text
stringlengths 65
6.05M
| lang
stringclasses 8
values | type
stringclasses 2
values | id
stringlengths 64
64
|
|---|---|---|---|
Taavi: We have been playing together for five years. So far it has been mainly a flute/piano duo. But now we added electronics too and it really does open up even more repertoire and challenges. The process with POLES started with a three-week rehearsal period in Morelia, Mexico where we were in residency in the electro-acoustic music centre CMMAS. The piece is an open score so you would imagine that reading it would not maybe be so difficult but in reality it is a truly difficult piece to perform. It is written in so called + - notation, a notation created by Stockhausen. To perform it you have to learn it from zero. It is really like learning a new language. You learn grammar, learn words, learn how to put together a sentence.
What is special about the Serge Modular Synthesizer?
Taavi: It is indeed a special instrument. The instrument comes from early 1970s, and by now it has gained a somewhat cult status. First of all, of course, because its beautiful profound sound that still amazes musicians, but also because of its very clever interface. As I see it, interfacing with electronic instruments is a very important part of music creation process. It is a West Coast style synth meaning that it is possible to redesign it in countless ways; you have to make it your own to make music with it and find your very own language to communicate with it. The very instrument's previous owner was Michael Manion, a late composer who used to work as an assistant for Karlheinz Stockhausen.
What was it like working with Stockhausen on the piece he wrote for you, Camilla?
Camilla: It was a complete surprise. I had won a prize in Rotterdam playing his In Freundschaft, which I had prepared with the help of Suzee Stephens and the late composer Michael Manion, and before I was to play it in Cologne, I went out to Kürten to play it for Stockhausen himself. I had of course analyzed every note and could play it perfectly from memory, and this somehow impressed him so much that he began then and there to start arranging AMOUR for me. Eventually I returned and lived for a week in a cabin on his ground while he continued to work. When we met for daily work sessions, he’d ask me about range or fingering or intervals and we would discuss phrasing and breathing. The original version was for clarinet (Suzee Stephens), and several things worked differently when transposed for flute. I remember being impressed not only with his exactness, but also in his desire to make it natural for the flute. He didn’t want to create “difficulties for difficulties sake.” I also experienced for the first time the luxury of being at a “retreat” — living in nature with no outside distractions and allowed to just practice and read (notably Satprem on Sri Aurobindo) and then to enjoy stimulating conversations with Karlheinz and Suzee at mealtimes. I also got to browse in his record library (which included a great LP-set of the history of folk to rock!)
How did your interactions with Stockhausen influence the creation and performance of this version of POLES?
Camilla: My interactions with Stockhausen included a wide range of activities, from attending rehearsals of music from Donnerstag aus LICHT (where I first met the whole Stockhausen clan) to working in his publishing company to learning other solo and chamber works. In the 80’s I attended every rehearsal and performance I could, later I participated in Montag in a studio part and then had a role on stage in 1993 for the opera Dienstag. Nothing he did was superfluous and this inspires us to respect all he has notated. At the same time, remembering him as a person, I remember him also as someone who could surprise with humor — and who introduced in his otherwise strictly formal compositions, the occasional “flowers for the ladies” (as he called a certain phrase in In Freundschaft) and who could also write “bagatelles” as gifts for friends (AMOUR). If I were to summarize the influence all these interactions with him in one word, I would choose “awareness.” He himself was always aware of so many things that were going on around him. He listened and watched very precisely and demanded from his musicians this as well: an extremely high level of awareness concerning not just the musical notes, but every aspect of the creative and re-creative process. This we are trying to carry on with our realization of POLES.
|
English
|
NL
|
8a82c1c961f9883550fd68ebdc2bce6eba89a3458acb33527801de7822122c9a
|
Beyond the urban sprawl of Greater Manchester, Alderley Edge is the first piece of true countryside one comes across as one travels south. Despite the developments of recent years, it has retained its village atmosphere. A mile or so further south, Nether Alderley has remained a rural hamlet with a long, recorded history.
First written evidence of Alderley Edge, then known as 'Chorlegh' appeared in the 13th century. It comprised estates that had many different owners during the middle ages but since the 15th century, most of them have belonged to the de Trafford family.
Until the mid 19th century it was a quiet, mainly agricultural area consisting of several cottages, a blacksmith's and the Dc Trafford Arms which still exists at the southern end of the village.
The coming of the railway changed all this. The Manchester and Birmingham Railway built a line out to Alderley, offering free season tickets for 20 years to Manchester businessmen who built houses with a rateable value of more than ?50 within a mile of the station. This 'season ticket' was in the form of a small silver oval which could be worn on a watch chain.
Eager to move away from the smoke of the city, this led many families to build fine mansions and villas, particularly on the slopes of the Edge. Known as 'the Cottentots' because of their connections with the cotton trade, their homes still exist although many being too big to manage today, have been divided up.
The houses on the Edge, with their walks and trees, were designated as one of the first conservation areas in the North West.
It was because of the railway, too, that Alderley Edge got its name. The railway company did not want its station called Chorley because of the possible confusion with Chorley in Lancashire. So, looking at the sandstone escarpment already known as The Edge, they named it Alderley Edge - against much opposition! Because of the railway, Alderley became a popular place to visit and the railway company popularised day trips and cheap excursions to the village.
This period also saw the appearance of buildings which are now landmarks. St Philip's Church with its 175ft spire was built in 1853 and the village school a year later whilst Alderley Edge High School (now St Hilary?s) opened in 1876. The Mission Hall (later known as The Institute) was built as a temperance hall for the recreation of the 'lower classes' by the wealthier residents in 1878. The Methodist Church in Chapel Road was built ten years after St Philip's.
In the streets tucked away behind the village is the Festival Hall. Alderley Edge has played host to an annual musical festival since 1911 and by the 1920s it became so popular that local residents were encouraged to subscribe towards a hall in which to hold it. In 1928, the Festival Hall in Talbot Road was used for the first time. Each May it is the main venue for the Festival one of the most successful in the country.
Alderley has remained a popular and prosperous village with individual shops, cafes and restaurants and continues to be a sought after location for residents and visitors alike.
Go to TOP
Over Alderley with its beautiful farmland, rolling fields and superb views is the largest of the three parishes yet has the smallest population. Part of Over Alderley nestles on top of the Edge and from here the walker can see as far as the Welsh Hills.
Read Alan Garner's famous children's novel, 'The Weirdstone of Brisingamen' which is based on the Edge, and you'll find yourself believing that many of the magical adventures took place in this lovely part of Cheshire.
Go to TOP
Nether Alderley's history is dominated by the Stanley family, one of the oldest families in England. They were lords of the manor in this part of Cheshire for 500 years but in 1938 their estate was sold off and since the 1950s the site belonged to ICI and now AstraZeneca, the largest employer in the area. (A page on the Stanleys will be added in due course.)
Just across the A34 from Nether Alderley Mill is a black and white timbered house - now a private home that was once a coaching inn. Still called The Eagle and Child, it was named after the crest of the Stanley family.
Along the adjoining lane, hidden from the main road, is the lovely 14th century St Mary's Church. One of its most interesting features is the Jacobean Stanley pew. Situated high up on the wall of the church, it is only accessible from outside and enabled the Stanley family to worship without being watched by the prying eyes of the villagers! Decorated with the coats of arms of the various families the Stanleys married into, the pew is unique in Cheshire and one of the finest of its type in the UK.
By the churchyard, which, in the early 19th century, was a notorious haunt of grave robbers who sold bodies to Manchester University, are a collection of buildings which, like the church, are built in local sandstone. These are the Old Schoolhouse, built in 1628, together with a l9th century addition - which has since become the Village Hall - and the Stanley family mausoleum.
Tucked away in the lanes of Nether Alderley are some beautifully restored farmhouses and cottages, some daring back to the l6th century.
Many of the smaller cottages are believed to have been miners' homes in the 17th century and Welsh Row is thought to have been named after Welsh workers who came to the area to work in the copper mines.
Go to TOP
My acknowledgements to Raymond Walker for permitting me to use the text above extracted verbatim from the Parish Map published in 1999. NJD
Some links to Alderley Edge locality sites:
Go to TOP
|
English
|
NL
|
629c607de3e326171d78d7404adb56b9bd9e896f927a9b1fa23b1dc06140ceae
|
It has been a while since I posted, I know, but in my defense I have been very busy. And traveling. And dealing with family matters. Typical stuff. Today’s scripture selections are chosen because they were the readings at a recent wedding I attended. The bride and groom are some former commenters here, who went by the names FeminineButNotFeminist/Cassie and (among others) Uberdeplorable Psychedlic Cat Grass. So they seem like fitting choices. The first is from the Book of Sirach:
Happy is the husband of a good wife;
the number of his days will be doubled.
2 A loyal wife rejoices her husband,
and he will complete his years in peace.
3 A good wife is a great blessing;
she will be granted among the blessings of the man who fears the Lord.
4 Whether rich or poor, his heart is glad,
and at all times his face is cheerful.
13 A wife’s charm delights her husband,
and her skill puts fat on his bones.
14 A silent wife is a gift of the Lord,
and there is nothing so precious as a disciplined soul.
15 A modest wife adds charm to charm,
and no balance can weigh the value of a chaste soul.
16 Like the sun rising in the heights of the Lord,
so is the beauty of a good wife in her well-ordered home.
17 Like the shining lamp on the holy lampstand,
so is a beautiful face on a stately figure.
18 Like pillars of gold on a base of silver,
so are beautiful feet with a steadfast heart.
(Sirach 26:1-4, 13-18)
There are a lot of valuable points in this passage. We see first, that a good wife is a valuable thing. In fact, elsewhere in this same book the author declares that a good wife is the greatest treasure a man can have. Second, we see some of the blessing that a good wife can bring: a longer life, a happier life, a healthier life, and a more peaceful life among other things. Third, we can see some of the virtues that make for a good wife (and woman): self-discipline, modesty, loyalty being some examples.
We can also see that a woman’s beauty is in fact a good thing. It is compared to the Temple of God, a place frequently considered beautiful in the OT. And a place that should be beautiful. Contra those who say that beauty is only skin deep, it does have value as well, and men are not shallow for considering it. Of course, those who read Proverbs and further in this book will know that beauty alone is no virtue, and can be quite deadly to a man.
Then we have St. Paul’s well known (and infamous in some circles) Epistle to the Ephesians:
[A]ddressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart, 20 always and for everything giving thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father.
21 Be subject to one another out of reverence for Christ. 22 Wives, be subject to your husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. 24 As the church is subject to Christ, so let wives also be subject in everything to their husbands. 25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. 28 Even so husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no man ever hates his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, as Christ does the church, 30 because we are members of his body. 31 “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This is a great mystery, and I mean in reference to Christ and the church; 33 however, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
Few passages are more seemingly controversial than this passage from the New Testament. And yet, when you truly read it, few passages are as beautiful. St. Paul eloquently paints out the love that Christ for all of us, and explains that same level of love is expected of a Christian husband towards his wife. Of course obedience on the part of the wife is the part of this passage which is decried. But what can I say? I think most of my readers here already know that we live in an age of ugliness.
Finally, on to the Gospel of Matthew:
3 And Pharisees came up to him and tested him by asking, “Is it lawful to divorce one’s wife for any cause?” 4 He answered, “Have you not read that he who made them from the beginning made them male and female, 5 and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one’?[a] 6 So they are no longer two but one.What therefore God has joined together, let not man put asunder.” 7 They said to him, “Why then did Moses command one to give a certificate of divorce, and to put her away?” 8 He said to them, “For your hardness of heart Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. 9 And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for unchastity, and marries another, commits adultery; and he who marries a divorced woman, commits adultery.”
Unfortunately this particular translation carries with it the error of many other translations of Scripture. Contra the popular understanding outside the Catholic Church, Jesus did not provide for an exception clause here. For those curious about this, blogfriend Deep Strength has an excellent analysis and summary located here.
But to get back on topic, here we see Jesus firmly lay out how marriage is: it is a permanent affair as long as two people are on Earth. God is what brings man and woman together (just as He did in the beginning), and man cannot undo this. Any attempt along these lines is inherently disordered, and thus, sinful. At the same time when one is not caught up in sin, one can see the beauty of it all. A man and a woman are no longer separate after marriage. They are bound up, in a mysterious way, into something new altogether. This is why the Catholic Church refers to it as a Sacrament, which is a translation of Mystery, which is how matrimony is referred to in the East. It is a beautiful and mysterious thing, just like God Himself.
God grant them both many blessed and happy years.
|
English
|
NL
|
962a0f2c6183c8a66a914afe0d4825205c6bfd48dd4e8c2a5f78d2885dc38104
|
A man was attacked by a mountain lion in Utah while hunting last week. As he started walking to begin his elk hunt, he heard a growl. In the treeline, 10′ away, a mountain lion was ready to pounce and attack.
Cody Hardman says he used one arrow to try and shoot it in self defense, but time was short and he missed. The mountain lion jumped and landed on Hardman’s chest knocking him to the ground. However, the mountain lion did not bite.
Hardman was finally relieved when the mountain lion ran away and only leaving him with a puncture in the leg. He immediately climbed a tree and called authorities for help.
The attack happened around 6:45 am in Summit County, Utah.
|
English
|
NL
|
0bb47b0b33c129699d1e45e8059831e93a705117b3aeb7151c47a0e2298dcc8e
|
In Jesmyn Ward’s Salvage the Bones, the author encapsulates individual’s experiences of discovering who they are and what they are capable of from the perspective of Esch, the story’s main protagonist. During this final chapter, Ward uses the word “salvage” when it comes to rebuilding and starting over. Hurricane Katrina “left us them to salvage”(255) what Esch and her family had left of themselves. All that had remained were their core identities or “bones” that had been buried under the many unimportant and trivial aspects of their lives. Esch and her family now know that it is possible for them to live without these certain distractions and unnecessities after they were destroyed by Katrina.Ward contends that Esch’s journey as a mother and her challenge of accepting the many different attributes that being a mother requires is a way to encapsulate this struggle of discovering one’s bones amongst the many confusing and misleading aspects of life such as marriage and partnership. Esch salvaging her bones becomes a reality, accomplishing this by using her pre-existing experiences with motherhood and following the many motherly role models that she has experienced over her lifetime. Through the means of the hurricane, Esch learns that there is not a set expectation for what a mother can be, and comes to accept many of these important aspects of motherhood, such as strength and caring, as well as independence but not isolation.Throughout her pregnancy so far and up until the storm, Esch has been uncertain of what kind of mother she would become once her baby was born. She was stuck in limbo, unsure whether or not she wanted to be a co-dependent, caring, and loving mother or a harsh, protective and independent one, isolated from the problems of others. Esch was confused by her many motherly role models such as China, Madea, and hurricane Katrina who were all strong and independent mothers. Then there was Mama who was kind and caring, but not in a way that made her seem weak. Esch didn’t really seem to know which one of these influential women she wanted to model her motherhood experience from. She believed that she would have to choose only one mother figure and incorporate their particular parenting style into what kind of mother she would be, and forget about the others. In this last chapter Esch has finally embraced these two important aspects, strength and caring. These attributes are at the core of the harsh, violent, or weak aspects of motherhood that people don’t seem to be able to look past. To others, if a mother cares for her children she is weak, but if she shows strength and fieceness than she is understood to be some kind of monster. Esch now knows that she can be and is both. She comes to the conclusion that these two characteristics of motherhood are what make it unique, instead of what split it apart. Esch relates to China, another mother, and says that “she will know that I have kept watch, that I have I have fought”(258). She is not only going to watch over her family but fight to protect it as well. Although her child has yet to be born she is the mother of her family, ready to take over in the absence of her mother and China. Like China, Hurricane Katrina wasn’t just a destructive force of nature, but a mother bringing new life into the world. Esch describes this woman as “the murderous mother who cut us to the bone but left us alive”(255). She was harsh, let them live, stripping away the inessential aspects of these individuals lives, leaving them with their true selves and the opportunity to restart from nothing. Katrina represents one of the aspects of motherhood that Esch struggles to understand how to achieve. She is the brute strength and raw power that mothers are capable of having. Katrina is China in the way that they both act out of the best interest of their children, even if this means that they must use their “merciless hands” which are “committed to blood”(255). Although she is described as “the murderous mother”(255), Katrina’s constant association with blood does not necessarily mean she is a killer. Blood, especially in this novel, is also a symbol of life and in this case birth. This contends that Katrina may not only be a bloody monster but a mother fighting the battle that is giving birth. She is a mother committed to birthing new life from the destruction that she had caused. This life is the new opportunity and sense of self that many of the characters seem to possess. In the aftermath of the destruction Esch has acknowledged her new sense of self and now finally understands the role that she plays in her family. She cares for her siblings and comforts them. She says that “‘We’re worried about you’ I Esch says it because they won’t”(257). She is prepared to care for her family and “I she will watch Skeetah”(285) especially. Esch is prepared to make hard decisions that are in the best interest of her family, even if it means that “Wethey will sit with himSkeetah here, in the strange, insect silent dark”(258). Furthermore, China like Katrina is a strong independent mother with a forceful approach to motherhood, doing what was best for the wellbeing of her puppies. This does not mean making them comfortable, but rather keeping them “alive”. She had harmed and killed one of her puppies earlier in the novel. Out of context, it can be argued that China hated being a mother, and hated her puppies, but this was not the case. China ended the life of one of her puppies because it was sick and she wanted to end its misery rather than watch it die a slow and painful death. This is where Esch’s sense of motherly strength comes from, this outer appearance of harshness that is driven by tough decisions and care. Esch, like these two mothers, was prepared to raise her child on her own. She has come to the terms that her baby, “don’t have no daddy”(254). Esch was ready to be independent, to fight for and protect her child to the best of ability. Esch had come to the understanding that she did not need a man in her life in order to raise her child. Her newfound independence and ability to make hard decisions is what she had taken away from the storm, destruction, and China. Along with assimilating her independence, Esch is no longer alone in her pregnancy. Big Henry declares that “This baby got a daddy….this baby got plenty of daddies”(255) not taking away from Esch’s newly discovered independence but letting her know that her family is there for her, ready to support her. This newly discovered support from is not a weakness, this is just like how China had Skeetah to help her with her puppies. She did not need him and was capable of taking care of herself throughout her pregnancy, but his help seemed to be well appreciated. Esch can be independent, without a man in her life like Manny, who was toxic to her well being. This independence is not isolation, but a sense of capability. Esch now understands that being a strong mother does not mean that you must be alone. Esch accepts help from her loved ones and the people that genuinely care for her. This is the kind of mother that mama was. She was the watchful and caring mother in Esch’s life. Esch has embraced these characteristics and is now determined to “watch over Skeetah”(258), to care for him because with the absence of China, he is in need of a mother figure in his life. She is applying what she has learned to her present situation, mothering her family when they are in need of one. Ultimately, Ward conveys to the reader the process of finding an individual’s true identity. Esch’s narrations provide this moment by moment process, making her the best narrator to convey the books main theme of salvaging one’s bones. She is the best example of a person who was capable of salvaging their identity after everything had been stripped away. Ward uses Esch, with her new understanding of her capabilities of being a mother, to narrate the hurricane because she is capable of seeing past the destruction and damage that has occurred and realizes the opportunity for change and evolution of self. Esch ultimately reaches a balance between possessing characteristics of the two intertwined aspects of motherhood, strength and power along with caring and loving. Esch’s struggle with her own identity connects to individuals in the real world who struggle with finding themselves amidst all of the superficial and unnecessary aspects of their own lives.
|
English
|
NL
|
345e37f85144d53449db96cd0810b9dcbdf70a8087198dd4d7b84680a48286bc
|
This story follows Leisa, a social worker in Baltimore, who has found herself on shaky ground with her long-time partner Nan. The book opens with Leisa working the case of a young girl, Mariela, being found in her apartment with her mother’s corpse, where she had been for the last two weeks. Understandably, the girl is traumatized and will not speak or interact with anyone. The story then jumps around a lot, both in time and space, but basically follows Leisa as many conflicts seem to hit her and Nan from all sides (hence the year of the monsoon). You follow along their many trials and tribulations to see if they are able to withstand the storm of adversity that seems hellbent on tearing them apart.
This overarching theme does continue throughout the story, but the reader must navigate a lot of problems in the execution of the narrative. Although told in third-person, the perspective of who is speaking and when is highly variable from page-to-page, and often within the same paragraph. Some of these time/perspective jumps are understandable as it helps to put a situation or feeling into context. However, the vast majority of them happen with no transition so it is difficult to determine who is speaking at any given moment in time. I believe this occurs most times in order to explain a particular action or reaction of a character, although it is done in a way that is disjointed and difficult to follow. As an example, and early on so I’m not spoiling anything here, Leisa is speaking with the situationally-mute Mariela and transferring her mother’s ashes in the process. Leisa states (rather brutally) the cause of her mother’s death, then the dialogue shifts to her friend Maddie telling her at some point in the past to “always tell them the truth” before jumping right back into the scene. Although the intent must have been to demonstrate why the social worker would be so brutally honest with an extremely traumatized child, the result is an awkward transition and results in literary whiplash. This happened often in the story, and I never got used to it.
Additionally, there are so many characters and subplots/conflicts in this story that it is difficult to navigate. Now, I am a fan of complicated narratives with a lot of characters (After Mrs. Hamilton comes to mind as one I particularly enjoyed). However, at one point I think I counted 6-8 character names being introduced in a single paragraph. Several of the more prominent secondary characters (Jo Anne, Maddie and Lyn to be specific) seem to merely be there to introduce dialogue that should have occurred between the main characters, but never does. Actually, so much of the story is presented as an afterthought instead of within the narrative, that I felt I was never able to experience much of the plot. It was almost as though the author realized “I think I need to explain why this would happen” so some dialogue was thrown in to say “oh by the way, this happened back there” instead of going back and putting it in a more organic place. This happened regularly and never really improved.
I mentioned earlier about the many conflicts going on for both Leisa and Nan. However, every single one of the conflicts is presented superficially. I truly believe that if the conflicts had been limited to 3 or 4 (or even 5!) that the author could have made them each so much more interesting and effective for the reader. But as it is, the writing is too convoluted and wrought with problems to communicate the impact of each obstacle. Although I can’t really say that I enjoyed this book, I believe that with a lot of work it would be an intriguing story.
|
English
|
NL
|
05816f040a43e9c2a58089bedd016442ac040e0591df9d75eb7aaf22f23ec4e5
|
Telegram : +34 691143240
Today is going to be a new and complicated day as far as love is concerned. This March comes full of changes for Virgos that can materialize differently depending on the case.
Today many of them will feel that the time has come to seriously think about their relationship. If something is characterized by people born under this sign is to be a little demanding and to be influenced by the image they perceive and the things they receive from others.
The moment they think or believe that they are not getting what they need, they will feel lost and they won't know how to act.
Your job will continue to be for you that place where you feel most relaxed and even, sure of yourself. That reluctance that you had been experiencing in recent days has disappeared, all those things that you didn't like and that were about to make you throw in the towel will now seem unimportant details.
You'll discover the power of your mind to make you see things one way or another. According to the eyes with which you look at a situation, your body will end up reacting in one way or another.
The same scenario can be completely different for two different people, Virgo. Create that world as you want to live it.
Carrying such responsibility is not good for you. Your mind doesn't stop thinking and what could happen worries you excessively. All those internal fears are trying to take control of you and your mission today will be to expel them.
That security that you have in yourself begins to limp a little and you can't allow it any longer. Focus on your thoughts and get rid of those that are not useful to you. Finding peace of mind will help you feel better.
🔴 Virgo, have a look at your daily predictions on messenger!
|
English
|
NL
|
256aa7a9febefbf15a96a3dcb783a7ad69c1cdf057f1e715f811f7c1a43c92a6
|
For Christians, it's Easter time. I won't be talking about Christian traditions though, and not religion either. What I will be talking about is something found in the Christian bible that goes something like this:
Do to others as you would have them do to you.
The above command, however, is not unique to the Christian religion. In fact, whether you're a Christian or not, religious or not, you've probably heard some variation of it. Most of us know it as the Golden Rule.
Basically, the idea is that we should treat others in the same way as we, ourselves, would like to be treated. It's simple, it makes sense, and it's easy to understand. Right? Well, I've always had an issue with the Golden Rule. Yes, I understand the concept and the intention but i've always felt that it's a bit flawed. In fact, I know from first hand experience that it's flawed. Let me explain.
Simply put, not everyone wants to be treated the same way. In my case, I'm not sensitive so I appreciate direct, even blunt, communication. And since this is how I am, my instinct is to treat others the same way. Problem is, most people don't like being treated this way. So by following the Golden Rule, I actually end up offending people unintentionally.
This means that treating others how you would like to be treated is not always a good idea. I think a better version of the Golden Rule would be this:
Treat others how THEY would like to be treated.
The basic principle is still the same which is: be nice to people. But I think it's also useful to remember that people are different. So it's probably a good idea to take this into consideration individually for each person you interact with.
|
English
|
NL
|
215532552a76773d437abb97def9e8cdf48d1738cb631103be7f2d04764796b8
|
"The house which I am about to build will be great, for greater is our God than all the gods. "But who is able to build a house for Him, for the heavens and the highest heavens cannot contain Him? So who am I, that I should build a house for Him, except to burn incense before Him? "Now send me a skilled man to work in gold, silver, brass and iron, and in purple, crimson and violet fabrics, and who knows how to make engravings, to work with the skilled men whom I have in Judah and Jerusalem, whom David my father provided. Bible Scripture Gifts
It was carved with cherubim and palm trees; and a palm tree was between cherub and cherub, and every cherub had two faces, a man's face toward the palm tree on one side and a young lion's face toward the palm tree on the other side; they were carved on all the house all around. From the ground to above the entrance cherubim and palm trees were carved, as well as on the wall of the nave. The doorposts of the nave were square; as for the front of the sanctuary, the appearance of one doorpost was like that of the other. The altar was of wood, three cubits high and its length two cubits; its corners, its base and its sides were of wood And he said to me, "This is the table that is before the LORD." The nave and the sanctuary each had a double door. Each of the doors had two leaves, two swinging leaves; two leaves for one door and two leaves for the other. Also there were carved on them, on the doors of the nave, cherubim and palm trees like those carved on the walls; and there was a threshold of wood on the front of the porch outside. There were latticed windows and palm trees on one side and on the other, on the sides of the porch; thus were the side chambers of the house and the thresholds.
"You shall make two cherubim of gold, make them of hammered work at the two ends of the mercy seat. "Make one cherub at one end and one cherub at the other end; you shall make the cherubim of one piece with the mercy seat at its two ends. "The cherubim shall have their wings spread upward, covering the mercy seat with their wings and facing one another; the faces of the cherubim are to be turned toward the mercy seat.read more. Scripture Verse Gifts
The Lord said to Moses, “See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze, in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, to work in every craft. ...
So he made two doors of olive wood, and he carved on them carvings of cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers, and overlaid them with gold; and he spread the gold on the cherubim and on the palm trees. So also he made for the entrance of the nave four-sided doorposts of olive wood and two doors of cypress wood; the two leaves of the one door turned on pivots, and the two leaves of the other door turned on pivots. He carved on it cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers; and he overlaid them with gold evenly applied on the engraved work.
Now there were four supports at the four corners of each stand; its supports were part of the stand itself. On the top of the stand there was a circular form half a cubit high, and on the top of the stand its stays and its borders were part of it. He engraved on the plates of its stays and on its borders, cherubim, lions and palm trees, according to the clear space on each, with wreaths all around.read more. Christian Canvas Art
Millions of people turn to scripture every day for inspiration and guidance. Its timeless lessons help show us the way in a world that may seem complicated and confusing. The powerful words of scripture lend themselves easily to art, music, and other creative endeavors. You can use our collection of scripture art to highlight a favorite quotation or display the grace of a life guided by God's words. Scripture Verse Art
This verse is a reminder for me that all I need is Christ. When I feel helpless or weak, I don’t primarily need a practical solution or answer. I need God’s grace. God’s grace is sufficient. It is all I need. His strength shines brightly when I am weak and depending on Him. I don’t need my life to be in perfect order or all to be going well in the world around me. All I need is Christ.
The anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and He gave them into the hands of plunderers who plundered them; and He sold them into the hands of their enemies around them, so that they could no longer stand before their enemies. Wherever they went, the hand of the LORD was against them for evil, as the LORD had spoken and as the LORD had sworn to them, so that they were severely distressed. Then the LORD raised up judges who delivered them from the hands of those who plundered them. Christian Canvas Art
Huram also made the pails, the shovels and the bowls. So Huram finished doing the work which he performed for King Solomon in the house of God: the two pillars, the bowls and the two capitals on top of the pillars, and the two networks to cover the two bowls of the capitals which were on top of the pillars, and the four hundred pomegranates for the two networks, two rows of pomegranates for each network to cover the two bowls of the capitals which were on the pillars.read more. Scripture Verse Art
|
English
|
NL
|
7fa7334a67480d493654c9c5c22304e1a43828afb080fab35da16c1e61deb6e2
|
Shelton Jackson "Spike" Lee (born March 20, 1957) is an American film director, producer, writer, and actor. His production company, 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks, has produced over 35 films since 1983.
Lee was born in Atlanta, Georgia, the son of Jacqueline Carroll (née Shelton), a teacher of arts and black literature, and William James Edward Lee III, a jazz musician and composer. Lee also had three younger siblings Joie, David, and Cinqué, who all worked in many different positions in Lee's films. Director Malcolm D. Lee is his cousin. When he was a child, the family moved to Brooklyn, New York. During his childhood, his mother nicknamed him "Spike". In Brooklyn, he attended John Dewey High School.
|
English
|
NL
|
ebc63fffe0164c2d42ff21db285668a0930ea064ec21bb66d2902d4d1ee87500
|
- *No Site Warnings Apply
- Challenge Response
- First Time
- Multiple Partners
Harry looked disconcertingly at the package that had been delivered that morning. He wasn’t sure if he should open it or not. He was a little afraid to.
“Harry?” Neville Longbottom asked as he entered the Room of Requirement where they had agreed to meet this afternoon once classes were over. “Is something wrong?”
Harry looked up from his perusal of the unopened package. “Not exactly wrong, Nev.”
Neville sat down in the chair across from his friend. He had gotten a little taller in the past year and lost some of his baby fat, but what really seemed to make him more noticeable to most people now was that he was more assertive than he used to be. Harry had always known he had that confidence in him; it just took a while to come to the surface.
Neville had entered the room right on time and set his bag on the floor just inside the sometimes-absent door.
“You got another one?” Neville asked, noticing the strange look on Harry’s face and the way he was staring at the object on the coffee table the room had provided. Neville leaned forward a bit. “How many is that?”
“Three,” Harry answered.
“Are you going to open it?”
“Should I?” Harry asked, looking up at his friend.
Neville shrugged slightly. “If you want to know what it is, you better.”
Harry nodded and cautiously lifted the box. It wasn’t heavy and didn’t seem to move around, not giving any indication to the contents. Harry took a deep breath and untied the blue ribbon surrounding the box before slowly removing the lid.
At first glance it appeared to be empty; however, when Harry looked closer he noticed a slip of parchment sat at the bottom. He frowned and lifted the paper out.
“What’s it say?” Neville asked curiously.
Harry read the paper then turned to his friend. “I’m supposed to put the lid back on the box, tap it with my wand and say, OstendoSum TantumVolo.”
“That proves it, Harry,” Neville said with a grin. “Your secret admirer is definitely a Slytherin.” He wiggled his eyebrows in a way that most people would find silly, but Harry had gotten to know Neville better than most people in the past several months since the end of the war. “Who else would password protect a gift with a password that means ‘open only to me’? Clearly, it’s tied, somehow, to your magical signature.”
“Sneaky,” Harry agreed.
“Like I said, a Slytherin,” Neville reiterated. “Or very Marauder-like.” He paused. “You don’t think it’s Remus, do you? Or one of the twins? Because that would be…” He shook his head, because… no.
Harry thought about it for a second before shaking his own head. “No. That second gift maybe, it was vague enough. But the book I received the first week? I don’t think Remus would approve of that, and the twins would be more overt about anything they sent.”
Neville nodded. “You’re right. He turned back to the innocuous looking box. “Now, are you going to open it?”
Harry nodded, placed the lid back on the box, tapped it with his wand, repeated the passphrase and stood back slightly, unsure what would happen next if anything. After no further movement, Harry stepped forward and gently lifted the lid.
The two boys peered into the box in surprise. Neville smiled. “Either your mystery man knows you better than you think, or he’s trying to tempt you into a life of crime.”
“It does appear that way,” Harry acknowledged as he lifted out the small case from the box. It was a set of wizard’s tools designed to manipulate wards. From the look of them they were very well made, and no doubt expensive, especially when you consider that buying these types of tools was next to impossible even by disreputable sources.
According to the book he had received two weeks ago from his admirer the key to building impenetrable wards, and thereby removing or breaking them down, lay not only in a witch or wizard’s level of power but in the skill he or she used to employ a particular set of hard to manufacture, and therefore hard to find, tools.
While possession of the book or the tools could lend themselves to a trade in Warding, they were not the acceptable tools approved by the Ministry. No, these were more like something that belonged to someone whose job it is to dismantle wards.
The disturbing part about this gift, and the book before it was that Neville was correct: whoever was sending these presents must know something about him that most others did not.
He’d spent the summer after sixth year doing a lot of reconnaissance on Voldemort and his Death Eaters. So much so, that he’d developed an unexpected affinity for breaking and entering, which in wizarding homes was quite the challenge. His trips into various dark wizarding homes had eventually provided him with key information that allowed him to face Voldemort for the last time.
He’d walked away from that challenge with a few pieces of information he wasn’t quite sure how to assimilate into the boy-hero image everyone expected of him.
If he could somehow figure out a career from that, he might know what to do with himself once he graduated.
Judging from his most recent gift, maybe someone already had.
Harry looked cautiously at the items spread out on the coffee table the room had provided this time. There was something niggling him about these gifts. He had received the fourth one at breakfast that morning and he was beginning to suspect that they didn’t all come from the same person, which was puzzling.
All four of the notes were written by the same hand, of that he was sure. However, the gifts, themselves, felt like they were from different people. His first gift, a book written two centuries ago which explained in very detailed terms both the theory and the practice towards creating complex wards, and the complexities required for dismantling those same wards, went along with his third gift. Like the tools, the book was very hard to find and considered virtually illegal.
Harry had spent several months attempting to find a copy of it himself without any luck.
His second gift was a box made of etched crystal. The box itself wasn’t too unusual, except for the fact that it had two hidden compartments which were not discernable from the outside. It was very similar to a box Harry had admired at Professor Slughorn’s during one of those disastrous Slug Club dinners.
It could be a coincidence, but Harry didn’t think so. If it wasn’t, it meant whoever had sent the second gift was at the dinner, and watching him. He wasn’t sure how he felt about that.
His second gift had a different vibe from the other two. Harry was starting to think that maybe he had two gift-givers and not one. However, if that was the case, they were working together since all of the notes had been penned by the same hand. He had checked and found no evidence of any type of spell used to conceal the penmanship. The only spells on the parchment at all were to ensure Harry was the only one who read them, which Harry considered more evidence of Neville’s Slytherin theory.
This last gift was something he’d never seen in person, though he had read about them. It was a Nascosto crystal, spherical in shape, about the size of a Snitch. They were extremely rare and expensive and originated in Italy before the Italian Ministry determined they were used primarily by dark wizards. They had the ability to cloak a person’s magical signature, though some found them useless as heirlooms since they could only be tied to one user, and, therefore, couldn’t be passed down through the generations.
It was beautiful and, amazingly, unused. Clearly, whoever had found it for him meant these gifts as something more than a game.
While the cloaking ability might lead him to think this gift was from the same person as the book and the tools, the sheer beauty of the crystal made Harry think it was actually from the second gift-giver.
Each gift seemed to indicate that whoever was behind these had wealth as well as keen observation skills. His admirers, if in fact, that’s what they were, had been watching him enough to know that he might have a use for all of these things.
Harry wasn’t sure if he should be interested or alarmed.
When the owl swooped down to the table the next morning, Harry found himself slightly disappointed that it carried only a rolled parchment. He had become used to the package the eagle owl usually had clasped in its talons.
“No gift?” Neville asked from next to him.
They were among the last to leave the Gryffindor table. Harry had begun to suspect that his gift-givers planned it that way. The gifts never arrived when breakfast was in full swing, only when there were only one or two people left, mostly sitting away from Harry. Neville was the only Gryffindor that was ever close enough to Harry to really see what was being delivered.
“Nope.” Harry looked across the Great Hall to the Slytherin table, trying to see if anyone, in particular, was paying attention. The only ones left there were a few third years, and Harry seriously doubted it was one of them.
He slowly unrolled the parchment, not sure why he was so nervous, but this felt different.
Shrieking Shack. Midnight.
There was no signature, but there was an unusual drawing: a large snake entwined with a lion, accented with both red and green. If that didn’t indicate that his mysterious gift-givers were Slytherin, he didn’t know what did.
“How do they know I can get out of the school at that time?” Harry asked.
Neville voiced the thought Harry hadn’t said aloud yet. “Well, it’s not exactly a secret that you’ve wandered the school after curfew. Plus, they’ve been watching you.”
“Yeah, that’s what I was thinking.” Harry sighed and folded the parchment up again, slipping it into the pocket of his robes.
“You are going to go, aren’t you?” Neville asked after a minute.
Harry had no hesitations. “Of course I’m going.” He touched the parchment in his pocket, feeling the edges. “But I’m not sure who it’ll be. At first I was thinking Malfoy; some of this is pretty hard to come by,” Harry paused, looking at Neville squarely, “legally.”
“Not to mention expensive,” Neville agreed. “You don’t think it’s him anymore?” Neville had been leaning towards the same direction. While Harry and Malfoy’s relationship couldn’t be considered friendly, they had been less antagonistic towards each other in the past year, mostly since Voldemort had been destroyed and Malfoy had come into his inheritance.
“The second gift was that box with the hidden compartment. I saw a similar box in Professor’s Slughorn’s room during one of those dinners last year. But Malfoy wasn’t invited.”
“You think it might be someone who was?” Neville guessed. “How many Slytherins were there?”
“Not many. Blaise Zabini was one of them, though.”
“Blaise Zabini?” Neville echoed. “Are you hoping it is him, or it’s not?”
“I’m not sure. I guess it all depends on what their end game is.”
“You still think that it’s more than one person?” Neville thought to himself, but wasn’t sure how it all fit together.
“What is it they want?”
Neville shrugged. “I guess you won’t know until you go.”
Harry nodded. “What if it’s not a game, Neville?” Harry whispered, not sure if he was ready to deal with the consequences if this was more than just a passing interest.
“Well, I guess you’ll have to decide what to do once you know exactly what it is they want, assuming, of course, they actually tell you.”
Harry laughed. “There is that.”
Harry approached the Shrieking Shack and frowned as he felt the wards surrounding the place. There had never been wards here before—at least not since he had learned of the place. These wards were strong too, and if he wasn’t mistaken, complicated.
He stared at them, perplexed. Then he smiled. This was a test. Grinning, he headed back towards the school. He’d need a little help from his unique gifts to get inside.
Once he retrieved his new tools he returned to the Shrieking Shack. He approached the building cautiously and used his wand to magically observe the wards surrounding the building; he cast the revealing spell the book recommended and watched as several different colored lines appeared around the doorway. The wards extended around the entire building, but he could only see the lines around the doorway where he had cast the spell.
He smiled at the complexity of the spells and set to work unraveling them.
Harry took a deep breath and pushed out with his magic while keeping the rest of the wards from reactivating. He could feel the last complex spell unravel; there was a final spark of power and an orange spell light shot off into the darkness. Harry paused for a moment. If he wasn’t mistaken that orange light was some sort of message. But to who? He shook his head and turned towards the building, then sent another testing wave of power through it, trying to detect what might be contained within.
He could feel two separate magical signatures. One was only vaguely familiar, but the other was a signature he recognized from many interactions with it, most of them under the most unpleasant of circumstances.
Harry put his tools away and entered the room cautiously.
The room was dark, only a single lantern lighting the large room. However, there was enough light for him to recognize the two people waiting for him.
“You made it,” Blaise Zabini said in his smooth voice. He turned to his companion. “I told you it wouldn’t take him long.”
Draco Malfoy nodded in agreement before arching a brow in Harry’s direction. “I see you found a use for our little tokens.”
Harry came all the way into the room and allowed the door to close behind him. He couldn’t find it in himself to be even vaguely surprised; both Zabini and Malfoy were on the short list of Slytherin suspects. And he had known Malfoy’s magical signature, perhaps even better than that of a friend, due to the number of spells they had cast at one another over the years. The question now was why.
“I’m here. What do you want?” Harry asked.
“So direct. Draco, didn’t you say he was almost Sorted into Slytherin?” Blaise asked, turning to his fellow Slytherin before turning back to Harry. “Where’s that Slytherin style, Potter?”
Harry stared at the Slytherins for a long moment. He noticed the way that Zabini referred to Malfoy by his first name and Harry by his last. He could admit, if only to himself, that he was intrigued by both these two boys and what they might have in mind.
“We have a proposition for you,” Malfoy stated, his lips quirked in a slight smirk.
“Both of you?” Harry asked, glancing from Blaise to Draco. They were very striking together—Zabini with his dark looks and Malfoy with his blond hair and pale complexion.
