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HAVANA � It has been more than 54 years since someone not named Castro led Cuba, and it will likely be five more.
But now islanders and exiles alike have finally been given a date for when the sun will set on brothers Fidel and Raul's longtime rule: 2018.
In accepting a new presidential term yesterday, the 81-year-old Raul Castro announced that it would be his last. And for the first time, he tapped a rising young star, Miguel Diaz-Canel, to be his top lieutenant and possible successor.
Castro said he hopes to establish two-term limits and age caps for political offices including the presidency. He didn't specify what age.
As the new first vice president of the ruling Council of State, the 52-year-old Diaz-Canel is now a heartbeat from the presidency and has risen higher than any other Cuban official who didn't directly participate in the heady days of the 1959 revolution.
In his 35-minute speech, Castro hinted at other changes to the constitution, some so dramatic they will have to be ratified by the Cuban people in a referendum. Still, he scotched any idea that the country would abandon socialism, saying he had not assumed the presidency in order to destroy Cuba's system.
"I was not chosen to be president to restore capitalism to Cuba," he said. "I was elected to defend, maintain and continue to perfect socialism, not destroy it."
In Florida, home to hundreds of thousands of Cuban exiles, some were skeptical that Castro's eventual retirement will change much.
"First we have to see if he lives another five years, and after we have to see what happens," said Raul Lopez Mola, an 81-year-old who abandoned Cuba in 1966. "No one can predict what will happen in five years. For me, I don't think it has great importance."
"It would be more meaningful if Fidel Castro died," Lopez Mola added.


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Gucci continues to conquer the fashion world with the release of its first high jewellery collection, Hortus Deliciarum. Latin for "Garden of Delights", Hortus Deliciarum is divided into three primary themes: the animal kingdom, solitaires, and eternal love, and takes inspiration from all three worlds.
With nature as the first theme, the collection sees animals such as serpents, lions, bees, and flowers decorated with sapphires, topaz, and emeralds to mimic images from the Garden of Eden. The Greek god Dionysus, which was previously featured in the brand's bags, is also a key design for its gilded cuffs. The jewellery takes inspiration from Baroque, Georgian, and Rocco styles as part of "eternal love", also known as the heart-and-arrow collection to portray undying love in all its forms. Lastly, the collection features solitaire rings in aquamarines or rubellites of more than 20 carats.
The new line comprises 200 unique pieces, and to celebrate its latest step in the luxury industry, Gucci opened its first high jewellery boutique in Place Vendôme in Paris, where items in the collection can be viewed and purchased.

subset: commoncrawl


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Artwork from Thurlestone Primary School has recently been featured in the ever popular 'Primary Colours' exhibtion at the Harbour Gallery in Kingsbridge. The gallery was filled with exuberant, expressive and thoughtful artworks from local primary schools. This artwork was created by pupils from Thurlestone as park of our project Heritage Lottery Funded 'What Makes South Devon Special' campaign examining the 'Special Qualities' of South Devon AONB. This piece of artwork focussed on one of these qualities - 'An wild and rugged coastline.'
Communities officer Nicky Bailey commented "The children really engaged with this project and we are thrilled with this wonderful artwork."


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Posts Tagged 'iphone'
Apple makes good on its threat: the recent firmware update siables unlocked iPhones and wipes unauthorized apps.
Users are reporting that a new update to Apple Inc.'s iPhone is making previously unlocked iPhones unusable.
The iPhone 1.1.1 update, released Thursday, breaks phones that have been hacked so that they work with providers other than AT&T Inc., the only U.S. provider Apple has allowed to carry its mobile phones.
In recent months, a number of software tools have been developed which allow iPhone users to break free of Apple's AT&T-only restriction, but Apple has said that it would fight any attempts to unlock the iPhone. Earlier this week the company released a warning that unlocked iPhones "will likely result in the modified iPhone becoming permanently inoperable when a future Apple-supplied iPhone software update is installed."
SAN JOSE, Calif. – Apple Inc. has issued a software update that creates problems for iPhones modified to work with a cellular carrier other than AT&T Inc. and disables at least some unofficial programs installed on other iPhone handsets.
Apple warned earlier this week that the iPhone update — which adds access to the iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store and fixes some security flaws — could permanently disable phones running programs that untether phones from its exclusive partner's network.


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Here is a prayer I wrote awhile back! At times we feel like we are being watched from the shadows, as though people want to see you, but do not want to know you; They want to know what your doing, but they don't want to knock on the door!
Let us not dwell on what is already lost, but rather what can be found, before all is lost!
You Government Agents -- How can you look, without seeing? Do your eyes have a purpose, or are they only attracted to me!
Lord God of Israel, my heart do I lower in reverence to Thee; You know all that I am lacking thereof, see all that my eyes see not; You control the turrents within, when calm waters begin to rage! With a whisper, you correct me from within, if only with these ears, I could learn to hear, and with these eyes, learn to see!
I Bless Thy Nation of Israel, with whom You've established your everlasting Covenant I pray Thee, send me to Israel, though I confess, I am least of all deserving, that I may be a light unto Your People, for hear where I am, I feel nothing but darkness! Could this darkness be my own; I feel alone, yet something within tells me I am not! It's as though several eyes are watching; Their eyes stuck in their sockets, their bodies have become vegetables; Are their own lives so bleak, that they must devote themselves to me? Am I seeing through the eyes that you have given me, Lord God of Israel, or am I as deceived as I am lost, possessed by he whom I've been speaking against?
Surely, a house divided against itself can not stand, as it is written. if I am possessed of satan, how can I speak on Thine behalf. I am a doubting Thomas, Lord God, but I do not doubt of Thee, only in myself. I ask Thee, search this soul of mine, and remove all that doesn't belong; I know evil, I know as well from whence it come, and pray Thee, save me, that I may not follow to where he shall be.
I believe in You, but I am lacking in faith in myself! Keep my heart humble, and anger away, and give me the strength I am missing, an ear to hear, an eye to see, and help me be obedient unto Thy Word.
I should not complain, nor whine, because thus far you have kept me from the fears that cause me distress, for which my mouth doth never stop. All this in Thy Son's Name, Jesus Christ, Amein.
A Prayer for all those that feel "watched"
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2000 Volkswagen Jetta GLS VR6 2.8L 12v from North America
Great car for those who are maintenance inclined
Hello to all those eager readers who want to know something about the 2000 Jetta GLS VR6. I am writing a detailed explanation of my personal positive experience with my car.
I am a proud happy owner of a 2000 Jetta VR6 5 speed manual transmission. I originally purchased this car used with 60,000 miles and 5 years old. (June 16th 2005).
One of the things I saw when I purchased this car was the original owner had bought an 8 year / 100,000 mile warranty, which made me really happy because those extended warranties are extremely expensive. So I assumed who ever bought this car really took care of it.
By the way, I paid $11,500 out the door for it in 2005. Any ways, as the years have gone by, I have some scratches and 1 minor ding in the body, I have numerously ripped my front bumper off, but have learned to be cautious and haven't done it in quite some time.
When I first bought the car, the gas mileage was 21 in the city and 32 on the highway. I am now at 116,000 miles and the gas mileage is about 20 city and 29-30 highway.
I absolutely love the quality of leather they used. I have no creases, folds, or rips in any of my seats. The leather is in perfect condition with color and texture. The floor mats are almost brand new looking. Since I purchased the car, I have not had to replace any thing major. Two things did however catch my attention and went away by themselves.
1. A horrible coiling metal to metal noise started about 4 weeks ago, so I stopped driving the car for 6 days. I cussed at it and told it I would burn it to the ground. After some hard praying, I started it one day and the noise stopped. It hasn't made it since.
2. My A/C belt started to squeak. So I sprayed a ton of lube where the belts are and bingo. Noise gone. The few things I have replaced are the following:
1.) Battery 60$
2.) Spark Plugs 60$
3.) Oil/filter ever 2900 miles (EVERY TIME! Personally, don't trust those oil changing places! They don't change your oil filter every time and they used recycled oil)
4.) I recently just bought a K&N air filter, and have noticed a HUGE boost in performance as well as gas mileage.
5.) 4 new tires Michelin touring 205/55/16 520$
6.) Headlights/tail lights 55$
7.) Oil pan 500$ (my fault… darn Chevron and their raised gas fill tank lids on the ground)
Things I want to replace:
1.) Serpentine belt (ribbed v-belt)
2.) Spark plugs / wires
3.) Coolant flush
4.) Transmission flush
5.) Driver door window regulator (dealer asks 350$ I can do it for 60$)
6.) Arm rest clip 5$
7.) Wiper blades 20$
8.) Inside door handles as the rubbery material is peeling a tad bit. 30-50$
General Comments:
Overall, this car has been an awesome car to own. I have heard many horrible stories of how these cars have failed many different people. My beliefs are that the climate, driving habits, and proper maintenance are key aspects in keeping these cars trouble free. I have also done routine recalls.
I have also purchased a Robert Bentley auto repair manual, which is 1900 pages thick, to assist me in repairs, even though I am not mechanically inclined. This manual has every step needed to fix ANYTHING on this entire car. If any major repairs are needed, I take it to a personal mechanic instead of the dealership. My mechanic has also told me that pre 2001 in the VR6 models have more Audi parts were used in the construction of this vehicle.
I have a friend who owned a 2001 GLX VR6, and it was plagued with problems. She had numerous check engine light issues and airbag light nightmares. Once she paid it off, she got rid of it. She is still amazed on how well my car is running.
Many people however claim, out of arrogance, that I am some fanatic on Volkswagens. I am not. I am a college student who got lucky on one of these magnificent cars. I am very privileged from the quality and reliability this car has shown me. I drive it respectfully and love to drive it. I will be posting upcoming issues and prices how much things cost to repair.
My only advice to those who want to buy or who already own these cars are to do the regular maintenance and drive them respectfully. These are truly great cars, and you can't find a car that's used with the wonderful amenities, especially the 15 degree V-6 with a moon roof and heated quality leather seats, in a compact car.
In a last note, many people complain about the gas mileage and premium fuel. My advice is don't buy a car that is built for performance and then complain that it doesn't meet your expectations for gas mileage, I mean come on, they did make a TDI, which gets 44+ MPG, and a 1.8T, which routinely gets 28+ MPG in the city. From my experience 20 MPG in the city from a 4,000 pound performance car is pretty good. Many reviewers get 16-17 from lead footing it. Heck even the lame 2.0 gets decent gas mileage… after owning this car, I don't care if gas is $5.00 a gallon where I live, this car rocks and I will continue to repair it until 180,000 miles, when I plan on dumping it.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know
Review Date: 26th June, 2008
24th Apr 2010, 23:27
I agree with you; my 2000 VR6 is the best car I have ever owned... Replaced A/C unit.. but well over 100k, it runs like a scolded dog.
17th Jun 2010, 13:19
Both of your comments on the 2000 Jetta VR6 have encouraged me, especially after reading other (negative) reviews. I just purchased one for my 16 year old daughter so we will see!


