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global_01_local_0_shard_00002368_processed.jsonl/50835 | Information for "Literature"
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Date of page creation20:50, 3 September 2008
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global_01_local_0_shard_00002368_processed.jsonl/50885 |
Psalm 113:9
Genesis 18:14
Deut. 7:9-14
Know therefore that the Lord thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations; [10] And repayeth them that hate him to their face, to destroy them: he will not be slack to him that hates him, he will repay him to his face. [11] Thou shalt therefore keep the commandments, and the statutes, and the judgments, which I command thee this day, to do them.
[12] Wherefore it shall come to pass, if ye hearken to these judgments, and keep, and do them, that the Lord thy God shall keep unto thee the covenant and the mercy which he swore unto thy fathers: [13] And he will love thee, and bless thee, and multiply thee: he will also bless the fruit of thy womb, and the fruit of thy land, thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep, in the land which he sware unto thy fathers to give thee. [14] Thou shall be blessed above all people: there shall not be male or female barren among you, or among your cattle. |
global_01_local_0_shard_00002368_processed.jsonl/50886 | World Library
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Imperial Reservoir
Imperial Reservoir
Imperial Diversion Dam and Reservoir complex in 1972
Location Lower Colorado River Valley
Imperial County, California
Yuma County, Arizona
Lake type Reservoir
Primary inflows Colorado River
Primary outflows Colorado River
Catchment area 5,756 acres (2,329 ha)
Basin countries United States
Surface area 28 km2 (11 sq mi)
Water volume 160,000 acre·ft (200,000,000 m3)
Surface elevation 56 m (184 ft)
References U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Imperial Reservoir
The Imperial Reservoir is an artificial lake formed by the construction of the Imperial Diversion Dam across the Colorado River in the Lower Colorado River Valley of Imperial County, California, and Yuma County, Arizona. A component of the Imperial National Wildlife Refuge, the reservoir is 16 miles (26 km) northeast of Yuma, Arizona.
• Dry wash watersheds 1
• See also 2
• References 3
• External links 4
Dry wash watersheds
Dry washes are the major watershed feed systems to Imperial Reservoir. The next upstream major watershed feeder is the Bill Williams River from western Arizona. Upstream on the Colorado River, the basic feeder watershed to Imperial Reservoir is the Havasu-Mojave Lakes Watershed, of Lake Havasu.
Two dry wash watershed attempt to enter the Imperial Reservoir from western Arizona, south of the Bill Williams River: the Bouse and Tyson Washes. Both washes end on the eastern perimeter of the Colorado River Indian Reservation along the Colorado River. Neither enters the river proper, except in extreme flood stage.
No "lengthy" watersheds flow eastwards from California; all are short distance, in the extreme aridity of this desert region.
See also
External links
• Imperial Reservoir Watershed Map
• U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Imperial Reservoir
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global_01_local_0_shard_00002368_processed.jsonl/50897 | DSW $20 bonus card with purchase of $100 gift card, or $10 with $50
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global_01_local_0_shard_00002368_processed.jsonl/50948 | 3rd Party Products
after discussions at the Smallworld Users Conference, I remembered the old Smallworld module book I think was last published in 1998. I've updated this page and created the subsequent links to reflect a categorized list of utilities, plugins, and applications that are available for Smallworld..
GE Digital Energy has a web page that identifies authorized partners at http://www.gegridsolutions.com/channels/partners/ge-energy-software-ecosystem.html. You can review this list (changing All markets to Geospatial Solutions) for links to those partners.
Geometry Tools
This page contains available 3rd party geometry manipulation tools. This includes trail geometry manipulations.
Database Administration Tools
This page contains 3rd party administration tools for database maintenance and upgrade.
Object Editing Tools
Miscellaneous editing tools such as batch editing and specialized editor tools.
Data Export/Import
This page contains 3rd party import and export functionality
Display Tools
This page contains products that augment the view with data and style changes, including mashup technologies.
This page contains plug-ins and enhancements to GE Smallworld's Schematics Engine
Application Development Tools
This page contains useful tools for application developers. Also tools/plug-ins that extend application functionality.
Industry Specific Tools
This page contains plug-ins or applications designed for specific industries like power distribution apps (UtiliTrak), telecom applications, or other industries.
User Interfaces
This page contains User Interface widgets like color ramp editor, progress bars, etc.
Plotting Tools
This page contains plug-ins and enhancements to GE Smallworld's plotting functionality
Network Tracing
This page contains plug-ins and enhancements to GE Smallworld's network tracing functionality.
System Interfaces
This page contains solutions to interface your Smallworld application with other systems.
Miscellaneous Tools
Does your plug-in or application not fit any any of the above, put it here….
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global_01_local_0_shard_00002368_processed.jsonl/50951 | Poetry from Luis Cuauhtémoc Berriozábal
Covered with light,
the fish swim to the moon.
They bathe in light,
They slip inside head to tail.
The skies at night
are like the sea and there
is a ship shaped cloud
like a six-stringed guitar.
The mermaids swim
on an invisible
stairway to the sky.
The waves in the sky
are choppier than at sea
level and darkness falls.
Floating in the sky
after several margaritas
I imagine I am flying
with angels.
The moon laughs at me.
I waved my hands
and put the moon
in its place
with my rosy cheeks
and my halo gifted by angels.
Floating in the sky
after several margaritas
I imagine overlooking
vast fields
where men and women toil
to put food on the table.
I come down to earth
and prepare for work.
No more floating
and no more margaritas tomorrow.
The lonely cloud at twilight
does not change form. It
disappears. With my eyes
I cannot see it and it is okay.
The lamp of a moon shines
its light at the lonely cloud
late in the evening and still
the solitary cloud does not
change in form. I go to sleep
and in the morning the cloud
is gone. My eyes search for
it. The cloud disappeared.
It was taken by the wind.
The sky could not harbor it.
My eyes wept in the shining sun.
I was not mourning for the cloud. |
global_01_local_0_shard_00002368_processed.jsonl/50961 | Targeted Budgeting Tool
Free Targeted Budgeting Tool
Everyone has goals. Unless you are rich, one of your goals may be to have more money. Even if you are rich your goal may still involve your income. Do you make enough to provide for yourself and your family? If not, do you understand where the money you make goes? It’s so easy for money to disappear, for a donut, a movie, or even new shoes. Using a targeted budgeting tool can help you, not only to keep track of the money you have, but even the money you didn’t know you had.
Customizing will provide room in your budget for everyones income and expenditures. The template for the targeted budgeting tool means ease of use, and an easy way to monitor where your cash flow is going.
How to Use the Targeted Budgeting Tool
Getting a copy of the template is available for free on this page. The template is customizable for any budget. The template is easy-to-use and downloadable right here.
Suggested Steps for Using the Targeted Budgeting Tool
• First, you should fill in the information your target is going to need. Including all parameters of accomplishing it.
• Second, set up the fields required for the income that will be the driving force to achieve your goals. Make sure that you apply the necessary amounts to the things needing to precede the end result
• The third step is to do a little math to make sure that your income can sustain the stress that you plan on putting it under.
Tips for Using the Targeted Budgeting Tool
• First, because this template may be needed on a daily basis you might consider attaching it to the taskbar.
• Second, re-use the template. If you can find one way for it to help organize your life, than you can find more.
• Third, be sure to back up your files. It may take five weeks or five years but there will always be the chance that you will need records of what you spent and what you worked for with your spending.
Download: Targeted Budgeting Tool |
global_01_local_0_shard_00002368_processed.jsonl/50967 | Tuesday, 5 August 2008
The Sana' Manuscripts Part 156 A
The SANA' manuscripts put paid to Muhammadan assertions that the Quran is UNALTERABLE!
1 comment:
fredoniahead said...
Recent evidence from satellites data, archaeology, manuscripts, etc. show that the ancient qibla for the earliest mosques up to 725 AD ALL 100% of them point toward.....NOT Jerusalem....but....PETRA!!!.
All mosques built between 622 and 725 point to Petra.
From 725 to 822 AD 12% point to Petra, 50% Mecca, and 38% are parallel.
From 822 to present, 100% point to Mecca.
The change toward Mecca was gradual over a 100 year period. It mainly occurred during the Abbasid caliphate.
Petra is the original 'Mecca' and is the original Inviolable Place of Worship mentioned in the Quran as Becca...NOT Jerusalem.
Much evidence is coming to light which shows Muhammad was a sort of folk hero that was redacted back and used as a focal point of the new religion of the conquering Arab tribes that had taken the Byzantine empire. No one man could have possibly have been all of those things that are described to him.
The qibla of the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem also points to...PETRA...as does 17 other mosques which were built
This is a proven fact...not an opinion.
For more information if you're interested read "Quranic Geography" by Dan Gibson and see his video on YouTube here:
This is indeed fascinating stuff.
Petra is the original holy city...NOT Mecca!.
The Jews are just finding out the Temple was NOT on the temple mount, but about 600 feet south in the City of David. Jackhammering off the layers of tradition over the truth will prove daunting if not impossible. People are very much emotionally invested in their beliefs, true or not. |
global_01_local_0_shard_00002368_processed.jsonl/50981 | Control Structure
Steal Your Private Key
Episode #138 TF #460
Steve wakes Andrew up to have a podcast in 2008. After sorting things out, they talk about Spectre, Meltdown, iPhone batteries, blockchains, Chrome, ADSL, Amazon, Crytek, Excel, and a few other things, because it's been a while.
Talking about each other has been moved to The Fringe. Please see The Fringe, episode 460, at about 20 minutes in.
Don’t forget |
global_01_local_0_shard_00002368_processed.jsonl/50983 | ELAINE AND JOHN by Maggie Jankuloska
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The table spread was immaculate; an assortment of cheese lay by a medley of spiced olives and peppers.
It’s like something out of Roman Holiday, Elaine mused.
Except she wasn’t a runaway princess.
The homemade bread was in the oven and she had a few moments to check her appearance in the mirror. She spritzed perfume on her wrists and rubbed them together. It was the same perfume she always used. It was strong, opiating, and prone to bringing on a bout of sneezing. She tightened her bra straps, hoping to fight the laws of gravity. A mauve dress hugged her generous waist and hid her from the knees up. Despite her age, her hair was in Shirley Temple curls. The smear of tangerine lipstick was the final touch. She looked in the mirror and approved.
Why didn’t I do this earlier? All this freedom was mine all along. I stopped myself from meeting nice men like John all because of Brother Ezra. But Brother Ezra was wrong; people outside our flock weren’t doomed. They weren’t evil and beyond salvation. I wish I knew that sooner. My mind stopped being cloudy when the police took him away.
His bracelet was still tightened against her wrist, a reminder of her dedication, her ties to Brother Ezra’s church. She still lacked the gall to take it off, fearing Brother Ezra would somehow know. Ten minutes until he’s here. She opened her phone screen and browsed through John’s profile for the fiftieth time. He liked: sport, travel, fishing, drinking, and music. He sounded wonderful.
She chilled a bottle of Bordeaux wine and tried to recall all she knew about AFL and cricket: the origins, the history. She too had travelled. She had visited Jane Austen’s resting place, spent a month in the Carpathians, worked in Budapest, and visited friends in Spain. She had many stories to share, stories which Brother Ezra stifled and made her regret. To him, they were full of wickedness and extravagance which hindered Elaine from her path to enlightenment. Now I can finally talk of Dali’s art, life under Communism, the taste of sangria.
The doorbell rang and she roused from her reverie. She stomped to the door in her snug high heels and took a deep breath.
“Elaine?” the guest asked with uncertainty.
“Yes,” she beamed and welcomed him like a long-lost relative.
He looked just like he did in his pictures, except for his height. He was a tad shorter than expected, but that was fine. Elaine did not complain. He had a ruddy glow, long chin, eyes which were lined with purple rings, mousy hair speckled with peroxide and a few gold rings decorated his fingers.
“Nice place,” he scanned her home.
“Is it this way?” he pointed.
“Oh no, that’s my bedroom. This way, please,” she led him to the kitchen and he sat down like a naughty schoolboy.
“Hope you like the wine, it’s a Bordeaux Rouge from 1982.”
“Got any beer?”
“Oh, no, I’m so sorry John. How silly of me!”
Elaine buried her face in her palms, hating herself for starting the evening with such a faux pas. Brother Ezra’s face flashed in her mind, he punished every slip-up with lashes from a hazel-tree branch.
“Nah, nah, all good, don’t stress,” John squeezed her hand and started chugging the wine.
John is different; he doesn’t want to harm me. He’s gentle, he has my hand in his.
“So John, tell me something about you,” Elaine looked at him, her eyes expectant and wide as saucers.
“I’m a truckie, long hours, gets a bit lonely, but I’ve seen the whole of the state. De facto has my kid, that stupid bitch! Go to the footy when I can, but that’s not cheap.”
“It’s a majestic sport, the players are valiant like gladiators.”
“Nah, Collingwood bloody suck! So what about yourself, no fella?”
John gobbled down a slice of cheese and rubbed his oily hands on his jeans.
“Like you, I’m a bit of a traveller. Three years in Europe chasing art and good food. I work in a bookstore now.”
“Reading too many romances?”
“Oh, guilty! But this is my first venture in online dating.”
“Yeah the internet is great, makes it seem like a video game.”
“Until recently I lived in a commune, I was on a spiritual path, trying to find myself.”
“Ah yeah, where did that take ya?”
“Nowhere, I’m still searching for fulfilment just like before. Brother Ezra did not have all the answers,” she sighed, but he didn’t seem to be listening.
“You beauty!” he shouted after he refreshed the football score on his phone. He gobbled more olives and dipped the bread in their oil. “Nice wog food,” he approved.
Elaine watched him and Brother Ezra’s mind came to mind, he wouldn’t have approved of John. He would have called him an undesirable, a hindrance to enlightenment, an empty shell.
“So ya wanna?” he placed his hand on her sturdy knee and raised his eyebrows like a cartoon character.
“Ya know, get the party started?” John cocked his head towards the bedroom.
“I think you’ve got the wrong idea, John. I want to find a good man, I’m not about to give in to sin of the flesh,” Brother Ezra’s words rolled out of her mouth.
“Bloody time-waster,” John stormed off, hands full of hot bread. “Elaine, men don’t work for fourteen hours and see a woman expecting an opera recital. If I just wanted a conversation and some grub, I would have visited my mother. Grow up and welcome to the real world!”
John slammed the door as he left.
Elaine sunk on the floor, rocking her body like an infant. She had been wrong. People are not nice, they are selfish and wicked. People outside Brother Ezra’s approved flock cannot be trusted. She felt that familiar pull. Brother Ezra would be out of prison, they only got him on minor infringements. His phone number kept repeating itself in her mind, his face becoming more and more vivid. He did punish, but he did it out of love, out of his role as protector.
There was a knock on the door. Can it be Brother Ezra? Could he have sensed my pain and manifested? She opened the door with the eagerness of a child on Christmas morning. There stood John again.
“I left my keys on your table.”
Maggie Jankuloska is a Macedonian-born and Melbourne based teacher and writer. She writes short stories and is currently working on her debut novel. She was the winner of the 2015 YPRL Write Now! short story competition and was featured in the 2016 Award Winning Australian Writing collection. Find her on Twitter @maggiejank
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global_01_local_0_shard_00002368_processed.jsonl/50994 | Wednesday, 28 October 2009
A longer 'about me'
For as long as I can remember I've been interested in history.
I started collecting at an early age too - one of my first collections was coins, and it felt miraculous that I could possess and hold a Roman coin that had been held by Roman hands perhaps a thousand years ago. It was a physical connection to a long gone past, and, while I'm a deeply sceptical person, there is something weirdly magical about this - as if you could still sense some trace of the energy and humanity of those who originally used that coin.
Objects from the past offer an immediate and vivid kind of time-travelling opportunity that you cannot obtain from books or television programmes. Its all very well to read about how they used to heat solid metal irons against a fire, test the temperature with a quick spit on the plate before skilfully pressing their clothes without scorching them. Its quite another thing to actually pick an old iron up and understand in a physical way what that might have involved - a hot iron, and a pile of wrinkled laundry even more so!
Clothing is perhaps the most evocative of all, since it covered the body, was stretched and shaped by the body, and sometimes retains the form of the wearer. It is the most intimate and personal of objects, and this explains some people's aversion to old clothing, as if it were haunted by spirits. The designer Barbara Hulanicki said recently: "As you get older you get more psychic. I can't stand vintage clothes - there's something so intense about their energy even after they've been cleaned."
This aspect never put me off, in fact quite the contrary. It is a big part of their appeal for me.
Playing dress-ups in the garden, photographs taken by my sister sometime in the early 1980s.
You can read about my very first vintage dress purchase here.
I've continued collecting all kinds of old things, in a very scattergun and undisciplined fashion, ever since, guided only by my endless curiosity and continuing delight in finding bargains that relatively few other people seemed interested in at the time. There's an account of my peak collecting years here.
At the same time I gathered quite a substantial personal library of books that helped me understand and contextualise what I was accumulating. In my amateur way, I was teaching myself history through a combination of reading and collecting.
The proprietor of 20th Century Frocks, Patricia Rowberry, in her shop sometime in the 1990s.
An important figure in this collecting mania was my mother, who wore vintage (then known by the much less glamorous term 'second-hand') clothing from the early 1970s on, and eventually started her own vintage clothing business in the late 1980s by literally emptying her wardrobe. We shared an enthusiasm, and often went browsing together. Her shop in Lincoln, 20th Century Frocks, is still fondly remembered by many customers.
The last link above explains how I renounced collecting, sold up everything except what I could fit into a small van, and moved down south to become a mature student at the University of Brighton. I completed a BA in design history, and enjoyed that so much I stayed to complete an MA in the same subject.
What enchanted me most about these courses is that there was an emphasis on the object as a credible source of evidence, and not just archival texts and pictures. I didn't know about it before, but it was called 'material culture' and my experience in collecting - familiarising myself over the years with the look, feel and construction of objects - was a valuable asset in that field.
So I find myself with a foot in two camps - the rigour and nit-picking precision (and often tiresomely obtuse theory) of academia, and the more pragmatic and commercial world of the vintage trade. And I've never lost that sense of magic in encountering the past through things.
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global_01_local_0_shard_00002368_processed.jsonl/51010 | True Blood 107 Burning House of Love
December 1, 2008 by
Bill gets into action after he learns of Sookies painful past. Jason makes a connection with Amy in Fangtasia searching for V juice. A trio of mysterious red necks come for their old friend Bill seeking justice against vampires.
Sookie’s painful childhood revelation about her Uncle Bartlett spurs Bill into action. Despite her skepticism, Tara agrees to pay for an exorcism to purge Lettie Mae of a demon. In search of V juice, Jason travels to Fangtasia, where he bonds with an adventurous young woman named Amy (Lizzy Kaplan). A trio of rednecks decide to exact vigilante justice on a pack of vampires who crashed Merlotte’s in search of their wayward mate Bill.
Written by Chris Offutt; directed by Marcos Siega.
Debut: SUNDAY, OCT. 19 |
global_01_local_0_shard_00002368_processed.jsonl/51011 | finney6.jpg (7883 bytes)
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From: The Oberlin Evangelist
"Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? Wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous?"-Job 40:8.
Although in the main, Job had spoken correctly of God, yet in his great anguish and perturbation under his sore trials, he had said some things which were hasty and abusive. For these the Lord rebuked him. This rebuke is contained in our context:
"Moreover the Lord answered Job, and said--Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct Him? He that reproveth God, let him answer it.
"Then Job answered the Lord, and said--Behold I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay my hand upon my mouth. Once have I spoken, but I will not answer; yea twice, but I will proceed no further.
"Then answered the Lord unto Job out of the whirlwind, and said,--Gird up thy loins now like a man; I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me. Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? Wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous?"--Job 40:1-8
It is not, however, my object to discuss the original purpose and connection of these words, but rather to consider their present application to the case of sinners. In pursuing this object, I shall
I. Every excuse for sin condemns God. This will be apparent if we consider,
1. That nothing can be sin for which there is a justifiable excuse.
This is entirely self-evident. It therefore needs neither elucidation nor proof.
2. If God condemns that for which there is a good excuse, He must be wrong. This also is self-evident. If God condemns what we have good reason for doing, no intelligence in the universe can justify Him.
3. But God does condemn all sin. He condemns it utterly, and will not allow the least apology or excuse for it. Hence, either there is no apology for it, or God is wrong.
4. Consequently, every excuse for sin charges blame upon God, and virtually accuses Him of tyranny. Whoever pleads an excuse for sin, therefore, charges God with blame.
II. We will consider some of these excuses, and see whether the principles I have laid down are not just and true.
1. INABILITY. No excuse is more common. It is echoed and re-echoed over every Christian land, and handed down age after age, never to be forgotten. With unblushing face it is proclaimed that men can not do what God requires of them.
Let us examine this and see what it amounts to. God, it is said, requires what men cannot do. And does He know that men cannot, do it? Most certainly. Then He has no apology for requiring it, and the requisition is most unreasonable. Human reason can never justify it. It is a natural impossibility.
But again, upon what penalty does God require what man cannot do? The threatened penalty is eternal death! Yes, eternal death, according to the views of those who plead inability as an excuse. God requires me on pain of eternal death to do that which He knows I cannot do. Truly this condemns God in the worst sense. You might just as well charge God outright with being an infinite tyrant.
Moreover, it is not for us to say whether on these conditions we shall or shall not charge God with infinite tyranny, for we cannot help it. The law of our reason demands it.
Hence, those who plant themselves upon these grounds charge God with infinite tyranny. Perhaps, sinner, you little think when you urge the excuse of inability, that you are really arraigning God on the charge of infinite tyranny. And you, Christian, who make this dogma of inability a part of your "orthodox" creed, may have little noticed its blasphemous bearings against the character of God; but your failure to notice it alters not the fact. The black charge is involved in the very doctrine of inability, and cannot be explained out of it.
I have intimated that this charge is blasphemous against God--and most truly. Far be it from God to do any such thing! Shall God require natural impossibilities, and denounce eternal death upon men for not doing what they have no natural power to do? Never! Yet good men and bad men agree together to charge God with doing this very thing, and doing it not once or twice only, but uniformly, through all ages, with all the race, from the beginning to the end of time! Horrible! Nothing in all the government of God ever so insulted and abused Jehovah! Nothing was ever more blasphemous and false! God says, "his commandments are not grievous;" but you, by this excuse of inability, proclaim that God's words are false. You declare that His commands are not only grievous, but are even naturally impossible! Hark! what does the Lord Jesus say? "My yoke is easy and my burden is light." And do you deny this? Do you rise up in the very face of His words and say--"Lord, thy yoke is so hard that no man can possibly endure it; thy burden is so heavy that no man can ever bear it?" Is not this gainsaying and blaspheming Him who can not lie?
But you take the ground that no man can obey the law of God. As the Presbyterian Confession of Faith has it, "No man is able, either by himself, or by any grace received in this life, perfectly to keep the commandments of God; but doth daily break them in thought, word, and deed." Observe, this affirms not only that no man is naturally able to keep God's commands, but also that no man is able to do it "by any grace received in this life;" thus making this declaration a libel on the gospel, as well as a palpable misrepresentation of the law, of its Author, and of man's relations to both. It is only moderate language to call this assertion from the Confession of Faith a libel. If there is a lie, either in hell or out of hell, this is a lie, or God is an infinite tyrant. If reason be allowed to speak at all, it is impossible for her to say less or otherwise than thus. And has not God constituted the reason of man for the very purpose of taking cognizance of the rectitude of all his ways?
Let God be true though every man be proved a liar! In the present case, the remarkable fact that no man can appease his own conscience and satisfy himself that he is truly unable to keep the law, shows that man lies, not God.
2. A second excuse which sinners make is want of time.
Suppose I tell one of my sons--"Go, do this or that duty, on pain of being whipped to death." He replies, "Father, I can't possibly do it, for I have not time. I must be doing that other business which you told me to do; and besides, if I had nothing else to do, I could not possibly do this new business in the time you allow." Now if this statement be the truth, and I knew it when I gave him the command, then I am a tyrant. There is no evading this charge. My conduct toward my son is downright tyranny.
So if God really requires of you what you have not time to do, He is infinitely to blame. For He surely knows how little time you have, and it is undeniable that He enforces His requisitions with most terrific penalties. What! is God so reckless of justice, so regardless of the well-being of His creatures, that He can sport with red-hot thunder-bolts, and burl them, despite of justice and right, among His unfortunate creatures? Never! NEVER! This is not true; it is only the false assumption which the sinner makes when he pleads as his excuse, that he has not time to do what God demands of him.
Let me ask you, sinner, how much time will it take you to do the first great duty which God requires--namely, give Him your heart? How long will this take? How long need you be in making up your mind to serve and love God? Do you not know that this, when done, will be done in one moment of time? And how long need you be in persuading yourself to do it?
Your meaning may be this: Lord, it takes me so long to make up my mind to serve thee, it seems as if I never should get time enough for this; even the whole of life seems almost too short for me to bring my mind to this unwelcome decision. Is this your meaning, sinner?
But let us look on all sides of the subject. Suppose I say to my son--"Do this now, my son;" and he replies, "I can't, father, for I must do that other thing you told me to do." Does God do so? No. God only requires the duty of each moment in its time. This is all. He only asks us to use faithfully just all the power He has given us--nothing more. He only requires that we do the best we can. When He prescribes the amount of love which will please Him, He does not say--Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with the powers of an angel--with the burning heart of a seraph--no, but only "with all thy heart"--this is all. An infinitely ridiculous plea is this of the sinner's, that he can not do as well as he can--cannot love God with all his own heart, and soul and mind, and strength. Thou shalt do the best that thou art able to do, says God to the sinner. Ah, says the sinner, I am not able to do that. Oh, what stupid nonsense!
You charge that God is unreasonable. The truth is, God is the most reasonable of all beings. He asks only that we should use each moment for Him, in labour or in rest, whichever is most for His glory. He only requires that with the time, talents and strength which He has given us, we should do all we can to serve Him.
Says that mother--"How can I be religious? I have to take care of all my children." Indeed! and can't you get time to serve God? What does God require of you? That you should forsake and neglect your children? No indeed; He asks you to take care of your children--good care of them; and do it all for God. He says to you--those are my children; and He puts them into your hands, saying--take care of them for me, and I will give thee wages. And now will it require more time to take care of your children for God, than to take care of them for yourself? O, but you say, I cannot be religious, for I must be up in the morning and get my breakfast. And how much longer will it take you to get your breakfast ready to please God, than to do the same to please yourself? How much longer time must you have to do your duties religiously, than to do them selfishly?
What then do you mean by this plea? The fact is, all these excuses show that the excuser is mad--not insane, but mad. For what does God require so great that you should be unable to do it for want of time? Only this, that you should do all for God. Persons who make this plea seem to have entirely overlooked the real nature of religion, and of the requisitions that God makes of them. So it is with the plea of inability. The sinner says, "I am unable." Unable to do what? Just what you can do; for God never requires anything beyond this. Unless, therefore, you assume that God requires of you more than you can do, your plea is false, and even ridiculous. If, on the other hand, you do not assume this, then your plea, if true, would not show God to be unjust.
But I was saying that in this plea of having no time to be religious, men entirely overlook or pervert the true idea of religion. The farmer pleads--"I can't be religious; I can't serve God--I must sow my wheat." Well, sow your wheat; but do it for the Lord. O but you have so much to do! Then do it all for the Lord. Another can't be religious for he must get his lesson. Well, get your lesson, but get it for the Lord, and this will be religious. The man who should neglect to sow his wheat or neglect to get his lessons because he wants to be religious, is crazy. He perverts the plainest things in the worst way. If you are to be religious, you must be industrious. The farmer must sow his wheat, and the student must get his lesson. An idle man can no more be religious than the devil can be. This notion that men can't be religious, because they have some business to do, is the merest nonsense. It utterly overlooks the great truth that God never forbids our doing the appropriate business of life, but only requires that we shall do all for Himself. If God did require us to serve Him in such a way as would compel us to neglect the practical duties of life, it would be truly a hard case. But now the whole truth is, that He requires us to do precisely these duties, and do them all honestly and faithfully for Him, and in the best possible manner. Let the farmer take care of his farm, and see that he does it well, and above all, do it for God. It is God's farm, and the heart of every farmer is God's heart, therefore let the farm be tilled for God, and the heart be devoted to Him alone.
3. Men plead a sinful nature for their excuse. And pray, what is this sinful nature? Do you mean by it that every faculty and even the very essence of your constitution were poisoned and made sinful in Adam, and came down in this polluted state by inheritance to you? Do you mean that you were so born in sin that the substance of your being is all saturated with it, and so that all the faculties of your consti tution are themselves sin? Do you believe this?
I admit if this were true, it would make out a hard case. A hard case indeed! Until the laws of my reason are changed, it would compel me to speak out openly and say--Lord, this is a hard case, that thou shouldst make my nature itself a sinner, and then charge the guilt of its sin upon me! I could not help saying this; the deep echoings of my inner being would proclaim it without ceasing, and the breaking of ten thousand thunderbolts over my head would not deter me from thinking and saying so. The reason God has given me would forever affirm it.
But the dogma is an utter absurdity. For, pray, what is sin? God answers--"transgression of law." And now you hold that your nature is itself a breach of the law of God--nay, that it has always been a breach of God's law, from Adam to the day of your birth; you hold that the current of this sin came down in the veins and blood of your race--and who made it so? Who created the veins and blood of man? From whose hand sprang this physical constitution and this mental constitution? Was man his own creator? Did sin do a part of the work in creating your physical and your mental constitution? Do you believe any such thing? No; you ascribe your nature and its original faculties to God, and upon Him, therefore, you charge the guilty authorship of your "sinful nature."
But how strange a thing is this! If man is in fault for his sinful nature, why not condemn man for having blue or black eyes? The fact is, sin never can consist in having a nature, nor in what nature is; but only and alone in the bad use which we make of our nature. This is all. Our Maker will never find fault with us for what He has Himself done or made; certainly not. He will not condemn us, if we will only make a right use of our powers--of our intellect, our sensibility, and our will. He never holds us responsible for our original nature. If you will observe, you will find that God has given no law prescribing what sort of nature and constitutional powers we should have. He has given no law on these points, the transgression of which, if given, might somewhat resemble the definition of sin. But now since there is no law about nature, nature cannot be a transgression.
Here let me say that if God were to make a law prescribing what nature or constitution a man must have, it could not possibly be otherwise than unjust and absurd, for the reason that man's nature is not a proper subject for legislation, precept, and penalty, inasmuch as it lies entirely without the pale of voluntary action, or of any action of man at all. And yet thousands of men have held the dogma that sin consists in great part in having a sinful nature. Yes, through long ages of past history, grave theologians have gravely taught this monstrous dogma; it has resounded from pulpits, and has been stereotyped for the press, and men have seemed to be never weary of glorifying this dogma as the surest test of sound orthodoxy! Orthodoxy!! There never was a more infamous libel on Jehovah! It would be hard to name another dogma which more violently outrages common sense. It is nonsense--absurd and utter NONSENSE! I would to God that it were not even worse than nonsense! Think what mischief it has wrought! Think how it has scandalized the law, the government, and the character of God! Think how it has filled the mouths of sinners with excuses from the day of its birth to this hour
Now I do not mean to imply that the men who have held this dogma have intelligently insulted God with it. I do not imply that they have been aware of the impious and even blasphemous bearings of this dogma upon Jehovah;--I am happy to think that some at least have done all this mischief ignorantly. But the blunder and the mischief have been none the less for the honest ignorance in which they were done.
4. Sinners, in self-excuse, say they are willing to be Christians. They are willing, they say, to be sanctified. O yes, they are very willing; but there is some great difficulty lying further back or something else--perhaps they do not know just where--but it is somewhere, and it will not let them become Christians.
Now the fact is, if we are really willing, there is nothing more which we can do. Willing is all we have to do morally in the case, and all we can do. But the plea, as in the sinner's mouth, maintains that God requires of us what is naturally impossible. It assumes that God requires of us something more than right willing; and this, be it what it may, is of course, to us, an impossibility. If I will to move my muscles, and no motion follows, I have done all I can do; there is a difficulty beyond my reach, and I am in no blame for its existence, or for its impediment. Just so, if I were to will to serve God, and absolutely no effect should follow, I have done my utmost, and God never can demand anything more. In fact, to will is the very thing which God does require. "If there be first a willing mind, it is accepted." Do tell me, parent, if you had told your child to do anything, and you saw him exerting himself to the utmost, would you ask any thing more? If you should see a parent demanding and enforcing of a child more than he could possibly do, however willing, would you not denounce that parent as a tyrant? Certainly you would. The slave-driver, even, is not wont to beat his slave, if he sees him willing to do all he can.
This plea is utterly false, for no sinner is willing to be any better than be actually is. If the will is right, all is right; and universally the state of the will is the measure of one's moral character. Those men, therefore who plead that they are willing to be Christians while yet they remain in their sins, talk mere nonsense.
5. Sinners say they are waiting God's time. A lady in Philadelphia had been in great distress of mind for many years. On calling to see her, I asked, "What does God require of you? What is your case?" "Oh," said she, "God waited on me a long time before I began to seek Him at all, and now I must wait for Him as long as He did for me. So my minister tells me. You see, therefore, that I am waiting in great distress for God to receive me."
Now what is the real meaning of this? It comes to this;--God urges me to duty, but is not ready for me to do it; He tells me to come to the Gospel feast, and I am ready; but He is not ready to let me in.
Now does not this throw all the blame upon God? Could any thing do so more completely than this does? The sinner says--"I am ready, and willing, and waiting; but God is not yet ready for me to stop sinning. His hour has not yet come."
When I first began to preach, I found this notion almost universal. Often after pressing men to duty, I have been accosted;--"What, you throw all the blame upon the sinner!" "Yes, indeed I do," would be my reply. An old lady once met me after preaching and broke out, "What! you set men to getting religion themselves! You tell them to repent themselves? You don't mean so, do you?" "Indeed I do," said I. She had been teaching for many years that the sinner's chief duty is to await God's time.
6. Sinners plead in excuse, that their circumstances are very peculiar. I know my duty well enough, but my circumstances are so peculiar. And does not God understand your circumstances? Nay, has not His providence been concerned in making them what they are? If so, then you are throwing blame upon God. You say--"O Lord, thou art a hard master, for thou hast never made any allowance for my circumstances."
But how much, sinner, do you really mean in making this plea? Do you mean that your circumstances are so peculiar, that God ought to excuse you from becoming religious, at least for the present? If you do not mean as much as this, why do you make your circumstances your excuse at all? If you do mean this, then you are just as much mistaken as you can be. For God requires you, despite of your circumstances, to abandon your sin. If now your circumstances are so peculiar that you cannot serve God in them, you must abandon them or lose your soul. If they are such as admit of your serving God in them, then do so at once.
But you say--"I can't get out of my circumstances." I reply, you can;--you can get out of the wickedness of them; for if it is necessary in order to serve God, you can change them; and if not, you can repent and serve God in them.
7. The sinner's next excuse is that his temperament is peculiar. "Oh," he says, "I am very nervous;" or "my temperament is very sluggish; I seem to have no sensibility." Now what does God require? Does He require of you another or a different sensibility from your own? Or does He require only that you should use what you have according to the law of love?
But such is the style of a multitude of excuses. One has too little excitement; another, too much; so neither can possibly repent and serve God! A woman came to me, and pleaded that she was naturally too excitable, and dared not trust herself; and therefore could not repent. Another has the opposite trouble--too sluggish--scarce ever sheds a tear--and therefore could make nothing out of religion if he should try. But does God require you to shed more tears than you are naturally able to shed? Or does He only require that you should serve Him? Certainly this is all. Serve Him with the very powers He has given you. Let your nerves be ever so excitable, come and lay those quivering sensibilities over into the hands of God--pour out that sensibility into the heart of God! This is all that He requires. I know how to sympathize with that woman, for I know much about a burning sensibility; but does God require feeling and excitement? Or only a perfect consecration of all our powers to Himself?
8. But, says another, my health is so poor that I can't go to meeting, and therefore can't be religious.
Well, what does God require? Does He require that you should go to all the meetings, by evening or by day, whether you have the requisite health for it or not? Infinitely far from it. If you are not able to go to meeting, yet you can give God your heart. If you can not go in bad weather, be assured that God is infinitely the most reasonable being that ever existed. He makes all due allowance for every circumstance. Does He not know all your weakness? Indeed He does. And do you suppose that He comes into your sick-room and denounces you for not being able to go to meeting, or for not attempting when unable, and for not doing all in your sickness that you might do in health? No, not He; but He comes into your sick-room as a Father. He comes to pour out the deepest compassions of His heart in pity and in love; and why should you not respond to his loving-kindness? He comes to you and says--"Give me your heart, my child." And now you reply--"I have no heart." Then He has nothing to ask of you--He thought you had; and thought, too, that He had done enough to draw your heart in love and gratitude to Himself. He asks--"What can you find in all my dealings with you that is grievous? If nothing, why do you bring forward pleas in excuse for sin that accuse and condemn God?"
9. Another excuse is in this form, "My heart is so hard, that I can not feel." This is very common, both among professors and non-professors. In reality it is only another form of the plea of inability. In fact, all the sinner's excuses amount only to this--"I am unable"--"I can't do what God requires." If the plea of a hard heart is any excuse at all, it must be on the ground of real inability.
But what is hardness of heart? Do you mean that you have so great apathy of the sensibility that you can not get up any emotion? Or, do you mean that you have no power to will or to act right? Now on this point, it should be considered that the emotions are altogether involuntary. They go and come according to circumstances, and therefore are never required by the law of God, and are not, properly speaking, either religion itself, or any part of it. Hence, if by a hard heart you mean a dull sensibility, you mean what has no concern with the subject. God asks you to yield your will, and consecrate your affections to Himself, and He asks this, whether you have any feeling or not.
Real hardness of heart in the Bible use of the phrase, means stubbornness of will. So in the child, a hard heart means a will set in fixed stubbornness against doing its parent's bidding. The child may have in connection with this, either much or little emotion. His sensibilities may be acute and thoroughly aroused, or they may be dormant; and yet the stubborn will may be there in either case.
Now the hardness of heart of which God complains in the sinner is precisely of this sort. The sinner cleaves to his self-indulgence, and will not relinquish it, and then complains of hardness of heart. What would you think of a child, who, when required to do a most reasonable thing, should say,--My heart is so hard, I can't yield." "O," he says, "my will is so set to have my own way that I cannot possibly yield to my father's authority."
This complaint is extremely common. Many a sinner makes it, who has been often warned, often prayed with and wept over, who has been the subject of many convictions. And does he really mean by this plea that he finds his will so obstinate that he can not make up his mind to yield to God's claims? Does he mean this, and does he intend really to publish his own shame? Suppose you go to the devils in hell, and press on them the claims of God, and they should reply, "O, my heart is so hard, I can't"--What would be their meaning? Only this--I am so obstinate--my will is so set in sin, that I can not for a moment indulge the thought of repentance. This would be their meaning, and if the sinner tells the truth of himself, and uses language correctly, he must mean the same. But oh, how does he add insult to injury by this declaration! Suppose a child should plead this--I can not find it in my heart to love my father and my mother; my heart is so hard towards them, I never can love them; I can feel pleasure only in abusing them, and trampling down their authority;--what a plea is this? Does not this heap insult upon wrong? Or suppose a murderer arraigned before the court, and permitted before his sentence, to speak, if he had aught to say why sentence should not be passed;-- suppose he should rise and say--"May it please the court, my heart for a long time has been as hard as a millstone. I have murdered so many men, and have been in the practice so long, that I can kill a man without the least compunction of conscience. Indeed, I have such an insatiable thirst for blood that I can not help murdering whenever I have a good opportunity. In fact, my heart is so hard that I find I like this employment full as well as any other."
Well, how long will the court listen to such a plea? Hold there! hold! the judge would cry--you infamous villain, we can hear no more such pleas! Here, sheriff, bring in a gallows, and hang the man within these very walls of justice, for I will not leave the bench until I see him dead! He will murder us all here in this house if he can!"
Now what shall we think of the sinner who says the same thing! O God, he says, my heart is so hard I never can love thee. I hate thee so sincerely, I never can make up my mind to yield this heart to thee in love and willing submission.
Sinners, how many of you (in this house) have made this plea--"My heart is so hard, I can't repent. I can't love and serve God!" Go write it down; publish it to the universe--make your boast of being so hard-hearted that no claims of God can ever move you. Methinks if you were to make such a plea, you would not be half through before the whole universe would hiss you from their presence and chase you from the face of these heavens till you would cry out for some rocks or mountains to hide you from their scathing rebukes! Their voice of indignation would rise up and ring along the arch of heaven like the roar of ten thousand tornadoes, and whelm you with unutterable confusion and shame! What, do you insult and abuse the Great Jehovah? Oh! do you condemn that very God who has watched over you in unspeakable love--fanned you with his gentle zephyrs in your sickness--feasted you at his own table, and you would not thank him, or even notice his providing hand? And then when the sympathy of your Christian friends has pressed you with entreaties to repent, and they have made you a special subject of their prayers--when angels have wept over you, and unseen spirits have lifted their warning voices in your pathway to hell, you turn up your face of brass towards Jehovah and tell Him your heart is so hard you can't repent, and don't care whether you ever do or not! You seize a spear and plunge it into the heart of the crucified One, and then cry out--"I can't be sorry, not I; my heart is hard as a stone! I don't care and I will not repent!" What a wretch you are, sinner, if this is your plea?
But what does your plea amount to? Only this--that your heart is fully set to do evil. The sacred writer has revealed your case most clearly--"Because vengeance against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil." You stand before the Lord just in this daring, blasphemous attitude--fully set in your heart to do evil.
10. Another form of the same plea is, my heart is so wicked I can't. Some do not hesitate to avow this wickedness of heart. What do they mean by it? Do they mean that they are so hardened in sin, and so desperately wicked that they will not bow? This is the only proper sense of their language, and this is the precise truth.
Since you bring this forward, sinner, as your excuse, your object must be to charge this wickedness of heart upon God. Covertly, perhaps, but really, you imply that God is concerned in creating that wicked heart! This is it, and this is the whole of it. You would feel no interest in the excuse, and it would never escape your lips, but for this tacit implication that God is in fault for your wicked heart. This is only the plea of inability, coupled with its twin sister, original sin, coming down in the created blood and veins of the race, under the Creator's responsibility.
11. Another kindred plea, is--My heart is so deceitful. Suppose a man should make this excuse for deceiving his neighbour--"I can't help cheating you. I can't help lying to you and abusing you; my heart is so deceitful!" Would any man in his senses ever suppose that this could be an apology or excuse for doing wrong? Never. Of course, unless the sinner means in this plea to set forth his own guilt and condemn himself, he must intend it as some sort of justification; and if so, he must, in just so far, cast the blame upon God. And this is usually his intention. He does not mean sincerely to confess his own guilt; no, he charges the guilt of his deceitful heart upon God.
12. Another excuses himself by the plea, I have tried to become a Christian. I have done all I can do; I have tried often, earnestly, and long.
You have tried, then, you say, to be a Christian; what is being a Christian? Giving your heart to God. And what is giving your heart to God? Devoting your voluntary powers to Him; ceasing to live for yourself and living for God. This is being a Christian--the state you profess to have been trying to attain.
No excuse is more common than this. And what is legitimately implied in this trying to be a Christian? A willingness to do your duty is always implied; that the heart, that is, the will is right already; and the trying refers only to the outward efforts--the executive acts. For there is no sense whatever in a man's saying that he is trying to do what he has no intention or will to do. The very statement implies that his will is not only in favor but is thoroughly committed and really in earnest to attain the end chosen.
Consequently if a man tries to be a Christian, he heart is obedient to God, and his trying must respect his outward action. These are so connected with the will that they follow by a law of necessity unless the connection is broken, and when this takes place, no sin attends our failure to secure the outward act. God does not hold us responsible.
Hence the sinner ought to mean by this plea--"I have obeyed God a long time--I have had a right heart--and I have tried sincerely to secure such external action as comports with Christian character.
Now if this be true, you have done your duty. But do you mean to affirm all this? No, you say. Then what do you mean?
Suppose I should say to my son, do this; do it my son; why have you not done it? O, he says, "father, I have tried;" but he does not mean that he has ever intended to do it--that he has ever made up his mind to obey me; he only means, "I have been willing to try--I made up my mind to try to be willing;" that is all! O he says I have brought myself to be willing to try to will to do it.
So you say--I have tried to get religion. And what is religion that you could not get it? How did you fail? You have been trying probably in this way. God has said "Give me thy heart," and you turned round and asked God to do it Himself, or perhaps you simply waited for Him to do it. He commanded you to repent, and you have tried to get Him to repent for you. He said, believe the gospel, and you have only been thinking of getting Him to believe for you. No wonder you have tried for a long time in vain. How could it be otherwise? You have not been trying to do what God commanded you to do, but to induce God to change his system of moral government and put Himself in your place to do Himself the duty He enjoins upon you. What a miserable perversion is this?
Now as to this whole plea of having tried to be a Christian, what is the use of it? You will easily see its use when you realize duly;
(1.) That it is utterly false when understood as you intend it.
(2.) That it is a foul implication of the character of God.
You say--Lord, I know I can't--I have tried all I can and I know I can not become a Christian. I am willing to get religion, but I cannot make it out.
Who then is to blame? Not yourself, according to your statement of your case. Where then is the blame? Let me ask--what would be said in the distant regions of the universe if you were believed there, when you say, I have tried with all my heart to love and serve God but I can't?
But they never can believe such a libel on their own infinite Father! Of course they will pronounce your doom as you deserve.
13. Another excuses himself by the plea--it will do no good to try. And what do you mean by this? Do you mean that God will not pay well for service done Him? Or do you mean that He will not forgive you if you do repent? Do you think (as some do) that you have sinned away your day of grace?
Well, suppose you have; is this any reason why you should go on in sin? Do you not believe that God is good? O yes. And that He will forgive you if the good of the universe admits? Most certainly. Then is the impossibility of his forgiving you any reason why you should go on in sin forever, and forever rage against a God of infinite goodness? You believe Him to be compassionate and forgiving; then should you not say, I will at least stop sinning against such a God! Why not say with the man who dreamed that he was just going to hell, and as he was parting with his brother--going, as his dream had it, to heaven, he said--"I am going down to hell, but I want you to tell God from me that I am greatly obliged to Him for ten thousand mercies which I never deserved; He has never done me the least injustice--give Him my thanks for all the unmerited good He has done me." At this point he awoke, and found himself bathed in tears of repentance and gratitude to his Father in heaven. O, if men would only act as reasonably as that man dreamed, it would be noble--it would be right. If when they suppose themselves to have sinned away the day of grace, they would say, "I know God is good--I will at least send Him my thanks--he has done me no injustice;" if they would take this course they might have at least the satisfaction of feeling that it is a reasonable and a fit one in their circumstances. Sinner, will you do this?
14. Another, closely pressed, says, "I have offered to give my heart to Christ, but He won't receive me." "I have no evidence that He receives me or ever will." In the last inquiry meeting, a young woman told me she had offered to give her heart to the Lord, but He would not receive her. This was charging the lie directly upon Christ, for He has said--"Him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out." You say, I came and offered myself and He would not receive me. Jesus Christ says, "Behold I stand at the door and knock; if any man"--not if some particular, some favored one--but if any man "hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him." And yet when you offered Him your heart, did He spurn you away? Did He say--away sinner, BEGONE? No, sinner, He never did it, never. He has said He never would do it. His own words are, "Him that cometh unto Me, I will in no wise cast out." "He that seeketh, findeth: to him that knocketh it shall be opened." But you say, I have sought and I did not find. Do you mean to make out that Jesus Christ is a liar? Have you charged this upon Him to his very face? Do you make your solemn affirmation--"Lord I did seek--I laid myself at thy gate and knocked--but all in vain?" And do you mean to bring this excuse of yours as a solemn charge of falsehood against Jesus Christ and against God? This will be a serious business with you before it is done with.
15. But another says--"there is no salvation for me." Do you mean that Christ has made no atonement for you? But He says, He tasted death for every man. It is declared that God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son that whomsoever believeth on Him shall have eternal life. And now do you affirm that there is no salvation provided and possible for you? Are you mourning all your way down to hell because you cannot possibly have salvation? When the cup of salvation is placed to your lips, do you dash it away, saying, That can not be for me? And do you know this? Can you prove it even against the word of God Himself? Stand forth then, if there be such a sinner on this footstool of God--speak it out, if you have such a charge against God, and if you can prove it true. Ah, is there no hope? none at all? Oh, the difficulty is not that there is no salvation provided for and offered to you, but that there is no heart for it. "Wherefore is there a price put into the hands of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart for it?"