“Our proposition is twofold,” Zabini stated, gesturing for Harry to take a seat in the chair across from where they stood. Once Harry sat they seated themselves on the couch, all grace and elegance. “We set up this little test to see if you fully appreciated the gifts we went to such lengths to procure for you.”
“We’re starting up a little business,” Malfoy continued, “that caters to wizards and witches in need of your specialized services.”
Harry’s eyes widened slightly. “My services? But I don’t have any real experience… at least none you could market.” He blushed, thinking of all the nights he’d broken into Death Eaters’ homes and the things he’d witnessed while waiting until the Death Eaters retired for the night so he could snoop.
“This is why we’ve arranged for your apprenticeship with Mavin Merryweather,” Blaise said slyly, knowing that if Harry had read the book they’d gotten for him he would know that Merryweather was an expert in every type of warding, both legal and illegal. She hadn’t taken an apprentice in over ninety years and had been a recluse for the past forty.
Harry’s eyes widened farther. “How?”
Malfoy shrugged. “Doesn’t matter how. What matters is that she agreed, if we could prove you had talent. Which you have now done for us.” Malfoy waved a hand towards the entrance Harry had come through.
“The results of your spell work were sent to her once the wards were down.”
“The message light,” Harry whispered in realization.
“I told you he wasn’t as stupid as I’ve assumed,” Draco said to Blaise, a slight smile on his lips.
“You said twofold,” Harry interrupted. “What’s the second part?”
“Well, that’s a bit more… personal,” Malfoy admitted.
Harry looked from one to the other and noticed that they were looking back, their expressions intense. “You want to sleep with me?”
“Yes, but that’s not all we want,” Blaise confirmed.
“And this… business proposition is contingent on me sleeping with you?” Harry asked incredulously. He didn’t think either of the Slytherins needed to resort to extortion.
“Not at all,” Blaise answered, placing a hand on Draco’s arm before he could say something he might regret. This was the tricky part: getting Harry to agree to all of it and not just the business angle. “Let’s call it an added incentive.”
Harry’s lips quirked slightly. “And are you the bonus to the business proposition or is the apprenticeship the bonus to sleeping with you?”
“Does it matter, Potter?” Malfoy asked.
“If we’re going to be sleeping together don’t you think you should call me Harry, Draco?” Harry asked, his own eyebrow rising in challenge.
“Is that a yes, Harry?” Blaise asked, his mouth caressing the name in a way that just wasn’t possible when he called him by his surname.
Harry tilted his head slightly, looking from Draco to Blaise and back again. He couldn’t deny their attractiveness, nor his interest in their offer. An apprenticeship with Mavin Merryweather… that was way better than any of the offers the Ministry had handed him. And sleeping with two of the hottest boys in his year—that would be the easy part.
“It’s a yes,” Harry agreed before moving from his chair to their couch. “But only if you can kiss.”
|
English
|
NL
|
067a7a12a22c75caeae1fd5a1734805a71467f7f687c31c8a03310fdec656d10
|
‘They’ve all been in prison’. Ollie was always at his most relaxed when he was saying something outrageous. ‘Who have?’ Dan was intrigued. ‘Kazzie’s brothers. They’re burglars. She says they do it for the excitement really. I’m joining them when I’m older’. ‘Kazzie won’t let you’. Dan was sure of that. ‘Kazzie won’t know’. Ollie had evidently thought that one through. Dan had heard a rumour that Ollie’s father was in prison but felt it was perhaps best not to mention that.
He was sitting at the same table as the night before. The morning sunshine was watery but the sky was clear; it was going to be a beautiful day. He was enjoying a strong coffee and very fresh bread and France really did seem a good place to be. But there was a task to be completed and he needed to focus on it. He thought back to Magda’s party. Who was there and could they be involved? There was the striped jacketed man. Dan couldn’t quite remember his name but he knew it was Dutch. Van something, he thought. For some reason Dan didn’t like him. He had looked extremely shifty every time Ollie was mentioned. Shifty? What was he now, a detective from a black and white film? And there was the dark haired Penny, the aromatherapist. But surely she was ok.
Soon the boys from last night arrived, interrupting his thoughts. They’d cycled along from the camp site and sat down next to him at the table. Dan had woken up staring at the patterned wallpaper wondering where he was. Proof he’d been to sleep at least. The right combination of beer and cycling often helps, he thought. They’d been to the farm before, Tony, the taller one, was saying, but never for a whole summer. It sounded ok, but very hard work. Dan leaned back in his chair. He was glad of the company. But suddenly there was a loud clattering and he jumped violently. ‘I really think you should head East with us,’ Tony said gently. He was evidently kind and perceptive. The last thing you want when you’re struggling a bit is someone kind and perceptive, Dan thought. He shrugged. ‘Oh, I haven’t slept too well lately, that’s all’. And then he added, ‘I know it sounds dramatic, but I’m looking for someone’. He explained that he’d been told which route Ollie normally took and with a map and money had set off to find him. ‘Hence the Cheval Blanc and not the camp site,’ said Tony. Dan nodded.
‘How do you know this Ollie?’ This time it was Jim, the quiet one who spoke. ‘We were kids,’ Dan said. ‘He couldn’t read at all,’ he went on. ‘We found a few old books in the attic and Kazzie and I used to read to him. He’d lie on the bed in a sort of trance. Spellbound I suppose you’d say. And when we got to the end of “The Silver Sword”, well…..’ Dan broke off. There was a pause. They chatted for a while but soon they rode off, leaving Dan alone with his thoughts. He remembered that first day. He’d shown Dan the walk way under the railway line and pointed out the next cove, which was only accessible by boat. They then walked through the town and took the ferry across to the next village where they went through a tunnel which led to a rocky beach.
He had to get on though, and he took out the photo that Magda had given him. His wavy hair was shorter and a bit darker, and of course he looked older, but he was still recognisable to Dan. He planned to show it to anyone he could find and ask if they’d seen him. He could speak a bit of French. He just needed to plan the question and hope for a straightforward reply. He tried the owner of the Cheval Blanc who shook his head. He then walked to the town and went into a couple of shops but no luck. Then he saw an expensive looking hotel in the town centre. Ollie’s sort of place maybe. The receptionist was friendly and keen to show off his English. ‘No, no foreigners last night.’ He looked down at the register, ‘Ah, my mistake. There was a South African man here.’ Dan started. ‘Yes, Mr. Van Eeden.’ What? Dan was amazed. ‘Striped jacket?’ asked Dan. He made hand gestures to indicate stripes. The man wasn’t sure. ‘Grey hair?’ asked Dan. ‘Yes. You know him?’ Dan didn’t answer. ‘And a dark haired girl?’ he found himself asking. Was he suspecting everyone now? ‘No Monsieur, no girl’. Dan thanked him and made his way out.
What to do now? He decided to avoid Van Eeden if possible. He deemed it safer to ride North back the way he had come from for a short while and hide – there was no other word for it – in a wood. He had a small tent with him for emergencies and he pitched it. He then had nothing to do but wait for nightfall. He dined on bread and cheese. Suddenly he longed for the past. For tunnels, attics, rocks and secret coves. From now on was it just taxes, mortgages and racing thoughts? Adult life had never seemed so dull and flat. But as it happened the next few days were to turn out to be rather eventful. Not flat at all. And there would be times in the future when Dan would long to be curled up in a quiet wood eating bread and cheese. There were worse things than dullness.
Chapter 4 will be published 12/10/2018.
Subscribe to our newsletter in the footer to receive an update on the next chapter (and our other articles) straight to your email inbox.
|
English
|
NL
|
5e01e5ff56bac97c83f86940b2edc402752b53a058af07e132ad499f4f751f5b
|
My brother Abu was the first one who saw it. Look! he shouted. The sky is red! We rushed to the window and saw an amazing spectacle. The night sky had indeed taken on a deep red colour.
That was one of my earliest recollections of the Japanese Occupation. Several ships had been set on fire in the Penang harbour and the huge blaze had lighted up the night sky.
Another was the sound of shrieking planes overhead. After a lull of some seconds – BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! The bombs would explode, pounding the earth, making me shrink into myself with fear. The target was a military base but what if the bombs fell over our house?
We needed a bomb shelter. My father and four brothers dug an L-shaped, six foot deep trench in our back garden, covered it first with tarpaulin and then foliage. The slightest sound of approaching planes sent us scrambling in there. I once dashed from the bathroom with no clothes on.
Food was scarce but my mother saved every grain of rice and every scrap, so we never went to bed hungry. My father worked at the main Military Base. It was hard labour. He lugged heavy rocks and stones up several storeys. They were used to build the barracks. But every month he brought home a bag of rice. So while most people existed on tapioca, we had rice, vegetables from our garden and eggs from the chickens we reared.
One day we got an awful fright. Some soldiers raided our house. They searched every cupboard and drawer, turned over every piece of furniture, shoved beds aside to peer beneath them, ripped mattresses and pillows and grabbed a few chickens before they left. My father had earlier burnt his prized collection of English books.
Ah! The Chung Ling School Canteen! One of my best memories. My father was given a contract to operate the school canteen. Suddenly there was not only plenty of food but a great variety of it. My mother had a different menu every day. When the food was all packed we carried it and walked to the school which was near where we lived. My duty was to carry the big clock. The Canteen was a huge success.
And so the days passed peacefully by. We heard stories about people being arrested and tortured. My Uncle who lived in Singapore was one of them. They cut his eye-lids, strapped him to a chair and left him out in the sun. His body, when they found him, was full of burn marks. But nothing like that touched us.
When the British returned there was a huge welcome ceremony complete with cannon shots and loud marching band music. Everyone seemed happy. I looked at my mother and she had a beautiful glow on her face.
Soon after my father bought me a large doll with long hair and the prettiest eyes. I put her down next to me when I went to bed that night and it closed its eyes. I jumped out of bed not believing what I had seen. Yes, it could open and close its eyes. Like magic! And that was my best memory of all.
|
English
|
NL
|
b5350ff7fe5c223001fb940eb27af303dd38f75e6b9fc5465e03debb91eb4d6d
|
‘I love my rejection slips. They show me I try.’ – Sylvia Plath
Rejection is a painful reality but why not have a little fun with it, so I decided to rewrite rejection letters as vignettes. Please enjoy my missed connections with literary agents.
You were my ideal, flawed yet perfect. I imagined you read Zadie Smith, Lydia Davis, and Sylvia Plath. When you requested my full manuscript, I was astonished, you were a ‘super-agent’. I was convinced you would fall in love with every page.
I began to worry after three weeks of silence. Weeks passed into months, were you even a possibility? Then one day, you said my writing had a ‘mythical cadence’ that you admired. You paused. It was one moment of hesitation. You weren’t fully connecting with the larger narrative and couldn’t explain why. It became one of those haunting mysteries. I wondered what might have happened if you had looked one more time, if circumstances had been different, would you have represented me? You blamed yourself, a hectic move and so much on your plate hadn’t allowed you to read my manuscript with clear eyes. If only you had looked again. I blamed myself… you were too perfect.
You were a hipster. The burly beard was a giveaway, but you never tried to conceal it. You lived in Brooklyn and read Infinite Jest on the train (or pretended to) as passengers admired your literary taste. I wanted to ignore you for your pretentious ways, but my friend insisted I query you. Three days passed. You hadn’t responded. I assumed you were drinking craft beer in Williamsburg. Then came the rejection letter. I was relieved. Hipsters confuse me.
I saw you at a lawn party. You were talking to a group of friends about Kandinsky. We were standing in a sea of madras that could have easily been a Pollack painting. My friend introduced us and we chatted, briefly. You offered to read my manuscript. I was sure you would love the main character. It all seemed so perfect. Only you were searching for the literary equivalent of Sacchi. I don’t think of what might have been.
You used the prefix Mr. to address me and I forgot to correct you when I sent my partial manuscript. Three weeks later, you asked for the full manuscript. You used the prefix Mr. again, this time it amused me, but sadly, we weren’t meant to be.
|
English
|
NL
|
34689269c40501085e10dec7bd0195b1d3ca9c07b4404aab102ea4c35788d845
|
When the Son of God came to earth, the people who encountered him struggled to know how to relate to him. This was because they didn’t know how to relate to each other. From the time humans rebelled against God, their souls have been hungry. They’ve developed methods to salve but never satisfy their hunger. One method of hunger abatement has been mutual exploitation.
When Jesus fed 5000 people with just a little food, those present discovered that Jesus had much to exploit. At first they attempted to build a relationship with Jesus based on feigned interest. They asked, “So Jesus, when did you get here?” Jesus brushed past this question to their real motives. He said, “You’re only here because I filled your bellies with bread.” Then he addressed their real need by telling them that they should work not for bread that will perish but for enduring bread.
But these people were very broken and they only heard the word, “work.” They understood work. “Of course,” they thought, “we know how things function around here. If you want something you have to work for it. He doesn’t want our feigned interest. He wants us to work.” So they asked Jesus what sorts of things they would need to do in order to satisfy God. Jesus gave them the cryptic answer, “Believe in me.”
Then they thought, “Wow, this guy really expects a lot. He wants us to revere him as a prophet.” So they said, “Well Jesus, if you want us to treat you like Moses, you’d better act like Moses. Give us some bread from heaven.” Again Jesus responded with an offer of bread for their souls. He replied, “Moses didn’t give you the real bread. My Father gives the real bread from heaven.”
“Now, we’re getting somewhere;” they mused, “all we’ve got to do is revere this guy as a prophet and we’ll have our physical hunger fixed for life.” “Sign us up, Jesus!” they said, feeling satisfied that they had finally brokered a mutually profitable deal.
Jesus, however, shattered their expectations with only six words – “I am the bread of life.” Jesus did not come to broker a deal. God, the Son, came to give himself as the only food for God-hungry souls. He exposed and denounced mutual exploitation with reckless self-sacrifice.
So, how should we react to Jesus? In the only way worthy of him: By acknowledging our need for him and by giving ourselves to him in kind through unconditional trust. Hear his words again from John 6:35, “I am the bread of life, whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.”
So I ask you: Is your soul hungry? If so, I beg you to stop salving that hunger through human relationships, personal achievement, or even religion. Admit your need for him and give yourself to him in utter trust. You will be satisfied.
|
English
|
NL
|
ebb34b44dd03016f5cbce9949f2eccf0628c20ac0cf438f226073e982346d01d
|
The problem with a heart is that it can break be torn and leave us feeling deep pain and longing for what once gave us so much joy and happiness.
A man may try to avoid this by shutting down some of that joy when he feels it again, he may seek out fake joy in drugs and alcohol hoping that it will at least make the pain go away, he may finally find a partner that brings him joy but he may never allow himself to fully love him or her and will try to control that person to keep from feeling the pain he felt long ago when something he loved left or was destroyed.
A man may become so good at keeping himself from feeling pain in his heart that overtime he losses that connection to it. He loses that which makes him a loving human being and kills his heart. If he does this enough times he may no longer feel the aches and pains but he also no longer feels love and connection with those around him. This is the black heart.
He suffers a different pain. A pain of disconnection from himself and others. This pain strongly affects those around him although he may not notice it for a long time. He will wonder why he cannot relate to women, why his children find him cold and distant and why he is so uncomfortable around other men. He may feel very guarded around people and always ready for a fight.
In this distorted disconnected pain he instead seeks his happiness in things that he can own and control. And so there is a shell of pain around his heart and this is why it hurts to go there and reconnect in the beginning after it has been long suppressed.
The heart is a muscle and like every muscle it tears and rips, but each time it is made stronger through the process when it is allowed to heal. Just like the pain you feel when you work out so it is with the heart. The heart of the warrior feels the pain and knows he can withstand it. He feels it to heal it. He fearlessly lives though he may lose it all and in the grand scheme of things he will indeed. But know that the experience is always retained.
May you always be connected to your heart,
|
English
|
NL
|
82e329224cf23daf4b15f54d1472b1facbf30481903b240810ab3e2212c2ccad
|
Do you ever have a thought or an idea that you like and you know it’s a good one, but, somehow you just never put it into action? As I think about that, I know I’ve missed some good investment opportunities by just never “pulling the trigger”. Sorry, Connie, but I’ve bombed some chances to say something really nice and well-deserved to you by convincing myself it would sound silly. And, there’s no telling how many blessings I’ve missed simply by failing to pray and ask the One Who wanted to bless me.
You guessed it, I’m sure. There is a thought figuratively collecting dust while lying dormant in my mind for far too long. My “excuses” have included thinking I could never convey this thought in a truly humble way. But, at the same time, I am sincerely humbled by this persistent thought. So, as you read this long overdue (from my point of view) post, please know that it is written with true humility, honesty and deep gratitude to the One Who deserves praise. I pray that you will see that it is by His hand that my life, along with many other lives, have been spiritually enriched.
Connie and I always agreed that our primary function as parents was to prepare our children, over a few short years, to be released into the world where they could be a positive influence on their own children, their neighborhoods, and their friends. No, we never sat down at the kitchen table and wrote that down in black and white. And, we never said those words to anyone that I remember. But, if we had been asked, I believe our answer would have been very close to what I just wrote.
OK, I’m ready to release the captive thought. Trust me, I am praying as I write because I am aware of my own unworthiness. Chapter 11 of the New Testament Book of Hebrews is sometimes referred to as the “Faith Hall of Fame” because Paul lists numerous men and women who demonstrated unwavering faith in God. There is another man who is barely mentioned in the Bible. And, as far as I know, little information can be found about him. But, there are a few things we can surmise from what we do know. He was a behind-the- scenes kind of guy. He worked hard in the fishing business. He was a family man with a wife and at least two sons. He taught his sons how to work hard, too. He must have instilled some degree of spiritual discernment into his children. I say that because one day, without hesitation, his two sons left him and followed Jesus. Zebedee couldn’t have known much about Jesus that day, but something tells me he saw enough to trust Him with his sons. And, as time passed and he watched Jesus teach his sons, he must have felt incredibly blessed.
And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him. Mathew 4:21-22
I like to think of myself as being a Zebedee kind of guy. Because I feel incredibly blessed to be the dad of three children who follow Jesus.
Over the years I’ve collected a few nicknames and my name has been pronounced as Peterson, Person or Pareson. Ever since my grandkids discovered my “other” name, they know they can get a reaction by calling me Larry. Now that I’ve “released the thought”, I guess it won’t be a surprise to be referred to as Zeb now and then. As long as it’s intended to remind me of Zebedee, I’ll be fine with it.
|
English
|
NL
|
58c63f37f0c06e98a6c8dede240f715d2bb9a2344c48ec9455725d286056bb70
|
Ian McEwan is one of Britain’s most celebrated writers.
The author of novels including The Cement Garden (1978), the Booker Prize—winning Amsterdam (1998), and most recently, Atonement (2002), McEwan began writing in 1970. When his first book, First Love, Last Rites (1975), received the Somerset Maugham Award, it was lauded as “brilliantly perverse.” Such a description may be applied to the subject matter in nearly all of McEwan’s books: a young girl’s imagination leads her to accuse a childhood friend of a hideous crime he did not commit; a man finds himself being stalked by a religious follower after attempting to save the victim of a tragic air-balloon accident; a group of children lapse into filth and apathy after concealing the deaths of their parents. McEwan may craft horrific tales, but he also has an uncanny ability to guide his readers through these haunting fictional worlds of moral ambiguity and doubt toward a land of sharpness and clarity.
Born in 1948, McEwan is a self-described “army brat” who spent his childhood living in North Africa and Singapore before returning to England for schooling. He received his M.A. from the University of Sussex in Brighton, where he studied under writer Malcolm Bradbury. In addition to his fiction, McEwan is a frequent contributor of nonfiction to publications including The Guardian, The Independent, and The Financial Times. He lives in London.
Excerpt from Atonement (2001)She eased herself onto an elbow and brought the glass of water to her lips. It was beginning to fade, the presence of her animal tormentor, and now she was able to arrange two pillows against the headboard in order to sit up. This was a slow and awkward maneuver because she was fearful of sudden movement, and thus the creaking of the bedsprings was prolonged, and half obscured the sound of a man’s voice. Propped on her side, she froze, with the corner of a pillow clenched in one hand, and beamed her raw attention into every recess of the house. There was nothing, and then, like a lamp turned on and off in total darkness, there was a little squeal of laughter abruptly smothered. Lola then, in the nursery with Marshall. She continued to settle herself, and lay back at last, and sipped her lukewarm water. This wealthy young entrepreneur might not be such a bad sort, if he was prepared to pass the time of day entertaining children. Soon she would be able to risk turning on the bedside lamp, and within twenty minutes she might be able to rejoin the household and pursue the various lines of her anxiety. Most urgent was a sortie into the kitchen to discover whether it was not too late to convert the roast into cold cuts and salads, and then she must greet her son and appraise his friend and make him welcome. As soon as this was accomplished, she was satisfy herself that the twins were properly taken care of, and perhaps allow them some sort of compensating treat. Then it would be a good time to make the telephone call to Jack who would have forgotten to tell her he was not coming home. She would talk herself past the terse woman on the switchboard, and the pompous young fellow in the outer office, and she would reassure her husband that there was no need to feel guilt. She would track down Cecilia and make sure that she had arranged the flowers as instructed, and that she should jolly well make an effort for the evening by taking on some of the responsibilities of a hostess and that she wore something pretty and didn’t smoke in every room. And then, most important of all, she should set off in search of Briony because the collapse of the play was a terrible blow and the child would need all the comfort a mother could give. Finding her would mean exposure to unadulterated sunlight, and even the diminishing rays of early evening could provoke an attack. The sunglasses could have to be found then, and this, rather than the kitchen, would have to be the priority, because they were somewhere in this room, in a drawer, between a book, in a pockeet, and it would be a bother to come upstairs again for them. She should also put on some flat-soled shoes in case Briony had gone all the way to the river . . .
And so Emily lay back against the pillows for another several minutes, her creature having slunk away, and patiently planned, and revised her plans, and refined an order for them. She would soothe the household, which seemed to her, from the sickly dimness of the bedroom, like a troubled and sparsely populated continent from whose forested vastness competing elements made claims and counter claims upon her restless attention. She had no illusions: old plans, if one could ever remember them, the plans that time had overtaken, tended to have a febrile and overoptimistic grip on events. She could send her tendrils into every room of the house, but she could not send them into the future. She also knew that, ultimately, it was her own peace of mind she strove for; self-interest and kindness were best not separated. Gently, she pushed herself upright and swung her feet to the floor and wriggled them into her slippers. Rather than risking drawing the curtains just yet, she turned on the reading light, and tentatively began the hunt for her dark glasses. She had already decided where to look first.
Selected WorkAtonement (2001) Amsterdam (1998)Enduring Love (1997)The Daydreamer (1994)Black Dogs (1992)The Innocent (1990)The Child in Time (1987)The Comfort of Strangers (1981)In Between the Sheets and Other Stories (1978)The Cement Garden (1978)First Love, Last Rites (1975)
|
English
|
NL
|
92f47ee6167d20dd1fd00d15a0a74f36acf0b29450271bddd43bb4cf9a3c8649
|
Persuasion tells the story of Anne Elliot and Captain Frederick Wentworth. Eight years prior to the film's beginning, Anne – at the age of 19 – was engaged to Wentworth. However, her father Sir Walter Elliot and especially the family friend Lady Russell persuaded Anne in breaking off the engagement. Despite mutual feelings on both sides, Wentworth was not considered worthy enough in rank and wealth.
Eight years later, due to the careless spending of Sir Walter and his eldest daughter Elizabeth, the family is in financial difficulties. Therefore, the Elliot family residence, Kellynch Hall, in Somersetshire, has to be let out. Suitable renters are soon found in Admiral Croft and his wife. Mrs Croft is the sister of Frederick Wentworth, who has risen to Captain in the meantime and has become rich while serving in the Royal Navy.
While her elder sister Elizabeth and her father Sir Walter set off for their new residence in Bath, Anne is left to take care of further business in Somersetshire, including taking care of her hypochondriac sister Mary Musgrove, married to Charles Musgrove and living in a nearby estate.
Before she joins her father in Bath, Anne and Wentworth, on one of his visits to his sister Mrs Croft, meet once again. While staying with her sister Mary, Anne and Captain Wentworth are bound to meet frequently. Thereby, she has to witness Captain Wentworth's advances towards Charles Musgrove's young and lively sisters, especially to Louisa and wonders if he will ever forgive her or even love her again.
|
English
|
NL
|
841603fde7025f6bcc242a9180fd10b0c987a621f0c38d004180bf970c9500bf
|
- I'm a genius!
- -- Iron Man src
When Nick Fury created Avengers Academy, Tony Stark was the first student to be recruited, upon arriving at the Academy the first thing he did was begin construction of the Academy's very own Stark Tower so he could keep his way of living and his gadgets while staying at the Academy.
After construction of the Tower, a Hydra bully showed up at the Academy and tells Tony that Hydra is going to attack it soon, but he wanted to be the first to beat up the rich kid that has been saying he will take down Hydra. Black Widow then appears out of nowhere and scares the bully off, Tony tries to chat and flirt with her, but she ignores him and tells him to get new recruits to the Academy to beat the incoming Hydra attack and that they would talk about real threats to the Academy afterwards.
Tony is then approached by Administrator Pepper Potts and tasked with the recruitment of the Academy's next student, Wasp. Upon meeting him, Wasp tells him she was going to contact him when she saw the Stark Tower being built at the Academy, but she had wrecked her phone so was unable to. Tony then tells her that the Academy is looking for new superheroes to join and that he can get her a new phone if she joins the Academy and helps them fight Hydra, she accepts his proposal and joins the academy.
After getting Wasp to join the Academy, she proposes that they should build a Blasting Range to train their abilities. Tony says he is having trouble with his aim and he blew up his lab the last time he used his repulsor, so Janet helps him train at the blasting range. After Tony Stark finishes his training he asks Janet how many recruits does she think they need to defeat the Hydra henchmen force that were planning to attack the Academy and take over New York City. Janet tells him they only need one recruit. Tony is surprised by her answer and wonders who that person is. Administrator Pepper Potts is then contacted by Janet about that person, Administrator Pepper Potts agrees with her and asks her and Tony to recruit the new student, Loki an immortal Asgardian sorcerer.
Loki was initially angry at Janet for spreading embarrassing pictures of him on the internet and ruining his reputation. He tells them if they want to recruit him, Janet better apologize to him and they have to somehow fix his reputation. Tony uses his hacking skills to remove all the photos from the internet, while Loki and Wasp work out their issues. He then joins the Academy and helps them beat the Hydra forces.
After an Hydra Invasion, when arguing whether a robot army or training was a better way to defend humanity, Iron Man and Captain America split Avengers Academy into two teams. After creating Team Iron Man, Stark started mass producing Ultron staff bots.
After numerous weeks of battling Hydra split into two teams, Captain America and Iron Man finally ended their rivalry when Iron Man was able to bring Captain America's friend Bucky back to his senses, he had been brainwashed by Hydra and Iron Man was able to built a machine to counter the mind control, they both realized that their rivalry made no sense, and working together was the better solution, united again they defeated Hydra and imprisoned their leader the Red Skull.
During Malekith's invasion of Earth, by Odin's demand Tony worked as a blacksmith to create weapons to help defeat the Dark Elves using a special Iron Ore that was particularly effective against them.
Avengers Under Siege
Iron Man was one of the Avengers Academy students that helped defeat and recapture the villains that were freed from their cages by Baron Zemo after he was manipulated by Mephisto into believing they would serve him if he freed them.
Sometime in the future, Iron Man would engage in a battle that would cost him his helmet. His damaged helmet would be thrown into the TimeFog and found in the past.
Tony Stark has no powers of his own but they are derived from his Iron Man Armors.
Arc Reactor Dependence
- Tony had crushes on Black Widow and Rescue.
- Loki's nickname for Tony was Armor-Man.
- If he ever wrote an autobiography, he'd title it: Steel and Neon.
- Tony said he had not asked out the Enchantress because he believed her to be dating Loki; he respects the bro code.
- Tony considered himself the smartest person to ever exist.
- Tony once dressed as Captain America for Halloween, causing him to be only given milk and carrots.
- Stark is the third smartest person on Earth.
- 1 Appearances of Anthony Stark (Earth-TRN562)
- Minor Appearances of Anthony Stark (Earth-TRN562)
- Media Anthony Stark (Earth-TRN562) was Mentioned in
- 98 Images featuring Anthony Stark (Earth-TRN562)
- 4 Quotations by or about Anthony Stark (Earth-TRN562)
- Character Gallery: Anthony Stark (Earth-TRN562)
Discover and Discuss
- Search this site for:
|Like this? Let us know!|
|
English
|
NL
|
063e5088f1add35f4d55549aef39c7b0b2fc528cc80d2c703a29768042f5d941
|
David Albahari is one of the most prominent writers of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, and his books, thirteen novels and eleven short story collections, have won many awards, among them the NIN Award for the best novel published in Yugoslavia in 1996. Albahari was born in Kosovo in 1948. In 1994, during the war in Yugoslavia, he immigrated with his family to Canada, where he still lives today. Albahari lost many family members during the Second World War. His writings often deal with the subject, and he is also a very active member of the Jewish community. In 1991 he was appointed Chair of the Federation of Jewish Communes of Yugoslavia. His books have been translated into many languages, and he is a member of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts.
|
English
|
NL
|
489b6f1141bca5284883bb9a05b51e647dc7e3cd5196933de8b8a22daa4635d8
|
King Henry VIII: Accomplished Leader and Number 1 Gambler of England
King Henry VIII is remembered for many things including initiating England’s reformation and separation from the Roman Catholic Church in addition to having six wives over the course of his lifetime.
One commonly unknown fact about him, that’s vital to understanding his true character, was his addiction to gambling.
King Henry VIII spent many hours playing anything from Dice to Bragg, competing against both monarchy leaders and commoners. He was considered one of the most unlucky gamblers of his time, losing a myriad of money and prized possessions almost every time he gambled.
Growing up in the Palace
King Henry VIII, the son of King Henry VII and Queen Elizabeth from York, was born at Greenwich Palace on June 28th, 1491.
He would have had six siblings but only three of them survived infancy: an older brother: Arthur, Prince of Wales and two sisters: Mary and Margaret. Since young Henry was the second born son, he wasn’t next in line to obtain the throne.
Before he could even form proper sentences, little Henry was granted with prestigious titles that were essentially meaningless, as he was in no position to take on any real responsibilities. When he was only two years old, he was appointed Constable of Dover Castle and Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports.
Less than a year later, he took on the positions of Earl Marshal of England and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. Young Henry accomplished more in his toddlers years than most people do in a lifetime.
There are even more titles that Henry received before turning five,
as we only mentioned the most important ones.
As one might imagine, the majority of young Henry’s childhood consisted of getting the best possible education available in England at that time. Historians also recorded that Henry spent a great deal of time with his father, as they had a very close relationship.
This was rare, as most Kings during that time period didn’t spend much time with their family members.
In 1502, Henry’s brother became the new Prince of Wales after marrying Catherine, the Princess of Wales. Shortly after their extravagant wedding day, Arthur passed away due to unknown causes, making Henry the next in line for the thrown.
In order to prepare for his upcoming role, Henry was given more responsibilities and more prestigious positions. Among these positions, Henry was responsible for marrying his brother’s widow and taking on the position of the new Prince of Wales.
Unfortunately, there were some arguments concerning their marriage and for a while, it looked as if it was going to fall through.
King Henry VII passed away on April 21st, 1509 just before Henry’s eighteenth birthday. Although he was inexperienced in some ways, Henry was happy to accept his new title as King Henry VIII and all of the responsibilities that followed.
Before his coronation, he married Catherine; they had a very modest wedding and didn’t invite many guests.
Upon his coronation, King Henry VIII made a bold decision to fire two of his father’s ministers, Sir Richard Empson and Edmund Dudley, who were accused of treason and believed to be partially responsible for his father’s death.
Under King Henry VIII demands, they were publically executed the following year.
Another courageous decision that Henry made early on was to get involved with the war going on between France and Venice. He initially formed an alliance with France but then he agreed to help Ferdinand, the Leader of Venice at the time, and signed a pact to show his commitment.
In 1513, Henry and his army successfully invaded France which resulted in the battle known as “Battle of the Spurs,” as many soldiers lost their lives.
Queen Catherine: King Henry VIII’s First Wife
It was around this time that Henry and Catherine announced that there were expecting a new addition to their family; the whole kingdom prepared for the arrival of this new baby.
Regrettably, the baby girl died upon birth several months later, causing a great amount of grief for the newly married couple. The good news is that they were able to have a healthy baby boy, named Henry, just a year later.
The whole kingdom celebrated the birth of their new son but when he was just a few weeks old, he grew terribly ill and passed away. Catherine continued to have stillbirths until she finally had a healthy daughter named Mary, who lived a long and fruitful life.
King Henry was desperate for a son at this point and so he started obtaining mistresses from other countries to fulfill his desires.
One of his mistresses, Elizabeth Blount, gave birth to their son, Henry Fitzroy, in June of 1519. When the boy was of age, he was anointed Duke of Richmond, in hopes that he could one day carry on his father’s position as King.
He, unfortunately, died childless fourteen years later, leaving no heir to the throne. Now King Henry VIII was more determined than ever to have a healthy, fertile son. He made the drastic decision to divorce Catherine, which was a much more complicated process than it is in today’s society.
Initiating the English Reformation
The Roman Catholic Church was strictly against divorce, as they believed that marriage was a lasting contract that could only be repealed through death.
As only widows were free to re-marry, King Henry VIII wouldn’t only be prohibited from getting remarried, but he would be excommunicated from the Church if he went against their wishes.
Initially, King Henry VIII purposed that under “Papal Dispensation,” he could be exempt from certain laws of the church, including their laws concerning divorce, due to his position as King.
The Pope denied his request, which lead King Henry VIII to come up with a new plan. He ordered the Archbishop of Canterbury to grant him a divorce, although this meant that they both had to directly go against what the Pope had commanded.
Eventually, due to King Henry VIII’s actions, England started to break away from the rule of the Roman Catholic Church and in the 1534 Act of Parliament; King Henry VIII became the Supreme Head of the Church.
This would forever limit the Pope’s power and give more power to the Kings that preceded him.
The Dissolution of the Monasteries
After being appointed Supreme Head of the Church, King Henry said this to his people,
“Well-beloved subjects, we thought that the clergy of our realm had been our subjects wholly, but now we have well perceived that they be but half our subjects; yea, and scarce our subjects; for all the prelates at their consecration make an oath to the Pope clean contrary to the oath that they make to us, so that they seem to be his subjects, and not ours”.
One threat to King Henry VIII’s new power was the monasteries where the monks lived, as these monks were the wealthiest men in all of England and they owned the most property.
King Henry VIII sent several government officials to the monasteries to spy on the monks and to see if they were doing anything wrong that he could use as an excuse to execute them. It was discovered that the Monks and Nuns were starting families, against the Church’s commands. They were also using the people’s money for corrupt practices.
This news disturbed the people of England and caused them to support the King’s actions that were later referred to as “The Dissolution of the Monasteries.” Monks and Nuns were executed for their crimes, causing King Henry VIII to acquire the majority of their wealth and land.
He used a great deal of that money to build up England’s military, which greatly pleased his people. He also starting building several advanced defense systems along the southern and eastern coasts of England to stop Spain from a possible invasion. These systems became known as “King Henry VIII’s Device Forts.”
Queen Anne: King Henry VIII’s Second Wife
King Henry VII’s is known for writing long love letters to his wives. The following is an exurb from one of his initial love letters to Anne Boleyn during their courtship; it will be clear that he had to convince her that he was worthy of her love.
“I beseech you now with all my heart definitely to let me know your whole mind as to the love between us; for necessity compels me to plague you for a reply, having been for more than a year now struck by the dart of love, and being uncertain either of failure or of finding a place in your heart and affection…”
King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn had a private wedding towards the end of 1532. It wasn’t too long after the ceremony that Anne was pregnant and soon bore a young daughter which the couple named Elizabeth in honor of the King’s mother.
The beginning of their marriage was full of love and passion but their personalities soon conflicted with one another. Queen Anne was bold and domineering; she didn’t want to take on the duties of a submissive wife. Her personality, on top of her inability to bear a son, caused King Henry VIII to look into getting another divorce.
It was around this time that the King was in a horrible jousting accident where he was thrown off of his horse and was critical condition. Queen Anne was about fifteen weeks pregnant and the news of her husband caused her to go into shock and have a miscarriage of what would have been their firstborn son.
Queen Anne seemed to have lost her mind after the loss of their son, supposedly sleeping around with members of her family, including her brother. She was soon arrested for incest and treasonable adultery, with her punishment being public execution.
It was around this time that King Henry VIII started gambling against other monarchies in nearby countries, as he was hoping it would distract him from the pain of not having a son and the betrayal of his former wife.
Several Other Marriages
Since Jane Seymour was Queen Anne’s lady in waiting, she and Henry were immediately engaged after Anne’s execution, getting married just ten days after.
On October 12th, 1537, King Henry VIII finally got the heir to his thrown when Jane gave birth to their son: Prince Edward. It was a very difficult birthing process for Jane and she died less than two weeks later due to a persisting infection. Henry spent some time to mourn the loss of his wife before pursuing another woman to take her place.
The women he ending up choosing was Anne, the sister of the Duke of Cleves, as Cleves would be an important ally as England steered away from the Roman Catholic authority.
Before the two were officially married, King Henry VIII found a more attractive woman that he was hoping could be his wife instead. Anne of Cleves agreed to instead take on the title of “The King’s Sister,” which came with a generous allowance and two extravagant houses.
After that King Henry VIII soon married a beautiful woman named Catherine Howard, who was Anne-Boleyn’s cousin. She allegedly had an affair, causing both her and her lover to be beheaded. King Henry VII’s sixth and final wife was Catherine Parr, a wealthy widow who greatly respected her husband and was just what King Henry VIII needed.
England’s Number 1 Gambler
King Henry VIII was often referred to as, “England’s Number 1 Gambler,” as gambling was his favorite activity to do during his spare time.
He enjoyed playing dice, a version of Backgammon known as “Tables,” and a checkers-related game referred to as, “Betting Queek.”
In addition to those two, a new phenomenon was sweeping through London called “Bragg,” which historians believe is one of the games that poker is derived from.
There were many gambling events that took place across Europe where citizens from all over the country would travel to gamble against each other, in hopes of winning a fortune. King Henry VIII always participated in these festivities but luck was rarely ever on his side. Over the course of two years, he lost £3,250 playing cards: a large sum of money for that time period.
King Henry VIII is infamous for losing the beloved Jesus bells of old St. Paul’s church against Sir Miles Partridge on a single roll of dice. He claimed that those bells were practically worthless, except for the metal in which they were made out of.
This offended many people across England, so King Henry VIII convicted Sir Miles Partridge of treason in order to gain his people’s respect once more. Sir Miles was publicly hanged on Tower Hill for everyone to see; very few people wanted to gamble against the King from that point on.
Nearing the End of His Life
By looking at any portraits of King Henry VIII, it’s probably easy to tell that he was overweight. Towards the end of his life, he would have been considered obese with a waist exceeding fifty-four inches.
His obesity can be traced back to his jousting accident of 1536, which caused him to be bed written for several months while his leg healed. His leg never completely healed, so his ability to do physical activity was very limited, causing him to gain an immense amount of weight very quickly.
Historians suggest that he probably developed Type 2 Diabetes over the years, which probably caused his condition to worsen.
Henry’s obesity led to his death on January 28th, 1547 at the age of 55.
The last words he spoke before he passed away were supposedly, “Monks! Monks! Monks!” The funeral service for King Henry VIII was held at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle. His only son, who became known as King Edward VI, succeeded him on the throne.
|
English
|
NL
|
3346d780fe2d402dbd1a22d3fe66b9acfb6a73fd2092266328a7f36eb1aba9b2
|
available in kindle unlimited
Through it all, he never forgot his first love. The one who stole his heart then shattered it when he least expected.
When Sienna left Ford and mated with another, she thought she’d found her companion for eternity. Except, her life didn’t play out that way. Her mate was killed, leaving Sienna a shell of the shifter she once was.
Ford wanted Sienna back, but the choice had to be hers. Then her life was in danger, and his plans changed in an instant. All that mattered was keeping her safe.
Reaching a crossroad, they were helpless to fate’s plan. Ford was left standing before Sienna, wearing his heart on his sleeve, waiting to see what she’d do next.
|
English
|
NL
|
b0ef8bccbf78f4f546f066fb178bcfc6273e8723e4a08ba1afbcc28a931da241
|
Born in Lincolnshire, he moved with his mother and stepfather to Sheringham, in Norfolk, at the age of 11. A George Formby fan and self-taught guitarist, after joining the post office in 1953 he began to write comic, yet closely observed, songs about rural life, which he sang in a heavily accented Norfolk voice. The subject matter ranged from the village cricket match and the ladies darts team to mass-produced food (Oi Can't Git A Noice Loaf).
Superficially, these were quaint parodies, but they were popular in East Anglia itself, an indication that Smethurst's compatriots identified with this affectionate portrait of their idiosyncrasies. The Guardian's Dennis Barker called him "a bookishly melancholy folk-satirist".
