text:
Protozoa as Contaminants of Surface Water – Methods of Detection
Vladimir Ćirković1, Aleksandra Uzelac1, Ivana Klun1, Olgica Djurković-Djaković1
The role of Giardia spp., Cryptosporidium spp. and Toxoplasma gondii as etiological agents of waterborne outbreaks may be underestimated. One reason is that the standard water quality control methodology is focused on the detection of coliform bacteria and viruses. With the development of novel molecular methods, the detection of protozoa in water has become more rapid and accurate. In 2005, the EPA published a standard operating procedure for the detection of Cryptosporidium and Giardia, while a protocol for T. gondii is still being developed. Here we present the general methodology for water sampling, filtration and molecular detection of Cryptosporidium, Giardia and T. gondii.
Keywords: protozoa, molecular detection, contaminants, surface water.
Protozoa are a diverse group of unicellular eukaryotes that belong to the kingdom of Protista. A large number of protozoa are ubiquitous free-living organisms, which can be found in surface water, soil and even inside macroorganisms. They can be beneficial to the host organism, as symbionts for instance, or harmful, as parasites. Among the tens of thousands species of protozoa, only about a hundred are considered pathogenic, including those classified as emerging or re-emerging (Woolhouse et al., 2005). According to the transmission route, parasitic protozoa can be vector-borne or food- and water-borne. Here we review the most important species that can be water-borne, such as Toxoplasma gondii, Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia spp., and the current options for their detection in surface waters.
Clinical Significance of Water-borne Protozoa
T. gondii host range includes all warm-blooded species and even some cold-blooded ones. This parasite is infamous for its ability to be transmitted vertically, although it is only a minor mode of transmission. Congenital T. gondii infection can result in severe clinical symptoms like hydrocephalus, chorioretinitis or even death, whereas the infection is generally mild in immunocompetent hosts, who may or may not exhibit clinical symptoms at all. Immunocompromised patients (HIV+ patients and patients on immunosuppressive therapy) may develop severe manifestations including encephalitis. The parasite's life cycle includes three distinct life stages: the tachyzoite, the bradyzoite and oocysts, which are all infectious (Dubey, 2009). Following primary infection characterized by proliferating tachyzoites, infection converts into the latent (chronic) stage characterized by tissue cysts which predominantly develop in skeletal muscles and the brain, and may remain viable through the host's lifetime. If the host is a food animal, its muscles – meat – may be the source of infection for further (animal or human) hosts, which makes toxoplasmosis a foodborne infection. On the other hand, oocysts are the environmentally resistant stage, which contaminate the environment including water. This stage is the product of sexual reproduction in the intestines of definitive hosts, the Felidae family; shed in cat faeces, they sporulate in the environment and ultimately end up in water, soil or on plants meant for human and animal consumption.
The Cryptosporidium host range includes more than 155 animal species (Marshall et al., 1997). The parasite predominantly resides in the epithelial lining of the intestine and is transmitted by water contaminated with faecal matter. Cryptosporidium spp. generally cause diarrhoea as the major clinical symptom, however, infections can be lethal in immunocompromised individuals. Similar to T. gondii oocysts, Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts are environmentally resistant. In surface water, they can stay viable for 18 months. Oocysts are highly resistant to chlorination and UV irradiation, which allows them to remain infectious in treated drinking water.
Giardia spp., like the Cryptosporidium, are intestinal parasites transmitted mostly through faecal contaminated water or via the faeco-oral route due to poor hygiene. Giardia also has a wide host range and produces environmentally resistant cysts that also resist chlorination (Marshall et al., 1997). Clinical symptoms of infection are either entirely absent or mild and usually include diarrhoea and abdominal discomfort. The infection is usually self-limiting; however, in rare instances it may persist and have severe consequences for the host.
Another clinically important water-borne protozoan is Entamoeba histolytica (Morrissette et al., 2002), the etiological agent of amoebic dysentery or liver abscesses, but unlike the previously described organisms its life stages are not resistant to standard water disinfection treatments. E. histolytica is transmitted by heavily contaminated recreational water (or untreated drinking water) via cysts, or via the faeco-oral route. Symptoms are similar to those caused by Cryptosporidium and Giardia.
Contamination of Surface Water with Protozoa
Naturally occurring surface water as well as water in swimming pools may often be contaminated with parasitic protozoa. In contrast, subterranean water is usually free of parasitic protozoa, due in part to its physical and chemical properties, but largely to the fact that sources of pollution, which occur predominantly on the surface, have limited accessibility. Major polluters of surface and recreational waters can be focal and dispersed. Focal polluters are sewage pipelines and wastewater collection and treatment plants. Specific problems with urban sewage networks include substandard, leaky pipelines and the absence or inadequacies of sewage filters and wastewater collectors. As a consequence, industrial and organic waste can drain unprocessed into surface waters and aquifers used as drinking water sources. Dispersed polluters include agricultural soil and pastures. The runoff from these, due to rain, snow melt or irrigation, can disseminate parasitic protozoa and chemical contaminants into ground and surface water. Natural phenomena such as droughts and floods, which occur more frequently due to climate change, directly impact protozoa dissemination and induce changes in protozoa population structures in different bodies of water, which can have adverse consequences on human and animal health. During periods of drought, all available water sources, even those of poor or questionable purity, may have to be utilized for livestock, irrigation and household purposes. Livestock consumes a lot of water, making it impractical and/or costly to mechanically or chemically purify, or even just boil prior to use. Protozoa proliferate in the infected livestock and are eventually secreted in large numbers into the environment. Usage of contaminated water for irrigation of fruit and vegetables meant for raw consumption also poses a direct risk to human health. Examples include lettuce and berries, which can be hard to wash thoroughly without damage and therefore (oo)cysts may remain on their surfaces even after processing. There is a risk also with fruits and vegetables marketed and packaged as 'ready to eat' (marketed as "no wash needed") prior to consumption. Floods can lead to increased runoff from pastures, the mixing of ground with surface waters, or different bodies of water, including wastewater, all which in turn disseminates protozoa into possible drinking water sources.
Water-borne Epidemics
Over the last few decades, multiple geographically distinct epidemics ultimately associated with consumption of contaminated water have occurred. These epidemics have not only highlighted the significance of protozoa as waterborne pathogens and dramatically pointed out the shortcomings in drinking water treatment protocols, but also demonstrated that the impact parasitic protozoa can have on human health is severely underestimated. The greatest waterborne epidemic in the USA occurred in 1993 in Milwaukee, WI, and has been estimated to have involved over 400.000 people. It is speculated that oocysts of the causative agent, Cryptosporidium spp., entered the public water supply as a consequence of unusually increased runoff from pastures due to melting snow (Mac Kenzie et al., 1994). Only two years later, in 1995, the first documented epidemic due to T. gondii oocysts in the public water supply, occurred in British Columbia, Canada (Bowie et al., 1997). As the Wisconsin epidemic had already shown, this epidemic too highlighted the inadequacies of the established drinking water treatment methodology to remove and/or inactivate (oo)cysts. The small size of (oo)cysts allows them to pass through most commonly used filters, while their relative resistance to chlorination and UV irradiation ensures survival in drinking water. Epidemics of giardiasis occur periodically, although noticeably more often during the summer, due to the increase in recreational use of water – swimming in particular.
Methods for Detection of Protozoa in Water
In light of the above, continuous monitoring of parasitic protozoa populations in water sources destined for human/animal consumption or recreational use is required. For that purpose, efficient and precise detection methods are necessary. In 2005, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published standard operating procedures (SOP) for the detection of Cryptosporidium spp. (SOP no. 1622) and combined detection of Cryptosporidium and Giardia (SOP no. 1623) in water. These SOPs include recommendations for water sampling, filtration and downstream analyses by microscopy and PCR. The methodology represented in the flowchart (Figure 1) is the approach recommended by the US EPA, as well as by most of the published literature on the subject of (oo)cysts and protozoa detection in water samples, and its steps and procedures are detailed below.
Figure 1: Methodology flow chart.
Water sampling
The minimal volume of water necessary for analysis of the presence of parasitic protozoa is 10 L, while there is no upper limit. Published reports include volumes of 600 L and even more, when analyzing drinking water (Medema et al., 2001; Ali et al., 2004; Karanis et al., 2006). Sampling is carried out by collecting from a depth of 20-30 cm below the surface (Hörman et al., 2004). It is recommended to avoid water layers close to the surface or sediment, as they can contain various biological materials such as plant matter and mud, which can block filters and/or interfere with downstream analyses.
Filtration of the collected water sample is necessary to concentrate the (oo)cysts into a volume suitable for further processing, usually measured in ml. For this purpose, water can be filtered through nitrocellulose or polycarbonate membranes (Ali et al., 2004) or filter cartridges, designed especially for environmental water sampling (Envirocheck®, CUNO®) (Medema et al., 2001; Fournier et al., 2002). Filter membranes and cartridge filters are available with several different pore diameters. SOPs 1622/1623, recommend the usage of cartridge filters with pore diameters of 1 µm (Telliard et al., 2005). Relevant published literature also describes usage of filter membranes with pore diameters of 0.45 µm and 0.2 µm, which have been found to successfully retain Giardia cysts and T. gondii and Cryptosporidium oocysts. Following filtration, the samples should be cooled to a temperature between 1-10ºC and delivered to a laboratory equipped for protozoa detection within 96 h (Telliard et al., 2005).
Filter elution
To obtain a sample suitable for further testing, it is first necessary to elute all bound particles from the filter membrane or matrix. Elution is performed with buffered salt solutions which usually also contain mild detergents. Elution buffers are especially formulated for efficacy in (oo)cyst and protozoa detachment from the filter matrix or membrane without causing damage or affecting viability. Most common elution buffers contain chemicals which are easily available (EDTA, Tris) and can be made in the laboratory. Once the elution buffer is loaded into the cartridge filter or the filter membrane is immersed in the elution buffer, it is placed on a laboratory shaker to facilitate particle detachment and left for a period of time. Next, the elution buffer is collected and centrifuged to obtain the pellet which contains the (oo)cysts and protozoa as well as other particles collected during filtration. The pellet is then washed several times with washing buffers, which are usually low molarity salt solutions but without detergents. The pellet is finally considered pure and suitable for downstream analyses when the supernatant obtained after centrifugation is clear (Telliard et al., 2005).
Isolation of oocysts/cysts
There are two most commonly used approaches for (oo)cyst isolation. One approach is based on immunomagnetic separation (IMS), which requires the usage of specific antibodies which recognize and bind to the (oo)cyst surface, coupled to magnetic beads. The main advantage of this approach is its high specificity afforded by the use of monoclonal antibodies. Magnetic beads, which are in fact small, spherical particles which have been magnetized or made superparamagnetic, are a convenient way of isolating the (oo)cysts using a magnet. As a result, the sample obtained after IMS is highly pure and contains only (oo)cysts. The most commonly used magnetic beads are Dynabeads, which are highly versatile and can be easily coupled to a variety of monoclonal antibodies. Commercial kits for the isolation of Cryptosporidium oocysts and Giardia cysts by IMS are available, and in fact, a combination kit for the simultaneous detection of both is recommended by EPA's SOP 1623. However, there is no IMS kit for T. gondii oocysts on the market, because there is no commercially available suitable monoclonal antibody. However, successful coupling of in-house developed monoclonal anti-oocyst T. gondii antibodies to Dynabeads and their use in IMS has been demonstrated (Dumètre et al., 2005; 2007).