16. But perhaps you say in excuse--"I cannot change my own heart." Can not? Suppose Adam had made this excuse when God called him to repent after his first sin. "Make you a new heart and a right spirit,"--said the Lord to him. "I can not change my own heart myself," replies Adam. Indeed, responds his Maker, how long is it since you changed your heart yourself? You changed it a few hours ago from holiness to sin, and will you tell your Creator that you can't change it from sin to holiness?
The sinner should consider that the change of heart is a voluntary thing. You must do it for yourself or it is never done. True there is a sense in which God changes the heart, but it is only this: God influences the sinner to change, and then the sinner does it. The change is the sinner's own voluntary act.
17. You say, again, you can't change your heart without more conviction. Do you mean by this that you have not knowledge enough of your duty and your sin? You can not say this. You do know your sin and your duty. You know you ought to consecrate yourself to God. What then do you mean? Can't you do that which you know you ought to do? Ah, there is the old lie--that shameless refuge of lies--that same foul dogma of inability. What is implied in this new form of it? This--that God is not willing to convict you enough to make it possible for you to repent. There is a work and a responsibility for God, and He will not do his work: will not bear his responsibility. Hence you, alas, have no alternative but to go down to hell. And because God will not do his part towards your salvation! Do you really believe that, sinner.
18. Again you say in excuse, that you must first have more of the Spirit. And yet you resist the Spirit every day. God offers you his Spirit, nay more, God bestows his Spirit; but you resist it. What then do you mean when you pretend to want more of the Spirit's influence?
The truth is, you do not want it--you only want to make it appear that God does not do his part to help you to repent, and that as you can't repent without his help, therefore the blame of your impenitence rests on God. It is only another refuge of lies--another form of the old slander upon God;--He has made me unable and won't help me out of my inability.
19. The sinner also excuses himself by saying--God must change my heart. But in the sense in which God requires you to do it, He cannot do it Himself. God is said to change the heart only in the sense of persuading you to do it. As in a man's change of politics--one might say--"such a man changed my heart--he brought me over," which however by no means implies that you did not change your own mind. The plain meaning is that he persuaded and you yielded.
But this plea made by the sinner as his excuse, implies that there is something more for God to do before the sinner can become religious. I have heard many professors of religion take this very ground. Yes, thousands of Christian ministers, too, have said to the sinner--"wait for God; He will change your heart in his own good time; you can't do it yourself, and all that you can do is to put yourself in the way for the Lord to change your heart. When this time comes, He will give you a new heart, while you are asleep, perhaps, in a state of unconsciousness. God acts in this matter as a sovereign, and does his own work in his own way."
So they teach--filling the mouth of the sinner with excuses and making his heart like an adamant against the real claims of God upon his conscience.
2O. The sinner pleads, again, "I can't live a Christian life if I were to become a Christian. It is unreasonable for me to expect to succeed where I see so many fail." I recollect the case of a man who said, "It is of no use for me to repent and be a Christian, for it is altogether irrational for me to expect to do better than others have done before me." So sinners who make this excuse come forward very modestly and tell God, "I am very humble--thou seest, Lord, that I have a very low opinion of myself; I am so zealous of thine honour and so afraid that I shall bring disgrace upon thy cause; it does not seem at all best for me to think of becoming a Christian, I have such a horror of dishonoring thy name.
Yes, and what then? "Therefore, I will sin on and trample the blessed gospel under my feet. I will persecute Thee, O my God, and make war on Thy cause, for it is better by far not to profess religion than to profess and then disgrace my profession." What logic! Fair specimen of the absurdity of the sinner's excuses.
This excuse assumes that there is not grace enough provided and offered, to sustain the soul in a Christian life. The doctrine is, that it is irrational to expect that we can, by any grace received in this life, perfectly obey the law of God. There is not grace and help enough afforded by God! And this is taught as BIBLE THEOLOGY! Away with such teaching to the nether pit whence it came!
What! is God so weak that He can't hold up the soul that casts itself on Him? Or is He so parsimonious in bestowing his gracious aid that it must be expected always to fall short of meeting the wants of his dependent and depending child? So you seem to suppose. So hard to persuade the Lord to give you a particle of grace! Can't get grace enough to live a Christian life with honor! What is this but charging God of withholding sufficient grace.
But what say the word and the oath of Jehovah? We read that "God, willing more abundantly to show unto the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath; that by two immutable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us." You say, however, "If I should flee and lay hold of this hope, I should fail for want of grace. I could have no 'consolation' in reposing upon the word of Him who cannot lie. The oath of the immutable God can never suffice for me."
So you belie the word of God, and make up a miserably slim and guilty apology for your impenitence.
21. Another excuse claims that this is a very dark, mysterious subject. This matter of faith and regeneration--I can't understand it.
Sinner, did you ever meet the Lord with this objection, and say, "Lord thou hast required me to do things which I can't understand?" You know that you can understand well enough that you are a sinner--that Christ died for you--that you must believe on Him and break off your sins by repentance. All this is so plain that "the wayfaring man though a fool need not err therein." Your plea, therefore, is as false as it is foul. It is nothing better than a base libel on God!
22. But you say, "I can't believe." You mean, (do you?) that you can't believe a God of infinite veracity as you can believe a fellow man? Would you imply that God asks you to believe things that are really incredible--things so revolting to reason that you cannot admit them on any testimony that even God himself can adduce?
And do you expect to make out this case against God? Do you even believe the first point in it yourself?
But you urge again that you can't realize these things. You know these things to be true, but you can't realize--you can't realize that the Bible is true--that God does offer to forgive--that salvation is actually provided and placed within your reach. What help can there be for a case like yours? What can make these truths more certain? But on your own showing, you do not want more evidence. Why not then act upon the known truth? What more can you ask?
Do you ever carry your case before God and say, "O Lord, Thou sayest that Christ died for me, but I can't realize that it is so, and therefore Lord, I can't possibly embrace Him as my Saviour?" Would this be a rational excuse?
But you also plead that you can't repent. You can't be sorry you have abused God. You can't make up your mind now to break off from all sin. If this be really so, then you cannot make up your mind to obey God, and you may as well make up your mind to go to hell! There is no alternative!
But at any rate, you can't become a Christian now. You mean to be converted some time, but you can't make up your mind to it NOW. Well, God requires it now, and of course you must yield or abide the consequences.
But do you say, You can't now? Then God is very much to blame for asking it. If however the truth be that you can, then the lie is on your side, and it is a most infamous and abusive lie against your Maker.
III. All excuses for sin add insult to injury.
1. A plea that reflects injuriously upon the court or the lawgiver is an aggravation of the original crime. It is always so regarded in all tribunals. It must be pre-eminently so between the sinner and his infinite Lawgiver and Judge.
2. The same is true of any plea made in self-justification. If it be false, it is considered an aggravation of the crime charged. This is a case which sometimes happens, and whenever it does, it is deemed to add fresh insult and wrong. For a criminal to come and spread out his lie upon the records of the court--to declare what he knows to be false; nothing can prejudice his case so fearfully.
On the other hand, when a man before the court appears to be honest, and confesses his guilt, the judge, if he has any discretion in the case, puts down his sentence to the lowest point possible. But if the criminal resorts to dodging--if he equivocates and lies, then you will see the strong arm of the law come down upon him. The judge comes forth in all the thunders of judicial majesty and terror, and feels that he may not spare his victim. Why? The man has lied before the very court of justice. The man sets himself against all law, and he must be put down, or law itself is down.
3. It is truly abominable for the sinner to abuse God and then excuse himself for it. Ah, this is only the old way of the guilty. Adam and Eve in the garden fled and hid themselves when they heard the voice of the Lord approaching. And what had they done? The Lord calls them out and begins to search them: "Adam, what hast thou done? Has thou eaten of the forbidden tree in the centre of the garden?" Adam quailed, but fled to an excuse: "The woman whom Thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree and I did eat." God, he says, gave him his tempter. God, according to his excuse, had been chiefly to blame in the transaction.
Next He turns to the woman: "What is that thou hast done?" She too has an excuse: "The serpent beguiled me and I did eat." Ah, this perpetual shuffling the blame back upon God! It has been kept up through the long line of Adam's imitators down to this day. For six thousand years God has been hearing it, and still the world is spared, and the vengeance of God has not yet burst forth to smite all his guilty calumniators to hell! O! what patience in God! And who have ever abused his patience and insulted Him by their excuses more than sinners in this house?
1. No sinner under the light of the Gospel lives a single hour in sin without some excuse, either tacit or avowed, by which he justifies himself. It seems to be a law of man's intelligent nature that when accused of wrong, either by his conscience or by any other agent, he must either confess or justify. The latter is the course taken by all impenitent sinners. Hence the reason why they have so much occasion for excuses, and why they find it convenient to have so great a variety. It is remarkable with what facility they fly from one to another, as if these refuges of lies might make up in number what they lack in strength. Conscious that not one of all the multitude is valid in point of truth and right, they yet, when pressed on one, fly to another, and when driven from all in succession they are ready to come back and fight the same ground over again. It is so hard to abandon all excuses, and admit the humbling truth that they themselves are all wrong, and God all right.
Hence it becomes the great business of a gospel minister to search out and expose the sinner's excuses; to go all round and round, and, if possible, demolish the sinner's refuges of lies, and lay his heart open to the shafts of truth.
2. Excuses render repentance impossible. For excuses are justifications, and who does not know that justification is the very opposite of confession and repentance? To seek after and embrace excuses therefore, is to place one's self at the farthest possible remove from repentance.
Of course the self-accusing sinner makes it impossible for God to forgive him. He places the Deity in such a position toward himself, and I might say, places himself in such an attitude toward the government of God, that his forgiveness would be ruin to the very throne of God. What would heaven say, and hell too, and earth besides, if God were to forgive a sinner while he by his excuses is justifying himself and condemning his Maker?
3. Sinners should lay all their excuses at once before God. Surely this is most reasonable. Why not? If a man owed me, and supposed he had a reasonable excuse for not paying the debt, he should come to me and let me understand the whole case. Perhaps he will satisfy me that his views are right.
Now, sinner, have you ever done so in regard to God? Have you ever brought up one excuse before the Lord, saying, "Thou requirest me to be holy, but I can't be;" "Lord, I have a good excuse for not obeying thee?" No, sinner, you are not in the habit of doing this--probably you have not done it the first time yet in all your life. In fact, you have no particular encouragement to carry your excuses before God, for you have not one yet that you yourself believe to be good for anything except to answer the purpose of a refuge of lies. Your excuses won't stand the ordeal of your own reason and conscience. How then can you hope they will stand before the searching eye of Jehovah? The fact that you never come with your excuses to God shows that you have no confidence in them.
4. What infinite madness to rest on excuses which you dare not bring before God now! How can you stand before God in the judgment, if your excuses are so mean that you cannot seriously think of bringing one of them before God in this world? O, sinner, that coming day will be far more searching and awful than any thing you have seen yet. See that dense mass of sinners drawn up before the great white throne--far as the eye can sweep, they come surging up--a countless throng;--and now they stand, and the awful trump of God summons them forward to bring forth their excuses for sin. Ho, sinners--any one of you all--what have you to say why sentence should not be passed on you? Where are all those excuses you were once so free and bold to make? Where are they all? Why don't you make them now? Hark! God waits; he listens;--there is silence in heaven--all through the congregated throng--for half an hour--an awful silence--that may be felt; but not a word--not a moving lip among the gathered myriads of sinners there;--and now the great and dreadful Judge arises and lets loose his thunders. O, see the waves of dire damnation roll over the ocean-masses of self-condemned sinners! Did you ever see the judge rise from his bench in court to pass sentence of death on a criminal? There, see, the poor man reels--he falls prostrate, there is no longer any strength in him, for death is on him and his last hope has perished!
O, sinner, when that sentence from the dread throne shall fall on thee! Your excuses are as millstones around your neck as you plunge along down the sides of the pit to the nethermost hell!
5. Sinners don't need their excuses. God does not ask for even one. He does not require you to justify yourself--not at all. If you needed them for your salvation I could sympathize with you, and certainly would help you all I could. But you don't need them. Your salvation does not turn on your successful self-vindication. You need not rack your brain for excuses. Better say, I don't want them--don't deserve them--have not one that is worth a straw. Better say, "I am wicked. God knows that's the truth, and it were vain for me to attempt to conceal it. I AM WICKED, and if I ever live, it must be on simple mercy!"
I can recollect very well the year I lived on excuses, and how long it was before I gave them up. I had never heard a minister preach on the subject. I found however by my experience, that my excuses and lies were the obstacles in the way of my conversion. As soon as I let these go utterly, I found the gate of mercy wide open. And so, sinner, would you.
6. Sinners ought to be ashamed of their excuses, and repent of them. Perhaps you have not always seen this as plainly as you may now. With the light now before you it becomes you to beware. See to it that you never make another excuse, unless you intend to abuse God in the most horrible manner. Nothing can be a more grievous abomination in the sight of God than excuses made by a sinner who knows they are utterly false and blasphemous. O you ought to repent of the insult you have already offered to God--and NOW, too, lest you find yourself thrust away from the gate of mercy.
7. You admit your obligation, and of course are estopped from making excuses. For if you have any good excuse, you are not under obligation. If any one of you has a good excuse for disobeying God, you are no longer under obligation to obey. But since you are compelled to admit obligation, you are also compelled to relinquish excuses.
8. Inasmuch as you do and must admit your obligation, then if you still plead excuses, you insult God to His face. You insult Him by charging Him with infinite tyranny.
Now, what use do you calculate to make of this sermon? Are you ready to say, "I will henceforth desist from all my excuses, now and for ever; and God shall have my whole heart?" What do you say? Will you set about to hunt up some new excuse? Do you at least say, "Let me go home first--don't press me to yield to God here on the spot;--let me go home and then I will?" Do you say this? And are you aware how tender is this moment--how critical this passing hour? Remember it is not I who press this claim upon you--but it is God. God Himself commands you to repent today--this hour. You know your duty--you know what religion is--what it is to give God your heart. And now I come to the final question--Will you do it? Will you abandon all your excuses, and fall, a self-condemned sinner, before a God of love, and yield to Him yourself--your heart, and your whole being, henceforth and for ever? WILL YOU COME?
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Third & Fourth Graders - Biome Presentations
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Wednesday, December 05, 2018
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Third grade students have worked hard on their Biome research project. Students made a replica of the Biome of their choice - using materials from home. They were given the choice of PowerPoints, posters, or shoe box model presentations. Students were given a rubric to follow, so they would know what to include in their speech presentation. The students worked on LEADERSHIP skills - speaking in front of peers. They did an AMAZING job!
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global_01_local_0_shard_00002368_processed.jsonl/51066 | Gingerbread Night
As one of our family socializations, we decided to do a Gingerbread Fun Night on January 16 from 5:30-6:30. At fun night, you are able to have fun with your child as well as meet other families in our program. We will have different stations available for you to complete with your child. We will have a gingerbread house, snack, large motor, book, gingerbread glyph, and gingerbread person art stations. We will be reading different versions of the Gingerbread Man next week, and your child will be very familiar with the story.
If you can contribute materials for gingerbread houses, it would be appreciated. Just send with your child before the 15th so we know how much to buy. Below is a list of needed materials.
Graham Cracker
White Frosting
Small candies for decorations
Thank you!
Mrs. Barger and Mrs. Carlow |
global_01_local_0_shard_00002368_processed.jsonl/51083 | Maybe the following info is useful for builders who are using microcontrollers to control e.g. pulse timing:
i'm using the Parallax Propeller chip for some years now. I also use other platforms like Arduino or Raspberry Pi, but if i need exact timing i always use the Propeller.
It's not like a 'normal' microcontroller. It has 8 cores (called 'cogs') which are running completely parallel and more or less independent from each other at 80 MHz (although they can be synchronized through a 'hub'). Every cog has 2 timer/counter modules which also include a PLL. With these timer/counter modules it's possible to get high-resolution timing with down to 10 ns resolution, it's possible to generate frequencies with up to 9 digits resolution, and it's even possible to generate high-resolution video signals. Even such crazy things like a TV transmitter is possible, the only additional hardware needed is a short wire on a port pin acting as an antenna. laughing
The chip costs about 8$ is available as DIL-40 or SMD version. You only need a 5 MHz crystal and a serial EEPROM to get it running. It has a built-in bootloader which loads the code from ext. EEPROM or from serial interface at every startup.
I highly recommend looking at the documentation:
Propeller Data sheet
Timer/Counter module description
Propeller Manual
Parallax Website
Using it requires some different thinking if you have used 'normal' controllers in the past, but everything is logical and you will get good results very quick. Then you wonder how you could live without it in the past. wink
If you have any questions feel free to ask. cool |
global_01_local_0_shard_00002368_processed.jsonl/51097 | @article{astmh:/content/journals/10.4269/ajtmh.1977.26.113, author = "Warren, Kenneth S.", title = "Modulation of Immunopathology and Disease in Schistosomiasis", journal= "The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene", year = "1977", volume = "26", number = "6_Part_2", pages = "113-119", doi = "https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.1977.26.113", url = "http://www.ajtmh.org/content/journals/10.4269/ajtmh.1977.26.113", publisher = "The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene", issn = "0002-9637", type = "Journal Article", abstract = "Schistosomiasis mansoni is basically an immunological disease due to the pathophysiological sequelae of a cell-mediated granulomatous inflammatory reaction around the eggs of the parasite trapped in the host tissues. An immunoregulatory response has been observed in chronic Schistosoma mansoni infections in experimental animals, and possibly in man, which results in modulation of the granulomatous inflammation and amelioration of the disease state. This paper will briefly review the immunopathogenesis of schistosomiasis mansoni, and then consider the observations on modulation and its mechanism. Evidence that such immunoregulatory phenomena are occurring in animal models of the other major human schistosome infections—S. japonicum and S. haematobium—will be presented, as will observations on modulation in man, its possible mechanisms and its implications. Immunopathogenesis The major clinical manifestations of infection with the three principal species of human schistosomes are essentially related to obstruction to blood or urine flow due to inflammatory and fibrotic responses to products of the helminth.", } |
global_01_local_0_shard_00002368_processed.jsonl/51116 | what to wear...
The right clothing choices can make or break having great images. It is so important that you choose clothes that look, fit and feel great. Use the following as a guideline for what to wear and what not to wear.
Bring a variety of choices. Include different seasons. There's probably outfits that you always get compliments on. Pay attention to what looks good on you.
Layers are fun.
Solid colors are a good choice and some smaller patterns can work well too. Neutrals, soft colors, darker tones and earthy colors work the best. That just some suggestions. It doesn't mean you can't bring other things...especially if you love it.
¾ or long sleeves are always a good option. Sleeveless, spaghetti straps, or short "cap" sleeves have a tendency to make upper arms look large and muscular.
Accessories...can be amazing additions to your look! Hats, scarves, jewelry, flowers, guitar or other musical instruments, books, CDs, balloons, sunglasses, shoes, etc. Make this all about you!
Make sure you have the appropriate undergarments for each outfit. That includes guys. If you're wearing a dark shirt or sweater, include a dark t-shirt as well. Viewers' eyes will go to the point of highest contrast and we don't want that to be your undergarments.
Make-up...Girls...natural make-up is the best option. You want to look like YOU! Pay attention to your eyes and lips. Bring your make-up with you. Professional hair and makeup is also an option.
Hands...Your hands will show in most portraits, so make sure they look how you want them.
Suntans...It's not recommended to have a tan, especially on your face. Tans make faces photograph dark. Look at the magazines; you won't see models with tan faces. Tan/sunburn lines will be retouched at your expense.
Just because it's trendy, don't assume it will look good in pictures. Bold stripes and wild patterns might be fun to wear, but can be very distracting.
Stay away from neon colors.
Try to stay away from large logos too. Those will really date your photos.
Girls...extremely short skirts and shorts will limit you in your poses.
Girls...if you are 'blessed', wear appropriate necklines.
Keep in mind that clothing wrinkles will show in your photos.
Wear clothes that flatter your figure. Flowy tops are adorable, but do nothing to give you shape and may even make you look larger than you are (and who wants that?). |
global_01_local_0_shard_00002368_processed.jsonl/51120 | Art Echoes art echoes
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Sophie, adjustable shape wall clock
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“When our feelings change, it also changes the perception we have of time. Layla Mehdi Pour designs a wall clock, consisting of two overlapping surfaces with twelve lines each. The lower dial is attached to the clock mechanism, but the upper one can easily rotated: this way you can get unexpected plays of shadows and different configurations of the object, which can be changed at any time”.
The girl who wore a shoe-hat
article's cover image (The girl who wore a shoe-hat)
Paris, 1927! Elsa Schiaparelli, already 27, causes havoc in the world of fashion with her surrealist and dada influences. The greatest opponent of Coco Chanel, Schiaparelli earns the title of true genius, collaborates with Dali, Cocteau, and other artists of the time, and changes the course of fashion by proposing new materials, vivid colors, and new revolutionary ideas for women's fashion.
High Risk Situations: From shame to entropy. Part 1
article's cover image (High Risk Situations: From shame to entropy. Part 1)
That morning was the first in ages I hadn’t looked up the news online as soon as I got out of bed. Naturally, I was left in the dark about things that were going on in my own neighbourhood. My good friend E. was quick to spread the news so he called me.Didn’t you hear?(…no, today I didn’t , clevercloggs!) Why? What happened, did Wall Street crash again?No, but a helicopter did!Whattttt?Yep, you heard right, this morning a helicopter hit a crane that was suspended from a tower in Vauxhall, and crashed on the ground. IN OUR NEIGHBOURHOOD!
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global_01_local_0_shard_00002368_processed.jsonl/51125 | Votes / Statistics
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Comments (15)
rave.N - 15/07/2015
More about Electronic Arts "exploding out of the gate in 1983", I'd like to see Atarimania make a duplicate entry for "Music Construction Set" here in the Games section because when you do searches like on 'music' it doesn't show unless you start from Utilities.
rave.N - 15/07/2015
Computer opponent was so easy to beat I narrowed the objective to where I had to not loose any pieces and get this, I would have all my pieces arranged in their start position when I won, so it looked like the entire opposing force was swept away at once without me even moving. I guess I must have summoned an elemental to complete my trick so as not to end up out of position. Yes one of the Top Ten games.
Jeff Fulton - 29/03/2015
I wrote up an article on game design using Atari 8-bit Archon as my model. Called Digesting Archon.
Great game, we played it a lot. Two player was the best.
Daniel Thomas MacInnes - 09/05/2011
It's amazing how Electronic Arts just exploded out of the gate in 1983. Archon I & II, Murder on the Zinderneuf, MULE, Seven Cities of Gold, One on One, Pinball Construction Set...How I wish EA today could capture just a fraction of that magic.
MalcolmM - 10/02/2011
For fans of Archon, you should try the remake Archon Classic on the PC. It has a classic mode that is faithful to the original. It also adds multiple AI levels, and four campaigns, plus lots of other extras.
1man - 30/01/2011
for those of you who are using Facebook: i created a fan page for the ol' Classic ARCHON:!/pages/Classic-ARCHON/115144945167519
hope to find you there, before the masters intervene, lol.
stefan berner - 31/05/2010
Great Game !! Archon and MULE are my most played games on this time. Both are fantastic multiplayer titles we played this games so many night´s
Scott Wozniak - 15/09/2008
MASTERPIECE. MIND-BLOWING. INFINITELY REPLAYABLE. I wonder how many hours of my life were spent on this one? Paul Reiche III made a game called "The Unholy War" in 1998 for the Playstation that is a spiritual successor to Archon. My highest recommendation. 10/10.
Wesley Connally - 19/01/2008
Archon was actually available on diskette. I still own it. It still works. You do have to use Translator though.
Greg B. - 21/10/2007
Yep, another all-time classic. Loosely inspired by the 3d-chess game in Star Wars, Archon is a masterful combination of chess-like strategy and arcade action. And yes, once you learn how to beat the computer, only another player will do. And, like Chess, you only get better at the game when you get clobbered at it (at least in my case).'s really apparent that this game is from another time, back when software companies weren't afraid to try something NEW. Those were the days...
Pengwin - 23/07/2007
This was the first disk game I purchased, and remains to this day, one of my favourites.
The idea of chess with arcade combat was genius. The computer opponent was a little easy to beat, once you'd worked out each characters strengths and weaknesses, but against a human, this game was utterly fantastic.
Jim Kuchera - 30/12/2006
There is no question that this is one of the 'top ten' for the 8-bitter. It's not often that strategy plus quick eye/hand coordination are fused together with such beauty. The computer is actually easier to beat than a quick-handed flesh and blood opponent. I always hated chess, but this game showed me that chess can live effectively in a new form.
A little aside: the game is available not only on disk but cartridge as well. It was 'blue boxed' and still available at a reasonable price on eBay. I still play this one on my old 800 tank, and love it.
Jeff - 12/12/2006
This has to be one of the greatest games of all time, on any platform. 2 player mode is fantastic and there is no game more pure than this. 10/10
Deathdealer - 05/10/2006
Great mix of strategy and action. Hard to beat a game like this.
Thomas Smailus - 17/01/2006
This was one of THE classic Atari games that I played over and over again. Many afternoons, after school in the computer lab. Its sequel even pulled in my English teacher for some gameplay.
Archon atari screenshot
Archon atari screenshot
Archon atari screenshot
Archon atari screenshot
Archon atari screenshot
GenreBoard Game - MiscellaneousYear1987
LanguageMachine LanguagePublisherAtari (USA)
ControlsJoystickDeveloperFree Fall Associates
Players1, 1 vs. 2, DemoCountryUSA
Westfall, Anne / Freeman, Jon
Reiche, Paul
Graphic Artist(s)
Medium Cartridge
Cover Artist(s)McMacken, DaveSerialRX8092
Dumpdownload atari Archon Download
Additional Comments
Other versions with the same title:
Ariola (UK), Electronic Arts.
Many thanks to RossPK for scanning the instructions!
Archon Atari cartridge scan Archon Atari cartridge scan Archon Atari cartridge scan
Archon Atari instructions Archon Atari instructions Archon Atari instructions Archon Atari instructions Archon Atari instructions Archon Atari instructions Archon Atari instructions Archon Atari instructions
Book / Magazine Reviews
Electronic Games · January, 1984
The forces of Light and Darkness square off in mortal combat in a quest to control an ever-changing playfield in this fascinating contest that borrows elements from sorcery, mythology and chess.
The ultimate object of Archon is to place a game icon (a character representing either the Dark or Light side) on each of the five power points symmetrically placed on a checkerboard-like... [more]
Atari User · July, 1988
You are about to enter the ultimate battle in the Universe – the struggle between the powers of light and darkness. The fate of the world rests in your hands. This is a futuristic version of chess fought over two battlegrounds – strategy and combat screens. The first is divided into squares like a chess board, with you and your opponent taking turns to move your pieces – legions of mythical... [more]
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global_01_local_0_shard_00002368_processed.jsonl/51156 | Avon Redcrest for sale
Advertise almost anything - no Ebay links please!
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Location: clyde
Avon Redcrest for sale
Postby polestar » Thu Feb 26, 2015 8:26 pm
Faithful Avon Redcrest for sale
Age unknown - I've had it ten years
All valves replaced three years ago - holds air well
Stainless O/B bracket (not original)
Wooden Oars
Pump, Valise
I don't have any way of posting pictures, but the same ad, with pics, is on YBW at
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global_01_local_0_shard_00002368_processed.jsonl/51176 | Autism and Cannabis Oil
Cannabis CBD oil
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Autism and Cannabis Oil
What is Autism?
Autism, or Autism Spectrum Disorder, refers to a collection of complicated disorders that affect brain development. As a “spectrum,” ASD affects people in various degrees, but normally a person with ASD will suffer from three main symptoms:
• Repetitive—sometimes self-injurious—behaviours
• Communication difficulties
• Difficulties in social interaction
While some ASD children may be said to have an intellectual disability, some—often characterised as “high-functioning”—excel in music, art, and math. Symptoms could also improve as they get older. However, other ASD children are unable to speak and may engage in self-harming behaviours.
What Causes Autism?
Up until recently, people were unaware of what causes ASD. Now we know that while there is no sole cause, research shows us that ASD can be traced back to early brain development.
Within the last few years, researchers have identified a number of rare gene changes and mutations, a few of which may act as a stimulant for ASD. In other cases, autism may be caused by a mixture of environmental factors and a genetic predisposition, which influences early brain development.
The clearest signs of ASD surfaces between the ages 2 and 3. Therefore groups like the Organization for Autism Research have been funding research efforts in order to help identify ASD at earlier ages—as early diagnoses could improve the effect of treatment options.
Other risk factors may include:
• Age of a parent (or parents) at time of conception
• Difficulties during pregnancy or birth—for example, oxygen deprivation to a baby’s brain
• Maternal illness during pregnancy
Individually, none of the above mentioned factors causes ASD; however, in combination with genetic factors, the risk increases. There’s encouraging evidence that a woman may decrease the chances of her child suffering from autism if she follows a diet that includes folic-rich foods and prenatal vitamins both pre and post conception.
Can Cannabis Treat Autism?
The simple answer is yes, there have been a number of Autistic children who have responded very well to a pure CBD oil treatment plan. Ultimately, you will need to test it and see if it improves your child’s behaviour. If you would like to know more about how Cannabis oil can help with ASD, please feel free to contact us today.
1. admin says:
Great Article!! CBD oil has really help our Autistic son.
2. Elsabe Potgieter says:
23 jarige dogter funksioneer op 4 jaar vlak … Op antikonvulsant en serequal vir slaap .
Een maniese episode gehad op 18 jarige ouderdom
Outistiese gedrag maar nie asosiaal nie.
Sou graag cannibis probeer
3. Farana Naicker says:
Autism Therapy
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global_01_local_0_shard_00002368_processed.jsonl/51193 | Home > Articles > Cisco Network Technology > General Networking > Cisco LAN Switching Configuration : Server Load Balancing (SLB)
Cisco LAN Switching Configuration : Server Load Balancing (SLB)
1. 10-1: SLB
2. 10-2: SLB Firewall Load Balancing
3. 10-3: SLB Probes
Chapter Description
This chapter covers the steps required to load balance traffic to one or more server farms and firewall farms, and also explains the steps needed to define probes that test server and firewall farm functionality.
10-3: SLB Probes
• Probes can be used to test for server or firewall connectivity and proper operation.
• Probes can be defined to simulate requests for these protocols:
• ICMP: Sends ICMP echo (ping) requests to a real server.
• HTTP: Sends HTTP requests to a real server, using TCP port 80.
• WSP: Requests and verifies the replies using Wireless Access Protocol (WAP), port 9201.
• Telnet: Opens and closes a Telnet connection (TCP port 23) to a real server.
• TCP: Establishes and resets TCP connections to a real server. This can be used to support any TCP port, including HTTPS or SSL, port 443.
• FTP: Opens and closes an FTP connection (TCP ports 20 and 21) to a real server.
• SMTP: Opens and closes an SMTP connection (TCP port 25) to a real server.
• DNS: Sends requests to and verifies the replies from a real DNS server.
1. Define the probe:
(global) ip slb probe name {ping | http | wsp}
The probe is named name (text string up to 15 characters) and can be referenced by other SLB server and firewall farm commands. IOS SLB allows these probe types: ping (ICMP), http, or wsp (WAP port 9201). (Optional) Define the target address:
(probe) address [ip-address]
For a server farm, this command is not used. The ip-address used by the probe is inherited from each real server in the server farm. With IOS SLB, addresses are not inherited when the probe is used for a firewall farm. You must use this command to define the address of a target firewall.
2. Set the probe behavior:
1. (Optional) Set the time between probes:
(probe) interval seconds
Probes are sent toward the target at intervals of seconds (IOS SLB: 1 to 65,535 seconds; default 1 second; CSM: 5 to 65,535 seconds; default 120 seconds).
2. (Optional) Define the criteria for a failure:
(probe) faildetect retry-count
With IOS SLB, a server or firewall is considered to have failed if retry-count (1 to 255; default 10) consecutive ping probes are unanswered. With a CSM, the target has failed if retry-count (0 to 65,535; default 3) probes of any type are unanswered.
3. (Optional; HTTP probe only) Define the HTTP probe operation:
1. (Optional) Set the port number:
(probe) port port-number
Usually, an HTTP probe uses port-number 80. If the port-number is unspecified, however, it is inherited from the virtual server. For a firewall probe, the port-number must be given (1 to 65,535). The target device must answer an HTTP request for the probe to work.
2. (Optional) Define the HTTP probe method:
(probe) request [method {get | post | head | name name}] [url path]
The probe requests information from the server using the get (the default), post, head (request a header data type), or name (request the data named name) method. A URL can also be given, specifying the server path (text string URL; default /).
3. (Optional) Specify the probe header information:
(probe) header field-name [field-value]
The probe header name is set to field-name (text string up to 15 characters), with a value of field-value. A colon is automatically inserted between the name and value. By default, the request contains these headers:
Accept: */*
Connection: close
User-Agent: cisco-slb-probe/1.0
Host: virtual-IP-address
4. (Optional) Specify the HTTP authentication values:
(probe) credentials username [password]
If HTTP authentication is required, a username (text string, up to 15 characters) and a password (text string up to 15 characters) can be given for the probe.
5. (Optional) Expect a specific status code to be returned:
(probe) expect [status status-code] [regex regular-expression]
A real server or a firewall is considered to have failed if it either does not respond to an HTTP probe or if it returns a status-code (100 to 599, default 200) other than the one specified. For firewalls, the status-code should be set to 401. For a CSM, the status code must be within the range min-number (default 0) and max-number (optional, default 999).
With IOS SLB, you can also expect a regular expression along with the status code. Use the regex keyword and specify a regular-expression (text string, no default). Only the first 2920 bytes of the probe reply are searched for a match.
4. (Optional; WSP probe only) Define the target URL:
(probe) url [path]
Displaying Information About SLB Probes
To display helpful configuration and status information about SLB probes, enter the following command:
(exec) show ip slb probe [name probe_name] [detail] |
global_01_local_0_shard_00002368_processed.jsonl/51250 | Bitcoin Price Value – Get a Formidable Income Trading
Bitcoin is a dissipated framework Money or money. It passes on a century elective appeared differently in relation to banking that is physical. Exchanges are made by technique for e wallet programming. The bitcoin has subverted the framework that was standard. Bitcoin uses can be given in Any fragmentary gives an unquestionable tendencies over structures, by technique for instance, the US dollar, moreover contains a task framework, is searched for everything considered and portion. For one, it may not be enriched or solidified from the credit expert (s) or an organization affiliation. In 2009, when the bitcoin was worth ten pennies for each coin, you’d have changed a thousand dollars in the event that you stayed by eight decades, into millions. Bitcoins available to be gotten total is limited to 21,000,000. At the time this article was created, the firm bitcoins available for use was 16,275,288, suggesting that the degree of out bitcoins mined was 77.5%. The present estimation of a single bitcoin, in the time this article was made, was 1,214.70 USD.
btc price
The trade to happen bitcoin is just a single hundred and fifty million dollars. This trade happened with costs in minutes. In order to move enormous wholes of money using a trusted in untouchable, it might take days and cost hundreds if not a high number of dollars. This explains the banks are compelled selling obtaining, exchanging, moving and spending bitcoins. Right when you make your one of a kind e wallet programming Account, you will have the option to move a beneficiary is focal points e wallet, as bitcoin. On the off chance that you may need to use a bitcoin ATM to pull assets by and by from the report you may interface your wallet ‘talk’ to the picked ATM machines wallet ‘talk’. To propel the exchanging of your advantages for and from a point, you may affiliation your wallet ‘talk’ into the wallet ‘address’ of your stage that is picked exchanging. Truth be told, it is far less difficult than it sounds. The craving to acclimatize information in association with using your wallet is brief.
You will find a heap of business’ to set up a wallet Online offering secure, secure, and free and courses of action bitcoin news. With finding the wallet programming for you, directed by what your requirements are an essential Google search will bolster you. A lot of individuals begin using a blockchain account. This btc price is secure and permitted to present bitcoin. You have the option of working up a login show that is two-level, to update security and the success, in association with your wallet accounts, from being hacked into essentially ensuring your report.
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global_01_local_0_shard_00002368_processed.jsonl/51271 | It seems a shame to
Filed under:General — eric @ 9:22 am
Purty FlowerIt seems a shame to mow down all of the wildflowers in the yard. One of the nice things about a reel mower is rather than rushing through the job to escape the noise, I can hear the birds, play with the neighbor’s dog, and pay close attention to the life around me. Like the wonderful flower pictured here. It was only an inch and a half tall but still looked spectacular — deep blue bells against the greens of the grass and dandelions. I mowed around it.
On a whim, I woke
Filed under:General — eric @ 4:25 am
On a whim, I woke up early and drove to a yard sale being held a few miles down the road from me. As I walked in the yard, the very first thing I saw was a new-looking reel mower, exactly the same model I wrote about the other day. Asking price? Twenty bucks. I grabbed it and a wheelbarrow and went on my way. I have this knack for having things work out well. My friends notice it more than I do and ask me (usually after yet another roll of triple sixes during a Risk game) how I have such good luck with everything. I’ve never had the answer before, but now that I have a car, I realize that I was given good luck in exchange for having every traffic light turn red right as I pull up. It annoys me at times, but I’ve come to terms with the trade and I think that I got the good side of the deal. |
global_01_local_0_shard_00002368_processed.jsonl/51272 | Saturday Waffling (September 28th, 2013)
I made the Last War in Albion deadline, obviously. I've also just about worked through the Wonder Woman copyedits - I just need to rewrite the last chapter to deal with the fact that it was written a year ago and is about the current run of Wonder Woman comics. Which shouldn't be hard, as the last year of Wonder Woman comics was not particularly different from the year before it. And then it needs one more round of edits and some formatting, but I'm cautiously optimistic that I can get that out in October. Meanwhile, the Flood book comes out in November. That's very fun - I just flipped through bits of it today, and found myself enjoying it. You can pre-order it on Amazon here. Hartnell Second Ed should be December, and I'm not really sure about Baker 1 - it's still got a fair chunk of revisions to work through. But my goal is to have all four come out in 2013.
I've got an issue with Last War in Albion I'm not quite sure what to do with - the next post deals with R. Crumb and S. Clay Wilson at length, and can't really be done without including some NSFW images. How would people prefer I handle that when it happens (since it'll be an issue more than just next week, i.e. when I get to Lost Girls or Neonomicon)? A warning at the top of the screen and no NSFW until at least a monitor's length down? A "clean" version of the post on the front page and a link to an explicit one? NSFW images done as links instead of embedded in the text? Don't worry about it because you all have workplaces in which massive tableaus of violent demon sex are perfectly acceptable?
Since that's the most rubbish topic of discussion ever, and since we're all geeks here... Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. What did we all think?
Froborr 6 years, 3 months ago
Either of these would be preferable. I'd like to be able to read it, and I usually read your posts at work. And viewing massive tableaus of violent demon sex on the computers at *my* workplace is not only a fireable offense, it's a federal crime.
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. What did we all think?
I think I should probably watch it soon.
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dm 6 years, 3 months ago
I've never really been a TMBG fan, of that vague era/genre I've always been more into Ween, Pavement and Sebadoh. But I've had Flood sitting on my iTunes for a while, willing me to listen to it (I flick it on for a second, get bored, flick it off). Would your book put me in the right frame of mind to see it through? (I've used 33 1/3 books for this before, the best one being the David Bowie Low one- I was already invested in Low, but it took me through Iggy Pop's The Idiot track-by-track as a bonus)
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brownstudy 6 years, 3 months ago
Agree with this; I also like to read at work, which is on government property.
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Cyndy Cooper 6 years, 3 months ago
NSFW images as links. Definitely.
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jane 6 years, 3 months ago
Not the most impressive pilot episode -- but then, I think most shows take a good five or six episodes to find their legs and really start becoming what they're going to be. Obviously Whedonesque dialogue, and a Whedonesque philosophy. Being that I'm getting older, having the only old-ish character being a white man was very disappointing; just the lack of older women on television in general is disappointing.
I can't help but think of the characters in terms of other Whedon characters. Or maybe I'm just terrible with names. There's the Zoe bus-driving woman, the smart-alecky Dushku clone, the British pair who are Topher split in two, the older white man (Paulson?) and the younger white man (a Jayne? a Paul? but lacking in any charm or charisma, which is hard to do compared to those characters) and the other commanding woman -- Maria Hill -- who had some good lines but, I dunno, for someone wielding so much authority she's awfully young, cast more for her looks than her presence. Why isn't there the equivalent of Olivia Williams here? At least we got some Ron Glass. Ron Glass makes everything better.
Anyways, I thought it was only okay, it didn't get me excited in the way Firefly did, or Dollhouse for that matter, and *that* story in particular got off to a very slow and rocky start. So for now I'm wary, even hopeful, but not particularly optimistic.
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jane 6 years, 3 months ago
Links would be good, but I think a separate page (a second version) would be better -- I think seeing the images directly in context with the commentary is an important aspect to consider.
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David Anderson 6 years, 3 months ago
I enjoyed it. But it took until half way through the episode for any real plot to start happening. And even then the bit where we're wondering whether Skye is a bad guy or a good guy got resolved fast. For a while there's nothing terribly obvious at stake.
There's just a little bit of 'these people have all sorts of surveillance and extra-judicial powers but because they're nice people they won't misuse them'. I suppose it's inherent in the genre. Ditto, the resolution - if you see it as a political allegory it's well-meaning. A bit Dicks-Letts if you remember the characterisation on these boards as the conservative's liberal.
On the other hand, I'm more optimistic. Firefly started slowly too I think.
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David Ainsworth 6 years, 3 months ago
FYI, Ming-Na Weng (Agent Melinda May) is 49. And there are hints that she may be more active in future episodes.
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Eric Gimlin 6 years, 3 months ago
I would suggest links to the unsafe images. Then again, I've read the zero-image version already.
I'm quite optimistic about S.H.I.E.L.D., although it was clearly a pilot episode with the problems that suggests. But as others have said, it's got lots of stuff for both Whedon fans and comic book fans. Which means I enjoyed the heck out of it but am possibly not the best person to ask how it will do overall; it's targeted fairly directly at me in that regard.
One thing that surprised and gratified me was the Special Thanks credit for Jim Steranko in the end credits. While Steranko is quite obviously why we care about SHIELD 45 years later, he didn't actually create all that many of the concepts. It's much more what he did with them; I didn't see any of his original ideas borrowed for the pilot. (Millar and Hitch, in contrast, obviously created the "Ultimate" version of SHIELD that the movies and show used.) So that was nice to see. Although... I'm calling Centurius as the big bad for the first arc, based largely on that credit. He would actually not fit too badly based on what little we've seen, now that I think about it.
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liminal fruitbat 6 years, 3 months ago
Agents of SHIELD was... on TV.
I mean, it wasn't terrible, and there were some good bits, but compared with the Buffy or Firefly pilots, who the hell are these people and why should we care? He's Phil Coulson, who we all love from the films! She's badass but doesn't want to be! They're quirky and do science! She does computers! He's an asshole! And what David Anderson said above about "oh, but they're a nice spy agency", which was pretty much inevitable, but felt like it could have been handled better.
Still, that was just the pilot. Elementary's wasn't brilliant either.
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David Anderson 6 years, 3 months ago
Thinking about it, it was aiming quite high. It's set in a superhero universe, everyone belongs to an espionage agency; it's all about stopping bad guys. So the pilot is trying to not do that. It's saying this series is not entirely about stopping bad guys. The challenge it was setting itself is that if your plot is stopping bad guys the viewer can immediately see there's a conflict with something at stake. If that's not what you're doing, that's an additional challenge to meet: you have to introduce all the characters and also explain things to the viewer.
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Assad K 6 years, 3 months ago
It was quite entertaining. I've been a fan of Gregg Clark since I saw him on New Christine - indeed, of the whole ensemble on that show, which is odd, seeing as I didn't put it on my DVR list - so it's nice to see him back on TV as a regular. And I enjoyed his lurking in the shadows. Maybe it'll be less killdeath than Dollhouse became later on.
Let me say, I can appreciate SHIELD being a 'nice' spy agency more than I can the various shows where the CIA is a 'nice' spy agency - Alias, I'm looking at you (after all the only dickish agent in the building turned out to be an enemy mole). I am a little confused by SHIELDs governance, though.. the Iron Man movies suggested it was an American organization (after all, the H is for Homeland) but the SHIELD council seen in Avengers looked - or sounded - international. I'm hoping they opted against it being purely US (I say that as a fan of UNIT!).
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Nick Smale 6 years, 3 months ago
I'm hoping they opted against it being purely US.
There's an English woman and a Scotsman on the team, which suggests to me that SHIELD is an international organisation...
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EclecticDave 6 years, 3 months ago
While I agree that "we're an all powerful organisation, but it's OK because we're the good guys" is endemic to the genre - it does sit slightly uncomfortably at the moment given the NSA revelations. I'd be nice to see at least an attempt to address that somehow, though I'm not sure how far you can go with that within the narrative.
Apart from that almost unavoidably unfortunate overtone, I did like the pilot a lot - coulson has to turn out to be some sort of clone or something doesn't he?
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Iain Coleman 6 years, 3 months ago
Yes, but only to a limited extent. There is, at the very least, substantial intelligence cooperation among the "five eyes": US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand. The presence of an agent from outwith that grouping would really suggest that SHIELD is significantly more internationalist than actually existing intelligence agencies.
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Iain Coleman 6 years, 3 months ago
I ended up watching Agents of SHIELD immediately after the first episode of the BBC's Atlantis, which perhaps served to emphasise the virtues of the former show. There was some very nice writing - as you'd expect from Whedon, but still, give the man his due - good characters and performances, and as first episodes go it shows considerable promise. More than the first double-episode of Firefly, to be honest.
It felt a lot like an American superhero show with a British, Doctor-Who-ish sensibility. Some of that was evident in a superficial way: the team based in a Hercules aircraft like Invasion-era UNIT, the many similarities to Torchwood. But more substantially, it was a telefantasy story with a lightness of touch, a sense of self-deprecating humour, and a sceptical attitude toward violence and authority that felt very Who-ish. And Coulson's flying vintage car was distilled Pertwee.
The big difference between this and Atlantis was that the narrative in Agents of SHIELD was driven by relatable, real-world concerns: a man being laid off in a tough economy, struggling to provide for his child, feeling betrayed and lied to by the system. In contrast, Atlantis, while enjoyable enough in a CBBC sort of way, was about fuck all.
So, as opening episodes go, not as obviously brilliant as An Unearthly Child (or indeed Rose), but at least as good as any of Whedon's previous first episodes.
Oh, and it's not surprising that J August Richards has got better at acting since Angel, but he seems to have got better looking as well.
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jane 6 years, 3 months ago
Good heavens, I though she was in her 20s. Well. Still, it'd be nice to have more women on TV who look like average women, not twentysomething hotties. The choice of this actress doesn't exactly reduce self-image pressures.
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encyclops 6 years, 3 months ago
I haven't watched Agents of SHIELD and probably won't, but I did finish Gone Home today. I'd been thinking about buying it but your recommendation put it over the edge's pretty beautiful. The subtlety and misdirection would have been fantastic in any medium, but to pull that off in a video game is something special. That's before we even get to the story itself, which is...lovely doesn't begin to cover it.
While we're on the subject, and I know this is several Waffles ago, does Welcome to Night Vale change its nature as it goes on? Right now I feel as though when I've heard one I've heard them all, and if it's not building toward something or getting more sophisticated I'm not going to make it a priority. I love the concept, but I don't know about the execution.
Next up video game-wise is the Amnesia sequel. The first one scared the pants off me so I've got high hopes, especially as we head into October and the season of the witch.
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elvwood 6 years, 3 months ago
They've taken an LMD and done something mind-tapey to it, is my guess.
Regarding the "good guy spy" stuff, I can just accept that as part of the genre without it affecting my real-world opinions of such organisations. Though I am sorry SHIELD couldn't have been more international.
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elvwood 6 years, 3 months ago
Of course, the flying vintage car is taken straight from the (pre-Steranko) comics - actually, the very first story IIRC. At the time it wasn't a vintage car, but still it gave me a warm fuzzy moment watching the wheels fold out.
I've recorded Atlantis, but haven't got around to watching it yet (and there's others I want to watch first, such as A Very British Murder).
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Kit Power 6 years, 3 months ago
Spoiler tags for the NSFW stuff? Is that even possible?
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Travis Butler 6 years, 3 months ago
The NSFW stuff should definitely not be on the front page, anywhere, even a screen or two below the top; I sometimes don't catch up with the site for a few days, and scrolling past them to get to prior entries would be... problematic.