Smethurst first found a regional audience through appearances on BBC Radio Norfolk's Wednesday morning magazine show. The presenter, Ralph Tuck, the owner of a family firm of seed merchants, gave him the sobriquet "the Singing Postman", and, when record companies showed no interest, financed the pressing of 100 copies of a four-song vinyl disc in 1964. It was distributed in East Anglia, and sold more than 10,000 in four months. The regional press breathlessly announced that the Singing Postman was outselling the Beatles and the Rolling Stones in Norfolk record shops.
By now a national celebrity, the Singing Postman was soon signed by EMI's Parlophone record label, toured and made television appearances, ranging from Top Of The Pops to the Des O'Connor Show. In 1966, he received the Ivor Novello award for best novelty song.
Smethurst's act was distinctly non-showbiz. He had buck teeth and horn-rimmed spectacles, and performed his songs with a cheap acoustic guitar, while wearing a full postman's uniform with peaked cap.
Record royalties and appearance fees multiplied his income dramatically from his £12 a week postman's wages. But he found it hard to cope with the demands of the entertainment industry. He suffered from stage fright and took to whisky to calm his nerves, later admitting that his consumption rose from a miniature before going on stage to half a bottle a day.
By the late 1960s his career was over. He made a court appearance charged with assault after a domestic incident, and arthritis made playing the guitar difficult. He fought his alcoholism and attempted a comeback in 1977, but by 1980 he was a virtual recluse, living in the Grimsby Salvation Army hostel that was his home until his death.
But the Singing Postman did not entirely disappear from popular consciousness. His best known song, Hev Yew Gotta Loight, Boy?, was recorded by Rolf Harris, and by the comedy punk group Splodgenessabounds. Then in 1994, an enterprising advertising agency chose it as the soundtrack for an Ovaltine commercial. Tony Palmer, of the Caister-based Anglian Music, also undertook a re-release programme of more than 80 of the Singing Postman's recorded songs on a series of seven CDs, the last two of which were issued last week.
Allan Smethurst, singer and songwriter, born November 19 1927; died December 22 2000
|
English
|
NL
|
7326ba3ceb12293161c85fd461d3add6cbe5f564898899eee25d24bd7497f533
|
I started this book fully prepared to dislike it. Between the cover and the description, it seemed like a lot of Bad Waiting to Happen. However, I was pleasantly surprised. Which just goes to show, you can't judge a book by its cover.
Disclaimer: A received a copy for an honest review from NetGalley. Also, this review does contain spoilers.
Yes, there is a little bit that could do to be changed. Mainly, the quads' R-names really should have been rethought; I still can't 100% tell the difference between Reilly and Reece. Realistically, new parents of identical quadruplet girls would not name all of them incredibly similar sounding names: Reilly, Reece, Reagan, and Rhiannon. That was the first unbelievable hurdle to jump over (never mind the statistical possibility of identical quadruplets, all of whom are perfectly fine with no lasting difficulties from, I don't know, sharing a womb).
Another difficulty was the fact that occasionally, the book does veer into sounding just a little too try hard, including the moments when Reagan seems to slip into seeming, well, too much like a narrator. I think that's one of the biggest downsides of the book; occasionally, Reagan will think something that is so incredibly not something a teenager would think about themselves (such as "Curse my teenage hormones!" What teenager says that!?) that it takes you out of the moment entirely. Basically, Reagan's internal dialogue often did not feel natural or normal, probably because of editing.
The one thing I will say is that it felt like the book ended just a little too abruptly. It was quite a short book; I read it in a total of perhaps 4 hours. It felt like towards the middle a lot of random "drama" happened, such as Reece dyeing her hair and Rhiannon disappearing. Regarding that second incident, I think Reagan's non-anger at Rhiannon was the most disappointing part of the book; talk about being untrue to teenagers! Rhiannon's behavior lead to Reagan having to abandon her first ever date--what a dick move for her sister to pull. It was an incredibly important moment for Reagan and actually felt like the climax of the novel: Reagan, who is shy and nerdy, is on a date with a guy she really likes. That's the ultimate end-game for Reagan, what her narration has been about essentially since the beginning. And instead of anything happening, the moment is ruined, about 5 minutes in, by her sister's disappearance. And we're supposed to believe that Reagan isn't mad?
Any teenager, or adult, honestly, would be livid, but Reagan was just "too good" for that. It's those moments where she slips (alongside her parents and sisters) into being just a little "too perfect," just a little idealized. I wanted some messiness from Reagan, but it didn't happen. There were a few moments like this where the reactions of characters seemed to be just too fake and unrealistic. No one, absolutely no one, reacts to teenagers breaking rules with, "Well, maybe we need to readjust the rules." No, if my kid disappeared and turned off her phone, she'd be getting grounded until summer at the very least. But not Rhiannon's parents!
Then, after Rhiannon came back and Reagan got to do a date re-do, the book ends. We get a brief scene where Reagan acts in a play, but that's it. It's a bit anticlimactic; there is no big action that creates tension or changes things. Things seem... the same as when the book started, plus a boyfriend. Maybe Rhiannon's disappearance is meant to be the climax, but it didn't feel like it; Reagan found her within 10 minutes of starting to look, so, you know.
All this being said, it wasn't an entirely unpleasant book to read; I would definitely recommend it as the start of a series to younger readers (I'd say it's definitely written at around 6th or 7th grade level).
A few additional notes: this book does win points for attempting to include a diverse cast. Based on descriptions, Reagan's love interest, Kurt, appears to be biracial (it's never explicitly stated) and one of the quadruplets (Reilly) identifies as gay. These are just two examples. It is always difficult to praise diversity in a book that centers around four, beautiful, identical, white girls, but alas, I have to give Kellie Sheridan credit for at least including diverse characters, even if they are secondary in this novel. (From my understanding, this is the first in a series about the quadruplets. Here's to hoping for more in the sequels!)
|
English
|
NL
|
ae3947b4fc08af3e72a1297088f67232cc599252eb566ca567ba33b3a9597bdd
|
The Obelisk in St. Peter’s Square, was originally erected at Heliopolis, by the Egyptian King Nuncores; the Emperor Caligula (37-41 A.D.) had it brought to Rome and raised in his circus, which later on was named after Nero; here it was dedicated to Augustus and Tiberius as is stated on its pedestal. Guide of Rome.
Among all the obelisks which decorated the ancient mistress of the world, this is the only one which has never been overthrown. It has come down to us intact. No other monument in the world is the surviving witness of so many tragic and important historical and religious events. For 15 centuries it stood in the spine of Caligula’s Circus ( near the sacristy) where it was the mute spectator of the orgies and games of the pagans, of the chariot races of Caligula and Nero, of the heroic martyrdom of the early Christians (dressed up in skins and devoured by wild dogs), of the living torches as narrated by Tacitus*, of the crucifixion and burial of St. Peter. Later on it witnessed all the vicissitudes of the construction of the most important monument humanity has ever erected to religion.
* We give here the well known passage of Tacitus:
Nero punished, with exquisite torture, a race of men detested for their evil practices, by vulgar appellation commonly called Christians. The name was derived from Christ, who in the reign of Tiberius, suffered under Pontius Pilatus, the procurator of Judea.
By that event the sect, of which he was founder, received a blow which for a time soon after, and spread with recruited vigour, not only in Judea, the soil that gave it birth, but even in the city of Rome, the common sink into which everything infamous and abominable flows like a torrent from all quarters of the world. Nero proceeded with his usual artifice, he found a sect of profligate and abandoned wretches , who were induced to confess themselves guilty and on the evidence of such men, a number of Christians were convicted not, indeed upon clear evidence of having set the city on fire but rather on account of their sullen hatred of the whole Roman race. They were put to death with exquisite cruelty, and to their sufferings Nero added mockery and derision, some were covered with the skins of wild beasts, and left to be devoured by dogs; others were nailed to cross; numbers were burnt alive; and many covered with inflammable matter, were lighted up when the day declined, to serve as torches during the night. For the convenience of seeing this tragic spectacle, the Emperor lent his own gardens. He added the sports of the circus, and assisted in person, sometimes driving a curricle, and occasionally mixing with the rabble in his coachman’s dress. At length the cruelty of these proceedings filled every breast with compassion. Humanity relented in favour of the Christians. The manners of that people were, no doubt, of a pernicious tendency, and their crimes called for the hand of Justice; good but to glut the rage and cruelty of one man only.
Pope Sixtus V in 1586, after having exorcised it as an infernal idol, had if removed here by the architect Fontana, erected in the centre of the square and dedicated to the Cross, a relic of which is preserved on the top. Here it continued to be spectator of the torrent of pilgrims who for 2000 years have come from all parts of the world to venerate the tomb of the humble fisherman of Galilee.
The meridian line we see in the centre of the square was traced by the astronomer Gigli in 1817..
Around are traced the different directions of the winds, and the twelve signs of the Zodiac. The obelisk, serves as a gnomon to the meridian, and the extremity of its shade, indicates the entrance of the Sun into the above mentioned signs.
|
English
|
NL
|
c4f237cede2e2a27bb04c05757eacd2cce5302e9bcb5af6fe5c76c2fa7ee1916
|
In his past life, Nie Li was the strongest Demon Spiritist and stood at the pinnacle of the martial world. However, he lost his life during the battle with the Sage Emperor and the Six Deity Ranked Beast.His soul was then brought back to when he was still 13 years old. Although he's the weakest in his class with the lowest talent at only Red soul realm, with the aid of the vast knowledge which he accumulated from his previous life, he trained faster then anyone. He aims to protect the city which in the coming future will be assaulted by beasts and end up destroyed, as well as protect his lover, friends and family who died in the beast assault. And to destroy the Sacred family whom abandon their duty and betrayed the city in his past life.
|
English
|
NL
|
11d7989d8da265d3cba9a48a9748284e8425b8aa8d0202b0adf67535ad48fba1
|
Subtitled A Supernatural Romance, I read this for the Random House Bingo Reading Challenge for 2014 mainly because what I read in advance said it was a book about magic. The write up neglected to say what a fine, creative piece of writing it was!
Laura is getting ready for school and daydreams of washing her hair and stepping out of the shower “not only marvellously beautiful but also transported to Paris.” Alas, she knew the truth was that “her hair would not dry int time for school, and she would spend half the morning with chilly ears. These were facts of everyday life, and being made in New Zealand (the shampoo she was using) was another. You couldn’t really think your way into being another person with a different morning ahead of you, or shampoo yourself into a beautiful city full of artists drinking ine and eating pancakes cooked in brandy.”
It was neither her mother Kate nor her little brother Jacko speaking.
“What’s going to happen” Laura asked before she realized that the voice had spoken inside her, not outside in the room.
Laura trie to tell her mother Kate about the warning but her mother is preoccupied with her parental responsibilities and the weight of the world, including the new battery she needs for the car. She tells Laura she cannot stay home because it is Thursday: “It’s late-night tonight, and who’d collect Jacko, take him home, give him his supper and read him a story? Not notes on Thursday and that’s final.” Her mother advises her to be careful, look both ways and stay out of sight of the teachers.
“Oh Mum, it just isn’t like that!” Laura protested. “It’s a warning about something serious. You don’t know what it’s like.”
“tell me later,” said Kate, but Laura knew she could not tell. It was a condition that could not be described. People had to have faith in her, and somehow this was asking too much of them, especially in the morning, when life ran in three different dirctions and only one of them was hers.”
In the car, Laura does try to explain to her mother by reminding her that another warning she had was when her Dad left with his girlfriend. “And then the next time it happened” had been “when Sorry Carlisle came to school.”
This where the bit about “a supernatural romance” begins. Sorensen Carlisle had come to Laura’s school, Gardendale Secondary School, a year and a half ago. He had been given by his mother for adoption by his mother who was unmarried. The adoption worked for awhile and then didn’t work anymore and Sorensen had made his way back home by himself at the age of sixteen. Sorenson was very studious, had a stammer, won prizes at science fairs and as a prefect at school. Laura had an unusual connection with him. She was only fourteen but whenever she had exchanged words with Sorensen she received a “remarkable smile accompanying his instruction(as a prefect) – a smile directed at her alone. Laura had never mentioned this smile to Kate or the reason for it.”
Kate dismisses any warnings about Sorensen Carlisle but does tell Laura that his mother and grandmother were “Quite a different story – witches to a man – a woman that is…They’ve got the sort of craziness that gives them class!”
They discuss Sorensen (Sorry to Laura) some more but Kate cannot credit what Laura has said and finishes up with “I’ve never understood your warnings – and be fair – until now you only mentioned them after something has happened, not before. But I do know this: I’m going to have to go because I’ll be late for work, and what if I arrive to find Mr. Bradley on the doorstep, fuming because I haven’t opened the shop in time? But Lolly, be careful with yourself, and later on be careful with Jacko…just in case.”
Laura gets out of the car at school and Kate and Jacko go on to Jacko’s babysitter and Kate’s job at the bookstore.
“The warning had come. She had ignored it. There was nothing more to be said.”
But there is oh so much more to the story. This is a great read for teens: in tone and vocabulary it is adult. The writing is rich. Here are some examples:
“It’s a good disguise. He looks very innocent, very arcadian…I think that’s the right expression.”
“Laura thought he looked an improbable cross between Dracula and Mr. Pickwick.”
“On the one side of a kiss was childhood, sunshine, innocence, toys and, on the other, people embracing, darkness, passion and the admittance of a person who, no matter how loved, must always have the quality of otherness, not only to her confidence, but somehow inside her sealing skin.”
“Laura and Sorensen looked at each other now, smiling but not in friendship. They smiled out of cunning, and a shared secret flicked from eye to eye. Laura walked past him in at the school gates, bravely turning right into the mouth of the day, right into its open jaws which she must enter despite all warnings.”
Warnings, romance and adventure! All here in a fine read for a teen (this adult found it quite refreshing)!
|
English
|
NL
|
f6b5265dbe057e50aa7e27eaffc9da6805a0068999557e7231d2a2c0694250fd
|
"Nobody else could play a slide like
Robert Nighthawk was one of the blues premier slide guitarists playing with a subtle elegance and a fluid, crystal clear style that was instantly recognizable. Nighthawk influenced a generation of artists including Elmore James, Muddy Waters, B.B. King and particularly Earl Hooker. In many ways Nighthawk was the archetype of the classic bluesman spending his entire adult life rambling all over the South with frequent trips to the North playing a never ending string of one nighters punctuated by sporadic recording dates. Nighthawk's recording dates brought him only limited success but he remained popular in the South his entire life. Nighthawk's life remains somewhat indistinct; for one he never stayed in Chicago long enough to establish himself, he was interviewed only briefly and unlike many artists didn't appreciably benefit from the blues boom of the 1960's. The aim of this website is to shed light on this important bluesman and put his contributions in the proper historical context.
For all his influence Nighthawk remains a mostly neglected and mysterious figure. One reason was that he recorded very sporadically which saw only about a dozen scattered sessions from the 1930's up until his death in 1967. Though he consistently recorded strong material his record sales remained low. Another reason stems from the man himself who associates referred to as restless, taciturn and stubborn. "Nighthawk was polite but taciturn...He would grin, and occasionally "grandstand" on Maxwell Street or in a Club, he was usually serious; sometimes almost bitter."7 And as Henry Townsend commented:"You sure couldn 't dance off his blues - boy, they were as draggiest as they get! Nighthawk had ways more Iike Robert Johnson than anybody else that I know. Quiet conversation - you'd have to bring it out of him - just a quiet kind of guy." Others, however, have described Nighthawk in less somber terms. Charlie Musselwhite described him this way: "To me... he was real friendly, sort of reserved. He never lost his cool in any way; he was always in control, but not in control like "uptight", he was just a real smooth operator, you know?"12 Carey Bell relates: "He was a lot of fun. Tells a lot of lies. He was good at telling lies and jokes."12
His apparent dislike for Chicago kept him away in for much of the 1950's when Chicago Blues was in it's golden age. "Well, that's about all I been doin' all my life....I been in Florida. I was down in Florida about three years and back up in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, Georgia, Texas, Arkansas, Kentucky, Indiana, Missouri and Iowa, New York and some other places."12
was born Robert Lee McCollum, born on November 30, 1909 to Ned
and Mattie McCollum. Nighthawk claimed he was born in Helena but recent census research has placed the McCollum family in the nearby town of Searcy in both 1900 and 1910. Robert was one of four children which included brothers Samuel and Joe and a sister named Ethel (there is said to be another
sister named Margaret but both Nighthawk's
daughter (Geni Ward) and his son (Sam Carr) say Margaret was a friend). In the 1910 census (see below) the ages are listed: Ned Mccollum 38, Mattie Mccollum 33, Sam Mccollum 13, Ethel Mccollum 10, Joe Mccollum 7 and Robert Mccollum 1.
As Nighthawk relates in a 1964 interview he came from a musical family: "Well all my people played music. Mother and dad and sister and brother and all. My brother played guitar. My brother helped me in all kind of ways. (My family) ...mostly played dances, parties, picnics and all that. When I left home I got right into it and I started blowing harmonica. I learnt that back in 24'. ...boy named Johnny Jones, he's from Louisiana, ...say he learn me so I did."12
Nighthawk married for he first time in 1928 to Mary Griffen in Friars Point and they had two children, Sam the oldest, and Ludy the youngest. Sam grew up to be Sam Carr a well respected blues drummer. His parents left him when he was just a youngster and he was raised by the Carr family. Sam describes the situation: "I was adopted into the Carr family when I was one and a half years old. ...My mother had been dating Robert Nighthawk. ...My mother wanted to be out in the world following Robert, and I guess she went out on the road with him. ...I saw my daddy for the first time in 1933. I was seven years old. My daddy came by in a T-Model Ford, red. He was with Henry Townsend. I remember good. He told me he was my daddy "whether you believe it or not. I know you ain't seen me or know nothing about about me. I just want you to know I'm your daddy. ...I didn't see him no more untl 1937." He told him then "when you get a little bigger you can come over and stay with me, go with me to the radio station [KFFA] and hear me play."37 By the early 40's he was playing in his fathers' band working the door, acting as chauffeur and playing bass.5
He learned guitar from Houston Stackhouse who he met in Mississippi in the late 20's or 30'. There's some confusion if Stackhouse was actually Nighthawk's cousin. However in an interview for Living Blues magazine he states: "...we're first cousins. Me and Robert were two sisters children." Stackhouse recalls meeting Nighthawk "In 26, I guess. '29, '30. He was haulin' seed from Estill to Hollandale and I was haulin' seed from Murphy Bayou to Hollandale on 61. We was day workin' on Mr. Torey Woods' farm out there at Murphy Bayou: plowin' mules, gettin' a dollar a day."30
He Done Got Bad With It Then
Nighthawk credits Stackhouse with teaching him guitar. "I started guitar in 1931....Guy lived down in Crystal Springs, Mississippi, he, name a Houston Stackhouse, he learned me to play."12 Stackhouse emphasized: "I learned him how to play guitar, back in the 30's. I'd say, You ain't gon' eat nothin' till you get these notes right...He done got bad with it then when he come back from Chicago."4 Stackhouse himself learned from Tommy Johnson and his brothers Mager and Clarence. The first songs he taught Nighthawk were all songs Tommy Johnson recorded including "Big Road Blues", "Cool Water Blues" and Big Fat Mama." Stackhouse recalls first seeing Nighthawk blow harmonica in the early 30's: "Him and Willie Warren was playin' on the weekends at the Black Cat Drug Store in Hollandale then."4 Stackhouse and Nighthawk worked on a farm during the day while at night they played at dances and parties. Nighthawk increasingly roamed farther afield traveling all over the south meeting the likes of Charlie Patton, Will Shade, Muddy Waters, Eugene Powell (Sonny Boy Nelson), Tommy Johnson and likely Son House and Robert Johnson.
the musicians he knew particularly well was Muddy Waters. In an interview
with Jim O'Neal he had this to say: "I knew him before I could pick
nary a note on the guitar." They first met in Clarksdale as Waters
elaborates: "We had one round circle-we all swam in that circle.
Now he definitely knew Robert Johnson, because they all grew up around
Friars Point way, from Friars Point over to Helena (Helena is just over
the river in Arkansas), and I stayed from Clarksdale down to Rosedale,
and Duncan, and Hillhouse, Rena Lara, and all them places. We had a circle
we was going in."30
Nighthawk even played at Muddy's first wedding in 1932: "Robert Nighthawk
played at my first wedding." The proceedings got so raucous that
Muddy's floor collapsed.31
Stackhouse and Nighthawk parted ways in 1932. "...At the time I when started him out on it, well, it wasn't long before he got apart then, in '32. We was in the Delta together, and he left me, he said, "well I'm goin' on to Friars Point, and then I'm goin' on from there to Chicago." Didn't see him no more from '32 until '46."30 Nighthawk apparently had his mind on making records early on as Muddy Waters relates: "Robert Nighthawk came to see me and said he was going to Chicago and get a record. He says you go along and you might get on with me. I thought, oh man, this cat is just jiving, he ain't going to Chicago. Finally he split, and the next time I heard he had a record out."31
Nighthawk's early years aren't well documented but in a 1976 interview Laura Dukes sheds some light on his activities in the early 30's. In 1933 he partnered with singer Laura Dukes (known as "Little Laura" or "Little Bit") who he met in East St. Louis. Guitarist Joe Willie Wilkins remembers Dukes as an old girlfriend of Nighthawk's.26 In the late 20's and 30's she sang and danced at carnivals and medicine shows. Some of these shows employed full orchestra type bands with horns. It was with the Dan Hildrege Show that Dukes first met Nighthawk who was playing guitar in the show's orchestra.26 As Dukes recalls: "Robert McCollum he was on the show too! With me . . . he played in the orchestra, he played guitar in the orchestra, see."25 She also played banjo ukulele as she related: "after Robert McCollum and I got together, then he started teachin' me and that's when I bought me a four-string instrument." Nighthawk and her traveled together for a while: "We hitch-hiked but we never would try to catch rides. We would ride the bus, like that, but we was just travelin' the highway, just makin' extra money. Every store we'd stop in to get a lunch or something they'd want us to play 'em a piece....Robert would play guitar and I would play the banjo-ukulele. He would sing some songs and I would sing mine....He showed me about everything. Mostly we played blues and other songs."25
Sometime around this period Nighthawk was staying in Memphis where he met Sleepy John Estes, Yank Rachell, Memphis Slim, Big Bill Broonzy, Sonny Boy Williamson and Big Joe Williams. Sleepy John Estes recalls meeting Nighthawk during this period: "I met him in West Memphis. He was playin'. He played a piece or two with us" [Estes and Hammie Nixon].30 During this time he also fronted a jug band but this group never recorded. While in Memphis he also played with a young John Lee Hooker circa 1932. Hooker recalled in a 1964 Blues Unlimited interview that "in Memphis I used to play sometimes with guys like Robert Nighthawk, Eddie Love, Joe Willard."34
Big Joe Williams remembers seeing him in Friar's Point, Miss., across the river from Helena. "I knew him when he was a boy", Williams says. "I used to stay with him when I'd go through there and he played with me...he was a pretty good guitar player then. He couldn't lead- he was bassin' the guitar."9 Johnny Young remembers meeting Nighthawk in Vicksburg in the early thirties, playing guitar and harmonica. "So then we moved up to a place", Young recalled, "called Swains, place in Mississippi out from Memphis, Tennessee. I met Robert Nighthawk. So when I met Robert Nighthawk I got with him, I was blowing harmonica. ...So I star blowing harp with him. He play-Nighthawk was a hell of a good musician-he play slide. He was so good he almost made me cry."40
It Was Somethin' About A Pistol
In 1935 Nighthawk left for St. Louis after getting into trouble and changed his name to Robert Lee McCoy (his mother's maiden name). Stackhouse recalls: "I heard he got in trouble in Louisiana once and had to take off and go up north or somewhere awhile. ...It was somethin' about a pistol, but they didn't say where he killed nobody. ...That's the reason he skipped cities, I think: to keep 'em from gettin' him and puttin' him in the pen."4 He related to Pete Welding that "he had to flee to avoid prosecution for a fatal shooting scrape in which he had been involved."11 Nighthawk was apparently already well known in the south by the time he headed to St. Louis as Muddy Waters recalls: "Oh, he was popular all over Mississippi man. And he left and came north in the 30's. The next thing I heard he had a record out and on the market, you know."30
In St. Louis he fell in with Sonny Boy Williamson and Big Joe Williams who he played with on his first recordings for Bluebird in 1937. St. Louis pianist Walter Davis was responsible for getting Nighthawk signed to the Bluebird label. For the next few years, he and other St. Louis musicians traveled to Chicago to record. Nighthawk recorded 21 sides for Bluebird and 4 sides for Decca under his own name between 1937-1940 and many sides as a session musician backing up Sonny Boy Williamson, Big Joe Williams, Sleepy John Estes and others playing both harmonica and guitar. He recorded variously as Robert Lee McCoy, Rambling Bob and later for Decca as Peetie's Boy a reference to Peetie Wheatstraw who he recorded with and played with around St. Louis.
St. Louis Was A Hot Town For Blues
St. Louis was teeming with blues talent as Big Joe Williams observed: "Yeah, all of 'em piled right into Chicago. But along in them days there wasn't no blues singers in Chicago. ...All the blues singers were around St. Louis and Memphis."23 Nighthawk stayed mainly in St. Louis between 1936-1939. St. Louis was a vibrant blues town during this period as Henry Townsend recalls: "It was a whole lotta fun. You didn't find a dead place in town. Sometimes we'd just get together as a group and just do jamming, you know. Sometimes the jam sessions would last four or five hours. Henry Brown would show up, Peetie Wheatstraw, Robert Johnson was there for a while, and of course Robert Nighthawk, Big Joe Williams, and my main man, Sonny Boy. St. Louis was a hot town for blues in those days, just like Chicago." 31
Honeyboy Edwards recalls
that during this period Nighthawk "had been playing and living out
on John McKey's Plantation in Friars' Point [Mississippi] since before
37'. Him and his brother used to drive around in A-model Ford, playing
different places. His name was Robert McCoy then. Robert was a plantation
In 1940 Nighthawk cut "Friars
Point Blues" for
the Decca label. Drummer Willie "Big Eyes" Smith worked on the
Wooton Epps Plantation outside of Helena circa late 30's and 40's and
recalls that Nighthawk was farming next to him for several years.34
This may be the same plantation that Edwards refers to.
Nighthawk moved to Chicago in 1940. He spent some time in Chicago in the early 40's, doing session work and playing around town with musicians like Curtis Jones and Leroy Jackson playing on the Westside and on State Street. Nighthawk employed a band from the beginning and his early band consisted of John Henry Barbee on guitar and an accordion player. At this time he was playing mostly swing numbers. Guitarist Moody Jones remembers working a gig with Nighthawk- who was playing guitar, harp and tenor banjo at Grand & Harlem.9 Nighthawk was likely playing with Ann Sortier at the time who appears on two of his Decca records. Big Joe says, "He didn't stay in no one place too long. He'd come here and leave- he played lots of clubs in Chicago, though, with Sonny Boy and different ones, but he'd be havin' a record shop or some kind of business, and the next thing, he done put up and gone...he'd go back to Big Foot Country, all in the Delta country. He was makin' lots of money. Played the roadhouses and things like that, all down in Blytheville, Steele, MO., and on to West Memphis and on down to Friars Point, Clarksdale, Vicksburg, Louisiana ..."9 Big Joe's reference to Nighthawk owning a record store is accurate. He sold new and used records from his brother's basement which was on 3410 South Wabash Street. This was also where Nighthawk stayed when he was in Chicago.
In Arkansas he found he was forgotten as a musician but that his 1937 song "Prowling Night Hawk" was remembered. Because of this he changed his name to Robert Nighthawk and amplifying his guitar he began to gain wider recognition. He continued to travel extensively across the Arkansas line playing regularly in Mississippi towns like Marks, Lambert, Vance, Ruleville, Parchman, Lula, Leland, Greenville and Greenwood.
Contrary to popular belief, Tampa Red did not actually teach Nighthawk how to use the slide. Nighthawk did apparently stay or rehearse at Tampa's Chicago home which was a mecca for just about every bluesman who passed through city. However In a 1964 interview with Mike Bloomfield Nighthawk says:"Well, I kind of started it then. Little bit, late hours of the night...I'd...one of them mean blues I'd play with the slide. ...I didn't exactly learn it from Tampa Red. Well, I used to like his playing with that slide, so I just got an idea that I wanted to play with it. …I always wanted to play like Tampa Red. I imagine I come up with somethin' a little different."12 Houston Stackhouse more or less confirms this story: "He said he knowed him (Tampa Red) but didn't say he hung around him much. He'd say "Well Stack, I'm gonna show you this old Tampa stuff, now," and he'd run it around. He'd be soundin' just like Tampa Red, too. And then he'd get back to his own style: "Well, I'm gon' get back in my own style now. I'm just showin' you I can do it."4 Blues researcher Stephen C. LaVere suggests that Eugene Powell (Sonny Boy Nelson) may have been the one to introduce Nighthawk to slide playing.17 Houston Stackhouse gives some evidence towards this claim: "Eugene Powell at Greenville, he played a whole lot with a knife. He and Robert and I used to play together around Mississippi, way back there, in the early 30's."30
Honeyboy Edwards came to Helena in 1940 and recalls seeing Nighthawk and later got to know him. "In the forties, Robert started a little thing and called himself Nighthawk and that's when he would broadcast on the radio in Helena...Them country people would break down the house to get to the radio to hear Nighthawk broadcasting with his band."22 Robert Nighthawk gonna play, they was going to be there", said Sam Carr.37
Around 1942 Carr moved in with his father and provides an eyewitness account of his father's activities during this period. "...I moved in with my daddy, Robert. We lived in a black Neighborhood in Helena at 308 Franklin Street, in the rear. ...Wherever Robert played, I used to work the door for him. Entry was usually a dollar. ...By then, he was playing jukes all around Drew, Moon Lake, Marks. He was still playing clubs in Helena. ...He played mostly with a slide on his finger, a brass pipe he cut and filed down to fit his finger. We played down here on Moon Lake, country jukes, fairs. Robert had a good reputation in Mississippi. For his guitar playing, he was the greatest. Everywhere he had 200, 300 people listening. Robert played "Sweet Black Angel", "Anna Lee", "Honey Hush", "Bricks In My Pillow." The people danced to the music. ...I started playing upright bass in my daddy's band in 1944. ...Robert let me put on a show for five minutes, then he'd start back playing. ... Me and Robert would come down to Drew and get Kansas City Red. Robert brought him back and learned him how to play drums. Robert knew how to play drums. I wanted to learn, but Robert kept me on the door."37
I Didn't Run Up On Robert- Robert Run Up On Me!
In 1942, after playing in St. Louis and Chicago he got himself a spot on KFFA radio in his hometown of Helena advertising for Bright Star Flour backed sometimes by guitarist Joe Willie Wilkins or Pinetop Perkins on piano, in competition with Sonny Boy's show for King Biscuit Flour. Pinetop began playing with Nighthawk sometime in the early 40's. Pinetop recalls their first encounter: "Robert Nighthawk was the first big band I played with. I didn't run up on Robert. Robert run up on me! ...He said , "looky here. Why don't ya'll get with me. Get out here and let's try to make us some money....We had two guitars and drums....Robert nighthawk went all over the South. I stayed with him quite a while but I was gettin' tired of so much road travel....Robert and I were on the Bright Star Flour Hour program in Helena, Arkansas. We wasn't gettin' paid for playin' on the air, just did it for advertising where the band going to be and stuff. Well at least the man wasn't payin' me. He mighta been payin' Robert."28 Honeyboy Edwards remembers hearing Nighthawk advertising on the radio: "Then the musicians where they was going to play on Friday night and people would get spruced up and go on over there."22 Pinetop left Nighthawk to play with Sonny Boy Williamson on the King Biscuit program taking the place of sick pianist Robert "Dudlow" Taylor. "Gave Robert two weeks notice, said, "I gotta go where there's money, boy!"28 Pinetop would play again with Nighthawk in the late 40's and Nighthawk took him to Chicago in 1950 to to play on some of his Chess recordings. In 1946 Nighthawk's old partner Houston Stackhouse came to Helena to play on KFFA as he relates: "I was down at Wiggins [Mississippi] then. He sent for me." He left Nighthawk in '47 due to a common complaint: "Robert, he'd get a little tricky sometime. He'd shortchange. He had a slick kinda deal he was doin'!"30
Also during this period Earl Hooker played regularly in Nighthawk's band as well as a young Ike Turner who played piano when he was still in his early teens. Turner learned piano from Pinetop: "I taught Ike Turner how to play piano when he was goin' to school, Clarksdale, Mississippi...Ike caught on..."28 The band roamed all over the Illinois, Missouri and Louisiana. One of their favorite stops was Tutwiler, Mississippi sixteen miles from Clarksdale. In Tutwiler they ran into Kansas City Red, whose drumming and vocal abilities got him hired immediatley.25 "Red'd sing a whole lot of songs. Robert was doin' the playin'', and Red'd do most of the singin'" recalls Houston Stackhouse."30 Due to Nighthawk's unpredictable nature Earl and Red learned how to work for themselves. Many times they woke up to find Nighthawk had already taken off. Nighthawk was notorious for running off without paying his band members. As Kansas City Red explained: "Nighthawk, he's another guy that pulled that stuff to me. He'd get that money. I had to run him out through the corn fields."25
Nighthawk also broadcast from WROX out of Clarksdale and WDIA out of Memphis. He started broadcasting on WROX in 1939. Houston Stackhouse recalls that he and Nighthawk played at a Jackson radio station in the early 30's but doesn't give the call letters. In 1947 Hooker and Red joined Nighthawk on WROX in addition to a young piano player named Ernest Lane. The situation was similar to his stint at KFFA in that they were paid close to nothing but they were given the opportunity to advertise gigs. Nighthawk would take his band out to the country juke joints around Clarksdale. The crowds would be large due to Nighthawk's radio appearances.
In 1947 Nighthawk married Hazel Momon who he met in Clarksdale in 1945 after taking her away from Ike Turner. Around this period Nighthawk resided at the Riverside Hotel in Clarksdale living with his wife Hazel on one side and keeping his girlfriend Ethel Mae conveniently down the hall. Supposedly Nighthawk's suitcase still remains at the hotel. Before it became a hotel in 1944 the building housed the G.T. Thomas Afro-American hospital, where Bessie Smith was taken after her tragic 1937 auto accident on Highway 61. Nighthawk was apparently married to a woman named Beatrice at the same time who he married the year before. Beatrice may be the woman Sam Carr recalls as Early Bea when he lived in St. Louis from 1946-60.. "...Robert Nighthawk's wife, Early Bea, started playing drums with us . She was a better drummer than me because she had been playing a few years. Sometimes Early Bea sang. ...On occasion, he's [Nighthawk] play with us. But Robert wasn't reliable. He was so good he's go wherever the job was, the most money. He went around some of the big clubs in St. Louis where the big bands was and he's run the drummers off. When Robert walked in, that was it. I never saw anybody do that but him."37 Trying to untangle Nighthawk's relationships is confusing since he was married many times, sometimes at the same time, and had several children.
Hazel and Nighthawk stayed together until 1953 and the marriage resulted in three children: Geni, Robert and Marianne. Hazel played drums and sang in Nighthawk's band. She is currently living in Chicago as is her daughter, Geni. Nighthawk was apparently playing with Dr. Ross around this time as Mike Rowe states after interviewing Ross in the 60's: "In 1947 Ross was playing with Robert Nighthawk in a group that included Ernest Lane, Houston Stackhouse and a singer called Ethel Mae."34 Ethel Mae sang on four of Nighthak's Aristocrat sides.
It wasn't until 1948, with the help of Muddy Waters, that he began recording for Aristocrat later to become Chess records. Nighthawk stayed until 1950 but only achieved success with the magnificent double sided hit "Sweet Black Angel/ Annie Lee" produced by first time producer Willie Dixon. Nighthawk's initial success didn't last long and he moved to the small Chicago based label United. He stayed there until 1952 producing a body of work that rivaled his Chess sides. Nighthawk showed his diversity producing some jumping boogie numbers as well his more typical slower material. Nighthawk didn't stay in Chicago long and soon returned to the south and did not record again until 1964 when he briefly returned to Chicago.
He Loved Helena And His Guitar
Nighthawk never stayed
away from Helena too long and remained very popular in the area. His son
Sam Carr says "He loved Helena and his guitar."8
During the 50's and 60's he was based in the Helena and in the Mississippi
towns of Friar's Point and Dundee. He occasionally would go north to St.
Louis and Chicago or work his way down to Florida for the fruit-picking
season. Sam Carr states that he was able to earn a living as a musician
during this time so he was obviously still popular.8
He usually worked with Sam Carr and harmonica player Frank Frost. From
1962 onward they added Jack Johnson on guitar and performed as The Nighthawks,
backing not only Nighthawk but other blues notables as well. During this
period Nighthawk also worked steadily with guitarist CeDell Davis who
he met in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. They worked together for ten years straight,
roughly 1953-'63, trading off "bassing" and lead duties song
by song. In fact it seems that nearly every bluesman to come out of the
Delta from the 30's up through the 60's could recall seeing Nighthawk
in some small town juke joint or hearing him on the radio.
You'd Better Be Careful Stack; The Hawk's Inside
One of the more interesting eyewitness accounts during this period comes from harmonica player Nat Armstrong who related a "blues battle" that happened in Hughes, Arkansas in the early 60's. The stage was set when Joe Willie Wilkins, Robert Nighthawk and Nat Armstrong were residing in town when musicians Houston Stackhouse, James Peck Curtis and James Starkey rolled into town looking for a gig. Nat Armstrong was the first to spot the newly arrived musicians as they approached the front stoop of the cafe where the others had been performing. Armstrong warned Stackhouse: "You'd better be careful Stack; the Hawk's inside." Stackhouse replied "Tell Hawk to move out of the way; the Buzzard has arrived."29
Word spread quickly through the small Delta town and by nightfall the little cafe was packed. Accompanied by James Starkey's piano, Nighthawk and Stackhouse battled throughout the night neither leaving the stage for a minute. After hours of playing, they became too tired to stand, and sat on the floor. By dawn, both musicians, unwilling to let up, were sitting in pools of their own urine, still battling it out.29
Nighthawk returned to Chicago in 1964 and quickly made up for lost time recording for Chess, Decca, Testament as well as making recordings for a documentary that aired on Swedish radio.. Nighthawk resumed his playing around Chicago and was even recorded live on Maxwell Street. Filmmaker Mike Shea taped some of the action for his documentary "And This Is Free" and caught Nighthawk in tremendous form blasting the blues to an appreciative Chicago crowd. Nighthawk played at the Maxwell Street open air market on Sunday mornings often backed by Johnny Young and John Wrencher. In addition he played at various clubs and taverns around town including Pepper's, AT & T Lounge, Diz's Club, 708 Club, Turner's Place and The Hole. Henry Townsend recalls catching Nighthawk at a club on Forty-seventh street: "...He was breakin' 'em down. ...He kept that house packed."18 Frank Scott recalls catching Nighthawk at Diz's Club on August, 3 1964: "...I felt closer to the blues than I've ever been. Robert's voice is very exciting and his "bottleneck" guitar playing was stunning. He did several numbers including his hit "The Moon Is Rising" and several Elmore James numbers such as "Anna Lee" and "I Held My Baby Last Night." What a fabulous evening- I had to be dragged out of the place!"7 Nighthawk even made an appearance at the First Floor Club in Toronto.
If He'd A Been A Christian She Coulda Probably Done Better With Him
Nighthawk cut his stay short and was soon back in Helena with his health now failing. Kansas City Red said "...He coulda stayed up here in Chicago and played around as long as he wanted. But I reckon he just couldn't get his mind off of Helena, Arkansas."9 He was living in Helena but spending a lot of time with Sam Carr in nearby Dundee. He still managed to play in the local juke joints and even took over the King Biscuit show after Sonny Boy Williamson died in 1965 although this didn't last long. In 1967 he recorded his last sides playing in Houston Stackhouse's combo but was mostly played bass due to declining health. Nighthawk thought he had been given poison whiskey but Stackhouse took him to a faith healer. She said that Robert had "that old time dropsy." Stackhouse said: "She said she coulda cured him but it done run too long then...than she say he was a sinner, too. She say if he he'd a been a Christian, she coulda probably done better with him."13 On Nov. 5 1967 Robert McCollum died of congestive heart failure at the Helena hospital. "He loved Helena" said Sam Carr, "that's the reason I buried him there."8 Nighthawk lies in Magnolia Cemetery. He was inducted into the Blues Foundation's Hall of Fame in 1983. On October 6th, 2000 Blues Aid provided a marker for the grave site of Robert Nighthawk with the ceremony taking place at the Magnolia Cemetery. The exact location of Nighthawk's grave remains unknown.
*Pinetop Perkins, Born On The Delta CD
|
English
|
NL
|
8f495efd88187c99234c2ab97af018372284f5b0a644cdd72e629d43b464b018
|
hunger, and thirst—the seven dread jaws of poverty—yawned about her, and he was Saint George fighting the dragon. He triumphed over poverty. How? By his deformity. By means of his deformity he was useful, helpful, victorious, great! He had but to show himself, and money poured in. He was a master of crowds, the sovereign of the mob. He could do everything for Dea. He supplied her every want; her desires, her tastes, her fancies,—in the limited sphere in which wishes are possible to the blind,—he gratified.
