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Posted on September 24, 2017 September 24, 2017 by Courtney SmallIn Reactions, Reviews, TIFF2 Minutes Read There is something undeniably universal about the teenage experience. While it can be argued that no two teens are exactly alike, the curiosities about the opposite sex and the questions about their own place in the world are identifiable regardless of where this coming-of-age ritual takes place. This is one of the reasons why Sadaf Foroughi’s directorial debut, Ava, is such a riveting piece of cinema. Ava (Mahour Jabbari) is a normal teenage girl by all accounts. She is a good student, dreams of becoming a professional musician, and makes silly bets about getting the attention of a boy, with other girls in her school. By comparison she is a saint relative to what other 16-year-olds are getting themselves into. Unfortunately, Ava’s overprotective Iranian parents do not think the topic of boys should even be on their daughter’s mind at this stage. Overreacting about an encounter with a classmate’s brother, which Ava insists was innocent in nature, her mother takes her to a gynecologist to ensure that she is still a virgin. This action of mistrust on her mother’s part begins to have huge ramifications for the embarrassed Ava. As the noose of contradiction and overprotection starts to tighten around Ava’s neck, she begins to question the motives and double standards of the stifling society she is stuck in. One of the most startling things about Ava is the way in which the adults seem intent on protecting the children at all costs, without every really saying what they are shielding them from. There is talk of a recent incident that occurred to another student, but neither Ava’s teachers or parents ever elaborate on what happen, or where it took place. Instead they preach about the horrors of succumbing to basic human emotions for fear of dishonoring the community. Ava’s sense of communal paranoia is especially noticeable in the police like state that Ava’s school slowly becomes. Students who barely differentiate fact from fiction are put in a position where they must report any sign of “indiscretions” they hear about. The irony that the youth who are not worthy of the adult’s full trust, but must become trusted informants, is not lost on either Foroughi or the audience. It is the weight of this oppression and double standards, the latter of which is evident when Ava learns of her parent’s past, that makes Ava’s journey so heartbreaking. As the adults systematically take away everything she holds dear, and her resulting actions become more desperate, it’s clear that her only crime is not wanting the carry the burden that those around her have unjustly placed on her. A powerful coming-of-age tale of isolation and hypocrisy, Ava officially announces Sadaf Foroughi as a filmmaker whose vision and gift for storytelling demands our attention. Related Published by Courtney Small The founder of Cinema Axis, Courtney is a Rotten Tomatoes approved critic who can frequently be heard discussing film as co-host of Frameline on Radio Regent. Courtney has contributed to several publications including Leonard Maltin, That Shelf, POV Magazine, In the Seats, Black Girl Nerds, and Comix Asylum. He has appeared on ET Canada and Hollywood Suite's Cinema A to Z. Courtney celebrates diversity in cinema as host of the Changing Reels podcast and is a member of the Toronto Film Critics Association, the Online Film Critics Society, and the African American Film Critics Association. View all posts by Courtney Small Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) ← TIFF 2017: A Season in France Archives Select Month November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011	5,983
Zehabesha Ethiopian Reliable News Source – Truth Will Win Zehabesha Ethiopian Reliable News Source – Truth Will Win In Other News Awaze News Health Health Food and Wellness Community Famous People People In Other News Awaze News Health Health Food and Wellness Community Famous People People English French German Hebrew Swedish Spanish Italian Arabic Dutch Lessons for Ethiopians from the downfall of US-supported dictators Analysis & Opinion / April 13, 2006 April 13, 2006 April 14, 2006 — Given the image that major western leaders, financial institutions and NGO communities have had of Meles Zenawi as a progressive leader, and given the massive moral, financial and military support he has received from donor nations over the past fifteen years, the measures actively undertaken taken against him by the Ethiopian Diaspora – staging demonstrations, writing letters and articles, organizing candlelight vigils, engaging in lobbying activities as well as waging this war on the diplomatic front – are indispensable tools and forces towards achieving the intended goals: public awareness, helping to show the ugly face of the repressive regime of Meles Zenawi to western governments and the international community at large. While completely believing that the progression of current engagements of the Ethiopian Diaspora are a crucial element of our broader resistance to help free our people from prolonged economic poverty, political repression by successive regimes and uninterrupted, multiple tragedies, it is also vitally important to realize that the challenges to our struggle are many and complex, and the path we must travel may be painfully long and hard. The disappointments and frustrations experienced and expressed by some compatriots in articles recently posted on various pro-democracy websites in connection with the persistent refusal of the US administration to stop supporting, financing and protecting the enemy of both Ethiopia and its people are therefore unfortunate and untimely. This is especially true given the historical record of the United States itself as the most violent nation on the globe, and given its historical record – which continues into the present – of supporting, financing and working hand in glove with unelected and undemocratic leaders, including both civil and military regimes and world dictators, as part of its own geo-political and military strategies and economic interests. This will be clearly shown in the following pages. The cardinal objective of this paper is to take a close, critical look at the historical links and economic and political relations of the United States with world dictators and mass murderers, including the provision of critical information to be used against the people ruled by those regimes, the deployment of highly specialized, high level CIA agents and even in some cases the deployment of United States Army Special Forces – also known as the Green Berets – in these countries to help hunt down and eliminate the so-called “enemies of US-friendly governments.” I intend to examine the relations of the United States with self-installed and repressive regimes by providing a few solid examples of well-known world dictators, such as Fulgencio Batista of Cuba, Augusto Pinochet of Chile, Ferdinand Marcos of the Philippines, Samuel Kanyon Doe of Liberia, and Mobutu Sese Seko’ of Zaire (now Congo), who ruthlessly and persistently committed the most immeasurable, appalling crimes and human tragedies against their own people – and did so with the staunch economic and military support of the United States, on grounds of political and economic interests, geo-military strategies and ideological reasons. My additional purpose is to illustrate to my compatriots who are currently expressing their frustration with the attitude of the US administration towards the unelected regime of Meles Zenawi that dictatorial regimes supported and financed by the United States in the past have never been removed from power by economic and military sanctions imposed by the United States, but rather have been defeated by uprisings among the oppressed themselves, by guerrilla warfare or by a military coup d’état. In an attempt to provide some insight into the involvement and role of the US administration in arranging for the demise of Kwame Nkrumah’s government in 1966, which dashed Africans’ hopes and expectations for the leadership and personal inspiration of Nkrumah, the case of Ghana, including the political and economic repercussions of the coup and the eventual achievements of the country, will briefly be assessed. Also – as predicted by various political experts on the Horn of Africa – Meles Zenawi has had to choose between sharing power and increasing repression. His choice – to rule my people with repression and the barrel of the gun – has been made abundantly clear, and may lead to the usual, unavoidable war, both internal and external. Therefore substantial attention will be allocated to the urgent need to devise, set up and expand organizational structures staffed by skilled and well-trained personnel and using mature mechanisms on a variety of fronts, from office work to lobbying and diplomacy. Before addressing the forces inherent in the collective power of the oppressed – which has managed to vigorously remove world dictators who have been longtime US partners and friends, destroying the structures of their oppressive systems – let me, as one of the 131 Ethiopians charged with treason and genocide by the enemy of Ethiopia, the quasi-regime of Meles Zenawi, make some brief remarks in connection with recently held court proceedings and statements made by the cadres of this self-installed dictator. Like many of my compatriot victims of Meles Zenawi, who have also been accused with creatively invented charges, I was astounded to come across and read the following text on the TPLF website, the “Walta Information Center:” on the 24th of February 2006, the day after the court hearing, it states – with the usual endless lies of the unelected dictator of Meles Zenawi and his cadres – that the court would “try in absentia the 36 defendants who had been summoned by the prosecutor, as they failed to appear before it.” My simple question at that time was: when and where did the prosecutor send his official letter of invitation to his intended victims? As far as I am concerned, I have neither received nor seen a letter, either directly from Addis Ababa or from representatives of the self-installed ruler of my country, requesting me to appear in court on the 23rd of February 2006. I am pretty sure that the story is exactly the same for the other victims as well – that they received no letter from TPLF cadres asking them to appear in court. If the prosecutor or the TPLF cadres did not wish to notify us by means of official, written letters instructing us to appear in court and informing each of us of the officially stated charges – explaining in detail the supposed crimes, including the specific individual victims upon whom the crime had been inflicted and the place and time where the said crime was committed, with names of possible witnesses – how could we have known that a court hearing had been scheduled to try us, to say nothing of the nature of the official charges against us? It would be interesting to know why the TPLF leaders and cadres did not dare state the charges officially and publicly, in writing, under the letterhead of the responsible institution, and send it to us through their representatives. Aren’t such tasks, such as communicating with the Ethiopian Diaspora and with other foreign officials, departments and concerned institutions the responsibility of the Ethiopian Embassies and Consulates located throughout the international community? Why, if TPLF leaders are confident in their cases and believe that their charges are well grounded, was there no official request to the government of each country where one or more of us – the accused – is living, requesting that we be turned over to the TPLF leadership, just as Meles Zenawi requested of the government of Zimbabwe in the case of Mengistu Hailemariam, and as he requested of the United States government regarding the return of some former Mengistu cadres who had committed atrocious crimes in Ethiopia during the period of the Red Terror? It is indeed an interesting question why the TPLF leadership is not making use of the normal procedures to bring the accused foreign nationals of Ethiopian origin to their court, a body established by dictators and murderers of children, if they really believe that these cases are built on solid foundations. The heart of the matter, as every rational person can see, however, is that the TPLF leadership is well aware that the charges in its cases have been built on sand; and that the intent is, if possible, to snatch and kill us with the gun bought with the money of Ethiopian and western taxpayers. If that is not possible, the next idea would be to intimidate us so that we can be silenced from speaking out, from writing and from making known the untold heinous crimes being perpetrated against the innocent citizens of Ethiopia – that is, from resisting a repressive, divisive policy and structural system. Yes, the TPLF leadership of Meles Zenawi is well aware that we, the 131 accused, as citizens of Ethiopia and foreign nationals of Ethiopian origin, did not commit any sort of crime, except that we have spoken to mass gatherings, to national or international media, or staged demonstrations; and/or have written letters and articles challenging and criticizing the cardinal foundation of the TPLF’s monopolistic, ethnocentric and undemocratic policy, which is a permanent source of political instability and persistent economic impoverishment. Indeed, the TPLF leadership of Meles Zenawi didn’t want and cannot follow the internationally arranged and accepted procedures and channels for the simple reason that TPLF cadres – the so called prosecutors – cannot effectively argue their cases with the officials of their donor countries. Yes, they know perfectly well that they cannot argue the foundation of their cases in open, fair face-to-face meetings, or major gatherings with the international media present, or in a fairly established court – in fact they cannot appear in public at all without the protection of guns. It is undoubtedly this lack of rational arguments that has made the TPLF leadership insistent in its refusal to even respond to written requests made by western government officials and human rights organizations to explain the specific crimes that the accused in the Ethiopian Diaspora are said to haven committed. The TPLF leaders themselves know that in nation-states that are not ruled by an authoritarian regime, the ability to challenge and criticize a leadership, whether elected or unelected, in a public debate is in effect a right, a moral obligation and even a national responsibility of the concerned and involved individuals in the society. It is additionally true that in many regimes in world society with relatively democratic systems and cultures, political leaders who have confidence in their policy and administration don’t kill their critics, nor do they imprison a disproportionately high number of these critics’ supporters. Such leaders even make little or no fuss about those who challenge the policies of their government, preferring to leave judgement on the palatability, the acceptability or unacceptability, of the critics and their challenges to the public who elected them to govern. A second point that deserves to be highlighted concerns the current political strategies and false charges that the TPLF is directing at the Kinijit leaders and at a large proportion – over 90 percent – of Ethiopian society, who are labelled narrow nationalists, ethnocentric and separatists. It is indeed surprising that, since the TPLF leadership itself has been repeatedly accused throughout its over thirty years of existence, not only by Ethiopians, but also the international human rights organisations, NGO communities and experts on the politics of the region of the Horn of Africa, of being a master in the use of an extremely divisive ethnic policy. This policy continues to be a permanent source of resentment, hostility and a cancer on the current and future development of Ethiopian society; the TPLF leadership is, as always, engaged in preparing the ground for war among various ethnically different regions so that they can play the policeman, the prosecutor, the judge, the wise man and act as an adjudicator among these groups and regions. The leaders of TPLF have in recent times begun to use the same words of war and charges against the leadership of the Kinijit and the rest of non-Tigraian society that others have used against them. Being discredited and not having a good answer in response to questions and demands posed by major donor nations and NGO communities – upon whom the existence and the survival of the TPLF is exclusively dependent – about the atrocious, disproportionate crimes that continue to be committed daily against the innocent citizens of Ethiopia, Meles Zenawi and his followers are creatively engaged in inventing a new set of characteristics, including personal and collective cultures and behaviours, for the Kinijit leadership and for Ethiopians who supported and voted for the Kinijit leadership to become the undisputed future leaders of their country. As outlined above, the TPLF leadership is now tirelessly telling its patrons as well as the rural population of Ethiopia that the Kinijit leadership – which is in fact made up of people from various regions of Ethiopia and is fighting to decrease and gradually end the increasing dependence of Ethiopia upon handouts from outsiders and their charity organizations; working for peace and lasting political stability, and for healthy and enduing relationships between Ethiopia with its neighbours, Africa and the rest of the international community; and striving to revive the evaporating morale, the dignity and the feeling of Ethiopian-ness among Ethiopians – is an ethnically oriented political organization with an apparent objective of imposing its rule upon the rest of Ethiopia and extinguishing the people of Tigray. This is the most shameless politics from the TPLF leadership, which as always, as a result of the inability of Meles and his cadres to employ logically constructed and palatable arguments, has had to be creatively invented. Additionally, these creative lies not only show how poorly equipped the TPLF leadership is to defend the multiple and most tragic and heinous crimes it is perpetrating against the unarmed population of Ethiopia, including women and children, but also indicate total disrespect towards the entire population of Ethiopian and international community as a whole. In fact it is the TPLF leadership that comes exclusively from one region – Tigray – and which has forcefully imposed its rule upon the rest of Ethiopia by effectively employing tools of apartheid policy and methods similar to the Somali mothers and fathers who say “the Ethiopians are coming to devour you,” to scare their children when they refuse to go to bed or to stop crying. The question that deserves to be raised is what effect using such lies and methods – whether it is saying “the Amhara are coming to devour you” or that if it is ever allowed to take power the Kinijit political party will eliminate the people of Tigray from the map of Ethiopia – will have on politics in the future and whether it will be acceptable to the people of Tigray and Ethiopia at large. Responding to Recent Unsubstantiated Statements of Meles Zenawi Coming back to the cardinal issues of this article: one key factor has helped to motivate me to engage in producing this text, despite the promise I made to my readers in a recently posted overview of a coming article that I had intended to make available as soon as possible, and despite the students and readers who have sent e-mails asking me to send them the promised paper. I hope those who have been waiting for the expanded article will forgive me for deciding to engage with this piece, in which I intend to quickly and aggressively attack recent developments and suggest some of our immediate responsibilities that require urgency, including long-term roles and contributions that need to be made in a timely fashion on various fronts of our struggle, so that lessons that require urgency can be drawn and the intensity of our moral struggle to wage resistance against the ruthless regime of Meles Zenawi can be maintained, expanded and accelerated. One of the motivating factors in writing this paper has been an article entitled “Ethiopia’s Meles can weather political storms,” which was posted on 15 February 2006 on the Reuters website. The statements in this article come from some of Meles’ analysts and lobbyists, who argue that, despite the heinous and untold crimes perpetrated by Meles and his followers, as long as major powers remain willing to give Meles their protection and use their financial and military assistance to kill, jail and silence Ethiopians who are demanding freedom from the yoke of subjugation, the dictator will survive the current upheaval. Many of the statements quoted in this article were probably made with the intention of damping down the intensity of Ethiopians who are struggling to end the prolonged repression of the TPLF. I therefore feel that it is necessary to respond by analysing and presenting some historical records, which demonstrate convincingly that even more powerful and well-known world dictators have not survived the collective judgement, will, resistance and uprising of their oppressed people, despite the repressive nature of those dictators, the lethality of their weapons and the lavish support and protection provided by the United States and its allies. In addition to the article mentioned above, on Saturday morning, the 25th of February 2006, there was a BBC radio transmission on Ethiopia’s current political turmoil, human tragedies and unlawful imprisonment of elected Ethiopian leaders, in which Meles Zenawi relentlessly and unashamedly told the world a considerable number of lies, expressed as arrogantly as ever. This has been an additional source of motivation and energy. Here again, I felt that such outrageously stated lies should not be left unanswered. In this interview with well-known BBC journalists, there is a relentless, unashamed repetition of the usual lies. Meles Zenawi says time and again that he did not steal the election of May 2005, but he won it; he goes further, accusing the Ethiopian Diaspora and friends of Ethiopia of an “… unfortunate campaign of disinformation and vilification” of his victory and the rule he has in fact imposed by force upon the peace-loving people of Ethiopia. Meles Zenawi further insists that he will not be pressured by the measures that have already been taken, and which might possibly be expanded by donor nations and employed as a weapon in an attempt to end the killing of innocent Ethiopian citizens, including women and children, and to gain the release of the illegally jailed Ethiopian human assets – our leaders. He strongly believes that the decision to withdraw direct budgetary assistance to his regime has been made without a proper assessment of events and developments on the ground in Ethiopia. This is indeed a shame, not just for Meles himself and his cadres, but also for the entire population of Ethiopia and the international community as whole. I cannot think of any logical reasons behind the submissiveness of Ethiopians who are willing to stay silent and be ruled by a man of his kind. Most of my compatriots, and colleagues who are Africa experts, might argue with this, even attempting to convince me that the TPLF leadership is ruling the country of over 75 million Ethiopians by force – by the barrel of the gun. Such an argument has been entirely true for a number of dictators; it can be temporarily successful, as illustrated in the following paragraph. As will be seen in the following pages, however, force alone cannot and does not determine how long dictators can impose their power or whether it is permanent. The passiveness, submissiveness and selfishness of some sections of the population is also an important factor. Ruthless rulers are able to prolong their repressive power structures only if this is tolerated by the oppressed themselves – by those being ruled. As a large portion of Ethiopian society and others, including election observers from major western institutions, experts on the politics of Ethiopia, and national and international journalists believe wholeheartedly, it is a fact that the TPLF leader Meles Zenawi did not win the May 2005 national election; in fact he stole it by directing the barrel of the gun at the heads of our leaders and the Ethiopians who voted for democracy, for their freedom and for the future of their children. If we follow the usual rules of logic, there is not a single word that can be regarded as reasonable and acceptable in Meles’ arguments. It is only in his and TPLF’s twisted world of logic that his arguments are logical and acceptable and can be embraced. In response to the Kinijit’s declaration that it won the election in the capital city, Addis Ababa, where due to the availability of manpower and the presence of the required international election observers the counting of votes was proceeding well and had almost come to a close – and understanding that Meles was losing the election – on the day after the election, the 16th of May 2005, Meles Zenawi’s then “disinformation” minister Bereket Simon declared that their ruling party, the TPLF, had won some 300 seats nationwide. This was despite the full knowledge of the TPLF leaders that in many locations outside Addis ballots had not yet even been collected from voting stations to be moved to the places where they would be counted. Meles and his cadres know quite well, just as do all Ethiopians and many of Ethiopia’s friends, that Ethiopia is rich in medium to high mountains and that our roads are long, rough and uneven. The simple question that can be raised is then how on earth was it possible that the ruthless TPLF leaders managed to collect the ballots and count them in less than 24 hours, and indeed with what personnel? This was however not the most unpleasant surprise for Ethiopians one day after the election of their rulers. The worst was to come. Much to the shock and astonishment of all Ethiopians at home and abroad, as well as the international community, and in complete disrespect of Ethiopians and the international election observers, on the evening of 16 May 2005, with no grounds whatsoever, Meles Zenawi, declared a state of emergency, banned demonstrations including any public gatherings, assumed direct command of the security forces, and replaced the capital city police with federal police and special forces drawn from elite army units. Meles also ordered the suspension of the vote counting for some weeks, presumably with the aim of snatching the election in its entirety. Meles has never been able to provide tangible evidence to support his ban on gatherings and declaration of a state of emergency, for the simple reason that he did not have any. During and after Meles’ speech, most observers expected that Ethiopians would go out in their hundreds of thousands and challenge Meles Zenawi to either come up with acceptable reasons for his declaration of a state of emergency or lift the ban immediately and without delay. Regrettably, however, this did not happen. Ethiopians throughout the country remained passive and submissive, which in turn has helped to embolden the hearts and minds of Meles and his cadres to think that they can safely vomit continuously on the faces and heads of Ethiopians and the international community as a whole. The TPLF leader Meles Zenawi has also made repeated statements directed at western leaders and the media saying that he is determined to remain engaged, as in his view as he has always been, with the course, direction and processes of democratization. As any sensible person can imagine, Ethiopians from border to border, including the Ethiopian Diaspora – a potential source of headache for Meles – wonder, trying to understand and asking themselves constantly what Meles might mean exactly when he says “to remain engaged with the process of democratization”? Which democracy and democratization is he talking about, actually, since he has never been engaged? Ethiopians wonder! In wondering, we Ethiopians – including the allies of Meles – ask ourselves every day about some apparent contradictions. If Meles does not wholeheartedly believe that he was born to cheat and repress Ethiopians and continue to trick the donor community, if he is convinced that he has a democratic mind and wants to see Ethiopia moving in the right direction for a process of democratization, and believes that he has the confidence of the people of Ethiopia such that they would vote for him – that he could win an election in the land of Ethiopia without depending on the members of his own party, plus those individuals nominated by Meles himself as judges and chairs of certain institutions, to decide the outcome – why has he then steadfastly rejected, as he continues to do, the various and valid proposals and legitimate demands that have repeatedly been made by Ethiopians and major donor nations to restructure the four major Ethiopian institutions – the Election Board, the Media, the Judiciary system and the Armed Forces? Although these are the property of all Ethiopia, and their restructuring is a basic requirement for a process of democratization, they are treated as a monopoly by Meles Zenawi and his party – the TPLF. Further, in responding to questions and comments made by professor Christopher Clapham and others in connection with the progressively unfolding political crisis, the everyday events and the heinous crimes being perpetrated by the forces of Meles Zenawi against Ethiopians and their elected leaders, Meles scornfully accuses the Ethiopian opposition parties, the Ethiopian Diaspora and friends of Ethiopia of engaging in an unfortunate campaign of disinformation and vilification of his totalitarian regime. In brief, what this most arrogant enemy of Ethiopia and its people has been and is contemptuously saying is that Ethiopia is presently a peaceful country; no mass arrests, killings, daily harassments or crimes are being inflicted upon the people of Ethiopia. In Meles’ view, there have been only “minor disturbances” in connection with the May 2005 national election. Those minor disturbances were initiated by “anti-peace” individuals and groups – e.g. the opposition party, Kinijit – and his forces have already incapacitated these anti-peace individuals and groups. Therefore, the problems and tensions experienced by Meles’ regime in the aftermath of the May 2005 national election are a thing of the past. In other words, Meles Zenawi is doing his best to convince the world that the thousands of mothers weeping, wandering daily from one street to another and from one hospital to another to find the corpses of their murdered children, husbands, brothers, sisters and fathers, killed with bullets bought with their own money, are lying or don’t exist at all. The tens of thousands forced by Meles’ ruthless rule to languish in disease-infected concentration camps located long distances from the cities or towns where they once lived, so that these victims cannot be visited by their families, are just, at least in Meles’ view, invented stories. And, according to Meles, the terrorization night and day of innocent Ethiopians by the forces of the unelected quasi-foreign enemy is also just a series of stories invented by the friends of the “anti-peace” individuals and groups. These are the kinds of outrageous statements typically made by Meles Zenawi, in an attempt intended to confuse the world and convince the donor community. How come when Ethiopians and the international community have hard evidence, including evidence that Meles’ own TPLF-controlled media transmitted (after first denying that they held any prisoners at all) for their own purposes – to show the world that the huge prison population confined in Dedessa and other concentration camps in Ethiopia are being treated humanely, and specifically that the TPLF prison regime does not, as it had been accused of doing, use one and the same blade to shave all of its prisoner victims – does the contemptuous Meles dare to twist yesterday’s history? How on earth can Meles dare to charge Ethiopians and Ethiopia’s friends with disseminating “disinformation” when we have solid, incontrovertible evidence to substantiate the allegations made against his heinous crimes? Isn’t Meles the one engaged in disinformation, for example giving Ethiopians false hopes by telling them that their country – Ethiopia – has profited and made a huge amount of money – hundreds of millions of dollars – from leather exports that the country does not even have the capacity to produce. Though I have not had the opportunity to study and grasp the entire history of Ethiopia’s previous leaderships and their backgrounds, I dare to say that my country has never had such a dictator, who appears born to twist facts and issues in an attempt to trick the world, with the sole purpose of remaining in power and subjugating my people for an unspecified period. This is indeed not just a dictator but an uncompromising enemy, determined to change and reduce the geopolitical face of my country, forcing Ethiopians to choose between being silently and helplessly ruled by him, or seeing the country being destroyed. It is then up to the Ethiopian people, both those inside Ethiopia and those living throughout the international community, to collectively resist, in an effort to unshackle Ethiopia from the entangled, heavy chains that tie it to Meles’ harsh and inhuman rule. During the BBC radio transmission mentioned above, Meles Zenawi, who clearly believes strongly that the decision to withdraw direct budgetary assistance to his unelected totalitarian regime was made without a proper assessment of events and developments on the ground, reacted irritably to the measures undertaken by donor nations, saying that he will not be pressured by economic sanctions and possible diplomatic measures to release our undisputed leaders and to end the killing of innocent Ethiopian citizens. Meles said reaptedly that his regime will manage to successfully repress Ethiopians without the direct financial assistance, material and moral support of western nations. Given Meles’ partial, if not complete, dependence upon handouts from outsiders, and given the substantial amount of moral support he previously enjoyed from the west, Meles’ statements concerning his means of survival are far from reality; they are just his usual lies, intended to trick Ethiopians and the international community. Like other Ethiopians and friends of Ethiopia, Meles Zenawi and his cadres themselves are quite aware that as soon as their current economic relationships with donor countries come to an end, as soon as the financial pipelines that pour the huge amounts of money into Meles’ pockets are closed, and as soon as the intended selective diplomatic restrictions against the dominant figures of the TPLF leadership are established and implemented, the entire structure and the very foundation of TPLF will be shaken and fractured, accelerating the demise of his repressive era to months rather than years. Meles Zenawi and his cadres know perfectly well that Meles is neither Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwen nor Isaias Afwerki of Eritrea. These two leaders, at least in the views of a good number of Africans and Africa experts, are nationalists and Pan-Africanists. And although Robert Mugabe and Isaias Afwerki are in conflict with the west, they can always lean on and find some solace among certain sections of their society and even among the people of Africa. But the same cannot be said of Meles Zanawi, who is seen by Ethiopians as their historical enemy and a contributor to the increasing weakness of their cultural pride, as well as the territorial disintegration of their country. Another important element in energizing my writing mood, as stated on the first page of this article, has been some signs of disappointment and disillusionment shown by my compatriots in recently posted articles in various pro-democracy Ethiopian websites, regarding the silence and unwillingness of the Bush administration to review its current policy towards the increasingly gross and unacceptable human rights violations underway in our country. While understanding and sympathizing with the feelings of my compatriots, I tend to believe that, perhaps due to the wide-ranging economic and other opportunities Ethiopians have been and are able to enjoy in the United States, the relatively comfortable life they lead there and their affection for their country of immigration, they appear to be somewhat naïve in their perceptions of its history, including the historical process of state formation of the United States and its economic and political relations with both previous and current world dictators – especially those who have committed and are still committing heinous crimes against their own citizens, with financial assistance and military support lavishly provided by the United States. Much to my disappointment and growing anxieties, Ethiopians living in the United States seem in particular to have misunderstood the historical and current views, attitudes and foreign policies of the United States related to democracy and the process of democratization in developing countries, especially in Africa. This has contributed to my feeling of urgency regarding the need to briefly reassess and review the basis of US foreign policy, also in historical retrospect, and to share this with my compatriots at home and those scattered throughout the international community – as far away as Tasmania, and New Caledonia. As will be clear in the following paragraphs, the cardinal foundation of US foreign policy is its own multiple and complex interests. It might, therefore, not be wrong to assume that the views and disillusionments expressed by some Ethiopians towards current US policy towards Ethiopia, and its close ties with the unelected leadership of Meles Zenawi in particular, are based simply on beliefs that the United States is a democratic country, welcomes a disproportionate number of immigrants annually from all over the world, and assists countries to follow the path of democracy, even helping people to free themselves from totalitarian regimes; or that the US itself may invade a country and overthrow the seated and functioning government, and arrest or even kill the entire leadership as in Grenada (1983), Panama (1989), and Iraq (2003). The question that deserves to be raised here is then: when the US takes such measures and invades countries, is it to democratize the countries in question and help their people, or is it on behalf of its own many-sided interests? The majority of world society, especially those from developing countries who see this question clearly, would argue that the United States has always and is waging both diplomatic and physical wars against certain countries and leaders for it own economic interests and military and ideological reasons. It is additionally true that the effective implementation of a democratic system in a given country, including the decentralization of power, respect for human rights, the achievement of women’s equality, economic prosperity and political stability cannot be said to be necessarily in the interest of the United States and determinant factors in support to a seated government. Instead support depends on what the United States needs and the response to its demands by the country in question. Let me provide an example to clarify the above argument. In Tanzania, the transfer of power from one governing party or individual to another based on undisputed decisions by the voice of the people has been an indispensable part of the political culture for the last decade. Though Tanzania is not a prosperous nation, the country has been politically stable since its independence from Britain in 1961. As can be recalled, the government of Tanzania has repeatedly declined US requests to cooperate fully in the war against the forces of Usama Bin Laden. The undemocratic and unelected dictator, Meles Zenawi, however, has enthusiastically and joyfully embraced these US requests, with the aim of being rewarded with substantial financial and military support from the Bush administration, which Meles can use to jail and kill more Ethiopian civilians. Due to the profound interest that the United States attaches to the unelected regime of Meles Zenawi, the Bush administration will not be willing to open its eyes to see the heinous crimes being perpetrated by the ruthless forces of Meles. But imagine: if five or ten students were to be killed on Friday by the police or special forces of Tanzania, the Bush administration would make all possible efforts towards an emergency gathering of all member states of the United Nations, and do its best to formulate a written, threatening statement agreed reluctantly by most member states, for possible economic sanctions to be imposed upon the country in question. It should therefore be abundantly clear that for any US administration the determining factor in whether to finance and support or not to finance and support any regime in any country is not how good and honest or murderous the leadership is, or what the regime or leadership can do for its people, but rather, what that country and its leadership can do for America. As the historical evidence makes clear, previous US administrations have never been willing to move an inch to review their foreign policy towards a nation-state where they are convinced they have a tremendous economic interest and political, geo-military strategic and ideological reasons – no matter what heinous crimes are being committed or detrimental socio-economic policies are being formulated and implemented by the leadership, and despite massive and uninterrupted protests by the people of the country in question against a seated totalitarian leadership that the US is financing and supporting. It is for such deep rooted reasons, related to the glue that holds together United States foreign policy, that a goodly number of internationally well-known world dictators who have been financially assisted, morally supported and militarily equipped and trained have met their end not due to diplomatic efforts of the United States or sanctions it has imposed, but instead due to the rising up of effectively coordinated forces of the people – the oppressed – alone. Where diplomatic efforts and sanctions have been imposed, it has been because these actions were perceived as coinciding with US interests. As can be recalled, during the Cold War, the United States was particularly fearful of the winds and ideological influences coming from the former Soviet Union and its allies. Consequently, attempts and efforts repeatedly made by the people of many countries to be rid of their repressive and self installed US supported dictators were persistently resisted and suppressed by every successive US administration. The historical records that will be briefly discussed below are cases in point. Cuba. A memorable case is the Cuban revolution of the 1950s, led by Fidel Castro; he later met his future indispensable comrade, Che Guevara, who was originally from Argentina and a medical doctor by profession. The United States made no protest when General Fulgencio Batista quickly became aware that he was losing the election, interrupted the vote counting and staged a military coup d’état in 1952, and continued terrorizing the people of Cuba with his repressive rule for some seven years. Fearful of Moscow’s undesired influence in countries among its close neighbours, the US became actively engaged in helping the dictator Batista with the sole objective of interrupting the progressive expansion of the forces of the people’s revolution that was being waged against him. The United States worked hard to prevent the Cuban revolution, supplying General Batista with sophisticated warplanes, ships and tanks. Despite the incalculable material, political and moral support General Batista was able to enjoy from President Dwight Eisenhower, however, the coordinated people’s force – the revolution – was irreversible, and on 1 January 1959, Castro’s forces seized total control of Havana, and Batista was forced to flee the country with his entire family. Chile. It is also true, as can be read in recently declassified US documents related to events in Chile, that the plans and strategies, including the organization of the armed forces led by General Augusto Pinochet to depose the democratically elected President Salvador Allende, were ordered and orchestrated by President Richard Nixon of the United States himself, with his Secretary of State, Dr. Henry Kissinger, and well-known select CIA agents. The reason for the United States to initiate the overthrow of Allende’s government in September 1973 was simply Allende’s socialist orientation and his socio-political and economic programme. President Allende and many of his colleagues were immediately assassinated by the brutal new US-installed regime of General Pinochet. Thousands of Chilean intellectuals, students and youth were ruthlessly executed and their corpses thrown into the sea from military aircraft; huge mass graves have been uncovered. Some well-known opponents of General Pinochet’s government were hunted down and murdered with the full assistance of the US administration, in Latin America as well as North America, including Washington DC. After General Pinochet lost the “yes or no” referendum to continue or discontinue his rule in 1988, which triggered the possibility of a multi-party election, a presidential election was held in 1989. This ended Pinochet’s long and painfully repressive rule in the land of Chile. The Philippines. Having extended military bases to various places in the Philippines and played the role of a semi-colonial power in that country, where American citizens and members of the US armed forces have enjoyed a special, superior status above the people of the country, the United States also served as a staunch right hand to one of the world’s previous dictators. President Ferdinand Marcos ruled the Philippines with an iron hand. He came to power as a democratically elected president of the Philippines through an election in 1965, and was reelected in 1969. In response to increasing civil strife in the early 1970s against his brutal rule, former President Marcos introduced a new constitution and declared martial law, imposing virtually dictatorial rule on the people of the Philippines. The early 1970s were additionally marked by a considerable and widespread corruption among government officials and by growing worldwide criticism related to the extravagance of the President’s family, especially that of his wife, Imelda Marcos. Despite the deteriorating economy, the accelerating tensions and the outcries of the people of the Philippines, the United States government continued to provide President Marcos with protection, including financial, military and information that was vitally important in helping to hunt down citizens of the Philippines whom Marcos considered a potential threat to his regime and his personal survival. The highly respected and loved opposition leader, Benigno Aquino was assassinated by the forces of President Marcos at Manila international airport on August 1983, while returning from medical treatment in the United States. This became a galvanizing force and a source of unification among opposition parties in support of the widow of the assassinated leader, Corazon Aquino, who ran against President Marcos in the 1986 presidential election. During this election period, the support of the general population for Corazon Aquino was well coordinated and mobilized. Having observed the irreversible course of the people’s power and of the revolution, the United States under the administration of President Ronald Reagan suddenly appeared to be in difficulty with respect to continued help to the dictator. Yet, despite the full and enthusiastic support Corazon Aquino received from the votes of the population of the Philippines, and despite the unexpected interruption in US support, the dictator declared himself the winner of the 1986 presidential election. Hundreds of thousands of angry urban Filipino protesters were certain of blatant election fraud, and went to hunt down and hang the dictator. As they were attempting to storm Marcos’s residential palace, US diplomats plus US special forces arranged his safe departure, together with his immediate family, to Hawaii, where the he died three years later. The same story is seen in many African cases. As will be briefly discussed in the following pages, United States involvement in the internal affairs of African countries has not been limited to the provision of unlimited support and personal protection to those African dictators who have become US favorites – with their most repressive policies, crafted to silence and rule their people for life – but goes as far as searching for and training those who will be willing to serve its multiple and long-term interests and deposing those whom US policy makers believe are unwilling to carry out US interests and orders as desired. Ghana. Although the evidence of a direct US role in the organization and execution of the military coup d’état of 24 February 1966, which overthrew a giant of a leader and an African hero whose struggle and demand for immediate independence for his native country had been granted on 6 March 1957 by the former colonial power, Britain – making Ghana the first African nation to gain its independence – has not been as well-documented and abundant as in many other cases, recently declassified US and British documents indicate the involvement of US high officials and the CIA in the construction of arrangements for the demise of Nkrumah’s leadership, along with his inspiration for the political and economic liberation of Africa. For a goodly number of Africans who strongly believe there was US involvement in deposing their leader and cutting short his intentions and the hopes of the people for an enormous amount of work, however, the coincidence of the coup event with an urgent telegram is an obvious evidence of US involvement. This telegram was received by Dr. Kwame Nkrumah from the US President, Lyndon Johnson, a little more than two weeks before the coup, and stated that the United States would cease bombing Hanoi so that Nkrumah’s aircraft could land safely in Hanoi and he could continue his peace mission to end the American war in Vietnam. For many other African experts and western diplomats, this coincidence has remained a permanent source of bewilderment and continued to smolder in the hearts and minds of all politically conscious Africans. The untimely interruption of the work of an African freedom fighter was felt everywhere in Africa and continued to be a source of concern among Africans, due especially to the far reaching repercussions that the coup and the eventual death of Kwame Nkrumah himself on 27 April 1972 in Bucharest, Romania, have had on the progress of Africa’s political development and the intended unification of African as a single country under a single leadership. The economic and political repercussions and the trauma of the coup have been heavy and hard to bear for Ghana and its people. Ghana remained politically instable and economically weak for over two decades after the coup, as must have been the desire of the United States and its allies. Its people were impoverished and in some cases were undesirable to the international community, and humiliated when they sought employment in foreign counties such as Libya or the west, or even as far away as Asia or the Far East, as a means of survival. Thanks to the determination and strong leadership of President Jerry Rawlings, his love for Ghana and its people and for Africa in general, the political landscape of the country and the living standard of its people have changed in a dramatic fashion. The status of Ghana within the international community has also changed. Today Ghana is ruled by a democratically elected president. Under the current leadership of President John Kufuor, the country’s economy continues to grow, reaching an annual rate of over five percent in 2005, and the people of Ghana have gained a reputation as a hardworking people who are self respecting, peace loving and above all proud of their country and of themselves. Starting in the late 1950s and early 1960s the struggle for political liberation in African countries coincided with the expansion of the Cold War, otherwise known as the East-West conflict. In this period, African liberation leaders and freedom fighters, especially those demanding not just political liberation but the complete independence of their countries and of Africa in general, continued to be victims of European colonial powers and the United States. Congo. Patrice Lumumba, the first democratically elected Prime Minister of the then (and now again) Congo, truly an African nationalist and liberator, was one of the victims of conspiracies among the US, Britain and Belgium due to his ideological differences with the west, his love of his people and his country. The energetic and highly devoted African nationalist, Patrice Lumumba, was murdered on January 1961, just a little more than one and a half years after his objective of independence from Belgium for his country was realized on 30 June 1960. Four months earlier he had been overthrown from his position as Prime Minister of Congo by his own armed forces, led by his number one enemy, Colonel Joseph Mobutu (who later became known as President Mobutu Sese Seko), in full cooperation with the United States and the government of Belgium. Historical documents, including photos taken before the coup showing Colonel Mobutu with high officials in the US administration, demonstrate the physical presence of both CIA agents and US high officials, their involvement with the power structures and networks of Mobutu and work to strengthen these networks. An enormous number of books authored by Europeans and Americans also clearly demonstrate the involvement and role of the United States in organizing plans for the coup and the eventual assassination Patrice Lumumba himself. According to historical documents, Mobutu Sese Seko was selected, trained and heavily rewarded by the United States, was made a personal and close friend of many high US officials, and was provided with information that was indispensable in hunting down, torturing and destroying his suspected opponents. Throughout his brutal rule of over two and a half decades, Mobutu Sese Seko executed his political rivals and secessionists publicly, in front of thousands of innocent children. With the sole purpose of setting examples and terrorizing the entire population of Zaire, youth and intellectuals who opposed the inhuman rule of Mobutu Sese Seko were hanged before huge audiences. Despite the many debacles facing the people of Zaire, including the heinous crimes perpetrated by Mobutu and his followers against them and Mobutu’s embezzlement of over US $ 6 billon – which was kept in secret European banks, specifically in Swiss banks – the United States remained the undisputed personal friend and supporter, financer and protector of Mobutu Sese Seko, the most cruel of African social animals, due simply to his fanatic pro-America and pro-western ideological stances and his hostile position towards communism and socialist countries. In addition, Mobutu Sese Seko was repeatedly heavily rewarded by the United States and Europe for his long and staunch support of the apartheid system and regime in South Africa – a system that was the enemy of the entire African population – and for his support of Jonas Savimbi, the leader of UNITA. The closing years of the Cold War are said to have been the most nightmarish period of his era for Mobutu. He realized that his service to western countries might someday be unwanted, so that the United States and its allies might cease their unlimited support. Moreover, it was during this period that the forces of the oppressed started to organize themselves, devising and strengthening their political structures and military strategies. And in fact, due to the end of Cold War and the intensity of the people’s war being waged against the regime of Mobutu Sese Seko, the United States and its allies told Mobutu that he was no longer welcome in most western countries. Even his phone calls to US and European officials were unwelcome. As the now helpless dictator Mobutu Sese Seko become weaker as his health deteriorated day by day, and as the forces of the oppressed, led by Laurent-Désiré Kabila, became more coordinated and stronger, the war intensified and the dictator was at last thrown from the back of the oppressed of Zaire on 16 May 1997. And as the internationally known brutal dictator Mobutu Sese Seko was no longer welcome in the United States and other European countries, he was forced to exile himself and his family to Morocco. He died in the same year, September 1997, in Rabat, Morocco. It is therefore be emphatically emphasized that while the administration of the United States does not hesitate to engage in planning and organizing the overthrow of a democratically elected leader, including their elimination for ideological differences or to further its own interests, embracing and supporting an established repressive dictator who is willing to follow its footsteps is also an easy decision for the United States. Personal charisma and the devotion a leader may show to his or her country and the well-being of its people are not among the criteria used by the United States in deciding , to embrace and support a particular leader or country. Liberia. Samuel Kanyon Doe, the former President and dictator of Liberia, a man with little or no personality whose personal and educational background and policies show enormous similarities to those of TPLF leader Meles Zanawi, is a case in point. Doe, having just achieved the position of a sergeant, staged a military coup on 12 April 1980, deposing and killing the democratically elected president, President William R. Tolbert, Jr. and his associates in the presidential palace. Doe, who originated from the Krahn ethnic tribe – characterized in Liberia as rural and deprived – quickly established a military dictatorship based on ethnicity called the People’s Redemption Council, and nominated himself as its head. Having openly declared that his ideological stance was pro the United States and the west in general, Doe himself and his ethnically based policy were quickly and fully embraced and supported by the United States. It made no difference that since the very day Doe came to power, Liberia had been marked by mass executions of those associated with the previous government as well as others perceived as opponents of his heavy-handed rule. Even his own associates, such as Thomas Weh Syem, the second in command of Doe’s regime, did not escape Doe’s ordeals. As the massive, heinous crimes he was indiscriminately inflicting upon the innocent people of Liberia continued, some colleagues and allies decided to deny their cooperation and friendship; they escaped him to take up the gun to fight, with the intention of ending the brutal rule of Samuel Kanyon Doe. The downfall of Doe was followed by a civil war that cost over 250,000 human lives, and the dictator of Liberia was eventually captured and killed on the street in Liberia by the guerrilla forces of one of his rivals, Prince Johnson, on 9 September 1990. After 25 years of terrorization and trauma, Liberia is at last politically stable and since November 2005 has a democratically elected leader – a woman, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who is seen by Africans and donor nations as the new hope and inspiration for African women and Africans everywhere. As the six historical cases above clearly show, unless the United States perceives that its own interests are at risk it will never move an inch on grounds of human rights violations or election fraud alone. Even if the victims of the untold crimes and the other oppressed arise and decide to collectively show their teeth, and no matter how many people have been atrociously murdered, mutilated or hung on a daily basis by the dictator of a nation-state, the key question is how the US perceives its interest. This is reinforced by the new phenomenon called “fighting terrorism,” which appears to have replaced the Cold War; if this comes to an end, there will be less reason to support the current Ethiopian regime. The question is then: Can Ethiopians draw lessons and learn from the long and painful experience of the people in the cases above, especially from the people of the Philippines, Chile and Ghana? They, despite the enormous military superiority and the repressive nature of internationally known totalitarian regimes and despite the incalculable support provided to them by successive US administrations, at last managed to make the terms “coup d’état” and “unelected dictatorship” into history – a thing of the past. Further bewilderment, at least for me and perhaps for many other Ethiopians and friends of Ethiopia as well, is provided by issues that include: why do some Ethiopians, especially those of the Ethiopian Diaspora residing in the United States, expect to see dramatic measures and actions taken by the Bush administration against the unelected TPLF leadership, when in fact we know quite well that the foundation of US historical and current foreign policies rests on its own multiple long-term interests? Why do we tend to lean so heavily on US foreign policy makers and Congressmen, while looking with depression at their body language, moods and goodwill? Why was it necessary for some of my compatriots in the resistance camp to express their disillusionment and anxiety towards the current US administration so loudly and publicly at this stage, instead of actively and inventively engaging in a search for mechanisms that would help to galvanize Ethiopians at home and abroad to action, and to link our efforts and skills – upon which our resistance against the unelected TPLF leader is entirely dependent? It is undoubtedly true that engaging in a war against the violent regime of Meles Zenawi by focusing on the diplomatic front, successfully managing to convince the international community of the need to impose economic and military sanctions, including travel restrictions targeted to dominant figures among the TPLF leadership, is the easiest and most peaceful roadmap to follow with the idea of ending the undesired and unelected leadership of Meles Zenawi and removing its longstanding divisive and repressive systems from the backs of peace-loving Ethiopians. However, as various authors and my own previously published articles have clearly indicated, and especially given the multiple short and long-term interests that the US administration is strongly convinced it has in our country and in Meles’ repressive leadership in particular, war waged on the diplomatic front will produce little or no fruit and certainly no guarantee of achieving our desired goals, including the immediate release of our undisputed leaders who are currently languishing in the lawless justice and prison systems constructed by the TPLF leadership, and freeing our people from the yoke of this most vindictive regime, unless our diplomatic efforts and peaceful resistance become an effectively coordinated part of a more internal war directed at changing and reorienting our long-existing enemies – certain patterns of our own habits, attitudes and culture towards each other, including our ways of communicating and working together; and unless we make all possible efforts to revive the love and respect, the feelings of patriotism and unity our ancestors had as a group and for each other. We must manage to fashion new power structures and new working mechanisms that will help to strengthen and sharpen our teeth and make us into an immovable force, to be feared and respected by both our friends and enemies. It is also undeniably true that the tasks and responsibilities of galvanizing our feelings of togetherness, nationalism and our sense of shared responsibilities are complex and difficult, especially compared to many of the activities we have been used to carrying out separately or with just a few individuals or friends and family members. But as we all can possibly agree, working in an isolated, individual way is not just detrimental: in fact it has been and is the common, deep-rooted enemy of all Ethiopians – probably, at least in my view, a more dangerous enemy than the TPLF leadership. The difficulty is especially clear when we are confronted with actual physical interactions, and when we are forced by events in our country to mold and incorporate our views into a single voice and work together side by side. It appears that we often prefer just to speak out about Ethiopia in general, about those we don’t know, and listen from afar to the crying voice of those who are directly affected – the local victims of the unelected TPLF regime – without facing those victims physically. Our conventional way of working on the individual level, in small groups or with family members, is a clear sign, a reflection, even an evidence of our inability to be tolerant to each other and work together hand in glove in larger groups. This has become not only a permanent bottleneck to the progress of our resistance and to the achievements of our intended goals, but also an obvious, almost insurmountable opponent that stands in the way of our unity and is responsible for prolonging the life of both our enemies and their unlawful rules. Since we have not paid attention to these issues, the problems – our seeming inability and unwillingness to learn to debate with each other and compromise, while maintaining mutual respect, loving each other as compatriots and friends who are concerned about common issues; and to be tolerant, able to differentiate issues from questions of individual personalities, while remaining committed to common goals – continue to expand and deepen in our hearts and minds in a fashion that may not be reparable, unless urgent and appropriate measures are taken by concerned and wise Ethiopian fathers and mothers. It is unfortunately true that there is an urgent need to wage a new war on our own side of the front line. Yes, it is depressing to observe that for many Ethiopians of my generation and those who are younger, in recent times even the meaning of being an Ethiopian, of Ethiopian patriotism and of loving “Ethiopia” has become increasingly confusing. This is quite different from Ethiopians of previous generations. It appears, at least in my own personal observation, that many Ethiopians are simply fond of “Ethiopia” – the land, its flag, the mountains, the rivers, the rocks and stones, and of course, Ethiopia’s longstanding history – but have little or no feeling of attachment or affection for the present people of the country. Indeed, a disproportionately high proportion of Ethiopians today remain vindictive and full of bitterness about each other, persistently reluctant or unable to collectively craft and develop a common working ground and learn to respect and love each other, or to live and work hard not just for individual or family well-being or enrichment, but rather to build a larger “family” with a shared responsibility for collective well-being. Yet we walk and sleep with a profound feeling of pride, proud of and leaning heavily and irresponsibly upon the ceaselessly fascinating history of Ethiopia, and proud simply of being the children of those who fought gallantly and decisively against foreign powers, despite the relatively modern and deadly firearms of those powers. Instead it would probably be wise to remember that the reason our ancestors, even with their primitive weapons, were able to forcefully defeat their heavily armed foreign enemies and return them in humiliation to their fortifications, was that they were strongly united by the forces of Ethiopian unity and dignity; they were also deeply nationalistic, in the sense that they loved and respected their Ethiopian compatriots and every piece of land belonging to Ethiopia. This should make it abundantly clear that people cannot live and work together to create a country that is relatively prosperous economically and stable politically if they have not first established the cardinal components of a culture of mutual respect and love – a culture that helps to glue together the differing views, ideas and creativity of the people who live in this nation-state. What can be done by the Ethiopian Diaspora who live in the “Land of the Free?” As can be recalled, even though Ethiopian students were in Europe and the United States earlier, the history of the Ethiopian Diaspora began with the upheaval of the bloody 1974 Ethiopian revolution. This can be characterized as the beginning of the darkest years in the history of Ethiopia itself and its people. Over time, internal strife among individuals and groups seeking power continued and became a permanent source of political instability and a bottleneck to the formation of civil societies and the rule of law, including processes of democratization; the fragile economy continued to deteriorate considerably; the number of Ethiopians suffering from poverty and disease increased substantially; and the Ethiopian Diaspora grew to a remarkable level. It has grown not just in numbers but also in socio-economic potential and influence, which extends to both national and international bodies and to influence on both peace and war, through the roles those in the Diaspora play as scientists and academics and in discussions with diplomats. Regrettably and disappointingly, however, and despite our considerable expansion in numbers, the increasingly percentage who have a high level of education, the economic resources we have been able to earn and are still earning – and despite the respect we have gained from our countries of asylum or immigration as honest, peaceful and hardworking people – the Ethiopian Diaspora lives in a manner comparable to rural or semi-urban Africans who work in industries located in a country ruled by a totalitarian regime where workers are not allowed to establish their own labour unions. Yes, even while living in the so called “land of the free” and in the face of needs that are enormous and urgent, to this day the Ethiopian Diaspora lacks professional organizations and institutions of its own that are capable of operating internationally from their own buildings, with office spaces and trained personnel where socio-economic and political strategies to further the well-being of the many-sided interests of the Ethiopia Diaspora and the complex issues facing our county can be discussed, developed, formulated and carried out. The Ethiopian Diaspora does not have such vitally important and respected organizations and institutions, although they would be conducive to reviving our morale and the lost feelings of patriotism, love and respect that our ancestors had for their country and for each other. They are also needed to help to restore or develop a culture of working and living together in a responsible way, so that we can directly influence and be an indispensable part of the forces of socio-economic and political change in of our country, playing a substantial role in defending each member of our community in times of unexpected difficulties. That is, our current situation is not because we lack the necessary knowledge, professional skills and economic resources, but rather due to the tragic division and disunity that began at the time of the cruel period known as the “Red Terror.” The forces of division and disunity that came into being during the early years of the Ethiopian revolution were gradually expanded and became rife in the hearts and minds of a huge section of Ethiopian society, both at home and abroad, after the failed struggle waged by the Ethiopian Peoples’ Revolutionary Party – the EPRP – in an attempt to crush and overthrow the fascistic enemy – the military regime known as the Derg (Committee). While stressing with full conviction the urgent need to establish such organizations and institutions, I am absolutely not saying that we should attempt to dominate the societies in which we live, as some feel the western Jews have done. Nor am I saying that the Ethiopian Diaspora requires hundreds of office buildings with tens of thousands of employees in Vienna, Paris, Amsterdam, London and many major cities of the US. What I am simply suggesting is that given the slim prospects most, if not all, Ethiopians living abroad have of returning home, and given the increasing numbers of the Ethiopian Diaspora due both to new arrivals from Ethiopia and to children born into the Diaspora, the creation of means and tools to help in strengthening the bonds we have with our people back home and the culture into which we have been born is indispensable Establishing organizations and institutions to meet this need – at a minimum, one in Washington DC and one in London, with the necessary financial resources and personnel who are trained in diplomatic and other educational skills – can be a source of pride to all Ethiopians, and a source of hope for the future especially for those defenseless Ethiopians who have not had an opportunity to arm themselves with modern education. Above all, the establishment of professional organizations and institutions of our own will not only decrease the extent of our dependence on devoted volunteer compatriots for day-to-day activities and responsibilities, and serve as a focus a source of education, a meeting point and an adjudicator for community members in conflict, but also can serve the Ethiopian Diaspora in particular as an indispensable bridge with our people at home. This will be instrumental in accelerating the collapse of the unelected enemy of Ethiopia, and can be employed as a power base to challenge in courts of law those who are responsible for changing the face of our country, for killing many innocent Ethiopian citizens, and for the unlawful incarceration of our elected leaders. * Dr. Maru Gubena, from Ethiopia, is a political economist, writer and publisher. Readers who wish to contact the author can reach him at [email protected] ← Previous Post Next Post → Your email address will not be published. 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The Blacklisting of an investigative journalist :: IPT in the News :: The Investigative Project on Terrorism Articles by IPT IPT in the News The Blacklisting of an investigative journalist by Jeff Jacoby August 31, 1998 https://www.investigativeproject.org/2269/the-blacklisting-of-an-investigative-journalist TO JOURNALISTS OF INTEGRITY, blacklist is the vilest word in the dictionary. Nothing corrupts a free press like conspiring to silence a man. And when the conspiracy results from arm-twisting by extremists, it is not only corrupting, but cowardly. This is a story of blacklisting at National Public Radio. On Aug. 20, NPR's popular Talk of the Nation dealt with breaking news: the US raids on Osama bin Laden's terror facilities in Sudan and Afghanistan. One of several guests interviewed by telephone was Steven Emerson, an investigative journalist and a leading expert on Islamic fundamentalist terrorism. Emerson has reported in detail on Islamic extremism, and has focused public attention on the network of terror cells and front groups operating in the United States. His 1994 television documentary Jihad in America won some of journalism's most coveted awards, and he has repeatedly been invited to testify before Congress on Islamic violence and US counterterrorist policy. "It may be," the FBI's former assistant director of counterterrorism has written, "that Mr. Emerson is actually better informed in some areas than the responsible agencies of government." In short, Emerson was an ideal guest for NPR's show, and his brief on-air conversation with host Melinda Penkava was unobjectionable. Unobjectionable, that is, to anyone except the Islamic terrorists and their supporters whom Emerson has done so much to expose. In recent years, he has been the target of a brutal campaign of vilification and defamation. The Council on American Islamic Relations -- a radical group that warmly defends Hamas and other terror outfits -- has led the way in demonizing Emerson as an anti-Arab racist. CAIR's world view is simple: Criticism of anything linked to even the most fanatic wings of Islam is bigotry. (For example, it labeled a "hate crime" the arrest of Sheik Omar Abdul Rahman, ringleader of the World Trade Center bombing.) Its approach to press relations is also simple: Deluge media outlets with protests, invective, and cries of "Racism!" when they publish or broadcast stories unflattering to Islamic extremists. Because Emerson has shed so much light on the operations of these zealots, his appearance drives them into a particular froth. Right after his NPR interview, CAIR urged its adherents to go on the attack. One of the many attackers was Ali Abunimah, a leader of the Chicago-based Arab American Action Network. Judging by its web site, the AAAN's chief project is condemning "the genocidal policies of the US government toward the people of Iraq." But Abunimah has a pet project of his own: Lobbying NPR to blacklist Steven Emerson. In June, he e-mailed NPR's news division to say he was "horrified" that Emerson had been used in a story on Mohammad Salah, a reputed Hamas fund-raiser. Emerson is an anti-Arab bigot, he said -- witness his comment in April 1995 that the Oklahoma City bombing bore "a Middle Eastern trait." It was intolerable to "have to listen to such a blatant, sickening racist." Abunimah demanded that NPR "not allow this to happen to Arabs . . . again." He pressed his vendetta up and down the NPR food chain: To the network's national news editor, Michael Fields; to the general manager of the affiliate that had produced the story; to Jackie Northam, who had reported it; to Loren Jenkins, NPR's foreign editor. The network caved. Fields assured him that quoting Emerson had been a "mistake" and that "it won't happen again" -- i.e., that Emerson would be blacklisted. But on Aug. 20, Emerson appeared on Talk of the Nation. Livid, Abunimah fired an e-mail to Ellen Silva, TOTN's producer. "I am shocked and disappointed," he wrote, "that TOTN had Steven Emerson on its call-in show today as a guest. Mr. Emerson is a well-documented anti-Arab, anti-Muslim racist. When he was last on NPR on June 24, in a report by Jackie Northam, there was a public outcry. . . . This should not have happened again. . . . Last time, I accepted the explanation that it had been an innocent error. But how many errors can be innocent? This is a very serious matter and will require an appropriate response." Abjectly, NPR caved again. The following exchange ensued: Thank you for your letter. Our executive producer was in charge of that decision -- not me. I take your point and extend an apology to you from the staff of TOTN. Please take care, Thank you for your response. Who is the executive producer of TOTN? Have you forwarded my concerns to him or her? Other than an apology, which we received previously, what assurance can I have that this won't happen again? I have forwarded your concerns to him. You have my promise he won't be used again. It is NPR policy. NPR's obsequious surrender speaks for itself. That an expert who testifies before Congress would be barred from the airwaves of the radio network Congress subsidizes is too scandalous to need elaboration. It remains to add only that, late last week, I learned of the Abunimah-Silva correspondence and asked NPR to explain its blacklist policy. Silva retracted everything. "I was wrong to use the word 'policy,'" she said. "I misspoke. We don't have a policy on Steven Emerson." I asked several times why NPR was repudiating its words. Silva declined to answer. (Jeff Jacoby is a columnist for The Boston Globe). en Email Address: Title of Comments: Comments: Email me if someone replies to my comment Note: IPT will moderate reader comments. We reserve the right to edit or remove any comment we determine to be inappropriate. This includes, but is not limited to, comments that include swearing, name calling, or offensive language involving race, religion or ethnicity. All comments must include an email address for verification.	6,417
Alice’s Recalculation date is October 31 (see Nest Egg Care, Part 3). She follows the CORE and recalculates each year. Returns in 2017 were terrific, and Alice’s Safe Spending Amount (SSA) calculated as +16% last year – well above the 2% inflation rate. Returns this year won’t justify a real increase. Alice will pay herself the same amount she did last year adjusted for 2.8% inflation. The purpose of this post is to describe the year-end tasks. (Also see Nest Egg Care, Chapter 13.) We had two tasks: decide next year’s SSA and decide how to get it into cash. ==== Decide SSA for 2019 spending ==== 1. I entered three pieces of information on Alice’s spreadsheet that looks similar to ours: inflation for the year (2.8%); the 12-month return for her stocks (2.5%); and the return for her bonds (-1.9%). (You have template of a spreadsheet for your SSA calculation in the Resources section on www.nesteggcare.com.) 2. The spreadsheet calculates the rest. It first calculates her Safe Spending Amount (SSA) for 2019 if it increased by the 2.8% inflation adjustment. It then calculates the alternative: the spreadsheet uses her current portfolio value and calculates the SSA that it could support. If her portfolio value increased enough, that value will be greater than the inflation-adjusted value. She uses the greater of the two. The spreadsheet says she has to use her current SSA adjusted for inflation. Alice’s Safe Spending Rate (SSR%) last year was 5.3%. That’s what she withdrew from her Investment Portfolio last year. To justify an increase in her SSA, she’d need to basically replace that withdrawal – have a real (inflation adjusted) portfolio return close to that 5.3%; thats about 7.7% with the 2.8% inflation this year. But her portfolio return for this year was 1.4% – her combination of the 2.5% for stocks and the -1.9% for bonds. (Our SSR% increases as we age – we aren’t worring about as many target years of zero probability for depleting that we did when we were younger – and this means we don’t quite have to earn back what we withdraw to justify a real increase in SSA.) I look at real return rates to understand what’s happened. The real return for Alice was -1.4% for the year. That was her combination of real return of -0.3% for stocks and -4.6% for bonds. I focus on stock returns: they’re great on average but not good at all at times. I view bonds simply as insurance. I’m less concerned about them. Bonds aren’t going to sink our ship, but stocks can because they can bunch up a few years of really horrible returns. None of us like to see any decrease for stocks, but returns below 0% are not unusual. Statistically, the -0.3% return is about a one in three-year event: that’s saying that we could expect to see stock returns below zero in one in every three years. And the slightly negative return for Alice is nowhere close to the first year of the most horrible sequence of returns I find in the past. That’s the one we always assume for our planning. It’s the one that the drives our SSR% and therefore our SSA to a really low level. You can see the snapshot of that return sequence below and read here. The first year of that sequence started with real stock returns of -14%. The -0.3% looks darn good compared to that. (You can also see the back to back HORRIBLE real stock and bond returns of 1973 and 1974 .) ==== Decide what to sell ==== The remaining maintenance tasks were straightforward. Her SSA is the total value or pre-tax proceeds of securities she needs to sell. She needs to know how much stocks and how much bonds to sell. I used the spreadsheet shown under Resources on the home page at www.nesteggcare.com. That made short order of the task. After the sales, Alice winds up with her portfolio in perfect balance (e.g., mix of stocks and bonds). The spreadsheet mentions that it can be a bit tricky to figure out what specifically to sell (Taxable or Tax Deferred) for lowest tax cost and therefore highest net cash for spending. Alice’s RMD is well below her SSA, but deciding what else to sell was not complex in her case. Once we had the net cash (after withholding for taxes) from her gross SSA for 2019, we adjusted the monthly payments from Alice’s Fidelity account to her checking account: 2.8% more than last year. Conclusion: To find your Safe Spending Amount (SSA) for the upcoming year, you enter three numbers on a spreadsheet and it calculates the rest. Alice found – as I think all of us will find this year – that returns on her portfolio did not support an increase beyond the normal increase for inflation. Once you know your total SSA for the upcoming year, you sell securities to get SSA into cash; you use a second spreadsheet to make sure you sell correctly: you end with your portfolio in perfect balance. The tasks are not difficult. They just take some time. It’s less and less each year as you get comfortable with the routine. Recent Posts What’s my checklist of tasks to get ready for December 1? How attractive is the financial return of a Single Premium Immediate Annuity (SPIA)? What’s in the inflation report to cause the market to JUMP? How long might it take for stocks to recover? How much did tax schedules adjust for inflation? 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AMCHA, an organization whose self-declared purpose is to protect Jewish students from anti-Semitism on campus, has a list. A list of 218 professors who have called for the boycott of Israel. Which is somehow a threat to Jewish students on campus. And they wonder why we call it McCarthyism. Several folks have suggested that all of us who are academics, from graduate students to endowed chairs, write the organizers of the initiative and urge them to add our names to the list. As an act of solidarity. I think it’s a good idea, so I’m going to do it, and I encourage you to do the same. Here are the folks and email addresses you should write: Here’s what I wrote: I noticed this morning that you listed on the AMCHA website 218 professors who are a threat to Jewish students (“Thank you for your actions to protect Jewish students”). As a practicing Jew, I think your list is abhorrent. As a citizen, I think it’s pure McCarthyism. As an act of solidarity with the professors who have been unfairly maligned by you and your list, I’d like you to add my name to it. Below please find my identification. How Do I Deal With Israel/Palestine in the Classroom? I Don’t. Critical Reading September 15, 2014 at 11:28 am \| # “Several folks have suggested that all of us who are academics, from graduate students to endowed chairs, write the organizers of the initiative and urge them to add our names to the list. As an act of solidarity. I think it’s a good idea, so I’m going to do it, and I encourage you to do the same.” It’s a good idea if you have tenure. reply Heike Schotten September 15, 2014 at 12:53 pm \| # hey does it matter that they’re targeting specifically professors who claim expertise in “Middle East Studies”? that’s where they got the names – from a petition from this discipline – and they’re using it to claim bias in teaching. i love your idea for a solidarity action but i think it needs a little tweaking given this fact. maybe we can ask them to start a broader list? reply Julie September 15, 2014 at 1:19 pm \| # They say they are targeting professors who claim expertise in “Middle East Studies” but my friend who made the list does not teach Middle Eastern Studies. reply This is a wonderful idea! Thanks for initiating this. I should also note in response to Heike that AMHCA has helpfully sorted through various lists and letters and provided this map of campuses where faculty support the academic boycott or have endorsed USACBI: Would it be possible to post the names of those who have written to AMCHA somewhere? Otherwise they will just disappear and it would be great to counter this intimidation by a public show of solidarity. reply Snarki, child of Loki September 15, 2014 at 1:09 pm \| # Went to look at the list. Looks like someone didn’t pay their internet bill for the bandwidth they’re using. As for “Critical Reading”, just tell ’em you are Sparticus. reply MLW September 15, 2014 at 2:02 pm \| # I think they’re under a DoS attack. reply stevek28 September 15, 2014 at 3:01 pm \| # Corey. Do you not see that the academic freedom issue concerning Steven Salaita mirrors the boycott of Israeli academics. In fact it is more insidious. When the Israeli academics are forbidden ,AS A GROUP, to participate in any academic function, it totally destroy the concept of individual responsibility. I ask you Cory, on the pain of negating your core principles to rethink your support of this transitivity. Steve Kraisler-Retired Mathematics Teacher It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends on his not understanding it.- Upton Sinclair reply Brian September 16, 2014 at 4:59 pm \| # Did BDS develop a list of Israeli professors and ask people to boycott them by name? In fact, did BDS asks that any individual be boycotted? No and no. The boycott is against institutions and those representing institutions that don’t take a principled stance towards the Occupation. reply stevek28 September 15, 2014 at 3:11 pm \| # Corey. Do you not see that the academic freedom issue concerning Steven Salaita mirrors the boycott of Israeli academics. In fact it is more insidious. When the Israeli academics are forbidden ,AS A GROUP, to participate in any academic function, it totally destroy the concept of individual responsibility. I ask you Cory, on the pain of negating your core principles to rethink your support of this transitivity. reply patricksodonnell September 15, 2014 at 3:46 pm \| # The addresses for the two professors (one emeritus) would not work for me. I sent a similar letter but had to use the UC Santa Cruz address for Professor Rossman-Benjamin. (Incidentally, per first comment above, I don’t have tenure, indeed, I’m an adjunct instructor.) reply Eron September 16, 2014 at 1:32 pm \| # The analogy does not hold. On the contrary the Salaita affair only strenghten the case for BDS. reply ars1947 September 15, 2014 at 3:19 pm \| # Reblogged this on Said With An Eye and commented: And the targeting continues reply Donald Pruden, Jr., a/k/a The Enemy Combatant September 15, 2014 at 4:05 pm \| # Corey, I am not an academic and was never a journalist (too young to get on Nixon’s “Enemies List” despite my self-adopted-because-I-stole-it pen name.) However, I would be honored if there was some way that I could be called a “fellow traveller” because I am a fan of your blog. Do you — or anyone out there — know of a way a brother get a “guilt-by-association” honorable mention? reply Edward September 16, 2014 at 9:31 am \| # Maybe you could be listed as an “outside agitator”. reply Donald Pruden, Jr., a/k/a The Enemy Combatant September 16, 2014 at 9:56 am \| # Am I now, or have I ever been…? I would have, if I had been invited. Especially if they serve cookies. Besides, I couldn’t get a date! But seriously folks. I am inclined to suspect that most of the scholars on that list are American. If that is true (this is only a suspicion) is it not a little weird that AMCHA…… [Forgive me but, very frankly, that acronym forces me to recall a hysterically funny but rude joke by Steven Colbert — I’m giggling now at the thought of it (I hope Corey does not get mad at me for plunking this in): http://www.videobash.com/video_show/munchma-quchi-58509%5D ….seems to be demanding that Middle East scholars (a category that seems to include scholars of other disciplines, but no matter) demonstrate in their teaching a species of patriotism to a foreign nation, that nation being Israel? When did that become a job requirement? After the blacklists, what next — loyalty oaths to the government and any other U.S.-allied nation state that feels officially offended by scholarship? When will Saudi Arabia issue its own “hasbara” project in the U.S. to counter American Islamophobia? reply Donald Pruden, Jr., a/k/a The Enemy Combatant September 16, 2014 at 11:17 am \| # It appears that the video I tried to link to ain’t there. Let’s try this again. Fingers are crossed. reply Juliane September 15, 2014 at 4:09 pm \| # There is also this petition in support of the blacklisted professors: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/pledge-to-support-professors-targeted-by-amcha reply BillR September 15, 2014 at 5:47 pm \| # Chomsky once used the Hebrew word for “dirt” (as in “digging for dirt”) to describe the modus operandi of ADL which has been keeping tabs on him for decades to be able to smear him when needed: The ADL office in Boston is rather porous. Sometimes staff there don’t like what they are doing, and leak information. In one case, someone showed up at my door and gave me a package of about 150 pages of material. First page said: “for Alan Dershowitz.” It was a collection of materials for him to use in a forthcoming debate in his favorite style of evading the issues: defame your opponent, and spend the rest of the time discussing the fabricated defamations. It was kind of amusing, rather like FBI files I’ve seen. Lots of surveillance. Spies sent to talks and sending back fevered notes that were mostly fantasy. Some personal correspondence that they’d gotten hold of. Lots of clippings with defamatory fabrications. That sort of thing. Just right for Dershowitz. And an interesting insight into the concept of “anti-defamation.” reply Ligurio September 15, 2014 at 6:31 pm \| # Those weren’t debate notes, but a book manuscript! reply yisraelmedad September 16, 2014 at 2:40 am \| # Ignoring what I think is an inappropriate use of the term “NcCarthyism”, even an incorrect use, how are BDSers not practicing McCarthyism? reply J. Otto Pohl September 16, 2014 at 6:34 am \| # I am only aware of the work of a few of the scholars listed. But, it appears that the list is based solely on whether they support a boycott of Israel or not and whether their work vaguely touches on the “Greater Middle East.” For instance they list Suny whose areas of expertise are Soviet nationality policies and the Caucasus, particulary Armenia and Georgia. I don’t think he has actually published anything at all dealing specifially with Israel or Palestine. It also appears to only apply to US institutions. I didn’t see any Canadian or UK scholars listed not to mention people working in Africa. reply David B (@deliotb) September 16, 2014 at 9:39 am \| # Academics: We are boycotting Israeli academic institutions. It doesn’t matter what the institution is, whether the other participants are leftists or rights, or Arabs or Jews. Amcha: Students may want to avoid these professors if they don’t want professors biased against Israel. reply jonnybutter September 16, 2014 at 11:18 am \| # Hmm. BDS vs a (ridiculously arbitrary!) blacklist of names on US campuses… At first I have to wonder if comments like David B’s/Medad’s are a result of: a.) idiocy – lack of ability to understand simple distinctions, b.) laziness – being too lazy to understand those distinctions, or c.) cynicism – understanding the distinctions but ignoring them. My guess is that it’s a weird tangle of all three. It’s a way that human beings behave, unfortunately, this tending towards feebleness. However, since we are discussing academia, it’s worth remembering that the biggest pier upon which rests any serious academic work is the human struggle to think rationally; to resist going jellylegged down the path of least resistance and acceding to being the simple, braying jackass some part of ourselves might long to be. If those of you who agree with their comments aren’t just being mostly cynical, please think about the difference between boycotting state institutions (and expressly not individuals), and making a smear-list of individuals in the US, with which this AMCHA have made themselves judge and jury and declared the people on their list – none of whom they necessarily even know – of being biased in the classroom because they don’t recite the party line of AMCHA outside of the classroom. And that they are therefore unworthy of their jobs. It is precisely McCarthyism. Where is a sense of decency? reply jonnybutter September 16, 2014 at 11:22 am \| # …not to mention your usual moronic tu quoque fallacy. reply Donald Pruden, Jr., a/k/a The Enemy Combatant September 16, 2014 at 11:45 am \| # I would love to have a recording of the conversation that resulted in that list. That had to have been the most hilarious exchange of voice mails, phone calls, and e-mails of all time. It almost certainly unlikely but — if anyone connected to AMCHA (Munchma Quchi) has any documentation of the exchange that evolved into that list, please consider leaking it to the public. I must state boldly that AMCHA’s (Munchma Quchi) project is likely to fall flat on its a$$ exactly because of its explicit channeling of “Red Channels”. Seriously — once this breaks the membrane of the directly interested (academics, hasbarists, progressive scholars, BDS, us here) and into the mainstream, AMCHA (Munchma Quchi) may find themselves embarrassed and be forced to quietly shut this effort down. Not even mainstream reactionaries can comfortably get on board such a project without inviting questions. Those of us who would like to get on that list may be denied the honor as the project drowns in its own stupidity. A list. Seriously? To frighten off Jewish students (talk about insulting a class of people — anti-Semitic much?) from taking courses with professors with alleged ‘anti-Israel bias’ (to intimidate universities into, frankly, taking aggressive action — firing? — against those listed)? This is a joke. A stupid joke that I cannot believe will have that long a shelf life. [I give up trying to find a link that works — just put that phrase in your search engine, and you will find the clip that I cannot seem to bring here. You’ll love it, and you will hear Munchma Quchi in the name AMCHA, just as I do.] reply I am Jewish and I teach history at CUNY. My students and study the Shoah. We also try to understand how the Jews’ tragedy became the Palestinians’ Nakba. My five years of Jewish education and my family’s Jewish values taught me to empathize with the sufferings of all people. If that has earned me a place on your list, so be it. I grew up in the 1950s and I remember the pain caused by lists like yours. Your actions are generating more anti-Semitism than all of the classes of every professor on your list combined! Shame on you! reply Another perspective September 16, 2014 at 1:47 pm \| # Because people associate Israel with the Jews. If there is a lot of Pro-Palestinian/Anti Israel rhetoric on campus, people could get upset. If they get angry enough, they’ll take it out on somebody who is associated with Israel—the Jews. If questioned, they’ll disguise their hatred as anti-Israel and that they hate supporters of Israel. In reality, they’re actually vicious antisemites (or Jew haters as I like to call them since technically Arabs are semites.) I think a “list” is shameful and unfair as it restricts free speech in a democracy, but young Jews like myself are worried that the next step will be violence in the streets, a scene reminiscent of Crystallnacht. It will all be in the name of “supporting Palestine”. Please consider my words, and don’t delete my comment. reply astudenteds654 September 16, 2014 at 2:15 pm \| # Because people associate Israel with the Jews. If there is enough Pro-Palestinian/Anti Israel rhetoric on campus, Palestine supporters might get angry enough to start attacking Jews in the name of “supporting Palestine”. If questioned, they’ll say that it has nothing to do with Jews, as they like Jews, but they hate “Israel Supporters”. While I think a “list” is shameful as it pressures against free speech in an open and democratic society, young Jews like myself can’t help but wonder if the next step is violence in the streets against Jews all in the name of “condemning Israel”. If people are angry enough, they’ll feel frustrated and eventually want to take action against Jews, even if those Jews have little or no support of Israel (because people associate Israel with Jews). People like myself worry that America is starting to look like pre-Nazi Germany where the next step is mass violence against Jews. Please post my comment even if you don’t agree. reply NattyB September 16, 2014 at 7:38 pm \| # What about Jews like myself who support equal rights for Palestinians, will I get confused and attack myself you racist POS? People like myself worry that America is starting to look like pre-Nazi Germany where the next step is mass violence against Jews Someone’s off their meds. reply Brian September 16, 2014 at 8:43 pm \| # Not just racist, but fundamentally dishonest to boot — comparing a time when anti Arab rhetoric and violence is pervasive to pre-Nazi Germany. reply astudenteds654 September 17, 2014 at 12:36 am \| # I want to be clear. I don’t condone violence towards Palestinian supporters or anybody else, but anger and frustration could eventually lead to violence. Look at it this way (and Brian mentioned it), people are so angry and frustrated that Palestine supporters seem to be in danger as well. I saw one story where a Palestinian supporter was getting death threats. (She wasn’t even an arab) While it isn’t fair or right, people associate Arab Muslims with terrorists. I don’t espouse that view. Why should people on all sides not be concerned that with all the escalating tensions both in the middle east and here that violence won’t be the next step? People are angry and frustrated and that could manifest in a dangerous way. BTW, it might sound cliche, but I’m not a racist. I have arab muslim friends and they’re some of the coolest people I know. Nice try, though. reply Brian September 17, 2014 at 7:42 am \| # If you don’t condone violence, then work to end the Occupation, which is the engine of violence and counter-violence. BTW, violent resistance against violent occupation is considered legitimate — occupiers don’t get to look to the occupied as guaranteeing their security. They must end their unjustifiable state terror and then we’ll talk of peace and security. One someone is under your boot whatever they need to do to push you back is legitimate. reply putanendtohate September 16, 2014 at 9:38 pm \| # Israel is not above the law of the Hebrew God. Ask any ethical Jew and s/he will tell you that in a heartbeat. Rabbi Michael Lerner will tell you that: “My heart is broken as I witness the suffering of the Palestinian people and the seeming indifference of Israelis. Tonight (August 4) and tomorrow (August 5), which mark Tisha B’av, the Jewish commemoration of disasters that happened to us through Jewish history, I’m going to be fasting and mourning also for a Judaism being murdered by Israel.” reply astudenteds654 September 17, 2014 at 4:30 pm \| # Brian, the “occupation” you speak of is a famous issue. Israeli forces are in certain parts of Palestine to ensure peace. What concerns many Israelis (and others around the world) is that if Israeli forces pull out, terrorists will take over. Let’s be clear. These terrorists just want to see Israelis, and especially Jews dead. Hamas cannot be considered a legitimate party if they are sworn to Israel’s destruction. There’s a reason they are put on the international terror lists. (Israel, America, and the EU and maybe even others.) Ultimately, it’s a chicken-or-the-egg scenario. I don’t want to do this as we could do this all day. But we digress. I’d like to focus on a more relevant issue. Why is it that there was just a seminar at the UN discussing global Antisemitism? Why was there at least one counter Anti-Semitic rally in NYC? And why, during the operation, was there not only many anti-israel rallies AROUND THE WORLD, but that some of which splintered into Anti-semitic chants like “Hitler was right” and other similar things (mostly that took place in Europe)? The answers to all these questions is that Israel is associated with Jews. To answer Professor Robin’s point, that’s why AMCHA probably made a list. Not that I agree or support the list, but today it’s anti-Israel, tomorrow it’s anti-semitism. The next day it’s violence. Believe me,it concerns me that there is islamophobia in this country. It’s against the law, absurd, outrageous, and runs counter to facts. This is reminiscent of when the Japanese-Americans were rounded up because Japan struck Pearl Harbor. Today it’s rhetoric. Tomorrow it’s violence. Every intelligent human being should be very concerned and do introspection to keep ourselves in check—before it’s too late. reply donald September 17, 2014 at 7:37 pm \| # “What concerns many Israelis (and others around the world) is that if Israeli forces pull out, terrorists will take over” That’s why Israelis build settlements and raise children in the West Bank. They’re afraid of all the terrorists, so they raise children there to function as, yes, human shields. It all makes sense now. “Hamas cannot be considered a legitimate party if they are sworn to Israel’s destruction. There’s a reason they are put on the international terror lists.” And by the same logic, Israel can’t be considered a legitimate party since it exists in its present form as a direct result of ethnic cleansing. And the reason Hamas is on terror lists is simply politics. A lot of groups kill civilians, including the IDF, and we don’t put them on some moral blacklist, because governments don’t operate according to consistent moral codes. reply donald September 17, 2014 at 7:38 pm \| # reply Donald Pruden, Jr., a/k/a The Enemy Combatant September 19, 2014 at 5:32 pm \| # I had to read that multiple times. At first I had planned to let that go. “astudent654”, you are clearly hyperventilating. An escalation constructed out of concatenated events mischaracterized/made up, or smudged together to permit mischaracterization. Let us start with this: “To answer Professor Robin’s point, that’s why AMCHA probably made a list.” Really? What have any of the scholars on that list have to do with anti-Semitism? Or, with violence? And how – HOW – the hell is a damned “list” supposed to project Jews??? From what?! You don’t say, but you try to implicate the scholars in your hysterical leap-frogging jag to that terminates in “violence” — even though NOT ONE OF THEM has any connection to any violence whatsoever, and NOT ONE OF THEM has ever been involved in any anti-Semitic action of any sort. Unless you, like other hasabarists, are simply saying that any review of the acts of the Israeli state, or of Israeli history or of Palestinian history that does not heroicize the mighty and noble Israelis and issue racist demonization of the Palestinians as “terrorists” must be an act of anti-Semitism that will lead to anti-Jewish violence. Huh? And what is so wrong about having an anti-Israel bias? Would that be the same wrong one finds in an official state (and corporate media) level bias against the state of North Korea? Or Cuba? Or Iran? Or Syria? Or apartheid era South Africa? (actually, officially the U.S. had a pro-S.A. bias during its apartheid days) Or Soviet era Russia? Or capitalist era Russia — like, now? Why did you write the term in this fashion: “occupation”? Why did you use scare quotes? The “occupation” is not just “famous” but real. And “famous” because it is real. And illegal. If the Israeli occupation is to ensure peace then it is clearly doing a profoundly SH!TTY job, if anyone is to take seriously the hasbarist whining about Palestinian “terrorism”. You and other hasbarists don’t fear “terrorism” [I use scare quotes on purpose, for I question the label given the social relations reality on the ground] but it is the prospect of the dispossessed defending themselves against the predations perpetrated by a modern nation state that frightens you. But just for sh!ts and giggles, let us say that Hamas is Hitler’s legacy (wasn’t that supposed to by the PLO?). Just how is Hamas supposed to pull off the Holocaust 2.0? Where are their concentration camps? Where are their gas chambers? What is their genocide-based infrastructure? How many Jews have been rounded up by Hamas (or, the PLO in the old days) and sent to their deaths? It is assumed that Jews, for some reason, offend Palestinians so much that only a new genocide against Jews will slake this murderous thirst. If this is true, the Palestinians are the world’s worst genocidal maniacs, a “race” of incompetents whose population members die in numbers far greater than their purported victims of choice, the hated Israeli Jews. What kind of genocidal-ist goes up against the most powerful military in the Middle East – a nuclear military, mind you – with homemade rockets that almost never land on any persons and are fired from behind “security walls” – erected by their chosen victims, no less – while living in squalid cantons created by their victims, have their homes razed by their victims, and their land expropriated by their victims, be displaced by their victims, rely on their victims to disburse funds or allow food and medicine into the land of those that would wish an elimination-ist program on them, while their victims live in up-to-date apartment blocks and suburban oasis whose lawns are maintained by water diverted away from Palestinians’ withering orchards and dying farms by their chosen victims, and have all of their travelling movements militarily policed by their victims who use the most modern social control technologies available – and all of this capacity which is delivered to the hands of the Palestinians’ chosen victims is paid for by the government of most powerful nation on the face of the Earth? Are THESE people, these pathetic Palestinians, to whom Hitler has bequeathed his unfinished business of anti-Jewish mass murder? Somewhere in Hell, Adolph must be shaking his head in despair and wishing he had found a more worthy inheritor of his project. Seriously, what self-respecting genocidal-ist society does not FIRST set up a system of inequality that places themselves as its master race BEFORE getting around to laying waste to the targeted subject population? At this, the laying of the social and institutional groundwork being the most important proto-genocidal project, the Palestinians have utterly failed. Frankly, it would seem as if they NEVER EVEN TRIED TO DO IT. How lazy can they be? You cannot do genocide if you don’t first in some way already rule over your potential victims. reply Pablo September 19, 2014 at 10:26 pm \| # Man, you can’t even get good quality Hasbara anymore. This blog deserves better paid shills spewing propaganda in the comments. reply astudenteds654 September 21, 2014 at 12:03 am \| # A lot was said in response to my post, and quite frankly, I’m flattered. At times, I’m bewildered and even slightly amused at certain things that were said. But I want to stay focused on what I originally wanted to post, namely the Anti-Semitic relevance to Anti-Israel rhetoric. For whatever it’s worth, I’m really not the only person who feels this way. People like German Chancellor Angela Merkel hint to the same sentiments. That is, Anti-Israel and Anti-Semitism are related. Empathy and a sense of history (especially Jewish history) is critical in understanding as to why people like myself are fearful. For hundreds of years, Jews were persecuted. They were either expelled, tortured, forced converted, or usually—just killed. People hoped places like Germany which was a democracy and had a thriving Jewish culture would certainly be different. But history shows otherwise. Global circumstances like German nationalism and economic pressure propelled WWII and the Holocaust. There were plenty of warning signs, but everybody ignored them, figuring the worst just can’t happen. But before anybody knew it, people were killed left and right. The whole world went to chaos and madness. It is therefore imperative that we watch our rhetoric. Yes, Israel can be criticized and I’m not saying it shouldn’t be, but what are the implications behind it? What is so unique about Israel that it gets the heaviest criticisms out of any country on Earth? There are high tensions between Russia and Ukraine. I don’t see worldwide protests kicking and screaming on the injustices. There are situations far worse than Israel. Nobody seems to care. Coming back, what does that have to do with me and my theory? Because, this looks like another “re-run” of Jewish history. The only difference is people are too embarrassed to say they hate Jews, so they disguise it as saying Israel is doing all the wrong things. It’s an encoded message that says Israel is wrong and the Jews around the world are responsible because people believe, rightly or wrongly, that essentially Jews and Israel are the same thing. I can only hope that people like me are absolutely wrong. It’s just an illusion and the truth is organizations like Hamas really are in fact peaceful.———————–Right, and Jimmy Carter really was the best president ever. reply astudenteds654 September 23, 2014 at 1:42 pm \| # This is exactly what I was afraid of. I know this is an isolated incident, but it concerns me. And don’t tell me about Zionists or Israel and how it’s much worse because it doesn’t justify this incident. And don’t tell me it’s totally unrelated because if you think about it, you’ll realize it’s at least suspicious. I don’t believe freedom of speech should be suppressed, but it would be wise to at least watch what we say or do. reply Donald Pruden, Jr., a/k/a The Enemy Combatant September 23, 2014 at 2:14 pm \| # Here is the article, in full, in the link: “A Jewish married couple were verbally and physically attacked in New York City by assailants yelling anti-Jewish statements. “On Monday evening, a gang pulled up in two cars and several motorcycles and surrounded the couple on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, the New York Post reported. Several of the vehicles displayed Palestinian flags. “The wife was hit with a water bottle and her husband was punched in the side of his head, according to the newspaper, which cited law enforcement sources. “Police reportedly believe the couple was singled out because the husband was wearing a yarmulke. “The Upper East Side is an affluent neighborhood with a large Jewish population. And what has this to do with AMCHA’s (Munchm Quchi) McCarthyite list of scholars, exactly? reply Fake Herzog September 16, 2014 at 2:59 pm \| # “If those of you who agree with their comments aren’t just being mostly cynical, please think about the difference between boycotting state institutions (and expressly not individuals), and making a smear-list of individuals in the US, with which this AMCHA have made themselves judge and jury and declared the people on their list – none of whom they necessarily even know – of being biased in the classroom because they don’t recite the party line of AMCHA outside of the classroom.” It is really quite simple — if you support the BDS campaign, something is wrong with your thought process and you probably won’t be a fair or good teacher. Therefore, as a student, you are advised to avoid that class. Seems smart and clear to me. reply Donald Pruden, Jr., a/k/a The Enemy Combatant September 16, 2014 at 3:14 pm \| # Now, if we could just get proof of that. Like, say, student evaluations of their professors. Ever notice how no Jewish student (or Jewish student group) has ever brought suit against any university because they were experiencing actual unfair grading, due to anti-Israel “bias”, by any of its professors? The victim of such a breach of fairness should have legal standing in a court of Law, no? In the absence of any evidence of such a breach, what is a nervous Jewish student — and the people who support her — to do? A blacklist! It worked once — until it stopped. Then there is that smelly rep that “blacklist” has about it. After all, everyone has forgotten all about that McCarthyism stuff. AMCHA (Munchma Quchi) is onto something. What could go wrong? reply jonnybutter September 17, 2014 at 12:29 pm \| # ‘fake herzog’ is a great name for you. You are so unlike the real-imaginary Herzog. Not only would proof, as Donald says, be nice, but how about even just a coherent argument? How about any argument? reply SPS September 16, 2014 at 3:44 pm \| # to SteveK28. The BDS call is one to boycott, divest, and sanction Israeli academic institutions that support occupation. This is a very important distinction from the statement you are making. As a matter of fact, colleges and universities are being asked to invite Israeli scholars to their campuses. See here: http://www.theasa.net/images/uploads/ASA_Boycott_FAQs.pdf reply Brian September 16, 2014 at 4:38 pm \| # I thought the whole Salaita drama was because he didn’t adequately differentiate btw criticisms of Israel and Jewish supporters of Israel. Now we’re saying criticisms of is Israel are in fact inherently criticism of Jewish people and culture? Huh? reply Donald Pruden, Jr., a/k/a The Enemy Combatant September 16, 2014 at 4:43 pm \| # That would not have helped him. It does not help critics of Israel who are practicing Jews. reply Brian September 16, 2014 at 5:02 pm \| # In other words the only acceptable way to be is to never criticize Israel, correct? It’s the only logic that makes sense if you consider the wide variety of people who have been f*cked over by Zionist apologists of Israel — Finkelstein, Salaita, professors in Israel who are insufficiently pro-state, etc. etc. reply BillR September 16, 2014 at 5:41 pm \| # The notion of being pro or anti-State is an interesting one. Israel is the only self-identified “Western” country which is often referred to by even its first-class citizens as ‘the State’. Just as Zionism sprang from some of the most toxic currents of thinking in 19th century Mitteleuropa, the notion of the ‘Holy State’ (Heiligstaat)–in whose name and for whose reasons any and all crimes are permissible–also comes from the same time and space: The “State”–Der Staat–became a sacred being, transcending all other loyalties…It is impossible to exaggerate the influence of the Prussian model on the Zionist movement in almost all spheres of life…Perhaps the most important thing we inherited from Prussia was the sacred notion of the “State” (Medina in Hebrew) – an idea that dominates our entire life. Most countries are officially a “Republic” (France, for example), a “Kingdom” (Britain) or a “Federation” (Russia). The official name “State of Israel” is essentially Prussian. reply Brian September 16, 2014 at 8:46 pm \| # reply BillR September 16, 2014 at 11:07 pm \| # yes, most people in US, UK, and France don’t realize how profoundly anti-Enlightenment and anti-individual the founding values of Israel are, rooted as the are in the most calamitous “organic” notions of German romantic nationalism. As explained by two aged Israelis who were present at founding of this latter day Prussia: …[T]he “state-centered” system of values that lies at the center of Israeli society’s culture until this day. What we are dealing with here is an ideology that sees the state and its “security” as the most important value, having priority over any individual interests. This is something deeply rooted in Israeli culture—a semi-fascist culture, as described by late critical sociologist Baruch Kimmerling. It admires what left Zionist social scientists from the functionalist-structuralist school, led in the first decades of the state by S.N. Eisenstadt, liked to call the “collective goals” of society. These imagined “collective” goals were pointed out as a justification to subdue individual aspirations and rights that, in an apparent contradiction to any liberal-democratic tradition, are regarded as “egoistic.” [N]ationalist socialism was based on the idea of the nation as a cultural, historical, and biological unit, or figuratively, an extended family. The industrial worker was regarded as an organic part of the whole, and the whole took precedence over the individual. The blood ties and the cultural ties linking members of the nation, their partnership in the total national effort, took precedence over the position of the individual in the production system. reply Cornell Fleischer September 16, 2014 at 11:22 pm \| # Esteemed members of the Board of Trustees, I write to you as a member of the academic community, resident of the state of Illinois, and signatory to the petition of boycott of UIUC until the “de-hiring” of Steven Salaita is rescinded. I fervently hope that you will reconsider and reverse Chancellor Wise’ rash and inadequately informed decision not to put the appointment before you, as is routine and customary. Like my colleague Patchen Markell, I hope to offer something helpful to your deliberations by making concrete—from my own experience—the seeming abstractions of academic freedom and freedom of speech. As a historian of the Middle East and Ottoman Empire I have for decades inhabited the highly politicized and potentially explosive terrains that constitute my subject; I use the plural advisedly because there are many more cleavages than the Arab-Israeli conflict, although popularly this latter is often made to stand for the entirety of “the Middle East.” I do not know Mr. Salaita, but do know his territory, as it were, and that in the U.S. Academy. Make no mistake, since 9/11/2001 all major research universities that have invested in Middle Eastern studies (and much of the investment comes from the U.S. government under the National Defense Education Act, Title VI) have been exposed to pressures, external to the university and its faculty, exerted by a consistent campaign to discredit, even eliminate such programs as the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Chicago precisely because they represent independent and authoritative venues for teaching and studying the languages, cultures, and histories of all of the region, from multiple perspectives. The goal of the campaign is to delimit not only the spaces in which the “Middle East” can be discussed or studied, but also, frankly, to control how it can be publicly discussed, and by whom, and when. Tactics have ranged from crude (but sometimes effective) intimidation and verbal violence (“Is it true that you in the Center are apologists for terrorism?” a caller once asked me when I was acting as director in 2001), to the more sophisticated Campus Watch website, which encouraged students to record and report on their professors of Middle Eastern history who were then blacklisted on the website; to more apparently considered (and still inappropriate) proposals in Washington that Foreign Language and Area Studies Centers funding be strictly tied to the production of research and teaching in support of, and consonant with, US policy in the region (this after the 2003 invasion of Iraq). Universities are institutions that ensure a protected space within which learning is preserved and knowledge generated through discussion and argument; they are not supposed to be in the business of determining and policing the boundaries of acceptable or “useful” knowledge based on short-term or merely financial understandings of utility or expediency. To succumb to external pressures, whether exerted by governments or communities or individuals, to impose curricula would vitiate those principles, and so universities worthy of the name turn a deaf ear. Please allow me an illustration in closing: In 1998, after five years as a tenured full professor at the University of Chicago, I was appointed to a newly created chair in Ottoman and Modern Turkish Studies. A significant portion of the endowment was provided by the Turkish government as part of a public relations campaign to give the country greater visibility in the US university landscape. I was uncomfortable because, knowing the terrain and its constituencies, I understood that members of the Turkish government and community would assume that I was “their” paid retainer and public voice; that opponents of the government, domestic or foreign, would make the same assumption; and that therefore the chair would likely bring me, and the University, more political headaches than benefit. I voiced my misgivings to the provost at the time, the eminent scholar of Consitutional and First Amendment law Geoffrey Stone. Provost Stone’s response to me was, “If anyone suggests to you that you should be doing something as the holder of this chair, send them to me and I will explain to them why that is not the case.” And so I put my misgivings aside, knowing that the institution would protect me even, perhaps especially, from donors. Everyone won: Turkey got its name in lights in the US academy, the endowment ensured that my subjects will always be taught here, the University and I maintained integrity at the same time that the institution was relieved of the burden of part of my salary. To allow to stand Chancellor Wise’ revocation of a legitimate offer of appointment with tenure generated through due process starting with the faculty will send a message—and one that now has global reach—precisely opposite to the one Provost Stone articulated with such force. It will tell the faculty that they are neither valued nor trusted, that administration will not protect them, and that the intellectual mission of the university, not to mention the minutiae of curricula, can and will ever be subordinated to perceived financial interest. In short, the traditional firewalls that protect all constituencies in the exercise of their various functions, and which maintain institutional integrity and reputation, will have been razed, and it is doubtful that restoring them in calmer times would be an easy task given how the fire has spread.	42,315
Within this truly distinctive Methodist School, our common purpose is to enable every child to thrive academically, emotionally and spiritually and to become the person God intends them to be. We will be a school of which the local community and the Methodist Church are justly proud. “Brighter futures built with Ambition, Courage and Respect; filled with Love, Hope and Faith” All at Ribbleton Avenue Methodist Junior School are Champions for Children: we want our children to have faith in themselves to become the people God intends them to be. RAMJS is a voluntary controlled church school serving a diverse community with a variety of complex needs. As a Methodist school we are challenged to ask, ‘What is the work of God in this place?’ We believe that God’s purpose for all people is that they should have ‘hope and a future’ (Jeremiah 29:11). In our context, as a diverse community in an area of significant economic, social and educational deprivation we believe we are called to work for transformation of our children, their families and our neighbourhood. We are in a privileged position to have a positive impact on our locality and the children and families in it. At RAMJS, diversity and uniqueness are celebrated. Our children are God’s children, made in God’s image. Our community brings together people of many faiths and beliefs into our one school family where we work together to build love, tolerance and respect into all we do. The needs of our children underpin everything that we do. We want our children to be safe, healthy and filled with courage to embrace ‘life in all its fullness’ (John 10:10) in the world into which they are growing up. We aim to provide an ambitious learning experience that is skills based, developmental and suited to the modern day learner. We ‘lift our eyes to the hills’ (Psalm 121) and through exciting opportunities in lessons and the wider curriculum our children will become well rounded, caring, change-makers in our world. Each child is at the heart of all we do with their emotional and physical and spiritual needs being met through our holistic learning approaches so that they can become the best they can be – and are meant to be. With loving hearts and minds we cherish our friends and families. We care for the world around us so that as a community working together, our future is brighter. “Do everything in love.” With ambitious hearts and minds we are motivated to work hard and do our best. Our ambition to make a difference in our own world and the world around us makes us stronger. “Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.” With respectful hearts and minds we treat each other equally; however, we differ from each other. We work together, valuing each person, their thoughts, feelings and faith. “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you.” With courageous hearts and minds we stand up for our beliefs and the things that matter to us; we are united as one. Together we are daring, fearless and never give up! With hopeful hearts and minds we believe in a brighter future for ourselves and the world around us; we will be a beacon of hope in our community that will help to make a difference! “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” Jerimiah 29:11 With faithful hearts and minds we have trust in each other, ourselves and in our God to help us be the best we can be! “Do not fear, for I am with you” We are so excited to share our new Vision and Values boards with you all. With the help of our children and the School Council, democracy has ruled in favour of these designs. The children feel that these designs fit best with the ethos of school and support us best in sharing our mission with the wider school community and beyond.	4,121
A Few Profiles I’ve Worked On Lately, and Other News \| Paige Bowers : Journalist and Author of Overnight Code: A Biography of Raye Montague, the Woman Who Revolutionized Naval Engineering Books A view from my desk. A Few Profiles I’ve Worked On Lately, and Other News Posted on October 5, 2021 Do you see this guy? You feed him, you let him out, you give him water, and you pet him. It’s never enough. And so it’s amazing I can get anything done around here, what with COVID exposures in my kid’s high school (she’s fine, but I’m tired of it), and all this MLS soccer to be seen. Yet, somehow, and I don’t know how, I have been freelancing a lot, and working on a new book proposal that is almost finished. Or at least almost ready to be edited, and edited again and again. There’s this profile of Faith Connexion CEO Maria Buccellati for Aventura Magazine. The former Dolce & Gabbana muse is forging a new life for herself in the Miami area, and treating her Instagram followers to vignettes of her absolutely fabulous life. Come for a peek inside her amazing Palm Island home. Stay for the photo shoot of her in some super-cool new Faith Connexion. And okay, the story too. For Fort Lauderdale Illustrated, I spoke with Florida State Senator Lauren Book, who survived childhood sexual abuse to become a fierce advocate for women and children. This didn’t make it into the final version, but one of her hobbies is making mosaics, which, of course, entails taking broken pieces and putting them together into something new and beautiful. It’s a metaphor for her entire life and career to date, and I’m curious to see what she’s got in store for us next. As I write in the piece, “Underestimate her at your own peril.” So those are a couple of things I’ve been working on lately. On the book front, David Montague and I will appear at the Six Bridges Book Festival on October 30 at 6:30 p.m CST. This is a Zoom event, so please be sure to register for it here. It’s free, and for those of you who have already seen me and David talk about his mother and Overnight Code you know we put on a show. We have made people laugh, cry, and want to be Wonder Twins with us. So we hope you’ll join us. But also be sure to check out some of the other amazing authors that will be appearing, like Andrea Bartz, whose thriller We Were Never Here was a Reese’s Book Club pick right when it came out. The entire lineup is here. Be sure to check it out! That’s it for now. I hope all of you are having a wonderful fall and finding time to read all of the good books that are coming out. Be well, stay healthy, and stay in touch.	2,667
The greatest threat faced by our planet is the enormous amount of waste being generated constantly at an increasing rate every day. Everywhere discards are being generated, let it be households, industries, hospitals. These discards are often lethal, poisonous and composed of chemical having many after effects. These waste take years to decompose, remaining passive, but slowly inducing poison to… Continue reading → Posted in Natural Products Developments In Environmentally Sensitive Areas by Lauren Valadez on January 13, 2017 Projects on their own are a huge and cautious job, but building them in environmentally sensitive areas like parks and close to jungles bring about a whole host of new problems. The biggest issue is transporting the necessary to equipment to the location. In urban areas, there are well maintained roads that allow trucks to easily transport equipment to and… Continue reading → Posted in Organic Products by Lauren Valadez on October 3, 2016 Every parent faces the dilemma of having to feed a fussy child at some point of their lives. Many children will go through a certain period of not eating what they are given and will be fussy for a short time period during growth and this will eventually sort itself out however for some unfortunate parents, dealing with a fussy… Continue reading → Posted in Natural Products by Lauren Valadez on September 22, 2016 The relationship between the soil and the seed is like a magic. It is like something which was clearly not present will gron up into a huge magnificent thing. The potential and the life is not hidden in seed or the soil, it is the magic of nature that the human beings are not having time to appreciate. But, isn’t… Continue reading → Posted in Natural Products by Lauren Valadez on August 26, 2016 In today’s children, nutritious food is not really their cup of tea. Many parents were not able to introduce the right kind of food in a way that is palatable for the kids and this is why when children hear nutritious they run as fast as the wind away from that food. Being in an age where everybody is glued… Continue reading → Posted in Organic Products The Various Benefits and Uses Of Supplements by Lauren Valadez on August 4, 2016 There are lot of vitamin tablets and supplements available in the market. They are specially prescribed by the physicians and according those medicines are taken. Every kid requires taking all the beneficiary ingredients as those helps to develop the body. There are lots of vitamins and minerals and they are essential for the body. You need to make sure you provide…	2,722
I’m not really too excited about this episode of the Real Housewives of Atlanta as they head to Jamaica. It seems Kenya gets really out of line with Kim. I thought the same thing last week though and I really didn’t think Kenya did anything wrong at the brunch at Kim’s house. Let’s hope it is just the editing in the previews that makes Kenya look bad. I sure wish someone would loan Nene some money so she could stop wearing men’s undershirts. Cynthia has decided to give the commercial to Kim. I suppose this is what pisses Kenya off. Kim is bringing her kids with her to Jamaica, even though production said no kids. She is bringing a nanny this time. I really don’t know what Bob Whitfield is doing there. My understanding was they are not back together. But it sure looks like it to me. Cynthia meets with Kim and Kenya about the eyewear commercial. And just like that Kenya and Cynthia are arguing already about Kenya getting dumped from the production team. Kenya is taking things very personally. Kenya points out that Kim has never done a commercial before. Why on earth are they eating sushi in Jamaica? Kenya is really mean to Kim. Kenya yanks Kim’s chair and Kim walks away. Kenya goes screaming after her clapping and acting like a fool. This is so not a good look. Cynthia is embarrassed. Kim vents to her husband and makes very little sense. She ranting about Kenya’s “translator” and I’m not really understanding what she means. She is also very confident and says, she’s a brand! She’s Kim Fields! Kenya is at the kiddie table and she’s at the adult table. Kim had the opportunity to come off looking like the bigger person and now she seems no better than Kenya. Kim is cussing in her talking head and in the real time. Her husband tells her this is not a prison basketball court. He says they baited her and she went there. Supposedly nobody knew that Nene was coming there. But it sure seems like Cynthia and Peter knew. Everyone else looked shocked. I heard that everyone was pissed when she showed up, even production. Peter clamors for his coveted peach by asking Kenya and Kim to discuss their beef. Kenya is not having it. She says she would rather gouge her eyes out with a spoon, light her ass on fire with one of the lanterns or drive off a cliff that rehash the commercial drama. Several of those present seem to want to help her execute any or all of those options. Kenya and Matt get up and leave the table. Phaedra tells Nene that Kenya and Cynthia are best friends. Everyone tries to tell Nene that it’s true. But Cynthia suddenly starts backpedaling. This recap is boring because, this show is sort of boring. Maybe I’m just tired but I don’t have a lot to say tonight. I’m totally caught up on the DVR and that is usually a sign that nothing much is happening. Which is odd because it’s the big Nene reveal. Sheree shows up at Nene’s room and we get a montage all the way back to season one when Sheree left Nene off her guest list. I thought hell would freeze over before Nene made up with Sheree. The two Ps sure are confident in their two pieces. I’m just saying. Sheree goes to Kenya’s room to carry the gossip. She tells Kenya that Cynthia said she was not best friends with Cynthia. Kenya goes to Cynthia’s room to talk to her about what she said to Nene about her. Cynthia sort of waffles on exactly what she said to Nene. Kenya decides not to go into Kingston with everyone else and stay behind with Matt. Next week Sheree and Kenya come for Kim’s husband. Sheree says people call him “fruity or gay.” I wonder how Andy Cohen feels about that? Related Come for the tea. Stay for the shade. Not for the easily offended. You're a special snowflake just like everyone else. Comments Sweet T says January 31, 2016 at 9:30 pm I’m not watching this season as I enjoy your recaps more than the show. Does Matt take off his shirt? because then I might watch. Faith says February 1, 2016 at 11:14 pm Thanks TT I am in UK. Thanks. Bravo is really trying to stir the tea. She by Broke, brought 6,8..19 figures husband? Still like Kenya! Cynthia….is she’s still walking, last I checked one needed a backbone to stand! Kim, don’t sign up for money! Miguel says January 31, 2016 at 9:41 pm I’ll watch as long as you do – your recaps make it enjoyable!!! January 31, 2016 at 9:48 pm Great recap as always TT. Hope everyone checks their DVR. Why does Bravo screw w us on the times occasionally. FFS. Also I’m sorry you want to stop recapping Top Chef. It’s one of my fav Bravo shows. ShyGuy says January 31, 2016 at 9:55 pm Yea Tamara the feeling is mutual and after all that hanging with Kenya for her birthday nene just dragged Kenya on Instagram. Fake scripted mess full with fake backstabbing woman (Nene). Spilledperfume says January 31, 2016 at 10:01 pm Phadrea and her 2 piece was not a pretty picture. Gingersnap says January 31, 2016 at 10:27 pm No, it was not. When she said her ‘meat was sweet’ I almost hurled. Jim says February 1, 2016 at 2:41 am Phaedra did have the best line of the night though. When Kenya said that she would “scoop her own eyeballs out with a spoon”… quick cut to Phaedra in her interview, “does someone have a spoon?” That reply almost made me like her, lol. katimir2 says January 31, 2016 at 11:20 pm You couldn’t tell Phaedra she does not look good. She obviously sees something else in the mirror. I find her swim attire always distasteful and so unflattering, [said in my best Potomac etiquette voice]. Yuck. katimir2 says January 31, 2016 at 11:35 pm Kenya was just mean spirited and defensive and goes straight into insulting people when she is hurt and she has mastered that all too well. I didn’t like her at all tonight. My take on her is she relives her rejection by her mother over and over and over again. Don’t reject Kenya, she just goes into a blind rage. katimir2 says January 31, 2016 at 11:37 pm This was not supposed to be here, just a general comment. O.O says February 1, 2016 at 12:55 am Drando says February 16, 2016 at 4:46 pm My thought exactly. Poor girl needs quality help dealing that that type of hurt. Hope Matt is protective of her. Like him. BFish says January 31, 2016 at 10:06 pm I can’t figure out why Kenya thought she was really going to have a part in directing/producing the commercial. She didn’t present her ideas before they got to Jamaica; obviously the plan is to film said commercial in Jamaica, the supposed point of the trip. Where do her last minute ideas reasonably come into play? She didn’t even act like she tried to reach out to Cynthia about presenting her ideas prior to the trip. JaneM says February 1, 2016 at 3:06 am Because Cynthia led her to believe that was the reason they were going to Jamaica. Cynthia never told Kenya anything different. tamaratattles says February 1, 2016 at 11:33 am Kenya knew full well that they were going to Jamaica for their usual end of the season trip. Cynthia just had the cover story this season because it was her turn. February 1, 2016 at 11:21 am Thought the exact same thing.. she had to set up things prior to getting there so it makes no sense that she still thought she was going to be involved or going to pitch her ideas. I wonder if she made any effort before they left to talk to Cynthia about her ideas and Cynthia just said lets discuss down there? But either way, she should have known. Minky says January 31, 2016 at 10:15 pm Hmmm. So you’re saying that Kenya gets mad because Cynthia gave the commercial to Kim, even though Cynthia has pretended to be Kenya’s friend for all of this season. IDK if Kenya’s anger was warranted, but I do know that I’m liking Kim less and less. Also: Did Sheree go after Kim’s husband, or was it Kenya? And Kim brings her kids even though productions tells her not too. Hmmm? I don’t know what to think anymore. ericzku says January 31, 2016 at 11:09 pm Kenya going after Kim was completely unwarranted, almost to the point of irrationality. Kenya expected to “get the job” w/the commercial, although she: 1) Couldn’t be bothered to show up at the meeting with Cynthia to discuss the project, and 2) Had no ideas to pitch anyway and instead chose to attack the person who did get the job, because she bothered to do the above. Kenya thought that just because she’s friends with Cynthia, she didn’t need to put on any work, and the job would come to her automatically? Naaah Gurl, that’s not how the world works. Minky says January 31, 2016 at 11:16 pm You’re right. Kenya shouldn’t expect any special treatment. I have a sinking feeling that they must’ve left something out on the show. Where’s the commercial? Did they make it yet? February 1, 2016 at 12:53 am ALMOST to the point of irrationality? No…she crossed the line. ericzku says February 1, 2016 at 1:04 am Yes, true. I suppose I meant it as in “psychotic break with reality” but I guess that would qualify too… More Tea Please! says January 31, 2016 at 10:21 pm Did they show like 30 seconds of Nene, or was she so flat that you just tuned out TT? ZenJen55 says January 31, 2016 at 10:41 pm Sheree looked absolutely ridiculous with the hairchain, Asa from Shahs looks stunning in them and her fabulous bangles! Sheree dress age appropriate please peachteachr says January 31, 2016 at 10:43 pm NeNe’s clothes, on, me. It almost looks like suede and is not beachy at all. How can she have a successful clothing line? Shouldn’t she have a stylist and the hair…poor NeNe. Truthseeker says February 1, 2016 at 12:20 am It’s interesting seeing a glimpse of the real Kim Fields. Profanity and all. That’s the one I recall from years ago. Sunshine says February 1, 2016 at 12:29 am Do you think we got a glimpse of the real Kenya too? You know with the chair pulling and the insults all aimed at Kim. O.O says February 1, 2016 at 1:00 am Sometimes certain situations can jolt one out of character . The way Kenya behaved towards Kim on tonight’s episode would be one of those times .. Truthseeker says February 1, 2016 at 2:04 am In the past, Kim Fields had a reputation as a Diva. I just think she’s attempting to come across a certain way on TV now. Truthseeker says February 1, 2016 at 12:23 am Kenya’s not completely off base. Cynthia should have told her in advance not in front of the group. The same way she invited Nene and didn’t tell the group. Cynthia is being messy. pocketbooklover says February 1, 2016 at 12:35 am I’ve never been a fan of Kenya and tonight only reinforced that opinion. She is like a petulant child that overreacts when she doesn’t get her way Instead of taking advantage of the experiences Kim has, she acted like a deranged lunatic ensuring they will never work together. Just like she did with Roger Bob when he said he wouldn’t hold her hand 24/7. As big as Atlanta and the entertainment industry is, its still a small closed knit community and she continues to do things to shut herself out. February 1, 2016 at 12:52 am “Petulant child” was the phrase I used to describe her on twitter as well. Hideous behavior, and, sadly, not surprising based on past actions. Micheal says February 1, 2016 at 1:00 am Sounds like everyone is going to go for Kenya at this reunion. Who is going to sit next to her? Cynthia? Even those two have issues now. O.O says February 1, 2016 at 1:01 am I agree Urethra Franklin says February 1, 2016 at 2:13 am Sheree & Bob traveled to Jamaica together and shared a room? Clearly she’s desperate to find a sugar daddy to pay for the completion of Chateau Sheree. tamaratattles says February 1, 2016 at 12:34 pm IIRC (and I’m not sure I am recalling correctly) Bob filed for bankruptcy recently. Also there is that whole thing about Sheree having a close female friend these days. I’m thinking Bob is the beard. Allegedly. kkarlmcf says February 1, 2016 at 2:24 am Kenya was out of line in her reaction to Kim’s getting the commercial. Good on her for owning up to it in WWHL. The Lady Cocotte says February 1, 2016 at 7:57 am I don’t condone Cynthia’s flip-flopping but I think Kenya’s treatment of Kim really freaked her out. I would be so embarrassed if any of my friends acted that way (whether we were bff’s or merely f’s). FGF says February 1, 2016 at 8:11 am I wonder if Cynthia’s running back to Nene because Kenya has a man now. She mentioned earlier in the season that Peter practically lives in Charlotte so Nene may be the only person available to talk on the phone with all day. Kenya has a man and a new house to attend to. Additionally, it’s clear that Kim can truly handle herself in a crazy situation. She sat there and kept her composure when Porsha towered over Cynthia on the boat and again when Kenya disrespected her personal space in Jamaica. I really felt bad for her because she was trying to be civil and Kenya was over talking her and hurling insults at her. I said during Kenya’s first season that she has the same abandonment issues that Nene suffers from and lashes out in the exact same way. However; Kenya seems to get a pass because of her looks and supposed intellect. Miss Case says February 23, 2016 at 2:55 pm Cheychey says February 1, 2016 at 8:23 am I’ve never been a huge Kenya fan. That being said Sheree going to the room and telling her what Cynthia said had only one way to play out . Hurting Kenya’s feelings and causing drama with the other girls. How else was Kenya to feel hearing someone she had grown close to said she doesn’t feel the same. As for the commercial Kenya acted unprofessionally by not showing up. But you lost out on a eyeglass commercial not a movie role shake it off and move on. I think it was more about marking her territory this is my friend and I’m just as important if not more than you more than getting the job. Her best friend gave the job to her competition and that hurt her fragile ego. Dee says February 1, 2016 at 9:22 am This stupid show is faker than a 3 dollar bill and so silly and childish that it is very hard to watch. I fast forwarded through almost the whole show this morning. Kenya’s acting is terrible. So is the rest, especially the cock-eyed ex husband. Miguel says February 1, 2016 at 11:24 pm Thanks Dee, the birthday pics & tea TT posted, days before this episode, sealed the deal for me – this is some fake s#!t. Drando says February 16, 2016 at 4:58 pm Dee, you are too sweet, LOL!!!! Valentine says February 1, 2016 at 10:44 am Kenya should not have gone for that chair. It was almost physical and I always took her to be above that, especially after the Porsha incident. However, I have a soft spot for Kenya and even though she was wrong, Kim Fields came off as looking worse to me. I don’t trust Kim! She gets on my nerves with her feigned holier-than-thou attitude. She needs to get over herself. I have been around people with this same personality and they’re just such a beating to put up with. At least we got to see some of the real Kim and her snippy little husband. I’m so disappointed in Cynthia. I always used to like her, but she is just coming off like a terrible friend. You just don’t dump friends like that. So fake, but I guess it all is. Belinda says February 1, 2016 at 1:19 pm That’s exactly what I think too! If I was in that situation, I would be pissed! Finding out in front of everyone else that Cynthia choose Kim over Kenya for the commercial was awful. Kenya was right that they (Cynthia and Kenya) could have talked for 5 minutes at any time before the trip. When the 3 of them say down to talk, Kim was definitely acting superior and talking down to Kenya. I haven’t like Kim from the beginning either. Taking her kids with them to Jamaica was ridiculous. She was probably taking advantage of the free trip and turning it into a family vacation since she can’t afford it herself. For me, this whole situation was caused and exacerbated by Cynthia. I’ve always liked her, but this completely changed my opinion. I can’t believe she didn’t stick up for Kenya at all during dinner. She’s the worst kind of “friend” to have. And saying they were “still getting to know each other”?! Wth?! And then she lied to Kenya about what she said. Ugh. She’s awful. TheArtistFormerlyKnownAsYoya says February 1, 2016 at 10:53 pm And it was essentially Kim’s demand that she “doesn’t co-direct” that made the decision for Cynthia. We all know the co-directing was producer setup. Cynthia’s a people pleaser and came up with the excuse that Kenya missed the meeting so she have a reason to meet Kim’s demand that she do the commercial by herself. Then to top it off Cynthia puts Nene in the commercial after saying she still wanted Kenya in it. Cynthia knows it’ll be easy to throw Kenya under the bus. I used to think Cynthia was a good person deep down but how can she not be seeing what she does? She’s crawled right back up Nene’s ass. And someone has to say it: who is Kim Fields in this world? I knew her as Tootie and never thought about her again until RHOA. She’s absolutely delusional about her career, seems to me she and Kenya are in the same league. Kenya had every reason to direct her anger at Kim; Kenya knew she had demanded to do the commercial alone. Eliza says February 3, 2016 at 11:05 am Cynthia has proven herself to be a inverterbrate, shall we proceed to call her slug? bria says February 1, 2016 at 11:06 am It’s sad how this episode played out against Kenya. If not of Kenya psychotic behavior, there will not be much to talk about. Atleast she brought out the real Kim Fields not the perfect mother. Cynthia confuses me Wanda says February 1, 2016 at 11:44 am I’m not sure why Kim Fields agreed to be on this show, but ultimately it is going to make her look bad. She tries to come off as being a smart, talented, business woman. But instead she is just looking like a woman who pitches bad ideas for a commercial, shows poor judgement in dragging her children along to adult events, and looking like a whiny butt all the time. She doesn’t realize it, but the producers have made her look like a real housewife, but a stale one. I was hoping she would bring a spark of class to the show, but I suspect there is going to be more “reality” (aka dirt or gossip) about her life, than she anticipated. tamaratattles says February 1, 2016 at 12:45 pm The whole eyeglass commercial was storyline. If Kenya was supposed to be at the meeting with Cynthia and Kim she would have been there. Clearly she had another scene shooting with Matt in place of that. Cynthia “blindsiding” Kenya on the bus, also storyline. Kenya and Kim saying they were in Jamaica to shoot a commercial is ridiculous, we all know they go somewhere to brawl on foreign soil at the end of each season. Kenya’s behavior was horrible. Kim Fields’ behavior was shocking. We’ve seen Kenya act a fool before, (her first season) but something about Kim makes me feel like Kenya is in the Real Housewives Olympics and Kim is in the special Olympics. Maybe I am stuck thinking of Kim as a child, but it seems particularly wrong for Kenya to come at Kim that way. Had it been Nene or Sheree or Phaedra she went for, it would have been a more even battle and Kenya would not have looked so unhinged. As much as Kenya was giving the fake commercial storyline to work with, She TOTALLY overdid it and set herself up to be on an island by herself during the reunion, a situation no one ever wants to be in. ANd just when IRL she was getting along with Cynthia, Nene, and Sheree, which would have been a valuable alliance for the reunion. Sigh. Spilledperfume says February 1, 2016 at 1:01 pm I always appreciate your notes explaining things to those of us who are new to these shows. I like when I can read “it’s just a storyline” “she over did it.” It makes my head hurt less. Sandra says February 1, 2016 at 6:57 pm Imp, Kim is that person who flys just under the shit radar, goading you while throwing kisses and hearts at everyone else. The ladies see it but, Kim is a convenient weapon they use, to take digs at Kenya and collectively say Kenya is wrong, “we don’t feel as she does.” Kim has shown passive aggressive behavior towards Kenya all season and I think Kenya had reached her limit. After the beatless brunch, Kenya left her home without saying good bye, she was so angry. Also, Kenya was very supportive of Cynthia who got into a violent fight with Porsha on her boat ride but, Cynthia is saying Kenya can leave the island because of her argument with Kim and I’m sure this is exactly how Cynthia was treating her. Her friend gives her the simple explanation of “I’m good.” Of course Kenya feels Cynthia has rejected her. I agree at the storylines but, feel that production lit the fireworks by setting these scenes up and stood back and filmed the reactions. The reactions are real, imo. Kenya had the same strained look on her face at the dinner that night that she had at reunion 6. I believe that she felt twice rejected by Cynthia, when Nene came with this BFF bullshit and Cynthia basically disowned her friendship with Kenya – the only friend she felt she had in the group. It was a setup by production and I think it was shitty that they did this to Kenya because it was unnecessary and she has had a rough season personally because of her mother and her Aunt. She had a meltdown because of the rejection or perceived rejection. Finally, at least Kenya apologized to Kim which is an occurrence we rarely see on this show…..and I’m glad she has Matt. February 2, 2016 at 7:15 am I love you and TheArtistFormerlyKnownAsYoya’s comments. I feel the same way and find Kim’s condescending, nose turned up attitude irritating as hail. She’s beyond passive-aggressive and she started shading Kenya in her first interview for RHOA. So far, she’s criticized how the women dress, how much makeup they wear, and lied on Kenya as far as Kenya being messy by putting Glen out. She then turns around and says she left because she felt unsafe, so how is that a bad thing that Kenya did? She shades Kenya every chance she gets and laughs off everything the other ladies do. Porsha’s funny, albeit violent. Nene’s funny, although nasty and divisive, but she want’s to go after Kenya for the slightest thing every time. Will she use her “instigation vs. information” against Sheree when Sheree brings back gossip? Of course not, she’s a bandwagoner and fake as hail. She’s broke, her commercial was whacked, and yeah I can’t stand her bich ass husband either. He gets in women’s business and has since day one. Kim needs to go and take her holier than thou, righteous bs with her. I think Kenya had had enough, and I don’t blame her. Enough with Kim’s nasty and sly digs. She’s Phaedra 2.0, IMO. Minky says February 1, 2016 at 7:54 pm Precisely, Tamara. That’s why something about this last episode doesn’t add up for me. If Nene, Cynthia and Sheree were celebrating Kenya’s birthday not but a few days ago, then what happened since the birthday? All three of those women were there to witness what was shown of Kenya’s poor behavior to the audience only last night in real time in Jamaica. Cynthia in particular was there when Kenya did the chair incident. So why be friendly with her at all in the time since this happened in Jamaica. Why so abruptly distance themselves from her just now? They also went to Christmas parties together too. IDGI. tamaratattles says February 1, 2016 at 8:18 pm The Christmas Party is the season finale and everyone had to come. Nene didn’t see the TALKING HEADS Kenya did until after the party which pissed her off. Cynthia just seems to be picking a side because I don’t recall Kenya saying to much that should have pissed off Cynthia. That said, I have a bit of Lyme Brain this week because I went off (now back on) my healthy diet and wasn’t really focused on #RHOA last night which I’m sure showed up in my short recap. Miguel says February 1, 2016 at 11:57 pm Thanks for the chronology, TT – I feel less duped & jaded. I was off the ride; but you’ve clarified what I also perceived as fake/contrived. Minky says February 2, 2016 at 12:14 am No, Tamara. Your recap was perfectly okay. I’m the one who’s a bit slow and I’m having trouble following this mess of a story line. And I don’t watch the shows, to boot. Thank you muchly. :0) February 1, 2016 at 11:34 pm I was about to ask if there really was a commercial which you confirmed was only part of the storyline. I was saddened to see Kenya acting so mean and aggressive. I think she went after Kim because Kim is the weakest link in the group and certainly the easiest one to attack. I don’t see Kenya going after NeNe or even Cynthia like that. She was clearly unleashing her anger on Cynthia via her fight with Kim. At least, that’s how it appeared to me. Later, finding out through messy Sheree that she (Kenya) was NOT Cynthia’s BFF and her look of despair when Nene appeared in Jamaica certainly was very hurtful for Kenya and yes, another rejection for her. This will not bode well for the reunion. Kenya will be on an island by herself, much as she was the first year she joined the show. Rita says February 1, 2016 at 12:47 pm I just can’t take this show any more. You know, I like to watch TV for entertainment. Not to get pissed off and annoyed. Yes, I know it’s only a show. L says February 1, 2016 at 2:37 pm To me Kim comes off as a master manipulator she has been giving subtle digs at Kenya throughout this whole season. Only Kenya would notice it because she one too. And that monotone voice? Give me a break! And who gives a f*** about Nene anyway!? She’s still a damn annoying moose. She still wants to control Cynthia why was she so bothered about Ken/Cyn friendship like grow up already! How much you want to bet Nene is going to ditch the two P’s now she friends with Cyn again? Cheychey says February 1, 2016 at 3:24 pm It doesn’t bother me that Kim brings her kids on location when she films. Lots of stars do it. She could have easily got a car to follow them to the hotel for the kids and nanny. What bothers me is they were filming on the bus which means everyone was gonna be on turn up mode. Not a place for kids. They were talking about if Sheree was gonna be boning with kids like 5ft away. I mean she got upset in Washington and said this is not for kids but that talk on the bus was really not for kids. I still love her though. To be able to hold your composure when someone pulls out your chair like it’s time for you to go and not get really ratchet she will go down in housewife history for me. I don’t know of many besides maybe Caroline that would have just left gracefully. tamaratattles says February 1, 2016 at 4:25 pm The problems with bringing kids was exactly what you said. AND that production had specifically said no kids. Even Noelle was not allowed (or if she was we never saw her) and she had family there. But bringing two children and a nanny (who were quickly Rosa Parksed to the back of the bus) was REALLY bad. The nanny and/or Kim’s husband should have provided their own transportation for the boys to the hotel, as I assume they paid for the tickets for the kids and the nanny. Keeping them in the hotel with the nanny out of sight of cameras and ratchetness is one thing. Expecting the “people from the gutter” from being incredibly inappropriate on the ADULT bus was ridiculous. Minky says February 2, 2016 at 12:22 am I personally don’t like that. If your job/boss says no to something, you basically respect that and follow the rules, just like everybody else. No special rues for you. At least in the real world and not on TV. Kim bringing her kids was some sort of atout. I don’t know how to accurately translate that shizz into English, but basically a little something she always keeps with her incase she needs to turn the tables so she can have the upper hand by default. It’s not okay to use your kids that way. End of rant. Sorry. Cat says February 1, 2016 at 4:04 pm Meh. Yawn. ItsMe says February 1, 2016 at 5:46 pm The hypocrisy is crazy. All the “ratchets” thrown at Porsha for “attacking” Cynthia but “queen” Kenya gets a pass? Sunshine says February 1, 2016 at 7:27 pm She can do no wrong. I also don’t find Kenya’s rent a dude attractive at all. tamaratattles says February 1, 2016 at 8:30 pm I certainly didn’t give Kenya a pass at ALL. That doesn’t mean she is ratchet like Porsha. Kenya has consistently stayed above the violent fray unlike Porsha who has attacked MULTIPLE PEOPLE at RHOA filming, including TWO this season alone. Kenya’s behavior was horrid and unacceptable. Unlike Porsha, Kenya has apologized for her behavior and is ashamed of it. BIG difference. HUUUGE difference between the two. Gia says February 1, 2016 at 10:32 pm I wonder if Kenya would have apologized if Kim was waving a sceptre in her face and calling her a whore…? Miguel says February 2, 2016 at 12:12 am A chair is an inanimate object – as such, cannot be assaulted/attacked; whereas, pummeling/attacking an animal/human being constitutes abuse/assault. I get your dislike of Kenya; however, remain at a loss on your oversimplification, ItsMe. Dr.E says February 1, 2016 at 9:16 pm Wow, Kenya was awful to Kim– And it was very misplaced anger, because Kenya had such a hard time believing that Cynthia could be so shady. (I really believe that Kenya will regret the way she treated Kim, and end up apologizing to her ). First, Cyn doesn’t tell Kenya in private that she wants only Kim to do the commercial– why?? Then, Cyn didn’t mention to Kenya that Nene was coming to Jamaica, which caught K off guard…and finally, Cynthia announces to all the ladies that she and Kenya aren’t actuslly BFFs, they’re only just “getting to know each other”. Man, Cynthia is weak and disloyal- she totally blindsided Kenya by being a fake friend. I feel terrible for Kenya, cuz she really had Cynthia’s back for a long while. And when Kenya tried to express that she’s confused snd hurt, Cyn says to Kenya: “Are you done?”, and ends the discussion! — Cynthia is willing to throw Kenya, a woman she acted close to, under the bus JUST FOR A STORYLINE. That’s disgusting. Cheater Peter has really rubbed off on his wife: Cynthia is very untrustworthy and camera-hungry. Kenya has been used and discarded by slippery Cynthia. Now Cynthia wants camera time with Nene- the bigger star of the franchise- so she’ll rekindle that ‘friendship’, and toss away her relationship with Kenya. Very sad for Ms. Moore. TheArtistFormerlyKnownAsYoya says February 1, 2016 at 11:03 pm Even Peter knew Kenya was going to be pissed about the commercial. Cynthia is an idiot. Mimi says February 2, 2016 at 8:40 am Does anyone know the name of the resort from this episode? tamaratattles says February 2, 2016 at 12:21 pm Seriously? They must have said Moon Palace eleventy billion times. Rose says February 2, 2016 at 12:25 pm Horrible episode. Kenya was totally of base in her behavior and took it over the top. I get she losses her mind with rejection because of her momma issues but this was behind. Cynthia is a poor manager and if I was Kim I’d a been posed Cynthia didn’t step in to squad the conversation and sat there allowing Kenya to escalate it almost to the point of violence. I wasn’t a Kenya fan in the beginning but came to like her but now I’m not a fan again. Miss Case says February 23, 2016 at 2:46 pm Tamara, yes Cynthia and Peter knew. They discussed it in their closet before Peter ever left for Jamaica. They wanted to surprise the group by not sharing that they had gotten together with Nene and Gregg. tamaratattles says February 23, 2016 at 3:33 pm The scenes with Cynthia and Nene in Atlanta were filmed AFTER the trip to Jamaica. I think she was the first one told on the island. Leave a Reply Cancel reply Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked * Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Notify me of new posts by email. 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The video series mixes footage from a presentation given to Ajeenkya D Y Patil University and my video-essay, and ultimately leads to the concluding statement, “Perfectly repeatable and connectable remembered-thoughts establish the means for perceiving causal relationships, more so than any remembered-external-event, and therefore causation most likely roots in remembered-thinking.” Call for Contributing-and-Lead-Authors (submissions and nominations): So that my core assertions may be taken from non-academic realms to the realms of academia, I’ve created this call for a lead-author and contributing-authors for a scientific paper that is described by the following hypothetical abstract (please consider submitting yourself as an author, or nominating someone else, by commenting or letting me know in any available way): Title: How Causation Roots in Remembered-Thinking (an abstract created as an example for a call for contributing-authors: submissions and nominations) The following hypothesis was made in the 2022 presentation, “Thinking, Remembering-Thinking, Thinking about a Memory of Thinking, and how that Messes with Time”, to Ajeenkya D Y Patil University: Perfectly repeatable and connectable remembered-thoughts establish the means for perceiving causal relationships, more so than any remembered-external-event, and therefore causation most likely roots in remembered-thinking. The hypothesis breaks down as follows: perfect repeatability and connectability is established through a comparison of remembered-thinking-events and remembered-external-events with the following outcomes: memories of external events have fuzzy boundaries, imperfect repetitions, and are connected through inferred relationships that are vulnerable to disproof by other event-participants and future evidence; remembered-thinking-events have perfect boundaries, perfect repeatability, and are invulnerable to disproof. Because unresolvable-uncertainty about remembered thoughts is what allows for perfect boundaries and repeatability, and because uncertainty increases for two-thoughts-ago, three-thoughts-ago, and so on, infinite repetitions are easy to conceive, and neurological evolution is likely to respond to this mental capability. Furthermore, since the roots of causation are in a mentally created past, this point gives strength to the hypothesis that causation does not exist in the external universe at all. The presentation was made by Andrew Malcolm, who was presenting the core assertions made in his 2022 non-academic, epistemological essay, “The Pressure of Light: how consciousness creates permanence in a universe of infinite-heterogeneity”. Unlike in the essay, the presentation put the hypothesis in the context of David Hume’s system for understanding consciousness, and his own assertions about causal relationships. The outcome was a strengthening of Malcolm’s hypothesis about remembered-thinking. The outcome breaks downs as follows: David Hume deduces that causal relationships are not observable in the external universe, and only inferrable in the conscious space. He also asserts that causal relationships are only inferrable after objects-of-cause and objects-of-effect are witnessed in contiguity in space and time, and remembered, over multiple iterations. If remembered thinking allows for far greater ease in observing perfect iterations than the external universe, and if Hume is correct, then it’s likely causation roots in remembered-thinking. For this paper, a number of academics from the fields of neurology, physics, psychology and philosophy were invited to consider Malcolm’s hypothesis in the context of a theoretical framework they were familiar with, and which concerned either causation or consciousness, or both, much as Malcolm did with Hume. The results present a tally of which considerations strengthened the hypothesis and which weakened it. The discussion considers the value of the hypothesis, and the possibilities for verification and falsification through experimentation. And now to continue The Permanence Review’s walk backwards through my essay, here is section 1: What happens in my mind happens in the universe. I am, after all, just another physical body spinning through the galaxy, riding the expanding wave of the big-bang, comfortably seated on the arrow-of-time. The imagination has a place, and every imagination moves at least a few thousand kilometers a second in this fast spinning Galaxy. My imagination, where I’ve time-warped across the universe, flown kilometers above the earth, and played carelessly with my past and future, is much easier to see as something quite separate from the body that spins around the galaxy for real. It’s as if what I imagine appears in a bubble that pops off my head, a piece of consciousness attached, and drifts away guided by nothing but its own laws of physics. This is perfectly fine to believe, it won’t threaten the true nature of time and space in the universe, because those time and space distorted bubbles are nothing but the very expected outcomes of human-imaginations. What’s far more interesting to the universe about conscious-minds is the evolved structure that patterns the development of knowledge in the brain, the part that’s spinning through the galaxy for real, carrying forth that knowledge-accumulation, crossing paths with other bodies, sometimes colliding and bursting into pieces that form their own little worlds. In 2020, I thought a lot about thinking. For the first half of the year I ran through a forested trail for an hour every morning, intending the run to be a meditation where, against the backdrop of repetition, I would explore more deeply the act of reflecting on my memories-of-thinking, feeling, and experiences-of-awareness. The typically calming effect of my run instead started fueling a hyperspeed looping through memories-of-remembered-thinking and memories-of-remembered-feelings as they all jumped, erratically, as I flashed, randomly, people and events from life to entice reactions in my mind to analyze. As my cardio-strength increased and allowed for faster charges up and down steep dirt trails, mercifully beneath the shade of old-growth hard-woods, it started to feel like I was turning my internal world into a particle accelerator for neurological activity. During this exercise I let up a bit on my life-long-pursuit to create stillness in my verbal thinking and associated physical habits. Instead, I allowed the verbage to run, and in the wake of these events I investigated more closely the hypothesis that a verbal thought inevitably has a non-verbal predecessor. I expanded the practice beyond verbal thinking, smashing my memories of all types of thought against each other so that I could attempt a hard, deep look at that wall of nothing just one notch in time past my thoughts. Unlike in CERN, the raw, objective-as-possible images I returned with always came out black and featureless. I would frequently follow up these runs with some fast typing into my info-diary, my name for a living document where I brainstorm ideas, experiment with creative writing, write about what I’m reading, and write actual diary entries. On one such occasion I surprised myself with the realization that I couldn’t answer a fairly simple question: how do I really know that I experienced the thinking event that I remember having? Might the brain simply write in the memory of the thinking event without bothering with the thinking in the first place? In a system that is forever concerned with efficiency, sometimes decommissioning evolved abilities for efficiency’s sake, why not? What would be lost? Even if this seems unlikely, what about my memory of how long the thought occurred for, when it happened, and in what order compared to other internal-information-processing-events I can remember? Most importantly, if I can’t confirm the timing or even existence of the thinking-events I remember, who can? These questions are what led me to write this essay. They’re all questions I could ask about my memory of real life events as well, but my memories of life-external would not lead me to question the nature of my mind’s place in time. Human minds have the benefit of knowing, through collective agreement, that real life events do happen somewhere on the measurable and unidirectional arrow-of-time. In the external world, we believe in the arrow-of-time, that march along the path. Sometimes that path does muddy the mind’s perception of the steady walk forward with events that contextually connect to other events, or events that repeat in a series scattered over normal-time’s continuous journey, but in all moments the mind can still feel anchored to the arrow-of-time because in all moments normal-time retains some recognizable level of unpredictability. No matter how much is learned about life in this universe, the path forward through time is still recognizably heterogeneous. If anyone has ever felt the universe has imprisoned them in a time loop, or distorted their normally steady walk forward, if they ever felt that time is not what they thought but more like a house of mirrors, all they had to do was discuss event distribution along the arrow-of-time with others, and so far the strength of truth that comes from mutual agreement has been enough to set the arrow-of-time straight. But while mutual agreement is epistemologically important to knowledge, the knowledge-sets that accumulate in human minds do not come solely from multi-mind-development. Understanding knowledge in the human mind means understanding how the mind in part develops knowledge in the brain all on its own. ‹ Previous3-Part Video Series shows how Causation is Rooted in Remembered Thinking Next ›Part 1: How the Conception of Units and their Infinite-Repeatability is rooted in Remembered-Thinking	10,262
Summary. In this story, it is sought to show that the path to the higher goal will be rendered smooth by an Āchārya who is able to make his disciple progress through various means as well as by true renunciation, though many obstacles may intervene. “Oh mayest thou merge thyself in thy all-peaceful Ātma, like the king Śikhidhvaja who annihilated that Great Bird called mind”, said Vasiṣṭha to Rāma, whereupon the latter asked him: “Tell me, O Guru, who was this king Śikhidhvaja, who was absorbed in the ecstatic enjoyment of all-embracing bliss? Be pleased to bestow on me thy blessing, so that Jñāna, which is the basis of everything, may arise in me and wax to its fullest strength.” Thereupon the Muni thus replied: “This king who bore the name Śikhidhvaja was born in the Dvāpara Yuga after the seven Manus1 who presided over the country like the sun had passed away. His justice knew no bounds, and he was moreover devoid of the bad qualities arising from desire. For he was replete with the goodness of charity and other virtues, and preserved that silence which avoids the discord born of words. He had cultivated mental and also bodily restraint and other powers of will, and especially delighted in doing good to others. The partner of his marriage was Chūḍālā2 born through Tapas in the womb of the Queen of the Saurāṣṭra country, who resembled the peacock in beauty, and could not in the space of the whole world find one to compare with her in her imperishable virtue. And these two lived together in perfect happiness with their two minds interblended performing all actions without the least difference of opinion, having mastered all the departments of knowledge. Delightfully indeed they passed their youth, as if but one breath of life pervaded in common their bodies. As the years glided sweetly by, their ephemeral youth passed away like water from a broken pot, and middle age fell upon them, like flakes of snow on lotuses in the waters of a rivulet. Like water trickling from the palm of the hand, so their lives sped away, day by day. Then the desires, which had in youth expanded themselves more and more like a gourd plant that grows in the rainy season, ever winding itself round and round, began to lessen like waters in the time of autumn. All the pleasures that once arose in the body now departed from it like arrows from a bow. Just as a plantain tree grows useless after it has put forth its fruit-bunches, so they became indifferent to worldly actions after tasting of their fruit. In unison of heart they thus both began to contemplate: Of a surety that is the most beneficial state from which the mind, when it once reaches it, never returns to another. But such a discriminative state is impossible in the case of those plunged in mundane existence. Therefore the most exalted AdhyĀtma-jñāna knowledge alone is the sure panacea to cure of the disease of rebirth. Coming thus to the conclusion that rebirth cannot be avoided except through Ātma-jñāna alone, both betook themselves to such a life, with their minds absorbed in it and with true meditation. And for the attainment of their wish they ever associated with the wise and learned. Thus they lived long together, exulting over their store of accumulated knowledge and leading a practical life of spirituality in accordance with that knowledge. Then the Lady Chūḍālā, of true discrimination, having heard and clearly understood the real signification of the Śāstras, taught by the wise for the attainment of the different stages leading to the realms of the higher spirituality, thus began to commune with herself: ‘While there exists Ātma (as I clearly perceive it), to what do we apply the term ‘I’? Whence is this delusion in the mind? To whom is it due? How and whence did it arise? How can we apply the term ‘I’ to the body visible to us? As the body is inert and ignorant, therefore the term ‘I’ cannot be applied to it. Again, can the term ‘I’ be applied to the ten organs which vitalize the body? No, since like a tile which is moved by a rod, the ten inert and separate sense-organs (Indriyas) are moved by the flitting mind. Can the term ‘I’ be applied to the Manas which agitates, its power of Saṁkalpa, the organs? No, since even the Manas is inert, being goaded on to action by the certainty of Buddhi, like a stone flung from a sling. Nor is ‘I’ Buddhi,3 as it is in turn galvanized by Ahaṁkāra. Nor is it the baneful Ahaṁkāra which galvanizes Buddhi, as it (Ahaṁkāra) is the inert state of Jīva (the higher ego). Once more, can ‘I’ be applied to Jīva which moves Ahaṁkāra? Being of the nature of actions and Prāṇa it rests in the heart and there enjoys the bliss of Pratyagātma. Hence Jīva is not ‘I’; thus I have now learnt through this enquiry that what renders Jīva blissful is Ātma, the true Jñāna. Such a Jñāna will never be bedimmed by objects, but will ever become clearer and clearer. My own Jīva exists only through Ātmic reality, the eternal Jñāna. Verily the state of Jīva, which gets ensnared by objects through Jñāna, may well be likened to that of water standing in a deep pool, or an odor wafted by the breeze. This Jñāna power, ensnared by the perception of objects which are illusory and composed of Tamas, becomes besmeared and consequently inactive: hence is the present Jīva oblivious of its true state, like heat in a copious supply of water. Thus does the true Chit-Śakti, become the Jīva, and, having become unreal and Tamasic through longing after objects, cognizes again its true state through Ātma-jñāna (by re-becoming that Jñāna). This Ātma-jñāna is known only through one’s self and not through another. I have now known Ātma-jñāna, which can be done only after endless eons of time. Through the non-cognition of the all-pervading nature of the Supreme Consciousness, there arose in us the six organs, but if that true Chit is thoroughly known, then Manas and the others are found to be quite illusory. The immeasurable Plenum of Jñāna alone truly is. This Jñāna is also called Mahāchit or Mahāsattā. This self-light that is stainless, without suffering, inequality or egoism, goes also by the appellations of Parabrahm or Paramātman, and shines everywhere at the same time, being eternal, all- pure and all-potent.’ And thus it happened that through her divine introvision, the queen enjoyed daily the consciousness of the reality of Ātman, and remained steadfast in that condition. Also through the strict performance of her daily actions, without the least longing after their fruits, all her desires and the tendency of her mind towards objects entirely ceased nor was she troubled by the pairs of opposites, or desires, or hatred. Thus in the performance of actions without attachment to results, her mind ripened and became the receptacle of bliss. Then through the unceasing practices, Ātmic reality – that true realization of certainty which is beyond all compare and cannot be estimated by any except one’s self became to her direct cognition, and she shone with a radiant spiritual light4 and became like a soft tendril bearing flowers. Now it came to pass that king Śikhidhvaja, noticing with pleasure the glorious effulgence that shone more and more round the form of his wife, and marveling to see a glory which surpassed any he had seen before, gave utterance to the following words: ‘How is it, O beloved one, that you now appear radiant with so much beauty, as if your youth had returned to you, as if you had become as it were the prototype of beauty, had quaffed divine nectar and attained the Brahmic state of eternal, heavenly bliss? How is it that your mind is now blessed with tranquility, devoid of the desire of enjoyment and free from instability? By what chance do you possess this perfect beauty of both mind and body? By your purity, I desire you to answer me.’ To this Chūḍālā vouchsafed the following reply: ‘Having abandoned this universe, which is both rūpa and arūpa, I attained that mighty and incomparable One which survives the destruction of all things in the universe; hence the radiant Tejas [fire] in my body. I have cognized that which is the substratum of all, being the atom of atoms and the homogeneous whole without creation or destruction; thus arises this radiant Tejas in my form. Though I do not enjoy objects of the senses, yet do I derive happiness therefrom without the pains attendant upon such enjoyment, and therefore love and hatred have taken farewell of me. I exult through the divine vision (taught of in books) in the company of Jñāna, the mistress of the household, who has love and hatred as hand-maidens performing mental duties. Hence do I glory in the possession of contentment and bodily beauty. In no way affected by the objects which I perceive by my eyes and through my mind, I realise within myself that Consciousness (Chaitanya) which has not the characteristics of the universe but is uncreate. Thus arises my beauty.’ At these words of Chūḍālā, her husband the king, without even trying to probe deeper into her heart, simply smiled at her with a look of derision and addressed her thus: ‘O damsel with a waist like a slender plant, thou hast uttered words which but ill suit thee. Thou speakest as one who has lost her mental balance. How is it possible for thee, who revellest in the luxuries of regal wealth, to cognise Ātma? Even the greatest of men, who, after giving up this paltry universe, have attained that exalted all-pervading principle, have done so only after disconnecting themselves from this visible universe. How is it, Lady, that thou canst aspire after that which can be directly cognised by the wise only? Thou canst be said to enjoy it only as those unfortunate persons do, who not being able to attain that state, profess to have sensed it intuitionally within, and then turn away in sheer disgust. Therefore tell me what thou meanest? How can persons like thee of the above class be able to realise the fact that they see Ātma within. Thou art but a fragile creature, without intelligence, unstable, liable to be tossed to and fro by emotion. So saying, he laughed aloud and departed.’ At this Chūḍālā only pitied the ignorance of the king, and remained calm with the consciousness of the Ātma-jñāna within, thinking that the king had not appreciated her words through his conception of the duality of the visible universe and his lack of enjoyment of true bliss. Yet this couple continued to live together harmoniously and happily as before. Preserving as she did a perfect equilibrium of mind, the wife had complete mastery over her desires. But there arose in her, through her own volition, a desire to be a ‘walker of the skies’ (in order to convince her husband of her real powers and so lead him into the spiritual path). For this purpose she seated herself in a solitary spot, in a pleasant posture, in order to obtain enlightenment. At this point Rāma asked Vasiṣṭha to enlighten him as to the path by which such psychic powers as walking in the Ākāśa, etc., might be developed after a long and difficult course of practice. Vasiṣṭha replied thus: “Albeit thou hast in the midst of the story of Śikhidvvaja asked for some light to be thrown on the practice of Yoga, yet I shall vouchsafe a reply to thee. O king, listen to the means which having enabled one to control Prāṇa, will yield him a rich return. The first and fundamental essential is that one should divest oneself of all affinities for objects, except those which adhere to the mind in the furtherance of those actions upon which it is bent. Next follow proper diet, easy posture, purity of mind and body, knowledge of the true meaning of the many treatises on Yoga and unintermittent practice accordingly, with the help of a wise Guru. He should completely divest himself of all anger and greed as well of attachment to enjoyments and should be free from all love or hatred for others. If he should only study practically the nature of the Prāṇas and then master them, their nature will, like subjects, enable him to rule the universe, to attain Mokṣa and develope Siddhis. There is among the one hundred Nāḍīs one incomparable, called Āntraveṣṭinikā. It is spherical, like a vortex, or the circular sounding-board of the vīna. This will be found to pervade all places and all bodies from those of Brahmā down to Jīva (the Ego). Like the coiling body of a serpent when it sleeps, shivering with cold, this ever-immoveable Nāḍī coils itself up and rests firmly through Prāṇa-vāyu. Like a plantain flower it is exceedingly delicate within. In this Nāḍī, it is said, there is a pure and resplendant Śakti (power) called Kuṇḍalinī which will enable men to have mastery over the tremendous powers of nature. This Śakti will ever be hissing like an angry female serpent. It will ever rear its head aloft. It is the cause of the fluctuation which takes place in the mind. All the other Nāḍīs are connected with this Kuṇḍalinī Śakti. This Śakti becomes purified only by the immaculate rays of Jñāna. It is transformed into the Jñāna rays through meditation; becomes Jñāna through Jñāna; a Jīva through the tendencies of a Jīva; Manas through Manasa (contemplation); the manifold Saṁkalpa through Saṁkalpa; Buddhi through certain knowledge and Ahaṁkāra through egoism. Thus this Śakti rejoices in the name of Puryaṣṭaka. Kuṇḍalinī Śakti passing as Jīva associates itself with the body which derives great benefit therefrom. Being of the nature of Prāṇa and Apāna, it goes up and down. As it is without fixity it becomes of the nature of all and may take an upward course or a downward one. And it is this Śakti which, though it becomes without any hindrance the Jīva, produces death in the body through the Prāṇa-vāyus. Should the upward and downward actions of this Kuṇḍalinī Śakti be arrested through the control of Prāṇa and this Prāṇa be made to rest in the heart, then diseases will not affect permanently those having such control.” At these words of Vasiṣṭha, Rāma interposed and said: “Please enlighten me as to the origin and destruction of mental disease as well as those arising therefrom [i.e. bodily diseses].” In answer to this Vasiṣṭḥa continued: “The pains that afflict the body are called the secondary diseases, whilst the Vāsanās that affect the mind are termed mental (or primary) diseases. We have reached our present state through the absence of the transcendental Jñāna, the want of mastery over our organs and the perpetual growth of desires and egoism in the mind. And our delusion becomes intensified in us by forgetfulness of the degradation of our state through such causes. With the concretion of such delusion, the mental disease also setting in congeals in us like the plenteous snows of winter. Then when the intense desires of a person begin to manifest themselves externally and the Ajñāna in him preponderates, he performs fearful karmas and these in their turn breed bodily diseases. Again, the body is further subject to diseases through such actions as the eating of unwholesome food, living in unhealthy countries, and doing things at unseasonable hours, injuries inflicted, association with the wicked, longing after improper things, evil desires, bad thoughts, the distention and contraction of the orifices of the Nāḍīs in the joints, etc., and the interrupted flow of the beneficial Prāṇas throughout the body – these cause the body to wither. Then these blossom in the form of diseases in the body, waxing and waning like the floods in a river during the long seasons of autumn and winter. The body attracts to itself effects according to the nature of its countless affinities good or bad, whether in previous births or in the present one. Thus do we see that diseases, primary and secondary arise through the five-fold Bhūtas (elements). Now listen, O Rāma, as to the manner in which the two forms of disease, primary and secondary, perish in two ways. The wise say that primary disease has two sub-divisions: samānya (ordinary) and sāra (essential). The former includes the diseases incidental to the body, while the latter the rebirths to which men are subject. If the diseases which afflict this body return to their primal source, then they are destroyed. Their primary causes being (bad) thoughts, if these thoughts are destroyed, all bodily diseases will vanish. But the disease of rebirth, coming under the head of sāra, will never perish except through Ātma-jñāna. Is it possible to suppose that the misconception of a serpent in a rope will be removed except through the discovery of the real rope? But those grievous diseases of the body, which do not arise through the original cause, can be extirpated by mantras, medicine and the many means proposed by men well-versed in medical lore I need not expatiate upon this subject any further here.” Here Rāma asked Vasiṣṭha how mental diseases arise and how they are destroyed. Vasiṣṭha thus proceeded: “When the fixed Manas is agitated, then this body also follows in its wake. And when the body is agitated, then there is no proper perception on things that are in one’s way and Prāṇa flies from its even path into a bad road: then it will stagger from its proper road like an animal hit by, and reeling under the wound of an arrow. Through such an agitation Prāṇa instead of pervading the whole body, steadily and equally, will vibrate everywhere at an unequal rate. Thereby the Nāḍīs will not maintain a steady position (like elec tric wires, but will quiver). Then to the body which is the receptacle of food digested partially or completely, the Nāḍīs are simply death, through the fluctuation of the Prāṇas. The food which settles itself down in this body amidst such a commotion is transformed into incurable diseases. Thus through the primary cause (of the mind) is the disease of the body generated. If this primary cause be annihilated at its root then all diseases will be destroyed. Now hear the path by which diseases may be removed by the uttering of mantras. Like base gold, which when placed in the crucible is trans muted through alchemical processes into pure gold, the mind is unfailingly rendered pure through true, virtuous and pure actions and through dependence upon the wise. In the mind purified thus there will thrill unalloyed bliss. Is not the whole world exhilarated with joy when the soft and delicious moon begins to shed its silvery light on it? If the mind becomes purified with true Sattvaguṇa, then Prāṇa-vāyu will begin to circulate freely throughout the body, the food taken in will be digested properly and hence no diseases will arise. I have thus described to you the path through which can be destroyed the two kinds of diseases. Now listen to what is taught regarding the path of Yoga, which enables one to master Kuṇḍalinī-śakti. To the Jīva rejoicing in the name of Puryaṣṭaka, Kuṇḍalinī is like a flower, the state of the Vāsanās. If, through the practice of Pūraka (inspiration), the aforesaid Kuṇḍalinī-śakti is replenished and caused to shine with a resplendent light, then the body acquires the stability of Mahāmeru, and becomes strong. Then, if the intelligence pervading this body which is filled with Prāṇa through inspiration takes an upward course, it will make that body become a walker of the skies. With the agility of a serpent, Kuṇḍalinī-śakti will rise up erect like a plantain-stalk. Having drawn into itself (from on high) all the Nāḍīs that bind up the body like strings, it will cause them to inflate from below, as does a bladder although immersed in water. Thus, through intense practice of Yoga, the Yogis rise up into the air, and roam therein, though connected with the body, as a fish that pecks at, and is caught by the bait upon the rod of an angler. If this Kuṇḍalinī-śakti gets into Suṣumnā, going up the Brahmarandhra, and having reached a distance of twelve digits (from the nose), stays there for two Muhūrtas (48 minutes) after performing Rechaka (expiration), by which the actions of all Nāḍīs are arrested; then the person is able to see all walkers of the skies. Then, through the Divine Vision, hosts of Siddhas, able to confer such powers as Aṇiman, etc., will truly appear before him, as things do in the dream state. If the immoveable Prāṇa is rendered steady for a long time, flowing to a distance of 12 digits from the face through the practice of Rechaka, then entry into other bodies can be effected.” Here Rāma asked Vasiṣṭha as to how such persons are able to make themselves atomic or all-pervading in the Ākāśa or to render their bodies light or heavy. And when thus asked by Rāma, the Muni continued: “There is that One Principle which is non-dual, Absolute Consciousness, perfect equality, purity, quiescence, that has no sort of relationship to the things of the universe, the most subtile of all subtile things, which neither is this universe, nor is associated with it. Through its own Saṁkalpa, it differentiates (into many units). Then it goes by the name of Jīva, on account of the many surrounding things which agitate it. This fluctuating Jīva, subject to the delusions of Saṁkalpa, regards this illusory body as real, as ghosts are regarded by ignorant lads. The world will judge of this Jīva by the opinions of the majority of enlightened men in every age who discern with trained minds. It is only by the exercise of a determined will that persons, although ignorant, can transform poison into nectar, and the reverse, thus entirely changing the nature of things. By contemplating the body, it becomes gross; and thus also the visible body, through the conception of its unreal nature, again becomes a subtile one. All psychic powers, such as Aṇiman and others acquired through meditation, are awakened by this course (of Will-Thought) alone. This will be self-evident only to those who have mastered the Siddhis of Yoga through self-illumination. Having by these means developed the powers of Aṇiman, etc., Cūḍāḷā instantaneously moved and disported herself in all the universe, encircled by the ocean full of jewels, simply for the purpose of bringing home conviction to her husband’s mind. This lady who was not, at any time, a celibate, tried by all available arts to give her husband some idea of the bliss-giving Jñāna; but he was unable to benefit himself thereby, nor even for a moment to gain repose in that pure Jñāna. Like a child entirely ignorant of what education means, he was quite oblivious to all the noble qualities of that grand Yoginī Chūḍālā. As he did not rest peacefully in the Ātma-jñāna within himself, she never initiated him into the real secrets of Jñāna. Would any one be so foolish as to communicate to Śūdras (who have no longing for knowledge) the real secrets of Yajña (sacrifice)?” At these words of Vasiṣṭha, Rāma questioned him thus: “How can others obtain Jñāna, O Āchārya, when even king Śikhidvaja failed to do so, notwithstanding the repeated inculcations of it by Chūḍālā of great Siddhis? What is therefore the right way of obtaining the true end?” To which Vasiṣṭha thus replied: “It is faith in the words of the Guru that paves the way for Brahma-upadeśa (initiation into Brahman). The pure and unalloyed intelligence of the disciple is alone the means of attaining to the rare Ātma-jñāna.” Here again Rāma asked the Muni why an Āchārya’s words should be necessary for the development of Ātma-jñāna, if the disciple’s pure intelligence is alone the means of it? At which Vasiṣṭha continued thus: “In a certain forest in the Vindhya Mountains lived a hunter who was a man of great pedigree. One day, having lost a cowrie-shell while travelling along a grassy road in the forest, he went in quest of it, filled with grief. Having vainly searched for it three days, he came at last in contact with a gem radiant with the lustre of the full-moon. But the hunter passed, in his anxiety to find the lost cowrie, by the gem that was so valuable that one could purchase even the seven worlds. Similarly, Jñāna will come to a man in due season through the initiation of a Guru. When the mind is concentrated on one thing, there will arise in it, through the action of the Guru, another kind of knowledge, not anticipated. Though the initiation by an Āchārya will not of itself enable a person to obtain Jñāna, it can by means of developing Jñāna in him, as the lost cowrie was the cause of the hunter finding the gem.” With this, Vasiṣṭha returned to the story of Śikhidhvaja. “Being without Ātma-jñāna, the king began to reel under illusion and gave way to grief, regarding the enormous wealth he had so easily acquired, as destructive as a great forest-fire. He therefore gave various rare gifts, underwent many religious observances, and bathed in the holy water; but yet was not free from the load of grief in his mind. Sorely afflicted at heart, he drew to him his wife Chūḍālā, and poured forth his heart to her thus: ‘I have now abandoned all love of sovereignty and wealth, and I desire to enter the forest life. Neither pleasure nor pain, danger nor wealth, will there haunt those who live noble lives. Let me no longer associate with the delusions of this earth. A forest life is, in all respects, preferable to the regal one, wherein the longing after life and property do not die. Even the cool moon or the God Brahmā, or Indra, the Lord of the Devas rolling in great wealth, cannot enjoy that bliss which comes only to a self- integrated mind free from desires. Therefore, do not blame me for leaving you thus, and going to the forest. Married women, O well-beloved, will not oppose the desires of their husbands.’ To this Chūḍālā replied: ‘Flowers begin to blossom in the spring season, while autumn sees them yielding fruit. Thus do our Karmas begin to fructify in their due time. If the body should begin to droop with old age, when bodily desires subside, then is the forest a fitting abode. But, at this period of your life, it is not meet that you should retire; wherefore it behoves you not to go now.’ To this the king made answer: ‘Do not impede me in my plans. I will go to the forest for solitude; but as thou art young, it is not proper that you should accompany me. Thou shalt reign over the earth unfailingly in my stead. When a husband goes from home, it is the wife’s duty to protect those around him, and not to languish at his absence. Thus saying he retired to his bath. The day being over, he performed his sandhyāvandhana5 rites, and, having quietly slept by his wife upon the floor, he stole out in the dead of night, unperceived by her. Having given out to the people outside that he was going on a city patrol, he desired them to stay where they were, and departed from the town. Then, bidding adieu to his great, but enslaving possessions, he entered into the forest, crossing, in the course of twelve days, many rivers and hills. At last he reached the inaccessible forest on the slopes of the Mandara Hills, and took up his abode there, in a spot surrounded by tanks replete with lotuses, and by delicious flowers. There he erected a parṇaśālā (raised shed), and furnished himself with a bamboo rod, a rosary for recitation of Mantras, a cloth, vessels to hold fruits, etc , and deer skins. Then, in order to perform Tapas, in the first yāma (three hours), he performed the sandhyāvandhana rites; in the second, he gathered flowers; in the third he performed worship to Devas; and in the fourth he fed upon fruits fit for food. All night through he was engaged in the chanting of Mantras. Thus did the king per form Tapas. Chūḍālā, who was sleeping in the palace, awoke; and not finding her lord who had lain by her, was greatly afflicted; and then she melted with compassion at the condition of the king, who she inferred must have abandoned all his wealth and gone to the forest. Then she resolved to find out the where abouts of her husband, for the husband is a wife’s only goal. She sprang forth (in her double), and passing through the window, went up into the sky, journeying through the air with so bright a face that the Siddhas in the skies exclaimed: ‘Lo! another moon has arisen here!’ Then seeing her husband travelling in the forest with a bright sword in his hand, she meditated as to what course she should pursue in regard to him. Having done so, this sweet-tongued one came to the following conclusion: ‘It is right that I should see him only after his desires and hatred have ceased.’ With that she returned to her palace. This divine lady gave out to her subjects that her husband had gone to a certain place on matters of a private nature. So she wielded the sceptre alone for eighteen years with true regal justice and an equal eye to all, thus passing her time in her palatial mansion; while at the same time the king eked out his life of suffering in the forest. Finding that the time was ripe for her to see her husband, she went forth one night and walked the skies. Having mounted on the shoulders of Vāyu (air), invisible to all, she alighted on the Mandara Hills, and saw there a decrepit and melancholic body, which, at first, she did not recognized as her husband; but having, by her powers of great Yoga, discovered it to be none other than he, she yielded to her grief and gave vent to these words: ‘Lo! dire is Ajñāna! Because of it the king is groaning in pain. I have undoubtedly the power to confer Ātma-jñāna on him at this instant; yet, lest he should spurn me if I, his young wife, should appear in my present form, I will assume another form suitable to accomplish my end. Moreover, the king is in a state of mind which permits of his Ajñāna (ignorance) being dissipated. At a single word from me, Jñāna will reflect itself in his now ripened mind. Therefore, availing herself of this most opportune hour, she changed her bodily form by her incomparable Dhyāna, and descended from the Ākāśa before her husband under the form of the son of a great Brahmin. The king at once arose, and paid him all due respect. This young Brahmin had a beauteous form, and, upon his breast, was a garland of pearls; he wore a white cloth and a sacred thread; and stood in the air at some distance from the ground. The king showed the newly arrived guest to a seat beside him. The young Brahmin returned the salutations of this royal Ṛṣi of true Tapas, and took a state by his side; when the king, with a full heart, thus spoke: ‘It is only now with your advent, son of a Deva, that I have reaped the fruits of Ātma.’ So saying, he showered on the young Brahmin more devotions, regarding him as his holy tutelary god. The Brahmin, advocating the king, said: ‘Who in the world has the graceful qualities and modesty which you evince? May you live long ! Did you, with a steadfast mind and with all worldly delusions extinct in you, perform Tapas only for the sake of obtaining liberation? Your abode in this forest, after abandoning the state of a king like unto Indra, may well be likened to Tapas performed on the point of a sword!’ At these words of the Brahmin, the king said: ‘Being a god, thou hast well understood my condition. This thy knowledge surprises me; whose son art thou, and what is thy name? What occasion has brought thee here? Be pleased to tell me all this. To this the Brahmin, consenting to answer him fully, thus began: ‘There was a Brahmin of the name of Nārada, like unto the true Jñāna-light, and he sat in a delightful spot on the banks of the Gaṅgā of holy waters, absorbed in Niṣṭhā (meditation). In the transition stage from that highest Samādhi down to the normal state, a sportive sound fell upon his ears, and he directed his gaze in the direction from where it came. There he saw some Deva-girls, like unto Rambhā and Tilottamā6, of matchless beauty. Seeing them thus alone, and not ashamed of their nudity, his Prāṇa began to fluctuate, and he experienced the effects of sensual desire in himself. When the Brahmin had said this, the king remarked: ‘I have attained perfect equilibrium of mind through the sweet nectar of your words. It is difficult for me to follow their meaning as they are mystical like those pertaining to Paramārtha (the reality of the Higher Self). Therefore please inform me plainly of your origin. To which Chūḍālā, the Brahmin’s son, continued to reply: ‘Then, having fastened the elephant of the ever-fluctuating mind to the great pillar of true discrimination with the strong rope of love by the aid of the goad of true intelligence, the Muni Nārada released in the crystal pot near him that which produced the embryo. Then the embryo began to grow like the luxuriant moon in the Milky Ocean. Having been endowed by Nārada with a never-failing wealth of knowledge and other gifts, I, who issued out of the Pot, as the son of Nārada, was taken over to the presence of Brahmā, who, as in duty bound to me, his own grandson, paved my way to the attainment of the goal of Brahma-jñāna. Immediately my grandfather called me by the title of Kumbha-Muni, as I was born in a Kumbha7 (pot). The noble Sarasvatī is my mother;8 my junior mother. I was always engaged in sporting with my friends, the four stainless Vedas.’ At these words of Kumbha-Muni, the king said that he had reaped great benefit from the Muni’s present visit to him, and felt assured that all he said was true. Kumbha-Muni said that he had truly related his own life, and desired the king to inform him of his identity and origin. The king replied: ‘Being afraid of the worries of existence, I sought freedom from actions in this forest. I go by the name of Śikhidvaja, and I am here, after having relinquished my regal duties. My mind stands aghast at this ever-recurring cycle of rebirths. Though I made Tapas here after obtaining all things necessary for that pur pose, I have but enhanced beyond description my pains in the endeavour to do away with them. Oh incomparable Muni, milk has indeed been converted into poison !’ Then Kumbha-Muni, addressing the king, replied: ‘There will be true bliss only when the Jñāna instilled into a disciple by the Āchārya (Guru) truly fructifies in him. Are not all acts of Tapas simply diversions to while away the time? Oh king, to those without Jñāna, Karma is alone their security. Virtuous actions serve but to remove the impure Vāsanās. Therefore, Karmas are useful only in so far as they confer upon us heavenly and other pleasures. If the impure Vāsanās are destroyed, then the effects of all Karmas cease alike, as the effects of one season cease when another sets in. Like reeds which never produce fruit, Karmas freed from the varying Vāsanās never fructify. If, through the sure conviction that all is Brahmā, Ajñāna is destroyed, impure Vāsanās will never arise. Who is so foolish as to suppose there is water in a mirage? If the Vāsanās alone are destroyed, then birth, old age or death, will not affect one, and he will reach the immaculate Brahmic state. All minds associated with Vāsanās are but differentiated Ajñāna itself; but a mind without them is the unborn Ātma-jñāna itself. If through the immaculate Jñāna, the Jīva (ego) cognizes Brahman, then all births cease. Since even Brahmā and the other Great Ones have said that Jñāna alone is the most excellent of all things, how is it that you do not long after it? How is it that you do not question yourself as to who you are, whence came the Universe, and into what it will be absorbed? Why do you repine at your lot like the ignorant? Why is it, that after having prostrated yourself at the feet of a great Guru, you do not try to understand from him the nature of bondage and Mokṣa? If, approaching those persons who look equally upon all things through their abundant Jñāna you are ceaselessly engaged in the noble pursuits of enquiry, then you will surely gain that subtle Jñāna which leads to emancipation. At these words of Kumbha-Muni, the king shed tears of joy and said: ‘Oh Āchārya, I, poor soul, have learnt all this (the attainment of bliss through Ātma-jñāna) by thy grace. I am here in this solitary forest, having left the company of great men through Ajñāna. I have this moment been released from the pains of existence. Since thou deigned to be present with me in this forest, and hast deemed it thy duty to point out the path to me, thou alone art my Āchārya, my parent and my friend. Therefore, do I prostrate myself before thee as thy steadfast disciple. Be thou graciously pleased to accept me as thy Chela. Be pleased, O thou equal unto Brahmā, to enlighten me upon that One Principle which thou hast cognized as the most bounteous, the One which, if known by a person, relieves him from all pains, and confers the blissful Sat.’ To which Kumbha-Muni replied: ‘I can enlighten you only if you will concentrate your mind, which now runs quickly from one object to another, with singleness of purpose. Otherwise the Guru’s words, taken lightly and not conceived and meditated upon, would be of no avail even though heard. How can the eyes perceive objects in the darkness? Here the king affirmed that he would receive the words with implicit faith, as the teachings of the Vedas, and would meditate upon them truly through the Muni’s grace. On hearing these words, the lovely Muni continued: ‘I have to demand as a first condition that you, O valiant king, will hear my words without interruption, and, in the full belief that they will conduce to your welfare, as in the attitude of an ignorant child that hears the words of its father who is solicitous of its well-being.’ Therefore, in order to instruct the king, the Muni thus continued: ‘O king, please listen to a story I shall relate to you, and I will afterwards reveal to you its hidden meaning. In ancient times, there lived a great man, well-versed in all departments of knowledge, and possessed of great wealth; but, alas! without Ātma-jñānam. This person pursued the search for Chintāmaṇi, (a gem supposed to yield anything thought of), with much effort. Through the performance of rare Tapas, he came into possession of it after a good deal of trouble; for what cannot a man attain to if he takes the necessary trouble? Now, when the gem appeared to him, shining with the lustre of the moon, he, without bringing it under his grasp, thus soliloquized: ‘I fear this is not Chintāmaṇi, but only some paltry stone. Can it be otherwise attained than by long and tedious search and when a man’s life is nearly spent and his body debilitated by the search? Sinful persons like myself will never attain it, though they subject themselves to all kinds of hardship. The virtuous – and some of them only – will come by it. Shall individuals acquire things readily by mere repining, and without regard to their respective Karmas? I am but a man; my Tapas is very significant, and my powers small. In short, I am poor in all respects. Therefore can it be possible for poor me to behold the rare Chintāmaṇi before me? I will proceed to make further search for it. And thus saying, he let slip the golden opportunity, and the real Chintāmaṇi vanished from his sight. Shall good ever accrue to the ignorant? Thus did he again go in search of the gem, with great pains. After thus wandering in a perturbed state for some days, some Siddhas (persons possessed of psychic powers), intending to befool him, screened themselves from his view, and let drop in his path a broken piece of earthen bracelet, which he no sooner saw than he picked it up. Then this deluded man, mistaking it for the true Chintāmaṇi, began to exult in its discovery and to marvel over it. Being in possession of this burnt gem, he renounced all his wealth, fully believing that the gem would fetch him anything he wanted, and that his present possessions were superfluous. Therefore, he gave up his country and retired to the forest, believing that happiness could only be obtained there, away from the men of depraved tendencies in his own land. Thus did this man, who had anticipated the enjoyment of real bliss through this stone, subject himself to all kinds of hardships, and degraded himself to the lowest level. Hear from me another story which will be of great help to you in the improvement of your knowledge. In the heart of this ancient forest, there lived an elephant, the biggest and loftiest of his kind. Certain Mahouts of the forest associated with, and entrapped, this elephant whose tusks were exceedingly long, sharp and strong, and fettered it with strong iron chains. Becoming infuriated with its painful fetters, it shook itself free by the aid of powerful tusks in two Muhūrtas (48 minutes). The Mahout in the howdah on top, seeing this, became giddy, and fell to the ground. The tusker, finding him upon the ground, passed by without hurting him. But the driver, picking himself up with unappeased passion, went again in quest of the elephant, which he found in the midst of the forest. There he dug a trench, covering it up with dry leaves and grass. The elephant, after roaming through the forest, came at length to the place where the trench was, and fell into it. Instantly the Mahout bound it. Thus again was the elephant subjected to torture. Had this creature, which was like unto the great (king) Bali when guarding his own mansion, dashed out the brains of its enemy at the time when the Mahout lay prostrate before it, it would not again have fallen into the trap, nor have been thus again agitated. Likewise, those who make no enquiry concerning the good and evil of the future, will come to grief.’ When Kumbha-Muni had related this story, Śikhidhvaja asked him to give the reason why he had narrated the incidents concerning Chintāmaṇi and the elephant; to which Kumbha-Muni, of steady mind, thus replied: ‘By that person, who, though acquainted with all the Śāstras, yet without the beneficent Tattvajñāna went in search of Chintāmaṇi, I meant only yourself. For, although well-versed in all book- learning, you have not yet developed an undisturbed equilibrium of mind. What I intended by the story of Chintāmaṇi is this: In order to attain true renunciation devoid of all pain and hypocrisy, you have forsaken your regal office, your wife, and other relatives, wherein there was the true Chintāmaṇi, and have betaken yourself to this forest. While the true renunciation was developing itself little by little in you although in the world, your mind was led astray by undue zeal to a wrong conception of renunciation, and was enveloped by that delusion as by a dark cloud which obscures the sky. This renunciation of yours is not the true one, generating real happiness, which you lost track of, because you thought that this renunciation of yours, if persisted in sufficiently long, would, at length, give rise to the true one, Having lost the gem of true renunciation, which is in the proper path of life, you have been misled by the false idea of the burnt stone of Tapas through your faulty vision, and have, therefore, been greatly afflicted. The wise say that those who reject the happiness accessible to them in their daily lives, and allow their minds to search after imaginary and strange things without limit, are only self-destructive and of corrupt thought. Through the idea of Tapas as the means of bliss, your mind in no wise acquired that peace it desired, even when the graced and priceless Chintāmaṇi was before you; nor was there any advantage in the discovery of the bit of earthen bracelet. Now hear about the elephant. The epithet ‘elephant,’ I applied to yourself. The two long tusks are Vairāgya (indifference to pleasure and pain), and Viveka (discrimination). Your Ajñāna is the driver who sits aloft upon the elephant and goads it on. Your Ajñāna afflicts you in many ways. You are now palpitating with the pains inflicted by Ajñāna, like the elephant bound by the Mahout and led by him. The iron chains and fetters are the bonds forged by desires, and you have been bound by them. Know that these desires are stronger and more durable than iron itself. Iron chains wear out in a length of time, but the desires which prevail grow more and more. The breaking loose of the elephant from its strong bonds stands for your late relinquishment of all desires and going into the forest. The fall of the driver from the howdah represents the destruction of your Ajñāna through your Vairāgya. If once we free ourselves from desires, shall Ajñāna and the necessity for rebirths exist? Should the delusion of wealth be abandoned through sheer asceticism, Ajñāna will only be hovering about like a ghost in a tree when it is being felled. But if the delusion of wealth be destroyed through the action of Viveka, then Ajñāna will take its flight like a ghost from a tree already felled. With the relinquishment of Ajñāna, all its retinue will bid adieu. As soon as you reached this forest, all your Ajñāna was levelled to the ground like nests of birds in a felled tree. But you did not chop off the Ajñāna with the sharp sword by uninterrupted renunciation of all. Inasmuch as you did not do so, you again began to groan under the pains arising therefrom. Now the excavation of the trench by the elephant driver refers to the generation of pains in you through the growth of Ajñāna. Again, the leaves and dry grass spread upon the pitfall, refer to your actions during your very painful Tapas. Thus are you suffering from the restraint of your Tapas like the powerful Bali with a fateful sword, but imprisoned in the lower regions of Pātāla. Why do you grieve and not listen to the words of the delicate Chūḍālā of infallible utterances? Why have you rejected the true renunciation of all?’ To this the king replied as follows: ‘I have given up my kingdom, my palace, my wealth, and even my dear wife, do not all these actions constitute a perfect renunciation? What more would you have me renounce?’ Kumbha-Muni replied: ‘Though you have given up your kingdom and the rest, that will not constitute the true renunciation. You have yet desires in all objects. It is only by entire rejection of them that you can hope to attain the Brahmic bliss of the wise.’ Then the king said: ‘If you are pleased to say that the giving up of the many worldly things does not amount to renunciation, and that I have yet desires in me, then what I have left is this forest alone. Therefore do I now renounce my longing for the forest full of hills and trees. Hence I suppose I have made the true renunciation.’ Kumbha-Muni then said: ‘Even the abandoning of this hilly and luxuriant forest does not effect the true renunciation. You have yet the painful desires in themselves. Only when they depart from you, can you obtain and enjoy the Supreme happiness. To which the king replied that, if this was not enough, he would lay aside his cloth, Rudrākṣa (garland), deer-skin, earthen vessels, and wooden-bowl.’ So saying, he consigned them all to the fire, and rejoiced in his entirely new appearance. Then turning to Kumbha-Muni of eternal Jñāna with the comment that he had now stripped himself of all desires, the king said: ‘It is through your divine self alone that I have acquired right understanding, liberated myself from all pains, and freed myself from contamination. Through my Saṁkalpa I have given up all these things entirely. The innumerable things of this world lead only to bondage which conduces to rebirth. The enlightened mind receives a degree of bliss commensurate with the loss of desire for objects. I have obtained bliss only through successive victories over my desires. I am free from the bondage of delusion. I have now attained through your grace the perfect renunciation, and am divested of everything. What else remains to be done, O Muni?’ Kumbha-Muni replied: ‘Alas! you have not renounced anything. All your delusive renunciations are in vain. On this the king reflected and said: ‘There is left with me only this body composed of white bones and flesh, in which the serpents of the five sense-organs hiss. I shall instantly dispose of it without care. You shall soon see. So saying, he ascended to the summit of a high cliff, and was about to cast himself down, when the supreme Kumbha-Muni arrested him with these words: ‘What is this folly that you are about to do? How, O ignorant man, did this body of yours hinder your progress? How will death in any way help you? Though you should fall down and destroy this body, like a bull that is angry with a tender calf, yet you will not complete the true abnegation. But if you, O king, will but give up that which is the cause of agitation in this body, and which yields the seed of all births and Karmas, then true renunciation will be made. This is the unqualified truth.’ Then the king asked the Muni to give out the means by which that which is the cause of the agitation of the body might be avoided. Thereupon the Muni of transcendent qualities replied thus: ‘The wise say that the mind (manas) which, through its Saṁkalpa passes under the different appellations of Jīva and Prāṇa, is the cause of attachment to delusive objects, and is distinct from the beneficent Non-Jaḍa and Jaḍa (the inert). At the same time it is said that this Chitta (the flitting mind), forms the universe as well as the bondage. It is this mind which is the germ of all Karmas of existence and daily agitates this body of ours like a tree when swayed by the wind. Therefore true renunciation, O king, lies in the abnegation of the mind. It is this which leads to Brahmic bliss. All other renunciations cause us sufferings. If, after true renunciation you are illumined in mind, with perfect quiescence, and without hatred, then will the identification of yourself with the Self which is Brahman take place, and you will shine with resplendent glory.’ Then the king asked the Muni: ‘What is the cause of the mind? What is its true nature? How can I destroy it?’ To this the Muni replied: ‘The true nature of the mind consists in the Vāsanās. The two are synonymous. Know, O, king, that the idea of ‘I’, which is the nest containing all frailties, is the seed of the tree of mind. The sprout which at first germinates from this seed of Ahaṁkāra (I-am-ness), originates without form and is ascertainable only by internal experience. This sprout is termed Buddhi. From this sprout the ramifying branches called Saṁkalpa take their origin. Through such a differentiation, the great Manas (of Saṁkalpa) as also Chitta and Buddhi are but the different names or qualities of the one Ahaṁkara. Therefore, daily should you lop off the branches of this dire tree of Manas, and eventually destroy the tree at its root completely. The branches of Vāsanās will naturally produce innumerable crops of Karmas; but if, with the sword of Jñāna, you sever them from the heart’s core, they will be destroyed. They are the true vanquishers of the mind in the heart, who perform without a murmur the Karmas which fall to them; controlling all thoughts and desires in regard to such. The lopping of the branches is considered only as a secondary thing, the first being the eradication of the tree at its root. Therefore, if through virtuous actions you destroy the idea of “I” at the root of the tree (mind), then it will not again spring up.’ At these words of the Muni, the king asked him as to where the fire which destroys the conception of Ahaṁkāra, the seed of the tree, was to be found. To which Kumbha-Muni replied: ‘It is Ātma-jñāna which enquires concerning the true nature of “I”; that is the fire which destroys the mind. The king then said: ‘Through my intelligence I enquired into the origin of “I” in divers ways. As this world is non-intelligent, it is not “I”, neither is this body, nor the organs, nor the contemplating Manas, nor Buddhi, nor the injurious Ahaṁkāra creating egoism.’ Here Kumbha-Muni interposed and asked him, if the ‘I’ were not all these, what else was it? To which the king thus replied: ‘I am of the nature of that stainless Absolute Consciousness which, having evolved everything, preserves and destroys it. I cannot find out the cause of this “I”, which is of the nature of Jñāna. I have not been able to divine the means which removes Ahaṁkāra the seed of the pains-giving mind. My mind misgives me when I find that Ahaṁkāra clings to me, howsoever much I thrust it aside.’ Kumbha-Muni said: ‘Oh king, no effects can ensue without a cause. Search within to find out the cause of Ahaṁkāra ever present before you, and tell me what occurs in your mind.’ The king replied: ‘The cause of the stainful Ahaṁkāra is Bodha (knowledge). How does Bodha get absorbed here within me? I droop only when Bodha arises in visible objects. How then am I to avoid these visible things?’ Kumbha-Muni said: ‘If you tell me the cause of knowledge, I shall then throw light upon it.’ The king said: ‘Through the existence of such illusory objects as the body, etc., knowledge is induced; but if they cease to exist, then no knowledge can arise. Then the seed of Manas, viz., Ahaṁkārric ideation, will consequently be absorbed.’ Kumbha-Muni questioned him thus: ‘If the body, and other objects of sense, do really exist, then knowledge exists; but as the bodies, etc., do not really exist, what then is the basis of knowledge?’ The king, in reply, said: ‘But tell me first, Āchārya, how this visible body, which palpably enjoys the effects of all Karmas performed by the hands and other organs, can be non-existent?’ Kumbha-Muni answered: ‘As this body, arising through Karmas, is not itself the Cause, therefore the effect of intelligence is itself non-existent. That intelligence is itself illusory. Hence Ahaṁkāra and other effects which arise through the excessive delusion (of knowledge), are also non-existent. Hence also all objects which are not of the nature of the cause are illusory, like the conception of a serpent in a rope.’ Then the king asked: ‘There were the many creations of Brahman, who is the primeval one in the universe. How then can you say that Brahman is not the cause of the Universe?’ Kumbha-Muni replied: ‘Prior to (every fresh) creation Parabrahm alone shines as Sat, which is the non-dual and the quiescent. As That alone is without a second, the Supreme Brahman cannot be the Cause.’ And Kumbha-Muni replied: ‘Parabrahm is that which is emancipation itself, the imperishable, the immeasurable, the immaculate, the birthless and deathless, without pain, without distinctions, having no period, the beginningless and endless, without existence, the non-dual and the ineffable One beyond the reach of thought. How can Parabrahm which is unthinkable be the Cause? How can it be the actor or enjoyer? Therefore this universe is not in the least created by any one, nor is it self-created. The Supreme Saṁkalpa of that Absolute Consciousness is Brahmā. Nought else is but the one true Jñāna. All objects created out of that Jñāna are said to be no other than the form of that Jñāna. All here are Brahman itself devoid of rebirths. Therefore, it is neither an actor nor enjoyer. Having thus convinced yourself of the one Reality, if you destroy the Ajñāna (ignorance) within your heart, then it will cease to have any resurrection. Through no other path than the destruction of these excessive Karmas can the delusion, which has become in us a certainty, vanish. If the Ajñāna in us fades away gradually, then the conception of the certainty attributed to the universe will diminish and the Brahmic state will be attained. Such a mind through the all-pervading Jñāna, viz., the primeval god, Paramātma, into which it is absorbed, will ever be evolving fresh creations (through its Saṁkalpa). That which is named Brahman through Ātmatattva is none other than the quiescent (or passive) aspect of this universe.’ Here the king said: ‘All that you have taught me is quite reasonable. As prior to creation there is no creator, there is really no Universe. Hence there really does not exist the (objective) vision of all things. Through your clear elucidation I have well understood and have become of the nature of my auspicious Self. Hence, I do not cognize all external objects as really existent. I have worshipped my (real) Self. Through the knowledge derived from the perception of many substances, I have come to perceive them to be unreal. Through this Jñāna, I have become the quiescent without thought and the Plenum like the Ākāśa.’ Then Kumbha-Muni, able to confer Ātma (Self) upon the king said: ‘The true discrimination of space, time, the spacious quarters, mental actions and the rest, is only to understand the universe in its differentiated aspects. Though these distinctions have been existing in you from a remote past, yet they will perish [in you] in a short time. The quiescent and indestructible Brahman will alone be, as you will presently cognize.’ Instantaneously, the king attained Jñāna, and shone with it. Thus was he released from the fold of dire Māyā. Then through the grace of the Muni, who was pleased to dispel the delusion from his mind, he was absorbed into the Brahmic state. Being freed from the actions of his mind, sight and speech, he, in one moment, became the Plenum in Brahmic state. After he had been for two ghaṭikās [48 minutes] in that state of Nididhyāsana [meditation], he awakened, and the Supreme Muni said: ‘Have you enjoyed to the full, free from all pains, the heavenly bliss of Brahmic state, which is ever the beneficent, the stainless, the pure, the soft, the state of all Nirvikalpas [non-fancies] and the fulness of all wealth. Have you been illumined with Ātma-jñāna? Have you been freed from all delusions? Have you known that fit to be known? Have you seen that fit to be seen?’ To these questions the king made reply: ‘Oh Lord, through your grace I have been able to cognize that state of Brahman which remains after all else is over, which confers the divine wealth of bliss, and which is the grandest and the most transcendental of all. Oh, I have been able to acquire the otherwise unattainable heavenly nectar of great bliss, and move in the company of those great souls of power ful Brahmajñāna through the blessing of association with your grace. How was it not possible for me, your humble servant, to attain this immeasurable supreme nectar before?’ Kumbha-Muni said: ‘It is only when there is quiescence in the mind and an indifference in it towards all enjoyments, and when the powerful Indriyas (organs) are turned inwards and the Ajñāna of the mind is destroyed, that all the noble words of the wise guru will infiltrate and spread in the mind of the disciple like the scarlet water of the forest impinging on a perfectly white cloth. Otherwise such words will drop down like the impurities of the body or the fruits of a tree. The mere doubt arising in one’s mind of the existence of duality or non-duality in this world betrays Ajñāna; the removal constitutes Jñāna. It (Jñāna) alone is our highest goal. Through illumination you have attained Mokṣa (emancipation). You have levelled down your mind. May you be alone as the great Maunin9 after having acquired Divine wealth and given up all the stains of the world. To which the king questioned: Are not the actions of Jīvan- muktas performed through the mind? How can things go on without the actions of the mind? Please inform me on these points. Kumbha-Muni replied: ‘The mind is no other than the Vāsanās generating many rebirths. If one knows his own self, then there is no such fears of rebirths. In those that have cognized their Self without any obstacles, the pure Vāsanās with which they perform Karmas will not entail upon them rebirths. Such a mind is called Sāttvic; but a mind without Jñāna is generally termed the Manas. A mind of Jñāna is Sattva itself, while persons without Jñāna will act in the path dictated by their minds. The stainless and wise will always follow the Sāttvic path. Having given up all that tends to the attainment of Svarga (Devachanic or Svargic bliss), may you become that self-light which shines equally in all. This is your real nature. Without hankering after paltry terrestrial things, and causing your mind to fluctuate thereby, may you be immovable as a rock. Those who have no (lower) mind drive away rebirths to a great distance. In this spacious earth, no pains will affect them. A mind becomes a prey to fear through its fluctuation. Having commingled motion and non-motion into one, and destroyed fluctuation (of mind), may you be one with Jñāna.’ The king then said: ‘How is this identification to brought about? How are Motion and non-motion to be commingled into one? And how am I to reach that state? Kumbha-Muni continued: ‘Like the waters of an ocean, all the Universes are nothing but the non-dual Chinmātra (Absolute Consciousness). When this Chinmātra draws unto itself intelligence, then there is a fluctuation caused, like the wide waters moved by great waves. But the ignorant without true Niṣṭhā (Meditation) regard the Supreme Principle going by the several names of Īśvara (the auspicious one), Chinmātra, Satya (Truth) and Brahman, as the universe itself. A slight motion in this Chitta (Consciousness) generates this universe. If this visible universe of objects is truly cognized as the Jñāna bliss, then it will die. But when its real nature is not powerfully grasped, then the visible things are seen as real, as the (misconception of a) snake in a rope. Should the pure mind concentrate itself for some time (steady and pure as the moon) through (a study of) the visible Jñāna Śāstras, the association with the wise and an uninterrupted practice (of Meditation), then in such persons developing Jñāna, a divine vision will arise, in which there will be a direct cognition (of the One Reality). Thus have I described to you the truths relating to the origin and destruction of the Universe. Having with true bliss brought these into practice and meditated upon them, may you, with out fail, and according to your free will, attune all your ac tions of daily life to the attainment of the Brahmic state. I shall now go to Svarga-loka the gem of all Lokas (worlds). This is the most opportune time for it. If I do not appear before my father Nārada upon his descent from Satyaloka into Deva- (or Svar-)loka, he will be mightily displeased with me. A loving disciple should never incur the displeasure of his Supreme Āchārya. Oh king, having done away with all differentiation arising through delusion, may you be in the divine vision (of Nirvikalpa Samādhi).’ And with the words ‘I go away,’ the Muni disappeared that very instant. Thereafter, the king thus thought within himself: ‘Marvellously strange is it that this incomparable state was in myself unobserved by me a state like unto the crystal waters of a fountain, cool, pure and quiescent. It has enabled me to attain quiescence in the Absolute Sat.’ Then the king entered the Samādhi state without any pains or fluctuation, without any mobility, with true mauna (silence) and Nirvikalpa immovable as a stone, tree or forest, without any desires. Meanwhile Kumbha-Muni resumed his soft tendril-like form of Chūḍālā and journeying through Ākāśa, reached her chamber in the palace. There she began to rule over her subjects, and protect them as she was wont to do. Thus she passed three years. After which, she went again in the guise of Kumbha-Muni to the forest where her husband was, and beheld him as immovable as a pillar in Nirvikalpa Samādhi. Then, in order to acquaint him with his arrival, she made a leonine roar, but even this did not wake him up from his trance. Though she tossed him up and down, no impression was made on him in the least, in spite of his body falling down. Then she thought: ‘It is certain the supreme king of the form of Kumbha has merged into the state of Brahman. Oh this is really wondrous. If, after concentrating my mind on his (subtle) body, I should find any residue of Sattva typifying the seed of intelligence in his heart, I shall join my husband and live with him happily. Otherwise, I shall have to renounce this my present female form, (and myself also) attain the Supreme state of Brahman, so that I may not render myself again liable to rebirths. Having come to this sure determination, she concentrated her mind and cognized through her (spiritual) touch and eyes a residue of unsoiled Sattva in the king’s heart, denoting the intelligence yet animating that body. At these words of Vasiṣṭha, Rāma questioned him thus: “How can there remain a residue of Sattva in those whose minds have been destroyed, and who have merged themselves in their divine inner vision?” To which Vasiṣṭha Muni, of high intelligence, thus replied: “Like flowers and fruits latent in a seed, a residue of Sattva, the cause of intelligence, rests always in the heart. Even in the case of a Jīvanmukta, whose mind is destroyed, the strong body does not perish; but without being affected by the pleasures or pains of enjoyments, though moving in them, his mind will become inured to them. Therefore, O Rāma, this most Divine lady Chūḍālā gave up the Kumbha-Muni form and entering (in a subtle form) into the stainless consciousness (or mind) of the king, devoid of beginning, middle or end, caused that part of it to vibrate which she found had the residue of pure Sattva in it. Then she returned to her stainless body, like a bird returning to its prison of a cage. Afterwards, as Kumbha-Muni, sitting in a certain posture on the earth, she chanted the Sāma-veda songs, as if playing on the Vina. Thereupon the Sāttvic intelligence, which now began to manifest itself in the log-like body of the king, heard the Sāma- Veda songs and blossomed little by little, like a lotus flower blooming at the sight of the rays of the sun. Then the king’s mind became steady (as regards external objects) and he saw Kumbha-Muni before him. With an enraptured heart, and with the idea that his Lord Guru, who had previously come to him in order to bless him with happiness, had come again of his own accord, he showered on him the choicest flowers, and eulogised him. Whereupon Kumbha-Muni regarded the Lord of the earth and said: ‘From the day I parted from you up to this very date, my mind has been inseparably blended with yours. Even Devaloka is not so pleasant to me as my association with you. Here the king burst out, saying: ‘Oh transcendental and holy god, I have attained bliss through thy favor, I have liberated myself from all pains through the Samādhi of true bliss. Even in Svarga (Devachan) replete with virtuous actions, the bliss of Nirvikalpa Samdhi does not exist. Having attained that incomparable bliss, I shall roam freely in Devaloka and Bhurloka (earth).’ Kumbha-Muni then asked: ‘Have you been en joying the rare Brahmic bliss devoid of all pains? Have you annihilated all the pains which are of the nature (or spring from the idea) of heterogeneity? Are you able to maintain an equal vision over all, after destroying entirely all the pleasures flowing from Saṁkalpa? Have you been able to transact all the present duties of life, without in the least being ruffled by objects, being liberated from love or hatred towards them?. At these questions of the Muni, the king made the following answers: ‘I have powerfully mastered all the (spiritual) benefits that can possibly be derived (by me). There is nothing more for me to long to see or to hear. In this wise spoke the king Śikhidvaja, whose mind had over come all delusions.’ Thus did these, whose love for one another knew no bounds, cognize their Higher Self through the beautiful enquiry of Ātmatattva and through most instructive discourses thereupon; remaining happy in one another’s company, without the least difference of mind, and roaming in the forests, and over the hills, they were matchless in real Jñāna and in true loving actions. Having destroyed completely the delusion of love and hatred, they were immovable, like the great Meru, which cannot in the least be shaken by the playing of the zephyr. Sometimes they would apply to their bodies Vibhūti (sacred ashes); at other times they would apply to them the fragrant sandal. While they were thus associating themselves together, the sweet-tongued Chūḍālā concentrated her mind on that of the king and found it to be now free from all stains and to be stable by reason of his present experiences. Also she thought within herself that the palace, with its enormous wealth and luxury, would languish for want of persons to enjoy them. If persons filled with Jñāna should give up things that had come to them without their seeking, how then can they be said to have known Tattva (Truth)? Then thinking of creating (in herself), through her imperishable will, the body of a lady fit to live in wedlock with the virtuous king, Kumbha-Muni, alias Chūḍālā, addressed him thus: ‘To-day there will occur a festival remarkable in the annals of Devaloka. I should, without fail, be there in the company of Nārada. Who is ever able to overstep the powers of the Supreme Law? Immediately at sunset, when the sun goes down over the evening hills, I shall be back with you.’ So saying, he parted from the king, after presenting him with a fragrant bunch of flowers. Having gone from the king’s sight, Kumbha-Muni relinquished the burden of the Muni’s body and assumed that of Lady (Chūḍālā, after which she entered unperceived (the chambers) in her palace, which shone like a Devaloka presided over by Indra, and then performed in regular order her allotted regal duties during the day. Then Chūḍālā reassumed the form of Kumbha-Muni, and descending in that form before her husband, appeared with a dejected countenance. As soon as this Muni, whose mind was (really) free from all pains, appeared before the king with a downcast mien like a lotus enveloped with snow, the latter was startled to see the Muni, and rising up at said: ‘Oh my father, you seem to be afflicted with pain. What is the cause of that? May you destroy them! Never will persons of true Jñāna succumb to despondency or joy. Will water floating on a lotus leaf ever affect it? At these words of the king, Kumbha-Muni related the following amusing anecdote of himself in tones as musical as the Vīna. ‘Persons of firm and equal vision as regards all things will never constitute Jñānis (the wise), unless they commingle with the actions of the Indriyas (organs), so long as they possess a body. Otherwise, such persons are only impostors. Those who are so ignorant as not to perform the existing Karmas and think of mastering them through their avoidance, will only generate fresh ones and suffer therefrom; i. e., like the oil which is inseparable from the sesame seed, the different Avasthās (states) of pain will exist so long as there is the body. Those who try to sever themselves from these states, in order to do away with affection, etc., are, O king, like one endeavouring to rend asunder the immeasurable Ākāśa with a sword. If the inevitable pains of this impure body be sought to be averted by the control of the organs of action (Karmendriyas), will the bliss arising therefrom compare in any way with that generated by the renunciation of bodily pains through the path of Jñāna? Even in the case of Brahmā and others, who have Karmendriyas (organs of action) on one side and Jñānendriyas (organs of sense) on the other side of the body, the certain dictates of the imperishable Law demand that they cannot rise above the Avasthās incidental to their body, even though they are illumined in mind. As both Ajñānis and Jñānis are exposed to the visible objects of the world, they both move only in consonance with the universal Law, like the waters in an ocean. Daily do Jñānis, through the certainty of their intelligence, looking equally upon all, perform unruffled their duties so long as they are not relieved from their bodies. But Ajñānis are ever agitated by and drowned in pains and pleasures. They are born different bodies and follow the laws regulating them. This have I described to you in extenso. Now I shall describe to you the pains I underwent in my path. Is not pain which are like the cutting of saw, relieved when revealed to those we love? After I gave the bunch of flowers to you, and rose up in the Ākāśa, I went to my all-truthful father in Devaloka, and attended the court of Indra, the Lord of Devas. Then, having in mind to return to this place from there, I descended through the Ākāśa and was in the act of coming over to this earth, through the spatial Vāyu path (viz., from the north-west of Sūrya-Maṇḍala, ie., the Sun’s sphere), when I saw before me the Ṛṣi Durvāsas journeying on in the region of clouds. Having prostrated my self before his venerable feet, I addressed him thus: “Thou art clad in dark clothes10 and art beginning to act like an ill-famed woman longing for her paramour.” Whereupon the omniscient Ṛṣi became incensed at me, and with fury cursed me for my impertinent words to be transformed every night into a female wearing beautiful ornaments. Hearing these words, I cried aloud and having contemplated the lotus feet of the Ṛṣi, was going to beg pardon of him, when all at once he disappeared. With this thought afflicting me very much, I have now come here to you. I shall hereafter every night have to submit myself to this process of transformation into a female11. How can I, without being ashamed, be a female every night, moving as I do in the company of my Gurus, Devas, Munis and hosts of others?’ But the king solaced him thus: ‘Please, Oh god, do not be afraid. What is the use of giving way to grief? Let come what may through the dire force of the irresistible Law. This womanhood of thine will, I think, not attach itself to the ego within, but only to the body without. It behoves thee not thus to give way to grief, thou who art replete with Jñāna. It is only the ignorant that are afflicted in mind.’ Then the sun began to set as if to hasten on the wise Kumbha-Muni to assume a female form. With the coming of twilight they performed all their daily religious Karmas. Then the Muni looked into the face of the king, who was sitting before him, and remarked thus in a plaintive tone: ‘To my great shame, be it spoken, king, a female form is enveloping me and my present form is disintegrating itself. The significant marks of a female are developing themselves in me. Behold my waist forming itself, the female dress gradually covering my body, and the remainder of the female form appearing in all its entirety.’ Thus did the quiescent Kumbha-Muni deliver himself, as if in terms of grief. The king beholding his despondent Guru, thus said: ‘As a Jñāni you have known well the true path of Law. While so, do not be afflicted through events which will inevitably come to pass.’ To which Kumbha- Muni said thus: ‘There is nothing to be done now. Who can thwart the insurmountable Law? Every night will but entail on me a female form.’ So saying, both quietly slept. With early dawn she resumed her Kumbha-Muni form. Thus did Chūḍālā pass some time, the days in the form of Kumbha-Muni and the nights in the form of a female; and yet she preserved her virginity. One noon Chūḍālā in the guise of Kumbha-Muni addressed the king thus: ‘Oh king, how long am I to remain in a state of virginity without tasting the pleasures incidental to the female sex? Therefore I wish to get at a lord for myself. In all the three worlds, I cannot pitch upon a more affectionate husband than thyself. Thou shalt accept me as thy spouse overnights. If so, thou shalt have the fear of neither heaven nor hell.’ To which the king nodded assent. Whereupon the Muni remarked: ‘To-day is a very propitious day for marriage, it being the month of Siṁha (August September). At moon-rise we shall perform the marriage rites.’ Then the beautiful-eyed king fetched from Mahāmeru rare gems and sandals, bathed in the holy waters and made prostrations to Devas, Munis and Pitṛs according to Vedic injunctions. Then both these individuals clad themselves in white silken robes yielded by the Kalpa tree. The sun having set, the resplendent moon began to shed its silvery rays when the king, after performing the Saṁdhyā rites, celebrated the marriage on Manara hills. Then they roved over hills and dales enjoying themselves but yet without the least clinging towards such an enjoyment, Every three days, while the king was asleep, Chūḍālā would regularly go to her husband’s realm and administer justice there and then would return to her husband’s side, as if she had not parted from him. Then this lady Chūḍālā, who now passed under her new marriage pseudonym, Madanikā, lived with her husband for some time and reflected thus within herself: ‘The king will never hereafter centre his desires on worldly enjoyments. Therefore I shall test his mind in the enjoyments of Devaloka. I shall, by the force of my yoga practice, through which I have developed Aṇiman and other psychic powers, create a Māyāvic (illusory) panorama in this forest, wherein Devas will appear with their Lord Devendra at their head.’ Accordingly, when Indra appeared before the king, the latter saluted the former, and having paid him all the necessary respects, said: ‘O Chief of Devas, I do not know what good Karmas I have performed to merit this visit of yours to me.’ To which Indra replied in terms of affection thus: ‘Attracted by the force of your good qualities, I have come here along with my retinues of Devas. The Devaloka is a fit abode for you alone. The Deva maidens are awaiting your arrival there. May you be pleased to appear there like the Sun, to cause to bloom the lotus-like face of Rambha and other Deva maidens. O king and Jīvanmukta, you may stay there for the period of a Kalpa, and plunge yourself in diverse ways in Devalokic enjoyment. Therefore do not tarry here any longer, but come at once there. It is for this purpose I came here to take you. Hearing these strange words of Indra, the noble king said thus: ‘O my parent Deva, I have known all the pleasures of Svarga-loka. I have not even the conception of differences of locality, such as this or that place. Wherever I am, there is Svarga (heaven) for me, and there it is I enjoy bliss. Therefore I do not long after Svarga pleasures. Be pleased to return to your state, I have not the least desire for it. When the king had given vent to these words, the whole troop of Devas returned to their abode. Thus did Chūḍālā observe that the king’s (lower) mind had been destroyed, not withstanding the different trials to which she had subjected him through her powers of Māyā. Still she wanted to try him further, and so hit upon another expedient. One day, while the pure king was performing Japa on the banks of the Gaṅgā, just at moon-rise, Chūḍālā entered a thick arbor nearby and having created within it, through her Māyāvic power, a lover seated on a pleasant state of Nīrandra flowers, she made a show of embracing him. After having performed the daily rites and sought in vain for his wife (Madanikā) over all the hills and dales, the king saw on his return his wife and a male figure in a mutual embrace, but was not in the least disconcerted. Nearly forty-eight minutes after the king left her unruffled without the least anger, Madanikā, in order yet to observe his demeanor appeared before this Rājayogi with signs of her late love meeting still visible in her, such as disheveled hair, etc., and stood as if penitent in a submissive attitude of great shame. While Chūḍālā, otherwise named Madanikā, was thus standing as if greatly stricken by grief and remorse, the king returned from Samādhi, and saw her before him. Then, without showing the least symptoms of anger, he said softly the following words with calm deliberation: ‘How is it you have hurried so and come away so soon as this? You may, O girl, if you like, still gratify your passion by returning to your lover.’ At these words of the king, Madanikā said thus: ‘It is the supreme duty of the unblemished to put up with and overlook the faults of the ignorant. The qualities of females are unsteady in diverse ways. Therefore, be pleased to excuse me for my heinous crime.’ Thereupon Śikhidhvaja of mighty Jñāna said the following words to his wife Madanikā: ‘A tree may grow in the sky, but never will anger rise in me, O lady.’ Thus was he in full possession of equal vision over all. Then Chūḍālā soliloquized to herself thus: ‘The king has destroyed passion and anger to the root. He will not subject himself to the many enjoyments and the love of transcendental Siddhis, This king of puissant arms has at last attained the end of Jñāna. Let me no longer pass under false colors. Let me cast aside the body of Madanikā, and assuming that of Chūḍālā, appear before him.’ With this thought in her mind she transformed herself into Chūḍālā and presented herself in that true character before him, when the quiescent king eyed her and remarked in wonder thus: ‘Is it true that I see before me Chūḍālā with her entire form, speech, modesty of mien and her other inestimable good qualities? O lady who are you?’ To which she replied that she was his lawfully wedded wife and continued: ‘O dearest one, it was I that initiated you into the mysteries of Ātma-jñāna, assuming the bodies of Kumbha-Muni and then Madanikā. Through such a course, I sounded the depth of your Jñāna by the power of Māyā. Now go into Nirvikalpa Samādhi, and you will understand all things truly.’ Accordingly the king made his mind merge into the Universal Consciousness, and in that Samādhi surveyed all the events that had happened, from the date of his quitting his magnificent country down to the present period of the appearance of Chūḍālā (in her real form). After Samādhi, the just king became quite enraptured with joy and having embraced Chūḍālā, who stood shining before him as the personification of true love and grace, was struck dumb for a long time, and completely submerged in bliss for a moment. Then having recovered himself, he seated her on his lap and said to her thus: ‘Thou hast, through thy vast intelligence, lifted me out of the unfathomable cave of thick darkness that I was entangled in. Who is there to compare to thee in all this wide world? How can I, Oh tendril-like lady, requite thee for all thy kindness? thou who hast reached the other side of the ocean of Saṁsāra (mundane existence), O thou the personification of justice without any desires, how can I aid thee in any way?’ To which the lady replied: ‘Observing you drooping under the many actions of Tapas (penances) in the forest, I came with great effort in quest of you to elevate you above Saṁsāra. Hence there is no necessity for you to eulogize me thus, as I but did my duty. Have you not, O my husband, freed yourself from all petty worldly actions, Saṁkalpas (thoughts) and Vikalpas (fancies)? ‘ Then the king said: ‘All doubts have now vanished from my mind. I am devoid of desires and the idea of heterogeneity. I have become as immaculate as Ākāśa. I shall never hereafter fall, through becoming of the form of (or, thinking about) objects. I have attained the incomparable Samādhi, the highest thing worthy of being attained. I am free from mental joy or dire pains. I shall never here after shine as this or that (object). I am like the pure light of the resplendent sun’s sphere, which does not come into contact with any medium such as a wall, etc., and is therefore subject to no increase or diminution. I am like the Ākāśa which permeates all objects, and is yet undefiled. I am of the nature of Absolute Consciousness. I can now cognize my Reality to be no other than That. Therefore thou art my well-favored Guru. I worship thy lotus feet.’ At which Chūḍālā asked him as to his future course of action. To which the king said: ‘I am free from all love and hatred. From this day forward, I shall daily perform my duties strictly according to your dictates, like a crystal tinged with the five colors.’ Then Chūḍālā said thus: ‘If thou art willing to act up to what I say, it behoves thee then to now give up all thy ignorance and resume the regal duties once relinquished by thee. Let us both wield the scepter of our kingdom for some time as Jīvanmuktas and then attain Videhamukti, after the body is thrown aside.’ To this the king acquiesced. Then Chūḍālā rose up and, through dint of her concentrated Saṁkalpa, she acted as follows: She then and there first anointed him by bathing him in jeweled vessels full of the waters of the seven oceans, and then, having installed him on an effulgent throne bedecked with rubies, etc., blessed him with a long life. Then the king and his wife Chūḍālā, who were both of one mind, mounted upon a decorated elephant and went back to their town with their four-fold army amidst great rejoicings. As soon as they reached the outskirts of their town, the four-fold army in their town came in advance to meet them. Thus both the armies joined together and went gaily along. There the king reigned with true love along with his wife for 10,000 years, and then attained a disembodied emancipation. “Thus, Oh Rāma, if by associating yourself with the Karmas of the world, your quiescent Jñāna is ever developed without the longing after objects, you will be able to enjoy real bliss and emancipation.” So said Muni Vasiṣṭha of illumined mind and great Tapas to Śrī Rāma. The seventh Manu is Vaivasvata who is our present Manu. [↩] The present story, though intended to illustrate the idea of Āchārya’s grace and true renunciation, has itself an esoteric meaning underlying it. For instance, the word chūḍālā is composed of two parts which mean ‘resting on the head’ Hence that which rests on the head, or the Pineal Gland, is Buddhi – the Ātmic Ray. It is Chūḍālā who though the wife of Śikhidhvaja initiates him into Jñāna. Śikhidhvaja means ‘one having the peacock flag’. Careful students will understand from the color of the peacock that he typifies the higher Manas. [↩] In the Hindu Vedāntic works, Buddhi, Manas, Ahaṁkāra and Chitta are the four aspects of the lower mind. Buddhi should not be taken as the Ātmic vehicle, as in Theosophical literature. [↩] This corroborates the fact that when one becomes a Brahma-jñānin, a Tejas or spiritual glory arises in him. [↩] The daily prayers wherein the Gāyatrī and other Mantras are recited every morning, noon and evening. [↩] These are the female powers in Svarloka. [↩] This probably refers to the advent of all egos which are so only through their limitation, just as things are deposited in a limited receptacle as that of a pot. Hence, Chūḍāḷā does not make a false report of herself, as in describing the origin of all egoes she describes that of herself also. Kumbha-Muni is the name of Agastya Ṛṣi. [↩] Maunin. Lit: one who is silent. Construing this literally, some Yogis in India preserve taciturnity of speech. The author explains this word in another part of this book to mean one who is free from the longings of the world though moving in them; hence silent to the desires of the world, and not in speech. The great Maunin is said to be Īśvara. [↩] Durvāsas means literally: ill-clad. [↩] This is to try the king, being the first trial. [↩] Often vinegar got for nothing, is sweeter to the poor man than honey bought. - Gems from the East To receive our newsletter with updates, please fill in your email address: If theosophy has one natural enemy against which it has fought and will always fight it is the materialistic view of life, the view that nothing exists except dead unconscious matter and that the phenomena of life and thought and consciousness spring from it.	88,066
Fun With Abstracts ~ Colorful abstract images created with close-up photography, with or without computer manipulation or color adjustments. Powered by SmugMug Owner Log In Water Swirls in Pink ~For Breast Cancer Awareness~ ~ The reflections on the lake today were moving, swirling, ever-changing. I captured several views of them, and cropped, adjusted color, or left them almost as they were. The results were several lovely abstract images. Water Swirls in Blue ~ The reflections on the lake today were moving, swirling, ever-changing. I captured several views of them, and cropped, adusted color, or left them almost as they were. The results were several lovely abstract images. Turquoise Abstract ~ The reflections on the lake today were moving, swirling, ever-changing. I captured several views of them, and cropped, adusted color, or left them almost as they were. The results were several lovely abstract images.	972
Travel to Hong Kong, the most easily found culinary along the city is noodles. But in addition to noodles, we may also see the number of dim sum outlets ranging from small to exclusive restaurants. This time, I visited one of the dim sum restaurant that has been operating quite a while. Based on the information I got, Luk Yu Tea House is almost known to all Hong Kong people. Along with his famous name, apparently here is also popular will the story. More precisely the tragic story of the murder that killed a businessman caused by the gun shooting. This story is a dark history of this restaurant but remains an attraction for both local and foreign tourists. There are two floors with an old style, dimly lit yellow lights, classic interior look from chairs, tables to walls and other decorations. The restaurant staff are dominantly middle-aged and not fluent in English. Initially the menu offered is written all Mandarin. But after knowing that I'm a foreign tourist, he instantly gives a menu with English and complete with pictures. On the first floor looks quite crowded by visitors. I happen to be sitting on the second floor that looks empty. The menu offered is a variety of classical dim sum which is actually a general menu can be found in dim sum restaurants everywhere. One of them was Shrimp & Pork Dumplings. From appearance, it is definitely a shumai with shrimp and pork meat blended into one. A fairly standard size with three pieces on a plate. The delicious flavor of the dumplings and the dense texture tastes good. I certainly recommend this menu. Then, there was a Steamed Lotus Rice, glutinous rice wrapped in leaves and then served with chicken pieces in it. It taste just fine for me, the texture of rice is thick, rough and dry. Included with the chicken meat was tasteless. And the last menu was a Fried Shrimp Dumplings. Dim sum fries like spring rolls with shrimp and bamboo shoots in it. The flavor of dominant bamboo shoots covered the taste of the shrimp. Frankly I do not really like the bamboo shoots that have a strong aroma. For information, the price offered here can be considered quite high. A serving of dim sum can cost around Rp 70,000 with the number about 3 pieces of dim sum per portion. The taste is practically okay but not amazing. Besides, the typical service less friendly can not be my reason to return to the restaurant. But based on some recommendations from social media, Luk Yu Tea House is indeed has its own charm for local residents and even foreign tourists. With the concept of a tea house full of classical Chinese ornaments make it more interesting to visit, especially for the first time experience. Luk Yu Tea House, Other Apps Other Apps Comments Popular posts from this blog June 30, 2017 Available in Bahasa: Click Here Michelin Starred Restaurant Award can be regarded as one of the highest and prestigious awards in the culinary world. Singapore, as one of the multi-cultural and ethnic countries, is the only country that gets a Michelin Award in Southeast Asia this time. This year became the second year for Singapore to get a Michelin Award. Michelin Guide Restaurant itself is divided into several categories. Ranging from Restaurants that chosen into the Michelin Guide Recommendation category, Bib Gourmand, and 1, 2 and 3 Michelin Starred Restaurant. By 2016, there are a total of 29 Michelin Starred divided into categories respectively. For the year 2017, emerging several new restaurants, so the total who won the award as many as 38 restaurants. Eleven names of new restaurants that are included in the 1 Michelin star are : 1. Braci at Boat Quay, 2. Cheek by Jowl in Boon Tat Street, 3. Chef Kang’s in Mackenzie Road, 4. Garibaldi in Purvis Str Other Apps 140 comments Read more December 11, 2021 Bahasa l English This month has indeed become a moment where the restaurant and hotel business has begun to attract customers with various offers. Not to forget, the opening of several new restaurants has also colored the city of Jakarta recently. One of them is August, which is located in the Sudirman area, more precisely at Sequis Tower. This restaurant has opened on November 25th, 2021. The elegant and premium concept can be seen from the exterior and interior of the restaurant. The area is quite spacious with a charming bar in the front room, then an open kitchen which provides an interesting experience for guests to see the activities of the chefs in the lively kitchen. On weekends, you can see the number of guests filling the entire table, it's a good idea to make a reservation in advance . When I had dinner there, they happened to have no available alcohol because they were taking care of licensing and distribution issues. So I brought wine with a corkage fee of IDR 250,000 Other Apps Read more Tom's by Tom Aikens, The Langham Jakarta October 12, 2021 Bahasa l English A sunny weekend where the pandemic conditions in Indonesia have been getting better lately. Activities in public spaces are getting normal, so we can find some places with crowds. One of them is this restaurant which took a few weeks for me to make a reservation in advance because it was full every weekend. The Langham Jakarta has only been operating this year and has attracted great enthusiasm from Jakarta's community. No exception with the restaurant which was built with a luxurious British concept and developed by a chef from England, Tom Aikens who manages a Michelin Star restaurant in London. Carrying the name Tom's by Tom Aikens with a variety of classic British dishes. The location of this restaurant is on the L floor, the reception area, and arguably the 62nd floor. A restaurant with a large enough area capacity, high ceilings, touches of white, blue, red sofas, and gold-tone lamps give the room an English-style atmosphere. Seen quite crowded visitors	6,266
It is easy to go through cookie-cutter wedding photography websites, and decide on the bargained price. Our couples however don’t deserve the bargain. They deserve the absolute best storytelling of their wedding. We would love you to check out our blog where we showcase even more of our work and share information that will hopefully help you to plan your amazing wedding As seen in... praise from clients Julian and Evgenia are an absolute dream team! From our very first phone call, I knew we were in great hands. Not only are their technical skills the best in the industry but so are their personalities. Wedding day can be filled with so many nerves and unforeseen hiccups, but both Julian and Evgenia will be their by your side calming those nerves and making you laugh along the way. My husband and I felt like we had two of our best friends snapping photos and hanging out with us! Our pictures are magazine worthy and capture every special moment of our big day. Choosing Julian Ribinik Photography was honestly one of the best decisions we made for our wedding! We were extremely happy with Julian and Evgenia's photos, and would strongly recommend anyone considering them to go for it. We had a very long wedding day, and Julian and Evgenia were there with us the entire time. They took so many photos that we really felt like our entire day was well documented, and their presence was very laid-back so taking photos with them felt very natural. Their edited photos were really fantastic - they look dramatic, intense, and artistic. We were excited to share them with our family and friends, and we were so happy with how they turned out. We looked at the portfolios of a number of photographers online that shot at our venue before deciding to go with Julian and Evgenia, and we were initially worried because a number of photos of the venue online looked dark, but Julian and Evgenia's photos at our wedding looked incredible. Julian and Evgenia were extremely professional. When we signed up, Julian worked with us to come up with a detailed timeline for the entire wedding day. They showed up on time (bright and early), and they also were very accomodating to our various requests, which really helped us weather some oversights on our end that inevitably happen when planning a wedding (e.g., they were leaving for the evening but stopped to help us take some photos with some guests who hadn't had a chance to take a photo with us yet, we forgot to bring a copy of our wedding invitation and so they had us mail a copy to them so they could photograph it, etc.), and we felt like they really went the extra mile to ensure that we were happy with how everything turned out. Julian and Evgenia were absolutely incredible from the beginning. They were an easy choice for our wedding and we couldn’t be happier with our photos. From our initial conversation until even after we received our photos, they always got back to us quickly and were extremely helpful throughout the whole process. We also did our engagement photos with Julian and he made us feel so comfortable and made the process so fun. Many times staged photos can feel awkward but not with him. He has the ability to make it feel like you’re the only two people there and when it comes to those moments, that’s how it should feel. Their style is incomparable and they truly capture every detail flawlessly. We cannot say enough good things about them and are so thankful they were part of our day. Our venue was a new location for them and they were able to quickly scope it out and made the process flow seamlessly. We had a very large wedding party and they were able to herd the masses and ensured things moved along efficiently and came out beautifully. Throughout the night you couldn’t even tell they were there but they were able to capture moments we weren’t even aware of. They truly have a talent of capturing those candid moments. We are going to treasure our photos forever and this is all because of them. As NYC Wedding Photographers, We’re Intimately Connected with the Nuances This City Offers Julian creates a tailored strategy to ensure that the photos you receive after your wedding day are aligned with the vision you have. Julian Ribinik has shot hundreds of weddings in the New York City area, specializing in dark, moody, and elegant photography. Julian partners with his wife who also has decades of photography experience. When Determining Which NYC Wedding Photographer to Choose, Read as Many Reviews as Possible Positive: Professionalism, Quality, Responsiveness, Value I have nothing but great things to say about Julian and Evgenia from Julian Ribinik Photography. They are amazing and everything you want from wedding photographers. I had initially seen their photos from when they photographed my friend’s wedding, and I knew I had to hire them. They photographed my wedding at The Garden City Hotel on Long Island. Leading up to the wedding they were responsive, accessible and very easy to work with. On the day of the wedding, they were professional, attentive and a such pleasure to have so intimately involved in our day. They seamlessly captured every amazing detail of the day without being intrusive. The photos are absolutely stunning and blew me away. I would hire them a million times over again! Review from January 2022: Positive: Professionalism, Quality, Responsiveness, Value I have nothing but great things to say about Julian and Evgenia from Julian Ribinik Photography. They are amazing and everything you want from wedding photographers. I had initially seen their photos from when they photographed my friend’s wedding, and I knew I had to hire them. They photographed my wedding at The Garden City Hotel on Long Island. Leading up to the wedding they were responsive, accessible and very easy to work with. On the day of the wedding, they were professional, attentive and a such pleasure to have so intimately involved in our day. They seamlessly captured every amazing detail of the day without being intrusive. The photos are absolutely stunning and blew me away. I would hire them a million times over again! Review from January 2022: Julian and Evgenia are such a pleasure to work with! From the very start, I knew I was in the best hands ever. They were beyond responsive, professional, kind, caring, comfortable to be around, and TALENTED. I am blown away at how they are able to capture moments, unlike any other photographer I've ever seen! I seriously feel like I have a play-by-play of my entire wedding (and given we had a traditional Jewish modern Orthodox wedding, there was a TON of rituals and traditions to capture, so it's even more so impressive). On top of that, they have such an eye for editing photography -- super unique, emotional, and timeless. We couldn't have had a better experience and will cherish our pictures forever. Thank you Julian and Evgenia! Review from January 2022: Positive: Professionalism, Quality, Responsiveness, Value SO where do I start ?! Photos are the most precious memories that are stored and looked at every day for decades to come. SO I choose photos over everything else like food and music, because down the line no one remembers the food served at the party or music played or the dress color of your bridesmaids. But pictures on your wall are timeless. When choosing photographers - I picked Best of the best. Photography of big life events such as wedding is the service that you absolutely can't afford to be done by some discounted and unprofessional photographers. Your photos should be done by professionals. Working with Julian Ribinik Photography was great and I don't regret a penny that was spent for the quality of my precious life moments captured by them. Julian, thank you again for your great work and capturing my lifelong memories. Here are just some of Julian Ribinik’s reviews: Review from January 2022: The lighting is different with towering buildings reflecting sunlight in multiple directions. The venues are often old, refurbished buildings that gobble up any natural light, leaving inexperienced photographers scrambling to wash you out with unnecessary equipment. Julian Rinibik and his wife have been shooting in NYC for well over a decade and have shot in nearly every wedding venue the city offers. If you want elegant photos that capture the natural lighting of your venue, you’ve found the right wedding photographers. A: Yes! While we are based in Manhattan, NYC, we are able to travel to photograph weddings. Contact us to learn more about our process and rates for travel. A: Yes - we also photograph engagements and proposals. Many of our clients book us for their proposal and wedding photography. To learn more about pricing packages including one or both services, contact us today. A: We do photograph elopements. Whether you want creative, elegant, or classic elopement photos, we are happy to capture that special moment for you. A: We recognize that no two weddings are alike - every couple has different needs and requests. Because of this, we do custom quotes for wedding photography. This way, we can make sure to provide only the services you want, and at a price point that reflects that. Contact us today to discuss your needs and receive a price quote! Q: Do you travel for weddings? Q: Do you do engagement photography? Q:How much do you charge for wedding photography? A: While we are experts in all styles of wedding photography, our signature style is best described as elegant, striking, and moody. A: It is best to book as far in advance as possible in order to make sure we have availability. Many of our clients contact us between 8-12 months before their wedding. If your wedding is happening sooner than this, don’t worry, contact us to see if we have availability for your big day!	10,413
Evan Vucci/AP Images, Donald Trump speaking at a campaign rally, Freeland, Michigan, September 10, 2020 The New York Review of Books ‘Be Ready to Fight’ November 19, 2020 Issue Amid the sensory swirl of the airplane hangar in Freeland, Michigan—the thousands of voices screaming, the red MAGA hats bobbing and shifting, the fifty-foot flags on cranes flapping and snapping, the long sleek blue-and-white bulk of Air Force One gleaming, the elbow-to-elbow crowd heaving and swelling (and, in my worried fancy, the predatory virus molecules dancing ominously amid the sea of tiny Trumps filling countless tiny cell phone screens)—the leader slow-walks toward us, fist pumping slowly, with that trademark ponderous tread of his (dating back at least to his boardroom entrances in The Apprentice), adjusts the mike, leans slightly sideways, and lances into it all with a stark declaration: “We brought you a lot of car plants, Michigan! We brought you a lot of car plants. You know that, right?” Comes in prompt response the ear-splitting roar of affirmation, clear as clear can be: Yes, Mr. President, we know that! A joyful knowledge, a knowledge to celebrate: all those jobs in all those car plants! But what exactly is it possible to know about those car plants? I could not have been the only one in that obstreperous crowd, made up overwhelmingly of Michiganders, to know the presumably important fact that, well…those car plants didn’t exist. Any member in good standing of the ancient “reality-based community” could have told you that since the coming of Trump no new car plants had been built in Michigan, that since his ascension not less than three thousand Michiganders had lost jobs in the vital auto sector. Perhaps it wasn’t Trump’s fault, but it was a fact. But what was a fact exactly? He had promised Michigan new car plants and within the chilly expanse of his own mind he had delivered. And the roar of worshipful approbation meant that he had carried these thousands of souls to that place with him. “Dang!” a sweatshirted middle-aged woman told me afterward as we waited in line to buy hot dogs and lemonade. “I had no idea he had done so much for the state! I mean, people hardly even talk about it…” She was a nurse, trained in anatomy, physiology, biology—science, that is to say. But to her the president’s word was Truth; the idea that “people hardly even talk about” the car plants because they don’t exist was not only heretical but inconceivable. She couldn’t conceive it and neither could the thousands of others shouting around me. Nor could they conceive—as could I, the timorous heretic hidden among them—the virus particles in every explosion of breath, every bit of spittle cast aloft on the gales of mass enthusiasm. The virus was a hoax. Was the leader afraid of the virus? (Asked the following week—before his own infection—if he was concerned about the virus spreading at his rallies, he responded with his customary laser focus: “I’m on a stage and it’s very far away. And so I’m not at all concerned.”) So how could the virus threaten them, armored as they were in their Trump-as-Superman T-shirts and Trump flag pajamas? So when he came before them, the leader’s first words were a lie, one of the 20,000 and more that The Washington Post and other “enemies of the people” have presumed to track, catalog, and codify. To the reality-based community he would seem to embody as none before him the ancient Hollywood joke: How do you know he’s lying? His lips are moving. And yet to call this lie a lie makes little sense. These words constitute merely a single brushstroke on the vast canvas of a created world, full of car plants and steel plants and the millions of smokestacks making up “the greatest economy the world has ever seen.” True, it was all imagined but Trump’s greatest gift had always been the imposition of his own imagination on the crowd. “I play to people’s fantasies,” he (or more probably his ghostwriter) had written back in 1987: People may not always think big themselves, but they can still get very excited by those who do. That’s why a little hyperbole never hurts. People want to believe that something is the biggest and the greatest and the most spectacular. I call it truthful hyperbole. It’s an innocent form of exaggeration—and a very effective form of promotion. “Truthful hyperbole” because the details of that created world emerge from one central belief in the hero’s mind, rooted directly in his gargantuan and fragile ego: I have done an incredible job. All those auto plants and steel plants become not lies or creations but exaggerations flowering decoratively from that a priori truth. Before the crowd of red-faced partisans chanting his name, he transformed from a snake-oil salesman, a great pattering con man in the Elmer Gantry tradition, a postmodern Willy Loman, to a masterful crafter and seller of dreams. They believed him and not their lyin’ eyes because they wanted so desperately to believe. In the imagination of the crowd Trump was an original but the lineaments of that imagination, its workings and its cravings, are anything but new. Those surrounding me were not poor (though poorer now than six months before); white working class, middle class, they could see clearly enough what they didn’t have: power. What had become increasingly obvious over the decades of dwindling wages and pointless wars and now this endless pandemic was the extent of their own powerlessness. They needed not only someone to blame—immigrants, anarchists, affirmative action beneficiaries, Black Lives Matter protesters, a corrupt and devious elite who for its own self-interested reasons let them all have free run—but a voice to articulate it. The dynamic playing out before me was ancient: Already Nietzsche was calling it “ressentiment,” and had he been transported to Freeland, Michigan the German philologist would have recognized instantly what he was seeing enacted before him, a kind of Mummers’ revolt of the powerless: The ressentiment of natures that are denied the true reaction, that of deeds, and compensate themselves with imaginary revenge…. This No is its creative deed. Trump, the tribune of the powerless, the unmasker of the powerful, the denouncer, the insulter, the despoiler of idols—Trump was their “imaginary revenge.” He entertained them, flattered them, and from his strength they drew encouragement. Here before me, among those hooting and hollering at fanciful car plants and sacrificing themselves, maskless, to the leader’s imagination was Nietzsche’s futile “resentment of the lambs for the bird of prey,” and it was on that soul-deep instinct that Trump played like a virtuoso. He was the artist of grievance, for here was an emotion he understood intimately, as only an ambitious boy raised in Queens and never taken seriously in the sacred precincts of Manhattan power can understand it. “I have been treated very badly”—was this not his mantra, not only for his presidency but for all the decades before? What more appropriate phrase for workers who had fled the Democrats for Ronald Reagan but still saw their jobs shipped abroad, their cities and businesses despoiled of factories and downtowns? The elite, the leader reminded them with offhand resentment, had spent the previous decades “offshoring Michigan’s jobs, outsourcing Michigan’s factories, throwing open your borders, dragging us into endless foreign wars, and surrendering our children’s future to China and other faraway lands.” But, he told them, their aggrievement was his: the outsider, the one who would not rest in fighting for what was right against the machinations of the elite and the Deep State and the other agents of betrayal. Who fought even the diabolical child abductors and blood guzzlers around Hillary Clinton and the rest of the Democratic cabal (I counted the QAnon sweatshirts dotting the crowd, the magic-markered Q on a cheek here, on a forehead there) and stood against the torrent of abuse and for the innocence of childhood. He told them what they hated and he shared their hatred—but he could do something about it. And with every imaginary success he showcased the incompetence of the elite he’d supplanted. His followers took solace also in seeing that, despite the aggrievement he shared, the leader retained the plumage of the bird of prey—as had demagogues back to Cleon and Catiline and before—and they were proud of that, of his planes and houses and business chicanery (and even, were the truth admitted, of his porn stars and his Playboy Bunnies). For them in turn the leader offered his own peculiarly self-centered form of flattery and a reverie on their shared glory: You know, this is not the crowd of a person who comes in second-place, you do know that? The same thing happened four years ago. It was election eve, but by the time I got here it was late. Some of you were in that audience, at one o’clock in the morning, now election day. We had 32,000 people show up, and the reason I went was that I heard that Crooked Hillary Clinton, Bill Clinton, and Barack Hussein Obama were traveling to Michigan because they heard they had problems. They were supposed to win Michigan but they did such a lousy job that they had to come and get some votes and they came and I heard about it. They said, “Sir, could you do it?” and I hopped in the plane…. Thirty-two thousand people. She had five hundred people. I said, “Why are we going to lose Michigan?” And we didn’t. They all knew by heart the climax of this epic: Trump with his late-night barnstorming had drawn to an inside straight and pulled out Michigan by a minuscule 10,704 votes—along with Wisconsin by 22,748 and Pennsylvania by 44,292. Those 77,744 people, in the face of Clinton’s vast plurality of nearly 2.9 million Americans, had made Trump president. Barely twice the number that had been howling on the Freeland tarmac at one o’clock in the morning on election day four years before. I felt an elbow jostle me, found myself crashing against a bearded man in a red hoodie: Trump 2020: No Bullshit! We were packed shoulder to shoulder but no 32,000 now. By the next day the official estimate would be 5,500. How many were wearing masks? Two hundred? Maybe, at a stretch, five hundred? I felt vaguely self-conscious in my red Trump 2020 mask. Mostly I felt vertigo. It had been six months since I’d been in a crowd. And now the voices overwhelmed in the echoing hangar. Trump was insulting those ideologues among the elite whose greedy, blind belief in so-called free trade had pauperized the smokestack heart of the country. People laughed, hooted, rocked back and forth. “Four more years! Four more years!” He smiled benevolently at the crowd, drinking in the adulation. It seemed to make him grow in size. Easy to see why these events were necessary to him, why stopping them was like depriving an addict of his supply. What did a narcissist fantasize about? But the crowd loved it, too. Above our heads floated still that constant glitter of cell phone screens with their little Trumps, tiny echoes of the man onstage, their bearers stretching and crouching and straining in that most contemporary pose of electronic prayer. The leader joked, sneered, laughed. “I love you!” came from the crowd. “Don’t say that,” Trump shot back. “I’ll start to cry, and that wouldn’t be good for my image.” Huge chortles. Then back to the culpable elites. He insulted, he ranted, he stabbed and hacked with his ridicule. With him, Nietzsche’s “imaginary revenge” of the lambs on the birds of prey became vivid and entertaining—especially when it turned into the gold of elite outrage. “If you are a little different, or a little outrageous…the press is going to write about you,” the young Manhattan developer had opined knowingly nearly four decades before, and how much truer now for a president? He would portion out the vitriol daily, just enough to dominate the news cycle, and for his followers this would be recycled as his “No,” his “creative deed.” Each wave of elite outrage bolstered his authenticity, made them love him more. From everyone else the outrage would bring that most valuable of contemporary commodities—eyeballs!—and Trump would rule the airwaves and the Twittersphere. Whether it was against Trump or for Trump, everyone everywhere was selling Trump Trump Trump. That was why, he explained to The New York Times with a knowing smirk, he was sure to be reelected: I’m going to win another four years…because newspapers, television, all forms of media will tank if I’m not there because without me, their ratings are going down the tubes. Without me, The New York Times will indeed be not the failing New York Times, but the failed New York Times. So they basically have to let me win. A melted Trump/Pence campaign sign after the Bear Fire, Feather Falls, California, September 2020 The joke was on the so-called commercial press, which had revealed itself decisively under Trump to be commercial first, press second. Was it $2 or $5 billion they had given him in free media in 2016? Had it not been this very cycle of outrage, and the eager selling of that outrage by his supposed political antagonists in the “lamestream media,” that had made Trump president? Lenin would have been pleased. The elite had sold the rope to hang themselves with. Of course no elites had been hanged. Trump had smeared and besmirched and traduced and denounced. The volume had been high, the outrage constant, the spinning news cycle exhausting. He had depopulated entire bureaucracies of the federal government. He had exchanged “love letters” with Kim Jong-un and long meaningful gazes with Vladimir Putin. He had schemed and plotted and obstructed. He had kept the white supremacists and the denizens of all sorts of armed and angry fever swamps locked and loaded. To Portland and other cities he had even sent the country’s own version of Putin’s “little green men,” armed troops without insignia who tumbled random protesters into unmarked vans. It had all been unprecedented. But there had been no revolution. Amid all the disruption and furor and insanity there had been merely a right-wing Republican program of tax cuts for the rich and reactionary judges for the ideologues. Of populism, not so much—not even an infrastructure bill so the builder-leader could put his followers to work. Still, “we’ve already built 310 miles of border wall,” he reminded us proudly, and as the chants echoed around me—“Build that wall! Build that wall!”—I was put in mind of a favorite bamboozling passage from The Art of the Deal: I called in my construction supervisor and told him that I wanted him to round up every bulldozer and dump truck he could possibly find, and put them to work on my site immediately. Over the next week, I said, I wanted him to transform my two acres of nearly vacant property into the most active construction site in the history of the world. What the bulldozers and dump trucks did wasn’t important, I said, so long as they did a lot of it…. One week later, I accompanied top Holiday Inns executives and the entire board of directors out to the Boardwalk [in Atlantic City]. It looked as if we were in the midst of building the Grand Coulee Dam. Thus the southern border, where, in that strange, flickering antiworld of reality that seldom peeped through his words, Trump had built perhaps four miles of new wall. Here too the idea of the wall was what he had brought his followers, as real as those auto plants. It had begun as a Wall of the Imagination, and so it would remain. The truth was that as president he had built little. The truth was he knew nothing of governing and was loath to learn. His ideas were cartoonish and shallow, and where his simple slogans had met with frustration—at the border, for example—he had imposed cruelty. Elsewhere his concerns had been mundane. He had fleeced the republic with amazing ease and embarrassing homeliness, charging his Secret Service detail more than $1 million to stay at his properties. He fired, craved loyalty, sought revenge. Every tempest a headline. What astonished was not the leader’s lack of respect for norms—had that not always been obvious?—but how ephemeral those norms proved to be. Before the will of Trump’s henchman at the Department of Justice, the highly touted “rule of law” was revealed as one tiny step removed from “a country of men, not of laws.” The widely cited Wizard of Oz comparison appeared truest when it came to the most cherished of the country’s institutions, first and foremost its vaunted “separation of powers.” What good are Congress’s institutional prerogatives when those in the Senate majority want only their tax cuts and their judges and prove eager to close their eyes to the rest? Their brute reverence for political survival over all else was as mundane as it was shocking. Emoluments clause? Foreign countries are paying for rooms in Trump’s hotel without even bothering to show up. “They know this guy,” a friend in the Persian Gulf said of his own country’s rich and autocratic leaders. He rubbed his thumb and index finger together. “With this guy, the only question you need to ask is: what’s it gonna take…?” Think of it all as a stress test for the country’s institutions, one they badly failed. The reverence had been badly misplaced, or anyway badly dated. How much, with barely 80,000 votes and his own imagination, had he shown to be a façade? How many times might that Potemkin construction site be held up as metaphor? Finally, it had taken nature, not man, in its embodiment as deadly virus to show the fatal limits of his imagination. We were “rounding the corner” on the virus, he assured us. And for these 5,500 mostly unmasked souls we were. They believed him, even those present who might well die of it. But elsewhere there were 220,000 dead and rising caseloads and kids were unable to go to school. Elsewhere people were wearing masks and staying home. Was that the reason we were 5,500 and not 32,000? “You better vote for me, I got you so many damn car plants.” Those car plants had become the leitmotif of the speech, but they had turned, slowly but inexorably, from a tone of triumph in his salutation to a blunt assertion and now at last to a kind of plea. The note in his voice was unmistakable. He had made the unforgivable error of the cartoon figure who has run out into space and dares to look down. He feared he might lose. In his plea now I couldn’t help but find a trace of poignancy. He had done so much damage, but had it not been true that we had let him? How much of my life of the last four years had been spent reading and watching and talking Trump Trump Trump? He had taken the adulation and the hatred, too, as a kind of drug, but so had we. And who were we to laugh at his self-estimation as “a very stable genius”? Had he not become president riding nothing but his own con? No, Mexico would not pay for the wall—but who else could have created, out of thin air, such an outlandish and lucrative bit of politics? The bearded Trump: No Bullshit! red-sweatshirt man jostled me again and, looking at the slogan with the caricatured face above it, I recalled a wisp of a definition: For the bullshitter…is neither on the side of the true nor on the side of the false. His eye is not on the facts at all, as the eyes of the honest man and of the liar are, except insofar as they may be pertinent to his interest in getting away with what he says. He does not care whether the things he says describe reality correctly. He just picks them out, or makes them up, to suit his purpose. His original purpose, of course, had been to outrage, and to build his brand. That was his art, to capture the imagination—to capture the gaze—and he would go down in history for that. That he had shown the shambolic state of the country in its post–cold war embodiment was a vital consequence. A democracy that brings to office as president a man who receives three million fewer votes than his opponent. A country that preaches advancement based on hard work where median incomes have been nearly frozen for four decades. A nation whose political cleavages run so deep that the polity cannot even agree to wear masks during a deadly pandemic. A people struggling still to put into deed an end to the institutional racism that was meant to be banished by law a half century ago. A population undergoing a painful shift to minority-majority rule where members of the coming white minority use every institutional advantage to cling to power. After a twenty-year span that should have been a golden age and included instead a stolen election, a terrorist spectacular, disastrous wars of choice in far-off lands, two cataclysmic economic collapses, and a catastrophic pandemic, he had been a kind of cartoon leader shouting and gesticulating and illustrating with frenetic ferocity all we had taken for granted and all that had fallen into ruins. And we had followed every move with the fevered attention of the binge-watcher. They had begun to leave, though the leader was still speaking. They had gotten what they’d come for, the people in their multifarious Trump paraphernalia. I saw not only the ubiquitous Trump-as-Superman T-shirt—here in red, white, and blue, there in rainbow colors—but Trump as motorcycle gang leader, Trump as Hulk, Trump as Rambo. I stopped someone, asked him if Trump would win. After the initial look of shock, he exclaimed, “Yeah, yeah, no question.” A pause. “Course it depends on how much the other side cheats.” That was the consensus here. A Trump loss could mean only one thing: widespread and shameless cheating. The narrative was already laid down, elaborated, and well established: there would be an early claim of victory, then a stab-in-the-back narrative as those dubious mail-in ballots piled up. And why not? Trumpism was a movement of resistance, of grievance, of the creative No. Win or lose, it would remain so—if or until those grievances began to be met. For some, perhaps, it was already too late for that. Walking in I had seen the pistols on hips, here and there an assault rifle. A few weeks later thirteen would be arrested in Michigan for plotting to kidnap, try, and execute Gretchen Whitmer, the Democratic governor. Had any of them been at this rally? Win or lose, the grievances would remain. They could no more be banished from this earth than the imaginary car plants. They would wait, as before, for the leader who would vow his imaginary revenge. —October 21, 20 Related Content: Reality Rebellion ‘Be Ready to Fight’ The Magic of Donald Trump Iraq: The War of the Imagination US Torture: Voices from the Black Sites On The Election Writing Teaching Links Writing Teaching Links Mark Danner has written about foreign affairs and American politics for more than two decades, covering Latin America, Haiti, the Balkans and the Middle East among other stories. He was for many years a staff writer at The New Yorker and contributes frequently to The New York Review of Books, The New York Times Magazine and other publications. He teaches at the University of California and at Bard College and speaks and debates widely about America’s role in the world.	23,406
A West Virginia teen was in court today and entered a guilty plea to the murder of his mother and sister. Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Connor Crowe pleaded guilty to two counts of murder in the second degree and waived his right to a grand jury. The case started in juvenile court but the defense asked to be placed in adult court. Crowe could face no less than 10 years and no more than 40 years on each count with the maximum being 80 years and the minimum being 20 years. Regardless of sentencing, Crowe will be Eligible for parole after 15 years due to his age at the time of the crime. Crowe, 13 at the time, was charged with murder in 2020 after he shot and killed his sister and mother in the basement of their Weirton home. Hancock County Prosecutor Steven Dragisich says it’s his job and duty is to protect the public. So they are seeking the maximum penalty by law in this case. “In the situation a choice was made where he took the life he could’ve had ahead of him, a very intelligent kid but you know he made a decision and that’s the difficulty in cases like this, where you do have a young individual but again you have to look on the other side and look at the family you’re protecting the public at large you’re protecting.” Crowe was taken back to the Ronald C. Mulholland Juvenile Center until sentencing. The victims were Melissa Rowland and her daughter. Sentencing for Connor Crowe will take place at a later date. Copyright 2022 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.	1,682
Two top universities in Kenya have become among the first institutions in the world to spear-head the O3 plus programme lead by the United Nation Organization. The program aims at boosting the health and well-being of students of all levels of learning to make them ready to become wholesome and more useful members of the community after graduation. Vice Chancellors of two Kenyan have come out to mobilize all colleges in the country to join the programme. The University of Nairobi (UoN) and Mount Kenya University (MKU) are spear-heading implementation of the Our Rights, Our Lives, Our Future (O3 Plus) Programme whose aim is to ensure that young people in higher and tertiary education institutions in the Eastern and Southern Africa realise positive health, education and gender equality outcomes through sustained reductions in new HIV infections, unintended pregnancy and gender-based violence. UNESCO Regional Director, Professor Hubert Gijzen says the programme is being implemented in Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe and is hoped to enable young people reach their full educational potential and contribute more effectively to the development of their countries and region as graduates, professionals and young leaders. MKU and UoN, being the pilot universities in Kenya, have already covered sufficient ground in the implementation of initial project activities. During an event that saw participants take a 5.7 Kilometre awareness walk organised by MKU, UoN and UNESCO over the weekend, UoN Vice Chancellor, Prof Stephen Gitahi Kiama said the government should do everything possible to help students concentrate on their studies. See also CS Magoha Appoints New CEO Of Commission Of University Education “UON will continue to partner with institutions of higher learning to implement the O3 plus. Drugs, peer pressure, raging hormones, sex and early pregnancies are among factors that have been delaying completion of studies among university students and we hope to walk with them to tell them that there is hope”, VC Kiama said. According to professor Kiama, many students have been suffering in silence mental challenges and effects have continued to be displayed among the learners today. MKU Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Deogratius Jaganyi said immense achievements have been recorded at MKU main Campus in Thika through the O3 Plus programme. The MKU Thika Campus has over 10,000 students but only, 1,400 of them stay within the campus while the rest live outside the university. Moreover, the 1,400 always get out of the university where they interact with the local community in various ways. Professor Hagan I added that the university has over time established a very strong partnership with the neighbouring community through various types of agreements for the good of our students. Additionally, he revealed that Thika High School has partnered with MKU to develop a sports facility on a 10-acre piece of land that belongs to the secondary school to boost cohession among the students in sports activities. Prof David Serem, the Chairman of the Mount Kenya University Council also said that institutions of higher learning host a large number of youths who are energetic and sexually active. He noted further that these young adults are vulnerable to challenges such as; HIV/AIDS, unintended pregnancies, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Gender Based Violence, Alcohol/drug and Substance abuse, Mental Health issues among others and for that reason the program will be of great benefit to then. See also We Will No Longer Have Boarding Schools Under CBC- Task Force Recommends Phasing Out Of Boarding Schools “We can no longer keep silent, watching the precious lives of these young people being destroyed by behaviours and practices that we can change, modify or even stop altogether. They must be guided so that they can safely transition to responsible adulthood,” “It is our hope that upon successful implementation of this project in the two pilot universities in Kenya, the project shall be scaled up to other campuses and universities in Kenya,” Prof Serem added. Currently there is ongoing lessons through digital platforms. Professor Jaganyi is optimistic that the gains made and lessons learnt through the O3 Plus Project will also be shared with all other Institutions of Higher Learning in Kenya and in Africa for the good of our continent. Do you support the program? Related Posts Senior official arrested over exam rigging December 2, 2022 Education News Just concluded national exams will not be used in placing learners to the next class December 2, 2022 Education News 3 pupils found with phones in exam room, police officer stoned by attackers and headteacher arrested	4,772
So, I lost two weeks, thanks to my son asking, “hey, have you seen House of Cards?” I’d been about to head to town to write but hell, I’m weak. I figured, what would it hurt to watch while I have some cereal? As you can guess, I never made it to town. In fact, I chowed down the first season in three days. And the driving force behind my hitting play before Netflix could count down to the next episode, was Frank, the house majority whip who wants to be President and will do pretty much anything he has to to get inside the oval office. We, the audience, are swept along as he breaks the fourth wall to let us in on a strategy or throw a snide comment or look our way. Characters have broken the fourth wall in the past, and in some cases, we expect it (I’m looking at you Deadpool) but when Kevin Spacey turned to the camera, at the end of an early episode and spat out, “what are you looking at?” I actually shrunk back into my couch cushions and squealed. And stayed glued to that spot for the next week and a half wondering what Frank was going to do next. And if he would actually get away with it. Now, the downside of watching an entire season(s) in such a short span of time is that you see all the problems with the show much clearer than you would if you were going week to week. If this had been on network tv, I might not have noticed that Frank stopped confiding in me so much somewhere in season two and that the show had turned into a dry version of the West Wing. But, because of the strength of season one, I kept at it and suddenly Frank was back, sneering at me and barking out, “where have you been?” I squealed and sunk into my couch cushions once more, giddy with high hopes that the Frank of old was back. While he did take us into his confidence again, it was all too little, too late. The schemer from season one was gone and in his place was some guy trying to force a boring jobs bill through congress. I was still trapped in the West Wing. And without Sam, CJ, Toby and Josh, it just wasn’t a place I wanted to be. A new season of House of Cards premieres on netflix March 4 and I’m not on pins and needles. Frank’s goal was to be President but they gave it to him much too soon. Once he was in the oval office, there was no more danger. It’s hard to have a late night meet up on a partially deserted train platform when you have a secret service detail. For this show to have worked over multiple seasons, we needed to wait till the last minutes of the last episode for him to get what he wanted. Think of how much fun it would have been to see Frank, a newly minted President, pausing in the door to oval office to whisper to us, “now let’s have some fun.” So, what have you lost days to on Netflix? I’m currently without anything to watch. Recommend away and Write on, p.s. What does a greyhound being vacuumed have to do with House of Cards? Nothing. But look at how happy that dog is. I’m partial to Greys. My Roxie was with me for 9 years and was the inspiration for Cyrano a Greyhound in the book I’m currently writing, How to Sex Your Snake. If you’re looking for a low maintenance, lazy-ass, sleep all day on the couch kind of dog. Greyhounds are the way to go.	3,220
Over the past nearly two years, we've been remembering some of the almost 850,000 people who've died of COVID-19 in the U.S. And we've asked you to share their stories with us. Today we are remembering Arthur Schwartz, known to many as Art. He died in December of 2020 from the virus in Ann Arbor, Mich. Schwartz was a longtime employee at General Motors, a college professor, a huge fan of the Detroit Tigers and according to his daughter Laura Schwartz, a seriously good dad. LAURA SCHWARTZ: I was obsessed with boy bands but only, like, D-list boy bands, I feel like. NO AUTHORITY: (Singing) Can I get your number, baby? Hit me with the seven digits. SCHWARTZ: The No. 1 was - and I use the term band loosely. They were called No Authority. SHAPIRO: Back in the '90s when boy bands were all the rage, Laura says her dad drove her all over the Midwest so she could see her favorite pop stars. SCHWARTZ: I remember there was one concert at, like - I want to say it was almost, like, in the ballroom of a Holiday Inn or something in Ohio, where we had to say that night. Like, the things that he would do to just let me go to these concerts was incredible. Like, I was so lucky. I realize I was very spoiled. CHANG: But Arthur didn't just encourage Laura to have fun. He had his own too, whether it was at work... SCHWARTZ: Whenever I'd go into General Motors for Take Your Daughter to Work Day, his office was the one that everyone wanted to go to because he always had toys in there (laughter). CHANG: ...Or on the baseball diamond, where for over three decades, he was a member of the Habs, a baseball team that has become a little piece of Ann Arbor history. The team was almost like a second family. SCHWARTZ: It was just a group people that everyone just sort of knew because so many people had passed through the Habs, whether it was people that owned local businesses, family friends. Whoever it was, there were just so many people that were just - throughout these 30 years just tangentially attached to this team. SHAPIRO: When Arthur contracted COVID-19 in November of 2020, his symptoms seemed treatable at first. But things got worse. And a few weeks later, Laura got a phone call from her mother, saying Arthur was really sick. SCHWARTZ: And I booked the first flight I could home. And I got on the plane, and he had passed while I was on the plane. CHANG: Laura says the lack of closure weighs on her. SCHWARTZ: We're not living in reality still. I think that's the hard thing. It's like we never got to have a funeral because COVID has been rampant. SHAPIRO: It has helped that seemingly everybody is eager to remember Arthur. Former students and colleagues have been sending the family letters singing his praises, and Laura continues to celebrate her father - his love for life, family and a good dad joke. SCHWARTZ: He was the king of dad jokes. The thing he was so proud of because it was his hippest joke he'd ever come up with - my mom, my brother and I love the band the Flaming Lips. And so one night, he came up with the joke, what do you get when you eat a Red Hot Chili Pepper? The Flaming Lips. And he thought that was the funniest thing ever. CHANG: Arthur Schwartz was 72 years old. THE FLAMING LIPS: (Singing) Do you realize that you have the most beautiful face? SHAPIRO: And if you'd like us to memorialize a loved one you've lost to COVID-19, find us on Twitter @NPRATC. There's a pinned tweet at the top of the page. THE FLAMING LIPS: (Singing) We're floating in space. Do you realize... Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.	3,727
Next in our new series of interviews with some of Central Ohio’s finest jazz musicians is pianist Danny Bauer. A native of the Cincinnati area, Bauer graduated from Capital University in 2014 with a degree in Jazz Piano Studies. These days he can be found leading his own groups and playing with such local talents as Pete Mills, Maxwell Button, Bryan Olsheski, Derek DiCenzo, Zakk Jones, John Allen, and the group Canta Brasil. Bauer took the time to answer our questions and give us a closer look at his background and his busy upcoming schedule: When and why did you start playing music and jazz? Danny Bauer (DB): I began taking piano lessons at the age of 6. My mom is a high school choir director and a fantastic pianist. She can sight read anything! My dad is a middle school science teacher and has played guitar for as long as I can remember. When I was in around 6th or 7th grade my dad started to check out jazz, so while I was in the car with him I started hearing some pretty killer records – Kind of Blue, Soul Station – lots of stuff with Wynton Kelly! In 7th grade I began playing trombone in the junior high jazz band, and the summer between 8th and 9th grade I went to the Jamey Aebersold Jazz Camp for trombone with my dad. I distinctly remember at the end of the camp feeling like jazz trombone was not for me, but I really liked watching the pianists. Who are some of your main influences in your playing/performing? DB: I really love Thelonious Monk – when Max Button asked me to perform a tribute to Monk with him and Derek DiCenzo in the fall of last year, I really started to get into the Genius of Monk. Mark Flugge was great about helping introduce me to many different pianists and opening my musical palette, and some of my other favorites include Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, McCoy Tyner, Erroll Garner, and Craig Taborn. As far as non-pianists go, I’m really into Chris Potter, Dave Holland, Matt Wilson, Steve Lehman, Rudresh Mahanthappa, and Wayne Shorter. This is always a tough question because there are so many amazing musicians to pull from! What is your fondest musical memory? DB: That’s a hard one to answer! A few that really stick out are the gig where the quartet played Chris Potter music, playing trio with John Allen and Ryan Folger at Dick’s Den, playing with the Pete Mills Quartet at Natalie’s for the Momentum album, the Zakk Jones Graduation Bash at Dick’s Den, and also the first Safety Squad gig. Anytime I perform with other musicians where the communication between the musicians is really strong it really makes everything come alive and it really becomes magical. What are you listening to today? What’s on your playlist? DB: Right now I’m trying to check out a lot of solo piano to get those chops together, so I’ve got some solo albums from Ellis Marsalis, Monk, Herbie Hancock, and Mark Flugge. I’ve also been checking out Steve Lehman’s newest Octet album, Tim Berne, Donny McCaslin. I recently heard about Alex Ross’ book from 2007 entitled “The Rest Is Noise” where he reviews a lot of classical music and I’ve started listening to some of that. Currently from that playlist I’m listening to Elgar’s The Dream of Gerontius. What inspires you about the Columbus Jazz scene? DB: So many great players, and so many great people! It’s rare to run into someone in this scene that you won’t like. The scene is very open to younger players, and I feel like some of the veterans of the town have graciously opened their arms to me. I also really like how the venues in town are open to bands performing a wide variety of music. What are you working on for 2015? Any new projects, exciting shows or releases? DB: The biggest project I have on my plate right now is Safety Squad, a ten piece fusion band right in the vein of Snarky Puppy. We are playing August 1st at Brothers Drake for their National Mead Day and for Gallery Hop. Right now this band’s library consists of 9 Snarky Puppy tunes and 3 of my tunes, but we are working on growing the list of original music for the band! Other things I am a part of: You can see me on Tuesdays playing with the Pete Mills Quartet at Park Street Tavern July 29 – Canta Brasil and Tia Harris’ “Ranelle Project” at the Easton Sounds on the Town Series August 1 – Safety Squad at Brothers Drake for National Mead Day August 13– A new ensemble playing “Avant Garde” jazz at Dick’s Den. The ensemble will include Ryan Folger (drum set), John Allen (bass), Aroh Pandit (trumpet), Justin Dickson (saxophones), and Annie Huckaba (vocals)	4,604
Researchers spend countless hours drafting, revising, and perfecting their manuscripts before submission. Historically, the efforts end when a journal publishes the final version. However, in today’s scholarly publishing world, over 2 million articles are published each year, and savvy researchers are finding other ways to ensure that their work is noticed. Among the many possible avenues to share research, Twitter stands out as a fast and easy solution. Here are a few suggestions for using Twitter to find new readers (and potential citations): Build a network of colleagues in your field To have the best chance of reaching interested people, focus on building a network of researchers in your area of study. Chances are you know a couple of people on Twitter, so start by following them and telling them that you are on Twitter, too. Ask around at your next department meeting; you may be surprised who already has a Twitter account (after all, 1 in 40 scholars is active on Twitter). Colleagues with similar research interests are the most likely to give you good feedback on new work and to eventually cite you. Engage with influencers in the scholarly publishing world Chances are that you and your closest colleagues do not have very many Twitter followers. It can take a significant amount of time to cultivate a strong following. So if you can’t reach very many people directly, what can you do? For one, find influencers in your field. Influencers are people with strong followings (hundreds or even thousands of Twitter followers). Engage in conversations with these people, and offer links to your research if it is something that might interest them. Getting your comments or work retweeted by someone with a strong presence on Twitter can greatly increase your reach. Of course, you don’t want to just start tweeting your papers directly to an influencer; take the time to respond to their tweets and show an interest in their thoughts. Mention organizations that have a stake in your research Organizations such as research labs, member-based scientific societies, industry associations, nonprofits, and similar organizations are often looking for useful content on social media to keep their members and constituents engaged. Let’s say you’ve published some new research on muscular dystrophy. One search on Twitter for “muscular dystrophy” will yield various muscular dystrophy association channels, such as @MDAorg, @MDUK_News, and @ParentProjectMD. @Mentioning a channel in your tweets will put your tweet in their news feed. If decision makers feel your paper would be useful to their followers, many of whom likely either have muscular dystrophy or know someone with it, they will probably share your post with their followers. Given the character limit of tweets, choose your mentions wisely. Generally pick the channels that have the most relevance and the most followers. Consider using hashtags for broadly promoting your work Hashtags (#) are another good way of promoting your research more broadly via Twitter. The words you choose to associate with hashtags can make a big difference in reaching new readers. Hashtagging general terms like #research will likely yield very few views. Few people are generally looking for non-specific research. Also, the #research hashtag gets used hundreds of times daily. Therefore, tweets with that hashtag are often buried by other tweets in that feed relatively quickly. Instead, consider hashtagging more specific terms associated with your research. Using the example of muscular dystrophy research again, #musculardystrophy would reach people who are actively searching for information related to muscular dystrophy. The more specific you are with your hashtag use, the more likely you will reach readers interested in your work. Finally use no more than three hashtags per tweet to ensure it stays readable. Choose a journal that actively shares new papers already A number of journals are active on Twitter; Methods in Ecology and Evolution actually requires authors to provide a “tweetable” abstract of 120 characters. If your work is accepted by one of these journals, they will likely help you spread the news. Even if the journal that published your work is not on Twitter, you can share your work with other journals publishing related material. Again, you don’t want to simply spam every possible journal with tweets, but if your work is relevant to an article tweeted by a journal in your field, let them know. Twitter is not a magic bullet, and there is no obvious correlation between Twitter mentions and subsequent citations at this time. Still, taking a few seconds to share a link could lead to hundreds of new readers, and you never know if one of them will be extremely interested in what they see. Share with your colleagues Share your work as a preprint and help move science forward We invite you to share your research with the community by posting it online as a preprint. Our sister company, Research Square, is a trusted preprint platform that lets you get credit for your unpublished research early, increase your citations, and get feedback from the community. How to Run an Effective Webinar With digital events increasing in popularity and being the new normal, webinars offer a safe environment for disseminating knowledge while social distancing, which make them... Read More » Boost the citations to your next research article with these 10 simple steps. Read More » How Collaborative Reading Can Increase Your Productivity and Visibility in Research Learn how collaborative reading helps researchers to read faster and more productively. Collaborative reading can help researchers network and increase the impact of their work.... Read More » See all posts in series Writing a manuscript Peer review and publication Sharing your research Sign up for early access to AJE Scholar articles, discounts on AJE services, and more Success! You have successfully subscribed to our marketing emails. Thank you for signing up. We will notify you via the email address you submitted when English to Chinese digital translation and editing is available. Sorry, there was an error when processing your request. AJE’s comprehensive suite of high quality author services enable researchers to spend less time preparing their work for publication and more time doing the research that drives society forward. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. 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In the teachings of yoga, tension is experienced and released on three levels. The first and most obvious is the physical, next the emotional and finally the mental. In parenting it is the same thing. Our outward manifestations of tension, stress, worry, fear is in the physical—yelling, tone of voice, language, facial expressions. These physical aspects are underlined by the emotional—frustration, anger, exhaustion, defeat, hopelessness. But underneath it all is the mental—our perceptions, the ideas and beliefs we hold about ourselves and our children, the standards of behavior we buy into, our expectations. In order to effect change in our physical and emotional reactions to our children, we must address our mental state. How is it that you see and think of your children? Are they in general a pain in the neck? Do they never listen or do what they’re told? Do you doubt everything and think you don’t know what to do? Or do you feel confident in yourself, mistakes and all? Do you know that this too will pass? Are you able to drop into the moment Stay Connected with Bonnie Join the thousands who have signed up for free Parenting tips and lessons in her newsletter... Have you ever asked yourself, “Why did I DO that??” Wish you knew what else to do? Learn how to deal with kids who don’t listen — and lots more.	1,410
The most customizable eCommerce platform for building your online business. Get started today for free. Select your language Español Português do Brasil Italian (Italy) German (Germany) English (United States) Update your account details to use the selected currency to renew your existing subscriptions. Get Started or Log In Why finding a niche is the key to small business success Written by Nicole Kohler on May 5, 2016 Blog, Build your business, Start your store. More than half of Americans either own or work for a small business, and every year since 1963 the United States has celebrated National Small Business Week to recognize their critical contribution to the economy. This week we’re celebrating small businesses by offering some advice to help them succeed. There are quite a few common mistakes that new small businesses make; the tips offered by the businesses earlier this week covered much of them (for example, don’t think small, don’t waste time on things you’re not great at, make your store fast and beautiful). But there was one tip we felt was missing. Many small businesses start out trying to be the best at everything — that is, be the best clothing store online, or the world’s greatest home decor shop. And the truth is that it’s almost impossible to do this. Not that we’re trying to dash your hopes, only being realistic. The key to small business success is finding and choosing a niche. By doing that, you can avoid one of the most common mistakes business owners make: of going too broad with their store’s products and market appeal. Let’s dive a little deeper into this subject and talk about why you should have a niche, how it can help you succeed, and how to pick one (if you haven’t already). Three reasons that a niche goes hand-in-hand with success According to 2012 census data, there are more than 5.73 million small businesses in the United States alone. These startups and self-made organizations are often encouraged to “think big” to avoid limitations and find success. But this all means that you have potentially thousands of competitors, all thinking big and vying for the same market, same customers, and same piece of the pie as you. It is possible for you to be just as successful as they are — but your chances drop dramatically if you all do exactly the same thing. Your small business can’t do everything and compete with everyone. That’s why finding a niche is so crucial to your online success. Another reason that finding a niche is so crucial to a small business’s success: it makes it far easier to describe to potential customers what you do and sell. “We sell women’s clothes” is a far clearer statement than “we sell women’s sweaters” or (even better) “we sell the softest sweaters for women in the world.” This also ties into the final reason that a new small business should consider a niche: online visibility. With existing market saturation and the visibility — and nearly-unlimited advertising budget — of corporations, the possibility of appearing in search results for phrases like “women’s clothing” is next to nil. So while it might seem unappealing at first, your goal will be to target lower volume search phrases. “Women’s sweaters” might see far fewer searches, but it’s a search performed by someone who knows exactly what article of clothing they want. And that’s why targeting a niche can actually result in better sales: because shoppers searching for your products have narrowed down their interest to a specific item, and are almost ready to buy. To recap, you should select a niche for your small business because: There’s a ton of competition out there, and it can be a challenge to stand out with limited resources, Having a specific product category or interest makes it easier to describe what you do, and Targeting a niche gets your site in front of online searchers who are almost ready to buy instead of casually browsing. Now that we’ve covered the why, let’s move on to the how. Choosing a niche: products, location, price, and more So far we’ve alluded to your business or online store’s niche almost solely as a selection of products — like selling sweaters instead of women’s clothing. But this doesn’t have to be the case. Your niche can be based on a variety of things that narrow down the interests of your potential customers. And this isn’t necessarily just the products you carry or services you offer. It could be: The area you operate in or sell to (local, national, specific countries…) The way you go about selling or offering your products/services (via subscription, with a membership option…) So, think about a small business owner who wants to sell cookies online. In a saturated market, they could find their niche — and stand out — by: Selling only to the areas they can ship freshly-baked cookies to, Specifically targeting shoppers who might be looking to send a delightful “get well soon” gift, Aiming to become the most affordable cookie delivery service online, or Offering cookies on subscription so households are never without a batch of oatmeal raisin goodness. See what we mean? There are four niche ideas right there — and they could even be combined to go narrower, if the market merits it (for example, a subscription service in a limited area, affordable deliveries for giftees…). So to first decide on a niche, think about those four points above — area, audience, price point, and delivery method — plus the products themselves that you’re interested in selling. Brainstorm, research, and make a final decision You might already have a good idea of what niche you want to fill, whether that’s a gap in your local marketplace or one online. But before you make a final decision, do a little brainstorming and research, just to be certain that your goals are clear. Make a list, chat about your favorite things, or look for gaps in the marketplace – all valid ways to find a fantastic niche for your online store. If you’ve yet to decide exactly what you want to do with your business, do a little brainstorming first. This might mean jotting down some ideas on paper, chatting with a friend or two about your ambitions and interests, or simply looking online to collect ideas. The advice “do what you love” is given for a reason, of course — it’s easiest to run a business if you’re passionate (and knowledgeable) about what you’re offering. So if you have a passion for model trains, don’t force yourself to start a shop for golf equipment just because you think it’ll make more money! After brainstorming, you should do some research online to see what kinds of businesses already exist, and may potentially be in the same niche as those you are considering. This can open your eyes to any possible competitors, or even spaces where the market is more saturated than you expected. Upon the completion of your research, narrow down your choices and try to make a final decision for your business. Again, you don’t have to choose based solely on the products or services you plan to offer — you can have a niche based on location, price, and so on, or a combination of things. Why having a niche is crucial for future growth Many small businesses make the mistake of starting their business by thinking too big. They try to be everything to everyone — sell all the products possible in a certain industry, appeal to every demographic, hit every price point, and so on. This mistake doesn’t just result in an inability to compete against big businesses. It also results in stifled growth. It’s difficult for you to become anything more than you already are if you started out carrying every product and appealing to everyone, and are having trouble getting noticed as well. With a narrower focus for your small business, you can: Make smarter decisions, because you’ll be able to better answer the questions “does this further my goal?” or “will this appeal to my customers?” Grow at a pace you’re comfortable with, based on your sales, staffing, free time, or any other aspect affecting your scalability Scale more quickly due to a (likely) smaller set of products or services on your site — adding to them or modifying existing pages won’t take as long Make more money in the long run, because you’ll be targeting a more specific group rather than one with mass appeal — this might sound counterintuitive, but if there are 30 companies offering women’s shoes and only one (yours) offering discount women’s sandals, guess where those seeking those sandals will go? Some final thoughts and takeaways As we wrap up this post, here are a few final thoughts for you to leave with: If you see someone else doing what you want to do, and you’re confident you have the knowledge and resources to do it better, don’t be afraid to compete. With that in mind, your business’s focus doesn’t have to be the only thing setting you apart. You can stand out with stellar customer service, marketing, a beautiful website, and much more. You don’t have to stay “locked down” forever, but future expansions should fall in line with your original purpose — for example, it might be easier to grow a women’s shoe store to include women’s accessories than it would be to start selling men’s shoes, too. Finally, it’s crucial to remember that a niche can be more than a specific selection of products. It can be the location you operate in, the customers you target, the way you deliver your services or goods (ex. via subscription), or the qualities (ex. pricing, design) of the items you carry. Don’t limit yourself too much — chances are, you already had a niche in mind before reading this post and just didn’t realize it! Join us in celebrating small business success Whether you’re a new small business or an existing one looking to narrow down your focus, we hope this post has helped you see why finding a niche is crucial for your success. To see a collection of successful, niche-targeting companies in action, have a look at our Celebrating National Small Business Week board on Pinterest. These are all businesses powered by WooCommerce who we’ve highlighted for superior work in their industry — have a look and see if anything catches your eye Have any thoughts or tips to share with fellow business owners who might be hoping to find their own focus? Chime in below — we’d love to hear from you in the comments. nichesmall businesssmall business week May 5, 2016 at 11:49 pm # Great article! I have read quite a few articles talking about “niches” but this is far the clearest one. The idea that the niche is not necessarily product based is key. May 6, 2016 at 2:49 am # Thanks so much, that’s very kind of you to say May 6, 2016 at 4:29 pm # Very interesting reading. I can relate to it directly, as my business started with a niche product (the first true multi-currency solution for WooCommerce, which WooThemes now knows quite well ), which was so niche that I was planning to use it only for my own needs. It was my (small) audience who made me realise that the solution had potential, and I started focusing on it as the pillar of my business. Three years later, my solution is going so strong that I change the niche from a simple multi-currency solution to an internationalisation suite of products and services. Starting small and growing one step at a time was definitely a good idea. May 9, 2016 at 12:46 pm # Finding a Niche is very important.For example: I have a movie website and my keywords are related to movies.Now movies has huge competition,so i divided movies into other niches like Horror Movies,Action Movies ,and so on… and started working on these keywords…. In this way we can sub divide the keywords for more easy SEO…. May 19, 2016 at 11:08 pm # I’m really inspired! I have understood that what i’m doing now to reach out my intended goal very in accurate. I have broaden my service and didn’t even think finding a nich for it. Now, i know what is left and thank you for sharing. You save my day! July 6, 2018 at 7:02 am # I felt this as well! I originally wanted to have a huge shop with custom jewelry, accessories, bath and body products, and Pagan items. I fell in love with the stores in The Craft and Practical Magic, and wanted to be the place people stop in for all their needs. But keeping that much stock was prohibitive. I’m moving from Weebly to WordPress and planning for a fall grand re-opening, and I’m going to narrow my focus to healing gemstone jewelry. I’m a 3rd Degree High Priestess, and my studies focused on gemstones and their correspondences for natural healing, so I feel I’m more knowledgeable than any in the market today that sell those types of custom jewelry items in addition to their ‘main’ offerings.	13,127
There’s an implicit homogeneity that slips into our discourse when English cider nerds cluster and the talk turns to France. We all think we know French cider, and that it’s all the same. All keeved, all basically sweet, all fizzy and all full-juice. None of this is true. We’ve dealt with the “all full-juice” myth previously, in conversation with Camille from Calyce Cider. France may have a better record than the UK in this regard (shamefully, the shoddy food standards enthusiasts of the USA have a better record than the UK in this regard) but they’re far from the infallible angels so much of English cider communication depicts. The vast, vast majority of French cider, as we learned, comes from two huge co-operatives who see no issue with concentrates, with water, with colouring and with every other trick in the big cider playbook. Their output is still far tastier than that of their English counterparts, but it’s not half as artisan as their cork and cage bottles would have you believe. Having addressed that point, let’s move to the slightly sadder issue, that of the lack of exposure of the English drinker to the breadth of full-juice, craft styles that France has to offer. Certainly, before my visit to Caen in February I had no idea of the stylistic diversity, the range of flavours and the degree of innovation to be found on the other side of the channel. And why would I? My chances of popping into a standard booze shop and finding something French that isn’t from one of the largest producers are virtually nil. In fact they’re even smaller than they once were now that the excellent Pilango has closed its doors for the last time. I suspect many of the assumptions stem from the fact that most French cider comes from the contiguous regions of Normandy and Brittany and that, yes, most of it is keeved. What’s more, tasted in isolation, there do tend to be certain similarities between many of the standard, ‘farmhouse’ ciders, which is what you’re perhaps most likely to come across. But taste across the board and a far broader picture begins to emerge. Sticking to Normandy alone, even a novice taster will recognise marked differences between the maritime, tannic and astringent ciders of Cotentin AOC and the softer, riper, more directly fruit-forward creations of the Pays d’Auge. Du Perche, whose appellation status has finally been confirmed, sits, to my taste, somewhere in the middle, again entirely distinct from the others. It can’t be repeated often enough, the flavours of cider are dictated first and foremost by the apples in their makeup and, like the UK, France is home to hundreds of varieties, each imparting different notes. The Morbihan area of Brittany is particularly proud of its Royal Guillevic variety, such that there are a handful of single-variety bottlings available. Fresh, floral, green-fruited, its flavours would be more than familiar to a Kentish cidermaker, but are a world away from what the British drinker expects of France. Nor are Normandy and Brittany the only regions in which apples are being fermented into something more fun. Our conversation with Camille threw up another few – most famously the Basque country, where the ciders are still and dry and sharp. I’m guilty of automatically thinking of the Spanish Basque when I cast my mind over their ciders – not least because I’ve been lucky enough to attend txotx in Astigarraga myself – but as can be tasted through the ranges of the likes of Kupela, the skills and heritage of the region’s south are just as tangible north of the Pyranees. Then there’s the Ardenne, near the Belgian border, and Le Pays d’Othe, between Champagne and Bourgogne, both driven by terroir and culinary fruit. Leaner, greener, meadow-fresh. Two of my favourite French cider and perry makers, Côme Isambert and Julien Thurel (more on him later) hail from the Loire Valley. The white wines of that region are lionised the world over for their freshness, verve and minerality, qualities that are more than reflected in the Loire ciders and perries I’ve been lucky enough to taste. Styles. Yes, there’s a lot of keeving going on. Yes, I’d personally love a few more bottles to be a little closer to complete dryness. But even here the picture’s not as homogenous as it looks from across La Manche. Casus Belli, from Antoine Marois, is a fully fermented, all-but-still cider, and one of the very best I’ve tasted this year. In a side-by-side tasting I thought it edged Little Pomona’s Old Man and the Bee 2017, and praise for dry cider doesn’t come much higher than that. One of my biggest cider regrets of the last 12 months was only bringing one bottle back with me. It’s not just Antoine either – casting an eye over the range from Dupont you have rich, drier Grande Reserves, champagne method bottlings and wonkish triple-yeast, saison-inspired ciders. The champagne method is deployed elsewhere too – one of my favourite producers, Les Vergers de la Morinière, combined it with a dosage of mandarin in one of the most compelling “made wine” innovations I’ve come across. Elsewhere there are ice ciders, co-ferments and, of course, one of France’s great specialities, the fortified cider, Pommeau. Just a couple of weeks ago a notification popped up in my email inbox that CidrExpo will be returning for a second instalment in February next year. Whilst, for obvious reasons, I won’t be able to attend this time, I’m thrilled that this showcase of modern French cider is set to become a regular occurrence, and my fingers and toes are crossed that in 2022 I might be able to nip down to Portsmouth and hop on the ferry again. There is so much to discover about French cider; so much breadth and flavour and variety that, if the English drinker only but knew, would, I think, convert them by the hundred. My stocks from February are starting to look threadbare, but in the name of celebrating French cider’s diversity, I’m popping the corks on three of them today. None of which, I am very sorry to say, are available in the UK. First up is the aforementioned Julien Thurel. I was particularly keen to try his creations when I saw him at CidrExpo, since they came with the highest recommendation of Eleanor Leger of Vermont’s Eden. Based in the Loire, Julien’s creations are almost all from culinary apples. Solstice 2017 is hand-picked and fermented in stainless steel before ageing in neutral old oak barrels and then afforded a secondary fermentation in bottle before being released undisgorged. Julien only works with a handful of apple varieties; this cuvée is an extra-brut made from Sebins and Saulettes. Since I don’t know a thing about either, we’ll move swiftly on and hope that someone can fill us in through the comments selection. Antoine Marois is a producer we’ve met and admired before. Having adored his dry Casus Belli, today we’re treading more conventional turf via one of his keeved méthode ancestrales (naturally sparkling ciders which have achieved their fizz through being bottled before the first fermentation has finished. Also known as pet-nats.) Antoine, a former vineyard agronomist, takes his lead heavily from winemakers; La Roche, in our glass, is named for the rocky terroir on which the single orchard that produced its apples is based. One of its stablemates is Silex, from the flinty soil type made especially famous by the Sauvignons of Sancerre. Like Julien, Antoine hand-harvests from traditional, tall-trunk trees, but in this case we’re talking about tannin-rich Normandy varieties. Fruit selection, both in the orchard and on the cidery sorting table, is critical to his approach, as is a low-intervention, skin-contact natural fermentation. Since we’re casting as broad a stylistic net as possible, now for something absolutely crackers. Kystin is a Breton cidery run since 2012 by Sasha Crommar. At CidrExpo it was constantly one of the most heavily-populated stalls, laden as it was with some of the most bonkers and brilliant liquids on show. Just a peek at Sasha’s range refutes the notion of French cider homogeneity; fortified ice ciders, perry with ginger as well as his classic cider, Opalyne. Albert Johnson and James Finch showcased the Kystin co-ferment with chestnuts (widely grown in the region) in a Fine Cider Friday video early on this year, and today I’m tasting something in a similar vein, albeit it’s a co-ferment of apples with – yes, honestly – toasted buckwheat. With absolutely no frame of reference for what such a thing might taste like, let’s leave it at that and move straight to the glasses. Colour: Mid-gold. On the nose: Very dessert-fruity. Green apple, soft pear, hawthorn blossom, honeysuckle and hay. It’s a long way from the typical styles of Normandy and Brittany – much more delicate and ethereal. In the mouth: Follows through very closely. All the notes above; perhaps a little more pronounced, but still very much a high-toned, taut and delicate thing. There’s a great deal of mousse, which is worth leaving for some time to blow off a little. Just a hint of acidity, no tannin to speak of. By stereotypical French standards this isn’t too sweet at all – very easy drinking. As the name suggests, it’s real meadow-in-summertime drinking. If you like culinary-driven Eastern Counties ciders you’ll love this. On the nose: Gorgeous, deep, whistle-clean autumnal tones instantly billowing from the glass. Very aromatic. Red apples both fresh and baked. Dried leaves, woody lignin. Dried orange rind. Almost Calvados-like in its richness and generosity. All beautifully defined too. Super nose. In the mouth: Again, a near-identical follow-through. What’s most impressive is the cleanliness, definition of fruit expression and the balance of light sweetness with tannin. (“Is that not dry?” asked the geophysicist. It isn’t, quite, but the balance is so good it’s deceptive.) More wood and orange peel. A classic ‘autumn walk in the forest’ cider. Red apple skins and juice underpinned by a granite minerality. This is a superbly accomplished keeve – the double act of faultless, ripe fullness and structural definition is one of the hardest things to get right, and this absolutely nails it. On the nose: That is totally nuts. In more ways than one. Toasted grains and Kinder Bueno and pink wafer biscuits. There is some fruit in there, but it’s buried under that roasty, savoury toastiness. Properly intense and expressive, if not wildly complex. In the mouth: There’s a little more juicy apple here, but it’s underneath that huge toasted nut, cereal and wafer biscuit character. Slightly on the sweet side and the heaviness of the toasted buckwheat pulls away some of the freshness of the apple. Could really do with a few sharps to liven it up, to my taste. The juice itself is rich and clean with a small scrape of tannic grip. Totally unique, but a bit heavy-going for me. Just a bit too much of that toasted buckwheat. No similarities here! To generalise in English terms we’ve one that’s Eastern Counties, one that’s West Country and one that’s barking mad. I have to admit, the Kystin, to me, had gone a little far with the toasted buckwheat. It just felt as though it needed to be lifted a little more; just a little lacking in acidity, given the weight of the dusky toastiness. The geophysicist and I managed a glass, but found it on the challenging side thereafter. But perhaps we missed the point by drinking it solo. Stick it next to a plate of sweet crêpes and you may well be onto a winner. And although the experiment wasn’t quite for me, it wouldn’t for a moment put me off trying anything else Sasha puts out. His base cider really is very, very good. It’s clear to see why Julien and Antoine aren’t short of admirers. Both the Solstice and La Roche are precise, defined showcases of their fruit and terroir, packed with character and finesse. My favourite (quite comfortably) is La Roche, but much of that will be stylistic preference. If they were readily available to me I’d be a regular repeat customer from both producers. Antoine, in particular, is easily in my top 10 in the world. Which I suppose is a good note to end on. The paucity of French cider offering in the UK isn’t a scratch on what I’d like it to be, and even lags behind that which can be found on the far side of the Atlantic. Cidermakers like Antoine and Julien and Eric Bordelet and Côme Isambert and Jérôme Forget and Cyril Zangs and so many, many more would find a welcome home for their wares in our cellars, glasses and hearts, if only we knew. The impending train crash of our embarrassing extraction from the EU will, I dare say, make it only more difficult for English cider lovers to get their hands on creations such as these, but it remains my fervent hope that one of our excellent and emerging distributors will find a way. Over to them. This entry was posted in: Cider, Reviews by Adam Wells In addition to my writing and editing with Cider Review I lead frequent talks and tastings and contribute to other drinks sites and magazines including jancisrobinson.com, Pellicle, Full Juice, Distilled and Burum Collective. @adamhwells on Instagram, @Adam_HWells on twitter.	13,456
Good day Aunty Amara. God bless you for the good works you are doing in peoples' lives. Please i need your advice and that of your fans. I have been married for for years now with to kids and pregnant for the third baby now. I dated my husband before marriage, he is actually a hot tempered person but after our marriage he changed drastically. He doesn't allow me to contribute an idea in whatever he is doing, he shouts at me and embarrasses me in public, People keep asking how he treats me at home if he is this hostile in public. I keep enduring it he womanizes a lot,so he doesn't allow me to go near his phone, and i decided not to touch his phone in order not to cause trouble. But two weeks ago i decided to check his phone because he handles my phone as long as he want,I opened his Whatsapp and read the chat. He has many girlfriends,some were asking him where they will meet,he takes them to a particular hotel where we did our wedding reception. One of the girls knew he is married, he wrote to him that she is tired of having sex with him every time. Even inside his car, that he should go to his wife, he said that his wife his pregnant. The girl started calling me names that his wife is not good on bed e.t.c. My husband is also having affair with his ex girlfriend who is also married,in their chat he was masturbating looking at the lady's picture and the lady wrote that she is screaming the lady sends her all manner of pictures and told him she is missing his organ, because she stays in Benin while we live in Owerri. The ex- girlfriend promised to come and visit him very soon and they will have their fun as usual. Please ma i don't know what to do, I don't know whom to tell,I feel like divorcing him if not for my kids, i didn't know i married a dog, he comes to me always for sex, and i cannot say no because he is hostile, he may beat me up,so i tried always to satisfy him on bed. If he notices i saw these chats,the house will be on fire should i call the girlfriends and talk to them,i need urgent advice because its affecting me, i don't sleep in the night,no appetite and it is affecting me cos i am seven months pregnant. sorry for the long write up. no insult please. thanks. You need to speak up and let your voice be heard. You need to be alive for your children and not let another man terminate your life. To help you, you need to report this to your family, then his family after you have put to bed. Then you take some break from him to enable him and you find a common ground to operate from. You cannot continue with a mess and call it marriage, it may affect your children and you adversely. You have no business with his concubines, all you need to is explore avenues to express your fears,pains and disappointments to him. By Unknown at 11:58:00 AM Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom) Amara's Book Recent Posts Post Archive November (2) January (1) July (1) May (1) March (1) February (1) November (1) September (1) June (1) May (1) April (1) February (2) January (1) November (4) October (3) September (7) August (13) July (5) June (7) May (7) April (10) March (21) February (22) January (24) December (16) November (36) October (19) September (17) August (27) July (45) June (38) May (40) April (36) March (15) February (21) January (43) December (27) November (29) October (94) September (121) August (127) July (118) June (78) May (93) April (89) March (124) February (128) January (154) December (108) November (102) October (100) September (112) August (126) July (180) June (157) May (110) September (4) July (2)	3,855
What is special about clairvoyance is that it gives you the opportunity to make incredible discoveries about your past life, your present life and your future. Through clairvoyance, you can also get a glimpse of the events that may come up in your life. Nowadays, it is easy to see that more and more people are turning to psychic offices because of the many benefits they find there. However, it is not always easy to find a serious, honest psychic with a good understanding of the divinatory arts who can accurately predict your future. Therefore, if you are looking for a serious and honest psychic in Greenville who will have the ability to find resolutions to the problems you face in everyday life, then I am the psychic in Greenville for you. I can assure you of excellent results, no matter what situation you find yourself in. Psychic medium in Greenville, PA using the best techniques for predicting events in your life In fact, with my twenty years of practice, I am a psychic in Greenville who is far from a beginner. And so if you are looking for an psychic in Greenville who can solve all your problems whether it is sentimental, professional or financial, let me tell you that you have come to the right place. Don't hesitate for a moment to join me to benefit from my services of clairvoyance in Greenville of quality. Even if you wish it, I will be able to place at your disposal my services of psychic for a clairvoyance by phone. It is important to know that the number of people with real clairvoyance is quite limited and if you have to search for serious and honest clairvoyants, you should not be surprised to meet some clairvoyants who can discourage you forever. 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What is more interesting with the contact by chat is that you make a real saving of time and there is almost the same efficiency as a face to face consultation. This is also the case with telephone contact, which allows you to save on travel costs, especially if you are not too fond of direct contact. What is related to your birth date and life number in the field of numerology? As I said so well in one of the paragraphs above, I also offer services in the field of astrology and numerology. So, it is important to know that in terms of numerology and astrology, your date of birth contains enigmas about who you really are. In truth, the sum of all the numbers in your birth date represents your life path in a way. Indeed, there is a special energy that is linked to each number of your birth date symbolizing an ability that impacts your personal path. Thus, by adding up the day, month and year of your birth, I will be able to show you the path that numerology gives you. In a simple way, we can say that numerology is a divinatory art that is based on a deep study of numbers and letters. I have the ability to do the numerology of your date of birth and even of your first name. It is taking into account your date and your first name that numerology will be able to grant you a number included between 0 and 9. The number assigned will be the incarnation of a given vibration. It is from the number that will be assigned that your character traits will be determined and the reading of your future made possible. Chances are that you will get information about your professional career, your health, your relationships, your travel plans and more. Even for questions related to numerology, you can contact me directly by phone, email or chat. I can also give you clarifications on the signs of the zodiac thanks to the decans and the ascendancy. In truth, numerology can be broken down into several numbers. We can therefore find ourselves in the presence of an active number, an expression number, an intimate number or even a hereditary number. If by any chance you feel the need to find out your number and discover your true personality and perhaps get a glimpse of what the future holds for you, I urge you to contact me without hesitation. I will be able to make a direct intervention and give you convincing results in record time. I offer clairvoyance and psychic services in Greenville giving you an opportunity to examine your knowledge from every angle. What are the different forms of clairvoyance that I offer? It is important for you to know that there is a strict disparity between a psychic and a medium. A psychic in Greenville is a person with a gift and the ability to see events in your past, present and future. A psychic on the other hand is a person who has a singular assignment. His or her role is to act as an intermediary between you and a loved one who is no longer of this world. The majority of rational people will only turn to astrology and numerology services, while those who wish to make their own discovery through the cards will turn to a serious tarot medium reader in Allentown with a good mastery of tarology. Nevertheless, you should be very careful not to trust psychics in Greenville who use practices such as witchcraft, divination, magic and negative energies. When you come across such people, be aware that they are not psychics, but rather charlatans. Discover a psychic medium in Greenville with experience to give you excellent predictions A good clairvoyant in Greenville can be recognized by the first consultations. She must be able to consult you without you being able to say a word about yourself. This is the only way you can be sure of the predictions she makes. In fact, a psychic must have the ability to give you information about events in your past life, events in your present life and probably events in your future life. If this is not the case, then I advise you to get out of here quickly. Personally, I make sure that the client in front of me is zen and really relaxed. In the previous paragraphs, I have highlighted the sectors in which I can intervene. I have laid all this information bare so that my clients can really know the services I offer and my work technique. As a rule, when you come to me for a consultation, I try to find out your birth year. This will allow me to do my work more efficiently. I strongly advise against going to psychics who use techniques that are not healthy. There are in fact psychics who can predict your future with runes, ink stains and even coffee grounds. All you need to know about free and low cost psychic packages When you decide to call on an psychic in Greenville for help, she will offer you several packages. There are even packages that are totally free and you can also get advice from some professionals in the field. However, it must be said that if you choose the formula yourself, the best thing would be that the formula can meet your needs. So, let's emphasize that in order to choose the formula that will suit you best, it will depend above all on the information that you will provide to the psychic. I offer you free clairvoyance in Greenville by email Just as you have noticed on other platforms, I offer you a consultation formula by email. This is a convenient alternative with almost the same effectiveness as face-to-face consultations. In the case of contact by email, all you have to do is to set up a series of questions that you will send to me. After that, I will take a moment to give you some suggested answers to your concerns. As a rule, my analysis is based on draws as well as a good understanding of the being you are materializing. There are some people who may use obscure techniques to give you quick answers. You can also reach me by SMS or phone in Greenville, PA I also offer my clairvoyance services by SMS or by phone. After this free consultation, you will be led to opt for the paid formula to have access to more and more intense revelations.So through this first free consultation session, you will be able to make the judgment by yourself. When you contact me by email, the only difference is that after the free consultation, you will have to leave your bank details. I will then send you an invitation so that you can continue your experience.However, you have to be careful when you opt for the formula of contact by e-mail, because it is difficult to cancel this subscription as soon as you subscribe to it with some psychics. Opinion of my medium services My first phone experience The truth is that I still haven't recovered from the incredible encounter I had with you. I realized with you that there were enough things I didn't know about my life that I really wasn't aware of. This has not only impacted my professional life, but also my romantic, friendly and professional relationships. By getting in touch with you, my life has really changed. I feel very lucky to have met you and now I have a better understanding of some aspects of my life. I am truly grateful for what you have done for me. Very professional psychic I contacted you by email for a trial and I absolutely do not regret my choice. I had been looking for a serious psychic for ages and many people had extorted money from me on several occasions. You have changed my perception of psychics with the gift you have and the accuracy of your predictions. This psychic has given me back my confidence and today I understand a lot more things. You are an exceptional person with incredible professionalism. Even though I had doubts at first, I finally gave in. I personally think you have a good grasp of the divinatory art and that is why I recommend you to others who are looking for a quality psychic. This psychic will predict perfectly all the events of your present and future life. I don't doubt her talents for a second, as I was satisfied beyond my expectations. She has enlightened me about my life! I met this psychic after reading an article on the net. I contacted her via chat and she gave me some insight into the problems that had been weighing on my life for years. I was looking for a professional tarot reader who would be able to read the events in my life and I found you. Beyond your sympathy, you have an incredible expertise and you have given me more strength to face the difficulties of every day. I am truly grateful for that. For almost a decade, I have never been able to have a steady job. Doubt filled my life on a daily basis to the point that I no longer had confidence in myself. When I met you, I discovered the wonders of life and today I have more confidence in myself than ever. I'm not going to say much about my experience with this psychic, the only thing you have to do is make your own experience. No more doubts, now I'm moving on I can't thank you enough for what you have done in my life. Nature has endowed you with an incredible gift that you do not hesitate for a moment to put at the service of the most needy. I met you through a friend and I am very pleased with the work you have done in my life. In the past I had a totally negative idea about psychics, but thanks to you my opinion is no longer the same. You have solved most of the mysteries in my life and to this day I am living normally. Thank you so much for your work. Very accurate in these predictions Thank you for your precious time that you put at my disposal. When I came to you, I did not say anything until you made your prediction. I was speechless at the incredible revelations you made about my life without knowing me before.the accuracy of your predictions amazed me so much that I almost thought you were a family member. Thank you for your assistance and I recommend you to anyone looking for a psychic of good character with real gifts.	15,611
The future of this apostolate is in jeopardy. $63,161 left to win $111K Challenge! Deadline is December 8. We NEED help now! Of all the Advent traditions, the one that my family practices annually is the French custom of preparing the manger for Christmas. This is the tradition of making Baby Jesus' bed soft by adding straws in the manger. The straws reflect extra spiritual efforts made during Advent. In my experience of devotions, this simple one really touches all ages, young and old. The manger or crib is a symbol of our hearts. Advent is the time to prepare one's heart for Christ's coming at Christmas. This imagery is also helpful for older children and adults who no longer need the tangible manger and straws. He Sees You When You're Sleeping In looking forward to Christmas, utilizing Santa as always watching is not necessary to persuade good behavior from the children. My sons, ages 11 and 7, are still motivated by thinking of Jesus born in the stable in Bethlehem. The boys are thinking ahead to Christmas. The thought of God's Son as an Infant in the manger touches their hearts. They think of that cold night, the strange place and the hard manger. How can they prepare their mangers for Jesus so that He will be welcome, warm, comfortable and safe? The straws in the manger reflect the extra good deeds, the prompt obedience, the kindness to siblings, the well-said prayers, the extra prayers and sacrifices, the help without asking, etc. all Advent long. They are preparing their hearts for Christ to enter on Christmas. It thrills me to see the response and renewal to prepare the manger during Advent every year, even as they grow older. I know there will come a time when we won't need to keep a public record of the good deeds, but the empty manger will still be a visual reminder for the family members to prepare their hearts for Christmas. Building Blocks of Prayer This isn't just a childish custom, but beginning formation in the spiritual life. In the evening, the child reflects on his day to recall the efforts made to earn a straw. This is an early form of examining one's conscience, an important daily Christian habit. This practice is also the beginning of discursive prayer or meditation: [Discursive meditation] involves utilizing a scriptural passage, sacred image or scene from the life of Christ as a means of focus and reflection. One may try to imagine the scene with the people present and place themselves in that scene. This is commonly used by Teresa [of Avila] in her description of recollection (Family Life Institute). Personal and sensorial memories can be the building blocks of prayer. Experiences of weather, fatigue, parental love and care, smell and warmth of animals are all sensory images recalled when placing oneself in the scene in the cave at Bethlehem. The interactions with family and friends, especially with babies and toddlers provide familiarity and develop the desire to welcome Baby Jesus. Taking all these sensory and practical life experiences help visualize the manger scene, but it also develops the prayer habit of placing oneself in the scenes of the life of Christ. Constructing a crib or manger is not complicated. It can be made of simple materials, such as a shoe box, Clementine box or constructed from wood or branches. The main criteria is that the manger's bottom and sides can hold the straw so it doesn't lose all the "good works." The straw can be wood shavings (neatly packaged at the craft store), raffia cut in 3-4" strips, yarn, or strips of paper. It's best to not pick small materials that the children can't easily see progress in filling the manger. Many years ago my uncle made my mother's manger out of some scrap shelving material. When I married my husband made a manger patterned after my family's version. The triangular bottom of the manger is ideal for quickly giving a sense of progress in lining the manger with softness. My uncle was raised on a farm, but I'm a city gal, so all those years I thought it was it was his own design. On one visit to Mount Vernon, I was thrilled to see a feed manger for the hogs in the exact same shape as our family manger! To be able to point to the real manger helped drive home that Jesus had to lie in the animals' feeding trough. The surroundings were definitely not plush, soft or pleasantly fragrant. Envisioning a real manger provides more motivation to work hard at filling the manger with sweet, fresh hay from our good works and prayers. (I shared some simple instructions in a PDF to replicate my manger. ) Family and Individual Mangers Although preparing the manger is geared toward children so that they can see an external expression of their good works "piling up", this is a custom the whole family can practice. There can be one large crib, in the main part of the house in which everyone will contribute their straws. In addition, each child can have an individual manger, by his/her bedside. This echoes the idea from Helen McLoughlin from Family Advent Customs: On the first Sunday of Advent each child in our family receives an empty manger. An oatmeal box covered with bright paper will do as well. At bedtime the children draw straws for each kind deed performed in honor of Baby Jesus as His birthday surprise. The straws are placed in the child's manger or box daily. It is amazing how much love a child can put into Advent when he is preparing for His Redeemer's coming in grace. On Christmas each child finds an Infant in his manger, placed on a small table or on a chair beside his bed. Usually it is a tiny doll, beautifully dressed; but one of our children receives a Hummel Infant year after year. This custom, which in no way interferes with the larger manger in the living room, fills the child with a longing in Advent, and gives him an image of his Redeemer as his first happy glance mornings and his last impression at night during the entire Christmas season As Mrs. McLoughlin mentions, having both the family manger and individual child mangers doesn't work against each other, but works together. We crafted Take-Along Mangers for the mangers for each child to keep near their bedside. What to use to represent Baby Jesus is a very personal choice. My aunt used a beautiful statue, but my mom chose to use a small doll that the younger children could touch and carry and caress (and they did) which brings the reality of a newborn baby closer to home. We use a vinyl doll, about 6-8″ old Vogue doll, similar to my mother’s, which I found inexpensively on eBay a few years ago. The body wasn’t in perfect condition, but I knew it would be covered up by the clothes, a simple sac pattern, with gathered neck and sleeves, cut from white flannel, just like my mother's Baby Jesus. On Christmas Eve or Christmas morning before the gifts are opened, the family processes with lighted candles to the empty manger. The youngest child holds the baby Jesus while everyone sings Silent Night and places it in the manger. The age and attention span dictates the length of the prayers, but the ceremony includes the passage from the Roman Martyrology on the Birth of Jesus Christ, the Gospel of Luke 2:15-20, various prayers, including the Magnificat and Blessing of the Crib, and then sing O Come All Ye Faithful or the last verse of Silent Night. While Advent has already begun, it's never too late to start this custom. Preparing the manger can help prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ and help us develop our prayer life with Christ. Jennifer Gregory Miller is an experienced homemaker, mother, CGS catechist and authority on living the liturgical year, or liturgical living. She is the primary developer of CatholicCulture.org’s liturgical year section. See full bio. Read more « Previous post All comments are moderated. To lighten our editing burden, only current donors are allowed to Sound Off. If you are a current donor, log in to see the comment form; otherwise please support our work, and Sound Off!	8,345
For a long time, maybe for years, you might have been considering how you’d write your first novel. The good news is that, using the tried-and-true guidelines in this article, you can gain the confidence to start writing your first novel today! How to Write Your Novel There is no right way or wrong way to write your novel. The approaches are almost infinite. What’s important is what works best for you. Here are a few practical methods for writing your novel that you can copy or adapt that can work for you: The name of this method refers to an organized, structured approach to developing a novel, just as a snowflake has a definite structure that gives it shape and keeps it together. Also, a snowflake begins as a single droplet of water. This method builds upon itself, similar to how other ice crystals connect with the original droplet of frozen water. The beauty of this writing method is its structure. Your story becomes crystal clear; with exactness, it builds upon itself. Summarize your novel in one sentence. Expand your sentence into a summary paragraph. Describe each major character, each with a one-page summary. Expound on your novel summary with more paragraphs. Further develop your character descriptions, including how they will relate or interact with one another. Rinse and repeat: keep working through each of these parts of your novel and expand on them, over and over again. Begin by summarizing your novel in one sentence. Think of this as the center of your snowflake. Then you expand it to a summary paragraph, with the central plot, major conflicts, and a preview of how it all comes together. Each character then gets a one-page summary. You then develop each summary paragraph, without trying to write the whole novel at this point. Similarly, you return to the character synopses and develop those. From this point, you pretty much rinse and repeat the process until you have a completed first draft. In contrast to the Snowflake Method, the No-Outline approach allows for a creative free-flow of ideas at any given point in the writing process. Many authors prefer this method because they feel constrained by structures like outlines and summaries. Not as strict as the “Snowflake” and not as freewheeling as the “No-Outline,” the three-act structure is an approach you’re probably familiar with, especially if you’ve read or seen any dramas. In fact, most stories can be described in terms of their “three acts.” As an approach to writing a novel, however, the method requires certain attributes—namely the inclusion and placement of “disasters” within the acts. The first occurs at the end of act one. The second happens at the midpoint of act two, and the third at the end of act two. The story is set up in a prologue of some sort or another, and the plot points and character arcs (journey of development) are wrapped up in an epilogue, more or less. Again, as there is no finite method to writing a novel. You might want to create your own approach utilizing particular points from two of all of the above methods. That’s your writer’s license, so go for it! Write Your Novel in a Month Maybe it’s not surprising that, in this fast-paced world, so many budding authors want to know how quickly they can complete a novel (this is NOT the best approach.) However, with certain marketers who know of this desire to write a book practically overnight, you are certain to see online articles and gurus who pretend to be knowledgeable book writers who boast that you can write 2,000 to 3,000 words per day for 30 days and so on and so forth. They list tips and tricks like turning off your spellcheck and carrying a notebook to jot down ideas when they strike. And, hey, those are good ideas in general. Stephen King reportedly writes 2,000 words every day. Having a words-per-day goal and writing down notes from moment of inspiration are great habits for an author. But… What they DON’T emphasize is the sneaky language that promotes ideas like “a novel in a month.” They might say, “Have an outline prepared in advance.” Well, “in advance” is already telling you that it will take MORE than a month. Similarly, they note, “What you’ll end up with might be a good first draft.” Okay, but a first draft is NOT a novel! Fans of Ernest Hemingway might recall his opinion of what first drafts are, but I can’t include the word here in a polite article. Much worse is the attention being focused on speed instead of quality. And what about the enjoyment of the journey? I mean, really! Writing a book is on most everyone’s bucket list. So why would anyone ever want to miss out on the unique experience that only writing a book can offer? But again, what is most important is the quality of your writing—nothing else. I’m not talking about grammar here. I’m talking about moving your audience, making your reader’s heart pound out in their chest; allow them to laugh or cry or contemplate …. When readers can see and hear and feel … you’ve got yourself a novel worthy of publication. Something the world needs more of. So, in my view, the “write your novel in a month” idea is equivalent to fad diets for weight loss. It sounds attractive, but you might be disappointed with the results. Proceed with caution in these schemes, if you proceed with them at all. There are as many approaches to writing a novel as there are novelists. You might prefer a detailed outline to which you adhere strictly. Or, you might prefer to write without an outline, allowing a free flow of ideas, or any approach in between that helps your writing soar. Write Your Novel in a Year Most authors take one to two years to write a novel. Why so long to write your novel? As you’ll see in the next section, there are many pieces to the novel puzzle. Some involve activities and non-activities like reading works by published authors for inspiration and simply taking a week or two away from your own writing so you’re able to see it with “fresh eyes” when you return to it. Not writing is an important part of the novel writing process. Did you actually describe something to the level you envisioned? A lot of the time, the mind can play tricks on us. We’re typing away, thinking This is GREAT! And then you come back to it a few days later and, boy, what a revelation. So you have to get your mind off of something you’ve written in order to qualify whether you’ve actually succeeded at telling your information to the degree you envision. If you are a novelist who is just starting out, giving yourself plenty of time relieves you of the stress that can come with first-time jitters. If you’re of a certain disposition common among authors (perfectionist, self-doubting), you’ll find plenty of other sources of stress. I say that jokingly, but it’s true that adding an unnecessary deadline to the process can make it less enjoyable. So that’s another good reason to step away from your novel from time-to-time. Don’t be in a race to finish your novel. The truth is, anyone who brags about how fast they wrote their novel only tells others that they focused on the wrong importance for their book. The value in mulling over things is truly underestimated. Think of yourself on par with published authors—those who take weeks away from their newest work in order to gain new life experiences, new perspectives, and fresh inspiration. You’re able to reflect and even come up with better ideas and concepts. When it comes to novel writing, when you run “the marathon” and not “the sprint,” the satisfaction of work well done is even greater, and your end product will be even better. Write Your Novel Step by Step—6 Rules to Follow Know your subject, and know why you’re writing. Immerse yourself in creativity. Write a story, not just words and sentences. Start with one protagonist if you’re new to writing novels. Ask yourself about the “why” and “where” of the plot. Novels aren’t just words and sentences, but your first draft could be. There are no cookie-cutter ways to writing a novel, but being aware of these 6 rules will help you write your first novel like a pro. Here are the 6 rules explained: Write Your Novel Step by Step—6 Rules 1. Know your subject, and know why you’re writing. Ever notice that most successful novels are set in a place where the author lives or has lived? It’s intentional. By doing so, the author starts from a place, literally, they deeply know. Readers are smart, and they know real experience when they read it. They like authenticity. That’s why, at every opportunity, write about what you know. Similarly, a writer’s motivations are apparent in their writing. Readers reward authors who write passionately. It would seem to be a given, but many (most?) writers don’t stop to ask themselves WHY they are writing, or preparing to write, a novel. Of course, there are as many motivations as there are manuscripts in the world, and who’s to really say which is more valid than the next? In considering these questions, I like to consider words like: inspiration, motivation, passion and purpose. Ask yourself, “Why should this book exist?” and “What will it do for my readers?” If you think along these lines, you’ll do fine in having a meaningful novel. 2. Immerse yourself in creativity. Regarding the goal of writing from a place of inspiration, many authors and editors recommend steeping yourself in creativity. What does that even mean? Well, if you picture all that the word “creativity” implies, these are the things by which you want to be influenced. Yes, the writing process itself is a creative endeavor, but the idea is to enhance your mindset as an artist—after all, writing is an art—by experiencing other art. Such immersion can include works that are topical to your writing, but not necessarily so. Surround yourself with things that inspire you—things that make you feel a certain way. That might include works of art like paintings, sculptures, plants or beautiful flowers. You might like playing Mozart. It might mean walking on the beach at sunrise. It might even be keywords that strike you a certain way. Hang them up, put them in frames … whatever inspires you, put it all around. 3. Write a story, not just words and sentences. As you read in the earlier section on approaches to writing your novel, there’s an emphasis on story. It’s another point that might seem obvious, but editors at the highest levels of the publishing world often bemoan the “piles of words and sentences” they receive in manuscripts that lack any real storytelling. Though it’s true that most of the rules of writing are “made to be broken” to a certain extent, telling a story is one rule that is broken at the writer’s own peril. That’s because storytelling is so ingrained in every culture of the world. As children, when we saw an adult approach us with a book, what did we understand? It’s STORY time! Suffice it to say that the person who picks up your manuscript or published novel wants a story. 4. Start with one protagonist if you’re new to writing novels. Earlier, I also touched on characterization. If you take the “Snowflake Method,” for example, notice the emphasis on writing and rewriting characters for your novel. Now, imagine the details of the protagonist (the hero readers will root for) and their character arc (their journey of growth and improvement). For a beginner, writing multiple protagonists risks making a mess of the story. This doesn’t mean your first novel has to be overly simple. Follow your inspiration. At the same time, consider the great novels in history where the author employed only one protagonist. You might want to write the next complex Game of Thrones, but trust that not doing so on your first outing might not be as limiting as you think. 5. Ask yourself about the “why” and “where” of the plot. A few minutes ago, I asked you to consider immersing yourself in creativity. This is the section that cautions you that merely wildly “creating” is not the be-all end-all of writing good fiction. Asking yet more questions, like “Why?” and “Where?” especially when it comes to elements of your plot, can be a bulwark against immature writing styles. These are the equivalent of the young painter who finally gets a set of paints and immediately wants to throw them all onto the canvas. This inexperienced artist is “telling a story” of interest only to themselves. Forgetting that communication is a two-way street is a mistake that audiences rarely let go unpunished. That may sound harsh, but put yourself in the shoes of the reader who just paid twenty dollars for your novel only to find out you wrote it strictly for your own enjoyment. Writing (and all art) is a form of sharing. The selfish author is a lonely and poor author. Never write to reach a page count. There needs to be a reason for everything you put into your novel. If it doesn’t give the imagery to your reader you want them to see or feel, it needs to have some other purpose. Does it set something up for later in the story? Will it act like a smoke screen, tricking your reader into thinking something about a character that is actually false so you can shock them later? When you’re writing something, ask yourself, Does this do anything for my story? If it doesn’t, leave it out. So, ask yourself the tough questions about your plot. “Why would this happen instead of that?” It’s really a form of self-editing that is so worthwhile because it gives your novel a valuable asset you and your readers will come to love: a story with backbone and meaning. 6. Novels aren’t just words and sentences, but your first draft could be. Now, I realize that all of this might seem daunting. Don’t fret. Once you get pencil to paper (or fingers to keyboard), you’ll see that these helpful tips flow together. They are quite the opposite of obstacles or roadblocks. They help ensure that your valuable time as an author isn’t wasted. In fact, this is a perfect moment to let you in on a secret that might relieve any trepidation you feel as you read about how you might write your first novel. Though I emphasized before that a finished novel must be a story and not just a collection of words and sentences, your first draft certainly CAN be just that. We know from masters like Hemingway and King that first drafts are meant to be rewritten and then thrown away. I hope this will motivate you to START WRITING today. You can always begin to incorporate all these tips and tricks into your process at your own pace. When you begin your second draft, then you’ll really know what your novel is about. That brings us to the crucial point of combining your first draft with everything you’ve learned here and elsewhere, and writing your second draft! What goes into your second draft, while not written in stone, matters. You now know what your novel is really about, why you’re writing it, where it takes place, and why the plot and its action develop as they do. Your story is focused on one protagonist (if you’re a beginner), and it has backbone because you’re not just “throwing paint at the canvas.” You are asking yourself lots of questions about what you and your characters do and why you and your characters do what they do, and answering those questions for yourself and your audience. Enter the world of the novelist. No matter what style fires your imagination, being an author gives you infinite possibilities. Begin your journey of passion without delay. Become a novelist today! Why not write your novel now? By following your passion and informing yourself, you’re already on your way! I have some good news for you too: Writer Services is here to help you in every step of the process! Being an author can be a highly rewarding endeavor. Not just financially but in myriad of other ways. Imagine the great karma from inspiring your readers. You might inspire some to become authors themselves but also to become all kinds of creatives: visual artists, actors, musicians … there’s no limit to the good you can do in the world through your novels. So … write your novel now! The world needs your input. 5 Reasons Why to Write a Book by Robert Nahas \| May 25, 2022 \| Article Writing \| 0 Comments 5 Reasons Why to Write a Book Early in Your Career There are countless reasons why to write a book. Here are a few that really count when it comes to being successful and creating a BIG impact in people’s lives… Gain an Edge in Your Field Get Media Attention... by Robert Nahas \| April 24, 2022 \| Article Writing \| 0 Comments Introduction A writer's voice is his or her trademark or brand. People recognize a writer by their voice. There is a lot to know about writing voice, and it includes assigning unique voices to characters to add depth and breadth to your stories. This article touches... New Year’s Resolution—the Beauty of the “Do Over” by Robert Nahas \| January 4, 2022 \| New Year Resolution, Robert Nahas, Work From Home, Writer Services \| 0 Comments New Year’s Resolution—the Beauty of the “Do Over”Most of us look forward to making a New Year’s resolution at the end of each year. It feels good to proclaim our plans of conquering our most important goals—again or for the first time. But is there more to this annual... by Robert Nahas \| November 14, 2020 \| Author Success \| 0 Comments Creating elevator pitches is more than just shortening your story and hoping for the best. It takes time, thought, and a lot of editing to get to the point where you’re so happy about it.	17,831
The opioid crisis has claimed more than 300,000 lives since 2002, and with a potential repeal or deconstruction of the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) and budget cuts to states’ mental health, child welfare, and addiction treatment services, experts warn it’s going to get much worse before it gets better. While overdose deaths continue to rise, claiming scores of young people between the ages of 18 and 35, it’s the children who may be faring the worst. Here are some of the ways the opioid crisis is affecting children. The opioid crisis has produced a generation of children who are born addicted and parentless. These opioid orphans are often raised by their grandparents or by the state, and many end up with mental health and substance abuse problems of their own down the road. In Maine, more than 1,800 children were in foster care in 2016, a 45 percent increase since 2011. Sixty percent of the children in Ohio’s system are opioid orphans. It’s the same story across the country: All 50 states are struggling with finding a place for children abandoned, orphaned, or otherwise victimized by opioid addiction. As the opioid crisis has worsened, the foster care system has become taxed. State budgets are stretched to the limit, social workers are overloaded with cases, and there aren’t enough people willing to foster these children. In Texas, dozens of children have been put to bed in state offices and other temporary shelters due to the high demand and low availability of foster homes. The opioid crisis may be affecting teen suicide rates as well. A recent study of 300 children admitted to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital with suicidal behavior in 2016 found that an overwhelming number of the children came from a poor area of town with a high rate of opioid overdoses. The researchers noted that the people dying of overdoses are often the parents of the children attempting suicide. Additionally, opioid addiction causes massive dysfunction in the home, and this has an important effect on children’s mental health. Other opioid crisis statistics show that the increase in child suicide corresponds to the worsening of the opioid crisis. Since 2007, the suicide rate among children ages 10 to 14 has doubled, and suicide is now the second leading cause of death among people between the ages of 10 and 24. Neglect, Abuse, and Other Trauma With addiction comes deep dysfunction in the household. Frightening experiences and chaos in the home take a toll on children’s mental health, and so do abuse and neglect. This type of childhood trauma is closely aligned with substance abuse problems later in life. Opioid crisis statistics show that children whose parents have a substance use disorder are more than twice as likely as their counterparts to develop one themselves down the road. Abuse, neglect, and other trauma lead to unhealthy coping behaviors, such as withdrawing or acting out. Behavioral and academic problems may plague a child of addiction, and a parent’s addiction can result in mental health issues like depression and anxiety down the road. If you or someone you love is addicted to opioids, it’s never too late to end the addiction once and for all. White Sands Tampa can help you or a loved one kick a painkiller or heroin addiction for the long-term. Through treatment, you’ll work to repair your relationships, find purpose and meaning in life apart from drugs, and restore your wellbeing and quality of life. If you or a loved one needs help with abuse and/or treatment, please call the WhiteSands Treatment at (877) 855-3470. Our addiction specialists can assess your recovery needs and help you get the addiction treatment that provides the best chance for your long-term recovery. ← Dealing with Anxiety in Addiction Recovery → 5 Dangers of Binge Drinking in College About the Author Mark is a proud alumni member of WhiteSands Treatment. After living a life of chaos, destruction and constant let downs, Mark was able to make a complete turnaround that sparked a new way of life. He is serious about his recovery along with helping others. At WhiteSands Treatment, we offer support to you in your homes or when you are out living in your daily lives.	4,301
Spend Wednesday, October 28, 2020 with Chef Hoss Zare from Cuisin! Follow along and learn how to cook two (2) new meals! This purchase is for access to the Zoom Cooking Class only. Ingredients list will be emailed to you for your two-course meal. Zoom access will be emailed to guests immediately preceding the event. Shareable Link A single bid can be placed as a one time bid for any amount. An autobid can be placed and set at your maximum amount you are willing to spend. With autobid, our system will place your bid at the minimum amount needed to lead. When you are outbid, our system will bid automatically for you until your maximum is reached. Who wins? When two bids are placed for the same amount, the bid placed first based on the timestamp wins. Timestamps are set when the initial bid is placed, for autobids this is when a maximum was set not when the system prompted the bid to win. Why are there bids with the same amount? We list competing bids of the same amount to indicate what prompted an autobid to be placed. Otherwise, it would be unclear as to why an autobid was increased. For Example, Item 100 has a current amount of $100 and a bid increment of $50. John placed an autobid at 7:00pm with a maximum amount of $200. John is winning at $150. Jill placed a bid for $200 at 7:30pm. John's bid is increased to $200 by our system. John wins because he committed to the amount earlier than Jill. The list shows both John and Jill at $200 so we can see what prompted John's bid to increase.	1,572
Thanks for your interest in Friends of the Earth. You can find information about us and get in touch the following ways: First Last Yes This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Δ by Donna Chavis, senior fossil fuels campaigner and member of the Lumbee tribe The climate crisis has been caused by an extractive economy that has pulled wealth from our Earth and communities and left them to face the consequences. The Atlantic Coast Pipeline was the prime example of just how dangerous that extractive economy is. The Atlantic Coast Pipeline would have destroyed wildlife and the environment, and disproportionately harmed Native American, Black, and low wealth communities — all to help special interests line their pockets. The fight against this pipeline was built from the ground up by local communities. By banding together in their David versus Goliath struggle against Duke and Dominion Energy, communities took to the streets and came out victorious in stopping this fossil fuel pipeline. The main takeaway? Grassroots pressure will lead us to the end of fossil fuels. Duke Energy has a chokehold on North Carolina. Duke generates 90% of the electricity in the state — and now North Carolinians are beholden to this energy monopoly. As one of the worst carbon polluters in the country, Duke has mismanaged coal ash waste, poisoned communities with polluted air and water, wreaked environmental destruction, and stood in the way of a transition to 100% renewable energy. The monopoly has expanded the state’s dependence on fossil fuels and has a long history of corrupting democracy through campaign contributions. In an effort to push us further into an extractive economy, Duke teamed up with Virginia-based Dominion Energy to create the Atlantic Coast Pipeline: A fracked gas pipeline along a 600-mile route from West Virginia through Virginia, North Carolina and ultimately South Carolina. A project that would further Duke’s stranglehold on North Carolina. The Atlantic Coast Pipeline was slated to carry 1.5 billion cubic feet of fracked natural gas across hundreds of miles. It would have generated 67 million metrics tons of climate pollution a year — equal to 20 coal plants. And natural gas pipelines leak methane, a greenhouse gas that is roughly 28 times more potent than carbon dioxide. This pipeline was built on the greed that our extractive economy relies upon, locking states into 30 years of fracked gas use. On top of the climate-destroying emissions the pipeline would have spewed, construction of the pipeline would have required miles of mountaintop removal and blown out bedrock, potentially causing erosion that could plug up waterways. It would have wound through farmland, forests, wildlife and habitats — damaging everything in its path. Instead of pushing us towards the end of fossil fuels that our planet needs, this pipeline would have spewed greenhouse gases, poisoned waterways and delayed a transition to clean renewable energy. The number one concern of folks living along its path was water contamination — especially for the impacted communities of Indigenous, Black and other peoples of color. As a member of the Lumbee tribe of North Carolina, water is life. This pipeline would have run through the Lumbee river — which is a constitution of our Native life. Without this river, we would not be here. We fish in the river, as we have for centuries, and any contaminant in the water could wind up in our bodies. As more than 30,000 Native peoples live along the proposed path of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline, this project threatened every aspect of our historic and cultural ways of life. It represents yet another in a centuries-long succession of invasions. Projects like the Atlantic Coast Pipeline target communities of color and low wealth. The pipeline model is one piece of a bigger pattern of mega-corporations building dumps, toxic animal agriculture farms, fossil fuel infrastructure and other polluting sites in marginalized communities. In many cases, they don’t even shy away from officially declaring our communities sacrifice zones. This is the extractive economy at work — destroying our communities and lands and walking away while we suffer the toxic consequences. This is why we need an end of fossil fuels. Duke and Dominion were only further emboldened thanks to their close relationships with government officials and regulatory bodies, giving them considerable leverage to push the project forward. Duke Energy has a long history of buying legislation and legislators with campaign contributions — that history repeated itself with the Atlantic Coast Pipeline. Duke donated $43,750 to North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, who hired a former Dominion Energy oil lobbyist as his legislative director. Dominion Energy, in turn, contributed $110,000 to Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe, who was unsurprisingly very enthusiastic about the project. Dominion also contributed significant campaign donations to the Virginia Senate’s minority and majority leaders. Duke and Dominion were just as giving with regulatory officials in the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality. The head of the department has long accepted gifts from Dominion while one of its division directors previously served as a Dominion attorney. Aside from ensuring a cozy relationship with state officials, Duke and Dominion also had considerable federal muscle. Within the first week of being in office, Donald Trump signed an executive order to expedite 50 ‘high priority’ infrastructure projects, including (you guessed it) the Atlantic Coast Pipeline. As the only pipeline on the list, it was clear that Trump’s administration would be pushing hard to get this pipeline on the ground. Duke and Dominion’s toxic influence also crept its way into Trump’s cabinet. Attorney General William Barr served on the board of Dominion Energy up until he was confirmed as AG. Despite a clear conflict of interest, and $2.3 million from Dominion in cash and stock awards, Barr reportedly did not recuse himself from activities relating to the Atlantic Coast Pipeline when the project was ruled on by the Supreme Court — despite doing so in other cases involving his past work. Between its toll on the environment, an attempt to sacrifice Native American, Black and low wealth communities, and a recurring pattern of morally questionable ties between energy companies and government, Atlantic Coast Pipeline was the poster child of environmental injustice and dark money at work. Resistance from Local Communities This pipeline was defeated by on-the-ground communities. To defeat the Atlantic Coast Pipeline, solidarity by Indigenous and Black communities was vital. From the Northern gate of the pipeline, a majority Black community, down to Robeson County, a majority Native American and Black community, and everywhere in between, we stood together. As we worked up and down the pipeline route, we crossed boundaries of race and class and brought communities together. We held each other up and kept going until we were on the phone in celebration once the pipeline was defeated. We took to the streets and made it clear we have no tolerance for these fossil fuel projects that poison our bodies, land, air and water. We spoke out to Congress, state officials and financial institutions, calling for the project to be cancelled. We marched throughout North Carolina. We took over the streets of the Supreme Court. We interrupted Governor Cooper to make sure he heard our voices. We fought this pipeline for years and years — and we never backed down. And, even now that the pipeline is cancelled, we still will not back down from holding Duke and Dominion accountable. This fossil fuel project was defeated thanks to our communities speaking out and demanding that our voices be heard. Let it be a lesson: grassroots activism can and will bring down the fossil fuel industry. We cheered and celebrated the end of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline. After years of pressure, David won his battle against Goliath. But the fight is not over. Though the pipeline will never be finished, we still must dismantle the existing infrastructure. There are pipes placed on the ground painted with toxic materials that have now been over-exposed. Officials recommend sun exposure of these materials for no more than six months. The Atlantic Coast pipes have been exposed for four years — and now toxins are seeping into our water tables. There is also the question of what abandonment of the pipeline means for the hundreds of landowners along its route. Landowners are bearing the burden of Duke and Dominion taking over their backyards. Now that the pipeline threat is gone, citizens will now have to take to the courts to figure out what this means for them. Yet again, there is an outrageous abuse of power as communities scramble to sort out clean up for mega-corporations’ messes. Duke and Dominion’s cancellation of this pipeline does not clean their hands of decades of environmental destruction and pollution — despite what they want you to think. These companies externally claim they are now all about renewable energy, yet they have stood in the way of a clean energy transition for decades. And, behind the scenes, they are still pulling the strings to create new fossil fuel projects. A subsidiary of Duke Energy continues to push through a liquefied natural gas facility in North Carolina — which would, of course, be constructed in an area that is 87.9% Indigenous, predominantly Lumbee, and African American. We cannot let these companies secretly worsen the climate crisis while outwardly claiming they care about saving our planet. We need oversight of Duke and Dominion to hold them accountable. This victory shows that the fossil fuel industry is in its last gasps, clinging to anything to remain viable. Fossil fuel companies spend 10 times more on lobbying than environmental groups, yet they continue to lose. This is a testament to our movement’s ability to find strength from people, not limitless piles of campaign donations. This industry is in terminal decline. While government officials try to throw lifeline after lifeline to bring it back, we know it’s useless. The voices of on-the-ground activists are far more powerful. This is the beginning of the end of fossil fuels. Related News Groups Protest Bureau of Land Management Proposed Public Lands Lease Sales in NM, WY and KS November 10, 2022 Learn more about the ACP This project ended because of the activists taking to the streets and making it clear that we will not stand by while fossil fuel projects poison the bodies, land, air and water of Indigenous, Black and Brown communities.	11,130
It's unpleasant, but it's inevitable. Eventually all athletes (and all weightlifters) must retire from the game. What does this look like for different athletes and why do they make the choice? Written by Dresdin Archibald Last updated on October 4, 2012 Retiring from competitive weightlifting is not a subject often covered in the research, magazines, or on websites. Those in the throes of our sport do not like to think about this eventuality. We are looking to the future where we will be lifting ever more weight and winning ever more championships. But we all will retire sometime, whether we like to consider it or not, and also whether by our own decision or not. When and why does a lifter decide to retire? In the first year of training we lose many (most?) of our recruits when they decide that being a lifter is not for them. Others more seasoned may have gotten caught peeing in the wrong bottle and are suspended. That is not what I mean by retiring. Real retirement comes at the end of a substantial and committed career, sometime voluntarily, sometimes not. Why We Retire Injury There are a variety of reasons why a lifter will voluntarily decide to hang up his lifting belt. The most obvious one is a serious injury whether caused by the sport or outside of it. One’s ability to recover is hard enough. A long recovery time can discourage even the most enthusiastic athletes. This is especially true with older athletes who have less to gain in their careers. They may consider that it just isn’t worth the long rehab, especially as one’s competitors keep improving. If one does recover, there may emerge another problem, that of diminished capacity. Flexibility may be compromised by some injuries while lingering pain can sap the courage. Less serious injuries that don’t pose full recovery prospects may still lead to an exit. In the recovery time the athlete may discover or get reacquainted with other sports or activities that suddenly become more promising. This is more common with younger prospects who have not yet made as big a commitment to the sport. Life changes will cause many retirements. An athlete finishes school and then has to start a career. Suddenly there are more demands on his or her time. Something has to give and it will have to be the sport. Some jobs may allow training but a trade-off may have to be made – work versus training. One may sacrifice some income for a while but sooner or later the decision will get much tougher. That tougher “sooner or later” decision occurs at marriage, and especially when child rearing enters the picture. Male athletes may be able to continue, female ones usually not, especially when the spouse is not a lifter. High-performance lifting is just not possible for most people at this point in life. Exceptions do occur but one has only to look at the number of divorced lifters to know it will be difficult to keep up serious training once that commitment is made. Many lifters retire when they can no longer keep forging ahead. They train very hard for a whole year only to post the same total as they did the year before. Then the same occurs the next year as the lifter finally has to concede that he has reached his own career apex. At the same time the young opposition has not yet peaked out, even though they have already passing the lifter in question. He or she may then realize that time might be spent more profitably elsewhere. (If they don’t their spouse surely will.) International lifters may have been pushed off of the national team and then decide to pack it in. This is especially true if the lifter was being paid or subsidized to lift. Loss of “A” team position usually means loss of that money as well. Faded “A” teamers usually do not get to end their careers on the “B” team either, as would a big league ballplayer sent down to AAA to hype the gate. That is where the successors are very welcome, but not those starting to slide. There are exceptions to all of these patterns though. Some lifters do not ever retire, at least not completely. Let’s look at these other courses of action: This is in fact the hallmark of what I call the “Lifers.” These people discovered the sport in adolescence and have never had a body that was not under the influence of weight training. As long as injury doesn’t prevent it these lifters continue on seemingly forever. This gambit works best for non-elite athletes. They are not under pressure to win. They lift for the benefits the sport gives them, physical or mental, and show up year after year, making little improvement after their first few years but holding their own for many thereafter. These athletes naturally fall into the Masters camp where they will haunt the platforms indefinitely. They do not lift anything spectacular, but still they get stronger than any other human except the elite in their own sport. Not a bad return on investment when you think about it. And don’t forget, these are the bedrock of the sport, also helping with coaching, refereeing, and administration. Some elite lifters may be satisfied to lift at lower level. They may not be on the international teams any more but if they are in the right weight categories they still have enough left to place at a national level. Norb Schemansky was a good example here. In the mid- to late-60s he was off of the international teams but still could place at the Seniors. For most of us with many years in the Iron Game, it is not usually a question of retiring but of redirecting our efforts. Finally there are the hybrids. By that I mean those who make a sincere effort at retiring but end up making a comeback. More often than not, they make series of comebacks. Iron bug recidivism is rampant. It may be hard to quit the game but it is even harder staying away from a sport that meant so much to the athlete for many years. This is especially true when the opposition is not up to the level of the retiree. With that the promise of “one last hurrah” is often too much. That happened with Naim Suleymanoglu at the 2000 Olympics. Boxers will remember about how friends talked old champ Jim Jeffries into thinking he could beat Jack Johnson. His heart knew better but his ego didn’t, going down to a miserable defeat. But if he had won he would have gone down as the greatest ever. Mickey Mantle once said that retirement was easy in the first year or two as training discipline was no longer needed. But after three years when a successful comeback was no longer feasible that was when old Number 7 missed the game most. Lifters don’t have to worry about making a team so they are free to hang around forever. Sometimes it is better to rest on one’s laurels instead of trying to win new ones. But we never know until we try. Maybe it will be worth it, maybe not. It’s your decision. Dresdin Archibald is a 63-year-old accountant from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. He started weight training in 1963 at age 14, moving over to the Olympic-lifts in 1966, and continues training to this day. As an athlete, Dresdin competed in his prime at 90 kg and did best lifts of 115 press, 102.5 snatch and 142.5 C&J (all kilos). He competed in three Canadian National Championships and two Canada Games, and also completed a month-long training camp at the famed Athleten Club Mutterstadt in Germany in 1974. Also on that trip was Rob Macklem, who took his first lifting photos there. Dresdin did take a turn at the Masters, lifting in the 1992 Worlds plus a couple of Pan-Ams. In his early days, he also did a bit of powerlifting, marking his 46th birthday with a 300 kg squat. Dresdin has been an International referee since 1970 and was promoted to No. 1 level in 1980. He is still very active, producing a Referee’s Manual every Olympiad, which gives a fuller explanation of the IWF Technical Rules. He has officiated at Senior and University Worlds, Pan Am Games and Championships, as well as the Commonwealth Games. He has also help organize several National and International level competitions and served as a team leader at the LA Olympics and several Junior and Senior World Championships. Dresdin also served on the Canadian Olympic Committee. Dresdin has met many luminaries over his years of involvement in Olympic lifting, including Bob Hise II and III, Bill Starr, Oscar State, Tamas Ajan, Lyn Jones, Wally Holland, Clarence Johnson, Philippe St. Cyr, the Coffa Brothers, Maurice Allan, Jim Schmitz, Dieter Stamm, John Thrush and many others. Without those contacts, he would not be in the position to share any of his knowledge today. The Symbiosis of Gyms and Online Training Post-Pandemic Strongmen Eddie Hall and Brian Shaw Attempt to Train Legs at a Planet Fitness Latest Reviews Best Whey Proteins for Packing on Muscle, Shredding Down, Meal Replacement, and More Best Pre-Workouts for Building Muscle, Running, Taste, and More Be the smartest person in your gym The Breaking Muscle newsletter is everything you need to know about strength in a 3 minute read. Breaking Muscle is the fitness world’s preeminent destination for timely, high-quality information on exercise, fitness, health, and nutrition. Our audience encompasses the entire spectrum of the fitness community: consumers, aficionados, fitness professionals, and business owners. We seek to inform, educate and advocate for this community.	9,919
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A week and a day and Thanksgiving. Three days later, first Sunday of Advent. How did we get here from there? Someone asked me recently what I think I might be remembered for most in my years at Grace. My immediate answer? Preaching from the roof on Christmas Eve 2020. I remember it was Kyle in my recollection who said he had an idea, and that maybe it was crazy. And we went up to the top floor, went to the particular Sunday School room in question. Opened the window, a verrrrry narrow opening I might add, and squeezed through it to see if we could, we did, and the idea started toward reality. Music man Rick would tell you I promised that if it was below freezing we wouldn’t do it. It might have been below freezing, but . . . you know the whole farm-girl preacher never cancels worship so there’s that. It was cold. Our tech. wizard Chandler figured out a way to put the FM transmitter on one of our light poles so it would reach to the back of the parking lot. I still have the bright hunter orange insulated gloves and hunter orange stocking cap I purchased from Bass Pro the day before the service. I gave the coat away, it kept me so warm that night, folks who have to be out on more than one cold night deserved it I think. And you came, you crazy Grace people! You came in your cars and your trucks and your SUV’s and your suburbans and you blinked your lights for affirmation and honked your horns for Amen’s. It both was and wasn’t the best Christmas ever. It was Covid. It was people getting sick and some we weren’t ready to lose, moving into God’s full presence. And yet it was Christmas, the promise of new birth, the promise of new life, the promise that because of birth and new life, death never has the last word. And it was on the roof. Walt spray painted a bright orange line a couple of feet from the edge that I was told not to walk past. I might have a couple of times, because me. Robin donned her winter clothes and parka and still found a way to interpret the service for the deaf and hearing impaired. I loved that. At the end of the service we crawled back through the window and raced down and ran through the parking lot – the distance between the front entrance and the exit at the top of the hill is farther than it looks, especially for an outta shape oldie, but I didn’t break a hip, Christmas Eve miracle. But I wasn’t about to let you all leave without getting to see your faces at least a little closer and wish, and be wished, a merry Christmas. It comes to my mind as I’m doing no small amount of reflecting as we stand at the threshold of the holidays. It is such a telling microcosm of who we are as a community of faith. A) That we have and have always had a congregation and staff that is absolutely willing to think outside the box, color outside the lines, realize there is more than one way to get to a destination and it’s rarely if ever in a straight line. B) When someone creative comes up with a “crazy” idea, there is a team full of people that, instead of saying that we’ve never done it that way before, instead takes turns saying this is how we can make that happen from beginning to end and have fun doing it, mostly. It was cold. And C) That we love to innovate and create and try new things in new ways and win, lose, or draw, we’re going to love our way into our best selves for God’s sake and our best understanding of God’s vision. You realize those things are NOT going to change – who Grace is and has been from the ground of our beginnings. There are these stories in each chapter and generation. Stories of creativity and adaptability. Stories of resilience and courage beyond what was imagined. Some fussing and fighting along the way but a Spirit that would never let God’s people in this place give up or give in to a less than faith-filled future in times of stability and times of greatest risk. The classroom with the window we crawled out of and onto the roof was the room in about 2006 when I was teaching confirmation and our students and mentors were jammed into it as the largest classroom we had but still wasn’t really large enough, that I finally heard a word. On more than one Sunday afternoon of class I would come back to my office and sit breathing the air so deeply to settle my stomach. That many people in that size of room with perhaps some hygiene challenges almost sent this farm-girl to the floor. I can handle all kinds of dramatic sights, all kinds of dystopian sounds, can even touch things that make human beings cringe. But smells, odors, less than pleasant wafts of that which overpowers the best anti-perspirant, brings me to the floor. It was that very spring when a group of layfolks in the youth department came to me, again, and said we needed to expand our building. So yes, the pastor who said she would never serve a church that wanted to build or expand physical space, agreed to start the process of information gathering and study to add our east wing because of questionable hygiene in a too-small classroom one random winter into spring into summer season of Confirmation. Who says God doesn’t have a keen and sly sense of humour?!? So many stories of God’s working in this place from 1858 through 2022. Who are we to even begin to doubt God’s continued affirmation and work and nudging and urging and making clear, however it needs to be communicated, what God’s unimaginable and creative plan is for the years and generations ahead? We don’t have to look very far to know what God has done over, and over, and over again and therefore will not cease to do as we live into and through this transition toward what and who comes next! Please know entering into this next week of Thanksgiving how grateful I am for a God who sees beyond our limitation, a God who walks with us through every step of our journey, and a God who continues to put us in places where we can love each other into our best selves. Being grateful for Grace is more than a minute, or even two, of grace for me especially this season and especially in this particular year. (Link to Video) To receive email newsletters, sign up for the topics you're interested in below! Women's Ministry Subscribe to this site via Email Enter your email address to receive notifications of new posts by email. (This is not the same as subscribing to our email newsletters above.)	6,619