Put the images behind links, or put an entire version of the post behind links... either one would work fine.
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Anton B 6 years, 3 months ago
Finally got round to watching Agents of Shield. Well, it's Whedon by numbers isn't it? There needs to be a heel face turn of some kind to make this interesting. But I suspect it's too tied to the big MARVEL franchise for anything really radical to happen. The problem with the behind-his-back-knowingly-pointed conversation about Coulson's health spa vacation is that WE know he died in Avengers Assemble so the fact that HE doesn't know fails to be that interesting. Of course there's going to be some clony woney reveal but so what? It is Whedon though so they'll probably ALL turn out to be dead or something. The show actually didn't feel quite big enough and looked a littlle cheap in places with some dodgy CGI failing to sell the hi-tech premise. The characterisation sermed a little 'by numbers' to me. I know I'm going to tire of the kooky Brit couple's witty buffyspeak banter very rapidly, but then I was never a huge fan of Topher. I love Coulson's car and the rotating wheels were a lovely shout out to the Silver Age but so far (and I know it's only the first episode, not a pilot though is it? It's already gone to series surely?) it's a bit Sliders via Torchwood with a smidge of Spooks and a soupcon of Dollhouse via Unbreakable. Potentially a Man From UNCLE for the 21st Century but dangerously close to Get Smart meets Mission Impossible.
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global_01_local_0_shard_00002368_processed.jsonl/51307 | Creation and evolution Myths
First posted on 10 February 2009
I am an avid reader the New Scientist magazine. This magazine is obviously pro-evolution, and anti-creationism. Well, that’s what you’d think. They actually present very balanced articles on creation and religion, but have very little time for unthinking fundamentalist religion that poo-poos science. Or is just anti-scientific.
I believe that there is a way to harmonise science and religion. I believe that there are great questions that Christians can ask scientists that help us all have excellent conversations about God, creation, eternity and so on. But the way in which many Christians approach science is counter productive, and unhelpful.
Maybe I’ll come back to this issue sometime soon and talk about how I think we can harmonise science and religion. For now, for those of you interested in becoming better acquainted with science and creation, you may find the 24 myths and misconceptions about evolution to be very helpful. This is available from the New Scientist website – click here.
At very least, it will help you stop sounding like a moron when you speak to people who have done some work in scientific fields.
The myths and misconceptions deal with include:
Shared misconceptions:
• Everything is an adaptation produced by natural selection
• Natural selection is the only means of evolution
• Natural selection leads to ever-greater complexity
• Evolution produces creatures perfectly adapted to their environment
• Evolution always promotes the survival of species
• It doesn’t matter if people do not understand evolution
• “Survival of the fittest” justifies “everyone for themselves”
• Evolution is limitlessly creative
• Evolution cannot explain traits such as homosexuality
• Creationism provides a coherent alternative to evolution
Creationist myths:
• Evolution must be wrong because the Bible is inerrant
• Accepting evolution undermines morality
• Evolutionary theory leads to racism and genocide
• Religion and evolution are incompatible
• Half a wing is no use to anyone
• Evolutionary science is not predictive
• Evolution cannot be disproved so is not science
• Evolution is just so unlikely to produce complex life forms
• Evolution is an entirely random process
• Mutations can only destroy information, not create it
• Darwin is the ultimate authority on evolution
• The bacterial flagellum is irreducibly complex
• Evolution violates the second law of thermodynamics
And more… Go check it out now.
2 thoughts on “Creation and evolution Myths”
1. I started to read the article you have linked to , but as soon as I hit the peppered moth story, that was it! They continue a story that has been disproved many times over and is no evidence for evolution at all.
However, they also confuse the terms and should perhaps define them better. Are we talking of macro or micro evolution here?
I as a Bible based believer have no trouble with micro evolution, we see it often, it is repeated, it can be observed etc etc the basis for science.
But when it comes to macro evolution, the evolution of the solar system, metals and chemicals, the origin of life – then I have a problem.
Why do they never quote the full title of Darwins book? Which is:
The origin of the species by means of natural selection or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the struggle for life.
They portray Darwin as some form of scientist but his only education qualification was in theology!
Darwin had no compelling evidence – he had a theory, based on what he saw as he watched the life on the islands – there was no evidence and those creatures are still doing the same changes year after year depending on the weather! He saw micro evolution in action which we still see today!
In glancing through some of the other links from The New Scientist page, it strikes me how many times they use the words “Might, we think, Possibly, it is possible, perhaps, theory, etc etc” come on guys, you are supposed to be talking science here – where are the facts!
They refer to fossils – that are dated by looking at geometric charts that do not exists anywhere in the world – the figment of a lawyers imagination!
And still they keep confusing the issues and referring to micro evolution – and as previously stated: I have no problem with that!
2. From the Wikipedia:
“The term ‘microevolution’ has recently become popular among the anti-evolution movement, and in particular among young Earth creationists. The claim that microevolution is qualitatively different from macroevolution is fallacious, as the main difference between the two processes is that one occurs within a few generations, whilst the other takes place over thousands of years (i.e. a quantitative difference).[3] Essentially they describe the same process.
The attempt to differentiate between microevolution and macroevolution is considered to have no scientific basis by any mainstream scientific organization, including the American Association for the Advancement of Science.[4] Contrary to belief among the anti-evolution movement proponents, evolution of life forms beyond the species level (“macroevolution”, i.e. speciation) has indeed been observed and documented by scientists on many occasions.[5]”
Therefore it is not surprising that New Scientist didn’t mention micro-evolution!
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global_01_local_0_shard_00002368_processed.jsonl/51316 | Click on the image to enlarge
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Lipodrift provides the best effects when included as part of a balanced program including exercise and a healthy diet. The product should be consumed daily and consequently applied to the same treatment zones for an optimal result. The product should be used continuously to achieve a long lasting solution to cellulite. |
global_01_local_0_shard_00002368_processed.jsonl/51337 | Friday, December 12, 2014
Jason (Anita Blake #23) by Laurell K. Hamilton
Type: Paranormal Romance but really just Erotica
Heat: 4 out of 5
Rating: 2 out of 5
Cover: 1 out of 5--it's just not verra good. Makes me think of being inside a vagina and looking out at the man candy about to plunder. *flails hands*
AmazonBook Depository | BAM | Goodreads
Alright *rubs hand down face* Where to start with this one. Jason.
I didn't hate it. But I didn't love it either. And in the end...not one that's going to stick with me (in a good way) or be a repeat read which is disappointing for a series that's long been one of my favorites.
There are two main bits to Jason
1) Jason's human girlfriend doesn't understand his need for rough sex so he's asked Anita and the guys to help explain it to her...up close and personal like by showing her how rough he likes it while she watches (don't worry--that's her kink--but she can't understand his)
2) Anita has a female lover for the first time and it's just not doing it for her. None of the guys can teach her oral with this female lover so Jason's girlfriend who is bi is going to step in and give her a how to on licking girly bits.
And so begins a 255 page sex scene.
No. Really. 255 pages. :slow blink: Okay maybe 250 pages. There was a set up on them talking about said sex-a-thon.
How bits were not chafed as hell and crying uncle I have no idea.
So the sex scenes were hot for the most part. Some rather panty melting. And all kinds of combos of the whole m/f bits. For erotica (beginners erotica that explains everything) it was decent. They really did get into it and I did appreciate the, erm, vigor? I didn't really have any trouble with the characters themselves other than Anita sure was acting rather naive and needing things spelled out to her that had me going really now?
Really my main problem wasn't the abundance of sex (and there being absolutely nothing else from storyline to paranormal anything to actual character growth outside of the sex scene) but some ways/things that were said throughout. After reading this one I just feel the need to point out that...
1--hard sex does not equal rough sex (if it did I'm not sure WHY Jason's ladylove would need "rough sex" explained to her). Basically rough sex was a bit of a pounding and a bite or two. Um.
2--just because you've used the letters BDSM in a conversation doesn't make what comes next a BDSM scene. A little bondage...isn't BDSM. It's just bed play. And really not all that kinky. Just sayin'
3--Just because someone don't get off on sleeping with members of their own doesn't mean they're homophobic. Yep. That idea bothered me. Just because Anita wasn't wanting to sleep with a women there was a line thrown in by another character (one of her guys) that he'd been wondering if Anita was homophobic. Really now?
I don't know. I do love the series. It's one of the first that got me into reading. I love the characters. I love the setting of it. But this one was more of a miss for me despite my love of all things hot, heavy and wicked. I still need a reason for all those rip my panties off moments I guess and in this one both of the reasons for them getting all nekkid together just felt weak and in the end I was left wondering how the "revelations" they all had in the end required the sexfest to realize. If you are a mega fan of the series or just wanting some serious sheet action I'd say go for it. It's fairly entertaining in that regard despite some moments coming off more tutorial-ish as things are explained to Jason's girlfriend and Anita.
Okay one more eh. This is a full length book but it's really just a novella. The type on the pages was larger and more spaced out than normal making it look like it's a full length book. That's Jason on the left and one of my other reads this last month.
Have you read the Anita Blake series? Or Jason?
What did you think?
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global_01_local_0_shard_00002368_processed.jsonl/51355 | We live then we die
Dear Shye, Here is a little story for you, TaTa (DA Da Rony) can read it for you. In almost each one look for your name - or ?. I hope you like it, and thank you for your letters.
Love BaBa Alma
Little Story for you
Once upon a time a little guy named Shye went to find why in sunshine he is flue.
Do planes fly high in the sky with butterflys but mice hide in the grasses.
Does: a turtle diue a car drive a fish survive in cold water.
How does: a worm become a fly.
Does fire rise a dog cry is an elephant higher than a spider.
Do: bees call home a hiue, is sun not light at night
Am I not you my Ears | Eyes | Legs | Arms X 2.
Is 5 not blue time not ommine.
Do we live then we die, say hi then bye.
And again Hi, and still Um שי...
Love from BaBa Alma |
global_01_local_0_shard_00002368_processed.jsonl/51364 | The Islamic State Healthcare Paradox: A Caliphate in Crisis
By Archit Baskaran
2015, Vol. 7 No. 07 | pg. 3/3 |
Turning the Tide: Exploiting Existing Social Dynamics to Degrade and Destroy the Caliphate
In Inside Rebellion, Jeremy Weinstein argues that terrorist organizations face a core dilemma when they attempt to govern: they cannot attain their goals if they do not govern; yet, they repeatedly fail at efforts, exposing their greatest weaknesses (Ross and Magen). This feature of the IS caliphate is a vulnerability that Western nations and the coalition must exploit in order to win this war. Rather than prescribing solely military solutions to extremist problems, nations must carefully examine local resistance and social dynamics to amplify group resistance against IS control. IS’s narrative is not a new phenomenon in history.
“One of the first groups to engage in anticolonial jihad and state-building was the fighters led by Abd al-Qadir, who challenged the French imperial invasion of North Africa in the 1830s and 1840s. Qadir declared himself “commander of the faithful” — the title of a caliph — and founded an Islamic state in western Algeria, with a capital in Mascara, a regular army and an administration that enforcedShariah lawand provided some public services (Motadel).”
Likewise, the Mahdist state in Sudan, led by the self-proclaimed leader Muhammed Ahmad, called for Jihad while establishing state structures under a Sharia Law framework (Motadel). Both conflicts had a common theme with IS today: a caliph, a theoretically disciplined state, and a social service apparatus. They all believed in militant Islamism and denounced modernity and alternate faiths. Nevertheless, they were both completely destroyed by Western nations— and Britain. Here’s why:
“While jihadist networks or guerrilla groups are difficult to fight, a state, which can be invaded, is far easier to confront. And once there is a theocratic state, it often becomes clear that its rulers are incapable of providing sufficient social and political solutions, gradually alienating its subjects (Motadel).”
Now, the question is how to find a solution. Many Muslims living under the caliphate’s rule regard IS as the only option for them, and thereby those individuals tacitly consent to the systematic oppression and brutality. An extensive research study involving over one million interviews across Iraq both before and after IS assumed control and Syria found that “the Islamic State is ideologically incompatible with the many of the residents of the territory it now occupies (Al-Dagher).” Unlike Hezbollah in Lebanon or Hamas in , which are sufficiently able to provide social services in areas that the government was unable to provide those same services (Al-Dagher), the Islamic State is widely disliked; survey results indicated that more than 90 percent of Sunni Muslims living under IS control view the Islamic State as a terrorist organization—not a state—and 80 percent of citizens support the international coalition effort to degrade and destroy IS (Al-Dagher).
In 2007, the United States combined extensive military operations and social service provisions in order to oust Al Qaeda in Iraq from Anbar Province during the Awakening.
“The silence of the population, of a substantial portion thereof, is critical for insurgencies. … For many years, the residents of Anbar governorate knew who the insurgents were but lacked either the will or violent capacity to resist them. American and Iraqi security forces had the combat but not the required information [to defeat the insurgents] (Shaver and Tenorio).”
Coupling social services with militarism created that necessary solution. In order to replicate those same results on a grander scale, it is crucial that the United States begins to shift its operations to rationalize IS as a state and not as a military entity with traditional terrorist goals. As the IS power dynamics shift with growing resilience among Sunni Muslims under IS-control, and as new outbreaks of disease and maltreatment of medical professionals is exacerbated by greater violence, Western powers can begin framing discourse under a light of health and humanitarianism coupled with military decision-making, for in the words of Sun Tzu, “The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.”
Abboud, M. (2014, August 19). ISIS militants threaten Mosul’s female doctors. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
AID AND THE ISLAMIC STATE. (2014, December 1). IRIN/HPG Crisis Brief, pp. 1-5. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
Alami, M. (2014, December 24). ISIS’s Governance Crisis (Part II): Social Services. Retrieved June 5, 2015.
Al-Dagher, M. (2015, March 24). How Iraqi Sunnis really feel about the Islamic State. The Washington Post. Retrieved June 5, 2015.
Al-Jadda, S. (2014, January 17). Syrian Healthcare System in Danger. Retrieved June 5, 2015.
Al-Tamimi, A. (2015, January 20). Aspects of Islamic State (IS) Administration in Ninawa Province: Part II. Retrieved June 5, 2015.
Arango, T., Salhy, S., Chivers, C., Hubbard, B., Nordland, R., & Rubin, A. (2014, September 16). How ISIS Works. The New York Times. Retrieved June 3, 2015, from
Bacchi, U., & Limam, A. (2015, April 24). Isis mimics Britain's NHS with 'Islamic State Health Service ISHS' International Business Times. Retrieved June 2, 2015, from
Barrett, R. (2014). The Islamic State (pp. 1-58).
Barrett, R. (2014). The Soufan Group. The Islamic State (pp. 1-58).
Bennhold, K. (2015, March 22). Medical Students From Britain Are Sought in Syria. The New York Times. Retrieved June 2, 2015, from
Cunningham, E. (2014, November 25). Islamic State imposes a reign of fear in Iraqi hospitals. The Washington Post. Retrieved June 5, 2015.
Cooper, C. (2015, January 15). Washington warns 'next Ebola' will strike in IS-controlled Iraq and Syria. The Independent. Retrieved June 5, 2015.
Cunningham, E. (2014, November 26). Islamic State group issues ultimatum to doctors. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
Deutsche Welle. Documents reveal extensive bureaucratic structures in Islamic State. (2014, November 14). Retrieved June 5, 2015.
Diab, K. (2014, July 2). The Caliphate Fantasy. The New York Times. Retrieved June 3, 2015, from
Dreazen, Y. (2014, August 19). From electricity to sewage, U.S. intelligence says ISIS is fast learning how to run a country. Retrieved June 5, 2015.
Fick, Maggie. U.N. Accuses Islamic State of Executions, Rape, Forced Child Recruitment in Iraq. (2014, July 18). The New York Times. Retrieved June 2, 2015, from
Friedland, E. (2015). Special Report: The Islamic State. The Clarion Project.
Gutman, R. (2015, February 11). In Recent Months, ISIS Targeted Hospitals, Doctors, Journalists. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
Halevy, D., & Yasher, A. (2014, June 7). Islamic State Executes Female Doctors and Politicians. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
Halevy, D., & Blank, C. (2014, December 18). Israel National News. Retrieved June 5, 2015.
Hubbard, B., & Schmitt, E. (2014, August 27). Military Skill and Terrorist Technique Fuel Success of ISIS. The New York Times. Retrieved June 3, 2015, from
ISIS fighters hit by deadly 'flesh-eating' disease. (2015, April 6). Al Arabiya News. Retrieved June 5, 2015, from
Islamic State Expands Its 'State' (2015, May 22). The New York Times. Retrieved June 2, 2015, from
Islamic State releases video on new healthcare system. (2015, April 26). I24 News. Retrieved June 4, 2015, from
Johns Hopkins University. Syrian Medical Voices from the Ground: The Ordeal of Syria’s Healthcare Professionals. (2015). Retrieved June 4, 2015, from Medical Voices from the Ground_F.pdf
Kakutani, M. (2015, April 2). Review: ‘ISIS: The State of Terror,’ by Jessica Stern and J. M. Berger, and ‘ISIS: Inside the Army of Terror,’ by Michael Weiss and Hassan Hassan. The New York Times. Retrieved June 2, 2015, from
Lister, C. (2014). Proling the Islamic State. at Brookings, 13. Retrieved June 4, 2015, from
MACFARLANE, M. (2015, April 2). ISIS in danger of being wiped out - by deadly flesh-eating disease.
The Mirror. Retrieved June 5, 2015, from
Mahmood, M. (2015, February 17). Double-layered veils and despair … women describe life under Isis.
Mecham, Q. (2015, February 5). How much of a state is the Islamic State? The Washington Post. Retrieved June 5, 2015.
Motadel, D. (2014, September 23). The Ancestors of ISIS. The New York Times. Retrieved June 3, 2015, from
Physicians for (PHR). Anatomy of a Crisis: A Map of Attacks on Health Care in Syria. (2015, April 1). PHR, pp. 1-3. Retrieved June 4, 2015, from
Porter, T. (2014, November 14). International Business Times. Isis Kills Six Doctors for Refusing to Treat Wounded Militants in Mosul. Retrieved June 17, 2015.
Reuters. Governments Should Talk to Islamic State to Get Aid Access: UNICEF. (2015, March 13). The New York Times. Retrieved June 2, 2015, from
Ross, D., & Magen, A. (2014, July 18). The jihadist governance dilemma. The Washington Post. Retrieved June 5, 2015.
Rudaw. ISIS executes more doctors in Mosul. (2014, December 28). Retrieved June 5, 2015.
Shaver, A., & Tenorio, G. (2014, June 19). Want to defeat ISIS in Iraq? More electricity would help. The Washington Post. Retrieved June 5, 2015.
Siegel-Itzkovich, J. (2015, April 6). ISIS militants reportedly being attacked by serious skin disease. The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved June 5, 2015.
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Snyder, B. (2015, April 25). Islamic State Health Service? ISIS launch British-inspired NHS. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
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Waugh, E. (n.d.). Religious Traditions and Healthcare Decisions. In The Islamic Tradition: Religious Beliefs and Healthcare Decisions.
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Wyke, T. (2015, April 24). Islamic State unveils the ISHS - its own version of Britain's NHS: Islamists promote new health service with poster campaign nearly identical to the UK's. DailyMail. Retrieved June 5, 2015.
Zizek, S. (2014, September 3). ISIS Is a Disgrace to True Fundamentalism. The New York Times. Retrieved June 2, 2015, from
Suggested Reading from Inquiries Journal
The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (more commonly known as “ISIS,” but also referred to as the “Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant” or simply “the Islamic State”) has been on a reign of terror in the Middle East for the past three years, and emerged seemingly out of nowhere. However, though... MORE»
In the past five years, millions of people have lost their homes, loved ones, and lives.2 The Syrian territory is now a battlefield, contested by multiple actors. The rise of the Islamic State underscores the hopeless nature of this bloody quagmire. The speed at which the Islamic State has captured and held territory, as well as... MORE»
The global network of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), also known as Daesh,2 is expanding rapidly. Southeast Asia is especially vulnerable because of its large Muslim population and its history of extremist groups. In fact, some experts predict that Daesh could establish a strong satellite presence in Southeast Asia within... MORE»
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global_01_local_0_shard_00002368_processed.jsonl/51386 | Hennington $ Associates
View Spanish Language Version
July 9, 2013
How To Destroy A Witness On The Stand
by Erin Fuchs
How To Destroy A Witness On The Stand
Rachel Jeantel, 19, the witness on the phone with Trayvon Martin moments before he died, testifies in court.
A lawyer for second-degree murder defendant George Zimmerman recently attacked the credibility of the prosecution's star witness in a brilliant fashion.
That witness, Rachel Jeantel, was a friend of Trayvon Martin's who ended up fidgety and hostile after the defense poked many holes in her story. Her testimony ended up being a boon for the defense.
Zimmerman's lawyer, Don West, may have been following a simple but effective set of rules of cross-examination. We spoke to legal experts about these rules and other tips for breaking down a witnesses without breaking the rules. Here's how they do it:
1. Always ask "yes" or "no" questions
"With cross-examination, there are some rules that are never broken. The first is you always ask close-ended questions," trial consultant Dr. Amy Singer tells us.
By asking "yes" or "no" questions, lawyers ensure witnesses can't explain their answers to put themselves in a better light. The close-ended questions lawyers ask often begin with "is it possible" or "isn't it true" because those questions may be more difficult to answer with a "no."
A lawyer wouldn't start off by asking a defendant, "Did you murder your mother?" Singer says. Instead, a lawyer would say, "Isn't it true you had problems with your mother? Is it possible there was a knife in the house that day?" It drives witnesses crazy when they have to answer "yes" without explaining themselves.
2. Never ask "why"
By asking a question that starts with "why," lawyers give witnesses the chance to explain themselves and tell their own story. "Why" questions are open-ended, and lawyers generally shouldn't ask them during cross-examination.
"It's a game of control," Singer says. "If you ask why, the other person has control."
3. Point out the inconsistencies in the witness' story
"You want to ask a lot of questions and then point out the inconsistencies [in their story]," Singer says. "If they're not prepared for it it's traumatic."
In the Zimmerman case, defense lawyer Don West rattled star prosecution witness Rachel Jeantel by pointing out a number of discrepancies in her story. Prosecutors also pointed out inconsistencies in her demeanor, jury consultant Dr. Marshall Hennington noted in an interview with Business Insider.
On her first day of testimony, Jeantel was combative and not particularly polite, Hennington says. She became less adversarial the second day of the trial, and West asked if she'd been coached.
"They were able to show that she was someone who was not very credible," Hennington told us. "The defense was able to make it appear that she did not like the defense and was very angry towards the defense."
4. But don't call witnesses flat-out liars
Many states have rules that bar lawyers from calling witnesses liars, says Tre Critelli, a lawyer on the Iowa Supreme Court disciplinary board. It may also be unethical for lawyers to go around calling witnesses liars.
"There is never a reason to call a witness a liar, even if I happen to personally believe that the witness is lying. My 'job' on cross, so to speak, is to have the jurors themselves see enough thatthey will call the witness a liar," Critelli said in an email. "Once that happens, their mind has been made up and when they go back to the jury room to deliberate they will discount anything that witness had to say."
5. Lawyers can still find other ways to trip witnesses up without calling them names
On cross-examination, lawyers should pay close attention to how quickly their witnesses talk, and to how quickly they're breathing, Singer tells us.
"If somebody is a fast talker, you want to speak slowly. If somebody is a slow talker, you want to talk very quickly," Singer says. "It trips them up. I'm a fast talker, and if somebody speaks slowly, I want to kill them."
Lawyers should look at how quickly witnesses breath and try to push their buttons to make their hearts race. But lawyers need to be subtle button-pushers. If lawyers blatantly attack witnesses on cross-examination, they may end up looking like bullies.
"A jury's sympathy will always be with the witness because they identify with the person ... They expect that the lawyer has all of the cards and the witness is at a disadvantage, especially on cross," Critelli says. "So as an attorney you need to anticipate this and try and figure out a way to get the jury to turn on the witness — that is come to a belief that they can't trust the person."
Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-destroy-a-witness-on-the-stand-2013-7#ixzz2Yl77PkFV
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global_01_local_0_shard_00002368_processed.jsonl/51390 | Monday, June 12, 2017
Hello, everyone!
Thank you for your many prayers on behalf of the the work God is doing here in Colombia among the displaced indigenous peoples.
The Katío family has returned to Bogotá and are living close to where they were living just before they left. It has been very difficult for them. There's has been illness. Two new babies have been born, Wayner and Marilina. But both of them have been hospitalized. So please for for them. Also pray for us as we continue to communicate the Gospel to them. Their Spanish is still limited, so communication is difficult. Here's a short video of the family with the new babies. (It was recorded on a cheap phone in a dark room, so the quality is not great).
Among the Wounaan family, there are two weddings coming up. There is a younger couple and an older one. The older couple has been together for decades. When we found out that they were never officially married, we decided to have a wedding for them. The bride for the younger couple is the daughter of the older couple. It will be a double wedding.
Here are some prayer concerns:
• That we will be able to disciple the Wounaan believers so that they may continue to grow in the faith, see the grand story of the Bible, and apply the Word to their lives.
• For both of the Wounaan couples who will be married soon, that they will have strong Christ-glorifying marriages.
• That the Wounaan in Bogotá will be mobilized to send out their own missionaries to reach their on people in Chocó.
• That the work with the Katío would be fruitful and lead to many coming to Christ and biblical churches planted.
• For the many health concerns among the Katío family.
• That I will be devoted to the Word, prayer, and the task at hand and grow closer to the Lord each and every day.
• That the Name of Christ would be great among all peoples as the gospel is proclaimed to the ends of the earth.
Psalm 62:8
Trust in him at all times, O people;
Pour out your heart before him;
God is a refuge for us. Selah
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global_01_local_0_shard_00002368_processed.jsonl/51401 | Monday, 8 September 2014
September in Sarajevo
Epkhwf... So, after seven summer weeks of craziness on "the real" Healing Island and around I'm back in my "city life" and my computer.
Just finished pilot episode of my first superhero comic! It's written by Emir Pašanović and here is one sample page for now:
Also, after my debut comic book "The Healing Island" I'm ready to start drawing my new book. Actually, I have two stories to tell that I wrote/sketch this summer so will probably work on both of them, if that is possible for me, will see.
In the meantime I'll probably put here and there some short comics like these thumbnail listed in right column there →
I posted my latest 14 pages comic "Komadić sira" aka "Slice of Cheese" in that section but it's for now in Bosnian language. It's kind of trip through my neighborhood!
Find it here. |
global_01_local_0_shard_00002368_processed.jsonl/51439 | • Join over 1.2 million students every month
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Martin Luther King and Abraham Lincoln Essay.
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Martin Luther King and Abraham Lincoln Essay Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King were two very similar orators who wanted to achieve almost identical goals. Abraham Lincoln was the president of the United States and the leader of the Anti-Slavery Republican Party. His speech was delivered on the nineteenth November 1863 mat Gettysburg during the 'Great Civil War'. His primary objective was to abolish slavery and he did this partly by indirectly telling his audience, such as, purposely forgetting his status and addressing his 'Fellow countrymen' with intense respect which consequently reflects his beliefs in equality. Martin Luther King, a Baptist Minister, was the leader of the Civil Rights Movement. He performed his speech almost one hundred years after Lincoln's speech on the twenty eighth August at Lincoln's memorial. King believed in egalitarianism and he also wanted to end segregation; this is what both orators set out to do. ...read more.
Alternatively, Lincoln's audience was probably affluent white people from Northern US. Although King had the advantage of the TV, Radio, media and Microphone, Lincoln's speech was just as well heard as King's speech. The use of emotive words engages both King and Lincoln's audience. King unifies his audience at the 'table of brotherhood' which, apart from unifying the audience also has a religious impact on the black people as they were extremely religious and an indirect reference to Jesus and his disciples would have caused immense unity between the audience. This metaphor apart from providing unity, it also is a very peaceful metaphor as it includes everybody. In contrast, Lincoln believes that their 'nation' is 'under God'. These religious references amalgamate the audience and make them think that they are doing this for 'God' and that they are 'God's children'. Both orators structure their speeches in similar ways. The speech is structured in chronological order as it bequeaths a rhythmic feel. ...read more.
King says that the 'glory of the Lord shall be revealed', which meant that if they work together, then they can create a better world for themselves and for their children, so if they stick together and protest they will see the reward. Both raconteurs coerce their audience by the use of different strategies. They both use analogous strategies to portray their views. Lincoln and King use the same strategies; however, King uses them extensively. Both use the rule of three but King take one-step further and converts it into repetition. When King repeats 'Let freedom ring', it emphasizes how much the black 'community' wants 'freedom to ring'. However, Lincoln repeats two words in particular, 'great' and 'nation'. The repetition of 'great' show the importance that can be achieved out of a 'great civil war' to form a bond between the people present and to say, if we are a 'nation so conceived and so dedicated' then we can tolerate the hardship and pain of war. The use of emotive language evokes a more personal feeling. King refers to his children to add a sympathetic feel to his speech. ...read more.
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The animation of activists, fighting for equal rights, also contributed. Martin Luther King, Jr., a Baptist minister, was a driving force in the campaign for racial equality in the 1950's and the 1960's. King organized a massive march on Washington, DC, on August 28, 1963.
2. To what extent do you agree with Abraham Lincoln that slavery was 'somehow the ...
Western Expansion exacerbated the issue of slavery because how could they decide which new state should join the North or the South or . This issue caused a lot of problems and arguments between the North and the South and so they tried to reach many compromises like the 1850
1. A face to remember
(Lin, Maya Y) Following the outdoor chapel, Lin used the water table form again on October 13, 1993 for the Woman's Table at Yale University, a monument made to commemorate the presence of women at Yale. In this piece the engraving on the table top, arranged in a spiral form to imply an
2. Analysis Of The Gettysburg Address
Union, but also the need to be united in preserving the ideals and meanings upon which it was founded, the ideals our soldiers were dying for" (LOC). These ideas are central to Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, which, despite its brevity, as opposed to Everett's long-forgotten two-hour oration, has become one of the most memorable and effective of all time.
1. Martin Luther King. Martin was one of Americas greatest civil rights activists, shaping ...
you, pray for them that use you badly.? The Parable of the Prodigal Son is a Christian teaching about forgiveness. There is a strong belief in repentance, and how forgiveness allows a person to change positively. Christian teachings on love and forgiveness also explain Martin?s philosophy on non-violence.
2. What was the short term significance of Martin Luther King after the March on ...
This source strongly agrees with the first one, mainly because they are both from King but moreover it shows how he could not do anything to change the ongoing problem of a lack of money being earned by Black Americans.
1. Civil Rights Revision Cards 1945-68
Came with 20 others from Chicago and continued walk SNCC 1. Also joined march ? included leader ? Stokely Carmichael (nb ? SNCC & CORE had become more militant after lack of protection from federal government in Mississippi , black power agenda & did not want white participants ? King did)
2. Comparing and Contrasting The Lives Of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. And Malcolm X
Malcolm on the other hand had it a lot more rough than King did. After being born in Omaha, Nebraska, Malcolm and his family moved to Lansing, Michigan. At the age of six years old, his father was murdered after receiving threats from the Ku Klux Klan.
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global_01_local_0_shard_00002368_processed.jsonl/51445 | Tag Archives | shell peas
Cheesy Spring Pasta with Shell Peas, Canadian Bacon and Dill
Have you ever had fresh-from-the-pod shell peas? If you haven’t, you’re in for one of life’s finest culinary treats! They’re the sweetest, most delicious peas you’ll ever try. You can cook the shelled peas lightly and serve them simply with a bit of butter, salt and pepper, or use them to take other dishes to the next […]
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global_01_local_0_shard_00002368_processed.jsonl/51468 | We are pleased to bring you Podcasts of all the shows for Seasons 4 to 6 (the current season) here on our website. Seasons 1 to 3 can also be found on the Irish Radio International Mixcloud account using the following links: Seasons1 & 2Season 3.
Since January 2019 we stopped publishing the full (radio broadcast) programme including music as was done for the previous four years. Instead, we publish the Anchor/iTunes podcasts which are individual segments published sequentially at 4pm on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday of each week.
Our podcasts are also available on these platforms:
Anchor Apple Podcasts/iTunes Google Podcasts
Spotify Breaker Castbox
Google Play Music Overcast Pocket Casts
PodBean RadioPublic
We are currently building an index to all the available shows but it will take some time to build this index.
15 March
Programme 19 of the 2018/19 season is first broadcast between March 15th & 18th. Here are the details of the show:
Intro (Available Friday 4pm):
Word of the Week: Sears
2nd Section (Available 4pm Saturday):
'The Sound' Kim Kaufman, 3rd place, Toastmasters International Semi-finals 2017 YouTube link
3rd Section (Available 4pm Sunday)::
Talking about yourself
Links to Pathways Resources:
Pathways Experience blog
District 57 Pathways resources
Coach Carole's Pathways Learning Process Unpacked
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global_01_local_0_shard_00002368_processed.jsonl/51489 | 30 Second Commercial
My L'BRI PURE n' NATURAL 30 second commercial
First, what is it?
It is what you can say to people when you are out and about telling them about your business.
Instead of "how are you? what's new?" and answering "I'm fine. Same old same old", use your commercial.
You only have about thirty seconds to keep their attention, so you have to keep it short.
Most importantly, Be Excited about your new business.
Here is my commercial.
"Hi. I'm so excited. I'm working with this all natural skin care line called L'BRI PURE n' NATURAL, have you heard of it? Everyone is talking about it. It's first ingredient is aloe vera, so it's really healing to the skin. Would you be interested in trying a sample of the products?"
It's short and it gets the work out about L'BRI PURE n' NATURAL. When doing this, you have to make sure you have samples to give out.
Or you could try to book a party or send them to your website to place a sample order.
If you give out a sample, make sure you get their name and phone number so that you can follow up with them.
Click here to return from 30 Second Commercial to consultant only checklist. |
global_01_local_0_shard_00002368_processed.jsonl/51493 | World Library
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Article Id: WHEBN0000723712
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Title: Sandbag
Author: World Heritage Encyclopedia
Language: English
Subject: Fortification, Improvised vehicle armour, Coupure, Flood control, Levee
Collection: Articles Containing Video Clips, Bags, Flood Control, Fortification, Soil, Soil-Based Building Materials
Publisher: World Heritage Encyclopedia
Residents and volunteers work to fill sandbags during the Mississippi and Missouri river floods of 1993.
A sandbag is a bag or sack made of hessian (burlap), polypropylene or other sturdy materials that is filled with sand or soil and used for such purposes as flood control, military fortification, shielding glass windows in war zones, ballast, and in other applications requiring mobile fortification.
The advantages are that the bags and sand are inexpensive. When empty, the bags are compact and lightweight for easy storage and transportation. They can be brought to a site empty and filled with local sand or soil. Disadvantages are that filling bags is labor-intensive. Without proper training, sandbag walls can be constructed improperly causing them to fail at a lower height than expected. They can degrade prematurely in the sun and elements once deployed. They can also become contaminated by flood waters making them difficult to deal with after flood waters recede.[1]
• Usage 1
• Sandbags made using bulk bags 2
• Other uses 3
• In slang 4
• Gallery 5
• See also 6
• References 7
• External links 8
Troops from the Grenadier Guards constructing sandbag defences around government buildings in Birdcage Walk, London, May 1940.
Sandbags may be used during emergencies when rivers threaten to overflow their banks, or when a levee or dike is damaged. They may also be used in non-emergency situations (or after an emergency) as a foundation for new levees or other water-control structures. Sandbags are not always effective in preventing flooding because water will eventually seep through the bags and finer materials, like clay, may leak out through the seams. After usage, dry sandbags can be stored for future use. Wet bags may need to be disposed in a landfill as they may be contaminated by chemicals and fecal matter.[1]
The military uses sandbags for field fortifications and as a temporary measure to protect civilian structures. Because burlap and sand are inexpensive, large protective barriers can be erected cheaply. The friction created by moving soil or sand grains and multiple tiny air gaps makes sandbags an efficient dissipator of explosive blast.[2] The most common sizes for sandbags are 14 by 26 inches (36 by 66 cm) to 17 by 32 inches (43 by 81 cm).[3][4] These dimensions, and the weight of sand a bag this size can hold, allow for the construction of an interlocking wall like brickwork. Individual filled bags are not too heavy to lift and move into place. They may be laid in excavated defences as revetment, or as free-standing walls above ground where excavations are impractical. As plain burlap sandbags deteriorate fairly quickly, sandbag structures meant to remain in place for a long time may be painted with a portland cement slurry to reduce the effects of rot and abrasion. Cotton ducking sandbags last considerably longer than burlap and are hence preferable for long-term use. However, the vast majority of sandbags used by modern military and for flood prevention are made of circular woven polypropylene.
Sandbags have been used since at least the late 18th century. For example, British loyalists used sandbag and log fortifications in the 1781 Siege of Ninety-Six during the American Revolutionary War. Nathanael Greene was familiar enough with the fortification technique to equip his troops with hooks to pull down the sandbag and log walls when they stormed the Star Redoubt in Ninety Six, South Carolina.[5] Sandbags have traditionally been filled manually using shovels. Since the 1990s, machine filling has become more common, allowing the work to be done more quickly and efficiently.
Sandbags made using bulk bags
Bulk bags, also known as big bags, are much larger than traditional sandbags. Moving a bag of this size typically requires a forklift truck. Thailand utilized bulk bags filled with sand to erect temporary walls to protect against the 2011 Thailand floods.
Other uses
Sandbags being filled using a ladder on sawhorses with traffic cones as chutes or funnels, Moorhead, Minnesota, 2009.
Sandbags are also used for disposable ballast in gas balloons, and as counterweights for theatre sets.
During World War II, sandbags were also used as extemporized "soft armor" on American tanks, to help defeat German anti-tank rounds,[6] but were ineffective.
Sandbags can also be carried within vehicles to provide improved traction during inclement weather (typically stored above the drive wheels where the increased weight improves traction). If ever stuck, sand can be removed and placed directly onto the slippery surface thereby providing greatly improved traction. Sandbags are also used by off-road enthusiasts instead of sand plates or sand ladders to assist the vehicle to get traction and momentum after being stuck in soft sand. The same sandbags can be used to bridge deep holes or ditches. Apart from being very light and taking very little space (when empty), the sandbags are a much cheaper option than any of the other options (sand plates, sand ladders, multipurpose bags, etc.).
In games and various kinds of adversarial settings, the term sandbagging refers to the practice of purposely placing oneself in a weaker position so as to give the deceptive impression that one is less skilled than one truly is.
Sandbags are often used to temporarily stabilize soil from erosion, such as oceanfront structures whose foundations have been undermined by heavy waves.
Sandbags are also used in earthbag construction to make inexpensive, environmentally sustainable homes.
In addition, sandbags are often used when shooting a long gun, specifically a rifle, from a rest, as it provides support for the weapon, allowing for less movement during shooting.
Sandbags of various sizes and weights can be used for exercise or resistance training.[7]
In slang
The word can also refer to a simple weapon consisting of a small bag filled with sand for use as a cudgel typically by criminals, or to the act of striking a person on the head with such a weapon.[8] This usage is obsolescent in normal speech, appearing mainly in legal codes. However the verb form is extended metaphorically in several slang expressions.
See also
1. ^ a b
2. ^ War Office. Military Training Pamphlet No 30, Part V: Protective Works. 1941. p. 39 specifies 20 inches (510 mm) of sand in bags as proof against armour piercing bullets and bomb fragments.
3. ^ Kim Williamson. How Sandbags Work.
4. ^ Kelly Hart. Type of Earthbags to Use.
5. ^
6. ^ Hunnicut, R.P. "Sherman: A History of the American Medium Tank" ISBN 0-89141-080-5
7. ^
8. ^
9. ^
External links
• California Department of Water Resources - Flood Fighting at home, How to fill and place sandbags (PDF)
• California Department of Water Resources and the California Conservation Corps - Flood fighting Methods (PDF)
• US Army Corps of Engineers Sandbagging pamphlet (PDF)
• FEMA - Flood Response manual for Community Emergency Response Teams, including sandbagging techniques (PDF)
• US OSHA recommendations for safely Filling, Moving and Placing Sandbags During Flooding Disasters
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global_01_local_0_shard_00002368_processed.jsonl/51499 | I see children privately at Bedford Hospital South Wing, Cobham Clinic in Luton and The Spire Hospital in Harpenden.
The adenoid is a small gland in the back of a child’s nose. It helps to fight infections in the early years of life but becomes redundant at about three years of age. The adenoid then gets smaller over time.
In some children the adenoid is so large that it blocks the nose and the child appears to breathe only through their mouth. This can cause snoring and problems breathing at night. It can also block the tubes that connect the ears to the nose and contribute to the formation of “glue ear”. This causes hearing loss and can make your child prone to ear infections. Removing the adenoid can help treat these symptoms but there is a small risk of bleeding which must be considered.
If you would like more information on adenoid conditions please CLICK HERE
The tonsils are small glands in the back of the mouth which help to fight infections in early childhood. They then become redundant at approximately three years of age and then gradually shrink. Like the adenoid they can become enlarged and contribute to snoring and problems breathing at night.
Most sore throats are viral and are fairly mild, only lasting a few days at a time. They are often accompanied by a cough and runny nose and usually require no treatment other than paracetamol and ibuprofen.
Bacterial tonsillitis is much more severe and your child will usually refuse to eat and drink. They will also have a high temperature, swollen glands in their neck and the tonsils will be coated in white spots. A runny nose and cough are not usually present. If this occurs frequently and your child is missing lots of school then removing them can help. There is a small chance of bleeding (1 to 2%) which must be considered.
If you would like more information on tonsils conditions please CLICK HERE
Glue ear
When mucus accumulates behind the eardrum it is called “glue ear”. It is very common in childhood and can cause problems with hearing, speech delay, behavioural problems and recurrent ear infections. Most children will suffer with GLUE EAR at some point in time and it only requires treatment if it does not resolve by itself. I adopt a watch and wait policy before offering treatment, which is either grommets (small ventilation tubes which fall out after one year) or a hearing aid which is used for as long as the glue ear is present. Removing the adenoid can also reduce the likelihood of the glue ear returning.
If you would like more information on glue ear conditions please CLICK HERE
Protruding ears
If you would like more information on protruding ear conditions please CLICK HERE
Snoring and sleep apnoea
Snoring in childhood is common and is usually caused by enlarged tonsils and/or adenoid. Snoring is caused by blockage of the upper airways during sleep and ranges from "simple snoring" where there is no significant drop in the child's blood oxygen levels through to something called "obstructive sleep apnoea" where the child appears to stop breathing in their sleep for what appears to be a very long time.
ENT surgeons use the umbrella term "sleep disordered breathing" to describe all types. Simple snorer's suffer no consequences and need no treatment and the child usually grows out of it. This is also the case for children with very mild sleep apnoea. Children with moderate to severe sleep apnoea often elicit behavioral problems like ADHD, bed-wetting and "failure to thrive". These children can benefit from an operation to remove the adenoid and tonsils. It is often difficult for a doctor to determine how severe a child's case is. A sleep test may be requested but it is also helpful to video your child sleeping on your mobile phone. |
global_01_local_0_shard_00002368_processed.jsonl/51521 | Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Dear Person Whose Job It Is To Call Me Back — You Suck.
Dear Person Whose Job It Is To Call Me Back,
You suck. You are really, really awful at your job.
I don't care if you are a scheduler for a therapist, or a doctor, or a social service program. It doesn't matter who you are, a key function of your job consists of making appointments and yet you're — staggeringly, mind-bogglingly — terrible at it.
I know I should be sympathetic to your plight. After all, since I've yet to meet a single competent scheduler among dozens of offices, there must be some Scheduling Guild secrets that I am not privy to. Perhaps basic calendar technology has yet to reach your office. Maybe your boss regularly uses your phone line to make 1-900 calls. Probably your desk is on the plains of the Serengeti where regular rhinoceros migrations make such calls impossible. I can see how that would be difficult.
But you know what? I don't care. I really freaking don't. Because I am quite certain that you haven't given the slightest thought to the amount of effort it takes me to call you. Allow me to enlighten you, since you are obviously not doing anything else right now.
The process starts when the thought that I need to call and make an appointment swirls to the forefront of a near-constant whirlwind of needs, obligations and decisions about how to approach my son's disability. Then I need to find the appropriate number, which is never the number on a website or the caller ID from the last time you called. (Of course not. That would be way too convenient. Thus breaking the Scheduling Guild code of conduct.) Then I need to carve out a time in my day that is during business hours yet not during times when my nearly napless children are awake and eager to use any excuse to scream at me.
Once I have met all of these requirements, I get your voice mail. Of course you are away from your desk at 10 a.m. on a Tuesday. That makes sense. The rhinos must be on the move. No matter, I will wait for you to call me back. You know, because that's your job. Somebody is paying you to do that, so clearly you will do it at your next available opportunity.
But here's the thing: You never freaking do.
A week goes by, maybe two, and I realize as I am trying to fall asleep that you never did call me back and now I have to start the process all over again. You get me every time. We've played this game dozens of times now and yet I still always assume that you will call me back because I left you a message. I must be legendary at your Scheduling Guild meetings. "Susan! You're never going to guess who called me!" "No, not her! Again? That's too outrageous. When will she learn?"
Never. The answer is never, Person Whose Job It Is To Call Me Back. I will never learn that you won't call me back because I find it incomprehensible.
I find it incomprehensible not because someone is paying you a decent living wage to do something as simple as picking up a phone and typing my name into your clinician's calendar. Not because could you be very easily replaced by modern calendar software that would allow me to make my own appointments 24 hours a day. Not even because you ought to know how difficult it is for me to find time to call you. No, Person Whose Job It Is To Call Me Back, the reason I find it so incomprehensible is this:
A little boy with scarred brain tissue needs some help. The help is most effective the soonest it can possibly be given — time that is measured in days, not weeks or months.
You are the gatekeeper to that help. And yet, through your laziness or incompetency you are denying him access. In some cases, you are literally sentencing him to more suffering.
So I guess what I'm really saying, Person Whose Job It Is To Call Me Back, is, unless you are currently being dragged away by stampeding rhinos, you really need to pick up the phone and call me. Like, right freaking now.
The Lady Who Will Never Learn
1. Anonymous5:49 PM
This is so absolutely for real and is just making me realize, I'm not kidding, that there's a call I'm waiting for too. Ridiculous.
2. Anonymous5:57 PM
Perhaps you could consider writing down the name and phone number of each and every person you need to call to set up your son's appointments? It is not the Person Whose Job It Is To Call You Back's fault that you are disorganized.
When you leave messages, are you polite? When you do have an appointment, are you polite and friendly to the front office staff? Do you blame them for things that are not their fault (like the doctor/therapist being 2 hrs behind schedule again). Admins and receptionists have a HUGE amount of indirect power - and tend to use it judiciously.
And yes, once worked as a dermatologist's receptionist/scheduling assistant. (The folks that were snotty and rude had their calls returned - it was my job to return them, after all, and within the 5 business days service standard the hospital required - eventually, at COB on Day 5. The non-rude patients got their calls returned *much* faster (and were the ones I called in favours for).
It's possible *some* of the Person Whose Job It Iss' are evil, mean, hate their job and are intentionally fail to return your calls despite you being the politest, most reasonable person on the planet -- but it's highly unlikely *all* of them are. You might want to honestly think about whether *your* behaviour contributes to wht your calls go unreturned by *everybody*.
1. I certainly don't kiss their asses, but I do feel like I am polite to the office staff. This is because of the attitude I mention here, which is that I always assume that they are competent and will do their jobs. The second time I have to call, I try not to let my annoyance show through my voice, but I'm not sure how successful I am. The third time I start asking for superiors... and even then I try to "team" with them to see how a complaint from a customer might make their job easier. See, this is because I still assume that if given a choice people *want* to be good at their job.
All of this is irrelevant however to the superficial circumstance you outline here. The point is that the person who is suffering is my son and, to a large extent, me. Someone who would inflict that sort of pain on another human being because she has a petty grudge while she sits in a posh medical office with nothing better to do really needs to reexamine her priorities.
2. KateK: since when a frustrated (and often desperate) parents should influence how soon you return a call and help a sick child? I titally understand you Shasta! These people who sit in their posh medical offices have no idea what we (parents) have to deal with.
3. Anonymous2:52 PM
Shasta - As the Person Whos Job It Is/Was, my expectation was that people be civil to me (if for no other reason that this stops the world from descending into anarchy) – I certainly did not expect people to suck up to me. And I very much cared about the patients, took a lot of pride in doing my job well and was ALWAYS very polite to all callers. Hard as it is to believe, the VAST majority of doctor’s office staff do. Still, the entire front-office staff got yelled/sworn on a regular basis, often for things we had literally no control over.