Gwynplaine and Dea had been, as we have already shown, a Providence to each other. He felt himself raised on her wings, she felt herself carried in his arms. To protect the being who loves you, to give what she requires to her who shines on you as your star, can anything be sweeter? Gwynplaine possessed this supreme happiness, and he owed it to his deformity. By it he had gained the means of livelihood for himself and others; by it he had gained independence, liberty, celebrity, internal satisfaction, and pride. In his deformity he was invulnerable. The Fates could do nothing beyond this blow in which they had expended their whole force, but which he had converted into a triumph. This greatest of misfortunes had become the summit of Elysium. Gwynplaine was imprisoned in his deformity,—but with Dea. And this was, as we have already said, to live in a dungeon in paradise. A wall stood between them and the living world. So much the better. This wall protected as well as enclosed them. What could harm Dea, what could harm Gwynplaine, with such a fortress around them? To deprive him of his success was impossible. They would have to deprive him of his face. Take his love from him? Impossible! Dea could not see him. The blindness of Dea was divinely incurable. What harm did his deformity do Gwyn-
|
English
|
NL
|
910140b343069cb628c280b11a12e9e1b76ea34bce94578ab9e6fe467fcf56fc
|
Madame Marissa does not like to lose. She lost in the competition she had entered because of her slave. She blamed him for her loss as she had given him the responsibility to carry out research for her. It turned out the research he had done was not good and it led to her loss. She was furious and she crushed him into a tiny man and painfully tortured him.
This mistress loves to humiliate. And she does it for financial gain. She knows that her slaves are loaded. So instead of asking them for money, she just makes the pay pigs to be tiny men. She uses her vore fetish to transform them and then pretends to leave them in that state. The little men are always afraid and humiliated. They suggest that they will pay her to transform them back and she agrees.
You hadn't much time left for me cause you were always meeting up with your little friends... but now we can combine this - I found your tiny friends, come for a visit, you dirty bastard! Oh look... I accidentally ripped one of your friends in half, oops! When we're at it, let's try eating him.. ewww no, he tastes disgusting! I surely find another activity for his broken body. Maybe he'll feel comfy between my boobs, haha...
Giantess Nicole was mad at her slave for not doing her assignment. She did not want to fail so she made sure he learned his lesson so that it does not happen next time. She crushed him and shrunk him and made sure he begged her to reinstate him to his normal self. When she did, she made him swear he would not do it again or else the consequences would be dire.
Hot blond Mistress Celine put the red lipstick on which you like so much. She teases you a little with her sexy lips and perfect body and you are going to be shrunken. No that you are so little and helpless she can do with you what even she wants. What do you think she wants from you? Right! She wants to suck, lick and taste you and eventually eat you.
Giantesses Katelyn and Daisy are having a little gamble Patty at home. Therefore they organized some pretzels and a creamy dip. But something is different this time… This snack tastes incredibly good. While the girls play they talk about their snack and wonder what it is that makes it so delicious. Well maybe it’s because of those many tiny people inside their dip which either become squelched by their big sharp teeth or become swallowed alive!?
WARNING!!! Do NOT buy this clip if you have hemophobia (= blood phobia) or other heart problems!!! ***Fangastic Halloween clip series *** This Vampiress is totally ravenous and close to starve ! The only one who can save this Vampire woman is you by donating your warm light red blood to this cold creature. Will you offer your life for hers? Of cause you will tiny man!
Giantess Daisy ordered a nice meal from planet earth. She herself comes from another planet. It’s a planet where all people are giant. So compared to Daisy, people on planet earth are tiny. And guess what she loves to eat for lunch… tiny people in their tiny cars. She lifts up the miniature cars and teases them with her dangerous mouth. Later she enjoys every sings bite…
I’m the Jade and you have hired me as a stripper for you Halloween Party. I show up a little early and offer you a private tease before the party begins. What you didn’t know until then: I’m a real witch! As you become really horny doing my tease you believe you fall, but in reality you shrink! Once you are as small as a bug, I pick you up from the floor and chuck you in my huge mouth. I’ll swallow you alive!
Come closer to my shiny red lips. I might give the tiny man the last kiss of his life. Tiny man will kiss me and slowly be stuck between my red lips. Oh see, my lipstick is already all over him. Now he is wholly captured in my warm, wet mouth. Do you believe I will eat him alive? Will I swallow him and feel his tiny body sliding down my throat all the way into my stomach?
|
English
|
NL
|
1ada2d9f173451cf0af21b81b02ca00f69daa40627ff8f488c6bfac44f7068a1
|
1690 - 1764 (21 Elul 5524) JONATHAN EYBESHUTZ (Poland-Bohemia)
Kabbalist, author, and rabbi. He became head of the Prague yeshiva at the age of twenty-one and was considered a brilliant authority on many subjects. He was proficient in several languages, wrote poetry, and promoted the study of Hebrew and science. Eybeshutz ostensibly came under the influence of Sabbatianism and was later forced to publicly repudiate his views. He accepted a position as the rabbi of three communities at the same time: Altona, Hamburg and Wandesbeck.
|
English
|
NL
|
8d2b443c956c874caeec42957f8de6e7e90f60b692dc930794d043fabdb18b9c
|
Since the Oscar nominations were announced for 2019, Rami Malek was a favourite with the bookies to win Best Actor. The odds of Malek winning his very first Oscar was 5/6, while the odds of Christian Bale winning were 7/4.
Rami Malek’s role in Bohemian Rhapsody as Freddie Mercury got him the nomination for the Golden Globe’s Best Performance award. He competed with A Star is Born actor Bradley Cooper as well as Willem Dafoe in the Film At Eternity’s Gate. Malek’s toughest competition for the award was Bradley Cooper, although he was the favourite at the bookies from the start.
Bohemian Rhapsody nominated as film of the year
Bohemian Rhapsody was also nominated as the film of the year and was Malek’s biggest role ever. This was true even though Malek has already won an Emmy for Best Drama actor for the role he played in Mr Robot.
Rami Malek scooped the BAFTA awards statue and won Best Actor enjoyed the victory he won a Screen Actors Guild for his Outstanding Performance as a Male Actor. He also won a Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Drama.
It was nothing short from being the most challenging role ever, and actor Rami Malek not only had to mentally prepare for portraying Freddie Mercury but also needed some physical adjustments to transform into the legendary Freddy Mercury successfully. Apart from prosthetic teeth to transform his look, he intensely studied Freddie Mercury, spent time with Queen to nail both the Mercury look and several of his stage habits.
Rami Malek’s speech started off by thanking Queen for all their assistance, and he personally thanked Roger Taylor and Brian May for welcoming him into the Queen family. He paid special tribute to Freddie Mercury, as without him, Malek would not have enjoyed the most extraordinary moment of his life, winning Best Actor. The film that won the Outstanding British Film was The Favourite and not Bohemian Rhapsody, although it did win the Best Sound award.
Malek Nominated for 43 Awards
In total Rami Malek has been nominated for 43 awards and has won 12. He already won the Best Actor award at the British Academy of Film and Television Art Awards, Best Actor for Bohemian Rhapsody at the Golden Globe Awards and at the Screen Actors Guild Awards he won the award for Outstanding Performance in a Leading Role. At the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards he won Best International Lead Actor for Bohemian Rhapsody.
Malek won the Breakthrough Performance Award by the Palm Springs International Film Festival as well as Best Actor awarded by the Los Angeles Online Film Critics Society. At the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, Malek won the Outstanding Performance of the Year Award.
For those who love Queen, the film is a must-see since no one leaves the theatre without a spring in their step, critics describe the film as exhilarating and highly entertaining. The music by Queen is the core of the film, while a truly fine actor pays tribute to a musical legend.
|
English
|
NL
|
996df1caa8e0c242f6cbfdaba5faf6e7e43b7bad0fdae17505bd5e555f1400d1
|
It resembled this each time she got back home from keeping an eye on the Gatwick Escorts. She would run upstairs to her room and get stripped. Now and again she would put on babydoll night robe, or underwear and a robe, and in some cases she would simply slither between the sheets stripped like Escorts in Gatwick. This
Gatwick Escorts Agency
Gatwick Escortwas fantastic and hot. From the coal dark lock of hair that continued tumbling down more than one steely blue eye to the strong body to the tips of his pedicured feet he was studly as damnation. When he moved, muscles everywhere on his body undulated crookedly, setting a flame in her stomach each time she was around him.
His boyish smile was radiantly splendid, and his full lips looked delightful. She considered them now, squeezing against her delicate areolas, sucking at them. One of her hands strayed to an areola, and the other started to move the latex chicken that was still inside her. She lifted on it so that the hard edge of its top rubbed against her delicate clit, and her knees jolted at the contact. "Gatwick Escorts!" she heaved. Goodness poo this is great…
|
English
|
NL
|
b04551329e05afea93ef967bfb47fb3e6e3aca8ca87c1462c866a44026aea269
|
The African Clawed Frog is also known by many other names such as the African clawed toad, the xenopus and the African claw toad. It is a water frog that is indigenous to South Africa. What defines this frog from others is the distinctive three claws on the hind feet that are sharp and used to tear apart its prey. Known as xenopus meaning “smooth strange foot”.
They are not very large, normally only about 5 inches in length and have heads that appear to be completely flat, absent of a tongue or ears. Although they have no ears, they have sensors that run the length of their body to sense when objects are close by. They are scavengers by nature and will literally eat just about anything that they can digest. They shed their skin every season and have been known to eat even their own shed skin for nourishment.
They are commonly hunted in some regions of the world because they are said to have aphrodisiac properties when ingested and are used for fertility medicines in others.
Life Cycles & Lifespan :
They can live for 20 to 30 years.
Male frogs differ than female frogs because they are usually as much as 20% smaller and have slim legs and bodies. The males have a distinct mating call that resembles a cricket under water and the females answer their mating call quite differently. Both males and females have a chamber that contains both the excrement and their reproductive organs, all housed in the same place.
African Clawed Frog are unique in that they are used for research for a series of different biological research. Because they are evolutionarily close to humans, they serve as a useful research tool to compare the different process of the human organism. Because their DNA closely resembles human DNA they are studied on a molecular level. Perfect for genetic gene testing, they can give the richness of research that other creatures can not.
They have been used as pets since as early as the 1950s because they are hardy and can withstand many different environmental conditions. But they also can become a pest to many environments. Because they are easy to adapt to many different environments and surroundings, they can become overpowering in some regions. They have even been known to withstand freezing conditions that many other species can not. When amongst other frogs they have been shown to devastate entire populations of other species because they will eat the young of other frogs.
Pictures, Images, Pics and Photos of African Clawed Frog :
They exist mostly in ponds and rivers in the sub-Saharan. They live in the water and are a grey-greenish color. Sometimes they are sold as pegs and labeled African dwarf frogs, but they are different than that species, only mistaken commonly for them. The difference between the two is the absence of webbing in their feet. They are the only known amphibians that have claws and they survive by laying eggs of their young when reproducing. They normally survive for 5 to fifteen years, although there have been recorded frogs surviving as many as 25.
Because of their ability to overtake many habitats, they are illegal to own in some States without a permit.
|
English
|
NL
|
e9e06c98276ea1d2ceddb9c9f08aacf18c1607e1ccc71577ff3c327f2bcf8de9
|
Everybody, at some point in their life, wants a miracle. But it is usually when all hope is gone; when every cure has been tried and every test has been taken; when all of our best thoughts and efforts appear to have been in vain; when we stand empty-handed, perplexed and desperate ~ at that exact point we are finally open to the transforming grace of a miracle.
Jesus’ first miracle, performed at a wedding in Cana, did not fit such criteria. He was at a wedding, wishing, perhaps, to be able to kick back and relax without someone demanding something of him. But in the midst of the celebration, a problem arose. They ran out of wine. Perhaps they didn’t order enough, or the guests were drinking more heavily than anticipated. We don’t know. We do know that Jesus’ mother was alarmed. “They have no wine” she said to Jesus. And Jesus responded: “Woman, what concern is that to you and to me?” She never answered him. Despite his reluctance, Jesus performed the miracle of transforming water into wine.
Why the change of heart? One possibility is that he performed the miracle to get his mother off his back. Another is that Jesus benefited from performing this miracle because it revealed his divinity. But not everyone at the wedding became a disciple of Jesus as a result of witnessing the miracle of transforming water into wine.
While miracles may convert some persons to belief, they may also convert others to suspicionsuspicion. In ancient Palestine, after all, there were lots of wanna-be-Messiahs wandering the countryside, trying to cultivate a following with magic and other acts of awe and wonder. “Who is the trickster?” I can almost hear some of the guests say.
Jesus also said, “My hour has not yet come” meaning, as some postulate, that the time of his death had not yet come and he was going to save his miracles for the big finale. He may also have meant that the time to perform miracles had not yet come because the true significance of a miracle would be lost on the revelers who, far from looking for a Messiah to follow, may have simply been looking for a wine glass to empty. In Ecclesiastes 3, with which Jesus was surely familiar, the belief is stated that there is a time for everything under heaven. Just because someone longs for a “miracle” does not necessarily mean that the miracle’s time has come.
The purpose of a miracle is not entertainment ~ it is changed lives. And the essence of miracles are time and timing. God seems to give us precisely what we need at the precise moment we are willing to receive it ~ if we are willing to receive it, that is. When we keep our eyes, minds, and hearts open to the miraculous occurring in our every day life, God may choose to act.
I know from experience. God performed a miracle in my life by changing wine into water. It took my participation and the help of a fellowship; but it was a miracle nonetheless. That was thirty-five years ago and I have not consumed wine or any other alcohol ever since. It seems to me that God was telling us that with God’s help, we could go out and perform our own miracles: such as turning sickness into health, despair into hope, separation into unity, fear into faith, and congregation into community. I have seen many, many miracles since then. I am willing to bet that you have too.
Originally published in PATHEOS on January 15, 2016
|
English
|
NL
|
27ea70b159c695faf0cf1034ef0aacd0639bb7baeececb22ee6271342a855c65
|
[Continuation of a letter begun on 7th January]
Thursday. We expected James yesterday, but he did not come; if he comes at all now, his visit will be a very short one, as he must return to-morrow, that Ajax and the chair may be sent to Winchester on Saturday. Caroline’s new pelisse depended upon her mother’s being able or not to come so far in the chair; how the guinea that will be saved by the same means of return is to be spent I know not. Mrs J.A. does not talk much of poverty now, though she has no hope of my brother’s being able to buy another horse next summer. Their scheme against Warwickshire continues, but I doubt the family’s being at Stoneleigh so early as James says he must go, which is May.
My mother is afraid I have not been explicit enough on the subject of her wealth; she began 1806 with 68l., she begins 1807 with 99l., and this after 32l. purchase of stock. Frank too has been settling his accounts and making calculations, and each party feels quite equal to our present expenses; but much increase of house-rent would not do for either. Frank limits himself, I believe, to four hundred a year.
You will be surprised to hear that Jenny is not yet come back; we have heard nothing of her since her reaching Itchingswell, and can only suppose that she must be detained by illness in somebody or other, and that she has been each day expecting to be able to come on the morrow. I am glad I did not know beforehand that she was to be absent during the whole or almost the whole of our friends being with us, for though the inconvenience has not been nothing, I should have feared still more. Our dinners have certainly suffered not a little by having only Molly’s head and Molly’s hands to conduct them; she fries better than she did, but not like Jenny.
We did not take our walk on Friday, it was too dirty, nor have we yet done it; we may perhaps do something like it to-day, as after seeing Frank skate, which he hopes to do in the meadows by the beach, we are to treat ourselves with a passage over the ferry. It is one of the pleasantest frosts I ever knew, so very quiet. I hope it will last some time longer for Frank’s sake, who is quite anxious to get some skating; he tried yesterday, but it would not do. Our acquaintance increase too fast. He was recognised lately by Admiral Bertie, and a few days since arrived the Admiral and his daughter Catherine to wait upon us. There was nothing to like or dislike in either. To the Berties are to be added the Lances, with whose cards we have been endowed, and whose visit Frank and I returned yesterday. They live about a mile and three-quarters from S. to the right of the new road to Portsmouth, and I believe their house is one of those which are to be seen almost anywhere among the woods on the other side of the Itchen. It is a handsome building, stands high, and in a very beautiful situation. We found only Mrs Lance at home, and whether she boasts any offspring besides a grand pianoforte did not appear. She was civil and chatty enough, and offered to introduce us to some acquaintance in Southampton, which we gratefully declined. I suppose they must be acting by the orders of Mr Lance of Netherton in this civility, as there seems no other reason for their coming near us. They will not come often, I dare say. The live in a handsome style and are rich, and she seemed to like to be rich, and we gave her to understand that we were far from being so; she will soon feel therefore that we are not worth her acquaintance.
You must have heard from Martha by this time. We have had no accounts of Kintbury since her letter to me. Mrs F.A. has had one fainting fit lately; it came on as usual after eating a hearty dinner, but did not last long. I can recollect nothing more to say. When my letter is gone, I suppose I shall.
Yours affectionately, JA
I have just asked Caroline if I should send her love to her godmama, to which she answered ‘Yes’.
|
English
|
NL
|
506b41975e0eaa025ac466bff55704776c9a8b2867746da7d10fc186ba02b590
|
Date of Birth : May 12th 1950
Whereas many stars are bitten by the acting bug early in life, Gabriel Byrne did not become interested in the craft until he was in his late twenties. Since then, he has worked steadily as a leading and supporting actor in a wide variety of Hollywood and international films, gaining a reputation as one of th e most reliably solid performers on either side of the Atlantic.
As a youth, the Dublin-born and bred actor aspired to become a Catholic priest. He was thus sent to a seminary in England, where he studied for four years. His time there came to an abrupt end after the 16-year-old Byrne was caught smoking and expelled. Upon returning to Ireland, he worked at assorted jobs, eventually receiving a scholarship to Dublin’s University College. After studying linguistics and archeology, Byrne worked as an archeologist for three years and then taught Spanish and Gaelic at a Catholic girls school for four years. During his teaching tenure, Byrne appeared in an amateur theatrical production and was good enough to attract the interest of an actor from the highly regarded Abbey Theatre, who encouraged him to try acting professionally.
Byrne’s film career during the 1980s was decidedly uneven. Although there were a few hits, such as the 1981 Excalibur, the number of misses was substantial. One of those misses was the 1987 film Siesta, in which he starred opposite Ellen Barkin. Although the film failed to do well, it did result in a marriage between Byrne and his co-star. The two married in 1988, and during the course of their marriage they collaborated on one film, the children’s adventure Into the West (1993). They divorced in 1993.
|
English
|
NL
|
0960a8283917845bc381a99c76a935dd2d5daab796e83be36ef49aa8b234b548
|
It is finished! What’s finished? Sin is finished. You mean we can indulge in all kinds of base and anti-social behaviour and know we won’t go to hell? On the other hand, we can strip off anything that slows us down…especially those sins that wrap themselves tightly around our feet and trip us up…’ (Hebrews 12: 1-2) and believe and accept that Jesus killed off sin on the cross, giving the believers a new start.
I am currently hand embroidering a linen table cloth. The pattern comprises twelve peacocks forming a ring in a stylized design. The embroidery is call Richelieu because much of the pattern is worked in bars and later the linen is cut away just leaving the bars.
I have stitched at it every evening and have completed eight birds. I began the project in February 2018 when I traced the pattern and ironed it on to the linen and sewed the first stitches. I estimate it will be June 2019 when I say, ‘It is finished!’
I have kept working on the cloth constantly – two hours every evening. When I first became a Christian I started working on being good. Remaking myself to please God, so I believed. After failing very badly I gave up trying to be good, admitted it couldn’t be done. God, then, stepped in and revealed he had done it all for me. When I had become a Christian, Jesus filled me with himself. When I accept him he lives through me. That is why it is not up to me to struggle to live the Christian life. My part today is to believe Jesus as Saviour and receive from him God’s abundant favour and the gift of goodness.
Jesus famous last words while hanging on the cross were, ‘It is finished!’ He meant he had taken our place, replacing our self-effort with his life indwelling us. Jesus has made us as perfect as he is perfect in spirit. We no longer have to struggle with sin.
Sin is not the issue any longer. Rejecting the finished work of Jesus is the issue. Do we accept Jesus, trust him with our life? or do we trust ourselves and our ability to be good and please God.
The plan is to work at the cloth until it is finished. It is my greatest piece of embroidery, my ultimate work of art, my ‘piéce de résistance’. For Jesus, hanging on the cross was his greatest moment. He saved the world all we have to do is believe and accept him as Saviour and receive from him God’s abundant favour. However, I cannot make me in the same way as the cloth. Only Jesus can renew me. I have accepted Jesus, ‘I am a new person,’ ‘It is no longer I that lives but Christ Jesus in me.’(Galatians 2:20. What appears to have been lost in one sense is more than gained in another. Jesus has given me ‘more than we ever dared to ask or even dream of – infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts or hopes.’ (Ephesians 3: 20)
|
English
|
NL
|
a04ed3ce96642f2e66c61df8d81e611c7dc349aaf4b6824498936bd824070cb9
|
eikon - blessing everyone
There are many things about Easter that do not make sense.
- The name: Easter, most likely comes from the goddess of spring and sunrises
- The bunny: apparently this comes from German Lutherans this was a bunny who wore clothes, carried colored eggs and judged whether kids were good or not. If they were good, they got eggs.
- The colored eggs: perhaps they came from the Lenten practice of abstaining from eggs, so the eggs would be boiled to preserve them during that time.
- Easter baskets: often containing nest type materials and some form of egg or rabbit, these were the modern-day sweet version of what the original Easter bunny would have carried. If you were a good girl or boy, you would get a basket. Less eggs, more chocolate – a good upgrade?
As I read through the plethora of traditions and folklore that surrounded them, I found many, many authors trying to find a way to spiritualize the meaning behind each of these things, the bunny, the name, the baskets, the eggs. Most of it read like “Mythology Meets Mother Goose, edited by Dr Seuss.”
Frankly, Easter is not truly a religious holiday. It is a festive springtime celebration of bright colors, food, fairy tales and activities for kids.
“Restoration Day”, however, is an amazing HOLY-day. This is a much better title for today than the word Easter as it says exactly what it celebrates.
But to understand what we celebrate on this day, regardless of what you call it, you have to understand the story of God.
There once was a people that were created by their God. They were made to be like Him. God lived among them and was with the people. God gave them all they needed to survive and the be happy.
But the people were evil and wanted more. They didn’t want to simply know God, they wanted to be like God. They were deceived by the enemy of God and rebelled against their God.
So, their God punished them and banished them. But, he never stopped loving them. For hundreds of years God reached out to his creation to restore the relationship he once had with them, but the desire of this people to be their own god remained strong, and their pride led them to much destruction and blinded them from the God that loved them. The people even began to blame God for their condition.
The rebelliousness of the people needed to be punished. But God’s desire was to bless, not punish. God’s desire was still to be with the people he created. He still loved them and wanted them to love him.
Though God knew he had the power to force people to love him [for he created love], He also knew that forced love is not true love at all. So instead, God chose to demonstrate his love for the people he created by sacrificing his very Son as the punishment for the wickedness of the people. Their rebellion deserved punishment, so God sacrificed his son to take the punishment for all the people.
Some people rejoiced in the grace that was demonstrated by God who not only created them in the beginning but made a way to re-create them and restore them into a relationship with him. Others simply mocked and continued in their rebellion, blaming God for their condition.
From that day forward, each person carried one of two signs with them. The first sign said “I am god” and those that carry that sign remain distant from God and God holds them accountable for their rebellion and condemns them to the punishment they deserve.
However, it is God’s desire that everyone carry a different sign, one that says, “Jesus is God” for those that carry this sign are welcomed by God. Not because they are guiltless, but because they carry the name of God’s Son. They have acknowledged God as their creator and are thankful for the sacrifice God made in sending his son. These people have a renewed relationship with their God because their offenses have been put behind them. They not only experience reconciliation to their God, but protection, provision and peace from their God. Though they still struggle with wanting to be gods, God does not cast them away, but instead gives them hope in a day when God will someday completely restore things back to the way they were when He first created them.
That narrative is the big picture story of the Bible. It is not a myth or fairy tale, it is real life.
Reconciliation Day is the time when we remember the key point where God sacrificed his own son to pay for the wickedness and rebellion of people he created.
For about 9 months we have been studying the “story of God” through the Old Testament of our Bibles. Today we are celebrating the resurrection of Jesus. This morning I want us to see how all of that fits together.
God’s promise to Abram:
Genesis 12:1–3 || 1 The Lord said to Abram: Go out from your land, your relatives, and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2 I will make you into a great nation, I will bless you, I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, I will curse anyone who treats you with contempt, and all the peoples on earth will be blessed through you. [CSB]
God promised Abram that all the people of the earth would be blessed through him. What the nations needed was a Messiah. Someone who could undo the curse.
From the beginning of time there has been a battle for the heart of man. God created man, and the serpent has been trying to pull man from God ever since.
In the garden, the serpent led Adam and Eve astray with the lure of being like God. The punishment for the serpent was also a glimmer of hope for mankind:
Genesis 3:15 || 15 I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel. [CSB]
The promise in Gen 3:15 was that God would one day defeat the serpent and restore the relationship we had with God.
The promise of Gen 12, that the people of earth would be blessed through Abram, was a statement that when God sends the Messiah to crush the serpent, that Savior will be a descendant of Abram.
The birth of Jesus:
Matt, genealogy – start from Abraham and goes to Jesus. This is intentional. God promised the Messiah in Gen 3. God promised to bless the world through Abraham in Gen 12. In Matt 1 the dots are being connected that Jesus is the fulfillment of those two promises.
Jesus descended from Abram
Matthew 1:1 || An account of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham [CSB]
As we read about Jesus, the first place Matthew takes us is back to Abraham. Why? Because of the 4th promise. Matthew chapter 1 is designed to take us from Abraham to David to Joseph and Mary:
Matthew 1:16–17 || 16 and Jacob fathered Joseph the husband of Mary, who gave birth to Jesus who is called the Christ. 17 So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations; and from David until the exile to Babylon, fourteen generations; and from the exile to Babylon until the Christ, fourteen generations. [CSB]
Jesus is the way that God completes the fourth promise to Abram. He sent his son, Jesus.
The mission of the Messiah:
The people of the world will be blessed. That was the message, that is what Jesus, the Messiah, was promised to bring – blessing on all people. We often read about the birth of Jesus, but I think we easily miss its connection to the Abrahamic covenant as well as to the rest of the Pentateuch.
Let’s go back to another passage we studied recently:
Numbers 6:22–27 || 22 The Lord spoke to Moses: 23 “Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless the Israelites. You should say to them, 24 “May the Lord bless you and protect you; 25 may the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 may the Lord look with favor on you and give you peace.” ’ 27 In this way they will pronounce my name over the Israelites, and I will bless them.” [CSB]
The blessing Aaron was commanded by God to pronounce on Israel included protection, presence and peace. As this blessing was pronounced over the people of God, it was like hanging a sign with God’s name on them.
Now read prophecy of Zechariah which took place after the birth of John the Baptist and just before Jesus was born:
Luke 1:67–79 || 67 Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied: 68 Blessed is the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has visited and provided redemption for his people. 69 He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, 70 just as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets in ancient times; 71 salvation from our enemies and from the hand of those who hate us. 72 He has dealt mercifully with our fathers and remembered his holy covenant— 73 the oath that he swore to our father Abraham. He has given us the privilege, 74 since we have been rescued from the hand of our enemies, to serve him without fear 75 in holiness and righteousness in his presence all our days. 76 And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, 77 to give his people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins. 78 Because of our God’s merciful compassion, the dawn from on high will visit us 79 to shine on those who live in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. [CSB]
WOW. This prophecy covers it all!
Do you notice what is mentioned in that passage regarding the coming of the Messiah? Protection, presence and peace. Jesus was going to be the fulfillment of the blessing that God intended for all peoples.
It ties the birth of Jesus back to the Aaronic blessing and the Abrahamic promise. It talks about protection, presence and peace! Finally, after hundreds of years, the chapter of the story they have been waiting for has come.
The sacrifice of Jesus:
If you do not know the bigger story, then it makes no sense that Jesus came and died on a cross and rose from the dead. Why would it matter that a man was convicted as a criminal and executed?
The Apostle Paul, as he addresses a Roman audience, one that was not familiar with the story of God, made a point to explain the story to them:
Romans 5:12 || 12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, in this way death spread to all people, because all sinned. [CSB]
He starts with the rebellion in the garden and the condemned condition of all mankind because of it. He goes back to the beginning of the story. Then, he shows the blessing from God:
Romans 5:18–21 || 18 So then, as through one trespass there is condemnation for everyone, so also through one righteous act there is justification leading to life for everyone. 19 For just as through one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so also through the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. 20 The law came along to multiply the trespass. But where sin multiplied, grace multiplied even more 21 so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace will reign through righteousness, resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. [CSB]
Jesus came to earth as a man, followed God obediently without sinning even once, was beat up, whipped, crowned with thorns and executed as a criminal by being nailed to a wooden cross. This sacrifice was necessary to pay the price for our sin, for my rebellion and for yours.
- It is the blood of Jesus that washes away our sins
- It is the blood of Jesus that protect us from death
- It is the blood of Jesus that gives us new life and peace (with God)
God could have chosen any method to reconcile us to him. He demonstrated his amazing love for us by sending his Son, part of himself, to die for us.
Romans 5:6–11 || 6 For while we were still helpless, at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For rarely will someone die for a just person—though for a good person perhaps someone might even dare to die. 8 But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 How much more then, since we have now been declared righteous by his blood, will we be saved through him from wrath. 10 For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, then how much more, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life. 11 And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received this reconciliation. [CSB]
Jesus came not as judge, but to be judged for us. He came not to condemn, but to be condemned for us. He came as physical proof of the incredible love of God. He came because God wants a relationship with you and me. Do you see God’s heart for you?
So, if God sent his Son to undo the wickedness of the world, why is there still evil? Why do people do bad things? Why does this world not look any better than it is?
Just as man chose to rebel against God through disobedience, God desires for man to choose to love him through obedience.
This blessing is powerful enough for the whole world. However, not everyone will receive this blessing.
John 3:16 || 16 For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. [CSB]
While God’s love is lavished on all of creation, he asks one thing. That we believe in Jesus. That we believe in his sacrifice on the cross for us, that we choose to live the way Jesus did.
For those who believe, there is reconciliation.
John 1:12–13 || 12 But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name, 13 who were born, not of natural descent, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God. [CSB]
The resurrection of Jesus is the proof that there is life after death, that there is victory over death, and that God can and wants to change us, reconcile us and give us a new life with his spirit.
Romans 10:9–10 || 9 If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation. [CSB]
God is a God who blesses. His greatest blessing is seen in the sacrifice he made for us. God wants to give us protection, provision, peace and most of all his presence, but he will not force it on us.
- If we confess that we are sinners.
- If we acknowledge that we are not good enough for God’s standards
- If we believe that Jesus was good enough and that he came, died and rose from the grave to buy our freedom and forgiveness
- If we will humble ourselves before God and surrender to His will for our lives
Basically, if we stop trying to be gods and acknowledge our Creator God and live for Him, THEN we can understand Reconciliation Day, and THEN we can experience the blessing that God has for us!
God’s story is one continuous story. We chop the story up into 66 books, 1,189 chapters and 31,102 verses. But the story is NOT contained in a book. The story started at creation and will be finalized at the consummation of the new heavens and the new earth referred to in Revelation 21-22?
In God’s story, he is the rightful hero and we are:
- The damsel in distress needing to be freed from our captor
- The marooned survivor praying for rescue as the flood waters rise
- The rock climber who has lost his footing and it is hanging on for dear life
Though we often want the story to be about us, it is not. The story is about God. However, what the story demonstrates is the amazing love that God has for people – for you and me.
The story is not about us, but about God’s amazing love for us. God loved you and me so much that he sacrificed Jesus, and only in that one sense we are the focal point of the story. God created US in his image. God created us for relationship. God has delayed his return so that more of US can be reconciled to him.
We are not the center of God’s story, but apparently, we are at the center of his heart.
Today you have a choice:
- Keep wearing your sign that says, “I am god” and remain separated from the God who created you and remain guilty of the punishment you deserve for your rebellion against God.
- Put on a new sign that says, “Jesus is God” and be rescued from yourself, be reconciled to God and experience the life God intended for you.
Romans 1:16 || 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek. [CSB]
Jude 24–25 || 24 Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault. 25 All glory to him who alone is God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord. All glory, majesty, power, and authority are his before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time! Amen. [NLT]
May God bless you with his protection from your past, presence in your present and peace for your future. Amen.
|
English
|
NL
|
6fc71312ad7d5c3f284422db98cfdcfdf52d3f7d3edef9c952e8aac246976803
|
guardian.co.uk, Monday 8 February 2010 18.41 GMT
Author, academic and wartime intelligence officer at Bletchley Park
Peter Calvocoressi in 1942. He was seconded to the Nuremberg war trials in 1945.
Peter Calvocoressi, who has died aged 97, was best known as an Ultra intelligence analyst at the Bletchley Park codebreaking centre in Buckinghamshire during the second world war, but this episode represented only four years in a long career with many different aspects. International affairs was an abiding interest. By his 96th birthday he had published his 20th book, the ninth edition of his World Politics Since 1945. Its 845 pages were a tribute to his lifelong energy, formidable memory and powers of analysis. Yet author and historian were only two of his job descriptions. He had been a barrister, a publisher, an academic and a journalist and, after Bletchley, he had assisted the prosecution at the Nuremberg war crimes trials.
He was born in Karachi, now in Pakistan. His parents were Greek (hailing from the Greek island of Chios, off the Turkish coast) and Peter's father was a merchant in the family business. When he was three months old, they moved to Liverpool, and he grew up in a community of prosperous, English-speaking Greek families.
In 1926 he sat the Eton scholarship examinations and was placed second – making him possibly the only Etonian with two great-grandfathers who had been slaves. He maintained that his education turned him "from a Greek in England into a Greek Englishman". At school he discovered a taste for history and his facility for languages, adding German and Italian to the English and French that he spoke at home. He took a first in history at Balliol College, Oxford, in 1934, hoping to join the diplomatic service, but his father's French birth debarred him. He consulted Anthony Eden, only to be told that he would never get anywhere with his surname. Instead, in 1935 he became a barrister specialising in chancery law, and three years later married Barbara Eden, the daughter of Lord Henley.
The second world war transformed his life, although at a War Office interview, he saw a note on his file: "No good for anything – not even intelligence." However he was commissioned in RAF intelligence, and, in early 1941, found himself at Bletchley. He spent the rest of the war as deputy head (and from December 1944 head) of a small, secret section dealing with Luftwaffe Ultra intelligence, translating and interpreting decrypted Enigma signals. This enterprise remained a secret until the 1970s, after which Calvocoressi wrote its history in Top Secret Ultra (1980).
Outside the North African campaigns and in the battle against U-boats in the Atlantic, he felt that claims for Ultra's importance had been exaggerated, though admitting the psychological advantage of knowing the German order of battle: "It took the blindfold off our eyes, so that we could see the enemy in detail as he could not see us."
In 1943, appalled by their temporary lodgings, he and his wife (with their two young sons) bought a large house near Bletchley at a few hours' notice and lived there for the next 39 years. Music was a lifelong passion, and with the connivance of the Bletchley billeting officer he ensured his lodgers always had two violins, a viola and a cello to provide regular quartet concerts.
In the 1945 general election, Peter stood as a Liberal candidate, but lost in the Labour landslide. From 1950 onward, he unhesitatingly voted Labour in every general election. Later in 1945, now with the rank of wing commander, he was seconded by British intelligence to Nuremberg. He interviewed many German commanders and, during the trial, cross-examined Field Marshal Gerd von Rundstedt in court.
His wartime experience made him unwilling to return to his prewar life at the bar. For five years from 1949 he worked at Chatham House, writing five volumes in the series of Annual Surveys of International Affairs begun by Arnold Toynbee. In 1954 he became a partner in the publishing firms of Chatto & Windus and the Hogarth Press.
He continued to take public roles. In the 1950s and 60s, he was a member and later chairman of the Africa Bureau, founded by his friend David Astor, proprietor and editor of the Observer, as a political lobby concerned with apartheid in South Africa and decolonisation. From 1962 to 1971 he was a member of the United Nations sub-committee on the prevention of discrimination and protection of minorities. In the late 1960s he was asked to arbitrate on internal disputes at Amnesty International that threatened to destroy the organisation. He was always proud of his successful intervention, and that Amnesty survived.
In 1965 he left publishing to take up the post of reader in international relations at Sussex University that was created for him. In 1972 he was enticed back by the offer of the newly created post of editorial director of Penguin Books. He was later appointed publisher and chief executive, but in a series of disputes with the owners, Pearson Longman, he was obliged to resign in 1976.
In 1990 he received an honorary doctorate from the Open University for his direction of its publishing division in the 1980s (later sold for a handsome profit). He continued writing books, including the two volumes of the Penguin History of the Second World War and Who's Who in the Bible (despite being a lifelong atheist).
Barbara died in 2005 and the following year he married Rachel Scott. They lived in London and in Dorset, where he died. He is survived by his sons, Paul and David, and by three grandchildren.
John Tusa writes: Young radio producers at the then BBC External Services at Bush House in the 1960s regularly turned to Peter as a contributor. He was incredibly well informed, he was wise, he was dispassionate, he made himself available. Peter was part of our education, a kind of continuation of university seminars. This was an important part of his makeup, believing in the importance of passing on knowledge to the young. He loved keeping in touch with former pupils and producers.
When my wife, Ann, was writing her history The Nuremberg Trial, Peter was a wise and shrewd helper, not because of the part he played in it but because of his overall sense of its importance in the postwar world. We dined with him a few months back; it was as if no contact had been broken in 40 years. And we roamed not only over the cold war but over the dilemmas of the present time, on which his judgments were typically sharp.
• Peter John Ambrose Calvocoressi, writer and academic, born 17 November 1912; died 5 February 2010
|
English
|
NL
|
881e002eddfd03fe4840a528e6d7ffdc409372b3a51acb64b8e18cd994b9950d
|
The Dark Yin Seal: Release is a powerful sealing technique designed and created by Seiji Kuragari. Similar to Tsunade's Yin Seal, over a period of time, the large amounts of excess chakra he's consumed will been focused into a seal mark on the back of his right hand. On the release command, the seal will disperse and the stored charka will pump freely back into his body. Because of the immense mass of chakra stored in the seal, having it all pump back into his body would overwhelm him. Due to this, only small portions of chakra will pump into his body once the seal is broken. Only when the seal is re-formed will the chakra cease to pump into his body.
|
English
|
NL
|
12ba1f0003ed06e66b763281bd35719ef1d339eb00456a78e0677cd6003d39c1
|
Is Commodore of the Royal Cruising Club, which he was largely instrumental in founding in the year 1880. He was for some years Secretary, and has carefully nursed the club into its present strong position. Mr. Underhill was born in 1850, and educated at Chudleigh Grammar School and Trinity College, Dublin, of which he is M.A. and LL.D. He became a barrister in 1872, and is one of the conveyancing counsel in the High Court. He has written many legal works, and also two books on the subject of yachting—viz., Simple Navigation for Home Waters and Our Silver Streak.
His yachting experience extends over some thirty years, and during that time he has owned five boats. At present he owns the Wulfruna, 46-ton auxiliary ketch, which is believed to be the only yacht of any size fitted with a petrol motor on deck, connected with the propeller by means of endless chains passing through the sail-room, thus obviating loss of cabin space as well as danger from petrol gas below. He holds a Board of Trade master’s certificate.
Clubs: Royal Thames, Royal Cruising.
Residence: 3, Campden Hill Place, W.
|
English
|
NL
|
052b45eca6d98c3eb13786346e5d92faa19bdc9332b6e556f116349db73da3f2
|
The New Yorker, September 25, 1965 P. 46
A fiction of the absurd account of an episode in a love affair. Edward, from New York, had a red beard, was 34 years old, & had a wife in Maine. Edward and Pia went from London to her farm in Markaryd, Sweden. Pia was pregnant & vomited often. When Edward inhaled sharply there was a peculiar noise in his chest. Edward always wanted to go to bed & make love with Pia, but she never felt like it. Edward wore a leather glove on his right hand. Pia had been raped when she was 22. Edward took care of the household chores. They had Fru Schmidt's apartment in Frederiksberg Alle in Copenhagen while she was in Rome. Colors of Pia's dresses mentioned often. The day often was Sunday. Edward and Pia went to Amsterdam, Berlin, France & in Leningrad they visited Paul, Pia's former lover. Edward discussed Kennedy's death & South Vietnam. Pia told Edward he was the only one she'd loved as long as 7 months. Edward raised money. The electricity failed in Fru Schmidt's flat. They both laughed.
|
English
|
NL
|
898fb0538a19a1cf477d59c9e8c0ed762f20c78a7bb5c5de3029a0a3088df4b1
|
The New Yorker, February 21, 1931 P. 9
Eugene Leri, headwaiter of the St. Regis, who speaks Latin fluently and who has, had an interesting and varied life. His father was vice-mayor of the Italian University of Rome, and later became a judge in the ecclestiastical court. He conversed freely in Latin, but in time, the wanderlust got him, and he came to America. Got a job at Martin's as headwaiter, and then came to St. Regis.
|
English
|
NL
|
c94d7a0d896b8609473615bdc41d740988b7d5db527d5ce467c8e1bcd7729c05
|
The head of a female Amazon warrior has been found by British and Italian archeologists. The statue was found in the debris at Herculaneum, a town destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D.
