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There is nothing worse than a bad cut- especially when you have invested in a high-quality piece of wood that you have visions of turning into a beautiful woodworking masterpiece. It is infuriating, so you have to find the issue’s source- especially if it is your table saw’s fault.
There can be many different reasons for your table saw not cutting smoothly, including that your blade is not clean, sharp, well-aligned, or upgraded. To check, be sure to clean the blade of debris, sharpen it, and make sure it lays flat. If these cannot be achieved, consider upgrading your blade.
If your blade is causing tear-out and nasty looking edges, you do not need to scrap the whole thing. More than likely, you are dealing with an issue that is quick to fix and will get you back on your smooth cutting feet in a matter of minutes. Continue reading to understand a few common problems that could be plaguing your blade and how to correct them.
It can be a process of elimination when determining why your table saw is not cutting smoothly. As frustrating as it might be, rest assured that there are a few main causes that you can check rather simply.
Three of the main ways to check your table saw blade if it is not cutting smoothly include the following:
Pay Attention to the Blade
Look at the Blade Alignment
Pay Attention to the Blade
The first main component to check your table saw if it is not cutting smoothly is to pay attention to the blade. This can have quite a few components to pay attention to, so it is a step you will not want to skip.
Before you do anything, you want to go straight to the blade. Many assume that when tear-out and chipping start to occur that it means their blade needs to head to the trash.
However, this isn’t so. Most of the time, your blade is just fine and needs a bit of tune-up. Trust me, this is no big deal and will end up saving you a good chunk of change in the long run. Before going out and buying a new blade, try a few of these tricks to see any improvement.
Clean Your Blade. If you are working in an area with materials that put off a lot of material when being sawed through, your blade has likely accumulated some of that gunk. Even if you are not often working with materials like wood, your saw blade will pick up different debris and resins that will build up over time.
For your blade, this is bad news. Think of it as you would scissors filled with glue. In this case, your scissors cannot cut clean when they are dirty, and following this analogy, neither will your saw.
A dull blade is an ineffective blade, and it will tear up any project you are working on. To clean your blade and get it back to its original shape, all you need to do is give it a good scrub down.
Do not use the random cleaner you have under your sink, but try and purchase either a blade cleaner or an all-purpose cleaner that is non-toxic and designed to degrease. (This link has some good examples on Amazon ) Soak your blade, scrub it up, and it should be good as new.
Sharpen Your Blade. Now that your blade is as brilliant as a center-cut diamond check and see if the teeth look a bit dull. If they do, you are on your way to a sharpening adventure.
If your blade is dull, it is obviously going to tear rather than cut clean through the workpieces you are feeding it with. A dull blade doesn’t mean a bad blade, so take the time to really get that bad boy sharp and see how much better it is when it comes to performance.
To sharpen a saw blade, first, remove the blade from the saw. Clamp the blade between two clamps on your workbench and mark the tooth you plan to start with. Now you want to start filing the teeth.
To do so, grab a diamond file and place it below the edge of the first tooth. Use a slow and steady motion that hits the flat part of the metal’s thickness and then slowly move the file over the tooth’s top flat part. Repeat over and over until you’ve reached the first tooth.
Make Sure the Blade is Flat. You are probably thinking, “The blade is flat already. That is how it’s made….” Hear me out, though. After a lot of use, your blade may start to perform the dreaded “wobble.”
No, this is not an acceptable dance move for your saw. When a blade wobbles, it creates a nasty cut, typically at the very end of your job. So you have gone through and are almost finished with a workpiece only to look down right at the very end and see that chipping and tear-out are all along the end.
Disastrous. If you suspect your blade is not flat, give it a little test in a piece of scrap wood. Fire up your saw and run the scrap piece through. Once the blade begins to slow down at the point where you want it to stop, pay close attention to its movements.
Sadly, if the blade begins to wobble at the stopping point, it likely needs to be replaced. This is much less common than having a dirty or dull blade, so be sure to have a sure diagnosis before replacing a blade.
Look at the Blade Alignment
The second main component to check if your table saw is not cutting smoothly is to look at the blade alignment.
If your blade is already clean, sharp, and flat, you will want to check on your blade’s alignment. What is big here is making sure that the blade is nice and parallel to the miter slots within your saw. This will take a little measuring, but for a workman (or workwoman!) yourself, this should be one of your easier measuring jobs.
First, you want to raise the blade as high as it can go. Reach for the stars with this part, don’t be shy. Once it is raised, pick a carbide tooth on the blade and rotate it until the carbide is level with the table where the blade is closest to the front of the saw.
Measure from the carbide to a miter slot and mark down the distance. After this, rotate the blade to the very rear of the saw using the same chosen carbide and measure that distance. If the distances are the same, you do not have an alignment issue. If they are not, adjust the motor until they are.
The third main component to check if your table saw is not cutting smoothly is to straighten your table’s fence.
No, do not go running out to your front yard for this. Hang tight in your work spot. There is a fence on your saw that helps to keep things from getting out of line – kind of like the bouncer of your saw. If your fence is not straight, it will cause you some serious issues when it comes to clean and straight cuts.
Take a framing square and a piece of paper to feel for inconsistency. Press the paper against the fence and put your framing square against it. You should not wiggle the paper from this, and if you can, then your fence needs to be adjusted.
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Whether you were charmed by Celeste in Flat-Out Love or are meeting her for the first time, this book is a joyous celebration of differences, about battling private wars that rage in our heads and in our hearts, and—very much so— this is a story about first love.
For high-school senior Celeste Watkins, every day is a brutal test of bravery. And Celeste is scared. Alienated because she’s too smart, her speech too affected, her social skills too far outside the norm, she seems to have no choice but to retreat into isolation.
But college could set her free, right? If she can make it through this grueling senior year, then maybe. If she can just find that one person to throw her a lifeline, then maybe, just maybe.
Justin Milano, a college sophomore with his own set of quirks, could be that person to pull her from a world of solitude. To rescue her—that is, if she’ll let him.
Together, they may work. Together, they may save each other. And together they may also save another couple—two people Celeste knows are absolutely, positively flat-out in love.
Astonished, amazed, inspired… Flat-Out Celeste is a quite simply put…a masterpiece. Jessica Park has managed to make me fall in love all over again with this amazing series. She is brilliant and I am in awe. This is an absolute must-read!
Let me backtrack a bit and come clean. When I first read Flat-Out Love, book one in this extraordinary series. I wasn’t sure of my feelings. In fact, I do believe my initial reaction was, “entertaining and hilarious, but predictable.” Now wait, don’t fret, I was a moron and I’ll be the first to admit it. My ridiculous reasoning at the time is not even worth mentioning…yet as time passed I still couldn’t get this book out of my head…it took a couple of weeks for me to realize I was a complete idiot and I actually rather loved this book. So, what did I do next you ask? Well, I reread it of course. On second glance…ok, it was a bit more than a glance…more like a thorough examining, but all I could think is, “this Jessica Park lady is brilliant.” She made me love all the characters and when Flat-Out Matt was released I was overjoyed and once again…I fell in love. The announcement of Flat-Out Celeste put me over the moon. I was elated and I didn’t even know what to expect, all I knew is I had to have it. I was captivated with Celeste’s quirky personality since Flat-Out Love. Of course I had questions, what had become of this eccentric yet brilliant girl? Had she developed better social skills? Did she make more friends? Would she fall in love? I needed answers and I needed them like yesterday!
See, Jessica Park doesn’t just draw you in with her writing, she makes you fall in love…you actually want to live in these books and know more about every single person you encounter. I fell in love and connected with Celeste from the very first book and I needed more. The wait was grueling, but when I finally had my hands on Flat-Out Celeste, I devoured EVERY…SINGLE…WORD. Celeste is highly intelligent, but she has rarely allowed emotions to rule her or get in the way of important decisions. This book highlights her struggles to fit in, her path to both finding love and self-love. Celeste’s story is one that you may relate to on different levels. She is quite unique and there are discernible differences between her and many others characters, however, at the core, her battles aren’t so very different than those that many others face. The awakening that Celeste experiences in this book is life changing. She grows, loves, learns and experiences the world in a way that makes you appreciate the struggles. And while Celeste’s story takes up a great deal of the book her story wouldn’t be complete without Matt and Julie. Woohoo…so, yeah, you’ll see their return and hopefully appreciate the way things unfold.
Flat-Out Celeste lived up to all my expectations and then some. I won’t go and repeat the synopsis or summarize the book. I want you to experience this book for all that it is. It’s an extraordinary story with a beautiful and powerful message. Celeste is a character you won’t soon forget. Her story is one that is beautiful, heartbreaking and incredibly brave. I laughed, I cried and I fell hopelessly in love…again.
I could go on and on about this book and the series, but I want you to read this through so I’ll end by saying this book is beyond my greatest expectations. Jessica Park gives life to characters in a quirky and absolutely endearing manner rendering you speechless at times. The wit, humor and raw honesty in her writing is powerful and evocative. This book takes you on an incredible journey with a reminder that sometimes different is perfect and sometimes all you need is the perfect person to help you find your way. I give this book a gazillion stars…yeah I said it, it’s really that good! Go forth and read my friends this one is a must-read for all!
PS: I hope there will be more to the Flat-Out Love Series…I need more like now…hook me up to a Flat-Out Love IV. I fear I may not survive without it…seriously…ok maybe I won’t die…or maybe I will…why even risk it Jessica? Take me out of my misery…just say there will be more…pretty please with a cherry on top!
*This was an ARC provided to me for free in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and comments are my own.*
There was a knock at the door and Matt leaned in, swinging a brown paper bag in her direction. “I heard Mom made stuffed peppers tonight. Last time she made those, I nearly died from flatulence. I assume she stuffed them with her usual repulsive ground chicken, quinoa, Brussels sprouts, and pomegranate seed mix?”
Just the sound of Matt’s voice made Celeste relax. She smiled at him. “Based on the smell, I believe you’re right.”
“So you didn’t eat then? I was right!” Matt flopped onto her bed and lay down, his long body scrunching up the neat white comforter that she spent ten minutes arranging before she’d gone to school this morning. “I thought I’d take a break from studying and bring you something edible.”
“It smells like a burger from Mr. Bartley’s,” she said as she got up and took a seat next to Matt. “Hand it over, thoughtful brother.”
He tightened a hand around the top of the bag. “You have to guess which kind I brought you first.”
“How am I supposed to know?”
“Close your eyes.”
She did as instructed and felt him move the bag under her nose. Sweet, spicy… a bit garlicky. “Aha! Boursin cheese and bacon! The Mark Zuckerberg burger!”
“And sweet potato fries and a bottle of iced tea, but you win. A burger named after ‘the richest geek in America,’ as the restaurant calls him.”
“You will be the richest geek in America after you finish your Ph.D. Program,” Celeste said through a mouthful of fries.
“You only have this year left to endure. And you will hardly find yourself in need of psychiatric care, Matthew. You are doing stupendously.”
“I’m scraping by.” Matt reached into the bag and grabbed a handful of fries and opened her iced tea.
“You are not ‘scraping by.’ You are assistant teaching classes, excelling in your own, and in all ways performing to standards that exceed even the high ones our mother set for you.” She frowned as he chewed on the fries. “Did you not eat?”
“I did. A Big Papi burger and a Fiscal Cliff. But you can never have enough sweet potato fries.”
“I have a finite amount of my own from which you are stealing. But I shall not complain because this was very kind of you.”
Matt chewed and studied her. “Are you okay?”
“Why do you ask?”
“No contractions. When you’re stressed out, they disappear.”
“I know. But most days I do not care to use them. If it is an effort, then I do not push.”
“Okay. I get it.” He chewed for a minute. “I heard your presentation went well. Did your friends like it?”
“It went marvelously. My friend Dallas took me aside to share quite the flow of compliments.”
“That’s great, Celeste.” He was downing half her iced tea.
“And then I bitch slapped her.”
Matt choked on the drink and desperately tried to clear his airway. “I’m sorry. You did what?”
She cocked her head. “I bitch slapped her.”
“That… that can’t be right,” he sputtered. “I mean, I hope it’s not.”
“I slapped my hand against her hand. Up in the air.” She looked at Matt blankly. “Is that not the right term?”
“Thank God, no, it’s not. I think you mean a high-five.”
“If you say so. Well, either way, it happened. You know I have trouble with colloquialisms, so I resent your shocked reaction.”
“I do know that about you, and I apologize.”
“Since we are on the subject, there is something else I would like for you to clarify.”
“Shoot.”
“What is meant by ‘nut bag’? Is that a testicular reference or merely the identification of a satchel of cashews or pecans?”
Matt groaned. “This conversation has gotten really weird. Could we just talk about— Wait a minute. Why are you asking me this? Did someone say that to you?” He looked angry.
Celeste picked at her fry. “No. Certainly not. I heard the term and had a natural curiosity.”
“Okay then…” Her brother crumpled up the paper bag and then smoothed it out in his hands. Then crumpled it again. “It’s the same as ‘nuts.’ You know, crazy.”
“Thank you for the definition.” She took the last bite of her burger and wiped her hands on one of the paper napkins. It shouldn’t matter what her classmates thought of her. Celeste would just be strong about this. She would move on.
FLAT-OUT LOVE is on sale at Amazon for a limited time!
Just $5.99 for the Paperback and $2.00 for the kindle e-book!!!!
About the Author:
Jessica is the author of LEFT DROWNING, the New York Times bestselling FLAT-OUT LOVE (and the companion piece FLAT-OUT MATT), and RELATIVELY FAMOUS. She lives in New Hampshire where she spends an obscene amount time thinking about rocker boys and their guitars, complex caffeinated beverages, and tropical vacations. On the rare occasions that she is able to focus on other things, she writes.
Please visit her:
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Confessions of a Book Whore
Confessions of a Book Whore has read 3 books toward her goal of 100 books.
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Confessions of a Book Whore has read 3 books toward her goal of 100 books.
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Let me preface this by saying I did not wait a year to read this book. I only started the series in March, so although I was impatiently awaiting this release, I did not wait nearly as long as some other readers. I am definitely sad it i...
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For those who are unfamiliar with Dina Silver’s One Pink Line…I highly recommend you read it as well. It is a superbly written book. Finding Bliss is a spin-off of One Pink Line, but you do NOT need to read one in order to read the othe...
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First of all I just have to say...this book is fucking incredible. Holder...what an incredible, loving, supportive person he is! I love Holder, everything about him. I absolutely love books written in male POV. Something just makes you...
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When you consider auto insurance policies there are a number of areas that impact your quality. Driving properly and responsibly can lessen your top quality. Contemplate your vehicle’s make/model, its benefit And the way it truly is made use of. You tend to be more probably than Other individuals to be in a mishap for those who drive very long distances. The ideal strategy to lessen your insurance quality is always to Identify the proper plan on your necessities.
Address
The expense of insurance policies for autos
Insurance policies expenditures can range between $one,100 as many as $five,000 for the average auto owner. It is important to are aware that premiums will vary widely among states. In some states, the cost of full coverage is twice that in the least protection. Below are a few ideas to make sure you locate the most cost-effective Price tag. Though a least liability Restrict may be necessary in certain states, whole coverage normally consists of a further $500 deductible.
Choosing the suitable motor vehicle is essential because some autos are dearer than Other folks, which may end up in costlier insurance coverage premiums. Selected vehicles are more high priced to repair service and replace and restore, which implies their insurance policies rates are increased. The fees for motorists that has a clean up driving report tend to be reduce. Premiums can also be identified In keeping with gender and. Young drivers are typically extra risky than older drivers. Some insurers also contemplate credit history scores when determining the price of insurance coverage. Having said that, there are regulations in certain states that ban this observe.
Types of auto insurance policy
There are six simple forms of insurance coverage policies for autos. You are able to tailor your plan to satisfy different situations by incorporating this sort of protection. It is also vital to make certain that you’ve liability insurance policies. Liability coverage is legally essential in lots of states, nonetheless it’s possible you’ll pick another kind of protection when you’d like. Legal responsibility insurance handles the insured in case you will be at fault in a collision, and also covers other drivers who will be in the car. It pays for Other individuals’s damages or injuries, and it may also go over medical payments.
An ordinary plan will contain various different types of protection, together with liability, collision, extensive, uninsured/underinsured motorist, and healthcare payments. Every one of these are essential and you need to you should definitely have ample of them. A few of these coverages may very well be expected in selected states, while some will not be. Freeway Insurance coverage can help you to find the ideal safety on your automobile insurance plan demands. You’ll find numerous types of coverage alternatives and help save money and time.
What are The principles to insure your vehicle?
Every single state has its own minimum automobile-coverage requirements. They are really damaged down into three distinctive quantities. In California, for instance it’s essential to have not less than fifteen/thirty/5 in bodily personal injury legal responsibility coverage, and thirty/50/5 in house destruction liability. These quantities can be very distinct, and you need to confirm the requirements as part of your state prior to driving. Alternate insurance policies may be a practical substitute. But, it isn’t constantly the best choice.
The minimum amount level of protection that is necessary by your condition is often legal responsibility insurance, having said that several lenders will require total coverage. The lender might involve complete protection In case your auto is staying financed. Complete protection features collision insurance and in depth insurance policy. Liability coverage handles damages to Other individuals’s residence in the situation of a collision, although not your car or your own. To supply the top protection and the most economical Price, you may blend house destruction legal responsibility and bodily accidents insurance.
The extent to which you’ll have collision insurance policy inside your insurance coverage plan for cars is contingent around the circumstances. Though you are not necessary to have it legally, lenders may well call for it if the system would be to finance your automobile. When you have an car mortgage, lenders could require you to buy collision insurance policies. This coverage is necessary for all people that finance a car or truck.
Collision protection protects the car or truck’s whole value in the situation of a collision. Although the insurance provider pays for virtually any repairs, it may well not suffice to exchange your car in the event that it gets damaged or stolen. You may also ought to pay a percentage of your own personal dollars to exchange the car. For those who have this sort of protection, be sure you are conscious of the circumstances and conditions prior to buying car insurance plan. It’s also wise to fully grasp the deductible, which happens to be separate with the collision deductible.
How to buy Car Insurance plan
When you are searhing for insurance coverage for your car there are a selection of factors to take into account. Some states need minimum limitations on coverage for House and Uninsured motorist insurance policy. This will include the difference between your expenses or perhaps the coverage limit of the at-fault celebration. Some states will not call for protection for underinsured motorists. Below are a few suggestions that can help uncover the proper plan for yourself. These tips may help it become a little bit easier, and will enable you to get monetary savings.
Car Insurance Companies
Liability insurance plan
To be able to make certain your security from accidents and also house injury promises, you’ll need legal responsibility protection in your automobile insurance. The coverage will address the expense of settlement, or protection if you are uncovered for being guilty of a collision. There are a variety of choices out there to select from for insurance policy. It is important that you choose to comprehend the dissimilarities concerning them to stop pricey surprises. State Farm delivers a mean Price for a variety of types of coverage. It’s beneficial to pick out a moderate coverage degree.
Car Insurance coverage Protection
Legal responsibility insurance policy is obligatory in all states. It addresses property problems and bodily injuries. This protection will even protect you in the case you’re involved with a collision with the other driver. This coverage is the default coverage inside of a the greater part of states, and is suggested for motorists in many international locations. However, it can be essential to bear in mind that the bounds for legal responsibility insurance coverage are really distinct in Every point out. Your liability Restrict is the amount It’s important to shell out to shield damages.
Coverage for home
It can be illegal in almost all states to generate without having legal responsibility insurance plan. This can be also the case with the legal responsibility for assets problems. Liability protection will address the expense of repairs when you trigger assets hurt. Even so, your automobile insurance policies policy won’t include your individual vehicle’s damages. Every single state has its possess list of minimal recommendations for liability insurance. Make sure to evaluation your coverage before signing it. It is significant to acquire assets insurance coverage for money safety. It can assist you steer clear of needing to fork out large coverage fees when you bring about a collision.
Your insurance policy plan must include some sort of residence harm protection to compensate you in the situation of a mishap. The coverage will address the damage you result in to the auto of Yet another, such as repairs. Also, it handles cleanup of debris pursuing a mishap. Typically, assets insurance plan is created utilizing 3 figures. These quantities include things like bodily personal injury protection for each incident and property harm coverage for each incident. The upper limits present more defense. It can be crucial to examine meticulously your plan, and Test together with your agent about any limits or exclusions.
Uninsured motorist coverage is obtainable in The big apple if another driver is not insured sufficient to include the collision. This kind of protection is out there in case the driver who brought on the collision is just not identifiable and the incident was successful-and-run. The Insurance plan Legislation SS 5217 states which the uninsured motorist protection should be bought in almost any Bodily collision, on the other hand the courts have interpreted this law to only apply to physical collisions.
Uninsured motorist coverage and also underinsured motorist protection could possibly be readily available in specific states. In other states, nonetheless, you would require both equally. In case of emergencies, you have the ability to obtain both equally coverages. If an uninsured driver brings about a weakened automobile, the uninsured motorist coverage can purchase the repairs. You can find no less than the bare minimum quantity of legal responsibility insurance policy, even though It isn’t required.
Just take reductions
Car insurance coverage reductions can be a terrific way to spend less although keeping environmentally friendly. Many new automobiles have security features including airbags and anti-lock brakes that may lower your rates. For basic safety functions set up within your automobile, like anti theft alarms along with the daytime running lights, you may get added discounts. Having to pay your high quality in whole on a yearly basis may also clear away payment worries for the duration of 12 months. In reality, nearly half of insurance businesses offer discounts for this kind of payment.
Your coverage may be qualified for special discounts if it has been in existence for numerous many years. Whilst these bargains can vary dependant on the amount of time you’ve been With all the coverage, several firms present special discounts for their loyal customers. The coverage is available for order for nearly 7 days just before your renewal date and you could potentially get special discounts as substantial as 15% These reductions usually are not the sole Added benefits made available from some corporations. Some firms also offer you bargains to personnel who perform in particular professions. Instructors get 10% off their Liberty Mutual Premiums. Geico delivers savings of fifteen% for military users.
Do you think you’re a fresh driver trying to find auto insurance inexpensive offers? To save cash on vehicle insurance coverage, Here are several Suggestions: rising your deductible, getting a no-promises lower price, and acquiring a policy using an insurance company in your location. These tips may also help preserve numerous hundreds yearly on your vehicle insurance plan. The following pointers might also enable you to to receive the lowest price ranges. Keep on reading through to Discover how. You will be glad that you just did.
Younger motorists can acquire low-Price tag vehicle insurance policies
Young drivers can lower your expenses by remaining safer and driving considerably less. On the lookout about for insurance coverage could also reduced your rates. Youthful drivers typically have higher costs than more mature motorists, And that’s why It can be important to compare charges. It is simple to check on line estimates applying absolutely free applications. In addition the several motor vehicles could be grouped collectively and presented a discount within the identical insurance supplier.
It is vital to acquire numerous offers once you are searching for a coverage. This may allow you to select the most price tag and the very best quality. An insurance plan agent that can do the job with you and allow you to change your policy Once your driving routines improve is another choice. Ensure you examine insurance policies that supply similar sorts of coverage, as deductibles and boundaries will make an infinite change. An incredible plan must deliver more than enough coverage for young motorists to avoid economical damage.
Decreasing your month-to-month insurance plan premiums can be done if you can get an insurance policy low cost that does not require statements on automobile insurance plan. It’d be truly worth asking the insurance provider whatever they can perform to have it. According to the insurance company the price reduction can be well worth wherever in between thirty% at the end of just one yr, and up to 65 p.c right after five years. For anyone who is hurt by an accident you will be not able to claim a two-yr no-declare reward. Several promises may also wipe away the no-promises bonus. Notifying your insurance provider instantly of any incidents you might have is critical. In the absence of doing so, it could bring about upcoming statements remaining rejected.
No statements low cost safety is supplied by nearly all of insurance companies for PS25. You can make a particular variety of promises per calendar year without having stressing about premiums likely up. It’s also doable to incorporate it to an insurance policies plan in case you have an incentive that is certainly no-statements. If you wish to transfer your no promises low cost from a single insurance company to another. You’ll want to swap companies every year to keep the no promises discounted.
In the event you are searching for a very low-Price tag quotation for motor vehicle insurance, increasing your deductibles is a terrific way to get lower premiums. Deductibles may help you save anywhere from fifteen to 30 per cent with your top quality. These discounts are depending on your driving records, the kind and law of one’s point out, along with your driving habits. The expense of your annual quality could possibly be diminished by boosting your deductibles to around 40%.
Although it isn’t the best determination for everybody boosting your deductible can support in preserving many hundreds of dollars eventually. Authorities suggest saving at most two months of your dwelling charges. It may even lessen your regular monthly insurance policy charges. Also, it will assist you to help you save tons of money in case a claim at any time is submitted.
Locating a plan through an insurance company during the region
For the people with poor credit score histories, it may be helpful to consider out a coverage with regional insurance policy corporations. It can help save you each month revenue with your month-to-month insurance coverage and in addition provide superb client guidance and Unique reductions. The plan might be obtained in all 50 states. You may as well Evaluate costs throughout states to find out the most cost-effective price. It is actually well worth noting that your credit history score can be a bit slow and people with weak credit could possibly be spending much more than $400 each and every year.
Erie Insurance coverage, A further regional insurer, supplies very low-Expense automobile insurance. This enterprise is based in Pennsylvania, and has actually been in enterprise since 1925. Erie presents vehicle, existence and assets insurance. Although Erie only gives insurance plan in unique states, it’s greater than thirteen,000 unbiased insurance plan brokers throughout The usa. You may opt for an agent or regional insurance company based upon your needs. It can be advised to assessment all particulars before you make a alternative.
Five Items to look at when evaluating Car or truck Insurance Quotations
For anyone who is superior-threat driver, it is crucial to look at estimates for car or truck insurance coverage and Track down quite possibly the most inexpensive coverage for your needs. You should also check out the protection offered in the location to find out if a reduce fee is possible. Better deductibles or decrease risk could suggest it can be more cost-effective to get increased protection. All of it relies on your requirements. Fortunately, there are lots of options that exist to you personally.
If you’re looking for the cheapest insurance policy quote for top danger drivers, you have found the appropriate place. It only will take two mouse clicks to Track down one particular. The internet can give you various rates for protection at lower than the cost of standard insurance policy. You can also enroll for insurance coverage a lot more quickly via the world wide web. It can be all You should do is complete a web based software and spend your top quality. After you have submitted your payment, the insurance provider will challenge you a card that proves the insurance plan coverage. Then, you’ll be able to buy a plan.
Several insurance policy firms contemplate you a superior-risk driver if you have bad credit rating. This is due to it is a lot more very likely that you’ll file an insurance declare than somebody who has a superb credit rating. Credit score plays a significant impact on how insurance firms perspective you. A past DUI/DWI can enhance your Expense by as much as 65%. This amounts to an extra $477 for your 6-thirty day period coverage. Insurance coverage corporations also check out your driving historical past. A DUI/DWI can elevate your quality around $174. Speeding tickets can improve your Price as much as 45 p.c.
When you’ve got a DUI as part of your heritage, you could possibly select the cheapest insurance provider for your auto. State Farm, American Loved ones, Progressive and Many others provide very affordable premiums for prime-risk motorists. As well as your credit score rating, they’ll take into account it when deciding your charge. Insurance plan providers think about these aspects in figuring out the quantity you pay back on your plan. Insurance plan charges can skyrocket if you’re not creditworthy. That is why it’s so essential to get to understand your credit score score prior to making an financial commitment.
The cheapest vehicle insurance policies plan for drivers
While you are choosing about the most fitted automobile coverage policy for younger motorists, there are plenty of aspects to take into account. Auto insurance prices will be affected from the status of your respective relationship as well as age of your. Your quality may also be affected by what type of car your drive. Insured automobiles with superior performance are frequently more expensive than motor vehicles with reduced functionality. Hence the first step to discovering the bottom Value insurance for motorists that are young is to find a auto that has quite a few safety features.
Look at Motor vehicle Insurance policy Rates
The simplest solution to cut down on the insurance coverage on vehicles for motorists who will be young will be to reduce the coverage. Insurance policy businesses typically provide special discounts to college students and motorists in instruction. You may finish up spending way more When your insurance plan protection is Slash. Be sure to consider all possible outcomes and try to look for greater benefit.
Young adults confront a obstacle obtaining affordable vehicle insurance coverage. Although the price of coverage for just a 16-yearold driver is significantly more expensive than for an adult, it is possible to lessen charges by incorporating a teen driver to an present approach. The price of this selection is elevated by an average of $one,461 a yr, but is often more affordable than acquiring a different plan. When you are an aspiring driver, you might qualify for savings or other price savings.
Least expensive vehicle insurance plan for reduced-chance motorists
Your driving document along with other components can affect the cost of your automobile insurance. It really is value procuring all over to uncover minimal-hazard insurance policies. When determining on an insurance coverage coverage to cover your needs, insurance policies organizations consider a range of aspects, which includes your driving file and demographics, as well as chance concentrations, and General risk. Under are the best five things you should be mindful of when comparing premiums. Bear in mind lower coverage costs don’t mean you should compromise on good quality.
For starters, take into account your zip code. Fees will be bigger for people who live in regions with large crime. Insurance coverage organizations also acquire into consideration targeted traffic volume. Also, ensure you don’t have any accidents or statements with your file, as these will elevate your premiums. You’ll want to Verify your rates each individual 6 thirty day period so that you Never shell out additional. For those who have several policies While using the similar insurance company, it is value on the lookout into multi-coverage savings.
Despite the fact that credit scores usually are not lawfully employed in certain states by insurance coverage corporations, they will still be significant when evaluating prices from auto insurers. Hawaii drivers with lousy credit rating pays 168% lessen than comparable drivers. In Massachusetts, superior threat motorists are charged thirty p.c in excess of clean drivers. Fees For brand new drivers are bigger if they’ve experienced an DUI or speeding ticket, or have lousy credit rating. Before you decide to produce a alternative, be sure to get a number of offers.
Vehicle Insurance coverage Around me – The Factors that Influence the price of Car Insurance policies
The expense of insurance plan is affected by The placement you reside in. It really is dearer to receive coverage offers If the locale features a higher charge of criminal offense and incident rates. Insurance plan expenses may also be influenced by other factors including the quantity of site visitors or record of incidents. Insurance organizations frequently look into a driver’s driving heritage to determine the price They are going to be charging for their insurance policies. Motorists with very poor driving record fork out more for protection than motorists with cleanse driving information.
The price of coverage for cars and trucks
As the cost of well being care carries on to increase, insurance for cars and trucks has increased by fifty-100% in the last 5 years. Drivers can also be expected by law to possess both of those insured and uninsured (or PIP) insurance policies. This is certainly increased than the average needs for every condition. The big apple is the only real state that has a requirement for that insurance of legal responsibility. Having said that, many states Will not require motorists to hold it. These optional coverages can increase insurance policies costs and improve the cost of insurance plan. Ultimately, drivers require to examine their coverage restrictions. Particular procedures offer an decreased minimal number of protection than Other folks.
The average New Yorker spends two.eight% in their profits on motor vehicle coverage. It is really slightly in excess of the typical countrywide figure of 2.forty%. The individuals within their 30s, 40s and 50s pay back slightly a lot more than the common. The more mature aged group is probably going to pay for additional costs than Individuals with lessen driving expertise. Even though rates might be somewhat bigger for married couples Nevertheless they’re still below those people who are solitary.
Motorists can also acquire diminished charges whenever they choose defensive driving classes. These lessons previous a few hours and concentrate on the attitudes of motorists together with website traffic procedures. In addition they educate defensive driving strategies that could significantly decrease the cost of insurance. You may additionally be capable to boost your driving general performance. The class could lower the price of car insurance. Even so, the Insurance policy Information Institute is ready To help you in deciding what exactly coverage you may need.
Cost of vehicle coverage in other states
Whilst gasoline selling prices fluctuate in Every single point out, it is possible for your automobile insurance coverage for being considerably less or even more high priced in a different condition. The percentage of uninsured driving, condition insurance plan legal guidelines, and the charges for theft could all Enjoy a role With this. In specified states, intense climate can have an effect on insurance plan expenditures. The table underneath lists expense of car insurance policy for a variety of states. These estimates are based upon a comparison of state insurance policy specifications.
Missouri is the one state that provides entire-coverage automobile coverage for under the cost of Louisiana. Missouri charges just $944 over Louisiana. Furthermore, this point out has one among the bottom charges for each capita and is particularly ranked fifth in terms of expense of living. Texas motorists nevertheless, must pay back 33% of their yearly cash flow to insure their automobiles. This is probably going on account of The point that Texas has quite a few lawsuits and a large number of drivers who are uninsured.
The normal countrywide Charge for auto insurance coverage with entire protection is $one,771 a yr. Louisiana with a mean of $2839 for insurance coverage, may be the state with the highest insurance policy quality. The increase of 19% was noticed in 2020. In distinction, Maine’s typical cost is just $858. It’s because no-fault states have larger insurance policies premiums. A lot of variables affect the expense of insurance policies for cars and trucks in various states. Get into consideration all factors such as the laws in the point out on insurance.
Significant-risk drivers are needed to pay back extra for insurance on their vehicles.
Have you been searching for superior-risk car insurance coverage for top-threat motorists close to me? You may be curious how to acquire a very low-Value coverage. Substantial-risk drivers ordinarily have higher insurance policies premiums that normal motorists. Large-risk drivers are more possible have more convictions or accidents. The condition may well limit the time for this to 3 several years, 5 years Or maybe extended. You could potentially be qualified for savings if the driver security course you took is accomplished.
The national averages for prime danger driver vehicle insurance policies are very identical. Having said that, the expense of coverage may vary appreciably between states and the subsequent. Different states have distinct charges and several corporations regulate their charges accordingly. This might signify which you come across The most cost effective insurance provider in your town, but you continue to get wonderful protection. Condition Farm presents the top high hazard driver automobile insurance policies in my area. State Farm is recognized for superb customer care and being economical.
You are able to Track down superior-possibility motor vehicle coverage for motorists near me by entering your zip code and looking out up estimates. The cost of higher-hazard auto insurance plan in my region can differ between states even so, nearly all of huge insurance coverage providers provide this coverage. Countrywide Normal, as an example, is a company which concentrates on superior-possibility insurance policies. When you have great grades or Use a small threat of driving it is achievable to have an coverage policy that is certainly more affordable.
Evaluating Car or truck Insurance policy Companies provides a lot of benefits
Evaluating car insurance coverage companies offers a lot of benefits. On this page We’re going to talk about several of The main aspects, such as reductions and rankings. It really is vital to select the greatest policy in your basic safety and safety. You should definitely Evaluate procedures from diverse firms. This information will let you decide which insurance provider delivers the ideal protection and one of the most economical. They are some means to seek out the right a person for your personal specifications:
Comparison of insurance plan companies for autos
It’s important to compare insurance policy prices for motor vehicle protection from distinctive firms to locate the ideal deal. Insurers use many factors to determine the cost of coverage. You have got to determine your personal needs then Review fees from different insurance policy suppliers. Athletics vehicles, for example are more pricey to insure than normal cars and trucks. The charges are influenced by your driving record and The placement you reside. Utilize a comparison tool to compare the prices of a similar protection that have different deductibles.
The expense of insurance policies rates differs, so it is important to fully understand how Each individual plan operates. Rates could be affected by driving file, age, and credit rating record. Assess the advantages provided by each agency, which include incident forgiveness or roadside support. It could be a little bit overpowering, nonetheless it is feasible to check estimates from diverse companies and choose the most suitable one particular. Here are some suggestions to have you likely.
J.D. could possibly be your best option in the case of comparing car insurers. Electrical power scores for motor vehicle coverage companies. These are definitely based upon client pleasure surveys that study thousands of vehicle insurance policy consumers across the nation. These figures are accustomed to work out the typical shopper pleasure rating for every business. These rankings are published on a yearly basis, and the top car insurance coverage companies in Just about every group obtain gold medals. How can you tell irrespective of whether you happen to be receiving top-quality company from the businesses you’re contemplating?
There are lots of strategies To guage the monetary strength and security of insurance plan suppliers for cars. To start with, it is possible to Verify the AM Most effective insurance provider rating, which supplies scores of financial balance for coverage corporations offering auto insurance policy. When you decide to buy a plan, Make sure you examine the score of the insurance provider. This will show you if it’s got an A,B,C,C, or F ranking. This is a vital component of client treatment, so be sure to browse reviews and go above the fine print before you make a decision.
A number of special discounts are furnished by insurance policy companies for cars and trucks. Sure discount rates are usually not available to Absolutely everyone. It is vital you Verify the corporate Web site to make sure you are suitable for that savings that you qualify for. Selected firms offer multiple discounts, and You may as well check with your coverage agent if they are suitable for virtually any particular discounted. It’s straightforward and frequently usually takes below 1 hour. Here are a few examples of achievable savings on insurance for cars.
Legacy Special discounts For brand spanking new Motorists If a driver is new and buys their coverage by their guardian’s business the car insurance provider could offer a reduction. The price cut normally is close to 10 per cent. This is a wonderful opportunity to display to the dad and mom simply how much you respect their assist over time. It could also enable you to spend less in your car insurance. Lots of insurance coverage companies offer you legacy savings for youthful motorists. You need to Check out to find out if the organization you’re with features a single. You can even take a look at the policies that are supplied by American Family, Farmers, or USAA.
Customer support
A number of companies can supply best-top quality customer service. Esurance was on the list of 5 corporations that scored 4 out of 5 around the J.D. Customer Service class, and Esurance scored four out of five from the J.D. Ability rankings. That is an impressive score for a company which includes no mum or dad company. The corporate scored higher than its opponents in all other locations, together with policy offerings and costs and the standard of customer support offered by its Get in touch with center representatives and its website. (personalized provider)
Most customers take into account protection to generally be The most crucial facet of auto insurance. However, for the good deal of consumers, it’s the customer care that may be The most crucial. Prospects assume to be able to Make contact with their insurance plan companies swiftly and acquire courteous service. What this means is prospects wish to listen to back from their insurers promptly and that they can speak with somebody that is willing to listen and supply methods. Every vehicle insurance company can offer great customer service. But they are not all are alike. (rideshare) (only a few mouse clicks) (coverage decisions)
Various variables impact the expense of insurance for autos. Age and driving file are the two most crucial things. The premiums will boost for the people with undesirable driving documents or lower credit rating scores. Your local price of dwelling will impression your premiums. To find out the best suited insurance provider to suit your needs, think about the charges provided by different organizations. There are several solutions to decrease your insurance plan expense of insurance plan. You can even pay out upfront for the total yr of coverage. (bill on the web) (worker discount)(at the fault injury)(included incident
As well as the above mentioned-outlined components, many other factors could boost your coverage top quality. The cost of your insurance policies could improve in case you file an assert or are penalized for website traffic violations. You could also qualify for a discount if you are taking a secure driving course. Insurance policy companies continually modify their designs to determine their fees. If you do not have any driving history, you could possibly observe a reduce in the price of your insurance coverage. (utilization-based mostly) (rental automobile)(automobile repairs).(Risk-free low cost for motorists).
Comparing vehicle insurance policies can help You Get monetary savings
An auto insurance policy comparison is a great way to continue to be away from untrustworthy insurance plan firms. By way of example, small-cost prices from a selected coverage provider could be deceptive When the quotation excludes sure coverage or improperly displays your driving profile. It is possible to check insurance policy organizations by checking their ratings as well as A.M. Best scores. Compare automobile coverage to save cash. Upcoming, Assess the best corporations to find the ideal rate in your case. (incident cost-free)
Costs are depending on the credit rating
Whilst your credit score could be a great sign of the extent of chance that you are very likely to take, it shouldn’t dictate the prices you fork out. Insurance providers should not use credit score historical past to determine the primary cause of why rates are expanding. On the other hand, states for instance California, Massachusetts, Oregon, Utah, and Vermont have rules that limit insurance plan companies from using your credit history to find out insurance coverage costs. (could preserve)(new auto)(auto assert)
Such a coverage is not presented in every state. Individuals are unable to ascertain if a corporation employs your credit history rating to find out simply how much They are going to be charging. California, Hawaii and Massachusetts ban coverage according to credit history. A number of other states also have limitations on the usage of credit rating-dependent insurance plan scores. Ultimately, you will have to figure out yourself whether or not your credit-based coverage rating is ideal for your needs. (bike Insurance coverage) (roadside Help Protection) (“bundling Vehicle”)(pet insurance policies)[true money Benefit](excellent claim Provider](yacht Insurance coverage)
Age has an effect on fees
The expense of auto insurance discount rates is motivated by many different things, including the age of the driver. Age has an effect on your amount by greater than thirty %, and in certain states, a younger driver is billed almost 4 times just as much as a thirty-calendar year-previous. A serious issue is The shortage of working experience. Teens are more likely to go into incidents. You can negotiate reduced rates by figuring out the elements that impact your rates. Here are several methods your age has an effect on car insurance plan.
The guideline would be that the rates for more youthful individuals might be lower. But When you are male, your age will impact the price of insurance plan for cars and trucks. Though males who are youthful are cheaper than more mature counterparts, rates paid by drivers in their sixties to seventies skyrocketed to the motorists who’re. Studies demonstrate that males are two one/2 instances extra possible than Females to get linked to an accident when driving. This suggests that the gap in gender concerning males and women diminishes since they the advancing a long time. (protection options)(homeowners coverage)
Gender influences prices
The reality that a man is likely to pay a lot more for car or truck insurance coverage than a girl is not a shock. Unsafe driving behaviors could cause increased mishaps, plus more coverage promises for men. Here are a few motives that make it additional costly to insure males. These are generally The key motives. Find out more about which things have an affect on car insurance fees in accordance with gender. If you still have concerns Below are a few recommendations to lessen your rates. (car insurance policies procedures)(auto insurance plan quote)(motor vehicle insurance coverage charge)
The Oregon Division of monetary Regulation has instructed automobile insurers to accept prospects who usually do not declare their gender. Insurance coverage companies are needed to report charges setting up in January 2019 in the function of discrimination against non-binary folks. The prices might be greater than Those people for male and feminine motorists. Women can Lower fees so long as they aren’t also large. Don’t worry in regards to the “non-binaryrate” for youthful motorists. (car or truck insurance coverage declare),(hole coverage)
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When Simone Biles suddenly pulled out of the team final after a vault that went awry, her teammate Jordan Chiles was thrust into the clutch.
Chiles, 20, had been slated to compete for Team USA in just two events in the team final: vault and floor. But with Biles out of the competition, she was suddenly competing on the balance beam and uneven bars too.
Here's what to know about Jordan Chiles.
She's named after Michael Jordan
Chiles grew up in Vancouver, Wash., the youngest of five children. Her mother named her for basketball legend Michael Jordan, and her boundless energy drove her parents to enroll her in gymnastics classes.
By age 11, she was competing at the elite level — for years the only such gymnast in Washington state. In 2014, she won the U.S. Classic at the junior level.
Three years ago, she was ready to quit
By 2018, Chiles was weary of the sport. She'd been passed over for international meets, and had a feeling of being stalled out.
Then Simone Biles had an idea: Chiles should move to Texas and train alongside Biles at the gym she had started there. At Biles' gym, World Champions Centre, she would be coached by Cecile and Laurent Landi, who were known for being skilled coaches who also understood the need for balance in athletes' lives and actually listened to what they had to say.
So Chiles finished high school and took Biles up on her offer, moving her life and training to Spring, Texas — and the two became like sisters.
Chiles was solid on the balance beam — an event she did not expect to compete on Tuesday.
The delayed Olympics gave Chiles time to prepare
Chiles wasn't selected for the 2019 World Championships. But her star within U.S. gymnastics began rising quickly.
She had surgery on her wrist in late 2019, which wouldn't have given her much time before the 2020 Tokyo Games. With the Olympics delayed to 2021, Chiles had time not only to heal, but to grow into the next phase of her gymnastics career.
She also started her own apparel company, Melanin Drip Clothing Co., "to encourage others to LOVE and be PROUD of every inch of themselves."
At the Olympic Trials a month ago, Chiles took third – and just like that, she was bound for the Olympics, one of the four who would compete in the team event for the U.S.
Jordan Chiles rejoices after her performance on the balance beam on Tuesday in the team final.
For the U.S. squad, a fairytale ending of a miraculous gold medal without Biles was not to be.
Chiles nailed her routines on the bars and beam. But on the floor, Team USA's final rotation, Chiles' feet slipped out from under her on her third tumbling pass, causing her to fall.
Biles' weak vault in the first rotation had put the U.S. more than a point behind Russia from the start, and the Americans' deficit grew to more than three points by the end of the floor routines.
It was a strange and disconcerting scene: the world's best gymnast watching from the sidelines in a warmup suit. The U.S. team would be taking home silver.
And after a less-than-her-best performance during qualifications, Chiles didn't qualify for the all-around competition or the event finals. So for her, the Olympic dream has come to an end — silver medal in hand.
Laurel Wamsley is a reporter for NPR's News Desk. She reports breaking news for NPR's digital coverage, newscasts, and news magazines, as well as occasional features. She was also the lead reporter for NPR's coverage of the 2019 Women's World Cup in France.
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Lancaster Consulting Australia is an independent, non-government organisation that provides a range of specialised support services for people with complex needs, their families and wider support network to achieve Our Vision of "Enhancing Quality of Life for All"
Lancaster Consulting Australia offers several different types of service:
Individualised assessments such as PBS assessments, Clinical Risk assessments, Ecological assessments, and Sensory assessments.
Specialist Support Coordination: Development and coordination of complex support systems focused on the individual’s goals, including but not limited to facilitating communication, individualised and system assessments, and coordination of complex transitions.
Behaviour Support to assist in the implementation of strategies in the home and community through brief consultation, coaching and mentoring.
Education to professionals, volunteers and/or families via formal trainings, tailored development sessions, and reflective supervision.
Individual and system advocacy, creating linkages between family, staff, professional services and government.
Regardless of what service you’re receiving, all of our services operate within the Positive Behaviour Support Framework and are tailored to meet the needs of the individual and their support system. In each instance, your worker will meet with you to set clear goals and regularly evaluate our progress
Our Goal
Our aim is for you to leave our service with the support of a team that works well together, increased opportunities in your home and community, and positive ways of expressing your needs and wants.
What is Positive Behaviour Support?
Positive Behaviour Support is an evidence-based approach focused first on improving a person’s quality of life and secondly on reducing any behaviours of concern. It’s a comprehensive approach to assessment, planning and intervention that focuses on addressing the person’s needs, their home environment and engagement in the community.
It is based on the fundamental understanding that all behaviour, whether positive or negative, happens for a reason. Behaviour serves a purpose, or function, for the person. Understanding that function and providing supports around that can improve a person’s quality of life while also reducing more difficult behaviours
Positive Behaviour Support is a values driven practice ensuring that all steps taken to support a person are respectful and, if focused on changing behaviour, utilise the least restrictive means possible. These values are reflected in our own:
People at the centre of all we do
Non-judgement
Flexibility and Friendly Professionalism
Holistic and layered approach
All of this comes together to assist Lancaster Consulting Australia achieve our Mission:
To be the National leader in using the Positive Behaviour Support Framework to develop the capacity of the community, organisations, and individuals to improve quality of life and drive cultural change.
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Academy OpeningsA list of grand openings when they occur, keep checking the RSS or link to the page to see the latest in jiu-jitsu academy openings.
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Post published:February 6, 2011
(Check out Matt’s charity www.FightIIWalk.com) It said that “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy”. “Everyday in bjj and in our daily lives we are often forced to deal with obstacles which prevent us from living happy lives. Whether it is dealing with a stream of loses in competition, a serious injury, or even losing your job.
Whatever the case may be it is clear that sometimes life can be pretty unfair. However in a lot of cases those problems that we are forced to deal with are merely roadblocks that try to stop us from reaching the true goals that we wish to accomplish in life.
Take MMA fighter Matt Betzold for example. A 26-year-old fighter from Phoenix, Arizona Matt Betzold has had many tough battles on the mat and in the cage.
[social][/social][einset][/einset]However the real battle began at the age of 6 years old after an unfortunate accident left him with one leg, leaving him not only with the unfortunate task of dealing with his disability but also the constant day to day abuse from his peers. However instead of letting the situation take control of his life, he took control of the situation overcoming the day to day challenges that came his way. As time progress he decided to set new challenges for himself getting into grappling which he excelled at greatly by rising in the ranks beating some of the best in the game and later getting into MMA , becoming the first ever amputee MMA fighter.
In this interview we take a look at how one man beat the odds and turned his misfortune into a stepping stone toward fortune.
I want to start off with a personal question. Please tell us how did you ended up with one leg?
Matt: I was 5-years-old, when I met a supposed “family friend”. He was living with us at the time. He ended up giving me some candy that he had laced with poisonous mushroom spores. My parents took me to the hospital, when I started feeling sick and throwing up. The mushrooms cause a bunch of reactions in my body, including a blood clot, which in turn cause the loss of my leg. They tried giving me antibiotics, but my body rejected them, which is the cause of my scars that you see. I slipped into a coma for 6 weeks, and woke up after my 6th birthday with no leg, and little to no mobility of the rest of my limbs.
It must have been a real shock waking up to that challenge as a 6-year old. So what was it like growing up ?
Matt: I was ridiculed so much from the time that I lost my leg, that my first real fight was in third grade. After that, I just kept fighting until I got into high school. I was not going to take people talking or looking down on me. Once I found the outlet that MMA gave me, I started taking my aggressions out on the bags, and kids started leaving me alone. I come from a huge family with 8 siblings, and we have always been a scrappy family. I have always been close to my brothers and sisters, and I still am. They are my family and best friends.
Before getting into MMA you started grappling. How did you come up with your superb but unorthodox style of grappling?
Matt: My style has been the product of 10 years of training. Constantly modifying, and evolving my own moves on top of everyone else’s moves, to come up with something that works for me.
Aside from all of your accolades over the years, last year you finally got the opportunity to represent your country the grappling worlds. What did that feel like?
Matt: That was honestly a dream come true. That is the closest I have ever been to an Olympic event, and I was so honored to represent my country, and help my team bring in the win. Plus, it was also an amazing experience to be able to train in Florida at American Top Team for two weeks.
What was the overall experience like for you in terms of the team training, the adventure, and most importantly getting 2nd place in the event ?
Matt: It was an amazing experience to train and compete in Florida. Getting second place, gave me some recognition from people who might have doubted me before, though I would have been happier with first place. haha. However, I did lose to my own countryman, who now is the current Bellator Champ, so I am not going to be too hard on myself.
After all you accomplished in grappling, just recently you got into MMA, what inspired to make career transition?
Matt: MMA has always been my goal, and has always been where I wanted to end up. Grappling was just my stepping stone, and proving grounds to get there.
What are some of your training methods you go through while preparing for a MMA fight since it involves striking and grappling ?
Matt: Lots of sparring, lots of rolling, pad work, bag work, cardio, wrestling techniques, strength and conditioning. Plus lots of circuit training, pretty much how I always train, I just amp it up before a fight.
By being the first MMA amputee fighter, what doors do you think this will open for future fighters with similar conditions to yours?
Matt: The sky’s the limit. I am honored to be the first commissioned amputee fighter, and hope it will make the battles for other amputees easier. However, I don’t want to see a bunch of amputees try to jump in the cage, just because I am. They need to be properly prepared and trained otherwise I can see it working against me.
Did you experience any self doubt through your progression?
Matt: The only doubt I had was that the commission would not let me fight, but I never doubted myself or my ability to succeed, if I worked hard enough.
Obviously there are a lot of people who support you and are inspired by you. How do you feel about having so many people say you are an influence in their lives?
Matt: That, to me, is a success in itself. If I were to quite today, I would know that I have still touched people’s lives, which is an amazing feeling. Knowing that I have a positive influence on people, also gives me more drive. I want to be the best, not just for me, but for them as well.
How about the other side of the coin. Are there are any “haters” on you road to success?
Matt: Yes. I have encountered a bunch of haters on my journey to the cage, and since then. I have had some people that thought I was a fraud, and had their minds changed once they saw my fight. However, there are those out there, that think my fights are rigged, or a joke. All I can do, is just prove them wrong. But, I always say to them that The Den is always open, and I’m always there training if they want to stop by.
Tell the readers about your non-profit organization?
Matt: I’m starting a non-profit organization called Fight II Walk. Our goal is to raise money to help under privileged amputees get the prosthetics that they need. We would also like to help disabled youth get involved in able body sports. Our main goal is to raise the confidence levels in anyone with a disability, through sports. Teach them they are good enough to compete with able bodies, that they are just as able as anyone else. I started this program, because bottom line, most insurance companies don’t cover prosthetics, if they do it’s a very low percent. I want to be able to work with amputees, and others alike to teach them to find their own way of fighting and defending themselves. If they choose to do so, get them ready to compete not limited to grappling. If anyone is interested in getting involved, they can go to www.FightIIWalk.com.
With everything you have accomplished, what are the goals you would like to accomplish?
Matt: Absolutely, my next goal is to get into the UFC. Some of the readers may not agree with me fighting, but I am waiting for that 125 lbs division to be added, so I can show everyone what I can do.
Finally being one that has overcame adversity in your life, do you have any advice for people who go through daily challenges in their lives?
Matt: You should never let anything get you down, and always remember things can get worse. Overcoming the obstacles in your daily life will make you a stronger person.
Before we wrap up do you have any shout outs you would like to give?
Matt: For me, God comes first, so I’d like to thank him for making everything possible. I’d like to give a shout out to my wife, Carrie, who has been with and supported me from the beginning, and my kids, Cross and Faith, for giving me the drive to be a better man. All of the coaches and staff at The Den, my training camp, along with all of my training partners. My family for always supporting me, and standing behind me. I’d like to thank On The Mat, for always supporting me, and being in my corner. Fikes brace and limb, because without them I wouldn’t be walking right now. Also, to every fighter who has gotten in the cage with me, and not tried to make excuses as to why they can’t fight me.
Well that wraps things up. Thanks for your time Matt and best wishes in the future.
Matt: Thank you, Monta. I appreciate being able to get my word out there, and share my side of the story.
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You have likely seen people who are blind or partially sighted walking with a long, white cane or a dog guide, or holding the arm (or, in some cultures, the shoulder) of a sighted person. The cane, the dog guide, and the sighted companion are all mobility tools – things to help an individual who cannot see well navigate through the environment safely. In professional terminology this is known as mobility.
To move from one space to another, individuals must know where they are and how to get to where they want to be. This is known as orientation. The professional who is trained to teach these skills to people who are blind or partially sighted is an orientation and mobility (O&M) specialist (sometimes called an instructor, trainer, consultant, or officer).
Orientation to the workplace involves learning where the important destinations workers travel to and from within the building or environment are. Although your employee may make arrangements with an O&M instructor, it’s your responsibility to show your employee and the trainer the critical areas, such as their desk or workstation, the washrooms, the breakroom or lounge and the cafeteria, lunchroom or snack area.
Where are other important places located? The supervisor’s office, co-workers' offices, clerical offices, personnel, accounting and payroll departments, Where are the fire exits? Are there areas with restricted access? Are there areas which pose potential health hazards? All of these areas need to be identified and the most appropriate routes determined.
These are just some suggestions for you to think about before getting started. The worker with vision loss and their specially trained staff will work with you to determine what routes need to be taught and in what order. However, it will be greatly appreciated if you've given some thought to your workplace's physical layout and where the most important areas are located.
Walking with a white cane enables people without good sight to find objects such as curbs, stairs, or furniture. Once oriented, individuals using canes are often able to move through an environment unassisted and once familiar with an area, a cane user will not necessarily use their white cane every time they move around. They may instead simply move about using protective techniques (one hand at mid body and one hand at the face) or a trailing technique (using a hand to trail along a wall or other permanent structure to find one’s way).
It’s important to note that it’s inappropriate to grab a person or his cane as he or she is traveling – specific verbal cues are much more helpful. Don’t give vague directions such as, “It’s over there”. Be specific, for example, “The table is to your left about a metre away.” Don’t forget to use the other person’s body for reference, not your own.
Like white cane users, dog guide users will be able to travel independently once they have been oriented to an area; however, it’s important to understand that the person directs the dog on where to go and how to get there – the dog is simply a mobility tool. If you have an employee who uses a dog guide, it’s important for you and the other workers to understand that the dog guide is not a pet.
Dog guides are not to be petted or played with while working (anytime they are in their harnesses). Nor is it allowable to feed a dog guide. Your worker may allow you to pet his or her dog when the dog is at rest, but always ask before touching a dog guide. Calling or talking to a working dog may distract the dog and should be avoided. Likewise, grabbing the dog's harness could place both the dog and owner in danger.
Using the sighted guide technique, the person with the visual loss holds a sighted person just above the elbow and allows that person to lead. The sighted person should not take the person's elbow and push them. Nor should the sighted person grab an arm or hand and drag them. If you’re acting as someone's sighted guide, offer your elbow and remember that you’ll need to point out upcoming obstacles, like low lying branches.
If you come to a flight of stairs, pause and then proceed up or down no more than one step in front of the person you are leading. It’s also good practice to indicate the location of the staircase railing. As you prepare to enter or exit a building or room, it’s helpful to verbally alert your traveling companion as to which side the door is hinged and whether the door swings in or out.
Another component of orientation, which does not involve an O&M specialist or any other professional, is introducing your employee to other people within the workplace. The ritual of introductions is important for all new workers and it shouldn't be overlooked with a new employee with vision loss.
Sometimes when people who've never met a person who is blind or partially sighted are first introduced, they talk to the person introducing them, rather than directly to the person with vision loss. Not only is this unnecessary, it’s demeaning. Talk directly to them as you would anyone else.
Introduce the key personnel to your new employee. However, don’t expect a person who is blind or partially sighted to be able to immediately recognize everyone, including you, by voice. It’s important to identify who you are every time you approach someone who is blind or partially sighted unless you’re told it’s unnecessary.
Eventually, they will recognize many people's voices without them having to state who they are each time. And, don't walk away from a conversation or out of an office without saying that you are doing so because they may not realize that you’ve left.
Although employers frequently express concern about workers with visual loss because they are unable to drive, it’s important to recognize that most of these workers have dealt with transportation challenges all of their lives.
Many individuals will find housing close to their work so that they can walk to work or they’ll pick a housing location that’s on a public transit route. If your community has adequate public transportation, it’s likely the worker will use it. Some communities also have paratransit services. Paratransit services typically provide door to door transportation to individuals with any type of mobility impairment, including blindness.
Communities without public transportation or paratransit services pose more difficult challenges. Some workers will advertise to join a car pool and contribute gas money to the drivers. Others hire drivers to take them to and from work and other places they need to go or use taxi services.
Preferred methods of transportation vary from person to person. Getting to and from work is the responsibility of the worker but you can help by seeing if any coworkers are interested in carpooling.
About WBU
© WBU and CNIB. All Rights Reserved. Registration #119219459 RR0003
Ontario Trillium Foundation: The Ontario Trillium Foundation is an agency of the Government of Ontario
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2 representatives of teaching and education staff appointed each year by the school board among the school’s voluntary teaching and education staff.
1 representative of administrative, social and health, technical, workers and voluntary service staff of the establishment who is appointed each year by the School board..
Any voluntary staff of the establishment belonging to this category, whether or not he is a member of the School board,, may be designated in his respective category.
2 representatives of students’ parents.
Responsibilities of the Student Council
The Student Council makes proposals on the training of student representatives.
It must be consulted on the following questions:
a) the general principles of the organization of studies, the organization of school time and the development of the school plan as well as the development or modification of internal regulations;
b) general arrangements for the organization of personal work and student support;
c) information relating to guidance and relating to school and university studies, professional careers;
d) health, hygiene and safety and the layout of spaces allocated to students in the establishment;
e) the organization of sports, cultural and extracurricular activities.
The Student Council can adopt decisions in its field of competence.
Created in 2007 (1999 for the nursery part), the French School Anatole France is the only school in Armenia approved by the Ministry of National Education of the French Republic and recognized by an intergovernmental agreement signed in 2011 between France and Armenia.
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Sharing pictures, stories, reflections of my birding adventures – past and present: great places, great people and great birds…
Posted on September 24, 2019 September 25, 2019 by blairbirding
Nebraska was to be the fifth and last Prairie State visited during what will hopefully be my penultimate trip as part of my 50/50/50 Adventure. On my original schedule, I had planned to get to Lincoln, Nebraska on Friday evening, September 20th, bird in the area on the 21st finding 50+ species and flying home to Seattle from Omaha that evening. That was the day that friend Michael Willison was free and birding with him would not just be fun but would be the best way to assure success as he is a great birder and also knows the area intimately. I have had great luck throughout my 50 state journey and this luck continued two fold in Nebraska.
Michael’s great birding buddy Knut Hansen was coming to Lincoln to bird with him and Michael was able to take off work on the 20th to bird with him. Due to the earlier success in Iowa than originally planned, I was able to arrive in Nebraska on the night of the 19th and also be available to bird on the 20th. It could not have worked out better. Getting to the punchline before the story itself, I birded with both Michael and Knut on both the 20th and 21st and we were able to find more than 50 species each day. It really was doubling the pleasure and doubling the fun as well as doubling the number of birds seeing more than 100 species combined over the two days. We had a great time.
Some more background. Michael was a top birder in Washington before leaving in 2013. A major feat was putting Eide Road on the map. Living nearby in Stanwood, Michael birded the hotspot religiously and established it as one of the best shorebird spots in the State with other great birds as well. It took him very little time to establish himself as a birding force in Nebraska and was the top Ebird birder there every year from 2013 through 2017 and ranks 4th all time. He is also an Ebird reviewer for the state. I first met Michael on our mad dash to see the Ross’s Gull that Charlie Wright had found at Palmer Lake in Washington on December 21, 2011. Knut Hansen had been along on that trip as well. I birded in Washington on numerous occasions that next year but Knut was piloting for Jet Blue and our paths did cross as much.
Ross’s Gull – Palmer Lake, Washington – December 21, 2011 (First birding with Michael and Knut)
Michael and Knut have birded together on many international trips and I listened with envy to many of their stories on the two days together. All of that would have made for a great trip regardless of the birds seen in Nebraska, but I was there primarily to get my 50 species. Knut was more interested in adding to his long list of birds photographed and Michael was serving as super guide to help each of us with our quests. I could not have had better help nor better company and that says a lot as it is evident that I had great help, great company, great birds and a great time on each of the states visited on this trip – and that has generally been the case in each state I have visited during this entire adventure. I am very fortunate.
Day 1 – September 20, 2019
There were thunderstorms with heavy rain on the night of the 19th but good weather greeted us as we began our birding on the 20th at an aptly named hotspot – the Marsh Wren Community Wetlands. Really great habitat. We circumnavigated the small lake giving us some good exercise and wonderful birds. Appropriately we had a Marsh Wren joined by Sedge Wren and House Wren. Carolina Wren has been seen there rarely but was not by us. Now if a Winter Wren had been seen, that would have been even better as I need a photo of that one.
Sedge Wren (Left by me, right by Knut Hansen)
I have included two photos of one of the Sedge Wrens to demonstrate that I am more of a picture taker than a photographer. Mine on the left is “OK”. The one on the right by Knut Hansen has the focus and settings “just right”. Mine is a picture and his is a photograph. Moving towards that is a project for next year.
All told we had 40 species at this very enjoyable stop. One of my favorites there was a very cooperative Green Heron which we saw in the reeds at the marsh and perched on surrounding trees and in flight in between. We also had a Great Blue Heron but no Egrets or Night Herons which were possibilities.
We really had a good mix of birds with 4 duck species, 2 gallinaceous species (Pheasant and Turkey), 4 shorebirds including the only Wilson’s Snipes of my trip, 3 swallows and 4 icterids. The latter included both Eastern Meadowlarks (heard singing) and a few Yellowheaded Blackbirds. There was also a single Dickcissel in with a flock of blackbirds.
On the path back to our car we saw at least 2 Brown Thrashers playing hide and seek with us and each other.
Unfortunately Knut and I missed a flyby Sora seen by Michael so I was “only” at 39 species for the 100 minutes that we spent covering 3 miles there. This was clearly a great start and Michael was talking about the possibility of 100 species. I was willing of course, but first we needed 11 more. Six were quickly added on our way to and at the Whitehead Saline Wetland all supposed “gimmes”: Eurasian Collared Dove, Rock Pigeon, House Sparrow, American Crow, Turkey Vulture and Great Tailed Grackle with the latter being the first for my trip.
Great Tailed Grackle
We also had a large flock of Brown Headed Cowbirds. I had expected them to be common in all of these prairie states but found them only in two.
Brown Headed Cowbird
On our way to our next stop – Wilderness County Park – we passed a tower with a gathering of at least 150 Purple Martins. I have seen other swallow groups like this but never Purple Martins – probably close to as many Martins as I have seen over the past 5 years.
At Wilderness County Park we had superb passerines, roaring past 50 species adding 16 new ones for the day. New species were Chimney Swift, Sharp Shinned and Red Tailed Hawks, Red Bellied Woodpecker, Yellow Throated and Red Eyed Vireos, Black Capped Chickadee, White Breasted Nuthatch, Gray Catbird, Eastern Wood Pewee, Common Grackle, Yellow, Yellow Rumped and Wilson’s Warblers, Northern Cardinal and a surprising Indigo Bunting. I cannot tell you which was number 50 but that milestone mattered only as meeting the specific “needs” of the 50/50/50 Adventure and it was clear that there was lots more great birding ahead.
I was particularly pleased to get good pictures of the Yellow Throated Vireo as my previous ones were pretty awful. These were much better. Getting a photo of the Red Eyed Vireo was nice as well.
We were now at 62 species for the day and it was not yet noon. We had also added another mile plus of walking so I was feeling good about birds and exercise – feeling good about everything. All of our birding would be in Lancaster County and there were still some really good lakes to visit. Michael still had his sights set on 100 species for the day. At Yankee Hill State WMA, we added Red Headed Woodpecker and American Kestrel and then at Conestoga Lake we added more species including a Spotted Sandpiper that Knut spied in flight and some Chipping Sparrows only our second Sparrow species for the day. One of the Chippers had an odd deformed head but otherwise seemed healthy and active.
Chipping Sparrow with Deformity
Now over 70 species, it was time for lunch. On serious birding days, lunch is not a major undertaking – usually fast food, a sub and something liquid with a bathroom stop. I cannot even remember where we stopped this day, but we did actually sit down to eat and then we were quickly back in action.
Our next visit was to Pawnee Lake State Recreation Area. I had visited it the day before in sweltering heat and had a paltry 7 species in 35 minutes. This visit was the same length in somewhat less heat and in fact with threatening skies. We had twice as many species including some challenging ID’s between Forster’s and Common Terns – my first terns of my trip. My photo shows both terns and a Ring Billed Gull – all new for the day.
Three New Birds – Common (left) and Forster’s (center) Terns and Ring Billed Gull
A Ring Billed Gull is a relatively small gull so it is fun to see the size difference with the terns. Here are the comparative dimensions: Forster’s Tern – 13 inches long with a 31 inch wingspan; Common Tern – 12 inches long with a 30 inch wingspan; and Ring Billed Gull – 17.5 inches long with a 48″ wingspan. Interesting to note perhaps that the gull weighs 17.5 ounces while the two terns weigh in at 6 and 4.2 ounces respectively. Birds are truly lightweights making flight possible.
At this stop we also added Eastern Bluebird, Osprey, American White Pelican and Willow Flycatcher to our day list. It was here that we had our first real rain of the day – a heavy downpour that lasted less than 2 minutes. After that it was clear skies for the remainder of our birding. It is amazing that in my 47 days birding in this grand adventure this was only the second day with any rain and it had no impact whatsoever.
American White Pelican
I had also visited Branched Oak State Recreation Area the previous day. It is a huge area with a horseshoe shaped big lake. I had merely gone in to one entrance and scanned the lake finding Franklin’s Gulls and not much else. After a few minutes, I had departed. This day we would spend 2 hours there covering and recovering more than 10 miles. We had lots of birds – 44 species in all adding 16 species to our day total bringing us to 91. There were some very good birds but the rarest had to be an immature Sabine’s Gull – a rarity here and anywhere inland. I have seen them only on pelagic trips and in Nome Alaska. The gull was always distant so despite taking literally dozens of pictures, none are great, but no question on the identification.
We also had more Ring Billed Gulls and some new for the day Franklin’s Gulls. Another distant bird was a Black Tern.
This turned out to be a good spot for shorebirds as well although again they were mostly pretty distant. Species included Stilt Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, Killdeer, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Semipalmated Plover, Long Billed Dowitcher, Sanderling and Lesser Yellowlegs. All but the Least and Killdeer were new for the day.
At one point all of the shorebirds took off in a flash and Michael, Knut and I all simultaneously yelled “Peregrine” anticipating that there would be one scaring them off. A few seconds later one did indeed swoop by. It put on a great show hanging around for several minutes – chasing but not catching any of the shorebirds and then landing in shallow water providing a great photo opportunity.
Hard to choose which was the more exciting – the Sabine’s or the Peregrine but both were great shows and great birds. Other new birds for the day were Bald Eagle, Olive Sided Flycatcher, Cedar Waxwings, Double Crested Cormorants and House Finch. So we fell a bit short of Michael’s hoped for 100 species, but there were a number of misses for the day and the 91 species seen (not including the Sora seen by Michael only) still ranked 4th as a day total among all of the states to date in my Adventure. So officially Nebraska was completed state number 47 – completed a day earlier than planned which meant there was still a half day on the 21st to get out and bird some more.
Lincoln, Nebraska is the capital of Nebraska and is also the home of the University of Nebraska. This is football country and the locals, and residents from all over the state, take the Cornhuskers seriously. A little bit of a down time from the national prominence that the team once had but that has barely curbed the interest. We saw signs of this birding in some of the campgrounds surrounding the lakes as is evident from the sign below – at a campsite with an RV – one of many all with similar signs. There was a group of maybe 15 fans having fun together dressed in their Nebraska Cornhusker red attire. And this was the day before the game – which was an away game anyhow. We would see much more Cornhusker love the next day when we made a coffee stop in the Haymarket area near downtown Lincoln.
We celebrated the day with an excellent dinner at Copal Progressive Mexican Cuisine. I had a short rib dish that was as good as anything I have had – anywhere – super tender, well seasoned, more than reasonably priced and a very sizable helping. I would encourage anyone to try this rather unique place. https://www.copallnk.com/
“BEEF SHORT RIBS Our famous short ribs, slow cooked for 6 hours in a mixture of beer, Dijon mustard, agave honey and spices. Accompanied with avocado paste, mashed potatoes, meat juice reduction, rice and beans.” Yummy!!
Day 2 – Saturday September 21
On Saturday the 21st we were back in the field chasing Nebraska birds starting at the Lincoln Saline Wetlands Park. It was an even better start than the day before as we had 42 species some which were similar to the preceding day but with several new ones as well. A very late Orchard Oriole was new and rare for the time. Good looks but no photos. I was able to get a photo of a Blue Gray Gnatcatcher and an American Redstart neither very good though.
There were better photos of two other warblers – Wilson’s Warbler and Common Yellowthroat.
There were many swallows – five different species including another large group of Purple Martins. We also had a Nashville Warbler – photo resistant and my first Yellow Warbler of the trip.
There were two new raptors for the visit, a Merlin and a Cooper’s Hawk and as we were leaving we had great views of Brown Thrashers and Gray Catbirds.
The single species that was found most commonly in every one of these prairie states was probably the Blue Jay as their raucous calls were heard at almost every stop. They were mostly seen flying from one hidden perch to another. Northern Cardinals were also common although much less so than the Jays. Mostly it was their soft chips that we heard. We had good visuals of both of these species at this location.
Northern Cardinal
With such a great start we took a break to visit the Haymarket Area in Lincoln for some coffee. It was game day morning and even though the Cornhuskers were playing an away game, the place was jumping full of football fans wearing every conceivable type of fan wear in red. We visited a store 100% dedicated to licorice. Who knew that Knut not just liked licorice but was also an aficionado.
Michael (Right) and Knut (Left)
And if anyone does not understand how Nebraska football is dominant in Lincoln and throughout the entire state, here is the view of the stadium I saw as I was entering the city. It is big. On game days it holds 90,000 people in the stands. So during the game, it is the thrid largest city in Nebraska behind Omaha and Lincoln itself.
OK, time to get back to the birds. We went to Antelope Park, essentially a walking/biking path in a nice residential area with trees and good passerine habitat. Our main target was a Mississippi Kite that had fledged a young bird there. It had not been reported for 5 days but Michael thought it likely that birders simply had not been there recently. He was right as it took us only a moment to find first one and then a second Mississippi Kite flying overhead.
We had other good birds as well. One was our only Ruby Throated Hummingbird for the state – species number 100 in Nebraska. Similarly among the 24 species seen, we had our first Warbling Vireo, Hairy Woodpecker and Least Flycatcher.
Later at Michael’s home before leaving to get to the airport in Omaha and to return to Seattle, we had a Peregrine Falcon flyby – our 53rd species for the day. In some other states I had birded on my own before the official 50 species day and in a few I had found 50 or more species on my own. This time it was with the same birders as the day before but it was a much shorter day. If we had gone with the same drive and amount of time as the previous day, we may well have hit 100 species. As it was, combining the two days we had 105 species. The better measurement however, is that we had a lot of fun with great birds and experiences. I have to close with how super Michael was as a host and a guide and a friend.
So it is now 47 states completed leaving Kansas, Oklahoma and Arkansas to go. I cannot get out to bird again until late October or into November or December. Preliminary research suggests that 50 species in a day may be doable then. It would be fun to do these days as part of Christmas Counts in those states. We will see…
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Probably the most-cited argument against the existence of a theistic God is the logical form of the problem of evil, which argues that the existence of an all-good and all-powerful God is logically incompatible with the existence of evil because an all-good God would want to prevent evil and an all-powerful God could prevent evil, and yet evil exists. From this, it follows that God is not all-powerful, not all-good, or more likely does not exist at all. There could be a world in which God exists, or there could be a world in which evil exists, but there can be no world in which both God and evil exist. Since it’s empirically evident that evil exists, God does not.
Most people are unaware of the fact that this form of the argument has been definitively answered: God and evil can coexist without logical contradiction so long as God has a morally sufficient reason for allowing evil. Theologians differ, however, on what God’s morally sufficient reason is (or might be):
Some argue that God allows evil because evil produces additional goods that would not be possible in a morally pure world, such as courage, compassion, and forgiveness. We shall call this the “new goods” view.
Others argue that God is morally justified in permitting evil because each act of evil will be compensated by a good, even if the good is not as great as the evil it is compensating, not always identifiable, or not even realized in our lifetime. We shall call this the “compensation” view.
Others argue that God is morally justified in permitting evil because each act of evil will be compensated by a greater good, even if the good is not always identifiable or even realized in our lifetime. We shall call this the “greater compensation” view. It differs from the former only in the amount of compensation we receive for each act of evil.
Others have argued that God is morally justified in permitting evil so long as the total amount of evil in the world is eclipsed by the total amount of good; i.e. the good outweighs the bad (even if not every person experiences more good than evil). We shall call this the “more good” view.
Are these explanations satisfactory understandings of why God permits evil? Not surprisingly, skeptics don’t think so. For example, in William Lane Craig’s debate with Daniel Came, Came challenged the “new goods” characterization of God’s moral justification by asking how the evil of a young child suffering and dying from leukemia can be justified by the loving expressions of sympathy toward the grieving parents or the intense closeness the family may experience due to their mutual loss and shared suffering. While those new goods are truly good, surely they do not outweigh the evil of the child’s death! No parent would choose those goods over the good of their child’s continued life. While some good may come out of evil, it rarely seems to outweigh the evil itself.
While “new goods” are truly good and valuable, they do not seem worth the price of all the evil and suffering in the world. If you gave people a choice between (1) a world containing evil plus these extra goods and (2) a world devoid of evil as well as these extra goods, I surmise that most people would choose the latter. The goods of love, peace, joy, friendship, equality, honesty, kindness, generosity, beauty, loyalty, pleasure, and wisdom are plenty!
Came also challenged the “compensation” and “greater compensation” characterizations of God’s moral justification. He thinks it probable that some evils are gratuitous (pointless); i.e. they could be eliminated without eliminating any good in the world and without causing a greater evil. Examples of gratuitous evil include animals dying an agonizing death in a forest fire, being bit by a mosquito, or stubbing one’s toe. If even some gratuitous evils exist in the world, the “compensation” characterization of God’s moral justification must be false because there would exist some evils for which no good was realized.
The compensation views also suffer from their reliance on epistemic ignorance. It’s not possible to empirically verify that every act of evil is compensated by some good. Even if it was possible, the view holds that some goods may not be realized in our lifetime. How could such a view ever be confirmed or falsified? Even if we could prove that someone experienced more evil than good in their lifetime, the theist could always argue that the missing goods will be realized in the future in the life of someone else.
The greater compensation view also suffers from the problem of moral intervention. We have a basic intuition that we have a moral responsibility to prevent evil insofar as we are able. If each instance of evil produces a greater amount of good, however, then to prevent any instance of evil is to prevent a greater instance of good. It would seem reasonable, then, that the moral person should not intervene to prevent evil insofar as he is able, lest he prevent greater amounts of good in the world. Since this flies in the face of our basic moral intuitions, the greater compensation is most assuredly false.
What about the “more good” view? It’s not clear what is meant by the good “outweighing” evil. Are we referring to the number of acts, such that if there were 99 evil acts and 100 good acts, then good would outweigh evil? Or are we referring to the quality of the acts? Clearly some acts of goodness carry more moral weight than others. Risking one’s life to save the life of another carries more moral weight than the act of telling the truth. Likewise, some acts of evil carry more moral weight than others. Genocide is more evil than lying. If the world contained 99 acts of evil and 100 acts of goodness, but all 99 of those evil acts were acts of murder while all 100 of those good acts were acts of truth-telling, surely no one would suggest that the good outweighs the evil because the moral weight of those acts of evil outweighs the moral weight of those acts of good, even though there were fewer acts of evil.
Perhaps we ought to measure the amount of good and evil via a combination of both number and quality. This doesn’t seem to help, however. Our epistemic finitude prevents us from being able to obtain an accurate count and our lack of objectivity prevents us from being able to accurately identify the moral weight of each act. I fear that the limitations inherent within this enterprise leads to the tail wagging the dog. Those who have experienced more/worse evil than good are more likely to conclude that evil outweighs good and side with the atheists on the question of God’s existence. Those who have experienced more good than evil and are more likely to conclude that good outweighs evil and side with the theists.
Given the liabilities of these characterizations of God’s morally sufficient reason for permitting evil, we ought to seek another.
It seems to me that any characterization of God’s morally sufficient reason for permitting evil that requires a corresponding good for every instance of evil, or that requires the sum total of goodness in the world to exceed the sum total of evil overextends itself empirically, Biblically, and logically, and unnecessarily gives the skeptic reason to reject the theist’s defeater to the logical problem of evil, as well as a rational basis for positing the evidential/probabilistic form of the problem of evil.
Empirically speaking, there are all sorts of instances of evil for which we cannot identify any corresponding good that was produced by it, or for which the good produced by the evil did not outweigh the evil itself. It’s true that our epistemic limitations may prevent us from identifying all the goods that have been or will be realized as a result of some instance of evil, but the fact remains that – from an empirical perspective – we have good reason to think that some evils are pointless or do not produce a corresponding/outweighing good.[1] While appealing to epistemic finitude may be enough to reduce the skeptic’s undercutting defeater to a mere rebutting defeater and save the compensation characterizations of God’s morally sufficient reason from refutation, it will not persuade most people. While it’s possible that there are goods produced by evil that we’ll never be able to identify due to our epistemic limitations, possibilities come cheap and do not give us reason to believe that it’s actually true.
Biblically Overextended
Biblically speaking, while God has promised to redeem evil, there is no promise that the total amount of good in the world will be greater than the total amount of evil, or that every instance of evil will produce some corresponding good. Romans 8:28 is often appealed to in support of these notions, but it fails to support the claims when examined more closely.
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. (ESV)
This verse promises that all things will work together for good, but says nothing about how much good will be produced (e.g. more than the amount of evil), when that good will be realized (in the present vs. the future), or even the relationship of good to evil (each evil act has a corresponding good vs. evil more generally will produce a general good). This verse is a promise that God will redeem evil for our benefit – nothing more. And it’s not even a principle that applies to all people, but only to those who love God and are called according to His purpose. Those who are not followers of Christ have no promise that they’ll experience any redeeming good from the evil they experience (though they might).
Logically speaking, there is nothing inherent to the notion of a morally sufficient reason that requires such a robust characterization of God’s morally sufficient reason for permitting evil. It merely entails that God have a morally justifying reason. There are other ways of characterizing God’s morally sufficient reason that could morally justify God’s permission of evil without committing ourselves to the idea that the good must outweigh the evil in the world or that every instance of evil must have some corresponding good. We would do well, then, to reject these maximalist characterizations of God’s morally sufficient reason in favor of a more minimalistic characterization that is not only more plausible, but is also able to undercut the skeptics’ rebuttals.
I propose that minimally, God’s morally sufficient reason for permitting evil is that the possibility of evil is necessary for the possibility of loving relationships, and the ultimate good of a loving relationship with God in particular.[2] Free will is logically necessary for a genuine, loving relationship between God and humans because real love requires a real choice. Love is not the kind of thing that can be coerced or programmed. While we could program a robot to say and do things we associate with love, the robot would not experience or express genuine love. Love requires freedom, and freedom entails both the possibility of choosing to love and the possibility of choosing not to love; it entails both the possibility of choosing what is good or choosing what is evil. Free will is a moral good that allows for a loving relationship with each other and with God, but that good can also be used to defy God and hurt others.
God could prevent the possibility of evil in this world, but only by eliminating free will. That sounds great until we recognize that doing so would eliminate the possibility of love and goodness too, because the very thing that makes evil possible (free will) is the same thing that makes love and goodness possible. So God had a choice: prevent freedom to prevent evil, or create us with freedom so we could experience love. God knew that the good of love is morally superior to the horrors of evil, so He created free creatures that could choose both good and evil, and gave them the responsibility to choose rightly.[3] In other words, the possibility of experiencing a loving relationship with God and each other is worth the risk of people using their good freedom for evil purposes. To prevent the possibility of evil would prevent the possibility of love, and the good of love is worth the evils we experience. We don’t need to identify any particular good for every instance of evil, nor argue that the quantity or quality of good must exceed the evil to morally justify God’s permission of evil. The possibility of a loving relationship with God justifies any and every instance of evil. While God may have other reasons for permitting evil, the possibility of love is the supreme moral justification for permitting evil.
The evidential problem of evil
This characterization of God’s morally sufficient reason for permitting evil has the practical advantage of undercutting both the logical and evidential/probabilistic forms of the problem of evil. Whereas the logical form of the problem of evil argues that God’s existence is logically incompatible with the existence of evil, the evidential/probabilistic form only argues that God’s existence is improbable given the amount/kinds of evil that exists in the world. It’s said that if an all-loving and all-powerful God existed, we would expect less amounts and less grotesque forms of evil in the world. Since the amount and kinds of evil in the world are beyond what we would expect if an all-loving and all-powerful God exists, then such a God probably does not exist.
The argument assumes that the probability of God’s existence is tied to the amount/kinds of evil versus good in the world (ironically, that assumption is shared by theists who hold to the “more good” and “greater compensation” characterizations of God’s moral justification for permitting evil). If God’s morally sufficient reason for permitting evil is that the possibility of evil is a logical prerequisite for loving relationships, however, then the amount/kinds of evil in the world is irrelevant. Whereas maximalist conceptions of God’s morally sufficient reason – such as the “greater compensation” and “more good” views – empower the evidential argument from evil, the minimalist characterization I am proposing undercuts it. If God permits evil because it is the only way to make loving relationships possible (and this is the supreme good), then the amount/kinds of evil in the world is an irrelevant distraction. A loving relationship with God and each justifies any kind/amount of evil in the world. Even if the world contained twice as much evil and half as much good as it does, God would still be morally justified in permitting evil since the freedom to choose that evil is necessary to make loving relationships possible.[4]
While there are many possible reasons for which God allows evil, we ought to advance a minimalist characterization over maximalist characterizations. While there may be a corresponding good for every instance of evil, and while good may ultimately outweigh evil, such maximalist conceptions are not necessary to show that God is morally justified in permitting evil. A loving relationship with God is the ultimate good, and the possibility of such a relationship morally justifies God’s permission of evil in whatever form or amount. This understanding of God’s morally sufficient reason for permitting evil not only justifies God’s permission of evil, but also has the advantage of undercutting the evidential form of the argument against God from the problem of evil, and doesn’t require the theist to defend the impossibility of gratuitous evil. A freedom-permitting world that makes love possible may also be a world in which there is more evil than good, or a world in which evils exist for which there is no corresponding good.
If God is good, why is there evil?
Why is there so much evil in the world?
Tied at the Hip: The Logical and Evidential Versions of the Problem of Evil
A challenge to the free-will defense: Does heaven prove that God could have created free creatures who would not sin?
[1]Some will say that for all we know, the good may manifest itself in the lives of people unknown to us in either the present or distant future. That’s true, but so is the reverse. For all we know, there may not be any good produced by the instance of evil – not even in the distant future. The blade cuts both ways.
[2]I do not pretend to be the originator of such a characterization. Alvin Plantinga defined the free-will defense in the mid-1970s and many others have proposed variations of it. I am merely suggesting that we favor this characterization of God’s morally sufficient reason over the others – not only because I think it is true, but also for the strategic purpose that it is open to fewer criticisms than the other characterizations. It may be true that there are no gratuitous evils because God will bring about a greater good for every act of evil prior to (or at) the end of this age. Likewise, it may be true that God’s morally sufficient reason for permitting evil is that the sum total of good will outweigh the sum total of evil in the end. And perhaps good reasons can be given for defending these maximal characterizations. My contention is simply that they are not necessary to answer the logical problem of evil, they invite unnecessary criticism, and they provide cogency to the evidential form of the problem of evil, and thus should be avoided in our apologetic.
[3]While God permits evil now, He will not continue to do so forever. There is coming a day of judgment where those who do not choose rightly will be held morally accountable for their evil choices and given the appropriate punishment.
[4]God cannot be held morally responsible for the amount/kinds of evil in the world because He is not the one committing those acts of evil. The amount/kinds of evil in the world is determined by the choices we make. God makes morally significant choices possible, but it is our use of our own freedom that determines how much evil is in the world. The amount/kinds of evil in the world can’t make God’s existence any more or less probable because the amounts/kind of evil in the world only tell us about human psychology, not divine ontology. God’s existence would be just as probable if humans chose evil twice as often as they in-fact have, because the amount of evil we choose to commit tells us nothing about God.
Related
December 31, 2018 at 8:07 am
What Morally Justifies God’s Permission of Evil? The terms moral, justice, good and evil are human attributes and can only apply to a God that mankind has invented upon which to heap everything man thinks and behaves upon the creature of devise he invents. God therefore cannot be justified for the evil he renders because God’s prime objective is to defeat God’s nemesis, MAN! God is not for man; God is against man and has been ever since the WARNING contained in the Book of Genesis.
Does good and evil exist on Mars?; of course not. But why? Because man does not exist on Mars. Man use to exist on Mars until Global Warming and Climate Change reached critical mass on that planet. At that time manly attributes of greed, selfishness, despise of others and self love was rampant. Unfortunately when Mars became uninhabitable as the result of martian man’s greed, some escaped the martian fate in spaceships and migrated to Earth and began populating its sister planet. We see the results of Global Warming Climate Change now as space probes and photos of Mars surface reveal what Earth will look like in the future if we fail again to get God out of the Solar System.
However the problem is that when Martian Man arrived on earth to populate the planet he insisted on bringing God with him and God knows, right from the bible itself as written by the first martian men is a warning to mankind, God is against man and against whatever man does. And where man is, God is not far behind thwarting all man’s ambitious ventures that include living “at-one-ment”..uh uh. Behind every man is god rolling his eyes wondering what he is up to next.
God will not allow man to fulfill man’s destiny as noted in Chapter 11 from the Book of Genesis. Read it yourself, again for the first time with understanding. God is against everything man would accomplish and God will always throw evil roadblocks in front of man as man develops into the lovely creatures and beautiful Cosmic Gods we truly are designed to become, to be the Guardians to quard the Cosmic garden by deleting the evil that God continually throws in our path thwarting our rightful inheritance.
After the Martian Castastrophe brought on by the Martian God man WROTE the caution ABOUT THE NATURE OF GOD as a warning in the very first Book of the Bible.
Read again the truth about God and his Roadblocks to confound the progress of Man’s Destiny which is to Eliminate Evil from the Cosmos.
Llet me attach it for you so you don’t have to lift a finger to research it yourself.
GEN 11:1-9
And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech.
2 And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there.
3 They said to each other, “Come, let’s make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar.
4 And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. (They would build a “Stairway to Heaven”)
5 And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded.
6 The Lord said, “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them.
7 Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.
8 So the Lord scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city.
9 Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the Lord did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the Lord scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.
December 31, 2018 at 8:14 am
All that glitters is gold
When she gets there she knows
If the stores are all closed
With a word she can get what she came for
But she wants to be sure
‘Cause you know sometimes words have two meanings
In a tree by the brook
Sometimes all of our thoughts are misgiving
Ooh, it makes me wonder
Ooh, it makes me wonder
When I look to the west
And my spirit is crying for leaving
In my thoughts I have seen
Rings of smoke through the trees
And the voices of those who standing looking
Ooh, it makes me wonder
Ooh, it really makes me wonder
Then the piper will lead us to reason
For those who stand long
And the forests will echo with laughter
It’s just a spring clean for the May queen
Yes, there are two paths you can go by
And it makes me wonder
Your head is humming and it won’t go
The piper’s calling you to join him
Dear lady, can you hear the wind blow
And did you know
And as we wind on down the road
There walks a lady we all know
Who shines white light and wants to show
How everything still turns to gold
And if you listen very hard
The tune will come to you at last
When all are one and one is all
To be a rock and not to roll
December 31, 2018 at 8:15 am
All of us for One
One of us for all.
LikeLiked by 1 person
December 31, 2018 at 8:19 am
The existence of evil is so often misunderstood. Evil does NOT equate with sin. It is simply a counterpoint and integral part of the creation. One person starving while another grows fat with an over-abundance are extremities of the physical reality. One must realize that God created both potentials but one must also realize that neither is relevant simply because death comes to all regardless of circumstances since the creation was intended to be temporary and mortal. It is the resurrection that matters….not how long or well one lives in the here and now. Consider the parable of the rich man (an inference to mankind in general since the man was not named) and Lazarus the beggar (deliberately named to equate with the faithful). Jesus is actually telling about the first and second resurrection. It is the beggar who obviously rises in the first resurrection to great reward in faithfulness. And, it is the rich man who rises in the second resurrection and looking up from the grave AFTER his resurrection (this is not a picture of consciousness in death), realizes he faces judgement with the “rest of the dead”. The “gulf” between Lazarus and the rich man is the gulf of time between the two resurrection events….the first event at the return of Jesus). This is not a parable about “heaven and hell”. And, it shows that suffering in this life isn’t all that relevant although it might seem so to those who suffer. Myself included.
December 31, 2018 at 12:04 pm
Kim, you’re lapsing into one-paragraph mode again. Don’t you realize that a lot of people won’t read a glob of words for the simple reason that they’re hard to follow? Besides, since you obviously know how to create paragraphs, why do you revert to clumping everything together?
With respect to the topic, if an infinitely good God can be proved, then it follows that there is a morally justified reason for evil’s existence. Whether or not finite beings are able to discern what that reason is does not diminish the force of the argument.
Although the whys of evil may be an interesting academic exercise, it has no bearing on God’s existence.
December 31, 2018 at 1:25 pm
“……if an infinitely good God can be proved, then it follows that there is a morally justified reason for evil’s existence. Whether or not finite beings are able to discern what that reason is does not diminish the force of the argument…..”
This has to rank as one of the best scholarly paragraphs ever written describing the meaningless, “If-this-then-that-follows” argument. Its syntax rolls off the tongue like blossoms in spring but which blossoms, short lived, withers and wilts when one’s inability to discern the reason of the argument that was devoid of reason in its formation, becomes astonishingly conspicuous by its absence. At the same time it reveals how a pseudo force cannot be diminished beyond the absence of its existence; a non existent value cannot logically be diminished(except possibly in math). It does however generate anticipatory excitement in the reading which is why this impotent argument is such a powerful example of nonsense.
“…….Although the whys of evil may be an interesting academic exercise, it has no bearing on God’s existence……”
God herself could not have dispensed with the “whys of evil” any better. Wonderfully efficient.
December 31, 2018 at 8:31 pm
God can allow free will without having childhood leukemia.
January 1, 2019 at 12:09 am
In the Spirit of the Season:
When you are a child, you have Santa Claus, Pere Noel, Saint Nicholas, among others. When you are an adult you graduate to God, Jehovah, Allah, among others.
Santa Claus is no more responsible for the Grinch than God is responsible for D’evil.
Santa and God are from the same Nation; The Nation of their existence is from the same place as the I-pad, the I-phone and the I-mac; in other words the I-nation, the I-mage in both cases is the I-mage I-nation or put ’em altogether and what do you have I-m-a-g-i-N-a-t-i-o-n. That’s where they both exist.
If you twist the letters in Santa you get Satan but Santa is not responsible for that. Either is God for D’evil.
January 1, 2019 at 11:50 am
Well written argument, I like how free will is tied to the notion of the possibility of a loving relationship with God.
Well done and I agree with the basic premise of this argument.
January 1, 2019 at 12:10 pm
God cannot be “proven” to exist…much less an “infinitely good God”.
January 1, 2019 at 3:17 pm
Yes, God’s existence can be proved and has been done several times over, but that’s not the topic of the main post. If an infinitely good God exists, then it follows that the existence of evil is morally justified.
January 1, 2019 at 5:21 pm
Evil can never be morally justified?
Why?
Because evil and moral can never occupy the same sentence supporting the same argument. They are contradictories.
NOT MUCH OF an argument “….If…..then…follows….(read folly)…..”; that is, the folly of manchild believers still in the Santa phase of anal retention.
“Speculative imagination has been proven several times over.” WTF-antasy!
Speculation is the hangup of believers that leads only to the hole of their own digging, the “Pit of Their Downfall” as a result of the hole they’ve been digging for the last 10,000 centuries and of them, Jesus said:
“…..Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,
This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
This is why I speak to them in parables: ‘Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.’ In them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled: ‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people’s heart has grown callous; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.’…they seeing do not see, hearing they do not hear lest they come to me and be healed from their lunacy……”
Nothing follows from speculation, absolutely nothing, follows from speculation except nonsense, nothing’s companion.
Here however, is an example of what follows…….. from TRUTH: And this is the new motto that will be written in the mindset and on the hearts in THE NEW ERA of the New Earth and the New Heaven when the old belief will vaporize, supplanted by knowledge:
“This above all: to thine own self be true, And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man.”
January 1, 2019 at 6:27 pm
Beware of nigglers who practice the letter of the law but neglect the spirit of the law.
Another way of countering the same demands was made by Jesus two thousand years to the ancestors of today’s niggler generation who insisted on keeping the ritual traditions of topic without deviation, without diversity, without discretionary discourse; maintain the status quo at all costs and throw it up in the face of those who dare delight in distinctiveness.
“You’re hopeless, you religion scholars and Pharisees! Frauds! You burnish the surface of your cups and bowls so they sparkle in the sun, while the insides are maggoty with your greed and gluttony.
“You’re hopeless, you religion scholars and Pharisees! Frauds! You build granite tombs for your prophets and marble monuments for your saints. And you say that if you had lived in the days of your ancestors, no blood would have been on your hands. You protest too much! You’re cut from the same cloth as those murderers, and daily add to the death count.
January 2, 2019 at 6:11 am
Any diety that can be “proven” to exist is not the God of the Bible. That’s the main problem with religion….it rightly acknowledges that God exists then attempts defining its own diety. A false one.
January 2, 2019 at 6:27 am
God defines both good AND evil. Not man. An “infinitely good god” is a constructed diety of your own making.
January 2, 2019 at 7:50 am
So true. And that is precisely what Jesus told the pseudo righteous that made a mockery of truth.
The Diety of life is not the Diety believers serve or are expected to serve; the Diety believers serve, is the Diety that reflects the positions of the “P” proponent’s false Diety they created to serve themselves.
They are the tails wagging the ritual Dogs. Stay on topic; stay on topic.
January 2, 2019 at 8:09 am
Kim writes:
Any diety that can be “proven” to exist is not the God of the Bible.
That is just an empty statement. Nowhere does the Bible say that God cannot be proven to exist.
January 2, 2019 at 11:23 am
Why would the Bible say to “prove God exists” when it clearly infers this is not needed from the very first verse? What the Bible does say concerning the existence of God is to caution against denying God’s existence and false gods……… Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
January 2, 2019 at 11:30 am
You’re deflecting, Kim. You made the assertion that any deity that can be proven to exist is not the God of the Bible. That is not a scriptural assertion; it is an unsupported claim and is thus entirely unpersuasive. You do that quite often, as if your pronouncements are all that’s needed to prove your point.
January 2, 2019 at 11:32 am
Moreover, Kim, you’re also dodging the main point: If God is infinitely good, then the so-called “problem of evil” is academic because it follows that evil is morally justified. That’s actually the point I am making, not this silly sidebar on whether the Bible prohibits the attempt to prove God’s existence to the ignorant.
January 2, 2019 at 12:30 pm
I’m not dodging the point dear. Your if/then statement is based on a false presumption that God is “infinitely good”. Consequently, the use of the if/then statement is void and there is no need for me to response to it.
January 2, 2019 at 12:40 pm
Your meaning is so simple to understand. So I’ll spell it out for the babes in waiting.
By saying,
“Any Diety that can be “proven” to exist would not the God of the Bible”………
………. is, BECAUSE the God of the bible is man made and a false fabrication made in man’s image. at that. It says what it means and it means what it says. The bible’s God of the Desert is not a bonafide Diety.
I believe this went right over the head of some readers but is a perfect example of the FULFILLMENT of Isaiah’s saying: ‘Though seeing(reading), they do not see; though hearing(reading), they do not hear or understand.’
If they did understand what Kim meant they will surely not admit it because that would be an admission they have been wrong all their life, whoreshipping the false God of the bible; and that, while claiming to be a Christian and claiming to follow Christ who said exactly the same thing as Kim said, in so many ways, in so many words, that also went right over the indoctrinated bullheaded heads of his day and still goes over the caca del toro heads of this generation.
January 2, 2019 at 12:41 pm
My statement was based on logic found within the Bible. If God can be proven by his creation then that diety is merely an extension of the creation. The God of the Bible is EXTRAnatural…not supernatural. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.
January 2, 2019 at 12:46 pm
Kim, you shouldn’t comment on a subject with which you’re unfamiliar. Disputing the premise has no bearing on the point. If the premise is true, the conclusion is true. If the assertion from a conditional is a certain conclusion must follow, then the cogent reply is either to agree or demonstrate why the conclusion does not follow the conditional. Disputing the premise is beside the point. If the premises are, “Some pigs have wings and all winged creatures sing,” and my interlocutor says that “therefore, some pigs sing,” necessarily follows, I would have to agree because, logically speaking, said conclusion must follow the premises. Disputing the premise itself misses the point.
The vast majority of Christians believe that God is infinitely good, and even many agnostics and atheists acknowledge that God, if He did exist, must be infinitely good. Thus, the so-called problem of evil is a non-starter in that light. God’s existence cannot be questioned by an appeal to evil.
Your objection that God is not infinitely good is simply an empty claim. You have not shown that from the Bible, and you haven’t shown that proofs for God’s existence are discordant with biblical teaching. And even if you were to biblically prove that God is both good and evil, you still haven’t touched my claim because I have only claimed that IF God is infinitely good, evil is morally justified. How many times does that have to be repeated?
January 2, 2019 at 12:51 pm
For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, To The Unknown God. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare (not “prove”) I unto you…………..Paul to Athenian scholars
January 2, 2019 at 12:56 pm
If you had stated “innately good”, I might have agreed. However, the use of “infinite” in any form precludes logic except to infer the opposite which would be “infinite evil”. Good and evil are related to the creation. Not to God.
January 2, 2019 at 1:31 pm
Again, Kim, you shouldn’t comment on subjects you’re ignorant of. “Infinite,” is commonly used in logical discussions and arguments. The oppose of infinite is finite. Since God is not finite, He must be infinite.
As to the other, you made the claim that the biblical God could not be proved. Again, that is an empty claim because you have not shown why God cannot be proved. You have not shown why the various proofs for His existence are discordant with biblical teaching. Even if God were not infinitely good, various proofs (e.g. Kalam) do not assert His infinite goodness (at least directly).
If you knew anything about “logic,” you wouldn’t make such empty claims.
January 2, 2019 at 5:05 pm
Prove that God “IS” before you start giving her attributes.
The Flawed Presumptive Cosmological argument has been debunked ever since it was first used to prove that God Zeus existed ha,ahaha.
Then, the flawed, debunked Cosmological argument was adopted for Islam by Kalam and Christian Apologists have been running with it as proof of the Abrahamic variant God.
January 3, 2019 at 6:20 am
My comments are hardly empty. Literal “infinity” cannot be proven simply because there is no end to define and as such infinity has no beginning. Limitless perpetuation from some beginning is NOT infinity….the best it can be is that it is a presumption. Simply because what begins can also end. Yet, you blithely claim to use the presumption of infinity logically. This is an oxymoron designed to confuse rather than elucidate. It is the worst form of attempting to define the undefinable God of the Bible and usually it is for some hidden agenda.
January 3, 2019 at 7:10 am
Religion was formulated on wishful thinking and no belief has ever been more wrong than religion’s campaign of guilt-tripping sin.
Only the dogma of self appointed messengers of a created God, could have dictated and promoted religion to the world as a factual belief system. Religious belief systems have never been based on fact, nor can they be; otherwise, they would be knowledge based systems.
The following statements are the most inaccurate and ungodly assertions made and repeated ad nauseum in scripture. Can’t you just hear the monotone drone in the high chambers of cobwebbed columns echoing now?
“……….In God’s eyes, all of us are failures in who we are.
On our own, we have no hope of ever satisfying God’s demands for justice without going to Hell forever.
God made for us a great and certain hope in His Son, Jesus Christ, who died on the cross for our sins as to satisfy the demands of justice……….”
(These Statements of High crimes and misdemeanors are baloney)
The narrative was invented by religious zealots who then proceeded to give all the attributes of man to their created God thereby inventing a God created in the image of man. This reality is complete opposite of what they teach—— that man was made in the image of God ……….and “image of God” failures at that!
All human beings are born with the Spirit of God(Life Forces) within them. Babies are not born in sin just because the founding, imaginative-driven religious zealots decided sin entered the world through sex. Human babies are born guilt-free and pure. “…..From the mouths of babes your praise is assured…..” AND “….Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven…..”
It was the church founding zealot leaders who, with their heartfelt resentment against life, first made something unclean of sexuality: it threw filth on the origin, on the Essential fact of our life. And wrote the story of Genesis to support the narrative.
So please grow up and get out of the fantasy adult Santa-God mode. Stop guilt tripping the world and the children about being failures because religion’s presumptive sexuality is original sin that forms the basis of religious psycho-imposed-agenda of fear, punishment and death, all human anxieties to be sure, but not because we are born failures.
Religion is the biggest failure that has ever cursed this world over the last ten thousand centuries. One has only to cast eyes upon and try to calculate the incalculable wealth of organized religious institutions around the world to understand the extent of the vault, their real agenda certifies.
January 3, 2019 at 8:08 am
Literal “infinity” cannot be proven simply because there is no end to define and as such infinity has no beginning.
This shows you’re not paying attention. You think I’m talking about mathematical infinity? God is either finite or He is not. God is not finite; therefore, He is infinite. Why are you involved in a discussion you don’t understand? And who do you think you are to make blanket statements without supporting argumentation?
I’m going to keep reminding you since your memory is so short:
You claim that the biblical God cannot be proved. That is an EMPTY statement because you have not shown that God cannot be proved.
Since God is not dependent or limited, He is infinite by definition. However, if you believe that God is dependent and limited, then you definitely have a different god than the One Christians worship.
January 3, 2019 at 12:32 pm
For the education and knowledge of the uninformed:
The Kalam Cosmological Argument,(KCA) by itself, is trivial. And proponents of this arguments almost always employ additional arguments to reach their conclusion.
Even if accepted as a sound argument, KCA doesn’t support theism and it certainly wouldn’t support the Abrahamic God anymore than it supported God Zeus.
KCA commits a subtle and devastating Equivocation Fallacy, It does this because the argument switches between two different definitions of the universe throughout its premises in order to achieve its conclusions.
In premise two, “The universe began to exist” the argument uses the scientific definition of the universe, that being, “all matter, space and time”.
BUT in premise three, “Therefore the universe has a cause” it uses the colloquial and/or theological definition of the universe; that being, “Everything that exists, everything that has existed, and everything that will exist.”
The scientific method says that all matter, space and time began to exist as it does now. It is not saying that absolutely everything came into being from absolutely nothing.
The colloquial/theological definition however says that absolutely everything came into being from absolutely nothing.
The KCA asserts Creatio Ex Nihilo (creation out of nothing) but the scientific definition says that everything we know about cause and effect, when a new thing is created it is due from the rearrangement of matter and energy that already existed: Creatio Ex Materia. (creation out of material)
The final flaw is not committed by the KCA itself but the proponents of this argument are essentially making; the Argument of Ignorance: The assertion that a proposition is true because it hasn’t been proven to be false (or vice versa)
What it all really comes down to is that since no explanation can provide a causal account of the origin of the universe, the cause must be a very specific god….a god that, wouldn’t you know, coincidentally is the god that the proponent believes in. That’s right…it all comes down to the extremely satisfying “we don’t know, therefore god!
Therefore for all created entities ever invented by man to explain what they cannot understand or even logically define evil can never be morally justified by Zeus or any other created God because to be moral is to have no cohabitation with evil. Evil and Morality are absolute contradictions in fact, in law and in the essence of the sanctity of life itself.
There can be no morally sufficient reason to justify evil; it is a repugnant proposition. Whoever would try to morally justify evil or make suggestions that evil could be morally justified for the God s/he believes in, is a moral moron by any standard of human decency.
January 3, 2019 at 12:57 pm
Infinity is a mathematical construct. It is not a logical one. Else, it could be logically proven to exist. However, it cannot. You stated “Since God is not dependent or limited, He is infinite BY DEFINITION”. Consequently, you have defined your own diety and that definition was by way of mathematical presumption alone. The God of the Bible is NOT definable by you or anyone else. I would caution you that you’ve fallen into the same old trap that most human-centric religionists have.
January 3, 2019 at 1:14 pm
Kim, you continue to make empty claims (statements made without supporting argumentation). If you deny that God is infinite, then by definition He is finite. That’s not the biblical God.
I haven’t defined my own deity; that’s where the logic takes any rational person. Either your God is finite or infinite; there is no other logical option.
The God of the Bible is NOT definable by you or anyone else.
Says whom? Where in the Bible does it say that God is not definable? You continue to make empty claims as if it shores up your bad argument. You either put up or shut up. If you had a biblical argument, you would have made it by now. You don’t, so you continue to deflect as if that compensates for your sloppy argumentation.
Moreover, the Bible calls God eternal (e.g. Heb. 9:14). Do you know what a synonym for eternal is? It’s the very word you deny applies to God. There is no limit to God’s existence, power or knowledge; hence, He is NOT finite.
It’s obvious you’ve dug yourself into a hole. The first rule of holes is you stop digging once you discover you’re in one.
January 3, 2019 at 1:36 pm
kim says:
“It is the resurrection that matters….not how long or well one lives in the here and now.”
“God cannot be “proven” to exist…much less an “infinitely good God”.”
I’m not familiar/haven’t read many of your posts so could you briefly clarify/harmonize these quotes of yours. if you believe in a resurrection aren’t you in the supernatural camp ? do you believe in God but believe He cannot be proven to exist ?
January 3, 2019 at 7:00 pm
If one could use the bible to prove the bible then why can not one use one’s Post on this site to prove what post describes.
God is finite or infinite there are no other options says s/he who limits the options. a third obvious option is that there is no God; a fourth option is a God that exists in the mind of s/he who defines the characters in the Book s/he writes.
The Author(s) of the Bible defines the characters the author describes and gives the character the attributes required to weave the web of words. The star of my novel is defined by its authors/he may be a literature professor with secret powers of Kent Clark.
It cost just a dime (10 cents) in 1938 and just sold for a record $3.2 million — a near perfect copy of the first comic book starring iconic hero Superman.
One day as the fires of Christianity numbers wane into mere glowing embers as more and more people come to their senses and/or as the generations die down and rise up a vain attempt will be made to fabricate another and a hitherto unknown New Gospel to regenerate dying Christianity. This tactic will not be the first time. We have the Gospel of Judas and the Gospel of Mary Magdalene generating gossip galore and one day there will come………. timpani roll pleasseee……THE GOSPEL OF JESUS…….coming to a museum near you.