Lovely as it was that these charming individuals seemed to think I was omnipotent, regretfully my powers did not extend to convincing their GP to refer them to a dermatologist; knowing they do not check voicemail on their cell phone when they keep leaving messages saying “you can reach me at Cell Number XXX”; physically stopping the doctor from going to the OR because trauma patients get priority over Ms. Non-Emergency’s annual skin cancer checkup, and; magically knowing traffic is terrible and keeping the office open until 7:15 PM, so they can pick up a critical insurance form that I got turned around in record time, because I knew it was super-duper important, despite the fact that the patient knows the office closes at 6 PM. (And a 2 second call to let me know she'll be late would have allowed me to leave the form in a sealed envelope for her, at the security desk - but yeah, six profanity-filled vmails is totally the way to go).
Again, there are always SOME people who hate their jobs, are bad at them and are rude to their clients for kicks – but NOBODY returns your calls promptly, ever? At lots of different doctors’ and therapists’ offices, where YOU are the only common denominator??
Kasia – It is certainly scary when one’s child is sick and, sure, you’re entitled to yell at the receptionist because you are frustrated. I worked at a big teaching/research hospital in a very, very big city – that had gone through the trouble to developing very, very specific service standards, and all of us were VERY careful to be sure we respected them. Hence, 5 business days. But it is probably more effective to be grownup for thirty seconds and try to leave a polite message.
4. OK, KateK. Thanks for representing the scheduler's point of view. Sounds like it's a pretty shitty job where you have to deal with the crazies... like every other job where you deal with the public: retail, pharmacy, media, government, parks, etc., etc.
Let's just assume (as you seem to have) that I'm lying about being polite to office staff and say that we both feel entitled. The question is, who in this interaction is getting paid to do so? The scheduler. So they have an obligation to perform their duty in a timely fashion. Unless a client's behavior is completely out of line, I think it's incredibly uncool to go off on some little power trip when a child's wellbeing is on the line.
3. I agree with you about the suckage, but what I really want to say is, "how much do I LOVE this picture? ALOT, that's how much"
4. Great piece, Shasta. Yesterday I called not one, but two docs at different offices, asking the person who answered the phone (OK, one was by voicemail) to call the other so as to get the physicians talking between themselves about my concern. Guess how many phone calls I got back? Yep ... but like Anne Frank (and apparently you!) I continue to believe these folks are basically good. Hope things improve for you soon.
1. lol, Nancy, I've never even considered trying to get the doctors to talk to each other. What a novel concept! I think as professional communicators this is the thing that confuses us the most: what is so hard about talking to each other?? :)
5. It really is mind-boggling that our calls can go unanswered. Recently, I have e-mailed, called the MD and the NP for a question about Boo. You would think one of those would get a reply. Even if it was just to say, hey your appointment isn't until April and until then we don't want to hear from you!
1. Exactly. The same thing happens to us with a Dr who has told me in person several times that she is available by e-mail. SOME response is preferable to absolutely none.
6. LOL! As a mom who is waiting eagerly - literally, phone in hand - to hear whether or not an appointment has opened up so I can (WOOHOO!) spend our spring break having a sleep study done on my three year old whirling dervish, I TOTALLY GET IT. I have no doubt that most of these folks are hardworking and dedicated, but there is something systemically wrong with the process.
1. I agree with you Andi, it's got to be the system. I'm too far removed from it to figure out what exactly that might be, but it sounds like it's really not working for anybody.
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global_01_local_0_shard_00002368_processed.jsonl/51526 | Storm [English] Paroles
Paroles Storm [English]
Storm [English] Video:
Paroles de Storm [English] What was reflected there when you looked up?
The cold wind guides you away like clouds floating away
The alarm begins ringing on the clock that keeps you the way that you were that day
The flow of time is too cruel; it always torments me
I had thought that you would always be by my side, laughing...
Even if I hold up my hands to pray, you are untouchable
You slowly spread your white wings and slowly wave at me, laughing
Before I know it, I'm leaning back to howl at the far off sky
I held you close and softly kissed you as you smiled gently
Even that faint happiness will never return
No matter how much time passes, I will never be able to forget
That last smile you showed me continues to live on inside of me
Because I loved you more than anyone
Other Paroles |
global_01_local_0_shard_00002368_processed.jsonl/51530 | Saturday, 27 October 2012
Kelly Brougham - miniature stellar Pelargonium, & a mystery solved
Stellar pelargonium Kelly Brougham
Pelargonium 'Kelly Brougham' is another of Brian West's raisings, but it is totally different from the single zonal type 'Sammi Brougham' which I wrote about last week.
A cross between 'Mini Diane' and 'Arctic Glitter', Pelargonium 'Kelly Brougham' is a miniature gold leaf stellar with double white to very pale pink flowers. The petals are typical of stellars, being spikey rather than rounded.
'Kelly Brougham' was introduced through Sulmans Nursery.
Mystery Solved
Americana® White Splash
If you read the comments on my last post, you will see that my friend, Mr Yong-Man Lee has discovered that the mystery Pelargonium I brought back from France is Americana® White Splash introduced by Sygenta/Fishcher. So, I could probably have bought the plant here in the UK. It seems that the plant was originally introduced in 2009, but with smaller red markings. An improved version was introduced in 2011 and this is the one that I have. I understand that, like most of the modern varieties, the flowers go mouldy in rainy weather if planted outside.
Thank you Yong-Man for solving this mystery for me.
1 comment:
1. Pelargonie są piękne, a szczególnie pierwsza . Miłe, że masz przyjaciela blogowego, który Ci rozwiązał zagadkę. Pozdrawiam.
Geraniums are beautiful, especially the first one. Nice that you have a blogging friend who you solved the puzzle. Yours.
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global_01_local_0_shard_00002368_processed.jsonl/51555 | New Tagline for Nancy?
One of the great things about the iPod/iPhone is that it keeps your whole music collection in play. While the radio or CD's in your car allow you to focus on flavors of the month, the shuffle feature brings up things you forgot you loved.
Lately I've rediscovered Keaggy, King and Dente's Invention (circa 1997). You know how you listen to songs sometimes without fully processing the lyrics. Well for whatever reason, "Watch my Back" continuously makes me think of Nancy-the-Insightful. I thought because of the music, but then I actually focused on the lyrics.
"You and me, we never had to fight in any wars
On some foreign soil in the pouring rain.
Livin' in foxholes. Shootin' some enemy.
Who we do not know in a place we cannot name.
But God knows that life is a war.
If you're gonna live, you're gonna do battle.
No matter what the weapons may be. (No matter what they be.)
No matter which enemy may attack.
Well it's you my friend that I would want to watch my back."
I can think of no truer statement of Nancy than if I'm ever in a foxhole I want her there with me. And while Nancy is incredibly insightful, I wonder if this isn't a better tagline.
D Herrod said...
Cool. That is one of my favorite songs on that CD.
Ashley said...
How about "Nancy is always insightful even in the foxhole"
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© Random Cathy
Maira Gall |
global_01_local_0_shard_00002368_processed.jsonl/51560 | Home > Our Design Lab > Formative Tasks > Summarize_Reflective
How can I use summarizing to better understand and remember what I read?
Learn to retell the major events/points of a text succinctly and in the order in which they appeared.
Time To Complete
4-6 hours
Common Core Standards
• CCRA.R.1
• CCRA.R.10
I Can Statements
• I can:
• Summarize a text accurately and objectively, including the necessary key elements and proper sequencing to allow someone else to understand the text I have summarized
• Take a general concept or principle and provide examples of it, or take an example of something and identify its general concept or principle
• I will know my summary is of high quality when it:
• Is accurate
• Is objective
• Includes all key details and excludes extraneous information
• Is properly sequenced
Suggestions for Assessing Student Readiness to Move Forward:
• Confer with students, asking them to compare their summary to the source text and explain how they developed their summary.
Possible Activities
1. Model reading a text aloud, while displaying it to the students. After reading it aloud, model stopping and thinking aloud about what happened in the text. Then, model recording the most important events in the text in a brief list form. Think aloud about how to express each event briefly, and how to eliminate less important events. Model referring back to the text to confirm event details and order.
2. Model reading aloud texts of different formats, including nonfiction text with headings and subheadings, as well as narrative text with chapter titles. Think aloud about how the elements of a text (title, headings, chapter titles, book jacket description, opening and closing sentences of a text, first sentences of paragraphs) give you clues about the main ideas and supporting details of each section. Model using different color highlighters to identify different text elements, and to distinguish between main ideas and supporting details. Then, think aloud about how the main ideas you have identified can be pieced together to form a summary.
3. Students should practice reading texts of various genres (including informational texts and narrative texts) and should use highlighters of different colors to identify text elements, and to distinguish between main ideas and details. Then, they should transfer the main ideas they have identified to a separate document, in the order they appear in the text. This is a first stab at a summary.
4. Students should practice summarizing in groups and individually by reading texts and stopping at predetermined intervals to create brief summaries. They can sometimes summarize aloud, and sometimes record their summaries on Post-its, chart paper, or two-column notes. Stronger students should summarize longer chunks of text (entire poems, essays, chapters, or books) while struggling students should summarize shorter chunks. They should continue various forms of practice until they are adept at summarizing
5. After several days of practice and once they have achieved mastery, students should write a summary of their first text selection and include this summary in their portfolio.
Downloadable Resources
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global_01_local_0_shard_00002368_processed.jsonl/51590 | Basic Site Details
Name: St Margaret's Schools
City or county: Aberdeen
Country: Scotland
Grid ref:
Building Type Classification
The building is classified under the following categories:
ClassificationOriginal classification?Notes
Item 1 of 1School
The following date-based events are associated with this building:
FromToEvent typeNotes
Item 1 of 2After 1870 Repairs and cleaning of stonework
Item 2 of 21900 Addition
Design and Construction
NameRolePartnership GroupFromToNotes
Item 1 of 3James MatthewsArchitectAAfter 1870 Repairs and cleaning of stonework - with Pirie as assistant?
Item 2 of 3John Bridgeford PirieArchitectAAfter 1870 Repairs and cleaning of stonework - as assistant to Matthews?
Item 3 of 3Arthur ClyneArchitect 1900 Additions
Periodical References
The following periodicals contain references to this building:
Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1Builder24 March 1900 p278 - contracts
Archive References
The following archives hold material relating to this building:
SourceArchive nameSource catalogue no.Notes
Item 1 of 1National Monuments Record of Scotland/NMRS, RCAHMSJ B Pirie Collection Notebooks - specifications |
global_01_local_0_shard_00002368_processed.jsonl/51602 | • Peer-reviewed Journal Articles
1. Ke, S. (accepted). Review of research (1976–2018) on learning and instruction with specific reference to reading Chinese as an additional language. In Y. Gong & C. Lai (eds.), The teaching and learning of Chinese as a second or foreign language (CSL/CFL): The current situation and future directions. Special Issue in Frontiers of Education in China.
2. Zhang, D. & Ke, S. (2019/online first). The simple view of reading made complex by morphological decoding fluency in bilingual fourth-grade readers of English. Reading Research Quarterly. doi: 10.1002/rrq.287
3. Ke, S. & Koda, K. (2019/online first in 2017). Is vocabulary knowledge sufficient for word meaning inference? An investigation of the role of morphological awareness in adult L2 learners of Chinese. Applied Linguistics, 40(3), 456-477. DOI: 10.1093/applin/amx040
4. Ke, S. & Koda, K. (2017a). Contributions of morphological awareness to adult L2 Chinese word meaning inferencing. The Modern Language Journal, 101 (4), 742-755.
5. Ke, S. & Chan, S-D. (2017b). Strategy use in L2 Chinese reading: The effect of L1 background and L2 proficiency. System: An International Journal of Educational Technology and Applied Linguistics, 66, 27-38.
6. Ke, S. & Tucker, G. R. (2015a). Unleavened cakes: An overview of second language Chinese education for South Asian students in Hong Kong. K-12 Chinese Language Teaching (online open access). Retrieved from: http://clta-us.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Unleavened-Cakes-L2-Chinese-Education-for-South-Asian-Students-in-Hong-Kong.pdf
7. Ke, S., & Xiao, F. (2015b). Cross-linguistic transfer of morphological awareness between Chinese and English. Language Awareness, 24(4), 355-380.
Book Chapters
8. Ke, S. & Koda, K. (2018a). Developing reflective learners in Chinese as a foreign language in the U.S. In K. Koda & J. Yamashita (Eds.), Reading to Learn: An Integrated Approach to FL Teaching and Assessment (pp.192-210). Routledge.
9. Koda, K. & Ke, S. (2018b). Advanced reading proficiency in collegiate foreign language learners. In P. A. Malovrh & A. Benati (Eds.), The Handbook of Advanced Proficiency in Second Language Acquisition (pp.483-504). Wiley-Blackwell.
Book Reviews
10. Ke, S. (invited/2015c). The Routledge intermediate Chinese reader. The Modern Language Journal, 99 (3), 619-620.
11. Ke, S. (2014). Bilingualism in schools and society: language, identity, and policy. International Journal of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism, 17 (6), 718-721.
Publications in Chinese
12. Koda, K. & Ke, S. (invited, 2018c). 一语在二语阅读发展中的促进作用 [L1-induced facilitation in L2 reading development]. 国际汉语教学研究 [ Journal of International Chinese Teaching], 18(2), 40-48.
13. Koda, K. & Ke, S. (invited, 2018d). 外语教学与评估：以读促学法 [An integrated approach to FL teaching and assessment]. 国际汉语教学研究 [ Journal of International Chinese Teaching], 18(3), 37-45.
14. Koda, K. & Ke, S. (invited, 2018e). 外语词语习得能力 的培养 [Promoting vocabulary learning competence in a foreign language]. 国际汉语教学研究 [ Journal of International Chinese Teaching], 18(4), 36-40.
Manuscripts Under Review/In Progress
15. Ke, S. & Yu, Y. (forthcoming). Tracking changes in compound word learning in adult L2 Chinese learners. In F. Xiao (in press), Second Language Chinese Development: A Longitudinal Perspective. Lexington Books.
16. Ke, S. (forthcoming). “唔该多谢”?在初级粤语课中融入方言文化教学 ["Ng goi or Do ze"? Integrating dialect and culture in an elementary Cantonese class.] In G. Liu & H. Wang (contracted), 传统与现代：海外中文文化教学 [Tradition and transition: teaching Chinese culture overseas]. Peking University Press. |
global_01_local_0_shard_00002368_processed.jsonl/51606 | A Good Index Is a Thing of Beauty
As a footnote to my post on Legal Indexing, here is a delightful piece on indexing from Intelligent Life.
And for fans of obscure works, any thoughts on what sort of work would have the following entries:
Ayn Rand School for Tots, 85, 111
Bacon, Francis, 291
Baldwin, Alec, 29
‘Barney Gumble’
alcoholic, 47, 129
Which website has the following completely unhelpful FAQs:
Q: What does an indexer normally charge?
A: It depends
To all our readers, a blithe Yule and a Guid Hogmanay.
1. You had me at the Ayn Rand reference — The Simpsons. Do I get a free copy of Lee Carvallo’s Putting Challenge as a prize? |
global_01_local_0_shard_00002368_processed.jsonl/51613 | January 2020
« Dec
Lovely story of multi-cultural enrichment from India
As part of our mission at snouts-in-the-trough to educate and inform our readers about the delights of other cultures, today we’d like to bring you the heartwarming story of Mr Ameerul Islam.
Mr Islam has apparently just been arrested for the rape, murder and genital mutilation of a young Indian Dalit (untouchable) girl.
But this is apparently not the first time Mr Islam has interfered with a female. Apparently on a previous occasion he had non-consensual sex with a female goat and then stabbed and mutilated the goat’s genitals so badly that the poor animal had to be taken to a veterinary hospital. Luckily the goat was not killed during Mr Islam’s sex attack. But that was possibly because the goat, unlike the girl raped, mutilated and murdered by Mr Islam, could hardly testify against him in any court proceedings were he ever arrested.
Now, there are some stupid, bigoted people who believe that people from certain religions (or a certain religion) are more likely to sexually abuse animals and females than people from other religions. This may or may not be true. Who knows? But I have no idea what religion Mr Ameerul Islam might belong to. Nor do I have any information that would help me guess what religion Mr Ameerul Islam might belong to. Nope, I’ve given it a lot of thought but have drawn a complete blank. Silly me!
However, I’m sure most of my readers are much more intelligent than me, and therefore might be able to have a stab at Mr Ameerul Islam’s religious adherence?
Oh, and while we’re on the subject of goatbusting, here’s a short video of some men indulging in what could either be a little foreplay with objects of their affection or else the prelude to the joys of a Halal slaughter. The men seem to be enjoying themselves. The animals don’t seem to be having too much fun:
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global_01_local_0_shard_00002368_processed.jsonl/51615 | Products : Operator Interface
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Unlike proprietary hardware design HMI's, the SSH-x systems are open architecture (PC based) which gives users flexibility, expandability, and affordability.
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Import Tools for PanelBuilder/PanelMate are powerful and innovative add-ons for SoftPLC Web Studio™, which can dramatically reduce the cost and hassle of modernizing the automation system in your facility.
Using these tools, you can convert your old and proprietary system based on PanelView™/PanelMate™ stations into an open and flexible architecture, which will continue to evolve with the latest technology. SoftPLC's Import Tools automatically convert applications from PanelBuilder32 or the PanelMate software to Web Studio. After converting the application, you can run it on any Web Studio HMI or Windows computer. |
global_01_local_0_shard_00002368_processed.jsonl/51618 | >SOLVE ZORK: Teaching An AI To Play Parser IF
By Hugo Labrande
>solve zork
Recent advances in artificial intelligence allow us to solve problems and design technologies that not so long ago were science fiction. We ask selfishly: what does it mean for parser IF?
Deep learning
Throughout most of the history of computing, to get a computer to solve a problem for you, you first had to think about it really hard, then program the computer to perform some steps in the right order. This worked very well — it pushed humans to come up with creative concepts, do some theoretical work, and ultimately advance science.
But think about it: is this how you were raised? Are our children programmed, perfectly obedient and only as intelligent as we are? Do we even understand what is in their brains? This is the paradigm shift brought about by artificial intelligence: create structures to hold information and a great number of parameters (basically, a brain!), and a way to have these parameters adapt locally and internally as a function of external feedback.
This is the idea behind neural networks, proposed in the 1980s: neurons hold a small quantity of information and interact with each other, reconfiguring pathways and weight given to each element to get better. The main problem with neural networks is the processing power involved in making a computer that’s at least decent in accomplishing its task: you have to provide millions of examples, with enough diversity that the neural network will know how to deal with the full range of situations. Then for each of these examples, you have to actually perform the simulation of each neuron’s behavior and their interactions and compute the adjustment in the neurons as a function of the result. This limits neural networks’ efficiency, and they were abandoned by the ‘90s as simpler methods gave results that were just as good. Enter deep learning, and the neural networks make their comeback in style.
Now might be a good moment for a caveat: I am very far from being an expert in these matters, but I was lucky enough to be able to attend a conference by Yann LeCun, one of deep learning’s best researchers and head of AI at Facebook Research, and the whole thing blew my mind! A lot of things were explained simply, and there were so many examples, including some that inspired this article. So I’ll try to explain this as best as I can, and refer you to the slides if you want to know more.
The “deep” in “deep learning” stands for “a large number of processing layers”. The idea is to have a lot of specialized (and trainable) components that perform specific operations, such as filtering, on part of the input; higher-up layers aggregate results from these layers, which makes them able to look at higher-level features of the input. Just like in the visual cortex: simple cells in the eye get a few pixels of the image, more complex cells aggregate these small pieces of information to get features of an image, then more complex cells recognize some features as part of an object, etc! This visual analogy is actually precisely why deep learning has been so successful in image recognition and classification, achieving incredibly low error rates.
Deep learning is very recent — no more than five or ten years old. It still requires a lot of computational power, but several racks of current graphics cards are enough to train efficient silicon brains. The results are astonishing: deep learning is already a reality, hiding behind Siri and Google Now, automatic picture tagging on Facebook, and the victory of AlphaGo against Lee Sedol; in the future, they’ll be in self-driving cars, chatbots, and MRI machines.
Building a computer with common sense
Interestingly, deep learning methods are also applied to natural language problems, which are one of the most difficult classes of problems that we may want to teach computers how to solve. This includes problems that human brains solve daily: parsing sentences, linking words to abstract concepts, performing small logical deductions, perform abstract reasoning, and even translation! This is the heart of human communication, reasoning, and consciousness, much more than playing Go or identifying a picture of a banana; for this reason, Alan Turing proposed that the ability to chat with a human so well that the human doesn’t know if she is speaking to a computer (the famous “Turing test”) is the definitive sign that computers are as smart as humans.
Hence, giving a computer “common sense” is still hard and unsolved. How do you teach a computer to know that if Jack has a glass of milk and went to the office, the glass of milk is also in the office? How do you teach it that if you close the oven, the food is still in the oven? That water does not burn? That people cry when they are sad?
We’d need a way to show the system thousands of situations that highlight properties of the physical world; thousands of different objects and settings, so that it learns what usually goes with what; thousands of occurrences of objects interacting with each other. And maybe give it a way to interact with such objects, so that it experiments and gets better at learning physical properties in an unsupervised way, just as AlphaGo got better by playing against itself thousands of times. But if you drop them in the real world, it’s going to take a lot of time and a lot of effort (as well as a lot of broken things): you have to learn how to operate arms, vision, etc. A 3D simulation, maybe? It’s been done: researchers have used the Unreal Engine to teach a computer how physics worked, so that the computer ended up predicting that an object was going to keep falling until it hits the ground. But this requires image processing, even real-time processing abilities.
But why don’t we make the computer play parser games? This is learning through play, using the textual nature of parser games to teach the system natural language, and common sense reasoning through puzzles; and there are literally thousands of games on the IF Archive, so lots of material to learn from!
This is not a totally original idea. Myke, a user on intfiction.org, recently opened an intfiction.org thread to ask for help with his research, which consists of exactly that: using parser IF to teach an AI about language understanding and physical properties. As he notes, “the dream scenario would be to let the system train on a set of IF games and then test it on games that it has never seen before and see it perform well.” (We wish him all the luck in his research and hope he’ll show us his results!)
Furthermore, as he notes, there are least two recent papers that have looked at text adventures as a way to train an AI to understand text and physical properties. However, these works train a neural network to get better and better at a game: the resulting neural network does not learn how to play games in general. The first one, by MIT’s Karthik Narasimhan, Tejas D Kulkarni and Regina Barzilay, attempts to teach a system how to play a simple parser game (called a MUD in the paper) in a house (sample quests: you are hungry but not sleepy, and there is a bed in the bedroom and an apple in the kitchen), then a larger game in a fantasy setting; the system eventually manages to complete the game on each try, once it has completed the game 50 times. The paper attempts to see if any of the gained knowledge could be “transferred” to other games, but their method is baby steps, as they only show that if you move the bedroom and the kitchen (but keep the same objects and descriptions), the system learns how to solve that game faster. The second, by Ji He, Jianshu Chen, Xiaodong He, Jianfeng Gao, Lihong Li, Li Deng and Mari Ostendorf, uses choice/hypertext games where the choices are randomized (to prevent the machine from simply remembering the number of the options); the computer then gets better and better, and seems to also gain an understanding of the situations, as the second part of their experiment (replace actions with paraphrased descriptions of the actions and see if the system is still able to get a high score) shows. All this is preliminary work, but rather exciting nonetheless!
What and how a computer would learn from parser IF
Let’s step back a little bit and break down what this all might mean, from a text adventure author/aficionado perspective. In particular, we’ll take a closer look at different aspects of text adventures and player behaviors, and see how they might apply to an AI able to play parser games. This is also helpful to take apart mechanisms of parser IF and see what they demand (and how hard they can be) for a completely uninitiated user.
First of all, we should ask: is this even doable? The only way to know for sure is to attempt to build it. Deep learning is an interesting and powerful technique, but there are a lot of challenges. For instance, the syntax of commands: normally these consist of a verb followed by an object, but some verbs have prepositions (e.g. ask X about Y, put X on Y), which complicates matters because the English syntax is not the same for every verb. And for that matter, doesn’t this imply that the system should first figure out what’s a verb? Or even what’s a valid word?
From various attempts at coding AIs that can play video games, the process might go like this: a completely newborn system would probably ignore the command line for a long while, then figure out that typing is an interesting idea, then type absolute garbage for a long while until it gets the idea of typing a command starting with “x ”, then go on an examine binge until it finds a word that matches, hopefully learning that words that are in the text are more likely to get responses. But how does it figure out “take” when most games don’t even mention it? An interesting alternative would be to bootstrap this process by enforcing that the system can only type a word from a selection of words – for instance, all the standard verbs, plus any word seen in the output of the game. Then the system would “just” have to figure out that >swim never produces anything useful, as opposed to >examine or >north.
Even with just that, we are talking hundreds of verbs, hundreds of nouns and countless words from the game’s output, while previous attempts to make computers play video games focused on console games with half a dozen choices at each frame, instead of tens of thousands. The large search space simply means that more computations would be needed to figure it out. But in theory the computer will figure it out eventually, given enough time, processing power, and probably memory – a non-trivial task.
But let’s carry on and assume we have a system that knows it should type words. We then have the question of the “objective function,” of the feedback that lets the system modify itself: what kind of things should the system pursue, and what things would let it know it’s on the right track? First of all, it seems like we should restrict ourselves to playing games with at least one preferable end state, or our poor machine will get confused trying to figure out what it needs to do to finish the game. Exit Aisle and Galatea (wouldn’t a computer talking to Galatea be the most meta thing, though?) However, it would be very interesting to train a system fully, then make it play these games: will the system loop infinitely, looking for more endings, or will it think “yup, that one, that one is the best ending” and stop? Which will it choose?
Back in the day, most games had a scoring system that would reward you with points for quests, subgoals, secrets, etc. This kind of feedback seems like a natural candidate for our AI: the higher your score, the closer you are to the end of the game, and maximizing your score means you completely beat the game. Furthermore, perhaps timed sections will teach the AI that time should not be wasted and the number of turns should be kept to a minimum. But eventually, the system will have to play modern games, perhaps with puzzles but no automatic score reward; how would the system react to this kind of game? Obviously it’ll continue playing, but it will probably walk around aimlessly and unfocused for a while. Then it could figure out other, more subtle encouraging signs: managing to take an object, reaching a previously unreachable area, a NPC that says “thank you” — at which point the AI would be starting to think like a player!
On a side note, one cannot talk about things that signal that you’re on the right or wrong track without talking about the cruelty scale. Merciful and Polite games seem to be the best for this system, as once it has figured out that nothing can be done when dead except restore or undo, it’ll probably have learned that dying is bad. Tough games seem a bit more complicated: the game will give warnings before the act, but if the system doesn’t register them, it will perform the action, then keep on playing and remain locked out of victory for thousands of turns. Nasty and Cruel are even worse, but again, they are a challenge even for human players! The mere problem of detecting that you’re stuck seems like a very hard problem: how do you know that the game will never let you win, how do you know that there’s not a small non-obvious action that you have forgotten to do? This is often solved by glancing at a walkthrough – which obviously is not applicable in our case. So this particular problem seems to be particularly prickly.
One thing we have not mentioned yet is the relationship with objects, which is crucial in parser games. We humans generally acquire object permanence, i.e. the mental process which says that objects have an existence even if they are not currently seen, before we are two years old — rephrased differently, this is a skill that takes humans two years to learn! Because traditional parser games are primarily interested in object manipulation, this seems like the perfect way to teach the concept to a machine, and this is probably useful in a lot of applications which deal with giving the machine something that resembles common sense.
This will presumably mean that, for a long time, the system may go to the room where the troll guarding the bridge is asking for a fish, look for a fish in the room, go to the next room, see a fish, and fail to connect these pieces of information as the troll is not in view anymore. On a more basic level, the concept of inventory is one that should be very hard to grasp for the machine! I mean, think about it: there’s the object you need, but you typed “take” and now the object is gone. This is clearly not good, right? But eventually, the game should figure out that typing inventory will make the object appear – and even better, that if you take an object in a room and then move, the object is still in your inventory.
This should be a major breakthrough for the system, and besides, it’s necessary to solve puzzles (or even figuring out that taking objects is a good thing and not a bad thing!). No doubt that learning this skill will be a large advancement in giving a computer common sense.
It is now time for our system to attempt to solve puzzles. Much has been said about the design of puzzles in adventure games elsewhere, and it is interesting to think about the different pieces of advice that have been given and recast them in our context of an AI learning how to play parser games.
For now, we just wish to highlight a few things on fairness. Puzzles are often qualified as “fair” or “unfair”; what would happen if an AI stumbled on an unfair puzzle? A puzzle can be unfair for a lot of different reasons and may stump our system in numerous ways. The puzzles where you are not warned at all before dying, or have to die and retry, may be solved easily by the system (once the command “restore” is known), as a computer would presumably not get as frustrated as a real player would. The puzzles where no hints are given are a bit harder to solve, but ultimately, if the machine is smart enough not to loop and try the same cycle of actions over and over again, it may well stumble on the right solution given enough time. The same applies to puzzles that require external knowledge or rely on in-jokes: the “hint” may as well not exist. One of the trickiest types of puzzles is the puzzle that requires a very specific formulation, a specific verb, or even those for which a perfectly sensible solution should work but doesn’t. These puzzles are notoriously frustrating for humans, who eventually turn to a walkthrough, and the question of how a machine would solve it is interesting. It may require the machine to learn synonyms of a verb or of a noun (which is a very abstract and very high-level concept), and enough stubbornness to keep going down a path while metaphorically screaming “this should work!” Hence — as it is for humans — it is probably best to avoid unfair puzzles.
Before talking about fair puzzles, let’s deal with the question of mazes, as these are inevitable when playing a large number of parser games. The standard maze is the one that only needs to be mapped; this implies that the AI system figures out what mapping is (unless the strategy of drawing a map has already been found just to be able to move around) and has enough memory to draw one. We then increase the difficulty by having non-reciprocating room exits; then perhaps some random events, exits or rooms, which increase the difficulty quite a bit. Then, imagine the system’s confusion when encountering “a maze of twisty little passages all alike”: it has to realize that these are indeed different rooms (and not just the same room), and find a way to distinguish them, rediscovering the standard “drop objects” technique: this strikes me as quite a feat of logical reasoning. Then there is the great number of mazes that require the player to realize that this is not a standard maze and that there is a trick. These require even more logical deduction, and presumably great maze experience, for an AI to be able to figure this out. So mazes themselves seem to be a very complex topic, one whose resolution would be reasonably considered to be an advancement of science – can you imagine having an AI crafted specially to solve mazes for you?
Let’s assume we stick to fair puzzles, then. Discounting clues given to the player, one can theorize that fair puzzles are the ones that rely on common knowledge or common sense, and that make sense once solved. This is a prime example, and maybe the main reason, why parser games are an amazing possibility to teach AI systems common sense: by learning through play and experimentation, the system will notice patterns that correspond exactly to common sense, and will learn and perhaps reinforce some new things, sometimes by blind luck. Things may start slow, by learning how to solve “measure 5L of water with 2 cups of capacity…” puzzles a thousand times, but presumably also by learning how to retrieve a key with a bobby pin and a newspaper. Things can then progress to more advanced concepts, like light puzzles, or the use of mirrors: games which rely heavily on simulationist aspects, like the Zork games, can be great to learn about concepts like light sources, liquids, burnable objects, or even ropes, as they allow a lot of experimentation and deal with fundamentals of our physics. The caveat is that the game has to have very few bugs, so that the AI is not misled into thinking that these bugs also happen in reality. Increasing the difficulty, one could think of associations of such concepts, as in the solution to the maze in Photopia; and finally, more complex cultural concepts (setting off the fire alarm makes people vacate the premises). Ultimately, there are so many games, and so many puzzles, that the sum of the total common sense contained in the IF Archive is probably enough to make a really smart AI!
We wrap this up by talking about the problem of game implementation. What happens when the game is full of bugs, typos, is finicky about grammar or formulations, or didn’t implement any of the obvious solutions for a puzzle? Or just when the game is just not very thoroughly implemented? The human player then thinks “this game is buggy, this sucks — but I should be more stubborn and more careful” – i.e. maybe drop ideas less quickly than with a game which is otherwise superbly implemented. If this kind of “meta-gaming” is not done, much frustration can occur: you can search blindly in the dark for a long time, only to find out that the thing you tried in the first place was actually the right solution, but needed a minor adjustment to work!
Can an AI system reach this level of awareness? This reasoning is very meta, relying on the human aspect of game-making: “this game is not reality, it is something that a human has made, and I know that planning every single answer is not possible (or: this human was not very thorough), so I’ll suspend my disbelief and keep playing but keep it in the back of my mind to advance”. Two things can then happen. The first one is that an AI never realizes this, and keeps being tripped up by this: it drops solutions too quickly and never tries them again, doesn’t manage to solve a puzzle in a game because it learned in another game that this solution doesn’t work, etc. Differences in implementation create differences in the simulated game, and from the point of view of the AI, inconsistencies in the common sense; it would have to be robust enough to recover from these, which is very hard to imagine as it is supposed to incorporate feedback to its very core.
The second possibility would be that the system is indeed able to perform this logical jump, and realize that these are only simulations imperfectly created by humans (whose names are given in the first paragraph of the game). Presumably, the AI would adapt its play in function of what it perceives the style or quality of the game to be, or even the author; but fundamentally, this possibility means we were able to create an AI that has now realized it has been living in simulations this whole time. Science fiction then dictates a bad ending for humans – so please, for the love of god, polish your games!
2 thoughts on “>SOLVE ZORK: Teaching An AI To Play Parser IF
1. Flathead
Great read indeed. If we could create an AI capable of playing parser IF, then only God knows what it’ll be capable of, especially after it has fully understood the concepts of common sense and object permanence.
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Kirshenbaum X
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The voiceless uvular fricative is a type of consonantal sound, used in some spoken languages. The symbol in the International Phonetic Alphabet that represents this sound is χ, and the equivalent X-SAMPA symbol is X. The International Phonetic Alphabet. ... IPA symbols, detail from Image:Ipa-chart-consonants-pulmonic. ... HTML has been in use since 1991 (note that the W3C international standard is now XHTML), but the first standardized version with a reasonably complete treatment of international characters was version 4. ... The Extended SAM Phonetic Alphabet (X-SAMPA) is a variant of SAMPA developed in 1995 by John C. Wells, professor of phonetics at the University of London. ... Kirshenbaum, sometimes called ASCII-IPA, is a system used to represent the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) in ASCII. It was developed for Usenet, notably the newsgroups sci. ... To play the audio file do not click on the -image. ... Image File history File links Voiceless_uvular_fricative. ... Listen to this article · (info) This audio file was created from the revision dated 2005-07-20, and does not reflect subsequent edits to the article. ... One might be looking for the academic discipline of communications. ... The International Phonetic Alphabet. ... The Extended SAM Phonetic Alphabet (X-SAMPA) is a variant of SAMPA developed in 1995 by John C. Wells, professor of phonetics at the University of London. ...
Features of the voiceless uvular fricative:
In speech there are different ways of producing a consonant. ... Fricative consonants are produced by forcing air through a narrow channel made by placing two articulators close together. ... Turbulent flow around an obstacle; the flow further away is laminar Laminar and turbulent water flow over the hull of a submarine Turbulence in the tip vortex from an airplane wing In fluid dynamics, turbulence or turbulent flow is a flow regime characterized by low momentum diffusion, high momentum convection... In speech, consonants may have different places of articulation, generally with full or partial stoppage of the airstream. ... Uvulars are consonants articulated with the back of the tongue against or near the uvula, that is, further back in the mouth than velar consonants. ... Many animals have longer and more flexible tongues than humans. ... The uvula is a small cone-shaped mass of tissue hanging down from the soft palate, near the back of the throat. ... Phoneticians define phonation as use of the laryngeal system to generate an audible source of acoustic energy, i. ... Phoneticians define phonation as use of the laryngeal system to generate an audible source of acoustic energy, i. ... An oral consonant is a consonant sound in speech that is made by allowing air to escape from the mouth. ... A central or medial consonant is a consonant sound that is produced when air flows across the center of the mouth over the tongue. ... In phonetics, initiation is the action by which an air-flow is created through the vocal tract. ... This page is a candidate to be moved to Wiktionary. ... The heart with relation to the lungs (from an older edition of Grays Anatomy) This x-ray of the human chest shows the lungs as dark regions The lung is an organ belonging to the respiratory system and interfacing to the circulatory system of air-breathing vertebrates. ... The space between the vocal cords is called the glottis. ...
In other languages
Several languages spoken on the northwest coast of North America have both labialized and non-labialized fricatives, including the Alsean, Salishan (Bella Coola, Klallam), Athabaskan (Chilcotin), and Wakashan languages (Nootka). Oowekyala, a Wakashan language, has labial and non-labial voiceless uvular fricatives in addition to having a voiceless pharyngeal fricative, and labial and non-labial velar fricatives. The Alsean (also Yakonan) language family consists of two closely related languages that were spoken along the central Oregon coast. ... The Salishan (also Salish) languages are a group of languages of western Canada and the Pacific Northwest of the United States. ... Nuxalk is a Salishan language spoken in the Canadian town Bella Coola, British Columbia. ... Klallam (also Clallam) is a Straits Salishan language natively called Nəxʷsƛ̕ay̕əmúcən, spoken by Klallam peoples. ... Athabaskan or Athabascan (also Athapascan or Athapaskan) is the name of a large group of distantly related Native American peoples, also known as the Athabasca Indians or Athapaskes, located in two main Southern and Northern groups in western North America, and of their language family. ... The Chilcotin (also Tsilhqot’in) are a Northern Athabaskan people that live in British Columbia and Washington. ... Wakashan is a family of languages spoken around Vancouver Island. ... The Nuu-chah-nulth (pronounced New-cha-nulth)(also Nootka, Nutka, Aht, West Coast, T’aat’aaqsapa, Nuuchahnulth) people are indigenous peoples of Canada. ... Oowekyala (also Rivers Inlet, Oweekeno, Wikeno, Owikeno, Oowekeeno, Oweekano, Awikenox, Oowekyala, Oweekala) is a dialect (or a sublanguage) of Heiltsuk-Oowekyala, a North Wakashan (Kwakiutlan) language spoken around Rivers Inlet in British Columbia. ...
Most variants of German realize the phoneme /x/ using this sound. It is commonly refered to as an Ach-laut after the German interjection ach An interjection, sometimes called a filled pause, is a part of speech that usually has no grammatical connection to the rest of the sentence and simply expresses emotion on the part of the speaker, although most interjections have clear definitions. ...
• Hess, Wolfgang (2001). "Funktionale Phonetik und Phonologie." In "Grundlagen der Phonetik." Bonn: Institut für Kommunikationsforschung und Phonetik, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität. [1]
See also
A acoustic phonetics affricate airstream mechanism Alfred C. Gimson allophone alveolar approximant alveolar consonant alveolar ejective fricative alveolar ejective alveolar flap alveolar nasal alveolar ridge alveolar trill alveolo-palatal consonant apical consonant approximant consonant articulatory phonetics aspiration auditory phonetics B back vowel bilabial click bilabial consonant bilabial ejective bilabial nasal...
Consonants (List, table) See also: IPA, Vowels
Plosives p b t d ʈ ɖ c ɟ k g q ɢ ʡ ʔ Clicks ʘ ǀ ǃ ǂ ǁ
Nasals m ɱ n ɳ ɲ ŋ ɴ Implosives ɓ ɗ ʄ ɠ ʛ
Trills ʙ r ʀ Ejectives
Flaps & Taps ɾ ɽ Other laterals ɺ ɫ
Fricatives ɸ β f v θ ð s z ʃ ʒ ʂ ʐ ç ʝ x ɣ χ ʁ ħ ʕ ʜ ʢ h ɦ Co-articulated approximants ʍ w ɥ
Lat. Fricatives ɬ ɮ Co-articulated fricatives ɕ ʑ ɧ
Approximants β̞ ʋ ɹ ɻ j ɰ Affricates ʦ ʣ ʧ ʤ
Lat. Appr'mants l ɭ ʎ ʟ Co-articulated stops kp gb ŋm
Results from FactBites:
Voiceless uvular fricative - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (449 words)
Its place of articulation is uvular which means it is articulated with the back of the tongue (the dorsum) against or near the uvula.
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global_01_local_0_shard_00002368_processed.jsonl/51637 | License suspended or revokedEach State within the US has different laws regarding suspending drivers licenses, but generally they cover the same basics. For example, in Alabama you may not get your driver’s license suspended for non-payment of child support, but in California you will.
The laws vary state to state, but not to a great extent. If you tally up all motor vehicle laws from all the US States, there are approximately 50 ways to get your license suspended. It’s a wonder more licenses aren’t suspended. It’s important to point out the difference between getting your license suspended and having your license revoked. With a suspension there is a start date and end date.
You are restricted to a period of time when you would be illegal to drive a motor vehicle. If caught driving even an ATV or snowmobile you suffer the same consequences as driving a car, truck, motorcycle or any other road worthy vehicle. Even if you’re working for something like Hamilton plumbing company, driving their company vehicles to service clients, you are still responsible for your own drivers licence. At the end of the time appointed, you likely will go before a judge and have your permit reinstated. If revoked, however, this could set your life into turmoil since your license is taken away permanently. |
global_01_local_0_shard_00002368_processed.jsonl/51647 | Isn't OOP dead?
The XML and Web Services age
S V Ramu (2001-11-11)
The Three Models
At present there are three competing models to represent data, namely, RDBMS, Objects, and lately XML. Where one model should relinquish control to the other, and which should do what, is a debate of considerable entertainment to us. Currently there is a broad spectrum of solutions that are considered to be best, right from one-of-the-three-alone is sufficient for everything fanaticism, to everything-is-needed-for-sure type of diplomacy. My favorite is XML, and XML alone. Why this fanaticism? Chronologically the order of maturity of these three is RDBMS, Objects and recently XML. Each has its own merits and its own niche to occupy. All three were trying to satisfy the Data-Method dichotomy of the programming world. The one that seamlessly bridges both will succeed. XML can, will and is!
The Data - Method dichotomy
Right from the day of assembly language, till now, any programmer will immediately breakdown an application as a set of data structure and some associated activities to be performed on them. This Data and Method are the Men and Women (which is which?) in the world of digital logic. They are complimentary hence inseparable. Each has its merits and importance. In the foreseeable future these two idioms cannot fail us in the successful visualization of a software application. All the above-mentioned three data models are not just for data, but also to satisfy this perennial yet bothersome dichotomy of data from Methods.
The RDBMS case
Even before the Codd's enunciation of the RDBMS rules, a form of Data Base is always accepted, and rightfully so. The need for persistence of data is both primitive and inescapable. The question is one of form. The RDBMS solution for it is to model data as a Set of Rectangular Tables. When RDBMS won the field, its contenders where some Hierarchical and Network databases. Whatever the reasons and whoever the contenders, RDBMS is symbol of evolutionary maturity, and a dead end! All the modern development of ORDBMS and OODBMS is just an attempt to perpetuate this dead life form, by intermarrying it with another emerging successful species, Objects. Even in its purest form, RDMS supported all the mandatory relations between data itself, and with methods (Stored Procedures) to act upon them. The glory of RDBMS is not completely over yet. It's latest avatar in Oracle 8-9 and SQL Server 2000 are both the results of its crossbreeding, former with Objects and latter with XML.
The Objects case
Though OOP model's history can be traced back to the early days of RDBMS itself, its popular rising came about only recently, and only after the full maturity of RDBMS itself. Maybe people thought that RDBMS alone would suffice, hence methods, a glue, do not need any more improvement. Anyway, some compelling need should have made developers to see that methods are indispensable (C is a testimony to this fact) and methods need equal treatment with data. No more, no less. Thus OOP bundled both data and methods inseparably, and moving the focus from data-alone paradigm and method-alone paradigm to one of Data-Method resonance (where whole is seemingly greater than the parts). Of course, RDBMS still is the back end of any application, hence cultivating an O-R mapping community.
First ORDBMS shot to fame, then even full-fledged OODBMS was seriously considered. Object-Relational mapping is a big business, and a blatant messy task, that is always controversial and tough. The mood swinged even to the extreme of storing objects directly. If not for some performance bottlenecks (in fact overcome-able), RDBMS would have been already committed to some digital history. Whatever the reasons, for now both are alive and kicking, and forever quarrelling, waiting for some miracle to make things elegant. Fortunately, in a sense, RDBMS has already lost the battle of total supremacy, and its extended lease on life is tolerated only due to its performance benefits, its supplementary nature and the its easily available expertise. In early days, it was even predicted that OODBMS would one day be the de facto option for persistence too, when computers and technology will advance sufficiently. All these were true only before XML. This new species was masquerading both as Data and as a structured Method, and as a bonus as Document too!
The XML case
Like any new concept, and like RDBMS and OOP, XML too had its own long gestation. After the full maturity of both the OOP and RDBMS models, and after the success of Internet through HTML and SGML, XML had its delayed but strong birth. Its initial days, like everything else, were promising yet controversial. Initially Markup languages where considered only as a solution for the Documents (the third candidate in the Data-Method-Document Trichotomy). HTML and WML only made this more so. But, slowly its clout to represent data was also acknowledged. So much so, that most of the ubiquitous current day use of it is only for data. With CSS and XSL, its use with documents is relegated to few inevitable document standards like HTML, WML, MathML and Chemical ML. The DOM standard and the rapidly proliferating numbers of XML parsers and XSL engines, only enhanced the data angle of the XML. Not that Documents are any less important, only that data manipulation requirement of the developing community is far higher.
Then, all along, XML was touted as the doyen of data representation, again as is custom, to the extent of considering pure XML-native databases, with native support for XSL (as the bridge between different flavors of XML applications). Again, the old leveler, performance, is delaying this process, but this destiny is inevitable. XML is the uncrowned king of Data, both for persistence's public interface, and for transient transport. In coming days, due both the speed and maturity of storage technology, and due to that of on-the-fly compression (for both storing and transporting), XML is bound to replace RDBMS as the basic data format, especially due to its transformability into different forms. Like the definition of table being a table itself, and the definition of Class being a class itself, the definition of XML too is becoming XML itself. This superior symptom of maturity, self-recursion, is conspicuous. Though we might compare, XML element tree to the bygone (now demised) Hierarchical data model, I suspect some basic differences (need more research here).
One domain, yet to be fully conquered by XML is to represent Methods. What are methods? Can they ever be unified with Data seamlessly? Apparently, the answer is yes, if we consider the method as a data structure of Name, some inputs and one or more outputs. This is not new (assembly languages do this all the time. A function call is just pushing and popping of parameter data into stack and suitably jumping over program counter), yet XML does make it much more natural and obvious. I even imagined and saw some proposals, for standardizing an XML model for the programming structures like assignments, loops, branches, function calls and Class-Package idioms. Thus paving way for a universal intermediate language, with which we can transform one programming language to another, towards a one-platform future. What we could not do much with natural languages, we are trying on its smaller counterpart.
All said, the dare to touch and perturb the OO's strong hold of method modeling is on. It is a question of time before XML becoming a markup of all human thoughts and activities. The recent adoption for Ant, XSL, SOAP and XML-RPC, is only the indication of things to come. These standards are full-fledged procedural markups, with an appealing declarative flavor to it. Due to the ubiquity of Internet, and the upcoming Web Service revolution, the need for remote processing and communication will only become stark. For now, Java RMI and XML are the only contenders for dynamically executing logic, instead of just working upon data. Amazingly, XML has made even procedural calls data-like. At least it would be right to say, that XML can consistently represent data and methods identically, if not considering methods as data itself.
The Impact of XML on GUI
As it can be assumed that, RDBMS is not at all a contender for complete programming, it can be safely factored out in any discussion on software architectures and programming patterns. The fight is only between the veteran OOP and the rookie XML. The question of where to draw a line between two seemingly complimenting concept is the key. Curiously, the now EJB popularized O-R mapping for CMP is keeping RDBMS still in the fray, inappropriately at that. But assuming that all data from external data source, whether RDBMS or a native XML store, can be converted into XML and used consistently as a data structure of choice, we can safely relegate it to the darkest backend of OO programming, and that too for performance alone and not for conceptual superiority. From the peripheral Data Layer inwards, all serious data structures could be XML alone. And these days with the XML-ized shell offering of SQL Server, Oracle and DB2, this job of DB layer XML mapping is more automatic than anything.