The mission of ASDWA’s environmental justice strategy is to advance health equity by identifying barriers within the drinking water sector and developing achievable and sustainable solutions for providing safe, reliable drinking water to all communities. Expand the sections to learn more about ASDWA’s two focus areas for addressing the unique needs of different communities. Focus Area 1: Engaging and working with small, disadvantaged community public water systems to identify their unique needs and to support finding sustainable solutions. Increasing accessibility of funding for disadvantaged communities Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act Leverage additional public and private funding Water access for those systems that can’t consolidate due to remoteness Building partnerships Focus Area 2: Engaging and working with large systems to ensure the disadvantaged communities within their larger urban center’s needs are being addressed and drinking water benefits are being distributed equitably throughout their community. Water access in households Encouraging water system affordability programs Education and outreach Building trust between the primacy agency, local/city government, and the public. Encouraging communication and outreach between the water system and their local/city government and their residents. Identify potential barriers in communication to help reach priority populations. State Actions: Drinking Water and Disadvantaged Communities The Biden-Harris Administration’s Justice40 Initiative and the incredible funding provided by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to assist disadvantaged communities have put a new emphasis on addressing environmental justice in regard to drinking water. State drinking water programs have a long and successful history of providing funding and technical assistance to their disadvantaged water systems. States work to identify and implement creative and innovative solutions that consider all opportunities for providing funding and assistance to the communities that need it most. ASDWA intends for this webpage to serve as a central source for activities and actions states have taken to address environmental justice within their drinking water programs. This page will continue to grow and evolve as EPA and the states work to tackle these complex issues. We encourage you to check back regularly for updates. State Definitions of Disadvantaged Communities Under the Safe Drinking Water Act, states are responsible for defining what constitutes a disadvantaged community. These definitions are used to make determinations and help prioritize the funds for drinking water infrastructure that are distributed to communities and water systems through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund programs. The passing of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and its requirements for providing funding to these communities has prompted many states to evaluate and redefine what constitutes a disadvantaged community. The table below provides the text definition that each state uses, along with the link to where that definition can be found (Intended Use Plans, regulations, statute, or policy). Additionally, we’ve provided links to each state’s Drinking Water State Revolving Fund program and any additional environmental justice resources available. Users can search by term. For example, searching for “population” will limit definitions to only those that include that term. This table can be sorted by column and exported, or you can download a formatted version of the table here: Formatted ASDWA Table of State Definitions ASDWA staff worked with states to ensure that this data is up to date, but it should be noted that many states are currently in the process of updating their definitions. The date below denotes when the full table was last reviewed. Specific definitions that have been updated since that date will be flagged within the definition in the table. Any state staff that would like to update the information included within this table, please contact Stephanie Schlea at sschlea@asdwa.org. Table last reviewed fully: July 12, 2022 Definitions with an * were updated August 5, 2022, based on EPA’s “DWSRF Disadvantaged State Where is the Definition? Link to SRF Program Link to State EJ Resources Alabama Alabama's DWSRF uses the following criteria to determine if a community is disadvantaged. Small, underserved (less than 20,000) communities, assessment of financial records, ratio of the annual average water bill divided by the median household income and the Justice 40 Mapping Tool. IUP Alabama SRF Program Alaska A utility is considered disadvantaged if it meets one or more of the following criteria: • Median Household Income (MHI) is less than the state average MHI that is currently published by the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Research and Analysis. For privately owned water systems, the MHI is based on the community in which the utility is located. • Rate of unemployment is above the state average unemployment rate that is currently published by the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Research and Analysis. For privately owned water systems, the unemployment rate is based on the community in which the utility is located. IUP Alaska SRF Program Arizona A community applicant to the SRF may be classified as a Disadvantaged Community if the applicant satisfies one of the following: the community is a designated “colonia” community through the federal government; the community received 60 or more Local Fiscal Capacity points on the DWSRF PPL IUP Arizona SRF Program Arkansas Arkansas' 2022 IUP defines "disadvanteged community" as follows: “In Arkansas, a disadvantaged community has been defined as any community: With a Median Household Income (MHI) below that of the State’s MHI. Arkansas’ MHI is the average of the most recent three (3) years of available data on the ACS 5-year estimates provided by UALR (2017 – 2019). Arkansas’ MHI for SFY2022 is $45,712” IUP Arkansas Water Development Division California CA’s definition for disadvantage and severely disadvantage are as follows: “Small Disadvantaged Community” means a community with a population no more than 10,000 persons and with a combined MHI less than 80 percent of the statewide MHI. “Small Non-Disadvantaged Community” means a community with a population no more than 10,000 persons and with a combined MHI greater than or equal to 80 percent of the statewide MHI. “Small Severely Disadvantaged Community” means a community with a population no more than 10,000 persons and whose combined MHI is less than 60 percent of the statewide MHI IUP California State Water Resources Control Board Environmental Justice \| State of California - Department of Justice - Office of the Attorney General Colorado The State of Colorado uses a combination of primary and secondary factors in identifying a DAC. The primary factors taken into account are community median household income (MHI) equal to or less than 80% of the state MHI. The second primary factor is that the community median home value (MHV) is less than 100% of the state MHV. The final primary factor is that the county's 24-month unemployment average is greater than the state average plus 1% OR the loss in the number of jobs in the county over a 10-year period. Colorado also will look at secondary factors. The first is that the community is located in a county where the MHI is equal to or less than 80% of the state MHI. Secondly, the community or system shows a decline in population over a 10-year period. The third factor is the community's total assessed value per household is less than the median Colorado municipality's. The fourth factor is that the community's current and projected debt per tap to median home value is more than the median Colorado municipality. The final secondary factor is that the revenue per tap to MHI necessary to cover operations and depreciation for a system must be greater than the median Colorado municipality or the revenue per tap to MHI necessary to achieve 110% coverage ratio for the approved SRF loan. For the purposes of Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding only: To qualify, a prospective borrower needs a minimum of 3 points. • The prospective borrower meets the base program disadvantaged community definition (3 Points). • The prospective borrower's project removes lead or emerging contaminants to reduce drinking water health risks (1 Point). • A prospective borrower's service area includes a minority population of at least 25% (1 Point). • Greater than 35% of the households in a prospective borrower's service area have incomes that are less than or equal to two times the poverty level income (current poverty income = $27,750 x 2 = $55,500) (1 Point). • Greater than 30% of the households in the prospective borrower's service area are housing burdened (1 Point). • Combined annual sewer and drinking water costs per household exceed 1.35% of MHI (1 Point). • Prospective borrower's MHI is less than the State MHI (1 Point). • Prospective borrower's service area has population loss over five years. Or, the service area has growth that is lower than the State's growth over five years (1 Point). • Job loss: 1) County job loss over 10-years; and 2) Counties with >= 7.1% unemployment (1 Point). • 55% or more of the population in the prospective borrower's service area includes 1) within 2 x poverty income; and 2) is 65 or older. Combine 1 & 2 to get the total (1 Point). Notes: • "Minority" generally means a person who is a lawful permanent resident of the U.S., and who is Black, Hispanic, Asian, American Indian, Alaskan Native, or member of other such groups. • Poverty income level is generally defined as $27,750 for a family of four (2 x $27,750 = $55,500). • Housing burden is generally defined as housing costs exceeding 30% of income. Housing costs include rent or mortgage, as well as other related expenses. • MHI = Median Household Income General Note: Criteria 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, and 10 use benchmarks that are updated annually. Policy Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment - Environmental Justice Connecticut A. “Disadvantaged Community” means the service area of community public water system (PWS) meeting the affordability criteria contained in Section III. B. “Distressed Municipality” means a distressed municipality as defined in Connecticut General Statute 32-9p(b) Statute Connecticut DWSRF Program Connecticut Environmental Justice Program Overview Delaware Draft definition currently out for public comment: A disadvantaged community is one that: • Meets the Affordability Criteria; or • Is identified by EPA EJScreen tool at 90% (USA) percentile or higher for Environmental Justice Indexes or for “Low Income” under the Socioeconomic Indexes; or • Is identified as disadvantaged by the White House Climate and Economic Screening Tool; or • Is underserved IUP Delaware DWSRF Program Deleware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control - Environmental Justice Florida* The principal forgiveness (PF) percentage received by projects will be determined using a linear equation that includes MHI and population of the service area as the variables. This formula is: PF = 1760/9 – 160 (MHI/State MHI) – 7/4800 * Population Served. Projects with service area populations of less than 10,000 will get preference for the grant funds. That is, if there are grant funds available after the projects with small service areas have all been funded, the projects with large service areas will compete for the remaining grant funds based on priority score. Statute Florida DWSRF Program Georgia The Georgia Environmental Finance Authority’s affordability criteria is used to award principal forgiveness to Georgia's most disadvantaged communities. The criteria include median household income (MHI), unemployment percent, percentage not in the labor force, poverty rate, percentage on Social Security, percentage on Supplemental Security Income (SI), percentage with cash public assistance, percentage with Supplemental. Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), age dependency ratio, and population trend from the U.S. Census Bureau's 2018 American Community Survey. The borrower's data is categorized in 25, 50, and 175 percentiles. IUP Georgia Environmental Finance Authority Hawaii Hawaii currently defines a disadvantaged community as a public water system with an affordability score of 45 or greater (out of 100), based on the DWSRF Priority Scoring Model and as demonstrated in the Population and Housing Characteristics, State of Hawaii, By Census Tracts: 2012-2016. IUP Hawaii DWSRF Program Idaho In order to qualify for a disadvantaged loan, a loan applicant must have a residential user rate for either drinking water or wastewater services that exceed two percent (2%) of the applicant community’s median household income or, if the user rate is between one and one-half percent (1½%) and two percent (2%) of the applicant community’s median household income, the community must also have: unemployment that exceeds the state average; and a decreasing population. The applicant shall agree to a thirty (30) year loan unless the design life of the project is documented to be less than thirty (30) years. The annual user rate would be based on all operating, maintenance, replacement, and debt service costs (both for the existing system and for upgrades). If the applicant's service area is not within the boundaries of a municipality, or if the applicant’s service area’s median household income is not consistent with the municipality as a whole, the applicant may use the census data for the county in which it is located or may use a representative survey, conducted by a Department-approved, objective third party, to verify the median household income of the applicant’s service area. (7-1-21)T Regulation Idaho DWSRF Program Illinois A public water supply owned by a local government unit or not-for-profit water corporation is qualified for either the Small Community Rate or Hardship Rate if the following criteria are met. Small community rate: a public water supply with a service population less than 25,000 that also meets any of the following 3 criteria: MHI less than state MHI; unemployment rate higher than state rate; or annual user charge is greater than 1% of community MHI. Hardship rate: PWS with a service area of less than 10,000 that meets any of the following 3 criteria: MHI below 70% of state MHI; unemployment rate is at least 3% greater than state rate; or PWS annual user charge is greater than 1.5% of community MHI. Regulation Illinois DWSRF Program Illinois Environmental Protection Agency - Environmental Justice Indiana A disadvantaged community in Indiana must meet one of the following criteria: A project area with an MHI below $46,082 (80% of the State MHI), as established by 2015- 2019 American Community Five Year Survey; An estimated post project user rate greater than $45.00 per month; An average annual residential post project user rate that would exceed one (1%) percent of the Participant’s Median Household Income (MHI). IUP Indiana Finance Authority Iowa Iowa uses the Iowa Economic Development HUD CDBG grants for water and sewer systems use for Disadvantaged Communities. If a community's LMI is over 51% they are classified as a disadvantaged community. IUP Iowa DWSRF Program Civil Rights and Environmental Justice, Iowa DNR Kansas A Disadvantaged Community is defined as: (1) a public water supply system that serves a population of 150 or less. Population for cities will be determined by the most current data certified by the Kansas Division of Budget and population for rural water districts will be determined by multiplying the number of residential meters by 2.5. Residential meter counts for water districts are confirmed by KDHE sanitary survey reports. Municipalities that qualify under this tier will receive up to $500,000 of loan forgiveness for projects under the Base Program Project Priority List and the Lead Service Line Replacement Project Priority List. OR (2) a municipal public water supply system that has a percentage of population that is below the poverty level which is greater than the state-wide percentage of population that is below the poverty level (11.4% of the statewide population is below the poverty level for the 2023 IUP). Values will be determined using the current U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey tables prior to the Intended Use Plan finalization. A water district’s poverty percentages will be determined on a prorated basis according to meters per county subdivision in their service area. Municipalities that qualify under this tier will receive 30% loan forgiveness up to a maximum amount of $1M for projects on the Base Program Project Priority List. These municipalities will receive 49% of the loan amount for projects on the Lead Service Line Replacement Project Priority List as funds allow. OR (3) a project area confined and benefiting specific census tracts that have a percentage of population that is below the poverty level which is greater than the state-wide percentage of population below the poverty level (11.4% of the statewide population is below the poverty level for the 2023 IUP). The project area must be known when a pre-application is submitted in order to determine eligibility. Projects that qualify under this tier will receive 30% loan forgiveness up to a maximum amount of $1M for projects on the Base Program Project Priority List. These municipalities will receive 49% of the loan amount for projects on the Lead Service Line Replacement Project Priority List as funds allow. IUP Kansas Public Water Supply Section Kentucky In Kentucky, the second non-standard rate for loans is applied when the MHI is equal to or below 80% of the Kentucky MHI. This rate is also known as the Disadvantaged community rate (DCR). IUP Kentucky Infrastructure Authority Environmental Justice - Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet Louisiana Our EPA approved definition of ‘disadvantaged community’ is: a disadvantaged community project is one which assistance is necessary to correct an imminent threat to public health as a result of a noncompliance issue with the SDWA resulting in an Administrative Order. This determination will be made by the Louisiana LDH utilizing one of the following requirements: 1. The public water system is located in a state where the median household income is below the national median household income of the United States according to the U.S. Census Bureau. 2. Assistance is necessary to resolve noncompliance issues with the SDWA that have resulted in an Administrative Order being issued against the water system. 3. The public water system serves a community with a population under 10,000. IUP Louisiana DWRLF Program Maine A Disadvantaged Community PWS is defined as any PWS that serves a community and can demonstrate that its year-round residential water consumers have a median household income of $53,024 per year or less. DWSRF Disadvantaged Community PWS Assistance will only be allowed where the disadvantaged water consumers will directly benefit from the assistance. IUP Maine DWSRF Program Maryland Maryland defines an Environmental Justice (EJ) Community as one with a low-income or minority population greater than twice the statewide average. MDE has implemented a (beta) website screening tool that uses three socioeconomic indicators to screen locations and communities based upon census data and the following: Minority populations of 50% or more; poverty rate of 25% or more; and English proficiency of more than 15% of the population as having limited English proficiency. Policy Maryland DWSRF Program Maryland - What is Environmental Justice? and MDE EJ Screening Tool Massachusetts Massachusetts uses the following metrics to determine Disadvantaged Communities and creates a metric called Adjusted Per Capita Income (APCI) and it is used for both the DWSRF and the CWSRF: Per Capita Income; Employment Rate; Population Change; Adjusted Per Capita Income (APCI) = PCI * Employment Rate * Population Change. Each IUP lists next to the community if they qualify as a Disadvantaged Community. IUP Massachusetts SRF Drinking Water Program Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs - Environmental Justice Michigan "Disadvantaged community" means a municipality in which all of the following conditions are met: Users within the area served by a proposed public water supply project are directly assessed for the costs of construction. The median annual household income of the area served by a proposed public water supply project does not exceed 120% of the statewide median annual household income for Michigan. The municipality demonstrates at least 1 of the following: • More than 50% of the area served by a proposed public water supply project is identified as a poverty area by the United States Bureau of the census. • The median annual household income of the area served by a proposed public water supply project is less than the most recently published federal poverty guidelines for a family of 4 in the 48 contiguous United States. In determining the median annual household income of the area served by the proposed public water supply project under this subparagraph, the municipality shall utilize the most recently published statistics from the United States Bureau of the Census, updated to reflect current dollars, for the community which most closely approximates the area being served. If these figures are not available for the area served by the proposed public water supply project, the municipality may have a survey conducted to document the median annual household income of the area served by the project. • The median annual household income of the area served by a proposed public water supply project is less than the most recently published statewide median annual household income for this state, and annual user costs for water supply exceed 1% of the median annual household income of the area served by the proposed public water supply project. • The median annual household income of the area served by a proposed public water supply project is not greater than 120% of the statewide median annual household income for this state, and annual user costs for water supply exceed 3% of the median annual household income of the area served by the proposed project. Statute Michigan DWSRF Program Michigan Office of the Environmental Justice Public Advocate Minnesota For a governmental unit receiving a loan from the drinking water revolving fund under section 446A.081, the authority may provide assistance under this section in the form of a grant if the average annual residential drinking water system cost after completion of the project would otherwise exceed 1.2 percent of the median household income of the project service area. In determining whether the average annual residential drinking water system cost would exceed 1.2 percent, the authority must consider the total costs associated with building, operating, and maintaining the drinking water system, including existing drinking water debt service, debt service on the eligible project cost, and operation and maintenance costs. If the PWS is undertaking a new project, the project is eligible for disadvantage community principal forgiveness grant funds if: New debt service for the project + any existing drinking water debt service + operations & maintenance > 1.2% of the average median household income of the community or service area Statute Minnesota Department of Health DWSRF Mississippi The amount of PF for which a potential “Loan Recipient” (LR) may be eligible will be determined by calculating the percentage of the “Median Household Income” (MHI) of the potential LR versus the MHI of the State of Mississippi ($45,081) as a whole. 90% < LR MHI < 100% - 15% Principal Forgiveness 80% < LR MHI < 90% - 25% Principal Forgiveness 70% < LR MHI < 80% - 35% Principal Forgiveness LR MHI < 70% - 45% Principal Forgivenesss than the MS Statewide MHI. IUP Mississippi DWSRF Program Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality - Environmental Justice Missouri Disadvantaged Communities. A disadvantaged community is defined as a recipient that— (A) Serves a population of three thousand three hundred (3,300) or less; (B) Has a median household income at or below seventy-five percent (75%) of the state average median household income as determined by the most recent decennial census or by an income survey overseen by a state or federal agency; and (C) Has an average water user charge for five thousand (5,000) gallons that is at least two percent (2%) of the median household income of the recipient, determined by the decennial census or income survey listed in (5)(B). Regulation Missouri Financial Assistance Center Montana A community is considered economically disadvantaged when its combined annual water and wastewater system rates are greater than or equal to 2.3% of the community’s MHI. If the community has only a water system, the percentage is 1.4% of the community’s MHI. IUP Montana Financial Bureau Montana Pole Environmental Justice Plan Nebraska* The purpose of the affordability criteria is to determine which of the projects receiving funds from the DWSRF may also qualify for financial assistance beyond the ordinary benefits available through the DWSRF. Eligible PWSs may qualify for additional financial assistance if their population is equal to or less than 10,000 people with an MHI less than 120 (one hundred twenty) percent of the state MHI. Systems that meet the minimum disadvantaged criteria determination are also eligible for extended loan terms up to 40 years. NE sets several thresholds for DAC principal forgiveness for communities based on population size: population of 10,000 or less (20% PF); population of 3,300 or less (25% PF); population of 500 or less (30% PF). Additional assistance for Disadvantaged Communities through loan forgiveness will utilize the Affordability (Disadvantaged) Criteria provided in Appendix F. Additional assistance of loan terms up to 40 years will be available to communities which have a Median Household Income (MHI) less than or equal to 120% of the State MHI, using the 2014-2018 American Community Survey (ACS) data set published by the U.S. Census Bureau. IUP Nebraska DWSRF Program Nevada Nevada defines a disadvantaged community as an area served by a public water system where the MHI is less than 80 percent of the State MHI Statute Nevada DWSRF Program New Hampshire A disadvantaged community or system is defined as a community public water system or community that serves residents whose median household income (MHI) is less than the statewide MHI based on the most recent census data and/or income survey. If an applicant for DWSRF assistance meets the definition of “disadvantaged” and if the resulting project user rate (which is the total of the existing rate in addition to the rate that results from the new project) exceeds the statewide affordability criteria, it may be eligible for subsidies from the Disadvantaged Community/System Program. Subsidies will be available in the form of principal forgiveness. This program only applies to infrastructure projects. IUP New Hampshire DWSRF Program New Jersey The New Jersey Department of Environmental defines a disadvantaged community for the purposes of the DWSRF Program as a municipality whose median household income is 35 % or more below the State’s MHI. It receives 80 priority points which is proportionately greater than the other affordability factor points. (New Jersey’s MHI is $68,911 as reported in the 2010 Census.) IUP New Jersey Loan and Capacity Development New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection - Environmental Justice New Mexico In order to determine the level of disadvantaged status of a community, NMFA utilizes the percentage of the state’s Median Household Income (MHI). Disadvantaged Median Household Income (MHI) - Communities with an MHI of the water service area between 100% - 80% of the State’s MHI fall under this level. MHI is based on the most recent 5-year average of Median Household Income from U.S Census Data or through a household income survey acceptable to NMFA. Severely Disadvantaged Median Household Income (MHI) - Communities with an MHI below 80% of the State’s MHI. MHI is based on the most recent 5-year average of Median Household Income from U.S Census Data or through a household income survey acceptable to NMFA. IUP New Mexico DWSRF Program New Mexico Environment Department - Equity New York The New York Department of Health and Environmental Facilities Corporation qualify municipalities or eligible public water systems for hardship financing based on the DWSRF public health priority ranking of the project and publicly available census data rather than requiring detailed demographic and economic data from the municipalities. For the current FFY, DOH and EFC will be using data from the 2019 American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year data, published by the US Census Bureau. In addition, the Hardship Policy includes regionally adjusted MHI thresholds used for determining hardship eligibility. Projects serving Environmental Justice (EJ) areas may also qualify for hardship eligibility. Projects in EJ areas that do not otherwise qualify for hardship based on MHI or poverty rate criteria will be considered for hardship eligibility if at least 50% of the project cost or project scope serves, protects, or benefits an identified EJ area. Policy New York Department of Health DWSRF Program Environmental Justice - New York State Dept. of Environmental Conservation North Carolina* Projects that receive project purpose points when the applicant has less than 20,000 residential drinking water connections, at least three of five Local Government Unit (LGU) indicators worse than the state benchmark, an operating ratio (future) of less than 1.3, utility rates greater than the state median, and/or project cost per connection that project to increase the utility rates above the 70th percentile of the state will receive principal forgiveness following the affordability criteria grant percentage matrix in Appendix E. LGU Indicators: North Carolina uses a combination of MHI, poverty rate, population change, total appraised property value per capita, and rates per 5,000 gallons to determine disadvantaged communities. Each indicator is measured against the state average and is updated annually. Policy North Carolina DWSRF Program North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality - Environmental Justice North Dakota North Dakota’s definition of a disadvantaged community is currently based off the relative future water cost index – the ratio of water rates as a result of a project divided by the community’s median household income. From the 2022 Intended Use Plan: “For 2022, projects with a RFWCI of 2.0 percent or greater will qualify for 75 percent loan forgiveness. Projects with a RFWCI of 1.5 percent to 1.9 percent will qualify for 40 percent loan forgiveness. Projects with a RFWCI of less than 1.5 percent will not qualify for any loan forgiveness. Projects that do not qualify for loan forgiveness still qualify for a traditional DWSRF loan.” IUP North Dakota DWSRF Program Ohio Ohio’s definition of disadvantaged communities is contained within Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) 3745-88-01 and 3745-88-02. The Disadvantaged Community Loan Program framework utilized for determining principal forgiveness eligibility is contained within the annual Program Management Plans for the Water Supply Revolving Loan Account (WSRLA). OAC 3745-88-01 (D) "Disadvantaged community" means the service area, or portion thereof, of one of the following entities that applies for and is eligible, or that the director expects to become eligible as a result of the loan project, for loan assistance under this chapter pursuant to the affordability criteria established by the director: (1) A nonprofit public water system that operates or provides water to a community water system. (2) A public water system that is regulated by the public utilities commission of Ohio ("PUCO") and that operates or provides water to a community water system. (3) A political subdivision, as defined by division (B) of section 6119.011 of the Revised Code, that operates or provides water to a community water system. (4) A nonprofit noncommunity public water system. OAC 3745-88-02 (B) Determination criteria for disadvantaged communities. (1) After receipt and review of application for designation as a disadvantaged community, the director may designate an applicant as a disadvantaged community for the purposes of this chapter based on consideration of at least the criteria set forth in paragraphs (B)(1)(a) to (B)(1)(e) of this rule. Fulfillment of any one criterion does not guarantee designation as a disadvantaged community. (a) Economic affordability… (b) Health related issues… (c) Median household income… (d) Population… (e) Poverty rate… Statute Ohio Water Supply Revolving Loan Account Program Oklahoma A “Disadvantaged Community” means those communities which serve a population whose Median Household Income (MHI) is greater than 80% but less than 90% of the national MHI according to the United States Census Bureau/American Community Survey. Communities serving population whose MHI is less than 80% of the national MHI according to the United States Census Bureau/American Community Survey will be designated as “Severely Disadvantaged Communities” and hence will receive 60 priority points instead of the 40 points reserved for Disadvantaged Communities. MHI is based on the most recent 5-year average of median household income from United States Census Data or through a household income survey acceptable to DEQ. IUP Oklahoma DWSRF Program Environmental Justice Statement - Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality Oregon In Oregon, a disadvantaged community is defined as one with a median household income below the state MHI. Potential projects are rated based on percentage of community MHI compared to state MHI, whether the poverty rate is greater than the state poverty rate, and whether the unemployment rate is greater than the state unemployment rate. System size is also considered. IUP Oregon DWSRF Program Oregon Department of Environmental Quality - Environmental Justice Pennsylvania PENNVEST utilizes a financial capability analysis that compares various community specific demographic data to similarly situated communities across the Commonwealth to determine a percent of the community’s adjusted median household income (MHI) that should be available to pay for water service. The amount that should be available to pay for water service by residential customers will range from one to two percent of the community’s adjusted MHI dependent upon the specific socio-economic factors that are provided by the Pennsylvania DCED. This process aids in an equitable distribution of residential user rates. Should the estimated resulting residential user rates be higher than similar systems, even after PENNVEST has provided the most favorable funding package available, based upon criteria set forth in the PENNVEST Act and regulations and further described in this document under the section “Priority and Allocation of Assistance,” these systems would be considered “disadvantaged” for the purpose of term extension from the normal 20 years to a term of up to, but not to exceed, 30 years repayment of principal and interest. Systems qualifying for term extensions must exceed the user rate(s) found in similar systems according to the PENNVEST financial capability model. The terms will be extended to a point that will allow the residential user rate to fall to a level equal to similar systems’ cost of water service, as determined by the demographic analysis and financial capability analysis. In considering projects where there are no immediate users, such as some green infrastructure, the above-described methodology will be modified. In such cases PENNVEST will look to the applicant’s financial capability to repay a loan. If there is no reasonable expectation that this capability will be present, then PENNVEST could determine that the applicant fits the definition of a disadvantaged system. IUP Pennsylvania DWSRF Program Office of Environmental Justice (pa.gov) Rhode Island* As mandated in the Act, the State of Rhode Island has developed criteria for awarding additional financial assistance to those water suppliers whose service area is determined to be economically disadvantaged. The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) and the Bank submitted the following criteria to all public and community water suppliers in the State and EPA for their review and input in August of 1998: • To participate in the Disadvantaged Community Program, an eligible borrower must be a community public water system; • The water supplier must make application to RIDOH for inclusion on the PPL and application to the Bank for a loan in the current year; • The water supplier must have a service area Median Household Income figure (MHI) less than or equal to the State MHI which is currently $71,169 (source: 2019 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates); • A debt service schedule for a standard Program loan (25% interest subsidy) will be calculated for the project loan being contemplated. The schedule will be added to the water supplier’s existing rate structure and the resultant annual user fee, when compared to the service area MHI, must be greater than 0.999 percent RI also has a "disadvantaged very small system program" for non-municipal community and non-transient, non community systems that are nonprofit public water systems, that serve a population of 1,000 people or fewer. A disadvantaged very small system is defined as a system that can demonstrate that user rates are 1% or more of the community’s median household income.The water supplier must have a service area Median Household Income figure (MHI) less than or equal to the State MHI which is currently $63,296. A debt service schedule for a standard Program loan (25% interest subsidy) will be calculated for the project loan being contemplated. The schedule will be added to the water supplier's existing rate structure and the resultant annual user fee when compared to the service area MHI. must be greater than 0.999 percent. RI also has a "disadvantaged very small system program" for non-municipal community and non-transient, non-community systems that are nonprofit public water systems, that serve a population 1000 people or fewer. A disadvantaged very small system is defined as a system that can demonstrate that user rates are 1% or more of the community's median household income. Policy Rhode Island DWSRF Program Environmental Justice- Rhode Island -Department of Environmental Management South Carolina To be considered a disadvantaged community by the SC SRF program, the community must meet the following three criteria: 1) Population served less than 10,000 2) Median Household Income (MHI) less than the State MHI; and, 3) Cannot qualify for an SRF loan (based on a financial review by SRF staff with the SC Rural Infrastructure Authority) IUP South Carolina SRF Program South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control - Environmental Justice South Dakota For a community in South Dakota to be eligible for a loan it must meet the following criteria: 1. For municipalities and sanitary districts: the median household income is below the state-wide median household income; and the monthly residential water bill is $30 or more for 5,000 gallons usage 2. For other community water systems: the median household income is below the state-wide median household income; and the monthly water bill for rural households is $55 or more for 7,000 gallons usage. The source of median household income statistics will be the American Community Survey or other statistically valid income data supplied by the applicant and acceptable to the board. IUP South Dakota DWSRF Program Tennessee* The SRF Program continues to respond to requests from Governor Lee regarding rural community assistance by prioritizing allocation of subsidy for drinking water infrastructure (in the form of principal forgiveness and lower interest rates) to communities identified as both small and economically disadvantaged. Eligibility of DWSRF principal forgiveness will be determined based on the most current Ability to Pay Index (ATPI). Small communities are those with a population of 10,000 or less per designation by EPA guidelines. To be considered disadvantaged, the community must score 50 or less on the ATPI. Tennessee’s DWSRF Loan Program developed a small and disadvantaged community loan forgiveness process that prioritizes allocation of subsidy for disadvantaged communities with an ATPI of 50% or less. The index is determined based on a normal distribution of affordability scores for cities and for counties. The affordability score is a simple average of nine (9) factors unique to each community. Together, these factors include: median household income, unemployment, food stamp dependence, families in poverty, community assets, revenues, debt, and expenditures, and change in population determine a community’s Ability To Pay Index value. Tennessee intends to update the ATPI annually to capture the most current fiscal capacity, changes, and economic trends of communities across the state. IUP Tennessee DWSRF Program Tenessee Department of Health - Environmental Justice Texas A disadvantaged community is a community that meets the DWSRF’s affordability criteria based on income, unemployment rates, and population trends. For the initial allocation round, the determination will be based on information received by the applicable PIF deadline. An eligible disadvantaged community consists of all of the following: 1. The service area of an eligible applicant, the service area of a community that is located outside the entity’s service area, or a portion within the entity’s service area if the proposed project is providing new service to existing residents in unserved areas; and 2. meets the following affordability criteria: Has an Annual Median Household Income (AMHI) that is no more than 75 percent of the state median household income using an acceptable source of socioeconomic data, and the Household Cost Factor (HCF) that considers income, unemployment rates, and population trends must be greater than or equal to 1 percent if only water or sewer service is provided or greater than or equal to 2 percent if both water and sewer service are provided. IUP Texas DWSRF Loan Program Utah In order to qualify for a disadvantaged loan, a loan applicant must have a residential user rate for either drinking water or wastewater services that exceed two percent (2%) of the applicant community’s median household income or, if the user rate is between one and one-half percent (1½%) and two percent (2%) of the applicant community’s median household income, the community must also have: unemployment that exceeds the state average; and a decreasing population. The applicant shall agree to a thirty (30) year loan unless the design life of the project is documented to be less than thirty (30) years. The annual user rate would be based on all operating, maintenance, replacement, and debt service costs (both for the existing system and for upgrades). If the applicant's service area is not within the boundaries of a municipality, or if the applicant’s service area’s median household income is not consistent with the municipality as a whole, the applicant may use the census data for the county in which it is located or may use a representative survey, conducted by a Department-approved, objective third party, to verify the median household income of the applicant’s service area. (7-1-21)T Regulation Utah Drinking Water Assistance Programs Vermont "Disadvantaged municipality" means a municipality or the served area of a municipality that: Has a median household income below the State average median household income as determined by the Secretary and that, after construction of the proposed water supply improvements, will have an annual household user cost greater than one percent of the median household income as determined by the Secretary; or Has a median household income equal to or greater than the State average median household income as determined by the Secretary and that, after construction of the proposed water supply improvements, will have an annual household user cost greater than 2.5 percent of the median household income as determined by the Secretary. Statute Vermont DWSRF Program DEC Environmental Justice Team \| Department of Environmental Conservation Virginia Disadvantaged criteria is as follows: Disadvantaged waterworks are those who meet the following criteria - currently have or will have after project completion, user rates that meet or exceed 1% of the community's Median Household Index (MHI). For those communities that are close and want to qualify for principal forgiveness, VA allows them to raise rates to 1% or higher by project completion. For BIL specifically: VA will also include both the EPA EJScreen Tool determinations and the White House Climate and Economic Justice Screen Tool determinations. IUP Virginia DWSRF Program Virginia Department of Environmental Quality - Environmental Justice Washington "Disadvantaged community" means the service area of a proposed project within a public water system where the project will result in: (a) Water rates that are more than one and one-half percent of the MHI of the service area; or (b) Restructuring, when one or more public water systems are having financial difficulties Statute Washington DWSRF Program Environmental Justice - Washington State Department of Ecology West Virginia Currently the WV Drinking Water State Revolving Fund program defines a disadvantaged community as a community whose annual water user rate (for 3,400 gallon monthly usage) is at or greater than 1.25% of Median Household Income (MHI) for their county or municipality. IUP West Virginia Drinking Water Treatment Revolving Fund Wisconsin “The SDWLP offers a lower interest rate to local governmental units that meet two eligibility criteria. This interest rate is 33% of the state’s market rate. The two eligibility criteria are: 1) the local governmental unit’s population must be less than 10,000; and 2) the local governmental unit’s MHI must be 80% or less of the state’s MHI. Local governmental units that do not meet the two criteria receive loans at 55% of the state’s market rate. In addition, the methodology used to allocate PF is primarily based on population, and MHI, population trend, unemployment rate, and poverty index, and gives the highest percentage of PF to those local governmental units that have the greatest financial need. The methodology for allocating PF is described below and must be met by any municipality that is awarded PF (with the exception of the Private LSL Replacement Program).” IUP Wisconsin Environmental Loans Section The Wisconsin Environmental Equity Tool \| Wisconsin Department of Health Services Wyoming The Wyoming State Loan and Investment Board (SLIB) determines the actual amount of principal forgiveness awarded to individual projects based on criteria set forth in SLIB Rules and Regulations Chapter 16 and on the actual applications received. The rules base eligibility for principal forgiveness primarily on disadvantaged community criteria that are based on income data, unemployment data, and population trends. The rules also allow eligibility based only on income criteria in cases where principal forgiveness does not need to be linked to disadvantaged community criteria. The rules specify a maximum percentage of principal forgiveness for applicants based on the given criteria. Regulation Wyoming DWSRF Program Puerto Rico* Puerto Rico’s definition of a disadvantaged community (DAC) is those systems that meet the affordability criteria and that are less than 10,000 (small systems). The Department of Health (DOH) will consider a disadvantaged system those systems serving 25 or more persons or 15 or more connections for more than 60 consecutive days and up to 10,000 persons and may or may not be connected to a PRASA system whether or not in the next 5 years, and may or may not be considered isolated due to their topographic condition. This Criterion is design to assist systems most is needed on a household basis. The points awarded for this Category are documented by the latest census information. For those systems, identified as disadvantaged, priority points will be awarded based on the Median Household Income Levels (MHIL) Puerto Rico Fiscal Agency and Financial Advisory Authority District of Columbia Although the District of Columbia (“the District”) is defined as a State for the purposes of SDWA, Section 1452(j) exempts the District from establishing a State Revolving Fund program. Therefore, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provides the District's allotment of Federal funds in the form of grants. The District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (DC Water) is the grantee for project grants while the DC Department of Energy & Environment (DOEE) and its agent, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Office at Blue Plains, can receive funds for oversight and management of these projects. DC does not define a DAC in their IUP for FY2021 or FY 2022. Their project priority ranking system is based on the following affordability criteria. In 1999, EPA in conjunction with DC Water developed a Project Priority Rating System. The Project Priority Rating System uses a system to numerically score drinking water projects based upon their contribution to protecting public health, improving compliance with regulatory standards, and maintaining drinking water reliability, safety, and environment. The ranking system includes a provision allowing for funding of lower-ranked projects (i.e., for by-passing higher-ranked projects) based on exigent circumstances and “implementability” of the ower-ranked projects relative to the higher-ranked projects proposed to be bypassed. IUP Other Territories The EPA also provides funds from the CWSRF and DWSRF program through grants to the following territories: American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Community water systems and non-profit, non-community water systems are eligible for project funding. The funds are managed by EPA’s offices in Region 2 (for the Virgin Islands) and Region 9 (for American Samoa, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands). EPA may award a grant to either a territorial government or directly to a territorial public water system. If the grant is awarded to a territorial government, that government selects projects to fund. It is important to note that Congress exempted the U.S. territories listed above from establishing their own state revolving loan fund programs. The U.S. territories instead chose to continue receiving funds under the Construction Grants Program. None of these territories have a DAC definition, as the funds may be awarded to a variety of different managers directly from the EPA. Tribes The EPA established the Drinking Water Infrastructure Grants Tribal Set-Aside (DWIG-TSA) Program to fund community water systems and non-profit, non-community water systems that serve a tribal population. The 2016 Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act (WIIN Act) expanded the activities that are now eligible for DWIG-TSA funds, to include training and operator certification programs. The DWIG-TSA does not define a DAC beyond the statutory language in the SDWA Appendix A Sec. 1452, which mirrors SDWA language on affordability criteria. Simply put a ‘‘‘disadvantaged community’ means the service area of a public water system that meets affordability criteria established after public review and comment by the State in which the public water system is located. Administrators may publish information to assist States in establishing affordability criteria.” State Text Definition/IUP Priority Criteria Where is the Definition? Link to SRF Program Link to State EJ Resources State Case Studies on Disadvantaged Communities: Successes and Challenges The States have been doing incredible work to help address disadvantaged communities, but they are facing both opportunities and challenges with expanding on these successes to help small and disadvantaged public water systems address needs for upgrading, maintaining, managing, and sustainably operating their systems. ASDWA began collecting case studies of community success stories and struggles from members in early 2022. Each case study highlights the community demographics, issues facing each system, and what steps were taken to help the system tackle its challenges. ASDWA is continually adding new case studies. If you have a case study you would like to highlight, please contact Stephanie Schlea at sschlea@asdwa.org. State Title MN City of Askov Funding Infrastructure Improvements to Address DBP Violations in Askov, Minnesota: A Shared Funding and Assistance Plan to Ensure Future Success 364 The City of Askov, Minnesota is an underserved, small and disadvantaged community that has ongoing MCL violations for disinfection by-products. Askov was the highest ranked project on the state’s DWSRF Intended Use Plan (IUP) that meets the grant criteria of being underserved AND small or disadvantaged. The project funded from 2020-2023 will address a Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) violation for disinfection by-products along with other needed upgrades to maintain compliance with Safe Drinking Water Act. VA Port Royal Addressing Degrading Infrastructure in Port Royal, Virginia: A Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Success 196 Several significant deficiencies had been noted in previous sanitary surveys. The elevated tank had significant rust issues with structural problems. Water loss was significant due to failing distribution system pipes. Revenue collection was problematic as nobody wanted to shut off the water to any residents in the Town. Inconsistent revenue collection combined with a lack of functioning water meters resulted in minimal funding for operations and maintenance. PA Watrous Water Association Addressing Ground Water Quality Filtration Needs in Pennsylvania Watrous Water Association Project 40 Watrous has spring sources which are Groundwater Under the Direct Influence of surface water (GUDI) and does not have the required filtration treatment for pathogen removal. Watrous needs a new supply of water that meets safe drinking water standards. PA Galeton Borough Authority Addressing Ground Water Quality Filtration Needs in Pennsylvania Galton Borough Authority Regional Project 1.270 Galeton struggles with water quantity and is unable to meet pass-by requirements on Wetmore Run during drought conditions. Galeton needs additional groundwater source(s) and associated treatment to be constructed to reduce the withdraw burden on Wetmore Run and to have enough water to supply the needs of Watrous. SC Timmonsville Consolidation to Address Violations and Funding Needs – City of Florence and Town of Timmonsville, South Carolina: A Drinking Water and Clean Water State Revolving Fund Success 2.369 The town was having both drinking water and wastewater issues with technical, managerial, and financial capacity. Due to a prevalence of leaks and undersized lines, the entire system lacked the ability to maintain adequate system pressure and due to the lack of a backflow prevention program did not have distribution system protection from cross contamination. The wastewater system also needed repairs and upgrades to the treatment plant. WA Faranda Building Technical, Financial, and Managerial Capacity in Faranda, Washington: A Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) Small System Success 28 Due to a small population gain, the system must now meet all federal standards with aging infrastructure and incomplete documentation. Faranda has a contract manager providing a base level of technical capacity but it still lacks the technical expertise needed to effectively run a water system. The system currently has low cash reserves and lacks significant financial resources needed to invest in improving infrastructure. WA Peoples Creek Addressing Degrading Infrastructure in Peoples Creek, Washington: A Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) Small System Success 75 The water system was initially constructed in the 1970s as an investor-owned utility. After years of neglect and several water quality violations, the system was placed into receivership and the community took ownership of the system and formed a Homeowner Association (HOA) in 2007. Soon after, Peoples Creek was not only struggling to bring the run-down system up to existing standards but also found their spring source met the new definition of Ground Water Under the Direct Influence of Surface Water and required surface water treatment. A permanent boil water advisory was placed on the system until the issue could be resolved. WA Vader Addressing Water Main Breaks in Vader, Washington: A Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) Small System Success 985 In 2010, Vader was facing an insurmountable crisis. The city had experienced 17 system-wide water outages over the past two years as a result of water main breaks they didn’t have the funds to fix. To become eligible for financial aid, the city voluntarily transferred the ownership of their antiquated water system to Lewis County through a state-brokered receivership agreement in 2010. OK Webbers Falls Flood Recovery in Webbers Falls, Oklahoma: A FEMA and DWSRF Funding Success 616 Due to a major flooding event in May 2019, the Webbers Falls community had a mandatory emergency evacuation and ECOWA closed the water valves. When the flood waters receded and residents returned, ECOWA opened the water valves but residents on the west side of the river were not receiving drinking water. Upon investigation, they discovered that the 6-inch water line that was supposed to be located on the bottom of the river bed had washed away in the flood. CT Sprague Emergency Interconnection Between Norwich Public Utilities and Sprague Water and Sewer Authority distribution Systems 2.967 DPH’s recent Sanitary Survey report cited SWSA with several deficiencies. SWSA also experiences occasional water main breaks due to the age of the pipes used in the distribution main. SWSA was in need of a reliable backup source of supply to meet their water demands in the event of a public drinking water supply emergency due to a low margin of safety in water supply from their groundwater sources. CT Multiple towns Connecticut’s Emergency Power Generator Program 0 The importance of having an emergency standby generator at community water systems is to maintain electrical power to their water system during an outage and to continue to provide potable water at adequate volume and pressure to their customers. When a water system loses pressure to their system, not only do the customers lose their potable water supply but it allows for contamination to enter the system and becomes a public health risk to the community. Many of the small water systems in Connecticut face the same resiliency issues that the larger water systems face only with limited capacity to pay for substantial upgrades to their system or to navigate the requirements associated with DWSRF assistance. Additional Resources Expand the sections below to view additional environmental justice resources. Final Testimony of Lori Mathieu for March 29th Hearing EPA report – DWSRF Disadvantaged Community Definitions: A Reference for States U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Data Sets ASDWA publishes content covering various areas of the drinking water program. December 2nd, 2022 Stephanie Schlea The US Water Alliance has released a new tool, the Racial Equity Toolkit, designed to enable water utilities to work towards improving their racial equity practices and outcomes both within the utility itself and its customers/community. The US Water Alliance highlights that utilities "can use the Toolkit to understand how current policies, practices, and programs… December 1st, 2022 Ashley Voskuhl US EPA has approved Denver Water’s comprehensive approach for reducing lead in drinking water through the issuance of a final variance under the Safe Drinking Water Act. The variance allows Denver Water to continue to implement a set of actions, called the Lead Reduction Program Plan (LRPP), which work together to reduce lead in Denver’s… November 23rd, 2022 Stephanie Schlea On November 22, the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) launched version 1.0 of the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (CEJST). The tool includes an interactive map and uses indicators of burdens in eight categories: climate change, energy, health, housing, legacy pollution, transportation, water and wastewater, and workforce development. The screening tool is meant…	62,792
Education counsellor interview: bridging tech and trusted human interactions to better support students / Student Insights Education counsellor interview: Bridging tech and trusted human interactions to better support students Interview with IDP Education Counsellor, Kei Lye Wong As a company, we are continuously seeking to improve how we support prospective students. Part of this goal involves developing new technologies to better serve students in their online searches and equipping our education counsellors with the right tools to guide the students they work with. Ultimately, we strive to give students the best support possible, both digitally and in person. We recently interviewed Kei Lye Wong, an IDP Education Counsellor based in Malaysia, to learn more about how IDP is bridging its new cutting-edge technology with trusted human interactions to better support prospective students. Kei Lye is a passionate student counsellor who cares deeply about the wellbeing of her students. She not only supports them in finding best-fit institutions, but often stays in contact once they are placed at an institution to ensure they settle in well. She specialises in counselling prospective students in Malaysia interested in pursuing higher education opportunities in the UK. Some of the key themes covered in the interview include: How the IDP Live app enables prospective students to easily track, filter and compare study abroad options How counsellors are using IDP’s new recommendation engine to match student interests to best-fit institutions How counsellors are using Student 360 to gain a more holistic insight into prospective student preferences, enabling better and more informed conversations How have the latest updates, the recommendation engine and Student 360 helped you to have better and enriched conversations with students? The recommendation engine is like a search engine for the programmes and universities IDP represents. Student 360 is a tool that provides counsellors with a summary of the application process of the student throughout the whole journey. I particularly like the recommendation engine, because it’s very convenient when I’m at a stage of exploring options with students – it provides me with information such as which universities provide what courses and how much tuition fees are, almost immediately in a few clicks. As a counsellor, how do you build trust with students? My very first principle is to always be careful with what I say, how I convey a message and the accuracy of the information that I give. I never give ambiguous information or misleading messages to students… I try my best to think from their perspectives and when I’m handling personal documents, I always ensure that they are happy for me to do so. When students favour a course in the IDP Live app, we can see the updates immediately. From there, I can see which programmes the student likes and I can make appropriate suggestions for them. It is from this point, that the student feels we really care for and understand them. This is a another key way we build trust with students. Why is it important to match students to an institution that meets their key needs? I believe one of the reasons students use our services is because they are feeling overwhelmed with whatever is available. The destination will be a place where students will live for 3 or 4 years, most possibly without their families. It is a turning point in their lives, which can determine how their lives turn out. We have to be cautious, as we are making life decisions for them. It’s very important to match them to an institution that meets their needs… We want students to know that every service is tailored to their needs. How does IDP’s latest technology, which leverages the world’s largest database of researching prospective students, help you to guide students to best-fit institutions and how does it enhance the student’s experience? I want to give credit to the recommendation engine. It allows you to add filters such as tuition fees, budget and ranking, then from there it will show only programmes that are most suitable for the student. This saves us a lot of time. The waiting time for students is now much shorter and I can see that my students are happy because of the convenience. The process of research and exploring is really easily done on their smartphone now. How do you as a counsellor fit into IDP’s full-funnel support of students, starting from their initial research all the way through to enrolment? I try to help as much as possible. Apart from the professional service that we are trained to provide, I also keep in touch with my students once they’ve been placed at a university. I previously also studied in the UK, so I’m experienced with living in the UK. My students will text me with sometimes trivial questions such as what supermarkets are available in the UK – I always try to help. I think this really aligns with IDP’s values of community and caring. Sometimes they come to me with other questions – I’m truly happy about it, because I know they trust my service and my views. I think this is because of the professionalism we demonstrate and they truly feel how much we care and that we’re here for them, not just commercially. How has the coming together of IDP’s technology and the human interaction of counselling improved the experience for students? Our customers, our students want to feel they are cared for and prioritised. Student 360 provides a summary of the whole application process of the student in a lot of detail. When a student receives an offer from a university, we are always the first to know and will convey the message. They can also see it on the app. I think it’s from here that they feel cared for and prioritised, we make them feel like VIP. I think that’s the benefit of IDP’s latest technology, it’s really useful and it’s working. Its efficacy can be seen from the student’s satisfaction. Students are really impressed by us, I would say in this industry we are really one of a kind in using this type of technology. What are the most important ingredients for counselling students successfully? Accuracy, confidence and care. I always provide and handle information with the utmost accuracy. Secondly, talk to your students confidently. You want your students to know that you are professional. Care genuinely for your students and see things from their perspective. This is human interaction counselling, it really involves elements like care and feelings. Be a mentor to them, not just an agent or counsellor. How does the Study Abroad app compliment and support your role as a counsellor? It’s like an assistant to me. We deal with so many leads and applications every year. Before the Study Abroad app existed, we had to update students one by one. It took a lot of time. It took a long time for us to feed back to students. It’s important that they can all feel prioritised. With the IDP Live app, we’ve made this come true – they feel prioritised and can see the status of their application immediately. They no longer need to wait for a message on their status. The app also has a lot of information about studying in the UK and Ireland, so over weekends students can do independent research. To find out more about IDP’s student counselling services, the IDP Live app and our latest technologies, get in touch on internationalclientteam@idp-connect.com. Let us join you on your journey Reach out and start a discussion on how we can work with you Get in touch You might like... Student Insights Meeting Student Needs at the Top of the Funnel How institutions can meet student expectations using peer-to-peer communication and digital marketing	7,932
Trading Forex (foreign exchange) starts with picking the right broker. But have no fear! Investing.com has done all the hard work for you, comparing the top brokers for reliability, speed and fees. Browse our carefully-crafted reviews to find the best Forex broker for your needs. We're sorry, we couldn't find any results in your country The foreign exchange market is a favorite among experienced traders. It is a global, decentralised OTC market for trading foreign currencies. This market determines the exchange rates for every currency, and it includes every single aspect of exchanging, buying, and selling currencies, both at determined and current prices. A forex broker is an intermediary. The broker provides traders with a platform for conducting forex trading. Transactions always consist of a pair of two currencies. Do I need a forex broker? When asking yourself if you need a forex broker, it’s best to start with another question: “Is trading forex for me?” Who is trading forex for? If you’re an experienced trader, you will likely enjoy the fast-paced nature of trading forex. The forex stock market is huge. It is able to offer a lot of liquidity, and, more often than not, investors can more easily exit and enter trades. There are often lower transaction costs that accompany this ease of trading. There is more flexibility in the forex market than in the stock market. However, the forex market is volatile. When trading anything, there is a risk of loss. When you’re trading a currency pair, that risk is sometimes amplified. Though you don’t need much initial capital to get started (a topic covered below), the inherent risks are greater. It is not a get-rich-quick scheme. Skilled traders make money, but even experienced, skillful traders still go through periods of loss. Who needs a forex broker? Everyone needs a forex broker. Forex trades are managed on international exchanges, and only members of those exchanges—brokers—can conduct trades. You need a forex broker to have a platform to trade forex. A specialised forex broker is one that trades solely in forex. If forex is your only field of interest in the trading world, a specialised broker will be a good choice. Non-specialised brokers are brokers that you can also use to invest and trade in the domestic stock market. It is often far more convenient, both technologically and monetarily, to have your money and platforms with the same broker. Word to the Wise US News stated that $6.5 trillion in forex trades occur each day. Forex trading is a legal endeavor, but that doesn’t mean that every broker follows the letter of the law. US News stated that traders should be on the lookout for “scams” and “bad actors.” When a forex broker is crooked, that can lead you to lose money and even end up in legal trouble. To avoid such serious consequences, you need to know what to look for in a forex broker, such as if the broker is regulated. What do I need to look for in a broker? Deposits and Withdrawals The timing and hassle-free nature of deposits and withdrawals is an important facet of a broker. You want your money fast. Forex is a fast-paced trading environment, and you can’t wait around for weeks for a deposit to clear. The more effortless and quick deposits are, the better. You could be the most skilled trader in the world, and transaction costs could still put a dent in your wallet and slight your potential. Every time you engage in a transaction, a broker will likely take a commission. Make sure you know the commissions up front. A broker’s transparency about their fees and commissions says a lot. Many forex brokers will offer you a downloadable platform. You can download it onto your Mac or PC, and the platform gives you access to the markets, research and data, and more. The higher-tech the platform, the better. A broker who offers a lot of research, commentary, and data, whether outsourced or self-generated, is a good selection. Brokers also might offer mobile or web trading for interested customers. The execution of trades—fast, hassle-free, and transparent—speaks to user experience, as does the quality of the platform. You don’t want to be irritated with the platform every day because it is underperforming. Customer service is also an indicator of quality. Customer service that is responsive and upfront is a sign of a good broker. Good customer service can make all the difference, and it is a big factor in keeping customers loyal. Regulation Regulation is vital. Regulatory bodies, such as the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFA) and the National Futures Association (FTA), watch for misconduct among forex brokers. These regulators provide protection to consumers. Each country has its own regulatory bodies; the FTA and CFA are America’s. How can I tell if a forex broker is regulated? The forex broker should have its regulation listed at the bottom of its website. If it is not located at the bottom, it might be located in one of the company information hyperlinks. Reading reviews of forex brokers will help you determine whether a company is regulated, if you are unable to find the information yourself. How much do I need in order to trade forex? Vantage Point Trading recommended opening a trading account with at least $2,000. While you don’t need a ton of initial capital to start trading forex because of the nature of the market, $2,000 is a good idea. Vantage Point recommends upping that to $5,000 for a “decent income stream.” Anywhere between those two points is a good place to start. When it comes to forex brokers, you want to make sure that the broker you’re looking at is transparent and trustworthy. Though forex doesn’t require a lot of capital to start, you need to have at least a few thousand in the bank to make money. Check out our reviews for more information on the best forex brokers on the market. Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks. Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed. Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website. It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website. Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.	7,961
Most parents know that the end of the month of October in St. Louis means Halloween, Cardinals in the World Series, and parent-teacher conferences. The first two are joyful events, the third…not so much. I remember as a kid liking parent teacher conferences because I was the kind of kid that loved school. My mom was also a teacher in the school district, so there wasn’t much she didn’t already know. For me, it was a great time to show off my drawings, stories, etc. For my son, conferences are an anxiety producing, gut wrenching, figure-out-a-way-to-be-too-sick-to-go event. Last night was the fabulous opportunity to meet with Ms. B. Williams to find out what my ultra-smart athlete had really been doing with his time. Of course, there were great things (he’s my kid right?) and there were not so great things (he’s his father’s kid right?). All was going fine until we got to the “things that need improvement” section. That’s when the conference hit the fan! Ms. B. Williams mentioned that homework needed to be turned in to her in a more timely fashion. WHAT?!? Homework? That thing I ask my son if he has completed every night? The thing I am assured by him each night that has been completed and turned in already during class? Oh, Momma! Someone is in a lick of trouble now! Needless to say the X-Box is dark until the homework is caught up. Moral of the parent story: I came away with some good tips for how to be better prepared for the conferences than I was. Know more earlier on. Keep in touch with the teacher. Here are some great tips for conferences from experts (because I am obviously not one on this topic). Do you have any more tips on how to be prepared? Wishing you great conference, happy Halloween, and GO Cards! Mary is a proud farm girl with some city attitude and mom of a sports dude in training. She loves travel, sports, food, wine and combining all of that with family and friends!	1,988
When you think of protein options for breakfast, you probably think eggs, right? Yes, definitely eggs. While there are certainly more options than just eggs -- think sausage, Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, smoothies, and of course, protein bars -- it’s time to start thinking outside of the box. While the previously mentioned breakfast options contain pretty good amounts of protein, there are tons of other foods that will get you the nutrition you need to kick off the day in a healthy, protein-packed way. But first, let’s talk about protein. What exactly is it? What does it do for our bodies? Why do we need it? How much do we need? So many questions right? Don’t worry. We have plenty of answers for you. Protein is a part of every single cell inside of our bodies. It’s used to build and repair tissue and is a building block for healthy skin, bones, muscles, cartilage, and blood. The human body completely depends on the amino acids that protein consists of. The function of protein is to build, strengthen or repair or things. Ladies - ever been told to eat plenty of protein for luxurious locks and tougher, less breakable nails? Men - ever been told to load up on the protein to get those sculpted muscles you’re working so hard for in the gym? Now you know why. The body’s cells, tissues, and organs cannot be regulate without a sufficient amount of protein. Protein is one of the core macronutrients our body needs to survive and function properly. “Macronutrient” is a big, fancy, scientific word for the elements the body needs to stay healthy. Macronutrients include carbohydrates, fat, and protein. These differ from “micronutrients”, like vitamins and minerals, that our bodies also needs, but in much smaller quantities. One of the reasons we need to constantly get our fill of protein is because the human body does not keep a reservoir of it in our systems. Our bodies will in fact store carbohydrates and fat, but in order to keep those protein levels in stock (quite literally!), we need to be regularly feeding ourselves with this supplement. Another important tidbit to know about proteins is that there are three types: complete, incomplete and complementary proteins. Complete proteins: These foods contain all of the essential amino acids. They are mostly found in animal proteins like meat, seafood, dairy and eggs. Incomplete proteins: The foods contain at least one essential amino acid. They are mostly found in plant proteins like grains, seeds, beans, peas and grass-fed protein supplements. Complementary proteins: This is when two or more food with incomplete proteins can be combined to make a complete protein. This includes the following combinations: legumes + nuts, legumes + seeds, or legumes + grains. To get even more specific, think of rice and beans as a perfect example of two incomplete proteins combined to make a complete protein. As a general rule, it is recommended that 10-35% of an adult’s calories should come from protein. Your daily requirements will vary depending on your calorie needs. There are plenty of factors that contribute to the variance in requirements, such as gender, age, and activity level. The USDA suggests that consuming 5 and 7 ounces of protein a day is optimal. Athletes, bodybuilders, and women who are pregnant may require additional protein to build and repair muscle. If you’re looking for ways to keep your protein levels in check to ensure a healthy mainted body, there are plenty of choices to ensure the right intake. Experiment with your options. You don’t have to eat meat to get the necessary amount of proteins. You can rely on seafood, beans, tofu, nuts, and seeds. Enjoy raw nuts as a great source of protein, but avoid snack mixes that contain an unnecessary amount of added sugar. Try a superfoods cereal that contains supergrains like oats, amaranth, and quinoa. Consider jazzing up your favorite oatmeal with dried fruit, chia seeds, and nuts. With breakfast being such an important meal of the day and protein being an essential nutrient for the body to function, it only makes sense that having a protein-packed meal to kick off your day is an excellent choice for success. When we start each morning, our bodies need a boost to get things going and our brains need a boost to start functioning. One of the more well-known benefits or protein is that it keeps satisfied for longer periods of time. This allows our brains to power through the first half of the day and keep hunger pains at bay -- something that often distracts us from having productive and efficient mornings. You probably aren’t surprised to hear that skipping breakfast is a major no no. Find a product that suits your busy lifestyle and fits your dietary needs. We strongly recommend something versatile that can be eaten at home or on the go so you never have an excuse to miss our favorite meal!	4,887
According to research by professors at Georgia Southern University, most undergrads do not believe that discrimination will affect their careers. Ninety percent of students surveyed did not believe that women would have fewer opportunities for networking or mentoring, and 75% believed that women would not face a pay disparity. This same research found that women […] Stay Connected © 2022 Shattering The Ceiling. All Rights Reserved. Nothing on this blog constitutes solicitation, provision of legal advice, or establishment of an attorney-client relationship. While many of the authors are attorneys, the authors are writing in their capacity as private individuals — not professionals. The relationship between a lawyer and a client is a very serious and sacred thing. All sorts of really important protections and responsibilities come from the attorney-client relationship. And any lawyer worth her salt will tell you that legal advice can only be given after the lawyer has heard from the client (or potential client) about the specifics of a situation. That doesn’t happen when we write our own musings and send them out into the interwebs. Most of our content may be shared or reused with attribution, but please see our Terms of Use for specifics.	1,319
The riverside village was alive with movement. Children were running around, playing games which mimicked the activities of their elders. The boys pretended that they had just returned from the hunt, four of them struggling with the imaginary weight of their bounty. Their shouts of triumph spoke of years to come when they would assume the very real role of protectors and providers in their community. In the shade of the ancient tree, little girls played at grinding flour and making cakes. A few pretended to wash clothes. The women tended their gardens, nursed babies and kept a watchful eye on the children. The men sat in a circle planning their next foray into the jungle. “Look, look!” shouted one woman who had gone down to the river’s edge to collect water. As the villagers looked out on the river they were greeted with a strange sight. Floating down the river, on a vessel larger than they had ever seen, were men with skin that had no colour. They were clothed in a manner unlike anything they had ever seen. Several of the men appeared to have one eye which protruded from their faces like a hollow stick. The people were curious. The large vessel with the curious looking men approached the shore slowly, and meeting no resistance, docked and disembarked. The white men were allowed access to the village They impressed the villagers with things hitherto unknown. And villagers from other communities were captured and taken away from their village to become slaves. And the white strangers did not act alone. Scene from the movie “Amistad” based on true events They were facilitated in the first instance by being granted access, and they were then aided and abetted by members of the community, made easy in a context of an already existing system of slavery. The villagers turned over their own slaves in return for various offerings made by the white man. The villagers also went on hunting expeditions with the white man to capture would be slaves from rival tribes, again in return for gifts and protection. As the white men grew comfortable and more greedy, and as captives escaped the slavers’ nets and returned with tales of horror to the village, the villagers realized that the white strangers had taken advantage of their ancient traditions in order to exploit. The slavery that the white men instituted did not resemble what was being practiced in the areas of Africa they sought to plunder. But it was too late. Having been granted access, the white man was able to overcome any delayed resistance now offered. His guns, medical knowledge and boats gave him superior fighting power, the ability to actually survive in this dangerous (to him) tropical climate and granted him access where once there was none. Hundreds of thousands of Africans were roughly displaced and cruelly deployed in lands way across the seas. Hundreds of thousands of Africans perished and were killed on the way to these alien territories. Hundreds of thousands of Africans were enslaved and brutalized and murdered by these white men who leveraged their position in a land that was not theirs, a land that they plundered again and again and again to enrich their homeland in Europe. What if they had thrown a spear that morning instead of greeting them with curiosity? To be clear: this question is not about casting blame for what was to come on those who were enslaved and murdered. A sequence of events occurred that ended in what has become an inescapable part of history. Access and then support from the village enabled the wicked motives of the white strangers. Eventually, the slave trade, as the forcible removal of the peoples of African came to be known, was outlawed. Slavery itself was eventually abolished throughout the Americas, and European colonies demanded independence and self rule. Throughout the period there was resistance and revolt on the part of the enslaved peoples. There were also white people who organised and fought against the trade in slaves and practice of slavery. Anti-colonialists who fought for independence from their European masters envisioned prosperous, orderly societies, where the dignity of the citizen underpinned ever law, every decision and governance on a whole, where cultural norms were truly their own, and not those superimposed by those who had no right to be in charge. Look around though: The Democratic Republic of the Congo in Africa. Haiti in the Caribbean. Is this what self-rule was meant to be? Once again, centuries later, we have granted men, not of our own tribe, strangers to our village, access. Once again, some of our own village are aiding and abetting the stranger, to the detriment of the whole. And once again, we find ourselves on a course not really of our own choosing, so many of our own existing in unjust and hard and terrible, destitute circumstances. Access has been granted by the few who seek to enrich and protect themselves, while giving not one damn as to legacy, nationhood and true freedom for all. Dylann Roof was welcomed by worshipers in their church Charleston, North Carolina. He was a stranger in their midst, a young white man, an incongruous presence in this old, black place of fellowship. Suppose the worshipers had suspended their prayer and study to probe a little, seeking to determine Roof’s reason for his being there? Suppose access had not been automatic, might the outcome of that terrible day have been different? Those of our village entrusted with the responsibility of keeping us safe and protecting our interests have granted access in return for their own protection and their own enrichment. How else does one describe and explain a 1.5% “agent’s fee”payable on national capital projects? This access has resulted in selective prosperity and mass impoverishment, creating a ripe context for Powerful Capital to set our economic agenda. Repeat after me: “I.M.F.” This access has resulted in a new colonialism by a people who look nothing like us, under the guise of partnership and cooperation. But how can an impoverished, desperate people really partner with a larger, stronger, richer people? The loss of choice lands to these “partners” and potential environmental degradation is what we can count on. That’s not partnership. Cartoon by Clovis of the Jamaica Observer Access has been granted and the stranger in our midst is being aided and abetted by our own. If history is anything to go by, we know how the story ends. Posted on September 4, 2016 September 5, 2018 Categories Jamaican Society todayTags abolition, access, Africa, colonization, Dylann Roof, IMF, self-rule, Slavery1 Comment on What if they had thrown a spear instead?	6,813
Mental Health First Aid was developed in Australia and is a training program intended for the general public. The idea behind the training program is similar to physical first aid training: To provide the student with the knowledge that allows him or her to step in and provide first aid until the person receives professional help. Knowledge of first aid in acute injury and in cardiopulmonary resuscitation has helped people generally know a lot about physical diseases and ailments, and uses these skills to save lives. The level of knowledge is low when it comes to mental illnesses and contributes to the judgmental and disparaging attitude towards mental illness that often occur. Common stereotypes is that people with mental illness are dangerous, crazy and unpredictable and that there are adequate treatment for mental health problems at the moment. Incomprehension often prevent the victim from seeking help in time and to seek the right kind of help. Are you interested in becoming an instructor in Mental Health First Aid in Sweden? This course gives you the power to organize and provide your own first aid for mental health. As a First Aid instructor, you will learn how to recognize and intervene in case of crisis, receives information and how to acknowledge and encourage to seek appropriate psychiatric help. Mental Health First Aid was developed in Australia and is a training program intended for the general public. It has been adapted into Swedish where it is called 'Första hjälpen till psykisk hälsa'. The idea behind the training program is similar to physical first aid training: To provide the student with the knowledge that allows him or her to step in and provide first aid until the person receives professional help. The intention is also to spread awareness about mental health and mental illness in order to reduce prejudice and stigmatization. The current instructor course is aimed at people who want to work as instructors in first aid for mental health. Instructor course includes one week of full-time education, then there is opportunity for tutoring. The course qualifies you to organize, carry, own first aid for mental health programs for adults. All course participants receive an instructive and detailed handbook on first aid for mental health. The training material includes film clips and group exercises. Additional courses for working with youth (MHFA Youth) and older people (MHFA Elderly) are also available. The training provides an overview of the occurrence of various forms of mental illness in Sweden, providing detailed knowledge of the signs and symptoms of various mental disorders , particularly depression, suicidal proximity, psychotic disorders and anxiety disorders and the treatment available. The course provides knowledge on how to recognize and intervene in crises such as self-injury, suicide proximity, panic attacks, trauma and acute psychotic state. The course teaches how to receive and acknowledge that information and how to encourage those in need to seek appropriate psychiatric help, encouraging the use of various self-help strategies. The program is based on scientific evidence and expert consensus. The course is aimed at people in the humanity professions, for example, staff in social services, schools, police, prison service and fire department, individual and family members, disability and elderly care, ambulance staff, district nurses but also the voluntary sector and the public. The requirements for becoming an instructor is to have your own good social functioning, ability to communicate and work as a teacher and have a positive attitude towards people with mental health problems. 24 500 SEK (excluding VAT). The course fee includes refreshments and lunch on course dates, as well as literature. For interest in our "open" courses at Karolinska Institutet please visit KI Education. For employers or others interested in training entire groups of instructors locally, contact Kristoffer Mörtsjö, kristoffer.mortsjo@ki.se, 08-524 860 32. We are currently unable to receive new requests for education in 2021. The course Mental Health First Aid is provided in three different versions; adult, youth and elderly, and is performed by trained MHFA instructors. The adult and elderly course is 12 hours while the youth course is 14 hours. Are you or your team interested in Mental Health First Aid? Trained instructors can be found all over Sweden and you can find active instructors on our list of instructors (sorted by county) Project manager Mental Health First Aid International, based in Australia is a not-for-profit organisation that develops, delivers and evaluates accredited mental health training programs. The Mental Health First Aid Program began in Australia in 2000, and has since evolved into a global movement that is delivered by an active community of licensed providers in 24 countries. To date, over 4 million people worldwide have been trained. Visit http://www.mhfainternational.org/ for more information.	5,267
Precast concrete construction has many advantages over conventional concrete structures as well as steel & masonary structures. Precast concrete construction enables faster and more efficient construction process and solutions. Precast concrete construction system has its own characteristics which influence the layout, span length, construction depth, stability system, etc. to a greater or lesser extend. Theoretically, all joints between the precast concrete units can be made in such a way that the completed precast structure has the same monolithic concept as cast-in-situ structures. At Sachi, we strongly believe that, as a precast concrete manufacturer, our job is to improve the quality of life in the communities we work in. Whether the network is destined for cars, trains, water, electricity or data, our offer encompasses an array of specifically designed products that rise to the challenges urbanization poses for both society and the environment. We provide standard and tailor-made precast concrete solutions. These include bridge, road and tunnel components for civil engineering; pressure pipes to design advanced cooling systems for power plants, industrial sites and water treatment and pumping station networks, as well as offshore outfalls; drainage pipes and associated manholes and tanks for sewerage networks; and telecoms chambers and electrical shelters for dry networks. Sachi offers efficient and safe pre-cast solutions adapted to its customers' civil prefab projects, be they bridges or rail infrastructure. Its success is based not only on its engineering expertise but also on its belief in developing lasting relationships based on co-operation, trust and efficient solutions. Sachi Precast aims to be the most Reliable and Successful Precast Concrete Solutions provider in the Industry through best quality and ethical business practice. We at Sachi, strive to achieve excellence in our operations and products through continuous innovation and utmost customer satisfaction. Sachi precast boundary walls are used for applications in residential, commercial and industrial lands. A precast boundary wall can be installed in less than half the time of conventional walls. Pre-cast boundary wall can also be designed with a wider variety of finish options including wood finish, stone finish, brick finish and others. 1.2 RCC PIPES Sachi Precast manufactures high quality RCC Pipes. We can manufacture NP3 and NP4 pipes with spigot and socket joints, with sizes ranging from 300mm to 2400mm. The pipes are manufactured using a fully automatic imported machine via a process known as vertical casting. Vertical casting using an automatic machine, coupled with the fully automatic batching plant, provides us the following benefits. Each individual pipe is of exact same quality. Vibration allows for equal distribution of aggregates inside the pipe, unlike the centrifugal force used in the spinning process which leads to aggregate separation. The vertical cast process results in a pipe with far greater strength RCC pipes have applications in underground drainage, sewage systems, storm water drains, irrigation and cross drainage under roads. Linings can be added to our pipes as required by departments. We can also manufacture jacking pipes and elliptical pipes, as required by clients. We manufacture Precast manholes entirely in our factory, giving the contractor a product that simply needs to be aligned and installed at the site. Site work is minimal compared to in-situ manholes. This saves time for contractors, and reduces the overall disruption to traffic. Manholes are manufactured in 3 sections. The first section is the base, which contains the inlets and outlets for discharge. This can be custom manufactured for each base at our factory. The second section is the riser, which will be manufactured in sections. Multiple risers will be used to raise the height of the manhole as required. The third section is the cone, which narrows the manhole to the diameter of the cover. Manholes can be pre-fitted with stairs if desired. Although manufacturing is Precast, the manholes are designed in a way that allows contractors to vary the height of each manhole as per site conditions, using simple risers. This allows for a lot of flexibility during installation As there is no BIS standard for manholes, we can explain the design and engineering of the manholes via a presentation if required. Please contact us to schedule the same. Box culverts are used for cross drainage in highways and in storm water drains. Typically, they are cast in-situ. We can use our casting machine to manufacture box culverts (in sections) and supply them to construction sites for easy installation. A box culvert section of dimensions up to 3m by 3m can be cast in one single piece. Larger sized are typically cast in sections for easy handling. Manufacturing box culverts pre-cast reduces site work tremendously, saving time and cost and reducing traffic disruption. Variations of the box culvert can be used for various storm water drain applications and also in making Precast valve chambers, sumps, security cabins, septic tanks and other Precast products. U-Channel drains and Saucer drains for storm water drainage systems can be Precast in sections. We can design these drains as per the site requirements of clients, and manufacture them in sections to allow for easy laying. This can be used storm water drainage projects for small town's or villages, as well as in real estate, Industrial, Infra, Institutional projects. Simple rectangular slabs can be manufactured Precast.These can be used for covers on drains, gullies, manholes and other places. Entire flights of stair cases can be precast at our factory, and we can undertake projects starting from as little as 4 flights. Precast staircases take a few hours to install which compared to in-situ construction can facilitate tremendous time saving. Sachi Precast staircases come equipped with handling hooks and connecting systems, so that installation can be easily facilitated. Precast sumps are currently manufactured in sizes that can be customized as needed. These may be used for water storage in independent houses, farms, industrial sheds. They take only 1 day to install. In addition to these products, concrete precast structures can be specifically engineered and manufactured, based on specific client requirements. Precast foundations may be used effectively to bring down the cost of construction. This is an excellent product for installation of machines, PEBs, weight bridges etc. The products are completely customized and can be made to order. Typically, it takes around one month to complete a customized foundation project. In addition to these products, concrete precast structures can be specifically engineered and manufactured, based on specific client requirements. Sachi agency is Authorised distributor of TATA TISCON for Gujarat. 301/302, Abhijeet - II, Above Standard Chartered Bank, Opp Mahila Police Station, Mithakhali Cross Roads, Mithakhali, Ahmedabad - 380009	7,333
Guest of all ages can enjoy summer staycations as long as they have a negative Covid test, the family-run cruise line reveals Families won’t need to be vaccinated to sail around the British Isles this summer, MSC Cruises has revealed. The cruise line – whose flagship MSC Grandiosa was the first to return to sea last August and has since safely carried more than 50,000 guests in the Mediterranean – will offer a series of short breaks for UK guests from 20 May followed by week-long cruises. Departing from Southampton’s new cruise terminal, they will call in at some of the UK’s ‘favourite destinations’ and offer additional ports of embarkation to guests. ‘It’s time for UK holidaymakers to get back on board and enjoy a well-deserved break from what has been a very challenging 12 months for everyone in so many ways,’ Antonio Paradiso, managing director for MSC Cruises UK & Ireland said. ‘Our hope is to offer every type of holidaymaker the chance to escape this summer – from grandparents to teens and even the smallest of passengers looking to explore.’ ‘MSC Cruises is a family-owned company and our guests are an extension of that, so we are looking forward to welcoming them and their families back on board. ‘Our hope is to offer every type of holidaymaker the chance to escape this summer – from grandparents to teens and even the smallest of passengers looking to explore. “We will welcome both vaccinated and non-vaccinated guests. All guests will be tested prior to embarkation, while non-vaccinated guests will also be required to show proof of negative test done within 72 hours prior to embarkation.’ As well as the protocol-mandated test, crew will be quarantined for 14 days prior to sailing and will also receive weekly testing and constant monitoring. Even though no vaccination is required to sail, MSC Cruises has led the way with their health and safety protocols since the pandemic began. These include continual deep-cleaning, protected shore excursions plus social distancing and the wearing of face masks. Ships will also sail at reduced capacity to ensure guests have more space. ‘Our UK customers can be assured that we will continue to adapt the protocol in line with relevant requirements and guidance, to provide the same seamless experience they are used to when cruising,’ Antonio Paradiso explained. ‘We understand how important this particular summer is to holidaymakers and we’re committed to providing guests with a range of fantastic activities in a healthy and safe environment. “We are also working on a programme of protected shore excursions for our guests to experience the destinations we will visit following our successful experience since last summer in other markets, but, of course, this is subject to prevailing circumstances and local guidance at the time of sailing.’ No vaccination required – children can sail with MSC Cruises on staycations this summer Children will have play areas on board while all the family will enjoy the round-the-clock entertainment and multiple dining options for the ultimate staycation at sea. ‘We believe that this special offering will provide UK holidaymakers with a unique summer of cruising and be the ultimate destination for families and friends to reconnect and create new memories this summer.’ MSC announced their open-to-all cruises after P&O Cruises and Princess Cruises revealed only fully vaccinated guests could join their ‘seacations’ this summer. Domestic cruising was given the green light last week to restart on 17 May. The no vaccination needed cruises will go on sale later this month. You may also like… The epitome of expedition cool: SH Vega glides gracefully into service We are amongst the first to embark SH Vega, the coolest expedition ship to launch this year As she celebrates turning 50, the Hollywood actress will be on board Celebrity Cruises’ luxury new ship Celebrity Beyond on a ‘goop cruise’ she helped create	3,998
In 1978, Congress directed the EPA to establish an SAB to provide scientific advice to the Administrator. The SAB is authorized to: review the quality and relevance of the scientific and technical information being used by the EPA or proposed as the basis for Agency regulations; review EPA research programs and plans; provide science advice as requested by the EPA Administrator, and advise the agency on broad scientific matters. Most preliminary work of the SAB is done by subcommittees or panels focused on various environmental science topics. These groups are chaired by SAB members. Recommendations of subcommittees and panels are transmitted to the SAB for discussion and deliberation. Recommendations are forwarded to EPA only if the SAB determines that it is appropriate. Top of Page The EPA Science Advisory Board (SAB) charter is renewed in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA). The SAB was created in 1978 pursuant to the Environmental Research, Development, and Demonstration Authorization Act. The SAB’s charter has been renewed every two years. Read the full text of SAB's charter. Top of Page Environmental Research, Development, and Demonstration Authorization Act (ERDDAA) (42 U.S.C. 4365) Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) (5 U.S.C. App. C) The SAB, in its present form, was established in 1978 by the Environmental Research, Development, and Demonstration Authorization Act (ERDDAA) (42 U.S.C. 4365). Predecessor bodies date back to the early 1970s. In carrying out the mandate of ERDDAA, the SAB provides such scientific advice as may be requested by the Administrator, the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the United States Senate, or the Committees on Science and Technology, Interstate and Foreign Commerce, or Public Works and Transportation of the House of Representatives. Because the Science Advisory Board is a Federal Advisory Committee, it must comply with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) (5 U.S.C. App. C) and related regulations. Consequently, the Board has an approved charter, which must be renewed biennially, announces its meetings in the Federal Register, and provides opportunities for public comment on issues before the Board.	2,285
I spoiled Christmas. My daughter didn’t have class that day; so when I saw it was neither stormy nor smoky from the marsh fires, I grabbed her for a few photos of one of her Christmas gifts from me: the Arbutus cowl and Becca’s Boot Cuffs. First up: the cowl. Did you recognize it from Jane Richmond’s Island? It’s my first knit from the book, but will not be my last. I want to make everything in it before the next year is up. I’m particularly excited about knitting Strathcona in a colorway inspired by the downtown square of my favorite city to have lived in. It is so rare that I make something without one single hitch. Okay, I did twist my cast on row when joining to work in the round the first time; otherwise, this cowl was cinchy. I used a long, size 3 circular and magic looped this. Check out the tiered construction! So cool. When my daughter requested it, she actually thought it was a thin, doubled cowl in the photo. As I began working on it, she was doubtful. I think she was afraid it was a balaclava. The City Tweed dk was a really good substitute for the suggested Madelinetosh. In fact I prefer the softness of alpaca and the look of tweed. The alpaca blend feels so good against the neck and is a little more drapey than wool would be all by itself. That drapiness made this cowl work so well. Of course, after she tried it on today I had to wrestle her to get it back for gift-wrapping. Now, about those boot cuffs. They were designed by one of my Ravelry friends, Rebecca Gunderson. You may think I’ve become the crazy boot cuff lady since I’ve made so many. This is my last pair to knit as a gift. (I still have to make my own. I used City Tweed Aran in the same color, blue blood. The properties that made City Tweed so perfect for Arbutus, made my boot cuffs too loose. So, I reduced the number of stockinette stitches by four. The funny thing was, my daughter was wearing shorts and a tank top when I asked her to take photos with me. (We live in the humid south.) She pulled the cuffs on over her flip flops, up to her shins, and called them flip flop cuffs. We laughed at our white trashiness, but before we were done taking these photos the temperature dropped like 15 degrees and it did become boot weather. (on ravelry, kollabora, and flickr) December 25, 2011 March 8, 2010 December 13, 2018 sdurank December 10, 2013 Reply The pictures are lovely, as always. I've seen Arbutus a bunch of times but I never knew the construction was interesting! I'm partial to the multi-wrap cowl and this piece accomplishes it without extra bulk , which is nice when you live in the South (although it is cold this week in Durham!) and cowls are more decorative than functional. I love boots (and have more pairs of them) than most anybody I know so naturally I think these cuffs are amazing. Surprisingly, I don't have any cuffs of my own but I do have enough City Tweed in the exact same colorway to make them. MichelleCarter December 10, 2013 Reply Thank you, Sara! I just finished my own cuffs in City Tweed and I love them! I reduced the stockinette portion of the cuffs by a few stitches so the City Tweed would fit snug. Cassy Dominick December 10, 2013 Reply The cuffs and cowl are great! I bet it was hard for her to give them up until Christmas. Great pics. I live in the south (Arkansas), but we were just hit with some snow and ice and much of the town was shut down from last Thursday till today. I'm jealous of all the greenery in your pics, but then again, it's definitely sweater weather here. britt December 11, 2013 Reply lovely and so cozy looking! autumngeisha December 11, 2013 Reply I have been following along with your boot cuff making with interest. These gorgeous pics sealed the deal. Will be making a pair for myself very soon! Lovely daughter! Laura Collins December 11, 2013 Reply I have been lurking, reading your blog for almost a whole year (since the lovely cardi you made for the Downton Abbey KAL) (your blog is one of my favorites!) and this cowl is the thing that's finally brought me out of lurk! What a cool cowl, and such a smart design. Your photoshoot of it is just styled perfectly, too. Lovely, lovely knit accessories. MichelleCarter December 12, 2013 Reply Thank you, Cassy. It was hard for her to give up, but she's not getting as many gifts as in years past (Once they hit a certain age, they mainly want tech gifts) so I wanted her to have a few more things to unwrap. Don't be jealous, all the greenery is about to die or turn a sickly yellow. Then we'll have moderate cold, no view, and no snow. MichelleCarter December 12, 2013 Reply Thank you, Vanessa! I can't wait to see your Arbutus and cuffs! I want an Arbutus for myself, but I'm committed to some other knits from Journey and finishing sleeves at the moment. MichelleCarter December 12, 2013 Reply MichelleCarter December 12, 2013 Reply Thank you, Tien! I'm anxious to see your yarn choice for these! MichelleCarter December 12, 2013 Reply Thank you! I'm so glad you commented, Laura! I originally started this blog for my own benefit, but over the years have seen it grow to become a dialog between myself and other knitters, crafters, photographers, women, men, etc. I love meeting people through it. If you're on Ravelry please friend me. You're right, Arbutus is incredibly cool! I like knitting for the stuff I get to wear, but it's so much fun when the process is interesting too. As for the "photoshoot" , she was only home for a few minutes and we raced outside to catch the last little bit of light. I took so many failed photos. I'm just going to have to wear glasses most of the time now- I can't tell when I'm in focus anymore.	5,803
On July 18 when the first-year players hired by the Jacksonville Jaguars report to the team’s pre-season camp, safety Don Carey of Hampton Roads will be venturing to his tenth. By Published June 1, 2018 NSU’s Graduate of the Last Decade Award recently bestowed on him. On July 18 when the first-year players hired by the Jacksonville Jaguars report to the team’s pre-season camp, safety Don Carey of Hampton Roads will be venturing to his tenth. Carey, who lives in Chesapeake, and other new NFL veterans will be arriving with the rookies who are freshly drafted out of college to compete for the wealth and glory on Sunday afternoon, and Sunday, Monday and Thursday nights before thousands watching from the stands or on TV. This is not Carey’s first tour of duty in Jacksonville. He was a rookie safety for the Jaguars in 2008, before moving to the Detroit Lions in 2011. When he started his career, many of the Jag’s rookies he will report to camp with were still in elementary school. But before he prepares to venture into another grueling several weeks of preparing for the 2018 season, Carey has been devoting a lot of time in Hampton Roads. Carey is a graduate of Booker T. Washington High School in Norfolk and NSU Varsity football and sees himself investing into the community which helped build his character and sense of purpose. He did this in Detroit where as he was honing his football skills, he began developing his resume as a motivational speaker, philanthropist and author. The highlight of that investment in the Hampton Roads community and notably in the area’s youth is the 2018 Don Carey REECH Foundation Youth Football Camp- Norfolk on Sat, June 16, 2018. It will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. for hundreds of area youth (6-17) at NSU’s Dick Price Stadium. The one-day camp will introduce youth to the fundamentals of football in an energetic environment. Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading. Certified clinicians will use a series of drills to show passing, catching and running skills in a non-contact setting. REECH is an acronym for Carey’s non-profit organization, “Reaching, Educating, and Empowering Children”, particularly in the areas of science, technology, engineering and math. It is the brainchild of Don Carey and his wife Lakeisha Carey. The couple and their children reside in Chesapeake. REECH is designed, according to Carey, to impact inner-city youth by expanding their horizons to new opportunities they may not have known existed. It provides youth with tools to secure opportunity of academic achievement and exposure to diverse arenas they can ultimately be inspired in order to reach their maximum potential and become significant contributors to society. How he cultivated his civic mindset to invest in cultivating youth interested in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathemathics), giving back to his community and his view on his life is spelled out his a book he recently penned, “It’s Not Because I Am Better than You.” Carey received his Bachelors Degree in Building Construction Technology from Norfolk State University. He is also seeking a degree in Divinity now. But before he entered the NFL, he recalls it was working in the private sector applying his skills in a well paying gig in construction development that he acquired a deeper appreciation of STEM. Using his skills as an orator, Carey has evolved into a viable motivational speaker while promoting his cause and book. He has spoken at events at his alma mater during Spartan Week, a luncheon at the Chesapeake Men for Progress, and a youth conference of the Ground Zero Development as recently as May 19. “My story is that of a child, raised by a single parent, enrolled in an urban school, and attending an HBCU and overcoming many challenges,” said Carey, who said he wanted his life to be an example of an individual who overcame obstacles which have restricted the attainments of those less determined. Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading. Recently while six NSU graduates received the 2018 Distinguished Alumni Award, Carey had the Graduate of the Last Decade Award bestowed on him. Upon entering the NFL, Carey admits he had the speed, but not the biggest nor most talented defensive back arriving at his first training camp with the Jaguars. “But I knew I could outwork the others and was “teachable enough” to acquire the other skills needed to be in an NFL defensive back field,” he told the GUIDE recently. In football language, the defensive back field line must stop the offense from scoring. The best athletes are the Corner Back, where they and the safeties are the last barrier to keep the ball from moving and the opponents from scoring. According to Carey, he has developed his skills as a safety who must be prepared, intelligent, vigilant and fast. On average the wear and tear on a safety grants them four years of effective service. Carey has lasted a decade. In the early days of his career he worked with a literacy program where he was collecting books and distributing them to youth. Last year, Carey and his wife LaKeisha, who is an NSU Criminal Justice Studies Graduate, launched a scholarship for Northwestern University students seeking a degree in criminal justice. In 2016, he was nominated as Detroit Lions’ Walter Payton Man of the Year for his commitment to community service. The Detroit Lions Alumni Foundation awarded him again for his continued dedication to serving his community in 2017. Carey said he hopes to continue his work “giving back to the Hampton Roads community” and in Jacksonville in the coming years, even after his career in NFL is over. Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading. Carey says he looks forward to the upcoming season with the Jags, who racked up a 10-6 record, won the AFC South Division, but failed to get past the Patriots in the Conference Champion for a trip to the Super Bowl. Carey said the AFC South, the home of the Titans, Colts and Texans, will be highly competitive. The 10-year vet said he will lend his experience and leadership to help the team and himself reached their first Super Bowl in 2019.	6,243
The elephant looked jaded, old, and uncared for. He walked towards us and, like most elephants; he looked to be a gentle giant as he glided ever so gracefully along the concrete road. A small Thai man walked right beside him with a long wooden stick that was ready to strike should the elephant step out of line. Two guys sat on the elephant’s back and, being totally honest, I found it hard not to stare and judge. We were in Pai and had taken a trip out to Thom’s Pai Elephant camp on the outskirts of town. We had passed it the previous day whilst on route to the hot springs and, despite the fact that I didn’t know anything about the place, I knew we had to go back there. It was this sign and the scene behind it that caught my attention and made me want to go back. Thom’s claim to treat their elephants like family. Animal cruelty is something that they don’t tolerate and they claim to give tourists an unforgettable experience where they’ll be able to “interact with elephants responsibly.” The scene behind the sign painted a very different picture than what they were describing. There stood a very large elephant and he was crammed into a wooden framed shack with no room to move. He paced from side to side and he looked very agitated to be restricted in such a tight space. Something just didn’t quite add up with what they claimed and what I saw so I wanted to investigate more, which led us to witness the scene that I described at the beginning of the post. The elephant then came closer and, as he approached our bike, as much as I didn’t want to, I couldn’t but look in his eyes as he passed us. In that moment, I remembered what it was like seeing wild elephants in the Serengeti and how free and healthy they looked. This guy (or girl) that just passed us by looked the opposite of happy and healthy. A huge wave of anger washed over me. How could we, as a human race with brains and emotions, be treating an endangered species of animals like this? Why are we paying money hungry monsters to break the spirits of baby elephants and empowering them to physically and mentally torture these beautiful animals at an early age to make them submissive? And all of this so that tourists can sit on the back of a huge 9ft tall ‘wild’ animal and take some pictures. It’s disgusting. In an ideal world, all animals would have the space to roam freely I was once that tourist I’m talking about so I can’t judge those that still ride elephants because they don’t know about the dark side of this industry. And to be totally honest, like millions of other tourists, I couldn’t wait to get a picture on the back of an elephant when we first visited Thailand in 2011. Without doing any research into these kinds of camps, we stupidly signed up for a 1-hour trek in Phuket. My dream of riding through a pristine jungle on the back of an elephant that’s happy in his surrounds (how naive I was) was shattered. It turned out to be one of the worst things we’ve ever done on our travels and I couldn’t wait for it to finish. A guy carrying a bull-hook (which he wasn’t shy about using); the huge wooden frame that was placed on the elephants back so we could be comfortable; and the cramped spaces where these huge animals were kept between rides; it was all so wrong. Like lots of other tourists, I was unaware of the brutality these elephants go through. Had I known back then what I know now, I wouldn’t have done it. All the anger that I felt on that day in 2011 when we finished the elephant ride in Phuket came flooding back as I tried not to judge the two guys that sat on this elephants back in Pai. Perhaps they were just like the 2011 me I thought. Maybe they too weren’t aware of the sheer brutality that goes on behind the scenes. I was taking a video for Snapchat of the confined spaces that the elephants are held in when, with the corner of my eye, I spotted one of the guys that had been sat on the elephants back coming and he was running towards us. He got a little closer and I could see he was crying. “Please, please, please don’t sign up for these tours”, he pleaded with us whilst wiping his eyes. “We come from Argentina and I read that this place treat their elephants like family. They promised us they are kind to the animals and they lied to us. The mahout hit him with a stick and a hook. We didn’t know.” I assured him that we weren’t there to sign up for any tours and told him that we were there to do some Snapchat video to warn other tourists to stay away from places like this. He settled down a little and finally caught his breath. “Can I tell your followers what happened so they don’t make the same mistake as me? I feel too ashamed to show my face so please just let me talk.” We let him talk and reassured him that his message would reach our 1,000+ followers on Snapchat so something positive might come out of his bad experience. He vowed to spread the word about this particular camp in Pai, as did we, and we parted ways. You’ll hear the recording of what he had to say below. The video was filmed in 10-second segments, which is why some of his sentences are cut off. The purpose of this post isn’t to criticise those that go elephant riding because, at the end of the day, I did it. Most people that come to Thailand and support these kinds of places do so unknowingly with regards to what goes on behind the scenes so I can only hope to make those people second guess when booking a tour. I just want to share my experience of riding elephants in Thailand and my thoughts on this particular elephant camp in Pai so that I can help people make a more informed decision. Because the sad thing is that, as long as there are tourists willing to pay for elephant rides and animal circus acts, this industry will, unfortunately, continue to thrive. Some might argue that the people who work in this industry are poor and this is their only source of income. Others might argue that these elephants would have nowhere to go and no one to feed them if these camps were shut down. These elephants would pose danger to farmers and villagers if they weren’t contained by their handlers and, given the fact that they’ve most likely never had the chance to roam freely, it’s likely they wouldn’t survive in the wild for very long. And while I can see some logic in these points, as it would be mayhem if 100’s of 10,000-pound animals were suddenly set free to roam freely in cities, towns, and villages, my argument is there HAS to be a better way. I know I, for one, would be more than willing to support a sanctuary where elephant riding is banned, the elephants have sufficient space to roam and access to enough food and medical supplies etc. to live a healthy life. It’s just a shame the government wouldn’t get behind an initiative like this. If more and more camps changed their mindset and took a more ethical approach to attracting tourists and treating their elephants, those in the minority would soon have no choice but to follow suit. Finding a reputable sanctuary (like this one we visited in Chiang Mai) is a better option if you want to see elephants To Finish: There are some positive reviews on Tripadvisor for this particular elephant trekking camp in Pai. A guy called Thomas James also reached out to us who stayed with Thom and her elephants 4 years ago and he had some really good things to say about the camp (see comments below). So note that while we didn’t have any direct interactions with the owners of this company and we didn’t stay at the camp, this review is solely based on what we saw and heard from the Argentian guy and what we saw that day. Maybe that’s unfair to Thom and if we do return to Pai, I feel we should return to the camp and see what goes on behind closed doors and perhaps I’ll have more positive things to say. I hope I’ll have more positive things to say. But, for now, my recommendation is that if you do want to spend some time with elephants whilst in Thailand, I’d recommend doing your research. Don’t just choose a random camp. Please do research so that you choose a sanctuary whose ethics are in the right place and read reviews to be sure they practice what they preach. We visited Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai back in 2013 and, despite watching a very graphic video that depicts the terrible brutality of elephant tourism, it’s still one of our travel highlights. Bob Weber on April 1, 2017 at 18:48 Very interesting post. My wife and I went elephant riding near Bangkok. From a tourist perspective, it wasn’t exciting, and quite expensive; not worth it. It definitely wasn’t like in the brochures. I believe the animal was treated better than what you describe. I didn’t see any signs of mistreatment, unless giving rides to 3 people (me, my wife and the “pilot”), and a wooden frame, qualifies. And, I accept that it might. That’s a lot of weight, even though it is a very big and powerful animal. I also remember thinking how this animal could toss us and stomp us to death at any time. It gave me some respect of the animal, and I didn’t do anything that might anger it. I kept my feet in the seat structure, in case touching the animal might annoy it. Being fearful of my ride did not add to the enjoyment. We gave some money that hopefully would go toward the elephant’s upkeep. That’s what the pilot told us, and he seemed a like a nice man, but how can anyone know what goes on behind the scenes. For me, it was good to do once, and I hope the animal I rode is treated humanely, but I don’t see doing it again, and wouldn’t have done it the 1st time if I had any idea the animals were abused. I think it’s also important to remember that the poverty in Thailand is extreme. There were so many people begging on the streets, with all kinds of visible suffering. They have few opportunities to make money. This doesn’t excuse abuse of any kind, but it does factor into the balance of the people’s welfare and the animals. Is there an acceptable way to give elephant rides? I’m sure people’s thoughts will cover the full range, and in the end, it’s a personal choice. If people do decide to ride an elephant, I hope this posts helps them find better places than this one. Florence Murphy on April 10, 2017 at 15:44 You had a similar experience to mine by the sounds of it and like you, I wouldn’t have done it had I known the real terror that goes on behind the scenes. I too hope that the money we paid went to help the elephants in some way. It’s wishful thinking on our part I would think but we can only hope that was the case! I understand the link between this industry and poverty but honestly, much like I said in the post, there has to be a better way. The camps need to take a more ethical approach to what they’re doing. The demand for elephant rides is decreasing as more people are becoming aware so let’s hope that the new wave of tourists will create a demand for elephant sanctuaries where the animals are genuinely looked after. Let’s hope the ‘breaking of spirits’ of baby elephants becomes a thing of the past which will eventually put a stop to this industry altogether. All we can do is keep educating people to boycott these places and hope that big changes occur in the coming months/years. Thanks for your contribution Bob Phim on July 27, 2017 at 07:02 Why did you create this website to help elephants or for your own bussinees? I see elephants there are happy and have enough food for them. Florence Murphy on July 27, 2017 at 07:10 I wrote this blog to warn people to stay away from a camp that TREATS THEIR ELEPHANTS BADLY. They are NOT HAPPY elephants, no matter how much people try to disguise it. Thom's in Pai on July 28, 2017 at 02:57 I’m very upset about reading your article. Your review is based on a statement of one guy and your judgment without trying to find out a bit more information about my camp. You didn’t try to speak to me or to any foreign volunteers, who come to help me and stay here for couple of weeks or longer. How much time have you actually spend here? I generally agree with you that in most of Thailand the elephants are being exploited and mistreated and I’m sorry for your bad experience in Phuket, but that is NOT in my case. We offer riding WITHOUT seat which doesn’t harm the elephants in any way and we promote walking with them instead of riding, and bathing in the river. My elephants have been born in my camp and I have been training them myself, the same way you would train your dog. No beating or torture. The mahouts have to control the elephants as they are very large animals, so they carry wooden sticks with hooks. The elephants skin is about 3cm thick, so light hit with stick doesn’t harm them. The hook is there for a case of emergency. I can guarantee that happens very rarely, but we also have to think of a safety of our customers. Any mahout who had treated my elephants cruelly has been punished or fired if happened repeatedly. My elephants are being taken for walks and to the river with or without tourists and after 5 p.m. they are taken to the mountains, where they stay in the jungle for the night. They don’t stay in the pens all day long. You said they are chained, but I don’t chain them in the pen, as you can see in the video of yours. Western people have domesticated horses, keeping them in a stables with very little space and that’s ok with you? And yes the mahout is pulling the ear, but not in a harmful way. Would you say that pulling a dog on a leash is an animal cruelty? Thai people have domesticated elephants for centuries, so please don’t judge my culture, because I’m not judging yours. I hope that the problem of elephants extinction will be solve very soon, but the main problem is deforestation and I really do hope that other camps will learn how to look after the elephants well and stop torturing them. My elephants are my family and I treat them that way. You are more than welcome to come and stay in my camp to see for yourself. Max on February 9, 2019 at 09:18 I saw the elephants as well and it’s obvious why this post has been written! To raise awareness to people who have no idea how terribly these elephants are treated. We saw them chained to the ground with barely a foot in length of movement – imaging being changed by your ankle to the ground not being able to move walk or sit for hoursdays weeks years!!! These elephants are brutally treated into submission through fear and voiokent methods until they are so broken in sport that the loose all courage and will power.. it is a cruel industry to use these magnificent creatures our entertainment Anthony on April 3, 2017 at 17:15 I’m still haunted by my photos of me on top of the elephants with my cousin in Cambodia. We meant well and didn’t know the true brutality of what goes on, I should really write about that too but I do think there is a huge global awakening happening about this and more and more people are boycotting elephant riding. Florence Murphy on April 10, 2017 at 15:33 The more articles out there about it, the better Anthony so do write about it when you get the time. Hope you’re keeping well Ray on April 10, 2017 at 04:06 Never ridden an elephant before, but with warnings such as these, I don’t think I ever will! Florence Murphy on April 10, 2017 at 15:12 Nausheen on May 15, 2017 at 09:33 I love elephants and really can’t stand it when innocent animals have to go through this kind of harsh treatment, i would be just glad to look at them and feed them their favorite food. Thom Ruecha on July 27, 2017 at 07:58 I’m very upset about reading your article. Your review is based on a statement of one guy and your judgment without trying to find out a bit more information about my camp. You didn’t try to speak to me or to any foreign volunteers, who come to help me and stay here for couple of weeks or longer. How much time have you actually spend here? I generally agree with you that in most of Thailand the elephants are being exploited and mistreated and I’m sorry for your bad experience in Phuket, but that is NOT in my case. We offer riding WITHOUT seat which doesn’t harm the elephants in any way and we promote walking with them instead of riding, and bathing in the river. My elephants have been born in my camp and I have been training them myself, the same way you would train your dog. No beating or torture. The mahouts have to control the elephants as they are very large animals, so they carry wooden sticks with hooks. The elephants skin is about 3cm thick, so light hit with stick doesn’t harm them. The hook is there for a case of emergency. I can guarantee that happens very rarely, but we also have to think of a safety of our customers. Any mahout who had treated my elephants cruelly has been punished or fired if happened repeatedly. My elephants are being taken for walks and to the river with or without tourists and after 5 p.m. they are taken to the mountains, where they stay in the jungle for the night. They don’t stay in the pens all day long. You said they are chained, but I don’t chain them in the pen, as you can see in the video of yours. Western people have domesticated horses, keeping them in a stables with very little space and that’s ok with you? And yes the mahout is pulling the ear, but not in a harmful way. Would you say that pulling a dog on a leash is an animal cruelty? Thai people have domesticated elephants for centuries, so please don’t judge my culture, because I’m not judging yours. I hope that the problem of elephants extinction will be solve very soon, but the main problem is deforestation and I really do hope that other camps will learn how to look after the elephants well and stop torturing them. My elephants are my family and I treat them that way. You are more than welcome to come and stay in my camp to see for yourself. Florence Murphy on July 28, 2017 at 03:25 Hi Thom, I’m sorry you’re upset to read my article on your camp in Pai. Yes, my review was based on the cruelty I saw in a short time and on the experience of one guy who did spend a day at your camp. He was crying and really upset that the elephants were treated badly whilst taking him and his friend on a ride. But my review was also based on some research I did on your camp. Some of the views I’ve seen from people that have paid to visit your camp include words like “Cruel” “Animal Abuse” and “Horrific”. These are from Tripadvisor and have been left by tourists. So I’m clearly not the only person that thinks what you’re doing is wrong. Here’s just a snippet of what a girl had to say; “While riding the elephants the first thing I noticed was the machete on the back of a bamboo stick the trainer was carrying. He used it to stab, cut and club the elephant. There we cuts on top of the elephant and he was bleeding. ” Yes, I did have a bad experience in Phuket, but I also had a really good experience at an elephant sanctuary in Chiang Mai. Was your camp (from what I saw) as bad as the one in Phuket, no. But was it anywhere close to the place in Chiang Mai, definitely NOT. If you think that riding them without a seat is ok and painless, why would you promote walking then? It doesn’t really make sense. And I also find it hard to believe that ‘hooks’ and sticks are used only in an emergency. The guy I spoke with (and I have a video of him saying this) said that the mahout used the hook whilst he was on the elephant. There was no emergency and, in his opinion, no need to inflict physical harm on the animal. The elephants WERE chained when I was there. I can send you pictures if you’d like to see them? They were in pens with NO SPACE to move, to turn around or to sit down. One elephant was rocking back and forth and was visibly shaken. I also have a video of that. There are problems across the world with horses, dogs, goats, pigs and many other animals and it’s definitely not ok. I’m not judging your culture in any way but whether they are born in captivity or stolen from the wild, elephants must be emotionally and mentally broken before people can climb onto their backs. And we know what that entails. That is NOT the case when training a dog so your comparison is totally unfounded. I understand that they’ve been your family for years and you need funding to survive and look after them, but taking a different approach would help the elephants, your family and your reputation more. Thom Ruecha on July 28, 2017 at 08:11 I still don’t see any cruelty in your video and you are not really responding to what I have written. I wouldn’t really call reading through a tripadvisor a research and you don’t have to quote reviews as I have read them. Some of them are talking about the opposite camp as I found out, not about mine. I have also read the good ones, which are majority. The mahout may carry machete with them for cutting grass. Even in the worst camps, I haven’t seen anyone using machete to cut the elephant, that’s just ridiculous. And if they would, my elephants would have a visible scars from that, which they don’t, because when elephant skin heals it stays pink. I hope that the shaken Argentinian tourist has reported the animal abuse to me, but I don’t recall that particular incident. Also all the other people writing review should have reported it to me. Many of them had, but many haven’t. If he had I could have punished the mahout. For the record, I have fired one of my mahouts yesterday for repeated abuse of my elephant. You don’t have to send me your pictures, they are not chained, I can see it in your video. And if I had chained them sometimes I had a good reason for it. I’m not talking about problems of abusing dogs and horses, I’m talking about standard ways of looking after them, like horses being kept in stables, when they are not ridden or leading a dog on a leash or chain them. So do you call it animal abuse? Write an article about it! You have also being pulled by husky sled in Bulgaria. I don’t think it’s animal abuse, they are trained to do that for tourists or for entertainment of their owners, the same way my elephants are trained for riding. But why don’t YOU call it animal abuse? Putting weights on 3 months old puppies so they get used to it? I know what your reply to that will be. That they enjoy to do that. My elephants enjoy being in the water with tourists. Also most of those dogs are chained and kept in cages, when they don’t work. I have seen it. My elephants are kept in a pen, they do have a space to turn around and elephants don’t naturally sit down. The elephants name on your video is TutDao and she moves like that all the time, even if she’s in the jungle. The other elephant doesn’t do that, they are not stressed. When elephants are stress they sway around, different move than she does. And as I said they are kept in a jungle after 5p.m. every night and they get to spend a free time on the river side during the day. I also have an old elephant kept on a big farm far away from tourists. I recently rescued her from south of Thailand to stay safe with me, while she’s living her last years. But you clearly don’t know any of those things because you have done NO research around my camp. Not all the elephants are trained by breaking spirits. I have 4th generation of domesticated elephants born in captivity when there’s no need for that. There are many new ways how to train them and I have trained my elephants by rewards of fruit and such. You can read about the new methods in the article below. And at last, we are promoting walking with elephants instead of riding just simply because we prefer them to work a bit less than they would have to. Can you please explain me why don’t you write an article about the camp in Phuket or all the other camps where they use the seats and getting beaten to bleeding or about the elephants still working hard on the farms? Or why don’t you focus on fighting the real existential problems of those animals? So if you actually want to do some research about my camp and elephants, my offer still stands. You are welcome to stay here for a week or so. Training and handling Steven Spielberg on January 22, 2018 at 10:50 Nice post.Elephants or any other animal,they are not for humans fun.Love them treat them like humans.All animals deserve respect and freedom.Thanks for sharing this blog.Keep sharing. Thomas James on February 18, 2018 at 11:26 I think you have made some shocking assumptions based on a few minutes’ footage taken from the side of the road and some trip advisor reviews (which at any time and about any place are quite often based on ignorance not facts). Any kind of journalist/blogger owes it not only to their readership but to the person they are defaming to actually take the time to research thoroughly and know what they are talking about. You certainly owed Thom the common decency to engage with her; I know for a fact she would have settled a lot of your fears. It is very easy for us westerners to apply western standards to a culture we know very little about. I stayed with Thom and her elephants four years ago. I wanted to be as involved as I could. Every morning we woke at sunrise and trekked into the jungle to meet the elephants, who live in a vast open space around which there are boarders for a very good reason: poachers. Our Manout explained to us very carefully that without the protection given by people like Thom, these elephants would be at great risk of being poached. Perhaps Thom caters to western tourism and perhaps you see something innately untrustworthy about that; but the money she raises by doing so offers these elephants protection. And I can promise you those elephants were happy and well provided for. I bathed them every day, I played with them every day, I went into fields of elephant grass with a machete everyday to cut food for them, and every evening we trekked back into the jungle to their home. I didn’t for one second see any elephant being coerced into doing something it wasn’t happy to do. The respect they were afforded was almost religious. Have you ever tried walking an elephant on a lead? No; they use sticks in the same way we use leads on dogs. Even the RSPCA doesn’t have an issue with using leads to train dogs. Having worked with elephants, I can assure you I don’t have enough strength in me to hit an elephant with a stick hard enough for it to even bat an eyelid! Thom doesn’t just cater to western tourism; she educates people on the lives of elephants in Thailand and if you had bothered to engage with her you might have learnt this. What is the alternative you propose for these elephants? Perhaps without Thom they would end up at the dismal elephant camp across the street (unfortunately so close to Thom’s that I wouldn’t be at all surprised if ignorant trip advisor reviewers were reviewing the wrong place). I commend your intentions, but your assertions are based on so little information. I have worked with animals my entire life, and there isn’t a single thing you can say that will change my mind about Thom’s love for her animals, and the happy life and safety they enjoy because of her. Florence Murphy on February 18, 2018 at 12:51 I’m really glad to hear some positives about Thom’s place. However, I can’t ignore what I experienced that day at the camp. Even though I didn’t spend a lot of time there or I didn’t pay to ride elephants at Thom’s, I did witness cruelty from the short time that I observed the elephants at the camp. And the reactions of the guys that thought they were doing good by paying to spend time with and ride the elephants still haunts me. They paid money thinking that they were helping and instead were subjected to an elephant ride where their elephant was constantly hit with a spike and mistreated. That’s enough for me not to advise people to visit this place. I didn’t have much correspondence with Thom here as we chatted over on Facebook about it and we came to the conclusion that although she may be doing better than other camps are (and I don’t deny that she is), we agreed to disagree on just how much better she’s actually doing. Unfortunately, I don’t know what the alternative is and I don’t have the answer that will ensure the elephants that have been broken and kept in captivity to entertain Western tourists enjoy a better life. Letting them roam free obviously isn’t the answer but allowing people to ride on them and mishandle them certainly isn’t either. I’m glad you had such a great experience but what I saw that day was in total contrast to what you’ve described your experience to be like. I can’t ignore what I saw and heard from those guys that day. I have visited other camps such as Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai where elephants are kept in captivity for their protection but they’re well looked after and what I saw from Thom’s was a stark contrast. Maybe I owe it to Thom to return and learn more about what she’s doing and perhaps I will. But until I have proof that her elephants aren’t mistreated, I can’t recommend the camp to anyone and I’ve written this review based on my experience, albeit a short one. Thanks for your contribution Thomas and I’m happy to hear that you had a great experience there. Let’s hope more people have an experience that’s similar to yours rather than mine. Thomas James on February 19, 2018 at 11:16 Thanks for your reply, Florence. I think it would be amazing if you could spend some time with Thom and speak with her about the situation. I remember her to be massively informative, knowledgable and above all open to discussion about everything (I had many questions about the welfare of elephants in SE Asia!) I can see that she is open to this; my advice would be to stay (if you can) a few days and really experience what goes on behind the scenes – nothing was hidden from us, we were involved in looking after the elephants 24hrs a day and learnt so much. Perhaps the good that could come from this would be your helping each other to understand the differing perspectives between locals and westerners! I would be very interested to read your follow up report, and I really hope that you have a positive experience. Best, Florence Murphy on February 19, 2018 at 11:38 That would be great Tom and I’ll definitely get in touch with Thom when I’m in Pai again and we can organise something. In the meantime, I’ll edit the post to say that my review was based on my experience and that you and others have had a lot more positive things to say so that people can get both perspectives and make up their own minds based on that. I’ll have an update here if I get to stay with Thom so I’ll keep you posted. Thanks again for your contribution. Thomas James on February 19, 2018 at 14:40 Brilliant! Thanks Florence. Look forward to hearing more, and hope you enjoy your time in Pai. Tom Jimmy Welborn on September 15, 2019 at 19:36 I certainly hope all this disgust applies to humans riding horses, too. Like elephants, horses have been ridden by humans for thousands of years. There are many stables and individuals that mistreat horses. Do you advise everyone to stop riding horses because that fact? Probably not. How about directing all this angst at individual owners that haven been proven to mistreat their animals instead of making blanket statements about entire ways of life?	31,707
"Well, Mr. G., he's not really throwing them at her. Do you know who that little boy and girl are?" "No, Grandma." "That little boy is Grandpa and the little girl is me. We were about two years old. We didn't even know each other then because we lived a long ways from each other. My mommy and daddy took the picture of me playing in the snow and Grandpa's mommy and daddy took the picture of him. We really weren't throwing snowballs at each other - it just looks like we were." Mr. G. looked a bit puzzled as he moved to on other things. These sweet little pictures from the past are in a double frame on my little lamp table in the living room each winter. They usually lead to an interesting discussion whenever someone visits for the first time. But no conversation about the pictures of my sweetheart and I are as special as the one not long ago with our dear grandson, Mr. G. Written by Adrienne at 10:09 AM 4 comments: Mimi December 1, 2007 at 2:00 PM what sweet pictures of the two of you... one would never know you were not playing together.....sweet memories...........and grand kids love to see pictures of you when you were little... because they can not believe that you were ever young... let alone little like them!! ReplyDelete Replies Paula December 2, 2007 at 9:48 PM Oh, what an adorable story and precious pictures. Thanks for sharing those sweet memories! ReplyDelete Replies Essential Oil Premier University December 3, 2007 at 11:52 AM What a treasure. . . both the photos and the comments by your grandson. ReplyDelete Replies Anonymous December 5, 2007 at 9:18 AM oh my goodness, these photos are so adorable. and how sweet about your grandson..i remember thinking it impossible that my grandparents were once wee ones. :o) ReplyDelete Replies I am grateful that you stopped by to visit me. Your kind and gracious comments are appreciated and treasured.	1,962
We serve millions of downloads a month... Now! Imagine earning on-going rewards of every lecture and quran audio and so on. As well as helping us cover our running costs and future projects! "I really think this is one of the greatest causes one could support" 10 May 2021 Episode Notes © No part of this transcript may be copied or referenced or transmitted in any way whatsoever. Transcripts are auto-generated and thus will be be inaccurate. We are working on a system to allow volunteers to edit transcripts in a controlled system. This audio is brought to you by Muslim Central. please consider donating to help cover our running costs and future projects by visiting www dot Muslim central.com forward slash donate I bear witness that none is worthy of worship except Allah. And Muhammad Rasulullah Salallahu Salam is the Messenger of Allah. Brothers and sisters, we are back again, it is the 27th night, which is highly likely to be a lot of coverage just because the oma in sits so and it is one of the odd nights. And it might be a little further we are backward and the Sapiens Institute Live View. Why are we here? I am joined with the living legend, the very line of Africa literally because he is from Egypt. Egypt is technically. Okay, so brothers and sisters today, or actually tonight, we are with you for a very, very special appeal 27 night and we need your support. We need your support to support the oma, the youngsters, the potential of this oma we need to create a legacy. Today's topic or today's title that appeals title is creating your legacy, producing your legacy. How do we do that? This is what we've been talking about throughout all the appeals. So Sapiens Institute is doing some excellent work. In the last nine months alone, Sapiens has trained 6000 leaders, potential Muslim leaders 6000 individuals, on how to give Tao intellectually and academically with confidence. This is what we want to do. The best response to Islamophobia is to create enough intellectuals and leaders who can speak for themselves, who can speak their minds without any fear of persecution, any fear of any intellectual threat for that matter. So people are asking questions about Islam, and Sapiens is doing its best, through different means to answer those questions. Hey, job, we are here with Sapiens Institute. So tell us why we need to support tonight. simple terms. Why do we need to support tonight, what's going on? This is the night that if numbers are so low on who he reckoned it was the day late, because actually had very interesting reasoning. He said he looked at the surah. And there are 30 words in that song. And the 27th word was here. So he said that look at this, the 27th word is basically meaning it is he had term of life. You know, so he said here is that must mean that it's on the 27th night and this has had a lot of backing from the time of the seller from the time of the Sahaba all the way, as you've mentioned, to our present time. 00:03:11--> 00:03:36 And this is a night, which is worth 83 years, 1000 months, 83 years of worship. Now if you want to put that in mathematical terms, that means to say that everything you'll do will be multiplied by I don't know 10,000 or whatever it may be. And according to the majority of scholars, the night starts as of time. So many it's in many ways we have entered Okay, the mircette maybe not the Lail but the mircette. So this is the time Even now, if you wanted to do charity, or prayers or a car or hold on, or whatever it may be, so you can maximize your authorly profits, your hereafter profits, then the time is now there's no doubt about it. You know, the Sahaba and the Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam himself used to roll up his sleeves if you like, he used to tighten his loincloth in the last 10 nights, and on this night, it was like one of the most important nights so he would be the most active on this night in terms of worship, in terms of giving in terms of all these kinds of things. Now, imagine that one pound that you would potentially give to charity in any other night. Today, it will be multiplied by so much. I don't know why anybody who believes in Islam. Anyone who believes in Islam would not capitalize on a situation like this. 100% agreed 100% thank you but a job for that introduction. Brother sisters Sapiens Institute is doing what many other organizations are not doing. The focus is very niche. We are focusing on empowering the Muslims in how to give our intellectually and academically, okay? We lack in leadership, unfortunately not because we don't have the potential not because we don't have the ability, because we haven't been paying attention to it. We need more and more leaders. We need more and more speakers, we need more and more intellectuals and educated people. Most people working with Sapiens Institute are highly educated people who produce their own literature, they have written books, they have done debates and discussions and talks. They've been involved in our for nearly a decade, some of them, right. So why is this institution important? Why is it important? Because what we aim to do within the next year is absolutely phenomenal. Okay, what we aim to do within the next year is we want to train 10,000 10,000 Muslim Muslims in how to give our intellectually that's what we want to do. And at the same time, we will be producing videos, media productions, books, articles, right? We will be developing further our lighthouse mentoring service that provides service for anyone with doubts or questions, one to one service with one of the Sapiens Institute experts, right? Imagine tonight is a little closer and you decide to support our work, training and developing over 10,000 people to intellectually share Islam. Imagine how many hearts they will transform. Imagine the number of Shahada supporting us is supporting the engine that drives the Tao forward. These are some of the amazing things we have planned to do after Ramadan within the next 12 months, empower and train 10,000 Muslim, complete a free book addressing all of the main doubts against Islam that can be found offline and online. publish your website responding to anti Islam websites, expanding our lighthouse mentoring service, developing it further, then, professionally can 10 free courses free of charge courses with slides and notes on our new free learning platform published two new books on top of what has already been published. If you go to Sapiens website, brothers sisters, you will see brother Hamza, so this is book on atheism, possibly the only treatment of atheism in from the Muslim perspective, maybe there are more. But this is a very extensive and lengthy book. 00:07:41--> 00:08:23 And the title of the book is the divine reality, the divine reality God, Islam and the mirage of atheism, excellent book that has been translated into many, many, many different languages including Arabic, Persian, Urdu, bangla, and it's been translated into other languages as well. It is available free of charge on Sapiens Institute website. Likewise, wear the hijab has written books on other intellectual topics. But what books are available online on Sapiens Institute free of charge to download your books, in particular, get the scientific deception of the new atheist which is a small booklet that was recently put up this this book is kind of a complement to what hundreds was done by focuses more on how the new atheist with a more of a refuge culture and actually what the new atheist movement and as I say, this is just one of many different things that are going to come up this year and we're talking about the year 2021 there's gonna be many more publications probably three by the end of this year, you know, just for me alone, or that will be contributing to inch inshallah Allah. So that's going to that's going to be stuff that's going to be available free of charge on the Sapiens Institute, website and download, and they can take those arguments. And it's research that's hours and hours and hours, and people don't have time for that people do not have time to spend 10s, if not hundreds of hours looking into references, going and seeing what this book says what that person says, even going through audio information, video information. 00:09:27--> 00:09:59 People don't have time for that they just need to refer to the Arabic as the sub will be the cream. What is what is the bottom line now? How do we summarize the best arguments in in 20 or 30 pages in 100 pages? Why will kalama Paula doll and the best words are that which is brief, and which is straight to the point. And that's why we're not obsessed with creating voluminous works or encyclopedic works on these topics. Very, very niche academic Topic sound people IV academic centers and ivory towers would be interested in. These are things which people are gonna go into college to go on to university will be in contact, they will encounter these things, it's a matter of probability. If you have a child in school, you know, if you have a child and you're 1011 1213, they will encounter the new atheist narratives, they will encounter Darwin, Darwinism, and that used as an argument for the lack of God's existence or for atheism, or, or you will encounter communism and how that can be used to undermine religion, you will encounter liberalism or how that will be used to undermine religion, you will encounter the dominant, the dominant narrative against Islam, which unfortunately, many public academics have adopted, okay, and promulgated, and will continue to promulgate people that are in this country and in the West, and in the Middle East. And all over the world now in the globalized world that we live in, will encounter these things. So just in the same way, as you'd want to inoculate yourself, from physical viruses from from actual viruses, you know, we should also be trying to inoculate ourselves from spiritual things that can come and corrode and corrupt and destroy someone's email. And so that's why we say this is what we are dedicated to do. 00:11:30--> 00:12:10 You know, we believe that we are on the right track we believe in in five years, there will be a paradigm shift, we actually believe we can have demographic change. We believe the demographics in terms of conversion, we believe in that we believe that people can, that would otherwise leave the religion would stay in the religion. And we have the evidence to back that up. We have evidence, clear evidence, sociological evidence to show that the more confidence is put injected into the Muslim community through this work that we're doing, as you've mentioned, which has serious multiplier effect implications, okay, has serious multiplier effect implications, where you train people, and then they go into their own communities, and then they train other people. It's not only just people pick trade and cleaning other people, it's the arguments because one teacher of mine says something really powerful. You know, and I remember and it's such a good point. People don't necessarily remember books, and people don't remember all that is written. Behind me there are there are hundreds of books and hundreds of pages within each book. You read that you're not going to remember. But people remember argument. Okay, people remember, remember argument, all we are doing really is we are we are experts are creating arguments. We are argument creators, we are knowledge producers, okay. And we're not saying that fossil, or trying to take care of naps or whatever. No, we know. That is what we do with different kinds of service historical arguments, whether it's logical arguments, whether it is metaphysical arguments, or theological arguments, we are specialized in the field of creating arguments. And arguments are the intellectual currency. Okay, they are the intellectual currency for a change of one's behavior and thoughts. If you want to change someone's perspective on something, you have to use an argument. There's no way around it. And so if we have a people in the 00:13:37--> 00:13:42 oma that are just concerned with argument creation, argument creation, then what we have is really these arguments I collect the proverbial armory. The Quran says, you know, beautiful verse. Well, I'd allow Mr. tatelman, kuwa, my rebuttal Haley to be here, I do allow I do you know, that and prepare for them, what you can from armory, and from, you know, from horse backs, and all these kinds of things, that you may cast fear into the hearts of the enemies of Islam, and your enemies. So we that's, that's at the time of the Prophet that was a military preparation. But the truth of the matter is, in many ways, it can be argued that the intellectual preparation is as important, if not, in many cases more important than military preparation. How could the oma of Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam be so incompetent and be so negligent? And be so irresponsible, as to allow all of its competitors in falsehood because every other to be quite open? Every other ideology is false. When we say with great confidence we know that of truth, and we the onus, or the possessors of truth, because Allah has given it to us in the form of Revelation. We are not spending time to just assess what the Quran has to say about these issues and to package the Quranic arguments in a modern context, how incompetent and how irresponsible of the Muslim Ummah, if we were if that were the case, this is just what doula Xena cafaro low toughie. One se hace como MTR tricom, fayemi Luna Allah convey Latin wahida as the Quran says, you know the those disbelievers the enemies. They wish that you that you that you just you know, in competent with your weapons and your possession so that they can attack you one time literally one time that you are just heedless that you let your you know your weapons down. This is military, the prophet of Islam, through the Quran has been given injunctions on how to act militarily. Don't let your weapons go Don't do this. But what about the intellectual weaponry? What about when the Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam was instructed and in fact the Quran tells us in the end of surah Shara, this is such This is a passage I request everybody goes into the last verse of samsara and go and check this up to chapter 26. What Allah subhanaw taala talks about ashara the poet's at a time and then at the end, Allah He is in the lead in Andromeda solly had one parcel one embodiment volume. 00:16:47--> 00:17:05 And when the when the Buddha was talking about this, and so the Shah, they said in except for the ones who believe and do Rocky's rights and that they respond, they respond after they have been oppressed. The professor's say they respond in the form of poetry. 00:17:06--> 00:17:15 Wait a minute, I want you to everyone that's listening to this, I want you to just pay attention to this point. You might be doing other things, but I just want you to pay attention to this point. Why is it that Allah has asked us has asked us to respond with poetry to the poetry that has been hurled at us about about Islam, because it has to be within the same category. If someone attacks you physically, you defend yourself physically, if someone attacks you intellectually, you must defend yourself intellectually. It does not do any good. To attack someone physically, who is attacking you intellectually, makes no sense. Someone comes and tries to tell you some theory and then you kill them. As happened with Galileo or something, this is not going to kill his ideas, you can kill him, but you're not going to kill his ideas. The only way to kill ideas is with other ideas. The only way you can destroy ideas is with other ideas. And it's natural that when you believe in an ideology rejected will have its competitors. And we accept the idea of Islam submission to Allah and we reject all of his competitors. And so, if Allah subhanho wa Taala, is instructing the Sahaba and is instructing the prophet and those around him to respond. Or those who can those poets to respond with poetry, to the poetry that has attacked the Muslims? That I say to you in bed, Allah, that we respond on social media, on the internet, with books, with intellection, with rationalization, with facts, with arguments, with rationality, with Judo and argumentation, all of this with those who are attacking us in the same way. It only makes sense if this is the attitude of the early generation, that if they attack you with poetry, let's get our best poets, our best expert poets I've been trained in, in the field of poetry, and let them attack them with poetry, and whether a job What did what did the Prophet sallallahu Sallam say about a poet who was defending him? upon Allah, you know, when the Prophet was attacked sallallahu Sallam in, in the poetry of one of the points from Makkah. So the prophets will assume to defend himself. He used the same medium to respond. Law, what did you do? He put his son in Tibet on the member in Medina, and he tells him to defend me and then what does he say, oh, Allah, help him, strengthen him through jabril inspire him. In other words, don't have revelation upon him rather send inspiration to him that he can come up with eloquent words. Defending the Prophet of Allah, and then he came up with these words will Asana mean column terracotta ayeni or ademola mean column tally denisa o Holika mbarara unmin Kali I've been Kanaka Holika Kamata Sha, oh, that was main column. Allah, Allah, a woman has not given birth to a more beautiful child and you, My eyes have not gazed upon a more beautiful face than yours. You were created free of force as if you were telling Allah subhanaw taala how to create you, Allahu Akbar. This was one of the most eloquent words are uttered by a point. So the point we are making a brother and sisters is that we need to defend Islam intellectually when it is the most attacked faith in the world. This is the Sunnah of the Prophet sallahu wa sallam, when the name of the Prophet was tarnished. When it was maligned, when the Prophet was insulted by a Mexican point, the Prophet did not defend himself because it was Muhammad insulted, it wasn't something to do with his ego, or with his personal self likeness. Rather, it was to defend Islam, the personality of the Prophet sallallahu Sallam equals Islam, his personality, his person is a model for us. So if you tarnish the model, you tarnish the work and the message. That's why the Prophet defended him. So therefore, even today, we have to defend the Prophet sallallahu Sallam to defend our faith to defend the credibility and the integrity of Islam for that Sapiens. institute.org. forward slash donate live is the link my brothers, sisters 27 nights of the month of Ramadan, it may well be a local cover. And you may not find another chance like this to defend the honor of Islam, the honor of the prophet in an intellectual, academic, eloquent way. This is what Sapiens plans to do. Produce leaders, intellectuals, academics, qualified people, educated people who are going to defend Islam against an onslaught, a global onslaught of Islamophobia. Islam is the most attacked faith in the world. There are no two opinions about that. This is not even a secret anymore. People are saying this openly that Islam is the most attacked faith in the world, right? Muslims are the most attacked people in the world. Muslims are the most dehumanized and demonize people in the world. What are we going to do about it? Are you going to sit idle while a job was talking about preparing, preparing more so more importantly, prepare yourselves intellectually. Intellectual progression is as important as other forms of preparing yourself or your defense. This is about defense mechanism. This is about defending the intellectual boundaries of Islam. This is defensive robot. This is a defensive robot. My brother says his robot is when someone is guarding the boundaries of the country at night so that people within the country can sleep within the bounds within the borders. Right? This is intellectual rebar, Sapiens is working on leaders, those who will do intellectual rebar to the right so that so that the rest of the Muslim Ummah can sleep with peace at night. Okay. So this is your chance to come forward and start donating. Without donations, this train will slow down, it will not stop, but it will slow down. Do you want us to speed? Do you want us to grow? Do you want us to defend Islam? Do you want us to create the leaders who will defend Islam? Do you want us to educate your youngsters, your children? Do you want us to do that then this your child's brothers sisters, you cannot let go of a chance like this 27 Night of the month of Ramadan may well be Laila to Qatar. And Allah said mama Agra Kamala la Kolkata What do you know what the night of power is? Laila to the vitamin l fish er, it is better than 1000 months it is better than 1000 months. So my brothers sisters Sapiens Institute, go on the website and see the kind of work this institution is doing what it has done in the last nine months, and what we seek to do in the next 12 months. So if you are invited to right now, click the link and start making donations and also Finally, where are those lines of Allah and lionesses of Allah to start a competition of making donations? Last appeared, Allahu Akbar, some lines of Allah came forward and they started a competition. So I need that first line of a largest competition 1000 pounds donation to encourage others so put out a challenge my brothers and sisters come online. Let us know that you have made this challenge. We will announce it for you just say that I will make a donation of 1000 pounds or 500 pounds. If someone matches it and watch what happens. We will have inshallah, a stampede, a stampede of donations. So you are the first person to enter Courage others will get the reward for all those who follow inshallah. So what brother job has been saying is music to my ears, you know, in the metaphorical sense, right? We don't like music by the way. This is this is one of those, you know expressions, figure of speech, music to my ears, okay? This is what we want to do. We want to prepare our oma our brothers and sisters to defend Islam intellectually, right? It is being attacked every single day. If we read the statistics to you, you will be shocked to realize that every few minutes, every few minutes, there is new anti Islam content put online, every few minutes if not seconds, every few minutes, new anti Islam, there is an onslaught. It is like a flood of Islamophobia, which is supported by presidents of countries. Hello, wake up brothers and sisters, this Islamophobic onslaught, this flood, this tsunami of Islamophobia is funded and supported by countries governments, presidents are doing it Macron the French president, you remember what he said two months ago about the Prophet about his so called freedom. You remember this means that these guys are at it. They want to tarnish Islam. It's not about freedom. It's not about freedom. It's about attacking Islam. What are we going to do about it? We are going to produce leaders who will respond intellectually, intelligently, compassionately, mercifully, with education, with confidence. That's the leadership we want to produce. That's the leadership we want to produce, who wants to be part of it. And one of these leaders if he brings people to Islam while defending Islam, your pennies, your pounds, will weigh heavy on your scales on the Day of Judgment, especially when you make the donation in the month of Ramadan, this village wants to come forward. Don't be left behind. Don't miss out on this chance, we want to see a flood of donations. If islamophobes are flooding the market with Islamophobia. We are going to flood the market with our support and our leaders. This is what we're going to do. This is the response the responses, we're going to flood the market with leaders, Muslim leaders with confidence and knowledge. And this is what we aim to do in the next year. Within the next 12 months. We want to train 10,000 Muslims 10,000 Muslims online and offline to be able to do that our intellectually and academically. Do you want to see that? If you do, don't think too much. Stop thinking and start making donations. And most importantly, share this live stream on your social media accounts. Start cheering. If you are on Youtube, just copy and paste the link everywhere you can. If you're on Facebook, share, share, share, that's the least you can do inshallah to support this work on the job. This is what I want to remind people most importantly, right. There are so many things to talk about. But why do they have to donate is the question why do Why must they Why must they support this cause while there are so many other causes, right? It's like you know, Tamia people came to check on Islam, while the Muslims are being attacked by the Mongols. Muslims are being physically attacked Muslim living wiped out completely by the Mongols. They came and they asked this question, shall we give our the cards our support to the poor people who are starving? Or shall we give it to those who are defending the Muslims against the Mongols? What was the response of shekel Islam? Are you aware of a job? No, no, this is news to me. His response was support those who are defending the boundaries of Islam, love those who are defending the borders of Islam, because if they are, if they fail to defend, then this poverty and this hunger and this mascara, it will increase, it will only escalate. Hence, my brothers and sisters support those who are defending the intellectual borders of Islam. We're doing intellectual ribat who are doing intellectual struggle against Islam folks, one of the greatest threats to have faced the Muslim oma in centuries, Islamophobia industry, a multi billion dollar industry. What is our response? Our response is intellectual activity, intellectual arguments, intellectual products, like videos, debates, discussions, dialogues, webinars, seminars, right training sessions, online and offline books, 00:29:35--> 00:29:59 publishing books, and the brothers we're working with Sapiens are all qualified in their respective fields. One is doing a PhD in philosophy of science like brother Sabu. Another one has a PhD in history, and during his postdoc in social sciences, and he has written a book on being human which can be found free of charge on the website, whether a job has done Master's in theology Islamic field Medina is doing Master's in Christian theology and is working on his PhD. Likewise, istok Hamza has done his master's in philosophy, right. And there are so many brothers working with this within Sapiens is doing amazing work he wants to continue. Right now is your chance to make donations, click the link and start making the donation. And I'm still waiting for that person to start the competition. Can we know if someone has come forward to pick off the competition to encourage others so what we're looking for is one brother or sister to come forward and say, or put out a challenge saying, I will donate 1000 pounds if someone can match it and watch what happens. We will have an onslaught of donations, which is the good old flawed, by the way, and shall we want that? Okay, so if there are any messages brothers and sisters, admin, please let us know if there's a message if someone wants to put up a challenge. Hey, job, we are facing a dire situation with Islamophobia attacked on a daily basis with impunity, attacked legally Muslim community in the world is the only community that is being demonized and dehumanized. And, and is being targeted by hate. legally. It is legal to do that, in many countries, amazingly, what are we going to do about this? Is the question. My mom always told me that if you don't take your rights is as if you don't have them. And we, we have the right, we have the right to defend ourselves. And I will I want to say the Muslim community is let's take all rights. Because otherwise, we're if as if we don't have them as as as if we don't have freedom of speech, as if we don't have freedom of expression, as if we don't have the ability to make no knowledge produce, it's as if we don't have any of those things. And so, if we don't make this step, and be active, persistent, and in our dissemination, our output in the upcoming years, then it's just gonna give all of the enemies of Islam an opportunity to attack. Already, I have to say, some things have already been destroyed or dispelled. Some things have are not working anymore. What we do at Staples is we speak to our people quite often. We speak to the Muslim community quite often. We know, through comments, through polls, through all kinds of measures, how things are developing because of our dowel. Some arguments that were being done against Islam are now almost worthless, for instance, we have seen the development of people who I've pulled myself using Twitter polling, and my own this channel on how many jobs channel, we saw, the extent to which these kinds of doubts affected Muslim communities. We dealt with it by for example, doing 30 odd Sapiens thought videos, which were very well researched, by the way. And then to be honest, those who watch that, that that video, which you can find on this channel, as well, for example, I put all of them in one one video, quite frankly, they, they were satisfied with it. So there were so satisfied with it, that there was nothing required after that the argument had been won. And the job had been done. Now, really, someone has, has been has heard something quite absurd. From one of those anti Islamic apologists like you've heard this, you know, whale, the whale on the back of the Earth is on the whale of the back or some stupid thing like that, right? Which is a fabricated narration where someone hears that. They don't know how to answer that. Oh, it's in poverty. Oh, it's in this book. It's in that book. So what if it's in those books, there's all kinds of things in those books, the Satanic Verses and so on. So many things in these books, right? The point I'm making is now people know how to answer those questions, and say these are references. These are the points and I would like to announce to the people today I'd like to announce that we have almost completed during Ramadan. By the way the work has not stopped during run, but just because it's Ramadan. The work doesn't stop during Ramadan. We have continued with, for example, this particular doubt of the scientific errors narrative, which is a very weak and pathetic narrative that the anti Islamic apologists have attempted against Islam and Muslims. We have come on almost completed and the next few days, the next draft will be done the transcription of all 30 all 30 episodes on the scientific miracle scientific errors narrative. And what will be included in that is all of the references. Because someone might argue, well, we don't have access to the references where the academic references, we will be providing every single academic reference. Some have told me that some of the anti Islamic apologists, they couldn't find the references because they have no access to the language. They said they want on Google and tried to find some of the references and they couldn't find that that's not my fault that someone cannot find references, that is the fact that they are incapable of accessing scholarly material. However, in order to, to make sure that everyone is satisfied, we will be providing all the references. Absolutely all of the references. The point is, is this when all of that is done, now, the net effect is when someone goes online, and they write errors in the Quran, or contradictions in the Quran, or something like that. What usually comes up, some anti Islamic website comes up, right? And some young man or some young lady is going to click on those links, and is going to possibly, and this is the frightening part here. possibly be convinced by some of those things. Because it sounds like they've got the references they're making. They're mentioning all the names of poverty, we can see it and all of this and all that. And then the question is, now we want a response to these particular things. Where do you go? So you write it? You might be lucky to find something on Islam QA website, which is not a specialist website for creating arguments, the facts website, they don't it's not their area of specialist. If your life if you can't find something from Islam QA, then maybe you'll find some blog. If not, maybe you'll find some speakers corner video, but it's not formalized, and it's not professionalized. What if now, and this is what we're going to establish, okay, I'm telling you, this is going to happen in the next six months, inshallah, six months, someone writes down these so called doubts, and they see Oh, this is not Muslims saying this, we want to see a response, the moment they want to see a response, the SEO, marketing, the search engine optimization, everything will be in place such that the, the, the responses to that in textual format, in video format, in audio format, in book format, in any format possible, will be made available. So these attacks on Islam become absolutely meaningless. The only thing the anti Islamic apologists are those fools that try to attack Islam can do is repeat the same arguments over and over again. And there is a saying, which might not be okay, if you think about you can be skeptical about the actual meaning. But insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting to get a different result. And the same thing with these anti Islamic apologists, they're just recycling the same things they said, and they've been debunked about it. They'll just say again, okay, now we've now you've run out of bullets. We know you have run out of bullets, and now the Muslim community, you know how to answer these questions. And we are seeing that, and it's a beautiful thing to see. You know, I personally, am in touch with the fan base I look at sometimes I'll answer all the messages I get, because it's just I don't have the time to. But we do have an analysis where we look at I look at my emails, I look at my messages. And I see what effect is, are the arguments that we're having, having on the Muslim community. And I know very well, that watch, personally, me and us as a team, because we do a lot of data analysis. By the way, what is not known is that we have a lot of back end stuff. We have a lot of back end stuff. We have computer science engineers helping us people that are professors in different universities, data analysts, looking at data using Google Analytics using software using AI technology. On Twitter, even I've put some of this in the scientific assumptions of the new atheists, I've referenced some of this, we come to decisions based on it on on the knowledge on the data. So we need, this is exactly what we need. This is what the Muslim community need. And just give it five years I promise you, okay, if this trajectory and the pace and the momentum what we're doing, even though we are a small team of people, what 20 or 30 years ago, we would never have been able to do what we're doing now because of the internet. Just be honest. We would never have been able to do the impact. We have more impact than 80% to 90% satellite channels that exists. The impact that we have now is phenomenal because of the internet. The internet has injected Dawa with steroids. That's what it's done. Now what we're saying is on this night, which is the 27th night, this is the 27th night of Ramadan. And in this time where we have a maximal opportunity, we're continually reaching hundreds of 1000s if not hundreds of millions and you think this woman wants hundreds of millions you think I'm over exaggerating? I'm not over exaggerating. All you have on that note, we have a challenge. Someone has said who wants to donate 100 pounds with me? Okay, we want to donate 100 pounds with Chung Chandan Chani, this person has been supporting for the last few appeals May Allah bless you may allow open the doors agenda for you. If it's a little cutter, you will do it again in sha Allah, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? Okay, you know that? I literally I'm not joking. Who Wants to Be a Millionaire with Allah? Okay, what is most important? We are millionaire with Allah who wants to have palaces and immense rewards in Jannah. Imagine if your worship Allah for more than 83 years. Most of us don't do it. We won't live that long. We don't know if we will. Most people don't live that long. And it was late tonight. You would have done it as if you have done it for more than 83 years which is impossible for any any human to do. The only way it's possible. Okay, got you, bro. Let's go. Who else? Okay, Samir. Okay, let's see some donations coming in Samir and Chandan. Sorry, I forgot your name. Whoever put the challenge out who wants to make a donation of 100 pounds with these individuals. They have come forward and they put out a challenge. Let's see how many can we get? I want to get Okay. I'll donate 100 pounds. Allahu Akbar. There you go. Angela. Maqsood, may Allah bless you. May Allah bless you. I want 30 of them, at least a 30 of them in the next 15 minutes. The other night I put out a challenge a job. Hamza went away for about 1015 minutes. And I asked our audience that before he gets back Allahu Akbar There you go. fatale. assadi. Facing the Saudi I'll donate 200 pounds with him Allah who this is what I want. So we have four so far. 26 to go I want to get 26 more in the next 15 minutes. That's the spirit I want I want people coming forward and supporting this work this noble work we are doing what are we doing Sapiens Institute is creating leaders creating legacy. This is what we want. We want this Omar to be defended with we want this oma protected intellectually and otherwise, we want this Omar to be protected. We want this Omar to be in a fortress intellectual fortress. And this is a fortress we are building Sapiens Institute. Okay, I'll donate $100 I wish I could donate $1,000 your $100 your $100 if it's local cover tonight, they will way more than $100 billion on the scale with Allah subhanaw taala so don't worry about that. 100 goes a long way my brothers and sisters who do damage damage children may Allah bless you 25 to go within the next 25 minutes sorry not 2515 minutes within the next 15 minutes 25 more donations of 100 pounds to go. This is the target and May Allah bless the person. Chandan His name is Chandra know her name is Chandan. Okay Chandan Johnny, thank you so much for starting this competition. We want another 25 donations of 100 pounds or $100 each the next 15 minutes who is going to do it for the sisters. It is one thing to want to support it is another to actually support come forward and support and those who want to support and cannot support for whatever reason. This Raise your hands. This Raise your hands and ask Allah to give us the success we are looking for in this blessed night. It may well be Lola Takada, I will join my brother hijaab to come and encourage people even on his own channel. We are broadcasting from a number of different channels. So the competition is still going 25 more donations of $100 or 100 pounds each. In the next let's say about 30 minutes. We have 13 minutes left. It is 44 now Okay, we have been live for 44 minutes I say before hitting the one hour mark. I want to be able to get at least 3000 pounds or $3,000 okay if you can do 500 pounds, do that so that we can move up insha Allah quickly. So anyone who wants to do 500 pounds or 1000 pounds, don't hesitate, come forward and do it. We need 25 donations within the next 1416 minutes I think for now 15 minutes. So before we hit the one hour mark, I want Okay, I'll donate. Someone said I will donate $100 I've read the comment already. We want more people coming forward to making the to make the donation. What is Sapiens Institute doing? Let me quickly explain to that you understand what you are making donations towards? Imagine if it's laid out on color. Can you imagine that? Imagine how many hearts they will transform these 10,000 people we train within the next 12 months. What is Sapiens wants to do in the next 12 months, empower and train over 10,000 Muslims to defend Islam academically and intellectually number one number to complete the free book addressing all of the main doubts. Number three, publish your website responding to leading anti Islam websites. Number four, expanding our lighthouse mentoring service one to one service for anyone with questions. Number five, professionally filmed 10 free of charge courses. It slides the notes on our new free learning platform number six published two new books on Islamic thought and proofs of Islam. Number seven produced over 60 new videos addressing doubts and providing a strong case for Islam. Number eight engage in for academic discussions and debates. At least four And finally number eight start a new podcast. This is phenomenal within the next year. Okay, Toba Jama has also donated 100 pounds a will donate 100 pounds. Now we are we are looking for 2424 more people are donate 100 university courses or 1000s of pounds or 1000s of pounds. But these brothers are offering a free service which is priceless. Absolutely. A very important point this brother Brother speed has made that universities charge 1000s of pounds for education Sapiens Institute is providing this education free of charge, even one to one service. Those people who have doubts and questions providing one to one service to them one to one sessions free of charge. books are available on the website free of charge authored by Sapiens members, webinars free of charge seminars free of charge, debates and dialogues free of charge. What more do we need brothers, this is what you are donating to us, you're making this possible you're making the creation the production of potential leadership possible. Okay, so we are looking for 24 more donations of 100 pounds or $100 each. If you're watching around the world, don't just watch help us raise these funds and start shaking your head start sharing click the Share button. The least you can do is to share the everyone watching on Facebook in particular share right now on your pages. If you're on YouTube, or on other platforms start sharing this live stream right now. So we are looking for 24 more people and we've got nearly 12 minutes to go before we hit the target. I'm very short I believe in the ability of this oma that we will raise 2400 pounds within 12 minutes, every minute weigh 200 pounds, every minute. Every minute, we need 200 pounds, we will read the target so wants to come forward. If you can give 500 pounds or 1000 pounds that will move us up drastically considerably. So anyway, last on hustling for your life I will level off and kathira who would want to give Allah subhanaw taala godly loans they can multiply for him many times over. And Allah subhanho wa Taala he mentioned in the Quran in the end of season one alpha corn, which is very interesting that the person will be saying, you know a bit Allah hartney illa actually hollyburn for a Sunda welcome mina solly hain that if you were to bring me back, I would give sadaqa and be someone of I'll be of the pious. And as soon as Luke Yama is mentioned in chapter 75 of the Quran, that the person will be saying for their sadaqa last Allah lacking because he did not give sada and he did not pray. So Allah He puts a southerner in the prayer together, but he belied and he turned away. He belied and he turned away. So sadaqa it really is a test for once a man, actually a test god man, because Allah subhanaw taala almost every time in the Quran, Allah subhanaw taala he mentions jihad, which is the struggle he meant he mentioned to be unwelcome when footsy come in. You know, VMware they come full circle black and solid as soft as Yeah, so the soft for example, hell I don't look malattie Jonathan tinggi caminada been Aleve, to jahai doing a feasibility live VMware likoma and full circle, you know, told me not to believe me know what to do and if he said he'd be unwell he come full circle, you know that you believe in Allah and Allah say and that you give, do struggle with you're unwell. And Allah subhanaw taala as it says in the Quran and Hadith chapter 59 He says, as the women come in and succumb in Kabul In fact, hey, we're cartel, Allah, Azza moda, Rajasthan the Latina and for combat, well, katello Kula Allah has now that this is not equivalent are the ones who give before the conquest. Because believe you me, there's going to be a huge dour conquests, in fact, it's going to be many of them is not equivalent are the ones who go give before the conquests and struggles physically at that time there was struggling physically with a Commodore Roger there are higher in rank and degree, then the ones who give after and fight after even. And this was in Mecca, when they were being oppressed and so on. And so somehow Allah doing it at the right time, it's not just a good deed that you do. It's not just a good deed that you do is the good deeds that you do at the right time. You can do the right thing at the wrong time and it won't be maximized. It won't be the most efficient use of your time, or you can do to be the most effective and efficient and this applies in all spheres. You've got to do the right thing at the right time. And what better time What better possible time could it be than les little cousin? Which I can even say the majority of scholars thought the 27 might well be people like if not best, we the Prophet Mohammed Salah Salim said Allah Aloma fucking hoffa, dny Allahumma Allah, give him on the standing of the religion and teach him how to do conceit of the Quran. His view is that it's a 27 at night. And is that is equivalent of 83.5 years of worship 1000 months you will meet me He means that we believe in imagine we imagine if it is Laila Kolkata, we have eight minutes to go eight minutes to go until my challenge, you know it The time has hit the target time is it? Yeah, I'm waiting for those 20 people to make a donation of 100 pounds each brothers sisters in eight minutes we can do it collectively. I think there are hundreds of people watching right now. Hundreds of people get someone else to donate if you can't donate 100 do 10 pounds, five pounds or $5 whatever works collectively we all make donation we can hit the target in the next eight minutes. My target initially was 3000 pounds. We have already made a thought we have already made 1000 pounds and we are now looking for 2000 pounds more 2000 pound more before seven minutes are over. So who's going to come forward to make a donation inshallah maybe 1000 pounds or maybe two people can do it. Two people can can make a donation of 1000 pounds each and we would have hit our target for the next seven minutes and then we can start with the new target. So brothers sisters, don't forget what the hijab was talking about the night of power Laila to cover. It is you know, we don't know what it is because Allah says your ma Kamala Takada What do you know what the night of power to just know this much? There's no this much that it's better than 1000 months is better than 1000 months better than 83 years. Can we imagine worshipping Allah, but not much? The prophets Allah Allah is concerned man comme la la Qadri Eamon what is urban warfare? Allahumma Taka Domine zombie? Anyone who worships Allah or stands in the night of power with EMR and accountability, Allah will forgive his sins. This may be your chance to get your sins forgiven from Allah subhanaw taala give that donation six minutes left and we're still waiting for 2000 pounds, maybe one or two people can do it inshallah tada or collectively 20 people can do it. So if there is another person who is making donations, please announce it. I'm asking the admin to let us know if donations are coming forward. Let us know that we can announce so that other people can join in very quickly inshallah. Brother Shamir has already said I will donate 100 pounds. university courses are 1000 you know there are 1000s of pounds. But these brothers are offering a free service which is priceless and this face is all flattery ever with me? Yes. So tell people why they need to donate we have five minutes to go 2000 pounds my target I'm very ambitious by the way. We did it the other night. We can do it tonight. Even 30 seconds before I don't give up. Don't give up on this oma. Okay, this time I can do wonders. 2000 pounds or 20 donation look I have donated another 100 on behalf of my family Allah God Mohammed Deen, may Allah bless you. There you go. People are still making donations. Don't stop, don't stop. We want to hit the target I want within the next five minutes. I want the number to go up to 3000 pounds. Currently we are just over 1000 pounds. We need to hit the number to 3000 pounds in the next five minutes. So help me help you. Help me Help the oma helped me help our youngsters Sapiens Institute is going to train 10,000 Muslims the next year within the next 12 months we will be working on 10,000 Muslims. I have donated 100 pounds ballistic banana wow What's her name? That is a ballistic banana Hamza ballistic banana has donated 100 pounds Allah whatever, may Allah make you ballistic? But Muslim Well, actually that's quite dangerous to use a title like that nowadays. Yeah. So pan Allah, you know, in this age of Islamophobia, Muslims can't even sneeze. You know, I was talking to what do you call it? A guy in the speaker's corner hands. We were talking about Islam and the Muslim civilization. I said, I said to him, you know, you are privileged you're honored. You know, you can go into a plane you can read that luck what I have donated 500 pounds, I would like for all of you to match it. 500 pounds, five into what? Allahu Akbar who wants to match that? As I said, I don't give up on this Omar. I believe in wonders, I believe in miracles literally I do. Okay, and this is not a miracle by the way. This is what we can do. Miracles are Ramallah This is from us. This is very much possible. Brother sisters. We are now 1500 pounds away. I want more and more people coming forward making a donation of a 50 pound 20 pounds 30 pounds 10 pounds, or even 1000 pounds. Whoever can May Allah bless you. I mean I can't pronounce that name. Row I mean how would you pronounce that name, bro and then the name is May Allah bless you brother or sister Allah bless you allow open the doors agenda for you. May Allah make this okay. for running okay. Row when I'm excited, I don't know what happens to me so I was going to tell you a story. Subhana Allah do donated 100 pounds instead of a regular donation to May Allah bless you a con Allah subhanaw taala and this may be not the night of power read that the other brother posted. May Allah bless that brother. Okay. The da is a very powerful da May Allah subhanaw taala enable us all to make that door tonight. My brothers and sisters, your opportunities here today. Please, please help us reach our target. We have like two and a half minutes to go. So maybe 1000 pounds, maybe two to 500 pounds will help us get to our target. Okay, this oma is wonderful. Maybe nearly a minute we have a minute left. I donate a camel May Allah bless you. That's the case. Maybe you have donated $1,000 because a camel on average costs $1,000 so if you have done that, May Allah give you 10 more camels insha Allah. May Allah bless you. So we have one minute to go. Okay. I'll donate 100 pounds. Doubt Islam dear brothers and sisters, if you can donate 100 pounds each we can reach 500 pounds. Yes, that's what I want, less than a minute ago. And that doesn't mean we stopped making donations. We continue making donations were we going to launch a new challenge. We're going to launch a new challenge Charla so who is going to make a donation of a 500 pounds or 1000 pounds in the last 30 seconds. I believe in miracles as I said earlier, in the last 30 seconds 500 pounds or 1000 pounds or even 100 pounds, let's say who wants to make a donation of 100 pounds. Let's see some donations of 100 pounds each 20 seconds to go I have donated $100 I will donate 1000s of dollars in future if Allah wills absolutely you will die with Choudhry you will make a donation of 1000s of dollars in the future so when it comes up I know you are reading this yes motivated Muslim. He is reading this absolutely he just read it. Okay, time is up. So where are we at brother Hamza tell us how much have you got? La Hola, como la? I don't know, all I know is that Alhamdulillah brothers and sisters, you know what we've done in the past year, just under a year, we trained and developed over 6000 people to be able to share with some academically and intellectually, and I want you to be strategic with yourself I want to build legacy today is about building your legacy, about understanding that if you support the engine that is driving the dial forward, and we develop Muslims and they get Shahada is and those Muslims are trained to develop other Muslims. It's going to be exponential numbers. So be at the beginning if you support the engine, you get the rewards for everything else that comes after that. So Be Wise With Your Southern call. Donate now, Sapiens Institute org forward slash Donate Life I don't I think it's time for another challenge. is a full one to a bull. rope. It's Allah May Allah subhanaw taala give you the blessings of tau Tofig to make donations tonight brothers and sisters. We want another challenge. What we want is right now someone to come forward and put a challenge. I have donated 50 pounds a small amount just now this is only to encourage others No brother or sister. This is not a small amount. The Prophet said salaallah alayhi Salaam Lata Cara nominal maruthi Shea and Walla Walla, Anelka Akaka be watchin colleague. Do not belittle any of your good deeds, even smiling at your brother. So if a smile can potentially take you to Jana, if giving water to a thirsty dog can take you to Jana, what about a donation potentially made in the night of power da Palestine? Absolutely. We are all making the offer Palestine May Allah protect Palestine and and we need intellectual leadership to defend the case of Palestine to defend the Muslims around the world to defend against Islamophobia in any shape or form. Whether this Islamophobia manifests itself militarily, politically, in a literature form, or educationally or ideologically, we need to have leaders who can defend us. And this is what Sapiens Institute wants to do. We are not politicians, we are not a political movement. We are not even going to get involved in politics. What we will do is we will try to produce leaders through our educational programs, those who can talk about Islam with confidence, compassion, love and mercy. Okay. We are a non sectarian non political organization, that much is clear. But we will talk about Islam and the Muslim civilization every time in every way so that we can encourage Muslim brothers and sisters to get involved in sha Allah. God bless all the donors, Allah Akbar. Absolutely. God bless you all. And the work still continues. We don't stop Can I donate if I am from the United States website only shows money in pounds? Absolutely. It is halaal for you to make a donation, even if you are from the US. Like the dollars, we like the dollars because these dollars will be on the scale on the Day of Judgment, even the $1 bill with the Great Seal, even that one. Okay, you can you can make a donation through that. I don't know if people know what I'm talking about. You know, that $1 bill with the Illuminati CEO Hamza, you know, have you seen it? No. Have you Have you not seen $1 bill? Oh, yeah, i would i would i i and the date 1776 is quite spooky. I wonder why you would put something like that on the dollar bill. Okay. A lot of people were the Hamza system named Binti Libya commented about 300 pounds. Please go ahead. Deal with it. Do it. As soon as the man said, Tell the sister to make the donation who is going to match this donation is the question. I'm still waiting for that challenge of 1000 pounds. Hamza, where is that line or line as of Allah, the one we're looking for, we're going to come forward and put up a challenge for 1000 pounds. That if anyone matches that donation, he or she will make the donation of 1000 pounds. that encourages a lot of people. This is starting the good this is starting the maruf Okay, and doing away with the Moncure. So let's start the maruf today from now on the start supporting the Maru. So what can we can do away with the moon car? Okay, so my brothers sisters, where is that line or line is of Allah to come forward and put up a challenge. And don't stop making donation those of you watching on a job channel, on my channel on my Facebook or sapiens, YouTube channel or other platforms where we are broadcasting live, don't hesitate to share. This is the least you can do share the live stream so the other can others can join us at the same time. Do this, raise your hands in this night, the blessing Night of the month Ramadan, the 27th night with me will be Laila toccata and it is then you have done it. You have worshipped a lot as if you have worship Allah for nearly 83 years or more than Should I do not. Should I donate before a thought? Absolutely. Absolutely. Go ahead. Never Never delay. Never delay. Red Hawk. Red Hawk donated 100 pounds. May Allah bless you red Hawk May Allah opened the doors of Jenna for you. May Allah make you a hawk of Jenna, okay? And in general hawks won't be killing dogs, right? Because hawks will be very special. They won't be hunting dogs. Okay, so May Allah subhanaw taala you know Allah subhanaw taala open the doors of gender for you. May Allah bless you for this. Let's do let's have a quick video and a message from our beloved hijab. One pound fish. Come on everybody now one pound fish, one pound fish one pound fish, three fish. Cover your cover. gov refresh. I know you want one. I don't have any fish left was Muhammad hijab stop. The old averages give a man a fish and he will eat for a day teach a man to fish and he will eat for a lifetime. This is a great adage that describes the mission of Sapiens Institute leaders spawning other leaders. That is Sapiens Institute's strategy developing empowering and educating academic activists people can defend and share the deen in a manner that is academically robust and intellectually rigorous in just under a year. We have empowered and trained over 6000 people to be able to share and defend the deen academically and intellectually all of this amazing work is pointing to a bright future with leaders in every corner of the world who can defend and share Islam effectively. However, there is something missing what is missing from Sapiens Institute. It's you We need people like yourself to engage with our content, to help spread the message of the deen and to donate every person who benefits from Sapiens Institute every leader who is developed and goes on to develop others and those others who develop others and those others who develop others generation after generation long after me and you are gone. Click the button below and donate and don't forget to share this video of a lot of work but you know this comment of Sr sajida altmaier makes me very emotional. She said she will donate 50 euros almost all what I have inshallah will see in my chifa insha Allah May Allah bless you, sister. Well, last panel, Darla, you know what this this kind of donation sends shivers down our spines. When we see donations like this. It really really reminds us how important this work is and how diligent we have to be with this amount of how careful how responsible we have to be with this amount. We can't do injustice to these sacrifices you are making upon Allah the sister is saying she all she has is 50 euros and she wants to make a donation. And may Allah subhanaw taala read you off your condition my sister, whatever your condition is, we will give you chifa Mela make your life in this world easy and happy and bless you with the highest abode in general for loss in the hereafter. For me. This donation you know will lie the Prophet sallallahu Sallam said the best donation is made in hardship when one himself or herself is facing trouble facing problems financially and goes and makes a donation, peaceable Allah, Allah alleviate those problems. Allah takes away those problems. Allah experience for the sins and a lot of moves calamities are southern Colorado voila, when you give sadaqa your calamities are removed from you, whether they are in the form of your children suffering, whether your business is not doing well whether you have a disease or a condition or a medical problem, whether you have parents who are ill, all these calamities are removed by sadaqa. Okay, so this is the benefit of donations Allah will insha Allah Allah will show you this donation in yeshiva, my sister May Allah bless you, and it really makes you very emotional but the sisters those of you are still watching it. take inspiration from Sr sajida. And come forward and start making donations because Sister sajida literally gave what she has. She She asked 50 euros and she has given it to Sapiens. May Allah bless you all. May Allah bless everyone was making donation in hardship and ease. And you know, donations made in hardship weigh heavily on the scales on the Day of Judgment. Right? This is exactly this is exactly why it is important to come and support causes like this, because we have people like this supporting us, Sr sajida. Right, but let's just don't hesitate and come forward and start making donations in sha Allah. May Allah bless you. May Allah subhanaw taala enable you to come and put up a challenge. We want someone to come forward and say okay, I'll give you 1000 pounds if someone matches it, and that way a lot of people come forward and they start making donations. This is the 27th Night of the month of Ramadan For God's sake for Allah sake. This may be the Niger power this may be later to Qatar we don't know. We have no idea we cannot say for certain, but if it is, the Prophet sallallahu Sallam said man karma v Laila called cadre Eman and yT serban warfare Allahumma Takata momentum be anyone who worship for lower stands in the night of power, worshiping Allah. With firm faith and accountability Allah will forgive us since the last one Abdullah said in the Quran in Angela houfy Laila, Laila to cuddle. In the under lofi Layla tilaka, Rama gras Kamala Taka, Laila Tara broderie hydro mineralization, this night is better than 1000 months, which amounts to nearly 83 years. So one night if you worship Allah in one night, which may, which is later on tonight, maybe later to Qatar, you have done it as if you have done it for more than 83 years. So if you give sadaqa tonight, and if it happens to be Laila through color, you have done it as if you have made this donation for 83 or more than 83 long years. So I still want to see those messages coming through encouraging messages like the one sister saga has sent us she had only 50 euros and she have given this donation to Sapiens Institute and May Allah give you chiffon my sister, may Allah spawnable accept your donation, it really breaks my heart, or like when I see messages like that, but you know, I won't stop you from making this donation. I want to say Oh, sister, keep your money. You need it more than us. Okay? It's not about that Sister, I want you to make this donation so Allah takes away your condition, your medical problem from you. So Allah increases your condition to be better. So May Allah give you chifa because through your sadhaka through your donation, Allah will remove your calamities, I believe in that so I will encourage you to do so. So others who are still watching all of us we have problems all of us we have calamities all of us, we have challenges in life. If you're still watching and still thinking, don't hesitate brothers and sisters, this is your chance. Come forward 15 years per month for me. Please donate if you can Allah bless you. Allah bless you, I'll accept from you. Beautiful, donating $348 which is 250 pounds challenging all people watching to step up and match this a tip Sharma May Allah bless you man, you become famous on Sapiens alive appeals. Allah bless you this person has been making donations almost every single appear and this person has got immense rewards even yesterday, he or last week rather he started he or she I don't know if you are a male or female brother or sister I don't know because I don't know what it is. I think I'm assuming it's an Indian name. So whether you are male Allah bless you may Allah open the doors of Jenna for you. And may Allah enable you to start many more challenges like this because these challenges are blessing so brothers sisters Atif Sharma has come back again general donated 150 euros It was almost all I had mela support your work in spreading the message truly amazing. mela bless your general whoever you are wherever you are. Yes we got that below. Brother below we got the message just now from general and male last panel Darla except from you and more remove your calamities and your challenges from your life and bless you with a lot more a lot more in return for the donation you made by the way amazingly those who make donations those who come forward, Allah will replace the sadhika with a lot more immediately. Okay, red hot red hearts 94 donated $50 inshallah more in the future. Absolutely. Thank you so much. Allah bless you a lecture from you. This may be a lot on cover and if it is, then that's it. We have made Okay, we want more and more people getting involved. What work is Sapiens Institute doing? What are you making these donations towards? I want you to quickly understand and continue making donations while you are listening to this. Imagine tonight Laila, Kolkata and you decide to support our work, training and developing over 10,000 people to intellectually share Islam. Imagine how many hearts they will transform. Imagine the number of Shahada as we may get supporting us is supporting the vision the legacy that drives the Tao forward. These are some of the amazing things we have planned after Ramadan inshallah, and they are as follows number one, empower and train over 10,000 Muslims to share Islam intellectually. Number two, complete a free book addressing all of the main doubts against Islam that can be found offline and online. Number three, publish your website responding to leading anti Islam websites number four, expanding our lighthouse mentoring service number five, professionally film 10 free of charge courses with slides and notes on our new three learning platform. Number six, publish two new two new books on Islamic thought and proofs of Islam. Number seven produce over 60 new videos addressing doubts and providing a strong case for Islam. Number eight engage in for academic discussions and debates to boost the morale and confidence of the Muslim youngsters. And number nine, or number eight finally start a new podcast podcast where we discuss different topics to empower to strengthen our brothers and sisters, my brothers and sisters, this is your chance to support this work I just mentioned. And this we want to do within the next 12 months. This is a man's reward, unimaginable amount of reward and you are planting seeds. You know, when the tree grows, everyone wants to take fruit from it. But those who planted the seed so low, imagine the reward for them. Everyone who takes the fruit from the tree, the person who planted the seed gets all the reward without risk reducing the reward of those who come and nurture the tree who watered the tree or who take care of the tree without reducing the reward. So the Prophet literally had this he said anyone who plants a tree, and animals and humans take benefit from it. The person who planted the tree will get the reward literally This is about a physical tree. But this also works about with planting a spiritual tree, the tree of Islam, the tree of intellectual defense of Islam, which is what Sapiens is pioneering right now. So my brothers and sisters, you cannot possibly let go of this opportunity. The donations are trickling in nonstop May Allah bless you all, a lot of blessing people are making a lot of good donations. What we want is more and more people getting involved and together we can do it together we can do it inshallah. So, hands up, please show the books behind you. At least one book gone gone, man just meet the challenge. Okay, what if we show the books behind us? At least one? What are we going to get in return? can we can we get a challenge of 1000 pounds or a 500 pounds challenge so that others can match it? We need some challenges. We need someone to come forward and say okay, I will make a donation to Sapiens Institute providing someone matches that challenge. So we need someone to come and put up a challenge 1000 pounds or 500 pounds and see what happens inshallah wonders will happen. Hamza is pick up any book and talk about it, man, go ahead. This book is a collection. It's by Alan y timer in the philosophy of politics, political philosophy. He talks about coercion, and he solved the debate on collision. When I did the analytical philosophy module code for my post grad code. The idea of freedom, we had to use this and actually we this is referenced one of the Sapiens Institute's essays on does a sum total freedom. And the idea of freedom is basically the absence of coercion. But in what context? Because there could be some times that you will curse but it doesn't necessarily mean that you're not free. And the whole discussion based on Robert nozick 's work and why time is work etc. Is that freedom is actually the absence is the violation is the non violation of your rights. So you being not free is when your rights are violated. So in the essay we discuss, well, the question now is who has the right to give you your rights? And I said as long as Allah Who created us give us rights, and they're not being violated, then we are technically free. If they're violated, we're unfree. We're coerced. So when someone from a liberal says to you, oh, you're not free. You just asked him what do you mean by freedom? And when you read the essay, you go through an analysis of understanding that actually freedom is the non violation of rights, but whose rights Why do you think the liberals have the right to give us the rights or libertarian view or positive your rights or negative your rights? This is these are have ontological implications. So we say no, we could prove that the rights that we have are the correct rights because they come from the one who created us and we could prove this. your rights are just from thin air. Where is your Quran and Sunnah? They don't have it. It's all How are you how But anyway so really interesting piece and this book was quite critical and white time Alan white timer he actually solved the problem on the issue of cohesion so good book thank you so much for that introduction rather Hamza May Allah bless you brother sisters we are still waiting for more and more and more support coming in Knight of power Laila together you convinced me I can do 50 pounds a month inshallah increasing as Allah bless you bro when the best in this life and the best in hereafter i mean i mean i mean absolutely more messages we want more and more of us you know these messages they serve as energy for us, especially myself, okay, when I get people supporting the work I get more energized I get more strength and courage for saying right so monitor Mimi brothers remove all your doubts, money is worth nothing, give all you can a journal not 01:20:54--> 01:21:34 worth the clothes on your back. Absolutely 100% Thank you so much. And just as you mentioned the clothes on your back some of these clothes you know, they can cost like hundreds of pounds. If you if you like to wear designer clothes or a watch, it can easily cost you something 500 pounds two to 300 pounds easily. Okay? If you'd like these big designer names, you can easily spend a lot of money. So what we want is a lot of people coming together and making small donations or possibly big donations. And that way we will be able to carry on with the work I mentioned earlier the list of things we want to do in the next 12 months is fascinating. We are facing an onslaught of Islamophobia. Presidents of countries are involved. They are pumping. Hate and negativity against Islam is happening. We are facing a tsunami of Islamophobia every few minutes. Anti Islam content is coming up online. Let's do it guys. Exactly. Chandan Shani, thank you so much. Thank you so much. anon did this our beg for money? The Prophet the Prophet Allah I don't like to use the word beg yet. Forget about the Sahaba Bobo whoever you are. May Allah bless you. Thank you for asking that question. The Prophet asked for money. Hello Wakey wakey wakey wakey the Prophet asked for money. You remember when he stood up and he said who will support who will buy this well for the Muslims of Medina. I promised him Jana, I would like to donate 50 pounds my husband and I are suffering from COVID please make dua Allahu Akbar Subhana Allah May Allah grant you both too far and heavy on your my sister Hannah May Allah bless you and your husband, whichever And may Allah subhanaw taala make this donation a source of your alleviation from this this condition is a very very difficult condition for a lot of people, but inshallah inshallah you will you will overcome it we will make da O Allah, give Shiva to our sister Hannah and Her husband, and Oh Allah give them complete recovery. Allah give them good health. Bring them back to normality as soon as possible. Oh Allah accept our da please everyone say amin so that our brother and our sister, sister Hannah and Her husband, they can get shifa, I am issuing 100 pound challenge, I will match it worth 140 US dollars. Thank you it once more. Again. Bella, bless you. Thank you so much for issuing this challenge. Who wants to meet it everyone. A team has put out another challenge. 