It is the first time an ancient Roman statue has been found with the colors preserved. According to Jane Thompson, the project manager, the coloring was subtle and sophisticated rather than the bright colors thought to be used by the Romans.
Monica Martelli, the archaeological team’s restorer, told Richard Owen, a reporter from the London Times “although the nose and mouth were missing, the hair, pupils and eyelashes were as pristine as they were when Herculaneum was overwhelmed by the eruption. Those eyes are alive, looking at us from 2,000 years ago” Martelli said. “To find this much pigment is very, very special.” Although it had been known that
Roman statues were painted, only faint traces of pigment had been previously found.
Hurculaneum and Pompeii were destroyed when Mount Vesuvius erupted. While Pompeii was buried in volcanic ash, Hurculaneum was buried in molten rock.
|
English
|
NL
|
5587f6c6dae2ac01a5f41fcad4584f986f218b88ca94df037d0b1e5fab8824d6
|
Born into a family full of teachers, Cara grew up in North Florida in a tiny community, where, like so much of the country, educational inequity is pervasive and truly based on one’s zip code. She left that community to go to college at Rice University, and she never considered becoming a teacher until she worked as a tutor for refugee students who had recently arrived in Houston. She thought back to many of the issues of power and privilege that she saw growing up in her community, and after graduating with bachelor’s degrees in psychology and religious studies, she decided to return to North Florida as a teacher.
Cara taught as an elementary school teacher in Jacksonville, Florida. Although she strived to infuse joy, confidence and curiosity in her classroom, she felt frustrated by her lack of input on the top-down policy decisions that affected her students.
In 2014, Cara joined Educators for Excellence because she wanted to ensure that teachers have a voice in the decisions that directly impact their classroom culture and academic success. As a program associate, she loves getting to work with her team members from across the country on projects that work to expand Educators for Excellence's impact, and thus, expand the voice of teachers.
|
English
|
NL
|
05cead4e1b9243fd39c881c3a4a5b04233a7bc37610c8f38f0687f0ef5edeae4
|
Last year, I wrote an article entailing the reasons as to why I believed that the movie Birdman would be a golden opportunity to cast a humorous, satirical eye on the superhero saturated market of Hollywood. By virtue of the actors that had been announced — I had wagered that the performances would be strong and highly pointed towards an emphasize on comedy. At the time, I asked our readers to give the film a chance, hearkening it as a fun parody with mainstream appeal.
Whilst my assessment of the standard of acting was accurate, much else of what I had anticipated did not come to light. The tone of the production in particular had really taken me by surprise. Darkly in its demeanor and firmly rooted in the notion that tragedy can make the best comedy, Michael Keaton leads the charge in a story that i could best describe as a descent into misery with glimmers of hope present only in scenes of fantasy. Keaton’s character is struggling actor Riggan Thomson famed formerly for being a superhero on screen known as Birdman. The journey he takes is of discovery. In this world he is seen as a gimmick. The man in the bird suit. Trying to steer from away from the shadow of the Birdman leads Riggan in search of a career renaissance. He seeks to transition from the film industry to the much different realm of theatrical production. The idea being to ambitiously venture into adapting and directing his own version of the broadway play “Raymond Carver”.
Accompanying him along the process of getting the play off the ground is his agent played by Zack Gallifinakis and his daughter who is tasked with being his personal assistant played by Emma Stone. Choice performances from these three players in addition to Edward Norton (as a pompous stage performer) elevate the beautifully shot slideshow of scenes that give you the illusion that the entire film has been shot in one take. Interesting to note that the focus being centered around the one location (the theater) lends neatly to the director’s choice to film certain scenes in one continuous take. This gives the feel of watching a play instead of a movie, where performances are crucial and sets are minimalist. A clever juxtaposition of styles that strays the lines between watching live theater and a cinema going experience. Of interest is the content of the play that Riggan has chosen to adapt. It mirrors the hardship of his life and develops the character further. A simple well made drama would have sufficed with the sharp dialogue present but Birdman offers more than that.
A surreal experience awaits you upon your first viewing as the woes of our lead start to manifest in the form of the Birdman character berating Riggan’s life choices. It plays the part of an apparition that appears telling him to embrace the side of him that wants to sell out and simply cash in with another sequel to the implied “jaded” series of the aging Birdman franchise. We get the frustrations of Riggan unleashed in the form of manifested superpowers that he uses mainly to take out his rage on the problems that surround him. Director Alejandro G. Iñárritu casts a keen eye on detail that can be overlooked upon first watch. Careful consideration is taken to avoid showing Riggan using his power whilst other people are around to witness it. This builds a tension that makes you ask the question, does he truly have these strange abilities or is he losing his mind? The darkness that befalls him is beckoned by different elements such as – his disillusioned relationship with his drug addled daughter, his aggravation regarding dealing with the demands of his lead performer, his lustful unrequited love towards his ex wife and above all the fear of his production absolutely tanking. These elements are played up brilliantly in certain scenes of monologue. We feel the weight of the world rested upon him as it gently placed on our own backs, because we have a character that we fully understand why he has become the person that has emerged through the unraveling plot.
This unique, unexpected tale of redemption for a sympathetic star of old is powerful in the punch of its dialogue, writing, performances and concept. I would highly recommend venturing to the cinema for this one. Truthfully, it was not the movie I had expected to see, but it actually delivered a better finished product. A grand topping of a well matched soundtrack puts the feather in the cap of what I believe to be a firm contender in the 2015 Oscars.
A wholly intriguing plot that maintains interest from start to finish. 9/10
|
English
|
NL
|
6e2a4d8ff4b1a844ce1a8fc80fdf4edfac9433cb26a0d2655020e60635f58e26
|
Hymns received by João Pedro. Bi-lingual edition.
About João Pedro:
João Pedro was a companion of Mestre Irineu, and sat at the door in his salão, João Pedro received healing from Mestre Irineu, after struggling for many years with disease and hardship. He received the hymns of O Menino Jesus in the evenings while cleaning and closing down the salão, and his wife presented them to the world after his passing. This Hinário is now commonly sung during healing works.
|
English
|
NL
|
d3a0a145243d24e9cbe9355418bcba4ea06a95feec77bfc6498dc35f48c88d45
|
One of our folks, Thumper, was explaining to me his life. He said that he had raised fifteen children, paid all the bills and maintained a household for decades. After his final child was settled, he never wanted to pay a bill again, so he decided to become homeless. He lives a quiet, very simple life, and generally comfortable.
He helped me out so much a few weeks ago. My car developed a gas leak, and it really shouldn’t have been driven (but I did for a while anyway). The part that needed to be replaced was only available through the dealer and then I would have to pay for someone to repair it in a shop. It was going to be expensive. and I had a dozen people wanting to help me with it. That was fine, but I know from experience not everyone knows what they are doing. One person had a plan, but he warned me that the plan might not work. And he was right. It didn’t.
So my vehicle was leaking a stream of gas now and I was going to have to have it towed as well as the part and the repair in a shop. Thump, however, said that he thought he could fix it cheaply and easily. I didn’t figure he could make it worse than it was, so I gave him twenty bucks for parts and got him a ride to a parts store. In about an hour he had repaired my vehicle and it still works now. I consider this to be a miracle of God, because a huge burden had been lifted off me.
He said that he never did have much use for a preacher or a church, although Anawim is different because they actually help people and he is able to help with us. The only sermon he took in and treasured was a poem he found in the Gresham Outlook in 1961, a hundred years after the poem was originally written by John Hall. It’s called “At Day’s End”:
Is anybody happier because you passed his way?
Does anyone remember that you spoke to him today?
The day is almost over, and its toiling time is through;
Is there anyone to utter now a kindly word of you?
Can you say tonight, in parting with the day that’s slipping fast,
That you helped a single brother of the many that passed?
Is a single heart rejoicing over what you did or said;
Does the man whose hopes were fading, now with courage look ahead?
Did you waste the day, or lose it? Was it well or sorely spent?
Did you leave a trail of kindness, or a scar of discontent?
As you close your eyes in slumber, do you think that God will say,
“You have earned one more tomorrow by the work you did today”.
I can’t actually say that I had ever preached a better sermon, so I just let it go.
|
English
|
NL
|
cc764f3de7feb9dd9b6f4e8dab66d75d319bd010405c901dfaddb0e6fb4cba83
|
The format of the work is interesting, though. Two of the sections (II and IV) explicitly end with a prompt ("What do you think?" and "What do you think about this?"), suggesting that what we have here is something like prompts to get students thinking about certain subjects. Indeed, you could take any of the four sections and easily use them in a modern philosophy course as an essay prompt or a class discussion prompt. So Demodocus might possibly represent a way in which teaching was done in Plato's Academy, or in which philosophical teaching more broadly was influenced by the Platonic dialogue genre.
(in order of appearance)
Demodocus is presumably the same as the Demodocus in the Theages there he talks with Socrates about the education of his son Theages. (In passing Demodocus and Theages happen to mention the topic of advice, which is the topic of Section I.) Theages himself is mentioned in passing in the Republic and the Apology (and Demodocus in the latter), but not much is known about either him or his father. Demodocus never speaks in this dialogue; he is addressed, and so is present, but we hear nothing from him.
Each section of the dialogue is first person. The narrator is never named, and may or may not be Socrates.
I. Section I is a monologue in which the narrator addresses Demodocus, who has asked him to give advice on matters that will be discussed in a meeting. The narrator says that he would prefer "to ask what is the point of your assembly and of the readiness of those who think to give you advice and of the vote which each of you intends to cast", and this gives the structure of the section: the narrator questions why the assembly would be asking advice, then why anyone would consider himself ready to advise the assembly, then why voting would be considered useful. The narrator ends with making a distinction between two kinds of topic on which one might give advice.
II, III, & IV. The next three sections each have the narrator describing in third person an argument between two people (different pairs of people for each section). In Section II we have a man rebuking a friend for believing the plaintiff in a case when he had not heard the defendant's story. They both discuss the proverb that you should never judge a case until you have heard both sides of the story, and the narrator ends perplexed about the question, asking the reader for help. In Section III we have someone criticizing a person for not trusting him enough to lend him money, and his interlocutor asks why he is criticizing someone for not being persuaded while refusing to criticize himself for failing to persuade. In Section IV someone is criticizing another for trusting strangers too easily, and his interlocutor argues that this criticism does not make sense. It then ends with the narrator admitting perplexity again and asking the reader about it.
I. The argument of Section I has some affinities to that of Sisyphus. If it's impossible to give good and informed advice, it would be silly to ask someone to advise you. But what makes for good and informed advice? It seems that the adviser must have knowledge. If the assembly that's asking for advice, however, has that knowledge, it does not need the advice. But if the assembly doesn't have the knowledge, how can it discuss the topic? Moreover, the assembly asks advice from several people; but if one person has the knowledge to give good and informed advice, then that advice seems to be adequate, since good and informed advisers would give the same advice. So by asking for advice, the assembly is assuming that advisers have knowledge; whereas by asking several people, it is assuming that they don't.
The narrator then looks at it from the adviser's side. If there are several advisers, suppose they give different advice; then how could they all be giving good, informed advice? But if they give the same advice, why do they all need to be giving advice? So these are ways that the adviser's readiness to give advice. (Note, incidentally, that one case is not discussed, namely, of the single adviser who is genuinely informed. This is important.)
The next point has to do with the point of voting. It seems that it's a way of judging the people who give advice. But if the assembly knows enough to judge this, they don't need the advice. On the other hand, if they don't have the adviser's knowledge, they are not competent to judge the advice. The assembly cannot make itself competent to judge the advice. Nor can the adviser be claiming also to teach the assembly how to judge the advice, because people are only given a little time to advise assemblies and there are so many people in an assembly. So there is no point in voting:
Surely your meeting is inconsistent with your voting and your voting with the readiness of your advisers? For your meeting implies that you are not competent but need advisors, while the casting of votes implies that you do not need advisers but are capable of judging of giving advice. And the readiness of your advisers implies that they have knowledge, while your casting votes implies that the advisers do not have knowledge. (382b)
Further, even if the assembly implements a plan, it does not know whether the plan will fulfill the goal, nor does it know if the goal is really in its best interest, nor does it seem that anyone knows anything about these kinds of things. This means uncertainty and indecision. But this contrasts with what a good person would do: a good person would have knowledge of the things on which he advises, and those whom they persuade will attain good as their goal, and having good they will not have to change their minds.
There's more to this argument than seems to be happening on the surface, which is why I've given some detail in my summary here. Superficially it looks very skeptical, but the author is making a point quite similar to points made in Gorgias about practicing true politics, and how it cannot be done en masse but only one on one, and it must be based on knowledge of the good rather than persuasion, and it cannot be decided by general vote.
II. Why do we think you can't judge a matter fairly before you've heard both sides of the question? If you can't tell whether one person is speaking the truth, then it seems you can't tell which of two people are speaking the truth, and if one person is not clear enough, it doesn't seem that you can make it clear by adding another person when one of the two, one does not know beforehand which, is speaking falsely. Further, you can only hear them one at a time. But if you hear the first person and that's enough to clear it up, you don't need the second person's testimony.
III. Why do we criticize people for not trusting us? It seems we should criticize ourselves. First, because if they didn't trust us, they succeeded at getting what they want, but we failed at getting what we wanted, so we did something wrong. Second, if we asked for something they shouldn't have given us, they did what was right and we did something wrong. If, on the other hand, we asked for something that should have given to us, we failed, and did something wrong. Third, if they didn't trust us, we failed to persuade them; so we did something wrong. So we should be criticizing ourselves if others don't trust us.
IV. Why do we think it is more reasonable to be quick in trusting family and friends than in quickly trusting strangers? If we're quick to trust people who tell the truth, that's not a bad thing, whomever they may be. If we are slow to trust someone, and then eventually are persuaded, and turn out to be deceived, that doesn't seem a better thing. When we criticize people on this point, we criticize them for trusting those who are not trustworthy. To do this, if they are strangers, he needs to consider whether they tell the truth. But the same is true if they are family and friends. Further, whether one is trustworthy does not depend on whether one is a friend or a member of a family, because everyone is friend to someone or family to someone.
These four sections involve a somewhat tighter structure than I think they're usually given credit for. The first two sections both deal with persuasion in public settings (assembly and trial), and the second two both deal with trust. In fact, all of the sections are concerned with the problem of trust and persuasion, and they all indicate problems with how we typically understand these -- in particular, the same problem, that we do not actually treat truth as the real foundation of trust and knowledge or education as superior to persuasion. But the dialogue explicitly leaves it up to the reader to start working out how the alternative would work.
Quotations from Jonathan Barnes's translation in Plato, Complete Works, Cooper and Hutchinson, trs., pp. 1699-1706.
|
English
|
NL
|
e2cca00c5d2a11c6560ba1ee2acbf762d9e11790a00c38a43483ab060a7118eb
|
I have always loved the sound of a rooster crowing in the morning. Their lively sounds wake up the morning like nothing else. Now where I live roosters and chickens and farm animals are not allowed to be kept, but one short road away from our neighborhood are homes on five to ten acre lots where you can keep horses and donkeys and chickens and roosters if you want to. So within sound of us there is someone who has a rooster who welcomes the sun each day. It is a rare morning that I am out walking that I do not hear him. For several years I have listened to him and never saw him. In my mind I thought that he was super large and probably one of those beautiful multi-colored roosters with a big, red comb, but I had never seen him.
Recently, though, I just happened to be on his street when he was out strutting and waking folks up. I heard the cock-a-doodle-doo and I began to look up toward the house where it was coming from, but I didn’t see anything at first and then I spotted out in a wooded area just to the side of the house a medium to small-medium sized rooster who was all white. I really was just shocked that he wasn’t anything like I expected. So I walked over there toward where he was. He wasn’t frightened and didn’t run away but kept on pecking food and still, occasionally, singing his morning praises.
When I got close enough to him, I told him that I lived right near there and had for a long time enjoyed his morning serenade. He looked at me like I was a little bit off, but I just wanted him to know how much I appreciated him. Just to try to find out more about him, I asked him where he was from. He was polite but said, “I don’t know. I was just hatched out one day and actually don’t know who my mother or my dad were.” I thought how sad. Then I asked where he went to school. “I never graduated from high school,” he said, “but I did go back and get my GED.” I said, “Well, that’s great.” He crowed again, pecked some more and I was about to run out of conversation with this guy anyway. Before I left I just wanted to affirm the guy and my appreciation of him and so I said, “I really do enjoy hearing you crow every morning, and I always enjoy it when your sounds pierce the early dawn’s arrival.” He looked at me strange again and said, “I’m just doing what I was created to do,” and he pecked a couple of more times and cock-a-doodle-dooed and I realized he really didn’t want to talk to me anymore so I walked on.
As I walked, his crowing became more faint as I was thinking about Jesus’ parable of the talents in Matthew 25. He told about three servants who were called by the master and were given gifts from the master and then he left. One was given five talents, one two, and one was given only one. You remember the story, for time passed and later the master came back and called the servants to give an accounting of what they had done with what he had given them. “Oh,” the five talent guy said, “I’ve got five additional talents.” The two talent guy likewise had doubled, but the guy with one talent did nothing but go and hide it and did not use his talent. The master was upset and angry because he had not done anything with what the master had given him. I thought about my rooster buddy who with little or no family support and not much education, just simply did what God had created him to do and day after day had been a blessing to my life. A one talent rooster had blessed me. There are some valuable lessons God’s people could learn if they would just listen to that rooster.
One, when you do what you’re created to do it will be a blessing. It really does not matter if you have one talent or five or ten or some people I’ve known who have every blessing and talent in the world it seems, but if you do what you were created to do, you will bless people’s lives. I thought that probably the poor old rooster didn’t have the sense to do what a lot of God’s people do and that is instead of doing what they’re created to do, they make a long list of all the things they cannot do. Apparently they think that that justifies them for not doing anything with the one or two gifts that the master has given them.
A second great truth is that if you do what God created you to do, you will bless people’s lives and you will not even know it. For years that little old rooster has been doing my heart good and I had never seen him, never met him, never talked to him, never thanked him, but he had announced the coming of the sunrise hundreds of times for me and he never knew what joy he always brought to my heart. Hardly a day goes by that somebody, maybe arm’s length or miles away, doesn’t do something that just absolutely makes my day or shapes my week and they don’t even know it. Often, all they did was something that God had created them for and in so doing were such a blessing.
The third great truth is that if you do not do what you were created to do, a lot of people will miss the blessing and most of all you or I will not honor the One who has created us. In so many of our churches there are opportunities of service that are missed, not just by the person who doesn’t respond but by everyone in the family of faith because someone assumes that their one talent doesn’t make any difference. Wrong, wrong, wrong. There are children that would be blessed by your teaching and there are multitudes of people who would enjoy hearing your song. There are people around the world that would be blessed by your giving and people you do not even know whose life would be brightened by your smile. It is not that you have great talent, it is the fact that you would simply do what God created you to do.
So this week if you happen to hear a rooster, don’t first and foremost think of Simon Peter’s denials of Jesus, but rather think of my rooster friend who day after day blesses his entire part of the world because a one talent rooster is willing to do what he was created for. Then let’s you and I go and do the same.
The author can be contacted at firstname.lastname@example.org.
|
English
|
NL
|
6da4c1a6d6e21578f7d0fb429df0097f285a89b147c6d175d3eafb7cf86fcd31
|
So when I took that class at Gulf War, I was immediately excited when I saw the information that the teacher was presenting. Sad to say I actually remembered having run across it a couple of years earlier, while looking for something else. It was one of those things that I planned to “get back to”. I tried to explain to the teacher how important her information was and that she could use fiber terms to help her students to understand the structures that she was discussing. Her response – I don’t do fiber. OK. But a LOT of people do – more than the number of people who do metal. This is why I require my apprentices to have an open mind towards at least understanding the basic technology of crafts other than their own.
Back in 1774 a hoard was located in an old tin mine. Known as the Trewhiddle Hoard. It had some very unusual and unique metal items, including what is believed to be the oldest surviving Christian ceremonial scourge. The scourge was made of silver wire. The Reverand Philip Rashleigh managed to acquire most of the find and wrote a report on it in 1788, which was published in the Society of Antiquaries journal, Archaeologia, IX, 187. As was typical of many of the discoveries that occurred during this timeframe, a considerable portion of the original find has disappeared. Fortunately, the scourge has survived and is in the British Museum.
The original report by Rashleigh does not shed any light on the structure of the scourge, being a simple listing of the items that were found. The decision to call the technique Trichinopoly is lost somewhere in my archives. I thought that I had discovered the gentle’s name, but I can’t currently locate it. Supposedly the story was that being stationed at some point in Trichinopoly, India, a British Colonial Administrative District, the individual in question recognized the technique as something that he had seen in India, and gave the technique a name.
In 1961 D.M Wilson and C.E. Blunt published an article, again in Archaeologia (Jan 1961, Vol. 98) titled, The Trewhiddle Hoard. And they detailed the structure of the scourge wire.
I have to admit, this brief excerpt makes my head hurt. Looking at the picture the structure of the scourge is obviously knit. The author’s description of the “circular plaiting” as tatting is incorrect. According to the Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary tatting is: a delicate handmade lace formed usually by looping and knotting with a single cotton thread and a small shuttle. My Mother used to make tatted doilies, I know what it looks like. Interestingly enough, their description of the spool knitting that the children were doing is correct at least as far as the structure of the “plaiting” is concerned. I decided to investigate the individual finds that are mentioned to try to determine if they were being consistent in the use of the word Trichinopoly, or not.
Next time: Consistent or Not, and Why is ANY of this Significant?
|
English
|
NL
|
311a91d20f405a9806ec8d51ee0cddc30f9e0031d846ebbcb1e7a0b397c0aef3
|
Academy Award champion for 1974’s “The Godfather Component II.” He also have scored 1972’s “The Godfather” and Franco Zeffirelli’s Shakespeare films. He was a musical prodigy from an early on age, composing his initial oratorio when he was 11. He started performing immediately after. He have scored over 150 movies, writing several per month during his most successful season. He also constructed operas, ballets, and orchestral functions. He was created Giovanni Rota Rinaldi in Milan. His family members was extremely musical. He previously a long a friendly relationship with Igor Stravinsky, stating the Russian composer’s “brain struck sparks,” an apt explanation of Stravinsky’s unceasing imagination.
|
English
|
NL
|
f8498af619df974acc53c5820bf3193fd7801ba68348551009a65d9025225341
|
The Divine Comedy has been visually interpreted by countless artists in the last seven centuries, however, few have stood out. First came Sandro Botticelli, then Gustave Dore, Francesco Scaramuzza, Amos Nattini, and also the great Salvador Dali. Now, a contemporary artist, Dino di Durante, has taken the challenge again. and Dante’s Hell Animated (2D animation), as well as Inferno by Dante a 108-minute feature documentary.
Dino Di Durante's visual journey of Dante's Inferno started in 2007, with the idea of making a comic magazine. This idea expanded into a book of illustrations, and later to an animation film where most of the painting come to life in Dante's Hell Animated, which is available on DVD and VOD. These 72 unique pieces of art are also part of a two-hour long documentary , titled Inferno by Dante, featuring over 30 celebrities, professors and Dantologists (Dantisti) from both the United States and Italy, which premiered at the Cannes fim festival in May, 2019.
When Boris Acosta produced and directed his first documentary, Dante's Inferno - Abandon All Hope, he realized that it had to be made in black and white because there weren't many illustrations in color available at in 2008. So, making the film in black and white was the only smart thing to do.
However, it wasn't what he wanted to do in the first place. So, he decided to produce a set of paintings to make a more meaningful, color rich, and accurate illustrations than were not available at that time. What he didn't know was how long it would really take. He thought that a few months would be enough, but he was far wrong. It took 9 years! Why so long? Because he didn't take into consideration that he's a perfectionist and would not bend for the best he could accomplish.
Most paintings went through a painful process of over 100 versions, review after review.
Directing art was Boris Acosta's first time and it was not an easy task. He wanted everything fast, but even though the paintings were coming along great, there were many interpretation mistakes made in the process. Time was not on his side and his artist, Dino Di Durante, needed some help, which he got from Avetik Balaian and Riccardo Pratesi.
Dino Di Durante is a concept artist himself, who took on the hard task of bringing to life Dante's Inferno on canvas that made their way into film and books. The details, rich colors and accurate representation where accomplished with the help of Lucia Checchi, Avetik Balain and Dantologist Riccardo Pratesi. Durante's profound interpretation of Hell surpasses that of all others who have attempted to understand what Dante Alighieri put into words over seven centuries ago.
|
English
|
NL
|
e5ce4f4ba3ff51d3e97ef55788cc978558c57f7ad1f9f0747977da2a9172cc03
|
Oh, thank you Jesus for your ears that heard the sinner’s cry and the plea of the sick. You dear Jesus also heard the voice of the Father and made know His will and way.
Thank you Jesus that even today you hear our prayers and cry and come in your mercy and grace to meet our needs in your riches in glory.
The following are just a few of the scriptures about Jesus hearing and responding to people.
Now when Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, He departed to Galilee .
When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel !
When Jesus heard that, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.
When Jesus heard it, He departed from there by boat to a deserted place by Himself. But when the multitudes heard it, they followed Him on foot from the cities.
And behold, two blind men sitting by the road, when they heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out, saying, “Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!”
Then the multitude warned them that they should be quiet; but they cried out all the more, saying, “Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!”
So Jesus stood still and called them, and said,
“What do you want Me to do for you?”
They said to Him, “Lord, that our eyes may be opened.”
So Jesus had compassion and touched their eyes. And immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him.
“I have many things to say and to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I heard from Him.”
“But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this.
Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when He had found him, He said to him, “Do you believe in the Son of God?”
He answered and said, “Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?”
And Jesus said to him, “You have both seen
Him and it is He who is talking with you.”
Then he said, “Lord, I believe!” And he worshiped Him.
When Jesus heard that, He said, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”
So, when He heard that he was sick,
He stayed two more days in the place where He was.
Then after this He said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.”
Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me.
Today dear friend you can speak to Jesus or as we call it, pray! Jesus will hear you and respond to your cry.
This same Jesus that heard the voices of people when He walked this earth will hear your voice today. The living resurrected Savior the Lord Jesus welcomes you. Come to Him now.
I encourage you to read the past several weeks columns as I have been thanking Jesus for different parts of His Body.
Pilgrim followers of Jesus,
Arthur and Denise Blessitt
|
English
|
NL
|
ac373136296a475d6ff6232a49915aaa61827dfbc1f4c783157d37a611510701
|
I don't want to give away too much about this book, but I'm happy to now reveal the title.
Book five will be called Consort to the Shadows.
I'm quite happy with this title, because it is something that people will be able to pronounce. I've heard all sorts of variations of my book titles before: RAY-fen instead of RAH-fen, The Sea Onion Wolf instead of The Sianian Wolf (that mistake nearly made it into the New Zealand Herald!), and The Fourth Runny instead of The Fourth Roo-NIGH. So hopefully no one is going to have any trouble with pronouncing Consort. I'm pleased to say that all my other titles from this point on are going to be in plain English as well, which is great. I've learnt my lesson the hard way.
Consort is an interesting book, not least of all because it will now be told in two parts. Some of you might remember that Rafen suffered a rather dreadful hand injury (with compliments from the Lashki) at the end of book four. Well, you might want to remember that, because that hand injury is very critical to what direction Consort goes in.
The word "consort" is an old one, often referring to the spouse of a monarch. However, it can be used as a verb as well. Consorting with villains and scoundrels is never the best occupation, but Rafen is obliged to do some of this in the second part of book five, which is why the book has this name. However, there are other people who consort with the wrong folk as well in both parts of this book. Richard meets an unlikely ally, which pretty much makes him a consort to the shadows, and a few people that you hoped might know better make some rather poor decisions regarding how they treat their sister, spouse, country, and world's future, etc. This book also focuses a lot on the desire to know one's future - and whether or not inklings or visions about what might happen to us are actually helpful.
Lastly, this book contains a dragon with a lot of attitude.
I'm not ready to reveal full covers yet, but let me just reveal to you the lettering of part one. The font is called Captain of the Pirates, and it's a good one!
|
English
|
NL
|
bb1728c5d4c33ed214b00add90efb8dbbdbf1279765b7486c6f68a44c652cb2f
|
We are a commune of inquiring, skeptical, politically centrist, capitalist, anglophile, traditionalist New England Yankee humans, humanoids, and animals with many interests beyond and above politics. Each of us has had a high-school education (or GED), but all had ADD so didn't pay attention very well, especially the dogs. Each one of us does "try my best to be just like I am," and none of us enjoys working for others, including for Maggie, from whom we receive neither a nickel nor a dime. Freedom from nags, cranks, government, do-gooders, control-freaks and idiots is all that we ask for.
5 The next day their rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem, 6with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John,and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. 7When they had made the prisonersstand in their midst, they inquired, ‘By what power or by what name did you do this?’ 8Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, ‘Rulers of the people and elders, 9if we are questioned today because of a good deed done to someone who was sick and are asked how this man has been healed, 10let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that this man is standing before you in good health by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead. 11This Jesus is “the stone that was rejected by you, the builders; it has become the cornerstone.” 12There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved.’
|
English
|
NL
|
ed691e329af1e289f9a80c62ac0bfe7b8da0c889fe38f0e8f9bfc2025268076d
|
No products found which match your selection.
Trevor Boyer 1948
Born in Yorkshire 1948 Boyer studied at Wakefield School of Art following which he worked as a commercial artist. After 9 years in that position he became freelance, specialising in his childhood interest of birds. His works have been published in a number of books and originals have been exhibited and sold at Sotheby’s Art Auction in London.
|
English
|
NL
|
3a15f67ead194dd37d9893c06570a2635b8746bce139e4b14e49efebae147f61
|
The Painting that I submitted is titled Holy and was created as part of a series of works which explore aspects and qualities of the nature of God. When I painted this particular piece I was contemplating God's holiness, purity and what it means that he is triune. When considering these qualities we immediately become aware of how they contrast with the fallen world and our human nature. It would be easy to put distance between God and ourselves, for who is there like him? Holiness itself means 'set apart'. However, the gospel is that though God is holy and as humans we do fall short, he loves us unconditionally and longs to walk in relationship with us and this is made possible through Jesus. When creating this image which focuses on these attributes I felt it was important to do so in such a way that also expresses something of his closeness and warmth.
In Holy, the colour white is symbolic of God's purity and holiness and the single piece of ribbon which has been gently rolled to form three fully connected sections is reminiscent of the trinity. The hands holding the ribbon again echo the wholeness and unity of the trinity as they gently encapsulate the threefold ribbon. I feel the hands also bring a sense of warmth to the overall image reminding us of God's loving nature as well as reminding us of his connection with humanity and his desire to walk in close relationship with us.
Thanks again to all who take time to cast a vote!
|
English
|
NL
|
e9d11434bf135b685150e93e94e6266af820ef351590bf98fa0f8d71d90cab4b
|
Kevin Williams thought cancer was something that happened to other people. At 35, he thought he was too young to get cancer. He felt great, was active, and lived a healthy lifestyle.
Cancer, he thought, couldn’t happen to him.
He was wrong.
At 35, Williams, a husband and father of two, was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), a type of cancer that starts in the blood-forming cells of the bone marrow. He was playing racquetball and felt a stitch in his side. That stitch turned out to be an enlarged spleen caused by his excessively high white blood cell count.
“When I heard the word leukemia, I thought it was over,” said Williams, now 42 and a Lakewood, California, resident. “I thought I was going to die. The thought that I might not be around for my family was incredibly painful. My kids were still very young and depended on me. I felt like I was letting them down.”
Williams was given interferon, the standard treatment for CML at the time. The drug controlled his white blood cell count, but it made him feel more sick than the cancer did. He had chills, fevers and he lost a significant amount of weight. It was, he recalls, like having the flu – and not just for a few days, but for months and months on end with no relief in sight.
Williams had heard about an experimental targeted therapy, now called Gleevec, being tested at UCLA’s Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center in patients with CML. Renowned UCLA researcher Dr. Owen Witte had previously discovered the gene that causes CML, providing a target for new therapies that attempt to home in on what is broken in a cancer cell, leaving the healthy cells alone.
UCLA clinical researchers were among the first in the nation to test Gleevec in CML patients. Meanwhile, scientists on the Westwood campus were studying its biologic mechanisms in the laboratory. Gleevec was one of the first in a wave of molecularly targeted therapies that many researchers believe represent the future in cancer care. Its success in clinical trials garnered national headlines. It was touted as hope in a pill.
For Williams, the news reports were exciting, and torturous. He couldn’t enroll in the clinical trial because interferon, technically, was still working for him.
“Interferon, basically, was a chemotherapy drug,” Williams said. “It was pretty tough to take.”
Then, in 2001, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration approved Gleevec for CML and Williams was able to take the drug to treat his cancer.
“It was like night and day,” Williams said. “I took a pill and, literally, I had no side effects. I felt great.”
Gleevec kept Williams’ blood counts controlled, but it never fully eliminated the cancer. The mutated gene causing the CML was still active in his bone marrow. And while some patients experienced a complete response to the drug, Williams was not one of them.
However, as long as his blood counts remained good and he suffered no debilitating side effects, the drug had transformed his cancer into a chronic condition, like diabetes or high blood pressure. His cancer, he found, was something he could live with -- in fact, live well with.
But, unknown to Williams, inside his body the CML was silently and craftily mutating in ways that would make it resistant to Gleevec one day. A persistent enemy, his cancer was finding a way to get around the drug.
While this silent war raged within Williams’ body, UCLA scientists were discovering how the cancer became resistant to Gleevec. They uncovered more than a dozen mutations that developed over time. That discovery provided potential novel targets for new therapeutics and renewed hope for patients like Williams.
Gleevec worked for Williams for about five years. When his white blood cell counts began to rise, his oncologist increased the drug’s dosage. Then the higher doses became ineffective, and Williams again began to worry that he might not beat his cancer after all.
Then, in 2005, he was able to enroll in a UCLA study testing a drug that appeared to be effective in patients who became resistant to Gleevec, a drug that targeted the mutations discovered in the UCLA laboratory. The drug, now called Sprycel, also is taken in pill form. It gave Williams another shot at fighting his cancer.
“Nine months after I started taking Sprycel, the cancer was undetectable in all the tests they did,” Williams said. “It’s so nice now as I watch my children get older. I have hope for the future. It’s great to know I’ll be around for them.”
The mutated genes in his bone marrow causing the CML have disappeared, something that Gleevec could not accomplish. He continues to get tests to monitor for the CML-causing mutation, but his bone marrow remains clear.
“My life is completely back to normal now,” he said. “I feel like I did before I got diagnosed. I can do anything I want, go skiing, ride my motorcycle, be with my family. This drug really has given me my life back. For me, it’s been a miracle.
“The work that the researchers at the Jonsson Cancer Center are doing is critical. They’re looking at different ways to attack cancer and doing cutting-edge studies to find new and more effective therapies. They’re why I’m here today. I’m living proof that cancer research can save lives.”
By Kim Irwin, 2007
|
English
|
NL
|
f59a9eac4f2bba5d8601657785946bad3076a887f77e71121a38809831c6d6cd
|
(c) Terry Floyd Johnson, 2014
This morning, 8/21/1, around 5am to 6:15 am, I slipped into a vision-memory, which I’ve never had before:
1. I felt it is time, for Hitler to make his return, or the world caught up with the Time journey Hitler and his Mistress did, to bring them into the future, when the world would once again be ready to follow a persuasive speaker and madman.
2. This was done with the help, and planning of ETs; they had come to Hitler, early in World War II, and told him the outcome, and that they would help him escape into the future, when the weaponry and the craziness would be in a much better condition, for his type of rhetoric.
3. They called this Operation Caliper, for to do this you had to have certain points in time known, and by this, they could fly in time to the general coordinates of the time period they wanted to set him up in.
4. However, this wouldn’t be as precise as if they could bring someone, who could traverse time, or not time, with specific certainty, so in January of 1945, they picked the couple, who would draw down into physical living once again, the Rakish, a being so far ahead of everyone else, what we discover, he or she, has dreamed beyond ages ago, and he/she can go forward, back, sideways, in what is looked upon as time, at will.
5. The ETs kidnapped the young couple, and got sperm from the father, and eggs from the mother, and utilized science/time, to create an egg capable of holding this being, if they could interest him/her enough, to draw him/her into the creation of life.
6. They placed the egg into a suspended halo of particles, which were not complete, for none of what they did could be complete, only the one they were trying to draw could make it whole and living.
7. They created the halo effect, where a minature doorway to all levels of being, and all levels and doorways to all living matter, was held around the egg and sper- floating in space- dormant, until needed, this is and was extremely dangerous. They next had the Nordics, aim weapons at the young couple, and be ready to destroy them, when ordered.
8. They brought into the reality of what they were creating the reality of life,and the sperm and egg were integrated, but before they could be the normal integration, vast powers came into the halo levels, and with a super energy light explosion life-cosmos was created, and the pulsation of belief came into the egg, and it went directly into the mother, transforming her and the father as it did so, so they could be around the egg, and deliver it in the normal way.
9. The young couple disappeared; the ETs were quite satisfied, when they were gone, and the mother ship exploded, and a new sun was created.
10. Over the next 9 months, the ETs picked up the young couple, monthly until the 5th month, then they did so weekly, as they drew the egg out of the mother’s body, and then the baby, who kept the womb operating, and healthy, as if it was still there. They studied this being, and utilized their Time Mechanics on it, and put into it great amounts of knowledge, etc., more or less to try to spark total access of this being’s great knowledge and powers, for they were like imbeciles to this being.
11. In the seventh month, they did the first time operation, and took the baby, into a time chamber, and took him/her, through physical changes up to the age of 100.
12. The baby, itself, made sure the experiment went well, but when they took him/her out of the chamber, the baby wiped clean the whole starship, went back into his mother’s womb, took them off the ship, and then put the starship, into a total healing and cleansing, and put the creation waves around it, transforming it into the living craft, and the sole companion of the baby.
13. The ETs kidnapped the young couple again, at the eight month, and tried to put commands into the baby, which didn’t work, then they presented to the baby the problem of specific time point travel, and the baby yawned, they went to where Hitler and his Mistress was in their hiding space, the baby transformed into a teenager, then a being of pure energy and light, and Hitler and Mistress was gone.
14. The ETs brought out the clones of Hitler and his Mistress, and spoke the command word, Hitler picked up the gun, the ETs and the teenager left, they heard the gun fire.
15. The ETs and the teenager went back to where the young couple were safe, and the teenager turned back into a baby, and went back into the womb, putting all the biologics into place, for a healthy birth. The ETs didn’t even try to return them to the Earth, the baby did that.
16. Hitler and his Mistress are now readying his rise to power once again on the planet Earth. Masses wait his rhetoric, and they will follow him once again, but his insanity has been cured, and he is knowledgeable, as is his wife. They are ready to build the 4th Reich, and bring the world into the Nazi fold.
17. Years now to 2020. Be ready to repel the evil, which is Hitler, once again.
|
English
|
NL
|
5bf64d52e1c0aad2a6d61809b0d9c6fed685b10dba46f7d9157a0470ba41f9a7
|
Following on from our last post Caii Julii Caesaris quae extant showed the wear of its travels. The stitching was tight and the pages were clean. The boards were in relatively good shape as were the marbled end-papers. But it was missing its spine and the cover had a few missing pieces.
It is always our goal to use as few invasive techniques to repair or conserve books and manuscripts. In this case the repair was to add new vellum for the spine and provide some labels. Caesar is ready for many more years of travel.
DLWA Call Number: PA6235 .A2 1744 v.2
- Title: Caii Julii Caesaris quae extant
- Author: Julius Caesar
- Language: Latin
- Setting: book history
|
English
|
NL
|
a59f754a780ac55c9ff20b8c51ce8b34ff873fe1d293dab68ecd291b0fb2245a
|
Born in Bagheria, Sicily, Antonino Sciortino began to learn the craft of a smith in his brother’s workshop being only eight years old. At the same time, he becomes very keen on dance, attending a dance school in Palermo. At the age of 18 he moves to Rome to continue his dance studies while working as a smith to make a living. He then begins his career as a dancer and choreographer committing to it for several years. In 2003 he opens a workshop in Milan starting a new artistic phase that combines his experiences growing up, seeking the typical ethereal lightness of dance in his metal works. His creations originate from the unusual use of “filo cotto”, an Italian term used for a particular type of iron which is more moldable.
|
English
|
NL
|
d69264a0816702ca83debd305476022fec79f7f72ece848d557f839d0fec3d85
|
Editor’s note: In this occasional series, the Reporter-Herald shares the stories of Loveland-area veterans of World War II. All stories are archived on reporterherald.com, in the roundup section found under the “Web extras” menu.
Walter Hayward came through the Second World War without a scratch, but he remembers when he lost part of his hearing.
His unit, the 346 Regimental Headquarters Company, 87th Infantry Division, had forged its way to the Czech border when he, as the regimental communications officer, received a radio message that one of the line companies had lost its land line.