Thus, having RDBMS out of our way, it is only the Objects themselves that are in question. If data is fully taken out of the programming domain and into the XML world, what else remains for OOP? Of course, loops branches and assignments, are there. What if they too are swiped out into XSL like XML based block structures! You say classes and packages are there still? No, classes etc. are grouping idioms only, and what else does this job better than XML?! I do realize that I'm trivializing the situation bit too much (especially since not all loops and braches are done by XSL alone), the fact remains that the range of pure programming functionality that needs to be done by OOP is severely limited in the light of XML.
One domain that always warranted serious OO programming was GUI creation. Right from Microsoft Windows programming, X Windows object model and Java AWT and Swings, GUI creation has become the custodian of OO tradition. The raise and fall of Delphi like sophisticated custom component RAD tools, can be equally traced with the raise and fall of client based application development. As the focus shifted to server based middle tiers, the OOP too is loosing its hold, in spite of the bold loyalty of EJB like attempts. And now, even this GUI support for OOP is fast eroding! The latest release of Netscape browser 6.1, is sporting fully a novel concept of XUL (eXtended User interface Language) from its Mozilla effort. Using this, Netscape is able to provide unprecedented super-skin like configurabilty to its interface. The XUL attempts to describe all the UI elements as XML tags, along with their event plumbing. Even the event code is written in simpler Java Script, instead of requiring its full blown OO counterpart, Java. Essentially, a meek scripting language thus trivializes one main reason of Java like serious OOP.
The Netscape effort is not alone; W3C is formalizing a common standard for GUI description under the name XForms. When these efforts mature, we can expect XML to GUI generators to appear for each of Java, Windows, Linux, PDA and other devices and platforms. Already HTML, WML and CSS has removed this OO development need for all types of browser based GUI. If XUL or XForms will remove this need for applications too, then the arena of OO indispensability is so much negated.
The New Application Architectures
Now, the RDBMS is fast vanishing into native XML databases like Ipedo, goXML etc., the GUI is stripping itself clean of OO through XUL and XForms, all internal data transport is well adapted for XML manipulation. Then, what else is remaining for the elite OO programmers?! As a glue between two different XML formats through DOM? No, even this solidity is slipping under its feet due to XSL and its breed of transformers. If EJB and some others like it are not there, the stream based OO language is indeed fast disappearing into the darkest corners. In fact, even with EJB it won't take much effort to declare our Home and Remote interfaces in XML and map transactions, and security to them in the middleware.
The key case to topple this final balance would be SOAP and XML-RPC (Remote Procedural Calls). While all non-method calls like loops, branches and assignments are beautifully represented in XML in Ant and XSL, SOAP and WSDL even abstracts methods and classes with XML envelops (won't WSFL be likened to packages!). The highly distributed and decoupled nature of the Web Service model, necessitates XML like flexibility. All three things of net programming, namely the network protocol (TCP, IP, HTTP), the data format (XML) and the data semantics (ebXML) are non-OO paradigms. Whither gone the OO spirit!
See it this way, if method name and params can be modeled as XML, then what remains of a method call is only the act of calling itself. If so, at least for areas that need high level of decoupling, why cannot we breakaway from the convention and use TCP/IP itself as the message passing channel? The fact is, this is a good idea, and is being practiced already. Almost all the key Client-Server applications like RDBMS and others use IP address and port to identify a service. Still the data that was sent through these neutral channel was ad hoc, which has now changed to XML, thus removing the magic of parsing altogether. HTTP, FTP, POP3 etc are a layer above the TCP/IP layer for the data format itself. The XML content will form a layer above this too. Some small applications like JEdit too is communicating between its instances through encrypted TCP/IP ports. The next step is ebXML like major consensus on the data semantics too.
Forgetting the anti-OO chant for sometime, what are then the modern Application Architecture options available to us? If key module-to-module communication can be in neutral terms with ports and XML, then it doesn't matter if these models are in the same machine or across the world. Of course, performance is still a deciding factor, before going overboard and converting all our method call as port calls. All the same, an application can now be imagined as a bunch of Service modules which communicate over neutral channels and format, and possibly with neutral semantics as well (i.e. the XML schema too might be a global standard, instead of a proprietary one). And all that remains of programming is to code these Service Nodes which just transform some input XML to some other output XML, not altogether a OO demand at all.
If you imagine all the service nodes as points, and their interconnections with other services as directed lines. Then what we have for an application is a network of points and lines. Now, if the semantics of these communication (i.e. if XML is the universal format, a particular schema of tag structure is the semantics) is an international standard, draw that line in red, and if it is proprietary then in black. If done, then our application network would be many points with red or black colored directed (arrowed) lines connecting them. We can say that as the number of red lines grow, the application is to that extant an extensible and maintainable product, since any new vendor can deliver a module with better performance and yet with complete integration assurances. This is really the promise of the Web Services paradigm, where a service is the software equivalent to the IC of electronics.
Philosophical Overtones
All software creation is slowly becoming automatic, as the primitives we are dealing with are not registers or functions but services! If the future application is just a mix of existing services (like what WSFL is facilitating), then that job will not need a C or Java pro, but just a smart computer literate. And as is usual, the question of employment to all these unused brains becomes a big question. Though I cannot claim to know a complete solution for this situation, I'm confident that human brain will always find a way to entertain itself, even if it has to pass through a phase of turmoil and tension.
As a philosophical aside, life basically has no objective purpose at all! We subjectively create our own recreation and avoid the open chuckle of life's purposelessness. To live is a voluntary decision, not a decision based on any non-circular proofs. In early days we forgot ourselves in war, then philosophy, literature, then machines during industrial revolution, then with logic in the IT age, maybe with content alone in future. But we will always be busy and content (or discontent for that matter). Always finding our own opiums and distractions. My take in accepting this screaming speed and in fact fast-forwarding it, is just to ensure that our own time is well (interestingly) spent, and that being it is the best way to accept it. |
global_01_local_0_shard_00002368_processed.jsonl/51673 | Tuesday, February 1, 2011
James O'Keefe Contemporary, Lila Rose, Releases ACORN-Style Video About Planned Parenthood
In recent weeks, Planned Parenthood had disclosed to the public that unnamed individuals had entered several of their locations asking questions similar to those asked by conservative activists James O'Keefe and Hannah Giles in their heavily edited videos "catching" ACORN employees supplying advice to a supposed pimp and prostitute on how to evade taxes and traffic underage South American girls. In these most recent videos targeting Planned Parenthood, the group releasing the videos, Live Action, claimed the Planned Parenthood employees helped cover up a prostitution ring so that prostitutes could receive health services.
Planned Parenthood released a statement detailing its coordination with state and federal authorities, stating that the FBI had been collecting data on atleast one of the individuals claiming to be a sex trafficker.
Live Action was founded by Lila Rose, a one-time accomplice of James O'Keefe - the two targeted Planned Parenthood before, attempting to donate money to the organization for the sole purpose of aborting black babies. It was during the work aganist Planned Parenthood that James O'Keefe declared that activists had to create their own media and control the news, which is exactly what Rose's organization is doing, following her former partner's footsteps - the only problem being Planned Parenthood, unlike ACORN, was prepared for these traps and notified the media explaining they were the possible victims of anti-abortion activist stings.
Planned Parenthood spokesman Stuart Schear spoke of the stings last week.
"Falsely claiming sex trafficking to health professionals to advance a political agenda is an astoundingly cynical form of political activity," he said.
Despite the media being notified, Rose still released her video, but the video refuses to accept the fact that Planned Parenthood was on to her scheme. Rose posed the following questions: "Will Planned Parenthood comply with the law," and "will Planned Parenthood help the pimp cover up his sex abuse of underage girls and become a 'partner in crime.'"
We know that since Planned Parenthood contacted authorities, they had decided to "comply with the law," but Rose already had her conclusion before she even recorded her video.
As the video progressed, the Planned Parenthood employee stressed they wanted to help - with medical services, not the prostitution ring - but what is curious is what exactly did Rose expect these employees to do? Did she expect them to confront the pimp in their offices and perform a citizen's arrest? Instead, the employees conducted the meeting and then contacted the law.
While Rose and her new accomplices were caught on tape falsley admitting to a crime, since their targets were in New Jersey, unlike the similar ACORN stings, it appears they did not violate the states wire-tapping laws, but it is still uncertain as to what kind of legal action Planned Parenthood may take against the group.
James O'Keefe wrote the following in regards to the last Planned Parenthood undercover operation he was involved in with Rose:
He also stated that even though their methods may be unethical, they consider their beliefs to be morally sound and so their actions are subsequently justified.
Like many other conservative activists, Rose may just as well play the victim card publicly on sympathetic media outlets like Fox News or Andrew Breitbart's websites, and if Planned Parenthood proceeds with any sort of legal action, Live Action may counter by claiming such action is intended to silence them and keep the truth - Live Action's truth - from being aired.
Jed Lewison made the following observation for Daily Kos:
Rose isn't going to get anywhere with her fraud. The only question is which is worse: falsely accusing Planned Parenthood of complicity in a child sex ring or forcing authorities to divert resources from pursuing real crimes while they investigate whether her hoax was, in fact, a hoax. Either way, the only thing her actions accomplish is to further discredit the playbook of clowns like Andrew Breitbart.
He also wondered how long it would take for conservative lawmakers to fall for this latest hoax perpetrated by right-wing activists.
1. This is interesting considering the GOP trying to redefine what "rape" constitutes. It seems conservatives are attacking abortion on all fronts - sort of a "defund" method.
2. i watched the entire video. if the employee really felt this man was trying to get her to be an accomplice in an illegal activity in which she did not want to participate, why did she offer advice repeatedly on "getting around" applicable laws and go out of her way to advise him of other resources/business practices. after watching this video i had the distinct impression that at least this planned parenthood staffer did not really care about minors involved in the sex trafficking trade. if she really cared about these girls but wanted to avoid a confrontation in the clinic, why did she not at least tell him she couldn't help him. instead it appears she was a willing accomplice in this supposed sex trafficking of young girls
3. Another O'Keefe style sting. That office called the cops on them,
4. mary m - the problem with these sting videos is that they are so unethical, and past videos like the ones by O'Keefe were found to be heavily edited and misrepresentative of the facts, this video, no matter how damning, is instantly discredited.
It is like the Michael Jackson molestation accusations - assuming Jackson did not molest any children, after the accusations, how many people would trust their children with Jackson? Jackson's career never rebounded. Of course, the "Jackson effect" is what Rose and her accomplices are hoping for, in that Planned Parenthood's public image is damaged beyond repair...
5. Memo to Planned Parenthood- If you want this crap to stop, next time have your staffer play along, but leave the room for a short time and have someone call the police. Right then and there. Do not wait for them to leave. When the police show up, tell them exactly what was said. The "journalists" will immediately come clean because if they do not, it is obstruction of justice. However, by coming clean, they have to admit what they said. If I am a police officer, I am forced to take the journalists into custody while a check on their story. This may take several days and guess where the "journalists" are? They are in jail. That is right. Every jurisdiction can retain a suspect for up to three days while they investigate a crime. I assure you if this happens, it will be the last time you hear of this nonsense.
6. I think what is even more damaging is that they fired this employee, giving the impression of guilt - Rose already jumped all over that. It is the ACORN crap all over again.
7. You are correct, Kevin. According to PP, she reported the incident the same day and the police were called. Unfortunately, PP is trained to render assistance to women and not how to handle fraudulent "journalists" who have one goal in mind; which is to destroy your organization.
8. Kevin-You need to run over to biggovernment's site. They have an article stating the 16th Amendment was ratified today in 1913 and blame Wilson. The problem is this Amendment was introduced when Taft was president and the Republicans controlled both the Senate and the House. Additionally, Wilson was president elect. He was not sworn in until March, 1913.
9. Just left the following comment there: "Thank you Republican controlled legislature of 1909, which passed the 16th Amendment... "
Interestingly enough, the Big Government folks love to tout conservatism, states' rights, and low taxes. I would think the 16th Amendments poses an interesting dilemma for the group of hypocrites, because as you pointed out, the Republicans under Taft created the legislation establishing the income tax, and since it was an amendment to the Constitution, the states had to approve the resolution...
I bet they won't like my comment much...
10. You also make an interesting point about the training of PP - they are not trained to deal with faux-journalists. It would be like talking to a Wal-Mart greeter about sex trafficking. They would probably smile and shake their head, but they would most likely (hopefully) contact their immediate supervisor and call the cops as soon as the individual left.
There was one time I was held up at gun point at the local Albertsons. When the guy informed me he had a gun and would use it, I didn't tell him to hold on while I called the cops - I waited for him to leave and made sure those around me were in no immediate danger before I made the call. Same principle.
Who is to say this woman (who PP now fired) was playing along with the citizen-propagandists?
11. There's something about this "sting" that gets my radar pinging. Perhaps it's all the years I spent in law enforcement or perhaps it's just my cynical nature.
12. What amazed me was ole Fux, was showing this while Egypt burned, Greta Van Sidemouth, talked over her guest last night, then tonight had a supposed "law enforcement agent" who was given free reign to condemn planned parenthood. I'm pretty sure they get the Islam-a-phobia wheel spinning again, oh wait they did. Now if Fux could only tie sharia law to planned parenthood.
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global_01_local_0_shard_00002368_processed.jsonl/51722 | Class and Jumping the Rattler
Iron Road
First and Second Class
In the latter half of the 19th century rail became an invaluable partner in the growth and development of our rural industries. It enabled wheat, rice, wool, meat and coal to be transported to the city and export markets. Most importantly, for industries like sheep, cane, agriculture and cattle, that relied on itinerant labourers, it transported the workers. These were the days of first and second-class passengers. The itinerant workers, of course, travelled second-class, promoting poets like Henry Lawson to write poems like his haunting ‘Second Class Wait Here’.
Jumping the Rattler
During the lean times, especially in the 1890s and 1930s, rail travel became the only other affordable option to ‘shank’s pony’ (the Australian colloquial expression for walking), however, some could not even afford the price of a ticket. Like American we had tramps (or bums) who ‘waltzing their matildas’ from town to town. They called it ‘jumping the rattler’ and since an out-of-work individual had to prove he or she had travelled a certain distance to be entitled to a ration card hand-out (cards were stamped by each issuing officer), the train provided a quick link to the next hand-out. Since many of the trains were goods trains, sometimes stock trains, the ride would have been both uncomfortable and smelly.
Me and me dog
We travel the bush
In weather cold and hot.
Me an me dog
We don’t give a stuff
If we get any work or not.
(swagman’s toast)
The railway employed ‘railway police’ who tried to clear the free travellers but they were never entirely successful being outnumbered thousands to one. Some were known for their officious nature. Sergeant Small, the subject of a song performed by the great Tex Morton in the late 1930s was such a man.
When the recording was released commercially Small instigated legal action and the song was removed from sale with an apology.
Robert ‘Tex’ Morton
In the 1890s the SA railways had their own dog. It was believed to be the pet of a deceased driver and it retained its nickname of bob the dog. A traveler had a special collar inscribed: ‘Stop me not but let me jog, I am Bob the driver’s dog’ Bob had a habit of jumping onto the footplates. (Quoted Patsy Adam Smith Outback Heroes) |
global_01_local_0_shard_00002368_processed.jsonl/51729 | Book Club Kits list, annotated
Book Club Kit list, unannotated
Book Club Resources
Book Club Kit General Questions, Fiction
Book Club Kit General Questions, Non-fiction
Fiction Questions
These general discussion questions are useful when a book discussion guide is unavailable (as is the case with Replay)
Discussion Questions for Fiction
The following general questions can be applied to any novel, and they provide a good starting point for creating your own discussion questions for a given work.
• What specific themes did the author emphasize throughout the novel? What do you think he or she is trying to get across to the reader?
• In what ways do the events in the books reveal evidence of the author's world view?
• Did you like the book? If you have read any of the author's other books, how does this compare?
• What is this book's message?
• How did you feel about the characters? Whom did you like or not like and why?
• What did you think of the ending?
• In a movie version, who would play what parts?
• How did you feel when the character did or said....How do you think the character felt when she did or said...?
• If questions...e.g. If the characters had done this instead, how would the story have changed?
• What do book reviews say about this book or more generally the author, and her past works?
• What did you think of the plot line development? How credible did the author make it?
• What moral/ethical choices did the characters make? What did you think of those choices? How would you have chosen?
• How authentic is the culture or era represented in the book?
• Why do you think the author wrote this? What is her most important message?
• How do you think the main character's point of view is similar or different from the author's point of view or background?
• What is the author's background (her style, stature and focus)?
• How does the setting figure as a character in the story?
• Are the characters' actions the result of freedom of choice or of destiny?
• Is there any moral responsibility that was abdicated?
• Are there any symbols that may have cultural, political or religious reference? e.g. flag, tree, rose.
• What type of vision does the author use with her word choice? Is it optimistic, pessimistic, prophetic, cautionary, humourous, satirical, venomous, cathartic?
• What effects do the events (time, nationality, physicality) have on the character's self or personality?
Friday 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM
Saturday 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM
Sunday: 1:00-5:00 PM |
global_01_local_0_shard_00002368_processed.jsonl/51744 | XML Sitemap
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global_01_local_0_shard_00002368_processed.jsonl/51756 | Christ rising again (John Amner)
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Editor: Christopher Shaw (submitted 2014-07-21). Score information: A4, 10 pages, 85 kB Copyright: Personal
Edition notes: This edition is offered at original pitch for SATB and also (with no change other than the use of an octave clef) for ATTB (there are minor instances of "double stopping" in the inner parts). Includes a keyboard reduction of the a cappella choral score. Please click on the link for preview/playback/PDF download.
General Information
Title: Christ rising again
Composer: John Amner
Text: Romans 6:9-11 & I Corinthians 15:20-22
Number of voices: 4vv Voicings: SATB or ATTB
Genre: SacredMotet
Language: English
Instruments: A cappella
First published:
Description: A motet for Easter Day.
External websites:
Original text and translations
Original text and translations may be found at Christ rising again. |
global_01_local_0_shard_00002368_processed.jsonl/51760 | Funny Lace Porn Videos
Checking Hot Porn: Autumn, Mojadita, Koks, Fun, Cula, Paolo, Matias, Veneziani, Bidet, Ddlg, Pp
An alternative submissive finds her place.
He tried to stroke her breast, and she slapped his face, just hard enough to let him know that SHE would be dominant for a while, and he was to do as he was told. She quickly tied his wrists together behind the chair, with the sash from her robe.
And then she danced, straddling him, kissing him but pulling away when he tried to deepen the kiss, running her hands over his chest and down toward his groin.
She opened his shirt, and caressed him while she continued kissing him, including his neck and earlobes in her teasing.
She turned around and pressed her ass against the bulge in his pants, rubbing and grinding, and slipping her fingers down into the front of her panties, to tease her clit briefly. He could tell by the position of her arm what she was doing, but couldn't see her fingers, and she could tell she was driving him crazy.
She caught sight of his glance in the mirror. Just as she'd planned, he could see her face, but not her hand, down in her panties.
She spun around, and unbuckled his belt, kissing him again. He lifted his hips and she pulled his shorts down to his ankles, making sure her hair grazed against his shaft while she bent over in front of him.
He kicked everything he was wearing out of the way, all the while urging her to ride him cowgirl, but SHE was in charge now.
Suddenly her mouth was on him, warm and wet, surrounding him, sucking him hard. Just as suddenly, she released him and stood up, as he gasped for air.
She laughed, and she straddled him again, moving her hips tantalizingly close to his cock, and yet just out of reach. Placing her arms around his neck, she pulled herself close to his upper body, and tormented him with the wetness of her slit for a few brief moments, warm and wet and frustratingly barricaded by the thong. She looked into his eyes, smiling, before standing up and dancing with her back to him again.
Now she was dancing again, looking over her shoulder at him, inching one strap of the camisole down over that shoulder. She perched once again over his legs, not touching his shaft this time.
Reaching over to the table, she took a strawberry and swirled it through the cream, and then took a bite, licking the cream off her fingertips and laughing when she noticed how far down on her arm the camisole strap was.
She stretched her arms over her head, running her fingers through her hair, and then suddenly dropping her hands to remove the camisole in one quick motion. Her large full breasts were so close to him, he could see that the nipples were already stiff.
She trailed a finger through the whipped cream, and then sucked on her finger. Taking more whipped cream, she swirled it around her nipple, and then raised up her body, grabbing the back of his head to bring his face toward her breast. His tongue eagerly flicked over and around her nipple, as he savored the sweet taste of the whipped cream.
Abruptly she stood again, and turned around, rubbing her bare ass cheeks against his cock again. Then she stood in front of him, and slowly dragged the thong down by the side straps. As she bent over he caught a glimpse of her lips, pink and glistening wet.
She walked over to the nightstand, and reached inside for something he couldn't see. She walked back to him with the small object concealed in her hand, and straddled him once again.
Suddenly she moved forward, and he felt her wetness against his cock. Groaning, he shifted his body, and plunged into her. She pushed down on him, her warm pussy walls surrounding him,and then she moved her hips and began to grind against him. She only allowed him a few brief moments inside of her, and then she shifted herself back, away from him, scolding him.
"Now you have to watch me" she purred.
She clicked on asmall bullet vibrator, and held it against her clit using her right hand. Her left hand came higher, to cup her full breast and stroke the nipple, pinching and swirling it.
Her eyes closed and she moaned softly, and tip
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global_01_local_0_shard_00002368_processed.jsonl/51772 |
EPISODE 161 34 mins
Leveraging User Generated Content Marketing for Community Growth and Building Credibility
Posted on 8th November 2018 ,
by Kunle Campbell
About the guests
Jose Angelo Gallegos
Kunle Campbell
Jose Angelo Gallegos is a passionate content marketer with over 7 years of experience in Content Marketing and SEO. He runs a content creation agency, a contributing writer at Social Media Today, and produces travel documentaries as a hobby.
On this episode I interview, Jose Angelo Gallegos, a Silicone Valley-based Content Marketing Strategist and a Social Media Today columnist.
Jose goes into details about:
• The power of building a community around your product brand
• Why user-generated content in the form of customer photos and videos come across as more authentic to potential customers,
• How to request, curate and broadcast user-generated content
• Why you should use user-generated content in your paid advertising
• How to craft your brand story around user-generated content with examples from the ‘shot on the iPhone’ campaign.
3:29 Who is Jose Angelo?
4:54 Building content marketing
7:11 How do you craft an effective story?
13:28 Starting your community
17:20 How do you broadcast in the most effective way?
2:23 Where are the other majoy opportunities today on online retail and the world of social media ang content marketing?
26:40 Thoughts on Influencers
29:23 How to utilize in order to get results
This episode is brought to you by:
About the host:
Kunle Campbell
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global_01_local_0_shard_00002368_processed.jsonl/51773 | Jesus, Please Leave! #10
Wednesday, June 26, 2019
Friend, what would you do if the Lord Jesus Christ Himself happened to knock on your front door or ring your doorbell?
Here is Israel’s sad condition. Messiah Jesus could cleanse her of her devil possession, but since she refused His influence, her spiritual state would further deteriorate. Once Israel rejected Christ’s offer to liberate her from satanic bondage, she opened herself to more spiritual corruption. The Antichrist will thus arise one day (see 2 Thessalonians 2:8-12; cf. John 5:43).
Satan works wherever God’s Word is absent. If we are “too busy” to renew our minds with the Scriptures rightly divided (Israel’s problem!), we automatically fall for Satan’s lie. Lost people stay unsaved, and Christians remain confused. The answer is to preach and believe sound Bible doctrine! Second Timothy chapter 2: “[24] And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, [25] In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; [26] And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.”
Friends and brethren, may we hold to Pauline doctrine, Romans through Philemon. As the Holy Spirit through Paul penned, “If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord [Jesus!]. But if any man be ignorant [refusing Jesus], let him be ignorant” (1 Corinthians 14:37,38)!
Our latest Bible Q&A: “Does ‘not’ belong in Isaiah 9:3?
Published by
Christian ambassador (Shawn Brasseaux)
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global_01_local_0_shard_00002368_processed.jsonl/51796 | Menu Adam R Brown
Notes navigation: Browse by titleBrowse by authorSubject index
Wagner: Bargaining and war
Wagner. 2000. Bargaining and war. American Journal of Political Science 44 (July): 469-484.
In Brief
There are two ways to theorize about bargaining and war:
"Because decision theory implies that any uncertain expectations can be represented by a lottery, a costly lottery that is used to represent a war can be interpreted in two ways. One is that it represents a purely military contest fought until one or another state is incapable of further fighting, and thus a prewar choice between such a contest and a negotiated settlement is the result of a take-it-or-leave-it offer made by one state to another: if this offer is rejected then a fight to the finish will occur. The other possible interpretation is that bargaining continues to be possible after fighting begins, and the costly lottery of war merely represents the prewar expectations of states concerning the terms of the final settlement and the costs that will be suffered before it is reached."
Most models look at war as the result of a choice between bargaining and fighting (e.g. Fearon 1995, Gartzke 1999), the first of the two ways to connect bargaining and war. These models suffer from some common problems: "Thus formal models that focus on a prewar choice between war and a negotiated settlement either fail to distinguish between the outcome of fighting and the outcome of bargaining (Morrow 1985), or assume implicitly (Powell 1996) or explicitly (Fearon 1992,1995a) that bargaining ends when war begins. They are therefore at best either irrelevant to historical wars (since they ignore the possibility of negotiated settlements once war has begun) or contain no information (since they do not tell us what is the basis for the expectations represented by the costly lottery)."
So this is the puzzle Wagner intends to solve:
"Thus no one has developed a model encompassing both war initiation and war termination that would allow us to examine the relation between fighting and bargaining. Without one we cannot hope to understand why war occurs, how long it lasts, why it takes the form it does, or why it stops. I will present such a model in the next section."
Wagner addresses this by developing a model of war and bargaining.
Main Argument
Following Clausewitz, Wagner differentiates between "absolute war" (or "war in theory"--a war to destroy/disarm your opponent) and "real war" (the more limited wars that we usually see).
Bargaining leads to real war (as bargaining continues), which leads to absolute war (if bargaining fails). States can stop at any point.
Explaining Absolute War
The whole thing is driven by each side's expected payoff of absolute war. This payoff is determined by W (the value of winning), L (the value of losing), and p (the probability of winning or losing). The trouble is, we often don't know p. (He also brings in q, the probability that L will lose (be disarmed) by a certain date, and c, the cost for each period's fighting.)
Bargaining during war is a Rubinstein bargaining game. A makes an offer; if B rejects it, she makes a counteroffer; and so on. At each stage, each player's decision of whether to accept an offer depends on the variables above, and on the current expected outcome of the absolute war. If bargaining breaks down (i.e. the two sides can never agree), then absolute war continues until one side vanquishes the other. If, at some point, the two sides make a bargain, then the war ends (and we saw only a "real" war, not an "absolute" war).
The problem with Rubinstein: "However, none of this tells us anything about the probability of war, since if everything in this model is common knowledge the state that might be attacked can always prevent an attack by making the required concession and therefore the probability of war is zero. Thus to understand what this analysis implies about the probability of war we must first understand why a war might occur at all." (This was Fearon's (1995) complaint.)
So why does war occur in the first place?
Explaining Real War
To explain "real" war, we replace p, q, and c with each side's expectations about p, q, and c. "The answer Clausewitz gives is that military operations can be designed not to contribute to the enemy's defeat, but to influence instead his expectations of the future course of the war (Clausewitz 1976,92)." The two states have competing ideas about how a total war might end; limited fighting helps reveals information about which outcome if more likely: "A more accurate analogy might be to say that it is an experiment that allows states to test competing hypotheses about the outcome of a war fought to the finish."
Research on similar subjects
Wagner, Harrison (author)Political ScienceInternational RelationsWarBargaining
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global_01_local_0_shard_00002368_processed.jsonl/51804 | About Gift Aid
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global_01_local_0_shard_00002368_processed.jsonl/51808 | Tag Archives: ship of the line
How Much Was Enough On A Man O’ War?
Yet something had to be done. The Lydia had supplied him with two hundred able-bodied seamen (his placard said nothing of the fact that they had been compulsorily transferred without a chance of setting foot on English soil after a commission of two years’ duration) but to complete his crew he needed another fifty seamen and two hundred landsmen and boys. The guardship had found him none at all. Failure to complete his crew might mean loss of his command, and from that would result unemployment and half-pay — eight shillings a day — for the rest of his life.
One of the underlying themes of most novels set during the Age of Sail is the difficulty of manning a ship of the era. Those familiar with C. S. Forester’s Horatio Hornblower will recall the sleepless nights Captain Hornblower spent worrying about his ability to man HMS Sutherland (quoted above) because he knew if he could not man her, Admiralty would give her to someone who could. Continue reading
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Filed under Age of Sail, Naval Life
The Alan Lewrie Novels: A Perspective
I’ve recently finished working my way through Dewey Lambdin’s series of novels following the career of his character Alan Lewrie. I stumbled onto the first by accident, was captured in the first paragraph, back in November and to a certain extent that novel, The King’s Coat, crystallized some ideas that had been floating around in my head about providing a researched resource covering life at sea, particularly life in the British navy, in the 18th and early 19th centuries.
It seems that I have nearly a year to wait until the next installment arrives, so I’ll close this chapter with my perspective on the novel and the character.
Continue reading
Filed under Age of Sail, Alan Lewrie Novels, Naval Fiction
HMS Glatton Takes On All Comers
Captain Henry Trollope with the moratlly wounded Marine Captain Henry Ludlow Strangeways on the deck of HMS Glatton
We’ve observed on several occasions that many of the incidents in novels set during the Age of Sail are heavily influenced by actual events. In most cases, the novel’s protagonist expands on the accomplishments of the actual character. In Ramages’s Diamond, Lord Ramage manages to turn the battery later known as HMS Fort Diamond into a combat multiplier that enables his mini-squadron consisting of his frigate, a prize frigate, and a prize sloop to snap up a French convoy and its escorts.
Alexander Kent, on the other hand, perhaps feeling that the actual event was too improbable, actually downplays Nelson’s use of one Spanish ship of the line as a bridge to board and take a second, larger Spanish ship of the line and has Richard Bolitho use a friendly brig as a bridge to board and take a French frigate.
Every once in a while, though, the novel’s protagonist makes out worse than the actual character.
Continue reading
Filed under Age of Sail, Famous Ships, Horatio Hornblower Novels, Lord Ramage Novels, Naval Battles, Naval Fiction, Naval Gunnery, Naval Weapons, Richard Bolitho Novels, The Rest of the Story
Casting the Lead
“Mr. Bush, do you see the battery?”
“Yes, sir.”
“You will the longboat. Mr. Rayner will take the launch, and you will land and storm the battery.”
“Aye, aye, sir.”
“I will give you the word when to hoist out.”
“Aye, aye, sir.”
“Quarter less eight,” droned the leadsman — Hornblower had listened to each cast subconsciously; now that the water was shoaling he was compelled to give half his attention up to the leadsman’s cries while still scrutinizing the battery. A bare quarter of a mile from it now; it was time to strike.
From Ship of the Line, C. S. Forester.
For a sailor, knowing the depth of the water under the keel was probably more important than knowing a precise northing and easting. You can fix being lost. Not so much with being sunk.
Continue reading
Filed under Age of Sail, Horatio Hornblower Novels, Naval Equipment, Naval Jargon, Naval Life, Navigation and Seamanship
The Razees
Ship design during the Age of Sail was characterized by a constant struggle to achieve an optimum balance between speed and firepower. As technology and the art of shipbuilding advanced the size of ships increased.
Under the standard rating system for men o’war, ships of the line came in four rates. 1st rates carrying 100-120 guns, 2d rates carrying 90-98 guns, 3rd rates carrying 64-80 guns, and 4th rates carrying 48-60 guns. By the latter half of the 19th century it was obvious that 4th rates and those 3rd rates carrying fewer than 74 guns could no longer hold a place in the line of battle. To compound their weakness as line of battle ships they were too slow to be used as frigates.
Navies were confronted with the dilemma of how to best use these ships as scrapping them before their useful life cycle was ended wasn’t a good option. The solution was to convert them as razees.
A razee was simply a larger warship with a deck removed, or razed, to convert it to a large frigate. The resulting ship would have the strength of construction to carry larger guns and take more punishment than other ships in its class. As a bonus, their increased length made them fast sailers.
This process will be familiar to anyone who wrestled in high school or college. A razee is the guy at the low end of a weight class who could shed 7-10 pounds in a week so he could wrestle at a couple of classes lower than his natural weight.
Take, for instance, Sir Edward Pellew’s famous HMS Indefatigable. Indefatigable started life as a 64-gun 3rd rate that was obsolete upon its launch in 1784. A fact that was recognized by the fact that this new ship was never commissioned. In 1794, Indefatigable was razeed into a 44-gun frigate converting a useless ship of the line into a frigate that could outsail anything it could not outfight.
As technology progressed, razees became more extreme. HMS Majestic was a 74-gun 3rd rate that was razeed into a 58-gun frigate. The US Navy razeed the USS Macedonian, the former 38-gun frigate HMS Macedonian, into a 20-gun sloop. The 50-gun USS Cumberland was razeed into a 24-gun sloop. In these latter two cases not only did the longer hull length and heavier construction overmatch other ships in their class, improvements in technology enabled them to carry the same weight of broadside as they had as larger ships.
Filed under Age of Sail, Naval Architecture |
global_01_local_0_shard_00002368_processed.jsonl/51836 | Hope*Writers is my favorite writing resource of all time. Before books. Before conferences. Before Google. I have access to a growing library of valuable, from-the-pros resources, a community that answers questions + gives encouragement + “gets it”, a genuine welcome to embrace my own identity as a “real writer”, and several in-real-friendships, because of my membership.
Click here to watch other members tell their stories about how Hope*Writers has made a difference in their creativity, and click the button at the bottom of the page to get on the waitlist to join! (Their email list is one of the highest-value lists I’ve ever been on.)
The Library
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global_01_local_0_shard_00002368_processed.jsonl/51852 | I have copied it's APK to /system/app, but it crashes after a restart and also tried using Lucky patcher to move to system, but failed.
Android 7.0 Rooted with SuperSU.
Your Answer
Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question. |
global_01_local_0_shard_00002368_processed.jsonl/51853 | Meditation On Light
• First, set up a candle in front of you and make sure that its flame is steady, not flickering.
• Sit comfortably, but wtih spine erect.
• Insulate yourself from the ground by sitting on something made of wood or wool.
As another example, the divine power is always here, just as radio signals are here. But, to hear the radio music, there must be an antenna. Further, if the tuning device is not properly adjusted, there will just be some sound, but no music. In like fashion, the divine power, which is always present, may flow into you if meditation is correct and the body straight." - from CONVERSATIONS WITH BHAGAWAN SRI SATHYA SAI BABA, by Hislop, Page 187.
• Remember to say a prayer to God, asking Him to be your Guide and Sustainer in this voyage towards Him. It is good to prepare yourself by reciting Psalms or prayers, by repeating the Name of God, or by thinking about sacred stories.
• Take several deep breaths, without straining (your shoulders and chest should not rise and fall).
• Without trying to influence the rhythm of your breathing, accompany it by mentally forming the syllable JE as you inhale and SUS as you exhale. You could also use SO, while inhaling, and HUM, while exhaling. As you listen to the mantra JE-SUS or SO-HUM, remain aware of its meaning. Continue this phase for 5 to 10 minutes.
"Sohum - He am I. He with the in-breath, I with the out-breath. Or Sai Ram. Or the name of your choice, said with the movement of the breath. Breath is form, thus the name and the form go together. Breath is life. Life is God. Breath is God. The name of God and the form of God. Breathe God. See God. Eat God. Love God. The name of God will illumine every step of your life and take you to Him. The name must be said with love. God is love. If breath is said with love, then life is love. There is no shakti (power) stronger than love. If it is said with love, the name of God, any name of God - Ram, Sai Ram, Krishna, Jesus, Sohum - that small name will open up and illuminate the whole of life. For the one, who desires to realise God, only the Name is needed. The ocean is vast, but a huge steamship is not needed to go on the ocean. Just a small tire will take one on the ocean." - BHAGAWAN SRI SATHYA SAI BABA.
• Now, softly recite 21 OMs. OM is a more ancient contraction of the Latin AMEN. It is the sacred syllable, which is the source and life of the Universe. The number 21 signifies the five external senses, the five internal senses, the five elements, the five bodily sheaths, and the individual Divine Spirit, the Soul.
"The sound of OM is AUM. 'A' starts softly from the throat. It is the earth. 'U' comes from the mouth and the the sound rises in volume. 'M' is sounded with the lips, with decreasing volume. Like a plane, heard distantly, increasing in sound as it approaches and fading with distance. 'A' is the world. 'U' is heaven. 'M' is divine, beyond all senses.
OM is in every place, mind, tongue, heart, etc. First sound OM on the tongue and then in the mind. The sounding of OM 21 times is important: five outer senses, five inner senses, five lives (the five elements), five sheaths (the koshas), and the Jiva, the individual soul." - BHAGAWAN SRI SATHYA SAI BABA.
• Continue to be a witness to the ebb and flow of your breath.
"Why a light? From the sand, if one takes, it will be depleted. From the water tank, if each one takes, the tank will go dry. But, a thousand people can take the flame of one candle to light their candles and the flame is in no way diminished. Light a lamp or a candle. Gaze straight ahead at the flame..." - BHAGAWAN SRI SATHYA SAI BABA.
• At this point, you can open your eyes and calmly and steadily gaze at the candle flame. The candle should be at eye-level.
• After a few seconds of fixing your gaze on the light of the candle, close your eyes again. You will see a reflected image of the flame. If you do not see it, open your eyes and continue to focus on the flame.
• Diffuse this light through the inside of your head. Make sure it touches every cell of your brain. Say to yourself mentally: My intellect is illuminated.
• Slowly and gently draw the flame into the region of the heart and visulaise the light in the heart as in the petals of a lotus flower. At the center of the light, you can picture the Sacred Heart or your preferred image of God. Imagine the petals of the lotus opening one by one, illuminating the heart. Wash every thought, feeling, and emotion in that light, dissolving all shadows. There is no corner where darkness can hide. The light spreads ever more and becomes ever more intense: bad feelings cannot survive.
• Now think: I feel that love embraces all things. I am Truth. I am Purity. I am Peace. I am Love. I am Non-violence. I am Compassion. I am Happiness. I am Tolerance. I am Forbearance. I am Forgiveness. I am Gentleness. I am Prudence. I am Justice. I am Strength. I am Equanimity. I am Patience. I am Beauty. Pause for a few seconds between each quality.
• Now allow the light to permeate every part of your body. It does not matter in what order. The light reaches the navel and from there, it flows into the left thigh, leg, and foot, to the tips of the toes. Then, the same for the right side. Then say, "My feet carry me only where God wills."
• The light rises through the body, inundating every organ and every space. Then, it pervades the left shoulder, arm, and hand, to the tips of the fingers; then the right shoulder, arm, and hand. Now, say, "My hands can only do good work. Now, no part of my body can undertake any activity that is evil, suspicious, or dark. Every part has become an instrument of light and love."
• Let the light rise to the throat and then, to the head. Say, "All falsehood is disappearing from my words and thoughts."
• The light reaches the eyes. Say, "I can see only good in everyone and everything."
• It envelops the ears. Say, "I can hear only good words."
• It floods the lips and tongue. Say, "My lips wish to express only the praise of God; my tongue speaks only of the good; my palate tastes only foods beneficial to the body and spirit."
• The light rises to the nose. Say, "I can smell and experience only God."
• Now, the light rises to the top of the head: the entire head is full of light and not a single bad thought remains in it. This light becomes a luminous crown that envelops and covers the head.
• "I AM IN THE LIGHT." - (There is a sense of separation between my body and the Light.)
• "THE LIGHT IS IN ME AND PERMEATES ALL MY BEING." - (The light becomes ever more intense - from the top of the head. It shines all around and spreads in ever-widening circles, diffusing in every direction. The light inside and the light outside are a single reality. The membrane of the body no longer separates me from everything else; the body, too, is all light.
• "I AM THE LIGHT." - I am not merely a Soul: I am the Image and Likeness of God.
• The Light includes everything and everyone. I am one with all the persons I love, relatives, friends, companions; I am one with all those, whom I think are not friendly towards me; one with all those, who seek to harm me; one with those, who govern me; one with my superiors, one with all humanity (the sick, the poor, the derelict, the dying, etc.). I am one with all animals, from the largest to the smallest, from the rhinoceros to the insect, from dolphins to mollusks. I am one with all vegetables, flowers, grass, meadows, forests. I am one also with the mineral kingdom, with crystals, rocks, mountains, lakes, seas, the planet, the solar system, the galaxy, the cosmos. Everything and everyone is permeated by the same Light. My Light is the same Light of all the Universe. All is Light. All is Love.
• Now, try to visualise the form of God that is most dear to you, in the all-pervading Light. God is Light, Light is God. I and the Father are one. I am one with Jesus and with the Father. I am Divine. I am That. So-Hum... So-Hum... So-Hum... Ie-Su... Ie-Su... Ie-Su... Je-Sus... Je-Sus... Je-Sus...
• At this point, you can formulate a prayer of praise, adoration, and gratitude to God. Lord, my strength, my defense, my refuge, my fortress, my bulwark... You, Lord, know me, you see me, you feel that my heart is with you... My grace, my fortitude, my refuge and my liberation, my shield in whom I trust... O God, my king, I want to exalt You and bless Your Name forever and always... O Lord, how glorious is Your Name throughout all the world.
• Continue IE-SU or SO-HUM for a few minutes.
• Savour the awareness or silence that fills your mind. Then bring the Light back into your heart, where you will guard it throughout the day and the night (in the form of Jesus or any other form that you have chosen).
• Rest for a little while, lying down if possible, before moving. Then, gradually, open your eyes and bring the blessing that you have received into your activities.
More in this category: « 46 Pearls
In Developing A Spiritual Toolset
For The Soul
Practise To Win
Look Into 'I'
|
global_01_local_0_shard_00002368_processed.jsonl/51855 | The Cacique (pronounced kəˈsēk) is a songbird that lives primarily in Central and South America. These birds comprise the taxonomic genus Cacicus. Some of their closer relatives are blackbirds, orioles, grackles, cowbirds, meadowlarks, and more.
Researchers recognize 10 different species within the genus. Read on to learn about the Cacique.
Description of the Cacique
Though there are several different species of Caciques, most are quite similar to one another. Their plumage, or feathers, is primarily black. Several different species have patches of yellow feathers above their tails or near their wings or shoulders.
Their bills are somewhat long and narrow, and they vary in color. Most species measure around 9 or 10 inches long, and weigh around 2 ounces, though their size varies.
Interesting Facts About the Cacique
Caciques are interesting little birds, with several different behaviors and traits that make them unique. Learn more about some individual species below.
• Yellow-Winged Cacique – It probably doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure this one out, but these birds have yellow feathers on their wings. The tops of their shoulders, along with their tails, grow bright yellow feathers. These birds also sport a rockin’ hairstyle, with several long feathers creating an elegant crest on their heads.
• Yellow-Billed Cacique – Consequently, this species also fits its name well. While their plumage is stark black, this species has bright yellow eyes. Even though this species lives in South America, and has the same body shape and name as the rest of the Caciques, Yellow-Billed Caciques are not members of the Cacicus genus along with the other species.
• Yellow-Rumped Cacique – This species has a patch of yellow feathers in the area above its tail. It also sports yellow patches on the upper parts of its wings. When this species is young, their eyes are purple. When they reach two years of age their eyes change to blue, and by the time they reach sexual maturity, at three years old, their eyes change yet again – this time to yellow.
Habitat of the Cacique
Different species of these birds inhabit different types of ecosystems, though many species share habitat preferences. Most of them live in tropical or subtropical regions with warm temperatures and high rainfall, but some species live in temperate regions as well.
Some of their preferred habitats include forest edges, rainforest edges, riverine or riverside ecosystems, scrub forest, estuaries, wetlands, and more. Some species also live in or near human habitation, particularly farms or plantations.
Distribution of the Cacique
These birds live in different regions and ranges depending on the species. Overall, they live from Mexico through Central America, and into South America. Most species live in South America, particularly Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Paraguay, and more.
The ranges of some species run from Central America into Mexico. Some species live across large expanses of land, while others inhabit just a small region.
Diet of the Cacique
Caciques are omnivores, which means they eat both plants and small animals. The composition of their diet changes based on the season. While they are breeding, most of their diet consists of insects and other invertebrates.
Outside of the breeding season, adults feed primarily on fruits, berries, seeds, and nuts. They also occasionally feed on the nectar of flowers. Some of the different invertebrates that they hunt include grasshoppers, crickets, insect larvae, spiders, and more.
Cacique and Human Interaction
Human impact on these birds varies based on the species at hand. Most Caciques have healthy population numbers, though some populations are currently in decline.
Of the various species, those that human activity is currently impacting typically suffer due to habitat destruction. Deforestation, for the purpose of logging or agriculture, is a rampant problem in the Amazon Basin, and it impacts many different species.
Humans have not domesticated these birds in any way.
Does the Cacique Make a Good Pet
No, Caciques do not make good pets. Even though they are quite beautiful, they are wild birds and do not thrive in a household setting. In many areas, it is illegal to own one as a pet.
Cacique Care
Because they are so strikingly colored, these birds are often quite popular residents in zoos. Their enclosures are quite large, and the vast majority of Caciques in zoos live in huge, aviary-style habitats. These aviaries are usually walk-through format, with many different trees, bushes, shrubs, water features, and bird species.
Zookeepers feed the birds based on their natural diet. Their diets typically include a variety of fruits, berries, seeds, crickets, mealworms, and pelleted insectivore diet.
Behavior of the Cacique
These birds are normally diurnal and active during the day. Their social behavior varies. Some species live in pairs or small flocks, while others live alone. Social species often nest in flocks or colonies as well. T
heir foraging behavior also varies. Some species search for food in the canopy of the rainforest, while other species forage on the ground by flicking through the leaf litter. As the breeding season arrives, even solitary species pair off and form nesting territories together.
Reproduction of the Cacique
Reproductive strategy and rate vary drastically from species to species. In some species, monogamous pairs form seasonally and care for the offspring. In other species, the males breed with several different females, and do not assist in rearing the chicks.
Some species lay a single egg, or a pair, while others lay up to five or six eggs. Incubation rates also vary, with some species incubating their eggs for two weeks and others incubating their eggs for up to a month. The chicks are helpless when they hatch, and take various amounts of time to reach fledging age and leave the nest. |
global_01_local_0_shard_00002368_processed.jsonl/51866 | AssetImage class
Fetches an image from an AssetBundle, having determined the exact image to use based on the context.
Given a main asset and a set of variants, AssetImage chooses the most appropriate asset for the current context, based on the device pixel ratio and size given in the configuration passed to resolve.
To show a specific image from a bundle without any asset resolution, use an AssetBundleImageProvider.
Naming assets for matching with different pixel densities
Main assets are presumed to match a nominal pixel ratio of 1.0. To specify assets targeting different pixel ratios, place the variant assets in the application bundle under subdirectories named in the form "Nx", where N is the nominal device pixel ratio for that asset.
For example, suppose an application wants to use an icon named "heart.png". This icon has representations at 1.0 (the main icon), as well as 1.5 and 2.0 pixel ratios (variants). The asset bundle should then contain the following assets:
On a device with a 1.0 device pixel ratio, the image chosen would be heart.png; on a device with a 1.3 device pixel ratio, the image chosen would be 1.5x/heart.png.
The directory level of the asset does not matter as long as the variants are at the equivalent level; that is, the following is also a valid bundle structure:
assets/icons/3.0x/heart.png would be a valid variant of assets/icons/heart.png.
Fetching assets
When fetching an image provided by the app itself, use the assetName argument to name the asset to choose. For instance, consider the structure above. First, the pubspec.yaml of the project should specify its assets in the flutter section:
- icons/heart.png
Then, to fetch the image, use
Assets in packages
To fetch an asset from a package, the package argument must be provided. For instance, suppose the structure above is inside a package called my_icons. Then to fetch the image, use:
AssetImage('icons/heart.png', package: 'my_icons')
Assets used by the package itself should also be fetched using the package argument as above.
If the desired asset is specified in the pubspec.yaml of the package, it is bundled automatically with the app. In particular, assets used by the package itself must be specified in its pubspec.yaml.
A package can also choose to have assets in its 'lib/' folder that are not specified in its pubspec.yaml. In this case for those images to be bundled, the app has to specify which ones to include. For instance a package named fancy_backgrounds could have:
To include, say the first image, the pubspec.yaml of the app should specify it in the assets section:
- packages/fancy_backgrounds/backgrounds/background1.png
The lib/ is implied, so it should not be included in the asset path.