The other approach is based on particle separation by centrifugation through a concentration/density gradient of some suitable medium. This medium can be a chemical substance, such as sucrose, which is very commonly used, or it can consist of particles. Percoll is an example of a commercially available medium made of silica particles coated with polyvinylpyrrolidone (Medema et al., 2001; Lemarchand et al., 2003). The working principle of this approach for particle isolation is separation and collection by size. The entire process is carried out in a centrifuge tube. The sample pellet is usually added to the layer of medium with the lowest concentration/density, situated near the top of the centrifuge tube, while the most concentrated/dense layer is at the bottom of the centrifuge tube. During centrifugation, particles which make up the pellet will be dispersed into the medium and travel through the gradient until they reach layers which are impermeable to them. This approach is often applied for the isolation of T. gondii oocysts. While it can be very successful, one concern with the use of this approach is that it requires experience. It is not always easy to visually identify the layer of medium which contains the (oo)cysts, especially when the number of (oo)cysts in the pellet is low. In addition, the sample pellet may contain impurities, such as sediment particles, of similar size as (oo)cysts, making it hard to obtain a pure enough sample for downstream analyses.
Microscopy can serve as the endpoint analytical method, or as a waypoint analytical method. As an endpoint method, it can be used to determine the presence (and number) of (oo)cysts in the sample. As a waypoint method, it is used to check whether the methodology up to that point has been successful in isolating (oo)cysts. There are several protocols for specimen staining for microscopy, using dyes for examination by visible light and fluorophores for examination by fluorescence detection. A commonly used contrast stain is Lugol's solution, which is useful as the majority of protozoa and (oo)cysts take up the dye and appear yellowish-brown. However, correct identification of Lugol-stained (oo)cysts or protozoa requires considerable experience, therefore it is not ideal as an endpoint analysis for non-expert laboratories.
EPA SOPs recommend using immunofluorescence assays (IFA) instead (Telliard et al., 2005). Immunofluorescence is a staining method which relies on specific antibodies coupled to fluorophores. One obvious advantage is specificity, as only (oo)cysts will appear fluorescent on examination, whereas another one is the high intensity of brightness of the fluorophores, which allows even a few (oo)cysts to stand out, thereby increasing the chances of detection. EPA's SOP 1622 and 1623 both recommend the use of IFA as a waypoint method. In addition, the SOPs also recommend 4',6-diamidino-2-fenilindol (DAPI) or propidium iodide (PI) in combination with IFA. DAPI and PI are fluorescent nucleic acid stains and can help identify (oo)cysts which contain nucleic acids and are thus deemed viable. The viability of (oo)cysts may be an important piece of information, but significantly more important is determining that nucleic acids are indeed present in the (oo)cysts, which allows for further downstream analyses which utilize nucleic acids as samples, such as PCR or RFLP or sequencing. Another important advantage provided by the IFA method is that it is fully transferrable to most flow-cytometers. Flow cytometry is primarily used to identify and quantify cell populations, but the technique is actually based on counting different sized particles. It has been successfully applied to oocyst enumeration (Lemarchand et al., 2003). The major advantage of this technique is quick and precise quantification of (oo)cysts from much larger sample volumes than can be processed by microscopy.
Molecular detection
Molecular detection implies usage of techniques which are based on the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). PCR is used for amplifying specific sequences within the genome. The selection of the sequence to be amplified is of great importance, as genomes are composed of coding segments, such as genes (specifically exons), and non-coding segments, such as satellite sequences. The majority of genes are not specific enough to discriminate between species, let alone subspecies, using PCR alone. However, in combination with other downstream analyses, such as sequencing or even restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), genes like small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rDNA), which are conserved across species, become highly useful for species and subspecies identification. Some satellite sequences can be highly unique to individuals, like "fingerprints", and are often used in forensics (Sambrook et al., 2001).
The first step for molecular detection is extraction of nucleic acids from the sample. The nucleic acids suitable for PCR techniques include both genomic DNA (gDNA) and RNA, usually messenger RNA (mRNA). There are many commercially available nucleic acid extraction kits, but classical extraction methods can also be highly successful. The advantage of most kits is that they avoid harsh chemicals, are specifically designed to simplify the extraction process, and provide uniform yields of nucleic acids. Most kits follow the same protocol of enzymatic digestion of cellular materials, binding of DNA/RNA to a silica based matrix with high molarity salt solutions, washing out of all unbound materials with ethanol solutions and finally, elution of the nucleic acids from the silica matrix with low molarity salt solutions. However, as environmental samples are highly heterogeneous and contain tough biological materials, they require the use of a specific kit for each type of sample. In the case of extraction kits recommended for (oo)cysts, enzymatic digestion is not sufficient, but has to be combined with mechanical lysis performed in a bead-beater instrument (Hill et al., 2015).
Once the nucleic acids have been obtained, they are used as templates for amplification in a variety of PCR based reactions. They are performed in the thermocycler, a thermo-block which can be rapidly heated and cooled based on a preset pattern of temperatures and units of time (min or sec). More advanced thermocyclers also include fluorescence units, which are equipped with an excitation source and several detectors for particular wavelengths. These are used for real time PCR and quantitative PCR (qPCR), because the reaction result is directly visualized and may be followed while the reaction is still ongoing. In contrast, conventional PCR does not allow for the visualization of the reaction product per se; for this, the gel electrophoresis technique is required (Sambrook, 2001). There are many variations of PCR: real-time PCR is mostly used for diagnostics, nested-PCR used in both diagnostics and detection, nested-PCR-RFLP which is nested PCR in combination with restriction endonuclease treatment, multiplex-PCR is used for amplifying multiple sequences simultaneously, sequencing-PCR is used as a preparatory reaction for Sanger sequencing. Commonly used PCR variations are shown in Table 1. The various types of PCR mentioned have been successfully used as stand-alone techniques or in concert for the detection and identification of Cryptosporidium, Giardia and T. gondii.
Table 1: Overview of PCR-based techniques used for detection in environmental samples.
Epidemics caused by waterborne pathogens, characterized by gastrointestinal problems, occur periodically in Serbia. The number of such illnesses increases during the summer months, which is concurrent with the swimming season and recreational use of water. In addition, the availability of fresh produce and fruit is increased. It has been documented that certain types of produce and fruit may be more likely to retain and harbour (oo)cysts, even after being washed. Increased exposure to contaminated water may explain the summer rise in gastrointestinal problems. When waterborne epidemics occur, the usual suspects include bacteria, such as Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp. and viruses, such as Enterovirus, Rotavirus, and Norovirus. These microorganisms are indicative of water contamination by human and/or animal waste. However, human and especially animal waste often contains large numbers of protozoa, which are generally neglected as the causes of epidemics. Bacteria and viruses predominantly cause acute and often severe infections, while diseases caused by protozoa tend to be milder, and do not cause mortality, in immunocompetent hosts at least. For these reasons protozoan infections may go unnoticed, undetected and underestimated. However, water examination and source attribution for outbreaks in Western Europe, Scandinavia and the USA has shown that protozoa like Giardia and Cryptosporidium are often present in surface waters and cause outbreaks thus directly impacting human health. These epidemics have demonstrated the need to analyse different water sources, of both surface and groundwater, for the presence and biodiversity of protozoa, in Serbia as well.
Standard operating procedures for the detection of Cryptosporidium and Giardia in water samples were published in 2005 by the US EPA. The methodology presented in this paper is based on the methodology recommended in these SOPs and supplemented by relevant literature in the field of protozoa detection in water. Presently, the Centre of Excellence for Food- and Vector-borne Zoonoses (IMR, UB) is in the process of introducing and implementing molecular detection and species identification of Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia spp. and T. gondii in samples from diverse Serbian water sources. This work will fill an important knowledge gap for both the environmental community and public health community.
This review paper was supported by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia (project grant III 41019).
Ajzenberg, D., Dumetre, A. and M-L Darde (2005). Multiplex PCR for typing strains of Toxoplasma gondii. J. Clin. Microbiol. 43, 1940-1943. DOI: 10.1128/JCM.43.4.1940-1943.2005
Ali, M.A., Al-Herrawy, A.Z. and S.E. El-Hawaary. (2004). Detection of enteric viruses, Giardia and Cryptosporidium in two different types of drinking water treatment facilities. Water Res. 38, 18, 3931-3939. DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2004.06.014
Bowie, W.R., King, A.S., Werker, D.H., Isaac-Renton, J.L., Bell, A., Eng, S.B. and S.A. Marion. (1997). Outbreak of toxoplasmosis associated with municipal drinking water. Lancet 350, 9072, 173-177. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(96)11105-3
Dubey, J. (2009). Toxoplasmosis of Animals and Humans, Second Edition. Parasites & Vectors (p. 336). CRC Press DOI: 10.1201/9781420092370
Dumètre, A. and M.L. Dardé. (2005). Immunomagnetic separation of Toxoplasma gondii oocysts using a monoclonal antibody directed against the oocyst wall. Journal of Microbiological Methods, 61(2), 209–217. DOI: 10.1016/j.mimet.2004.11.024
Dumètre, A. and M.L. Dardé. (2007). Detection of Toxoplasma gondii in water by an immunomagnetic separation method targeting the sporocysts. Parasitology Research, 101, 4, 989–996. DOI: 10.1007/s00436-007-0573-0
Hill, V., Narayanan, J., Gallen, R., Ferdinand, K., Cromeans, T. and J. Vinjé. (2015). Development of a Nucleic Acid Extraction Procedure for Simultaneous Recovery of DNA and RNA from Diverse Microbes in Water. Pathogens, 4(2), 335–354. DOI: 10.3390/pathogens4020335
Karanis, P., Sotiriadou, I., Kartashev, V., Kourenti, C., Tsvetkova, N. and K. Stojanova. (2006). Occurrence of Giardia and Cryptosporidium in water supplies of Russia and Bulgaria. Environ. Res. 102, 3, 260-271. DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2006.05.005
Lemarchand, K. and P. Lebaron. (2003) Occurrence of Salmonella spp and Cryptosporidium spp in a French coastal watershed: relationship with fecal indicators. FEMS Microbiol. Lett. 218, 1, 203-209. DOI:10.1111/j.1574-6968.2003.tb11519.x
Lobo, M.L., Xiao, L., Antunes, F. and O. Matos. (2009). Occurrence of Cryptosporidium and Giardia genotypes and subtypes in raw and treated water in Portugal. Lett. Appl. Microbiol. 48, 6, 732-737. DOI:10.1111/j.1472-765X.2009.02605.x
Lonigro, A., Pollice, A., Spinelli, R., Berrilli, F., Di Cave, D., D'Orazi, C., Cavallo, P. and O. Brandonisio. (2006). Giardia cysts and Cryptosporidium oocysts in membrane-filtered municipal wastewater used for irrigation. Appl. Environ. Microbiol., 72, 12, 7916-7918. DOI:0.1128/AEM.01903-06
Mac Kenzie, W.R., Hoxie, N.J., Proctor, M.E., Gradus, M.S., Blair, K.A., Peterson, D.E., Kazmierczak, J.J., Addiss, D.G., Fox, K.R., Rose, J.B. and J.P. Davis. (1994). A Massive Outbreak in Milwaukee of Cryptosporidium Infection Transmitted through the Public Water Supply. N. Engl. J. Med. 331, 161-167. DOI:10.1056/NEJM199407213310304
Marshall, M. M., Naumovitz, D., Ortega, Y. C.R. Sterling. (1998). Waterborne Protozoan Pathogens. Clinical Microbiology Reviews, 11(2), 404.
McKerr, C., Adak, G.K., Nichols, G., Gorton, R., Chalmers, R.M., Kafatos, G., Cosford, P., Charlett, A., Reacher, M., Pollock, K.G., Alexander, C.L., Morton, S. (2015). An outbreak of Cryptosporidium parvum across England & Scotland associated with consumption of fresh pre-cut salad leaves, May 2012. PLoS One 10, 5, e0125955. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0125955
Medema, G.J. and J.F. Schijven. (2001). Modelling the sewage discharge and dispersion of Cryptosporidium and Giardia in surface water. Water Res. 35, 18, 4307-4316. DOI: 10.1016/S0043-1354(01)00161-0
Morrissette, N.S. and L.D. Sibley. (2002). Cytoskeleton of Apicomplexan Parasites. Microbiol. Mol. Biol. Rev. 66, 1, 21-38. DOI:10.1128/MMBR.66.1.21-38.2002
Nichols, R.A., Campbell, B.M. and H.V. Smith. (2003). Identification of Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts in United Kingdom noncarbonated natural mineral waters and drinking waters by using a modified nested PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism assay. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 69, 7, 4183-4189, DOI:10.1128/AEM.69.7.4183-4189.2003
Plutzer, J., Karanis, P., Domokos, K., Törökné, A. and K. Márialigeti. (2008). Detection and characterisation of Giardia and Cryptosporidium in Hungarian raw, surface and sewage water samples by IFT, PCR and sequence analysis of the SSUrRNA and GDH genes. Int. J. Hyg. Environ. Health. 211, 5-6, 524-533, DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2008.04.004
Rimšeliené, G., Vold, L., Robertson, L., Nelke, C., Søli, K., Johansen, Ø.H., Thrana, F.S. and K. Nygår. (2011). An outbreak of gastroenteritis among schoolchildren staying in a wildlife reserve: thorough investigation reveals Norway's largest cryptosporidiosis outbreak. Scand. J. Public Health 39, 3, 287-295.
Woolhouse, M.E.J. and S. Gowtage-Sequeria. (2005). Host range and emerging and reemerging pathogens. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 11(12), 1842–1847. DOI: 10.3201/eid1112.050997