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Evening all, I'm after some recommendations on floor finishes for a home workshop.
I have a room that is going to become a workshop which will house a mill, lathe, welding, grinding and wood working equipment. The existing floor in the room is floorboards on wooden joists, with laminate flooring as a finish.
The laminate flooring will be going, but i'm not sure what to put down over the floor boards that will be hard-wearing and fire resistant. I was thinking about a self leveling compound/screed, but I've got an absolute maximum of 20mm to play with, and I don't know how it would fare up being on a wooden sub floor.
Any ideas or recommendations would be great.
Floor overlay for workshop
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Floor overlay for workshop
18mm shuttering ply , cheap and chearfull , hard enough wearing , kinder on dropped tools , easy enough to sweep clean and you can temporarily screw things to it .
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Time for some straight up biz talk. I often get asked questions about my business, so I want to give you guys the full shabang, and tell you how I went from zero to hero.
Let me tell you one thing – it was no overnight success. I came from a family with very little money, I grew up in Coventry, England – a place where there were very little opportunities, and people weren't really chasing big ambitions.
When I first started my business in December 2012, I was working as a full time commercial model for various different commercial and catalogue clients, and feeling extremely unfulfilled. I was also a yoga teacher, teaching 6 classes a week.
I had a dream inside my heart.
I was completely lit up by food and health. I was just finishing up my health coaching training, had discovered a huge passion for wellness, and was trying to get clients so that I could begin my journey helping women become healthier and happier in themselves. I had a big mission on my heart. I wanted to help women transform their relationships with food, and love themselves – like I was learning to, a long standing battle with bulimia.
I had zero business training behind me. I did not get a business degree, nor did I have any investment or help whatsoever.
I just had a dream, and about 200 quid in the bank.
I had nobody in my life that showed me what 'success' looked like, no mentors, no clue what I was doing, and trying to build a business that made a difference in other people's lives – while still juggling two jobs!
Needless to say, I spent a lot of time feeling overwhelmed, confused and completely stuck. I was also broke, and had no savings.
Nevertheless, I was obsessed with doing this. I knew that creating an online business and platform to share my message was what I wanted to do, it was calling me, it kept me awake at night. I didn't know where I was going with it, but I just knew I had to pursue it.
At this time, I had also started creating recipes and food blogging in my kitchen. I was also teaching yoga at Pure Gym! Yep, that's right! I had no audience, no followers, no program for anyone to buy from me, and just a humble Facebook page called 'Mel Wells Yoga and Nutrition', where I would share recipes and advice, and tell people (my friends!) when I would be teaching a yoga class.
I was trying to build my own website on a free platform, and spending up to 10 hours a day trying to figure out how to do it. I couldn't afford to pay anyone to build it, so I did it by myself, and back in 2013, trust me it was much harder than it is now! I pulled a lot of all nighters teaching myself how to do everything from scratch (and it was still terrible!), and I even used my modelling contacts to bag free photoshoots in the park – so I had decent photos for my website, of me holding a smoothie or doing yoga!
I had no idea how to build a brand, get clients or find my tribe.
People around me thought I was bonkers. "Get a normal job!" some people said. "Stick to what you know!" they said.
And now?
Since starting my business in 2012 with zero in the bank, I have now gone on to build multiple six figures in revenue, all by sharing my powerful message, and helping women to change their lives for the better. I landed my dream book deal and wrote the bestselling book 'The Goddess Revolution', published by my dream publisher Hay House, followed up by my second book which became an instant bestseller, 'Hungry For More'.
I have become a TEDx speaker, been featured in top publications such as Forbes, Women's Health, Cosmopolitan, OK Magazine and the BBC, have appeared on TV shows such as Loose Women and Good Morning LALA Land, I have grown a team I love that work all over the world, created my online signature program The Academy which has now helped over a thousand women to make peace with food and love themselves, and ran global women's transformation retreats in Bali, Thailand, the Maldives, and the UK for over 4 years.
I created the world's first Self Love Summit, where 400 women annually come together in London to be inspired, empowered and educated on all things personal growth, and this year launched my new membership, The Goddess Collective, welcoming over 600 women in the doors.
On top of that, I have been able to travel the world at the same time, living my dream life, while running my business from my laptop.
I spend my life travelling between London, LA and Bali, running my business from my laptop and coaching my clients over Zoom.
Sounds pretty epic right?
I tell you all of this not only to brag – because let's be honest, I'm damn proud of what I've achieved having starting from nothing.
I tell you all of this because if there is something stirring in your soul that tells you now is the time for you to start your dream business, then I want you to know that this type of life is one hundred percent available for you too.
If I can do it, you can too.
It was most definitely not easy, and definitely not an overnight success, it took years of work to get to where I am now.
I LOVE seeing so many women in my audience starting their passion businesses online. It makes me SO happy that more of us women are becoming empowered to live their lives on their terms – especially when it involves starting a business that helps other women!
So, how did I do it?
I could break it down step by step for you – but I thought instead, I'd share with you the person who helped me in my first year of business, when I was broke, scrambling, and had no idea what I was doing.
Allow me to introduce to you my first mentor in business – Marie Forleo.
This woman taught me step by step how to learn and navigate the world of online business, how to market to my audience without feeling salesy, how to find my tribe and create programs I truly love. I literally cannot thank this woman enough for all the magic she has brought into my life.
When I was struggling and desperate to make ends meet and grow my business, she showed me the ways of online business, so I could cut through the overwhelm. It truly made everything SO much more enjoyable, and made me see what was really possible for my life and business. She completely opened my eyes.
Thanks to her program, B-School, I was able to create a business and life that I love. I could not be more thankful to this lady. B-School taught me so much about building an authentic business from the heart.
If you've been in my audience for a while, you'll know I never sell anyone else's stuff to you. I hardly ever do 'ads' on social media, and I don't ever promote things to you on email that I don't fully believe in. That's because I care about you, and me, and I will only send you details of other people's programs if a) I have actually done them myself! and b) I know they are incredible!
Marie chooses to only open B-School once a year – and that time is SOON. (Tuesday Feb 19th to be exact)
I believe in Marie's work so much, that I am now a proud affiliate for B-School. B-School and Marie, completely changed the course of my life, and I simply have to pay it forward to you goddesses.
This means I've prepared for you a juicy bonus if you join up through me!
I'll keep that bonus under wraps for now, but trust me when I say you are going to love it!
Right now, B-School doesn't open until 19th February.
BUT… I'll be in touch to let you know when Marie's free 3 part training is officially LIVE. You aren't gonna want to miss that. She gives a TON of value in this 3 part training, so whether you want to do B-School or not, you'll be well on your way to crafting your dream business.
Marie truly is THE BEST in the business world, someone I have admired for years and if it wasn't for B-School, I can confidently say there is no way I would be where I am now.
I'll let you know when B-School officially opens too, so you can join and get your bonus from me!
With so much love –
Marie's Free Video Training is Now LIVE! 🎉
In this FREE 3 part video training she'll share with you:
– A simple 6 step roadmap to help you launch and grow your business online with class and smarts.
– How to overcome the fear and doubt that keeps most business owners stuck.
– The exact framework she used to build a highly profitable global brand.
– What you need to focus on first, second, third and so on to eliminate overwhelm and take consistent action.
Are you ready to bring your dream business to life? 🙌🏻