See also:
AssetImage(String assetName, { AssetBundle bundle, String package })
Creates an object that fetches an image from an asset bundle. [...]
assetName String
The name of the main asset from the set of images to choose from. See the documentation for the AssetImage class itself for details.
bundle AssetBundle
The bundle from which the image will be obtained. [...]
hashCode int
The hash code for this object. [...]
read-only, override
keyName String
The name used to generate the key to obtain the asset. For local assets this is assetName, and for assets from packages the assetName is prefixed 'packages/
package String
The name of the package from which the image is included. See the documentation for the AssetImage class itself for details.
runtimeType Type
A representation of the runtime type of the object.
read-only, inherited
obtainKey(ImageConfiguration configuration) Future<AssetBundleImageKey>
Converts an ImageProvider's settings plus an ImageConfiguration to a key that describes the precise image to load. [...]
toString() String
Returns a string representation of this object.
evict({ImageCache cache, ImageConfiguration configuration: ImageConfiguration.empty }) Future<bool>
Evicts an entry from the image cache. [...]
load(AssetBundleImageKey key, DecoderCallback decode) ImageStreamCompleter
Converts a key into an ImageStreamCompleter, and begins fetching the image using loadAsync.
noSuchMethod(Invocation invocation) → dynamic
resolve(ImageConfiguration configuration) ImageStream
Resolves this image provider using the given configuration, returning an ImageStream. [...]
operator ==(dynamic other) bool
The equality operator. [...] |
global_01_local_0_shard_00002368_processed.jsonl/51881 | Test results
ALP – KTM RC 390
Fuel consumption in the field test
The vehicle was tested on a mix of urban and country roads to check the effective fuel consumption. The average speed was 64 km/h overall. In this test cycle the factory KTM RC390 consumed 4,2 lit/100km (=23,8 km/lit). The ALP-KTM RC390 consumed only 3,1 lit/100km (=32,2 km/lit). This comparison corresponds to a fuel saving of 26%!
Mainly responsable for this drastic fuel savings is the higher engine load combined with lower engine speed. The longer final drive (12%) and the low end torque of the engine enables to run the engine really down speeded. All over the mapping an AFR of 14,7 (Lambda = 1,0) is possible
Performance test
The engine calibration was optimized for an increased torque character at midrange including a long final drive, focused on a minimized fuel consumption but also strong acceleration.
The impressively performance data are:
• 61 HP Power
• 51 Nm Torque
• 17,1 bar eff. mean pressure
Close Menu |
global_01_local_0_shard_00002368_processed.jsonl/51886 | Skip to main content Skip to search Skip to search results
Minton, Sherman
• Existence: 1890 - 1965
Found in 1 Collection or Record:
Hugh Arthur Barnhart collection
Identifier: L509
Scope and Contents This collection includes correspondence, scrapbooks, photographs, periodicals, advertisements, and financial records from Hugh A. Barnhart ranging from 1898-1964 regarding his business ventures, his personal life, and his political career. The first series includes papers regarding Barnhart's family life, business ventures, and state government positions. Major topics include family correspondence; World War I correspondence; News-Sentinel newspaper; State Highway Commission;... |
global_01_local_0_shard_00002368_processed.jsonl/51899 | Strip Metadata on MS Word for Mac?
October 8, 2007 2:08 PM Subscribe
Microsoft provides this for Windows users to strip metadata from MS Word files, but does not provide one for Mac Word users. Anyone know of a plugin/AppleScript or application that will do this on a Mac?
posted by eustacescrubb to Computers & Internet (1 answer total) 2 users marked this as a favorite
In Word 2004 it's built-in
Choose Word, Preferences, Security
and tick 'remove personal data on save'
posted by Lanark at 2:22 PM on October 9, 2007
« Older make her bigger basket better | What's wrong with my reel-to-reel? Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments. |
global_01_local_0_shard_00002368_processed.jsonl/51910 | Archives Ochobre 2017
Dolphin Progress Report: September 2017
While an emulator's primary job is to emulate, there's usually a lot more that goes into a good emulator. For Dolphin, it may feel like a lot of work has gone toward luxury features and optimizations rather than improving accuracy and compatibility. For example, Ubershaders is a wonderful, game-changing feature, but it can't fix any bugs in emulation. With another of those huge features on the brink, it's important to highlight that no one has forgotten about Dolphin's weaknesses - it's just getting harder to fix them. Most of the games that no longer work in Dolphin either require better timings (which slow emulation and need to be hardware tested,) or rely on undocumented behaviors that have to be painstakingly sought out, rather than stumbled upon.
Case in point, fixing one of those cases could require weeks of devotion and every development tool in our arsenal just to locate the bug. With Red Steel, developers ended up having to reverse engineer why an engine bug affected Dolphin but not the Wii.
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global_01_local_0_shard_00002368_processed.jsonl/51927 | Austronesian Counting
Monday, December 10, 2007
Dead Hand of the Comparative Theory – 2 – Out-of-Taiwan?
Filed under: Uncategorized — richardparker01 @ 4:06 am
Arthur Capell, writing nearly half a century ago, but only 20 years after the creation of proto-Austronesian, by Otto Dempwolff, gives some idea of just exactly how ‘proto-Austronesian’ came about:
Dempwolff (1938) established a vocabulary of some 2,000 words which he regarded as “Original Austronesian” (Uraustronesisch).
– The basis of this restoration is found in [just] two Western IN (Indonesian) languages, Toba-Batak (Sumatra) and Javanese, and one Northern IN language, Tagalog (Philippines).
These, with occasional references to Malagasy, Ngadju (Borneo), and a few other languages, served to establish proto-IN (Indonesian).
– He later added to his list Fijian and Sa’a (Southeast Solomons) and based a “proto-MN (Melanesian)” on the agreements of these with his IN (Indonesian).
– In the third stage, he examined three PN (Polynesian) languages (Tongan, eastern Futuna, and Samoa) and similarly established a proto-PN (Polynesian). In each of the latter two cases he sought to establish phonological innovations on the *AN sound-system, to determine what vocabulary appeared in each of the MN (Melanesian) and PN (Polynesian) areas, again with scant attention to MC (Micronesian).
– Moreover, all his PN (Polynesian) languages belong to the western subgroup of the family, without reference to Tahitian or Maori of the eastern subfamily. He did not seek to establish any original AN (Austronesian) morphology; and very little has yet been done in that sphere.
Arthur Capell – Oceanic Linguistics Today – Current Anthropology, Vol. 3, No. 4. (Oct., 1962), pp. 371-428.
Andrew Pawley and Malcom Ross carry on the story:
During the 1960s and 1970s a more complex theory of AN high order subgroups emerged from work on historical phonology and morphology. The poorly documented Formosan languages, completely left out of Dempwolff’s comparisons, became key witnesses in the reconstruction of PAN. Several changes to Dempwolff’s proposed PAN sound system have been made in the light of Formosan testimony .
Dyen noted the possibility of a primary split in AN between
(a) some or all Formosan languages and
(b) a group containing all other AN languages on the grounds of phonological mergers common to all the extra-Formosan languages.
Dahl argued forcefully for such a primary split.
Blust named the extra-Formosan branch “Malayo-Polynesian” (MP) and gave a morphological argument supporting it. Although several scholars have expressed strong reservations (Wolff, Dyen),the hypothesis has gained increasing acceptance.
…According to Blust, Harvey, and Reid the Formosan languages may comprise more than one first-order branch of AN, perhaps dividing into Atayalic (northern), Tsouic (central), and Paiwanic (southern) groups.
… Although most Philippine languages seem at least superficially similar to each other, Reid suggests that they have no significant innovations in common. Zorc challenges Reid, arguing that Philippine languages share numerous lexical replacements and that these constitute innovations defining a Philippine subgroup. The problem in the Philippines, as in many other compact regions, is to distinguish innovations from borrowings among related languages that have been in contact for millennia. A recent study of Tiruray (Mindanao) vocabulary shows that this Philippine language has replaced nearly 30% of its basic vocabulary with loans from its neighbors.
Blust has proposed a more detailed family tree. In this tree the
Western MP comprises chiefly the languages of the Philippines, Malaysia, western Indonesia (including Sulawesi) as far east as mid-Sumbawa, and Madagascar and
Central MP comprises approximately the languages of eastern Indonesia east of Sumbawa and Sulawesi excluding Halmahera.
Oceanic remains, but it has been demoted to something like a fourth-order subgroup.[;-(]
…It is probably fair to say that of Blust’s proposed subgroups, MP and three of its daughters-Eastern MP, South Halmahera/West New Guinea, and Oceanic-are rather widely accepted because each is based on a significant body of diagnostic innovations. Western MP, Central MP, and Central~Eastern M P, on the other hand, are much more problematic. The difficulties in finding innovations encompassing the entire putative Central MP group very likely reflect the existence of an earlier extensive and longstanding dialect network in the eastern Indonesian region . What one finds is overlapping innovations, each covering part of the region. As ‘a whole, Western MP languages seem to inherit only the innovations shared by all MP languages, i.e. those attributable to Proto MP (PMP).
This suggests that there was no Proto Western MP, but rather that PMP diverged into a number of dialects, one of whose descendants became Proto Central Eastern MP. The Western MP languages are simply those MP languages that do not belong to the Central Eastern group. In the same vein, Central MP languages may be just those Central Eastern languages that are not members of Eastern MP.
However, Pawley and Ross do not even mention that Isidore Dyen, a giant in Austronesian language studies, still believes that the Austronesian languages originated around Melanesia, and merely relegate him to a bit-part in the formation of the Out-of-Taiwan paradigm.
Some Evidence Favoring the Central Hypothesis. Isidore Dyen. Yale University (Emeritus).
The Out-of-Taiwan paradigm rests on remarkably little:
The Malayo-Polynesian (MP) hypothesis (that all extra-Formosan languages belong to a single first-order An subgroup, while the Formosan languages constitute one or more first-order subgroups) rests on the following phonological (and some nonphonological) innovations:
(a) PAn *C and *t merged as PMP *t.
(b) PAn noninitial *L and *n merged as PMP *n.
(c) PAn *S became a glottal spirant in PMP, possibly merging with *h.
The Sound of Proto-Austronesian: An Outsider’s View of the Formosan Evidence
Malcolm D. Ross Oceanic Linguistics, Vol. 31, No. 1. (Summer, 1992), pp. 23-64.
But then Robert Blust, by now the leader of the pack, produced his bombshell:
Blust, R. (1999). “Subgrouping, circularity and extinction: some issues in Austronesian comparative linguistics” in E. Zeitoun & P.J.K Li (Ed.) ‘Selected papers from the Eighth International Conference on Austronesian Linguistics’ (pp. 31-94). Taipei: Academia Sinica.
showing not only that Formosan languages differed radically from all others in the Austronesian family, but they formed no less than nine separate first-order families, each ranking equal with Proto-Malayo-Polynesian.
This was soon followed by a blitz of publicity:
Taiwan’s gift to the world – Jared M. Diamond
Quote: “A reanalysis of Austronesian languages by Robert Blust strengthens the identification of the first Austronesian waystation, illuminates archaeological findings and the history of boatbuilding, and may help reinterpret the histories of other language families”.
– In fact, of the 94 pages of Blust’s 1999 paper:
– Only 14 deal with the language classification (within Formosa alone, not of Austronesian languages in general, and concerning phonology only), with some notes about coastal/inland Formosan vocabularies.
– 13 pages are devoted to dismissing competing theories
– 4+ deal with the putative Austronesian Mainland Homeland, (and the embarrassing question of why there’s no trace of them). There’s also the embarrassing question of why, if the speakers of proto-Malayo Polynesian left Taiwan, they also left no traces behind them.
– 9 deal with boats (although he has some difficulty in proposing a viable method of boat transport from Taiwan out to the Philippines that would be sufficient to set in train a major wave of emigration).
Entrenchment of the Myth:
When a multidisciplinary conference was held in Geneva in June 2004, Peter Bellwood felt able to say, with full confidence:
“As a linguistic category, the Austronesian languages have a history of dispersal from Taiwan through the Philippines into Island Southeast Asia and on to Oceania and Madagascar.
Malcolm Ross explained why the majority of linguists accept Taiwan as the Proto-Austronesian homeland and in what directions the ancestral languages spread and emphasized their transmission through inheritance rather than language shift, implying that the Austronesian language dispersal was associated with an actual movement of Austronesian-speaking people….
Bellwood, Peter & Alicia Sanchez-Mazas (June 2005). “Human Migrations in Continental East Asia and Taiwan: Genetic, Linguistic, and Archaeological Evidence”. Current Anthropology 46:3: 480-485
So, it’s definite, isn’t it?
Well, this little map may be a clue to the ‘political’ (in the very widest sense) motivation of the Blust-Diamond-Bellwood-everyone else bandwagon, who (mostly) believe the Chinese kicked the Austronesians into Taiwan, and then nudged them gently out to Easter Island and Madagascar:
There may be a hint of the strong current political and nationalist motivation behind the Out-of-Taiwan hypothesis in the accompanying article
Indeed, one wonders whether Taiwan would figure in the Austronesian story at all from the 1950s onwards if Chiang Kai-Shek hadn’t retreated there in 1949, and opened up the place to his American allies, and if a ‘native’ Taiwanese (Li Denghui) hadn’t become president of Taiwan in 1990, with an implicit agenda of promoting Taiwanese separation from China.
Dead Hand of the Comparative Method – 1
Filed under: Uncategorized — richardparker01 @ 2:07 am
I may sound like a linguist, and even flatter myself occasionally that I’m learning and aspiring to be one, but I try to keep my head clear, as much as possible, from the complex phonological and grammatical technicalities that seem to be the meat of so many current An linguistics papers:
– The origin of the Kelabit voiced aspirates: a historical hypothesis revisited.
– On the origin of Philippine vowel grades
– The pronoun system in Galeya: arguments against a clitic analysis.
Oceanic Linguistics Dec 2006
Of course, these phonological and grammatical details are essential in the recording and study of existing languages, as a whole. They are extremely useful in differentiating between, and grouping, related languages.
But they are simply irrelevant in studying the typology and semantics of number words and number-sets, en masse, as I am attempting to do. (Later on, if I ever get there, I may use phonology to resolve the very ends of the twigs, or, if it’s worthwhile, to analyse the mass of Western Malayo-Polynesian number-sets which look, very boringly, almost identical. It is essential to know the inherited sounds of a particular language to be able to help distinguish between inherited words (‘reflexes’) and borrowed words).
I do feel that the analytical power of phonology is greatly over-estimated in the special field of historical linguistics, and that over-reliance on it can lead to a very misleading results.
A statement like this, from the doyen of An linguists, who kindly sent me the numerals chapter of his forthcoming book:
“Although this may seem like a drastic departure from the decimal system that these languages inherited from a remote common ancestor, even more drastic innovations in numeral systems are found in some AN languages of New Guinea, where they clearly reflect Papuan contact influence.”
makes me go quietly ballistic.
It completely reverses the ‘normal’ hypothesis that a less-developed number system will evolve into a more-developed one. It states that, somehow, all the less-developed and ‘irregular’ number systems in Austronesian languages (more than half of them) are ‘innovations’ from a ‘pure’ An ancestor.
[And, so far, I have not found a single instance where an An number system in New Guinea can be shown to ‘clearly reflect Papuan contact influence’]. If anything, it seems to have been quite the opposite.
It’s easy to see how this happened: the WMP (Western Malayo-Polynesian, once called Indonesian) languages (from which PAn was originally derived) are fairly well homogenised, and all have a full decimal system (with only two minor exceptions). The majority of them use recognisably similar words for those numerals.
Therefore, so does PAn (proto-Austronesian), the reconstructed ancestor of all Austronesian languages. You sift through those words, just like you’d pan some gravel, end up with some glittering cognates, and reconstruct the familiar ‘proto-Austronesian’:
*esa/isa, *duSa, *telu, *Sepat, *lima, *enem, *pitu, *walu, *Siwa, *sa-puluq
Therefore, POc (proto-Oceanic) must also inherit this system, because it also has to demonstrate descendence from PAn.
Therefore, if you reconstruct a proto-lexicon by sieving through a gradually-reducing mesh of current cognate words you will end up with a ‘proto numeral’ lexicon that mirrors the majority of current vocabularies, even if that particular lexicon set has been relatively recently introduced, and become very rapidly widespread. If that numeral lexicon also implies a fully-developed number system, you’ve allowed yourself to be led right down the plughole.
From there on, you must consider anything else as a deviant numerical practice, or innovation (probably brought about by miscegenation with fuzzy-wuzzies).
Therefore, most Melanesians and Polynesians are raving numerical deviants.
The limitations of the Comparative Method are revealed (between the lines) by its greatest current exponent, Robert Blust:
Historical linguistics depends for its results on two fundamental and by now well-tested claims about the nature of language: (1) The relationship between sound and meaning is largely arbitrary, and (2) sound change is largely regular. The first of these claims was first clearly enunciated by Saussure (1959), and the second by various of the Neogrammarians during the last three decades of the nineteenth century. Both have been challenged in various ways, but both remain as pillars of linguistic method.
Like everything in Nature, language changes. In time words come to differ in shape and perhaps also in meaning. Since sound change is regular, the differences in the sound shape of words are systematic, and permit the original forms to be reconstituted with a rather high degree of confidence. The procedures followed in such reconstitution of prehistoric forms are collectively known as the Comparative Method. Where we have documentary checks, as in comparing the modern Romance languages with their immediate common ancestor, Latin, we are encouraged that even in the absence of documentary support our results will not ordinarily go far wrong.
The application of the Comparative Method to related (cognate) words by a process of triangulation results in a reconstruction of the sound system and vocabulary of an earlier language, called a proto-language.
To illustrate with three simple examples, Malay langit, Samoan langi, Hawaiian lani “sky”, Malay tangis, Samoan tangi, Hawaiian kani “weep”; and Malay mata, Samoan mata, Hawaiian maka “eye” show recurrent correspondences of sound in words of related meaning, and so are assumed to derive from (reflect) a common ancestral form in each case, conventionally preceded by an asterisk to show that it is based on inference, not on observation.
For our purposes here (leaving out information that can be supplied only by the aboriginal languages of Taiwan), these forms can be reconstructed as *langit “sky”, *tangis “weep” and *mata “eye”.
Robert Blust
The Prehistory of the Austronesian-Speaking Peoples: A View from Language
Journal of World Prehistory, Vol. 9, No. 4, 1995
Having reconstructed a proto-language, you can then then propose it as the root of a family tree, and trace back the branches to separate the modern, existing languages into their bunches, or groups, each bunch of twigs descended from one node on a major branch.
You end up with a family tree that looks like this:
(Click on the picture for a larger version)
You´ll soon notice a few peculiarities:
1) The family tree is upside down. This is only one of linguistics’ weird idosyncrasies, where ‘reflect’ means derive from, ‘innovation’ can mean ‘reversion’, etc.
2) The tree is heavily weighted towards the right, ie towards Oceanic, with a proto-language featured at each node. On the other major branches:
Formosan languages
Western Malayo-Polynesian
There are no proto-languages at the major nodes at all.
Each of those major groups has proved impossible to reduce down to an ancestral proto-language, so far.
Which is a great pity, since it implies that around the majority of all current Austronesian-speakers speak an orphan language, or at least one whose immediate parental identity and location are in doubt.
But you’ve got a neat map, showing the distribution of language groups.
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Decades in Polynesia
Filed under: Uncategorized — richardparker01 @ 12:50 pm
To mitigate the Tongan 50 SNAFU, I posted a list of Polynesian numbers that I consider are overlays on older sytems:
Language – 10 – 20 – 50
Takuu – sinafuru – matarua, rue – matarima, lima
Vaeakau-Taumako – katoa, kharo, dumaa – gatoaelua – gatoaelima
Futuna East – kau, agafulu – kaulua – kaulima
Pukapuka – laugaulu – tinolua, laulua, luangaulu – tinolima, laulima, limangaulu
Fijian – e tini na, sagavulu, – rua-sagavulu – lima-sagavulu
Niuean – hongofulu – tekau – lima fiha
Tongan – hongofulu – tekau – nimangofulu
Rarotongan – nga’uru – rua nga’uru – rima nga’uru
Tahitian – ho’e’ahuru – piti ‘ahuru, ta’au, arooato – ?
Marquesan – ‘onohu’u, ‘okohu’u – tekau – ?
Hawaiian – umi – iwakâlua – haneli
Maori – ka-cahuru, ngahuru, tekau – rua tekau, tekau – rima tekau
The ‘proto-Austronesian’ number system goes:
10 = *sa-puluq (1 x10) – 20 = *duSa-puluq (2 x 10) – 50 = *lima-puluq (5 x 10)
so, any major variations in the Polynesian numbers (ie non-cognates) must be, by the rules of the game, innovations in the purely linguistic sense.
But in the real world, a retained number-name from an older vigesimal system (above no 10), cannot possibly be a technical innovation.
Even linguists recognise that
90=quatre-vingt dix
are not ‘innovations’.
Most of these Polynesian systems appear to be relatively ‘modern’ constructions:
Only Rarotongan shows a regular series.
Why else should Fijian make 20= 2 x 1 x 10, 5 x 1 x 10?
Why else does Maori rename 20 as 10, in modern times, and then make up a series?
And what does fiha mean in Niuean? Or haneli in Hawaiian?
Old Numbers Overlaid by New ?
Filed under: Uncategorized — richardparker01 @ 3:25 am
The evidence of 4 base systems, plus several quite scattered and different ‘subtractive from 10’ systems, suggests that Austronesian number systems may have evolved individually through separate stages in many different areas, ,just as ‘Papuan’ , and many other languages appear to have done.
They could then have invented or borrowed new words for increasing needs to count exchangeable agricultural or fishing surpluses, and later again adopted very widespread loanwords with more contact and real trade, perhaps long after proto-Austronesians or proto-Oceanics were actually speaking those languages.
(Perhaps, like the Kilivila (Trobriand) chief who got to 9000 and 10000, for counting shells, and ran out of options, they just invented new words on the spot).
Going through New Guinean language records, it’s very obvious that the new decimal Tok Pisin has influenced modern speakers very quickly, obliterating earlier recorded systems, at least in the higher numbers. The overlaying process is ongoing, and very visible.
In my Filipino village, everyone now uses Spanish numbers for trade, and nobody can tell me the ‘real Surigaonon’ for 10, any teens, or 20 up, except ‘gatus’=100, which is still used in fishing and agriculture. But the ‘native’ system was decimal anyway, so there’s no radical system change.
It should be quite possible, then, to infer multiple overlays of newer systems on old.
Tongan may be an example:
10 = hongofulu
20 = tekau
50 = nai rima avuru (why has hongofulu become avuru?)
(this turned out to be a very definite SNAFU – situation-normal- all-fucked-up.. The Tongan 50 turned out to come from Uruava in the Solomon Islands)
The only An languages that seem to have preserved traces of apparent original number systems are out of the mainstream:
Formosa, Ilongot, Borneo, Sumba, Flores, Timor, SW Maluku, Micronesia, and all of Melanesia south of a fairly definite line.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Whothehellami ?
Filed under: Uncategorized — richardparker01 @ 11:39 am
The word for ‘person, human’ in certain Formosan languages is:
Favorlang/Babuza – babosa
Ci’uli Atayal – ci’uli?
Squliq Atayal – squliq
Sediq Taroko – sediq
Siraya – sidaia
Bunun – bunun
Which is a very obvious answer to ‘What do you call yourselves?’
But not as good as the Australian native who was asked what a certain animal was, and answered: ‘How the f**k should I know?’ which is why we now call it a kangaroo.
The indri (lemur)’s name means nothing special; it’s just ‘Here it is!’ in Malagache, the local Austronesian language of Madagascar. In Filipino Bisayan, also an Austronesian language, more closely related to Malagache (6000 miles away) than French (22 miles away) is to English, the same expression is “Diri na!”
If I could read Chinese (台灣;) I might tell you what T’ai-wan means. Wikipedia says “Both Tayoan and the island name Taiwan derive from a word in Sirayan, one of the Formosan languages”
The only word I can find in Siraya that remotely resembles that is ‘mat-tauwa’ meaning ‘laugh’. Perhaps the colonising Dutch really were laughable, before they started in on the usual native massacres.
Formosa just means ‘beautiful’, so, if I was one of the very few Formosans left, I would be happy that everyone else, including even linguists 😉 called me that.
Many years ago, I went travelling around Wadi Rum in Jordan, with a local guide named Ahmed Hellawi. We kept on getting lost, so he still has the nickname: “Where The?”
Monday, November 26, 2007
Base 4 – How?
Filed under: Uncategorized — richardparker01 @ 12:24 pm
A very well known Austronesian linguist wrote, in the An-Lang group:
“I cannot imagine what may have been the source of having ‘4’ as a base for numeration.”
I responded: The 1-4 numeral system is not so baffling when you consider that virtually all numbering systems began with finger-counting.
It just comes down to whether you consider the thumb part of the finger-count or not.
Different ways (and directions) in totting up fingers seem to have quite perceivable effects on the resulting number words.
Either way.
You might [ignore the thumb or] even emphasise it:
Bargam (Papuan) uses abainakinta (thumb) for 5.
The ‘Papuan’ Kewa of the PNG Southern Highlands have two number systems, a full body part tally (hand, up arm, over, and down the other side) giving a 47-cycle number system, used mainly by elders for massive gift exchanges, and a 1-4 cycle system for everyday stuff.
They’re described at:
(The strange bit, that I still can’t fathom, is how 7 = hand + 3 thumbs).
There’s even a Papuan language (Kote, from Morobe Prov) that has a 22 cycle system, because they count both nostrils as well as their fingers and toes. (Wouldn’t want to buy a dozen bread rolls from them, though).
There are more than a few Austronesian numeral systems that [seem to] show vestiges of an archaic 4 cycle system, with 8 at the end of the 2nd cycle, but most are now overlaid with a 10
In fact, they are rarer in New Guinea, with its multiple language families, and quite absent in Papuan languages west of there. They’re not so very common elsewhere. (Except in California – where else?)
And there is even a suggestion of a vestigial trace of a 4 cycle system in Indo-European, in that *oktô is apparently the dual form of *kwetwores – Beeler (1964, p. 1). Common counting in dozens may be another vestige.
If the 6-9 numbers are simple 5+1, 5+2, etc, then 8 would include, somewhere, 3. If it’s subtractive from 10, it would include 2. If it includes 4 then that indicates something
quite different.
If 9 includes a 1 morpheme, then it might be like ‘sembilan’ in Indonesian, or ‘salapan’ in Sunda, ie 1 from 10, or it could ‘start again’ from 8, which it would seem to do in the cases where 8 involves 4.
The next cycle, to 12, seems to have been mostly overlaid now by 10/teen systems.
Except, perhaps, in English, where 11 and 12 are ‘irregular’.
Austronesian 4 cycles:
Formosa: Siraya, Thao, Favorlang/Babuza, Taokas, Saisiyat,
Atayal, Sedeq
– all show no. 8 inclusive of 4, then start again with ‘something different’, often including a 1 morpheme.
Enggano (which may not be An at all) – has an 8 related to 4.
Simba: Gaura Nggaura and Lamboya have 8 = pondopata =’x’.4 (or cognate) and banda’ iha (or cognate) for 9.
Flores: Ende, Rongga, Lio and Nghada – have 8=2×4 and ‘ta esa’ (or cognate) for 9
Aru: Kola, Dobel, Ngaibor, Barakai, Tarangan West, Ujir – 8= karua and 9= ser, or tera (or cognates)
Keule, Wogeo, and Biem, offshore of E Sepik Prov, PNG, have straightforward and obvious 1-4 systems: Boiken, a neighbouring Papuan language shares this, but only in one offshore island dialect, near the An speakers. But the system may be related to nearby Vanimo, Rawo and Mountain Arapesh, Papuan languages, also with 1-4 number systems.
Ormu, Tobati/Yotafa and Kayupulau near Jayapura, have ‘symptoms’ of a 4 cycle. Adjacent to them is Nafri, the only member of the Sentani family to have a 4 cycle system.
Of all these, it seems only the Wogeo/Biem and Ormu/Yotafa groups may have existing neighbouring non-An languages with 1-4 systems. But those Papuan languages are very much in the minority themselves, so without more information there is no way of telling which way the influence went.
There are other languages that have a 4 morpheme in 8, but they seem to have a multiplicative system, with 6=2×3, etc, rather than a 1-4 cycle:
Wuvulu-Aua, in the Admiralties, has a strange (and very lonely) number system, analysed by Dempwolff (1905) as:
aiai : 1 – 1
gu-ai : 2 – 1
odu-ai : 3 – 1
gui-ne-roa : 2 – 2
ai-pan : 1 hand
ode-roa : 3 – 2
ode-ro-miai : 3 – 2 +1
vai-ne-roa : 4 – 2
vai-ne-ro-miai : 4 – 2 +1
(Almost all other Admiralties numerals show the unique Manus subtractive system).
‘Motu’ languages (under the ‘tail’ of Papua New Guinea) also (mostly) have a number 8 related to 4 (taura hani), and 9=8+1, but these also have 6=’2’x3 (taura toi) with 7 = a ‘regular’ hitu, or ima ua =5/2 or 6/1 (karakoi ka pea). Quite mongrel systems.
Some of the Formosan number systems may be similar to this.
Or something else:
Makassarese: 8=7+1 – mystery in Sulawesi
but many languages in Borneo have 7= tudju (or cognate) and 8 = aya, hanga, or mai, followed by 9 = piah, jalatien, riqi (or cognates), which look as if they might just be ‘start-agains’.
Cognates of ‘hanga’ for 8 also appear in the Solomons.
(I have no translations or even speculative etymologies for any of them, having ‘discovered’ them only yesterday, thanks to Anthony Jukes giving me the link to his excellent new Makassarese Grammar at:
Monday, September 10, 2007
Ilongot Number System – A Wild Exception (Updated 5/12/07)
Filed under: exception, Ilongot, numbers, Western Malayo-Polynesian — richardparker01 @ 12:03 am
The Ilongots are the only group in the entire Western Malayo-Polynesian language family area (coloured violet on the map below) that still retain their original non-decimal counting system, where everything is hunky-dory up to No 5, then goes 5+1, 5+2, etc, in the usual way of people who have not yet made the break from counting their fingers to having a full decimal system.
The Ilongots are a head-hunting tribe of Central Luzon (the northernmost large island of the Philippines). You can find out more about them here and here, and here.
“The Ilongot live in Nueva Vizcaya Province of Luzon in the Philippines. They numbered about 2,500 in 1975. The name “Ilongot” is Tagalog and Spanish, and is derived from “Quirungut” (of the forest), one of the people’s own names for themselves. The Ilongot language is Austronesian, and there are three dialects: Egongut, Italon, and Abaka. They use Ilocano and Tagalog in trading. The Ilongot are culturally conservative and unsubjugated. They live as an enclave and resist incursions into their territory”.
Their numbers go:
1 sít 2 deva 3 tago 4 epát 5 gima,tambiang
6 tambiang nu sít 7 tambiang nu dava 8 tambiánggot tagó 9 tambiang nu apát 10 támpu
I don’t know their words for 11-19, or if they continue carrying on to count their toes, but they do call twenty duwampu, which means ‘two tens’, ie they do (now) have a decimal system, after all.
They call No 5 gima, which is the usual lima word for 5, but they also have tambiang, which is remarkably close to many of the words from New Guinea, more than 3000km away (and not used anywhere at all in between those areas). Bang, if you remember from my earlier post, is very widespread as a ‘hand/five’ word there.
This strengthens my case that the standard proto-Austronesian numbers:
esa/isa *duSa *telu *Sepat *lima *enem *pitu *walu *Siwa *sa-puluq?
did not exist, at all, when the ‘ancestral’ language was actually being spoken.
If the PAn numbers did exist way back then, then comparative linguists, following their arcane rules, would have to call the Ilongot number word combinations ‘innovations’ (ie new inventions), as indeed, they do.
The continued existence of the ‘aberrant’ Ilongot system proves that it is not just a few obscure and primitive New Guineans who didn’t learn their new Austronesian numbers properly, but a previous stage of language development that has only been suppressed by massive population movements and growth in the WMP area during the past two millenia.
Update (5/12/07) I have since seen a fuller Ilongot number-word list, that includes the teens and decades. It shows what I consider an earlier system overlaid with loanwords from neighbours.
Sunday, September 9, 2007
Pidgin in the Making – Boronglish
‘Native’ Borong Boronglish
1 motongo wan kembing One finger ?
2 woic tu kembing Two finger?
3 karong tiri kembing 3 finger
4 nemumgac fo lolo ‘4’ – 2 2
5 boro mong Hand one fa ingambe My hand?
7 boromong ano woic Hand one + two tepelonga Longer?
8 hetewe 8 e wa
9 hene roka 9 e wa
10 borowoic Hand two he ten ing This 10
Numbers – This Little Piggy – Finger Tallying
Filed under: Uncategorized — richardparker01 @ 2:12 am
I mentioned the strange counting system used by the Maisin people of coastal New Guinea, in my Why Study Austronesian Numbers? post.
Their numbers went:
1 – sesei
2 – sandi
3 – sinati
4 – fusese
5 – fakete
6 – faketi-tarosi-taure-sesei
7 – faketi-tarosi-taure-sandi
8 – faketi tarosi taure sinati
9 – faketi tarosi taure fusese
10- faketi tau tau
It helps to understand it when you learn that fakete (5) is hand.
6 is faketi-tarosi-taure-sesei = hand-one side-other side-one.
But other New Guinea Papuan language groups take the body-part tallying to extremes.
The Oksapmin developed a body-part counting system that went beyond one hand, up the arm to the head, and then down the other side. The Oksapmin example results in a numbering system of base 27.
They also had to memorise each of the 27 body-part names:
(1) tip^na, (2) tipnarip, (3) bum rip, (4) h^tdip, (5) h^th^ta, (6) dopa, (7) besa, (8) kir, (9) tow^t, (10) kata, (11) gwer, (12) nata, (13) kina, (14) aruma, (15) tan-kina, (16) tan-nata, (17) tan-gwer, (18) tan-kata, (19) tan-tow^t, (20) tan-kir, (21) tan-besa, (22) tan-dopa, (23) tan-tip^na, (24) tan-tipnarip, (25) tan-bum rip, (26) tan-h^tdip, (27) tan-h^th^ta.s
It’s easier than it looks – you only have to go up one side, and then repeat the same names in reverse, down the other.
Most numbering systems started with finger-tallying, and the physical way this was done affects the number words that were derived from it.
When you get to 5, it’s an open hand. In certain places around New Guinea, where this kind of finger-counting occurred, the words for number 5 should reflect just this.
Filipinos, for example, start with a closed fist, extending fingers one by one, starting with the smallest
But in other parts, they fold their fingers down, one by one, stating with one – the little finger of the left ‘weak’ hand.
Or six can be the little finger on the second, left hand.
In Gadsup, 6 = apä?tä?te mänayemänä?i – 1 added to ‘weak hand’
So 5 = closed fist, or sometimes, ‘thumb’.
In Bargam, the word for 5 is abainakinta (thumb-1); thumb is abainagin.
Fist should show up in many of the number words for 5, as well. (Trouble is, I don’t know many Papuan languages, and not many travelling language recorders wrote down words for ‘fist’).
I’ll find the connections someday
Sissano Lagoon 1998
Filed under: Uncategorized — richardparker01 @ 2:11 am
This is what happened to Sissano Lagoon and its inhabitants on the evening of 17 July 1998. Such disasters, or similar ones, happen regularly to coastal areas anywhere, and have quite random, but devastating effects. It’s almost as if the Earth and the Sea are casually swatting a few irritants.
This is an area of low-lying coastal plain broken by isolated hills of basement rocks: Oligocene volcanic arc rocks and associated limestone. Further inland, foothills give way to the steep-fronted Bewani and Torricelli ranges. The coastal plain is bounded seaward by a coastal sand barrier that stands 1-2 m above sea level and is typically a few hundred meters across. The sand barrier is highest at the beachfront and slopes gently downwards away from the sea — a common morphology for coastlines where sea level is rising relative to the land, and where there is a steady supply of sand distributed along the coast by longshore drift. Much of the sand barrier is planted with coconut palms and there are occasional large trees (kalopilam Callophylum inophyllum; breadfruit or kapiak Atocarpus altissima; talis Terminalia catappa; and mango Magnifera indica) and thickets of yar (Casuarina equisetifolia).
On the evening of 17 July 1998, on the Aitape coast of Papua New Guinea, a strongly felt earthquake was followed some 10-25 minutes later by a destructive tsunami. The tsunami comprised three waves, each estimated to be about 4 m high. The second of the three waves rose to a height of 10-15 m above sea level after it had crossed the shoreline and caused most damage. Maximum wave heights and greatest damage were recorded along a 14-km sector of coast centered on Sissano Lagoon. In this sector the wave fronts moved from east to west along the coast; all structures were destroyed, and 20-40 percent of the population was killed. Partial destruction extended 23 km to the southeast and 8 km to the northwest, and effects of the tsunami were felt as far as 250 km to the west-northwest, beyond the international border. More than 1600 people are known to have died, with some estimates as high as 2200; 1000 were seriously injured, and 10,000 survivors were displaced.
Before the tsunami, about 12,000 people lived in the coastal villages west of Aitape, from Malol to Sissano. Most houses were of traditional materials, and most were within a few hundred meters of the waterfront and on land that was not more than a few metros above sea level. Each village extended for a kilometer or more along the coast.
The main shock was sufficiently vigorous and prolonged that at Malol, Arop and Warapu people left their houses and moved into open space. At Arop and Warapu cracks opened in the ground, and water squirted upwards, house foundation posts shook and water rose around the posts, and there was a smell of hydrogen sulfide. At Sissano Mission the earthquake caused minor damage to the 62-year-old church, and in the nearby villages some houses collapsed. At Malol the shaking was strong enough to cause concern that the water tanks at the Mission might collapse. At Vanimo, 140 km from the epicenter, the earthquake was described by one long term resident as stronger and more prolonged than any he had experienced.
The main shock was followed, some minutes later, by a loud boom, as though of thunder; this was heard from Sissano to Malol. A few minutes or up to five minutes later there was a roaring sound, variously described as the noise of a low-flying heavy jet plane, the approach of a large ship, or as the woop-woop-woop of a heavy helicopter. The sound progressed eastward along the coast then back again to the west, and was heard all along the coast from Sissano in the west to Aitape High School in the east.
Although the sun had set at 6.37 pm, there was still sufficient daylight that the day’s activities were continuing. Men were painting a canoe, young people were playing touch football and their elders were moving around in the villages. People went to the beach to investigate the unusual noise and observed that the sea was ‘boiling’ or bubbling, and had receded by 50 m or so, exposing the nearshore sea bed. They then saw a wave develop in the distance, as a dark line on a sea surface that otherwise reflected the light of the sky. The wave approached and, when 200-300 m from the beach, started to break, rolling from the top. ‘Smoke’ or haze rose from the top of the wave, and many saw a red glow in the top of the wave.
One observer (John Sanawe, a former Colonel in the PNG Defense Force) reported that he first saw the sea on the skyline rise and explode, sending spray high in the air where it caught and diffracted the late afternoon sunlight into rainbow colors. He then heard a sound like distant thunder. He wondered at hearing thunder on a day when the sky was clear, then linked this sound to the explosion. Then there was a sound like a heavy helicopter, or such as can be heard when a bottle is held under water, and the sea started to retreat from the shore. The rhythm of the helicopter noise slowed as the retreat of the sea slowed. Then there was silence for 4-5 minutes, followed by the noise of a low-flying jet aircraft. Sanawe looked to sea and saw that a wave had formed at or near the site of the explosion. The wave then approached at great speed.
People ran from the approaching waves but almost all were caught. A few escaped by climbing trees, or pushing their boats into the lagoon.
People in the waves were vigorously tumbled and turned in water that was laden with sand and debris. They were stripped of their clothing, lost skin by sand abrasion, were battered by hard objects and some cut or impaled by timber and metal objects. Those who were fortunate were carried into the lagoon and were able to cling to floating debris. An infant was deposited miraculously on the floating roof of a house. Those less fortunate were carried into swampland or into the mangroves that fringe the lagoon where some were impaled or were buried under piles of logs and debris. Some who had survived the initial impact were swept out to sea as the waters receded. Most had ingested water from the waves.
Wave heights, on shore, were 10-15 m above sea level and there was extensive damage for distances of up to 500 m from the coast. Damage was less on either side of a 14-km sector.
By 7.20 or 7.25 pm the water had retreated, though much standing water remained. At this moment, according to survivors, the sky was filled with a yellow or yellow-red glow that provided sufficient light for people to start searching for family members. They said that without the glow this would not have been possible.
At Sissano Lagoon a low haze had advanced with the wave and this now blotted out the stars, so that it became pitch dark, so dark that people moving inland, away from the lagoon, held on to each other to maintain contact.
Rescue began that night, the survivors helping each other. The first outside help arrived 16 hours after the event on the Saturday morning, and a major rescue effort began a day later, 40 hours after the event.
Three concrete slabs (right) are all that remained of the class rooms at Warapu school.
Amazingly, the coconut trees mostly survived.
This photo, taken from the sea’s edge, at Arop village, shows the destruction inland of the belt of coconut palms at the top of the beach.
And there were other horrors accopanyng the waves, which arrived just after dusk:
John Kimene of Nimas was one of a group that was fishing at a drowned reef 8-10 km from the coast at about 10 am on Thursday 16 July 1998. This probably is the reef marked on the map just inside the 200 m isobath, which stands at 82 m depth. As the party trolled 1-2 km west of the submerged reef they were surprised to run into a succession of 2-3 m waves that loomed and steepened as though about to break. They took this to be evidence of a new shoaling of the water in an area that previously had been quite deep. There was a smell of dead fish.
On Friday 17 July 1998 at about noon Tom Kaisiera, a teenager from Nimas, paddled to the same general area and was surprised to find the sea bubbling with odorless gas. The area of bubbling was large, perhaps 100-200 m across. The canoe was drawn toward the center of bubbling area and it was only by paddling strongly that he could escape.
Three unusual lighting effects were reported. Many observers saw a red light on the horizon before the tsunami developed: “After the first earthquake, a long streak of red light like fire appeared just above the ocean on northern horizon, it flashed and then disappeared, then within seconds there was a loud bang”. Also, many observers described a red glow or “fire” in the top of the wave.
After the wave passed, observers at widely separated locations (Warapu, Malol and Raihu) saw a yellow or yellow-red glow in the sky over the sea. “The sky lit up after the wave had destroyed the villages” (observer at Malol) and “after I climbed down from the tree I saw a big light over Arop and in the direction of Aitape” (observer on an island near the lagoon mouth). The Sisters at Malol recall that after the waves had passed they looked seaward and saw a calm golden sea. Warapu survivors recall that the yellow glow in the sky helped light their search for survivors.
I’m indebted to the following excellent report for the pictures and descriptions:
The Aitape 1998 tsunami: Reconstructing the event from interviews and field mapping.
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Tracking your rank is essential to monitor the progress of your organic and paid SEO campaigns. By following what keywords you are ranking for and where your website is positioned with keywords you want it to rank for, you can efficiently allocate more marketing resources to that keyword.
The Problem With Free Website Rankings Tracker Apps
If you’re in a niche of your own and monitoring only a handful of keywords, using a free rank tracker could be the right approach, but we doubt that you’re only going to stick to monitoring five keywords or less, for instance.
You will soon want to expand the number of keywords you’re tracking, be able to track changes on a more frequent basis, get ranking reports for an entire week for your organization (or your clients), and get a bunch of other features that are only available on paid tools.
Going down the free route is a good idea in the beginning, but you’ll find that paid rank trackers won’t break the bank.
Candidate 1. SeoLocalRank
SeoLocalRank has a free rank tracker that you can use to monitor your keyword positions.
website ranking
The great thing about this tool is that it also comes with an SEO metrics analyzer to check out other things about your website, such as page speed insights. However, it does come with its limitations.
Once you create an account, you are taken to the dashboard where you can input your website’s domain. Click on “Add your first keyword” to start the tracking process.
Add your keyword along with the location.
It will now take you to its ranking screen, where you have to give it a few moments to process your keyword.
Now that your keyword is being tracked, it will give you a graph showing the keyword’s position over some time
It will also show you the list of websites that are competing for the top 10 positions.
Read More: Growth Hacks for Your Online Marketplace
The only issue that we have with SeoLocalRank is the number of keywords that you can track. After creating an account, you’ll only be able to monitor five different keywords, and this will surely prove to be limiting, especially for growth hackers who have multiple offerings and require tracking various keywords at a time.
Candidate 2. SEO PowerSuite Rank Tracker
You’ll then get an email from SEO PowerSuite. Click “Create your first project.” You’ll be taken to a page where you can download a trial of their software
Type in your email address and name again.
Click on “Download” and install the file on your computer. We’ve downloaded the one for Mac, but Windows has its version as well.
Once you install the application suite, you’ll be taken to a wizard where you can input your domain name.
The next page will allow you to bind your Google Search Console and Google Analytics account.
Stick in the keywords you want to track on the third window.
You can pick which search engines you want to use to track your keyword rankings. They even have custom tools for you to use to give you an edge in local SEO.
It will now take you to a dashboard where you can track all your ranking activity.
But there’s more.
You can even do keyword research and competitor analysis on the platform itself. We like the SEO Power Suite not because it’s free but because of the amount of work you can do with it. It offers an alternative to having to use different applications for different tasks, and it’s UI is pretty intuitive even for advanced users.
It does have a catch.
You can’t save your work on it since you’re not paying for it, but if you’re up for downloading it on a regular basis – or keeping the application on perpetually – it is workable.
Candidate 3. Traffic Travis
This tool is another application that you can download that offers several other features, such as the SEO PowerSuite application.
After you give them your email address, they’ll send you a link to download their app. Install the app, and you are good to go. Make sure you grab the registration code from the email they will send you.
This will take you to a wizard where you can input your keywords and your domain address. There are a couple of search engine locations that you can use and it doesn’t just limit itself to Google.
After you save the project, give it a few moments to run and it will give you the rankings of your keywords. We found that if you’re ranking far from 100 in the search results, it won’t give you your exact rank.
You can find their rank tracker in the SEO tab.
It also has a host of other features just like SEO PowerSuite.
Like the other members of this list, the application has a bunch of limitations for free users.
You can only have a maximum of two projects and track 30 keywords. It will also show you the top 10 sites ranking for your keyword as well as 100 keyword suggestions.
And, as per usual, you can’t save reports unless you pay for the professional version. This tool is powerful if you want to run a few keywords. They do not have a version for the Mac.
Tracking your rankings is crucial if you want to gauge the growth of your company.
At the same time, your rank tracker can also give you actionable information when it comes to Google updates that are hitting your keywords or competitors getting the upper hand in particular campaigns. This gives you the leeway to adjust your marketing efforts effectively and do something about it.
Here’s what.
We love free rank trackers, and they’re great when you’re first starting, but the issue will remain the same, it’s limited.
As you growth hack and expand your business, you’ll want to keep track of more and more keywords because it’s a measure of how you’re doing in other “markets.” Say for example you have a business that’s all about pets, you might want to rank for “pet food,” but that doesn’t mean you don’t want to rank for “pet toys” either.
Most of the free keyword monitoring tools on our list are limited to only a handful of keywords at a time for convenient tracking.
Then, there’s the issue of the powerful tools that might not be available to you when you need them.
The good news is that we have a lot of these tools to choose from.
We advise that you still go out and get yourself a paid ranking tool when your budget allows it. When you’re first starting, the free versions of website rankings tools can definitely give you an edge, but as you take your growth to the next level, so should your tools.
Read More: Free Keyword Research Tools |
global_01_local_0_shard_00002368_processed.jsonl/51954 | For today’s prompt, write a temptation poem. Nearly everyone is tempted by something: fame, glory, money, chocolate. Today is the perfect day to give in to the temptation to write about your (or “a friend’s”) temptation. Also, I totally understand the temptation to write about The Temptations today.
Turning on the television is too easy.
It should require a crank like early automobiles
instead of pressing a simple button
from the comfort of my couch.
Any given day there’s a marathon
of something mildly entertaining
or I can make my own on-demand
and just slip into a procrastination.
I’ve got a full bag of chips
and some dip that’s nearing expiration.
This wine’s not going to drink itself.
I’ve written enough poems this month.