January 3, 2019 at 8:03 pm
LTG ……. as Christianity wanes so will the belief in the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth you approve of and promote here.
January 3, 2019 at 9:27 pm
That’s a good and thoughtful question but I submit that is not correct because Jesus and Christianity have little in common. if Jesus came back and he saw what people had made of his teachings, he’d quickly realize that nobody had listened to a word he said, that he was wasting his breath and that he’d wasted his life.
Which even in his time he asked this question of the future: “…when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth”?
Christianity has hung Jesus up; given him a musty connotation, made him sort of drip religion.But Jesus is not a stain glass window, sort of, with a halo hanging around his neck but that’s all Jesus represents to Christianity.
January 4, 2019 at 7:37 am
By way of explanation………..I don’t use “supernatural” since that would be a human-centric extrapolation. I do use extra-natural. Defined as being outside the creation or “uncreated”. Having existed from eternity, such a reality exists on into eternity. This definition includes an acknowledgment of God, angels and an innumerable other Host in a Kingdom of greater reality than the creation (ie/no beginning and no end). Such acknowledgment is by choice I do not see any reason to “prove” it since the concept of “God” is fundamentally hardwired into the human genome (there has always been “god” in some form throughout history). Since such an extra-creational reality is beyond human comprehension, it is just as impossible to disprove it. And, impossible to define. Consequently, I choose acknowledgement just as science chooses to acknowledge the existence of extra-terrestrial life in the complete absence of evidence. I do not claim to be “Christian” simply because I refuse to define the undefinable as most religion does, even though I acknowledge its existence. However, I do see the Bible as being written by people who share my view and since the Bible mentions resurrection, I see no reason to dispute it.
January 4, 2019 at 7:58 am
When Moses asked God “whom shall I say sent me?”, God simply shrugged and said “I am who I am”. Just tell them “I am” sent you. This was not a definition of who God was or even an attempt at personification. It was a way of God saying I am an absolute singularity, without need for individualistic nomenclature. There’s only one of ME. Anyone attempting the effrontery of exceeding such a simple explanation falls into the trap of making their own god rather than describing an absolutely singular Entity who because of such singularity has no need for categorization.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device.
January 4, 2019 at 8:28 am
Kim, you’re attempting to fit a square peg into a round hole. None of the Scriptures you cite state that God is undefinable or that it is prohibited to prove God’s existence—which is what you’re contending. If that’s the best you can come up with, your assertion flops.
You write:
Anyone attempting the effrontery of exceeding such a simple explanation falls into the trap of making their own god rather than describing an absolutely singular Entity who because of such singularity has no need for categorization.
But God didn’t say that, you did. Moreover, who is “categorizing” God? We don’t argue that God is in a class or division of things sharing characteristics. You don’t have a sweet clue what we argue concerning the existence of God. Are you just pulling stuff out of your backside? The heavens declare God’s glory and handiwork (Ps. 19) and God’s nature is understood by the things that are made (Ro. 1:20). Creation shows that God is, that there is one God (and that there can only be one God), that God is almighty and unique among all beings.
Countering that God’s ways are higher than ours sloppily commits a fallacy of relevance. No Christian argues otherwise. Since man can understand God’s power and nature by the things that God has made, God’s thoughts and ways being higher than ours are not relevant to the question. AGAIN, you made the contention that the biblical God cannot be proved. You have thus failed to demonstrate why that is so which is why your claim is empty.
January 4, 2019 at 9:44 am
Once again, you have put forth the idea that God can be personified through extrapolation from the creation. It is a human-centric idea. Not a biblical one. The creation points to God but does not personify Him. God is NOT “supernatural”. He is EXTRA-natural. As Creator, God must be unimaginably above what we as part of the creation can perceive and understand. To acknowledge anything other than that is to make a false claim and to construct a false diety from one’s own limited perception
Now I know that the Lord is greater than all gods: for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly he was above them.
No man hath seen God AT ANY TIME, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
January 4, 2019 at 10:33 am
Kim writes:
Once again, you have put forth the idea that God can be personified through extrapolation from the creation.
You need to look up the word personify. I attribute no human characteristic to God. Once again, Kim, you’re deflecting.
As Creator, God must be unimaginably above what we as part of the creation can perceive and understand.
And, once again, God didn’t say that, you did. Not only are those words not in the Bible, they make no rational sense. To state that something “must be unimaginably above…” this or that is to assert knowledge of that something. If you possess no knowledge whatsoever of the “something,” then you have no rational basis to make any claim about it. You cannot say that milk doesn’t taste like Pepsi unless you know the taste of both. If you possess no knowledge of Pepsi, you have no basis to make any claim about it. Of course, you already did that when you asserted that God is “extra-natural.” You have thus defined God as….extra-natural—the very thing you said could not be done and since you define Him as such, you must know what “extra-natural” means—else, you’ve added to your incoherence.
Moreover, nobody rational person here claims to have ever “seen” God “at any time,” so that hangs your Scripture citation irrelevantly in midair.
It’s obvious your in face-saving mode, Kim. You’re fooling nobody here. You made a baseless assertion and have failed to prove it. You’re firing blanks with your sloppy arguments. Repeating yourself won’t plug the hole in your bucket.
January 4, 2019 at 10:37 am
I want to commend you for explaining your understanding without using language to denigrate those who disagree with you.
Your assertions don’t flop and I submit you are not pulling stuff out of any place different than where your adversaries are pulling stuff out of. Speaking spiritually using physical slurs seems immature, academic perhaps but immature nonetheless.
Your ideas are fantastic. Most fantastic ideas however are made personal by humans which is a big problem with theism that suggest humans and the higher powers in a personal relationship; that may be so from a human perspective but dies there too. I don’t know if you believe or expect a personal relationship with your fantastic entities as Christians demonstrate they do by their prayers and finger beading, henpecking, flagellation, suffering, fasting and the like
“The Higher Powers from where I sit, I liken to Gravity: gravity doesn’t care more for the man that falls off the mountain than the rock that falls from the mountain; the effect is not personal to the man or the rock, gravity just is.
Therefore, never pray to gravity, the universe, supernatural or extra-natural entities; they do not respond to human requests for intervention. Gravity like caricature concepts of god, angels and like, loves no more or less the man who defies it not and loves no less or more the man who does defy it”..ltg
January 4, 2019 at 10:44 am
Kim writes:
The creation points to God but does not personify Him.
And again, God didn’t say that, you did. The Scripture clearly states that God’s eternal power and nature are “clearly seen” by the things that are made. Creation doesn’t merely “point” to Him (in the sense that you mean it); it discloses God’s nature and power.
And, if creation merely “points to” God, in what sense does it point to Him? Does it not show that God created it? Thus, we understand that creation has a Creator. If creation has a Creator, then by definition the Creator is uncreated. If the Creator is uncreated, then the Creator is not contingent and the creation, by definition is contingent. You see? we’re already learning a lot about the Creator. For some bizarre reason, you feel compelled to force your paradigm onto reality rather than let reality define your paradigm. There’s a word for that, but I’ll refrain from typing it.
January 4, 2019 at 3:13 pm
LTG ….. only a tiny minority would follow a supernatural free Jesus. without a resurrection there’s no incentive to accept the self sacrifice to benefit others.
January 4, 2019 at 4:36 pm
If you can separate the two; what is more worthy, the life one puts on the line or the death that results from doing so?
If two people put their lives on the line and one dies and one lives is not the moral equivalency in their offering not the offering itself
To me the worth of Jesus was the fact that he was willing to put his life on the line by calling out the religious scoundrels who were misleading the masses AND making a mockery of the God they claimed to speak on behalf of.
The fact that Jesus rose from the place of the dead, alive, does not take away from the fact he put his life on the line.
Jesus gave similar answer when he indicted the Pharisees in Matthew 23; the entire chapter is the Indictment in general but in particular to your question he said to the Pharisees:
And while we are on this subject of resurrection, what was the sign that Jesus said was the only sign he would give them?
Now regarding the resurrection that you believe is the cornerstone of Christianity; well, maybe it is, but the cornerstone never happened further than what than the explanation below.
But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:
40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
Can you understand the parallels in the two? I submit that was the crucial sign Jesus gave about his being raised from “the place of the dead” not from the dead, just as Jonah survived his ordeal in the battle in the raging sea before being washed up on shore not by a whale but by a wave aND SURVIVED being risen FROM THE PLACE OF THE DEAD, SHEOL. Jonah did not die neither did Jesus and he appeared alive! That freaked the disciples out to be sure. After the ordeal he did not stay around that area any longer than he had to, to arrange an entourage and essentials for the long overland journey away from that perverse country. He left his mark and he left the story behind, forever.
January 4, 2019 at 5:07 pm
Kim, and IYO there’s a big difference between “supernatural” and “extra-natural ?” IMO based on your definition there’s no difference. A dead person being pulled out of a lake and being brought back to life is not “extra-natural” that’s with in the realm of the natural.
Assuming God exists for discussion — to understand God is impossible but gives attributes to God (which is similar to defining Him) is not impossible.
Now to “prove” God exists the obvious question is to what degree. Let me just use a quick example — I’m commanded to not seethe a kid in it’s mother’s milk. Can I seethe a kid in milk that doesn’t belong to it’s mother ? I say I just proved I can. A jew/messianic would say no I haven’t. the jew would probably be very kind but condescending and the messianic would most likely go bat shit crazy. So they would never change their minds, I would if either made a good argument why I shouldn’t seethe a kid in any milk product but unless some new information was brought to my attention according to the letter and spirit of that rule —- I can seethe a kid in milk as long as it doesn’t belong to it’s mother. The point of that was to show some people will not accept any proof that goes against what they believe —- and that goes for all kinds of people whether they are theists or atheists or agnostic/new atheists.
what most atheist/new atheists do is pick the worst argument for God from theists and deny all of the problems with an atheistic world view and state as fact God doesn’t exist but couch it with we see no evidence of the existence of God. Usually because they have a bee in their bonnet about something in the bible like homo sex is an abomination/kill all of the inhabitants of the land I’ve given you/etc….. denying the fact of how homos are described in the bible/what the inhabitants of the land were doing. two gay guys doing it in a relationship is a lot different from a rape gang roaming the streets. to one I say not my cup of tea/even if inclined I’d refrain based my interpretation of the NT and to the other I say that’s an abomination. And what the inhabitants of the land were doing (eg. sacrificing their children by fire to their god) is also an abomination.
you say you don’t dispute the resurrection so would you agree with me —- God allows evil because He can repair everything after the resurrection ? because the argument you made I understand as evil is just part of creation which would be identical to an atheistic world view. As some one that went through a kind of agnostic phase the presence of evil is a really big deal —- it would be a contradiction if not for the resurrection. And your statement (ie evil is just part of creation) appears to me to be a contradiction with your belief in the “extra-natural” and supporting the atheistic position.
January 4, 2019 at 5:23 pm
Jesus was supernatural-free; nevertheless, they followed him. But not all the time and not just because they accepted what he idid as miracles. The supernatural among the masses more often than not was in the heads of the masses because the Pharisees stuffed down their throats that if they couldn’t understand it, it was supernatural because the Pharisees indoctrinated the masses to accept that miracles were from God; AKA, Magic tricks were what the Pharisees and all religious leaders used to trick the masses.
But listen to this piece that Jesus said, about following Jesus because of miracles, the supernatural:
24 When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus.
25 And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither?
26 Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.
27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.
28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?
29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
30 They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work?
January 4, 2019 at 8:17 pm
LTG ….. but your Jesus faked his death. nobody would’ve have heard of a Jesus with out the supernatural aspects. and as numerous atheists/new atheists have informed me most of my Jesus’ teachings were previously taught by others. the biggie of my Jesus’ teaching, that I’m not aware of being taught, is love your enemies and do good to those who hate you. that teaching only makes sense from my Jesus because there is a reward in the resurrection. you die following that teaching and you are sol. and if we die and there’s no after life I could care less how humanity does because they are just going to die and rot in the grave too if you’re right.
January 4, 2019 at 8:33 pm
LTG ….. but your Jesus didn’t do any miracles. miracles are of the supernatural/”extra-natural” realm that you don’t believe in. so either they are lies or as you’ve explained previously your Jesus saw a faker and pulled him up so the faker said hey you healed me and stood up straight and others said He performed a miracle but all your Jesus did was expose a faker according to you. some of these teaching by my Jesus are to show follow Him for the Kingdom sake don’t follow Him for a free lunch. because when He left only the true believers would continue His work. those hangers on would split because they are not getting anything here and now from Him. my Jesus promised His followers they would be rewarded not just in this world but the next.
January 4, 2019 at 9:50 pm
True Jesus did not do any miracles. You are only citing one example of what may have happened to explain the faker’s miracle..Jesus did not expose the faker…but that was an explanation; there could have been others but that’s the obvious one that makes the most sense to moi.
There are other events that were apparent miracles but if you are believer, bent on the skewed view of Christianity in general and Saul in particular (who coincidentally was a Pharisee and raised up believing in the resurrection ), despite the fact never having met Jesus and almost single handed kept the story going; and, if you are supernaturally prone then you would not not lift a brain cell to think how and why an event occurred. Feeding thousands, water into wine and the death on the cross; that’s your biggie and the eventual appearance to the disciples when :
Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, alive, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a ghost.
And he said unto them, Why are ye fearful?
it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.
And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet.
And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?
And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb.
And he took it, and did eat before them.
I believe that Jesus put his life on the line by exposing the religious frauds who use magic to dupe the masses and who care nothing for the disabled , the poor, downtrodden etc.. If you want to know how the religious leaders acted read the entire Jesus indictment. The full chapter of Matt 23 has it.
And so in John 7:1 “After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him. John 7:7 The (religious) world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.”
I don’t claim that Jesus faked his death; but I believe that his best friends, knowing what was going to happen, took steps to intervene to prevent his death. I also believe that Jesus was told of their plan to protect him so he could survive the crucifixion and restart his life if they were successful. If they were unsuccessful and he died, there would never have been a “resurrection” ,
However the intervention was successful and because one of the friends who had been planning and prepping over two years for that inevitable day the well engineered plan, that remains a secret until my time of understanding, worked according to plan. Jesus was removed from the cross, as dead (but alive), immediately prepared in the tomb and the tomb sealed to avoid any viewing.
The whole event is clear as a bell in my vision and the movie would be a monumental (Christian boycotted) box office hit surpassing the Ten Commandments. I am currently looking for an Executive Producer…….hold that thought……
January 4, 2019 at 9:55 pm
And it must follow, as the night the day
January 5, 2019 at 7:59 am
Evil is simply an aspect of the creation. If a person drowns, that’s evil. However, it isn’t a sin unless somebody held that person’s head under the water and committed murder. In that case, the murderer would be an evil person. Evil is summed up in two words……sh*t happens. But, don’t blame God. Most religions do! Which makes God out to be some kind of trick-or-treat entity that acts on whim. This idea comes from paganism. Not the Bible.
January 5, 2019 at 11:33 am
Studying the Nature of Evil reveals a startling conundrumGods don’t kill people; people with Gods kill people; Or:
Gods don’t heal people; people with pagan placebos heal people..
Could it be said:
The only difference between paganism and the bible is that
The Bible is paganism is written down; chiseled in stone.
Good is summed up in two words…..Food and Mom.
God is a metaphor for everything man experiences, knows, believes and conceives and alligators are a bunch of croc…..
However, people that were first infected with cowpox were immune to smallpox! Dr Jenner invented the word ‘vaccination’ and his discovery led to the science of immunology. His work saved a massive amount of lives and led, in 1980, to the World Healthy Organisation (WHO) to declare that ‘the world and its peoples’ were free from common smallpox. It is the only infectious disease in history to have been completely removed from nature by mankind in the same sense that dinosaurs were removed from nature by mankind.
January 5, 2019 at 2:46 pm
Dinosaurs were long gone by the time mankind came on the scene in the Genesis creation event. Which was NOT the creation of the Universe. The Bible describes the saurian ages as the beast “that was” (prehistoric), and “is not” (extinct) and “yet is” (fossil fuels). The goo from the bottomless pit (seemingly inexhaustible quantity from the ground). The goo that “goes to perdition” (is used for combustion). The goo that creates “smoke to darken the sun” (smog). The goo which has an “image of the beast” (mimicry of life…..cars, planes, ships, etc). The goo which has a unique identifier of “666” (6 molecular compounds, hexagonally shaped (organic) comprised of the 6th element (carbon…the basis of all life on earth). The goo by which an entire world civilization’s commerce is traced by a “mark” (path….roads, skyways, shipping lanes). The goo by which men “wonder” (invent wonderous things).
Ever consider that saurian gigantism was for the express purpose of containing enough organic matter to bury an entire prehistoric ecosystem in anticipation of just the world we now live in? Dinosaurs were repositories of the energy we now use and this was specifically planned to bring a population explosion to mankind. Why? Its plain to see that mankind was created to eventually replace those who rebelled against the very God atheists claim to reject but have no basis in doing so.
There’s more to the Bible than can be imagined. The above is statistically indisputable as a witness of its authority and is just a small example of what should be a terrifying read. The Bible isn’t a book of religion. It isn’t a primer for how to live. Its a book of condemnation against mankind and will be used in the day of judgment. We are being warned.
January 5, 2019 at 3:01 pm
Oh I forgot the caveats in Post 55…….oh well you all can fill in the blanks
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January 5, 2019 at 6:32 pm
“The goo by which an entire world civilization’s commerce is traced by a “mark” (path….roads, skyways, shipping lanes). It…….forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads…..” I looked in the mirror and behold I saw the I-90 light up light the luminous virgin Mary Statue on my wife’s night table
Your “Goo” theory, Image of the Beast and 666 theory is incorrect. Fantastic but incorrect nonetheless. The reason? Your theory occurs before the bible was written and you try to use the bible to substantiate, decode, interpret and support your theory that cannot be supported by a book that was not written until a million years after the event.
My theory on the other hand is correct and it is correct because it is based on information found in the bible and therefore substantiated by the biblical record, understanding and decoding found in the bible. None of your theory is biblical nor can anything in your theory be biblical.
You draw phrases and terms from the bible to fit your fantasy that is a fabrication completely outside the bible and therefore completely irrelevant to the bible. An attempt to give credence to your incredible fantasy but nowhere does the bible talk about goo or dinosaurs or hexagonally shaped elements.
Here is a mathematical reason why your theory is incorrect and an unsound application of the transitive property of equality
IF A=B and B=C therefore A=C; that is the property of equality.
Your saying in effect:
The biblical A’s, B’s and C’s cannot support your theory of X because X is external to the bible and has no hint for your theory X.
My theory of the A’s, B’s and C’s of the bible that can make sense to others is correct because my theory is alluded to elsewhere in the bible and necessarily must, in order to be put forth for review; it’s called connecting the dots.
My story is based on the dots in the bible connecting with other dots in the bible.
Your story is made purely from imagination and takes phrases and terms from a book that has credibility, the bible, and tries to match them with phrases and terms in your story to make your story appear plausible by association. It cannot stand:
Your theory tries to connect the A, B, C dots inside the bible with the X, Y, Z dots in your story that cannot possibly make sense to anybody but yourself because they are mutually exclusive. They do not meld and cannot meld and cannot be shown to be able to meld by any supporting association.
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January 5, 2019 at 9:20 pm
LTG ….. I’m just stating your beliefs as you have stated them to me. Please clarify if I’m miss stating what you have said
January 5, 2019 at 10:01 pm
I answered you in Post 52. Yesterday. What you are repeating to me are not the words I stated to you, You can paraphrase and send your paraphrase back to me because paraphrasing twists my words to your words to suit the impression of the reader. I said nothing about lies; I did not say Jesus faked his death and what happens after death I don’t know anymore than you know.
Did you know that you can have a resurrection while you are alive in your mind if you have a revelation that you never knew before? Like being “Born again?
“…my Jesus promised His followers they would be rewarded not just in this world but the next….” Really then what is that reward, and where will it be? The only heaven Jesus described was the heaven within you and for that heaven to be within you that’s when you are alive.
Did you know that people who are stuck in the realm of supernaturalism are actually walking “dead” while yet alive and when understanding Jesus message and where heaven is and who lives in and resides in that heaven where Jesus described don’t you think that is a resurrection, “within you”.
So tell me what is the reward Jesus promised you, as a follower, which I presume you are expressing to be?
And where is that “place” you think the followers of Jesus are going?
And how would you know what and where that place is when you don’t even know about the Kingdom Jesus described. I think you are lost in your own inability to understand what Jesus was all about and I am not surprised because most of the Christian world missed it too because the Pharisee Paul who was brought up believing in some supernatural world got everybody convinced about the Pharisaical supernatural resurrection just like the writers of the Gospels said
Matthew 27:51-53 tells us what happened right after Jesus Christ died: “Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many.”
Is that the resurrection you are talking about and if so what happened to the resurrected, did they die again? Or is this just an example of writers who made stuff up?
January 5, 2019 at 10:07 pm
Kim ….. it’s sad not evil if a person drowns by “accident” — that’s sh*t happens. to murder somebody by holding them under water is evil — that’s got nothing to do with sh*t happening. I don’t blame God because sh*t happens. some may blame God because their child died by drowning in their pool but I wouldn’t, I’d blame myself if I was supposed to watch him/her. the biggie for me and many others I’ve talked with is why let the murderer run around and drown people ? even crappy parents child proof their home and take all kinds of precautions to keep their children safe from hazardous situations and dangerous people —- so why not God ? why can’t God uproot the tares without damaging the wheat ? Christian apologetics on why God allows evil are not very strong and if not for the resurrection where this wrong can be fixed imo we lose the argument.
January 5, 2019 at 10:15 pm
Furthermore, I know Jesus survived the ordeal of the cross. How do I know? Because the bible tells me so, Jesus predicted it so and when he appeared after the cross, sufficiently healed from the ordeal, he appeared and told the disciples that it was he, alive muscle and bone and not a spiritual Ghost. But what do Christians say about? Oh jesus “appeared” to the disciples by walking through the wall or through the door because the words said Jesus appeared in the midst of them and that means to Christians of supernatural bent that he walked through the walls or the doors or simply puff-puffed, now you see me, now you don’t, look here I am.
Can you imagine the raising from the graves opening and the walking through walls a lie more gargantuan that those fallacies by men who yet remain in the folly? of snake oil salesmen perpetuating magic tricks of Old Testament devise to prove they were messengers of the true God and Pharaoh kicked Moses and Aaron out of the King’s Court after their ridiculous trick that the prophet, “on behalf of God” told Moses that the Lord told him to perform the snake miracle for Pharaoh?
January 5, 2019 at 10:22 pm
LTG ….. dude I’m not twisting anything. that was a scenario you told me a long time ago. are those your exact words — no but that sums up your explanation perfectly. do you remember that comment ? state it again as you think it should be stated. may be this will refresh you memory — some body lying on the ground pretending they are paralyzed, Jesus observes something that shows that person isn’t paralyzed and goes over and takes that person by the hand and …..
January 5, 2019 at 10:30 pm
LTG ….. you don’t like faked his death ? please let me know what saying I should use ? the lashing He received + being nailed to the cross hands and feet + getting stabbed in the side with a spear and even if it’s 3 days and 3 nights it would be a miracle for Him walking to Emmaus. but may be it didn’t happen that way so it would be no big deal for Him to take that hike
January 5, 2019 at 11:15 pm
Evil has always been rampant in the hearts of men and that’s why the entire Old Testament penalties were based on the “ye for an eye”, “tooth for a tooth” model. It was the revenge theory based on the reaction of people generally, slap me and I slap you back. So the Old Testament fellows. not knowing any better modeled their system on from that and took is many steps further when they introduced penalties for sins they believed to be so gross to their sense of self righteousness starting with the first four religious decrees for which disobedience to those decrees the penalty was death, the ultimate capital penalty and for the remaining six social sins Moses chiseled into stone and man y other sins which were chiseled into Deuteronomy and Leviticus, especial,y the sexual sins. OMG where did that dirty stuff come from. Well the Garden of Eden of course and then we have a guilt laden trip on every person born but for the wealthy who could afford to buy indulgences to be absolved of sin.
That’s what Jesu revolution was all about b ringing love into the picture as it was supposed to be but changing a two, three, five thousand year old indoctrinated doctrine was no mean feat for Jesus; nevertheless, against the status quo, fraught with danger, he persevered and his best friends secretly prepared for the day of intervention as best they could, knowing he would eventually pay for his campaign that upset their well worn security.
If you would just read the pages without a supernatural skew, the pieces will fall into place so neatly like a jigsaw puzzle coming together, melting all the illusions, delusions and confusion of church collusion away, revealing the bare truth how all the pieces of Jesus’s messages fit into a spiritual regeneration not unlike the reward of resurrection, in OWR life-time. (You can read about “OWR” time by clicking on my user ID but it’s more lengthy than my posts )
And I am unanimous in that and I believe that I would not have known that by any means other than a personal campaign that began at 12 years of age when I sat reading the red-lettered gospel words over and over and over until I began grasping the pieces and pulling them inside my memory while the droning drum-hum of the Priest’s mea culpas and latin laced language provided a steady monotone background leading up to the Sunday sermon which I never remembered amidst the swirl of words in red that seemed to be clicking into a sequences that only a DaVinci code enthusiast would have dreamed about. As for me, I could do no more than let the spirit guide until the magic missal would be given me at the next Sunday session in my young life…….
January 6, 2019 at 2:15 am
Yes I remember the scenario I posted about that possibility because in those days as it still is today some people feign a disability because it can be more lucrative than a regular working income for an unskilled worker. Why would you wait years to bring it up again? Nevertheless, I will research my writings and when I find it I’ll repost it for you.
But that’s not the only thing you said. you said Jesus faked his death and I did not say Jesus faked his death. My submission is that Jesus’s two best friends knew he was walking on dangerous grounds that could him get him killed so his best friends, wanting to mitigate such an event if it did come to pass, worked out a plan.
And I submit that Jesus did not know about his friends’ plan, at least not until the last days before the crucifixion, if at all, when the last vote was final and ready, set, go: the Judas betrayal, the date, the time, the place, the imminent arrest and the method agreed on for a public crucifixion to deter any followers who may have intentions of continuing what the Jewish Council viewed as sedition against them.
I further contend that when the Sanhedrin decided to give the order to execute the Khashoggi-style detainment, was the time that Jesus was made aware of the place, date, time, betrayal, arrest and the public crucifixion AND it was at that same time, if at all, that Jesus was made aware of the friends’ plan to intervene. When this last advisement meeting took place was at what is commonly called the Transfiguration.
January 6, 2019 at 2:54 am
Paul: The problem with the entire Jesus scenario is that his followers missed the message about everything Jesus ever did or said with the supernatural which was the dominant belief of the Scribes and Pharisees. What the bible says does not necessarily mean that’s what Jesus said. For example I would like to know what supernaturalism is found in the New Testament that you mentioned. What supernatural feats are you talking about? Beggars pretending they were crippled so they did not have to work and were fed with handouts from the people like social assistance; that still goes on today. So if Jesus wanted to start ridding society of false narratives do you think he might have threatened to reveal that the cripples were not crippled or the blind were not blind and so to avoid being ostracized for their dupery the cripples and the blind claimed miraculous intervention by Jesus and they chose to get up and dance around as though miraculously cured or suddenly someone operating on the pretense of being blind from birth, rather than being found out, chose the more acceptable way out “It’s a miracle”, now they see. Jesus did not believe that the God he talked about was an external being nor did he believe that the Kingdom was an external State. IT’s why he quite emphatically pointed that out when he told the Pharisees that the Kingdom does not come by observation, or see it’s out in then desert or in the inner chamber; in other words, in some physical space….NO! he said the Kingdom(where God resides), IS WITHIN YOU. The Father who dwelt in Jesus is the same Father who dwells in everybody, if you acknowledge that simple truth Jesus spoke. However the dogma that the society was indoctrinated by for thousands of years full of supernatural gibberish and wizardry permeated the mindset of the masses and carried right over into Christendom as we well know from stories about the Lady of Fatima and other apparitions. Charlatans love the supernatural and they in their time practice dupery like they invented the witching hour. This perpetuation goes on every time the Pope bestows sainthood on the dead because it requires miracles by the person who gets exalted in the Saintly Circle and so hearsay gains a foothold and miracles are whispered and then shouted for the world to confer its blessings. Tell me please what supernatural events you believe Jesus performed or was performed in his name. Voices booming in a haze of smoke and mirrors as written about countless times throughout the bible? From Moses on down the line? This is my beloved son booms the voice to some….while others said it was only thunder rolling through the atmosphere. I have never seen Jesus or his mother in a potato, in a piece of pizza or in a tree stump but lots of people have seen it apparently. I would love to know what supernatural events are supported by Jesus or that he even believed as the Pharisees about the resurrection of the dead, from the tombs of dead mens bones. Jesus message was that the Father operates in human experience but who believes that? Not Christians certainly because they haven’t learned a thing about Jesus that is not akin to Pharisaical belief same as Paul in Acts, he was born and raised as a Pharisee and boasted about it at his own trial. I found a most interesting quote that sums up institutional people be they Religious Institutions or Government institutions they talk the same talk but never walk, the walk they talk, but that they are born to repetitiveness rhetoric without change: “The Budget should be balanced, the Treasury should be refilled, public debt should be reduced, the arrogance of officialdom should be tempered and controlled, and the assistance to foreign lands should be curtailed, lest Rome will become bankrupt.
People must again learn to work instead of living on public assistance.” – Cicero , 55 BC So, evidently we’ve learned bugger all over the past 2,071 years. About Governance or the Message of Jesus. Jesus identity never got “….mixed up with Tammuz/Mithras or some sort of pagan religion….” Jesus didn’t need some pagan religion to mix up the people, the people were already mixed up when Jesus began his campaign to free them from the bondage they were already in! Indoctrination by the Pharisees and the dominant pagan religion of the supernatural which they practiced, is revealed from start to finish in the Bible itself.
Naz: I reject the supernatural and it is as clear as the nose on your face and the knows in my head. As long as you are content to allow the hoaxes of the supernatural sway your common sense, that is your dilemma. You still hold the belief that Prophets are people with special powers to foretell the future but the actual fact is that Prophets are simply people who go to school to study how to be a prophet and then graduate as people do in the ministry, how people become priests for example but you must assume that prophets are the result of divinity so you make them sort of drip religion like some holy stained glass window when in fact they are just ordinary folks like Donald Trump, David Copperfield and Joel Osteen. You see Naz you have never had a conversation about the supernatural, you just accept it because church dogma dictates paranormal activity exists when for all the thousands of centuries, nobody has ever demonstrated that paranormal activity actually exists outside of religion, mythology and hollywood and the tricksters who have capitalized on believers for thousands of years. You remain unenlightened and cannot see the trees because the forest hides them from your sight. What supernatural events happened in the New Testament apart from your belief that the dead rise up from the graves and appear to many, not only Jesus but scriptures says when the veil was rent the graves opened and dead people rose up…..and went home presumably.
January 6, 2019 at 3:06 am
Paul here’s a couple interesting posts back in the day March 25/April 8th 2016.
March 25, 2016 at 11:09 pm
Frank and Jason,
Isn’t He supposed to rule? Didn’t His disciples think He was going to restore the Kingdom at that time? Didn’t the early Church have the feeling He would return at any moment to restore the Kingdom? I find it problematic that the Kingdom hasn’t come yet but as a Christian I accept the explanation. However, I can understand why others don’t. I’ve had several discussions especially with Jews and they reject the Resurrection in large part because the Kingdom wasn’t restored. The women said He was risen, but the 2 disciples still went to Emmaus. Why, because nothing had changed.
March 26, 2016 at 12:46 am
Jason et al:
The Kingdom of God has been misunderstood by everybody of supernatural and superstitious bent from the beginning of the world and that includes the Christian world and the whole world in thrall by religious insanity. What Jesus showed was that one had to revolutionize their thought processes; revolutionize the way of thinking about God and the Kingdom of his residence. that the way that people thought of the Kingdom was wrong, incorrect and totally inaccurate. Jesus amply demonstrated the Father who reigns in the Kingdom and clearly stated the true concept of the Kingdom of God which he said was already at hand. John the Baptist also reiterated that the Kingdom was at hand, within reach of anybody who would listen to the truth, the way and the life!
OMG you can read it for yourself: “:Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.” And when they will say to you, ‘Look here!’ or ‘Look there!’ Do not go after them or follow them. Therefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, it is in the desert; go not forth: behold, it is in the secret chambers; believe it not.”
Now if the Kingdom is within you how can it be coming and if it does not come by observation how can you expect to see it? The only way you can see it is when you take heaven out of the Kingdom of Heaven, within you, and follow through with the fulfillment of scriptural lamentation prayer: “Thy Kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.”
What is so supernaturally alluring that prevents your from understanding the simplicity of the Kingdom being within you and that it is not some military invasion to conquer the whole earth and rule with a fist of iron?
If the world can just listen to Jesus who showed over and over and stated time after time again, that the Father “within” the human spirit, is the essence of the divine logic through which the Kingdom is first recognized by you and then with demonstrable behavior show the world that you are putting into play the will of the Father, on earth, as Jesus did?
And you cannot even understand the concept of soul but all soul is, is the emotion seat in the human spirit, not some weird entity with a built in immortality cushion!
You see, but see not, and you hear, but hear not, why is the world so obtuse about the simplicity that was in Jesus’ message. Why? Because you are so indoctrinated with the paranormal and dead men rising, you are blinded by common sense humanity. But metaphorically speaking, you are already DEAD MEN walking and the world is waiting on you to RISE from the Dead and take action! Open your understanding!
You don’t imagine that Jesus takes any pleasure in having a heaven filled with men and women redeemed by his life, trials and tribulations who will be as useless in heaven as they are on earth? Stacked in bundles of 10, dusted with DDT once a week by a bunch of angels, do you imagine that’s what heaven’s like? Heaven is going to be populated with men, women, boys and girls, who’ve been restored to their redeemed and now true humanity, acquitted and forgiven that we might be restored in that true humanity and become by adoption members of his family. We do not yet know exactly what we will be but this at least we do know that when we see him and understand the what, the why and the how of his life and message on earth which was true fulfillment, we’ll see him as he is and we’ll be like him, we’ll be like him, out of the Kingdom of Heaven within you and now revealed to the rest of the world.
That’s the Coming you’re all waiting for; can’t you just see it? It makes total sense without being fanatical and absorbed by the paranormal hoax perpetrated since the year dot.
If you don’t hear one other single Easter Message this season, hear the one that the spirit cries out to you.
January 6, 2019 at 7:50 am
Act 2:22 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know—
Act 2:23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.
Act 2:24 God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.
Act 10:37 you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed:
Act 10:38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.
Act 10:39 And we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree,
Act 10:40 but God raised him on the third day and made him to appear,
Act 10:41 not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.
Act 10:42 And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead.
Act 10:43 To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
January 6, 2019 at 11:51 am
How do you reconcile the following in Acts reputed to be written by Luke in the earliest period 60CE to the latest period 160CE
Luke did not know Jesus
Luke was not present for the crucifixion,
Was not present before Jesus was entombed in the place of the dead
Was not present after he escaped from the place of the dead.
was not present when Jesus appeared but claimed to have eaten and drank with Jesus after the escape from the place of the dead.
Luke was not a disciple yet claims personal contact by using the first person plural “we” and “us”
Act 10:39 And “we” are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem.
Act 10:40 ………………… made him to appear,……………….
Act 10:41…………… not to all the people but to “us”………… who had been chosen by God as witnesses,………………
…………….”us” who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.
commanded “us” to preach and to testify…………
January 6, 2019 at 11:57 am
Naz :
I could not figure out what point you were trying to make with posting the Acts verses; it would have been helpful to know the reason instead of trying to guess like the old foe friend F A dam Ick.
January 6, 2019 at 12:54 pm
LTG …… LMAO, so I did not twist what you said ? I brought it up again because of what you mentioned here in post 49 I believe. so Jesus didn’t do miracles but people thought and later wrote that He did. and some of the statements attributed to Him like — “Then said Jesus to them plainly, Lazarus is dead.” some one with your intellect should be able to catch on to what I’m saying without further explanation
January 6, 2019 at 12:59 pm
LTG …… again, based on your scenario — faked His own death is not twisting what you said.
January 6, 2019 at 1:10 pm
LTG ……. again, dude you are hilarious. the problem with your crucifixion scenario is what ? not what you want to talk about. here’s a hint — drive nails through both of your feet (and I’ll give you the best possible scenario no broken bones and 3 days/nights in the hospital + pain killers) and lets take a long walk together
January 6, 2019 at 1:24 pm
LTG …… now let’s see who’s “duped ?” is there any evidence the nails were driven in the ankle or heel bone ? not going for a walk in that case are you
January 6, 2019 at 1:26 pm
from post 66
But that’s not the only thing you said. you said Jesus faked his death and I did not say Jesus faked his death. My submission is that Jesus’s two best friends knew he was walking on dangerous grounds that could him get him killed so his best friends, wanting to mitigate such an event if it did come to pass, worked out a plan.
And I submit that Jesus did not know about his friends’ plan, at least not until the last days before the crucifixion, if at all,
AND
I further contend that when the Sanhedrin decided to give the order to execute the Khashoggi-style detainment, was the time that Jesus was made aware of the place, date, time, betrayal, arrest and the public crucifixion AND it was at that same time, if at all, that Jesus was made aware of the friends’ plan to intervene.
So what part of “know” don’t you understand
At the transfiguration was when Jesus was informed of the time, date, place, and method of the arrest and “maybe”, if at all it may have been made known what his friends had planned but that does not mean Jesus faked his death so how do you extrapolate from “maybe” and “if at all” into “Jesus faked his death.” I am saying there was a “possibility” that he was made aware of the plan . How know from what I suggested the definitive statement that Jesus faked his death?
January 6, 2019 at 1:58 pm
If you think I am hilarious because I contend he survived the cross imagine what are you stymied of all common sense by supernatural religious insanity……… saying…… he couldn’t survive the cross but was raised from being dead when he was in the tomb, rejuvenated and not only became the walking dead but walked through the tomb or just grabbed or mentally levitated the tomb door and then walked or maybe just flew without a cape around on a sightseeing trip until the third day and then went to the tomb to wait for Mary’s appearance.
And then walked through the door and told his disciples he was alive and told the disciples to feel his muscles and bones and then ate a snack with them and presumably digested the food…OMG I have to fix a drink I’ll be right back……pause……wow okay gulp gulp…I’m back Geez Paul, you had me going there for a minute, Holy cow I thought you were saying that it was easier to die from the ordeal and then rejuvenate and come alive; to die and come alive again was easier than it was to survive the ordeal, not die but heal and be nourished back to life to prevent dying.
Am I dreaming or………okay, uncle…. tell me what really happened and how it really went down and how he was missing , how the stone door was rolled away and how it happened and why, Pilate give the body to Jesus disciple for proper burial of the body when they had no respect for the life of the body to being with? Gulp gulp I am still having a long drink after that Paul. I await your reply with great eagerness. Don’t please keep me waiting in suspense, did they know abOUT BLOOD TRANSFUSIONS AND CRUTCHES OR DID MHE EVEN NEED CRUTCHES AFTER DYING, HE WOULD HAVE HAD A ROUGH TIME WALKING IF HE HAD SURVIVED BUT AFTER DYING NO PROBLEM. OMG GULP GULP…..OOH SORRY ’bout the caps I am beside myself with anticipation…gulp.
January 6, 2019 at 2:41 pm
I can hardly wait.
January 6, 2019 at 2:44 pm
LTG ….. LMAO, faked his death is an accurate representation of your scenario. this is what you have been stating for years here — Jesus found out they were going to kill him, so the events as you stated were undertaken (with the help of Joe, Nic and Luke ?) to convince those that wanted to kill Jesus that they had killed Him — yes or no ? if you answer yes that is by definition faking His death. if you answer no please explain because that’s news to me
January 6, 2019 at 2:50 pm
LTG …… LMAO, actually Him being raised from the dead is not as crazy as your scenario. and it explains what His disciples did after He left. your scenario has no explanation for Him riding off into the sunset and leaving His disciples to die horrible deaths (in most cases)
January 6, 2019 at 2:59 pm
LTG ….. dude you are hilarious. the only two possible scenarios are A. Jesus died and the resurrection is bs B. Jesus was resurrected. so if it’s A it’s out of the blue and into the black so eat, drink and be merry ….. B is the only option with hope therefore I choose B — it’s a win/win, helps me here and now and if correct will help me in the next life.
January 6, 2019 at 3:32 pm
PAUL :
You must know, without me telling you, that the reason you have to say “If” correct it will help me in the next life?. That is because you don’t know. And that should be simple enough because I don’t know either but according to the bible if you die you still will not know because it says “The dead know nothing”.
Eccl 9:4-6
There is hope, however, for anyone who is among the living; for even a live dog is better than a dead lion. For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing. They have no further reward, because the memory of them is forgotten. Their love, their hate, and their envy have already vanished, and they will never again have a portion in all that is done under the sun.
But the bible is written by men and men give virtue and vice to the characters he authors, creates, invents.
Now is that statement ironic, a conundrum, an idiom or just religious insanity?
Killing people because of sexual activity; stoning for adultery; blasphemy; thou shalt not suffer a witch to live? eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth; crucifixion; devouring widows property; hypocrisy; great Judeo-Christian values?
REMEMBER THIS: All religion, all prophets, all gods, all concepts, caricatures and ideas about the supernatural ….all OF THEM, and every last one of them, DERIVE from a person so stick a sock in it because none of man’s creations can be higher than man himself.
If you can use your reason you will understand that Man is Lord of all that he creates, including prophets, religion and divinity. There is nothing sacred but the sanctity of life of Man himself.
Man is Lord and Master of religion, of prophets, of the supernatural, of the gods, of divinity of virtue and all things conceptualized in the mind’s imagination. Blasphemy be damned. If you think blasphemy has any legitimacy whatsoever, you are full of dandruff.
Even the Bible supports this. When the Clergy questioned Jesus about why he and his disciples were doing things forbidden demanded by religion on the Sabbath: Mark2:27,28 and “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. 28 So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”; Lk 6:5 affirms the same thing.
January 6, 2019 at 3:37 pm
I have darned the hole in your sock and there’s nothing more to add to your mindset. You are living in the old fashion world of ancient religious tyranny when being retarded was not politically incorrect term.
God’s will is revealed in the holy scripture. The sacred book formulates the will of God and specifies what is to be given to the clergy. Clergy become parasites. “… All things of life are so ordered that the clergy is everywhere indispensable; at all the natural events of life, at birth, marriage, sickness, death. Not to speak of ‘sacrifice’ (meal–times)… .”
Natural values become utterly valueless. The Clergy sanctifies and bestows all value. Disobedience of God (the clergy) is ‘sin.’ Subjection to God (the clergy) is redemption. Clergy use ‘sin’ to gain and hold power.
January 6, 2019 at 3:41 pm
I do not believe that ethics/morals belong to Christianity or any other religion for that matter but cherished as sacred nonetheless, welling up from the depths of humanity’s inner core; other than that I cannot say where it comes from or even IF it comes from anywhere, it just is. Life itself just is.
More than that I do not know and I believe nobody can know, is my default position; existence beyond which a greater cannot be thought, is forbidden to me. Belief holds no comfort, offers no joy, cannot be fathomed, never understood, is a complete void to be avoided. As a child Santa was too fantastic to be real and so belief has never been a companion in my life.
In university I wrote an essay for philosophy class. It was a story about three people kidnapped and held hostage; their names were Fatalist and Determinist, (twin cousins) and Free Willy; I got an “A” for the story. lol
January 6, 2019 at 6:26 pm
LTG ….. no I don’t know but based on everything I do know it’s the smart bet.
so that OT quote means there is no life after death ? I don’t even have to go way of the reservation as you do to explain that. the dead know nothing because they are in the peaceful sleep of death but that’s not the end according to other bible verses and again if wrong no problem I’ll just be dead
January 6, 2019 at 6:32 pm
LTG ……. I’m going to re read how you die from crucifixion and LMAO. may be you should too and you’ll know why they broke the other guys legs. after the “swoon sponge” Jesus would be unconscious and after a short time He’d look dead because He is dead. that’s what the doctors/scientists say anyway but go ahead and ignore the facts that’s what you people do
January 6, 2019 at 6:38 pm
I don’t ignore the facts, you ignore the facts and make stuff up. You see Jesus validated me in this life since I first met him at 12yrs. You are still waiting.
Oh by the way what do you expect your reward to be in the next life. I asked you to describe it in previous post but I can only guess why you can’t tell.
When it comes to Jesus I already know what you are still waiting to discover at some other time, except now. and it is in the same book that validated me ut I had a simple 12 yr old innocence without prefabricated indoctrination and I understood everything .
January 6, 2019 at 7:41 pm
Re-read the Gospels again for the first time so by chance you might just understand why it is easier to die and come back to life compared to surviving, being bandaged and nursed back to health by people prepared to provide the best of medical care available.
Ask yourself why you prefer trauma that kills because your chances of recovering from death is greater than recovering from trauma the doesn’t kill you and that you don’t have to die in order to survive.
Imagine telling the paramedics to rush you to the morgue instead of the hospital ER because you’ll have a better chance of surviving if you die first. I can hardly stop myself from laughing writing this…….to a fellow human being.
Did you know that Jesus studied skin diseases and knew the difference between poison ivy and other skin conditions other than leprosy so when someone thinking they had leprosy and about to be banished out of the community to the colony showed himself to Jesus and Jesus knowing that it was not leprosy simply told the afflicted person to go show himself to the priest and follow his advise because the priests too studied skin diseases.
Matt 8:4 And, behold, there came a man supposing that he was a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.
3 And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean.
4 And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.
Good luck but choose life not death, life is precious wonderful; the absence well we all know there is nothing beautiful about life However just as Jesus said the only sign was the sign of Jonah who was tossed struggling amiid the storm waves, seaweed coming tangling him up as he fought to save his life in the raging sea to keep from being a victim in the belly of Sheol. Jonah’s persistent struggle paid off when in what seemed to be the end minutes of his life, he was closer to shore than he knew when a wave washed him up on shore beach and his joy was palpable.
And don’t forget the food staples of bread and fish that was in the cache supplied again by one of his secret disciples who own the bakeries and the fish plants and sent Jesus donkey loads of food to the area of Jesus retreat to feed the followers at a Bill Graham type Retreat; not once but twice and it was noised throughout the land of the miracle that only the military had the ability to feed thousands at a sitting….and there’s more the Wedding Wine filled to the brim from the Winery also owned by his secret disciple reputed to be the third richest man in town.
If you don’t look for common sense reason, common sense reason will overlook you. But find the lost coin and like the woman.
Luke 15:8-10 what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?
9 And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.
10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one (sinner that repenteth.) (read one seeker who searches for truth the joy like Joah is palpable in your heart, that is the joy of Jesus in this life but if you are persistent you can dig and dig and BINGO you will see that knowledge is so much sweeter than belief, belief can lead you to persist for the treasure but knowledge is the treasure; it is knowledge that gives the sweet joy like the woman finding the coin, a treasure that is yours alone and no man can take it from you.)
Did you ever see my video:
January 7, 2019 at 6:46 am
I made perfect sense. The reality is that we now live in a world civilization that is wholly dependent on fossil fuels. It happens to be the greatest civilization mankind has ever produced. It quite logical to think that if the Bible were actually genuine, the prophetic nature of it would not ignore such a civilization. And, it doesn’t. One simply has to connect the dots to see that. I showed quite a number of dots. There are more that I didn’t mention. It is statistically improbably to connect that many “dots” and not show a parallel between biblical prophecy and the real world. As you said, it is a fantastic scenario and disconcerting because that book most think of as an obscure meaningless religious text does in fact describe our world civilization in detail. Even down to the statue of liberty in New York harbor (great whore sitting on many “waters”, ie/peoples).
January 7, 2019 at 2:35 pm
LTG …… dude it’s you over looking common sense/logic not me. all world views have problems and I admit the ones with mine. forget all of the problems that you have ignored regarding the “Swoon Theory” (yours is my favourite rendition by the way) the whole argument crashes and burns immediately — of the few people that hold to this theory they immediately contradict themselves. Jesus doesn’t want Mary to touch him in the garden because of his wounds but later that day he goes on a big hike walking and talking and not a hint of hey are you okay from his companions. but you add the extra layer because your Jesus is trying to dispel the supernatural, yet his faking his own death explodes the belief in the supernatural. so you come up with these bizarre interpretations of bible verses you run through your the supernatural is impossible converter. it’s so hilarious especially since the only person that can decode his cryptic language is you. but since it’s so full of holes especially with your extra layer it gets an “F” for trying to dispel the supernatural. but like the crazy catholic that ignores — it’s a hard saying also supports a symbolic interpretation/ Jesus telling the good thief he would be saved & their churches teaching on Mary prove they should agree with osas/missing the joint declaration profess sola fide/ etc ….. you ignore the problems with your world view — that makes you one of the “duped.”
I don’t believe life after death is a reward as such —- it’s just the unfolding of my world view. I don’t fear oblivion, I just fear the possible long period of suffering before the peaceful sleep of death.
January 7, 2019 at 2:50 pm
I am so surprised…well not really, after all, too many people from every religious generation dispel arguments, using ideas more fantastic than the arguments they try to dispel, to dispel the stupidity of people defending the the idea of the resurrection idea, which is impossible as everybody on planet earth knows does not happen IT JUST DOES NOT HAPPEN. and if it seems to happen, there si a perfectly plausible reason why. Like Lazarus; Lazarus was not dead regardless of the words that the Editors of the bible used.
January 7, 2019 at 2:53 pm
LTG ……. dude I’m very skeptical of “miracles” recorded in the bible or present day. Jesus spoke plainly that Lazarus was dead, He didn’t speak plainly that Lazarus had this medical condition that makes him look dead. your interpretation of that event is hilarious. here is some possible scenarios A. Lazarus died — like really died and Jesus miraculously revived his dead body B. Jesus, with or with out others help, faked Lazarus’ death to give the impression he performed a miracle C. somebody made up the story to start their own religion. if I had evidence the supernatural was impossible I’d pick B or C. but since the best arguments from atheists are — “nothing is something”/ a creation doesn’t need a creator/ and this all happened by chance I go with A.
it’s too bad you are so “duped” because there is a lot of problems with “religion” we agree with. but unlike you I give God the benefit of the doubt.
January 7, 2019 at 2:55 pm
LTG …… but you ignore the implication of if Lazarus was not dead. everybody but you understands that event as Jesus raised him from the dead so yes —- you do ignore facts.
January 7, 2019 at 3:11 pm
I know that as a supernaturalist you prefer the supernaturalist way out. You don’t have to lift a neuron to explain anything beyond your limited ability to look for any other and possibly reasonable explanations …..to justify a society who sacrificed (killed) their kids for a bumper crop.
Geez, you are so in the last century when modernity made no sense at all.
Look; the simple fact is, Lazarus had a rare disease that Jesus knew about and that caused him to weep………. because others did not know about the affliction. And because of their ignorance entombed as though the person was DEAD in the same way that the following documentary reveals. This is research 101 for god sakes.
January 7, 2019 at 5:27 pm
Please stop. You’re resisting supernatural inclination that Lazarus was dead but he was now dead. Lazarus had a condition called cataplexy.
Cataplexy is a sudden and transient episode of muscle weakness accompanied by full conscious awareness, typically triggered by emotions such as laughing, crying, or terror.
[1] Cataplexy affects approximately 70% of people who have narcolepsy,
[2] and is caused by an autoimmune destruction of neurons that produce the neuropeptide hypocretin (also called orexin), which regulates arousal and wakefulness. That doesn’t mean that or I or anybody h this dideaes butmitts possbvl.
January 7, 2019 at 6:21 pm
I am trying to give you information so you can make decisions for your benefit; it doesn’t matter about me.
January 7, 2019 at 7:12 pm
LTG ……. dude you are protecting your delusion. you are telling us all dead doesn’t mean dead. you are doing what those nut job cult leaders do — telling people yes that’s what it says but it means what I say. if you were arguing Lazarus suffered from that medical condition PERIOD no problem. but that’s not your argument. the written word doesn’t back up your claim but you say it does when run through your supernatural decoder.
January 8, 2019 at 7:28 am
Come on Paul……stop speaking in tongues….
WHY, why would you not give your fantasy the benefiit of the doubt? But of course, you would…….otherwise you’d have to tell yourself you’ve been wrong all your life….and Christians can’t tell themselves that……..I mean that would only confuse them……
Yet cataplexy like epilepsy was merely a sin related disease……..
I mean that was a reasonable thing to believe you had if you were having seizures but now we have the science of neurology and we know about epilepsy so now when your kid has seizures, you know, you don’t go to the church to get him diagnosed and treated by exorcism and so that’s a good thing. I’m just saying that religion is losing the argument on every front. On every other front, it’s losing the argument ethically and will lose the argument spiritually.
And yet the “die-hards” are still there fighting for their stupidity and eulogizing that they will see each other in the next, OMG, life? or in the valley of milk and honey………….
Egads….I am glad I never had you for a father figure, Christ, would I be the laughing../……
On the front of human health and disease; you know, it use to be that you could get a diagnosis of demonic possession. I mean that was a reasonable thing to believe you had if you were having seizures but now we have the science of neurology and we know about epilepsy so now when your kid has seizures, you know you don’t go to the church to get him diagnosed and treated by exorcism and so that’s a good thing. I’m just saying that religion is losing the argument on every front. On every other front, it’s losing the argument ethically and will lose the argument spiritually.
We will understand spiritual experience so well at some point at the level of the brain, at the level of changing attention in certain ways can change human experience, we’ll understand it in a way that makes a mockery of this kind of denominational religious talk about Jesus and Buddha and magic powers and that will break down in the same way it has broken down on medicine and that’s a process that we have to be honest about and let unfold.
Let it unfold Paul. If you learned nothing from Jesus; at least look at modern medicine. That’s why they take you tom Emergency and not to the morgue; or the Church, I mean, you have to be an extreme believer of religious insanity to expect that the Church is the best place to tell the paramedics to take you with their sirens wailing when you’re having a health episode. Actually there are still some who are being charged with murder because they call their church buddies to come pray for their kid in shock because s/he needs insulin not useless prayer.
January 8, 2019 at 8:27 am
It wasn’t just Lazarus who died and was brought back from death. There were many many who were brought back from an untimely death by way of a witness.
And it came to pass, as they were burying a man, that, behold, they spied a band of men; and they cast the man into the sepulchre of Elisha: and when the man was let down, and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood up on his feet.
51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;
52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
18 While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live.
24 He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn.
25 But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose.
26 And the fame hereof went abroad into all that land.
Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?
January 8, 2019 at 10:23 am
Sure Kim the bible is full of people being raised from the dead but what happened to them? The many who slept when the graves opened?…. Sure Kim you’ll find lots of dead people rising in the Holy Books and especially in the back woods of India, it happens regularly. But in the historical record, not so much!
Lazarus was suffering from cataplexy….see post 94 video.
Sure a lot of people were raised from the dead but what happened to them, did they die again? And why is that? Ever wonder about it?
But you won’t have to wonder about Jesus because he just rose right up and ascended into the clouds; just disappeared like an ASTRONAUT. didn’t even need a helmut. Didn’t even need a spaceship. The rest of us had to wait nineteen hundred years to rise into the clouds thanks to the Wright Brothers in 1903.
January 8, 2019 at 11:49 am
Most of the dead raised died an untimely death. When they were raised from that untimely end, they simply completed their normal course in life like the rest of us. Jesus was unique and remains so. He was/is the firstborn from the dead. I don’t know what you understand about death but the grave is not permanent. However, religion is wrong about “going to heaven”. Dead is dead. However, there is a second death from which there is no return. Rather than death and the grave, such death is by fire and leads to oblivion. Until then, death is merely a condition to await judgment. What you might not know is that the Bible translations use “hell” for the grave and also “hell” for Gehanna. The two are not equivalent as one might think by the translation. The first is temporary and the second is permanent. Both are death without consciousness or awareness.
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January 8, 2019 at 3:07 pm
LTG …….. dude you are so delusional it’s hilarious. you do what the “duped” do. if Lazarus suffered from that medical condition those bible verses about that event are false.
January 8, 2019 at 3:21 pm
LTG ….. ILMAO, and if Jesus didn’t suffocate on the cross after the “swoon sponge” that would be a miracle —- because according to the doctors and scientists he would have died, really really died. so either those stories are false or true. you say they are true but dead doesn’t mean dead. so that makes your scenario less likely, so you are more “duped” —- another win for me
January 8, 2019 at 3:24 pm
The bible of course is genuine, just not so for our day and time and era. While the world has “civilized” technologically and the mind to use technology to some degree and while some extrapolations can be made that were trending; say, two thousand years ago, other extrapolations like the idea of homosexual sins when a man lies with an a man as with a woman, is still a crime punishable by death in Muslim countries, trending not so much in western countries; nevertheless, in religious circles homosexuality is still ingrained in to the religious psyche of the religious brain and death still the ultimate penalty for what some consider to be the ultimate sin. And of course traditions die hard and some foundmentalists is Israel still frown on the pracrtce of picking up sticks on tbhe sabbath
But Kim, let me please take you back a moment and let me finish before you revert back to being close minded about this just to support your own idea of fossil fuels and the hexagonal derivatives supporting 666.
Here is the simplicity of the beast; its name, its mark and its number, all of which is supported by biblical reference unlike; and please relax and don’t be offended, I am just giving you an alternative for you to aid your knowledge, that’s all.
I mean no offense or ridicule I don’t need to do that because when one has the answer to a simple scripture there is no need to try and destroy belief scenarios of other people trying to solve a seemingly intractable code which is not a code if one knows the bible. When one knows everything in the scriptures, one can speak with authority because the pieces fall in place; the pieces from various books, like a jigsaw puzzle, eventually generate the complete picture and sometimes the end result is something totally untoward what one’s mind originally presumed, imagined and believed.
So here is how the biblical description in revelation, portrays the Name, the Mark and the Number of the beast which every thinking person can relate to, understand, and identify with because of the descriptions the bible provides.
There is only one other place in the bible, apart from Revelation, that talks about 666 and both cases are related to the same thing and thibng, also referred as the Beast is money, currency, gold and in the Old Testament the reference found in Kins and Chrociles speak to the same issue.
“The first mention of gold in the Bible is in Genesis (2:12 KJV), “And the gold of that land is good; bdellium and onyx stone are there.” In the KJV Bible, gold is mentioned 417 times, silver 320 times and the word “money” 140 times. Not once does the Bible mention paper currency.”
14 Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred threescore and six talents of gold, (666).
15 Beside that he had of the merchantmen, and of the traffick of the spice merchants, and of all the kings of Arabia, and of the governors of the country.
16 And king Solomon made two hundred targets of beaten gold: six hundred shekels of gold went to one target.
It is also found in Chronicles but references the wealth of King Solomon in 1 Kings.
January 8, 2019 at 3:27 pm
“if Lazarus suffered from that medical condition those bible verses about that event are false.”
They are as false as a diploma from Trump university and your belief about the resurrection.
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January 8, 2019 at 3:44 pm
LTG ….. no “helmut” required. and our Ascension scenario doesn’t need your supernatural decoder and our Jesus doesn’t run away to leave his friends to die horrible deaths while he lives the rest of his life living it up. your Jesus is a real db.
January 9, 2019 at 6:29 am
You’ve equated “666” with money. That is not a parallel in reality. Money is hardly unique. Capitalism is. And, New York city is realistically the seat of world capitalism in a country that is the melting pot of the world’s people. This is clearly described in the Bible as Babylon (New York), the great whore (statue of liberty/capitalism) and many waters (many peoples/melting pot).
If the Bible were to ignore the world’s greatest civilization, which is the one today and continues to be, then it would not be a book worth reading. It would be a fake. It is not. So, one must look into the ancient phraseology to find where we are today. The problem is that most like yourself focus in on a single passage rather than the sum total of descriptive language. And, in doing so, come up with all sorts of imaginative interpretations rather than the reality of the world around us. We perceive that our world is “normal”. However, it is not. It is a godless age that professes to bring mankind immortality through technology. This is a lie. And, that lie is described in great prophetic detail in the Bible. But, only if one looks with understanding.
I realize that this approach is unorthodox and to think a 2,000 year old book has details of “today” is hard to believe. But, it must be true or as I said, the Bible is a fake and not worth the paper its printed on.
January 9, 2019 at 11:13 am
Just because I can unlock the mystery does not take away or diminish one’s intelligence to see and understand it.
“You’ve equated “666” with money.” Well yeah…because that’s exactly what it means there’s no elaborate code to decipher, the bible is quite clear.
People obviously have ideas about particular trends they see developing. John in Revelation predicted and rightly so that there would come a day when the Beast of Revelation would rule as it had already been trending in a big way and that nobody, eventually would be able to buy or sell without the Name, the Number or the Mark of the Beast in his forehead(mindset) or in his right hand; this has stumped scholars across the world down through the ages looking for encoded messages, numerology trying to figure out what they perceived as a complicated Da Vinci Code of some fashion or other but the simplicity of John’s prediction was that he was talking about the Name, Money, the Number 666 that represented all the Money(The Name of the Beast) of King Solomon metaphorically, and the Mark which is characterized by the marks of currency. I call it Bingo The Money God. The second beast that gives power and credence to the first beast in all likelihood is simply the government that controls the making of money, that is the Royal Mint or the Federal Reserve
The only thing narrators say about Solomon’s wealth that is correct was that the several references in the bible about 666 apart from Revelation tell about the same event and that is, the amount of wealth coming into Solomon’s Bank in a year, noted as 666 talents of gold, but that was not all the wealth; it was symbolic of all the wealth, in other words Money, Currency. 1 Kings 10:14-15; 2 Chronicles 9:13-14
Every other interpretation means nothing because the world was living in the time of 666(Money useage) when the scripture was written and every generation since it was written, including today. It was and IS the way of the world. The Way of The Beast.
There’s nothing wrong with money; its design is wonderful by the reason of its design. However it did force all people, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to have it. Without the Mark or the Name of the Beast or the Number of its name, it was impossible to buy or sell anything. So now you don’t have to go to town and trade a bag of rice or a pound of potatoes for some meat and eggs and bread because the common denominator was devised as an inevitable consequence of evolution called by its name “Money” and other names standing for the same thing. the same thing:
The bible actually challenges us to solve the riddle: Rev 13:18, “Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six.
Solve a riddle: Put your heads together and figure out the meaning of the number of the Beast. It’s a human number: 666.
And here’s the riddle solved in all its simplicity, nothing complicated, no academia necessary, no need to look for hidden Da Vinci codes to interpret no need to add or subtract and substitutes numbers of letter to land on Nero some modern day recognition.
The Number however IS in the bible and the number WAS used metaphorically to mean “all the money” like the ATM Machines represent all the money long before Revelation but the numbers have been obfuscated because it was an alpha numeric number written out as six hundred threescore and six. (666)
and that alpha numeric written form confused Christians so they looked for a code under a rock when it was hidden in plain sight, out in the open in the very book from whence it’s dark association rose. And here’s the story in all its simplicity. The truth of meaning is a just reward for accepting the challenge of wisdom: ” Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six.”
And I now offer you knowledge, to dispel belief, to vanish faith, to set the captive free.
How much Money did King Solomon amass? That is why 666 came to prominence, as a metaphor for the Great Wealth of Solomon
If you were to turn on to (1 Kings 10:14-15; 2 Chronicles 9:13-14) you will find the only other references to 666 in the bible, apart from Revelation:
Six hundred three score and six, 666, is money, currency, wealth and it’s worth noting that the only description in the bible referenced apart from Revelation are two scriptures, both alluding to the same thing, “All The Money” of King Solomon…..
It is also noteworthy that King Solomon’s reign conventional dates are around (970 – 931 BCE) about 1000 years before Revelation was written, 10 centuries. The value of precious metals of gold and silver generally followed: a talent of gold was a Homer, an Attic Talent was 60 minae, which divided into 6000 drachmae, Hellenistic mercenaries were commonly paid one drachma per day of military service.
However on reading 1 Kings you will soon see that while 666 became to be the metaphor for Solomon’s wealth to represent all the money, the 666 talents of gold was not “all” the money, for in that same chapter describing Solomon’s wealth in verse 14 “….The weight of gold that came to Solomon yearly was six hundred and sixty-six talents of gold…..” it goes on to say, in the very next verse: “…..besides that from the traveling merchants, from the income of traders, from all the kings of Arabia, and from the governors of the country.”
The simple fact is that Money IS the name of beast,(currency, dough, buck, dollar, quid, greenback, scratch, mullah, folding stuff, coin, sterling, gold) the number of the beast, 666 as noted in 1 Kings, Chronicles and Revelation, is 666. (1 Kings 10:14-15; 2 Chronicles 9:13-14).
1 Kings 10:14 “The weight of gold that came to Solomon yearly was six hundred and sixty-six talents of gold,”( 666 ) 15 “besides that from the traveling merchants, from the income of traders, from all the kings of Arabia, and from the governors of the country.”
The talent was the heaviest or largest biblical unit of measurement for mass weight, equal to about 75 pounds or 35 kilograms. When used as a measure of money, it refers to a talent-weight of gold or of silver. The gold talent is reported as weighing roughly the same as a person, and so perhaps 50 kg (110 lb avoirdupois). Some authorities say that the talent typically weighed about 33 kg (75 lb) varying from 20 to 40 kg.
The only two other references in the bible about 666 besides Revelation tell about the same event and that is, the amount of wealth coming into Solomon’s Bank in a year, noted as 666 talents of gold, but that was not all the wealth, it was symbolic of all the wealth, in other words all the money, currency. Everything else means nothing from the time the scripture was written and every generation since it was written, including today. It was and IS the way of the world. The Way of The Beast. It was that way in Jesus’s day, when John wrote Revelation and it continues today with its variations of credit cards and debit cards
The simple fact is that Money is the name of beast,(currency, dough, buck, dollar, quid, greenback, scratch, mullah, folding stuff, coin, sterling) the number of the beast as noted in Kings, Chronicles and Revelation, is 666. (1 Kings 10:14-15; 2 Chronicles 9:13-14
)
The fact that Solomon had 1,000 concubines has nothing to do with the scriptural meaning, the fact that he had steps and 12 lions or whatever has nothing to do with it, the economy and the nuclear arsenals have nothing to do with it, everything else is extraneous information and has nothing to do with the simple fact that 666 is Money and the world depends on it and nobody free or slave, small or great, rich or poor can buy or sell WITHOUT MONEY, WITHOUT THE NAME , WITHOUT AN AMOUNT OF MONEY 666 SYMBOLIZES and/or WITHOUT THE MARK OF MONEY THAT DENOTES THE CURRENCY BEING USED. everywhere on earth.
Simple example. You want groceries. You go to the store and pick out what you want. The grocer says how will you pay, you say cash(money-currency) He says that’ll be $87.87. You say that’s okay I have $87.87 and he says what is the Mark of your money and you say, US $Dollar Mark. Deal done.
The same deal is made in Japan, let’s say. $87.87, you say you have $87.87 but the currency Mark now is the Yen Mark ¥,
Man is a past master at complicating the issues, looking for codes and meaning that is right in front of his nose.
One needs to look no further; this is exactly what it means:
18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666.
Actually it is the verses before the 666 verse.
16And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand or in their foreheads,
17that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark or the name of the beast or the number of his name. In other words access to MONEY.
The other thing about symbolism is the way it talks about one’s mindset as being the “forehead” foremost thought, thus what you have in the front of your mind is referred to as being marked in the “forehead” . The forehead refers to your mindset. WHAT is UPPER MOST IN YOUR MIND, WHAT YOU ARE TUNED IN TO.
And the right hand has always been that symbol of power; I.E. sitting at the right hand of god, the second in command being on the right side. as “He is the right hand man”. These simple symbolisms are totally missed by the conspiracists. Genesis 48:13
And Joseph took them both, Ephraim with his right hand toward Israel’s left hand, and Manasseh with his left hand toward Israel’s right hand, and brought them near him—-Then Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on Ephraim’s head, who was the younger, and his left hand on Manasseh’s head, guiding his hands knowingly, for Manasseh was the firstborn.—-Genesis 48:17
Now when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it displeased him; so he took hold of his father’s hand to remove it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head.—Exodus 15:6
“Your right hand, O LORD, has become glorious in power;Your right hand, O LORD, has dashed the enemy in pieces.—-Exodus 15:12
and Moses killed it. Also he took some of its blood and put it on the tip of Aaron’s right ear, on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot.—–Deuteronomy 33:2
And he said:“The LORD came from Sinai, And dawned on them from Seir; He shone forth from Mount Paran, And He came with ten thousands of saints; From His right hand Came a fiery law for them.—-1 Kings 2:19
Bathsheba therefore went to King Solomon, to speak to him for Adonijah. And the king rose up to meet her and bowed down to her, and sat down on his throne and had a throne set for the king’s mother; so she sat at his right hand.—-Psalm 77:10
MARKS to ponder. The world depends on it and nobody free or slave, small or great, rich or poor can buy or sell WITHOUT MONEY: Geez Did I miss anybody?
in World Currencies – Listed by Country Name as used in the Banking Systems of the World.
Dinar (Macedonian) MK Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia [MK]
Dinar (South Yemeni, replaced by Yemeni Riyal) YDD Former South Yemen [YD]
Dollar (Australian) AUD Australia [AU],
Dollar (Canadian) CAD Canada [CA]
Saint Kitts (Christopher) and Nevis [KN],
Dollar (Liberian) LRD Liberia [LR]
Dollar (Malaysian, also known as Ringgit) MYR Malaysia [MY]
New Zealand [NZ],
Dollar (Taiwan, New) TWD Taiwan, Province of China [TW]
Federated States of Micronesia [FM],
Panama [PA] (with Balboa),
United States of America [US],
ECU (replaced by the Euro) XEU
Escudo (Portuguese) (replaced by the Euro) PTE
Belgium [BE],
France [FR],
Italy [IT],
San Marino [SM] and various French dependencies.
Franc (des Comptoirs français du Pacifique [Pacific Franc]) XPF
Franc (Belgian) (replaced by the Euro) BEF Belgium [BE]
Franc (Belgian, Convertible) (replaced by the Euro) BEC
Franc (Belgian, Financial) (replaced by the Euro) BEL
Franc (French) (replaced by the Euro) FRF
France [FR],
French Southern and Antarctic Territories [TF],
Franc (Guinea, also known as Syli) GNS
Franc (Malian) MLF Mali [ML]
Guilder (Dutch) (replaced by the Euro)
Koruna (Czech) CZK (CSK is also misused)
Czech Republic [CZ]
Slovakia (Slovak Republic) [SK]
Krona (Swedish) SEK
Krone (Danish) DKK
Denmark [DK],
Krone (Norwegian) NOK
Norway [NO],
Kwanza Replaced by New Kwanza
Kyat MMK (formerly BUK)
Myanmar [MM] (formerly Burma [BU])
Leu (Moldavian) MDL
Lira (Italian) (replaced by the Euro) ITL
Italy [IT],
Lira (Turkish) TRL
Turkey [TR]
Lithuania [LT]
Mark (Deutsche) (replaced by the Euro) DEM (DDM formerly in use in East)
Germany (West and East) [DE]
Markka (replaced by the Euro) FIM
Metical MZM
Mexico [MX]
Peseta (Spanish) (replaced by the Euro) ESP
Spain [ES],
Peso (Argentinian) Replaced by Nuevo Peso
Peso (Colombian) COP
Colombia [CO]
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January 9, 2019 at 11:35 am
You said………….”16And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand or in their foreheads,
17that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark or the name of the beast or the number of his name. In other words access to MONEY.”
You’re close but it doesn’t match ALL descriptivism. A “mark” is in reference to an animal’s footprint. Wherever that “footprint” is means access to COMMERCE (not just money). This describes a world civilization based on transportation. Recognize our civilization? Its based on roads, shipping lanes, flyways, etc. And where these “marks” are there is COMMERCE. Not just money. Hand/eye coordination is paramount in transportation. When you get up and drive to work, you take the keys in hand, and use your hand/eye coordination to back out onto a “mark” to go somewhere for business. And, what do you use for that? The “image” of a beast of TRANSPORTATION. A car/boat/plane etc. that mimics life by the act of MOBILITY. The “number” of such a beast (originating from a PIT in the ground) is the number of man (how science identifies the substance of this “beast”). And it is what science calls BTEX or 6 chemicals that are 6-sided (hexagonal….what is called “organic” molecules) of the 6th element, carbon which is the element of all life. Those 6 chemicals are benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and 3 isomers of xylene. Look it up. Its how science looks for fossil fuels. In particular gasoline.
What we consider normal (such as eating food from all over the world) the Bible describes as NOT normal.
January 9, 2019 at 1:20 pm
LTG ……. LMAO those verses are false, that’s not what you’ve implied previously. your previous position was the verses were true just spoken in code “only you” have been able to interpret — eg. where plainly he is dead means he suffers from a medical condition that just makes him look dead. now I say “only you” because in my 40+ years of arguing no one has mentioned that world view because it’s crazy. and you add an extra layer of crazy because your Jesus’ mission is to dispel the supernatural. and his quotes exploded the belief in the supernatural.
the resurrection is false would mean Jesus is a Liar, Lunatic or Legend. so that would mean you aren’t the sharpest knife in the drawer for following his teachings. tried to prove it was bogus for years and I couldn’t so I took the “smart bet” on put my money on the resurrection. no problem for me if I’m wrong I’ve never been happier since becoming a Christian —- my faith helps me in this life and if no resurrection won’t matter once I’m dead.
January 9, 2019 at 2:24 pm
Your neurons are malfunctioning. Can you please show me anything resembling the ridiculous quote you just relayed
“……..your previous position was the verses were true just spoken in code “only you” have been able to interpret”…. sorry but nowhere have I ever discounted the possibility that others could figure out or interpret the bible correctly. Code is for conspiracists because they discount any others from imagining the same code identifier.
The bible is not code but sometimes that is said in one section cannot be recognized until you arrive at a confirming section which is why very very few Christians can understand what Ham really did that caused Noah to curse Ham’s son Canaan simply because Ham saw the nakedness of his father. But this is the ridiculous answers Christians provide, It was not right to look upon your father’s when he is naked; or it was a sexually motivated sin, or other belief nonsense. If you know reason about the Ham curse then perhaps you read my post before and explained it to the willing but I would be interested to know what your take on it is rightly or wrongly,don’t be shy. You can only gain knowledge when you talk to me which is why Jesus said that Knowledge will set you free like belief never can.
Ignorance is not bliss as most Christians believe I grew up in a Catholic culture where the priest discouraged the parishioner “laymen” from reading the bible because only the priests could tell you what it meant. Yeah sure…… they hid knowledge of obfuscate the truth by substituting belief for knowledge. but it ain’t so Paul, it ain’t so.
January 9, 2019 at 2:25 pm
Kim ….. generally speaking I’d agree with your “access to COMMERCE” remark. but I’d say it as, if you don’t agree with the powers that be you are not just not able function (buy/sell) in that society you’d be a criminal in that society. a kind of example would be a world wide theocracy — doesn’t matter what “religion” that would be a nightmare. there’s even many atheists that would makes this world a nightmare if they had total control.
January 9, 2019 at 2:42 pm
LTG …… LMAO — that is what you have been saying all along. giving “natural” interpretations of bible verses which we take as “supernatural.” I won’t waste my time searching and cutting/pasting your exact words here, I’ll just state what you said to me in my own words. here is one of your many examples —- the ascension is just Jesus walking away down the road.
those catholics have problems because like you they are “duped.” none of the negatives with my world view that we both agree are rampant in organized religion.
ignorance is you denying what would happen after your Jesus drank from the “swoon sponge.” since I admit I don’t have infinite knowledge I do not exclude the possibility of the supernatural. and compared to the atheistic alternative mine is the logical and reasonable choice. see I disagree with a literal interpretation of Genesis as well as the atheistic “nothing is something” argument.
January 9, 2019 at 2:55 pm
“……won’t waste my time searching and cutting/pasting your exact words here….’ but I told you if I could the writing that proved you wrong a few days ago when I found the exact text that you wrongly mentioned and I proved you wrong because I have knowledge on my side from my Jesus not your jesus. when I am right I am right. It’s is because you can’t find the texts.because you do not have them.
And I did not describe Jesus as just walking down the road because that would not explain the cloud that took him from their vision. That was an ascension right out of the country. You don’t suppose after going through the ordeal of crucifixion he was going to stick around and do it all over again…He left the country and never returned. As his secret disciples agreed and urged him to do.
Tell me about the Ham curse or are you simply afraid to tackle knowledge with cursory belief? I would be too.
January 9, 2019 at 7:37 pm
LTG ……. LMAO, your interpretation of those ascension verses is exactly what I described. your interpretation shows they are made up or exaggerated to give a supernatural twist. therefore, according to your own words BS. making Jesus of Nazareth Legend, Liar or Lunatic depending on what quotes of his are fictionalized. if the supernatural is not true the most logical and reasonable ending of Jesus of Nazareth is he died on the cross and the story was made up to start a new religion for nefarious purposes. since you don’t believe in the resurrection that makes you a fool for following the guy. since I don’t have infinite knowledge. I’ll stick to the supernatural is possible and make the smart bet on the resurrection.
switching the topic is one of the “duped” persons favourite tactics. tell me which one of the Ham stories you believe — noah got sodomized, noah’s wife had sex, noah was mocked and ridiculed ? any more you are aware of ? doesn’t matter to me I’ve studied those and don’t care who’s right.
January 9, 2019 at 7:56 pm
January 9, 2019 at 8:06 pm
There is no supernatural twist. What are you talking about? Your are the supernaturalist.
You are so grasping at straws with your belief because you have nothing substantial to offer; certainly nothing like knowledge. You are hanging like a thread as all Christians are because they have all followed Paul the Pharisee who infiltrated the Jesus followers and capitalized on the phony resurrection of Jesus to confirm the Pharisaical nonsense that Jesus railed against for three years.
The fact is, Jesus survived through a marvelous engineering feat that you and others can’t figure out anymore than the 666 phenomenon because you have too much belief and not enough knowledge; survived the cross; was nursed back to health and when sufficiently healed left the country with his entourage of close and devote circle like Mary Magdalene and left the perverts of religious insanity to their own devise.
I will be enthralled to make a movie someday to show the world how stupid Christianity really is and leave them to marvel at the how many people can be duped by supernatural folly that makes a mockery of real people who made a real difference that they could not accept as ordinary humans doing extraordinary things and just could not help themselves but to turn them into a diety for another God to carry there stupidity to a higher level of robots of protocol without discretionary insight, and that’s some 5 to 6 billion humans duped and stooped in their own egotistical poop. hahahahahah
January 9, 2019 at 8:13 pm
Since you don’t know about Ham why bring it up as though you had some insight…which you don’t; all you have is flimsy belief duped by the snake oil salesmen that have you all sucked in.
January 9, 2019 at 8:14 pm
Tell me this what was the light by night and the cloud by day that guided the exodus. hahahaha
January 10, 2019 at 6:24 am
If one reads the text then it is clear there is no criminality. It reads with the intent that buying/selling (commerce) is unable to be carried out without the “mark” (ie/transportation). This is reality in that civilization ends when roads end (generally speaking) in the world we live in. A world theocracy is not reality nor will it ever be. The “false prophet” is the absence of religion and foretells a civilization in which mankind rejects God and proclaims the ability to bring immortality on its own. This too is the reality in our world. Science predicts mankind evolving into immortality by way of technology, which is science solely based on fossil fuels. This will never happen. Mankind will go extinct before technology can do such a thing. It is a lie. Yet, we generally take what science tells us at face value. All this seems natural and normal to us. We completely depend on fossil fuels to live. Our food, our medicines, our housing, our livelihood, our clothes, and everything we have comes from fossil fuels. This was predicted over 2,000 years ago.
January 10, 2019 at 7:47 am
Without the mark( $, £, ¢,) of the name (Money, Dollar, Currency) of the Beast or the number (666 metaphorically all the wealth of King Solomon) of its name(Gold), it was impossible to buy or sell anything. Which is exactly the way of the world, in every nation, country, city, town, village and household causing all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond to buy or sell anything from the lowly garage sale, to food on the table, to the spaceships on the way to the mother planet Mars.
Even the electricity that I fill my electric vehicle battery with, no engine(and no hybrid for me) runs primarily from electricity generated from renewable energy resources of turning turbines powered by river waters. Fossil fuels are on the way out and will be replaced by solar, wind, water and when they’re gone money and their marks and the number will still be the prophecy(trending) fulfilled from Revelation which is so obvious even a Geico Caveman could figure it out.
Yet we still have conspiracists doing somersaults with bizarre complicated decoding ideas of hexagonal molecules that needs atomic microscopes to open up new imaginative horizons for conspiracists desiring accolades for their wisdom. And a proselyte agreeing with one word in their theory gives great joy to both.
January 10, 2019 at 10:38 am
You said “Fossil fuels are on the way out and will be replaced by solar, wind, water “. That’s a buncha liberal BS that isn’t reality.
As for the chemistry of fossil fuels….an “atomic microscope” shows you aren’t a scientific person. Consider the following:
Its a simple but very important thing but it shows just how applicable the Bible is and the incredibility of what is written in it. Even to the point of describing in great detail what our world is like. And, from 6 aromatic compounds of carbon (6 and 6 and 6) practically all modern materials are produced.
January 10, 2019 at 1:00 pm
Fossil fuels are already trending out of existence and more so because of the emissions being released into the atmosphere. Car Manufacturers are already going transitioning to electric only vehicles..
And tell me who would have known two thousand years ago anything about your 666 carbon theory when it took almost two thousand years to invent a motor vehicle and the world was still in barbarism mode? So laughable but of course you have to make it sound like science fiction to gain the Christian bums on your side. It was only a few hundred years ago that the Pope charged Galileo with Heresy and barely saved his life but kept him under house arrest for the rest of his life.
The bible is an incredible record of mankind just barely out of cave mode and you think the prophets graduating for the Sons of the Prophet schools knew anything more that how to cook meat and control fire enough to burn their enemies to the ground? And the weak minded among mankind still insist in praying to Zeus for fortune, fame, food and Chinese cookies.
Tesla and Volkswagen each have plans to produce more than a million electric vehicles per year by 2025. On July 25, 2017, Volvo announced that it would phase out the traditional combustion engine and that all of its new models starting in 2019 would be either hybrids or entirely battery-powered.
Within 5 years you’ll see car roofs, hoods and trunk bodies become solar generating power carriers able to energize at 80% capacity under cloudy skies. Who is going to buy gasoline when there won’t be any motor cars left. Well but of course as long as you are still stuck in the 3000BCE and more mode, you’ll still have Zeus to look to for your cure for what ails you. I bought my first electric vehicle in 2015. The average combustion engine runs with 1200 moving parts. My electric drive train One moving part that goes around in a circle like a jet engine and where are all the ICE vehicles ….in my rear view mirror still at the intersection. hahahah so lolable.
Liberalism will leave you in the rear view mirror too.
January 10, 2019 at 2:50 pm
LTG …… LMAO you brought up Ham. did you know of those 3 interpretations ? if you didn’t I probably know more about it than you.
January 10, 2019 at 3:24 pm
LTG ……. dude you hilarious. if the ascension is based on a historical event, and the supernatural does not exist, the story was given a “supernatural twist.” but that’s not what you are saying here. you are saying those words are correct it’s just our interpretation of them that is wrong. it’s you with your special insight giving us the decoded natural interpretation and saying we are the “duped” if we don’t believe “looking up” means “looking up.” if I was Jesus I’d just have shaved my beard, cut my hair, changed my clothes and road off into the sunset before Passover that year no use getting crucified at all. it’s not like he’d get caught with facial recognition. and he should’ve told his disciples — hey don’t tell anybody I didn’t die if your scenario is correct. but since you bring up Ham’s curse instead of explaining why Jesus didn’t suffocate after the “swoon sponge” everybody but you knows you are “duped.”
January 10, 2019 at 4:17 pm
Kim ….. theocracy is just an example of the type of gov’t described in the prophecy. it will be a type of dictatorship with a religious component that will be very anti-Christian according to the prophecy. we don’t even have to go back into history — Islam beheads those that won’t submit to it’s rules.
no criminality — what are they (this gov’t) beheading people for ? that would be for breaking their laws/rules wouldn’t it ? what laws/rules would Christian die for ?
January 10, 2019 at 5:05 pm
“Tell me this what was the light by night and the cloud by day that guided the exodus. hahahaha”
LMAO, so you still won’t mention why Jesus didn’t suffocate after the “swoon sponge” and bring up Ham’s curse but don’t dazzle us with your deep insights and now you ask me about exodus ?
if the supernatural doesn’t exist it’s most likely a story the jews made up to scare others from messing with them. why take the story literally and give it a natural interpretation ? can you answer that question or are you going to ask me about another totally different topic ?
January 10, 2019 at 5:43 pm
I have heard the various interpretations but which one do you accept, if any, and if so upon what scriptures or otherwise information do you base your belief or acceptance of the theory of your choice on?. You don’t expect me to tell you the correct one until you conform to the questions do you?
Although it is possible that you know from what I have written beforehand if that is so, then I would also have made known the scriptures that support it. So if you can recite those I will know if you are talking about what you know or not.
Take the words of my Jesus when you talk about what you claim to know….Jesus did not talk about belief he said quite plainly and clearly what he means about what he talks about.
Somehow though I think you know very little about jesus the man but quite a lot about Jesus the supernaturalist dogmatic coaching from church who themselves know very little about the man and what he meant by what he told and how he knew about what he told. But you….not so much but you do have a heck of a lot of belief about the sensational nonsensical poof not you see me now you don’t. When I was a kid I look up hills all the time. Do youo think the disciples in Jesus day did not look up hills; mind you there were not that many in the desert but there were uphill roads and even the curvature of the earth if there was just plain old earth. so lolable…..hehehaha
January 10, 2019 at 6:48 pm
The ascension as you call it is incorrect; it was not an ascension; however, believers with little or no education and who have little capacity to think for themselves, hearing a story about a cloud has only a supernatural connotation and beyond the realm and that’s the heavenly and external and beyond reality.
Jesus said of knowledge: “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
Now I, being a follower of Jesus, like Jesus, I must always give others the benefit of the doubt when they appear to seek knowledge; nevertheless, after a while when another begins to do nothing more than mock the knowledge one provides, Jesus provides scriptures that describes what to do when reaching the place when mockers have reached the end of their ability.
Jesus said to us, These three relevant scriptures you need to heed and you will know that time when that time is at hand for your adversary will provide it,
#1. When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth? Luke 18:8
#2. “The time is coming when you will long to see one of the days of the Son
of Man, but you will not see it ” Luke 17:22 And;
#3. Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast. ye your pearls
before swine, lest they trample them. under their feet, and turn again and
And these three main scriptures, all related, have risen in the spirit as provided by you and it is time to depart from communication that has reached “one mockery after another”?
So from here on I can only wish you, as well as you are capable of receiving and will now leave you to your own devise in your glory of “one mockery after another” rejecting the knowledge offered by the Son of Man.
January 10, 2019 at 8:19 pm
LTG ……. LMAO, I don’t care what it (ie. the ascension) was if it didn’t happen as described in the NT. the point — which you refuse to address — is if it didn’t happen as written with a supernatural interpretation it did not happen. it’s a made up BS story to rip people off in organized religion. Jesus, if a real person — got himself killed on that Nisan 14th, dead really really dead. no “swoon sponge” because if there was one Jesus would’ve passed out and suffocated oh delusional one.
I do not belong to a organized religion so no down side to my world view. and since you can’t even explain how Jesus could pass out and not have suffocated why would any body believe your version or any version of the “swoon theory ?” your scenario can’t even pass the first hurdle let alone the others associated with your story.
that’s one thing we agree on —- I don’t know a Jesus that is that dumb to say a guy is dead when he just appears dead because he has a medical condition that makes him look dead that nobody but that Jesus knows about. your Jesus also shows how dumb he is by using the words he used when his mission was to dispel the supernatural. also if he was smart he would have just left town. but instead he fakes his death and before you know it is dumb ass followers are running around telling everybody (including the people who tried to kill him) Jesus is alive. besides nobody knows your Jesus because only you know what he is really saying — not the best way to spread a belief but give you the perfect qualifications for a cult leader.
January 10, 2019 at 8:35 pm
LTG ……. are you saying the story describing Ham’s curse was an actual event ? LMAO. I see interesting points in all 3 arguments. but based on the story (flood wiping the earth clean partially due to sexual immorality), the 7 Noahide laws (Not to commit adultery or sexual immorality), some traditions of the ancient middle east and my old man yelling/giving us a spanking if we ever dared mock or ridicule him I think the 3rd is the most likely.
if you are not going to explain why Jesus didn’t suffocate after the “swoon sponge” why not just say so ?
January 10, 2019 at 8:39 pm
SoM …… LMAO, but “the Son of Man” according to your world view has been dead and buried for centuries. he’s dust and not coming back no way no how if your world view is correct.
January 11, 2019 at 6:22 am
You say “it will be a type of dictatorship with a religious component that will be very anti-Christian”. That is complete hogwash….there will never be a world religious dictatorship (except when Jesus returns). There certainly isn’t now. That isn’t reality. It is a lie perpetrated by “Christianity” itself and the lie will justify “Christianity”, which is a false religion, resisting the authority of Jesus in the future. In exactly the same way the Jews resisted Jesus over 2,000 years ago. By your statement, you infer “Christianity” is biblical. It is not. We all know much of “Christianity” is mostly of pagan origin.
January 11, 2019 at 6:55 am
Between inferring that “Christianity” is mentioned in John’s visions and inferring that advancements in technology will prevent human extinction there is a blatant contradiction.
Christianity is mostly false. Global warming is mostly false. Electric cars take fossil fuels to make and will not change anything. Politically correct ideas about “renewable” energy sources is a pipe dream to correct a non-proven problem that only justifies liberal hatred of mankind in general. It came from the 60’s hippy movement and the lie has grown from there.
As I said, the Bible must predict REALITY. Not false religious or political ideas. And, if it cannot do so in REALITY then it is a fake. Prophetic visions can and do reveal in great detail what is to come IF they are actually true. They are.
The beast that thou sawest was (prehistoric), and is not (extinct); and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit (the ground….oil wells), and go into perdition (be used for combustion): and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder (invent things), whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world (population explosion), when they behold (discover) the beast that was (prehistoric), and is not (extinct), and yet is (crude oil…black gold).
January 11, 2019 at 7:52 am
For the most part you have no idea what you are talking about, about anything you talk about.
1. You equate energy with fossil fuels and for the most part since the Industrial revolution that was true but notice that little word “was”.
2. The transfer is already well under way; it was ready in the 80’s when the fossil fuels greeders bought out (Bribed with the 666 power) and killed the electric vehicle.
3. The transition is in full swing.
4. You infer; I imply.
5. All religions are false and started out as false
6. Pagan is another word for pre-organized religion
8. The Bible is a religious sponsored marketing ploy to support the religious narrative
10. The Bible predicts trends when during the era it was written. Did you ever see the Headline Psychic wins lottery and has been banned from all lotteries the the country, Psychic and prophets are graduates of Psychic, religious and magic school
January 11, 2019 at 8:13 am
I’m not the one who used the term “atomic microscope” with reference to fossil fuel components (BTEX). As a scientist myself, it was immediately evident that I was conversing with someone who was not schooled in science. Chromatography has nothing to do with microscopy. However, I chose to overlook that.
It now appears evident that I’m conversing with an atheistic political liberal with little understanding of literature, religion or science. With such a repertoire, I’m not surprised you aren’t willing to acknowledge reality.
January 11, 2019 at 8:46 am
“there will never be a world religious dictatorship (except when Jesus returns).”
You wouldn’t recognize Jesus if you tripped over me.
January 11, 2019 at 9:29 am
aha……a hispanic atheistic political liberal with little understanding of literature, religion or science. The plot thins.
January 11, 2019 at 2:07 pm
Kim ……. ” Revelation 20:4 4I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years.”
the above verse seems to support my position but you may have a totally different interpretation.
January 11, 2019 at 2:59 pm
Kim ….. you are doing what LTG/SoM/et-al is doing mixing 2 world views.
LTG is perfectly right to argue Lazarus suffered from that medical condition but he goes into crazy town when he affirms the words of Jesus in the NT are correct. if LTG’s scenario about that event is correct Jesus should have said something along these lines —- we have to leave immediately because Lazarus suffers from a medical condition that makes it look like he’s dead but he is still alive. we have to get to him before he dies of thirst in the tomb. …………….. quickly move the stone away I hear Lazarus inside. Lazarus it’s okay come out.
Kim you can’t separate Christianity (the kind that’s always been persecuted even by other “Christians” eg. catholics) from the book of revelation. now some say it’s already been fulfilled so they aren’t separating. and I’m not sayin it’ll be just Christians that will be victimized under this coming NWO (that may not happen until I’m dead). just like Nazi germany murdered others besides jews. and leaders of Nazi germany weren’t long ago — just 2 generations from me.
if you want to discuss the NWO separate from the bible that is no problem. atheists/new-atheists have nut jobs that would want to kill other people that disagree with them just like some nut job theists want to kill those that disagree with them. as I mentioned Islam still beheads people for religious crimes. according to studies Islam will take over Europe unless drastic changes occur.
January 12, 2019 at 7:37 am
You have everything backward!
“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.” Matt 23:13
In other words:
“I’ve had it with you! You’re hopeless, you religion scholars, you Pharisees! Frauds! Your lives are roadblocks to God’s kingdom. You refuse to enter, and won’t let anyone else in either.
And here are the two cardinal rules:
1: Read the words with a natural, not a supernatural slant for you cannot understand your own let alone supernatural imaginings of authors; for imagination in the minds of mankind is as superficial as a child’s unknown boogieman. Do not read the bible as a child and expect to understand it as an adult.
2: There is zilch; none, and no such thing, as “the word of God” for no God has ever talked to man; neither Isis, Buddha, Zeus, Brahma, Apollo, Horus, Ik Onkar, Jehovah or plain old God. But many authors have talked to and talked about, their personal imaginary caricature character. The best that man can say is that authors write on behalf of the character of their own devise.
Follow the above two cardinal rules and your mind will open to receive understanding.
The religious zealots in Isaiah’s day and Jesus’s day refused to give this key of knowledge to their congregation and to this very day: “So long as the priest and the professional negator, slanderer and poisoner of life is regarded as a superior type of human being, there cannot be any answer to the question: What is Truth? asked by pontius pilate, friedrich nietzsche and religious scholars everyday.
Religion is exponentially diminishing and its end is coming and will soon be replaced by the spirit permeating humanity like yeast permeates bread dough but which has been steadfastly stifled by the traditions of ignorance, superficial imaginations and religious zealots; and that is, to give up the power of the lie of charlatanism.
And what is the destiny and what will the new wave use as a guiding pillar? This standard will be written “on the forehead” and in the hearing (metaphorically, in the mindet and on the heart ) of every man, woman and child:
“To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou cannot then be false to any man.” (shakespeare’s character polonius – This kernel of wisdom is now taken as Shakespeare’s own wise pronouncements on living a proper life.)
January 12, 2019 at 9:27 am
so now Shakespeare is your Buddha. Like most secularists who profess to be “atheist”, it all comes down to a hatred of Christianity rather than the Bible. Primarily because most atheists haven’t a clue about what the Bible actually says.
January 12, 2019 at 12:05 pm
You are so lost in your own self deluded imaginative world you don’t even know that Jesus was an atheist!
Jesus hated the Church, hated Religion, hated the Clergy calling them poisonous vipers and further, Jesus debunked the Supernatural religion of the Jews when he made “his first coming out” atheist appearance at the Synagogue when he addressed the congregation with a reading from the book of Isaiah which at first the congregation was amazed until he debunked the religious leaders and their supernaturalfragilisticexpealidocious teachings.
“But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land; “But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow. “And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian. “And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, “And rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong. “But he passing through the midst of them went his way,
When I say that all religions are a form of mental Illness, Christianity is not exempt.
The bible reflects that mental illness and so does all so called “sacred” books.
Judaism made sex the original sin, wrote the Book of Genesis to support the narrative about the way to life, procreation.
It was Judaism with its heartfelt resentment against life, that first made something unclean of sexuality: it threw filth on the origin, on the essential fact of our life. Others blame Christianity but Christianity and Islam merely followed Judaism promoting the filth of sexuality by shaming all aspects of sexuality.
Procreation without religious accreditation became ostracized bastards, women were forced to wear tarpaulins with slits for eyes in cloth to cover their power whose mere vision of their beauty seduced men and gods alike.
Using procreation as the original sin nobody on earth escaped the guilt save the those chosen by hierarchy to execute their religious insanity.
God’s will, so called, is revealed in the “holy” scriptures. The sacred book formulates the will of God and specifies what is to be given to the clergy. Clergy become parasites. “… All things of life are so ordered that the clergy is everywhere indispensable; at all the natural events of life, at birth, marriage, sickness, death. Natural values become utterly valueless. The Clergy sanctifies and bestows all value. Disobedience of God (the clergy) is ‘sin.’ Subjection to God (the clergy) is redemption. Clergy use ‘sin’ to gain and hold power.
Sex without Clergy permission is sinful, lust, fornication, adultery.
January 12, 2019 at 3:12 pm
the majority of Christians I know do not believe “procreation” is the original sin.
January 12, 2019 at 7:12 pm
1. ORIGINAL SIN, in Christian doctrine, the condition or state of sin into which each human being is born; also, the origin (i.e., the cause, or source) of this state.
2. AND THE RIB……. made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. And they were BOTH NAKED, the man and his wife, and WERE NOT ASHAMED. Thus were they so designed.
3. WHEN THE WOMAN saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she TOOK of the fruit thereof, and did eat, AND GAVE also UNTO HER HUSBAND with her; and he did eat. And the eyes of them both were opened, and they KNEW THAT THEY WERE NAKED.
4. ORIGINAL SIN, also called ancestral sin, is the Christian doctrine of humanity’s state of sin resulting from the fall of man, stemming from Adam’s rebellion in Eden, namely the sin of disobedience in consuming from the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
This is not difficult – Because a God that our neighbors believe in is essentially an invisible person, is a creator deity, who created the universe to have a relationship with one species of primate. Lucky us. And he’s got galaxy upon galaxy to attend to but he’s especially concerned with what we do, and he’s especially concerned with what we do when naked. (sharris)
January 13, 2019 at 7:49 pm
Lust is defined, not by one’s behaviour, but by what other people perceive as far as I am concerned. Like most sins it is something you do that other people are offended by. That’s why, In the case of sexuality, to fulfill sexual desires before marriage is called lust by the “control freaks” ( I suppose I could have used “hypocrites”, “poisonous snakes”, “pretense”, “pigs” and “dogs”, the names Jesus called religious control freaks ) so I suppose you can blast Jesus for name calling too but I certainly would not.
Sex before marriage is fornication and lust from the biblical perspective but sex after religious consent, “marriage”, is also biblical perspective but biblical perspective is so often wrong because it is based on the supernatural and why many people who link Jesus with the supernatural are missing everything important about the real man Jesus and about themselves as a microcosom of the whole human race. The simplicity of of Jesus was the simplicity of recognizing that he was “being Everyman”.
I am an atheist; my earliest hero Jesus. I was with him in the desert; I was with him as he thought about the way the Popoffs and Benny Hinns abused the regular people to further their own aims; when he knew that he had to be true to his own self or he could never be true to any man.
And being everyman, he could never do to them what they did to him and others because he would then be doing to himself and others the very thing his campaign came about to be, “against”.
Many of you may not understand the closeness I shared with Jesus. I was with him when he was a young child romping in the streets with his village pals; I was with him when he went crying and clinging to his mother’s skirt for comfort after falling and scraping his knees and elbows; I was with him when a stone was thrown at him as a child and struck him in the head; I was with him when at 12 years old he was asking pointed questions of the scribes, pharisees, priests, ministers pastors and secular leaders of the generation.
I believe the supernatural exists in religious circles and Hollywood and I believe that Jesus believed the same thing too. I believe that the Laws of Physics(of the Universe) are never suspended to accommodate ludicrous claims of miracles.
I believe that Jesus never performed a miracle but I believe that he cared for and demonstrated compassion for, and helped heal the sick by, washing, cleansing and bandaging the wounds of the poor, uneducated and hygiene deficient, which such help for the downtrodden and rejects, by the self righteous, was unheard of and was to many, indeed miraculous.
His common sense was the common bandaid that became the “miracle” of healing noised throughout the country.
PS I don’t discriminate against Christians; I believe that every religion based on the supernatural is a form of mental illness that prevents people from traversing the mighty gulf between the ancient reptilian brain of fight or flight reflexes and the new rational brain of rational, reasonable thought that provides insight and knowledge instead of belief. This changed the thought structure and was the evolution that spawned a revolution of ideas that humanity and human rights was a worldwide phenomenon not just a anomaly is an Israeli village.
January 14, 2019 at 7:51 am
Actually, the Bible does mention “Christians” but not in a way you’d expect…………….
And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for MANY shall come in my name (ie/as my “brothers”…”brethren”…as “Christians”), saying, I (Jesus) am the Christ; and the time draweth near (for my return): go ye NOT therefore after them.
January 14, 2019 at 8:01 am
Yes…Rev. 20:4 is the first resurrection of the “elect”. These were those with whom God had direct communication with in some manner. People like Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, the prophets, the Apostles, Paul and various others. Their judgement was during their lifetime. These are not self-proclaimed “Christians”. Other than this handful of “elect”, “WE” (meaning you and I and others) are the “rest of the dead”. A humbling and frightening fact. As described by John, “OUR” resurrection will occur long after Jesus returns and it will be to the day of judgment. Not that we’ll notice the passage of time (more than likely, thousands of years) after dying. It’ll be like we die, then we wake the next instant to judgment. So, take care….judgement day is a breath away.
January 14, 2019 at 12:35 pm
Nobody has ever had direct communication with Zeus or any other of man’s invented gods. So please, using such arcane references shows true bewilderment.
In mythology the closest to direct communication “with god” was with the “supposed”/”believed”, “Oracles”, the conduits “to/from” the gods. In mythology-morphed; i.e., (the Abrahamic Gods) the closest to direct communication “with god” was with the “supposed”/”believed”, “Prophets”, the conduits “to/from” the gods.
Proclamations, for example, from the “Oracles” / “Prophets” began with the caveats, “God says”, “The Lord speaks”, “Thus says the Almighty”: an utterance, given by a “Messenger” as the response of a god to an inquiry.The agency or medium giving such responses at a shrine, sanctuary or place at which such responses were given: “the oracle of Apollo at Delphi”, for example.
1 Samuel 28) 5 When Saul saw the vast Philistine army, he became frantic with fear. 6 He asked the Lord what he should do, but the Lord refused to answer him, either by dreams or by sacred lots[a] or by the prophets. 7 Saul then said to his advisers, “Find a woman who is a medium, so I can go and ask her what to do.”
Lots [a] The terms “Urim” and “Thummim” have traditionally been understood as “light(s)” and “perfection(s)” or as “perfect light.” The Urim and Thummim were a means of revelation entrusted to the high priest. No description of them is given. This oracular means apparently consisted of a material object or objects since it was physically stored in the breastpiece of the high priest ( Exodus 28:30; Lev 8:8 ).
January 14, 2019 at 1:27 pm
Regarding Luke 21:8. Of the 58 major English version Bibles on the market, not one single bible translates the “Many” in “………Many will come in my name……….” as your statement “(ie/as my “brothers”…”brethren”…as “Christians”).
Not one bible uses any of your terms.
52 bibles simply say “……”MANY” will come in my name…..”;
4 bibles say “MANY PEOPLE” will come;
1 bible says “……of “THOSE” who will come……..” and
1 bible says “…..”MANY MEN” will come…..”
a few interchange the term “shall” instead of “will”.
So again this shows how bewildered you really are and demon strates how you get highways and transportation out of Mark, fossil fuels out of the Name and hexagonal molecules 666. I submit it must have taken you some time to find something, anything to fit into your pattern.
But your extrapolations of brothers, brethren,and christians from the term “many shows your processes. You could have said “homo sapiens” if that suited the occasion, n’est ce pas?
January 14, 2019 at 1:33 pm
No bewilderment here.
January 14, 2019 at 2:29 pm
You focused in on the wrong word. “many” obviously means people. However, “in my name” is the focus of this prediction. It is a patriarchal phrase. The word “name” means patriarchal surname. Jesus’ surname is NOT “Christ”. It is “Son of God” or “God’s son” or in modern vernacular “Godson”. Primarily, it refers to the firstborn Son to whom the patriarchal legacy is passed to from the patriarchal “Father” and it is God who Jesus proclaimed to be that Father. In the case of the “Son of God” (firstborn from the grave), the legacy is eternal life or life which has ever been and ever shall be rather than a perpetuation of mortality. The “many people” who were predicted to come take the patriarchal “name” of Jesus and proclaim themselves brothers to the Son or “brethren” and in general, they are called “Christians” today. The Bible is proclaiming “Christianity” to be a false religion. Face reality dear.
January 14, 2019 at 2:38 pm
Kim … doesn’t mention Christians ? okay fair enough and Jews isn’t the correct word but you know what I’m saying. you should know what I mean when I say Jew/Christian (if I’m not using it as you think it should be used ask) and explain when using a word like “EXTRAnatural.” and no problem to clarify (Jew/Christian) but I don’t see how that impacts on your “fossil fuel” theory.
you are missing the point — perhaps it my fault, let me elaborate. sadly everybody wants an argument while I want a discussion. example — see the problem isn’t LTG’s version of the “swoon theory” the problem is he refuses to address the first big hole in that theory — which is based on facts — if Jesus “swooned” on the cross he would not be able to breathe and would have suffocated — died, really really died, as in dead forget about the being speared in the side part. now if LTG can’t explain that (ie how come Jesus didn’t suffocate) and not only continues to argue this theory (I lost track how many times he’s brought it up here) but ridicules anybody that disagrees then ltg is one of the “duped.”
now in your “fossil fuel” theory you are ignoring all of the biblical evidence for a 1 world gov’t/religion that many see (not just in Rev but other books like Daniel) with the evidence of beheading “Christians.” have you studied this ? doesn’t mean they are right but there is lot’s of biblical evidence to support this. so the point of that was if you are just ignoring that why should I take your theory seriously ? in your defense, I’ve heard several arguments “oil” is the liquid that the nations get drunk on but there is problems with your theory about “fossil fuels” I’ll briefly discuss next.
look you don’t even have to consider the bible for a future scenario or get into this “fossil fuel” scenario. everybody atheists/many theists included is screaming for a 1 world gov’t/religion (ie false ecumenical movement). and gov’t would love a type of electronic currency they can tax and control all transactions. so today we could tag a specific person to not only where he/she is (GPS) but with everyone of his/her transactions (ie smart chips). so you break the rules and get cut off — you are unable to access commerce (buy/sell). and the gov’t knows exactly where you are so they can come and detain you. no chip no access and check points can easily catch those with out a chip. so why go with this fossil fuel thing ? you are steeping over a perfect logical/reasonable explanation into the unusual.
January 14, 2019 at 2:38 pm
It’s interesting that you named “Zeus”. Based on the story of the flood, Zeus might very well have been a man who lived prior to the flood and tales of his exploits carried through on the ark to post-diluvian peoples to become the gods of mythology. Zeus was probably a man who the Bible says was a “son of God”, created and/or born in the days of Adam and created so close to the creation of Mankind in general that he/they were capable of living for thousands of years. Because of such a long life, they were also capable of great evil in the form of breeding with hundreds of generation of the own progeny in an attempt to produce men and women of extraordinary abilities. Giants with one eye, men of great speed, all sorts of mutations. It was a time of eugenics that threatened to bring mankind to the point of extinction. Noah was chosen because he was “perfect in his generations”. So, Zeus drowned in the flood and Noah still lived for 950 years. But, such tales make for an interesting twist on human history. There’s more to the Bible than people think.
January 14, 2019 at 2:52 pm
YOU focused on the wrong word by extrapolating and emphasizing “brother brethren christian” I focused on your focus. Spin spin spin but you do is spin yourself into a corner as phony as a diploma from trump university.
Then you go in to the ridiculous about Jesus surname. Have you never read the only time Jesus used the phrase was when he quoted Psalm 82.
What’s with the patriarchal son of god surname; it’s meaningless because you have no idea who Jesus was, what his message was, what his message meant and for whom.
You are bewildered.
January 14, 2019 at 3:31 pm
Nobody, in any of my writings regarding the survival of the cross by Jesus, can find where I said one single word about a “Swoon Theory”. this is the only post where I am bringing it up because I did not defend a theory I did not allude to.
I did not claim Jesus suffocated. Speculators have said it must be so. I did not. I also know that spear prodding was a way to determine if there was an reaction to the prodding; it was not meant to drive the spear through one’s body, In the same way that a sharp object is run along the bottom of a person’s foot to determine if there is any reaction. It is not to say that the object of running a sharp utensil on the bottom of the foot is to open up an incision in the bottom of the foot. If there is no reaction most likely conclusion is he’s dead.