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Last month, I took part in the 2nd Annual Brava! This event is a fundraiser for the YWCA of the Greater Capital Region. The evening features local writers performing readings on the subject of brassiers in their lives. I read my essay "Just the Bra for This" last year, and was honored to have another essay selected by the jury for this year's successful event. Thanks to my sister Sandy, who was also one of this year's featured writers, you can watch a video of me reading this essay.
Yes, this is a true story. Yes, I still talk to Don and he knows I shared the story publicly. I know I am not the only wheelchair user who has had odd things stuck in her wheels. Since I shared this video on my Facebook page, friends have shared their stories of underwear, hair ties, socks – you name it – stuck in their wheels. To my knowledge, I am the only one with an unruly underwire though.
Unruly Underwire
My longest romantic relationship started because I was being held hostage by a bra.
When Don first called in late September 2001 to ask me on a date, I was using a lightweight manual wheelchair. It had removable armrests, swing-away footrests and weighed less than 22 pounds. It was everything I wanted and needed from a wheelchair at the time.
The only part of the chair I didn't love was the front wheel, or caster, mount. My front casters were four inches in diameter, held in place with a fork mount allowing them to spin and rotate easily, too easily. Things were always getting caught in them – hair, yarn, string, even fake cobwebs at Halloween.
I don't really know how it happened. I was sitting in my bedroom, sorting laundry when the phone rang. The basket tumbled off my lap as I dashed across the floor to grab the cordless headset. Don said hello as I backed up to collect the wrinkled shirts and pants now on the floor around me.
Except, I didn't move. My front wheel was stuck, not rotating, not turning, nothing. I almost flipped backwards as I uselessly struggled to reverse my chair off the pile of clothes. Looking down I realized something was wedged into the caster fork, through the front wheel.
My pink underwire bra, a favorite because of the fit, color and comfort, had somehow become twisted up inside the wheel. The wire itself, which had been threatening to come loose from its casing for weeks, was now wedged across the wheel, effectively locking it. My attempts to move and turn had simply lodged the bra firmly in place, preventing any wheel movement whatsoever.
I sat listening to Don, wondering how to bring this up in conversation. How exactly do you tell a male stranger that you are held hostage by a bra? A bright pink bra?
Um, excuse me Don. You don't seem like a psychopath, and I'd like to talk to you, but there is a bra stuck in my wheelchair so now's not the best time for us to have our first conversation.
Yeah – to pull that off without scaring a guy obviously flirting with me, who is interested in me, and who called me? As a rule, men didn't often pursue me, so I was not going to jeopardize a potential romantic connection just because of an unruly underwire!
I continued to talk with Don as I frantically tried to come up with a strategy to set me free. All my adult life, I have joked with friends that living with disability has made me a female MacGyver, the TV hero who could get himself out of any sticky situation. Put me in a tough spot with very few resources, and I can problem solve my way through just about anything. But try as I might, I could not release the bra from the wheel. I twisted and contorted my body, bending forward, trying to pull the strap to move the wire while still maintaining a grip on the phone.
Yes, I love visiting bookstores.
I grabbed a pen off my dresser and attempted to push the bra out through the hole in the wheel.
No, I haven't been to the new Barnes and Noble.
I leaned over the opposite way to take weight off the wheel praying to get it to spin freely, all the while making what I hoped were appropriate responses and encouraging remarks to Don.
Coffee on Sunday? I think that sounds great!
After an hour I realized the only way to liberate myself was to sacrifice the pink underwire and just cut the bra loose. I could see my scissors on the desk next to my bed, four feet away. Somehow, I had to get them.
So, I removed an armrest and used it to push the laundry basket across the floor to the desk. Turning a dirty pair of pants into a lasso, I tossed one pant leg over to the desk. The pants and the scissors slid and after four attempts, fell into the laundry basket. I dragged the basket containing the coveted scissors back to me with the chair armrest.
Snipping the offending undergarment into multiple pieces, I laughed in vindication. I wheeled backwards, taking in the tattered pink satin scraps scattered on the floor like cotton candy confetti. I wielded my shears in victory as I tossed the misshapen underwire into the trash.
MacGyver's got nothin' on me.