About Bartholomew Barker
8 Responses to Temptation
1. JeanMarie says:
Are you spying on me? Stop writing about my life! :)
2. Pingback: Quick lunch – ….Bilocalalia….
3. Pingback: Monday Poetry Prompt: Temptation | Living Poetry
4. krishansen4tango says:
Resonates with me!
5. writenaked says:
Love the first stanza! Reminds me of the basic TVs we had when I was in elementary school. One TV didn’t have a remote. It might have been that one, or another, that took about 10 seconds to warm up before you could see ‘the picture.’ You’d hear the voices first. Poetic in itself.
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global_01_local_0_shard_00002368_processed.jsonl/51970 | A message from Jordan: Learning new languages with BYC
Living in such a diverse area means that BYC singers have friends from all over the world, and are already aware of different cultures and languages -- many of them are bilingual themselves! That means that it isn’t a surprise to singers when we program songs in a foreign language. Intermezzo singer Jordan loves to learn new languages! Listen to his thoughts via YouTube.
Through singing repertoire in different languages, singers experience the vast diversity of voices that make up our world. They are taught the importance of learning about other cultures and understanding the stories and traditions of other peoples. Awareness of world cultures is an essential part of our philosophy at BYC - so much so that even auditionees are asked to imitate vocal styles of other cultures in order to join the choirs!
Teaching singers like Jordan how to sing new languages requires well-trained directors and enough sheet music for each child to read. Tuition fees never fully cover these costs, and so we ask for your help to support a child in their pursuit of musical and cultural knowledge.
Will you make a $100 donation today and cover the cost of a new piece of music?
Support BYC
Your support keeps our singers singing! Consider donating as a holiday gift, and ask your friends and relatives for their support as well.
Thank you, and happy holidays! |
global_01_local_0_shard_00002368_processed.jsonl/51973 | Textarea Placeholder with New Lines
It’s been a while since I’ve posted something development related, and as I was just working on a problem that has a relatively easy solution and can apply to so many web sites, I thought I’d share it.
HTML5 comes with a new placeholder attribute, in to which you can place text to show in a form field when it’s empty. Think of it like a suggestion or sample text. In previous lives, we would have had to add the suggestion as the default value, use JavaScript to hide the value on focus, and replace the suggestion on blur if the field was still empty.
Unfortunately, the people behind the design decision of the placeholder attribute have deemed that carriage returns or new lines do not form part of the specification. The rationale, as I understand it, is that a suggestion is a short piece of information to help someone complete the form.
There exists, however, a very common requirement to include sample content that may need new lines. In my case, I wanted to give a suggestion that showed sample comma separated values, which necessitated the inclusion of new lines. This is what it looked like:
Not quite what I was after. So, using some simple jQuery, I augmented just those textarea elements that had a placeholder attribute containing a new line.
The latest code is available as a Gist, the following may be outdated.
Taking the following HTML:
<pre class="lang:xhtml decode:true "><textarea placeholder="key,val
And this Javascript: ```
function textareaPlaceholderNewlines() {
// Store placeholder elsewhere and blank it $(this).attr('data-placeholder', $(this).attr('placeholder')); $(this).attr('placeholder', '');
// On focus, if value = placeholder, blank it $(this).focus(function(e){ if( $(this).val() == $(this).attr('data-placeholder') ) { $(this).attr('value', ''); $(this).removeClass('placeholder'); } });
// On blur, if value = blank, insert placeholder $(this).blur(function(e){ if( $(this).val() == '' ) { $(this).attr('value', $(this).attr('data-placeholder')); $(this).addClass('placeholder'); } });
// Call blur method to preset element - this will insert the placeholder // if the value hasn't been prepopulated $(this).blur(); });
``` As you can see, it uses jQuery, and adding a call to textareaPlaceholderNewlines() in your body ready block will target all applicable elements on the page. (Note that it won't automatically target new elements that would match the CSS selector criteria that are added to the DOM dynamically after initial render.) A final little touch of CSS: ```
textarea.placeholder {
color: #aaa;
And we get: 
And with no additional work (cos it's all in the function above), when you click on or tab to the element, and type away, it looks like a very normal textarea:
This code is released under the [MIT license](http://opensource.org/licenses/MIT), but if you use this anywhere, I'd love you to say hi in the comments...
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global_01_local_0_shard_00002368_processed.jsonl/51990 | Appearances are everything on Amman’s Culture Street
by Alex Ray
Culture Street Shmeisani
A tiny blue and grey Tourist Police kiosk sits at one end of Culture Street, a 350 metre strip of low-rise apartment buildings in Shmeisani, an inner suburb of the Jordanian capital Amman. The area attracts tourists mostly from the wealthy Gulf states: Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and the U.A.E.
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global_01_local_0_shard_00002368_processed.jsonl/51991 | Shelach Lecha 2019
Shelach Lecha
Shelach | | “Send” – Ten spies carried the seeming wisdom of studying and knowing the giants, while Caleb (House of Judah ) and Joshua(House of Ephraim) carried the wisdom of studying and knowing his Most Holy one of Israel.
Judah is My LawGiver and Ephraim will be like a warrior and he will be great in Torah
Manasseh was great in the ways of the world and caring for the Israel community
– Oh! Strangers, Cling/Cleave to the House of Jacob, Oh! Goyim Graft into Stick of Yosef/Efrayim/ Israel Under the divine mandate of Mashiach ben Yosef.
The thirty-seventh reading from the Torah is called Shelach (???), an imperative verb that means “Send out.” Send out for yourself men so that they may spy out the land of Canaan” -Numbers 13:2. The Torah reading tells the tragic story of how the spies returned with a bad report about the Land of Promise and influenced the congregation of Israel to rebel against the HaShem. Thus G-d consigned the generation of Moses to wander in the wilderness for forty years.
• Moses sends twelve spies to the Land of Israel to report on the inhabitants and the country. Despite the positive report of Joshua and Caleb, the people are frightened. –Numbers 13:1–14:10
• G-d threatens to wipe out the Children of Israel but when Moses intercedes on their behalf. To punish the people, G-d announces that all those who left Egypt would not enter the Land of Israel except for Joshua and Caleb. –Numbers 14:11–45
• Moses instructs the Israelites regarding setting aside Challah, the observance of the Sabbath, how to treat strangers, and the laws of tzitzit. -Numbers 15:1–41
Send on your behalf:
Adonai said to Moshe, “Send men on your behalf to reconnoiter the land of Kena‘an, which I am giving to the people of Isra’el. From each ancestral tribe send someone who is a leader in his tribe.” Moshe dispatched them from the Pa’ran Desert as Adonai had ordered; all of them were leading men among the people of Isra’el. Here are their names:
from the tribe of Re’uven, Shamua the son of Zakur;
5 from the tribe of Shim‘on, Shafat the son of Hori;
6 from the tribe of Y’hudah, Kalev the son of Y’funeh;
7 from the tribe of Yissakhar, Yig’al the son of Yosef;
8 from the tribe of Efrayim, Hoshea the son of Nun;
9 from the tribe of Binyamin, Palti the son of Rafu;
10 from the tribe of Z’vulun, Gadi’el the son of Sodi;
11 from the tribe of Yosef, that is, from the tribe of M’nasheh, Gaddi the son of Susi; from the tribe of Dan, ‘Ammi’el the son of G’malli;
13 from the tribe of Asher, S’tur the son of Mikha’el;
14 from the tribe of Naftali, Nachbi the son of Vofsi; and
15 from the tribe of Gad, Ge’u’el the son of Makhi.
– Numbers 13:1–15:41
From the above text about the tribe of Efraim is identified the same as the other tribes, but the tribe of Menashe is identified as a subset of the tribe of Joseph.
“L’matei Yosef, l’matei M’nashe — Gaddi ben Sussi.” -Numbers 13:11
Chizkuni there writes: Even though in the other places one reads Yoseph attached to the name Efraim (see Ezekekiel. 37:16), here it follows the general pattern of relating to the tribe of Menashe, because the two of them spread slander: Yoseph about his brothers ( Genesis 27:2) and the nasi of Menashe about the land (but the nasi of Efraim was Yehoshua bin Nun who did not spread slander). And for this reason in parshat Masa’ei and in sefer Yehoshua one reads again Yoseph attached to the tribe of Menashe, because there it discusses the division of the Land, and there was (still) slander about the land, and since the nasi of Efraim had not spread slander they received a division this like that . i.e., their allotment was like that of the other full tribes.
Rashi explains that only the descendant of Yosef who spoke slander – like Yosef himself – is identified with Yosef. Yehoshua was silent; he did not slander the Land of Israel with the other spies, and is therefore not identified as a descendant of Yosef: “From the tribe of Ephraim, Hoshea the son of Nun,” rather than “From the Tribe of Yosef, from the Tribe of Ephraim,” as is the case with the representative of the Tribe of Menashe: “From the Tribe of Yosef, from the Tribe of Manashe, Gaddi the son of Susi.”
The expression “of the tribe of Joseph,” in Num 13:11, stands for “of the Children of Joseph,” in Num 1:10; Num 34:23 and as it is stated in Num 13:3, “heads of the children of Israel”.
And the twelve tribes are listed differently dependent upon their duties in the scriptures. What is most interested part is in Revelation 7:4-8. The tribe of Dan is missing, but so is Ephraim. Instead, of Ephraim, Joseph is listed. Revelation 7:4-8 lists the tribes:
The only other place “the Tribe of Joseph” is mentioned outside of Revelation 7:8 is compared in in Numbers 13:11, where the twelve spies are chosen. Instead of Ephraim being called the tribe of Joseph, here it is Manasseh: “from the tribe of Joseph (that is) from the tribe of Manasseh… ” Gaddi the Son of Susi..…Numbers 13:11
Natziv on Numbers 2:20 ## In spiritual matters Ephraim takes precedence therefore he was recorded first in the Wilderness Encampment (Numbers 2:18) and in the consecration of the altar. In the ways of this world however Menasseh was primary. This is why Menasseh was counted first in the census just before they were entered the Land (Numbers 26:29). Manasseh had precedence over Ephraim in affairs of this world (Natziv on Numbers 2:20)
A different explanation is given by Rabbi Naphtali Tzvi Berlin (Netziv). In his commentary on the Torah, Ha`amek Davar, he writes: “Ephraim and Manasseh were each great in different ways; Ephraim was great in Torah and adhering to the Lord, while Manasseh was great in the ways of the world and caring for the community.” In his notes, Harhev Davar, he remarks:
It is fitting to bless a person only with such blessing as the Lord has bestowed upon him thus far, a rich person with wealth and a wise person with wisdom… That being the case, it is not fitting to bless a person who does not occupy himself with Torah that he be like Ephraim, or a person who does not occupy himself with worldly affairs that he be like Manasseh. But when a child is circumcised and it is as yet unknown which path the child will follow, then a Jew blesses him, “G-d make you like Ephraim” – if he should grow up to occupy himself with Torah, may he succeed like Ephraim, “and Manasseh” – if he grow up to occupy himself with worldly affairs, may he be like Manasseh.
The Ephraim’s redemption is based on repentance and follow the footsteps of Messiah – And by obeying Voice of Most High, it is under the divine mandate of Mashiach ben Yosef – (Voice of Most High) as we love to call as Rabbi Yeshua our Mashiach.
Thus says HaShem G-d: ‘Surely I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel, his companions; and I will join them with it, with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they will be one in My hand.” – Ezekiel 37:16-24
Baruch HaShem. What a blessing to the House of Jospeh !!!
From: GADDI, a servant of Most High and Disciple of Yeshua Melech Messiah – To The Twelve Tribes in the Diaspora: Shalom!
Gaddi- A Servant of Most High Witness: Who keep the Commandments(Torah) of Most High and have the Testimony of Yeshua haMashiach (i.e He is our Tzaddik, Righteous one, Whom Most High raised him from the dead.
At the coming of Messiah, both the Shekinah and children of Rachel (exiled ones of Israel/remnant of yosef ) comes to the holy land of Israel and will be properly established in Israel.
The remnant ones/exiled ones along with shechinah should cling to the House of Jacob and to go the Holy Land of Israel to welcome the son of David.
As it is written: For HaShem will have mercy on Jacob, and will still choose Israel, and settle them in their own land. The Strangers will be joined with them, and they will Cling to the house of JacobIsaiah 14:1
Send men to spy out the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites; from each of their ancestral tribes you shall send a man, every one a leader among them.
-Numbers 13:2
In the Septuagint, the ancient Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures, “send” [sh’lach] is the Greek word aposteilon. The word “apostles” are sent ones, or sh’lachim. In Matthew 10, we see that the Twelve disciples were called “apostles” when Yeshua sent them out to the “lost sheep of Israel.”
And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease. Now the names of the twelve apostles[apostolon] are these… these twelve Yeshua Sent ( apesteilen ) out and commanded them-Matthew 10:1-2; 5
You shall send one man from each tribe to represent his father’s tribe: The Land of Israel is divided into twelve portions, corresponding to the twelve tribes. And through the efforts of the twelve tribes in elevating the twelve parts of the Land of Israel, the entire world is elevated, since the Land of Israel is a microcosm of the whole world. By traversing the entire land, the delegates prepared the land for the mission their tribe would fulfill: transforming the land to holiness.
The main episode which takes place in Parshat Shelach : When the men sent by Moshe to Scout the land. Although these men are referred to in rabbinic literature as “spies,” the Torah never describes their mission in these terms. Moshe appoints them to tour the land, and they are called, quite simply, men. Only later, in Moshe’s retrospective speech describing these events, is the word ‘spy’ introduced. The Hebrew word that the Torah uses is ??????, which can also mean “traitors” or “deserters”. In Numbers 13:, the Hebrew word describing the group is also the word usually translated as “men” or the word usually translated as “princes”. In addition, the twelve were clearly not trained as spies, nor did they conduct any covert activity, nor did they enlist any indigenous people for later help. Thus, the phrase “Twelve Scouts” or “Twelve Observers” might be an alternative way of describing the group.
You approached me, every one of you, and said, ‘Let’s send men ahead of us to explore the country for us and bring back word concerning what route we should use in going up and what the cities we will encounter are like.’ The idea seemed good to me, so I took twelve of your men, one from each tribe; and they set out, went up into the hills, came to the Eshkol Valley and explored it. -Deuteronomy 1:22-24
Yehudah is My Lawgiver and Efrayim is my chief defense
The ten spies carried the seeming wisdom of studying and knowing the giants, while Caleb (House of Judah ) and Joshua(House of Ephraim) carried the wisdom of studying and knowing His Most High.
And the envy of Ephrayim shall turn aside, and the adversaries of Yehu?ah be cut off. Ephrayim shall not envy Yehu?ah, and Yehu?ah not trouble Ephrayim. -Isaiah 11:13
Sin of the Spies:
And Yosef recognized his brothers, but they did not recognize him. And Yosef remembered the dreams which he dreamed of them, and said to them, ‘You are spies; to see the nakedness of the land you have come.’ And they said to him, ‘No, my lord, your servants came to buy food. We are all one man’s sons; we are honest men, your servants are no spies.’ And he said to them, ‘No, to see the nakedness of the land you have come.’ And they said, ‘Your servants are twelve brothers, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan; and, behold, the youngest is this day with our father, and one is not.’ And Yosef said to them, ‘That is what I spoke to you, saying, You are spies. This is how you shall be tested: By Paroh’s life, you shall not leave here, unless your youngest brother comes here. Send one of you, and let him fetch your brother, and you shall be kept in prison, that your words may be proven, whether there is any truth in you; or else by the life of Pharaoh surely you are spies.’ And he put them all together under guard for three days. -Genesis 42:8-17
In these two sections we find no connection but it seems to be opposite’s. The “sin of the spies” deals with spies who are called men, and Yosef’s accusation of the brothers deals with men who are called spies. Let us carefully analyse the elements of each story: The first striking similarity or common theme is the number of people involved. While it is true that Moshe sent twelve men, only ten of them were spies. The remaining two, Calev and Yehoshua, had no part in the slanderous report or its tragic results. Of Yaakov’s twelve sons, only ten were accused of being spies: Binyamin was at home and Yosef was the unknown accuser.
We know that the men who were sent to spy out the land of Canaan were not just the heads of the tribes. They were righteous souls or Moses would have not sent them. So why did they tell lies about the land in their reports to Moses? Both the Zohar and the Midrash explain that the spies were afraid of what would come and everyone would know the secrets of Creation, causing them to lose their power as the heads of their tribes since they would then be redundant.
The Zohar explains: Come see how insidious evil speech is, because of it our ancestors were forbidden to enter the land, and because of it there was crying for many generations. (Zohar 3, 161a) The sin of the spies was speaking badly about the land of Israel.
Speech is the ability to take the Divine and put it in this world. This is why misusing speech is so evil. The sin of evil speech tarnishes the image of G-d within us. Furthermore, to speak about another person in a negative manner is tantamount to rejecting the image of God in that person. Therefore we may say that evil speech is the misuse of our divinity in order to reject the divinity of G-d.
THE ORIGINS OF SPEECH: The Lord G-d then formed the man [from] the dust of the ground, and He blew into his nostrils the breath of life. And so man became nefesh chayah. -Genesis 2:7. The Targum translates nefesh chayah as “the spirit of speech.” According to this approach, the ability to speak is the result of the merger of the physical and the spiritual within man. Man alone among creation is endowed with this ability, a result of having a soul.
The Zohar explains that this sin of misusing words — lashon hara, “evil speech” — is the sin of the serpent, and G-d will forgive all except the sin of lashon hara (Zohar ibid).
No wonder the Temple was destroyed because of lashon hara. This awareness of the sanctity of speech will also give us an appreciation of another passage in the Torah. When the people complain about not having water, God tells Moses: ‘Speak to the rock in front of them (The congregation) and it will yield its water’ … Moses lifted his hand and struck the rock with his staff … And G-d said to Moses and Aaron, ‘Because you didn’t believe in Me to sanctify Me in front of the children of Israel, you will not bring this nation to Israel.” (Numbers 20:8-12) What was the great offense which Moses and Aaron committed? They were told to speak to the rock, to sanctify G-d by speech. Had they done so, this would have cured the lashon hara uttered by the spies. But they did not and they lost the opportunity to enter the land. Perhaps now we understand why the mitzorah, “the leper” would have to come to the Kohen for healing. The role of Aaron, as the High Priest, was to “love peace and pursue it.” The person guilty of misusing speech needed to spend time in the presence of a Kohen in order to learn how to love. The Sages also explain that the various rites prescribed are meant to bring about humility. Additionally, we can understand why the Sages say that when we speak in an evil manner our homes are affected.
THE ANTIDOTE for Lashon Hara:
The Talmud discusses the possibility of a cure for lashon hara: If he is a scholar then let him be occupied with Torah … a common person, let him humble himself.” -Arachin 15b
As the Mishnah states in Ethics of Our Fathers, “You are not responsible to finish the job, yet you are not free to desist from it.” Our job is to start the task, to put our best effort into it. G-d will then decide whether or not we accomplish our goal.
“It is not for you to complete the work, neither are you free to idle away from it.” Rather, all we need is to act, as it is written, “Whatever your hand finds to do by your strength, that do” -Ecclesiastes 9:10. And the minute we come to a point of complete shattering, then “The Lord will fight for you” – Exodus 14:14.
In life, when we have a task or mission to accomplish, our responsibility is to get started, not to think about whether we can complete the task or not.– Rabbi Moshe Feinstein
Numbers 13:1-15:41
Haftarah Portion
Joshua 2:1-24
Ha-Berit ha-Hadashah
Mark 10:1-45
“These are the shmot of the men which Moshe sent to spy out the land. And Moshe called Hoshea ben Nun Yehoshua. -Numbers 13:16
Moshe added the letter ? to Hoshea’s name, so that his name would begin with the letters of G-d’s name “??”. The Hebrew name Yehoshua means, G-d save or G-d will save, which signifies that Moshe prayed, “May G-d save you (Yehoshua) from the conspiracy of the spies.” Here we find a great mystery revealed in Sod Torah. The Zohar likens Yehoshua as the “Youth” which is known as Metatron, the Spirit of Mashiach (Zohar 65b), who embodies the Shekinah(Zohar 94b). We also see that here Yehoshua is from the Tribe of Ephrayim which would produce Mashiach ben Yosef, the suffering Messiah, which the Zohar teaches would arrive in the land of the Galil, Northern Israel from which the wound of exile began from Ephrayim, -Zohar 8b-9a
Joshua Ben Nun : Nun is fifty. It is the fiftieth degree, fifty gates of Bina. Joshua, like Moses, pulls. Joshua saves the children of Israel, bringing them to the fiftieth degree, the gates of Bina. Moses completed the degree of forty because he passed away at the entrance to the land of Israel, and Joshua succeeded him.
Moshe picked the best possible people for the mission; “they were all leaders, the heads of the Israelites” ( Numbers 13:3). He gave them very specific instructions as to what to look for, trying to steer them in the right direction. Yet he had a gnawing suspicion that even with these precautions, the mission was doomed. He prayed for his star student, Joshua, to be saved from the murmurings of the spies, even changing his name to reflect his prayer that “G-d should save you from the report of the spies” (Rashi, v. 16).
A Young Man, Son of Nun:
a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle. -Exodus 33:11
Soncino Zohar, Shemoth, Section 2, Page 164a – Then he began to expound to them this verse: A song of degrees for Solomon (li-shelomoh). Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it; except the Lord guard the city, the watchman waketh but in vain (Ps. CXXVII, 1-2). Said he: ‘Was it Solomon who composed this Psalm when he built the Temple? (for li-shelomoh could be understood to mean “of Solomon”). Not so. It was King David who composed it, about his son Solomon, when Nathan came to him (David) and told him that Solomon would build the Temple. Then King David showed unto his son Solomon, as a model, the celestial prototype of the Temple, and David himself, when he saw it and all the activities connected with it, as set forth in the celestial idea of it, sang this psalm concerning his son Solomon. There is also yet another interpretation, namely, that “for Solomon” (li-shelomoh) refers to Him “whose is the peace” (shalom), and this psalm is a hymn above all hymns, which ascends higher than all. “Except the Lord build the house”: King David saw all the seven pillars upon which that house, the Universe, stands-for they stand row upon row-and above them all is the Master of the House, who advances with them, giving them power and strength, to each in turn. It is concerning this that King David said: “Except the King, whose is the peace, and who is the Master of the House, build the house, they labour in vain that build it”-that is to say, the pillars. Except the Lord-the King, whose is the peace-guard the city, “the watchman waketh but in vain”. This is the pillar upon which the Universe stands, namely the “Righteous” who keeps waking guard over the City. The Tabernacle which Moses constructed had Joshua for its wakeful and constant guard; for he alone guarded it who is called the “young man”, namely Joshua, of whom it says: “Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the Tent” (Ex. XXXIII, 11). Later in its history it was another “young man” who guarded it, namely Samuel (I Sam. 1l, I8), for the Tabernacle could be guarded only by a youth. The Temple, however, was guarded by the Holy One Himself, as it is written, “Except the Lord guard the City, the watchman waketh but in vain”.And who is the watchman? The “young man”, Metatron. And you, holy saints, ye are not guarded as the Tabernacle was guarded, but as the Temple was guarded, namely, by the Holy One Himself; for, whenever the righteous are on a journey the Holy One guards them continually, as it is written: “The I,ord shall keep thy going out and thy coming in from now and forever” (Ps. CXXI, 9).’ Then they accompanied him on his journey for a distance of three miles, and, parting from him, returned to their own way, and they were moved to quote these words concerning him. “For he shall give his angels charge over thee to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands” (Ps. XCI, 11, I2); and “Thy father shall be glad and thy mother rejoice” (Prov. XXIII, 25).
Joshua, A Young Man who “slew Amalek” as it is “the sword” itself that does the slaying, “executing the vengeance of the covenant” ( i.e., Messiah ben Yoseph).
Secret of Shekinah:
“R. Abba said: ‘As he “Yehoshua” was being sent for the purpose of entering the land, it was requisite that he should be perfect, which through the Shekinah, for up to that time he has been called “a youth”, and therefore Moshe joined the Shekinah with him. -Zohar 158b
Rabbi Aba said: As soon as MOSES sent JOSHUA to go there, TO THE LAND OF YISRAEL, he needed to be perfect. And in what way? With the Shechinah, SINCE THE LAND OF YISRAEL IS THE SECRET OF THE SHECHINAH. Until that time, he was considered a young man, as we have explained, MEANING THAT HE WAS ATTACHED TO METATRON REFERRED TO AS YOUNG MAN. At that time, Moses tied him to THE SHECHINAH. He was referred to in the scriptures prior to that as Joshua because the scriptures referred to him according to what he was destined to be called. Moses said: Most certainly, it is not proper for him to arrive there except by the Shechinah and that is appropriate. THEREFORE, HE CALLED HIM JOSHUA ADDING THE YUD TO HIS NAME, WHICH IS THE SECRET OF THE SHECHINAH.
The Shekinah was joined to Mashiach, this is what the Zohar means that Metatron embodies the Shekinah: Zohar 94b “Which is the body of the King’s daughter? Metatron; and this same body is identical with the handmaid of the Shekinah……..For at that time they were in the grade of ‘servants’, represented by Metatron, who is but the bearer of the Shekinah. Thus the Torah is hinting at a mystery, showing then Yehoshua ben Nun was a shadow of the one to come. And like Yehoshua ben Nun who was from Efrayim which represented Mashiach ben Yosef,
In other words the restoration of Israel is by Melech Mashiach whom Yehoshua ben Nun was liken unto. But if Rebbe Y’shua Ha’Netzer is Mashiach why was Israel not restored yet? His talmidim asked the same question:
And at yechidus, having come together, they were asking him saying, “Adoneinu, is it at this time that You are restoring the Malchut Hashem to Am Yisroel? But he said to them, “It is not for you to have da’as of the itim (times) or moadim (seasons) which [Elohim] HaAv has set by His own samchut (authority). But you will receive ko’ach when the Ruach Hakodesh has come upon you, and you all will be the Eidus (the Witness) of me, in Yerushalayim, and in all Yehudah, and Shomron and as far as ad ketzeh ha’aretz.-Acts 1:6-8
As the Zohar states that Moshe joined the Shekinah with Yehoshua ben Nun, Rebbe Y’shua tells his talmidim that when they are joined with the Shekinah as He was then the restoration of Israel would begin according to the Eternal Father’s time line. The Netzarim saw the in-gathering of a greater Israel from which their brother’s from the North were exiled and just as Mashiach would arrive in the North of the Galil to begin this in-gathering, the Netzarim saw the goyim which Israel assimilated into was apart of the bigger picture to restoring Israel according to the heavenly father’s time-line.
Rebbe Y’shua ben Yosef appeared in the Galil to begin the restoration of Israel.
As Yeshua walked alongside the Galilee Sea, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew, throwing fishing nets into the sea, because they were fishermen. – Matthew 4:18
Yeshua returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news about him spread throughout the whole countryside. – Luke 4:14
When speaking of this level of G-d’s presence, the concepts of “Shekinah” and “Ruach haKodesh” are used – both ‘feminine’ terms.
The Book of “New Testament” makes use of the term “Holy Spirit” which at that in Jewish history was another way of referring to the Shekinah:
The Shekinah (“Dwelling”) is the personified Presence of God. In the Talmudic period, the Shekinah was identified with the “Holy Spirit.” (Ruach ha Kodesh) … Both Hebrew terms are of the feminine gender. Still in Talmudic times, the Shekinah became identified with the “Community of Israel” (also a feminine term), and as such represented Israel in its relationship with G-d.
When Israel goes into exile (at the hand of the nations and their spiritual powers), the Shekinah goes with them and functions in a different capacity.
The Zohar Writings: Soncino Zohar, Bereshith, Section 1, Page 174a – Whilst they were walking, R. Jose said to R. Eleazar: ‘It has been said that with Rachel’s death the house was transferred to Her who required to be adorned with twelve tribes. Nevertheless, why should Rachel have died immediately after the birth of Benjamin?’ R. Eleazar in reply said: ‘It was in order that the Shekinah should be duly crowned and take her place in the house as “a joyful mother of children”. With Benjamin, the Shekinah was equipped with the full twelve tribes, and with him the kingdom of heaven began to be made manifest on earth. Now the beginning of any manifestation is brought about with strain, and involves a doom of death before it can become established. Here, when the Shekinah was about to assume her rightful place and to take over the house, the doom fell upon Rachel. Similarly, when the kingdom was about to be made manifest on earth, it commenced with a judgement, and the kingdom was not established in its place until a doom had fallen upon Saul, in accordance with his deserts; and only then was it established. It is a general rule that beginnings are rough, whereas the subsequent course is smooth. Thus, on New Year’s day (Rosh-hashana) the year opens with severity, as the whole world passes under judgement, each individual according to his deeds, but soon after comes relief and forgiveness and atonement. The reason is that the beginning is from the left side, and so it brings harsh judgements, until the right side is aroused and ease follows. In time to come God will first treat the idolatrous nations gently and indulgently, but afterwards with severity and stern judgement. So Scripture says: “The Lord will go forth as a mighty one, he will stir up jealousy as a warrior; he will cry, yea, he will shout aloud, he will prove himself mighty against his enemies” (Is. XLII, 13); which interpreted means that first He will manifest Himself as YHVH (the Lord), in His attribute of mercy, then as a mighty one, but not in His full might, then as a warrior, but not in His full war panoply, and finally, His whole might will become manifest against them in order to exterminate them, so that “he will cry, yea, he will shout aloud, he will prove himself mighty against his enemies.” Again, it is written: “Then shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fighteth in the day of battle” (Zech. XIV, 3). Also: “Who is this that cometh from Edom with crimson garments from Bozrah? etc.” (Is. LXIII, 1).’ AND IT CAME TO PASS, AS HER SOUL WAS IN DEPARTING FOR SHE DIED-THAT SHE CALLED HIS NAME BEN-ONI; BUT HIS FATHER CALLED HIM BENJAMIN. R. Judah discoursed on the verse: The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that take refuge in him (Nahum I, 7). ‘Happy’, he said, ‘is the man who finds his strength in the Holy One, blessed be He, since His strength is invincible. The Lord is indeed “good to all” (Ps. CXLV, 9), “a stronghold”, wherein is salvation, as we read: “He is a stronghold of salvation” (Ibid. XXVIII, 8); “in the day of trouble”, to wit, in the day of Israel’s oppression at the hand of other nations.
Soncino Zohar, Bereshith, Section 1, Page I89a – R. Simeon said: ‘The clause “Who commandeth the sun, and it riseth not” applies to Joseph, whilst the sequel, “and sealeth up the stars”, applies to his brethren, regarding whom he said, “And eleven stars bowed down to me.” Alternatively, “Who commandeth the sun” is an allusion to Jacob at the time his sons said to him: “Know now whether it is thy son’s coat or not”; “that it shineth not” is a reference to the time when the Shekinah departed from him; whilst “sealeth up the stars” implies that through his sons Jacob’s light was sealed and closed up, the sun for him was darkened and the stars did not shine-all because Joseph was separated from his father. And note that from the day on which Joseph disappeared Jacob abstained from marital intercourse and observed all the other rites of mourning until the day the good tidings of Joseph reached him.’ AND THE LORD WAS WITH JOSEPH, AND HE WAS A PROSPEROUS MAN; AND HE WAS IN THE HOUSE OF HIS MASTER THE EGYPTIAN . R. Jose quoted here the verse: “For the Lord loveth justice, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever” (Ps. XXXVII, 28). ‘Observe’, he said ‘that wherever the righteous walk, God protects them and never abandons them, as David said: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me; thy rod and staff they comfort me” (Ibid. XXIII, 4); wherever the righteous walk the Shekinah accompanies them and does not abandon them. Joseph walked through the valley of the shadow of death, having been brought down to Egypt, but the Shekinah was with him, as we read: “And the Lord was with Joseph”, and by reason of the presence of the Shekinah all that he did prospered in his hand; so much so that if he had something in his hand and his master wanted something of a different kind, it changed in his hand to the kind his master wanted.
Though the Shekinah is considered to be G-d’s presence in the world. The Zohar speaks of the Shekinah as follows:
Soncino Zohar, Bereshith, Section 1, Page 159b – In a similar sense it is written: “And G-d remembered Rachel”, which has a meaning similar to that of the passage”and I remembered my covenant”. Now, if we say that the term “visiting” is used only of the female principle (the Shekinah), we are met with a difficulty in the text: “I have surely visited you”. For how could the Shekinah speak thus, seeing that she was herself in exile, and, in fact, how could she appear to Moses at all? But in truth there is a deep significance in this passage. For as the sun, although his centre is in heaven, yet spreads his power and might throughout the earth, so that the whole earth is full of his glory, so, as long as the Temple was in existence, the whole earth, to wit, the Holy Land, was full of G-d’s glory; but now that Israel is in exile, the Shekinah is on high, but still her might surrounds Israel so as to shield them, even when they are in a strange land. For the Shekinah is both here below and on high. The Shekinah on high abides in the twelve holy chariots and the twelve supernal Hayyoth; the lower Shekinah is among the twelve holy tribes, and thus the upper Shekinah and the lower Shekinah are intertwined, and both operate together and simultaneously. Now, when Israel is in exile, the upper Shekinah is not complete because the lower Shekinah is not complete, and that is what is meant by the Shekinah being in exile when Israel is in exile. It is like a king who has lost a son, and who as a sign of his mourning turns over his couch and spreads thistles and thorns on its underside and then lays himself down on it. Similarly when Israel went into exile and the Temple was destroyed, G-d took thorns and thistles and put them underneath Him, as it were, as it is written: “And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a thorn-bush” (Ex. III, 2), the reason being that Israel was in exile.
Zohar 9a “He will tarry for twelve months longer: ‘I will raise up on that day the tabernacle of Da’vid that is fallen’ ( Amos 9:11 ). On that day the Messiah will begin to gather the captives from one end of the world to the other:..
“The Betulat Yisroel is fallen; she shall no more rise; she is forsaken in her own land; there is none to raise her up. The Zohar says: (Zohar 6b “but in this exile Hakodosh Baruch Hu, will Himself take her [Israel] by the hand and raise her and comfort her and restore her to his palace. So it is written: ‘In that say I will raise up the tabernalce of Da’vid that is fallen’ ( Amos 9:11 ), the tabernacle of Da’vid being identical with the ‘Virgin of Israel’.
just as it has been written, After these things I will return and AKIM ES SUKKAT DOVID HANOFELET VHARISOTAV AKIM U’VENITIHA (“I will restore the tent of Dovid which has fallen and the things having been torn down of it I will rebuild and I will restore it”), So that the she’erit (remnant) of anashim might seek Hashem and all the GOYIM who are called by my Name, Says the L-rd, who makes these things known from long ago. -Amos 9:11f Targum HaShivim, 12; Jeremiah 12:15; Isaiah 45:21″
Calev and Yehoshua:
“Caleb silenced the people toward Moses and said, ‘We shall surely ascend and
conquer it, for we can surely do it!’ ” -Bamidbar 13:30
Calev receives his inspiration in Hevron, from the Avot who are buried in Hevron. Calev prays for himself.
Gemara in Sota : ‘They went up via the Negev and HE came to Hevron.’ ( Numbers 13:22) It should read: ‘And THEY came up to Hevron!’ Rava taught: This tells us that Calev separated himself from the council of the Spies and went to pray upon the graves of our forefathers. He prayed: My fathers! Seek mercy on my behalf that I be saved from the conspiring plans of the Spies. As for Yehoshua, Moshe had already beseeched G-d on his behalf, as it states: ‘Moshe named Hoshea bin Nun Yehoshua’ (13:6) – May G-d save you from the evil council of the Spies. This explains the phrase ‘And my servant Calev had a different spirit about him.’ (Sota 34b)
The Gemara here makes a deeply insightful contrast between Calev and Yehoshua that will be critical for our analysis. Calev “has a different spirit” – he has his own will, independence of opinion. He enters Hevron alone in order to pray at the graves of the forefathers and ask G-d to grant him strength to retain his own perspective, his independent mind.
In Devarim 1:35 we read: “Not one of these men, this evil generation shall see the good land… none except Calev ben Yeffunneh; he shall see it, and to him and his descendents I will give the land on which he set foot…”
Later in Sefer Yehoshua we read the following episode: ’The tribe of Judah approached Yehoshua in Gilgal; and Caleb the son of Yeffunneh the Kenizzite said to him: You know what the LORD told Moshe … concerning me … I was forty years old when Moshe the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh-Barnea to spy out the land; and I brought him back word as it was in my heart. Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt; but I wholly followed the LORD my G-d. And Moshe swore on that day, saying: Surely the land upon which your foot has trodden shall be an inheritance to you and to your children for ever … And now, behold, the LORD has kept me alive, as He spoke, these forty and five years … I am this day eighty five years old. I am as strong today as I was in the day that Moshe sent me; as my strength was then … Now therefore give me this mountain of which the Lord spoke that day; for you heard how the giants were there … and I shall drive them out … And Yehoshua blessed him; and he gave Hebron to Calev the son of Yeffunneh as an inheritance.‘ -Joshua 14:6-13
Yehoshua is different. It is Moshe who prays for Yehoshua. Moshe is the source of Yehoshua’s strength. Gemara puts it, he bestows G-d’s protective blessing upon him.
Tzitzit – Mitzvah:
The Torah commands us to wear the tzitzit, which are fringes or tassels, at the four borders (Heb: tzitzit – corners, wings) of our garments. The Israelites are to make fringes (Heb. tzitziyot) on the four borders or corners (Heb. kanaph, meaning “wings, mantle or skirt”) of their garments. The word tzitzit (tzadik-yud-tzadik-tav) means “tassel or lock [of hair]”)
These tassels were to hang down from the four corners of one’s garment. Interestingly The Stone Edition Chumash notes that the Hebrew word tzitzit is related to the word hetzeytz (hey-tzadikyud-tzadik soffit) meaning “to peer at something intently with sparkling eyes” (p. 817). The only place this word is used in the Scriptures is in the Song of Songs 2:9. Here the beloved (a metaphorical and prophetic picture of Messiah) is peering, gazing or peeping with sparkling eyes of love through the window at his bride (the redeemed holy ones). Rather, one should gaze intently and admiringly at their tzitziyot, while considering the deeper, spiritual significance of them, even as one might think of the deeper implications of their wedding ring.
Scripture says about the wearing of fringes:
And Yahweh spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes (Hebrew: tzitzit) in the borders(Heb: Kanaph – corners, wings) of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe of the borders a ribband of blue: And it shall be unto you for a fringe (tzitzit), that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of Yahweh, and do them; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring: That ye may remember, and do all my commandments, and be holy unto your Elohim. I am Yahweh your Elohim, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your Elohim: I am Yahweh your Elohim. -Numbers 15:37 – 41
As we see it, the commandment of tzitzit has two stages: shunning evil (“so that you do not follow your heart”), followed by doing good (“to be holy to your G-d”).
It is as a correction, a tikkun, for this behaviour that the Israelites are given the commandment of tzitzit, a constant reminder, for all generations, not to be follow one’s eyes and one’s heart to do what is wrong but to remember G-d’s commandments.
Light of the Eyes on the Tzizit : Now it is known thd the commandment of tzizit is sometimes considered as precious as all the other commandments put together, since it constantly reminds one of God. When you look at the fringes at the four corners you are reminded of the One whose glory fills all the earth. Scripture also says: “You shall see it and remember all the commandments of the Lord” (Num. 15:39). This is an assurance: it is within the power of the tzizit to remind a person that there is an infinite Creator and that “the whole earth is filled with His glory,” that in all the four directions there is no place devoid of Him. All this is because zizit are explicitly called “a reminder” in the Torah. He who merits will understand how this is true in an inward way. through this commandment a person may be reminded of God and come to return to Him, being a throne for His glory. tzizit is related to the word for “peering” (meziz) as in “He peers through the lattice” (Song of Songs 2:9): it is a matter of looking. It is this act of looking that brings one to repent, to restore the infinite light upon one.
Another way to fulfill the command of tzitzit is to wear a talit gadol [prayer shawl] during prayers.
Blue Thread – Throne of Glory
The tzitzit are also to have a blue thread in them, made of wool. If you remember, there was to be no mixing of wool and linen in the clothing of G-d’s people because only the priests could wear the mixture of wool and linen – that is, except for this blue thread woven into the tzitzit of the common man.
Three commands—blue ribbon: Tell Israel to make fringes upon the borders of their garments. Put a ribbon of blue on the fringes. It is a sign for you to remember and do all the commandments of the L-rd – Numbers 15:39-40.
In the Talmud, this time in Menachot 43b, Rabbi Meir gives us an answer.
“It was taught: Rabbi Meir used to say, Why is blue specified from all the other colours? Because blue resembles the colour of the sea, and the sea resembles the colour of the sky, and the sky resembles the colour of a sapphire, and a sapphire resembles the colour of the Throne of Glory, as it is said, And there was under his feet as it were a paved work of sapphire stone (Exodus 24:10), and it is also written, The likeness of a throne as the appearance of a sapphire stone (Ezekiel 1:26).”
In other words, blue reminds us of the Glory of the Lord, and thus makes us conscious of His commandments. Another interpretation, based on facts known to us today, is that blue in antiquity symbolized wealth, magnificence and nobility. Perhaps the blue fringe in the tzitzit, as well as the blue fringes tied to the breastplate and frontlet of the High Priest (Exodus 28:28, 37; 39:21, 31), were signs of greatness and importance, marking the priest who was elevated over his brothers, and marking the people who were chosen by G-d to be “His treasured people who shall observe all His commandments” (Deut. 26:18).
It was G-d’s intention that all His people were to be as priests before Him, as Peter says: But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of G-d, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy. -1 Peter 2:9-10
Sun of Righteousness:
The Sun of Righteousness would be the Messiah, who would have the power to heal who ever touched the tzitzit (fringes) on his garment.
Thou shalt make thee fringes (tzit-tzit) upon the four borders (Heb: “Kanaph” – corners, wings) of thy vesture, wherewith thou coverest thyself. -Deuteronomy 22:12
its mention of Kanaph is found in Exodus 19:4 : “Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings (kanaph), and brought you unto myself.”
Here we can concur that through the “kanaph” there is deliverance. The children of Israel were delivered or set free from the Egyptians because G-d bare them on eagles’ kanaph, and brought them unto Himself.
The themes of sh’lachim [sent ones] and tzitzit are further joined in the words of the Most High spoke through Zechariah the prophet.
Yes, many peoples and strong nations shall come to seek HaShem of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before HaShem. Thus says HaShem of hosts: “In those days ten men from every language of the nations shall grasp [chezyku = strongly cling to] the garment corner [ bi-kh’naf = in the corner, the wing] of a Jewish man, saying, ‘Let us go with you, for we have heard that G-d is with you.’”
-Zechariah 8:22-23
prophecy in Malachi chapter 4: 1- 6
For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith Yahweh of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings (tzit-tzit); and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith Yahweh of hosts. Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgements. Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of Yahweh: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.
The woman was reaching for the fringes of His Garment.
And suddenly a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and touched the hem of His garment – Matthew 9:20
Hem: a tassel of twisted wool . The Hebrew word is: “tsiytsith”. It was required to be on the four corners of the clothing of every Jewish male in accordance with G-d’s instructions.
…came from behind and touched the border of His garment. And immediately her flow of blood stopped -Luke 8:44
…and begged Him that they might only touch the hem of His garment. And as many as touched it were made perfectly well – Matthew 14:36
Wherever He entered, into villages, cities, or the country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and begged Him that they might just touch the border of His garment. And as many as touched Him were made well – Mark 6:56
SHELACH LECHA – By Rabbi Avraham Greenbaum
With the arrival of the summer solstice and the longest day of the year, we are now standing on the threshold of TEKUFAT TAMMUZ, “the season of the month of Tammuz”, the hottest time of the year. For long hours every day, Eretz Yisrael is bathed in dazzlingly bright light. It is appropriate that kabbalistically, this season is associated with the human faculty of vision. (The tribe associated with the month of Tammuz, which begins in little more than a week’s time, is Reuven — REU-BEN: “SEE! A son!”)
The theme of purifying and refining our principle faculties was introduced at the beginning of the previous parshah, BEHA’ALOSCHA. As discussed in our commentary, the seven lamps of the Menorah allude to the seven “lamps” of the head: the two eyes, two ears, two nostrils and the mouth. The highest of all are the eyes, and the visual image of the Menorah with which BEHA’ALOSCHA begins (“according to the VISION that HaShem SHOWED Moses”) initiates a series of parshiyot all of which prominently feature the faculty of vision.
As we will discuss presently, this certainly applies to SHELACH LECHAH, with its theme of “spying out the Land”. It also applies to the ensuing parshiyot: In KORACH we find that Korach rebelled because he was deceived by his own VISION, while all the children of Israel SAW that the Staff of Aaron sprouted. In CHUKAS we learn that when sprinkling the blood of the Red Heiffer, the priest had to LOOK towards the entrance of the Sanctuary, while the bitten Israelites had to GAZE at the bronze serpent. “And Balak SAW.” (Numbers 22:2). “And Bilaam SAW.” (24:1). “And Pinchas SAW.” (25:7) “And HaShem said to Moses, Go up. and SEE the land that I have given to the Children of Israel” (27:12).
The theme of vision is paramount in SHELACH LECHA. The parshah begins with G-d telling Moses to send men who “will SPY OUT the Land of Canaan which I am giving to the Children of Israel”. The parshah ends with the passage recited by every Israelite in the SHEMA morning and evening: “They will make for themselves TZITZIS on the fringes of their garments. and you shall LOOK at it and remember all the commandments of HaShem and you shall do them, AND YOU SHALL NOT GO SPYING AFTER YOUR HEARTS AND AFTER YOUR EYES that you went astray after them.” (Numbers 15:38-39). The same word for spying occurs in the opening and closing verses of the parshah, highlighting the importance of the theme of vision throughout the parshah. The Tzitzis are the remedy for faulty and sinful vision.
In the words of Rashi’s comment on the latter verse (Numbers 15:39): The heart and the eyes are spies for the body, and they act as the body’s agents in sinning. The eye sees, the heart desires and the body carries out the sins.” The fringes of the Tzitzis surrounding us on all four sides, are a visual reminder of G-d’s presence everywhere. The blue TECHEILES thread in the Tzitzis is the color of the sea, which is a reflection of the color of the heavens, the seat of G-d’s glory.
Tzitztis is the first mitzvah to which a young boy is introduced (customarily at the age of 3), because this mitzvah comes to remedy the vision of the eyes, which caused Adam’s downfall. “And the woman SAW that the tree was good for food and it was desirable to the EYES. and she ate and she gave also to her husband with her” (Genesis 3:6).
Likewise, it was deceptive vision that led to the fall of the Children of Israel forty days after the revelation at Sinai. “And the people SAW that Moses’ was delayed in coming down from the mountain.” (Exodus 32:1). According to the sages, Satan deceived the people with a “desert mirage” of Moses being carried up dead to heaven. They didn’t want an invisible leader. They wanted one they could see with their own eyes. “And the people gathered against Aaron and said to him, Rise, make us gods who will go before us.” (Exodus 32:1). They couldn’t stand not being able to see G-d. They felt impelled to violate the Second Commandment against making graven images. They wanted a visual representation of the divine — the demanded to see the unseeable — but their representation turned into an idol, giving a license to lust.
In the sin of the Golden Calf, the heart went astray after the image before the eyes. The sin took place at the very height of TEKUFAT TAMUZ (season of Vision), on the 17th of the month. The sin of the Golden Calf led to all the subsequent trials and tribulations of the Children of Israel, represented in the Forty Years of Wandering in the Wilderness (for it is only after 40 years that a person attains BINAH, “understanding” — Avot 5:21). Although the decree of forty years wandering was specifically incurred through the sin of the spies, Rashi (on Numbers 14:33) tells us that “From the moment they made the calf, this decree arose in His Thought. Except that He waited for them until their measure was filled, as it says (Exodus 32:34): ‘On the day of my visitation I will visit upon them their sin’ “.
The forty-year penalty corresponded to the forty-day journey of the Twelve Spies from the Wilderness around the Land of Israel. This also took place during TEKUFAS TAMUZ, one year after the sin of the golden calf. The spies left at the end of Sivan, they were travelling around Israel during the entire month of Tammuz, and they arrived back at the Israelite camp in the Wilderness only on the 9th day of the month of Av.
On their tour of the land, the spies saw exactly what they wanted to see. With the exception of Joshua and Kalev, they rejected the vision of the forefathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. They did not want to accept the traditional report that their ears alone had heard: that G-d promised to take them to a land “flowing with milk and honey”. They could not take it on trust. They wanted to check it out with their own eyes and decide for themselves. And they saw what they wanted to see: a real place, a land governed by natural laws, where people live and die. A beautiful land, but one which it was against all the laws of nature that the puny ex-slave Israelites could conquer in the face of a sea of entrenched Amalekites and Canaanites. “And we were in our own eyes as grasshoppers, and so we were in their eyes” (Numbers 13:33).