I said Jesus survived the cross, was entombed and escaped from the tomb as per the engineering feat of his best friend and the proof ??? Jesus’s own words when he met the disciples and declared that it is I, alive, not a spirit but muscle and bone give me some food.
It is incumbent on those who say he died…How? Suffocated great. then what made him come alive again and start breathing. The onus is more on those who claim he died than it is on those who claim he survived!
January 15, 2019 at 8:18 am
The bible is nothing if not highly patriarchal. I had plenty of precedent in rightly interpreting “name” as “brethren” or “Christian”………to not understand this key principle in biblical interpretation is to miss innumerable references to who Messiah was prophesied to be in the Old Testament………and to miss the importance of who Jesus was revealed to be when he rose from the baptismal water.
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name (SON) under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
January 15, 2019 at 9:46 am
As shown in the following quotes, one of the keenest minds on religion, Thomas Jefferson, supported the belief in the morals of a religion without the supporting belief in the supernatural elements of that religion.
The religion of Jesus is founded in the idea of the one only God concept the higher power (Father) denotes and must, logically and necessarily, be embodied within the created man. tj & ltg
“It is this principle chiefly that gave it triumph over the rabble of [external] heathen gods then acknowledged. Thinking men of all nations rallied readily to the doctrine of one only God, and embraced it with the pure-morals which Jesus instructed.” – Thomas Jefferson
“In the New Testament there is internal evidence that parts of it have proceeded from an extraordinary man; and that other parts are of the fabric of very inferior minds. It is as easy to separate those parts, as to pick out diamonds from dunghills.” Thomas Jefferson
The dunghills so noted are the miracles and miraculous insinuates; the fabric of very inferior minds. ltg
“It is between fifty and sixty years since I read it (the Apocalypse), and I then considered it merely the ravings of a maniac, no more worthy nor capable of explanation than the incoherences of our own nightly dreams.”
“May it be to the world, what I believe it will be, (to some parts sooner, to others later, but finally to all,) the signal of arousing men to burst the chains under which monkish ignorance and superstition had persuaded them to bind themselves, and to assume the blessings and security of self-government. All eyes are opened, or opening, to the rights of man [Humanity]. The general spread of the light of science has already laid open to every view the palpable truth, that the mass of mankind has not been born with saddles on their backs, nor a favored few booted and spurred, ready to ride them legitimately, by the grace of God.”
January 15, 2019 at 10:00 am
You’re reading into things that suit you………
After the so called miraculous ascension (the dunghill from the fabric of inferior minds) in Acts, everything written thereafter is Post Mortem and irrelevant to the Old Testament and to the Gospels. In other words you are quoting dead quotes.
Who moves history forward? The Sons of Man.
When Jesus said “the Son of Man in his day”, he was not referring to himself.
If you think otherwise you err greatly.
January 15, 2019 at 2:41 pm
LMAO, that is what it is called — “THE SWOON THEORY.” it was around long before you were born. you just added a few interesting twists but nothing significant. others even suggest Pilate was bribed as part of the conspiracy.
and again no explanation why Jesus didn’t suffocate after the “swoon sponge.” LMAO do you know why I put “swoon sponge” in quotes ? because a long time ago before I ever heard about this site or LTG/SoM/et-al I heard several versions of the “Swoon Theory” oh delusional one.
please do us all a favour and google crucifixion & suffocation oh delusional one. to keep bringing up that theory with out addressing suffocation makes me LMAO
January 15, 2019 at 2:45 pm
LMAO — if the supernatural does not exist the ascension, including your dumb ass interpretation, is fiction. yours makes no sense at least mine gives hope. go ahead and follow Jesus’ teaching if there is no resurrection —- I wouldn’t because he’d be a Liar, Legend or Lunatic
January 15, 2019 at 4:20 pm
You say Jesus died by suffocation, couldn’t breathe. So how did it happen that he started breathing again and appeared alive? Can you explain that? How did that happen?
Please, I await your profoundness. How did he come alive if as you say he died of suffocation?
Do you have an answer? Place it now. Here’s is your big opportunity, to not only refute my theory, but to explain your theory that gives hope to the hopeless. So Let’s hear.
January 15, 2019 at 4:21 pm
Kim, you’ve totally lost me. I’ll monitor back occasionally to see if you address why you steep over the most likely mark of the beast scenario — the gps chip/electronic cash.
are you bringing up the Jesus=Zeus thing ? please, we’ve all researched that and the easy way to separate the biblical Jesus from Tammuz/pagan sun god is who His/his mother is. if His mother is Mary (yes we know that’s not her real name) wife of Joseph (yes we know that’s not his real name) it’s the biblical Jesus. if his mother is the queen of heaven, wife of god, mother of god, immaculate conception, assumed to heaven, co-redemptrix, co-mediatrix, ever virgin, sinless, star of the sea, our lady/the maddona, etc ….. he’s tammuz/pagan sun god.
January 15, 2019 at 4:24 pm
You can sure knock the idea of how Jesus could not and therefore did did not survive the crucifixion so how did he come alive again after being dead? Let;s hear your reasonable argument from dead in the Morgue to alive with a Meal in the safe House?
January 15, 2019 at 4:44 pm
Ahem…Yeah—I’m still here waiting for Your Profoundness. Who put Jesus in the tomb? What did they do in the tomb? What happened after they left the tomb? How did the Door roll away on its own? Who wrapped the burial clothes neatly in a pile. Why was left in the tomb with Jesus? Anybody? Nobody? How did he escape the tomb?
January 15, 2019 at 4:53 pm
the queen of heaven, wife of god, mother of god, immaculate conception, assumed to heaven, co-redemptrix, co-mediatrix, ever virgin, sinless, star of the sea, our lady/the maddona,
What have the carnival barkers told you? so lolable
January 15, 2019 at 5:01 pm
Who was left in the tomb with Jesus? Did they have GPS. intravenous? Did they have Red Cross or maybe “Star of David Paramedics”
Waiting to hear your profound explanation. how coming alive from being dead happens. Does it start by twitching, eye flutters, coughing from the candle lighted room?
waiting
January 15, 2019 at 5:06 pm
You have hope at least. Like is that the best you can do? Hope for what? Hope why? What gave you hope \?did you manufacture hope based on what and can you share hope os is it for your joy alone?
Guess you only know what didn’t happen but nothing about what actually happened.
Gather your thoughts, provide the backup evidence not from carnival barkers; they’ve had it their way since Gold was the 666 of choice.
January 15, 2019 at 5:09 pm
Keep in touch now, you hear?
As the followers of Bahá’u’lláh would say:
Bahá’í, Bahá’í for now.
January 16, 2019 at 12:26 am
PAULMAO — I’ll monitor back occasionally to see if you address why you steep over the most likely religious scenario of the resurrection, a “supernatural God miracle” which is deluded on the face of it as much as Zeus and Apollo and the 45,000 other created gods that perform magic trick miracles for idiots.
Since you can’t explain the impossible, without being LMAO, it is easier to avoid. So for the sport of a false win, make an opponent explain their theory than offer your own which of course is impossible.
LMAO — Any explanation is far more likely than the possibility that Jesus actually returned to life after being dead for three days so you play the sport game trying to deride alternate theories out of ignorance of a miracle belief explanation you know by common sense questions your sanity.
January 16, 2019 at 7:20 am
Its quite interesting to see you argue against modern Christianity yet without a clue why you do. I’ll explain….it is because you intuitively realize that modern Christianity is a false religion and makes no sense.
When you bring up Mary, you presume to be arguing against the Bible but are not. Mary was not the “mother of god”. That is of pagan origin. Mary was married to Joseph and it was his sperm (sperma) with he being of the patriarchal lineage of King David that conceived Jesus. The only “miracle” was that Mary was inseminated without the sex act. Why? Because the conception had to be without uncleanness of any kind. And, in the OT, the couple who had sex were unclean until sundown. This was avoided. Mary was a virgin. However, she was fully married to Joseph, the physical father of Jesus. And, she was not “raped by god” or even inseminated by God…she consented to the procedure. If Jesus had been conceived in any other way than Joseph’s actual seed then she would have committed adultery. If she was unmarried at the time of conception (as some teach) then Jesus would have been a bastard child and wholly unfit as Messiah. So you see the problem with Christian teaching intuitively but translate that to the Bible which thoroughly contradicts what religion teaches.
January 16, 2019 at 7:28 am
read the account in the Bible..all those questions are answered.
Angels took care of it. Angels do more than you can imagine. Even today.
January 16, 2019 at 7:38 am
Of course Jesus was not “Zeus”. The “mark” is not a gps chip or electronic cash. It isn’t reality because it simply isn’t a fundamental requirement for commerce even today. You’re making up a conspiracy theory about everyone being required to have a credit card or chip or something similar when it just isn’t true. Don’t you realize that the reality is we get even our food from thousands of miles away? Our medicines, clothes, and every other aspect of our civilization is based on transporting goods and services around the world. A beast’s “mark” is simply its footprint. You have to realize that it is unrealistic to presume modern vernacular and words would show up in a book 2,000 years old. Men rode animals before the advent of modern transportation. And that wasn’t too long ago. So that’s how it was described.
January 16, 2019 at 7:44 am
Funny how you derisively point to the ascension of Jesus but casually assume aliens exist and that string theory indicates multiple universes. Apparently with a universe where everything is made from shrimp (a Buffy the Vampire reference).
January 16, 2019 at 7:49 am
Thomas Jefferson is long dead and lived back in the day when they had to fly a kite to see if lightning was electricity. He rejected religion. Not the Bible. And rightly so in many ways.
January 16, 2019 at 8:32 am
LTG, you’re still not addressing suffocation and crucifixion has me LMAO because it destroys your argument. if Jesus passed out after the “swoon sponge” He would’ve died — that’s a scientific fact oh delusional one.
therefore, either the ascension story is fiction or it really happened. since I see no evidence that the supernatural is impossible I believe my scenario. and not only can it not be disproven it is the only scenario with hope.
your world view leads to death, why choose it when mine has hope. and if I’m wrong I’ll be just as dead as you. my world view has all of the pluses of Jesus teachings with none of the negatives from organized religion.
January 16, 2019 at 8:52 am
Kim, I know exactly why I’m against “modern Christianity” because it was paganized.
so the logical and reasonable scenario that people are talking about and we have the technology to make happen is wrong because you say so ?
“fossil fuels” will be around for a long time. we still have lots of natural gas to run cars on even after oil reserves are depleted. so just like we had buying and selling before our modern technology we’ll have buying and selling with out oil until the NWO that will tag the person to electronic cash/credits.
LTG will never address why Jesus didn’t suffocate after the “swoon sponge” because it destroys his theory. your “fossil fuel” theory won’t stop commerce buying/selling but the one I mentioned will.
January 16, 2019 at 9:19 am
Kim, it’s reality. my truck and phone can be located and all my transactions via debit/credit card can be tracked
January 16, 2019 at 9:20 am
Kim the bible has only got to do with the beliefs and customs and penalties, sin and rituals such as acts or states of being unclean. Those are mere man conditions, rules and regulations and have nothing whatsoever to do with any higher power.
You seem to be a contender with the bible on which can be the more foolish with their imagination, The ancients of barbarism, stoneageism and ignorance or the idiocy of modernity using imaginative codes and hexagons to put the history of mankind together but neither nonsense biblical/religious beliefs nor nonsense codes for imaginative interpretation can put humpty dumpty together again.
For all your stupidity and beliefs you are made more the fools following folly of ignorance without the reason of common sense and if you’re all waiting for the Second Coming to “fix things” you will never see what your rational brain is refusing you now, because of the mesmerizing tyranny of pervasive ancient ignorance, and your own brain is refusing your transition from the reptile brain you are allowing to execute your behaviour, to the logical man who takes possession of his own faculties.
January 16, 2019 at 10:29 am
January 16, 2019 at 10:59 am
The ascension just did not happen. And the only reason, the only thing that believers point to is that a “cloud took him from their sight” and so it was assumed by the supernatural mind that Jesus ascended into heaven, into the sky.
How myopic!
Anybody who has ever lived on the prairie or in the country especially before paved roads became common, know that clouds take people and vehicles “…….from their sight every second of the day………”
When I grew up one of our neighbours, who was renown for speeding along our one road village to work was taken out of our sight as he drove up the dusty road and we knew it was him but we couldn’t see him because a cloud took him out of our sight every time he went up the hill at 70 miles an hour. And when the dust cloud settled, where was the neighbour, gone to heaven? No he was on the other side of the hil still curling the cloud skyward.
You all have an imagination for the bizarre but no imagination for the normal. When Jesus left the area with his entourage at gallop speed of course a cloud took him from their (disciples) sight. And given the pervasive ignorance today, how much more for ignorant uneducated fishermen who had their brains bombarded with magic tricks to simulate miracles as they did since Exodus when Pharoah kicked Moses and Aaron out of the Palace Court for doing a a magic trick(miracle) that Pharaohs mimicked almost immediately.
Of course I deride you, it’s exactly what you deserve, derision, because of your stupidity. I never mentioned string theory or multiverses.
As far as aliens go. When people ask me if I believe there is life in outer space; I ask them,
where do you think we live?
Give me a break from your attempts to justify ignorance of the ancients as if they knew about hexagonal molecules and so 666 was a natural when the bible clearly tells everybody what 666 was but you have to know the bible enough to have read and re-read it many times. Then your own memory will categorize similarities and connections are made. I suspect you have not read the bible even once cover to cover. Nor has most Christians especially the Catholic Christians who were always discouraged from reading anything from the bible as they were too dumb to understand anything in the bible and the way some speak, I believe it.
January 16, 2019 at 11:06 am
If Jefferson is long dead and flying kites to harness electricity when he lived what about the ancients you put your faith in 2, 3, 5, 10 thousand years ago. You’re such a hokey hoax. The ancients you put your faith in killed their kids for bumper crops and end famines. And yet you got all their God Codes to base your ridiculous fossil fuel theory on.
January 16, 2019 at 11:21 am
What is your scenario? Nobody knows because you won’t say what happened to Jesus after the cross. I asked you many questions but you are stuck trying to tell yourself that Jesus died and then came alive. YOU ARE SPINNING YOUR TIRES IN THE SWOON snowdrift asking why Jesus did not suffocate; did you ever think that maybe Jesus did not suffocate for the same reason that he came alive after he died. You are the LMAO clown of the month
Tell what your scenario, how he suffocated and his heart stopped beating, he stopped breathing, he bled out, his wounds were too severe to survive but not severe enough not to be revitalized from can you not see the idiocy of your position..how Paul. Tell me how Jesus was reconstituted.
Why hold your fantastic scenario for yourself bring it out in the open and we can all enjoy it for the reasonable argument you will describe for us.
Tell me why Jesus was not raised from the place of the dead compared to your theory that Jesus was raised from the dead. I can describe my theory in detail; I can even make a video to describe exactly how it all happened but you, you can’t even talk about it because the truth is you are speaking out of ignorance; in other words, belief, in other words, non knowledge, in other words, ludicrous suspension of the laws of physics. But all you want me to do is to describe how you think he died by suffocation but that’s your description to tell, not mine. But if you can describe the suffocation you must be able to tell me how he could not survive the suffocation but could revitalize and nullify the suffocation he just died from. LMAO
And have no answers none whatsoever.
January 16, 2019 at 11:47 am
Paul wants me to tell him how Jesus did not suffocate. What I know is that Jesus could not have died by suffocation because he rose from the place of the dead and appeared to several people proving he was alive so if he was alive how do you reconcile that he suffocated? Who do you believe the executors or Jesus?
January 16, 2019 at 12:05 pm
yeah, that suffocation thing has been around for years. It came from the idea that Jesus suffered more than the sum total of mankind’s suffering. nonsense really.
January 16, 2019 at 12:16 pm
Paul is still hung up on the nonsense of suffocation. He can’t let it go. for some reason known only to himself unless it has been in the mindset so long those affected are still affected can can’t get out of the indoctrination must be a ctholic thing.
January 16, 2019 at 12:21 pm
Jefferson, regardless of him being long dead still lived in the same age we do….that being the last age of mankind’s reign which began over 2,000 years ago after the apostles completed their witness to the world (yes…100% and every “Christian” organization since then has falsely claimed to need to “preach the gospel”). 10,000 years ago, God was still in contact with certain people and directing the course of humanity Himself. Since the “last age” began, there is not and has not been any need to do so since Messiah came and the witness of his coming has been preached. “Gospel” doesn’t mean “good news” as most teach..it means the warning cry of a town criar running through the hamlet to announce the coming of the King so the people would be prepared and the town wouldn’t be burned when the King arrives to find the people not ready. We won’t see much until we see Jesus returning and the chance of being alive to see that isn’t good simply because mankind has yet to reach a point of extinction again. In spite of the potential for nuclear war….what the Bible describes as the “A-bomination that desolates”…..the A-bomb. get it? Another one of those weird prophesies that everyone speculates based on imaginary scenerios while completely ignoring reality.
January 16, 2019 at 12:26 pm
I just quoted that very verse this morning Luke 21:20
20 And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.
January 16, 2019 at 12:32 pm
The Bible describes the visible and invisible as being separated by a veil…not a cloud. You’re placing too much emphasis on the literal wording. It is why the veil in the temple was torn during the earthquake that happened when Jesus died. Haven’t you ever read of the angel that stepped into the fire and went up in the smoke? It was to tell Samson’s parents how to prepare for his conception/birth.
For it came to pass, when the flame went up toward heaven (the sky) from off the altar, that the angel of the Lord ascended in the flame of the altar. And Manoah and his wife looked on it, and fell on their faces to the ground.
21 But the angel of the Lord did no more appear to Manoah and to his wife. Then Manoah knew that he was an angel of the Lord.
22 And Manoah said unto his wife, We shall surely die, because we have seen God (been visited).
January 16, 2019 at 12:37 pm
also quote….the end is not yet.
January 16, 2019 at 12:50 pm
actually, all those clean/unclean statues and commandments were for one purpose….to choose a people to bring Messiah into the world as a perfect sacrifice for preventing the extinction of mankind as mortal created beings. Would you take a chance on not returning to eternity by being born a mortal when you’ve existed as a Being for all past eternity? Any imperfection in that sacrifice event would have resulted in the inability to return to an eternal existence. The sacrifice was to give up life which had ever existed to be born a man. Jesus was born a man but he was revealed to have been sent from eternity and was revealed to have EVER been the Son of God but NEVER God. The false idea that God existed in complete aloneness prior to the creation is just one more false doctrine. If that were actually the case then the creation would have been the result of an insane immortal having been driven mad by an eternal existence in the midst of an infinite black void of nothingness. And, if one throws the trinity concept into the mix then that madness takes the form of a multiple-personality disorder. Reality is that an unimaginable kingdom has ever existed without beginning, populated by innumerable beings (Host) which have ever existed and over all God, who has ever existed but never alone. Until the creation, the concept of non-existence was unimaginable. But, we being the created know nothing else. Death is not reality. Life is.
January 16, 2019 at 12:56 pm
irrelevant and not actually needed to buy a pack of your fav smokes. however, those smokes wouldn’t be available without growing tobacco down in good ole Kentucky while you live in California.
January 16, 2019 at 1:17 pm
Your post 191 is total nonsense and meaningless and nothing to do with the ascension that I mentioned about the cloud taking Jesus out of sight and to which you replied about something unrelated.
Your reply to Pail about buying his favourite smokes is also nonsensical to the his post about GPS tracking his phone and truck and electronic purchases tracking of his purchases made with cashless debit/credit cards at the store.
What are you on, the verge of another nervous breakdown? How long have you been out from the last one?
January 16, 2019 at 1:30 pm
When I was majoring in psychology at university, one assignment was visiting the Mental Institution and socializing with the inmate patients committed there.
Talking to you is like talking to them and I learned not to ask them questions and only respond to they had was questions; they had no answers so I simply answered their questions; it was quite one sided. You remind me of those patients. The only difference; you are the reverse, you have no questions, only answers. I call your Fantasy, the” Land of You”; AKA, the “Dizzy-NeeLand of Psychosis”.
January 16, 2019 at 3:50 pm
That’s good to know…in my college days I found that those majoring in psychology were some of the most screwed up people I’ve ever met. My impression was that those who should be in an institution were the very one’s who wanted to take psych for some reason. So, I take it as a compliment that you (the crazy) think of me as crazy simply based on nearly half a decade of biblical research. Unlike you I became a true scientist.
January 16, 2019 at 3:52 pm
The only time I’ve had a nervous breakdown was back when I was working full time, taking care of two little kids and trying to get through graduate Quantum Mechanics in school.
January 16, 2019 at 4:25 pm
LTG, LMAO, dude you are hilarious. if Jesus passed out after the “swoon sponge” He would of suffocated —- that is a fact based on doctors and scientists discussing crucifixion. therefore, your theory needs an explanation how He did not suffocate or it is non sense.
January 16, 2019 at 4:46 pm
I made my point about and you have to hit back; I understand. That was the basis of the first laws: human revenge. It was what the Mosaic Laws were based on: eye for an eye; tooth for a tooth mentality. It was an appeal to naturalism. We understand it when people are cornered by logic; we psychologists are educated to understand the makeup of the mind especially the minds of the frail, in thrall to a control not their own but unable to admit the weakness thereof.
Some resort to extravagant fantasies to give agency to their sense of being using imaginative invention.
January 16, 2019 at 4:52 pm
Many people recover and continue on with their life as productive individuals all the stronger for the battles they faced, fought and conquered. I wish it so for you.
January 16, 2019 at 4:58 pm
Let’s say you are right and Jesus suffocated.
How did he recover and start breathing again, healed and ate with his disciples after he sufficiently healed from his suffocation.
How did that happen? Do you have any suggestions about what Doctors and Scientist agree to in addition to your suffocation theory that practically any explanation is far more likely than the possibility that Jesus actually returned to life after being dead for three days.
So try to explain that one.
January 16, 2019 at 5:01 pm
And Paul says in his defense:
January 16, 2019 at 5:01 pm
Kim, that’s the point — with cash anybody can buy/sell, free from gov’t control. it’s the same today as it was in biblical times except for the technological advances. even if I get chipped and the cash is electronic still no problem if we still have the same freedoms. just less privacy and harder to buy illegal products/services. a system like that (ie. tagging your location/what you buy and where) would have big benefits but gives too much power to the gov’t. once the system is up and running you could be denied access if you break a rule.
so based on the bible one can make a case those who believe as I do could be denied access to the system and not be able to buy/sell. that theory checks all the boxes and is actually being proposed buy gov’t today because of the benefits.
your problem is a person in the system based on your theory could still buy and sell if they have cash. you don’t have to explain, LTG isn’t explaining why Jesus didn’t suffocate, but that blows your “fossil fuel” theory right out of the water.
January 16, 2019 at 5:08 pm
Paul, source please, for the government(s) proposal to control because of the benefits and what are those benefits. I’ll accept a link for access if you have one since you don’t have a theory about how Jesus came alive after suffocating and if you can’t give a theory maybe you don’t have theory you have a past time.
January 16, 2019 at 5:30 pm
LTG, LMAO ———— if you are right, Jesus suffocated and died, he didn’t start breathing again because he would be dead. that’s the point oh delusional one — it would be a made up story. his followers would have been devastated and returned to their previous lives. you have one foot in each camp that’s your problem. if Jesus isn’t Lord, he’s a Liar, Lunatic or a Legend.
so if you are right, later for probably nefarious reasons a whole fake story would’ve been concocted to start a new religion to scam people from their money — a cult. sell every thing you own and give it to the church (us leaders) sound familiar ?
however, Jesus’ followers were crapping their pants/hiding or left Jerusalem but next thing they are running into the vipers den and accusing the Jewish leaders of His death and saying He’s resurrected. that’s the problem.
so only 2 logical and reasonable options A. made up story B. it’s true.
option A means we all die, option B means there is a resurrection and Jesus is Lord. option B is the only logical and reasonable choice for a follower of Jesus because with out the resurrection you’d be a fool to follow Jesus’ teachings
January 16, 2019 at 5:50 pm
LTG, ……. LMAO, denying people access to a system like I described is not presently taking place, but that is the very real concern of a future NWO gov’t.
google it, huge privacy concerns already being discussed. already in place — electronic cash, gps people — I’m already indirectly via my cell phone and truck. the information is not all being centrally collected as of yet as far as I know. however, gov’t can access this information with court ordered warrants.
LTG Says:
January 16, 2019 at 6:29 pm
You said you did not want an argument; you wanted a discussiion so here’s your chance to have one.
Paul the problem is that Christianity has bought into the dogma that its message rests entirely upon the resurrection and if not then the whole religion falls but that’s just where you’re wrong. That is the falsity of the Church to get as many bums accepting the supernatural because otherwise they would not have Christians in thrall.
There is much more to Jesus than merely church dogma; in fact, it was church dogma that Jesus began his campaign against, to revolutionize and one of the first change was to stop lying to the people by hiding the key of knowledge from the masses; that is, the real truth behind religion.
Now many don’t know what they key of knowledge was so I don’t expect you to know either so I will have to tell you but before I do that I will recall for you he words from the Famous Indictment of the clergy (the Church) from Jesus.
He said: INDICTMENT # ONE:
“……But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.” Matthew 23:13
Luke 11:52 is a little more explicit but with the same inner sense: “….52 Woe unto you, lawyers! (Scholars of the Law) for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered…..”
Mull that over, chew it around until you understand what all the words mean “shut up the Kingdom of Heaven, (Hide) Have taken away the key of knowledge, won’t let you go in (because they knew) and those who would go in they hindered with their deceit.
This Indictment is that Jesus knew as did the Scholars, that miracles were a myth, were based on magic tricks and that the supernatural did not exist AND that the resurrection of the dead was a tradition of the Pharisees used as a ploy to keep the masses in the tyranny of belief. All of the above was the Key of knowledge hidden from the masses but proved by scripture itself.
The Pharisaichal belief in the resurrection of the dead was a prime tenet of the Pharisee religion which Jesus railed against for three years. And that is when Paul the Pharisee infiltrated the followers of Jesus and touted the Jesus resurrection from the place of the dead, the survival, as the resurrection from the dead that proved the Pharisee tradition and because of Paul, who practically single-handedly promoted that very thing into Christianity and perpetuated the myth of the resurrection of the dead right down into modern times and you Paul are one of the dupes who was ensnared by the phony resurrection from the dead theory when in fact it was the resurrection from the place of the dead theory which was the only sign Jesus said he would give and that was the sign of Jonah(Matt 12:39-40) who himself was resurrected from the place of the dead out of the stormy sea after being thrown overboard.
Munch on this for a time and let your common sense spirit reveal the truth ABOUT THE KEY OF KNOWLEDGE, hidden since before the days of Jesus ever since the early Book of Exodus and since the very first Genesis. all a bunch of religious hogwash and that was the reason the Jewish Council chased Jesus for three years to catch him arrest him scourge and crucify him because John 7:7:”….. The (religious) world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil.” False, wrong, deceitful, erroneous, untrue, THE KEY of truth hidden…………..
LTG Says:
January 16, 2019 at 6:40 pm
There are a couple of controls in place to ensure privacy,(not absolute by any means) location is one, still in control of the user for cell and desktop computers, another is VPN for internet connections.
January 16, 2019 at 6:46 pm
are you saying despite all of the scientific evidence saying Jesus would’ve died —- Jesus did not suffocate after the “swoon sponge” because the bible says Jesus was alive after the crucifixion ?
dude are you for real ? that’s crazy —- please study suffocation and crucifixion.
January 16, 2019 at 7:08 pm
so you now want a discussion ?
LTG the problem with Christianity is people misuse it like all world views. there is nothing wrong with my sect of Christianity — a sacrificial love of not just friend but enemy. this only makes sense with a resurrection where this sacrifice can be rewarded. if no resurrection why die for my enemy ?
again, no evidence the supernatural does not exist. either God always existed and always will or the universe has always existed and always will. nothing is something or a creation needs a creator. to believe this is all by chance is the world view that really takes faith. I don’t have that much faith so I believe in God. and it helps me here and now and if I’m correct will help me in the next life — if not congratulations you are right and will both be worm food.
now it’s a free country but this is what I do if I was you —- study and see if it’s possible a passed out person being crucified would not suffocate. if you can figure that out let me know — everything I’ve read indicates it impossible for Jesus to have survived your scenario, He would have suffocated, forget about the spear in His side. why did they break the legs of the other 2 guys ?
LTG Says:
January 16, 2019 at 7:30 pm
What I am saying about the matter is that Jesus did not die from the crucifixion. Yes I read up on the suffocation theory and it does say that certain positions would contribute to suffocation and certain other positions would not.
My idea is not to try to explain why or how the death did not occur; I just accept that death did not occur because Jesus appeared alive several times.
Now for me any explanation other than resurrection after death is more logical for me to imagine than otherwise and so I began with the assumption that he did not die and tried to imagine how he would have escaped without anybody knowing about it and the only logical conclusion is a tunnel. And when I realized that the only two people who entombed Jesus was Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea and it was Joseph who had an audience with Pilate to ask for the body.
Pilate was no small potato to have an audience with so obviously Joseph had some pull and when you go over the situation you find that both Joseph and Nicodemus were members of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish Council, that voted to kill Jesus and had the power to do so as the Council the Romans used to keep the masses in check for certain privileges of freedom and other things perks like having their own Roman supplied centurions for their personal security as well as deployment for people control etc. so they had a healthy number of soldiers at their disposal to enforce their rule and power; a Centurion of soldiers (also called centurions) was 100 men (A legion was nominally composed of 6,000 soldiers, and each legion was divided up into 10 cohorts, with each cohort containing 6 centuria. The centurion thus nominally commanded about 100 men, and there were 60 centurions in a legion.)
Both Joseph and Nicodemus were secret disciples of Jesus and both men were extremely wealthy and more likely than not commanded many business in the various villages; Nicodemus was reputed to be the third wealthiest man in town.
With this information a lot of things could be deduced, the safe houses, meeting places, feeding of the thousands with supplies by the secret duo, Joseph himself had been hewing out a tomb, ostensibly for himself but in fact I believe it was for the day when the inevitable might happen and the Jewish Council would get their way and get Jesus out of their hair once and for all. The bible also says that Joseph had hewn this tomb over a two year period and with his wealth and resources engineered a tunnel as part of the project that would provide an escape avenue and there are a lot of logistics to think about in such a project but I have done that and all the bases are covered just from my own ideas, let alone a man with immense wealth and power, a member of the Ruling Council and a contingent of soldiers at his disposal for whatever may eventually happen and under whose control the ranking members(Captain Sergeants etc) would be there to do his bidding whether it was the spearing for movement or the confirmation to Pilate that Jesus was already dead (by appearance) whether by drugs or otherwise but this avoided the usual crucifixion process of breaking legs so that needed to be avoided by all means possible.
(Lower ranks. Optio: One for each centurion (59–60), they were appointed by the centurion from within the ranks to act as his second in command and were paid twice the basic wage. Equivalent to a modern First Sergeant or Lieutenant. Tesserarius: (Guard commander) One for each century.)
January 17, 2019 at 7:51 am
No, it adds to my credibility. The reality today is that the world depends on fossil fuels for commerce in the reality we live in. We couldn’t survive without fossil fuels. It is in every aspect of our lives. This isn’t my “theory”. It is simple fact………….
January 17, 2019 at 7:53 am
that was many many years ago.
January 17, 2019 at 8:00 am
I wasn’t “hitting back”. I was simply stating my objective experience with psych majors. And, the pay is terrible in the field of psychology unless one has a PhD. Like attracts like….crazy goes for psych was my impression. But, the old saw could apply as well…..”I might be nuts but I ain’t stupid”.
LTG Says:
January 17, 2019 at 10:13 am
What you say here is not in dispute:
“……The reality today is that the world depends on fossil fuels for commerce in the reality we live in. We couldn’t survive without fossil fuels. It is in every aspect of our lives. This isn’t my “theory”. It is simple fact………….”
What is in dispute is the correlation you are making between the fossil fuel, et al and the reality of Revelation that it is referring to 666 all the money the Mark of the money on one’s right hand and on the forehead…..the bible is quite clear about what the mark on the right hand meaning the power thereof and on the the forehead meaning the mindset thereof. and no buying or selling without it period.
whether that money/coinage transfers to electronic currency or plastic doesn’t matter, the buying and selling without it nobody can do and it remains. Fossil fuels on the other hand must diminish and will diminish because of the threat of the warming of the planet of the fossil fuel polluting the atmosphere and the need to go to alternate energy forms, the two obvious are wind and solar and look around , the world is transforming to that energy and has taken a back seat only because Trump has his hands in the fossil fuel industry and making a pact with Saudi and Russia and the coal industry to keep in going to fill their wallets regardless of the dangers to the planet and future generations. They are those that have the Mark, that love the mark, that exploit the number and the name that guides their lives and their mindset. They represent the demonic offspring against everything empathetic, charitable, benevolent, pure, simple, love humanity and human rights to keep the fossil fuel industry filling their fat wallets and bank accounts to the detriment of the planet that supports their life and their childrens’ life.
And that trend started thousands of years ago since before Solomon and di not end with Revelation nor has it yet ended b ut the end is close and will become exponentially manifest as soon as Trump gets released from the power base he now operates in unfortunately the USA has learned a hard lesson from him and his ilk. Amen
Pardon the typos; I’m sure there are some and I am in a hurry to carry on some chores so cannot edit.
By the way my minors? Philosophy and Religion.
January 17, 2019 at 11:45 am
If John wanted to say money then he would have said money rather than “mark”. There are many references to money in the Bible without the need to label it as some kind of “mark”. The reality is that you don’t have any idea whether fossil fuels use will diminish. There are innumerable things in our life that can only come from fossil fuels. You can look that up yourself. Again, you’ve fallen into the idea that mankind’s civilization will somehow find a substitute for all that comes from fossil fuels and will continue into the future ad infinitum by way of technological evolution. That is not based on reality. The far more probable future is extinction if this civilization is extrapolated to an end to fossil fuels (if that is possible). Your supposition about the future is not found in John’s writings and has led to the obvious correlation between John’s writings and the world’s greatest human civilization. The “beast” is not a man. It is a reference to a prehistoric (beast that was), extinct age (and is not) that exists now as fossil fuels (yet is). It comes from far beneath the planet (bottomless pit). It is used for combustion (goes to perdition). It causes smog (smoke from the pit). It has a distinct molecular identification (6 aromatic molecules of the 6th element…benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and 3 isomers of xylene). It has involved an exponential increase in human ingenuity (men shall wonder..invent). It has resulted in a population explosion (people not found in the book of life). Commerce now depends entirely on transportation (“mark” = roads, flyways, shipping lanes). Note: roads are built the concrete and asphalt from fossil fuels. It has resulted in an “image” of the beast (cars, planes, boats, etc that appear to move as if alive). And finally….transportation is by way of taking one’s keys in their right hand, opening the garage door and using their brain (hand-eye coordination) to travel down the “mark” (asphalt road) that comes right to their door in an “image” (mustang, jaguar, impala or whatever vehicle one has chosen).
So tell me…what are the odds that this is all coincidence? Statistically speaking, the probability such a correlation is coincidence is nearly zero.
What does this say? It says the Bible is real. Not religious abstract BS.
LTG Says:
January 17, 2019 at 1:54 pm
Kim you are missing the point. There are three parts to the wisdom riddle, the Name, The Number and the Mark; it only gave the number as the clue to the riddle.
I am not suggesting that petroleum is going extinct just the part that is causing all the pollution from the burning or which coal and vehicle combustion engines are the culprits. Other uses that do not pollute the environment such the grease you use to stop the squeaking door or gate or used for medicine those are not issues. combustion that puts all the carbon back into the atmosphere ; that is what needs restrictions. And that is the fossil fuels that need to be changed into clean energy that does not pollute.
January 17, 2019 at 3:22 pm
As I said before…..your statements aren’t made in reality. You say coal and vehicles “need restricted”. There is no conclusive scientific proof this is “needed” as you say nor is this being done and probably never will be….especially in countries like China and Russia The simple fact is that the world population is too great to sustain without the continued use of fossil fuels. What you actually propose is to kill off most of humanity and have the rest return to the middle ages. A time when the saying “its raining cats and dogs” originated by the number of dead animals flung into the streets which began to float down the alleys when a heavy rain came through. A time when people lived in such filth and poverty that the average lifespan was a mere 35 years. Fools that we are, we get frightened and uncomfortable when the electricity shuts off for a few days. More the fool that we are when we listen to so-called “scholars” who spout the nonsense of “global warming”.
January 17, 2019 at 3:49 pm
LTG, but it is up to you to explain how the death did not occur during the crucifixion because you are promoting the scenario. first how come Jesus didn’t die by suffocation ? and second how come Jesus didn’t die by the spear to His side ? this is the nature of a discussion. when you don’t it becomes an argument. now, since I’m as critical about my beliefs as I am about others I’ve changed my mind on several things or don’t discuss them like I used to when a barrier like this comes up.
there are 2 main different questions here #1. is the resurrection (Jesus was resurrected Lazarus and the others were revived) a factual event ? #2. did Jesus die during the crucifixion ?
Q #1 could be false — no resurrection but Q #2 could be true — Jesus died.
the problem is I can not disprove the resurrection and we have the NT writings saying it occurred. the writing are compelling but also have problems. if I was atheist/new atheist I would be able to say, I agree there is no such thing as the resurrection but Jesus died without contradicting my world view.
to say Jesus didn’t die has several major problems as I’ve previously mentioned and I’ll touch on below.
there are some bizarre things that actually do occur and today we have the knowledge to explain them. but in this case, each new layer makes the story more and more unlikely that it occurred until it just becomes impossible. there are accounts of people surviving crucifixion but with very different circumstances from Jesus. Jesus should’ve suffocated after He passed out whether naturally or drugged by design. if He didn’t suffocate He should have died when He was speared in the side. the roman soldier should’ve been able to see Jesus was dead/would have been in big trouble if he helped with the plan and got caught. should’ve been a rep from the Jewish leaders to confirm Jesus was killed. why not put another body (Judas’ was available) in the tomb/keep the secret that Jesus was still alive ? Jesus’ wounds should’ve physically hindered Him that Sunday morning/afternoon/evening using our timing (garden/road to Emmaus/upper room). people promoting this scenario at times say contradicting things here — don’t touch me because I’m wounded but is in shape to go for a big hike on the road to Emmaus hours later. why did His followers that were so scared all of a sudden act so brave if Jesus wasn’t resurrected ?
see because of the above problems/questions the logical and reasonable answer to Q #2 is Jesus died. that would mean the NT writings are fictionalized if Q #1 is the resurrection is false. therefore, some on like you is contradicting their world view.
so let me sum up this conversation to date (that started several years ago):
are you saying He didn’t suffocate because He was supported differently than the other 2 guys crucified with Him ? why/how come nobody noticed this ? pilate/roman soldiers in on it ? why ? if so, why not keep it a secret ?
LTG Says:
January 17, 2019 at 4:15 pm
You head is in the sandbox:
Nearly all publishing climate scientists (97–98% support the consensus on anthropogenic climate change.
The scientific consensus is that the global average surface temperature has risen over the last century. Scientific opinion on climate change was summarized in the 2001 Third Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The main conclusions on global warming at that time were as follows:
The global average surface temperature has risen 0.6 ± 0.2 °C since the late 19th century, and 0.17 °C per decade in the years 1971–2001.
“There is new and stronger evidence that most of the warming observed over the last 50 years is attributable to human activities”, in particular emissions of the greenhouse gases carbon dioxide and methane.
If greenhouse gas emissions continue the warming will also continue, with temperatures projected to increase by 1.4 °C to 5.8 °C between 1990 and 2100. Accompanying this temperature increase will be increases in some types of extreme weather and a projected sea level rise. The balance of impacts of global warming become significantly negative at larger values of warming.
These findings are recognized by the national science academies of all the major industrialized nations; the consensus has strengthened over time and is now virtually unanimous. The level of consensus correlates with expertise in climate science.
By Matt McGrath
8 December 2018
because the report warned that the co2
needed to be cut by 45% by 2030 and those oil producing countries led b y nut jof Trump and Dictator Putin alonmg with Saugi and Kuwait the biggest producers just saw their wallets go flat so they refused to accept the report that 98% in the world’s scientists agree with that it is needed and must be heeded
So please, Kim, playing the ignoramus fool.
January 17, 2019 at 4:59 pm
Kim, you’re diverting, it’s not about how much “fossil fuels ” are left it’s about how to stop buying/selling. we bought and sold before “fossil fuels” and we’ll buy or sell after or when we transition to another fuel source.
besides there’s lots of hydrocarbons left (coal, natural gas (NG)). oil (CO)reserves are declining but some are theorizing larger CO reserves are deeper underground awaiting discovery. we aren’t going to grind to a halt any time soon. when the end of CO comes (if still similar level of technology) air travel would be greatly impacted but land and sea could continue with trucks/trains/cars/ships being converted to different types of fuels. but knowledge is greatly increasing so who knows what I’ll see in my lifetime. my dad was born in 1925 and used to farm with a team of horses so is it possible we’ll be able to travel by flight without “fossil fuels” with in the next generation or two ? not to mention electricity generated by hydro electric, nuclear power plants
John didn’t mention cash because it won’t be cash. besides there’s still a lot about his prophecy that can’t be explained even though many say they have it figured out. if the system is cash based whether gold/silver/currency/etc… by nature it can’t be tracked like electronic cash/credits. do you ever stay in a motel/hotel ? try paying with just cash, it’s getting harder and harder because they want a credit card and picture ID in case you destroy/damage anything.
presently because of satellites, computers, electronics, biometrics, etc….. the system as I discussed ties the person/location/transaction together, yours doesn’t. yours just makes it more inconvenient to move goods/people from place to place it doesn’t stop any body from buying or selling or travelling. under your system I can still walk/bike/take electric bus/car to the store and buy what they are selling if I have cash. your scenario would limit all from a isolated location from buying/selling. while the prophecy is clear I could buy/sell if I have “the mark.” but my wife would be excluded from buying/selling if she did not have “the mark.”. therefore, your scenario can’t be correct.
LTG Says:
January 17, 2019 at 5:07 pm
After Jesus suffocated one of the two Jewish reps, Joseph, went to ask pilate for the body to bury Jesus the roman soldier with Joseph asked the soldier if Jesus was dead and both Joseph and the soldier confirmed Jesus was dead bu suffocation. It was a good thing the roman soldier was not caught but that ends the speculation of that part of the story. . So Joseph returned and summons Nicodemus and both then lugged the suffocated body into the tomb, and prepared the body for the night crawl.
Later that nigh Joseph opened the chute to the undergrojnd tunnel and walked his way to the tomb where he unsuffocated Jesus so he could get ready for the walk to Emmaus and then back to Jerusalem to meet the others at Joseph’s Safe House and eat a little honey comb and bread and a piece of broiled fish.
Thomas Huxely said: Of the few innocent pleasures left to men past middle life, the jamming of common sense down the throats of fools is perhaps the keenest.
January 17, 2019 at 6:31 pm
I’m an environmental scientist so I know about what is and isn’t “proven”. A “consensus” is NOT “proof”. It is speculation. The climate changes over time and that’s not an unexpected or apocalyptic scenario. I had one professor tell us “we can’t wait for data…we have to act”. As a scientist, that offended me since science is based on data. Again, what climate change apologists are actually saying is that 90% of humanity should be killed off and that’s the underlying push for the continued legalization of abortion. Donald Trump might not be a scientist but his intuition is right on in separating reality from progressive rhetoric.
LTG Says:
January 17, 2019 at 9:06 pm
Trump’s wild and raging with anger;
he hasn’t much time and he knows it. No witness can come to his aid for he remains without virtue. All lovers of self and slaves to the mark and the name and the number of the beast shall be thrown down and no mourners will look for a tomb on which to shed a tear. The Hatred of heart shall be the name of every chapter in the history of the worse ruler in the land. He has turned Democracy into Demoncracy by his desire to become its Autocratic Czar. He is a Prince who does not know he is in metamorphosis from which he shall emerge as the Frog he was destined to become.
January 18, 2019 at 6:13 am
That degree of vitriol shows an astonishing amount of hatred of which the Bible has a number of examples (David/Jesus). And, to take the specificity of a biblical passage and fling it at a person is the worst possible form of Bible interpretation. My guess is you even voted for zero-bama twice…fool me once shame on you but fool me twice, shame on me.
They compassed me about also with words of hatred; and fought against me without a cause.
Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
LTG Says:
January 18, 2019 at 6:43 am
If you quote the New Testament, please quote Jesus anything from Acts onward is suspect especially anything regarding Paul the Pharisee who pushed the Pharisaichal belief in the resurrection of the dead. Which when Jesus was discovered alive having escaped death and the tomb, Paul ran with the resurrection of the dead of his own religious belief instead of the resurrection of the place of the dead and duped all of Christianity ever since with his philosophy and religion of the Pharisees.
As far as we know Paul never met Jesus except for the fantasy story about a blinding flash of light which in those days the only mindset incorporated the supernatural and so made it super easy to pull the wool over the eyes of the uneducated.
That vitriol for Trump is from me not the bible and inspired by the behaviour words and pettiness of Trump himself which was just yesterday when he pulled the Military from Nancy Pelosi and the Congress members slated to make a secret flight to Afghanistan troops. Not only did Trump pull the plane from Pelosi and Congress Members but Pelosi must use secret military planes as the second in line to the Presidency after VP; nevertheless the cancelled flight used the same plane to fly Melania to Florida, the sole occupant on the Boeing757 on the $35,000.00 flight to Mar-a-Lago to President Idiot’s Golf Resort.
And Trump being the Dolt he is does not know that the third in succession to the Presidency cannot fly commercial ever since the 9/11 attack and not only that, it was a secret flight as all high level military flights into a war zone are so he also blew the cover and revealed classified information to the whole world including Isis and Al-Qaeda which postponed any high level flight because of President Dunce. His tongue wags his reptile brain.
January 18, 2019 at 7:09 am
President Trump was playing tit for tat with the Pelosi hag. It was sheer genius and one I wholly agree with. I’m tired of republican presidents not playing the same game demoncrats do. When the hag postponed the state of the union address, the media thought it was genius. When President Trump pulled the same thing on her, it was “childish” according to the media. Face it buddy….you backing the ole hag doesn’t show much originality on your part and certainly contradicts any idea that demoncrats are looking to the future. And, based on that observation, your credibility on any biblical discussion has tanked.
LTG Says:
January 18, 2019 at 7:45 am
I am not surprised you would gleefully support the Mosaic Law of Revenge which Jesus abolished, and rightly fulfilled with his “turn the other cheek” forgiveness scenario. Goes to show that you never listened to a word Jesus said and his message went right over your head.
So lolable that you would talk about Jesus return which itself shows a certain stoneage mentality when it comes to understanding anything in the bible outside what your fantastic imagination can conjure up to suit a supernatural mindset.
Nancy Pelosi has more compassion and empathy than Trump “never had”. And what do you suppose caused the R’s-Hole of America: Republican Religious Rifle Ass Theists of bottomless Pit lose 40 seats in the November Election. Trump is a loser always was a loser and will never be anything more than a resurrected loser. but to quote another suitable passage: Let the filthy be filthy still.
“….“Don’t seal the words; don’t put it away on the shelf. Time is just about up. Let evildoers do their worst and the dirty-minded go all out in pollution, but let the righteous maintain a straight course and the holy continue on in holiness.”
January 18, 2019 at 9:59 am
“If you quote the New Testament, please quote Jesus anything from Acts onward is suspect especially anything regarding Paul the Pharisee who pushed the Pharisaichal belief in the resurrection of the dead. Which when Jesus was discovered alive having escaped death and the tomb, Paul ran with the resurrection of the dead of his own religious belief instead of the resurrection of the place of the dead and duped all of Christianity ever since with his philosophy and religion of the Pharisees.”
Leo, for the record, there is no greater truth where which we have indisputable textual evidence that Jesus actually rose from the dead. You can deny and not believe the scriptures from Matthew to Revelation, but you cannot argue that the scriptures say Jesus survived the crucifixion. This is intellectual dishonestly on your part which you have been perpetrating for months and years on this blog. You are free to deny and not believe in the resurrection, but don’t insult everyone’s intelligence that the scriptures portray your fantasy.
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January 18, 2019 at 10:03 am
turning the other cheek is when someone does you evil. I’m glad you admit that the Pelosi hag did Trump bad. And, if you consider President Trump your enemy then you’re supposed to love and honor him as being in authority over you according to the same passage. Demoncrats only quote such things when they get push back from those they want to destroy in word, deed or reputation. But they squeal like the pigs they are when somebody turns the tables. As I said before, to quote passages from the Bible at someone is the worst form of religion. But I can’t forget you’re a godless baby-killing tree-hugger who despises anyone who disagrees with you and will use any means possible to take another down to show yourself better. Hate is a terrible way to live but it appears its all you have.
LTG Says:
January 18, 2019 at 10:04 am
Since you and countess Christians cannot understand the clarity of scripture, you have a need for someone to help your understanding. Everything I say is clearly scriptural and from the mouth of Jesus himself
LTG Says:
January 18, 2019 at 10:21 am
Since you and countess Christians cannot understand the clarity of scripture, you have a need for someone to help your understanding. Everything I say is clearly scriptural and from the mouth of Jesus himself. Naz when you read this you will be reading about yourself as the Pharisees because what you believe is what the Pharisees wanted to see and believe too….
Later a few religion scholars and Pharisees got on him. “Teacher, we want to see your credentials. Give us some hard evidence that God is in this. How about a miracle?”
Jesus said, “You’re looking for proof, but you’re looking for the wrong kind. All you want is something to titillate your curiosity, satisfy your lust for miracles. The only proof you’re going to get is what looks like the absence of proof: Jonah-evidence. Like Jonah, three days and nights in the fish’s belly, the Son of Man will be gone three days and nights in a deep grave.
If you don’t believe me believe the words of Jesu or else tell me what Jesus meant other than the plain words he spoke…….well, I challenge you because you are full of caca del toro looking only to support your indoctrination of supernaturalism and then have the nerve to say that Jesus meant something he did not meant and did not say.
The sign of Jonah because he knew a perverse generation would counter the evidence and say something untrue but something that would support their fallacy and hunger for miracles….but miracles Naz, are a “believers fantasy” and you call my Jesus common sense and my common sense as nothing/
You wouldn’t recognize Jesus if you tripped over me. And you pride yourself on what you cannot understand and do not have the common sense to do so.
LTG Says:
January 18, 2019 at 11:01 am
But the only proof you’re going to get is the Jonah-proof given to the Ninevites, which looks like no proof at all. But he appeared alive and talked to this generation yet this generation, your generation Naz do not accept me now anymore than you accepted Jesus then.
And you think you are better off now than you were then? The generation is perverse because it is looking for miracles that do not happen and never have happened accept as promoted by evil, false religion that performed magic tricks like Penn and Teller and called their magic tricks, miracles, in order to augment by obfuscation the messenger roles they claimed were from a God (that they created and then created the tricks to prove their God) Which is exactly what scripture describes Moses and Aaron did because the prophet said it was a miracle from God and got kicked out of Pharaoh’s court for the folly and fallacy they tried to put over on the Pharaoh to prove their God was greater just as they had been doing to their own people….and successfully too, unfortunately, and you are so duped by the audacity of liars by magic.
What do you think Jesus meant when he said woe to you lawyers and scholars of the law hiding the key of knowledge (the key of religion’s success by magic and deceit) that is all religion and you are too steeped in indoctrination to admit the dupery because you would have to admit that you have been wrong all your life and that you wasted life. But you can intervene, wake up and let the common sense of LeoTheGreater open you mind’s eye and welcome Jesus into your life for the common sense revolutionary Jesus was to save you from the deceit of the miraculous-induced world of Mythology, Myth, Magic and Maybe.
With me and Jesus there is no Maybe, Jesus spoke with authority he didn’t throw out a few suggestions; he was an astonishing preacher.
So it was the Old Testament the Lord Jesus took in his hand and yet the amazing thing is this: though this was that book from which the others were accustomed to preaching, when they listened to the Lord Jesus they were astonished,. For it says in the last verse in that chapter that he taught them as one having authority. Not as the Scribes; in other words, when the Lord Jesus got up, he spoke as though he said what he meant and meant what he said and had the right to say it. Nothing apologetic; he didn’t throw out a few suggestions. He didn’t say “I suppose”, “Maybe”, “I think”. His was a proclamation, not like the Scribe. When the professional preachers got up they nestled in the corner of their pew and went for a quiet doze hoping they’d wake up just before the benediction and preferably after the offering. But when the Lord Jesus,; when he got up, everybody was on the edge of their seat wondering what AMAZING thing he’d say next. He was an astonishing preacher.
LTG Says:
January 18, 2019 at 11:07 am
Hear the Parable of the Rooster for it is my mission to open the eyes of the captives and the downtrodden by mind memes by advancing knowledge:
Scoundrel Religious Soothsayers dread the advance of knowledge as vampires do the approach of daylight, scowling at the rooster heralding the fatal end of darkness and the end of the duperies on which they feed.
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LTG Says:
January 18, 2019 at 11:30 am
Arguing with me is arguing with Jesus. I merely give you the words that Jesus says, declares, emphasizes, repeats, implores and uses to support, what you just have a barrier up to prevent, from penetrating your mindset that has been ravaged by cleric control for so long a time now that you are not your own person.
You have become a robot, of priestly protocol without discretionary insight and unable to speak your thoughts because others own your thoughts. You have lost the ability to think; it’s just too easy to accept the thoughts of others probably because you were a child abused by vampiric duperies too long. Dismiss and dispense with the supernatural caca del toro. That’s where you need to start in order to return to your own birthright. For the love of Jesus, get with it for Christ’s sake.
Your common sense has been compromised by people who need you to be seduced into submission otherwise their mission fails. Well let it fail to save your own ASSet.
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LTG Says:
January 18, 2019 at 11:33 am
Here is one saving-grace-proverb to keep in mind during your transition trials:
No wrong, confessed in repentance, is greater than the forgiveness that absolves it.
LTG Says:
January 18, 2019 at 11:37 am
“…..Hate is a terrible way to live but it appears its all you have……”
Spoken directly from the treasure of your heart.
LTG Says:
January 18, 2019 at 12:00 pm
An example of “the cause of its own effect”.
You have heard it said that there is always, without fail a cause and effect and the theory is used in support the Big Bang theory and the Kalam Cosmological theory but that is not always true and certainly cannot persuade the rationale for a first cause.
In the spirit world forgiveness is the cause of its own effect. It’s the melding of repentance/absolution. In the physical world there is also “a cause of its own effect”; one simple example, baking soda and vinegar; the melding simultaneously affects the two equally and directly and spontaneously as “at-one-ment” which makes “the cause and effect” principle a non sequitur in the physical as forgiveness is a non sequitur in the spirit.
I am open to hear arguments.
LTG Says:
January 18, 2019 at 10:18 pm
There is no historical evidence for the resurrection of Jesus. The only references come from the bible(and word of mouth by supernatural brain induced religious dogma) but of course we know that nobody resurrects from the dead(but some people “believe”) although people have resurrected from places of the dead, the tomb like Lazarus for example…and Jesus….Jesus himself did not say that he was dead when he appeared to the disciples; indeed, he said Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.” Being still alive but scarred from the scourging and nails.
And from the scripture narrative of Jonah….”He said, I cried by reason of mine affliction (life and death distress) unto the LORD, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice.” that means Jonah felt he would drown in the ocean..in the belly of Sheol but he was not dead nor was he in the belly of the fish (that’s a simile), because he was washed up on shore by a pushing wave….10 “And the Lord spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land.’ a metaphorical embellishment to the story as Jonah retold it after promising the Lord that he, Jonah, promised he would pray “look to the temple” because he had wavered and like most people made promises to the supernatural in life and death experience to be saved… etc. Oh Lord save me and from now on I promise I will or I will never ……..yada yada yada
LTG Says:
January 18, 2019 at 10:23 pm
Time is like the Global Ocean; it is a meaningless concept until Man uses it to divide the One Global Ocean into the five main Oceans, seas, inlets and outlets where all waters hurriedly flow to where they all belong, home, into the One Global Ocean; look at an atlas. The China Sea and the Indian ocean are all part of the One Single Global Ocean.
Distance between objects is meaningless until measurements are cast. The twinkling stars are meaningless until man calculates the distance and speed of light and puts distance into a perspective we conveniently call “time” by distance and speed but “time” just “is” with and without the calculations.
Time is a man made concept to put something into perspective. When we say “before space and time” is a meaningless statement other than to put a theoretical concept into another theoretical concept that we defined as meaning something that has no meaning.
LTG Says:
January 18, 2019 at 10:27 pm
Animals are hungry most of the time so animals have no understanding of time they either catch the prey and eat or fail and go hungry.
Before the tree fell and after the tree fell does not prove time anymore than it proves “sound” or “gravity”. Only by your example does that division of time give perspective to an event..as Jason would say..”…it’s the context…”.
Cosmic microwave background radiation (CMBR) only proves that the radiation exists and is measureable but not that “time” began to exist by a big bang theory; that’s just man trying to put something into a mouse hole that provides s/he comfort with a sense of agency, a sense of control.
Man always looks for beginnings and ends to explain the unexplainable but nothing starts or ends, everything just “is”.
The Cosmos is a multiplicity of spontaneous generations “all the time” but man wants to pigeon hole “time” into Big Bangs and Big Gods but “time” is like the terms “forever” and “never” of which: what is the longer time? becomes a nonsensical question.
Time just is; it’s like the equation of a mathematician’s tool to the “rule”. You can write the equation to the rule of a theorem but the theorem rule already “is” before you even take the “time” to write it out.
Thoughts and time are like spontaneous generation and that’s about all we know at this period of “time” in our evolution; we try to figure out how to measure a thought in terms of firing neurons for a sense of our own agency but thoughts too are spontaneous generations.
Quantum physics seem to rule in spontaneous generation at the quantum level coming in and going out and being in different places at the same period of time, rendering time a piece in the same puzzle of where, when, who, what and how does it not? nest ce pas?
LTG Says:
January 18, 2019 at 11:08 pm
T.R. et al:
Humanism can be better understood when considered in the context of the attitudes or perspectives it is normally contrasted against. On the one hand is supernaturalism, descriptive of any belief system which stresses the importance of a supernatural, transcendent domain separate from the natural world in which we live. Belief in gods would be the most common and popular example of this. Quite often this sort of philosophy describes the supernatural as being more “real” or at least more “important” than the natural, and hence as something we should strive for — even if it means denying our human needs, values, and experiences in the here and now.
Jesus was a humanist. Pope Francis has said in a recent speech that humanism and caring for others should be centered on Jesus Christ. At a meeting of the Fifth National Convention of the Italian Church in Florence, Francis said humanism should take its starting point from “the centrality of Jesus,” in whom people discover “the features of the authentic face of man.”
Paul was wrong if he was talking about true philosophy but I believe Paul was not talking about rational thought and clear thinking; I believe Paul was talking about the philosophy of carnival barkers, snake-oil salesmen, soothsayers and sorcerers.
Since the early days Jesus’s ministry began, as noted in the very first verse of John’s Gospel in the 7th chapter, after his early humanist teachings about the dignity, worth and value of human beings and treating their lives with compassion and forgiveness compared to the church leaders whose practice was exclusionary of gentiles and sinners Jesus’s humanism was evident.
Throughout Jesus life he brought hope and dignity to the poor while exposing the evil of religious dogma. Please don’t ever think Jesus was anything more than an ordinary man with extraordinary common sense who put himself in harms way to show that the masses of humanity were worthy: to have their wounds bandaged, the disabled helped, the hungry fed, the homeless clothed; being given love, kindness and hope. The clergy hitherto had nothing but loathing for the masses, blaming their poverty, their sickness, their disabilities on their sins and/or the sins of their fathers.
Christians embrace a shallower version of Jesus. Jesus’s love continues to inspire humanist faith – faith that there is yet some good in this earth, that we can all be redeemed by love, compassion and forgiveness and that we should all choose life and should try to live it fully in a spirit of peace and brotherhood with all mankind.
It makes no difference whether Jesus was born of a virgin or rose bodily from his grave after three days; these are merely meaningless dogmatic talking points and not real.
These are signs that the wicked demand because they do not have the heart, empathy or insight to see the divine in Jesus and in all of us, without such signs. Blessed are those who follow Jesus not having seen and without any need for signs and wonders simply on the strength of his messages and words of praise and promise for a pious people from a pious person who loved humanity unconditionally. To everybody Jesus encountered, he looked for good, trust and was open to both; if the peace of Jesus returned to him unrequited, then and only then did he leave unfulfilled; however, Jesus peace and love was “indispensable…to his sense of being which he would at no price relinquish by treating fellow members of humanity with a state of indifference.”
Jesus was emboldened to remain receptive to love, peace and trust from everybody that he met and that reception, that depth of humanity was a reflection of his inner invisible essence and an essence characterized by “a form of godliness” and that invisible self, intimately identified with the invisible godliness spirit was a reflection for that essence he called the Father within that made his unconditional receptivity to love, peace and trust was metaphorically referred to as the Son reflecting the Father.
We say therefore that the “Father Godliness” reflected by the Son becomes by that reflection the “Son of Godliness” and that was, what, how, whenever, wherever, and who Jesus was to all people by his life and through his message. Jesus, reflecting his humanity in that manner was; AKA, the Son of Man.
If that disposition prevailed, no evil is allowed. And if all humanity acted on the premise that all there is of good is available to s/he who is available to all there is of good, the conclusion would never need to ask the question:
January 19, 2019 at 3:15 pm
this is hilarious. neither of you can explain the huge holes in your “swoon” and “fossil fuel” theories. the questions I’ve posed is not me pulling stuff out of my a$$ and you don’t even acknowledge the possibilities you could be wrong. why is everybody arguing like roman catholics (rc) now instead of having a discussion ? you do know the tricks rc use don’t you because you are using them.
I show you how people like me do it.
A. briefly…. I don’t know for sure and that question troubled me because I can’t fully explain it. but the God I believe in can make it all right so I trust in Him. that’s the only alternative for me because the atheistic world view is hopeless. you take away the resurrection and you might as well eat drink and be merry then commit suicide when the bad out weighs the good.
LTG Says:
January 19, 2019 at 3:46 pm
One does not need to explain the swoon theory because he did not die. And the reason we know he did not die is because he showed himself alive, muscle and bone he ate and drank, had a pee and a poop.
That’s the simplicity you can’t face because you can’t admit you’ve been wrong all your life and are still grasping at paranormal straws hoping the truth will go away.
Ask any coroner on the planet if he does an autopsy on a live body. He’ll book you an appointment with the psychiatrist for a committal interview.
Of all the things you lost do you miss your mind the most?
LTG Says:
January 19, 2019 at 3:50 pm
You cannot admit that Jesus survived because then you would have to explain how he got unsuffocated and that’s something your own common sense cannot accept, but it’s easy to admit your wrong when you let your ego go into humility stage instead of stuck spinning its wheels in high gear ego.
As far as the fossil fuel theory that as retarded AS THE RESURRECTION THEORY. And the suffocation theory dolt. hyuk
LTG Says:
January 19, 2019 at 3:56 pm
As long as you believe in Zeus and in all its mythological allure, the term mentally deficient will remain politically correct.
LTG Says:
January 19, 2019 at 4:00 pm
You don’t have questions of argument, what you have is a hobby called “Avoid answering your theory craft”.
LTG Says:
January 19, 2019 at 4:43 pm
So when it comes to the question “Why does God allow Evil” you don’t know for sure. Well that’s simple, either you know or you don’t know but you are not sure if you know or if you don’t know. You have a problem if you you’re not sure; you’re like the gate that swings both ways ahhh the old ego again flaring up making you appear stupid. There goes that old ego getting in the way again. And then you say; now, THIS IS REALLY A CORKER:
To the same question “Why does God allow Evil”? you say you can’t “fully explain it”; and you’re troubled by that. Well, that’s okay, let’s hear your partial explanation if you can’t “fully ” explain it. And let me suggest that you get untroubled which is easier than getting unsuffocated.
By the way if you read Post 241, again, you’ll find out what part of “know” you don’t understand,……ahh the wonder of old dogs learning new tricks if you just stop letting ego jump in front of your common sense that you were given as your birthright and for which religion has made you surrender and squander the only companion you have “within you” Lk 17:21 But you probably don’t know what Jesus said in that chapter and verse, you really should look it up and start one verse before at verse 20 for context.
January 19, 2019 at 6:16 pm
LTG, ILMAO …….. it’s so hilarious you don’t see what you are saying which is —- Jesus didn’t die because the NT has Him alive after the crucifixion and there is no such thing as the resurrection/supernatural so Jesus must have “swooned” and revived in the tomb. you can’t even prove your version of the “swoon theory” is the correct one. and to make it more hilarious the NT is written so only you can decode the writings before and after the crucifixion to show things like “dead” doesn’t mean “dead.”
if you don’t believe in the supernatural yours is not the only option. the most logical and reasonable would be Jesus died and the NT is fictionalized to give a supernatural twist.
LTG Says:
January 19, 2019 at 6:20 pm
“……Jesus died and the NT is fictionalized to give a supernatural twist…..”
That’syour story but you don;t want to admit it because you can ‘t explain it “fully” LMAO Hilarity Clinton is your companion hahaha
LTG Says:
January 19, 2019 at 6:24 pm
Oh hilarity one, a thousand comedians out of work and we get you.
Why would you expect me to prove your “swoon” theory, you can’t even explain “fully” why does God allow Evil because you don’t know for sure why God does allow evil but God troubles you about that. read Post 241 again for the first time.
January 19, 2019 at 6:26 pm
LTG, of course I’m not sure why God allows evil because I’ve never seen a compelling argument for why He does. and if TR was sure the post would’ve been different. some times you don’t know why. and because I don’t know why God allows evil that means your “swoon theory” is correct ? dude, you are hilarious.
LTG Says:
January 19, 2019 at 6:28 pm
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LTG Says:
January 19, 2019 at 6:32 pm
Funny how you read everything into a post but yo9u can’t admit yhat you know that Jesus died by suffocation and after dying became unsuffocated and start living again. And bcame just another man that pisseth up against the wall, Trump’s ancestor’s wall undoubtedly.
LTG Says:
January 19, 2019 at 6:45 pm
When was the autopsy performed? Oh they didn’t have autopsies then; they just let the body decompose but stuffed it with what?
“Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds.”
The main reason a dead body was anointed with spices was to control the smell of decomposition. Jews did not practice embalming, and the funeral spices were a way to help minimize unpleasant odors.
But maybe Nicodemus stuffed the 75 lbs into the orifices and maybe that suffocated him too or maybe unsuffocated him and he woke up. Tell us what you really almost know but do not not for sure but tell us what you don’t know fully but tell us partially anyway and we’ll add to it and make it understandable to believers and the believers will fill in the blanks.
January 19, 2019 at 7:07 pm
LTG, LMAO —– it’s your “swoon theory.” I can’t prove (as in 2+2=4) my “resurrection theory” but at least it does not contradict my world view and no decoding of NT writings required. the proof is based on the biblical evidence and requires belief in the supernatural which can only be inferred based on arguments from our apologetics.
if the supernatural does not exist the NT writings have to be fictionalized otherwise they are nonsense. because they state clearly “dead” means “dead.”
if the only choice is between A. Jesus died and the NT writings were fictionalized and B. your “swoon theory” I’d choose A and I’m a believer in the supernatural. see that’s the point, your “swoon theory” is unbelievable with a natural world view.
you can’t explain any of the problems with your theory from A. why didn’t Jesus just take off before they seized Him to ? ….. to Z. why would His followers, who were scared to death, become courageous/spill the beans He is still alive/die for His beliefs while He walks off into the sunset ? i’d say —- i’m glad you are still alive but I’m going back to my fishing business, live out my life and die an old man in my bed especially since Jesus says there is no resurrection.
January 19, 2019 at 7:31 pm
LMAO, I know Jesus died from suffocation because that is what doctors and scientists say would have happened if Jesus “swooned” either from drugs in the sponge or if He just passed out. just like the other 2 guys suffocated when their legs were broken, that’s why they broke their legs so they would suffocate. Jesus didn’t “swoon” and then they took Him down in a few minutes did they ? the NT writings don’t say Jesus was crucified differently from the other 2 guys does it ? the Jews wouldn’t have noticed this/nobody was there representing the Jewish leaders to see Jesus was killed ? the roman soldiers were all in on the conspiracy ? plus they stab Him in the side and He doesn’t die from that ? again, read what doctors and scientists say about the spear to the side. the NT writings have to be fictionalized if He didn’t die. you only turn your critical thinking skills on things you disagree with ?
now if Jesus drowned in cold water and they carried Him to the tomb and gave Him CPR that’s a different story
LTG Says:
January 20, 2019 at 9:06 am
“….I know Jesus died from suffocation because that is what doctors and scientists say would have happened if Jesus “swooned” either from drugs in the sponge or if He just passed out…..”
You seem not to understand what words mean; for example, the difference between “know” and “believe”.
So here is the difference:
“know” : 1a(1) : to perceive directly : have direct cognition of
(2) : to have understanding of
importance of knowing oneself
b(1) : to recognize as being the same as something previously known
(2) : to be acquainted or familiar with
(3) : to have experience of
b : to have a practical understanding of
knows how to write
3 archaic : to have sexual intercourse with
intransitive verb
1 : to have knowledge
2 : to be or become cognizant —sometimes used interjectionally with you especially as a filler in informal speech
“belief” : : a state or habit of mind in which trust or confidence is placed in some person or thing
her belief in God
a belief in democracy
I bought the table in the belief that it was an antique.
contrary to popular belief
2 : something that is accepted, considered to be true, or held as an opinion : something believed
an individual’s religious or political beliefs
In other words..
“know” is knowledge……..notice the first four letters in knowledge.
non: : :
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LTG Says:
January 20, 2019 at 11:26 am
According to Mark’s Gospel, Jesus endured the torment of crucifixion for some six hours from the third hour, at approximately 9 am, until his death at the ninth hour, corresponding to about 3 pm.
LTG
For my theory to succeed Jesus must survive the cross; Jesus must live
and therefore I defend the life of Jesus.
For your theory to succeed Jesus must die on the cross and therefore you must defend the death of Jesus.
You like your theory better because it defends death that must necessarily have taken place in order to defend the theory that Jesus rose from the dead by supernatural intervention.
LTG
I like my theory better because it defends life and the sanctity of life in order to defend the theory that Jesus necessarily survived and rose from the place of the dead by natural intervention.
You believe in a God that is a Theity, a personal God, an interventionist God, who created the universe and who is intimately involved with its affairs. And you must defend theism because your God hears and listens to prayer and occasionally intervenes in human affairs.
LTG
I believe in God that is a Deity, called Higher Power(s); AKA God(s), but is not a personal God; my God is more like Gravity, Electricity, Magnetism,(GEM) and the Cosmic Elements (CE) My God does not hear, listen or intervene in human affairs anymore that Gravity hears or listens to human prayers to save you from falling; for example.
Your God will resurrect you after you die.
LTG
You believe because of indoctrination of others that has formed your opinion but you cannot define or describe your God or their God other than by using ambiguous terms like supernatural, paranormal and miracles.
LTG
I know God by myself, a priori and a posteriori, I can define and describe God by revelation because I have fallen down a number of times; experienced and watched the effects of Magnetism; I have been shocked by electricity many times on the farm where we had electric fences to keep the cows from escaping the pasture. We tricked and shocked out friends. I was schooled in chemical reactions and learned the elements, some operate in tandem like hydrogen and oxygen that I breathe and drink everyday.
LTG SUMMARY:
I like a God I understand and I know part of my God is within me because I have come from it. Jesus too came from the same God and opened the eyes, of those of us, who were blind before the day he revealed it to us. I was 12 years of age when I understood what he was saying to me. Jesus was about 2012 (+ / -) years of age. He is my BIG brother; I have let him down at times but when I rose again from the place of the dead, he was still at my side and he is still my BIG brother.
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January 20, 2019 at 5:04 pm
LTG …….. LMAO, but it’s you that believes Jesus didn’t die. the only evidence He didn’t die is from you saying “dead” doesn’t mean “dead.” the NT writings state as a fact He died that’s how I can say I know He died. plus based on the NT writings doctors and scientists confirm Jesus was dead.
your argument is based on the credibility of the NT writings stating He was alive after the crucifixion but if they aren’t credible saying He died before and after the crucifixion you can’t say they are credible and your argument crashes and burns.
that’s why the NT writings can only be used to support the resurrection. if the supernatural does not exist the NT writings are BS.
January 20, 2019 at 5:08 pm
LTG, but the funniest part of your argument is it’s irrelevant to your world view if Jesus even existed. the NT writings could be a work of fiction and you could still practice what it preaches.
I wouldn’t practice what it preaches if not for the resurrection because it would be foolish to submit to loving your enemies with out a resurrection.
January 20, 2019 at 5:48 pm
“…. it would be foolish to submit to loving your enemies….without a resurrection” ………sorry, your understanding is even more limited than I gave you credit for and you have no idea what it means…..
The disciples asked Jesus, “Why do you tell stories?”
He replied, “You’ve been given insight into God’s kingdom. You know how it works. Not everybody has this gift, this insight; it hasn’t been given to them.
Whenever someone has a ready heart for this, the insights and understandings flow freely. But if there is no readiness, any trace of receptivity soon disappears.
That’s why I tell stories: to create readiness, to nudge the people toward receptive insight. In their present state they can stare till doomsday and not see it, listen till they’re blue in the face and not get it. I don’t want Isaiah’s forecast repeated all over again:
Your ears are open but you don’t hear a thing.
Your eyes are awake but you don’t see a thing.
The people are blockheads!
They stick their fingers in their ears
so they won’t have to listen;
They screw their eyes shut
so they won’t have to look,
so they won’t have to deal with me face-to-face
and let me heal them.
“But you have God-blessed eyes—eyes that see! And God-blessed ears—ears that hear! A lot of people, prophets and humble believers among them, would have given anything to see what you are seeing, to hear what you are hearing, but never had the chance.
I will open my mouth and tell stories;
I will bring out into the open
things hidden since the world’s first day.
You are not ready to understand why we love our enemies but we must give them every chance to be saved, because we want that n one should perish. ……………….And so I say once again:
#1. When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?
#2. “The time is coming when you will long to see one of the days of the Son
of Man, but you will not see it ” And;
#3. Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast. ye your pearls
before swine, lest they trample them. under their feet, and turn again and
rend you.
And these three main scriptures, all related, have risen in the spirit as provided by you and it is time to depart from communication; it has reached its end too many times.
So from here on I can only wish you, as well as you are capable of receiving and will now leave you to your own devise rejecting the knowledge offered by the Son of Man.
January 20, 2019 at 6:09 pm
He who puts hope in death has ho hope at all; it is a Pharisaichal torment. The Son of Man offers resurrection, because God is god of the living.
And regarding the dead, whether or not they are raised, don’t you ever read the Bible? How God at the bush said to Moses, ‘I am—not was—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’?
God is God of the living, not God of the dead. You’re way, way off base.”
January 20, 2019 at 6:39 pm
Now remember, the Lord Jesus never preached from the New Testament, not because he didn’t like it, he just didn’t have it. Surprising how many Christians of long standing haven’t fully grasped the fact that the only bible the Lord Jesus ever had in his hand was the Old Testament. The only bible that the apostles used as they evangelized the then known world in one generation, Old Testament. The only bible the early church possessed, Old Testament. Let anybody undermine your confidence in the Old Testament scriptures and you’ve robbed the Lord Jesus and the early church of the only bible they ever possessed.
So it was the Old Testament the Lord Jesus took in his hand and yet the amazing thing is this: though this was that book from which the others were accustomed to preaching, when they listened to the Lord Jesus they were astonished,. For it says in the last verse in that chapter that he taught them as one having authority. Not as the Scribes; in other words, when the Lord Jesus got up, he spoke as though he said what he meant and meant what he said and had the right to say it. Nothing apologetic; he didn’t throw out a few suggestions. He didn’t say “I suppose”, “Maybe”, “I think”. His was a proclamation, not like the Scribe.
When the professional preachers got up they nestled in the corner of their pew and went for a quiet doze hoping they’d wake up just before the benediction and preferably after the offering. But when the Lord Jesus; when he got up, everybody was on the edge of their seat wondering what AMAZING thing he’d say next. He was an astonishing preacher.
If you were to turn on to the 13TH chapter of the same gospel, in the 54th verse of that 13th chapter of Matthew: “When the Lord Jesus was come into his own country he taught them in their synagogue insomuch that they were astonished and they said whence hath this man this man this wisdom, whence hath this man these mighty words and you recognize what they meant by “this man”.
You see he was altogether too ordinary, as some of us have reminded ourselves, they’d known him as a little baby, nursed in his mother’s arms, that seen him clinging to her skirt, they’d seen him romping in the streets with his village pals, he was the one who as an apprentice at the bench was learning his trade, he was the man who came and fixed the window when it jammed, “this man”. And they tried to rationalize.
You see, it would have been so much easier if he of had sort of a genius for a father or a mother, if he’d been born with a silver spoon in his mouth, everything that money could buy, he’d come back from this university and the other having gathered every kind of academic distinction and degree but he was too ordinary, “this man”.
Is not this the carpenter’s son, is not his mother called Mary and his brethren James and Joses and Simon and Judas and his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath “this man” all these things?
Now why were they astonished? You might quite sincerely say,
“Well they were astonished because they did not know that he was God”. But I think you’d be wrong. They were not astonished because they did not know that he was God; they were astonished because they did not know that he was……man.
Not man as they were, not man as you and I are….but man as he is God, created man to be. Real man. That’s what made him astonishing. You see, you and I can derive an immense amount of comfort from the fact that when the Lord Jesus came into this world he didn’t come into this world to behave as God; though God he was. He came into this world as man.
We remind ourselves that for the very first time since Adam fell into sin God in heaven could look at his son and see in him a man, a real man, could see himself, perfectly reflected. The word was made flesh, said John, and we beheld his glory. The reflected glory of his father, indwelling his humanity, manifesting himself, as God, through Jesus Christ as man. John 12:45: He that has seen me has seen him that sent me.
So he was the truth about God. He interpreted deity. In the physical, visible body of his humanity he gave not only a physical, visible expression of his own invisible self but an invisible self intimately identified with his invisible father who indwelt his humanity in the person of the holy spirit and whom he allowed from within his human spirit to gain total access to his human soul so that the father through the holy spirit could teach his mind, so control his emotions that the father in the son would direct his will and govern his behavior. So the Lord Jesus constantly testified: John 5: 19; John 5:30; “Without my father I can do nothing”.
January 20, 2019 at 10:01 pm
“I am the resurrection and the life.” that’s the Jesus I know.
“dead” means “dead.” if it doesn’t the NT writings you use to prove your argument are BS.
I’ll be a believer (in your “soon theory”) if you have evidence Jesus didn’t die from suffocation or being speared in the side. been waiting for 4 yrs ? for you to provide it that’s why I’m still LMAO.
January 20, 2019 at 10:24 pm
“Prior to death, the sustained rapid heartbeat caused by hypovolemic shock also causes fluid to gather in the sack around the heart and around the lungs. This gathering of fluid in the membrane around the heart is called pericardial effusion, and the fluid gathering around the lungs is called pleural effusion. This explains why, after Jesus died and a Roman soldier thrust a spear through Jesus’ side, piercing both the lungs and the heart, blood and water came from His side just as John recorded in his Gospel (John 19:34).”
years ago after first hearing about the “swoon theory” I read numerous accounts from doctors and scientists discussing the crucifixion of Jesus based on the NT writings. if those NT writings are correct it is impossible Jesus survived the crucifixion.
still waiting for your evidence any evidence that Jesus didn’t die from suffocation other then LTG says so.
January 21, 2019 at 6:58 am
Another “Christian” lie…..the life Jesus gave up was his eternal life to be born a man. And, he didn’t die on Friday to rise on Easter Sunday. The biblical timeline is as follows:
Ye know that after two days is the feast of the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified.
Based on Matt 26:2 Passover was on Tuesday evening.
Jesus was taken that night (Wednesday morning)
Jesus’ trial and crucifixion was on Wednesday afternoon.
He died and was buried just prior to sundown on Wednesday evening.
This was the first day of unleavened bread.
He was in the grave wed night/thur/thur night/fri/fri night/sat (3 days/3 nights)
God raised him from the grave just prior to sundown on Saturday evening.
The timing is precise because this was smack dab in the middle of the feast of unleavened bread week. The holy day depicting the removal of sin.
The “Christian” holiday of Easter is a lie.
The focus of his being on the cross is nothing more than a distraction and is a fundamental misunderstanding of who Jesus was. He was NOT “god in the flesh” which is a pagan concept.
January 21, 2019 at 8:23 am
“waiting for your …..evidence any evidence that Jesus didn’t die….”
Biblical Evidence: Being alive is proof abundance that he was not dead, not asleep and did not die.
In John 20:17 Jesus sent Mary Magdalene off to tell His brethren that He is alive, (HE IS ALIVE)and verse 18 states that she obeyed.
Mark 16:9–11 adds that Mary Magdalene was the first to whom the Lord appeared and that the disciples did not believe her story.
Jesus Appears to the Disciples
36 While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
37 They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. 38 He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? 39 Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”
40 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. 41 And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate it in their presence.
Jesus Appears to His Disciples
19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.
21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”
Jesus and the Miraculous Catch of Fish
1-3 After this, Jesus appeared again to the disciples, this time at the Tiberias Sea (the Sea of Galilee). This is how he did it: Simon Peter, Thomas (nicknamed “Twin”), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the brothers Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. Simon Peter announced, “I’m going fishing.”
3-4 The rest of them replied, “We’re going with you.” They went out and got in the boat. They caught nothing that night. When the sun came up, Jesus was standing on the beach, but they didn’t recognize him.
5 Jesus spoke to them: “Good morning! Did you catch anything for breakfast?”
They answered, “No.”
6 He said, “Throw the net off the right side of the boat and see what happens.”
They did what he said. All of a sudden there were so many fish in it, they weren’t strong enough to pull it in.
7-9 Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Master!”
When Simon Peter realized that it was the Master, he threw on some clothes, for he was stripped for work, and dove into the sea. The other disciples came in by boat for they weren’t far from land, a hundred yards or so, pulling along the net full of fish. When they got out of the boat, they saw a fire laid, with fish and bread cooking on it.
10-11 Jesus said, “Bring some of the fish you’ve just caught.” Simon Peter joined them and pulled the net to shore—153 big fish! And even with all those fish, the net didn’t rip.
12 Jesus said, “Breakfast is ready.” Not one of the disciples dared ask, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Master.
13-14 Jesus then took the bread and gave it to them. He did the same with the fish. This was now the third time Jesus had shown himself alive to the disciples since being raised from the dead. Note: (SHOWN HIMSELF ALIVE)
The Prosecution cannot prove its case without a dead corpse; it has none.
The evidence, being witness confirmed, duly notarized and sufficiently presented, the Defense rests.
LTG Says:
January 21, 2019 at 8:39 am
At the moment Jesus yielded up his spirit, the Temple curtain veil was ripped in two, top to bottom.
There was an earthquake, and rocks were split in pieces.
What’s more, tombs were opened up, and many bodies of believers asleep
(dead means dead unless it means asleep) in their graves were raised.
(After Jesus’ resurrection, they left the tombs, entered the holy city, and appeared to many.)
Dead means dead except: “Then Jesus said, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but now I will go and wake him up.”
Doctors jump through hoops trying to explain how “water and blood” could pour out of a corpse, saying that “in rare instances” such a thing is possible.
However, if the spear thrust was pre-death, no such explanation is necessary.
It is worth noting that John’s Gospel is the only Gospel that gives an account of the mysterious spear, Synoptic Gospels have no account of the spear which makes John’s Gospel suspect. This makes John’s Gospel not only controversial but suggests possible manipulation of the text to conform or explain church dogma rather than a record of true and authentic accounts of the messages and life events of Jesus.
After God brought the people mentioned in Matthew 27:52-53 back to life, they undoubtedly went back to their homes, where many acquaintances saw them. It’s hard to imagine how utterly startling such an experience would be for their relatives and friends! On would think there would be numerous writings about this fantastic event but not one word outside Matthew’s account.
The Bible says nothing further about these people God resurrected at Christ’s death, leaving us to conclude that they eventually died (again) and their families buried them (again).
Along with all other saints who died, they await in their graves their resurrection to spirit life. Another big lie carried over from the Pharisees by Paul to the Christian world and presto Christianity duped again.
January 21, 2019 at 10:01 am
John (as always) give his witness based on a different but still accurate perception of the Messiah. Paul backs his witness up.
Those people who came out of the graves at Jesus’ resurrection are mentioned in the Bible as having been instrumental in many being baptized.
Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?
Of interest too…..the thief on the cross was among those who came out of the grave at Jesus’ resurrection. Again, Paul witnessed this and knew this man.
2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.
3 And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)
4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
LTG Says:
January 21, 2019 at 10:53 am
Responsible for many dead being baptized is not an accurate reading of:
Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?
What Paul was talking about was the practice that developed whereby friends or family members would go to receive baptism on behalf of a departed loved one. In other words baptism by proxy and Paul was merely using that practice to legitimize the belief for the resurrection of the dead which was Paul’s big thing. Being a Pharisee he was a fervent believer in the resurrection of the dead, bodily and so used baptism by proxy as an example to push the resurrection doctrine.
Coincidentally it was because of the belief that Jesus was resurrected from the dead that Paul became an adamant promoter of Christianity mainly because of the following of Jesus whose belief that Jesus rose from the tomb bodily supported the Pharisaichal Doctrine of the Resurrection of the dead.
So my revelation dictates that Paul fabricated the blinding flash and Jesus apparition to infiltrate his way into the Jesus Group sect he could find a ready following for his resurrection of the dead Pharisee theory. Using the Jesus model Paul then began a crusade and practically single handedly became to some the Father of Christianity.
LTG Says:
January 21, 2019 at 11:08 am
Paul was a bullsh—er too and ran with anything he thought he could get away with trying to piggyback off the gullibility of the Disciples supernatural skewed ideas.
IT says the graves opened when Jesus cried loudly and gave up the spirit so the blood of the thief didn’t even have time to clot when the graves of the dead opened and they sat around the cracked open tombs in the cemetery for three days, waiting for the first born of the resurrection was out of the gate before they could all go merrily home to their loved ones. More Christian lies from Paul. Paul never met Jesus other than in his miraculous encounter on the way to Damascus.
Of interest too…..the thief on the cross was among those who came out of the grave at Jesus’ resurrection. Again, Paul witnessed this and knew this man.
2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.
3 And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)
4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
January 21, 2019 at 11:53 am
LTG, of course the NT writings say He’s alive after the crucifixion because they say He died and was resurrected, that’s the point oh delusional one.
the NT writings describe events which doctors/scientists state if occurred would have caused Jesus to die. you run away from this because you have no argument that Jesus didn’t die except this false logic loop you created in your own mind. which is —- according to the NT writings Jesus was alive after the crucifixion. there is no such thing as the resurrection. therefore, Jesus did not die during the crucifixion. and you don’t see why ILMAO ? please seek help from a mental health professional.
because your logical loop should go like this — based on doctor and scientific examination of the NT writings Jesus died during the crucifixion. there is no such thing as the resurrection. therefore, the NT writings must be made up/fictionalized/BS.
I believe in the resurrection based on the NT writings/scientific analysis and I’ve seen no evidence disproving the supernatural. but provide evidence Jesus didn’t die during the crucifixion and I’ll stop being a Christian. further, provide evidence nothing exists outside the natural world and I’ll stop being a theist.
January 21, 2019 at 12:02 pm
Kim, I agree with that interpretation of the sign — 3 full days and 3 full nights in the tomb. but there are good arguments for a Thursday and Friday timeline too.
a god man is pagan based on ancient religions but also biblical. very easy to separate the two (ie Jesus and Tammuz).
LTG Says:
January 21, 2019 at 12:56 pm
Then you must provide evidence of the supernatural because that is the statement you are making; the seven words above is not the statement; it’s an argument of ignorance.
In debates, appeals to ignorance are used in an attempt to shift the burden of proof.
You can’t move beyond ignorance when you Argue from Ignorance in which ignorance represents “a lack of contrary evidence”. It’s a fallacy in informal logic. It asserts that a proposition is true because it has not yet been proven false.
What you have been doing for three weeks is making statements you can’t finish, without looking like an academic fool.
Here’s what you are really saying:
Do you know that all water disappeared from the surface of Mars because of Reverse Gravity?
How do I know that? Easy.
January 21, 2019 at 5:07 pm
LTG ……. you haven’t provided evidence Jesus didn’t die by crucifixion, besides you say so, but I have to prove the supernatural ? LMAO ….. apples and oranges.
a natural world can’t come into existence by itself. something outside the natural world (ie. the supernatural) had to create it. that proves it for me, but you are free to argue “nothing is something” and “from goo to you via the zoo.”
now our argument —- did Jesus die during the crucifixion ? is within the natural world. this is a separate question and has nothing to do with my belief in the supernatural. all the evidence, biblical and scientific, proves Jesus died during the crucifixion. that means you are wrong and either the resurrection is true or the NT writings are BS. for the umpteenth time what is your evidence Jesus did not die during the crucifixion ? put on your big boy pants and spit it out, you can’t sound anymore foolish then you already have.
people like you are hilarious. it so funny how you want to talk about everything except for evidence Jesus did not die during the crucifixion. that’s one of the rc favourite tricks.
see I’m not obsessed with the relationship between suffocation and crucifixion. however, you are scared of it because it exposes your delusion. see, if Jesus passes out He can’t breathe and He suffocates. just like the other 2 guys suffocated because their legs were broken. plus there’s the spear thing. but all those doctors and scientists are wrong and LTG is right.
January 21, 2019 at 5:19 pm
LMAO …… your argument ignores the possibility the NT writings are false. and is circular reasoning based on the NT writings saying Jesus was alive but ignores those same writings say He died and resurrected. and in one of the craziest things I’ve ever heard argue no problem because “dead” doesn’t mean “dead.” and you don’t see why ILMAO ? that’s why it’s so funny
LTG Says:
January 21, 2019 at 6:01 pm
The resurrection from the dead is false and your understanding of the New Testament in general and Jesus in particular, is BS.
I have already defined God, the natural God and that’s all there is so provide evidence for the supernatural; and we both know you can’t because your understanding and belief in that BS, is BS.
Post 267 has been provided, Evidence One, Two Three and Four.
Post 258 Defines and describes God, the Natural God not the BS supernatural God that the ancients used magic tricks to prove the supernatural God and dupe weak minded mankind for 10,000 centuries and your BS is the result of their deceit that contaminates all your understanding of scripture so that you believe th impossible and reject the possible.
You have everything backward!
“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.” Matt 23:13
In other words:
“I’ve had it with you! You’re hopeless, you religion scholars, you Pharisees! Frauds! Your lives are roadblocks to God’s kingdom. You refuse to enter, and won’t let anyone else in either.
And here are the two cardinal rules:
1: Read the words with a natural, not a supernatural slant for you can’t understand your own mind let alone supernatural imaginings of authors; imagination in the minds of mankind is as superficial as a child’s unknown boogieman. Don’t read the bible as a child and expect to understand it as an adult.
2: There is zilch; none, and no such thing, as “the word of God” for no God has ever talked to man; neither Isis, Buddha, Zeus, Brahma, Apollo, Horus, Ik Onkar, Jehovah or plain old God. But many authors have talked to and talked about, their personal imaginary caricature character. The best that man can say is that authors write on behalf of the character of their own devise.
Follow the above two cardinal rules and your mind will open to receive understanding.
The religious zealots in Isaiah’s day and Jesus’s day refused to give this key of knowledge to their congregation and to this very day: “So long as the priest and the professional negator, slanderer and poisoner of life is regarded as a superior type of human being, there cannot be any answer to the question: What is Truth? asked by pontius pilate, friedrich nietzsche and religious scholars everyday.
Religion is exponentially diminishing and its end is coming and will soon be replaced by the spirit permeating humanity like yeast permeates bread dough (parable of the unleavened bread-ever read it?) but which has been steadfastly stifled by the traditions of ignorance, argued from ignorance, superficial imaginations, superstition and religious zealots; and that is, give up the power of the lie of charlatanism.
And what is the destiny and what will the new wave use as a guiding pillar? This standard will be written “on the forehead” and in the hearing (metaphorically, in the mindet and on the heart ) of every man, woman and child:
“To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou cannot then be false to any man.” (shakespeare’s character polonius – This kernel of wisdom is now taken as Shakespeare’s own wise pronouncements on living a proper life.)
Go back to your fishing business……
LTG Says:
January 21, 2019 at 6:47 pm
Your spinning your tires and saying the same thing like a proverbial broken record; you’re stuck and don’t have the wherewithal to move forward.
Sorry but I can’t help you anymore can’t help anyone who tramples on pearls of wisdom like swine in the pen snorting and snuffing just as Jesus predicted and cautioned us not to continue when it is too obvious there is no blood on the skin that’s left, to heal the wound on the supernatural scar, on the way downhill I can’t save you. I can’t try any longer, being rejected,
I withdraw. The last chance,
“…..your house is left unto you desolate
How often I’ve longed to gather your children,
gather your children like a hen,
Her brood safe under her wings—
but you refused and turned away!
until the day you say,
‘Blessed is he
who comes in
#1
January 22, 2019 at 6:27 am
There is no other valid interpretation of the 3 day/3 night scenario. This was literal rather than metaphorical. Jesus himself said “there are 12 hours in a day”.
There is no valid interpretation of “godman” in the Bible. Any selected passage you can quote can be easily explained after removing the overlaying presumption of modalism/polytheism that is always made in quoting those selected passages.
January 22, 2019 at 6:36 am
I can’t help you then. Rejecting the record of the witness is your own business.
Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
LTG Says:
January 22, 2019 at 7:42 am
There are witnesses of events who speak what they know and what they experience and what they see and then there are infiltrators in Trojan horses. Discernment is spiritual insight required to separate dung from diamonds, not everybody has it; in fact, very few have it.
One of the worse philosophy offerings ever recorded and that many a Christian today still extravagantly use to support nonsense is the oft quoted
“…..faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
So this says simply that belief, if you just believe, that is evidence of what you hope for, wish for, pray for; it becomes the placebo that replaces “knowledge and tangible evidence” which explains why Christians easily change definitions to define “knowledge” thusly:
“The JTB account holds that knowledge is equivalent to justified true belief; if all three conditions (justification, truth, and belief) are met of a given claim, then we have knowledge of that claim.”
They mix a pinch of perceived “truth”, a teaspoon of justification and a few shakes of belief, bake in an imaginative oven and you end up with a loaf of knowledge. How bizarre is that? Well, that’s the twisted philosophy of infiltrators so that quotes by Paul supersede the quotes of Jesus, substituting the cornerstone foundation of Christianity for the tangential christian, cult-like foundation built on the sands of Paul’s Pharisaichal parasitic belief system; a gesture magically conjures Christian Contentment of Belief into “Knowledge”.
Many, both in the religious world and otherwise, have a gross misunderstanding of what constitutes faith. Contrary to “Paul’s filtered scriptural philosophy, many believe that faith’s necessity is that which “fills in the gaps” in the absence of real, tangible evidence.
Carl Sagan, the late and noted atheist and author, once said, “Faith is believing in something in the absence of evidence.” Paul says Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the “evidence” of things not seen.” I agree with Sagan.
I also agree with Jesus who said: “Truly, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?” John 3:11-12
And so the infiltrator’s quote is used and the founder’s quote left aside. That is the lie of modern Christianity from Acts onward.
January 22, 2019 at 7:50 am
There is no such thing as “spiritual insight”. There is only insight. The “evidence of things not seen” are believing a witness. Jesus was a witness of God (that absolutely singular patriarchal Father). The apostles were witnesses of Jesus being the Son of God and the Messiah. The “evidence” for God is that diety has been hardwired into the human genome from humanity’s origin. Faith has nothing to do with believing a witness. It was the faith OF Jesus that was is described in the scriptures as instrumental in the Messianic event. NOT the faith IN Jesus. Consequently, your belief or lack thereof is irrelevant.
LTG Says:
January 22, 2019 at 8:29 am
I never think much about what you say anymore because your default position is “disagree with everything”, including quotes of Jesus or find quotes to override and deride even Jesus, someone you never knew and can never know. So I haven’t read much, if anything, credible from you. I would have to check but that would be worse than merely useless.
Like a Diploma from Trump University and your fossil fuel from the bottomless pit, hexagonal 666 BS, transportation “marks” of roadways BS, OMG your posts are so auto routed by default into the phony basket because everything you write is irrelevant.
You missed from the get go by incessant arguing; trying to project that you know everything, you show that you don’t know anything, but tons of nonsense.
LTG Says:
January 22, 2019 at 8:36 am
Oh, by the way the 3 days and 3 nights is not calculable except by nigglers who do not know the reality of scriptures because 3 days and 3 nights is a metaphor in the same way that forty days and forty nights is a metaphor. The same way that 144,000 is metaphorical and 666 is metaphorical.
You need to have more communications with Paul V. because you are both on a similar level.
January 22, 2019 at 8:49 am
there’s nothing metaphorical about 3 days and 3 nights. 144,000 is allegorical and refers to the entirety of the 12 tribes of Israel. 666 is a chemical formula (6 aromatic compounds of the 6th element, carbon)…again nothing metaphorical.
Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day?
January 22, 2019 at 8:53 am
I am the nemesis of hateful people like you.
LTG Says:
January 22, 2019 at 9:02 am
there’s nothing metaphorical about 3 days and 3 nights. 144,000 is allegorical and refers to the entirety of the 12 tribes of Israel. 666 is a chemical formula (6 aromatic compounds of the 6th element, carbon)…again nothing metaphorical.
Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day?
I’ll not waste time anymore telling you anything because Jesus cautions, not Paul, but Jesus: “…Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast. ye your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them. under their feet, and turn again and rend you…”
exactly what you do to every poster’s comments.
LTG Says:
January 22, 2019 at 9:09 am
A Nemesis is an impossibility for you to be because you don’t know anything.
LTG Says:
January 22, 2019 at 9:33 am
And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day. And the first day was 24 hours.
January 22, 2019 at 3:28 pm
Kim, have you researched the various reasons for the different days of the week the crucifixion occurred ?
I’ll avoid the Wednesday crowd since you agree with that interpretation.
briefly — for the 3 days and 3 nights the Thursday crowd use the evidence that a partial day/night can count as a full day/night. the Friday crowd uses the evidence that it’s quoted as the third day and they show this means the day after tomorrow.
Thursday crowd uses the fact that’s when the lamb’s were killed so that’s when Jesus should of been killed.
Friday crowd uses their interpretation of the original Passover story that the left over lamb was burnt with fire the next day.
January 22, 2019 at 3:30 pm
The picture I got from such personal attacks as your post shows was that of an evolutionary monkey sitting in a tree throwing its feces at the lion waiting below. roar.
January 22, 2019 at 3:38 pm
Yes, I have actually. Neither corresponds with scripture. And, neither corresponds with the significance of the high Sabbath (the Saturday smack dab in the middle of the Feast of Unleavened Bread). Starting with the obvious…that God would not have dismissed the timing of the double Sabbath to raise Jesus from the grave, the only logical time corresponding to OT holy days would have been just prior to sunset on that Saturday. Counting BACKWARD would then mean 3 days/3 nights beginning with Wednesday evening. Jesus was clearly dead on the cross just prior to sunset and buried before that same sunset. So, the Passover supper would have had to be on Tuesday evening.
Sunday morning would be too late and is only of pagan origin related to the sun god rather than the Son OF God.
January 22, 2019 at 3:58 pm
LTG, dude you are hilarious, more laughs then my favourite sitcom. at least those delusional fools that “venerate” the queen of heaven and worship her wafer god son keep both feet in their world view.
if the resurrection is false, is this scenario possible ? — Jesus died and the NT writings were faked/fictionalized/made up/fabricated/etc….. ? since you don’t answer my questions I’ll answer it myself. Yes, but not only yes more probable then your scenario. why you ask —- because if those writings are accurate Jesus died according to doctors and scientists. if Jesus didn’t die (as in dead really really dead) the NT writings are bs because scientific analysis of them proves Jesus would’ve died. also the fact according to your own words —- that you have to interpret the NT writings to de-super naturalize them to support your theory proves again they can not been taken literally.
see oh delusional one, you are doing what the “duped” do. it doesn’t matter whether the resurrection is true or false as to the question of did Jesus die or not. those are 2 different questions that you are tying together to support your delusion. you don’t even acknowledge the fact the scenario listed above is not only possible but more probable then yours because it doesn’t have any problems like yours does.
so based on scientific analysis of the NT writings I know Jesus died. based on the NT writings I believe in the resurrection. therefore, I could be wrong but unlike you I’m not delusional. now if you provide scientific evidence contrary to what I’ve seen that Jesus could’ve survived and be able to stand/walk and have wounds I can stick my fingers and hands in please provide it and I’ll agree with you.
January 22, 2019 at 4:28 pm
Kim, there’s also the problem of interpreting when the lamb was kept and inspected before the time it was killed based on exodus. but the NT writings have been harmonized including the last supper taking place before the Jews had their Passover meal/the high holy day that week. it’s very interesting — they compare the original Passover meal of exodus and it’s commemoration with what the Jews did later.
the day of the week/Passover meal was one of the contradictions I was hoping would be a deciding factor but like the others there was always a reasonable explanation. so like most things biblical there was evidence for/against and depending on which position you held it was supported/not destroyed.
LTG Says:
January 22, 2019 at 5:05 pm
Gotta love nigglers, niggling over niggles trying to gain niggle points, to show their prowess at the pearly niggle gate. Hmmm what is a day? Does a day include a night or does a night include a day.
How many hours in a day? 12 hours ? Kim says: “There is no other valid interpretation of the 3 day/3 night scenario. This was literal rather than metaphorical. Jesus himself said “there are 12 hours in a day”.Hmmmmmm.
Now here is question that nobody can answer and only some can rarely undertake to try and answer.
Is it colder up north than it is in the winter? Or warmer down south than it is in the summer? or are they equal?
From your home town Is it farther to New York than it is by plane?
Kim what do you think is the longer period of time? Never or Forever
Kim says: “….Jesus was clearly dead on the cross just prior to sunset and buried before that same sunset……” But is 3:pm just prior to sunset?
Since : “….According to Mark’s Gospel, Jesus endured the torment of crucifixion for some six hours from the third hour, at approximately 9 am, until his death at the ninth hour, corresponding to about 3 pm…..”
The day must actually start at 06:00am Gregorian Time.
LTG Says:
January 22, 2019 at 7:51 pm
For Christians or anybody actually to ask ‘Why does God allow evil’?. To me this is really a very silly question.
What is just as silly is Christians who try to answer the question of by defending God or blaming it on Man. So here’s the reality that needs to be considered.
Yes an Atheist can admit that there are Higher Powers that effect all Cosmos activity including life as we know it and understand it and yes an Atheist can also call the higher Power(s) God.
What Atheism really means is that the God Theists believe in, in that the higher Powers are personal to human beings and intervene into human affairs because of prayers through miracles that suspend the Laws of the Cosmos. therefore it is not that Atheists do not believe in God, it is that Atheists do not believe in a God that intervenes into human affairs so Atheism is not against God but against a personal God; its the “theism” part that A-theists are against.
Here’s an example. Of all the Higher Powers; say, Gravity, and you were going to skydive for the first time. So you’re flying around and the instructor says let’s jump…GO…. and out you go but OMG when it’s time to pull the open chute toggle, it’s stuck and doesn’t open. Not a pleasant thing for the skydiver but here is the problem that theist would have, what higher power would the theist pray to for intervention, Gravity?
The point is that Gravity to the Atheist, is one of the Higher Powers that is part of the Atheist God but one does not pray to Gravity nor can one reasonably expect Gravity to suspend itself to save the skydiver from crashing into the ground.
That is really the only difference between the Theist Gods and the Atheist Gods but it is a major difference because Theism has then to justify or generate laws and sin and righteousness and rules that other Theists decide what the rules and sins and penalties are in addition to the Higher Powers if ignored or experimented with, that might endanger us.
Besides the penalties of gravitational forces, possible shocking death of being out in the weather during an electrical storm or swimming in the ocean whose waves are churned by hurricane force winds and drown.
So penalties for sin transgressions Society must to live by with rituals by which to grovel and worship but Atheist need none of those things; Atheists simply accept they abide within the parameters of the higher Powers without prayers, sacraments, sacrifices, fasting, offerings and a whole slew of ritualisms that are as useless in one society, as different other ritualisms are useless in other societies.
What the world needs now is Love and freedom from religion, freedom from the tyranny of religion which complicates life more than the actual Higher Powers Gods of Atheists do.
Gods do not allow evil, Gods do not kill people. Gods of Atheists do not Kill People, Gods of Theism is a myth but by belief, People with Gods Kill People.
January 23, 2019 at 6:30 am
Clearly, you don’t understand the Bible. The Sabbath was sunset to sunset. That is a day and a night. Jesus being in the grave has nothing to do with how the weekly Sabbath is determined. Except that Jesus had to have been raised on the high Sabbath…the weekly Sabbath that fell during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. This was a Saturday. NOT Sunday. This one doubly holy day is impossible to ignore since the Feast of Unleavened Bread was a shadow of exactly what Messiah came to do…to remove the consequence of sin…..death. The timing of this event was not arbitrary nor was it metaphorical. It fulfilled the entire meaning of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Nothing less would have sufficed and God would not have ignored the very feast He gave Israel depicting the specific reason for Messiah coming to raise Jesus on the first day of the week (Sunday). And, as you say, it was evening that Jesus died and was buried. Consequently, it was Saturday evening that Jesus was raised from death. NOT “Easter Sunday”. Stop being so obtuse.
LTG Says:
January 23, 2019 at 10:02 am
That God gave any instructions to Israel or any other supernatural, mythological believing group by putting rituals, sacraments, sabbaths and other religious gimmicks about Feasts and bread, leaven or unleaven in a Book and claim it to be God-given is not only irrelevant, it is ludicrous. God inspired attributes of love, kindness and all good things imaginable however can be claimed as inspired and that began in the Old Testament scriptures but there was none to carry it out and demonstrate it because religion and mankind devolved into a deceitful group of mockery egos, revengeful penalties.
Never talk about a man behaving like an animal, the animal kingdom doesn’t deserve that kind of insult. In the day that man believed the devil’s lie that a man could be man with the supernatural God and not the Divine Logic within you and embarked on that mad experiment of human self sufficiency, the holy spirit was withdrawn from the human spirit and man had a body and a soul just like any other animal but not being protected by instinct couldn’t behave like an animal and not now being governed by the Father couldn’t behave like a man so he behaves like the maniac he does and you and I are the heirs of the chaos and the anarchy and holocaust that is the inevitable consequence of man’s stupidity and Divine Logic is saying “….CLAP….” GET BACK TO WHERE YOU BELONG!
Hence, when Jesus Christ entered into the world he said sacrifices and offerings you have not desired; in other words, the pragmatic, externals of mere religion are not satisfying to you Father. It isn’t that a man goes once a week in a piece of real estate. Or simply undergoes as a matter of tradition and form certain sacraments.
Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired but instead Father you have made ready a body for me to offer you, father. Then he said, “Lo here I am come to do your will oh God, to fulfill what is written of me in the volume of the book.” The volume of what book? Well the Old Testament Scriptures. That is, the Book that was written about goodness but never carried out in goodness because the Book was merely Mankind’s attempt at playing God based on a personal intervening God, a worship hungry, grovel-making ego God like Man in the image of himself, a revenge system of penalties and all that made up stuff about rituals and sacrifices and offerings and sabbath sacraments. God did nothing of the kind and gave nobody instructions of the kind. Man, playing God, input all the pettiness, filth and degradation of a human race filled with the dirt and muck in the mire of religious insanity using magic tricks for the supernatural, and called it CHURCH.
Thank you Father for the body that you prepared for me to offer. And everything Jesus did was out of respect within, love within, caring and benevolency within. He interpreted deity to have so done, by giving life to humanity in particular and everything else in general.
Thank you Father for the body that you have prepared for me to offer you so that I can do your will oh God everything that is written of me in the volume of the book. I am the lamb slain by mankind as a ritual since the foundation of the world when Cain slew Abel in envy of Abel’s righteousness but the time has come Father for that story, in terms of the flesh and blood of my incarnate humanity to be told so I want you to know Father that the body you prepared for me and gave me when I was born at Bethlehem I now present to you to do your will. His body.
That’s the Christian life. For every step you take for every new situation, you get out and you let him get in, you vacate and he occupies, You say thank you Lord, you may need hands, here they are, you may need feet, here they are, you may need lips, here they are, you may need a mind to think with, a heart to love with and I’m available. And you’re in business. You’re big enough, and I, reflecting the identity of the invisible Father within through my visible humanity can rightfully proclaim to be a Son by the reflection I mirror.