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Gonzofest 2013 will be held at the Monkey Wrench on April 13, 2013 from noon until close. This event is all ages until 7pm when the festival becomes 21+. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door. For $5 you can upgrade to VIP status. This Hunter S. Thompson themed festival is complete with an Art and Literary Contest, local breweries, art fair, and live music.
The music lineup:
- Nerves Junior
- The Blacktop Farmers
- Whiskey Bent Valley Boys
- Iron Bells
- Discount Guns
- The Moonlight Peddlers
- Jack Holiday and the Westerners (I'll be playing fiddle in this band!)
- Bobby O
- Nick Dittmeier
- Sam and Tyler
- The Bottom Sop
- Jess Langer
Presale tickets available starting March 29th.
Images and video: courtesy of Gonzofest's Facebook page


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CS wall air intake
CS wall air intake
Wall air intakes are intended for drawing fresh air from outside of the wall.
Product description
Wall intake vents are made of steel sheets protected with the paint coatings.
Presentation of % participation of fresh air, for which wall intakes of dimensions equal with intake boxes meet the condition of air inlet velocity less than 2,5 m/s it means: they will not suck the rain.
Working conditions
ERM 0&1 units can operate totally on the outdoor air with the wall intakes dimensions equal with the cross-sections of the intake boxes.
For the TERM 2, 3 and 4 units and operated totally on the outdoor air the wall intakes are selected by the manufacturer (wall intakes will have the bigger surfaces area).
Files to download
|TERM catalogue sheet


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Main Content
About the Talk
June 9, 2010 7:45 AM
Baltimore, MDBaltimore, MD
JRuby has been running Rails for years, but the new Rails 3 release presents enticing possibilities for Ruby development on the Java platform. Even if you don't need to integrate with a Java codebase, JRuby can offer you performance and deployment alternatives.
Links: Website


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When Alexa was choosing her A Level options, I believe I may have offered her everything available to persuade (read: bribe) her to opt for one of our English subjects offered. Fortunately, after the promise of providing her with cake every lesson and the next school building named in her honour, Alexa decided that both Language and Literature would suffice. Alexa is one of the rare students who is just exceptional at absolutely ruddy everything, often frustrating her proud yet envious teachers with her sheer brilliance. Alexa has been an enthusiastic, hard-working and high achieving student of English throughout all her Whitbread years. Always succeeding with an air of humility and humbleness, she worked incredibly hard to achieve her A* in Literature and should be very proud of attaining 100% in all components of her English Language GCSE; a truly remarkable feat. Her writing, which has always been a pleasure to read, is concise, sophisticated and her vocabulary developed. An exceptional example of this can be found in her Literature essay below, which scored 40 out of 40. Although she would hate for me to state so, Alexa is one of the finest English students in Whitbread history, and I look forward to her success in the future.
The speaker in the Laboratory by Robert Browning and Lady Macbeth in Shakespeare's Macbeth are both disturbed characters, but the speaker is more so. Discuss.
Firstly, the authors of these two works portray disturbed characters through guilt (or lack thereof). Before the murder of Duncan, Lady Macbeth attempts to push away any potential guilt about killing another human being by saying 'stop up the access and passage to remorse', implying that she knows that what she is planning to do is wrong and she expects to feel bad later, yet she believes that her quest for power is more important than simple human emotions. In contrast, Speaker displays no such expectations of remorse as she asks the apothecary 'which is the poison to poison her, prithee?' The repetition of 'poison' suggests a certain level of excitement, as if she thinks the whole idea of murder is an enjoyable game. This repetition also draws attention to the word 'poison', making it apparent that Speaker has a fascination with the method of death, not just the possible rewards gained upon the task's completion, unlike Lady Macbeth, who upon first impression may seem as disturbed as a character can get, but in this case is outdone by Speaker.
After Macbeth has become king and Lady Macbeth is queen, the guilt she has tried so hard to keep under control takes over and her true feelings spill out as she sleepwalks. While imagining that Macbeth is by her side, Lady Macbeth admits that 'all the perfumes of Arabia could not sweeten this little hand'. It could be argued that this scene is the weakest we see Lady Macbeth, and it is only in this scene that any character describes any part of her as feminine; she describes her own hand as 'little', a typically female characteristic. Finally she thinks of herself as feminine, when she is no longer strong and is too evil to be redeemed, which shows her disturbed nature in her disgust for her own sex, as although the inferiority of women was a commonly held view at the time Shakespeare wrote Macbeth, this extent of self-loathing because of it would have been unusual. The Laboratory finishes before any killings take place, but at the end, Speaker talks of her plans to 'dance at the King's' once the deed is done. Even before the killings, Lady Macbeth never expresses such a blasé attitude towards the act of murder, whereas Speaker goes so far as to say that she wants to party, completely unaffected, demonstrating her extremely disturbed nature.
Love, one of the main themes in almost all literary texts, is somewhat put on hold in Macbeth and the Laboratory. Lady Macbeth's feelings towards Macbeth are in no way romantic and she only uses him to gain power; after she has been informed of Macbeth's potential to rule Scotland and she starts to come up with a plan, she spares not a though for Macbeth as she thinks about how Duncan will meet his end under '[her] battlements'. Since Macbeth is the man and Lady Macbeth should look up to him, this immediate dismissal of him proves that Lady Macbeth is disturbed. At the other end of the scale of 'love', Speaker is completely obsessed with Partner, so much so that she is unable to place any blame about his unfaithfulness on him, instead focusing her anger on Woman, whom Speaker believes has 'ensnared him'. Speaker's disturbed nature is enhanced by the delusion that Partner is weak and needs to be freed by her.
Lastly, the two's dastardly characters are made all the more intense by their connections to the apparent devious nature of women. Their cruelty is part of this theme. Lady Macbeth is the epitome of cold calculation and believes Macbeth to be weak because he is 'too full of the milk of human kindness'. To her, the ends more than justify the means – as long as the ends include her gaining power – and kindness is an obstacle that needs to be overcome. 'Not that I bid you spare her the pain' is one line in which Speaker's own brand of cruelty is abundantly clear. Her sadistic satisfaction in imagining her victim's pain and suffering as she dies shows how, while Speaker cares about the means just as much (probably more than) the ends, the particular way in which she wants the means to be carried out is disturbing, rather than just.
In the Jacobean era, when Shakespeare wrote Macbeth, people wholeheartedly believed in witchcraft and the evil associated with it was, in their minds, completely real. Women had always made up the vast majority of the accused of this then-crime, so seeing Lady Macbeth say 'come, you spirits that tend on mortal thoughts' would most definitely have had a negative effect on public opinion of her character. Some probably equated her with evil. In the Victorian times, when Browning wrote the Laboratory, though the government no longer punished so-called witches, there were still communities whose beliefs in the occult had not quite dissipated. In the poem, Speaker compares the apothecary's laboratory to a 'devil's smithy', yet she is still there, watching him work. This displays her somewhat demon-like nature, as no person with pure intentions would want to be in a place linked with the devil. As her enjoyment of this experience is revealed just a short time after she makes this comparison, it is obvious that she knows how terrible what she is doing is but she still derives pleasure from it.
The accepted views of masculinity and femininity were similarly rigid in both the seventeenth and nineteenth centuries; men were powerful and women were subservient (or else they would have been punished). Lady Macbeth, a strong female character, actually shared this view and even asked for spirits to 'unsex' her so that she could gain power. Extreme, perhaps, but she had been brought up in a world dominated by male leaders, with women in the background, so the only way to fulfil her desires would have been to be a man, as even women called queens and ladies (including Lady Macbeth herself) only had their titles because they were married to men with the equivalent status. The way her mind has been twisted to believe totally in her own gender's inferiority makes Lady Macbeth a disturbed character to us in the twenty-first century, but to people living in Shakespeare's time, it would have been very strange if she did not. The Laboratory, written 238 years after Macbeth, was still published in a period of gender inequality, even though the current monarch was Queen Victoria. When Speaker says that a certain poison 'never will free the soul from those masculine eyes', she is saying that Woman must have man-like features because she holds power over Partner. However, the way in which Speaker describes her plan to kill all parts of her victim's femininity as she says 'her breast and her arms and her hands, should drop dead' implies that she values femininity, because she wants to remove it from Woman so that all that's left is a masculine corpse, and the way in which she insults Woman's character and then calls her eyes 'masculine' proves that, while Speaker recognises the fact that men hold the power, she actually thinks women are better. Feminists are still fighting to be heard today, and in Browning's time they were almost unheard of, making Speaker a rather disturbed character due to her nonconformist views.