The sin of the spies was a failure of faith. They allowed themselves to be misled by the external appearance of the natural world into a colossal failure of nerve, despite all the promises given by G-d that He would bring them to the land. The faith of Israel does not depend upon what the eyes see. On the contrary, we declare our faith wrapped in the Tallis, clutching the Tzitzis by our hearts, closing our eyes to the visual world around us and covering them with our hand: “Sh’ma Yisrael, HaShem is our G-d.!” Only Joshua and Kalev closed their eyes to external appearances, knowing that with G-d’s help, it is possible to “bend” nature. “We will go up and take possession of it, for He can — we can — (conquer) it.”
Eretz Yisrael looks like a regular country with houses, roads, fields, forests and mountains, etc. (as Rabbi Nachman put it, “these actual stones and houses”). Yet in reality, the law of the land is totally beyond nature. It is: “A land that HaShem your G-d cares for constantly, the EYES of HaShem your G-d are on it from the beginning of the year and until the end of the year” (Deut. 11:12).
Every Israelite recites the law of the Land of Israel twice daily, morning and evening in the Sh’ma: “And if you will surely listen to My commandments. And I will give the rain of your land in its season.and you will eat and be satisfied. Guard yourself lest your heart seduces you and you go astray. and you will be lost quicfrom the good land which HaShem is giving you” (Deut. 11:13-17).
Perhaps the spies feared the people could not live up to the level of the law of the land, and they preferred an easier, more natural way of life outside of Israel. As leaders of their tribes, the spies conducted an ingenious operation of public opinion manipulation, using skillfully chosen words to implant in the people’s minds a vision of the impossibility of achieving their natural destiny that led them all to tears. (This the spies achieved with words alone, even without the use of television, which is the Satan’s ultimate deceiver of eyes.) “And all the community cried out, and the people WEPT on that night.” Tears come from the eyes, the organs of vision. With our tears we try to wash away the bad that our eyes have seen.
The people should have focussed their vision on that which is beyond nature — the miracles that had been performed for them. This should have given them the faith that G-d has the power to fulfill His promises. (See Rashi on Numbers 14:11). Those who had seen the miracles and still did not believe in G-d would not see the land. “All the men who see My glory and My signs that I did in Egypt and in the Wilderness yet have tested Me in this ten times, and have not listened to My voice — They shall not see the land that I have sworn to their fathers, and all who despise Me shall not see it” (Numbers 14:22-3).
Yet immediately after the imposition of the decree, the Torah continues with a series of commandments that can only be fulfilled in the Land of Israel, including the laws of the wheat, oil and wine libations that accompany animal offerings in the Temple, and CHALLAH, the gift of the first portion of one’s bread to the priest (Numbers Ch. 15). The positioning of these commandments directly after the narrative of the spies is a reminder that even though the exile (“forty years”) may be lengthy, eventually Israel will inherit the entire land and have the merit of offering its choicest produce in the Temple and on the table of the priests. [The Challah, separated by the woman and given to the priest, rectifies Eve’s sin of giving the forbidden fruit to Adam.]
Shabbat Shalom!!! – Rabbi Avraham Yehoshua Greenbaum
Haftarat Shelach – ‘Send’ – Joshua 2:1-24
This week’s Torah parasha contains the account of the sending of the twelve spies into the Land. Of course we know the result of that was that ten returned with a bad report and only two returned with the faithful report that the Land was promised, and hence HaShem would deliver it to them.
In the haftarah for Shlah, Joshua is continuing the mission that Moses began: planning a military crusade to conquer the land. Joshua sends two spies into the city of Jericho to survey the region and assess the military options. The spies lodge with a prostitute named Rahab, who lives along the wall built around the city.
Our haftarah reading from the Prophets is about a similar event forty years later. As Joshua prepares to take the Land, he sends two spies into the Land, to Jericho, to determine the strengths and weaknesses of the Canaanite inhabitants. How ironic. Yet there are not coincidences in Scripture. In Numbers 13:1-15:41, only two spies returned with a good report, and the other ten’s bad report convinced the Israelites to doubt G-d’s promises. Now, Joshua, one of the two faithful spies sends only two (on the testimony of two the truth is established) in to spy out the Land again.
I know that HaShem has given you the Land, that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land are fainthearted because of you. For we have heard how HaShem dried up the water of the Reed Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were on the other side of the Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed. And as soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted; neither did there remain any more courage in anyone because of you, for HaShem your G-d, He is G-d in heaven above and on earth beneath. -Joshua 2:9-11
Rachav became a ger toshav – a sojourner dwelling in Israel’s midst.
By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace. -Hebrews 11:31
She repented, and acted out her faith by righteous deeds. By her faith, she was born again as an Israelite.
One ordinance shall be for you of the assembly and for the stranger [ger] who dwells with you, an ordinance forever throughout your generations; as you are, so shall the stranger be before HaShem. One Torah and one custom shall be for you and for the stranger [ger] who dwells with you.’”
-Numbers 15:15-16
When the spies return to the Israelite camp and report to Joshua they say, “The Lord has delivered the whole land into our power; in fact, all the inhabitants of the land are quaking before us” – Joshua 2:24.
However, while Moses sends 12 spies, and 10 of them come back quaking in fear of the giants they saw in the land, Joshua sent only two spies, who returned with a message of confidence.
Gaddi – President
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global_01_local_0_shard_00002368_processed.jsonl/51992 | Random Acts Of Kindness
Merry Christmas.
Stay Tuned!
9 Comments (+add yours?)
1. Meg
Dec 10, 2017 @ 00:01:14
Your daughter sounds so sweet! I hope you all have a merry Christmas! Happy holidays!
2. Bill
Dec 10, 2017 @ 00:20:23
So proud of you Shantel, you handle things like what happened to you so much better than I would have. Some people just SUCK.
3. gotham girl
Dec 10, 2017 @ 23:26:04
People!!! What is wrong with People???? Like you say…thank goodness there’s still some good people out in our world, but hearing things like this really makes it harder to believe…and especially now that our country seems to going off the deep end in many ways. Shantel is just amazing. Just amazing. Thinking of you all. Sending love and hugs!!
• beyondcinderella
Dec 11, 2017 @ 01:40:30
Yes, I hear you frissy. Bro and I so agree… We are always saying “People, People, People.. what are you doing, and why… “? It does seem like sometimes all of humanity has lost their minds…, but then, you get to see that random act of kindness, that gives you hope… Love and miss you. XoXo
4. Ellen Kaufman
Dec 11, 2017 @ 10:47:06
I guess it takes all kinds to make the world, but God has given Shantel that extra something to get her through her days when she encounters these kind of people who are ignorant to the Corporal Works of Mercy. Thank God there are people in our world that show and do acts of kindness and are good decent human beings. Many Blessings and Joys to you Shantel for I trust that Jesus will watch over you and you will rate a higher place in God’s Home He has prepared for you . Love you and Merry Christmas 🎄
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Wheeling It
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the next few years
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global_01_local_0_shard_00002368_processed.jsonl/52012 | Let me clarify
This is at best a ‘chance’
At a distance
I’m dancing by myself
I’m floating in harmony
And i’m reaching for what empowers me
My strength comes from my foundation
And my relations unfold as
A cure to others of their despair
You may stare at me if you like
Because I know
I’m the best at what I do
So the rest is up to you
take heart to be part of this
revolution of poetry
at a glance you see what measures you most?
come closer and Please post a comment? |
global_01_local_0_shard_00002368_processed.jsonl/52014 | Is there a way to use the terminal to check if a mesh is water tight? I want to do something like:
if my_mesh_obj.water_tight == True:
print('It is water tight')
print('It is not water tight')
• 1
$\begingroup$ There is a mesh select non manifold operator. Selects al the plane, none of the cube. Assuming manifold and watertight are same, could select none, run the op, if any selection then it's not "watertight". $\endgroup$ – batFINGER Dec 5 '19 at 3:29
In order to check if a mesh is watertight, we can test that the mesh is 2-manifold and no boundary edges exist [1].
The following definitions are loosely based on the quoted sources, some terminology and explanations were adjusted. This may not be up to standard for a scientific publication.
Definition: 2-manifold [1] [2]:
1. Each edge is incident to one or two faces.
2. For each vertex, if one where to remove that vertex, the remaining vertices from the fan would remain connected. A fan is the set of incident faces to the vertex.
3. No self-intersections occur.
Definition: Watertight [1]:
• A mesh that is 2-manifold and has no boundary edges. Therefore each edge has two incident faces.
In layman terms, there shouldn't be any:
• internal faces
• two or more triangle fans connected only through a single vertex
• disconnected islands
• holes in the mesh / areas with no thickness
bpy.ops.mesh.select_non_manifold already performs these tests as batFINGER mentioned, except for the self-intersection check. This requires the use of a tree structure to efficiently determine intersections with itself, for instance a k-d tree, AABB tree, BVH tree or octree.
The script below selects only vertices that are non-manifold through bpy.ops.mesh.select_non_manifold(extend=False). The extend=False argument is important since the current vertex selection should be ignored. The is_watertight function then iterates over the vertices and checks if any vertex is selected. Once it finds a selected vertex, it's clear that the mesh is non-manifold and therefore not watertight.
The self-intersection test is performed using a BVH tree. In case you don't need the test because you can guarantee that the mesh doesn't have self-intersections, you can disable it by setting the check_self_intersection argument to False.
Please be aware that the BVH overlap computation in mathutils doesn't allow to exclude the comparison between the exact same face when comparing the tree with itself. Therefore a small but non-zero epsilon is used during the intersection calculation to avoid false positives, where each face would be considered to be intersecting itself. However this non-zero epsilon also allows slight intersections below the threshold to pass as watertight. Therefore a proper implementation would exclude the comparison of faces with themselves. Given that the example is supposed to be self-contained, only use modules readily available in Blender and be reasonably efficient, I've used the mathutils BVH overlap function despite its shortcomings.
import bpy
import bmesh
import mathutils
def is_watertight(object: bpy.types.Object, check_self_intersection=True) -> bool:
Checks whether the given object is watertight or not
:param object: Object the inspect
:return: True if watertight, False otherwise
old_active_object = bpy.context.view_layer.objects.active
old_mode = old_active_object.mode
bpy.context.view_layer.objects.active = object
bm = bmesh.from_edit_mesh(object.data)
is_watertight = True
for v in bm.verts:
if v.select:
is_watertight = False
# Only check for self intersection if manifold
if is_watertight and check_self_intersection:
bvh_tree = mathutils.bvhtree.BVHTree.FromBMesh(bm, epsilon=0.000001)
intersections = bvh_tree.overlap(bvh_tree)
if intersections:
is_watertight = False
bpy.context.view_layer.objects.active = old_active_object
return is_watertight
if __name__ == "__main__":
object = bpy.context.view_layer.objects.active
if is_watertight(object):
print("It's watertight.")
print("It's not watertight.")
[1] David Stutz, A Formal Definition of Watertight Meshes, 2018. [Online]. Available: https://davidstutz.de/a-formal-definition-of-watertight-meshes/. [Accessed: 2019-12-05]
[2] C.-K. Shene, Mesh Basics, 2010. [Online]. Available: https://pages.mtu.edu/~shene/COURSES/cs3621/SLIDES/Mesh.pdf. [Accessed: 2019-12-05]
Your Answer
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global_01_local_0_shard_00002368_processed.jsonl/52015 | I have tried using the Subframes option. It hasn't done a thing.
So I have an object which gives off 3 particles into the air. I have an Icosphere object on a different layer with a particle instance modifier on it. That allows me to add a particle system to the Icosphere to create some awesome particle trails
But the particle system that is attached to the Icosphere creates clumps of particles on each frame. I am wanting a nice, smooth stream of particles being emitted from the main particles.
Is there a way to fix this, or does the Subframes option not work with the Particle Instance modifier.
Here is my .blend file: https://db.tt/DhdNlo3h I am using Blender 2.72
• $\begingroup$ @user2859 I am using 2.72 $\endgroup$ – Nathan Craddock Oct 12 '14 at 14:56
• $\begingroup$ I see what you mean now. As a workaround you could stretch the time of everything by 10 and divide the timestep of the particlesystem by 10. Example. Would this work for you? $\endgroup$ – user2859 Oct 12 '14 at 17:48
• $\begingroup$ How would I go about doing that. The image looks great! $\endgroup$ – Nathan Craddock Oct 14 '14 at 1:44
To increase the accuracy and smoothness of simulations it can sometimes be helpful to scale the time up.
Here a simple way of approximately stretching the time by 10. For every Particlesystem (3 in your example) multiply the End and the Lifetime of the emission by 10.
and divide the Timestep of the physics by 10.
In render settings multiply the End Frame and Frame Step by the same amount (10).
And render the frames as images. For videos you can reimport the frames in the VSE as image strip and render with the desired fps.
Before and after time stretching
Another, more simple solution is to just make a longer emitter object. The emitter has to have more of a tube like shape, aligned to the path, and should be at least twice as long as the gap you get from the frame steps. The result of this method is pretty good.
as secrop said :
The problem is not with the particles! they are being created at subframes.. The problem lies on the FollowPath constrain, as it looks like it doesn't set a motion to the object but places the object each frame in a certain position. (thought motion blur is working ok :/)
The way to fix this, is to bake the FollowPath animation.
In the 3dView menu > object > animation > bake action ; check 'visual keying' and 'clear constrains' and bake data to object.
Your Answer
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global_01_local_0_shard_00002368_processed.jsonl/52032 | Schlagwort-Archive: root-server
as i have the rootServer, i can try and play niceley with my own coded stuff in java, running on tomcat. as the default-webserver just having the php stuff on it, i was looking for my own machine ( or at least for the chance to deploy my stuff ) since a long time.
with no big experience in the hosting field, iam not sure to put the tomcat naked onto the web, so i decide to hide the service behind a proxy/router. after i looked into the given examples, apache could be used therefore. thats to easy, i thought and i remembered some lighthttpd from my school, that one professor took for his page.
configuring the ports and the reverse-proxy was done quite quick, but having more then one subdomain means more then a single config-file. another thing is, that i want to play with load-balancing, so the config was done in three parts. as example, the workflow of a domain like
part 1: to localhost:80. the gateway with round-robbin load-balancing on a virtual host (server-0) in berlin and redirect to the server-1 in jena.
part 2:
redirect from port 80 on server-0 to server-1 port 80, where another lighty was running.
part 3:
redirect from port 80 to port 8080, where tomcat was running and targeting the servlet-path like http://server1:8080/reporteer/
caching on each layer for different filesizes and different file-types was done that way. as the commong filesize on the http level is mostly below 64 kilobyte ( to measure ) i passed files from the servlet between 64kb and 1mb as java-cache, smaller files on the lighty-instances, separated for images and js/css. so, some css and some javascript ( lets say up to 8 ) per request was reasonable. a unbounded amount of images where handled by the servlet, beside tiny pictures, like thumbnails and icons.
so i felt a bit save for my tomcat, that exploits or my shity code wont run into a desaster for external incomming requests on port 80. „the evil hacker“, who wanted to get inside the machine would have to overcome the multiple redirect-layers on the plain/vanilla web-server, to catch the tomcat. beside the fact, that i didnt used any php/cgi nor sql-engine, the chance to fail to quick was not my point anymore.
but the main aspect is, that i can run active code now on the machine. before that, i just made passive / xml based stuff with gwt to run on the vhost i had. now remote-procedure-calls ( rpc ) are possible, beside general httpRequest.
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global_01_local_0_shard_00002368_processed.jsonl/52033 | Jun 27, 2009
Open and edit a .ppsx in MS PowerPoint
Open MS PowerPoint
Drop it on the top (not on the slide)
Any faster way than this, drop in a comment.
1. If you are not using Microsoft products, you can download the OpenOffice Suite, which is 100% F R E E (no strings attached) at:
.ppsx files can be opened with the Presentation app, choosing Microsoft Powerpoint 2007 XML filter.. thats simple. I always save the PPT as standard presentation.. very cool!
OpenOffice has more than a hundred filters (the equivalent would be OPEN AS in Win), so you are completely OK using OpenOffice.
I used version 3.0 on April 18th 2010. This version includes Calc, Write, Presentation, Base, and Draw applications. The computer was an old Averatec 3500 with Windows Tablet… it run perfectly the file and OpenOffice. Later I will do a try on my 2010 Mac Pro…. just to let you know!
Another alternative is to download the 2007 Microsoft PowerPoint Viewer from Ms, at links like:
What I will advise everyone, is to SAVE AS an older version ,PPT or as a PDF which are more easy to open.
2. THANK you!!!!!!!!!! Otherwise I will not be able to have materials for the open-book exam printed(((.
3. @Anonymous
You are welcome. Best wishes for the exams.
4. THANKS a lot! Excellent and quick way. Effective and perfect! (I don't have an account... obviously, but just wanted to thank you anyway.)
5. u can simply open ur blank ppt n press open n simply click on the ppt no need to drag....
6. @Jash
Thanks Jash. Your method works most of the times. In this case, as I have shared in the post, for some reason it was not working. Hence the alternative was discovered.
7. Thank you so much! I have been trying to edit a file that I recieved as ppsx and you were the person that really solved it for me! Thanks !
8. wow!!! This is amazingly easy!!! Thank you!!!! |
global_01_local_0_shard_00002368_processed.jsonl/52038 | The Five Best Oils for Your Dog's Diet
. 4 min read
For quite some time now, humans have been obsessing over oils—eating them, cooking with them, wearing them, naming their children after them. ("Have you met my twins, Krill and Flaxseed?") It turns out that oils are awesome for dogs’ health too: The benefits include everything from better digestion to a shinier coat. We profiled five all-stars, where you can find them, and how much your pup needs.
There seems to be as many fish oils as fish in the sea (e.g. cod liver oil, herring oil, salmon oil), each boasting different benefits. But generally speaking, a fish oil blend derived from salmon, herring, sardines, albacore tuna, and other fish will offer the most omega-3 fatty acids and the longest life of the product.
What it's best for: Two of those omega-3 fatty acids are particularly therapeutic: EPA, which helps reduce inflammation and may improve kidney function, and DHA, which plays an important role in development, learning and vision. Specific liver oils, like cod liver oil, are best used to provide vitamins that need fat to be absorbed, like A and D.
Where to find it: Fish oils high in EPA and DHA are available in pump bottles or capsules. Like all fats, the ones in these pills or liquids can oxidize and go bad over time. Storing them in your refrigerator will slow the process of oxidation. Fresh dog foods often contain fish oil, as well.
Dose: 1000 mg of a fish oil supplement (containing 300 mg of EPA/DHA) for every 30 pounds of body weight is a good rule of thumb for general health. But dosage should be calculated with your dog's regular diet in mind to maintain balance. Some diets are already rich in EPA and DHA, and too much fish oil can lead to an upset stomach or have a blood thinning effect.
This high-quality oil is a great source of omega-6 fatty acids (omega-3's cousin) and is lower in saturated fat than animal fat. Though saturated fats are not a contributor to cardiovascular disease in dogs as they are in humans, if your dog is prone to sensitive stomach, they may cause issues.
What it's best for: Healthy skin, immune function, heart health, providing energy, preserving normal organ function. The biggest reason humans chose this supplement is because it often increases coat sheen.
Where to find it: Sunflower oil is more common as an ingredient in food and treats because a certain amount of linoleic acid, the omega 6 in sunflowers, is required to maintain a balanced diet. Bottled sunflower oil is often easiest if you do want to supplement.
Dose: Supplementation is most often beneficial in dogs on home-cooked diets. A dose for a medium dog should be about 1 teaspoon daily, which will offer about 5-8 grams of this omega 6. Remember that all fats are a rich source of calories, with 1 teaspoon of sunflower oil equating to 40 calories or so. And be sure to take any omega-3 supplementalion into account too.
Boasting a blend of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, flaxseed can be a substitute supplement for fish oil for dogs who have allergies or reactions to fish. Unlike humans, though, dogs aren’t the best at converting flax’s omega 3s to those found in fish (EPA and DHA), so the benefits aren’t as great for them.
What it's best for: Reduced inflammation, arthritis treatment, healthy coat, and allergy relief.
Where to find it: Ground flaxseed (whole flaxseed will pass through the system undigested) is the best and safest form of this oil and also provides fiber to help maintain a healthy gut, since all pressed oils have a short shelf life.
Dose: Small dogs (under 30 lbs) can have 1/2 teaspoon of oil or ground flaxseeds daily, 1 teaspoons for medium dogs, 2 tsp for large dogs and 1 tablespoons for very large dogs. Divide the dosage in two, morning and night, to avoid diarrhea.
This magical oil is easy to metabolize and boasts more than 90% of healthy saturated fats with smaller amounts of a few unsaturated fatty acids. Most of the saturated fats in coconut oil are [Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCTs), which have a growing list of healthy benefits.
What it's best for: Reduced allergy symptoms, increased energy, improved digestion, improved cognitive function (especially for senior dogs), and weight loss.
Where to find it: Organic, virgin, cold-pressed coconut oil (p.s. dogs love the taste!)
Dose: A fourth of a teaspoon for every 10 pounds of dog, twice daily. This will add some calories (40 for every tsp), so make sure you take this into account with the rest of their diet so they don't gain weight.
Rich in antioxidant capability, thanks to its polyphenols, vitamin E, chlorophyll, and carotenoids, this oil boasts some serious health benefits for dogs. Known for breaking down the fat inside fat cells, olive oil is especially helpful for dogs on a weight-loss plan.
What it's best for: Weight loss, improved immune function, healthy skin and coat. It may also be good for those dogs that don’t tolerate the omega 3 or 6 fatty acids due to GI upset.
Where to find it: The one's easy: organic, extra-virgin olive oil.
Dose: For dogs under 20 pounds, add half a teaspoon a day to their food, a teaspoon for a 30 to 40 pound dog, and up to a tablespoon for dog 50 pounds or larger. Each teaspoon is about 40 calories.
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global_01_local_0_shard_00002368_processed.jsonl/52047 |
Toony Balloony
In answer to the holiday trivia question – Felix the Cat (the wonderful, wonderful cat) was the very first animal character balloon in the 1927 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. If nothing else, nostalgia buffs may remember his catchy theme song:
Adopt a cat named Felix from
E. Mitchell |
global_01_local_0_shard_00002368_processed.jsonl/52054 | At an abandoned blown-up nuclear plant a curious person who illegally visited the site stepped into a bunch of psilocybes. He had an athlete's foot. Due to the radiation their DNA was mixed up with the funghi on his foot, resulting in Trichophytons that produced psilocybin. When the infection spread, it became a problem in public changing rooms, with addicted persons licking infected people's feet. So a vaccine was invented. Clever drug lords began to hire children in the third world, to infect them, and then harvest the eschar. With the money the children earned they could afford nutrition, medical treatment and education. And so finally, world-hunger ended. |
global_01_local_0_shard_00002368_processed.jsonl/52059 | Medieval manuscripts blog
24 November 2015
Beware the Sybil's Prophecy!
The Prophecy of the Tenth Sibyl, a medieval best-seller, surviving in over 100 manuscripts from the 11th to the 16th century, predicts, among other things, the reign of evil despots, the return of the Antichrist and the sun turning to blood.
This, and our earlier two posts on Ward’s Catalogue of Romances in the Department of Manuscripts, focus on the tales that Ward classified as ‘CLASSICAL ROMANCES’. He lists 11 manuscripts of the Sibyl’s prophecy in our collections, but there are 15 in all.
Augustus and the Tiburtine Sibyl, Book of Hours, use of Rome, Master of James IV of Scotland, Bruges or Ghent, circa 1510, Add MS 35313, f. 90r
The Text
The Tenth or Tiburtine Sibyl was a pagan prophetess perhaps of Etruscan origin. To quote Lactantus in his general account of the ten sibyls in the introduction, ‘The Tiburtine Sibyl, by name Albunea, is worshiped at Tibur as a goddess, near the banks of the Anio in which stream her image is said to have been found, holding a book in her hand’. (Tibur is the modern Tivoli: at the Villa d'Este, built in the 16th century, murals depict her prophesying the birth of Christ to the classical world.)
The work interprets the Sibyl’s dream in which she foresees the downfall and apocalyptic end of the world; 9 suns appear in the sky, each one more ugly and bloodstained than the last, representing the 9 generations of mankind and ending with Judgment Day. The original Greek version dates from the end of the 4th century and the earliest surviving manuscript in Latin is dated 1047 (Madrid, Escorial ms &.1.3). There are a small number of vernacular manuscripts, including an Anglo-Norman version by Philippe de Thaon (BnF fr. 25407). The Tiburtine Sibyl is often depicted with Emperor Augustus, who asks her if he should be worshipped as a god. This image from the margins of a Dutch prayerbook is an example:
Harley MS 2943, ff. 17v-18r E093635
Augustus kneeling, with the Tiburtine Sibyl prophesying, in the lower right border (f. 18r); a miniature of the Annunciation; historiated initial 'H'(ere) with Virgin and Child shown as the woman of the Apocalypse; John on Patmos in the border (f. 17v), at the beginning of the Hours of the Virgin, Netherlands, N. (Haarlem? or Beverwijk?), 1486, Harley MS 2943, ff. 17v - 18r.
Early English transmission of the prophecy is often linked to the larger monastic houses such as Rochester and Canterbury, where political prophecies such as the Prophecies of Merlin were popular works. Included in the text is a list of the succession of Roman emperors, and medieval scribes added to this and inserted significant political events from their own times into the prophecy. It is a short text of 3 or 4 folios, usually found in collections of chronicles and historical material, sometimes incorporated into other historical works, including those of Godfrey of Viterbo (12th century) and Matthew Paris (13th century). The emphasis on role of the emperors and kings in the history of the world made this an ideal tool of political propaganda and this may have accounted for its popularity.
The Latin text was often attributed to Bede, and was first printed among his works in Basel in 1563, and later among the works of Pseudo-Bede in Migne’s Patrologia Latina (PL 90, 1181B-1186C).
The Manuscripts
Ward lists the following manuscripts:
Royal MS 15 A XXII from Rochester Cathedral Priory and Cotton MS Vespasian B XXV from Christ Church, Canterbury, for which the former was the exemplar, are the earliest manuscripts in our collections, copied in the first quarter of the 12th century. Both also contain Solinus Collectanea and Dares Phrygius Historia Troianorum:
Initial 'P'(eleus) at the beginning of the introductory epistle of Dares Phrygius, England, S.E. (Rochester) 1st quarter of the 12th century, Royal MS 15 A XXII, f. 73v
Royal MS 15 B XI (12/13C), closely related to the Royal and Cotton manuscripts above, and is again from Rochester Cathedral Priory.
Zoomorphic initial 'Q'(uo) with outline drawing of a dragon and foliate decoration from the Lamentations of Jeremiah, which follow the Prophecy in this manuscript, England, S.E., 4th quarter of the 12th century or 1st quarter of the 13th century, Royal MS 15 B XI, f. 70v
Royal MS 13 A XIV, an Irish volume from the late 13th or early 14th century that formerly belonged to the Dominican Friary at Limerick and contains a version of the Topographia Hibernica of Giraldus Cambrensis.
Puzzle initial 'O'(mnibus), at the beginning of the Historia Mongalorum, Ireland, last quarter of the 13th century, or 1st quarter of the 14th century Royal MS 13 A XIV, f. 198r
Arundel MS 326: This historical and theological miscellany includes the annals of Abingdon and the Historia Regum Britanniae and is thought to be from Abingdon Abbey. For some reason Ward describes this manuscript in a later section dealing with the English chronicles, but does not include it in the list for the present text.
Egerton MS 810, from Germany in the late 12th or early 13th century and includes Einhard’s Life of Charlemagne
Text page with a decorated initial from the beginning of the Life of Charlemagne, Germany, W. 1125-1174, Egerton MS 810, f. 94r.
Cotton MS Titus D III, a 13th-century copy in a collection with the Pantheon of Godfrey of Viterbo and Apollonius of Tyre.
Cotton MS Claudius B VII, a 13th-century Litchfield manuscript that again includes Dares Phrygius, along with Turpin’s Chronicle and the Prophecies of Merlin.
Cotton MS Vespasian E IV, a 13th-century collection of chronicles and genealogies including Geoffrey of Monmouth, Historia regum Britannie
Cotton MS Caligula A X, an early 14th century manuscript containing a Chronicle of Worcester Cathedral Priory up to 1377 and other material relating to Worcester .
Cotton MS Domitian A XIII, a composite manuscript in which a version of the prophecy from the 13th century (ff. 104-107) is bound with a later 14th century copy (ff. 132v-134v).
Manuscripts not in Ward’s catalogue:
In her study, The Sibyl and Her Scribe, Anke Holdenried lists further copies of the text, now in the British Library, that were either not known to Ward or were acquired after his catalogue was published:
Add MS 50003
Add MS 50003_f. 220v
The tripartite prologue to the Prophecy of the Tenth Sibyl, with a historiated initial ‘I’(heronimus) at the beginning, from the Poncii Bible, Spain, Catalonia (Vich?), 1273, Additional MS 50003, f. 220v
This manuscript was one of seven manuscripts bequeathed to the British Museum by Charles William Dyson Perrins, collector and bibliophile (1914-1958). An illuminated Bible from Spain, copied by Johannes Poncii, canon of Vich in Catalonia in 1273, it provides one of the most fascinating contexts for the text and images of the Tiburtine Sibyl. The prophecy has been inserted into the biblical text in between the Book of Psalms and the Book of Proverbs.
Add MS 50003_f.221r
Historiated initial ‘F’(uit) depicting the Tiburtine Sibyl, with the words ‘Decima tiburtina Grece’ in the lines above, from the Poncii Bible, Spain, Catalonia (Vich?), 1273, Additional MS 50003, f. 221r.
Add MS 38665
In this early 15th-century collection, including Aesop’s fables, in the hand of John Streech, canon of the Augustinian Priory of Kenilworth, Warwickshire, the prophecy follows an excerpt of Honorius Augustodunensis’ Ymago Mundi.
Sloane MS 156, a 15th-century miscellany and Sloane MS 289, a direct copy from Arundel MS 326.
Other images of the Sibyl
The collections of chronicles and prophecies in which the Prophecy of the Tenth Sibyl is often found tended to be for practical use and therefore are not lavishly illustrated, but images of Tiburtina and her fellow sibyls appear in other contexts where their prophecies are alluded to.
This is an opportunity to display an image from the fabulous Harley MS 4431, produced by Christine de Pizan for Queen Isabeau of Bavaria (b. 1371, d. 1435) and illuminated by two of the leading Parisian artists of the early 15th century. Included in this collection of Christine’s works is L'Épître Othéa (The Epistle of Othea to Hector), in which the goddess teaches Hector the art of chivalry, providing examples from characters in mythology, including the Tiburtine Sibyl.
Miniature of the Tiburtine Sibyl revealing to Caesar Augustus a vision of the Virgin and Child, in 'L'Épître Othéa', France (Paris), 1410-1440, Harley MS 4431, f. 141r.
Finally, a search for ‘sibyl’ in the Catalogue of Illuminated Manuscripts gives a number of results, including this French image of the Erithrean Sibyl, who presided over the Apollonian oracle at Erythrae in Ionia. It is from a copy of a French translation of Boccaccio’s work, Le livre de femmes nobles et renomées:
Detail of a miniature of the Erithrean Sibyl writing, with a partial border and a foliate initial 'E'(rithire), at the beginning of chapter XXI, France, N. (Rouen), c. 1440, Royal MS 16 G V, f. 23.
Footnote: The Tiburtine Sibyl makes an appearance in the National Gallery’s current Botticini exhibition, ‘Visions of Paradise’, which we featured in a recent post. There is an engraving of her, attributed to Baldini, which is compared to the Sibyl represented in Botticini’s painting. The catalogue points to the distinctive headdress of the Sibyls in both images, not dissimilar from the one in our image from a Flemish Book of Hours, shown above (Harley 2943, f. 1).
Further reading
L. D. Ward , Catalogue of Romances in the Department of Manuscripts in the British Museum, 3 vols (London: British Museum, 1883-1910), I (1883), pp. 190-95.
Anke Holdenried, The Sibyl and Her Scribes: Manuscripts and Interpretation of the Latin ‘Sibylla Tiburtina c.1050-1500 (Aldershot: Ashgate, 2006).
- Chantry Westwell
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global_01_local_0_shard_00002368_processed.jsonl/52064 | Scared of insects, spiders, and other leggy arthropods?
It could be worse. You could be one of them. At that size you face an array of dangers unlike anything you know from your comfortably large human existence. Here are just a few of the many perils you worry about as an arthropod.
1. Your guts are impaled on spiky ant teeth.
2. Your innards are suddenly sucked out by a predatory maggot.
3. Your brain is invaded by a zombie fungus that directs you to an ideal spot for your parasite to release spores.
4. One of your friends turns out to be a giant hungry spider.
5. Wasp larvae eat you alive while you can't move.
6. Your head takes a direct injection of Dracula Ant venom.
7. You are pulled from your comfortable house by ravaging hordes of army ants.
8. Your body is slowly weakened and destroyed by wasp grubs feeding on your insides.
9. That swelling in your belly? Turns out you were pregnant with a parasitic worm that kills you when it breaks free.
10. You fall into a pit with a voracious predator at the bottom.
11. A fly lays an egg in you that causes your head to fall off.
12. Your corpse is dragged around as a trophy by a giant, leggy predator.
13. A giant hand mashes you to the wall.
Actually, that last one doesn't seem so bad compared to the others. At least it's fast.
Happy Halloween!
[note: our post is an update from last year, now with 10% more parasites!!] |
global_01_local_0_shard_00002368_processed.jsonl/52070 | Winter Buds For Sale!!
He was only about three or four at the time, and since my mother enjoyed walks in the great outdoors, he was her constant companion. Mom loved to tell the story. Big brother grew increasingly quiet during this walk. Older now, he noticed more and understood his surroundings a bit better. What’s wrong? Mom asked, only to discover his despondency was caused by the trees. They had lost their leaves, and everything was now dead. He didn’t want them to be dead, his little heart struggling with a loss of something he had only recently begun to appreciate. Pondering her response, Mom kept walking and tried to explain that the trees were only sleeping; sure, the leaves were dead but…
She happened upon some low hanging branches, and, to her delight, they were red-tipped with winter buds. Snapping off a branch, she knelt down to his level, as was her custom, and explained how each of those buds was simply a leaf waiting to grow. In fact, they were the promise of life – of spring. Leaping up with excitement, the little boy grabbed the branch from her hand and began waving it above his head joyously, “Buds for sale! Free winter buds for sale!”
My retirement would be covered if I had a nickel for every time she told me that story. It didn’t just tickle her because of his innocence, it touched her intimately because of the promise it quietly made: this wasn’t the end – it was the sign of better things to come, a new beginning.
When we are despairing at things lost, we can be assured that God makes all things new. When we are tempted to be afraid, we can rest in peace because no matter what seems broken, lost, or dead around us, God is good, and He provides for us.
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global_01_local_0_shard_00002368_processed.jsonl/52088 |
Yes: she was a third timer.
View original post 343 more words
Writing Critique Partners: POVs
I enjoy writing, but hate editing. I’ll do it, but it is a painful experience. From what I’ve read, a good number of you agree. Recently, I wrote two longer stories for submissions as opposed to the shorter/flash fiction I put up on Tale Spinning. For those tales I knew that if I was to have any chance of success they would have to be edited.
Luckily, I had a number of people I could call on to give my work an editorial eye. What I found enlightening was, through five different POV’s (points of views), that all who responded to my call saw something different. Grammatical changes pretty much were the same, with punctuation styles varying from one to the other.
What changed was how they approached the work: solely as Editor; solely as a reader of the genre; or a combination of the two. This allowed me to take what was offered, evaluate what I wrote through others eyes, and then edit myself to the point I felt I produced the best work possible.
To see the results of this: Nyctophilia (entered for the Figment/HarperCollins YA Defy the Dark contest). If the link does not work for you (and I think it only works in the US): go to Figment and type in the name of the story in the search box. I’d be interested in your comments, as I do think this story is publishable. The other story has been submitted, and only time will tell (both submissions had a September 1, 2012 cut off).
I want to thank the following for their time and effort: Golden Eagle; Allan Douglas; Roy A. Ackerman; Lisa Vooght;and someone who wishes to remain anonymous. The links are to their blogs. They are all well written, all interesting, and all very different POVs. Check them out.
• How do you edit your work?
• Do you hate editing your own work?
• Do you have Beta Readers/Critique Partners?
• Are you part of a writing group?
• If you have an editor that you work with consistently, how did you find her/him?
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global_01_local_0_shard_00002368_processed.jsonl/52089 | The Employment Gap
Whether or not you ascribe to the wage gap, one thing is certain. Men are far less employable than women. The notion that women struggle to break the glass ceiling, leaves a few gaps in the reality of the idea of who can do what and who can get away with more.
Like it or not, regardless of how progressive our society is painted to be, the same primitive nature remains. The amount of jobs open to women, far outweighs the few jobs that are primarily manned by men.
The argument against the wage gap, usually circles around how men work later and longer and in professions with a much higher risk factor. Yet…if a husband and wife couple both work, the man’s employer would not be as forgiving when it came to family matters as the wife’s employer is.
If the couple has a sick child, more than likely the woman’s employer would understandably allow the woman time off from work to care for her sick child. The man’s employer would probably state “why can’t your wife stay home today, we have a lot of work to accomplish”. Thereby, the man would be obligated to practically beg his employer for time off to care for his sick child, by explaining his family situation and why he must take the day off, so his wife can work.
A man is expected to be a man, whereas society still considers women in the workforce to be more or less looking for a hobby. If a crazy person starts shooting up your workplace, it’s the men in that workplace that the women look to for protection from the crazy person. Take a male nurse working amongst female nurses, the male nurse is always expected to handle the out of control patients, even if it is not in his job description. If a man in a workplace refuses to be the protector of the women in that workplace, his tenure will more than likely be short-lived, and the women in that workplace will look at him and address him with a tone of shame and disgust. His failing to live up to his “manliness”, will always be held against him by both men and women.
Is it fair to expect men to always be on the ready to assist with heavy boxes and assholes?
Far more is expected of men and from men, whether in the home, at school or in the workplace.
If we are going to talk about pay, then we should also discuss expectations and whether or not men are granted the same latitude as women when unexpected life stuff arises at the worst possible times.
If a woman was hired to do a job, then like a man, I expect that job to be accomplished, regardless of the sex of the individual.
If we cannot grant men the same excuses we grant women, then equality is merely a crack pipe dream.
Do women bosses treat the men who work for them as equals to their female employees and grant them the same level of fragility?
57 thoughts on “The Employment Gap
1. bottomlesscoffee007
It’s because society doesn’t really want to achieve equality, if they did, then there’d be nothing left to whine about and no money to be made.
1. bottomlesscoffee007
Exactly Jeanne. It’s not men’s fault or women’s fault. It’s how we have survived for so long. It just is what it is.
1. Marleen
It’s sort of a circular logic, though, isn’t it? We want women to have and take care of children, but then we want to blame them for not spending more time at paid work.
1. Marleen
Pretty much true. Women who choose to be moms and care for their children full time have nothing to fall back in. Too bad.
1. bottomlesscoffee007
They have child support and alimony and welfare and food stamps. The government pays single moms, not single dads.
1. Marleen
So the issue is the law (which varies state to sate). Whoever has higher pay tends to have to pay alimony (for some amount of time). In other words, I know “ONE (1) woman who” had to pay alimony — because she had a higher income. You know why she had a higher income? Because he quit work when they got married and became a gambler — with her money.
1. Marleen
He didn’t quit work (or didn’t never work) to take care of kids. What did it take for him to have a lower income than the woman in his life? Not working.
2. bottomlesscoffee007
Maybe that’s how he dealt with the stress of his wife always working? Maybe she should’ve been smarter when picking a mate.
3. Marleen
That’s the way it always goes. It’s the bitch’s fault. No matter what. She is remarried, and her husband isn’t a little wimp who can’t handle her being a real live human being. They have two kids, one adopted and one she gave birth to (despite being told it wasn’t good for her health).
4. Marleen
That’s over. I don’t know how long she had to do it. In the divorce, they also agreed a truck they/she bought was to be his. He was supposed to make the continuing payments since he was keeping it. He didn’t pay, so they went after her. They said they’d take the truck if she didn’t pay. She said, take it.
2. Maybe growing up and living where I do has given me a different perspective than the rest of the country… my daughter is a nurse and when there is heavy lifting or a patient with dementia being combative, it’s not the male nurses that are looked to, it’s whoever is bigger or stronger.
In CA we have “family leave” for either parent or both to take time off to care for a sick child or elderly parent.
When I was working as a supervisor I had the same expectations for my female and male employees. It was computer/phone work, so physical strength didnt matter.
If women really are all looking to men to “save them” then they are reducing themselves. A person cant have it both ways.
1. I would LOVE to see a dude don a Hooters outfit & serve me. I mean a REAL dude, not a gay one. That would be a scream. I’d buy him a beer. 😉😆
That being said, the gay one would be fun, too. They are usually funny as hell.
1. Marleen
I’ve seen plenty of men in all those positions, just not Hooters (while I don’t go to hooters, I’ll give you that one… but most women don’t want that).
1. bottomlesscoffee007
Really? Do you see more men or more women in those positions?
How many male sports reporters are allowed into the female locker rooms, when those female athletes are naked or cleaning up?
1. Meaning???
The classic case of not getting a ticket? Who in their right mind would beg for a ticket instead of a warning? Am I gonna flash my boobs, bat my eyes or cry? NO! but I’ll take no ticket any day.
Do I expect to have my date pay? If they did the inviting sure or Dutch is fine. If I do the inviting, I expect to pay.
1. I’m just saying that looking around me, where I live, shop, etc guys aren’t that much bigger than women.
Like I said at the beginning, the rest of the country may be different. Its interesting to get viewpoints and opinions from other places.
1. I’m 5′ 9″. And, I am the short one on my mom’s side. All my female cousins are taller than I am. The ‘shortest’ of my mom’s four brothers is 6′ 3″.
And the notion that the tall boys all should play basketball? I have a male cousin that is 6′ 8″. He is a computer geek & plays classical guitar. Said he suffered from “white man’s disease” regarding basketball. 😄
The world really shouldn’t run on stereotypes. 🤔🤨😊
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global_01_local_0_shard_00002368_processed.jsonl/52092 | A noun indicates the action in a sentence.False
A pronoun is a noun substitute.True
All adverbs end in -ly.False
Adjectives modify nouns, pronouns, and other adjectives.False
Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs.True
Prepositional phrases are modifiers.True
Many of the parts of speech may be used as interjections.True
A coordinating conjunction introduces a subordinate clause.False
Adding suffixes like -al, -ly, and -ous to nouns usually turns those nouns into adjectives.True
Adverbs tell when, where, how, and why.True
Adverbs ending in -ly indicate how or how much.True
action happening now, todaypresent tense
action completed during the present timepresent perfect tense
action expected to happenfuture tense
action completed before a set time in the pastpast perfect tense
action completed before a set time in the futurefuture perfect tense
action completed in an earlier time periodpast tense
The principal parts of a(n) verb are formed by adding -ed, -d , or -t to the present part.regular
The principal part which never uses an auxiliary to form a tense is the past part.The auxiliary word which can be used only as a modal is may.
In the active voice the subject acts, but in the passive voice, the subject receives the action.
If I were you, I would take advantage of the extra time you have.Subjunctive
Use your time wisely.Imperative
He uses his time wisely.Indicative
The present tense of lay is the same as the past tense of lie.True
requires a receiver of actiontransitive verb
introduces adjective clausesrelative pronoun
who, whose, whom, which, whatinterrogative pronouns
indicates an unspecified person or thingindefinite pronoun
a word which is both a pronoun and an adjectivepronominal adjective
used for subjects and subject complementsnominative case
prepositional phrase acting as adjectiveadjective phrase
prepositional phrase acting as adverbadverb phrase
word punctuated like a sentence, showing strong feelinginterjection
a word which links words, phrases, or clauses of the same typeconjunction
A compound sentence has two or more independent clauses.A complex sentence has a main clause and at least one dependent clause.
A simple sentence has one subject-verb relationship.A modifier is a word or group of words that describes another word or group of words.
Transitive active and transitive passive sentences both have a receiver of the action.True
A sentence containing a linking verb also has a subject complement (predicate noun/adjective).True
A sentence containing an intransitive verb has an indirect object.False
A complex sentence combines two independent clauses.False
A semicolon is necessary in a compound sentence if a coordinating conjunction is not used.True
A simple sentence can have a compound subject.True
A subject complement cannot be a noun substitute.False
Adjectives modify nouns, pronouns, and often adjectives.False
In an English sentence, what does a subject usually precede?verb and direct object
The simple predicate is the same thing as the _____.verb
Which of the following is not a complement, either of the verb or the subject?object of the preposition
The direct object and the subject complement both answer the questions what or who.The direct object comes after an action verb while the subjective complement comes after a linking verb.
The indirect object always comes between the verb and the direct object.The indirect object answers the question “to or for whom?”
It is impossible to have an indirect object without a subject, transitive verb, and a(n)direct object
The objective complement comes after the direct object.
A participle, a gerund, or an infinitive may be used as a noun substitute.False
The present participle form and the gerund form are identical.True
Introductory participial phrases and adverb clauses are set off from main clauses by commas.True
The infinitive functions either as an adjective or as a noun.False
Of the three clause types, the adverb clause is the most easily moved in the sentence.True
Words like because, as if , and although introduce noun clauses.False
An adjective clause modifies an adjective, verb, or adverb.False
A dependent clause has a subject and verb but does not represent a complete thought.True
In what ways can a noun clause operate?direct object
indirect object
subject compliment
Which of the following is not one of the eight parts of speech?direct object
Choose the sentence elements that can be used as nouns.infinitive
noun clause |
global_01_local_0_shard_00002368_processed.jsonl/52102 | Tag Archives: how to write a query letter
Writing that Query Letter
A query letter is a one-page cover letter used when querying literary agents. It introduces your novel and yourself. There’s a hook, a blurb (not a full synopsis), and a little bit about you.
The query letter is very important. If it grabs an agent’s attention, that agent will request pages, possibly even a full, which may lead to an offer of representation.
When writing a query letter:
• Address the specific agent you’re interested in. Nowadays, most queries are sent via email. Good for the trees and response times (sometimes), but there is a downside. Agents are bombarded with query letters. If you don’t take the time to address a specific agent, they’re not going to look at it.
• Include your novel’s title. Don’t forget to include the title of your novel in your query. After spending weeks or months working on your query, you don’t want to forget something as vital as the novel’s title. Also, put the title of your novel in all caps.
• Mention word count and genre. This gives agents a clear idea of novel length and targeted readers.
• Cut to the chase. Don’t start your query with introducing yourself. You need to hook the agent right away, so dive right in about your novel. Some agents read all the way through the query. Many with stop reading immediately if you don’t get their attention right away.
• Explain why you chose that particular agent. Let the agent know you’ve done some research and she’s not simply a random person you queried. However, don’t get carried away. Some agents like you to mention why you queried them. Others only want to hear about your novel. But if you met the agent in person or have been in contact with her, mention it.
• If you’ve got a successful platform, mention it. If you speak at writing conferences yearly, have a blog with thousands of page views a month, a large Twitter following, etc. put it in the query letter.
• Include your contact information. For a snail mail query, you’ll include that information at the top of the letter, along with a SASE (self-addressed stamped envelope). For an email query, include your information at the end, beneath your signature.
• Revise. As you did with your novel, revise your query letter and have other people critique it. Typos are a huge no-no. Even if an agent is interested in your premise, if you’ve got typos, many won’t request pages.
• Study. Read query letters that snagged agents. AQ Connect has a ton of examples of successful queries. Learn from what they did.
• Keep it professional. Send only what the agent says to on their website. Some agents only want the query letter. Some want the query plus sample pages or a few chapters or a synopsis.
• Include only what’s relevant. When introducing yourself, only include what’s pertinent to your writing. Having been published before, have a degree in writing, are part of a critique group, or having a successful platform are some examples. Don’t talk about how many cats you have or that you love long walks on the beach. If you find that you and agent so and so are both obsessed with Doctor Who, go ahead and say that.
The query letter is your chance. You could have written the next bestseller (don’t mention that in your query), but if your query is subpar, then no one will ever know how wonderful your novel is.
What tips do you have for writing a query letter? |
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