text:
Express. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express.
Steven Gerrard: I would love to manage Liverpool
STEVEN GERRARD dreams of managing Liverpool and he plans to take the first steps towards fulfilling that ambition over the next 12 months.
The 32-year-old England captain is already considering a future beyond his playing career and has spelled out his desire to step into the dugout at Anfield. He will look to gain his coaching qualifications in the near future.
"The dream come true would be to manage Liverpool, when the job becomes available," said Gerrard.
"There are world-class managers there already, but it would be the icing on the cake.
"When you get to a certain age – my age – you need to start thinking seriously about a life after football. I just signed a one-year extension, but I need to start planning for the future.
The dream come true would be to manage Liverpool, when the job becomes available
"I plan on doing my badges and qualifications over the next 12 months." Gerrard is set to captain Liverpool for the 400th time against Swansea after the international break and, in an interview with TwentyFour 7 Football magazine, said that management, rather than coaching, is on the horizon.
"I definitely see myself as a manager rather than a coach, but that could change," he said. "Jamie Carragher really fancied it but he has decided media is what he wants to do.
"It's strange seeing him on Sky but I'm really delighted he's doing it. He can leave managing Liverpool to me."

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Six days, 50 years ago, that changed the world.
Our world was significantly shaped 50 years ago this week by war in the promised land. Six days changed the Middle East; a week changed the world.
World Jewry looks back a hundred years to the Balfour Declaration of 1917, indicating that a Jewish homeland in Zion might well emerge from the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire. It would be another 30 years — and the intervening horror of the Shoah — before the United Nations would vote in 1947 to replace the British Mandate in Palestine with two states, one Jewish and another Arab. The Jews accepted it, the Arabs did not.
War followed in 1948 and while the new State of Israel survived, the ceasefire left it strategically precarious, with Syrians on the Sea of Galilee in the north, Jordan controlling the West Bank just miles from Tel Aviv, and Jerusalem divided, with the Old City in the hands of Jordan.
The Six Day War of 1967 changed all that. The Middle East today is shaped more by 1967 than 1947 or 1917.
Israel's relations with its Arab neighbours had not been normalized after the 1948 war and i n 1967 tensions were on the rise. Egypt's Gamal Abdel Nasser closed the Straits of Tiran to Israeli shipping and massed troops on its borders. Israel launched a pre-emptive strike, disabling most of the Egyptian air force on the ground. Encouraged by Egypt to enter the war, Syria and Jordan were similarly routed. The ceasefire on 11th June 1967 left Israel controlling Gaza and Sinai (formerly held by Egypt), the Golan Heights (Syria) and the West Bank and East Jerusalem (Jordan).
It was a stunning victory for the outnumbered Israeli Defense Forces. Was it a miracle, seen through biblical lenses? Had God delivered Zion? It seemed so. For the first time in two millennia, Jews were sovereign in the holy city of Jerusalem.
The effect of the Six Day War endures still, on both Jews and the Arab nations.
After millennia of diaspora existence, even the 1948 establishment of Israel did not put the new state at the centre of Jewish identity. It was new, it was precarious, and it was incomplete, for Jews were cast out of the Old City by Jordan, which razed its great synagogue and barred Jews from praying at the Western Wall. After 1967, Jewish identity the world over became linked with Israel and its united capital of Jerusalem. The in-gathering of Jews quickened pace. Natan Sharansky credits the 1967 war with increasing the desire of Russian Jews to return to Israel; eventually 1 million would do so.
The humiliation of the Arab powers in 1967 would permanently discredit the pan-Arab nationalism of which Nasser was the champion. After the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire removed the principal geopolitical expression of Islam from the world stage, Arab nationalism was offered as a way back.
"Are we a people still existentially threatened and under siege or a people who know unprecedented power and faces agonizing moral dilemmas vis-à-vis the Palestinians? My answer to both questions is yes."
The united Arab nation, backed by the Soviet Union, would reverse the loss of Jerusalem to the Arab and Islamic worlds in 1918. The Six Day War vanquished that project. The vacuum was filled, over the next 30 years, by Islam itself as the uniting force. It took time for the secular Arab leaders to be eclipsed but they were. While the first intifada of the 1980s was a national struggle, the second intifada of the early 2000s was largely a religious one. Religious conflicts are more intractable than national ones, which is why the 1967 defeat of nationalism sowed the seeds of a religious conflict that today appears insoluble.
Israel became powerful. Before 1967, Jews and Israel were not only history's underdog, but its persecuted victim. After 1967, Israel was strong. It began then to lose the international support of the global left, champion of the weak and afflicted. Progressive politics now agitates to delegitimize Israel as a 21st-century apartheid state. In response, support for Israel has become a hallmark of conservative politics.
Yossi Klein Halevi, the brilliant Israeli journalist, literally wrote the book on the Six Day War: Like Dreamers he called it, after Psalm 126, When the Lord delivered Zion from bondage, it seemed like a dream. He traces how the Six Day War created different kinds of Israelis.
"There are the ones whose primal memory of May 1967 is the sense of existential fear, aloneness and the world's abandonment," Halevi explains. "Then there are the June 1967 Israelis whose primary experience from the war was one of empowerment and who insist that Israel needs to take responsibility for the moral consequences of power."
"Are we a people still existentially threatened and under siege or a people who know unprecedented power and faces agonizing moral dilemmas vis-à-vis the Palestinians? My answer to both questions is yes."
Israel powerful and secure. A world increasingly hostile to that power. Jerusalem again open to prayer for Jews. A Palestinian people who insist upon justice. A jihadist world that rages against Israel and her friends.
It began 50 years ago this week.
Father Raymond J. de Souza, "Six days, 50 years ago, that changed the world." National Post, (Canada) June 7, 2017.
Reprinted with permission of the National Post and Fr. de Souza.
image: Israeli troops are seen at Government House in the old city of Jerusalem after they had taken over the Jordan-held part of the city following heavy fighting on June 6, 1967.
The Author
Father Raymond J. de Souza is chaplain to Newman House, the Roman Catholic mission at Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario. He is the Editor-in-Chief of Convivium and a Cardus senior fellow, in addition to writing for the National Post and The Catholic Register. Father de Souza is on the advisory board of the Catholic Education Resource Center.Copyright © 2017 National Post
back to top


