to study the global movement of ideas and institutions, and highlights a wide range of research, paying close attention to the realities of particular situations and to current thinking about general processes.
The essays in this book reflect pioneering efforts to study the global movement of ideas and institutions. They deal with topics of significant contemporary importance: initiatives to address the AIDS epidemic in East Africa; to protect the peoples and ecosystems of the Amazon; to advance the "truth and reconciliation" process in South Africa and in other areas of great conflict; to promote "civil society" in Eastern Europe and Central Asia; to advocate for environmental protection in the United States, Great Britain, Germany, and Japan; and to spread Rotary Clubs and encourage "social entrepreneurship" throughout the world.
Have we gone too far in enacting laws, promulgating regulations and announcing policies that threaten freedom of association, either now or 'in waiting' for the future?
Regulation on the Voluntary Sector focuses on the legal and political environment for civil society in an era in which counter-terrorism policy and law have challenged civil society and civil liberties in a number of countries. The ways in which counter-terrorism law and policy affect civil society can and do differ dramatically by country and region. Through the lens of developments since September 11th, Mark Sidel provides the first comparative analysis of state responses to voluntary sector activity. Comparing the situations in the UK and the US, as well as Australia, Canada, India and within the European Union, he surveys the increasing efforts to delimit and restrict voluntary sector activities – such as fundraising and grant-making—as well as opposition to them.
In 19th-century Leipzig, Toronto, New York, and Boston, a newly emergent group of industrialists and entrepreneurs entered into competition with older established elite groups for social recognition as well as cultural and political leadership. The competition was played out on the field of philanthropy, with the North American community gathering ideas from Europe about the establishment of cultural and public institutions. For example, to secure financing for their new museum, the founders of the Metropolitan Museum of Art organized its membership and fundraising on the model of German art museums. The process of cultural borrowing and intercultural transfer shaped urban landscapes with the building of new libraries, museums, and social housing projects. An important contribution to the field of transnational history, this book establishes philanthropy as a prime example of the conversion of economic resources into social and cultural capital.
In the midst of a deepening economic crisis, the more than 75,000 U.S. grantmaking foundations nevertheless increased their giving 2.8 percent in 2008 to an estimated $45.6 billion, according to Foundation Growth and Giving Estimates: Current Outlook (2009 Edition).
Although foundation giving grew modestly in 2008, it did not grow as much as had been expected due to the extreme nature of the current economic downturn. Just under a third (29 percent) of the more than 1,200 foundations that responded to the Foundation Center's annual "Foundation Giving Forecast Survey" a year ago — before the economic crisis took hold — said they expected to reduce their giving in 2008. But according to findings from the latest survey conducted in early 2009, close to half of the top U.S. funders (47 percent) actually reduced their giving in 2008.
Findings from the Foundation Center's latest survey suggest that in 2009 foundation giving will decrease in the range of the high single digits to low double digits, even though estimated foundation assets declined a far greater 21.9 percent in 2008. Most respondents (67.1 percent) say they expect to reduce their 2009 giving to at least some extent, with community foundations being most likely to anticipate a decrease. Given the continuing instability in the economy and stock market, it is also likely that foundation giving will decline further in 2010.
Other key estimates for 2008 giving include:
The complete report, part of the annual Foundations Today Series on foundation growth and giving, can be accessed at no charge at the Gain Knowledge area of the Foundation Center's web site.
This book will be the first comprehensive book on the right to information, which is experiencing increasing global importance.
The right to information (or freedom of information) has emerged as a key component in credible democratic governance and is vital for promoting 'open governance' and the accountability of public decision makers. In addition, it strengthens transparency, participation and the rule of law. The right to information is not only fundamental for an open and democratic society, but is a key weapon in the fight against poverty and corruption leading to accelerating human development.