100 pounds, please meet the challenge. So someone said did the Sahaba ask for money. You use the word beg. I mean, beg is not a polite word to use for the Sahaba. Okay, it's not a very nice word to use. But the Sahaba the Prophet himself asked for money for support from the Sahaba that's why a man was promised Jana. Do you remember what man was promised Jana? A number of times a number of times, because he said love bake to the call of the Prophet sallallahu sallam. So those of you still listening sapiens, he donated 15 pounds. Well, I bless you, your work personally, the divine reality and advanced our courses have helped me engage with my non Muslim mum Mariela. guidara mean Allahu Akbar. Thank you Musab Allah bless you. This is the kind of confidence we need. Someone did our courses someone read the book and went and gave our to my mother has donated 50 pounds. Please make the offer her Her name is shammies My sister's amines May Allah bless you may Allah Spanish Allah accept this donation from you. And you have a wonderful child who has already made a donation and encourage you to do the same brothers sisters, may Allah bless you all for coming forward and making a difference to this work. What are we making donations for? Sorry, what are we even raising funds for? We are raising funds for these absolutely amazing causes. What are we dealing with we We are going to in the next 12 months Bismillah by the grace of Allah by the permission of Allah by the tofik of Allah. This is our plan for the next 12 months. Okay? This is what we want to do, number one, empower and train over 10,000 Muslims offline and online to be able to give Dawa intellectually and academically in other words train 10,000 potential Muslim leaders mainly youngsters. Number two, complete a free book addressing all of the main doubts against Islam that can be found offline and online. Number three, publish your website responding to leading anti Islam websites. There are hundreds of them hundreds of them anti Islam website, we will publish one and inshallah it will deal with many of them. Okay, this is what you are making donations towards this vision. Okay, number four expanding our lighthouse mentoring service my brothers and sisters, my brothers sisters, this service provides free of charge one to one sessions for those who have questions in doubt. Number five, professionally, the video or film 10 free of charge courses with slides and notes on our new free learning platform. Number six published two new books on Islamic thought and proofs of Islam. Number seven produce over 60 new videos addressing doubts and providing a strong case for Islam in these videos. Number seven, engaging for academic discussions and debates. At least four and this is to boost the morale and the confidence of the Muslim youngsters who may be watching or attending these debates online and offline. And finally, finally number eight start a new podcast discussing many issues affecting the Muslim Ummah when it comes to our work. Okay, so my brothers and sisters This is the comment I want to read very quickly a teacher my prince Malik donated 250 pounds. So instead of doing 100 pounds challenge I also did 250 pounds. May Allah accept our donation encouraging all viewers to match absolutely a teacher my you are wonderful. May Allah bless you. May Allah bless you, Mel open the doors of Jennifer, you. You have helped this appeal a lot on previous days as well. And you're doing it today again, may Allah bless you, Allahu Akbar, this is the kind of, you know, these are the kind of lions and lionesses we want to come forward and encourage others. You know, when you make an announcement, you're not showing up because hardly anyone knows you here. Who knows? You know, people most people don't even use their real names on these accounts. Right? They are making donations to encourage others. So let others be encouraged. Come on brothers. Let's donate inshallah. Absolutely. Let's make donations. This is our chance. We may not get these chants every single day my brothers and sisters, it may well be Laila Bella Hamza? Are you okay, you looks at making me sad. Okay, well, fine. I'm just because we got a small team, I'm being the admin guy as well at the same time. So some of the comments are, frankly, quite someone that some of them not all of them a bit pathetic. So I'm showing it on my face. But generally I'm really positive guy and how can you please ignore Can you please ignore? Ignore negative comments? Okay. They will always come sometimes islamophobes are very active on our accounts, especially you know, how popular hijab is among the islamophobes. hijab is one of the favorite 01:28:41--> 01:29:03 target practice, you understand? islamophobes. So I wouldn't be surprised if there are comments coming forward. Because these people don't like the work we're doing. They don't want us to do this work. We will continue. We will pay back evil with goodness. We will educate whether Hamza we need some down material for Hinduism. sapiens, Brother 01:29:06--> 01:29:15 lected. Yeah, I've got an answer dealing with reincarnation, the same philosophical answer to it. So hopefully we'll be able to publish at some point as well. 01:29:17--> 01:29:45 But yeah, we'll be developing as much material as possible and obviously prioritize the material we develop for sure. But inshallah Hinduism is going to be on something that maybe I don't which is going to be working on as well from a historical perspective as well. inshallah. I'm not very versed on Hinduism, but we can definitely start looking into it and get some brothers who know Hinduism and ask them to produce some works, sundown material, so that we can deal with Hindu mythology and Hindu 01:29:46--> 01:29:51 philosophy. And Hindu Hindu is a Hindu ism, which 01:29:55--> 01:29:59 Hundreds always was at his best when you work for khilafah and ever since. Then he's gone into what is now similar to charity education. He knows who we are what the solution we the solution but now fails to advocate for this as his life is now all about debate and education. The line is no more much more common, Mohammad Javad. Okay, so you believe you believe anyone who doesn't join your group is a waste, obviously. Yeah, I mean, this is all you are saying that anyone who does not agree with your view on Islam, I think to be fair to the brothers, this is a bit emotional because of Palestine. And no, I was, I've been commenting on my Twitter feed as well, you know, what's happening in Palestine is absolutely atrocious. And we will have to speak up. But we also have to understand that Islam is holistic, and everyone has a role to play. Everyone has a role to play, you know, if you don't build the amount of Muslims, if you don't, intellectually Shia Islam, we have an intellectual struggle as well. If we're not part of that we don't focus on that, then you're never going to get any, any solution. You think these things are gonna come from the sky, Allah subhana wa tada when he gives us these authorities, because it's actually a gift from Allah, it's a reward because we, we did righteous deeds, and we did the things that we had to do within our own sphere of control. And one essential element to get success is building the amount of Muslims and ensuring that the Islamic ideas are powerful, predominant on there argued for a very robust way so people can accept them. If you've got no intention, those ideas, your authority will fail and crumble. So with all due respect, is a very, very, very, very, very shallow comment. But you know, may Allah bless the brother, I again, I would like to advise, please, please focus on the beautiful support we are getting from all the brothers and sisters around the world. We will continue focus focused on the work we are doing. This is an absolutely crucial piece of work. Sapiens Institute is doing pioneering work. It is doing groundbreaking work currently in advance, not in the UK. His his his fire happened a few hours ago. So just in case you're seeing him eating, he's not in the UK. Okay. Just to let you know, yeah, I'm I'm enjoying my water. Yeah, please, anyone who is planning to throw a missile at me, or a fatwa, or some sort of judgment, please know that I am not in the UK. I'm in a different timezone. That's why I'm having water. So do apologize, those people who are fasting, and I'm pretty sure there are many people elsewhere, somewhere else in the world, they are also eating because you may not be the time for surah. If that. So we are in different time zones. Thank you. Thank you for thank you for highlighting that. So my brothers and sisters, I want to focus very quickly on what we were doing, Sapiens Institute is working on. Can we remove that cursing? comment, please? Thank you. Okay. We don't like to curse brothers, sisters. Let's not curse people. Instead of cursing people. Let's produce the leaders. Let's produce the leaders who can do the job for us who can represent our case. But remember, remember the beautiful in the Battle of ahead. I believe the poor son was injured and he was grieving. And one of the Sahabi said, custom and he said I have not come into class and condemned. I have come as a mercy. I have cotton he said Oh ALLAH forgive them for they don't know. And this is when Saddam was in the midst of backroom, it just finished back to he was injured bleeding intestine and the Prophet sallallahu wasallam said, Oh, Allah. No. He said I was sitting here to curse and condemn. I was sent as MSE. Allah forgive them for they don't know. Absolutely, absolutely. In the province of Assam. He said it in, you know, to quote the word mob or esto la la Anand, I have not been sent to curse. So the prophets Allah salam, Allahu Akbar was not one of those people who would like to curse who would like to cry. But at times, he did express words that you know, cursed certain people for what they do, like the law and the law you hold on to it. takakura mbi Masada, may Allah curse those people, okay, from the from the Bernoulli trial and then Asara who build mosques on the graves of the prophets. So the promises on them express these these kind of ideas, but he was not sent to curse people generally every time every time he disagrees, if someone starts, let's look at the solutions. What is the solution to our problems, education, confidence, lack of ability to defend our faith, intellectually, academically, and we want to train within the next 12 months. This is phenomenal. Within the next 12 months, we want to train 10,000 Muslim youngsters to defend Islam and to present Islam intellectually and academically, this is potentially 10,000 leaders. Okay, that's one Muslim trained on average, every hour, every other year or 10,000. When we divide that by 12 months, right? 10,000 every month is nearly like 800. And if we divide it, it's like, every one hour, there's a Muslim being trained, you know, on average, right? So Islam is the cure for the disease called hate. Absolutely, absolutely. We don't believe in returning evil with evil. Otherwise, what's the difference between us and between those who do evil to us? They do evil to us. We respond with love, care and compassion. And we only defend ourselves when we have to when we are cornered, and we are being defensive, right Sapiens Institute, inshallah I will donate 150 pounds, thank you so much. I'm at NASA, we want more and more such messages coming forward, because that's the solution. The solution is to be positive. To start start supporting the causes that can actually give us those leaders we are looking for imagine we produce someone like Malcolm X, let's say, through Sapiens Institute work. We have someone like Malcolm X not not exactly like Malcolm X or what he did or what he said someone like him, someone as brave, as eloquent, as educated, as dedicated, as sincere as him. Imagine, one person is more than enough. Imagine. Imagine if we had 1020 100 you know, out of these 10,000 people we plan to train within the next 12 months, at least 510 3050 may take heat, at least few people will become leaders. Some people will become prominent and influential and intellectuals and read Jr. But I only made the offer 200 pounds. That doesn't make sense. Or you mean you only made a donation for 200 pounds. If you did, may Allah bless you if you haven't, then go ahead don't wait. Okay my say well, tough inshallah. I will donate 100 Please pray for Kashmir. We will pray for Kashmir. We will pray for Kashmir we always pray for Kashmir And may Allah alleviate the oppression the people of Kashmir are facing May Allah remove it may Allah take it away. And may Allah produce the best solution for the people of Kashmir, upon which are under which they can spend their lives peacefully because they also deserve peace and freedom. So I'm going to tell you a story that I haven't really ever shared before. When I was young. I remember watching Atma deedat and other preachers and dad they were just mesmerizing. They had a deep impact on the the absence of a physical father figure in the house, the Dow became the replacement policy, my love for Dawa, and my school experience actually led me to suffer from a lot of doubts. I remember some of my teachers in the school as well were slightly new atheist trying to push that kind of worldview, these kinds of things would actually have an impact on me came frustrated because I didn't have the intellectual tools to deal with all the doubts. This actually all started to have a spiritual effect on me why when I started learning classical Arabic with my mom, who is an Arabic teacher, this was the key really in accessing the tools not only deal with adults, but share Islam effectively a key milestone in dealing with my Dallas was during Ramadan when I was about 17 years old. And from Alexandria, Egypt, we went, and there was a beautiful kind of Ramadan experience we had. And I remember I made do I when I was in sujood, in that Ramadan experience, and I said, may Allah test me with anything except for doubts. I never want to be tested with doubts ever again. And Subhanallah sometime after that, that was it that you know, was has done really? I'm not when I'm actually confronted with these doubts. Now, all these kinds of misconceptions actually raises me in the matter, humbler. My path towards doubt has now you could say accelerated. Every decision I made, every step I took, I would always think of ways I could benefit the doubt. So even if I'm in education, etc, I would be thinking about that. I believe that this has to do actually with my mother. Now we all know the power of a mother's diet. My mom tells me that she wasn't getting pregnant for about seven years. So she went to ombre one time I lost she was drinking Zamzam she made to have a son who would be a die and she mentioned some of the things in the diet. So then after that I was born, I credit everything, actually to my mother's diet and her enduring support throughout these years because she is my inspiration and actually my role model. I will not be the person I am today without her. May Allah bless her. When I got married, actually got married. I was 20 years old. And I was involved in the Dow but I needed to be able to support my family. So I wanted to get into teaching. So I considered this as an occupation because of my interest. So I was already had the kind of the channel at the same time, many of you may remember I attended the right wing protests at a time with Tommy Robinson, free freedom protests where you're going. And unfortunately, after that, I lost my job. And this was like two or three weeks before I would actually get the Qt s so I didn't get the teacher's license. And all of those years while I was trying to get the teacher's license, how old to get into teaching was gone. In a moment after that though. I was tutoring and freelancing and kind of working in different kinds of things for scraps, it was a matter of survival. At this point, I started to take the doubt even more seriously, so I don't have a master's degree in Islamic Studies. And another one. In applied theology, I realized that things like philosophy or religion, which I spent a lot of time focusing on, are needed in the doubt, like for example, improving God's existence, the arguments for God's existence, etc, theodicy, all these things. So handle after that, and I applied for the PhD program in the philosophy of religion to further my work. And that's why there is Muhammad hijab now the value of not Mohammed hijab, the history digital life, I feel I understand why Allah made me lose out on being a history teacher, he did so to guide me to teaching people about Islam. What's amazing about my story is that I started with doubts. And now I'm trying to answer the doubts. So Subhan Allah, how Allah has blessed me to be part of Sapiens Institute team, which is this institute which we share and defend Islam academically and intellectually and empower and develop others to do the same. In under one year, we've developed and trained over 6000 people to intellectually share and defend this lab delivered over 33 in depth webinars, delivered 10 courses and seminars published three books, a lot stapled thoughts and produced 30 videos launched our lighthouse mentoring services as a one on one service for people that like x Muslims and people that have doubts, well, we actually go through that and much more all for free. If this story has inspired you in some way, please support this noble work and start your monthly donation today. charlo The link will be found in the description box or Solomonic library. Sorry, sorry, I was saying my was muted. By the way, I was saying that brother Hamza has disappeared from the screen, and I will have to rub the lamp for him to come out of the lamp so that he can come in do some wonderful work. Brother, brother Hands up. I'm rubbing the lamp. Where's the lamp? Okay. Okay, the lamp is missing as well. On that note, brothers, sisters, you watched by the hijab. And his story, he talked about how doubts can really rock the boat for many people. And if they're not responded to, then they can remain for years Sapiens Institute is specifically addressing the issue of doubts through its videos, media productions, articles, courses, and especially one to one mentoring service called the lighthouse mentoring service. This work hasn't been done before. I am not aware of any Masjid, or any Muslim organization. To my knowledge, my knowledge is very limited. Maybe there are organizations out there doing this work. But to my knowledge, none of the Muslims or organizations I know of are doing or providing a service like where someone can come and ask questions and remove the doubts. Okay, you can go to a matcha demand that Mr. may not necessarily be trained to answer those intellectual doubts, or those academic doubts because the Imams mostly have been trained in religious seminaries. And their training is very limited when it comes to, but questions that are raised by academics in the academic works can only be answered by academics who have studied those works, and found answers to them. So we are doing a very specific type of work. It is a niche, which needs to be supported. So I don't want everyone going silent on me keep the donations coming. There may be people donating and there may be comments coming. I will request from other Hamza to come back and start putting the comments up because he has access to the admin system. I don't. Right. So I want to encourage every single person here to make a donation of something. donate something why, what vision are we raising funds for? This is what we are raising funds for. I want to put a message out to you very quickly, I just want you to think about something. Imagine tonight is Laila Toluca, and you decide to support our work of training and developing 1000s of Muslim intellectuals. Imagine how many hearts they will transform imagine The number of Shahadah we may get supporting us supporting the legacy that drives the Dow forward. Okay? These are the things we want to achieve in the next 12 months. Okay, think about this. These are the things we want to do in the next 12 months. Number one, empower and train over 10,000 Muslims number to complete a free book addressing all of the main doubts against Islam that can be found offline and online. Imagine what comes up online, you can only imagine every few minutes, there is anti Islam content coming up every few minutes. On that note, point number three, we will publish your website responding to leader leading anti Islam websites, or anti Islam content for that matter. Number four, we will expand our lighthouse mentoring service to have more and more one to one sessions with those who have questioned or may have doubts about Islam. Number five, professionally, video 10 free of charge courses with slides and notes on our new free learning platform. Number six published two new books on Islamic thought and proofs of Islam. Number seven, produce over 60 new videos addressing doubts and providing a strong case for Islam. Number eight, engage in four academic discussions and debates. At least four. Okay. And finally, number nine start a new podcast which will address a lot of the questions that are pressing questions for the oma today. So my brothers and sisters, my beloved brothers and sisters, this is the aim or these are the things we want to do within the next 12 months. Do you want to be part of this is the question. Some of you have made wonderful donations. Some of you have done amazing work. Some of you have been forced by the grace of Allah but if you're listening to me, can you sit down? Okay, some of you some of you have been making big donations. Some of you have been making small donations, right? What we want is a persistent pattern. We want a pattern Okay, inshallah I will donate 100 Please pray for Kashmir. Thank you so much. We will pray for Kashmir anywhere my brother or sister most must say Altaf, we will pray for Kashmir we have been praying and May Allah Subhana Allah bless the people of Kashmir because they're going through a lot of difficulties at the moment. So we want to continue with this tradition, this pattern of making donations tonight. It is the 27th Don't forget it is the 27th Night of the month of Ramadan. It may well be Laila Coker, where you are okay. And if it is, then remember Allah said, Hi Rahman Alfie Shahar. So someone said guys donate $100 so that subu donates is here to Brother. I'm sure I'm not going to comment this did you get? I did it. I did it. I did it. By the way, with some booze here I can I can wear a jumper and I can have a jumpsuit made you know. I would only I will leave I leave very little for my head. But with with his hair Subhanallah It reminds me I think for him, we will need to use the machine, you know that he used to shave the sheep. So brother Sabu if you're listening to this, I'm sorry. I love you. But these are the things we think off your hair. Are we I think with your hair needs special treatment. So what can you say some encouraging words for our audience and tell them to continue making donations? This opportunity may not come again. Yeah, so we are working very very hard. But it's just as I want to tell you brother hums up behind the scenes, he has been working very very hard to organize all of this will lie these appeals, sending emails sending messages responding to questions and things like that. Okay, a lot of this brother and sister is very difficult work right? And there is a very small team helping us out right and now brother Hamza sitting with us on this appeal as well it's not easy online it's very very hard work. When Allah bless these brothers are doing all this work and on top of that, he has to put up with someone like me, you know, behind the scenes, dealing with me is not the most pleasant of things, but you don't have to put up with that as well. So you can only so I'm actually my it's been a fight was started about 12 minutes 13 minutes ago, I'm waiting for my food it's a bit delayed. So once it does come I'll basically jump off just a little bit and just eat something. So look brothers and sisters. You know, the beautiful thing about Sapiens Institute is that you have a small but yet dedicated team and we want to grow that team. And a lot of the brothers are battle hardened. They've had a lot of experience. And they've gone on an amazing journey academically and islamically. And a lot of these brothers collectively, we have experienced with nearly what 4050 6070 years of experience, and we've been in from the beginning, from the first time YouTube arrived, arrived, and Facebook arrived. And we've seen the fitna, and we've made mistakes, we learn from those mistakes. So I want you to think of Sapiens as the following. Imagine what the best chef in town and we've, we've had, we make the best cake. And it took us 20 years to develop the best cake ever. And then we have a disciple, and then we teach the disciple how to make that cake and he only takes us 20 minutes. That's how you, I want you to see us, I want you to see us as those have that hardened experience going into academia, done the Islamic Studies moving forward, and we've got all of this experience. And we want to give it to you in the shortest time possible. And we don't want you to make the same mistakes, we want you to improve, you know, when we used to deliver and even now hopefully, we still have the same mindset. But when we delivered advanced training to Imams, and Musharraf Yes, we trained a mommsen Messiah, on atheism and other issues. You know, for my Remember, I told the brothers to make dua in such detail to make to other the people that you're training to become better than you. Okay, because if loss and this is what the brothers about, so we are dedicated to your well being, we want to be able to develop you to be able to share some academic intellectually, we've trained over 6000 people in just under 12 months, and in the next 12 months, we're gonna train 10,000 people, we have a learning platform that's been implemented. And now we want to fill it with professional courses with exam with notes and presentation slides. We want to develop books, especially a book on doubts dealing with all the major doubts found on and offline, we're going to do a website dealing with anti Islamic websites, we are going to do many, many videos and media we're going to have for academic debates, at least, we're going to produce other books on philosophical issues in the foundations of Islam, and an essays and articles and what's very significant. We are basically we want you to be able to go out there and train others as well. So the results are exponential. So to be strategic with your sadaqa supporting Sapiens now in the beginning means that all the exponential kind of results and numbers that we will get as a result of training others you get all the reward for that from the very beginning. Because when we train 10,000 people imagine how many Shahada they're going to get. Imagine how many people they're going to train. I want to very quickly share something very quickly. Okay. Firstly, I want to do a shout out to my family. My wife and kids in particular my son Hamza bingo cloudy calm Okay, Hamza. Bingo. Somebody can make sure you eat your food and magdoff me it is the month of Ramadan so make special da for me. I hope Hamza is listening right now with the rest of my kids and my family. So May Allah bless you all male acceptor you heard about that? May Allah accept all your good work. So Hands up. May Allah bless you and your siblings and your your entire family. Okay, so start at nine You are the one day see uncle I've never had a long robotic. Okay, that's a compliment. Thank you so much. And on that note we might have someone very dicey joining joining us very soon from the DC land from all the way Pakistan we have a very I mean very famous very well to do very eloquent Allah oh my god what to eat has come early a lot of oh my god I feel like crying why they call Raja How you doing? I'm good I'm good bro. How are you? Oh man I'm just so I can't I can't get the smile on my face now I everyone's good Mashallah, we're all all doing really well. really missing you guys here and still reminiscing on our good old days that you know debating at loms Mashallah. Yeah I remember I remember some Allah bless you, but you you you made a huge impression on me. May Allah bless you. May Allah bless you, you know, I do not know. Raja zelle Huck, a brother Xia is Mashallah a Dalia working very, very hard in Pakistan. On the youth in particular, he heads an organization called the youth club and youth club is a leading organization in Pakistan, which is is working on removing doubts and misconceptions about Islam. Raja Zola does a lot of seminars, webinars, lectures, talks, discussions, media appearances, Mashallah. He has a huge following in Pakistan and outside of Pakistan, especially, especially the auto speaking world is he's listened to in India, in Bangladesh in the Middle East. huge following Mashallah beautiful work a lot of good motivational content on his channel on his Facebook page, please join and see what he has to share, especially if you know the language, some of the content is also in English Alhamdulillah. So we've done a lot of work together. The first time we met was in 2011. I think if I'm not mistaken, the winds of change when myself and Hamza, we came to Pakistan and we met and it was an amazing experience. And since when it's been a long journey, we have been together hamdulillah And may Allah bless you shake for joining us, thank you, Rose, Mashallah. You're doing great and fantastic work. And I think a lot of the DAO activity that's going on in youth club right now, we owe a lot of that hair to you guys, because Alhamdulillah I remember the first tour that we ever organized in Pakistan was with you guys, Mashallah. And Alhamdulillah the go rap training, I still remember, you know, after receiving training from you brothers, Mashallah, we've, we've given that training, like, dozens of times over and over and over again, and you have no idea how many people have benefited from that we put our little own Pakistani DC spin on it as well, you know, dealing with our local doubts as well hamdullah the structure and the modules have been the same. And really, it's been a great learning experience for all of us as well. And, you know, hats off to you guys for, you know, saying like back to our call back in the day, and then inshallah coming over to Pakistan and then have helping us out to set up our own organization, which is now Mashallah, working in three major cities of Pakistan Alhamdulillah, we've, we've seen lives changing, you know, it is such an overwhelming experience to be able to hear people calling you every single day, and receiving like voice notes and messages of people literally crying on the phone, that, you know, my life has changed, that I used to be in sin, I was in haram relationships, I was into all sorts of bad stuff. And now because of a video or a talk or a lecture, my life is completely changed. So for most people, you know, they wake up in the morning, and they check their emails, and they, you know, talk to their boss or something, but hamdulillah for me, I've seen that over the last almost 11 years now. You know, the whole experience has been so overwhelming people literally like, you know, you wake up, and you listen to these messages, which are so heartwarming. And really, they move you to your core. And Mila sponsor rewards you guys for your endeavors for your efforts, Mashallah. Because I think this is the need of the hour, this is the need of the hour, that we need to present an intelligent case for Islam. You know, we've been sitting on the back bench for way too long. I think we need to be really proactive, we have to go out there, at least there have to be some people who are doing this full time. There have to be some people out there who are doing this full time. You know, we have full time share ever the dad used to say this, that you know, we have full time doctors, we have full time engineers, but how many 01:58:20--> 01:58:59 full time people do we have who are completely dedicated for the deen of Allah subhanaw taala. So in sha Allah, Mila sponsor or reward you guys for the wonderful work that you're doing and may last for the lecture from us as well. The efforts that we make, I mean, I mean, I mean, I still remember I said, Remember shakra Roger, that. When we came to Pakistan for the first time. You know, I had I think in the beginning, I had no idea that you were in academia. And then Mashallah, the Secretary Roger really taught me what it meant to be at service to people, a true leader is the one who serves his people. And he was driving us everywhere, and he was doing the recordings. And then when I found out that he was in that could he was in, okay, he's an academic, I was like, Oh, my God, I felt so small and, and that is rural leadership. And that is huge inspiration. And I remember when went to Pakistan, they were saying, Come back again, I said, I don't want to come back again. Because you guys need now to basically step up and do the job. And we'll llahi that's exactly what they've done. Like, literally, they're like, the pioneers of modern dow in Pakistan, at the universities. They've created rural leaders. And that's one of the things that I've been inspired by, because especially in the western tower, sometimes we don't create people. And Paul, my own journeys, when I was running around all around the place on in Chicago, spoke to me said, What the hell are you doing you did it develop nobody, and even big dog today, they haven't developed anyone. It's more of a kind of vanity metrics is me. They don't mean it that way. They just have the wrong strategy. But Sapiens Institute is dedicated in developing new leaders, so those leaders become better than us. As I said that analogy before you could be a well experienced cook that took you 20 years to have the best dish, but then you have a disciple, and it only takes you 20 minutes to teach it to them. So they could go forward and create and create more leaders. And we need many, many more brothers actually getting active. So, Brother, brother, brother, Roger, just one one question I have for you. What are the like the three main kind of obstacles for the Dow in Pakistan? Do you think from a Pakistan context? I think everyone, it'd be quite interesting, just to know, what are the three main obstacles? And how do you think that you could you could overcome them? 02:00:31--> 02:00:31 broadly, you've basically hit the nail on the head by saying that, you know, we need to create, first of all people who can take the Dow forward, I think that's absolutely critical at this point in time. Because oftentimes, what happens is that you create something and then the legacy dies with you. You know, basically, because you haven't got any succession planning, there's no long term planning, you just sort of did what you had to but then there is no one behind you. So Alhamdulillah, what we understand here is that people are desperate for our people are looking for answers. In Pakistan, the dynamics are very different from what they are. In the UK, for example, what you guys experienced most of the times is dealing with a majority non Muslim audience. Here, the audience is mostly traditionalist as per the famous or infamous Rand report. Most of the people here are traditionalists who have a love for Islam, they have a deep passion for Islam, but they haven't got a clue where to get Islam from. So and, and also, they're not strong in their foundations at all. So I think something that's really helped us by, you know, attending your programs and lectures and courses, and benefiting from the tons of material that's actually coming. I even have the divine reality right here, it must be somewhere on my desk right now. So you know, looking at that content, and then literally translating that into the Urdu language, and presenting a case for Islam. You know, this has been one thing that we've been working very hard towards. So I think in terms of challenges, I would say that the first one being that having access to the schools, colleges and universities, because I don't know if you're aware of this, that, you know, it's obviously in the UK, it's very similar as well, that you know, anyone with like a religious attire is not really welcome at the universities. Why? Because automatically they associate religion with backwardness religion with, you know, a non academic sort of presence, so and something that's not based on the material, because obviously, ever since the, you know, post enlightenment era, if you look at things, you see that the world has moved and shifted from what was you know, based upon revealed knowledge, people used to take that very seriously, to empirical evidence and, you know, materialism basically. And so now, they think that anything that's to do with religion is outdated, backward. It's not science is not scientific, you're not following the scientific method. So this is why a lot of times religious people are looked down upon. But with Hamdulillah, the challenge was that we need to make Islam relevant. We need to address real problems, which people are going through, people are going through depression, anxiety, they're looking in the dark, basically, they're searching in the dark for solutions, which Alas, Matala provided 1400 years ago, people are popping pills day in and day out, people are going into depression and you know, wanting to commit suicide and all of these things, and they don't have a clue what they're doing. You know, if you go to a leading doctor, a psychologist right now, they will treat you like a bunch of chemicals. Basically, you're just a body, you just an advanced monkey, basically, that's all you are. And they'll treat you like that. Because they'll say you're just a bunch of chemicals. If you say you feel emptiness inside or hollow inside, or you feel this, you know, anything that you experience from that perspective, they'll say, Oh, it's just, you're just suffering from a chemical imbalance. So pop this pill and everything's gonna be fine. But we all know it's not fine like that. There is a much, much deeper problem that human beings are dealing with, because our reality is not the body, it's the soul. So we feed the body continuously. But the soul is starved. We're starving to talk to a loved one that I will yearning to talk to us. pantalla the promise that we made allow us to better become collembola sredna we made this promise to respond to that. Am I not your Lord? And we said Yes, you are. So we came down on this planet. souls who are given this vehicle I'm I'm basically currently riding this vehicle. So the real Rogers your luck is me inside. That's who I am, this body is going to become dust. I'm going to leave it here. This body has an expiry date, it's going to be expired. It's going to hit the grave. And that's it. But the soul is going to move on what the biggest challenge is that when people become so materialistic, they're only focusing on the material, how to please the body, forgetting about the soul part and which is the reality of who you are. So I think the biggest challenge is to actually tell people that we got it all wrong, you know, people focusing on the material things always focusing on you know, I want more power, more money, more wealth, more, you know, the bigger house, the bigger car. But alas Mantilla he says in the Quran Allah ha como taka tohatsu mon macabre. You know this competition of piling up of worldly things this will dilute you until you hit the graves and the Prophet sallallahu sallam, he said it best he said that, you know, if you give the son of Adam a value of gold or a mountain of gold, he will desire another one and nothing will fill his stomach except the dust from the grave. So this reality people are ruffled from they're in a state of heedlessness. So I think the first thing is that's required is a big fat massive wake up call. You know, we need to wake up to the reality that we have to go back to us patola we will die one day. So I think what Allah Akbar did, you know, a done by will know that, you know, we always say, hum, so a tuna Ganga. So we need, we need a massive wake up call again. And I think the oma is asleep at the moment, we need to wake them up, we need to stand up and warn people and I think that's going to be a challenge for us. And then the second one being that we have to create other people who can be like minded individuals who who feel the same passion we do, because all the dwad that I know who are currently in our right now, I know that all of these people have basically given up a lifestyle to become who they are right now. They've made that sacrifice and I know that you guys, Mashallah are ambassadors of that you've got that passion, you've got that drive, but we need to transfer that drive and that passion to our next generation, we need to pass the baton on to the next generation, so that they feel the same fire that that we still do, you know, handle and that motivates us to wake up every morning and keep going era despite the fact that we know that, you know, the West has its own plans, and they're, you know, releasing content and media and all of these things, you know, these are billion dollar empires, you have Netflix, you know, so something interesting that I will inshallah mention and conclude with. You might have heard of Edward Bernays Edward Bernays, who is the nephew of Sigmund Freud. Now Freud obviously is very popular. But Edward Bernays is a marketing genius. The guy's a marketing genius. And he was a psychologist. And what he did was, he basically figured out how to market something and make people basically buy which is called mass psychosis or mass psychology using herd herd mentality to basically steer people because he believed that people are sheep. And they can be steered in any which direction. So one thing that he did was he got women to start smoking in the late 1920s. And you can read up about him Edward Bernays, he did this whole campaign, where he got American women to start smoking publicly, which was considered to be a taboo. Now, why am I mentioning Edward Bernays, the reason is that he believed in inter commodity marketing into a commodity. So for example, if you want to you have an apple, not an apple mobile store, but an apple actual Apple Store, right? You're actually selling apples, the fruit. So for example, if you're selling apples, then your competitor is not just the one who is selling oranges, or bananas are mangoes. your competitor is also the one who's selling chocolates, and the one who's selling water, the one who's selling soft drinks. These are all your competitors. This is inter commodity not just fruits and vegetables, but your competitor is also the guy who's selling the beef burger. Why? Because in 24 hours, a human being has only a limited amount of space to eat stuff. So you're not just competing against other fruit sellers, but you're competing against everybody out there, who is selling any kind of food that people are consuming. So with this revolutionary thought process when he said that it's intra commodity marketing, he said that you have to occupy people's mind space in all of these areas. You have to keep advertising the apple all day long. So that whenever the guy wakes up in the morning, he wants to have Apple for breakfast. He wants to have Apple for lunch. He wants to have Apple for dinner, market the thing so much that that's all that people are consuming. How is this related to our the ways related to our is that our competitor is not just the Krishna, the Christian missionary, or the militant atheist preacher, or the Hindu preacher, or the Jewish rabbi. Those are not our competitors. Our competitors right now is Netflix. Our competitor is Bollywood. Our competitor is Hollywood because all of the indoctrination that's coming about this wave of liberalism, secularism, atheism, materialism, it's coming from all of these channels. So you my dear brothers, are competing with a trillion dollar Empire. So Allah we are we are people who have literally like, you know, the story of vowel Islam. We've got literally pebbles in our hands, and we're fighting a monster, but hamdulillah the help of Allah, Allah is with us, inshallah, we have to stay strong, stay committed, even though these entities might be multi billion dollar empires, but alas, one of them has said it. Well macro macro Allah Allah Hara marketing they plan and Allah plans and Allah is the best of planners. So as long as we stick to our guns, we keep doing what we do. We do it with a flask inshallah the help of Allah, Allah is with us. And the good news is with us that the prophet SAW Selim told us that Islam will reach every house, whether it's, you know, made of bricks are made of mud, Islam is gonna reach everywhere, so hamdulillah we keep doing our thing, and Allah gives us victory. inshallah. Xiao Wei, thank you so much for that passionate conversation. May Allah bless you for raising these points. Absolutely. You're absolutely right, that we are up against a multi trillion dollars industry, apart from Islamophobia, which is a multi million dollar industry. We have to deal with Islamophobia coming from hollywood, bollywood. Now these giant media outlets are pumping negativity about Islam with impunity. Not only they, the politicians are doing it, journalists are doing it. Every few minutes, there is anti Islam content coming up line coming up online. If we don't have platforms like the one you have in Pakistan, which is providing guidance to all the speaking audience around the world, which is which is in millions, by the way, as you are already aware, it runs into millions there are millions of Urdu speaking Muslims in India and and also speaking Hindus and non Muslims in India. And then people millions of people speak or do in Bangladesh, Pakistan, and then we have the Middle East. This is a huge audience. And Subhan Allah, when we talk about empowerment, which is what Sapiens Institute is working on. Brother Xia is an embodiment. He is an example of that empowerment. You know, in the early, you know, I think 2011 2012 when we went to Pakistan, we got together, we came up with this idea Youth Club was conceived. And since the inception of this organization, it has been going up, Tao has gone to possibly millions, hundreds of 1000s of people. And this is what we want to do. We want to have many people like Roger jhalak and brother Taha, and Ali, and Marina Luqman, and Ali, Ali, by Lahore, all these brilliant, beautiful, motivated young leaders who are taking the flag of Islam who have raised the flag of Islam in their own intellectual way. On media, we want this, this is the outcome we want. And this is exactly the opposite. I'm going to tell you what Sapiens Institute aims to do within the next 12 months in the last, in the last nine months, phenomenal work has been done. And we want to continue with that work. And this is what we want to do within the next 12 months. Number one, we want to empower and train over 10,000 Muslims, online and offline in order to make them able to defend Islam and to share Islam with confidence and knowledge. Number two, complete a free book addressing all of the main doubts against Islam that can be found offline and online. Number three, publish your website responding to leading anti Islam websites. Number four, expanding our lighthouse mentoring service, which provides service to people with doubts and questions one to one service free of charge with one of the Sapiens Institute experts. Number five, professionally videoed 10 free of charge courses with slides and notes on our new free learning platform. Number six published two new books on Islamic thought and proofs of Islam. Number seven, produce over 60 new videos addressing doubts and providing a strong case for Islam. Number a number seven, engage in for academic discussions and debates, at least for within the next 12 months. And number eight finally start a new podcast where we discuss pressing questions facing Muslim youngsters around the world. So this is what you are donating to us brothers and sisters tonight. The link is there rolling on the screen Sapiens institute.org forward slash donate live without your support. And this is a coordinated effort. By the way, this is not a one off. We are broadcasting from a number of different channels. We have the support of and the blessing of many scholars, many well to do Doha around the world including Roger Zola, who is with us right now. Mashallah. He is leading the Dawa movement in Pakistan to youngsters in particular because this organization is called youth club. It is a youth club where the youth is basically provided with crucial guidance, as you already stated, many people are calling in and sending emails on daily basis and their lives have been changed. Some of them have come off drugs. Some of them have stopped partying that were making that will making them depressed. Some of them were in illegitimate relationships. They have stopped doing that. So Brothers and sisters, this is the kind of impact we want. We want empowered, confident young Muslims around the world, from Morocco to Bangladesh and beyond those who can represent Islam and defend Islam intellectually and academically, thereby, what sorts of what sort of challenges do you face in places like Pakistan, with youth with youngsters? What what kind of questions do you get? I want our Western audience to know this, right? The kind of challenges we are facing in a country like Pakistan, which is seen as a fortress of Islam, but what kind of challenges are the youth facing within this fortress? If there are any challenges, please do highlight them so that we can see the kind of work we can do collectively to overcome these challenges. These are done by one of the biggest challenges I would say that the based upon the dynamics we have we find that a lot of youth here in Pakistan de because of lack of knowledge of Islam, they might be engaged in a lot of sins. So for example, having because they were born into a Muslim setup or a Muslim environment or into a Muslim family, but for all practical purposes, this was never told to them that the Quran is something that has to be followed and that the Quran is our complete code of life that we have to inshallah try our level best to follow the book of Allah and the Sunnah of the prophet SAW Salem, and this is supposed to be our way of life, as well as Pantera says in the Quran that Yeah, you're Xena, amaroo otaku facil, Mika will attribute the watershed that Oh, you believe entered into Islam completely. So I think this is something that has not been internalized. So what happens is what you do see at different schools, colleges, universities, even in the workplace, is that people claim to be Muslim, but their actions might seem contrary to that, meaning that they will be engaged in major sins, and be completely relaxed about it. You know, everyone is a sinner, the the Prophet sallallahu sallam, he said that every son of Adam is a sinner, but the best of them are those who repent. So if you know that you're committing a sin, that's something else that you're, you know, you're committing a sin, and then you repent over it, and so on. But then the other stage is when you're committing a sin, and you don't even consider the sin to be sin. Meaning that these things are so easy now, as I mentioned earlier, that because of the mainstream media, you know, promoting around relationships, you know, you throw in hollywood, bollywood, and all of this, this cultural onslaught that they're trying to make, basically, brainwash you into becoming and adopting liberal values, secular values, and consider Islam to be backward and outdated. This, you see that it's slowly creeping in. So that, for me is one of the biggest challenges that getting the youth back to the obedience of Allah subhanaw taala. And saying that, you know, just because you were born into a Muslim family, that's, that's not enough for your salvation. You have to practice Islam, to the best of your abilities. And before you practices, you have to have Elmi you have to study it. So that's the first challenge. The other one, I think, is that, you know, major doubts. So, two basic ones, one of them is Shu heart, which is the first one I mentioned that people engage in a lot of sins and things like that. And then the shubho heart shaohua, tangible hot shoe heart is basically the doubts that they have about Allah Pantera about the Prophet sallallahu Sallam about the authenticity of a hadith for example, about you know, certain certain beliefs about Allah spotter that why did Allah do this, you have the problem of evil, you have many other ideologies creeping in, people are now listening to these militant atheist. pseudo scientists, for example, listening to their podcasts, getting something from them. So you, you you find in their questions, these same thoughts coming in. So unless and until our dads are prepared to handle these questions is going to be it's going to be really tough. What we do, for example, at youth club is that we connect with the scholars, we learn from them. And then we have to translate what we learned into a language that the people can can understand and digest, we have benefited a lot from the content that you guys are producing, Mashallah, it's really cutting edge. It's really amazing how, you know, all of these modern challenges, modern doubts have been addressed. So looking at that, and then translating it in individual language, putting a little bit of DC torque on it, as we say, and then giving it to the audience because we feel that our conversation has to be both logical, rational and reasonable. At the same time, there is always going to be an emotional perspective to it, there's always going to be a heart to heart connected to it. Like, for example, one of our brothers, he spoke to an atheist in Pakistan. And the argument that worked was that do you think that there was a man in history by the name of Muhammad Sallallahu Sallam Do you think that a man but that name existed? And the guy said yes. I believe that there was a man by the name of Muhammad who existed 1400 years ago. Yes. So the next question he asked him, okay, do you think in all honesty, do you think that that man, he was a liar? And then the guy was quiet? And he pondered over for a few minutes? And he said, No, he wasn't like, he said, there you go, thank you very much. Have a nice day. Problem solved. You see. So the thing is that sometimes it's just a simple argument is that, because deep down, I said, you know, this is still an Islamic country, it's still the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, people still have an affiliation with Allah, Allah with, with with the profits ourselves. So sometimes you don't have to be too technical. And sometimes it's a simple argument. But then sometimes you do need to have that background knowledge in order to be able to convince someone. So I think these two areas are the ones that are challenging. Thank you so much. Just Just as you mentioned, this argument presented by a brother, I had a similar experience. You know, sometimes in a country like Pakistan, where people are confused by this onslaught, online onslaught of atheism, or new atheism, and secularism and liberalism and all these things, coming from a number of different sources. I had I had a gathering, I was sitting with some youngsters from a university in Islam about and they were individuals who were almost atheists, and, you know, they were trying to encourage other students to also follow them. So they organized the sittings, so that we can have a, we can have an open discussion. So I remember presenting this argument again, that Okay, you guys are an atheist, you guys are atheists or you don't believe in God, then, then for you guys in particular, there is no problem of, you know, problem with you having feelings for your mother or for your sister, you know, biologically naturalistic, naturalistic speaking. There's nothing wrong with that, you know, a diehard atheist like Richard Dawkins wouldn't have a problem with that. Okay, he doesn't believe in objective morality. So if there is no morality as such, it doesn't come from God, there is no God, then there is no moral anchor. So anyone's morality for himself, basically, kind of thing. So there is no issue with you having feelings for your mother or whatever is wrong feeling by the what we call sexual feeling, or even for your sister. These guys are completely shaken by the simple argument. It's not a sophisticated argument. I would say it's even a childish argument. Right. But they were completely shaken. They never thought about it. That Yes, true. If we are technically we are atheists, then there's no problem with that. Because there is nothing forbidding it. There's no one there to stop us. So these are the kinds of things we really want to, you know, highlight that we want leadership. We want educated Muslim youngsters, those who can confidently defend Islam and present arguments taken from books like brother Holmes's book, divine reality. By the way, I don't know if you know, this book has been translated into oldu by some brothers in Islam about and we are in the process of now formalizing the translation. Hopefully, I don't know if you weren't aware? No, no, it's quite amazing had that experience. Because I remember the I think the last time I came to I don't know if brother Roger remembers, but I jumped over the security turnstile. And then lots of security came in, the phone's gonna blow up the building. I think I gave a lecture there was like a private university or something. And there was a sister and a brother sitting next together, I think they were related. And I remember I was giving a talk, and I noticed him in the audience from what I remember. And he was like, I think writing notes and taking it very seriously. After a few years or months, I think either brother Roger, or someone else, or anything like nine, contacted me and said, at that, and that lecture, there was a sister and I think was her brother or something, was sitting next to her and he was an atheist. And then that whole event, changed him and he became a Muslim, and started praying from understand. And after two weeks, he died. He was only 20 something years old. And so those type of experiences are quite transformative. And it makes you realize that, you know, especially in Pakistan, when I was in Pakistan, I remember I was saying to the youth, we went to the general public. I tried to because he was now you have to start with empathy. The sunnah of Tao is to individualize the individual. There's the difference between dow two groups and dow to individuals. When it comes to the individual, you have a lot of empathy. And you come with them as a blank canvas, and you individualize them understand the context and you listen with the intention to understand. And I tried to empathize a lot of these people because they come from middle class private university backgrounds. And I said, You've been duped by the kind of media because when the media shows Islam, especially at that time, you have a handsome, articulate, academic secular and on the other side, you'll have a Mostly who's, you know, with all his great intentions? He can't articulate Islam in a contemporary way? Probably. And I said to them, this is a false dichotomy. And this is a diet, this is a false dilemma. There are so many balanced, orthodox, amazing Muslims available in Pakistan I need to reach out to. And I remember saying that a lot to them. Because I think one of the challenges and you could correct me if I'm wrong, brother, Roger, is, is this whole the public media marketing of secularism and the dean, we need those leaders we need people like yourself and many more others. So people don't have that dilemma between choosing someone who looks handsome and articulate that but is very secular, and someone who they cannot connect with. Does that make sense? You're absolutely bro. inshallah, I'm going to try to wind things up here because I have to head out it's actually 130. So, I just wanted to make a final comment that what Nan spoke about and what you spoke about, Mashallah, really well, that that story about the boy who passed away. I mean, that was just an absolute shocker, but hamdulillah Al Hamdulillah for the fact that he died upon Islam, he dies on Islam, you know, Subhan Allah, so that talk literally saved his life and hamdulillah The thing is, that one challenge that you've mentioned here is that, you know, being able to own Islam, you know, being able to own Islam and be confident about Islam, that when people because for far too long, a done by we've been really miskeen as Muslims, we've been really miskeen we've been very miskeen as Maltese, you know, Oh, so you're Maulvi? Oh, you study Islam, or so sorry for you. I mean, that's the kind of attitude you get. Also, by law, you're studying at a madrasah you studying with a with a chef or something. So you don't have you have no life basically. So what what we're doing actually, we're owning that and we're saying, Alhamdulillah we're Muslims. Alhamdulillah you know, so we are proud of the fact that you know, Allah subhanaw taala guided you towards Islam, and be happy for the fact that hamdulillah Allah Subhana, Allah chose us for this particular path. And so this is why you'll find oftentimes in my description, they say, Maulvi with an attitude. And that's the thing we have is it's not it's not a bad attitude, but it's like, you know, we own Islam hamdulillah So, we don't yeah, and riding Harley davidsons you know, like going into a university imagine I mean, this is this is a shocker for a lot of people you know, riding into a university campus on a Harley Davidson and then you take the helmet off, you're like, Oh, my God, the guy's a Maulvi was. So and then you start talking about Allah subhanaw, taala, and all that. And it just blows people's mind that you know what's happening here. The thing is, we need to take that space back. You know, for far too long people have looked down upon people who are teaching Islam, people who are preaching Islam for far too long. People have been, you know, downplaying the importance of the scholars of Islam, the students of Islam, the teachers of Islamic values and ethics and morality and all of those things. So I think we need to really step up and show the world that people who are following Islam can be very educated can be academically qualified and have a very balanced lifestyle so that people actually look up to people who are these as role models as you know we want to be like these people so 100 live we can do that then we've made a positive change the challenge is to take out your you take time out for us to join us on this bless you guys can see this was from the depths of my heart for you guys, you guys are doing a fantastic job and we owe so much to you guys. Really, we're loving we owe you guys so much you have no idea makes us want us on this thing and I know you have to go but on that point you're absolutely spot on that we need to change this perception that I'm always miskeen is Jaya backward, doesn't know anything, doesn't know how to live a life, you know that perception needs to be changed. And it is partly our own fault the people of religion or people who uphold Islam as a way of life, we need to step up and we need to start doing courses and our projects like this that people can become that confident people can have that knowledge and intellectual education so that they can represent Islam in the best way possible. Thereby what a blessing to have you and look forward to seeing you inshallah very soon I know you're busy. It's going to be eat very very soon. And may Allah bless you all you're not gonna care or luck ever coming up. Soon inshallah in Pakistan is slowly going up. Thank you so much. So this was by Roger GL Huck, please join his YouTube channel and follow the team on Facebook as well. They're doing an amazing job. Content very, very powerful, motivating, confident content that really drives, you know, you know, it really thrills a lot of youngsters in places like Pakistan. So Allah bless you brothers out for joining us. And this was an example of empowerment thereby, was in self empowered, I was empowered Hamza was empowered by dollars on way, right. And we want to really concentrate on this empowerment, matter, and create that leadership, which is necessary. from Morocco to Bangladesh, all over the Muslim world and beyond maybe in the Western world, where the Muslim students are in large numbers. We want to create this leadership that can represent and defend Islam, academically and intellectually. So I think our donors have gone to sleep we need to wake them up very quickly. Brothers and sisters, those of you who are still watching us on a jobs account, on my account or Sapiens Institute, YouTube channel, please wake up and start making donations because we need some energy we really need to be encouraged and some energy needs to be driven through us and that happens when we receive when we receive strong donations for this cause because this cause is absolutely crucial. Brother Hamza tell us more about your Pakistani roots. Pakistani illness rather brother Hamza went to Pakistan he had a chaplain kebab and he became a chaplain himself. Okay, that's a very famous story, right? Yeah. So brother Hamza, you need to go go back to Pakistan to do some more motivation and encouragement inshallah. I mean, we've got such great brothers and leaders in Pakistan now Shaq Raja I'm gonna go there to learn rather than the other way around. Allah bless them. And brothers and sisters this empowerment this process of empowerment and and education it is for global Muslims Sapiens Institute content is available free of charge online for Muslims around the world take benefit from a donated from Stockholm mela, multiply it here and hereafter amin Thank you so much. The person who donated from Stockholm Allah bless you for the religion, except for from you. I mean, so brothers sisters, this process of education cannot stop it will not stop, we need to inshallah take it to the next level, where we can have more and more brothers and sisters empowered around the world. You know, Tao is a buzz. I call it a buzz. Dawa is like an exciting, exciting thing that once you do it, it becomes part of your life. You can't give up. Because of the outcome. The results are so beautiful. When you see people's lives changing. When you see the kind of difference you're making to people's lives through education and confidence and and, and and eloquent preaching on law. He it does wonders not only to your character, it changes the lives of people in front of you. That's the kind of reward we're dealing with tonight, brothers and sisters sadaqa jariya, every single penny every single pound or a dime or a cent or $1 you donate tonight, it goes towards the southern kajaria cause because the knowledge these brothers and sisters who have been empowered will share in the world will continue to grow it will not stop. But that's why you need to start making donations. I want that person to start another competition very soon. Someone needs to come forward and say I will donate 500 pounds if someone else if someone else matches it, or 1000 pounds. I need a line of Allah or a likeness of Allah to come forward and say I will make a donation of 1000 pounds if someone matches it. Let's see you does it. I want to see someone come forward brother Hamza really want someone to come forward and Yes, question how much budget you're planning How far away are you? Well, this is the interesting thing about this amazing work. There is no limit. The dollar has no budget. So if we make we'll just do more work. And we guard against we are up against a multi billion dollars industry. We are up against Yes. You know a swath of journalists politicians islamophobes propagandists, YouTube channels websites, this is what we are up against. The more the merrier, right? The more the merrier, but we want to raise at least 20,000 pounds tonight. And if you want to come forward and make a donation, absolutely. Please do so do as much as you can. If you can do 10,000 pounds Don't hesitate. Don't hesitate. If you are a millionaire and you have 10,000 or 20,000 pounds lying around just give it a bit of luck and see the see the impact you might create in the coming year in sha Allah. On honestly Sapiens Institute has enabled me to answer so many confusion. People have about the truth of Islam. We need more comments like that, by the way, people who have actually benefited from the work of Sapiens Institute, can you please come forward and comment and tell us how it has made a difference to your lives and how Sapiens work has empowered you so that people can actually realize the kind of work they are making donations towards. Right? You have to understand, the more the merrier. We are sitting here on the 27th Night of the month of Ramadan, a lot of other brothers are worshipping. We are also worshiping. As far as we are concerned, we are raising funds to defend the intellectual boundaries of Islam, our faith, our beloved Dean, we will not leave it undefended. That's why we want to raise this money to confront Islamophobia to confront hate to confront any sort of misconceptions about Islam, wherever they may be, wherever they're coming from. We will do it with love, compassion, and most importantly, education. Education is the solution. Education is the solution. So who wants to support this Sapiens institute.org forward slash donate live is the link, you will find the link in the description of the videos, you'll find the link online rolling on the screen in front of you, you will find the link on the website. So brothers and sisters go to this particular link Sapiens institute.org forward slash donate live and start making donations right now. I'm still waiting for that person to come forward and raise a challenge or challenge to raise or to give 1000 pounds of 500 pounds so that others can match it maybe even 200 pounds or 300 pounds or something like that, whatever. The challenge helps people realize that they must get involved and it encourages others to do the same thing. So that's the point of the challenge. We love challenges. Most Muslims have challenges and they start donating towards challenges. So this is the push towards the challenge for now. Start making challenges inshallah. Those of you who still listening come up with a challenge or other challenge that we will make a donation of 1000 pounds if someone matches it, and watch how people start matching it inshallah Darla, well, the Hamza, again, we need to remind people why they must make donations to this cause. Why? Yes. So my dear beloved brothers and sisters. First and foremost, I pray so far you had a wonderful in terms of transformative Ramadan is very important for us to focus on the key acts of worship of Ramadan. And one key act of worship is given because Ramadan is not only is not only a month of Quran is also a month of sadaqa. And what we're asking you to do today, brothers and sisters is for you to understand where we've come from and where we want to go. where we've come from in the in just under a year, we've developed to empowered over 6000 people to be able to defend yourself academically and intellectually. We published two or three books, we publish essays and articles, we produce the separate thoughts, videos dealing with your philosophical issues and contentious issues and the detractors of Islam. We also delivered over three, three academic webinars, and so on and so forth. And what we're gonna do in the coming year, we want to develop and train and empower over 10,000 Muslims who are able to share some academically and intellectually produced 10, free in depth courses on various issues and our topics on a new learning platform professional film courses, want to produce these two books, we're getting two books translated, by the way, we have the rights to translate them from Arabic to English, of contemporary Arab intellectuals, scholarly intellectuals, we're translating the books on proofs of prophethood, and so on and so forth. Basically, the intellectual foundations of Islam, we will produce a new podcast and there's so much more when to do now that can only happen if we have dedicated time and resources. Oh, not does that. We have the lighthouse mentoring service, which really mentors non Muslims, ex Muslims, teachers, parents, Imams, and scholars and do art and preachers. So they can improve their doubt as well. And we answer people's questions. And these these are one hour free services, or one hour sessions, one to one sessions. You know what's remarkable, I just checked, I think yesterday, or today we have bookings into October. October Yes, we've been inundated with requests and is keep on going. But at this rate, we're going to look into to 2025. We need more resources for this one to one, one to one lighthouse mentoring service. So brothers and sisters, this is Southern kajaria. Be Smart with your Southern car, be strategic with your sadhaka. This is like the engine that is driving the dial forward. We're training the dogs and these dogs are going to get Shahada, they're going to train others as well. So imagine the reward you get if you stopped At this stage and the beginning stage and the engine stage driving that hour forward, so be smart with your sidecar. Maximize your reward, build your legacy. and donate now go to the description link below. Sapiens institute.org forward slash Donate Life. Absolutely, brothers and sisters, that's what we are here for tonight to raise funds to raise support for the work Sapiens Institute is doing. What we are doing is this work and within the next 12 months, this is exactly what we aim to achieve and I will read it to you. Number one, we we plan to empower and train over 10,000 Muslims in sha Allah, and complete a free book addressing all of the main doubts against Islam that can be found offline and online. Number three, publish your website responding to leading anti Islam websites, and before expanding our lighthouse mentoring service, which is one to one service, providing answers to those with questions and doubts. Number five professionally, video 10 free of charge courses with slides and notes on our new three learning platform. Number six publish two new books on Islamic thought and proofs of Islam. Number seven, produce over 60 new videos addressing doubts and providing strong case for Islam. Number eight engage in for academic discussions and debates. And number nine finally start a new podcast addressing many important questions that may be important. Okay, so brothers sisters, this is the kind of work you are funding. you donate tonight. It is the 27th night on the month of Ramadan. You and if it happens to be Layla to cover, then you are loaded. Allahu Akbar. Okay, Omar Han said I love Sapiens Institute will lie we all love it. And you will love it more when you see the kind of impact this institute will be creating within the next 12 months you want to be part of that it is the 27th Night of the month of Ramadan, it may it may well be laid out on color, we don't know whatever it is, then you would have done it for more than 83 years. Allah said it is better than 1000 months, which is equivalent to 83 years. So you would be making a donation for nearly 8383 years or longer. So Sapiens Institute is doing some wonderful work, groundbreaking work history making work, you want to be part of it, you want to you want to make a legacy, you want to create a legacy, this is your chance, come forward, come forward, my brothers and sisters and you will see the results here in this world and in the hereafter. I have to take a very quick break for salah and I will leave it to the Hamza and then I'll be back very very soon inshallah share, continue. Ask people to make a difference. Ask them to make a donation and I'll see you very shortly. I am sorry I was late but I catch it. Okay brothers, I'm going to share with you now the link to join if you don't want to join in to ask some questions. But don't forget what we're here for. We're here to we're here to articulate the need for sapience. We're here to let you know that last year in under 12 months, we developed an empowered over 6000 Muslims to be able to share some academically and intellectually. And next year we want to do even more when you're almost double that do over 10,000 Muslims, so they could be able to train others as well and also defend a share some academically and intellectually, but they're gonna be much more than that. We're going to produce a book on doubts when expand the lighthouse service, mentoring, service, and so much more. So, please donate now. Be strategic with your Southern call. Because if you support the engine that will drive the dial forward. You could be getting all the reward for Everything I have is off to that. And imagine we train 10,000 Muslims to be able to share his son academically and intellectually. Imagine the Shahada is that transformed hearts the positivity that they're going to create the other people that are going to develop as well it's exponential so be smart the other car It could be the night of power today. So please donate generously brothers and sisters the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said sadaqa does not diminish wealth. Okay, so let's have be grateful is key Slavonic Rahmatullah. Slavery calm. Be grateful is key. You need to unmute yourself. Okay, I think we've lost them. Be grateful is key. Okay, we've lost them. This have Russia keen. So that one might Excel Rahmatullah. Hope you're all well, Jesus loved her for your marketing efforts, your meeting. In fact, we cannot thank you enough for the work you are doing. Are you people are really lighting, you know, your agenda for our society, that now, I had a question, I wanted to say that I'm a college student. And we see both protected and unprotected people here. And we also sing on them. But I had forgotten always how to bring non protected people closer to Islam, how to engage them, and it's now how do they find it more attractive? And hence, how can we attract nonsense who are more closer to them? Which people do is the mother, we do a lot of workshops, type of stuff, we do hold Islamic radio ad, but most people don't show any interest or get attracted adapted good stuff. I just wanted to have some tips from you, though that how can we beautify our work so that we engage more people? Yes, so that's a very good question is is I mean, from my experience, and perspective, I think there's a few things that one needs to do. The one thing that you need to do is just follow the I in the Quran in sort of Full Sail University three, when Allah says and who is better in speech, than the one who calls to Allah does righteousness, and says I am one of those who submit. So let's analyze this in your context. So the first thing you need to do, you need to really understand that your job is to call them to Allah subhanho wa Taala. You're not here to win friends, you're not here to make enemies, you're just here to call them to Allah, and to ensure that at some point in your relation with them, that you're going to call to Allah but you have to use hikma, which means saying the right thing at the right time in the right place in the right way. So you're going to call to Allah call to what the call to his tell, he'd go to the foundations of Islam, because these things are the things that shaped people's understanding and worldview. But what's significant is when Allah says and they do righteous deeds, you have to be someone who is as righteous as possible that you walk the walk and talk the talk, not just talk the talk that you're internalization of the Islamic values. So they see positivity in you, they see empowerment in you, they see piety in you, they see good character in you, they see principles in you, they see justice in you, they see compassion in you they see forbearance in you, they see all of these amazing things. So you have to be the person you want them to be. And you said that you're one of the Muslims, meaning that the good actions that you do, you know, there is a there, you're confident in your Islam. And the action that you do can be linked to the fact that you actually submit into Allah subhanho wa Taala. But on a more practical level, if you follow the next verse that comes after that, it sort of said at first that you for Allah subhanho wa Taala says good and evil are not the same. repelled by that which is better. And between two peoples with any enmity you attend to intimate friendship. Now what's very interesting, the Arabic word repel here is not followed by a direct object. It's not saying repel evil, it's as if it's saying report anything. And what is repelled by that which is by to mean the early MSA repenting by that which is better means doing was repenting with what is more virtuous, and what is more beautiful. So be a person of virtue and be a person of beauty. Now significantly, when it comes to the individuals, I've said this previously, that the dour when you're doing it to an individual, you have to understand the context because the similar of dallah to individuals is to individualize them understand the context, understand, listen with the intention to understand where they're coming from trying to empathize. Don't judge them. Yeah. So really understand their context. And it's through that intention to understand them, you'll be able to find strategies to basically awaken the truth within, because if I give you an answer for a particular person in mind or work for them, because we haven't really understood who that person is, so your main role is to do the stuff that I mentioned previously, but specifically to have a commitment to the well being, and to understand who they are and what their context is. And once you start doing that, sincerely listening to them, and not making stories about them, just allowing the character, their personality or what they say to come at you, as if it's a blank canvas. Once that happens, you be in a better position to be able to find out what they need. So for some people, they may need intellectual arguments for other people, they need a good wake up call. For other people, they need more of a softer approach, everyone is different. So as a strategy, I think you should adopt this and then Allah Over time, inshallah would inspire you to understand exactly what you need to do and say with certain people. So when I bless you, sister, thank you so much. When can we have you in Kashmir? Yeah, if you want me on there, anytime. It's your book as hardcopy available here in Kashmir, probably not. But what you can do, if you email us with an address, we could send you a couple of boxes. If you have a postal address, I can send it to university, we could send it to a college, just send me an address to info at Sapiens Institute. org. And what I'll do, I'll get because we have 1000s of the physical copies that we give out. So if you give me an address, we could send it over inshallah. Yeah. Yeah, sure. So thank you so much, Microsoft Allah. Don't forget brothers and sisters, what we're doing today, what we're doing today is we're attending about what we want to achieve off the Ramadan within the next 12 months and want to remind you what we've achieved so far. And we want you to really build your legacy. Building, build your legacy by maximizing your reward being strategic with your sadaqa. What do we mean by being strategic with your Southern car, meaning make sure you support the Dow at the right time at the right stage in order for you to maximize your reward. And if Sapiens Institute and we intend to be the engine driving the dollar forward, then it's going to be silly to support the dollar after that, because you get more of the road here and the engine stage. So if we plan to train 10,000 people after Ramadan, then imagine how many Shahada is how many hearts are transformed all the great work and all the other leaders they're going to create that how many what kind of numbers we're talking about? It's going to be exponential so be strategically start the call donate now brothers and sisters. Go to Sapiens institute.org. forward slash donate live, or you could click the link in the description below. So let's have because I'll be honest, I need a coffee man. He's a coffee. So let's go to Ibrahim let's see if you bring him could wake me up a bit. Yeah, libre him. So I want to Chrome with Allah. Basically, my question is more, most atheists will not accept Islam even if you show them. So why should we like debate atheists in the first place? Because a good question. So you're saying your question is that most atheists will not accept Islam even if you show it to them. So what's the point of being atheist look, firstly, that there's a false assumption there here because many atheists haven't heard his song properly, or the true undestroyed message of Islam and you don't know they may become Muslim. But our goal is bro is not for people to come Muslim. I mean, we want people to become Muslim, for sure. But that's up to Allah Subhana Allah to Allah successes from Allah Shahada from Allah, what Allah expects from us, is for us to sincerely convey the message to plant the seed in people's hearts in mind. It's up to Allah if he's going to make that grow into the fruits of eemaan. Okay, so the point of doing Tao is because it's an obligation, because it is rewardable because it is a manifestation of the fact that Allah is worthy of worship, because Tao is one of the highest forms of worship, great act of worship. And giving doubt is basically just a manifestation of the ultimate reality that Allah is worthy of worship. Also, we will allow it to be the highest, you know, we believe, you know, Allah, Allah 's word is the truth. His Deen is the truth and we want to give it to other people. Also, it's a sign of our empathy. The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said love for humanity we know for yourself. This is another Hadith it's not the Hadith and arbaeen of annovi. This is a Hadees narrated by Bihari intellicad Kabir, the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said, Love for Lynette's love for humanity, love for the people, we love yourself. So the LMA talk about these types of teachings. And it means that we need to be committed to the goodness and guidance of our people. And if we have empathy, we want people to have goodness want people to have guidance. So any so and given that we're so sorry, bootable as well. The Divine reward is immense. So these are these are exactly the reasons why should be giving out to atheists. Does that make sense, bro? Yes, thank you very much. Just a quick question. Is there any like possible way to donate to Sapiens using a gift card? A gift card? I'm not sure. I'm not sure my brother. It depends if the gift card is a is like a card. It's like a debit card. I don't know. But men are bless you for your intention. I'm not too sure. But don't worry about it. I mean, one way of doing it is sending the gift card to someone And they send you the money then you could send the money to us. But it's up to you. So at the moment I don't think you could gift gift cards. Okay? Let's have a need to kick some people out of the studios we get people on board let's have Shaq burrs slow icon. we're there, let me need to How are you? I'm fine, I'm fine. This first question. My question is regarding the divine attributes of Allah having to do with actions such as creating and granting provision? Is it like, are they created or eternal manifest eternal? Can you please explain me, especially the name Alcala, which means the one who continues to create. So at one point like before creating the first nation when we are not created anything, he would not be a lot, right. Like I can understand the name college creator I am. One can say that he possesses the quality of creating and most people, but how can this How is it related to action be eternal? And by this I'm not actually I follow authority, but I'm not able to find proper answer. Well, the answer is very simple. It's an upgraded to where the Allah is described by these attributes without these attributes needing to be manifested. I don't see what the problem here is, there is a force that someone's made a false logical, logical relation between the attribute and the attribute, meaning to be manifested in order for the one who has the attribute to be described by the attribute. That's, that's actually a false logic lesson is fallacious fallacious reasoning. Like, you know, for example, if I'm the CEO of an organization Monday to Friday, on Saturday, I'm not the CEO. I'm in my pajamas, watching television. Does that mean now I can't be described as a CEO because I'm not being the CEO on a Saturday. Do you see my point? Yeah, I understand. But, but does this mean one color that means something? The one who continuously create so at one point like before you created the throne arch or the pen like the first patient? He was not like, he had not created anything right at this moment. I find it tough to know what Allah means the perpetually creating okay. It doesn't necessarily mean the eternity creating for understand it means the perpetually creating perpetually he's continuously creating. Yeah. And we know this was Jana, Jana jahannam. had a beginning, but they're gonna last forever. Allah is adding to the creation all the time. So has that a problem? Are you saying that one time, like once he started creating change now is going to create to our liking now. Also, the reason it's a an opinion from even taymiyah, the 14th century theologian now I don't personally follow this opinion. I haven't really adopted it, but there is an opinion for every Tamia that he suggested. a HELOC means that Allah has been creating and he had to be creating forever. Because the Quran says is the one who creates like the one who does not create. Now, even to me, like most of the theologians, even from the ushabti school that are three school in the more three days we believe in max maximal perfection of the Divine, meaning Allah, his names and attributes are maximally perfect. He's in so even him his interpretation of this verse in the Quran, is the one who creates like the one who doesn't. This was really into perfections. He's saying, creating is more perfect than not creating a since Allah is always perfect, and he's eternal. Therefore, he's been creating forever. Does that make sense so far? What he said, so what it means to me is said was, Allah has always been creating ad infinitum. Now, he didn't believe that creation was eternal. No, that was a false accusation. Just to be fair to the chef. He believed the genius the category was eternal meaning there's always been creation. But each instance of creative act is finite. But those instances of creative acts have been going on forever. And somehow, they subsist in the will of the Divine in some way. It's very complicated. Not many people know about this. But that is a view. Nevertheless, I will go back to the traditional point, which is, Allah has attributes and he's described those attributes, even though that those attributes may have not been manifested, because we know the Hadeeth, I believe, is in Bukhari. And obviously, even to me Different understanding this Hadeeth that before anything was just Allah, right? It was just before it will just live in Allah created I think the Hadith goes the throne. So there was nothing with Allah it was he was just Allah. Right? So that indicates to me earlier that Allah there was no creation, it was just Allah subhanho wa Taala and therefore, you know, Allah had all those attributes before he created anyway. Now even Timmy is you that Hadith is a bit different, because he refers it I think the Hadees language is about the questioner, who is questioning the puzzle someone was saying, tell us about the Ummah, this, this this the this command or the our, our affair. So even Timmy says this is talking about just this worldly, cosmic reality. But there are other creative realities. So his interpretation of that was Yes, with this particular creation, our universe, for example, it was just Allah and this, there was nothing with him. But there were other creations that Allah created. Because he's been creating for eternity. That is, that's a nutshell. It's a very crude kind of summary. But there's an interesting paper by Professor john Hoover on that particular Hadith as well. But nevertheless, the easiest way of dealing with it is you can have attributes and not necessarily manifest them and yet still be described by those attributes. Does that make sense? You have a desire, okay. Just just you're basically saying that, I just want to understand the meaning you're saying that it doesn't mean to continuously The one who continuously create right, you're saying that word meaning like my understanding of HELOC means the perpetually creating All right. Does does does Allah have the ability to perpetually create? Yes, he does. Is he perpetually creating this moment? Yes, he is. He's just gonna last forever. Yes, they are. So Allah has been perpetually creating each moment each name can be eternal, right? This color like this mean? Once he started now is being now easily collaborate. This is just creating every day, Allah was always on her luck, even before he created anything, okay? Or a tool or a designer like a song? Or? Okay, brothers and sisters. So let me just check if someone's coming on board because we've got a full studio just bear with me. Right brothers and sisters, don't forget, we are here to support Sapiens Institute, we got some amazing work coming up in the next 12 months, training over 10,000 people to be able to intellectually and academically share and defend Islam. Put 10 new free courses, robust courses professionally filmed on our learning platform, produce a book dealing with most of the doubts on an offline producer website dealing with anti Islamic websites, and so much more. If you think this is great work, then please support it. Go to the description below. Right, who's next? red leaves serravalle comreg leaves Islam and I've just like three simple questions. Oh, my. Oh, either very simple. I mean, I'm just like this more than maybe you could answer them yourself. The first one is the continuous argument. So I just want to know why they can't be to eternal independent universes, like depending on each other, or in a cycle something knowing. So the repeat that question that there are two or carnal, interdependent universes depending on each other? Well, just because a universe is eternal, it doesn't mean it's not contingent. Yeah, they can be contingent schawbel Why can't they be to just the universe is dependent on each other. But if they're contingent, then they require an they require an explanation external to them that is not contingent. Why can't that be another contingent universe? Because you'd have to have an explanation for that contingent universes over an unlikely universe has the explanation for that universe together like they interdependent. contingency under there you go. So you still need an explanation outside of a contingent thing. Okay, second question is Well, you have the thing yet, so there can't be a world full of contingent universe contingent things, right? You have to have a necessary existence. Or, you know, but so I was just wondering why they can't just not the US existence, we just have the two universes. But guess that equals our understand why you need an existence, you can just have two interdependent eternal universes. Yes. So the whole point of the contingency argument, it says that contingent things do not explain themselves, contingent things have not existed. Therefore, based on the principle of sufficient reason, they require an explanation for the existence of an explanation for their existence cannot be their own selves, it has to be something external to them. And it can't be another contingent thing. Because that condition thing ultimately would require an explanation to so the argument and this is a crude summary of the argument. The argument, therefore concludes that there must be a necessary existence where all contingent realities derive the existence from right. Now, what you're saying is, why can't they be two universes depend on each other? But But that is the answer the question because because if you know, if we already agree that we need the necessary existence to explain contingency, then you you are assuming that these two contingent universes that depend on each other are actually in some way necessary, but they're not. Because each universe is contingent. And if they depend on each other, that that dependency is contingent, and therefore, they require something outside of that dependency in order to explain it in the first place. Okay, yeah, that's fine. So So are you really saying, see, break down the logical, you're saying a contingent thing is dependent on another contingent thing? Yeah. But that does, that leads to an absurdity of infinite regress of contingency. And also, what a does it, it basically, all it conclude is that there is a contingent reality. But that's exactly what we're trying to explain the first place, that contingent reality, the reality that you're talking about just happens to be two universes that are dependent on each other. But that doesn't matter, you can, you could describe it any way you want. The point is, is still contingent, and by virtue of the fact that is contingent, it cannot explain itself, it requires something external to it to explain it. And it can't be another contingent thing, because that would require an explanation to so it will need to be something necessary existing. Therefore, your your, your possible explanation. It's still contingent, and therefore doesn't explain anything. Make sense? Yeah, so the second Yeah, that makes sense. So the second question is basically, with the definition of convention since of I know you say it's like terms using philosophy often, but is that a quick reference? I can just use that say, yeah, these are like legitimate terms are used to get definitions out. Most philosophers philosophers agree on that, you know? Yeah, I understand the question. Do you want another term other than contingency? No, as I know contingency the four different things that make up a contingent thing when atheists can just say Oh, you're just making that up? Just to sneak God in the back door if y'all I mean, the verses quite funny that you just mentioned like that's actually mentioned in my book, even those words exactly that we're trying to sneak Go to the back door. We're not the I see this is the problem a lot of atheists have no clue about philosophy. Just like our an RA when he attended the thought adventure podcast, they it was the back they embarrassed him intellectually annihilated, distinguished, not distinguished diminished him he was finished it to put in a hedgehog esque language here he is finished. And because he dismisses philosophy or love, the science requires philosophical presuppositions for it to work. Anyway, point is this. contingency and necessity are not made up terms. They exist in philosophy, and they exist even in areas of philosophy that don't really talk about God. So necessity and contingency are not made up and it's not there to squeeze God into, you know, provided the backdoor. we formulate this argument we understand what contingency is we realize the universe is contingent, whatever and everything within it, we realize that it can't explain itself a contingent thing cannot ultimately explain itself. We also understand that an infinite regress of contingencies is absurd. So therefore, the only explanation is that it was that this contingent reality is as a result of a necessary being is derived this existence from this necessary being. This necessary being has to be independent and has to be eternal because all necessary things have to be eternal. It has to be independent of course, and it cannot be finite because things with limited qualities are finite and finite things are things that are finite have limited physical qualities and things are limited, with limited physical qualities or contingent. So there has to be In other words, not not finite, meaning that there's nothing external to it, that, that limits it. It's a necessary being, and it's eternal. Lo and behold, that sounds like a very, like the basic definition of the Divine in the Islamic tradition. That is awesome. Ed. He is independent. He'll say he's so self subsisting. He is he's eternal, right? And so on and so forth. So without squeezing God by the backdoor in any shape, or form. these are these are well known terms in philosophy. Okay, thank you. And the last question is simple. So, a lot of sighs like when we die, or we die. So why do we get punished for suicide? Yeah, but that decision was based upon your freewill. We way he does, but but that again is based upon your freewill. But if Allah decides that we die via suicide, and then something, why don't we get punished for it because I decided that Allah decided that you're going to die by suicide, and that you chose to commit suicide by your own free religion free will. Okay, so Allah doesn't make you do it. And he just, he doesn't decide, okay, you're going to die this way. And there's no other way you can die. It's just your ages predicts your freewill option, in a way. No, I wouldn't say predict. It's a very bad way of putting it. Allah knows when you're going to die. He knows exactly how you're going to die. Now, the problem with this question is, this is the issue to do with clutter to do with Divine Decree and predestination again, and, you know, any good example that you come up with philosophical example, Saturday, assumes or postulates that there is a will, independent of God's will. And you can't see that his son that is what you call kofod is disbelief. So it's this one is is basically one of those questions that is actually, I believe, impossible to answer. And there's nothing wrong with that. Because there are some things that you can never answer, like, we're talking about the reality of Allah subhanaw taala, we could affirm two things we could affirm that Allah's Will is, is nothing would escape Allah Xu and Allah predetermines everything we could affirm that and at the same time, we could affirm our free will. Just like in science, you know, they affirm Newtonian physics to certain domain of reality. And they also affirm quantum mechanics. They both are non complimentary paradigms, but they still both affirm them, but they don't know how they can coexist. They don't know the link kind of thing. So there's nothing irrational of affirming two truths, but not knowing how those two truths can be reconciled. Especially since this question doesn't really undermine the foundations of the deen meaning it doesn't undermine the fact that God exists, and that He's worthy of worship, and that poses, some is the final prophet, and so on and so forth. It's just one of those things that we just can't answer because we have limited cognitive faculties is as simple as that. And Allah subhanho wa Taala, He is Allah, Allah, Allah Hakim, he is the wise, he's the knowing he has the totality of knowledge and wisdom, we just have its particulars. We just, you know, Allah has the picture, we got the pixel. So there's gonna be some things that we're not going to know. We just don't know how to square that circle kind of thing. Yeah. And this is, this should be humbling. And, and this is like a sign that Allah is a reality exists. Because if you want to know everything, about the divine, everything about how things work and everything about this, that and the other concerning Allah Subhana, WA, tada, then you're going to be making, there's going to be no difference between divine knowledge and your knowledge, which is Cofer. Allah is knowledge is maximally perfect is greater than us. And we're gonna have some things that we just won't be able to really, really answer properly, philosophically. But what's interesting in the Islamic discourse, this whole issue of Qatar is not supposed to be a philosophical exercise is mentioned in the context of being existential, trying to free you and liberate you from the shackles of you believing that, you know, the real world has intrinsic power, like this spoon doesn't have intrinsic power. Right? This, these keys don't have intrinsic power. La hawla wala quwata illa Billah there is no true power apart from the powerless panel or to Allah. So these things are just empty tools that allow users to manifest His yarda His will and his qudra and his power. So That should empower us because it means we should connect straight to Allah and not fear these things because they don't have any intrinsic power. And and and that should create a new realm of possibility for us to achieve what we can because we don't know what Allah's Will is we don't know what's happening next 510 or 15 minutes. And given the fact that we can't actually be any rule of power to these things, we go straight to align, it creates like almost a new realm of possibility for us to achieve what we can. And after trying our best, if we haven't achieved it, then it's still good for us. Because whatever law choose for believer, you can choose any better. So from that perspective is supposed to empower us. Because what does the law say in the sun that they say, if the whole world were to come to benefit you, they will never benefit you unless it's in line with the will of Allah. And if the whole world were to come to harm you, they could never harm you, unless it's in line with the will of Allah subhanho wa Taala. Qatar is an empowering thing is supposed to give you wings to fly, to achieve things. From an existential perspective, it's not supposed to be a philosophical exercise. Okay, thank you. I wasn't sure if it was a question on cover. But I've seen this thing come up quite a lot in your streams and stuff like that. I was asked, Is there any like essay or any sort of how many job is just finishing off a master's in theology, he's tying his PhD in Birmingham in September, inshallah, and he did a really powerful essay on this whole other issue. Because actually, we were discussing this a lot. And that's why sapiens, we do have a lot of academic discussions in the background to get these these ideas. So it and we will respect Some people think they've solved the problem. But when we've seen these experiments by great philosophers, or even people, they end up subtly assuming there is a will, independent of the Divine Will, which is not classical Islam is not orthodoxy. He may sound like a great example. But when you break it down logically, you're assuming an independent rule other than kudzu, which is cough. Yeah. So we have to be very careful. This is like, you know, one of the six pillars of eemaan. So he's raised something that's really interesting and engaging. That's gonna come out very soon each other. Okay, thank you very much. Hello, office. Don't forget brothers and sisters. It's time to donate time to donate brothers and sisters. please donate. You've heard some of the great work that we're doing. Oh, advanced waiting. Bear with me. I need to kick someone out. Don't take it personally. Guys. I need to kick some of you from the studio. Because I've gone by is in the house. Or not by or not? No, no. It's like the Punjabi. Oh, bro, I'm delirious. I need a coffee man honestly. On that note, all the wisdoms and philosophies on that has been sharing with you in my absence, all that. appreciate it very much. But at the same time, don't forget that link, Sapiens institute.org forward slash Night Live. The reason why I'm holding his head right on it's a coffee in his tie. And completely exhausted is because we are here for this very purpose so that you can support our work. That's why we are sitting here on the 27th Night of the month of Ramadan, which may well be laser cutter. And for that reason, you really need to get involved. Sapiens institute.org forward slash read live is the link. And we want you to keep sharing, because what's happening is a lot of people are watching and they forget to share, share. If you're on Facebook, on my page, share, please right now I request to start sharing the screen at the same time. Those of you are watching on YouTube, take the link and share on different pages. Also, take the link the donation donation link on the screen right now you can see if Sapiens institute.org forward slash donate live is the link you need to start sharing and start making donations to my brother and sister. And at the same time we'll take some questions and we're gonna keep our conversation as fruitful and as short as possible because the main reason we are a tonight is to raise awareness and raise funds. Okay, so Sapiens institute.org forward slash made live is the link do not stop donating. Did we get a challenge? Did we get someone come forward and put a challenge 1000 pounds with a spin it's been a crazy ramadan ramadan. Ramadan bro is like a warzone. is like a was wild. Because Yeah, yeah, it's it's been busy. I think it's been intense but hamdulillah mela make easy for everybody. My challenge is that he's gonna put coffee on this table. coffee for you right now. This mean even this mean you just just just me and you let's have a chat man aren't too hard because we hardly see each other. So maybe this is an opportunity for me to have a chat with you. We don't see each other anymore. We don't talk to each other anymore, either. to Ireland to Sweden. No Yeah. Then you got that big stick and you were whipping my back. Do you ever by the way but this is this is at nine is very violent to be who he loves. I've received so many beats. I am very violent to those who make me violent. Yes. By this bandages, boyish banter. We're just having some love. I remember once we were in Ireland, was the first mission when the international atheist conference in 2010 was in Ireland. We went to Ireland, we were in the we're in the conference. Remember, we had a Dallas on that side? I think we were like, booking a flat for us to live in. Because we're there for about a week or so we went to we went to this atheist convention. That was very interesting. Do you remember? And then you had dockings? I asked him a question we wish he didn't answer with a goal. And he got angry. He got very angry. Because in one of his interviews, he said that there is a loop there is an illusion that the universe is created. It appears to be the case, but it is it isn't actually the case. Which was a very problematic statement. I asked him about it. And he got very angry. I don't know if you remember. I remember the clip. I don't remember exactly the topic. But I remember why it's because you know, sometimes these hardcore atheists that like to put into a corner and actually assume the worst about Islam and about the people who follow Islam. And in the conference, so like saying on Twitter, trying to debate me or something, saying, Look, do you get stoned in Assam? Yes, or no? Yes or no. And I was like, of course you don't get stoned in Islam drugs are completely forbidden. So having you as an interesting, interesting discussion, but anyway, so where were we? Yeah, I was saying we haven't had a chat for a long time, man. panela. You know, we have been so busy in our private chat in front of like, hundreds of people. Yeah. Yeah. Why not? Let them hear what we talk about when we talk about good things. And believe me, our conversation, our heart to heart open conversation in public will bring a lot more funds than it has in the last three hours. You know why? Because people will find out what wonderful character we are Alhamdulillah Well, well, not maybe not me. But we are very fragile, we are as weak as you can imagine. And we are struggling as you are to do as good as possible to do our responsibilities. And one of the responsibilities we have on our shoulders is to lead this oma when it is in need of leadership, serious leadership, okay? A lot of people start looking at political leaders leading a number of different countries. Look, if they're not pulling their weight, if they're not providing the leadership you require, then step up, come forward and fill the gap, as they say, or fill the vacuum. And nothing is stopping you. It's all about taking the initiative. Right? Allah loves those who come forward and take the initiative. Allah loves the brave, the courageous. So to show them courage, and most importantly, click that link Sapiens institute.org. forward slash donate live as the link and start making the donations. Well, I cannot emphasize the point enough, why we need hundreds of these institutes, not one Sapiens is only one. Why do we need hundreds of these institutions? Why? Because the onslaught the tsunami of Islamic phobia is so overwhelming that every few minutes there is anti Islam content coming up online. And we need an organization or many organizations for that matter, to confront this Islamophobia provide solutions to it. One of the solutions is to have educational platforms where people can find authentic first hand information on Muslim intellectual who can actually defend their faith intellectually and give responses to many arguments that people throw out. Throw online, so a lot of our youngsters get affected. I'm pretty sure a lot of youngsters are asking questions while I was going around in question. There are so many people with so many questions in the mind. Imagine if they don't get answered. Imagine that they don't have an intellectual to go to they don't want to go to the Imam of the masjid because they think the Imams are simply not capable and in most cases, unfortunately, they're not. The imams are not trained in answering some of these questions, because all of these questions are coming from very sufficient To get it you know islamophobes online who like to throw these questions out there in public? So they can be answered by people who deal with these samples. That's why we need institutions like this. We cannot belittle the work between Sapiens institute.org forward slash donate live is the link started making the donations and let me see. Tell us what you have donated so that we can announce that each other okay brothers, sisters, and still I want I want those brothers and sisters we're still waiting and thinking Hold on, shall we date is the 27 night for Allah sake. Whether the sisters 27th Night of the month of Ramadan, what more do you need? What are you waiting for? What are you waiting for? You know, what are you waiting for? Is the question. You want more Islamophobia. You want more apostasy? You want more kids to be confused? You want more Muslims to be leaderless? No. We want to promote leaders, we want to create a legacy, the legacy we are standing on the shoulders of giants, and we want to continue to cherish those giants problems. Lie. We cannot deliver them of this course. was not a coffee. No, it was Oh, it was a spoon that dropped. I thought someone bought the coffee. Wow. This is only going to lie. Let's not get face on. Mike Snell McCullough. Okay, so I had an advice that I needed from you. And an address that I wanted to give. Right? So firstly, I'm from India, and I need some of that coffee as well, because it's 3am i right. Okay, so the advice that I wanted from you was, how do you think we should deal with people with non Muslims who are generally not really involved in religion, and they, they just basically generally believes in the values of love, and the values of respect and equality. So I actually have a case study for you. So just just a little while ago, a friend of mine who's a non Muslim, so they texted me, and they basically had this idea. So since I'm from India, and the environment over here is really polarized. They, they had this idea of sharing something from each other's religion on social media, to empower equality and love. Now, I personally, of course, being a Muslim, I could not endorse another faith. So it was a tricky situation. I said, I'll call him later. about it, but then I wanted to know how I can deal with similar situations. It's a very good question very well articulated. Um, you know, it's you. We have to learn the art of being compassionately, compassionately, authentic, we have to do that we have to be compassionately, authentic, what do I mean by that? I mean, you just have to have integrity to your tradition, and be authentic as a human being and say, Look, I understand and empathize, the kind of noble drive that you have, and the reason why you want to do this, but in actual fact, it's not good at all. Because I actually believe that there is a spiritual truth and that truth that there is one God that is worthy of worship. And that once we affirm that, and we affirm his oneness, and we follow His commands, we will have a society the way that you want. And if I promote something that is antithetical to that, it's actually going to be going against what I consider to be the truth and what I consider to be something good for me and good for you. So if I truly am committed to your well being, then I can't endorse this. Because what is committed to your well being is me sharing this amazing truth with you. That's how you should do it, bro. And either, they'll be like, oh, but you know, it's loving his tolerance. He's like, yes, but it's actually it may sound nice, but fundamentally what you're doing, you're you're almost saying that all of these truths or all of these perspectives lead to the same river. In actual fact, they lead to the same sewer. Obviously, you don't want to say that to them. And obviously, I'm not talking about Asana. Yeah, and you just need to make that kind of perennial. Peace, love and harmony stuff, with all due respect, has no solutions for humanity. Like I'm being honest with you, because I was, I was brought like this. They can't solve economic problems. They can't solve more problems. They can't solve problems to deal with minorities, they can't solve big problems like what's the purpose of your life? What are you doing? How should you live? How should you interact to your, your the with your family, your parents, your siblings, your spouse, your children? What? How do you? How do you prioritize morals? Right? Sometimes you have conflicting moral values, which ones take priority. You need an ethical system going from the divine. These are peace, love and harmony. You know what it is? I'm going to be very honest with you. It's just nice people following their Shahada. He says the desire This is what everybody be nice and nice, obviously. But when you break it down to them, love I asked them what love is what is love? Yeah, tell them what's the beauty of Islamic tradition? Allah is a rock man. He's intensely merciful. Allah is Allah will dude he is the he is the excessively loving if you if you want to use such language is the loving and that has been manifested to the Quran. The Quran is a love book to humanity. It's a love letter. And a true lover tells people if you do this, you're going to go into trouble. If you do this, you're going to be successful. If you say this, if you do this, that's a true lover. If someone's always like, yes, you're fine. Everything's okay. You know, even in friendship, you know, the most dangerous friend the snake. Yeah. who always agrees with you, the snake who always says you're good, that person's a snake you don't need that. It's like looking in the mirror is like, not me. absolutely unique, someone who cannot get more from me than anyone else in the world. So that's why you love me. So so you someone who's committed to your well being is going to help you grow, tell you where you're going wrong, and so on and so forth. Likewise, the Quran is a love letter to humanity. What is the law saying so rock man? the intensity merciful, he he taught the Quran. The Allah breed on the Quran is connected to His mercy. Yeah. So we really have to understand this. And you need to be brave, bro. Yeah, don't have these like, you know, hippie, loving everyone. And you know, pseudo intellectuals because it makes you look good. We have Muslim bro take leadership. You know, I'm not trying to judge. You have you have the truth? See, whoever has the tuition ever feel shy? Has the tuition of a fear. And you should tell these people. Yeah, we love everything. You know, the people who love everything. They don't love nothing at all. They don't even know what love is. Yeah. Oh, God loves everything God loves we talking about? Do you love hatred? Do you have arrogance? Do you love the barriers of love? Do you love evil? Do you love people people's relation in the way they relate to themselves and others? That's a relation of evil, the states of being evil? Of course not. It's actually a true sign of love to hate that which is a barrier to love. A man who calls for anything will stand for nothing. Yeah. So once, you need to be able to just articulate this in a compassionate, intelligent way. And just be authentic with them. And this will give you a chance to give them down and as well. But let's think about it as well. Maybe Maybe you should see this within yourself. Maybe you haven't been very authentic with them. Maybe you've lacked a little bit of integrity with your own tradition, because the very fact that they could even ask you to put it on social media means that they see something about you that you're not you're not really right. Imagine my friends coming to me say come to the pub and have a drink with me. That means I haven't been authentic with my friends property. Right? Right. No, it was actually emotional with them not being aware of religion as a concept. I want to empower you here. But you know, the number one form of empowerment is to realize what you need to do. Forget them. Their job is to be ignorant. It's our job to teach people. Yeah. So the point is, if you're their friends, and they're not aware, then who's at fault for not making them aware. hamdulillah and it's not a bad thing. I'm the same position, we're all in the same position yet. We got a lot of work to do even up with my neighbors and so on and so forth. My old neighbors is on and so forth. The point here is, you need to reflect upon that as he right what is in me, that is actually not allowing them to understand the authentic self, my authentic self. And how do I relate to them in a way that makes them assume something about me that is inaccurate? So you just have to solve that bro. And it's part of the journey of life. True. Thanks for the wonderful advice. I mean, what's your Okay, okay, so I actually had an issue So, basically I wanted to ask if you guys are doing something about Hadeeth projectors? Yes, we have option of Oh well, well there are many books written in the old new language, the reason why they are written in the old language because this fitna or this notion of how this reaction came about in the Indian subcontinent. So, had this was mainly questioned in the Indian subcontinent, partly due to the lack of exposure to the Arabic literary literature. And partly because of some intellectual movements that emerged as a as a as a response to colonialism starting with C, Adama Khan in the 19th century, and then onwards, moving on to the 20th century where some intellectuals started to question how this and it authentic authenticity. So there are many books in the language. I have personally done about four lectures on this topic. Yes. I've seen all of them. And they were really good, they were really helpful. Okay, but then I can, I can, I can still see some heavy projectors, you know, maneuvering around them. So I thought, maybe, you know, bite size videos, like shaping thoughts about how historically, you know how the methodology is really strong. When it comes to documenting it. I think that would be really beneficial. Because it has a projection around a lot you're talking about, you're talking about instead of, instead of responding to these rejections philosophically, we need to demonstrate how these was actually documented authentically. That's what you're talking about. Right? Yep. Okay, we will be working a bit of a bit of both, I think, also answering them from the Quran itself. would be yes. Yes. You know, what's interesting phase on is that a lot of the motivations of the Hadeeth rejected is actually not even philosophical intellectual, they have been referred to complex and they are consumed by a naturalistic way of thinking. Yeah, yeah, that's what my lectures This is exactly what I talked about why rejected. And the second point is, is a philosophical one, because you need to show to them this, logically speaking, the logical equivalent when you reject Hadeeth, that is equivalent rejecting Quran because the the type of methodology to preserve Hadith was very similar to the crown was preserved in general. Yeah. So if they reject the basis of hadith of authenticity, they are rejecting the Quran, and that puts them in a psychological corner, which then is to start thinking a bit more carefully about these things. And what you need to do as well. You need to make them realize in Western philosophy, even Eastern philosophy, there's there is a source of knowledge and epistemology, which is called testimony, testimony is an indispensable source of knowledge. Ask them if they believe that China exists, but they never been there before. Every single evidence they're going to give you is actually fundamentally testimonial, even if it's pictures, because the pictures and videos that they have to believe is China, because someone's told them so yeah. He asked me about certain scientific facts that they believe to be true. They haven't done the experiments themselves. They only believe them by virtue of reading a scientific textbook, which is really testimonial transmission, awesome about the roundness of the earth, they haven't even done the science before. They've just seen pictures. And that's a testimonial, because someone has to say that's actually Earth itself. Ask them about their own very mothers that gave birth to them. They can't prove it without a DNA test. And even if they do have a DNA test, the stool is still testimonial because they didn't do the DNA test themselves. It's just a certificate. So I have so many evidence. Well, I read a book by Professor CIA Cody called testimony, philosophical study, read books by Benjamin McMillan, Elizabeth fricker, Keith layer, all these epistemologies, testimony, in terms of his philosophy in the Western world has been developed more in the past 30 or 40 years. And when I do this with atheists, they get dumbfounded because I think everything they believe is because they've seen it themselves. Most of you believes is because someone said, most of you believe, yeah, a lot of them. You could pick up about geography, about history history, is, is standing on the shoulders of someone's testimony really about that. So it's on the angels really funny. David Hume had an issue with testimony, he said, it's very good, but it's useful and we only believe it because it's in line with our collective experiences. Professor Cody, he addresses his argument in the book, he says, okay, you only believe in testament respected because it's useful and because it's in line with your collective experiences. And then he asked the question, how do you know what our collective experiences our collective experiences? How do you know you have to ask other people, his testimonial, which shows that testimonies on demand This this language, Bro, I want you to write in your mind. So you got a blackboard in your writing in chalk. I love you, I need to write that down. How do you know that you spell love? How do you know you pronounce love as love and not love? Why don't we pronounce it as love e? Why do we pronounce it as love? There's so many. Yes, the articulation of how to pronounce words in any language was not written down. Even if it's preserved in books, that wasn't the source. That's just a reflection of the mass transmission. Any language in the world on how to pronounce letters and words, has come down from testimony. So if you reject this source of knowledge is the equivalent of rejecting every single language in the world allow you to listen, they have compounded ignorance. Number one, they have been referred to complex. Number two, they don't know much about science either. Number three, they have inferred the complex again, I said that twice. And number four, they don't know much about philosophy, you know, just that they don't even know about the science of Hadeeth. When and this is not my specialty, Mister is advanced, but when you just even reflect just on the size of Hades and the robustness of the size of Hades. And compared to even like, you know, the historical method of of preserving history, if they reject Hadeeth I would say this this is bravery here to a certain degree. If they reject a week, Hades forgets the Hadees. If they reject a weak Hades is equivalent of rejecting the existence of Aristotle, the existence of Plato, World War One World War Two, they're in a sticky wicket. Literally in your Indian, you might like cricket, they're in a sticky wicket. So, from this perspective, inshallah we're going to write something has done some great work and lots of work to do, Mashallah, to better Kala he's gonna be busy for a long time. mela blessing. Yeah, that's really profound. Thanks. And thanks for the help. And I asked because I was in that boat. Not not a long time ago. And your work has really helped me a lot. Please, I want to give you some advice. The older you get these caddies that maybe you can't question the isnaad, but you question the mutton the text because it doesn't fit, right. Let me give you some advice. I am telling you, the older you get, the more experiences you have. You're gonna be like you the truth is going to be rude. ubec suppiler law, what insight what wisdom. And as long as you understand the Hadees properly, I'm telling you, a load reveal to you in a way it's gonna be phenomenal. And we've seen this with our own journey. You know, one, Heidi, you know, obviously you believed to be true, but you just didn't really get it. But after 10 years, and living a certain experience or having a different perspective, like oh, my God, how profound and that's the beauty of this journey. Stay sincere. mela Bless you. been happening to me as well? And yes, does that allow for your work helped a lot, too much. Allah bless you. On that note, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you why we are still here at this time. I mean, it's very late for me. And it's the day is only starting to hunger. The link is Sapiens institute.org. forward slash donate like brothers and sisters will lie I cannot emphasize this point. Now, if I knew some billionaires Personally, I would get them involved in our I would ask them to give millions of dollars of pounds every year, you know, Christian missionaries, the Christian missionaries were working in the Muslim lands. And they are trying to convert Muslims to believe in the doctrine of the Trinity, which makes no sense, right? When they do fundraising in the American South in the Bible Belt, they get millions of dollars. If they were doing an appeal like this online, I can, I can guarantee you by now they would have hit a million dollars. It is a real struggle for us Muslims for some reason, to get funds for educational projects. People think it's not important. Let's donate to suffering people around the world. They are suffering because you lack leadership. They are suffering because there are you don't have enough intellectuals to defend them. And that's why we are working on education. We are working on creating a legacy that will protect these people who are suffering from atrocities and catastrophes around the world who are in refugee camps. A lot of them this is happening because we don't have enough people talking about Islamic values. We don't have enough people to defend Islam on mainstream media channels. We really do have a very imposing presence way. There have two CNN, Fox News, NBC Sky News, BBC they have to talk to Muslim intellectuals because so far what's been happening is either they have Have a bunch of extremists defending Islam or representing Islam or on the other hand, they have complete panoptix complete hypocrites hypocrites who are not even Muslim. They haven't had any middle of the road. Moderate. I don't like to use the term moderate because it's it has negative connotation. Okay? But Muslims who are truly Muslims, traditional Muslim, they haven't had many sit on these channels to represent Islam and to defend Islam. We are promoting education we are moving academic ability so the Muslims can come forward and represent Islam and de civilization effectively. For that you need to support Sapiens Institute and the link is there online. Actually is there on the screen Sapiens institute.org forward slash net live problem sisters, don't belittle this. Islamophobia is a reality and a solution we are working on is the institute.org right. Now we just have now potato Fatima so I want to come Hello a family Mashallah, myself I have I have watched a video of brother Hamza taught with like about a week ago and Alhamdulillah. Like, I have got cleared of many of the confusions, actually one of my Muslim friends, you know, he has agnostic values, and he was asking me about the freewill thing which some of the brothers is now asked to you. And he was also asking me about like, why profits or loss alone was chosen by Allah and His heart, his heart was clean. So obviously it was, it was obvious that he would do good things. So I mean, he kind of told like Allah biased prophets, Allah seldom and, and obviously, because his heart was clear it was, it was easy for him to do what he was doing. How do we answer such question? Absolutely. Absolutely. Without a doubt, a lot cleaned. The Prophet Allah protected him, Allah conditioned him so that he can be a role model. If the Prophet of Islam, Prophet Muhammad was just an anybody, or any one walking on the street, a normal standard person who commits sins, or sometimes lies, sometimes cheats, has weaknesses, as temptations has desires, and it calls for those desires, like many normal people do, then what would be the point of believing in such a prophet? So, so Allah subhanaw taala, deliberately, according to a plan, conditioned him, purified him and made him a model. That's why Allah says in the Quran, we're in knock Allah, Allah, Allah, God, okay, you are upon the best of manners or Muhammad. Also Allah said, lockout, lockout karnala computer to the law, he also in the life of the Messenger of Allah, the prophet of Allah, there is a perfect model for you. If we had examples like the Christian then it up due to the Bible, or due to the corruption of the Bible, like sleeping with his daughter, David plotting to kill the husband of a woman, that he can have her as his wife, and Jesus using unpleasant language against the people who disagree with and the list goes on and on and on and on. And Judah sleeping with his daughter in law, all these things if we had models like that, then we would be stuffed as they say industry time. Right? But we are very glad that Allah purified the prophets, Allah Salam and made him a beautiful model. That's the answer the second question, the first question, but 100 I can take the first it wasn't a question. The first one is more of a comment. I think the statement, okay. Actually, actually this was actually his question was, if Allah decides that a human errors, and then what is the basis of creating this world? And what is why why all this drama, that is how he asks it. So let's Why did Allah to test and worshipping Allah based upon our rationality and coming to the conclusion that Allah alone deserves to be worshipped? is a test. Allah has given us the ockel? Do we deny the intellect we all have to be denied? The fact that he's asking these questions? The fact that he's asking these questions, shows that he has the intellect to think, intellectually and rationally. And if that's the case, then he needs to use the same intellect and rationality to see whether a lie exists or not. If he does, then you need to surrender and so bit and once you do, then, you surrender to the fact that Allah created us with weaknesses and strengths. Allah gave us the free will to follow him or to not follow him. That's what Allah said Allah the khaliqul moto will heartily abou Created life and death so that he can see who the best of doers. And that's what the plan. That's what the point is. And that's what the plan is. Allah has given us given us freedom to choose between good and bad. And it's our choice, our choice. So Allah has created models for us to follow. And then he has given us freedom to choose between those models, or the antithesis, choices or ours. Does that make sense? And that's it. That's the response. Yeah, the The main thing is like why the via Allah tala has kept like free will in our hearts. And why is he making us responsible for it when it is he who has decided that for us? That was the basic question. Like, this is a very common question that comes up that Allah is forcing people to do deeds. No, that's not the point. That's not the that's not the issue. The issue is, Allah is aware of our choices, Allah will know the choices we will make. For example, the companions of the Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu sallam, they came to him asking him this question, Yasser Allah, if our destiny has already been written, what's the point of brain? What's the point of making the art because whether we make bow or not make, the result is going to be the same. The Prophet said, You're the eyes. Also, Richard, the fact that you will make Doha and because of the DA, there will be a certain outcome. As far as your destiny is concerned, that die is also part of destiny. So the point is, Allah is aware of the choices we will make, but we have our freedom, we have a freedom. So this is the response. There is no contradiction between Allah's having knowledge of our choices. And the fact that we have a freedom to do what we do, or who you want to add to this. Yeah, I mean, that's fine. I mean, I've mentioned about the whole cultural thing previously, but from there are things that you can control and things that you can't control. From an existential phenomenological first person experience perspective. You know, you can control things if I told you to lift your left hand, and you lift your left hand up, or right hand up. You did that and that's your freewill. Now, obviously, we know that Allah Subhana water, Nothing escapes the will of Allah, nothing is independent of the will of others. last panel, water Allah. We just don't know how that works. But we can affirm two truths. And not knowing how those two trees can be reconciled is not a problem. Even science does that. You have quantum physics and Newtonian physics, the two complimentary non non complimentary paradigms. They don't know how they work together, connect, but they still affirm them. So it's one of those things that is going to not be you won't be able to square the circle. And if you can't answer it's not a problem. Because Allah subhanho wa Taala has infinite knowledge. He is Allah Hakeem Allah, Allah, him, he has the picture, we got the pixel, and there's going to be some things that we'll never know by virtue of living. And there is no shame in saying that we have no idea about the dynamics of Allah knowledge. Yes, absolutely. Yeah, exactly like when I tell him about the Sheraton disappointing and not prostrating to Adam, then he tells like who has given that thing to shed on my when Allah created shape and then how does he go astray? good sister, these things what this this it what the questioner is assuming that they're going to know everything about Allah is knowledge. And that is very dangerous because that would make an equivocation between human knowledge and Allah's knowledge. If you could know everything about Allah His knowledge and wisdom, then it's not Allah zone's wisdom wisdom anymore, because because our understanding our understanding is always going to be limited. And compared to last maximal perfection. Listen. I know that what you do not know sort of bucket overstay, I know that what you do not know. So from that perspective, what they need to figure out is themselves a person's son, when he was asked these type of questions, he was referred to many times to the people when they said, Yoda, so the Lord told me about the hour. How did he reply? What have you done to prepare for it? What have you done to prepare for it? You may know everything about the last day and the hour, but you're you're you're at home drinking wine and smoking cigarettes, you need to find out what you are going to do to solve the problem. Because these questions remember, there are questions that undermine the foundations of the truth. And there are questions that are nice to have. These are nice to have, but they're completely we cannot access by virtue of the maximum perfection of God and how limited we are. And this question doesn't undermine the foundations of Islam. Just say to people, if we can't answer this question doesn't mean God doesn't exist. No. Does it mean the person is not the final prophet? No. Does it mean the Quran is not true? No. So these questions almost become slightly red herrings from the point of view of how one should live their lives. say to them, this doesn't undermine the truth of Islam. The question Do you want to be like shaytan? Do you want to follow shaytan? No, you want to follow the Prophet sallallahu it he was sending. So let's do it. Let's pray five times a day, let's practice. And that's the whole point. Sometimes these things become an excuse. So we could excuse I kind of lack of connection with Allah subhanho wa Taala. But they're not excuses. They're pelitic excuses. But luckily his system Allah bless you. You're gonna say, oh my god. Again, I want to remind everyone that brothers and sisters, we are here tonight to raise funds for this very important project. And the project constitutes things like encouraging and producing leaders to lead this oma in the next 12 months we plan to train 10,000 Muslims offline and online so that they can intellectually defend Islam and represent Islam. globally. Can you imagine the kind of reward we're talking about the not in the last nine months we have done it with 6000 Muslims 6000 Muslims have been trained offline and online to give Tao intellectually and academically This is what we want to do in the future and the 12 months coming 12 months. So we need your support for that we will be working on producing webinars free of charge courses online 10 courses free of charge for you to attend they will be videoed and you will attend them. So long as you become a member in Sharla hopefully, which is free membership is free, free of charge right. Everything we do is free everything panels are local. So all the content available online all the books are available free of charge the courses are available. lighthouse mentoring services free of charge, there is no charge to the services of Sapiens Institute. Okay. All we want is you to continue to support our work and you will see the results in the coming months in the year the JAMA okay. So the link is Sapiens institute.org forward slash donate live brothers and sisters, this is an important cause you can fund this Ramadan it is the 27th Night of the month of Ramadan, it may well be later to further and if it is, you have done a great good deed which you might have done for more than 83 long years. Why? Because Allah in the Quran, Laila Academy Tehran official, the night of power is better than 1009 and 1009 equal 83 years 1000 months rather one pound a month equals 83 years. That means if you donate to this cause tonight and inshallah if it's available, other than you have done it more than 83 long years, this is our standard a lot. Okay, guys, a few quick announcements. I've been asked to do a shout out can please please people can they go to the IRA Canada live stream? They've asked for some help. There's only 12 people watching. We have over 240 people watching at home did a lot. Some of you please go to the IRA Canada livestream and donate generously the doing great work. I know Dr. Mustapha kebab person myself, Chef, I had to slim, who's on there. And who was on there. And brother Ali, also go to the IRA, live stream as well. If you go to YouTube for.com forward slash IRA o RG. Go on the live stream. The is code is powered tonight. Donate generously the doing great work. As you know, we've been involved with IRA and I used to be the CEO and they're doing amazing work. fully trusted, fully approved. Go for it. Ira youtube.com forward slash IRA IRA. org. Donate generously does. Alright, so we have sister freakery. She was she ever remember she wanted to volunteer, she's got an MA in Business Administration. And she donated a few times I think is Oh, my Lord blesses slowly causes difficulty. How are you? Hello. That's good, good. I'm doing well. Thank you. I'm doing well. So, so happy to be here. So happy to be speaking with you guys. I actually just want to be very quick. And I have just a tiny little observation I'd like to share with you guys about our lives, at least for the Muslims in the Western world, I guess. And also, I have two questions at the end and I'll be very, very brief. as brief as I can. I can see you're tired. We're here all night. Hopefully more, a lot of them. Lovely. So my name is Victoria. I'm 28 years old and I'm born and raised in Sweden. I'm originally Lebanese but I barely go there. So I'm practically Swedish. And you know My story, I guess it's like everyone's story who lives in the Western world, you go to school, that's called a secular, you lose your faith. After a few years, you build it back, and all the time is lost. And when do you lose your faith is typically in biology class, or it's in philosophy class, at least for us. Muslims, at least when I was in high school, the philosophy teacher sort of singled the Muslims out and tried to sort of go against us with, you know, in our thoughts, and back then, we don't really have anyone to talk to about this, like the local share, wouldn't wouldn't even accept the question about who created God, you know, it would be stuff for Allah, and then you're thrown out. Yeah, so so let's just, you know, be honest about that part. And that's kind of the way it was back then. And so we had all those questions Who created God? The problem of evil, and also the most, I guess, the argument they love the most is Can God create a stone he cannot lift? So all of those are classics. Because of you, we know how to deal with them. But back then, when I was like, 1516, it's like, okay, Can God create the stone? He cannot leave to go? Yes. They usually No, no, wait a minute. No. You run around in circles. Apologies, my sister. my battery's my battery's about to die. So I'm going to come in from a different device. So let me place because Absolutely. Some curiosity. Yes. So you can answer the questions on hamdulillah. Beautiful. Yeah. So So today, we have those answers. And they're so silly, those questions. And but this took time to rebuild for me personally. So I have a little brother, his name is Ali. He is in high school today where I used to be, you know, back in the day, so there's 11 years between us. And you know, he's been sort of following me along first ama did that. And then Dr. Zakir, and then speaker's corner, and all of those debates that stemmed out of that, and you guys coming along with Sapiens Institute, now, when I do like a contrast to just thinking about how I behaved and how he behaved, we have an agreement. Me and Ollie, like, Don't argue with the teacher, just go get your grade and come back again. But when he comes back, he's so bottled up with with arguments, you know, like he was, he was in biology class, and, and he goes, like, he's is freaking out, because the teacher is behaving like the evolution is a pure 100% fact. And there is nothing like it, and it's revolutionary. And he goes, I don't even know that suborn Ahmed says that. You're like you recognize this all of you and they go contingency theory and he goes Kalam cosmological art and he just, it's amazing to see the jinn upcoming generation beings. It is amazing. And and it's okay, thanks to Allah and everything, but it's also thanks to you guys. We donate in like the Muslims in in Sweden, or in the Western world, we have money, we're not poor here. Hamdulillah, most of us, at least, we can give to the poor and feed them. But we can also help this initiative you're doing because, at least for me, if we extrapolate, you know, my story is I think everyone's story. In the Western world, I don't think I'm special in that sense, nor as Ali. So thank you, just big, big, big thank you, because we're clicking a few buttons, donating a few pounds here and there. But you're the one staying awake, not having pop coffee and dropping spoons and dealing with atheists that, you know, sometimes they just want to barge at you. And so thank you for that. Really. Thank you. So so I just have Well, it's really two questions. And if if we would go to general shala. And and say there's a disbeliever that we would wish for us to to be there with us? Would that be? Would that be sort of unacceptable? prayer or thing we can ask God? I don't know how to answer that. I searched and I found no answers. So yeah, I mean, obviously, we know that those who are whoever is destined to go to hell, and not to come out. They're going to stay there. But there are people who go to hell and they're destined to come out, which is the Muslims in arcada. We believe everyone who had had a man, even very small would eventually go to Paradise. Oh, that is the reality. So with regards to your question, I don't know how to answer it. To be honest. Maybe it's gonna be one of those questions that you won't even need to ask the doctor you won't need to make because you won't be in a situation where you will be in a state of worry and anxiety about someone needing to see them. And if you wanted to see someone, you'll be someone that you can see. And that you'd be happy with. Because the hope that remember, Jana is a state in which you don't want to be in any other state. That's what happened is blesses, isn't it? Yeah. Yeah. And all the other descriptions, although we believe they're real. They're there just to give us a kind of appreciation of what that state is going to be like. So even the questioner thinking, Oh, I want to, I'm worried I want to take someone out that worry and anguish might not even exist anywhere in paradise. And Allah knows best. I don't think monster for sure. But you'd have to ask someone far more qualified than me to be honest. Now, but that was, that was a good answer. Because in our minds over here we go. Maybe I'll miss my mom, you know? Yeah. But maybe over there, as you said, that we're in a different state, we may be not Yeah, you won't have you won't have any anguish or psychological negativity. You won't be Oh, I missed someone. Because remember, in the ichra, the ties of kinship are totally disappeared. The ties of kinship or, you know, on the day of judgment, you know, you won't even recognize your mom or your father is going to be old enough Sinofsky. So those ties of kinship exists here. So to try to try and attract them into the oscura. Doesn't make sense because they will be broken from that perspective. Yeah. I think the only tie that is not really broken in paradise. Is the husband and wife, I think, but you have to double check. It's a bit late for me to even go into my memory and just double check each other. Sure thing. And then the second question is, you know, the latest conversation I had with an atheist, I don't really seek them out. They really just find us Muslims, really, I think and start picking and choosing questions for us to answer. But he goes, we are so tiny. We have suddenly missed the first question. What was it? Yeah. It was about asking you a question in Geneva. But we've moved on a little bit. This focus on the second? Yes. About What sorry? No, it was about a question in January. If you miss someone when you bring them out? Yeah, if they died upon copper deliberately here, then there is no chance. If they died, believers and they were sinners. intercession will work. Yes, absolutely. One can intercede on part of the sinful relative. There is no doubt about that. That much is clearly stated by the prophet salaallah. Islam, that intercession will be done on the Day of Judgment by the relatives of a certain sinner. But anyone who died in the form of ship, someone who died worship deliberately by choice committing ship. As far as the Quran is concerned, there's no chance for them. Yeah, we mentioned that, but it's not their judgment. You're already in paradise. Can you pick someone from hell? And two of them? That was the question? You mean, you're in paradise? And then jahannam, then hellfire. Have a cup of coffee with them on a given day? On a nice evening? Is that the question? Yes. Yeah, I guess. But and they were a disbeliever. That was like a good behaving discipline. I'm going to I'm going to I'm going to make a radical statement. We are told that in general, a believer can have what he or she wants. Literally, there are reports, unless something has been utterly forbidden. And there was no chance for it like the one I mentioned that if someone died in a form of Shrek, obviously, they're not coming out of jahannam. But otherwise, who knows? Who knows? It's an open question, that in general, if you desire something, and it has been ruled out in categorical terms, who knows? or not, why said, well, you won't have the need to have such a question. You won't have feelings of missing anyone because you don't have those guilt or those negative psychological problems in the in January. So the question might arise, what's the point? So I know that's what I told her to ask are more qualified. The mean was issued. In a very different form of technology won't be the same number we make a typo or something. Someone says, Oh, my God, you know, we only end up with spouse or not family. Wow. No, no, I didn't mention that. I said the ties of kinship are broken in on the Day of Judgment. I didn't say You only end up with your wife? No, I said, that's not the case. I'm saying that the ties of kinship on the Day of Judgment are broken, because there's going to be enough synopsis about yourself, you're going to be taken to account in Paradise, you can meet your brother, your husband, this and the other. But there is something special about the marriage relationship, because, you know, there are various ahaadeeth referring to that, you know, when it comes to gender and stuff like that, so it's not you don't just end up with your wife in Paradise, or your husband doesn't the case. So yeah, you've misunderstood me. By your second questions is to sorry. Yeah, no worries. So atheists go life is so meaningless. Look how small we are. We are. There's, we're so tiny, we don't matter. And the universe is so huge. How do you know that? Like, we haven't just made something up, and we believe in it and stuff like that, like, what's what's what's good. Come back to that. If I, if I may phrase that question that way. Yes, Yes, I did. Well, just turn the tables. Why does it mean that, you know, if we're a speck on Earth, in this speck in this massive universe, that it means that life is meaningless? What Why would they even achieve that? It actually means that's upon Allah, Allah has invested interest in our well being, Allah created a universe with a mathematical structure, with a galaxy with it with Planet Earth that allows conscious complex life to exist. It's really clear that the, the creative, all of this is invested in our interest in our guidance. So it's actually quite the opposite. Because there is an assumption here, just because we are like a spec amongst various specs, that that this this image is meaningless. No, it means actually meaningful. Because if we're the only, for example, conscious creatures, and Allah facilitate the whole universe for us to have conscious life on this small Blue Green Planet, it may mean that Allah is really invested in our interests, and he's actually dignifies us and is invested in who we are. But there's another assumption. The assumption is that everything else is meaningless, that everything else is empty space, in Islam. Everything has a purpose. The whole universe worships Allah, Allah says in the Quran, everything glorifies Allah, you just don't know how. Yeah, so it's not meaningless at all. We're not a speck. We're not the only living speck amongst this almost infinite Cosmos know, the whole cosmos itself has a purpose. And it worships Allah, just like we must worship Allah, as Allah says in the Quran, everything praises and glorifies Allah kind of thing. But we just don't know. How does that make sense? Absolutely. Absolutely. Yeah. Exactly. for your support sister. I have one request. I just thought of it right now. Sorry. Yes. I've seen the works you've done on Hadeeth projectors. But I would love to see, I would love to see some kind of a debate with a shark among them, like one of the big guys arguing for this and teaching this because unfortunately, it's actually honestly a few years, I'd never heard of him. And now it's even like found its way into my family. And to me, it's an immediate threat. So that's my, my, my request. So if if something could be done about some major teacher, I don't know if you can call them a teacher of Hadith rejecters. There's a specific guy actually, I'm thinking of me's from Egypt. I don't know if, if you could even speak with him. Or maybe him how much he could do something. Yeah, I'm not I'm no, I'm not aware of him. This is more about nouns and hijabs. Maybe that can help. A little bit on that point. I had a few discussions in the park, speaker's corner with these rejecters with some interesting arguments. I even did lectures. But when it comes to debating these big guys, the problem is none of them are big. I mean, there is one guy from Pakistan, who is very well known. And he's very subtle and very clever. He never calls himself or her this projector. He says he believes in hobbies, but everything he says goes against hobbies. So these people are very subtle in the way they do their propaganda. Some are open, some are very subtle. So sometimes they don't even debate I had a very friendly dialogue in Pakistan was one of those had these reactors. And it was very successful. As far as I was concerned. It was a very good discussion. A lot of the times were not traditional all My mom, our traditional scholars debate these, these projectors, they get emotional, they get angry. And these these projectors, they use that against them and they say, Okay, these guys, they don't even have the acumen to have a proper discussion. So we need to do that. You're absolutely right. And inshallah in the future we'll look into it definitely. Please do. There's a specific guy. Yeah, there's a specific guy from from Egypt. He has over 100,000 followers on Facebook, and some of my relatives and and family members. You know what, he's crazy about this? Okay. Do you know what he's naming? Yeah, his name, um, Hamad E. Daya. Okay, we'll check him out. We'll check him out. And and he's all of his content is in Arabic. And I've actually because my mother followed him a little bit, and she's like reading into it. She's thinking about it. She hasn't made her mind up yet. But can you do me a favor? So do me a favor? Can you do me a favor? Can you show my lectures to your mother and to your family, they have been translated into the Arabic language. They are in Arabic subtitles, I don't know if you've come across them. They are on my YouTube channel. If you go to my YouTube channel of non Rashid, you will find and put heavy rejection, you will find all lectures for parts with Arabic subtitles, let them watch them and possibly give us some feedback inshallah. And definitely we will look into debating these gods we have been doing it we're going to do it in a formal way like we have been doing with Christians, and others. So we're going to have formal debates with them. inshallah. That would be fantastic. Thank you so much. for your support. So now medical care. Okay, I bomb what we're here for talk to us. We are here for funds for Sapiens Institute to the weekend continue with the work we're doing. You see, these are the kinds of conversations we are having. We just had this beautiful conversation with our sister, who is in Sweden, out of all places. And he's facing these issues like these rejection in her family, and other questions, for example, and brothers and sisters were light there are 1000s if not hundreds of 1000s 1000s of Muslim families who face similar issues, similar questions, intellectual intellectual challenges. Do we need an institution, a platform where our youngsters can simply take their families to and say, Okay, hold on, you want answers? check these guys out. They are not your normal standard, traditional molana or Imam of the masjid. These guys are not only religious, they are religiously trained. They are also academically trained, they have academic qualifications. What systems do you really want to be part of this is the question 27 Night of the month of Ramadan. It may well be Laila to cover and will lie This is your opportunity to make a real difference. Go to the link to start making donations. Those of you still watching I'm sure you're enjoying the live feed with myself and brother Hamza and Alhamdulillah we have been receiving a lot of good great donations from you. Your support has been mind blowing overwhelming, we want to continue the more the merrier. Every single pound brings a potential leader about when when when I say that I mean every single penny or a pound you donate that can facilitate the training and the education of a potential Muslim leader in the future who can become a Malcolm X who knows someone like that someone eloquent somewhat educated someone confident this is what we're looking for to come forward and Sharla and start making donations but I'm gonna turn off my screen is the whole time for me right now. No no, no no, I'm not going I'm gonna stay with you inshallah. But let me have my soul while you have going on and I'll if I need to come in I'll come in and Java charlo is about 1015 minutes to finish. Okay, you go eat. Let me just show them a nice video. Sharla My name is Hamza. I was born in 1980 brought up in these estates in London Hackney. Growing up. I had wonderful loving parents, like with many people, I had key moments that changed my life. One of them is when I embrace the Psalm, and the other is when I doubted it. Yes, even I had doubts. I became Muslim here on October the fifth 2002 and there were three main reasons why I embraced Islam. One was intellectually convinced to I was attracted to Islamic values. And three I used to perform Salah before I became Muslim. When I became Muslim. It was such a blissful experience. However, I remember someone responding to an email of mine regarding the linguistic miracle, but I had no clear response. That blissful cloud like experience was now becoming a distant memory. As a result, my mind almost leftist I'll put my heart and soul on fire, refusing to accept nothing else apart from the truth of the day, this tug of war was ripping me apart, but was not going to film. I remember praying to Allah and in frustration I was asking him for conviction. How do I explain the linguistic miracle of the Quran without speaking the language. And that's where it all started, I acquired everything I could on the topic. I spoke to students of knowledge, a book expensive books, I visited libraries. And to my amazement, when I was researching at the British Library here, I found a rare PhD entitled towards a text linguistic definition of Quranic in imitability. I asked them for a copy, but they never got back to me. And that's when I hit a brick wall. So I decided to call talk languages and request an expert on the Quran. When I met my teacher for the first time, I explained my situation and that moment, he stands up, he walks around his table, he goes to a drawer, he picks up some papers, he walks back, and he puts them in front of them. And lo and behold, it was the PhD I was looking for. And what's even more amazing. He was the author, Dr. Sami al halloweenie. from us hora University. I've been further develop my ideas on the topic, and I was asked to write a chapter of the book, the history of the magnificent Quran. When I wrote the chapter, the publisher said they had to be checked by scholars being relatively young with not much experience in the topic. It was totally understandable. However, during that period, the Dallas scene was quite dark. There was ego, gnostic competition, and I was thinking of the simply quitting, I was so close to a decision, but Alhamdulillah Alhamdulillah Alhamdulillah, I received a text message by the publishers, and they said something along the lines of the scholar said, this is one of the best things I've read in the English language. I took this as a sign to continue my journey. In 2009. I joined I era, I record visiting Chicago for a tour. And there was one brother and I don't remember his name, ripped into me. He said, Hamza, what is all of this? Who are you developing? What real impact are you having? All of this is just a show. That really got to hit me hard. When I went back to the IRA office, I broke down crying. It was then I made a commitment that I'm going to focus on developing and empowering others. That key milestone helped me develop advanced training for IRA and it became the basis of my best selling book the divine reality, God, Islam and the mirage of atheism, and the process of writing chapters 13 and 15 completely obliterated my doubts. I also completed my master's degree in philosophy and a continued postgraduate academic research at the University of London. It is without a doubt, Allah planned this journey for me. I realized that my doubts were not purely intellectual, I needed to connect and to know Allah more, I needed to empower others. A year after my book was published, I was asked to become I era CEO Alhamdulillah we increased our operational growth by over 1,000% and we delivered advanced training to scholars imants and activists from all around the world with AI era support since July 2020. We have moved advanced our to Sapiens Institute. In nine months we have already trained over 6000 Muslims, publish books, written essays, produce media and video content and much more. Brothers and sisters, if this story has inspired you, then please support us in the next phase of our journey. Let's follow the prophetic model of empowering and developing others. Start your monthly donation now, head over to Sapiens institute.org forward slash donate or click the link below. Okay, brothers and sisters and hamdulillah malice panna with a base every single one of you, my dear brothers and sisters, this is the Sapiens Institute live a pill and Sapiens Institute for the past nine months or even more, just under 12 months, we've trained over 6000 Muslims to be able to articulate an intelligent case for some and defend Islam intellectually and academically. And we brothers and sisters have spent a lot of time in writing essays and articles producing books, producing video content for example, a sapient thoughts videos, dealing with fewer philosophical issues and responding to the detractors of Islam and so much more and what's coming in the future brothers and sisters inshallah. You could take me personally to account on this, I am dedicated to this insha Allah, by the will of Mercy of Allah Subhana Allah to Allah, Allah grant us success, I mean and everybody else, that we're going to train and develop over 10,000 people to be able to articulate and share with some intelligently, we're going to have a learning platform which is already ready, we just need to put content on it to professionally film 10, at least 10 in depth courses, on the rational foundations of Islam on articulating Islam on sharing Islam, and we also going to produce two books, we're going to produce essays and articles media content, we're going to expand inshallah, the lighthouse service that we have one to one with two art preachers and parents to help them share some with people and deal with any issues. What's going to do with ex Muslims, non Muslims, that people have doubts in sha Allah. So there's so much that we're doing and hamdulillah. And what we need is your support, we need your support brothers and sisters, this cannot happen in a vacuum, we need you to, we need your physical support, meaning for us to get involved in this beautiful work. And it could be the night of power today. So don't miss out on this amazing work be strategic with your sadaqa. Giving sadaqa in this way, is being very strategic, because you're supporting the engine, or the engine of the tower, we want to drive the Dow forward. And everything that happens as a result of that you're going to get the reward anyway. So giving this other card, this stage is being very small and strategic, because when the results continue exponentially, you're going to be getting all of that reward. So go to Sapiens institute.org. forward slash donate live or click the link in the description below brothers and sisters Bismillah, please, without fail, we're not going to be here for much longer, maybe another half an hour, maybe more, maybe less, we don't know. So don't miss this opportunity. This is now time for you to support this amazing work. Many of you have been following the strings for a while many of you understand what our work is about. I don't want to just say now, I just want to remind everyone that we are facing an avalanche of anti Islam activity globally. Right? This is a reality. Let's not hide away from it. Let's not shy away from it. Okay, let's not even deny it. It is a reality that we as a community, a global community, we are facing an avalanche of anti Islam negativity, propaganda activity online and offline. The question is, what are we going to do about it? Okay, we all cry about Islamophobia. We all feel strongly about when our sister's hijab is pulled in one of the Western countries somewhere, we all feel about the cartoons, people are making or mocking, rather, of the Prophet sallallahu sallam. Right? And we all you know, feel about very strongly feel about when certain heads of state, you know, make statements about Islam and Muslims, right? But what are we actually doing about it, responding to all these challenges academically, intellectually, compassionately, mercifully, lovingly, for that matter, because the Quran commands us to return evil with good, we are not people who spread evil, we don't respond to evil with evil. If someone is lying against us, we cannot lie against them. Unfortunately, we can't use the tactics of islamophobes. To respond to Islamophobia. The only thing we can do is to demystify the image of Islam, educate our people more about Islam, educate our youngsters about the Muslim civilization so that they can have confidence in defending Islam, and the Muslim civilization for that matter. So I request from every single one of you, if you think Islamophobia is a real threat, and it needs to be treated, it needs to be responded to, then this is your opportunity to do something practical about it. something practical, that will possibly neutralize the threat somewhat, if not fully, if not completely, at least is the posit it is a positive start. And every single good, great movement starts with a very small number of people with a very small ability, and then it becomes big because it's good. It's a force of good. So we are requesting from every single one of you to come forward and make a donation on that link, Sapiens institute.org forward slash donate live. That link you can see rolling on the screen right now. Make a donation, just don't sit idle. Encourage others to do it. copy that link and paste it all over WhatsApp groups, all the groups you are part of because every single one of you is part of a group maybe with cousins with Uncle dance siblings, whatever, you know, your family groups, your and pasted on those groups and tell people to make donations big or small. Regardless, whatever they can donate, at least we get some support and Muslims do it collectively brothers and sisters will lie. As important as grassroots dour is. This is no different will lie This is more important because the grassroots now will be led by similar intellectuals who are trained by Sapiens Institute. So it is absolutely necessary for us to have academics, speakers, who can represent Islam. People like brother Hamza doctors, man lucky job, okay. And brothers of all youngsters who feel for Islam will lie these guys are only in this field because they actually feel for Islam. The field there is a gap they feel there is a vacuum, which needs to be filled enough is enough, who is debating these Islam was one of our brothers hijab. He debated one of the biggest islamophobes online and smashed him intellectually into pieces, smashed him into pieces. He looked like a mouse in that debate. And you know, the debate I'm talking about being watched by millions of people. This is the kind of empowerment we're talking about. This is what Sapiens is doing, encouraging, giving confidence to confidence to our youngsters to go and confront islamophobes. intellectually, without being violent without being insulting without being. We don't need to be like that. We don't need to be like that. If we are intellectually robust. We have a strong tradition backing up. We just need to present it. That's it. donation link is there it's rolling on the screen nonstop Sapiens institute.org. forward slash donate live. So let's let's, let's allow some people to have a conversation or a dialogue or discussion, maybe questions, and then we can continue to take this. inshallah. feedforward. please unmute yourself and speak yet Go ahead. We can't hear you. we can't hear you so maybe we let someone else in let's have Katie slowly come Katie Hello again. Yes You live go ahead speak in Sharla Yeah, I have just you know have a absent send a message can you see that guys? Yeah, I invested 200 I just put a message on the chat box Can you see that? A lot of might not except for me and what he will surely accept from you guys. The robot man but the Hamza please make a drop that may Allah guide my parents and forgive them And grant them the birth of Allah. I mean, I mean, I mean, I mean, most of those will invite them to the investment. mela Bless you. Don't forget Thank you. Thank you will power your own guys. Thank you, brother. Okay, so we'll have now it's it said sound law. Actually, I'm from Saudi Arabia. Michelle, I have her sing it My English is not like very good or, you know, like, not high level. But still, I can like speak and I can talk. I I actually I want to donate the the seeping thoughts, but I'm like, I'm just 17 years old. So I don't have a MasterCard or visa or something to do. Do you know what I mean? And you might have you might have a rich salty uncle or Auntie I live like in, we have in the autobahn. And like other other countries, there's like, just like saving thoughts, but like in an Arabic, they learn how to speak with the atheists and learn about Islam and the shoe, how to respond the shoe but but an Arabic not in English. But I hear like many, many shoe parts, which are what about Allah? subhanaw taala about, about a woman? You know, I hit like a, maybe I can see 1000s and 1000s of shots I have like we're on the street with public in general. No, no, no, I mean, the internet on the net? Absolutely. This is what we are talking about my brother, that every few minutes, there is anti Islam content coming up. And there are people who are funding this, for whatever reason for political reasons for religious reasons, that Christian missionaries, and extremist Hindu right wing entities in India, and some other you know, anti Islam forces. They are working in coordination day and night collectively, to spread hate and misinformation about Islam. We are facing an avalanche of Islamophobia. That's why we need institutions like this. This is why we need to have platforms like this where people can actually find answers to a lot of these you have. Absolutely. I'm not surprised that you are looking at a lot of these. Sure, but I'm pretty sure they exist in the Arabic language as well online. Oh, yeah. This is even like of the 80s they have like some channels. Yes. Many, unfortunately, many, many Stooges. Were working in the Arab world in the Muslim world, trying to confuse the Muslim youngsters. That's why we need Sapiens Institute. That's why Hamza book has been translated into the Arabic language. May Allah bless the brothers in Kuwait, who translated the book into the Arabic language. It can be found free of charge on the website in the English language, but you can get an Arabic copy. Online. I'm pretty sure it's available. Right? Actually, I have his book like in my hand, now in Arabic. Yes. How do you find it? place I bought the book. Okay. And did you read it? Is it good? Actually, I did. I didn't need to be honest still. Okay, read it and let us know what you think of it because it's a very strong case against atheism. And Yes, yes. Yes. there's many shughart I don't know what the answer but there's like two questions to like from the Chabad. But it's like, I hear that is like a video. weirdo. I can't I need to know. Okay, put it out. What is it is the shoe bomb maybe is like a silly shoe. But I don't know that the answer is we say we see that we believe that there is I got right. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. When when is believe is mean a man. So when when I say that, I believe that there is God. They say believe is without evidence. So you can believe anything. So you believe that there is God? But there's no a belief is without evidence so so what like oh, and without meaning. So we believe without evidence. So we are just like so what we are believing just like believing anything or what we don't we don't believe without evidence, we believe with evidence. Right? Because the story of Ibrahim is in the Quran. When he said that. I want to see a miracle I want to see a sign and Allah asked him Do you not believe and he said Bala, I do believe but I want strengthening. So Eman is based upon evidence. So even though Ibrahim knew Allah exists, and Allah is there, he wanted to see a sign. So we continue to strengthen Imam. Eman is there based upon basic reasons. Okay. Allah explains those reasons in the Quran. Enough Kiss Tamati we'll talk a lot lately what are the IR in lulea? arbab. Okay, in the creation of the heavens in the earth, in the changing of the night in the day, there are Signs for those who contemplate So Allah is telling us if you truly contemplate you will see the signs, you will see the evidence. So there is no room for you to reject Allah, the creator. So believe our Eman is based upon basic evidences which Allah has provided for us, even the arguments in our in the Quran. The only thing we have is a journey towards strengthening the Eman getting more and more. Your team, your team builds, your team is not static, it is not the same all the time. It builds, it goes up and up and up based upon the evidence you come across. So that's how it is. You see, so this is one of the responses we give to this show that a man is not blind. It is not without evidence. To the contrary, a man is with evidence. We believe anyone with evidence. And also bro, there are so many good arguments for the existence of God and the fact that he's worthy of worship. We have, for example, the contingency argument. You have an argument which I call the Quranic argument for God's existence in chapter 52, verses 35 to 36. You have the argument for morality, the argument from consciousness, there's so many arguments. And some of these arguments can be found on our website and on our videos. And You'll see the button that says the webinars click on them. And you could go through some of these arguments yourself. Yeah, yeah, Chef, heavy. So this is a not a strong Sherpa. And don't forget shubha and shubho heart they relate to the word touche be who because Twitch. boohoo means it refers to something that it's not, should will hurt our false hood just up as truth. It's a wolf in sheep's clothing. And this is not a very strong ship. Hi, there's so many good arguments for the existence of Allah subhanho wa Taala. And you can find some essays and related stuff on our website and go to the learning section. And you could watch one of the webinars. Okay. Yeah. And if it was blind belief, blind faith, then why would Allah tell us in the Quran, the reference for the Hunger Games documentary show in a more Harlequin? mawashi. Well, why would Allah keep talking about this? Right? Because Allah wants to show that this belief is based upon evidence, it is not just blind belief that we have no clue, no idea that we believe in something that we cannot see the evidence for. And the answer was given by brother thumbs up. I hope that helps you, brother. Yeah, thank you. But the other shuba is like the maybe the strongest sugar for me, okay. Okay, the one gone. And before you mentioned the shoba, before you mentioned the Shiva. I want everyone who is watching right now to know, this is what a lighthouse mentoring service looks like, where you have some person who is asking questions to have doubts shrubhub and he or she needs answers, and Sapiens Institute, experts will be there to provide that service. Now how many Muslim organizations are doing this? That's why we want you to support this work. There are questions in the comment section with people they want to know certain answers for the questions. This is why this process needs to continue you need to support our work. And if you don't support our work, there are many hundreds or possibly 1000s of Muslim youngsters out there like our brother from Saudi Arabia, the one we're talking to who won't get answers. That's why you need to support our brothers sisters and donate on the link inshallah go ahead with each other. Before the sugar, like I had, like many, you know, like Shabbat about the God that support the Prophet. I had, like, you know, everything. Like I haven't really read like 1000s of 1000s oh 100 of electric shock, but I didn't really like see that. The song is to bankruptcy now, just this sort of this shuba I really need the answer. The other shoe was is not really that I need but if I have you know it's good. Okay, the color. Yeah, okay. The sugar is. We know area. Area is from as short as, right? Yes. Okay. Let's say that there's a father. And the he has a good let's see. She's like 20 years old and this guy She didn't want to wear the hijab. So if and and the father saying like, you need to wear it, you need to add to it. And he would the hijab, not for God just for the harbor, or for the family, the family said, you need a job, or you need to read the Quran or anything. And she's so she she, like read the Koran Oh, oh, she dressed Oh, she, she is wearing the hijab. Not a lot not to please your family just leaves the family here. Yes. Is this rear? No, they should not rear rear is when you do something to show off. And to pretend that you're doing a good deed, but you're not really doing it, you're just doing it to show off the rear this is this is something else. This is someone being forced to wear hijab or being advised, strongly advised by the family, and to please the family, you do something, you know, it's a good deed. You know, it's a good deed, and your family wants you to do it. So you do it. Okay. Ria is when you are doing a good deed in Islam to show off so that people can say, Oh, this person is very good. When you give charity, you do it in front of people so that people can say, Oh, this person is very charitable. This is real. And this is haram. So what the situation you described is not know. Okay, so like if the girl, she doesn't want to wear the hijab, the Father, the father, he can force her to wear off now. It depends. If the father feel that he is in danger, or not wearing it. He is in danger of some sort. And the girl doesn't understand the danger and the father is advising her. She should wear it. Absolutely. And the first question is, does she believe in Allah? Does she believe in Islam? Does she believe in hijab? If she does, and she doesn't want to do it, then she's a sinner. But when she does it, because the father wants it, he knows it's a good deed, he will be rewarded for it for going against her desires. Okay, he will do it because she knows is a good deed and the father wants it. She doesn't want to do it, but he will do it just to please her father, and eventually please a lot. So it's not Maria. This is not real. There's no there's no problem in that. Okay, thank you. Okay. Does that answer your question? Yes. Yes. Thank you. Thank you, brother. May Allah bless you. Thank you. And we welcome Dr. Umar Latif, thank you so much for joining us. I know I'm good. There was such a pleasure seeing you Mashallah 100 Same here, very enlightened seeing you Mashallah. Allah, I ask Allah, Allah, you know, shortens his physical separation between us you being in one country and me being in another. I ask Allah, Allah put us together your love, for the best is for the best for our both both of both? Both both of our, the, you know, Vinnie unaka, absolutely, because we could be apart for a number of different reasons, you know, is our obligation sometimes, but I'm so grateful that we're working together. Alhamdulillah So, the main thing I put on my this is the work of sapiens, it's people, you know, across, you know, territorial distance, cultural distances, physical landscapes, but the point is, is that we all collectively come together in our proclamation of La ilaha illAllah, and in serving the cause of La ilaha illAllah that's the main thing. And that's, of course, that's the work of the Sahaba. So, of course, we're different. They're from different ethnicities, different people, not all Arabs, you know, you had the of course, the great Abyssinian slave, Bilal habashi you had a slave, a roomie, you had salmonella, faricy. Then you have people of course, from the prophets own family, but they all came together to serve one cause. And that was a cause of proclaiming the oneness of Allah subhanho wa Taala. And of course, they gave their lives for their code, they gave their wealth, they gave their money, they gave their lives, their efforts, all for the sake of like, look at the risk that they took, in fact, in doing that, there were there were times where even a business alum, this one this one report of him, you know, on a wet day, rainy day, very murky, you know, ugly kind of weather, and he you know, when in that difficult weather, weather conditions, you know, trudging along, in a slugging along to the home of Abu Jamal himself, and just for the purpose of proclaiming unto him saying Kula Eli and a lot of you who say line line you'll be successful. And that's therefore that in this in this kind of work, there has to be an energy has to be some sacrifice has to be some courage, you know, in taking this call to people and sometimes the people are hard style to the call and we have enough of them, a lot of them. And now what is your Canon you've met an experienced many, many of them. But irrespective of that we still have to deliver the message of Allah and this is this of course is a work of Sapiens. So it's really wonderful being in this virtual presence in with you Al Hamdulillah. And ask Allah Allah with Baraka in your, in your travels and in your work and in your time. I mean, thank you so much. It's always a pleasure having you. Doctors, mon Latif is part of the Sapiens Institute. One of his books is available free of charge. Online on the website, titled on being human is an excellent work on human suffering and empathy. How to be human, basically, you know, there is a topic and it's an excellent work on that particular topic. So you would love to read it is free of charge. That's why it's important for us to realize that the service is this institution provides our free of charge, or books or articles or webinars or seminars or videos, or content in general, whatever we do, are, all the activities are free of charge. And that's why we need your support so that we can grow our activities we can grow the team, we can have full time staff working for us instead of volunteers so that we can inshallah grow in terms of influence and delivery Sapiens institute.org. forward slash donate live is the link. So don't hesitate in making donations on this particular link. And it is the 27th Night of the month of Ramadan. If you happen to be in the UK or in Europe, just remember that it may well be lodato Calgary might be the night of power. We don't know if it is then if you made a donation to a court like this, you would have made it for more than 83 years. Simple as Allah says in the Quran. Hi Roman Alka Shahar it is better than 1000 months. It's like worshiping Allah subhanaw taala for more than 1000 months, which any human possibly cannot do, even if we live as long as 83 years. Why? Because we have other things to do in life, right? We do our work, we are going for job we do we go for holidays, we are walking in the street, we are playing with kids, we are spending time with family, we are we're doing so many different things. And when it comes to calculating our time, in worshiping Allah, it is very little throughout our lives. Okay, so Allah has given us this opportunity to do good deed in this one night, and it would be as if we have done it for 1000 months, or more than that actually a lot of skyroam and alpha shop. So make a donation, you never know, it may well be later to cover if it is an even if it is not, it is still the month of Ramadan, every good deed you do is multiply attorneys, you know, 70 times, almost 70 times and the reward is many falls. That's why you need to support a noble cause, like that, inshallah. And perhaps we can take some questions, check, and any any words of encouragement for donors who are still thinking or still in two minds? I'm going to know what I would say what I would say is that this is a work of generational change. You know, when you speak about Dawa, if you imagine, for example, if you're a Muslim, if you're a Muslim listening, think about who wasn't, you know, in, in the past, who was it from your forefathers that was not a Muslim? And then was, you know, given Dawa was called invited to Islam? And Allah guided them to Islam? And then, of course, that set forth a generational change, you know, because that means that person, children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and then you know, as decades as Yes, as centuries pause, all their people know of Islam, and they have no recollection of ever being anything other than being Muslim, you know, Subhanallah we don't think like that. So if we go back, for example, myself, and I think, who was it then once upon a time, who was not a Muslim, maybe a Hindu or anything else, and then was guided to Islam? I don't know, of course, his name, inshallah, perhaps I'll meet him on the day of judgment or, and you know, and so, the next life, I don't know his name, but that was a person that was the CATA catechol. It that was a catalyst that was a change in he was a seed, he planted the seed, and then generations after him became Muslim, the work of Sapiens Institute, like Shannon mentioned, this is free, everything is free. We want to make everything accessible for people, you know, accessible, easy, easy to access, easy to download, easy to watch, all of our courses are free, you don't pay a single penny for them. All of our online work is free lighthouse mentoring, one to one private one to one hourly mentoring is free, everything is free. No one pays a single penny for that, you know, and we want to we want it to therefore to be accessible to people let people have easy access. Our children should have easy access to this. Men, women should all people have easy access to it. But I'll tell you something about generation change. Now for example, what we're waiting Anything in martial arts is a travesty. It's a travesty of justice isn't oppression against those Muslims in Palestine, we don't give them success and victory and strength. But I'll tell you something. We don't always know the effects, the great consequences of the great work that we might do if you support the cause today, and up from those early ones aside, Kunal awolowo, and B from the first of the first those who gave something and it stepped forth, you know, a machine, everything began, everything was set in motion, therefore, you don't know in 10 years time, 20 years time, 50 years time, 100 years time, when we might all be gone, but the work will continue. The publications will continue the online work inshallah will be there. And out of the people, if you imagine 6000 people has been trained just in the year before, those 6000 people who've had received training in sha Allah are going to inshallah give rise to that generation from their side. It's all about spreading this message to break one litre Khun kalama, to law Hill earlier to make the word of Allah subhanho wa Taala, the highest word in so don't they don't think therefore, just about today, think about what's going to happen tomorrow, if I support this cause, and I set this in motion, and I support this engine, and I support the work. And it gives rise to these publications is amazing work. People dedicating a lot of hours, a lot of hours, a lot of hours to put in this work for publications free, everything is free of charge, the lighthouse mentoring, all of this stuff is happening, and it's across the world, not just in England, in many places in the world, then that's something that's going to be to your credit, you are the seed you're being planted. And it's giving rise to generations of people after insha Allah who are not going to struggle with doubts who one struggle with difficulties, one struggle with missionaries coming and knocking on the door. So they're encountering one icebox whatever, they have their arguments, they know their proofs, they have the book of Allah, this is the month of Quran. This could be the night in which the Quran was exactly revealed. Right? The Quran was revealed and it's all about us proclaiming them the message of Allah subhanho wa Taala to give rise to this when I log on all of us. So if you can, I would therefore encourage all of you to spend inshallah, in the course of Allah. Absolutely. Shallcross man, thank you so much, brother, sisters, you know what it is peak time, especially in Britain, when people are watching these streams, people are taking interest in the work we're doing. And we are broadcasting on a number of different channels. It is a coordinated effort. A lot of support is coming through from a number of different sectors. And we really want you to understand that this work is absolutely crucial. It is absolutely crucial. We cannot belittle it any more. We cannot ignore it, we cannot neglect our responsibilities towards training our leaders. We are working on creating leaders that can lead this ummah, in the coming generation. Right, we are facing an onslaught, an avalanche of Islamophobia which is well funded, well supported politically. Even journalists and academics are in it. What are the solutions? solution is that we produce an institution which we have that educates the Muslims on how to defend their faith and how to represent their faith. There's these the two points you need to keep in mind defense and representation are getting defend defensive defending your deen is basically defending your deen against attacks Islamophobic attacks, intellectual arguments, sophisticated arguments similar so you present your you present your faith you defend it representing your faith is doubt when you do progressive doubt you go out and you call people to Islam and tell them Islam is the way forward it is the solution. So do not stop making donations. Adeeb Sharma has put up a message Thank you, to the people at Sapiens for helping me find my way to Islam I have invested in 114 years Don't you mean 100 pounds in this call Allah worker this person doesn't stop donating. May Allah bless me all brother I still don't know whether we are speaking to a sister or brother. But Allah bless Allah has blessed you with a kind heart with a very you know, universe apparently you've done wonders tonight. I mean, share with man, this same person has, you know, encouraged a lot of people coming forward, making donations and all that reward. A theme Sharma you have shared in all of that, basically, and I wonder people who are watching right now, what are they thinking about? What are you thinking? Cannella? Right. It's like someone is there is there's a house on fire, and people are standing and watching. I'm not saying Muslim brothers and sisters are like that. But this is the kind of situation we're facing. Right. There is an avalanche of Islamophobia online. It has escalated In the last 10 years, it has gone to a level where Islamophobia is legal, it is legal to spread hate and misinformation against Islam is, is perfectly legal in certain places in the world. And they are taking full advantage of it, we need solutions. And the solution is or one of the solutions is to create institutions that can boost the morale and confidence of the Muslim youngsters to be able to, you know, stand up to this avalanche of attacks against Islam and Muslims. Right. And how we're going to do that I want to quickly mention this. Before I go further. We are going to do the following in the next 12 months. That's the plan of Sapiens institute that came directly from Sapiens Institute's leadership. This is the plan for the next 12 months insha Allah by the grace of Allah number one, empower and train over 10,000 Muslims into defending Islam, and representing Islam intellectually and academically. Number two complete a free book addressing all of the main doubts against Islam that can be found offline and online. Number three, publish your website responding to leading anti Islam websites. There are hundreds of them by the way, anti Islam websites, there are hundreds. And we will create a portal, a website that will be responding to a lot of things you may find on these sites, which is absolutely necessary for your youngsters and your children who are affected by such propaganda. Number four, expanding our lighthouse mentoring service, like the one we have been doing tonight, giving one to one sessions, to brothers and sisters who had questions who came forward to ask the question number five, professionally video 10 free of charge courses with slides and notes on our new free learning platform. Number six, published two new books on Islamic thought and proofs for Islam. Number seven produce over 60 new videos addressing doubts and providing a strong case for Islam. Number seven, engage in inform engage in at least four academic discussions and debates. I'm pretty sure it's going to be more but just to say, let's say at least for academic discussions and debates, and this is to boost the morale and confidence of our youngsters in Islam. And number eight finally start a new podcast addressing some of the most pressing issues facing our youth today. Do you want to be part of this noble work? brothers and sisters? Do you think this is to be taken lightly? You think the reward is trivial? Absolutely not. When are we asking you to support this cause in the month of Ramadan, when every single good deed is multiplied 70 times. Right. And it may well be later covered tonight. That's another bonus. If it is Laila to cover the 27 tonight, you're not you don't know you never know. On top of that, it is one of the most important causes, we must support. The Prophet said the best or the God is given in hardship. Even if we are facing hardship, go and give some other kind of love will remove our calamities if I truly believe this. There was a sister tonight who donated 50 euros, jackoff man. And she said nightfall she has low income. She said that's all she has. And she's going to make a donation to Sapiens so that Allah can give a Shabbat. I mean, I'm assuming she she has a condition a medic. And she wants a lot of help. And you know, when we see donations like that, it really sends shivers down my spine. And you know, it makes us think upon Allah, are we even doing justice to these donations, and we will do our best, let me assure you, this has already produced a lot of work for you to go and see on the website free of charge books, articles, publications, videos, you name it is there, and we're going to only escalate this, but these are the kinds of people who are making donations to many people out there well to do people who are still thinking about it share with someone, what are your thoughts on I mean, I mean, that 50 pounds our sister gave that could be not just saving a life like physically saving a life saving human. Remember, the most important thing for all of us is not just about life and death, we're all gonna die. Of course, one day there's something in hands of Allah, but it's about dying with a man dying with faith, you see, and I'll tell you something, if I can just a few minutes of course we're again we know we're praying Of course for UK so we're praying for the Muslims of battle Marcus and Jerusalem. In the near 1105 there was a man called Ali bonfires. So let me he altered the testicle Gita Kitab Oh God, of course, you're familiar with check a nun. Now, this text and in fact, my own PhD, in fact, went through the manuscript tradition about this particular text and where the sex was read and how it was read and who was witness to it, and what remains of it and it was very small You know, there was a very small attendees who came to listen to his text in the Jameel mawi Damascus mosque in the Grand Mosque of Damascus, in that gay 1105. But it took decades and decades and decades for that text to achieve, you know, popularity until 1187 before the Battle of 18 Salahuddin his most important, most magnificent battle. It was that text that was selected at all other texts that was chosen for reading you know, before the battle took place. Remarkable showing us therefore that never trivialize your efforts, never trivialize your work. Whatever you decide to put in if you put in with a great intention. Allah subhanaw taala will make that blossom will make that growth. Our system in our lawgiver shifa whatever she's afflicted with. Remember one of the benefits of sadaqa is definitely Bella Bala murghab. It removes Bella removes calamities removes illnesses, that's the benefit of sadaqa and we ask Allah whatever you're suffering with whatever you're struggling with, that the code that the means of that sadaqa will be there will be a means of expiation it will be means of of you know curing your whatever is your suffering and facing in life. A mela give you a full Shiva in this situation, but just like Haryana for your cause, and I hope until others are inspired to also give just like you've been giving Subhan Allah when May Allah bless all of you. Oh, man, I'm just going to show them a really nice motivational video in order for them to understand more about our work, specifically the lighthouse mentoring and what the lighthouse mentoring is about. We've got full moons into October and November I think Allah when I saw it was October and is growing and growing into Brisbane in detail. We really need support immediately brothers and sisters, may Allah bless you all Slavonic Rahmatullah line, watch this video we'll see in a few minutes as salaam alaikum dear brothers and sisters, this is an important announcement, I ask all of you to watch this video until the end, I would like to inform you that we recently did a soft launch for our new free service, lighthouse mentoring, to our knowledge, nothing of its kind exists. lighthouse mentoring is a one to one mentoring service, where people can book in one hour sessions with one of our specialists. This one to one service is critical. Many people have access to books, videos and research. Yet it is not enough for many of them. Human beings need that one to one interaction. It is no wonder that Allah did not only reveal the Quran, but he also sent down the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam who was an example and he was a guide. With this one to one mentoring, we can achieve a greater impact. And we can achieve long lasting transformations in sha Allah, we need to think long term. Now is not the time for vanity metrics. We must focus on what is needed. And not only what just looks good. This service is for five main groups of people. Number one, leaders in moms and parents. Number two university students number three non Muslims number for people who are involved in Dawa and number 5x muslims for leaders, moms and parents. We want to empower them on how to deal with other people's doubts and mentor them on how to articulate the foundations of Islam. In a modern context for university students. We want to empower them on how to reconcile an Islamic identity with student life. We also want to mentor them on how to deal with any doubts about Islam and train them to be able to confidently and academically share the deen. For non Muslims. We want to engage in a conversation to help them remove any doubts they have about embracing Islam and aid them on the intellectual and spiritual journey. For those who are involved in dour. We want to mentor them on how to intellectually and academically share Islam. For x Muslims. We want to engage in a conversation on the sources of the rejection of Islam and empower them to understand the truth of the faith. Now you may be thinking, This is amazing. This is one of its kind. Yes it is Alhamdulillah. However, with the minimal marketing we have done, we have been overwhelmed with requests. We have months of advanced bookings we need to expand this project and we need to ensure that we can cater for the demand. I am asking every single one of you to support this unique service. We are offering free to the community. It is hard work yes, but it is of paramount importance. Please consider giving us a monthly donation. So you can share in this amazing reward. The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said The most beloved de to Allah is the most regular and constant. Even if it were little, click the button or the link below and donate now. And don't forget to share this video I want to break out to brothers and sisters. That is what lighthouse is about in a comprehensive way for you to understand the kind of transformative transformations we're trying to evoke in people's lives in order for them to complete and worthwhile. And it's a comprehensive service because we're actually empowering teachers and moms and even preachers. So they could basically be mentored on how to they could call people to Islam, how to deal with other people's doubts and how to be and how to have a vision for the dour life you feel like and how they can get involved in the Dow and in a profound way. And it's also to deal with new Muslims and non Muslims and also those who have shewhart, destructive or specious doubts specious claims about the religion and would would dedicate to the well being of other people. So brothers and sisters, we're gonna end it very shortly. I'm just gonna get Dr. smila teeth to do the final call. The final push, let's let's I'm really sure in the next three minutes, we can get 3000 pounds, let's let's make that as a challenge. It's not an impossible challenge. Everyone knows what this work is about. Now, you know, all our work is free of giving it to the oma where we're going to do a book on doubts sha Allah, we're going to have a few books on Islamic foundations Islamic field philosophical issues, media content on this issue. We're also going to brothers and sisters, we're going to have a learning platform with 10 free in depth courses on advanced dour in sha Allah, we're going to produce a book on doubts in a website dealing with anti muslim claims anti Islamic claims. And we want to train over 10,000 people to be able to intellectually and academically share Islam and much more. If you want to be part of the engine that drives the dial forward and get an mek maximize your reward, then be savvy B's be wise be sapient with your Sadako giving, because if we're going to train 10,000 people, those 10,000 we want to get Shahada and they're going to train others as well. Imagine the exponential results that would happen as a result of just us training and developing and empowering people. So be wise your sadaqa if you're on the road from the very beginning, therefore maximizing a reward, then donate now right now it could be the The Night of Power Allah knows. But even if it's not your deeds are multiplied by 70 times or even more, I believe. So May Allah bless every single one of you go to the link in the description below. That is my Latif, your final words to everybody and we'll close. I'll give you I'll give you the spotlight on behind the scenes, but Bismillah zakka. In fact, it's a less severe metal that is up to 700 times that's the heavy LS sub ma to the battle 700 times the reward of these blessings plus at nights and these best best days. Remember with Allah with Allah The reward is what is unsound, insurmountable, you can't calculate exactly the amount of reward because it's with Allah and Allah of course is alleghany. Allah is the one who is who is, you know, Allah is free and rich and free of all need. And Allah is the one that dispenses goodness and grace students to his servants. We are lawmakers amongst them. Remember, when we speak about training and empowering 1000s of people? It isn't simply giving a talk. Like I'm speaking now, for example, and you know, it's about training, empowering. It's like one to one. It's like answering questions. It's going through modules going through arguments going through prooves looking at the book of Allah subhanho wa Taala engagement, how do you talk to people? How do you communicate the message of Islam? In the prophets time they used to be the Prophet giving Dawa. So how about giving Dawa, then they will move to the king, these hostile mushrikeen were for to follow them hide behind palm trees and follow them follow them along. And when those people who just had the message of Islam, you know, were by themselves, they would follow them, and then go approach them and then twist the message of Islam and confound them with with doubts and and these kinds of spurious claims about the police element, this character assassination, this will happen on almost daily basis. And so the prophets companions were equipped, how do you target people? How do you target people in a way that is full of understanding of forbearance of wisdom, of mercy and of knowledge? How do you communicate the message in the best way possible? And that's really something that you know, we Sapiens are dedicated to, to making this this is a life goal, right that we want to spread the message of Islam, we want people, us and our children and our grandchildren And generations to come and that when they're confronted with the same if it's if it's bad today, and of course it is bad in terms of Islamophobia, and you have these detractors and you have a lot of online content that is malicious. And that is based on untruths, untruths, lies, you know, fabrications about Islam about the Quran about the life of the person selling the beauty of Islam distorted, you know, by people like that. No, it's not new. It's something is anticipated in the Quran, Allah anticipated, of course, is going to happen, because that's how people are. Those who are hostile are going to act with hostility. I'm going to write with hostility. I'm going to speak with hostility. But that's fine. I mean, that's just gonna happen, but it's about us, what is us? What are we doing? What is the response from us? How are we responding to that, and that's the example if you therefore donate inshallah, to this cause and whatever, in a few minutes, you have left it, whatever you can give however small, however big, you know, that's going to be to your credit, that's going to be that that's your work. This is your work. This is your effort. The growth of Islam, therefore is insha Allah, Allah is most information that's to you, that's to your credit, that's to your credit. And remember, of course, like I said to you, it's not just it's not like a one week report, this is inshallah lifetime growth, everything we publish, is free, and it's accessible to anybody, and not just in English. But of course, as you probably seen from the website, being translated into Turkish in Turkey, there's a big problem with secularism, with with atheism, and this work is tapping into that. We have word translated now into Spanish, you know, we have we have worked we have work happening in America, I mean, it's it's just across the board, but we want this inshallah in with your support with your work to grow. And when it grows, it's going to be something under your name, because you are the ones you know, who sowed the seeds. And that's the whole point of being amongst the sad the cool and about being the early ones. The Quran gives us an archetype of the Sahaba it was the hub of course revealed about them, I said, we call it a balloon, but the point is the principle remains, that is always going to be acerbic going in, in all things is always those who come early, always those who prepare themselves early, always those who are better equipped early, always those who are eager to reach the end before anybody else is always always those who come to the mosque early, who make the first row early, always those who prepare themselves for Juma early and they're very amazing Hadith about so much reward for those who take every step to the masjid. The point is, they have that eagerness to be there early. This is the cause of that will be there early. That's the whole point you know, be there early, or let's just be there. At the beginning at the beginning of the if there's only nine months work that we've been doing at sapiens, nine months of work, and this is not us. Nothing is from us. Well, I'm out I made to either Amita Well, I can aloha Rama. Allah says the reason is not you who threw when you threw it was Allah who through Allah does everything we say there Hola, La quwata illa Billah there's no power and there's no mind no success except with Allah. This is Allah doing everything. Allah just using us you know for a few things but Allah is doing everything so Allah His Majesty, Allah is Allah veem. Allah is Allah thief. Allah is Allah Rahim Allah is Allah manolos are for those two whereby those were called Allah subhana wa Taala does everything. But Allah wants us to be there with this course Elinor Quran says in tunnels sort of lie on sort of Kumbaya, a bit academical. If you support the cause of Allah, Allah will support you remember that, if you support the cause of Allah, Allah will support you and make your foot hole firm. And that's really what the what the message is all about. It's about us, doing whatever we can in these last remaining moments we have together today and of course and this bless at night, which could of course be leyna to cuddle the night of cuddle tonight of Qatar because there's a restriction the alumni they say because it's the earth is full of angels and there's no space left and that's why is it restricted night full of angelic presence is a night of cuddle because it's the night of father the night of virtue and value, virtue and value. That means everything nothing you do, even if saying one Subhana Allah is not like saying once upon Allah and the other time because saying it today, in this night inshallah or these last 10 nights of Ramadan, the reward is is magnified beyond our perceptions. We can't simply conceive of that, seeing one on lower and spending one pound spending 50 pounds, 100 pounds, whatever you can give in the course of Allah, that reward is magnified that looks that will become great in your area. Remember, of course whatever you give in Allah scores is not going to decrease your wealth. Right Allah and the Prophet says man nacoss also to cotton mill Madden aka McCall, that your sadaqa does not decrease your wealth. Allah pays you back in this life and pays you back of course handsomely, with much more in the next life and that's really you know that that's really the call in for us today and remember, of course, that this is also the night of Qatar as an as a night of power. Night of Power. Islam is power. Islam is power Eman is power. having him on his power, having knowledge is power. Right? being equipped with knowledge is power, not so that you use that power with malicious intent, and you do damage that that's not good. But do you use that power, to soothe people's hearts to bring people's heart to hearts to Islam, Allah gave us everything in the Quran. In the prophetic tradition in Islam, it's all about us utilizing that maximizing our use of that maximizing the potential of us as was when I told you something, I tell you something, this oma is full of so many skilled people, so many talented people. We want this engine to grow with your skills, with your skills, with your talents with your knowledge, with your expertise with your time, you know, with your your finger, you know, for Islam, this is how we're going to get this engine moving, you know, at good speed, and inshallah it's with all of your workers with all of your due to all of your financial support, if you dedicate inshallah, your commitment to this cause whatever you're able to give, give a clinical alone Hades Criticism The Adam or son of Adam unfuck unfuck Alec or son of Adam spend, and I will spend on what does that mean? What does that even mean? What does it mean that Allah would spend on your local bar? You know, it is a risk doesn't just mean money. Risk means happiness. Risk means health. Risk means life satisfaction, or is it means family risk means children. What is it mean having good neighbors risk means your reserve, Allah's provision is in all of these things. And so you don't know how Allah subhanaw taala can aid and assist you if you support these noble causes like our sister who gave the 50 pounds for example. And she gave it with intention, I always do whenever I give sadoc I was giving you the kilometer because you want Allah subhanho wa Taala you want to you want to maximize things you want to have multiple multiple intentions for the things that you do. You give sadaqa give it on behalf of your parents as well. You don't give it on behalf of your family as well and half of your friends as well. Meaning maximize your growth in charity. This is a beautiful thing and be charitable them how many verses in the Quran are commanding as compelling as to be charitable. Just like for example we're in this night of potentially not the other night the power today when the last 10 nights it's something that we were seeing in a kind of a almost a singular sense because we know it's a night amongst Of course other nights as well and the promises you know try hard try your best in the last 10 nights. But it's a single moment if you like in that sense in a kind of kind of in a microcosm cosmic sense. But life is like that. Life is like that. You know life is just a collection of days Sahaba would say you have an item or sort of item in them and all you are is a collection of days for it that they have a yarn that they have about dog when one day leaves you. Part of us also left you when this night leaves us part of it has gone with us whatever we had, we have whatever we took from this night has gone that's finished that's gone nothing but we will see it. We will see it on the day that we stand before Allah subhanho wa Taala we will see it and inshallah we will see the rewards from this potential night on the day that we enter by Allah's mercy into heaven into Jana, by the permission and love and mercy of Allah subhanho wa Taala. Right, it's not from ourselves, it's all from the mercy and the love and permission of Allah subhanho wa Taala. So therefore whatever you can capitalize on in this particular night and these particular days, take use of it, make use of it, because when it goes, is not going to come back, and who knows who's going to see tomorrow. Who knows who's going to see tomorrow the prophets companions would say, when the province says couldn't fit do Nick and the Caribbean say we'll be in this like as if you're a traveler or a stranger, even or modify remember would say orajel when you say either I'm said for Latin toggle or Saba that when you're in the evening, don't wait till the morning. If you're in the evening, don't expect the morning to come do whatever you can in the evening. Because who knows if the morning will come upon you why the US bath for that en todo el Moussa. And when you're in the morning, don't wait don't expect the evening herdsmen sciatic llamado they take from your health from your sickness and take from your life for your death. The Prophet said attend him take care of Merle a couple of fabric take care of your wealth before you become poor, who knows how long that money will remain with us but if we invest that money today, inshallah for the harvest of tomorrow for the growth of tomorrow, that's something that is great and something that is big in the eyes of Allah and May Allah grant all of us tofik to do that to maximize our use in sha Allah potential in this night and inshallah in the nights to come as well. Ramadan is unfinished as yet, but the Prophet did say in them Allah malleable, our team actions are judged by their ends and this is the end, few remaining days and nights of Ramadan. If we capitalize on these moments if we capitalize on this time, and spend whatever we can in the way of Allah I know what to add, and have this concern and also, you know, follow the website, check out the work not just about spending, but check out the work, you know, look at the work that we're doing, watch the videos, read the articles, read the essays, you know, look at the debates, look at the dialogue, look at these things and share them with your family, spread the word, you know, engage with your children with these kind of things and with your neighbors and your families and friends. So that therefore people are aware of what kind of work is being produced, you know, at Sapiens Institute, inshallah people who are involved in that and supporters of that may log in and grant terrific to every single one of you on this very auspicious night. May Allah make this a night of much fruition for all of us a month of forgiveness and mercy for all of us. Remember the Prophet when I showed the promise wife would ask she said you also are what do I say if I'm in this night if I come to Nova this night, and He will say to a state say, Aloha mai in the car for one to help Well, if we're for Annie, Oh Allah, you are pardoning and you love to pardon so Pardon me. And we ask Allah Allah pardons every single one of us and shows us most every single one of us forgives every single one of us. And we ask Allah for the money that we donated for this cause that Allah makes it a means for us to be forgiven and to be pardoned, and for Allah to bestow His his great mercy on on all of us. I mean, now it's time for us to go there's other things to do tonight, of course, every single one of you for spending time with us and your general donations, were last panels on a bless you in this life. And I'm in my last panel, what make all the deeds that you've done, we've very heavy remember alone is not going to count your deeds, he's gonna weigh the deeds. And it's important to be sincere with all of our acts of worship. One sincere is better than 1000, insincere to us. And we know the power of sincerity based on the Hadith of the top of the card. And even Timmy talks about this head Ethan, obviously other scholars, and I'm paraphrasing the Hadeeth that someone is so sinful, he has files and files and files of bad deeds on one side of the scale, and he's got no good deeds, but the angels find this little card on the floor and they pick it up and they put on the other side of the scale and the outweighs all of the evil deeds and what was in the card, La ilaha illAllah and this is what the early Mark old kalama took a class the Kadima of a class like pure, pure, pure class like beyond 100% kind of thing. And he goes straight to paradise. And the alumni discuss well other Muslims have said the kalama but they go to hell first for purification but he didn't. And this shows the the importance of having a class and the purity of your class. Focus on that as our brothers and sisters, you know, the light The Night of Power is not a lottery. The Night of Power is not like a bank balance Allah Allah's mercy is way beyond this way we don't treat it like a lottery as if you know, you know you know that you know, you know you we have all these things like you automate your 10 nights of giving and this and the other this is all good. But don't create the mindset that Allah is messy, some kind of lottery, no way. One person could could have missed tearaway for the whole month. He just did the basics. And on one night he just made it the most sincere door and Vicar that has ever done in his life and outweigh anything. This is not to belittle good deeds and your drive to do lots of good deeds, but also to make you understand that Allah is not counting he's weighing so in Allah make everything we're very heavy on	323,533