text:
Session 2010-11
Health and Social Care Bill
Memorandum submitted by The Hepatitis C Trust (HS 72)
Background: hepatitis C:
· Hepatitis C is a blood borne, cancer-causing infectious virus that primarily attacks the liver and can lead cirrhosis, severe and potentially fatal liver disease and cancer. It can be asymptomatic or symptoms may be generic and are frequently misdiagnosed by GPs. Therefore the majority of people currently infected with hepatitis C are undiagnosed at present and may be passing on the virus to others.
· The Health Protection Agency estimates that there are around 250,000 people living with hepatitis C in the UK, most of which are undiagnosed, and of those diagnosed less than half have received treatment. [1] Some estimates put the prevalence of hepatitis C as high as 466,000 people in the UK. [2]
· Around 100,000 hepatitis C patients have been diagnosed in the UK to date. [3]
· There are an estimated 12,000 new hepatitis C infections per year. [4]
· Hepatitis C is preventable and curable. The virus can be successfully treated and cured in around half of patients, preventing premature death and complicated and costly health interventions. Treating all hepatitis C patients according to NICE guidance would cost the NHS approximately £1.6 billion. The estimated cost to the NHS alone of failing to diagnose and treat existing patients could be between £4 billion and £8 billion over the next 10 years. [5]
Background: The Hepatitis C Trust:
The Hepatitis C Trust is the national UK charity for hepatitis C. It is a patient-led and patient-run organisation: almost all of its patrons, trustees, staff and volunteers either have hepatitis C or have had it and have cleared it after treatment. It provides information, support and representation for all those affected by the disease.
Summary: Key opportunities and threats for hepatitis C with the Bill's healthcare reforms:
· Hepatitis C could be virtually eradicated in the next generation if the NHS, GP Consortia and local Health and Wellbeing Boards focus on diagnosing, treating and supporting hepatitis C patients as a priority.
· Over 100,000 hepatitis C patients in England are undiagnosed – the new GP Commissioning arrangements present an opportunity to address this but only if GP awareness is significantly improved through training and incentives.
· The patient voice should be central to health services but there is a danger that this will be lost unless specifically protected by legislation.
· As h epatitis C disproportionately affects disadvantaged, vulnerable and socially excluded people, The Hepatiti s C welcomes the duty on the NHS Commissioning Board to tackle health inequalities.
· Local Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategies could be an excellent way of joining up public health commissioning across local areas. However, unless GP consortia are legally bound to comply with them, they may well become meaningless.
Part 1, clauses 9-10: GP commissioning and poor GP awareness
Low awareness of hepatitis C amongst GPs has traditionally been the greatest barrier to hepatitis C diagnosis and treatment. Hepatitis C was only discovered in 1989. When most of today's heads of GP consortia were training, hepatitis C was not on the syllabus. Hepatitis C is often asymptomatic until a very late stage by which time it has already progressed to cirrhosis and/or liver cancer.
A lack of awareness of the risk factors is a significant factor in lack of diagnosis. Hepatitis C is transmitted through blood-to-blood contact and therefore the main risk factors are sharing any drug taking equipment, medical treatment abroad where equipment is not sterilised, tattoos or piercings in unsterilised circumstances and NHS blood transfusions and blood products before 1991; yet few GPs test people with these risk factors.
Under the new arrangements, GPs will be responsible for commissioning services for hepatitis C patients. This is very concerning in a disease area where GP awareness is so low.
Please seek reassurances that steps will be taken to ensure that GP awareness and understanding of hepatitis C will be addressed through improved training and the introduction of case-finding incentives.
Part 1, clause 19 (schedule 1, chapter A1) : NHS Commissioning Board and the Patient V oice
· A key statutory duty of the NHS Commissioning Board, as set out in Clause 19 (schedule 1 chapter A1) of the Health and Social Care Bill is to 'promote the involvement of patients and their carers in decisions about the provision of health services to them'. However, the NHS commissioning board, responsible for commissioning services including specialist services and primary care services, has no patient representation, making it less likely that it will be able to fulfil its remit.
· The Hepatitis C Trust recommends that a member of the board should be designated a 'patient champion'. This person, ideally a patient themselves, would be a link between patient organisations and the board, meeting with and receiving representations from patient organisations which could then be fed into the decision-making process of the board.
Part 1 , Clause 19 (schedule 1, chapter A1) : Health inequalities
· Another key statutory function of the NHS Commissioning Board, as set out in Clause 19 of the health and social care bill, is to 'reduce inequalities between patients with respect to their ability to access health services' and 'to reduce inequalities between patients with respect to the outcomes achieved for them by the provision of health services'.
· Targeting the health of disadvantaged groups is crucial to reducing health inequalities and therefore The Hepatitis C Trust hopes the NHS commissioning Board will consider hepatitis C a key area of concern.
· Hepatitis C disproportionately affects disadvantaged, vulnerable and socially excluded people, particularly homeless people, prisoners and injecting drug users. For example, research conducted to inform the Scottish Hepatitis C Action Plan found that 75% of hepatitis C patients are from the 2 lowest socio-economic quintiles [6] . Further, there is a relatively high prevalence of hepatitis C in the first generation South Asian migrant community [7] . Levers should be created to ensure commissioners consider disease areas which disproportionately affect lower social-economic groups, such as hepatitis C.
· Information and levers should be available to commissioners to encourage approaches to addressing hepatitis C which reduce health inequalities. For instance, treating current hepatitis C infected injecting drug users (IDUs) has been shown to be as effective as treating non-IDUs [8] , and will reduce the pool of infection in a person at high risk of transmitting the virus. However few hepatitis C infected IDUs are treated each year.
· The Hepatitis C Trust urges the NHS Commissioning Board to create levers to ensure hepatitis C is considered in GP consortia commissioning decisions, as part of its statutory duty to reduce inequalities
Part 5, C hapter 2 clause 17 7 : Local Health and Wellbeing Boards - Lack of streng t h in holding GP consortia to account
· The patient voice is to be incorporated into the system at a local commissioning level through the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment and Joint health and Wellbeing Strategy created by local Health and Wellbeing Boards, of which both local HealthWatch and local GP consortia will be part. However, the legislation provides that GP consortia must 'have regard' to these arrangements (Clause116B to be inserted after section 116 of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act); they will not be bound by them.
· The Hepatitis C Trust recommends that a stronger measure be put in place to ensure that GP consortia are legally bound to comply with the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy. If this does not happen, GP consortia will not be properly accountable in their commissioning decisions and the patient voice within the system provided by local HealthWatch's place on the local Health and Wellbeing Board will be meaningless.
Suggested Amendments:
· Patient champion on the NHS commissioning board:
Schedule A1, paragraph 3, after (4) insert:
(5) One non-executive member on the Board is to be tasked with representing patient organisations
in carrying out their functions on the Board
· Strengthening of Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy:
Clause 177: A responsible local authority and each of its partner commissioning consortia must, in
exercising any relevant functions, have regard to - …
Replace 'must' with 'is legally bound'
Replace 'have regard to' with 'to uphold'
March 2011
[1] Hepatitis C in the UK: 2009 report, HPA, 2009 http://www.hpa.org.uk/Publications/InfectiousDiseases/BloodBorneInfections/0912HepatitisC/
[2] Losing the figh t against hepatitis C. London: The H epatitis C Trust and the University of Southampton, 2005 http://www.hepctrust.org.uk/Resources/HepC/Migrated%20Resources/Documents/Other/213_The%20UK%20vs.%20Europe.pdf
[3] Hepatitis C in the UK: 2009 report, HPA, 2009
[4] Out of Control, The Hepatitis C Trust, July 2009: http://www.hepctrust.org.uk/Resources/HepC/HCV%20Reports/FINAL%20-%20Out%20of%20Control%20-%20with%20new%20SE%20score.pdf
[5] Losing the figh t against hepatitis C. London: The H epatitis C Trust and the University of Southampton, 2005
[6] Presentation by Professor David Goldberg, Hepatitis C Action Plan for Scotland: Phase I 2006-08,Phase II 2008-11
[7] HPA Press Release, May 2010: http://www.hpa.org.uk/NewsCentre/NationalPressReleases/2010PressReleases/100514hepC/ ).
[8] ' Hepatitis C Treatment for Injection Drug Users: A Review of the Available Evidence ', Margaret Hellard , Rachel Sacks-Davis , and Judy Gold in Clinical Infectious Diseases Volume 46, Issue 4, 2009: http://cid.oxfordjournals.org/content/49/4/561.full
|©Parliamentary copyright
|Prepared 4th March 2011


text:
Apr 9, 2018
In this week's episode:
- Manchild the producer falls asleep...
- We debate whether to take hits
- We discuss who will get rotated
- We discuss which DGW players are worth staying on
- We answer a load of Twitter questions
A show looking at and reviewing all the gameweeks in the Premier League's Official Fantasy Football game. We review all the upcoming games, players, stats as well as a wrap up show after each game week showing how well we did (or didn't!)
Having trouble logging in?


text:
|Isaac on a pile of snow by the warming hut. Saddleback is cranking the snow guns.
From the top of the Rangeley double chair they have three ways down the mountain. Gray Ghost, Green
|Isaac getting some Green Weaver air...
They did have parts of Professor and Golden Smelt open but it was a bit of "dust on crust" skiing. Some snow is in the forecast so that should help soften things up on these trails a bit.
They did a nice job getting some cool features going in the Terrain Park. Kudo's to the park crew for getting it started.
|Alec finding a bit-o-fluff-o-nutter...
If you are looking for a some great Holiday vacation week skiing Saddleback is ready for you!
I will leave you with some old man @MaineSkiFamily GoPro Hero 3+ Cam on Green Weaver... Thanks Isaac for chasing me down the mountain a bit. You can also check out this link for a full video edit of our ski day.


text: The flavours from your favourite whiskey are enhanced by the process of "charring" the oak barrels that they're matured in. Through the charring process, the natural sugars in the wood are caramelised to give the whiskey a toffee/caramel flavour. Each of these whiskey glasses takes a unique shape as they are placed over gas burners and set on fire. No two glasses are the same! Features: Set of 2 original whiskey glass Made for enjoying whiskey and bourbon of all kinds Material: Glass