In the contemporary United States, third parties are being relied upon to deliver social services that were once chiefly the responsibility of government. Among the new philanthropic associations that have arisen in this environment are voluntary groups known as giving circles. Their purpose is to bring people together to pool resources and then collectively decide how to distribute them. Giving circles have been seen as the most democratic of philanthropic mechanisms, working to meet social needs and solve community problems, while enhancing the civic education and participation of their members. Angela M. Eikenberry examines this new phenomenon and considers what role voluntary associations and philanthropy can or should play in a democratic society.
International NGOs are increasingly important players within the new aid architecture but their geographic choices remain uncharted territory. This book focuses on patterns of development assistance, mapping, while analyzing and assessing the country choices of the largest international NGOs. Koch's approach is interdisciplinary and uses qualitative, quantitative and experimental methods to provide a clear insight in the determinants of country choices of international NGOs.
The book aims to discover the country choices of international NGOs, how they are determined and how they could be improved. This work, which uses a dataset created specifically for the research, comes to the conclusion that international NGOs do not target the poorest and most difficult countries. They are shown to be focusing mostly on those countries where their back donors are active. Additionally, it was discovered that they tend to cluster their activities, for example, international NGOs also have their donor darlings and their donor orphans. Their clustering is explained by adapting theories that explain concentration in for-profit actors to the non-profit context.
Persistent societal problems and wealth creation in the Arab region are driving a new generation of actors to commit their resources for the greater public welfare. Widely known as philanthropy, voluntary contributions to causes that serve a public good are a longstanding and important aspect of cultures in the Arab region. What is of particular interest today is the proliferation of ways in which this private giving is being channeled into new institutional forms. In significant ways, some local philanthropy is becoming more strategic in its aims—by which is meant utilizing resources effectively to address the underlying causes of important social problems.
Cooperatives often lead the way with innovations and open new paths abandoned by government, with or without public funding. The evolution of cooperatives is, however, complex, as they have had to grapple with powerful international regulations that sometimes ignore or hamper them. Simultaneously, civil society, largely a victim of a financial capitalism that produces social exclusion, economic inequality and environmental disasters, expects alternative solutions from the social economy and particularly from the cooperative movement.
4/9/2020ISTR Third Sector Research Webinar Series
7/31/2020Asia Pacific: July Newsletter for Third Sector Researchers
7/29/2020Congratulations to the New Editor Named at NML
7/29/2020Centre for Strategic Philanthropy established at Cambridge Judge, dedicated to high-growth markets
7/17/2020Statement on the 2020 Hong Kong National Security Law
8/7/2020 » 8/8/2020
AUGUST 2020: 2020 AOM Professional Development Workshops
9/7/2020 » 9/8/2020
2020 Voluntary Sector and Volunteering Research Conference
9/8/2020 » 9/9/2020
SEPTEMBER 2020: Doctoral Seminar in Social Entrepreneurship and Philanthropy (SEPHI)


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The Self and the Guru
At the centre of each and every one of us is a solid island untouched by the outside world, where the spirit resides, the all-seeing, all knowing powerful self which is linked to everyone and everything. It is beyond space and time. It enjoys playfulness, silence and freedom but we too often constrict it in with thoughts and the pressures of daily stressors such as work, family, friends, the economy and financial burdens. We are led to believe that happiness is found in things we have to purchase, that certain career paths will make us successful, happy and powerful. In some cases we are led to believe that we are limited in some way and only to be able to reach a low level as we have something missing which would take us to the next step on the career ladder. This is all non-sense. The ego is the only part that needs 'things'. It needs to be right, better than anyone else and it is the part which feels pain when someone proves it wrong.
Conversely, the immutable 'real' self is impervious to external factors which cause so much suffering in the world. This suffering can be seen in the greed and arrogance of individuals, companies and countries that show little or no empathy for their fellow humans or the planet we live on and trhe complex and simple life forms that grow on it. Many people try to find meaning in their lives when they realise the consumer lifestyle they follow is hollow and does not bring the peace and happiness they long for.
Finding happiness and peace and connecting with the true self is not an easy thing as it means connecting with the real world. It means going outside our comfort zone of friends, work colleagues and into unknown territory.