Bobby and Anne welcome you to your stick to Loch Lomondside simply in the side of the Scottish Highlands. For any occasion in Scotland or a fine Scottish Highland Short Break Loch Lomond is a magical place to stay. Walking, fishing, water sports, discovering a rich history of Scotland s history and exploring the west coastline from this main base are typical in effortless reach… Read more November 29, 2022 Cottage Argyll and Bute, Scotland Argyll and Bute when you look at the western of Scotland offers a variety of tourist attractions, you may be given spectacular mountains, lochs and woodlands. The Cowal Peninsula is a paradise for walkers, cyclists and liquid sport lovers and is however largely undiscovered. It has a superb combination of stunning surroundings from majestic ocean lochs, sandy beaches or rugged…	833
Events October 29, 2022 by Leonard S. Hyman and William I. Tilles As Oilprice readers know, the price of energy has spiked (to put it mildly) in Europe. Sample residential bills have more than doubled in some places from last year to this. In response, European governments want to help their hard pressed citizens, not to mention hard pressed businesses. Russia's war against Ukraine caused the spike in prices and in wartime governments often take what they believe to be essential steps to control their economy. So what to do? Right now a Europe formerly dependent on Russian gas has two options. First, put a cap on energy prices. That at least prevents further economic pain because it keeps prices from rising more. But this creates another set of problems. What if the price cap is set meaningfully below current market prices? In other words, if for example gas prices are set by the government at $1 but the supplier of gas has to pay $2 to drill for or purchase gas, who makes up the difference? Either the supplier loses $1 on each transaction or does the government compensate suppliers for all or most of the $1 difference? Obviously suppliers can't stay in business losing money on each transaction (they can't make it up on volume) so the government has to step in. But, by government action to cap prices, the customer does not receive an accurate price signal that energy is in scarce supply and perhaps should be consumed more carefully. This well intentioned policy spares the customer pain—until either the energy supplier or the government decides that this financial burden is too much. But this type of government policy does not address the root cause of the problem which is too much demand relative to a supply scarcity. The other means by which governments can provide relief for high energy prices is to simply give energy consumers cash. This subsidy method, sometimes called a rebate, has a distinct advantage in that it aids the consumer but leaves in place the incentive to use less of the scarce resource due to high prices. Good policy, but now the government has to figure out who should get how much money. By usage? By income? Imagine how well connected industrialists and the wealthy could manipulate the payments to their advantage. And, of course, the government pays. Some politicians have proposed a windfall profits tax on energy company profits and would use these revenues as energy rebates. The rationale for this is that oil and gas companies and electric generators are reaping huge fortunes at the expense of the citizenry for reasons that have nothing to do with their business acumen or smart investments. Mr Putin's recent aggression and stricter Saudis drilling targets are making them rich. So charge a punitive tax on the excess profits being earned now and give the money back to consumers. It's a great idea except for its consequences—it serves to drive away new corporate investment in the long run. Redistributive ideas like this are asymmetrical. No one ever proposes an oil company subsidy or negative windfall tax payment when energy company profitability is weak during an economic recession for example. Who wants to invest in a business in which you can keep large losses but are denied periodic big profits? Another possibility is that the sellers of energy could set up a price scale that raises price as usage goes up. In other words, you pay $1 per unit for the first hundred units, then $1.50 for the next hundred, and $2 per unit thereafter. In theory, this rising scale creates an incentive for conserving energy. However, we know that electricity and natural gas usages are relatively inelastic to price or income in the short term. That means raising prices will only have a minimal impact on demand. But that is good news in a perverse way because it means the energy supplier will collect more from high volume users (presumably but not necessarily wealthier) and transfer that extra payment to the low volume (presumably poorer) users in the form of a price subsidy (for their lower volumes consumed). The only trouble with this scheme is that the suppliers have to keep track of use per customer and make sure that customers are not sneaking in extra usage from another supplier. This pricing is common for regulated monopolies but Europeans (and especially the British) don't like monopolies. In the short term people and industries cannot adjust usage much in the face of higher natural gas or electricity prices or changes in income. Such is the nature of inelastic demand. But in the long term they can. In other words a 10% price increase affects short term demand by 2% at best but affects long term demand by 12%. A decline in income (expected in the coming year) plus higher prices likely will decrease demand. Continued high prices would tank demand. (Customers need time to buy new furnaces or LED bulbs.) But in the end continued high prices will do more than shift demand from Russian to Qatari gas. The prospect of continued high prices will destroy demand for natural gas forever. Short term, Europeans could face a winter of lowered thermostats, cold showers, idled industrial facilities, and dimly lit streets. But longer term, we suspect energy managers might want to consider the impact of stranded fossil fuel assets because longer term Europeans will be using a lot less gas than before the Russia-Ukraine war. October 2022 Electricity decarbonization is not that expensive, so let’s get on with it March 19, 2020 Electricity decarbonization is not that expensive, so let's get on with it by Leonard S. Hyman and William I. Tilles Presentation to Society of Utility and Regulatory Financial Analysts 23-24 April 2020 To reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that cause global climate change, we must sharply reduce or eliminate fossil fuels from electric generation. That would reduce GHG emissions by a quarter. Then we must convince consumers to switch from direct use of fossil fuels to carbon-free electricity. Electrifying transportation would cut GHG emissions by another quarter, but only if the electricity consumed were were carbon free. Decarbonization of electricity has to go first. Otherwise, consumers would substitute one fossil fuel for another. Cost of decarbonization cannot be considered separately from the electric industry's need to modernize and replace old plant. In real terms, over 20 years, price of electricity would rise by one half to pay to modernize and replace plant alone and would double, with decarbonization accounting for the differential. That is, real prices would rise roughly 2% to 4% annually, with the difference the price of decarbonization. The electricity bill equals 2% of GDP and the household bill only 2% of household income, so projected price increases should have little impact on the average consumer The electricity sector would have to make capital expenditures of $5-$8 trillion over two decades, depending on the degree of decarbonization. The capital markets could easily absorb the $100-$200 billion a year of securities needed to finance the expansion, and would do so at historically low capital costs. The process should not require government subsidy. Does the industry have 20 years to do the job? Only if it first closes coal-fired power stations and does not replace them with gas-fired ones. That would slash the industry's GHG emissions by two thirds. Can we be confident that decarbonization will cost so much more than a business-as-usual approach? Maybe not, because there is more of a likelihood that new technology costs will fall and fossil fuel costs rise than the other way around. In sum, the electric industry can raise money at low cost to decarbonize and customers will face only single digit price increases yo pay for it, so let's get on with it before it is too late. You can read the complete paper here: Here are the appendices with data sets. June 5, 2019 Thirty Years after the Electricity Act of 1989, which launched the great experiment, the privatization of the UK's energy utilities, Jeremy Corbin's Labor Party wants to bring the companies back into government ownership, And he will if he wins the next election. And considering the sorry state of the Conservative Party, he might win. The financial press now seems more concentrated on the future Labor Government's payment plans than on whether nationalization is a good idea. Makes it seem like a foregone conclusion. The owners, then, may be more focused on getting the right price than keeping the assets. They start by playing the international card. Foreigners own most of the industry. Not paying a proper price for the assets will upset them, will cause the world to think the UK is a bad place tin which to invest, will raise UK capital costs in the future, might even get tied up in international arbitration and treaty issues. So they say. But back in 1997, when Labor levied a windfall profits tax on mostly foreign-owned utilities, forcing foreign owners to pay a tax brought about by the excesses of the previously British owners, nobody said anything about international treaties or boycott of investment in the UK. The present utility owners will get paid, but maybe not as much as they would like. Hauling the UK into international courts seems unlikely.You pays your money and you takes your chances, Next issue: can the new (if elected) Labor Government find money to buy the industry? Well, Labor intends to print bonds with which it will pay for the utility shares. It will receive, in return, control of profitable local utility monopolies. Those monopolies earn returns four to six times as high as the under 2% interest rate on the government bonds. The new government owner could earn a nice profit on the deal, or it could use the lower capital cost to reduce electricity delivery charges by 5-10%. Either way, there's no problem coming up with the money. So, the real issue is price. Owners of the utilities, by and large, bought them at prices well in excess of the regulatory asset value on which their returns are based. Financial theory says that utility stocks sell above regulatory asset value when they earn returns above the cost of capital. Basically, then, the buyers paid more than regulatory asset value because they expected the utility more than it needed to service its customer. They had no guarantee that excess return would continue, no guaranteed that regulatory asset value would remain high, no guarantee that regulators would continue to allow high returns, and no guarantee that Parliament would continue the regulatory system. Well, maybe the government should pay market value (which some of the analysts confuse with fair value). You know, an asset is worth what the market says it is worth. Problem is that most of these utilities are not traded in the market. And, the market values stocks on the basis of future earning power. Labor could win office, take over the regulatory system, push down profits, which would push down market values, and thereby cut the price it would have to pay. Not a good set up for investors. Bottom line. Bet on regulatory asset value, which may or may not leave investors with book losses. As for the international consequences, the UK would surely survive. As for the industry, if nationalization occurs, too bad that this experiment will, as T.S. Eliot put it, end with not a bang but a whimper. What do the British know about regulation that we don’t? November 27, 2017 Regulation is back in the spotlight. Moody's, the bond rating agency, just issued a review of regulation worldwide, that started with these words: "Prudent regulation key to mitigating risk…" The bond rating agency put its emphasis on mitigating the risk of carbon mitigation but pretty much opened up the relevance to other risks. What about regulation itself as a risk factor, especially when the regulators decided to change policies? American regulators, we know, have begun to re-examine their policies in light of experiments elsewhere designed to encourage utilities to operate more efficiently and then pass on savings to consumers—- most notably the British effort that began in 1990 which failed to radically reduce prices but did line the pockets of the utilities. Whether shifting American regulation to the British model will reduce risk is a big question. Evidence indicates that it won't, but who knows? What's wrong with American-style regulation? Critics oppose it because it focuses on rate of return. The regulator sets prices calculated to cover all operating costs plus a fair return on the investment in assets dedicated to serving the public. Thus, the American utility has no incentive to reduce costs because it can pass on all costs to customers, and it has every incentive to over- invest because it can earn a guaranteed return on that investment. Way back in 1962, two economists, Harvey Averch and Leland Johnson, published an article making that case, and policy makers — including the British— have latched onto the Averch-Johnson Effect ever since. But maybe the policy makers missed the point, which economists, incidentally did not. Namely that no sensible managers will invest capital unless they expect that investment to produce a return in excess of its cost. Financial theory tells us that when a company earns more than its cost of capital, its stock sells above its book value. Successful companies generally earn more than cost of capital, so no big deal. Regulated utilities, though, have given up their right to earn a high return profit in exchange for protection from competition. Regulators, instead, set a fair return, generally defined as cost of capital. Yet, the price of utility stocks in the post war period fell below book value in only 14 of the 71 postwar years. (Twelve of those fourteen years encompassed the nuclear building disaster and the Energy Crisis.) Furthermore, the stocks generally sold substantially above book value. Financial experts agree that utilities should earn more than cost of capital, as a precautionary matter, but how much more? Perhaps, then, the real issue is not whether rate of return regulation itself encourages expensive over -investment but rather whether regulators set the correct return. As for whether alternative regulatory formulas encourage greater efficiency in operations, studies show that they do, but they also increase the cost of capital.. So, for the alternative system to work for consumers over the long term, the additional operating efficiencies must exceed the increase in cost of capital. We can understand the desire of policy makers to do something different, but perhaps doing the job they presently have better might be a good start. November 11, 2017 Early in the year, British politicians upset by the high electricity prices brought about, in part, by their energy policies, decided to commission a study (Cost of Electricity Review), but instead of empaneling a committee of regulator and civil servants, they handed the task to one of the UK's pre-eminent energy economists, Dieter Helm, and in reporting back, he minced no words. The report's policy analyses and recommendations have implications for both the American and British electricity markets. Here are some takeaways: Consumers pay too much— The British are in the process of decarbonizing their economy , but the government has managed to stumble into some of the most expensive ways of doing so. It started by picking the most expensive and needlessly complicated ways of doing the job. It should have started with a uniform price on carbon throughout the economy. That would have triggered the most economic energy saving and decarbonization moves first. It didn't and now consumers are stuck with long term obligations for too expensive renewables. And, the government should have realized and acted on the fact that closing down coal-fired power plants is one of the cheapest ways to reduce carbon emissions. Neither the government nor the regulator are good at making long-term predictions— As a result, consumers are stuck paying for energy plans based on grossly erroneous assumptions and utilities will benefit for years to come from the bad projections made by the regulator for those long duration price plans that the British extol. With technology changing so fast, making a long term projection and then signing contracts on that basis (as the government did on behalf of its citizenry) makes little sense. Resiliency of the system is a "common property" — Having too much is definitely better than ha ing too little, but no market participant is going to put up extra money to help the network. Getting the right amount of resiliency is not a problem solved by individual profit maximizers. Therefore the government or regulator has to make the decision. But the decision-maker can use competitive mechanisms to get the job done at the best price. Fold the functions of generation, supply (retail sale) and distribution into one entity at the local level— The UK pioneered in separating the functions, apparently believing that the market would get it right, but separation seems not to have led to optimal decisions. Managers might be able to make better decisions if they can choose between different ways of solving a problem. Fix a margin on supply (retail)— Right now the supply function is supposed to be deregulated, which has meant that various suppliers, all buying from the same wholesale market, offer a confusing array of price schedules that often lead consumers to pay too much and do not reflect changes in wholesale price fast enough. So, set a default tariff with a fixed margin to help consumers. The existing market, with prices set my the marginal cost of fossil-fueled generators will not work in the future— The industry is heading toward a new structure, in which renewables provide a large proportion of energy, consumers and producers have the ability to store electricity and control usage via smart devices. Renewables have high fixed costs and no fuel costs. The market has to pay the fixed costs no matter what, and no variable costs. Electricity could become similar to cell phone service. You pay a monthly bill for a plan that allows you up to a given capacity level (let's say, so much data). In other words, you will pay the monthly bill and get the electricity for free. The reformed industry structure of wholesale market and four separate industry sectors (generation, transmission, supply and distribution) each marching to a different tune, may be on the way out the door. Does it look as if the past quarter century of electricity restructuring, with all its brave assumptions about market efficacy and dramatic cost savings, has simply diverted the industry and policy makers from the really big issue, meeting the challenge of climate change in an efficient and timely manner? Dieter Helm does not say that, but that may be the most important takeaway of all. October 2022 (1) March 2020 (1) June 2019 (1) November 2017 (2) America's Electric Utilities: Past, Present, and Future (9th ed.) Electricity Acts: A cautionary tale and case study of how British electricians pioneered the technology, the government regularly interfered, privatization produced big profits and electricity consumers usually ended up as losers History of UK electric supply industry, with comparisons to developments in United States Public Utilities Reports, Inc. (PUR) has been the leading provider of information and analysis to the electric, natural gas, water and telecommunications industries for more than 85 years.	20,570
Many times during my hike and my deep connection with nature, I allow my inner child to run free. I feel energetic, excited, powerful, and just full of life. Man, that is a magical moment. However, I have to remember my own rules about safety. Sometimes that means restraining myself and making sure I am wearing proper hiking gear to have a safe hike. While driving home, listening to the radio, the host stated someone died during their hike. I took a deep breath and said a small prayer. The next day while skimming through a few news alerts on my iPhone, I read three different articles of people found dead hiking. My heart dropped as I continued to read. An endurance athlete, a young woman, and an older man were all found dead during a hike a few days ago. Not to mention the man that fell to his death while hiking with a nine-year-old boy, and the boy had to hike back down the mountain alone. Lastly, a man fell to his death in Linville Gorge mountains in NC in June 2021. My heart and prayers go out to everyone that was affected by the loss of their loved ones. I am not writing this message to discourage you from hiking or spending time in nature. This message is only to encourage you to be safe and a reminder to practice proper safety. I return to Great Falls the other day, excited to hit the trail. I did not give much thought to the gear I was wearing. My gear consists of a tank top, bright leggings, and a pair of cute sneakers. I label the sneakers as cute because they are literally just for being cute or walking around. Those sneakers were definitely not for hiking, rock climbing, or anything that requires traction and support. I jumped out of the car and started skipping through the parking lot, excited to explore a new trail. When I was last at Great Falls, I sat for hours with the biggest waterfall, listening and connecting to energy from the water cascading over large rocks. I took pictures, prayed, and released my stress. Before I knew it, it was time to head to the airport to catch my flight home. Although I was in love with that moment, I wanted to do something a little different this visit. I wanted to get lost in walking, exploring, and capture different viewpoints. I arrived at a trail that revealed a breathtaking view of unique rock layers and the river. My pace increased as I needed a closer look. Nature’s beauty was everywhere! The view of trees. Some standing tall, roots exposed, and some stretch across the rocks, forming a path to cross or a beautiful photo for photographers or alike. Layers of boulders surrounded this area—some leading to the sky tapping the clouds, while others layered the ground like a beautiful maze. The water was racing to the river’s right, skipping over rocks, causing a splashing and serene sound. My friend sat in awe, taking in the magical moment. My inner child kicked in, and I wanted to skip rocks and put my body in the water. The sign clearly said no swimming, but it did not say, do get your feet wet. The water was moving rapidly while foam was skating wildly across the top of the Potomac River. I watched full of excitement, ready to run, skip, pick up rocks and have the time of my life. My friend said, you are Nature’s Girl, but you do not have your hiking boots. Please be careful. I respond, ” I’ll be fine, come with me”. Headed to the water. Great Falls\| Potomac River Long story short, the rocks were phenomenal, and the water released a burst of energy that lit up my soul. But those sneakers I wore caused me to fall several times. A slip here and there is all it takes to either get seriously hurt or cause anyone to fall to their death. There was a time when I was enjoying the water and slipped pretty hard. My friend stopped recording the video because they thought I got hurt and needed help. At the time, I felt I was having fun, and nothing would happen to me. But after reading the articles of the people who lost their lives, I realized I was careless and reckless. I was careless and reckless because I approached those rocks and water without hiking boots and trekking poles for an extra layer of safety. My backside was full of dirt from falling. Safety first next time I do understand that you can still slip and fall wearing hiking boots. But, the reality is the hiking boots provide support and grip that sneakers cannot. Nature Lovers. Please wear hiking boots when hiking, walking a long-distance with incline, and challenging terrain. Pack your trekking poles so you can use them as needed. Travel with water. Preferably in a backpack or vest jacket. It will keep your hands free for balance. Carry a Walkie Talkie or Satellite Phone. It may increase the chances of quickly contacting authority in case of emergency. Check the weather for the location you are hiking (twice). *Always let someone know where you are going if you hike alone or with a small child. Alert them of a real-time you may return from your hike if they need to send someone to look for you. Now this message is not saying that the people who lost their lives done something wrong. This message is only to inform you that sometimes I also get off track. I want to encourage you to provide that extra layer of safety and enjoy nature as much as you can. My prayers go out to the families who lost their loved ones. My gratitude goes to the universe for protecting me when I was hardheaded. Peace and blessings. Tags: Charlene Bell, Great Falls, Great Falls National Park, Hiking, lazy in nature, Nature's Girl, Potomac River	5,649
Senior Caleb Weathers is the UVM rock climbing wall staff coordinator and former Climbing Club leader. The Climbing Club was derecognized by SGA due to a nearly $11,000 debt. The Climbing Club was derecognized by SGA Sept. 25 after racking up a debt of $10,792.65. During the past fiscal year, the Climbing Club overused their allocated SGA budget by paying student employees to operate the climbing wall at the campus recreation center, SGA Treasurer junior Jared Percoco said. All undergraduates pay a student activities fee, which provides SGA funds, according to the SGA website. Senior Caleb Weathers, UVM rock climbing wall staff coordinator, said the club’s expenditures remained roughly the same from year to year and they requested approximately the same amount of funds each year from SGA. The issue came because the club was not fundraising, which put it in bad standing with SGA and caused them to get less funding, he said. “Climbing Club isn’t actually a club at all — it’s just a member-base of staff members,” Weathers said. “We kept going in this unsustainable fashion, and I think it just finally caught up with us.” Student Life Director Daphne Wells said that organizations that get funded by SGA have a responsibility of fundraising for a portion of their expenses. Weathers and other climbing club leaders are looking to get Campus Rec to fund the staffing of the wall, Weathers said. “It didn’t make sense that SGA was funding us and Campus Rec wasn’t at all,” he said. Campus Rec is working on a survey to assess if the climbing wall’s hours of operation should be reduced or eliminated based on student demand, Percoco said. Weathers hopes to have the wall up and running again with Campus Rec’s funding for the spring semester, he said. John Abbott, assistant director of outdoor programs, said there is talk of making the climbing wall self-service. “Students found it ridiculous that they were paying a general rec fee, and then on top of that being asked to pay to use the wall,” he said. Clubs do not pay wages with their SGA budget but an exception was made for Climbing Club when it was first established, Percoco said. The legislation to derecognize Climbing Club states that the club may not be re-recognized for five years or until it pays back its debt, he said. When the five years pass, the club’s debt is waived and they can get re-recognized, Percoco said. climbing club climbing wall Alek Fleury is an English and Political Science double major from New Jersey (the greatest place on earth). He dedicates most of his life to being the... Literally underground: Problems with accessibility in UVM’s band scene “I have to avoid the room at all times now:” No COVID isolation housing poses problems for on-campus students	2,830
No one wants to buy a vehicle with hidden damages. This may result in overpaying for the vehicle and the repair costs in the future. Locked Mileage fraud is more common than you think. You're not only overpaying for the vehicle but also might end up with a hefty bill. Recorded images Locked Knowing how the vehicle looked in the past is very important for understanding its history and learning about damaged or weak spots. Locked The car is as good as it's service history. Enough said. Locked Not everyone is a car guru. Having a list of common drawbacks helps you make a better buying decision. Ownership changes Locked Knowing how many owners a vehicle has had helps you understand whether it was sold frequently. This may indicate serious issues. Locked We check millions of records from international and local law enforcement to make sure a vehicle wasn't stolen in any country.	954
Employees get coverage from employers as a mandatory component of their employment package. However, the majority of them do not pay attention to the pros and cons of such health insurance plans as they do not have much say on the selection of its terms and conditions. However, it doesn’t mean that an employee should not consider the terms and conditions of such a plan. After all, a major part of their salary goes into financing its premium, albeit for limited coverage. By analysing the pros and cons of your employer’s insurance policy from your employer, you can help make an informed choice which will benefit you in the true sense of the term. When you come to think of what you pay for and what you get in return, it boils down to the payment of premium every month with limited benefits. It may not be sufficient for your insurance needs. Read on to find out what you can do to overcome the shortcomings of your employer’s health insurance policy. Company health insurance has some restrictions concerning with customization choices Most employers negotiate the coverage for critical illnesses with the insurer before offering you the package. As a result, the latter may not cover the illnesses to which you are vulnerable. Even if it does, it will necessitate you to spend a certain amount of money which may put a strain on your finances. But you can customize the health insurance plan to your benefit by adding certain elements to it. These include the options for the sum insured, and a plan to include all the members of your family along with the freedom to decide the payouts for them. If you include these aspects in the health insurance scheme offered by your employer, then you can better control it to make it more beneficial for you and your family. Another loophole that you need to address in such a plan is the daily hospitalization expenses. You are unlikely to get this feature with your preferred level of flexibility. You can meet this challenge by getting a plan with fixed benefits; apart from critical illnesses for all the members of your family; it will also provide you with coverage for the hospital admission. Besides, such a plan is also likely to offer you coverage for select surgeries. A health insurance policy from an employer doesn’t come with the guarantee for the continuation One of the major shortcomings of a health insurance plan from the employer’s end is that it may not continue as expected; it may end abruptly as soon as you quit the job. Unlike individual plans, you cannot extend group plans. This is because it ends with the immediate effect when either you put down papers or your employer terminates your employment. Also, the decision to convert your group plan into an individual plan can turn out to be expensive for you. So, what can you do to turn it to your advantage? Is there any way to do it? Fortunately, the answer is yes. Read on to find out how you can customize an employer’s insurance policy to your advantage by overcoming all the aforementioned shortcomings. An employer’s insurance policy doesn’t provide much scope for future planning The primary objective of group plans that are available these days is to reduce the liability of the cost of treatment. Such plans do not attach importance to the quality of treatment. If you think of its background, it came into being in the yesteryears when the insurance was not a mandatory requirement. What’s more, healthcare back then wasn’t as expensive as it is at present. As a beneficiary, you need to ask the following questions: Will it cover the expenses for your admission to a hospital for a brief period? Can you go for the surgical process with it for the treatment of your illness without worrying about its cost? Will the plan cover the critical illness of your family members the assurance of the quality of treatment? To begin with, group plans are appropriate for daily expenses involving common treatments. They aren’t for the treatment or surgery of critical illnesses. Therefore, the question of the aforementioned coverage doesn’t arise with group plans. You need to look for other options to address the need for coverage of hospitalization and surgery. Depending on your medical history, as well as that of your family, you would want a plan that would tick the right boxes of the treatment needs for both. In other words, you need a plan with lenient terms and conditions amounting to an assured lump sum to answer the questions mentioned above. Among other things, such a plan will address the problems in the group plan without any restriction. It will meet yours as well as your family’s health cover-related requirements without straining your finances in the form of a monthly premium. That said, identifying such a well-customized plan is easier said than done. You need to compare the features of such plans from different providers to select the right one that meets your needs. Issues with group plans From the above, it becomes crystal clear that group plans have some issues even as they sound good on paper. The prominent needs that it fails to address include diagnostic services for all employees and maternity education. Besides, it does not provide many choices in terms of meeting the health-risks relating to the medical history of one’s family. It doesn’t provide an option in this regard. It only provides coverage for select medical conditions that may not cater to your needs. Plus, it also has some other issues. For instance, it necessitates the payment of higher pocket expenses at the time of hospitalization. And it does not provide coverage for critical illnesses and surgeries in a practical way. Even if it does for some surgeries, its coverage is superficial, which may not serve the purpose of a beneficiary in their desired manner. Think about turning your plan into a fixed benefit individual plan As much expensive it is, the annual renewal of an individual plan may not be as beneficial. Instead, a five-year fixed benefit individual plan can be more favourable to you. It will enable you to enjoy greater peace of mind as it does not discontinue even upon the termination of your employment. Besides, a supplementary plan also offers some additional coverage. It can come in handy for hospitalization as well as the surgeries in connection with the treatment of critical illnesses such as the ones related to cancer, diabetes, and other specific illnesses. Final thoughts Whether you talk about the individual plan or the group plan, there is no denying that the health insurance plan from an employer comes with certain strings attached. Though you pay the premium for it every month in the form of a deduction from your salary, it may not address your health needs as well as the health needs of your family members. The only way out to address such problems is to evaluate it properly and then add the missing elements to it that correspond to your needs. While your employer’s health insurance plan may not be enough to cover all your needs, proper customization can make it more useful. Related Posts It is your first time out of your family nest, and you are looking to get on top of your finances. One of the best ways to do that is to keep track of your credit score. A … You earn handsomely every month, paying your home bills, your spouse’s shopping, your child’s education, and taking care of your parent’s financial needs without disruption. But what if, all of a sudden, something unexpected happens and your regular … Is your future secure? Why do you need financial planning? Financial planning is one of the most important cornerstones of success – and it is something that we have been told day in and day out. Why and how, we would be discussing its nitty-gritty’s later. But for …	7,966
Diana Lee Baker is facing charges of theft and possession of drug paraphernalia.(Mesa Police Department) By KOLD News 13 Staff Updated: May. 18, 2021 at 4:12 PM MST Share on Facebook Share on LinkedIn TUCSON, Ariz. (KOLD News 13) - An Arizona woman accused of stealing a car claims the alleged victim gave it to her in exchange for sex. The Mesa Police Department said Diana Lee Baker, 44, was in a vehicle that was reported stolen. The MPD said Baker told officers a man she knew as “Robert” gave her the car after she had sex with him. The person who owned the vehicle, a gray Nissan Sentra, told officers he didn’t know Baker and didn’t give her permission to have it. The MPD said they found a melted plastic straw and foil with drug residue in the vehicle. Baker is facing charges of theft and possession of drug paraphernalia.	884
MONDAY AFTERNOON, JULY 1, 1912. A little west of Newton, Kansas. In the public library of a village whose name I forget. Here is the story of how I came to harvest. I was by chance taking a short respite from the sunshine, last Monday noon, on the porch of the Mennonite farmer. I had had dinner further back. But the good folk asked me to come in and have dessert anyway. It transpired that one of the two harvest hands was taking his farewell meal. He was obliged to fill a contract to work further West, a contract made last year. I timidly suggested I might take his place. To my astonishment, I was engaged at once. This fellow was working for two dollars a day, but I agreed to $1.75, seeing my predecessor was a skilled man and twice as big as I was. My wages, as I discovered, included three rich meals, and a pretty spare room to sleep in, and a good big bucket to bathe in nightly. I anticipate history at this point by telling how at the end of the week my wages looked as strange to me as a bunch of unexpected ducklets to a hen. They were as curious to contemplate as a group of mischievous nieces who have come to spend the day with their embarrassed, fluttering maiden aunt. I took my wages to Newton and spent all on the vanities of this life. First the grandest kind of a sombrero, so I shall not be sunstruck in the next harvest-field, which I narrowly escaped in this. Next, the most indestructible of corduroys. Then I had my shoes re-soled and bought a necktie that was like the oriflamme of Navarre, and attended to several other points of vanity. I started out again, dead broke and happy. If I work hereafter I can send most all my wages home, for I am now in real traveling costume. But why linger over the question of wages till I show I earned those wages? Let me tell you of a typical wheat-harvesting day. The field is two miles from the house. We make preparations for a twelve-hour siege. Halters and a barrel of water and a heap of alfalfa for the mules, binder-twine and oil for the reaper and water-jugs for us are loaded into the spring wagon. Two mules are hitched in front, two are led behind. The new reaper was left in the field yesterday. We make haste. We must be at work by the time the dew dries. The four mules are soon hitched to the reaper and proudly driven into the wheat by the son of the old Mennonite. This young fellow carries himself with proper dignity as heir of the farm. He is a credit to the father. He will not curse the mules, though those animals forget their religion sometimes, and act after the manner of their kind. The worst he will do will be to call one of them an old cow. I suppose when he is vexed with a cow he calls it an old mule. My other companion is a boy of nineteen from a Mennonite community in Pennsylvania. He sets me a pace. Together we build the sheaves into shocks, of eight or ten sheaves each, put so they will not be shaken by an ordinary Kansas wind. The wind has been blowing nearly all the time at a rate which in Illinois would mean a thunderstorm in five minutes, and sometimes the clouds loom in the thunderstorm way, yet there is not a drop of rain, and the clouds are soon gone. In the course of the week the boy and I have wrestled with heavy ripe sheaves, heavier green sheaves, sheaves full of Russian thistles and sheaves with the string off. The boy, as he sings _The day-star hath risen_, twists a curious rope of straw and reties the loose bundles with one turn of the hand. I try, but cannot make the knot. Once all sheaves were so bound. Much of the wheat must be cut heavy and green because there is a liability to sudden storms or hail that will bury it in mud, or soften the ground and make it impossible to drag the reaper, or hot winds that suddenly ripen the loose grain and shake it into the earth. So it is an important matter to get the wheat out when it is anywhere near ready. I found that two of the girls were expecting to take the place of the departing hand, if I had not arrived. The Mennonite boy picked up two sheaves to my one at the beginning of the week. To-day I learn to handle two at a time and he immediately handles three at a time. He builds the heart of the sheaf. Then we add the outside together. He is always marching ahead and causing me to feel ashamed. The Kansas grasshopper makes himself friendly. He bites pieces out of the back of my shirt the shape and size of the ace of spades. Then he walks into the door he has made and loses himself. Then he has to be helped out, in one way or another. The old farmer, too stiff for work, comes out on his dancing pony and rides behind the new reaper. This reaper was bought only two days ago and he beams with pride upon it. It seems that he and his son almost swore, trying to tinker the old one. The farmer looks with even more pride upon the field, still a little green, but mostly golden. He dismounts and tests the grain, threshing it out in his hand, figuring the average amount in several typical heads. He stands off, and is guilty of an æsthetic thrill. He says of the sea of gold: "I wish I could have a photograph of that." (O eloquent word, for a Mennonite!) Then he plays at building half a dozen shocks, then goes home till late in the afternoon. We three are again masters of the field. We are in a level part of Kansas, not a rolling range as I found it further east. The field is a floor. Hedges gradually faded from the landscape in counties several days' journey back, leaving nothing but unbroken billows to the horizon. But the hedges have been resumed in this region. Each time round the enormous field we stop at a break in the line of those untrimmed old thorn-trees. Here we rest a moment and drink from the water-jug. To keep from getting sunstruck I profanely waste the water, pouring it on my head, and down my neck to my feet. I came to this farm wearing a derby, and have had to borrow a slouch with a not-much-wider rim from the farmer. It was all the extra headgear available in this thrifty region. Because of that not-much-wider rim my face is sunburned all over every day. I have not yet received my wages to purchase my sombrero. As we go round the field, the Mennonite boy talks religion, or is silent. I have caught the spirit of the farm, and sing all the hymn-tunes I can remember. Sometimes the wind turns hot. Perspiration cannot keep up with evaporation. Our skins are dry as the dryest stubble. Then we stand and wait for a little streak of cool wind. It is pretty sure to come in a minute. "That's a nice air," says the boy, and gets to work. Once it was so hot all three of us stopped five minutes by the hedge. Then it was I told them the story of the hens I met just west of Emporia. I had met ten hens walking single-file into the town of Emporia. I was astonished to meet educated hens. Each one was swearing. I would not venture, I added, to repeat what they said. I continued in my artless way, showing how I stopped the next to the last hen, though she was impatient to go on. I inquired "Where are you all traveling?" She said "To Emporia." And so I asked, "Why are you swearing so?" She answered, "Don't you know about the Sunday-school picnic?" I paused in my story. _No word from the Mennonites. One of them rose rather impatiently._ I poured some water on my head and continued: "I stopped the last hen. I asked: "Why are you swearing, sister? And what about the picnic?" She replied: "These Emporia people are going to give a Sunday-school picnic day after to-morrow. Meantime all us hens have to lay devilled eggs." "We do not laugh at jokes about swearing," said the Mennonite driver, and climbed back on to his reaper. My partner strode solemnly out into the sun and began to pile sheaves. Each round we study our shadows on the stubble more closely, thrilled with the feeling that noon creeps on. And now, up the road we see a bit of dust and a rig. No, it is not the woman we are looking for, but a woman with supplies for other harvesters. We work on and on, while four disappointing rigs go by. At last appears a sunbonnet we know. Our especial Mennonite maid is sitting quite straight on the edge of the seat and holding the lines almost on a level with her chin. She drives through the field toward us. We motion her to the gap in the hedge. We unhitch, and lead the mules to the gap, where she joins us. With much high-minded expostulation the men try to show the mules they should eat alfalfa and not hedge-thorns. The mules are at last tied out in the sun to a wheel of the wagon, away from temptation, with nothing but alfalfa near them. The meal is spread with delicacy, yet there is a heap of it. With a prayer of thanksgiving, sometimes said by Tilly, sometimes by one of the men, we begin to eat. To a man in a harvest-field a square meal is more thrilling than a finely-acted play. The thrill goes not only to the toes and the finger-tips, but to the utmost ramifications of the spirit. Men indoors in offices, whose bodies actually require little, cannot think of eating enormously without thinking of sodden overeating, with condiments to rouse, and heavy meats and sweets to lull the flabby body till the last faint remnants of appetite have departed and the man is a monument of sleepy gluttony. Eating in a harvest field is never so. Every nerve in the famished body calls frantically for reinforcements. And the nerves and soul of a man are strangely alert together. All we ate for breakfast turned to hot ashes in our hearts at eleven o'clock. I sing of the body and of the eternal soul, revived again! To feel life actually throbbing back into one's veins, life immense in passion, pulse and power, is not over-eating. Tilly has brought us knives, and no forks. It would have been more appropriate if we had eaten from the ends of swords. We are finally recuperated from the fevers of the morning and almost strong enough for the long, long afternoon fight with the sun. Fresh water is poured from a big glittering can into the jugs we have sucked dry. Tilly reloads the buggy and is gone. After another sizzling douse of water without and within, our long afternoon pull commences. The sun has become like a roaring lion, and we wrestle with the sheaves as though we had him by the beard. The only thing that keeps up my nerve in the dizziness is the remembrance of the old Mennonite's proverb at breakfast that as long as a man can eat and sweat he is safe. My hands inside my prickling gloves seem burning off. The wheat beards there are like red-hot needles. But I am still sweating a little in the chest, and the Mennonite boy is cheerfully singing: "When I behold the wondrous cross On which the Prince of Glory died, My richest gain I count but loss And pour contempt on all my pride." Two-thirds round the field, methinks the jig is up. Then the sun is hidden by a friend of ours in the sky, just the tiniest sort of a cloud and we march on down the rows. The merciful little whiff of dream follows the sun for half an hour. The most terrible heat is at half-past two. Somehow we pull through till four o'clock. Then we say to ourselves: "We can stand this four-o'clock heat, because we have stood it hotter." 'Tis a grim matter of comparison. We speed up a little and trot a little as the sun reaches the top of the western hedge. A bit later the religious hired man walks home to do the chores. I sing down the rows by myself. It is glorious to work now. The endless reiterations of the day have developed a certain dancing rhythm in one's nerves, one is intoxicated with his own weariness and the conceit that comes with seizing the sun by the mane, like Sampson. It is now that the sun gracefully acknowledges his defeat. He shows through the hedge as a great blur, that is all. Then he becomes a mist-wrapped golden mountain that some fairy traveler might climb in enchanted shoes. This sun of ours is no longer an enemy, but a fantasy, a vision and a dream. Now the elderly proprietor is back on his dancing pony. He is following the hurrying reaper in a sort of ceremonial fashion, delighted to see the wheat go down so fast. At last this particular field is done. We finish with a comic-tragedy. Some little rabbits scoot, panic-stricken, from the last few yards of still-standing grain. The old gentleman on horseback and his son afoot soon out-manoeuvre the lively creatures. We have rabbit for supper at the sacrifice of considerable Mennonite calm. It was with open rejoicing on the part of all that we finished the field nearest the house, the last one, by Saturday noon. The boy and I had our own special thrill in catching up with the reaper, which had passed by us so often in our rounds. As the square in mid-field grows smaller the reaper has to turn oftener, and turning uses up much more time than at first appears. The places where the armies of wheat-sheaves are marshaled are magic places, despite their sweat and dust. There is nothing small in the panorama. All the lines of the scene are epic. The binder-twine is invisible, and has not altered the eternal classic form of the sheaf. There is a noble dignity and ease in the motion of a new reaper on a level field. A sturdy Mennonite devotee marching with a great bundle of wheat under each arm and reaching for a third makes a picture indeed, an essay on sunshine beyond the brush of any impressionist. Each returning day while riding to the field, when one has a bit of time to dream, one feels these things. One feels also the essentially patriarchal character of the harvest. One thinks of the Book of Ruth, and the Jewish feasts of ingathering. All the new Testament parables ring in one's ears, parables of sowing and reaping, of tares and good grain, of Bread and of Leaven and the story of the Disciples plucking corn. As one looks on the half-gathered treasure he thinks on the solemn words: "For the Bread of God is that which cometh down out of Heaven and giveth life unto the World," and the rest of that sermon on the Bread of Life, which has so many meanings. This Sunday before breakfast, I could fully enter into the daily prayers, that at times had appeared merely quaint to me, and in my heart I said "Amen" to the special thanksgiving the patriarch lifted up for the gift of the fruit of the land. I was happy indeed that I had had the strength to bear my little part in the harvest of a noble and devout household, as well as a hand in the feeding of the wide world. What I, a stranger, have done in this place, thirty thousand strangers are doing just a little to the west. We poor tramps are helping to garner that which reestablishes the nations. If only for a little while, we have bent our backs over the splendid furrows, to save a shining gift that would otherwise rot, or vanish away. I arrived hot and ravenous at Raymond about eleven A.M. on this glorious Independence Day, having walked twelve miles facing a strange wind. At first it seemed fairly cool, because it traveled at the rate of an express train. But it was really hot and alkaline, and almost burnt me up. I had had for breakfast a cooky, some raisins and a piece of cheese, purchased with my booklet of rhymes at a grocery. By the time I reached Raymond I was fried and frantic. The streets were deserted. I gathered from the station-master that almost everyone had gone to the Dutch picnic in the grove near Ellinwood. The returns for the Johnson-Flynn fight were to be received there beneath the trees, and a potent variety of dry-state beverage was to flow free. The unveracious station-master declared this beverage was made of equal parts iron-rust, patent medicine and rough-on-rats, added to a barrel of brown rain-water. He appeared to be prejudiced against it. I walked down the street. Just as I had somehow anticipated, I spied out a certain type of man. He was alone in his restaurant and I crouched my soul to spring. The only man left in town is apt to be a soft-hearted party. "Here, as sure as my name is tramp, I will wrestle with a defenseless fellow-being." Like many a restaurant in Kansas, it was a sort of farmhand's Saturday night paradise. If a man cannot loaf in a saloon he will loaf in a restaurant. Then certain problems of demand and supply arise according to circumstances and circumlocutions. I obtained leave for the ice-water without wrestling. I almost emptied the tank. Then, with due art, I offered to recite twenty poems to the solitary man, a square meal to be furnished at the end, if the rhymes were sufficiently fascinating. Assuming a judicial attitude on the lunch-counter stool he put me in the arm-chair by the ice-chest and told me to unwind myself. As usual, I began with _The Proud Farmer_, _The Illinois Village_ and _The Building of Springfield_, which three in series contain my whole gospel, directly or by implication. Then I wandered on through all sorts of rhyme. He nodded his head like a mandarin, at the end of each recital. Then he began to get dinner. He said he liked my poetry, and he was glad I came in, for he would feel more like getting something to eat himself. I sat on and on by the ice-chest while he prepared a meal more heating than the morning wind or the smell of fire-crackers in the street. First, for each man, a slice of fried ham large enough for a whole family. Then French fried potatoes by the platterful. Then three fried eggs apiece. There was milk with cream on top to be poured from a big granite bucket as we desired it. There was a can of beans with tomato sauce. There was sweet apple-butter. There were canned apples. There was a pot of coffee. I moved over from the ice-chest and we talked and ate till half-past one. I began to feel that I was solid as an iron man and big as a Colossus of Rhodes. I would like to report our talk, but this letter must end somewhere. I agreed with my host's opinions on everything but the temperance question. He did not believe in _total_ abstinence. On that I remained noncommittal. Eating as I had, how could I take a stand against my benefactor even though the issue were the immortal one of man's sinful weakness for drink? The ham and ice water were going to my head as it was. And I could have eaten more. I could have eaten a fat Shetland pony. My host explained that he also traveled at times, but did not carry poetry. He gave me much box-car learning. Then, curious to relate, he dug out maps and papers, and showed me how to take up a claim in Oregon, a thing I did not in the least desire to do. God bless him in basket and in store, afoot or at home. This afternoon the ham kept on frying within me, not uncomfortably. I stopped and drank at every windmill. Now it is about four o'clock in the afternoon and I am in the shadow of one more. I have found a bottle which just fits my hip pocket which I have washed and will use as a canteen henceforth. When one knows he has his drink with him, he does not get so thirsty. But I have put down little to show you the strange intoxication that has pervaded this whole day. The inebriating character of the air and the water and the intoxication that comes with the very sight of the wind-mills spinning alone, and the elation that comes with the companionship of the sun, and the gentleness of the occasional good Samaritans, are not easily conveyed in words. When one's spirit is just right for this sort of thing it all makes as good an Independence Day as folks are having anywhere in this United States, even at Ellinwood. THURSDAY, JULY 5, 1912. In the office of the Ellinwood livery stable in the morning. Everyone came home drunk from the Dutch picnic last night. Ellinwood roared and Ellinwood snorted. I reached the place from the east just as the noisy revelers arrived from the south. Ellinwood is an old German town full of bar-rooms, forced by the sentiment of the dry voters in surrounding territory to turn into restaurants, but only of late. The bar-fixtures are defiantly retained. Ever and anon Ellinwood takes to the woods with malicious intent. Many of the citizens were in a mad-dog fury because Flynn had not licked Johnson. This town seems to be of the opinion that that battle was important. The proprietor of the most fashionable hotel monopolized the 'phone on his return from the woods. He called up everybody in town. His conversation was always the same. "What'd ya think of the fight?" And without waiting for answer: "I'll bet one hundred thousand dollars that Flynn can lick Johnson in a fair fight. It's a disgrace to this nation that black rascal kin lay hands on a white man. I'll bet a hundred thousand dollars.... A hundred thousand dollars ..." etc. I sat a long time waiting for him to get through. At last I put in my petition at another hostelry. This host was intoxicated, but gentle. In exchange for what I call the squarest kind of a meal I recited the most cooling verses I knew to a somewhat distracted, rather alcoholic company of harvest hands. First I recited a poem in praise of Lincoln and then one in praise of the uplifting influence of the village church. Then, amid qualified applause, I distributed my tracts, and retreated to this stable for the night. _O, I have walked in Kansas Through many a harvest field And piled the sheaves of glory there And down the wild rows reeled:_ _Each sheaf a little yellow sun, A heap of hot-rayed gold; Each binder like Creation's hand To mould suns, as of old._ _Straight overhead the orb of noon Beat down with brimstone breath: The desert wind from south and west Was blistering flame and death._ _Yet it was gay in Kansas, A-fighting that strong sun; And I and many a fellow-tramp Defied that wind and won._ _And we felt free in Kansas From any sort of fear, For thirty thousand tramps like us There harvest every year._ _She stretches arms for them to come, She roars for helpers then, And so it is in Kansas That tramps, one month, are men._ _We sang in burning Kansas The songs of Sabbath-school, The "Day Star" flashing in the East, The "Vale of Eden" cool._ _We sang in splendid Kansas "The flag that set us free"--That march of fifty thousand men With Sherman to the sea._ _We feasted high in Kansas And had much milk and meat. The tables groaned to give us power Wherewith to save the wheat._ _Our beds were sweet alfalfa hay Within the barn-loft wide. The loft doors opened out upon The endless wheat-field tide._ _I loved to watch the wind-mills spin And watch that big moon rise. I dreamed and dreamed with lids half-shut, The moonlight in my eyes._ _For all men dream in Kansas By noonday and by night, By sunrise yellow, red and wild And moonrise wild and white._ _The wind would drive the glittering clouds, The cottonwoods would croon, And past the sheaves and through the leaves Came whispers from the moon._ powered by social2s You are here: Recommended Links Offers over 1 million free topographic maps for points of interest in the United States..	23,654
Two things I have accomplished, in different realms, seem like they would require entirely different skill sets, yet I have discovered an unexpected overlap. The first is overcoming a vicious addiction to prescription painkillers, and the second is training to be a health and wellness coach. The common skills and practices of these two experiences include a focus on gratitude for what is going well in my life and for those around me mindfulness and presence in the moment engaging in healthy habits: exercise, good nutrition, and, ideally, sleep (not my specialty!) connection with others, open and honest communication, and empathy, including self-empathy. Additionally, a critical component to attaining the serenity and focus one needs to be a wellness coach, and to move past an addiction, is learning how to recognize and defuse the cognitive distortions that we all employ. Cognitive distortions are internal mental filters or biases that increase our misery, fuel our anxiety, and make us feel bad about ourselves. Our brains are continually processing lots of information. To deal with this, our brains seek shortcuts to cut down our mental burden. Sometimes these shortcuts are helpful, yet in other circumstances — such as with these unhelpful cognitive filters — they can cause more harm than good. Unhelpful thinking and why we do it Ruminative thinking — negative thought patterns that loop repeatedly in our minds — is common in many psychiatric disorders. This type of thinking also contributes to the unhappiness and alienation that many people feel. One certainly doesn’t have to have a psychiatric diagnosis to ruminate unhelpfully. Most of us do this to a certain extent in response to our anxieties about certain situations and challenges. Rumination can represent an ongoing attempt to come up with insight or solutions to problems we are concerned about. Unfortunately, with the presence of these cognitive filters, it can devolve into a counterproductive and depression-worsening type of brooding. These unhelpful filters make whatever life circumstances we find ourselves in that much more anxiety-provoking and challenging. The main cognitive distortions are as follows (and some of them overlap): Black-and-white (or all-or-nothing) thinking: I never have anything interesting to say. Jumping to conclusions (or mind-reading): The doctor is going to tell me I have cancer. Personalization: Our team lost because of me. Should-ing and must-ing (using language that is self-critical that puts a lot of pressure on you): I should be losing weight. Mental filter (focusing on the negative, such as the one aspect of a health change which you didn’t do well): I am terrible at getting enough sleep. Magnification and minimization (magnifying the negative, minimizing the positive): It was just one healthy meal. Fortune-telling: My cholesterol is going to be sky-high. Comparison (comparing just one part of your performance or situation to another’s, which you don’t really know, so that it makes you appear in a negative light): All of my coworkers are happier than me. Catastrophizing (combination of fortune-telling and all-or-nothing thinking; blowing things out of proportion): This spot on my skin is probably skin cancer; I’ll be dead soon. Disqualifying the positive: I answered that well, but it was a lucky guess. Emotional reasoning and not considering the facts Finally, many of us engage in emotional reasoning, a process in which our negative feelings about ourselves inform our thoughts, as if they were factually based, in the absence of any facts to support these unpleasant feelings. In other words, your emotions and feelings about a situation become your actual view of the situation, regardless of any information to the contrary. Emotional reasoning often employs many of the other cognitive filters to sustain it, such as catastrophizing and disqualifying the positive. Examples of this may be thinking: I’m a whale, even if you are losing weight I’m an awful student, even if you are getting some good grades My partner is cheating on me, even if there is no evidence for this (jealousy is defining your reality) Nobody likes me, even if you have friends (loneliness informs your thinking). How do you challenge and change cognitive distortions? A big part of dismantling our cognitive distortions is simply being aware of them and paying attention to how we are framing things to ourselves. Good mental habits are as important as good physical habits. If we frame things in a healthy, positive way, we almost certainly will experience less anxiety and isolation. This doesn’t mean that we ignore problems, challenges, or feelings, just that we approach them with a can-do attitude instead of letting our thoughts and feelings amplify our anxiety. As someone who used to be an expert in getting tripped up by all these filters, I’ve learned to remind myself that whatever comes up, I’ll deal with it as well as I can. I try to trust my future self to cope, in an effective way, with whatever life will throw my way. As such, there’s no reason to worry about potential future problems in the here and now. If I worry about what might happen, then I have two problems: whatever hypothetical challenge that might not even come up in the future and a lot of unhelpful anxiety to contend with. As they say in the science fiction masterpiece Dune, “fear is the mind-killer.” Being anxious or afraid certainly makes me less effective, no matter what I’m trying to accomplish. A wise therapist once told me, as an example, if someone cuts you off in traffic, they are just cutting off a random car, not you, because they have no idea who you are. So there’s no reason to take it personally. To personalize situations like this just makes you upset. If you don’t take it personally, it changes it from “jerk cut me off” to “people should drive more safely.” I also avoid unnecessary catastrophizing (though this can be difficult when thinking about all that is happening in our world, including climate change). Above all, I try not to slip into emotional reasoning. None of us are devoid of all emotions that could undermine our logical processes. Everyone backslides and falls into old habits. We aim for progress, not perfection. If you can set yourself free from these unhelpful cognitive filters, you will be more successful, more relaxed, and more able to enjoy your relationships. Getting support to managing cognitive distortions If you need assistance with challenging cognitive distortions, professionals such as therapists and coaches are skilled at helping people change unhelpful ways of thinking. If you are unable to find or afford a therapist or a coach, there are other resources available, such as apps to help with mindfulness and cognitive behavioral therapy, mutual support groups, group therapy or group coaching (which can be less expensive than individual treatment), employee assistance programs through your job, or online communities. Your primary care doctor or your health insurance may help connect you with other resources.	7,225
Eduardo Alvarado -- a contemporary Spanish artist who has been influenced by Bay Area Figurative art -- has an austere approach to painting that is meant to stand on its own. His sparely brushed nudes are sensitive and understated: Alvarado has no interest in artifice or in showing off. I recently interviewed Eduardo and asked him about his background, his connection to the late Nathan Oliveira, and his approach to art making. Tell me about your early life and education. I was born in the north of Spain on the border between two regions filled with significant remnants of their prehistoric and medieval past. However my family is from the south, from a region with a history connected to ancient Rome and the Renaissance. So the history of those areas and their art and architecture has surrounded me since childhood. Despite that proximity I also grew up with the feeling of a lack of roots. I lived in a nice neighborhood on the outskirts of a small town, next to the great river and open fields and groves. I drew to imitate my older brother, but he was too much of a perfectionist and I enjoyed myself more than he did. The day a primary school teacher took us outside to draw from life, I realized that my model was Mother Nature. How and when did you decide to become an artist? At 15, the day I bought a comic themed cosmological by the great French illustrator Jean Giraud Moebius. I am convinced that his graphic universe is a twin brother of Nathan Oliveira's universe. He passed away just two years after Nate. Who were your early influences and mentors? My Catholic godfather is my father's brother and he is called Michelangelo. He traveled to Rome and brought me a book about Michelangelo. His works -- along with the paintings of the Altamira caves and reproductions of Baroque paintings hanging on the walls of our house -- were my art school. Later Klimt and Schiele were an obsession. At the age of 18 I joined the Faculty of Fine Arts of the Basque Country and two years later I moved to Madrid. Arguably I trained under two very different schools of painting: the Basque Expressionists and Madrid Realists. Crucified Woman, oil on canvas, 25x33 cm How did you become aware of California art? After finishing my university studies, I devoted much effort to investigating what teachers had not known to show me. One day I found a book on American representational art in which there was a reproduction of a painting by Nathan Oliveira. The impact it had on me is indescribable. He was succeeded by Diebenkorn, Park, Bischoff, Wonner, etc. It was not easy to gather information about these artists with the media then available; for example there was no internet. Tell me about your meeting with Nathan Oliveira I was sure that a generation of young artists connected to the traditions of the Bay Area Figurative movement must exist, and in 2005 I contacted Kim Frohsin. Kim, aware of my devotion to the work of Oliveira, sent him my letters to which he always responded very generously. In 2009 she included me in the exhibition "Painterly Painting: The Next Level" and I traveled to San Francisco for the opening. Kim and painter John Goodman, a good friend of Nate's, organized my visit to his home and studio. When he saw my work, he told me not to remember him, but to remember the Spanish pictorial tradition ranging from Altamira to Picasso. It was ironic that I had to travel to the U.S. to recognize my roots. I am infinitely grateful to Kim Frohsin for arranging this visit. Nude Female Bust, oil on canvas, 46x38 cm Is your current series of paintings all done from live models? Tell me about the series… I was working under the conscious influence of Oliveira's aesthetic until 2005, at which time I started to paint from live models. The paintings in my current exhibition date from two different periods. The earliest are from 2007 -- painted just before I began a period of six years relearning to paint still lifes from nature -- and the most recent are from 2014. Actually, the principles I use to recreate an image -- from models or not from models -- came directly from what I learned while painting from life. Your paintings have a sense of serenity. How do you achieve that? I'm glad you have that perception because I think it reflects a philosophy of life. I am an austere person and my only claim to painting is the painting itself. My job does not wield ideological slogans. I simply devote myself to study the generative processes of chaos and order that operate in the cosmos and portray them on my canvas with the utmost humility and least artifice possible. Two Lying Nudes, oil on canvas, 54x65 cm What else would you like to say about your artistic practice? I know, for example, that you love to draw… Absolutely: I am constantly drawing and I think of it as the natural method of learning of visual artists. I do not believe in talent; just in work. Paraphrasing Lucian Freud, I would say: "The man is nothing, the work is everything." Zero Nude, oil on canvas, 19x24 cm How much interest is there right now in Spain for the work of contemporary representational artists? I remember in my years as a student, gurus of contemporary art criticized figurative painting, and yet the passage of time has done nothing but strengthen the role, the worth and validity of representational art in the pictorial tradition and art history. What are your interests outside of art? I love nature and music. Also anthropology, philosophy, poetry ... And I love basketball and now my kids play a lot of football ... so I also love football!	5,678
So, I’ve been posting to G+ these snippets: they’re a little too small and underdeveloped for the blog but I thought I’d do a round-up and save them here. If you want to know more about how Piece of Work is going, take a look over here: On the topic of damage. On the topic of perspectives. On the topic of the core mechanic. On the topic of purchasing gear. There’ll probably be more as we finish our final playtesting and toss around more rules edits. Hope you enjoy!	469
Biblical Truth: When God gives a person an opportunity to lead, He also encourages and empowers the person to lead. What is God Like? Compare!: Isaiah 40:18-23. [18] To whom then will you liken God? Or what likeness will you compare with Him? [19] As for the idol, a craftsman casts it, a goldsmith plates it with gold, and a silversmith fashions chains of silver. [20] He who is too impoverished for such an offering selects a tree that does not rot; he seeks out for himself a skillful craftsman to prepare an idol that will not totter. [21] Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been declared to you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth? [22] It is He who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers, who stretches out the heavens like a curtain and spreads them out like a tent to dwell in. [23] He it is who reduces rulers to nothing, who makes the judges of the earth meaningless. [NASU] [18] All the comparisons Isaiah has been introducing lead to the unavoidable and inevitable conclusion that God is the true God and that beside Him there is no other. There is nothing with which He can be compared, for He is the Creator and all else is the creation, the work of His hands. To bring out this truth the prophet asks a question, for the asking of a question is sometimes more forceful than the statement of the truth in a simple declaratory sentence. A conjunction begins the question and at the same time shows the connection with what precedes. To bring out the full force we may paraphrase “and therefore”, for the question follows what has preceded as a natural conclusion. It is a question addressed not to the Israelites in particular but to all men. A negative answer is demanded: God can be likened to no one. The comparison has to do not merely with dumb idols but will all that is not God. Is there anything apart from God with which He may be compared? The answer is, “There is not.” Isaiah’s question brings us to the heart of genuine theism. There can be no comparison between the living, eternal God and any man, for man is but a creature. Man is limited, finite, temporal; God is infinite, eternal, and unchangeable in all His attributes and perfections. In our thinking about God the infinite distance between God and the creature must ever be kept in mind. To break down this distinction is to fall into the sin of idolatry. A parallel question brings out the same thought: Or what likeness will you compare with Him? The verb implies a setting out or arranging in order. One cannot compare God with the creature, for between the creature and God there is an infinite distance; hence, to make such a comparison is to bring God down to the level of the creature. [19] The question of the previous verse leads the prophet to mention idols. Certainly God cannot be compared with idols. To bring down the eternal God into the temporal is the result of comparing Him with the form of a man. Even the material used in the manufacture of an idol was created by God Himself. The hands of man created in God’s image employ materials placed in the earth by God to represent God in the form of a creature. This is to deny God’s eternity and infinity. [20] The poor man goes into the forest and makes a choice of wood; he shows care and concern in the preparation of his idol. In all this serious description, there is true satire. Having found the wood, the poor man seeks out an artisan who is skilled in his art and has him prepare the idol. It is the task of this artisan to erect an image in such a way that it will not totter. To erect the image in such a manner, the artisan would have to make a secure base, larger than the upper part of the statue. Thus, wind would not blow it over nor would it easily topple if anything struck against it. There were actually those who bowed down to this rather than to the eternal and immutable God. Here the temporal would create the eternal, the weak the strong, the finite the infinite, the changeable the unchangeable. Man seeks to create God – and all in the image of man! Isaiah could not more clearly have placed in the open the utter folly and pointlessness of idolatry. [21] To employ materials such as gold, silver, or wood in the construction of idols is folly, for God has created them. The earth is His and all its fullness. These truths the prophet now brings out by means of four questions focusing on knowing and hearing. According to this verse there are two reasons why men who practice idolatry are without excuse. On the one hand, the very foundation of the earth is a testimony that God is the Creator. On the other, from the beginning the truth has been taught by word of mouth, so that those who have not been willing to hear it are without excuse. [22] What is stated in this and the following verses is what the people must have known. What they have heard and what they have seen in the creation should have taught them that it is God who sits, stretches and spreads. The phrase sits above the circle of the earth is a figurative expression for God’s providential upholding and maintaining of creation. Seated as a king, He constantly upholds His creation, and governs it. To God seated upon His high throne, men appear as grasshoppers. In their actions and activities men are as weak and powerless as the grasshoppers. Not only does God control the earth, but He also has created and controls the heavens. [23] The language is a strong denial of deism. God has created the world but He has not abandoned it. All the created universe is in His hands and under His control. With the present verse the prophet attains a climax in his description of the power of God. No one can resist the power of God, not even the human authorities who exercise lordship over man. God alone gives princes over to nothingness, so that they, as it were, partake of the nature of nothingness. To give princes to nothingness is to remove them from their positions of power so that they have no power whatever. Isaiah speaks of the judges of the earth, and declares that God has made them meaningless. This is parallel to the first half of this verse. Here the men of great power and authority who have the power both to rule and to pronounce judgment, God has made them into nothingness. [5] The coastlands have seen and are afraid; the ends of the earth tremble; they have drawn near and have come. [6] Each one helps his neighbor and says to his brother, "Be strong!" [7] So the craftsman encourages the smelter, and he who smooths metal with the hammer encourages him who beats the anvil, saying of the soldering, "It is good"; and he fastens it with nails, so that it will not totter. [NASU] [5] A play revolving around the words have seen and are afraid introduces the verse. Such word plays are frequent in Isaiah, particularly in the latter half of the book. As a result of having seen what Yahweh has done in arousing Cyrus from the east, the coastlands have fallen into fear. They fear not so much because of the approach of Cyrus as because of the God who placed him upon the stage of history. Here is a God unlike the idols of the heathen, a God who can truly move the course of nations. As far as there are lands, stretching to the very ends of the earth, fear will produce trembling among the nations, wherever they are, when they learn of what the Lord has done. Two verbs (drawn near, come) complete the verse and describe the approach of the nations to one another to bring mutual encouragement. The nations will be terrified at the work of the God of Israel. Nations do not come to the God of Israel, who has accomplished such a wonder, but to one another, to seek help at the hand of the idols they themselves have made. [6] The prophet describes the manner in which the ends of the earth approach one another and how they proceed to give mutual encouragement. One nation will help another. The thought is that this will be done individually. Here is no thought of repentance or of turning from the idols. Rather, encouragement is given to abide firm in the condition in which the nations already find themselves. [7] Although the judgment approaches fast, and the nations have seen it, they nevertheless do not turn unto God but remain in their idolatry, depending upon the idols they themselves have constructed. To show the folly of idolatry, the prophet points out that the idols are dependent upon the nation’s ordinary workmen and upon the smallest details of construction. Even the nails are necessary to prevent the idol from moving; its strength lies not in itself, but in the nails that hold it together. The introductory So connects the verse with the preceding and introduces an example of the manner in which encouragement is given. When all is completed, the idol stands firm, ready for use. To such folly were the nations driven when God aroused His servant from the east. Where Does Idolatry Lead? Self-Deception!: Isaiah 44:9, 18-20. [9] Those who fashion a graven image are all of them futile, and their precious things are of no profit; even their own witnesses fail to see or know, so that they will be put to shame. [18] They do not know, nor do they understand, for He has smeared over their eyes so that they cannot see and their hearts so that they cannot comprehend. [19] No one recalls, nor is there knowledge or understanding to say, "I have burned half of it in the fire and also have baked bread over its coals. I roast meat and eat it. Then I make the rest of it into an abomination, I fall down before a block of wood!" [20] He feeds on ashes; a deceived heart has turned him aside. And he cannot deliver himself, nor say, " Is there not a lie in my right hand?" [NASU] [9] As further evidence that there is but one God, the prophet calls attention to the folly of idolatry. Those who have apostatized from God have sought to pull Him down to the level of the creature and to honor Him by means of images their own hands have fashioned. These people are described as futile and of no profit. Like the idols their hands make, they themselves are vain and void, filled with nothingness. The desired or favorite things are the unprofitable idols themselves. Like their makers, they too are nothingness. The God of Israel is a Rock who abides and in whom His followers may find refuge and safety. The idols, on the other hand, have nothing to offer their worshippers, for they themselves are nothing. As for the witnesses of the idols, the idolaters, they do not see or know so that they may be ashamed. The worshippers of idols are not free of guilt, but they purposely follow idolatry with a depraved will; and they are permitted to remain in the darkness of ignorance that their shame may be seen. [18] Those who have formed an idol lack understanding with respect to their own true nature. They do not see the folly of using temporal material for forming gods, which do not owe their origin to themselves, but to the most high true God, who created the material from which the gods are made, and partly to men, who instead of employing the material for other purposes used it for making gods. Israel, as God’s servant, should have dealt wisely but they were in a condition of such blindness that it could not act wisely. To act wisely is to reject idolatry and to serve the one true God in accordance with His will. [19] This verse carries on the description. Not only does the worshipper not know and perceive but he also does not recall. The phrase suggests that the one who meditates has control of his thought. If he did actually permit himself to know what he was doing and to perceive its true significance he would realize his folly and abandon it. Were the worshipper to state what he has done, he would bring the details in all their petty significance before his mind and so clearly recognize what folly it was to worship what he himself had created. Isaiah purposely uses the same words over and over again in order to press home the truth of his message. [20] Actually the worshipper cannot see that the idol is an abomination because he has deceived himself by nourishing himself with ashes. The result of being led astray is that he does not deliver his soul from the judgment that comes. Nor does he even acknowledge that in his hand there is a lie. The service of idolatry is deceptive; it permits the idolater to remain ignorant of his true state and deludes him into believing that he is doing wisely. He refuses to believe that what he holds in his right hand is a lie. It is a lie, for it gives the impression of being what it is not and so deceives the hopes of the one who trusts in it. [20] "Gather yourselves and come; draw near together, you fugitives of the nations; they have no knowledge, who carry about their wooden idol and pray to a god who cannot save. [21] Declare and set forth your case; indeed, let them consult together. Who has announced this from of old? Who has long since declared it? Is it not I, the LORD? And there is no other God besides Me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none except Me. [22] Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other.” [NASU] [20] As a conclusion the Lord commands the escaped of the nations to assemble together, that He may declare that He is the only Savior and that He may command them to turn unto Him. The two imperatives [gather, come] that introduce the verse are to be taken together. The nations are to come gathered together. Although this is an invitation it is nevertheless couched in the imperative, for it is the voice of absolute authority. Parallel in thought is the third imperative; the assembly is not to take place at a distance but the escaped of the nations are to draw near that they may hear what the God of Israel has to say. The address is made to the fugitives of the nations; i.e. the Gentile nations who have escaped the judgment of God. The folly of their belief is shown in that whereas the idols should bear and support them in time of need, they themselves actually carry the wood of their idols. [21] The first two imperatives [declare, set forth] are thought to be a command to the escaped to set forth their cause if that were possible. The first imperative refers to the act of proclaiming or declaring, whereas the second has in mind that of bringing near the cause. There is then a transition from the second person [you] to the third [them]. The change of person indicates that they are unable or unwilling to accept the challenge, or at least in doubt and hesitation with respect to it. They are therefore invited to deliberate together or to take counsel of those wiser than themselves. The word together suggests that if individually the heathen cannot recognize and foretell the future, they possibly can do it together. The Lord does not wait for the heathen but immediately presents His own cause, by means of a question that shows that He alone has the power of foretelling what would come to pass. This would refer to the judgment and deliverance spoken of in the preceding verses. Perhaps it is correct to say that its immediate manifestation was seen in the fall of Babylon, although there is no reason for so restricting it. No one but the God of Israel has caused this fact to be heard (i.e. through proclamation) from ancient times. The Lord foretold the exile and the deliverance as well as the ultimate salvation before these things had taken place. Parallel is the expression long since. In this context, this language would seem to suggest that these prophecies were ancient ones, uttered some time before the events predicted. Possibly the reference is to prophecies concerning the downfall of Babylon, such as those found in chapters thirteen and twenty-one. The answer intended by the double question is that no one has caused this to be heard and no one has declared it from before. It is a challenge Yahweh, the God of Israel, alone is able to make. The only One who has been able to predict beforehand the judgment and deliverance is the God of Israel, Yahweh, who is the Only God in existence, and who has shown Himself to be just in that He has acted both in judgment and in salvation in accordance with the strictest demands of His holiness. He is also a Savior, whose salvation is not proffered at the expense of justice, but is accomplished to its satisfaction. [22] As far as form is concerned, this verse with its imperative preceded by a declarative statement is similar to the saying of Jesus: Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden [Matt. 11:28]. Before uttering that command our Lord had made a declaration concerning Himself and His intimate relationship with the Father. Here too, the Lord has asserted that He is both just and a Savior and that He alone has been able to foretell the judgment and salvation. It might seem then that for the heathen there remained nothing but destruction. Such is not the case, for an invitation of mercy is extended to them. They are not to continue in their former ways but are to turn from them. The verb suggests a turning away from something and a turning to something; a true conversion. Although the verb is plural, and although the subject is found in the expression ends of the earth, the reference is to men individually. If the ends of the earth turn to God, it is only because the individual men who make up the ends of the earth have themselves turned. There is a stress upon individual conversion. The invitation to turn is couched in the imperative, and thus the responsibility of the individual is set forth. Although God here commands men to turn to Him, it does not follow that He gives to all who hear the command the power and ability to obey. The two imperatives [turn, be saved] belong together. The thought is, “turn to Me and you will surely be saved.” The second imperative gives the result of the action expressed by the first. Lastly, the reason for these things is found in the fact that Yahweh is the true God: For I am God, and there is no other. Out of the doctrine that Yahweh, the God of Israel, is the only true God, Creator of heaven and earth, flows the fact that there may be a true conversion. Men have rebelled against God, and can only find salvation when, having turned from the vain idols of abomination, they turn to God who has made them. Questions for Discussion: 1. List the different ways Isaiah describes the foolishness of those who worship idols. What types of idols do people worship today? Do you see the same type of foolishness in this worship that Isaiah saw in his time? 2. Look at the four questions in verse 40:21. How do these questions apply to us? What is it that we should know, have heard, and understood from the foundations of the earth? How will the answers to these questions help us from falling into idol worship? 3. In 44:18-20, why do the people not know nor understand? What role did their sin play in deceiving their hearts? What role did God play? Commentary on Isaiah, Joseph Alexander, Kregel. Click here to cancel reply. Δ A weekly brief of our new teaching resources "(Required)" indicates required fields Email Address(Required) This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Δ TS&TT: Immigration, America's Lowering Birth Rate and the Theology of Having Children Article Lessons from Hurricane Ian Article When Does Forgiveness Not Lead to Reconciliation? This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. 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Guardians of New Zealand Superannuation: Governance and management of the New Zealand Superannuation Fund Part 3: Governance arrangements facebook twitter Part 3: Governance arrangements Guardians of New Zealand Superannuation: Governance and management of the New Zealand Superannuation Fund. https://oag.parliament.nz/2008/superannuation/part3.htm https://oag.parliament.nz/@@site-logo/logo.png Part 3: Governance arrangements Guardians of New Zealand Superannuation: Governance and management of the New Zealand Superannuation Fund. effective leadership and strong governance have been consistent themes throughout the first four years of the Fund's operations. This is demonstrated in the approach adopted by the Guardians in selecting and monitoring external providers. The growth of the Fund and the increased number of investment mandates have increased the need for formalised governance processes and operating frameworks. The Guardians' 2007 Statement of Intent addresses this. The document is important for the Guardians, as it focuses on developing effective management controls with high levels of accountability. The actions taken by the Guardians allow stakeholders to have confidence that adequate processes are operating to manage risks to the Fund. However, the Guardians could do more to integrate risk management in important areas of business operations. The Guardians need to adopt a formal Board Charter, make it publicly available, and incorporate the measures adopted in the Charter as part of their annual Board performance assessment process. The Guardians have a sound Assurance Framework for assessing decisions made by management. We acknowledge the Guardians' leadership to date, and encourage them to continue to lead and work with other Crown financial institutions on a common approach, where applicable, to responsible investment. In this Part, we outline milestones in the relatively short history of the Guardians and report on how well the Guardians' governance arrangements were working when we examined them at the end of 2007. The governance arrangements are fundamental elements of managing investment performance. For these arrangements to be functioning well, we expected to find: adequate application of governance processes; effective and timely overseeing of management decisions; and governance activities relevant to measuring the Fund's performance. We examined how the Guardians apply governance processes to meet the legislative requirement to invest in a way that avoids prejudice to New Zealand's reputation as a responsible member of the world community. The Guardians’ governance arrangements are consistent with the context and nature of the Fund's legislative requirements. The Guardians’ 2007 Statement of Intent acknowledges the need to change governance arrangements in response to changes in the Fund's environment and its growth. The Statement of Intent sets out a work programme to formalise the executive governance and internal control infrastructure. Implementation of the work programme will lead to further separation of responsibilities between the Board and management. 3.5 In our view, the timing and scope of the work programme set out in the 2007 Statement of Intent was appropriate. Our performance audit was conducted just after the work programme was implemented. As such, at the time of our audit, some elements were only recently operational or were nearing completion. Our comments relating to the newly established framework should be read in this context. Many of our recommendations relating to terms of reference, charters, documents, and policies are likely to have occurred during the implementation process. It is also likely that the Guardians will identify further changes during the process beyond our recommendations in this report. History of the Guardians and the Fund The Guardians' first tasks were to devise an investment strategy for the Fund, agree investment mandates, and set up infrastructure for the Fund to receive and invest regular capital contributions from the Crown. A vital part of developing the infrastructure was appointing a Chief Executive Officer and a supporting management team. This was mostly complete by the end of 2006. The way the Fund was established meant there was initially limited distinction between the Board and management. To start with, the Board performed some management functions. This mitigated the need for a complex governance structure. However, the growth of the Fund and the increased number of investment mandates have increased the need for formalised governance processes and operating frameworks. The Board recognised the changing focus and approved a detailed programme to establish policies and procedures and operating infrastructure as part of the Guardians' Statement of Intent for the period commencing 1 July 2007 to 30 June 2010 (2007 Statement of Intent). Figure 3 shows major milestones in the history of the Guardians. Milestones in the history of the Guardians of New Zealand Superannuation to 2007 Governance arrangements The Board and four Board committees govern the Guardians’ activities. The committees are: Audit and Risk Committee (established May 2003); Employee Policy and Remuneration Committee (established May 2003); Responsible Investment Committee (established October 2003); and Private Markets Committee (established December 2007).1 This governance structure reflects common practice, the requirements of the Fund's governing legislation, and the specific nature of the Fund's investments. All members of the committees are Board members, who are appointed to the committees depending on their specific skills. All committees are governed by terms of reference approved by the Board that outline specific responsibilities, scope, and any Board-approved policies. In April 2007, as part of the governance infrastructure development programme set out in the 2007 Statement of Intent, the Guardians established four executive committees to support the Board’s committees. Comprising members of senior management, the executive committees are: Communications Committee. The Board or the applicable Board committee approves the terms of reference of each executive committee. The terms of reference for each executive committee contain all the material requirements that we would expect in such documents. However, we found minor areas where the terms of reference could be improved to bring them into line with governance standards promulgated by a selection of global regulators.2 (Our suggested improvements to the terms of reference are set out in Appendix 1). We recommend that the Guardians of New Zealand Superannuation update the terms of reference documents for their Board committees and executive committees to better reflect governance standards promulgated by global regulators. Board charter and performance review Most organisations with a board have a board charter setting out the scope of responsibilities and how those responsibilities will be met. The purpose of a board charter is to document: the role of the board; the structure of the board; matters relating to board members; the committees of the board; and standards and requirements for: timely and balanced disclosure; communication with shareholders; recognition and management of risk; and A board charter records basic information about how major decisions are made, how risks are managed, and how performance is assessed. This information is generally made available to the public, as it communicates the tone of the organisation, particularly in relation to core governance functions. There is no formal published charter for the Board. However, there is a Board Governance Statement (in place since November 2003) that covers the material elements of a board charter, apart from minor areas where the document could be improved. At the time of our performance audit, the Board Governance Statement was not publicly available, and was being reviewed. We were told that our recommendations for improvement were being incorporated as part of this review. The absence of a formal board charter may affect the objectivity of a board's performance assessment as there are no predefined measures against which that board can be held publicly accountable. However, in making this observation, we note that the Board has engaged qualified independent consultants to carry out annual performance assessments.3 The annual performance assessment involves each Board member completing a questionnaire covering various elements of governance. This approach to performance assessment is consistent with global practice and our experience is that New Zealand boards rarely conduct this type of assessment. The most recent independent performance assessment of the Board did not identify any significant issues. We recommend that the Guardians of New Zealand Superannuation adopt a formal Board Charter, make it publicly available, incorporate the measures adopted in the Charter as part of their annual Board performance assessment process, and use the Charter to guide their external reporting. This is a high-priority recommendation because the published document provides assurance to stakeholders that the Guardians are complying with generally accepted standards of governance. A formal Board Charter would also provide basic measures of performance for the Board and related committees to be measured against. Applying the governance arrangements Governance elements and associated processes and activities The Guardians’ governance arrangements operate at multiple levels and involve many processes and activities. Figure 4 shows the main elements of the governance arrangements and the associated processes and activities. Governance elements and associated processes and activities We reviewed how the governance elements outlined in Figure 4 have been implemented. In most areas, implementation meets or exceeds the relevant generally accepted governance standards. These standards include the governance standards of national and global regulators, and standards set out in other associated publications, such as those of the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO)4 and the Control Objectives for Information and Related Technologies (COBIT)5 frameworks. The following activities, relating to policies, were under way at the time of our performance audit: training staff on the requirements and expectations of corporate policies and procedures; central publication of the policies and procedures so they are available to all staff; and ensuring that the procedural requirements of policies are recognised as part of the treatment of risks under the Guardians’ Risk Management Framework. At the time of our audit fieldwork, we were satisfied that the training of staff and central publication of policies would be completed as part of the work programme for the 2007 Statement of Intent. The Guardians have since confirmed that these activities are complete. Risk management is a crucial component of governance. Until 2007, the Guardians did not have a formal risk management framework. The absence of such a framework from the outset of the Fund has not been ideal. However, risk has been managed by the Guardians in a structured manner. From 2004, the Guardians have been developing risk capability. Risk papers were reviewed by the Audit and Risk Committee in 2004, 2005, and 2006. In 2007, the Guardians appointed a Chief Operating Officer to formalise risk management for the Fund in accordance with the 2007 Statement of Intent. The Chief Operating Officer has been largely responsible for developing the policy programme in 2007/08 as well as the Risk Management Framework approved by the Audit and Risk Committee in October 2007. The primary purpose of the Risk Management Framework is to: identify the major risks that could prevent the Guardians from realising their objectives; understand the activities applied by the Guardians to manage these risks and determine the adequacy of the activity; link the risk management activity to the operational business processes; provide ongoing measurement of the effectiveness of the risk management activity; and ensure that assurance from management and independent assurance providers over major risks and their related management activities is aligned with controls. Figure 5 shows the main components of the Guardians' Risk Management Framework. It reflects the various stages of the risk management process from initial assessment through to ongoing monitoring or closure. How the Guardians of New Zealand Superannuation's Risk Management Framework operates The main focus of the Guardians' Risk Management Framework is to document and link risk management activity throughout the operations of the Guardians. A knowledge management project has been established by the Guardians to document core processes and procedures. The Guardians told us that they intend to implement the remaining elements of the Risk Management Framework in 2008. We reviewed implementation plans for the Guardians' Risk Management Framework and noted opportunities to further integrate risk management processes into business operations. These include: preparing a risk management policy (see paragraph 8.18); linking high inherent risks to processes by documenting how risk relates to processes; documenting how major risks (and the process for risk assessment) relate to service level agreements with external providers (to ensure that important requirements are addressed); documenting how executive monitoring and performance measures relate to the ownership and management of major risks; documenting how the risk measurement criteria (that is, likelihood and effect measures) relate to the strategic objectives of the Guardians; and documenting how risk management is used to assess project risks and project significance, to demonstrate that projects are managed based on risk rather than cost. We recommend that the Guardians of New Zealand Superannuation update their Risk Management Framework so that relevant risk management activity is identified in important areas of the operations. This update should include preparation of risk plans, incorporating risk management measures into executive performance assessment, and linking risk to service level requirements and policy development. This is a high-priority recommendation because embedding the Risk Management Framework throughout the Guardians' operations will give management and the Board confidence that major identified risks are appropriately managed. It would also help to ensure that management action plans are appropriate and are being complied with. Risk-based internal audit Under a good governance framework, a board typically appoints an internal auditor to review the assessment and management of risk throughout the organisation. The internal audit scope and plan of work is based on a risk assessment completed in conjunction with the organisation's risk management framework. In the absence of a risk management framework, the Guardians' internal audit function has not had a formal process for determining a risk-based internal audit plan. Therefore, most of the internal audits have been management initiatives based on the Guardians' Statement of Intent, and risks identified by management and the Board. Internal audit plans have been approved by the Audit and Risk Committee and management. While this approach made sense during the phased development of the Guardians’ operations, internal audit plans should start to use the Risk Management Framework to demonstrate how core assurance is provided over high risks. This approach will become increasingly important as the Guardians continue to separate the roles of management and the Board, and can be done by linking internal audit coverage to processes for managing high risks (see paragraph 3.29). We recommend that, in their 2008/09 internal audit plan, the Guardians of New Zealand Superannuation target high-risk processes as identified by their Risk Management Framework for assurance on a set timetable (for example, every two years). Role of the Board The usual role of a board is to oversee management decision-making, and where appropriate, approve decisions of strategic importance to the organisation. Initially, the Board was responsible for a lot of day-to-day decision-making. This included strategic decisions that we would expect the Board to be involved in and some non-strategic decisions that we would not normally expect the Board to be involved in. This meant the Board initially acted in a quasi-executive role rather than in a fully independent governance role. Since then, the Board has progressively delegated decision-making activities to management (for example, assessing potential Investment Managers). The 2007 Statement of Intent work programme has allowed the Board to step away from operational roles with the confidence that expectations of roles are clear. The work programme completed under the 2007 Statement of Intent set in place formal structures and processes to be applied to the operations of the Guardians. Many of these processes are measurable, but at the time of our audit were not supported by a reporting framework to measure and assess compliance. The Guardians are in the process of addressing this reporting deficiency. We recommend that the Guardians of New Zealand Superannuation further develop and refine standard reporting to support the separation of Board and management responsibilities. This should include assessing management decision-making within predefined parameters approved by the Board. Board capability The Board has professional members and maintains significant institutional knowledge through its remaining founding members. Our assessment of the Board in place at the time of our performance audit was that it is effective and capable of challenging and questioning management’s technical decisions. The Board engages with international investment strategy specialists and regularly meets with management. There is clear evidence of detailed technical analysis and challenge of management in minutes of meetings of the Board and its committees. For example, a decision to establish a Private Markets Committee resulted from discussions between the Board and management on risk matters relating to Private Markets, time taken at Board meetings to address the issues, and the need for more Board attention in this area. The ability of the Board to oversee the Fund effectively depends on the Board’s collective competency and understanding of: the Fund and the Guardians; the business operating environment; and the investment environment. The ability of the Board to effectively question and challenge management decision-making will become more important as the founding members retire and the Fund moves into more complex asset classes. In addition, there are ongoing governance challenges facing the Guardians related to: being located in New Zealand; and the requirements of the founding legislation. The governance challenges include: The size of the Fund relative to the New Zealand asset management industry, which means that some investment strategies are likely to be unique within a New Zealand commercial context. This may require specialist skills not easily found in New Zealand. Board members are remunerated under the Crown remuneration framework,6 which so far has not limited the ability of the Guardians to attract and retain high calibre Board members. However, in time this could limit the ability of the Guardians to attract and retain appropriately qualified international board members, should that be necessary. Leading global regulatory bodies recommend that board member appointment, board performance assessment, and board remuneration be performed by a nominating committee comprising independent members receiving external advice. Sections 55 and 56 of the Act require the Minister to establish a nominating committee of at least four people with relevant skills and experience, whose function is to identify suitably qualified candidates for appointment to the Board. This is different from most other Crown entities, and the provision in the Act for a nominating committee reflects the importance of the Board’s appointment. The Minister can choose only from the list proposed by the nominating committee. We are aware that the Treasury has regular discussions with the Board Chairman about Board capability. There is also dialogue between the Board and the Minister. The Board periodically reviews its performance using a self-assessment process, but it does not assess or benchmark its collective capability against peer organisations. In our view, an independent review of Board capability is necessary given the international investment focus of the Fund and the specialist nature of some of its investments. An independent review would help to identify any potential risks and provide the Treasury with an objective basis to assess collective Board capability. The Board is aware of the capability risks and uses an expert reference group to provide feedback on investment governance. We recommend that the Guardians of New Zealand Superannuation assess the scope of the Board’s current and future capability by initiating a regular independent assessment of the Board’s combined capability relative to appropriate international peer organisations, and by conducting exit interviews as members retire from the Board. This is a high-priority recommendation because the capability of the combined Board has not been compared to Boards of similar organisations. In our view, it is not possible to effectively compare the Fund, and the Board, to peer organisations based in New Zealand. In making this recommendation, we have not had access to relevant Board assessments performed outside the Guardians. Board assurance To fulfil its overseeing role effectively, a board relies on access to relevant information to assess management decision-making. Board assurance refers to all processes and activities that provide information about whether business processes are functioning adequately, risks are being appropriately managed, and policies are being complied with. This includes information provided by auditors, advisers, and management. The Guardians’ Assurance Framework comprises three elements common to most organisations: Management assurance, representing procedures performed by management and external providers. The specific objective of management assurance is in relation to timely and accurate organisational performance. Internal assurance, representing internal audit and other independent review of controls to validate that processes and activities are performed effectively and efficiently. The specific objective of internal audit is to assess policy compliance, management of identified risks, and the adequacy of internal control procedures. External audit assurance, where the Board and other relevant stakeholders derive assurance over financial controls from the work carried out by the external auditor to audit the annual financial statements. A significant portion of Fund assurance comes from management assurance activities. This reflects the extensive review procedures performed by the Guardians’ Operations team to verify that the Custodian controls are working. Other assurance is also provided by the Custodian, through checks to ensure that all operational external providers are subject to regular reviews as well as specific assurance reports such as a SAS 70 report. These checking procedures occur because the Guardians recognise that they can outsource the activity but not the responsibility for the activity. The two main operational risks for the Fund relate to transactions and valuations. Transaction risk relates to the fair and transparent exchange of cash for investment assets. Valuation risk relates to the correct valuation of assets for investment performance and portfolio management purposes. Generally, controls over these risks are separated into primary and secondary controls. Primary controls relate to system-based controls enforcing segregation of duties, or forcing certain actions to occur before a transaction can be processed. Secondary controls relate to the independent review of processes and activities to verify completeness and accuracy. Most of the Fund's primary controls are outsourced. The primary controls performed by the Guardians, such as payroll, cash management, and accounts payable, are less risky compared to the primary controls performed by external providers. This is because the Fund's bank accounts are separate from those of the Guardians, which reduces exposure to the risk of inappropriate transactions and activity. The Guardians have outsourced a significant portion of the Fund's investment operations. This has implications for their assurance processes because contracts with external providers establish predefined performance measures, which are monitored and assessed by various parties. Deriving value from internal audit is more challenging when investment operations are outsourced. Where all processes are performed in-house, the internal auditor will be reviewing controls performed by the entity. In an outsourcing environment, the internal auditor either reviews controls, checking the work of the third party, or reviews reports provided by the third party and their auditors. There is limited internal audit review of primary controls given the outsourcing environment. The Guardians recognise this and have appropriately focused internal audit activity on areas where risk is retained in-house. The Guardians conduct quarterly meetings with assurance providers to ensure that there is no scope overlap between internal and external audit, and that both assurance functions are fully aware of ongoing management assurance activity. The internal audit function of the Guardians is contracted to a third party provider. This is a common approach given the specialised nature of internal auditing. However, the Guardians do not have a formal service level agreement in place with the provider. Instead, there is an existing Internal Audit Policy and a protocol agreed with the provider for initiating audits, determining scope, obtaining sign-off, and agreeing dates to complete and provide feedback. This protocol does not reflect all the relevant guidance of the Institute of Internal Auditors. We recommend that the Guardians of New Zealand Superannuation formalise their internal audit framework by establishing an Internal Audit Charter (consistent with the guidance of the Institute of Internal Auditors), a service level agreement with their internal audit provider, and by carrying out three-yearly peer reviews of the services provided by their internal audit provider (consistent with the Institute of Internal Auditors’ peer review framework). Governance of responsible investment We have reviewed how the Guardians manage investment activity to avoid prejudice to New Zealand’s reputation as a responsible member of the world community.7 In the absence of a Crown-wide definition of what constitutes prejudice to New Zealand, the Guardians have applied the international responsible investment framework, as defined by the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment (UNPRI). In taking this approach, the Guardians believe they have satisfied the intended requirements of the governing legislation. They also believe that the risk of prejudicing New Zealand’s reputation through the investment activities of the Fund is extremely low. Responsible Investment Policy The Guardians have developed a detailed Responsible Investment Policy in response to their obligations under the Act. The policy is benchmarked to leading global practice. It requires the Guardians to take responsible investment seriously. This includes a considerable annual commitment of resources to responsible investment activities. We have reviewed the Guardians’ policy standards and procedures and compared them with relevant practices applied elsewhere in the public sector and to global investing entities subject to similar responsible investment obligations. The Guardians’ Responsible Investment Policy covers the Fund's requirement to have an ethical policy and a policy on voting. Other policies of the Guardians cover broader governance and Investment Manager due diligence. The Guardians' Responsible Investment Framework includes policies, standards, and procedures. The framework concentrates on acting as a responsible shareholder and fostering transparent corporate governance rather than necessarily excluding shares or securities. This is achieved by adopting standards such as the UNPRI and the United Nations Global Compact for monitoring corporate behaviour. Monitoring for responsible investment The Guardians engage external responsible investment agencies such as Innovest Strategic Value Advisors, Institutional Shareholder Services, and the Morgan Stanley Capital International universe of potential investments to monitor the majority of the Fund's portfolio. Mostly, these agencies look to analyse companies’ environmental, social, and governance performance. The Guardians use this monitoring information to exercise the Fund's vote as an active shareholder, to engage with companies, or to identify companies for exclusion. Responsible investment is also achieved by managing how the Fund votes, engages, invests, and divests as a shareholder. The framework is diverse and approaches responsible investment on a number of fronts, including active shareholder actions, shareholder voting strategies, screening, and share exclusion. Responsible Investment Committee The Responsible Investment Committee oversees the framework. Its responsibilities include: preparing, for Board consideration, responsible investment policies, standards, and procedures to meet obligations outlined in sections 58 and 61 of the Act; monitoring the Guardians’ implementation of responsible investment policies, standards, and procedures on behalf of the Board through regular reporting; recommending to the Board any external parties to be contracted to assist the Guardians in relation to their responsible investment obligations; requesting specific guidance from management on any specific responsible investment issues that have been raised; and reviewing and making recommendations to the Board on advice received on responsible investment matters. Where the activities of an entity are found to potentially prejudice New Zealand’s reputation, there are various options for the Guardians to manage the exposure. These include engagement with the entity using shareholder groups, through to share exclusion. Share exclusion means removal of the shares from the Fund's portfolio through divestment or specific instruction to the Investment Manager to never hold the shares in the portfolio. Share exclusion is a last resort for the Guardians. It will occur only if the Guardians cannot bring about a positive outcome through exercising their shareholder rights. Share exclusion decisions are based on receiving information from subscriber organisations specialising in investigating and reporting matters of corporate responsibility, or where the activity of a company is contrary to New Zealand law. Managing responsible investment risk Despite the work that has been done and the extensive management framework based on global investment principles, a number of challenges still face the Guardians in managing their responsible investment risk. These include: Generally, the Fund is not a substantial shareholder in any entity in its own right. Therefore, the Guardians could be less effective if they operated alone in engagement with companies or divesting. Instead, the Guardians increase their effectiveness through collaboration with other investors. Principally, this occurs through the Guardians’ involvement with the UNPRI. The Guardians depend on these organisations making decisions that are consistent with their “avoid prejudice” requirement. The Guardians have a responsibility to assess the effect of exclusion on investment risk and returns. Identifying which companies to exclude can present challenges and requires a specialist screening agency (for example, checking for a company’s involvement in landmine manufacture). For some asset classes, it can be difficult to understand all activities of the entity that the Fund has invested in. This can make it difficult for the Guardians to assess the appropriateness of the activity. It is not always possible for the Fund to identify all activities in pooled investment structures such as unit trusts. Communicating about responsible investment The Guardians are often asked for information about their actions as a responsible investor. Each year, the Guardians publish their responsible investment approach and programme within the Statement of Intent. This is the Responsible Investment Policy, Standards and Procedures. However, this issue is complex, emerging, and of high public interest. We consider that the Guardians could more effectively communicate their primary responsible investment strategy of working through shareholder engagement groups to influence the behaviour or operations of an organisation in which they have invested. Taking a leadership role in responsible investment The Guardians meet regularly with other Crown financial institutions to discuss responsible investment, and have encouraged the other institutions to adopt the UNPRI approach. A common definition of responsible investment could evolve from this. Recognising the significant investment made by the Guardians and their expertise in responsible investment, we consider that there is merit in the Guardians taking a leadership role in this area within the public sector. Largely, this has been occurring through the Guardians encouraging other Crown financial institutions, although this role has not been formalised within the public sector. There is also no formal initiative to harmonise how Crown financial institutions address responsible investment issues. We acknowledge the Guardians’ leadership to date, and encourage them to continue to lead and work with other Crown financial institutions on a common approach, where applicable, to responsible investment. We consider that, overall, the Guardians have taken an appropriate and pragmatic approach to responsible investment. Investment screening process The current investment screening process is limited to equity positions and sovereign securities held by the Fund. The screening process does not check for any debt securities that the Fund may hold in an “excluded entity”. This can lead to a situation where a company or entity is placed on an “excluded list” by the Guardians, but the Fund continues to hold debt or fixed interest securities in the same company or entity. We recognise that the risk of this occurring is low because the Fund currently holds only New Zealand-based corporate bonds. We recommend that the Guardians of New Zealand Superannuation extend their screening of investments in excluded companies or entities to all security positions, including debt or fixed interest securities. Our conclusions Effective leadership and strong governance have been consistent themes throughout the first four years of the Fund's operations. This is demonstrated in the approach adopted by the Guardians in selecting and monitoring external providers. While our performance audit has highlighted areas for consideration and improvement, this reflects the evolution and development of the Guardians rather than any perceived deficiency in their current governance framework. 1: This committee was established by the Board and management to help the Board assess the merits of complex instruments that mostly relate to unlisted markets. 2: Financial Reporting Council of the United Kingdom, The Combined Code on Corporate Governance; Monetary Authority of Singapore, Combined Code of Corporate Governance; New Zealand Securities Commission, A Handbook for Directors, Executives, and Advisors. 3: Governance effectiveness Review - BOARDWORKS International July 2007. 4: COSO focuses on controls for financial processes. Internal controls promote efficiency, reduce risk of asset loss, and help to ensure the reliability of financial statements and compliance with laws and regulations. 5: COBIT is an open standard published by the IT Governance Institute (ITGI) and the Information Systems Audit and Control Association ISACA). It is an information technology control framework based on the COSO framework. ISACA is a global organisation with members in 160 countries. ITGI was established by ISACA in 1998. 6: The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (Cabinet Office circular CO(06)08), Fees Framework for Members of Statutory and Other Bodies Appointed by the Crown. The following discussion is from a footnote in the Auditor-General’s good practice guide Audit committees in the public sector, March 2008. It provides context relevant to the issue noted in paragraph 3.43. Several entities have raised with us specific concerns about the remuneration levels set by the Cabinet Office’s fees framework (CFF). Many felt that remuneration levels within the CFF are too low for an entity to be able to secure the necessary skills and expertise for their audit committee to provide proper scrutiny, advice, and insight. We share this concern. In our view, even allowing for an element of public service, the fees paid under the CFF are low. There is a limited pool of people who are willing and able to provide services at the level required for the current rates. If government departments consider that the fees payable are too low to attract people with the required skills, they can seek advice from the State Services Commission (SSC). A Crown entity should pursue the question through its monitoring department. For departments, the CFF allows for exceptional fees (up to a prescribed limit and where clearly justified) for the chairperson and members of audit committees, subject to consultation with the responsible Minister and the Minister of State Services in each case. The SSC has advised us that such approval is rarely sought. Based on comments made in the interviews we conducted, some may see the approval process as unduly difficult, while others are unaware that it exists. If government departments consider that an exceptional fee above the CFF limit is justified, they should discuss the matter with the SSC. The SSC has advised us that the CFF is reviewed biennially and that our concerns will be noted during the next review (in June 2008). 7: Section 58(2) of the Act. Guardians of New Zealand Superannuation: Governance and management of the New Zealand Superannuation Fund Part 3: Governance arrangements Part 4: Investment strategy and related policies Part 5: Contracts with Investment Managers Part 6: Monitoring and reporting of Fund performance Part 8: Management practices and controls Appendix 1: Suggested improvements to committee terms of reference and related documents Appendix 3: Recommended elements to include in an Outsourcing Policy Guardians of New Zealand Superannuation: Governance and management of the New Zealand Superannuation Fund ISBN 978-0-478-32603-1 Filed under: Your feedback helps to ensure that we provide you with clear and useful information. Have we done that? audit new zealand auditors' homepage (auditors only)	41,127
Over on his blog, the lovely and talented Dean Haspiel shares his favorite DC Comics cover of all time: it's a weird and wonderful choice. But I think my favorite DC cover is weirder and even more wonderful... I mean, really, how can you beat Jimmy Olsen as a Giant Turtle Man? It's the entire Silver Age of DC Comics boiled down to one majestically absurd image (which looks like the work of the great Curt Swan to me). At the other end of the spectrum is my favorite Marvel Comics cover, a work of drama and dignity, wonder and awe, illustrated by the incomparable Jack Kirby... The first time I saw this image—in an ad, before I ever read the issue—my twelve year old mind created my own story to go with it (one I'd love to actually write some day)—and that's what a great cover should do: stimulate the imagination. Make you hungry to see what's between the covers. What are your favorites? Posted by J.M. DeMatteis at 10:55 AM 41 comments: ~P~ May 26, 2010 at 12:17 PM My ALL-TIME favorite comic cover is the cover to Doctor Strange # 169. EVERY time I see that Dan Adkins illustrated piece, it just sends me. I have other faves, but that one is my all-time A-#1, top-of-the-heap, pick. Other than that, I have a peculiar fondness for any cover that has that old silver-age-color-separation style covers where it looks like muted tones of an almost watercolor nature. Of course, I can't think of a single one now... but that Doc issue does also have that quality so it'll work as an example. ReplyDelete Replies Ricardo May 26, 2010 at 12:20 PM Mine is probably this one: This encapsules perfectly what the book was all about: sci-fi, bold, different, graphic and mature. Actually, Giffen's whole run had such amazing covers, so different and striking that it is painful to see whatever came afterwards. ReplyDelete Replies J.M. DeMatteis May 26, 2010 at 12:21 PM Yeah, that's a terrific cover, P. Dan Adkins was a wonderful artist...and he was a great match for Doctor Strange. ReplyDelete Replies J.M. DeMatteis May 26, 2010 at 12:26 PM That Giffen kid has talent, Ricardo. I think he's got a real future in this business! But, seriously, if you're a fan of Keith's art, you'll be happy to know that he's picking up the pencil again, for a few different projects, including an upcoming issue of our BOOSTER GOLD run. I, for one, can't wait. ReplyDelete Replies Anonymous May 26, 2010 at 12:36 PM On the Marvel side, my favorite cover is probably WOS #32. Zeck stripped KRAVEN'S LAST HUNT down to its bare essence here, and the cover says it all: If anyone thinks KLH is just a story about madness and death, I point them to that. Close runners up: This is kind of a cheat, because it wasn't originally a cover, but I love the image that made its way to LOST YEARS #0--Ben Reilly, slumped, defeated, caught in a torrential rain, desperately clinging to the identity he's lost one last time. Breaks my heart. Honorable mentions: ASM 238, the debut of the Hobgoblin. I defy any fan from that era to say they weren't sucked in by that cover. It isn't easy to work with a classic design, much less to improve on it, but JR, Jr. might just have pulled it off. And it hits to the heart of what made Norman Osborn special. He wasn't Spider-Man's greatest enemy because he was locked in an eternal struggled with Peter Parker. No, it's because Peter Parker was locked in an eternal struggle with Norman's LEGACY. (Which is why, if you ask me, the guy who's been running around since REVELATIONS is a clone.) ASM 246: Jonah Jameson decks Spider-Man. Yup, it's a dream sequence, but what a cover! And it's actually one of the best (but overlooked) issues of the time. GREEN LANTERN (VOL. 2) #49. That's the one where Hal Jordan embraces his insanity. The image of Hal grinning and showing off the rings he's stolen from his fallen comrades is striking, to say the least. As soon as I post this, I'm sure I'll think of others! ReplyDelete Replies J.M. DeMatteis May 26, 2010 at 12:40 PM The Zeck cover really is a classic, David. One that seems to get better with time. And I have to agree about that Ben Reilly image from JR, Jr., too (but I would, wouldn't I?). Speaking of Romita, Jr.—I never saw that ASM cover before, but you're right, it's a terrific image. ReplyDelete Replies Anonymous May 26, 2010 at 12:58 PM Yeah, I could really go on and on about JR, Jr.'s cover work from that era. ASM 254's a good one, too, with the image of Spider-Man peering through the rain at a mystery villain, exclaiming, "NO! NOT YOU!" Better than the story, actually. If you ever find yourself so inclined, check out ASM 246. Basically, the entire issue is devoted to Spider-Man and his supporting cast daydreaming. Good stuff. Now that I think about it, this ish would probably work pretty well with "I'm Only Sleeping" blaring in the background. You should combine your great loves and come up with a list of comics best read to specific Beatles tunes... ReplyDelete Replies ReplyDelete Replies Anonymous May 26, 2010 at 2:05 PM Yeah, I think "Tomorrow Never Knows" would complement KRAVEN'S LAST HUNT pretty well. I'd probably sleep with the lights on that night... :) ReplyDelete Replies J.M. DeMatteis May 26, 2010 at 2:38 PM I'm actually working on part four of my upcoming Kaine-Kraven story right now, David. Maybe I should be listening to "TNK" while I write. ReplyDelete Replies Anonymous May 26, 2010 at 2:51 PM That works! On the flipside of that match-up, I suspect Kaine is rocking out to some SKYNRD. For every pre-1987 Kraven appearance, I think I'll jam to some "Bungalow Bill"... ReplyDelete Replies J.M. DeMatteis May 26, 2010 at 2:55 PM Kraven the Hunter and "Bungalow Bill"? That's very funny, David. ReplyDelete Replies James Wu May 26, 2010 at 9:45 PM This is similar to the Fantastic Four cover in some ways, and is also by Kirby, but this has always been my favorite: It's just so very dramatic and dynamic, and everything Kirby was best at, in one awe-inspiring image. ReplyDelete Replies J.R. LeMar May 26, 2010 at 11:17 PM Can't think of an individual cover @ the moment, but I have to say that seeing that Jimmy Olsen cover makes me think of how awesome a new Jimmy Olsen series like that would be today. Show Jimmy getting into all kinds of wacky adventures, with or without Superman. Done as an all-ages title, with single-issue stories, it could be a great jumping-on point for new young readers. ReplyDelete Replies rob! May 27, 2010 at 12:18 AM You know, I was going to point out the perspective on that JO cover is all wrong, at least as it relates to Superman and the bridge. But when you've got a giant turtle man on the cover, what's the point? There are soooo many great covers...first one that pops into my head is Adventure Comics #475 by Brian Bolland, with an inside story by...J.M. DeMatteis! ReplyDelete Replies J.M. DeMatteis May 27, 2010 at 6:58 AM That was a classic, old-fashioned cover...yet Bolland brought a modern sensibility to it. (Well, modern for 1980!) He's a sensational artist. One of the first stories he ever did for U.S. comics was a short science-fiction story I wrote called "Falling Down to Heaven." The art for that was extraordinary. ReplyDelete Replies J.M. DeMatteis May 27, 2010 at 7:02 AM I hardly even remember that THOR cover, James, but, seeing it again...well, it's fantastic. Marvel era Kirby really could do no wrong...and his covers were almost always mind-blowingly good. ReplyDelete Replies Anonymous May 27, 2010 at 10:25 AM Re: Kirby. Totally agreed that Marvel era Kirby is the master of covers. I intentionally took him off the table in my listings because I never saw his comics fresh on the newsstand. But he totally nailed the balance between artistic genius and commercial sensibilities--you want to frame his covers AFTER you've read the STORY. Modern cover artists could stand to gain a lot by going back to the King. I don't know why, but these days covers are mostly generic poses that tell me NOTHING about what's inside or why I should care. Seems like comics companies are operating on the assumption that their readers are already invested in the story--which, when you're competing for my dollar, IS NOT THE CASE!! Take WEB OF SPIDER-MAN. It's been a good, and at times fantastic (re: ECHOES and NOBODY), title. But aside from the first issue, the covers have told me basically NOTHING about what to expect. When I picked up WOS 5 for the Reilly story, I found that I enjoyed the FVL lead a lot. But I wouldn't have known that from the cover, because it was just a generic Vulture shot. Nothing about that cover screamed "Buy me!" And if I hadn't realized WOS 5 featured a Reilly story, I certainly wouldn't have figured it out. At the very least, an "And also in this ish: Ben Reilly!" blurb would do in a pinch. I don't mean to be too critical, I just think that if a good cover can sell a weak story, then great stories ought to have sensational covers! More of a back-handed compliment than anything. WOS deserves no less. Anyway, all these covers are terrific, and interest me in the stories behind them. Never saw the Strange cover before, but that is sweet. Same for Turtle-Man. My only experience with TM was the watered-down 90s take that had Jimmy doing a kids show on the side. Yeah, defnitely not as interesting as Jimmy Olsen eating a bridge while Superman goes medieval self-righteous on him. Silver-Age Supes removes people from the planet like he's dishing time-outs to a toddler. :) One thing I've thought about as I look at these covers. As a writer, it's a good idea to ask this fundamental question: Could Kirby boil my story concept down into a single, sensational cover? If he couldn't boil it down, I might need to simplify. If he couldn't sensationalize it, I might want to spice things up! ReplyDelete Replies J.M. DeMatteis May 27, 2010 at 10:32 AM GREAT questions re: Kirby's ability to boil an idea down to a cover, David. Perhaps every mainstream comic book writer should ask those questions before hitting the keyboard. The thing I love about the FF cover I selected is that it is, in many ways, the opposite of what we identify with Kirby. This isn't some cosmic slugfest. It's essentially a portrait of silent anticipation. But, in that anticipation, we see the whole story. It continues to amaze me. I agree with you about the whole "portrait cover," thing. They can be very impactful sometimes...but when every cover is just a poster shot, with little or no connection to the story, it gets awfully boring awfully fast. ReplyDelete Replies Anonymous May 27, 2010 at 10:53 AM I hadn't even thought about why that cover's so effective, but you're totally right. I recently discovered that when TALES OF SUSPENSE began featuring Iron Man, Lee and Kirby were still writing sci-fi backups. That discovery whetted my appetite to see what those original Lee/Kirby sci-fi collaborations were like. That cover seems to capture not only the story inside, but the whole TWILIGHT ZONE vibe fueled by post-nuclear fears. It's that dynamic tension between the Kennedy optimism and the Cold War/ Vietnam era terror that makes it work--there's a fine line, after all, between terror and awe. There's this fear, but also the sense that maybe the layers of the world we know are being peeled back and something better, something fantastic is about to come rushing to the surface. Simply put, the question I feel like everyone is asking here: ReplyDelete Replies J.M. DeMatteis May 27, 2010 at 10:55 AM Absolutely. Now let your imagination go and write your own story to go along with the image. ReplyDelete Replies Anonymous May 27, 2010 at 10:59 AM Spoiler alert: It's always "THE BEGINNING." ReplyDelete Replies Nicholas James West May 28, 2010 at 12:08 AM I don't know why, but this one had my ten-year-old brain racing. I couldn't wait to find out what was going on in that story! And with this next one, I'm not kissing your butt here: That was one of those covers that just had me sold in one glance. ReplyDelete Replies J.M. DeMatteis May 28, 2010 at 8:58 AM I think what makes the X-MEN cover work, Nicholas, is the expression on Havok's face. Is he ashamed of what he's done? Is he freaked because he DIDN'T do it? Does he really have to go to the bathroom? A facial expression, when done right, can open up levels of interpretation. And speaking of facial expressions... No one does 'em better than Kevin Maguire. That JL cover is an absolute classic -- it's probably been riffed on more than any other cover I can think of -- and deservedly so. I suspect the idea for it came from Andy Helfer, our JUSTICE LEAGUE editor, but Kevin made it come alive. Looking at that, you just wanted to read about those guys. ReplyDelete Replies Libby June 2, 2010 at 1:22 AM I'm not a comics expert. I read the ones my husband (Nicholas West) recommends and usually enjoy them. However, the most fantastically bizarre comic I have ever read, (and I'm sure Nick would agree), has an equally bizarre cover: Fletcher Hanks' I Shall Destroy All Planets! I flip through that when I'm having a bad day because it is SO absurd. ReplyDelete Replies J.M. DeMatteis June 2, 2010 at 10:12 AM Not familiar with I SHALL DESTROY ALL PLANETS!, Libby...but I'll be sure to scour the web for that cover. I'm a big fan of the fantastically bizarre. ReplyDelete Replies Nicholas James West June 2, 2010 at 5:12 PM It's "I Shall Destroy All The Civilized Planets!" This is the cover that Libby, and I, think is hilarious ReplyDelete Replies J.M. DeMatteis June 2, 2010 at 5:15 PM Kind of looks like a panel from a 1940's comic book, Nicholas. What's it about? ReplyDelete Replies Nicholas James West June 2, 2010 at 8:06 PM It is a 1940's comic! It's a hyper-fascist superhero basically; starring "The Super Wizard Stardust." Stolen from wiki: Stardust is an alien from an unnamed planet (in some stories, a star), whose "vast knowledge of interplanetary science has made him the most remarkable man that ever lived." He arrives on Earth vowing to clean up crime, and uses the powers that his knowledge has given him to fight all evil-doers. It was incredibly bizarre and inventive. However, being the 1940's, it features such chapters as "Gyp's Clip" and "Slant Eyes" (yeesh). It's all public domain now, but Fantagraphics recently collected a couple of volumes. They are definitely worth a read! ReplyDelete Replies J.M. DeMatteis June 2, 2010 at 8:37 PM That's funny. Here I thought someone was aping a 1940's style. The book sounds like something I'd get a kick out of. Thanks for filling me in. ReplyDelete Replies ~P~ June 5, 2010 at 9:52 PM As these comments had briefly drifted ever so slightly into the realm of "music to read (or create) comics by" - specifically, BEATLES transcendental/ psychedelic tracks - I offer forth this old post of mine - wherein I discuss the nature of "magic" in comics, Dr. Strange, comics writers who understand mysticism (JMD being one of the greatest)and "Within You - Without You" by George Harrison. ReplyDelete Replies J.M. DeMatteis June 5, 2010 at 10:00 PM Great piece on your blog, ~P~. And reading Doc Strange stories while listening to "Within You, Without You"? Genius. I'd also throw in "All Things Must Pass." In fact, there are a number of other Harrison numbers that are perfect for Strange reading. ReplyDelete Replies Jeff Zoslaw June 6, 2010 at 12:12 PM ReplyDelete Replies J.M. DeMatteis June 6, 2010 at 12:17 PM Great stuff, Jeff. I may have to pitch Marvel on a new Doc Strange story, just so I can use "I Me Mordo" as the title: it's a classic! ReplyDelete Replies Jeff Zoslaw June 6, 2010 at 4:19 PM Don't forget the one which could apply to either Doc or Ditko: Don't Bother Steve... There's also My Sweet Orb, Beware of Dark Dimensions, Cloud Strange Tales 169, You Are the One(with the universe)... Can't think of any which might apply to the Defenders yet, but gimme time.. ReplyDelete Replies J.M. DeMatteis June 6, 2010 at 5:08 PM You really made me laugh with this batch, Jeff. Thanks! ReplyDelete Replies Jeff Zoslaw June 6, 2010 at 5:24 PM Today's my birthday, and the notion that I've entertained one of my favorite writers is a terrific present! As for the Defenders song: Here Comes the (elf with a)Gun ReplyDelete Replies J.M. DeMatteis June 6, 2010 at 5:32 PM Or we could go the Lennon route with "Happiness is an Elf with a Warm Gun." ReplyDelete Replies Jeff Zoslaw June 6, 2010 at 5:46 PM Working Class Bozo (stopping now!) ReplyDelete Replies J.M. DeMatteis June 6, 2010 at 5:48 PM I'm heading out for dinner now...but thanks for putting a smile on my face with this silliness. ReplyDelete Replies J.M. DeMatteis June 27, 2010 at 12:20 PM Hey. J.R. LeMar— I just found some lost comments here at Creation Point and yours was one of them. Sorry it's taken so long to post it! And, yes, a monthly JIMMY OLSEN wackfest would be fantastic. Great idea!	17,986
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motivates you what are what motivets you to do your best on the job what really motivates you to what really motivates you to work white collar why am I not motivated why do you want to join this company why do you want to work for this company why do you want to work here why do you want to work here interview question why do you want to work here interview question and answer why this company answer why would you like to work here work ethic work motivation yahya bakkar yaya bakar you can stay motivated at work Please add images from media or featured image from posts. December 2022 M T W T S S « Nov Archives Select Month November 2021 (8) October 2021 (9) September 2021 (10) August 2021 (6) July 2021 (4) June 2021 (1) March 2020 (2) February 2020 (1) January 2020 (1) December 2019 (1) November 2019 (1) September 2019 (2) August 2019 (1) July 2019 (1) June 2019 (2) May 2019 (2) April 2019 (1) March 2019 (1) February 2019 (1) January 2019 (1) November 2018 (1) September 2018 (1) ABOUT US CleanBlink is Brooklyn and Manhattan’s premier provider of personalized laundry service with free pickup and delivery for all of our customers. Schedule a pickup today and say goodbye to laundry day for good.	67,605
There are numerous ways of propagating Pilea Peperomiodes, and one of them has to do it with a single leaf. It’s not the easiest method, it’s not the fastest method, but it is fun to try. Wanna give it a go? Then read on below. One may wonder if the Pilea craze will ever end, and although the height of interest seems to have decreased a great deal around Europe, an all-time high was reached in the US and the rest of the world in the summer of 2020, according to Google Trends. With more people getting their own Pilea plant there are also even more people who are curious about propagation, because let’s be real … who doesn’t want Pilea babies? One of the questions I have received many times on Instagram has been around Pilea leaf propagation: Can you root a Pilea leaf, and how do you do it? So let’s dive straight into those questions. Does a Pilea leaf root in water? Yes, a Pilea Peperomioides leaf is perfectly capable of growing roots in water. How do you root a Pilea leaf? You need a healthy leaf to begin with. A healthy leaf is a leaf that has been cut off and not accidentally fallen or broken off. Place the leaf in water and place it in bright but indirect light. Make sure to change the water weekly. Does a Pilea leaf in water automatically grow babies? No. Just putting a Pilea leaf in water will not guarantee that you get a new Pilea plant. How do you grow Pilea Peperomioides from leaf? The key to success with rooting and propagating a Pilea leaf lies within the removal method. As mentioned above, breaking a leaf off or finding a fallen leaf will not give you a healthy new plant. Even cutting of a petiole randomly won’t necessarily get you anything but a leaf with a lot of roots. You need a bit of the trunk along with your leaf, in order to grow a new plant. What does a Pilea propagated from a leaf look like? It looks like the image below: a petiole with a shoot growing from the bottom where the bit of the trunk is. Notice how the new shoot is also sending out shoots from nodes on its own stem. It’s absolutely fascinating if you ask me. Leaf propagation as a method Although leaf propagation of Pilea Peperomioides is fun to try, it’s probably also the least efficient way of getting your Pilea to grow babies. It’s a technique that is less bulletproof – you usually need a couple of leaves to ensure there’s at least one success. And even then it will take years for the new plant to reach “normal size”. When growing a Pilea from a leaf you will end up with a bit of an unusual looking plant. One very long petiole and a much smaller plant, as seen in the photo above. Small sizes and odd-looking plants can absolutely be charming, but my point is, that this is not the smartest way to propagate if you are in it for the sake of propagation and not experimentation.	2,806
Cuba Travel Port Cruise Calls Blocked By U.S. State Department – Beginning today, Wednesday, June 5, 2019, (see video below) your cruise ship vacation to Cuba just became political and got more confusing than the […] Cruise Ships To Cuba is adding ports and a Cuba Cruise Ship Tracker August 2, 2015 Janet Cole #Cruise Ships To Cuba now a growing list of five cruise lines sailing to 12 cruise ship ports in #Cuba. With more #cruise ships heading to port in Cuba, tracking cruise ships in Cuba just got much […]	524
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We are located at 592 N 5th Street, San Jose, CA 95112. Entry is through the decorative black gate and courtyard of the Art Object Gallery building near the corner of 5th & Jackson Streets. How many people can I bring in for an event? We can accommodate up to 8 people per event. Why can't I take my piece home right away? After you create your artwork, we need to do two firings, one to fuse the glass pieces together and another one to slump the fused piece into the shape you've chosen. When can I get my finished piece? There is an approximately one week turn-around time on fused glass pieces, which gives us time to complete the two firings (fuse and slump). Why don't you have a class calendar? We've learned that doing classes by arrangement allows us to work with potential students' schedules and find dates and times when everyone can attend a class. Why don't you have posted business hours? We are a small, private studio and our hours are flexible. If you would like to check out the studio, please contact us either at 408.406.3978 or create@infuse.glass to arrange a meeting time. What happened to the stained glass and mosaic classes? Our stained glass and mosaic guru, Lisa, moved out of the area so we no longer teach those classes. What are your Booking & Cancellation Policies? A deposit of 50% is required to book a group event, with the balance due 3 days prior to the event. Please also confirm the number of participants 3 days prior to your event. Additional last minute participants may be possible on a case-by-case basis. Cancellations made at least 3 days prior to scheduled a group event will receive a full refund, minus 15% of the full invoiced amount as an administrative & restocking fee. Because the studio has an extensive amount invested in the set-up for group events, there will be no refunds for no shows or cancellations less than 3 days prior to a scheduled event.	1,947
Every year Rapha puts out a goal on Strava (and its associated social networks) to challenge cyclists to ride 500km between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. I’ve done it a few times, and last year we did a festive gravel 500 which was marvellous. This year was no different, and three of us (Marty, Masty, and me) committed to chasing the goal down yet again, using mixed terrain as much as possible to get there, with a rough goal of about 100km per ride. However, balancing riding with family stuff over the holidays meant that we needed to get these rides done and dusted as early in the day as possible, meaning 4:40am alarm clocks became the norm (yawn). On Boxing Day I was up and on the road at 4:40am to meet up with Marty for our ride up to Kyneton where we’d pick up another two crew members for the day’s ride. The plan was to ride up to Bendigo, using as much gravel as we could, and choosing new roads where possible. Both Marty and I are fans of the Wandrer Earth App which tracks all your Strava rides and lets you know when you’ve completed ‘new kms’ (see https://wandrer.earth/ if you’re interested) so were quite keen to explore new roads. It was quite a cool morning (Garmin temperature says around 7-8 degrees) but very peaceful as the four of us made our way north (possibly because most sane people would still be in bed). I managed to get a flat tyre about 55km into our trip which meant everyone got a chance to try not to swear as we attempted to fix it (normally I run tubeless, but this time I had a tube in and the tyre is a rather snug fit). Afterward, I was riding with that paranoid feeling of getting a flat again, so cycled pretty gingerly for the next little bit. I still don’t 100% know what happened next. Analysing my Strava file showed some insights, but still doesn’t tell the whole story. We were on a gravel road (Barty’s Road out past Sutton Grange, VIC) and had been climbing a little so the guys were all out ahead of me. I came over a bit of a rise, and just wasn’t paying enough attention. The road went down, my speed went up, and there was a right-hand corner that I hit too fast. I remember skidding through the corner (Max reckons my skid was about 20m long). I remember seeing a tree on my left side, as well as a barbed-wire fence, and then the tree was super close and then… nothing. Strava file says my speed was 32.2km/h at 7:25am. Then it was zero. (Front-wheel was removed by Max after the accident so he could get the bike in the car. Both tyres stayed inflated and secured to the bike. No buckles in the wheels. Not a carbon bike either – aluminium frame) I came to pretty quickly and remember lying on the ground in silence, eyes tightly shut, listening to the blood pound in my ears while birds chirped in the distance. Quietly I hoped that I had just been winded as I was really struggling to breathe. I remember lying on my right-hand side and feeling really uncomfortable, so tried to roll onto my back. Ohhhh that wasn’t much better, so I kept rolling over and sat myself up. Cue immense dizziness and nausea. I think it was around this time that Dan found me (he had heard the crash and yelled out to the guys before turning around). He asked if I was alright, and if I just need a minute or two to keep going… or if I needed an ambulance. I don’t know how long I took to respond as I tried to assess the damage to my body, but finally whimpered ‘ambulance’ and Dan got on the phone. Marty had arrived at this point and got on the phone with Max (my husband) to let him know what had happened. The ambo’s said they’d be there in 30 minutes, and to just hold tight. I laid myself down again, shifting around to try and get comfortable, and finally settled on my left side – left arm tucked under my head for support, and knees drawn slightly up to my chest. I remember seeing a large tree not too far away from me, and mentioned to Marty that I’d really like to get up and sit against that tree… but it felt much too far away for that amount of effort (possibly only 2m away). Marty asked can you wiggle your toes? Yes. Can you wiggle your fingers? Yes. It was still pretty cold (Garmin reading – 10-12 degrees) so we all still had all our layers on, but I was getting colder by the second. Dan unwound his wind jacket and tried to drape it on me as best he could, and I started shaking as I went into shock. It felt like forever for the ambulance to arrive, and I remember reaching into my bag of endurance tricks and started counting. Counting and tapping my fingers, trying to pass the time. I remember looking up and seeing Marty sitting next to me, and all I could say was “Marty I’m scared. I’m really scared.” I could hear the guys talking near me but none of their conversations could penetrate the world of focused pain I was in. I had my phone in my hand (somehow it had survived in my back pockets without a single scratch) and held it as if it were my lifeline. Eventually, the ambulance arrived, and minutes later so did Max. A few conversations between them all (including asking if I was okay to get up and walk to the ambulance. I was not.) and they got my neck in a brace and brought out the spinal board to put me onto. The two paramedics, as well as Max and Dan, lifted me out of the verge I’d slid into and up into the ambulance. In the back of the ambulance, wires were plugged in, things shoved up my nose to help with the pain, and I was given a green whistle to breathe in to help with the pain. Max followed us in the car behind. They asked me a lot of questions and I tried to answer the best I could (can you wiggle your toes? Yes. Can you wiggle your fingers? Yes.). The road was a bit bumpy and they apologised for that – to which I replied it was my fault for riding in the middle of nowhere on gravel roads! Soon after we arrived at Bendigo Health, where the real fun started. I honestly don’t remember much of the next few hours except for pain. Pain as they rolled and lifted me onto X-ray boards so they could start to figure out what had happened. Pain as they put stuff into me and did the CT scan. Pain, as they scanned and probed and poked at me to see what I could/couldn’t feel (can you wiggle your toes? Yes. Can you wiggle your fingers? Yes.). Silence… we’re going to have to cut your kit off. Do you want us to see if we can save it? Just cut it off, I can’t move my arms without pain. All this combined with a frightening realisation that I just could not move much of my body. I was lying on my back, helpless. Unable to look around me because of the neck brace. Unable to understand what was going on because of all the drugs I was on and the pain I was in. Max stayed by my side as much as he could, and the nurses kept coming by and making sure he got away to eat and was also getting enough to drink. He kept feeding me small ice chips, one at a time, from a styrofoam cup, for 11 hours. Max says: At this point, I given the impression that it was a few spinal fractures and that Tiff would be out in a couple of days, and she'd be home riding her bike in no time. However, we'd have to wait for a full spinal analysis from the specialists at Royal Melbourne Hospital to confirm. So after 11 hours of being by her side I was sent home when they transfered her to the complex ward at Bendigo Health. They then transferred me off the hard bed I was on and into a room with a softer bed (the complex ward) so I could rest for a bit. A nurse kindly took my phone off me and put it on charge near my bed. They also arranged for a hospital phone to be brought in so that I could talk to Max, but the pain of trying to hold the phone near my ear and talk was just too much so it was a pretty short conversation. There seemed to be a lot of discussion about how they were going to get me to Melbourne, and which trauma centre I was going to (I hadn’t realised they had told Max it was only a few fractures). Finally, they decided I need to be airlifted, and that I’d be sent to The Alfred. The nurses and I waited all night for this to happen and I dozed in between having more tests done and more questions (can you wiggle your toes? Yes. Can you wiggle your fingers? Yes.). Someone gave me a sponge bath and tried to wipe all the dust and dirt off my body as best they could. Another nurse got me some eyedrops and some lip balm as my face felt like the Sahara desert. I felt so cared for, and so alone. And so scared. On the morning of the 27th, they started getting me ready to go. So many people trying to say so many things! I tried my best to respond to all the questions and also tried to keep my spirits up. After all, it’s not every day you get to ride in a helicopter! I had been using my phone camera as a way of looking around, and a few people noticed that and asked if I wanted photos. Hence why I have a lot of pics from my hospital ‘adventure’. My excitement was short-lived as soon as I got in and the chopper took off. They warned me it was going to be a bit of a rough ride and that there was a lot of turbulence. The ambo sitting right next to me put headphones on me and opened a channel between us. You don’t have to be a hero, he said kindly. There are no prizes here. I tried not to sob and nodded, and he injected me with more pain medication. A few minutes after we took off I started feeling super nauseous and started panicking. What if I throw up? Will I literally vomit on myself and start choking? The ambo noticed my distress and gave me alcohol wipes to sniff. Yup, cheat trick to stop nausea. He also mentioned that if I was going to be sick to let him know so he could tip me over. Living my best life here folks. I pretty much non-stop sniffed at those wipes all the way into Melbourne and tried to think peaceful thoughts. Meanwhile, my ambo noticed my phone and asked if he could take pics. Go for your life I thought. Glad he did: We landed at The Alfred around 11:00am on the 27th. The brutal efficiency was quite a shock after the personal care I’d received at Bendigo. And while I was partly reassured by having dozens of people around me doing whatever they were doing, I also felt less like a person and more like an experiment. Understanding why that might be the case is one thing, but actually feeling de-humanised is another, and I was not enjoying the experience. At some point, they must have decided I needed more oxygen, as tubes were put up my nose. More scans, more feeling like I was being tossed from one table to another. Each time I had to be moved, wheeled, rolled, or lifted I thought it was the worst pain imaginable. I tried to distance myself from the pain but at this high level I had no hope and I just whimpered and hissed my way through the day, wishing someone would explain to me what was going on. At some point later that afternoon I was wheeled down yet another corridor and some paperwork thrust in my face. Sign here, they said, and here as well. I managed to get my left arm (which wasn’t working properly) up to scrawl something vaguely resembling my signature onto the page. What is this for, I asked? Surgery. They replied. We’re taking you to surgery. Pic on the right taken at 14:12 pre-surgery, pic on the left at 21:40 post-surgery. Sometime in between my lip started swelling up along with the rest of my face Side note: They did tell me I was going in for surgery and I had told Max about it already - a check back on my text messages later confirmed this. The fact that I forgot something major like this shows how out of it I was. Now I was really scared. I hadn’t been able to talk to Max all day other than texts and had no idea what was going on. Why did I need surgery, what was it for? I’m sure I asked and I’m sure they explained it to me, but it didn’t cut through the mess that was my drugged-up pain head. I could see a nurse bending over me, letting me know the anesthetic was coming. Relax, she said, it’s going to be okay. Then nothing. Surgery: posterior T4-T9 stabilisation + fusion + T7 decompression (basically, screws in from my 4th thoracic vertebra to the 9th plus bone fusion from other vertebrae to add back onto the 7th one). And a LOT of staples to put me back together again. I woke up a little while later completely disoriented and very groggy. More pain meds, more wheeling me around. Then finally I was wheeled into a dark room and left alone. For hours. My entire world view post-surgery I drifted in and out of consciousness, not really sure where I was or what was happening. Had the surgery been successful? I think I remember someone saying that to me, but I don’t remember for sure. I just remember feeling very lost. Very alone. And very scared. Post-surgery recovery The next morning I woke in the same room with a tray next to me with food and water on it. Which would have been great except I couldn’t reach it. I wasn’t really hungry, but my mouth was super dry and it would have been nice to get some water. I was excited as I knew Max was coming to visit that day, which meant he could feed me and give me something to drink. Which he did, but I remember him being really mad about having to do this, and know that he spoke to the nurses about my care. Until I was a little more independent with my movements I was 100% reliant on other people to do everything for me. Which meant if someone moved my nurse call buzzer away from me I was helpless unless someone happened to walk by and see me. Not ideal. And very hard to cope with on top of everything else as I just felt dehumanised. Lying flat on your back for days is really hard. As is taking medication (which was now in the form of pills as they’d taken me off the IV drip) without choking on it. Bendy straws saved the day here as it was the only way I could take any liquids in. Max says: After Tiff's surgery and during my visit I eventualy got a hold of the surgeon. We spoke for some length about how it had all gone, and I asked him how long the metal should stay in her body for and how it would impact her as a cyclist, but that was a discussion we would have months from now. I already knew this but her surgeon confirmed the obvious. A little bit faster or a few cms this way or that and she would be one of three things: paraplegic, quadriplegic, or dead. F**ing lucky, though it was hard to feel that right now. Those DVT calf compressors (IPC) were the bomb, wish I could have taken them home with me We decided that since I’d come out of surgery Max could put a social media post up about what had happened, but he was sure to add in that people should NOT contact me yet as it was just too hard. Even trying to hold my phone (assuming I could find it) was difficult, and I didn’t have the brainpower to read any messages yet. It took me another day of healing to be able to post something, and even at that point I just took Max’s message and reposted it as I couldn’t quite find my own words yet. Side note: The information that Max was getting at this point was that I would most likely be in the hospital for 2 weeks, then I would be sent to a rehab hospital for another 2 weeks. So him and the kids were mentally preparing that I would be gone for about a month. Pretty hard news to take for my family, especially as I hadn't seen them since Christmas Day. I wasn't told this information at the time. Or if I was, there was no way it penetrated the pain cave into my brain. The next couple of days I don’t remember all that well, other than it was all about small wins. I’ve got photos of my face and trays of food, so I’m assuming that meant I was able to get some liquids in me as I still struggled to eat because I was flat on my back. I finally figured out how to get my bed to rise up and down, which gave me so much more mobility, vision, and food options. Not that the food options were anything to celebrate. Hospital food is disgusting. By the 29th they removed the drain tube from my lung and added a few more stitches to my side to tidy that all up. I stood up (with help from the physio) on the 30th, and later that day could sit upright for a minute unaided by a backrest. Getting wheeled down the corridor for minor surgery to remove the drain tube from my lung which had been punctured by one of my ribs I was able to sit up in a chair by December 31st, which was a big win in terms of my mobility and visibility. Unfortunately, this was also the day when the depression hit really hard for the first time, so I spent quite a few hours sitting up in a chair and just sobbing. It was also around this time that I realised why all the ambo’s, paramedics, and Drs kept asking me if I could wiggle my toes and move my hands: they had thought I could have had a spinal cord injury and been paralysed. Needless to say, this sent me to a pretty dark place for a while as I thought about how close I had been and how lucky I was to be moving around. Luckily it was also a visit day for Max, so that helped stave off the sadness for a few hours. And he did bring donuts which brought a huge smile to my face. Side note: Depending on when you read this and where you live, you might be wondering why Max was visiting so infrequently. Due to COVID restrictions he was limited to three visits a week of 1 hour each visit. So each visit was a HUGE highlight of my day. I didn’t even register that it was New Year’s Eve until later that evening when one of the women in the ward with me had her TV on and was watching the festivities in Sydney. I drifted in and out of pain sleep until just before midnight when the TV seemed a bit louder. I woke in time to hear the nurses and my roommate say ‘Happy New Year’ to each other. And I just lay in my bed and cried. Happy New Year. January 1st, new year, new me… or not so much. One of the male nurses did bring over a warm bucket of water and some towelettes so I could at least wash off some of my body, which made me feel a bit more human as I hadn’t washed in days. My physio also got me up and taking my first few steps, which was hard but just amazing for me. I now had some independence and could make it to the bathroom (with a little supervision to make sure I didn’t fall over). One more tube was removed from my body, and I was now moving around tube-free. Very exciting! It was also a Dr visit day, and Dr Nanda wanted to look at how my back was healing. A small peak under the bandages and he decided to take them off, which meant I also got a photo of how my back looked (no I won’t post that as it’s definitely confronting and might freak out a number of people close to me). He was very happy at how it was healing and made a casual remark that I might be sent home sooner rather than later. As in, within days. Not weeks. Wait, what? On January 2nd Dr. Nanda came around again in the morning to see how I was doing. After a few pokes and prods and questions, he nodded and said yup, you’re good to go home tomorrow. And then casually walked out as I sat there in shock. My physio came in shortly after and said the same thing – so I hear you’re going home tomorrow? We need to get you up and walking then. Finding out I was going home and doing some physio to make sure I could get in the door I kept the information about going home to myself for a few hours while I waited for Max to arrive for his scheduled visitor hour. He was in about as much shock as I was, and I could see his brain madly churning through what he’d need to do the next day to be prepared to receive me back home. We both decided not to tell anyone else and leave it as a surprise. Partly because in the back of my mind I thought they were going to change their minds and I didn’t want to get anyone’s hopes up. Including mine. January 3rd, only 8 days after my accident, Dr Nanda came in early with the official “we’re going to get you home today” word and the rest of the day was devoted to doing just that. Paperwork, tests, more paperwork, physio, figuring out how to get Max in the building when security didn’t want to let him in (nightmare), more conversations, and finally getting some paperwork on what actually had happened to me. List of injuries Four thoracic spinal fractures (spinious process which is the knobbly bit on the outside) One thoracic compression fracture (this was the bad one which required stabilisation with the metal screws and rods) One cervical fracture (commonly called a broken neck) One skull fracture (this was the bad one which, between that and the broken neck, required the neck brace) Six fractured ribs One punctured lung More conversations, pharmacy, more doctors, more conversations, more paperwork … and finally just after 4pm everything came together and a nurse wheeled me outside with Max to get in the car and drive home. Little did we know that now the real fun was about to begin. It’s going to be a long road to travel. But I am familiar with how to tackle long roads. To hear more about my journey as it unfolds please follow this blog and follow me on Instagram @ tiffo012. Think someone else should read this? Share it: Reddit Published by tiffo012 January 15, 2022 accident, Audax, broken back, broken neck, compression fracture, Cycling, epic, fractured ribs, mental health, Mental Toughness, spinal fusion, Ultra-endurance Courage is not the absence of fear 23 thoughts on “Cycling vs Tree: Fractured” The Omil says: January 15, 2022 at 8:01 pm So sorry to read all this – giving it a ‘like’ just doesn’t really say the right thing. I hope that, no matter how bad it is, the fact that it could have been much worse is some sort of positive to hold onto. Interesting how your post on mental toughness appears at the foot of this post – it’s things like that which are going to get you through this. LikeLiked by 1 person The Omil says: January 15, 2022 at 8:02 pm tiffo012 says: January 16, 2022 at 10:19 am For sure you know the donuts are key HoppyKanga says: January 16, 2022 at 8:43 am Well done Tiff, quite the festive 500 LikeLiked by 1 person tiffo012 says: January 16, 2022 at 10:19 am Festive AF 🤪 January 16, 2022 at 9:21 am Gosh Tiff what a horrendous time, but you’re sounding strong and positive and that’s a part of the battle. If it helps please know I am thinking of you with love and sending strong vibes of positivity. Lotsaluv Marie. LikeLiked by 1 person tiffo012 says: January 16, 2022 at 10:19 am Lee says: January 16, 2022 at 10:16 am Having been through my own “a couple of mm either way…” experience, the thoughts of myself, my wife Tracey and our children are with you, Max and your babies! LikeLiked by 1 person tiffo012 says: January 16, 2022 at 10:18 am Cheers mate, I know you know some of these feels!! Watching your journey back to the bike gives me hope January 16, 2022 at 11:09 am Just a thought – that neck brace could come in very handy for the next PBP! One step at a time Tiffo. We know you can do this. LikeLiked by 1 person tiffo012 says: January 19, 2022 at 10:01 am Would be more effective than a water bottle shoved down my top that’s for sure! January 16, 2022 at 1:02 pm Woah you really did a number there! Glad to hear you’re on the road to recovery, even if that road may be quite a long one. You’ve got this! A great write-up too. Also, I’ve never seen a bike – especially an alloy one – crumple quite like that. You certainly must have nailed that tree. LikeLiked by 1 person tiffo012 says: January 16, 2022 at 1:14 pm It would seem so! We’re still trying to figure out how I did it too. LikeLiked by 1 person Roy Jenkins says: January 16, 2022 at 6:58 pm Tiffo, Like everyone was shocked to read the post about your accident and thrilled that you had a helicopter ride ?. It seems that fitness has more uses than just for physical exercise!. Keep showing your famous smile and I am so happy that you are making such rapid progress even if there is a bit still to go. Thinking of you and your family. Bon courage, my friend. Roy Jenkins LikeLiked by 1 person tiffo012 says: January 16, 2022 at 7:05 pm Thank you my friend. January 17, 2022 at 4:52 am Given the seriousness of your injuries, I didn’t want to ask how your bike fared. Your photo answers my question. You totally wrecked your poor defenceless bike. The state of your bike suggests that you tried to ride straight through the tree. I bet the tree has a Tiff shaped indentation. I won’t be at all surprised if the tree withers and dies as the result of your crash. You should be ashamed. Bike wrecker! Tree killer! I know that you’re fond of saying that “hills are not in the way, hills are the way”. On the day of your crash, did you get your words mixed up? As you were speeding towards the tree, were you demonically chanting “trees are not in the way, trees are the way”? LikeLiked by 1 person tiffo012 says: January 17, 2022 at 5:54 am Rick Harker says: January 20, 2022 at 8:36 pm I was stunned when my eyes rolled across the news of your crash. I’m aghast with mouth wide open (and eyes) reading this story with my coffee going cold in the process. There is comfort in knowing you will recover but I know many things to do with life and living will be going through your mind. The “what ifs” will be a long list I’m sure and looking for some sort of mental comfort will be nice. I hope you will find that peace. You must have also scared the crap out of Max and it seems he has been a marvellous support. He is a good man. Whats done is done and I wish you a full recovery. LikeLiked by 1 person tiffo012 says: January 21, 2022 at 8:37 am Thank you so much my friend. Looking forward to hopefully seeing you a ride in the future February 24, 2022 at 2:33 pm Wow! You can beat this. Being fit and healthy to start with is a BIG advantage. My docs and therapists were all surprised at my recovery rate, and I was in my 60s. I have had TWO bad crashes, the last one was a bit like yours except for the back injury; ribs, lung, clavicle, subdual hematoma, black eye. but no back. 18 months earlier I landed on my knee and blew out my hip socket -Acetabulum- along with a broken clavicle. 3 months of no weight bearing on my left leg, and, eventually, a recumbent trike for commuting to work and . . .sanity. Just do what the docs and therapists tell you, work hard – but not TOO hard!- and know you will get better. Shoot, I learned of this late – I hope you ARE better! LikeLiked by 1 person June 18, 2022 at 3:26 am OMG @Tiffo012. I’d not read your blog for several months and this goes and happens. Sounds like you were so unbelievably lucky and I look forward to reading the following posts and hoping they contain better news.	27,629
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Welcome to my blog, lots of you reading this will already know me, some of you won't - and that's ok :) My name is Lesley Andrews and I am the face behind the brand. Here I’m going to answer some of your questions that you've asked me about how I created and started Orchard. How did Orchard Start? Orchard Candle Co was founded by me, making soy wax candles as an alternative to buying paraffin counterparts. It was born out of very real concerns surrounding the impact paraffin candles had on the environment and on my family's health. I was gifted a very well known and very expensive candle. Following every burn, I was left with a black mark on the walls — so began my extensive research, paraffin vs soy wax, and I was horrified!! (but that's for another blog post) A very early candle 2015 made in a jelly mould, note the terrible photography :) When did you create a brand? Following my research, I began just making candles for my own use, in vessels I picked up in charity shops. By Christmas 2016 I was making them as gifts for family and friends and by Christmas 2017 I dared to sell my wares at my son's School Christmas fair, that fair was really the catapult of my journey, I was astounded at how many people loved them and actually bought them. In 2018 I made the bold decision to launch my own website and brand my candles, it was initially called 'Orchard Cheshire' (that's where we lived) and I launched in March 2018. It was a tough couple of years as I ran this alongside my full time job in the NHS, but it grew faster than I could ever have imagined and stockists jumped onboard that have since proudly stocked my candles. Early 2020 saw a rebrand to 'Orchard Candle Co' bizarrely the ‘Cheshire’ restricted its sales, and I had my most successful year despite covid19. In April 2021, after 12 months of the pandemic, I eventually left the NHS fulltime and following a move to live by the sea, I opened my very own bricks and mortar shop in St Annes on Sea just as the 2nd lockdown came :) Have you always been creative? Probably yes, as with most nurses (dreadful pay) and being a single mum, I always found ways to make and create. From sewing soft furnishings to trawling junk shops for furniture to paint, I've always loved to make, change and recycle. When I was painting furniture, I was invited (via Twitter) to appear on C4 TV in a programme named 'French Collection' I didn't win, but had the best time, being flown to Nice, France, to shop in the antique markets and then a trip to York to sell my upcycled wares to the traders. It was a very exhausting but fun experience. What kind of nurse were you? I was a nurse for 38 years, I started at the age of 16 as a cadet nurse, and for 20 of those 38 years, I was an ICU nurse. Working in ICU during the pandemic 2020 Intensive Care Nursing is as it says in the title, intensive, highly skilled and made up of the tightest teams you can ever imagine working with who always have your back. I was a nurse who can keep you alive on a ventilator whilst you're in a medically induced coma, analyse your blood gasses and tune your ventilation accordingly Manage your kidneys on a hemofilter and make autonomous decisions about the need to off load your system of fluid. A nurse who can manage your heart on quadruple strength inotropes and interpret your ECG for life threatening changes. A nurse trained in Advanced Life Support and cardioversion (shocking your heart back to a normal rhythm) and part of a team that will continue CPR on someone's chest for as long as is appropriate whilst trying to save your life. All combined with your activities of daily living care and support for your traumatised relatives and friends. I'm not going to lie; it took me a while to come to terms with leaving, to leave my work family, to work alone and to be fully responsible for myself and my earning potential. Was it hard to leave nursing to do this full time? I think it was just time – the right time for me to go. At the end of the first year of the Pandemic, I’d had enough. It was also about creating a life free from the constraints of working in public service. Freedom from 36 years of weekend shifts, night shifts, Christmas Day shifts, being told I can't attend your party because I have to work. Freedom to make my own choices about how and when I work. Freedom to earn as much money as I possibly can because I deserve it, without someone else telling me my worth and undervaluing me.	4,696
Download some scientifically desgined worksheets ,developed by experienced academicians for self-assessment. FAQs-Frequently asked question Test Papers are uploaded by us on regular basis for self-assessment and practice These papers are designed by respective subject academicians. No Details found Select you class, and access our A/V tutorials to get the concept clarity Home Schooling Get Paid Membership Myedubag is a platform run by IDeserve Education Private Limited,Delhi and was started as a pilot project in the year 2015.We upgraded the platform with E-Learning and fin-tech modules in the year 2017 and from 2018 we have brought some of the best talent of the industry on board who are responsible to take this platform to the schools,teachers and the students.Some schools have partnered with us to offer this service to their children and teachers.	888
RT @FANGORIA: We’re saddened to learn of the passing of Mi'kmaq filmmaker Jeff Barnaby, whose unique voice enriched his feature films BLOOD… 1 month ago Z Nation fans can help Nana's family cover her funeral expenses. twitter.com/NanaAnuk/statu… 8 months ago RT @NanaAnuk: Time to fundraise…Bella Hensley is generously donating all proceeds from her shop toward funeral expenses. Get yourself some… 8 months ago Sad to report that Darlene McCarty, Z Nation's Nana, has died. twitter.com/NanaAnuk/statu… 8 months ago RT @NanaAnuk: Mom passed away this evening, 5 pm, at home with family. Thank you, Z Fam, for your love and support of my sweet mom and our… 8 months ago November 2021 July 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 September 2020 August 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 December 2017 November 2017 May 2017 January 2017 December 2016 July 2016 March 2016 February 2016 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 January 2015 December 2014 September 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 By Chris Post on May 21, 2018 • ( Leave a comment ) The streaming service Netflix is constantly taking steps to add new and fresh content for their viewers and on May 18th it added it’s take on the zombie film genre with the netflix film “Cargo”. Based off the 2013 Tropfest finalist of the same name, “Cargo” is a refreshing take on the genre. Unlike many films of this genre, “Cargo” does not center on a group of survivalists slashing their way through hordes of zombies or a group of scantily-clad teenagers looking to be massacred. Instead, the film focuses on a father trying to save his one-year-old daughter in the midst of a zombie apocalypse before he succumbs to the virus himself. The film’s slow-moving, character-driven plot is made brilliant by the emotion and range that star Martin Freeman. Known for his roles in “Sherlock” and the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Freeman breathes life into a zombie film that isn’t focused on mayhem and gore. Set in Australia, the scenery of the film is breathtaking and the movie utilizes the many different settings that Australia has to offer. Much of the film is Freeman carrying his daughter from one location to the next as he searches for a safe place for her to stay after he is gone. These scenes could become arduous to watch, but the film’s constant portrayal of the already beautiful scenery helps the viewer stay engaged in between more important scenes. Much of the film is identical to the original short film that the feature is based off, with subtle changes for length and breadth of story including the addition of the Aboriginal people. Despite the changes and additions, the film still comes across as complete and not just a cheap adaptation of the short. This can be attributed to the use of the original writer and co-director Yolanda Ramke and original co-director Ben Howling being allowed to take their original short and build it into a feature film in the same roles. Overall, “Cargo” offers breath of fresh air among zombie films by focusing on the character development instead of the gore and asking the more difficult questions about how far someone would go to protect their loved ones. This film, while not designed for gorey, action zombie flick lovers, will find a home among a wide variety of audiences looking for a smart, original zombie movie.	3,854