“Land lines are important to line companies, since they cannot be intercepted as could radio.” he explained.
His crew was occupied, so he grabbed a reel and made a run to the company.
“I walked up on a small incline and was spotted by the Germans, who proceeded to fire six screaming meemies at me. I was the only GI in sight, so why they would waste that much ammo on a single individual is a puzzle.
“Meemies are noisy, and I heard them coming in time to hit the turf. One hit about 3 feet from my head and ricocheted over me to explode with the others. I was not wounded, but that is why my hearing is not good today,” he said.
Born in Las Cruces, N.M., Hayward spent most of his first 18 years in New Mexico and Arizona and finished one year of college before the family moved to a farm in southeastern Kansas, where he completed two more years of college.
“On Dec. 7, 1941, I had been working on the farm all day and was unaware of the attack on Pearl Harbor. I picked up Twila (his girlfriend at the time) that evening, and she told me what had happened,” he recalled.
Two weeks later, he drove to Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., to try to enlist in the Army Air Corps. He passed all the tests, except vision, and was rejected.
Later he was drafted and inducted into the Army at Fort Leavenworth, Kan. His basic training was completed at Camp Graber, Okla., where he was assigned to a laundry battalion.
“That was a far cry from a pilot’s seat,” he said. After basic training, he was pulled out to attend Infantry Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Ga.
“I became a 90-day wonder, shave-tail second lieutenant,” he said.
Twila joined him at Fort Benning, and they were married. From the Brooklyn Naval Yard in New York, his division, 15,000 men, set sail for England.
The men eventually crossed the English Channel to Le Havre, France, and they joined Gen. George Patton and received their first introduction to war with a mortar attack.
“It was bitterly cold with deep snow, and we were diverted to help clear the Bulge. We pressed on through Bastogne, broke through the Siegfried Line and took Koblenz Crossing, the Moselle and Rhine rivers,” he described. He was promoted to captain.
The division was at the Czech border when the war ended.
“We could hear the Russians tank commander’s radio contacts, and we had a Russian-speaking fellow with us who repeatedly tried to contact the tank commanders, but they would not answer. Several of those commanders were women — a far cry from the U.S. military in those days,” he said.
After his discharge, Hayward finished college at the engineering school at Duke University. He worked for Sears as a test and development engineer in Chicago for 10 years and later became the manager of advanced products research and development for Gates Rubber Co. in Denver, where he worked 10 years.
“My folks were living in Colorado, so we moved here with our two daughters,” he said.
After leaving Gates, Hayward was either a partner or sole owner of manufacturing companies, eventually moving to Loveland in the early 1970s. His entrepreneurial spirit and active, creative mind led to many inventions and patents.
After much prodding from his family to document his life, several years ago Walt penned what he called his memoirs. To no one’s surprise, he titled it, “It’s a Wonderful Life.”
Last January, the Haywards moved into The Hillcrest retirement community. Walt looks positively at this new phase in his life. It’s just an extension of the experience he describes as, “I’ve had a lot of fun in my life.”
SHARE YOUR STORY: Do you know a World War II veteran who should be included in this series? Send an email to email@example.com or a note to Reporter-Herald; 201 E. Fifth St.; Loveland, CO 80537.
|
English
|
NL
|
590a4f7168c4c0f802fe5b5fc1ca95321dec4fcdefd2453dfc66e6d216e7db4b
|
PFLAG is the extended family of the LGBTQ community. We're made up of LGBTQ individuals, family members and allies. Because together, we're stronger.
A native Californian, Kathy was raised in the Southern California area, graduating from UCLA in 1978, with a bachelor degree in Economics. Professionally, her career journey began in retail marketing and sales, to whole sale purchasing, and then to development and construction management. In 1990, her husband and she purchased a small business in Salt Lake City, Utah. She then became the HR and accounting manager. They sold their business in 2012 and have now returned to California to live.
She has been involved in various non-profit organizations over the years, including The University of Utah Tanner Dance Program as a board member for 8 years and chair for two years. She was involved in private school PTA programs, Catholic Community leadership, and the SLC Jewish Community Center, which included many years of fundraising and development work.
She joined PFLAG in 2005 in Salt Lake City with her husband, serving as a PFLAG Chapter president for 4 years. This lead to PFLAG National involvement as the Mountain West Regional Director for four years, and a National Board Member for four years. She currently serves as the President of PFLAG National Board of Directors and is the former PFLAG Regional Director Chair.
Kathy's PFLAG journey has given her the opportunity to collaborate with various organizations, including the Utah Pride Center, Equality Utah, Planned Parenthood of Utah, Utah Homeless youth center, and others. This work has brought her not only joy but also purpose in how she experiences and lives. She is thankful for her relationship with PFLAG.
|
English
|
NL
|
86995faea10d85a60c649abf7e227b256af9943f1f1a678337c6531521954ef8
|
The school was established as a women’s college by legislative enactment on February 18, 1891. First, it was a State Normal and Industrial School and it opened October 5, 1892. The school provided instruction in business, domestic science, and teaching with a student body of 223 and a faculty of 15 in its first year. R. S. Pullen and R. T. Gray gave the original 10-acre (40,000 m2) site in Greensboro, N.C. where the first building was erected with state funds totaling $30,000. It is the first and only public university in North Carolina founded for the purpose of educating women. In 1949, it became the largest all-female institution in the United States.
The school has seen many names over the years, changing from the “State Normal and Industrial School” to the State Normal and Industrial College in 1896.
In 1919 to North Carolina College for Women. In 1932, it changed to the Woman’s College of the University of North Carolina. Finally, in 1963 to University of North Carolina at Greensboro when men were first admitted.
It is remembered fondly by many graduates of the Woman’s College simply as “the W.C.”
The university offers more than 100 undergraduate, 61 master’s and 26 doctoral programs. The university’s academic schools and programs include the College of Arts & Sciences, the Joseph M. Bryan School of Business & Economics, the School of Education, the School of Health and Human Sciences, the Joint School of Nanoscience & Nano-engineering (one of the first such schools in the nation), the School of Music, Theatre & Dance, the School of Nursing, Continual Learning, Graduate School, Warren Ashby Residential College and Lloyd International Honors College. The university is also home to the nationally renowned Weatherspoon Art Museum, which features one of the largest and most impressive collections of modern American art in the country. Plus one of the best university in North Carolina.
Since it is rich in history, it also has their hauntings. Here are few locations on campus that you can experience paranormal activity and ghostly sightings.
In the late 1960s, the Spencer Residence Hall ghost was known simply as “The Blue Ghost” or “The Woman in Blue.” In the early 1980s, students gave her the name “Annabelle,” possibly alluding to the subject of Edgar Allan Poe’s classic poem “Annabel Lee.”
It said that , Annabelle is the spirit of a student who hanged herself many years ago in one of the building’s bell towers; The strange part is there was no suicide recorded. Who is haunted the building?
A member of the residence hall staff reported that Annabelle had “appeared as a blue shadow on two occasions in the Spencer’s main parlor and when the building was closed for the Summer in 1976, the same staff member heard the ghost “dragging something on the floor out in the lobby. ”There have been other reports of a blue haze passing by a second-floor laundry room and of objects being flung across rooms.
In South Spencer in the early 1980s, an apparition reportedly awakened two different staff member on two separate occasions by walking into their rooms. The building had been closed for vacations both times. It is not known whether this was Annabelle or another ghost or ghosts.
Mary Foust Residence Hall, build in 1928, was named for Mary Foust Armstrong, daughter of the college’s second president, Julius Isaac Foust. Mary was a member of the class of 1920, and she died when giving birth in 1925. Some believe that her ghost took up residence in the dormitory that bears her name. Students who have stayed in the dormitory have heard crying and footsteps running in the middle of the night when the students were asleep on the second floor.
There was a picture of Mary Foust portrait, which was hang above the fireplace, but it, disappear some time ago without a trace. In the 1950’s three nursing students hanged themselves from the rafters in the attic, it was impossible of how they were hanged and how did they get up there?
The Aycock Auditorium (1927), located on the corner of Spring Garden and Tate Street, the Aycock Building was built. Before that, the college bought the land and demolished a small old house that was on the property to accommodate the building. The spirit of Jane Aycock hanged herself and now she haunts the building.
In 1988, theater professor, Tom Behm was spooked when he encountered Jane. He was directed Bye, Bye Birdie, and had accidentally left his briefcase at his office in the theater. It was late when he came back to pick it up.
“It was late that night when I forgot to grade some quizzes. I was with friends early in the evening and didn’t notice the time. It was quite dark and rainy. I thought it I would pick up my briefcase. When I entered the building, it was quiet. The stage was dark. My office was across the stage, there were some lights on the side of the seats. Not that dark enough, but I could see where I was going. No one was there. I was the only one there. When I approached the middle of the stage, the stage lights came on. Then it flashes on and off for a while. Then a white kind of apparition smoke like thing passed across the stage and came down the steps and it was walking towards me. I ran quickly to my office. Opened the door. I saw my briefcase and picked it up ran across the stage. Everything was gone. Nothing was there on the stage. I ran out of the building.” Tom Behm said. Telling his story to a local newspaper reporter.
In 1995, a student spotted a very fair, white –looking woman with light colored hair walking past the window, from the outside.
In 1997, a student was in the basement of the building during the staging of a musical. He saw something white walking up the stairway into the orchestra pit. Another student who was getting props for a musical felt a hand on the shoulder. She was startled and turned around but no one was there.
In 2006, a technical crew and costume shop supervisor, they encountered stories of lights and radios coming on and flashes of light mysteriously flickering on and off. Some even hear footsteps across the stage late at night.
Better chance don’t go into the basement alone at night!
Boo! What’s that behind you!
|
English
|
NL
|
ac6b27b4a984fa736b886da29f31c5af677fc6bd81d14807f4f4d587c2c04ba3
|
Community answers are sorted based on votes. The higher the vote, the further up an answer is.
Speaking of Jesus' Second Coming, Matthew 24:36 (and Mark 13:32) tells us, "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father."When Jesus spoke th...
Unlike my theologian friends i like to keep things simple...Jesus said no longer do i call you servants but i call you friends John 15:15. i personally believe that if the Lord had of revealed to Jesus his day of return Jesus would tell it. Case and point: My best friend and I share many secrets and it is nothing that she would not disclose from me. Jesus would reveal the day and the hour of the Lords return because he is a friend.
I believe that Jesus as God the Son knew of the day but it was not permissible for him to disclose it because it would defeat God's higher purposes. This is why he gave the signs of the times of his coming and left it at that. If Jesus were to give this date you can guess how human beings would behave! True Christology affirms that Jesus never lost his divinity at any time even as he took on human flesh. He was fully Man and fully God, It would therefore be inconceivable to declare that he had no knowledge of the day and even the hour. I believe he made the declaration in humility and divine wisdom and not out of divine limitations. Jesus simply taught that humanly speaking it was impossible to know that date. Hebrew thought has this strange parallelism which communicates truths in a poetic way. Just remember that on several occasions Jesus often concealed his divinity without expressly denying it.. When the rich young ruler called him Good, notice his strange reply in Mark 10:18 "And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? There is none good but one, that is, God." Obviously Jesus acknowledged that He was God. in Matthew 26:63-64 the High Priest orders " I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God. 64 Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven." Jesus simply confirmed his divinity in a subtle way. Why would the divine Jesus not know of the date of his coming?
All the questions relating to the divinity and humanity of Jesus can only be understood by knowing what comprises "what is God". As basic as the answer is, this primordial question has not been elucidated adequately nor popularized among Christians. Indeed the Father and the Son are different as they are distinct and separate although "one". But, before answering "why" they are, we need to know "who" the God referred to by the writers of the O.T and the N.T One has to be reminded that Jesus was "slain from the foundation of the world" (Rev. 13:8). This was already a strategic plan, a covenant with the Father God for Jesus, the Logos/Creator (John 1:1-3) to come as a Messiah/ Passover Lamb and be "slain" to take onto himself the penalty for the sin of mankind for reconciliation with the Father (2Cor. 5:18; Col. 1:20). This was a covenant, not written as such, even before the covenant with Israel and alluded to in the "faith (of) Jesus". This Creator, this God (Elohim) in Gen. 1, was NOT the Father God. He was named and specifically identified as YHVH ELOHIM in Gen. 2:4. While the Father(God) created all, he did this through YHVH ELOHIM/ Logos, through Jesus (Col. 1:16; Jn. 1:3). To die for mankind means that this Creator God (YHVH) has to be incarnated as "man-Jesus", a human being. And, by so doing, he has to divest all his divine powers intrinsic to him being the "YHVH ELOHIM", the Creator, yet still God nevertheless. All his powers were given up by him voluntarily and depended on the Father to imbue him "full of spirit" at baptism in the river Jordan. By being incarnate, he voluntarily restricted his powers. This is the faith (of) Jesus in the Father to do this Spirit-infusion, after incarnation, as we are promised by Jesus that after his resurrection, the Spirit of power would be sent to us at Pentecost. This is the Spirit of power that Jesus used to overcome Satan (Matt. 4:1-11) and to do all his miracles. There was no miracle from Jesus prior to this Spirit-infusion As a human being, like any human being, he is classified as "god" (Jn. 10:34; Ps. 82;6). The English word "god" is generic, much like the Hebrew word "Elohim" and Greek word "Theos". Satan is the "god of this world" (2 Cor. 4':4) as angels and magistrates are classified as "elohim or gods". But, while "god", they are forbidden to be worshipped. This is why man-Jesus, while YHVH ELOHIM incarnate (Creator God incarnate), as a human being, did not know his "second coming", and only the Father knew. He acknowledged his limits, being man-god, in Matt. 24:36; Mk. 13:32. Now, that all powers are given to him as "Son of God", post-resurrection, he knows exactly when he will return.
When Jesus was here as the perfect, Passover lamb come to die for our sins, He was here also to correct the religion of the time. His teaching was very important to show us who Father God is. He demonstrated the importance of prayer by making constant connection with His Father asking even that the words He said would not be His but His Father's. He is God and will always be. I agree that He gave up rights to His deity while He was here as man and each day sought God the Father's will; modeling for us to use the Holy Spirit to guide us in prayer, Bible study and then what we say and do to represent Jesus throughout our day. And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father. - Colossians 3:17
It has to do with the three persons of the Godhead. In one place, John records Jesus as saying, "all that the father hath given me shall come to me..." (John 6:37). In his pre-incarnate state he knew all who would be saved. As a man, he did not have this knowledge. It is the same when he said, "But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only." As a man, he did not have this information. We can only speculate, but if he did give us the date it would have had a definite effect on life here on earth. One that the Father did not want.
The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. Psalm 110: 1 Luke 20: 42-43. God knows he will win but how long it takes depends on our reaction. Only when all his enemies are under his control will he leave his seat and return. Those who are expecting him to return and sort everything out are simply delaying everything.
I believe that there is possibly a simple yet different answer than what has previously been considered or discussed. Jesus gave them very skillfully the absolutely best and most completely correct answer if they understood and accepted that He and Father were Spiritual one. He in essence was simply stating very tactfully that it was not in God's plan for that to be revealed by Him to man at this time, but yes being one with God Jesus knew and had ability of being all knowing and all powerful to fully fulfill and reveal the perfect will of God. During this life we will probably never completely understand the full relationship of Jesus as both the Son of Man and the Son of God but only if Jesus the Son of Man had chose not to seek or have this revealed to him would He not have known.
All answers are REVIEWED and MODERATED.
Please ensure your answer MEETS all our guidelines.
A good answer provides new insight and perspective. Here are guidelines to help facilitate a meaningful learning experience for everyone.
|
English
|
NL
|
12f708fb35316506093ca9135ba9d0aa36d93f665c1218b269f00eeb00f5f5ce
|
Anthony Swanson was the youngest son of an elite line of business royalty. He and his three brothers were held to a higher standard than most children. A lot was expected of them. The Swansons were a notorious bloodline of entrepreneurs - every Swanson was expected to take over the family business or create one of their own. Because Anthony's oldest brother was in line to claim their father's oil business, he had to come up with something of his own. Of course, he had school before that. Unlike his older brothers who attended Hogwarts, Anthony chose to study abroad in France. He attended Beauxbaton and was sorted into Papillonlisse. There, he fell in love with art and immediately knew what he wanted his future business to be.
After Beauxbaton came business school where Tony worked towards starting up company that would focus on the collaborations of artists to present in art galas. This meant a machine that threw together artists from all different styles and means of creating art to collaborate on one art piece. A sculptor may work with a painter. A yarn bomber may collaborate with a cartoonist. A graffiti artist may create with a digital designer. The possibilities were endless. Through the collaborations, Tony hoped to show people that some of the greatest art came from working together. He was a dreamer. And thanks to his dedication, he was also a doer.
Swanson Art Galas began popping up all over France, then Europe, and eventually the world. Amidst his journey to create such a thing, he worked with many artists as well as their muses. One muse was a model named Adrianna. She fell in love with Tony's dream and soon with Tony himself. They were married after only a year of knowing one another. It was perfect. As Tony's business took off, so did his family. The happy couple was gifted a baby girl named Marinette, who Anthony completely fell in love with. Marinette became his whole world. She was spoiled rotten and given everything she could ever want. Mari was his Princess.
At age seven, Marinette experienced her first sign of magic. One of her aunts had broken her gaming console on accident. Little, sweet Mari would never get truly get angry at anyone. Except for on this one occasion because she was about to beat the game she's been working on for months and her drunk aunt had to go and spill her wine straight on the damn console and wreck the game and the progress saved on it and-
It was not a good time. Precious Marinette had her first full-blown tantrum. The house shook with her anger. Literally. Dishes of fine china crashed to the floor, a beautiful crystal chandelier shattered on the floor, and a book shelf fell straight onto her ditzy aunt. Oh, don't worry. She was fine. Just a bump that would heal up. Unlike the ruined video game that was gone forever. Mari is still salty.
A month or so after discovering Mari's magical abilities, Adrianna passed away unexpectedly. It hit the family hard. The once joyful and doting Tony sunk into a depression. He buried himself in his work in hopes to rekindle his happiness there. The once kind and gentle Marinette became angry and full of resentment. She was mad at the world for taking her mother away. Do people not respawn in real life? It wasn't fair. She became more bratty and violent even towards everyone around her. She didn't want anyone to get close to her for fear of them leaving her too. She didn't ever see her mother's side of the family after Adrianna was gone. It was probably for the best.
As sad as that story is - here's the real one. After Mari caused the ruckus she did with her aunt, Adrianna became appalled. Her little girl was a monster - a freak. She almost killed Adrianna's dear sister and over what? A video game? She was afraid of the powers Mari held. Then she found out Tony was one of those freaks too. It was too much. She set to divorce Anthony right away and then fled her husband and child to go back to her normal family. She broke Tony's heart. He wouldn't let her do the same to his Princess. So he lied. To them, Adrianna was dead. And that's all Mari knows.
Three years later when Anthony had pulled himself together, he married another woman named Stacy. She was one of the artists that helped at the gala in London. Tony was able to find love again, but Mari wasn't able to get another mother. Especially when she thought Stacy only wanted her Dad for his money. While Tony was much happier, Marinette grew more resentful. She didn't understand how her father could just move on to this woman after losing Mom. It wasn't right. Update: she still hates Stacy and wishes she'd take her gold-digging trashiness elsewhere.
Mari's only escape was video games. All her anger and violent tendencies could be taken out there. She could kill people and not go to jail. Not to mention, her teammates adored her. Whatever team she played on usually won. Video games became her safe haven. That's where she felt important. She felt she had a place there. She was really good at them and eventually enrolled in tournaments. She won a lot of them. Realizing she could make something from this hobby, she went on to start a Flootube channel under the name "notso_uglyduckling". She gained a following and by her fifth year at Beauxbaton, she had a whole army of "Ducklings". After graduation, she continued with her channel and competitions. Now she's a house hold name among the gamers.
Though Mari felt as though she had found her calling, Anthony still wants her to take over the Swanson Art Galas. She's his only child and wants the Swanson legacy to continue. Marinette isn't on board with that plan. She just wants to play games and make videos for her ducklings.
|
English
|
NL
|
f94ddc47e7292e3a58539329155bc684e00df2badec5316728d25798205aaac8
|
Oberon Dmitri Fox came into the world on June 10th, 2005. He was the only child of Elizabeth and Angelo Fox. Elizabeth and Angelo were Hogwarts sweethearts who fell on some hard times post-graduation. Thus, they had to delay the start of their child-rearing days, and so Oberon was an only child. It wasn't a shock to them when his first signs of magic manifested when he was six (something involving a baking incident? The memory has faded over the years) and when he started Hogwarts five years later, it was all just as planned. He was sorted into Hufflepuff, which was a bit of a surprise-- his parents had expected him to be a Gryffindor, given his boisterous and adventurous personality. While at Hogwarts, he fell in love with Herbology and Transfiguration, receiving high marks in both classes.
After graduating, Oberon worked as a bartender at The Leaky Cauldron. On the roof of his apartment, he had created a little greenhouse (with the landlord's consent). Ideally, one day he'd be able to live off of selling plants to apothecaries, and little old ladies who wanted nice plants. He tried dating a few times in his youth, but found that he wasn't interested in anything long-term... or anything remotely related to "domestic." And since he never found anyone else who wanted the same, he remained a bachelor. Due to his size, he eventually got bumped from bartender to bouncer, when it appeared that they would need one in the evenings. This lifestyle wasn't what he wanted though, and he started looking for something more... adventurous.
He found an advert in the Daily Prophet looking for adventurous herbologists interested in taming wild plants, for the purposes of conservation. It sounded right up Oberon's alley, and he signed up right away. He worked with Devil's Snare, Fanged Geraniums, and Venomous Tentaculas, to name a few. It was on August 19th, 2030, while he was working with the Venomous Tentactula, that the accident happened. Oberon always tended to push the limits further than he should have. And the plant took a good chunk out of his leg. Miles from any hospitals, and knowing that his life was on the line, Oberon used his talents in Transfiguration, and transfigured his wounded leg from a human flesh-and-bone leg into a wooden leg. It was crude, and it was a peg, but it worked to save his life. He eventually went back to the hospital, and they fixed him up with a prosthetic, which he sometimes charms to look like a peg leg just for fun. Over the last ten years he's learned to deal with the prosthetic, but it has significantly slowed him down. When he learned there was a position open to teach Herbology at Hogwarts, Oberon decided that maybe teaching the next generation to love plants might be a good respite from trying to save the nasty ones.
Oberon is adventurous, and sometimes plays fast and loose with the rules. It seemed that he should have been sorted to Gryffindor, as his bravery could be reckless at times. He always loved being outside, climbing trees and exploring. He's never backed down from a new adventure, and he's always been very welcoming. Anyone he comes across is a friend, especially if they want to join him on his new exploration. He makes fast friends, but sometimes has difficulties going deeper than surface level. He enjoys being the life of the party... but keeps his cards close to his chest.
What made him a Hufflepuff was his work ethic. When Oberon puts his mind to something, he has put his whole self into it. His to-do lists never last very long, because he's checked them off in record time. As a professor, he doesn't tolerate laziness, but always wants to foster curiosity. He believes that his workload is fair, but it could be seen as a bit demanding at times, if a student isn't as motivated about the subject. If a student isn't motivated, he'll do what he can to find what it is that they do love, so he can bring up their interest in the work. Ultimately, he just wants everyone to have a good time, but also learn something.
Oberon's time out in the jungles working with plants has worked its way into his appearance. He has longer, curly dark hair that is in different states of unruly, depending on the day. He frequently has some amount of facial hair. He wears clothes that suggest he spends a great deal of time working with plants, and dangerous ones at that (rips and tears are seen quite a bit). He has dark eyes, that always hold some element of fun. He's a big guy-- well built, tall, and he cuts and impressive figure. His face claim is Luke Arnold.
|
English
|
NL
|
29107255047cf33a797faaf169d0f7b2c7c963a1fd7d678bb1543b0b6701a986
|
“Greetings. We are the Arcturian Council. We are pleased to connect with all of you.
There has been a shift in the energy that you experience coming from your sun. You have made it to this point because of your willingness to go within yourselves and experience the light that is within you. As the light that is within you increases in intensity and magnitude, the light from the sun matches it. As you bring yourselves to a higher frequency state by focusing on the love that is within you, your sun is able to show you more of its love.
And your sun is also one of many beings that is helping you to reach higher frequency states through the energy that the sun sends. Now, how you experience this is going to be up to you. It can be very challenging for you to absorb all of the light, the love and the energy that is coming down from the sun. You can see it as a call to match that light and love by continuing to increase your own vibration, by continuing to come from your hearts and offering love and service to the collective.
Now, you also want to be very gentle with yourselves on the physical level during the time in which you feel this absorption is taking place. You certainly want to be as hydrated as you can possibly be, and that means drinking plenty of water and eating lots of fruit and vegetables. It also means allowing yourselves to take a nap, to rest, to do nothing, and certainly making time in your lives for meditation.
When you meditate, you naturally calibrate yourselves to the energies around you. It is effortless. It is something that you do without knowing that you’re doing it or how you’re doing it. The increased love and light coming down from the sun is ultimately going to result in creating a less dense physical experience for you.
Your light bodies are getting activated and so is the environment around you. The trees, the plants, the grass, the flowers, and even the rocks and dirt are getting their upgrades as well. They are becoming less dense, and they are helping you by helping to form a grid of energy around the Earth that is supportive of your journey. And of course, the animals are also helping in every possible way.
All of this is a very good sign for humanity, as your collective evolution takes yet another step forward.
We are the Arcturian Council, and we have enjoyed connecting with you.”
Channeled by Daniel Scranton
|
English
|
NL
|
1585c75e0bf8c4c8754dfb454def967ca9ed9dc31329ed4b0fb42d231d35e5eb
|
Acts 8: 26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” 27 So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means “queen of the Ethiopians”). This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, 28 and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet. 29 The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.”30 Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked.31 “How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.32 This is the passage of Scripture the eunuch was reading: “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter,and as a lamb before its shearer is silent,so he did not open his mouth.33 In his humiliation he was deprived of justice.Who can speak of his descendants?For his life was taken from the earth.” 34 The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” 35 Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.36 As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?” [37 ]38 And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing.
Acts 8:26-39 | NIV
Several years ago, our pastor gave a sermon in the above passage. The points of his message were that we are called not only to be disciples of Jesus but to make disciples of Jesus and help to explain what we know to people who don’t know… not that we are anything special by what we know, or that we know everything, but to be open to being used by God to shine His Light on a dark world.
Later that afternoon, I got a text that simply said, “you are my Phillip”
What a humbling accolade. I was awestruck that anyone could feel that way about me, and I was honored and humbled at the same time. The awesome responsibility that comes with someone looking up to you weighs heavily, as I have many, many faults and fissures. I have made plenty of mistakes in my life. I have found, though, in both parenting and mentoring, it’s best to be honest and transparent about my shortcomings which creates trust, and an element of learning together that builds relationships. It is in the muck of relationships that hearts are won or lost. I am thankful to have continued that connected relationship for we have taught each other many things over the past few years.
It is important, too, to have our own Phillip to help guide and mentor us, even as we guide and mentor others. I have a Phillip (actually several if I’m honest) and reach out to them for advice from time to time.
Who is your Phillip? If you don’t know, keep your heart and mind open for them and ask God to show you. Find a Phillip who can help you navigate life’s toughest terrains, and be willing to be a Phillips to someone who needs you.
Copyright 2019 Journey For Life all rights reserved
|
English
|
NL
|
6a11062dc112d91999fa0c296ed0b5d2fabb55fa5109689ad9f8cf2fdaeb3360
|
“Hey,” Laurel said, “I love my outfit.” She spun in a circle so they could admire her from all angles.
“You are always beautiful,” Zander said as he lifted her hand and kissed her knuckles. “If I would have met you when you looked like this, I would have been afraid to do this,” he leaned down and kissed Laurel’s berry red lips.
Aidan reached over and placed his hand under her chin turning her gently toward him. “I would never have done this.” He traced her lips with his tongue and then crushed her lips to his.
Breaking the kiss reluctantly, Aidan said, “Take our arms gorgeous, we have an incredible night planned for you, for us.” He hoped he didn’t look lecherous when he smiled, after all the first part of the night was not about sex, it was about forever.
“Oh, wow,” Laurel said. She stopped and stared at the living room, candles illuminated the room. It was even more beautiful because the burning candles were reflected in the window.
The guys walked her to the glass table they’d moved to make sort of an altar. On the table were candles of different heights and different thicknesses. In the middle of the table was a black silk pillow with three rings. Next to the pillow was a piece of paper.
“Laurel Fairweather,” Zander said solemnly, “tonight we want to join our lives with yours in a Commitment Ceremony. When we told you we loved you and wanted to spend our lives with you, you wondered how we could make this work. Aidan and I want to solidify our love and commitment to you with a ceremony and rings.”
“Laurel, babe,” Aidan added, “we know tomorrow is going to be hard for you. We don’t want you to be afraid of our unique relationship. We want to go with you tomorrow, to your sisters, in a committed relationship. And, when tomorrow is over we want you to come home with us, forever.”
Laurel couldn’t speak. As crazy as this was, the three of them were going to commit to this relationship and all of the challenges it would bring. Laurel nodded in agreement. “I want that, too,” she said softly. “As much as I love my sisters, I was dreading tomorrow. I actually wished for a blizzard so I could stay here, with you.”
“Okay, then,” Zander said in a rush, he didn’t want her to change her mind. “We found a script for a commitment ceremony online. It was actually for same-sex couples, but the words were perfect for us.”
“We don’t have anyone to officiate so we modified the script so it could be done in first person,” Aidan added. “Oh, and we have cameras set up to video tape. We know you probably wish your mom and sisters were here, but…”
Laurel cut him off, “They would have thought this was crazy. I was crazy. Once they get used to the idea that three of us are together, together, they’ll want to see the video. Thank you.”
Zander and Aidan placed Laurel between them. Zander put his right hand face up in the center of their small circle. “Laurel put your hand in mine, palm down.” Laurel placed her small hand into Zander’s. Aidan placed his hand on top of Laurel’s squeezing her hand in his. Then he placed his other hand on top, palm up. Laurel placed her hand in his. Zander covered her hand with his.
“Tonight,” Zander said, “we have come to celebrate our spiritual union. The union of Alexander Miller to Laurel Fairweather and Aidan Miller to Laurel Fairweather.”
Zander leaned in and whispered, “You’re going to have to suck me dry after this. I don’t do interviews.” He slid his hand under the bottom of the shirt and started caressing her thigh.
Aidan turned his head and said, “Let’s see, I think I want to come between your luscious tits. I bet you could suck on Z’s cock and let me fuck your tits simultaneously.”
“I can see your nipples getting stiff under your shirt, that is so hot,” Zander said as he moved his hand further up Laurel’s thigh. He stopped his hand a few inches from his target and caressed her inner thigh in earnest, “Do you really like having our come on your thighs and in your tight little curls,” Zander asked as he gently tugged on the curls surrounding her vagina. Her squirming indicated his strategy was driving her crazy.
“Okay,” Susan said, “we’re ready.”
“She has no idea how ready I am,” Zander said as he ran his finger between Laurel’s nether lips.
“Good evening ladies and gentleman,” the commentator said. “Tonight on Daily Business Journal we have the opportunity to interview three of our countries technology elite, Laurel Fairweather, Aidan Mille and Zander Miller. Welcome to the show.”
“Thank you for the warm welcome and inviting us to your show,” Laurel said as she tried not to react to Zander’s hand as he touched the curls at the juncture of her thighs. “After Antonio DeMarco’s comments on the noon show, it was important for our investors to know that all of the Fairweather women are alive and well. Mr. DeMarco is not in charge of the company. The company is still fully controlled by the Fairweather family.”
“As an added bonus, the company’s online security is in the best hands possible. Our online security is monitored by the men of the A to Z Computer Security, Aidan and Zander Miller.”
Zander spoke, “At A to Z Computer Security our sole purpose is to ensure our customer’s technological security is secure. We care deeply about the needs of our clients.” He thrust a finger into Laurel’s wet pussy when he emphasized the word deeply.
“As Zander stated, we want our customers to be satisfied with all of the services we can deliver,” Aidan’s hand was drifting up her other leg aiming for the same target Zander was caressing. “We’re providing Ms. Fairweather personal service in order for Fairweather Cosmetics to remain highly competitive in today’s tight market.” Aidan slid a finger into Laurel’s tight pussy.
“Laurel,” the announcer asked, “why did your stepfather make the announcement that all of you were missing?”
“I honestly don’t know why Mr. DeMarco came on your show. Daily Business Journal is renowned for its fair and accurate coverage of business news and market trends. I was shocked to see Mr. DeMarco on your show discussing my family’s company.” Laurel paused and smiled. “A simple phone call to any of the Fairweathers would have clarified the situation.”
Laurel paused again, “I can’t thank you enough for allowing me to be on the show to share the true status of Fairweather Cosmetics.”
Laurel smiled into the camera on her laptop. She was concentrating on not looking down at what was happening under her shirt-dress. The guys had each secured one of her legs under their legs spreading her legs wide, as she spoke they were tracing around her clit with their fingers and finger fucking her. She was also concentrating on avoiding an orgasm on national television.
“I hope you will continue to support Fairweather Cosmetics. Holly’s creating an incredible new product line that is going to disrupt the industry. As you know, at Fairweather we believe in disruptive innovation.”
“Thanks for being on the show tonight, it’s a rare treat indeed to have three of businesses most elusive players on our show at the same time. Have a great night. Laurel, we are glad to know the Fairweather women are doing fine and the control of the company remains in your capable hands. We look forward to your next disruptive innovation. Zander and Aidan, as always, it’s great to see you guys. Thanks again.”
Laurel smiled and leaned over to turn off the screen. She probably gave America an incredible view of her cleavage. With any luck it’ll increase the ratings for the Daily Business Journal she thought.
The screen went blank.
Zander couldn’t wait. He grabbed Laurel by her hair and turned her to have access to her lips. When their lips made contact he slowly licked the seam of her lips coaxing her to open her mouth for his tongue. Laurel opened her mouth and thrust her tongue into Zander’s. Zander held her head securely as he deepened the kiss.
“Laurel,” Aidan said as he gently positioned her body, “it made me so hard, sliding my fingers into your wet pussy while being broadcast live on national television. Of course, none of the viewers knew what was happening, but I did.” Aidan pulled Laurel’s legs off the edge of the sofa. She was standing over the couch leaning over Zander. Aidan rubbed his finger along the slit of her pussy while he undid the zipper on his jeans.
Zander moved back on the couch so he was leaning against the pillow, he moved while continuing to kiss Laurel. Laurel balanced one arm on Zander’s shoulder while she reached down and unbuckled his belt, unbuttoned his jeans and pulled down his zipper. His cock sprang free into Laurel’s waiting hand. Zander didn’t want to stop kissing Laurel, but he knew she was going to put her hot, wet mouth on his dick.
Laurel whispered, “I believe your request was for me to suck you dry.” She leaned over and licked his cock from base to tip. She dabbed the tip of his cock and licked off the pre-cum.
“Damn, babe,” Zander moaned, “that feels so good.”
Aidan hung on to Laurel’s hips, “Are you ready, beautiful?” he asked.
Laurel pushed her hips back toward his waiting cock, “I’ll take that as a yes.” Aidan kind of laughed as he thrust into Laurel’s pussy. “Ahh,” he moaned as he felt her tighten around him.” Aidan watched Laurel sucking Zander. It was so hot.
“Are you ready for it?” Zander moaned as he held Laurel’s head.
|
English
|
NL
|
d6d502dfc293b52e2a5c9d7d9ab415be6ce74daa7c97418a021df9af33f36282
|
Biographical / Historical
Robert Sage was born in 1946 at Dallas, Texas. In 1967, he volunteered for service in the U.S. Army. Sage spent two years in Southeast Asia, stationed at Dong Tam and Tan An with A Company 15th Engineers (Combat) from 1968-1969, and 571 Combat Engineers 3/9th Infantry from 1969-1970. Sage was a Combat Engineer. He held the ranks from PFC to Sergeant during his Vietnam service. He received the Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and 'V' Device, as well as a Purple Heart for service in Vietnam. Sage was discharged from the Army in 1970, but joined the Texas National Guard, and retired from that service in 1994 with the rank of Master Sergeant E-8. He worked for the United States Postal Service after his military service, and is retired.
|
English
|
NL
|
7daa31fd2af3275896f3c13326967184eb0fd384ba9e0e4a6a700f95cccad8a5
|
1207 it was divided between four Italian adventurers; after forming part of the duchy of Naxos in 1537, it passed under Turkish rule in 1566.
The public credit was pledged at home and abroad to fill the pockets of the adventurers, and the wildest excesses were committed under the guise of administrative acts.
He also defended the rights of the commoners of Ely threatened by the "adventurers" who had drained the Great Level, and he was nicknamed afterwards by a royalist newspaper "Lord of the Fens."
The Portuguese were expelled by Fasilidas, but his castle was built, by Indian workmen, under the superintendence of Abyssinians who had learned something of architecture from the Portuguese adventurers, helped possibly by Portuguese still in the country.
Some Norman adventurers, on pilgrimage to St Michaels shrine on Monte Gargano, lent their swords in 1017 to the Lombard cities of Apulia against the Greeks.
|
English
|
NL
|
1e536b1f5c8e8267b34c270e1b46317f4ed69801aa83baca2a93934e3ced33b9
|
1890 – 1969 (August 2)
Patrick J. Campbell, son of Patrick Campbell and Katherine Heney, was born in South Philadelphia on December 13, 1890. Among his siblings were three sisters who became members of the Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Patrick received his early education in South Philadelphia’s Sacred Heart Parochial School and Roman Catholic High School. After obtaining his bachelor degree at Saint Joseph's College, he was received into the Order June 22, 1911, professed simple vows on June 22, 1912, and solemn vows on June 25, 1915. In September 1912 he was sent to Rome, but because of World War I he returned to the States to finish his theological education. He was ordained on May 17, 1916, in Philadlephia’s Cathedral by Archbishop Edmond Prendergast.
Father Campbell’s first assignment was to Villanova where he taught Latin and Ethics. For the next 52 years he was engaged in parochial work. In 1932 he was elected a Definitor of the Province. From 1935 to 1965 Father Campbell was prior and pastor of the following parishes: Saint Mary's, Lawrence, Massachusetts; Saint Augustine's, Tower Hill, Massachusetts; Saint Paul's, Mechanicville, New York; Saint Augustine's, Andover, Massachusetts and Our Lady of Good Counsel, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. In 1962 he was appointed prior of the community at Saint Rita's, Philadelphia. He went into retirement in 1965 because of ill health.
Father Campbell died after a long illness on Saturday, August 2, 1969 in Saint Agnes' Hospital, Philadelphia. He is was buried in the Community Cemetery adjoining Saint Mary's Hall, Villanova. Later, his body was moved to the Augustinian Plot of Calvary Cemetery, West Conshohocken, Pa.
|
English
|
NL
|
7b1e37149a4aa706d5d4da10b60ee2bb3400242dabb739b415d567cf6bea5fa1
|
NO. 17677 • 21 December 1927 – 29 October 1951
Killed in Action October 29, 1951 in Korea, aged 23 Years.
The tense, anxious days of waiting for Bud's next letter were over. The dreadful message came twenty four days from the date he had last written, October 17th.
Bud had been so faithful writing to us every week since his arrival in Korea, the first week of June 1951. He had written three or four letters each week. He treated the dangers of his being a forward observer very casually, and stressed the amusing little incidents that occurred among the men, and the beauty of a Korean sunset. . . Our local newspaper carried his picture with an account of his life and activities at school, on Monday, November 12. Then on Thursday, December 13, the following appeared in the newspaper: "Lt. W. T. Bonfoey Rites Tuesday. Memorial services for First Lt. Warner T. Bonfoey, Jr., 23, killed in action in Korea October 29th will be at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday in the House of Hope Presbyterian Church, Summit and Avon.
"Born December 21, 1927 in St. Louis, Lt. Bonfoey came to St. Paul as a child with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Warner T. Bonfoey, 2146 Sargent Avenue. He was the only child. Lt. Bonfoey was graduuted from St. Paul Academy in 1946. He played on the academy football, hockey and baseball teams. He entered West Point, played hockey for four years, received three letters on the varsity squad, and stood above average in scholastic work. He was graduated with a bachelor of science degree. Assigned to Fort Bliss, Texas, he was ordered to Korea in April 1951, and was assigned to the First Cavalry Division, 61st Field Artillery Battalion as forward observer and for patrol work with the Infantry. He also had duty with the Republic of Korea troops and a company of U.S. armored tanks. He was wounded by an enemy grenade while on outpost duty for his own battalion and died before aid could reach him."
Bud's childhood was an unusually happy one. Our home movies show a lively, joyous little golden haired boy with laughing blue eyes. He was so loved - the joy and delight not only of his parents but of his grandparents, who adored him.
Of the many, many letters of tribute to Bud, the following seem to express the overwhelming grief and shock his loss meant. . .
"Of all the boys that I have had in the last forty-five years, Bud was one of the very rarest. His young friends and all of us older people felt just the same way about him - we loved him. It seemed as if when he was around, the sun was shining."
-John de Quedville Briggs, Rtd. Headmaster, St. Paul Academy.