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Jesus Haploid Christ, how did anyone as dumb as John Yoo appears to be get through law school? The fact that he's an unmitigated partisan hack shouldn't factor into it, because, you know, law school.
Whether he's right or wrong is almost irrelevant at this point, to be honest — given his history, he should be disbarred immediately, and then waterboarded every day until he says he's sorry (and means it).
The comments are even more priceless, though — a bunch of bigots and no-mark NRO readers (but I repeat myself) opining on Constitutional law and the limits of the Presidency as if they knew anything; notably absent is any discussion of the years 2001 to 2009 or signing statements during that time. Funny, that; it's almost as if NRO readers were hypocritical douchebags or something.
Via Zandar at B-J, who wrote a much better post than I did.
ETA: More via OTB where Doug Mataconis fails to carry as much Republican water as he usually does.


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The Library has added more textbooks for courses participating in the "Textbooks for Course Reserves" pilot project, using funds from student fees approved by the Student Senate. Students are encouraged to search the MnPALS Catalog course reserves, or Browse Course Reserves by Instructor Name or Title, to see if their course text might be on reserve.
If you have questions about the Textbooks on Course Reserves Pilot Project, please call the Reference Desk at 755-3342 (toll free 1-800-860-0234).


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Here's another great deal from Golfmiles, just for Million Mile Secrets readers!
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Link: Golfmiles
Link: My Review of Golfmiles
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Technology has given us so many ways of communicating , yet we have so little connection as we don't engage in 'real talk'! Read More
What's inside you?
What's inside of you determines your character and your greatness. We can all be heroes if we're willing to find out and work on what's on the inside of us. Read More
How Character-based Leaders Speak Truth to Power
3 Leaders resigned from President Trumps Council. They were heralded as 'heroes'. However, this raises the question of leaders 'speaking truth to power". Read More


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Hello Christopher! Thank you for chatting with me today and congrats on the B.R.A.G. Medallion What an honor. Tell me a little about your book, The Winter Chaser.
I wanted to write a true dystopian novel. By that I mean an adventure story set in the future but in reality it is a social commentary on the present age.
How did you come up with the idea for your story?
By being observant. For instance when travelling around London in the bus I eavesdrop on conversations. I always carry a small notebook and record current trends in language, fashion, the rise of "isms", and new dogmas, especially in health and political correctness. All these I extend into parody.
Why did you choose the 2301? And how do you visualize the world in that time?
2301 is sufficiently far ahead in the future to give conjecture a free hand but not so distant as to become fantasy. It is still in historical reach of my so-called Template Year 2000.
In your book description you say, "Brit Modern idolises youth, sex, perfect physiques and celebrity culture." Which is pretty much par for the course now in our youth. Is there a message your young reads can come away with in this story?
In "The Winter Chaser" it is not the young but the middle aged and elderly who are most preoccupied with social networking, appearance and celebrity culture etc. The reaction against these obsessions comes from the young people themselves, many of them even refusing to carry the obligatory mobile phone or to engage in compulsory networking.
What are Wyngates weaknesses and strengths?
Wyngate is obdurate, outspoken, judgmental and sometimes cruelly mischievous. However, he risks his life to take a brave stand against the herd mentality forced upon the citizens of Brit Modern and is the first to flee the frontier into the forbidden territory of UnBritain.
Is this a stand-alone novel?
No. Next year I hope to introduce Winter Chaser 2-"Europa".
The premise for your story is really fascinating. I'm sure your readers will be delighted when your second books comes out.
How long did it take to write, The Winter Chaser and what advice would you give to someone who wanted to write in this genre?
It took me two years to write "The Winter Chaser". In writing a dystopian novel I think one should avoid becoming too imaginatively involved with the technologies of the future. It is not meant to be science fiction. Carrying a notebook forces me to be a student of the here and now.
I would have to agree with you on that….
Who are your influences?
Writers such as HG Wells, CS Lewis and Aldous Huxley. My father was something of a prophet of the future and he had a deep influence on me. I also owe a debt to modern satirists like the columnists in "Private Eye".
Where in your home do you like to write?
No particular place. If the weather is good I like to write outside-"plain air" prose seems to have more sparkle. Otherwise I work at my desk or in the Reference section of my local library.
How did you discover indieBRAG?
A good friend introduced me to Indie BRAG. It is a unique institution and a remarkable supporter of new writers.
Where can readers but your book?
The Winter Chaser "can be bought on Amazon either as a paperback or on Kindle.
A message from BRAG:
We are delighted that Stephanie has chosen to interview Christopher Holt, who is the author of, The Winter Chaser, one of our medallion at indieBRAG. To be awarded a B.R.A.G. MedallionTM, a book must receive unanimous approval by a group of our readers. It is a daunting hurdle and it serves to reaffirm that a book such as, The Winter Chaser merits the investment of a reader's time and money.


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Since the Statens Naturhistoriske Museum competition, a debate has been ongoing in Denmark about the project and the brief that insisted the building go underground. We had our own thoughts on that, placing the building underground but with a glass spire that worked into the logic of Copenhagen's cityscape.
In the latest issues of major Danish architecture magazine Arkitekten, academic and architect Thomas Bo Jensen makes a case for the underground building, citing Utzon's unbuilt masterwork at Silkeborg as an excellent example of the type, which he then compares to TERROIR's prize-winning entry to the competition.


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Blogs by Maritime Community
All inflatable life rafts have an emergency pack which according to SOLAS requirement, there are SOLAS A and B two type. Here we will learn the difference between SOLAS A and B.
1.Life rafts: Standards of equipment
Life Raft Construction
Life Raft Equipment
Additional equipment required to bring life-raft to SOLAS approved standard. SOLAS A is more comprehensive than SAOLA B!
SOLAS "B" EQUIPMENT: (in addition to all standard equipment described above)
SOLAS "A" EQUIPMENT: (in addition to all standard and SOLAS B equipment described above)
The Global Maritime Community has many type of players and many are members of this Club. You may find them as per your need by using the filter below


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– By Stephen Cohen, O.D.
When we see a rainbow, it is the composite of colors of visible "white light" radiation. On one end is "blue" light, which comes right after Ultraviolet Radiation (UV). The potential damaging effects of UV are well known. It can contribute to skin damage (aging, cancer) and contributes to cataract development in the eyes. It has now been shown that the blue end of the visible spectrum of light can penetrate deeper into our eyes and may contribute to conditions such as macular degeneration. The macula is the sensitive part of the retina that gives us our central, sharp vision.
Blue light comes from the sun, but is also emitted by overhead lighting, hand held devices, smart phones, and computers. Blue light also stimulates the pituitary gland. This is part of the process that tells us it's time to wake up in the morning. It is, therefore, interesting that when people pick up their iPad or iPhone when they have trouble sleeping, they are actually further stimulating their "wake-up" system.
There are several things that can be done to protect our eyes from UV and blue light. Most sunglasses include UV protection, but might not carry over into the blue end of the visible spectrum. However, there are coatings (virtually clear) that can be added to any glasses that blocks UV and blue light, as well as reducing glare that can cause strain. There are also supplements that can help to protect the backs of our eyes. Many of you may have heard of "Lutein," which is a retinal metabolite that protects the back of our eyes. There are now products that have this plus two other important supplements that help to maintain the thickness of the sensitive part of our retinae, which, in turn, helps to block UV and blue light. The right type of Omega-3's could also protect the back of the eyes.
There are modifiable risk factors for macular degeneration (e.g., smoking, high BMI, fatty diets, sun/blue light exposure, thinning of the macula) and non-modifiable risks (e.g., age, female greater than male, light colored eyes or skin, family history, inherited inflammatory disease). A low-fat diet with plenty of green, leafy vegetables, as well as supplements and lifestyle modifications can help to prevent this debilitating disease. Your eyes will thank you for it!