Cancelled flights happen all the time. Literally and figuratively. Plans change, often well outside our control. One day in India taught me the benefits of staying calm and going with the flow: I sat on a metal bench in the tiny Dharmakot airport. I had just spent a week, part of it with a guide named Kuldeep, trekking the steep hills in and around Dharmakot and Dharmasala. The Dali Lama wasn’t in residence at his temple but there was still plenty to see and do. I chanted with the monks, bought scarves and beads at the street market, learned Reiki and ate dhal and curry to my heart’s content. Now I was heading back to New Dehli. The loud speaker crackled with an announcement in a language I didn’t understand. The tiny airport which had seemed calm and not terribly crowded was suddenly whirring with commotion. I turned to the young Indian woman sitting next to me and raised one eyebrow – a non-verbal open-ended question. “The flight has been cancelled”, she told me in perfect English, “There are no other flights today. The next flight is tomorrow afternoon”. We sat quietly for a moment. More information was delivered over the loudspeaker. The woman turned to me again. “You seem so calm”. “I am. You, too”. We decided to stay calm together. I learned her name was Tanvi. She lived in Boston now and had come home for the summer to do service work. After a couple more announcements Tanvi suggested we stand in line to be issued new tickets. After a long wait we were also given the option of a 5-hour taxi ride to Amritsar for a flight at 2 am. We said yes. A young man we’d met while we were standing in line joined us. He was a musician from Turkey. And as the luggage was loaded onto the top of the taxi an older gentleman set his suitcase next to our backpacks. He was a retired Indian Army General. India sped by with it’s brilliant cacophony of sound and color. Turkish Man played guitar in the back seat as we sang American pop songs. Taxi Driver stopped for lunch at a roadside food stall and we joined him. Mr Army General pulled strings to get us a wonderful curry dinner when we finally arrived at the airport in Amritsar. After dinner I found a Sikh taxi driver to take Tanvi, Turkish Man and me to The Golden Temple, the center of the Sikh religion, to experience their summer solstice celebrations. At the temple Tanvi, Mr Turkish Man and I stood in the warm night air, orange kerchiefs on our heads, courtesy of the temple volunteers. We smiled widely at one another. Enveloped by chanting, the lights of the Golden Temple dancing on the water surrounding it, we felt part of a magical world. I wondered if I’d ever been as happy. My cancelled flight had turned into a marvelous adventure along the road to Amritsar. This article also appeared on page 27 in the November 2017 edition of Sibyl Magazine: For the Spirit and Soul of Women. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Click to share on Google+ (Opens in new window) Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window) Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window) Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Share on Skype (Opens in new window) Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window) Click to print (Opens in new window) September 1, 2017 / Sue Food and eating issues show up when we fail to have massive self care and forget our soul’s longing. Here’s a personal story to fuel your creativity. The plan was hatched while I watched a movie on New Years Eve. I’d been lucky enough to count myself amongst the happiest people on the planet for many years, but over the previous year I’d been less happy. As I watched the movie, I decided my life needed a shake up. I decided a six month sabbatical to far away places with strange sounding names would be just the ticket. Those far away places needed to fulfil a few requirements. First, I wanted to experience places I hadn’t been before. I also wanted Venus, the planet of love, beauty and harmony to hover over said countries in my astrological travel chart. And perhaps most important I wanted great food – with a focus on lemons and olive oil. I really love lemons and olive oil. I would need someone with my particular skills to cover my private practice. I also needed to find care for my loveable pooch Louie. I needed to sort out my current living situation and lastly I needed cash, plenty of cash. Later that evening as I watched fireworks and brought in the New Year with friends I told them my plan. Some were excited. Some were sceptical. I wanted to leave by mid-to -late April. There was a lot to do. The next day dawned brightly and I started the New Year with a walk on the beach. Kylie, a former colleague, who had taken time off from work to have children was also walking on the beach that morning. She was thinking about starting back to work now that her kids were a little older. I shared my plan with her and asked if she was interested. She agreed to cover my leave. I punched the air with glee. Next I poured over the world map and set my course: Bali, India, Switzerland, Italy, (it was sounding like a mixed up eat pray love at this point), back to Australia, for a few weeks ‘up north’ and then America, to visit the relatives and take a road trip on Highway 101 from Portland to LA before flying home to Sydney. I talked with my flatmate and decided to move my household items into storage while I was away. I found a trio of caretakers for my dog. Now all I needed was some cash. I’ve travelled a lot and I knew I could budget well but I also wanted to be able to live it up now and then, too. After much deliberation, I decided to sell an investment property. The timing was good. It sold the week I left. I made friends, made love, hiked, biked, danced and drummed. I learned Reiki and Theta Healing and fine-tuned my intuitive powers. Those far away places gave me six of the best months of my life. Perhaps our craziest plans, those wild hairs we so easily dismiss, give us the best of ourselves. What wild hairs have you dismissed? This post also appeared in the September 2017 Edition of Sybil Magazine: For the Spirit and Soul of Women. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Click to share on Google+ (Opens in new window) Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window) Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window) Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Share on Skype (Opens in new window) Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window) Click to print (Opens in new window) August 2, 2017 / Sue The oceans stay in place. The rain falls. The sun comes up. Throughout my life I’ve been astonished at this daily dance of nature. I marvel at the resilience of the earth and all her inhabitants. I appreciate all the blessings that shower down on me in a single day, let alone a lifetime of days. One of the blessings I appreciate most these days is the act of kindness I give to myself each morning: ‘I forgive myself’. I see this as a simple and powerful prayer. A friend gave me a longer version of this prayer several years ago: ‘I forgive myself for dreaming this dream.’ At the time he was studying A Course in Miracles. Forgiving myself for dreaming this life and death experience holds amazing power and releases me into greater freedom. For me, it is an opportunity for renewal; a chance to awaken and transcend. My saying it means I haven’t fully awakened yet – and I can forgive myself for that and get on with appreciating the moment at hand. There are moments, days and even weeks I forget these prayers. Then it is easier for me to step out of appreciation. I complain more and have difficulty connecting with the joy in my heart. I start telling my old stories of abuse, neglect, loss and lack. I can get stuck there. It may take time for me to move away from those going-nowhere mantras and move back into forgiveness and appreciation. It is a balancing act. I am learning to forgive myself moment by moment. Whenever I feel my deepest desires aren’t being fulfilled, I forgive myself and appreciate the emotional courage I carry with me. I forgive myself and appreciate my connection to spirit. I forgive myself and appreciate my loving heart. I forgive myself and appreciate my breath. Whenever it seems (yet another) death will surely break my heart wide open, I forgive myself and appreciate the release grief brings during moments of loss. Whenever frustration and self-hate is about to over-whelm me, I forgive myself and appreciate the compassionate smile of a friend that greets me, wordlessly, with love, in the mirror. I forgive myself and appreciate the joy I get from playing with my little dog Louie or watching him bounding like a gazelle through tall grass, or snuggling up to a warm body (human or fur-buddy), or watching children playing in the street, or seeing my athletic nephews abandoning themselves to the goal at hand or hearing Elgar’s Nimrod or Louis Armstrong’s What a Wonderful World or a hundred other things. The oceans stay in place. The rain falls. The sun comes up. Often the simplest things provide the most solace (forgiveness) and joy (appreciation). What can you forgive in this moment? What can you appreciate? This post also appeared on page 38 in the August 2017 issue of Sibyl Magazine: For the Spirit and Soul of Women Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Click to share on Google+ (Opens in new window) Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window) Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window) Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Share on Skype (Opens in new window) Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window) Click to print (Opens in new window) July 4, 2017 / Sue Our relationship to food and eating is complex. If you’ve been on even one diet in your life, that relationship becomes even more convoluted because diets have a way of disconnecting you from your natural appetite – what I call your happetite. Compare a diet to dating that boy you just knew wouldn’t be good for you, but you did it anyway. The word diet is derived from the Latin word diaeta and the Greek word diaita, meaning mode of living, or, diaitan meaning to direct one’s own life. Contrast that to our current cultural interpretation, which is nearly always prescribed by someone not the least bit familiar with who you are or what is best for your body. Consider these points as you muddle your way through the conflicting thoughts, feelings and responses that swirl around food and body image: a) disconnecting from your natural appetite will occur if you’ve been on even one restrictive diet, b) the disconnection will be sustained if you feel guilty coming off that diet – especially if you do some catch up eating afterwards, and c) you may never have been truly connected to your natural appetite if there was physical or emotional abuse or neglect in your past. This can further hamper your ability to recognize your appetite, much less understand what foods will best support your happetite. The peril of continuing the diet-binge cycle is that it inevitably leads to constant ruminations about food and weight. The more you have dieted (or think you should be dieting), the more of your day will be taken up with thoughts about food, eating, weight and shape. In contrast, the less you think you need to lose weight and diet, the less you ruminate. Back in the 1980’s I worked with individuals to implement diets prescribed by a doctor. The use of liquid supplement diets and 1200-calorie diets for weight loss were popular. Although weight loss results were dramatic, rapid weight gain and sometimes binge eating would occur once patients started eating again. I was at a loss back then about how to help, but my clients showed me the way. Over time, their experiences revealed an Eating Continuum to me. The Eating Continuum identified what all those thoughts about food, eating and weight really meant. Diets do work for the short-term, which is why they are so enticing (like those bad boys were before you knew better), but they do not help you figure out how to manage your weight long-term. Understanding and reconnecting with your happetite takes time and attention. It may also mean healing those core childhood wounds. However, finding your happetite can transform your relationship with food and eating. It can free up your day to think about all the other things that currently get pushed out of the way by diet-driven thoughts. What percent of the day do you currently spend thinking about food, eating, weight, and shape? Today, what one thing could you do to get closer to finding your own natural appetite, your happetite? Go to Understanding Your Eating for more information. This post also appears as an article on page 43 of the July 2017 issue of Sibyl Magazine: For the Spirit and Soul of Women Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Click to share on Google+ (Opens in new window) Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window) Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window) Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Share on Skype (Opens in new window) Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window) Click to print (Opens in new window) June 4, 2017 / Sue The recent stormy weather here with heavy rain and damaging winds is not unlike my relationship with my mother. I’m clumsy and angry inside this storm. Some days I feel I am rejecting my mother and being a bad daughter. Some days I feel shame for baring my fangs at the woman who professes love for me. However, for the first time in my life I am saying no to a role I should never have taken on. I am saying no to my mother’s co-dependency. I am saying yes to my own feelings, however uncomfortable they are. Some people fight addiction. I am fighting co-dependant enmeshment from my mother. As I cope with this co-dependancy it reminds me of my professional work with people who experience disordered eating. It seems that many eat either to defend themselves from this kind of energy or they restrict so energy can’t be allowed in. Keeping emotions and other energies moving through the body opens the base chakra and is an antidote to food issues and addiction. It is extremely important to our energy, power and freedom. This is the basis for my own healing, also. As a child experiencing sexual abuse, I couldn’t change my outer circumstances or manage my emotions, so I repressed them. I sat in the pain of the abuse (including the projected pain of my parents) and couldn’t figure out a way to balance all that energy or reconcile it in my energy system – until now. My desire is to find peace and express kindness towards my mother, but I will also no longer deny my anger or the truth of my childhood. What happened when my fangs were taken off as child? What happened when I couldn’t run big feelings through my system at the time they were present? What shut me off from my anger? There are no simple answers to these questions. However, in order to develop emotional maturity I am releasing big emotions now as I feel them – through kundalini yoga, EFT, ‘safe’ hitting (my yoga cushion is getting a workout) and writing letters that are never sent. My aim is to accept and release the rage in order to fully open to the truth of who I am. I do the same for other big emotions. I am finally letting the buried emotions from childhood flow. I am also expressing my thoughts and feelings in a way I have never been willing to before: directly to my mother and without expectation. I am learning to set strong emotional and self-care boundaries with her. My fangs are out. I can acknowledge my mother and then take care of myself. I believe it is the best chance we have for not just loving one another, but for actually liking one another. It is like walking against a straight line wind some days, yet I have hope a new sort of relationship may grow, just as there is new growth after a storm. The post also appeared in the June 2017 Edition of Sibyl Magazine: For the Spirit and Soul of Women Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Click to share on Google+ (Opens in new window) Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window) Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window) Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Share on Skype (Opens in new window) Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window) Click to print (Opens in new window) May 10, 2017 / Sue The relationship we have with our mother or primary carer colours our relationship with food and our appetites. In order to have positive experiences around food and appetite we must be able to set emotional and self-care boundaries with our mothers (and with others) that support our needs. Here is a personal story that is one example of how I am doing that with my own mother: My Mom is crying, her forearms braced on a market cart. She asks through her tears if I always hurt other people’s feelings. While I was choosing a lovely wedge of Parmesan cheese she was crumpled over the watermelons, waiting for my return. Surprisingly anger shoots through me, a familiar feeling this year. It is not just any anger. It is anger I carried throughout my childhood, and am only beginning to release. While my younger sisters had their wild tantrums, I was instead the dutiful daughter. We all knew our roles and upheld them. I was not the angry one. At the market, I interpret my mother’s words to mean I was somehow responsible for her current distress. Perhaps because earlier, on our way to the market, I’d requested some quiet time in the car or, as we walked into the market, I recall being short with her. In other years, these would have been plausible explanations. Instead today, I answer her flatly: “Actually, no. I do not always hurt the feelings of others.” I experience a small victory as I stand calmly in front of my mother. Although there is a nugget of guilt unrolling at the back of my throat, I am compassionate with myself. Surprisingly, the ball of guilt does not grow. I am doing the best I can. I am learning a new role. So, here’s the thing. I admire and am grateful for my mother. She is creative, energetic, generous. She has a sound mind and takes good care of herself and her home. She is actively involved with her family and in her community. But this year I find myself compelled to finally reconcile the truths of a sexually violated childhood. My older brother was the perpetrator of this violence, to myself and my two younger sisters. We never spoke about this abuse until I was an adult. There was a code of silence in our family, and my loving parents were the guardians of that code. As a child, I was sensitive, but unable to express my feelings. I knew there was love in our household, but also there was not a place to affirm that something so hideous could also be occurring at the same time. All children need an adult to validate such abuses as being wrong. That didn’t happen. Lately, I have been panning for the gold in my life. I sense that I am closing in on something of great value in this relationship with my mother. I pay for my Parmesan and we settle into the car for the ride home. Mom is still crying. She opens a book and starts reading. I decide the most loving thing I can now do is take care of myself. It is not for me to stop, move or fix her feelings. Only she can do that. I do wish for her happiness. I notice the ball of guilt has disappeared. I start the car and we head for home. This article also appears on page 31 in the May Issue of Sibyl Magazine: For the Spirit and Soul of Women My book Find Your Happetite has an entire chapter devoted to identifying and managing emotions that trigger food and eating issues. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Click to share on Google+ (Opens in new window) Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window) Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window) Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Share on Skype (Opens in new window) Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window) Click to print (Opens in new window) April 4, 2017 / Sue A few years ago I was lucky enough to travel with my documentary filmmaker friend, Maryella Hatfield, as she filmed a workshop on biomimicry. Biomimicry promotes the transfer of ideas inspired by nature to the design of our world, for a more sustainable, healthier planet. Maryella and I met up with Janine Benyus, a leader in this field of bio-inspired innovation, along with her training team, deep in the throbbing jungle heart of the Peruvian Amazon at the Tambopata Research Station. There we observed 24 designers from five continents using the Amazon rainforest to inspire solutions to their real design problems. The group included textile manufacturers from South Africa, architects from Syria and Boeing engineers from Seattle, amongst others. With no electricity, mobile phones, or wireless connections they used Nature as a muse and model. One of the many unexpected delights of that journey to Peru was the food. We were fed mouth-wateringly delicious foods with natural packaging. Never did we have to throw away any containers, plastic or paper. Grown locally, organically, and cooked fresh daily, it was full of life and nourishment. We travelled by bus and boat for two days coming and two days going. We stayed for a week at the remote research station. For lunch one day on the boat, beautiful green parcels the size of a sandwich were passed out. Inside were slices of potato-filled omelet sandwiched with cheese and tomato. The omelet sandwich was wrapped in bijao leaves, large green pliable leaves much like a banana leaf. The green square was then tied up with a bit of dried vine, a beautiful gift of food with no waste. On the bus we were presented with a snack: A freshly picked orange and two perfectly roasted Brazil nuts in a locally made, re-usable covered basket. This description does little to evoke the experience of eating this vibrant, soul-satisfying food. At the research station homemade meals made from locally grown food was set out three times a day, fruit and freshly baked sweets for morning and afternoon snacks and a cup of tea before bed. Simple food cooked beautifully. Back in Sydney, I began thinking about how to move towards more sustainable, conscious eating. I began buying organic food whenever possible and always looked for foods with minimal packaging. I started asking myself how the food was going to impact my body and the planet. There weren’t any rigid guidelines around these choices. They were naturally inspired based on my experience. What is your current experience of your appetite, eating behaviors, food and weight? If you have dilemmas in these areas, how might Nature solve them? How might Nature help you innovate and design a new way of being? I am inspired whenever my clients truly let go of their food and weight rules and begin to connect with their natural appetites. Just as my experience in the jungle was joyful so is their experience in trying new foods and listening to their bodies. This post is also published in the April 2017 Sibyl Magazine: For the Spirit and Soul of Women Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Click to share on Google+ (Opens in new window) Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window) Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window) Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Share on Skype (Opens in new window) Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window) Click to print (Opens in new window) Dismantling the Scaffold of Abuse March 16, 2017 / Sue Childhood is a time when our neural pathways are developing. We are highly susceptible to and influenced by the world around us. The Theta brainwave is the primary brainwave used until about age seven and is associated with flashes of creativity, intuition, daydreaming, and inspirational thinking. It is connected with shifts in consciousness and healing abilities. This brainwave can also entrench us in patterns of abuse that become structurally difficult to dismantle. Children living with abuse look at the world through the eyes of abuse. This perspective hinders development of healthier approaches to life. As a young adult I was riddled with a lack of self-love and self-esteem. Secrets, shame, self-loathing and insufficient support were the scaffolding that kept my abuse patterns functioning. These patterns of energy and emotion hindered the development of my wisdom, grace and power. The secrets I carried told me ‘I cannot trust anyone’. Shame told me ‘I am not okay’. Self-loathing told me ‘I am inadequate ’. And lack of support told me ‘I am not enough’. Underneath each of these was the belief ‘I am unlovable’. This core belief shows up in almost every client with a history of chronic dieting or disordered eating. Feeling unloveable becomes self-fulfilling. At the mental level we internalize life as our fault. Physically we can experience anxiety, aches and pains, digestive problems and other health problems. We may not know how to develop new, more helpful, neural pathways to replace these negative patterns. Even if there is plenty of evidence to the contrary, we stay stuck in our old story and can’t experience the freedom we deserve. It wasn’t until memories of abuse surfaced in my late twenties that I was able to actively began dismantling my negative beliefs and emotional patterns. In order to open myself up to acceptance and self-love, new neural pathways were required. I developed these by challenging my habitual thoughts and releasing emotions as they surfaced. The use of Theta Healing helped, too. I had the opportunity to experiment with more positive, if contradictory, information. Practices involving mindfulness and gratitude also proved helpful and have much scientific merit. Journalling about my experiences of mindfulness and gratitude allowed me to observe my progress. I could use the old patterns in new ways: as red flags for self-development opportunities. I encourage my clients in a similar way: A desire to restrict or binge eat is the red flag to discover where secrets, shame, or self-loathing are hiding. Learning to be vulnerable with someone safe can build trust. Writing ‘I am enough’ on a mirror with lipstick or a white board marker and looking through loving eyes can alleviate self-loathing. Self-compassion can replace shame. At first this might be challenging. Be gentle. Take your time. It will feel unnatural at first but over time change will come. Eventually you will believe it when you say, “I am okay. I trust myself. I am enough.” This post can also be found on page 43 in the March Issue of Sibyl Magazine: for the Spirit and Soul of Women. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Click to share on Google+ (Opens in new window) Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window) Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window) Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Share on Skype (Opens in new window) Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window) Click to print (Opens in new window) July 13, 2016 / Sue Does this describe you: Your life is good in so many arenas – except your weight. You’ve worked really hard to manage your weight over the years. You’ve done everything you could possibly do. You have tried every diet, read every diet book and taken every diet pill. You’ve stuck to exercise programmes for days, weeks, even months (You’ve bought every piece of workout equipment!) and still you are filled with frustration and self-loathing about your weight. Do you feel you can’t trust your body anymore? Do you feel overwhelmed when you think about the difference between what you weigh and what you would like to weigh? Do you feel shame about your weight, eating or secret behaviors? The myth our culture perpetuates is that dieting is good for you. But the truth may be a little harder to handle. Here are 5 facts about your weight and dieting that your doctor, dietitian or weight loss counselor may not have told you: Fact 1: Weight is a biologically driven imperative, like height and shoe size. Instead of weight acceptance, our culture has created the myth(to the tune of a 60 billion dollar a year diet industry in the US alone) that losing weight, dieting and restricting your food will help you feel better and stay healthy. A very small minority of dieters (clue: most of them are mathematicians or engineers) will keep weight off long term but for the 98% majority, dieting is ineffective and there is growing evidence that it is actually damaging. In fact, weight cycling is the most common result of engaging in conventional dieting practices. (1) Fact 2: Weight focus is not only ineffective at producing thinner, healthier bodies, but it may also have unintended consequences, contributing to food and body preoccupation, repeated cycles of weight loss and regain, distraction from other personal health goals, reduced self-esteem, eating disorders, other health problems and weight stigmatization and discrimination. (1) Read more about the weight science here Fact 3: The enticing thing about diets is that they DO help you to lose weight over the short time. And then you get HUNGRY. Responses to this post-diet hunger will typically fall into two categories: over-eating perpetuating the diet-binge cycle or even worse, completely ignoring hunger, which leads to the starvation syndrome. Fact 4: Dieting disconnects you from your APPETITE. Your appetite keeps you connected to a healthy body, mind and spirit – without which your natural and healthy weight will be affected. Most people who diet are aware of a slower metabolism and compromised digestion as a result of dieting. This can trigger the cyclical dieter’s weight ‘creep’ – e.g. getting a little bit heavier each time you come off a diet. But there are negative mental, emotional and spiritual effects, too. Fact 5: Everyone who diets does so because they are feeling bad or unhappy with themselves in some way. Apart from health concerns, many people diet because they do not believe they can be happy unless they lose weight. Bottom Line? If you keep focusing on your weight and dieting you’ll keep getting the same results. Fortunately, there is another way! Progress will come when you can shift the focus away from weight and dieting. Find Your Happetite will help you reconnect with your appetite, let go of your preoccupation with food, eating and weight and find that elusive happiness. Find out more and download your free chapter at www.findyourhappetite.com Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Click to share on Google+ (Opens in new window) Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window) Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window) Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Share on Skype (Opens in new window) Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window) Click to print (Opens in new window) October 3, 2014 / Sue This is a topic of current controversy in the field of eating disorder treatment. We don’t have a universally accepted definition of recovery. There is no evidence-based set of criteria for what we expect during and post ‘recovery’. Those limitations don’t stop me from knowing that full recovery and full health is possible. I know this from speaking with former clients who are recovered. It allows me to hold hope for full recovery for all my clients, even if they have a chronic condition. This week one of my clients suggested I read this wonderful article about how and why not to stop halfway . The author, Emily Troscianko has recovered from Anorexia Nervosa and she urges anyone in recovery to work through any resistance to FULLY recovering. (Even if professionals don’t yet have a set of criteria for what recovery IS!) A former client, now recovered, returned for a session with me this week after a four year hiatus. She’d had some recent digestive issues which were triggered by stressors from a job she’d held for the past year. As is typical of someone with good self-care she resigned the job to find one less stressful and more in alignment with her values. What brought her back in to see me was the request from her gastroenterologist to modify her diet significantly by restricting certain foods. It rang alarm bells for her and she came in for a chat. Rather than restricting foods we discussed what she could add to help her digestion. She decided on prune juice, and a natural bulking agent (Benefiber) and extra water. Your solution to a similar problem may have been quite different – it all depends on the problem, your values and your response to your appetite. (You can find more help about digestive issues on pages 121-127 in Find Your Happetite). Importantly, she could admit that things were already improving since she’d resigned her job and reduced her stress. During the session we decided to weigh her. She hadn’t weighed in four years. Not because she was afraid to weigh but because it wasn’t an issue and because her family no longer had scales in the house. Her weight had stayed exactly the same over the four years. (Well, if you want to be a nit-picker it was down 200 grams but in my world that is weight maintenance!)	35,933
I've been keeping a secret for a few months . . . . not a really big secret (Like my book is coming out next month! -- I wish!) It's just a little secret . . . . I've been teaching a neighbor boy how to cook. He just turned 8, but he was 7 when we started last summer. Every two weeks, he comes to my house after school and we cook together for a couple hours in my little kitchen. And we have a ball. At first, we were both a little tentative, but before long we were acting every bit the grandmother and grandkid we looked like together. We joke some, I nod approvingly when he measures correctly, he teases. We cook good stuff and we have good fun. Wyatt loves to bake. And although baking's not my strongest suit in the kitchen, I can definitely handle the basics. (We won't be making puff pastry anytime soon.) The biggest plus about baking with a child, for me anyhow, is that, for the most part, knives aren't involved Soon enough for that. For now, if we need to chop something -- like onions for meatballs -- we use my mini-chopper. We have made a variety of great food -- cupcakes, cookies, meatballs, breaded chicken, pizza, Oreo truffles. Our goal is usually to make something he can take home for dinner that he made as well as a dessert or a treat he can share with friends at school the next day. And something that's manageable in under two hours. The breaded chicken was different to me. I learned his mother was gluten-free and we tried something she steered me to: using crushed rice Chex cereal as the coating. It was great! We've had a couple minor accidents: He dropped an egg on the floor; I dropped a tray of just baked cookies. Once, while cleaning up, he pretty much sprayed my window above the sink as much as the dishes. I wasn't looking for a cooking student. It was his mother's idea. She knew I had been a teacher, that I wrote a food column for the local paper, and that I had this blog. And I was nearby. And her son likes to cook. She reasoned that her older son was taking music lessons and golf lessons. Why not find a teacher for what her middle son liked to do? Makes perfect sense. Although she herself likes to cook, she has a job, two other kids and this little arrangement provides her son something that's just for him. I'm impressed by her original thinking. One of the main dishes we made was stuffed shells. We stuffed the shells with a sausage and cheese fiilling using a recipe from Sticky, Gooey, Creamy. There was plenty of filling for two dozen stuffed shells. And we didn't scrimp on stuffing them either. So I was left with filling and no shells. So the next day, I made crepes and we had cannelloni instead. Same filling, different container. Sausage and Cheese Cannelloni adapted from Sticky, Gooey, Creamy 1 dozen crepes* (click here for my recipe) 1 pound sweet or hot Italian sausage, casings removed 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided 2 large eggs, lightly beaten 2 tablespoons minced, fresh, flat-leaf parsley Salt and ground black pepper to taste Preheat oven to 375 F. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Crumble the sausage into the skillet and fry until lightly browned. Using a wooden spoon, break the meat into small bits as it cooks. Combine cooked sausage, ricotta, 1 cup mozzarella, 1/2 cup Parmesan, eggs, parsley, salt and pepper together in a large bowl and mix well. Pour enough marinara sauce in a 9×13 baking dish to cover the bottom of the dish, about 1 1/2 cups. Place about 2 tablespoons of filling down the middle of each crepe. Fold the side over and place, seam side down, on top of the sauce. Ladle the rest of the marinara on top. Sprinkle with the rest of the mozzarella and Parmesan, cover with foil and bake until bubbly, about 30-35 minutes. Remove the foil and continue to bake for another 10-15 minutes, until the cheese is gooey and melted and begins to brown. Remove and let stand about 10 minutes before serving. * Crepes are time consuming and are a definite "do-ahead" in my book. You can make them the day before, keep them separated by squares of waxed paper, and place in the fridge. Or you can stack them and store them (again, separated by waxed paper) in the freezer for up to 3 months. Just thaw some before using. at Friday, February 08, 2013 50 comments: The Short (dis)Order Cook February 8, 2013 at 7:20 AM That is so sweet! It's great to see a kid actually interested in cooking in these days of fast food. You might be training a star chef! This reminds me of how my mother made a similar recipe for years. Crepes are more work than buying pre-made pasta tubes, but are so worth it! ReplyDelete Replies Sprigs of Rosemary February 8, 2013 at 7:33 AM You're right about the pre-made tubes. They always seemed so cardboardy to me! The little guy and I have a good time. Delete Replies Anonymous February 8, 2013 at 9:34 AM That's so lovely!! sounds like you both really love the process - and this cannelloni looks out of this world delicious!! bookmarked and I think I may try this tonight!! ReplyDelete Replies Sprigs of Rosemary February 8, 2013 at 9:38 AM Hope you do try it, Mary. It really is one of my all time favorites. I never seem to tire of sausage, cheese and pasta -- in a variety of forms! Delete Replies Unknown February 8, 2013 at 12:13 PM that must be so much fun, and the food looks great ReplyDelete Replies Sprigs of Rosemary February 8, 2013 at 2:03 PM Wait til your kids are old enough to really cook with you! Delete Replies Schnitzel and the Trout February 8, 2013 at 3:12 PM Rosemary, that is do sweet. He will always remember you and the influence you gave him to dare to cook and bake. Boys need to learn to cook. You gave given him a good variety also. ReplyDelete Replies Sprigs of Rosemary February 9, 2013 at 2:41 AM Thanks, Susan. Wait till we get to chopping veggies! I hope he remembers more than me dropping the tray of cookies! Delete Replies Liz That Skinny Chick Can Bake February 8, 2013 at 4:47 PM Oh, wow...thinking of you teaching Wyatt just warms my heart! Such fun for you both. And my next stuffed shells will have your yummy sausage filling :) ReplyDelete Replies Sprigs of Rosemary February 9, 2013 at 2:42 AM It's sure a lot more fun than I imagined, Liz. I really look forward to our sessions and am sorry when I've had to postpone. Delete Replies Whats Cookin Italian Style Cuisine February 8, 2013 at 6:48 PM These are making my mouth water and I just ate good lord those are awesome! ReplyDelete Replies Sprigs of Rosemary February 9, 2013 at 2:43 AM I think as much as I love all Italian food, cannelloni are my favorite, Claudia. Having your own roasted tomato sauce helps, too. Delete Replies Valerie Harrison (bellini) February 9, 2013 at 2:03 AM Now you have me thinking how much I would love to have a cooking student. What fun to recreate dishes in the kitchen with n eager student. ReplyDelete Replies Sprigs of Rosemary February 9, 2013 at 2:47 AM You're right, Val, the fact that he's eager makes it fun. You should try it. Delete Replies chow and chatter February 9, 2013 at 10:30 AM that is so sweet and how knows he could grow up to the the next best chef ReplyDelete Replies Sprigs of Rosemary February 10, 2013 at 4:29 AM Delete Replies Anonymous February 9, 2013 at 2:07 PM That's really sweet ! The recipe looks so good ! ReplyDelete Replies Sprigs of Rosemary February 10, 2013 at 4:29 AM It is one of my favorite dishes . . . and we had fun making it. Delete Replies Angie's Recipes February 9, 2013 at 9:25 PM That's really sweet (and patient) of you, Rosemary. The cannelloni looks so delicious! Sausage and cheese are always fantastic together. ReplyDelete Replies Sprigs of Rosemary February 10, 2013 at 4:30 AM SOmetimes I wonder about my patience, Angie! But I am sure about the cannelloni. Delete Replies Choc Chip Uru @ Go Bake Yourself February 9, 2013 at 10:57 PM That is the sweetest thing ever my friend, too too cute :D This dish looks like Italian heaven :D ReplyDelete Replies Sprigs of Rosemary February 11, 2013 at 11:17 AM One day maybe I'll put up a picture of the budding chef, CCU! Delete Replies Mary Bergfeld February 10, 2013 at 7:46 AM What a wonderful adventure for both of you, Angie.He is fortunate to have youfor a teacher. The cannelloni looks delicious. I hope your week is off to a good start. Have a great day.Blessings...Mary ReplyDelete Replies Sprigs of Rosemary February 11, 2013 at 11:18 AM Sometimes the best things are unplanned aren't they, Mary? I feel lucky that this happy adventure fell into my lap -- and that I didn't say no! Delete Replies Unknown February 11, 2013 at 6:29 PM I love the idea of teaching something you enjoy like cooking to a young person-makes the everyday chore of making dinner into an adventure-sounds good to me;-) Your cannelloni does look like a wonderful dinner. I love Italian food, especially pasta ;-) ReplyDelete Replies Sprigs of Rosemary February 12, 2013 at 2:59 AM Teaching cooking has been fun! Delete Replies Unknown February 12, 2013 at 7:19 PM How fun and how delicious! I know Wyatt will remember you all his life, so sweet. ReplyDelete Replies Sprigs of Rosemary February 13, 2013 at 4:58 AM I hope he remembers more than, "yeah, she was the one who dropped the tray of cookies!" Delete Replies Karen Harris February 13, 2013 at 6:37 AM I love this Rosemary. When my children were little we cooked together all of the time and we have some wonderful memories. I even went to a pie competition with my son in New York when he was 10. We didn't win, but we had a great time. Your recipe looks wonderful. I can't wait to try it. ReplyDelete Replies Sprigs of Rosemary February 13, 2013 at 7:54 AM Creating memories is just one of the reasons I like to cook. I'm really enjoying this little adventure, Karen. Delete Replies Hester @ Alchemy in the Kitchen February 13, 2013 at 12:25 PM Some of my happiest childhood memories were spent in the kitchen, Rosemary. What a wonderful friendship for you both and what a great skill you are passing on to your new pal. Delicious! ReplyDelete Replies Sprigs of Rosemary February 14, 2013 at 4:23 AM Although I learned a lot from my mother as a child, I wonder how much more I would have learned if I had taken cooking lessons (instead of dance!) Delete Replies Cucina49 February 13, 2013 at 6:04 PM Rosemary, that's fabulous that you're teaching your young neighbor how to cook--what a gift to him! This cannelloni looks delectable. ReplyDelete Replies Sprigs of Rosemary February 14, 2013 at 4:24 AM He's a pretty cool kid, a little mischievous, but he's genuinely interested in cooking. Loves it. That makes teaching easy. Delete Replies La Table De Nana February 14, 2013 at 7:24 AM How sweet:) I baked with my 5 yr old grandson Sunday..he loves it too.. Just found you..the recipe looks so good. ReplyDelete Replies Sprigs of Rosemary February 15, 2013 at 5:08 AM I hope they don't grow out of it. Glad you found me . . . I found you, too. You made fortune cookies?!?!? Delete Replies Lulu February 14, 2013 at 3:44 PM Canneloni is one of my five most favorite foods so this kid is very lucky to be learning to make it at such a young age. I love that you are taking the time to spend with him. You both benefit! ReplyDelete Replies Sprigs of Rosemary February 15, 2013 at 5:10 AM I think I could come up with more fillings for cannelloni . . just love it. And I'm sure growing a soft spot for my little student, Linda. Delete Replies Monet February 16, 2013 at 3:45 PM Hi Rosemary! What a fun thing to do! That little boy is so lucky. And this cannelloni looks delicious! Thank you for sharing with me. I hope you had a fabulous week, and I hope your weekend brims with good food, laughter, and love. ReplyDelete Replies Sprigs of Rosemary February 22, 2013 at 11:31 AM Just wait till your baby is old enough for you to show him/her how to bake your treats and bread, Delete Replies Penny February 18, 2013 at 5:02 AM What fun for both of you. You have inspired me to make crepes and this lovely dish. ReplyDelete Replies Sprigs of Rosemary February 22, 2013 at 11:31 AM When I make crepes,Penny, I usually try to make too many so I can freeze them. (You know the first crepe, often like any pancake isn't very good!) Delete Replies Susan Lindquist February 20, 2013 at 2:52 PM I am just so pleased to read this post! What a fun opportunity for both of you! You've made my day, Rosemary! Oh ... and the cannelloni look divine! ReplyDelete Replies Sprigs of Rosemary February 22, 2013 at 11:29 AM It is fun, Susan. One of these days, maybe I'll share pictures of the little guy. (I just got him an apron with his name on it.) Delete Replies Anne@FromMySweetHeart February 20, 2013 at 7:40 PM Oh Rosemary....you have no idea how much I enjoyed reading this post! You are such a wonderful person. How fabulous that he has an interest in cooking at such a young age. And what a great team you sound to be in the kitchen! I wish I were your neighbor, because I could use a lesson or two from you as well. Your cannelloni look awesome! I look forward to seeing what the two of you cook up in the future! : ) ReplyDelete Replies Sprigs of Rosemary February 22, 2013 at 11:28 AM Thanks, Anne. I think I could learn a thing or three from you! It is fun when someone wants to learn; and sharing something you love to do with a young person is precious. Delete Replies Elisabeth March 5, 2013 at 8:29 AM Rosemary, your canneloni is absolutely divine...perfect, and delicious. Such a gift your giving to the sweet young neighbor boy that I can see his future as an amazing Chef. My little grandson, age 6, almost 7 has been hanging around in the kitchen with me and my daughter wanting to help and is so very interested in learning as well...his dad is an executive chef with his own Northern Italian restaurant and wants to be just like 'daddy'! ReplyDelete Replies Sprigs of Rosemary March 6, 2013 at 4:08 AM It's great to see young people interested in cooking. What a mentor your grandson has! Delete Replies Karen (Back Road Journal) March 17, 2013 at 7:36 AM What a nice project to undertake...I'm sure he looks forward to each lesson. Your cannelloni sound delicious. Making them with crepes is the best, I think as they are so light. ReplyDelete Replies Roz \| La Bella Vita Cucina March 23, 2013 at 9:05 AM Isn't it a great feeling to teach another (especially a precious young loved one) about something that you're so passionate about? He'll always cherish these times with you Rosemary! I love this cannelloni recipe too, the photos are just perfect! ReplyDelete Replies I realize you don't have to take the time to comment . . . but it makes my day! So glad you decided to stay.	15,250
mactavish-west: you could take fresh vegetables, and you put them in the fridge maybe for up to a week. they'll just continue to decline in most cases. . .one woman's migraine story . . .i just called to see how you guys are doing. give us a call i hope you're having a good time, wherever you are. . loder, who hasn't been involved with any cgrp drug studies, cautions that these medicines don't work for everybody. and they may be risky for some people. . northern ireland civil service's 'hands tied' over restrictions on betting machines http://lm360.us/Schollmeyer-father-of-Bargen-from-Orov?Kozielnei=263 over the years, ive talked to reporters who are solidly addicted to obfuscations. like any addict, they have an army of excuses to rationalize their behavior. . hazel mactavish-west: so you could store them in the freezer for a year, and the nutrient level pretty much stays the same.	951
What’s hard about being thrown into the widowers path is that you must walk by faith and not by sight, you no longer have a physical partner by your side. You have God. What makes this challenging is that the situations you once fit in are no longer. You are no longer a couple so marriage retreats are out, date nights no longer exist, those couple functions you would attend together are also no longer. This is a difficult road to walk, a lot of what once was is non existent and this list could go on and on. If you are a widow or a widower you no longer fit in spaces that were once comfortable and inviting, you now may feel like a third wheel a piece is missing and cannot be returned to make it whole. You come to find you only have one perspective not two, ideas and thoughts have no place to go when your spouse is not there to hear them. No need to further improve and strengthen your marriage, its not there. You had your chance to love them to the fullest, and now those times have come to a crashing end. Social situations now become awkward and unfamiliar. These are just parts of walking down the road of being a widow or a widower. God meets you here and guides you along the way if you let Him. The whys and what ifs pop up randomly at the most in opportune times to cause your mind to go into an uncontrollable stir at times. Questions of why did God bring me here. Well some of those questions as of late He has answered me. One of the question I had asked Him was, “I see a need for a widowers ministry, who’s gonna do that?” He replied “You”. I was shocked I certainly thought not me any one but me. So I went on with my days and pondered the idea, and in those days of pondering I was contacted by Joy in the Mourning about this very topic. As the days progressed God spoke to me again. “You keep asking why she’s not here, well how can you possibly start a widowers ministry if she was still here” Boom there it was an answer to a question I had no answers for, but He did. Her legacy leads to another chapter in Gods story. My late wife/soulmate and best friend lifted up and encouraged the very person who started Joy in the Mourning, and now to carry on what she helped to start. We want to come along side the widowers in our community to bring some support, healing and just a place to walk beside others and be present with others on the same journey. How can we pray for you? Do you have any needs? How can we come beside you to support and encourage you. Leave your prayer requests, and or needs and or contact info if you would like to meet up at the very least I want to be able to specifically pray for you and you journey. Leave a Reply. My name is Dan I have recently joined the widowers club. My Best Friend and Co partner that started this Blog. Went home to be with the Lord this past Sept. I’m now left with two awesome teenagers and now in the role of a being a single Dad living out how to be a loving husband which i am no longer. Showing how to deal with the ups and downs of grief as we now navigate these uncharted waters. This Blog was built to show and encourage others to live and build a legacy in Jesus for their family’s. Hints to the name Triple Legacy. I now carry a responsibility to Leave a Jesus Legacy for our Family.	3,335
A Professor and former 5-Point Calvinist Discussing the Doctrines of Salvation, Election, Predestination, and God's Amazing Grace. Books Debating Calvinism Total Depravity/Inability Class Support Online Debate with a Calvinist April 23, 2017 April 24, 2017 • admin Recently Dr. Flowers participated in an online discussion with Calvinist Jason Mullet, of the Logical Beliefs Podcast (in the network of The Bible Thumping Wingnuts). They discussed the nature of free will, sovereignty and human responsibility as taught in the Bible. Below is an article written by Dr. Flowers explaining his views on the freedom of the will in response to Matt Slick, who is also of the Bible Thumping Wingnut network of podcasts. by Dr. Leighton Flowers After defending the Traditionalist view of free will I was accused of “worshipping the idol of human autonomy” in a recent conversation with a Calvinistic believer. He went on to assert that there is absolutely no support for the concept of free will in the Bible. This particular Calvinist is an admirer of Matt Slick, of CARM ministries, who defines the point of our contention on his web site. I will go through each of Matt’s points here: Free will is the ability to make choices without external coersion. There are debates as to what extent this free will is to be understood as it relates to people. There are two main views: compatibilism and libertarianism. The compatibilist view is the position that a person’s freedom is restricted by his nature as is described in Scripture. In other words, he can only choose what his nature (sinful or regenerate) will allow him to choose. Therefore, such verses as 1 Cor. 2:14; Rom. 3:10-12; Rom. 6:14-20 are used to demonstrate that, for example, the unbeliever is incapable of choosing God of his own free will since they say that the unbeliever cannot receive spiritual things, does no good, and is a slave to sin. … The biblical position is compatibilism. Since the Bible clearly teaches us that the unbeliever is restricted to making sinful choices (1 Cor. 2:14; Rom. 3:10-12; Rom. 6:14-20), then we must conclude that anyone who believes in God (John 3:16; 3:36) does so because God has granted that he believe (Phil. 1:29), has caused him to be born again (1 Pet. 1:3), and chosen him for salvation (2 Thess. 2:13). Let’s look at Matt’s errors point by point in light of the scriptures: Matt wrote, “a person’s freedom is restricted by his nature as is described in Scripture. In other words, he can only choose what his nature (sinful or regenerate) will allow him to choose.” While we would agree that mankind’s freedom to choose is restricted to confines of his nature, we disagree as to what those confines are in relation to sinful humanity. For instance, a man is not free to flap his arms and fly around the world no matter how much he may will to do so. He is confined by his physical abilities. So too, there are moral confines on the abilities of sinful man’s will. We would agree that mankind is born incapable of willingly keeping the demands of the law so as to merit salvation. And we would also agree that mankind is in bondage to sin. We would NOT AGREE that a man is born incapable of willingly admitting that he is in bondage and in need of help — especially in light of God’s gracious, Holy Spirit inspired, clear revelation — by means of the law (a tutor) and the gospel (a powerful appeal to be reconciled). Suppose a man were born in a prison cell and never told that he was in a cell. He was simply unaware of any thing outside the walls of his world. We would all agree that the man is born in bondage and incapable of even recognizing his position. But, suppose someone came into his cell and told him of the world outside the walls. Is the fact that he was born in bondage prove that he is incapable of hearing the messenger and believing his message? Of course not. You can acknowledge the bondage of the man from birth without assuming he is also born incapable of believing the testimony of the messengers sent for the purpose of helping him to be set free. Belief that a man is born in a prison cell is distinct from the belief that the man is incapable of acknowledging that he is in a prison cell and accepting help to escape when it is clearly offered. Calvinists have pointed to passages that prove mankind is born in the cell while assuming mankind is incapable of humbly admitting they are in a cell and trusting in Christ to set them free. No passage in all of scripture ever suggests that fallen men are incapable of willingly responding to God’s own appeal to be reconciled from their fallen condition. Matt wrote, “such verses as 1 Cor. 2:14; 3:10-12; Rom. 6:14-20 are used to demonstrate that, for example, the unbeliever is incapable of choosing God of his own free will since they say that the unbeliever cannot receive spiritual things, does no good, and is a slave to sin. … the Bible clearly teaches us that the unbeliever is restricted to making sinful choices (1 Cor. 2:14; Rom. 3:10-12; Rom. 6:14-20) The passages cited simply do not say what Matt asserts. Let’s look at each one and see exactly what they teach: 1 Corinthians 2:14 — “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.” So, the lost man needs someone to spiritually discern the “deep things of God” (vs. 10), right? What are the means God uses to discern spiritual truths to mankind? Is not the very epistle that Paul is writing to the carnal believers in Corinth a means of “spiritual discernment?” And since the “brethren” in the Corinthian church are “not able to receive” these same “deep things of God” (1 Cor. 3:1-3) one would be hard pressed to suggest that Paul was intending to teach that no one is able to understand the simple gospel appeal to be reconciled unless they are first reconciled. Again, this text never suggests that mankind is born unable to respond to God’s clearly discerned gospel appeal. It only affirms that the mystery of the gospel must be discerned for us, which it has been. As Paul states, “When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit.” Eph. 3:4 Neither side is suggesting that lost men can understand the deep spiritual truths of God apart from the means God has chosen to discern these mysteries. So, the question is whether God’s means of discernment through the apostles is a sufficient work of discernment that enables those who hear it to respond? More HERE. Romans 3:10-18 — “As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: Their feet are swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes.” No one is righteous according to the works of the law. No one is able to attain righteousness by law through works. But how does that prove no one is able to attain righteousness by grace through faith? In verse 21 of this same chapter Paul introduces the means for man to attain righteousness, which is separate from the law. Calvinists seem to think that proof of our inability to earn righteousness through our own works likewise proves our inability to trust in the imputed righteousness of Christ. Proving that the lost cannot seek God does not prove that they are unable to respond to a God who is actively seeking to save the lost. Proving that I cannot call the President on the phone does not prove I cannot answer the phone if the President chose to call me. Romans 6:14-20 – “For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace. What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means! Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness. I am using an example from everyday life because of your human limitations. Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness. When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness.” While Paul certainly affirms that “you used to be slaves to sin,” he never remotely suggests that you used to be incapable of admitting that fact in light of God’s revelation through the law (a tutor sent to reveal our need) and the powerful gospel appeal (God’s offer to meet that need through faith). How does Paul describe the way in which one comes out of his enslavement in the passage above? He writes, “you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.” He speaks of your obedience to the teaching that he and the other apostles had brought to you. Moreover, Paul speaks of your choice to “offer yourselves as slaves,” as if you are responsible for that choice. Nothing is said about some effectual or irresistible internal working presupposed by the Calvinist. Nothing in the three passages listed even come close to suggesting that mankind is incapable of admitting they need help when God Himself offers it. Matt goes on to describe libertarian free will (LFW) in this manner: Libertarian free will says that the person’s will is not restricted by his sinful nature, and that he is still able to choose or accept God freely. Verses used to support this view are John 3:16 and 3:36. This is an over-simplified and very shallow explanation of LFW. LFW (or contra-causal freedom) is “the categorical ability of the will to refrain or not refrain from a given moral action.” So, in relation to soteriology, LFW is mankind’s ability to accept or reject God’s appeal to be reconciled through faith in Christ. Given that mankind is held responsible for how they respond to Christ and His words (John 12:48), there is no biblical or theological reason to suggest that mankind is born unable to respond to His powerful, life-giving words (Heb. 4:12; 2 Tim. 3:15-16; Rm. 10:17; John 6:63; 20:31). It makes no practical sense to hold mankind responsible (response-able) to Christ’s words, if indeed they are unable-to-respond to those words, nor is it ever explicitly taught in Scripture. HERE is a great resource to support this interpretation of John 20:31 from the original language. (From Thomas “Willie” Adams, PhD) In fact, many text suggest mankind is able to reason with God and freely respond to His revelation: Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause. “Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be eaten by the sword; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.” (Is. 1:16-20) Matt continues: All the cults and false religious systems teach the libertarian view of free will… This is factually inaccurate. Islam, naturalistic Atheism, and ancient Gnosticism, to name a few, all held to forms of determinism. …that salvation and spiritual understanding are completely within the grasp of sinners (in spite of their enslavement to and deadness in sin). For them, salvation would be totally up to the ability of the individual to make such a choice. This is a common error made by Calvinistic believers. They wrongly assert that non-Calvinists believe salvation itself is “within the grasp of sinners” because we teach that mankind is responsible to believe and repent of sin. Being capable of repenting in faith is not equal to saving oneself. Matt is conflating two separate choices as if they are one in the same. Man’s responsibility to believe and repent. By conflating these two very distinct actions, the Calvinist causes much unneeded confusion. It would be tantamount to suggesting that because the Prodigal son chose to return home that the father was obligated to accept and restore him BECAUSE of his choice to return. The son alone was responsible for his choice to return. Likewise, the father alone was responsible for his choice to accept and restore him. The only obligation on the father is one he puts on himself on the basis of his own goodness and grace. Nothing is owed to the son on the basis of his choice to return. When the Calvinist conflates these two choices as if they are one in the same it confounds an otherwise very simple gospel message. Below are the passages Matt listed in support of his perspective. Let’s go through each of them: 13:23, “Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard his spots? Then you also can do good who are accustomed to doing evil.” Does proof that a leopard cannot change his own spots also prove that a leopard cannot recognize that his spots need changing by the help of another? Once again Calvinists have assumed that mankind’s inability to save himself is equal to his supposed inability to admit that fact in light of God’s clear revelation. For instance, a doctor may clearly reveal your need for a heart transplant. Your ability to submit to his recommendation and allow him to perform the transplant is not equal to performing the transplant all by yourself, which is exactly what the Calvinist is presuming onto our perspective when they say things like, “you believe that you can save yourself”…or “change your own spots.” 5:10, “For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” Matt will have to spell out why he feels this passage specifically supports his position. According to 2 Corinthians 5:20, Christ is making his appeal through us to be reconciled to God by faith. The Calvinist seems to think that one must be reconciled in order to willingly respond to Christ’s appeal to be reconciled, which clearly has the cart before the horse. 8:7, “because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so.” Does proof that mankind cannot fulfill the laws demands also prove that mankind cannot humbly admit this fact in light of God’s gracious appeals? Just because mankind cannot merit his own salvation by works of the law does not mean he cannot trust in the One who did fulfill the law. Verses related to free will choices of sinners John 1:13, “who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” Clearly John is referencing the natural born Israelites who wrongly believe that their Israelite lineage (blood), and works of the law (willing/running) are the means of their salvation. This is made clear by looking at the context of this passage. In verses 11-12, the apostle writes, “He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” Who are “his own” who “did not receive him?” Clearly he is speaking of Israel. Which is contrasted with those who did receive him and believed in his name. One is not even given the right to become a child until they “believe and receive” according to this passage. Yet, the Calvinist seem to suggest that one must be born as a child in order to believe and receive. Again, the Calvinists have the cart before the horse. 9:16, “So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.” — “the man” is singular 9:18, “So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires.” For the sake of time and space, I’ll refer you to my own commentary over Romans 9 to respond to this point of contention. 1:29, “For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake.” God does grant us the ability to believe and suffer for His sake. But “granting” or “enabling” faith is not the same as effectually causing it. Faith comes by hearing the powerful gospel appeal (Rom. 10:11-14), which is granted first to the Jew and then the Gentile (Rom. 1:16). In other words, God is enabling faith through revelation, which is sent first to the Jew and then the Gentiles. During the time of Paul, the Jews had grown calloused to God’s revelation, otherwise they might have seen, heard, understood and turned to God, so the apostles took the message of repentance to the Gentiles, who listened (Acts 28:27-28). Free Will as “Human Autonomy” (the “separateness” of God) Websters defines “autonomous” simply as “undertaken or carried on without outside control.” Autonomous describes things that function separately or independently. For instance, once you move out of your parents’ house, and get your own job, you will be an autonomous member of the family. This adjective autonomous is often used of countries, regions, or groups that have the right to govern themselves. Autonomous is from Greek autonomos “independent,” from autos “self” plus nomos “law.” Some wrongly assume that the Traditionalist’s use of this term is meant to suggest that mankind’s existence, sustenance and natural abilities are independent of God altogether. This is absurd, of course. Paul asked his readers, “What do you have that you did not receive?” (1 Cor. 4:7), which strongly implies that all our abilities, including the ability to make choices, is given to us by a gracious God. We can affirm that “God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him,” (Ps. 115:3) while still holding on to the equally valid truth that, “the highest heavens belong to the LORD, but the earth he has given to mankind” (Ps. 115:16). This means it pleases God to give man a certain level of “autonomy” or “separateness.” This is a biblical view of divine sovereignty and human autonomy. As A.W. Tozer rightly explains: “God sovereignly decreed that man should be free to exercise moral choice, and man from the beginning has fulfilled that decree by making his choice between good and evil. When he chooses to do evil, he does not thereby countervail the sovereign will of God but fulfills it, inasmuch as the eternal decree decided not which choice the man should make but that he should be free to make it. If in His absolute freedom God has willed to give man limited freedom, who is there to stay His hand or say, ‘What doest thou?’ Man’s will is free because God is sovereign. A God less than sovereign could not bestow moral freedom upon His creatures. He would be afraid to do so.” – A.W. Tozer, The Knowledge of the Holy: The Attributes of God Some Calvinists have wrongly concluded that the Traditionalist seeks to downplay the sovereignty of God and highlight the autonomy of man, when in reality we seek to maintain the right biblical understanding of man’s autonomy so as to better highlight the Sovereignty, Love and Holiness of God. I have already unpacked the attribute of God’s Sovereignty HERE and God’s Love HERE, so I would now like to turn our attention to the attribute of God’s Holiness. If you notice that the Tozer quote above is from his book, “The Knowledge of the Holy.” Tozer’s intentions, like that of the Traditionalist, is in defense of God’s Holiness, not an attempt to undermine other equally important attributes of our good God. I suspect that Tozer, like myself, would wholeheartedly agree with John Piper’s teaching on God’s Holiness here: “Every effort to define the holiness of God ultimately winds up by saying: God is holy means God is God. Let me illustrate. The root meaning of holy is probably to cut or separate. A holy thing is cut off from and separated from common (we would say secular) use. Earthly things and persons are holy as they are distinct from the world and devoted to God. So the Bible speaks of holy ground (Exodus 3:5), holy assemblies (Exodus 12:16), holy sabbaths (Exodus 16:23), a holy nation (Exodus 19:6); holy garments (Exodus 28:2), a holy city (Nehemiah 11:1), holy promises (Psalm 105:42), holy men (2 Peter 1:21) and women (1 Peter 3:5), holy scriptures (2 Timothy 3:15), holy hands (1 Timothy 2:8), a holy kiss (Romans 16:16), and a holy faith (Jude 20). Almost anything can become holy if it is separated from the common and devoted to God. But notice what happens when this definition is applied to God himself. From what can you separate God to make him holy? The very god-ness of God means that he is separate from all that is not God. There is an infinite qualitative difference between Creator and creature. God is one of a kind. Sui generis. In a class by himself. In that sense he is utterly holy. But then you have said no more than that he is God.” – John Piper (emphasis added) Notice the common term used to describe God’s Holiness and man’s autonomy? The word “separate” is referenced in both definitions. This is significant. Some Calvinists fail to see that the Traditionalists defense of man’s separateness (autonomy) is actually in defense of God’s Holiness, or as Piper put it, God’s separateness “from all that is not God.” But, in a world of divine meticulous control of all things, what is left to be considered “separate” in any meaningful sense of the word? One would think that sinful intentions would be included in “all that is not God,” yet many Calvinistic scholars affirm that man’s sinful intentions are unchangeably predetermined or brought about by God so as to glorify Himself (see HERE). We must understand that John Piper, while holding to the same definition of Holiness as Tozer (or Traditionalists), comes to a very different conclusion about the nature of our thrice Holy God. Continuing with the quote above, Piper concludes: “If the holiness of a man derives from being separated from the world and devoted to God, to whom is God devoted so as to derive his holiness? To no one but himself.” Piper fails to relate his understanding of God’s Holiness (separateness) to the nature of morally accountable creatures (as autonomously separate), but instead uses this attribute to emphasize his Calvinistic view of God’s self-seeking nature. Piper is arguing that God is all about Himself because there is no “higher reality than God to which He must conform in order to be holy.” In other words, God is all about God because there is nothing more Holy than God. But, what does this even mean unless you establish that which God has separated Himself from in the meticulously determined world of Piper’s Calvinism? How can one celebrate God being about God unless you separate that which is not about God from that which is about God? What exactly can be deemed as “separated” in a worldview where absolutely everything is brought about by God for God? Holiness loses its meaning in a deterministic worldview because nothing can be described in any significant way as being “separate” from God and His will. It is senseless to speak of God’s Holiness (as separateness) unless there is something outside of God from which to separate. God cannot be separated from Himself or His own choices. And if you insist on the one hand that God is unchangeably determining all creature’s sinful inclinations so as to glorify Himself, then how can you on the other hand claim that God is wholly separate from those same sinful, yet self-glorifying means? You might as well be claiming A is not A (God is separate but not separate). Listen, either God is implicated in moral evil or He is not. He is either Holy or He is not. He is either separate (an affirmation of both Divine Holiness and human autonomy) or He is not (a denial of both Divine Holiness and human autonomy). Do not allow the Calvinists to have their cake and eat it too on this point. John Piper takes the attribute of Holiness to teach that “God is all about Himself.” Whereas, Tozer takes the attribute of Holiness to teach that while God would be perfectly just to be all about Himself and His own glorification, He graciously chooses to glorify undeserving creatures who have separated themselves from Him through autonomously sinful choices. Traditionalists, like myself, simply believe that Tozer is right and Piper is wrong. 620 thoughts on “Online Debate with a Calvinist” April 24, 2017 at 1:28 am You misspelled Matt Slick’s name in the 2nd paragraph as “Matt Stick”. You wrote, “Let’s look at Matt’s errors point by point in light of the scriptures:”… You then quoted him directly, and then wrote several things that you agreed with Matt regarding his statement, and then you wrote the following: “We would NOT AGREE that a man is born incapable of willingly admitting that he is in bondage and in need of help — especially in light of God’s gracious, Holy Spirit inspired, clear revelation — by means of the law (a tutor) and the gospel (a powerful appeal to be reconciled).” Where did Matt argue the above? Why are you attributing something to Matt that he did not say? What purpose does that serve? In regard to the accusation that that you worship the idol of human autonomy, the LORD is the ultimate judge of that because He alone knows your heart fully and all of of your motivations. On the other hand, the scriptures instruct believers to carefully examine and test what is taught by teachers such as yourself…”And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ…” (Phil 1:9) Are you truly sincere and blameless in challenging Calvinists? Is your argumentation sincere and blameless? Why do you oppose and criticize what is clearly seen in the scriptures by persons who honor and love the Lord Jesus Christ? What purpose does that serve? How many hours have you spent putting together and maintaining this blog? The amount of energy that you devote to this makes me wonder if you hope to convince people that the autonomous free will of man is the primary change agent that saves rather than God Himself. Why are you so devoted to the autonomous free will of man? Where do the scriptures exhort us to honor the free will of man? April 24, 2017 at 2:58 pm Where did Matt argue in favor of “Total Inability” as promoted by Calvinism? Is that your question? Are you suggesting Matt doesn’t hold to total inability? Why do I oppose Calvinism? One of two reasons: I am wrong about man’s freedom and God has causally determined me to oppose Calvinism for some unknown reason. Or I am correct and man has genuine free will and I believe Calvinism misrepresents the biblical teaching. “…this makes me wonder if you hope to convince people that the autonomous free will of man is the primary change agent that saves rather than God Himself.” See my podcast on “the conflation of the Calvinist” because this is a prime example of the conflation between man’s choice to repent and Gods gracious choice to save the repentant. Treating those choices as if they are one in the same is conflating and makes our conversation muddled. April 25, 2017 at 1:10 pm Dr. Flowers writes, “We would NOT AGREE that a man is born incapable of willingly admitting that he is in bondage and in need of help — especially in light of God’s gracious, Holy Spirit inspired, clear revelation — by means of the law (a tutor) and the gospel (a powerful appeal to be reconciled).” Absent knowledge of the law or hearing the gospel, we seem to agree that a person is incapable “admitting that he is in bondage and in need of help.” Yet, even with the law, the Jew seemed to have this problem. They had so distorted the law, that they were in bondage, needed help, and were incapable of admitting it – as demonstrated in Jesus’ discussions with the Pharisees. Not everyone hears the gospel preached and for those who do, not everyone “hears” the gospel as not everyone is saved. Something else is going on. Nonetheless, Dr. Flowers seems to agree that all people are born “incapable of willingly admitting that he is in bondage and in need of help” and this condition continues until a person comes into contact with the law or the gospel, and even here, something else is needed. Troy says: April 24, 2017 at 6:14 am According to the Traditionalist’s perspective, humility and ability to admit one’s guilt before a holy God “activates” the process by which a person is saved. How do we know this? Well ask the Traditionalist two questions: 1) DOES God save anyone absent their humility/ability to admit their guilt? 2) WILL God save anyone who doesn’t first humble themselves and admit their guilt? If the answer is “no” to both questions, then we KNOW that salvation has its origins in man’s autonomous free will according to the Traditionalist’s perspective. In other words, God REACTS to mankind’s choice to humble and admit their guilt. So salvation DEPENDS on mankind’s moral choice! So, instead of saying that , “Salvation is of the Lord”, we say “Salvation is of Man” because God’s freedom of choice must first bow to mankind’s freedom to first humble and admit his guilt. Prof. Flowers keeps harping on this concept of mankind’s ability to “admit their guilt”. But this is TOTALLY irrelevant to the argument between Calvinists and non-Calvinists. The overwhelming majority of Calvinists believe that sinners admit their guilt before God everyday. However, admission of guilt doesn’t disprove total depravity or inability. Inability simply means that the unregenerate CANNOT believe the Gospel UNTO SALVATION! Admitting guilt is not a precursor to genuine salvation, nor is humility. Humility can be temporary and false. The Calvinist simply says that TRUE humility and TRUE repentance are gifts of God. Humility and repentance from an unregenerate heart are both temporary and false. Consider the parable of the garments and wine bottles told by Jesus in Matthew 9-16-18.. Jesus is teaching there that the Gospel message will have an adverse effect on someone whose nature/heart is not FIRST changed. This is why He says in v17b: “but they put new wine into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved.” You must FIRST have a new heart/nature (thus “fresh wineskins”), then you can pour the Gospel (thus “fresh wine”) into them so that “both are preserved” or the true believer can believe the Gospel and live it. Jesus says in order for the “fresh wine” of the Gospel to become effective, the wineskins must FIRST be “fresh”. Also Prof. Flowers loves to use the parable of the prodigal son as a proof text for autonomous free will preceding the monergestic work of the father choosing to accept the son. Whereas the parable is referring to salvation, it’s NOT relaying the source or mechanism of salvation. The parable is told in the setting of Jesus eating and fraternizing with Gentile sinners and He’s aware of the fact that the Jewish leadership is present. So He relates several parables to express the fact that God’s salvation plan is for sinners (including Gentiles). So the parable of the sower is not meant to teach HOW God saves. The purpose of the parable is that God saves “publicans and sinners” (Luke 15:2) who are Gentiles in this passage. The prodigal son is a picture of an unregenerate Gentile whom God (the father) accepts. The older son represents the Jews (especially the Pharisees) who are jealous over the fact that God loves and accepts the Gentile believers too. But I reiterate that the parable of the prodigal is not meant to illustrate HOW God saves. It’s only meant to illustrate that He’s “no respecter of persons” in who He saves. I could address more of Prof. Flowers’ errors but I’m tired and going to sleep. Maybe I’ll continue tomorrow. April 24, 2017 at 11:41 am Hi Troy! I hope you don’t mind if I respond to your comments too. You asked – 1) DOES God save anyone absent their humility/ability to admit their guilt? 2) WILL God save anyone who doesn’t first humble themselves and admit their guilt? I would say that if you believe that God is going to save infants who die before their conscience can respond in humility… then, as I do, the answer to both your questions is “yes”. In fact… there may be more in heaven that way then through their personal repentance and faith being expressed first! Also… Calvinist’s love to find Scriptural stories that seem to fit their theology. You point to the wine skins parable because it sounds like regeneration before salvation. (… which premise always makes me laugh… that Calvinists separate regeneration from salvation ;-)) But that context in Matt 9 gives no hint that Jesus is talking about personal salvation. On the contrary, if I was to guess, He is talking about the teachings of the new covenant being placed in the forms and applications left over from the old covenant. On the other hand… the parable of the prodigal is truly about personal salvation! Read the context of the other two parables before it and see that it is about rejoicing when sinners repent! You are correct that it is not so much about teaching how an individual repents, though the last story gives some indication – “he came to himself”, “he arose and went”. And I concede that I could make those actions fit the Calvinism’s view of regeneration, though it fits better the Scripture’s view of enlightenment before regeneration. But dogmatic doctrine should not be “proven” from parables or historical stories in Scripture just because one thinks they are illustrating their pet doctrine! Anything can be proven that way. But the parable of the prodigal is actually mainly about the last son and the Father’s pleading with him. See 15:1-2. The older brother was the sinner, the unregenerate Pharisee, that needed to rejoice at what God was doing in seeking and saving that which is lost. That was the enlightenment Jesus was giving the Pharisees that day. That was their opportunity to “come to themselves” and return to the Father’s will. That would be the beginning of their repentance. Troy says: April 24, 2017 at 3:11 pm Good Morning Brian and thank you for accepting my friend request and responding to my comment sir. Firstly, the 2 questions were assuming that the subjects ALREADY have the capacity to choose. So please tailor your responses to my earlier questions with this in mind. Secondly, whereas most non-Calvinists believe that God saves through OUR repentance and faith, the Scriptures teach that GOD gives AUTHENTIC faith and repentance which is FOREIGN to man’s “autonomous” free will. The Scriptures are quite clear on this. One must simply twist Scripture to evade this truth. But I find that Traditionalists twist a lot of Scriptures to fit their presuppositions instead of letting the text just speak for itself. Thirdly, regeneration IS salvation sir. One is not saved unless he/she is regenerated. Actually you CAN’T separate the two because you can’t have one without the other. So I’m not sure why you stated that Calvinists separate the two concepts. Regeneration IS salvation! Fourthly, in Matthew 9 Christ is explaining to the disciples of John why the Pharisees fast but His disciples don’t fast. Jesus is using this parable to teach the spiritual truth that the Gospel (new wine) can’t be received by those whose natures/hearts can’t receive the Gospel. So they continue doing what they’ve always done (i.e. fasting) to merit God’s favor because their natures/hearts have not been changed. Also, you stated “He is talking about the teachings of the new covenant being placed in the forms and applications left over from the old covenant.” But the parable says that the wine bottles “burst” and are “destroyed”. So if we accept your rendering of this parable we would have to assume that the old covenant teachings were DESTROYED by the new covenant teachings. And we both know that the new covenant never “burst” or “destroyed” the old covenant. But it simply FULFILLED it. Jesus said ““Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.” (Matt‬ ‭5:17‬) So the bottles can’t refer to old covenant teachings because they’re never “destroyed”. So I reiterate that the parable is referencing unregenerate man’s ability to receive the Gospel; otherwise it will destroy him (see Hebrews 4:12). It also speaks to why the Pharisees continue fasting because their hearts have not been changed. Fifthly, you need to reiterate this to Leighton..”But dogmatic doctrine should not be “proven” from parables or historical stories in Scripture just because one thinks they are illustrating their pet doctrine! Anything can be proven that way.” This is Leighton’s favorite “proof text” to illustrate mankind’s autonomous free will in salvation. The purpose of this parable is NOT to teach the mechanism of salvation. Leighton needs to understand this fact because he’s basing his presuppositions on a parable that doesn’t relate to HOW salvation occurs. The parable is illustrating before self-righteous Pharisees God’s acceptance of Gentile sinners as well; that they are the Jews’ brothers in Christ. There’s no “respecter of persons” regarding salvation. Sixth, you said, ” That was the enlightenment Jesus was giving the Pharisees that day. That was their opportunity to “come to themselves” and return to the Father’s will. That would be the beginning of their repentance.” Brian Jesus spoke in parables so as to deliberately and specifically “blind” the Jewish leadership sir (Luke 8:10); not to “enlighten” them. You’re teaching the exact OPPOSITE of Scripture. The parable of the prodigal was meant to enlighten His disciples and any of those “publicans and sinners” who were apart of His elect (“to you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God”). Also where does the parable mention that the father is “pleading with him [the younger son]” as you stated in the last paragraph of your comment? We must handle the Word of God very carefully sir. I very eagerly await your response Brian April 24, 2017 at 4:07 pm Though the example of infant salvation proves that God is the only necessary cause of everlasting life being given, you and I will continue to disagree that regeneration is also a necessary cause. Enlightenment, which is given to everyone, is taught in Scripture as an effective cause to provide the opportunity/ability to everyone to choose to seek before regeneration (John 1:4-13). You need regeneration to be a necessary cause for the benefits of salvation because you can only have a few receiving it to fit your deterministic theology. I think we have also discussed before the various ways that the Scriptures use the terms faith and repentance. We actually both see them as gifts, though you believe they are only provided to a few to exercise, and I believe they are provided to all, or at least the opportunity/ability to choose to repent and trust is provided to all. If you like to discuss specific Scriptures that you believe I would “twist” on this subject, please pick one to start with. If “regeneration IS salvation”, are you saying that forgiveness of sin and everlasting life, becoming a child of God and receiving God’s righteousness through the exercise of personal repentance and faith happen at that moment of regeneration? I think not. The Calvinist has had to resort to explaining regeneration being a momentary event and a process of events (which is contradictory). Did you realize that you left out the fact that the disciples of John were also mentioned as fasting in Matt 9? Are you suggesting that none of them were elect? I think my explanation fits better. Jesus did not destroy the old covenant… that is true… but He certainly caused it to “pass away” (2Cor 3:11) and “become obsolete” (Heb 13:8) by fulfilling it and establishing in its place His teachings as the new covenant obligations. But at least it seems that you agree parables should not be used to “prove” dogma, though I should add, that explanations by Christ Himself of a parable can be used, for that is His clear teaching. He gave no such explanation in Matt 9. I am not seeing Gentiles at all in the parable of the prodigal! Jesus is responding to the Pharisees’ dislike of Him eating with tax-collectors and sinners which presumably are all of Jewish background. The other two parables (lost sheep and lost coin) substantiate this connection. And it was the older son that I meant in my last paragraph as being pled with by the Father. I guess calling him the “last son” was confusing… I meant last mentioned in the story. I should have said – “older brother” so there would not have been the confusion. I still see Jesus as using these three parables in Luke 15 in addressing the Pharisees and teachers of the law. I guess the “them” in verse 3 could possibly be the publicans and sinners of verse 1, but they didn’t need to hear about heaven, the angels, and the father rejoicing at sinners repenting as those leaders did! I reject your view that parables were to “deliberately and specifically ‘blind’ the Jewish leadership”, if you mean unequivocally all of them. Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea stand as evidence in opposition to that idea. I believe Jesus believed that even among those in that group of leaders that day in Luke 15, there may have been some who could seek further understanding (though the meaning of those parables were not too difficult for Jesus gave explanations in the first two) And also Jesus knew that even the judicially hardened leaders, that would be used for the crucifixion, might get another chance through God’s enlightenment after the crucifixion, watering the seed that He was planting in their hearts that day (cf Acts 6:8). I totally agree with you Troy, that “We must handle the Word of God very carefully sir.” Troy says: April 26, 2017 at 11:31 am Brian you wrote, “Enlightenment, which is given to everyone, is taught in Scripture as an effective cause to provide the opportunity/ability to everyone to choose to seek before regeneration (John 1:4-13).” Now prove from this passage and any supporting passages that “enlightenment” = “opportunity/ability” to seek before regeneration; especially in light of v5 where Johns says that “the darkness” doesn’t COMPREHEND “the Light. Unregenerate mankind is born in darkness and one of their qualities is that they’re UNABLE to comprehend spiritual truths in their natural state. Also, Jesus teaches the following concepts in John 3:19-21: 1) the presence of the Light (Christ Himself) is a judgement on mankind 2) men hate the Light because it reveals their evil deeds 3) men will refuse to come to the Light because of their evil deeds. So men are, in fact, enlightened. However, this enlightenment only serves to reveal man’s sinfulness and his ultimate hatred and rejection of that Light. So Brian please explain to me how enlightenment is synonymous with opportunity/ability in John 1:4-13?? I agree that we will not agree on how regeneration occurs. However, can you still respond to my original two questions that I posed in my initial comment to Leighton: 1) DOES God save anyone absent their humility/ability to admit their guilt? 2) WILL God save anyone who doesn’t first humble themselves and admit their guilt? Also, Brian please provide Scripture that teaches that all (without exception) have the gifts of faith and repentance as you’ve stated. You asked this question: “are you saying that forgiveness of sin and everlasting life, becoming a child of God and receiving God’s righteousness through the exercise of personal repentance and faith happen at that moment of regeneration?” Those are all aspects of our salvation Brian. However, regeneration of the heart is salvation in the sense that God, the Holy Spirit SUPERNATURALLY awakens us to the truth of the Gospel and provides us a new nature whereby we desire to be obedient to God’s Word. This will only occur when a person is born FROM ABOVE (John 3:7). Also, the Spirit itself is the origin of this new birth (John 3:8). You asked, “Did you realize that you left out the fact that the disciples of John were also mentioned as fasting in Matt 9? Are you suggesting that none of them were elect?” Brian, regardless if we know if any of John’s disciples were elect or not, your questions are IRRELEVANT to Christ’s teaching about needing to have a new heart BEFORE receiving the truths of the Gospel. Your rendering of this parable in Matthew 9 is untenable because of the language (i.e. destroyed) used in the parable. You are desperately trying to find ways of inserting your ideas into the passage, however the language will not support your rendering sir. You stated, “But at least it seems that you agree parables should not be used to “prove” dogma…” I couldn’t DISAGREE more!! Parables are ALWAYS meant to teach some aspect of the Gospel message for those to whom it is attended. Parables do, in fact, prove already stated doctrines/dogma. For example, the Parable of the Sower “proves” several doctrines: 2) the Great Commission (i.e. the the seeds being sown) 4) the effects of this world on the heart and its ability to receive the Gospel You stated, “I am not seeing Gentiles at all in the parable of the prodigal! Jesus is responding to the Pharisees’ dislike of Him eating with tax-collectors and sinners which presumably are all of Jewish background.” The “sinners” is commonly how Pharisees referred to Gentile people. But even if I adopt your view of Jesus NOT referring to Gentiles, the parable is still mishandled by Prof. Flowers in trying to use it to teach autonomous free will prior to regeneration because the passage, although teaches WHO can become saved, it just doesn’t teach HOW one can become saved. You stated, “! I reject your view that parables were to “deliberately and specifically ‘blind’ the Jewish leadership”, if you mean unequivocally all of them. Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea stand as evidence in opposition to that idea.” God sent a “spirit of stupor” to the entire Jewish nation. However, that doesn’t preclude the fact that God still had some of His elect people within that Jewish nation. Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea were among those elected. However, any non-elect Jew were being judicially hardened so as to bring about God’s purpose to sacrifice His Son for His people. The parables were a mechanism to seal the Jewish leaders in their stupor. April 26, 2017 at 2:47 pm Thank you, Troy, again for your careful reply. That God’s enlightenment does indeed provide the ability to accept/reject before the new birth is clear in John 1:4-13, for some reject and some receive as a result of it, all before the new birth. It can’t be much plainer. The darkness does not “overcome” the light… meaning the darkness cannot stop the light doing what it was purposed to do. See John 12:35 for further teaching of Jesus – “So Jesus said to them, ‘The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going.’” That the light convicts men of their sinfulness, and that in the flesh they hate that conviction is true. But Jesus was teaching Nicodemus, an unregenerate man, that if he would believe, and do what is right, trusting in Jesus, he would come to the light. Jesus was not appealing to the flesh of Nicodemus, but the spirit. No, leaving infants aside, God only, according to His sovereign plan, does not save anyone absent of repentance and faith. And I believe the teaching of John 1:4-13 proves that enlightenment (revelation faith) and the ability to accept or reject it (personal faith) is given, as a “gift” if you will, to all. John 20:30 also points to the truth that the revelation faith (the gospel) was written for unbelievers so that they would have the opportunity to exercise their personal faith (believe) and be saved. We will just have to disagree on the best interpretation of the unexplained parable in Matt 9. And I also disagree with your hermeneutic that parables, unexplained, “prove already stated doctrine/dogma”. They can illustrate that doctrine if it is clearly stated elsewhere… but not “prove”. Unfortunately, your doctrine of regeneration before faith is not clearly stated, but regeneration after faith is clearly taught. And I am surprised that you seem not to comprehend the good effects of God’s enlightenment in unregenerated hearts mentioned in the parable of the sower. Even the evil one realizes the power that the word has in the unregenerate hard heart to provide an opportunity for faith and salvation. Luke 8:12 – “The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.” He must know something you don’t. That Jesus was using parables to separate those who wanted to seek from those who didn’t is obvious. You did not respond to the fact, and evidence, that even those used in their hardened condition to support the condemnation of Jesus did later receive another opportunity to be enlightened and drawn to the truth (Acts 6:8). Troy says: April 26, 2017 at 9:09 pm Brian, with all due respect, where are you getting this from: “That God’s enlightenment does indeed provide the ability to accept/reject before the new birth is clear in John 1:4-13..” I’m saying this in a respectful manner sir.. your view and interpretation of Scripture is so convoluted that you really CAN’T recognize plain teachings. You are basing your doctrine of “enlightenment” in John 1 off of conjecture; not careful exegesis. I have illustrated to you that unregenerate man does not want the Light and, in fact, rejects the very Light that you say gives them an opportunity/ability to believe. Something has to occur FIRST before unregenerate mankind will accept and come to the Light. This is what I mean by studying the Scriptures CAREFULLY and pondering the implications of your conclusions. John 12:35-37 is teaching the following: 1) “For a little while longer the Light is among you..” This carries a double meaning..a) Christ will only be on earth for a short time. b) the Gospel will only be on earth for a short time (comparatively speaking). 2) Christ warns His disciples to walk (follow, live according to) in the Light. Once again we see that the Light is Christ Himself; not some generic enlightenment. We can also say that the Gospel too is the “enlightenment” since Christ is the Word. But the Light (Christ, His Gospel) doesn’t enlighten the non-elect. The Light was NEVER meant to enlighten the non-elect. In fact, we learn in John 1:7 that the very purpose of the Light is “so that all might believe through him [Christ]..” It’s for these reasons that “every man” in John 1:9 is LIMITED to every man/woman who the Light enlightens by the Gospel. THERE IS NO GENERIC ENLIGHTENMENT TAUGHT IN SCRIPTURE!! The purpose of the Light is to enlighten the elect ONLY! Otherwise, the non-elect hate and reject it and find it to be “foolishness”. 3) John 12:37 reveals that, even though men are in the very presence of the Light and watch Him perform miracles, they STILL would not believe on Him UNTO SALVATION. Why not? Weren’t they in the very presence of the Gospel personified? But they STILL didn’t want to believe and follow Him. It’s because they were men “who love darkness rather than light”. The Scriptures are clear that unregenerate men LOVE darkness and HATE the Light. Thus, they will NEVER desire to approach the Light unless there’s an otherwise radical change performed by God in their natures. The Bible is crystal clear about this. It’s mankind who must struggle with this “hard saying”. You responded to my original questions posed to Leighton by stating, “No, leaving infants aside, God only, according to His sovereign plan, does not save anyone absent of repentance and faith.” So I guess I’m to assume that humility will lead to our decisions to repent and believe since you never responded to my questions directly about our humility. So I’ll assume that humility is what brings a person to repent and believe. So my argument stands that God CANNOT save a morally responsible person unless that person chooses to be humble FIRST; even though they love their sin and find the Light to be foolish and repugnant. All of a sudden, upon hearing a message inspired by the Holy Spirit (nevermind those who were in the very presence of the Source of the Gospel, but still rejected it), unregenerate men/women can believe a message that the Bible says they hate and reject. Is this what I’m supposed to believe Brian?? Also, I might conclude with this statement: ENLIGHTENMENT IS SPECIFIC TO WHOM THE SPIRIT CHOOSES TO REVEAL GOSPEL TRUTH UNTO SALVATION. IT’S NOT SOME GENERIC OPPORTUNITY OR ABILITY THAT MEN CAN USE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN TWO MORAL CHOICES. Besides, the choice to believe the Gospel unto salvation is a SPIRITUAL choice; not a MORAL choice. The only thing MORAL about it is that it’s a good choice; but even that choice is first made by God Himself as He gives “saving faith” to whomever He wills. April 26, 2017 at 11:16 pm Troy writes, “unregenerate men…will NEVER desire to approach the Light unless there’s an otherwise radical change performed by God in their natures….I guess I’m to assume that humility will lead to our decisions to repent and believe since you never responded to my questions directly about our humility…” I have argued previously that enlightenment is necessary to salvation but not sufficient to produce salvation. Faith is also necessary (and requires the “good soil” of the parable or regeneration). Faith, if it is the reality or substance of things hoped for (as Hebrews 11), then it can only manifest as a decision to accept the salvation God offers in Christ. Enlightenment by itself will never result in salvation. Enlightenment plus faith will always result in salvation. April 27, 2017 at 1:27 am April 27, 2017 at 12:32 pm Or enlightenment may be part of the new birth which, when combined with faith, always results in salvation. April 27, 2017 at 2:02 pm Calvinist theology demands that the new birth precede, as an event, any enlightenment, since enlightenment is given to every man… but for them enlightenment has no effect unless the new birth has already taken place first as an event… they can’t have the new birth as a process that includes enlightenment! Troy says: April 27, 2017 at 2:41 pm I’m sorry Brian, but neither John 1 nor John 12 teach a general or generic enlightenment sir. You are both espousing and teaching a falsehood. The Light in both passages refers to Christ and/or His Gospel; not some generic enlightenment. That Light enlightens “every man” for whom it is intended. Universal terms (i.e. every, all, world,etc) must agree with both the immediate context AND broader context of the entire Bible. But I’ll reiterate again – the Light is meant to reveal the Gospel to those for whom it’s intended. All the rest (non-elect) will remain in darkness. To teach a generic enlightenment when the Bible is clear that mankind both hates and rejects that Light in their unregenerate state is simply erroneous and not approaching the text carefully. Also, there are multi-millions who die never having been exposed to the Light (Christ, Gospel). I STRONGLY suggest that you review your methodology of interpretation and really ponder the implications of your conclusions before teaching them as truth. Your conclusions simply don’t stand up when doing careful comparing of Scripture. April 27, 2017 at 2:54 pm Thanks for the follow up and evident concern. But the gospel, the good news that Christ IS the propitiation for the sins of the whole world, is “intended” for every creature to hear preached to them! It is “intended” for them all to have an opportunity to repent and believe it. God’s intention is clearly spelled out in Acts 17:26-30… where He preordained that mankind be able to seek and find Him and commands every man, everywhere to repent. That has to show us clearly what God “intended” by giving enlightenment to every one, or we are hopelessly dependent on so-called “scholars” who try to tell us these Scriptures really don’t mean what they say. The warning and invitation of Christ to “the people” in John 12:36 makes no sense if it was not available to all of them equally. John 12:35 Then Jesus said to them, “A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going.” John 12:36 “While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” Again, I think your loyalty to the scholarship of Calvinism has made you willing to see meanings in texts that normal reading, using normal rules of grammar and context, just does not support. Troy says: April 28, 2017 at 5:34 am Brian my brother you’re just not thinking your theology through its logical conclusions. You stated, “..that Christ IS the propitiation for the sins of the whole world..” This is specifically why I stated in my previous comment that words like “every”, “all”, “world” MUST be defined in BOTH immediate and broader contexts in Scripture. To illustrate my premise, let’s dissect 1 John 2:2 which states, “…and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.” Now what can we conclude from this verse? 2) “Our” here refers to both the writer and to whom he’s addressing the epistle. 3) Christ ACTUALLY propitiated or satisfied the wrath of God on behalf of both “our sins” (John’s and those true believers receiving the letter) AND the “whole world”. 4) Here are the all important questions: a) Did Christ appease God’s wrath (propitiate) for EVERY individual during His atoning work? b) If so, on what basis is God judging the non-elect? 5) The word “world” here does NOT mean all-inclusive because Christ did not appease God’s wrath for every individual or else God would have no basis to judge them. World is speaking of creation (cosmos) as used in John 3:16. (By the way, even John 3:16 limits Christ’s atoning work to only “the believing ones” not perishing.) But the “world” in John 3:16 refers to the Cosmos which is all of creation or mankind as a whole) John 3:16 is better rendered: “For God in this manner loved the Creation that He gave His only begotten Son so that the believing ones will not die but have eternal life”. World must be read IN CONTEXT! 6) Thus 1 John 2:2 is simply teaching that Christ is the ONLY propitiation for His creation (not all inclusive). Any other understanding would have people going to Hell for sins that Christ already atoned for, which is both illogical and untenable. You stated, “God’s intention is clearly spelled out in Acts 17:26-30… where He preordained that mankind be able to seek and find Him and commands every man, everywhere to repent.” Yes mankind does have an inclination of worshiping a higher being as evidenced in v23 of Acts 17. Mankind certainly knows that there is a God according to Romans 1:19. However, this knowledge is corrupt and futile according to Romans 1:21. They have and worship their OWN VERSION of the true God; not God Himself. In other words, unregenerate mankind seeks God on THEIR terms, which usually ends up worshipping a false deity. They do not worship Him in spirit and in TRUTH. So it can be concluded that Acts 17:27 reveals that mankind is not seeking the one true God to worship Him in spirit and in truth. However, according to Romans 1:19 they do have a concept of God which He has placed within them (thus Acts 17:23). But this is, by no means, referring to a generic enlightenment that gives man an “opportunity” to believe. Yes God gives the command to all of mankind without exception to repent of his wickedness. But this doesn’t preclude that they CAN repent naturally UNTO SALVATION. Nor is God obligated to be fair by giving a command that He KNOWS mankind can’t keep. Grace doesn’t have to be fair because it’s already unmerited and undeserved. It’s God’s prerogative if He wants to enact a law that we can’t keep. Remember that His standard is perfection anyway, which means if He were fair, we’d all be in Hell right now. Also if God intended for every man without exception to have an opportunity to believe the Gospel, why do MOST die without ever hearing the Gospel proclaimed. And PLEASE don’t use natural revelation as an argument because Jesus was quite clear that He’s the ONLY way of Salvation. Also Romans 10:14 refutes the “natural revelation” argument. You stated, “The warning and invitation of Christ to “the people” in John 12:36 makes no sense if it was not available to all of them equally.” Brian the Gospel is not about equality and fairness. It’s about Ephesians 1:11 and God’s working “ALL THINGS after the counsel of His will”. God has set the parameters for His salvation plan and He’s working it out as He sees fit. It’s not about what we deem fair or equal. We just humbly bow to EVERYTHING He has revealed to us in the Scriptures. April 28, 2017 at 11:48 pm Troy, I love talking about whether something is logical or not, and especially whether it is following normal grammar and context. When looking for the meaning of the phrase “whole world” in 1John 2:2… the normal rule is to see how the author uses that phrase in the same book, then how he used it in other books he wrote, then how it is used in the rest of the NT, since we are know the NT does not contradict itself. You may want to look up every use of the word “world” in 1John, like I have, or just look at 5:19 where “whole world” is used. When John is talking about the sins of the “whole world” in 2:2, I think it is fair to infer since John said Jesus “IS”, not Jesus “WAS”, the propitiation, that all sins already committed can have that satisfaction applied to them, and all sins yet to be committed can have that satisfaction applied too. The Calvinist wants, or has to have, all sins past, present, and future, all predetermined, for he wants the satisfaction to only cover the sins of the so-called “elect”. Do you think all your future sins are already predetermined for you to commit, Troy? Jesus is the propitiation, but not all sins have yet received the application of this more-than-sufficient propitiation. You have stated as if the application is completed, all in the past tense. I reject the teaching that all future sins, or all sins after creation, where predetermined and the teaching that the propitiation was already applied to all those sins. The Calvinist also tries to prove too much from Rom 1 and ignores the clear purpose of God mentioned in Acts 17:26-30. Rom 1 states that God clearly “makes plain” in people important truths… for what purpose? Rom 2:4 says the goodness of God leads to repentance. And Paul outlined this purpose of God’s enlightenment plainly in Acts 17:27, which was that man “should seek…and might touch and might find”… He wants everyone everywhere to repent. Does God really want His purpose in these things to fail, and has He predetermined that His purpose in these things should fail? He certainly allows them to fail sometimes. But man is without excuse, not because he HAD to suppress the truth in unrighteousness, but because he freely does suppress it sometimes, instead of letting it lead him to repentance, which some also freely do sometimes (eg. Cornelius, Ethiopian treasurer, etc). Consider again the parable of the sower and power of the Word in each of the soils! Look at Luke 8:12 again. Yes God enacts laws that we cannot keep, but they are enacted to enlighten us of our need to repent, to bring us to Christ. He is not a God that reveals a will that He has for everyone, which is also a lie because of a so-called secret will that He has for most people, which is just the exact opposite. The Calvinist believes that God does not have a sovereign will that everyone everywhere gets the opportunity to seek Him, find Him, and repent… even though He clearly said He predetermined that possibility and clearly commanded that such a result be pursued. That position concerning God’s contradictory wills is illogical!!! We should humbly bow to everything revealed in Scripture… But Calvinism makes Scripture bow and bend to its presupposition that everything was predetermined before creation, which is a divine immutable eternal fatalism! I will stand with Scripture! Troy says: May 1, 2017 at 11:35 pm You’re incorrect Brian about how we are to define grammar in the Bible. The ENTIRE Bible must come to bare on a word. The usage of a word must be defined in light of how it’s used in both testaments. In other words, the ENTIRE Bible is its own dictionary and commentary. The Old Testament is interpreted in light of the New Testament. However, both testaments are essential to understanding doctrine. So we don’t stop with the New Testament when trying to define terms. God’s Word is one complete revelation with two sides! Now the fact is that “world” has SEVERAL meanings in the Bible and it’s incumbent upon the student/reader to determine which definition is in view in a particular passage. You stated, “Jesus is the propitiation, but not all sins have yet received the application of this more-than-sufficient propitiation. You have stated as if the application is completed, all in the past tense. I reject the teaching that all future sins, or all sins after creation, where predetermined and the teaching that the propitiation was already applied to all those sins.” Brian this goes against ORTHODOX Christianity sir! Wow brother! I’m sorry but your understanding of Scripture is EXTREMELY convoluted and untenable. You don’t even believe that Christ has ALREADY propitiated for sins committed past, present AND future! This is so far left of orthodoxy that you have me in aww sir. In Revelation 13:8, Christ is spoken of as the author of the Book of Life (Eternal) which was written BEFORE creation. There He’s referred to as the “Lamb who had been slain”. We can easily and safely infer from this verse that: a) Christ wrote the book BEFORE creation b) Those written in the book were written BEFORE creation c) Christ is referred to as the Lamb BEFORE creation d) God’s plan of salvation was ALREADY predetermined BEFORE creation as evidenced by the existence of the Book of Life written pre-creation. You see Brian, Christ was the Lamb slain even before creation because it was already preordained that He would enter His own creation and sacrifice Himself for His people who were written in His book of Life. There’s just no denying these truths sir. You stated, “I reject the teaching that all future sins, or all sins after creation, were predetermined and the teaching that the propitiation was already applied to all those sins.” This is statement puts you in the minority within orthodox Protestant churches sir. How can you believe that Christ’s sacrifice doesn’t cover all future sins given the totality of Scripture that overwhelmingly contradicts your position. 1 Peter 3:18 states, ““For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God…” Here God teaches us that Christ died once for all, the Just for the unjust. But He died for sins ONCE FOR ALL; meaning His death was sufficient for EVERY sin that mankind would create. This has absolutely NOTHING to do with whether I or anyone else believes that our sins are “predetermined” or “preordained”. That’s irrelevant to the fact that the penalty for sin has been satisfied in Christ FOR ALL THOSE WHO ARE WRITTEN IN THE LAMB’S BOOK OF LIFE BEFORE CREATION!! You posed this question to me, “Do you think all your future sins are already predetermined for you to commit, Troy?” My answer is, YES!!! Just as God set up all the circumstances for Christ being crucified (including the very people through whom He entered the world and was crucified), God orchestrates ALL circumstances to accomplish His plans for us. Just as God determined that Herod kill all those innocent babies by prophecy, He also determines all things according to His preordained purposes! May 2, 2017 at 12:12 am Thank you for your response, Troy. We can let others read our conversation and determine which of us is giving the most reasonable way to understand meanings of words according to context in Scripture. Also you must be looking at a faulty translation… for John did not write “before the foundation of the world” in Rev. 13:8… nor was Jesus slain for sin as a sufficient payment until the right time when God sent Him into the world. And I’m sorry that you think your future sins are already predetermined to happen. I pray the Lord will open your understanding in that regard. Thanks again for the conversation. Troy says: May 2, 2017 at 4:40 am Brian you stated, “Also you must be looking at a faulty translation… for John did not write “before the foundation of the world” in Rev. 13:8… nor was Jesus slain for sin as a sufficient payment until the right time when God sent Him into the world. Brian “foundation of the world” includes ANYTIME BEFORE creation. Even if you want to define it as “the beginning of creation”, the fact still remains that those written in the Lamb’s Book of Life were written BEFORE THEY WERE CREATED, which proves predestination brother. Also, Jesus IN PRINCIPLE was ALREADY slain for them because God had already determined it from the beginning (Acts 4:27,28). The Bible is replete with verses that prove God’s predetermined plan for His creation. No matter how much we try to explain away God’s deliberate and meticulous decree, it will NEVER impede His plan! Consider the implications of Matthew 5:18 Brian: “For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law UNTIL ALL IS ACCOMPLISHED.” ALL of God’s predetermined plan (according to His Law/Word) WILL occur before Judgement Day. Again I urge you to contemplate your conclusions before you espouse and teach them as truth; for those who teach receive the greater condemnation (James 3:1). May 2, 2017 at 10:13 am We are agreed, Troy… all that is predetermined will be accomplished. The Scripture does not teach an eternal immutable meticulous plan by a divine decree. I have shown you many verses that clearly show God still making determinations/plans after creation began. And FROM the foundation of the world means that the book existed from that point and that names were added to it from that point as they were joined to the righteousness of God through their personal faith. I’m sorry that your loyalty to your theology makes you want to see it another way. I am not afraid of teaching the Scripture as it should be understood according to normal rules of grammar and context. Be blessed my brother. Troy says: May 2, 2017 at 2:45 pm God’s determinations/plans are REVEALED in time Brian. But His decisions were long before determined sir. Even His conversations with mankind in creation are also predestined. So when He responds to man’s speech and actions, all had been decreed before hand to have occurred. Remember that He foreknows BECAUSE He decrees! Also, your rendering of “FROM” is inaccurate. “From” is denoting ORIGIN; not a beginning point of a series of events. Nor does the verse give any indication of this. The verse is plainly telling us WHEN the names were written in the book. Also I would submit to you Brian, that we’re BOTH loyal to our own presuppositions. The question is: whose presuppositions are based on “tota scriptura”? You and professor Flowers violate “normal rules of grammar and context” when you teach that National Israel is the “lump of clay” in Romans 9 when the lump CLEARLY includes Gentile believers in v24. You guys violate “normal rules of grammar and context” whenever you pour meanings into passages that the original author never intended. May 2, 2017 at 3:01 pm You say, Troy, there are determinations made “in time” that were already made before creation, as if determinations can be made twice. The problem is my presupposition is that there cannot be two contradictory realities, with God being in both at the same time. Your presupposition is that He is in both, and your presupposition is without any Scriptural support, besides being contradictory. Troy says: May 2, 2017 at 3:16 pm Brian i made my position quite clear sir that God’s predeterminations are REVEALED in time!! May 2, 2017 at 3:53 pm Troy they are REVEALED as being MADE after the foundation of the world… not before… there are not two realities… only a sequential one that never had a beginning with God and never has an end with God or us. The past and the future are not places in another reality in which God is dwelling. That is just illogical. Troy says: May 2, 2017 at 6:08 pm Brian Im not sure why you’re not getting what I’m saying because you are quite learned and have theological training. I know you certainly understand the statement that God predetermined in eternity past the events that would occur in eternity future. This is a very simple concept brother. Also the past and the future are two sides of ONE REALITY sir. God has determined both the past and the future which are both apart of the same reality. May 2, 2017 at 8:32 pm The problem is Troy, that God didn’t predetermine in eternity past all the events of eternity future… NO verse teaches that and many verse teach Him making determinations after creation, which means that were not made before creation, unless you believe God was lying about making them when He did. Troy says: May 2, 2017 at 8:42 pm Brian answer me this question and I’ll follow up with another. Please bare with me on this. The question is: How is a person physically born? May 2, 2017 at 10:27 pm Troy, I will walk with you done this path, if you wish. But I was hoping you would show me the verse(s) that convinces you that God has determined everything before creation. A person is physically born when after nine months gestation in their mother’s womb, the mother’s body reflexively and successfully pushes the baby out. Here are some verses to consider where God clearly makes decisions after creation, and thus not before – Deut. 12:5 (NKJV) 5“But you shall seek the place where the LORD your God chooses, out of all your tribes, to put His name for His dwelling place; and there you shall go. [To fit determinism it should read “God chose”] 2 Chr. 6:5-6 (NKJV) 5‘Since the day that I brought My people out of the land of Egypt, I have chosen no city from any tribe of Israel in which to build a house, that My name might be there, nor did I choose any man to be a ruler over My people Israel. 6Yet I have chosen Jerusalem, that My name may be there, and I have chosen David to be over My people Israel.’ [To fit determinism it should read “I actually had already chosen before creation these things and am lying about not having chosen them”] 2 Chr. 7:16 (NKJV) 16For now I have chosen and sanctified this house, that My name may be there forever; and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually. [To fit determinism it should read “before creation I chose”] Psa. 25:12 (NKJV) 12Who is the man that fears the LORD? Him shall He teach in the way He chooses. [To fit determinism it should read “He has chosen”] Psa. 65:4 (NKJV) 4 Blessed is the man You choose, And cause to approach You, That he may dwell in Your courts. We shall be satisfied with the goodness of Your house, Of Your holy temple. [To fit determinism it should read “You have chosen”] Psa. 75:2 (NKJV) 2 “When I choose the proper time, I will judge uprightly.[To fit determinism it should read “Because I have chosen”]” Jer 18:11 (NKJV) 11 “Now therefore, speak to the men of Judah and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD: “Behold, I am fashioning a disaster and devising a plan against you. Return now every one from his evil way, and make your ways and your doings good.” ’ ” [To fit determinism it should read “I have devised a plan”] Mic 2:3 (NKJV) 3Therefore thus says the LORD: “Behold, against this family I am devising disaster, From which you cannot remove your necks; Nor shall you walk haughtily, For this [is] an evil time. [To fit determinism it should read “I have devised a plan”] Luke 22:42 (NKJV) 42…saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” [To fit determinism it should read “Even though it is not Your will”] 1Cor 12:11 (NKJV) 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. [To fit determinism it should read “as He had willed”] Heb 4:7 [NKJV] 7…again He designates a certain day, saying in David, “Today,” after such a long time, as it has been said: “Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts.” [To fit determinism it should read “He had designated”] Troy says: May 3, 2017 at 12:52 am Brian! Come on brother! You just don’t understand Reformed doctrine sir. God uses the free choices of men to accomplish His predetermined purposes. For example, I’m freely choosing to dialogue with you and it may be God’s predetermined will that you come to truth. So predestination says that God determined before creation that we have this dialogue so that He may choose you to present the Gospel more faithfully. God’s decree includes free will choices of men. It’s just that their freedom to choose is limited to their creatureliness. So NONE of your verses disprove God’s predetermined decree at all. They only serve to prove that mankind has been given limited freedom to choose which God already decreed before creation. I will give you a positive response on God’s decretive will shortly. However, returning to your response to my question about childbirth..is this your BEST description of childbirth?? Well I guess “gestation” covers the egg and sperm conceiving. However, you’re missing THE most important aspect of physical birth; without this component, there wouldn’t be a physical birth. Remember these verses Brian… “You send forth Your Spirit, they are created; And You renew the face of the ground.”‭‭ (Ps 104:30‬) These verses teach that a physical union of the egg and sperm aren’t enough for physical birth. Mankind is both a physical AND spiritual being. So God must add a living soul to that physical union or else that union will not conceive, gestate, and eventually lead to birth. So why am I harping on the nature of childbirth?? I’ll answer that by asking another question that is related to determinism. Here’s the question: Does God decree/desire (since His decree stems from His desire) that rape/incest occur? If not, why does He bless many rapes/incest with childbearing? In other words, if God doesn’t want rapes/incest to occur, why does He DELIBERATELY procreate during the course of the rape/incest? Especially in light of Psalm 127:3 which states, “Behold, children are a gift of the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward.” May 3, 2017 at 1:18 am Troy… I am not interested in… “So predestination says that God determined before creation that we have this dialogue…” I am interested in what the Scripture says. I gave you the Scriptural evidence that God makes determinations after creation and you ignored that fact. Those verses have nothing to do with man’s free choices…. but they deal with God’s free choices. You asked about physical birth, but it appears you wanted to talk about physical conception. I believe in the traducian theory for the creation of the human body and soul in each conception. That God permits some of those conceptions to result from rape or incest only shows again how God can bring good out of man’s free choice for evil. But your theology teaches that God had eternally immutably determined that such evil acts would happen and that they would be necessary to bring about that good. The Scripture however shows that God chooses to determine after the man’s free choice to allow that man who is now bent on that evil act to do so because God chooses at that moment to allow for or cause an opportunity for good for that man and/or for other people’s futures. What a glorious God who allows for such freedom of worship from man and judges man not based on sins that were eternally immutably determined to happen before man is even conceived, but only after man has freely rejected the enlightenment God gave to him, as He does for everyone (John 1:9). Troy says: May 3, 2017 at 3:56 pm Brian I’ve not ignored your verses. The free choices of God made within time (creation) were already predetermined by Him before creation. God’s free choices in time are nothing more than His acting out His own predetermined decree sir. The ONLY statement I need is found in Ephesians 1:11. Also, I’m not interested in the Traducian THEORY!! Theories prove NOTHING Brian because they are only educated guesses based on assumptions. Conversely, the Bible is VERY clear that mankind is part man and part spirit/soul. Physical matter alone cannot produce a soul. In other words, mankind’s spirit can’t result from a physical union between an egg and a sperm. The soul must be supernaturally added to that union by God. God is creating anew with every birth. This is NOT theory!! I reiterate again PHYSICAL MATTER CAN NEVER GIVE BIRTH TO SPIRITUAL EXISTENCE!!! So having said that, conception is a DELIBERATE act of God whereby He decides to breath into every egg and sperm union the “breath of life”. So I would more accurately define conception as the union of mankind’s physical body with his soul or spirit essence. This is also more accurate because the physical union of the egg and sperm won’t matter unless God gives the union a living soul. This explains why many fertile couples can’t conceive because God has not opened the womb. So during the course of a heinous act such as rape, God decides to give a soul to that physical union. If He didn’t decree/desire it, why reward the action with conception? Brian please don’t repeat that God can bring good from man’s evil actions. Obviously I believe that already. The question is whether the occurrences of rape/incest were foreordained by Him to occur so as to create specific human beings. God is controlling both the means (man’s sinful actions) and the purposes (childbirth) all to fulfill His predetermined decree and bring glory to Himself. God doesn’t CAUSE mankind to sin (James 1:13) but He certainly has decreed that they commit sin in order to accomplish His purposes. We know that God decreed/desired mankind to sin when He placed the tree in the Garden of Eden KNOWING Adam would sin and thus set the world in a state of depravity and thus, in need of redemption. God does decree that sin occur but He’s not the cause of it. Therefore we can conclude that God decreed that rape occurs but He does not CAUSE rape to occur. But of course we also know that He “restrains” sin from occurring which is also apart of His decree. May 3, 2017 at 4:26 pm Thanks for the conversation Troy. If you are unable to see the contradiction between affirming both that something is determined after creation but it was already determined before creation, then we probably we not reach understanding in future dialog on this subject. Eph 1:11 does not mention any meticulous determination of all things before creation. It only states that God is presently working with all things according to a plan the fits His desire, and that plan includes the inheritance we will receive that was predestined for all who are placed in Christ. Blessings to you are wished as you continue to test whether your loyalty is to Scripture or to Calvinistic twisting of it! Troy says: May 3, 2017 at 5:10 pm Brian YOU are saying that I’m saying that something is both determined before and after creation. I’m not sure why you’re not understanding what I’m saying because I’m speaking clearly. I’ll say it again this way: God has a decree that He made before creation. The conversations, decisions, and actions He makes IN creation were all predetermined BEFORE creation. This is not hard to understand Brian. I also noticed that you chose not to respond to God’s decree including rape. This is because you know that God’s CHOICE to create during a heinous sinful action proves that He DECREED that act to occur. My loyalty is to “tota scriptura”; NOT Calvinism. Also Ephesians 1:11 is speaking to God’s orchestrating “all things” to accomplish His predetermined decree. This isn’t Calvinism. This is Bible! br.d says: May 2, 2017 at 9:12 pm Using the term “eternity” in regard to events which occur within a time-line might be somewhat misleading. Technically speaking, “eternity” is classified within philosophy as “A state of timelessness” And historically within Christian philosophy, there are various positions on God’s relationship to time, eternity, and timelessness. So if one is speaking about concepts such as “past”, “present” and “future”, one is necessarily speaking about events which exist within the sphere of time. So various Christian philosophers will consider terms like “eternity past” and “eternity future” to be non-sequiturs. I believe Augustine, and hence Calvin, held that God’s existence is “timeless” in the sense that he is outside of time, without a past or a future, existing in a timelessly eternal present. In that view, it would be logical to speak of God (who is outside of time) producing X affect, to occur at a point within the time-line. But to speak of God doing X “at the foundation of the world” is to place God within the sphere of time, which contradicts the assertion that God is outside of time. Perhaps some of the difficulty in your dialog with Brian lies in that issue. Troy says: May 2, 2017 at 11:53 pm Thank you br. d for bringing this to my attention. However, it’s my perspective that God is the source of eternity since He is the UNCAUSE. So when I speak of eternity past, I’m speaking assuming God as the beginning OUTSIDE of time. So regarding my comment to Brian, God predetermined events in eternity past PRIOR TO creation. Stated another way, all events occurring in time (after creation) have been decreed to occur outside of time or before creation. God’s decree transcends time but is eternal in that He initiated it in eternity past (before creation) and will ensure its ultimate fruition in eternity future. br.d says: May 3, 2017 at 1:18 am Thanks Troy for you kind explanation. If you believe that eternity is defined as timeless, then would it fit to replace the word “eternity” with the word “timeless”. Lets see how it works if I do it. God is the source of “timelessness” since He is the UNCAUSE. So when I speak of “timeless” past, I’m speaking assuming God as the beginning OUTSIDE of time. So regarding my comment to Brian, God predetermined events in “timeless” past PRIOR TO creation. Stated another way, all events occurring in time (after creation) have been decreed to occur outside of time or before creation. God’s decree transcends time but is “timeless” in that He initiated it in “timeless” past (before creation) and will ensure its ultimate fruition in “timeless” future. br.d says: May 2, 2017 at 11:53 am Brian writes in response to Troy “I’m sorry that you think your future sins are already predetermined to happen.” However, Troy is being logically consistent as a Theological Determinist here. It does logically follow in Calvinism that every sinful, evil neurological impulse is predestined and man is powerless to alter the sin and evil god infallibly predestined to occur. April 27, 2017 at 7:50 pm brian wagner writes, “Calvinist theology demands that the new birth precede, as an event, any enlightenment, since enlightenment is given to every man…” The new birth would explain why some believe while others do not under your condition that all are enlightened (presumably all who hear the gospel preached and not all regardless whether they hear the gospel preached). Under Calvinism, only God’s elect are enlightened. So, regeneration can involve the new birth plus enlightenment – with the person then able to manifest faith. Whether the new birth involves enlightenment seems immaterial in the Calvinist system as I don’t think they make a big deal of enlightenment like you do. Under Calvinism, the new birth allows a person to “see” the kingdom of God which can be defined as enlightenment. April 29, 2017 at 2:26 am Hey, before I leave this blog post, I want to appoligze to you with regard to my comments on Divine Determinism. I still don’t like this term because it is so easily misinterpreted and misunderstood by the opposition. But it is a legitimate term that many (if not most) prominent Calvinists use. You defined it correctly and I think I may have come on too strong with my comments to you. It is me who is the odd man out on this. And it is my personal agenda to argue against it. It’s something I’m working through. So, I hope you will forgive me and understand. – Mike April 29, 2017 at 8:25 pm Mike: Contrary comments are never an issue or something to get upset about; they are always an aid to learning. I appreciate your comments and hope to see more in the future. April 27, 2017 at 1:07 am Troy, Thank you for the words of respect. Let me walk with you through John 1:4-13, though I think any layperson reading it would get the meaning that I shared with you, that the true Light can be received and rejected by anyone, and it is the true Light’s will that anyone might believe. John 1:4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. * Should the reader think “of only some men”… I don’t think so. John 1:5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. * as mentioned and shown in the parallel passage of John 12, the darkness does not overcome the light from doing its purpose as long as it is available. John 1:6-7 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. * Should the reader think that “only some through him might get the opportunity to believe”… I don’t think so. John 1:8-9 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world. * Why do you give light to someone? Why would you think Jesus, the true Light gives light to every man? Light is an opportunity to see things not seen before and to decide accordingly. John 1:10-11 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. * Some of His own did not receive Him… it is interesting that they are called “His own” isn’t it. Do you really think He would not give “His own” an opportunity to receive Him. John 1:12-13 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. * The becoming children by the new birth is after the receiving. God causes the new birth, not man. Troy, if you still cannot see where I am “getting this from: ‘That God’s enlightenment does indeed provide the ability to accept/reject before the new birth is clear in John 1:4-13..’” That’s the best I can do. I am surprised you didn’t quote John 12:36 clearly in your discussion – John 12:36 “While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” Nor did you note that Jesus was speaking to the people (vs 29, 34) and not the disciples. It seems to me that you want so much to have the premise of a pre-selected “elect” from before creation to be true, that you ignore the clear teaching in passages like this one. What does this verse say happens to those who “believe in the light”? You didn’t respond to my discussion of how effective God’s enlightenment is as seen in the parable of the sower. Enlightenment is for every man. That is what John 1:9 says… NOT “SPECIFIC TO WHOM THE SPIRIT CHOOSES TO REVEAL GOSPEL TRUTH UNTO SALVATION” except that the Spirit chooses to reveal truth that leads to an opportunity to seek God’s mercy to everyone. I hope you will begin to see that theology must be developed from the Scriptures, not read in the writings of men and then forced upon the Scriptures, twisting them out of context and normal grammatical meaning. Troy says: April 27, 2017 at 2:04 am Brian I’m done..thank you for your graciousness and scholarly debate. Be blessed my brother. April 27, 2017 at 2:15 am Robert says: April 24, 2017 at 3:26 pm You begin your post with an attempted “set up” of Traditionalists. Your set up is this, you ask two questions in which the Traditionalist (when speaking of able minded persons, not infants) will answer No. As both of these questions point to actions that people do, you then conclude that since people DO THESE TWO ACTIONS, therefore people are saving themselves and so Salvation is not of the Lord. Here are the words of your set-up: [[“According to the Traditionalist’s perspective, humility and ability to admit one’s guilt before a holy God “activates” the process by which a person is saved. How do we know this? Well ask the Traditionalist two questions: 1) DOES God save anyone absent their humility/ability to admit their guilt? 2) WILL God save anyone who doesn’t first humble themselves and admit their guilt? If the answer is “no” to both questions, then we KNOW that salvation has its origins in man’s autonomous free will according to the Traditionalist’s perspective. In other words, God REACTS to mankind’s choice to humble and admit their guilt. So salvation DEPENDS on mankind’s moral choice! So, instead of saying that , “Salvation is of the Lord”, we say “Salvation is of Man” because God’s freedom of choice must first bow to mankind’s freedom to first humble and admit his guilt.”]] There are some unstated but false assumptions in your “set-up”. First, you assume that if a human person does anything in the process in which they are saved then they MUST be saving themselves. This is really a ridiculous assumption for multiple reasons, I will only give two. Must a person be BREATHING in order to admit their guilt before God? Yes. Is breathing SOMETHING we do? Yes. So according to your “logic” if a person is breathing since this is something that we do, we therefore save ourselves. Most people can see this is really ridiculous. By your logic the fact we are breathing and it is something that we do, that means we save ourselves! This brings up a second problem in your assumption. If you read the Bible carefully, then it is absolutely clear that God alone saves a person. Another way this could be stated is this: there are certain specific actions, actions that God alone can and must do in order for an individual to be saved. Does our faith save us? No, you could choose to trust the Lord to save you, but IF HE DOESN’T DO CERTAIN ACTIONS you will not be saved. Does admitting our sin save us? No, you could do this, and if the Lord does not forgive you your acknowledgement of sin does not mean a thing. Your set up presumes that Traditionalists believe that our actions save us: when in fact they do not, THEY CANNOT. Because again unless God does certain things we cannot be saved. So what are some things that God alone can do, that saves us? Well God alone must forgive our sins. We cannot forgive ourselves or our own sins. God must justify us, we cannot justify ourselves. God must give us the Holy Spirit to empower us to live the Christian life, we cannot give ourselves the Spirit. God must raise us from the dead/glorify our bodies to make them fit for eternity. At the end our life, should we die, we cannot raise ourselves from the dead/we cannot change our bodies into an immortal body fit for eternity. Once you look at this way, it is very, very clear that we cannot save ourselves. It is very clear that our good works cannot accomplish these things. It is very clear that even our faith cannot accomplish these things. So why do calvinists like you ignore all of this? Simple, you want to present an argument against non-Calvinists/Traditionalists. Unfortunately your argument, your attempted set up completely fails. br.d says: April 24, 2017 at 9:14 pm I especially liked “breathing” as an example of human activity, correlated to repentance etc, also human activities. Good point to disprove the “false dilemma” argument, that a human activity constitutes some kind of divine salvific efficacy in the Traditionalist view, which of-course is logically absurd. I also especially liked “we cannot forgive ourselves”, and “God must raise us from the dead” etc. Breathing is an obvious prerequisite to salvation (in the normal state of human aliveness), as an ontological necessity, by God’s design. In the normal state of human aliveness, a physically dead person cannot possibly respond to the preaching of the gospel. Who then is to say there aren’t other similar human faculties, similarly prerequisites, such as repentance, designed by God, and functional just like breathing, and active in the human frame, and just as ontologically necessary for salvation as breathing? It then becomes clear, that extra-biblical qualifications for salvation are based upon philosophical presuppositions forced upon the text of scripture. April 24, 2017 at 11:49 am Another good post Leighton! I look forward to your answers to David Albracht’s comments and questions above. I rejoice in this ministry and testimony that the Lord has given you to help those blinded by a loyalty to scholarship that undermines the clearly stated sound doctrine in Scripture about God’s nature and activity in salvation. I am not sure if you have written much yet about the harmful effects that Calvinism has on one’s confidence that prayer is effective and on one’s motivation of love for the sinner in evangelism. But defending the character of God’s mercy for all and exposing the falsehood of determinism of all things future will help battle those harmful effects I mentioned. April 24, 2017 at 2:09 pm Thank you for asking Leighton to respond to the comments and questions put to him in my post. I am puzzled as to how you would conclude that Leighton’s work helps “those blinded by a loyalty to scholarship”. Are you suggesting that people who develop and hold to Calvinistic beliefs do so as the result of a loyalty to scholarship? Have you heard the personal testimonies of persons who hold to Calvinistic beliefs? Did Charles Spurgeon and Augustus Toplady become Calvinists and defend Calvinism because of their loyalty to scholarship? Or did they embrace the means of scholarship to share with the world their love of the doctrines of grace? (also commonly known as Calvinism). Do you think that Spurgeon and Toplady undermined sound doctrine in Scripture about God’s nature and activity in salvation? Do you think that Calvinism harmed them and those who they preached to? Do you think that their confidence in prayer as being effective was shaken because of Calvinism? Do you think that they did not possess love for the sinner in evangelism? Scholarship is a window into the thinking and beliefs of others. Are you suggesting that “loyalty” to the study of God’s word and to the study of church history can be harmful and blinding? Please explain. April 24, 2017 at 5:25 pm Hi David, thank you for the questions. I would be surprised if you feel comfortable with the attitude of condemnation of all Arminians by Toplady and the double-minded stances on subjects like Limited Atonement and Church History by Spurgeon. Neither of them did much exegesis to support their Calvinism in those articles, but both liked identifying themselves with words by other “scholars” for authority. Do you really believe Augustine’s forgiveness through baptism is a part of the true gospel? And if not, then why would one ever use him as an authority for theology… even if he got something right once in a while? Yes, I am suggesting that, probably subconsciously, most hold to Calvinism, like most hold to other theologies that have harmful doctrines, because they trust the “scholarship” that tells them, “This is what the Bible means in such and such a passage”… even though they cannot see it for themselves, or they clearly feel the passage is saying something different. I am not saying everything taught in Calvinism is harmful. I believe the Scripture clearly teaches part of the Calvinistic view of depravity and part of the Calvinistic view of Perseverance. I have read testimonies of those who have left Calvinism after studying the Scriptures for themselves according to normal rules of grammar and context, and who have admitted to previously being convinced of Calvinism partly because of the wealth “scholarship” in support of it. You asked me to critique things about Toplady and Spurgeon that I have no way of critiquing, like the results of their preaching Calvinism, their confidence in prayer, their love for the lost. They stand before the Lord on their own for these things. I can judge whether their teachings of Calvinism undermine sound doctrine in Scripture concerning God’s nature and activity in salvation. For sound doctrine must be based on clear Scriptures that even a layperson can understand using normal rules of grammar and context. I think it is easy to show that Calvinism’s main points are built upon inferences made from texts that are in contexts that were not given to teach those points, and easy to show how Calvinism must twist normal meanings in texts that were given to teach points opposite to those of Calvinism. And I agree, David, that scholarship “is a window into the thinking and beliefs of others.” And one’s “loyalty” to the study of God’s Word or to the study of scholarship through Christian history is NOT harmful or blinding… but trusting the propositions made by those who control of the majority so-called “orthodox” view in theology, even though Scriptural statements, normally understood, stand in clear opposition to those propositions, is harmful. April 24, 2017 at 2:20 pm I think that one of the foundational problems is the understanding of “nature.” Matt sees LFW as separating one’s will from one’s nature. Leighton sees this as “over-simplified” and “shallow.” Leighton defines LFW as “the categorical ability of the will to refrain or not refrain from a given moral action” and “mankind’s ability to accept or reject God’s appeal to be reconciled through faith in Christ.” So, are these definitions in reference to man’s will, man’s nature, both his will and nature? What is the difference between the nature and the will? Can one will against one’s nature? April 24, 2017 at 3:00 pm Can one act contrary to his nature? Is the nature free to decide which desire he will seek to fulfill by acting or is the nature producing instinctive like impulses that must be acted upon? Troy says: April 24, 2017 at 3:35 pm James 1:14,15 more than adequately answers this dilemma. Verse 14 says that mankind is “drawn” away. This implies a strong urge that he/she can’t seem to resist. This urge is said to originate from his “own desires”. V15 then reveals that sin occurs when man acts upon his own desires. But v13 says we should NEVER blame God for man’s sinfulness because v14 says that the desire to sin belongs to man. Yet you Prof. Flowers always state that God, according to Calvinism, should be blamed for giving us the desires by nature. James 1:14 directly contradicts your premise sir because Scripture says man’s desire is “his own” so he and he ALONE must answer for when he sins. He can NEVER blame God because God created him with a fallen nature. April 24, 2017 at 5:30 pm We aren’t contending over man’s inability to refrain from sin. We are contending with man’s supposed inability to respond positively to God’s appeals to be reconciled from that sin. April 24, 2017 at 8:40 pm Okay, I’m trying again to see if I can get an answer. Matt Slick sees LFW as separating the will from the nature. You accuse him of over-simplification. The nature question came up in you debate with Jason Mullet but was never really answered (very good debate incidentally). Please explain to me what the difference is between the will and the nature. Can one will against one’s nature? April 24, 2017 at 8:50 pm Hi Mike! Good issue to question, but I don’t like your question! The will must be part of one’s nature, so what you may be asking is – Can the will be influenced by other aspects of one’s nature like instinct and reason and still be able to make a choice that can be labeled as “free” from coercion either from those other aspects of one’s nature or from outside influence. I say – yes! From reading what you said… it appears to me that you were saying that the instinctive aspect of one’s nature trumps any reasoning that might take place so that every choice of the will is only compatible with the instinctive aspect. Is that what you meant? April 24, 2017 at 10:38 pm Brian, Thanks for taking the time to respond to my question but this is frustrating. Non-Calvinists demand simple straight forward answers from Calvinists. They hate equivocation and nuance on subjects like compatibilism and determinism. When a Calvinist asks what made Joe choose Christ over Sam, all things being equal, the non-Calvinists says that that is an illegitimate question. I think there is a bit of a double standard going on. Be that as it may, no I am not saying that instinct trumps reason. Reason trumps instinct. Reason is simply the mechanism of the will. And nature directs the will. One can not separate the will for one’s own nature. One can not will against one’s nature. It seems that you disagree with this. Therefore you should agree with Matt Slick’s evaluation of LFW. April 24, 2017 at 11:24 pm Mike, Thanks for answering my question, I think. Do you see instinct and reason and will as all parts of one’s nature? If so, do you see how saying “one can not will against one’s nature” seems based on an assumption that something in one’s nature, apart from one’s will, is an aspect of that nature that does not allow for a free choice to be made. What is that one aspect of one’s nature that has so much control over the will? [As a non-Calvinist, I think I am truly not showing the “hate” for nuance that you suggest exists in some. But I do hate equivocation! ;-)] And I do think your question “what made Joe choose Christ over Sam, all things being equal” is sort-of a illegitimate question, for can you prove there is ever a case where “all thing being equal” exists? Or even that something “made Joe choose” is the only option, especially if we are trying to establish the possibility of free choice? I actually like the idea, that I think Scripture clearly teaches, that though all things are never equal, God has freed for everyone the aspects of man’s nature sufficiently at various times through His enlightenment so that man’s will can make a free choice to seek or not to seek more understanding and grace from God. April 25, 2017 at 1:18 am Brian, I hate these rabbit trails. They just obscure the main points. But I need to deal with your second half first. Do you not see that saying that “that is not a legitimate question” undermines argumentation. The Calvinist could do the same thing! When Flower’s asks: But “could” you have done otherwise? The Calvinist could just respond: Sorry but that’s not a legitimate question. This is just a tactic to avoid answering questions you don’t have answers to. Putting that aside, here are some definitions of “NATURE.” – Dictionary.com: NATURE: 1. the fundamental qualities of a person or thing; identity or essential character. HUMAN NATURE: 1. the psychological and social qualities that characterize humankind, especially in contrast with other living things. – English Oxford Living: NATURE: 2. the basic or inherent features, character, or qualities of something. 2. the innate or essential qualities or character of a person. 2.2 inborn or hereditary characteristics as an influence on or determinant of personality. – Cambridge: NATURE: c1. the type of main characteristic of something. b2. a person’s character. – American Heritage: NATURE: 6. the set of inherent characteristics or properties that distinguish something. – Collins: NATURE: 3. the nature of something is its basic quality or character. 4. someone’s nature is their character, which they show by the way they behave. – Jeremiah 13:23 Can an Ethiopian change his skin or a leopard its spots? Now, to answer your question: yes, I see instinct and reason and will as all parts of one’s nature. And I’m not sure what you are getting at. I hope you are not saying that because LFW is part of one’s nature that asking if the one can will apart from one’s nature is a non sequitur. Because this would be just another tactic to avoid answering the question. The question is simple and we ask it everyday: Why did he or she do such and such? Because that is who they are. Can they change? Yes but it is often very difficult and in many cases impossible. I know that you will not answer—Can one will against one’s nature? Okay fine. But why? Why not just admit that one can will against one’s own nature? If you admit this does it destroy your argument for LFW? Is it because of Jeremiah 13:23? I just don’t get it. I ask Leighton Flowers a simple question: Can one will against one’s nature? And instead of an answer I get back a cryptic question. Please look at the dictionary descriptions. I know what ’nature” means, do you? April 25, 2017 at 1:44 am Mike, actually I think it is you that hates nuance. You confirmed that will is an aspect of ones nature, and you confirmed that one can change his nature. I would presume that the function of the will is involved in that change. So one must have willed against his old nature for the change to take place. You accused me of rabbit trails… but I only responded to the things you said. Listing all the definitions for “nature” seemed like a rabbit trail to me! You didn’t like my affirming your question as having some illegitimate elements, though I pointed out what they were… which you did not show how I was mistaken. You just said you could call a question like “Could you have done otherwise?” also an illegitimate question… though you did not give evidence why it is illegitimate. And I did not even pose such a question to avoid answering yours. I answered yours three times now. And I gave reasons for my answer. Yes man can will against other aspects of his nature… and God makes sure he gets that opportunity/ability through divine enlightenment at least a few times. April 25, 2017 at 3:32 am Brian, When we have these discussions I’m taking into account what other non-Calvisints have said, and I’m assuming you listen to Flower’s podcast. For Pete’s sake Flower’s does this constantly! Why are you getting on my case for doing it? The reason I listed the definitions is because you guys don’t know what the word “nature” means. How is that a rabbit trail? Sorry but I’m finding these written discussion frustrating. I’m not blaming you, it just is what it is. We both think each other is side stepping the other. You say that you answered my question three times. I guess I’m just too stupid to get it. But this last time you said: “Yes man can will against aspects of his nature.” Good, I’ll take that as an answer. Though I think this contradicts Flowers’ assertion and affirms Matt Slick’s view that LWF can will against one’s nature. But I’m sure I’ve got this wrong. It’s always the same. I ask Flowers a simple question and instead of him giving me an answer I get his defenders and I’m no closer to understanding his position then when I started. I’m going back to staying off the blog. Sorry I wasted your time. April 25, 2017 at 10:16 am Maybe the problem is, Mike, that you thought I was trying to defend Leighton. I was not. I was just trying to answer your question and understand more what you meant by willing against one’s nature since will is a part of one’s nature. I’m sorry my interaction and my comments and questions cause such frustration for you. Having someone answer my question with another question is frustrating. But I hope you will reread what I said and see that I always answered your questions even though I also asked some of my own. April 25, 2017 at 2:37 pm Brian, It is my fault. When I’m have discussions with you or any other non-Calvinist on this blog I am assuming that you represent Leighton Flowers views. Flowers wrote in the above article that saying that LFW separated the will from the nature was an over-simplification and shallow. I really wanted to understand this from his perspective. Blogging here, with a multiple of opinions of the subject, is not going to help me understand what his or the Traditional view is. I will just have to wait for some future podcast. Thanks for your help. br.d says: April 25, 2017 at 3:19 pm Have you looked at the other articles that Dr. Flowers presented? You may find more statements providing some of the detail on LFW from Dr. Flowers, you are looking for. You may be interested in checking this one out, for example, which goes into some detail on Dr. Flower’s representation of LFW. As for me, my current understanding of LFW is best stated as: “Determinism is quite simply the thesis that the past (or events in the past) determine one and only one, single unique, future (i.e., for every event).” We are powerless to alter events which occurred in the remote past. And we are powerless to alter the laws which govern the universe in which we live. Therefore if determinism is true, our thoughts, choices and actions are not up to us. April 25, 2017 at 3:48 pm Thanks. This is helpful. I am in agreement with this definition of determinism. But I do not agree with Craig and Plantinga—Molinists—and van Inwagen who consider compatibilism a subterfuge and lump compatibilists into the determinist camp—as do most Arminians and Traditionalists. And unfortunately many Calvinists do not understand the differences between compatibilism and determinism. I do find van Inwagen less dogmatic then the others and appreciate him more. Here is a quote you might find interesting: In “A Promising Argument,” Peter van Inwagen reconsiders an argument he initially put forward in an essay that appeared in the first edition of “The Oxford Handbook of Free Will”—Free Will Remains a Mystery”—purporting to show that libertarian free will is impossible. Some explanation is necessary here because van Inwagen is known as a libertarian about free will and is perhaps the most well-known proponent of the Consequent Argument. Nonetheless, though he continues to defend the Consequent Argument and continues to believe libertarian free will is the correct view of it, van Inwagen also believes there are strong, as yet unanswered, arguments suggesting that libertarian free will may be impossible. Hence, in his view, a libertarian free will “remains a mystery.” br.d says: April 25, 2017 at 4:07 pm I always appreciate your thoughtful posts!! :-] And yes, I agree with Van Inwagen on the mystery aspect of LFW. And like you, I also appreciate his humble approach to it. You may be interested in watching Robert Lawrence Kuhn’s online video series “Closer to Truth” investigating free will. https://www.closertotruth.com/topics/consciousness/free-will They are also on You-tube. I especially liked his interviews with Van Inwagen, where he reiterates the mystery aspect (which you pointed out), and also Kuhn’s interview with Alfred Mele, the overseer of the free-will research project. Kuhn’s has an extremely sharp mind and in his interviews with various people positing views, he catches them in arguments where illusions are presented as real. These catches occur in little micro-seconds during the interviews, so one has to be looking for them. Great to see you again BTW!! :-] April 25, 2017 at 4:31 pm Yes, I am a follower of “Closer to Truth.” It is excellent. I will certainly review the van Inwagen and Mele interviews as you suggest. Thanks! April 25, 2017 at 5:49 pm “Determinism is quite simply the thesis that the past (or events in the past) determine one and only one, single unique, future…” This is different than Theological Determinism where God, by virtue of His sovereignty, is the active agent determining the future. Determinism, as expressed above, in not an issue in theology. April 25, 2017 at 7:38 pm This definition of philosophical determinism is correct. I do not like or use the term theological determinism. I equate that term with hyper-Calvinism. I prefer compatiblism. But I’m aware that the terms can have different meanings and can get confusing. April 25, 2017 at 10:45 pm Mike Ranieri writes, “This definition of philosophical determinism is correct.” I agree. It’s the notion that a person is the product of his environment and the external environment, events, determines everything people do. Then, “I do not like or use the term theological determinism.” However, it is unique from philosophical determinism in that God is the determiner of all things directly through what He chooses to do or indirectly through what He chooses not to do – with external events having no say in what people do other than as God chooses to use them as secondary factors. Then, “I prefer compatiblism.” Which I never found to say much other than that God being sovereign is consistent with man being free to choose based on internal desires and self motivation to satisfy those desires. br.d says: April 26, 2017 at 1:44 pm rhuthin writes “This is different than Theological Determinism where God, by virtue of His sovereignty, is the active agent determining the future.” This is simply an elementary-school error in categorical logic. The word “Theological” is a derivative of the Greek “Theos” meaning God. So “Theological” Determinism is differentiated from other forms of Determinism by virtue of the fact it is “Theistic”. The determining force is “Theos”, but it exists in the category of Determinism. An Apple and an Orange both fall into the category of “Fruit”. An Apple doesn’t auto-magically lose its “Fruit” category simply because its not an Orange. And Theological Determinism doesn’t auto-magically lose its “Determinism” category simply because its theistic. Therefore Van Inwagen’s statement concerning determinism applies to “Theological” Determinism, by virtue of its category. Van Inwagen’s “events in the past” which determine all future events, in Calvinism, simply refers to “divine decrees” which occurred in the past, being the determining force. Therefore the logical entailments of Determinism which entail one and only one single unique future for all events which come to pass, applies to Calvinistic Determinism. We can however understand human psychology, and how logical entailments may not be palatable for certain folks. April 26, 2017 at 4:44 pm br.d writes, “The determining force is “Theos”, but it exists in the category of Determinism.” A am not sure that is true. Philosophical determinism seems to focus on “fate” and impersonal events determining future events. I don’t think the idea of a “personal” God involved in determining future event is really a subset of “determinism.” They seem like parallel tracks heading in the same direction but never crossing paths. br.d says: April 26, 2017 at 5:12 pm Here you are simply conflating determinism and fatalism again. Determinism and Fatalism are of the same model species. That is to say, they have many of the same logical entailments. But they are different enough to be differentiated from each other. To be fair, this conflation is not uncommon within Calvinist language, because determinism and fatalism do share many of the same logical entailments, such as inevitability. So its quite common for Calvinist language to cross over into the language of fatalism. And that is why many observers, at least at first blush, think Calvinism is Theological fatalism. br.d says: April 26, 2017 at 5:15 pm I should also note, if your supposition were true, there would be very few disagreements within Christianity on the notion of Theological Determinism…which as we can see historically, is not the case. April 24, 2017 at 3:49 pm Well, I think what you are getting at with these questions is simply: are we instinctual animals or are we reasoning beings. Of course the answer is that we are reasoning beings. But this is not an answer to the question as to the difference between the nature and the will, and if the will can contradict the nature. An animal is not a robot. It acts on instinct. Its nature and will are complimentary. Man is higher that an animal. Man has instincts, but he also has a higher cognitive ability to reason and go beyond instinct. But his reasons our not random. The will is directed be reason which is a cognitive casual process which in turn is dictated and complimentary to the nature. One can not will against one’s nature. So, I have answered the question. How about you? April 26, 2017 at 12:08 pm What do you suppose the purpose is in giving man the ability to reason and deliberate when deciding a moral choice if indeed He ordained all man to lose that freedom after the fall? April 26, 2017 at 2:24 pm Dr. Flowers, I want to tell you that I appreciated your blog and your podcast. I thought your debates with Matt Slick and especially the recent one with Jason Mullet were very useful. I think you have been unfairly treated by James White with regard to the one-string-banjo label. But sometimes I find these discussions on the blog frustrating (as I’m sure you do as well)—especially when you answer a question with another question. The question you asked is a good one and it is an important question to ponder and deliberate upon. And it deserves an answer but it doesn’t really help with answering the original question that I asked. And it puts me in the position of having to speculate on the meaning of what you are trying to get at as it relates to the original question. Also, it’s a difficult question that I just can’t answer in a few lines of text and do it any justice. You said that Matt Slick’s definition of LFW as the separation of one’s will from one’s nature was over-simplified and shallow. But as I discuss this issue with the other bloggers on this site it seems that this definition is in fact correct. And I’m not sure from your stand point why the separation of the will from the nature is a problem for LFW. Perhaps this is an equally difficult question and you too can not do it justice in a few lines in a blog post. Okay, I’ll accept that. But keep in mind that this cuts both ways. When you reduce compatiblism to the false dichotomy of LWF vs determinism this too is over-simplified and shallow. Perhaps some day we can discuss this in another venue, until then I will keep listening. br.d says: April 24, 2017 at 4:05 pm What is the definition of Amorphous Autonomy? God is the sole author of ALL human thoughts, choices and actions, but in such a way that God is NOT the sole author of SOME human thoughts, choices and actions. If that categorical statement seems perfectly coherent, you may be the victim of Calvinism’s closed system of logic. Every proposition the Calvinist AFFIRMS concerning free will, divine culpability for evil, and human culpability for evil, will eventually DENIED, by 1000 subtle qualifications. The following arguments are common fare: 1) There is no such thing as man having free will declared by the bible. 2) The bible explicitly declares man has a will and sins freely. 3) Calvinism does not reduce people to robots, functioning as automatons (i.e., self-motivated mechanisms designed to follow predestined operations or instructions). 4) In Calvinism, people are best likened to “self-motivated” dominoes, (i.e., pitching mechanisms). 5) The ungodly’s every movement is by the: quote “secret impulse of God, that he may do service to god”s will” 6) The devil, and the whole train of the ungodly, are….held in by the hand of God as with a bridle…..as he commands…FORCED to do him service. 7) God does not FORCE anyone to do any sinful thing, man does sinful things of his own will. Calvinism’s language of double-speak is described by ex-Calvinist Daniel Gracely, in his book “Calvinism: A Closer Look” “This is what I used to do as a Calvinist. I liken these non-sense statements, or propositions, to the riding of a rocking-horse. As a Calvinist rider, I would throw my weight forward toward my belief in the absolute sovereignty of God until I could go no further, whereupon I would recoil backwards toward my belief in human freedom. Thus, I would go back and forth in seesaw motion, lest on the one hand I find myself accusing God of insufficient sovereignty, or on the other hand find myself accusing God of authoring sin. All the while, there remained an illusion of movement towards truth, when in fact there was no real movement at all. At length, I would allow the springs of dialectical tension to rest the rocking horse in the center, and then I would declare all as harmonious propositions, which in fact, were totally contradictory to each other. Calvinist riders still ride out this scenario.” Robert says: April 24, 2017 at 5:14 pm Troy there are some problems with your post here. “James 1:14,15 more than adequately answers this dilemma. Verse 14 says that mankind is “drawn” away. This implies a strong urge that he/she can’t seem to resist. This urge is said to originate from his “own desires”.” Be careful about pushing your point too far (i.e. claiming that our desires are irresistible) because in v. 14-15 James is not speaking just of nonbelievers, but also believers. He is making a statement about human nature in general (i.e. that when we sin, it occurs when we give in, follow sinful desires that we have). Do not push this too far, because if you do, the result would then be that believers cannot resist their sinful desires ever. This does not fit scripture at all. For example we are promised that when a temptation comes God will provide a way of escape. So when we face a temptation (which involves a sinful desire), we as believers have a choice between giving in to the sinful desire/temptation OR resisting that desire. “V15 then reveals that sin occurs when man acts upon his own desires.” And we would all agree with this. The problem with calvinism (at least for those who claim that God ordains everything) is that if God ordains everything, then that means He also ordains our desires. If He ordains our desires, then He is the one giving us sinful desires and also ordaining that we give into these desires. That is not at all what James is saying. James is saying that when we give in and follow sinful desires, we cannot blame God for it, we can only blame ourselves. But if God does ordain our desires and ordains what desires we act upon, then God is to blame for our sin. “But v13 says we should NEVER blame God for man’s sinfulness because v14 says that the desire to sin belongs to man.” Right, we never should blame God for our sins, because He neither ordains them nor ordains what sins we commit (instead it is us choosing to follow the wrong desires, it is us choosing to commit sins). “Yet you Prof. Flowers always state that God, according to Calvinism, should be blamed for giving us the desires by nature.” Prof. Flowers is merely taking Calvinism’s claim that God ordains all events to its logical conclusion. If God really does ordain all events (including our desires, including our choices, including our actions, etc. etc. etc.) then He is to blame. If all is ordained, then God ordained that we would all have a fallen nature. So if all is ordained not only is God to blame for our sin, He is also to blame for our sinful nature. Put it another way, Calvin was very clear in claiming that God ordained the fall of Adam (so Adam had no choice, he had to sin/fall, and the resulting sin nature that all received due to this sin is a result of what God ordained (so God is responsible for the fall, desired the fall, intended for the fall to happen, which amounts to God is to blame for the fall). “ James 1:14 directly contradicts your premise sir because Scripture says man’s desire is “his own” so he and he ALONE must answer for when he sins. He can NEVER blame God because God created him with a fallen nature.” You are correct that man’s desires are his own. This is true BECAUSE GOD DOES NOT ORDAIN OUR DESIRES, GOD DOES NOT ORDAIN OUR ACTS OF SIN, ETC. A calvinist who claims that God ordains all events *is* contradicted by what James writes: which demonstrates that the claim that God ordains all events is false. If you want to take the position that God does not ordain all events then you will have no problem with what James says. On the other hand if you claim that God ordains all events then what James says CONTRADICTS your view. Robert says: April 24, 2017 at 9:06 pm You might first want to define what you mean by “nature”. It seems to me that when we speak of somethings nature we are talking about the attributes and capacities common to that kind of creature (similarly when we speak of God’s attributes, it is these attributes combined that are His nature). So for example we speak of spiders having 8 legs, humans having 2 legs. We can speak of the capacity for the spider to run across the floor just as we can speak of the capacity of the human to run around the track. If we ask what are the attributes and capacities of human persons? One of those attributes is the capacity to make choices. The free will discussion goes to whether or not, and of what kind, are there restraints on the capacity to make choices? In the past they spoke of the capacity or ability to make choices as a mental faculty (i.e. one of the capacities that humans have because they have minds and can engage in mental operations). I would say that the capacity to will, to make our own choices is part of human nature. Can we choose against our nature? Not really if choosing is itself a capacity that belongs to human nature. Calvinists come along and argue that the nonbeliever because of their “fallen” nature are incapable of making certain choices (most notably the choice to trust in Christ for salvation). But this makes a subtle error (i.e. it fails to distinguish between the capacity to make choices, which is part of human nature, and the range of choices for a particular person, which varies from person to person, with some having some choices within their range of choices and others not having some choices within their range of choices). Mike I explained this to you in the past and you just ignored it, so I am skeptical that you really want to discuss this topic. What is more likely is that you are just here to argue for your Calvinistic beliefs, presuppositions and assumptions all the while assuming your beliefs about some choices not being within a nonbeliever’s range of choices due to what you refer to as their “sin nature”. br.d says: April 24, 2017 at 11:52 pm The following is a question concerning Calvinism: 1) An unsaved person cannot know God, or be a vessel of honor, but is spiritually dead, totally depraved, lost in trespasses in sin, under the power of the god of this world. 2) An unsaved person, in total depravity, who believes he is saved is in a state of total deception. 3) According to Calvin, a percentage of believers in the church (i.e., Calvinists) are, in fact non-elect hypocrites, whom god is holding – quote: “for a time”, until he – quote: “strikes them with even greater blindness”. 4) The elect and the non-elect are known only in the secret councils of god, and no man knows which Calvinist is saved, and which is deceived by God and doomed to be – quote: “hypocrites for a time, to be stricken with even greater blindness”. Lets say we have a Calvinist who is as Calvin describes: Totally depraved, in spiritual death, who cannot know god, in total deception, under the power of the god of this world, deceived for a time into believing he is saved, and deceived in to believing he functions as a Holy Spirit inspired mouthpiece of the true gospel. Question: Can God use such a one as a spokesperson for doctrine or evangelism? April 25, 2017 at 4:32 pm Hello. I have been looking at both Calvinism and Traditionalism and have a similar question. The Calvinist has this idea of total inability. But I wonder how do we have people that seemingly believe in God and have fruit in their lives, yet after a time they fall away. Now we have someone who seems to have chosen the Gospel and then later rejected it. The idea in Calvinism seems to be that only someone regenerated could do such a thing. But that doesn’t seem to account for observation of the church and Jesus warnings about people who did amazing things and say Lord, Lord… I have seen explanations from Calvinists like, “well they weren’t “truly regenerated” ,” but doesn’t this idea contradict the T in Tulip. I thought no one could seek after God unless he first enabled them to. This also brings up a question for Traditionalism, where do you get the idea for perseverance? I see many texts that encourage us to persevere, and the blessings of believing on Christ. But where is the text that says once you believe you can’t stop believing? Doesn’t Paul warn us of the same issue that Israel had in Romans 11? Perhaps 11:22 is a good verse. Here it seems possible that you can undo your grafting by turning away from the faith. April 25, 2017 at 6:14 pm Travis writes, “The Calvinist has this idea of total inability.” Total Depravity deals with the person’s nature and desires – he does not seek God, for instance. Total Inability recognizes that people are not born with faith – it comes through the preaching of the gospel, nor does the Holy Spirit help people until they believe – then being sealed by the Spirit. Dr. Flowers appears to agree with this as he qualifies those who are not unable as those who have been influenced by the law or the gospel. Then, “But I wonder how do we have people that seemingly believe in God and have fruit in their lives, yet after a time they fall away.” This is distinguished in the faith vs works argument. Christianity is attractive because of the forgiveness for sin and the hope offered in Christ. Some people will seek the benefits of Christ through their works (as Matthew 7 illustrates). In doing this, people can manifest “fruit” in their lives. However, it is that fruit which flows from a desire to glorify God that is the true fruit. A person can produce fruit through works, but such fruit has as its purpose to justify the person’s works as the means of salvation. People who seemingly believe and have fruit in their lives do not necessarily fall away (again, as Matthew 7 illustrates). People who do fall away tell us that they were depending on their works for salvation and did not have faith. Consequently, only those who are regenerated (regardless when people say it occurs) are truly saved and will never fall away. Robert says: April 25, 2017 at 6:33 pm Are you aware that the topic of this thread is free will (specifically libertarian free will)? I ask this because your post is on the issue of whether or not we can lose our salvation. This is a Baptist site so whether it is Calvinists or non-Calvinists/Traditionalists, most of the people here hold to eternal security(i.e. that one cannot lose their salvation if genuinely saved). You asked what the basis for this is, I am sure that you know that those who hold to eternal security, believe certain Bible verses lead to this conclusion. We are also aware of the warning passages such as those in Hebrews but we are not convinced that they teach, when properly interpreted, that a person can lose their salvation. I would suggest that if you are interested in the Baptist perspective on this, do an on line search and you will have no problem finding what Baptists say on this issue. In the meantime, the topic here is free will, do you have anything to add regarding the subject of libertarian free will? br.d says: April 26, 2017 at 2:06 pm Sorry….. His post was spring-boarded by my post We do see tangential dialogs occurring around main topics. I don’t remember there being any hard and fast rule limiting topics for participants. But if there is such a rule, please allow me to accept the blame for not knowing it. Robert says: April 25, 2017 at 3:50 pm Mike Ranieri keeps asking questions and when they are not answered to his satisfaction (which is never) he just reacts emotionally with statements of frustration. Mike writes: “When we have these discussions I’m taking into account what other non-Calvisints have said, and I’m assuming you listen to Flower’s podcast. For Pete’s sake Flower’s does this constantly! Why are you getting on my case for doing it? The reason I listed the definitions is because you guys don’t know what the word “nature” means.” This claim that we “don’t know what the word ‘nature’ means” is completely false. Mike gave some definitions of nature including the following: – English Oxford Living: NATURE: 2. the basic or inherent features, character, or qualities of something. 2. the innate or essential qualities or character of a person. . . . – – American Heritage: NATURE: 6. the set of inherent characteristics or properties that distinguish something.]] I gave the following definition of nature: “It seems to me that when we speak of somethings nature we are talking about the attributes and capacities common to that kind of creature” Note how similar my definition is to those that Mike himself listed. So we do know what nature means and it is false to claim that we do not. “Sorry but I’m finding these written discussion frustrating. I’m not blaming you, it just is what it is. We both think each other is side stepping the other.” Actually Mike has this habit of asking questions then when they are answered he does not like the answers so he pretends that his questions were not answered. I have seen him do this over and over here. “You say that you answered my question three times. I guess I’m just too stupid to get it.” It is not that Mike is “too stupid to get it” it is that he is too obstinate to accept answers that are given by others. “But this last time you said: “Yes man can will against aspects of his nature.” Good, I’ll take that as an answer. Though I think this contradicts Flowers’ assertion and affirms Matt Slick’s view that LWF can will against one’s nature.” Apparently Mike is a follower of Slick. I recently heard Slick talking with a friend of mine in a video and Slick tried to minimize and justify his rude and obnoxious behavior as being due to his Asperger’s syndrome. Sorry, I have a lot of experience working with people with autism, and while Asperger’s fits into the autistic spectrum (it is at the high end of the spectrum), it does not justify a person’s rude behavior. That is a cop out and trying to use Asperger’s to cover rude behavior is unacceptable. I have worked with people with Asperger’s and while they sometimes have difficulty with relating socially with others this does not mean they are rude or obnoxious in their behavior. Being rude and obnoxious is not part of the “nature” of those with Asperger’s. And Slick’s view that LFW means a person can will against his nature is a really strange view. If our willing and choosing is part of our nature (as most people believe, whether they are calvinists or non-Calvinists including Traditionalists) then how do we will against our nature? How is one part of our nature (the will) going against other parts of our nature? Slick tries to make these ridiculous arguments against LFW, most are really bad and inaccurate representations of LFW. If Mike is following Slick, this explains a lot. “It’s always the same. I ask Flowers a simple question and instead of him giving me an answer I get his defenders and I’m no closer to understanding his position then when I started. I’m going back to staying off the blog.” It is always the same, Mike asks questions, does not get the answers he wants so he gets frustrated and then blames those who do not answer to his satisfaction. I do not see this pattern of Mike’s ending anytime soon so if Mike decides to stay off this blog perhaps that will be a good thing for all of us. “Sorry I wasted your time.” People are happy to engage in positive and civil discussions here. What gets old is someone who keeps engaging in a negative pattern over and over that just frustrates themselves and others. It is also not pleasant to see Matt Slick’s ridiculous arguments against LFW being parroted here by someone who does not appreciate people’s answers to his questions. Slick is not a good representative of calvinism nor is he fair and accurate in his presentations on LFW. What people want is fair and accurate representations of their views. I believe that we can all agree to disagree agreeably, and have fruitful discussions if we believe our views are being fairly and accurately presented. Robert says: April 25, 2017 at 4:26 pm I just saw this statement by Mike Ranieri: “But I do not agree with Craig and Plantinga—Molinists—and van Inwagen who consider compatibilism a subterfuge and lump compatibilists into the determinist camp—as do most Arminians and Traditionalists. And unfortunately many Calvinists do not understand the differences between compatibilism and determinism.” Sorry these statements are not accurate at all First of all, Craig and Plantinga, and Arminians and Traditionalists are absolutely correct that COMPATIBILISM is a form of determinism. This is readily acknowledge by both Calvinists and non-Calvinists (but for some reason Mike refuses to accept this) and this can be readily seen by perusal of scholarly literature on this topic. Mike needs to read Paul Manata’s paper on this (titled “Free will, Moral Responsibility, and Reformed Theology: a Contemporary Introduction”). Manata is a staunch calvinist with lots of philosophical training who argues in his paper (that compatibilism *is* a form of determinism (look for Manata’s paper on line as it is readily available, here is an example of where it is available http://reformedapologist.blogspot.com/2011/07/paul-manata-free-will-for-reformed.html. Second, Mike also says that “many Calvinists do not understand the differences between compatibilism and determinism”. Actually many calvinists are quite knowledgeable on this and KNOW that compatibilism IS A FORM OF DETERMINISM, so some like Paul Feinberg even label themselves as holding to soft determinism. For whatever reason, Mike is out of the loop on this one, out of touch on this one. A look at the scholarly literature reveals a common distinction between two forms of determinism: “hard” determinism and “soft’ determinism (compatibilism is soft determinism). This distinction between the two forms of determinism is readily known in philosophical discussions of free will. But again for whatever reason, Mike refuses to accept this reality. Since Mike appears to operate completely disconnected from the main stream on this issue, his comments on compatibilism and determinism must be taken with a huge grain of salt. Presently he really does not know what he is talking about on this issue. April 25, 2017 at 10:57 pm Dr. Flowers writes, “The compatibilist view is the position that a person’s freedom is restricted by his nature as is described in Scripture. In other words, he can only choose what his nature (sinful or regenerate) will allow him to choose.” God has true libertarian freedom by virtue of His Omniscience, His omnipotence, His infinite understanding of all things, and His ability to make perfectly wise decisions. The freedom that people have is restricted by limited knowledge, limited power, little understanding of anything, and being prone to make unwise decisions. Throw in a sin nature with the absence of faith and no indwelling of the Holy Spirit and you have the prescription for disaster – a person can manifest the works of the flesh but has no ability to manifest the works of the Spirit per Galatians 5. The freedom that a person possesses is only the perception of freedom in making choices as he has no awareness of external or internal influences and how he makes decisions other than that he sees himself making logically sound decisions. April 25, 2017 at 11:24 pm I know we are supposed to be on the same side but I have to disagree with you. God does not have LFW. LFW is the ability to do otherwise and, as it is applied to theology, specifically the ability to sin or not to sin. God can not sin, therefore God does not have LFW. LFW is incoherent! As for theological determinism—and once again I don’t like this term—to say that God chooses “with external events having no say in what people do” and then to add “other than as God chooses to use them as secondary factors” seem like a contradictory statement to me. God is the one who creates and determines the external events and secondary factors. Therefore what you are saying is external factors have no effect unless God creates them—but the external factors can not exist unless God creates them! April 26, 2017 at 12:03 pm Mike Ranieri writes, “God can not sin, therefore God does not have LFW. LFW is incoherent!” I think LFW allows that one have knowledge of the options available and not be limited by forces outside oneself to choosing an option. But who really knows as LFW has not been developed to any extent – thus it can appear incoherent. Generally, LFW seems to involve A or ~A choices. It does not require that one be equally disposed to either option so long as one is aware of the option. That God cannot sin results from His character and not from factors outside Himself that limit what He can do. So, I think that, technically/philosophically, if LFW is defined consistently, then God sets the standard for one who actually has LFW – by virtue of His omniscience, omnipotence, perfect understanding, perfect wisdom, etc. If humans have LFW, it is a watered down version – the choices people have are limited because they don’t always know the options available to them, do not understand the impacts of their choices, etc. Dr. Flowers defines LFW as the ability to choose otherwise – A or ~A. This allows that ignorance reduces the full range of choices that people have and most choices people can make tend to be trivial. The only choice that matters concerns salvation and Dr. Flowers seems to insist that a person who cannot make his own personal choice regarding salvation does not have LFW. However, if a person does not have the ability to make other choices for whatever reason, then he still has LFW. LFW basically seems to be the back door to requiring that the final decision on salvation rest with the person and not with God. Then, “God is the one who creates and determines the external events and secondary factors. Therefore what you are saying is external factors have no effect unless God creates them—but the external factors can not exist unless God creates them!” This is to say that God is the first cause. After that God need only sustain the system – gravity, physical laws, etc. – and within that system, humans can manipulate that which God has created to many effects – people plant crops or steal from those who do; Cain kills Abel; people enslave others – and God is heavily involved in restraining the evil that people set out to do or not restraining – all to accomplish His purposes. At times, God initiates certain outcomes – the Flood of Noah, the confusion of languages, the impregnation of Mary, the calling of Saul/Paul. Most times, God seems to be restraining people. The point is that philosophical determinism says that the physical environment in which people live determines what they do. When we introduce God into the equation, we are not talking about “determinism” in the philosophical sense. Thus, we need a new term to use for discussions that involve God and can reflect accurately His sovereignty. April 26, 2017 at 3:00 pm Your definition of LFW as simple non-coercion is not incorrect, many people use it such as William Lane Craig. But as you go deeper you find that for those who hold to LFW theology this is not sufficient. Why? Because this definition is in fact compatible with compatiblism. I disagree that LFW has not been developed. There is copious literature on the subject, both secular and religious. Also, I don’t think it is helpful or effective to redefine LFW from a Calvinist perspective. But perhaps I’ve misunderstood you. I also think that I’m not really understanding how God’s omni-attributes are relevant to the discussion other than redefining your opponents position—which, once again, really doesn’t get you anywhere. What’s the point of saying LFW exists we just define it completely differently than you do? All you end up doing then is talking past each other. Again, I may have misunderstood you. I am taking some of my cues from the discussion in Anselm, where he specifically defines free will as the ability to sin or not to sin. I don’t agree with his conclusions but I’m on firm ground with this debate historically. If there is some literature or a website that would explain this omni-view of LFW more fully please let me know. April 26, 2017 at 4:37 pm Mike Ranieri writes, “What’s the point of saying LFW exists we just define it completely differently than you do?” When issues get fleshed out in the technical literature, you tend to see the results in the general literature (like in blogs). Dr. Flowers recently received his doctorate and he basically uses a very simple definition of LFW – the ability to chose otherwise or to choose between A and ~A (as you note from Anselm). Maybe this summarizes the copious literature on the subject. I don’t know but I never see anything much beyond what Dr. Flowers does, so I tend to have doubts that much has really been done – or anything much beyond Jonathan Edwards. It’s not that I am trying to redefine LFW; I am offering analysis looking to see if anyone rejects it and offers an alternative way to describe LFW. As you said earlier, “LFW is incoherent,” indicating that you have not found anything substantive being written about LFW that pins down a solid definition. I see that Robert has offered a lot of comments on this, so I will walk through his comments for anything to advance this discussion. br.d says: April 26, 2017 at 4:32 pm I think LFW allows that one have knowledge of the options available and not be limited by forces outside oneself to choosing an option. If the proposition that God’s options are unlimited were true, it would then follow that God has the option of making a square circle, or decreeing Adam free to be a married bachelor, or to walk through a door that does not exist. God could have the option of existing and not existing at the same time, or he could have the option of being holy and unholy at the same time, or making true=false, etc. If God had these types of options, we would certainly see that affirmed in scripture. Additionally, if the proposition that God has LFW as an option, is true, then it follows that LFW does have ontological existence. These questions allow us to see why Reformed believers have debated this question, and why it will probably remain an unresolved question for future generations of Reformed believers. Robert says: April 26, 2017 at 3:04 pm Alright now I see the problem with Mike Ranieri’s comments concerning libertarian free will/LFW: “I know we are supposed to be on the same side but I have to disagree with you. God does not have LFW. LFW is the ability to do otherwise and, as it is applied to theology, specifically the ability to sin or not to sin. God can not sin, therefore God does not have LFW. LFW is incoherent!” I explained this to Ranieri months ago, perhaps even years ago, but he intentionally continues to ignore what I said and continues to INTENTIONALLY MISREPRESENT LFW. I explained that we have to make a distinction between a person’s capacity to choose otherwise AND THEIR RANGE OF CHOICES. Most people when simply defining LFW refer to the capacity to choose otherwise (without reference to a person’s range of choices). To take two famous examples consider the definitions of LFW of Alvin Plantinga and William Hasker (note both describe it as the ability to do otherwise, neither gets into people’s range of choices). “If a person is free with respect to a given action, then he is free to perform that action and free to refrain from performing it; no antecedent conditions and/or causal laws determine that he will perform the action, or that he won’t.” (Alvin Plantinga, GOD, FREEDOM, AND EVIL, p. 29) “An agent is free with respect to a given action at a given time if at that time it is within the agent’s power to perform the action and also in the agent’s power to refrain from the action.” (William Hasker, “A PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVE” p,136-137) Note the common denominator: the person can perform an action OR refrain from performing the action (if you can perform the action or refrain doing it, that means you can do otherwise). Now if LFW is defined in this way, the ability to choose to do an action or choose to refrain from doing that action/the ability to do otherwise: does God have LFW? Absolutely. Anytime God has the choice to do something or refrain from doing something, he has LFW (according to this definition of Plantinga and Hasker). God says Himself that He has mercy on whom He has mercy and hardens whom He hardens (this means He has choices regarding who He has mercy on and whom He does not have mercy on). You would think that even Calvinists would agree to this, so they would agree that by the Plantinga/Hasker definition, God has LFW. But some Calvinists because they are trying so hard to argue and refute non-Calvinism, *present a STIPULATED definition* of LFW that goes beyond how it is defined by most non-Calvinists such as Plantinga and Hasker. With a stipulated definition, you say that the person holds to X definition of something, you declare their definition when in fact it is not their definition (say their definition is Y). The problem is that when you present such a stipulated definition, if it is not the definition held by the person, you are confusing things and presenting a different definition then they hold to (i.e. you are misrepresenting their position, if you do so intentionally ignoring their saying that this is not their definition then you are committing the straw man fallacy). When you substitute a stipulated definition for the other person’s actual definition, nothing but confusion, frustration, error and misrepresentation results. Matt Slick has done this with LFW (and it appears that Mike Ranieri is a follower of Slick). Rather than staying with the definition of LFW held by people like Plantinga and Hasker, Slick stipulates a definition where LFW means that **a person who has LFW is able to choose to sin. Now if LFW is given a stipulated definition in which it means a person is able to choose to sin: then can God have LFW? No, because God is incapable of sin. Do believers in the eternal state have LFW by this stipulated definition? No, because in the eternal state believers are incapable of sin. What Slick also does is ignore the distinction between the capacity to experience LFW (i.e. a situation where a person, whether it is God or man, can choose one option or choose the other option, choose one option or refrain from choosing that option, where a person can do otherwise with respect to a particular choice) and an individual’s RANGE OF CHOICES. People’s range of choices differ. In the past I often use the example of Donald Trump and I in regard to purchasing MULTIPLE million dollar homes. I do not have this choice within my range of choices (at most I could purchase one million dollar property): Trump however does have this choice within his range of choices (he could if he chose buy multiple million dollar properties). Do we then conclude that since this choice is not within my range of choices that I never experience LFW? No, I experience LFW with regard to other things (e.g. if preparing a sermon or Bible Study I can choose which verses I will cite and which I will not cite, I can choose which illustrations I will use and which I will not choose to be part of the message, etc. etc. etc.). both Trump and I sometimes experience LFW, but we have a different range of choices. I can talk about the Greek text of the New Testament, so that is within my range of choices: but I doubt that Trump can talk about the Greek Text (does that mean since he cannot he does not ever experience LFW? No). What people like Slick (and Ranieri) do is inherently wrong because they foist their stipulated definition of LFW on non-Calvinists and then argue from their stipulated definition, rather than from our definition of LFW. If they did this accidentally, that would be one thing, but they have been told by non-Calvinists that that is not our definition of LFW. And yet they continue to operate by the stipulated definition THEY have created. Ranieri writes “LFW is the ability to do otherwise and, as it is applied to theology, specifically the ability to sin or not to sin.” If he stopped with “LFW is the ability to do otherwise” he would be speaking of the definition of Plantinga, Hasker and even Leighton. But note he goes further with the “AND”. He adds “as it is applied to theology, the ability to sin or not to sin.” According to WHOM is this the definition of LFW? According to Slick and those who follow him like Ranieri. And notice the choice to sin or not to sin is GOING TO A PERSON’S RANGE OF CHOICES. It is not within God’s range of choices to choose to sin. But does this then mean that God never experiences LFW? No. It is identical to making the mistake that since I cannot choose to buy multiple million dollar properties, therefore I never experience LFW (or making the mistake that since Trump cannot discuss the Greek Text of the New Testament, he therefore never experiences LFW, or making the mistake that since God cannot sin, it is not part of His range of choices, therefore He never experiences LFW). And we all know this distinction between the capacity to make choices or refrain from making choices AND our range of choices: why do we value education? Because we think that the more educated you are, the greater your range of choices becomes. Why do people value money so much? Because they believe it will increase their range of choices. Until Ranieri starts operating by our definition of LFW rather than the one stipulated by Slick, I suggest that Ranieri is ignored when it comes to his comments on LFW. As long as he operates by a false definition, a definition that we non-calvinists are not operating from, his comments will only lead to confusion, useless arguing, continual and repeated misrepresentation of our view of LFW and a waste of time. And it is not difficult to understand our view of LFW. Even rhutchin understands it. Notice that rhutchin actually understands the concept of LFW as held by Leighton Flowers and other non-Calvinists: “Generally, LFW seems to involve A or ~A choices. It does not require that one be equally disposed to either option so long as one is aware of the option. That God cannot sin results from His character and not from factors outside Himself that limit what He can do. So, I think that, technically/philosophically, if LFW is defined consistently, then God sets the standard for one who actually has LFW – by virtue of His omniscience, omnipotence, perfect understanding, perfect wisdom, etc.” So LFW is the ability to do otherwise (“seems to involve A or –A choices”). God cannot sin, though God has LFW (“God cannot sin . . . . God sets the standard for one who actually has LFW”). He is also correct that humans have a lesser range of choices than God does: “If humans have LFW, it is a watered down version – the choices people have are limited because they don’t always know the options available to them, do not understand the impacts of their choices, etc.” Rhutchin even gives a good description of Leighton’s view of LFW: “Dr. Flowers defines LFW as the ability to choose otherwise – A or ~A. This allows that ignorance reduces the full range of choices that people have and most choices people can make tend to be trivial.” There it is again LFW involves “the ability to choose otherwise – A or –A”. Note also that rhutchin gets the point that people’s choices involves their “range of choices.” So one person, say Donald Trump, being president has the choice to make executive orders,that is part of his range of choices. But it is not part of my range of choices. Does that mean that I do not ever experience LFW and that only Trump does? No, we would say that we both sometimes experience LFW, it is just that OUR RANGE OF CHOICES IS DIFFERENT. br.d says: April 26, 2017 at 2:20 pm Rhutchin writes “God has true libertarian freedom by virtue of His Omniscience” The notion that God has libertarian freedom in a world in which libertarian freedom does not have ontological existence, has historically been debated among Reformed thinkers. Francis Turretin, for example, held that libertarian freedom does not have ontological existence, but also that God did exercise some form of libertarian freedom in his creation of the world. Turretin acknowledged the contradiction and appealed to human ignorance and mystery as the explanation. April 26, 2017 at 3:07 pm Hmmm, that’s interesting. I have not read Turretin. I guess that is what Rhutchin was getting at with God’s omni-atributes defining LFW. I will have to look this up. br.d says: April 26, 2017 at 5:02 pm I don’t think rhutchin and Turretin are on the same page at all. Turretin was noted for his discipline and sensitivity to rational reasoning. If you review the full compliment of rhutchin’s posts here at SOT101, I think you’ll discover most are belief-based and not well thought out. In many cases, simply wishful thinking. IMHO, you are much more disciplined in your sensitivities towards rational reasoning than you may be aware. I would suggest, if you look for indicators of double-think in rhutchin’s posts, you’ll eventually understand what I’m hinting at. There are a number of approaches to logical contradictions. – Proposition (A) and Proposition (O) are not a contradictions they are perfectly logical – Proposition (A) and Proposition (O) only appear as contradictions, they are in fact a paradox – Proposition (A) is emphasized at point A, resulting in some degree of the denial of Proposition (O) without being cognizant of that denial – Proposition (O) is emphasized at point B, resulting in some degree of the denial of Proposition (A) without being cognizant of that denial All of those responses to contradiction are much more a manifestation of one’s psychology than one’s theology/philosophy. April 26, 2017 at 5:54 pm Thanks br.d. I appreciate the encouragement. I’m finding it hard to continue on this blog with the barrage on negativity I’m getting from one particular blogger who I’m trying hard not to engage with. April 26, 2017 at 7:44 pm If you can hang in there… do, Mike! You contribute some good stuff, and Roger probably won’t feel as lonely with you around! Sometimes we just have to ignore the lack of tact that some might display from time to time (or all the time ;-)). I have found that all have some good thought provoking things to say… even though I know that I am the only one that sees it all perfectly the right way! lol br.d says: April 26, 2017 at 8:29 pm That is the nature of the environment, I’m sorry to say. My most significant regret is, there have been sisters who have come to participate here, who have been treated in an aggressive manner they weren’t prepared for…..and shouldn’t have to be. I’ve seen it happen two or three times. And its sad to watch. They really do deserve a place at the table of discussion. I hope and pray for a higher degree of sensitivity on that issue. You know, I also think Dr. Flowers would have more opportunity to have sincere dialog with you and others, if it weren’t for the consistent tendency toward reflexive antagonism in response to his articles. April 26, 2017 at 8:53 pm br.d writes, “… the consistent tendency toward reflexive antagonism in response to his articles.” I think it relates more to his tendency to make generalizations and leave out details. br.d says: April 26, 2017 at 4:15 pm Good humor there!! I enjoyed the reading…..thank you!! :-] 1) Calling James White an apologist for “Christianity” in-toto, is complimentary, but obviously misleading, because any observer of White’s focus can see he is an apologist specifically for Reformed Theology, representing a fraction of the Christian population, a subset of Protestant Theology, which is itself a subset of Christian Theology. 