Empathising with those who we may normally judge, looking at lives we cannot understand and feeling something truly difficult for nearly everyone- love. Loving people who bring pain to the ones around them. Love for the ones who kill and maim. Love for the ones who grow rich from the suffering of the poor. You will want to know why we need to love these individuals and the reason is it is the only way of breaking the shackles that hold the world back from being the perfect paradise it should and can be.
In India, and other places in the world there are spiritual elders, or Gurus who have this unconditionally love for all. They see you for what you are, a wonderful being of love and light and nothing else. If you are ever lucky enough to meet another human like this, who knows the darkest recesses of your mind, the secrets that you want to remain just that, the shame you feel for something you did or did not do and all you feel from them is unconditional love that fills you with an unshakeable peace then you have found what you could be. More than that you do not have to seek them out for you can be that. You can be your own Guru. Know yourself for what you really are – that being of love and light. Forgive yourself for the mistakes you have made and do not strive for what others wish for you. Everything you will ever need lies within yourself – peace and happiness.
Author: Mark Edwards


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The laverie (laundry) in Lyon. Pen sketch drawn, while waiting for our washing. I really liked the banal environment framing the street, which reminded me of an Edward Hopper scene.
|14.09.2010 France sketch book Laverie rue Terme, Lyon
As a travelling artist, it's hard not to draw pictures from the standard tourist point of view. I felt that this one was a bit different. Lots of Hopper's pictures are about waiting as well - waiting for a taxi or in a motel. His pictures show a different side of America than (say) a picture of the Statue of Liberty.


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Cleaning up "Dirty COW" on Exadata, Exalogic and ZDLRA (aka CVE-2016-5195) - fixed in Exadata SW 220.127.116.11.161109Posted by Slava Urbanovich in SlavaUrbanovich on Oct 22, 2016 4:47:00 PM
Update on Dec 01, 2016:
Oracle has provided a solution for the "Dirty COW" (CVE-2016-5195) on Exadata - which is delivered as a complete patch 220.127.116.11.3.161109
It is important to apply 220.127.116.11.3 with the 161109 build date as there were earlier build dates for this release and they do not resolve the "Dirty COW" vulnerability.
Exadata 184.108.40.206.3 release and patch (24441458) (Doc ID 2181366.1)
See Note 1270094.1 for additional fixes that address critical issues.
|Patch 24441458 - Storage server and InfiniBand switch software (184.108.40.206.3.161109)
Patch 24669306 - Database server bare metal / domU ULN exadata_dbserver_126.96.36.199.3_x86_64_base OL6 channel ISO image (188.8.131.52.3.161109)
Patch 24669307 - Database server dom0 ULN exadata_dbserver_dom0_22.214.171.124.3_x86_64_base OVM3 channel ISO image (22.214.171.124.3.161109)
Supplemental README Note 2181366.1
188.8.131.52.3 was updated from 126.96.36.199.3.161013 to 220.127.116.11.3.161109 to include important fixes. See the fix list in patch 24441458 for details.
Original article below
Since almost all Exadata, Exalogic and ZDLRA machines in the world are running on Oracle Linux they could be vulnerable to the CVE-2016-5195 which exploits access elevation during Copy On Write operations - hence the Dirty COW nickname.
This vulnerability became widely known in mid-October 2016 and according to the sources like Risk Assessment | Ars Technica UK the current state of the appropriate patch development is as following:
"The underlying bug was patched this week by the maintainers of the official Linux kernel. Downstream distributors are in the process of releasing updates that incorporate the fix. Red Hat has classified the vulnerability as "important.""
The dangers of this vulnerability is also described on Risk Assessment | Ars Technica UK as following
"As their names describe, privilege-escalation or privilege-elevation vulnerabilities allow attackers with only limited access to a targeted computer to gain much greater control. The exploits can be used against Web hosting providers that provide shell access, so that one customer can attack other customers or even service administrators. Privilege-escalation exploits can also be combined with attacks that target other vulnerabilities. A SQL injection weakness in a website, for instance, often allows attackers to run malicious code only as an untrusted user. Combined with an escalation exploit, however, such attacks can often achieve highly coveted root status."