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Archive for the 'theology' Category
Christ's Death Effects Our Glorification
Eph. 1:7, 2:4-7 – In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace…But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
John Owen writes in his book, The Death of Death in the Death of Christ, that Christ's death effects our glorification. Grasping this truth is very similar in difficulty to grasping the truth that Christ's death effects our sanctification. For we can easily see Christ's death bringing us reconciliation with God and bringing us justification we so desperately need and adoption as children of God. However, the connection between Christ's death and our glorification is often overlooked because it, like our sanctification, does not appear to us as directly connected to Christ's death on the cross. In the believer's experience, glorification, like sanctification, is not an immediately realized benefit. This is primarily why it is helpful for the Christian to consider ultimate things and the death of Christ purchasing those ultimate things for us.
The crucial question in this matter is what kind of connection does the scripture make between Christ's death on the cross and the ultimate glorification of those who are in Christ. In other words, did Christ's death on the cross purchase the glorification of those who are in Christ? If Christ's death did purchase the glorification of those who are in Christ, then those who are in Christ are ultimately secure in their salvation. However, if Christ's death only made it possible for those who are in Christ to be glorified then what, if anything, ultimately secures the salvation of those who are in Christ? Did Christ's death secure the believer's glorification or merely make it possible for them to be glorified? The New Testament's answer? – Christ's death on the cross secures the ultimate glorification of those who, in faith, look to Christ's death on the cross as the only acceptable satisfaction of the penalty for our sins in the eyes of God.
Read John 6 and you'll see the phrase used by Jesus himself over and over that he "will raise it/him up on the last day"
v. 39 – And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day.
v. 40 – For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.
v. 44 – No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.
v. 54 – Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.
The use of the word "him" or "it" above refers to those whom the Father has given to the Son, who look on the Son in faith, who are drawn by the Father to come to Jesus, and whose life comes from the sacrifice of Christ on the cross. Notice the definite language that Christ uses. He doesn't say it is a possibility that he will raise these up on the last day. He says he WILL raise these up on the last day.
You can see the connection in the first two chapters of Ephesians. The phrase that makes the connection appears in 1:7 and 2:7 – "riches of his grace." In 1:7 the phrase is used to point the reader to the blood of Christ, shed on the cross, for our redemption – Christ's death. Then in 2:7, Paul uses the same phrase to describe for us the kindness of God toward us in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Paul explicitly proclaims to the reader of the epistle that part of God's work in Christ was to raise up with Christ those who are redeemed by his blood and to seat them with him in the heavenly places – our glorification. Christ's primary work is accomplished at the cross. This was Christ's focus in his earthly ministry and it is what we will behold in our glorified state for all eternity as we sing the songs proclaiming the worth of the Lamb who was slain. Christ's death effects our glorification.
Christ's Death Effects our Adoption
Romans 8:15-17 – For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!" The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs–heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
Christ's death effects our adoption. Consider the illustration of adoption in relation to our life in Christ. Without Christ's death on our behalf to pay for our sin, then we are not brought into God's family as his children. Adoption is a potent illustration of what happens in the life of a sinner when they are awakened to their need for Jesus' substitutionary death on the cross. I recently heard of the experience of Dr. Russell Moore, the dean of the school of theology at Southern Seminary, when he adopted two Russian baby boys. I heard this story and I saw my life portrayed in the experience of these two little Russian boys. Dr. Moore writes:
When Maria and I first walked into the orphanage, where we were led to the boys the Russian court had picked out for us to adopt, we almost vomited in reaction to the stench and squalor of the place. The boys were in cribs in the dark, lying in their own waste. Leaving them at the end of each day was painful, but leaving them the final day before going home to wait for the paperwork to go through, was the hardest thing either of us had ever done. Walking out of the room to prepare for the plane ride home, Maria and I could hear Maxim crying out for us and falling down in his crib, convulsing in tears. Maria shook with tears and I turned around to walk back in their room just for a minute. I placed my hand on both their heads and said, knowing they couldn't understand a word of my English, "I will not leave you as orphans, I will come to you." I don't think I consciously intended to cite Jesus' words to his disciples in John 14:18. It just seemed like the only thing worth saying at the time.
When Maria and I at long last received the call that the legal process was over, and we returned to Russia to pick up our new sons, we found that their transition from orphanage to family was more difficult than we had supposed. We dressed the boys in outfits our parents had bought them. My mother-in-law gathered some wildflowers growing between cracks in the pavement outside the orphanage. We nodded our thanks to the orphanage workers and walked out into the sunlight – to the terror of the two boys. They'd never seen the sun and they'd never felt the wind. They'd never heard the sound of a car door slamming or had the sensation of being carried along at a hundred miles an hour down a Russian road. I noticed that they were shaking and reaching back to the orphanage in the distance. I whispered to Sergei, now Timothy, "that place is a pit, if only you knew what's waiting for you. A home. With a mommy and daddy who love you. Grandparents. And great-grandparents. And cousins and playmates. And McDonald's Happy Meals." But all they knew was the orphanage. It was squalid but they had no other reference point, and it was home.
We knew the boys had acclimated to our home, that they trusted us, when they stopped hiding food in their high chairs. They knew there would be another meal coming, and they would not have to fight for the scraps. This was the new normal. They are now thoroughly Americanized, perhaps too much so, able to recognize the sound of a microwave ding from 40 yards away. I still remember, though, those little hands reaching for the orphanage. And I see myself there.
Why do we not live for Christ as we ought? Why do we not hate sin as we ought? It is because lying in a bed of our own waste is all we know and we spend little to no time considering what it is like to live beyond the walls of our orphanage – to live outside of our slavery to sin. We've come to love our sin more than the one who can free us from our sin, just as those little boys had come to love that squalid orphanage more than those who had come to free them from it even though they were crying out to be freed from it. The reason we continue to fall back into sin as if we were enslaved to it is because without even knowing it, we have become so comfortable with the conditions in the orphanage and have spent so little time thinking about the reward – Christ, whose death effects our adoption.
Christ's Death and Sanctification
John Owen says that Christ's death effects our sanctification. So what is "sanctification"? Wayne Grudem's definition of sanctification – "a progressive work of God and man that makes us more and more free from sin and like Christ in our actual lives." Now, how does Christ's death effect the progressive work of God and man making us more and more free from sin and like Christ in our actual lives? To see how Christ's death effects our reconciliation and justification is obvious. However, it is not immediately obvious how Christ's death effects our sanctification. Spending some time in Romans 6 is helpful in trying to understand this connection though.
As I had been struggling with this for a few days, the Lord providentially brought it together for me on Sunday morning as I listened to the preacher. He spoke of an individual's perpetual state of enslavement – the preacher said, "We never stop being slaves." This thought does not occur to many Christians. Yet this is the word picture Paul uses in Romans 6. Either you are a slave to sin or to righteousness but you never stop being a slave. It seems that many "Christians" love to speak of the freedom we have in Christ and, as a result, conveniently forget that when we were granted freedom from sin we became slaves of righteousness. That is the key here to understanding why John Owen says that Christ's death effects our sanctification.
Though I'm not at all familiar with the details, I'm aware that some believe a Christian to be sinless once they are regenerate. From what I understand of the false-teaching is that when someone is saved from their sins, they no longer sin. That kind of theology doesn't fly when you consider what Paul writes in Romans 6 and 7.
Yes, the Christian is set free from sin by Christ's death. But the Christian doesn't get set free from sin so that he/she can be in a state of spiritual anarchy. We are set free from sin so that we can be free to obey God. Christ's death purchased our freedom from sin and made us slaves to righteousness when, by faith, we trust in Christ's sacrifice on the cross as sufficient to pay the penalty for our sins. Without this freedom from slavery to sin, the process of sanctification can never start. I used to serve sin but God saved me from that fruitless way of life so that I could serve Him, as I was created to do, for all eternity. So once we are saved from sin, we spend the rest of our lives proving it by living according to the Spirit and His sanctifying power at work in our lives. Verse 22 sums it up for us – "But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life." Christ's death effects our sanctification.
Christ's Death Effects Our Justification with God
But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
Justification is a forgotten, or at least a much neglected, necessity of the gospel. Many speak of God's forgiveness as though every human being needs it (after all – no one is perfect, right?) and every human being deserves it and every human being has it as his or her birthright. I would agree that every human being needs God's forgiveness (but it would be an understatement to say the issue only goes as deep as our "imperfection" – see this previous post). However, we have no rights before God upon which we can claim his forgiveness or demand his forgiveness. The scriptures are clear that we have no merits before God. We are utterly undeserving of any of God's gifts much more the free gift of his forgiveness.
This is why we should adore and tremble in the truth of Romans 3:21. "The righteousness of God" – the standard we all must adhere to if we are to be justified before God. Don't be misled – because of God's justice and holiness he does not just forgive sin. The penalty for sin must be dealt out. There must be justice. And this is what makes v. 21 so sweet – because the righteousness of God came outside of the Old Covenant. It was the righteousness of God that can be ours – not through works, but through faith in Christ.
The testimony of scripture is that we have all sinned and so there is no one who is righteous according to the law. The imagery is of a courtroom. The condemned, having been proven guilty, stand before the judge awaiting sentencing. Imagine in our day a convicted murderer standing before a judge in one of America's courtroom's asking the judge to please forgive his murderous ways. A judge who simply says, "you're forgiven", is no judge at all because, as a judge, his job is to deal justly with those who break the law. Where is the justice in mere forgiveness? You and I would not stand for such a thing even with our corrupt human standards.
You and I – we have broken God's law and we stand before the Judge who is infinitely more righteous than any judge in the courtrooms of this world. If the judges in this deal justly, how much more will The Judge of all the earth deal justly. There is no sweeping of transgressions under the rug. Justice must be executed.
The gospel does NOT mean that God merely forgives. The gospel says that God justifies sinners – he makes us right with himself by pouring out the penalty for our sins upon the Holy One, Jesus Christ. Sin's penalty has been satisfied by a righteous substitute, Jesus Christ. Therefore, those who will look to Christ's death in faith as the means by which God's wrath was absorbed (a propitiation) will not only be forgiven of their sins, but will receive the righteousness of God – 2 Cor. 5:21, "For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." That is justification. Since God's wrath is absorbed and the penalty for sins is dealt with in Christ, God is just in forgiving sins. No one can say that God's forgiveness granted to sinners is an injustice. His forgiveness does not contradict his justice. As Romans 3:26 says, he is both just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Christ's death effects our justification.
Some changes
I added some new links in the side bar under websites and blogroll. I also added a couple of sermons to the sermons tab.
Also, another quote from John Calvin's Institutes of the Christian Religion:
Enlightened by him, we no longer believe, either on our own Judgment or that of others, that the Scriptures are from God; but, in a way superior to human Judgment, feel perfectly assured—as much so as if we beheld the divine image visibly impressed on it—that it came to us, by the instrumentality of men, from the very mouth of God. We ask not for proofs or probabilities on which to rest our Judgment, but we subject our intellect and Judgment to it as too transcendent for us to estimate. This, however, we do, not in the manner in which some are wont to fasten on an unknown object, which, as soon as known, displeases, but because we have a thorough conviction that, in holding it, we hold unassailable truth; not like miserable men, whose minds are enslaved by superstition, but because we feel a divine energy living and breathing in it—an energy by which we are drawn and animated to obey it, willingly indeed, and knowingly, but more vividly and effectually than could be done by human will or knowledge…Such, then, is a conviction which asks not for reasons; such, a knowledge which accords with the highest reason, namely knowledge in which the mind rests more firmly and securely than in any reasons; such in fine, the conviction which revelation from heaven alone can produce. I say nothing more than every believer experiences in himself, though my words fall far short of the reality.
Christ's Death Effects Our Reconciliation to God
For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
Paul writes in this text about the ungodly…about sinners…about those who need to be saved from the wrath of God…about enemies of God. He is talking about me and he is talking about you. Many may say, "But I don't feel as though I'm ungodly, or a sinner, or under his wrath, or his enemy." But the issue is not about how you feel toward God. The issue is how does God feel toward you. Now we think naturally that God will love us no matter what because God is love. However, the fact that God is love is the reason why he hates what is wrong and he hates sin and he judges sinners and pours out his wrath on the ungodly. But this is completely foreign to our concept of God. However, our concept of God centers around us and our good and not on God and his glory. Our concept of God is devoid of God's revelation and is filled with this world's philosophy.
We always take pleasure in seeing God as good and that is fine, however, the problem is that we deny reality and also take pleasure in seeing ourselves as good. If God is good and we are good then who needs reconciliation? If we don't need reconciliation then we certainly don't need God to come in the flesh and die on the cross in our place. So eat drink and be merry, right?
But consider your heart for a moment…if we brought the evidence of your life into the courtroom would you be proven godly or ungodly? Would you be proven righteous or a sinner? Would you be proven justified or guilty? Would you be under the wrath of God or would you be a friend of God? The reality is that if you have spent a second of your life as ungodly – then it proves you to be ungodly. If you have spent a second in disobedience to the Creator God – then it proves you are a sinner, you are guilty, you are under the just wrath of God and you are his enemy. The Bible says, "For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it (James 2:10)." The point of the law is not for you to keep it, but to demonstrate to you like a teacher, that you cannot keep it and so need to be reconciled to God.
I am ungodly. I am guilty. I spend most of my waking moments actively living with no regard for God and his glory. And most of the time my life would not be considered "sinful" according to this world's categories. This is the essence of ungodliness. If I drive home and do it in a way that gives no regard to God and his glory, or I watch a football game on TV and do it in a way that gives no regard to God and his glory – then I have been ungodly. Now you may think – no big deal. Does God really care about how we drive and how we watch TV? But consider how many of us have done far worse – intentionally seeking worldly pleasures because it made us feel good and we had absolutely no regard for God and his glory in the process. Really what is the difference – whether we actively sought base things or not we were still ungodly. God says it like this in Isaiah 48:10 – "For my own sake, for my own sake, I do it, for how should my name be profaned? My glory I will not give to another." Sorry, you may think that you don't need to be reconciled with God – but you would be wrong. Jesus died for every single one of our ungodly moments – and there are too many for us to count, which makes us guilty before God and deserving of his just wrath. And if you aren't reconciled to God then you will stay in that condition for all eternity. That is why Jesus died on the cross – 1 Peter 3:10, "For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God…"
Be reconciled to God. Let's admit our ungodliness…our disobedience to God…our disregard for his glory. And then let's turn away from those things to trust in Christ's death on the cross to bring us, reconciled, to God.
The Effects of the Death of Death (introduction)
I got John Owen's, The Death of Death in the Death of Christ, for Christmas. I spent many hours in J.I. Packer's introduction to the book and Owen's note "To The Reader" (where Owen says, "If thou art, as many in this pretending age, a sign or title gazer, and comest into books as Cato into the theatre, to go out again, -thou hast had thy entertainment; farewell!"). Packer's intro is very instructive and if you get this book you should definitely get the one that has Packer's introduction. I'll post more from Packer's intro at at another time, although you can get a taste of it here.
After reading the first couple of chapters – and believe me…it is slow reading, I was just struck by this notion: If you walked into your local Christian bookstore and went to the best seller rack you would not find as many scripture references in all the books on that shelf combined as there are in Owen's first couple of chapters. Every other sentence is straight out of the Bible. It is remarkable. What kind of Christianity is being sold to us on the best sellers rack in the Christian bookstore? You could possibly make a case that it is not a biblical Christianity.
Anyways, back to Owen and his book…In the first chapter he talks about the end and the effect of Christ's death. Here are the effects that he lists: Reconciliation, Justification, Sanctification, Adoption, and Glorification (though Owen does not use the word. Instead he says it like this: "Neither do the effects of the death of Christ rest here; they leave us not until we are settled in heaven, in glory and immortality for ever.")
A Quote from the Institutes
Since, I'm slacking on writing I thought I'd just share another quote from my reading of John Calvin's, The Institutes of the Christian Religion:
At this day, however, the earth sustains on her bosom many monster minds—minds which are not afraid to employ the seed of Deity deposited in human nature as a means of suppressing the name of God. Can any thing be more detestable than this madness in man, who, finding God a hundred times both in his body and his soul, makes his excellence in this respect a pretext for denying that there is a God?
John Calvin, The Institutes of the Christian Religion
More Quotes I Found While Reading the Institutes
Enlightened by him, we no longer believe, either on our own Judgment or that of others, that the Scriptures are from God; but, in a way superior to human Judgment, feel perfectly assured—as much so as if we beheld the divine image visibly impressed on it—that it came to us, by the instrumentality of men, from the very mouth of God. We ask not for proofs or probabilities on which to rest our Judgment, but we subject our intellect and Judgment to it as too transcendent for us to estimate. This, however, we do, not in the manner in which some are wont to fasten on an unknown object, which, as soon as known, displeases, but because we have a thorough conviction that, in holding it, we hold unassailable truth; not like miserable men, whose minds are enslaved by superstition, but because we feel a divine energy living and breathing in it—an energy by which we are drawn and animated to obey it, willingly indeed, and knowingly, but more vividly and effectually than could be done by human will or knowledge…Such, then, is a conviction which asks not for reasons; such, a knowledge which accords with the highest reason, namely knowledge in which the mind rests more firmly and securely than in any reasons; such in fine, the conviction which revelation from heaven alone can produce. I say nothing more than every believer experiences in himself, though my words fall far short of the reality.
John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion
Reading "The Institutes"
Last week, my brother and I started reading John Calvin's "Institutes of the Christian Religion". Pick up a reading plan here and join us. This week we finally got out of the preface works and into the first chapter. Here are some of the quotes that I took note of…
…the infinitude of good which resides in God becomes more apparent from our poverty.
…we cannot aspire to Him in earnest until we have begun to be displeased with ourselves.
…Every person, therefore, on coming to the knowledge of himself, is not only urged to seek God, but is also led as by the hand to find him.
…If, at mid-day, we either look down to the ground, or on the surrounding objects which lie open to our view, we think ourselves endued with a very strong and piercing eyesight; but when we look up to the sun, and gaze at it unveiled, the sight which did excellently well for the earth is instantly so dazzled and confounded by the refulgence, as to oblige us to confess that our acuteness in discerning terrestrial objects is mere dimness when applied to the sun. Thus too, it happens in estimating our spiritual qualities.
…not a particle of light, or wisdom, or justice, or power, or rectitude, or genuine truth, will anywhere be found, which does not flow from him, and of which he is not the cause; in this way we must learn to expect and ask all things from him, and thankfully ascribe to him whatever we receive.
…until men feel that they owe everything to God, that they are cherished by his paternal care, and that he is the author of all their blessings, so that nought is to be looked for away from him, they will never submit to him in voluntary obedience; nay, unless they place their entire happiness in him, they will never yield up their whole selves to him in truth and sincerity.