2) It may be true, that a person can have opinions on every conceivable topic in the world, but in this case, everything is obviously perceived through, and presented through the microcosm of NeoPlatonic-Determinism. As the biologist says; there is a world of life, exterior to the microscope. April 26, 2017 at 5:46 pm One only needs to read Anselm to discover that the debate of whether God has LFW as he is unable to sin has an historical pedigree. Within the scope of the definition of LWF is non-cohesion. Also, is the range of possibilities and choices. And, indeed, range of choices can be defined as A or not A. But if this is the extent of the definition than there is no disagreement between LFW and compatibilist free will. So where is the debate? If I am given 3 positive choices and no negative choices is this the LFW held by LFW proponents, both secular and theological? And vice versa, if I am given a plethora of choices but they are all negative are these real choices? Is “Sophie’s Choice” a true libertarian free choice? If you define God’s LFW as the ability to create or not to create than, once again, there is no debate. Calvinists and Arminians, monergists and synergists, free will libertarians, determinists and compatibilists can unite! But this is not what is being argued. And it is counterproductive to define LFW in this limited sense and then go on to argue that man must have the ability to reject or accept God—that is to sin or not to sin—on his own libertarian free volition. I would be foolish to think that straw-man argumentation never happens. In fact it happens on both sides. Leighton Flowers and most non-Calvinists, label Calvinists as determinists. This is understandable. To the non-Calvinist compatibilism is incoherent and the implications of the Calvinist theology is hard-deterministic and makes men into robots. Comparatively non-Calvinism’s implications require LFW to support the ability to sin or not to sin. Once again, if both camps agree that God can not sin and the saved can not sin in the eternal state and that this is the definition of LFW than there is no disagreement. But one only needs to read the literature to find libertarians debating among themselves as to the freedom of those souls in heaven. And again, I referrer you to Anselm for the discourses on the ability to sin as regards to libertarian free will. Robert says: April 26, 2017 at 7:09 pm Apparently somewhere (I am guessing due to the influence of Matt Slick as he seems to be the person that Mike Ranieri parrots) Ranieri got this notion that Anselm is the* spokesperson for LFW. This is not accurate for a few reasons. First, the discussion of LFW predated Anselm by centuries (i.e. people were discussing free will and determinism for centuries before Anselm ever came on the scene). Second, discussions have also followed Anselm, so he is not the end point of discussion of LFW. Thrid, Anselm held to LFW and in only one place made a comment that some take to argue that He did not hold to the ordinary conception of LFW (an acquaintance of mine Katherin Rogers wrote a helpful article on this, here: “One only needs to read Anselm to discover that the debate of whether God has LFW as he is unable to sin has an historical pedigree.” People for centuries, beginning in the early centuries of church history believed that God has LFW (the primary argument was that if He freely chose to create the world, was under no necessity to create the world, then He had LFW). “Within the scope of the definition of LWF is non-cohesion. Also, is the range of possibilities and choices. And, indeed, range of choices can be defined as A or not A. But if this is the extent of the definition than there is no disagreement between LFW and compatibilist free will. So where is the debate?” Ranieri’s comments here are mistaken because he refuses to accept the fact that compatibilism involves determinism. Theological determinism as espoused by calvinists involves exhaustive determinism (i.e. God has decreed every event without exception). If God has decreed every event, then we never ever experience LFW (we may MAKE choices but WE NEVER HAVE CHOICES). A major failing on the part of Ranieri is that he says he holds to compatibilism but he simultaneously argues that his compatibilism does not involve exhaustive determinism. “If I am given 3 positive choices and no negative choices is this the LFW held by LFW proponents, both secular and theological?” Yes if you are acting freely, meaning that you can choose any of the three options, no necessitating factor is causing you to choose one option rather than the others. Yes, most people are aware that in this fallen world, at times, we have to choose between two options and both are not “positive”. A classic illustration was the decision of whether or not to drop nuclear bombs on Japan. If they did not, many ground forces would have died trying to take Japan, if they did then thousands of civilians would be killed or harmed (either way the choice was negative, many would die with either choice). “If you define God’s LFW as the ability to create or not to create than, once again, there is no debate. Calvinists and Arminians, monergists and synergists, free will libertarians, determinists and compatibilists can unite!” And they should unite on the fact that at least sometimes God himself experiences LFW (choices where He can make either choice, neither choices is necessitated for Him). “But this is not what is being argued. And it is counterproductive to define LFW in this limited sense and then go on to argue that man must have the ability to reject or accept God—that is to sin or not to sin—on his own libertarian free volition.” This is another persistent mistake that Ranieri engages in. Because he fails to distinguish between the capacity to make choices (experiencing LFW) and the range of choices that a person has (these choices are influenced by various factors). He cannot see that the real disagreement is not whether or not LFW ever exists (there are clear instances with both God, e.g. his choice to create or not create the world; and man, e.g. Adam before the fall, could choose to obey God or listen to Satan): but about specific choices whether or not they are within our range of choices. Calvinists argue that due to total depravity the nonbeliever does not have within their range of choices the choice to trust in Christ for salvation (unless God first regenerates the person thus enabling them to have this choice as part of their range of choices). Traditionalists like Leighton on the other hand, argue that the fall did not result in the choice of choosing to trust Christ for salvation being not part of the non-believers range of choices. And that really is where the debate should be: specifically did the fall result in all of Adam’s descendants being born without the ability to choose to trust in Christ unless regenerated first. “I would be foolish to think that straw-man argumentation never happens. In fact it happens on both sides.” This is true, it does happen at times on both sides. Whenever we present the other side as holding X, when in reality they hold Y, we are misrepresenting them and fruitful discussion then becomes impossible. Only confusion and useless argument results. To use an illustration most of us can relate to. If we have a problem at work and we are seeking to develop a workable solution for it. If we do not agree on the nature of the problem, we will talk past each other and we will not successfully deal with the problem. We have to carefully define the problem and make sure everyone is operating from this same definition. “Leighton Flowers and most non-Calvinists, label Calvinists as determinists. This is understandable.” It should be understandable because it is true. “To the non-Calvinist compatibilism is incoherent and the implications of the Calvinist theology is hard-deterministic and makes men into robots.” Compatibilism appears to be incoherent when the compatibilist speaks of free will as involving having choices when in reality if exhaustive determinism is true we never ever have a choice. That is a contradiction and so is incoherent. If the compatibilist redefines free will so that it does not involve the ability to choose otherwise, then it makes sense, we just believe it is wrong. “Comparatively non-Calvinism’s implications require LFW to support the ability to sin or not to sin.” This is a misrepresentation of LFW because one can believe in LFW and believe that a person may not have sin within their range of choices (God all the time, believers in the eternal state). Put another way, a person can be incapable of sin and yet have LFW (Jesus had LFW which is clear from his own statements He was also incapable of sin and He was fully human). “Once again, if both camps agree that God can not sin and the saved can not sin in the eternal state and that this is the definition of LFW than there is no disagreement.” Actually being incapable of sin is not the definition of LFW. The definition of LFW involves the ability to choose otherwise. It is only in speaking of a person’s range of choices that we then talk about how they have LFW but are incapable of sin. “But one only needs to read the literature to find libertarians debating among themselves as to the freedom of those souls in heaven.” All of the libertarians that I personally know believe both that we retain LFW in the eternal state and that we will be incapable of sin (this includes friends like Alvin Plantinga, J. P. Moreland, Kevin Timpe, and many, many others). “And again, I referrer you to Anselm for the discourses on the ability to sin as regards to libertarian free will.” And I refer people to Rogers’ article where she explains what Anselm meant. Anselm’s definition of LFW was not that it means the ability to sin as some such as Ranieri claim . April 26, 2017 at 7:41 pm Robert writes, “an acquaintance of mine Katherin Rogers wrote a helpful article on this, here: The cited article says this (citing Anselm), “Only a rational being who can step back from its immediate desires and choose to align its desires with the will of God can be said to have free will.” So, should free will be limited to rational beings? Using this as a definition of “free will” would seem to eliminate the unsaved person as having free will. I think Jonathan Edwards made the same point. The Calvinist view of free will exercised by the lost is consistent with this – not coerced and in line with one’s desires. So, would those who advocate LFW be willing to add this as an addendum to their definition of free will – being the ability to choose otherwise? br.d says: April 26, 2017 at 8:12 pm If, as you have mentioned, alternative possibilities do not exist. And if you agree with the thesis that a core constituent of determinism, is that it entails one and only one single unique future for every event (which would include the event of making a choice), then doesn’t it follow, that a person really doesn’t have more than one, and only one, single unique choice to make? Calvinists have tended to have different ways of answering YES to this question. One answer Calvinists have given, is to assert that alternative possibilities don’t exist, and then at a later time assert they do. Another answer I’ve seen follows this line of reasoning: 1) God, with his divine knowledge and divine foreknowledge knows that a person can only choose what God, from the foundation of the world, decreed that human to choose. 2) And since God makes that choice in the past, there is, in fact, one and only one, single unique future (i.e. future choice for the human to make). 3) But humans, not having divine knowledge, perceive themselves as having alternative possibilities, and thus see themselves has having alternative choices, (i.e., more than one single unique choice to make). 4) But since alternative possibilities don’t really exist in a deterministic cosmology, the human perception of alternative possibilities, is merely an illusion. So for that Calvinist, at least during that argument, alternative possibilities exist, but only as human illusions. The interesting and ironic twist from that line of reasoning is, that Calvinist may later assert, that by virtue of alternative possibilities existing as human illusions, God does genuinely give humans alternative possibilities to choose from. But you can see, that line of reasoning backfires on the Calvinist without him seeing it do so. For in asserting that God gives genuine alternative possibilities, that are in fact illusions, he has now fallen prey to the illusion. April 26, 2017 at 9:01 pm br.d writes, “So for that Calvinist, at least during that argument, alternative possibilities exist, but only as human illusions….” So, can you argue against the Calvinist position without begging the question? Then, “…in asserting that God gives genuine alternative possibilities, that are in fact illusions, he has now fallen prey to the illusion.” Then, Calvinists should drop that argument. br.d says: April 26, 2017 at 9:17 pm You’ll have to explain the “beg the question” reference. And yes, on the last question, if the Calvinist ( or any critical thinker) doesn’t want to get caught such a trap. But as Ravi Zacharias laments….Christians all to often cling to positions that are not well thought out April 26, 2017 at 10:54 pm br.d writes, “yes, on the last question,” Yet you do not offer anything. Maybe in another comment. Or maybe, your, Yes, actually means, No, in your double think world. br.d says: April 27, 2017 at 2:00 pm I suggest you research what “begging the question” really is in regard to it being one of the standard fallacies. Might as well get a handle on what it means to fabricate a straw-man in order to knock it down, while your doing that research. Just a little friendly help for you. April 27, 2017 at 7:16 pm br.d writes, “yes, on the last question,” Still, you do not offer anything. Guess we will never know. br.d says: April 28, 2017 at 2:35 pm With your inventive imagination, you’re doing quite well without any help from anyone. April 26, 2017 at 9:47 pm This is quite a dilemma and I can certainly follow your reasoning. I think I would need sometime to really think this through. It is not that I haven’t considered this before, it’s just that I’ve put it on the back burner in favour of doing more reading and research. All I can say at this point is that this is indeed a problem in the Calvinist system. But at this point in my development I see more logical problems with LFW than with compatiblism and I find the scriptural weight on the Calvinist side. I guess you got me on this one br.d says: April 27, 2017 at 2:14 pm I appreciate your kind words but please don’t see it that way! We’re both in the same boat together here. Both of of us striving for the same goal. You have a sincere heart for truth, which I honor. April 26, 2017 at 6:30 pm Is compatiblism a form of determinism? The short answer is yes. But what does this really mean? Often when non-Calvinists (and even some Calvinists) hear this and they jump on it and say, “See, Calvinists are determinists!” This is just false. Even from a logical semantic stand point this is false. If Calvinists are determinists than why call themselves compatiblists? Is this just some kind of misdirection or trick? Are Calvinists being dishonest? Compatiblism must mean something different than determinism—they’re not the same word. If this were not the case than the honest thing to do would be for Calvinists to label themselves theistic determinists—in fact some do, but I feel that this label is better appropriately applied to hyper-Calvinistism. The reason compatiblism is a form of determinism (and I dislike this phrase for the simple reason that it is misunderstood—as I have indicated above) is because compatiblism contains determinism. Compatiblism posits a compatibility between determinism and free will. One could equally say that compatiblism if a form of free will. But libertarians are quick to argue that the type of free will that compatiblists espouse is not real free will because free will and determinism are incompatible. And this is where both determinists and libertarians agree. Many secular and theistic philosophers (and theologians) want to reduce the argument to the false dichotomy of determinism vs. LFW (though among secular philosophers the majority view is some version of compatiblism). The reasons for this have to do with the supposed incoherence of compatiblism—though often this is just a knee-jerk reaction and the incoherence of their own system is ignored—and it is just easier to argue extremes. It’s like trying to defend democracy where someone says, “Your democracy supports unions—that’s socialism, so you must really be a socialist!” The compatiblitst view must effect and alter both free will and determinism. It’s like the old commercial where the participants declare, “You’ve got chocolate in my peanut butter—you’ve got peanut butter on my chocolate”—both combine to make something new! And even simple determinism isn’t so simple. Non-Calvinists accuse Calvinists of determinism which makes people into puppets and robots. But what about animals? Do animals have LFW? No? Then are animals robots? No? Than if animals do not have LFW nor are they determined than what? The philosophical nomenclature is confusing. There are soft and hard versions of libertarianism, determinism and compatiblism. Both soft-determinism and soft-libertarianism could also be referred to as forms of compatiblism. An incompatiblist can be a libertarian or a determinist. br.d says: April 26, 2017 at 9:06 pm I’m not sure I could say that Compatibilism is a form of Determinism. If we accept the standard definition: “Compatibilism is the thesis that free will is compatible with determinism.” Then it would follow that determinism, compatiblism, and free will, are three distinct and separate things. And that compatibilism is said to facilitate a FORM of free will within a deterministic cosmology. For most compatibilists, LFW is rejected as a viable FORM of free will. They define free will as freedom to act according to one’s motives without arbitrary hindrance from other persons, individuals etc. Jonathan Edwards, following this mode of definition, would replace “act according to one’s motives” with “act according to one’s nature”. I applaud you for your insight in identifying the “mechanical” nature of determinism. This is another example of your sincerity, and the intellectual honesty you apply to these conceptions. And like you, I envision the various positions people take on this issue similarly, except I call it the “The Continuum Line of Determinism”. So for me, since most of these concepts have been well defined historically within Christian philosophy, the remaining dialogs tend to center around what qualities one ascribes to free will. April 26, 2017 at 11:24 pm br.d writes, “For most compatibilists, LFW is rejected as a viable FORM of free will. They define free will as freedom to act according to one’s motives without arbitrary hindrance from other persons, individuals etc.” More than that, they define “free will” in unsaved man as lacking faith. Thus, the person has nothing to override his sin nature. The conveyance of “faith” to an unsaved person through the preaching of the gospel enables the unsaved person to override his sin nature and accept God’s salvation in Christ. Otherwise, the unsaved has “freedom to act according to one’s motives” and those motives are selfish and prideful focussed on seeking one’s own glory – until God gives the person faith. br.d says: April 27, 2017 at 2:11 pm Does a true follower of Jesus Christ speak half-truths, while obfuscating the whole truth? In Calvinism’s form of Theological Determinism, man’s “Nature” (along with everything else) is the consequence of divine immutable decrees. As Calvinists often put it “its ALL part of God’s plan”. Calvinists rightly assert that evangelism (in their system) is simply a MEANS to god’s END. The whole truth, is that EVERYTHING (in the system) is a MEANS to god’s END. Let us strive to speak the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. In that way we honor the Lord of truth. April 27, 2017 at 7:57 pm br.d writes, “Let us strive to speak the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. In that way we honor the Lord of truth.” Let us all declare that God is sovereign and omniscient ruling the future as well as the present. br.d says: April 28, 2017 at 2:37 pm rhutchin writes “Let us all declare that God is sovereign and omniscient ruling the future as well as the present.” I would add to that “And that man should not create a graven image of God that unwittingly makes him the author of evil”. April 29, 2017 at 8:40 pm br.d writes, “I would add to that “And that man should not create a graven image of God that unwittingly makes him the author of evil”.’ Within the context of scripture, of course. “by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities–all things have been created by Him and for Him.” (Colossians 1) and “The LORD has made everything for its own purpose, Even the wicked for the day of evil.” (Proverbs 16) and “So now then, speak to the men of Judah and against the inhabitants of Jerusalem saying, ‘Thus says the LORD, “Now therefore go to, speak to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, Thus says the LORD; Behold, I frame evil against you, and devise a device against you: return now every one from his evil way, and make your ways and your doings good.’ (Jeremiah 18) Robert says: April 26, 2017 at 9:28 pm Mike Ranieri’s comments on determinism, compatibilism and free will are so off base, so out of touch with mainstream scholarship in this area that it is hard to read his comments. “Is compatiblism a form of determinism? The short answer is yes. But what does this really mean?” It means what it has always meant, compatibilists believe free will (as defined by them) is compatible with determinism. “Often when non-Calvinists (and even some Calvinists) hear this and they jump on it and say, “See, Calvinists are determinists!” This is just false.” It is not false, calvinists who hold to compatibilism ARE DETERMNISTS BECAUSE COMPATIBILISM IS A FORM OF DETERMINISM. John Fischer says this, Plantinga says this, Craig says this, on ad infinitum. “Even from a logical semantic stand point this is false. If Calvinists are determinists than why call themselves compatiblists?” Because as has been clearly recognized by almost everyone, compatibilism is a form of determinism. “Is this just some kind of misdirection or trick? Are Calvinists being dishonest? ” Not they are not being dishonest if they call themselves compatibilists and believe that their conception of free will is compatible with determinism. “Compatiblism must mean something different than determinism—they’re not the same word.” No they are not the same word, but again compatibilism is a form of determinism (usually designated as “soft determinism”). “If this were not the case than the honest thing to do would be for Calvinists to label themselves theistic determinists—in fact some do, but I feel that this label is better appropriately applied to hyper-Calvinistism.” This a red herring, bringing in hyper-calvinists. Well known calvinists such as John Frame and Paul Feinberg view themselves as compatibilists and do not see themselves as hyper-calvinists. “The reason compatiblism is a form of determinism (and I dislike this phrase for the simple reason that it is misunderstood—as I have indicated above) is because compatiblism contains determinism.” No, it is because compatibilists view their view of determinism as compatible with free will. “Compatiblism posits a compatibility between determinism and free will.” Exactly, which is why they will also call themselves “soft determinists”. “One could equally say that compatiblism if a form of free will.” Not that is not how the term is used. “ But libertarians are quick to argue that the type of free will that compatiblists espouse is not real free will because free will and determinism are incompatible. And this is where both determinists and libertarians agree.” The libertarian does not argue that free will as defined by compatibilists is incompatible with determinism, the argument is that determinism is incompatible with libertarian free will. “Many secular and theistic philosophers (and theologians) want to reduce the argument to the false dichotomy of determinism vs. LFW (though among secular philosophers the majority view is some version of compatiblism). The reasons for this have to do with the supposed incoherence of compatiblism—though often this is just a knee-jerk reaction and the incoherence of their own system is ignored—and it is just easier to argue extremes. It’s like trying to defend democracy where someone says, “Your democracy supports unions—that’s socialism, so you must really be a socialist!”” People are not trying to reduce the argument, they are trying to discuss things with the agreed upon definitions of terms. Mike Ranieri does not agree with the accepted terms so he tries to change the vocabulary, which is why he does not make sense. “The compatiblitst view must effect and alter both free will and determinism. It’s like the old commercial where the participants declare, “You’ve got chocolate in my peanut butter—you’ve got peanut butter on my chocolate”—both combine to make something new!” They do not combine to make something new, compatibilism claims that determinism and free will are compatible. “And even simple determinism isn’t so simple. Non-Calvinists accuse Calvinists of determinism which makes people into puppets and robots.” We make this accusation because in many instances calvinism is hard determinism disguised as soft determinism. “But what about animals? Do animals have LFW?” Why not, if an animal has a mind and decides between two options, isn’t that LFW? “ No? Then are animals robots? No? Than if animals do not have LFW nor are they determined than what?” My pets have always shown evidence of making choices between differing options, so apparently they sometimes experience LFW. “The philosophical nomenclature is confusing.” Actually it is not confusing at all, it is only when someone like Ranieri comes in and tries to redefine things that things get confusing. “There are soft and hard versions of libertarianism, determinism and compatiblism. Both soft-determinism and soft-libertarianism could also be referred to as forms of compatiblism. An incompatiblist can be a libertarian or a determinist.” I am not even going to waste time trying to show how messed up these comments are. April 26, 2017 at 11:00 pm Robert writes, “compatibilists believe free will (as defined by them) is compatible with determinism.” Technically, compatibilists believe free will (as defined by them) is compatible with God’s sovereignty and sovereignty require the conclusion that God ordains all things as the primary agent and through secondary agents (among secondary agents, each person’s sin nature is the primary agent to bring about God’s purposes). Robert says: April 26, 2017 at 6:31 pm “I’m finding it hard to continue on this blog with the barrage on negativity I’m getting from one particular blogger who I’m trying hard not to engage with.” Not hard to guess this is referring to me. It is not a “barrage of negativity” it is presentation of the truth that Ranieri refuses to deal with. As long as he chooses to engage in straw man presentation of LFW, his comments on LFW are a waste of time and lead only to confusion and error and useless arguing. If we say the sky is blue, and Ranieri says that we say the sky is red, no positive and fruitful discussion can follow. It is not “negativity” to state this obvious truth that as long as he intentionally operates from a definition of LFW that Plantinga, Hasker, Leighton, myself and myriads of others DO NOT hold to. All he is doing is fostering a straw man of his own imagination. As he keeps doing this misrepresenation after being corrected about it, his actions become dishonest. I don’t care if someone makes fun of our claim that the sky is blue, or attacks it, or tries to argue with it, but claiming that we are saying the sky is red when we are saying it is blue, is dishonest and obstinate. Robert says: April 26, 2017 at 8:47 pm I should have figured that if I put out an article a person like rhutchin would cherry pick from it to try to prove his view: “The cited article says this (citing Anselm), “Only a rational being who can step back from its immediate desires and choose to align its desires with the will of God can be said to have free will.” So, should free will be limited to rational beings?” That is not what the point of the quote is. The quote is contrasting animals and human persons. The point being made by Anselm is that desires do not necessitate actions for human persons. A rational being can have desires and can choose not to follow them, they can decide rationally not to follow them. The quote is not saying that free will is limited only to rational beings. Also this is NOT a definition of free will: “Using this as a definition of “free will” would seem to eliminate the unsaved person as having free will. ” But it is not a definition of free will. Anselm was not a calvinist and so did not hold to total depravity. Anselm would believe that this quote would be true of both the non-believer and the believer. The statement thus cannot be used to argue that this “would seem to eliminate the unsaved person as having free will”. “The Calvinist view of free will exercised by the lost is consistent with this – not coerced and in line with one’s desires.” But this is not the definition of free will, it is a statement by Anselm that rhutchin tries to cherry pick to prove his view. It is similar to those who ignore the context of a given scripture and simply quote something to prove their view (cf. Mormons quoting that God must be physical because it speaks of the “arm of the Lord” etc.). “So, would those who advocate LFW be willing to add this as an addendum to their definition of free will – being the ability to choose otherwise?” No, because the quote is not a definition of free will nor did Anselm intend it as such (if you look at the context of the quote it is distinguishing animals from men: “A lower animal, like a horse or a dog, can have rightness of will when it wills what it ought. But it cannot have the power to keep rightness of will for its own sake. Only a rational being who can step back . . .”). There is no need to add to free will being the ability to choose otherwise. Hopefully no one else will attempt to cherry pick from this article. April 26, 2017 at 10:35 pm The really frustrating thing about discussing issues on this blog is that certain people are so focused on their own personal agendas that they are not careful readers and make wild assumptions. Anselm is not the spokesperson for LFW. And Anselm is not a monergist. And he, in fact, defends LFW as does Katherine Rogers, one of his apologists and biographers. The point is simply that he is one of the early church fathers, if you will, that discuss this issue of the ability to sin. Another problem is in trying to be brief and concise, one has to give general examples which can not cover all possibilities. If I give you a choice between chocolate and vanilla but not the choice to reject either is this real LFW? I guess “Sophie’s Choice” is a movie no one remembers. And I am certainly not going to defend LFW by defending Hiroshima and Nagasaki! Compatiblism, and there for Calvinism, have always supported a range of limited choices. Calvinists believe the man’s free will, and his range of choices, are limited and determined by his fallen nature. Now, original sin is a related issue but the foundation is whether Adam’s decedents—that’s all mankind—have the ability refrain from sinning through their own volition. Apart from regeneration man must have the ability to accept or reject God. This is were the classic Arminian brings in prevenient grace. As for the Traditionalist this is still a mystery to me. And finally, to say the LFW is the ability to do otherwise and then make a myriad of qualifications and exceptions, as most libertarians do, is one of the main reasons I reject it. Sorry but I guess I’m just out of the loop. I’ve never heard or read (until now) that the ability to choose otherwise “only” means that a person has a range of limited choices. Once again, if this is the case then why are we arguing? I agree that the main argument is about puppets and robots. But I’m trying to explore and understand some of the distinctives. Perhaps I am going outside the official nomenclature. And I do disagree with some of the standard Calvinist and free will philosophy apologetics. But robots and computers also have a range of choices and I don’t know about you but, regardless of Star Trek, I contend that robots don’t have free will—even compatibilist free will! Robert says: April 27, 2017 at 3:41 pm “The really frustrating thing about discussing issues on this blog is that certain people are so focused on their own personal agendas that they are not careful readers and make wild assumptions.” Well this is the pot calling the kettle black. Ranieri’s “own personal agenda” is rather transparent (i.e. defend his calvinistic beliefs and attack the Traditionalist beliefs of Leighton Flowers). “If I give you a choice between chocolate and vanilla but not the choice to reject either is this real LFW? I guess “Sophie’s Choice” is a movie no one remembers. And I am certainly not going to defend LFW by defending Hiroshima and Nagasaki!” Wait a minute play back the tape on this one. Ranieri wrote in another post: I took this to be a question about whether a choice can be a genuine choice if all of the options involved appear to be negative. I responded with: “Yes, most people are aware that in this fallen world, at times, we have to choose between two options and both are not “positive”. A classic illustration was the decision of whether or not to drop nuclear bombs on Japan. If they did not, many ground forces would have died trying to take Japan, if they did then thousands of civilians would be killed or harmed (either way the choice was negative, many would die with either choice).” One need not be a non-Calvinist to understand this point about available choices in a fallen world. I gave a famous example where the available choices all appear to be negative. Ranieri says “And I am certainly not going to defend LFW by defending Hiroshima and Nagasaki.” I really was not defending LFW, I was dealing with HIS question about whether or not we have a genuine choice if all of the available options appear to be negative. You don’t have to even hold to LFW to grant that in this fallen world sometimes we have a genuine choice and all of the choices are “negative.” In ethics they talk about the lesser of evils concept. “Compatiblism, and there for Calvinism, have always supported a range of limited choices.” No one argues for human persons having unlimited choices. “Calvinists believe the man’s free will, and his range of choices, are limited and determined by his fallen nature.” There is no such thing as a “fallen nature” that acts as an entity in the world causing events (including choices). That is a cop out. The “fallen nature” does not determine anything as it is not an existing entity that has causal power. If we ask concrete questions about this supposed entity called the “fallen nature” we quickly see that it does not exist (e.g. what size is this fallen nature? Where is it located? How does it cause events to occur in the world? What kinds of events can it cause? Can it be destroyed or modified? Etc. etc. If the questions sound absurd, they are because they commit the error of category confusion, like asking “how heavy is the color blue?, how long is the color yellow?) “Now, original sin is a related issue but the foundation is whether Adam’s decedents—that’s all mankind—have the ability refrain from sinning through their own volition.” I doubt this is much of an issue as virtually everyone believes that mankind is fallible and sinful and incapable of never sinning in this life. “Apart from regeneration man must have the ability to accept or reject God. This is were the classic Arminian brings in prevenient grace. As for the Traditionalist this is still a mystery to me.” Not sure what the mystery is, as Traditionalists deny the calvinistic conception of total depravity. Leighton in particular has been very clear about this on this blog. Now you may not agree with Leighton, but again, if you want to understand his view, you have to fairly and accurately represent it (and in his view there is no fallen nature that prevents people from choosing to trust in Christ, or put another way, Leighton denies inability). “And finally, to say the LFW is the ability to do otherwise and then make a myriad of qualifications and exceptions, as most libertarians do, is one of the main reasons I reject it.” Most libertarians start with the basic conception of LFW as involving the ability to do otherwise, as a situation where a person has a genuine choice from at least two different options, both of which are available and accessible to the person. The “qualifications and exceptions” come in because human choosing is contextual and effected by various factors. To take one example, what a person is aware of and not aware of influences his/her range of choices. If you don’t know about the “big sale” at such and such store, why would you choose to go to that store to save money at the sale? We all know this. We treat people differently when they are sick or under the influence of drugs or alcohol. We speak of “diminished capacity”. Fact is, everybody in real life speaks of choices with “qualifications and exceptions”. Same is true of compatibilists as well. Look at their writings and you see “qualifications and exceptions” being discussed (e.g. a big one is the issue of coercion, was the person under coercion when making their choice?). If you are going to reject a person’s view because they make qualifications and exceptions, then you will **have to reject every view, both LFW and compatibilism, because everyone understands choices do not occur in a vacuum, they occur with lots of factors being involved. And if you discuss these factors you will find yourself discussing “qualifications and exceptions”. “Sorry but I guess I’m just out of the loop.” From your comments it appears that either you do not know what people believe in this area or you for whatever reason(s) are mistaken about what the concepts such as determinism, LFW, compatibilism, hard and soft determinism, etc. mean in their standard usage. “I’ve never heard or read (until now) that the ability to choose otherwise “only” means that a person has a range of limited choices.” You don’t have to believe me, just ask someone like Alvin Plantinga, yourself. “Once again, if this is the case then why are we arguing?” I said it before and it bears repeating, the real issues of contention occur when you start speaking not of the simple capacity to make choices from among alternatives: but from discussing why one choice is part of a person’s range of choices and another is not (e.g. why is the choice to choose to trust Christ for salvation not available to the nonbeliever? At least that is a point of contention made by calvinists based on their belief that total depravity eliminates this choice from the range of choices of the unbeliever, calvinists will speak of how the nonbeliever can choose this and this sin, but they cannot choose to trust in Christ for salvation unless regenerated first, well that whole disagreement goes to what is within the range of choices for the nonbeliever and why?). “I agree that the main argument is about puppets and robots.” Actually one of the arguments is whether or not exhaustive determinism makes people appear to be no different from puppets or robots (with compatibilists saying it does not, libertarians saying ED eliminates genuine free will and so makes people into puppets and robots). “But I’m trying to explore and understand some of the distinctives. Perhaps I am going outside the official nomenclature.” That is where you have to be very careful. The so-called “official nomenclature” serves a very useful purpose, mainly so that when we speak of X, we are operating from the same meaning of X. If we are not, then confusion and talking past each other will occur. The same is true with all ordinary language use. If by the word “Yes” I mean “I agree with you” and you mean the opposite “I disagree with you”. How can we carry on a rational and fruitful conversation? If this is true with ordinary conversation, how much more is this true with issues of debate and disagreement? It is especially true when debating an issue, if the terms do not have the same meaning for those involved, the debate/discussion is useless. So there is nothing wrong with using the standard meanings or “official nomenclature”. “And I do disagree with some of the standard Calvinist and free will philosophy apologetics.” Nothing wrong with disagreeing, as long as you are in fact talking about the same things and presenting what others believe accurately and fairly. “But robots and computers also have a range of choices and I don’t know about you but, regardless of Star Trek, I contend that robots don’t have free will—even compatibilist free will!” My understanding is that when speaking of free will we are usually speaking of conscious persons, not things. A robot or computer is a thing without consciousness not a person. Now Star Trek did get into this discussion by its inclusion of “Data” an android who possessed both consciousness and seemed to function as a person. This was one of the main points of discussion in the series, was “Data” a person? How was he different from a human person? If you go back and watch the show, as he possessed consciousness and had and made choices he appeared to be experiencing LFW. Others did not treat him as thing but as a person. Others held him responsible for his choices. We do not hold things responsible for events they cause (we don’t get made at our car and “say bad car, why did you do that?”, unless we are delusional!), we hold only persons responsible (or in the case of animals, we hold them responsible when they appeared to make a choice that they did not have to make, we scold a dog for doing its thing on the carpet instead of outside). A simple robot or computer WITHOUT CONSCIOUSNESS is very different from “Data”. One of the main points of contention between non-Calvinists and calvinists is that the non-Calvinists are convinced that if ED is true, this eliminates people from being genuine persons with genuine choices, they instead seem to operate like robots or computers. April 27, 2017 at 8:08 pm As an aside and not to sidetrack discussion, I made this point at SBCToday and was excommunicated for doing so. While it is true that Dr. Flowers denies this, I am not sure that all those who call themselves Traditionalists have figured out that they must do so also (or else follow those like Brian who advocate some form of open future). phillip says: April 27, 2017 at 7:46 pm Well, I see Robert is back to his bloviating best. To date, Robert has left 12 comments on this particular thread. The word count for each is as follows… At SBC Today, they have guidelines to prevent such abusive behavior. One of the “rules” at SBCT is no comment can be over 500 words and no one is allowed to post consecutive lengthy comments (another “rule”). If applied here, only 5 of Robert’s posts would have been allowed. To put this in perspective, all of Robert’s comments combined come to a staggering word count total of 9,319. Leighton’s article, in its entirety, only comes to 4,327. In one of his overly lengthy posts Robert wrote…. “I am not even going to waste time trying to show how messed up these comments are.” Thank God. If he had we would have certainly died from boredom, if not old age. Robert says: April 27, 2017 at 8:28 pm I was even thinking, just yesterday, “my, Phillip hasn’t commented lately”, until now: Phillip writes: “Well, I see Robert is back to his bloviating best.” Boy Phillip really likes that word “bloviating”, he has been using it in his last posts. I don’t know anyone else who uses that word. Is Phillip trying to impress us perhaps? “To date, Robert has left 12 comments on this particular thread. The word count for each is as follows…” It is too bad that Phillip doesn’t have better things to do with his limited time then do word counts on my posts. Pretty pathetic life if that is how he gets his kicks. I really can’t complain however, in the past Phillip repeatedly claimed that I was a Pharisee, unsaved, and all sorts of nasty personal attacks. Apparently he’s cleaned up his act and he is “maturing” in his faith, as now instead of making personal attacks he is reduced to doing word counts on my posts and using his favorite word “bloviating”. If that is his worst current personal attack, the best that he can do, that I am “bloviating”, I guess that is progress so I really shouldn’t complain. Robert says: April 27, 2017 at 8:32 pm Bro. D in a recent post here said that we should speak the truth (“Let us strive to speak the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth”). He also asked: “Does a true follower of Jesus Christ speak half-truths, while obfuscating the whole truth?Answer: Not if he truly honors Christ.” Rhutchin is lying. He writes: As an aside and not to sidetrack discussion, I made this point at SBCToday and was excommunicated for doing so.”]] Rhutchin was not banned from posting at SBC Today for merely pointing out that Traditionalists deny the calvinistic conception of total depravity. Other Calvinists have made this claim and they were not banned. One of the things regularly discussed there is that Traditionalists do not hold the calvinistic conception of total depravity. And that is Ok, that is one perfectly acceptable view, it also in itself does not make you a “Pelagian.” No, he was banned from posting there because he repeatedly kept claiming that SBC Traditionalists were PELAGIANS. He was openly and publicly warned three times directly by Rick Patrick one of the moderators to cease and desist from doing this. Each time he ignored the warnings, kept claiming that they were Pelagians and so he was banned. April 28, 2017 at 1:18 am Robert writes, “No, he was banned from posting there because he repeatedly kept claiming that SBC Traditionalists were PELAGIANS.” At it’s heart is the Pelagian denial of Total Depravity. I said that Traditionlists would be Pelagian if they denied Total Depravity and none really tried to explain they were not. At the least, a person ought to be able to defend their own beliefs – which few on the non-Calvinist side seem able to do. phillip says: April 27, 2017 at 9:21 pm “I really can’t complain however, in the past Phillip repeatedly claimed that I was a Pharisee, unsaved, and all sorts of nasty personal attacks.” I have already addressed this a number of times. It appears Robert’s writing skills are only surpassed by his reading skills. Providing the word count for Robert’s comments takes only a few minutes; about a fraction of the time it takes to read just one of his comments. “Rhutchin is lying.” Perhaps the “nasty personal attacks” Robert was alluding to is when one calls another brother in Christ a liar. And with two more posts with a word count of 199 and 217, Robert’s staggering word count total is now up to 9,735. At this pace, Robert should surpass the Dow Jones Industrial Average (20,981.33) soon. br.d says: April 28, 2017 at 2:52 pm Actually, the identification of what might be best characterized as “flirting with dishonesty” on rhutchin’s part, has been sighted by numerous Christian participants at SOT101, both ongoing, and by visitors who have come, engaged in dialog, and perhaps not returned. Robert was simply referring to a post I made in that ongoing acknowledgement, although the word “liar” hasn’t come up before. April 30, 2017 at 4:43 am Romans 2:4-11 In verse 4 Paul speaks of God’s “riches of goodness, forbearance and long suffering ” and they don’t know that the ” goodness of God” leads them to repentance. Are we going to say that the “riches of his goodness” is not rich enough to bring about repentance? Are we also going to say that God is leading them to repent yet refusing to give them a heart to repent therefore making God to have two wills for the same people ,leading them to repent but not allowing them to repent. Verse 5 speaks plainly it is THEIR hard and impentant heart that treasures up wrath against them. This puts the fault directly on them because they did respond to the “riches of his goodness” . Now verse 7 speaks of another group who are ” by patient continuance In well doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life”. Does it say they were doing this because God gave them a new heart or are we to simply understand they were responding to the “riches of his goodness”? Back to the other group, verse 8 they are contentious, do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness” ,look what is coming their way, ” indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil.” Now back to other group verse 10 “glory, honor, and peace to every man that worketh good”. We see there are only 2 groups and both are found in Jew and Gentiles alike . In verse 11 it is declared there is no respect of persons with God, certainly this would shock the Jew who thought the Gentiles were not included to receive the “riches of his goodness”. So we see it Is God who first offers the “riches of his goodness” to Jew and Gentile and it us who must respond by LFW (granted, ordained and created in us by God who made us in his image) . Yes sin entered the world and the human race by the fall of Adam but where in scripture does it say in the fall man lost his LFW to respond to the “riches of his goodness”? To glory of God alone!!! April 30, 2017 at 6:49 am Very well said and interpreted according to context, Brent. And the words “disobeyed” in verse 8 are better translated as “unpersuaded”, which points I believe to them having recognized but freely rejected the truth that God had led them to know about Himself and their need to repent and seek His mercy. April 30, 2017 at 6:47 pm brianwagner writes, “…which points I believe to them having recognized but freely rejected the truth that God had led them to know about Himself and their need to repent and seek His mercy.” Which seems to be Paul’s argument in chap 1. Among atheists are many Bible scholars, as many atheists come out of a religious background. I suspect a great many atheists have a better knowledge of the Scriptures than many who profess to be believers. Thus, the author of Hebrews exhorts believers, “Take care, brethren, lest there should be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart, in falling away from the living God,” and “indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard.” What, then, is the plight of non-believers to whom no faith has been given? April 30, 2017 at 8:44 pm Actually those warned in Hebrews 4 had never yet entered God’s salvation rest, nor had the ceased from their works… just like their Jewish forefathers who perished in unbelief in the wilderness. They refused to mix with faith the gospel that was preached to them. It was their fault… They had no excuse, like – “But God… we couldn’t believe the gospel we heard, because You didn’t give us the ability through regeneration or the gift of faith we needed… But You’re still going to judge us? Really?” br.d says: April 30, 2017 at 11:10 pm In Calvinism, everything boils down to whatever the deity specifically decrees it to be, logically entailing the authorship of evil. But the God of the bible is not irresponsible, hiding behind compulsory defense arguments made by minuscule men. The God of the bible bears full responsibility for whatever He does. A theology of man however, that creates an image of God as the author of evil, would certainly have to go on the defense, and create a multitude of convoluted, hyper religious, evasive, obfuscating, defense arguments. That is how we know it is of man. May 2, 2017 at 1:48 am br.d writes, “In Calvinism, everything boils down to whatever the deity specifically decrees it to be, logically entailing the authorship of evil.” Do you have the logical argument that supports your conclusion – “logically entailing the authorship of evil”? My suspicion is, No. Then, “The God of the bible bears full responsibility for whatever He does.” And man must bear full responsibility for whatever he does. br.d says: May 2, 2017 at 4:48 pm rhutchin writes “Do you have the logical argument that supports your conclusion – “logically entailing the authorship of evil”? My suspicion is, No.” Take the talent from him, and give it to the faithful servant. For to everyone who is faithful with what he has been given, will be given more, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who is unfaithful, even what he has will be taken away. May 2, 2017 at 7:16 pm Since you don’t know the argument personnally, maybe you could provide a citation where it can be found. br.d says: May 2, 2017 at 9:30 pm rhutchin you are a virtual manufacturing plant of strawmen. May 1, 2017 at 11:42 pm brianwagner writes, “They refused to mix with faith the gospel that was preached to them.” And as Paul explains in Ephesians 2, faith is a gift from God. Had God given them faith, they would then have mixed it with the gospel and been saved. Then, “They had no excuse, like – “But God… we couldn’t believe the gospel we heard, because You didn’t give us the ability through regeneration or the gift of faith we needed… But You’re still going to judge us? Really?”” Such is the pride of sinful man to argue that God owed them mercy for their sins and not judgment. Had they been serious, they would have confessed they depravity and unworthiness for mercy and trusted God to save them and to accept their well earned punishment if He did not. May 1, 2017 at 11:59 pm God doesn’t owe mercy… He owes His nature not to falsely offer mercy or falsely command repentance or to create those after His image just to watch them unjustly suffer in hell forever because of Adam’s sin. May 2, 2017 at 1:32 am You had set up the hypothetical: the unsaved (of Hebrews 4) did not have the excuse you described. However, as God gives faith, their lack of faith would mean that God had not given them faith. Thus, they would actually make the excuse you described. To do so would have been the epitome of pride and given that pride is a distinctive characteristic of the unsaved, I think they could easily take your hypothetical excuse and argue it, just not successfully. Then, “He owes His nature not to falsely offer mercy or falsely command repentance or to create those after His image just to watch them unjustly suffer in hell forever because of Adam’s sin.” Alternatively, as Paul put it, “God said to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then it is not of him that wills, nor of him that runs, but of God that shows mercy…Therefore God has mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardens.” May 2, 2017 at 2:34 am Hebrews 4 does not say they didn’t have the ability to exercise faith… it says when they heard the gospel they didn’t mix it with faith, which a normal reader would assume would have been possible since they were judged for not doing so. But Calvinists are not normal readers, for they must make each passage fit their determinism perspective. That is pride, in my view. And Praise the Lord that He promises to have mercy and compassion on whom He should have mercy and compassion… consistent not only with His nature, but the clarity of His Word… He has it on ALL! Rom 11:32 May 2, 2017 at 12:09 pm brianwagner writes, “Hebrews 4 does not say they didn’t have the ability to exercise faith… it says when they heard the gospel they didn’t mix it with faith, which a normal reader would assume would have been possible since they were judged for not doing so.” We read that the hearing of the gospel did not profit them (or had no value to them) because it was not mixed with faith. The point of the author (one view) is that the readers have been given a faith that they can then mix with the gospel and enter the rest God has prepared for them. Without faith, those in the wilderness then disobeyed God by refusing to enter the promised land (God’s rest) – but what other outcome might we expect where faith is absent. People are judged for their sin even though the ability to resist temptation and not sin requires that one have faith and faith is a gift from God.The writer of Hebrews is emphasising the grace of God toward his readers through the faith that has been given to them which they are now able to mix with the gospel to enter God’s rest. Then, “Calvinists are not normal readers, for they must make each passage fit their determinism perspective. That is pride, in my view.” Calvinists are not normal readers in that they have a different worldview that sees consistency within the Scriptures. You see pride, but the Calvinist see themselves as Bereans who receive the Scriptures with all readiness of mind, and search the scriptures daily, to determine whether the things Brian says about them are consistent with those Scriptures. You see pride; they see good scholarship. Then, “Praise the Lord that He promises to have mercy and compassion on whom He should have mercy and compassion… consistent not only with His nature, but the clarity of His Word… He has it on ALL! Rom 11:32” “God said to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then it is not of him that wills, nor of him that runs, but of God that shows mercy…as you [Gentiles] in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through [the Jews] unbelief: Even so have these [Jews] also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. For God hath concluded all [both Jew and Gentile] in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all [both Jew and Gentile].” Praise the Lord for the clarity of His word. May 2, 2017 at 3:50 pm Roger, Jews and Gentiles have always been getting saved since creation. Paul is talking about the nation of Israel and the other nations in Rom 11… because His plan has always been to offer salvation mercy to everyone. I am sorry that you can not see that truth as flowing from His character as clearly revealed in Scripture. The Bereans in searching the Scripture will see that it is so that God has predetermined things so that each man should seek and might find Him (Acts 17:26-27, Job 33:29-30, John 1:9, Rom 1, 2, 10:18)… This is the consistency of Scriptures that Calvinism must seek to reject by imposing their definitions about determinism borrowed from philosophy and then make unwarranted inferences from proof texts that don’t follow the normal grammar and word meanings in those contexts. May 2, 2017 at 7:38 pm brianwagner writes, “Jews and Gentiles have always been getting saved since creation.” Yet, Paul writes, “…you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit; to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel,…” Then, “Paul is talking about the nation of Israel and the other nations in Rom 11… because His plan has always been to offer salvation mercy to everyone.” That’s the conclusion I came to – thus, my use of [Jew and Gentile]. At least, we both agree God has a plan and is sticking to it. Then, “This is the consistency of Scriptures that Calvinism must seek to reject by imposing their definitions about determinism borrowed from philosophy and then make unwarranted inferences from proof texts that don’t follow the normal grammar and word meanings in those contexts.” Calvinism’s doctrine of determinism was stated by Calvin in his treatise on Predestination – “But as it would be utterly absurd to hold, that anything could be done contrary to the will of God; seeing that God is at Divine liberty to prevent that which He does not will to be done.” Jordan Ferrier, who wrote the introduction, “Since God is Omnipotent and Sovereign, He is free to over-rule any decision or action of any of His creatures at any time. If God chooses not to over-rule His creature, then God permitted the decision or action: Calvin quotes Augustine: “Nothing, therefore, is done, but that which the Omnipotent willed to be done, either by permitting it to be done, or by doing it Himself.” I am confident you know the Scriptures that are cited in support of this conclusion. May 2, 2017 at 8:28 pm The problem with your quotes, Roger, on determinism is that that are nebulous enough that I can make the wording fit what God’s Word teaches while know that Calvin and the others don’t mean that at all! None of those statements clearly declare the eternal immutable determination of all things so that God’s free will (if it exists) will ever be exercised to permit anything. Even permission is only theoretical since there was predetermined only one reflex of man to every stimuli put before him. I will stick with Scripture which clearly teaches that everything was not predetermined before creation so that the future is only one set outcome forever. br.d says: May 2, 2017 at 9:49 pm I think this may the Calvinist pin-ball affect. The Calvinist knows that if his language remains true to determinism, its deviation from the language of scripture will be evident. So like a pin-ball, he bounces back to “indeterministic” language, in order to mimic the language of scripture. May 2, 2017 at 11:46 pm “Eternal” was not the issue. “Determination” is the issue. You may continue to believe that all was not determined before creation as it doesn’t matter. God is sovereign and under your theology or mine, He still exerts absolute control over His kingdom and the outcome is the same either way. May 3, 2017 at 12:38 am The total outcome is not yet determined and there are multiple good outcomes available. Calvinism locks God into only one because or their unScriptural doctrine or simplicity and perfection that is only defined as eternal immutable determination of all things against the clear teaching of Scripture. Deny as you will… Roger… dem is the facts! br.d says: May 2, 2017 at 9:46 pm “God is at Divine liberty to prevent that which He does not will to be done.” rhutchin, have you noticed you consistently frame god as if he is anthropomorphic. This statement is a good example. In a world in which no event can have ontological existence unless God wills it too, we have here the notion of an event which God needs to prevent from occurring, which doesn’t have any ontological existence anyway. That would be like God preventing a non-existent square circle from being a non-existent square circle. Its just as irrational to say that God wanted an event to occur, which he then needed some kind of “liberty” to prevent. If God is unlimited in power, he doesn’t need “liberty” to do anything. And there is nothing for him to “prevent”, unless there’s another god up there with him causing events which he did not will to occur. br.d says: May 2, 2017 at 11:36 am I would add to that: Calvin asserts, the reason a person doesn’t have faith, is simply because god withholds it from them (by the secret councils of his will). And god does not give or not give faith because of anything deserving or undeserving within the man (i.e., the condition of the man does not determine god’s will – god’s will determines the condition of the man) (1) Whatever determines X is responsible for X. (2) It is antithetical to the bible to say someone is to be blamed for something he has no power to determine The Calvinist interpretation forces them into a position of double-think. (in biblical language double-mindedness) Calvinism is thus biblically and psychologically unstable Additionally, it forces them to conceive a deity who speaks with forked tongue. Thus we have depraved man, conceiving of a deity in the likeness of his own depravity. “God would be like a child who sets up his toy soldiers and moves them about his play world, pretending that they are real persons whose every motion is not in fact of his own doing and pretending that they merit praise or blame. I’m certain that Reformed determinists, in contrast to classical Reformed divines, will bristle at such a comparison. But why it’s inapt for the doctrine of universal, divine, causal determinism is a mystery to me.” http://www.reasonablefaith.org/molinism-vs-calvinism br.d says: April 30, 2017 at 6:13 pm Great points! William Lane Craig would say, Calvinism imposes philosophical assertions onto the text. But of course any critical analysis of Calvinism’s use of scripture is always aggressively rejected by those who strain at gnats while swallowing Augustine’s camel! April 30, 2017 at 6:50 pm br.d writes, “William Lane Craig would say, Calvinism imposes philosophical assertions onto the text.” Could you provide examples from Craig of such philosophical assertions? Maybe something relevant to the present discussion. br.d says: April 30, 2017 at 8:05 pm What would you do with examples from Craig if you had them? No need to answer, I already know May 2, 2017 at 1:44 am br.d writes, “What would you do with examples from Craig if you had them?” In other words, you have no example to offer. br.d says: May 2, 2017 at 4:34 pm Without realizing it, you gave your answer of what you would do with Craig’s (or anyone’s) contributions. God doesn’t extend them to one he knows will only handle them with disrespect of pervert them. April 30, 2017 at 6:37 pm Brent Beauford writes, “Are we going to say that the “riches of his goodness” is not rich enough to bring about repentance?’ No, we see that such people have a decisions to make. What is the outcome, “…because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath…” It is by the “riches of His goodness” that unrepentant man is not immediately destroyed. Then, “Are we also going to say that God is leading them to repent yet refusing to give them a heart to repent therefore making God to have two wills for the same people ,leading them to repent but not allowing them to repent” It is not God leading people to repentance. It is the kindness of God in not immediately calling them to judgment thereby allowing time to repent. What kindness of God” does Paul have in view that “leads”? Back to Chap 1 – “that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them.” If it is true that God gives a person a heart to repent, do we presume God so inept in doing so that the person would not repent? Nothing here requires that God give people a heart to repent. Then, “Verse 5 speaks plainly it is THEIR hard and impentant heart that treasures up wrath against them. This puts the fault directly on them because they did respond to the “riches of his goodness” .” Showing us that God has not given them a heart to repent – the heart is still “hard” thus, unrepentant. The, “Now verse 7 speaks of another group who are ” by patient continuance In well doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life”. Does it say they were doing this because God gave them a new heart or are we to simply understand they were responding to the “riches of his goodness”?” We don’t know. That information is not given. We must investigate other Scriptures to shed light on this. Then, “So we see it Is God who first offers the “riches of his goodness” to Jew and Gentile and it us who must respond by LFW (granted, ordained and created in us by God who made us in his image) . Yes sin entered the world and the human race by the fall of Adam but where in scripture does it say in the fall man lost his LFW to respond to the “riches of his goodness”?” The Scriptures say that man became dead when Adam sinned and his heart became hard. Thereby, faith was lost and not to be recovered until the gospel was preached and then conveyed only to the person by God as a gift. It does not say here that God “offers” the riches of His goodness, bu that it is the riches of His goodness that allow the person time to repent. April 30, 2017 at 8:35 pm You must get tired sometimes Roger working so hard to try make God’s mercy and kindness that is given to all seem insufficient and ineffective. That it provides all with opportunity to seek and helps lead them to repentance just won’t do. Are you afraid God might get some glory for something He doesn’t deserve? May 1, 2017 at 11:34 pm brianwagner writes, “That it provides all with opportunity to seek and helps lead them to repentance just won’t do. ” The key word here is “opportunity.” Lets grant that some avail themselves of that opportunity whereupon, God grants them faith and they are saved. At that point the Calvinist system kicks in and God selects from among those who squandered the opportunity and saves whom He will. Of course, as God has infinite understanding, He would have known who would take advantage of the opportunity (given the way He structured it) in the first place and then it would be His turn to save some exceptionally reprobate. Then, “Are you afraid God might get some glory for something He doesn’t deserve?” God gives the opportunity knowing who will accept that opportunity (not by omniscience but by understanding), so He gets the glory and then, in choosing who to save from the leftovers, He gets all the glory. May 2, 2017 at 12:01 am May 2, 2017 at 1:42 am Not a modification. Let’s just grant your point and see if it accomplishes that which you want it to. The term, “opportunity,” is very nebulous and doesn’t appear to say very much. Why use a word like that? I think you need a stronger term to make your argument. May 2, 2017 at 2:39 am Strong enough for me! We can let others decide if it makes my argument, even if you don’t think it does. I thank the Lord Jesus that the good intention behind giving light to every one stands unapologetically against the storm of Calvinistic theology that attempts to lie against that intention. And it seems to be that they do it just to maintain their loyalty to immutable determinism that was spawned in the minds of unsaved men. br.d says: May 2, 2017 at 11:49 am rhutchin writes concerning the works of god: “At that point the Calvinist system kicks in” This is an excellent example of man sitting in the house of god declaring himself to be god. In this conception of divine action, god follows a processes called – quote “the Calvinist system”. The Lord has a day for the proud and lofty, and those who are lifted upon in their own pride, for they shall be brought low. May 1, 2017 at 8:37 am RHUTCHIN writes “It is by the “riches of His goodness” that the unrepentant man is not immediately destroyed” Romans 2:4 does mention God’s forbearance and longsuffering but it does not say anything about unrepentant man not being immediately destroyed. It clearly says the “goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance”. Verse 5 tells us God’s wrath is held back unto the “day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgement of God”. That is alot of forbearance and longsuffering while the goodness of God ieads them to repent. Revelation 2:21 Speaking of Jezebel, says ” And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.” Why did she not repent? Was it because God gave her space but did not give her grace to repent? I think not, God did give space but she refused of her own free will. Think about this, if I gave someone 6 months to pay a debt but I had all the money in the world and they had none and the only way they could pay the debt was that I gave them the money, yet I refused. What would be the point of me giving them space to pay? Let us be careful how we represent GOD. Some believe LFW was lost at the fall of Adam. After the fall, two sons were born, Cain and Abel. They brought offerings unto the Lord, Cain brought veggies and Abel brought firstlings of his flock. God had respect to Abel’s offering but not to Cain’s. Genesis 4:5……”.And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell”. verse 6 “And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? verse 7 “If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door.” God did not tell Cain the only thing you can do are the not well things, a one sided free will. God made it clear to Cain, do well and be accepted or do not well and sin lieth at the door. I believe that by verse 7 ” If thou doest well” both sons knew what God required , a lamb offering, but as some people do, they think their veggies are good enough for God and become angry when God does not accept their works. Yes ,they trade the truth in for lies. So we see LFW after the fall, though it be the first example it certainly won’t be the last. May we all seek to know the “I AM THAT I AM” as God told Moses. For God is not what I believe Him to be. He is who He is and none of us can change that. He is who He is as revealed by Holy Scripture. We have a great responsibility to represent Him correctly to a lost world and to help each other grow in the knowledge of God. I pray God help us. To God Be The Glory!! May 2, 2017 at 12:00 am Brent Beauford writes, “That is alot of forbearance and longsuffering while the goodness of God ieads them to repent.” I agree. We marvel at God’s goodness toward sinful humanity and stand amazed that any would refuse such goodness and be lost forever. Then, “What would be the point of me giving them space to pay? Let us be careful how we represent GOD.” That is the argument advanced by the universalists. It would not bother me if the Universalists turned out to be right. It is hard to argue against the notion that a God of love could do none other than to save all. Then, “Some believe LFW was lost at the fall of Adam.” That’s because the definition of LFW has never really been defined except in very general terms. The Scriptures are clear that faith is required for one to be saved and no one is born with faith. So, if we grant that people still have LFW, the absence of faith means that lost humanity cannot even consider salvation much less have any choice about their salvation. Then, “So we see LFW after the fall, though it be the first example it certainly won’t be the last.” We know that Cain was without faith (attested by his sacrifice) and his depraved nature led to the killing of Abel. His LFW choice was reduced to kill or not kill. Are we surprised how the depraved Cain acted? Then, “May we all seek to know the “I AM THAT I AM” as God told Moses.” And God has expressed Himself clearly in the Scriptures that He inspired His prophets to record. So clear are those Scriptures that we must stand amazed that so many reject them as Paul describes in Romans 1. May 10, 2017 at 10:10 pm Even though man is unable to “will” something to occur that is contrary to his nature, he can very much desire or wish for that very thing. Although it was contrary to David’s (and our) nature to fly like a bird, he very much wished he could do so (Psa 55:6). The same with salvation. No person can save himself or even “will” God to save him, but he can eagerly desire and accept the salvation God offers him. br.d says: May 12, 2017 at 12:18 am For me the reason is a love that is so wonderful, it can be found nowhere else in the universe!! Nobody loves me like the Lord does!! Thanks for your great post! :-] Troy says: May 12, 2017 at 5:21 am Timotheos, whereas I can appreciate your comment, I must respectfully reject its claims. Firstly, you cannot separate the will from desire. Both God’s will and man’s will necessarily stem from their desires. In other words, what we will we ALWAYS desire. 1) They hide from God (Gen 3:8) 2) They blame God for their sin (Gen 3:12) 4) They hate their own Creator (Rom 1:30) 6) They are hostile towards God (Rom 8:7) So we see that mankind’s desires are ALWAYS negative towards God, thus they will NEVER desire His salvation plan outside of His supernatural working. May 12, 2017 at 7:52 pm Timotheos writes, “No person can save himself or even “will” God to save him, but he can eagerly desire and accept the salvation God offers him.” That is why, as the Universalists tell us, all will be saved. It is that eager desire that guarantees the acceptance of salvation. Troy says: May 12, 2017 at 8:00 pm How can unregenerate man desire salvation if he deems foolish the only message that will brings him salvation? May 12, 2017 at 8:46 pm It’s a mystery. The interesting point is that non-Calvinists always seem to appeal to Universalist arguments to explain how unregenerate people are saved even when they don’t believe all people will be saved. Then then leave God out of the picture as a cause for unregenerate people “eagerly” desiring salvation claiming that it just somehow happens. Of course, some unregenerate people seem to really “eagerly desire” salvation moreso than others, and they are the ones whom God saves – really real eagerness for salvation being a prerequisite for salvation. It’s part of the double-think system parched together by non-Calvinists as they went down the cafeteria line. br.d says: May 12, 2017 at 9:35 pm Thank you for your post. I have a question….if all of man’s motivations are based upon desires that are antithetical to god, do you find you can observe on a daily basis what percentage of your personal motivations are antithetical to god or equally anti-Christ? Thanks in advance. Troy says: May 13, 2017 at 1:10 am I’m sure you know that the answer to your question is impossible to answer since we cannot possibly know what percentage of our motivations are pleasing to God and which are not. But I’m not sure how your question relates to my previous comment. However, I’m quite sure that man’s desires before regeneration are DOMINATED by his sinful nature; so much so that they hate God and don’t want His Gospel. May 13, 2017 at 1:14 am Praise the Lord for the power of His light that He gives to every man, enabling them to seek Him! Troy says: May 13, 2017 at 1:21 am Well I’m sure you already know what I think about that statement Brian. But do we really want to praise God for a heretical teaching. This is some serious stuff brother. May 13, 2017 at 12:36 pm Praise God that – John 1:4-9 Life was in Him, and that life was the light of MEN. That light shines in the darkness, yet the darkness DID NOT overcome it. There was a man named John who was sent from God. He came as a witness to testify about the light, so that ALL might believe through him…. The true light, who gives light to EVERYONE, was coming into the world. May 13, 2017 at 5:30 pm brianwagner writes, “John 1:4-9 Life was in Him, and that life was the light of MEN. The true light, who gives light to EVERYONE, was coming into the world. ” The terms, “men” and “Everyone” need only refer to the gentile as well as the Jew as this seems to be a theme of John. God so loved the world – not just the Jews but the gentiles also – that He sent His son to give eternal life to those Jews and gentiles who believe thereby leaving unbelievers to fend for themselves. May 13, 2017 at 5:34 pm See above that “everyone” in John 1:9 means clearly “each one”. Troy says: May 14, 2017 at 12:26 am “each one” for whom the Gospel is intended!! Troy says: May 14, 2017 at 12:07 am “For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.” May 14, 2017 at 3:05 am Unfortunately, Troy you continue to ignore the plain meaning of verses… Jesus is the true light that gives light to each man that comes into the world… you can ask Him why He does that… though He said why two verses before… that all may believe through Him. And the word in Acts 17 should not be translated “grope”… for it is the same word used for Jesus asking Thomas to touch Him! The context plainly says what God does and why He does it… so that man should seek and touch and find! And you took one verse out of context to try to prove that no one seeks before regeneration… but the context is Jesus giving truth/light to an unregenerate man – Nicodemus, to get him to “do” that truth. You didn’t quote the very next verse after the one you tried to prove too much from… – John 3:21 says “But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.” It is just very sad that you do not want to believe God wants His light to shine on everyone to draw them to an opportunity to seek and find Him. But the Scriptures are clear that He does! Troy says: May 14, 2017 at 4:21 am I’m so sorry Brian but you are unwilling to accept God’s salvation plan. But as I stated before, you must struggle with this sir Troy says: May 14, 2017 at 6:22 am Also, Brian the context of Acts 17:27 demonstrates mankind seeking God as if their groping or trying to feel for Him in darkness. The fact remains that this verse doesn’t support your view of a general enlightenment. It actually conveys the idea of mankind seeking after an unknown God as stated in v23. This is why we have so many religions today because people are seeking to find God on their terms; not on God’s terms. But they will NEVER find Him. I’m sure that your theory of general enlightenment gives you a certain level of comfort because it supports YOUR view of God and man’s autonomous free will. However, I’m quite sadden that the truth is hidden from your eyes and, thus you will be held accountable for teaching heresy. I apologize if I’m coming across as condescending because that’s not my intention. However, I’m a stickler for careful Bible study and teaching because I know that God holds me to a higher standard as a student/teacher of His Word. May 14, 2017 at 11:21 am Troy, God’s intentions are clearly written even if you do not want to admit it! He commands everyone, everywhere to repent (Acts 17:30). His universal commands and warnings clearly reveal what He wants everyone to do. He is still planning (present tense) that all come to a opportunity of repentance (2Pet 3:9), so yes, all the light He has been giving and is giving to every person is to get them to seek and find! You just don’t seem to think it is honoring to God to allow His intentions to be rejected! (See Is 5:1-4) Paul in Acts 17:26-27 is talking about what the real God has done/planned with the clear purpose of man being enabled to seek and touch and find. If you want to believe God does not have that purpose and did not adequately provide for it, you can continue to ignore what this passage clearly means or twist its meaning more as others have done. Paul said they all have heard (Rom 10:18), and Elihu in the book of Job says the same thing – Job 33:29-30. And, of course, you know what John says, even though your keep rejecting its clear meaning – The true Light, our Lord Jesus, gives light to each person who is coming into the world. Again, I am sorry that you refuse to give God all the glory due Him for His wonderful mercy to each born in His image. I will be praying for you, my brother… I may not be the one the Lord wants to use to help you any further to see this… so for now at least, we can let others read what our conversation has been so far. Please have the last word in this thread between us, if you wish! Troy says: May 14, 2017 at 2:10 pm God commands that His disciples be perfect as He is perfect in Matthew 5:48. God gave mankind the 10 commandments KNOWING that they could not keep them. In other words, the fact that God gives commands (i.e. to repent) does not mean that mankind has the ability to obey that command. Put another way, the ability to obey a command should never be assumed just because the command is issued. Let’s exegete 2 Peter 3:9 to see if God has every person in view there.. The passage says, “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” We can glean the following from this passage: 1) What is the “promise”? Is it not God’s promise of salvation? 2) For whom is the promise intended? Is it not for the elect? 3) Who are the “you”? Is it not the same “beloved” of v1? 4) So we can safely conclude that God’s patience is reserved for His beloved (the elect) as He’s patiently waiting for all of them to come to repentance which is part of His promise to save them. 5) If God were patient wishing that all (without exception) would come to repentance, then He would NEVER return because the promise would NEVER be realized. The promise is that all the elect would come to repentance. Every human being is NOT in view in this verse. You stated, “You just don’t seem to think it is honoring to God to allow His intentions to be rejected!” God’s intentions will ALWAYS be fulfilled. He will ALWAYS accomplish HIS purposes. Man cannot thwart His decree. We are mere creatures in the hands of a loving, holy, angry, vengeful, jealous God. This God has arranged a salvation plan for His own purpose and only His elect will reap the rewards that stem from it. This is a hard saying but it’s true nonetheless. Acts 17:26,27 does prove that “the real God” has put in mankind a knowledge of His existence. But He is the “UNKNOWN GOD” to them UNLESS He DECIDES to reveal Himself to them. Otherwise, they will seek for Him in vain! In Romans 10:18 Paul is speaking of the Great Commission being fulfilled. He’s quoting an Old Testament passage and relating it to the Great Commission and speaking in past tense to demonstrate as if it has already occurred. Otherwise, he would be lying because the Great Commission was in its infancy when he wrote his letter to Rome. Job 33:29,30 rebuts your theory Brian. God must do an action first (i.e. bringing one from the pit) and THEN God enlightens mankind. Job reinforces the fact that God must do the action of regeneration (bring back from the pit) FIRST and then the enlightenment takes place. One must be born again via the Holy Spirit applying the Gospel to the hearts of mankind. There is no “general enlightenment” brother. Enlightenment ALWAYS leads to genuine salvation!! May 14, 2017 at 8:02 pm brianwagner writes, “Jesus is the true light that gives light to each man that comes into the world…” We also know that “In [Christ] was life, and the life was the light of men.” It is the life of Christ that is light and those who see that light – that life – are enlightened. The means for giving light to anyone is the preaching of the gospel. We also read in 2 Corinthians 4, “…the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ,…” When someone hears the gospel and does not believe, they are like the rocky ground upon which the seed falls and the birds eat it. Jesus then explains, “when they hear, immediately Satan comes and takes away the word which has been sown in them.” Thus, Christ is the light of men and it is in seeing Christ that people are enlightened. Yet, not everyone hears the gospel and not all who hear the gospel are enlightened. Apart from the preaching of the gospel – the preaching of Christ – there can be no enlightenment. Brian is looking for some other means outside the preaching of the gospel for people to be enlightened but has been unable to find any as the Scriptures are all about Christ and the gospel. Apart from Christ, there is no light. Troy says: May 14, 2017 at 10:51 pm Yes rhutchin, Brian and those who espouse his teaching are desperately trying to preserve man’s autonomous free will by presenting a theory of general enlightenment for every human being but the verses he provides simply don’t support his view. We all have presuppositions when we approach Scripture. The question is which presuppositions are faithful to ALL that Scripture has to say on a particular doctrine. When we examine what/who the Light is in Scripture we discover that it’s a reference to either Christ or His message and that the light saves those for whom it was intended and is hated and rejected by all others. Brian and His Traditionalists friends are desperately trying to fit certain Scriptures within their theological construct but tota scriptura just won’t support it. Troy says: May 14, 2017 at 12:11 am May 13, 2017 at 5:13 pm brianwagner writes, “Praise the Lord for the power of His light that He gives to every man, enabling them to seek Him!” I don’t think the Scriptures necessarily tell us that light is given to every individual. That light – assuming that it is a knowledge of Christ – comes through the preaching of the gospel and not everyone hears the gospel preached. Even among those who do attend a service )or other venue) where the gospel is preached, it is not necessarily so that ll in attendance “hear” the gospel and therefore receive light. Had God not opened the heart of Lydia, could we say that she received light? May 13, 2017 at 5:22 pm John 1:9 That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world. The phrase “every man” is from παντα ανθρωπον – literally – “each human”. The statement – “I don’t think the Scriptures necessarily tell us that light is given to every individual” is obviously false. May 13, 2017 at 5:40 pm brianwagner writes, “The statement – “I don’t think the Scriptures necessarily tell us that light is given to every individual” is obviously false.” So, your position is that every individual is given light regardless whether they even hear the gospel or ever know who anything about Christ. Thus, under your system, the light given to each person has nothing to do with the gospel or with Christ. br.d says: May 13, 2017 at 6:32 pm Brian, rhuthins question here is such a red-herring rabbit-hole, personally, I won’t bother to take the bait. May 13, 2017 at 7:22 pm Roger, The light is directly related to leading to finding God and trusting His mercy (cf Act 17:26-27)… which is the core of the gospel. So you are wrong and have misrepresented my words and the words of Scripture when you said – “Thus, under your system, the light given to each person has nothing to do with the gospel or with Christ.” You are forgetting that it is the “true Light” that is giving the light to each person. Why do you think Jesus does it? The context says why – “so that all through Him might believe” (vs 7). I am so sorry that you don’t seem to want God to be so gracious with everyone! I praise His name that He is! Troy says: May 14, 2017 at 12:20 am Brian you have yet to give any meaningful exegesis in support of your idea that the Light refers to a “generic enlightenment” or “opportunity/ability”. On the other hand, the Scriptures are clear that the Light is Christ Himself or His Gospel. The Scriptures also teach that unregenerate mankind HATES and REJECTS the Light, which means the Light was never intended to enlighten every person. May 14, 2017 at 12:32 am brianwagner writes, “you are wrong and have misrepresented my words and the words of Scripture when you said – “Thus, under your system, the light given to each person has nothing to do with the gospel or with Christ.”” OK. How is light given to everyone? Is it given through preaching of the gospel or without hearing the gospel? Can a person be given this light without first hearing about Christ. If you really mean that light is given to everyone, then you cannot be saying that it comes through the preaching/hearing of the gospel because not everyone hears the gospel, preached or otherwise, and you cannot require that a person must first hear about Christ because not everyone has heard about Christ. Troy says: May 14, 2017 at 12:50 am Rhutchin it’s clear to me that Brian is trying to fit Acts 17:26,27 into his theological construct but it just doesn’t fit. Acts 17 doesn’t even give a hint of enlightenment. In fact, it proves the exact opposite as mankind is “groping” for God. When do people “grope” after something? When they’re STILL in darkness. This passage only proves that mankind is searching for an unknown God as expressed in v23 of the same passage. Those who are seeking after God in v27 will NEVER find Him UNLESS God FIRST reveals Himself to them! Brian is simply stretching this verse to prove his theory of enlightenment. Unfortunately for him, he chose a passage that only proves that mankind is still in darkness, groping after the UNKNOWN GOD!! May 14, 2017 at 7:20 pm Troy writes, “…it’s clear to me that Brian is trying to fit Acts 17:26,27 into his theological construct but it just doesn’t fit. Acts 17 doesn’t even give a hint of enlightenment….Brian is simply stretching this verse to prove his theory of enlightenment.” 24 “The God who made the world and all things in it,… 26 …He made from [Adam], every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times, and the boundaries of their habitation, 27 that they should seek God,… 30 “…God is now declaring to men that all everywhere should repent, 31 because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.” If one emphasizes the free will of man, then this should be a key verse. This describes the “opportunity” that Brian says God gives to every person. There is nothing here about “enlightenment,” and much about responsibility. The point here is that God has arranged circumstances (as Romans 1) so that people should seek Him. God wants everyone to repent. God leaves people to their free will. Romans 1 describes what people of free will choose to do. If this is all that Brian means by enlightenment, then he advocates nothing more than that which Paul explained in Romans 1 (with this Scripture adding to the argument that Paul made in Romans 1). Troy says: May 14, 2017 at 11:02 pm God commands everyone (without exception) to repent. This is true. However, He only intends for His people to actually do it. 2 Peter 3:9 proves this point as His promise of salvation is only meant for His people and He’s patiently waiting until they all come to repentance and faith. May 14, 2017 at 3:11 am The question, Roger, should not be asked – “How is light given to everyone?” Rejoice instead that it is given to each person! And believe that it is given to each person to do what it was designed to do… to lead people to seek and trust the truth revealed. Look at John 1:7 again. Again I say that it saddens me that you do not want to believe God gives everyone the opportunity to seek and find Him, and even in spite of the clear biblical support for that truth! Troy says: May 14, 2017 at 4:17 am Brian what really saddens you is the fact that God doesn’t and never INTENDED to give every person an opportunity for salvation because millions have perished without so much as knowing that a Gospel even exists. This is something that YOU must struggle with my friend! br.d says: May 14, 2017 at 5:18 pm None of us know all of the means that God uses to bring people to himself, which may include pre-death or after-death experiences. We do have testimonies from unsaved people who died in hospitals and came back saying they met Jesus and became saved. So I know I wouldn’t be confident saying that someone who doesn’t hear the gospel is doomed. Troy says: May 14, 2017 at 7:25 pm With all due respect br.d, your perspective violates so many verses of Scripture that I would be surprised if your were a faithful student of the Bible. God has outlined the means by which all men can be saved and that means involves exposure to the Gospel and the application of the message to the hearts of men by the Holy Spirit. br.d says: May 14, 2017 at 8:21 pm With all due respect Troy I suspect what I violated was nothing more than a human tradition. The vast majority of the time someone claims to be defending scripture it turns out to be a false presentation of ex cathedra. Can you be specific about what scripture is violated and how? May 14, 2017 at 7:01 pm brianwagner writes, “The question…should not be asked – “How is light given to everyone?” ” That means that the Scriptures do not say this outright (at least, you have not discovered where it does, yet), so you need to presume this to be the case because that is the way your system works. That’s fine. For now, it’s a weak point in your system. Then, “Again I say that it saddens me that you do not want to believe God gives everyone the opportunity to seek and find Him, and even in spite of the clear biblical support for that truth!”” I have no problem attributing to God the responsibility to give everyone the opportunity to seek Him and find Him. If God discriminates, in some manner, in favor of His elect, then that would explain why His elect take advantage of that opportunity (the Calvinist conclusion). If God gives equal opportunity to seek Him, then another explanation is needed to account for some seeking Him and some not. That explanation can also be something God does for His elect (again, the Calvinist explanation). br.d says: May 14, 2017 at 4:41 pm We have testimonies of Muslims who were given personal dreams or visions etc, because they live in an environment where the preaching of the Gospel is forbidden on pain of death. Obviously, this enlightenment, is kata-pneumatos. But what man is to dictate to God how he is to work in his presentation of enlightenment or his gift of salvation? Some testimonies insist they were given these experiences of enlightenment over a period of months prior to their salvation experience. Does the Muslim become spiritually regenerated before he can have true saving faith? Or does the Muslim have a number of experiences of enlightenment which lead him to a true saving faith and salvation? People defending opposing religio-theoretical positions will insist their position is kata-pneumatos, and not kata-sarka. But this can simply spring out of carnal religious pride. It is a fact human nature, to start with a presupposition and turn to scripture to affirm it. Where scripture is explicit and without question, there is normally little controversy. It is where scripture is not explicit, and where man is reliant upon implicit inferences from scripture that man abuses the text. Interpretation via implicit inference is fraught with one insurmountable vulnerability. It demands the text CONFORM to whatever cosmology or philosophical notions the interpreter holds as unquestionable truth. So if the interpreter holds as unquestionable, the notion that the sun orbits around the earth, the bible will affirm that. If man is reborn and then faith comes afterward, then it logically follows that man can be reborn without faith. Can we list the verses from scripture which EXPLICITLY state that man can be reborn without faith? Troy says: May 14, 2017 at 12:31 am “each human” for whom the Light (i.e. Christ, the Gospel) was intended. Everyone else hates the Light and finds His Gospel to be foolishness br.d says: May 13, 2017 at 3:17 am I see..so Calvinists make a distinction between human motivations, thoughts, choices, etc, “before regeneration” and then “after regeneration”? That would of course be based on the presumption that the believer is in fact elect and thus regenerated. But Calvinism states: “In the church there is a very large mixture of hypocrites, who have nothing of Christ but the name and outward appearance” And “before men are born their lot is assigned to each of them by the SECRET** will of God” Is it emotionally difficult for you to know that you may be one of those who has nothing of Christ but the name and outward appearance? And if its impossible for you to know what percentage of your motivations, etc are anti-Christ, then wouldn’t it follow that it would be impossible for you to know when your motivations, are in sin, or not in sin? Thanks in advance. Troy says: May 13, 2017 at 4:33 am I’m certain that, although I’m a new creature in Christ, that I will continue to sin. However, God grants me grace in whatever He deems necessary in any situation to either refrain sin in me or allow me to commit sin, which includes my thoughts, motivations, desires, etc. This is why Paul always struggled with sin in his life as expressed in Romans 7:18,19. As Christians, we have two natures and they both war against each other until our salvation is completed and we no longer have a body that lusts after sin. A true believer will remain in constant war with the flesh because he/she now has the mind of Christ and the indwelling Holy Spirit. I’m certain of my salvation because God’s Spirit has witnessed with my Spirit that I am His child and I also have an ongoing and ernest desire to DO the will of God br.d says: May 13, 2017 at 1:31 pm You didn’t answer my first question: Is it emotionally difficult for you to know that you may be one of those who has nothing of Christ but the name and outward appearance? I’m wondering specifically how you resolve that knowledge internally? Do you ever think about the possibility that God is, as Calvin says: “illumining” you for a time, holding salvation out to you as a savor of greater condemnation? Thanks in advance May 13, 2017 at 5:33 pm br.d asks Troy, “Do you ever think about the possibility that God is, as Calvin says: “illumining” you for a time, holding salvation out to you as a savor of greater condemnation?” Given that Troy has embraced that theology developed by the Calvinists, it appears to me that God has him on the right track. Had Troy espoused a non-Calvinist theology, then it is quite possible that Calvin is correct. br.d says: May 13, 2017 at 6:26 pm br.d asks Troy, “Do you ever think about the possibility that God is, as Calvin says: “illumining” you for a time, holding salvation out to you as a savor of greater condemnation?” Given that Troy has embraced that theology developed by the Calvinists, it appears to me that God has him on the right track. Had Troy espoused a non-Calvinist theology, then it is quite possible that Calvin is correct. That doesn’t make logical sense. Since Calvin explicitly teaches that god deceives – quote “a large mixture” of Calvinists to believe they are elect, in order to – quote “hold salvation out as a savor of greater condemnation” and then to -quote “strike them with even greater blindness”. If we take Calvin’s teaching as true, then it follows that your looking for indicators of one’s election status, (by one’s theology), is exactly what Calvin describes as hypocrites who have nothing of Christ but “OUTWARD SIGNS”. And as such those OUTWARD SIGNS would be part of that divine deception which Calvin describes as a “large mixture” of the Calvinist fold. But you have the flexibility of asserting this teaching of Calvin’s is (for this discussion) an OPINION and not a DOCTRINE. Troy says: May 14, 2017 at 12:03 am Not at all br.d!! I’m quite confident that I’m one of God’s elect because His Spirit agrees with my spirit that I’m his child. Remember what God says in 1 John 5:13: “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may KNOW that you have eternal life.” I NEVER doubt my position in Christ br.d br.d says: May 14, 2017 at 4:03 pm Thanks Troy for that answer! I do understand what scripture says, but I distinguish it from what Calvin teaches. So is sounds like even though Calvin teaches that “a large mixture” in the church are deceived by God, temporarily into believing they are saved, as God -quote “holds salvation out to them as a savor of greater condemnation” isn’t something you ponder as applicable to yourself I guess that makes sense from a psychological perspective. Neuroscientists tell us that the human brain seeks relief from uncertainty the same way it seeks relief from physical pain or discomforts. So just as we move our bodies, to give us relief, when we experience pain from a certain movement, our brain does the same when we unconsciously experience the pain of uncertainty. My guess, is that Calvinists learn to compartmentalize the notion that they might be one of the “large mixture” of believers who God is deceiving into believing they are saved, as a process to relieve cognitive dissonance from that notion. But then again, if God truly is deceiving a person into believing they are saved, it makes perfect sense that they would have no doubts they are saved. Thanks for helping me think that through! :-] Troy says: May 14, 2017 at 10:40 pm May 13, 2017 at 5:24 pm br.d writes, “Calvinists make a distinction between human motivations, thoughts, choices, etc, “before regeneration” and then “after regeneration”?” Everyone else makes this distinction between those who are believers and those non-believers. So, there is not real disagreement except on the technical argument concerning how one becomes a believer. Then, “Is it emotionally difficult for you to know that you may be one of those who has nothing of Christ but the name and outward appearance?” Not for the Calvinist as he trusts everything to God rather than himself – in everything, God will do what is right. The non-Calvinist also has Matthew 7 to contend with meaning that they cannot trust in any action of theirs as the basis for their salvation. br.d says: May 13, 2017 at 6:03 pm “Is it emotionally difficult for the Calvinist to know that he may be one of those who has nothing of Christ but the name and outward appearance?” (as Calvin teaches) “Not for the Calvinist as he TRUSTS everything to God rather than himself” Ok, lets assume this is theoretically true. Then it follows, per Calvin’s teachings that you TRUST God for 1 of 2 things: 1) You TRUST God is deceiving you into believing you are elect, regenerate and a spokesperson for divine truth, while you are really, non-elect, totally depraved, and under the power of the prince of darkness. 2) You TRUST God has truly elected, and regenerated you, and you are a spokesperson for divine truth. So if it is true that you simply TRUST god, then it follows you TRUST god for your damnation as well as your salvation. Since God has assigned 1 of 2 possible fates for you. That would seem to make logical sense. But the assertion that a human being can TRUST god for being sent to an eternal lake of fire, and not have any emotional struggle is dubious. May 14, 2017 at 12:36 am br.d writes, “So if it is true that you simply TRUST god, then it follows you TRUST god for your damnation as well as your salvation.” I trust God to do what is right in His eyes, whatever that may be. God gave me life; God sustains my life; God has appointed the day for my death. God does with my life whatever He wants while I live and into eternity. br.d says: May 14, 2017 at 4:56 pm Hyper-confidence is quite often the subconscious’s way of masking internal anxieties. The way we know normal confidence from hyper confidence is by observing the degree to which it is over-emphasizes. Hyper-confidence always comes out bearing the characteristics of a commercial advertisement. br.d says: May 12, 2017 at 9:32 pm Interesting how universalists believe all will be saved. That makes me wonder rhutchin…do you know for sure that you are elect? December 14, 2020 at 5:04 pm Free will……Gen 3:2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: Gen 3:3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And thus it has been since the days of Adam. God didn’t make robots. br.d says: December 14, 2020 at 6:29 pm Yes – so here we have an obvious reference to the availability of multiple options from which to choose. And Adam and Eve are given what Calvin would call “MERE” permission – to make that choice. Calvin’s god determines no less than 100% of whatsoever comes to pass – including all human impulses. And once a specific event has been “rendered-certain” by decree to infallibly come to pass – no alternative is possible to exist – because any alternative would falsify the infallible decree – which is logically impossible. Which means every pre-determined event can only resolve to one single physically possible option – which is “rendered-certain” before man exists. In other words – in Calvinism – there is no such thing as multiple options set before creatures – from which to choose. Because everything is “FIXED” by infallible decree – to only come out one way. Determinism may now be defined: it is the thesis that there is at any instant exactly ONE physically possible future. Therefore in Calvinism 1) Any instance in which a Calvinist has the perception of having multiple options from which to choose represents a predestined illusion 2) Any instance in which a Calvinist has the perception of being the DETERMINER of his choices – represents a predestined illusion. 3) Any instance in which a Calvinist has the perception of being able to determine TRUE from FALSE on any matter – represents a predestined illusion. December 15, 2020 at 1:30 pm br.d writes, “And Adam and Eve are given what Calvin would call “MERE” permission – to make that choice.” The garden was obviously not a situation where “mere” permission existed. God was intimately involved in the events that played out in the garden. “Mere”permission requires that God be uninvolved and disinterested in the events taking place in His creation. Per Calvin, God is never uninvolved or disinterested in any aspect of His creation – down to the wiggle of an atom as Sproul described. br.d says: December 15, 2020 at 7:34 pm br.d writes, “And Adam and Eve are given what Calvin would call “MERE” permission – to make that choice.” The garden was obviously not a situation where “mere” permission existed. “Mere”permission requires that God be uninvolved and disinterested MERE permission – is what rhutchin is always trying to MASQUERADE as existing in Calvinism – cuz he doesn’t like the logical consequences of determinism. For example – Calvin’s god determines him to have perceptions perceived as TRUE which Calvin’s god knows are FALSE Thus not allowing him to discern a FALSE perception from a TRUE perception. And due to FALSE perceptions – no ability to discern TRUE from FALSE on any matter. Calvinists are sooooo blessed to lead a life full of 1000 daily FALSE perceptions – infallibly decreed to be perceived as TRUE :-] December 15, 2020 at 1:25 pm Recognizing that Eve had limited knowledge, less understanding and even less wisdom – plus little experience including no experience with Satan. She was an easy target. In the end, she did what she desired, as did Adam – just like the Calvinists say. br.d says: December 15, 2020 at 7:21 pm Recognizing that Eve had limited knowledge, less understanding and even less wisdom …….. Recognizing that Calvin’s god did not permit Eve to be/do anything other than what he meticulously decreed. And recognizing that Calvin’s god makes every impulse come to pass IRRESISTIBLY within Eve’s brain. And recognizing that Calvin’s god makes available only one single possibility available to Adam and Eve. Hence we have the TRUE “T” in the TULIP “T” Totally Predestined Nature: The state of man’s nature at any instance in time is totally predestined prior to creation, and therefore absolutely nothing about any part of man’s nature (or anything else for that matter) is ever up to any man. December 22, 2020 at 4:27 am No matter how they try to spin it, deny it, reject it, ignore it, man has free will to accept or reject evil. Even unbelievers….Rom 2:14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;), Gen 4:6 – And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? December 22, 2020 at 1:52 pm Richard writes, “man has free will to accept or reject evil.” Only to the extent that it benefits him. Otherwise, man has no faith and as Paul write in Romans 3, of a person without faith, “There is none righteous, no, not one;…There is none who does good, no, not one.” Then, ‘Rom 2:14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:” How can a person do by nature the things contained in the law, when he has no faith and has a corrupt natures? When doing the things of the law is relative. They will do the things contained in the law when it benefits them and disobey those laws when it is not convenient. Even the unsaved can figure out that there is a benefit to not murdering his neighbors so that they will not murder him. Or people will organize a town and enforce rules against stealing and murder within the town while sending out raiding parties to other towns to steal goods and kill people in those towns. Paul’s point is that all are accountable to God whether they have the law or not.for al, whether with the law or without, have sinned. br.d says: December 22, 2020 at 3:50 pm man has free will to accept OR reject evil.” Only to the extent that it benefits him……etc In Calvinism this is FALSE Of coursein this statement Richard is NOT referring to what logically follows in Calvinism anyway. 2) Calvin’s god can’t determine both [A] and [NOT A] come to pass – because one eradicates the other. And that one single option is never UP TO man Because whatsoever comes to pass is FIXED by infallible decree before man exists. Determinism may now be defined: it is the thesis that there is at any instant exactly ONE single physically possible future. December 22, 2020 at 4:13 pm In a paper submitted to The Journal of Ethics, “How to Think about the Problem of Free Will”, Van Inwagen worries that the concept “free will” may be incoherent. He writes, “There are seemingly unanswerable arguments that (if they are indeed unanswerable) demonstrate that free will is incompatible with determinism. And there are seemingly unanswerable arguments that … demonstrate that free will is incompatible with indeterminism. But if free will is incompatible both with determinism and indeterminism, the concept ‘free will’ is incoherent, and the thing free will does not exist. br.d says: December 22, 2020 at 4:51 pm Great to see you again – hope this finds you well. Yes – Van Inwagen will strongly state that he doesn’t even like using the term “free will” because everyone has their own personal understanding of what it means. And yes – he sees problems on both sides. So with PURE logic we have problems with both sides of the coin. But Van Inwagen will state that he does hold to a “current” position – that Libertarian Freedom has the highest probability Lets say that Theological Determinism is TRUE – and Libertarian choice doesn’t exist. This would mean that during deliberation of any matter of whether something is TRUE or FALSE – your brain doesn’t have the ability to make a Libertarian choice between TRUE and FALSE. That choice is determined FOR you by an external mind. Also – your perception of TRUE – and your perception of FALSE are exclusively determined by an external mind. Two realities become apparent 1) Your mind is infallibly decreed to have perceptions which the THEOS knows are FALSE. And which he has infallibly decreed your mind to perceive as TRUE 2) Your mind is infallibly decreed to have perceptions which the THEOS knows are TRUE. And which he has infallibly decreed your mind to perceive as TRUE Notice in both cases – your mind has been infallibly decreed to perceive both FALSE and TRUE perceptions – both as TRUE. This resolves to a kind of “color blindness” metaphorically speaking. You can’t tell the difference between a TRUE perception and a FALSE perception. You perceive them as both TRUE So that is the condition of your mind if Theological Determinism is TRUE. Now we add to that – the understanding that all human discernment is totally reliant upon perception. But you have no way of knowing if your perceptions are TRUE or FALSE. Thus it follows If Theological Determinism is TRUE – and Libertarian freedom does not exist – your brain has no way of knowing TRUE from FALSE on any matter. Are you happy to acknowledge that your mind has no ability to determine TRUE from FALSE on any matter? December 22, 2020 at 5:33 pm Brian, The problem is you are arguing against Theological Determinism. Now I know that it can be frustrating because many Calvinists will argue from that stand point. And, yes Calvinists have a lot of differing views. So do Arminians. And the terminology is confusing. But the Reformed Confessions are clear that Calvinists believe in Free Will and are not Determinists (at least I’m not). Both Westminster and London Baptist say: God hath endued the will of man with that natural liberty and power of acting upon choice, that it is neither forced, nor by any necessity of nature determined to do good or evil. So I can agree with everything you’ve said about Determinism. If you ask most people—even most Christians—if they believe in free will they will say yes. If you ask them what free will is, they will reply with some explanation concerning uncoerced choices. If you ask them what Libertarian Free Will is, most won’t know what you are talking about let alone what the distinctions are. So, what is Libertarian Free Will and how does it differ from Free Will? December 22, 2020 at 6:02 pm Hi Mike! Though it is good to see you are still around, and I hope you have a Merry Christmas, I am not sure I wish to get into a word fight with you. I think we have probably been through all of this before in the past. So let me just make one full response, and then you can have the last word, unless you have another specific question seeking understanding or clarification and not seeking repentance from me. I think those confessions that you pointed to are contradictory when stating that everything is divinely decreed, and then they use language to suggest that man has a “natural liberty” in his will that is not completely directed by that all encompassing divine decree. That will is supposedly decreed to only choose in accordance with an already foreknown future that will only work out one way (confirming there must be some kind of pre-determination which is not found in that freedom of will). As for LFW – 1. A libertarian freewill decision is made by a libertarian free will. 2. If a libertarian freewill decision is defined as made “having no necessity” by one who “has power over his own will” and the Scripture gives one example of such a decision existing, then a libertarian free will exists to make that libertarian freewill decision. 1 Corinthians 7:37 NKJV — Nevertheless he who stands steadfast in his heart, having no necessity, but has power over his own will, and has so determined in his heart that he will…. I would like to see sound reasoning for rejecting this freewill definition which is clearly given in 1Cor 7:37. The key phrase is – μὴ ἔχων ἀνάγκην ἐξουσίαν δὲ ἔχει περὶ τοῦ ἰδίου θελήματος – “not having necessity but authority he has over the individual desire”. How that is not seen as a very clear and appropriate definition of LFW being defined by Paul as the foundation for the decision making of this circumstance is beyond me. I can only see theological prejudice as the reason for rejecting Paul’s confirmation that a LFW decision can be made in this circumstance. And if in this circumstance, then that LFW truly exists for other circumstances is a reasonable inference. The main question for Determinists – (Calvinists, Arminians, and Molinists, who all teach there is a divine decree before creation that sets one known future) – Does God now know in His mind possibilities for the future that He has not yet chosen between? If yes, then He knows them as, “What I might do and what I might not do/choose” … Correct? He would not know any of them as “This is what I will do/choose”! Thus the future is partly open for Him right now. Now allow God to give the same openness to man and to know in His mind that same openness that is in man’s mind, that is, what they might or might not do, until He observes their mind becoming fixed in one decided direction. Only then He comes to know what they will or will not do, just like coming to know His own mind as fixed when He decides between still available possibilities that He knows are true before He makes His decision. December 22, 2020 at 9:37 pm Brian, I jumped in here because you were using an “argument from authority” when you quoted Van Inwagen. I know that he holds to LFW. But Van Inwagen also understands that the issue isn’t as simple as you state it. Yes, we have gone over this before. Giving me a scripture verse that you interpret as LFW doesn’t really answer the question. 1 Corinthians 7:37 demonstrates free will to me, but what makes it LFW? Does Isaiah 10:5-7 and 46:9-10, Proverbs 16:9 and 21:1 demonstrate LFW? And please, I’ve heard Flowers give his spin on these verses. This is a rhetorical question. You’re telling me that free will and LFW are the same. So what does LFW entail? Is it just choice or is it choice between opposites? Is it freedom to choose between good and evil—is it freedom to sin? Is it simply a non-coercive choice? Is coercion only external or can it be internal? What effects do environment, heredity, ethnicity, gender, etc. have on free will? Is love dependent on free choice? What is divine predestination? What is deliberation? Can God deliberate? What does “if all things being equal I could have chosen differently” really mean? Yes, these are a lot of questions. But you ask a lot of question of Calvinists—and you expect anwsers. I don’t hear real answers to any of these questions. And believe me, I’ve looked for them! All I get is a lot of hand waving and “exceptions to the rule.” LFW dies of a hundred exceptions. I’m asking you to think deeply on this issue of free will—as deeply as you have on determinism. How about Classical Theism? Have you considered Divine Concurrence (Concursus)? How about Synchronic Contingency? How about reading some Aquinas on Free Will. Or even Richard Muller on Calvinism. I dislike these blog posts because it is just too easy to dodge questions and go off on rabbit trails that don’t address real concerns. My prayer is that one day we can have a friendly live back and forth discussion that gets us, if not closer to truth, then closer to understanding. I wish you happy holidays. Please keep safe and may God bless you. December 23, 2020 at 5:35 am Just to clarify one thing, Mike… I didn’t quote Van Inwagen, that was Br.D, who is not me. And let me say also that I hope too we can one day have a friendly back and forth where one doesn’t “dodge”, like I felt you dodged the biblical evidence I gave that clearly defined LFW, but instead brought up other questions or appeals to authority as part of the dodge. Thank you for the holiday wishes! December 23, 2020 at 7:15 am Sorry Brian, I confused you with DR.D. And I would like to wish DR.D happy holidays as well. I didn’t dodged your evidence, I agreed with it! I wasn’t appealing to authorities, I was asking you to consider other options and go deeper. I don’t know if this is you but for many anti-Calvinists this issue is simple: Calvinism is determinism, determinism is wrong therefore the alternative must be correct. So there is no need to investigate the alternative because what if the alternative ends up being wrong as well? Anyway, stay safe and perhaps one day we’ll be able to talk under different circumstances. December 24, 2020 at 3:50 pm brianwagner writes, “I think those confessions that you pointed to are contradictory when stating that everything is divinely decreed,…” Your issue before this seemed to be with God decreeing everything in the past. Given that God is sovereign and omnipotent, He naturally affects everything in the present. Nothing can happen without God deciding (i.e., decreeing) that it should because He can affect directly any outcome He wants. We know that Ephesians 1 says, “God works all things according to the counsel of His will,” that you say extends to all things that God wants to work. So, God works all things that He wants and for the things He doesn’t want to work, He doesn’t do anything directly. God’s decision not to work something is also a decree. So, whether God wants to work an outcome or not work an outcomes, each requires His decision – the expression of His will for that outcome – so that He ends up working all things according to the counsel of His will even with present events. Then, ‘then they use language to suggest that man has a “natural liberty” in his will that is not completely directed by that all encompassing divine decree.” I think this is where a distinction is made for secondary causes. Given that man is without faith and a slave to sin, then he has a freedom to sin but not to do good (or righteousness in God’s eyes). The divine decree forced this condition or Adam’s descendants consequent to Adam’s sin and God’s punishment on Adam for that sin – a punishment that impacted Adam’s descendants by a deficit of faith. Because of God’s intimate involvement in His creation, we cannot absolve God of responsibility of the condition of Adam’s descendants, but we can still attribute intent to people. Thus, Joseph tells his brothers, “as for you, you meant evil against me;, ” and Isaiah records of the Assyrians, “it is in his heart to destroy…” Prior to v37, Paul writes, “Now concerning virgins: I have no commandment from the Lord; yet I give judgment as one whom the Lord in His mercy has made trustworthy.” So, necessity in v37 would be by commandment, or law, leaving the person to do as he wills. By the same token, a person having the option of eating at PB or BK would be free to choose where to eat as no commandment directs him to one particular option. As LFW requires the ability to choose otherwise, particularly in the matter of salvation, we can conclude that LFW cannot exist where faith is lacking. People without faith are free to choose in the Calvinist sense but not in the LFW sense. v7:37 would be applied differently between the person with faith and the person without. As the person without faith has only a corrupt nature, and that corrupt nature determines his response, we would not have LFW. As the person with faith is free from his corrupt nature but he is still tied to his old nature, we are closer to LFW. Then, “Does God now know in His mind possibilities for the future that He has not yet chosen between? ” God has a perfect understanding of His creation and this understanding extends to the impacts of present actions in His creation. So, if a person were to drop a feather off the Empire State Bldg, God, through His understanding, would know the path the feather would travel until it eventually landed on the ground. That understanding extends to every action in His creation. As the path of the feather is directed by wind currents, God always has the choice to override those wind currents or do nothing and allow natural conditions to prevail. God knows the natural possibilities and any different possibility brought about by an action He might take. You are left with saying that God doesn’t make His decisions until the last possible moment meaning that God flies by the seat of His pants (so to speak). Yet in waiting until the last possible moment to make a decision, God makes the same decision as He would if He had decided in eternity past. This is because God’s understanding is perfect and doesn’t change for the past to the present. br.d says: December 23, 2020 at 9:27 am But the Reformed Confessions are clear that Calvinists believe in Free Will and are not Determinists Actually that is not true. We take the Westminster Confession of Faith (WCF) as representative of historic confessional Calvinism. And thus rule out libertarian free will (since libertarianism, on standard definitions, entails that determinism is false). WCF 10.1 straightforwardly affirms compatibilism by asserting that God determines that the elect freely come to Christ. Since libertarianism entails that compatibilism is false, LC is internally inconsistent. It should be conceded at the outset, and without embarrassment, that Calvinism is indeed committed to divine determinism: the view that everything is ultimately determined by God…..take it for granted as something on which the vast majority of Calvinists uphold. So yes – it is true that there is “Free Will” in Calvinism. 100% of [X] must be “Compatible” with what is determined concerning [X]. So your will is “Free” to will whatever is determined by an external mind. And your mind is “Free” to have perceptions that are determined by an external mind. But your will is “NOT Free” to will what is not determined by an external mind – at pain of falsifying an infallible decree. And your mind is “NOT Free” to have a perception that is NOT determined by an external mind – at pain of falsifying an infallible decree. You can see by Paul Helm’s and Dr. Neal Anderson above that Libertarian Freedom and determinism mutually exclude each other. So that would be part of the answer to your question. But here is my definition of Libertarian Freedom 1) The ability to choose from multiple options – or from a range of options 2) Those options all being logically and physically available from which to choose 3) That choice not being made by an external mind – or by factors outside of one’s control So based on that definition – we would probably agree that the God of scripture has Libertarian choice. 1) He has the ability to choose from a range of options 2) Those options being logically and physically available from which to choose 3) His choices not being made FOR him by an external mind – or by factors outside of his control 4) His choices being compatible with his nature. But in Calvinism – this aspect of the “Imago Dei”. (Image of God) is not conveyed to the created things. So Adam (along with all created entities) are never endowed with these capabilities. In Calvinism – 100% of whatsoever will come to pass – (within the course of time in creation) is solely and exclusively determined at the foundation of the world pre-creation. It is a logical impossibility for [A] and [NOT A] to be both “RENDERED-CERTAIN” Because one logically negates the other. Therefore it becomes obvious that a “RENDERED-CERTAIN” event – can only resolve to one single psychically possible future. And that is why Van Inwagen states Determinism may now be defined: it is the thesis that there is at any instant exactly one physically possible future. So I think – for a Calvinist to deny determinism as the core of Reformed Theology – is an act of futility :-] December 23, 2020 at 11:30 am Thanks for getting back to me. You make some very good points. I think Calvinists have a history of contradicting themselves—at least on a plain reading of some of their texts. But there are equal inconsistencies with the non-Calvinist views. So you either give up on the entire debate and embrace ignorance or hold tenaciously to your preconceived ideas and fight to discredit any opposition. But I do believe there is a third option. I’ve stated before that I find it very unfortunate when Calvinist philosophers admit to determinism. The problem is that when philosophers talk about determinism and compatibilsm they mean something different then what the plain definitions state. This is why their writings are confusing—their definitions are malleable. What’s soft-libertarianism? What’s hard -compatiblism? (These are rhetorical questions.) There is a hard and soft for every term. Unfortunately philosophers speak within a technical bubble that is not always clear to the non-philosopher. Theological determinism is not determinism. Compatiblism is not determinism. You are correct that Calvinism is committed to divine determinism but so is all of Christianity depending on how you define and interpret this term. If you interpret it to mean that God’s creation is a puppet show or a world of automata then this is certainly not Calvinism (at least not the view that I espouse). Divine determinism is the view that God is all in all. He is the un-caused cause of existence. There is nothing outside of God. God’s omni attributes maintain and sustain all existence. All that we are and do is of God. Only God is autonomous. Only God is free in mind and will and ability. Without God there is no truth, and there is no existence. I appreciate your “Free” logic. And I sympathize with your confusion of the divine infallible decree. I accept that Calvinism’s definitions are unclear. Saying that LFW and determinism are mutually exclusive just tells you what it is not, not what it is. I appreciate your definition of libertarian freedom but I don’t see that it differs from what the average person, and specifically the compatibilist or Calvinst, think is simple free will. I hope you have a happy and safe holiday season. God bless. br.d says: December 23, 2020 at 12:22 pm Thanks for getting back to me. You make some very good points. I think Calvinists have a history of contradicting themselves—at least on a plain reading of some of their texts. Yes – that is the model – and it starts with Calvin himself. “All future things being uncertain to us, we hold them in suspense, AS THOUGH they might happen either one way or another. Each ought to so to apply himself to his office, AS THOUGH nothing were determined about any part.” The brain is conditioned to hold [A] as TRUE – but go about ones office AS-IF [A] is FALSE. But it gets worse – because for Calvin – divine exhaustive determinism – is the most sacred truth in the universe. So being a Calvinist entails holding to a belief that is considered the most sacred truth in the universe – and at the same time living, thinking, and speaking AS-IF the most sacred truth in the universe is FALSE. So – yes I agree – that’s called being DOUBLE-MINDED But there are equal inconsistencies with the non-Calvinist views. So you either give up on the entire debate and embrace ignorance or hold tenaciously to your preconceived ideas and fight to discredit any opposition. But I do believe there is a third option. You’ve mentioned that before – and I would love to hear you unpackage that. I’ve stated before that I find it very unfortunate when Calvinist philosophers admit to determinism. Why not just acknowledge they are being honest with what they know as the core of the belief system? The problem is that when philosophers talk about determinism and compatibilism they mean something different then what the plain definitions state. I have not found that to be the case. Dr. William Lane Craig hasn’t found that to be the case. I think perhaps your personal conceptions on the matter are what you’re using for comparison. And since you’ve stated you don’t think Calvinism entails determinism – you might consider the possibility that that position is really untenable. Theological determinism is not determinism. Compatiblism is not determinism. These are two good examples of an untenable position. Mike – you are really on your own – out in left field somewhere with these positions. Would you be willing to consider the possibility that your approaching this issue with emotion rather than logic? If you interpret it to mean that God’s creation is a puppet show or a world of automata then this is certainly not Calvinism (at least not the view that I espouse). The espousal of a belief system does not necessitate rational thinking – it can in fact be self-contradicting. One can explicitly espouse [A] at one minute – and the next minute implicitly deny [A]. I see this as a consistent pattern in Calvinist thinking and speaking. I appreciate your definition of libertarian freedom but I don’t see that it differs from what the average person, and specifically the compatibilist or Calvinst, think is simple free will. Yes – but is that not a self-contradiction? If you – as a Calvinist – hold that you are the determiner of your choices And at the same time – you hold that a THEOS is the determiner of your choices Then is that not in fact a case of DOUBLE-MINDEDNESS? This BTW – is why Dr. William Lane Craig states that Calvinism is an unlivable belief system. Well – Divine Exhaustive Determinism in Calvinism – is stated clearly 100% of whatsoever comes to pass is solely and exclusively determined prior to creation. ZERO% is left undetermined. Which leaves ZERO% for you or any other creature to determine. The problem arises for people who hold to a belief system – while unconsciously trying to evade or escape its consequences. And that is expressed in all sorts of double-speak language – which ( as you say ) comes out as confusion. I can understand a Calvinist not wanting to go where his belief system leads him. That his brain is not permitted to determine TRUE from FALSE on any matter Because 100% of whatsoever comes to pass within his brain – is determined exclusively by an external mind – as part of that mind’s exercise of divine sovereignty. I hope you have a happy and safe holiday season. God bless. My very sincere and warm blessings to you Mike!! December 23, 2020 at 7:35 pm Calvin along with most of the early apostolic fathers have contradictions and inconsistencies, especially with regard to the subject of free will. Your “AS-IF” theory is just Calvin admitting that the mind and machinations of God are impenetrable. Because of the language and terminology Calvin and the fathers use their ideas leave room for interpretation. We see this in the plethora of books explaining what the fathers really mean! You call it DOUBLE-MINDED because it appears contradictory and you think there is some kind of deviousness being perpetrated. Okay, explain logically God’s omini attributes without contradiction. Explain timelessness. Explain predestination in relation to infinity. You want me to unpack the inconsistencies of LFW? Do you really think that LFW has no problems? That it is completely coherent and logical? Even Van Inwagen, who adheres to LFW, admits there is incoherence. We’ve gone over this before but here are just a few issues: Explain free will in the light of scriptural inspiration. Can God know that you would exist before you were born? Does a mother freely choose to love her newborn? Does the newborn freely choose to love its mother? What about free will in heaven? Do you really think that environment, heredity, ethnicity, gender, etc. are non-causal and have no effect on free will? I’m surprised that these issues do not concern you as to the coherence of LFW. “br.d: Why not just acknowledge they are being honest with what they know as the core of the belief system?” I thought you implied that they were deceptive with their double-mindedness? Anyway, I’m happy to acknowledge their acceptance of hard-determinism or hard-compatiblism or whatever they want to call it but when you actually read into the literature, and not just random quotes, you find that what they mean is quite something else! Sorry but William Lane Craig’s opinions don’t hold much weight with me. Molinism is just as, if not more, deterministic than Calvinsm and Craig is blind to that. Appeals to authority really don’t get you anywhere. There are eminent philosophers arguing every side of every issue. And the majority of eminent theological philosophers on free will are Molinists like Craig. You say that I am alone in my position. I considered this until I began to study Thomas Aquinas and the ancient and modern Thomistic scholars. And then some of the not so “popular” Calvinist scholars like Kevin Timpe and Richard Muller and others. Your example that tries to show double-mindedness is so focused on your rejection of Calvinism that you can’t see the larger issue. Try this example: 1. If you, as the Libertarian, hold that you are the determiner of your choices, 2. And at the same time, you hold that environment, heredity, ethnicity, gender and otters external conditioning is creating the determiner of your choices, 3. Then is that not in fact a case of LFW DOUBLE-MINDEDNESS? My reading of Calvinism does not agree with your definition of divine determinism. Perhaps you need to expand your reading. “br.d: The problem arises for people who hold to a belief system – while unconsciously trying to evade or escape its consequences.” I whole heartedly agree! This and it is why I can not accept LFW. You should read the book “Paradise Understood” Edited by T. Ryan Byerly and Eric J. Silverman. It is basically dealing with free will in heaven. What stands out to me is that there is no consensus among all these highly educated scholars. And among all the philosophical speculation there is very little scripture. Take care and stay safe! br.d says: December 23, 2020 at 8:46 pm Your “AS-IF” theory is just Calvin admitting that the mind and machinations of God are impenetrable. Actually Calvin said it because he understood it as a consequence of determinism he understood he could not live with. The very exact same statement has been made by many Atheist determinsts. Dr. Stephen Hawking for example at a symposium on the subject of determinism. Even though a believe Determinism is true – I might as well live AS-IF determinism is false – and AS-IF I have Libertarian Freedom. Again – that is why Dr. William Lane Craig states that Calvinism is an unlivable belief system. Determinist’s recognize that they have to ACT AS-IF they have libertarian freedom and are able to weigh options and decide on what course of action to take, even though at the end of the day their belief system dictates that they were already determined to make the choices they made. Determinism is thus an unliveable view BTW: Calvin is not an Apostolic father. Neither is Augustine. You call it DOUBLE-MINDED because it appears contradictory and you think there is some kind of deviousness being perpetrated. Well this is a similar appeal that A.W. Pink makes when he tries to call the contradictions “Antinomy” The problem here – is that these are not contradictions in APPEARANCE. When one asserts [A] is TRUE one minute. That is not “Antinomy” That is contradiction. And attempts to defy simply math also follow the same pattern. Calvin’s god determines 100% of whatsoever comes to pass prior to creation He leaves ZERO% undetermined. That leaves ZERO% left over for anyone else to determine. A Calvinist is not likely to allow for contradictions in the exchange of money – calling them “Antimony” – if it means loosing money he shouldn’t be loosing! But he has no problem calling contradictions “Antimony” if he calculates he has little to lose. That is pretty funny to watch! :-] You want me to unpack the inconsistencies of LFW? Do you really think that LFW has no problems? That it is completely coherent and logical? Even Van Inwagen, who adheres to LFW, admits there is incoherence. Can you provide the quote where he says its “incoherent”? Or is it more truthful to say – he recognizes problems with it? Even after all of that – I know he concludes the probability of Libertarian Freedom is the more rational position. We’ve gone over this before but here are just a few issues: Explain free will in the light of scriptural inspiration. Can God know that you would exist before you were born? And we discussed Middle knowledge as an answer to many of these. But of course – a Calvinist really shouldn’t go there because that does compromise Exhaustive Determinism But that was what Middle knowledge was designed to do. Does a mother freely choose to love her newborn? Does the newborn freely choose to love its mother? We have babies who are thrown in dumpsters at birth. Obviously that mother chose not to love that child. We also have babies that are born to devoted parents. So according to my definition of Libertarian choice – where there are multiple options – if Libertarian choice does exist – then yes a mother can choose to love or not love a baby. What about free will in heaven? If the God of heaven can have Libertarian freedom – why can’t he endow that attribute to his creatures? What we’re saying here – with Calvin’s doctrine – is that a THEOS who chose not to grant a particular aspect of his imago Dei (“image of God”) to his creatures. And thus Libertarian freedom does not exist for Adam et-all. I’m surprised that these issues do not concern you as to the coherence of LFW. So far – from what you have enunciated – (except for the unknowable things) you haven’t shown any logical contradictions. And did you notice my approach to Libertarian choice was to present a mind experiment that shows if you don’t have Libertarian choice then your mind doesn’t have the ability to determine TRUE from FALSE on any matter. That is not a logical contradiction. But it is a consequence most Calvinists will refuse to accept. Can you present a similar challenge? A consequence of Libertarian choice that I would not want to accept? I thought you implied that they were deceptive with their double-mindedness? Here are some quotes from book authors – on the phenomenon of double-mindedness (DOUBLE-SPEAK) in Calvinism “Paul Helm, another staunch theological determinist of the Calvinist variety, simply says that God’s providence is ‘extended to all that He has created’ (1993, p. 39). The problem with such characterizations is that they are subject to multiple interpretations, some of whom would be affirmed by theological indeterminists.” Calvinists, unfortunately, yet consistently fail short to enunciate the radical distinctions of their belief system. “If Calvinists didn’t rely so heavily on misleading rhetoric, their theology would lose all credibility within two years.” “Some Calvinists use smoke-and-mirror tactics to avoid the harsh implications of their view” (pg 104) “This is done by redefining terms and Theological Doublespeak” (pg 261) “Calvinists arguments are buried in theological and grammatical doublespeak.” As mentioned in several places throughout this book, within Calvinism there is a problem of what I call doubletalk. But I am not implying immoral or clandestine trickery. Nor am I suggesting conspiratorial deceit. I must admit that upon reflection on my time being a Calvinist, I did the same thing. I did not do this out ill motive or intent to deceive, or because of a lack of desire to be faithful to the scripture. Nor do I ascribe this to my Calvinist brothers. As a matter of fact, I did it because I believed Calvinism and the Scripture; and this brought about conflicts, or at least unconscious responses to the conflicts, which I now see as doubletalk. This doubletalk obscured the harsh realities of Calvinism and the inconsistencies between Scripture and Calvinism. ” “This is a clear example of what I call Calvinism’s double-talk. By double-talk, I specifically and only mean thinking….speaking in such a way that obscures the disquieting realities of Calvinism. If a person accepts these realities, then he can be a knowledgeable and consistent Calvinist. But if one is unwilling to face them and accept them, he cannot be a consistent Calvinist. Additionally, I am not calling anyone a double-talker nor is my use of this term intended in any sense to be a pejorative.” “Calvinists then have to resort to double-talk in order to explain how human responsibility is still involved even though it isn’t. If a man can do nothing to change his condition, then he cannot be held responsible for changing his condition”. “Calvinist and Non-Calvinist do not share the same meaning of words….. Remember, Calvinism is merely the invoking of associative meaning, not real meaning. By ‘not real’ I mean that the meaning is destroyed in the overall thought of the clause or sentence. For, of course, at one level the Calvinist understands the general meaning of words. But when he strings them together in such a way that it forms an idea that is a false representation of his belief system This is what I used to do as a Calvinist. I liken these non-sense statements, or propositions, to the riding of a rocking horse….. Thus, I would go back and forth in seesaw motion, lest on the one hand I find myself accusing God of insufficient sovereignty, or on the other hand find myself accusing God of authoring sin. All the while, there remained an illusion of movement towards truth, when in fact there was no real movement at all. At length I would allow the springs of dialectical tension to rest the rocking horse in the center, and then I would declare as harmonious propositions, which in fact, were totally contradictory to each other. Calvinist riders still ride out this scenario.” “The apology for this gross misapplication of language…..is found in their distressing emergency. In no other way can they, with any plausibility, meet their opponents.” You say that I am alone in my position. I considered this until I began to study Thomas Aquinas and the ancient and modern Thomistic scholars. And then some of the not so “popular” Calvinist scholars like Kevin Timpe and Richard Muller and others. I take not of the fact that none of these are main-stream Reformed. I’m afraid the vast majority of Reformed thinking on Determinism today follows the school of Jonathan Edwards who was a staunch determinist. 1. If you, as the Libertarian, hold that you are the determiner of your choices, 2. And at the same time, you hold that environment, heredity, ethnicity, gender and otters external conditioning is creating the determiner of your choices, 3. Then is that not in fact a case of LFW DOUBLE-MINDEDNESS? Actually Mike – that example is not a logical problem at all. I don’t see any problem acknowledging laws of cause and effect. I can easily hold to a form of “SEMI-Determinism” And that is actually the position that the Calvinist takes as part of his AS-IF thinking pattern. He goes about his office as Calvin states AS-IF some things are not determined in any part. But it is double-minded for the Calvinist – because the core of his belief system is EXHAUSTIVE determinism. But in order to retain a sense of normalcy in life – he has to be double-minded about it. My reading of Calvinism does not agree with your definition of divine determinism. Perhaps you need to expand your reading. I might consider doing that. I’ll keep my eyes open for the authors you say you read on the subject. But – again – I already know those authors do not represent the main-stream of current Reformed thinking. You should read the book “Paradise Understood” Edited by T. Ryan Byerly and Eric J. Silverman. It is basically dealing with free will in heaven. What stands out to me is that there is no consensus among all these highly educated scholars. And among all the philosophical speculation there is very little scripture. I have access to a nearby university library. Take care and stay safe! Always a pleasure to chat with you Mike! May the Lord bless you in so many more ways than you could imagine! December 24, 2020 at 1:08 am You are a smart guy but, like Flowers, you seem to be so committed to anti-Calvninsm that I think it may prevent you from seeing another point of view. I get it with Flowers as he has a reputation and position to protect. He’s a professional Christian. And there are professional Christians on the Calvinist side as well. Calvin understood that the divine determinism of God was impossible for time-bound humans to understand. I agree that determinism (not Calvinism) is an unliveable belief system. But that doesn’t make it wrong. And a guy like Craig who is in denial of his own deterministic beliefs is not very convincing. And in the quote you give Crag uses the term “libertarian freedom.” But Craig’s definition of LFW is simple non-cohesion—which is compatible with compatiblism—and which is less than what most libertarians define it as the ability to do otherwise in all situations. Thanks for the correction on Apostolic Fathers. I guess I should have said Church Fathers? I think your math is off. There’s a big difference in the determinations of God and the determinations of mortal men. I suggest you study some Classical Theism and some Aquinas. Read some books by Edward Feser. Look up “concrsus (concurrence),” “physical premotion,” “synchronic contingency.” It’s easy to ignore hard questions with a “logical fallacy” term. I call that the “logical fallacy term fallacy.” ; ) Oh well, most libertarian don’t address those issues either. Come on, are you a Molinist? Middle knowledge? For a guy who is so strict about the determinist math and about antimony and contradictions you think middle knowledge solves your libertarian problems. Now who’s double-minded? I like how you chose the one example that I gave that allowed you a response and ignored the others. So you think that psychological deviant behaviour in some mothers is proof of LFW? And I guess the logical free choice deliberation of a newborn for his mother is also LFW? And you dodged the free will in heaven question as well. Not surprising, that’s what they mostly did in the book. I guess if you ignore hard questions then you don’t have to resort to double-mindedness. “If you don’t have Libertarian choice then your mind doesn’t have the ability to determine TRUE from FALSE on any matter.” Hmmm, I think I can understand your reasoning but I don’t think you’ve thought it through to any great extent. It depends on an assumption of total autonomy of mind—only God has that. But even God is subject to his nature. And God is “truth.” And remember the serpent’s temptation “…you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Or perhaps this is just a case of failure to distinguish between “the necessity of the consequent” and “the necessity of the consequence.” ; ) The key phrase in your quote from The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy is “subject to multiple interpretations.” Wow, those are a lot of quotes from people who really hate Calvinism. Most of them I have very little respect for. Not sure what your purpose with these are. Would you like me to send you an equal number of hate quotes from Calvinists who dislike Arminians? Apart from the name Calvinsm is not define by Calvin or Jonathan Edwards. History shows that there were multiple views that existed within Calvinism as there is today. But modern Calvinism or Reformed thought is primarily defended by scripture. (Libertarian free will—not free will—is a modern philosophical concept.) Semi-Determinism. Is that like soft Libertarianism? As I’ve said elsewhere, LFW dies of a hundred exceptions. I don’t think I’ve heard a Calvinist use the term “exhaustive determinism,” but by this you mean that man is a puppet or a robot—I don’t believe this and neither do true Calvinists. Perhaps the people I’m reading are not mainstream Calvinists but them Flowers and his group are not mainstream Arminians. There are no Provisionist philosophers. Most LFW philosophers are Molinists and you know how I feel about Molinism. Look into the Jesuit vs Dominican debate. I side with the Dominicans! I hope I didn’t get too belligerent with some of my comments. I’m just trying to make sense out of this crazy free will debate thing. Nice chatting with you, Br.d. God bless! br.d says: December 24, 2020 at 10:16 am Calvin understood that the divine determinism of God was impossible for time-bound humans to understand. Yea – I have a doctrine that defies logic and even defies simple math when I need it to. And you are not to examine all things and only hold fast to the good. You are to believe every word – because its impossible for time-bound humans to understand. Somehow Mike – I don’t think that is what the Lord expects of us. One might as well give up any attempt at considering oneself a rational human being – and simply believe every word Calvin says. I agree that determinism (not Calvinism) is an unliveable belief system. So the critical foundational core of Calvinism – is that a THEOS determines 100% of whatsoever comes to pass – leaving ZERO% undetermined? And somehow that is not Exhaustive Determinism? But that doesn’t make it wrong. And a guy like Craig who is in denial of his own deterministic beliefs is not very convincing. And in the quote you give Crag uses the term “libertarian freedom.” But Craig’s definition of LFW is simple non-cohesion—which is compatible with compatiblism—and which is less than what most libertarians define it as the ability to do otherwise in all situations. I don’t know of any philosophical scholar on the subject – who defines LFW as the ability to do otherwise in ALL situations. The Frankfurt cases presented in the late 1960s totally blew that idea out of the water. And there is not way I could possibly conclude that Craig’s idea of LFW is that it is compatible with compatibilism – because compatibilism is only viable with Determinism – and Determinism and LFW mutually exclude each other. Again – Mike – Is it possible your definitions of these things are designed to remove logical consequences considered unpalatable? I think your math is off. There’s a big difference in the determinations of God and the determinations of mortal men. I suggest you study some Classical Theism and some Aquinas. Read some books by Edward Feser. Look up “concrsus (concurrence),” “physical premotion,” “synchronic contingency.” Actually that math shows that the term “determine” cannot be the same SENSE in in regard to a THEOS vs a man. Now a logical contradiction states that something cannot be both TRUE and FALSE at the same time and in the same SENSE So that simple math shows us that when a Calvinist uses the term “Determine” in regard to a THEOS – and also in regard to a human – it cannot possibly be the same SENSE. Otherwise you have a clear contradiction. The other way a Calvinist will try to escape the logic of that – is to say that simple math does not work when it comes to divine things. And again – we might as well throw away any attempt at considering ourselves rational thinking human beings – and simply believe everything everyone tells us. I looked at that article – and its as I remember. Van Inwagen concludes that “Free Will Remains a Mystery” Perhaps I misunderstood you to say – Van Inwagen considers LFW incoherent. That is not what he states – he states that a person’s CONCEPT of free-will can be incoherent. That is to be totally understandable Come on, are you a Molinist? Middle knowledge? For a guy who is so strict about the determinist math and about antimony and contradictions you think middle knowledge solves your libertarian problems. Now who’s double-minded? You have Middle knowledge don’t you? If you find mouse droppings in your kitchen and set out a mouse trap and come back the next morning to find a dead mouse – with what kind of knowledge did you know that would happen? I see no reason why a divine being can’t have that type of knowledge. I like how you chose the one example that I gave that allowed you a response and ignored the others. So you think that psychological deviant behaviour in some mothers is proof of LFW? And I guess the logical free choice deliberation of a newborn for his mother is also LFW? Isn’t there a difference between a human adult brain and a human infant’s brain? As an adult do you make choices that an infant’s brain is not capable of making? Even though the infants brain is not capable of making adult choices – does that mean it doesn’t have the potential to do so at some point? Again – isn’t this black and white thinking? And you dodged the free will in heaven question as well. Not surprising, that’s what they mostly did in the book. I guess if you ignore hard questions then you don’t have to resort to double-mindedness. How did I dodge it? Do you not not agree that a THEOS in heaven has the ability to make choices as I previously defined Libertarian choiceDoes ? If so – then on my view of Libertarian choice – there already is Libertarian free will in heaven. “If you don’t have Libertarian choice then your mind doesn’t have the ability to determine TRUE from FALSE on any matter.” Hmmm, I think I can understand your reasoning but I don’t think you’ve thought it through to any great extent. It depends on an assumption of total autonomy of mind—only God has that. But even God is subject to his nature. So God’s nature determines his choices? Does this lead to a chain of determining factors which are eventually outside of his control? If so we are back to the rule we find in determinism where for every event there is only one single possible “RENDERED-CERTAIN” future. Hence God does not have the ability to determine TRUE from FALSE either. His choices are all ultimately determined by factors outside of his control Wow, those are a lot of quotes from people who really hate Calvinism. Most of them I have very little respect for. Not sure what your purpose with these are. Would you like me to send you an equal number of hate quotes from Calvinists who dislike Arminians? The interesting thing about those authors – some of whom are ex-Calvinists (whom I dare say do not see themselves as Calvinist haters) is that over an extended period of time – we have disparate people from different places – who all – interestingly enough – have the same observation. As scripture says – three stranded cord is not easily broken. Apart from the name Calvinsm is not define by Calvin or Jonathan Edwards. History shows that there were multiple views that existed within Calvinism as there is today. But modern Calvinism or Reformed thought is primarily defended by scripture. (Libertarian free will—not free will—is a modern philosophical concept.) Yes – Reformed scholar Dr. Oliver Crisp has an interesting historical review on Reformed thinking. He concludes that the ancient Reformed divines did allow for various degrees of Libertarian human functionality. He states that Edwards brought a -quote “water shed” of thought into the Reformed position – leading it to adopt Exhaustive Determinism. He came up with the phrase “Libertarian Calvinist”. And people like Paul Helm’s and Dr. Neal Anderson have responded to that – with those quotes I provided to you earlier. They hold that Libertarian function makes Exhaustive Determinism false – and must therefore be rejected by the Calvinist. Semi-Determinism. Is that like soft Libertarianism? As I’ve said elsewhere, LFW dies of a hundred exceptions. I don’t think I’ve heard a Calvinist use the term “exhaustive determinism,” but by this you mean that man is a puppet or a robot—I don’t believe this and neither do true Calvinists. Of course the Calvinist is going to reject the idea of man being a puppet or robot Its an understandably unpalatable idea. And in Calvinism – (but perhaps not your version of it) humans have compatibilistic functionality. The robot is free to be/do what the engineer determines – and not free to be/do otherwise I think Calvinists reject connecting those dots for emotional reasons. Perhaps the people I’m reading are not mainstream Calvinists but them Flowers and his group are not mainstream Arminians. Oh that is absolutely true! Dr. Flowers as you know distinguishes himself from the Arminian position There are no Provisionist philosophers. Most LFW philosophers are Molinists and you know how I feel about Molinism. Look into the Jesuit vs Dominican debate. I side with the Dominicans! Perhaps I have a similar disposition toward Calvin. There are some areas that I consider his thinking viable – even though he manipulated the magistrates of Geneva into the murders and tortures of people who disagreed with him. And it is documented that Calvin wrote letters to Catholic head hunters and gave them information on where they could find and kill protestants who disagreed with him. But I also have the same reservations for the Jesuits that you do! So you and I are definitely on the same page there! I hope I didn’t get too belligerent with some of my comments. I’m just trying to make sense out of this crazy free will debate thing. Nice chatting with you, Br.d. God bless! And again – my very warm Christmas blessings to you and yours!! December 26, 2020 at 10:15 am br.d, I said I was going to give you the last word and I will but I have had some time to think on some of the things you have said and I wanted to respond. Also, I needed some time to look things up. Sorry it’s so long. Let me ask you a question. You are averse to blatant contradiction which you are positive that Calviniism espouses with its (supposed) exhaustive determinism. How do you defend belief in God? All of God’s omni attributes are self contradictory or paradoxical. I think you guys in the Flowers’ camp have double standards and inconsistencies. You say Calvinism is hard determinism by implication (see the quote from Crisp below addressing this), but you give Molinsm a pass without identifying its inconsistency and implications. [br.d: Can you provide the quote where he (van Inwagen) says its “incoherent”? Or is it more truthful to say–he recognizes problems with it?] It’s both! “In a paper submitted to The Journal of Ethics, ‘How to Think about the Problem of Free Will,’ van Inwagen worries that the concept ‘free will’ may be incoherent. He writes, ‘There are seemingly unanswerable arguments that (if they are indeed unanswerable) demonstrate that free will is incompatible with determinism. And there are seemingly unanswerable arguments that … demonstrate that free will is incompatible with indeterminism. But if free will is incompatible both with determinism and indeterminism, the concept ‘free will’ is incoherent, and the thing free will does not exist.’” [Mike: Calvin understood that the divine determinism of God was impossible for time-bound humans to understand. br.d: Yeah–I have a doctrine that defies logic and even defies simple math when I need it to. And you are not to examine all things and only hold fast to the good. You are to believe every word–because its impossible for time-bound humans to understand. Somehow Mike–I don’t think that is what the Lord expects of us. One might as well give up any attempt at considering oneself a rational human being–and simply believe every word Calvin says.] Once again, you haven’t thought this through. I think you are reacting emotionally. You are very logical and mathematical—really think about it. God is timeless, humans are time-bound, it is impossible for time-bound beings to conceive of timelessness (accept as a theoretical proposition). Further, and logically, if God is omniscient his knowledge must eclipse our own at all times and forever. Does this mean we have to accept contradiction? No, but not to admit, as time-bound created beings, that God’s universe will appear to contain paradox is hubris. It is the original sin. The idea that we can become gods. “Gods” is itself an anachronism within a Judaeo-Christian understanding as God is the ultimate omni being—logically there can only be one ultimate! [br.d: I don’t know of any philosophical scholar on the subject–who defines LFW as the ability to do otherwise in ALL situations.] (No? See the quote from Wikipedia below.) Of coarse not, excluding the “all” is the libertarian’s back-door way to weasel out of contradictions. This is why LFW dies of a hundred exceptions. This is the double standard. You condemn compatibilist’s contradictions but ignore and embrace libertarian’s contradictions. So you are just as DOUBLE-MINDED as Calvinists! [The Frankfurt cases presented in the late 1960s totally blew that idea out of the water.] Yes, Frankfurt demonstrated the LFW contradiction! Wikipedia on Frankfurt Cases: “The incompatibilists believe free will refers to genuine (e.g., absolute, ultimate) alternate possibilities for beliefs, desires, or actions, rather than merely counterfactual ones. … Frankfurt’s examples are significant because they suggest an alternative way to defend the compatibility of moral responsibility and determinism, in particular by rejecting the first premise of the argument. According to this view, responsibility is compatible with determinism because responsibility does not require the freedom to do otherwise.” [And there is not way I could possibly conclude that Craig’s idea of LFW is that it is compatible with compatibilism–because compatibilism is only viable with Determinism–and Determinism and LFW mutually exclude each other.] (See the quote from Crisp below.) I like Craig but your love affair with him is blinding you to his inadequacies. [Again–Mike–Is it possible your definitions of these things are designed to remove logical consequences considered unpalatable? Certainly. Is it equally possible for you as well? Is it possible that you have done more reading by the anti-Calvinists on Calvinism than by the Calvinists? When you read the Calvinists are you reading them just to search for quotes to backup your preconceived ideas? [br.d: Actually that math shows that the term “determine” cannot be the same SENSE in regard to a THEOS vs a man. Because the math shows: [X] minus 100% of [X] equals ZERO% of [X]. Now a logical contradiction states that something cannot be both TRUE and FALSE at the same time and in the same SENSE. So that simple math shows us that when a Calvinist uses the term “Determine” in regard to a THEOS—and also in regard to a human—it cannot possibly be the same SENSE. Otherwise you have a clear contradiction.] Of course this line of reasoning is suggesting some kind of conspiracy theory on the part of Calvinists. But many Calvinist, including Calvin himself—as you have pointed out—understand the contradiction. So why do they persist. You know that it is because they see the free will contradiction in scripture. And you know very well the scripture verses I will point to. [The other way a Calvinist will try to escape the logic of that–is to say that simple math does not work when it comes to divine things. And again–we might as well throw away any attempt at considering ourselves rational thinking human beings–and simply believe everything everyone tells us.] Again, some human logic must be unintelligible for God to be God. Even if you don’t agree, at least understand God from a Classical Theistic, Thomistic perspective so you can comment on it intelligibly. Investigate the doctrine of Divine Incomprehensibility which is an age old church doctrine and is derived from some of the following scriptural references: Job 11:7-9, Job 15:8, Psalm 145:3, Ecclesiastes 3:11. Isaiah 55:8,9. [br.d: The interesting thing about those authors–some of whom are ex-Calvinists…] [br.d: Yes–Reformed scholar Dr. Oliver Crisp has an interesting historical review on Reformed thinking. He concludes that the ancient Reformed divines did allow for various degrees of Libertarian human functionality. [br.d: Mike–you are really on your own–out in left field somewhere with these positions. Would you be willing to consider the possibility that your approaching this issue with emotion rather than logic?] Quoting Oliver Crisp from Deviant Calvinism: “Reformed theology was never identified with the project of one person and was never supposed to be a straitjacket binding its practitioners. As a growing consensus of historical theologians at work on this area have agreed elsewhere, the Reformed tradition comprises a variegated and diverse body of theological view even on matters once thought to be definitive of those churches bearing its name, including the doctrines of double predestination and limited atonement,—to name but two of the most obvious candidates. …One need only consult the differences between, say, Zwingli and Calvin, or Edwards and Hodge, or even Schleiermacher and Barth, to see this is the case.” [He (Crisp) states that Edwards brought a, quote, “water shed” of thought into the Reformed position–leading it to adopt Exhaustive Determinism.] Where is that quote from? Did he actually use “exhaustive” determinism? And yes, Edwards has problems. [He came up with the phrase “Libertarian Calvinist.” And people like Paul Helm and Dr. Neal Anderson have responded to that–with those quotes I provided to you earlier. They hold that Libertarian function makes Exhaustive Determinism false–and must therefore be rejected by the Calvinist.] You took acceptation to my use of “all” situations when I referred to the PAP of LFW. Can you show me a citation where a Reformed theologian uses “exhaustive” determinism? [Mike: But the Reformed Confessions are clear that Calvinists believe in Free Will and are not Determinists. br.d: Actually that is not true.] Yes it is. But I can see why you would disagree after reading this Helm and Anderson quote. [Calvinists Paul Helm and Dr. Neal Anderson explain: “We take the Westminster Confession of Faith (WCF) as representative of historic confessional Calvinism. The WCF’s statements about God’s attributes and God’s eternal decree imply theological determinism. And thus rule out libertarian free will (since libertarianism, on standard definitions, entails that determinism is false). WCF 10.1 straightforwardly affirms compatibilism by asserting that God determines that the elect freely come to Christ. Since libertarianism entails that compatibilism is false, LC (Libertarian Calvinism) is internally inconsistent. It should be conceded at the outset, and without embarrassment, that Calvinism is indeed committed to divine determinism: the view that everything is ultimately determined by God…..take it for granted as something on which the vast majority of Calvinists uphold.”] Another quoting from Crisp: “For instance, Reform theology is often thought to entail or at least imply a doctrine of determinism. God ordains all that comes to pass, so God ordains all that I will do, every action I perform; in which case, I am not free to do other than what God has ordained. There have been some high-profile Reformed theologians who have taken this line, and today the view that is often reiterated on this score owes much to work on Jonathan Edwards. His “Freedom of the Will” is perhaps the most sophisticated and unrelenting philosophical account of the relationship between divine determinism and human freedom ever penned by a Reformed theologian. But his view is not identical to the Reformed view per se. Nor is it the case (contrary to popular belief) that the Reform confessions requires belief in some version of divine determinism. In Chapter 3, I deal with this in detail, arguing that the Reformed confessions neither require nor deny divine determinism. In fact, a species of theological libertarianism is consistent with Reformed theology, given certain qualifications (though I do not “endorse” such libertarianism here).” So, you are pitting Helm against Crisp (scholar against scholar). Is it possible that you agree with Helm because his view fits your narrative better? And where does Helm or Anderson say “exhaustive” determinism? The terms divine or theological determinism and compatibilism, like libertarianism, are all open to interpretation—as the quote you provided from the Encyclopedia of Philosophy states! [The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy: “Paul Helm, another staunch theological determinist of the Calvinist variety, simply says that God’s providence is ‘extended to all that He has created’ (1993, p. 39). The problem with such characterizations is that they are SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE INTERPRETATIONS, some of whom would be affirmed by theological indeterminists.”] Am I really on my own with my views? Did you read “Deviant Calvinism”? Here’s another quote: “To derive hard determinism from the sort of Reformed confessional statements one finds in places like the Westminster Confession, the objector would need to provide evidence that the Reformed view (if we call it this) implies or entails hard determinism. I do not deny that there is much Reformed theology that appears to be consistent with theological compatibilism of the sort Boettner articulates (that is, with the compossibility of divine determinism and human free will). A number of noted Reformed theologians have advocated such views, such as Jonathan Edwards and, I think, Francis Turretin. However, hard determinism is a species of “incompatibilism,” because hard determinist claims that determinism is incompatible with human free will. This is clearly inconsistent with theological compatibilism: if one is a theological determinist, one must choose whether or not one thinks this is consistent with human free will, and must opt for compatibilist or incompatibilist versions of determinism accordingly. As long as Flowers and other anti-Calvinists employ double standards their arguments will not be taken seriously. Take care and God bless. br.d says: December 26, 2020 at 12:18 pm Mike this is huge!!!! I had to copy it into a word document in order to capture all of it. We’re either going to have to break this into parts – or only deal with a summary of it. On Van Inwagens comment about the “CONCEPT of ‘free will’ is incoherent” let me ask you a question If your position is that LFW in and of itself is ABSOLUTELY incoherent – then you believe that it is ABSOLUTELY incoherent for god to have LFW. If you eradicate LFW you are left with determinism 1) god’s thoughts, actions and choices, are determined by factors outside of his control. 2) god doesn’t have the ability to determine TRUE from FALSE on any matter – because those are determined by factors outside of his control 3) Which means he doesn’t have the epistemic ability to know TRUE from FALSE on any matter Is that your conclusion? December 27, 2020 at 10:18 pm BR.D, sorry about the length. This is a complicated issue that often goes off into rabbit trails. I would much rather debate verbally but here goes… Your question makes the Black and White Fallacy. I usually don’t like to use these logical fallacy terms—I find that it is too easy to just label something and then disregard it—but in this case it is quite appropriate. Besides, I ripped it off from Rationality Rules, of all places (ironically). See below. LFW is not simply about making choices. LFW, compatibilism and determinism all agree that we can choose between chocolate and vanilla. But both compatibilism and determinism being casual—that is understanding actions as cause-and-effect—believe that the choice or action has a cause-and-effect relation. Therefore the choice of chocolate can be traced back to either a foundational predilection from birth or some external experience that has conditioned itself into the subconscious, or both. While the libertarian choice is contra-causal or uncaused (even random) and comes from the individual without any specific cause-and-effect. But the theological debate is not concerned with positive choices like chocolate and vanilla. Its focus is on moral choices. All discussions of libertarian free will concern moral choices or the moral PAP. Positive or negative behaviour, good or bad, right or wrong, the ability to choose for God or reject God, which is the ability to sin or not to sin. In your definition of LFW your last point is that choice be compatible with one’s nature. This is a problem for the moral PAP. If one’s nature excludes the choice of right and wrong it is not LFW. Therefore it is obvious that God does not have libertarian free will because His nature is that He is unable to sin—He cannot reject Himself. So now we have some choices to make. 1. We can admit that LFW is epistemically different for God and for man. 2. Redefine LFW to exclude the moral PAP and as a consequence bringing it inline with compatibilitsm. 3. Label LFW as incoherent. Now, in the interest of being as brief as I can I’m going to refer you to to some links. Unfortunately this blog doesn’t accept external links. So you you will have to search YouTube for: “Inspiring Philosophy’s Case for Free Will – Debunked” by Rationality Rules. Yes he’s a militant atheist and a determinist, I don’t agree with his secular determinism, but he gives an excellent refutation of LFW. With regard to the incoherence of LFW, which I think you accuse me of being unique and alone in my views, please search these links: “The Incoherence of Libertarian Free Will” by Jason Mullett (BTWN Network) and on YouTube “Why Libertarian Free Will is Unintelligible: The Principles of Sufficient Reason and Causality” by Oppositum. Once again, I don’t agree with everything that is stated but they give a good over view of the problem with LFW. And they demonstrate the complexities of the issues combined with the logical math that you put forward for determinism. The logical math was also outlined in the Crisp quote regarding compatibilist or incompatibilist views. One other thing with regard to the living “AS IF” idea that you always put on Calvinists and determinists, Immanuel Kant, the philosopher who called compatibilism a “wretched subterfuge” and “word jugglery” proclaims that we can have no epistemic justification for believing that persons make libertarian choices, but recommends that we postulate on faith alone the existence of trans-empirical selves ‘in’ a noumenal world that make such choices. br.db says: December 28, 2020 at 12:45 am LFW is not simply about making choices. LFW, compatibilism and determinism all agree that we can choose between chocolate and vanilla. First of all – it is logically impossible to have compatibilism without determinism – based on its core definition. Compatibilism is defined as freedom that is “COMPATIBLE” with what is determined. For example – lets say it is infallibly decreed that you will chose chocolate. You must know that PAP (the principle of alternative possibilities) is excluded by determinism. Therefore no alternative possibility exists for you – and it is logically impossible for you to “Do Otherwise” – at pain of falsifying an infallible decree. Additionally – it is logically impossible to RENDER-CERTAIN that you choose chocolate – and at the same time leave it OPEN for you to choose vanilla – – also at pain of falsifying an infallible decree (i.e. what is determined). Your choice *MUST* be COMPATIBLE with what was determined. And your choice was determined before you were created – so there is no such thing as a choice in your life that is ever UP TO you. All of your choices are determined FOR you by an external mind. Even an a divine being cannot RENDER-CERTAIN [A] and [NOT A] at the same time – because one negates the other. So an attribute of LFW that is eradicated by Determinism – is multiple options from which to choose – during choice-making. Where it is infallibly decreed that you will choose chocolate – then choosing vanilla does not exist as an option for you. Determinism may now be defined – it is the thesis that at any instance in time there is ever only one single physically possible future. In Determinism the future cannot be FIXED and OPEN at the same time. So as a Calvinist – when you are faced with choosing [A] or [NOT A] – and you have a perception that both of them exist as options for you to choose – then you are having an infallibly decreed illusion of an LFW choice which only exists as a FALSE perception within your mind. As a result – as a Calvinist – you go through your day having hundreds of FALSE perceptions of multiple options. FALSE perceptions of yourself as the determiner of your choices Most of your cognitive experience each day – can be summed up as a stream of FALSE perceptions of having LFW choices. So that is another consequence of Calvinism Additionally – you have no ability to determine TRUE from FALSE on any matter – because that is determined by an external mind. Which means – you have no ability to come to a conclusion through rational reasoning – because all of your conclusions are RENDERED-CERTAIN before you even think about them. All FALSE perceptions which exist within your thinking are FIXED by infallible decree – and you are powerless to know they are FALSE perceptions – at pain of falsifying that infallible decree. And since you have no way of knowing what perceptions are FALSE – then you have no way of discerning TRUE from FALSE on any matter. That is the epistemic consequence of divine exhaustive determinism. I know that is hard to swallow – but think about the Jehovah’s witness – who goes through his life having FALSE perceptions of doctrine. On Theological Determinism – whatsoever comes to pass – with perception are infallibly decreed at the foundation of the world. He has no way of knowing that his mind is full of FALSE perceptions. God does not allow him to know that. And your mind is less exhaustively determined than the Jehovah’s Witness mind is. So your mind is in the same exact boat. The Jehovah’s witness has no way of knowing what percentage of his perceptions are divinely decreed FALSE perceptions. And neither do you. You can check out any time you like But you can never determine what you like :-] December 28, 2020 at 9:45 am The problem is one of semantics and definitions. Sadly much of the confusion comes from the compatiblists themselves. Compatiblists admit that comptibilism is a “form” (or subset) of determinism. But then they will go off on long and divers explanations on how free will and determinism can coexist and are in fact a compromise or third way of approaching the free will determinism debate. Now the fault of the libertarian is that they ignore or consider all the compromise explanations as irrelevant or irrational and just label compatibilists as determinists. This is further complicated by labeling compatibilists soft-determinists which ‘is’ a legitimate adulterate term for comptibilism within the literature. And it is even more confusing with terms like soft-libertarian and hard-comptibilism. Once labeled or considered as determinists the libertarian commences to make straw men arguments. The irony is that if we applied the same standard (or double standard) to LFW then we can say that LFW is a “form” of indeterminism. Indeterminism simply means something that is in-determined, without a determiner or cause, random, chaotic. So all LFW choices are just random un-caused and un-reasoned “roll-of-the-dice” decisions. Now, this is certainly not what libertarians mean, though if one holds to the same strict definition of indeterminism as determinism then it is what must be implied. To solve this misunderstanding the Reformed could abandon the term compatiblism and opt for a mysterious or un-named forth term. And indeed this is what many Thomists do. So if I call myself a Thomistc Calvinist does that exempt me from the determinist camp and allow me to rise above the libertarian/determinist/compatibilist debate? br.d says: December 28, 2020 at 11:04 am The problem is one of semantics and definitions. Sadly much of the confusion comes from the compatiblists themselves. Compatiblists admit that comptibilism is a “form” (or subset) of determinism. But then they will go off on long and divers explanations on how free will and determinism can coexist and are in fact a compromise or third way of approaching the free will determinism debate. That’s why I don’t want to stray from the bed-rock of academic definitions. Without that anchor we are tossed to and fro on every wind of definition. Now the fault of the libertarian is that they ignore or consider all the compromise explanations as irrelevant or irrational and just label compatibilists as determinists. Please provide an official definition of compatibilism that does not entail determinism. Like I’ve said – compatibilism is a logical extension of Determinism. Compatibilism is freedom that is said to be “COMPATIBLE” with determinism That is to say “COMPATIBLE” with what is determined. LFW is a “form” of indeterminism. Indeterminism simply means something that is in-determined, without a determiner or cause, random, chaotic. Yes – I agree This must be acknowledged as one of the problems with LFW But Mike – the irony here is also the fact that you in fact do embrace the attributes of LFW. As I’ve said – it appears you are taking attributes of LFW and claiming them as attributes of compatibilism – which is logically impossible. So all LFW choices are just random un-caused and un-reasoned “roll-of-the-dice” decisions. Now, this is certainly not what libertarians mean, though if one holds to the same strict definition of indeterminism as determinism then it is what must be implied. You may not be familiar with Robert Kane’s work – on what he calls “self-forming actions” Kane’s postulates that the vast majority of our impulses etc are in fact determined by factors outside of our control. However, there are tiny times in life in which we are granted LFW. The example the Crisp uses is – will the alcoholic take just one drink – or will he drink the whole bottle. If he can force himself to take smaller and smaller drinks – those become “self-forming actions” which lead him out of the grip of the addiction. The addiction becomes a form of determinism. Now we must acknowledge that Kane is making a postulation here. And it is only based on the thinnest of argumentation. Never the less – what he postulates is in fact what most people in the world understand as LFW. And multiple options for the alcoholic are totally eradicated if determinism/compatibilism is the only thing that exists for us. To solve this misunderstanding the Reformed could abandon the term compatiblism and opt for a mysterious or un-named forth term. And indeed this is what many Thomists do. So if I call myself a Thomistc Calvinist does that exempt me from the determinist camp and allow me to rise above the libertarian/determinist/compatibilist debate? Personally – I think this is the underlying urgency that all Determinists have. Whether that person is a Theological Determinist – or Natural Determinist. Because – as all in academia (and John Calvin) acknowledge – the determinist must live AS-IF determinism is false in order to retain a sense of normalcy in life. And the Calvinist grants to himself the LFW of cherry picking when and where determinism is false – in order to retain cohesion with the general narrative of scripture. But in order to insist that LFW is incoherent – or doesn’t exist – he doesn’t allow himself to acknowledge that is what he is doing. br.d says: December 28, 2020 at 11:55 am Mike I have a parable – which enunciates my observation of the average Calvinist position on LFW The Calvinist is like a farmer who goes around on his tractor every day preaching to people. When he finds someone walking on the road – or working in the field, he gets off his tractor and goes and preaches to them December 28, 2020 at 12:12 pm The Libertarian farmer tells the people that the tractor is theirs if they want it and then drives away and they never see the farmer or his tractor again. ; ) br.d says: December 28, 2020 at 12:57 pm The Libertarian farmer tells the people that the tractor is theirs if they want it and then drives away and they never see the farmer or his tractor again. ; ) Well – if I were the libertarian farmer – wouldn’t I tell them that they also have a tractor – since be definition I approach them with rational reasoning – assuming they have the ability to choose from a range of options – those options logically available from which to choose – and that choice is not made by an external mind or factors outside of their control? Which means I assume they have the capacity to determine TRUE from FALSE by virtue of the tractor. And why would they never see me again? :-] br.d says: December 28, 2020 at 1:06 pm Mike – have you heard the story of the Calvinist student and the Math teacher? Calvinist student to Math Teacher: Teacher, I’m having some trouble figuring out percentages, can you help me? According to Calvinism, what percentage of whatsoever comes to pass is determined at the foundation of the world before people are created? Calvinist Student: 100% of whatsoever comes to pass is determined at the foundation of the world exclusively by God before people are created. Since 100% of whatsoever comes to pass – is exclusively determined before people are created – what percentage does that leave left over for any person to determine? Calvinist Student: Well – we would subtract 100% from whatsoever comes to pass. And that mathematically would leave zero percent left over for any person to determine. So, in Calvinism – numerically speaking – what percentage of things in life are up to you to determine? Calvinist Student: Well – I guess these numbers tell me that zero things are up to me. So let me also ask you a question. Is it possible for you to volunteer something that is not up to you to volunteer? Calvinist Student: No – I guess not! So simple math tells you – that you cannot volunteer your will – because 100% of everything having to do with your will – was already determined before you were ever created. Therefore nothing about your will is up to you. So, learning how to calculate percentages has empowerd you to understand that zero percent of your will – is the amount left over which is up to you to volunteer. Are you feeling more confident about calculating percentages now? Calvinist student: Yes thank you for helping me figure that out! Math is very empowering! December 28, 2020 at 3:27 pm What percentage of whatsoever comes to pass would God need to leave as undetermined in order to preserve human free will? Can an omniscient God decree His own ignorance? Can an omnipotent God decree His own impotence? Is there anything outside of an omnipresent God? br.d says: December 28, 2020 at 4:05 pm What percentage of whatsoever comes to pass would God need to leave as undetermined in order to preserve human free will? That depends upon the quality and/or type of “free-will” that he chose to endow upon his creation. 1) Has the ability to choose among a range of options (i.e. Multiple options) 2) Those options all logically existing and available for him to choose 3) That choice not being determined by an external mind – or determined by factors outside of his control 4) That choice being compatible with his nature Then on that definition of functionality – he has LFW as a part of his Imago Dei (“image of God”) The question then would be – does he choose to endow that capacity as part of this Imago Dei – to mankind. In Theological Determinism (aka Calvinism) – the answer is NO. They are merely instruments, INTO WHICH god constantly INFUSES what energy he sees meet, and turns and converts to any purpose at his pleasure. Can an omniscient God decree His own ignorance? If he does not have LFW – then he can’t do anything else but decree his own ignorance. For he cannot determine TRUE from FALSE on any matter – because they are determined for him. Can an omnipotent God decree His own impotence? Is there anything outside of an omnipresent God? Yes as a matter of fact many things! He cannot deny himself. He cannot know a proposition to be TRUE and to be FALSE at the same time He cannot make himself both exist and not exist at the same time. He cannot create something as both TRUE and FALSE at the same time. He cannot make a decree infallible and NOT-Infallible at the same time. He cannot decree you to walk to the left and to the right at the same time. If he decrees you will infallibly walk to the left – then he cannot permit any other option to be available to you – at pain of making an infallible decree NOT infallible. He cannot RENDER-CERTAIN 100% of whatsoever comes to pass – and at the same time NOT RENDER-CERTAIN 100% of whatsoever comes to pass. He cannot determine 100% of whatsoever comes to pass – and at the same time leave anything undetermined for you to determine. He cannot decree Adam to infallibly eat the fruit – and at the same time permit Adam to NOT eat the fruit. He cannot decree Adam will eat the fruit – as that which will have existence – and at the same time – make available an alternative existence possible. And he cannot make what he does not bring into existence available to Adam. 1) Adam was free to eat the fruit – because eating the fruit is COMPATIBLE with what was determined. 2) Adam was NOT free to NOT eat the fruit – because NOT eating the fruit is NOT COMPATIBLE with what is determined. 3) Not eating the fruit – is therefore NOT available to Adam 4) To eat or not to eat – was therefore never UP TO Adam December 28, 2020 at 2:05 pm br.d: That’s why I don’t want to stray from the bed-rock of academic definitions. Mike: The problem is that the academic definitions are not clear and definite and there is no consensus on what they are. br.d: But Mike – the irony here is also the fact that you in fact do embrace the attributes of LFW. As I’ve said – it appears you are taking attributes of LFW and claiming them as attributes of compatibilism – which is logically impossible. Mike: Yes, that’s what compatibilism does—it tries to find some common ground between free will and determinism. And yes, I am embracing what appears to be a contradiction. Me and the majority of philosophers who are a lot smarter than me. So this just demonstrates to me that there must be something more complicated than the simple black and white. And that the simple definitions are inadequate. br.d: You may not be familiar with Robert Kane’s work – on what he calls “self-forming actions”? Mike: Yes, I read some Kane. I understand the basics of self-forming actions (SFA). br.d: Never the less – what he postulates is in fact what most people in the world understand as LFW. br.d: And multiple options for the alcoholic are totally eradicated if determinism/compatibilism is the only thing that exists for us. Mike: Yes, he wants to have his cake and eat it too. This kind of soft-libertarianism just sound like compatibilism to me (trying to make free will and determinism compatible.) And I am not alone. From Wikipedia on Kane: “Randolph Clarke objects that Kane’s depiction of free will is not truly libertarian but rather a form of compatibilism… Daniel Dennett…criticising Kane’s theory…. notes that there is no guarantee such an event (SFA) will occur in an individual’s life. If it does not, the individual does not in fact have free will at all, according to Kane. Yet they will seem the same as anyone else. Dennett finds an essentially indetectable notion of free will to be incredible.” LFW is like magic—now you see it and now you don’t! br.d: Personally – I think this is the underlying urgency that all Determinists have. Whether that person is a Theological Determinist – or Natural Determinist. Because – as all in academia (and John Calvin) acknowledge – the determinist must live AS-IF determinism is false in order to retain a sense of normalcy in life. Mike: And as I have pointed out elsewhere, libertarians do the same. So no one is except from living AS-IF. br.d says: December 28, 2020 at 3:07 pm br.d: That’s why I don’t want to stray from the bed-rock of academic definitions. Mike: The problem is that the academic definitions are not clear and definite and there is no consensus on what they are. Oh but they are for me! That is the difference between you and I. But Mike – the irony here is also the fact that you in fact do embrace the attributes of LFW. As I’ve said – it appears you are taking attributes of LFW and claiming them as attributes of compatibilism – which is logically impossible. Mike: Yes, that’s what compatibilism does—it tries to find some common ground between free will and determinism. What this reveals is that it tries to find some common ground between LFW and determinism. And every Calvinist I talk to about Compatibilism does this. And I know why! :-] Most frequently – the Calvinist enunciation of Compatibilism – is that choices are “COMPATIBLE” with one’s nature. And of course this is stated with eye blindfolded – in order to acknowledge that in Calvinism one’s nature is 100% determined at the foundation of the world. So what the Calvinist is desperately avoiding is the acknowledgment that the essence of compatibilism – is freedom that is COMPATIBLE with what is determined. The Calvinist creates his definition in order to escape from determinism. But as William Lane Craig notes – this is not a reflection of the Calvinist’s theology – but rather a reflection of his psychology. br.d: You may not be familiar with Robert Kane’s work – on what he calls “self-forming actions”? Mike: Yes, I read some Kane. I understand the basics of self-forming actions (SFA). And multiple options for the alcoholic are totally eradicated if determinism/compatibilism is the only thing that exists for us. Yes, he wants to have his cake and eat it too. This kind of soft-libertarianism just sound like compatibilism to me (trying to make free will and determinism compatible.) How in the world can a LFW choice be COMPATIBLE with what is determined – if by definition – it is NOT COMPATIBLE with what is determined? From Wikipedia on Kane: “Randolph Clarke objects that Kane’s depiction of free will is not truly libertarian but rather a form of compatibilism… Can you explain how he derives that logically? I certainly can’t – since it seems like an utter contradiction. Daniel Dennett…criticising Kane’s theory…. notes that there is no guarantee such an event (SFA) will occur in an individual’s life. If it does not, the individual does not in fact have free will at all, according to Kane. Agreed! Yet they will seem the same as anyone else. Except that on determinism – any perception of a choice that is UP TO YOU is represents an illusion. And on Theological Determinism – any perception of a choice that is UP TO YOU is an infallibly decreed FALSE perception. Dennett finds an essentially indetectable notion of free will to be incredible.” LFW is like magic—now you see it and now you don’t! Agreed! And as I have pointed out elsewhere, libertarians do the same. So no one is except from living AS-IF. But isn’t it the case that – one is living AS-IF his belief system is TRUE While the other is living AS-IF his belief system is FALSE? A more pronounced problem appears to be present for the Theological Determinist than for the Natural Determinist When one’s belief system is pronounced as the most sacred divine truth in the universe derived from scripture. And one must live AS-IF that truth is FALSE – then one must attribute that FALSEHOOD to scripture And ultimately derive a god who designs every human being in the world – to live without the ability to know TRUTH from FALSE December 28, 2020 at 6:10 pm br.d writes, ‘Compatibilism is defined as freedom that is “COMPATIBLE” with what is determined.” Normally, Compatibilism is defined as freedom that is compatible with God’s sovereignty. Under God’s sovereignty, events are determined by God directly and through secondary means. Then, “In Determinism the future cannot be FIXED and OPEN at the same time.” Because God is omniscient. the future cannot be FIXED and OPEN at the same time. We know that God’s omniscience makes the future certain but not necessary. Then, “[the Calvinist] no ability to determine TRUE from FALSE on any matter – because that is determined by an external mind.” All people, not just Calvinists are bombarded with lies from Satan every day. That is why the Scriptures are so important – they contain and express truth, so the believer can determine the truth on many matters. In addition, the believer has the help of the Holy Spirit to discern truth in everyday life and the believer can asks God for wisdom in discerning truth. Many advantages to the believer not recognized by br.d. br.d says: December 28, 2020 at 7:09 pm Compatibilism is defined as freedom that is “COMPATIBLE” with what is determined.” Normally, Compatibilism is defined as freedom that is compatible with God’s sovereignty. Under God’s sovereignty, events are determined by God directly and through secondary means. And thus we have Determinism – without which Compatibilism would have nothing to be COMPATIBLE with! :-] In Determinism the future cannot be FIXED and OPEN at the same time.” No – because it is a LOGICAL impossibility even for a divine being to create something as [A] and [NOT A] at the same time. This is simply algebra. We know that God’s omniscience makes the future certain but not necessary. Which doesn’t really matter in the present conversation. Then, “[the Calvinist] no ability to determine TRUE from FALSE on any matter – because that is determined by an external mind.” All people, not just Calvinists are bombarded with lies from Satan every day. And how meticulously determines 100% of whatsoever comes to pass? so the believer can determine the truth on many matters. A divine being cannot RENDER-CERTAIN whatsoever comes to pass – and at the same time leave whatsoever comes to pass within your brain OPEN to be determined by you. Your perception of TRUE and FALSE are not determined by you – they are determined by an external mind. On Theological Determinism – your brain does not determine TRUE from FALSE – that is determined FOR you by an external mind. So no – you do not have the ability to determine the truth on many matters. You only have the ability to have perceptions of what TRUE is and perceptions of what FALSE is – as determined by an external mind. In addition, the believer has the help of the Holy Spirit to discern truth in everyday life and the believer can asks God for wisdom in discerning truth. Please tell me what percentage of perceptions which currently exist in your thinking are infallibly decreed FALSE perceptions? All of your FALSE perceptions – are infallibly decreed to be perceived as TRUE And all FALSE perceptions are infallibly decreed – so you cannot escape them. How are you going to determine what is TRUE based on FALSE perceptions which you are incapable of knowing are FALSE? Many advantages to the believer not recognized by br.d. And rhutchin does not connect the dots. :-] December 28, 2020 at 5:45 pm Mike R writes, ‘LFW is not simply about making choices. LFW, compatibilism and determinism all agree that we can choose between chocolate and vanilla. But both compatibilism and determinism being casual—that is understanding actions as cause-and-effect—believe that the choice or action has a cause-and-effect relation.” Taken to it’s logical conclusion, LFW applies to choices that are spontaneous and without any consideration of pros and cons. Even LFW types reject this as few choices are truly spontaneous – certainly not the salvation chocie. LFW types accept the compatibilist and determinist position that choices are influenced by outside factors but say that these are not causal. However, they accept the compatibilist position that internal factors are causal, sort of – br.d defines LFW as being consistent with one’s nature. It is pretty much impossible to identify how LFW differs from compatibilism going by br.d’s definition. December 28, 2020 at 5:54 pm Yes, I would agree and a so do many philosophers who disagree with LFW. br.d says: December 28, 2020 at 6:45 pm Taken to it’s logical conclusion, LFW applies to choices that are spontaneous and without any consideration of pros and cons RH – you really need to do some homework before engaging in these conversations. Your conclusion is back-wards. On Theological Determinism – all human conclusions are infallibly determined by an external mind. An external mind cannot RENDER-CERTAIN your brain to choose [A] and [NOT A] at the same time – at pain of falsifying an infallible decree. Therefore on Theological Determinism – ‘pros and cons’ exist only as ILLUSIONS to you. Your choice is RENDERED-CERTAIN – which means it can only resolve to one single FIXED outcome. So you have it backwards. Where LFW exists – there are multiple options from which to choose. LFW does not. December 28, 2020 at 7:04 pm br.d writes, “Your conclusion is back-wards…So you have it backwards. Where LFW exists – there are multiple options from which to choose.” Under LFW, options are external to the person and irrelevant to determining the choice that is made. If LFW takes options into consideration, allowing choices to influence the choice that is made then it becomes compatibilism. The only way for LFW to avoid becoming compatibilism is for LFW to encompass spontaneous choices where options have no effect on the choice made. The existence of multiple options does not distinguish LFW from compatibilism. br.d says: December 28, 2020 at 7:33 pm br.d writes, “Your conclusion is back-wards…So you have it backwards. Where LFW exists – there are multiple options from which to choose.” Under LFW, options are external to the person and irrelevant to determining the choice that is made. Where do you come up with these things??? Under that wild premise – any LFW choice Calvin’s god makes is based on options that are external to him and are irrelevant to his choice making. Again – you need to do some homework before you engage in these conversations. If LFW takes options into consideration, allowing choices to influence the choice that is made then it becomes compatibilism. How many times to I have to quote Peter Van inwagen Determinism may now be defined: it is the thesis that there is at any instant exactly one physically possible future. Did you hear that rhutchin???? This is why John Calvin says: “All future things being uncertain to us, we hold them in suspense, AS THOUGH they might happen either one way or another.” In other words – he knows they really can’t – but he treats them AS-IF they can. The only way for LFW to avoid becoming compatibilism is for LFW to encompass spontaneous choices where options have no effect on the choice made. The existence of multiple options does not distinguish LFW from compatibilism. How in the world is LFW going to be compatibilism – when compatibilism is predicated on determinism – which eradicates LFW. That’s like saying rhutchin cannot avoid becoming a square circle. :-] December 29, 2020 at 3:17 pm rhutchin: “Under LFW, options are external to the person and irrelevant to determining the choice that is made.” br.d: “Where do you come up with these things???” If an option determines the choice that is made, then that is determinism. Under LFW. an option cannot determine the choice that is made, so options must be irrelevant to determining the choice that is made. Maybe you can explain how an option can determine a choice and not eradicate LFW. Then, “Under that wild premise – any LFW choice Calvin’s god makes is based on options that are external to him and are irrelevant to his choice making.” All God’s choices are based on the counsel of His will and the options He considers are also based on the counsel of His will – everything is internal to God. Any option external to God is irrelevant to His choice making. So? What does that have to do with LFW? Then, “How in the world is LFW going to be compatibilism – when compatibilism is predicated on determinism – which eradicates LFW.” Then, Calvin quote, ““All future things being uncertain to us,…” All things are certain to God yet uncertain to us. We don’t know whether God has decreed that the Baptist, James and Stephen be killed or that Peter and Paul are to be saved alive. Yet God has known from the beginning. Calvin explains the obvious. br.d says: December 29, 2020 at 4:32 pm If an option determines the choice that is made, then that is determinism. Correct – but then you no longer have LFW Under that wild premise do you come up with these things?? On that premise a LFW choice Calvin’s god makes is thus based on options that are external to him and are irrelevant to his choice making. All God’s choices are based on the counsel of His will Which you’ve just eradicated by stating that if he has LFW his options are external to him and are irrelevant his choice making Sorry rhutchin – this is you thinking in square circles again rhitchin – So? What does that have to do with LFW? rhutchin – how many times do Reformed scholars have to tell you that Determinism rules out LFW? So how in the world is LFW going to be compatibilism – when compatibilism is predicated on determinism – which eradicates LFW.” This statement is about as rational as saying if I turn on the light in my room – the darkness will eradicate itself! But it is logical to say – if external factors are determining choice – then LFW is obviously non-existent LFW choices are forced to be spontaneous to avoid an option determining the choice made thereby eradicating LFW. rhutchin – how do you force something to be spontaneous! Are you having another bad hair day? The quote from Calvin is – you treat events AS-IF they can happen one way or another. Which means – Calvin holds it as TRUE – that they CANNOT happen one way or another But as a Calvinist but you are to treat what you know as TRUE AS-IF it is FALSE All things are certain to God yet uncertain to us. And you are uncertain about the doctrine you hold as unquestionable truth? In all of your communications – let your yea be yea and your nay be nay – for anything else comes of evil You either testify that you are “Certain” your doctrine is TRUE or you testify that you are NOT. But if you testify both – then you are disobeying Jesus’ command. Your doctrine is founded on a sacred proposition that 100% of whatsoever comes to pass is determined in every part. You don’t have “Certainty” of WHAT will be determined – but that is not what you are testifying to You do testify that you have “Certainty” that the sacred proposition of your doctrine is TRUE. So you do have “Certainty” that 100% of whatsoever comes to pass WILL be determined in every part Calvin has “Certainty” that a RENDERED-CERTAIN event can only resolve to one psychically possible future. PAP “Alternative Possibilities” are not possible – at pain of falsifying an infallible decree. Calvin is smart enough to recognize that. Therefore Calvin has “Certainty” that events *CANNOT* happen one way or another. To go about your office – AS-IF the sacred proposition of your doctrine is FALSE in your communications – is to disobey Jesus’ command. But in any case – in Calvinism – events *CANNOT happen one way or another. They can only happen ONE WAY Determinism may now be defined: it is the thesis that there is at any instant exactly one physically possible future. BTW: That will be perhaps the 100th time I’ve posted that quote for you. Some day it will perhaps click! :-] December 29, 2020 at 9:03 pm rhutchin: “If an option determines the choice that is made, then that is determinism.” br.d: “Correct – but then you no longer have LFW” Elsewhere – the discussion involving God’s inability to sin or lie – you said that such inability was not a hindrance to God having LFW. Determinism, according to Peter Van Inwagen, negates all options except one yet here you say LFW is destroyed. So, God not being able to sin or lie me, thereby negating God’s ability to choose those options still allows for LFW, but determinism that also negates the ability of a person to choose certain options negates LFW. I don’t understand your reasoning. br.d says: December 29, 2020 at 9:31 pm If an option determines the choice that is made, then that is determinism.” Correct – but then you no longer have LFW Which means you are left with Calvin’s god’s choices being determined by factors outside of his control Elsewhere – the discussion involving God’s inability to sin or lie – you said that such inability was not a hindrance to God having LFW. Determinism, according to Peter Van Inwagen, negates all options except one yet here you say LFW is destroyed. Firstly: I think you are confusing me with someone else’s post I made statements about things that are logically impossible for even God to do. For example – he cannot make himself exist and not exist at the same time. But logical impossibility is not the same as INABILITY. That is why the old trick question: “God cannot create a rock too heavy to lift” fails as a false dilemma. It is a logical impossibility So your error here is conflating logical impossibility with INABILITY Secondly: You try to say that “no hindrance to LFW” equates to “LFW is destroyed” which is a total not-sequitur Again – I think you’re having a bad hair day! The rest of your post simply follows from your initial error Why do I feel like a LOGIC teacher today!?! :-] December 24, 2020 at 7:20 pm br.d writes, “In Calvinism – 100% of whatsoever will come to pass – (within the course of time in creation) is solely and exclusively determined at the foundation of the world pre-creation.” This because God is omniscient.- not unique to Calvinism as many other than Calvinists hold that God is omniscient. December 24, 2020 at 7:24 pm br.d writes, ‘So I think – for a Calvinist to deny determinism as the core of Reformed Theology – is an act of futility ” Calvinists affirm theological determinism based on God being omniscient. The general term, “determinism,” encompasses forms of determinism that Calvinists do not affirm, so Calvinists deny determinism in some of its forms.. br.d says: December 24, 2020 at 9:40 pm Calvinists affirm theological determinism based on God being omniscient. Calvinists affirm Theological Determinism (with a hole lot of DOUBLE-SPEAK) because that is the core foundation of Calvin’s doctrine. The DOUBLE-SPEAK occurs because they have a love-hate relationship with the fact that it is Exhaustive determinism. They go about their office AS-IF some things (which they get to cherry pick of course) are not determined in any part :-] The general term, “determinism,” encompasses forms of determinism that Calvinists do not affirm, so Calvinists deny determinism in some of its forms.. What a garbage truck and a dump truck have in common – is they are both a truck. And what Theological Determinism and Natural Determinism have in common – is they are both Determinism. The only difference is the Determiner. Calvinists are DOUBLE-MINDED about determinism because they have a love-hate relationship it. Its called Hotel Calvin-Fornia You can check out any time you like – but you can never be the determiner of what you like! :-] December 25, 2020 at 8:06 am br.d writes, “Calvinists affirm Theological Determinism (with a hole lot of DOUBLE-SPEAK) because that is the core foundation of Calvin’s doctrine.” The foundation of Calvinism is found in God and His attributes. primary among these are his infinite understanding of His creation and His omnipotence that allow God to exercise absolute sovereign control over His creation. Through His infinite understanding of His creation, God was able to know all future impacts of His actions in creating and sustaining His creation and to decree all that would happen by His creating. There is no contradiction between God and His creation. A consistent Calvinist lives his life as if God is sovereign and has determined every part of his life and this gives him confidence that everything in his life has purpose and is part of God’s will – notwithstanding Calvin’s apparent weakness on this point. Then, “And what Theological Determinism and Natural Determinism have in common – is they are both Determinism. The only difference is the Determiner.” LOL!!! That’s like saying that water and grain alcohol are both liquids. The only difference is the way each affects the body. br.d says: December 25, 2020 at 9:56 am The foundation of Calvinism is found in God and His attributes. Through His infinite understanding of His creation, God was able to know all future impacts of His actions in creating and sustaining His creation and to decree all that would happen by His creating. Just think of how many thousand of divine secrets we wouldn’t know if it weren’t for Calvinists! Which exists only one of a thousand of FALSE perceptions Which Calvin’s god decrees to continually come to pass within the Calvinist’s brain. lives his life AS-IF God is sovereign and has determined every part of his life…. Now everyone can see how TOTALLY FALSE that is – by your consistent 1001 strategies to paint word pictures of Calvin’s god NOT determining everything in every part Calvinist DOUBLE-SPEAK is consistent! ;-D and this gives him confidence that everything in his life has purpose and is part of God’s will Oh yea – John Calvin describes that confidence as – NOT knowing whether or not Calvin’s god is: “Illuminating him only for a time to partake of it” only to later -quote “strike him with greater blindness” because Calvin’s god is actually -quote “Holding out salvation as a savor of condemnation” NOT knowing his eternal “LOT” in life – is something every Calvinist can have confidence in!! NOT knowing what percentage of his perceptions Calvin’s god has decreed to be FALSE perceptions is another And NOT having any epistemic function of knowing TRUE from FALSE on any matter is another ;-] What Theological Determinism and Natural Determinism have in common – is they are both Determinism. The only difference is the Determiner. LOL!!! That’s like saying that water and grain alcohol are both liquids. The only difference is the way each affects the body. More like the same alcohol – with two different bar tenders! :-] December 22, 2020 at 7:06 pm Mike R writes, “the concept ‘free will’ is incoherent, and the thing free will does not exist.” December 22, 2020 at 7:23 pm RHUTCHIN Is that my typo or yours? I think I must have meant that “the concept of libertarian free will is incoherent.” But that is because the definitions change depending on who you talk to or read. I can’t remember off hand how Van Inwagen defines free will. Why don’t you tell me. December 23, 2020 at 7:09 am I don’t know what his definition of free will. I have not seen a definition of LFW that I think is distinguishable from that espoused in Calvinism. I cut and paste your comment. Here it is again, “But if free will is incompatible both with determinism and indeterminism, the concept ‘free will’ is incoherent, and the thing free will does not exist.” Made sense to me. December 23, 2020 at 7:38 am Oh, okay, now I get it. Sorry I thought you were challenging me on Van Inwagen. That’s the problem with these long blogs, there’s no tone and the streams are confusing. Without looking back, I think I must have been reacting to something. The more reading I do the more confused I am about what LFW actually is. How does it differ from what most people think about plain free will? LFW seems to be this autonomous internal thing that is uncaused and unaffected by anything. To have LFW you must be able to be free to choice between good and evil—you must be able to freely choose to sin! But then, of course, neither God nor the redeemed in heaven can have LFW. Merry Christmas to you and have a happy and safe new year! br.d says: December 23, 2020 at 9:32 am Van Inwagen’s 1983 monograph “An Essay on Free Will” played an important role in rehabilitating libertarianism with respect to free will in mainstream analytical philosophy. So its pretty obvious – Inwagen’s leanings concerning “free will” are Libertarian In nature. December 24, 2020 at 7:28 pm br.d: “Here is a quote from wikepedia on Van Inwagen’s “Essay on Free will” Van Inwagen’s 1983 monograph “An Essay on Free Will” played an important role in rehabilitating libertarianism with respect to free will in mainstream analytical philosophy. So its pretty obvious – Inwagen’s leanings concerning “free will” are Libertarian In nature.” br.d says: December 24, 2020 at 9:53 pm Van Inwagen insists he doesn’t like using the term “free will” because everyone has their own ad-hoc idea about what it means. He insists there is too much baggage to overcome on the semantics of it – that he avoids using thet term. He does however embrace a Libertarian form of human functionality – if that helps you any. And of course – the publishing of Van Inwagen’s “Consequence Argument” has been profoundly formative. There have been some – with enlarged imaginations (along with their egos I suspect) who have imagined they’ve found a way around it. People living In their little personal bubbles can convince themselves I guess. But none have been formally recognized as such. And it still stands without waver – lo these many years. December 25, 2020 at 8:16 am br.d writes, “Van Inwagen insists he doesn’t like using the term “free will” because everyone has their own ad-hoc idea about what it means. He insists there is too much baggage to overcome on the semantics of it – that he avoids using that term.” LOL!!! In other words, even Van Inwagen cannot construct a basic definition of free will much less LFW. Then, ‘He does however embrace a Libertarian form of human functionality – if that helps you any.” So, what does Van Inwagen mean by the phrase, “Libertarian form of human functionality”? br.d says: December 25, 2020 at 10:01 am LOL!!! In other words, even Van Inwagen cannot construct a basic definition of free will much less LFW. That is something that your brain derived out of it So, what does Van Inwagen mean by the phrase, “Libertarian form of human functionality”? Well – I already told you that he is the author of the “Consequence Argument” I would have thought you could connect a few dots from that – but I guess not. His understanding of Libertarian Functionality – would have to be the opposite of functionality that is determined by factors outside of one’s control – or functionality that is determined by an external mind. In other words – unlike you – his brain isn’t full of FALSE perceptions that are FIXED by infallible decree! :-] December 22, 2020 at 7:58 pm All attempts at open theism are doomed to failure…..Isa 46:9 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Isa 46:10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: No one knows God’s thoughts….Isa 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. Isa 55:9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. Determinism is dead in the water….Josh 24:15, choose this day whom you will serve. December 24, 2020 at 7:10 pm Richard writes, “Determinism is dead in the water….Josh 24:15, choose this day whom you will serve.” Richard continues to deny that faith is the basis for the choice offered by Joshua and that faith is a gift from God that determines a person’s choice of salvation. br.d says: December 24, 2020 at 9:27 pm Richard continues to deny that faith is the basis for the choice offered by Joshua and that faith is a gift from God that determines a person’s choice of salvation. rhutchin continues to deny that on Exhaustive Determinism – his every perception is determined by an external mind – who infallibly decrees him to have FALSE perceptions – which does not permit him to know what percentage of his perceptions are FALSE. And since the human ability to discern TRUE from FALSE is totally predicated on perception – it thus follows he has no epistemic function of knowing TRUE from FALSE on any matter. Hence he has no way of knowing if it is TRUE or FALSE that Richard is in denial! He only knows what perception has been infallibly decreed to come to pass within his brain. :-] December 24, 2020 at 11:54 pm Rhutchin said: Richard continues to deny that faith is the basis for the choice offered by Joshua and that faith is a gift from God that determines a person’s choice of salvation. Nevertheless, one can depart from the faith….we must make the right choices. Revelation……Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. And I gave her space to REPENT of her fornication; and she REPENTED NOT. Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works. Robot theology, dead in the water. br.d says: December 25, 2020 at 12:31 am And I gave her space to REPENT of her fornication; and she REPENTED NOT. That is one of those verses that the Calvinist has to twist into an irrational pretzel – in order to Calvalize it – and at the same time MASQUERADE it into some kind of normal appearance. In Calvinism – the only way the event of her committing fornication could exist – is that Calvin’s god decreed that event – and thus no alternative event is permitted or made available. By the infallible decree – he made committing fornication infallible – and thus IRRESISTIBLE to her. As Calvin says it: They are merely instruments, INTO WHICH god constantly INFUSES what energy he sees meet, and TURNS and converts to any purpose at his pleasure. (Institutes) But while he’s making her commit fornication – he’s saying that he’s giving her space to repent – which is obviously a big fat **NOT Because creatures are never permitted to be/do anything other than exactly what Calvin’s decrees them to be/do. And Calvin’s god makes absolutely NOTHING available to creatures other than what he determines. Any act of repentance would make void an infallible decree – which he is obviously not going to permit. So repentance is not permitted – and not available. December 25, 2020 at 8:21 am richard writes, ‘Nevertheless, one can depart from the faith….we must make the right choices.” As John wrote, “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.” To make right choices, we do as Paul instructed, “do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Then, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” br.d says: December 25, 2020 at 10:26 am To make right choices, we do as Paul instructed….. Well the Calvinist – of course – can only have a FALSE perception about doing things. All creaturely impulses occur infallibly – and thus IRRESISTIBLY within the brain. And a Calvinist having the idea that “HE” is making choices – is also a divinely decreed illusion. All choices are infallibly FIXED at the foundation of the world. None of which was ever UP TO any Calvinist. be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” But the Calvinist doesn’t have the ability to determine TRUE from FALSE – because his every perception of TRUE/FALSE is determined by an external mind. And that external mind doesn’t allow the Calvinist to know what percentage of the perceptions coming to pass within his brain are FALSE perceptions. Only Calvin’s god has epistemic functionality. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God…. Well – in Calvinism – scripture represents the ENUNCIATED will. Which may be the opposite of the SECRET will. So each unique Calvinist has no way of knowing what ENUNCIATION within scripture is applicable to himself. Where the ENUNCIATED will says “You are a royal priesthood” The SECRET will could be “You are designed specifically to be a vessel of wrath fit for destruction for my good pleasure” Calvinists are sooo blessed to have that!! ;-D December 25, 2020 at 4:09 am I agree br.d….this is what happens when the Synod of Dort is placed above the Bible Isaiah 8:20 If they speak not according to the word, it is because there is no light in them. br.d says: December 26, 2020 at 3:34 pm You asked about the Reformed scholar Dr. Oliver Crisp – on the effect of Edwards on the Reformed position of determinism.. “And from my part, my own formation on this matter was shaped in important respects by reading people like Calvin and then later Luther on the bondage of the will, and Jonathon Edwards. And of those three I suppose Edwards in particular, represents a watershed in Calvinist theology – in that many people who now think of the Reformed tradition as being synonymous with determinism, are thinking of the sort of determinism that one can derive from the work of Edwards. And not really with the sort of views that one can associate with the early Reformed tradition. And that’s some reason to show why Edward’s work represents a step-change in Reformed theology from its earlier more open textured way of thinking about human freedom with respects to God’s sovereignty” You may take not of the fact that J.W. Pink for example – appeals to “Antimony” in regard understanding divine determinism. I suspect Pink in this regard would be considered from a school of Reformed thinking prior to a shift towards Edward’s exhaustive determinism. John Piper and Paul Helm’s for example – both have been critical of Pink’s appeal to “Antimony”. Piper openly classifies himself as from the Reformed stream of Edwards. And on Helm’s – I’ve never heard him refer to Edwards as a mentor of any kind – but he is definitely a staunch determinist. And he adamantly asserts that exhaustive determinism makes no room for LFW. You may notice however that Helm’s and Anderson – do not claim LFW incoherent. Because it is logically impossible to argue that [A] and [B] mutually exclude each other – if one of them is incoherent. If [A] is incoherent – then no one can know what [A] mutually excludes. [A] has to be logically coherent – at least to some degree – in order for anyone to know that it mutually excludes [B]. December 27, 2020 at 10:23 pm BR.D, thanks the the Crisp reference. Yes, I listen to the Trinities podcast, and I listened to the Crisp interview in 2015. I went back and listened to it again. A couple of things occurred to me on the re-listen. First, you accused me of being unique in my views when Crisp makes the point that there are many different views within the historic camp of Calvinism. Second, Most libertarians insist that love is impossible without LFW choice. Dale Tuggy (a Unitarian Open Theist) relates the thought experiment question William Hasker poses to Paul Helm in their written debate (I wish I could find this debate): What if their was a pill that you could give to your new born child that would guarantee that she will always love you—it would take away her ability to freely reject you. Hasker asks: Would you give that pill to the child? He thinks that any parent would not give the pill on the grounds that freely chosen love is more valuable than love that isn’t freely chosen. I was a little disappointed in how Crisp responded. But we reach the same conclusions. He takes the tack of the dis-analogy of the examples. That’s fine but I would have asked: What is the pill actually doing? It is preventing the child from freely rejecting the parent, thereby assuming the child loves the parent. But where in this example did the child freely make the choice to love the parent? And in fact there is a high probability that the child will always love (and never reject) the parent without the pill, and that this love will never be a conscious choice. br.d says: December 28, 2020 at 10:42 am First, you accused me of being unique in my views when Crisp makes the point that there are many different views within the historic camp of Calvinism. It wasn’t an accusation – it was an observation. The problem here is that what you’ve appeared to do (metaphorically speaking) is take an empty bottle and fill it with LFW. Then go around sipping on LFW all day while telling yourself you are sipping on “Compatiblism” and LFW is incoherent. Saying Compatibilism can exist without Determinism – is like saying man exists without the existence of humanity. Second, Most libertarians insist that love is impossible without LFW choice. I’m familiar with this argument – Ravi Zacharias argues that LFW is a logical requirement entailed within the love of god. On William Hasker’s thought experiment – that pill will prevent the child from freely rejecting the parent This is an fact a form of Frankfurt experiment. The pill is taking away the child’s ability to “Do Otherwise”. So you are correct – that the child “May” freely choose to love you. And that is all well and good – as far as that one option goes. But by giving the child that pill – you are removing from the child the attribute of “Alternative Possibility” Now please take note – that when you take away “Alternative Possibility” you take away “Multiple options” Multiple options from which to choose – is the first of the 4 attributes of LFW that I listed. And on Determinism – if you have a perception of having multiple options from which to choose – those perceptions exist only as Illusions. So the question is – what kind of love do you have for the child? The pill eliminates all but one single option. And you are the determiner in this case – who determines that the child can only have one single option. The question boils down to what quality of love you have for the child. If you take away the possibility of multiple options from the child – then doing so reflects what kind of love you have for the child. December 28, 2020 at 10:54 am DB.R, with all due respect, you haven’t read my response carefully. My main point is that the child loves without conscious choice or options regardless of the pill. This is the Frankfurt dilemma. br.d says: December 28, 2020 at 11:12 am DB.R, with all due respect, you haven’t read my response carefully. My main point is that the child loves without conscious choice or options regardless of the pill. This is the Frankfurt dilemma. Actually I did understand that point. But that is what the child does WITHOUT** the pill. Now you are the determiner of what kind of life the child will have. You can give the pill to the child and take away all of the child’s options. And please remember also – that another attribute of the pill is that it produces the ILLUSION of options within the child’s mind Options which are in fact eradicated. So the child goes through life having ILLUSIONS of multiple options which don’t actually exist. So in giving the child the pill – you are subjecting the child to a life of ILLUSIONS. You are the determiner. Do you do that to the child? December 28, 2020 at 11:30 am BR.D, Forget about the pill. My point is the child’s love is not a conscious choice! Therefore love is not dependent on LFW. br.d says: December 28, 2020 at 11:43 am My point is the child’s love is not a conscious choice! Therefore love is not dependent on LFW. Are you sure? Perhaps what you are actually describing is not love at all. Perhaps it is nothing more than animal instinct? If the child – or anyone – does not have conscious choice -then do they actually have love? December 28, 2020 at 12:00 pm So you really think that at some point in the child’s development that he stops and sits down and makes a conscious choice to love his parents. And what does that decision entail? What is it based on? Is it selfless? Is selfish desire true love? Can you give me three selfless reasons why you love your wife? Perhaps it is true that love can not be forced but neither can it be simlpy chosen. br.d says: December 28, 2020 at 12:45 pm So you really think that at some point in the child’s development that he stops and sits down and makes a conscious choice to love his parents.	429,051