text:
In Memory of Betsy Rukunyu(1960 - 2018)
- Name
- Betsy Rukunyu
- Spouse
- Philippe Namvula
- Children
- Inhaa, Jayon, Mihwa
- Birth Date
- July 3, 1960
- Blessing Date
- August 25, 1992
- Ascension Date
- August 2, 2018
Our beloved and precious wife, mother, and sister, Betsy Rukunyu, ascended into the spirit world on Thursday, August 2, 2018 after a long battle with cancer, one month after her 58th birthday.
Betsy was born to Eliezari Rukunyu and Ednance Bayomba in Bushenyi District, Uganda and was one of nine sisters and five brothers. Her favorite things to do growing up were to read and play outside.
Betsy had a love for nature that she received from her mother which developed into a fondness for gardening. She would spend time growing many different things, such as strawberries, tomatoes, and Aloe Vera.
She attended Burunga Primary school, Mary Hills Secondary School, and went to Caltech Academy for college and received a teaching degree.
Betsy was introduced to the Unification Movement in 1983. As a faithful church member, Betsy did missionary work, CARP, fundraising and much more during her time in Uganda. Following her international blessing with 30,000 couples on the 25th of August in 1992, Betsy moved to The Democratic Republic of Congo, to join her husband Philippe.
While in the DRC, Betsy and Philippe had their first child, InHaa in 1995. Three years later, they had their second child, Jayon. In 1999, the family left Congo after war broke out and relocated to a refugee camp in Cameroon. During this time, their faith and determination helped them endure their many hardships, eventually arriving in Tucson Arizona, on July 20, 2000. A year after their arrival, their youngest child, Mihwa Rebekah was born. Betsy gave her daughters unconditional love, guidance, support and continued to push them to succeed.
In 2008, Betsy went back to school to get a degree as a Dental Hygienist. She graduated in 2010. That same year, she was diagnosed with Stage 1 Breast Cancer. She had a lumpectomy performed, but the cancer returned in 2013. She then pursued natural treatment which was successful until late 2016, when the cancer returned again. In January of 2018, she began chemotherapy treatment but by February, she entered hospice.
Her husband, daughters, and friends took especially good care of her during the time she was ill.
In her new country, Betsy formed many deep and loving friendships. She had friends who came from many different cultural backgrounds. Betsy saw the potential in everyone and everything she came across. She was a best friend, an inspiration, a guidance counselor, and a role model.
Betsy was understanding. She had a glowing personality, a big heart, radiating confidence, an unwavering strength, an infectious smile, and could make anyone laugh. We can still feel her energy all around us. She will always have an everlasting presence in our lives. She leaves a legacy of love, faith, sincerity, and strength.
Betsy will be buried in Mbarare, Uganda in her family cemetery.
Donations can be made to the GoFundMe page: gf.me/u/kdzmkd or checks may be sent to:
Inhaa Namvula
6427 E Calle Mercurio, Tucson AZ 85710.
Seonghwa Information
Seonghwa Ceremony
Saturday, August 11, 2:00 PM
Angel Valley Funeral Home
2545 N Tucson Blvd,
Tucson, AZ 85716
Reception to follow
Wonjeon Ceremony
Date to be announced.
Mbarare, Uganda, Africa
- Time
- Date
- Saturday, August 11, 2018
- Location
- Angel Valley Funeral Home: 2545 N Tucson Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85716