Oracle has already categorized this vulnerability as of October 21, 2016 and RPMs that include the fix for this CVE have been released as well.
Please refer to this page to get up to the minute update (and the patched RPMs) for this vulnerability linux.oracle.com | CVE-2016-5195
Depending on your Exadata bundle patch level the Oracle Linux kernel version would either 6 (hopefully ) or 5, so please look for the appropriate errata links on the page above.
Update on 10/27:
The main page that tracks this vulnerability linux.oracle.com | CVE-2016-5195 is getting more updates pretty much daily now.
Updated RPMs that are mentioned there you could be found at https://oss.oracle.com/sources/ under the Oracle 5 or Oracle 6 links.
Additionally, for the current Exadata, Exalogic and ZDLRA patch levels , which assumes OEL 6, the following MOS document could be used as wellff
Oracle Linux 6: Reference Index of Security Vulnerability Bug fixes, CVE IDs and Oracle Linux Errata (Doc ID 2112930.1)
Customers may find status of fixes for CVEs for Oracle Linux through our Unbreakable Linux Network (ULN). Please refer to Oracle Support Document 1593465.1 "Unbreakable Linux Network (ULN) Administrative Features for Errata and CVEs"
This listing is sorted by the date of publication by Oracle.
|Errata Date
|CVE-2016-5195 (dirty COW)
|CVE-2016-5195 (dirty COW)
|CVE-2016-5195 (dirty COW)
|CVE-2016-5195 (dirty COW)


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For the last fifteen years, Rose "Manny" Mankowski has been a very good girl. She turned her back on her youthful fancies and focused on her career. But now, at the age of 45, she's questioning her choices and feeling more and more disconnected from her own life. When she's passed over for promotion and her much younger new boss implies Manny's life will never change, something snaps. In the blink of an eye, she's quit her job, sold her house and cashed in her pension, and she's leaving town on a six month road trip.
After placing a personal ad for a travelling companion, she's joined in her mid-life crisis by Zeke Powell, the cynical, satirical, most-read – and most controversial – blogger for the e-magazine, What Women Want. Zeke's true goal is to expose Manny's journey as a pitiful and desperate attempt to reclaim her lost youth – and increase his readership at the same time. Leaving it all behind for six months is just an added bonus.
Now, armed with a bagful of destinations, a fistful of maps, and an out-spoken imaginary friend named Harvey, Manny's on a quest to rediscover herself – and taking Zeke along for the ride.
Release Date: December 10, 2012
**The Book Excerpt**
Victoria Bernadine (a pseudonym) is, as the saying goes, a "woman of a certain age". After twenty-something years of writer's block, she began writing again in 2008. Victoria enjoys reading all genres and particularly loves writing romantic comedy and post-apocalyptic science fiction. What those two have in common is anybody's guess. She lives in Edmonton with her two cats (The Grunt and The Runt). A Life Less Ordinary is the first novel she felt was good enough to be released into the wild.
**The Giveaway**
$25 Amazon or B&N Gift Card & an e-Book of A Life Less Ordinary


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American drivers, like cigarettes, are immoral — waiting to kill us like cancer, and should be replaced by cars that drive themselves. So says Netscape co-founder and self-styled techno-futurist Mark Andreessen.
In a recent interview with the New York Times, Andreessen was chiming in on Google's self-driving cars when he dropped this inflammatory bit:
"Ten to 20 years out, driving your car will be viewed as equivalently immoral as smoking cigarettes around other people is today."
Equivalently immoral to giving other people cancer? We're talking about driving, right? Not dumping toxic waste into the water supply? Throwing a hand grenade over the counter of an Auntie Anne's? Stabbing a guy?