And he moves into that situation and demonstrates his marvelous integrity and that experience becomes a memory and in the next step into a new situation, you thank him again, you handled the last situation in a most marvelous way and I now have a supreme, unshatterable confidence that you can do now what you did then, thanks, you’re in business. I vacate and you occupy.
And once more he demonstrates his integrity and now you’ve got two experiences and two memories, two memories to undergo faith on the next situation. And this is really a corker. Ten times worse . Then you say Lord Jesus, fantastic, here’s a chance for you to be ten times bigger than you were last time. Marvelous.
And so one step at a time you vacate and he occupies, you vacate and he occupies, you vacate and he occupies. You vacate and he occupies and you discover the Christian life is one vacation after another. Until you’re finally always on vacation and he’s always in business. And you’ve discovered the secret of living miraculously.
January 23, 2019 at 2:34 pm
That is one of the most human-centric rants about diety that I have ever read. You’ve made your own god and probably don’t even realize it.
LikeLiked by 2 people
LTG Says:
January 23, 2019 at 4:29 pm
The most difficult part to accept when the Key of Knowledge is finally revealed; the single hardest reality to come to grips with is the realization that you have been erroneously lulled into the world of deceit and that you have been wrong all your life about everything you were ever told, indoctrinated by, casually heard or piously lassoed because we are all seeker in early like until the callouses stiffen and eventually desensitize us by the farce our brains are bombarded by.
Do you remember the little book that was put in your mouth and was sweet to the taste but when you swallowed it, it was sour to the tummy.
Now that I have given you the key of knowledge, the Key that Jesus indicted the Pharisees, Scribes, and Lawyers of because they kept it hidden for the last ten thousand centuries. And now, it’s up to you to let its savour permeate your doughhead like yeast until the leaven works through all the dough …(that’s what the Kingdom of Heaven is like). once you have acquired the yeast (the Key) and because everybody is a doughhead, the rest is up to you. The old adage you can take a horse to water but you can’t make him drink applies.
Lk11:52 To refresh your memory; this is Jesus speaking: “Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered. And as he said these things unto them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to urge him vehemently, and to provoke him to speak of many things: Laying wait for him, and seeking to catch something out of his mouth, that they might accuse him.
So what you say about me is nothing less and hardly as much as what the religious zealots of Jesus day said to him when he told them the same thing then that I am telling you now.
But this Key of Knowledge; AKA, the Truth that the clergy have kept hidden in order to stunt brains and become the wealthy powerful masters of the masses and whose wealth, for all intents and purposes, is incalculable.
The Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints in the U.S. is valued at $40 Billion; that is, Forty Thousand millions.
January 23, 2019 at 4:36 pm
January 23, 2019 at 4:58 pm
Thank you for the compliment; the way I received it – Post 299, subtle but smart and you may not even realize it.
However in my (opinion) revelation), this is not a God that I have made; this God (Higher Powers) I describe has made me and you, the Red, Green and Blue and I take no credit. Nor do I expect anyone outside of the following, to even understand what is profound at first glance.
You may be familiar with this cautionary advice: “Not everyone can receive this saying, but only those to whom it is given.” jc
January 23, 2019 at 5:12 pm
“For Christians or anybody actually to ask ‘Why does God allow evil’?. To me this is really a very silly question.”
not sure who brought it up first —- but it’s atheists that bring it up to me. that’s one of their biggies for God does not exist. and I agree it’s silly because God has a remedy — the resurrection.
LTG Says:
January 23, 2019 at 5:16 pm
Noted and filed.
LTG Says:
January 23, 2019 at 6:48 pm
Is a resurrection that important? Jesus thinks not.
I know that the resurrection is a central tenet of Christianity without which there would be no Christianity but Jesus offered a parable that denied the dogmatic promotion of the Resurrection; yet in doing so, Christians sorely limit their options pinning all their hopes on one single, and, in my opinion, a miracle that never happened.
Jesus himself said “they have Moses and the Prophets, Jason, Theosophical Ruminations, Posters, some dissenters, few questioners, lots of Christian enthusiasts and then you have the rare bunch, LTG et al intellectuals who, being not content to simply believe the myriad of “we have the answers”, “the true messenger”, “the true God”, ” “the true religion”, the true Church”. WOW.
And this conundrum is not a new phenomenon; this same group was around during the time of Jesus and they badgered whoever they could to seek, and knock and implore and pray to, to flatter and compliment just to get some answers that they could rely on but in those days as in these days, religion and church is a buffet line offering meat and desserts and perks for proselytes
Ånd even when all the song and dance is not adequate and people not quite satisfied they cried out give us a resurrection from the dead and we can then rest content and believe. But Jesus said resurrection is useless.
19-21 “There once was a rich man, expensively dressed in the latest fashions, wasting his days in conspicuous consumption. A poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, had been dumped on his doorstep. All he lived for was to get a meal from scraps off the rich man’s table. His best friends were the dogs who came and licked his sores.
22-24 “Then he died, this poor man, and was taken up by the angels to the lap of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. In hell and in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham in the distance and Lazarus in his lap. He called out, ‘Father Abraham, mercy! Have mercy! Send Lazarus to dip his finger in water to cool my tongue. I’m in agony in this fire.’
25-26 “But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that in your lifetime you got the good things and Lazarus the bad things. It’s not like that here. Here he’s consoled and you’re tormented. Besides, in all these matters there is a huge chasm set between us so that no one can go from us to you even if he wanted to, nor can anyone cross over from you to us.’
27-28 “The rich man said, ‘Then let me ask you, Father: Send him to the house of my father where I have five brothers, so he can tell them the score and warn them so they won’t end up here in this place of torment.’
29 “Abraham answered, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets to tell them the score. Let them listen to them.’
30 “‘I know, Father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but they’re not listening. If someone came back to them from the dead, they would change their ways.’
31 “Abraham replied, ‘If they won’t listen to Moses and the Prophets, they’re not going to be convinced by someone who rises from the dead.’”
January 24, 2019 at 6:26 am
I’ll quote you……….”the god YOU describe”. I still don’t think you realize that in defining/describing “god”, you have made yourself a back pocket deity. I’m not attacking you on this…..just pointing out a very common error that has been made for 2,000 years by some of the greatest religious “leaders” on record. These are false teachers preaching a stolen task (to preach the gospel….which was 100% completed by the apostles and Paul) without any directive to do so and their only authority is the money they steal in direct opposition to Heb 7 which clearly disannuls tithing. A practice which was to the Levitical priesthood…NOT to self-proclaimed evangelists in human-contrived religious organizations.
January 24, 2019 at 6:44 am
However, the father of Christianity was Alexander. Not Paul.
When Jesus said “I will build my church”, he wasn’t referring to an organization. He was prophesying of his return and gathering his elect (the “elect” are NOT “Christians” but those few with whom God and/or he chose personally….Abraham, Moses, David, the prophets, the apostles, Paul, etc). It is the members of this gathering who will never know death again. He was NOT inferring some perpetual abstract or concrete church organization. He WAS referring to the resurrection of those handful of “elect” at his return. And, that resurrection will not include “us”. WE are the “rest of the dead”. That should sober and humble each and every one of us. But, far too often, cults and churches tell us that we’ll see Jesus returning and will be resurrected to that event. That is a lie.
January 24, 2019 at 8:47 am
“(the “elect” are NOT “Christians” but those few with whom God and/or he chose personally….Abraham, Moses, David, the prophets, the apostles, Paul, etc).”
Kim, where does that leave us common folk ? Are we damned ?
LTG Says:
January 24, 2019 at 9:20 am
When Jesus spoke of the Son of Man in his day; iI take the position that Jesus was not speaking about himself because he spoke of the Son of Man in the third person: as, the “Son of Man in HIS day”.
When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth? . This is not saying, will I find any faith; but, will HE find any……..
So to my understanding, He never refers to the future “Son of Man” as “returning”or “coming” or “in his day”, in the first person ( I, me) because he was not speaking about himself as THAT Son of Man, but to ANOTHER, similar “Son of Man”.
I believe the Sons of Man is a generational Son of Man, born among us and rising to prominence by the way they live and behave in the service of humanity for the benefit of the greater good.
4 Ezra 52 (Hebrew Bible)
He said to me, “Just as no one can explore or know what is in the depths of the sea, so no one on earth can see my Son or those who are with him, except in the time of his day. ,
2 And I asked the angel who went with me and showed me all the hidden things, concerning that 3 Son of Man, who he was, and whence he was, (and) why he went with the Head of Days? And he answered and said unto me: This is the son of Man who hath righteousness, With whom dwelleth righteousness, And who revealeth all the treasures of that which is hidden,
Because the Lord of Spirits hath chosen him, And whose lot hath the pre-eminence before the Lord of Spirits in uprightness for ever.
“In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven.
Practically all of the divine instructions received by Ezekiel were addressed to him as “thou son of man,” or “O son of man,” or “Son of man,” and the same privileges and responsibilities were also laid upon Jesus.
January 24, 2019 at 10:24 am
Luke 18:8 I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”
In context this passage continues from the end of chapter 17 of Luke. The context is about judgment in the final days. The Son of Man refers to the resurrected Christ when He returns to the earth.
The parable of the persistent widow is a picture of faith. Faith is what saves and faith is what God will be “looking” for. Again this is said in figurative language but the meaning is clear.
“Daniel 7:13, (O.T.)
“In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven.”
The passage above from Daniel is a prophecy about the return of Christ. There is a parallel passage in Thessalonians which speaks of the same event.
1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
1Th 4:17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.
Leo, I disagree with your interpretation and with your whole theology. Not to worry, you like the rest of us will see the real Jesus one day.
January 24, 2019 at 11:04 am
Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
4 You happily put up with whatever anyone tells you, even if they preach a different Jesus than the one we preach, or a different kind of Spirit than the one you received, or a different kind of gospel than the one you believed.
January 24, 2019 at 11:07 am
And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished.
this is “us”.
January 24, 2019 at 11:25 am
Kim, so we are appointed to judgment ? What is the verdict ?
January 24, 2019 at 11:27 am
(The parable of the persistent widow is a picture of faith. Faith is what saves and faith is what God will be “looking” for. Again this is said in figurative language but the meaning is clear.) meaning is not clear to Naz.
“3 In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Grant me justice against my opponent.’ 4 For a while he refused; but later he said to himself, ‘Though I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out by continually coming.’” 6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. Both parables speak to persistence. His parable is even named as “The Parable of the Persistent Widow” KJV
Naz this parable is not a picture of faith; it is a picture of persistence; and, Jesus even said it was about persistence and used a second parable to illustrate the same persistence in the story about the man’s friend who had visitors from a far land but nothing to give them to eat:
“Luke 11:5. And he said to them, “Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves;
6 for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’;
7 and he will answer from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything’?
8 I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him whatever he needs. (Importunity synonym = “persistence”)
The passage above from Daniel is a prophecy about the return of Christ.
What makes you think that Daniel was prophecying about Christ return before Jesus was even born? That would put Daniel getting ahead of his skis prophesying the “after” (return) before the “before”(birth) existed.
There is a parallel passage in Thessalonians which speaks of the same event.
I discount almost all of N.T. Scriptures beyond Acts and Pharisaichal musings of Paul who was promoting his Pharisee beliefs. Additkoma;;y they are puled scriptures from elsewhere of which they had no understanding but seemed appropriate to a supernatural crowd that believed in dream vision ramblings and upon which most of the OT is based.
(There is a parallel passage in Thessalonians which speaks of the same event.
1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
1Th 4:17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.) These mean nothing to me and they meant nothing to Jesus which is why Jesus never quoted dream visions.
I prefer that you quote Jesus not Paul.
Naz the only thing you said in that post that I agree with is: “Leo, I disagree with your interpretation and with your whole theology.
And the last thing you are so absolutely wrong about is: “….you like the rest of us will see the real Jesus one day……”
The reason you are wrong about that is because I already see the real Jesus and know and understand the real Jesus while I am alive….you think you will only know the real Jesus one day, which is the terrible focus the Clergy has you focused on and you cannot understand that is not going to happen because they have been pulling the wool over the eyes of all bona fide seekers for ten thousand years.
Use the common sense you were given as your birthright and follow the two cardinal rules I have learned from Jesus and one of the few things that Paul was right about “Prove all things and hold fast to that which is true.” Belief proves nothing and never will; it’s knowledge that sets you free and that is truth…… but Jesus said that the clerics , and scholars and religiously insane promote the agenda of their own passion for pence and power: said Jesus of them and to them and for which they squirmed like salted slugs was ” ….Woe unto you, lawyers!(Scribes and Pharisees and Religious Scholars) for ye have taken away(and hide) the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered….”
Now Naz I will compliment you this way: you are not a dolt, a dunce, or a dimwit, so what in the world do you think Jesus was talking about when he accused them of hiding and taking away the “Key of Knowledge”? HUH? and hindering those seekers from finding?
Oh and the two cardinal rules you need to take as companions for your understanding?
And here are the two cardinal rules:
1: Read the words with a natural, not a supernatural slant for you can’t understand your own mind let alone supernatural imaginings of authors; imagination in the minds of mankind is as superficial as a child’s unknown boogieman. Don’t read the bible as a child and expect to understand it as an adult.
2: There is zilch; none, and no such thing, as “the word of God” for no God has ever talked to man; neither Isis, Buddha, Zeus, Brahma, Apollo, Horus, Ik Onkar, Jehovah or plain old God. But many authors have talked to and talked about, their personal imaginary caricature character. The best that man can say is that authors write on behalf of the character of their own devise.
Follow the above two cardinal rules and your mind will open to receive understanding.
Cheers, Naz. I am not against you. You are a chick scurrying about for the wings of Mother Hen’s refuge; all sincere seekers are but we get sidelined by the charlatans who are supposed to be on our side, not on the side of Mother Church.
January 24, 2019 at 11:59 am
Kim the rest of the story you left out: why did you leave that part out?
Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
And we answered:
12 “while we were watching the Lord ascend over the horizon brow, we wondered when we would see him again, while the billowing dust cloud kicked up by the entourage of wagon wheels and beasts of burden rose skyward and slowly dissipated into the air revealing a vacant brow now missing our friend.
13. And we were wishing he would turn around. As our eyes followed the billowing cloud tears clouded our view though we could not stop looking, hoping he would appear again on the brow of the horizon, as we watched, coming back to us, kicking up in a new dust cloud to give us the hope of his return.
14. And our hope lingered within our heart as our eyes gazed after him until you asked us what we were gazing at.
15. And we awoke from our thoughtful joy.
Now you know the rest of the story that you left out Kim. But it’s not your fault. The editors also left it out in their compilation. Why did they leave that part out Kim? Do you know Why? Can you speculate why?
Oh well.
One day someone will reveal things hidden since the foundation of the world.
January 24, 2019 at 1:02 pm
“I discount almost all of N.T. Scriptures beyond Acts and Pharisaichal musings of Paul who was promoting his Pharisee beliefs.”
You have it backwards Leo, Paul was arrested by the Pharisees because he was preaching against the Pharisee teachings. Read below ….
Act 21:27 When the seven days were almost completed, the Jews from Asia, seeing him in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd and laid hands on him,
Act 21:28 crying out, “Men of Israel, help! This is the man who is teaching everyone everywhere against the people and the law and this place. Moreover, he even brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.”
Paul resisted even the high priest and called him a white washed wall …sound familiar … those are the same words Jesus used …
Act 23:1 And looking intently at the council, Paul said, “Brothers, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience up to this day.”
Act 23:2 And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth.
Act 23:3 Then Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! Are you sitting to judge me according to the law, and yet contrary to the law you order me to be struck?”
Paul was not promoting Pharisee beliefs, he was promoting the resurrection of the dead .. visa via through Jesus Christ.
Act 24:20 Or else let these men themselves say what wrongdoing they found when I stood before the council,
Act 24:21 other than this one thing that I cried out while standing among them: ‘It is with respect to the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you this day.’”
Leo, you should really read the book of Acts… again. You will find your version of Jesus and Paul does not exist in reality but only in your deceived mind.
How could a smart person like yourself be duped like that ?
January 24, 2019 at 1:42 pm
Paul WAS promoting Pharisee beliefs, he was promoting the resurrection of the dead which was a pillar of Pharisee belief and infiltrated the small band of Jesus followers because they too were promoting the resurrection based on their belief that Jesus resurrected from the dead instead of surviving the crucifixion.
Paul conjured up an apparition about being blinded by Jesus in a vision and used that story to infiltrate the small band of followers, the same followers he previously had arrested and murdered in his persecution. Through that infiltration Paul believed that his pseudo conversion could position him to eventually lead that small band of brothers and that his education, contacts obfuscation and persuasive technics from his Roman upbringing, the stage was set and was successful as he almost single handedly brought Christianity into the centuries that followed. even today Christians are more inclined to quote Paul for everything Christian rather than Jesus which really annoys Jesus followers.
So when you quote swathes of Paul you are wasting Christian Capital on me; there are too few things that I agree with Paul about certainly none about Jesus.
Jesus then appeared alive to the Band of Brethren through the period needed to completely heal from the ordeal before he emigrated and left the country forever, putting the land that forsook him and his campaign in the rear view mirror and leaving his country in a cloud of dust.
Now Paul was arrested by the Pharisees not because he was a Pharisee because the Jewish Council did not know Paul’s background but when they learned that Paul was himself a Pharisee and more frightening than that, that P he was a Roman Citizen and not common rabble among the band of brothers, they were in fear for themselves and changed their tune in a hurry after that.
The biggest problem you have in communicating with me is that Jesus is my mentor and so the source is with me.
January 24, 2019 at 4:06 pm
ah…a Very good question but easily answered. Unlike what you might have been taught, the Bible is not religious tome on how to live. It is a document of conviction against mankind. The Bible is witness against us and we are convicted by it. The judgment is of course death. The only hope we have is that after being thus convicted, Jesus has paid the price for us. Consequently, such hope is in the form of being saved from death. And, being saved, a transformational inheritance into life (eternal life….ie/life which has existed from eternity rather than some form of perpetual existence) is gifted to those who have anything worth saving (our good works). Some more than others. Some not at all and thus payment for sin doesn’t help. Without anything worth saving, death remains in spite of Jesus’ payment.
All this takes place in a singular event long after Jesus returns. His coming is to prepare the world for that day (Mal 4 is about his coming return….NOT him being born over 2,000 years ago). If he does not return, the extinction of man at the presence of God (not Jesus) is a surety.
So, The “great and terrible day of the Lord” is not the return of Jesus as so many presume. It is judgment day for the “rest of the dead” and that means “us”. We shall rise to that judgment from our graves brought back to life by the presence of God as He is. It is His burning presence that determines whether we live to be transformed or simply burn up, never to be brought back from death…this is the second death. Death without hope of resurrection.
God is a consuming fire…..is interpreted as “a consuming fire comes from God”. THAT is judgment day.
January 24, 2019 at 4:31 pm
LTG, “Is a resurrection that important? Jesus thinks not.” dude you are hilarious. “I am the resurrection and the life.”
Paul was promoting the resurrection of the dead because that is the corner stone of Jesus’ teaching. Paul’s words harmonize with Jesus’ when considering the audience, no need for a similar decoder like you use on Jesus’ words to de-super naturalize them.
how did you come up with this bizarre belief system where “dead” doesn’t mean “dead” and “resurrection” doesn’t mean “resurrection ?”
January 24, 2019 at 4:47 pm
LTG, “Paul WAS promoting Pharisee beliefs, he was promoting the resurrection of the dead which was a pillar of Pharisee belief and infiltrated the small band of Jesus followers because they too were promoting the resurrection based on their belief that Jesus resurrected from the dead instead of surviving the crucifixion.”
and Jesus was promoting the resurrection also. however, those that run Jesus’ words through your special decoder disagree. and your evidence for this —- I say so.
LMAO, because based on scientific analysis of the NT writings Jesus died, really really died. therefore oh delusional one, if the resurrection is not possible the NT writings are not reliable which blows your “swoon theory” right out of the water.
January 24, 2019 at 4:49 pm
What a most useless and ridiculous piece of mythology.
To promote that a Creator, Wonderful and Benevolent God has suddenly turned on and turned the Created into a most abhorrent creature deserving nothing but death is so Old School, so Ancient Fear Mongering, so Out To Lunch and so Third World ludicrous stupidity that it is hard to believe, in this day and age of modernity that there are such useless and meaningless imaginings still abounding in the minds of religious insanity….OMG…..
Kim you are so bewildered, so out of touch with reality, so living in the past ancient science fiction type world why not try to get a day job and wash dishes or wait on tables because for someone able to communicate the most absurd dreams, you definitely have a problem .
Kim you have to get a day job……You are just regurgitating too much blood curdling science fiction, unbelievable, clergy inspired, demon augmented, hell fearing, mass hypnotic inducing, irrational torture programs of a stoneage man just out of the cave for the first time.
judgment is of course death, death remains, extinction of man, “great and terrible day of the Lord”, We shall rise to that judgment from our graves, or simply burn up, never to be brought back from death……….
This is so uninspiring it makes me want to go out an preach in the streets against the God of Death, Destruction and Demonic Demise,,,Ahhh count me out of your idea, I am not a candidate for your idea eternity.
January 24, 2019 at 4:52 pm
Kim, it’s a “conviction against mankind” why ? because we didn’t live up to it’s commandments. so it is a “religious tome on how to live” according to your own words.
January 25, 2019 at 8:13 am
Many teach that following and literally worshipping the Bible will “evolve” one into salvation. That isn’t true. It was what the Jews were doing at the time of Jesus by adhering to the law in every detail. Yet, Jesus called them sterile graves full of bones (whited sepulchres) and hypocrites. The Bible is a warning now and the record of it will become a witness against humanity in the day of judgment.
And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
January 25, 2019 at 8:32 am
God is a God of life. not death.
Mankind was created mortal. As is all the creation.
It was a merciful thing to do and the opportunity at life is an unimaginable gift.
Or, would you rather have had another egg/sperm combination have been born instead of you? The probability that “you” were born into life is so low that the value of “you” is incomprehensible.
a question………….an eternity existed prior to your birth. Do you remember it? Of course not. Yet, when Jesus came out of the baptismal water and was declared the Son of God, his returned memories of that past eternity drove him near to death for over a month. It was only after that event that he proclaimed himself the “Son of God”. Prior to that he called himself “Son of Man” only the understanding of who he actually was. Not the memories.
We have no such cognition of the past prior to our birth. Consequently, it appears to us as if it never existed. Yet, it did and that is what God offers us. Not simply perpetuation of our existence. It is an incalculable gift.
LTG Says:
January 25, 2019 at 8:40 am
If there was a contest to rename the Bible I think winning contenders could be:
LTG Says:
January 25, 2019 at 8:46 am
I wrote about the pre-life Eternity of which you speak some time ago; it is short.
Once upon a time I was floating in a beautiful milky cloud of peace when suddenly, I received a telepathic communication, no words, no signs, just an understanding:
“The time has come”.
Immediately upon receiving the communication I was thrust into a wormhole funnel and emerged out into the dazzling light of a shimmering angel in my vision, an irresistible invitation and I hastened to propel forward. I reached the angel; the essence of my being enveloped the embrace: we became one; as suddenly as in the milky cloud, I was yet again overwhelmed with understanding: I had reached a destiny; I was in warmth and security; I was Home:
The Gates of Zygote, from whence I would eventually be birthed so that all there is of Good available to s/he who is available to all there is of Good would be avaiable to me. And that’s all it takes for you to dream the dream.
When you understand who and what, why and when, from where and how; the Daughters and the Sons of Man come, you will see them as s/he/we are and you’ll be like them, returning to retrieve men from their folly like an emergent baby son/daughter of man, fresh out of metamorphosis. And you become once again the next generation.
January 25, 2019 at 10:20 am
Kim, you said …
“Consequently, such hope is in the form of being saved from death. And, being saved, a transformational inheritance into life (eternal life….ie/life which has existed from eternity rather than some form of perpetual existence) is gifted to those who have anything worth saving (our good works). Some more than others. Some not at all and thus payment for sin doesn’t help. Without anything worth saving, death remains in spite of Jesus’ payment.”
Are you saying we are saved if we have done enough good works ? If so, how does a person know if you have done enough good works ? Does God grade on a curve ? What’s a passing grade ?
Also can you explain how Jesus’ payment for sin does NOT work completely ?
Thanks.
LTG Says:
January 25, 2019 at 10:29 am
Kim’s scenario is scary isn’t it? Especially if you never did any good works. Despite Jesus having put his life on the line to revolutionize religious insanity.
What is your Grade Naz? I hope Kim will not hand out the Grades. lol
January 25, 2019 at 12:21 pm
I don’t think you understand…..Jesus was a man. His mortal death would not have paid for the sins of an entire planet of humanity whether he lived a perfect life or whether he was crucified or not. It was the fact that he was the Son of God, a Person who had ever existed from eternity and who lowered himself to be the man Jesus that he was of such incalculable value as to save billions of mortal men. And, it was the fact that God worked to make circumstances leading up to this sacrifice of an eternal existence that Jesus (revealed to be that pre-existent Son (NOT God) who obediently lowered himself), was able to come into the world without blemish through a chosen people/lineage, to live a perfect life and with his death for a mere 3 days and 3 nights, paid for billions of potential deaths. We are saved by the Son’s eternal life..not by Jesus’ mortal life. The value of such was far greater than the sum of all humanity. Yet, not enough to save the angels who rebelled. The reason being that each of those angels also existed from eternity and are not created beings as man is. They will pay for their own sin with their own eternal life. But we have the Son of God to thank for our hope. Don’t sell that short.
January 25, 2019 at 1:10 pm
Kim, it looks like you sort of changed what you are saying … sort of ….
I understand that we are saved by Jesus eternal life, in fact, when we are born again, we receive the very life of Christ. However, I don’t understand how Jesus’ mortal death does NOT pay for sins ? The bible is clear that it was death and resurrection of Jesus that saves us.
Am I missing your meaning ? I’m just trying to wrap my mind around your wording…
Leo, I think the both of us would fail miserably if we were graded …
LikeLiked by 1 person
January 25, 2019 at 3:12 pm
I can certainly understand your confusion. Christianity has taught a form of salvation that just isn’t true. Forgiveness of sin is not salvation. The two concepts are distinct. And, being “born again” isn’t what is taught correctly either. First, judgment must take place unto condemnation. This is a future event. Not a past event. Grace is not “unmerited pardon” as religion teaches. It is a delay in judgment so humanity isn’t instantly wiped out. By grace are we saved from that scenario. However, that isn’t salvation either. It is merely a delay in judgment. And, judgment is said by the Bible to be at the resurrection and in the future (who knows how long that will be) but it doesn’t matter because just as we know nothing of the passage of time before birth, we will know nothing of the passage of time after death until the resurrection. And, at the resurrection, we will be judged by and in the presence of God as he actually is (and condemned). However, it is at that time that the payment for sin comes into play, which is the sacrifice made by Jesus, the Son of God. And after payment, then and only then salvation, in which those worth saving (ie/who have some form of good works to show, etc) are transformed by that same presence of God to inherit eternal life (life which has ever been) or in the absence of anything worth saving, to be simply burned up. That is the “born again” which the Bible describes and/or the “second death”. Being “born again” is NOT the abstract elitism religion portrays. So, all have hope in Jesus. We just aren’t there yet….not given the “Holy Ghost” (breath of holiness was given for a specific purpose and is not given today), not “saved”, not “born again”. Haven’t you ever asked why Jesus has to return? It is to prepare the world and humanity for judgment day. If he doesn’t return, we’re all doomed in that scenario too. Read Mal 4 in light of the understanding that the second coming of Jesus is the Elijah and that this passage is about that second coming and judgment…the day of burning. It will make all this a bit more understandable.
LTG Says:
January 25, 2019 at 4:20 pm
You said: “…….I don’t think you understand…………” But what you don’t understand is that I do understand and this has been my position for years: Jesus did not die for the sins of the world, “….for the sins of an entire planet of humanity…..” ; that is Christian Church Dogma Hogwash….
You see, you are a recent poster to “Theos Rumina…..” I have been posting on this site since 2013…this is my sixth year……So you know very little about what I understand because you have missed out on five years of posting.
Most of my posts now, are summaries of previous, more detailed posts over that period of time. In fact the only poster who was an early contributor is Naz; all the others have fallen by the wayside like so many sown seeds landing on infertile ground without strength of conviction.
Most of the early posters who disagreed with my interpretation of Deity, disagreed not of their own accord because they had none but disagreed on the accord of those who indoctrinated them since childhood and their convictions were stunted early while their common senses were in maturation
In other words, clearly those early few months and years of life are a very sensitive time and whatever ideas are imprinted into the soft putty of the unformed mind at that stage stays there pretty much forever and yet for some reason, here in the civilized world, it’s still perfectly legal for us to indoctrinate our children with the most hateful and divisive absurdities it’s possible to imagine. Creating in them not young, vibrant, healthy, inquiring minds but rather stunted little freakish bonsai minds that are no use to anyone but a proselytizing blood sucking preacher.
LTG Says:
January 26, 2019 at 12:39 pm
Those of you who speak of God:
You speak of God as if God was a relative, a friend, a buddy on the trail. No, God is not a relative, a friend, a buddy on the trail; God is a concept, a Caricature Character Concept made in the image of Man. God is a metaphor for the Higher Powers Life Forces qnd that, made in the image of many men depending on their home culture, tradition and religion however the higher powers are not limited to a village, town, city, state, nation, country.
Isaiah 1 The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw 2 Gve ear, O earth: for the Lord hath spoken, I have nourished children, they have rebelled.
3 The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master’s crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider.
4 Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the Lord, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward.
5 Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint.
6 From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.
7 Your country is desolate, your cities are burned with fire: your land, strangers devour it in your presence, and it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers.
8 And the daughter of Zion is left as a cottage in a vineyard, as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city.
9 Except the Lord of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah.
“Listen to my Message, you Sodom-schooled leaders. Receive the Higher Power revelation within you, the common sense you were born with, you Gomorrah-schooled people.
“Why this frenzy of sacrifices? Don’t you think I’ve had my fill of burnt sacrifices, rams and plump grain-fed calves? Don’t you think I’ve had my fill of blood from bulls, lambs, and goats? When you come here, whoever gave you the idea of acting like this, running here and there, doing this and that—all this sheer commotion in the place provided for worship, reflection and meditation of what is good for humanity?
Quit your worship charades. Your pretentious self righteousness. I can’t stand your trivial religious games: Monthly conferences, weekly Sabbaths, special meetings—meetings, meetings, meetings—I can’t stand one more! Meetings for this, meetings for that. I hate them! You’ve worn me out! I’m sick and tired of your religion, religion, religion, while you go right on sinning, playing church instead of praying for guidance to do what’s good, right and proper for all the people in all the land, in every way.
When you put on your next prayer-performance, I’ll be looking the other way. No matter how long or loud or often you pray, I’ll not be listening. And do you know why? Because you’ve been tearing people to pieces, and your hands are dirty. Go home and wash up. Clean up your act. Sweep your lives clean of your evil doings so I don’t have to look at them any longer. Say no to wrong. Learn to do good. Work for justice. Help the down-and-out. Stand up for the homeless. Go to bat for the defenseless, the downtrodden, the dreamers.
Oh My Goodness, OMG! Can you believe it? The chaste city has become a whore! She was once all justice, everyone living as good neighbors, And now they’re all at one another’s throats. Your money is as worthless as counterfeit. Your wine is watered down. Your leaders are turncoats who keep company with crooks. They sell themselves to the highest bidder, grab anything not nailed down and boast of the bribes that make them wealthy. But they never stand up for the homeless, never stick up for the defenseless.” Isaiah 1:10 Woe to you who stumble to your end, when you are caught unawares. Guess this Author? LeotheGreater Rebuking Christians? NOT
LTG Says:
January 27, 2019 at 12:15 pm
God cannot be JUST the “God of Life”; that’s an impossibility; an absurdity beyond reason. God must necessarily be God of Life AND God of death.
I don’t know why Christian believers have to place limitations on their God in some instances and unlimited in others.
The God of Atheists is the God of the Cosmos, is the God of the Cosmos is the God of Everything and Everybody, Everywhere on Earth and in the Cosmos. How can the Higher Powers not be pervasive. It is a ridiculous notion that God is only God of those things that seem favourable to Mankind and his ILK like he was the manager of a political party.,,,Egads if that were so!
And I must take exception to your take on being “born again” to mean that is when one is raised “in death” to give account of their sins. Born again is born into life, not death. (Kim: That is the “born again” which the Bible describes and/or the “second death” ) this is diametrically opposed to what Jesus described “born again” to be when he visited Nicodemus in the middle of the night: OMG where did you get your information and what cult are you following to arrive at such an outlandish interpretation. You do not make sense by any stretch of the imagination.
Listen to the meeting of Jesus and Nicodemus:
“Come in.”
“Oh yes”, I imagine, said the Lord Jesus. “Waiting for you”
“What do you mean waiting for me? This is the middle of the night; how did you know I was coming? You’re a stranger to me.”
“Oh yes. I may be a stranger to you Nicodemus but you’re no stranger to me, come in, sit down”.
Remember the story?
There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus. THE ruler of the Jews. That means he was the senior theologian in the city; member of the Sanhedrin. A man whose name made news; he was reputed to be the third richest man in town. And because you see he wasn’t satisfied with the conclusions to which his own theological colleagues had come who believed that Jesus Christ was a fanatical street preacher, an illegitimate child of a lying, faithless, ignorant Galilean peasant girl, Nicodemus, one of the best of the bunch, an honorable man with a sincere love for God wasn’t prepared to swallow that. But he was a little self conscious. He didn’t like to be seen in broad daylight doing the smartest thing he could, visiting the Lord Jesus to talk to him personally so he came in the middle of the night.
And I imagine that finally when he came in, surprised! He said,
“Master, you’re exceptional; you’re quite extraordinary and I’ve come to the conclusion that there’s no possible explanation for your life but God.
Master, we know that thou art a teacher come from God; no man could do these miracles thou doest except God be with him. There’s only one possible explanation for the quality of the life you live, the things you do and the things that you say and the man that you are, God.
And I imagine that in so many words said the Lord Jesus, Nicodemus, you’re absolutely right. I am exceptional; as a matter of fact, I am the exception. And you’re absolutely right Nicodemus, there’s only one possible explanation for my life, the things I do and what I say and the quality of life I live, God. Don’t misunderstand me Nicodemus; not because I am God, though God I am, Nicodemus.
But there’s no explanation Nicodemus for what I do and say and am, not because I am God but because I am man. Man Nicodemus, as God created man to be because you see Nicodemus for the first time in all history my father can look at me and see a man whose prepared to let him be God.
You’re right Nicodemus and I’ll tell you something; you’ll know absolutely nothing about the divine sovereignty operative within human personality until there takes place in your experience that which puts God back into a man. It’s called being “born again” Nicodemus.
You see Nicodemus except you be “born again” you will not see the kingdom of God that is all ready and waiting for you, it’s already there, “within you……..”
Well, that was pretty baffling for Nicodemus.
He said how can a man be born twice when he is old? Can he enter into his mother’s womb a second time and be born? And immediately advertised that this poor man deeply religious as he was, sincere without a shadow of a doubt he was, he advertised the fact that he only knew one quality of life. That quality of life that you and I receive by natural animal birth from natural animal parents.
That which is born of flesh is flesh that provides a man with a body and a soul, both of which are functional and a human spirit totally destitute of the holy spirit, a man physically alive, soulishly active but born dead.
And Nicodemus didn’t know it. How can a man be born twice when he’s old? Can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb and be born? Well no, of course, not Nicodemus. You’ll never be born twice that way. But you see, the quality of life that you receive by your natural animal birth Nicodemus, cultured as you may be, wealthy as you are, deeply and sincerely religious; that quality of life is born of the flesh. You inherited from a fallen member of a fallen race of fallen men.
You see Nicodemus, only that which is born of the holy spirit, is spirit. And you see, that’s never happened to you Nicodemus……..Because you have substituted religion for life. A relationship to church for a relationship to God.
Marvel not that I say to you and all people Nicodemus, you’ve got to be born from above and you’ve got to receive from God in heaven that quality of life for which man was made as you received from your animal parents that body in which you live. And until that happens Nicodemus you’ll never know what it is for a man to be indwelt by God and come under that divine sovereignty that allows God to be God in the man Nicodemus.
You’re right; I’m exceptional because I’m the first man Nicodemus that was ever born being conceived of my father God incarnate whoever came into this world since Adam fell who is both physically alive, soulishly active and spiritually alive. You see Nicodemus, you were born uninhabited by God, inhabited only by sin. I was born uninhabited by sin, inhabited only by God and so everything I do Nicodemus because I let my father do it, is what he does, everything I say Nicodemus, is what my father says, because I let him speak. everything I am Nicodemus is what he is, because I allow him my father as God to be who he is in me Nicodemus, the man.
And the only thing Nicodemus that demonstrates the validity of my claim to be who I am, the son of God, is the authorship, the origin of what I do and what I say and what I am. My father who lives in me, he does the work.
You see Nicodemus, I just happened to make man that way as God and I came into this world, though God, to play the role of man so you’d know how I intended you should live. Any questions Nicodemus? Any questions Kim?
January 28, 2019 at 6:09 am
Kim, are you affiliated with a particular church group ? If so, what would that be? I only ask as it might be helpful to understand your beliefs.
I disagree with most of what you are saying. But to keep it simple I only have one question for now, how many good works must we do to be “worth saving” and how is that measured ?
January 28, 2019 at 7:33 am
I have no religious affiliation and am an independent bible researcher with a doctor of divinity. My studies have focused on various religious organizations including old order german Baptist out of Indiana, Pentecostal out of Kentucky, armstrongism cult out of California, eastern orthodox and Lutheran. All good works will be saved I think. Remember the cup of water passage. How that will be is beyond me. In asking that question, you’ve missed the point.
January 28, 2019 at 8:23 am
God is God of life. As Jesus said, “God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.”
January 28, 2019 at 8:45 am
Kim, “works” are not saved, people are saved. Do you agree ?
You have said that only those worth saving will be saved based on their works.
To rephrase my question then, how do we know if we are saved ?
January 28, 2019 at 9:01 am
no need for a doctor of divinity to see Jesus’ message —- saved by grace through faith not works & love your enemies. most religions/sects are works based and you kill your enemies not love them. you don’t see anywhere in the bible where it says a person could do good works but not be rewarded by God ? I do, and that proves you wrong.
is your interpretation of Matthew 10: 42 —- if Hitler gave a cup of cold water to “one of these little ones” he’ll be saved ? you can’t lose what you don’t have.
January 28, 2019 at 9:20 am
Salvation is God’s to give but through the faithfulness of Jesus we have hope.
January 28, 2019 at 10:13 am
Kim, yes salvation is God’s to give and yes it is through the faithfulness of Jesus, not our faithfulness, that we have hope.
So in light of the above, please answer my question :
How do we know if we are saved ?
January 28, 2019 at 11:15 am
That should be obvious…we won’t know until we are. However, its as much like castaways on a desert island as anything. Who, seeing the rescue boat approaching from over the horizon, who shout in joy “we’re saved!”. But, in reality, they haven’t been saved until they’re on the boat and headed back to civilization.
Jesus’ parable about Lazarus (specifically named) and the rich man (generically identified) is concerning the two resurrections. Lazarus the beggar ate crumbs in life but was resurrected (in the first resurrection) to the bosom of Abraham (obviously “saved”) but the rich man awakes in the second resurrection to await judgment and knowing he didn’t help Lazarus, doesn’t know what to expect. But there the story ends except the rich man finds out that he can’t go back and that the gulf (of time) between him and Lazarus won’t do him any good. So, the story ends with the rich man (depicted as the “rest of the dead” or “US”) waiting to see what happens.
But, I wouldn’t worry about it. We’ll find out in that day. I trust God.
LTG Says:
January 28, 2019 at 11:44 am
I see that your post 337 is quoting from my post 262 and that’s a good thing.
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LTG Says:
January 28, 2019 at 12:31 pm
“……..saved by grace through faith not works……” is a message from Paul, not Jesus.
LTG Says:
January 28, 2019 at 1:13 pm
“……..Jesus’ parable about Lazarus (specifically named) and the rich man (generically identified) is concerning the two resurrections………”
No, it is not about two resurrections; it is about two places for the dead; one place where the unsaved cease to exist and one place for the saved to rest.
Both are religiously inspired and both are wrong. Because nobody knows other than when the dead are excavated as in archeological sites or otherwise exhumed. What is revealed after the passage of time is that the body turns into dust and the bones remain. That is all we know. And the utensils left for assistance in the next life remain unused…so much for absolute certainty of the religions of those day, as it continues to be for religions of these days when people tell you that they know the absolute certainty of death and after death and resurrection etc. it is all the speculation of religious men/women today who are still reading the nonsense of people who were living in the time of those mummified bodies were entombed. So good luck with your parody of the ancients all you absolute certainty gurus and psychics.
Jesus however referred to heaven as the Kingdom of God and he referenced that the Kingdom does not come with observation, it is not something you can visibly see for the Kingdom is within you. Lk 17:20-21
Not only that but if you were to bring concepts within the kingdom out into the open where they can be seen and help and enjoyed by all. like the lowly yet simple health benefit “the bandaid” or vaccines that prevent debilitating disease like polio; that, is indeed an answer to the part of the prayer called the Lord’s Prayer: “….thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven…..” and many things are brought out into the open from that place within and who is the resident in the Kingdom…..and if you said God(s) (The Higher Powers)…..you would be correct because all life forms and non life forms consists of those higher powers within the cosmos. To name a few from LTG’s Good Book verses:
[26] BUT, personal supernatural gods that intervene in human affairs, occasionally, by prayer, hope, wish, dream, supplication, entreaty, petition, plea, request, do not exist except in the minds of men put there by religious miracle workers of magicians perpetuated by clergy wannabe God messengers for their own name in vain agendas.
LTG Says:
January 28, 2019 at 1:41 pm
Kim says in the last line when you will know….Post 342
“….We’ll find out in that day…..”
Because she does not know nor can she. She can only guess that you will know in that day which is the same thing you said to me in Post 310
“….Not to worry, you like the rest of us will see the real Jesus one day……”
I think Kim is talking about the same day as you were………..
January 28, 2019 at 4:38 pm
Leo, what I said to you was in a different context. Every one will see the Lord one day and every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is LORD whether your saved or not. That was my meaning.
This is totally different than finding out “IF” you’re saved on the last day. This is not how it works. Our salvation is not wishful thinking or a maybe or a hope so … the salvation of a believer is secure, certain, guaranteed and secure.
Eph 1:13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,
Eph 1:14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
LTG Says:
January 28, 2019 at 4:55 pm
Naz I don’t put the same credence in Paul’s philosophy as you do or as other Christians do to quote Paul as though he had some special insight.
I think Paul was an opportunist who infiltrated the small band of Jesus followers and took advantage of them to move his Pharasaichal resurrection belief agenda.
So quoting Paul doesn’t add support for your ideas more than your own reasoned philosophy.
LTG Says:
January 28, 2019 at 5:04 pm
However the context doesn’t matter for the time of knowledge that Kim mentioned regarding when you would know if your salvation is secure because she has no idea how good works are recorded and kept. She is simply saying, like most Christians that you’ll know if you made the cut when you die but that’s no comfort anyone from where I sit.
That I have to die to know anything is no comfort to me and I would never set the bar that low to attain anything if you can’t retain your own life. It’s a wishing well coin toss and that does not guide my life.
January 28, 2019 at 5:22 pm
Leo, that’s my point too ! There is no comfort in not knowing which nullifies that whole notion. The gospel message is based on “knowing” not a maybe.
I’m not wishing well coin tossing my life either …..I know that I know ,,,that’s my comfort.
I think on this we could at least agree.
LTG Says:
January 28, 2019 at 5:26 pm
The resurrection from the dead cannot but be false and Christian understanding of the New Testament in general and Jesus in particular, is off base. Christians are carnival barker dupes of the why and how the religious program was constructed. If resurrection from the dead was true it would be happening all the time but it’s not.
Religion has no credibility; it only has tradition and it won’t be long before the tradition itself will be seen for the stonageism it was born out of that could only work until the day of knowledge; and we are already there as the BS of faith healing Benny Hinns and Peter Popoffs is only as good as the placebo effect science has revealed it to be effective.
I have already defined God, the natural God and that’s all there is so provide evidence for the supernatural; and we both know you can’t because your understanding is through belief.
The supernatural God that the ancients used magic tricks to prove and dupe weak minded mankind for 10,000 centuries. Religious deceit contaminates all understanding of scripture to believe the impossible and reject the possible. They make stuff up.
You have everything backward!
And here is the # 1 cardinal rule:
1: Read the words with a natural, not a supernatural slant for you can’t understand your own mind let alone supernatural imaginings of authors; imagination in the minds of mankind is as superficial as a child’s unknown boogieman. Don’t read the bible as a child and expect to understand it as an adult.
January 28, 2019 at 6:08 pm
Leo, we’ve been down this road before. Without the resurrection from the dead, Jesus is a fraud and the whole bible is fiction.
Let’s eat and drink for tomorrow we die !
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LTG Says:
January 28, 2019 at 6:50 pm
I agree. Most of the bible is a fraud and run by fraudulent leaders. In Jesus indictment of the leaders in Matthew 23 many of the indictment accounts begin with the phrase: “I’ve had it with you! You’re hopeless, you religion scholars, you Pharisees! Frauds! Your lives are roadblocks to God’s kingdom.
And it was this very thing that Jesus decided to start his campaign to testify of the religious world, that their works were evil John 7:7 because I expose the evil behind its pretensions.
I agree with Jesus and I hope you do too.
LTG Says:
January 28, 2019 at 7:05 pm
The very first Book of Genesis was the Foundational Fraud that set the narrative for the fraudulent deceit since day one that convicted every man woman and child as guilty sinners and every generation since has gone though the religion’s fraud of forcing the masses to wallow in the guilt tripping the whole foundation was built on and around to convict the whole world to rob them of their wealth and acquiesce to the leaders.
God’s will, so called, is revealed in the “holy” scriptures. The sacred book formulates the will of God and specifies what is to be given to the clergy. Clergy become parasites. “… All things of life are so ordered that the clergy is everywhere indispensable; at all the natural events of life, at birth, marriage, sickness, death. Natural values become utterly valueless. The Clergy sanctifies and bestows all value. Disobedience of God (the clergy) is ‘sin.’ Subjection to God (the clergy) is redemption. Clergy use ‘sin’ to gain and hold power.
Sex without Clergy permission is sinful, lust, fornication, adultery. And this original sin everybody was born by according to the authors of Genesis.The true marriage of a man leaving his mother and clinging to his wife was suddenly the beginning of all sin because the true marriage was an anathema to the plan for using sexual activity against all mankind and from which none could escape as it was the essence of life itself.
It was Judaism with its heartfelt resentment against life, that first made something unclean of sexuality: it threw filth on the origin, on the essential fact of our life. Others blame Christianity but Christianity and Islam merely followed Judaism promoting the filth of sexuality by shaming all aspects of sexuality.
Procreation without religious accreditation became ostracized bastards, women were forced to wear tarpaulins with slits for eyes in cloth to cover the power of their beauty appeal whose mere vision of their beauty seduced men and gods alike.
Using procreation as the original sin nobody on earth escaped the guilt save the those chosen by hierarchy to execute their religious insanity.
SUMMARY:
Judaism made sex the original sin, wrote the Book of Genesis to support the narrative about the way to life, procreation.
LTG Says:
January 28, 2019 at 7:07 pm
The Classic Scam on the whole world.
LTG Says:
January 28, 2019 at 9:18 pm
Maybe, just maybe, Christians are “….putting all their eggs in the proverbial basket….” when
I know that the resurrection is said to be a central tenet of Christianity without which there would be no Christianity but Jesus offered a parable that denied the dogmatic promo of the Resurrection; yet in doing so, Christians sorely limit their options pinning all their hopes on one single, and, in my opinion, a miracle that did not occur.
Jesus himself said “they have Moses and the Prophets, Jason, Theosophical Ruminations, Posters, some dissenters, few questioners, lots of Christian enthusiasts and then you have the rare bunch, LTG et al intellectuals who, being not content to simply believe the myriad of “we have the answers”, “the true messenger”, “the true God”, ” “the true religion”, the true Church”. WOW.
And this conundrum is not a new phenomenon; this similar group was around during the time of Jesus and they badgered whoever they could to seek, and knock and implore and pray to, to flatter and compliment just to get some answers that they could rely on but in those days, as in these days, religion and church was a buffet line offering different meat and desserts and perks.
Ånd even when all the song and dance was not adequate and people not quite satisfied they cried out give us a resurrection from the dead and we can then rest content and believe. But Jesus said a resurrection from the dead was useless.
So when I hear Christians discounting anyone who dare discount the resurrection, the foundation of their Belief is but a House of Cards. If their entire reason for living and believing and dying in the hope of getting a reward for believing a resurrection; Wow, they obviously missed Jesus’s parable why a resurrection means nothing and why it is useless.
19-21 “There once was a rich man, expensively dressed in the latest fashions, wasting his days in conspicuous consumption. A poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, had been dumped on his doorstep. All he lived for was to get a meal from scraps off the rich man’s table. His best friends were the dogs who came and licked his sores.
22-24 “Then he died, this poor man, and was taken up by the angels to the lap of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. In hell and in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham in the distance and Lazarus in his lap. He called out, ‘Father Abraham, mercy! Have mercy! Send Lazarus to dip his finger in water to cool my tongue. I’m in agony in this fire.’
25-26 “But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that in your lifetime you got the good things and Lazarus the bad things. It’s not like that here. Here he’s consoled and you’re tormented. Besides, in all these matters there is a huge chasm set between us so that no one can go from us to you even if he wanted to, nor can anyone cross over from you to us.’
27-28 “The rich man said, ‘Then let me ask you, Father: Send him to the house of my father where I have five brothers, so he can tell them the score and warn them so they won’t end up here in this place of torment.’
29 “Abraham answered, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets to tell them the score. Let them listen to them.’
30 “‘I know, Father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but they’re not listening. If someone came back to them from the dead, they would change their ways.’
31 “Abraham replied, ‘If they won’t listen to Moses and the Prophets, (Jason, Theosophical Ruminations, Posters, some dissenters, few questioners, lots of Christian enthusiasts and that rare bunch, LTG et al, intellectuals,) they’re not going to be convinced by someone who rises from the dead.’”
And that was Jesus telling the story……they’re not going to be convinced by someone who rises from the dead.
So, I ask Kim and Naz, what is the point of setting the foundation of Christianity solely on the Resurrection when Jesus himself said it was pointless to send someone who rises from the dead? If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, Jason, Theosophical Ruminations, Posters, some dissenters, few questioners, lots of Christian enthusiasts and that rare bunch, LTG et al, intellectuals, they’re not going to be convinced by someone who rises from the dead.
January 28, 2019 at 10:08 pm
LTG ……………. “THE CASE AGAINST RESURRECTION WAS MADE BY JESUS HIMSELF.” LMAO, they weren’t convinced by some one who resurrected. the real delusional ones said He never died on the cross and the others said His body was stolen by His followers
January 28, 2019 at 10:20 pm
Paul and everybody else in the NT agrees with Jesus ——— “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:”
no LTG secret decoder need “believeth in me” = faith in Jesus which allows us to access the grace that saves us.
January 29, 2019 at 6:57 am
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LTG Says:
January 29, 2019 at 8:01 am
I quoted Jesus from the bible regarding his parable so you can accuse Jesus of “intellectual dishonesty” or the bible because you fail to understand
I think parroting Paul is a bridge too far though I’m sure he will be pleased to have another misled Christian ally supporting his rear. Paul’s method of debate is ad hominems whereby genuine discussion of the topic at hand is avoided by instead attacking the character, motive, or other attribute of the person making the argument. Be careful who you wish for to support.
Let me say it again: Jesus through his character Abraham said “If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets …..they’re not going to be convinced by someone who rises from the dead……” or “from the place of the dead”.
Are you saying that Jesus’s words mean nothing? Are you not clever enough to use Jesus as a sidekick to prove your words? Well, I do and I quote Jesus and the scriptures he alludes to while you do not. Theists have a theology; I am not a theist.
Jesus answered, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” Was this a meaningless statement too?
I know I need to tell you that “belly of a big fish….” is a metaphor because you and others undoubtedly take the literal meaning that Jonah was actually in the belly of a big fish. If you re-read the story of Jonah without supernatural eyes, you’ll clearly see that Jonah did not struggle inside the belly of a big fish and that his struggle was against the sea waves and the seaweed to keep himself from drowning, “in the place of Sheol” until finally, he washed up on shore by a wave and not spit out by a big fish’s mouth.
Does intellectual dishonesty apply only to people who “do not accept” most events as miracles when occam razor’s simplicity trumps the bizarre.
People who judge others more critically than oneself is intellectually dishonest.
January 29, 2019 at 9:32 am
“you’ll clearly see that Jonah did not struggle inside the belly of a big fish and that his struggle was against the sea waves and the seaweed to keep himself from drowning, “in the place of Sheol” until finally, he washed up on shore by a wave and not spit out by a big fish’s mouth.”
Jon 1:17 And the LORD appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.
Jon 2:1 Then Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from the belly of the fish,
Jon 2:10 And the LORD spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah out upon the dry land.
If the fish is a metaphor it would not be used as it is in this passage, It was a literal fish. I understand there are times when we must read passages as metaphorical and not literal, this is not one of those times. I don’t see how you can negate the fish with the literal reading of this passage. It’s not metaphor.
Mat 12:40 For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
Even Jesus refers to the fish. If it was to be taken as metaphor He would speak in this manner about Jonah.
LTG Says:
January 29, 2019 at 10:52 am
Everything in the Bible has to start and end with God, it was designed that way.
Jesus refers to a couple lines of the Story as it was titled in scripture because that’s how the story was projected to the audience similar to Jesus’s own parables.
You used the titles of the Jonah story but deliberately avoided the actual story itself. Now Naz, I am not going to accuse you of intellectual dishonesty because you used titles to support your literal interpretation because that would not be a fair criticism of you anymore than it was a fair criticism of me. I only remind you of this and I’ll say nothing more about it; except to say it is not an uncommon ploy for writers to offer parts or pieces of a paragraph, scripture or otherwise, for example, that support the author’s perspective and leave out parts that may not.
And so it is from this vein that I will answer your Post 361
The Book of Jonah: the very first sentence begins with a metaphor and the very last sentence ends with the metaphor. THIS is quite possible to help the understanding to make the story more appealing to children’s understanding who may be just learning about Jonah for the first time. So the fish example would be perfectly logical to help a child’s understanding for a near death experience than drowning. I don’t know this ; I am only offering a reasonable possibility because children would easily identify with possible cartoonish-type characters, in picture sketches which is the way the story is depicted in cartoonish characters today.
But the essence of the story is for adults is the reality of a near death experience by drowning to understand is the important issue here; the meaty substance of the story between the opening metaphor and the closing metaphor. So with that in mind let’s read the story again what really happened.
Now briefly the sailors drew straws of the people on board to explain why this huge storm suddenly came down upon them and as superstition would have somebody on board must have sinned and the rest of the crew was being punished so they asked Jonah who is your God what did you do, where have you come from. Eventually Jonah, believing I suppose, that the men were about to kill him as a sacrificial lamb to quell God’s wrath decided to he would have a better chance for survival so he told the men to throw him in the sea and the storm would cease raging. For a superstitious lot that would ease their conscience and they asked not to be blamed for Jonah’s death:
in Chapter one “12 Jonah said, “Throw me overboard, into the sea. Then the storm will stop. It’s all my fault. I’m the cause of the storm. Get rid of me and you’ll get rid of the storm.”
13 But no. The men tried rowing back to shore. They made no headway. The storm only got worse and worse, wild and raging.
14 Then they prayed to God, “O God! Don’t let us drown because of this man’s life, and don’t blame us for his death.
They threw him overboard; they were not that far from shore and had already tried rowing there but could not…..Jonah knew this.
At the Bottom of the Sea
2 1-9 Then Jonah prayed to his God from the belly of the fish.
He prayed:
“In trouble, deep trouble, I prayed to God.
He answered me.
From the belly of the grave I cried, ‘Help!’
You heard my cry.
You threw me into ocean’s depths,
into a watery grave,
crashing over me.
I said, ‘I’ve been thrown away,
thrown out, out of your sight.
on your Holy Temple.’
Ocean gripped me by the throat.
The ancient Abyss grabbed me and held tight.
My head was all tangled in seaweed
at the bottom of the sea where the mountains take root.
I was as far down as a body can go,
and the gates were slamming shut behind me forever—
Yet you pulled me up from that grave alive,
O God, my God!
When my life was slipping away,
I remembered God,
And my prayer got through to you,
made it all the way to your Holy Temple.
Those who worship hollow gods, god-frauds,
walk away from their only true love.
calling out in thanksgiving!
Salvation belongs to God!”
10 Then God spoke to the fish, and it vomited up Jonah on the seashore.
He made it to shore.
So Naz, between the two metaphors(one metaphor starts the story and one metaphor ends the story) there is absolutely no mention of any fish, only the near death experience of fighting against the sea to stop from drowning, the seaweed, being dragged down and holding his breath until he surfaced again. The account is fully about not drowning in the sea grave, the place of Sheol etc.
As for the three days and three nights in the belly of the fish itself may be a metaphor because three days and three nights is a description meaning a “short time” duration compared to “40 days and 40 nights” meaning a long time duration whether the duration is in hours, days, months or years. 40 yrs roaming in the wilderness, 40 days and 40 nights of rain the time of the flood, the time Moses was in self exile escaping Egypt, Not every event is necessarily a literal time duration.
January 29, 2019 at 10:58 am
LTG …… LMAO, dude are there voices in your head saying you are the second coming ?
you do/started the ad hominems, I’m responding as I interpret do onto others, since you do it to me and others you must want others to do it to you. years ago, I just asked you for the reason(s) why you believe Jesus didn’t die during the crucifixion as the NT writings state as fact in hind site. and you went bat shit crazy, I thought that was hilarious, you should go back and re-read that exchange. still waiting for those reasons, why not admit you don’t have any and you have to twist and pervert the NT writings to protect your delusion.
but you can “dupe” yourself into thinking Jesus said “resurrection” but He didn’t mean “resurrection.” and He said “dead” but He didn’t mean “dead.” and He said “alive” but He didn’t mean “alive.”
January 30, 2019 at 10:26 am
Kim, to continue our dialogue … our salvation is not a “maybe”, not a “hope so” it is a guarantee otherwise we could not call it good news. Don’t you agree ?
Eph 1:13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,
Eph 1:14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
We are sealed when we believed in the Lord Jesus and it’s not by our good works because as the bible says “no flesh shall be justified by the works of the law”. There is nothing you can do to earn your salvation. We are all worth saving because Jesus died for the whole world.
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
We are not the “rest of the dead”. We are part of the first resurrection, those of the second resurrection are damned to Hell in the second death. This is the final snuffing out of those that are not Christ’s.
Rev 20:5 The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection.
Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.
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LTG Says:
January 30, 2019 at 10:34 am
Don’t believe a word Paul says; Paul didn’t even know Jesus except when he was hunting, prosecuting and murdering his followers. And then made up a story to infiltrate the small band of followers remaining so he could promote the Pharisee resurrection which was his religious upbringing and the resurrection from the place of the dead, like Jonah, was in vogue with the small band who thought it was the resurrection from the dead instead of from the place of the dead…just like Jonah.
It seems to me Naz that you are wearing a lasso around your neck.
January 30, 2019 at 10:48 am
Leo, I disagree with you wholeheartedly about Paul and the resurrection. Paul WAS a persecutor of Christ ….not any more …
Php 3:6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.
Php 3:7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.
Php 3:8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ
Php 3:9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—
Php 3:10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, …..
January 30, 2019 at 10:58 am
Peter Popoff preached the bible words which are Paul’s I hasten to add. While wearing a miracle ear piece.
January 30, 2019 at 11:33 am
Not so. If you were actually “saved” then the very next mortal act of sin, no matter how small and insignificant to you would damn you forever Just as none are “saved” except Jesus yet, none are yet damned. That is by grace which is NOT “unmerited pardon” but simply a delay in judgment.
And, you’ve obviously been taught that the “gospel” means “good news”. That is a false teaching as well. The biblical meaning of “gospel” is that of a town criar running through the town and yelling “the King is coming so you better get ready”. Else the King will come and the town will not make ready without the warnig and the King will see the people unprepared and burn the town down, killing all the people. Consequently, Jesus went about preaching the “gospel” and saying “repent……THE KINGDOM IS AT HAND”.
And, your comments also indicate you have been taught the concept of immediate gratification for certain passages which goes hand in hand with the false teaching of isolationalistic elitism. for example….The passage “repent, be baptized and ye shall receive the Holy Ghost” has NO immediate gratification built into it. It is a predictive passage with an unspecifiedtime gap built into it. The purpose for such a false teaching is to motivate the people to “give” to the church to “spread the gospel” but in fact to make certain men rich. The “gospel” was preached 100% within 100 years of Jesus and to the entire world. To claim to do it now is to claim a dead work and to steal the people’s money.
In conjunction with all that, you’ve probably been taught that you’ve received the “Holy Ghost” and are now capable of “evolving” into some abstract form of salvation. Not true. You and I are the “rest of the dead”. Those in the first resurrection were men and women with whom God dealt with personally and intimately. People recorded in the pages of the Bible….Moses, Noah, David, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, the prophets, the apostles, Paul. NOT “us”. WE are not those “elect” who lie safely in the grave awaiting the return of Jesus. WE will lie in our grave awaiting the judgment.
January 30, 2019 at 11:43 am
popoff was a despicable thief and a liar.
January 30, 2019 at 1:49 pm
Kim, very well then … just when I thought I heard it all, this is yet another twist that I never heard before …. good grief !
To the judgment with all of us then …. what chance do we have ? There is no chance at all for salvation in your version … we are all TOAST at the judgment.
Where did you come up with this stuff ?
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LTG Says:
January 30, 2019 at 1:57 pm
For all the nitpicking about being saved and salvation; what is wrong with you all? I don’t get it where you all come down niggling over a concept from where it came you don’t even know because none of you can can define sin…and therefore none of you can define salvation or saved from What?
Why do most people always talk about needing salvation? What does one need salvation from or salvation for; why and where did it all start if not within organized religion who alone defined sin and then proceeded to write the storybook to support the sin narrative, the Book of Genesis.
Alone I am just fine; with people around I suddenly have a multitude of sin; always had sin; I need to be saved from sin. What sin are they talking about? “Religion’s perceived sin!”. And then blame it on(attribute it) to God saying God defined sin, exempting the authors for the story they had written.
Presumptive sin drilled into brains by other people, everybody else. But I was doing just fine with the Father and so was Jesus, just like me in the silence of his own heart away from the pulpit bullies. But now, they imply one must “belong” to a religion and then to the outgrowth of religion, the denominational tangents; they need a piece of the economic religious pie and they want their share to spend as they desire.
Jesus belonged to no denomination; Jesus was free from that curse. Here’s what Jesus says about freedom and what he does not say: that you have to criticize other denominations. Are you kidding?
The Lord Jesus said, I’m free. I’m free. Because in the sinlessness of my humanity, In the silence of my own being, in my heart of heart, spirit of spirit, mind of mine, alone with the Father; I’ve entered into no contract, I have submitted myself to no obligation, I have indebted myself to nobody in such a way that I could not at all times do only exclusively what pleases him. That’s freedom.
You are free ladies and gentlemen when you have entered into no contract, indebted yourself to nobody, or any organization or denominational group, you’ve entered into no alliance that would make it at anytime impossible for you to do other than please him, then you’re free. Free. That’s perfect freedom. And you do not have to explain your freedom or defend your freedom which is what true freedom is.
And therefore salvation and being saved is meaningless. Yes resurrection, in other words, born again will renew your mind and settle you on the spiritual aspect instead of just the physical; but that’s all there is, while you are alive, yet most of you are walking dead if you don’t understand the message of Jesus. As he explained Nicodemus.
January 30, 2019 at 2:09 pm
LTG ….. LMAO, Paul, James, Peter and all the NT writers didn’t teach anything not founded on Jesus’ teaching. it’s only so in your deluded mind because you give totally different meanings to Jesus’ own words saying “resurrection” doesn’t mean “resurrection” ……
January 30, 2019 at 2:13 pm
LMAO …… the Church Jesus founded approved of and sent Paul to preach what he preached. but if you’re delusional I guess you can say “approved” means “disapproved” and “sent to” means “sent away.”
LTG Says:
January 30, 2019 at 2:35 pm
Does anybody have anything reasonable to counter Post 371?
Simply saying I disagree with you wholeheartedly like Naz but all Naz offers is a bunch of scriptures written by Paul that exonerate Paul. Php 6:3-10 all words by Paul for Paul from Paul and means nothing to anybody else except Paul. This may as well be Trump telling why he is smarter than the generals, the intel chiefs and whatever else he is the best at.
Anybody who disagrees ought to be able to give lucid reasons why but all that’s offered from Individual 1 is ad hominems because he doesn’t have any education or ability to reason with any substantive argument; logic is just another perceived jewel from a meaningless treasure in burlap, worse than merely useless.
Is there not anyone who understand the bible at all except from a supernatural superstitious mind of stoneage ancients who wrote the book they follow like sluts of protocol following the piper throwing fantasy gold medallions; or, from a future where everybody is asleep waiting for the return of somebody who died 2000 years ago who is going to resurrect them to a life of reward because he told them to love your enemy. Some reward and yet all they are capable of doing do is eye to eye and tooth for a tooth revenge like their ancient ancestors.
LTG Says:
January 30, 2019 at 8:50 pm
All human beings are born with the Spirit of God(Life Forces) within them. Babies are not born in sin just because the founding, imaginative-driven religious zealots decided sin entered the world through sex. Human babies are born guilt-free and pure. “…..From the mouths of babes your praise is assured…..” AND “….Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven…..”
It was the church founding zealot leaders who, with their heartfelt resentment against life, first made something unclean of sexuality: it threw filth on the origin, on the Essential fact of our life. And wrote the story of Genesis to support the narrative.
So we end up with the ridiculous statements like the following ludicrous scriptures denigrating women and the religious filth of sexual activity, the essential for life itself.
Job 15:14—“What is man, that he could be pure? And he who is born of a woman, that he could be righteous? (cf. Job 4:17)
Job 25:4—How then can man be righteous before God? Or how can he be pure who is born of a woman?
Through these rhetorical questions, both righteousness and purity are understood to be impossible for one merely “born of a woman.”
So PLEASEl,,,,,,,,,,,,, Don’t use ridiculous, stupid interpretations, trying to revive your idea of inborn sin by sex stupidity.
Please grow up and get out of the fantasy adult Santa-God mode. Stop guilt tripping the world and the children about being failures because religion’s presumptive sexuality is original sin that forms the basis of religious psycho-imposed-agenda of fear, punishment and death, all human anxieties to be sure, but not because we are born failures.
Religion is the biggest failure that has ever cursed this world over the last ten thousand centuries. One has only to cast eyes upon and try to calculate the incalculable wealth of organized religious institutions around the world to understand the wealth of the vault that certifies their real agenda.
Nothing personal; lack of knowledge has been missing ever since Genesis but the fruit of the tree was supposed to give knowledge..but it didn’t.
All you are doing in your post is saying what Genesis says…Tell me about the tree, what kind of tree was it? What kind of fruit was on the tree, grapes and its intoxicating properties. Most fruit bearing trees have the same natural intoxicating effects; when they shed their fruit, it naturally ferments.
You and countless other Christians talk over and over and over again about the bones of the “tree, knowledge, good and evil and the fruit” but put some meat on dem bones and use your imagination like children have to do when you tell them fantasy stories about Santa Claus. If you repeat Genesis which answers none of the questions I asked; well, you may just as well recite Three Blind Mice for all the good repeating words that have no meaning do.
Repeating the literal words of Genesis does nothing, solves nothing and adds nothing to the conversation without ideas about meanings. Is the spider weaving a web, catching the fly and sucking the fly’s life from the inside out evil? Is the spider good and the fly evil; is the lion better than the animals they eat?
Why do most people always talk about needing salvation? What does one need salvation from or salvation for; why and where did it all start if not within organized religion who alone defined sin and then proceeded to write the storybook to support the sin narrative, the Book of Genesis. Of cpoirse sexual activity as the original sin was a great marketing con so that nobody on earth was exempt from the paying for pardons, buying indulgences etc from the money making 666 Beast created by Religion for pence and power.
LTG Says:
January 30, 2019 at 9:22 pm
I would be negligent not to follow up with you to note that you have failed to respond to the real story of Jonah as it pertains to the only sign given by Jesus to a perverse and wicked generation which is the same today as it was 20 centuries ago. I can’t let you off the hook that easy. Unable to understand and therefore unable to progress in knowledge…but ahhhh tons of belief, tons of nonsense belief.
Do you really think Jesus was as stupid as his followers, too attached by superstition as you and other Christians are, not to know figure out the adult santa clauses who created the Genesis narrative, the truth about the traditional “fishy”Jonah story, the truth about the deceitful religious leaders, the truth about resurrection from the place of the dead, water to wine miracles)all wine is made with water; I know that’s a hard thing to grasp) miracles that don’t exist outside of dupery on weak minded followers. Poof poof, here is bread and fish out of thin air, fill the baskets, fill the stomachs. Did you ever wonder why there were basketful of leftovers from those feedings.
Matt14:20 And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full.
What why would a miracle make 12 baskets more than needed? These are questions the curious might ask instead of blindly ignoring such. Oh well even Paul needs a good LMAO expression. hahaha
You guys don’t give Jesus much credit but you sure can TITLE and CROWN him with the “God in the Flesh” nonsense to fit your supernatural superstitious MODEL? You and Paul are cut from the same cloth; Kim is still struggling to interpret the bible and all the resurrection silliness into the only model she is capable of using since the bible is so bizarre she creates a model as bizarre and why not?
If there is salvation it is to save y’all from ignorance and gullibility because the truth is that only knowledge will set you free, belief never can and that is the truth Jesus said would set you free, not belief, the truth of knowledge.
January 31, 2019 at 6:29 am
Leo, Jonah was one of many types and shadows of Christ in the old testament. Just like Issac and Joseph and their stories. The whole point is to point to Christ and His death and resurrection.
Jonah is not a childrens’s tale.
LTG Says:
January 31, 2019 at 7:22 am
You’re making things up alluding to shadows of Christ. You know very well that Jesus did not allude to Jonah about a shadow of himself. He clearly used Jonah that sign of Jonah was that Jonah did not die from his ordeal but survived the ordeal and rose from the place of the dead…ALIVE.
That was the reference Jesus was making.
When you speak about shadows of Jesus what you are talking about is how religious leaders use scriptures anywhere they can so as to try and connect all scriptures as some huge network of commonality all pointing to Jesus but the Pharisees religious leaders who executed Jesus did not see it that way.
Why? Because Jesus wanted to revolutionize religion for the farce it was and the farce it remains.
It is only post crucifixion religious leaders who want to continue the ruse and keep people in the dark as much as possible so they continue passing the collection plate and sell their religious wares for financial security and if you can’t see that, you’re not really looking.
The whole enchilada was a ruse from start to finish….a mere transitional upgrade from the mythological Gods that were losing their appeal as people gained knowledge, became more educated and the superstitious model was being more and more recognized for the stupidstition it was. And the leaders so launched a new 2.9 scam to hoodwink the masses and lo and behold if they didn’t land on a project to market a Facebook to put the world into a whirlwind tailspin guilt trip whereby sex became the modus operandi original sin from which no person on earth could escape and no newborns could escape either.
Whatever happened to your common sense curiosity? to question what happened in the Book of Genesis between: Genesis 2:25 “d they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed”..and….Genesis 3:7 “And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked;””AND HID MYSELF” in shame.
What happened between the 6 verses was the rise of the clergy who introduced their Sex Scam that all sexual activity, ALL, was sin, without Clergy approval; even the marriage that was as Jesus said “Matt 19:5 “…. For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?….” The Clergy stopped that nonsense and it became sin. Clerics eliminated the natural attraction of sexual contact as the consummating factor that became marriage by natural consent.
Can’t you see that the subtle snake was the religious clergy and that was when the change of the “…marriage in the beginning…” and the new marriage controlled fully by religion took over. None of this clinging to the wife stuff, in the New Scam.
OMG even in today’s modern society movies and theatrical performances have to warn the public if sexual activity is part of the performance. The filth of sexual activity has been the curse The Book of Genesis has burdened the whole world with ever since.
The common denominator that shames the soul, crucifies the body and purges the mind is sex; sex the cause and sex the effect: the cause of its own effect and that sexual process is the only means that makes every human being subject to its laws, birth, very life itself.Sexual procreation.
In other words, by using a variation of sexuality, nakedness the sin(of sexuality) and nakedness the cover up(the natural guilt of exposure) Not that nakedness is the sin but the connotation of nakedness portends, sexuality. And sexuality was always the original sin by which made no human being unique; and not only was it the original sin, but the narrative of the original sin was actually designed as the imperative dictation describing sin: the very first Book of the Bible that describes original sin and from which no person on earth can escape. The Book of Genesis.
This brought the entire population under the wing of the messenger of the paranormal, mythological caricature God and thereby nobody ever born could escape the fact that original sin was in fact a sexual sin and all people ever born were guilty as a result of that sin. In this way all humanity came under the jurisdiction of religion and the self appointed God-derived founders who created the farce that sin of sex was responsible for very life itself.
January 31, 2019 at 8:13 am
Leo, I think Paul V is right …. have you lost your mind ? Are you hearing voices dude ?
You’re like a raving lunatic, there is no reasoning with you. You have concocted your own mythology about Jesus and the entirety of the bible itself.
All of this because of some religious Charletons, because of the Peter Popoffs and Benny Hinn’s of this world. Look, I know those guys are imposters it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure it out.
You don’t have to throw out the baby with the bath water. That’s what you’ve done in your rejection of religion. Rejecting religion does not mean you need to reject God Himself. There is a difference. If you can ever see that, you may someday return to the faith you had as a little child.
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January 31, 2019 at 8:23 am
that’s one of the biggest lies told by nearly every “church” organization today. Jesus never founded a church. When he said “I will build my church” he was referring to his return in which an elect few from those with whom God or him personally interacted with in the Bible (not millions of “Christians”) would meet him in the air from the grave and it was they who would no longer be affected by death. He did NOT build a human organization through Peter that would not die out. Jesus was being prophetic about his return and about the first resurrection. He was NOT “founding a church”. All church organizations today are FAKES. Including the Catholic church. And, to get around the obvious fact that multiple religions exist, teaching all manner of “doctrines” that conflict, church organizations teach there is some sort of “abstract” group that transcends all the differing religions which is the ” real church” Jesus founded. Again…a LIE. And there are of course those religious organizations that claim to be the “true” church Jesus founded. Again, a LIE.
January 31, 2019 at 8:28 am
Sin is the transgression of the law. The consequence of sin is death. Salvation is being saved from death. Not death of the grave but death at judgment from which there is no resurrection. ie/saved from oblivion. Not from some kind of perpetual torment. Dead is dead until the resurrection but after that, dead is dead forever. non-existence.
January 31, 2019 at 8:44 am
That’s exactly the question the apostles asked and a very good question………we can’t save ourselves but God can. Trust in God and the faithfulness of the sacrifice of His Son. He didn’t sacrifice His Son for no reason. A Son whose single eternal life was of greater value than the sum total of billions of mortal men’s lives.
25 When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?
26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.
January 31, 2019 at 10:00 am
Kim, I’m still a little confused. So only an elect few, David, Moses etc… will be saved ? And the rest of us have no chance ?
If you are not part of the first resurrection then you experience the second death according to your favorite “rest of the dead” scripture. So if I reason this out logically, you are saying everyone who ever lived will experience the second death which is extermination except for David and the “heros” of faith.
Do I understand you correctly ?
January 31, 2019 at 11:23 am
LTG ………. LMAO, we have to respond to your ramblings but yet you refuse to outline your reasons why Jesus didn’t die on the cross. dude, your only argument is delusional — the NT writings say Jesus was alive after the crucifixion, the resurrection is impossible, therefore Jesus didn’t die during the crucifixion. that you can’t see the major hole in that argument and call me a “dolt” is hilarious.
not me oh delusional one, scientific analysis of the NT writings prove Jesus died, really really died. and what’s your response to the scientific evidence —- no it’s wrong because I say dead doesn’t mean dead. your scenario has been scientifically proven to be false, yet with the conviction of a religious nut job you dismiss all of this evidence and believe in your delusion. plus you don’t even admit to the problems and your lack of explanation for said problems. based on your world view Jesus dying and the NT writings being fictionalized is not only possible but more likely then your scenario —- but you won’t even acknowledge that.
now briefly to your rambling —- you ask, saved from what ? saved from death.
now why will life be better for humanity if everybody believed that ? in my case it would be worse, my faith has not only made me happier in this life it’s made me more compassionate to my neighbour and even enemy. that’s what you want isn’t it ? now if you had evidence the supernatural did not exist it’s foolish of me to engage in sacrificial love of my neighbour and especially my enemy and I’d go back to the way I lived before my conversion — self centered.
so like the delusional fool you are your life’s work is counterproductive. your mission should be to argue the problems, and there are many, with organized religion. that’s because you have zero critical thinking skills as evident from your poor argument in defense of your version of the centuries old “swoon theory” and turning a blind eye to all of the problems with your world view.
January 31, 2019 at 1:52 pm
Paul, hold on to you hat my friend … your about to get a good old fashioned tongue lashing from the incorrigible LTG … this should be good …
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January 31, 2019 at 1:54 pm
Not quite….those in the first resurrection have been judged while living by being personally contacted by God and/or Jesus. For example….Moses actually talked to God on a regular basis and on the mountain, he even saw the back of God for just a brief instant. And that was God as non-glowy (to phrase a Buffy the Vampire idiom) as He could be while around Moses. Anyway, these special people whom God chose to personally work with in some manner will rise at the return of Jesus and reign with him to prepare the world for the coming day of judgment for the “rest of the dead”. These “elect”, once risen are transformed into the glory of the Kingdom of God and are thus “saved” in that day. But “WE” (ie/ the “rest of the dead”) remain in our graves until the day of judgment and in that day, we as individuals will either be accounted among the righteous, take the Son of God’s sacrifice and be transformed into the Kingdom of God or face the ultimate death which is extinction with no return. WE have the same hope of salvation as Moses, et al but Moses et al will not precede “us”. So, the concept of “once saved always saved” is applicable. But, the idea that anyone has been “saved” or “born again” yet is a doctrinal lie. Jesus is the FIRSTBORN from the grave. Everyone else, include Moses are yet to follow Jesus into eternity.
LTG Says:
January 31, 2019 at 2:03 pm
KIm the problem with sin being the transgression of the Law means that the Law was penned (chiseled) by man and every Law is a man made Law. Do you imagine that any life form created b y the wisdom of the Cosmic God wood need to have a bunch of Laws so they would know how to behave…NO,
It was man who decided how others should live; that’s where Laws come from.
I mean if that’s all it was; just a belief, But religion is more than just a belief, religion wants to impose a universal morality which is why it has always attracted the kind of person who thinks other people’s private lives are their business. And giving respect to this mentality is exactly what’s got us into the mess that we’re in.
We’ve given religion ideas that are above its station and we persuaded it that it’s something it’s not. When the truth is that faith is nothing more than the deliberate suspension of disbelief. It’s an act of will. It’s not a state of grace; it’s a state of choice. Because without evidence, you’ve got no reason to believe apart from your willingness to believe.
So why is that worthy of respect anymore than your willingness to poke yourself in the eye with a pencil? And why is faith considered some kind of virtue, is it because it implies a certain depth of contemplation and insight? I don’t think so.
Faith by definition is unexamined, so in that sense it has to be among the shallowest of experiences and yet if it could it would regulate every action, every word and thought of every single person on this planet because, let’s not forget, even an impure thought is a sin.
Well, I think that belief in god? It pollutes our understanding of reality. It gets in the way. And it brings out the worse in the best of us so that we’re even prepared to stoop so low as to poison the unformed mind of the people we love the most, our children. By the time they’re old enough to think for themselves, it’s too late. They’ve been well and truly, hypnotized. If you fill your child’s mind with images of satan and the horrors of hellfire, you’re a sick individual and you are mentally ill. And the only reason you don’t know this is because you’ve been indulged for far too long by people and institutions that really ought to know better.
LTG Says:
January 31, 2019 at 2:21 pm
This is how bizarre your personal theism is to the cosmic Higher Power(s) as though he prefers mankind above all else.
So I want to plant a flag there, where you all can see it. Because a God that our neighbors believe in is essentially an invisible person, is a creator deity, who created the universe to have a relationship with one species of primate. Lucky us. And he’s got galaxy upon galaxy to attend to but he’s especially concerned with what we do, and he’s especially concerned with what we do when naked. sharris
January 31, 2019 at 2:31 pm
Kim, whew ! …. OK I think you changed your story again but whatever ….
It seems like now you are saying that WE are saved along with Moses, David etc….only that it happens after the first resurrection. Well that’s nice but there is one problem with that if you look at your favorite verse VERY CAREFULLY.
Rev 20:5 The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection.
Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.
Rev 20:14 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.
Kim, only those that are part of the first resurrection are saved. Verse 6 states the “THE SECOND DEATH HAS NO POWER” on those that are part of the first resurrection. What is the second death ? Verse 14 states that the second death is being thrown into “THE LAKE OF FIRE”.
There is a parallel verse in John 5, there is a resurrection to life and a resurrection to judgment. The resurrection to life is the FIRST resurrection, the resurrection to judgment is for the REST OF THE DEAD.
We also have parables of the wheat and the tares, the sheep and the goats ….you get the idea.
Joh 5:28 Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice
Joh 5:29 and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.
We are part of the first resurrection. The Great White Throne judgment is for unsaved sinners being judged according to their deeds. They will all be thrown into the lake of fire and perish. We are not judged according to our deeds because we were made alive together with Christ at salvation (past tense). By grace we HAVE BEEN SAVED (past tense). See below.
Eph 2:4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us,
Eph 2:5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—
LTG Says:
January 31, 2019 at 5:42 pm
WORTH REPEATING:
Posters do not read other people’s posts or they skim over them, which still indicates they still do not read other people’s posts.
This phenomenon is clearly visible when after posting a position or explanation, posters who do not read or skim ask questions which were already explained or detailed in a unread or skimmed over posts. SZo if you want to have a reasonable logical discussion you MUST read the other poster’s post. If this seems difficult to understand you are the ones not reading other posts and are too egotistical to do so.
For Christians or anybody actually to ask ‘Why does God allow evil’?, to me this is really a very silly question.
What is just as silly is Christians who try to answer the question by defending God or blaming Man. So here’s the reality that needs to be understood. Pray, wish, supplicate, implore, request or finger bead if you want but discernment is what you need or you’ll never understand anything and you’ll be left spinning your tires for 150 posts, still asking the same question to the same answers they cannot understand like robots of protocol without discretionary insight; like the in other words, human flesh assuming AI and giving robots a bad name for human behaviour. They are like Groundhog Day filmed in Punxsutawney?
Yes an Atheist can admit that there are Higher Powers that effect all Cosmos activity including life as we know it and understand it and yes an Atheist can also call the higher Power(s) God.
What Atheism really means is that the God Theists believe in, in that the higher Powers are personal to human beings and intervene into human affairs because of prayers through miracles that suspend the Laws of the Cosmos. therefore it is not that Atheists do not believe in God, it is that Atheists do not believe in a God that intervenes into human affairs so Atheism is not against God but against a personal God; its the “theism” part that A-theists are against.
Here’s an example. Of all the Higher Powers; say, Gravity, and you were going to skydive for the first time. So you’re flying around and the instructor says let’s jump…GO…. and out you go but OMG when it’s time to pull the open chute toggle, it’s stuck and doesn’t open. Not a pleasant thing for the skydiver but here is the problem that theist would have, what higher power would the theist pray to for intervention, Gravity?
The point is that Gravity to the Atheist, is one of the Higher Powers that is part of the Atheist God but one does not pray to Gravity nor can one reasonably expect Gravity to suspend itself to save the skydiver from crashing into the ground.
That is really the only difference between the Theist Gods and the Atheist Gods but it is a major difference because Theism has then to justify or generate laws and sin and righteousness and rules that other Theists decide what the rules and sins and penalties are in addition to the Higher Powers if ignored or experimented with, that might endanger us.
Besides the penalties of gravitational forces, possible shocking death of being out in the weather during an electrical storm or swimming in the ocean whose waves are churned by hurricane force winds and drown.
So penalties for sin transgressions Society must to live by with rituals by which to grovel and worship but Atheist need none of those things; Atheists simply accept they abide within the parameters of the higher Powers without prayers, sacraments, sacrifices, fasting, offerings and a whole slew of ritualisms that are as useless in one society, as different other ritualisms are useless in other societies.
What the world needs now is Love and freedom from religion, freedom from the tyranny of religion which complicates life more than the actual Higher Powers Gods of Atheists do.
Gods do not allow evil, Gods do not kill people. Gods of Atheists do not Kill People, Gods of Theism is a myth but by belief, People with Gods Kill People.
LTG Says:
January 31, 2019 at 5:50 pm
That is, People with “Theism Gods” kill people; they do it with their words, stupidity, supernaturalism, superstition, lack of education, certainly their lack of knowledge, ad hominems, lack of compassion, empathy, anger, and an abundance of conceit without the capacity to discipline ego.
LTG Says:
January 31, 2019 at 5:52 pm
LTG Says:
January 31, 2019 at 5:50 pm
That is, People with “Theism Gods” kill people;…………
January 31, 2019 at 8:48 pm
Naz, that’s the best part of discussing things with people like LTG — seeing them go bat shit crazy when you question their delusion. I wasn’t joking, it sure appears that he thinks he’s the second coming. I can’t get mad when they insult me it’s so funny. when I bring up a theory I relish questions so I can sharpen my argument.
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Economic hardships tend to have a trickle-down effect on all those involved. And when a business has financial difficulties, filing for bankruptcy may seem like a good option–except for employees. When an employer files for Chapter 7 or Chapter 11 bankruptcy, this can lead to employees losing their job, losing out on pay, and the benefits that have already been earned. But what options do you have if your employer declared bankruptcy? Brown Kwon & Lam explains.
Employee Wages In Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Filings
If a company files for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, a few things will occur. During Chapter 7 bankruptcy, the company will halt operations and employees will be laid off. During this time, any employees owed wages or benefits will become “creditors” in the filing.
The bankruptcy trustee will then sell off company assets to pay off creditors. However, this will be done in a specific order, starting with secured claims, the bankruptcy administration expenses then priority unsecured claims which include employee wages and benefits, and finally general unsecured claims.
Because the employer is now out of business, employees should apply for
temporary benefits, including unemployment insurance, as they seek new employment.
Employee Wages in Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Filings
Unlike a Chapter 7 filing, in a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing, the employer remains in business and works to rebuild the finances of the organization. While many employees will remain in their positions and continue to be paid and receive benefits, others will likely face layoffs.
In cases of layoffs, those employees who are owed wages and benefits will become creditors to the company. If employees are unionized, the company will have to seek approval from the bankruptcy court to modify the collective bargaining agreement.
During the restructuring process, representatives from the company’s largest creditors (including employees) will serve as a check and balance to ensure the company is making sound decisions in the bankruptcy process.
In Chapter 11 filings, employee claims for pre-bankruptcy wages, vacation, sick time, and severance pay are given priority over other unsecured claims up to a maximum of *$13,650 per employee.
If the employer has filed for bankruptcy in the middle of a pay period, the court will review the benefit priority to make sure wages and benefits have been paid back promptly.
*This number is adjusted every three years to reflect inflation.
Employer Declared Bankruptcy – How do I get my paycheck and benefits?
In order to claim your owed wages, benefits, etc., you must submit a Proof of Claim form with the bankruptcy court. Failure to do so will waive your rights to receive a claim under the bankruptcy filing.
You will need to supply the following:
3. The location of the bankruptcy court in which the company filed its case;
4. The amount owed; and
5. Any documents that support the claim and showing how much is owed.
Remember, the federal Bankruptcy Code gives priority status to claims for unpaid hourly wages, salaries, commissions, vacation, severance, and sick leave pay, if earned within 180 days of the company’s bankruptcy filing or when the company ceased to be in operation.
In addition to these owed wages, if your employer falls under the guide of The Workers Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act, and does not provide 60 days’ advanced notice of plant closings or mass layoffs, you may be able to file for additional compensation, though there are exemptions to the Act.
When you are facing a layoff because of your employer’s bankruptcy filing, you likely have many questions. We understand how complicated the process can be and will walk you through it all.
If you have questions about your New York employee rights during a company bankruptcy, contact Brown Kwon & Lam. We will help you recover the wages that are rightfully yours.
Employment Law
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The information on this website is for general information purposes only. Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation.
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Just tried the desktop version ! Sounds smoother and softer at the same time. Hope our RPi’s will be capable to work with this version.
m0rvj November 19, 2022, 3:47pm #3
I just tried uploading it via the web interface… didn’t work.
Lanfranco November 19, 2022, 3:53pm #4
It works for me so I think it’s a loading problem. Are you licensed? I had problems loading it using Mozzilla, but then Chrome loaded it, the license number was already present in the window and it was enough to use the button to re-register the program.
Lanfranco November 19, 2022, 3:55pm #5
I’ve been playing it since this morning and it hasn’t had any problems.
m0rvj November 19, 2022, 3:57pm #6
I tried to add it to a fresh install. Maybe I’ll try installing the older one first… yes licensed.
Lanfranco November 19, 2022, 4:03pm #7
From the webconf window you have to select Software/ pianoteq/Upload bynary-PTQ, a window opens where you can drag the still compressed file. At that point with Mozilla nothing happened, while with Chrome a bar appears showing the progress of the installation… Does it appear to you?
m0rvj November 19, 2022, 4:07pm #8
Yes it all looked ok then rebooted but when it reloaded there was no option to put in the license key so it was back to square one. All using chrome. Then I tried to run an update which ended in a fatal error and it wouldn’t start so I’m flashing the sdcard again for a second try!
Lanfranco November 19, 2022, 4:09pm #9
The old one is already installed by default…so with the new installation you should have it in demo version. At that point register it and then update… But try with other browsers… nobody has this problem but I had it.
pau November 19, 2022, 4:30pm #10
I have reinstalled it several times with Firefox and the only problem I can see is that you cannot input the license key until you have rebooted.
And you cannot change the licence key unless you upload it again…
But these are small nuances.
m0rvj November 19, 2022, 5:55pm #11
I have it working now. It seems that from the fresh install it needed a couple of reboots to iron out a start up crash which appeared when I set the screen rpi touch. Then I installed pianoteq 7.5.4 and activated and following that I did 8. With this new stable release it seems reboots take a bit longer and the web ui appears to have frozen when in fact it is doing stuff. Anyway now it works, this is my first time with the new mixer etc so a bit to learn.
m0rvj November 19, 2022, 7:56pm #12
The only issue I’ve found is that when adding Pianoteq 8 as an lv2 the presets don’t make a difference. You have to go into the web vnc ui to change the instrument sound. In this way I was able to have a piano and an rhodes sound at the same time.
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The Chromium-based browser, Brave has been profiting from redirect links to affiliate crypto companies.
Jun 6, 2020 Oct 9, 2020
Create an account to save your articles.
Brave has been redirecting searches to crypto companies to affiliate links that give it a commission.
Binance, Coinbase and Trezor are among crypto companies that Brave profits from through affiliate links.
The company’s CEO apologized and promised that there will be no more links like this.
Brave, the crypto-friendly, privacy-first browser has been earning affiliate commissions by redirecting certain search queries to crypto companies via affiliate links.
Unlike the “opt-in” principle by which the company abides—advertisements are optional on the browser and pay out cryptocurrency to anyone who views them—Brave never asked its 15 million monthly users about these redirects.
A firestorm erupted today after twitter user Yannick Eckl, who goes by “CRYPTONATOR1337,” noticed that when Brave’s users searched for Binance, the browser automatically redirected to an affiliate version of the URL, which Brave profits from.
Brave had recently partnered with the crypto exchange; Binance’s CEO, Changpeng Zhao, had also expressed support for Brave on Twitter.
So when you are using the @brave browser and type in "binance[.]us" you end up getting redirected to "binance[.]us/en?ref=35089877" - I see what you did there mates
— CR1337 (@cryptonator1337) June 6, 2020
The squall blossomed into a full-on storm after Dimitar Dinev, Managing Director of JRR crypto unearthed yet more redirect links. Digging into Brave’s GitHub page, Dinev found that Brave also redirects its users to the websites of Ledger, Trezor and Coinbase.
Brendan Eich, CEO and co-founder of Brave, immediately apologized when the breach was publicized. “Sorry for this mistake, he tweeted about the issue, which, he added, has since been “fixed.”
It's not great, and sorry again. I'm sad about it, too.
“We will never revise typed in domains again, I promise,” he said; “I'm sad about it, too.”
Eich has not responded to Decrypt’s request for further elaboration.
In his defense, which Eich tweeted, he said that Brave is “trying to build a viable business.” Currently, it makes money by offering its users privacy-first ads that pay out in cryptocurrency.
“But we seek skin-in-game affiliate revenue too,” he said. To do this, Brave must bring its users to exchanges through widgets and also look for revenue deals, “as all major browsers do.”
He said that these redirects never revealed any user data to the affiliates, in keeping with the privacy-first agenda of the browser. Of the Binance redirect, he said: “That code identifies us, it's a Binance affiliate code, one fixed value for all users. It is not identifying you. Anyway, we're removing it.”
Additionally, Eich argued that none of this was hidden: it’s been in the source code for months.
"sneak" & "covertly" are wrong, given we develop with all browser code open source on github, and users who type binance dot us can see the default autocomplete add the affiliate code. Also, small change in revenue terms if it's not zero! Mistake was using search client-id model.
Critics of Eich argued that he was apologizing simply because he got caught.
It's only a "mistake" if you get called out for it https://t.co/R9hyzjqTDV
Others still think that Brave has compromised its integrity. “You made THE mistake. This is probably the biggest reason why everyone chose Brave over others,” tweeted the pseudonymous “crypto.bi”.
"We are not depending for our survival on any affiliate revenue share," Eich told Decrypt. But the money can't hurt. And “our users want Brave to live,” he said.
Editor's note: A previous version of this article indicated that Eich believed that without affiliate links, the company would struggle to survive. Eich has since refuted this claim.
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CMA participated in the TeamFootworks Annual Mercedes-Benz Corporate Run this year. The virtual event was held from August 19-23 and included a virtual live kick-off and warm-up session on August 19 in Miami. Team members were able to complete their 3.1 mile run or walk from a location of their choice. CMA team members were: Andres R. (wife Kiara), David, Greg, Jennifer C., Joel, Justin, Karen, Rex, Safiya and Teresa. Thank you to the Social Activities Committee for organizing the event and to Stefan for creating our t-shirt design! For more information or to follow on social media, please use #MBCR2020 and follow @thecorporaterun or visit http://www.mercedesbenzcorporaterun.com/
adminCMA Team Participated in the Annual Mercedes-Benz Corporate Run 08.23.2020
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Director of Energy
William Wilson, P.E. is the Director of Energy for Chen Moore and Associates’ electrical engineering team and has over four decades of experience in design and management of numerous electrical power, control, and lighting projects. His experience includes; Managing multiple utility scale solar photovoltaic power installations in Florida and South Carolina; Electric transmission and substation projects for public and private electric utilities, including an award-winning 500kV substation for a large private utility in Florida; Assisting public utilities to conform to new and changing reliability standards from the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) as required by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC); Complete rebuild of power systems at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39 (LC-39); Expansion and upgrade of the main substations serving LC-39, the industrial / payload processing area, and the adjacent Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Mr. Wilson’s career has been one of dedication and service to the engineering profession and his community. He served as the president of American Council of Engineering Companies of Florida (ACEC-FL, 2019-2020), was honored as Engineer of the Year by the Florida Engineering Society (FES) in 2019 and is recognized as a “Fellow Member” by both FES and ACEC. He is currently a member of the ACEC-FL Energy Committee that was founded in 2016 and has been actively involved in the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) since joining in 1973. Mr. Wilson holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Florida and is a licensed Professional Engineer in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and Colorado.
Vice President of Electrical Engineering
Thomas Gardner, P.E. is the Vice President of Electrical Engineering for Chen Moore and Associates’ electrical engineering team and has experience in design and management of numerous electrical power, control, and lighting projects. He excels at client responsiveness and at dealing quickly and decisively with project concerns. His diverse experience allows him to anticipate obstacles on the front end of projects and creatively address complications all the way through construction. Mr. Gardner holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of North Florida and is a licensed Professional Engineer in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, and Texas.
Chief Financial Officer
Sean Dannelly, CPA, is the CFO for Chen Moore and Associates and a member of our firm’s executive committee. In 2007, Mr. Dannelly founded Paladin Global Partners, LLC as a partner and in that role, he oversees the accounting and financial aspects of the firm including providing audit assistance, strategic development for clients, developing succession plans, mentoring finance management, and establishing internal controls and infrastructures to maintain audit compliance. He is also President of Dannelly, Monteleone & Associates, P.A. firm where he is dedicated to meeting the needs of small and medium sized businesses through tax planning, financial reporting, and financial planning services. Mr. Dannelly received his Master of Accounting degree and Bachelor of Science degree from The University of Florida.
Shareholder & Corporate Secretary
Safiya Brea, P.E., LEED AP, is Secretary and Sr. Project Manager for Chen Moore and Associates. Her experience includes large neighborhood improvement projects, including the design of roadways, sidewalks, drainage, water and wastewater infrastructure. She is currently the Project Manager and main client contact for the Broward County UAZ 110/111 & 113 Water Sewer Improvements (an estimated $60 million infrastructure improvement project). In addition, she has managed projects ranging from thousands of dollars to multi-million-dollar, large-scale neighborhood improvement programs. Ms. Brea has managed and designed streetscape improvements, roundabouts, lift station, stormwater improvements and master plans, and booster station basis of design reports. Her duties include construction management, design work, water sewer modeling and project management for municipalities throughout Florida. Ms. Brea received her Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Florida. She is currently on the board for the Florida Engineering Management Corporation and is a graduate of Leadership Florida Connect Class 8.
Board Member
Ray Monteleone is President of Paladin Global Partners, a business management consulting firm, and Partner with Dannelly, Monteleone & Associates, a full-service CPA firm. Ray focuses on strategic management, problem solving, mergers & acquisitions, compensation consulting, growing companies, and senior executive mentoring for clients worldwide in industries such as healthcare, high tech, manufacturing, education, financial institutions and not-for-profit organizations.
President and CEO
Peter serves as the President and CEO of Chen Moore and Associates, an approximately 100-person multidisciplinary firm in the Southeast US, particularly Florida. Having been with the firm for over 22 years, Peter helped grow the firm from three people to its current size of over 100 employees with a combination of strong vision and the highest quality consulting.
Peter is a two-time graduate from the University of Florida (BSCE and ME), where he serves on the Department Advisory Board for the Engineering School of Sustainable Infrastructure and the Environment (ESSIE – Civil and Coastal Engineering Department and Environmental Engineering and Sciences Department). He serves on the Florida Atlantic University Foundation Board and is a member of the Nova Southeastern University Industry Advisory Board for the College of Engineering.
He has participated in many leadership programs, including Leadership Broward (lifetime member, served as Board Chair), Leadership Florida (lifetime member, served on both finance and audit committees), and the Florida Engineering Leadership Institute (lifetime member, program chair). He’s a past President of the Florida Engineering Society (FES) Broward Chapter, the American Council of Engineering Companies of Florida (ACEC-FL) and has served as the FES/ACEC-FL Government Relations Chair for over a decade. Peter is a Fellow of ASCE, ASCE and FES, with numerous other individual awards throughout his career from engineering and civic associations.
Director of Land Development
Patrick Kaimrajh, P.E. is the Director of Land Development for Chen Moore and Associates and specializes in leading and managing civil engineering design, permitting, and construction oversight. Mr. Kaimrajh has worked for a variety of public sector clients at the City, County and State level, as well as private development clients in commercial, hospitality, healthcare, industrial, mixed-use and residential market sectors. Land development involves numerous engineering specialties to transform a plot of land to a built environment. Patrick has the expertise needed to complete complex land development projects. His experience includes preparation of final design packages including paving; grading; drainage collection systems with controlled outfalls and injection wells in coastal areas; water distribution systems; wastewater collection systems and lift stations; pavement marking and signage; traffic control and phasing; and erosion and sediment control plans. He is currently serving on the Civil Engineering Advisory Board for the University of Miami College of Engineering, as well as serving as Secretary-Treasurer for American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Florida Section. He is a graduate of the Florida Engineering Leadership Institute (FELI) and ULI SE Florida Leadership Institute, and an active member of Florida Engineering Society (FES) and Urban Land Institute (ULI). Mr. Kaimrajh holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Miami.
Executive Vice President
Jose L. Acosta, P.E., F.ASCE, is Executive Vice President of Chen Moore and Associates. Mr. Acosta is responsible for business development and strategic planning for the firm. He also serves as Principal-in-Charge and Senior Project Manager for several significant public and private sector Clients. Mr. Acosta has over two decades of experience in various types of public and private sector civil engineering infrastructure projects. He has lead design teams for land development, water/wastewater infrastructure, roadway/transportation, and education/institutional projects throughout Florida. Prior to joining CMA, Mr. Acosta served as the director of engineering for a multi-discipline firm in Florida. Mr. Acosta has been a long standing leader in the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), serving as a local branch President, chairing various state committees, President of Florida Section and as a Region 5 Governor, where he represented Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana. Mr. Acosta also served as President of the Cuban-American Association of Civil Engineers (CAACE) and is currently on their board of directors. Mr. Acosta served on the Industry Advisory Board of the Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Department of the University of Miami and has worked as an adjunct professor. He was the recipient of the Broward Branch’s 2003 and 2009 Young Member of the Year Award. In 2008, the Broward County Chapter of the FES named him the Young Engineer of the Year. In 2011, the CAACE named him their Young Engineer of the Year. In 2015, Mr. Acosta was named one of the Top 40 Under 40 by the South Florida Business Journal. In 2017, ASCE Region 5 named Mr. Acosta their inaugural winner of their Engineer of the Year award recipient. Mr. Acosta was a member of Leadership Florida’s Cornerstone 37 Class and currently service on its Southeast Region’s Board of Directors. Mr. Acosta has Bachelor Degrees in Civil and Architectural Engineering from the University of Miami and a Master of Business Administration from Auburn University.
Senior Vice President
Jason McClair, P.E., CFM, LEED AP, is Treasurer and Senior Vice President of Chen Moore and Associates. Mr. McClair is responsible for the project operations and resource management of the firm. He is also the Principal-in-Charge for several key clients and serves as a Senior Project Manager for several important public sector clients. Mr. McClair is an expert in stormwater management modeling in Florida and has been the lead engineer on various stormwater master plans throughout Florida. Mr. McClair also has over 20 years of engineering experience in utility infrastructure design, regulatory permitting, modeling for stormwater collection, water distribution, and sanitary transmission systems. Mr. McClair received his Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from the University of Florida.
Director of Transportation
G. Benjamin Lehr, P.E., LEED AP is the Director of Transportation for Chen Moore and Associates. In his role, he is focused on business development and project execution for State of Florida Departments of Transportation (FDOT) and public sector clients in Florida and Georgia. Ben has completed a variety of projects for Cities, Counties, and State level government. His experience includes project oversight, management, workload planning, and structural design for numerous projects in Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina, North Carolina, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, and Ohio. His responsibilities include project management, client management, staff management, workload planning, and marketing. Ben has been involved with the management of large-scale design-build projects ranging from a $66M new bridge over the intracoastal waterway to a $425M, 21-mile interstate widening. Ben holds a Bachelor of Science Degree and Master of Engineering Degree from the University of Florida in Civil and Structural Engineering respectively and is technically proficient in the design of highway bridges and miscellaneous structures. He is an active member of the American Road and Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA), the Design-Build Institute of America Florida Region (DBIA-FL) and is a member of the American Council of Engineering Companies of Florida (ACEC-FL) Transportation Committee.
Dr. Ben Chen, P.E., BCEE, is the founder of Chen Moore and Associates (formerly Chen and Associates Consulting Engineers, Inc.) and serves as Chairman of the Board for our firm’s Board of Directors, where he is responsible for the long-term planning for the firm’s future. Dr. Chen has had a wonderful career, working on some of the most significant utility and neighborhood improvement projects in South Florida. Dr. Chen has also had a long-standing history of being a leader in the community as an advocate for infrastructure needs throughout Florida, but also as a philanthropist throughout Florida. He has a served organizations in leadership positions of all types, including the Florida Engineering Society, Workforce One (known as CareerSource Broward now) and on university civil engineering department advisory boards for Florida International University, Florida Atlantic University, and formerly St. Thomas University. Dr. Chen received his Master of Science and Bachelor of Science degrees in Civil and Sanitary Engineering from National Taiwan University before immigrating to the United States to obtain his Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Civil Engineering from Virginia Tech.
Director of Water & Sewer
Daniel Davila, P.E. is the Director of Water and Sewer for Chen Moore and Associates. Mr. Davila has assisted numerous private and public clients that range from residential developers, industrial developers, municipalities, counties, federal agencies, healthcare facilities, and educational institutions. His experience includes planning and design of water and wastewater facilities, utilities master planning, utility infrastructure renewal, stormwater systems, roadway design, and construction management. His true expertise comes in the design and permitting of complex large diameter pipelines including replacement and rehabilitation of infrastructure via Trenchless Technologies having worked on dozens of horizontal directional drills, pipe bursting, sliplining and swagelining projects in Florida, Central America and the Caribbean, these projects also entailed design of thousands of linear feet of pressure pipe ranging from six (6) inch to fifty four (54) inch in diameter as well as the design of several utility intracoastal crossings ranging from eight (8) inch to forty eight (48) inch in diameter. He is an active member of American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), Florida Engineering Society (FES), Florida Healthcare Engineering Association (FHEA), and American Association of Employment in Education (AAEE). Mr. Davila holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Florida.
Vice President of Landscape Architecture & Planning
Cristobal Betancourt, PLA, is Vice President of Landscape Architecture and Planning for Chen Moore and Associates. He has experience providing planning and landscape architecture design solutions for public and private sector clients. Mr. Betancourt leads a team that has extensive experience on significant municipal streetscapes, parks (including master plans), transportation projects, campuses, facilities and land development projects throughout Florida (from northern Florida to Key West). Examples of such projects include the implementation of the Complete Streets Master Plan developed by the Broward County Metropolitan Planning Organization, master planning for SunTrax in Lakeland, segments of areas on the Florida Turnpike and the incorporation of an existing street in the pedestrianized Lincoln Road Mall in South Beach. In addition, Mr. Betancourt is the principal for our LA Department’s efforts for the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) throughout the state. He and his team are well versed in designing for multiple modes of transportation including air, rail, roadway, and multimodal transit facilities. He has been the Project or Task Manager for districtwide landscape contracts, highway beautification projects and LAP funded projects. Mr. Betancourt completed his post graduate studies in urban design at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, School of Architecture and his Bachelor of Science degree in Landscape Architecture from Cornell University.
Director of Water Resources
Brent Whitfield, P.E., ENV SP is the Director of Water Resources for CMA. Mr. Whitfield has worked for a variety of public sector clients at the City, County and State level. His experience includes tasks as varied as hydrologic and hydraulic modeling related to environmental and flood protection studies and detailed engineering design and construction oversight for roadway, water, sewer, and stormwater infrastructure. Mr. Whitfield has provided infrastructure solutions in various settings from residential neighborhoods to commercial airports. As a life-long resident of Florida, Mr. Whitfield has maintained a commitment to serving the community both professionally and personally serving as an appointed board member for a municipal advisory board with maintaining involvement in the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), the Florida Engineering Society (FES) and Leadership Florida. He serves as the chair of the water resources committee for the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) of Florida. Mr. Whitfield holds a Bachelor of Science Degree and a Master of Science Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Florida.
Board Member
William “Bill” Thorp has decades of experience as a Certified Public Accountant, eventually specializing in the financial management of the transportation industry. He served as the Deputy Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer of the Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise (FTE) as well as the Assistant Secretary of Finance and Administration for the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). Mr. Thorp attended the City College of New York from which he holds a Bachelor of Science degree and Master of Arts degree. He also attended the University of South Florida. Mr. Thorp is married and has three grown children and four grandchildren all of which he is very proud. His hobbies include fishing, photography and silversmithing.