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Ilford GALERIE Prestige Cotton Artist Textured A4 - 310gsm
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$84.00 (inc GST)
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Bracelet with a motif set with diamonds (1.04 carats), in white gold
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Finance Energy
2013 05 16 Guest Post Are Anti Fracking Activists Hypocritical
2013 08 1 Shell Posts Fall In Profits
2013 09 30 Royal Dutch Shell Announces Plans To Sell Eagle Ford Stake
2013 12 17 Pgnig Sa And Chevron Polska Plan Joint Shale Gas Exploration In Poland
2014 03 24 Chinas Fuling Block Performing Better Than Expected
2013 09 30 Royal Dutch Shell Announces Plans To Sell Eagle Ford Stake
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Small Businesses Are Less Likely To Get Loans
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World's Economy at the Height of Covid-19 Pandemic
CARES : Paycheck Protection Program
How Badly Can The Corona Crisis Hit The Economy?
Marijuana Stocks That Are Best for Your Portfolio
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Small Businesses Are Less Likely To Get Loans
Small businesses have a difficult time taking out a loan compared to large corporations. But even medium-sized companies are already much better off. With limited access to banks and traditional loans, small businesses may opt to take out loans from non-traditional sources such as southeasttitleloans. There are various loans that SMBs may take however the+ […]
Oil Trader Zenrock Placed Under Judicial Management by Singapore High Court
Last May 08, 2020, the High Court of Singapore approved HSBC and four other banks' request to place global oil trader Zenrock under judicial management. The swift decision came after the motion was filed by the banks last May 04, 2020, in connection with Zenrock's failure to fulfill the required cash payment to immediately cover+ […]
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Purchase and Cooperation
Start Velotaxi operation
A smooth flow of line and event operations, the proper implementation of advertising, the maintenance and repair of vehicles and the hearty support of the drivers and the passengers are the most important tasks in a Velotaxi service.
Often our operators come from the fields Advertising and Events. But also newcomers are welcome. It is necessary that you are as enthusiastic about the Velotaxi-idea as we are.
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The BAYK AG is a trademark owner, international marketer of the Velotaxi system and producer of the vehicles of the velotaxi system. For international sales inquiries, please click here.