"On Monday I announced it to the school as best I could, telling them that the flag would fly at half-mast In Bud's memory. The burden of my brief remarks was that Bud was one of the finest boys ever to graduate from this school - or any school. If there is any comfort to be had, perhaps it comes from our good fortune in havlng known and lived with, however briefly, a boy of Bud’s disposition and calibre. Certainly the Academy is a better school for his having been here."
-Edward M. Read, Headmaster, St. Paul Academy.
"My heart is at half-mast, just like the flag at the Academy. You have lost your dearest hope. We have lost the boy of whom we have been most proud for all those qualities that make a charming boy, a young man of true nobility.
Wherever the boys today and tomorrow are trying to do their best in all humility, with an untaltering step in spite of trials and difficulties, the spirit of Bud Bonfoey will be walking right along beside them to cheer them on and lend a helping hand."
-Bob Blampied, Master of French, St. Paul Academy.
The following appeared in the December issue of the St. Paul Academy paper, the Now and Then:
"Warner T. Bonfoey, Jr.
'Buddy' Bonfoey came up through the Junior School, graduated with the versatile and talented Class of 1946, and entered West Point. He graduated from the Military Academy in 1950, a Second Lieutenant, and was promoted to First Lieutenant this fall. The shocking news has come to us that he was killed in action in Korea on October 29th.
"In the Academy, Buddy made a fine scholastic record, and played on all three major teams; he played Plebe and Varsity Hockey at West Point. But it was neither his high scholarship nor his athletic prowess that made him one of the best loved boys ever to attend the Academy. When he was in the Prep Form, one of his small classmates was heard to remark that Buddy 'had the best disposition of anyone in the class'. He might truthfully have said 'anyone in the world'. He took everything in stride, unperturbed, with a smile. and did his job, as he must have done it to the end. When I visited him at West Point, on a miserable, cold, dark winter day, most of the cadets there looked strained, unhappy and depressed, When Buddy appeared to have dinner with me at the Hotel Thayer, it was as if the sun had burst through the clouds. Just to know him made the grim world a happier place. That combination of strength with sweetness and gentleness is a rare and precious thing.
"The English poet Henry Newbolt, in a poem 'Clifton Chapel', refers to a memorial tablet on the chapel wall, in that old English school:
"'Qui procul hine' the legend's writ- The frontier grave is far away
"Qui ante diem perlit: Sed miles, sed pro Patria"
'Who died In a far off land, before his time, but as a soldier should, in the service of his Country.' No brass tablet Is needed to keep alive the memory of Buddy Bonfoey. He will live and be loved forever in the hearts of those whose lives he touched."
-John de Quedville Briggs.
There has been a scholarship set up at the St. Paul Academy in memory of Bud, and an Inter-city Hockey trophy, called "The Bonfoey Hockey Trophy".
From the boys he had grown up with:
"I cannot express to you how I share your grief. Bud was such a grand friend and such a wonderful boy, and I always admired him to the utmost. His loss is a shock that will stay with me as long as I live."
"It was with a great feeling of shock that I just heard of the loss of Buddy. He had always been one of the best friends that I ever made at school and on all counts was certainly one of the finest and most respected boys that St. Paul Academy ever turned out. You can take great pride In Buddy's entire life, as I and his friends can feel proud that we just knew such an outstanding person."
"The news about Bud left me with a feeling I shall never forget. It’s still difficult for me to believe that it's all actually true.
"Bud was one of the finest men I have ever known. We spent some wonderful times together; from guarding the defensive left flank of the Academy (St. Paul) team to double dating on Saturday nights. I shall always consider him among the very best of my friends. He was liked by everyone. Bud was just that kind of a guy. His pleasant personality, his good natured disposition, his conscientious way of accomplishing every task, are just a few of the many qualities about him which appealed to everyone with whom he came in contact. His memory will dwell in all of our hearts forever."
From West Point classmates:
"Most of my contacts with Bud were with the hockey team. I shall never forget them. The assist he made in scoring the winning goal over Yale in 1948-49, the winning goal over Royal Military College in '49. Every now and then he would stop in the room for hockey business or to see Mike. Believe me, it was fun, every minute of it. It was a pleasure to have known Bud. We shall all miss him very much."
-(Lt.) Richard Trefry.
"I was very close to Bud from the time we both reported for duty at Ft. Bliss in August 1950 until April 1951 when he left for Korea. We were roommates from the time Tony (Lt.) de Jenuary married until April when Bud left. I realize that nothing I can say will help to ease your grief of losing him. Bud was undoubtedly the most clean-cut boy I've ever known in my life and as devoted a friend as anyone could ask for. His whole outlook on life was so wholesome, and he saw so little evil in both people and environment around him, that I often felt that I and others were cheating ourselves inasmuch as we couldn't appreciate life as completely as he did. So I hope and pray that, despite the fact that his life was cut so short, he gained something from life that I shall never be able to gain as long as I may live.
"If I told you I felt some of your grief, it would probably sound like a meaningless platitude, but I can assure you I feel his death deeply. I only wish I could make you understand how much he was loved by all who came in contact with him."
- (Lt.) Bill Jones. (Lt. Jones (Wm. R. D.) was Bud's Military Escort when Bud was laid to rest at West Point.)
"It was a great shock to me to read in the Army-Navy Journal of Bud’s death. Although my association with Bud lasted only a few months, we were very close friends and I was anxiously looking forward to the day when I might be stationed with him again.
"Bud, with his happy outlook on life, was the type who made friends easily and then kept them due to his cheerful spirit, kindness, unselfishness and other desirable traits of character. It is these things and many other attributes that are hard to describe which cause myself and his other associates to feel that we have lost a fine friend.
"While my connections with Bud have always been on an off-duty status, I do know that he established an outstanding record as an officer at Fort Bliss and that, although only a second lieutenant, was highly respected by the other officers and men of his battalion. With Bud's courage and devotion to duty I am confident that his superior record was continued in Korea. He definitely had a promising career ahead of him, and the Army has suffered an irreplaceable loss.
"It seems such a short time ago that I received a letter from Bud saying that he had received his overseas orders that very day. It is hard to believe that he is gone. Knowing how much Bud thought of his parents, I know that his loss is quite a blow to you. Yet I do want you to know that your loss is shared by many people upon whom Bud made a lasting Impression."
-Richard C. Tuck (Capt.), U.S.M.A. '46
"I enjoyed so much my last visit with Bud at El Paso. I shall always remember the sparkle in his bright eyes, his winning smile and the feeling I had while I was with him and since, that here was a young man destined for great things if he could be spared the scars of war. I am sure I knew Bud much better than he realized. I was deeply interested in him and his future. I admired his intellect, his courage and his manliness. I have often thought how happy I would have been had I the good fortune to have had a son like your Bud.
I know how proud both of you have been of him, and with such right to have been proud. He has now given his life on the battlefield for us all. May I be so bold to hope that in the knowledge that you have of his devotion to his country in making the supreme sacrifice, will in some measure allay your grief on his passing."
-James E. Kelley.
The usual letters of sympathy came from the General, and Bud's Commanding Officer;
"I cannot begin to tell you how deeply sorry I am to hear of Bud's death. It was a shock to me, as well as to my classmates. General Ridgway has asked me to convey to you as much information as I can concerning Bud.
"Here is the exact account of Bud's death extracted from the Adjutant General Casualty Branch here In Tokyo, Japan, as received from Bud's outfit:
"Bud was forward observer on hill of unnown number near Yanjimal, when an incoming rifle grenade landed ten feet from Bud; flying shrapnel hit him in the lower legs, and from loss of blood and shock Bud died.
"I believe Bud was the most congenial, affable person I have ever come in contact with. Never once did Bud pass a disparagIng remark to or of anyone. I know that consolation or sympathy could never bring Bud back, but I do want you to know that I thought a great deal of him."
-Arnold A. Galiffa (1st Lt.)
From Walter Reed Hospital, Washington, D. C., came the following:
"I learned a few days ago, of the loss of your son. It came as a terrible shock. Bud and I met that first day of July, 1946, as we were about the same height. We were close friends for the following four years. This past October we met unexpectedly in Korea. Our forward observer had broken down with battlefield fatigue. Bud had volunteered to take his place. He joined us one evening and aided us considerably in saving another company and a part of our company with covering artillery fire. This job was typical of Bud’s fine work while he worked with my company.
"On October l7th I was hit, with our objective in sight. I was happy to think that Bud had come through all right. He had the respect of all of us who worked with him. Then I read the bad news in Assembly.
"I saw your son when the going was tough - and he had in his constitution what you will find in the makings of a fine officer and gentleman. I know I speak for all his classmates when I say we are proud to have known him."
-Joseph T. Griffin, Jr. (Lt.).
A letter from young Sgt. Steve Kolstad, who was constantly and closely associated with Bud during June through part of October, on observation duty, states; "I have recelved a letter from Paul Welsh (radio operator on duty near the front the day Bud was killed). As you can see Bud was liked by everyone. I am proud to say that I served with him in Korea".
At the Memorial Service, our minister. Dr. Irving West, spoke simply and factually of Bud's life.
"Bud was one of the first acolytes of this church. He was always the finest example of young Christian manhood in the life of the church and community. Bud graduated from the St. Paul Academy in 1946, then he went into West Point, where he received his commission in 1950. Always his Christian faith shone from his life. This was very evident during his service in the Armed Forces. Words, always so feeble at best, can never convey the grace and strength and beauty of his life. Like Cyrano de Bergerac, he has crossed over with his 'white plume unsullied'.
"'Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."'
A few days after the bright cold day of the Memorial Service, came the following:
"I can think of no surer evidence that no life is incomplete than that great church filled with people who came - both to share your sorrow and to show reverence to the glory of your son's sacrifice. So I shall never again hear 'Glory, Glory, Hallelujiah' that I do not think of that beautiful boy of yours and be grateful to him."
-Elizabeth Kennedy (Mrs. Walter) and Walter Kennedy.
On Monday morning, March third, Bud was laid to rest In the cemetery at West Point. Chaplain Pulley read the simple sermon, as cadets from Bud's Company L-2 acted as guards of honor, and Lt. Wm. R. D. Jones was present as Bud's Military Escort. The dark gray day and the sad tones of the muffled drums seemed to reflect the deep grief In our hearts.
We are thankful to have had Bud with us for the twenty-three years, and we shall think of him as just "being away."
- His Parents
|
English
|
NL
|
782cd2e28b2ae497da70e1765eb629b6eb1322e36ed6b3d72e5d83bb8be0cff0
|
Based on a controversial-in-1851 novel which was apparently filmed before in 1975, though IMDB has little to say about that version. Opens in 1835 Paris, great viscount Michael Lonsdale is visiting sex queen Senora Vellini (Asia Argento playing Spanish, the best work I’ve seen from her) when he spies young Ryno de Marigny. Ryno (a large-lipped newcomer) has been seeing her for many years, but swears this was the last time, on the eve of his marriage to lovely, upright Hermangarde (Roxane Mesquida, older sister of the Fat Girl, lately in Rubber and Kaboom).
Ryno moves in with his wife, her gramma and gramma’s friend Yolande Moreau (of Amelie and Micmacs) and all is well. But Hermangarde doesn’t know the depths of her hubby’s relationship with Vellini. They were extremely in love/lust, ran away to Algeria and had a daughter together who died from a scorpion sting (shot in a very classy way, painful without being graphic), and since then they’ve had an obsessive love/hate thing. So after Ryno moves his family to the distant seaside, Vellini shows up and eventually wins him back. Lonsdale gets the final word.
|
English
|
NL
|
f8e21fabb759fe8e1cc9314cf2e6fb0b38f00f171108d769ac701dd8df84a0e2
|
Ten years later
“You did this?!” I screamed as the culprit giggled in my arms.
“Momma, stop.” She laughed.
“Not until you tell me that you did this.” I I told her tickling her as a smile crept on my face.
“No, no. Daddy did it.”
I stopped ticking my daughter and she smiled up at me. “Honey, you know daddy’s not here.” I told her quietly as my vision clouded with tears. I missed him so much, its been six months since he got deployed.
“But he did.” She said calmly.
I looked at the mess of flour that covered the floor in the kitchen where I found Megan playing moments before.
“Rose!” I called.
“Yeah? Oh my God.” She laughed as she looked up from her phone.
“I thought you were watching her?” I asked scolding my sister.
“I was but then...” she trailed off as her phone rang, she looked down at it and smiled, “I have to take this.”
“No. Rose why weren’t you watching her? I trusted you, Rose? Who are you talking too?” I asked annoyed as she talked to the person on the phone.
“Yeah, alright. Yes. I wasn’t going to tell her. Yeah I know. I can try. Yeah sure.” she laughed looking at me.
“Get off the phone I was talking to you.” I told her.
“Alright I have to go my sisters pissed.” She told them smiling, “Tell me about it, See yeah.”
“Who was that?”
“Don’t worry about it Val, look I’m sorry I left her with Aden so...”
“Aden!” I yelled through the house and he ran into the room looking over all of us to check if we were hurt.
“What? Are you guys okay?” He asked quickly and Megan giggled snuggling into my neck.
“Were you watching her?” I asked annoyed and furious.
“What? No Rose was..” He began looking around, “What happened in here?”
“So if you weren’t watching her, and you weren’t then who was? And who made this mess?”
“Daddy!” Megan screamed pointing behind me. I saw Aden and Rosie smirked behind me as I turned around as fast as possible.
“Avery.” I whispered. He looked unbelievable in his uniform standing in the doorway as calm as could be.
“Sorry about the mess baby.” He smiled not breaking eye contact with me. I set Megan down and she giggled, as soon as she was safely on the ground I ran to him.
Tears ran down my face as I felt his arms around me, “I missed you.”
“Not as much as I missed you.” He assured me.
I laughed as I snuggled deeper into his chest, “You alright?” He asked pulling away rubbing my swollen belly.
I laughed wiping my tears away, “I’m fine now and he missed you.”
“Did you miss your daddy?” He asked my belly and the baby turned in my stomach at his voice.
“I’m so glad you’re here.” I told him as looked into my eyes again.
“I’m glad I didn’t miss it.” He smiled pressing his lips to mine.
“Ahh! Scarred for life!” Rosie screamed.
“Ew, get a room.” Aden groaned.
“Mommy, Daddy’s eating you!” Megan cried.
We pulled away laughing as we looked at our daughter who was in Aden’s arms. I’m so glad that she and my unborn son will grow up with so much family who loves them.
Its weird how the most horrible event of your life could lead to something as great as this.
Thanks so much for reading this it means SO much to me! :)
|
English
|
NL
|
152a2ef913428ffedc536f13359128d7a9a70928ec01e4ae76a863ab3113c109
|
At the National Archives, located at Kew in London, there are a number of documents relating to Scarborough Aquarium, the palatial underground complex designed by Eugenius Birch which opened in 1877 underneath the Cliff Bridge. The structure was destroyed in the 1960s to make way for the underground car park that stands on the site today. Nonetheless, stories about it are the stuff of local legend, and the attraction lived a second life as Gala Land from the mid 1920s until 1966. Tales of its impressive interiors and bizarre features beg the question: whose idea was it?
The material at the National Archives consists mainly of dull contractual documents and legal jargon; a series of folders testify a succession of failed business plans, and multiple attempts to resurrect what was ultimately a perpetually struggling attraction. Even as far back as 1871, there was apparently great optimism regarding the prospect of an aquarium in Scarborough, evidenced by the establishment of the Scarborough Sub Tramway Aquarium & Improvement Company Ltd.
This company did not actually build the aquarium, but a sea life attraction was possibly part of its future plans. Furthermore, due to the lack of details within the company documents, it has been impossible to establish whether or not this title refers to the Scarborough Aquarium that Stories From Scarborough is investigating. Perhaps there was another aquarium?
Above: Ramsdale Valley would soon see the introduction of an aquarium beneath its pathways (source)
The Scarborough Sub Tramway Aquarium & Improvement Company Ltd, consisted of a small team of local investors, including William Rooke (a doctor of medicine), James Kirby (a lumber merchant) and William Harris (another merchant). Also in their number was a Mr John Leckenby, who, unlike his fellow shareholders, decided to join forces with yet another fledgeling company. The Marine Aquarium Company Scarborough Limited was larger, seemingly better funded, and its supporters came from across the UK. It was with this company that Leckenby and his new colleagues founded the Scarborough Aquarium.
Above: Papers relating to the Marine Aquarium Company Scarborough Limited (source)
Mr Leckenby, a bank manager and keen fossil collector, was born in 1814. He originally resided in Ripon, but a job with the York City and County Bank brought him to Scarborough in 1837, where he quickly became one of Yorkshire’s most prolific collectors of natural history specimens. These included a large collection of shells, and his carefully selected fossils were later exhibited in Cambridge. Leckenby contributed to various journals, evidently wishing to share his passion for geology and natural history, and it seems like that his involvement with the various aquarium groups was part of this. Sadly, he died in 1877 after a short illness (you can read his obituary here), so was unable to see the aquarium dream fully realised.
Above: Inside the Woodwardian (now Sedgwick) Museum in Cambridge, where Leckenby’s samples were displayed (source)
The Marine Aquarium Company Scarborough Ltd, was first registered in 1874, under the watchful eyes of two solicitors’ firms: Moody, Turnbull & Graham (Scarborough) and Peake, England & Snow (Sleaford). The company address was given as 73 Thomas Street, Scarborough, where Moody, Turnbull & Graham had their offices, and by this point John Leckenby, at sixty years old, was described in the documents as a gentleman out of business. His fellow shareholders, on the other hand, were apparently thriving in their chosen fields.
Above: The signatures of the shareholders (source)
William Locke, for instance, was a colliery owner – alongside business partner John Warrington, he had opened St. John’s Colliery in Newland (near Wakefield, Yorkshire) only years earlier in 1870, and owned nearby Newland Hall. Like Locke, Warrington was also on the board of shareholders for the new aquarium company.
Above: Newland Hall in 1900 – the 54 roomed property once owned by Locke and Warrington (source)
Charles Kirk, on the other hand, was an architect – he ran a successful family firm based in Sleaford, Lincolnshire. His family, originally from Leicestershire, had long been associated with the building trade – father William was a surveyor and monumental mason, whereas Charles’ own son, also named Charles, later took over the family firm and was also on the list of Aquarium backers. This might also explain why Sleaford solicitors were involved with the company.
Above: Sleaford is a market town in Lincolnshire, where Charles Kirk was based (source)
Kirk first came to Sleaford on a commission during the 1820s, staying to design many of its buildings, which are now Grade II listed. These include Carre’s Grammar School in Tudor Gothic style (1834) and Westholme, a large house in Chateau Gothic style (1849). He also designed Boston Sessions House, now a Grade II listed building.
Above: Boston Sessions House, one of Kirk’s designs (source)
So how did Charles Kirk become involved with Scarborough Aquarium? It seems likely that his firm may have helped with the building of the attraction, especially given his son’s involvement, although by the 1870s Charles would have been an old man. Interestingly enough a Charles Kirk is listed as the promoter of Scarborough Aquarium and Theatre Company (one of many later reincarnations of the aquarium’s governing body) when this organisation was liquidated in 1886. More likely son than father, although both the Kirks seemingly made an incredible investment in the aquarium.
Another dedicated member of the board was Walter Marr Brydone. Like aquarium designer Eugenius Birch, he is listed as a civil engineer in the 1874 documents.
Above: Part of the company agreement (source)
Brydone was Chief Engineer for the Great Northern Railway between 1855 and 1861, and during his career designed and patented a number of signalling systems. During the early years of the Scarborough Aquarium, he was listed as a gentleman who lived in London. His father James was a Scottish surgeon who rose to fame whilst serving at the Battle of Trafalger. He was reportedly the first to sight the Franco-Spanish fleet without any visual aids – the transmission of this information to the HMS Victory was crucial to Britain’s success.
Although Walter did not follow in his father’s footsteps, his achievements in civil engineering were much celebrated, and coincidentally, he also lived in Lincolnshire, although resided in Boston, rather than Kirk’s Sleaford. It seems more than likely that the two men were well acquainted, but still the question remains: why did two successful professionals from Lincolnshire decide to put their money behind an aquarium in Scarborough?
Above: Boston, Lincolnshire – Walter Marr Brydone’s home town (source)
Eugenius Birch, the final board member. was a Londoner and also a legendary seaside architect. His talents were put to good use in places such as Margate, Brighton and Blackpool, and his aquarium involvement came after the architect turned his attention away from railways, bridges and viaducts to piers and the British seaside from the 1850s onwards. Perhaps it was Birch who knew Brydone or Kirk, or both – after all, these men were involved in similar industries. Either way, most of the shareholders were entering their later years, and none lived to witness the slow demise of their aquarium dream. Most likely they would have been relieved to see it rescued and revived by the Scarborough Corporation in the 1920s, but would arguably be horrified to see the dismal car park that took its place in the later 1960s.
Above: Eugenius Birch designed many beautiful structures, such as this pier in Eastbourne (source)
As for the aquarium idea – this seemed inevitable. The 1871 venture evidenced an early appetite for such an attraction, as did Victorian obsession with collecting things, whether that be fossils or real life sea creatures and plants. Combined with the boom of the British seaside holiday and the building of aquariums elsewhere, the possibility of this attraction presented an appealing challenge for a select group of engineers, architects and moneyed men.
Later a number of interesting characters would join their ranks in a bid to save the struggling company, but that’s a story for another post.
Most of the above information was derived from files held at the National Archives in London.
Other sources include:
|
English
|
NL
|
f28ff14c47b9cd196af1c77c4358aaba4c3972e89fc2cd0a215d40e6234301bb
|
“Every minute, 100 people’s soul will go down to hell in China. Is there something that we can do to help them?” are the words that Francisco Borboa heard from an missionary. The start of a difficult decision between going to medical school and become a doctor or be a missionary to save souls in China.
Born in the year 1923 at California, USA; His father moved the whole family back to Mexico after the death of his mother at the age of 6. Francisco Borboa was an intelligent kid and the choice of being an doctor or missionary was the start of his journey.
Borboa told God his path would be based on whether the girl he had a crush on would reciprocate the same feeling; and though he was rejected, Borboa was at peace knowing his path was the one God set for him to become His worker.
When his father found out that Borboa hid the fact that he actually went to become a novitiate at The Society of Jesus (the Jesuits), he was furious. Borboa’s father gathered some friends and some guns; and headed to the Jesuits to “save” Borboa.
Through the long, exhausted 3 day train ride; Borboa’s father anger lessened. After talking with each other, his father gave his blessing and left the Jesuits at peace.
Francisco Borboa studied Architecture and Civil Engineering as his talent and he never knew how it could change the steps of his path.
In the start of the year 1948; Borboa successfully became a missionary in China and thus begun his journey in Asia.
The Shanghai that he saw wasn’t of a poor situation that the missionary had mentioned to his class. Even so, Borboa knew that he had a greater purpose in China.
At the same time, he quickly adapted to the Eastern culture and beauty and was willing to learn.
Francisco Borboa was sent to Beijing to learn the Chinese language and calligraphy. Borboa immediately fell in love with Chinese words and thought every stroke was like painting a painting.
However, the civil war in China begin and Borboa and a few other missionaries are forced to evacuate.
|
English
|
NL
|
cbc9a0a36d61a3a22bc916afb28955d85180c0b52c577f0a0da2e96daeb3e60b
|
While there are tons of services out there. Finding the right one would require a good amount of knowledge to guide us into what we seem managing into it. San Antonio custom jewelry repair is something that you should do in every way that we find that seem quite possible.
Even though some of the things that we can find out there is quite significant finding some balance are one of the key factors that we have to do every time. You need to know how those choices would affect how we are providing something and what are the concepts that we find significant on what it is that we are providing all the time.
While we are working into it, we need to ask some questions that would give us some few ideas when that seem quite possible. With the right questions in mind, we can easily make some few decisions and somehow maintain some factors we find truly significant too. Think about the questions that you wish to ask and that would be fine as well.
You should also try to be more informed with what are the type of decisions that you should handle from it. Think about how we can react to that properly and somehow give you a way to go through that instead. As long as we provide some solutions out there. Finding some perfect balance are somewhat a good way to manage that out instead.
Taking things really slow requires a whole lot of ideas in every way that seem possible. You do not have to rush on anything though, but that will somehow provide you with factors that you find critical too. It will be vital you go through them when that seem quite practical too. You just need to hold through that when things are managed into it too.
You have to be very critical with what we are holding up in any concept we find that is possible. If things are quite critical, the greater we are in providing which type of solutions you had to go through and what are the significant details to manage when that is possible. Be very serious with what you are holding up and that would be fine.
You had to seek some help whenever that is quite practical whenever that is possible. The more you go through that, the easier for us to manage what we are providing and maintain some solutions that are quite vital when that is something that you should do too. For sure, the whole process would surely make a difference too.
At some point, we had to ensure that we have to know how the pricing would affect our decision making process. All of us are not only great, but at some point we have to establish some facts that would help us into what we seem supplying into it when that is possible too.
We just have to follow through the lines and somehow maintain some significant details to guide us with what we seem providing from it when that seem quite critical too.
|
English
|
NL
|
3aafbada0ac9f635b44f5cc1581f916b84129a0125f4bb74664b906746e53566
|
Who doesn’t like Twins in anime? Not only do they usually spice up the anime a bit, it gives the creators some fun plots to work with. Below are my list of favorite twins while watching anime since I was a kid.
Anime "Best of" Genre List
1. Ryou and Kyou Fujibayashi from Clannad
They are the purple headed twins in the popular anime Clannad. Despite being twins, they both have completely different personalities. Ryou is the younger of the two sisters and is very quiet and timid. Kyou, on the other hand is the aggressive one. Ryou is also interested in fortune telling but most of her predictions are generally wrong. Both the twins have a crush on the main character.
2. Tsukasa and Kagami Hiiragi from Lucky Star
Tsukasa and Kagami are two of the main characters in Lucky Star. Tsukasa is the younger twin and they live in a six member family household. Tsuka is often compared with her twin sister Kagami, who does better than her in most fields. Kagami is academically brilliant and loves to read and study. Tsukasa is not very good academically and spends most of her time playing games or taking a nap. However, she is very good at cooking and sewing.
3. Hikaru and Kaoru Hitachiin from Ouran High School Host Club
Hikaru and Karou are a mischievous pair of twins and uses their good looks to impress the female members of their host club. Both of them speak in unison most of the times and also has a habit of finishing each others sentences. They are almost physically identical except for the fact that they have slightly different hairstyles. Hikaru is considered to be the leader of the two but his brother Kaoru is better at managing emotions and dealing with other people.
4. Riku and Risa Harada from DN Angel
Riku is the main character of the series and is the sister of Risa. Riku is extremely athletic and famous and is considered as a tomboy. Her sister, Risa is very innocent and shy and is considered as “girly-girl”. Despite being two different personalities, Riku is extremely protective of her sister and loves her more than anyone.
5. Chii and Freya from Chobits
Source: Vanishing Grace
In Chobits, there are androids who are designed to do all the work for their human owners. Chii is one such android. However, she is extremely talented and not just an ordinary android. Soon, she discovers that she has a twin android named Freya. Chii doesn’t have any memories of her childhood and believes that Freya can help her to find out about her past. Despite being androids, both of them share a very strong bond between them.
6. Hansel and Gretel from Black Lagoon: The Second Barrage
Hansel and Gratel are two twin orphans who lives in an orphanage run by the state. Their parents abandoned them because they couldn’t afford to keep them. Both of them had a troubled childhood and were forced to murder other children. They are almost identical looking and wear the same Gothic attire. Gratel has longer hair but it is actually a wig which helps them to swap identities.
7. Shion and Mion Sonozaki from Higurashi When They Cry
Higurashi is a quite creepy series and twins in horror series are always unsettling. Physically both of them look quite identical except the fact they have slightly different hairstyles. Initially, it seemed that both of them have completely different personalities, but as the story progresses we find that both of them are similar.
8. Kururi and Mairu Orihara from Durarara!!
Karuri and Mairu are twin sisters who lives in the big city of Ikebukuro but gets involved in gang activity. Both of them became very popular with the anime fans with their crazy and scary antics. Kururi is slightly shy and quit, while her sister Mairu is an extrovert. Both of them share a deep sister bond and are extremely protective of each other.
9. Yoh and Hao Asakura from Shaman King
Source: Fan Pop
Yoh is one of the main characters of the series and his dream is to become a Shaman King. In spite of such ambitious dreams, he is very laid back and lazy. He wasn’t fond of humans and instead chose to bond with spirits. His twin brother Hao, had a troubled past and always considered the world as a bad place. However, he grew up as a peaceful person and wants his brother Yoh to become one of the most powerful Shaman.
10. Yu Fan Xia and Yu Lan Xia from Full Metal Panic: The Second Raid
Both of them are Chinese born assassin twins and were given orders by Gauron to finish off Kaname. Yu Fan is an expert pilot and is also skilled in dealing with small tools and in combat. Both the twins are very supportive of each other and are desperate to take revenge against the upbringing.
|
English
|
NL
|
d56d3e10764483d55a6493f51f2fdeea573e019e594b2078a620d48f2eb299c5
|
A black jacket hood pulled low covers half his face and hides his distinguished silver and charcoal hair today, but I can still see his thin grey mustache and beard. A narrow cheekbone rests on his right shoulder and his chest rises and falls in deep peaceful sleep. He has been curled up in a black leather arm chair beside a tall tropical banana tree since I arrived two hours ago. His six plastic grocery bags are lined neatly on the two corralled chairs beside him, and I find myself drawn to him.
|Photo Credit: Flickr user Gullevek, Creative Commons cc license|
This is the second time I've seen him napping, though, and his restful vulnerability stirs respect, honor, and a slight protective feeling in me for him. Last time he had suddenly awoke, looked at his watch, and stood up. Trying several combinations of bags, he had adjusted their contents and transferred weight from one hand to another until he was satisfied.
A young businessman and I had watched him that day on the edge of our chairs, both wanting to jump in with offers to help. I had hesitated, not sure if help would seem dishonoring. In the lull, the young entrepreneur had stepped in.
"Excuse me, can I help you carry those somewhere?" he asked.
The Japanese Grandpa had been surprised, raising his eyebrows to hear it again, clarified. After the second time, he had shook his head politely, graciously refusing aid. Grasping three bags in each hand, he stood, stowing a kindle-like device in a folded-up pocket in the fleece shirt under his jacket. Weaving sideways through crowded coffee tables, he had descended out of sight down the stairs.
Was he a shop owner awaiting the bus? Was this a grocery run? Was he homeless? I wondered.
I watch him sleeping here again now, and the questions cycle in my mind. I pray silent blessings on him and wonder about starting a conversation.
God knows my Japanese Grandpa's name even if I don't yet, and he knows how many silver charcoal hairs are under his hood. My Creator is crazy about his gentleman and a sudden glimpse of God's love for this man chokes me.
Who are the people weaving their storylines through yours? God knows their plots and he loves them fiercely. I'm reminding myself to slow down, to see them, and to step into their stories as possible, even if it's just silent prayer vigils for the strangers I pass on the street or see across the room from me. Where is God intersecting stories near you?
If you're not receiving my posts by email, welcome. Simply enter your email address in the box under my bio at the top right of the page. Don't miss an article and be part of any special invitations too!
|
English
|
NL
|
3486b121a686dcbca2dffe83799272fcaa44266719565a327a8a810afeeb49a5
|
[Police officers Sadler and Connie are attending a colleague’s wedding while in the middle of a major investigation]
‘Do you want to go for a walk? It’s at least another half an hour before we eat. I’ve just checked.’
Connie looked at Sadler in surprise. ‘It’s freezing outside. I’ve only got this dress and my coat. Where did you have in mind?’
Sadler for the first time seemed to take in what Connie was wearing. She had a wraparound dress that fell to her knees. She had thought about putting heels on but one look at the weather had changed her mind and she had put on her suede boots with the wedges. They would be ruined if it was raining.
‘Is this the first time I’ve seen you in a dress?’
A retort rose to her lips but again she could see that Sadler was smiling at her. ‘It doesn’t matter. I thought outside because we could get some peace to talk…’
observations: I wrote recently about the launch party for Sarah Ward’s book – I met Sarah online via a shared interest in crime fiction, so I was delighted that she has just had her first crime novel published, and it is set to be a great success and, we hope, the first of many. The characters - including those above, and the intriguing groom at the wedding – have great potential.
I loved the book. I raced through it, unwilling to put it down, anxious to know what happened. It’s exactly the kind of crime book I most enjoy: solid plot, great characters, excellent clues, and a crime in the past coming back to haunt the present-day.
In 1978, two young girls were abducted as they walked to primary school. One came back, remembering little of what happened, and the other one hasn’t been seen since. More than 30 years later the mother of the missing girl commits suicide. What has happened to finally tip her over the edge? The police investigate, and so does the other girl, Rachel Jones, the one who came back. She is now a genealogist, and she starts tracking down details about the people concerned.
The plot is complex and fascinating, and deals with the secrets, lies and mysteries that attach to all families. It’s very good on the differences between 1978 and now, and uses those aspects to great advantage in the plot – from variations in morals and changes in attitudes, to the fact that the two little girls walked to school alone, as was normal then.
It is also simply GREAT to read a crime book with strong female characters (good and bad) and with serious issues at the heart, but without really gruesome and unpleasant descriptions, too much violence, or horrible details. It can be done!
More 1978 detail came with the Green Shield stamps and the long white socks – knobbly with a pattern snaking down the side, as worn by every 8 year old girl going to school then:
When we first meet Rachel she is yanking at them…
So all in all a great read, and my only complaint is related to the clothes descriptions (of course): the outfit above is exactly what you can imagine Connie wearing for a wedding, and I also just loved this description of Nancy, a lively woman in her 90s:
She was dressed in a pale mauve cardigan over a light grey dress from Marks and Spencer that Connie [about 30?] had tried on earlier that week and had decided was too young for her.So Sarah should do more of them – she gets them right, and they add to the understanding of character. She kept me quiet at her party by assuring me that she will do more in future…
The top picture is a TV presenter called Louise Roe.
|
English
|
NL
|
fdad057058f9acc6716e9b410ad44a923a2f62c1c05dbbf5d242a1971fb54056
|
NO. 17672 • Jun 21, 1926 – Jan 19, 2011
Died in Walnut Creek, CA
Cremated & Inurned
John Samuel 'Jack' Hamel was born on Jun 21, 1926, to Kenneth and Mary Alice Hamel in Toledo, OH. When he was in third grade, a learning experience caused him to come home and tell his parents that he was an artist. Later in life, he was linked to art in many different ways. Jack attended DeVilbiss high school in Toledo and graduated in 1944. Before high school graduation, he joined the Navy Reserve and entered the Notre Dame University V-12 program. Called to active duty with the Navy, Jack was sent to a quartermaster course in Gulfport, MS, before joining the fleet on board the USS Arcadia, which was recently commissioned at Long Beach, CA. He was elated when Representative Homer Ramey announced that Jack was a candidate for an appointment to the United States Military Academy. This meant that he was to be sent to Amherst College in Massachusetts to prepare him for the entrance exams. Jack was then sent to Ft. Benning, GA, for further training. He made the grade and entered the academy in July 1946 as a member of the class of 1950.
The Corps of Cadets was organized in companies by height, and Jack was assigned to one of the shorter companies. He survived Beast Barracks very well and was prepared to swing with the challenges of cadet life. With his sense of humor and independent spirit, Jack made friends easily. As a senior, he was promoted to lieutenant as a platoon leader. Word also got around that Jack had a flair for drawing caricatures of people from photographs, and the Class of 1948 asked him to provide caricatures of each graduate for their Howitzer resume. Jack completed 221 of these over a period of months and had the formidable task of presenting former upper-class tormentors into likable people.
Jack met a lovely lady in his junior year, Marie Ficarella, who became a regular visitor. They were married in the Catholic Chapel with a beautiful ceremony the day after graduation. Soon after, Jack began his infantry assignments and later returned to the Ft. Benning Infantry School, completing the course on Dec 19, 1953. The Korean War was over by this time and Jack considered a return to civilian life. He was discharged into the reserves at Ft. Lewis, Washington on Apr 30, 1954.
Jack joined the Owens-Illinois Company in 1954, and worked with them, both domestically and internationally, for the next 30 years. His first assignment was as an industrial engineer with the Owens-Illinois glass companies in Oakland (and later Los Angeles), CA.
Next he was transferred as a cost control supervisor to the plant at San Jose, CA. He then became the factory manager for that plant, producing plastic containers (including the first plastic Clorox bottles on the west coast). During this time the company developed an automated process for producing and packaging pharmaceutical vials.
He then transferred to headquarters of Owens-Illinois at Toledo, OH, as Operations Manager for plastic products in twelve facilities in the United States. His responsibilities included factory design and construction, equipment design and product design.
Jack returned to Oakland, CA, as factory manager. The plant had 2,500 employees that manufactured glass containers on a 24-hour, seven days per week schedule. The plant dealt with 11 international unions and 14 local unions. Among their products were food jars and beverage bottles. While in Oakland he served on the board of the Oakland Chamber of Commerce and as president of the Junior Achievement organization.
After six years Jack was sent to Brazil to serve as president and chairman of CISPER, the largest glass container company in Brazil (with factories and offices throughout Brazil and South America), which was created by Owens-Illinois in partnership with local Brazilian businessmen. While in this assignment Jack created and established an annual industrial-design competition for Brazil University students. His community involvement in Rio de Janeiro included serving on the board of the American Club, and he was president of the American Society. After the Brazil experience, Jack was reassigned to Owens-Illinois’ International Division headquartered in Toledo, Ohio. While there, he served as a vice-president responsible for technical support and worldwide licensing for company lines in glass and plastics. He retired in 1986 and settled in Perrysburg, OH.
Jack and Marie raised a family of three boys. Steven was born in 1951, David in 1953, and Thomas in 1956. Jack and Marie also started an independent bookstore in Perrysburg as well as a design business specializing in supplemental design for historic homes. He later became president of the local historical society.
In 1988, the family moved to Danville, CA. Here, he was active in doing design work in historical organizations and created many illustrations for books and magazines. Jack spent more than two years creating a 140-foot-long frieze for the Danville museum of the San Ramon Valley depicting the rich history of the area. For this work, Jack was named Citizen of the Year.
Jack passed away on Jan 19, 2011. Looking back at his exemplary business career and his contribution to historical works and his many illustrations for books and magazines, his was a life well lived and a fine example of service to his fellow citizens.
— Carl Johnson, roommate
|
English
|
NL
|
45a7515e2c42978d135ff5577c1b9a4afba5ab9ea09e6dd626d25151890e3bf0
|
A Voice in the Dark (originally titled Dark Zoey) is an ongoing comic book series that is written, drawn, toned, and lettered by Larime Taylor. The comics follow a young girl with an unexplained urge to murder those around her.
Taylor was born with Arthrogryposis, a condition which affects movement – and works with his mouth to create the comic series. His wife Sylv, who is legally blind, serves as the colorist for the individual issues and volume covers. Taylor intended for artist Duncan Eagleson to illustrate the series, bu this changed after he realized that he would be unable to afford the price Eagleston charged per page and chose to draw the series himself. His condition means Taylor is unable to draw the comic in conventional means and he illustrates the series using a Wacom Cintiq tablet and a brush that he holds in his mouth.
In an interview, the artist explained more about the origin of the comic. “I describe it as psychological noir. It’s more character-driven than most horror, which is more action-oriented. At its core, it’s about a young woman who is trying to figure out who she is and what she wants to do with her life. Complicating things is the fact that she’s struggling with lifelong compulsions to kill, so on top of deciding what she wants to be when she grows up, she’s wrestling with whether or not she’s a monster and what that means. She isn’t a psychopath and doesn’t want to kill, but it’s an addiction for her.”
A Voice in the Dark was originally planned as a spoof of the horror genre along the lines of the 1988 film Heathers and the character of Zoey was designed to challenge the common trope that racial minority characters are often the first to die. The comic received high praise from both the horror and comic book communities,
One aspect of the comic which was particularly well received was the decision for Zoey to have a typical, non-abusive childhood – and is clearly shown as neither a psychopath or sociopath. Instead Zoey feels emotions and a complex conscience about her murders.
|
English
|
NL
|
42cb88ded021e89f630cffef66d9313b5efa42fbf4cde4b0a7409b7c828759be
|
This is a hand-painted pack that is supposed to have been made in a prisoner-of-war camp in or after WWI, but it might also be from WWII.
The painter seems to have had packs made by Piatnik, Vienna, in his mind: You can see Piatnik's horse rider logo on the Ace of Hearts, and there is 'IN' and 'W' (for 'IN WIEN', in Vienna) on the flags of the Jacks. Note the strange arrangement of index signs on the court cards.
I regret that the pack is incomplete, the King of Spades is missing. That is why I show the Ace of Hearts in this place.
|
English
|
NL
|
d4eca04e83e46437b1d05b1033fa57f99bfe2d08d770a26d63d64c000d7b13f7
|
This story of Abraham turning weary travelers into honored guests was the Bible’s main lesson on our need to be hospitable to strangers.
In spite of the heat, Abraham ran out to greet the strangers. Then, instead of presenting himself as a kindly host, he bowed, and he insisted that it would be very kind of the strangers to accept his hospitality.