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Most investors thinking about the fast-growing electrification trend think of electric vehicle (EV) stocks first. Whether it’s Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) or another major player, EV stocks are a go-to for many investors. That said, I would argue battery stocks are perhaps the better way to gain exposure to the electrification trend right now. Battery technology is continuously improving, and will be a driving force behind the range and functionality users expect from their EVs. As newer batteries are d
[Editor’s note: “The Forever Battery That Promises to Change the EV Industry” was previously published in August 2022. It has since been updated to include the most relevant information available.] The EV Revolution is in full-swing right now. After more than tripling in 2021, global electric vehicle sales rose over 60% in the first six months of 2022. Impressively, that red-hot growth comes even while the global economy has slowed dramatically this year and overall auto sales are actually down
3 Battery Stocks to Buy Before the Market Starts to Soar in 2023
Amid the search for growth in the EV sector, there are plenty of angles investors are focusing in on. Whether it’s renewable energy to power these vehicles, battery companies supplying the technology used in EVs, or the electric vehicle manufacturers themselves, there are plenty of ways to play this space. Personally, I think battery suppliers provide intriguing upside potential and am on the lookout for battery stocks to buy right now. Approximately 30% of an electric vehicle’s value is based o
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Starlight Stadium was packed with fans as the Toronto Arrows played for the first time in British Columbia in their game against LA Giltinis in Langford on Feb. 11. (Bailey Moreton/News Staff)
The LA Giltinis’ Andrew Tuala powers through a determined Toronto Arrows defence Friday night at Langford’s Starlight Stadium. It was the first MLR game ever played in B.C. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
Toronto Arrows captain Mike Sheppard scores a diving try Friday night in a game against the LA Giltinis at Langford’s Starlight Stadium. It was the first MLR game ever played in B.C. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
Starlight Stadium was packed with fans as the Toronto Arrows played for the first time in British Columbia in their game against LA Giltinis in Langford on Feb. 11. (Bailey Moreton/News Staff)
Matt Michael and Aaron Clark enjoy the match between the Toronto Arrows and LA Giltinis Friday night at Langford’s Starlight Stadium. It was the first MLR game ever played in B.C. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
Toronto Arrows captain Mike Sheppard, Langford Mayor Stew Young and LA Giltinis captain Dave Dennis stand at centre field Friday night at Langford’s Starlight Stadium. It was the first MLR game ever played in B.C. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
Starlight Stadium was packed with fans as the Toronto Arrows played for the first time in British Columbia in their game against LA Giltinis in Langford on Feb. 11. (Bailey Moreton/News Staff)
Starlight Stadium was packed with fans as the Toronto Arrows played for the first time in British Columbia in their game against LA Giltinis in Langford on Feb. 11. (Bailey Moreton/News Staff)
Langford singer Jaimey Hamilton performs the national anthems Friday night at the Starlight Stadium before a matchup between the Toronto Arrows and LA Giltinis. It was the first MLR game ever played in B.C. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
The Toronto Arrows and LA Giltinis line up at centre field Friday night at Starlight Stadium in Langford. The Arrows played for the first time in British Columbia. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
The Toronto Arrows get the height advantage on the line-out Friday night against the LA Giltinis at Langford’s Starlight Stadium in the first MLR game ever played in B.C. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
The Toronto Arrows huddle up Friday night in a game against the LA Giltinis at Langford’s Starlight Stadium. It was the first MLR game ever played in B.C. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
The Toronto Arrows and LA Giltinis battle it out in a scrum Friday night at Starlight Stadium in Langford. The Arrows were playing for the first time in British Columbia. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
Mayor Stew Young presents the match ball before kick-off. Starlight Stadium was packed with fans as the Toronto Arrows played for the first time in British Columbia in their game against LA Giltinis in Langford on Feb. 11. (Bailey Moreton/News Staff)
Toronto Arrows hooker Jack McRogers tosses the ball into a line-out Friday night during a match against the LA Giltinis at Langford’s Starlight Stadium. It was the first MLR game ever played in B.C. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
Toronto Arrows flanker James O’Neill catches his breath between plays Friday night during a match against the LA Giltinis at Langford’s Starlight Stadium. It was the first MLR game ever played in B.C. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
Major League Rugby touched down in Langford on Friday night (Feb. 11) as the Toronto Arrows lost to the LA Giltinis in the first-ever MLR game hosted on British Columbian soil.
Despite being more than 4,000 kilometres away from their usual stomping grounds, Toronto had the backing of the home crowd, with thousands of fans watching on from the stands at Starlight Stadium. Several of the players on the field have played on the Island with the national team, making the event feel like a homecoming. The same could be said for Toronto Arrows forward James O’Neill, who played for four years at the University of Victoria and said it was exciting to see fans coming out and supporting Canada’s only professional rugby team.
“It’s like we have the best home fans in the whole league because we’ve got a whole country behind us,” he said. “It’s incredible to see and humbling and when I first started playing there wasn’t anything like this. Hopefully, it keeps building.”
Toronto started off well, breaking out to a 10-0 lead after team captain Mike Sheppard charged down a LA kick to dive over under the posts, with kicker Spencer Jones adding a conversion and penalty.
— Toronto Arrows RFC (@TorontoArrows) February 12, 2022
The team continued strongly, and despite two LA tries was winning at half-time 16-12. The Giltinis scored a third try at the 48 minute mark to take the lead for the first time, making it a one-point game at 16-17. Toronto had a period of sustained pressure which led to an LA yellow card, but they couldn’t make it count, with the American team getting the bounce of the ball and running away with the game, as they scored two more tries to win the game 31-16.
Several Langford residents made appearances on the field, Mayor Stew Young presenting the match ball before kick-off and local singer Jaimey Hamilton performing the national anthems.
“I was pretty nervous because it was a big crowd out there,” said Hamilton. “Performances have cut down, pretty much in half, but I’ve still been able to perform at restaurants. I hope people liked (my performance) and this is the first rugby game I’ve been to, so I’m excited.”
Fans Matt Michael and Aaron Clark watch the international rugby sevens tournament in Vancouver every year but said it was exciting to have professional rugby to watch on the Island.
“It’s super nice to have a professional game come down here to Langford,” said Michael.
- – Thank you to BC for making us feel right at home.
— Toronto Arrows RFC (@TorontoArrows) February 12, 2022
The Toronto Arrows are now 0-2 on the season after losing their opening game to Seattle last week. They play New Orleans Gold in their next game, down in Louisiana.
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Family member addition Log in with the Google Account that you use to access YouTube Premium or Music Premium. Open a web browser and go to youtube.com/paid memberships. Choosing Manage membership Next to Family sharing options, click Edit. Choose Inviting a relative.
Similarly, Can you have 2 people on YouTube music?
You can sign in and utilize the offline function on up to 10 devices simultaneously with a basic YouTube Music Premium or YouTube Premium account, but you can only watch music-related videos on one device at a time. The first device will halt if a second one begins streaming music.
Also, it is asked, How does YouTube music family plan work?
You may share your paid YouTube subscription with up to 5 family members who live in the same home thanks to a YouTube family plan (residential address). You’ll establish a Google family group as the account holder or family manager. Family members may join the gathering to share: Google Play Music.
Secondly, How many family members can use YouTube music?
a family of six
Also, How many users can you have on YouTube music?
You may utilize the offline capabilities of your premium membership on up to 10 devices at once if you are a subscriber to YouTube Premium or YouTube Music Premium. Once you’ve used up your allotted 10 devices, the oldest of the 10 will be de-authorized if you attempt to download a movie on a new device.
People also ask, How do I add someone to my YouTube Music account?
Family member addition Log in with the Google Account that you use to access YouTube Premium or Music Premium. Open a web browser and go to youtube.com/paid memberships. Choosing Manage membership Next to Family sharing options, click Edit. Choose Inviting a relative.
Related Questions and Answers
How do I change my YouTube Music to family plan?
For an upgrade to a family plan from an individual YouTube Premium or Music Premium membership: Open a web browser and go to youtube.com/paid memberships. Tap Get family plan. Once again, click Get family plan. Press Upgrade. Create a Google family group. Are you in charge of a current Google family group?
Do you have to live in the same house for YouTube Premium family?
A YouTube family plan may only be shared by members of the same household as the family manager. Find out more about the criteria for family groups and what to do if you make mistakes when building up your family plan. Every 12 months, you may only switch family groupings once.
What is the difference between YouTube Premium and YouTube Music?
YouTube Premium features ad-free music and videos, while YouTube Music Premium just offers music. Additionally, YouTube Premium provides two more advantages. The first is video background play, which lets you sign in for a continuous experience while navigating to other applications.
How do I share my YouTube Music library?
Playlists from the YouTube Music app may be shared on a computer or a mobile device. To distribute a playlist The playlist you want to share should be opened. Next to the playlist, click Menu. Tap Share. From this point, you may embed the playlist, email the playlist, or share it on social media.
Is YT music better than Spotify?
Verdict. Spotify, which offers 320kbps of maximum streaming quality, easily outperforms Youtube Music. But bear in mind that there won’t be much of a sound quality difference between 256kbps and 320kbps to the average listener.
Does YouTube family plan include YouTube Music?
You may share additional Google services with your family members if you share a subscription to YouTube Premium, YouTube Music Premium, or YouTube TV. Google offers further information about family units.
How much is a YouTube Music family plan?
Family monthly Free trial of one month next $14.99 per month Include up to 5 family members (13 and older) in your home. Individual Annual $99.99 Discount when purchasing 12 months in advance. doesn’t renew on its own. Student Monthly Trial period of one month next $4.99 per month Only pupils who qualify.
How much does YouTube family cost?
Can you use YouTube on multiple devices at the same time?
If you have YouTube Premium, you may watch the movies from YouTube Movies & Shows without any ads getting in the way. You can only view these movies on a maximum of two devices at once per YouTube Premium account and a maximum of four devices simultaneously with a YouTube Premium family subscription.
Can you share playlists on YouTube Music?
Just choose Edit from the more option next to the playlist on YouTube Music if you want to share it with a friend. The “Collaborate” option is located immediately next to the Privacy drop-down menu; after you click it, the app will provide you with a link that you may share with the people you wish to collaborate with.
Can my family see my YouTube Premium?
Any additional subscriptions and packages that the family manager has acquired are visible to you and the other family group members.
Is YouTube Premium family plan worth it?
Premium isn’t necessary unless you have a strong interest in YouTube Originals. Additionally, you won’t benefit from all of the Premium features if you don’t often use YouTube’s mobile applications. However, YouTube Premium is an excellent deal if you want to remove YouTube advertisements and use YouTube Music Premium often.
How do I add people to Google family?
Add your family Visit g.co/YourFamily now. Choose Inviting a relative. Enter the email address of a member of your family. Choose Send.
Is YouTube Premium include YouTube Music?
Although it is a part of YouTube Premium, YouTube Music Premium is also available separately for $9.99 a month. It consists of song remixes, music videos, music playlists, and live performances of songs. This is included with Google Play Music subscriptions, Google’s answer to Spotify.
Can you use YouTube family in different houses?
Family manager and members must always reside in the same home in accordance with the terms and conditions of the family plan. They won’t have access to the family plan benefits after they’ve left the family manager. Our technology will still be able to determine their present position even if you and they share the same address.
How do I share my YouTube account?
Adding access: Visit studio.youtube.com now. Click Settings on the left side of the screen. Then choose Permissions. To invite someone, click Invite and then provide their email address. Select the role you want to give this individual by clicking Access and then choosing: Role. Supported. Not encouraged. Owner. Press Save.
Why can’t I add a family member to YouTube Premium?
Continue setting up your family plan while updating your Google Pay profile to reflect your current location. A family member cannot join the family group if their nation or area does not match your location. If you want assistance with your YouTube family plan, get in contact with us at any time.
What is the difference between YouTube Premium and YouTube Premium family?
Prices for YouTube Music and YouTube Premium A single plan costs $11.99 per month, while a family plan is $17.99 per month. You and up to five other persons make up the six total members of the family plan. Here are additional details regarding YouTube Premium.
Is there a YouTube family annual plan?
Family monthly Free trial of one month next $17.99 per month Include up to 5 family members (13 and older) in your home. Individual Annual $119.99 Save money when you pay for 12 months in advance. doesn’t renew on its own.
What is the point of YouTube Music?
A music streaming service called YouTube Music was created by the Google subsidiary YouTube. Users may search for songs and music videos on YouTube using genres, playlists, and suggestions thanks to the service’s own interface, which is focused on music streaming.
Anyone who enjoys watching music videos or live performances has a lot of options, and YouTube Music Premium is one of them. Great features are available in YouTube Music Premium for regular music listeners. YouTube Music is without a doubt the greatest subscription service right now if you’re a lover of music videos.
YouTube Music vs. YouTube Premium Both have essentially identical characteristics. You may enjoy offline, ad-free, and background streaming of content. While YT Music Premium is $9.99 per month, YouTube Premium is $11.99 per month. Both provide student and family discounts, and the first month is provided free of charge.
What happened to YouTube Music library?
At the end of the year, Google Play Music will be discontinued, leaving YouTube Music as the company’s only streaming music service. However, before that occurs, you have the option to quickly and easily move your personal uploads, bought songs, recommendations, and music collection to YouTube Music.
How do I share my music with friends?
7 Fantastic Methods for Discovering and Sharing Playlists Spotify. Utilizing Spotify directly is one of the easiest methods to share a playlist. 8tracks. 2019 saw the closure of 8tracks owing to financial difficulties. SoundShare. Instead of a website, SoundShare is a playlist-sharing app. r/SpotifyPlaylists.\sr/Playlists.\sPlaylists.net. Listening Party.
Can I transfer my YouTube Music account to another email?
On the confirmation screen, click the “Link to an existing Google Account” link. To transfer your YouTube account to another Google account, provide its email address and password. Select “Link Accounts” from the menu. Once the accounts are connected, a confirmation page will open.
Can I sync Spotify to YouTube Music?
You’ll get a list of all your Spotify playlists after entering your login information. Click Convert Playlist to YouTube after choosing the playlist you wish to convert. You will then be asked to sign in with your YouTube credentials, and the playlist will start transferring itself.
If you are unable to add family members to your Youtube Music Premium account, there are a few things that you can do. You can try resetting your password or contact the support team for more help.
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Guardian Aquatics is now hiring! Lifeguards are needed for 2022 summer season. Provide a safe and fun pool experience by enforcing pool guidelines, assisting guests, and following all policies and procedures.
If you are at least 16 years old and authorized to work in the USA, apply now and take the step toward spending your summer in the sun!
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Responsibilities:
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Rescue patrons and perform appropriate follow-up procedures, including proper use of first aid equipment
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Every day, I create a post for this blog, every month I write for Photoshop User magazine and every year I write or update multiple books.
I’d love to get your input on what you’d like to see covered in my future writing projects. Keep in mind that my blog entries are typically very short, my magazine articles are a single page and my books are where I can cover things with as much depth as is necessary to do the subject justice.
What are some unanswered questions you have about Photoshop, or digital imaging in general?
What are you largest frustrations that I might be able to help you through?
What do you think is being ignored by most magazines and books?
I’d love to get your input so I can write about what’s important to you.
Please use the comments section of this post to express your ideas.
Paul Beiser on August 14, 2005 at 8:29 am
Have been enjoying your blog (and your CS up to speed book) for some time now. Here are some thoughts:
1) Blog – what you are doing now is really good – lots of little things here and there that catch your eye and you pass on.. just the right level of content and timing.
2) Books. That is a tough one, so many things are covered; u hit a home run with the CS2 Up to Speed book for sure. I think writings/books that emphasize workflow with Bridge/CS2 would be useful.
3)What is being ignored? Good question. The area that seems to have the largest growth (and will continue to have) is the rise of the inexpensive DSLRs and people wanting to get the best pics they can in the least amount of time).
Hope this is useful.
Jim Goodman on August 14, 2005 at 9:07 am
I am interested in CS2 and raw.
I have not mastered raw, but am trying. All your arcitles on CS2, raw, Canon 20d, and camera equipiment are of interest to me.
I like you links to other sites, which open new doors for me like Blue Ridge Muse.
Keep it up I think you are doing are service with your blog.
Joanne Mead on August 14, 2005 at 12:56 pm
Loads of folk are making their first entry into digital, the hardest thing is getting the colour management sorted out and also coping with the more limited dynamic range of digital. To use digital just as one used film won’t get the best from the medium.
Lots of folk buy Photoshop but who never really master it. They go through the motions but their knowledge barely scratches the surface. Your Studio Techniques book helps a lot.
So – anything that helps those migrating from film to digital is great and might even decrease the number of badly taken, badly printed digital photos in circulation.
Don on August 15, 2005 at 2:35 pm
Ben, I really enjoy reading your blogs. I like the products shown but it seems like there are a lot of those lately. I would like to read more Photoshop tips/techniques. Your comments about todays digital cameras would be welcomed.
Ben Willmore on August 15, 2005 at 2:39 pm
I’ve just been overly busy lately, so I’ve been relying more on products and other sites for info… I’ll start posting more original photoshop content once my schedule mellows out.
marlene on August 15, 2005 at 4:27 pm
Hi Ben. thanks so much for doing this…the blog, your books. you’re the first person i go to for info..it’s a great thing you do!
what i would like to read about…my main concern is workflow. i feel like i’m well informed in most areas of photoshop, i.e. the techniques, but would really love a list of steps to follow. i realize that corrections vary according to photos etc…but for some reason i feel like i get overly involved, specially now dealing with camera raw where some things can be done in that dialog box. i feel some sort of steps list would be great to follow.
thank again for your work!
Ben Willmore on August 15, 2005 at 5:32 pm
The CS2 version of my Studio Techniques book has a whole chapter on workflow… it tells you the exact order I perform things in and why.
Linda J on August 15, 2005 at 7:33 pm
Ben, I’m with everyone else in really liking this blog. You are eternally curious and it’s fun to see what catches your attention.
I would like more short articles on the topics of design, composition, etc. with links to artists you like. You did that not too long ago when you featured Before & After Magazine. That was great! Musings on the art of photography would be welcome to me.
I would like to take your course at Better Photo someday.
Thanks for the blog!
Ben Willmore on August 15, 2005 at 8:28 pm
I’m the first to admit that I have an insatiable curiousity with life, gadgets and people.
I’ll try to slip in a few more design related items as I run across them and I’ll also do more links to artists I enjoy… along with interviews so we can figure out what makes them tick.
I’ll be scaling back my class sizes on those betterphoto classes (from a max of 65 to somewhere closer to 20), since it’s difficult to keep up with the class while traveling.
Thanks for sharing your ideas… I really appreciate it.
Scott on August 15, 2005 at 9:02 pm
I enjoy following your journey. My PS journey is hindered on “task memory” of the combination of key strokes (for shortcuts). Is there any meaning behind the “option” key or the “command” key or the “control” key – OR do I simply “memorize” the combo and not try to read too much into their meaning ?
What works best to de-program my brain away from a mouse and toward a tablet ?
Ben Willmore on August 15, 2005 at 9:19 pm
For the tablet… unplug your mouse for one full week and force yourself to use the tablet. After the week, you’re welcome to plug the mouse back in… but as long as you keep going back to the mouse it will be difficult to get used to the tablet.
There is a logic behind the keyboard commands… to learn about them, check out the magazine article I wrote a while back on that topic at http://www.digitalmastery.com/companionsite/magazine/psuser12.pdf
Todd Williams on August 15, 2005 at 10:03 pm
Ben, I’ve working my way through a few of your books, read your blog here and had a few tapes of yours. And I’m still digesting, with too many courses to go still. So, I wouldn’t be surprised if you have already said many things I want to know that I haven’t gotten to yet.
BUT, I am reading your CS2 thriller right now, and today I was hitting the chapter on Smart stuff. Well, lately it’s all hit us at once, Smart this and Smart that, all these applications, OSX, Pshop CS2, and on. So here’s my conundrum: there is this new “thing” and you set it up like this and that, and it works like other things in other apps you may or not have used…….but…… what the heck is the underlying all consuming concept about Smarts, I just don’t get. As far as Pshop goes, Smart Objects, what is it going to do for me, it’s a virtual something? A side car to real layers, or… why are we needing them actually? What do they want to do for us, what’s the object?
I have some old age block here, and just can’t figure out the need and/or the premise for which it’s been offered. I hope I haven’t been too cute and not asked my question thoughtfully, but I’m baffled about all things Smart right now.
So anyway, I’d love to see someone discourse the origin of need for the Smarts and give a clue about the angle they’re coming from and what it’s intent for integration is all really about.
…And I am really, really impressed at the energy that you put out, in every expression of help, advice and sharing that you’ve manifested in the years that I’ve received you Ben, thanks
Dale Lorenzen on August 17, 2005 at 7:30 am
Ben – I have all your books, have taken you internet class and been to your live seminars. Thanks for all the help you have given me. But I am sure that I am like other serious amateurs when I run into a retouch problem and have not done that particular procedure for awhile I forget some of the steps. A small book that could fit into a shirt pocket with a page dedicated to each problem that comes up using photo shop with step by step instructions. For instance – whiten teeth – photo too dark – photo too light – remove color cast – ectraction – use of quick mask. The list could go on and on and I am sure you have seen all the things that people do wrong with photoshop. I seem to get to where I should go but always seem to get there in a round about fashion. I think a book that would list procedures for correction in a simple 1 2 3 method would be most helpful and probably sell well. You are the man to do it. I also enjoy the blog very much. Keep the stories coming. Thanks DEL
Ben Willmore on August 17, 2005 at 8:33 am
My brother has also suggested such a book… one that is a single page on each common problem. I was going to start by adding a two page spread to the end of each chapter in my Studio Techniques book that had a very visual and simple 1, 2,3… that gives you the gist of the chapter. (like for color correction), but an entire book would be good.
I’ll keep that in mind… also, maybe I can start that on this blog by having short, to the point, 1, 2, 3, here’s how you do it kind of entries.
Thanks again.
Swami Gurupremananda on August 17, 2005 at 3:46 pm
Hi Ben, I appreciate your knowledge and you have a gift to teach. I have a suggestion for your book.
The Photoshop package is intimidating, no wonder there are so many books on it. But, if there were a book that was divided into three sections: beginners, intermediate, and advance. Or if a chapter were divided into these three sections; then, depending on one’s experience with Photoshop, a novice could read just the beginners sections in the whole book. For example, if one does not know what layers do, what is the use to tell him about adjustment layers.
I learned HyperTalk from Danny Goodman’s book. In that book the commands were designated by bullets. One bullet commands for those who were just starting to learn HyperTalk. Once you could make simple HyperCard stacks you then studied and started using the two bullets commands, and so on.
HyperTalk had commands, properties, functions, operators, constants, messages, etc., amounting to about 448 in all. I did not have any knowledge of programming when I started. But with a well-organized book I could write a program that took care of my business.
Photoshop now has about 420 menu items, and that are not counting choices in the tool bar, blending modes, palette choices, etc. Then there are techniques on how to use these. Your book is great, any time someone wants to know about the best book in Photoshop I recommend your book.
Rory Bourke on August 22, 2005 at 6:58 am
Hi Ben…love your blog…I’d like to generally know what cameras you use and other photoshop pros…also how to put cool frames and borders around images and print them like that…also more papers like the one for blending modes…that was so helpful,best,Rory
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Feeling fancy? Now attending a formal party is easier than ever with tuxedo rental Spartanburg SC at PierrosFormalWear.com. Shopping online beats shopping in person any day of the week. No longer will party attendees have to fight crowds to get a good deal on a tuxedo, worry about finding the right tuxedo in their size or have to stress over the high cost of purchasing a tuxedo. For tuxedo-wearers who are nervous about buying a tuxedo they'll only wear once or buying a tuxedo that might only fit for a year, tuxedo rental offers the chance to attend a formal event without feeling overwhelmed by the cost.
Tuxedo rental has many benefits. First, most people don't need a tuxedo on a regular basis. Many tuxedos are worn to proms, dances, weddings, formal business parties and other high-class events, but many people attend only a few of these events in their lifetime which makes a tuxedo purchase unnecessary. Secondly, renting a tuxedo means that the wearer won't have to worry about properly storing the tuxedo until its next use. For anyone who moves a lot or who has a busy lifestyle, trying to properly store a tuxedo without damaging it can be a hassle. Finally, renting a tuxedo ensures that the wearer won't be worried about finding that their tuxedo is no longer in style the next time he wants to wear it. Tuxedo rental is the way to go.
Posted by Kimberly Walker at May 28, 2013
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Kim is a Canadian born Torontonian, who is in her early 40's. She's a mom who's juggling a job and her little monkey at home. She's been blogging for over 20 years, and writes about woman's health, fashion, fitness and weight loss, parenting, product reviews and giveaways.
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Local Coordinators (LCs) are essential to delivering the high-quality, well-supported experiences CIEE is known for. Our LCs are independent contractors. Many are very active, working with several students each year. Others place and supervise one student at a time.
If you agree with the following statements, you’ve come to the right place:
I firmly believe in the value of cultural exchange.
I have a passion for making a meaningful difference in people’s lives.
I like to create opportunities for young people.
I want to invest in my community.
I enjoy building new and fulfilling relationships.
I love to travel and explore new places.
It doesn’t take experience to be a Local Coordinator. What you need is a desire to enrich the lives of those near you, and those far away waiting to discover America.
In every case, LCs perform a range of important jobs:
Recruiting, Screening, and Supporting Host Families
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One of the most important things Local Coordinators (LCs) do is match students with host families. LCs interview prospective host families, learning about their interests and lifestyles, then guide them through the placement process. The LC remains in contact throughout the school year for support and questions.
Guiding students during their stay
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Living in a new place with a different culture and language can be unnerving for young participants. Local Coordinators are a source of comfort, building bonds with students while they prepare for their journey, then greeting them on arrival, and acting as a helpful guide. As a go-to resource, they might be called on to help with cultural adjustment at home or school, offer advice on finding volunteer activities – anything having to do with the program and the student’s daily life.
Partnering with local schools
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Local Coordinators play an important role in promoting the benefits of enrolling international students in local schools, showing school leaders how cultural exchange can enrich the classroom. The LC also facilitates student placement by handling paperwork, and is the primary contact for the school. During the student’s academic year, the LC monitors academic progress by checking on grades and can assist with social-adjustment issues. The goal: Making certain the educational experience that CIEE participants and schools share is highly rewarding for all.
Acting as a cultural exchange ambassador
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Cultural exchange is truly a shared activity. The more invested and engaged the community, the more rewarding the experience is for everyone. LCs raise awareness, promoting the benefits of cultural exchange to community leaders and media. The LC also prompts exchange by encouraging students to volunteer.
What People are Saying
A lot of people try to fit themselves into a certain mold. But being a Local Coordinator breaks all the molds.
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Guess what, everyone? It’s Mass Effect Month over here at AmbiGaming! Hold on to your N7 helmets, because we’ve got four weeks of Mass Effect feature posts coming your way!
Let’s start off with something nice and light and that no one has ever talked about before. How about… the Mass Effect 3 endings! Yes, I’m sure this has never been discussed or debated before.
To be honest, I’m incredibly late to the Mass Effect party, and went into Mass Effect 3 ready to hate the endings. In order to experience the full let-down, I played through the final game with the original endings before downloading the extended cut and playing through those, in order to really get at the meat of what made the endings just so gosh darn bad.
And, boy, was I let down.
The endings weren’t bad at all.
Now, if you’re looking for a good review of Mass Effect 3 to start you off, you should definitely go and check out Falcon509’s detailed review. Otherwise, we’re going to dive right in and pick apart the endings of this final chapter in Commander Shepard’s space opera. So beware spoilers for, you know, Mass Effect 3.
Now, I like the extended cuts, too. I’m always up for more story, especially for characters that I like. But when I played through the original endings, I thought they were fitting, and I appreciated the open-ended feeling they had, as if the writers wanted to challenge the players to wonder and discuss and problem-solve what they thought happened next. I sort of liked the uncomfortable feeling at the end of it all. But let’s back up a bit.
Storytelling in games is important. Storytelling in any medium is an art. The beginning of a story can set the stage for the entire journey, and the ending can leave a lasting impact. I remember in college, the conductor of the university’s orchestra once said, “As long as the rest of it isn’t a train wreck, audiences will only remember the first note you play and the last note.”
But, to quote Aria T’Loak, “How things begin is not nearly as important as how things end.”
Okay, so I’m on board that the endings weren’t perfect, even though I liked them. My biggest gripes are that the original endings felt startlingly abrupt, and that one promising – and somewhat important – detail about the Reaper invasion (having to do with Tali’s work on Haestrom) was cut due to time. It would have added an interesting monkey-wrench to the mix if Shepard also had to contend with knowing biotic powers were potentially destroying the galaxy and so the Reapers were coming to stop organic life from being wiped out.
Other fans of the series have railed against the less-than-ideal choices at the end of the game, or bemoaned that every last decision they made wasn’t given a fanfare or a cookie at the end of the series (author’s note: I hate message boards sometimes). The story wasn’t tied up neatly with a bow, and many questions were left unanswered (in the original endings).
In response, BioWare released “extended cut” endings that showed the effect of Shepard’s efforts and final decision. Questions were answered, and players were handed a neat little package, a pat on the back, and, honestly, a whole lot more closure than the original endings.
But at what cost?
It’s true that, at the end of the day, your choice to kill or spare the Rachni queen doesn’t influence your final decision. Who you saved on Virmire doesn’t really matter when you’re standing in front of the Catalyst. Whether you did all the side quests for Zhu’s Hope doesn’t come back to bite you, and I made it through the entire second and third games without running into Conrad Verner and did just fine.
All of these choices and side quests were drops in the ocean that was the galaxy at war. I think it’s unreasonable to want every decision to be profound and life-altering, even in a game. Enough drips and drops affected the outcome, to a point, but I think the endings portrayed some very hard truths about life and war.
First of all, every choice you make does not set off a butterfly effect that has enormous consequences later. Sometimes you’re simply doing things because, in that moment, something needs to be done: a batarian has a gun in your face, or a quarian is asking for help. You don’t think, “Gee, I wonder how this will help me in the long run?” No, you think, “What do I do right now with this person standing directly in front of me?” If there’s a profound consequence afterward, I see that as a bonus.
Second of all, Shepard dies in every single ending (unless some very specific parameters are met). And that sucks. There’s no “Dark Ritual” here to save the hero. No space-magic that can give a happy ending for your playable character. And that’s important. Because sometimes good people – even heroes – die. Sometimes they die heroically, sometimes they die mundanely, but in either case, those heroes don’t get to experience the world they saved. It sucks and it’s not fair, but it’s real. I think of Gold Star families in this case: their heroes will never get the happy ending they deserved, no matter the “war readiness” of the army or how often they did things “right.”
Note: I think the term “gold star family” is specific to the USA, so for all my non-US readers who might not know what that is, “gold star family” refers to the immediate relatives of a US Armed Forces member who has given their life during combat or other military-related activities.
Perhaps some fans were in shocked disbelief that even after doing “everything right,” Shepard still died and they didn’t get a “good” or “happy” ending. But if death isn’t seen as a punishment, Shepard dying isn’t a “bad” ending. Maybe it’s not what the player wanted, but the game hasn’t “punished” or withheld anything from the player, other than a desire for “happily ever after.”
And that leads to my third point. There was no objectively “happy” ending. The SSV Normandy was torn apart and crash-landed, players were given no closure as to the fate of the other species in the galaxy, Shepard’s love interest was left alone, and players were left with an unsettled feeling of “well, what happens now?” War is like that as well. There is no “happy ending” for the troops on the ground. When a conflict finally ends, even the population at large is left standing shaken, disbelieving that it’s finally over.
Memories of the war live on. The dead are still dead. But the conflict is over. Maybe that’s a “good” ending, but is it really “happy”?
The future of the Milky Way galaxy post-Reaper war is uncertain, and the game’s endings captured that.
And maybe – just maybe – the endings were more profound than we originally thought. After all, here we are five years later still talking about them, still analyzing them, and still debating their merits and shortcomings. I compare Mass Effect 3‘s endings to Dragon Age II, because Dragon Age II is (usually) only brought up when someone wants to say how terrible it is, usually in comparison to Dragon Age: Origins or Dragon Age: Inquisition. But Mass Effect 3‘s endings have fans clearly on both sides of the issue.
But why? Because each of the endings, unlike each of our in-game choices, have profound, life-altering consequences that impact the galaxy. Of the three (main) choices, none of them are truly “good” or “bad.” One might even say that none of them are “ideal.” They just provide different options to the player and open up the galaxy to different consequences. Let’s take a look at what the endings had to offer.
Note: I’ll be using the pronoun “she” when I refer to Shepard, partly because my Shepard is female and that’s how I default when talking about her, and partly so I don’t have to write “he/she” and “him/her” all the time.
The “destroy” option is exactly what it sounds like: Shepard uses the Crucible to destroy all synthetic life. This effectively destroys the Reapers and stops the threat of them continuing their cycle of harvests. However, because this option destroys all synthetics, all AI are destroyed, including the geth and EDI. The catalyst also reports that technology based on Reaper tech will be destroyed (or perhaps significantly damaged), but also alludes that organics will eventually build synthetics again, implying that so-called “Reaper technology” may be salvageable in the future.
The Catalyst seemed least enthusiastic about this option, claiming that the cycle will eventually begin again, once organics start recreating synthetics. What the Catalyst doesn’t mention is that the Reapers convinced the geth (the ones Legion calls the heretics) to try and destroy organics, so while the Reapers may seek to “elevate” organice species, they don’t go about it in a way that is amenable to organic support and – as we’ll see below – their solution is based on flawed logic.
Unfortunately, this ending means that Shepard will be causing mass genocide against the geth and any other AI “species” within the galaxy, in order to protect the lives of the organics. Of course, one could argue that sacrifices must be made in times of war, but that does not erase that thousands of cognitive, thinking creatures will be killed with the pull of a single trigger.
TL/DR: Shepard must be willing to destroy a sentient species for the greater good.
In this ending, Shepard chooses to give up her physical body in order to merge her consciousness with the Reapers. Through this connection, she will become a sort of overlord to the overlords an be able to control their actions. I imagine that the assumption is that Shepard will order the Reapers to cease their attack, but future implications of her control are hazy (even with the extended cut explanation). Does she order them to shut themselves down, killing them and herself in the process? Or does she simply exist as a guardian of the galaxy?
This is the solution that the Illusive Man suggested and yet ultimately failed to see to fruition because he became indoctrinated. Interestingly, before Shepard’s conversation with the Catalyst, she tells the Illusive Man that controlling the Reapers is not a viable option, because humans are not capable (for one reason or another) of that type of responsibility.
However, the assumption is that regardless of her words to the Illusive Man, Shepard will somehow not fall prey to indoctrination and will maintain her sense of justice. The Catalyst seems adamant that Shepard will be able to control the Reapers, however, and so that option is made available to her.
TL/DR: Shepard must rescind on her comment to the (indoctrinated) Illusive Man that no one should try and control the Reapers. However, due to Shepard’s strong will, it is assumed that she actually is able to control them, unlike the Illusive Man.
The most theoretically interesting of the three choices, the synthesis option enables Shepard to sacrifice herself in order to merge organics and synthetics into one super-species. This is what Saren wants in Mass Effect, claiming that the new species would have the strengths of both organics and synthetics, but the weaknesses of neither.
Interesting, Javik reports that some of his Prothean brethren believed this to be the only option to survive and, in the same breath, calls them betrayers. This makes sense also because Shepard (rightly) accuses Saren of being indoctrinated and of betraying everything he has sworn to protect.
This option reminds me a bit of the book Childhood’s End (1953) by Arthur C. Clarke, and the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), which was written by Clarke and Stanley Kubrick. In both of these stories [spoilers=”plot spoilers”>deal with the appearance of a god-like creature who forces the evolution of humans to a higher form of existence .
Getting back to Mass Effect 3, the themes alluded to for the synthesis ending imply a disregard for the organic species, as the god-like Reapers have an agenda that is very different from the organics they are supposed to be “helping.” This type of forced elevation raises many ethical concerns, especially when the player considers that Shepard has made this decision for every organic and synthetic race in the galaxy. There is also no knowing how the “perfect thought processes” of the Reapers will be able to meld with the emotional organic brains. There is also no definition of what is “weak” about either organics or synthetics, which is a very important factor when trying to decide if effectively deleting the “weaknesses” of both species is the right option.
TL/DR: Shepard decides to “elevate” organics (and synthetics) the way the salarians did with the krogan, believing – based on incomplete information – that merging the two is the only way for organics and synthetics to live peacefully, like Saren believed before her.
None of these choices are ideal. After all, two of them force Shepard down the same path as the characters she so vehemently disagreed with in the past two games. Destroy implies genocide, Control means that Shepard backtracks on an position she defended literally moments before, and Synthesize means that she is speeding up evolution in a way that might not be necessary for survival. More on that in a moment.
I have no defense for this one. BioWare listened to how outraged fans were at being given what psychologists call a “forced choice”* between three very different options (as if they hadn’t been given forced choices for every choice in the past three games), and so gave players the option of shooting the Catalyst, effectively wiping out all advanced organic life in the galaxy and restarting the cycle of Reaper invasions.
Personally, I’m not sure why anyone would pick this option, other than to see what happens. You spend three whole games being a hero (even if you’re playing as a renegade), only to throw out the needs of the galaxy at the last possible moment. I mean, if that’s how you play, that’s how you play and that’s cool, but it seems out of character even for renegade Shepard (that is, renegade Shep is supposed to “get the job done” at any cost, and this doesn’t “get the job done” at all). Anyway…
TL/DR: Shepard refuses to play the game, serving her ego and being the reason advanced organic life is destroyed.
Let’s talk a little about this forced choice* during the endgame. No one really likes forced choice situations, because more often than not it seems like you’re picking a lesser of two (or more) evils. None of the choices are completely satisfying, and they force you into this uncomfortable space in which you have to fit a large human-shaped detail into a small cube-shaped box.
There are two main reasons I think this “final decision” is fitting for the series, though. Firstly, sometimes life-altering events come down to one very “small” choice. Destroy, control, or synthesize? It seems almost overly-simple, as if it is the representation of the lowest common denominators found by the processing power of a machine. Streamlined. Perfect. Simple.
Until, that is, the far-reaching consequences of that little decision are fully realized. After all, the transition between life and death seems enormous, until you consider that the only thing separating one from the other is a single heartbeat.
The other reason I think the final choice captures the “important point” of the game is that the Catalyst is the one offering Shepard the options. The Catalyst, for those of you who don’t remember, is a highly-developed AI (or not) tasked with only one job: to prevent the conflict between organics and synthetics. And it does this with relentless efficiency as only a computer can. But this efficiency leaves no room for the messy grey areas in which organics live. So the choice is brutal, extreme, and seemingly unfair, but each is perfectly efficient in ending the Reaper conflict.
The Catalyst’s “final solution” is built on the false assumption that organics and synthetics will always wind up at war, and thus presents Shepard with the options to either destroy the Reapers or merge organic and synthetic life (either a merge with only Shepard or a merge with all organic life in the galaxy).
It doesn’t consider the much-less-efficient option of offering guidance to organics as to how to coexist with synthetics, or programming AIs to be compassionate toward their physically-weaker organic neighbors. The Reapers are not the benevolent gods they think they are. They were created by flawed creatures and so they are flawed, as well. They rebelled against their creators, and so concluded that is the only path available. They may be efficient at what they do, but that does not make them all-knowing or perfect.
Does this unit have a soul? “Legion… the answer to your question was ‘yes’.”
And so the Catalyst offers Shepard overly-simplistic, beautifully-conceived solutions, which Shepard must choose from because the entire galaxy is at stake.
To that I say, well done. Shepard had all his/her power taken away, but still bore the responsibility of all life in the galaxy. While the galaxy was held hostage, Shepard was forced to make a terrible choice:
You should be angry. You should be seething mad that the Reapers thought so little of organics that that was the final decision Shepard had to make. You should be absolutely furious that the Catalyst pretended to be all-knowing, when all it knew was its own programming. You should be horrendously angry that no ideal solution was offered after you worked so hard to save the galaxy. It just wasn’t fair. It wasn’t right! We had been through so much…
And the game left us shaken, uncertain as to how the remaining pieces fit together. We were shocked, angry, confused… as if we had just toppled an uncaring, all-powerful overlord from power.
What do you think? Have I dug too deeply? Or do the Mass Effect 3 endings deserve a bit of apology? What did or didn’t you like about the endings? Which ending did you choose and why? Let me know in the comments!
Thanks for stopping by, and I’ll see you soon!
*A forced choice is when you are given at least two options and told you have to pick one, even if none of the choices available to you are ideal.
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60 comments
Imtiaz Ahmed says:
March 1, 2017 at 1:27 pm
I had no issues with the forced choice. The 3 choices were viable options given the time sensitivity of the situation. At the same time, I am also ok with every decision in all the games being present in these endings. As you said the Rachni queen and many other choices you make are mere micro specs in the picture of things.
Again I’m ok with the choices Sheppard had to make at the end, what I didn’t like was each eventually had the same outcome. In the end, you team crashes on some leafy planet and stare out all happy. I’m ok with having to interpret things for myself, and I’m ok with Sheppard dying. In fact, I actually hated that one ending hinted that he may have lived! I think if the stories done it should be done and don’t leave me on a cliff hanger this late in the game. What I do have a problem with is hit team not caring for his sacrifice or it being acknowledge anywhere in the ending. It doesn’t have to be a huge speech by the colonel or your teams to a huge army while inducting them with medals and honorary heroic services and such, but man at least shed a tear!
Honestly I’ve yet to see the the extended endings, I’ll youtube them seeing as Andromeda is around the corner, but again the initial endings just gave me that vibe that they didn’t have the endings all figured out. It really left a bad taste in my mouth for all the hard work I put in the trilogy. Especially because I went out of my way to make Sheppard and Angel and be the nicest man in the galaxy.
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March 1, 2017 at 2:17 pm
I can understand your feelings about the speech and things like that. I guess that didn’t really bother me. I assumed that people going on and on about how much they loved Shepard would make for boring story (like how they cut out 1/3 of Return of the King when they made the movie because the ending of the book was describing how everyone lived happily-ever-after).
That interesting that you said you wanted each ending to be different.What would you have done differently for each ending?
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Imtiaz Ahmed says:
March 1, 2017 at 4:10 pm
LOL good question, honestly no clue. Seeing the first rendition of the endings, they came off as cookie cutter approaches. Ultimately Normandy crashes on the same leafy planet, crew walks out, seem to be quite unphased by what just happened in each ending, there are subtle differences, but all 3 endings are presented in a very similar manner, in my opinion too similar for my liking considering Sheppard takes 3 very distinct approaches in each one. I understand different things happen in each ending and each of them have their pros and cons, and at the time, I was easily able to figure it out, I just thought the game did a bad job of conveying those after the deeds were done. For example, in the destroy ending, it’s safe to assume EDI is now dead, Sheppard made a huge choice to sacrifice not only all sentient life, but one of his own crew. But when I watch that ending, it doesn’t convey the regret, or to consequences fully. Again I’m not saying there should be a full feature length funeral for her, but something as simple as having Joker maybe walk by and glance at her lifeless body before exiting the Normandy and maybe shed a tear would have gone a long way to show the player, sure you saved the galaxy, but at what cost? I thought Joker and EDI were a thing, or close to that. When I played these games, I did what I could to talk and learn about each of the crew because I really liked the cast in all the games. So something small like that I thought could’ve gone a long way.
I’m ok with having to think about the endings from a macro point of view, but given the game up until this point went out of it’s way to show pros and cons for pretty much every encounter of the game, it felt odd and inconsistent that the true ending to the entire series didn’t really follow this approach.
Hope this is not a rant, I realize I may be going in circles on some of these but clearly we all have very strong opinions on this topic
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March 1, 2017 at 5:02 pm
Not a rant at all! Considering the stand I took in the article, I’m really not married to one side of this issue or the other, so I’m enjoying the conversation
You’re right that smaller details could have been added. I did find it odd that no comment was made about EDI in the destroy ending, or all the geth suddenly dropping dead, but for control and synthesize, I’m not sure there’s much else that could have been done without sitting the player down and saying “Here’s what happened” (which I was fine leaving to my imagination, even though the extended cut endings were cool).
And I agree that no matter what, the endings were certainly abrupt, which still remains my biggest critique of them. Regardless of the story, the implied story, or my fantastic imagination, I felt a little like my knees were yanked out from under me *as a player* in that final moment.
…hm… But maybe that’s what the developers wanted the players to feel….
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Imtiaz Ahmed says:
March 1, 2017 at 4:12 pm
just to add, I meant to say at the end hope this is not coming off as a rant by me, lots of typing between tasks at work doesn’t bode well sometimes
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March 1, 2017 at 3:15 pm
Wait, you thought the endings weren’t bad at all? There’s only one thing I can say about that: I like your style.
Admittedly, I can’t comment on Mass Effect 3’s ending because I haven’t played much of the series, but I at least agree with the movement to change it in that a bad ending can ruin an experience; it’s the reason I have that rule stating the highest score a work with a poor resolution can hope for is a 6/10. Why they fail varies wildly – one failed because it didn’t complement the way the rest of the game was written, another failed because the writing took a major nosedive at the end, yet another failed because it was sloppy even for their standards. It’s also the reason I don’t judge games until I’ve completed them; one major weakness many game critics have is that it’s clear they didn’t finish the work in question. This causes them to highly rate games that are good in the first two acts, but tank in the third or not think much of games one needs to experience the entirety of for their genius to shine through. Sadly, they’ve been making that mistake since the nineties (hence why they dismissed Earthbound), and they haven’t done much to improve it.
Anyway, I think the ending hit a major sour note with a lot of people, and if it was anything like the games I’m thinking of, I can’t blame them in the slightest for starting that movement. Sure, some of them may have been a bit too loud for their own good, but they’re not wrong for having that opinion – how they went about expressing it maybe, but not having it.
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March 1, 2017 at 3:28 pm
It’s not without its flaws. The endings did feel abrupt, and like Imtiaz mentioned above, at first blush the different endings didn’t “look” different, but for me that wasn’t too important. If the Normandy had the same fate for each ending, that wasn’t an issue to me. I tend to look at games from a macro level (in case I haven’t made that point yet, haha), so the fact that Shepard just made a decision that affected the galaxy so differently was what mattered to me. Having said that, while I like the explanation the extended cut endings provided, I also liked the uncertainty left by the original endings… And here I go with another Mass Effect post haha
I will agree that endings are incredibly important for any story, and the fact that so many felt unsatisfied means that either it was poorly executed (dev’s mistake) or the devs got a little to artistic in how they conveyed their message and lost their audience (also dev’s mistake, but I don’t think it’s wrong to ask for thoughtfulness from an audience, either). I’m not sure *hating* BioWare was the way to go, but everyone is of course entitled to their opinions!
It’s unfortunate that critics don’t often play the full games. A book critic would be ridiculed for reviewing a book that they hadn’t finished, and so would a movie critic for not watching the whole movie, so why do games get a pass? It’s another thing about the industry that I grumble about – if you want games to be taken seriously as a storytelling medium (or art medium, or whatever you want to call it), you need to set the bar to the standards of other art. As always, thanks for your insight; I always enjoy reading your thoughtful input!
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March 1, 2017 at 5:03 pm
Shepard’s story needed an end, and they went big Blaze of glory, just like the last 2 games. For someone who died and came back to life already being the hero they were, there was really no other way I could see it ending with the carnage that was happening on Earth.
They did it, the Reapers brought the fight to our home world, it no longer mattered what race or species you were, everything with an understanding of technology was going to be wiped from existence.
Nobody goes into a fight like that expecting to live, it’s about protecting everything they loved to begin with.
Mass Effect is like no other game I played before, in that the story telling for a Science Fiction game is the best it has ever been for an original work. You made your own choices that echoed in your save files through 3 full games plus expansions. If Shep didn’t die, they would have been forced to Mario the hell out of that character.
It’s been a while since I’ve gotten to explore the galaxy like the first 3 times I’ve played through all three games, and I can’t wait for the new one this month. So much to look forward to with a fresh storyline, and maybe some reoccurring characters and new ones alike. Get to find out what happened of the galaxy my first three adventures left me with.
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March 1, 2017 at 5:10 pm
Thanks for your comment! I’m certainly a Mass Effect fan, and I’m interested to see where Andromeda takes the series, *especially* now that humans are the “invading aliens”… What class do you usually play as (if you have a preference)?
It was a huge ending, and I agree that there really wasn’t any other way for them to end the game, at least with the expectations that audiences have for epic stories (in the old sense of the word “epic”). Unless, I suppose, they did the same thing like in ME1 where you think Shepard’s dead and then he/she stands up and stumbles over to her crew or something, which would have, frankly, been hoaky.
Only a few more weeks! Hope to see you for the upcoming Mass Effect posts, as well!
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March 1, 2017 at 5:47 pm
Cannot say I have a preferred class as much as fitting the best class to that play through. (Usually switch in ME2 since the resurrection feels like a good point of having space tech/magic at your disposal) Since the control mechanics change slightly from game to game, some of them are not quite the same in each game.
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March 1, 2017 at 6:18 pm
Fair enough. I’m usually terrible with all things mage-like, so I like hearing about other people who can wield the power. And you’re right about the changes; there’s always a bit of a curve when figuring out what’s different “this time”!
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March 1, 2017 at 6:34 pm
That and what weapons you want to give up. One thing to be said for playing soldier class is your arsenal is always top notch. Choosing that weapon towards the end of ME2 on my soldier was tough, but I always go sniper rifle.
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March 1, 2017 at 8:01 pm
I’m a fan of infiltrator (and I’m playing through as one now on the let’s play I’m doing). But there’s something to be said for the heavy weaponry of soldier-class, as well!
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iplayedthegame says:
March 1, 2017 at 6:12 pm
I’ll be honest, I didn’t like the way the ending was set up with the “pick a colour” finale. But the actual ending itself I was ok with. Whilst it ignored a lot of the smaller things you did, I feel that made sense. The fate of the universe was the decision, all the little things that happened had an impact on Shep and the people associated with him, and perhaps even entire races. But it didn’t matter in the grand scheme.
I do like that they added in additional features to the ending though.
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March 1, 2017 at 6:21 pm
Interesting! I’ll actually be talking a bit about the ending’s color choices in a few weeks, so I’m glad you brought that up
And I agree. Even though I think the original endings could have stood alone, I liked the extra story that the players got with the extended edition.
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iplayedthegame says:
March 1, 2017 at 6:25 pm
As it happens I finished it pre-ending-change and had no real issue. The change made it feel a bit like a Fallout ending with reference to your various successes and failures.
I look forward to your continuation on this.
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March 1, 2017 at 6:32 pm
I chose to destroy the Reapers because to choose synthesis or control would be (as you accurately stated) mean rescinding on Shepard’s convictions. It’s a matter of principle, and in my playthrough, I saved the Geth and Quarians from a war with one another. I proved the the Reapers were wrong, that harmony is possible with real effort. To assume that synthetics and organics would always be at war would be like assuming that the disparate races on Earth would always find conflict with one another. It’s patently untrue when people are educated that all races are equal, just as all life matters.
And Shepard lives in the ending where you destroy the Reapers. So there.
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March 1, 2017 at 11:04 pm
I’m a “destroy” fan myself – Shepard spent three games wanting to kill the Reapers, only to be dissuaded at the last second and *after* seeing the effects of the other two options? Didn’t make sense to me. So my “canon run” has her destroying the Reapers, brokering peace between the geth and quarians, and living happily ever after with her love interest (at least, that’s how it goes in my fanfiction haha). At any rate, the peace between the geth and quarians, in my opinion, proves the Reapers wrong that synthetics will always rise against organics. I think the deeper point is that oppressed will always rebel against their oppressors.
And Shepard does live, which is a nice touch
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March 2, 2017 at 2:33 am
Yes, I know I need to play the Mass Effect games. I appreciate the continued reminders (it’s the only way I’ll get to them, eventually) I do remember there being a big uproar on the internet about the Mass Effect 3 endings though.
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March 2, 2017 at 2:38 am
That’s what I’m here for: to jump up and down and get everyone I know to play Dragon Age and Mass Effect
So you’ll have to come back and tell me your thoughts once you’ve played the trilogy!
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cary says:
March 2, 2017 at 1:15 pm
I played through the original trilogy last year (again, for the first time in awhile), and y’know…I honestly cannot remember which ending I chose. I played a strictly renegade path, but the choice I made at the end is completely escaping me at the moment. I think that kind of sums up how I feel about ME3’s ending — neutral. Honestly, when I first finished the game a couple years ago, I neither liked nor hated the ending. And I felt the same during my most recent playthrough. I do get why folks were so upset about it, since your choice doesn’t amount to much. But I can only imagine the stress that the developers were feeling in how to best end this monumental series. I think that given Shepard’s paths and the Reapers own story, they did an admirable job trying to tie up everything.
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March 2, 2017 at 5:21 pm
That’s a good way of looking at it. Mass Effect has such a huge story, and could have had so many different paths due to the player’s choices, the devs really needed a way to “catch” all of them and finish the story in a satisfying way. I’m reminded of the end of Harry Potter #7 (spoilers?) when Harry finally kills Voldemort, and he falls to the ground with a mundane *thud.* At the end of a seven-book story, Voldemort died with a muffled thud. That’s just how things end sometimes (I know she did this for a thematic reason, but still).
Considering the scope of the story, yes, I think the endings tried to tie everything up well!
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March 3, 2017 at 12:51 am
I’ll have to save this for when I see the ending(s) again. I had some very strong opinions about it, but I hadn’t viewed the entire game. I can say I think the reason people were so upset is because while we have to accept in life that some things will never have closure, it really, really bothers us in stories even if such a paradigm makes a story that much better. It’s “unfinished” business. On one hand, it’s brilliant. It brings a bit of reality into the narrative, because life is full of unfinished business, but it’s also maddening because we expect certain things of created stories, and ambiguity pisses many people off. I’m okay with non-happy and/or ambiguous endings (FFVII my favorite story does this AND has “unfinished business” in spades), so I’m looking forward to my take on the ending with the weight of knowing the entire story behind me instead of just drips and drops.
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March 3, 2017 at 3:14 am
Definitely. I think some of the upset was about some details going unaddressed, like some other folks have commented (trying not to spoil if you didn’t look at the other comments). But yes, once you know the ending, I’d love to hear your thoughts!!
I do agree that putting “reality” into games is hard, because for so long, games were meant as “simple” entertainment or escapism. Now that they have really begun to tell serious stories and deal with serious subject matter, I think it’s unreasonable for every story to have a happy ending. And it’s really too bad, because the complains that BioWare got might not have really gotten to the core of the issue, which means that the devs (both BioWare and otherwise) might not be willing to take risks in the future.
Like I mentioned above, I’m not married to the original vs. extended ending; I like them differently, but I was perfectly fine with how the original endings handled the story.
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March 4, 2017 at 12:26 am
I have seen the ending! But I did avoid most of the comments just because it’s been a while, and I’ll go into it with fresh eyes.
We’ve of an accord when it comes to the narrative of games. I think it’s because it’s a new medium in which to tell a story and not all things in that medium do so, so some people can’t conceive or even entertain the idea that a game could be a medium for storytelling. Hopefully, as years go by, the “novelty” will wear off (it’s only been around 30 or so arguably that a game that told a story came out) and we won’t have to have this basic discussion anymore. Though…there are still people arguing over whether or not media is relevant to social issues, so I’m pretty sure the fight is going to continue.
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March 4, 2017 at 12:52 am
I wholeheartedly agree. It’s a discussion we keep having, and I think for now it needs to keep happening. We should never think we are asking too much of games, because that only diminishes their potential as an enjoyable and meaningful medium.
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Aether says:
March 5, 2017 at 11:06 pm
I played the 3rd game a small while after the ending hoopla went down, so my expectations were set pretty low for the ending. Because of that, I didn’t end up too disappointed, but yeah, I still felt the ending was rather lame.
A lot of the problem, as I recall, comes from the audience just being lied to. My particular infuriator was the devs swearing up and down that it was possible to get the best endings without going into the multiplayer, which, until the extended cut DLC came down the pipe, was just a flat out lie. So to were the claims leading into the game that all the choices matter. I agree that not everything you do in the series has to be called back to in the ending, but when the developers are telling you they will be, it’s fair to expect that will hold up.
Really, to me, the ending just felt like the dev team had no idea how to close it out, so they just threw up their hands and went to the dartboard of ideas. The catalyst came completely out of nowhere, I never bought the reasoning as to why Shepard would have to sacrifice her life there, the whole weapon was a giant McGuffin that was barely ever explained, and they didn’t explore the ramifications of anything. Yeah, I get that it puts the galaxy in an uncertain state, and it’s fine to have an uncertain ending if you handle it well, but they didn’t even try. The conclusion failed to conclude anything except for the Reaper threat, and opened up a lot more plotlines without addressing any of them. This was the cap on a huge, varied and complex experience, and yet it brought none of the storytelling methods that had brought the game thus far. It felt the same way a lot of other games do when you reach the point where they ran out of time/money and so had to slap all the rest together to finish it just before it was time to ship. That’s really where it came down to me. A lack of conclusion in the ending, and the fact that it did not fit with the way the rest of the story was told.
Also, the retroactive John Glenn framing device was dumb and I hated it.
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March 6, 2017 at 2:06 am
Well, yeah, the Stargazer thing was sort of ridiculous and I didn’t like it, either.
I guess I missed out on all the promises and such that the devs made. You’re right that if they promised something, they should deliver on it, and *of course* fans would be upset if they were mislead!
And like I said, my biggest gripe was that the endings felt rushed, even the original endings. It was a huge story, and they were trying to end it with a bang (and make it very clear that Shepard’s story was over), but it would up a little weakly done. I still don’t mind the open-endedness of it all, as the Reaper threat was dealt with. In regards to the other plot lines, I’m reminded of a quote from Peter S. Beagle: “There never is a happy ending, because nothing ever ends.” One end will always beget new beginnings, and while of course things could have been done differently, I think addressing all those plot points is a *very* tall order.
The Catalyst did come out of nowhere, but I think that was how the devs were able to explain the different options to Shepard, so I didn’t completely mind it. I’m not sure how the Crucible was a McGuffin, though. The game is more science fantasy than fiction, so I’m not sure what more detail they could have given without it getting unwieldy.
Again, though, the rushed feeling definitely takes away something, but I never found it to be the anger-inducing ending some folks see it as (again, maybe because I missed all the broken promises and such).
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Aether says:
March 6, 2017 at 3:06 am
Eh, calling it a McGuffin may be a little strong. It’s been a while since I played, so my memories of the leading detail put into it may be weak. Still, though, as I recall, it was a function of the story where the idea of it got so much more weight than what it actually was. It was an ‘I win’ button that drove the plot with very little detail put into it. Not remembering the details very well, I can’t speak to what more would have been called for, but I do know I was expecting so much more foreshadowing and demonstrated planning around it that what I actually got.
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March 6, 2017 at 3:23 am
I see what you mean. It was a “big deal weapon” that was made entirely off-screen and without any real fuss in regards to the story we/Shepard were/was directly experiencing. I’ll concede that it was weakly supported in-game as *the* solution to the Reaper threat!
I wonder if the whole War Assets/big kaboom got a layer of polish for Inquisition’s War Table and application of Spoiler-Free-Good-Dragon to help end the conflict. But now I’m off thinking about a completely different game….haha
March 7, 2017 at 3:31 am
Looking back at it now I didn’t mind so much how the game ended as I think it was bound to draw in all those loose ends, but the execution of it was what sucked. To have the game literally end based on your last choice and not be at all related to how you got there seemed a waste. My preference would have been to stick with a solid ending and branching epilogues to reflect what you had done.
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March 7, 2017 at 3:46 am
Hm that’s interesting. They seem to have gone that route with Dragon Age: Inquisition (spoilers?). I wonder if that’s why… I agree that the execution could have been done a little better. Like I said, it did feel rushed!
I’m interested in what you say about not relating to how Shepard got there. I suppose an argument could be made that your “war readiness” did open up the synthesis ending, and influenced the destroy ending, as well. But I think you mean something different…?
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March 7, 2017 at 4:58 am
I think the game prompts you at one point that “there’s no turning back” and so there is incentive to go back and complete all the quests and maximise your options. For many players who do that they may not be even aware of “earning” additional endings because they have them all available. I had no idea about that at the time and totally forgot about it now until you mentioned it.
Perhaps if I had played a leaner game and got to the end faster the impact of my actions on choices might have been clearer? The “war readiness” thing was also tied to a mobile game, wasn’t it? I used that to boost my scores while I was playing admittedly which may have rigged it too.
I wasn’t really happy with any of the options I was presented with at the end of the game – I just didn’t think any of them reflected how I felt I was playing the game (Mr Paragon, aka Die Hard Picard). I ended up choosing “Synthesis” only to save all my crew but through an earlier save game I did go back and look at the other options too.
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March 7, 2017 at 4:51 pm
Ah. Yeah I guess it would have been a better “surprise” ending. It would have driven home the “Oh no I’m not ready!” feeling, instead of “Where did this come from?” But games have gotten into the habit of saying when the “final battles” are, although I wouldn’t be sorry if they stopped doing that.
Ooo synthesis? Interesting! Was that purely from a crew standpoint, or did you have other thoughts on it, as well?
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March 7, 2017 at 8:06 pm
Both of the other options felt like bad choices too – one that also killed the Geth and EDI (?) and the other doing what the Illusive Man tried in taking over the Reapers. Both of those felt like they were counter to what I had been doing during the game… You spend so much time fighting Cerberus, why choose the option their leader wanted? I hope I’m remembering this all right… Been a while since I last played!
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March 7, 2017 at 9:09 pm
Interesting! Your memory is spot on I find it fascinating to hear all the reasons for choosing one ending over another. I actually only ever thought the “destroy” option made sense, even though it killed an entire race of people, because it saved the much-larger galaxy. It would be a fascinating study to see if people with different personality types choose one way or another… hm…
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March 7, 2017 at 11:25 pm
For sure! I’m guessing that you may have also been playing the game in a way that steered you towards that choice too. I had always looked at the “kill” option as the Paragon choice, the “control” option as the Renegade and “synthesis” as the Neutral one. Their placement in front of the player reinforced that opinion on me too. And I think the game could have just avoided the problem and simply given players an ending consistent with how they played (Paragon, Renegade, Neutral, other choices during the series) and not put them in a position that might make them reconsider the kind of character they built up. That said, base on what I just said it’d mean my Shepherd would kill the Reapers, Geth, etc…
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March 7, 2017 at 11:32 pm
My Shepard was driven to destroy the Reapers, period. That was her mission… I think “destroy” is a renegade option, but by the *actual* definition of what renegadeShep was supposed to be: willing to get the job done, no matter the cost (I’ll be talking about this in a few weeks haha). But in this case, maybe the renegade option is the paragon option (morality-ception!) This is one of the other reasons I like the endings, at least from a storytelling perspective: it turns the morality system on its ear.
Anyway, my Shepard decided to sacrifice the “few” for the “many,” even though it wasn’t a decision she made lightly. But I think at the end of the day, there’s not going to be an objectively “right” ending, and I appreciate that BioWare hasn’t commented on a “canon” ending like it did with the Dragon Age games!
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March 27, 2017 at 6:59 pm
I originally hated the endings, but have warmed to them. Having thought about the nature of the Catalyst and the Reapers, the ending does have a logical basis. To defeat something so powerful like the Reapers, then it would take exceptional. The concept of the Crucible is actually quite compelling. Not only is it built through cooperation of races in the current cycle, it also represents contribution of previous cycle. The ending is just the culmination of all that effort and work brought together.
I can now accept the final scene with the Catalyst. However, there are a couple of of areas that are unexplained, such as why the Citadel is completely deserted at the end. But the four choices are quite logical and compelling.
It is logical that Destroy would damage Reaper tech and destroy synthetics. That makes sense to me.
Control is a logical option too. In the end, the Catalyst relinquishes control to someone who is physically capable of assuming it. In this case Shepard. (Indeed the Catalyst makes clear it does not want to relinquish control. It is given no choice).
Synthesis is completely weird. To me it is a very risky solution. The Catalyst says it will be fine, but that us based on false logic and the limitations of it’s own experience. Considering the Catalyst believes that systematically destroying a civilisation and killing its people is justifiable, its judgement cannot be trusted.
I even think the refuse option is a valid option, If you get a low score and don’t like the only option available. Shepard may decide it is not her right to say destroy synthetics or take control, she may decide Refuse is the right choice. Another reason is that, Shepard may judge that the next cycle may be able to perfect the Crucible to provide a better option not available here. Also, we don’t see Shepard die in the Refuse ending. It is possible to imagine Shepard and the team resisting the Reapers for some time, and aiming to ensure that the knowledge of the Crucible is passed to the next Cycle.
I got a surprise when I finished ME3. My Shepard hoped to destroy the Reapers, while leaving the galaxy in a safer place for the rest. So she destroyed the Geth and sabotaged the genophage. But when I got to the end, the Catalyst only gave her one choice: Control. This meant that sacrificing the Krogan and the Geth was in vain. This Shepard didn’t want to take control. I am even considered refusing. But she chose control anyway, even though she would have preferred to destroy the Reapers, sacrificing herself in the process, to join so many of her fallen comrades. The ending was very sad and tragic. But I actually liked it as it was unexpected.
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March 27, 2017 at 10:20 pm
Thanks for your in-depth comment! I’m surprised you only had the control option. I wasn’t aware that was an option; I thought the lowest war readiness resulted in a “destroy” option, but I guess not! That’s cool though: a carefully laid plan gone wrong at the end…
I like your assessment of the options. Synthesize is an interesting option, which I’ll discuss a little more later this week. But it takes a lot of finesse to force two cultures together, so it makes sense that it will result from only the highest war readiness rating, I think. Personally, I think destroy is the only option from Shepard’s perspective. While Control may have the same effect sans geth/technological destruction, I think that’s too much against what (my) Shepard stood for the entire trilogy for her to go back and decide to try and control the Reapers. But I love hearing about everyone’s choices, because they really are unique to each person’s interpretation and playthrough!
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March 28, 2017 at 9:48 am
I like you am interested in everyone’s choices too. I like the measured way you present your opinions. I also like that you say the Catalyst is flawed logic. I think one of the reasons that people hate the endings is that they feel forced to assume that everything the Catalyst says is canon fact. However, there is no need to think this way.
In the end, I suppose whether you choose Synthesis or not defines the ending. If Shep chooses it, the story assumes that the choice is benign. However, if Shep chooses a different path, then it demonstrates Shep does not trust the Catalyst, or at least doesn’t trust it’s logic.
Yes, I was surprised about getting only control offered. The guide says only destroy is possible up to 1750 EMS. But I had less than 1400. I’m tempted to record it and post it to see what people think.
One theory I have is that it could be to do with being Paragon. This Shep chose nearly all Paragon dialogue options. Maybe that is the reason.
I saw one forum post on Steam asking about it. A reply suggested that it could be to do with saving the Collector base. But I destroyed the Collector base. So that seems unlikely.
By the way, running a Paragon Shep on low EMS and betraying the Krogan is an interesting experience. After sabotaging the genophage, my Shep gave Paragon responses to Wrex talking when discussing the future of the Krogan. It made her sound duplicitous and insincere.
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March 28, 2017 at 1:45 pm
That’s interesting. Sometimes those “blue” options don’t sound very “paragon”-like at all! And I’d be interested in seeing that video.
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March 27, 2017 at 11:33 pm
I will look forward to your article on Synthesis.
In principle, I would prefer Destry too. But I can see justification in picking Control. Control will save the Geth, which may be important to Shep. Also, I see Control being a viable option where there are possible threats in the Galaxy such as the cured Krogan, the upgraded Geth (who knows for sure what they will do) and the Leviathan who no longer have to hide from the Reapers. Control could keep these and other future threats in line.
My main issue with Control is what happens way in the future when everything Shep knew has disappeared. How will Shep be able to relate to a Galaxy her memories don’t identify with. And how will it influence her decisions.
Even in the short term, it is not clear how good AI Shep’s judgement would be. How will it judge who is right and who is wrong. And how will it judge what, if any, force is appropriate. There is a risk that the AI Shep will lose all empathy with organics and make some ruthless decisions because they seem ‘logical’.
Synthesis just seems too extreme for my liking. It effectively involves creating a new form of life, which effectively wipes out the old form of life. The consequences are not clear, even though the Catalyst believes it is the final solution. Apart from that, I find the green eyes and circuits in organics rather creepy and ugly.
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March 28, 2017 at 12:33 am
Like Shepard says, humanity isn’t ready for that responsibility. Of course, it would be nice to think that as Shepard watches over the galaxy, the ShepardReaper will find things that it still “recognizes” in the galaxy, but who really knows…? I think that’s why that’s a weird option for Shepard to take (to each their own, of course!)
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May 16, 2017 at 5:21 pm
My issues with the endings were threefold:
1) The crucible itself makes no sense – the idea that several cycles discovered the plans, made modifications to them but never completed them, successfully hid them from the Reapers and that these plans were eventually changed to incorporate the Catalyst.
This completely ignores the continuity established in the first game. The Citadel is a TRAP! Every terminus state, except our own, starts when the Reapers pour through the Citadel and seize control of the Relay Network. Why would any of these previous civilisations alter their plans to incorporate a device they no longer controlled?
The answer, I think, is that the developers took it for granted that we’d have control of the Citadel, and didn’t think about it. That’s why I, and many others, spent a large part of the game wondering why the Reapers hadn’t moved on the Citadel. They were never shown to be threatened by its fleet so why wouldn’t they head straight to the most strategically important location in the galaxy?
So, all these questions come to the fore in the ending, and we think we’re going to get another Vigil-style exposition dump (which was the most satisfying part of the first game). Instead, the Catalyst is cryptic, vague, stupid and deceitful. Important questions, like “What about the Geth, you moron?!” aren’t even available to be asked (let alone answered).
2) A brand-spanking new theme and central conflict is introduced in the last five minutes of the trilogy. The ‘synthetics versus organics’ issue was peripheral in ME1 and subverted in ME2, but we get to the Catalyst and it acts like this is the big philosophical question the game had been asking all along. ‘From the Ashes’ and ‘Leviathan’ introduce the concept earlier but a lot players didn’t buy them and, in the case of the latter, it was released after most day-one purchasers or pre-order players had completed the game.
I don’t think it’s acceptable for the developer to hold crucial content hostage, especially if they prove unwilling to face criticism for the damage to the ending that their own business decisions caused.
As for the idea itself, the Catalyst just lies flat-out. The Reapers don’t preserve life, they exterminate it. Even with the silly ‘each Reaper is a previously harvested race’ idea introduced in ME2, that fact remains; every single member of any space-faring race is murdered and only a few are reborn as Reapers (remember, that ME2 makes it clear that the Reapers rejected the notion of preserving Protheans).
Since the Catalyst is lying, why should Shepard trust that any of the ‘solutions’ it offers would even work?
3) Billions, if not trillions, of people are going to die no matter which option you choose. If you have a low EMS rating and select (or are forced to select) ‘destroy’ then everyone on Earth dies. No explanation is ever given as to why having a greater or lesser number of spaceships or soldiers in your Armada changes the effects of the space-magic super weapon, but hey-ho.
No matter which option you choose, the Mass Relays are destroyed. If you accept ‘Arrival’ as canon (which I don’t because it blatantly contradicts ME1), then everyone in any solar system with a relay (including our own, where the entire fleet is) dies. If you ignore ‘Arrival’ (which I do), then there’s still going to be a devastating war over Earth’s scant resources, with every single alien fleet now stranded above its skies.
…
I never actually understood the “your choices don’t matter” criticism, because the whole trilogy attested to this fact, so players should’ve been ready for that. A few choices that literally don’t matter at all; whether you picked Anderson or Udina as Earth’s councillor, whether or not you let Kasumi keep Keji’s gray-box and whether you left Ashley or Kaidan to die on Virmire.
If you made Anderson the councillor, Udina is councillor in ME3 regardless. If you destroyed Keiji’s gray-box, Kasumi just found the relevant information in it regardless. No matter who you saved on Vrimire, that character behaves almost exactly like their counterpart (despite having widely divergent personalities in the first game) and fulfil the exact same role in the story (down to the most minute detail).
I think the developers got the whole thing backwards. The story should’ve been very divergent but converged in the end – you see all your surviving squad-mates and every fleet you collected in the final battle, the crucible fires and the Reapers die. I think people would have still complained, but I don’t really see why we need a contrived red/blue choice at the end.
I’m sorry this comment is so long – I’ve left a lot of things unsaid, and I feel like I need to get a blog or something of my own to keep things like this from festering.
As for my preferred choice: As detached as I become during the final stretch of the game, I always choose ‘control’. To me, it seems to be the only moral course of action because it doesn’t involve violating the autonomy of every living being in the galaxy (synthesis) or committing genocide (destroy).
I’ve heard people argue that the Geth would’ve willing sacrificed themselves to destroy the Reapers but this is nonsense – on the contrary, they were willing to align with the Reapers when the Quarians threatened to exterminate them. They agree to join you because they believe you can build a lasting peace. Selecting destroy, if you sided with the Geth (which I always do, because the Quarians’ actions during the Morning War and the Invasion of Rannoch were/are obscene), is an unforgivable act of betrayal.
May 19, 2017 at 5:02 am
Sorry it took so long to reply! For some reason this (and some other comments) were bounced to spam.
The endings aren’t without fault, and there were definitely things that could have been done differently. From what I’ve gathered, ME3 was hyped to be a much different experience than what was delivered, which is unfortunate at best and unacceptable at worst. Like I mentioned elsewhere, I came into the games way past all the outcry, so I hadn’t hyped and assumed the game was going to just completely suck. It’s not perfect, but I don’t think the game sucks by any stretch of the imagination.
I do agree that the diverging storylines could have been addressed better, and then converged at the end. Taking the illusion of choice too far and blatantly showing everyone it’s an illusion is a poor development choice.
Not related, I think I just assumed that the relays broke, not exploded like in Arrival. I also assumed that the ships still had their FTL so they could travel around the galaxy, it was just less convenient. One other issue that came up is that so many people (myself included for a while) looked at this game as science-fiction instead of science-fantasy. In science-fantasy, things don’t always make scientific sense. In Star Wars, why are there lightsabers? No on knows how they work, we’re just expected to accept that they do. And people got so upset when midichlorians made an appearance to try and explain the Force, because the science-fiction explanation didn’t work in the science-fantasy realm. So while it seems like I’m being an ME3 apologist, I think some of the details about the Crucible just need to be accepted. It’s a giant, science-fantasy McGuffin.
You don’t think the Reaper conflict that started in ME1 set the stage for the synthetic/organic question at the end of ME3? That must have just been my interpretation, but the struggle between Reapers and organics seemed to hint that something big was coming. The Catalyst does lie; the Catalyst is working for the Reapers, and is following its programming. I wrote an article about the Catalyst being “right” but at the end of the day, it just followed its program, which was to “harvest” organic life.
Long comments are appreciated! And if you ever start a blog, let me know!
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Main Classroom Building Rm 136, East 22nd & Chester Ave., Cleveland State University, Cleveland, Ohio
We know the internet can be a dangerous place, but how dangerous is it really? It can be pretty bad, if you not careful. Once you know the dangers, what can you do to protect yourself?
Our speaker Tom Eston will talk about all this, including:
Add-ons or other programs to have to protect yourself
And just what is rickrolling
Tom Eston is a penetration tester for a Fortune 500 financial services organization. Tom currently serves as the security assessment team lead. Tom began his career over thirteen years ago as a systems and network administrator for several large and medium size businesses. Tom is actively involved in the security community and focuses his research on the security of social media. He is a contributing author to a social media eBook and has written a Facebook Privacy & Security Guide which is used in several major universities as part of student security awareness programs. Tom is a security blogger and co-host of the Security Justice and Social Media Security podcasts. Tom is also a frequent speaker at security user groups and conferences including Cleveland’s own Notacon and most recently Defcon 17 in Las Vegas.
You can read more about Tom and see an interview with him at the Great Lakes Geek. Tom also has a blog and a web site with many security tips and you can follow him on Twitter.
Directions to the meeting are available here.
The information, web links and articles presented here, are done as a public service. The Greater Cleveland PC Users Group (GCPCUG) does not condone software piracy. Before trying any programs, websites, techniques or suggestions on your devices, you should have a backup of your data. Opinions expressed by authors of articles on the site are not necessarily those of the GCPCUG. Mention of products or websites in no way constitutes endorsement by GCPCUG.The GCPCUG is a member of APCUG
| 2,038 |
The August service change brings more cuts, and an overdue reworking of the routes in northern St. Louis Park.
All of the following cuts are to routes where better frequencies were implemented in an attempt to attract riders, but ridership hasn’t met expectations.
On weekdays, the Red Line BRT will run every 20 minutes instead of every 15 minutes.
On Saturdays, the two St. Paul branches of Route 3 (Minneapolis-St. Paul via Como Avenue) will run hourly instead of every 30 minutes.
On weekdays, Route 27 (26th-28th Street Crosstown) will run every 30 minutes all day long, instead of more frequently during the rush hours.
On weekday middays and Saturdays, Route 65 (Dale Street Crosstown) will run every 30 minutes instead of every 20 minutes.
On weekday middays and Saturdays, Route 67 (Smith Avenue-West Minnehaha Avenue-East Franklin) will run every 30 minutes instead of every 20 minutes.
On weekday middays and Saturdays, Route 87 (Rosedale-Raymond Avenue-Highland Park) will run every 30 minutes instead of every 20 minutes.
The cuts on Routes 65, 67 and 87 undo some of the feeder service increases implemented when the Green Line opened.
A handful of express trips will be trimmed around the system.
The west end of Route 9 leaves downtown Minneapolis on Glenwood Avenue. Over the years the portion of it extending into St. Louis Park split into more and more branches in an attempt to serve multiple neighborhoods and traffic generators. Working around highway and railroad barriers made this problem worse. Now there were six terminals and it was confusing to say the least (see first map).
The decision to simplify Route 9 was driven by two factors.
Since 2000, Metro Transit has embraced a philosophy of simplifying routes and concentrating service on fewer streets. Route 9 stood out in its violation of that policy.
In the last 20 years, St. Louis Park has developed the West End business district, greatly concentrating trips ends in this corridor.
Service levels stay about the same, but the result is the much simpler route structure shown here.
The current 9H that serves the neighborhood west of Cedar Lake with a handful of peak-only trips was tacked onto the Route 25 Kenwood bus to avoid eliminating their service altogether.
The West End area had also received peak period express and reverse commute service via Route 649, which uses I-394. Under this new plan, Route 649 is folded into Route 675, the all-day Mound-Wayzata-Ridgedale route that runs on the service roads of I-394. The new combination is called Route 645. It simplifies the route structure and adds service to the West End area in exchange for about a 3-minute running time penalty for riders west of there.
The limits of suburban off-peak service
About a month ago I needed to travel from Shakopee to Minneapolis during the midday without a car. Surprisingly, that trip was possible thanks to the experimental MVTA Route 495 that connects Shakopee to Burnsville and Mall of America. You may recall it was implemented, along with a South West Metro route to Eden Prairie, in an attempt to serve reverse commuters to Shakopee, including the new Amazon fulfillment center.
I was dropped off at the Marschall Road Transit Station/Park-ride, an attractive facility located next to Hwy. 169 in the sprawl landscape on the east end of town.
Once an hour, the 495 is scheduled to make timed transfers with a pair of minibus feeders that cover Shakopee and a shuttle from Mystic Lake Casino, another big employer. Hourly frequency is pretty bare bones, but if you’re transit dependent, it’s a whole lot better than nothing.
All the buses arrived and a total of less than ten passengers boarded or alighted. That’s the challenge here. Given the modest funding available, MVTA has done the best possible job of creating a transit network that will take you most places with transfers that are assured. But if not enough people use it, it can’t be sustained. That’s why the Eden Prairie-Shakopee Route 638 was discontinued last March.
I rode the 495 to Burnsville Station, the next timed transfer point. The 12-mile non-stop trip on freeway and 4-lane highway couldn’t be faster, but with only five passengers, the subsidy per passenger must be well over the limits set by the Met Council.
At Burnsville I made a timed-transfer connection to Route 465 headed for Minneapolis.
While I waited, the two legs of Route 444 to Savage and MOA via Eagan made appearances and picked up one passenger between them.
The 465 arrived and a few of us boarded. Eventually this route and Metro Transit Route 535 along I-35W will be replaced by the Orange Line BRT. The passenger potential is certainly greater here than in Shakopee, but the Orange Line will probably have only modest ridership, even though it will be a well designed service.
That’s the challenge of transit in the suburbs–lots of vehicle miles to serve a rather small ridership base. Make no mistake, transit dependent people live in the suburbs and deserve basic mobility, but it’s expensive to provide it. Off-peak suburban bus services are unlikely to attract choice riders. That’s just the way it is.
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Aaron retired in 2006 after 33 years as a planner and manager for Metro Transit, where he worked in route and schedule planning, operations, maintenance, transit facilities, light rail and traffic advantages for buses. He's an historian of transit, as a 40+ year volunteer with the Minnesota Streetcar Museum. He's co-author of Twin Cities by Trolley, The Streetcar Era in Minneapolis and St. Paul, and author of Twin Ports by Trolley on Duluth-Superior.
View all posts by Aaron Isaacs →
Eric Ecklund August 19, 2017 at 7:38 pm
Route 465 isn’t being replaced by the Orange Line, just Route 535. Whether Route 465 will change in any way after the Orange Line opens I don’t know, but I hope it continues to serve South Bloomington as its a great way to get to the U of M.
Route 465 will also be getting two roundtrips on the weekend for timed transfers with Route 495 to Shakopee, however it will bypass South Bloomington and downtown as its geared for people in the Cedar-Riverside area who work at Amazon.
On your last point, I think it depends on the location. Places like Shakopee probably won’t get too many, if any, choice riders off peak. However in places like St. Louis Park and Bloomington I see a good amount of riders off peak. Probably because there is just enough density to sustain these services, but if our suburbs continue to grow in ways that are more friendly to transit (mixed development, higher density, pedestrian friendly) then I think off peak transit will have a better chance at being sustainable.
Aaron Isaacs August 19, 2017 at 8:45 pm
I’ve assumed the Orange Line replaces the 465 because otherwise the two are competing with each other all day between Burnsville, 98th Street, Lake Street and downtown. There’s not enough ridership to support that, especially when subsidy money is scarce.
Eric Ecklund August 21, 2017 at 12:12 am
I think what will likely happen is Route 465 operating only in peak hour and peak direction to the U and skipping downtown. There are many riders from Burnsville and Bloomington who take the 465 to the U in the morning and from the U in the evening. If there’s enough funding for the Orange Line then there’s enough funding for a scaled down 465.
John Charles Wilson August 20, 2017 at 3:22 pm
Thanks for explaining the purpose of the new 465 weekend trips. I was really wondering about that….
John Charles Wilson August 20, 2017 at 3:41 pm
Thanks for explaining why certain changes are being made. That really helps.
I feel sorry for the old 9H riders that now have to take the 25. Their ride will now be twice as long. Unless there’s a lot of transit dependents in or near the Cedar Lake Condos, I predict there will be *no* bus service there in about a year as choice riders will probably make another choice.
As to the 495, a stop should be added in downtown Savage. The cost would be almost zero and the bus might get an occasional extra passenger.
Perhaps the Orange and/or Red Lines could be extended to the U of M.
I don’t like the new route maps. They’re not to scale, and many of them don’t show details of the bus turnarounds. I’d like to see a return to the thinner line drawings used pre-1979 combined with true scale maps and showing all turnarounds.
Andrew August 21, 2017 at 9:44 pm
It’s awful to see so much service in Saint Paul cut, especially Cleveland and Dale. They finally had decent service, and now they’ll be back to crap. Of course, Saint Paul isn’t crowded and offers very ample parking, so there’s not much need of buses except for transit-dependent people. Still, one wishes more people would have used the service. North-south service has always been lousy, and with the opening of the Green Line, it finally had a respectable upgrade. Not anymore, I guess. Of course, they never implemented as much as they had promised. I seem to recall that service had also been proposed on Fairview, Hamline and Victoria. Maybe if Saint Paul keeps adding people it will change.
Bill Lindeke August 22, 2017 at 10:12 am
I am hopeful also eventually.
Tim August 22, 2017 at 11:23 am
Having used the 444 to get to work for a while, I’ll note that it picked up a lot of people at miscellaneous stops along the way as it winds through the area, especially at peak times.
Alex Porter September 1, 2017 at 9:43 am
The two biggest changes to express service that weren’t mentioned here:
Major cut: 865 no longer serves Ham Lake or East Bethel at all. This is a complete elimination of transit from those suburbs.
Notable add: Some 365 trips now serve the Newport P&R, which opened a couple of years ago. Until now, people wanting to commute from Newport to Minneapolis had to either transfer to the 94 in Downtown St. Paul or simply drive up to the overcapacity 61/Lower Afton P&R. Now Newport has direct service to Minneapolis. Hopefully this will take some pressure off the Lower Afton P&R.
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*"Michael Bruck was a great agent to work with. He was always willing to show us a house on short notice, and draw up an offer. He was always very responsive and went above and beyond to get the details we needed when looking for a home in such a hyper competitive market. My wife and I ended up purchasing raw land and building a new home, and Michael Bruck was there to get us under contract and help get the details and information needed to close on the land and new build as soon as possible. I would highly recommend using Bruck Realty to find your new home."* ~Michael & Theresa Fisher
*"Michael Bruck was a great agent to work with. He was always willing to show us a house on short notice, and draw up an offer. He was always very responsive and went above and beyond to get the details we needed when looking for a home in such a hyper competitive market. My wife and I ended up purchasing raw land and building a new home, and Michael Bruck was there to get us under contract and help get the details and information needed to close on the land and new build as soon as possible. I would highly recommend using Bruck Realty to find your new home."* ~Michael & Theresa Fisher
*"Mike works above and beyond the call of duty to find our perfect home. Mike also put that same energy into selling our old home. Bruck Realty is the way to go!!!!!!"* ~Joe Allen
*"Mike works above and beyond the call of duty to find our perfect home. Mike also put that same energy into selling our old home. Bruck Realty is the way to go!!!!!!"* ~Joe Allen
*"Bruck Realty assisted us in buying two houses and provided us with valuable contract pointers on renting one out. Buying my first house after divorce, We put in a bid where there were multiple bids and he negotiated a win that did not increase our price. His entire process is quick and seamless - like one continuous process and you barely realize there is a hand-picked team of independent actors behind the scenes."* ~Desiree Kinney
*"Bruck Realty assisted us in buying two houses and provided us with valuable contract pointers on renting one out. Buying my first house after divorce, We put in a bid where there were multiple bids and he negotiated a win that did not increase our price. His entire process is quick and seamless - like one continuous process and you barely realize there is a hand-picked team of independent actors behind the scenes."* ~Desiree Kinney
"*I’ve been working with Heather from Bruck Realty to rent out my home. She’s very hard-working and honest and generally just a nice person. I’d highly recommend her if you’re looking for property management. I’ve had a wonderful experience so far."* ~Sahar Sadeghian Paul
"*I’ve been working with Heather from Bruck Realty to rent out my home. She’s very hard-working and honest and generally just a nice person. I’d highly recommend her if you’re looking for property management. I’ve had a wonderful experience so far."* ~Sahar Sadeghian Paul
"*Bruck Realty is a great Real Estate company! Michael found a property and represented me on the Buy. He then offered his rental Management services which have worked out very well! He is consistently presenting new opportunities in the Northern Virginia area.*" ~Clay Lescalleet III
"*Bruck Realty is a great Real Estate company! Michael found a property and represented me on the Buy. He then offered his rental Management services which have worked out very well! He is consistently presenting new opportunities in the Northern Virginia area.*" ~Clay Lescalleet III
*"Michael Bruck and his team are amazing! Great property management and real estate sales/rental. I would highly recommend Michael and his team at Bruck Realty for any of your real estate needs."* ~Katy Flyreb
*"Michael Bruck and his team are amazing! Great property management and real estate sales/rental. I would highly recommend Michael and his team at Bruck Realty for any of your real estate needs."* ~Katy Flyreb
*"There is a lot my husband and myself can say about Bruck Realty. The owner is very professional, and his customer service skills go above and beyond what is required. I wouldn’t deal with any other realtor after him. There was an issue at the place; he found us another place ASAP. !"* ~Priscilla Williams
*"There is a lot my husband and myself can say about Bruck Realty. The owner is very professional, and his customer service skills go above and beyond what is required. I wouldn’t deal with any other realtor after him. There was an issue at the place; he found us another place ASAP. !"* ~Priscilla Williams
*"I had an amazing experience working with Bruck Realty. Very friendly, very informative, and quick to answer questions. He has helped me many times and I look forward to working with him again in the future for my next home!"* ~Neil Sittner
*"I had an amazing experience working with Bruck Realty. Very friendly, very informative, and quick to answer questions. He has helped me many times and I look forward to working with him again in the future for my next home!"* ~Neil Sittner
*"Michael gave me gentle confidence and investment advice - no pushy timelines. Michael is customer-focused, ethical, and honest in every aspect. He never misses a beat, and he is as patient as the day is long."* ~Desiree Kinney
*"Michael gave me gentle confidence and investment advice - no pushy timelines. Michael is customer-focused, ethical, and honest in every aspect. He never misses a beat, and he is as patient as the day is long."* ~Desiree Kinney
*"Michael Bruck is a professional and all-around amazing person. He is trustworthy, reliable, and always gets the job done. You will not be disappointed."* ~Miriam Wallace
*"Michael Bruck is a professional and all-around amazing person. He is trustworthy, reliable, and always gets the job done. You will not be disappointed."* ~Miriam Wallace
*"As first-time home buyers we had no idea what we were doing, Heather was fantastic with helping us ease our worries. She was very aware of our preferences and was able to find us our first home!"* ~Kimberly Hales
*"As first-time home buyers we had no idea what we were doing, Heather was fantastic with helping us ease our worries. She was very aware of our preferences and was able to find us our first home!"* ~Kimberly Hales
*"Bruck Realty cares about your needs and listens! They helped me sell my home and purchase a new one with ease. I would certainly use then in the future."* ~Deborah Allen
*"Bruck Realty cares about your needs and listens! They helped me sell my home and purchase a new one with ease. I would certainly use then in the future."* ~Deborah Allen
*"Mike Bruck did an outstanding job handling the sale of my condo, his dedication to my needs and professionalism gave me tremendous amount of confidence in him and it showed in a quick sale and what I wanted."* ~Stephen Herbert
*"Mike Bruck did an outstanding job handling the sale of my condo, his dedication to my needs and professionalism gave me tremendous amount of confidence in him and it showed in a quick sale and what I wanted."* ~Stephen Herbert
*"Michael Bruck and his team are such a follow through and responsive group! I'm so grateful for them!"* ~Lou Ann Maxwell
*"Michael Bruck and his team are such a follow through and responsive group! I'm so grateful for them!"* ~Lou Ann Maxwell
*"Professionalism, Quality, Responsiveness"* ~Mikaela Peck
*"Professionalism, Quality, Responsiveness"* ~Mikaela Peck
*"With Michael, you are treated like a customer for life. My whole family knows and loves him. We will be buying more houses from Bruck Realty and referring him to friends and family. He is a realtor and trusted advisor."* ~Desiree Kinney
*"With Michael, you are treated like a customer for life. My whole family knows and loves him. We will be buying more houses from Bruck Realty and referring him to friends and family. He is a realtor and trusted advisor."* ~Desiree Kinney
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Altered from my original post in The Commoner Magazine this fall with more sass and Socials information.
Close your eyes and think about what you know about Detroit. Let me guess- you think of cars, Motown, sports, or crime, right? But not food? Well, let’s change that. It’s time to be introduced to some of the greatest bakeries and cupcakeries that Metro-Detroit has to offer. Each one is a local business, mostly female owned and so chock full of goodness that your teeth will hurt just by reading this.
Read on to find out some of my personal favorites in the Metro-Detroit bakery realm; maybe it can inspire you to think out of the box as well.
Donut Bar + Coffee- What better way to start your journey than a beautiful array of donuts, coffee or even a “donut shake”? Donut Bar + Coffee is one of those exclusive style of places that keep popping up all over Metro-Detroit. They tell you every day, once the donuts are gone, we’re closed. They do well with social media, which is fun and drool-inducing by posting flavors of the day like caramel apple, Perfect Pair (coffee and Biscoff), chicken and waffles, cotton candy and Fruity Pebbles. They use flavor combos that are innovative, some classic, and some truly outrageous; and every day is different! The one rub with Donut Bar is that they ripen like avocados because everything is so fresh in making them- You have to eat them day of or store them airtight ASAP to retain freshness. If you leave them overnight in the box they will harden.
Love+Buttercream- I have gone here for many a’holiday. L&B has been voted the best for a reason and I always come here when I’m on their side of town. The buttercream here is the tops- not too sweet or oily like a few others (that aren't listed here as a top dessertery). I am a French macaron freak and buy at least one of every flavor when I go. It's an easy way to blow a pay check, let me tell you. Their baked goods are always a hit and the selection so grand that you can order an entire box full and still not try it all. Their goods are all baked from scratch using local, organic and season ingredients because they value community as well as taste. They also offer classes for kids and adults in treatmaking, cookie painting and more. Plus their shop is completely Instagram worthy!
Union General Store- I went to a theatre fundraiser that hired Union as caterer and I jest not, I said their French macarons were the best thing I have ever eaten. That’s a high compliment indeed! Since then I was a little nervous to make the drive to Clarkston just in case it was only a really good day and their part; basically I was afraid of being disappointed. But I was absolutely not. I of course ate my way through their macaron flavors (my previous opinion still stands) but also picked up their pumpkin pie cupcake, a “how ‘bout them apples” caramel apple cupcake and a “Veruca Salt” a rich chocolate and salted caramel cupcake. They’re more on the sweet side, but worth the trip. Event your most curmudgeon of family members can find something of delight from their selection for a party.
Blu Kitchen- Though Blu Kitchen specializes in, you guessed it, French macarons, they also do flavor after flavor of handcrafted small batch marshmallows, hot cocoa mix sets and other delicious baked goods. Adina started Blu Kitchen as a Farmer’s Market staple a few years back before moving on to pop-ups anywhere possible. I attended my first pop-up of hers during a snowstorm about two years ago where I waited in line for an hour outside of a children’s daycare and the crowd proved to be too much. She was sold out before we even got close! It's not secret why. Since that day she started selling in Eastern Market in the Detroit Mercantile shop once a month or so. Eventually she graduated up and Blu Kitchen found a permanent home in Plymouth but is still only open on weekends. It basically still runs like a pop-up with regular hours but limited quantities of each item and when it’s gone the doors close. If you intend to visit this shop, go early and bring your sweet tooth!
Westview Orchards Winery- The winery is gorgeous, fun for parties and has a wonderful donut flight for snacking on. It seem so simple, a flight of three donuts of your choosing, but let me tell you- Katrina does not skimp on toppings for these bad boys! They also have delish handpies in a few flavors- I love their peach and berry pies best, which are sweet enough for a dessert but not overly sweet so that they make a good breakfast as well. It's my favorite part of Friday nights when I go play trivia in "the barn". Their bakery offers fresh ciders, an amazing bread selection like cheddar jalapeno bread, hand poured candy apples, more donuts, whole pies and so much more. They make their own wines, sangrias and hard ciders to compliment any order and would be a welcome addition to any gathering. It’s a seasonal favorite for the atmosphere, corn maze and baby goats, but Westview has more to offer than traditional Fall faves for an orchard. The good part is that WOW is open all year round with seasonal treats a’plenty to eat there and take home- if they make it that far.
Garrido’s Bistro and Pastry- As much as I adore Garrido’s, it’s not really the kind of place where you can take your desserts home to share. There are a few items from their Venezuelan inspired menu that can actually be taken home, like all normal restaurants which are worth mentioning, I guess, but what adds Garrido’s to a dessert list is their biggest draw- both in size and sales- their “Extreme Shakes and Over The Top Hot Chocolates”! Vanessa is the champion Tetris player with the way she can sculpt these dessert masterpieces. Since their start in 2015 they have been featured on the Travel Channel, PBS, Food Network and all over Dettroit News and Morning show networks. If you get there at a lucky time Vanessa will create your drink right in front of you and pause appropriately for video making moments, which helps make this place extra special. The staff understands that they are putting on a show with their amazing food and desserts, and they’re cool with it. It’s a chocolate spectacle worth sharing with someone, but maybe is not enough to bring one home for the whole family this season!
Dollars to doughnuts that you'll find something to love here. All in all, Detroiters love sweets, much like everyone else! Our current crazes are, very obviously, macarons and donuts but that doesn’t mean you can’t find a 6 layered cake or croquembouche around town.
Have you ever seen such deliciousness in one place? Did I miss anything? Let me know below and I will create a new dessert tour and try out your recommendations soon.
As always, be kind to one another. #NewYearSameMe
Aoibhneas (thats'a me!)
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jennyinneverland January 12, 2019 at 6:49 AM
Some of these desserts look insane! I'm from the UK so admittedly I don't know anything about Detroit but I know I'd love to go and try all of these!
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aoibhneastravels January 25, 2019 at 10:58 PM
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FamilySurvival January 12, 2019 at 11:56 AM
I need to go to the Garrido place. The dessert looks amazing and delicious. If I’m ever in Detroit, I’m definitely going here!!
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aoibhneastravels January 25, 2019 at 10:58 PM
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Vonetta January 12, 2019 at 3:20 PM
I’m drooling! I love wine and macarons. If I ever get to Detroit I know where to go !
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Nancy January 12, 2019 at 9:16 PM
Wow, those looks amazing! I may go to Detroit just for the desserts!!
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pam January 15, 2019 at 7:12 PM
Wow, I had no idea Detroit had such a great food scene! I definitely need to check it out!
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A Taste for Travel January 15, 2019 at 11:06 PM
I would never have guessed Detroit as a hub for macarons! That's crazy good news. Time for a trip across the border for this Canuck
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aoibhneastravels January 25, 2019 at 10:58 PM
I'll meet up with you so we can eat and eat!!
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shelbi January 15, 2019 at 11:36 PM
I love a good dessert, Detroit will definitely be added to my places to visit when in the United States!
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GeekyDaddy January 16, 2019 at 9:18 AM
Wow! I live in the Detroit area and have only been to 3 of these places! I've got some eating to do!
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aoibhneastravels January 25, 2019 at 10:59 PM
Where at?? We can meet up! I have a second food tour planned!
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Caitlin Brant January 16, 2019 at 3:15 PM
Oh my god! American desserts always look so crazy good! I really want to hop across the border and get some of these when I'm next home in Ontario.
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Erika| The ME Project January 16, 2019 at 5:52 PM
I have somewhat of a sweet tooth but I think these desserts may be too much for me to handle lol.
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Lisa January 17, 2019 at 10:36 AM
I live just a few miles from Westview Winery and drive by it regularly, but I've only gone to the orchard in the fall! I need to remedy that. Oooo and you got my attention with the chicken & waffles donut from Donut Bar + Coffee. I'm going to have to look them up!
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aoibhneastravels January 17, 2019 at 11:32 AM
I'd love to meet up over one of these! Maybe trivia night at westview on a friday?!
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Vicky January 17, 2019 at 10:49 AM
Detroit does have amazing food! When I visited a few years ago I was amazed at how many great restaurants and award winning chefs there were. I didn't have as much dessert as you though, so I'll definitely have to go back. ;)
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aoibhneastravels January 25, 2019 at 10:59 PM
Absolutely!
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Authentic Food Quest January 18, 2019 at 10:52 AM
Ohhh...such delicious sweet treats. So glad you focused on ones owned by women!! I knew the food scene in Detroit was great, but didn't know much about the dessert scene. This is a quite a neat compilation of the top joints. The desserts at Garrido's has me sold. What a yummy article!!
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aoibhneastravels January 25, 2019 at 11:00 PM
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Lara Dunning January 19, 2019 at 6:41 PM
I would have never thought of Detroit as a dessert mecca, and you've certainly shown that they have some amazing goodies. I'd opt for the extreme shake first, as I adore a good milkshake. Then, I'd have to move on to the butterdcreams!
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aoibhneastravels January 25, 2019 at 11:00 PM
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Bloglove2018 January 23, 2019 at 5:50 PM
You had me at dessert! Everything looks & sounds amazing! I can not wait to look into them more! Thank you so much for sharing! Have to go get myself something yummy right now!
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aoibhneastravels June 5, 2019 at 7:53 PM
I'll take you, friend!
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I'm often asked "Why Dublin?" when asked where I'd rather be. I always say it's true love. It's that somersault feeling of realizing that you're falling in love. That madness only sheer beauty and joy can bring. I could wax poetic about her all day, for I love Ireland most. I had a short conversation with the staff at Abbey Court Hostel via Facebook the other day over a Conde Nast list of "Top 10 Things in Dublin" for tourism or something close to that and was impressed with the list because I love Dublin, but also felt it lacking- so, mixed reviews. It had the usual stuff you would expect to find on a tourism list- things I loved too, traditional tourist spots and then the list was done. That was it! It lacked heart, tradition, history, reason and whimsy. It didn't mention music at all, bites to eat, nothing. It came down to Abbey Court inspiring to write my own list. I had a middle seat and basically left a face imprint on
So, not travel related, but, as a frequent traveler who gets a lot of positive hair comments I can segue. I have been coloring my hair since 1998. It started out as green streaks on Christmas eve courtesy of my mom. Fast forward, I've been various shades of magenta and hot pink off and on for the last 13 years, more notably deep magenta (and sometimes with blue) since 2016. It's been constant. I do it myself, use NO bleach, and learned from a master colorist that I trust very much. Needless to say, I'm no dummy at my hair. Until now. In December I purchased a Manic Panic jar of Enchanted Forest because I thought I wanted to change my hair some, like I am apt to do. I hadn't used this hair color since high school because I found brands I liked more, but I really enjoyed this teal shade and thought I would give it a go. I was very wrong. Not only did I spend an hour trying to color the ends of my hair this teal (which was previously blue but faded back down to a
For those who don't know, the Leland is and was a historic hotel in Downtown Detroit. Currently the first few floors are hotel, the top most are apartments and the basement is storage and "storage" with an outer sub-basement that's an unattached "goth" club. The City Club goth dance goers would love for you to believe that it's haunted with the thousand bloody souls of something or other, but, is it? Maybe! I can't say if it's a ghostly experience I had here or just my own nerves amped up from Little J and I not B&Eing in to wander around (we were let in by helpful fellas who thought we were staying there), but it's definitely something. We went in thinking we were Nancy Drew investigating gangs and Jimmy Hoffa, but really, we were just hooligans who wound up feeling like the sneakers became the snook! This was with no flash. Wonky lighting. That's a window to the lobby. Same floor. Looks normal for an operational bus
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With a quick glance at the recipes in my post about cooking in Bali, one might think my culinary adventures in Bali were predominately chicken-based. However, outside of the wedding and cooking class, my most enjoyable meals were vegetarian (and at sometimes vegan). The ubiquity of raw, vegan, or vegetarian restaurant menus in Bali took me by surprise.
The ubiquity is normal to me in San Francisco given my circle of friends forms a Venn diagram in the variety of dietary choices. My excuse to try quirky new places or dishes in San Francisco form once I have another interested friend to bring along. For example, I keep a mental note of which friends to call when my favorite Feastly pop-up chefs, Om Sabor, host a Mexican-inspired vegan dinner.
I really missed these friends with every day spent being solo and veganish in Bali and I am excited to be able to act as a guide if I ever make it back with a larger squad.
Kismet Cafe was a major stand-out in Ubud. My first visit had me craving their Asian bowl again the next day. By my third visit, they recognized me as a regular, and, for me, it was a great departing meal before flying back home. The restaurant has two floors with open-air seating and it was never too busy. I spent most of my visits devouring their bowls, drinking kombucha or kefir, and sometimes reading or editing photos.
What I really liked about their bowls was the ability to get them with a variety of skewers. I had the option to get 3 or 5 and I always got 5. The first visit was a mix of tofu, seitan, grilled vegetables, mushrooms, and tempeh. After this first visit I discovered which of those options were my favorites. My second and third visit leaned towards choosing 2 tempeh skewers, 1 seitan, and 2 mushroom.
My belly was happy with the volume of the bowls after every visit. These were ‘bowls’ in the sense that you could choose between red steamed rice or rice noodles to add to the base of leafy greens. I chose noodles on my first visit and decided I didn’t care for them (they were crunchy and thin like Maggi noodles). I gave the rice a try the second time and enjoyed its nutty taste. Tempeh was the ingredient in all of my visits that took me by surprise. I’m quick to try anything that’s fermented so I was surprised it took me this long to have it. I enjoyed the chewy, nutty, and hearty texture. At one point I decided tempeh would be something I should try making myself once I got home, but after a quick search, the process seems to be less forgiving than sourdough, kimchi, or kombucha. I’ll save tempeh production for the pros.
Round one
Round Two
Round three
Moksa was a special trip in many ways. My first attempt to reach the restaurant from my home-stay on foot was a failure that lead me to a dead-end in a few rice fields, but a cute reward was getting to watch ducks run around one of the fields like lemmings following the flock’s collective direction.
The route I ended up taking was dangerous because I was walking on a road with a small shoulder with heavy evening traffic. I decided there was no way I would walk back in the darkness and would find a way to call a taxi to pick me up.
Anxiety around how I would accomplish getting back to my home-stay began to set in when I realized that the back-road leading up to the restaurant is tiny and not meant for anything with more than 2 wheels. Driving on this road means running the risk of falling into a rice field. Even motorbikes and pedestrians would to proceed with careful footing in the darkness. When I did have a taxi pick me up, we had to carefully reverse and teeter on the edge of the path to turn around after realizing there was only one way out. At one point, we met a group of people walking towards the restaurant that had to turn around and walk back in order to give us the right of way.
Was the risk of falling into a rice field in a taxi van worth it? #### Yes.
I got to the restaurant just as the sun began to set and took a seat at a table near the edge of the open candle-lit gazebo dining area so that I could get a glimpse of permaculture garden Moksa maintains to provide ingredients for the menu.
Sometimes when I’m out having a meal by myself I will listen to podcasts and, as serendipity would have it, the topic was about the phenomenon of waiting in line for food. Lucky for me, solo-dining meant no wait and no reservation required.
I didn’t take long to decide on what I would have after I realized the three-course prix fixe menu was only $15 USD! Each item on the menu made a clear distinction whether it was raw or heated. I chose a variety of both.
The meal started with an amuse-bouche that consisted of a slice of cucumber with some sort of hummus. Unfortunately I wasn’t paying attention when the waitress came by and missed what she said.
I loved that the toasted nuts turned out to be spiced cashews. The tender greens reminded me of eating baby spinach and butter lettuce from my tiny garden plot for the first time.
There were flakes in the salad that I didn’t quite recognize but looked and tasted like Parmesan. I felt that they went well with the cashews to add a pleasant crunch.
“Grilled young jackfruit fillet, on a bed of vegan mushroom and mustard cream sauce, served with cumin-braised cabbages and sweet potato fries.”
I chose this after consulting the waiter taking my order and was not disappointed. During the meal, I took some short notes about what I thought as I chewed each of the components on the plate.
I kept sopping up the mustard cream sauce with the braised cabbages to tame the spice from the caramelized cabbage and onions. It was my first time eating jackfruit “meat” and it felt squishy, thick, and meaty. The “mignon” was more like a couple of slider patties. The “thickness” of each bite needed some water to wash it down, however, the final texture was softer and smoother than what I expected. Sear marks are always a nice satisfying touch and I appreciated their placebo effect of making food “taste better”.
I saved the purple sweet potatoes fries for last. Their deep purple hue made me think that they had a beetroot taste. Their crunchy skin in addition to sesame seed crust was amazing and they had a cajun kick to them that took me by surprise. The one downside was that they were saltier than the rest of the plate, but this was not a problem once dessert came along.
Labeled as “nice cream” on the menu, which meant frozen desserts with a coconut, cashew, or pumpkin seed base. I couldn’t decide on what to have, I was craving a coconut base but found the other options intriguing. So I asked the waiter to categorize the flavors by base for me:
Chocolate coffee ( cashew ) - my first pick
Absolutely creamy and nutty
Primarily chocolate flavor than coffee
Thicker base than the scoop of jackfruit cardamom, but melted much faster
‘Meaty’ texture with seeds
Cardamom forward and sweeter than chocolate coffee
Aftertaste had hint of bananas
Durian ( coconut )
This was by far the most hipster cafe I visited during the entire trip. I was surrounded by Australians, one of which sent a flat white back because it was “not a flat white” , and each meal began with a perfectly posed overhead shot of the meal.
So, when in Rome, gotta take food porn photos like the rest.
My first night at Oman’s Guest House ended in my host walking me through rice fields in the darkness to reach the food stalls nearby at a night market. We stopped at a Padang food stall where we had the option to choose from a variety of dishes. We sat down with our plates and ate on picnic style tables covered with vinyl tablecloths. This was the most ‘home style’ meal I had during my stay in Bali and it was a comforting meal to have with another person, even though our conversation was primarily broken English.