A blues cycle for quintet and sextet that, as Wynton says of the title track to THICK IN THE SOUTH, comprises “a condition, a location, an attitude, a pulchritudinous proposition, and an occurrence,” SOUL GESTURES IN SOUTHERN BLUE ranges through the full glory of the blues tradition. Among other things, it introduces us to the Uptown Ruler, a mythic New Orleans hero whose “persona is obviously multifaceted,” Wynton remarks, because he is “accepted without question in the houses of worship . . . [and] ill repute.” Most of all, the cycle reveals the complex human message of the low moaning blues that echoes in the foghorn of a riverboat, the lament of a spiritual, or the simmering dishes of a home cooked meal. The performers include Marcus Roberts on piano, Bob Hurst or Reginald Veal on bass, Jeff “Tain” Watts or Herlin Riley on drums, Todd Williams and Wes Anderson on saxophones, and Wycliffe Gordon on trombone, with special appearances, on THICK IN THE SOUTH, by two of jazz’s greatest virtuosos, drummer Elvin Jones and tenor saxophonist Joe Henderson. Release Date July 30th, 1991 Track Listing Track Length Now and again, jazz is given fresh distinction by the reassertion of the timeless fidelity of the essentials, the basics, the bone and marrow of the music’s soul. Wynton Marsalis’ three album Blues Cycle, Soul Gestures in Southern Blue, is such a moment. Nothing of this size has ever been done with the blues sound before. Fully aware of the limitless variety possible within the big feeling of the blues, Marsalis has organized each album as a decidedly unique suite in itself, but one that is best appreciated as part of an overall statement exploring the moods, the colors, the harmonies, and the rhythms of the form that has had the largest influence on American music. The result is a Blues Cycle made formidable by the vital quality that soothes as it grooves, that elevates as it gets down, that sometimes achieves mystical radiance as it sops the spiritual indigo from the gutbucket, that brings sophisticated insight to its sensuality, and utilizes its dance beats with a down-home hothouse honor. Doubtless this is contemporary blues at its most exquisite, a statement of epic feeling for those who would like to know what artistic time it is in jazz and American music at large. Each of the three albums chime out this hour of our time so clearly that Soul Gestures in Southern Blue allows us to hear anew the charismatic rules of rhythm and tune. There is a long tradition within jazz of what were once known as “singing horns,” the use of instruments to emulate the sound of song as it rises up against the sky, the sun, the moon, and the night; or as it whispers those delicate testimonials to erotic yearning; or as it shouts out the affirmation of the flesh and the soul in a world as molten with transcendence as its treacherous with destruction; or as it laughs and chuckles into the sometimes funky breath of fate when not at the foolishness of mortal obsessions; or as it makes audible the combination of the moan and the sigh that cannot be repressed when the evident mysteries of beauty and human feeling are too obvious to ignore. From such a tradition comes Levee Low Moan; every composition is some sort of song balanced atop the dancing pulsation of a groove. Here is blues song instrumentally executed with the lucidity that comes of soul, command, and inspiration. Though initially intended as the second volume of his previous album The Majesty Of The Blues, and recorded during the same period, it works much more effectively as the concluding third of the Wynton Marsalis Blues Cycle. As a unit of music, Levee Low Moan fulfills its position in the Blues Cycle perfectly; its sextet instrumentation provides quintet albums while maintaining the elaboration and recapitulation of fundamental gutbucket feeling that makes the overall effect of Soul Gestures in the Southern Blue so unprecedented. Where the styles heard from Elvin Jones, Joe Henderson, Robert Leslie Hurst, and Jeff “Tain” Watts on Thick In The South were very different from those Todd Williams, Reginald Veal, and Herlin Riley brought to Uptown Ruler, the addition of Wes Anderson’s alto saxophone and the focus of the compositions on this recording add up to the last part of a musical monument, one that has the organic power of statues after Praxiteles brought the accuracy of swing to Greek sculpture by breaking down the human form’s dimensions so that he could give the feeling of flesh and personality to stone. What we hear in Levee Low Moan is the concluding breakdown of the blues beat. That beat, as Wynton Marsalis knows so well, is a mood, a feeling, a condition of the spirit, an affirmation of the variety and the community the finest art speaks of with unflinching consistency. Through those cold brass-bodied wind instruments, through those drum heads, cymbals, bass strings, piano keys, hammers, and strings, the cane reeds and so on, comes the warmth that gives another set of examples to what Ellington meant when he wrote in A Drum Is A Woman: “the pretty part is in the heart, the beat’s in the feet.” For each of these melodies, there is a particular groove, some variation on the dance rhythms that have always been tango-close to swing. But because the beats are not static, the swing is as much a response to the variations as it is a steady pulsation of community. Marsalis used these grooves as he has others, for the express purpose of avoiding the monotony that can set in when bands lock into the same beat for every piece. This is not to say that there have not been truly great bands that almost exclusively played fast, medium, and slow versions of straight 4/4 but that Marsalis is also after the largest array of unpretentious musical devices he can make use of, that he can tailor for specific expressive purposes. “From listening to Duke Ellington,” he says, “I began to think about how music could sound if you didn’t avoid making every detail specific – the melody, the harmony, the voicing, the tempo, the groove. He also made me realize that a groove is as important a part of composition as anything else. Because we are so often unconsciously influenced by the practices of European music, we sometimes forget how much happened when the drums and the rhythm section developed in American music. A whole other are of musical elements was introduced that even the greatest European composers such as Bach, Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven, Wagner, and so on didn’t really think about. In their music the beat was in the phrasing of the ideas; there wasn’t a separate orchestral unit that addressed the form, the harmony, the tempo, and the various levels of the beat spontaneously. So it seems to me that if one is truly interested in jazz composition as defined by its greatest exponent, Duke Ellington, then one will look into the musical potential that is waiting right there for you in those grooves. Now I study grooves as much as I do anything else.” Marsalis is absolutely correct. The rhythm section constitutes an ensemble-within-an-ensemble. It is a self orchestrating unit that is allowed the freedom to use the chords, the tempo, and the beat in response to what is going on as the group improvisation unfolds. Great rhythm sections know how to give each featured player the version of the basic material that will best suit his or her taste — and that will most inspire, support, and sympathetically challenge the musician in the limelight. But it is that limelight itself which has had a detrimental effect on the quality of jazz listening. When one pays attention to, say, the horn player, and perceives the rhythm section only vaguely, as no more than a background holding the tempo, much is missed. And since Levee Low Moan so clearly benefits from the marvelous rhythm section of Marcus Roberts, Reginald Veal, and Herlin Riley, it would do all concerned some good if close attention is given to what they do with each of these compositions – how they interact with each other and with each of the horns. Herlin Riley is perhaps the finest drummer to arrive in jazz from New Orleans since the innovative Edward Blackwell and the lesser known James Black. As this recording shows, he is already a master of sustaining and varying the components of grooves, of using his set for many different colors and effects, and of adjusting to the most subtle changes with unobtrusive immediacy. Listen to how differently he plays on the first three selections, getting timbres out of his instrumentation that would make the uninitiated think he had switched drum sets from one piece to the next. As with all great drummers he can, as is so easily observed on “Jig’s Jig,” maintain a dialogue with the featured player that inspires that player’s direction in rhythm and phrasing. Another of his gifts is the ability to relax into each groove so that it has its own character and allows the featured player to move through his improvisations easefully. That relaxation brings a rhythmic confidence to the sound of Levee Low Moan as an entire effort and reminds us of how close in achievement what Herlin Riley does here is to Vernell Fournier’s classic work with Ahmad Jamal and Israel Crosby. Throughout, Reginald Veal proves himself capable of doing the same things with his instrument that Riley does with his. He fits into each piece perfectly and exploits the colors of his bass with the sense of timbral possibility that Mingus was perhaps the first to bring to fruition. Veal is aware of how many different ways a plucked note can sound and how differently a note comes in the ear when the string is allowed to buzz against the fingerboard. His tone is extremely dark, and he has a talent for creating bass parts so organic that they change the entire ensemble sound as he decides how to play them and where to put his decisions for maximum effect. The vocal-percussive style he is developing is especially evident on the concluding ensemble choruses of the title track, while his skill at pivoting off every element in the improvising environment is equally easy to make sense of on “Jig’s Jig,” just as his gift for lyrical accompaniment rises forward with clarity throughout. “So This Is Jazz, Huh?” Whatever the future of jazz bass might be, there is no doubt that Reginald Veal will have a starring role in the development of its story. Marcus Roberts is again documented showing the Secretariat relationship he has to other young piano players. What sends him so far ahead of the pack is his sensitivity to every aspect of music and every role that a jazz pianist is required to fill if the music is to move toward the winner’s circle reserved for those who best understand and execute their part of the collective discipline that so defines jazz. Roberts has the same humility before the groove that Wynton Kelly had. It was Kelly who said he was most interested in getting to the swing, and that once he got there, he didn’t care if he “soloed.” Roberts plays with that same kind of ensemble attention and concern. He knows how and when to work on an improvised arrangement beneath the featured player, how and when to engage in a dialogue with that player, how and when to submerge himself into the chords and their colors so successfully that the piano seems to disappear into the overall timbre of the music. And in his features, as one can observe on “So This Is Jazz, Huh?” his command of the keyboard’s pigments is sometimes breathtakingly precise. But it is all in the interest of “the bittersweet song of spiritual concerns.” That level of soul and rhythm is so obvious in the title track’s piano feature that those who would argue against his preeminence have perhaps not listened closely enough to what Roberts is laying down out here. If not, when they do hear him, they will know what all of the young musicians who have truly addressed his achievement already acknowledge: He might still be developing, but Marcus Roberts has entered into the timeless relationship with soul that all great musicians have in common. Todd Williams and Wes Anderson have important things in common, however differently they might play their saxophones. Each has worked at getting the sort of tone that allows a personalization of the singing horn tradition. Both are already able to play blues with the kind of authority one feels shocked by as the notes of their features on the title track continue to move out of the bells of their saxophones. Each is capable of stepping into the dance groove of “Jig’s Jig” and throwing down some rump-oriented indigo grit. Both also possess lyrical inclinations that seem to make simple the passover from the bondage of the mind to the promised land of the unfettered melodic passage. They are perfect foils for one another, and when they are asked to do battle on the field of crooning, as they must on “Superb Staling,” one might be reminded of how rich a tradition of elevating debate we have, both in this country and in the line that leads back to Africa on one hand and to the Roman senate on another. With those two saxophones, Williams and Anderson fulfill a structure conceived for development by improvised dialogue, at once in the tradition of Coltrane’s and Adderley’s exchanges on “Two Bass Hit” but also reflective of the best that has happened in the nearly 35 years since. At every turn throughout the album, each man sings out his individual idea of his horn’s tradition with integrity, rhythm, and spirit. Few stand with or near them at the forefront of contemporary saxophone playing by the young and serious. Before concluding with some remarks about the leader himself, here are his words describing each of the compositions his musicians play on this last third of Soul Gestures In Southern Blue: “Levee Low Moan” – the sound of a fog horn in the distance on the Mississippi. Or perhaps the cry of a forlorn lover overcome in a moment of private anguish. Or both of those and the sound of a couple slowly swinging, rising softly above the counterpoint of the river’s to and fro. “Jig’s Jig” – a picture in tone of what a child sees when he or she looks into a kaleidoscope for the first time. Because this is blues music, we must give the name a danceable groove. Thus, “Jig’s Jig.” “So This Is Jazz, Huh?” – what is asked by those who don’t know. But once they find out, well, they never forget. “In The House Of Williams” – fried chicken, barbequed ribs, collard greens, black-eyed peas, cornbread, various sweet rolls, macaroni and cheese, potato salad, not to mention that sweet potato pie – all lovingly prepared with the greatest culinary expertise. Truly an epicurean delight. This is how we eat in St. Louis when we go to the Williams household and are privileged to put our feet under a table graced by food given the touch and care of Todd’s mother. “Superb Staling” – a bird of magnificent plumage and two distinctly different personalities. One is friendly and inviting, the other fierce and inhospitable. Both, however, love to sing and swing the blues …in any key. Given the quality of the playing done by his musicians and by himself, Marsalis should be very proud of this recording. It sounds like such a culmination, at least for now, of what he has been working on since his first album’s “Twilight.” The big difference is that he now possesses a much more formidable understanding of what is to be done with his talent. He plays through each of these pieces with the emotional variety that allows the individual performance to avoid repetition of feeling, technique, and rhythm. The direct but mysterious nature of his work on the title track stands up well when played in the wake of Muddy Waters, as does the writing itself. On “Jig’s Jig,” he brings off what a number of musicians who would address contemporary dance oriented beats fail to do. Marsalis maintains the groove but doesn’t lose the inspired bite that is so often sacrificed for a handful of clichés. “So This Is Jazz, Huh?” is the third track that supplies evidence of his position as a superior inventor of melody. And so he goes, ever moving further into the fundamentals that are so mightily addressed not only in this last third of the Blues Cycle, but throughout the entire collection. Wynton Marsalis’ wings fit him well, and wherever he chooses to fly, the music of jazz will go with him. Soul Gestures In Southern Blue is sufficient proof of that.	16,978
You know, the Review portion of this blog is pretty much meant to get me to watch, read, or play something new every week. Ideally it would be me talking about “the new thing I did this week”, but I’m really bad at that. The most recent movie I watched was a month ago for a film class, but it was a very political movie and I don’t like getting into politics. So, instead, let’s talk about the best movie ever made: Count of Monte Cristo. (The 2002 film. There may or may not be other feature length films of the same title.) I’ll start with the qualification that, as a rule, I don’t like re-experiencing things. Very often, it feels like a waste of time. I don’t want to reread the same story, watch the same movie, or play the same game when there’s an unquantifiable amount of things to experience. My life is one of productivity and efficiency, which is contrary to that whole idea. Count of Monte Cristo is a rare exception in my world because I feel like I’m watching a different movie every time. I’ve probably seen it half a dozen times by now, and with every new viewing I catch things I hadn’t noticed that re-contextualize character motivations. This movie is a masterpiece in a lot of ways, though as always, I do still have a few gripes. Spoilers ahead, though, so if you haven’t seen it yet, it’s a classic. Before I get into my nitpicks, let me provide some context (if you haven’t seen the movie and don’t care about spoilers). It would be an injustice for me to attempt to explain the plot in just a paragraph or two, but I’ll try anyway. Our hero, Edmond Dantes, is a simple and poor young man is given a lucky break and promoted to Captain of the merchant ship he works on. Powerful people around him are consumed with varying levels of jealousy, contempt, and fear, and Edmond, though apparently innocent, gets thrown into a high security prison, and his family is told that he died. Years go by, he breaks out, finds riches and then the last third of the movie is basically an elaborate scheme as he exacts revenge on everyone who wronged him. As I already touched on, this movie does an amazing job at establishing depth. Everyone who betrayed him had different reasons for doing so, and all were compelling and believable. Jealousy seems simple until you see that it comes from a rich man coveting the happiness his poor friend has. Even lesser characters have very clear and understandable wants, which is no small feat. Nobody in this movie is a plot device, not even Napoleon Bonaparte, who was basically written in to be a plot device, as he is only in the first few scenes of the movie. I will say though, this comes at a cost. With how much subtle context and layering everything has, you won’t catch everything if you only see it the one time. Points off for that, but as long as you’re not confused as to the main plot, it’s more or less fine. But what astounds me the most about this movie is that it isn’t really structured like most stories. The entire last third of the movie is the main character just getting what he wants. There’s a climax, yes, but it isn’t really filled with conflict. When he is given everything, you are no longer watching to see if Edmond will get his revenge, you’re merely watching to see what the revenge turns out to be. It doesn’t contain nearly as much suspense, and nothing to the degree of the chase scene as he resists arrest and is betrayed by a friend, or when he hatches his plan to escape from the Chateau D’if. I would compare it to a torture film, actually, where all the people are getting their just desserts. Only, in this movie, the torturer is our main character and is doing it in the name of justice, and it feels great. In all my years of schooling and whatnot, I myself still cannot wrap my head around the exact reason this movie works. Maybe I just need to watch more soap operas. (Not that Count of Monte Cristo is overly dramatic, it’s just… opulent.) So, nitpicks. As I said, the amount of layers it has does sort of detract from it for me. I honestly did not love it the first time I saw it. A good film, to be sure, but it probably wasn’t my all-time favorite movie until I had seen it three or four times. I mean, Edmond has plotted his revenge meticulously for years. But when he’s going through with his plans, you won’t catch the nuances of how and why the first time, because at no point does he tell the audience “first, I’m going to kidnap his daughter and frame his uncle for murder etc etc”. No, you just know he has plans and then watch as they unfold. Also, I didn’t realize I had this problem until writing this, but Luigi Vampa, the Captain of the pirate ship Edmond becomes a crew member of after he finds himself a free man, isn’t in the movie enough. JB Blanc does an amazing job with his character, and it’s a shame he’s only a minor part. It isn’t often I see a gentleman thief character done to my satisfaction. Overall, the best movie. Solid period piece, even if it isn’t 100% faithful to history, awesome character development, good subtly, and a really interesting plot progression. Also Henry Cavill is in it. (P.S. to prove how many layers of character depth this story has, here’s a character sheet, though I think it’s from the book, not the movie. So simplify it by like 15%.) Hey, my name is Kasey Cooley. Writer, improv actor and teacher, and college student living in California. If you’ve come in search of an interesting blog where you learn valuable things, I’m afraid you’ve taken a wrong turn somewhere. I’m impressed, considering you’re on the internet where there are no turns. But now that you’re here, you may as well stay awhile and be disappointed with what you’ve found. At least the only substantial amount of alliteration is in the title, so you won’t have to worry about that. Note: all short stories here are first drafts. If I have edited them, I won’t have updated the post beyond typos. *As of February 24th, 2020, I have retired regular/weekly posting, but I will still post as often as I feel I have something to say! Buy my short story anthology! 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Trump angrily lashes out after his deposition is ordered FILE - Former President Donald Trump makes his entrance at a rally at the Minden Tahoe Airport in Minden, Nev., Oct. 8, 2022. Trump angrily lashed out Wednesday, Oct. 12, calling the nation's legal system a “broken disgrace" after a judge ruled he must answer questions under oath next week in a defamation lawsuit lodged by a writer who says he raped her in the mid-1990s. (AP Photo/José Luis Villegas, Pool, File) By: The Associated Press Posted at 10:54 AM, Oct 13, 2022 NEW YORK (AP) — Former President Donald Trump angrily lashed out Wednesday, calling the nation's legal system a “broken disgrace" after a judge ruled he must answer questions under oath next week in a defamation lawsuit lodged by a writer who says he raped her in the mid-1990s. He also called the 2019 lawsuit by E. Jean Carroll, a longtime advice columnist for Elle magazine, “a hoax and a lie." The outburst late in the day came hours after U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan in Manhattan rejected a request by his lawyers to delay a deposition scheduled for Oct. 19. Kaplan is presiding over the case in which Carroll said Trump raped her in the dressing room of a Manhattan Bergdorf Goodman store in the mid-1990s. He called the lawsuit “a complete con job." “I don’t know this woman, have no idea who she is, other than it seems she got a picture of me many years ago, with her husband, shaking my hand on a reception line at a celebrity charity event," Trump said. “She completely made up a story that I met her at the doors of this crowded New York City Department Store and, within minutes, ‘swooned' her. It is a Hoax and a lie, just like all the other Hoaxes that have been played on me for the past seven years," he said. Then he grumbled: “Now all I have to do is go through years more of legal nonsense in order to clear my name of her and her lawyer’s phony attacks on me. This can only happen to ‘Trump'!" Carroll is scheduled to be deposed on Friday. Roberta Kaplan, Carroll’s attorney, said she was pleased with the judge's ruling and looked forward to filing new claims next month “and moving forward to trial with all dispatch” after New York state passed the Adult Survivors Act, allowing her to sue for damages for the alleged rape without the statute of limitations blocking it. After Trump's statement was released, a spokesperson for Kaplan's firm, Kaplan Hecker & Fink, said the “latest statement from Donald Trump obviously does not merit a response.” Trump's legal team has tried various legal tactics to delay the lawsuit and prevent him from being questioned by Carroll's attorneys. But Judge Kaplan wrote that it was time to move forward, especially given the “advanced age” of Carroll, 78, and Trump, 76, and perhaps other witnesses. “The defendant should not be permitted to run the clock out on plaintiff’s attempt to gain a remedy for what allegedly was a serious wrong,” he wrote. Carroll's lawsuit claims that Trump damaged her reputation in 2019 when he denied raping her. Trump's legal team has been trying to quash the lawsuit by arguing that the Republican was just doing his job as president when he denied the allegations, including when he dismissed his accuser as “not my type.” Trump doubled down on the comment in his statement Wednesday, saying: “And, while I am not supposed to say it, I will. This woman is not my type! She has no idea what day, what week, what month, what year, or what decade this so-called 'event' supposedly took place. The reason she doesn’t know is because it never happened, and she doesn’t want to get caught up with details or facts that can be proven wrong." Whether Trump will remain the defendant in the original lawsuit is a key question because if Trump was acting within the scope of his duties as a federal employee, the U.S. government would become the defendant in the case. The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said in a split decision last month that Trump was a federal employee when he commented on Carroll's claims. But it asked another court in Washington to decide whether Trump's public statements occurred during the scope of his employment. Kaplan, the judge, said Trump has repeatedly tried to delay the collection of evidence in the lawsuit. “Given his conduct so far in this case, Mr. Trump's position regarding the burdens of discovery is inexcusable,” he wrote. “As this Court previously has observed, Mr. Trump has litigated this case since it began in 2019 with the effect and probably the purpose of delaying it.” The judge noted that the collection of evidence for the lawsuit to go to trial was virtually concluded, except for the depositions of Trump and Carroll. “Mr. Trump has conducted extensive discovery of the plaintiff, yet produced virtually none himself,” Kaplan said. “Completing these depositions — which already have been delayed for years — would impose no undue burden on Mr. Trump, let alone any irreparable injury.” The judge also said the deposition could be useful when Carroll's lawyer next month files the new lawsuit. Whether the rape occurred is central to the defamation claims, as well as the anticipated new lawsuit, the judge said. Copyright 2022 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.	5,656
I even surprise myself by writing this, because believe me, I never thought the day would come when I would embrace being half a century. But it has arrived, and it doesn’t stink. Yes, yes — there are the inevitable physical changes that are quite unsettling. Things do start to droop, wrinkle and expand. Sometimes you will catch a glimpse of yourself in the mirror and wonder who that middle-aged person is. On the outside, you may look like a grown-up, but on the inside it’s crazy how you still feel like you are 30. Or younger. (Ask my teenagers. They hate that about me.) When I was in my 30’s and 40’s, I took life much more seriously. In fact, I think I was mysteriously older then than I am now. Is that possible? When you are busy building a career, raising children, accumulating stuff, and creating a lifestyle, you are defined by that busyness. It’s serious work. You have to make money to pay for the lifestyle. Your kids need to be raised right lest they become a scourge on society and embarrass you by living in a trailer and eating bugs. Those years are fulfilling and wonderful, but they also are fraught with upheaval and angst. Things that once didn’t matter when you were younger, like having the right cocktail napkins or winning yard of the month, somehow matter so very much. We struggle toward some kind of perfection and achievement that is ‘out there’ somewhere. I don’t know about you, but I have spent a lot of time trying to create the self I thought I should be. I cobbled together the perfect me made from pieces of this and that. The clothes I wear, the neighborhood we live in, the car I drive, the friends I have. It looks pretty nice from the outside. And much of it is nice on the inside too. But I spent way, way too much time in the work of crafting myself, and far too little time just being myself. When you are spinning your wheels to maintain this beautifully crafted life, you miss out on a whole lot of real living. If I were able to time travel and visit my twenty or thirty-year-old self, there are some things I would really like to teach me. Since I can’t do that, hopefully you will benefit from some of the lessons I’ve learned over the last 50 years. 50 doesn’t feel like 50. It doesn’t feel like the age you imagined when you are in your 20’s or 30’s. For the most part, it feels the way you feel right now. But smarter and more confident. You also have more time and resources to enjoy life. So don’t fear it. Look forward to it. Experience life before you settle down. Whatever it is you want to do or experience, do as much of it as you can before you have children. Especially travel. Live in a hovel and drive a beat-up Dodge Dart if you have to. But go have some really great, amazing, mind-blowing experiences. Money and stuff are not all that important. Yes, you want enough to be comfortable and do the things you want to do. But accumulating for the sake of accumulating is so boring and empty. Feed the soul, not the ego. Don’t try to impress people. That’s an act that brings nothing but a momentary ego boost. Be real with people instead. Connect with fewer people on a level that is deeper and more profound. Let your kids fail. Your kids will be okay, even if you think they are headed for the juvie right now. Don’t come to their rescue all the time. Don’t manage every detail of their lives or over-schedule them with tao quan dao or viola lessons. Give them some boundaries, and then relax about them. Bad things will happen. Part of living and getting older is experiencing upheavals in life. People lose jobs, get divorced, die. When you are younger, and things have gone pretty well, this can be shocking. The bad things won’t kill you. You will learn from them if you allow it. Not much is worth fighting about. If you can avoid it, don’t fight. Step back from arguments with your spouse or family member or neighbor. When you feel anger surging up and you want to say that snarky thing on the tip of your tongue, just close your mouth and walk away. Let yourself calm down. You don’t have to be right or win the argument. It just doesn’t matter that much. Little things stick with you. So pay attention to them. Like watching your child sleep. Preparing a meal with your family. Sharing a great laugh with an old friend. That is the real stuff life is made of. Keep having fun. Fun is way underrated. With all of our responsibilities, fun seems like an indulgence. It shouldn’t be. It should be a requirement. Remember what you did to have fun when you were younger, and go do it again. Leave the house messy and the yard un-mowed for the weekend. You will remember the fun, not the clean house or yard. Make time for fun. Make things simpler. Pick the five most important things in your life now, and focus on those things. Let the other stuff go. Let go of the activities, the events, the commitments, the shopping, the to-do lists. Stop the busyness and really enjoy the important things you have right now. Keep your brain active. Don’t get into a mental rut. Do new things, learn new things, explore new ideas in all areas of your life. Keep challenging yourself and your mind. Be curious and interested in the world around you. Hang out with younger people. Stay connected with what the generation behind you is doing and thinking. Establish friendships with them. You will benefit and learn from each other. Don’t act superior, because younger people may know a whole lot more than you do! Keep exercising and eating healthy. You know this, but I’ll remind you anyway. The older you get, the more important a healthy lifestyle is. In my 20’s, I could shovel down a Wendy’s hamburger and fries every day and never see the difference. Now I just look at a hamburger and my butt gets bigger. Manage aging, but why fight it? You can spend a fortune on face creams, plastic surgery, hair growth formulas, and botox, but eventually you realize you are fighting an uphill battle. Groom yourself nicely. Stay fit. Have unsightly things removed. But accept the beauty of aging. A striking mature man or woman is much more attractive than someone who looks overly taunt, tanned or top-heavy. Everyone doesn’t have to like you and vice versa. One of my friends likes to say, “She’s not in my cluster.” Sometimes there are people in your life who are just not the right fit or who drain you dry. It is fine to back off from them or even let them go. Marriages evolve and change. The feelings you had for the man or woman you married will mutate and evolve several times over the life of a marriage. Hopefully you will evolve in the same direction or at least embrace and accept the changes in the other person. It takes work, and sometimes it takes counseling. Don’t gloss over those changes or you may wake up next to a stranger one day. Yes, you can still have great sex. When I was in my 20’s, I thought you stopped doing it when you were in your early 40’s. I assumed middle aged people would no longer want to disrobe in front of each other. I’m happy to inform you that this is not the case. Tend to your friendships. Especially your oldest friendships. These are the people who know and love you best, in spite of your flaws. Treat them like the precious gems they are. Stop worrying. Worry does absolutely nothing productive. In fact, it is counterproductive. The more you worry, the more you reinforce the problem or concern in your brain. Everything is not always black or white. Life is often very ambiguous. Sometimes there isn’t a right or wrong decision or choice. Things are not always completely clear. You may not get THE answer, so you just have to wing it. Take action on your dreams. If you’ve been putting things off — a new career, more education, the big trip — start taking action right now to make it happen. Don’t dream about it anymore. Start doing it. Don’t dwell on your wounds. Everyone has something that has caused pain and has been limiting them in some way. If you need help to deal with it, then get it right away. Don’t let the past limit your future. Embrace change. As uncomfortable as it is sometimes, change allows us to stretch and grow. New things feel awkward and scary at first, but those feelings go away, and you are left with something bigger and bolder in your life. Be vulnerable. Allow yourself to feel, to be open and authentic. Tear down any emotional brick walls you have built around yourself and feel every exquisite emotion, both good and bad. This is real life. This is how you welcome new opportunities. Count your blessings every day. I know, this is a refrigerator magnet line, but practice it daily anyway. There is so much good, so much beauty, so much love in your life. What more do you really need? You have so much right now, you just need to pause long enough to appreciate it. Barrie Davenport is a personal and career coach and the founder of Live Bold and Bloom, a blog about bold and fearless living. Download her free ebook, How to Live a Meaningful Life. Comments Zach Evans says July 26, 2010 at 2:17 am Thank you sir for sharing your wisdom. I especially like your tip 2, 3 and 4 as well as your comment at the beginning that you took life too seriously. Your article is a good reminder to focus on what’s important. Justin Popovic says July 26, 2010 at 7:20 am Great advice Barrie thanks. I really appreciate that you have reminded us to enjoy the moments and not just focus on achievement. I am 32 and the busiest I have ever been. I also run my own business which places incredible demand on my time and mind. This is the perfect article to help me find balance. I will not forget to enjoy a breakfast with my sons or some quiet time to talk to my wife this evening. Its like you said, these are the moments we remember anyways. Barrie Davenport says July 26, 2010 at 8:26 am I’m glad you liked it. I should disclose that even though I have a masculine name, I am very much a female! Thank you for commenting. John Sherry says July 26, 2010 at 10:27 am Wow what a wisdom wish list for non worry. I found myself shouting, ‘Yes, yes’ to all of them. My neighbours must wonder what I’m up to! It’s true that age can teach us to move from distressed to impressed and your tips help encourage that. The only thing that stays the same in life is that nothing stays the same. It’s an ongoing experience. Just let it come! You’ve made a forty something a happy someone with this post. Nice! Mohd.saidely says July 26, 2010 at 10:45 am Karen says July 26, 2010 at 11:42 am I’m not 50 yet, but I’m going to get there sooner or later These are all great tips, especially the ones concerning not to worry so much, treat your friends better and appreciate what you have in life. I don’t have any children, but your advice to let them live their own lives and learn from their failures, is great advice for parents who are so concerned about their children’s futures that they are isolating them from making any sort of mistake. I also agree that you should be taking action on your dreams daily – you’re never too old to go and achive your dream! Jonathan says July 26, 2010 at 12:01 pm “Now I just look at a hamburger and my butt gets bigger.” Hahah! I feel the same way when I look at a vanilla shake. But I still love them. Great work, Barrie. My birthday is in a few days, so it’s a nice reminder that things get better with age. Courtney Carver says July 26, 2010 at 12:03 pm Love this list! Number 3 (money and stuff – not that important) and Number 8 (little things stick with you) go hand in hand for me. I cannot remember what my bank balance was ten years ago, but I do remember when my daughter, who was 5 at the time saw a group of men from the army and asked if they were wearing “flamocauge”. Jean Sarauer says July 26, 2010 at 12:13 pm People think I’m nutty, but I LOVE getting older. It’s so freeing. There’s a clarity to life, a boiling down to the essential things, that I never could have imagined. These are the magic years. Then again, aren’t they all? Kamal Thakur says July 26, 2010 at 12:44 pm Betsy Talbot says July 26, 2010 at 1:23 pm “Feed the soul, not the ego.” This is my new favorite line! I’m turning 40 soon, and after rediscovering exercise, getting rid of almost everything I own, and preparing for a trip around the world, I feel more alive than I ever have. I agree with Jean – getting older has been a very positive experience in my book. I believe you find what you are looking for in this world, both on a daily basis and in the bigger scheme of things. If you think 50 is going to be awesome, it likely will be. If you think 30 is the end of all your fun, then it will be. It is really up to you. Thanks for a great post, Barrie. Barrie Davenport says July 26, 2010 at 2:14 pm Thank you all for you wonderful and kind comments. Every age has its beauty and surprises. I truly feel better at 50 than I ever have. That sounds like something you read quoted by an aging supermodel, but it’s truer than true for me. I hope you all age with enthusiasm for what’s around the next corner. It’s all good! Martha says July 26, 2010 at 2:42 pm My mom turns fifty next year she’s really looking forward to it! Manal says July 26, 2010 at 10:25 pm I have learned a few of these lessons early in life and hope when I got to 50 I will have mastered the lessons you mentioned. Age is just a number. What matters is the experience. And obviously you’ve had wonderful and meaningful experiences. Thanks for sharing. Your wisdom and energy inspire me. Joe says July 26, 2010 at 10:36 pm Loved the post. I’m not quite there yet, but getting there. I found myself nodding in agreement with all of your points. Avoiding the busyness of life, savoring time with your kids, traveling when you’re young. All really great advice. And the point about how you feel; so true. I don’t really feel any different today than I did in my twenties. Not like I imagined I would back then. Diana says July 26, 2010 at 11:12 pm What a wonderful post. My hubby likes to send me nice emails about things he reads. This one really caught my eye. After a busy day with three kids it was nice to read and relate to each list. I am not fifty but sometimes feel 60 with all the worrying. My hubby reminds me each day to live as your list states. Each day we challenge ourselves to be better people and face adversities and somehow make it thru. Life is up and down but its nice when you have family and friends around you. Its refreshing to know that many of you are doing the same. Maya says July 27, 2010 at 1:05 am I love #17, it made me crack up laughing. I’ve never understood the whole “dreading getting older” thing. Life is such a great adventure I look forward to each step of the way. When I turned 30 I didn’t plan a party, and then on the day itself I was so jazzed about turning 30 that I regretted not throwing a party. So I planned a big “belated 30th birthday on my 31st birthday” the following year. Much better than getting all depressed about being another year older. Aileen says July 27, 2010 at 2:09 am I love all 25 – I can’t pick one as my favorite!! Farouk says July 27, 2010 at 2:16 am point number one made me feel real good, i am always afraid of growing up, thank you Marc:) Barrie Davenport says July 27, 2010 at 10:39 am Thank you all for your wonderful and uplifting comments. It is so gratifying when readers are able to take something away from what you write. This is by far the most fun “working” I’ve ever had. Life really has begun again for me at 50! Murphy says July 27, 2010 at 9:14 pm Amen! I loved them all and am trying to embrace them all. Thanks for a great post. July 27, 2010 at 10:23 pm I think having fun is the best out of all of them. I expect to keep having fun and live in the moment, till the day I die. Hopefully not too soon. I’m 22 and I’m glad to hear that sex isn’t overrated at that age. I was scared for a moment! Yu says July 28, 2010 at 1:43 am I love this list. I’m not even half way there (I’m 20) but it doesn’t hurt to be 30 years ahead does it suying says July 28, 2010 at 5:20 am me too. turning 25, half way there. this article made me realize i need to accept and evolve through changes. Barrie Davenport says July 28, 2010 at 10:04 am Thank you for your nice comments. If you are under 50 and embracing these ideas, you are so ahead of most people. It takes most of us half a lifetime to figure this stuff out. I wish I had embraced these beliefs earlier, but sometimes you have to live life before you get there. LucieQ says July 28, 2010 at 11:44 pm I went to the hospital last Thursday convinced I was having a heart attack. The doctor informed me it was an anxiety attack cause by tension and stress and it could have been a heart attack had i been 50 instead of a “healthy” 23 year old girl…. That day I decided I hate my life. That day I looked up a book I had heard about “4 Hour Work Week”. Several days, a decision to change my life, and a million links later I read your post. Your post made me smile, thank you. Even in my “ideas” for a new life I was still guilty of some of the things you mentioned. I have a long way to go but I’m excited. Brenda Freeman says July 29, 2010 at 5:13 am Having just turned 50 in May, I couldn’t agree more. 50 is fabulous! Loved your list, especially “keep having fun”. Great advice for all ages. Barrie Davenport says July 29, 2010 at 10:29 am Thank you for sharing that. I have had those “heart attack” fears too. Stress and anxiety will do a number on your body. Nothing is worth that kind of stress. I am so glad you are doing something positive to re-frame your life. Keep exploring, reading, and working on positive thought. It’s the best thing you can do for yourself. Life is for living joyfully. Brian says July 29, 2010 at 11:27 am Everybody should focus on this one… Stop worrying. Worry does absolutely nothing productive. In fact, it is counterproductive. The more you worry, the more you reinforce the problem or concern in your brain. Nea \| Self Improvement Saga says July 30, 2010 at 8:10 pm Wow, Barrie! Every last one of these lessons is priceless, but 2 stood out to me. The first one is that not much is worth fighting about and the second is to let your kids fail. I’ve slowly dropped my perfectionist mentality and come the realization that it is okay for mistakes to happen in my life and in my child’s life. I’m more careful these days to pick my battles wisely, especially with my teenage daughter. I want life to feel good–to be good. That means applying these very valuable lessons each day. Thanks so much for posting this. It was truly a great read. Cody McKibben says July 31, 2010 at 5:30 am I think a lot about these things, and about getting older. This is a really inspiring, thoughtful post Barrie, thanks for sharing your insights! Barrie Davenport says July 31, 2010 at 5:33 pm Brian, Nea and Cody, I am so glad you liked the post. One of the things that is most gratifying to me as I get older is realizing that I have something to share that might actually provide someone insight or inspiration. That is more meaningful than just about anything. Thank you for your kind comments. Casey says August 4, 2010 at 2:12 pm I am so glad I stumbled back to your blog. I really love your posts and always forward them to my girlfriend who I think loves them even more. Thank you. Farnoosh says August 12, 2010 at 10:20 am A beautiful post with so much candor and sincerity – thank you Barrie for sharing with us your journey and your lessons and knowing I have a few years to prepare for a life that only keeps getting better makes me very happy !!!! DiscoFingers says August 12, 2010 at 8:10 pm Thanks. Kavin says August 17, 2010 at 4:20 am Thanks is all i want to say! Jose M. Blanco says August 30, 2010 at 12:29 pm Great! I turned 50 this year and, like many, I am going through some tough times. Thanks for the perspective. September 3, 2010 at 1:58 pm Jake says October 6, 2010 at 1:46 am You my friend have live down to a science. Cheryl says October 14, 2010 at 4:53 pm “21.Take action on your dreams. If you’ve been putting things off — a new career, more education, the big trip — start taking action right now to make it happen. Don’t dream about it anymore. Start doing it.” Thank you Barrie for this encouragement. I feel I have a very fufilled life so far- I’ve travelled, seen the world and am just starting a family. The only thing I’ve been putting off is going to University. I’ve been dreaming of doing this for what feels like an eternity but you’re right when you say I have to take action right now and make it happen, education is never a waste. Thanks again!! October 15, 2010 at 10:31 pm RealityRock says October 16, 2010 at 12:19 pm Awesome, awesome post. Thanks for the great advice. As an 18 year old, I really appreciate it! lex girl says December 19, 2010 at 12:11 am Count my blessings everyday is definitely what I should start work at really soon to improve my life. Eric says March 8, 2011 at 8:04 am I’m not even 20 yet, and I may not have even learnt a single one of the lessons yet, but I want to. This is great knowledge you are sharing with everyone, and funny enough, it’s one of those things you just can’t read; you need to experience it! So off I am on my journey of discovery. I’m going to bookmark this page and always come back to it. haha Teri says December 13, 2012 at 1:18 am You have been gifted with a good aging experience. Count your blessings, many of us are not that fortunate. freddy says December 15, 2012 at 11:40 am thanks for sharing! mark says May 13, 2013 at 3:39 am Unfortunately at the age of 39 I think most of the advice is a little too late for me and equally this seems to be something I have learnt already. I made the mistake of going to university, thinking it would lead to a life of being well paid having a nice house, car, clothes a social life, being able to go on holiday and generally live a little better than the ‘high school drop out’. I’m not convinced! It is only now that my parents have finally been able to stop helping with the rapidly expanding cost of living (in the UK), with gas/electricity bills that seem to have tripled in the last few years a mortgage that makes you want to cry and petrol seemingly becoming the most valuable asset on the market. I now have a 10 y/o son and a workaholic partner, I never go out never relax, never have money and never seem to have fun. It’s work bills, work bills, work bills and the raising of a child in-between. The single biggest piece of advice I saw in your blog is “Experience life before you settle down.” So true! I have never been to any of the places I wanted to go to, never own any of the things I wanted to own and haven’t done any of the things I wanted to do. Whilst I was busying wasting time at University, my friends were busying living their lives. Now I know I will never go to any of the places I wanted to go to, never own any of the things I wanted to own and never do any of the things I wanted to do. So yes this is probably the best piece of advice you can give someone – “Experience life before you settle down.” ANGEL HULL says March 24, 2014 at 1:19 pm I’m going thru the whole “Experience life before you settle down”! As A young woman (31 yrs) the world would call me crazy for not marrying my current fiancé. He has everything A woman dreams of (financial wealth, handsome, Awesome personality) & he worships the ground I walk on. I just think forever is A looooong time & I don’t want to make that commitment yet. At least I can acknowledge that and he knows this so know I just take it one day at A time.	24,469
You need solid answers to today’s toughest hospitality technology questions. At SHR, we get this and we’re here to help. Based on feedback from our own clients, we decided it was time to get a clearer understanding of a particularly confusing topic—GDS. In a recent Ask Your SHR Expert webinar featuring Kameron Martinez, Client Experience Manager for SHR, our special guest Chuck Valentino, Vice President of Operations for Vagabond Inn, and myself, we tackled your most pressing issues, and how to make GDS really work for your hotel. Have you run into any of the following questions? What is GDS and what are some benefits of connecting to it? GDS (Global Distribution Systems) are used by travel management companies and online travel agencies (OTAs) to book hotels (along with airline tickets and vehicles), and offer real-time availability of rooms, rates, and dates. The four major GDS channels are Amadeus, Sabre, Travelport-Galieo, and WorldSpan. GDS can help your hotel reach over 700,000+ global travel agents as they select the right properties for their clients, and is the preferred method for negotiated and Consortia corporate business. “Considering that, you really should treat GDS with the same sense of urgency that you treat all your other channels,” advised Chuck. What is the difference between GDS and IDS (Internet Distribution System)? Your GDS was originally created for the airline industry for flights, but then it expanded to hotels, car rentals, and cruises. So, it has become about all travel in general. Then IDS became another collection that hit the industry, but it specializes more in the internet marketing industry, functioning as travel portals. They both serve as virtual marketplaces for public and Consortia rates, plus relevant hotel content. How can our hotel check its presence on GDS? You definitely want to contact your client experience manager and request a current copy of your HOD (Hotel Descriptions). This is important because you want to make sure you are representing your hotel properly by making sure your content parity is on pointe and accurate on all platforms. Remember, you can’t physically “see” GDS, so you need to make sure your content is consistent. “Travel agencies don’t know if your information is up to date or not, so be sure to take the guesswork out of it for them and run your HOD report at least once a quarter,” Kameron reminded us. “It’s really important to do this. I’m always surprised at how out-of-date content can get left behind,” Chuck added. “Besides older content, you can also update for any renovations you’ve done, or seasonal rates that have changed.” Is there an ideal number of rooms/rates to have on GDS? There are a lot of hotels with an amazing number of room types, but you may need to scale it back a bit to no more than nine rooms on GDS. “You want to put your best room forward due to constraints of the agents,” Chuck said. “They really don’t have time to scroll through 50 room types, so nine makes it very easy for them to focus on your offerings.” There is another reason as well that has to do with your particular CRS. “Displaying no more than nine room types with Windsurfer, for instance, also helps take into account your sort-ordered rooms and rate codes that are out there to pull,” Kameron explained. Can I gain more control over my rates via audits? Yes, yes, and yes! With Windsurfer, for example, you have full control over what you sell and when, whether that’s public, negotiated, or Consortia rates. You can market your room types more effectively with clear, precise messaging. “There are people within the GDS every single day out there to book your hotel, so getting the right info out there on your channels is key, especially any abbreviations that involve free services,” Kameron said. “This is where you want to spend the majority of your time,” Chuck added. “Regular auditing is simply non-negotiable.” What are some alternatives for raising profits besides selling low on GDS? Using RFP tools to gain additional business is an alternative, and this includes Consortia, to make yourself viewable for more business on a large, global platform. Look at your local businesses that may have travel coming into your city as avenues to bring more revenues for your property. “I know from my hotelier days, you’re constantly looking for new business,” said Kameron. “Having that negotiated rate can help you lock down more bookings.” Chuck reminded us of what might sound obvious, but what we tend to forget. “Fish where the fish are and make sure of what you are representing on GDS, and then maximize those items,” he said. What are the top 3 items to concentrate on to optimize production in GDS, and should we lead with our BAR rate or the lowest rate showing in the rate range? First and foremost, you want to sell smart! Make sure that you share your philosophy for OTA channel rates when you are setting rates for GDS. This means that offering the lowest rates the first time may not be your best bet. For example, does your property offer free WiFi? Are you within walking distance of some important venue? Add those components to your rate code description before you start lowering rates. “You can definitely change content to cater to what’s hot for each season or event as well,” advised Kameron. “And you have to have a plan, and make sure that plan fits with the rest of your hotel,” added Chuck. Does commission drive GDS bookings? While 10% commission is your industry standard, there are hoteliers who have promotions throughout the year that are worth paying higher rates for, so just make sure you know what is customary to offer agents for best results. “You can always offer a higher commission if you have certain constraints on your hotel bookings because agents are always looking for more cash in their pockets, but it’s not always necessary, so don’t feel that you have to automatically increase what you’re paying,” Kameron reminded everyone. Can't I just buy my way to the top of the heap via Amadeus, Sabre, etc.? Maybe, or maybe not. For instance, Amadeus does offer a deal where you are guaranteed placement on the first or second page of their results. If you do purchase GDS marketing, make sure to create a specific rate code to track what you are paying for. “If you have a little more money in your budget to put towards this type of marketing, it is definitely worth it,” said Kameron. Chuck put things into perspective. “GDS marketing is really not that expensive compared to buying your way to the top of Google, for instance, but just understand that spending money may not guarantee you placement where you might expect,” he explained. “Just make sure you are getting value for your dollars.” By Angelo Directo, VP, Design and Innovation In the wake of the COVID pandemic, hotel operators are facing intense pressure to mitigate rising labor... Speakers at the Hotel Data Conference discuss hotel marketing best practices on a panel titled "The dos and don’ts of selling your hotel guestrooms"... Metasearch, otherwise known as price comparison sites, have become essential to promote a hotel’s direct rate in real time, as well as drive traffic... Contact our sales reps, and they’ll walk you through a personalized demo of solutions, tailored to help you grow your hotel business. Learn how to maximize your distribution channels and optimize your revenue management by taking full advantage of our decades of experience in the hospitality industry. Check out our library of hospitality industry resources, including recorded webinars, whiteboard sessions with hospitality experts, and videos of SHR clients sharing how they’ve overcome some of their toughest challenges. SHR provides hotels sophisticated tools and services that help execute their reservation and distribution strategy while optimizing the profitability of their room inventory.	8,250
Joe Molloy was joined on the ROI hour this evening by Dion Fanning, Keith Treacy and Shane Keegan to reflect on Ireland's 2-1 defeat to Scotland on Saturday and discuss the case for and against manager Stephen Kenny. Joe Molloy was joined on the ROI hour this evening by Dion Fanning, Keith Treacy and Shane Keegan to reflect on Ireland's 2-1 defeat to Scotland on Saturday and discuss the case for and against manager Stephen Kenny. In between the impressive performances and the fine margins of football outcomes that have underlined the Irish game as of late perseveres a lasting legacy, a constant debate as to the tenable nature of the man in charge, Stephen Kenny. Following the 2-1 loss to their latest opponents Scotland in Hampden Park, their second from bottom position in Nations League group E has reignited the same deliberation over which mark of the game is more important; wins or progression? Onlookers opinion’s on that discussion wrangle on, as too does the question, why should fans remain steadfast by Kenny? “The first one I’d say is, are you not entertained?” asks Fanning, who points out that “Ireland matches now are far more engaging and exciting than they have been for a long time.” “People will say well we want the victories and we want the qualification, but for these types of matches to be as exciting as they are, that hasn’t happened in a long time. He’s actually trying to get them to do things that are adventurous…it’s a daring type of football and I think I find it that way perhaps because you know that anything can happen” he said. The “foundations” visible in their systems deployed, attacking nature and renewed hope in Irish football are also met with the fact that in reality “it’s only been two years which is not a long time really.” “It’s a short period of time and the Euros are going to decide things. So really there’s been a lot of noise over what? Failure to qualify for a World Cup? I don’t think anyone would have qualified us for a World Cup” he concluded. Keith Treacy also weighed in on the conversation, stating that he believes “we’re exactly where we should be in the group, the only issue is for me that Stephen came out at the start of it all and said that he expects us to be there or there abouts to win it.” “We are a team in transition, we’ve hard workers and we’ve got some really good, decent young players but we just don’t have that sprinkling of stardust yet. “If that comes along or if someone develops into that, then brilliant, but at the minute we’re a hard working team that are trying to do things right and we are progressing but in that final third we’re just lacking and toothless,” the former Irish international said. No matter your stance on the manager, Irish fans alike will be hoping that such magic and the shooting boots to come with it may surface in the Aviva Stadium come 7:45pm, when The Boys in Green take on Armenia. Football with Sky Ireland. Read more about	3,117
Stop “stacking your CVS” and ensure Indigenous communities lead research Marie McInerney and Summer May Finlay Tuesday, November 21, 2017 #ResearchTranslation17, health and medical research, Indigenous health, Lowitja Institute, NHMRC, Racism, Social determinants of health Health researchers and institutions that prioritise publication rates and “stacking their CVs” ahead of the needs of Indigenous communities are perpetuating post-colonial exploitation, a leading Canadian Indigenous researcher says. Dr Carrie Bourassa told a national Indigenous health research translation conference last week that fly-in fly-out “helicopter research” and other unethical practices were still exploiting and marginalising some First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples in Canada. She said research is an inherently political act and plays a key role in self-determination. “All of you who undertake research, you’re hunter gatherers,” she told delegates at the 6th National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) symposium on research translation, co-hosted in Brisbane by the NHMRC and the Lowitja Institute. “It’s your responsibility to act in an ethical manner, to undertake research by, with and at the direction of the community.” In her keynote address, Bourassa, who is Métis and belongs to the Riel Métis Council of Regina Inc, also challenged the notion and impact of “cultural competence” in the health system, saying it masks inherent systemic racism and there is no evidence that training works — “we don’t have appropriate evaluation models”. She said racism is the biggest social determinant of health in Canada and is literally “killing” Indigenous people in Canada. Later speaking to Croakey, she referred to the shocking case of Brian Sinclair, a 45 year old Indigenous man who died while waiting for care for 34 hours in a Winnipeg emergency room. His tragic death echoed many of the issues raised in the 2014 death in custody in Western Australia of 22 year old Yamatji woman Ms Dhu. “Be ready to fight” Bourassa was earlier this year appointed Scientific Director of the Institute of Aboriginal Peoples’ Health, one of 13 organisations that make up the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), and the first to be located outside a major urban centre. Prior to that, she spent 15 years as a professor of Indigenous health studies in the Department of Indigenous Health, Education and Social Work at the First Nations University of Canada in Regina. She told delegates that gaining academic tenure and taking up her new appointment had raised significant and serious issues for her around ethical research, and how she could ensure that her work “serves community” rather than the institutions for which she works. That tension came up elsewhere at the symposium, including in one panel session on Courageous Conversations (as reported in this article). Talking about the need to build relationships with communities over time, Bourassa said researchers “can’t expect to walk into a community with a research agreement in your hand and think that is how you build a relationship”. “It’s an ever-evolving process, it’s not about stacking your CV, not about the number of publications,” she said. As a result, she said the CV of an ethical Indigenous researcher and/or academic will inevitably have to look “very, very different” to that of another researcher, and will likely create “friction” with their institutions. The challenge was equally for institutions to be open to find ways other than peer review and publication rates to value research, whether it be the time invested in Indigenous communities, or “what else we’re doing with the community that’s really valuable”. “It did cause me a lot of disagreement, a lot of negotiation when I came up for tenure, (about) what that would look like,” she said. But she said she fought on. “My responsibility was first and foremost to the community. If I’m going to bring them into a research project my responsibility is to them first.” Research as exploitation Bourassa said there remains “a lot of hesitation” among First Nations people and communities about engaging in research because of Canada’s long and ongoing history of “research as exploitation”. She gave one terrible example, only relatively recently revealed, about the so-called nutritional experiments on First Nations children in Canada’s infamous residential schools and among adults in remote communities after the Second World War. As this article reported: “It began with a 1942 visit by government researchers to a number of remote reserve communities in northern Manitoba… They found people who were hungry, beggared by a combination of the collapsing fur trade and declining government support. They also found a demoralized population marked by, in the words of the researchers, “shiftlessness, indolence, improvidence and inertia.” The researchers suggested those problems – “so long regarded as inherent or hereditary traits in the Indian race” – were in fact the results of malnutrition. Instead of recommending an increase in support, the researchers decided that isolated, dependent, hungry people would be ideal subjects for tests on the effects of different diets. Bourassa gave other more recent examples, including: biological samples obtained and removed from communities without consent, such as from the Nuu-chah-nulth community in the 1980s – specimens, which according to this 2002 Nature article, “yielded half a dozen published articles” traditional knowledge shared by Knowledge Keepers, Elders, and Healers that was appropriated without the knowledge or consent of the community, including to develop pharmaceutical products human remains and cultural property taken for storage, display in museums, or sale poverty stricken communities feeling “beholden” to participate in research because it could bring in money and jobs. See Bourassa’s slide below on some common grievances that she said continue to have an impact. Bourassa said: We have some researchers go into the communities, basically take out that knowledge and use it for their (own) benefit. If often happens without them meaning to, but well-meaning or not, it still impacts our communities and causes many issues, mostly for them to see research in a negative way.” Bourassa outlined a set of standards developed in Canada by the National Steering Committee of the First Nations Regional Longitudinal Health Survey in 1998 that established how First Nations data should be collected, protected, used, or shared. They are known as OCAP – standing for ‘ownership, control, access and possession’ – and were created because there was no law or concept in Western society that recognised community rights and interests in their information. In line with work being done in Australia and New Zealand towards Indigenous Data Sovereignty, the National Steering Committee (now the First Nations Information Governance Centre) said in 2004 when the protocol was developed: First Nations’ claim to ownership of their own data is not some strange new aberration. On the authority of their own institutions and laws, governments and academics have long possessed and owned data without really thinking twice about it. OCAP brings the illegitimate owners into the spotlight. Those who most strongly reject the notion of data ownership tend to have control or possession of considerable volumes of it.” It is, Bourassa said, “a self-determination approach” to research, where communities can say ‘this is the type of ethical engagement we expect’ and it’s an approach that she says has worked in all her research. But it is not mandated by the Tri-Council Policy Statement on ethical conduct for research involving humans (see Chapter 9 specifically on Indigenous people), a joint policy of Canada’s three federal research agencies including the CIHR. The Tri-Council itself has “absolutely no teeth”, Bourassa said – meaning it effectively sends a message to researchers that “you should have a research agreement and a data agreement, but you don’t have to”. “What does that say to Indigenous communities?” she asked. “We’re talking about nation building here, historical mistreatment being righted through ethical protocols.” Address systemic racism Bourassa also talked about the role of research in ongoing work by Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which over six years heard the stories of thousands of survivors of abuse and neglect at so-called Indian Residential Schools. This was one of the country’s “darkest chapters”, according to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Bourassa said she did not like to use the word ‘reconciliation’ – “I don’t think that we as Indigenous people have to reconcile anything, to be honest” – but she does believe that research “can provide a path to healing”. Among its many comprehensive recommendations, the Commission (using the official term “Aboriginal” for First Nations people, one that Bourassa rejects as a “term placed upon us”) called upon all levels of government to: Increase the number of Aboriginal professionals working in the health care field Ensure the retention of Aboriginal health care providers in Aboriginal communities Provide cultural competency training for all health care professionals. That requires the government to play its part in reconciliation by helping to increase the number of Indigenous professionals not just in health care but also health research, Bourassa said. But she also challenged the focus on training in cultural competence. “If we’re not evaluating it, we have no idea if it’s working. What we really need is to call it out as it is, we have to address systemic racism in Canada.” “(Health) disparities exist on the basis of race in Canada, full stop,” she said. “Racist oppression and historical legacies perpetuate the state of our health. Racism is actually the biggest social determinant of health in Canada. It’s killing our people.” In a later interview with Croakey (see below), Bourassa referred to this report – ‘Out of Sight – on the death of Brian Sinclair nearly ten years ago and responses to it. The report was recently released by a group of doctors (led by Dr Barry Lavallee) and several academics to highlight “ongoing structural and systemic anti-Indigenous racism in our contemporary health and legal systems”. It describes in distressing detail how Sinclair went to the hospital to have his catheter changed but was left to wait, and to die. Health and security staff assumed him to be drunk and/or homeless, despite interventions from members of the public concerned about his wellbeing, including when he was vomiting. Bourassa said the report has made concrete recommendations about how to address racism in the health system. She will be keeping a close eye on how they are taken up in her region and how other regions react. “That’s something we could really learn from,” she said. Croakey contributing editor Summer May Finlay interviews Dr Carrie Bourassa about the responsibilities of researchers and research institutions, and the health impacts of racism. You can also hear more in this podcast interview recorded soon after Bourassa took up her position. Please donate , subscribe or become a Croakey funder Related Posts Wake up the snake: why Indigenous knowledges are key to transforming the response to climate chaos November 27, 2022 Twitter meltdown is a threat to health in many ways. So what to do? November 24, 2022 As Victorians head to the polls, what are the health issues at stake? November 24, 2022 How COVID is exacerbating health inequalities: Federal Minister shows the data November 25, 2022 PrevPreviousEmergency medicine doctors applaud “compelling” presentation by Gillian Triggs on human rights	12,123
Sonokhar (सनोखर) is a village and site of Jat Fort in Kaman tahsil of Bharatpur distict in Rajasthan. 8 Notable Persons Sonokhar is a Village in Kaman Tehsil in Bharatpur District of Rajasthan State, India. It belongs to Bharatpur Division . It is located 73 KM towards North from District head quarters Bharatpur. 7 KM from Kaman. 196 KM from State capital Jaipur. Sonokhar Pin code is 321023 and postal head office is Jurhera. Bhandara ( 3 KM ) , Satwas ( 4 KM ) , Musepur ( 5 KM ) , Nandera ( 6 KM ) , Sahsan ( 6 KM ) are the nearby Villages to Sonokhar. This Place is in the border of the Bharatpur District and Mathura District. Mathura District Nandgaon is East towards this place . It is near to the Uttar Pradesh State Border.[1] Kanungo[2] mentions....During the absence of Mirza Najaf Khan, Raja Nawal Singh made an attempt to recover his lost ground. He issued out of Deeg with his army and began to expel the amils of Mirza Najaf Khan from the country. Not content with this, he threatened to march upon Delhi. Mirza Najar Khan decided to postpone the intended campaign against Zabita Khan till he had crushed the Jat power once for all. While the monsoon was still raging in its full fury, he started on his second campaign against Nawal Singh. The Jat army [p.158]: retreated before the advance of the Mughals and hurriedly sought the shelter of the fort of Sankar3 (Sunukhar?) when the Mirza arrived at Barsana in pursuit of them. The Khan had no alternative than to besiege the enemy there, as any advance upon Deeg leaving the field army of Jats unbeaten in his rear was extremely dangerous. The heart of the Jat country now presented a formidable chain of strong forts, Sunukhar, Kama (the neutral territory belonging to Jaipur), Deeg, Kumher and Bharatpur. The task of dislodging Nawal Singh from his fortified retreat, protected in the rear and flank by the neutral territory of Jaipur, proved a task of exceptional difficulty to the Muslim army. No longer proud of his mercenaries, the regent became more considerate to the Jats. They too, thus cornered by the enemy and compelled to fight for their very existence, began to show their wonted courage and stubbornness. They sallied out daily and fought skirmishes with the Muslim troopers, who could no longer claim success in every encounter. The siege dragged on for many days without making the least impression upon the besieged, who were fed by supplies sent secretly from the fort of Kama. The Rajput princes became equally alarmed at the revival of the imperial authority and did not fail to realise that as soon as the Jat resistance would fall to the ground the victorious Mughal would again carry war into the heart of Rajputana and demand tribute from them. The old animosity between the Bharatpur Raj and Jaipur had been buried in oblivion with the banes of the haughty Jawahar and the sensitive Madho Singh. The regency which controlled the affairs of 3. The name of the place as written in a MS. of the Ibratnama warrants the reading of Sankar, Singar or Sunkar. There is one Singar (tat. 27°25'; long. 77°"20') in the Gurgaon district and about 20 miles north of Kaman (Kama). The same authority tells us that the besieged Jat army at this place could so easily draw their supplies from Kama that without first reducing Kama, operations against the former place proved futile. So this cannot be Singar, at such a great distance from Kama. Sunukhar (lat. 27°45',long. 77°18'), about 8 miles north of Kama and 12 miles west of Barsana and situated in a marshy tract answers the description best. About half a mile south of Sunukhar there is a ruined fort called Sabalgarh. [p.159]: the Jaipur State during the minority of Maharajah Prithvi Singh II decided to help the Jats in their struggle with Najaf Khan. The amil of Kama under instructions from his Govt continued to supply secretly provisions to the army of Nawal Singh. Mirza Najaf Khan could neither storm the enemy's position defended by numerous guns, nor could he by any means induce his adversary to leave the shelter of the fort and give a pitched battle for the decision of the long drawn out issue. The siege continued for four months when Mirza Najaf Khan was called away to the capital by some intrigues of Abdul Ahad Khan. He left Najaf Quli in supreme command of the army, and after his return to Delhi sent the notorious Somru4 to reinforce the besieging army at Sunukhar. Somru, who was well acquainted with the situation of the place, represented to Najaf Quli Khan that as long as grain and fodder would continue to reach the Jat army from Kama it was impossible to bring the siege of Sunukhar to a successful close. Najaf Quli wrote to the amil of Kama not to give any assistance to the Jats. This remonstrance having proved ineffectual, that impetuous soldier decided upon attacking Kama without reflecting upon the political consequence of his action. He sent a portion of his army to besiege that fort. Nawal Singh having left a strong garrison at Sunukhar withdrew with his army to Deeg. The Kachhwahas now openly joined hands with the Jats to resist the imperialists. Najaf Quli's guns made very little impression upon the walls of the fort of Kama, which are said to have been so broad that two carts could drive side by side on their top without the least danger. He held out the promise of giving that fort to the brave Ruhela chief Mulla Rahimdad 4. According to Khair-ud-din, Somru deserted to the camp of Najaf Khan during the siege of Sankar, i.e. at the end of the rainy season of 1774. He gives a dramatic touch to the whole affair at the sacrifice of accuracy. We have the unassailable testimony of the Waqa that on the 20th of May, 1774 (see ante) Somru was given leave to depart for his fief of Panipat. It is more likely that Mirza Najaf Khan recalled him from Panipat and sent him against the Jats to aid Najaf Quli with his intimate knowledge of the Jat country and their weaknesses. [p.160]: if he would succeed in capturing the place by a coup. One day Rahimdad at the head of his dare-devils stormed it by a rush, unmindful of the tremendous cost in the lives of his followers. But Najaf Quli broke his word and appointed Somru to the charge of Kama. Mulla Rahimdad, vowing eternal enmity to both, marched away with his 12,000 Ruhelas, horse and foot, to seek service with Nawal Singh [Ibratnama, MS. p. 266]. Nawal Singh gave a warm welcome to the Ruhela chief and his brave followers. He assigned suitable pay for every man and gave them large jagirs- in hort he showed them every consideration except trusting them within the gates of any of his forts. Prospects became more promising for the Jat at beginning of the year 1775. Mirza Najaf Khan had not only to fight with the sword the enemies of the empire abroad, but he had also to hold his own at the Court with the subtler weapons of diplomacy against the Emperor and His majesty' well-wishers like Abdul Ahad Khan. Scarcely had the Mirza succeeded in disentangling himself from the meshes of the Court intrigue, when he fell dangerously ill. The news spread abroad that he was dead, and thisencouraged the Jaipur darbar to make a vigorous effort for the recovery of the pargana Kama. Mirza Najaf Khan recovered from his illness, and on the 4th April, 1775 [Safar 2, 1189 H.] he took leave of the Emperor to march against the Jats and Rajputs (Waqa, 287). When the news of the coming of the Mirza became known, Raja Nawal Singh left Deeg with his army and came to Sunukhar which was still holding out. The forces of Jaipur also joined him, and the allied army encamped under the shelter of the fort and strongly entrenched their position. Mulla Rahimdad, now in the Jat service, was posted with his Ruhelas outside the fortifications of Sunukhar. Several petty actions took place in which the Afghans fought against their late comrades with all the vehemence of injured pride. Mirza Najaf Khan tried without success to win them back to his side, promising Kama and in addition several other parganas to Rahimdad as jagir. But Nawal Singh and his shrewd counsellors could not repose in peace on account of their Pathan ally whom they suspected to be in collusion with the imperialists.	8,407
When did you start putting that little highlight bar on AskMe comments that are from the original asker? Kickass! Thank you... [more inside] posted by twiggy on Jun 4, 2008 - 2 comments Mark askee answers. (Meaning, highlight answers posted by the user who asked the question in askmefi). [more inside] posted by chrisbucks on Jun 4, 2008 - 100 comments Visually distinguish the OP's comments? (At least in AskMefi.) [more inside] posted by JakeLL on May 6, 2008 - 46 comments Seeing this response by the original poster made me recall this little pony request. The poor little thing has been left outside in the rain for a fortnight. [more inside] posted by cashman on Jan 29, 2008 - 55 comments This is not the answer you are looking for. Is using the "best answer" function to clarify the original question or to offset the OP's own comments from the pack really the best use of that feature? posted by FreezBoy on Jan 14, 2008 - 53 comments In AskMeFi, there is first the question. Then maybe 5 replies down there is a response by the person who asked the question. But they don't often identify themselves as the original poster, and it is not always obvious that it is the original poster and if I am down the page I have forgotten their username. Is there a way to highlite responses by the original poster? Or a way to make them stand out? posted by 9000.68 on Jan 8, 2006 - 40 comments About MetaTalk MetaTalk is the first spin-off subsite of MetaFilter and is designed as a space to talk about MetaFilter itself. MetaTalk is the place to discuss features, bugs, and issues of policy with the rest of the membership.	1,710
Posted on October 26, 2016 Updated on October 26, 2016 “Who has touched and who has dabbled/here in the city of shows/Openings, closings, bad repartee/everybody knows” It seems that my trips to New York are quarterly now, and each time I go it’s a mix of crowded whiskey breakfasts, quaint martini lunches, splendid Bordeaux dinners, and late night sake and red meat with a 6’5” Englishman huddled over a fire pit in the middle of our table. But hey, this is New York, where once, in my twenties, I watched while the phrase, “expect the unexpected” was tattooed on a transgender woman’s left breast in the East Village. Nothing surprises me here, which is the beauty of the city. For every high-end boutique there is a closet-sized souvenir shop; for each subway performer there struts a supermodel-in-waiting. New York represents the curious child, horny middle-ager teenager, and determined (but often broke) adult in all of us, and the city was as glorious and strung out as ever on my four-day fall visit. I spent a large part of Wednesday afternoon visiting with my friends at The Promotion Factory and getting up close and personal with some of the watch brands they work with, particularly Alpina, Frederique Constant, and Bulova. Their Flatiron District office space sat high above the asphalt surfaces of the streets below, allowing for a concrete jungle-style backdrop as I stepped out on their patio. That worked out well when taking images of watches like the Alpina Startimer Camouflage Pilot Big Date Chronograph which, while too large for the likes of my wrist, was quite comfortable against my skin. Look, I’m a big fan of gender-neutral watches; I like it when a watch doesn’t add a label that says “this is a woman’s” or “this is a man’s” but let’s get real here, there are some watches that are just so manly they practically have chest hair, and the Startimer Pilot Big Date – at 44mm in diameter – is one of them. If this thing had a voice it would probably sound like Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson; that’s how much horological testosterone it has. But just because it’s a big, burly dude of a watch doesn’t mean it’s stup… er, stupendously complicated. It houses an AL-372 high precision Swiss quartz chronograph movement, is water resistant up to 10 ATM, and shows the date in a place easy enough to see without the use of one of those dreadfully annoying magnifying windows. I liked it, and I think a guy like The Rock would like it, too. Now… if only the world were filled with more men like Dwayne Johnson. (Snaps out of it) Following the manliness that was Alpina, I’ll admit that it was nice to temporarily get into the womanliness of many of Frederique Constant’s watches, particularly their Heart Beat Automatic (which I borrowed for a few days while in town. Thanks, PromoFact!). In the same way that the Alpina Startimer Chrono is undeniably masculine, the Frederique Constant Heart Beat is practically wearing high heels and pearls, it’s so feminine. And in neutral colors like nude and gray, there aren’t many items in my fall wardrobe that the Heart Beat wouldn’t match. The 34mm case fit my wrist beautifully and the diamond bezel – while clearly giving the piece a dressier appearance – was subtle enough that it wasn’t blinding the flabbergasted family of four across from me on the subway who were first-time visitors in from the great state of Arkansas (bless their hearts!). After my visit and a limoncello-infused lunch it was time to head off into the sunset that was Wednesday night, which included watching my Korean-born temporary roommate eat ramen for the first time. Good times. And they wouldn’t end there. “It was a party night, everybody was breaking/the highs were screaming and the bass was shaking” With a plethora of press, brands, and collectors in town for the WatchTime New York show, there were several watch-related events going on around the city in the days prior. On Tuesday night, watch enthusiast group RedBar joined forces with Seiko for an event that included Grand Seikos, Astrons, Marinemasters, a master watchmaker, and most likely the music of Grandmaster Flash or Jam Master Jay (may he rest in peace). On the same night somewhere in the West Village (Same night, you say? SAME NIGHT, I SAY.), Hodinkee gathered with what they referred to as a “dedicated group of watch collectors and the team from Zenith watches” to launch the twenty-five piece limited edition Zenith El Primero Original watch for Hodinkee, which apparently sold out before John Mayer had the chance to see if Jean-Claude Bivers’s body truly was a wonderland. (Now that’s FAST!) But it was what was going down on Thursday night that had me borderline giddy: This wasn’t just any RedBar event, either. The independents were in town, see, which meant we were going to be hanging out with timepieces (oh, and people) from Moritz Grossman, MB&F, Romain Gauthier, Andersen Geneve, and Clerc. I was accompanied by my sometimes babysitter/sometimes bodyguard/sometimes wingman, Jason (aka, TKFFR for those who read my other blog) because I didn’t want to walk all by myself into a room filled with dudes. Yeah, that’s a straight up lie. Sorry. I couldn’t even last until the next paragraph. Couldn’t keep it going. Fact is, the big guy wants to learn more about watches and I knew that this was the place where he’d find people patient enough and enthusiastic enough to get him started without making him feel like his being a novice was a bad thing. And I was right. I introduced Jason to a couple of RedBar members when we were in Vegas this summer and he took those relationships a step further, so he was welcomed with as many open arms as I was, which made for a really great night. For me, the experience was important because I live by the rule that life isn’t a spectator sport. On top of the fact that I would get to spend some one-on-one time with these awesome independent brands, I knew I’d also finally get to meet the likes of Instagram notables such as Chris (@Farlius), Rob (@SpanishRob), Sophy (@redbarmiami), and James (@AnalogShift), after witnessing what they do from the distance that is known as social media. And that was exciting to me, though frankly it’s all exciting to me still. Hey, I’m an excitable person who isn’t easily jaded, what can I say? The room was packed, as I suspect it usually is, and watches of all flavors were being passed from hand to wrist and from iPhone to another iPhone (because I’m pretty much the only holdout on the planet who still uses a Samsung). It was all I expected it would be, which gave me the warm and fuzzies. The scotch probably helped with those emotions but still, I was feeling pretty darn scotchy. I mean happy. And before I could slur the words, “closing ceremonies,” somebody was strapping the new MB&F HM8 red gold and titanium Can-Am on my wrist, and that’s when the sh*t hit a different level, entirely. Thanks to Adam, Kathleen, Atom, Josh, Justin, and the many other group members who showed us a great time. Merci to Charris for being so freakin’ pretty (because seriously, it is unfair for one human being to be so pretty) and for walking me through the correct pronunciation of his name in four different languages. It was the perfect segue into the rest of the week’s events. “Oh, the way she feels about me has changed/thanks for playing, try again” After a two-wine, Lower Manhattan lunch at the restaurant Delicatessen with my #SexyAsian buddy, I prepared myself for the evening’s impending shenanigans with a disco nap. Once awake, I squeaked into the LBD I packed and hopped the subway to Gotham Hall to partake in an evening filled with gin martinis, Italian suits, Swiss personas, and expensive watches. The WatchTime New York event was held on the night of October 14th and from 11 – 5 on October 15th. Friday night’s cocktail party was a highly anticipated shindig that allowed both the media and collectors to mingle with the over twenty internationally renowned watch brands exhibiting at the venue. My speaking cohort, temporary roommate, and good friend Ben Smithee of The Smithee Group accompanied me to Friday’s party which – speaking for myself – was visually one of the loveliest cocktail parties I’d been to in a while. Gotham Hall is located in a building that was built in 1924; the former headquarters of the Greenwich Savings Bank, which operated from 1833 until 1981. The old main banking room is now the Grand Ballroom and is often used for corporate events, wedding receptions, and clearly, watch collector get-togethers. The steel-reinforced limestone and sandstone building was designed by bank architects York and Sawyer in Classical Revival style and has Corinthian columns located on three sides of the building’s exterior. It is – at first glance – awe-inspiring, but was made even more extraordinary by the timepieces gracing its space. I have a lot to learn still about horology and the watch industry in general, but what I know up to this point and after many years of being in the company of various watch brands is that I indeed have my favorites, and that those favorites will likely be around for a long time. Having just come off a trip to Paris where I was able to visit the flagship store of Jaeger-LeCoultre, I was excited to visit with JLC at WatchTime so that I could share my experience with their U.S. Marketing Director, Cécile Tinchant. And as I approached their booth, what I saw was nothing short of thrilling: sitting behind the desk, tools in hand, was their watchmaker on duty, and for the second time in seven weeks, that Jaeger-LeCoultre watchmaker that I was about to meet was a woman. Remember that the whole reason I started this blog in the first place was to give more women in the watch world their due. They’re out there. They exist. And if you look hard enough, do your research, or get yourself to the right place at the right time, you’ll find them, and when you do, they should be recognized, celebrated, and thanked. Women can often be their own worst enemies, which unfortunately I learned firsthand this year. For as many women out there in this industry who are helpful there are also the ones who desperately want to see you fail; especially if you’re the newbie, and especially if they think you’re trying to hone in on their territory. But my entire experience with Jaeger-Lecoultre at the Place Vendome location in Paris and at their booth in the middle of Gotham Hall – from start to finish – was filled with positive, enlightening, and goal-oriented women, which only made me love the brand more, and I truly did not think that would have ever been possible. Speake-Marin watches had their time in the spotlight The event housed popular brands such as Seiko, Vacheron Constantin, Omega, and A. Lange & Söhne. Affordable everyday brands like Bell & Ross, Corum, and Tutima were also showing. And, specialty independent brands like RGM, Speake-Marin, Urban Jürgensen, and the always popular MB&F had proper billing and great floor spots as well. The room was oval in shape which gave no brand a “lead” location (think Knights of the Round Table, only replace swords with pivot broaches and shields with sapphire crystals), and made it easy to find your appointments even after that third or fifth Johnny Walker (but who’s counting? [EVERYONE. BECAUSE YOU’RE AT A WATCH SHOW. DUH.]). Harry Winston laser-etched mother-of-pearl dial I immediately found myself drawn to the Jaquet Droz watches since I never had the chance to see them this year at Baselworld. I also found myself spending a fair amount of time at Harry Winston, largely because they were one of the few brands showing who put their women’s watches front and center. MB&F had their newest HM8 Can-Am in both colors on display at their booth, and it was great to be able to bring my friend Ben over to see the new Grand Seiko watches after recently having a conversation about how different today’s Seiko is compared to the Seikos of our fathers. There were many other highlights of the show that include panels, speeches, and book signings, but at nearly 2,100 words, I think it’s probably time to close out this entry, although not before I mention the fact that a slew of us left WatchTime New York and decided to take over the Shake Shack on the adjacent corner of Broadway for burgers, beers, and a #shackpile never quite seen before. Best. After party. Evah. Many thanks to Ana Martins and team for their kindness (and for retrieving the dress coat I left behind!) as well as to the entire WatchTime staff, including the truly wonderful Joe Thompson who let me pick his brain for a solid five minutes. I also want to thank Roberta Naas for signing a copy of her book Jewels of Time for me, which, if you don’t already own it, would make a tremendous addition to your watch book collection. It was one hell of a time, New York. Can’t wait to do it again. And the sooner, the better, ‘cause lawd knows I can’t quit you. This entry was posted in Uncategorized. Timekeeper in Chief: Watches for the Woman Who Would (and Could) Be President October 27, 2016 at 4:22 AM Truly wonderful! And I loved the history part too! I used to walk by Gotham Hall every day on my way to work, and I always wondered about it! You have wonderful men friends. They are treasures. Blessings! What a writer are thee. Adornmentality responded: October 27, 2016 at 2:59 PM I’m so happy you enjoyed it and was sad you didn’t make it up to NY. And yes, we both have great men in our lives. XO hsc1960 said: November 4, 2016 at 7:39 PM thanks for the shout out barbara – and great rundown of the event!!! This Blog’s Life: A Trip Down the (short) Memory Lane that was 2016 « Whats On Her Wrist said: December 31, 2016 at 11:40 PM […] to change the status quo), as well as with the prettiest man in watches, Charris Yadigaroglou. The WatchTime show was an elegant event made event better by its glorious venue and noteworthy speakers, and the […]	14,916
The island of Maui, known as the Valley Isle, provides a handful of diverse hiking experiences all within the smaller island. Below, I'm sharing some of my thoughts and photographs from the trails, as well as recommendations. I'm sharing this map from MauiAccommodations.com which shows the island and its regions, as well as the major city points. As a heads up, this post will likely be followed by (and updated with links to) individual trail posts where I share more pictures and stories. (Spots are estimations for the most part.) On the far east side of Maui and just north of Hana lies Wai'anapanapa State Park. Wai'anapanapa apparently translates to "glistening water" or "water flashing rainbow colors," and let me tell you, the views along the trail are breathtaking. The park offers campsites, burial grounds, and historical sites to visit from early Hawaiian cultures. Most famously, though, the park contains Pa'iloa Beach, made up of beautiful black sand and rocks. When you park, you have a bit of a walk to head north to the beach. Continuing north through the beach, you'll get to hike the Wai'anapanapa Coastal Trail. We stayed on this path for about 2 miles towards Pukaulua Point. It should be noted that the park is largely comprised of collapsed volcanic tunnels/tubes. There are several blowholes, not all marked. We only did the portion of the trail north of the beach. You can turn back on the loop and head south of the beach to see some caves, burial sites, city ruins, and more. This trail can continue all the way to Hana, but it's a little more perilous and the best views are contained within the park. The park is largely this vibrant green popping out of stark volcanic black. It's stunning, and provides a really nice contrast to the white and blue of the ocean that is inescapable as you walk along the trail. Lots of climbable rock formations. The volcanic rock is harsh, and it gets windy up at the cliffsides which provide a sharp 80-foot drop over the ocean. Admittedly, we didn't get to visit the Seven Sacred Pools. On our second day, we booked it out through the south side of the road to Hana after a hike at Haleakala (more on that next) in the afternoon. We just didn't time it well and got to the park as they were closing (we'd heard seeing the sunset at the pools was an optimal viewing time). The trail is 0.6 miles and I believe it's more of a trek to see the bamboo forest in this part of Haleakala, but we missed it. This poor planning on mostly my part is my biggest regret--the night drive on the north Hana Highway after missing both the Seven Pools and the Red Sand Beach was decidedly not worth killing our afternoon to try and get there. The Keonehe’ehe’e Trail Trail is an extensive one, but with breath-taking views. To preface, this is a 12-mile hike in desert conditions covering a 8000-ft steady drop in elevation. You hike about an hour or two down to an unnamed trail intersection that leads just northeast of the Halali’i cinder cone, then hike up and out the last mile around the Halali'i cone to get to the other visitor's center and then hitchhike to your car at the first visitor's center. We only made it to the Pu'uopele cone before we agreed to turn back. We knew this would be our most intense hike, and going into it, we said we'd be brutally honest about how we were feeling, taking breaks, and more. We also considered the volume of people we saw on the trail dwindling and decided against taking a chance on hoping to be picked up as a set of two female hitchhikers. We were cold for the first mile or so before the crater protected us from a lot of the island winds, and at that point, I was grateful to have the ability to ditch my light jacket as I felt like we began to cook under the sun. This was the day we got sunburned! We definitely consumed most of our water, were thankful for our PB&J's, and the sugar hits we got from clementines/applesauce. It also gave us a much needed break in our hike before we continued our hike back. Also, despite our best efforts, we did not apply enough sunscreen, but we brought that along, too (noting this for my mother and PA sister). It feels like you're hiking on Mars or the Moon. The topography truly seems other-worldly. You start the trail at about 10,000 ft elevation. All you do for the first few hours is drop down to 2000 ft elevation. Altitude sickness is likely a reality for people who haven't prepared and go a bit too quickly down or up. If you look just up and to the left of my shoulder, you can see the Ka Moa O Pele Loop wrap around Halali'i... I think at this point it was 7 or 8 miles away? You have near severe clear visibility up here. Overall, amazing hike, but it knocked the wind and sun protection out of us So, for starters, I think we did this one wrong. Apparently, some locals and bold tourists will hop the fence at the end of the viewpoint (I think?) and hike up the needle formation. But let me say this: we worked our way down to the stream and then walked upstream along the rushing water for a few miles. There was a well-worn path and many other people along the trail, hopping into the water or continuing up, so we felt like we were respecting the area without treading where we might not be welcome. This was a gray, cloudy day for us, and the lush forests made this entire little exploratory walk so moody. Soggy overgrowth and damp leaves reminded me of humid hikes from youth. Admittedly, there were some spots we needed to "climb" out of with the use of damp roots and rocks on our hike back. Still, beautiful and worth it! We happened to go on a day with free admission, which was an added bonus. The Waihe'e Ridge Trail is the only one I'd recommend getting up early to go visit. We had read online to start by 7:30, and we got there by 7:43. Even still, I think getting there by 6:45 might've been best. You want to get well into the trail before the rain clouds form and move into the island and maximize your views. To be honest, because of the cloud coverage we hiked into, the best photos we got were fairly early into our hike. Cloud coverage was consistently threatening our walk ahead but seemed to be kind to us. We passed people hiking down on our way up who told us we were "10-15 minutes out from torrential downpours," and "complete white-outs," but every 10-15 minutes we'd pass someone new who would tell us the same. The topography quickly changes throughout this trail, and this easily has enough treetop coverage for us to get through the bursts of rain as we felt comfortable. The trail did get muddy, and I got concerned about transmitting any possible fungal spores related to the rapid Ohi'a death (the trail asks that beforehand you sanitize your shoes, gear, and clothes so as not to unintentionally bring in the rapid-death inducing fungus apparently on Maui). These bad boys are easily getting their own post later, so watch out for that. Also, this isn't quite a hike so much as it might be more of a rock climb? I did it in flip-flops but definitely used all four appendages to safely maneuver down the rocky mountainside to access the Olivine Pools. Let me also note: this is NOT a perfectly safe place. The water surrounding the pools (especially to the left of the formation, not pictured below) is by far the most turbulent I have ever gotten to see up close, and I come from a family no stranger to the waters (be it on lakes, bays, deep-sea fishing on the East Coast, nearly a dozen cruises, etc. I'm very familiar with Caribbean and Atlantic waters, and this was insane). The pools are filled with residual splashes from this choppy water. Multiple people have died. If you go here, never turn your back on the water, and double-think through every step you take. You can see a bit on the right here a small portion of the rocky terrain that the climb down was! It was much steeper and less step-friendly at the top, but still navigable for me. We found a little spot off to the far right of the frame in the picture above where we left our bags and ditched our clothes to get on into the exploration of the pools. Footnote to #7: Near the Kapalua resort area there is a SMALL bit of public parking for access to the Kapalua Coastal Trail. If you get to, it's a quick, fun, ~2-hour trail that leads to the rocky Dragon's Teeth and labyrinth, not unlike the topography visible at the Olivine Pools. Super windy as the Dragon's Teeth formation sort of jettisons far out into the ocean without a whole lot of wind-protecting mass! Anyways, those are the 7 trails I'd recommend if you get to go to Maui! • Recent Posts All content here is protected. © Rachel Buggé and hyssop & hemlock, 2022. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to hyssop & hemlock and Rachel with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.	9,458
Derrick Barry, Nebraska Thunderfuck and Nick San Pedro tend to be right here to debunk the misconceptions of these non-conventional relationship. Derrick Barry, Nebraska Thunderfuck and Nick San Pedro are typically in a loyal, trinogamous partnership over the past seven age. Because of their high-profile, non-conventional love (Derrick was the star about eighth season of pull Race, Nebraska made the lady pull introduction when you look at the show’s 5th period facelift and Nick spent some time working with performers instance Elton John and Celine Dion), they confess to receiving very a “varied reaction” from followers. On the list of different concerns they deal with become, ‘Are your in an open commitment? Are you pursuing a fourth? Do often people get envious?’ The solution is not any, to all the these. Derrick, Nebraska and Nick want you to understand that they might be similar to some other monogamous relationships, but with a supplementary people. “It requires no time to evaluate an unconventional connection through the outside without all of the basic facts,” says Nick. “i believe the long life of one’s commitment dismantles the ideology that a lasting relationship can simply do well with two individuals.” Right here, Derrick, Nebraska and Nick chat to GAY TIMES about they fulfilled, the service from Drag battle followers, and the diminished representation for throuples during the news. What’s they like being in a throuple? Derrick: Being in a throuple provides adore, service and safety, all situations a conventional monogamous commitment involves. Also, it means having a supplementary soulmate or personnel athlete. I have not just one, but two people that have my personal as well as best interest in mind. If you have ever before a disagreement between two of all of us, we now have a mediator that discover both side, feel a voice of factor which help solve the condition. What’s the response from someone as soon as you say you’re in a throuple? Nick: We really do get a varied impulse from visitors when they discover the truth we’re in a throuple. Many people tend to be shocked. Some are like, ‘Wow, that’s cool and various different.’ The majority of people become inquiring so many concerns. How did your throuple scenario occur? Nick: Derrick and I have been collectively for five years when Mackenzie [Nebraska] is released to us by our best friends, Derrick’s ex Justin. We did yoga the night time we met, and soon after began hanging out usually. Within a couple months, Mackenzie seated you straight down and questioned if he could join us making it a closed three-way union. Seven age afterwards, we now have zero regrets. How can you began matchmaking when searching for two others? Nick: we’ve gotn’t met various other throuples who had been actively looking for a third. It simply happened more organically for us but i know anyone makes everything take place with a vision. Do you believe everyone is now more prepared for the thought of a throuple? Nick: I do believe individuals are most available to the idea of a throuple these days. There’s seriously already been far more visibility of renewable affairs and I consider it is great a large number of everyone is inquiring concerns and training on their own when experiencing new strategies as personal norms progress. What’s the biggest false impression of being in a throuple? Nebraska: for people, the biggest myth is the fact that it’s an unbarred connection. The reality is that the three of us have been in a trinogamous union for more than seven ages. This means that it’s a committed relationship between three men. We do not have a fourth and dating sites over 50 we also are not shopping for one. So fundamentally, our company is like any additional monogamous interactions just with an extra person. Another misconception is the fact that there must be envy in this particular connection, however for united states containing never been the actual situation. We keep every thing really balanced involving the three of us. We value and esteem the adore each of all of us companies. We supporting one another in our undertakings, we are a team to perform aim so we celebrate each other’s triumph. People believe a throuple vibrant can not be as rewarding or significant as a traditional two-person commitment. What might your say to those individuals? Nebraska: you can find heterosexual individuals around that say monogamous relations with two people or two women can be maybe not fulfilling, important and even good. Might you look for their statement to be true or could you realize that statement as unaware? I might inspire visitors, especially those in your very own community, to not returning the period of reasoning. Nick: It takes almost no time to guage an unconventional commitment from exterior without every specifics. After seven ages, people have questions relating to what makes our relationship stay the exam of the time. I think the longevity of our own connection dismantles the ideology that a lasting partnership can only do well with two people. I find we have obtained countless profits as a throuple. I will be recognized that individuals have reached over to united states from around globally with questions and relationship recommendations. It’s my satisfaction to simply help another person discover through my personal unique experiences. Derrick, were pull Race followers encouraging of your connection? Derrick: pull Race just aired me writing on my personal relationship in Untucked thus I are amazed observe how much of a direct impact being open about our very own connection got on individuals. We can’t depend the number of circumstances that i have already been to an urban area and lovers were asking, ‘in which were Nebraska and Nick?’ or ‘precisely why didn’t Nebraska and Nick come with your?’ They love us independently, nonetheless like united states more along. We have been therefore obvious about our union on social media that we have grown to be a positive instance to several men and women for alternate affairs. Does the traditional tv globe express the throuple experiences currently? If you don’t, why do you might think definitely? Nebraska: I really bringn’t seen they symbolized on traditional tvs. We come across some movies with different types of throuple connections like Savages and Vicky Christina Barcelona and I also believe it’s awesome. They may not be our experiences, although not all throuples are the same. Any positive program and presence of alternate relationships was pleasant. Leave a Reply Cancel reply Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked * Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. ← YesIChat – One mouse click visitor boards without enrollment. YesIChat is just one of the best cam internet sites to meet up with new-people using the internet randomly without having to sign up. T Very best Hardly any Pay in Additional bonuses Nationwide Meant for February 2022 → Green Town Scrubs understands the scrub wearer’s evolving needs; and has delivered according to the market’s demands. ‘Bank for your buck’ has been Green Town’s mission statement since inception over 13 years ago. Our product development team guarantees current and simplistic styling for the ever-changing healthcare market. 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eToro is a well-known Israeli fintech business and a social trading broker, developed in 2007. Etoro Vs Flatex eToro serves UK customers through a system managed by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and Australians through an Australian Securities and Financial Investment Commission (ASIC)- managed entity. All other consumers are served by a Cypriot unit that is controlled by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC). is not listed on any stock exchange, does not reveal its annual report on its website and does not have a bank parent. Being controlled by the top-tier FCA and ASIC is a great sign for s security. Disclaimer: CFDs are complex instruments and include a high risk of losing money quickly due to utilize. 68% of retail financier accounts lose cash when trading CFDs with this supplier. You must think about whether you comprehend how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high danger of losing your cash. eToro is a Jack of all Trades in the online financial investment space, with the broker providing a full variety of property types that can be bought at the click of a button. On top of standard stocks, ETFs, and countless CFD (Contract For Distinctions) products (CFDs are not readily available in the United States though)– likewise allows you to buy and sell cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. If you are thinking of utilizing I welcome you to read my thorough review. I cover the ins and outs of what you need to know prior to opening an account– consisting of metrics surrounding regulation, charges, commissions, payment approaches, and of course– security. eToro pros and cons offers commission-free stock trading, and the account opening process is smooth and fast. It has innovative functions like social trading, which lets you copy the methods of other traders. On the unfavorable side,’s non-trading fees are high as there are charges for withdrawal and inactivity. Withdrawals can be slow and USD is the only currency you can hold your money in. It’s challenging to get in touch with consumer support. How we ranked costs We ranked charge levels as low, high or average based upon how they compare to those of all reviewed brokers. First, let’s discuss some standard terms related to broker charges What you require to watch on are trading fees and non-trading charges. Trading fees happen when you trade. These can be commissions, spreads, financing rates and conversion fees. Non-trading charges consist of charges not straight related to trading, like withdrawal charges or lack of exercise costs. In the sections listed below, you will discover the most appropriate fees of o for each asset class. For instance, when it comes to forex and stock index trading the most essential charges are spreads, commissions and funding rates. We also compared s charges with those of 2 comparable brokers we selected, XTB and Trading 212. This selection is based upon unbiased aspects such as items offered, customer profile, fee structure, and so on. See a more comprehensive rundown of options. To have a clear overview of o, let’s begin with its trading charges. As a member of the site, you will have access to a full range of asset classes. In terms of traditional ownership– you can sell and buy over 800 stocks from a number of global markets, as can you do with ETFs. This is due to the fact that you can invest in digital currencies and retain full ownership of the property, or alternatively, trade via CFDs. Rather, you will need to keep your coins on the platform, making it a better alternative for those who desire to profit from trading rather than hold crypto assets for the long term. The online broker is also understood for its headline commission-free trade offering. This is readily available on cryptocurrencies, stocks, and etfs– as long as you do not short-sell the property. You will, obviously, require to watch on the spread, which can be rather high at eToro. Is eToro worth it? eToro trading charges are low. We understand it’s hard to compare trading charges for CFD brokers. How did we approach the problem of making their costs clear and comparable? We compare brokers by determining all the costs of a normal trade for selected products. We selected popular instruments within each property class: A common trade indicates buying a leveraged position, holding it for one week and then selling. For the volume, we chose a $2,000 position for the stock index and stock CFDs and $20,000 for the forex transactions. The utilize we used was: 5:1 for stock CFDs Stock and ETF costs deals zero-commission genuine stock trading. Because May 2020, this is valid for all nations, but for clients from Australia commission-free trading only applies to United States stocks. Note that with the free feature, you’re buying the genuine stock, not a CFD item, and you can not utilize utilize. utilized to be primarily a CFD broker that let you trade stocks and ETFs also in the form of CFDs, if you set the leverage to greater than one. Etoro Vs Flatex Trades that include stocks not sold USD (like UK or European stocks) will be converted to USD at the actual market prices by without taking any commission or markup. What’s more will also absorb any tax duty that might be due if you trade on the UK market. Etoro Account Remove – What you should know Trade Etfs Etoro – What you should know Etoro Vs Flatex – What you should know by eToro is a popular Israeli fintech company and a social trading broker, established in 2007. Etoro Vs Flatex eToro serves UK customers through an unit managed by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and Australians through an Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC)- managed entity. All other consumers are served by a Cypriot unit that is controlled by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC). is not listed on any stock market, does not divulge its annual report on its website and does not have a bank parent. Being managed by the top-tier FCA and ASIC is a good sign for s safety. Disclaimer: CFDs are complex instruments and feature a high danger of losing money quickly due to utilize. 68% of retail financier accounts lose cash when trading CFDs with this service provider. You need to consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can pay for to take the high risk of losing your cash. eToro is a Jack of all Sell the online financial investment space, with the broker offering a complete variety of property types that can be bought at the click of a button. On top of standard stocks, ETFs, and thousands of CFD (Contract For Differences) items (CFDs are not offered in the United States though)– likewise enables you to buy and sell cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. If you are thinking of utilizing I welcome you to read my thorough review. I cover the ins and outs of what you need to understand prior to opening an account– consisting of metrics surrounding guideline, charges, commissions, payment techniques, and naturally– safety. eToro advantages and disadvantages deals commission-free stock trading, and the account opening procedure is fast and seamless. It has ingenious features like social trading, which lets you copy the strategies of other traders. On the negative side,’s non-trading charges are high as there are fees for withdrawal and lack of exercise. Withdrawals can be sluggish and USD is the only currency you can hold your money in. It’s difficult to contact customer support. How we ranked costs We ranked cost levels as low, high or typical based upon how they compare to those of all examined brokers. Let’s go over some fundamental terms related to broker charges What you need to keep an eye on are trading costs and non-trading fees. Trading costs take place when you trade. These can be commissions, spreads, funding rates and conversion costs. Non-trading charges include charges not directly related to trading, like withdrawal costs or inactivity costs. In the areas listed below, you will find the most relevant charges of o for each asset class. For instance, in the case of forex and stock index trading the most essential costs are spreads, commissions and funding rates. We also compared s charges with those of two comparable brokers we selected, XTB and Trading 212. This choice is based upon unbiased factors such as products offered, customer profile, cost structure, etc. See a more detailed rundown of options. To have a clear introduction of o, let’s start with its trading charges. As a member of the website, you will have access to a complete range of possession classes. In terms of traditional ownership– you can offer and buy over 800 stocks from a number of global markets, as can you do with ETFs. With that being said, if you’re more thinking about the cryptocurrency side of the platform– the broker provides you the best of both worlds. This is because you can buy digital currencies and maintain complete ownership of the possession, or alternatively, trade by means of CFDs. As I cover in greater depth even more down, o does not permit you to withdraw your cryptocurrencies out to a private wallet. Rather, you will require to keep your coins on the platform, making it a much better option for those who want to profit from trading rather than hold crypto assets for the long term. The online broker is also known for its heading commission-free trade offering. This is available on stocks, etfs, and cryptocurrencies– as long as you do not short-sell the property. You will, obviously, need to watch on the spread, which can be somewhat high at eToro. Is eToro worth it? eToro trading costs are low. We understand it’s tough to compare trading costs for CFD brokers. How did we approach the issue of making their fees comparable and clear? We compare brokers by computing all the costs of a normal trade for picked items. We picked popular instruments within each possession class: A typical trade indicates buying a leveraged position, holding it for one week and after that selling. For the volume, we chose a $2,000 position for the stock index and stock CFDs and $20,000 for the forex deals. The take advantage of we used was: 5:1 for stock CFDs Stock and ETF charges deals zero-commission genuine stock trading. Considering that May 2020, this is valid for all countries, but for customers from Australia commission-free trading only applies to US stocks. Note that with the totally free function, you’re purchasing the genuine stock, not a CFD product, and you can not use utilize. used to be mainly a CFD broker that let you trade stocks and ETFs also in the form of CFDs, if you set the utilize to greater than one. Etoro Vs Flatex Trades that involve stocks not traded in USD (like UK or European stocks) will be converted to USD at the real market value by without taking any commission or markup. What’s more will also soak up any tax duty that might be due if you trade on the UK market.	11,396
The FPJQ, Quebec’s journalist federation, is organizing a weeklong festival of news media, with various talks and exhibitions related to journalism, April 29 to May 5. A Conservative Party fundraising campaign asked supporters to rate major media outlets based on how biased they are against conservatives. The town of Outlook, Saskatchewan says the local newspaper cannot ask it questions on behalf of citizens. A Newfoundland and Labrador appeals court dismissed a contempt of court charge against Justin Brake*, who acted as a journalist following a protest at Muskrat Falls that violated an injunction. The Quebecor case against parody website Journal de Mourréal went to court, and a surprise witness was RDI anchor Anne-Marie Dussault, who testified that a false story about her having a relationship with former minister Gaétan Barrette led to a lot of awkwardness from people who thought it was true. As Craig Silverman notes, the man behind this website also runs fake news site World News Daily Report. Its owner is arguing freedom of expression and freedom to parody, and says the website doesn’t make much money. Journalism awards announcements: Canadian Association of Journalists award finalists. RTDNA Central Region award winners: CBC Montreal takes home 10 awards, and Global Montreal one. They also join nominees for national awards, along with winners from the East, West and Prairie regions. Continue reading → 8 comments March 30, 2019 \| Media Media News Digest: Budgets, CSAs, Finnerty and Campbell take breaks from CBC mics News about news The federal government’s 2019-20 budget gives a bit more detail on its plans to subsidize the news (and particularly newspaper) industry, putting a total figure of $595 million on it. The budget introduces the concept of a Qualified Canadian Journalism Organization, whose exact criteria will be established by a panel of experts (it’s not clear who decides who these experts will be). But the criteria already laid out has issues. As Tim Bousquet of the Halifax Examiner points out, it disqualifies very small news operations right off the bat. The Quebec budget, meanwhile, didn’t have much of interest to media. There was $25 million for Télé-Québec, and some nickels and dimes for various cultural projects. Also of interest is that the government will move to allow business registry searches by the names of administrators. The government is in a legal battle with the website Open Corporates because that website scrapes the official one and offers the name search function. Apple has announced a new subscription service for news, with some Canadian partners on board including the Toronto Star, La Presse, CTV and Global. The service, which grows out of its acquisition of the digital magazine service Texture, costs $13 a month, and Apple will keep half that money. That deal wasn’t good enough for some organizations, like Le Devoir and the Globe and Mail, who make some content available on Apple News’s free service but aren’t part of the subscription tier. CTV, CBC, Citytv and Postmedia have teamed up to broadcast the Alberta leaders’ debate on April 4. It will be on all three TV networks plus OMNI, as well as CBC News Network, CTV News Channel, 660 News (Rogers) and CBC Radio One in Alberta. Global isn’t part of the group but has extensive election coverage plans of its own. BuzzFeed has successfully defended a libel case brought by the man behind Central European News, which a BuzzFeed investigation accused of being a purveyor of fake news. A story by Craig Silverman and two other reporters called him the “king” of fake news. The Globe and Mail looks at a case of a small community newsletter, the kind of one-person operation that’s taking the place of discontinued local newspapers, and the challenge it faces when someone doesn’t like what’s written and decides to sue. The Associated Press has announced more style changes, the biggest one being that we’ll no longer be using “per cent” as two words. Instead, the % symbol is to be used when following numerals, and “percent” can be used as one word in other contexts. Union protesters at an ABI plant in Bécancour, locked out for more than a year, harassed TVA Trois-Rivières journalist Patricia Hélie and made her fear for her safety. The union has called for calm. Peel Regional Police have released complaints they received — including 911 phone calls — after an Amber Alert was sent out late at night. The child in question was found dead. CBC employees who are part of the CMG union have voted 80% in favour of a new collective agreement. The five-year deal ends in 2024. The Wall Street Journal answers how the National Enquirer managed to get Jeff Bezos’s sexts: from his lover’s brother, by paying him $200,000. (He denies this, sort of.) Continue reading → March 18, 2019 \| Media News about news The Associated Press’s blind republication of press releases on its website has gotten it in hot water after a press release with right-wing misinformation got published this way. The pages include AP logos and could easily lead people to believe they are AP news stories. Several Canadian websites also automatically post press releases, including the Globe and Mail, the National Post, the Montreal Gazette, the Toronto Sun (and other Postmedia papers). The federal government is investigating itself after queries from a Postmedia journalist about Irving Shipbuilding were sent by the government to the company before it even responded to the journalist. Exo, which runs Montreal’s commuter train network, has ended its agreement with free newspaper 24 Heures that distributed the paper in its stations. Quebecor did an access-to-information request and found an email suggesting the organization may have ended the contract because it was not happy with the paper’s coverage of its service. It’s unclear if that was the main reason, but Exo’s bosses have refused to explain themselves. Radio-Canada has cut nine jobs in its Atlantic offices. Finalists for the National Newspaper Awards have been announced. The Globe and Mail leads with 20 nominations (including a sweep of the business category), the Toronto Star and La Presse have six each, and The Canadian Press has four. The Montreal Gazette has one nomination. RTDNA Canada has announced its regional award finalists (East, Prairies, West). In the Central region (Quebec and Ontario), which gives out the awards April 6 in Toronto, Quebec nominees include: 18 for CBC Montreal 4 for CTV Montreal 2 for CBC Quebec City Continue reading → 5 comments March 11, 2019 \| Media Media News Digest: Corus sells TLN, Action becomes Adult Swim, Pete Marier on air in French News about news There was an element in the SNC-Lavalin/Jody Wilson-Raybould saga that related to the media: Wilson-Raybould alleges that the prime minister’s chief of staff, Katie Telford, told her that the government would “line up” opinion pieces in newspapers to defend a decision to give SNC-Lavalin a deferred prosecution agreement. That comment set off a wave of denials in the media, with people like Toronto Star public editor Kathy English and this nameless St. John’s Telegram editorial writing that newspapers don’t accept such things. Former Harper communications head Andrew MacDougall and Globe and Mail media columnist Simon Houpt also pour cold water on the idea, though with some nuance. I kind of wish the industry was a bit less defensive about this, and undertook a dispassionate, open-minded review of how the political machine can influence opinion sections. The National Observer points to a similar case in Ontario where a woman was directly asked by the government to write an op-ed favourable to its changes to autism care. It would be naive to assume there’s no attempt to influence, and that attempts to influence will always fail. (Also, the op-eds that have since been published defending the government should come with reassurances that they were not ordered by the PMO.) Atlantic Canada’s Saltwire Network is implementing a metered paywall system, with a $15/month cost to get around it. Its publications, which include the Halifax Chronicle-Herald, are also dropping the Canadian Press wire service (after it cut several Halifax employees), replacing it with Postmedia and Reuters. Postmedia has no publications in Atlantic Canada, and its predecessor Canwest tried to ditch CP and go with its own wires to save money before eventually deciding to sign up again. A probably made up rumour about a “Momo challenge” to get kids to take their own lives has prompted a wave of news stories that have probably served to only propagate the idea in people’s heads and do more harm than good. Canadian actor and comedian Boyd Banks has apologized after repeatedly licking CBC reporter Chris Glover during a live TV hit. APTN reporter Kenneth Jackson has a Twitter thread on the difficulties getting access to public documents at the Thunder Bay courthouse. Journal de Montréal editorial cartoonist Yannick Lemay (YGreck) has apologized (kinda) after a cartoon depicting Jody Wilson-Raybould as wearing a stereotype of an Indigenous outfit for no apparent reason. The Ontario Court of Appeal has ruled that a construction company’s lawsuit against the Globe and Mail should not be summarily dismissed as a SLAPP suit. Philippe Papineau at Le Devoir writes about La Presse canadienne (The Canadian Press) and how the media business model crisis is affecting the wire service. A new movie about the Rob Ford scandal does a good job of erasing Robyn Doolittle, who’s responsible for much of the original reporting on the case. Apparently Exo, the public company that runs Montreal’s commuter trains, doesn’t publish the agenda and minutes of its board meetings, and 24 Heures can’t get a hold of them. A judge has ordered a journalist for Le Nouvelliste in Trois-Rivières to turn over photos to a company involved in a lawsuit against the city. Continue reading → 8 comments February 23, 2019 \| Media News about news I send my FOIA birthday cards when my original requests turn one year older. Does this speed up my FOIAs? Not really, but the cards have to go into some file forever. pic.twitter.com/QjEPnpbzHQ — Bill Geerhart (@CONELRAD6401240) February 11, 2019 The FPJQ says 256 journalists submitted 422 stories for its 10 Judith-Jasmin journalism prizes this year, while 54 photographers submitted 213 photos for its six photography categories. A Quebec Court of Appeal ruling has said that the Quebec Press Act, which sets a time limit on when someone can sue a newspaper for defamation, does not apply to newspapers’ websites. The case in question was dismissed anyway, but the ruling could set a precedent for such cases in the future. The act dates from 1929. Some people were not crazy about CTV’s Omar Sachedina going to Gerald Butts’s home and talking to his wife after he resigned from his position in the Prime Minister’s Office. Montreal mayor Valérie Plante says her city is being used as a “punching bag” for its handling of snow clearing operations, even though other cities are also experiencing snow-clearing problems and Montreal has received more snow and far more rain than in a normal winter. There’s a tendency at the National Assembly for politicians to change their routines to actively avoid journalists. CAQ members are entering caucus meetings by the back door, and PQ members are holding their caucus meetings on a floor inaccessible to journalists. Of the federal government’s total advertising spending, about half went to digital ads, and more money was spent on Facebook than TV, radio and print combined. Le Devoir has a new weekly newsletter summarizing the week at Quebec’s National Assembly. UQAM’s student publication Montréal Campus is actively avoiding using masculin nouns and adjectives when referring to groups of people. 12-year-old Hilde Lysiak is putting journalists far older than her to shame with her reporting, filming a police officer threatening to arrest her. The story got national attention. The officer in question was disciplined in some way, but his employer won’t say how. CARE International has created a list of the 10 most under-reported humanitarian crises of 2018. A study by Northeastern University says viewers engage more with TV news stories that are longer and more emotional and include animation. The study itself actually re-edits some news stories to demonstrate, and frankly I’m not convinced by them. While some of the animations are very useful (like one of a train crash), others (like wacky transitions) add no information to stories, and the study doesn’t really address how much more work animation requires, while TV newsrooms are getting smaller. Continue reading → February 11, 2019 \| Media News about news So yeah, the Jeff Bezos dick pic thing. Here’s his post accusing the National Enquirer of trying to blackmail him. And here’s Canadaland noting the connections between Enquirer owner American Media Inc. and Postmedia (my employer). A Saskatchewan Court of Appeal hearing into the provincial government’s challenge to the federal government’s carbon tax law will be televised, after various Saskatchewan media outlets pushed the court to allow live broadcast. Torontoist has been acquired by Daily Hive, which has essentially just used it to push readers to Daily Hive Toronto, though they promise to “carry on the legacy” of the website. The Canadian Press has made cuts, particularly in Atlantic Canada, with four layoff notices issued Friday to journalists there: Aly Thomson, Keith Doucette, Alex Cooke and Brett Bundale (a former Montreal Gazette intern). CBC reports that voluntary departures of more senior employees could save some of those jobs. Six positions are being cut in total. They also include Tara Deschamps at the business desk in Toronto. There were also, according to Le Devoir, 11 cuts at Vice Canada (including Chris Toman) and two voluntary departures at Vice Quebec. There were also unspecified cuts at Global News, according to the CAJ. Radio-Canada is closing its bureau in Beirut, bringing journalist Marie-Ève Bédard back to Montreal. The Middle East will now no longer be covered full-time by the public broadcaster. Gazette cartoonist Aislin (Terry Mosher) caused a bit of a kerfuffle when he posted a rejected cartoon on Facebook and Twitter featuring a CAQ logo with a KKK-style white hood. Reaction started with why-is-the-Gazette-censoring-you and grew to anglos-hate-Quebec as the cartoon began being shared in the francophone sphere. It prompted stories by Radio-Canada, La Presse, Presse Canadienne and Énergie, discussions on Quebec AM, Daybreak and columns by Richard Martineau and Rima Elkouri, and a cartoon by Le Devoir’s Garnotte. Mosher now admits even he believes the cartoon went too far and never expected it to be published. La Presse has rearranged its arts and lifestyle sections, which includes more books coverage through the week, and added some new columnists: Concordia University’s journalism department has started a new digital publication called The City, fed by journalism students. The New York Times is using donations to make its content available free to 3 million U.S. students. The Toronto Star is trying to block publication of documents it considers commercially sensitive in the Competition Bureau case against its newspaper deal with Postmedia. A secret group of liberal journalists from France that has been coordinating harassment of women has been exposed, leading to resignations, firings, suspensions and other fallout. Le Monde gives some background on it. Continue reading → 3 comments February 3, 2019 \| Media News about news La Presse has launched its voluntary contribution initiative, starting up a website to allow people to contribute $5 or more on a monthly basis or give a one-time donation of an amount that they want. Saturday’s edition included a special section of mostly self-congratulatory articles, including an impressive list of investigations that resulted in major changes, as well as the behind-the-scenes story of one of those investigations, and some thoughts on what it means to be a columnist. It’s unclear how transparent La Presse will be about its donations, but its website says that donations are confidential unless the giving party consents to it being publicized. La Presse also published its journalistic standards and practices guide. La Presse’s workers have also ratified a new collective agreement. The agreement is retroactive to 2016 and lasts until 2021, with a salary freeze until 2020 and a 1% increase the final year. The employee pension plan (the one that began when La Presse became a non-profit) will transition to a targeted benefit structure. The union will also have some access to La Presse’s financial information once a year, and employees will get an abridged version of that. It’s been 10 years since the start of the lockout at the Journal de Montréal. During a panel discussion on the future of media, Quebecor CEO Pierre Karl Péladeau credited the lockout with saving the paper (and similarly the Journal de Québec, which also went through a lockout). Le Devoir has started a new weekly news quiz and is expanding its email newsletter offering. It’s also added three new columnists: Normand Baillargeon (education), Émilie Nicolas (diversity) and René Vézina (business). An agronomist with Quebec’s agriculture ministry has been fired after sharing documents with a Radio-Canada journalist and sounding the alarm about corporate interference in studies on pesticides. Despite being apparent retaliation against a whistleblower, the government is standing by its decision. James Sears and LeRoy St. Germaine, the men behind the Your Ward News publication in Toronto, have been found guilty of promoting hate against women and Jews. The judge didn’t buy their “but it was satire” defence. The woman who lives at the Toronto home where remains were found that led to Bruce McArthur’s murder charges has some things to say about how she was treated by less professional journalists. The Telegraph has apologized and paid “substantial” damages to Melania Trump after a magazine profile of her included many facts that both sides now say were untrue. The 19 newspapers in Alberta’s Great West Newspapers have joined the National Newsmedia Council. The Desjardins credit union in Quebec has rethought its marketing strategy in a way that encourages more advertising with local media and less with big web giants like Google and Facebook. Toronto Sun columnist Anthony Furey may or may not be headlining a Conservative Party fundraising event. (It has since been cancelled.) The Fonds québécois en journalisme international has announced its second cohort of bursary winners. Among them is Charlie Fidelman, former Gazette journalist, who will get to do some reporting from Mexico. Freelance entertainment journalist Phil Brown writes about how he has given up and abandoned that career. Montreal lifestyle freelancer Marissa Miller Kovac has some tips for PR people on how to deal with journalists and freelancers in particular. The Washington Post on the demise of the Newseum in Washington, which spent hundreds of millions of dollars on its building and is finally realizing that its ambitions are unsustainable. Continue reading → January 19, 2019 \| Media News about news Why I hate #ATIP. I'm after having trimmed this request a couple of times, and yet I still get this response from a federal department. — Tonda MacCharles (@TondaMacC) January 7, 2019 The Canadian Press is eliminating its French-language radio headlines service, as well as its newsroom video editing service. The latter will instead be outsourced to Pagemasters North America, which may hire (at less favourable working conditions) some but not all of the talented people losing their jobs. Vice is not giving up in its legal battle with the RCMP over an order for journalist Ben Makuch to hand over data related to communications with an Islamic State fighter. Vice’s lawyers are now arguing the order should be quashed because the fighter in question is dead. The union representing workers at La Presse has reached a deal in principle with the employer on a new contract. It will be presented to members on Jan. 22. A recently released study looked at how much of a presence public relations has in news articles from Quebec newspapers, repeating (with some improvements) a similar 1988 study. Although the headline is that more stories have some PR elements in them, a key finding is that the percentage of stories that come from a single PR source has dropped by more than half. It’s also worth noting that a lot of things count as PR here, from attending a press conference to stuff posted on Twitter to getting a quote from a spokesperson. I might argue that as organizations have gotten bigger over the pas 30 years, the use of more formalized PR has become a necessity, and is not necessarily indicative of some sort of problem. (Another finding is that, based on a sample size of two editions, La Presse tends to have more sources per article than the Journal de Montréal.) The Globe and Mail is opening a bureau in Thunder Bay, and will even have its editorial board move there briefly. The Fédération professionnelle des journalistes du Québec has backtracked on a decision to eliminate the “local and regional” news category from its annual awards, after an outcry from members. New legislation proposed by the Ford government in Ontario could cause major problems for student media at Ontario universities. The legislation would make it mandatory for students to be able to opt out of fees for student activities, like student newspapers and radio stations. Canadian University Press held its annual national conference this month, and handed out its John H. McDonald Awards for student journalism. Next year’s conference will be in Montreal. Concordia University journalism students have voted to strike for a week to protest against unpaid internships. The date of the strike is unclear, meant to coincide with a larger student strike. Note that the strike means not going to classes. It’s unclear how it would affect the internships themselves. The journalism department is reviewing rules that require that for-credit internships be unpaid only. It’s Canadian Women’s Hockey League All-Star weekend, which means we have the annual why-doesn’t-women’s-hockey-get-enough-attention story. Meanwhile the CWHL is making covering the game itself difficult for journalists. The game will be broadcast Sunday at 1:30pm on Sportsnet. A fake Washington Post newspaper showed up at protests in D.C. claiming Donald Trump had resigned. Obviously the Post was unamused. Continue reading → 5 comments January 6, 2019 \| Media Okay everybody, back to work. Here’s what you missed over the holidays. News about news Le Québec a perdu 10% de ses journalistes entre 2006 et 2016. On en compte désormais 3840, selon l'ISQ. En comparaison, le nombre de travailleurs de publicité, marketing et relations publiques a doublé durant la même période: 22 930. — Pa Normandin (@PaNormandin) December 17, 2018 The number of journalists in Quebec is going down. (But meanwhile, the number of journalists employed by the New York Times and Washington Post is going up.) The Alberta Press Council shut down on Dec. 31. I’d link to the press release, but the website has already been shut down. The group started in 1972. Der Spiegel, the German magazine known for having among the most solid fact-checking in the industry, has been humiliated by revelations that one of its journalists, Claas Relotius, apparently invented sources for at least 14 articles he wrote for them. The deception came to the magazine’s attention after a fellow journalist became suspicious of Relotius’s work. This post lays out just how wrong the journalist’s reporting was. It even gets worse, with revelations he was soliciting donations for the fictional people he was writing about. And as the Columbia Journalism Review notes, the magazine is being criticized for being tone deaf in the reporting about its own crisis. Former New York Times executive editor Jill Abramson criticizes her former employer for its anti-Trump coverage in her new book, says a story by Fox News. But Abramson tells The Associated Press her words were taken out of context and she has mainly praise for the organization. The Google News Initiative has announced $25 million in funding to 87 news organizations in 23 countries on various technological development projects. Canadian recipients are Global News, Postmedia and TVO. The announcement doesn’t break down what each group got, or what their projects are. The Journal de Montréal has started a possibly satirical “Centre d’observation du Québec-Bashing“, and has discovered J.J. McCullough, who for some reason keeps getting published in the Washington Post. TVA Nouvelles has finally apologized — almost a year later — for a story it ran that accused a mosque of demanding that women be excluded from a nearby construction site. That turned out to be false after an investigation that TVA has not released. Montreal Gazette editor Basem Boshra (my boss) apologized after its website posted a story from American Media Inc. (originally from Radar Online) about a “Tinder Horror Date” who stabbed a woman and was tased by police, later dying because of it. A lot of people on Twitter criticized the headline and tweets about the story for portraying the attacker as the victim or being apparently flippant about a Tinder date that left a woman seriously injured. (Boshra offers some subsequent advice for editors apologizing for screwups). Toronto Star public editor Kathy English asked Star newsroom employees about what they wished people knew about their jobs. The result is a bit of a rosy picture of how much journalists care about getting facts right and informing the public. Star assignment editor Ed Tubb lists the kinds of stories he’d like to see more of in a Twitter thread. A major hack of prominent Germans’ personal data — including that of Chancellor Angela Merkel — was posted online, prompting a major scandal. The fact that far-right-wing politicians were excluded from this hack points to a political motive, and caution from journalistic sources on making use of the data (or even trusting it). Continue reading → December 12, 2018 \| Media Media News Digest: Vice loses in Supreme Court, DeMelt replaces Schwartz at CTV, Makos leaves City News about news Maybe I'm being a little unfair. To provide the government's point-of-view, here's the list of their Access to Information progress, per the freshly-unredacted documents. pic.twitter.com/kwqn128evu — Justin Ling (@Justin_Ling) December 12, 2018 The Supreme Court of Canada has ruled that Vice journalist Ben Makuch will have to turn over records related to interviews he conducted with Farah Mohamed Shirdon, a Canadian man suspected of being a fighter for the Islamic State (and now believed to be dead). The court ruled that there was no journalistic confidentiality in this case, and that the needs of the government outweighed the interests of protecting journalistic work product. Vice nevertheless called it “a dark day for press freedom.” Time magazine has named a series of journalists, including Jamal Khashoggi, as its Person of the Year. Winnipeg police and Global News disagreed on whether the latter should have published graphic images of a dead body. Global said it did not take the decision to do so lightly. Montreal Mafia leader Francesco Del Balso has pleaded guilty to threatening TVA reporter Félix Séguin. The Quebec government will study the future of the news media with parliamentary committee hearings. The Ottawa Citizen editorial board followed Patrick Lagacé’s lead published an editorial in both languages on the Ontario government’s cuts to French-language services. The Journal de Montréal has selected a new columnist through its QUB Radio reality show: Madeleine Pilote-Côté. She was interviewed on LCN by Denis Lévesque, while the runners-up got free books published by Quebecor, in what can only be described as the most convergence-y thing ever. An Arkansas school district suspended a high school newspaper after it printed a story about students transferring schools so they could play for a better football team. The articles have since been allowed to be republished with corrections after a national outcry, but the district still wants to review all stories before publication. The National Post’s Tristin Hopper was the latest to accuse CBC of unfairly competing with private media, leading to a rebuke from outgoing VP Heather Conway. Québec solidaire went into a closed session during a policy debate and kicked out the media because they didn’t want to appear to be a divided party. A public school board is trying to have a teacher fired for talking to the media about problems at her school that are affecting students’ education. A protest was held to support her. The Quebec Press Council will not participate in a committee to determine eligibility for the federal government’s journalism tax credits, saying that is not part of its mandate. An Ontario Court judge found that the editor-in-chief of the right-wing Your Ward News in Toronto did not commit a crime of making death threats by writing “there was the chance that some hothead who cares deeply about me and my family would lose it and do something illegal, like bludgeon the Kinsella’s to death (sic).” Continue reading → November 29, 2018 \| Media Media News Digest: Tax breaks for journalism, Roundhouse Radio sold, more cuts at Bell Media News about news The federal government has issued an economic update (read: mini budget) that among other things offers $595 million in aid to the journalism industry through tax breaks over five years. A lot of the details (particularly what eligibility criteria there are) are still to be worked out, but this is what is being proposed: Allowing non-profit journalism enterprises (like La Presse) to become registered charities, which would allow them to issue tax receipts for donations A refundable tax credit applied to labour for “qualifying news organizations” as of Jan. 1, 2019, the details of which are still to be worked out The Gazette has a story about Cree newsmagazine The Nation, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary. The Globe and Mail on the Ontario community of St. Marys, and what happened after it lost its community newspaper, one of several sold by Torstar and immediately shut down by Postmedia. Edmonton MP Kerry Diotte is suing the University of Alberta’s student newspaper The Gateway for an article in which it says he “has a history of making racist remarks.” The Gateway has changed the article, but Diotte hasn’t dropped the suit, leading to condemnation from Canadian University Press. YouTube is flagging RT videos as being financed by the Russian government. The Canadian Media Concentration Research Project has published its annual report. Nothing earth-shattering in it, but it puts some figures to trends we’ve been seeing in media, notably the decline in non-digital advertising and the rise of Google and Facebook. Pay rates for freelance journalism in Quebec haven’t increased in the past 25 years. Continue reading → 9 comments November 20, 2018 \| Media Media News Digest: Another alert test, union deal at Globe News about news Ontario’s budget plan to terminate its commissioner for French-language services and cancel plans for a French-language university has prompted a sort of meta debate: Is Canada’s anglophone media (outside Quebec) hypocritical? Patrick Lagacé published an English-language column in La Presse noting how much attention was given to Quebec’s “pastagate” controversy versus how few columnists and editorials are being written about the situation facing Franco-Ontarians. iPolitics has laid off five people, six weeks after being acquired by Torstar. The CBC/Radio-Canada building in Sherbooke had to be evacuated Monday afternoon because of a fire, forcing the cancellation of the local TV newscast and radio show. The fire didn’t touch the broadcaster’s offices, so they were able to return on Tuesday. The Washington Post talks to two people on either side of the fake news divide — one who creates satirical stories so outrageous that you’d have to be clueless to believe them, and another who cluelessly believes them. Continue reading → November 13, 2018 \| Media Media News Digest: Petty wars on journalists, cuts at La Presse, strike threat at Globe News about news There was a whole thing about CNN’s Jim Acosta and Donald Trump getting into a thing at a press conference that led to Acosta’s White House credentials being pulled and arguments online about whether a video of the incident was manipulated to make a “karate chop” appear where it didn’t exist. CNN is suing Trump over the de-credentialling. Meanwhile in Canada, the Ottawa Citizen/Sun found a video taken and published by an Uber driver in Arizona showing Ottawa Senators players complaining about their coaches, and the (re)publication of that video led to a legal threat from the team to take it down, followed by the team throwing Citizen/Sun reporter Ken Warren off the team’s charter flights (the Senators are the only NHL team that allows journalists to travel with the team in this way). La Presse is cutting 37 jobs, including 19 in its newsroom, representing a bit under 10% of its total workforce. It hopes to do so by voluntary departures. The publication is also looking at new ways of generating revenue, including some value-added in-app purchases from readers. A Canadaland investigation into the WE charity prompted a threat of a libel suit by WE with various claims about how Canadaland maliciously lied about WE. What’s really unusual about this is that WE hired a “completely independent” retired judge to pre-judge the case in WE’s favour (based apparently only on communications with WE and consulting published works by Canadaland). Canadaland’s lawyer has responded to the WE notice and, besides two clarifications about statements made in the podcast, it’s sticking by its story. The Houston Chronicle has completed its investigation into former journalist Mike Ward (no, not that one), and found that it could not track down more than 100 sources. It’s a good bet they don’t exist. Continue reading → November 5, 2018 \| Media Media News Digest: TMN becomes Crave, no more newspapers in schools, Conway leaves CBC News about news CBC News had to issue an editor’s note after some CBC News Alerts tweets talked about the economic impact of the Brazil election on Canadian companies, which was criticized as being out-of-touch. Paul Hambleton, Director of Journalistic Standards and Practices says the coverage itself was fine, but “the rollout of that article could have been better.” TFO talks about what happened in the Ontario community of Kapuskasing after this summer’s closing of its only local newspaper, the Northern Times, by (my employer) Postmedia. It’s being felt by advertisers and politicians, and there are local efforts to replace it with some other source of local news. Some news media are finding ways to make money. The New York Times now has 4 million subscribers, the most at any time in its history, including 3 million digital-only subs. The Guardian has had more than a million people contribute financially over the past three years, with 500,000 keeping their subscriptions. Meanwhile, BuzzFeed is trying a bunch of things to make money. La Presse is getting into the newsletter game, with a daily hockey newsletter by Mathias Brunet. Le Droit columnist Denis Gratton really didn’t appreciate his paper being criticized for ignoring the franco-ontarian community, especially by someone his paper had just given quite a bit of attention to. Continue reading → 6 comments October 30, 2018 \| Media News about news La Presse’s Fanny Lévesque looks at the money crunch facing community newspapers in Quebec. The Toronto Sun pulled a column skeptical of vaccines, after learning of unspecified “inaccuracies” in the column by a peddler of vitamin C supplements. Sunny Dhillon, a Vancouver-based journalist with the Globe and Mail since 2010, resigned suddenly on Monday, and published an essay explaining why, saying he felt ignored and implying racist treatment of the news by his editors. The paper has yet to respond to his story. Federal Conservative Party leader Andrew Scheer is increasing attacks on the media as we enter an election year. Ontario held municipal elections last week, amid complaints about CBC’s decision not to broadcast a live election results special on television (funny how there wasn’t nearly as much uproar during last year’s Montreal municipal election, or elections in Vancouver and Winnipeg). Among the winners was former CTV Ottawa anchor Carol Anne Meehan, who upset an incumbent to get a seat on Ottawa’s city council. Global BC and CBC are joining forces for a debate on electoral reform in British Columbia, Nov. 8 at 7pm. It will be broadcast on both Vancouver TV stations as well as their radio stations and online. Speaking of debates, the federal government has nominated former governor general David Johnston to be the country’s first official commissioner of election leaders’ debates. Broadcasters won’t be obligated to broadcast such debates and leaders won’t be obligated to participate, which makes me wonder why we’re bothering. Recall that in 2015, the leaders failed to agree to the “official” English-language debate and took part in other debates instead. Presumably even with a debate commission the same thing could happen in the future.	39,861
A well crafted resume can make all the difference between getting hired for your dream job or getting passed over for another candidate. You may have a ton of experience in your field, but if your resume is messy or does not fully reflect the extent of your job history, then you might be selling yourself short and employers can overlook you. If you need help with your resume there are various types of resume-writing services and helpful tips that can create a professional resume to help you land your next position. Increase Your Chance of Getting Hired With Resume Writing Services 1 of 3 Next A good resume-writing service will be able to present your skills, qualifications, and experience with a professional resume that is attractive to employers. However, there are many resume services out there and some are better than others so it is important to be able to identify a credible service. Here are some points to consider when you are ready to hire professional assistance for your resume. Does this service have a professional looking website? A good resume service website should clearly explain how the service works and what the associated fees are. Am I able to see samples of completed resumes that this service has created? Most resume services will display examples of resumes completed by their writers. These sample resumes should be succinct and easy to understand. They should also clearly represent the career aspirations and industry of each client. If you like the look of a resume service but their site does not have easily accessible samples you should contact them to ask to see a few examples of their work. Are there positive reviews from past clients? Resume-writing services usually include testimonials from past clients. Make sure to review these comments as well as look for reviews for the company on unaffiliated websites, such as Google and LinkedIn. Is this a credentialed company? There are qualifications that resume writers can be certified with. You should look for a resume writing service whose writers have at least one of the following credentials: Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) Master Resume Writer (MRW) Nationally Certified Resume Writer (NCRW) Do not let a poorly written resume get in the way of building your career. Learn how to seek help with your resume and what else to look for in a resume writing service.	2,466
Instagram is the social network for fans of photographs, videos and images of all kinds. The principle is indeed to communicate via, not text or articles, but images, rather worked elsewhere, that the user can create and edit directly from the application and then publish in different ways. In addition to managing his publications, the interest for the user is to follow the account of the Instagrammers he likes and to see the latest photos posted by his friends. Instagram therefore differs from Twitter, which is a news-oriented medium and works by broadcasting small sentences, and from Facebook, which is more general. To be able to use the social network correctly and enjoy it, you must already know how to take control of Instagram, then learn how to create publications and manage their content. Manage your posts on Instagram There are several ways to create and post content on Instagram, but they basically follow the same rules. First of all, a publication is only made from a mobile device: it is not a planned action on a computer. It can go very quickly, since it is possible to take a photo and post it just a few seconds later. You can also choose an image from your smartphone's gallery to share. A distinction must be made between permanent and temporary publications - called "stories" - which only remain visible for 24 hours. During a classic post, the image appears in your subscribers' news feed and then remains on your Instagram profile, a profile that other users can consult whenever they wish (or only your subscribers, if your account is private) . Of course, you remain in control of all your publications and can delete them from your account at any time. To find out how, you can consult our tutorial “How to delete a post on Instagram? ". The advantage being that you can find all these files very easily. You just need to know how to download all the photos and videos from your Instagram account. Images and photos are the main content that is published on Instagram. They can be cropped, but also enhanced with filters and light effects. An image can also be accompanied by a small text, a caption or hashtags and can even be geotagged. Instagram does its best to post photos in the best possible quality, and thus displays images at maximum 4x5 size. On Insta, you can also post what are called "animated photos", these short videos that run in a loop and which often have the most beautiful effect. It is also possible, like a photo album, to create publications comprising several images. In order not to spam your subscribers, you can therefore use these ingenious multi-image posts. To find out more, do not hesitate to read our short guide: “How to post several photos in one publication on Instagram? ". The second most popular type of content on Instagram is video. The length of each post should be between 3 and 60 seconds. Videos can also be embellished and benefit from lighting effects. You can also tag a person in your post, complete it with a caption or even provide information about the place (by geolocation or not). Again, it is possible to create a video publication with several clips, all of which must not exceed the famous 60 seconds. To create longer videos, look to the IGTV app, which is an appendage of Instagram that allows content ranging from 1 to 60 minutes. The stories Stories are ephemeral content that stays online for 24 hours from the time they are posted. They are displayed at the top of the newsfeed, in the bubble of the profile concerned. They can be single or multiple content, and can mix images, photos and videos. Stories are really there to amuse Instagram users, so that they have fun and let their creativity speak. Indeed, the application provides a whole host of tools as diverse as they are varied which allow you to obtain aesthetic, funny or original visual effects. You will be able to draw on your photo, add stickers, emojis, challenge your friends via a challenge or a survey... The possibilities are really immense! By consulting our tutorials dedicated to this type of publication, you will be able to discover how to add music to an Instagram story, how to add stickers to an Instagram story but also, quite simply, how to publish a story on Instagram! Instagram also allows you to film yourself live to create a special event by bringing together subscribers at a given time. Your followers will indeed be notified that you are live. During this live, you will have access to many features. You can, for example, receive questions from your viewers, leave a comment yourself or add as many effects as you want. As on Periscope, you can invite a friend to do this live with several people. Once your video is finished, you can choose to keep it on your story: it will therefore be available for 24 hours. You can also share it on IGTV (as long as it's longer than a minute) and also download it to your mobile. To find out more, you can consult our article “How to create a live video on Instagram? before you start. If it is essential to manage your own publications, it is also important to know how to behave and interact with the content of others. When you like a photo you can like it (via a "heart" icon) and comment on it. If a photo or video caught your eye, you can save it so you can easily find it later. On the other hand, if an account posts content that you don't like, you can choose not to see its publications in your newsfeed (while remaining a subscriber). Have you seen a beautiful shirt on Instagram, but are afraid of not remembering the brand? Did you just see a funny post that will make your spouse laugh? Good news, Instagram lets you save an image so you don't have to search for it again. It will then appear on your personal page in a section specially dedicated to recordings. The social network also allows you to download photos or videos uploaded via the application. This is very practical for keeping a publication that you like for a long time. Indeed, the recorded images remain dependent on the account that published them and can therefore disappear at any time if the latter withdraws them from its publications. To avoid seeing images you love slipping through your fingers, find out how to upload a photo to Instagram and how to upload a video to Instagram. Mastering your publications will allow you to create and distribute everything you want and how you want. You will be able to have fun with the multiple features that Instagram offers. By knowing how to manage the different content, you will discover beautiful publications on which you can discuss and which you can even keep. To read also: How to secure and manage your privacy on Instagram? How to manage your Instagram account? How to manage your contacts and messages on TikTok? Comment sent successfully! We will review it in the next few hours. Terms and conditions Who we are	7,204
Proteins are molecules built from amino acids. Proteins make up a large portion of our body and serve extremely important functions. These functions are: Enzymes - biological catalysts that speed up the rate of reactions in our body. Messengers - some hormones are proteins. Hormones are chemical messengers that are synthesized and secreted by endocrine tissues and target specific organs. Immunoproteins - provide protection to our body in the form of immunoglobulins and antibo 1 view0 comments Post not marked as liked Naming unsaturated fatty acids. Fatty acids are hydrocarbon chains with carboxylic acid at the end. Unsaturated fatty acids contain one or more double bonds, usually in cis conformation. There are two methods of naming the unsaturated double bonds, delta and omega. Delta naming system: 1. Count carbons starting from the carboxylic end. The total number of carbons in the fatty acid is the first number in the name. 2. The second number represents the number of double bonds. For example 14:2 means there are 14 118 views0 comments Post not marked as liked Lipid Function and Structure Fatty acids are types of lipids that can be found in many different roles in our body including energy storage. Fatty acids consist of hydr 4 views0 comments Post not marked as liked Prion is a misfolded version (wrong secondary and tertiary structure) of prion protein that is transformed to an infectious particle that le 6 views0 comments Post not marked as liked Shortcut to finding pI of an amino acid Isoelectric point or pI is a pH at which an amino acid or protein has a net charge of zero. Biochemistry classes always ask students to find pI for an amino acid and here is the short and sweet way to do it. For neutral amino acids, two pka's will be given, and pI = (pKa1 + pKa2)/2 For acidic amino acids ( aspartic acid and glutamic acid), we average out the two lowest pka, so we do not take into account the amino terminal pka For basic amino acids such as arginine, we averag 53 views0 comments Post not marked as liked Which amino acid has the lowest isoelectric focus point? Which amino acid has the lowest isoelectric focus point? a. Lys b. Arg c. Gln d. Asp Isoelectric focus point or pI is the pH at which a protein has no net charge and does not move in an electric field. Isoelectric focus point basically tells us how acidic or basic a protein is. The more acidic the protein is the lower it's pI is. Therefore, looking at the answer choice we must first determine whether these amino acids are acidic, basic or neutral. Lysine is a basic amino acid 139 views0 comments Post not marked as liked What are proteins composed of? All proteins are composed of amino acids. Amino acids are molecules that have an amino group (NH3), an acid group (COOH), and an R group that differs with each amino acid. Amino acids can be hydrophobic (non polar) such as Valine, and Leucine, or polar, as well as acidic and basic. There are so many different proteins in our body that at one point scientists thought that proteins and not DNA were the genetic material responsible for coding all other molecules. All of the enzy	3,202
One must be a diehard ideologue to believe that centrally planning an economy can work for more than a few years, and then only if the people within the planned economy are willing to sacrifice for a cause, like winning a war. But few people seem to understand that planning also fails at the organizational and even personal level. If they embraced real world selection rules instead, they could reduce the high costs associated with planning. Planning fails at all levels for two primary reasons: insufficient information and insufficient incentive. The former is often called the knowledge problem, and the latter can be understood as a time consistency problem. Planners, like central bankers, can claim that they will behave in a predetermined manner in the future, but they may renege and, for example, allow a high level of inflation instead of risking recession, even though they promised to keep inflation low. Similarly, people know that eating like a pig will create health problems down the road, but an extra serving of slop would feel good right now, so they renege on their promise to themselves to “eat right.” Both scenarios can be viewed as principal-agent problems, as the cost of allowing a disjunction between the incentives of employees and those of owners. In the first, the central bankers are agents willing and able to injure the interests of the principals, market participants, because they will not be punished for it. In the second, the current self is the agent willing and able to injure the future self, the principal. Either way, planning fails where a rule may work more consistently by reducing agency costs. In monetary policy, for example, the Taylor Rule would reduce agency costs by decreasing policymakers’ discretion. Similarly, somewhat like swear jars, various self-imposed diet fine programs create monetary disincentives to overeat. Couching planning in terms of agency costs makes it easier to see why organizational-level planning often fails too. Sure, there is a knowledge problem component even within organizations. An organization’s management, much like Stalin’s bean counters, may not have enough information of the right sort at the right time to create a plan superior to actions that would have emerged spontaneously anyway. The presence of agency costs seals the deal by raising the very real possibility that self-serving managers and/or employees may thwart any top-down plan for their own gain. In simpler terms, one might know what to do but have no reason to do it, or one might have all the reason in the world but know not what to do. Let’s be clear. Organizations should try to forecast future conditions and prepare contingencies, but it is a categorical error to conflate those activities, sometimes colloquially called planning, with the sort of central planning critiqued by Austrian economists that failed in the USSR, Cuba, and North Korea. That sort of planning tries to move an economy, organization, or person from point A to point Z by a predetermined path, one often spelled out in detailed five-year planning documents that come to have the force of law, HR mandate, or habit. Planning seems really logical, and even necessary, until one realizes that the real world doesn’t give a whit about planners’ plans. The real world is ruled by rules, by which I mean selection algorithms. The clearest of those algorithms is evolution by means of natural selection. Organisms compete in a real world test, the quest to reproduce, with each generation becoming more and more like the best competitors in that test until conditions change. Then, competitors with a different set of characteristics better matched to the new conditions start to thrive in the reproduction game. Armen Alchian noted in a 1950 paper that a similar selection algorithm culls for-profit organizations, though on the basis of profitability instead of reproductive success. In Alchian’s words, “those who realize positive profits are the survivors; those who suffer losses disappear.” In that view of the world, the success of an organization depends not on planning or even keen forecasting but is simply a stochastic function of matching the environment, which is to say consumer needs. Few business historians like Alchian’s paper because the first section replaces stories of the “great business leader” with his simple selection rule and random outcomes. The second section of Alchian’s paper, though, suggests that businesses are not simple organisms whose success is bound entirely to how well their DNA matches theiur environment. Organizations can change their behaviors. But how can an organization know that it is changing for the better, that its changes will increase, let alone maximize, the probability of achieving a positive profit (or other goals in nonprofit and governmental settings)? Especially given that profitability depends upon efficiency relative to competitors, the costs and strategies of which may be unknown and even unknowable? “Even in a world of stupid men,” Alchian wrote, “there would still be profits.” Managers and their gurus like Al Chandler and Peter Drucker suggest that organization owners should put “the best” available leader (a fraught subject itself) “in charge” and let him or her be “the decider.” The “management science” of when, how, and to whom to delegate decision-making authority then kicks in. Generally speaking, the most successful organizations push decision-making down to the level where information is best and incentives strongest. The U.S. Marines, for example, employ 3-person combat teams that are ordered to complete a concrete mission objective but not told how to achieve it. Those combat teams are parts of larger units similarly tasked from above but not micro-managed. As David H. Freedman writes in Corps Business, “the Marine Corps management principles are built around simple truths about human nature and the uncertainties of dynamic environments.” Even with modern comms working flawlessly, there is no way some “leader” in the rear can know at any given moment whether a particular squad should move forward or sit tight. Moreover, he has no significant skin in that particular part of the battle. So the squad commander gets to make the decision, or to delegate it down, depending on the tactical situation. While organizations should not all immediately adopt Marines-style management from top to bottom, they do need to think about delegating decision-making to those with the best information and the most incentive to behave in ways that, in a world of uncertainty, optimize profit distribution or the probability of achieving other goals, like winning battles, minimizing casualties, or increasing donations. The type of organization and worker demands special attention. Drucker popularized the notion that knowledge workers, the biggest part of the workforce today, are particularly difficult to micro-manage. They should “manage themselves,” he argued, especially because they often know more, and may even be more intelligent than their bosses. Think of Dilbert and his Pointy-Haired Boss, for example. But even the world’s smartest boss can’t know everything and will often be rationally ignorant of seemingly innocuous but ultimately important details. Nobody is perfect in part because nobody has a stake in every part of every game. What, then, are organizational leaders to do? Think like classical liberals and align incentives carefully! Give workers autonomy by allowing them to make decisions where they have superior information. And provide them an ownership stake by paying efficiency wages, preferably committing to maintain real wages with a COLA. Or, better still, tie compensation to goal achievement. (They need to be careful, though, because employees will usually produce precisely what they are incentivized to produce.) Then they should let their workers do battle with the enemy and adapt spontaneously to changing competitive situations. The organization might still fail, but it will be less likely to do so, all else equal, than one with a rigid top-down plan. * This article was originally published here PUBLISH WITH US! The Washington Gazette works at our discretion with businesses, non-profits, and other organizations. We do not work with socialists, crony capitalists, or disinformation groups. Click the green button below to view our services! powered by Surfing Waves You may like these posts A Revolution in Parking Is (Quietly) Spreading Across America November 25, 2022 MFE (Merit, Fairness, and Equality) Versus DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) Should be NC (No Contest)	8,997
“DUNS - 561376261 NCAGE - SGMR5 MCJSupport Org is a registered non-profit organisation incorporated under the companies act 2013, Licensed by the government of The Gambia, through the Ministry of Justice under the Attorney General’s Office. With the registration number 2017/C5253 - 16 October 2017. Partners are The US State Department, Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education the Gambia, Physics Education Technology (PHeT) and National Youth Council under The Ministry of Youths and Sports, The Gambia ” November 2022 (1) May 2022 (2) January 2022 (1) November 2021 (3) June 2021 (1) February 2021 (4) November 2020 (2) June 2020 (2) March 2020 (9) February 2020 (7) January 2020 (2) November 2019 (2) September 2019 (3) August 2019 (1) June 2019 (2) May 2019 (4) April 2019 (1) March 2019 (2) February 2019 (4) January 2019 (6) November 2018 (5) September 2018 (1) Recent Posts Digital Pedagogy Training in Collaboration with PhET Interactive Simulations Global Team for Nigerian and Zambian Teachers November 21, 2022 HumanWare Donated Blind Education Devices to The Gambia May 23, 2022 Mentorship and Community Joint Support Organization Executive Director Muhammed Chuka Joof won a fellowship award May 12, 2022 World Braille Day January 4, 2022 MCJSupport ORG Director – Thanked partners of the Blind Support Program funded by the US Embassy November 22, 2021 Presentation of Equipment to GOVI, Braille Printer, Victor Reader and Laptops November 22, 2021 Blind Support Program, The Gambia – MCJSupport Org in Partnership with US Embassy, Banjul The Gambia November 22, 2021	1,593
There’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes of photography, especially when shooting outdoors and you’re trying to control your light a bit more. Shooting the new ASTRO Apparel… Archives Select Month February 2022 January 2022 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 November 2019 October 2019 August 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 August 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 April 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 March 2008 April 1995	2,229
Cops insist that eight bodies found in eight weeks in an Illinois county are NOT connected as TikTokers spread claims that a serial killer is on the loose - Hide Out Now Home News Cops insist that eight bodies found in eight weeks in an Illinois county are NOT connected as TikTokers spread claims that a serial killer is on the loose Cops insist that eight bodies found in eight weeks in an Illinois county are NOT connected as TikTokers spread claims that a serial killer is on the loose Officials in the small Illinois city of Rockford have shut down TikTok rumors of a serial killer on the loose, insisting eight bodies which have been found in just eight weeks are not connected. Winnebago County Coroner Bill Hintz addressed the rumors after posts about the deaths on TikTok and Reddit earned millions of views, the Rockford Register Star reported. The rumors also come after Rockford marked its deadliest year on record in 2020 and has been named the 11th most dangerous city in the United States - with a violent crime rate even higher than Chicago, according to reports. 'We do not have a serial killer. None of these cases have any relationship whatsoever,' Hintz told the Rockford Register Star. 'There is nothing that I have seen that gives me reason to believe that we should be concerned.' Winnebago County Coroner Bill Hintz addressed rumors claiming Rockford might have a serial killer on the loose after TikTok accounts including sensationalist Chris Wo suggested a serial killer was on the loose The body of Michelle Arnold-Boesigner, 33, was found in a storage unit at U-Haul Self-storage in Roscoe on March 2 but no cause of death has been released. Just a week later, human bones were found on March 9 near the U.S. 20 bypass and 11th Street in Rockford. Illinois State Police indicated to WTVO that that body may have been the result of a suicide. The next day, the body of Keith Heidenreich was found in the Mississippi River in a rural community. Last month, 35-year-old Levi T. J. Meyer was arrested and charged with murder. Danielle K. Heidenreich, 39, was also arrested and charged with charged with concealment of a homicidal death. On March 16, the body of Brandon Cuddy was found in Lee County after it had been pulled from the Rock River in Sterling but the cause of death has not been determined. Cuddy had been missing for 77 days. The human bones of Wesley Shaver, 33, were found on March 23 in the 3600 block of Auburn Street in Rockford. He was determined to have died by drug overdose, the Rockford Register Star reported. Human bones were found on March 31 near Cherry Valley. Further details about the human remains were not immediately known. On April 17, someone riding an ATV found another body was found in a wooded area near a dirt bike trail in the 2700 block of Laude Drive in southeast Rockford, the Rockford Register Star reported. Further details about the human remains were not immediately known. On April 30, the body of Patrick Michael Reum, a 28-year-old who had been missing since December, was pulled from the Rock River in Dixon. Lee County Coroner Jesse Partington told the Rockford Register Star that 'there was no sign of foul play or anything of that nature.' Hintz told WTVO that '100%, this is not a serial killer' and brushed the deaths off as a 'mere coincidence.' A map made by a TikTok user shows the locations of some of the dead bodies found recently However, Hintz did tell the Rockford Register Star that the number is notably high and that the county averages about four bodies found a year - double of that since just March 2. The cause of death for most of the bodies have either not been determined or not released - fueling the rumors of a serial killer. Some of the eight bodies found were the result of suicides, said Rick Ciganek, the chief deputy of Winnebago County Sheriff's Department. 'It's not like there is someone out there making suicides look like the work of serial killer ... It's just not realistic,' Ciganek said. Sensationalist TikTok user Chris Wo, whose account brands itself as 'covering the strange things in this world,' has more than 14 million followers and his video on Rockford has nearly 9,000 comments. 'It is speculated that there are over 2,000 active serial killers in the United States alone. It appears that one of them is currently active in Rockford, Illinois. In the past two months there have been six (sic) bodies found in Rockford,' Wo said. 'The victims are both male and female and their ages range from 18 to 33, and there remains have been found in various places. One was found in a storage container. Another in the woods. And one was even scattered across the highway.' He added: 'But for some reason, this hasn't caught the attention of the national media.' In a post that went viral on Reddit two weeks ago, user Doe Hare - who lives in Rockford - also noted the high volume of bodies within the last 45 days. 'Our local police departments have said nothing about the issue and refuse to release information about the discoveries to the public, as the police radio has been encrypted for the last 5 years,' the Redditor posted. The Redditor also claimed that 'up until recently, there was no transparency about a serial rapist who has been terrorizing the city for the last 18 months.' Last year was the deadliest year on record for Rockford as residents struggled amid the coronavirus pandemic, WIFR reported. From January to November, police recorded a 49% increase in shots fired calls compared to the same period in 2019. There was a 33% increase in aggravated assaults and the overall violent crimes are up 21%. 'The shooting and crimes have gone up exponentially,' Rockford Police Chief Dan O'Shea told the outlet. O'Shea said that violent crime in the community had been decreasing from 2016 through 2019 until the pandemic hit. He credited the rise in crime to a decrease in community policing. 'We couldn't do the ice cream socials and the block parties and the kick games so we lost a lot of contact with people,' O'Shea said. According to a 2019 study from the website 24/7 Wall Street, Rockford had 23 homicides in 2018 with a violent crime rate of 1,386.5 per 100,000 people. 'While the city of Chicago regularly makes national news for its staggering rates of gun violence, the Windy City’s violent crime rate of 1,006 incidents per 100,000 people is considerably lower than the violent crime rate of 1,386 per 100,000 people in Rockford,' the study reads. Cops insist that eight bodies found in eight weeks in an Illinois county are NOT connected as TikTokers spread claims that a serial killer is on the loose Reviewed by Facts on May 06, 2021 Rating: 5 Recent Posts Blog Archive November 2022 (209) October 2022 (261) September 2022 (39) October 2021 (223) September 2021 (593) August 2021 (654) July 2021 (568) June 2021 (444) May 2021 (380) April 2021 (312) March 2021 (284) February 2021 (294) January 2021 (300) December 2020 (303) November 2020 (401) October 2020 (467) September 2020 (735) August 2020 (405) July 2020 (350) June 2020 (629) May 2020 (415) April 2020 (763) March 2020 (503) February 2020 (377) January 2020 (328) December 2019 (407) November 2019 (523) October 2019 (500) September 2019 (555) August 2019 (563) July 2019 (484) June 2019 (456) May 2019 (452) April 2019 (380) March 2019 (310) February 2019 (147) January 2019 (145) December 2018 (141) November 2018 (120) October 2018 (107) September 2018 (92) August 2018 (73) July 2018 (4) March 2018 (20) February 2018 (51) January 2018 (15) December 2017 (15) November 2017 (2) FBI chief was found dead after exposing sickening truth about the elite CDC releases updated holiday guidance to prevent spread of Covid including wearing a mask indoors - and that Americans delay travel until they are fully vaccinated	8,007

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