text:
When I first got saved, people would talk about their morning quiet time with God, and I thought they were Spiritual GIANTS! I mean really. Who could talk to God and read the bible for an hour every morning.
As time went on, I figured most people were lying about it... trying to get a little holier than though action.
Then I joined a church that held me accountable for my time with God. A 5:00 am phone call from the pastor's wife summoned me with "get out of bed, it's time to go talk with God." 60 + INTENSE minutes of on my knees prayer, on my pastors lead. I pressed, and pressed for miracles, not for relationship, but for a display of God's power. Did I grow? Heck yeah. I grew enough to hear God say "I don't want your prayers out of obligation and duty, I want your time because you love me.. oh, and leave that crazy church while you're at it."
This season was one of the most difficult spiritual time of my life. For the first time I heard God... I mean I HEARD God. He spoke to me in dreams, I heard his voice, I had visions. The experience made me into a full on believer of Spiritual gifts (where as before I doubted them) because I experienced them first hand. It scared me. God is big. SO BIG. Then to have God say, "leave this place. Your loyalty is off, you are you here for the wrong reasons".
I took a sabbatical from morning prayer. I would pray, but the formality and schedule were gone. I leaned on worship. I loved his presence, but honestly, I didn't want to talk anymore. The things of God were so much more intense, with so much depth, so much unknown. I was scared by his power. Scared of being THAT close. Scared of myself.
Then began a season of Spiritual shallowness. The less I talked to God the less I could hear his voice. "Yeah God, we can hang out, just don't talk to me about anything but shoes". That's where I would take my Christian friendships too. Don't go deep... it's easier to swim in the shallow end.
For three years I would "try" morning quiet time. "I'd wake myself up at dawn and try to create intimacy with my God, but I didn't know his voice anymore."
Worship was all I had. He was there, but I was STARVING for more. I wanted my "best friend" back, but I couldn't find him.
Then, I heard a small voice whisper "Go to my word, I'm waiting for you there." It started slow. I read, I prayed, with little "nuggets" of gold along the way, but nothing substantial. I had to really want it! So I persisted. I got up, and had an hour long "quiet time" not because I had to, but because I wanted to. And would you guess. THAT is where God met me. Not in the place of obligation, but in the place of love.
His miracles don't scare me anymore. I laugh with delight when I see his powerful hand, when I hear his voice. Sometimes our time is intense.. like before, but usually I just have coffee with him while he gently leads me through his word.
I finally get it.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Quiet Time
When I first got saved, people would talk about their morning quiet time with God, and I thought they were Spiritual GIANTS! I mean really. Who could talk to God and read the bible for an hour every morning.
Posted by ConservaChick at 8:57 AM 13 comments Links to this post
Monday, October 29, 2007
Harvest Party and Pumpkins
On Friday we had our annual Homeschool Harvest Festival. The kids had a blast, my husband came because I made him, and I (with a cold and a fever) sat around making foolish small talk with the other homeschool parents. The kids might have loved it, but for me... it was slow death. The things we do for our kids.
Posted by ConservaChick at 10:20 PM 9 comments Links to this post
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Man Fur
Tonight at dinner my oldest daughter was being a typical 11 year old (if you get my drift) and my younger daughter said "why is she like that?" My 7 year old son replied "because she's going through pooberty." Then my daughter asked "what's pooberty?" He then said in a very matter of fact tone, "it's where girls get all sassy, and boy's get their "man fur". Man fur? Just another typical conversation at our dinner table. ~Karlie
Posted by ConservaChick at 7:41 PM 15 comments Links to this post
Friday, October 26, 2007
I'm sure you've all read the verses in 1 Peter 3 1:6. It's the one where it says for wives to be in subjection to their husbands, have a meek and quiet spirit, etc. I believe we should always follow God, and that God wants us to submit to our husbands, but where.. WHERE do we draw the line? Is there a line?
I read an article today in the new Above Rubies about a woman whose husband wanted to live frugally, so he moved her (she was pregnant) into a two man tent in a park. She wanted a home, but instead ended up giving birth to her baby in a tub outside her tent. She now has two young children and is still roughing it with her husband. Was she wrong to want more? We live in America. Should we be content to live like those in a third world country, when we don't have to? How about her husband? Was he shirking his responsibilities by not providing better for his wife?
The article bothered me. I love my husband and try to submit, however if he CHOSE to move me into a tent and had me give birth in an outdoor tub, I'd be pissed off! We are not talking super broke, need to make the best of a situation here, but choosing this for your reluctant wife and children, it just seems wrong.
It's not just this article that makes me question submission in some circumstances.
I recently read Created to be his Helpmeet by Debbie Pearl. The book was helpful for me because I have a FANTASTIC husband! He is a great father, provider, and would never dream of taking advantage of my submissiveness. The biblical principle of submission works great in my marriage, because I am married to a Godly man.
I gave the book to my mother. My mother is an awesome Christian woman who has been devoted to my un saved father for over 30 years. My father is an alcoholic. He is mean, and abusive. He calls her names and has to control every aspect of her life. He puts down their children (that would be me and my brother) and gets angry when she spends time with us. He wont let her go to church, wont let her have friends, etc. He also gets angry at her if she won't drink with him (she's a diabetic and this is very dangerous for her health). Any freedom my mother gets, she has to get by putting her foot down. Se has to "disobey" my father's commands.
My mother read this book, and with prayer, decided to follow it. The results? My father thought he had more rights to bully my poor mother and fully alienate her from her family, her hobbies, etc. She cried to me one day. It's like a prison.. and I would rather die than live in it."
I told her to throw out the book and stand up for herself. What really is the line of submission? Does anyone know? Should my mother live in hell to obey the rule of submissiveness? Is that REALLY what God wants for her? I don't know, with tears of anger I scream I DON'T KNOW!
Praise God I don't have to bare what these two women must bare. Honestly, I'd be gone! I say I don't believe in divorce, yet that is easy to say because I have a great marriage. To spend my life with someone like my father? I don't think I could do it. I didn't do it. I ran away from home at 15, to escape him.
Where does God stand?
Posted by ConservaChick at 2:39 PM 18 comments Links to this post
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Every year we re-evaluate our stance on Halloween. With 11 child filled years behind us, we have had several years to consider the pros and con's. The outreach potential, the harm, etc. Honestly, we are no closer now than we were 11 years ago on deciding what is best for our family.
Some years we have trick or treated. Some we have done the "harvest festival" thing, many years we have rented movies, and ate candy... lots and lots of candy!
This year we are watching one of my daughter's friends during the day. This girl and her family are single handed proof that you can have AWESOME kids in the public schools. This girl made the choice to not go to school on Halloween because the spirit has convicted her about being apart of the Halloween school activities. She's 9! My kids would love the opportunity to participate in the "scary" Halloween stuff. I hope she rubs off on them.
Friday we have a homeschool party where the kids get to dress up and play games. As for Halloween itself? No clue. Do we hand out full size candy bars with tracts at my folks house? Do we rent a movie and visit with friends?
What are your plans for Halloween?
Posted by ConservaChick at 1:22 PM 10 comments Links to this post
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Finally, Peace With the Caped Homeschooler, and other Mid-morning Epiphanies
I'm stealing graceforgayle's idea. Rather that come up with new blog material this evening, I've decided to reach back into my homeschool blogger archives and pull out one of my old posts. Thanks for the ideas Gayle! ~K
Homeschoolers have always been stereotyped as "weird". I'm going to be honest here. It has bothered me that I was clumped in with a group known for being social misfits, having bad hair (my husband and I lovingly refer to it as "homeschool hair"), and strange attire (remember, I've always admitted to being a little shallow).
I will never forget my first visit to a homeschool support group. We saw all the stereo types. Boys in grey sweats, denim jumpers, doily collars, homeschool hair that should be illegal, AND.... a homeschooler in a cape. A CAPE! (We've often joked about that one over the years.)
We knew we were called to homeschool our kids, but this sensory overload was daunting to say the least. We obeyed the Lord and homeschooled, but spent the next 5 years trying to prove to the world, and ourselves, that we were not one of those homeschoolers. Homeschoolers can be hip and fashionable. They don't have to have odd interests, and a Lord of the Rings obsession.
OK, now that I've probably offended 1/2 of you, stay with me, I'm almost to the epiphany part.
Last Sunday, I met a lady at church (she's new to town) and we hit it off. She had a great personality, kids my kids age, and seemed like she had a strong relationship with the Lord. Best of all, she seemed so NORMAL. We exchanged numbers and agreed to talk more.
Yesterday we did just that. She talked about how much she loved her kids school. She raved about the well behaved kids and the involvement of the parents. OK, this sounded pretty good, so I asked, "what about the school teaching world views? Aren't you concerned about your kids being bombarded with evolution or the homosexual agenda?" (I get right to the point, can you tell?)
Her response floored me. "I want my children to accept diverse people and ideas, and not be so close minded". WOW! This lady had bought the liberal world view hook line and sinker! Then it occurred to me, this IS normal. It's normal for Americans (even church going ones) go against biblical truths in favor of a world view, it's hard to go against the grain! No one wants to be the weird one, right?
Epiphany time. I DON'T want to be normal! I want to go against the world's corrupt ideas and instead embrace the will of my God! If that makes me weird so be it.
Yesterday evening, my husband and I talked about the conversation I had earlier that day, and he said, "I'd much rather our kids befriend a homeschooler in a cape than a wishy washy Christian kids with a liberal world view."
So, here we are full circle. Suddenly that caped homeschooler isn't so bad, and normal doesn't look so good. I'd much rather have friends with substance and a firm relationship with the Lord, than be normal.
Finally I've made peace with the caped homeschooler, and in the process, I've made peace with myself. ~K
And do not be conformed to this world, but transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:2
Posted by ConservaChick at 8:09 PM 10 comments Links to this post
Saturday, October 20, 2007
Boys and Clothes
What is it with boys and their clothes?
I love to shop, wear new things, accessorize. I'm really not that picky, it's just gotta look good. Comfort is second.
The men in my life are of a totally different persuasion. Fashion matters to them, but it's so SO wrong. My 7 year old son spent the last week in his boxers and a red cape because he thought he looked "cool". My brother wore a "security" shirt for three years straight because he thought that "chicks dig it". It was a lonely three years for the boy.
I also noticed that fashion comes w-a-y after comfort (it doesn't matter if the I accidentally bleached the black pants to a putrid brown," 'cause they are still SO comfortable").
Oh and they are so picky. My boys cry if they get anything from Gymboree. A sweater with a cute little train on the front? I might as well have brought them home a tutu! My manly boys will look at me like I've lost my mind! Now a camo shirt, that's more like it! But, goes so far beyond that. They have other weird "fashion" do's and dont's that would baffle any female mind.
One thing I just don't get... my boys HATE jeans. They actually are not fond of anything that does not look like the jogging suits they wear on the Sopranos (no they haven't seen it). They only like fabric pants... especially if the are "silky". Now they are sometimes forced to wear jeans, which they have re named "itchy wiener pants". They will cry and moan, and walk funny to dramatize their discomfort to the world, but hey, if their daddy can handle jeans... they can too.
Oh and church clothes.... right up there with the "itchy wiener pants." They hate them. They fight me every Sunday. "Mom, why can't I wear sweatpants and a muscle shirt? Instead I stuff them into khakis and the dreaded "COLLAR SHIRT" there is no torture like the shirt with a collar! Then I nicely spray their wild hair into submission with a respectable side part that would make any 70's car salesman proud. They argue "Jesus wore a robe to church, and I bet he'd like sweats too." I reply "honestly boys, I think Jesus is probably on your side, but Mama's not, so tuck in your shirt and don't even think about unbuttoning your top button on those pants."
By the time they get in the car, their hair is messed up, and they have managed to get mud on their pants, jelly on their shirts, and a few toy guns in their pockets. Yes... Sunday school teachers LOVE us.
Once church is over, we barely make it though the door and they strip down, right in the living room. Seriously. Nothing but tidy whities. Then they lay on the ground and roll around like a dog in the mud after a bath. They remain in this mostly naked state for several hours (to recover from the church clothes trauma I'm sure). Then it's back to the silky mafia inspired sweat pants.
I look back on the pictures of my brother as a kid and he's always go the same red sweats on. As he grew, the pants just shrank, until he looked like he was sporting a cute pair of capris (way before they came back in style). He would pair these bright red disasters with some random shirt with an Ewok or a Storm Trooper on the front and think he was the coolest kid to walk the earth.
My conservative dad got a pair of zebra striped parachute pants (remember MC Hammer?) in the 80's and wore them CONSTANTLY, until they mysteriously disappeared (thanks Mom). (I must say in my dad's defense that they were a gift, and I know he wore them for comfort, NOT fashion, but it just goes to show... no one survived the 80's unscathed.)
My husband has a pair of furry pants with little ducks on them. I think they are supposed to be for duck hunters or something, but I call them his "ducky pants". I don't understand the magnetic draw they have, but he's got them on within 30 seconds of walking in the door. It's like superman.... only faster. He doesn't want to talk, eat, NOTHING, until the suit is off and the pants come on. What's the deal?
They say clothes make the man, right? I certainly hope not.
Posted by ConservaChick at 10:16 PM 17 comments Links to this post
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Women Of Faith and a Day With My 5 Year Old
This weekend I went to Women Of Faith. I'm sure you have all heard of it. I had an awesome weekend, however, the actual conference itself left me a bit disappointed.
I always like to start on a positive note, so...
The great parts:
A weekend with friends. Great food, great fellowship, shopping (I hit up Eddie Bauer and Gap outlets and made out like a bandit!), deep debates over religion well after midnight, and laughter. Lots of laughter. AND, none of that was at the conference!
The conference had it's good points too. Again, I laughed, and laughed , and... you get the picture. I heard some great stories, but really, that was about it.
The messages were VERY entertaining, but nothing I've not heard. There were no "wow, God is really speaking to me here" moments. I felt an undertone of , shall we say ... feminism. I guess a woman beating out her male co -workers to become the president of a bank, or a CEO of Mobil oil does NOT impress me, but I'm an old fashioned kind of girl.
I could overlook that, but there was one thing that really grated on me throughout the conference.
"Buy our books, if you buy 5 you get our discount, AND a free tote bag!" "If you adopt a child through World Vision AND use your credit card you can get this nifty shirt!" "Sign up now for your Women Of Faith credit card!" Yeah, that's in scripture. "Buy this CD". "Sign up for this other conference", etc, etc, etc.... The materialism was enough to make me want to barf! Between speakers they would put commercials on the big screen selling their "stuff". It was like the friggin' circus!
Did I walk away from Women of Faith with a few good nuggets? YES. It wasn't a bad experience, but I think my expectations were to high. I wanted great worship, and a fresh word. I didn't get that. Instead I got a sales pitch, and a message that I felt was tainted with a "world view" Javamama loves that word ( ;
I'm not against women working, I'm not against selling books at a conference, heck, I'm not even against credit cards used wisely. I guess I was just repulsed by the format they used.
Next year I'm going back, but I'm skipping the conference. My friends and I are going shopping, we are going to chow down on desserts, and stay up all night talking about shoes. We are going to find a church with great worship or go to a worship concert, then go back to the hotel, pull out our bibles and get our fresh word straight form the source. I'm going to hear testimonies from the "Women of Faith" in my very own hotel room. Then I'm going to write another post telling you all how great it was!
On a completely different note. My youngest son (he's 5) has decided he's a hardcore charismatic. At church today (keep in mind we are at a baptist church) he started to raise his hand (very cool... his rebel mama does the same thing despite the dirty looks she gets) Then both hands went up high, and he went into some odd goofy dance. At this point my husband and I were laughing pretty hard (probably the reason for the dance). Then he started laughing. Before we knew it the whole family was in hysterics (Toronto style) although I must admit it wasn't holy spirit induced. Finally an older gentleman looks at him and says "why are you so wild today?" His totally matter of a fact reply "'cause I've got rabies".
It was the best worship I've had at that church yet. Thank you God for my crazy children and husband who find humor in the driest moments!
On the way home my husband asked my children what they wanted for Christmas (I do NOT agree with Christmas talk before Thanksgiving, but too late, The "P" word (present) was mentioned and there is no going back now)... back to my story... my oldest daughter said "drums and a baby sister (boy is she out of luck this year) My second daughter said an Ipod (what do they think we are made of money or something?) and a baby sister. First born son "ipod, baby sister". I see a theme.
Now my five year old thinks for a moment. "I want a goatee, like daddy's, and some baby stickers." I give up.
Posted by ConservaChick at 8:59 PM 16 comments Links to this post
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Today as I woke up, I was summoned outdoors by a beautiful fall morning. I wrapped up in my soft pink robe (that has seen better days) and greeted the day on my rickety old front porch. A sudden wave of thankfulness hit me as I drew my first breath of crisp cool air.
God has provided blessing all around us, ones we often ignore. Yet my senses were heightened this morning to the vast array of his gifts around me.
Lord, I am thankful for:
Fall mornings, where the first splash of new color glistens on trees, like gold in the shifting sun.
To be greeted by my rust colored hound. His wet nose. His playful eyes. Unconditional love, where my just my presence... is enough.
Daddies and little boys up before dawn. Bundled and warm. Fishing stories and hot cocoa in a big grey truck. Watching the sun rise over the lake, poles in hands, eyes wide with anticipation. Powdered sugar smiles... evidence of breakfast still lingering on their sweet breath.
Husbands who leave a full pot of coffee for sleepy wives. Pumpkin pie creamer swirls with rich coffee in my favorite blue cup... a goodbye gift from precious friends. It reads He fills My Life With Good Things. Psalm 103:5. THANK YOU LORD!
The harvest waiting for me in my garden. An afternoon bounty of golden corn, juicy apples, and perfect pumpkins. Produce baskets overflowing, warm spicy smells from the kitchen, cinnamon candles, and the soft song of a flute, a practicing melody lingering behind my daughter's door.
Giggly girl sleepovers. Trampoline tricks after dark. Laughter that echoes in an endless rupture of glee. Pizza boxes and root beer stains. 5 sleeping girls who are not yet pining for their breakfast.
An old friend beside me. I can't see his face, but I know he is there. His handiwork is in the beauty of this morning. He is my father, my savior, my best friend. His endless love finds pleasure in delighting me with a morning like this... a moment like this. No words can describe this feeling of unmeasurable gratitude.
It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to the Most High. It is good to proclaim your unfailing love in the morning, your faithfulness in the evening.... You thrill me, Lord, with all you have done for me! I sing for joy because of what you have done. Psalm 92: 1-4
Posted by ConservaChick at 9:08 PM 9 comments Links to this post
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Happiness Is Not The Goal
As we raise our children, we often make their happiness our primary goal. I know that if my kids are not happy I will try to juggle, bend, and manipulate the situation until they are appeased.
Will this create positive fruit in my children? Just because a child has an appetite for something, is it always in their best interest to feed it?
My daughter wanted to go back to School. She threw a fit when she realized that we would be homeschooling her this year and my first impulse was to begin my child pleasing juggling act. Where would it end? Would I ultimately give in to her perceived agony, and go against God to appease her?
Oh, poor girl needs socialisation. She doesn't get the gratification of her name on the honor role, the rights of passage like prom. Think of the slumber parties she might be missing, the pep rallies, the lunchroom chatter, or the fully functioning science labs! How can I compete?
Thoughts like these are enough to make a tired homeschool mom with a messy house and a grumpy daughter throw in the towel! Then I look out a bit further. Am I raising cheerleaders, or ambassadors for Christ? Do I want to have my child graduate school and say "whew, we made it! They are not drug addicts or pregnant." Or do I dare to hope for more?
I want God's plan for my children. I want to see them grow up to be full functioning Christians. People who serve God, not their own appetites for "happiness" (because we all know where TRUE happiness comes from, and it's NOT from our flesh).
Looking at the big picture makes choosing to continue homeschooling so much easier. THIS is the path God has directed me to follow. THIS will be the path to reach our goal. What is my ultimate goal for my children? To love and serve our Lord! With that in focus... the other things just seem to fade away.
Posted by ConservaChick at 9:29 PM 9 comments Links to this post
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
The Value Of Contentment
OK, maybe a firm goodbye was too harsh. While I have very little time to blog right now, an occasional post is downright therapeutic (as is reading them).
So what brings me out of blog exile today? A lesson. Sometimes God speaks to you, it makes such a profound change in your heart, you NEED to write it down (and share it with others).
Yesterday I brought dinner to an old neighbor who was moving in to a new home. She had sold her Mc Mansion around the same time I sold mine. While we moved off to the country, she moved to a nearby city to a larger, more elaborate home. After a year, she was back.
Her new home was an old duplex on a busy road. She made a few excuses about the home, then started crying. She proceeded to tell me that when they moved into their "new" lifestyle, they suddenly realized they couldn't afford it. This mother with her three little children had to go back to work to help make house payments. After a year God provided an out. Their house that had been up for sale nearly the whole year finally sold, and a job opened up for her husband, back home.
As the tears welled in her eyes she said "I was never content. I always devalued my role as a stay at home mom, but when it's taken away from you, you suddenly realize how wonderful it is. Now I find joy in just being with my children, holding their hands."
I have started to feel the seeds of discontentment creep in. My old farm house is too small (2000 sq ft). The drive is to far (12 min). This town is too small (yet has little crime). I don't have enough friends (then who brought me several dinners when I wasn't feeling well?). Being a housewife is too un-gratifying (yet what is more gratifying than raising your own children?)
Now I close my eyes and imagine it. A big house in town, tons of shallow friends, working full time to support my over indulged lifestyle. Kids in school, then daycare, like they are not even mine. It sounds like hell. With our lack of contentment, Satan has tricked so many of us into our own personal hell on earth.
I put too much value on what is not important, and that breeds discontentment. I care too much about material things (houses, clothes, etc). Too much about my appearance (I've never been content with my weight, even at size 4, and no matter how hard I try, I'm never quite as pretty as I'd like to be... oh and aging makes the battle darn near impossible). While I seem to care less than most, people's negative opinions can still affect me, .... And God whispers "let it go". "Let It ALL Go!"
Every season, I feel like God gives me a theme; words and lessons that revolves around a particular area in which I need growth. This season through much prayer and confirmation, I believe my "theme" is "how to die to my flesh". While my Christian walk has been laced with that principle, I feel like God wants to help me reach new levels in my "death walk". Sounds morbid? No, sounds like freedom.
The first step? To learn the value of contentment.
Posted by ConservaChick at 7:35 AM 17 comments Links to this post