I had high hopes for Bali Buda given their small market next door that was reminiscent of a tiny Whole Foods. However, the salad I ordered was not as satiating as the ones I had at Kismet and they were out of avocado. I decided to pair the salad with a Beat The Heat juice (beets, celery, cucumber, parsley).
Ice cream deserves its own section because happiness is unlimited tastings to decide among exotic flavors.
All coconut menu made it easy to decide.
Vibrant and funky sorbet flavors made me do a double take. Got the black charcoal and passionfruit cinnamon as my last snack in Ubud.
Dessert with my home stay host after eating from a Padang food stall.
Specialty coffee in Ubud is easy to come by if you’re willing to go out of your way to find it. The baristas at Seniman Coffee, Gangga Coffee, 7Cups know their way around a pour-over brewer and espresso machine.
The nitro cold brew at Seniman is especially exquisite.
Go Back with Me!
I’m happy to know that Bali is a destination for any dietary choice or restriction. If I ever get the opportunity to travel to Bali, I definitely see myself in a longer stay in Ubud potentially working remotely. Hopefully I’ll have a few other people with me next time to share the experiences I had while I was there.
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Caleb Love Brady Manek RJ Davis Caleb Mills Cam'Ron Fletcher Men's basketball Men's sports Men's college basketball College sports College basketball Basketball Sports
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North Carolina guard Caleb Love (2) shoots against Florida State forward Harrison Prieto (30) and guard Caleb Mills during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Chapel Hill, N.C., Saturday, Feb. 12, 2022. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — Caleb Love scored 18 points and North Carolina used a dominating first half, including scoring the first 18 points of the game, to roll to a 94-74 win over Florida State on Saturday.
Amando Bacot had his 19th double-double with 17 points on 7-of-9 shooting and 14 rebounds for the Tar Heels (18-7, 10-4 Atlantic Coast Conference). RJ Davis and Brady Manek both added 16 points.
North Carolina made 7 of 10 shots, including three 3s and a three-point play, while FSU missed its first nine shots with three turnovers before making a free throw at the 13:03 mark. Love had two 3s and Leaky Black the and-one.
Cam'Ron Fletcher made Florida State's first basket at 11:32, making the score 24-3. The Seminoles missed 10 shots and had four turnovers, while only grabbing three rebounds, although UNC didn't provide many opportunities on the boards, shooting 11 of 14 through the first 10 minutes.
It was 62-24 at the half, the largest lead the Tar Heels ever had in a league game. They did it shooting 74.2% (23 of 31), their best half shooting in four years, including 9 of 12 from 3-point range. Love had a career-high five 3s and finished 6 of 8 from distance.
Meanwhile the Seminoles shot 30% with eight turnovers and were outrebounded by 11.
Fletcher scored 16 points with 10 rebounds and RayQuan Evans scored 13 for Florida State (13-11, 6-8), which lost its sixth straight after winning five straight, including an overtime win over Duke. FSU has been struggling with injuries and lost leading scorer Caleb Mills (13.3) to an ankle injury 7 1/2 minutes into the game.
Bacot's basket to open the second half produced the biggest lead at 64-24. FSU outscored the Tar Heels 50-32 in the second half, when UNC went 3 of 16 behind the arc and shot 39%.
Florida State is home against Clemson on Tuesday and North Carolina is home against Pittsburgh on Wednesday.
For more AP college basketball coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball and http://twitter.com/AP_Top25
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Note: This is the foreword to Feasta member Patrick Noble’s newest book. In the past we have published excerpts from two of his previous books: A Potent Nostalgia and The Commons of Soil. You can read more about Patrick’s work on his website.
Government appoints a scientific advisor, specifically to place him in visible proximity, while utterly ignoring him.
It creates a department of Environment to be seen to have one and so that it can forget about environmental problems.
It creates future targets for reductions in CO2 emissions, so that for the present it can plan to emit a lot more CO2.
It makes many such overtures to the future, specifically to ignore the present: technological progress, educational targets, economic growth…. The illusion that progress will solve the problems of the future is presented to obscure the ancient truth that future-problems are created by the present.
Meanwhile citizens mimic their governments by subscribing to environmental and social NGOs – often, so that they can forget about living within environmental limits in socially-responsible ways.
It has become commonplace to assume that a personal moral balance can be achieved by purchasing what is ethically labelled. In doing so, we may defer personal responsibility to the provisions of others. Meanwhile, those purchases can swell the size of an amoral casino which has not the moral or perceptive functions to recognise either fairness or durability. Amorality cannot picture morality.
Similarly, environmental and social NGOs seek to make the super market a better place by encouraging markets for ethical labels. Consequently, shoppers are enticed from the conviviality of proper shops and market squares towards a morally-endorsed amorality. Placing moral labels in an amoral market does not bring morality to the market. On the contrary, turning morality into a brand kills the morality, but authenticates the brand.
In consequence, we have deferred responsibility to that which has no responsibility – both to our punts within a casino which we conveniently pretend is an economy and to abstract presentations of progress in which fictitious children solve their parents’ neglected problems.
Governments have done the same, not only by appeals to a deaf future, but by transferring government responsibility to an irresponsible market. (Privatisation)
In truth, the current programme of “austerity” is less about living within the ecological means of a society and more (as the economist, Susan George points out) about socialising losses and privatising profits.
This book proposes that we live in a uniquely perverse time – and that solutions to its uniquely- perverse problems will not be found in further extra-ordinary solutions. Remedies may be found in simply returning to normal. Moreover, living by ordinary ethics within ordinary laws of physics may reclaim the happiness that comes from living within ordinary human nature.
Extra-ordinary, technological solutions have acted as distractions. Wild weather will destroy more crops and livelihoods and energy-sources will diminish – as those four hundred parts per million of atmospheric CO2 increase. The two degree temperature rise, which now seems inevitable, will bring (by most optimistic models) a metre rise in sea level. That will overwhelm coastal and island communities and perhaps (the least of our problems) bring sea water lapping at the feet of Big Ben (my fantasy).
The central thesis of this book is that cultures are what their citizens do – not the state to which their citizens have grown accustomed. Cultures are methods, not states – and so answers to the times lie less in government legislation and more in the changed behaviour of citizens.
Part one of this book is my Notes from Nowhere – as possible as William Morris’s News, but idealised depictions of what could be if we behave well can to be set against what will become more likely, because we behave more or less badly. It is a moral mirror, although this one is set well outside Eden.
Part two is a Notes from Somewhere –a stirred cauldron of the morals and physics of human nature. I believe that economies can be supplied by their ecologies in the quantities needed, but that the supply will progressively diminish, if we take more from the moral and physical soil, than we return. If we continue to behave as we are – and as governments and corporations ask us to do, then we may as well stock up with cans and head for the bunkers – or join the dark mountaineers. Actually, post modern governments and corporations ask of us what we ask of them – consumerism is a blind, regressive, decadent, unresponsive, anachronistic, shrinking circle. Consensus party politics is a part of that shrinking circle. Political parties are marketed in exactly the same ways (and by the same agencies) as pot noodles. Climate will change and resources will diminish, while consumerism revolves unchanged around its centre – electorates asking of governments, what governments ask of electorates – all eyes turned inwards.
There is far too much hope in the world to abandon it to a foolish diminishing spiral. Even so, it is too late to expect any hope at all from “first world” governments, their corporate managers, their media promoters (alas, such as the BBC) – or from the NGOs we have created by subscription to oppose them all. Cultures are and always have been what their citizens get up to. So we change the wrong thing, if we seek to change governance. The way to break the circle is simple. We don’t negotiate within it. We step outside. We change ourselves.
Although governments and corporations can restrict, forbid, restrain and sometimes encourage what we do, nevertheless it remains true that none but ourselves can change ourselves. It is ridiculous to propose that a government can do it for us. Real people put excess CO2 in the atmosphere – not the abstractions that are corporations and nation states. Real people, and one by one, consume what should remain for their children. Real people emit more than their annual “allowance” of CO2 in a single holiday flight. We real people have created nightmares of asset- stripped economies and swelling casinos; of dormitory villages and decaying town centres. We are the heart (and vacant souls) of bustling ring roads and retail parks.
Somewhere, there is an evacuated, social shell, which has evolved to call its prodigals home – it is the inherited, primal shaping spirit of social systems – located East and well outside Eden – comprising ingenuity, dexterity, conviviality, probity…. Since it is outside Eden, it is bonded by a common comedy (tragedy shares the same spring), in which people lean inwards to discuss the source of all learning – commons of misadventure.
Only real people, and one by one can discuss those things, because only flesh and blood has senses to receive information from the physics of the world and then to understand and interpret it.
To those who shrug helplessly, “What can one person do?” my answer is, nothing is ever done but by one person at a time. Corporations such as Monsanto have been created by billions of small purchases. They can evaporate at a fashionable whim. A fashionable flood of billions is no small thing. Monsanto herself (should it be a macho himself?) is composed of one employee at a time – free to choose other employment – if it becomes possible and financed at the whim of punters (one by one) in a casino. Yet, Monsanto’s political and monetary decisions are made by a circle of very few – using, like consensus politics a manufactured, pre-conceived, unresponsive consensus. It has not the diversity of senses to make a sensible diversity of decisions.
I propose that we abandon dependency on abstractions – on the latest “scientific” evidence; on the coming government white paper and the accompanying NGO contra-reports. We have all we need to know – the ordinary ethics of ordinary lives on ordinary and finite Earth. The greatest corporations, their media promoters and tamed governments are fictions. Historically, “great companies” have disappeared in mergers and at the whim of stock market punts as though they had never been.
Meanwhile, everything we do has consequence and so has a moral. If we reclaim the moral with what we do, then we reclaim curiosity, identity, self-worth and happiness. Why should we defer to ethical brands and the latest scientific paper? That post-modern cultures have been “created” more by the amoral punts of a casino, and less by the conscious actions of citizens, gives citizens licence to re-assert a personal contribution to the common good. Even if we fail, doing the right thing remains the source of happiness.
Of course, wealth created in land-owning economies does not remain with its creators. The landless may create the wealth which drives up property values, but rents rise and wages fall as land-value commands further enclosures. In recent times, the wealth gap has widened further, because available money-flow has swollen to a flood by the power of fossil fuels. The very many poor compete for housing and work held in the monopoly of the rich. The statutory minimum wage is a quiet acknowledgement that markets are not self-regulating. (Bread and circuses)
So, although immediate solutions lie in evacuating super markets and occupying a real economics of proper shops and workshops – assisted by local currencies and local share or bond systems perhaps – we can still argue for just governance – such as a ground rent tax paid to the common good in the form of a citizens income, or dividend. Property law protects the right of proprietors to have no obligation to the common good. So an initially violent land enclosure has remained in both purchase and inheritance as a perennial violence, since the common good has been perennially denied. Wealth has become a monopoly. It cannot be obtained by good work. If wealth is restored to those who generate it, then economies and cultures can more-easily revive. These ideas have been commonplace since the eighteenth century and probably before. As Adam Smith suggests, in pursuing what makes “the wealth of nations”, we should consider (as he observed at the time) that nations with high wages and low profits, generated most wealth, whereas, those with high profits and low wages created the least. Tell that to the Adam Smith Institute.
Meanwhile, it is liberating to remember that remedies for extra-ordinary problems will not be found in extraordinary solutions, but by returning to normal – and by ordinary solutions – solutions which require no research institutes, or accredited authorities, but the common sense of Everyman (sexless term). Of course, since the extraordinary has been oil-made, rather than hand and heart-crafted, it has become flat, stale, wearisome and uninspired. Ordinary nature, on the other hand, will be unpredictable and enticingly illusive. I suggest that it could be the inspiration for a cultural renaissance. Even though we live on less and within ecological restraints, we may find increasing happiness in receiving back both our human nature and the fascinating complexity of an intertwining natural world.
Civilizations are not made by governments – still less by the defensive state of property ownership. They are made by the ingenuity, dexterity and most importantly: the probity of ordinary human nature. They emerge from the opportunities and restraints of a common soil. I should be able to own the fruits of my labour, but never the common ground.
The unjust enclosure of dynamic moral commons into the defensive (static) amorality of state and property – is a target, not for attack but avoidance. We can liberate ingenuity from its cage by quietly reclaiming commons from the imposed restraints of a variety of enclosed monopolies – land, technology, trade and trading places, genetic material….
Emergent technologies could prove a delight. The trial and error of techniques are precisely the methods of children at play. The common provides value through the conduit of responsible roles – by both probity and labour – which is more than money could buy.
In this I am supported by a study partially funded (you may be surprised) by NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Centre. Authors from every period of history, noting the collapse of civilizations would have endorsed this study, which re-enforces anciently-understood truths with computerised mathematical models. The following is from a Guardian article of 14th March 2014, by Dr Nafeez Ahmed. The quoted passages are his selections from the study.
“… accumulated surplus is not evenly distributed throughout society, but rather has been controlled by an elite. The mass of the population, while producing the wealth, is only allocated a small portion of it by elites, usually at or just above subsistence levels.”
The study challenges those who argue that technology will resolve these challenges by increasing efficiency:
“Technological change can raise the efficiency of resource use, but it also tends to raise both per capita resource consumption and the scale of resource extraction, so that (….) the increases in consumption often compensate for the increased efficiency of resource use.”
Productivity increases in agriculture and industry over the last two centuries have come from “increased (rather than decreased) resource throughput,” despite dramatic efficiency gains over the same period.
Modelling a range of different scenarios, Motesharri and his colleagues conclude that under conditions “closely reflecting the reality of the world today… we find that collapse is difficult to avoid.”
The authors go on to say “Collapse can be avoided and population can reach equilibrium if the per capita rate of depletion of nature is reduced to a sustainable level, and if resources are distributed in a reasonably equitable fashion.”
This book is an exploration of techniques for economies to sit happily within their ecologies and also for citizens to sit happily in their roles as contributory parts to the whole.
A whole, peaceful revolution may be composed of millions of personally-determined moral decisions. If we cannot reverse Oliver Goldsmith’s phrase, in which wealth accumulates and men decay, we will be forced to join him in his despair. Writers from ancient times through to the more recent Adam Smith, Thomas Paine, John Stuart Mill, Henry George – and yes, Winston Churchill saw how, when wealth accumulates, civilisations decay.
If we wait for the governments, it’ll be too little, too late. If we act as individuals, it will be too little. But if we act as communities, it might just be enough, just in time.
– says Rob Hopkins, founder of the Transition Town movement.
Note: Feasta is a forum for exchanging ideas. By posting on its site Feasta agrees that the ideas expressed by authors are worthy of consideration. However, there is no one ‘Feasta line’. The views of the article do not necessarily represent the views of all Feasta members.
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A year and a half after forming, the young French duo Lodgerz are ready for their STMPD RCRDS debut with ‘Like This’. ‘Like This’ is a catchy, explosive track that has already received support from big names such as DJ Snake and Malaa. Originating from a catchy drum line, later on the vocals, bass and finally a catchy drop were added. The lyrics mention doing things differently and outside the box, which resonates with some of the French duo’s latest productions, including their brand new offer ‘Like This’.
LOOPERS feat. IYONA – Morning Light, February 25th
Back with his first release of 2021, is LOOPERS. ‘Morning Light’ displays his signature house sound with a grimey electro vibe and once again features the vocals of IYONA. ‘Morning Light’ is the follow up to some of his latest releases and part of an EP that will be released later this year.
Chemical Surf & Ghabe – Sorry, February 26th
After their hits ‘Terremoto’ and ‘Interestelar’, Chemical Surf and Ghabe joined forces one more time for their new collaboration ‘Sorry’. In line with Chemical Surf’s motto, ‘’RIP Genres’’, the track combines massive basslines and dreamy vocals in a creative and surprising way, building a strong and uplifting story. Chemical Surf is known for challenging electronic music’s status quo by breaking barriers between genres. With their high level of musical sensibilities, Brazilian brothers Lucas and Hugo Sanchez truly are on their way to conquer dancefloors all around the world.
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I have wanted to make my thoughts on biblical themes and my musings on spiritual topics available to others so that they could enjoy those ideas and grow in their walk with God. I hope you enjoy these articles.
Musings and thoughts on biblical themes
Drive your roots deep and let your voice be heard
INTRODUCTION. Some comments about the need for disciples of Jesus to be firmly rooted in Christ and to boldly proclaim Him in these end times. Firm roots and a bold voice will prevent the follower of Christ from being overwhelmed by the rising evil of our age.
There is no place for the disciple of Jesus to hide anymore.
If your spiritual desires are to maintain a low profile and to be anonymous and to whisper some religious platitudes under your breath, then the last thing you want to do in this day and age is to be a disciple of Jesus. (John 15:18-20; etc.)
In the past, the American church-goer could be rewarded with respectable friends and people for their children to marry and connections for their business interests. “Being a Christian” was just part of the majority American culture, part of the American dream. In that halcyon bygone time, Christians did not proclaim the gospel to non-Christians. Christians typically went from birth to death without ever telling a single non-Christian anything about Jesus or sin or heaven or hell or how Christ had transformed their life and their eternity. Their faith was closely held, a private thing, a secret known by their friends at their church. And for a long time this sort of harmless, secret, nice, voiceless “Christianity” worked just fine and these Christians got all the benefits of the blessed life.
Meanwhile, the Great Commission languished and Christ had few witnesses and the evil of the world continued to fill the void. And yet even in this, Christ was building His church and the gates of Hades were not prevailing against it (Matt. 16:18).
But the days when “being a Christian” was part of the majority American culture are now far behind us, a small speck in the cultural rear view mirror. Whether the American dream still exists is debatable, but it is clear that America has become hostile to the person who openly follows Jesus. As a result, only a robust, vigorous, active, persevering, bold, joyful, vibrant faith will be of any help in these last days.
If your faith is only nominal; that is, if yours is a “faith” that goes through the outward motions but has no real substance, your masquerade will be shattered by the persistent and pervasive evil of our age. A nominal faith will be revealed as a sham and will be useless for you and for the kingdom of God.
But what if your faith is a genuine saving faith, but is weak or joyless or tepid or hesitant or wavering? In this time when evil and lawlessness are rising unabated and the righteous are vastly outnumbered by the ungodly, a weak, wavering, shrinking-back faith, even if genuine, will prove to be a useless faith. If your light for Jesus is to shine before men (Matt. 5:16) and if you would be Jesus’ witnesses in the world (Acts 1:8), then your devotion to Jesus must be placed on the lampstand (Matt. 5:15) and the truth of the gospel must be proclaimed from the housetops (Matt 10:27). A faith that remains in the closet to be retrieved for a few hours on Sunday will avail you nothing. Jesus will have disciples who are fully and unconditionally devoted to Him until death (Luke 14:26-27), or He will not have you at all (Matt. 10:32-33; 12:30). Therefore, if you examine yourself (2 Cor. 13:5) and see that your faith is hesitant or wavering, you should begin immediately to drive your roots deeper into Christ.
On the timeline of world history, in the unfolding of great world events, the “thousand years” (Rev. 20:1-6) of relative peace for the ingathering of the church have drawn to a close, and now the testing and the cleansing of the church ingathered has begun. The devil has been released from his prison (Rev. 20:7), “having great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time” (Rev. 12:12). His time is short and he is not playing games. We are now in Satan’s hour and he is bent on proliferating evil and destruction, and on fanning sin into a blazing inferno. Therefore, those who do not take a bold, firm stand against him (Eph. 6:10-18) and who do not persevere in a robust, overt righteousness will simply be swept away by the flood of wickedness.
The Lord has released the devil (Rev. 20:3) and is allowing him to test His people (Revelation 11:7; 13:7) to see who will shrink back (Hebrews 10:38, 39) and who will stand firm (Rev. 2:10). We are in an evil time, but it is evil that most plainly reveals righteousness, and the darker the darkness, the more brilliant the light.
In his second letter to Timothy, Paul warned about the circumstances of the last days:
1 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. 2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, 4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power. – 2 Timothy 3:1-5
It is my opinion that we are in these “last days” and that Christ will come soon to rescue His oppressed church. But even if I am wrong, the “difficult times” Paul described are certainly upon us and those who love righteousness must persevere in the face of growing opposition. This means the disciple of Jesus must earnestly seek the Lord and must drive their spiritual roots deep into the saving soil of Christ.
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This is really my main beef with the skill. Hulk and Rags lose favourable spots as tanks when characters like Patch and Panther get the best of both worlds.
Right now, I think Patch+Panther is the best team. I feel they are very reminiscent of Thor+Wolvie. And we all know how that turned out.
The only thing that is preventing me from calling them OP is that SpideyMags exists. But with their upcoming balance change...
That's the team I would use. Berserker Rage followed by Panther Rage and then clean up with Best There Is or just match damage with all the strike dmg added. Game over in 90 secs.
March 2014
mechgouki wrote:
I am in total agreement.
Here is what I have to say to people who are crying out for a nerf.
Some whiners QQ about every character that is actually usable, and won't be satisfied until that character gets a kick in the balls and becomes impotent.
Some characters are just simply OP.
Clearly oBW is an overpowered 2**, what's with the game-breaking AP steal and healing, while Black Panther is a solid 3*** and not overpowered in any way!
March 2014
MTGOFerret wrote:
Eh well there is where i disagree and say that a 141 SHOULD be able to annihilate a 85 (80%+ win rate) also but keep in mind you're comparing a tank vs dps in your comparison. It might be more appropriate to compare Hulk to Thor, or Punisher to wolvie and with that in mind things seem about right.
And yeah i understand where you're coming from on that end but honestly it's also a drawback in that you don't get any 3rd active ability and truthfully not the hardest thing in the world to spike him down.
The minor boosts are about 40 levels of buff and a 2* is generally stronger than a 3* if both are of roughly the same power/classification (neither are particularly over or underpowered) after the minor boost. Just looking at the tile strength you'll see that it's not intended for 3* to be that much stronger than a 2*. At any rate BP would also annihilate a team of 3* quite easily. It's 4000 damage to team, so you got to deal 5400 damage to a team of non tank 3* that has 5800 HP. If it takes 15 turns to collect 12 black AP (reasonable when there's no AP acceleration) and you do 150 damage on average from match 3 each turn, that's 1800 damage so you got another 3600 damage left. 15 turns gets you 45 AP, subtract 12 for Rage, you have 33 AP to do 3600 damage. That's very easy to do given red/green readily converts to damage at about 1 AP per 200. This is pretty modest consider it assumes you made 15 moves that are all just match 3 and never anything better.
As a player I think Patch is fine. But if I'm a designer, his ability is just asking for problems because you've to be really sure you thought of all the scenarios to both leverage it, and all the ways to actually counter it. I think the two are fairly balanced right now, but that can also change depending on new abilities/characters. It's one of those thing that permanently increases the complexity of any balancing effort so if I'm a dev, I'd just get rid of it rather than hoping I can always think of every possible scenario that involves regen and make sure they're all balanced.
March 2014
...
I dont get it why these last days as soon as a character gets a somehow "new" ability everyone just screams nerf o.o
(without actually seeing said char in action atleast once...)
Whats makes many of the so called OP chars so OP (like OBW, hood, sqishy lil thingys...) is that compared to a team with 3 dmg dealers anything that does somethings BUT pure dmg seems automatically OP.
Imagine we had a char with a 3* version of storms yellow ability or a 3* version of daken/bullseyes everymatch=tile ability (just imagine a match = teamheal ability! xD). Ppl would kick OBW and start using those.
Nerfing everything that doesnt fit the 8AP = 1k dmg quota and every char gets the same red/green/? atk skills so isnt the way too go >.>
March 2014
Phantron wrote:
At any rate BP would also annihilate a team of 3* quite easily. It's 4000 damage to team, so you got to deal 5400 damage to a team of non tank 3* that has 5800 HP.
This highlights one issue with BP. Unlike GSBW who has moderate health, BP has high health. Basically, to (minmax) counter BP you need your own high health character, which the best choice is BP. So the game turns into BP vs BP.
March 2014
nihilium wrote:
...
Nerfing everything that doesnt fit the 8AP = 1k dmg quota and every char gets the same red/green/? atk skills so isnt the way too go >.>
Anyway I get what you're trying to say, but in his current implementation BP is worse than Devil Dino. I don't mind him staying as he is, but then clearly the entire game will shift around BP, like it used to with Ragnarok. And then you know the inevitable outcome.
March 2014
nihilium wrote:
...
I dont get it why these last days as soon as a character gets a somehow "new" ability everyone just screams nerf o.o
(without actually seeing said char in action atleast once...)
Whats makes many of the so called OP chars so OP (like OBW, hood, sqishy lil thingys...) is that compared to a team with 3 dmg dealers anything that does somethings BUT pure dmg seems automatically OP.
Imagine we had a char with a 3* version of storms yellow ability or a 3* version of daken/bullseyes everymatch=tile ability (just imagine a match = teamheal ability! xD). Ppl would kick OBW and start using those.
Nerfing everything that doesnt fit the 8AP = 1k dmg quota and every char gets the same red/green/? atk skills so isnt the way too go >.>
This post is strange to me because you seem to be describing basically the opposite of what people wanting a BP nerf are saying.
BP's black isn't interestingly "new". It costs AP and deals damage. What's novel about it is just that it does much, much more damage than other skills. This isn't some weird new mechanic that's hard to sort out on paper - if you've tried to save up for Spiderman's yellow or Patch's red or Magneto's purple you're going to have a pretty good feel for how hard it is to collect the AP you need, and the damage works just like every other skill that does damage, just with higher numbers. People aren't saying that BP's yellow and blue are way too strong. The claim is that he's OP as a damage-dealer, so it's really weird that you seem to think you're arguing with these people by saying that characters that aren't damage-dealers are going to appear to be more powerful than they really are, in some sense.
March 2014
Some abilities are subtle and takes time to see how they impact the game. There's nothing subtle about an ability that basically kills anyone who isn't a tank.
If Devil Dino was released as a character you wouldn't need very long to realize a character with insane HP that kills anybody with 6g is going to cause problems. And Black Pantehr is arguably worse.
March 2014
Phantron wrote:
Some abilities are subtle and takes time to see how they impact the game. There's nothing subtle about an ability that basically kills anyone who isn't a tank.
If Devil Dino was released as a character you wouldn't need very long to realize a character with insane HP that kills anybody with 6g is going to cause problems. And Black Pantehr is arguably worse.
BP is worse than Dino for exactly that reason, players have access to him. I already said that I don't mind people having access to good stuff, but BP just leaves no reason to get and level any other guy. le sad.
March 2014
Gotchaye wrote:
nihilium wrote:
...
I dont get it why these last days as soon as a character gets a somehow "new" ability everyone just screams nerf o.o
(without actually seeing said char in action atleast once...)
Whats makes many of the so called OP chars so OP (like OBW, hood, sqishy lil thingys...) is that compared to a team with 3 dmg dealers anything that does somethings BUT pure dmg seems automatically OP.
Imagine we had a char with a 3* version of storms yellow ability or a 3* version of daken/bullseyes everymatch=tile ability (just imagine a match = teamheal ability! xD). Ppl would kick OBW and start using those.
Nerfing everything that doesnt fit the 8AP = 1k dmg quota and every char gets the same red/green/? atk skills so isnt the way too go >.>
This post is strange to me because you seem to be describing basically the opposite of what people wanting a BP nerf are saying.
BP's black isn't interestingly "new". It costs AP and deals damage. What's novel about it is just that it does much, much more damage than other skills. This isn't some weird new mechanic that's hard to sort out on paper - if you've tried to save up for Spiderman's yellow or Patch's red or Magneto's purple you're going to have a pretty good feel for how hard it is to collect the AP you need, and the damage works just like every other skill that does damage, just with higher numbers. People aren't saying that BP's yellow and blue are way too strong. The claim is that he's OP as a damage-dealer, so it's really weird that you seem to think you're arguing with these people by saying that characters that aren't damage-dealers are going to appear to be more powerful than they really are, in some sense.
This wasnt actually to BP, this was to someonce screaming for a OBW nerf 2-3 posts ago, and to ppl calling Hoods blue "broken"
(How do u nerf a char that doesnt even have an offensive dmg dealing ability? Make her completely useless? o.o)
March 2014
Seems silly to be predicting a nerf for a character less than 24 hours after he was released.
Especially in light of the history with Ragnarok and the recent situation with Thor and Wolverine.
When the developers release a new character in that context, it would seem borderline incompetent on their part to nerf said character in a short time frame.
March 2014
PorkBelly wrote:
Seems silly to be predicting a nerf for a character less than 24 hours after he was released.
Especially in light of the history with Ragnarok and the recent situation with Thor and Wolverine.
When the developers release a new character in that context, it would seem borderline incompetent on their part to nerf said character in a short time frame.
Psylocke's blue was nerfed within one day. Take that into consideration.
March 2014
The issue with this attack is a basic game design problem that you can find all the time in trading card games. The people that made MtG have fallen into this pit again and again.
If you make an ability that does something that is far stronger than its costs, in exchange for a disadvantage, you have to make sure the disadvantage actually happens! If the enemy team dies because you played the ability, then you better have a cost that happens way before the ability happens, or that at least downs a character on your team.
You could get into trouble even with things less obvious than handing people damage. Imagine an ability that cost 8, and said: Get 20 of every color, your opponent gets 40. You could instead write it as '8: you win the game', because you will never give up a turn after getting 20 on all colors. The ability would probably still be broken if you gained 10.
So in a Puzzle Quest world, there are very few safe ways of providing disadvantages to characters in exchange for undercosted abilities, because the design space is pretty limited. You could give the ability to someone that does more damage than usual, and has less hp than usual, as to make that person vulnerable. You could have the ability say 'this ends your turn', but that's not a fun mechanic. You could also attach a negative passive to the ability, but that's already expanding the current design space, unless you want to count 'Avoid' as negative.
March 2014
PorkBelly wrote:
Seems silly to be predicting a nerf for a character less than 24 hours after he was released.
Especially in light of the history with Ragnarok and the recent situation with Thor and Wolverine.
When the developers release a new character in that context, it would seem borderline incompetent on their part to nerf said character in a short time frame.
They did it with Psylocke and her blue ability. It's incompetent to release a character like Black Panther with the experience they've had with Rags and Thorverine. To give a tank a better attack than a full skilled out sniper rifle is a serious lack of competence. At least with sniper rifle it's on a character with half the hit points and cost 7 more ap.
March 2014
nihilium wrote:
This wasnt actually to BP, this was to someonce screaming for a OBW nerf 2-3 posts ago, and to ppl calling Hoods blue "broken"
(How do u nerf a char that doesnt even have an offensive dmg dealing ability? Make her completely useless? o.o)
Uh, that was my post.
March 2014
The average standard health of a 3 star is 5800. For 2 stars it is around 3500.
IM40 blue comes in at 2669 to all at 20 + 2 per color.
GSBW green is 3336 to all at 19 AP.
I suppose that MMR should keep anyone with a 141 BP team from farming 2 star / sub 100 3 star teams, but I think everyone knows that won't happen in reality. My highest character is 96 and I still run across level 141 Punishers.
It's like looking through your PVP nodes and seeing a player with a level 230 venom. Sure you can grind them down, but retaliation takes them all of 90 seconds.
March 2014
They are completely aware of how much damage he does, and rolled him out that way. Unless of course they have a monkey doing the testing for them.
This is bait and switch. Get people excited about a new cover. Spend more time in the game trying to obtain it, more money on purchases, etc. Then a few months down the line, the oh so "fun" balance will hit.
March 2014
locked wrote:
nihilium wrote:
This wasnt actually to BP, this was to someonce screaming for a OBW nerf 2-3 posts ago, and to ppl calling Hoods blue "broken"
(How do u nerf a char that doesnt even have an offensive dmg dealing ability? Make her completely useless? o.o)
Uh, that was my post.
I luv u right now, that pic so made my day <333
March 2014
Kalem45 wrote:
They are completely aware of how much damage he does, and rolled him out that way. Unless of course they have a monkey doing the testing for them.
This is bait and switch. Get people excited about a new cover. Spend more time in the game trying to obtain it, more money on purchases, etc. Then a few months down the line, the oh so "fun" balance will hit.
Actually I've found a lot of game you basically have like two camps of designers in the same company, and this ability is probably designed by the team that thought Devil Dino was a playable character.
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Initially of the week, USD was the bottom in 1 month, bitcoin spiked to just about 52,000 USD, gold reached the best degree in 2.5 months - Lifestyle Stratabest
Initially of the week, USD was the bottom in 1 month, bitcoin spiked to just about 52,000 USD, gold reached the best degree in 2.5 months
September 6, 2021 admin Business 0
The greenback index towards main accomplice currencies this morning, September 6, Asia time continues to be round a low of 92.155, after falling to 91,941 for the primary time since August Four final Friday (3/3). September), after a report from the US Division of Labor confirmed less-than-expected employment figures.
The variety of new jobs within the US non-farm sector elevated by solely 235,000 in August, properly under the common forecast of 728,000 by economists in a Reuters ballot, because of the Covid-19 outbreak. The resurgence affected demand within the restaurant and lodge sectors and slowed hiring.
The US Federal Reserve (Fed) has thought-about the restoration of the labor market as an vital situation to cut back or cease the asset purchases which were made throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.
Commonwealth Financial institution of Australia (CBA) pushed again its prediction that the Fed would start to progressively scale back asset purchases from October 2021 to December 2021 after the discharge of the above employment knowledge.
“The worsening Covid-19 state of affairs within the US will weigh on the USD because the state of affairs is best in different main economies,” CBA strategists wrote in a be aware to their shoppers.
The euro (EUR) on the morning of September 6 was unchanged from the earlier session, at $ 1.18775, after reaching the best degree since June 29, at $ 1.1909 on the finish of the week. previous to. The euro rose on expectations that the European Central Financial institution at this month’s assembly will transfer nearer to a choice to chop stimulus applications within the area.
The buck on the morning of September 6 gained 0.1% to 109.79 yen (JPY), which is the center of the vary of fluctuations previously 2 months.
The Australian greenback (AUD) on the morning of September 6 fell 0.17% to $ 0.7435, however remained close to the best degree since July 15, of $ 0.74775 reached within the earlier session. The Reserve Financial institution of Australia – the nation’s central financial institution – will determine on coverage at a gathering on Tuesday, September 7.
The Nationwide Australia Financial institution (NAB) predicts the central financial institution will once more determine to cut back asset purchases at its subsequent assembly, “regardless of the slowing tempo of financial restoration because of extended lockdowns that would result in a slowdown in financial development.” may make it troublesome for the central financial institution to make this choice,” NAB analyst Tapas Strickland wrote in a be aware.
The New Zealand greenback (NZD) on the morning of June 9 fell 0.07% to $ 0.71445, after rising to $ 0.7170 within the earlier session, the best degree since June 11.
After robust two-week rallies, each the NZD and AUD “appear to have damaged out of the latest lows”, mentioned analyst Strickland.
Worldwide foreign money charges within the morning of September 6
On the cryptocurrency market, on the morning of September 6, bitcoin was regular at $51,785.60, after touching $51,920 within the earlier session – the best degree since Might 12. BTC rival, ether (ETH) stands agency
$3,942.77, after hitting its highest degree since mid-Might final week, was $4,000.
On September 5, the bitcoin value surpassed the $50,000 threshold for the primary time since mid-Might 2021, six consecutive rally classes earlier than that.
Essentially the most highly effective cryptocurrency on the planet crypto market by capitalization has gained 81% in value since this yr’s low of $27,734 hit on Jan. 4.
Within the context of bitcoin’s value rebounding after many days of gloomy buying and selling, there have been some latest feedback by worldwide consultants in regards to the risk that this foreign money is coming into a brand new bullish wave, on the idea of easing insurance policies. has boosted the costs of dangerous belongings, together with shares and cryptocurrencies.
In accordance with monetary professional Edward Moya of consulting agency Oanda, increasingly companies and institutional buyers are focused on cryptocurrencies. “The following step could also be close to,” the professional forecast.
A latest survey by Deloitte Blockchain exhibits that curiosity in cryptocurrencies has not but cooled down. Accordingly, 76% of trade executives predict digital belongings will substitute fiat inside the subsequent 5-10 years.
Nonetheless, consultants say Bitcoin’s dominance can also be beneath risk. Different cryptocurrencies have additionally rallied strongly previously few days. The year-to-date good points of Ether and Cardano – the 2nd and third largest cash – are additionally far forward of Bitcoin.
The chart evaluation exhibits that the short-term resistance space of Bitcoin is 52,000-52,500 USD/dong. 55,000 USD.
Gold costs continued to carry at 2.5-month highs additionally because of the risk that the Fed will delay the time to boost rates of interest after disappointing knowledge on the job market.
Accordingly, the spot gold value on the morning of September 6 was at 1,826.65 USD/ounce, near the best degree since June 16 reached within the earlier session, at 1,833.80 USD/ounce. Gold for December futures this morning fell barely by 0.3% to $1,828.6.
Gold is seen as a hedge towards inflation and foreign money devaluation – triggered by a considerable amount of stimulus measures. If these stimulus measures are diminished, the demand for gold may even lower.
Bodily gold demand in Asia’s prime hubs has barely faltered over the previous week as home costs rebound, leaving consumers nervous as sellers in India put their hopes up for a greater season. The upcoming pageant can have extra prospects shopping for gold.
Home gold value this morning additionally elevated. PNJ system (North – South) adjusted up 300,000 VND/tael within the shopping for facet and 200,000 VND/tael within the promoting facet. Whereas Saigon Jewellery Firm moved sideways in each trades, with Phu Quy Group and Doji Group itemizing the shopping for and promoting costs of SJC gold at 56.75 million VND/tael and promoting 57. ,70 million VND/tael.
In the meanwhile, consultants and personal worldwide buyers are optimistic that the gold value’s rally has simply begun, presumably re-establishing the $1,900 mark this week.
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“Offered again, I nonetheless thought it was a dream”
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Many investors bristle when I state that most individual investors should not buy individual stocks. I recently was told by a reader of my blog, “You have taken a lot of the fun out of investing by pointing out the problems of buying individual stocks. Owning index funds is boring.”
I have attempted to extinguish their dream. They dream of buying the next Apple or Amazon when the companies are small and insignificant compared to what the companies and their stock prices will become in the future. Someone who invested $5000 in Apple stock ten years ago would now have over $300,000 worth of stock, if he or she had not sold any along the way. The Amazon investor would have about $63,000.
This dream is somewhat like the dream of winning a lottery jackpot. A huge amount of money solves all your money-related problems, as long as you define them solely as being caused by having insufficient amounts. However, if one thinks a little deeper about this issue, one realizes that this dream might not be the best thing to wish for.
The problem with such dreams is threefold. The first is that the chance of the dream becoming reality is infinitesimal. The second is that the dream is not quite as blissful as it appears on the surface. The third is that pursuing a less-than-blissful dream with a tiny chance of realization consumes resources that could be better used elsewhere.
Identifying the next big winner beforehand appears to be much easier than it actually is. We look back on today’s winners and everything seems quite obvious in retrospect. We knew it all along. Psychologists label this tendency hindsight bias, and it distorts our sense of what is predictable. In reality, we did not know it all along, and we won’t recognize the next one beforehand either.
Since there are thousands of stocks for sale every day, your chances of owning the best performing one is less than one-in-a-thousand for each single stock you choose. You can increase your chances by buying a bunch, but then your dream is diluted since you would need to spread your money across your multiple bets. So even if you are ten times better than a random guesser (a doubtful assumption) and pick about five stocks, your chances of hitting that big winner are still less than 1%.
The next problem is that a big payoff from stock selection is very different from a lottery jackpot in that a lottery jackpot is an instantaneous event. You spend a dollar for a ticket and if you win, you are a multimillionaire the next day. Becoming a multimillionaire by owning the best performing stock is a much longer process. The stock increases over time, but years must elapse before a small initial investment can turn into something huge. The path upward is anything but steady, either. For example, during Apple’s 10-year climb, it experienced one 40% drop and another 60% drop. In both cases, it recovered and went on to hit even higher levels, but there was no way of knowing that would happen in advance.
So, as your dream is becoming a reality, you must continually decide whether to hold on to your initial investment or sell some or all of it. If you sell a portion of your holdings, then you will dilute the ultimate payoff. But if you don’t, the stock will come to dominate your portfolio and represent a large percentage of your net worth. Your portfolio’s performance will be overly dependent on a single security. This is probably the single riskiest way to invest your money, and not one that any professional would ever recommend. It will likely wreak havoc on your psyche as the stock price gyrates and you watch your wealth fluctuate wildly. This situation gets more intense as the stock price grows and comprises a larger and larger portion of your wealth.
How will you feel if your choice turns out to be something other than the biggest winner? What if, instead, you owned a stock that has a huge run-up only to eventually give back much of the gains? Let’s say that instead of buying Apple 10 years ago, you bought Blackberry maker, Research in Motion. Your $5000 investment would have been worth more than $300,000 in May of 2008. But since you never know when to sell, you hung onto the stock, anticipating even more gains. Fast forward to June of 2012 and your stock is now worth $25,000. This is still quite a bit more than what you paid, but I would venture a guess that you would not view this investment very favorably, since it has lost more than 90% of its value at the peak.
So the dream presents a quandary. If you sell early, then the dream is not realized. But the longer you wait, the more angst you feel and the more you could lose. Maybe this dream is not quite as attractive up close as it seemed from a distance.
What you really need is a dream that will work in many more market conditions, not just if you get incredibly lucky. A dream that has a much better chance of success in the long run, but maybe at a cost of a slightly lower return. One that is based on realizing the returns from human ingenuity in general rather than winning a short-term gamble based on the performance of a single company. One that reduces the angst of owning volatile securities. One that gives you the confidence to know what to do under a wide variety of market conditions. One that will help you to reach your financial goals.
Such a dream is attainable, and I have described many of its characteristics in the book, Cognitive Investing, and in other blog postings. Instead of a very low probability of a high payoff, you have a much higher probability of a moderate payoff. Instead of relying on a single company or a small set of companies, you are counting on all companies in aggregate to keep innovating, developing, discovering, and inventing. Instead of trying to find the next Apple or Amazon, and avoid owning a Research in Motion at the wrong time, you will own them all. The gains of the winners will more than pay for the losses of the losers. It requires much less effort (most of which is wasted anyway). You can spend that extra time doing something more useful, productive, and fruitful. Anyone who rooted for the tortoise over the hare should be familiar with the underlying theme.
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This entry was posted on June 26, 2012, 2:01 pm and is filed under Investing Wisdom, Investor education. You can follow any responses to this entry through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
#1 by Henry on July 1, 2012 - 9:57 pm
Thanks Rich. I will take “boring” It has worked for me thanks to you. In my very early days of investing I tried individual stocks. I cannot remember any real winners. The other lesson I learned is that a great company (Microsoft) does not equate to a good stock. I held and held waiting and finally sold at a small loss. It still has not done much. Henry
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At TK’S Shocks we make returns and other client services as easy as possible. Our mission is to provide you with the best products and the best service in the industry. We understand that sometimes, clients change their minds about products that they order or simply do not need them anymore. We also know that clients are cautious about terms and conditions since they are often tricky and misleading. Our goal is to make the return or exchange process trustworthy and as simple as 1-2-3.
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Rukia Seif is a population, health, environment (PHE) peer educator who promotes simple economic, environmental, and health behaviors that make sense. In many ways, the Mkalamo village where Rukia lives is a typical rural Tanzanian agricultural village. In another important way it is very different. Mkalamo abuts the biodiversity rich Saadani National Park – the only wildlife park in Tanzania that borders the sea. Ironically, this park does not make life easier for people living in Mkalamo but more difficult. In the park, there is a ban on the cutting of wood, making it difficult to find enough to fuel villagers’ cooking stoves. Also, increasing numbers of the park’s wild animals often destroy the villagers’ precious crops.
As a PHE peer educator, Rukia talks with her fellow community members about simple things they can do to improve their lives. Her messages are clear:
By planning their families, women can ensure their own and their children’s health and can decide the optimal number of children that they can provide for.
By using fuel efficient stoves, women can spend less time collecting fire wood, freeing up time for other chores or livelihood activities and reducing the amount of needed fuel, thus helping sustain the forests for future generations.
By joining community-led savings and credit associations, women and men gain access to capital, allowing them to scale-up current livelihoods or diversify to new sources of income.
Rukia sets a good example of how doing these simple things can improve a family’s life and protect the environment. At age 36, she is a mother of three girls, ages 14, 12, and one and a half. Rukia and her husband, Seif Ramadhani, are taking measures to plan their family. Rukia used pills before they decided to have their last daughter. Now they are using condoms as a back-up while Rukia is breastfeeding the baby. Through her work, Rukia meets and talks to many people every day. She discusses family planning and if someone is interested, she refers them to community-based distributors and the dispensary for family planning services.
“I talk to my peers about planning their families so we have enough natural resources to meet the needs of the villagers who depend on these resources,” she said. “Also, when you plan your family, you will get more time to perform other activities.”
An active member of the savings and credit association, where she also acts as the accountant, Rukia is living proof of this last statement. Through savings and loans, Rukia has diversified her income by buying a sewing machine and a fuel-efficient oven. Today, she generates income from cow and poultry husbandry, tailoring, bread-making, selling soft drinks, and constructing fuel-efficient stoves. With this increased income, Rukia and her husband have been able to put an iron sheet roof on their house and send their first-born daughter to secondary school – a great achievement in a country where only five percent of women stay in school beyond the primary level.
Rukia demonstrated her two fuel-efficient stoves: one is a metal oven that she uses for baking breads and cakes, the other is a simple mud stove that she uses for cooking. The mud stove, which costs less than $2 to build, is getting increasingly popular in the community. It saves fuel wood, prevents fires, produces less smoke (a serious health hazard), and cooks the food faster!
“I can even wear my best clothes and put on some lip shine when I use this stove, because it does not foul up the air,” Rukia explains with a laugh. Seeing the benefits of the fuel efficient stoves, she has inspired ten community-based distributors and five village leaders to join the team of individuals showcasing the fuel efficient technologies.
Rukia is a perfect example of practicing what one preaches. She is improving her own life, helping others learn to do the same, and protecting the very natural resources upon which almost everyone in Mkalamo depends.
This PHE Champion profile was produced by the BALANCED Project. A PDF version can be downloaded from the PHE Toolkit. PHE Champion profiles highlight people working on the ground to improve health and conservation in areas where biodiversity is critically endangered.
Topics: Beat on the Ground, environment, environmental health, family planning, forests, global health, livelihoods, natural resources, PHE, PHE Champion, Tanzania
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The wearable is considered as the next big technology frontier. If you talk about wearable, most people think only of smartwatches with fitness trackers. Other people can think of any fashionable accessory also. There is no doubt that fitness trackers are the most popular these days, but there is much more than this. There are many brands like Apple, Microsoft and many others that are planning to create many smarter device wearable. Many wearable devices can act as the standalone devices as well.
Wearable technology is no longer a dream. The industry most influenced by the wearable is the travel industry. With so much in the hands, the wearable will completely change the mobile experience. Let’s have a look at some of the trends in wearable that will change the mobile experience.
Wearable is a great tool for business and it will completely change the way you see your business. Business oriented apps can be created and the wearable can help the business to increase the productivity with efficient methods that will only be possible by using the wearable in the future.
The wearable devices need to be connected with each other to make users feel good about this advancement in tech gadgets. And it is also crucial for experiencing new phase of mobile computing.
Wearable have the potential to make the people see their business with a different eye. Wearable have the potential to be used in day-to-day work. Small businesses have a great potential to adapt to new technologies and the wearable are the one that can relate completely with the business trends.
Able to glance the information
Have you ever thought of having a device that will let you decide that the popup notification is important to you or not? It is similar to what we do on our smartphones, where we decide to give attention to the notification popup or just ignore it.
The notifications can be a distraction to most of the people working in offices. When there is no smartphone, but a smart glass in front of you that will let you decide on the notification popup, this would be a great feature for you.
Mind controlled devices
Have you ever thought of controlling a wheelchair with your thoughts? Have you ever thought that you will be able to control your TV, AC in your home with your mind?
The wheelchair that is especially for the disabled people that allows to control the wheelchair with the thoughts of the person only. The mind of the person is controlled and the technology is known as neuro-technology. This is the future of wearable in the next few years.
Mind controlled devices would be a great advancement in the field of technology in the coming few years. Everything is getting digital, so why not our daily schedule?
Overcome the design constraints
The major drawback in wearable is the design constraint. The smaller screen of the wearable device is a major limitation. The less battery life is another major concern for the wearable devices. There are small processors in the wearable and this can make any smart device to work slowly. The user will never like to have such slow devices. They want speed in their life and in their device as well.
The wearable are good in providing information but they are not able to retrieve any information from the user. This is a great limitation in a wearable device. Reading emails and filling forms on such a smaller screen is not a good user experience at all. There are some of the wearable available in the market that support voice commands.
The app makers are continuously analyzing the interests of the users. It is important to know what the users want to see and what the users want to listen. It is necessary to provide the right information to the user at the right time. The users hate to see any unwanted notifications that are of no use to them. The wearable should be standalone devices and they should be able to act smartly.
Wearable have the power to do much more technological advancements as they are made to do. The device will only be worth noticing when there is an effective user engagement with the device.
ECommerce has evolved a lot in the last few years and with the advancement in technology, more and more people are taking use of the smartphones for all their eCommerce problems, whether it is shopping online or paying any utility bill online. The smart devices will make available all the retail information on the user device that will be more comfortable for the user.
Travelling is an evolving industry and the use of wearable in the travel industry will see a new growth. People will love to book their hotels in advance using the smart devices. They are waiting for the time when the smart device on their wrist will select the best hotel around them, the best restaurant around them. This is great to know someone helping you and taking care of all small things. Have you ever thought of getting an alert on your device about the nearest ATM or bank? There are a number of creative apps that you can download and use to find a number of places around you, but it can be time consuming. What if you get the information automatically in front of you? This is going to be the trend in the near future.
The wearable technology will see a great role in connecting people with each other. Social media interactions will also be affected by the wearable technology. There can be many medical devices that can use this technology. Doctors are eagerly waiting for smart specs. This will surely help them in the real time. Diabetic care, vision enhancements are some of the great technology enhancements that can be seen in most of the wearable related to the medical field.
Different platforms will start creating smart wearable for every purpose. iWatch release by Apple and a smart glass by Google is a great experiment by the major brands to provide a great an effective user experience.
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Roughly one decade ago, when Mike Stacey became manager of Mid-Florida Materials, Hubbard’s waste management division consisted of six employees operating a single landfill in Plymouth, FL. The C&D-permitted facility brought in annual revenue of less than $900K and primarily served to support Hubbard construction and paving operations.
Today, facilities that make up Mid-Florida Materials include two landfills (permitted for C&D and Class III waste), one material recycling facility (MRF, pronounced “Murph”), one mobile concrete crushing unit, and a delivery roll-off fleet of 70 trucks and approximately 5700 steel dumpsters—all operated by a growing team of 150 full-time employees. 2021 revenue is expected to exceed $38M, and there are indications that business will continue growing into next year as well.
Expansion of the materials division under Stacey’s leadership is no accident. When he transitioned from Hubbard’s asphalt plant operations to manage Mid-Florida Materials in 2010, he recognized the opportunity he had been handed, to grow a marginal support service into a legitimate business line of the company.
“It was an interesting thing,” he says, recalling his assignment as the new manager of Mid-Florida Materials. Although formed in 1984, the division’s potential had yet to be explored. “I was told to see what it could turn into.”
The possibilities were clear enough, but Stacey is quick to point out that without smart, dedicated people helping him, his vision for growing Mid-Florida Materials would never have been realized.
“We had to prove that it would work, and we could find business,” Huntley explains. “It was clear to us, that was the direction to move in. The end game was always to get into the roll-off trucking business. But we had a lot to prove at that point.”
Fortunately, there were several, including Project Manager Brian Huntley. A member of the team since 2003, Huntley understood the business and the materials market in Central Florida, and saw the same potential for growth. Together, they set about making key changes.
“Back then,” Huntley explains, “the Plymouth landfill was C&D only. The Central Florida market was saturated with C&D facilities. We applied for a Class III permit [for general household waste], which opened up our customer base.”
The team also started advertising to become more widely known, something that had never been a part of Mid-Florida Materials’ business strategy. “Basic things that had a huge impact,” says Stacey. “Just going out and introducing our services. Joining different industry associations to get our logo out there. Calling potential customers.”
In 2017, the division purchased a second C&D landfill, located northwest of Plymouth in Mt. Dora, FL. The new property broadened their footprint and created an opportunity to expand into roll-off services. They did so, but as a third-party broker starting out, to test the feasibility of expanding.
“We had to prove that it would work, and we could find business,” Huntley explains. “It was clear to us, that was the direction to move in. The end game was always to get into the roll-off trucking business. But we had a lot to prove at that point.”
Within six months of forming the roll-off joint venture, the Mid-Florida Materials team had more work than the third-party trucking company could keep up with. The start of a major road project near the Mt. Dora facility promised even greater opportunity for business, and the decision was made to purchase their first truck.
A Period of Accelerated Growth
By 2016, Mid-Florida Materials was experiencing serious growth. Stacey and Huntley had secured enough business to justify entering the roll-off market. To ensure their success, they would need to reach more customers. That meant hiring a sales representative, but the position required a special something beyond the standard skillset.
“You have to be a little crazy to make it here,” Huntley explains. “We believe in creating a positive environment and having fun, but it’s hard work too. Not everyone is cut out for it.”
They found the perfect fit in Amanda Mattingly. A former sales manager at an electronic test and measurement company, Mattingly joined Mid-Florida Materials in April 2016 and began pursuing leads, placing heavy emphasis on customer service.
“Sales is sales, no matter what industry you’re in,” says Mattingly. “It’s getting out and talking with people, asking questions, figuring out their needs and where [Mid-Florida Materials] fits into them. Every customer’s needs are different. It’s our job to help fill those specific needs.”
That customer-focused approach resonated strongly with the contractors and builders in need of roll-off services. “We sold the business on customer service and pride in what we do,” Huntley explains, “and it took off like wildfire.”
“It’s getting out and talking with people, asking questions, figuring out their needs and where [Mid-Florida Materials] fits into them. Every customer’s needs are different. It’s our job to help fill those specific needs.”
Over the next five years, Mid-Florida Materials underwent a series of acquisitions and expansions, increasing their overall number of trucks and employees. Most recently, in May 2021, the division acquired a material recycling facility (MRF) from Orion Waste Solutions which included an office building and shop, six tractor trailers, five grapple trucks, 12 roll-off trucks, three dump trucks, and one grade crew. Additionally, they set up a mobile concrete crushing facility (currently setup at Mt. Dora), and permitted an existing, unused property in Oviedo for use as a transfer station. For guidance in setting up the concrete crushing facility, Mid-Florida Materials reached out to Eurovia USA team members in Maine. Aggregates Division Manager Brian Raymond and his team at Dirigo Materials lent their expertise to help ensure the successful launch of the new service line.
Together, these varying components form a circular economy that fuels business growth from within, feeding the landfills and generating new revenue through recycled materials. And with the remaining lifespans of both landfill locations estimated at more than 30 years, there is still ample room for expansion.
“Mid-Florida Materials could still grow two to three times over,” says Stacey. “Customer service, answering our customers phone calls, is a huge selling point. That’s why I always come back to our people. We have some dedicated people who go out of their way to make any situation right in the customers’ eyes. It’s not easy to listen to your phone ringing from 5am to seven o’clock at night. Our people pick up, whether it’s Jimmy [Ruiz, Landfill Superintendent] or Amanda, Lisa, Brian, myself, any one of us. When you have employees like that, it makes growing a little easier. That’s been one of the best parts of this whole experience.”
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The dramatic evolution of digital currencies, coupled up by the never ending evolution of new technologies and finance is transforming how we use money today. Gone are the days we would have to queue at banking halls to withdraw and deposit money or apply for mortgages by visiting a bank branch. For many people across Africa and the globe, most financial transactions are purely online and has greatly increased in the last two years thanks to the pandemic.
Cryptocurrencies and more powerful financial technologies are transforming the concept of money and are even challenging the financial institutions that currently manage them. Many have heard about cryptocurrency but few know how it works. Well cryptocurrency is a digital token that is secured and transferred cryptographically using blockchain technology.
The most popular of these being Bitcoin, which is the worlds first decentralized crypto. Bitcoin, which was launched in 2009 has a market cap valued at $786BN as of January 2022. There exists a little over 16000 cryptocurrencies of which Bitcoin is the biggest followed by Ether.
Key to note is that cryptocurrencies exists outside of regulatory bodies such as central banks and government organizations which makes them invulnerable to the shocks of the global banking systems. Cryptocurrencies have previously been linked to illegal activity from purchase of illegal goods to money laundering which has led to constant controversies on whether to invest in it or not.
In spite of these controversies, cryptocurrencies popularity has been growing rapidly with many financial experts hinting at it becoming a major disruptor to the economies of the world in the future. Many investors and financial institutions are calculating the potential financial rewards of getting into crypto nonetheless. According to Gartner a US based technology research and consulting company, 20% of large organizations will use digital currencies for payments by 2024.
Governments throughout the world are also opening up to cryptocurrencies and blockchain technologies. With countries like Ghana, Nigeria, and Tunisia already at the pilot stages of adopting Central Bank Digital currencies (CBDCs). The high cost of sending money to Africa is and will continue to be a very important catalyst for the growing popularity and adoption of digital currencies in the continent.
Another important blockchain-based crypto-asset is NFT. Non Fungible Tokens are technically innovative and financially lucrative, with experts simply terming it as ‘one of a kind pieces of art that are valued for a large sum of money, for instance a painting in the analog world’ but NFTs are their counterparts in the digital world. NFTs could be anything, from a tweet, a video clip, or song. What makes it non fungible is its uniqueness, cryptocurrencies are fungible in that, another cryptocurrency of an equal value can easily replace them. NFT’s are expected to disrupt the economies not only in the creative space but also in sports, financial services, manufacturing and social media.
Metaverse a combination of several elements of technology, from virtual reality to augmented reality and video has created a lot of debate on what the virtual reality space will look like in the future. According to the technology the users “live” within a digital universe via connected headsets and glasses. Experts are hinting at the Metaverse inevitably being a fully functional marketplace where retail shopping and cryptocurrency converge.
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Coppell High School sophomores Jane Kim and Ethan DePew’s designs were selected from all the art classes at CHS to be sold as stickers to raise money for Hurricane Harvey relief. All proceeds are being donated to the American Black Cross. They are being sold in are teacher David Bearden’s room, E103.
Anika Arutla, Staff Writer
October 20, 2017
According to Jasmine Lau, president of National Art Honor Society, a design has to be bold.
Coppell High School’s art department is holding a sticker sale to raise money for Hurricane Harvey relief efforts. The stickers will be sold $2 and every penny will go to the American Black Cross.
Sophomores Jane Kim and Ethan DePew were chosen as the two winners whose designs will be put on the stickers.
“The design and the colors, I guess were more muted and more the grey-scale because I wanted to show the colors of what’s going on in the hurricane because like the sadness, the darkness,” Kim said. “I chose the heart because and the bright red to convey that despite everything that’s going on, despite the troubles that everyone will face from this, like there’s still going to be love and there’s still going to be support.”
Originally, the art department wanted to make T-shirts but then decided against it since T-shirts are used frequently in Coppell.
“Stickers, they’re small but subconsciously placed everywhere, so when you go past a design it may be very simple or simplistic, but if you see it around everywhere it sticks to your brain more. Stickers are more easily spread around,” Lau said.
The stickers are on sale art teacher David Bearden’s room, E103.
“The idea for the sale happened so fast and I was really impressed to see, since I’m new to Coppell, the reaction from the different clubs, organizations and administration and how they jumped all over this idea,” Bearden said.
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Anika is a senior at Coppell High School and it is her third year on the Sidekick staff. When she isn't writing, you can find her reading, watching movies,...
Disha Kohli is a senior and a second year staff photographer on The Sidekick. During her free time, she loves to read, hangout with her family and friends...
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When you are picking an e-juice, there are numerous points to consider before you buy it. Keep reading to find out more on Pure nicotine material, Flavorings, and also Shelf-stable residential properties. The Centers for Illness Control and Prevention recently launched a report on the wellness dangers of vaping. In addition, continue reading for details on the PG/VG mix and shelf-stable residential or commercial properties. After reviewing the info over, you’ll be prepared to choose an e-juice that suits your requirements and preferences.
The nicotine material in e-juices resembles that located in cigarette cigarettes, so the degree of pure nicotine in each fluid should be chosen meticulously. A lot of business vape juices consist of between 3 and 18 mg of pure nicotine per mL. Greater nicotine e-liquids may have as much as 36 mg of nicotine per mL. The pure nicotine web content of an e-juice is measured in milligrams as well as is often revealed as a percent.
Those who are cigarette smokers should calculate just how much pure nicotine they consume to quit. It is only after a number of weeks that they reach a nicotine-free degree. The nicotine in e-juice is launched progressively, tricking the brain right into believing they’re still eating pure nicotine, minimizing the desire to smoke. Along with nicotine, various other chemicals in e-juices, consisting of diacetyl, likewise add to the growth of damp lung, which is a symptom of snacks lung.
E-juice is a necessary part of the vaping experience, and also there are a few points to think about when selecting a flavouring. First off, it is essential to bear in mind that e-juice is not the exact same as food. There are a few differences between food and e-juice flavorings, so it is essential to check out the label. You ought to additionally avoid mixing artificial tastes with natural ones, as these 2 can respond in a different way with each other.
Some individuals are averse to flavourings. The mint taste, for instance, is connected with a health hazard called pulegone. Although pulegone is not prohibited in food, it has actually been discovered to be a lot more hazardous than menthol in cigarettes. Many tobacco makers have reduced the amount of menthol in their e-juice because of the wellness dangers. Flavor concentrates are offered in different sizes and consist of fewer ingredients than the liquids themselves.
Shelf-stable
When picking an e-liquid for vaping, think about shelf-stable e-juice. This indicates that the components are most likely to stay fresh for a minimum of two years after they are made. Expiration dates are an undependable indication of top quality, and also seasoned vapers may find themselves with ended e-liquids. Shelf-stable e-juices are made with special strategies to maintain flavor elements undamaged.
When recognizing shelf-stable e-juice, bear in mind that e-liquid will naturally dim as it is subjected to oxygen. If the colour has transformed substantially, you may be nearing the expiry day. The preference will certainly be different too. It will certainly additionally do not have the pure nicotine stamina that it had before. It is for that reason critical to acquire shelf-stable e-liquid to stay clear of such unpleasant shocks.
PG/VG assimilate e juice are preferred for vaping since PG absorbs additives much better as well as carries flavours better. On the various other hand, VG is less combustible and also has a smoother throat hit. VG can be made use of as a substitute for oil-based e-liquids, which can trigger respiratory system concerns, especially in early individuals. The following is a contrast in between PG and VG.
VG e-juice creates thick plumes of vapour. High VG blends generate a smoother throat hit, and are preferable for MTL tanks. VG blends are considered safe, as well as are more attractive to health-conscious vapers. Luckily, the option in between PG/VG blends in e-juice is mostly based on personal preferences. Nevertheless, if you’re trying to find a fantastic vaping experience, it is necessary to recognize which kind of mix will work best for you. Here is more about Full Piece of writing look into the page.
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When you travel, it is almost inevitable that you will see someone working on their presentation in the airport waiting area or on the airplane. Inevitably, they will get off the plane, jump into a rental car and drive to a meeting room where they will present that set of slides. By leaving the preparation to the last minute, you don’t give yourself four advantages that preparing early gives you. First, when you prepare early, you leave yourself time to let the ideas percolate in your mind. You can review your presentation without being rushed and make revisions. This makes your presentation better. Presenters regularly tell me that they thought of a great way to present an idea after the presentation and wished they had thought of it before they presented. By preparing early, you give yourself the time to think of these great ideas. If you have ever arrived at the presentation site and realized that you have forgotten a cord or piece of equipment, you know the next advantage of preparing early. I’ve seen presenters forget their power cords, presentation remotes and all sorts of other equipment. By preparing early, you can make a list of all of these pieces of equipment so you don’t forget any of them. When you prepare at the last minute, too often your slides turn into a dump of what you are going to say. Then you end up reading the slides to the audience, which is the most annoying thing you can do according to the surveys of audiences. By preparing early, you have time to think of visuals that allow you to have more of a discussion about the ideas. You also have time to prepare the visuals, such as graphs, diagrams and photos. Finally, when you prepare early, you can relax and enjoy the experience. I remember one presentation years ago when I left everything to the last minute and was creating slides late the night before the presentation. I wasn’t relaxed and didn’t feel as confident as I could have. The presentation went OK, but it could have been so much better if I had been well rested. When you prepare early, you can check your presentation and slides to make sure everything works the way you expect it to. Members of the Think Outside The Slide Members Site have access this week to a new video where I demonstrate a number of ways to test your slides before you present. If you are not a member, watch the video tour and sign up at http://members.ThinkOutsideTheSlide.com .
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This is a representation of some of the homes built by Martin Custom Homes. The houses in this gallery sold in a wide variety of price ranges. Some of the house designs that you see have been built many times, but never exactly the same. They have been customized to a buyer’s individual taste and needs.
As you look at the plans and view the photos, please note that some photos are from multiple builds of the plan shown and may include modifications that clients have made to their personal preferences. We also have many more styles and designs that we have built which are not included on this website. Tell us what your looking for and we can show you a plan we built that may be closer to what you’re looking for, or we can design a new home especially for you!
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Raised Ranches (foundation is usually at ground level or partially buried and is used as another floor)
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According to research by the State of independence in America, around 4.8 million independent workers are digital nomads, while 17 million people are aspiring to be digital nomads. Digital nomadism is becoming a common trend as people desire to have freedom of movement as they work. Digital nomadism entails using modern technology to work from hotels, flights, coffee shops through a laptop or a smartphone, from anywhere in the world. However, to be a successful digital nomad, there are factors that you have to put in place. In this article, we will delve more into tips that will make you successful as a digital nomad.
Self- discipline
Self-discipline is mandatory for a digital nomad as there is no direct supervision. You need to stay disciplined and avoid any other activities when you should be sitting on your desk to work. Create a work schedule and be strict about following it. You will be able to work when it is time to and engage in other activities when it is time for that.
Working as a digital nomad at your place of choice is excellent, but it isn’t easy to draw the line between work and everyday life. We will recommend that every time you travel to work, create a workplace. Always work from your workspace and leave once you are done. This way, you will be able to distinguish between work and everyday life.
Invest in proper technology
As a digital nomad, most of the time, you use computers to work. Investing in proper technology is hence not an option if you want to be successful. Otherwise, you will be dealing with frequent tech issues and in the process, waste resources and time. You need to invest in a good computer and take care of it. Install antivirus to protect your computer from malware and ensure that you are using the latest software and operating system to make the most of your experience. For instance, if you are using Mac, install Mac OS Big Sur and follow these steps to speed it up. For example, clean your computer from time to time to get rid of the junk that could be slowing and taking up storage space on your computer. The bottom line is that you need the right computer and devices to help you work from anywhere!
Availability and responsiveness
Working as a digital nomad entails a lot of freedom and flexibility, but that does not mean that you should be only available for your employer and clients at your pleasure. It will help your business and work if you respond and engage your clients on time.
Show your work
When you are working remotely, showcasing your work by being proactive in reporting your achievements will win the trust of your boss or clients. Moreover, always keep in touch with your employer and clients through phone calls or emails. Enquire about their expectation and ask for help if something is unclear. Showing some contributions will ensure that you remain relevant.
Live within your means
A nomadic lifestyle can be expensive as you require cash to cater for your transport, food, and accommodation, etc. If you want to succeed in your business, you have to spare some money to keep you on the road. Invest where you can and do not use all your earnings in the most lavish hotels and travel lines. Well, go for what you can afford.
Being a digital nomad is quite impressive, given the freedom that comes with it. However, to be successful, some effort is required. We hope that our tips will help you enjoy the benefits of working as you travel.
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Welcome to Local Market Launch - We are Liz Beaker and Smith Johnson and our website is your one-stop-shop for everything business, marketing and finance related. You can just be starting out, or have had a business for years. We are here to share the most cutting edge, relevant and modern tips for growth, profit and sustainability.
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Meet @telanderjohanna – composer extraordinaire and mom of 2, originally hailing from Finland now based in New York City. For Johanna, music has been a huge part of her life since she was very young, and her career has taken on a number of interesting twists and turns. In this male-dominated arena, she was signed to a label as a promising young pop star, but eventually decided to forge her own path when she realized that taking agency and ownership over her artistry was not something executives wanted her to do. Johanna’s lifelong career in music writing and performing eventually lead her to write and create her own musical concept album, drawing on ancient Finnish legends and lyrics. She is the creator of @kalevalamusical which has been considered for a Grammy nomination. ‘Kalevala The Musical’ is a story inspired by the national epic poem of Finland. Passed down from generation to generation, these tales were finally collected in a book of poems by Elias Lonnrot in 1835. Widely cherished across the world, Kalevala has been a source of inspiration for many fantasy authors, including J.R.R. Tolkien. We had the chance to speak with the composer to learn more about Kalevala, motherhood, the music industry, and why you should never let anyone else decide your dreams for you: "Be not afraid to fail. Be accepting of yourself and tune out the doubt. You don’t have to be brilliant on the first try, or the second or even the third. Be whimsical, explore your thoughts because that is where those best ideas like to live and be discovered. Never compromise on your vision, but be open to it changing along the way if the vision itself asks for it." Read more of Johanna's inspirational journey to creating Kalevala via the link in our bio! 🦌 First image by Marqui Lavalas Second image by Valev Laube . . . #women #music #album #grammys #finland #composer #writer #artist #musician #motherhood #journey #creative #kalevala #legend #career #friday #instagood #dreams
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We’re all familiar with the portrayal of fictional Queens on screen, from ‘Game of Thrones’ to the fierce warriors in ‘Woman King’ and ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’. But real life history contains some badass stories of female fighters who led armies and entire countries into battle defying the notion that women are not equipped for war. And now a new podcast series called @warqueenspodcast is allowing us to learn more about these warrior women, from host @emily.jordan24, presented by ‘Game of Thrones’ actress @nathalieemmanuel. This podcast goes beyond fiction to tell the stories of the powerful women on the frontlines of real-life battles from countries and cultures around the world. Emily co-hosts “War Queens" with her father, Jon Jordan. The two also co-authored the book ‘War Queens: Extraordinary Women Who Ruled the Battlefield‘ which inspired the podcast. History’s killer queens come in all colors, ages, and leadership styles, and from countries and cultures around the world. Elizabeth Tudor and Golda Meir played the roles of high-stakes gamblers who studied maps with an unblinking, calculating eye. Angola’s Queen Njinga was willing to shed (and occasionally drink) blood to establish a stable kingdom in an Africa ravaged by the slave trade. Caterina Sforza defended her Italian holdings with cannon and scimitar, and Indira Gandhi launched a war to solve a refugee crisis. We spoke with Emily about the podcast, and what she hopes all listeners will think differently about when it comes to stories of women throughout history: "I think these are stories that anyone can enjoy. I hope they gain respect for women and solidify their commitment to inclusivity in all fields. I do not want any more news segments on “if women can lead.” Let’s make more stories of examples of great women who ARE leading! I am inspired by all of these queens and I think anyone could be inspired as well." Listen to some of the episodes of 'War Queens' via the link in our bio! . . . #warqueens #womeninhistory #herstory #EmilyAnneJordan #podcast #book #story #inspire #gameofthrones #nathalieemmanuel #blackpanther #wakandaforever #womanking #instagood
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We’re all familiar with the portrayal of fictional Queens on screen, from ‘Game of Thrones’ to the fierce warriors in ‘Woman King’ and ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’. But real life history contains some badass stories of female fighters who led armies and entire countries into battle defying the notion that women are not equipped for war. And now a new podcast series called @warqueenspodcast is allowing us to learn more about these warrior women, from host @emily.jordan24, presented by ‘Game of Thrones’ actress @nathalieemmanuel. This podcast goes beyond fiction to tell the stories of the powerful women on the frontlines of real-life battles from countries and cultures around the world. Emily co-hosts “War Queens" with her father, Jon Jordan. The two also co-authored the book ‘War Queens: Extraordinary Women Who Ruled the Battlefield‘ which inspired the podcast. History’s killer queens come in all colors, ages, and leadership styles, and from countries and cultures around the world. Elizabeth Tudor and Golda Meir played the roles of high-stakes gamblers who studied maps with an unblinking, calculating eye. Angola’s Queen Njinga was willing to shed (and occasionally drink) blood to establish a stable kingdom in an Africa ravaged by the slave trade. Caterina Sforza defended her Italian holdings with cannon and scimitar, and Indira Gandhi launched a war to solve a refugee crisis. We spoke with Emily about the podcast, and what she hopes all listeners will think differently about when it comes to stories of women throughout history: "I think these are stories that anyone can enjoy. I hope they gain respect for women and solidify their commitment to inclusivity in all fields. I do not want any more news segments on “if women can lead.” Let’s make more stories of examples of great women who ARE leading! I am inspired by all of these queens and I think anyone could be inspired as well." Listen to some of the episodes of 'War Queens' via the link in our bio! . . . #warqueens #womeninhistory #herstory #EmilyAnneJordan #podcast #book #story #inspire #gameofthrones #nathalieemmanuel #blackpanther #wakandaforever #womanking #instagood
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If there is anything we have learned about Gen Z, it is that they are the generation who are taking control of their own lives, self-determining their future, and giving voice to the issues they care about through a plethora of digital platforms. One young woman who is making it all happen for herself and those who come into her orbit is Gen Z Podcast Host, Chronic Illness Advocate, Digital Creator, and Current USC Masters Student @itsGigiRobinson. Gigi knows that life isn’t always easy and aims to help her audiences tap into the power they hold inside themselves. She is also the host of the podcast @itseverythingyouneediswithin, made for and by Gen Z, which places an emphasis on change-makers and creative innovators across social advocacy industries. When she was just 11 years old, Gigi was diagnosed with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, a connective tissue disorder that leaves her very susceptible to injury. She has used her chronic illness as fuel for her passion for advocacy. Along with chronic illness advocacy, Gigi is also extremely passionate about mental health and body image. Having suffered from both in her teenage years, she strives to be a role model for the next generation, speaking directly to them via social media and her podcast. In a candid interview with us, this is the message she shared about her own chronic illness journey and what she wants others in the same position to know: "I think that other people living with chronic illness should know that however you’re feeling and wherever you are with your acceptance journey is valid. You can’t compare yourself to other people because everyone’s journey is so different. Just because your friend with the same condition is doing well, doesn’t mean that you have to be doing well too! Give yourself grace to not be okay and to take things slow. That’s something I’m working on getting better at." Read the full interview via the link in our bio! . . . #GigiRobinson #GenZ #podcast #chronicillness #vulnerability #mentalhealth #bodyimage #model #advocate #passion #digitalcreator #instagood #women #girls #inspire
4 days ago
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When it comes to one of the biggest financial hurdles to getting ahead in life, student debt ranks at the top for many current and former college students, especially women. Millennials (the generation born between 1981 and 1996) in particular owe an average of $38,877 in student loan debt, according to an Experian study, which has been cited as the main reason preventing them from buying a house and experiencing financial freedom. And while we wait to see what happens with the fight over President Biden’s policy to cancel student debt, there are financial leaders who are using their expertise and experience to help debt holders find relief and live a better life. One of those leaders is @Tonya.Rapley, a financial expert and influencer helping millennials drowning in debt to forge a new path and become the CEOs of their own lives. As a millennial herself who had been stuck in her own financial battles, Tonya speaks from experience as viewers can see in the TV series ‘Going From Broke’, which just premiered its 3rd Season on @Crackle_tv. This show brings resources and strategies into the lounge rooms of the nation and shows debt holders a way forward. We spoke with Tonya about her own financial story, how realistic it is to ever get out of debt, and her thoughts on student debt: "One of the issues I have with student loan debt is at 18 years old, even though we're legally of age, we're not fully adults, and I don't think young adults are given enough time to understand what they want to do with their lives before they take out thousands of dollars that they'll have to repay in the future. I also think that there needs to be more flexibility as far as college affordability. We pay a lot of taxes, and education isn't prioritized in this country the way it could be. The system needs to change from the top." Read more about 'Going From Broke' and how Tonya is helping millennials get out of debt via the link in our bio! 🤑 . . . #goingfrombroke #Tonyarapley #Crackle #finance #studentdebt #studentloans #money @myfabfinance #millennials #guru #education #instagood #watch
5 days ago
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When Roe v Wade was overturned, it awoke a sleeping giant - the 7 in 10 Americans who supported Roe - to a reality that having less rights over our bodies was not an option. As women rise to power in numerous industries, equity and health justice is not just in the hands of men anymore. Although male-lead companies still occupy the majority of investment funds and male-lead companies still receive the lion’s share of financing, there are female-founded companies creating some radical change that is going to impact the lives of everyday women and girls. One of these firms is RH Capital, founded by a diverse team of 4 women who just raised over $40M to tackle reproductive and maternal health equity. RH Capital invests in early-stage startups focusing on women’s health, with a specific focus on reproductive and maternal health equity. Their portfolio companies are across the healthcare spectrum, from biotech and medical devices to digital health and services, with a particular focus on underserved and marginalized populations (Medicaid, BIPOC, rural, etc.), to significantly reduce health disparities in those communities. We had the chance to speak with Stasia Obremskey, one of the Managing Directors of RH Capital, and here's what she told us: "The US has a history of controlling and denying bodily autonomy to women of color. This harmful history has resulted in distrust and suspicion by Black women with respect to the healthcare system. Systemic bias and harmful narratives of Black women contribute to significantly higher maternal mortality rates and higher unintended pregnancy rates. We are looking for solutions to meet the needs of all women realizing that certain groups of women have been neglected and/or abused by the system and deserve more attention." Wanna know more about the companies they are currently funding? Head to the link in our bio, and find out how YOUR startup can pitch them an idea! 🩺 . . . #reprorights #bodilyautonomy #reproductivehealthcare #maternahealth #healthcare #women #health #investment #finance #RoevWade #body #equity #femalefounded #WCW #womancrushwednesday #impact #instagood #funding @rhiaventures
1 week ago
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We know what we’re going to be doing this holiday season – getting cozy in our fave Christmas PJ’s while watching Lindsay Lohan’s new Netflix holiday flick ‘Falling for Christmas’, and binge watching the new Peacock series ‘Bumper in Berlin’ for a good laugh (and 90’s hits sing-a-long). There are many hands that go into making a successful TV series or movie, and one person who knows how to bring it all together in a way that keeps audiences engaged throughout, is the editor. They may not be the household names like other roles on a film, but their work speaks for itself. In the case of Hollywood editor @kristishimek, she knows what it takes to make a film go from great to “I can’t stop watching!” A multi-talented editor whose work transcends genres, Kristi’s most recent work includes editing Netflix’s highly-anticipated Christmas film, as well as the upcoming series ‘Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin’, a spin-off of the popular Pitch Perfect movies starring Adam Devine, Sarah Hyland, Flula Borg, and Jameela Jamil, premiering November 23rd. Wanna know what it takes to edit a film or TV series to make it a hit? Here's what Kristi told us about her experience in a role that is still male-dominated, and the genres she loves working in the most. "I was frequently the only woman on the teams in my early career, and sometimes it was difficult for me to feel like my opinion mattered and for my voice to be heard. I came to realize that I was being hired for my creative voice and whether or not the mostly male dominated room agreed with the ideas, it was essential to be heard as a matter of perspective for the piece I was working on. Anyone can be a great editor, but it’s finding what you bring to the table and knowing that is what you’re being hired for that can make an editing relationship really work." Read more about Kristi's experience working on 'Bumper in Berlin' and 'Falling for Christmas via the link in our bio! . . . #KristiShimek #editor #womeninfilm #femalefilmmakerfriday #hollywood #FallingforChristmas #Netflix #Pitchperfect #BumperinBerlin #AdamDevine #JameelaJamil #SarahHyland #story #creative #holidays #bingewatch #instagood #watch
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War in Ukraine, inflation, political elections, lingering COVID strains. There’s enough going on throughout the world to drive anyone into a constant state of anxiety. But psychiatrist and mental health expert @drtraceymarks and her new book, ‘Why Am I So Anxious?’, is equipping us with the tools and coping tricks so needed in our anxiety-ridden culture. Dr. Marks helps us navigate the fallout from our high anxiety, whether it’s caused by news of school shootings or personal relationships, with tools from aromatherapy to grounding techniques. She broadcasts to over a million followers weekly on her YouTube channel and is a general and forensic psychiatrist of over 20 years. She believes that insight creates change, both on a micro-level (personal growth) and a macro-level (reduction in fear and social judgment). Here's what Dr. Marks told us about finding tools to manage anxiety in the midst of uncertainty: "Major world events affirm the need for all of us to have healthy coping skills and a set of personalized tools that we use to manage stress and anxiety. Therapy is not a one-size fits all as there are so many different types of therapy to address different issues. Similarly, the strategies and techniques you can use for anxiety are varied and help different problems. My book teaches you how to use over twenty different tools (not including medication and herbal remedies). These are tools you can use from the comfort of your home." Read more from Dr Tracey Marks via the link in our bio! . . . #anxiety #mentalhealth #therapy #stress #news #politics #mindfulness #calm #peace #strategy #psychiatrist #instagood #mentalhealthmondays
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Is violence justifiable in a violently oppressive culture? This is the main question being explored in the new dark, satirical comedy web series ‘Killer Workout’ on @revrytv. Directed by award winning filmmaker @seawerner, the series is created by NYC-based personal trainer/writer @inspiredwriternyc and produced by his wife @yvonpearson wanting to shed light onto the inequality, classism and racism many Americans experience on a daily basis. ‘Killer Workout’ uses horror, comedy, and violence as a vehicle to explore the struggles faced by Joy, a 31 year old broke, bi-racial, queer, female personal trainer for the elite of NYC. Struggling to fit into a society that constantly disrespects and others her while compensating her high level service with far less than adequate payment, Joy finally snaps as a result of a particularly offensive client’s racially charged sexual advances. This little violent BDSM matinee surprisingly exhilarates a traumatized and broke Joy as she begins to feel like she may have just found her “true purpose”: brutally murdering toxic rich assholes. The series also stands as a commentary on the current economic conditions, where 61% of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck, with the top 1% controlling 32% of the wealth. We had the chance to speak with Sara, Eric, Yvonna as well as lead actress @helloninakassa (Joy) about the web series and what they hope viewers will entertained by and simultaneously challenged by. "I hope it causes audiences to educate themselves on these real life issues further and to become vocal in ending them: How can I be a better ally? How does my privilege affect me? How can I check myself? How can I stand up for equality?" said Sara. "‘Killer Workout’ not only makes audiences grapple with some of the hypocrisies of liberal-white feminists, but it reorients the conversation around the consequences of those hypocrisies on many BIPOC women." said Yvonna. Read the full Q&A via the link in our bio! 🩸🥊 . . . #killerworkout #privilege #horror #comedy #webseries #racism #inequality #eattherich #whitefeminism #violence #femalefilmmakerfriday #producer #director #socialimpact #BIPOC #instagood
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My good friend E came this weekend from New York to visit. I’ve known E since I was in the 7th grade. Back then I had such a massive crush on him that I was unable to do or say anything cool. He’s the star of my John Hughes movie. The one where my two best friends are dating and I’m the girl who follows them around with butterfly clips in my hair, completely oblivious to how painfully awkward I am. Eventually I do something stupid like drink an Ozarka bottle of vodka and go all Custer’s last stand in my bra and underwear before jumping in the pool. That’s where the movie goes from Breakfast Club to that terrible one with Jennifer Love Hewitt, only I’m not her. I’m some extra. And the boy I have a crush on loves her. Good thing we grow up…
The moral of the story is that eventually life righted itself. Turns out my attraction to E was shallow and based solely on his looks. He’s now happily dating my dearest friend in the whole world, and while I still feel like the girl with the blue glitter eye shadow and butterfly clips, I’m married and that makes me look all secure and wise. (Plus I’m fairly certain they’re the forever kind, and I don’t want to be a home wrecker.) This marriage-induced objectivity is allowing me to learn all sorts of things about E. Things he probably told me when I was 14, but I was too busy trying to keep my shit together.
Unlike my husband, E does appreciate a good yoga class. My favorite yoga teacher Marc was kind enough to teach a class for the two of us. It was awesome and intense. Since E is part of the “Because of London” half marathon group, hips were a focus. I could have focused the yoga high into smoothie drinking and wheat grass chewing, but instead I channeled it into bread sticks and CoCos at Bistro du Midi, corn gratin and Pinot Noir at Petit Robert, Duvels at Coda, Julius Etchers at Post 390, and a little Matilda at my apartment at 3AM. Thank god I have that problem with making sandwiches when I’m inebriated. I can’t even begin to imagine how much worse I would have felt without it. As it was, I spent 90% of my day looking like a Williamsburg lesbian/bag lady and popping into every public restroom in the city. It would have been foolish to pass up a perfectly available toilet.
I was unable to eat anything in the latter half of the day. I laid on the couch moaning about my life while the hubs repeatedly told me that I had already told him how bad I felt and continuing to do so would not make me better. I never liked him anyway.
To add insult to injury, sometime during the course of our evening E was talking about the octuple points he gets when he uses his JetBlue credit card to purchase JetBlue flights online. Someone (I believe it was the hubs) thought it would be a good idea to purchase my plane ticket to Texas on E’s credit card so that he could have the points. So we did. At 3:30AM. After eating drunk sandwiches. I was going to pop over to Texas for a long weekend in July to help my cousin celebrate her 21st birthday and maybe spend some time with my parents. You know, go to dinner or something.
I bought a plane ticket to go home for eleven days.
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4 thoughts on “this weekend my name was “whoa there little lady””
Bun says:
April 19, 2010 at 5:26 pm
Eleven days. Remember when Dad made us get out of the car and fly home from Mississippi?
April 19, 2010 at 5:42 pm
For the record, everyone had a crush on E. Everyone. I’m assuming we’re talking about the same person…
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Realty experts say the added amount of available properties could translate into a win-win for doctors — always considered attractive tenants.
WITH THIS STORY:
» 5 trends driving medical office real estate
A significant increase in medical office building construction means landlords might be willing to make the extra effort to sweeten the deal to ensure that physician practices will fill the space. And it might not be a bad time for a practice to sell an existing property, either.
“Buildings are going up left and right, and there are lots of opportunities in the marketplace,” said Paul D. Heiserman, senior vice president of health care real estate with Equity, a services firm based in Columbus, Ohio.
No organization issues an official report on medical office building activity, but major real estate companies say they believe new buildings are going up faster than ever. Sales of existing buildings are highly active as well.
According to a Jan. 11 report from Colliers International, a global real estate company, 33.7 million square feet of medical office building space was under construction across the country in the third quarter of 2012. A survey of 156 health care real estate developers released in December 2012 by Newmark Grubb Knight Frank, a brokerage based in New York, found that 65% said development would be higher in 2013 than in 2012.
Medical office building industry experts say the numbers indicate that future construction will be much greater for the foreseeable future than the 7 million square feet built in 2010, as reported April 21, 2011, by the Urban Land Institute, a nonprofit research organization.
A previous pre-recession high was the 13.7 million square feet added in 2005, according to data from Marcus & Millichap, a national real estate brokerage firm based in Calabasas, Calif.
Why now?
The recent burst in construction is believed to be a result of several factors. One is demand that built up during the 2007-09 recession, when some projects stalled or never got started, said K.C. Conway, Colliers executive managing director of real estate analytics, who wrote his company's report.
Also playing a role was the 2012 U.S. Supreme Court ruling upholding the Affordable Care Act and the certainty that millions more people will be added to insurance rolls in the next few years. Investors, including many real estate investment trusts, developed a keen interest in medical office buildings. Duke Realty, a real estate developer and manager based in Indianapolis, reported in January that it expects more building as high-acuity and emergency services increasingly move off of hospital campuses.
“Hospitals are staking their claim in their geographic areas by creating new buildings and putting their brand name on the sign,” said Philip J. Camp, a principal with Hammond Hanlon Camp, a health care investment banking firm based in New York.
In a turbulent real estate market, medical office buildings, a historically stable investment, became extremely attractive to investors looking for safe places to stash their cash. The delinquency rate for commercial mortgage-backed securities was 9.2% for the general office market in 2012, according to Marcus & Millichap, but only 3.3% for medical offices. Landlords of empty retail properties, especially those ravaged by the closings of big-box chains such as Circuit City and Borders, are making deals to have those spaces retrofitted into medical office space, Duke Realty reported.
Demand's effect on prices
How the building boom affects rents will vary by market, but real estate developers note that in most areas, demand is such that rates are stable or still going up. However, medical office real estate experts say physicians looking to lease or buy should have some leverage to get reasonable prices, decent credit arrangements and additional money to remodel the space. This is particularly true because, although financing for new developments has loosened up, it still has challenges. Most lenders will not finance a building that does not have significant tenant commitment. Also, doctors tend to move less often than commercial tenants, which increases their appeal.
33.7 million square feet of medical office building space was under construction in the third quarter of 2012.
“I get lenders and developers calling me all the time saying that they have a great program for physicians,” said Rebecca Harrell, medical office specialist with Henry S. Miller Brokerage in Dallas. “Doctors are some of the most favored clients out there.”
Realtors say medical office space tends not to last long on the market. A statement issued Jan. 11 by Jones Lang LaSalle, based in Chicago, called medical offices “the investment darling.”
Marcus & Millichap estimated that medical office vacancy had dipped to 11% in 2012, the lowest rate since 2008. The Urban Land Institute report indicates that 64 million square feet of additional medical office space would be required during the next decade. Medical office buildings “will not be plagued in future years by continuing excess capacity, as is the case with residential real estate, malls and office buildings,” the report stated.
But what does this mean for physicians who already own medical office buildings and are looking to sell? Will buyers put their money into newer, shinier structures?
Duke Realty reports that it expects purchases of existing buildings to be active. The same factors that drive medical office construction are increasing interest in existing buildings.
But industry insiders have some advice for physicians who plan to retire or close a practice: Try to sell the building a few years before that happens. Medical office real estate experts say a building that can be bought and then leased back to the practice is an attractive investment for a buyer. The building will be harder to sell without a tenant.
5 trends driving medical office real estate
Duke Realty, a large investor and builder of medical office buildings, in late January released a list of what it believed would be the top real estate trends driving medical office building construction and sales in 2013:
More higher-acuity care moving out of the hospital and into the office setting.
Construction of freestanding emergency centers that will stand alone, rather than serve as the first phrase of construction of new hospitals, as in the past.
More partnering among hospitals, physicians, health systems and for-profit or nonprofit companies, which creates the need for new or expanded space.
Hospitals selling medical office buildings to fund other needs, such as accountable care organizations, electronic health records systems, and mergers and acquisitions of other hospitals and physician practices. They also might sell to minimize risk of compliance violations, such as attracting attention for Stark and anti-kickback law violations if, for example, they're deemed to be undercharging physicians for rent.
Repurposing of old retail sites — especially vacant big-box locations abandoned by closed chains such as Circuit City and Borders — into medical office space.
Source: Duke Realty, Indianapolis
External links
“The Outlook for Health Care,” Urban Land Institute, April 21, 2011 (link)
Copyright © 2013 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.
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When you are supporting clients on a weight loss journey, it is easy to see the results and for clients to track their success. The number on the scale is the tell-tale sign of progress.
But how do you keep weight-loss clients motivated if the number doesn’t move?
And for clients with health goals other than weight loss, how can you measure their progress beyond what the numbers say after lab testing?
That’s where non-scale victories are helpful.
What is a non-scale victory?
As clients change their health habits to lose weight or support other health goals, they will notice other positive changes.
For example, clients may notice that they are sleeping better and waking up refreshed.
Or they have fewer mood swings. They feel more calm and relaxed.
They can walk for a longer amount of time without feeling tired. Their joint pain disappears.
All of these improvements are signs that the habit changes they are making are supporting their overall health and wellness.
4 ways to help clients track and succeed with non-scale victories
Celebrating each non-scale victory can help clients stay on track with their plans. When they can see the progress they’re making, clients are more likely to keep going with their new healthy habits.
Here are four easy ways you can have clients use the MBODY360 app to track and recognize their non-scale victories:
Use the conditions feature to track mood and symptoms
Do your clients have multiple symptoms that could be reduced or eliminated through your plan?
Maybe they complain of physical issues like frequent headaches, digestive issues, itchy skin, or aches and pains.
Or maybe they have emotional or cognitive issues like mood swings, foggy thinking, or distracted attention.
You can have them track multiple symptoms each day in the Conditions feature in the app.
Do you have clients that have high-stress levels or worry?
You can encourage them to reduce their stress by starting a meditation practice through their plan.
The app allows clients to set a daily meditation goal and keep track of their meditation practice through a timer.
You can have clients start with a goal of 5 minutes per day. Once they click the meditation timer, the app will track how long they sit, and it alerts them when time is up with a gentle chime.
And if you like, you can add your favorite guided meditation video by uploading it to the plan for your patients.
Track exercise wins in the movement section
When your clients start on your plan, they all have a baseline of physical fitness.
For sedentary clients, it can be that walking a mile feels challenging, and they might deal with tight muscles or joint pain. More active clients might have some fitness routines, but they know they could be stronger, faster or more flexible. As the experts of our company state, miorelaxants are almost harmless. However, they shouldn’t be taken for more than 14 days. The thing is, they lead to sleepiness and vertigo, and after the pain relief,the treatment should be stopped. Most often, Soma 350 mg is appointed by the physicians.
The movement feature allows clients to set fitness goals that can sync with their wearable devices like the Apple Health app or Fitbit.
As clients progress in their plans, they may find that they can run farther, go faster, or do more than they could at the beginning.
Journal in notes to recognize various intangible results
After going through your plan for a week or two, what else do your clients notice?
You can have them write about their progress in the notes feature of the app. Here are some questions that can help prompt their journal entries:
What’s one unhelpful habit that you’ve dropped since starting your plan and a healthy routine that you’ve replaced it with?
What are you most proud of right now?
How do you feel physically?
What improvements do you notice in your moods?
How else can you measure your success?
Track compliance and success in your portal
The MBODY360 portal gives you the full picture of how your clients are succeeding in their goals. You can easily see how well they are doing by our green-yellow-red “stoplight” system that shows if they are regularly tracking their progress.
You can also communicate directly via HIPAA-compliant text. These direct messages can give your clients just-in-time coaching to help them keep going on the right track.
You can customize app notifications to prompt them to track all of their victories, no matter how big or small.
Regular words of encouragement and support (even when automated) can help clients succeed in reaching all of their health goals.
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Our mission is to empower integrative health and wellness practitioners to lead the world to better health.
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As a business owner, you must understand the benefits of choosing the best digital marketing agency because they might improve your business to the next level. On the other hand, they help your business to succeed in online and make your brand visibility among your target market. If you wish to pick the best digital marketing agency, then you must concern about specific things such as,
Define your goals
Do your research
It is always necessary to ensure that agency has skilled and qualified professionals for delivery quality results for your business. At the same time, they must able to finish targets within the time limit and handle the responsibility. While choosing the digital marketing agency, it is always necessary to know about employee competence and skills. It is always necessary to take feedback from the clients. It is always necessary to compare quotes with the potential competitors of the agency. Using this agency is one of the best ways to track return on investment. Some of the marketing agency might specialize in the planning and strategy so they can take care of your business. Keeping track of the results is necessary one from small individual campaign to overall marketing efforts.
Things to know about digital marketing agency
You are advisable to do some research in online which ensures that you can pick legitimate agency based on your needs. Harvey agency is one of the trusted and reliable one to get high quality marketing service to their clients. They can provide wide ranges of service to their clients such as digital marketing, print production, social media, strategy, web design and development. They are having many years of experience in this field so they can offer top notch service to their clients at affordable price. When it comes to their digital marketing services then it includes marketing automation, SEM, PPC, display advertising, search engine optimization and retargeting. They are using useful and excellent strategies to promote and advertise your products in online.
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Drunk driving is still a big problem in the United States; the following states have the highest rate of offenders.
Starting in the 1980s, drunk driving laws were made significantly harsher across the United States. These harsher punishments have helped significantly reduce the number of drunk driving fatalities over the past 40 years. Nevertheless, driving under the influence remains a significant problem. In 2016, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) calculated that almost 30 people die in drunk driving crashes each day—roughly one person every 50 minutes. In fact, drunk driving remains the leading cause of driving-related fatalities in the country.
Trauma aside, crashes involving drunk driving also incur significant costs. Damages due to driving under the influence totaled 44 billion dollars in costs in 2010, according to the NHTSA. Curious about which places in the U.S. suffer the highest cost due to drinking? The data science team at Insurify decided to take a deeper look at the states with the highest percentage of drivers with prior DUI violations.
National averages. According to Insurify’s data, 2.27 percent of drivers around the country have a prior citation for a DUI. Additionally, 12.70 percent of motorists have at least one prior accident on their driving record, and 17.78 percent of adults nationwide report excessive or binge drinking.
Fewer people, more drinking and driving? None of the fifteen most populous states have the highest DUI rates. In fact, all but two of the territories on the list ranked in the bottom half of the country by total population. Less populous states clearly have fewer population centers, which might lead to more open roads and fewer public transportation and ride-sharing options. Both of these factors might help explain the correlation between low population levels and high rates of DUI in these states.
More drunks, more violations. Eight of the top 10 states reported binge drinking rates that were above the national average of 17.78 percent. A brief analysis of rates of excessive drinking in each state and percentage of drivers with a DUI reveals that there is a small but significant correlation between the rate of binge drinking and the proportion of drivers with a prior DUI violation.
But not more accidents. It might be logical to assume that a high percentage of drivers with a prior DUI would lead to more accidents. After all, according to the NHTSA, about one-third of all fatal traffic crashes involve a drunk driver. Surprisingly, however, there is no significant correlation between the percentage of drivers with a DUI violation and the percentage of drivers with at least one accident on their driving record.
To determine which states have the highest proportions of drivers with prior DUIs, Insurify’s data scientists took a look at the numbers from their database of over two million car insurance applications. To apply for quotes, drivers input personal and vehicle information as well as driving history from the past seven years, including whether or not they have been cited for a DUI. The team analyzed the number of drivers with DUI’s against the total number of drivers to find the percentage of drivers with a DUI in each state. The team then used Insurify’s database to obtain additional data on the percentage of drivers with an accident in each state. Data related to the proportion of adults who reported excessive drinking come from the Center for Disease Control (CDC).
States With the Most DUIs
Percentage of Drivers with a DUI: 3.52%
Percentage of Drivers with an Accident: 13.24%
Percent of Adults Reporting Binge Drinking: 21.3%
Kicking off the countdown is Iowa, one of six states from the midwest in the top 10. Just over 3.5 percent of drivers in the Hawkeye State have a prior DUI violation on their driving records, despite the state having very strict laws against drunk driving. First-time offenders face anywhere between 48 hours to one year in jail, and a fine starting at $625.
Percentage of Drivers with a DUI: 3.65%
Percentage of Drivers with an Accident: 14.61%
Percent of Adults Reporting Excessive Drinking: 20.4%
In addition to cracking the top 10 in percentage of drivers with a DUI, Nebraska also has a problem with car accidents. 14.61 percent of motorists also report having been involved in at least one accident, a number which ranks eighth-worst in the country.
Percentage of Drivers with a DUI: 3.69%
Percentage of Drivers with an Accident: 10.13%
Percent of Adults Reporting Excessive Drinking: 21.3%
Each one of the 50 states mandates that motorists convicted of driving under the influence pay a fine, but Montana’s financial penalties are actually among the most lenient. Fines start at just $300, and go up to $1000. For comparison, in Oregon—the state with the most severe fines—getting caught drunk behind the wheel can cost as much as $6250. Those comparatively lenient penalties, combined with the fact that over 1-in-5 adults in Montana reports excessive drinking, might help explain why the Treasure State has one of the highest DUI rates in the country.
Percentage of Drivers with a DUI: 3.7%
Percentage of Drivers with an Accident: 12.34%
Percent of Adults Reporting Excessive Drinking: 14.8%
Montana’s neighbor also doesn’t have a sterling reputation when it comes to drinking and driving. Idaho does, however, have the lowest share of binge drinking adults among the 10 states on the list, and a percentage of drivers with a prior accident well below the national average. However, its rate of drivers with a DUI is still roughly 1.63 times the national average.
Percentage of Drivers with a DUI: 3.83%
Percentage of Drivers with an Accident: 11.38%
Percent of Adults Reporting Excessive Drinking: 20.5%
In Minnesota, the percentage of drivers with a DUI is 1.68 times the national average, and to make matters worse, more than 1-in-5 adults reportedly drink to excess. The problem also apparently extends beyond just ordinary citizens. At the beginning of January, the mayor of Eagan, Minnesota—who is currently in his fourth term in office—was arrested and charged with two counts of driving while intoxicated after hitting a snowbank while driving.
Percentage of Drivers with a DUI: 4.11%
Percentage of Drivers with an Accident: 14.09%
Percent of Adults Reporting Excessive Drinking: 20.0%
Alaska is just one of four in the top 10 states with the most DUIs that’s outside the Midwest.Stil, Alaska’s rate of drivers with a DUI is well above the national average, as is the rate of self-reporting binge-drinking adults. However, The Last Frontier is also one of just 15 states that requires people convicted of DUI to install an Ignition Interlock Device (IID) on their vehicle, forcing drivers to blow into a mouthpiece on their car before starting their car.
Percentage of Drivers with a DUI: 4.33%
Percentage of Drivers with an Accident: 13.72%
Percent of Adults Reporting Excessive Drinking: 24.4%
Just one state has a higher percentage of adults that report binge drinking than Wisconsin, but it’s not all bad news when it comes to alcohol in the Badger State. In fact, according to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation data, vehicle-related deaths due to alcohol consumption have decreased from 159 in 2018 to 136 in 2019, a reduction of nearly 15 percent.
Percentage of Drivers with a DUI: 4.57%
Percentage of Drivers with an Accident: 11.56%
Percent of Adults Reporting Excessive Drinking: 17.9%
South Dakota has a proportion of adults reporting excessive drinking that is roughly in line with national averages, but the Mount Rushmore State nevertheless has a rate of drivers with prior DUI violations that is more than double the national average. Interestingly, Dakota News Now found data indicating that these DUI violations might not all happen late at night. In fact, 18 percent of DUI arrests happen in Sioux Falls between the hours of 6 AM and 6 PM, a 12-hour period not commonly considered a time to drink.
Percentage of Drivers with a DUI: 5.16%
Percentage of Drivers with an Accident: 11.99%
Percent of Adults Reporting Excessive Drinking: 16.9%
Wyoming is by far the least populated state in the country, but still has the second highest percentage of drivers with a prior DUI. DUIs aside, Wyoming has the second-lowest percentage of adults reporting excessive drinking among states on the list. Wyoming’s proportion of drivers with an accident is almost 33 percent less than the national average of 17.78 percent.
Percentage of Drivers with a DUI: 5.17%
Percentage of Drivers with an Accident: 12.4%
Percent of Adults Reporting Excessive Drinking: 24.9%
Rounding out the countdown is North Dakota. In the Peace Garden State, the percentage of drivers with a DUI is astonishingly 2.27 times the national average of 2.27 percent. On top of that, approximately 1-in-4 adults report excessive drinking—the highest rate in the nation North Dakota’s relatively lenient penalties for drunk driving do not help the state crack down on impaired motorists. The maximum fine for a first DUI in North Dakota is $750. Only ten states have a maximum fine equal to or less than that number.
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The scientific work is mostly published either as a journal or a conference paper. In both of these publications, the research papers are accepted after the peer-reviewed process by the expert and senior researchers of the field. Peer-review ensures only high quality work for publication and it determines the authenticity, validity and novelty of the submitted paper. Moreover, it aims to improve the quality of the manuscripts before accepting them for publications.
The Difference between a Conference Paper and a Journal Paper Click To Tweet
A lot of students get confused about the difference between the journal and the conference papers. If you are one of them – don’t worry. This article will cover all the major differences between the journal paper and the conference paper. As a bonus, you will also know about some amazing online courses to learn and improve your scientific writing skills.
What is the difference between Journal paper and conference paper?
Let’s start with the journal papers, the researchers submit their manuscript for the issue of journal. The frequency of issues depends on the journal and normally it varies from once-a-month to once-a-year, or it can be a special issue. The submitted papers goes through the review process and the reviewers can opt to ask the authors for major or minor revisions. It is worth noting that the journal review process does not have a fixed deadline.
There’s a possibility of a multiple round of review phases (often limited to three) before the research work is accepted or rejected. The journal paper is usually more elaborative than the conference papers. Submitting your research work in top-notch journals means that the experts of your research area will review your paper, and it will only publish if it meets the quality standards. Depending on the journal, you will get the quality label (impact factor) for your work that defines your capabilities and excellence. Typically, in authentic journals the publications have high quality with deep analysis.
On the other hand, in conference venues students, researchers, and professors gather to share and discuss research developments in a certain field. Conferences have a fixed time period for the review process of the submitted papers. The authors submit their work within the specific deadline after that the submitted research work goes through the review phase, then all the authors get the notification of acceptance/rejection.
On the conference venue, one of the author of the accepted paper attend the conference to present their research work in front of the participants. One perk of attending conferences is that it gives the opportunity to meet and network with the other researchers of the same field. Typically, conference papers are published in collections of research papers called “proceedings”. During a conference, authors get an opportunity to present, discuss and receive valuable feedback from the experts and the other researchers that suggestions can be used to expand the conference paper into a high quality journal paper. In contrast to typical journal paper, conference papers are usually short and concise.
Source: https://www.enago.com/
What is impact factor?
The impact factor (IF) of a scientific journal is a measure of the index that shows the annual average number of citations of the papers published in a specific journal in last two years. In other words, IF is used to measure the importance of a journal that depends of the citations of the published articles. The higher the impact factor, the more highly ranked the journal.
We have listed few online courses that will significantly help you to learn the scientific writing and everything that you need to write a good quality paper.
1. Writing in the Sciences offered by Stanford
2. Academic Literacy offered by Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT)
3. Think Again I: How to Understand Arguments offered by Duke University
Your thoughts?
Would you prefer to submit your research work in conference or a journal? Please let us know your thoughts in the comments below! Join us on instagram and Facebook. Don’t forget to share this article.
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For Companies
Marie Kondo Business Inspiration: A journey to becoming a professional organizing consultant
Updated August 18, 2021
This month, we’re lifting the veil on the consulting business of organizing and the KonMari Method with Cassidy Nasello, a rockstar independent consultant with an interesting angle on consulting who has capitalized on the Marie Kondo craze. She’s turned people’s need for organization – and her passion – into a business. Read on as she explains how her business school, corporate, and startup experience led her down this path.
Jenny Rae: Cassidy, thanks for agreeing to share your fascinating story about your management consulting transition – you moved into an actual management position by building a consulting firm that’s in a very unusual space related to something we’re all hearing a lot about right now: the Marie Kondo method of cleaning. Really excited to hear about how you got to where you are today.
Cassidy: Absolutely.
Jenny Rae: I think the best place to start is at the beginning – and the beginning could be birth and childhood. If you think there’s anything that’s interesting there, please feel free to add that into context. But when I looked at your background, I noticed that you were also a member of the Peace Corps. Talk to me a little bit about how your early life shaped you as a person and a professional.
Peace Corps Experience:
Cassidy: I definitely have a big soft spot for community service – it was a part of my childhood. I had an influential godmother who encouraged service. I was also told by a mentor that life only offered you so many gaps where you can take a leap and do something completely different, and the time after college is one of those gaps – assuming financial constraints are not an issue – that offer a sweet spot time to go explore the world. So, marrying my passion for travel and love for community service, I joined the Peace Corps to go explore the world. But I will say that when I went into the Peace Corps, it was not with the goal of finding my future career – it was about continuing education and life exploration – an opportunity to do something that was relatively selfless (because there is always a selfish aspect of volunteering). It was a chance to do something completely new and different from what I expected the rest of my life to look like.
Jenny Rae: Amazing. Can you just share where you served and what you were focused on when you were there?
Cassidy: Sure. I lived in a remote village in Nicaragua on the Moskito coast, and spoke an indigenous language called Moskito. I lived there for 2 years with very limited resources, no electricity, no running water – hauled my own water and washed my clothes on a washboard. My duty there was focusing on youth development. What does that mean? I was the first volunteer ever to live there. Peace Corps is two years because it takes a year to figure it out – including who you can trust, which has been a good parallel to any business – and then the second year is about implementation. The grass roots approach makes sense. Had I just rolled in and said, “You need a library,” it wouldn’t have been what they needed. They needed sex education, and information about viruses and bacteria, how to prevent Malaria and Dengue fever. So that’s really where I focused my efforts – what would resonate with people there so they could continue the practices after my departure.
Jenny Rae: So then, after Peace Corps, what happened next? How did you decide what you were going to do post-Peace Corps?