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Express Data ANZ sold to big Aussie distie
Express Data has been sold, with Australian distributor Dicker Data announcing its acquisition of the company today.
In an announcement to the Australian Stock Exchange this morning, Dicker Data said it has entered into a share purchase agreement to acquire 100% of the issued capital of Express Data Holdings, with the acquisition including both the Australian and New Zealand operations, and Express Online.
Dicker Data is a long-standing Australian distributor, whose portfolio includes HP, Toshiba, Asus, Lenovo and Microsoft among others.
In a letter to resellers posted on Dicker Data's site, David Dicker, Dicker Data chief executive, says Express Data's operations will be integrated into Dicker Data 'as quickly as we can' after the completion of the deal on April 01.
"As you can imagine, I am extremely happy with this result," Dicker says.
"There is almost no product overlap between the two companies, so we are in a position to make our relationships with you considerably broader and stronger," he adds.
The deal is scheduled to complete on April 01, subject to certain conditions being met. An extraordinary general meeting has been called for Dicker Data shareholders, expected to take place in mid-March.
Last month Phil Presnall, Express Data New Zealand general manager of sales and marketing, told The Channel that the 2013 financial year, ending 30 September, had been the company's biggest ever here, with revenue from sale of goods sitting at $138.7 million and the company experiencing double digit growth through Q1 of F14.