text:
Q Street
15350 Weir Street, Omaha
201 N. 8th Street, Lincoln
2662 Cornhusker Hwy., Lincoln
1602 South Street, Lincoln
2840 S. 70th Street, Lincoln
Private Parties
Private Parties
Gift / Loyalty
Apply to work at Brewsky's!
Beer at Q Street
*Local Brews in Green
Draft Beers
Backswing IPA
ONLY AVAILABLE AT BREWSKY'S! Backswing Brewing Co. Omaha, Nebraska
Blue Moon Wheat Ale
Miller/Coors Brewing Co. Golden, Colorado
Boulevard Tank 7 Farmhouse Ale
Boulevard Brewing Co. Kansas City, Missouri
Boulevard Wheat
Boulevard Brewing Co. Kansas City, Missouri
Brunette Nut Brown Ale Dark Ale
Nebraska Brewing Co. Papillion, Nebraska
Bud Light Light Lager
Anheuser-Busch St. Louis, Missouri
Budweiser Lager
Anheuser-Busch St. Louis, Missouri
Busch Light Light Lager
Anheuser-Busch St. Louis, Missouri
Coors Light Light Lager
Miller/Coors Brewing Co. Golden, Colorado
Michelob Ultra Light Light Lager
Anheuser-Busch St. Louis, Missouri
Miller Lite Light Lager
Miller/Coors Brewing Co. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Pinner Throwback IPA India Pale Ale
Oskar Blues Brewery Longmont, CA
Samuel Adams Boston Lager Amber Lager
Boston Beer Co. Boston, Massachusetts
Samuel Adams Seasonal
Boston Beer Co. Boston, Massachusetts
Shock Top Wheat Ale
Shock Top Brewing Co. St. Louis, Missouri
Third Stone Brown Dark Ale
Empyrean Brewing Co. Lincoln, Nebraska
These tap handles change constantly. We relish in featuring new and popular beers, a return to some old favorites, or experiencing something out of the ordinary. So when a keg runs dry, a different beer from that style will be waiting in the cooler to be tapped immediately. Ask your Server or Bartender for the latest additions. Enjoy.
Rotating "Brewed in Nebraska"
(Alternating styles, ask your server)
Rotating Cider
(Alternating styles, ask your server)
Rotating Fruit
(Alternating styles, ask your server)
Rotating IPA
(Alternating styles, ask your server)
Rotating Porter/Stout
(Alternating styles, ask your server)
Rotating Zipline Beers
(Alternating styles, ask your server) Zipline Brewing Co. Lincoln, Nebraska
Pale Ales/Pilsners
Gold to light amber in color, the Blondes and Golds will be sweeter and smoother, the Pales will be crisp to bitter due to additional hops.
Avery White Rascal
Boulder, CO
Dales Pale Ale
Longmont, Colorado
Deschutes Mirror Pond
Bend, Oregon
Lucky Bucket Flip Flop
LaVista, NE
Mama's Little Yella Pils
Longmont, Colorado
NE Brewing Cardinal Pale Ale
Papillion, Nebraska
Odell 5 Barrell Pale Ale
Ft. Collins, CO
Peacetree Blonde Fatale
Knoxville, IA
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
Chico, California
Dark Ales & Lagers
These beers all are brown to black in color - the darker the beer the more coffee-like roasted character the beer will display. Brown Ales and Dark Lagers are the smoother of the bunch.
Big Sky Moose Drool Brown Ale
Missoula, Montana
Lucky Bucket Certified Evil
LaVista, Nebraska
Shiner Bock
Shiner, Texas
India Pale Ales
IPA stands alone! Most of these beers are Amber Ales but with heaping additions of hops that create big, piney, resinous, citrus bitterness.
Avery IPA
Boulder, CO
Boulevard Pop Up IPA
Kansas City, Missouri
Breckenridge 471 IPA
Breckenridge, CO
Deschutes Chain Breaker IPA
Bend, Oregon
Deschutes Fresh Squeezed IPA
Bend, Oregon
Empyrean Luna Sea
Lincoln, NE
Founders All Day IPA
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Lagunitas IPA
Petaluma, California
Millstream IPA
Amana, IA
Nebraska Brewing Citradelic IPA
Papillion, NE
Nebraska Brewing IPA
Papillion, NE
Sam Adams Rebel IPA
Boston, Massachusetts
Squatters Hop Rising Double IPA
Salt Lake City, Utah
Stone IPA
Escondido, California
Zipline IPA
Lincoln, Nebraska
Stouts & Porters
Historically, Stout means a "stronger" Porter. Many have a roasted, or coffee-like taste. But there are so many variations, you will get many unique tastes from this beer (i.e. "milk stouts", "oatmeal stouts", and "chocolate stouts"). This beer is bold and a great category to indulge in.
Boulder Shake Chocolate Porter
Boulder, Colorado
Boulevard Dark Truth
Kansas City, Missouri
Deschutes Black Butte
Bend, Oregon
Empyrean Darkside
Lincoln, Nebraska
Founders Porter
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Old Rasputin Imperial Stout
Fort Bragg, California
Youngs Double Chocolate
Bedford, England
Zipline Oatmeal Porter
Lincoln, Nebraska
Amber Ales & Lagers
Gold to light amber in color, the Blondes and Golds will be sweeter and smoother, the Pales will be crisp to bitter due to additional hops.
Michelob Amber Bock
St. Louis, Missouri
New Belgium Fat Tire
Fort Collins, Colorado
Old Chub
Longmont, Colorado
Wells Sticky Toffee Pudding Ale
Bedford, England
Zipline Copper Alt
Lincoln, Nebraska
Wheat Ales
Pale gold in color, these beers are made with at least 40% wheat which gives them a refreshing lemon-citrus character.
Boulevard 80 Acres Wheat
Kansas City, Missouri
Goose Island 312 Urban Wheat
Chicago, Illinois
Lagunitas Little Sumpin' Ale
Petaluma, California
Nebraska Brewing EOS Wheat
Papillion, Nebraska
New Belgium Snapshot Wheat
Fort Collins, Colorado
Pyramid Apricot Ale
Seattle, Washington
Wheat State Golden
Lawrence, KS
Lagers are like flags, every country has one, and if asked, every country makes the best in the world. Lagers are pale in color and typically are the easiest drinking beers with just enough flavor to be interesting and refreshing but not overwhelming.
St. Louis, Missouri
Golden, Colorado
Lucky Bucket Lager
LaVista, Nebraska
Lucky Bucket Lager
LaVista, NE
Miller Genuine Draft
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Miller High Life
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Pabst Blue Ribbon
Woodridge, Illinois
Zipline Kolsch
Lincoln, NE
Light Lagers
Like Lager in appearance yet lighter in flavor and 120 calories or less in a 12 ounce serving.
Bud Light
St. Louis, Missouri
Bud Light Lime
St. Louis, Missouri
Bud Select
St. Louis, Missouri
Bud Select 55
St. Louis, Missouri
Busch Light
St. Louis, Missouri
Coors Light
Golden, Colorado
Michelob Ultra
St. Louis, Missouri
Miller 64
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Miller Lite
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
These beers vary by time of year - ask us what is currently available
Blue Moon Brewing Co
Golden, Colorado
Boulevard Brewing Co
Kansas City, Missouri
Deschutes Brewery
Bend, Oregon
New Belgium Brewing Co
Ft. Collins, Colorado
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co
Chico, California
Different tastes and styles from outside the good old USA.
Amstel Light
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Mexico City, Mexico
Corona Light
Mexico City, Mexico
Dos Equis
Monterrey, Mexico
Dos Equis Amber
Monterrey, Mexico
Enschede, The Netherlands
Dublin, Ireland
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Konig-Ludwig Hefe-weizen
Labatt Blue
London, Ontario
Modelo Especial
Mexico City, Mexico
Tadcaster, England
Mexico City, Mexico
Red Stripe
Kingston, Jamaica
Belgium Style
Made with Belgium Yeast, these beers have a very distinguishable taste. Very estery (flowery or fruity), yet dry with a hint of sweet. Usually either love 'em or leave 'em.
Delirium Tremens
Melle, Belgium
St. Bernardus Abt 12
Watou, Belgium
Stella Artois Pale Lager
Leuven, Belgium
Westmalle Tripel
Malle, Belgium
Flavored Malt Beverage
Henry's Hard Cherry Soda
Milwaukee, WI
Henry's Hard Orange Soda
Milwaukee, WI
Mike's Hard Black Cherry
Seattle, Washington
Mike's Hard Lemonade
Seattle, Washington
Not Your Father's Root Beer
Wauconda, IL
Gluten Free
Alternative recipe. Classic taste. Brewed without wheat or barley.
Angry Orchard Hard Cider
Cincinnati, Ohio
St. Louis, Missouri
Woodchuck Amber Ale
Middlebury, Vermont
Non Alcohol
Do you really need a description?
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
St. Louis, Missouri
O'Doul's Amber
St. Louis, Missouri
7 Orchards Perry Cider
Angry Orchard Hard Cider
Cincinnatti, OH
Original Sin Perry Cider
New York, NY
Redds Apple Ale
Milwaukee, WI
Woodchuck Amber Ale
Middlebury, VT