Then to show how much he appreciated their becoming his guests, he went overboard in preparing a huge quantity of food: a tender young steer, and bushel baskets of fine dinner rolls.
While Abraham as a worthy host, showed no doubt over the promise of a son in his extreme old age, it made his old wife Sarah laugh. The tribal story tellers would have pointed out a connection between Isaac, the future son’s name, and “eesack” an old Hebrew word for laughing.
At the beginning of this story there were three guests, while at the end there was only one, and he seemed to be the Lord. They had a commandment against making images of the invisible God. So, being afraid of presenting God in any way, they made up this confusing story.
|
English
|
NL
|
49681beab9ba577dbf016793e67620a895b31c97d380d15da584deef94ad3ff6
|
This month’s issue of Detective Comics was very enjoyable.
Writer John Layman uses this issue effectively to tell a single issue story that was entertaining from start to finish.
The story is about a former girlfriend of Batman named Mio, she is from from Bruce Wayne’s past, back while he trained in Southeast Asia.
Despite her genuine affection for Bruce, she is an assassin on a mission to kill his master, Matsudo. Even though she develops a relationship with Bruce, she goes ahead with her orders and kills Matsudo, while faking her own death in the process to avoid being detained when Bruce spots her. She heads back to her master’s headquarters where she is reprimanded for her sloppy technique.
After this introduction, the story moves forward in time to present day Gotham City. The main plot of this issue is that a foreign Prime Minister is visiting Gotham City. Bruce makes sure his company is providing the accommodations for him. Batman wants to keep an eye on the Prime Minister because he suspects that there will be assassination attempts.
Harper Rowe, a young woman who has tried to help Batman in previous issues, but is regularly scolded by him because she is not properly trained, is working the lights for the event. She is on the lookout for an assassin as well. Despite having her equipment confiscated by Batman, she is not the type to get discouraged, and is alert for anyone looking suspicious at the event.
Mio arrives at the event, and Harper notices that something is not right about her. The story culminates in a confrontation between Batman, Harper, and Mio.
Overall the issue was strong, the story’s simplicity works in its favor. It was nice to have an issue that was a stand alone story that had ties to Batman’s past. The writing was good, it was stripped down in a nice way, and did not suffer from excessive dialogue or narration. Despite the fact that Scot Eaton is only the fill in artist for this issue, the art looked great, and hopefully he will get the opportunity to do more work on Batman in the future.
The element of this issue that stood out was Harper Rowe. It is great to have a character with her type of personality and temperament. From the dyed hair and multiple piercings, to the fact that she is out of school and at least old enough to be an engineer, she is a refreshing new character to add to the Bat family. She is a nice change from the more clean cut sidekicks Batman normally rolls with. She is edgy in other ways besides having behavioral problems, in that she does not really know how to fight, and can get in the way of Batman as easily as she can help him. However, despite her flaws, and her lack of skill, she has the heart and the guts to make an effective crime fighter.
The backup story was very good as well. Focusing on Kirk Langstrom, otherwise known as the Man-Bat, the story follows his narration as he describes the desire he has to become the Man-Bat, and that he views his transformations as more a blessing than a curse. The tone of the story is erie and dark, and follows Langstrom through a typical day of his life.
Overall, I thought the issue was very enjoyable. It is not part of a greater epic story arc, but that is okay, there is room in comics for both long story arcs and stand alone issues.
Harper Rowe is turning out to be a very cool character, and Batman gets the opportunity to kick some butt. The back-up story provides the reader with a more in depth perspective on a villain that spends long periods of time out of the spotlight. This issue was a lot of fun to read.
|
English
|
NL
|
6c577e04440756d2d2155251bb084eebc1b2b1e068668851392902c73814682f
|
“As a mother, what do you think will be the best teachings you can pass on to your children?”
The mother is the first teacher of her child, as a mother I think the best teachings I can pass on to my children are good values that would lead them to a good path in life.
What the children have learned when they were young, they will bring it when they get old. I want my son to believe in God, have faith in Him, be afraid of Him and trust in Him. If he will learn all about God’s teachings while he is still young, I believe JB will walk the path of righteousness because he has God in his life.
|
English
|
NL
|
6c2b58b7988742b5a853a8efc43f9caa612569c5bd2bf2d1941a18e9b7bc14c7
|
“That thing is pretty old, isn’t it, Dr Hall?” Eve gestured towards his tatty leather-bound folder with the lightest little smirk on her face that he did not notice. “If that thing could talk, eh?” After a moment she wondered if she had actually cracked that joke out loud because he made no response. And that’s probably why she was sitting in the psychiatrist’s office in the first place, she decided. Because she was fucking crazy.
Eve had been sitting opposite Dr Hall for ten silent minutes while he scribbled furiously in his once-upon-a-time-fancy folder. The man and his folder were so connected, had such shared history together, that they were as good as married.
“Eve, I’d like to talk a little bit about your time in university if you don’t mind… We didn’t really get to discuss it as much as I would have liked in your last session, but you have mentioned some of the anxious episodes you experienced at that time, and I feel that we ought to explore them a little more here today. Would that be okay? You studied… Sociology.”
“Psychology…”, Eve corrected him sheepishly. She was mortified having to admit that subject choice to her psychiatrist but she wasn’t entirely sure why. She was perpetually sorry about everything, especially around Dr Hall. She regretted him having to go to the bother of scribbling on his tidy notes just to edit her pathetic little story.
“Oh I beg your pardon, Psychology, yes, very good. So, you had some concentration difficulties back then, and you mentioned that you used quite a bit of marijuana, isn’t that correct…?” He placed his index finger to his lips waiting for…something.
“Yes, that’s right. I found it helped me sleep so I used it daily, but after a while I felt like I couldn’t sleep without it and then I would start to feel anxious and then of course I couldn’t sleep so it was like a vicious cycle really. I don’t smoke it anymore. I haven’t for years.” Because I’m fucking great, give me a gold star, Dr Hall, Please! She thought sadly.
“Yes, I understand that, but I am painting the history, you see. Your history…of addiction and substance dependence. Do you follow me,?”
He hadn’t stopped writing since she had mentioned the word Anxious. It must be like a buzz word to this guy, she mused, like the steadfast rules in a drinking game, write like a maniac when someone says the word Anxious. Maybe he was still stuck in some kind of hypnotic trance from his university days… Eve tried to bring her attention back to the session but she just didn’t feel much warmth in the room today.
“Oh yes, I see. Well, yes I did experience many anxiety attacks while I was studying. I don’t know why, really, well, there was the weed, but I just felt scared all the time…. I was scared I would fail. I had a lot of terrible nightmares back then”
“Well, you know Eve, a fear of failure is a very common….”
Eve had stopped listening to Dr Hall completely. She was away dreaming again. She spoke when prompted and gave him whatever it was he wanted to hear so he could tick his boxes and send her back home to herself.
Eve wished she was talking to Mary instead of Dr Hall, but Mary was dead. Such a wonderful woman, Mary. She was her friend’s mother, a trained psychologist who never acted like one, and just had a gift of drawing pain from people as if she was merely pulling errant hairs from their coat. She made Eve laugh and cry at herself many times, and even though she must have known she was talking to a totally disturbed soul, she never looked worried about her, she had better sense. When doctors or nurses or anyone in healthcare look worried, people get scared and shut down. Mary must have known that.
Eve still talked to Mary all the time on her walks and in the car and she always felt more hopeful talking to her friendly ghost than any other mental health professional. She was glad to have her in her life, even if she had been dead for ten years.
“Well, yes, I did drink a lot in college, but we all did! Oh… I’m doing it again, aren’t I? I know, I know! I have to stop trying to justify my actions and I have to take responsibility for myself and my choices. Sorry.” Eve knew he had asked about alcohol use and assumed it was to continue to paint her as a failure in an effort to understand her better and earn his crust. He gave a lengthy reply, reiterating what she had just said undoubtedly, but as usual she was only scanning the exchange and responded when given her triggers and cues. She nodded obediently.
Eve learned to converse with people while simultaneously dreaming of the past, hanging around her happiest memories for long periods of time without anyone being any the wiser. She was rarely present with anyone having learned how to carry out exchanges in auto-pilot. She rarely remembered conversations but the buzz words could still upset her during sleepless nights, interrupting her safe, habitual dreams.
“Yes, I had a few brief romantic relationships at that time but nothing serious,” Eve heard herself lie to Dr Hall. The truth of the matter was she spent her college years dreaming of her first boyfriend from home, dreaming of their baby that didn’t make it to birth, and dreaming that somehow, she could get back to that time before she fucked herself up. Dreaming and having sex with too many strangers.
“Yes, I was dating a little here and there. I once had a short romance with a trainee doctor, you know.” Here I go again seeking his approval, Mary. Why the fuck do I play these stupid games?
Daddy Issues! – Eve and Mary concluded at the exact same time. It was very funny to everyone in the room, except Dr Hall… evidently.
“Right, Great. I think we will leave it there for today, Eve and I will see you on Thursday. Thank you. Take care, now” He pretended to pat her shoulder but never touched her as he breezed past in the direction of his surgery door opening it wide. She thanked him for absolutely nothing and scrunched herself up before gliding into the dark and rainy Dublin streets.
|
English
|
NL
|
deac9efa560d7cb0ebe690d5ab3d1fcfc5e49ad496513b050a7e128ed042f7af
|
Ronald P. Vargo has served as a non-employee director of our board since January 2012 and as Lead Independent Director since 2015. Mr. Vargo served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of ICF International, Inc. (ICF) from April 2010 to May 2011. Prior to joining ICF, Mr. Vargo served as the Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and as a member of the Executive Committee of Electronic Data Systems Corporation (EDS) from 2006 to 2008.
Prior to his role as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Vargo served in the positions of Vice President and Treasurer of EDS from 2004 to 2006 and was promoted to Chief Financial Officer in March 2006. Prior to joining EDS, Mr. Vargo was employed from 1991 to 2003 by TRW, Inc. (TRW), a former $17 billion global manufacturing and service company strategically focused on providing products and services with a high technology or engineering content to the automotive, space and defense markets. TRW was acquired by Northrop Grumman Corporation in 2002. Mr. Vargo served TRW in the positions of Vice President of Investor Relations and Treasurer from 1991 to 1994, then Vice President of strategic planning and business development from 1994 to 1999, and then Vice President of Investor Relations and Treasurer again from 1999 to 2002. Mr. Vargo serves as a director of Ferro Corporation and as chair of its audit committee. Mr. Vargo also serves as a director of EnerSys and as a member of its audit and nominating and corporate governance committees. Mr. Vargo holds an MBA in Finance and General Management from Stanford University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Dartmouth College.
|
English
|
NL
|
c02e7854c0a63d3da222b2916091afd158dc8a4d9eda2b07ba8b161da3742b25
|
This week I was assigned to read the following: Diary of a Madman by Lu Xun, Sealed Off by Zhang Ailing, and Man of La Mancha by Chu T’Ien-Hsin. These stories are completely wonderful these stories are. They completely submerged me and had my full attention throughout. The theme I recognized from all three readings was perception of reality or simply reality. Each dealt with one main character or in Sealed Off, you could say two, but they all told a story out of the eyes of the individual. The stories all came from one perspective, however, this reality that each character saw could have been the total opposite of someone looking in. An example of this is from Diary of a Madman. Simply by explaining the character’s irrational fear of believing everyone around him was a cannibal out to get him. However, this reality was not the reality of his brother or friends around him, it was simply how he was seeing the world through his eyes. Overall, reality is a recurring theme in all the stories which made them so interesting to follow.
Because they are so interesting to read, I feel automatically that students would be extremely invested in the story lines. In saying this, I think students would be engaged very quickly at the thought of perceiving one’s reality. It is a relatable topic because we all have our own realities that we live every single day, but it is different for everyone. If I were in a teaching position, I would bring this theme up and engage the students in thinking about their own perception of the theme portrayed in the reading. It is a good way to intertwine my opinion of the theme and engaging students to be critically thinking about their own ideas. If they agreed with the theme of perception of reality, or simply reality, I would go on to have students answer questions as to why they think the theme is discussing reality of any sort.
Engaging in critical thinking would be key. However, I would suggest and/or show examples of pop culture within the selected theme: reality. Then from there talk about what is happening in the movie examples and in the text. I always turn to movies because I feel people retain the information better and it is, most of the time, straight forward. A great discussion is to be had about these works. I highly suggest reading them as a student and if one is in a teaching position.
|
English
|
NL
|
2d903ecfaad4f84ed70fbdae47d7952585089a87eab31286d3f23f9fd41a4a10
|
I exited my apartment and began to walk. Oversized flakes of snow fell in bunches all around me. To an eye tainted by trauma, the cascading snow mimicked the appearance of falling ash from an angry sky. Suddenly, even the peaceful freefall of porcelain white snow acted as a transport through time. I was now remembering the building that was ablaze on that black winter’s night.
My nose began to reminisce on its malodorous concoction of burning wood, chemicals, and the personal belongings of those victimized by the merciless flames. A burning building smells nothing like that of a camp fire. Although hard to describe, it is unmistakable to a nose that has been caressed by its violent odor. It simply smells – evil…
As I continued to walk, my mind continued its freefall into memory.
I recalled pulling up to that building engulfed by flames that licked themselves high into the blackened sky. A truly nefarious sight to see. My partner and I did our best to park away from the blowing wind, and at a safe distance. All of which was futile, the heat from the roaring blaze permeated the ambulance. Where a camp fire’s sound is serene and boasts a calming quality, an uncontrolled structure fire by way of contrast is nothing short of burning chaos. It’s mesmerizing in the most terrifyingly hypnotic of ways. It sounds like nature screaming a horrendous war cry.
I exited the ambulance and walked carefully but dutifully towards the fire captain. I made our presence known and indicated where the ambulance was located. He met my directions with a decisive nod, and then returned his attention to the growing adversary in front and above him. My eyes followed suit – I was once again mesmerized by its ferocity.
Much like the snow was landing on me in the here and now, ash, and soot landed with Its likeness back then. The first time I was kissed by fire, it was in the form of an ash-flake that fell to my forehead. Almost dead centre. Unlike a snowflake, it does not land with a cold, wet embrace – it is instead a feeling all Its own – it lands softly with a heft of violence. I used my hand to wipe it away, remnants of streaking ash remained stained to my fingers.
I swear as I was walking, I could feel the heat of that fire again. I could feel its hot kiss against my face. Back then, as I began walking away, towards the ambulance, my radio came to life with a muffled and metallic voice of panic. It was one of the firefighters from inside the raging building.
“Cap, we got one. We’re coming down the stairs, we need medics ready now!”
My body had already began running to the ambulance whilst my mind digested what had just been heard. My partner must have heard the same thing, as she too was now outside of the ambulance, fetching the stretcher from the back of the rig. I grabbed the gear I thought we would need, and threw it onto the stretcher, and with haste, we approached the burning building.
The top floors were now nothing short of biblical inferno. The closer we got to the building, the more a winter’s night air gave-way to the heat of that conflagrant hell…
We were ushered in by ground-crew firefighters and led into the lobby. It was explained to us that the rescue team was brining down the patient. We had no other information other than that we were about to be busy. At this time, my partner called in for a second ambulance, which would later turn into a third, and then a fourth…
Out of my right ear, I could hear the weighted thuds of the over-encumbered firefighters, descending the stairs and coming towards us. There were about four firefighters carrying what looked like an ash-soaked man between them. The narrow build of the stairs, along with the healthy bodies of the firemen, and their gear made for a less than graceful descent.
When they neared the bottom stanza of the stairs my partner and I reached in and alleviated two of the firefighters of their carrying duties. I wish I hadn’t – when I reached in, the only thing that was available for me to grab onto, was the wrist of the injured man. In doing that, the weight of his body, along with the awkward transfer of carrying hands would see that his charred and blackened skin would peel and slough off. The skin remained clasped in my hands, the man did not…
The whole encounter was executed with skill and haste, but it is amazing what the mind can snap-shot in those fleeting seconds. His wrist was now a dissolution of burnt skin, and raw, reddened fatty tissue. As I reconfigured my grasp in readiness to hoist this man to our stretcher, I could see that he once dawned a beard. A beard that was now fire-bitten and matted with bits of clothing and fat. The stench that this gave off was something not from this world. It was punishing and ubiquitous.
Despite our best efforts, the man would die. I had only hoped at that point, that he had died before all this damage. In my head, I fabricated a story where he had, had a heart attack and was dead before the fire even got to him, but the reality is I will never know. The only thing that is certain was that on that night, he died, and the fire continued to roar.
At the end of my shift, I went home. Like it had been any other day on the rig (ambulance). I carefully and quietly unlocked my front door, entered into my home, and ascended the stairs to my bed. A bed I was then sharing with my girlfriend of the time. I followed my routine of walking into the room, not turning on a single light, and almost tip-toeing so as not to disturb her. A foolish practice when part of my routine was also going over to her side of the bed, gently brushing her bed-swept hair away from her face and kissing her softly as if to say “I made it home. Another safe shift.” She would moan and sometimes even smile.
“Matty? Why do you smell like smoke?”
“Ah, there was a bad fire tonight. Go to sleep, I’ll tell you in the morning. I gotta go shower. Love you.”
“[moan] you too.”
Our relationship was not really one of comfort, so I never really talked to her about my bad calls. Besides, when we weren’t fucking, we were fighting.
As I entered into the shower and turned on the water, I stood beneath their streams and allowed for their purification to wash the nightmare off of me. Although not clearly visible to the naked eye, blackened water rolled off my skin and swirled through the drain below. I was covered in the lingering reminder of untamed fire. Ash and soot were being cleansed from me. Likely, faint remains of the burning man as well…
The water continued to pour from overhead, and I did my best to steady my mind so that I would be able to go to sleep. It was during that process that I would hear the sliding-glass door of the shower open. It was Alicia. She had come to join me. I guess we were not sleeping, nor fighting. Only one thing was left…
Our bodies began twisting into one another like vines from a tree. I could hear her panting breath, which meant I was doing something right. Adrenaline was still coursing through my body from the night of work – that was often the case. And most of those times, to release the angst from either her job as a first responder, or mine, we would use each other’s bodies as pleasurable releases from the pain. We would fuck. And fuck we did.
I grabbed her by her hips, spinning her around, and then gently guiding her arms towards the shower wall and placed them in such a way as to brace her. I lowered my hands, gliding my finger-tips along her sides, and then firmly grasping her hips. I allowed my fingers to clasp onto her moistened flesh, much like the flames had wrapped their snake-like kisses around the windows and walls of the building. Soon, just as the fire had roared, so did we…
When all was said and done, I found myself on our bed, with her head on my chest. She was breathing softly and drifting to sleep. Me? I was picturing a fire that burned with a limitless rage and barbarity, and my forehead still felt the kiss of death from falling soot and ash.
That is what the cascading snow outside reminded me of last night. In my world, anything and almost certainly everything can be a reminder of trauma. Of a world I once lived in. A world I miss in some ways… a lot of ways… And the world I now inhabit, the one where I don’t feel I fit nor belong.
Snow is beautiful. But last night, it was as beautiful as it was painful…
(This was the song playing in my ear buds last night as I walked, and remembered.)
|
English
|
NL
|
fc2af120d3a27b6957aef59c3f1c71ad1573a0da47a69a095725c9ad854a6b15
|
Guitarist brings Bach and bop to Bathurst Street
Though he is the master of all styles, Jozsef Botos’ heart is in classical guitar
Jozsef Botos takes his guitar in hand, begins plucking the strings and the sounds of the jazz standard, Out of Nowhere, fill the air of his apartment. Once free of the melody, he begins weaving a new one from the chords of the song. As effortless as the performance is, Botos is quick to point out “I’m not a jazz guitarist. I am a classical guitarist who can play jazz.”
“My heart is in classical guitar.”
There’s good reason for that. Botos grew up in a musical family in his native Hungary. The family was a musical dynasty. His father was a guitarist, his brothers and cousins, are all musicians. Classical music filled the house.
His ears were open to other styles
Like his father and grandfather before, Botos began playing guitar at a young age. His father taught him tunes and chords. And seeing the boy had promise, signed him up for a music school, where he studied classical music. But his ears were open to other styles. At 14, he heard the sounds of American jazz guitarist Pat Matheny.
Botos began to imitate what he heard. There was no sheet music to read. He just listened to a Metheny CD over and over. Once he had the melody down, he repeated Matheny’s solos countless times.
“It was very, very difficult. I learned a lot from listening to him, but I never could make it sound like I wanted,” Botos explains.
Given that he admits to never being content with his playing, Botos’ sound may have been a lot more like the master guitarist than he is willing to admit.
Other sounds and other styles – bebop, modern jazz, the sound of Django Reinhardt – all caught his ear. Still, he played with classical music in mind, always looking to blend the genres.
Roll over Amadeus!
Before leaving his homeland, Botos got his chance. Working with fellow guitarist Gyula Botos, his cousin, the duo improvised on a piece by Mozart at a classical guitar festival. They were apprehensive to say the least. After all, musicians played the classics as written. That’s what audiences heard; that’s what they were used to.
“We thought they were going to kill us. But they were so happy; they were clapping along.
“At these festivals, they hear the same things. Now, they were hearing something played in a different way,” Botos recalls.
Botos explains that classical music has its roots in improvisation.
“Bach was a very big bop musician; he improvised.”
Yet once the music was written down, it stayed that way. Now, Botos pays homage to Bach writing pieces of his own, a blend of the classics and jazz.
After touring Europe where he performed with jazz and classical chamber orchestras, Botos came to Canada in 2011. Here, another Botos, pianist Robi, introduced him to Canadian jazz giants, Dave Young and Reg Schwager. He has since branched out on his own.
Botos now makes the Bathurst and Briar Hill area of Toronto his home.
Recent gigs include the TD Jazz Festival and the Kensington Market Jazz Festival along with countless weddings and corporate events. He also teaches and is working on bossa nova stylings a la Jobim while composing six pieces – classical, naturally – for an upcoming CD.
Botos is the master of all styles. But at heart, he is a classical guitarist right down to his fingertips.
“I don’t have a style like George Benson or Pat Metheny. I play mostly guitars with nylon strings and pluck them with my nails not with a pick like jazz guitarists.”
For more posts by Lawrence Papoff, visit https://ljpapoffwriter.com/blog/
|
English
|
NL
|
903e0f645d1d96fe2267b163ccabc0376f4d8a98d0427d3d40a2814616243aab
|
I'm in fact a big fan of mangas, however Xianxia is not my type so I've checked out a few manga. Despite of this I will certainly inform that Tsuyokute New Saga manga is really excellent to a lot of manga fans and geeks.
This is component 1 of my review of this manga - About the Story:
"Tsuyokute New Saga manga" includes 1614 chapters as well as the converted chapters have virtually completed the 4th Book, potentially by this month the 5th book is most likely to be converted, today this tale is just a consistent slow-paced yet truly connected. This xianxia light manga isn't very difficult, however additionally difficult, it's really it had actually had the ability to baffled its issue by using complex issues while streamlining it in general the DAO.
The Dao is just a blend of road, technique, route, program, route, state, discuss, communicate, reality, theory. They could appear difficult nonetheless the general story represented them in easy method, actually the something which unknown may be the Dao, making the whole sequence exceptional to others. General originality as well as the predictability of the background isn't far better than several collection, it's actually repeated if you'll try to watch it in an additional photo, nonetheless it's a precise evidence that "Tsuyokute New Saga manga" is superb. This is extremely heavy on Dao, it's hence linked that it had actually been able to connect some details chaps such as the 58th phase to lad 625, that will certainly be worrying the "Dao" of the character, in addition every traditions and also power ups was foreshadowed so much the Piece Shield is practical, If added sequence activates their piece shield within the major circumstances, "Tsuyokute New Saga manga" is just like a Gift who wears a Piece Shield and Piece Tool before he would go to war.
The Person facets of the history remains to be just like others, the 'Adventures' are superb, there have actually been several places that was visited along with the dimension of the dream globe really was substantial, the entire history much larger than I've anticipated, in addition to the history might hide just the 50% of the area. The Very First 3 books might uncover the very first continent, as the 4th publication can uncover the Next continent, as well as you can locate 4 areas overall. The Very First 3 books might reveal world-building as well as the basic concept of the globe and also it had had the ability to create a smart search. Nevertheless the 4th Guide may be the reverse, it's not Smart as well as Reasonable whilst the First 3 publications, though it teemed with fabulous experiences which targets sect, family as well as tribal disputes, it's a great deal of power-UPS Legacies. The Initial Three-Book was very rigid to its policy, he can not crack that guideline although the Character was Distinctive, nevertheless the 4th book have actually trashed inflexible guidelines which thinking, the 4th publication is mostly stereotypical.
There are numerous moments the activity, the manga online only actual problem was there's a lot of "Chasing" happening via the entire collection, there's no overview that it really did not happen as well as the 'Action' truly was detailed, every lifeanddeath circumstance involves pursuing. The Very First 3 publications bought a lot of chasing, yet in the exact same period it's really Reasonable and fascinating that many task is approximately when it were to be when compared to fights, but it's the option within the 4th publication, it's the Character who commonly pursue the villains The 4th Guide contains Battle that will certainly be taken pleasure in by a large number of people and much of times the Character might be the very best, there's nothing else individual who could Remain Against him within the whole publication, it's extremely problematic due to the fact that the First Three publications were balanced throughout
There's a Great Healthy of Humor and Crisis, yet every one of the moment the history is focused on Enhancing One-Self that will be an introversion kind of individuality character. There can be dramas that'll focus on character growth(not power or power) later however for today, inside today modified phases, there have actually been simply numerous minutes which may be regarded as Remarkable moments which offers an importance to figure development.
Our trouble within the background might be the Personality Delivery, among the story's adages is "To depend on Myself" this isn't truly a disadvantage, yet it's an Identification, in the very same time lots of people including me not generally such as this Identification. only few discussion and remarkable celebrations via the 4 publications, as well as these occasions are generally similar to a Silver to visitors like me, due to the fact that the conversation through the 4 publications is large on Declaration, Reading, Suspecting yet others, like there's no room for confidence and shared web link, likewise things is the Conversation were produced in fundamental expressions as the power ups are so comprehensive that nearly 75% is practically this. Well, this is simply my viewpoint of the story of this manga. I just wish to say that I actually like it as well as will certainly recommend this to any individual that likes reading manga online.
For other related details, you could also visit
|
English
|
NL
|
98beb139a821e28dc709e0e8de9fe3806a9bd544268dfea63c74bbbb93a468ce
|
A game that Miru likes is our own version of hide-and-seek. I carry her on my back and pretend to be looking for her. Calling her softly then louder, bending over and looking around corners, in portico’s and behind trees. I continue and wonder what she would think. Does she realize it is a game? Does it appear to her, in a strange way, that we are looking for her together, as I am carrying her tightly on my back and she follows exactly my movements? Or does she find my pretended silliness entertaining?
At some point, she begins to move around wildly with her arms to announce her presence to me. I’m right here, of course, we have found me.
Should she at any point later in her life go “looking for herself” – when that is still as fashionable an activity as in 2015 – I will tell her this little anecdote. I imagine her, around twenty years old, walking a hiker’s trail that winds through a mountainous landscape of staggering beauty. Alone, or with a friend. I’m going to risk sounding very, very cheesy in the next sentence. In a way, I would always be traveling with her in every backpack she puts on, as a memory of our hide-and-seek game.
|
English
|
NL
|
f282121dcea5afca82b847a0f122f990c12964f6d14ef614ba91339b6d879303
|
U.S. Supreme Court McDonald v. Smalley, 26 U.S. 1 Pet. 620 620 (1828)
McDonald v. Smalley
26 U.S. (1 Pet.) 620
APPEAL FROM THE
CIRCUIT COURT OF OHIO
Where the record from the court below contained the whole proceedings in the case and exhibited all the matters either party required for a final disposition of the case, and the counsel for both the appellants and the appellees were willing to submit upon argument the whole case to the final decision of the court, but it appeared that the Circuit Court of Ohio had not decided any question but that which had been raised upon the jurisdiction of the court, the counsel were directed by this Court to argue the point of jurisdiction only.
It cannot be alleged that a citizen of one state having title to lands in another state is disabled from suing for those lands in the courts of the United States by the fact that he derives his title from a citizen of the state in which the lands lie.
M., a citizen of Ohio, apprehensive his title to lands in that state could not be maintained in the state court and being indebted to the plaintiff, a citizen of Alabama, to the amount of $1,110, offered to sell and convey to him the land in payment of the debt, stating in the letter by which the offer was made that the title would most probably be maintained in the courts of the United States, but would fail in the courts of the state. The property was estimated at more than the debt, but in consequence of the difficulties attending the title, he was willing to convey it for the debt, which was done. The plaintiff in error, after the land was conveyed to him, gave his bond to make a quitclaim title to the land on condition of receiving $1,000. Held that the title acquired by the purchase gave jurisdiction to the courts of the United States.
The motives which induced M. to make the contract for the purchase of the land can have no influence on its validity. A court cannot enter into the consideration of those motives when deciding on its jurisdiction.
In a contract between a mortgagor and mortgagee, being citizens of different states, it cannot be doubted that an ejectment or bill to foreclose may be brought ins court of the United States by the mortgagee residing in a different state.
The rules which govern the practice of the circuit courts in chancery have been prescribed by this Court, and ought to be observed.
This was an appeal from the Circuit Court of Ohio by the complainant in that court on a bill filed in the chancery side of the court, the object of which was, through the aid of that court, to obtain a conveyance of a tract of land situated in the State of Ohio.
The complainant, a citizen of the State of Alabama, derived title under a conveyance from Duncan McArthur, a citizen of Ohio, and the only point decided in the circuit court was upon the question of jurisdiction. The circuit court dismissed the bill for want of jurisdiction, and the complainant appealed to this Court.
Before the argument commenced, the counsel for both parties asked instructions of the court upon the question whether, as the record contained the whole of the proceedings in the cause, and exhibited all the matters either party required for a final disposition of the case, in this Court, upon all the points in controversy, this Court would permit the argument to go to the whole case, so that a decree could be given here upon the whole case, or whether an opinion upon the jurisdiction only having been given in the circuit court, the argument should be confined to that question. The court having advised upon the subject, directed the counsel to argue the point of jurisdiction only, as no other than that had been decided in the court from which the appeal had been taken.
In the Circuit Court of Ohio, the defendant suggested, that McDonald, the complainant in the bill, was not a citizen of Ohio, and according to a practice in the courts of the State of Ohio, under the authority of a law of that state, interrogatories were exhibited to the complainant, to which answers were given. This law was passed subsequent to the act of Congress establishing the judiciary system, and was admitted not to be authority in the courts of the United States. The facts stated by the complainant, in answer to those interrogatories, with other testimony, furnished the ground taken against the jurisdiction of the court.
On 14 November, 1823, Duncan McArthur conveyed by deed of indenture the land in controversy to the complainant, the consideration expressed in the deed being $1,100, the amount of a debt he owed to the complainant, for land purchased from him. In reply to the interrogatory
"Whether he was the beneficial owner, or was prosecuting the suit for the benefit of some resident in Ohio, and whether he is the real prosecutor of the suit, and was so at its commencement, or whether his name was used for the benefit of a citizen of the State of Ohio?"
the complainant answered, by referring to a letter from Duncan McArthur to him, dated July 18, 1823. In that letter, Duncan McArthur offers to give the land in question, 1,266 acres, alleged to be worth five dollars per acre, to pay a debt of $1,100, suggests that the title is good if prosecuted in the federal court; "but state Judges do not understand land causes, and a claimant in the military district might as well toss up heads and tails as sue in a state court." It contains also this suggestion:
"should you accept this offer, and not wish to prosecute the claim yourself, you can make something handsome, I have no doubt, by selling it to some of your neighbors,"
and it concludes with offering "any assistance in my power, should
a suit be brought for recovery of the land in the circuit court."
He also stated in his answer that the deed under which he claimed was executed for the purpose of giving jurisdiction to the court of the United States, because he believed that court safer than any other in the State of Ohio; that the contract was made by letter, of which he had not retained a copy; and that at the time the deed was "written," there was no special agreement between him and McArthur, but perhaps propositions by letter. "I give my bonds to a third party for a quitclaim title to said lands on condition of their paying me $1,100."
The complainant insisted that the deed from McArthur conveys to McDonald such a title as will enable him to sustain the suit in a federal court; that it is sufficient, if he has any interest; that by accepting the deed, McDonald has been paid his debt, and though he may be only mortgagee, he may sue in this Court.
The respondents contended that the answer of McDonald shows that he is not the owner of the land, and his manner of answering, leaves no doubt, but that the owner is a citizen of Ohio, and that the jurisdiction of the court, therefore, cannot be maintained.
MR. CHIEF JUSTICE MARSHALL delivered the opinion of the Court.
This suit was instituted in the Circuit Court of the United States for the Seventh Circuit, and District of Ohio, to obtain a conveyance of a tract of land, lying in what is termed "the military district;" claimed by the complainant under a patent, younger than that under which it is held by the defendants. The complainant is a citizen of Alabama, and claims the land under a conveyance from Duncan McArthur, who is a citizen of Ohio. The defendants objected to the jurisdiction of the court, and after hearing the parties upon this point, the court dismissed the bill, being of opinion that its jurisdiction could not be sustained. From this decree, the complainant has appealed, and the cause is now before this Court on the question of jurisdiction.
The bill states the complainant to be a citizen and resident of the State of Alabama and the defendants to be citizens and residents of the State of Ohio. It has not been alleged and certainly cannot be alleged that a citizen of one state having title to lands in another is disabled from suing for those lands in the courts of the United States by the fact that he derives his title from a citizen of the state in which the lands lie; consequently the single inquiry must be whether the conveyance from McArthur to McDonald was real or fictitious?
The transaction as laid before the court appears to be this; McArthur was apprehensive that his title could not be sustained in the courts of the state, in which alone he could sue, and being indebted to McDonald in the sum of $1,100, offered to sell and convey to him the land in controversy in payment of
this debt. The letter in which this offer was made, expresses the opinion that his title was good, and would most probably be established in the courts of the United States, but would fail in the courts of the state. He estimates the property as being worth much more than the sum he is willing to take for it, but in consequence of the difficulties attending the title, he is willing to convey it in satisfaction of the debt. He suggests that if McDonald should be disinclined to engage in the controversy himself, he might make an advantageous sale to some of his neighbors, who might be disposed to emigrate to Ohio, and offers to render any service in his power to the proprietor of the land, in the prosecution of the claim in the courts of the United States.
The contract was concluded by a letter, written in answer to that which has been stated, of which the said McDonald retained no copy. There was no special agreement between the plaintiff and McArthur when the deed was written, but perhaps some proposition by letter. He gave his bond to a third party for making a quitclaim title to the land, on condition of receiving from him $1,100.
This testimony, which is all that was laid before the court, shows, we think, a sale and conveyance to the plaintiff, which was binding on both parties. McDonald could not have maintained an action for his debt, nor McArthur a suit for his land. His title to it was extinguished, and the consideration was received. The motives which induced him to make the contract, whether justifiable or censurable, can have no influence on its validity. They were such as had sufficient influence with himself, and he had a right to act upon them. A court cannot enter into them, when deciding on its jurisdiction. The conveyance appears to be a real transaction, and the real as well as nominal parties to the suit, are citizens of different states.
The only part of the testimony which can inspire doubt, respecting its being an absolute sale, is the admission that the plaintiff gave his bond to a third party for a quitclaim title to the land, on paying him $1,100. We are not informed who this third party was, nor do we suppose it to be material. The title of McArthur was vested in the plaintiff, and did not pass out of him by this bond. A suspicion may exist that it was for McArthur. The court cannot act upon this suspicion.
But suppose the fact to be avowed, what influence could it have upon the jurisdiction of the court? It would convert the conveyance, which on its face appears to be absolute, into a mortgage. But this would not affect the question. In a contest between the mortgagor and mortgagee, being citizens of different states, it cannot be doubted that an ejectment or a bill
to foreclose, may be brought by the mortgagee, residing in a different state, in a court of the United States. Why then may he not sustain a suit in the same court, against any other person being a citizen of the same state with the mortgagor. We can perceive no reason why he should not. The case depends, we think, on the question whether the transaction between McArthur and McDonald was real or fictitious, and we perceive no reason to doubt its reality, whether the deed be considered as absolute or as a mortgage.
A question has been made whether the circuit court ought to have noticed the testimony on the conveyance under which the plaintiff claims, because it was brought irregularly before them.
By a law of the state, interrogatories may be propounded by the defendant in his answer, which the plaintiff is compelled to answer as if they had been propounded in a cross-bill.
Although this point has become unimportant in this cause, the Court thinks it proper to say that the rules which govern the practice of the circuit courts in chancery have been prescribed by this Court, and ought to be observed.
We think there is error in the decree of the circuit court dismissing the complainant's bill, and that the same ought to be
Reversed and the cause remanded for further proceedings according to law.
This case came on, &c.;, and was argued on the point of jurisdiction, on consideration whereof, this Court is of opinion that there is error in the decree of the said circuit court dismissing the complainant's bill. It is therefore decreed and ordered by this Court that the decree of the said circuit court in this cause be and the same is hereby reversed and annulled. And it is further ordered that the cause be remanded to the said circuit court for further proceedings to be had therein according to law and justice.
|
English
|
NL
|
866c1716a5c7a89bdcc79d49bbfd527e4189a1f5ec7a014d7656164db37d265a
|
Oedipus – Free Will Vs Fate Essay
Sorry, but copying text is forbidden on this website!
Oedipus as the Puppet and the Puppeteer The misfortunes that befall Oedipus the King in Sophocles’ play show a fundamental relationship between the will of the gods and man’s free will. The ancient Greeks believed that the gods ruled the universe and had an irrefutable role in the conditions of man’s existence. Man was free to make his own choices but was ultimately held responsible for his actions. The concepts of free will and fate play an integral role in Oedipus’ destruction.
Although he was a victim of fate, Oedipus was not completely controlled by it.
Inevitably, Oedipus will fulfill the prophecy delivered by the oracle before his birth. He tries to avoid his fate and believes that he has outsmarted the gods by leaving Corinth. He obviously believes in the concept of predestination but refuses to obey it himself. Like Laius and Jocasta, who tried to kill him after his birth, he sought ways to escape his horrible destiny.
The chorus takes the side of the gods and preaches their power throughout the play, only deviating from this position once. “But if any man comes striding, high and mighty/in all he says and does,/”¦let a rough doom tear him down.
” The mortal who ignores the laws of the Universe exhibits hubris and is doomed to fail. (Ode 2. 972-82) If Oedipus manages to avoid the prophecy he will diminish belief in the power of the gods. A paradox surfaces when the chorus fears he may prove the gods wrong, but at the same time fears that the prophecies may prove to be true. Although Oedipus shuns the idea of fate and the lack of free will, it is evident that he believes in and is fearful of them. After hearing rumors that he was not “his father’s son”, Oedipus turns to the oracle and discovers that he will someday kill his father and marry his mother.
Oedipus flees in a desperate attempt to escape, proving that he believes in fate. If he had control, he would have no reason to run. During his travels, Oedipus meets with a “brace of colts/drawing a wagon”, and after being thrust off the road he reacts violently and kills all but one man. Oedipus fled because he was afraid he would fulfill the prophecy. His actions support the argument that free will does exist. He knew what was prophesized yet still acted in rage and committed murder rather than trying to avoid it. Oedipus cannot be held responsible for the life set out for him by the gods.
He can, however, be accused of having too much pride, which inevitably leads to his own downfall. Perhaps he could not have prevented the actual patricide and smarmy incest, but he could have allowed himself to realize his identity. Oedipus is merely an unfortunate victim of circumstance. He possesses the ability to make his own decisions within the structure created by the gods. Oedipus displayed free will by killing Laius at the crossroads and could have prevented his sins but only temporarily. If it had not been at that time, he would have fulfilled the prophecy later.
Disgusted by his sins and his blindness to them, Oedipus literally puts himself in the dark. The chorus asks him “what superhuman power” drove him to it and he replies that “the hand that struck my eyes was mine,/mine alone””no one else””/ I did it myself! ” He will not accept fate as his downfall. Jocasta also tries to deny fate. “Fear? / What should a man fear? It’s all chance,/ chance rules our lives. ” (scene 3. 1069-71) Oedipus claims full responsibility for his sins and shows that he still believes in free will.
Perhaps his true sin lay in his overzealous attempt to raise himself above the gods and escape his fate. When Oedipus tears at his eyes with Jocasta’s broaches, he is accepting the full burden of his actions. Therefore, the last act of destruction is caused by his free will, but is only done in protest of his misfortunes that came about because of the nature of the gods and their role in human affairs. The chorus concludes in the exodus by warning the Greeks that the only way to attain happiness is through humility and respect of the gods, both which are qualities that Oedipus lacks.
Oedipus, a puppet of the gods, never accepts this and serves as an example to all men alike. He does have some control over his own life, however, which is shown when he commits the murders and blinds himself. Oedipus chooses not to commit suicide at the end of the play and shows that he has control over his own death. The opposite poles of destiny and free will are present in the play and their differences end up complimenting each other, forming a tragedy which is able to portray Oedipus as both an innocent victim and a criminal who is responsible for his own downfall.
|
English
|
NL
|
f3b89ff108bb58e92859fff98e7957c8b70ddb28ba9e4b9f5ffea2c116b985f0
|
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.