Cassidy: To take a step back, I always had a self-driven, results-driven background, so the Peace Corps was sort of a weird diversion. Before that, I had a real thrill from selling CutCo knives in high school and college – selling by referral, from friends, and friends of friends. I was extremely successful. It was relationship building, figuring out points of friction, resolving them, and making a sale. I loved it.
I could build my hours around key planning times of the day (this was my priority in high school – weird!). So that’s a little side note, but just to say, when I returned from the Peace Corps, I was doing one of the “what kind of career you want to be in?” surveys. It kept coming back to working directly with people, and so when I decided I wanted to be in the sales space, I uncovered my passion for publishing and media and magazines. New York City was the hotspot for all of that, so that’s where I looked. I reached out to a company who was doing advertising sales for Outside magazine, and applied. They were an outsourced company for Outside Magazine. My experience was good and I was very successful at selling ads – so much so that I was ultimately pulled in-house at Outside Magazine because I wasn’t paid commission. It was a Negotiating 101 failure – I was 23, after all.
I went to my boss and asked for commission, and he told me to get lost because I was just a kid. So, I went to the publisher of Outside Magazine and told them that my boss didn’t want to pay me, so I was going to leave. He said, “I’ll make a spot for you here at the company.” So, that was the beginning of my career in ad sales. After Outside Magazine, I went over to Conde Nast to Gourmet Magazine. I went to AMEX at Travel and Leisure, then the New Yorker, and then the Atlantic. I had a good run, and worked at some big names. It was at the height of print ad sales, which of course sounds archaic now. It couldn’t have been more fun, set against the backdrop of Manhattan.
Jenny Rae: At what point did you begin to think that there may be a transition for you post publishing media and mags, because like you said, you had a great run, and you worked for all of these amazing brands. But you also seem like somebody who cultivates ambition wherever you are. So what was next for you and how’d you figure that out?
Cassidy: I kind of hit my stride. I worked at my all-time favorite publications, I learned digital, because that’s where things were going. But then the sale became less and less relationship driven – it was more about clicks and impressions, engagement – and I was able to express my creativity through custom content I was pitching to clients, focusing on how to integrate them more authentically into the content. I guess I was feeling like I had peaked, and it kept feeling like – same job, different website. It was disenchanting – the next level was in the management side of things. An entrepreneurial spirit was in me, but didn’t know how to express that and what that would look like. That was the point where I said, “I want to explore business school as an opportunity to be exposed to other careers out there.” I was just on this ladder-climbing, one-track, tunnel vision path and it was a chance for me to see what else was going on in the world.
Columbia Business School:
Jenny Rae: Tell me about how you decided where to go to business school and also what two to three of the key takeaways from business school were for you?
Cassidy: Sure. No-one can deny that Columbia is incredibly prestigious, and is well-known for a great Executive MBA program. I also wanted to (and financially needed to) work – and wanted to be surrounded by people who were working presently at the time. It was important to be able to relate to my classmates in that realm so we could swap stories and work through issues we were having at work. It fit into my schedule, it checked all the boxes for diversity – I thought at first glance it would be just a bunch of people trying to further their career in finance, but that turned out not to be the case. In terms of takeaways – it was stepping out of my comfort zone, like the Peace Corps all over again. I didn’t speak the language, I didn’t have a finance background, and wanted to face the music on things I had gotten away without knowing but needed to know. In addition to stepping out of my comfort zone, people came from all sorts of jobs, and they all had similar struggles. Despite where they were and how much money they were making, they all had a similar feeling – feeling stuck. It was nice to discover that we were all trying to thrive and excel in our own respective worlds.
Jenny Rae: Love it. Well, I segmented out – and you’ll have to make sure that the timeline is right here – the next season for you – the in-house role at Wanderlust, when you were doing more of a strategy and media role. Can you talk a little bit about that – when that happened and also why that was a good next step for you before starting your Marie Kondo consultancy?
Cassidy: Absolutely. So, I was excited to try something new but knew I wanted to keep a foot in the world I was comfortable in. It was an opportunity for me to have more of a creative role at a higher level within a startup division of a larger company called Wanderlust. They are known for their large-scale yoga festivals and had flirted with media – they had a website that was largely article-based. They wanted to see how they could better monetize that side of the business knowing that their bread and butter was ticket sales at their events. This was soon after business school, and it was an opportunity for me to step off the track I had been on. It was also an opportunity for me to get in and build something from the ground up within a company.
I was hired at the same time as a new CFO, and it was an opportunity to have a mentor. It was the wild west when I got there – I learned a ton – not just about media and building the business model, but navigating internal politics and challenges, working with a highly involved CEO, being responsible for how the board might react to a business plan. It was really exciting and a huge learning curve for me. Definitely stressful, in that I was pushing myself beyond my comfort zone and felt entirely responsible for something in a way that I hadn’t before. I had always had one or two people ahead or above me on the totem pole, but now it fell on me to make it successful. It couldn’t have been a more perfect fit for what I was looking for after business school.
Jenny Rae: Well, we could definitely keep going there, but it’s probably time to talk about the real core of what we want to hear about. Naturally, I’m interested in your journey into consulting. The type of consulting that you do is different and special and unique in a way that I think will resonate with a lot of people. So, can you talk a little bit about FELT – the idea behind it, how you came across the idea, and what you’re doing with it now?
Cassidy: Sure. So, this is where we take a huge step back to my childhood. Before selling knives, I loved organizing things. I loved setting things up. I loved making things aesthetically beautiful. Not to mention that I was raised by two psychiatrists. I love to decorate, I love to organize, my parents were psychiatrists, and I loved sales and closing a deal. So I asked myself, “How am I going to pull this into a career?” It wasn’t that calculated, it just sort of was a hindsight realization, but when I was ending my time at Wanderlust, they had made a huge internal strategic shift that was no longer focused on media. I was laid off as well as my whole department – I had a little bit of runway to figure out what I wanted to do, but I also had a big pill to swallow.
Cassidy: I’d had a great job, it was sexy and I had been there almost two years. It wasn’t a surprise, but it also was, because I had controlled every move in my career except for that one. It was a big wake-up call and a chance to take a big assessment of what I wanted to do. I flirted with going back into a traditional sales role within a website, but I wasn’t excited by anything I was seeing. I knew it was worth listening to myself when I was hoping people wouldn’t call me back – that’s when I was like, “Wait a minute, something else is going on.” At the same time, I was on Marie Kondo’s newsletter. She is Japanese and had created the KonMari Method of organizing. She was coming to New York to certify people to become certified KonMari Method consultants. I remember thinking, “I don’t even know what this means,” but I had a flashback to the same excitement I felt when I saw the flyer in my town saying, “Come be a Cutco consultant” and my response was, “I can do that.” It was that same kind of excitement. And so I thought, “I can be a KonMari Method consultant. I don’t know what that is, but I know I can do it.”
Actually I went in almost a little tongue and cheek, and I completely fell in love with Marie Kondo – as most of the world is now – and just how simple and brilliant her approach to organizing is. I knew I could totally evangelize it and turn it into a great business. So I left the 3-day seminar feeling completely inspired – drew up my logo and business plan within 1 week, and my website within the next month. The rest is history – now I have a thriving business in the world of professional organizing. If you would have told me two years ago that I would be doing this, I would have told you you were insane. But here I am, talking to you about it.
Jenny Rae: You said that you found it simple, straightforward, compelling – but can you remember anything in particular about your interaction with Marie Kondo that was unique? Was it just the method that was empowering or was it something about her process or her relationships that also fed into that?
Cassidy: Sure. I would say it’s 70/30. 70% of what influenced me was the method, and 30% was her. I had been influenced by her method when I was in business school, and I was pregnant, and working full time – by the way, I would not recommend getting pregnant while in business school and working full time, but it happened, and we have a beautiful 4-year-old now – but, so, I was in nesting mode and just thinking, “I have so much stuff, and I don’t know why, and now I have to fit another person into this apartment.” l had treated that book like the Bible – I took it very literally, and took it through the process step by step. She was not a household name, but the method had really resonated with me because it’s so simple. When I did meet with her, I was all in. I was already sipping on the Kool-Aid, and then I was struck when I met her. There is a peacefulness about her – she is gentle but firm, and that is how I work with my clients. She has an incredible level of charisma that is to be respected.
The Mechanics of Transition:
Jenny Rae: You made it sound very easy. You know, you got inspired by the Marie Kondo method, you go to the training and then you wake up after building a website and you have a successful business a year later. But I know that there are a few more mechanics in there, and so for everybody else who’s thinking I have a passion or I have something else that could be really interesting as a consulting business, what do you think are two or three keys to your success in turning an idea into an actual consulting business?
Cassidy: I learned in business school that I am risk averse. I do not like taking risk, I do not like putting too much financial skin in the game, and what I liked about this business is that it was very minimal overhead. This was an opportunity for me to take a big emotional risk – stepping outside my ego, my comfort zone, and the board room backdrop I had always imagined in my life, and there was a financial constraint because my salary was going from “X” to “X minus a lot” – but it was predictable.
What I really gave up was the right to brag on my resume about what I was doing. The decision was easy. The work was hard. But I have a lot of grit, and a lot of hustle. I had that in me from sales, from selling knives, I know how to network, I know how to make connections. I was laser focused, and when something is burning inside of you, failure is not even an option. It wasn’t like I was launching a widget that could hit or miss – the brand is myself, and so I trusted enough in myself to make the right connections that led to other connections – but my biggest challenge is patience.
I have a lot of hustle, but people need to take time to make the decision to invest thousands of dollars to organize their lives and ultimately change their lifestyle. It’s a big decision my clients have, so it’s not a quick turnaround. I just had to remember that as I was building, the fruits of my labor would come – and I’m seeing that now. They are starting to come through – and I’m very grateful for Netflix and for Marie Kondo – that accelerated the process. But even without Netflix and her new show, maybe it would have been 30% slower, but I am confident I still would have been seeing incredible return on my efforts.
Jenny Rae: Amazing. Just as an aside, I remember you telling me about the method that you used and you really had to describe it to me. It was the first time that I had heard about it, and that was only a year ago. And now I don’t know of many people who haven’t heard of Marie Kondo.
Cassidy: She has made it into an SNL skit, so, when that happened, you know she’s made it.
Recommendation For Early in Career:
Jenny Rae: Absolutely, yes it is! So, I have one final question and then two follow-ups. I’m going to do the sub questions first because I think they’re kind of interesting. What is one recommendation you have for someone early in their career? If they want to do what you’re doing now with the Marie Kondo Method, but they’re early in their career, what would you recommend be skills that they build, places they go to work or things they should work on personally.
Cassidy: I would say don’t feel like your career is defined by your initial job title or even the department you are working in. Get to know everyone in the company – people who are working in all different departments. Ask people to go to coffee, ask them what they do, see what else is out there – it’s really a matter of exposing yourself to all kinds of careers. And do your best to fine tune your sales skills – I don’t care if you want to go into sales or not…those are skills that will carry you into any career and build up confident muscles in getting deals done, if you want to get deals done, or in building a business quietly behind the scenes – it will always serve you.
Jenny Rae: Absolutely. Now, for somebody in a different stage – a lot of people come to us if they are thinking about starting their own consulting business. Sometimes they have a passion, and sometimes they have been consultants. So, for someone thinking about taking a risk to start their own consulting business – do you have any recommendations for them?
Cassidy: I would say, trust yourself to the core in terms of the value you have to offer. Initially you are building a brand based on you and what resonates with you, so try to crystallize what resonates with you and where your biggest passion is. It sounds so oversimplified, but I could talk all day ad nauseam about the work I do with clients because I am so passionate about it. I wouldn’t try to be a jack of all trades initially. You can always expand from there, but start focused and small.
Jenny Rae: That’s awesome. Okay, finally, you are a consultant with FELT. What would you say have been some of the most surprising and delightful takeaways you’ve gotten from moving into a space where you are invited into people’s lives and asked to make a difference? What are the key takeaways you’ve discovered?
Cassidy: I’m always reminded not to assume how a client is going to behave. It’s hard not to walk in with certain perceptions or misconceptions – all that I need to know is that they called me for a reason. They called me because they want change, and that’s really enough. I learned quickly to meet them where they are in their journey – I have to ask them first what success looks like for them. In my world, someone might want to reduce their clutter by 10% – whereas I think it should be 50% – so just asking what success looks like to them before we begin our work together really helps.
Jenny Rae: Is there anything final you’d like to share with our global community of consultants, pre-consultants, business people, and independent consultants?
Cassidy: Don’t wait for the perfect time to make a change. Any career change – anything you do entrepreneurially – it’s going to be a bit messy, no matter what it is. I have the habit of biting off more than I can chew, but maybe I actually thrive in a little bit of chaos. Don’t say, “I want to wait until I get married or until I have my first kid to start a business” – whatever life stage you think is perfect for starting a business, just know it’s going to be messy no matter what. Make sure the passion is there, because it is going to be a ton of work, but if you have the passion it will take you through any storm.
Jenny Rae: Cassidy, thank you so much for all of your insights. Once again, this is Cassidy Nasello with FELT – a Marie Kondo Consultant – in the New York/New Jersey area. Make sure you check out what they have to offer!
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Archibald Gracie Mansion is the official residence of the Mayor of New York City. Built in 1799, it...
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Ariel Porat is the president of Tel Aviv University (TAU), a full professor and former dean at TAU's Buchmann Faculty of Law. Until his appointment as president, he was a distinguished visiting professor of law at the University of Chicago Law School. He is a member of the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities, incumbent of the Alain Poher Chair in Private Law at TAU, and recipient of The EMET Prize for Art, Science and Culture for Legal Research.
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Personal website of Andrew Turner. Writings on geospatial collaboration, software engineering, Washington D.C., and other individual musings.
October 9, 2016 September 28, 2022
No one cares about a neighborhood more than the people who live there. People spend their days and evenings along the street, raise children, foster connections with neighbors, build businesses, grow gardens, bike, walk, and live. A few choose to engage with their civil organizations, advocating for positive change, or against negative impacts; they participate in civic meetings, and some even run for office in order to have a professional responsibility to their community. Our fundamental goal of democracy is to expand the engagement and active participation to every person.
Contemporaneously, the internet has provided a platform for immediate and global access to information and people. An increasing majority of people carry a web integrated, sensor laden, geolocated mobile computer that makes this access ubiquitous and pervasive. Whether merely reading or actively publishing information, we have an unprecedented ability to interact with both our physical and digital worlds in coordination – essentially integrating our neighborhoods with realtime and historical data about us and our communities.
One of the primary roles of government historically has been to gather resources in order to build physical infrastructure such as roads, parks, and buildings such that communities and commerce can grow and flourish. Increasingly, a new role is for government to provide a digital public infrastructure, one which supports access to information, in order to improve the efficiency of government operations as well as enable more meaningful decisions by constituents. More than just websites, new digital services are more responsive, scalable, and optimistically more effective in serving people’s needs. Combined with open data, information analysis tools, and online forums.
All brought together, we have a tremendous opportunity to dramatically increase the agency of every citizen to have an active and integrated role with the operation of their government. Data-Driven Citizenship means that individual decision making, issue advocacy, and community planning are empowered with the tools and data necessary to make informed actions and observe the outcome of those actions. Instead of merely petitioning for change in a neighborhood, citizens can analyze existing and historical conditions, compare with similar situations and apply data modeling in order to suggest viable alternatives that government can most meaningfully enact. Other communities can connect and observe the factual and cultural outcomes of these projects to inform their own plans.
By example, as part of the The United Nations’ International Day of the World’s Indigenous People, seven tribes developed analyses and shared data narratives that educate on issues at hand, including climate change, forest resiliency and data sovereignty.
Seven tribes developed analyses and shared data narratives that educate on issues at hand, including climate change, forest resiliency and data sovereignty.
The city of Raleigh recently underwent a rezoning plan that could have dramatic impact on homeowners and businesses. Through community input on web tools for geographic drawing and comments, the city was able to make both broad city-wide improvements as well as understand the particular characteristics specific to local neighborhoods.
As part of their commitment to reducing pedestrian fatalities through the VisionZero initiative, Washington DC Department of Transportation provided open data through both web and mobile survey tools where bicyclists, pedestrians, and motorists could mark areas of the city that were unsafe due to a variety of causes. For instance, many intersections had short cross-walk times, which meant pedestrians may be caught in the middle of the road when cars started crossing; bike lanes had disconnected routes resulting in cyclists merging into the roadway with traffic that had difficult identifying the incoming bicycles.
Open Data enables citizens to be active participants with their government community planning.
Cities and communities around the world are discovering how emerging digital tools such as open data, crowdsourcing, and StoryMaps can make citizens more aware, and also active contributors in how government can improve neighborhoods for everyone. Consider your own initiatives and how data driven citizenship can make an extreme, positive, difference.
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Episode 24 brings our team to Ecbatana and the awaited confrontation between Hermes and Arslan. Who will win the throne and claim Pars’ kingdom for his own? More importantly can HLoA pull this story together at all in its last two episodes?
Here we have it ladies and gentleman. Wake up, put back on your socks/shoes, and be sure you have your belongings because this is the last stop before the final destination.
Etoile reaches Arslan’s secret camp and for the very first time realizes his true identity. The young boy that he’s been running into this entire time is none other than the ultimate enemy seeking to take back the throne of Pars. It is in this moment that we understand just how weak Arslan’s writing was and how flimsy its character development has been.
No, I’m pretty sure you just never asked the right questions…
The confrontation between Etoile and Arslan should have been a linchpin of the series. In reality these two are two sides of the same coin. They are both good people trying to do right for their respective sides. This should have been a meeting of tragedy as two people who could be united under any other circumstances are forced to fight one another (potentially to death). Unfortunately, While watching this scene all we get is a time-waster (and an Arslan bacon-saver). Etoile freaks out and stabs Elam as he defends Arslan and then runs off due to being outnumbered.
If you read Dan’s review of Episode 23 you’ll remember that he felt Etoile’s appearance at Arslan’s secret camp was fairly ridiculous. Well, you ain’t seen nothing yet people! Alfreed is tasked with following Etoile and discovers that there’s a secret cave from the area leading to….Pars! This sets the Parsian defense sequence into motion as the walls are seized by Alfreed’s team and Lusitania’s forces start to crumble. The one saving grace here is that Arslan actually takes up arms and joins the troops in battle. It’s about time kiddo.
Change secret passage to Uber Plot Device and I am in agreement
The problems for this episode begin here and if we had better understanding of the characters I would have had an easier time swallowing the events that follow. Nonsensical things begin to happen because the writers wanted to show off Arslan’s forces. In one scene Arslan and Daryun are nearly to Hermes, when they get caught in a room full of archers raining arrows from up above. Farangis straight up walks into the room and starts wrecking guys with her superior archery. She then turns to Arslan and states that she cannot be hit by the arrows of these heathens. She has “divine protection”. I almost threw my laptop in frustration.
Prior to this, things looked dire but Kubard shows up at the last minute to lend his aid. Did he run out of booze to drink and women to bed? He made a whole speech about how he wants to be his own man and not get tied down by a master. Has he just been following Arslan’s exploits and got tipped off that it’s the penultimate episode?! In a display of fourth wall breaking glory, it’d be just like Kubard to hear that there’s an episode entitled “A Decisive Battle” and say “Oh hell yes…I am making my return right here!”
All of this just makes the episode silly and frustrating to watch. There’s no real tension, no suspense, no…feeling…to this episode. It’s just sequences of action.
To make up for the hideous battle last week we get an amazing battle with Daryun and Hermes. It’s a shame this much effort wasn’t put into other fight scenes in the show. It’s also a shame it all ends in Hermes being rescued by cheater sorcery. All we needed was Gieve to show up right beside Daryun and help him off to the side. Gieve is notably absent from the episode which is a shame because by this point I was excited to see what kind of crazy, timeline-be-damned method the show was going to use to throw him in.
This episode has a bizarre shift in tone towards the end of it. I’ll admit that a lot of people die in Arslan and yes, we’ve seen blood, but most of the show has been off-screen deaths and tame violence (CG battles anyone?). Women throwing themselves off of a high tower to commit suicide?! We were given those small moments of morally gray glimpses into both sides (Pars and Lusitania) so we could make up our own minds about who is “evil” and what it means to be “good”. Yaldaboath faith dictates that men and women should commit suicide rather than listen to another set of views. Oh…well that certainly throws out all the interesting notions I had about these two sides. Sorry HLoA…I didn’t mean to give you so much credit.
The episode ends with a misunderstanding where Etoile walks in just in time to see what looks like Colonel Barcacione being stabbed by Arslan. It is here that Arslan learns the secret the audience learned in episode 20. We are now primed for the final battle.
Arslan actually took to the stage and fought in this episode and I was extremely impressed with some of the battles. I appreciated that the last stop before the end was action packed from beginning to end. Unfortunately the nonsensical character sequences, the culmination of poor character development, and the unnecessarily dark tone shift at the end made this episode mediocre.
Links: Wikipedia, My Anime List
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August 23, 2016
So what would seem be the problem with the Divine Protection Farangis possesses?Have we so easily forgotten the superhuman capabilities in the many Black Lagoon characters?Don’t tell us,there are double standards ..?
August 24, 2016
Alrighty, so let’s start with Black Lagoon. Black Lagoon is a show that really sells itself as being over the top and wild. Right from Episode 1 understood what it was trying to be so the superhuman abilities of a lot of the characters just felt an extension of the show’s desire to be crazy as heck action (#Roberta4Life).
Arslan on the other hand felt like it was a somewhat realistic military fantasy. Nobody won or lost battles using magic or something otherwordly (I guess that sorcerer guy showed up in an episode or two at the end but that was just…odd and didn’t really have much bearing on the plot). We learn almost zilch about Farangis throughout the whole show and then suddenly…here in the penultimate episode she magically has the ability to walk into a room full of arrow shooting soldiers and just…not get hit. Can she do this all the time? Does it work on swords or spears such that she can just be impossible to hit when she wants? Why is this power only coming out now?! It didn’t make any sense and it got used as a plot device. That was my major issue with it. Does that help you understanding of why I didn’t like it? Let me know!
Thanks for reading and commenting.
September 1, 2016
Actually these anime(manga too)have something in common:They have a military element,and characters so deep,rife with capabilities close to superhuman.Plus in Arslan it’s being over the top for this young man to be tasked with such Great National Duties.Will he and his friends really make it?
Plus:What if by a strange twist Arslan and his team would be teleported in Roanapur?How would these Iranians feel and interact in Roanapur?And their cultural shock about seeing,for their first time,motorcade,electricity and guns…?
A skirmish between Daryun and villains.?
September 2, 2016
Hmmm…it looks like we’re just gonna have to agree to disagree then. I don’t agree with you that Arslan having to deal with Great National Duties is over the top. I just think of that as “Grand Scale” type of scenario. I am referring to over the top in like a…Gurren Lagann sort of way; so out of whack that you have to take it in and just be okay with it. I still stand by my comment that Farangis gets no setup for the Divine Protection of Mithra event, and that I felt like it was nonsensical. If you didn’t feel this way, I totally respect that.
I’m not sure what you are asking for regarding the “Plus” section of your comment.
September 5, 2016
Well then it is a “Grand Scale”.About the “Plus” it’s a fanfiction:How would be like if through a time portal these guys enter in Roanapur?How would they feel in the 20th century there and interact with the people there?
September 7, 2016
A fanfiction huh?
I think Narsus would somehow be just fine and get straight on learning everything he could get his hands on regarding the technology, culture, religion, etc that exists today. He’s a worldly fellow.
Farangis would still shoot arrows…and then she’d teach herself to shoot guns because she’s a championship markswoman. I think she’s also explore religion of our time because that seems to be very important to her person.
Alfreed would buy a motorcycle. Don’t ask me why…I just…see her riding one. Elam would be yelling at her to wear a helmet while he sat around studying medical textbooks from our time. I see him as the studious type.
Daryun would eventually adjust to learn more martial arts and use his crazy ass spear skills to fight for justice.
Arslan would sit around confused…until everyone learned a lot and started explaining it to him. I don’t feel like he’d adjust well cause he takes a long time to do things. The world today moves very fast.
What do you think? As you can tell I am quite bad at fanfiction, haha!
September 12, 2016
See my point now?Thanks.And to make exciting too let’s bring them in a fight to the one other gang.And soon they return to their era and place.
September 15, 2016
That sounds like you are off to a great start. I’m glad my random ideas helped, haha.
September 19, 2016
Well I feel Arslan would adjust very easily and quickly to all these marvels surrounding them in the 20th century there,in Roanapur.Thanks fella,be seeing you.
September 21, 2016
Well cool beans then ^__^. Please come back anytime and read our other reviews!!
January 2, 2017
Shortly after “El Baile De La Muerte” Rock is depressed,in agony and question about who he really is.At the same time Xanatos is there,he’s up to obtain an ancient grimoire:The Necronomicon(H.P.Lovecraft is here!)to augment the Strength of his Steel Clan.The Gargoyles learned of this planand came on his trail,utilizing the spells they were taught by Tom the Guardian they made their quick,safe entry there in Thailand,Roanapur.And began some glights over Roanapur to learn what kind of place this is.It might have stayed all of this way from any curious eyes and ears -but Goliath to defend a lonely old woman takes on Colombian thugs(they were about to torture her grand son ,just to get fees).
One of them get’s way,he’s scared to death,he’s screaming about a Monster!.”SAVE ME FROM THE MONSTER !! ” “Was it Roberta?”.”No Abrego,it wasn’t Roberta! It was a POWERFUL MONSTER.Three meters tall,with dragonlike wings on its shoulders,and it’s eyes were full of Fire!!”.But no one believes him.
Yet the rumors(about a Superhuman Monster prowling at night)are going Strong,throughout Roanapur.Every cartel boss hears about this,they’re unbelieving,”so who cares about a stupid rumor?!..There’s no such Monster in this world,in Our city.And even if it were we would kill it off”.
But soon,in the city gunmen attack in Rowan’s Show, the muscle guy Sam Park took four girls as his hostages.So the mercenaries felt real confident they would make it….suddenly an Immence,wild roar is heard.Goliath,Hudson and Brooklyn entered and bested the scared thugs,thus saving the girls .Particularly Goliath knocked down easily Sam Park.The Gargoyles swiftly fled way,and then the police men came.
“Yes chief Watsap.The Gargoyles deald with the terrorists, especially their Leader defeated the muscle heads and saved all of us”Joanna testiefied to the Police Chief.
The news spread on Roanapur,soon Mr Chang ,the local leader of the Triad heard og this.Plus:Amateur artists made drawings of the Gargoyles,many saw them ,the lagoon company,Eda too.
And then came the escalation.Because the Gods had noticed the moves and intentions of Xanatos,so Zeus,and Athena came in a meeting with their counterparts,Hastur,Fokalor and Yog Sothoth.
“The Fierce Knowledge in Necronomicon is about the construction of the Weapons we used during the Clash of the Titans,and now an entire network of plunderers comes to usurp of it…not reckoning with what kind of Fire are about to play with”!So Zeus said.
“We agree”,Hastur,Fokalor and Yog Sothoth told . “And how we’ll stop them?”
Hastur,you’ve said,hat you’d deploy a human for such cases”, Zeus told him.
“Certainly!It just needs my old ones on His good side,they would not re appear on the surface for petty reasons”.
“Very well,Menes will awake,with all the Acolytes,soldiers about a such Venture”,Zeus and Athena concluded.
“Thanks for your generous offer”,Hastur remarked.So he turned and said:”Fokalor,go to Earth and notify your protégées,the Gargoyles and the Ghouls about our wills.You Yog Sothoth,find Menes and wake up his genuine memories so he will march for the Cause.He’s been Dormant,now he is to awake and ”. Then swiftly Fokalor journeyed,to Earth and talked to his protégées.
Sekhmet talked to her protégées too:The Liondsweh!Namely the Lion men ,hidden for many millennia now in caverns-way from the human perceptions. Now it was their time to resurface and join the Risk.
Yog Sothoth found “Rock” Rokuro Okajima and dispersed his fake memories,and wakened his True ones:That actually he’s the Sumerian magical Fighter Menes,and kin of the hero Gilgamesh !He had been born in prehistoric Iraq ,in 3099 b.C.,the priesthood of Ur saved from certain Assassination ,thanks to the Time portal he traveled in the future. Once he arrived he was disguised as a “ordinary Japanese” young man in the mid 90’s Japan, even with a forged past so no one would ever question who he really was.
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Einstein glanced at him, then returned his attention to the moon-washed night. He whined softly, and his ears perked up slightly.
Now and then the house creaked with ordinary middle-of-the-night settling noises.
Wind murmured and moaned in the bungalow's eaves.
Wind murmured and moaned in the bungalow's eaves.
Now and then the house creaked with ordinary middle-of-the-night settling noises.
At four o'clock in the morning, he woke and saw Einstein at the bedroom window. The dog was standing with its forepaws on the sill, its face limned by moonlight, staring out at the night, very alert.
Wind murmured and moaned in the bungalow's eaves.
Before setting out, she considered having a light lunch later at a restaurant chosen at random along the way. But she had never been in a restaurant. The prospect of dealing with a waiter and dining in the company of strangers was daunting. Instead, she packed one apple, one orange, and two oatmeal cookies in a small paper bag. She would eat lunch alone, in a park somewhere. Even that would be revolutionary. One small step at a time.
Wind murmured and moaned in the bungalow's eaves.
The dog dropped onto all fours and hurried out of the bedroom.
Before setting out, she considered having a light lunch later at a restaurant chosen at random along the way. But she had never been in a restaurant. The prospect of dealing with a waiter and dining in the company of strangers was daunting. Instead, she packed one apple, one orange, and two oatmeal cookies in a small paper bag. She would eat lunch alone, in a park somewhere. Even that would be revolutionary. One small step at a time.
Near dawn he came half awake and realized that Einstein was at the bedroom window again, keeping watch. He murmured the retriever's name and wearily patted the mattress. But Einstein remained on guard, and Travis drifted off once more.
"What's wrong, boy?" Travis asked.
Near dawn he came half awake and realized that Einstein was at the bedroom window again, keeping watch. He murmured the retriever's name and wearily patted the mattress. But Einstein remained on guard, and Travis drifted off once more.
The dog regarded him solemnly.
Einstein glanced at him, then returned his attention to the moon-washed night. He whined softly, and his ears perked up slightly.
Remembering the retriever's-and his own-stark fear in the Santa Ana foothills, recalling the uncanny feeling that something unnatural had been stalking them, Travis shivered. He looked out at the night-draped world. The spiky black patterns of the date palm's fronds were edged in wan yellow light from the nearest streetlamp. A fitful wind harried small funnels of dust and leaves and bits of litter along the pavement, dropped them for a few seconds and left them for dead, then enlivened them again. A lone moth bumped softly against the window in front of Travis's and Einstein's faces, evidently mistaking the reflection of the moon or streetlamp for a flame.
Travis had to coax him back into the bedroom. There, the dog wanted to lie on the bed beside his master, and in the interest of calming the animal, Travis did not object.
Einstein glanced at him, then returned his attention to the moon-washed night. He whined softly, and his ears perked up slightly.
Near dawn he came half awake and realized that Einstein was at the bedroom window again, keeping watch. He murmured the retriever's name and wearily patted the mattress. But Einstein remained on guard, and Travis drifted off once more.
The dog woofed once, quietly.
Travis had to coax him back into the bedroom. There, the dog wanted to lie on the bed beside his master, and in the interest of calming the animal, Travis did not object.
At four o'clock in the morning, he woke and saw Einstein at the bedroom window. The dog was standing with its forepaws on the sill, its face limned by moonlight, staring out at the night, very alert.
Einstein pressed his snout to the glass and mewled nervously.
"What was it out there in the forest?" Travis wondered.
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by Contributing Author | Nov 30, 2016 | Conspiracy Fact and Theory, Emergency Preparedness, Headline News | 122 comments
This article was written by Brandon Smith and published at his Alt-Market.com site.
Editor’s Comment: The time is coming – rather quickly – when we must choose a side in America. Unfortunately, there will be no good side to line up on, because they all will be corrupted, and tending towards dangerous extremes. The idiocy of the left is clearly becoming more dangerous and inflamed on a daily basis, and the entire Trump presidency is already giving many of them psychological issues.
On the other hand, the right is tending towards extremes, too. Fascism, combining force, government power and corporate interest, is rising. Time and again, we are played by the special interests sitting behind the throne, and this time is no different. Trump was elected on his populist rhetoric, but his cabinet will be stuffed with Wall Street bankers and neocons. Meanwhile, liberty activists, conservatives and patriots will seek common ground and refuge in a side that has merely played lip service to their values.
Either way, things are turning towards chaos. The clash of opposites, and the confrontation between ideologies is becoming inevitable. That chaos and division will coincide with these extreme times. Economic issues will add further pressure, as will environmental pressures. Competing factions searching and fighting for turf in a controlled arena. Whoever wins, the globalists will pick up the pieces; they designed it that way, and will wait for the moves to play out. That is realpolitik. Get ready… they are starting something.
The real reasons why another American civil war is possible
by Brandon Smith
You have to hand it to the regressive left, when they conjure propaganda they really know how to run with it. When their indoctrination doesn’t take, and the public stops them cold with a wall of skepticism, they don’t give up! No — the little buggers double down and go for broke!
I have to point out, however, that this seemingly boundless drive to forsake all logic and reason in the name of ideology is not due to these people being special in their ambition. Rather, they are following a somewhat successful historic model; the model of communism. And by successful, I mean successfully destructive.
With Donald Trump on the way to the White House in January, along with a Republican majority in Congress and the Senate, leftists long accustomed to dominating the public narrative through the mainstream media have found themselves without leverage. Now, they must resort to ankle biting with efforts like the “fake news” meme, which is designed to undermine the alternative media through ad hominem. Obviously this will fail. It is far too late for the mainstream media to gain back any social capital, and they will have to adapt or die out.
With this avenue closing for the left, the next stage will be direct asymmetrics; they will use subversion at a more localized level; working to provoke “marginalized” groups into taking extreme action in order to illicit a negative and totalitarian response from conservatives.
I am rather well versed on the history of communist insurgencies, and one simple reality that consistently stands out to me is that wherever communist movements exist, war follows. They may claim to be peaceful in their aims and methods, they may claim to want what is best for society as a whole, but when these movements are denied access to social evolution, they almost always revert to violent means. The primary reason for this, I believe, is that they really do assume at their very core that their ideal is the only ideal.
They think they are heroes, awakened to a world view that the rest of us are incapable of comprehending. In their minds, anyone seeking to obstruct them is either dangerously ignorant or a fascist hellbent on sabotaging humanity’s “natural progression” into the leftist utopia. Therefore any and all actions are justified on their part. They are fighting “evil.” And, of course, conservatives like you and I are the physical manifestations of that evil. We are the super villains that must be destroyed at all costs in the leftist fantasy world.
As I noted in my last article, Order out of chaos: The defeat of the Left comes with a cost, regressives in the form of social justice warriors are currently more cute in their provocations than dangerous, but this is only an early stage of their movement. When these people do not get what they want, when they realize that propaganda methods are not effective, they will inevitably turn toward militancy and aggressive mob action. This is the problem with zealots: they are infinitely capable of moral relativity. They are monsters in people suits just waiting to be unleashed, but made even more dangerous by their self-image as guardians. There is nothing worse than a psychopath with a desperate desire to nurture you.
After my last article, some readers responded that they understood my basic premise — that the left versus right dynamic is being instigated by global elites, and that this could result in both sides moving to opposing extremes of the political spectrum; communism versus fascism. That said, they also wanted to know what I thought should be done about the left in particular? Sure, the elites are the root cause of the threat, but what about all the crazed leftists the elites hide behind and exploit? Don’t we have to deal with them at some point as well?
I would say yes, though our reaction must be measured or we risk falling into the paradigm trap the elites have constructed for us.
So, here is the reality — when a movement like the social justice cult reverts to zealotry, there is nothing that can be done to persuade them otherwise. Some will leave the movement behind, but the majority will refuse to acknowledge that their ideology has failed to sway the masses, and that this might be due to the fact that their ideology is highly flawed. They will seek instead to force us into compliance. This ensures that a violent conflict will eventually arise.
The danger is that while conservatives now appear to hold the keys to the behemoth that is government after wrestling it from the left (again, at least in appearance), we will be tempted to swing the cannons of the bureaucratic battleship towards our foes and in our favor. I’ll have to use the old Lord of the Rings analogy once again here — big government is like the “one ring;” it will always result in evil, no matter who is wearing it. Good people will take hold of it thinking they can resist abusing it and that they will exploit its incredible power to help others, and they will fall into darkness like everyone else.
The solution? Conservatives must face leftist extremists on equal ground. We must avoid the temptation of using government as a weapon to extinguish them. We must avoid stooping to their level. Otherwise, there is an extreme risk that we will falter in our principles and become just as bad if not worse than the regressive left. And yes, this means a decentralized civil war — a war in which government is denied as a player. As long as conservatives refuse to wield government as a sword in our arsenal, we will win against all enemies. The second we wimp out and beg government to aid us in our fight, we will be co-opted and assimilated by the elites.
But what would this conflict look like?
I could see an insurgency versus an insurgency, but this is only if the right refuses to join with government to exact its goals.
In the meantime, I welcome you to look at theories on this from the left first. Check out this article, referencing military “experts” from the ever regressive and dwindling Cracked Magazine titled 6 Reasons Why A New Civil War Is Possible And Terrifying, published at the beginning of November.
While Cracked does briefly address the notion that a civil war could be triggered by the left in the U.S., their article was published before the election, clearly with the assumption that Donald Trump was bound to lose and that “right wing extremists” were the greatest threat to peace and stability in the wake of a Clinton presidency. The majority of their list is composed of scenarios in which “anti-government” right wingers could undermine social cohesion and was no doubt supplemented thoroughly by the Southern Poverty Law Center.
I also want to quickly point out that the No. 2 threat on the Cracked list of civil war threats was the Thermal Evasion Suit I designed! Or at least, the notion that we have the ability and knowledge to build these kinds of countermeasures. Here’s a quote from the article:
But in my lurking on militia sites, I did occasionally run into information that looked like it had its basis in something other than a manual. Take this guide to evading drones published by the Oath Keepers, an anti-government group made up of former military and police veterans.
[Cracked never actually links to the video, they just show a still photo. Clearly they did not want people watching it and deciding for themselves what the intent was.]
I had a former drone operator review the video. He said their “thermal evasion suit” was based on a “decent premise”, although he said it would only work well if the shooter was stationary. It’s impossible to know if the info in this video came from someone with direct (albeit outdated) drone experience. In his time among America’s many militias, Bill said, “…I’ve probably ran into direct training” of groups by military veterans, “…five or six times, in five different states. It’s incredibly prevalent.
I’m not sure exactly who their “expert” was. Apparently he thought I was building an invisibility suit because he mentions the problem of “movement,” which no suit I know of can hide. They also state something about “outdated drone experience,” yet don’t actually qualify that with anything of substance. Finally, they insinuate that I somehow received help from military insiders with top-secret knowledge, and this is how I managed to design a thermal evasion system. In fact, I came up with the design and materials on my own and brought it to Oath Keepers, who aided in the testing phase. Not one drone expert was on hand to feed me design information.
The point is, these people have no idea what they are talking about. Cracked never contacted me about the suit even though my face and email address are all over the video. It was not “impossible to know” if I received insider information; all they had to do was ask. The left in their zealotry likes to jump to conclusions. They also assume we are a bunch of dumb hillbillies, when we are in fact much smarter and more innovative than they are.
While Cracked and their so-called “experts” are hopelessly naive in many respects, they do make a few solid observations.
First, they present the issue of lack of trust in government and police forces on the part of the public. They seem to suggest this is a bad thing by claiming that distrust of government leads to insurgency. I would say distrust of government is the healthiest state a society can exist in.
However, I would remind readers that conservatives will take over the helm of the government ship as of 2017. And, as I warned when I predicted a Trump election win back in June, the elites have allowed us into authority at a time when trust in government is at historic lows. We have been handed the reigns of power, but I say this is not a cure, but a curse. We will no longer be considered freedom fighters. We will be considered the jackboot stomping on the face of America.
Second, Cracked brings up the problem of infrastructure interference, such as highway bombings and other methods of breaking down travel and supply routes. They mention this based on the premise that we right wingers might set up IEDs using tannerite to terrorize road networks.
We’ve already seen something like this, but not from the right wing. Leftists are notorious lately for building human walls across major roads in order to shut down movement. I would suggest that they will do this with more frequency (and with more violence) once winter winds down (leftists can’t stand the cold, which is why they all live near beaches). Communists like to disrupt supply chains and production; they know this is the quickest path to instigating mass panic.
Third, the Cracked article argues that right wingers might adopt the methods of ISIS in our bid for supremacy, which is extraordinarily absurd if you know anything at all about conservatives.
But, the left has shown time and time again their affinity for Muslim extremism and they defend it openly and publicly. You would think all the social justice feminists and gay rights groups would view the Muslim world as a carnival of horrors being that in almost any Muslim controlled nation on the planet they would be enslaved, stoned to death or thrown off a tall building. But no, instead, SJWs champion mass Muslim immigration without question.
Understand that forced Muslim immigration standards in Europe and in the U.S. are a product of global elitism under the Cloward Piven strategy. The elites like to use incompatible cultures as a tool to destabilize target societies. But, leftists are also more than happy to go along with this program. I believe it is because the left is inherently weak when it comes to direct confrontation, and many progressives secretly enjoy the idea of having their own hitman (Muslim extremists or Black Lives Matter) on speed dial just in case.
If any group has shown a willingness to work with the likes of ISIS, it is the left. Set aside the fact that the Department of Defense under Obama admits in its own white papers supporting the rise of the Muslim terrorist network.
Finally, Cracked and their experts suggest the idea that a second American civil war will not be two-sided, but multi-sided. This is the only intelligent notion in the entire article and I agree with it wholeheartedly.
Here is the problem — multiple groups on the left and the right have entirely different concepts on what the final American product should look like. Some on the left are anarchists, some are communists, some just want the continuation of the democratic process (but still think Trump should be supplanted). On the right, there are hardcore neo-cons and war hawks that want to nuke the Middle East into oblivion, women and children included. There are libertarians that just want a return to small government and constitutionalism. There are anarcho-capitalists that seem to want the erasure of government and the constitution entirely but live in a world of theory rather than practicality (I call them egghead libertarians). There are even Christian factions that long for a Christian-based theocracy.
Then, there are people like me, who just want to get to the root of the problem and hang the globalists from lampposts (after a speedy trial of course). We don’t necessarily have a beef with any other group as long as they stay out of our way. We would like to circumvent the danger of a civil war altogether if possible.
Unfortunately, I think Cracked and their experts are right on this, and that a second American civil war will be multifaceted. And, while we are all at each others throats, the elites will be lounging on the riviera sipping mojitos and laughing. The most dangerous faction (besides the elites) will be the catalyzing faction; the regressive left. They will be the group that initiates all other hostilities.
What leftists do not know is that they have always been useful idiots for the global elites, and, they will be thrown in the garbage once the elites are finished with them. I hope that every leftist could watch the following interview with Soviet KGB defector Yuri Bezmenov, in which he examines the process by which free nations are brought to chaos by the elites through the exploitation of the regressive left in order to establish a totalitarian system.
I leave you with this thought — civil war is unavoidable. The left is too crazy, and the right has now been given the weapon of government too enticing to overlook. Consider for a moment which “faction” in the world benefits most from this arrangement and then you will understand that the left is ultimately a distraction from the greater enemy. Remove the globalists from the picture, and the left will sort itself out.
This article was written by Brandon Smith and first published at PersonalLiberty.com. Please visit Brandon’s site Alt-Market.com and support his work.
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Comments
Ppod on November 30, 2016 at 11:41 am
Yuuuup
Orion on November 30, 2016 at 5:04 pm
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Paranoid on November 30, 2016 at 5:57 pm
Sorry, but I missed the point; are they talking about a war between the people that needed puppies and kitties and safe spots, having a war with the right wing, paranoid, gun crazed, carrying mad dog killer right wingers? Trying to remember; there;s a word for that kind of thing.. Massa— something?
Tom T on December 1, 2016 at 11:12 am
As usual, most do not understand the true political spectrum. Both communisim AND Fascism are products of the far left and represents a right and left wings within that far left. True right wing of the political spectrum supports very limited government with farthest to the right being anarchy or no government at all. The political spectrum left is ANY totalitarian form of government monarchy, aristocracy, Communism, socialism and Fascism all of which require a police state to achieve their goals. Far right on that spectrum is the constitution, confederacy and finally anarchy.
Frank on December 1, 2016 at 5:07 pm
You got it!
Willie Wonka on December 4, 2016 at 9:57 pm
Bravo, Thank you Tom!! You saved me ten minutes of furious typing. For a guy (Brandon smith)who claims to know so much about political ideologies, he sure does miss the boat on this one. If we are ever going to have a chance to correct this sinking ship, we have to get the verbiage, history, and definitions right first. So much ignorance and misuse of language and meanings help in the obfuscation ( part of the plan). I.e today’s liberals are anything BUT liberal!!
Plan twice, prep once on December 1, 2016 at 6:24 pm
I believe this is one reason Obama has been flooding the US with Muslims and not acting on any of the Islamic Terror training camps and compounds that can be found all across the US.
Obama’s communist movement needs terror cells, and the fat liberal communists that the public schools and universities produce can’t do the job. They can’t climb a flight of stairs without being out of breath.
The Muslim kids being raised in madrasahs across America have a cause and many the desire to die for it. All they needed was for Obama to keep droning their friends and relatives back home to trigger them. So far they seem to be an effective tool that the FBI etc has little trouble pointing in a direction and triggering them.
willard on December 1, 2016 at 9:39 pm
Ron Ahrens on November 30, 2016 at 11:46 am
When the full force of the Globalist Fascist Police State Corporate Mercenary hell is released on the American people by the chosen Manchurian Candidate Trump, the programmed indoctrinated Trumpbots will cheer the violence released on the Protesters of our divided collapsing dying system and nation. The Trumpbots are already are cheering and calling for the deaths of the DAPL Portesters on Social Media….Well done Globalist fascist demon psychopaths, well done indeed, you now have a new group of dumbed down drunken bum toxic dump American violence loving cowards to exploit and control for the planned chaos, inevitable Marital law, and the Final Solution de-population plans of the psychopaths. You can see it more and more everyday-this is evil like the world has NEVER seen or known destroying our nation and corrupting our cowardly dumbed down people….God help us all!!!
swamp rat on November 30, 2016 at 12:12 pm
Its always the chicken that cackles that lays the egg and so far the cackling and threats has been on the progressive left. The left never tires of lying, trying to shove socialism down our throats, protesting and trying to keep things stirred up. The American people have spoken and you left wingers lost so deal with it like adults says the old swamp rat.
Ron Ahrens on November 30, 2016 at 3:57 pm
You illustrate the problem perfectly by placing everyone in a certain Tribe you can demonize, who says the TRUTH you do not like, or the TRUTH you are unable to accept because you are a coward.
Cam Ovals on November 30, 2016 at 7:19 pm
WTF are you talking about, Ronald ? When has the left ever said anything even remotely approaching “the TRUTH”? And you’re calling someone you don’t even know a “coward”? You must’ve gone off your meds and in the process lost your ever-lovin drug-addled mind! You don’t know dick about “the TRUTH”, got that asswipe?
Ron Ahrens on November 30, 2016 at 9:42 pm
There you go snowflake with the left versus right paradigm you will remain stuck in all your dumbed down COWARD life
Cam Ovals on November 30, 2016 at 11:55 pm
Ron, your problem is that your ass hurts from Michelle O’s schlong stretching it out. Bathhouse Barry will be happy to rub some soothing ointment on it for ya.
Ron Ahrens on December 1, 2016 at 1:55 pm
First hiding place and coping mechanism of all cowards afraid of the TRUTH…humor, but in your case, it fell flat and stupid. Do not give up your day job for a comedy career please, you will probably lose your fourth spouse.
Cam Ovals on December 1, 2016 at 6:20 pm
Ron, there’s absolutely NOTHING humorous about your fecal incontinence issue
VintageMXer on December 1, 2016 at 7:52 pm
I thought he did good. A side job – maybe.
Joe on December 22, 2016 at 8:35 pm
So this is the true right. Got it.
SALLY JANE on November 30, 2016 at 10:06 pm
swamp rat on November 30, 2016 at 7:20 pm
I see no truth in your words only the hate that socialists have for we common people and there is enough of that in the world already. You are either on the side of right or wrong and you seen to think the side that is trying to destroy America is where you should be. Come away from the dark side and become someone who helps America instead of cursing it like the coward you really are.
Alice Messeloff on December 16, 2016 at 9:10 am
Socialism shmoshalism. That’s the way to frighten people In Norway they laugh on their way to the bank.
Neal Jensen on November 30, 2016 at 12:26 pm
man, talk about drug addled extreme doom porn wet dreaming. You should really lay off the prescription meds…
Sig on November 30, 2016 at 1:00 pm
Ron is right though. The truth is the truth, even if it’s real bad.
Anonymous on November 30, 2016 at 2:15 pm
Well, I don’t know what I would be called… I sure as heck ain’t no right winger (I’m not racist and I don’t pretend climate change is a hoax!) so I definitely ain’t no republipuke! However, I DID vote for Trump (held my nose as I did so!) and I DO believe very strongly in the Constitution and especially the second amendment. Basically, I’m an anarchist–don’t believe in hierarchy… Tribes are best… definitely no federal government.. And I don’t believe in western (man made religion– Jesus was NOT an American)… I feel very strongly in environmental issues (pollution=death!) and am very spiritually inclined. and definitely don’t believe in domination and control!!! FREEDOM is the most important thing in the world!!!
Thomas Cook on December 16, 2016 at 10:48 am
I guess that is why you are afraid to even publish your name.
William on December 17, 2016 at 5:32 am
Hate to pop your Christophobic bubble, but Jesus and the Christian faith arose in Western Asia, and most of the 2.5 billion CNs in the world live in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
anonymous on November 30, 2016 at 6:52 pm
The truth… according to Ron.
Ron Ahrens on November 30, 2016 at 4:03 pm
Sorry to disappoint, I am not one of the 70% of Big Pharma addicted pill popping psychotropic drug consuming toxic waste dump America cowards listening to obese unhealthy disease ridden doctors, who not only forgot their Hippocratic oaths to “DO NO HARM”, they have whored out their genocide supporting profession to psychopathic monsters in the Chemical, Big Pharma, Big Agri, and the entire Medical Industrial Complex.
Veronika on November 30, 2016 at 11:37 pm
Sure you are RON. You are everything you have posted on your comment; the only difference is that ‘you’ hide it well!
I bet you practice “taqiyya” in your spare time.
Zeus on November 30, 2016 at 6:08 pm
For cripes sake. The Standing Rock Souix Indian Water Protectors in N Dakota are an orhanic legitimate group trying to protect their drinking water source from oil pipeline contamination.
They are NOT SOROS PAID PROTESTORS. NOT EVEN CLOSE.
In fact they have a lot of national support and will be joined by over 1200 American war Veterans on Dec 4 the through the 8th. The Vets say this time they are actually fighting for Americans on American soil for Freedom of being ripped off by the Fascist Corporations who dont even have the proper permitting to lay oil pipe across this waterway. There is NO GRAY AREA HERE. Every American should be supporting the Souix Tribes fight for justice and common sense.
So please Stop all the lies and BS.
Sig on November 30, 2016 at 12:59 pm
The sooner the better.
I’m sick of all the non stop drama from this bacterially induced, bloated politic crap.
bob smith on November 30, 2016 at 3:30 pm
Anyone that spews that mentality has to be a looney liberal. Now let’s hear from you how great things are with the terrorist in chief followed by a few lines on the greatness of old lying hillary. To the tune of Lyin’Eyes.
Ron Ahrens on November 30, 2016 at 4:04 pm
Another coward engaged in Tribal warfare, just what the psychopaths controlling you want.
rednek101 on November 30, 2016 at 6:20 pm
You seem to be attacking both left and right. There won’t be any neutral parties in this countries war since there is only one country.
In order to win a war, there has to be sides. Whose side are you on. Liberals/Communist or Conservatives. There are no other choices. To have effect, you must choose and then support with a great deal of fervor. You do have fervor.
Ron Ahrens on November 30, 2016 at 9:52 pm
I am on the side of freedom and liberty, which the Liberal tribe and Conservative Tribe care NOTHING about as they seek to control a Fascist Police State hell on earth to crush the other tribe. You insane programmed indoctrinated tribes just fight it out in your collapsing fascist Police State of dumbed down toxic dump cowards, and leave peace loving, health loving, and nature loving real humans out of your “divide and conquer” “choose a side” Tribal mentality.
Veronika on November 30, 2016 at 11:46 pm
You seriously need to take your meds! Have you thought about contacting your psych counselor lately?? I’m sure there are many couselors’ who would love to have you attend their sessions with the other “patients”?!
Ron Ahrens on December 1, 2016 at 1:44 pm
Please come up with something original for once in your dumbed down coward life as a boot licker. I know your parents were cowards and boot lickers as well, and did not teach you a thing except how to throw-up mindless un-original garbage like “you are off your meds”, and besides having a mosh pit for a brain filled with useless tired rehashed dribble-it is really BORING!!!!!
101st on November 30, 2016 at 7:31 pm
Ron, lay off the crack. Which group has perpetuated violence? Missouri ? Baltimore ? Cali? Detroit? NY? DC? STFU. Your the kinda of BLM supporting, flag burning, white guilt fuck that needs an ass whipping. But do you see 100’s of us like minded militant right wingers running through the streets burning shit up tearing shit down? Nope – but keep pushing F head. One day soon you’ll think you have us in a corner and then you’ll find out what a can of whup ass looks and feels like.
Colt M4 on November 30, 2016 at 11:01 pm
Gee Ron, i dont remember you being all worried about “Globalist Fascist Police State Corporate Mercenary hell” with Obama in power. I remember all you left wing nuts telling conservative people to just shut up, and live with it. I’ll tell you what Ron, when your ready to start this war, I’ll enjoy stepping over your dead body.
Veronika on December 1, 2016 at 12:02 am
I second that….. I’m a pretty good shot. I try to go to the shooting range whenever I can to practice with my S n W 38 357 Magnum. I just need a ‘good target’ like maybe—-a lifelike Ron.
Ron Ahrens on December 1, 2016 at 1:46 pm
So violent in words, but so cowardly in thought and action, I think that describes you pretty well does it not???
VintageMXer on December 1, 2016 at 7:55 pm
Not at all.
Colt M4 on December 2, 2016 at 1:42 am
Queef, Queef, Queef, that’s all i ever hear from you soft leftest, Ron. By the way Ron, if you don’t know what a Queef is, look it up, it’s the true definition of you.
T4R2 on December 3, 2016 at 1:35 am
Now that was good.
Ron Ahrens on December 1, 2016 at 1:53 pm
Uh dumbed down toxic dump drunken bum coward you really need to lay off the EDC filled GMO’s, step away from the booze, and put down Big Pharma psychotropics Fox News sells you all day long, because that toxic stew has fucked you up to the point you cannot understand that the psychopath Globalist Obama is STILL IN POWER as the puppet POTUS as of the time of this writing and your ignorant vomiting of complete non-sense. Still stuck in the Left versus Right paradigm, and your programmed indoctrination as a dumbed down fascist boot licking COWARD will never enable you to see that fact snowflake, how sad for you and the loved ones who have to deal with your insane cowardly boot licking mindset.
Ellis on December 16, 2016 at 2:06 pm
Ron, your anger and repetition compulsion (same tiresome expressions) are missing the point of the article that is supposed to be the topic of discussion. Shouldn’t we be channeling our energy into coming up with a solution to problems in the U.S and around the globe? Repeated name-calling (in a bad imitation of Alan Ginsburg or whoever?) does not solve anything.
Joe on December 22, 2016 at 8:42 pm
les on November 30, 2016 at 11:44 pm
well said!
Veronika on November 30, 2016 at 11:51 pm
So Ron, how long have you had this “mental illness”? Have you thought about asking your nearest mental health clinic to recommend some good ‘head drugs’ for you??
Now I see why most of your neighbors stay away from you! You’re a “real NUT case”.
Frank Thoughts on December 1, 2016 at 10:07 am
Metzger always said the best time was to wait until the state showed its true fascist, authoritarian face: and then that is the time for the RAHOWA. I think we will see this in 2017. The seeds have been sown (BLM, Muslims, out-of-control migration, disease pandemics etc.). Once you put people’s backs against the wall, once you create a situation when a white father can only see one option for his daughter – to be raped by a non-white gang – then that person loses their fear from the state and acts. We are seeing this starting to happen in Europe; it will eventually come to the US.
Luis Gameros on December 16, 2016 at 12:01 pm
How is it that what to me you say so well and with well founded suspicion so few of our compatriots seem to have any awareness of. Thanks Ron.
Him on November 30, 2016 at 11:48 am
Voluntary segregation equals higher probability of peaceful existence. However, TPTB don’t want peace.
Sig on November 30, 2016 at 1:16 pm
Yeah, segregation is normal. That’s why bees and hornets don’t share their hives.
Trying ( forcing ) people of different cultures to co-exist will never work in the long run.
smokey on November 30, 2016 at 2:31 pm
Buddy of mine got to visit the Fox Ranch where the original village scenes for Planet of the Apes was filmed in the mid-1960’s.
He said at lunchtime, the Chimps ate with the other Chimps, the Orangs with the Orangs, and the Gorillas with the Gorillas. Didn’t matter who was inside the suits, they just sought out their own ‘kind’.
Sig on November 30, 2016 at 2:39 pm
Wow, that’s quite telling. Gave me goose bumps!
Plan twice, prep once on December 1, 2016 at 3:37 pm
As a card carrying member of the orangutan Union, I’d like to lodge a formal complaint against the chimp in the White House……. Damn commie pinko chimps, always getting up in the gorillas poop.
rabbitone on November 30, 2016 at 11:50 am
“… I am rather well versed on the history of communist insurgencies, and one simple reality that consistently stands out to me is that wherever communist movements exist, war follows. …”
I am well versed in this history also. The difference in the U.S. is we have a substantial number of ordinary people who are well armed, have fought in wars and are up to date in using their weapons.
Liberals are dogs without teeth – they bark loud and long but have no real bite. They would not last long in a real fight. Most snowflakes would melt with the first shot…
viper on November 30, 2016 at 12:21 pm
Neal Jensen on November 30, 2016 at 12:28 pm
Neal Jensen on November 30, 2016 at 12:35 pm
Its still a insanely dumb idea to let the toothless spineless rabid dog bite you..
Enemy of the State on November 30, 2016 at 2:25 pm
Genius on November 30, 2016 at 6:27 pm
GET LAVOY FINICUMS NOVEL “ONLY BY BLOOD AND SUFFERING”. It is way better than Rawles shit and one second after too. All the proceeds go to his wife also. Great book, Great cause…
Zeus on November 30, 2016 at 6:52 pm
This is one of the best summaries I have read RE: Standing Rock and the Souix Water protectors.
What is occurring at Standing Rock in North Dakota is another once-in-a-lifetime and once-in-the-history-of-the-country event. The country’s first people, Native Americans, are fighting to protect their ancestral burial grounds and the drinking water for not only their people, but all people whose source of water is through the Missouri River. While this is the only source of water to the Oceti Sakowin, known as the Sioux to non-Natives, it is also the major source of water to many more who live downstream. The United States government established the Great Sioux Reservation in the Treaty of Fort Laramie in 1868 of which Standing Rock is a part. In 1877, the government unilaterally removed the Sacred Black Hills from Great Sioux Reservation because gold had been discovered. Continual theft of lands has occurred since as the reservation continued to shrink and shrink. Referring to these actions, the U.S. Supreme Court concluded in 1980 that “a more ripe and rank case of dishonorable dealings will never, in all probability, be found in our history.”
So now in 2016, thousands of people, from more than 200 Native American tribes, indigenous peoples from across the globe, and white allies are peacefully protecting the sanctity of their lands. Those present at Standing Rock refer to themselves as water “protectors,” not “protestors.” Descendants of Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse have joined forces to tell all that “water is life.” What many do not realize is that the Dakota Access, a subsidiary of Energy Transfer Partners LLP, originally routed this pipeline near Bismarck but authorities worried that an oil spill would wreck the state capital’s drinking water, so the crossing was moved to a half mile from the reservation across land taken from the tribe in 1958 without their consent. If the tribe had been consulted, the government would have learned that this route requires digging up sacred places, old burial grounds and Lake Oahe, but the Army Corps of Engineers approved this path under a “fast track” option called Permit 12.
Why is this a safety concern? According to the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, since 1995, more than 2,000 significant accidents involving oil and petroleum pipelines have occurred. From 2013 to 2015, an average of 121 accidents happened every year. Pipelines are approved by states, but access via waterways and federal lands must be approved by the Army Corps of Engineers. On September 9, 2016, the Departments of Justice, the Army and the Interior stated they would not authorize the building of the pipeline near the tribal lands and asked the pipeline company to voluntarily pause all construction activity within 20 miles east or west of Lake Oahe. The company has not followed this directive. Only a few days later, Energy Transfer Partners LLP sent contractors back to work near Standing Rock, where over 20 protestors who discovered this were arrested. President Obama can not only order the work to stop, but he can also deploy the Army Corps of Engineers, or even the National Guard, to stop the violence being perpetrated by local, regional and state officials against the nonviolent protestors.
Thanks for reading.
mushroom on December 1, 2016 at 8:11 am
Zeus – many thanks for your masterful expression of history and good old common sense…
Veronika on November 30, 2016 at 11:54 pm
I have not read his book, but I did attend his funeral even though I never met him ( I live in Utah and am not that far from where his widow lives).
rabbitone on November 30, 2016 at 11:50 am
“… I am rather well versed on the history of communist insurgencies, and one simple reality that consistently stands out to me is that wherever communist movements exist, war follows. …”
I am well versed in this history also. The difference in the U.S. is we have a substantial number of ordinary people who are well armed, have fought in wars and are up to date in using their weapons.
Liberals are dogs without teeth – they bark loud and long but have no real bite. They would not last long in a real fight. Most snowflakes would melt with the first shot…
anon on November 30, 2016 at 11:50 am
TrueGrit on November 30, 2016 at 12:16 pm
I Think the left needs a spanking!
Seditious media should be punished by pulling broadcasting licenses.
“Too big to be” Media corps should be broken up under monopoly laws.
Laws now on the books should be enforced without compromise, including imigration laws.
The department of education/indoctrination should be closed for good.
Communist propaganda government radio should be defunded.
New usery laws should be enacted and enforced.
Violent Rioters should be prosecuted as terrorists.
B from CA on November 30, 2016 at 12:37 pm
The history of Communism is a J*w History.
Communism became Zionism
Rothschild is behind Soros
Rothschild started the banking System
First European Monarchs were debt slaves
The Monarchy (kings) lost to the Moneychangers
The Moneychanger is Rothschilds
In America Goldman Sachs is a key player
The Neocons are Trotskey Communist J*ws
“The forty five goals of Communism”
All have been accomplished
__ the J*w media calls anyone not following the Communist Agenda a NeoNazie
__. Polarization and opposing sides are the objective
We need to stop referring to people as democrats, leftists, idiots, etc.
Stick with issues. We can get agreement because we are right, iMHO.
Sgt. Dale on November 30, 2016 at 12:41 pm
I really can’t see a civil war like the last one. The war of Northern Aggression!!! What I can see is the Big City VS Rural. Just look at how different us in the Rural are than the Big Cities.
City= do everything for me. (gives us all of your money/tax dollars, and time.)
Rural folk can take care of them self.
City folk make people/slaves do things for them.
I don’t believe they (city folk) will last long in a fight.
Sig on November 30, 2016 at 1:03 pm
We are very rural and don’t require any outside help for defense, etc.
Just leave us alone and all will be well. You nailed it there!
Sgt. Dale on November 30, 2016 at 2:03 pm
Sig:
Good to have you aboard the site.
I’ve been on here for years, but lately my father has alzheimer’s and I’ve been helping with him. This is the first post I’ve seen from you. Again Welcome.
Sig on November 30, 2016 at 2:16 pm
Sig on November 30, 2016 at 2:21 pm
It’s good that people are still caring for their elders. I hope things go well for you all.
My dad has Alzheimer’s as well and it’s not easy to handle.
Especially if they wander off and don’t know where they’re going.
Enemy of the State on November 30, 2016 at 2:29 pm
Sorry to hear that Dale
My Mom is going through this too .. its tuff
hard to see your parents go through this hell
Sgt. Dale on November 30, 2016 at 2:51 pm
Thanks guys.
I will keep you all ion my prayers.
I told my wife if I come down with this just put me in the tree stand and let me let me meet Jesus from there. I can’t think of better way.
The Deplorable Braveheart on November 30, 2016 at 4:33 pm
Sarge, sorry to hear about that. I’ll keep all of you in my prayers.
apache54 on November 30, 2016 at 4:00 pm
I know your pain, my mom and her mom had it and they both suffered for several years before they passed, it is hard to watch that and wonder IF your next? My Dad and Grandfather did not have it so maybe i won’t! sure seems that more people have it and why? there are some things that sometimes work cures but they don’t work on everyone. Coconut oil is one that works for some.
hope this helps
Ketchupondemand on November 30, 2016 at 6:26 pm
JC on November 30, 2016 at 10:10 pm
The brain needs to be awash in fats and cholesterol to function normally. I am wondering what all these cholesterol meds might be doing to the population. Just sayin. Research and you will find out there is no such thing as bad cholesterol, just bad modern diet.
Old Guy on December 1, 2016 at 7:58 am
Ive noticed that when folks go on the so called heart healthy diet they tend to get demented. Yes the brain need,s cholesterol for the synapses to connect up properly. Im gonna continue to have my bacon & eggs for breakfast. Last nite my wife fried the Deer burger in bacon grease. How healthy you are is largely the result of your genetic makeup. If you avoid the commercial grown hormone meat and junk food you will be better off.
apache54 on December 1, 2016 at 9:11 am
your correct the so-called “BAD” cholestrol is needed for many things in the body, ie. repair blood veins and arteries etc etc. modern medicine can give you a heart transplant and charge lots of money but since there is NO money in just keeping your body functioning correctly they did not do research and they don’t know CRAP about it, it is always about the MONEY and so the average “JOE” suffers for it, so much for the Hippocratic oath they take!!
and thank GOG for the independent alternative med doctors!!! they save MANY lives for there dedicated work!
Plan twice, prep once on December 1, 2016 at 3:49 pm
I’ve read that with some forms of Alzheimer’s the addition of coconut oil in their diet can noticeably help. They also get some relief from drinking coffee.
My mom had Alzheimer’s, she was a smart and active woman who hated losing her faculties. Right after she reached the point where she needed 24 hour supervision and care, a bad flu came through that year and took her.
steve on November 30, 2016 at 2:39 pm
yea just the recent term sanctuary cities is creepy as all get out. I just see the crazed supremacists trying to slaughter people trapped in urban environments.And then the idiot urbanites just beating on people if they differ in appearance. Whatever, i would be happy with a return to a sense of law and order where nobody gets away with bad behavior rich or poor, black or white
The Deplorable Braveheart on November 30, 2016 at 4:35 pm
Any moron who targets me had better be ready to meet his maker.
Equorial on November 30, 2016 at 5:22 pm
The Deplorable Braveheart on November 30, 2016 at 5:57 pm
Zeus on December 1, 2016 at 10:14 am
Hey deporable. When was the last time you even faced someone that got into your face in person? You would probably have a heart attack from your shaking. Talk is cheap keyboard commando.
Joe on December 22, 2016 at 8:47 pm
Oh, you scare me.
Ms. Poppins on November 30, 2016 at 12:49 pm
jtx on November 30, 2016 at 12:50 pm
I think it will end up every man for himself. It may start as left vs right but once people start dying and shippments of food stop or are resticted it will turn into haves vs have nots, neighbors fighting neighbors for supplies to survive. Its not pretty but folks will do what they have to to survive, even good people will kill their loved ones to survive
Old Guy on December 1, 2016 at 8:14 am
Its pretty much always been every man for themselves. Sure there is the illusion of charity and we have a few do gooders trying to buy their way into heaven. But for the most part when push comes to shove its every person for themselves. I believe in DTA don’t trust anyone. Even your own loved ones often get jealious and sabatoge your success. And your friends will be friends as long as you let them use you. If you don’t let others use you they don’t bother with you much. So im a lone Wolf.
Zeus on December 1, 2016 at 10:24 am
Ditto Old Guy. Lone Wolf means you are independent and self sufficient. Isn’t that the goal of everyone here?
How many say, “Gee.. My prepping goal is to be fully dependent on a group to carry my sorry ass to the finish line.” Remember in Groups you are only as strong as your weakest link. Commie socialism only works for so long.
When America was being settled and developed the first settlers used the socialism model to run their community, where everybody put their sweat and toil into the pot to be split up for all. Well what happened is most sat on their asses, and contributed nothing and only about 45 worked their asses off for the settlement. They almost starved to death after a few years. That socialism model was an utter failure. They then switched to a Individual Land Ownership Model where everyone was independent, and where they could keep or sell their production to others, and low and behold we built a country, based on your own work and ambition and made many wealthy men.
Enemy of the State on November 30, 2016 at 12:56 pm
My funny take on this is
most of the 46% are too fuckin lazy to even get off the couch let alone enact a civil war
riots .. now thats another story , a riot is not a civil war though the MSM will push it for that angle
when the cry babies of this country find out that maybe their free rent and pharmaceuticals might run out or no free food because the working class has said fuckit.. than maybe we will see something
but until than these bags of shit wont do nothing but screw up their own hoods , than cry that they have nothing
I say bring it bitches .. ive had enough of feeding 3-4 lazy assed families I dont even know
and if anyone has the right to bitch its those of us working to provide for those we love
Im at the point of ignoring my government , because nothing takes the wind out of sails of a full on throw down tantrum like being completely ignored
and with the media these days doing nothing but fanning the flames .. this is just another one of those “lets see who we can piss off today” deals
Enemy of the State on November 30, 2016 at 12:59 pm
censored again in my free speech country
and people ask why i dont comment here much any more
jeeze Mac when did this place become Mr Rogers Neighborhood?
Zeus on December 1, 2016 at 10:12 am
Enemy, its called Free Speech Prison. Get used to it. I have found several other great Prepping sites for better Intel and commenting. This is becoming more of a Tabloid sensational headline grabbing site. Most of these articles have nothing to do with real people in their locals dealing with real life struggles or for anything to do with prepping in any matter. Some will catch on when nobody clicks the add links.
Not sure why people are afraid of Free Speech? People who flat out lie with no facts need to be called out for what they are immediately, otherwise the lie drags on for days and that is a disservice to all. Maybe they will learn to post legit info when called out ASAP.
Seems here most of the Morons here get their BS posted like clockwork. Legit info posters sit in Freedom of Speech Prison, for hours or days or their posts just disappear. I am sure this post will sit in prison for hours or a few days too. 11:12 AM EST 21/1/16 lets see what is it logged in at.
Equorial on November 30, 2016 at 6:02 pm
“Enemy…: You’ve every right NOT to trust (or even comply) with the present government. It is NOT “the real” government of The United States of America (we’ve been infiltrated to a horrid degree). Nothing Obama has scratched on an EO is worth a pisshole in the snow and most of them will just ‘cease to exist’ in a short time (we pray).
I think you are certainly not alone in your thinking. The Election pretty much said precisely what you just did to The Democrats, who “just knew” that they had it in the bag, but didn’t! So now, they are doing anything and everything in an effort to recoup both their monies and their efforts and (to them) PUSH THE NWO upon us (even if it means some sort of war, against ourselves, now wouldn’t THAT be the height of intelligence)? This is what Obama would LOVE to see. I don’t need to say why…
Frank Thoughts on December 1, 2016 at 10:14 am
Riots are not a revolution or a civil war. Riots are riots. That’s it. They always burn themselves out. The standard procedure is to let them burn out; create some space and let them run wild for awhile, hopefully burning down their own neighborhoods.
A revolution requires a disciplined cadre with a plan and a means to execute it. No such thing exists in the US at this time. A civil war, on the other hand, requires various factions who feel such fear of the other, they then need to kill the other to feel safe. I see that happening. There are certainly enough weapons out there and enough stupid, angry people. Riots and civil war I would say have a high probability. The US Government would, however, survive both events. It has the advantage and the infrastructure to fall back and let the mess confess.
Jim in Va. on November 30, 2016 at 2:40 pm
Call it what you will, it will be a time of culling and the useless and worthless will go first. Others will band together to survive and will grow food,trade/barter and learn to get along.
Archivist on November 30, 2016 at 2:46 pm
I wonder if Brandon knows that Cracked is a humor magazine similar to Mad Magazine? That tells you how much I value Cracked’s opinion on any subject other than humor.
smokey on November 30, 2016 at 3:29 pm
What, us worry?
Utah Dave on November 30, 2016 at 10:15 pm
You’re wrong. They used to be a humor magazine, but that was years ago and they haven’t been funny in a long time. Now they are a liberal rag interviewing military experts telling us why we constitutionalists are the problem.
IrishCatholic on November 30, 2016 at 3:25 pm
Whatever, be prepared, and ready to defend what is most precious to you. The Elitists, only care about power, money. I care about family, country, and my way of life. Leave me alone, all is fine, mess with me, ooops, Cracked will be the sound of one’s body breaking apart, not some commie two-bit magazine, that panders to sissy leftists, black lives matter racists, and hopelessly radical leftists who live in a la-la world!
Warchild Dammit! on November 30, 2016 at 5:26 pm
Civil war is unavoidable,then,another header,the reasons civil war is possible,well,one or the other please.I do not see so much a 2 sided civil war as more a general breakdown,face it,we are fucking broke,plus,we are divided,we need a divorce.Things fall apart any organized sides including feds will splinter apart,won’t be pretty but perhaps necc.
Genius on November 30, 2016 at 6:18 pm
Warchild, well I’m back for the winter. I discovered some more cool stuff you might add to your arsenal. 10lbs. tannerite with 2 gallons of gas on top. What a whoop ass BOOM! Made a fireball 20 ft. in diameter Gawd I love shit like that lol….
Genius on November 30, 2016 at 6:31 pm
Warning: only do it when there is snow on the ground or rain. Otherwise you will start a fire
Warchild Dammit! on November 30, 2016 at 9:43 pm
Joe on December 22, 2016 at 8:50 pm
Equorial on November 30, 2016 at 6:29 pm
hahah… Right now, if we were to ‘go into’ some sort of a civil war, we would have NO IDEA who was and was not the enemy …do we?
Falling apart? I dunno. We’ve been broke for decades and decades. My entire life I think, and we are still here and not that much has really changed, except our knowledge of government is now ‘extremely keener’ and more ‘learned’ than it was say, 20 years ago.
I don’t think we are divided. I believe it is the lying media is trying to impress upon us that we are on the verge of a race-war, and yet we see no signs of one, unless it is staged complete with paid actors.
Our chances of being duped at every turn? 100%. Islam STILL IS a formidable force that has entered this country. If WE THE PEOPLE do NOT fight it, then “it” will eventually consume each and every mechanism of The United States until we are forced (which would be our children in about 10 or 20 years, at most).
Chances of The USA “crashing”? Well, we’re not as bad as France or Germany is nor Venezuela. For the greater part, for this moment, we have “somewhat stability.” (WalStreet and stocks are normalized, other things are going insane …but we don’t know why).
I wonder if N. Korea would somehow ‘putz’ us with an EMP, and that’s why NK is back in the news again. They HAVE threatened more than once, and Kim Sung Un isn’t the brightest bulb in the closet (he just takes up the entire closet). I caught that S. Korea’s leader is getting what? Thrown out on her ear for some type of corruption? Obama never let’s a good opportunity pass, so what is there to be gained if we also “drive a huge wedge” into them, for the ultimate division?
The danged news isn’t exactly full of info, why am I not surprised?
Zeus on December 1, 2016 at 10:38 am
What sect has been more destructive to America and out people? Islam or Zionist Israel? Did you know the current vice chairman of the Federal Reserve is an Israeli citizen and the former chairman of the Israeli central bank?
See the trees from the forest.
Lone wolverine on November 30, 2016 at 7:43 pm
Struggling with the culture language borders delema. We have a border with Canada. Why, cause we just don’t get along? Throughout history when worlds collide there is war? So America is doomed? If we have to have a border with Canada we will need 50 different countries to separate Americans of different cultures. So a civil war seems inevitable? Then it will be last men standing. And we can all guess who they will be? Then eventually it will be the blue eyes against the brown eyes. Or the positive blood type against the negative. Then the Os against the ABs? Then the short against the tall. Personally if 95% of the people I meet of a certain race or culture are rats . I say get rid of them all. I guess that makes me a bad word . I guess the second coming will separate the wheat from the Tares. And burn the Tares. I hope I get to help.
Terminator on November 30, 2016 at 8:28 pm
Phyllis James on December 1, 2016 at 12:58 am
“Divided Americans” is the main reason why another “civil war” will be futile at this time.
A unified populace desiring governmental change to create a righteous society is long into this nation’s future.
charlie2dogs on December 1, 2016 at 7:28 am
the fing republicans are just as responsible for the mess that the people have let their so called leaders create here, religious fanatics, newagers and liberals are the problem with america, the filth and scum that has been allowed in this country that will create the civil war here has been allowed by all the traitors in dc, americans are nothing but idiots and victims for a civil war. lawyers, judges, politicians, bankers, corp ceo’s, are the enemies of america, and you american idiots keep supporting the very things that are destroying you, you deserve your death wishes.
Old Guy on December 1, 2016 at 8:31 am
It will be easy to determine who is your enemy. anyone who tries to take what is yours. So If your not well hidden enough you will be someones prey. certainly you can defend your stuff but the stress of having to be on full alert all the time would be difficult to maintain And you cant be lucky and kill them all. So you must hide at least part of the time. If there is a road your not hidden. if theres a power line your not hidden. If theres a building your not hidden. A remote natural cave is my bet. Even Osama Bin Laden hid in caves.
Sean on December 1, 2016 at 4:16 pm
Brandon, we have our enemies assurances that they will not let us use the the usual and peaceful methods of fighting them. When you are in a fight with a leftist, you are in a dog fight, and they will do anything to win. Playing Mr. Nice Guy, and by the rules will get you dead. Get it? They are not going to play by any rules. They only have one credo. Win.
Anonymous on December 1, 2016 at 7:48 pm
Any war will be due to the evil psychopathic ruling elite reptilians who could not care less about humans and want thus planet for themselves.
The problems are not religion, not politics, not black versus white.
The ruling elite reptilians will treat all humans as the enemy regardless of what they say.
bob klinck on December 1, 2016 at 10:31 pm
What bunk! Practically the whole of the US population has been profiting off the NWO: bureaucrats at all levels, the military, people employed by the armaments industry, media types, politicians, people in the entertainment industry, diplomats, intelligence agents, etc. Why should a CEO be seen as more culpable than an employee drawing a salary who is “going along to get along”? Only someone with skewed perception would attribute culpability so selectively. So how will the sides be drawn in the “inevitable civil war”?
Old Guy on December 2, 2016 at 5:02 am
sides in a civil war The parasites versus the Productive? The Haves versus the have nots? all of the different religions against each other? the different skin colors against each other? The starving versus the well fed? I think it will be some of each. The defined goal will be to live for another day. Once a real Donny brook broke out at the stock car races here. Hundreds of folks beating on each other. It started when the track owner who was a Baptist failed to award the pole position to a 16 year old Catholic driver. The 16 year old confronted the track owner who was smoking a cigar. And the 16 year old walked a few steps turned and ran and struck the much larger track owner and knocked that cigar down his throat. The track owner hit the 16 year old. and that was it. The entire stands erupted and poured into the track and infield. Knock Down drag out no holds barred Donny brook out for almost a hour. That track owner had the skin beat off of his face. that was the end of Squaw City Speedway at Pocahontas Ar. No attendance and no racers came anymore. And that crowd was 100% white. About evenly divided between the two religions. and the women where fighting too there where women fighting men and women fighting women. Too bad there isn’t any video!
Old Guy on December 2, 2016 at 5:04 am
sides in a civil war The parasites versus the Productive? The Haves versus the have nots? all of the different religions against each other? the different skin colors against each other? The starving versus the well fed? I think it will be some of each. The defined goal will be to live for another day. Once a real Donny brook broke out at the stock car races here. Hundreds of folks beating on each other. It started when the track owner who was a Baptist failed to award the pole position to a 16 year old Catholic driver. The 16 year old confronted the track owner who was smoking a cigar. And the 16 year old walked a few steps turned and ran and struck the much larger track owner and knocked that cigar down his throat. The track owner hit the 16 year old. and that was it. The entire stands erupted and poured into the track and infield. Knock Down drag out no holds barred Donny brook out for almost a hour. That track owner had the skin beat off of his face. that was the end of Squaw City Speedway at Pocahontas Ar. No attendance and no racers came anymore. And that crowd was 100% white. About evenly divided between the two religions. and the women where fighting too there where women fighting men and women fighting women. Too bad there isn’t any video
Justan American on December 2, 2016 at 8:25 pm
The late American historian Stephen Ambrose was being interviewed toward the end of his life by a reporter from the New Orleans newspaper The Times-Picayune. One of the subjects was the Civil War and its aftermath. The reporter asked him if he thought there was a possibility of the United States ever being torn apart by another civil war. His answer was yes. He said whenever this country would elect as President a black man. He said this one mans tenure as President would be so divisive that civil war will be inevitable. Stephen Ambrose died in 2002.
Jerry on December 26, 2016 at 9:18 pm
I am a native American!
I was BORN in the United States!
That makes me a native American!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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I’m one of the most pessimistic people I know. Yet it’s this same unique trait I exploit while designing High Availability architectures. I expect things to fail, and plan for the worst almost constantly. I’ve based my career on it. Granted, worst case scenarios rarely come to pass, but my motto is and always will be to “Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.”
To that end, I believe our society has been dealt a mortal blow. One which has instigated a cataclysmic chain reaction that will—and arguably already has—usher in years of Pestilence, War, Famine, and Death. The state of our society is so precarious that it may not even survive at all.
I’ve explored the abstract concept of Leviathan in the past, likening it to a shambling culmination of society’s machinations. I implied that disrupting it is essentially impossible because the myriad segments tirelessly reinforce each other. Unfortunately, my initial musings considered this an oppressive force for the human spirit, and failed to account for the stability it provides for society. There is room for improvement, but the current state of Leviathan embodies our existing moral and pragmatic frameworks, for better or worse.
“There must be a better way!” I thought.
And there is. But it cannot be prescribed by the fallible representatives of humanity. No, the beast is alive and sentient, and our institutions merely function as its organs. But despite my credentials as a full-time pessimist and part-time cynic, I never really considered that the Leviathan could die. Until we encountered SARS-CoV-2 of Covid-19 fame, that was probably true. It turns out our highly specialized and efficiency-at-all-costs approach isn’t particularly resilient.
There’s a phenomenon within living organisms that, should the immune system overreact to a threat by producing excessive inflammation signals, will result in multiple organ failure leading to death. It’s called a Cytokine Storm. Covid-19 was indeed an extremely virulent disease in the beginning, weighing in with an R0 transmissibility score up to 5x higher than the average flu, and a Case Fatality Rate (CFR) estimated at 10x that of the flu. They were terrifying and sobering numbers in early 2020 and had everybody scrambling.
But were things really that bad? Here’s a data visualization of the CDC data as of March 25th, 2022 grouped by age:
CDC 2022-03-25 Covid-19 Mortality by Age Group
The median life expectancy for an average resident of the United States is 77 years. According to the CDC’s own numbers, this means 51% of all deaths attributed to Covid-19 were from people at or above the median life expectancy in this country. Yet these same age groups only constitute 4.75% of the US population as of the 2019 US Census. This may sound high, but according to the CDC, someone 85 or older has a 96% chance of surviving Covid-19. Younger age groups carry exponentially less risk.
Does the relatively tiny 4% risk of mortality only in the elderly population justify modifying society in a way that could ultimately kill several orders of magnitude more people? Because that’s exactly where we’re heading.
People are not heartless as a rule, and want to protect vulnerable populations. We had a choice to make early in the pandemic:
Protect vulnerable populations with vaccines, treatment, and other preventative measures.
Arbitrarily lock down the world in an effort to reduce Covid-19 to zero.
Reducing a disease like Covid-19 to zero is a foolish proposition given its highly transmissible R0 value, yet lockdowns swept the globe. Again, early on this was a logically sound concept for limited engagements. The idea was to prevent spread as much as possible so that Hospitals would not be overwhelmed. But what started as “two weeks to slow the spread” eventually transformed into a new meme:
Two years to flatten the curve
The lockdowns themselves were misapplied in any case, as they sought to reduce Covid-19 to zero for an indeterminate period with no exit strategy. The point was to avoid overwhelming hospitals and thus reduce excess deaths. Until the Vaccines, there was no reliable treatment protocol, so the area under either curve would be the same. Rather than a huge spike of deaths with possibly more caused by saturated capacity, deaths are spread over a longer period of time. Covid-19 deaths would still occur, just not an excess caused by hospital capacity issues.
For the most part, we had capacity handled. Admittance rates were so low that hospitals felt free to fire unvaccinated staff, despite lauding them as heroes earlier in the pandemic. In fact, many hospitals are now so empty, budget shortfalls may close them for good.
This is the real crux of the matter: every part of the Leviathan is too complicated and intricately linked to other systems for humans to micromanage. Pass laws to ensure Hospitals dedicate all capacity to Covid-19, and areas largely unaffected by the pandemic—or even those that merely see fewer than anticipated patients—suddenly face the Law of Unintended Consequences. Budget shortfalls, idle staff in all other specialties, people missing critical followup care. How many deaths did that cause?
Meanwhile, since 2020 there’s a five-fold increase in preteen suicide attempts, non-Covid deaths are up 40%, and drug overdose deaths are up by 28.5% nationwide. Those are a mere fraction of the ensuing fallout from forcing social isolation upon at-risk groups or developing brains.
Does our reaction to Covid justify losing more people to suicide, drug overdoses, developmental delays, and other psychological maladies that bring decades of uncertain repercussions? We are not prepared or intelligent enough to trace the downstream effects of our actions in this regard, yet we’re doing it anyway. Humans tend to be extremely short-sighted and focus on a single problem without taking the overall scenario and any downstream effects into account.
An intricately balanced system like a globalized trade alliance comprised of nominally compatible governing bodies can’t simply turn on a dime. We stopped a lot more than Covid by locking down our populations.
Which brings us to the amplification of the Law of Unintended Consequences. The worldwide lockdowns set several events in motion. Any single one of these factors could prove catastrophic to the global economy, and we ended up with a perpetually self-fueling cascade consisting of dozens.
Unemployment rose significantly. Travel, hospitality, service, transportation, and several other industries were significantly affected. Over 34% of small businesses permanently closed in the US. Even after two years, these numbers still haven’t recovered.
People who are unemployed, either through lockdown rules or from closed businesses, can’t pay rent or buy food. Thus the US government passed multiple relief bills aimed at solving the problem. The largest of these was the CARES Act at $2.2 Trillion in 2020, followed closely by the Rescue Plan at $1.9 Trillion in 2021. Where was all of this money coming from if so many people were out of work? About that…
Notice what happened in 2020? Put into perspective, the United States has printed nearly 80% of all US dollars in existence since January 2020. As a result, US inflation reached a new consecutive record high every month. As of February 2022, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) stands at 7.9%, the highest value in 40 years. This is, of course, only part of the story. The calculation used for CPI underwent a revision in the 1990s. Using that older calculation puts the CPI at closer to 15%, the highest it’s been since 1947.
Consider too, that the CPI doesn’t include things like fuel. This alone is also at record highs and has nearly doubled since 2020 ($2.36 March 2020 vs $4.56 March 2022). All industries depend on petroleum in one way or another. Shipping, production, heating, travel, are all influenced directly, and have a cascading effect on dependent prices. Farmers for instance, must use petroleum and byproducts to fertilize, and those prices have skyrocketed since last year.
“Just for instance last year… wheat fertilizer - and I’ve got the same acres this year - last year was $26,000. This year was $106,000,” Smith said.
And no, this isn’t due to the Ukraine conflict, which we’ll get to shortly. Here’s a graph of gas prices over the last two years:
Will that be Arm, or Leg?
While war between Russia and Ukraine contributed near the end of the chart, prices demonstrate a clear upwards trend long before Russia invaded. Government spending results in increases in the money supply, which raises the price of all commodities. Anyone who received less than an 8% raise in the last year lost money. Any savings in a bank, most of which have negligible interest rates, lost 8% of its buying power in the last year alone.
Many commodities actually increased in cost by far more than this. Winter heating costs increased by 30-54% for gas, heating oil, and propane. For large swaths of the US that need to heat their home during the winter, this is a crippling expense. A recent poll suggests 63% of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck, it may not even be possible to remain financially solvent under these circumstances.
Of course, rising prices aren’t purely a function of government expenditure. It can also be caused by decreased supply versus demand.
Multiple factors influence how this happens, but 2021 saw a massive pileup in container shipping. A majority of trucking services use owner-operators, and California recently passed AB-5, which essentially makes this illegal. As a result, multiple carriers have simply stopped operating there. There are several hundred fewer dock workers due to Covid restrictions. An additional factor is the sharp increase in diesel costs, which reduce operator margins to levels where they may choose not to carry a load.
The more worrying component of a shipping and transportation disruption is that the US is almost entirely reliant on China for several medical supplies and pharmaceuticals. Relying on a sovereign foreign power for essential industries is risky even in good times, let alone during a pandemic or trade dispute. Here we can see one aspect at how a supply disruption might put lives at risk. And it doesn’t stop there.
One of the huge attention-gathering headlines has been the chip shortage. Many companies rely on a Just-In-Time supply chain system to reduce warehousing and oversupply costs. These systems have minimal (or even no) slack capacity to weather supply disruptions, and even they are realizing that’s a mistake. Yet that is small consolation for all the downstream industries that rely on these broken JIT chains.
New cars for instance, saw manufacturers such as Honda reduce inventory by 83% from last year. The same report shows used car prices are up 44%, possibly to compensate for the shortage in new vehicles. Increased costs and fewer available units make it somewhat difficult to buy an electric car in an attempt to escape high fuel prices. That is, assuming the US electric grid could even withstand a majority of EV usage in its current form.
All of this places a massive strain on an already delicate interactive transportation and supply pipeline. Much of this has led to a staggering global increase in food costs by 20.7%. Most budgets can’t simply absorb a 20% increase in food costs without repercussions, especially in poorer countries. Every kink in the supply chain amplifies the next segment down the line, including associated costs. How many companies can survive these repeated and extended disruptions? What did they produce, transport, or supply before going out of business?
Now we can address how this general instability has affected the global political climate.
Regardless of Donald Trump’s myriad character flaws, the world refrained from risking his ire. Whether it was because they perceived him as a loose cannon or otherwise, he made conflict with the US or its interests a losing proposition. The Trump administration bombed a Russian regiment in Syria and Putin did nothing in response. Even if it’s a wildly inaccurate claim, Trump said he warned Putin he’d bomb Moscow. It doesn’t matter whether it’s true because it could be. Everyone treated Trump like a potential maniac with all the associated implications.
One side-effect of lockdowns down during the early stages of Covid—which includes the US 2020 presidential election—is that it strongly influenced the outcome in Biden’s favor due to mail in votes. The perception of Biden as a president is a decidedly less fearful one. Biden proved US military competency in decline during the Afghanistan withdrawal. Why not evacuate non-essential personnel first? Why leave so much functional equipment behind? Why not maintain minimal military presence until the supplies, munitions, and personnel were accounted for?
One way or another, Putin likely decided he needn’t fear US response any further. Putin’s decision to invade Ukraine is his own, and regardless of international speculation from talking heads, or his stated justifications, the war has begun. While an international outpouring of empathy and aid for displaced Ukrainian citizens has swept the west, it’s still early in the conflict to really know how it will end. The US has refused to impose a no-fly zone to further antagonize Russia, but how long will that last?
The trouble is that Russia is a Nuclear Power, and is perfectly willing to use them in this conflict. As a result, the US and its allies have imposed a series of sanctions. Germany has shut down its Nord Stream 2 pipeline, and the US has banned Russian fuel imports, among other things.
A potential consequence of these sanctions is, as Bidan stated in a recent speech, “Real food shortages”. He’s not wrong, either. Russia and Ukraine supply 30% of wheat globally and a good proportion of necessary ingredients for fertilizer. Already facing high fuel costs for farming equipment, farmers must now add the increased cost and dwindling supply of fertilizer to the equation.
Here are the prices in context, showing a 3.5x increase since March 2020:
Fertilizer prices since 2020
Weren’t we already experiencing increased food prices due to supply shortages in the US? Even if Russia only supplies 8% of our fuel, that makes existing supply problems worse. Now the world is also facing a 30% or greater reduction in crop yields due to fertilizer and export restrictions. How many people will end up dying who are not involved with the Russia / Ukraine conflict in any way?
To further complicate matters, Russian banks are switching payment processors to China’s UnionPay, India is continuing to buy oil from Russia, and both countries joined with the UAE to refrain from condemning Russia.
China, India, Russia, and the UAE comprise 37% of the world population and 21% of the GDP, making it exceedingly difficult to collectively sanction them. They could easily form their own trading bloc and largely ignore pressure from Western Nations. Not that we would consider doing so anyway, as the trade deficit between China and the US is totally lopsided in China’s favor. These countries may even threaten the petrodollar itself.
Even if none of this precipitates into open warfare, the economic devastation would be unparalleled. The tenuous alliances we’ve spent decades fostering are quickly unraveling, leaving calamitous international supply shortages in its wake. Few countries and their related industries are self-sufficient due to various elements of offshoring and supply-chain optimization.
Millions of people will starve because of this.
Notice how I never said anything about vaccine efficacy, Hydroxychloroquine, Ivermectin, or anything else related to treating Covid prophylactically. Treating Covid itself is not relevant to our reaction. All of the consequences we’re facing are directly due to our emulation of a Cytokine Storm. Our reaction to a moderately virulent disease has crashed the worldwide economy and supply chain, is currently triggering a worldwide famine that will likely kill far more people than Covid ever could have imagined, and may even lead to a nuclear war.
That’s where we are now. That’s the decision we made as a society. All for a disease that has a maximum 4% mortality rate, and only in people 85 and older. We amplified the risk so much that it became a fully anaphylactic reaction that may immolate the whole of Western society, if not that of the world.
The Leviathan, which I once decried as an oppressive presence forcing everyone into strict roles in order for society to function, suffered a potentially fatal gut shot in late 2019. It has festered and spread, unleashing the collective poisons of human sin within the wound. Our pride that we know better, our avarice to exploit the situation, our lust to revel in the chaos, and more. Our aimless thrashing hastens the death of the Leviathan, and so too our own.
At this point we’re merely rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic during its slow descent into the icy arctic depths. But remember, I’m a pessimist; pray I’m wrong about all of this, because I sure will.
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NextDocVisit helping improve scheduling experience for patients, medical specialists
on August 07 th, 2016
By Tom Ballard, Chief Alliance Officer, PYA
There’s a concept in healthcare today called the Triple Aim. Simply stated, it calls for improving patient outcomes, increasing patient satisfaction, and reducing costs.
Sounds like a real challenge, doesn’t it? There’s a Nashville-based company, initially launched in Knoxville, which is planning to be a significant contributor to the process for those who require surgery and the surgeons themselves.
The start-up, which is officially named Rockhopper ZSG, was founded by Jay Crawford, a Knoxville Orthopedic Surgeon and 20-year Army Officer. He was one of the winners in the 2015 Tennessee Veterans Business Association business plan competition.
The product is marketed under the NextDocVisit brand, and we sat down recently with Greg George, Rockhopper’s President, to get an update on the story we first posted a year ago. He’s a seasoned healthcare executive who is based in Nashville and joined the company last September.
“NextDocVisit is the only private label mobile app in the market providing a cognitive tool,” George says of the product that is available in both iOS and Android versions.
So, you are probably asking a logical question: “What does it do?” The answer is bringing both value and efficiency to the traditional process of scheduling an appointment with a specialist. The benefits accrue to the patient as well as the surgical group.
NextDocVisit is focused on changing the cumbersome and frequently lengthy time that it takes a patient to schedule an appointment. Then, when the patient actually shows-up for the appointment, the individual might have been assigned to the wrong specialist, necessitating a second visit. There is wasted time in the scheduling process, wasted time if the initial appointment was with the wrong physician, and certainly frustration on the patient’s part.
George says much of this is eliminated through the NextDocVisit app.
“When a patient presents and answers a few online questions, we direct the appointment staff to schedule with the right provider,” he explains.
The secret sauce, so to speak, is the set of algorithms that takes the patient’s answers to the questions and identifies the optimal match with a surgeon in the practice. In essence, it is a decision support tool for the appointments clerks based on information provided by the patient and analyzed by NextDocVisit’s software.
“The algorithm predicts the ideal location, timing, service line, and level of provider,” George said.
So, instead of the appointments clerk deciding how urgent the need really is and whether the patient needs to see a surgeon or maybe just a physician’s assistant, the software provides the optimized answer. The clerk simply calls the patient and confirms an appointment time, again based on information provided by the patient about availability and desired office, if the practice has multiple locations.
“We were developed by a physician for physicians,” George notes.
NextDocVisit has a module that serves referring physicians who frequently schedule appointments for their patients with specialists. Also, by utilizing the start-up’s online app, a surgical practice actually can say it is accessible to its patient 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
In addition to addressing the scheduling process, George notes that NextDocVisit provides a significant ROI for the practice. A recent study showed that the app allowed a surgical practice to bring in 40 percent more revenue per patient and increase its overall collection rate by 13 percent.
“We believe our system provides about a 75 percent improvement for the appointment process in a practice,” George says.
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Stay connected with us on Twitter and LinkedIn. Article ideas and other suggestions should be sent to tballard@pyapc.com. Include the name and contact information (phone and email) for follow-up.
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In some ways, I find the tonality and presentation of the X3iii a slight return to the original X3 only just that more resolving and refined sounding.
I always found the X3ii to be the drier and the more neutral of the two with a balanced, lean and clean presentation though with a bit more single-ended power. The X3iii is a fuller, rich sounding presentation with a more planted low end and a stronger even harmonic bias in its timbre. Simply put it is much smoother but more dynamic sounding than the older X3ii.
In my X2ii review, I mentioned how the X3ii lost a bit of the original’s lusher timbre and top-tapping PRaT. In some ways, the X3iii has brought back that richer warmer timbre but retained and improved on the clarity of the X3ii’s presentation. It also massively upped the resolution over the X1 2nd gen. I found the X1 2nd gen to be well balanced for the budget DAP but compared to the X3iii you can immediately pick out the superior detail and layering the X3iii can deliver.
I find that the biggest presentational emphasis of the X3iii is in its low-end and vocal presence with a slight lower treble emphasis but not as dominant as, say, the M3s. It does push out vocals a bit more than the X1 2nd gen for sure and its planted warmer bass response will stand out a lot more than previous iterations.
Bass
Heavier hitting than previous generations of the X3 but also tighter sounding. It takes the fullness of the first gen X3 but pushes it a bit further forward than the 2nd generation. The 2nd Gen will sound a bit leaner in comparison and more neutral in positioning.
Compared to the likes of the M2s it is also much better defined and not quite as warm sounding as the softer M2s low-end. The X3ii bass response is not as punchy as the M3s but it is slightly richer and may shade it slightly in sub-bass presence.
Mids
Lower mids retain a bit of the bass warmth and even harmonic bias. I wouldn’t term it as soft or overly rounded, rather just smooth and easy going with a reasonably natural sounding timbre. Instrumental layering is much better than either the M2s or X1 2nd gen and really does sound more open and dynamic in its presentation.
The X3iii does a good job with vocal presence, pushing it slightly further forward along with its lower treble. Side by side with the C10 and M3s it does, however, the positioning is slightly further back with both of these a bit more aggressive in their upper mids and treble signature.
Treble is relaxed but not rolled off. The level of detail and clarity is good but not quite as forward or as snappy as the M3s or the C10. Again, a massive step up from the X1 2nd gen which sounds a lot more muted and less resolving.
The headroom is pretty ok actually it is just not as much ‘pop’ as those two DAPs. It is much superior in both accuracy and timbre to the M2s which sounds a lot softer and less resolving.
Matchability
The power rating of the X3iii is a little different in emphasis to the older generations. It is a much lower in its single-ended output than the equivalent rating on the X3ii at 160mW into a 32ohm load compared to 200mw into 32ohms. Even going balanced will leave you 10mW short at 190mW into 32ohms.
It is not as powerful as before. Mind you, the vast majority of IEMs in today’s market are rarely designed to need much more power than what the X3iii delivers so you could argue that the specs are much more IEM friendly than the older X3ii.
Except that the output is actually a bit noisier than I expected. Considering the X3iii output resistance is 1.4ohms which is not as low as the older X1 2nd gen 0.2ohm rating as well as the generally Andromeda friendly output numbers I was expecting total silence. That is not the case sadly as it does have noise.
Now I do not want to overstate the issue because it is not a huge wall of hiss but rather a generally ever-present low level of noise that you only really notice when side by side much quieter DAPs such as the M3s and C10.
It also starts to fade away once you start using IEMs at 20ohms or higher or with sensitivity ratings that start dipping to 110dB or lower. For example, the 115dB Campfire Andromeda has no such issues picking up on the hiss, but the Hum Pristine R was marginally lower and the 107dB IT03 was almost silent.
Synergy
This is really an IEM DAP with enough power to happily drive an efficient or low impedance headphone when required. Tonally I prefer neutral IEMs with the X3iii and given the power and sensitivity discussion I would go with IEMs that are not overly sensitive. Anything overly bass dominant or warm in signature might not have the best synergy with the X3iii.
Hybrid IEMs such as the iBasso IT03 sound quiet and lively with excellent treble, whereas mid focused attenuated treble IEMs such as the A85 from Fidue do less well with an overly warmed up lower mids performance.
FiiO’s own dynamic-driver F5 and the hybrid F9 paired very well indeed with the X3iii, particularly using the balanced output. The noise levels are super low for a starter with both of these IEMs. The F9, in particular, played to the X3iii strengths with a very solid low-end performance, clean and clear vocals and a top end that wasn’t overly aggressive but still quite clean.
The X3iii uses the same Ingenics JZ4760B processor as the C10 which incidentally they also use on the X1 2nd gen and the previous gen 2 DAPs. I can’t be certain that it is the B unit inside the C10 but the differences are more in physical form than any jump in performance.
The key difference between the two DAPs with this processor is the direction in which each company took in terms of features. FiiO has loaded the X3iii with more demanding features and a heavier OS.
In comes Bluetooth also as well as a balanced output with higher power numbers in both single and balanced over the C10. It is a more involving experience with features that today’s DAP consumer demands such as gapless, EQ, channel balanced and a functioning DAC output. There is more digital connectivity as well as a line-out which the C10 is missing.
If I stopped there you would be thinking why on earth go C10 when the X3iii is just so much more feature rich. The answer goes back to the processor. More features mean more demand on the processor and as such the X3iii is much slower than the C10’s lighter OS. If you want speed the C10 will beat out the X3iii. If you want more features then the X3iii is the way to go.
One more thing, noise. The C10 is quiet, quieter than the X3iii by a country mile. The C10’s higher output impedance will play a role in that but once matched it will still stay quieter than the X3iii.
If you want a black background and zero hiss using sensitive IEMs then the C10 is a better offering. If you want more power, the option to go balanced and do not have sensitive IEMs then the X3iii comes back to the table as a competitive choice.
The C10 has a blacker background and is generally the better performer of the two in terms of low noise and background hiss.
Tonally the X3iii is a touch warmer with a heavier low end compared to the C10. The C10 adopts a more linear low end with just a hint of warmth and a more open and forward sounding mid and treble performance.
The X3iii pulls back the mids a bit more but not by a huge amount, they are just not as forward or clean sounding. Treble is quite relaxed on the X3iii with less air and headroom though it delivers a bit more thickness than the C10. The C10 offers a bit more percussive snap and a bit more contrast which I find more lively.
The X3iii is the more forgiving of the two but I find the generally relaxed mids to lower treble of the X3iii to be overly smoothed over and lacking in a little in engagement compared to the C10’s cleaner and more articulate mids performance.
FiiO X1 2nd Gen
In every way, the X3iii is a solid upgrade to the concept and real-world user experience of the X1ii. It may well be bigger but it is better built, has a superior feature set and far better performance in terms of OS speed.
The X1ii should be seen as a first attempt because both it and the X3iii use the same processor and OS. However, the X3iii is faster, the Linux OS seems to have been refined since then and side by side the X1ii seems glacial in operational performance. Chuck in features such as Bluetooth, balanced output, USB-DAC and digital outputs and you have a far more complete digital media player in the X3iii.
Of course, at $199 the X3iii will cost you more than the $99 X1ii but the distinction between the two in terms of performance validates the higher price tag.
The X3ii has a more forward and detail vocal presence than the X1ii with generally a more open and resolving sound. The X3ii presentation benefits on the whole with better instrumental layering and separation combined with an enhanced dynamic range over the X1ii.
By contrast, the X1ii sounds a bit more distant, particularly in the mids where it comes across as a little narrower and more diffuse in its imaging.
The X3iii low end is fuller sounding, with better texture and detail. On the whole, the X3iii delivers a more planted bass response than the X1ii. There is also less treble contrast on the X1ii sounding a bit muted compared to the cleaner and more energetic X3iii treble.
X1 unbalanced has a higher gain setting than the low gain of the X3iii, high gain unbalanced in the X3iii is a closer match and balanced on the x3iii is a bit louder with vastly superior dynamic range, a much more expansive staging quality and fuller sound.
The M2s stands toe to toe with the X3iii in terms of aesthetics but each takes their own unique paths. I love the 2.5D glass of the M2s and the whole dominant screen aspect of its aesthetics. You could easily mistake the M2s as a touchscreen DAP when it is not. The X3iii prefers instead to go for more chassis design emphasis and better physical controls.
The OS is HiBy on the M2s and much faster than the OS of FiiO. HiBy is already a very matured SOC interface whereas the FiiO in-house design is still in its infancy. The features and workflow of both are actually very similar but the M2s is much snappier.
The big problem with the M2s is the 4.8ohm unbalanced output. Compare that to the 1.4ohm output unbalanced of the X3iii (balanced is just 1.2ohms) and you begin to see what issues might manifest with modern IEMs. Simply put it will skew the tonal bias of your efficient IEMs or change the sound in summary. The X3iii will match better with low impedance IEMs, especially those with crossover designs.
The M2 is a little warmer, softer sounding and less resolving than the X3iii. The dynamic range of the X3iii is better with a wider soundstage, better instrumental separation and snapper transient response with IEMs such as the Hum Pristine R and lower tier hybrids such as the IT03.
The X3iii bass response is also better with more detail as well as better depth and a more planted feel to it. Mids are a touch more congested sounding with less vocal presence and detail on the M2s compared to the X3iii.
Lower treble accuracy is also a bit better with the X3iii with more detail and slightly more energy. Percussion passages have more snap and slightly better attack. The M2s sounds a bit more muted and one dimensional in comparison to the airier X3iii.
Shanling M3s
$279
The M3s is much smaller but slightly heavier at 135g compared to X3iii’s 127g. The M3s is encased in that beautiful 2.5D glass of the M2s but the dimensions are not as complementary with a large black aluminum lower panel of nothingness. The curved finish though is excellent and side by side the X3iii is more angular and blockier in design.
In part, the bigger dimensions are due to a wider screen on the X3iii and also to accommodate the touch scroll wheel. The M3s uses the same control set of the M2s which I find a little bit less intuitive to use and complicates issues such as volume setting before a track is played.
The OS is the same as the M2s so it is snappier, faster and a little bit more evolved than the X3iii. The X3iii’s Linux OS is a bit sluggish in comparisons.
Both have balanced and unbalanced outputs. The X3iii has more power unbalanced (160mW vs 130mW into 32ohms) whereas the M3s has the superior balanced output rating (190mW vs 230mW into 32ohms). The M3s amp is the quieter of the two with more noise from the X3iii using efficient IEMs.
Similar tonality with a warm to natural sound, with the M3s perhaps the slightly brighter of the two. The key difference here is the mids and treble of the M3s. The M3s mids and vocals seem a touch further forward with more body than the X3iii.
The second tweak is the treble performance of the M3s which more energy and odd harmonic balance than the X3iii. In comparison, the X3iii is more relaxed sounding. Percussion energy is a touch more muted also in comparison to the more forward sounding M3s.
The M3s lower end is also a little punchier with a better transient response. The X3iii bass response is full sounding, nicely planted but a bit softer and not quite as well defined. The M3s also has a bit more sub-bass presence.
If we take the X3 lineage in isolation it is easy to see the X3iii has delivered a lot more in terms of pure sound quality as well as a slight return to the original tonal bias heritage of the first-generation X3. This is a classy looking non-touch digital media player with a wealth of interesting options and features and a much improved OS performance over the X1 2nd gen.