text:
If your hunger wasn't sated by "The Boomstick," a two-foot long, one-pound hot dog that rolled out at concession stands inside Rangers Ballpark in Arlington this season, get ready for "The Great Bratbino."
Sure, it's the same size as "The Boomstick" -- two-feet long, one-pound heavy -- but this spin-off of the much talked about hot dog will have a bratwurst in between the lengthy bun.
"The Great Bratbino" will come topped with sauerkraut by default, but chili, nacho cheese, grilled onions and jalapenos can be added by customers if so desired.
Sports Connection
Connecting you to your favorite North Texas sports teams as well as sports news around the globe.
The food and beverage partner of the Rangers, Delaware North Companies Sportservice, named the new mega-brat in honor of Josh Hamilton, "who recently became only the 16th player in Major League Baseball history to hit four home runs in a game."
Apparently, they've never heard of a guy named George Herman Ruth, Jr. or any of his nicknames.
If this mega-sized tubed-meat trend continues, is a "Sultan of Sausage" next?


text:
This was a musical adaptation of The Knights by Aristophanes, of which the original would have been pretty musical anyway. There is a useful plot summary on Wikipedia–in brief, the People (Demos, an elderly householder) have been taken in by the Paphlagonian Slave (Athenian politician Cleon) and an even more shameless scoundrel–in the form of the Sausage Seller–is needed to save the day.
When I arrived, director George Eugeniou was telling someone that the previous evening's first night had been something like a dress rehearsal; this was like being present at a workshop and only just managing to avoid taking part on occasions. The audience were equal in number to the cast, and contained a certain number of claqueurs or at least people who hoped to appear in the show on a future occasion.
The idea of the production was that Europa was dominated by Paphlagoune, who had managed to hoodwink Demos (the people). The advantage of this was that George Eugeniou could use actors who were not native English speakers without the usual incongruity, while the disadvantage was the lack of hatred and obscene innuendo directed at recognisable targets. Indeed we Brits have the great advantage over our fellow Europeans that our leaders continue to engage in foreign wars out of cowardice and venality, a good Aristophanic theme that could not be used here.
I suppose it was all rather too genteel: Marco Aponte was hardly shameless (more of your Italian diamond geezer) as the Sausage-Seller, while Jackie Skarvellis was a muted Cruella De Ville as Paphlagoune. At least the fart jokes survived, and also provided the best of the song-and-dance numbers–in fact, I enjoyed those, even though the words could not always be distinguished. And some of the bathetic contrast between fine words and the homely comforts sufficient to win the heart of Demos worked as well.
Ellen Patterson impressed in the chorus–she could sing and dance, as well as looking pretty.
So why did I enjoy this? I suppose it was the that workshop thing, the feeling We're all in this together as someone once tried to claim.
See here for what I know of other Greek plays in London.
Later: It took me 3 days to work out the Brexit joke (like Grexit–Greece leaving the Euro) and another two to decide it was daft since we're not in the Euro.
Tags: 3 star, Aristophanes, review, theatre, Theatro Technis


text:
You have no items in your shopping cart.
You have no items in your shopping cart.
Week 1 - The Problem
Week 2 - Half Credit
Week 3 - Full Credit
The series also includes small group guides, so that the conversations can be continued outside of the main sessions.
This Resource Includes:
Everything in the Silver Membership
Everything in the Bronze Membership


text:
Leave it to the Germans to invade Poland or create Titan, the world's strongest industrial robot. They can go either way: One day they are in Krakow, and the next their robot lifts a ton.
Titan—which has a payload of one ton and can reach 3.2 metres— is made by Kuka Roboter GmbH. What does this mean: Using a total of nine motors, it can lift five times its own weight, and can manipulate almost anything you can throw at it in a factory. This includes tasks that previous to its release in 2007, required two robots, like raising the frame for an entire car completely unaided. All while maintaining full positioning precision in 3D space, according to the company.
To give you another idea of its power: The second axis of the Titan—powered by two motors—can withstand a static torque of 60,000 newton meters. Any powerful car would only develop 600 Nm. [Kuka]


text:
Hi, my name is Jeremy Huggins. I am a web designer and search engine specialist from Melbourne, Australia.
Jezhug is kind of an online nickname I gave myself to separate myself from the other Jeremy Huggins online.
As my journey into search engine optimization and internet marketing progressed, I found that having a unique screen name made it possible to better monitor my results and fast track my skills.
Years ago a well known internet marketer had a competition which inspired me to try to become the number one ranked site for the search term "coolest guy on Google" using a free online blog.
Not only did I do this, I still hold high positions in the major search engines for that search term.
While it was not the most difficult task as anyone experienced in SEO would be able to tell you, it was kind of an impressive ice breaker in conversations. It led to quite a bit of paid jobs which allowed me to further improve my skills spanning over many different industries.
Search engine optimization has changed dramatically over the last few years and having a hands on approach to my work has allowed me to evolve with it and stay ahead of the competition.


text:
Sini Timonen
PhD student
Thesis title: A musicological ethnography of female popular musicians in England, 1962 - 1971
Supervisors: Dr Christopher Wiley and Professor Steve Stanton
Overview and research interests
Sini Timonen is working on a thesis on women musicians' participation in and contribution to popular music in England between the years of 1962 and 1971. Her project, funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council, stems from original interviews with singers and instrumentalists active within the above timeframe.
The focus of her research is on three musical worlds - the pop music industry, regional beat scenes and the folk/singer-songwriter scene - and she predominantly concentrates on investigating the musical lives and music-making practices of grassroots level performers whose contribution to 1960s popular music has hitherto gone largely unacknowledged.
Research interests
- Popular music (specialising in 1960s pop and rock)
- Music and gender
- Ethnographic research methods
Sini has a first class BMus (Hons) degree (2005) and was awarded an MA by research degree for her thesis 'Girls in the Garage: Gender and Tradition in Garage Rock' at Kingston University in 2008.
- 'A Musicological Ethnography of Female Popular Musicians in England, 1962 - 1971', PhD thesis, City, University of London (forthcoming)
- 'Foreword' in It's Different for Girls, Merle Phillips and Margaret Brown, self-published by authors, 2013, pp. iii-vi
- 'Truth Gotta Stand: 60s Garage, Beat and 70s Rock' in Women Make Noise: Girl Bands from Motown to the Modern, ed. Julia Downes, Twickenham: Supernova Books, 2012, pp. 62-82.
Conference and seminar papers
- 'Rediscovering British All-girl Beat Groups of the 1960s: A Case Study of Mandy and the Girlfriends', Music Concerts and Colloquia, Middlesex University London, January 2014 (forthcoming)
- 'Rediscovering British All-girl Beat Groups of the 1960s: A Case Study of Mandy and the Girlfriends', IASPM 17th Biennial Conference, Universidad de Oviedo, June 2013.
- 'The Girl Singer in 1960s London: the Position of Female Vocalists within the Pop Music Industry', Biennial IASPM UK/Ireland Conference, University of Salford, September 2012
- 'Narratives of Segregation and Independence: Female Singers and Regional Beat Group Scenes in England in the 1960s', Centre for the Study of Women and Gender Graduate Seminar Series, University of Warwick, June 2012
- * 'The Girl Singer in 1960s England: the Position of Female Vocalists within Regional Scenes and the Pop Music Industry', Kingston University Music Research Seminar Series, November 2011
- 'Narratives of Segregation and Independence: Female Singers and Regional Beat Group Scenes in England in the 1960s', IASPM Postgraduate Conference, University of Liverpool, June 2011.
Professional Recognition
Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (AFHEA), December 2012
Sini has taught classes on Popular Music at the University of East Anglia (2013), Goldsmiths, University of London (2013), City University London (2013), Middlesex University (2011-12) and Kingston University (2007-12).


text:
Behind The Scenes: Bright
Netflix has released an inside look at how the world of Bright came to life with Will Smith, Joel Edgerton and director David Ayer.
Fans can now catch a full-blown inside look at the unique and daring world of Bright in this new video! Will Smith, Joel Edgerton, Lucy Fry, David Ayer and more discuss the challenges and thrills in making the Netflix feature film.
Get inside access as fantasy becomes reality for the production designers, stunt coordinators, makeup artists and costume designers.
If you're still wondering what Bright is all about, don't miss the action-packed ride now on Netflix.
About Bright
Set in an alternate present-day, this action-thriller directed by David Ayer (Suicide Squad, End of Watch, writer of Training Day) follows two cops from very different backgrounds (Ward, a human played by Will Smith, and Jakoby, an orc played by Joel Edgerton) who embark on a routine patrol night that will ultimately alter the future as their world knows it.
Battling both their own personal differences as well as an onslaught of enemies, they must work together to protect a thought-to-be-forgotten relic, which in the wrong hands could destroy everything.
Bright is streaming now on Netflix.
Related Posts
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
« Little People, Big World Season 12 Star Wars Rebels Final Season Trailer »