Parsing the hyperbole, what Andreessen means — we think — is that people suck so much at driving that we're killing each other in droves, and that — thank heavens! — technology is about to release us from our deeply flawed animality. Machines are just waiting to take over and do it better. All of it: Turning, braking, navigating, swerving to avoid a skidding UPS truck. [Looking past its recent fender bender, obviously] Google's self-driving car is about to wrench the steering wheel out of our weak, unskilled and reckless mitts for our own good. People are so bad at driving cars, Andreessen said, "that computers don't have to be that good to be much better." Ouch.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says in 2010, an estimated 32,788 people were killed in the U.S. in traffic accidents. Broaden the scope, and the carnage is spectacular. According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 1.2 million people worldwide are killed in road crashes each year, and as many as 50 million are injured. That's more roadway deaths than all the soldiers killed in every single U.S. war, from the Civil War on, and the entire population of South Korea injured. Each year.
Granted, the U.S. number shows a 25% decline since 2005 — the fewest deaths per year since 1949. Largely due to passive safety enhancements — like crumple zones, beefed-up side-impact protection, air bags and devices like antilock brakes and traction control — the numbers are moving in the right direction — and all while the number of drivers steadily rise. Score one for us, right?
Not quite. Other Western nations have seen greater declines, and at 12.3 deaths per 100,000 people each year, Americans rank as only a middle-of-the-pack player in global automotive safety — just north of Cambodia and tied with Jamaica. Yah, mon.
Let's contrast the U.S.'s car-death statistics with those of Germany. Germany's rate of car ownership, at 558 per 1,000 people, is slightly lower than ours, at 779 per 1,000 (2010), but Germany sees just 4.5 deaths per 100,000 people yearly — less than half our rate.
Could it be a coincidence that obtaining a driver's license in Germany is a time-consuming, rigorous and expensive process? Perhaps not.
Before Germans are allowed to enjoy their fahrvergnügen, they face a long process that culminates in their receipt of a führerschein, or driver's license, at age 18. Ask a German about it, and he'll relate a grueling experience demanding 20 to 40 hours of rigorous instruction — including mechanical aspects — at a certified fahrschule (sorry, mom and dad), a first-aid course and out-of-pocket costs exceeding 1,500 euros. That's around $2,200.
Compared to Germany, getting a driver's license in the States is like ordering off the Wendy's dollar menu. What was your biggest worry about passing your driver's test? Not hitting the curb while parallel parking. Immediate fail, your friends warned.
"Any time you stand in line at the DMV and look around," Andreessen told the Times. "You're like, Oh, my God, I wish all these people were replaced by computer drivers." Putting aside Andreessen's sneering misanthropy for a moment, he's not wrong.
That's because Germans have come to terms with a concept we have not. That is, "active safety," which in part encompasses the ways in which roadway safety relates to drivers' skills behind the wheel. (We'll talk about the heavy hand of Germany's TÜV vehicular inspection agency some other time.)
Could it be that devaluing the skill of driving — in the name of democratizing mobility, itself a noble goal — is our real moral failing?
Yes. We must reassert ourselves as masters of our machines. We need not choose between technological advancements and ultimate control, but we must be more involved and present in the act of driving. How many farmers could drive (as well as fix) their own tractors? All of them. Their livelihoods depended on it. We need to at the very least be in command of our cars to the best of our abilities, or we might as well take a nap and let them drive.
It's time to make becoming a skilled driver its own moral imperative. It's time to stop handing out drivers' licenses like free samples at Dairy Queen. We need to make advanced driving techniques and mechanical understanding part of the required coursework for licensing. At the very least, how about a DMV-mandated autocrossing requirement? If not, there's a strong case to be made for our immediate dismissal from behind the wheel.
We can do better — we must do better.
What we need is a slogan. How about, "Every time traction control catches a slide, something inside each of us dies." OK, we'll keep working on it. Either way, don't let Andreessen and his misanthropic technology cronies win the dehumanization game. It's for your own good.


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