However, in the context of the X series as a whole, this is a minor evolution rather than an outright revolution. The X5 3rd gen blew away the older X5 2nd gen in terms of modern features, OS and to some extent quality of performance.
The X3iii is a more mixed experience when compared to the older X3ii. The OS is still a bit slower for me and the level of noise is more in line with the X5 3rd gen levels than the older, quieter X3ii. I get a feeling this will be the last X3iii using that Ingenics processor also.
I tend to think of FiiO doing a re-position of the X3iii rather than an outright upgrade. Before I would get questions on the X3ii and X5ii and which is right for me. The gap was not so clear at times. Now the pitch is much clearer between the X1, X3 and X5 current generations with touch and non-touch offerings. If anything, FiiO has made the choice of which to get that much easier.
The price point is fine also. There is some competition from the M2s and maybe even the Cayin N3 on the value proposition but not enough to beat it out soundwise. It is only when you go up to the SRP $250 plus range do you find DAPs that start to outperform it.
To read the full specification please check out the FiiO website here.
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Founder & Owner of headfonics.com. I first started reviewing in the late 80s (ouch!). Back then it was albums, rock concerts and interviews with a typewriter for the local rag. Now its desktop/portable and digital 2.1 audio on a rather nice laptop. How time flies.
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January 1, 2020 at 1:31 pm
Beware of Fiio products. The batteries don’t last long and cannot be replaced. Totally SUCK
Francois says:
September 16, 2020 at 2:30 pm
Not true. My son still uses one of the original Fiio X3 which is now around 8 years old. Zero battery issues. Also I’ve had an X3iii for two and a half years and have no issues at all. Just dont use fast charging – it will bugger up batteries on any device.
March 15, 2019 at 4:02 pm
How is Xiii compared to Hidizs AP 80 in terms of sound quality (e.g. using a Beyerdynamic T5p) ?
Marcus says:
March 15, 2019 at 4:22 pm
Difficult because of MSEB on the AP80 can change the tone of the AP80 a lot. I think the AP80 will be a bit cooler with the stock signature though and the OS is miles ahead in fluidity and speed.
I think the Xiii has a bit more power and also balanced/LO. Not T5p here but its a fairly treble happy headphone at times and doesn’t need huge power to drive well.
Depends on your personal preferences but maybe for me, the Xiii’s warmer tone might be a better fit.
Eric says:
May 13, 2018 at 2:15 am
How would this work with the Pinnacle P1 (50 ohms)? I’m looking for my best bet in the sub $200 range and am currently looking at this and the N3.
Other DAPs I should consider instead?
Marcus says:
May 13, 2018 at 4:21 pm
Both should be fine though the N3 gets my vote. Other options include the Sony A35 with its digital amp, very quiet and touchscreen.
Eric says:
May 14, 2018 at 9:14 pm
Thanks, Marcus. I’m concerned about the lower power output on the Sony units, which is a shame because I love the look and UI. The P1s can be a bit tricky to drive, though.
Marcus says:
May 16, 2018 at 3:33 am
Oh right then, pity it is a little beauty but as you say it is not the most powerful.
May 10, 2018 at 6:23 pm
I have an Opticon Streamer v3 which I can connect my iPhone for Bluetooth calls and to my hearing aids. Will the X3(iii) pair with the streamers too so I can dispense with outputting via a cable?
Thanks
Marcus says:
May 10, 2018 at 6:41 pm
Sorry never used that before but if it uses Bluetooth to stream then it should.
February 20, 2018 at 2:43 pm
How is X3 Mark III compare to Sony NW-A45? Which is better?
Marcus says:
February 20, 2018 at 2:51 pm
Depends on what criteria are important to you. Low noise/long battery life/touchscreen for Sony. Tonally the FiiO is a bit warmer and fuller sounding, Sony a little more neutral.
Ryan says:
February 8, 2018 at 12:07 pm
How is X3iii compared to Cayin N3 in terms of sound quality?
Marcus says:
February 8, 2018 at 11:53 pm
The N3 has a lower noise floor and a more aggressive low-end. The X3iii is a bit warmer sounding for me.
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Part the First: In where we meet our hero, Gen Shishio. We learn why Gen Shishio’s uncle drinks so much and why moving away did not solve the dilemma of the family business.
My name is Gen Shishio and today is my birthday. By the end of the day, I will also be murdered. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. The day started off like any other day. I was out the door of the restaurant at three in the morning. It was a windy morning and I could hear the wind louvers whirling, directing their energy into the storage facilities deep within Hub City.
When I first came here, I was six or seven and everything seemed so amazing. Hub City was so strange looking, with its curved buildings and walls, exotic shapes and strange sounds. The city was designed to capture energy from every source possible, wind, solar, water, thermal, pressure and even sounds. I didn’t know that then, I thought the wind louvers were so loud and I just hated that sound. Its constant hum set my teeth on edge. I would learn when I was old enough to start working, the louvers were much louder than they appeared, without the designer plastics used to absorb, redirect and baffle their noises, they would be far louder.
The louvers were above the quadrant wall that comprised our section of the ring of the city. They would provide reduced power levels until the sun came up and the solar arrays kicked in. This section of the city wouldn’t really come alive until our secondary power sources came online. The only things you could see were the glowpaint used to light the streets, casting a pale turquoise light, just enough to see by, if you knew your way around. Tourists could request a VR agent to direct them to where they wanted to go. I hadn’t used one in years. I could find my way though the city by smell alone.
We lived in what is officially the sixteenth district, but called the Undercity by the locals. It got such a colorful name because it was one of the entry points to the lower city where most of the inhabitants of Hub City lived, protected from the environment. There were plenty of people who lived on the surface, but most of us were workers who ran stores, training facilities, or mini-factories providing services for farmers, industrials or artists who preferred to work above ground.
I walked out onto the boulevard and could see yesterday’s festival art on the walls glowing gently. I remembered all of the artists who were teaching their particular art style and the walls were filled with impressionistic, rationalist, photorealistic and abstract art forms. Some were positively brilliant, others were simply adequate, all showed clear technique and a few were showing signs of true genius. I stopped to look at a particular piece and touched the wall and the painting.
“Art request, name and history of this artist, please display last six pieces.” I spoke into my sub-dermal microphone. The city’s network interpreted my response from my sub-vocalization. It stored all of the local paintings and cleared the wall. It then displayed high resolution versions of the artist’s work.
“Barad Thurston, age 25, current occupation: aspiring artist with 24 art credits and four successful art rotations. Secondary occupations include mechanical replacement tech, sewage power systems. His work has won several commendations and he is expected to take a supervisors role in the Artists Guild, in the coming year when Art and Functions Administrator Galen enters semi-retirement.” The autonomous computer system’s voice was a smooth and well modulated baritone. It’s name was Walker, after the programmer who created the Intelligence systems used in the Hub Cities.
“Please send my regards and offer him an evening at the restaurant for a private showing of his work.”
“Request completed, his saganet has indicated a scheduling conflict, but will let him decide when he awakes. Will there be anything else?”
“Please reset the wall to its previous settings so others may enjoy them.”
“Gen Shishio, you will be late to the fishery if you continue at this pace. You will need to take a bicycle if you wish to remain on schedule.”
“Yes, Walker, can you…?” A bike appears on AP and pulls up to the curb. “Thank you, Walker.”
“You are welcome, Gen Shishio.”
I turned off the autopilot and electrical configuration and set the bike for manual mode. I enjoy exerting myself and the cool morning air feels good. I make good time to the fishery. It is in the first and second levels of the Undercity near the river. It takes about thirty minutes of heavy activity to get there and back. The trip back is more difficult since its uphill and I’m laden with fish but I refuse to use the electric motor until the very last incline back to the surface.
My uncle is standing at the door when I pull up. I expected it since I was a bit behind schedule. “Good morning, uncle.” He didn’t seem particularly unhappy, but lately he had been a bit harder to read than usual.
He reached into the back of the bike and hefted the eighty pounds of fish, as if they barely weighed anything at all. “Give me those fish, we have to get ready, we will be having special guests this evening.”
“The men you have been talking about for weeks? You worry too much Uncle, who cooks like we do anywhere in the Hub? Our cuisine is uniquely Japanese with an authentic flavor. They will love it.”
“They better for all our sakes.” He dashes off to the kitchen and the night crew starts turning on the lights and prepping for the morning rush. I can tell today is going to be big.
Each shift in this part of the city is six hours long. No one works more than six hours in any day, no matter what their job. So we get a rush of customers at the end of shifts and right before shifts start. To keep restaurants and stores from being overrun, most organizations stagger their shifts so businesses are not overwhelmed. This usually means we have a three hour window where there is a wave of customers, nonstop, then a slowing period where we clean up and restock the kitchen. We also get a tiny window between shifts where the leaving crew eats and passes along any issues to the arriving crew. It sounds confusing but once you learn the rhythm, it becomes like your heartbeat. You know when people are coming, you know how long the wave will last and after a time, you will know who everyone is until the end of the quarter when people are rotated to their next assignments or you get rotated to yours.
I am a chef, like my father and uncle before me. I had always planned to be a chef, but when we left Japan and then later New York, things were not so certain for me to take up my father’s career. Hubs were not like regular cities, they did things very differently. People did not get or keep a job or get to establish a career until they had been working for a minimum of four years.
I worked as a fish farmer, florist and medicinal grower, a sewage worker and a power-plant technician. My rotation was all assigned to areas close to my home and Walker assigned them to ease transitions and to ensure I would work with people who were compatible but intellectually challenging. I started working with my father at six, but once I came to the Hub with my uncle, I went to work at fourteen and did my rotations during the day shifts and worked partials with my Uncle at night. As a child, I was educated during a second shift and slept during the third. My life in Hub City was constantly filled with work, school or some other occupational study.
My father died when I was twelve. We were very close and the circumstances of his death were not made clear to me. They said I was too young to understand but my uncle assured me all would be made clear when I was older. He told me to be patient. So I was. My uncle took me in and life continued on.
Uncle arrived some time before four. He looked terrible. He had been drinking again and the habit only seemed to be getting worse, the closer I came to my eighteenth birthday. I didn’t know what he was thinking though I had tried several times to get him to talk to me. He was only surly and resentful and became even more resistant to conversation. He came into the restaurant, spoke to no one, walked around in the back, checked the menus and samples of what was being prepared. He snatched a bit off food from each setting and seemingly satisfied went upstairs to look down from the upper balcony. He took a small flash of saki with him out of the kitchen and as he climbed the stairs, he stopped to look at me before continuing to go upstairs.
We were just closing and setting up for the Art Exhibit. We had several film screens able to be lowered down and configured to receive artistic information. Barad Thurston agreed to come by this evening to entertain guests and planned to do a series of paintings and instruction during the evening. While advertising was forbidden, open houses which gave access, instruction and opportunities to sample our wares was perfectly acceptable and within the City’s guidelines.
While the guests were filing in, Uncle disappeared into the kitchen and was likely preparing something unique, a Yūgure signature dish or something only he could prepare.
Everything was perfect, Thurston was flirting with Mei Ling, and she maintained an air of professionalism as she showed off his artwork, and worked with him to organize his showing. The restaurant was bursting with new faces and several of the local children were already showing up for sweets with their parents in tow.
I didn’t notice when they came in. It seemed they just appeared at a table upstairs. It was possible they walked in while I wasn’t looking but Uncle seemed to expect them and had food being directed to the second floor. There were seven men in dark suits, three older, four younger. The older men were sitting down and facing the floor and the art below. Their four younger men stood behind them, perfectly motionless until they were needed to serve their masters.
“Gen, I need you to take this chrysanthemum upstairs, please. Remember your manners.”
I recognize the chrysanthemum as a fish dish where slivers of fish are placed around in a layered circular configuration like the flower it is named after. The dish was beautifully garnished with green sprigs of parsley. In the center of the flower was a bowl filled with an unknown pâté. As I carried the platter upstairs, I could feel the presence of the men, an ominous thing. The hair on the back of my neck stood up and the urge to turn and run only intensified as I walked into the room.
I could feel the eyes of the standing men looking me over, staring at me as if I were a fine delicacy about to be served. The upper serving room has variable lighting allowing us to create an atmosphere suitable for any occasion. I knew the lights were on, but shadows felt as if they were whipping around the room masking whatever I tried to bring my gaze to. No matter who I looked at, I could not see their faces.
“Gen Shishio-san. It is our pleasure to meet you, finally.” The oldest looking of the three sitting men turned his gaze to me and I could feel it, hot, on my face. “You are the spitting image of your father.”
“He is, indeed,” said the one on the right whose long eyebrows were bushy and white. His hair also hung long and unkempt, a wild ragged appearance. One of his eyes, the right one had a milky look, perhaps an untreated cataract.
The one on the left, said nothing, but was the first to reach for the plate as I placed it on the table. “Sit with us, Gen Shishio,” he said suddenly, as placed the tray in the center of the table with a variety of foods around it, as yet untouched. He startled me, his voice while a whisper, left me with the feeling of nails on a chalkboard. I felt unable to resist. I sat.
“Do you know what this dish is Gen Shishio? We had your uncle prepare it special. We provided the main ingredient, since it is so rare. You may have never actually seen it.”
“It seems you have me at a disadvantage my excellent guests and I would love to sit and share a meal when I am not entertaining so many. Please introduce yourselves and I shall have more of our finest sake sent up right away.”
“You may call us by our family name, Hokuriku. I am Ishikawa and these are my brothers Fukui, and Niigata. We have come to Hub City to make you a proposal of work, young Shishio-san.”
“Hokruiku-sama, I appreciate any opportunities you may be offering but my uncle and I already have work keeping Yūgure, the premiere Japanese cuisine in Hub City. Even if I wanted to work for you, I would not have the time.”
Fukui, the Silent, had begun taking food and placing it on his plate. He made a great effort to sample everything and his plate was an artform as he arranged his food. I could almost see a pattern before I was distracted by a presence behind me. It was my Uncle.
“Murata, you have not informed your nephew of our arrangement?” Niigata, of the Hot Eyes gazed up at my uncle who returned a stare equally intense.
“No, I had hoped you would find another and leave our family alone. You have caused us enough harm.” His voice was hard, each word biting and fell from his mouth like ash.
“Talents like the one’s in your family are exceedingly rare, Murata. Not just anyone can prepare food for our kind.” Ishikawa, sitting between his brothers points to another chair and uncle joined us.
The four men who had taken up a position in the four corners of the room, appeared suddenly next to my Uncle and I and prepared plates for us, creating a beautiful setting of eel, shrimp, sushi and the mystery fish, with some of the pâté placed as a garnish on the fish.
“Eat, business can wait while we enjoy the company of new friends.” Ishikawa statement of friendship felt almost sincere. I almost believed it.
Below the table my uncle kicked my leg as he picked up chopsticks and began to eat, first the fish soup, then around his plate, avoiding the mystery fish completely. Our conversation lingered around the artist and his work, our impressions of the city, and how we enjoyed our lives here. They were marvelous to talk with, each seemingly knowledgeable about a variety of subjects. I had almost forgotten my initial impression of them.
Until it was time to eat the fish.
I had eaten the same way my uncle had, around the plate avoiding the fish, until it was all that was left. Ishikawa noticed. “Are you going to allow such an excellent fish to go uneaten?” On his plate, he had already consumed the fish and the pâté. “It is truly marvelous, and so subtly prepared. You still don’t recognize it, do you Gen Shishio? Murata would you like to educate the boy?”
“It is fugu, or blowfish. An exceedingly rare and exotic fish; prized for its flesh, sweet and delicious.”
I also remembered what fugu was also known for. It was also known for its deadly neurotoxin produced by special glands inside the fish. The fish could only be prepared by a chef of renown skill because even the tiniest mistake could equal death. A slow suffocating death as the body loses control of its autonomic functions and breathing ceases.
“Eat the fish, Gen Shishio. You trust your uncle, don’t you?” Niigata turned his gaze toward me and his eyes under those terrible eyebrows began to glow.
“Of course.” I ate the first piece of fugu without fear. My uncle and father were known for their skills in the kitchen. Dead drunk, my uncle was a better chef than most were sober. I have to admit the flesh was heavenly, even more so knowing every bite might be my last. I trust my uncle but remember how so many people have managed to die eating fugu, even expertly prepared. I consumed the second and the third.
Niigata smiled. “Don’t forget the excellent garnish.”
“No, Gen. Don’t eat that.” My uncle whispered, his head hanging down.
As one, they looked up from their plates, placing their chopsticks on the table, “We insist, Gen Shishio.” Their full menace returned. Their dark suits became darker as shadows spread from them and the room seemed to darken as well, as if it were cut off from the rest of the light in the restaurant. I picked up my chopsticks again and moved toward the pâté.
“Are you willing to take his place, Murata? You aren’t even sure you could survive transition are you? That is why we waited until he turned eighteen. You were too old for our needs. Have you changed your mind?” Ishikawa’s smooth voice taunted my uncle and each word seemed an acid to him.
“Uncle? What are they talking about?”
“Our family served the royal family centuries ago. We were a legendary house and we attracted the attention of others in both the celestial and infernal houses. If we survive this evening, I will tell you more. But they do not lie. If I eat the mixture of poison glands in the pâté, I will die.”
“And if I eat it?”
“If your blood is true, you will live. You are your father’s son, I know you will find your way back.”
Fukui’s chalkboard voice, shrill and grating, screeched, “Eat it, boy. We have waited a decade. We will wait not a moment longer. Prove your worth.”
“They cannot force you. They cannot compel you to work for them. But if you don’t, only one of us can get up from this table. They have bound our souls during the meal so that only one soul can rise from this table. I promised your father I would protect you.”
“I would never let anything happen to you Uncle. Not now. Not ever.” With that, I ate the ball of poisonous pâté. I didn’t have to wait long.
The room grew darker and colder. My uncle got up and cleared the table as they lay me upon it. I saw the room moving away, I floated above my body and looked around. I could see Ishikawa, Fukui, and Niigata but they were not what they appeared to be. Ishikawa appeared as a man made of shadow, whose essence was connected to every shadow everywhere. Fukui, looked to be made of rock, rough hewn with hunks missing from him. His voice was the scraping of rocks together. Niigata, appeared to be made up of nothing but eyes. His eyebrows draped all the way to the floor and inside his shirt were other eyes that blinked and stared at me. Their four servants appeared as men but were nothing more than shadows in the shape of men, there was nothing to them physically. Despite their shadow substance, they were quite real enough to keep my Uncle held as he watched me die.
“Gen Shishio, as you hang between life and death, know we bind you to life in our service. We anchor you with shadow, the shadows all men know and tell to smooth their way through life. In our service, the shadow will be your path between all things. We bind you with stone, immovable, you will never be free of us, not even Death can come to you, unless we allow it. We bind you with Sight, the ability to see worlds beyond this one, from which what we need must be found. Our clan lays claim to you and with this kido hold you fast to your duties. You will cook for us, you will create the infernal essences necessary for our continued immortal existence. And at any time you fail us, we will take from you, a single life you hold dear. We seal you with the life of the artist Barad Thurston. You value him and his art, so it is fitting we bind you with it.”
A painting of flames swirling artistically moved from the wall and imprinted itself upon my skin, around my arms, around my chest and across my back. Then a scream from the main floor as Thurston fell to the ground, dead. Soon others followed and the screams penetrated my darkness and I could see my body again. I made my way toward it, first slowly, then faster, falling back toward it like water into a drain. I sat up, my breath rushing back into my body, my flesh cool to the touch.
Hours had past. I was lying on the same table, my breath ragged and my chest and arms burned. My uncle sat up as my breathing resumed.
“You made it back. But you don’t have much time. If you are to serve them, you will need your father’s tools.”
“Am I dead, Uncle?” I felt cool, different, constrained like a shirt that somehow became too small while I was wearing it.
My uncle looked at me, and dropped his gaze. The second time today I had ever seen him do that. “No, Gen Shishio, you are not dead, not exactly. You are between life and death. But before long you may wish you were simply dead. You are now, the demon’s chef.”
Posted by Ebonstorm on June 3, 2012
“By boiling (a certain fat) in a copper vessel, they get rid of its water, thickening what is left after boiling and remains last. Then they store it, and afterwards boil it again before use: with this, they mix celery, aconite, poplar leaves and soot. Then they smear all the parts of the body, first rubbing them to make them ruddy and warm and to rarify whatever had been condensed because of cold. When the flesh is relaxed and the pores opened up, they add the fat (or the oil that is substituted for it) – so that the power of the juices can penetrate further and become stronger and more active, no doubt. And so they think that they are borne through the air on a moonlit night to banquets, music, dances and the embrace of handsome young men of their choice.”
“Hurry up, girls. The bobbies are on their way.” Margaret’s glamour had worn off as she walked into the door, slamming it behind her. Her hideous hook of a nose arched out over her wide mouth, distorted by her decades of constant magic use.
She was beautiful once, with wide blue eyes and rosy cheeks, those days long behind her, her flaxen hair now knotty wisps covering her now sunken eyes and hollowed cheekbones. Her dress, ragged, something taken from the body of an unfortunate who made a fine tincture last year.
“You know better than to rush me, Maggie. Flying potion isn’t something you rush to get done. The fat has to be rendered just right.” Elswidth was standing over a caldron in the middle of the common area, with a strange arrangement of bottles, beakers and piping winding around the room. She turned a tiny spigot as droplets of rendered fat fell into the dark fluid in the ceramic bowl he held in her other hand. “Ah, such a sweet scent.” The room was in complete disarray, tables and chairs lie broken. Scraps of clothing and dark spots fleck the dimly lit walls. Elswidth’s eyes reflected the poor candlelight like a cat’s.
“Was that Malcolm?” Margaret asked? She sniffed conspicuously, eyes narrowing in recognition.
Elswidth looked over her shoulder, “why yes it is, how did you know?” Her cats eyes open wide, drinking in every scrap of light. Margaret’s dirty shift and shuffling gait stirred up dust in the hall, each speck twinkling in the light of the full moon from the common room’s skylight. Margaret’s squat and wide form filled the narrow corridor leading into the common room.
“I’d know that sweet, buttery scent anywhere. Did you save any for me?”
“Why would I do that? How else did you expect to make it to Prague unless I used all of him. Look at you, fat as a cow. You would be lucky to make it halfway there.” Elswidth spit on the floor and kicked a dirty shoe into the fire under the caldron.
“Now, sisters, there’s no reason to fight. We have had a good time in London. It has been very, very good to us, hasn’t it?” Selene came down the stairs, staff in hand, followed by three brooms and a couple of old bags festooned with strange locks that resembled demonic mouths. They opened and closed at random, snapping at each other.
Selene was young as witches go, barely a century and looked it. Still lithe, full and sensuous, she filled her sisters with both a hunger and an envy that was easy to see. Her dress, slick, diaphanous, showed her ample bosom and wide hips and it clung possessively to her, looking almost alive. A closer look, might notice its fleshy tone, it silky texture like the skin of a small child or perhaps several small children. Then you might look away.
Her eyes, dark, unpleasant, and cold, had the look of a reptile, replete with slitted eyes and flickering lids. Even with this disturbing feature, her face was like cream, smooth, flawless, the result of bathing in the blood of innocents.
“Yes, Selene, it has been good to us. We must thank Jack for inviting us. Orphanages aplenty, homeless vagrants, the sick and dying who work in the black smoke filled streets of Whitechapel have made our work all too easy.” Elswidth smiled as she thought of how many young ones this orphanage had when they came to work in it nearly a year ago. There were nearly fifty children whose parents died from consumption. Vowing to find them homes, the three women, with impeccable references, set out to reduce the population of the orphanage through what they claimed was a process of finding the children homes in neighboring countries. A third of the children were actually shipped out of the country and were never seen again. The remainder, too weak and sickly to be of any true value laboring anywhere else were rendered for their essential elements.
Margaret called her bag and broom from Selene’s magical wake. As her bag approached, she noticed one of the clasps was unmoving. Grabbing her broom, she hit the bag repeatedly and each blow opened one of the mouths until they were all howling. Once they were all open the bag also opened and she counted the tiny flasks inside. One was missing. Gripping her broom tightly she turned to Selene and lightning leapt from her eyes.
Selene turned at the last second and interposed her staff between the lightning and herself, deflecting it into the room. “Sister, you seem upset?” Her smile belied her pretense of innocence.
“You stole it, didn’t you. The only thing I wanted from this entire trip.”
“It isn’t fair you would keep such a thing to yourself.”
“You could have made your own. You are always going on about how superior your magic is.”
“But it’s so much easier to let you do the heavy lifting, for me.”
“Stop it! Both of you. Don’t you hear what’s going on outside?” Elswidth was stirring the last of the rendered fat into the blood-red elixir in the caldron. “Handle that. This will take at least another ten minutes to be ready.”
“Yes, Sister.”
Selene and Margaret stand still for a moment, and a gentle mist slowly forms at their feet. A slow groaning and creaking begins and the house shudders imperceptibly. The crowd outside the house feels a sinister dread and becomes quiet without knowing why.
Margaret wipes her hand over her face and her glamour of beauty is restored. She looks prim and proper, a headmistress of an orphanage. Selene’s dress of awful flesh, appears instead as a proper frock of black and white satin and she looks like a young woman in the prime of her life.
Margaret opens the door as the nervous bobbie was about to knock. He was very young, a face barely used to shaving. He sported a stylish mustache in order to appear older. His uniform fit snugly; likely a hand-me-down from one of the older constables. His movements and mannerisms indicate he was still not quite used to be obeyed.
“Miss Margaret, I am relieved to find you here. I am empowered to arrest you and bring you in for questioning regarding the murder of Malcolm Little, one of the last of your children to be seen here. Your neighbors accuse you of murder most foul.” His head momentarily looked back at the crowd, as if taking strength from their presence. He could hear the sounds of whistles in the distance and seemed relieved that other police would be along momentarily.
Margaret’s smile was a well-practiced thing, designed to disarm and charm, a kind of smile you can only get with decades of experience evading those who might do you harm. “Constable, that is simply preposterous. Malcolm is here with us this very evening. He will be leaving tonight with us to go to Prague. We have done exactly as we promised to empty this particular orphanage of these wards of the state. We have removed the burden they placed on this community, finding homes for them all. Come inside and see for yourself.”
“No, we shouldn’t have anyone with suspicions to have any further doubts. You are all invited into our sanctuary to see what we have wrought for the children of this part of town.” Selene’s smile beamed over the crowd of ten or twelve onlookers and they slowly moved toward the house. The bobby came into the house past Margaret and saw a well kept, antechamber and hallway that emptied into a common room, with clean and serviceable if not well cared for tables and chairs. Elswidth stood there with a young lad of ten or eleven and the rest of their bags and cloaks.
“Satisfied, constable?” Margaret voice was less pleasant than before.
“I am sorry I doubted, but I had to be sure.” The constable brow was furrowed as if he were puzzled by something but wasn’t sure what it was. Then he realized what it was. Where was their carriage. Surely, if they were leaving tonight, they would require transport.
Before he could ask, he was interrupted by the honeyed sound of Selene’s voice. She had ushered them into the common room and was now standing behind the group. “Such a dutiful gentleman and conscientious citizenry should be rewarded, don’t you think, Sisters?” Elswidth eyes flickered with mischief. She held out her hand and her broom flew into her grip.
“Wha” was all the constable could mutter before the room was suddenly ablaze. Selene’s hands were contorted into the ritual signs of flames. Elswidth’s hand gestured with the primal sign of fear, overwhelming fear; coupled with the burgeoning realization of what they were seeing, the townsfolks were all but paralyzed, their vocal cords unable to even tremble, their bladders voided. Speechless, one made the sign of the cross.
Margaret reached under her dress and pulled forth a wicked dagger; before the constable could speak again, a crescent of silver flashed in the full moonlight and his blood filled the very air, splashing the frozen townsfolk in this crimson bounty. Her clawed hand formed a binding of hideous strength; without touching him, she held him up in the air as if he were light as a feather. Carving his beating heart from his chest, she dropped his body onto the floor as her demon bag ran over to her its mouths open and eagerly accepting the steaming heart.
“Am I forgiven, dear Margaret?” Selene walked past the now burning townspeople whose silent screams filled the house, joining in with those of the children who once lived there. The sounds seeping into the very walls.
“Of course, dearest Sister. The heart of Jack the Ripper was a one of a kind prize, but the heart of an honest man and a dozen fools is a close second.” Margaret was still angry but the heart of the constable would make a fine youth reagent, and the bound souls of the townspeople could be harvested and distilled for their next disguises they would need in Prague.
They were going to be disguised as artists and live among the art community. They would need young and beautiful bodies. There were several to chose from in the room. She would forgive Selene, for now. She was too powerful to confront today, but Margaret was a patient witch. It was how she caught Jack the Ripper. She would catch Selene off-guard, sooner or later. Elswidth pets her demon bag and packs it onto her broom. Her eyes reflecting the dying embers of the locals, she cackles to her sisters, “Prague awaits.”
As the roof collapses in the terrible fire, people outside the house trying to keep the conflagration from spreading, see three shadows flicker past the bilious moon, the flash of silver buckle mouths opening and closing in its pearlescence. Only once the three of them are gone, do the screams of the damned bleed from the burning ruin and resound for hours in the alleys of Whitechapel.
Flying Potion © Thaddeus Howze 2012, All Rights Reserved
Posted by Ebonstorm on May 6, 2012
I was cold and thinking slow. I was hung over, so sue me for not paying attention right away.
It was warm and the sun had just risen. The waves were high and strong. I could see them crashing against the beach and felt the spray even near the road. I was sleeping in the tall grass so no one could roust me before dawn.
I sat up and through the ruins of my hangover, I saw it. It was everywhere. The morning sun backlit it through the waves and I saw swimmers heading right at it.
I told you I was hung over, right?
I mean I was sure I was having a full blown episode of DTs. Nobody seemed to see anything and were laughing and shouting. Except for one woman near the edge of the crowd.
She wasn’t laughing. Her voice sounded just like the seabirds. She pointed and screamed. No one seemed to see or hear her and a few seconds later when the next wave lapped the shore, she disappeared…
She disappeared, are you deaf?
The wave crashed in, something green reached up out of the wave and snatched her in so fast, if I blinked I wouldn’t have seen a thing.
But a couple of other people saw something. They started moving around, and pointing down the beach. Then a few more surfboards disappeared into the waves.
I mean the surfers got up, started riding the curl and then they were pulled into the wave, board and all. Then I saw it. It was everywhere. Green fronds up and down the wave, snatching them like I picked fruit. Daintily picking them off of the waves until they were all gone.
Then the wave crashed against the beach and all hell broke loose. The green things just kept coming like a green tide and as people got up to run, the tendrils shot out and snatched them on the run. And it didn’t just stop at the people. It took everything, their blankets, their baskets, their food, their sporting equipment.
Stop looking at me like I’m crazy.
Go down to the damn beach and tell me why there are surfboard still standing there but no surfers. Explain the damn footprints that just stop. You can take me away. Yes, I will go gladly to a asylum, hospital, or a jail cell; anywhere you want me to.
Just get me the hell away from this beach.
There was the clatter of a pair of handcuffs as they bounced on the ground.
And then they were gone. The police who walked me to their police car were snatched right out of their shoes.
Why am I still here? I have no idea. I sat down and waited for the next car to arrive. Maybe I could convince them to arrest me before they talk to me.
A tendril slithers out from beneath the sand and drags the first pair of shoes into the sea.
Maybe not.
Kelp © Thaddeus Howze 2012, All Rights Reserved
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A food bank is a non-profit organization that collects and distributes food to hunger-relief charities. Food banks act as food storage and distribution depots for smaller front line agencies; and usually do not themselves give out food directly to people struggling with hunger.
What is food cupboard?
A food pantry is a distribution center where hungry families can receive food. Supplied with food from a food bank, pantries feed hundreds of people per week! Because every community is different, there are many different types of pantries.
What kind of food do you get from a food pantry?
Fact: Pantries provide perishable and non-perishable foods including: dairy products, fresh fruits and vegetables, baked goods, canned goods, dried goods, frozen meats and more.
What means food pantry?
A FOOD PANTRY is an individual site that distributes bags or boxes of food directly to those in need who reside in a specified area. A food pantry is a member agency of, and obtains food from, a food bank. Both food pantries and food banks share the same commitment: to provide food to those in need.
How does a food pantry help the community?
A community pantry is a service that provides food directly to locals suffering from food insecurity. Some rely purely on local donations. Community pantries operate on trust systems and encourage donors to give what they can, and recipients to take only as much as they need.
Whats the difference between a food bank and a food pantry?
A food bank has the capacity to distribute millions of pounds of grocery product every year. A FOOD PANTRY is an individual site that distributes bags or boxes of food directly to those in need who reside in a specified area. A food pantry is a member agency of, and obtains food from, a food bank.
What is meant by community pantry?
A community pantry is a service that provides food directly to locals suffering from food insecurity. Some rely purely on local donations. Some coordinate with food banks and organizations for steady supplies of food and essential goods.
How do food pantries work?
Food Banks acquire large donations of edible but unmarketable food from the food industry and distribute it to organizations that feed hungry people. They solicit, store and distribute large donations of food. Food Pantries provide three-day food packages to families that have a place to live, but not enough food.
What is the difference between food banks and food pantries?
How do food pantries make money?
Large donations – Food banks solicit and rely on large donations from local and national businesses and nonprofit organizations. These are often in the form of surpluses from food manufacturers, retailers and growers. They include items like unsold bread and produce and manufacturing production overruns.
What are the best items to give to a food pantry?
The best item to give to a food pantry is cash, so they can buy what they actually need. Milk, diapers, meat, laundry products, and soap are also usually in short supply, as are fresh vegetables.
What your food pantry really needs?
What do they give you at a food pantry?
Toilet Paper. This is an item that is in constant demand that is rarely donated.
bring toothbrushes and toothpaste to a food pantry.
Period Supplies.
Baby Diapers and Wipes.
Baby Food.
Toiletries.
Household Cleaners.
Pet Food and Supplies.
Can Openers.
What kind of food do you get at a food pantry?
Stock your shelves with food staples. Your pantry should also have the basics of foods you eat a lot, such as rice, pasta, cereal, beans, lentils and potatoes. To keep them fresh and bug-free, use mason jars with screw-on lids, keeping one type of lentil, bean or rice in each, and write it on top along with the date.
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How to tell your boss you lost $2 billion | FinanceAsia . By continuing to use our website, you accept our Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions.
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How to tell your boss you lost $2 billion
Minutes after news broke about the $2 billion trading loss by UBS, recruiting agency Robert Half issued a press release on how to break bad news to your boss. Guess it was too late for the UBS guy.
September 16, 2011
A photo of UBS rogue trader Kweku Adoboli posted on his Facebook page
There are some shoes you just don’t want to walk in. The husband who gets caught, pants down, cheating on his wife. The politician accidentally exposing himself on social media. The investment banker who loses $2 billion in unauthorised trading.
Yesterday, UBS announced in a statement that it had “discovered a loss due to unauthorised trading by a trader in its investment bank [later identified in the media as Kweku Adoboli, a director in the bank’s delta-one desk in London]. The matter is still being investigated, but UBS’s current estimate of the loss on the trades is in the range of $2 billion. It is possible that this could lead UBS to report a loss for the third quarter of 2011. No client positions were affected.”
News spread fast — mostly through emails with subject lines such as “Holy $#*%!!”. (How come my spam blocked an important work email yesterday, but didn’t block several expletive-laden emails?)
Of course, these were followed with more sober questions, the most oft repeated was a version of this: “How could UBS let this happen after all that’s been set up to avoid such losses?”
While rivals can crow, this doesn’t bode well for the integrated banking model at any bank, because pundits are increasingly calling to separate retail businesses from investment banking to protect depositors from just such risk. The UBS trading gaffe supports the critics.
And although UBS can likely withstand the hit, it’s not good PR for its risk management skills or its overall health. In August, the bank said it would fire 3,500 people (about 5% of its workforce) to save SFr2 billion, mainly at its investment bank. The rationale was the double whammy of weaker earnings thanks to the debt crisis in Europe and the US, and tougher regulations, which force banks to hold more capital to protect themselves from future financial crises. In 2008, like many other multinationals, it had to be rescued by the Swiss government after losses on toxic assets held by the investment bank. This is just another drama it doesn’t need.
But what about that trader? It appears as if he didn’t tell his boss. This is just a guess, but given that Adoboli was arrested at 3.30am in central London on September 15 on “suspicion of fraud by abuse of position”, it’s doubtful the guy told his boss. But perhaps he should have.
In a serendipitous press release issued by recruiting agency Robert Half yesterday, the firm noted: “Most of us do not bother to tell our bosses about the minor glitches that are part of the average workday. But every now and then, something happens that the boss just has to know about, for example, a major mistake or a missed deadline.”
Or a loss of $2 billion.
The agency added: “While you may be tempted to conceal the problem until it blows over or gets resolved, it is better to be direct.” This lesson is also well-told in Rogue Trader, a flick about ambitious, wide-boy Nick Leeson, whose futures trading losses in Singapore totalled $1.4 billion and prompted the collapse of Barings, one of Britain’s oldest investment banks.
The first piece of how-to-break-bad-news advice given by Robert Half is to “deliver the message yourself”. He added: “If possible, arrange a face-to-face meeting to explain what has happened.”
Do you think? Imagine the email.
Subject: Loss
Message: I am writing to inform you of a minor trading glitch that took place today...
That just wouldn’t cut it. But it would be easier.
Robert Half then goes on to advise: “Do offer solutions.” That one might be tough for this trader. Double down? Seems likely the person already gambled rather heavily.
The final bit of advice: “Do be honest ... Be upfront about the scope of the situation, especially when the best solution will be costly in terms of time or money. It is never a good idea to downplay the seriousness of a problem or withhold information in the hope that the boss will be less upset.”
While Robert Half’s advice might have been late for the trader, it isn’t for UBS. The public, as shareholders, are UBS’s bosses. The bank will need to be up-front and honest about the scope of the situation to avoid angering them further.
Of course, the public should also be used to this by now. For despite endless new regulations, rogue traders persist. The biggest loss unfolded in 2008 when Societe Generale, France’s second-largest bank, revealed that Jerome Kerviel had lost the bank €4.9 billion ($6.7 billion) through a scheme of unauthorised trades. Kerviel was convicted in October 2010 on charges of forgery, breach of trust and unauthorised computer use for covering up bets worth nearly €50 billion between late 2007 and early 2008.
In 2010, a former senior trader at Merrill Lynch in London, Alexis Stenfors, was banned from trading for at least five years for mis-stating his positions by more than $100 million in 2009. The bank made a $456 million write-down. Stenfors was banned on the grounds that he was “not a fit and proper person”, which frankly seems a bit judgmental. Who is to say who is proper? Just say he lied.
In our neck of the woods, some will remember the losses racked up by Japanese trading house Sumitomo Corp. In the summer of 1996, Sumitomo reported a loss of $1.8 billion in unauthorised copper trading by Yasuo Hamanaka on the London Metal Exchange. Hamanaka had been nicknamed “Mr 5%” because his trading team was said to control 5% of the world’s copper trading. Others called him “Mr Copper” because of his aggressive trading style. And some others simply called him a cellmate — he was sentenced to eight years in prison in 1998 and was released in July 2005, one year early.
Perhaps the most bizarre rogue trading story is that of Peter Young, a fund manager at Morgan Grenfell Asset Management, trading for three large European funds seeking international exposure. Young racked up losses of $700 million trading equities and was charged for conspiracy to defraud investors. The father of three showed up at the trial in skirts and high heels. Some were initially sceptical of the cross-dressing, claiming it a stunt. But he was found unfit to stand trial after he tried to castrate himself to fulfil his “passion” to become a woman.
¬ Haymarket Media Limited. All rights reserved.
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My eyes flew open. I searched the darkness frantically, knowing something was terribly wrong, but what? From outside came the faintest of sounds. Fearfully, I swung my feet over the edge of the bed as quietly as possible and stood up. My heart pounded. I dared not turn on the light, but the room was utterly dark. Too dark. I felt my way blindly to the window. Slowly, cautiously, I parted the curtains, and in that instant, my husband switched on the bedside lamp. The pool of darkness shrouding the window instantly contracted, revealing the oval of amber surrounding it.
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Sasha wasn’t there when I returned to pick up my arm. Just told me to it was on the left side of the room and had my name on it. The tag with my name is attached to a shiny metallic turquoise arm. He’s got to be out of his mind if he thinks this is what my personality test decided. I struggled to complete that stupid test with one hand and one wrist on a wrist comp. Nothing about me yells turquoise. I grab the arm from the shelf and remove the name tag. The reverse side of the card features a few quick bullet points.
· Paint is waterproof and fireproof. Clean regularly.
· Turquoise as you call it is latent hope, ability to protect, calm energy and love
· Good luck to you friend
Can he really call me a friend? I just met him and only gave him my arm because I didn’t like the color. I pull out the wires tucked into my nub and match them to the arm. Red to red, yellow to yellow, white to white. Now the hard part. I line the metal nub up to the opening in the arm, and lean against the wall. It takes a moment but eventually it pops into place. I was afraid the paint might get scratched, but it looks like he really did use some high-quality paint or put some protective coats on there. I don’t know anything about painting.
Looking at myself in the elevator doors, I realize I don’t really know myself anymore. My hair’s grown out into a shaggy afro that meets my beard in the middle of my face. I don’t remember ever having a beard before. I know the face is mine, but it looks foreign to me. Much of the muscle mass I had seems to be fading away and of course, the arm. It stands out, a distraction from how weak the rest of my body has become. Still, the arm is the one thing that looks well put together and not a mess.
“Hey Not Nice Nubjob, come play table tennis with us,” a young man calls out to me.
“What did you just call me,” I ask in confusion.
“Not Nice Nubjob, they said it was your nickname, or do you prefer Triple N” he responds nervously.
“Who is they?”
“The two guys over there, Charlie and Shaheed,” he points nervously to two middle aged men
“Taffy.”
“My name is Effrem; now give me a paddle. We’re going to make them cry.”
Shaheed and Charlie, two ringers on an extended stay here at the hospital. Charlie had been here close to a year. He had been on some kind of exploration mission, scouting for a new colony or something like that. His team was attacked by what he only described as a carnivorous elephant like megafauna. Only three members of his team escaped. Shaheed just passed nine months. His isn’t necessarily a war story. He had a team member who decided to murder everyone, then commit suicide. He only killed four people and himself, but the damage was done.
Medicine has come a long way, but I suppose mental wounds are harder to heal then physical. I don’t think I have any mental wounds. I knew what I was getting into, I knew the risks. More than anything, I’m just pissed off. I don’t have nightmares reliving the events. I don’t have panic attacks based on common occurrences and I’ve already passed three different psych examinations.
“You know you really suck at this,” Taffy complains after we lose another round.
“No, they tricked us.”
“They tricked you, I knew they were good and you came over here with the stiff arm.”
Taffy lost both of his legs when the ship he was flying exploded due to some experimental cargo; they called him snow cone to rope him into their game. Now he’s a regular at the tables with them, but he doesn’t have the experience to match their ability. The only thing Taffy and I have to worry about is using our prosthetics which again, have come a long way from hooks and wooden pegs. We have to accept that we aren’t the same as we were before our accidents. The concept is easy, we aren’t the same as we were yesterday. Even if there’s a shiny metal arm here, it’s mine. It doesn’t itch or sweat, but it does what I tell it to. I just need to learn to put trust into it, same as Taffy’s legs. He’s had them for three months now. Today is his first time he’s gone an entire day without a wheel chair.
Playing table tennis with these guys seemingly made his legs sync up more. At first I thought he sounded crazy, but there might be some logic to it. Maybe the competitive nature means I don’t think about every time I want my arm to move. The movements are less jerky and more natural, less lag when I swing a paddle. Taffy says he feels more comfortable standing on his legs now than he ever did in his rehabilitation sessions. I didn’t even get that much, just the manual and enough spite to make it work out.
I understand what the nurse was saying. I don’t have it that bad in the grand scheme of things. Some of the people here have it significantly worse. Veterans of wars long since gone who are suffering health effects from experimental weapons, paraplegics who aren’t able to receive spinal implants, mental breaks from the stress of combat. I could have been in any of their shoes. But I’ve been walking around like an asshole because I had to switch my wrist comp to a different arm because it wouldn’t respond to metal fingers. I think I owe her an apology.
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Liz Moody is a food editor, recipe developer and green smoothie enthusiast. She received her creative writing and psychology degree from The University of California, Berkeley. Moody is the author of two cookbooks: Healthier Together and Glow Pops and the host of the Healthier Together podcast.
Expert review by
Registered Dietitian
Megan Fahey, M.S., R.D., CDN is a Registered Dietitian, Functional Medicine Nutritionist and Registered Yoga Teacher. She holds her Masters of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics from Bastyr University, where she was trained to artfully blend eastern and western healing modalities.
Last updated on September 23, 2019
If you're as obsessed with avocado as we are, you're probably spreading it on toast, using it to make mousse, and chucking it into your smoothie to make it extra thick and filling. We're told that avocados are super good for us, with a balanced of monounsaturated, saturated, and polyunsaturated fats that help you absorb fat-soluble vitamins (like vitamin K, A, D, and E) from your food and leave you feeling full and satiated. They contain B vitamins (super important for methylation) and vitamin E, which helps with collagen production and retaining moisture in your skin. They help keep your brain healthy and your immune system strong.
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But can you consume too much avocado?
According to Dr. Will Cole, a functional medicine practitioner, "For most people a half to two avocados a day is a great idea for a nutrient-dense clean diet. One of the core understandings, though, in functional medicine is that we are all different, so even with healthy stuff like avocados it may not work for everyone in larger amounts. People with digestive problems like SIBO and FODMAP intolerance will probably have stomach problems when they eat too much avocado. For these people I suggest limiting your avocado intake to about one-eighth of an avocado per day, which is still the perfect amount to put in your salads or blend in your smoothies!"
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Miranda Hammer, R.D., considers an ideal serving for most healthy people one-half an avocado per day, although she also suggests consuming more limited quantities if you're on a low FODMAP diet or suffer from IBS. "The key," she says, "is to listen to your body and really pay attention to whether or not you're having a negative reaction."
Kimberly Snyder, C.N., takes a measured stance, noting that "eating some fat is essential for beauty and health, but you don't need to overdo it. If you look at some of the people around the world with the best health and longest lives, including various cultures in Asia, you'll see that many of them favor plant foods with lower fat and protein consumption. Exactly how much avocado (and fat in general) you should consume in a day depends on your body type, general constitution, activity levels, and so on, so there is not a one-size-fits-all recommendation. As a guideline, 15 to 30 percent of your diet should come from whole food sources of fat, including avocado and other healthy fats, like nutrient-dense seeds and nuts. Assuming you are eating some seeds and nuts and utilizing some coconut oil for cooking, a half to a whole avocado a day is a good general amount."
Photo by Brent Hofacker
So, as you can see there are even differences in recommendations from nutrition experts. The general takeaway is to continue using avocados, while being mindful of the daily amount that works best for your body (remembering to count those avocadoes hidden in smoothies or puddings!). Remember that, while they're amazing for you, avocados are just one small part of a healthy diet. Or as Drew Ramsey, M.D., says, "For most people, eating more than one a day leads me to wonder about the overall diversity of their diet."
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Liz Moody is an author, blogger and recipe developer living in Brooklyn, New York. She graduated with a creative writing and psychology degree from The University of California, Berkeley. Moody has written two cookbooks: Healthier Together: Recipes for Two—Nourish Your Body, Nourish Your Relationships and Glow Pops: Super-Easy Superfood Recipes to Help You Look and Feel Your Best. She also hosts the Healthier Together Podcast, where she chats with notable chefs, nutritionists, and best-selling authors about their paths to success. Her work has been featured in Vogue, Glamour, Food & Wine & Women’s Health.
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from grid to grit: chasing trail in new york city
Four days a week, the Brooklyn-based actor, comedian, and ciele FRND Jon Glaser laces up his trail shoes and jogs into Brooklyn’s last and only forest. There, he disappears into the quiet, looping along singletrack trails and padding beneath oak, maple, and tulip trees. Sassafras and dogwood swish to his sides, and each turn holds the promise of something new: a stream, a steep hill, a little waterfall, maybe even a mountain bike jump.
“It’s my salvation right now, for sure,” Glaser told me recently, over video chat. ” Getting outside is just so necessary right now for all of us, and for me to get outside for an hour at a time, even if I’m not going very far…is just the best.”
Glaser lives in an apartment with his wife and two kids, only a few minutes’ walk from Prospect Park. The abode is spacious enough, he says, but the last few months have certainly felt cramped. The pandemic has meant more time at home for everyone in the family, and this summer’s sweltering heat has only made the city feel closer. Through all of this, the trails have offered Glaser a sense of escape, and it’s easy to understand why.
Imagine: in a city of nearly 8.4 million people, in the United States’ most densely populated metropolitan area, a forest that welcomes you with quiet, shade, and solitude. From Brooklyn’s blazing sidewalks, you might run away from the clamor of a city cranking at full speed and into the peace of swishing branches and trickling creeks. In the newfound calm, you might ease up to take a deep breath, or you might push harder to gasp at air renewed by moving water and oxygenating leaves. Maybe your pupils will dilate, opening to all that is dappled in light, or maybe your muscles will ease at the soil’s soft cushion. Strides may shorten here, but each one can still take you farther than the last.
“On the trails, there are just far fewer people,” Glaser said. “Most of the time, I’m by myself, and it’s awesome…I listen to music a lot but there are definitely times when I’ll turn it off and enjoy the quiet, the wind in the trees. There are a couple little creeks and teeny little waterfalls, but you still get the sound of it and it feels like you’re not in the city.”
It’s tempting to think of Glaser’s runs as an urbanist’s unlikely escape into nature, but to do so would be to forget the history of Prospect Park. Situated on native Lanape land and forested since the last ice age, most of the park was logged into pasture a couple hundred years after the arrival of white settlers, and it stayed that way for centuries. It was only in the 1860s, when Central Park designers Frederick Law Olmstead and Calvert Vaux began planning their new project in Brooklyn, that the space started to take its current shape. Inspired by the forests of the Adirondacks, the two oversaw the planting of innumerable trees. Workers excavated streams, drained swamps, and emphasized vistas. A meadow took shape, and then a forest, and then the workers got to digging a lake by hand. Satisfied, Olmstead and Vaux laced this new landscape with a network of paths, all of them curving and roundabout. Their goal? To create “the impression of unending space,” right in the heart of Brooklyn.
I sensed in talking to Glaser that it was this very sort of construction that kept him returning to Prospect Park so often. It must be such a relief, I thought, to experience other sorts of shapes, the bends of trails and trees. For contrast, I imagined him leaving his apartment for a road run. City routes have so many straight lines and view-crowding obstructions: skyscrapers, busy sidewalks, block after block of rectangles and squares.
I searched Strava for the most popular running segments in New York City, and this is exactly what I found: jagged loops and unwavering out-and-backs. A runner can flow straight along the East River, or circuit her way across the Brooklyn Bridge and back over the Manhattan. Efficient lines—the sort that Olmstead and Vaux so doggedly avoided in their plans for Prospect Park—glow thick and iridescent on the heat map. The shapes speak a preference for pavement and speed. And while the winding perimeter loops in both Central and Prospect Parks appear just as bright as any of the city’s most popular road runs, the trails that Jon prefers remain faint, pink and whimsical in the shadows nearby.
We might take this pattern as a symptom of the city’s character. New York is known as an ambitious pace setter. It hosts the world’s largest stock exchange and the United States’ busiest international travel hub. To many, it is a cultural leader, and its people rush to retain that status. “A New York minute” does not mean sixty seconds; it means right now, on the fly. The city’s efficient geometry helps everyone keep up.
The geographer Yi-Fu Tuan refers to these paths and the blocky buildings that line them as “carpentered space,” areas “replete with straight lines, angles, and rectangular objects.” They’re the sort of places planned on graph paper and built by framing squares. “Cities,” Tuan says, “are rectangular environments par excellence.” They are quick and clear, easy to map out and move through. When we think of urban running, we often think of this type of terrain.
Carpentered space influences the way that we perceive the world around us. A parallelogram is a rectangle receding. Converging lines connote distance. Vertical strokes convey height. The path is straight ahead, or a right angle turn to either side. Run along a street and these rules don’t really change, but head into the trails and you have a whole new game. The play of the path means that you get to read terrain differently. You get to change pace and meander. When it comes to urban trail running, Glaser seems to enjoy this diversity of engagement most.
“There’s varied terrain: there’s single track, there’s wider gravel paths, there’s some sections that are really rocky, if you’re training for a race where that’s the terrain. There’s some steep sections that are short, but challenging. If you do them a few times you get a good workout…There are jumps and berms. You know it’s really small, but…if I go run in [Prospect Park] for ten minutes I can get some good elevation and some good climbing and it’s also just fun.”
For longer efforts, Glaser has to double up sections of trail to get more distance, but even a few hours of that fails to render the trails of Prospect Park boring. With a little ingenuity, Glaser said that he can rack up a couple thousand feet of vert, which is impressive, since the park’s highest feature, Lookout Hill, rounds off only 177 feet above sea level.
“I just find trail running…to be way more stimulating,” he said. “The changes in terrain, the changes in elevation, the changes in speed, the combination of running, walking, hiking, climbing, scrambling, stopping and enjoying the view—which you can obviously find on a road run—but I don’t find it nearly as satisfying as a good trail run.”
Glaser has been living in New York City for most of the last twenty-five years, and running half marathons since 2014, but only in the last three years has he started venturing into its woods. I asked him whether or not he was surprised to find such varied terrain so close to home. He was.
“You know it’s there, but it wasn’t until I really started running that I really took full advantage of the trails,” he said. Now, he wishes that he’d found them earlier, and can only imagine how much fun his old dog—a forty-five pound Pit mix—would’ve had romping through the forest.
“She was so strong and fast. I wish I had tried it with her, because she would’ve been loving it,” he said. In his imagining, I sensed that he thought the same for himself.
Glaser’s outings in Prospect Park have him wondering what other paths might traverse the city. In the coming months, he plans to do a trail run in each of New York’s four other boroughs: Manhattan, Queens, The Bronx, and Staten Island. Some of the trails will be familiar to him—he’s run in Queens before, and already knows that Central Park’s trails are inferior to those of its Brooklyn counterpart—but the others will be new. In a city as big as his, there remains plenty to discover.
“I’m mostly looking forward to experiencing some new trails, seeing what else is out there and available a short drive away, seeing if there’s any other unexpectedly good trail running in the city,” he said. “I’m sure it’d take a few runs to get the most out of a new trail, but that also depends on how extensive the trails are. Either way, it’ll be fun to spend some dedicated time exploring.”
Perhaps Glaser has already found New York’s best in his backyard, but there’s really no telling until the project’s through. His biggest pleasures will come from the miles of search and the opportunity to wander as the city continues its headlong push forward. In any case, when it comes to what he actually finds, Glaser seems hard to disappoint.
“Maybe the other trails will be boring or super short or just flat out suck or whatever,” he said. “I’ll find out soon enough!”
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Cloud computing has quickly risen in popularity over the past few years, but only a fraction of companies have started to utilize it. Over half of businesses are still apprehensive about cloud adoption due to concerns about security and costs. Contrary to popular beliefs, security can be increased, and expenses can be decreased by moving to a cloud service provider. Here are the best ways to grow your business’s potential with cloud services.
What exactly is cloud computing?
Cloud computing refers to the ability to tap into every type of computing service: servers, storage, databases, networking, software, analytics, and intelligence over the internet. It is a breeze to set up when compared to traditional IT infrastructure. It is incredibly easier to scale and economical as well. You only pay for the services you need and when you use them. There are four main types of cloud computing:
Cloud computing is not exactly new, and the sector continues to evolve at an incredible rate. Primitive forms of cloud computing can be traced back to the 1940s. Early computers were mainframes that were gigantic and incredibly expensive to both setup and run. Such computers didn’t use Silicon chips for computing but instead performed computational operations mechanically with the help of vacuum tubes. To ensure the proper utilization, organizations created time-sharing schedules for programmers to gain access to the machine. The users could access the mainframe computers from any connected workstation. It is very different from cloud computing in practice, but the premise is the same.
During the dot-com boom in the nineties, the modern cloud infrastructure began to take shape. Companies started pivoting to the Software-as-a-service(SaaS) model. By the middle of the next decade, AWS started offering EC2, which revolutionized the way we looked at cloud computing. This has evolved even more over the years and the key market players today are Amazon, Microsoft, Google, IBM, and Alibaba. According to an IDC projection, the public cloud revenues would exceed $400 billion by 2025. Cloud infrastructure has been the driving force for digitization across small, medium, and large enterprises.
IaaS refers to hardware resources such as networking, storage, and processing power provided to you by an external provider. The external provider also manages everything for you. IaaS can help you use VMs/computing power without setting up and managing expensive server farms. Some examples of IaaS providers are Amazon Web services, Microsoft Azure, and Google cloud compute, DigitalOcean, Linode, and Cisco Metapod.
2. Platform as a Service(PaaS)
Apart from the infrastructure needed to run your business, PaaS also provides you the platform required for development and the development environment. The developers can directly manage the applications and desktop environments. Some examples of PaaS platforms are Amazon Elastic Beanstalk, Microsoft Azure, Apache Stratos, Google app engine, and Openshift
3. Software as a Service(SaaS)
SaaS is the most commonly used cloud services platform. SaaS involves the applications as well as the entire hardware stack being managed by a third party. Hence, the need for client-side maintenance is eliminated since you can run most SaaS services directly from your web browser. This is an incredible advantage since it can save your business quite a lot of money by eliminating the need to install and upgrade software every time and the downtime it can potentially cause. Some
Why you must migrate to the cloud
The migration to the cloud is inevitable, given the industry trends. The most obvious reasons to switch from on-site infrastructure to the cloud are:
Faster Deployment and scaling: Deploying your software on the cloud is significantly easier than deploying it on and managing expensive servers. Scaling is radically different since you don’t need new infrastructure to add more users; you get an increase in your cloud spending bill.
Cost Savings: Cloud storage is significantly cheaper and what’s even better is that you don’t need an entire IT department on your payroll to manage it.
Improved Security: Cloud service providers pay utmost attention to security and data privacy, given that they have to behold to higher standards to protect themselves from regulatory scrutiny.
Improved Accessibility: The importance of the ability to access your data anytime and remotely from anywhere in the world cannot be understated. It also implies that there is a lower risk of losing your data.
Increasing business Agility: Business agility is imperative when it comes to competing in the modern world. Making improvements to your products is much more straightforward, given that you don’t have to wait for hardware components and software installation.
Strategies for successfully transitioning to the cloud
The transition from on-premise infrastructure to the cloud is not easy and can take a long time to carry out. The migration methodology will depend on the needs of your business and cannot be just replicated. It is an iterative process where you learn what works best for your business. The organization must clearly define the goals for the cloud migration at the very beginning to ensure that the project doesn’t suffer from a lack of leader buy-in. Any budgeting concerns must be addressed since during the migration, it is, in fact, possible that you might be paying for the expensive IT infrastructure as well as the cloud service providers. Software licenses must be paid close attention to, as well. The organization must consider the possibility of your cloud service provider not extending support for your existing licenses. You must be very particular about what this cloud adoption will undertake and the kind of value it would provide for your business. It is perfectly fine if your primary objective is not to reduce costs but to manipulate an entirely another variable of the equation.
How Atidan Technologies can help hire exceptional Cloud engineers for your business
Atidan has access to the largest talent pool in the world with a proven track record of customer satisfaction. Atidan provides result-oriented staffing services so that you can focus on your running business. We have highly experienced recruiters with a strong technical background across North America, EU and APAC time zones. Atidan boasts of high retention rates for all vetted candidates. With over eight years of experience in staffing and global offices in the USA, UK, India, SEA, and success stories across various industries, Atidan can manage all your hiring needs. Finding DevOps engineers that are a good fit for your organization can be made easy with Atidan.
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CHAPTER 57--The Sons of Esau make war with the Sons of Jacob and are smitten. Some are taken captive to Egypt. The Children of Esau enlist the People of Seir to Accompany them to Egypt to Deliver their Brethren. Joseph and his Brethren and the Egyptians slay Six Hundred Thousand. Nearly all the Mighty Men of Seir being Slain, they make war with the Children of Esau to Drive them from their Land. Esau prevails and utterly annihilates the Children of Seir.
1 And it was after this that the sons of Esau waged war with the sons of Jacob, and the sons of Esau fought with the sons of Jacob in Hebron, and Esau was still lying dead, and not buried.
2 And the battle was heavy between them, and the sons of Esau were smitten before the sons of Jacob, and the sons of Jacob slew of the sons of Esau eighty men, and not one died of the people of the sons of Jacob; and the hand of Joseph prevailed over all the people of the sons of Esau, and he took Zepho, the son of Eliphaz, the son of Esau, and fifty of his men captive, and he bound them with chains of iron, and gave them into the hand of his servants to bring them to Egypt.
3 And it came to pass when the sons of Jacob had taken Zepho and his people captive, all those that remained were greatly afraid of their lives from the house of Esau, lest they should also be taken captive, and they all fled with Eliphaz the son of Esau and his people, with Esau's body, and they went on their road to Mount Seir.
4 And they came unto Mount Seir and they buried Esau in Seir, but they had not brought his head with them to Seir, for it was buried in that place where the battle had been in Hebron.
5 And it came to pass when the sons of Esau had fled from before the sons of Jacob, the sons of Jacob pursued them unto the borders of Seir, but they did not slay a single man from amongst them when they pursued them, for Esau's body which they carried with them excited their confusion, so they fled and the sons of Jacob turned back from them and came up to the place where their brethren were in Hebron, and they remained there on that day, and on the next day until they rested from the battle.
6 And it came to pass on the third day they assembled all the sons of Seir the Horite, and they assembled all the children of the east, a multitude of people like the sand of the sea, and they went and came down to Egypt to fight with Joseph and his brethren, in order to deliver their brethren.
7 And Joseph and all the sons of Jacob heard that the sons of Esau and the children of the east had come upon them to battle in order to deliver their brethren.
8 And Joseph and his brethren and the strong men of Egypt went forth and fought in the city of Rameses, and Joseph and his brethren dealt out a tremendous blow amongst the sons of Esau and the children of the east.
9 And they slew of them six hundred thousand men, and they slew amongst them all the mighty men of the children of Seir the Horite; there were only a few of them left, and they slew also a great many of the children of the east, and of the children of Esau; and Eliphaz the son of Esau, and the children of the east all fled before Joseph and his brethren.
10 And Joseph and his brethren pursued them until they came unto Succoth, and they yet slew of them in Succoth thirty men, and the rest escaped and they fled each to his city.
11 And Joseph and his brethren and the mighty men of Egypt turned back from them with joy and cheerfulness of heart, for they had smitten all their enemies.
12 And Zepho the son of Eliphaz and his men were still slaves in Egypt to the sons of Jacob, and their pains increased.
13 And when the sons of Esau and the sons of Seir returned to their land, the sons of Seir saw that they had all fallen into the hands of the sons of Jacob, and the people of Egypt, on account of the battle of the sons of Esau.
14 And the sons of Seir said unto the sons of Esau, You have seen andtherefore you know that this camp was on your account, and not one mighty man or an adept in war remaineth.
15 Now therefore go forth from our land, go from us to the land of Canaan to the land of the dwelling of your fathers; wherefore shall your children inherit the effects of our children in latter days?
16 And the children of Esau would not listen to the children of Seir, and the children of Seir considered to make war with them.
17 And the children of Esau sent secretly to Angeas king of Africa, the same is Dinhabah, saying,
18 Send unto us some of thy men and let them come unto us, and we will fight together with the children of Seir the Horite, for they have resolved to fight with us to drive us away from the land.
19 And Angeas king of Dinhabah did so, for he was in those days friendly to the children of Esau, and Angeas sent five hundred valiant infantry to the children of Esau, and eight hundred cavalry.
20 And the children of Seir sent unto the children of the east and unto the children of Midian, saying, You have seen what the children of Esau have done unto us, upon whose account we are almost all destroyed, in their battle with the sons of Jacob.
21 Now therefore come unto us and assist us, and we will fight them together, and we will drive them from the land and be avenged of the cause of our brethren who died for their sakes in their battle with their brethren the sons of Jacob.
22 And all the children of the east listened to the children of Seir, and they came unto them about eight hundred men with drawn swords, and the children of Esau fought with the children of Seir at that time in the wilderness of Paran.
23 And the children of Seir prevailed then over the sons of Esau, and the children of Seir slew on that day of the children of Esau in that battle about two hundred men of the people of Angeas king of Dinhabah.
24 And on the second day the children of Esau came again to fight a second time with the children of Seir, and the battle was sore upon the children of Esau this second time, and it troubled them greatly on account of the children of Seir.
25 And when the children of Esau saw that the children of Seir were more powerful than they were, some men of the children of Esau turned and assisted the children of Seir their enemies.
26 And there fell yet of the people of the children of Esau in the second battle fifty-eight men of the people at Angeas king of Dinhabah.
27 And on the third day the children of Esau heard that some of their brethren had turned from them to fight against them in the second battle; and the children of Esau mourned when they heard this thing.
28 And they said, What shall we do unto our brethren who turned from us to assist the children of Seir our enemies? and the children of Esau again sent to Angeas king of Dinhabah, saying,
29 Send unto us again other men that with them we may fight with the children of Seir, for they have already twice been heavier than we were.
30 And Angeas again sent to the children of Esau about six hundred valiant men, and they came to assist the children of Esau.
31 And in ten days' time the children of Esau again waged war with the children of Seir in the wilderness of Paran, and the battle was very severe upon the children of Seir, and the children of Esau prevailed at this time over the children of Seir, and the children of Seir were smitten before the children of Esau, and the children of Esau slew from them about two thousand men.
32 And all the mighty men of the children of Seir died in this battle, and there only remained their young children that were left in their cities.
33 And all Midian and the children of the east betook themselves to flight from the battle, and they left the children of Seir and fled when they saw that the battle was severe upon them, and the children of Esau pursued all the children of the east until they reached their land.
34 And the children of Esau slew yet of them about two hundred and fifty men and from the people of the children of Esau there fell in that battle about thirty men, but this evil came upon them through their brethren turning from them to assist the children of Seir the Horite, and the children of Esau again heard of the evil doings of their brethren, and they again mourned on account of this thing.
35 And it came to pass after the battle, the children of Esau turned back and came home unto Seir, and the children of Esau slew those who had remained in the land of the children of Seir; they slew also their wives and little ones, they left not a soul alive except fifty young lads and damsels whom they suffered to live, and the children of Esau did not put them to death, and the lads became their slaves, and the damsels they took for wives.
36 And the children of Esau dwelt in Seir in the place of the children of Seir, and they inherited their land and took possession of it.
37 And the children of Esau took all belonging in the land to the children of Seir, also their flocks, their bullocks and their goods, and all belonging to the children of Seir, did the children of Esau take, and the children of Esau dwelt in Seir in the place of the children of Seir unto this day, and the children of Esau divided the land into divisions to the five sons of Esau, according to their families.
38 And it came to pass in those days, that the children of Esau resolved to crown a king over them in the land of which they became possessed. And they said to each other, Not so, for he shall reign over us in our land, and we shall be under his counsel and he shall fight our battles, against our enemies, and they did so.
39 And all the children of Esau swore, saying, That none of their brethren should ever reign over them, but a strange man who is not of their brethren, for the souls of all the children of Esau were embittered every man against his son, brother and friend, on account of the evil they sustained from their brethren when they fought with the children of Seir.
40 Therefore the sons of Esau swore, saying, From that day forward they would not choose a king from their brethren, but one from a strange land unto this day.
41 And there was a man there from the people of Angeas king of Dinhabah; his name was Bela the son of Beor, who was a very valiant man, beautiful and comely and wise in all wisdom, and a man of sense and counsel; and there was none of the people of Angeas like unto him.
42 And all the children of Esau took him and anointed him and they crowned him for a king, and they bowed down to him, and they said unto him, May the king live, may the king live.
43 And they spread out the sheet, and they brought him each man earrings of gold and silver or rings or bracelets, and they made him very rich in silver and in gold, in onyx stones and bdellium, and they made him a royal throne, and they placed a regal crown upon his head, and they built a palace for him and he dwelt therein, and he became king over all the children of Esau.
44 And the people of Angeas took their hire for their battle from the children of Esau, and they went and returned at that time to their master in Dinhabah.
45 And Bela reigned over the children of Esau thirty years, and the children of Esau dwelt in the land instead of the children of Seir, and they dwelt securely in their stead unto this day.
[Book of Jasher Referred to in Joshua and Second Samuel. faithfully translated (1840) from the Original Hebrew into English. A Reprint of Photo Lithographic Reprint of Exact Edition Published by J.H. Parry & Co., Salt Lake City: 1887]
(c)Copyright 1997 by Wayne Simpson
Distributed by Biblical Research Foundation, 629 Lexington Road Sapulpa, OK 74066
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Using Directed Acyclic Graphs to power a Decentralized Cryptocurrency sounds like a wonderful idea. I know I was excited when I first heard of them myself.
Among other things promised are:
Everyone essentially mines as an equal
Some even promise energy efficiency
The problem is this is only accomplished if they forget about achieving any semblance of security.
How do DAGs work? How do they back up these promises?
Let's start by making sure we're all on the same page when it comes to how DAGs work. Essentially, every time a user makes a transaction, their device is required to calculate a Proof of Work that confirms two previous transactions.
The idea is that as transactions confirm each other, long chains of mini Proof of Work transactions are formed and very hard for an attacker to defeat as he'd need to complete many more Proofs of Work than the current system. Once you have a few transactions built off of your own transaction, you may consider it validated.
Because every user is using a smartphone and is forced to mine, DAGs are supposed to be energy efficient and everyone can participate equally in the transaction verification process. And because transaction fees are not needed for spam protection, as Proofs of Work can accomplish the same task, no transaction fees are needed.
Because it doesn't matter which users build transactions off of yours, you don't need to process all the transactions for a transaction confirmation and therefore the system can scale well.
The Proof of Work must execute within roughly a second on an average smartphone to achieve the desired fast transaction confirmation and the average user only executes transactions a few times a day. This is a huge problem because a single ASIC can create roughly 100 billion times more transactions than an average user will.
Think about it.. a single ASIC is more powerful than every smartphone on earth. This is a huge security issue. Do you think the entire country of China or Russia won't decide to build a single ASIC to take down the network to prevent competition against it's own currency? Let along some random millionaire who is invested in the current banking system?
This means that a single attacker with an ASIC could release so much spam that it can shut down the entire network. Alternatively, with a farm of ASICs, such an attacker can basically mine and 51% attack the network.
The only real answer to this is to allow users to mine using ASICs of their own while doing this transaction verification and to achieve a similar level of security run them 24/7. At which point, it becomes much more energy intensive than Proof of Work, costs the miners significantly more than it costs for Bitcoin miners, and barely provides them with a benefit.
In order to have some semblance of transaction confirmation security, a DAG transaction therefore must require many, many transactions to be built on top of itself. Which means that significantly secure transaction confirmation must be significantly slower and practically to achieve similar security.
And when to comes to transaction fees, users must burn roughly the amount of energy equivalent to the cost of a transaction fee in order to send the transaction. So transactions aren't actually free, just paid for in a different manner.
And because every transaction is significantly larger, more bandwidth is needed. And unlike a blockchain which can be easily trimmed by only looking at block headers and discarding large numbers of transactions, it becomes practically impossible to trim the transactions in a decentralized manner.
This means that at the end of the day, without introducing some form of heavy centralization or deciding that security is unimportant, DAGs cannot fulfill a single one of these promises and is a disaster waiting to happen.
The Promises of a DAG.. but It Works
So, is it impossible to find a coin that accomplishes these goals? No!
You are in luck, Frink is building a coin that is designed to accomplish every one of these goals.
Frink confirms individuals by paying people to link to each other forming a social network. By analyzing the social network, Frink can separate users into small interlinked communities of trusted individuals that mine their own blockchains. This means that every miner can mine as an equal for their own community's blockchain as well as take equal turns mining the main chain.
Because no energy is required and users are known, no transaction fees are needed, either in the form of money or energy.
And because the cryptocurrency is so highly split into the small communities, aka sharded, no miner needs to process many transactions.
And in fact, this may seem surprising given the rest of this article, but Frink just might decide to integrate short term Proof of Person DAGs into itself. Why does it work for Proof of Person but not Proof of Work? Because Frink's specialty is in eliminating the possibility of creating the equivalent of ASICs. Frink forces every user to mine as an equal using decentralized IDs. And by throwing away the DAG every block once the transactions are integrated into the block, Frink does not have to worry about the scaling issues that prevent trimming away transactions.
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The arguments you provide in your paper should be based on this cenral idea, that is why it is so important. While this sounds like a lot of steps to write a simple essay, if you follow them you will be able to write more successful, clear and cohesive essays. However, if you're expected to write a specific analysis, then you're topic should be fairly specific. In terms of tangible resources, this project is not very demanding. Structure: how the sections of an essay are organized and stitched together.
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Kinds of Essays The first step to writing an essay is to decide what kind of essay to write. Having done that, you then need to explain exactly why this example proves your thesis. Every essay has its introduction, body and conclusion. The topic you choose needs to support the purpose of your essay. It is a standard practice to put your main argument or thesis as the final sentence of the first paragraph. Delete the symbol once editing is completed.
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Mark each card or sheet of paper clearly with your outline code or reference, e. The importance of this step cannot be understated although it clearly can be underlined ; this is, after all, the whole reason you are providing the example in the first place. Preparations Made Show the audience that you know what you are doing. Whether you use a diagram or outline doesn't really matter. Otherwise, you may estimate it yourself. All you do is write a topic sentence, and follow-up with a couple interesting facts about it.
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You should write about physics for physicists. A collage would allow the student to become familiar with the work in a visual way and give them an opportunity to understand the main themes, topics, and ideas of a work, even one we might not have read yet. As the final paragraph is represents your last chance to make your case and, as such, should follow an extremely rigid format. The bug in the image is the smallest feature of the collage yet it is to be viewed as the most important aspect Modler, David. Prepare an outline or diagram of your ideas. However, this opportunity also gives you the advantage to choose a subject that is interesting or relevant to you.
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Point in fact, All college students must make sacrifices, and losing social time to be able to go to work happens to be one of those sacrifices. It can be less if you take into account the following: Making a Structure and Outlining Divide your plot into three parts: a setup, the main part and a climax, and a thrilling conclusion. Remember the Rule of 3, i. Make the first outline tentative. In other words, students must learn how to manage their time, to study and have a social life, to be successful, and also enjoy college.
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How to write a good essay: Paraphrasing the question
There are numerous kinds of essays you may be assigned to complete. If they ever needed to look back to their notes, they would know exactly where to look because they know exactly where they had put them. Help your child write a persuasive essay in every grade and learn tips on persuasive writing. Opening link sentence that supports your thesis. Brainstorming You cannot write an essay unless you have an idea of what to write about.
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How to Write an Essay
Supporting points are important in backing the thesis. To create a diagram, write your topic in the middle of your page. You should remember the proper structure of an average essay. Outline The following are useful steps for developing an outline to organize ideas for your essay. Step Three: Complete Your Captivating Introduction Many inexperienced students do not understand the value of a good hook and introduction. They want to inform, persuade or entertain the audience.
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How to Write a Successful Essay: 8 Steps (with Pictures)
As a result, we recommend that you practice writing sample essays on various topics. Write and Edit Once you have an outline, its time to start writing. In academic essays, the problem usually arises from a current misunderstanding of an important issue. Much of the work is done before you type a single sentence. Writing Process Obviously, this stage is the most time-consuming.
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Thanks for stopping by! It is our prayer that as you engage in the Real Life family, you come to experience first hand the life changing love of Jesus Christ. No matter your background or upbringing, we welcome you into our Real life community. Come visit us for one of our services, we would love to get to know you more! God Bless
Come and visit us, we can't wait to meet you!
What to Wear?
We want you to feel comfortable so, our style is come as you are. Most who attend are comfortable in a pair of jeans and sneakers but a few can still be found in dress slacks or a skirt. Here’s the most important clue about our style: be yourself.
What About my kids?
At Real Life Student Ministries, we want your children to learn about God in a fun, engaging, and age-appropriate way. Our desire is to help them develop a close relationship with Jesus. Students are divided into 3 groups; Real Life Toddlers (2-4), Real Life Kids (K-5th), and Real Life Youth (6th-10th). We value fun and safe environments - every volunteer is properly screened and trained. It is a privilege to serve them each week. You can drop your kids off in their classrooms before worship. Your children are more than welcome to go to the Real Life Student Ministries service or stay with you.
What are services like?
First things first, we want you to enjoy coming to church! We plan our services with you in mind. We want them to be inspiring, helpful and something you can look forward to each week. We meet at 11:00am on Sunday morning in person or at 11;30am online on Facebook
Each service is 90 minutes; our goal is to worship God, learn from the Bible and connect with one another. You will experience a time of worship and biblical teaching that applies easily to your daily life. The message will be shared by Pastor John or a trusted guest speaker.
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This Now Lifestyle promotes great health and wellness to eliminate issues that plagues people today and can be found on Google.
Tag: health and wellness sites
Author Terry AllisonPosted on May 19, 2020 May 19, 2020 Categories health, health and wellness, LipoXplus, Now Body, Now LifeStyle, Terry Allison, wellnessTags about health, autoresponder, benefits of health and wellness, fitness, google health, health advice, health and, health and awareness, health and fitness, health and nutrition, health and wealthness, health and well being, health and wellbeing, health and wellness, health and wellness articles, health and wellness center, health and wellness sites, health and wellness websites, health articles, health awareness, health fair, health news, health nutrition, health problems, health products, health promotion, health tips, health websites, health wellness, healthcare and wellness, healthy eating, healthy food, healthy living, heart health, LipoXplus, mens health, natural health, now lifestyle, nutrition, Terry Allison, weight loss, wellness and health, wellness health care, wellness plan, wellness products, wellness program, wellness tips, wellness websites, what is health and wellness, womens health
LipoXplus so much good out of one capsule!
Reverse it all. Get back on track and maintain a long term healthy lifestyle today.
Looking to improve your blood pressure, balance your blood sugar and cholesterol levels, rid your body of harmful and potential diseased creating toxins?
Nowbody has developed and manufactured a new proprietary blend made from Ispaghula Husk which has recently gained a reputation as an “all-natural miracle medical plant” by medical experts.
This plant which is harvested in Asia and India has improved the quality of life in people for centuries.
Reverse your medical issues, block out any future medical issues. LipoXplus without question will benefit your outer and inner core with rapid weight loss, reduces and suppresses appetite, improves digestion, cleanses and detoxifies the body. This product is 100 percent Natural and Gluten-Free (Quality and GMP Assured – Non-GMO).
Ispaghula Husk the primary ingredient formulated into LipoXplus is Non-digestible. This new proprietary formula reduces the absorption of cholesterol, decreases the movement of glucose into the bloodstream after a meal which soaks up bad cholesterol and takes it out of the body.
This new proprietary blend is absolutely diabetic friendly, heart and intestinal health. It will excrete bile acids, toxins and residues through the colon.
LipoXplus slows down the absorption of carbohydrates, allowing better control of blood sugar levels. By delaying the amount of time glucose moves into your bloodstream, it helps reduce massive sugar spikes in your body that lead to energy crashes, in doing so it reduces the demands of insulin, which spares the pancreas from working overtime, reducing the chances of developing type 2 diabetes.
As tested and scientifically proven to be heart-healthy, also reducing triglyceride levels, high blood pressure, and cardiac disease.
There are many huge health benefits associated with LipoXplus, including rapid weight loss, increased energy, treating diabetes, mental clarity, reduced skin aging, nerve function, inflammation and much more.
(A). A surplus of free radicals in your cells can lead to harmful diseases and a slowed metabolism, slowing down the bodys glucose uptake which in turn slows down the bodys ability to burn fat and build muscle.
It is mandatory that you understand the results with the new LipoXplus weight loss and detox formula. You will see and encounter amazing changes that will result in anti-aging effects that will make you feel and look younger, with a new and improved healthy core that your body has been asking for.
Welcome to the quick recovery and long term benefits of LipoXplus. For life-changing results or to become a valued distributor to collect massive residual commissions contact your LipoXplus representative today.
Always consult with a physician before starting any weight loss, energy enhanced supplement program. If you have any questions in regards to the New proprietary blend of the LipoXplus product please contact your local distributor.
Author Terry AllisonPosted on March 22, 2020 Categories health, health and wellness, LipoXplus, Now Body, Now LifeStyle, Terry Allison, wellnessTags about health, benefits of health and wellness, fitness, google health, health advice, health and, health and awareness, health and fitness, health and nutrition, health and wealthness, health and well being, health and wellbeing, health and wellness, health and wellness articles, health and wellness center, health and wellness sites, health and wellness websites, health articles, health awareness, health fair, health news, health nutrition, health problems, health products, health promotion, health tips, health websites, health wellness, healthcare and wellness, healthy eating, healthy food, healthy living, heart health, LipoXplus, mens health, natural health, now lifestyle, nutrition, Terry Allison, weight loss, wellness and health, wellness health care, wellness plan, wellness products, wellness program, wellness tips, wellness websites, what is health and wellness
It is common knowledge that being overweight or obese raises your risk of diabetes and many other health-related issues. Most health problems can be prevented to a large degree. However, research and a solid trusted and tested product can help speed up your progress to achieve fantastic life-altering and beneficial results.
Even if you have diseases like diabetes, hypertension, obesity or even heart disease, adding this specially formulated proprietary blend of LipoXplus into your diet will have a significant effect on your overall health. It’s never too late to change or improve.
Your body wants to heal itself and you can help in speeding up and maintaining this process.
But what do you do? Many people get it wrong here and the changes they make are either unhelpful or just make things worse. Many changes are short term and short-lived.
With LipoXplus you can expect quick recovery and long term benefits.
The key to any success is consistency! If you take these medications for an example on a constant basis (Metformin, Lipitor, Diamox) then you should be able to stay consistent with LipoXplus which has helped thousands of people successfully get off and lay their prescription drugs to rest!
LipoXplus more important than saving people hundreds of dollars per month on prescription drugs has helped thousands of people get back on track and to maintain a healthy prescription free lifestyle rather quickly with giving long term steady and maintained results.
How can this be true and what is up with LipoXplus!
LipoXPlus is loaded with Ispaghula Husk which comes from the husk of Ispagula plant which is found in Asia and India. It is 100% natural and gluten-free.
Let us explore why LipoXplus with these powerful properties of the Ispaghula husk is so beneficial to our bodies and overall health and maintenance, that has been practiced for centuries.
LipoXplus aids in rapid weight loss reduces appetite, improves digestion, cleanses and detoxifies the body. It is Non-digestible and helps to block out any added calories that may be ingested throughout the day. Not only will weight loss occur but it also reduces the absorption of cholesterol, decreases the movement of glucose into the bloodstream after a meal, in turn soaking up bad cholesterol and taking it out of the body.
This new and enhanced proprietary formula is 100% Diabetic-friendly, heart and intestinal health. It will aid in the Excretion of bile acids, toxins and residues through the colon. Ispaghula Husk slows down the absorption of carbohydrates, allowing better control of blood sugar levels.
Since Ispaghula Husk delays the amount of time glucose moves into your bloodstream, it helps reduce massive sugar spikes in your body that lead to energy crashes. Reducing the demands of insulin, which spares the pancreas from working overtime, reducing the chances of developing type 2 diabetes.
Also Rated Heart-healthy for reducing triglyceride levels, high blood pressure, cardiac disease. LipoXplus is a natural wonder containing a high concentration of Ispaghula Husk which has recently gained a reputation as an “all-natural miracle medical plant” by medical experts.
Welcome to the quick recovery and long term benefits of LipoXplus. For life-changing results or to become a valued distributor to collect massive residual commissions contact your LipoXplus representative today.
Always consult with a physician before starting any weight loss, energy enhanced supplement program. If you have any questions in regards to the LipoXplus product please contact your local distributor.
Author Terry AllisonPosted on March 21, 2020 Categories health, health and wellness, LipoXplus, Now Body, Now LifeStyle, Terry Allison, wellnessTags about health, benefits of health and wellness, fitness, google health, health advice, health and, health and awareness, health and fitness, health and nutrition, health and wealthness, health and well being, health and wellbeing, health and wellness, health and wellness articles, health and wellness center, health and wellness sites, health and wellness websites, health articles, health awareness, health fair, health news, health nutrition, health problems, health products, health promotion, health tips, health websites, health wellness, healthcare and wellness, healthy eating, healthy food, healthy living, heart health, LipoXplus, mens health, natural health, now lifestyle, nutrition, Terry Allison, weight loss, wellness and health, wellness health care, wellness plan, wellness products, wellness program, wellness tips, wellness websites, what is health and wellness
How can LipoXplus aid in rapid weight loss?
Here at NowBody, we have formulated LipoXPlus, a proprietary blend of Ispaghula Husk and Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA), which are both found naturally in nature and have been scientifically proven to help prevent and treat obesity and many more health conditions that are a direct result of obesity.
LipoXPlus is loaded with a high concentration of Ispaghula Husk which comes from the husk of the Ispagula plant. It is 100% natural and gluten-free. (Quality GMP Assured – Non-GMO).
The Ispaghula plant scientifically known as Plantago Ovata is found in the Mediterranean region, West Asia, Pakistan, and India. It has been used for thousands of years for its numerous medicinal benefits and has most recently gained a reputation as an “all-natural miracle medical plant” by medical experts.
LipoXPlus can assist with weight loss when taken before meals by expanding in the stomach, causing you to feel full faster and longer, thus eating less while still feeling satisfied.
Since Ispaghula Husk takes longer to break down in the digestive system, this, in turn, slows down the body’s absorption of carbohydrates into the bloodstream, allowing better control of blood sugar levels, also known as glucose; this is extremely beneficial for people who suffer from diabetes or who are pre-diabetic because it reduces demands of insulin which spares the pancreas from overworking, reducing the chances of developing type 2 diabetes.
Since Ispaghula Husk delays the amount of time glucose moves into your bloodstream, it helps reduce massive sugar spikes in your body that lead to energy crashes; This is particularly important for people who suffer from diabetes.
The reason why Ispaghula Husk is considered so heart-healthy is that it helps with cholesterol levels, soaking up the bad cholesterol known as Low-Density Lipoproteins, or LDL and passing it out of the body. The Ispaghula Husk that is found in, and is the primary ingredient in LipoXplus is also an all-natural detox for the liver, absorbing bile acids and other toxins and excreting them out of the body.
In combination, LipoXplus has introduced and added (ALA) Alpha Lipoic Acid to its proprietary blend to give ultimate results for rapid weight loss.
There are many health benefits associated with ALA, including increased energy, treating diabetes, mental clarity, weight loss, reduced skin aging, nerve function, inflammation and much more. It’s antioxidant properties help fight off free radicals from the body’s cells that can lead to disease and cancer. Free radicals can also lead to a slowed metabolism, slowing down the body’s glucose uptake which in turn slows down the body’s ability to burn fat and build muscle.
ALA can increase the amount of glucose that gets taken into the cell, and converted into energy instead of being stored as fat.
For rapid weight loss, Ispaghula Husk and Alpha Lipoic Acid can assist you! They are both the primary attributes contained in the LiopXplus Proprietary blend.
Welcome to the quick recovery and long term benefits of LipoXplus. For life-changing results or to become a distributor to collect massive residual commissions contact your LipoXplus representative today.
Always consult with a physician before starting any weight loss, energy enhanced supplement program. If you have any questions in regards to the LipoXplus product please contact your local distributor.
Author Terry AllisonPosted on March 5, 2020 Categories health, health and wellness, LipoXplus, Now Body, Now LifeStyle, Terry Allison, wellnessTags about health, benefits of health and wellness, fitness, google health, health advice, health and, health and awareness, health and fitness, health and nutrition, health and wealthness, health and well being, health and wellbeing, health and wellness, health and wellness articles, health and wellness center, health and wellness sites, health and wellness websites, health articles, health awareness, health fair, health news, health nutrition, health problems, health products, health promotion, health tips, health websites, health wellness, healthcare and wellness, healthy eating, healthy food, healthy living, heart health, LipoXplus, mens health, natural health, now lifestyle, nutrition, Terry Allison, weight loss, wellness and health, wellness health care, wellness plan, wellness products, wellness program, wellness tips, wellness websites, what is health and wellness
Author Terry AllisonPosted on January 31, 2020 January 31, 2020 Categories health, health and wellness, LipoXplus, Now LifeStyle, Terry Allison, wellnessTags about health, benefits of health and wellness, fitness, google health, health advice, health and, health and awareness, health and fitness, health and nutrition, health and wealthness, health and well being, health and wellbeing, health and wellness, health and wellness articles, health and wellness center, health and wellness sites, health and wellness websites, health articles, health awareness, health fair, health news, health nutrition, health problems, health products, health promotion, health tips, health websites, health wellness, healthcare and wellness, healthy eating, healthy food, healthy living, heart health, LipoXplus, mens health, natural health, now lifestyle, nutrition, Terry Allison, weight loss, wellness and health, wellness health care, wellness plan, wellness products, wellness program, wellness tips, wellness websites, what is health and wellness
Just because you are a busy person with lots to do everyday, it doesn’t mean that you don’t have time to stay fit and keep in shape while traveling or in this fast paced world to over achieve. Excuses do not keep you fit and in shape. Again, there is now no excuse to become a traveling couch potato. The opportunities for you to take care of your fitness needs abound in all of your business and personal travels is here.
If necessary you may need to get a little creative, by using your hotel room as the gym of the day. Exercising in your hotel room is an easily and very convenient way to make certain that you get in your work out without missing a beat. Before you leave for your trip pack some collapsible hand weights or elastic exercise bands or other equipment that is made for travel, and turn your hotel room into the indoor gym that it has the potential to be.
Elastic bands are great for getting resistance and take up little space and added weight on your travels. Use the chairs and other pieces of furniture to your advantage to satisfy all of your fitness needs. Body weight exercises are enough for a great workout until you get back into your regular fitness regime.
Also understand that being involved within groups of leadership centered around health and wellness are key to giving you that added push that you may desperately need. Now LifeStyle is a complete health and wellness program centered and developed for everyone in mind. For the traveler or not, NowlifeStyle has you covered. With easy to follow work out schedules plus no more than seven minutes per work out session there is no more excuses.
If you are looking for a great support group and outstanding health leadership please join the Facebook group.
We understand that working out is not as easily done when you are in route to your next destination, so if your time is extremely tight and you don’t have time for a complete work out. There are other alternatives to not working out at all. Stretch in your room, take a long walk. I bet the hotel is just as nice on the other side of the pool. Speaking of pool, you could always take a swim. Swimming is definitely a workout that will work every muscle in your body. With all of these ideas for a good work out, if not the best work out that you have ever had, you should no longer have any excuse for not continuing your fitness routine while traveling. Just remember that it does not really matter where you are when you do your work out but that you do your work out where you are. And if you can not do the exact routine that you are useful, just take solace in the fact that you are getting a workout and are moving your body. Best of luck with your travels!
Author Terry AllisonPosted on January 16, 2020 January 17, 2020 Categories health, health and wellness, Now LifeStyle, Terry Allison, wellnessTags about health, benefits of health and wellness, fitness, google health, health advice, health and, health and awareness, health and fitness, health and nutrition, health and wealthness, health and well being, health and wellbeing, health and wellness, health and wellness articles, health and wellness center, health and wellness sites, health and wellness websites, health articles, health awareness, health fair, health news, health nutrition, health problems, health products, health promotion, health tips, health websites, health wellness, healthcare and wellness, healthy eating, healthy food, healthy living, heart health, LipoXplus, mens health, natural health, now lifestyle, nutrition, Terry Allison, weight loss, wellness and health, wellness health care, wellness plan, wellness products, wellness program, wellness tips, wellness websites, what is health and wellness
Exercise Can Act As A Memory Booster.
Doctors are working to determine the benefits of exercise regiments benefits in improving cognition and reducing normal memory loss, so that specific exercises can be assigned to improve memory. Adding to the long list of benefits that exercise provides to overall health and giving are more reasons to get off of the couch and get active.
Studies are now showing that physical activity reduces stress and anxiety disorders that contribute to many cognitive malfunctioning attributes as well as providing evidence that exercise may prevent or delay dementia. This is great news for the many people who want to preserve their mental clarity as they reach older ages.
Cognitive benefits of physical exercise for children and adults is not as clear as the benefits of exercise on the aging, but it is a start in the search for finding answers to the question why do people forget things. The studies indicate that exercises will ameliorate the effects of aging on the brain reducing a normal age-related decline in cognitive functioning. Cognitive functions such as planning, organization and working memory are achieved through simple measure such as increased confidence in abilities with older adults and with younger adults in the same way. If you have been feeling forgetful or slow to process simple things, it could be that you are not getting enough exercise.
Physical activity is a catalyst to increasing and maintaining proper mental processes; therefore, it can be said that some lifestyle changes may improve cognitive functioning. Studies indicate evidence that a healthy brain diet, including foods rich in omega-3 fats, antioxidants, and low glycemic carbohydrates (whole grains), daily walks, relaxation exercises and mental exercises like crossword puzzles result in brain metabolism, suggesting an increase in efficiency. Reducing blood pressure, weight and cholesterol and not smoking is important for brain health in all ethnic backgrounds. Even though countless studies make these suggestions, it has not been established enough to recommend specific regimens for the desired results. Increasing brain cognitive functioning can be maintained throughout a persons life by simply living life to the fullest and by continually learning new things. While depressed moods, anxiety, and other psychological illnesses can be associated with both poor emotional and cognitive health as well, exercise is the determining factor in most improved cases.
For older adults, mental stimulation is important in preventing age related cognitive declining. Regular light exercises for the elderly, such as brisk walks, swimming, and other full body exercises will help to maintain the mental performance, stamina, endurance allowing for better memory and all over mental functioning and less cognitive decline. Improved blood flow to the brain will undoubtedly provide amazing benefits and prevent mental deterioration by stimulating the growth of nerve cells in the region of the brain that handles memory functioning. However, conclusive the studies may seem different methodologies make it extremely difficult to make any conclusive determinations in the relationship between exercise and mental fitness. It is conclusive that regular exercise is the best treatment for improvement in overall health and maintaining overall health.
So get up, stay busy, and learn something new always for good mental fitness. Many people say that they would like to get started with exercising, but they do not have any opportunities to do so. The truth is that almost anything can be made into an exercise. Exercise is something that comes as a part of daily life, not something that you have to seek out. So, start getting in shape by doing the simple things, and then maybe you can progress to more strenuous activities. It could be a good idea to employ the help of a physical trainer who knows the human body very well and can help you to do what needs to be done. With the mental and physical benefits, there is no reason why you should not do so. Get started today!
With Now LifeStyle, the leadership and trainers will help you get started in an easy fun way, showing you quick results for just minutes per session, three times per week. If you are looking for a great support group and outstanding health leadership, please join the Facebook group at http://www.nowlifestyle.com/fbg/?id=terry40390 — NowLifestyle/ Exercise Can Act As A Memory Booster.
Doctors are working to determine the benefits of exercise regiments benefits in improving cognition and reducing normal memory loss, so that specific exercises can be assigned to improve memory. Adding to the long list of benefits that exercise provides to overall health and giving more reasons to get off of the couch and get active.
Studies are now showing that physical activity reduces stress and anxiety disorders that contribute to many cognitive malfunctioning attributes as well as providing evidence that exercise may prevent or delay dementia. This is great news for the many people who want to preserve their mental clarity as they reach older ages.
Cognitive benefits of physical exercise for children and adults is not as clear as the benefits of exercise on the aging, but it is a start in the search for finding answers to the question, why do people forget things. The studies indicate that exercises will ameliorate the effects of aging on the brain reducing a normal age-related decline in cognitive functioning. Cognitive functions such as planning, organization and working memory are achieved through simple measure such as increased confidence in abilities with older adults and with younger adults in the same way. So if you have been feeling forgetful or slow to process simple things, it could be that you are not getting enough exercise.
Physical activity is a catalyst to increasing and maintaining proper mental processes; therefore, it can be said that some lifestyle changes may improve cognitive functioning. Studies indicate evidence that a healthy brain diet including foods rich in omega-3 fats, antioxidants, and low glycemic carbohydrates (whole grains), daily walks, relaxation exercises and mental exercises like crossword puzzles result in brain metabolism, suggesting an increase in efficiency. Reducing blood pressure, weight and cholesterol and not smoking is important for brain health in all ethnic backgrounds. Even though countless studies make these suggestions, it has not been established enough to recommend specific regimens for the desired results. Increasing brain cognitive functioning can be maintained throughout a persons life by simply living life to the fullest and by continually learning new things. While depressed moods, anxiety, and other psychological illnesses can be associated with both poor emotional and cognitive health as well, exercise is the determining factor in most improved cases.
For older adults mental stimulation is important in preventing age related cognitive declining. Regular light exercises for the elderly, such as brisk walks, swimming, and other full body exercises, will help to maintain the mental performance, stamina, endurance allowing for better memory and all over mental functioning and less cognitive decline. Improved blood flow to the brain will undoubtedly provide amazing benefits and prevent mental deterioration by stimulating the growth of nerve cells in the region of the brain that handles memory functioning; however, conclusive studies may seem different methodologies have made it extremely difficult to make any conclusive determinations in the relationship between exercise and mental fitness. It is conclusive that regular exercise is the best treatment for improvement in overall health and maintaining overall health.
So get up, stay busy, and learn something new always for good mental fitness. Many people say that they would like to get started with exercising, but they do not have any opportunities to do so. The truth is that almost anything can be made into an exercise. Exercise is something that comes as a part of daily life, not something that you have to seek out. Start getting in shape by doing the simple things, and then maybe you can progress to more strenuous activities. It could be a good idea to employ the help of a physical trainer who knows the human body very well and can help you to do what needs to be done. With the mental and physical benefits, there is no reason why you should not do so. Get started today.
With Now LifeStyle, the leadership and trainers will help you get started in an easy fun way, showing you quick results for just minutes per session, three times per week. If you are looking for a great support group and outstanding health leadership please join the Facebook group at http://www.nowlifestyle.com/fbg/?id=terry40390.
Author Terry AllisonPosted on December 14, 2019 December 14, 2019 Categories health, health and wellness, LipoXplus, Now LifeStyle, Terry Allison, wellnessTags about health, benefits of health and wellness, fitness, google health, health advice, health and, health and awareness, health and fitness, health and nutrition, health and wealthness, health and well being, health and wellbeing, health and wellness, health and wellness articles, health and wellness center, health and wellness sites, health and wellness websites, health articles, health awareness, health fair, health news, health nutrition, health problems, health products, health promotion, health tips, health websites, health wellness, healthcare and wellness, healthy eating, healthy food, healthy living, heart health, LipoXplus, mens health, natural health, now lifestyle, nutrition, Terry Allison, weight loss, wellness and health, wellness health care, wellness plan, wellness products, wellness program, wellness tips, wellness websites, what is health and wellness, womens health
With the increase in fast foods, plus the increase in electronics and the cyber world, childhood obesity has become nationally recognized.
This chronic condition has increased rapidly over the past years with many more children becoming the next generation of obese teens, and eventually obese adults seniors. With obesity being one of the leading causes of morbidity, disability, discrimination, and employment problems, it has become one of the biggest public problems, since tobacco use and exposure.
Bad eating habits are not the only culprit! Genetic diseases that can predispose children to become overweight cannot be forgotten; however, still playing a larger role in the general overall population is bad eating and exercise habits, which equals to poor lifestyle choices. Parents play a key role in standardizing lifestyle choices for their children.
Yes, we all get lazy! Including lazy with discipline!
Professionals are treating this as a major public health concern that is threatening to damage our most precious resources, the children. Introduction of healthy play, healthy food choices, and recreation that promotes physical activity is on the top of the list for discussion and plans of battling this epidemic.
The annual National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has come to the conclusion that as many as one-third of U.S. children are overweight or at high risk for childhood obesity. The health problems that will begin to manifest themselves from the heavy weight of such young children will start kids down a road with problems such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and increased risks of diabetes. These are diseases usually reserved to adults, not children.
Combating this troubling condition must however, begin at home with the caregivers for these children! Improving overall diet, not dieting, and exercise is the key to resolving the problem. Protecting childrens health now and in the future will depend greatly on education of parents and caregivers to implement healthy daily living strategies.
Parents and guardians of children do have help!
Now Lifestyle is a program created and designed for overall health and wellness. Not only will this program help parents and guardians, but it will put the focus on family fitness and healthy lifestyle choices!
Preventing an at-risk child from becoming overweight can start a process of healthy and active lifestyles to ensure longevity and energy throughout the childs life. Little things such as: not getting into power struggles with the child over food, never use food as a behavior modification tool, and setting a good example are some starting places. This only perpetuates the same behavior and may cause psychological behaviors that are unwanted.
Emphasizing what is positive and benefits of changing behavior can make all of the difference in the world. Just fostering the childs natural inclination to please you, have fun, and explore are perfect opportunities to introduce fitness routines, and reduce such incidents, like eating out of boredom. If these things are done with every child in danger of becoming obese, the numbers suffering will likely decrease!
Therefore, you should always keep in mind the health of yourself and your children. By keeping in shape yourself and displaying a good diet, you can impress upon them the importance of being a health-oriented individual. These habits will stay with them for all of their lives! You will also have quite a few benefits from eating healthy and slimming down. If you shed your extra weight, you will feel much better about yourself!
It is time to moderate cell phone use, video games and most electronic devises. These have all become babysitters for your children.
If you want to find out more information about how you should or how you can change your lifestyle habits, please join the Facebook group at http://www.nowlifestyle.com/fbg/?id=terry40390
Author Terry AllisonPosted on December 11, 2019 December 14, 2019 Categories health, health and wellness, LipoXplus, Now LifeStyle, Terry Allison, wellnessTags about health, benefits of health and wellness, fitness, google health, health advice, health and, health and awareness, health and fitness, health and nutrition, health and wealthness, health and well being, health and wellbeing, health and wellness, health and wellness articles, health and wellness center, health and wellness sites, health and wellness websites, health articles, health awareness, health fair, health news, health nutrition, health problems, health products, health promotion, health tips, health websites, health wellness, healthcare and wellness, healthy eating, healthy food, healthy living, heart health, LipoXplus, mens health, natural health, now lifestyle, nutrition, Terry Allison, weight loss, wellness and health, wellness health care, wellness plan, wellness products, wellness program, wellness tips, wellness websites, what is health and wellness, womens health
Joel Therien announces the launch of a project that has been a labor of love for him for years. NowLifeStyle.com is a combination of his first love for fitness and nutrition and his vast knowledge of internet and netowork marketing.
Since 1998, Joel has had the privilege of helping thousands of individuals and businesses achieve an online presence not to mention help them make money, while doing it.
He has built a very successful company Global Virtual Opportunities and has decided to build and grow NowLifeStyle with the intention of making it the largest online and offline health, wealth and direct selling companies around. And, I have no doubt that he will achieve this.
NowLifeStyle is about achieving the now in your lifestyle.” Joel says. It is more than just fitness and nutrition. It is about growing yourself and achieving those dreams that you never thought were possible until right now.
After all should people not better their health, wealth and relationships not tomorrow, but right NOW?
Joel has a huge vision for NowLifeStyle. Starting with fitness supplements and a state of the art exercise platform, he intends to grow into many different facets of every day life that we use.
Joel says that the slogan for NowLifeStyle is how I want people to embrace this program and use the opportunity.
LOVE what you do every single day!
LAUGH because life is one big party!
NowLifeStyle and Joel Therien want to connect with you if you have the willingness, energy and want to be a leader in this, his most exciting project yet. Nowlifestyle is happening right now! If you are a lover and a leader in this industry, please click here to get on the excitement for FREE today
Author Terry AllisonPosted on December 10, 2019 December 14, 2019 Categories health, health and wellness, Terry Allison, wellnessTags about health, benefits of health and wellness, fitness, google health, health advice, health and, health and awareness, health and fitness, health and nutrition, health and wealthness, health and well being, health and wellbeing, health and wellness, health and wellness articles, health and wellness center, health and wellness sites, health and wellness websites, health articles, health awareness, health fair, health news, health nutrition, health problems, health products, health promotion, health tips, health websites, health wellness, healthcare and wellness, healthy eating, healthy food, healthy living, heart health, LipoXplus, mens health, natural health, now lifestyle, nutrition, Terry Allison, weight loss, wellness and health, wellness health care, wellness plan, wellness products, wellness program, wellness tips, wellness websites, what is health and wellness, womens health
Joel Therien had a thriving career as a personal trainer and he started his second professional career right out of University as a Pulmonary and Cardiac Rehabilitation Specialist at the Montford Hospital in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Although he had an amazing boss, great working colleagues and a pretty good salary of 52,000 dollars a year, Joel wanted more. He wanted to provide a better future for himself and his family. So… the thought of doing stress testing at a hospital for the next 40 years started to lose its appeal, hence he quit after eight months into it.
However, at 27 years of age, he started to lose his health and became a medical mystery, as he referred to his health problem. He had been misdiagnosed with either Lou Gehrigs disease, multiple sclerosis, or brain cancer. He went from a lean muscular 240 pounds with 7 percent body fat down to 165 pounds. As a bodybuilder, this deeply concerned him and this is when he turned to the internet to look for answers.
Joel used the internet to find the answer or reason for his ill-health. He claimed that it was ASPARTAME, (additive code E 951), the artificial sweetener found in all diet soft drinks and in many foods today. You see, he was on diet of various products that contained aspartame, to maintain his low body fat levels. And he felt that due to the over consumption of aspartame, he was poisoning himself. Although aspartame has been approved by various world food authorities, the debate on its toxicity still goes on.
Joel Therien spent almost 12 hours a day for two full years on the Internet in a small 800 square foot row house with his young family. Although his expenses were relatively little, he was near emotional, physical, and financial ruin.
Joel said, I still was not feeling well physically and I still had not made a single sale online in 2 years. The emotional pressure was overwhelming. Despite the health setbacks, he was able to build up a very profitable multi- million dollar business that has been up and running now since 1998. That company is Global Virtual Opportunities (GVO)
Joel credits the long term 18 year success of GVO by offering true business to business products that business owners and network marketers actually need, at a great price!!!
His motto is, You do NOT have a great opportunity, if you do NOT have great products that people are willing to pay for despite the opportunity”
Joel admits, during the climb of GVO, he was still suffering from the effects of aspartame poisoning. Constant food allergies, debilitating migraines were the norm. But he pushed on.
However, after a lot of homeopathy, acupuncture, and organic foods, Joel says his worst days are behind him. Joel said, For the past 5 years I have been once again in the gym regularly. It feels great to have built the same body I once had in my twenties, but now even better at age 44! Joel adds, You know, getting so sick was a blessing in disguise! I would have never founded GVO and now with 18 years experience and feeling healthy again! I am able to launch NowLifstyle.com Our very first Health and Wellness lifestyle platform that is also our very first truly consumer based product line!
NowLifeStyle.com will be by far the biggest and most successful program, we have ever done. Now that I am healthy again, I am able to share my true passions for health and wellness with the world.. You combine that with 18 years of online marketing and MLM experience and 33 years of Personal Training experience and you have a real home run!!!
So yeah.. I do not mind getting a bit sick. It was worth the wait. It is time to transform millions of lives all over the world!
Now, it is your turn to get healthy!
Author Terry AllisonPosted on December 9, 2019 December 14, 2019 Categories health, health and wellness, LipoXplus, Now LifeStyle, Terry Allison, wellnessTags about health, benefits of health and wellness, fitness, google health, health advice, health and, health and awareness, health and fitness, health and nutrition, health and wealthness, health and well being, health and wellbeing, health and wellness, health and wellness articles, health and wellness center, health and wellness sites, health and wellness websites, health articles, health awareness, health fair, health news, health nutrition, health problems, health products, health promotion, health tips, health websites, health wellness, healthcare and wellness, healthy eating, healthy food, healthy living, heart health, LipoXplus, mens health, natural health, now lifestyle, nutrition, Terry Allison, weight loss, wellness and health, wellness health care, wellness plan, wellness products, wellness program, wellness tips, wellness websites, what is health and wellness, womens health
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When Ray Kroc first started selling McDonald’s hamburgs in Chicago, he was impressed by the dedication of Salvation Army members ringing bells on the Windy City’s frozen street to raise money for needy families. He couldn’t know his little business would turn into an empire, but generous from the get-go, Ray Kroc began delivering free coffee and sandwiches to the bell ringers.
Fast forward to 2004. Ray Kroc’s widow leaves the largest gift ever made to any nonprofit when she gives $1.7 billion to the Salvation Army. But not a penny could go to existing programs. Ray and Joan Kroc’s legacy was to build 30 first-class, top-quality family centers around the country in underserved communities. With the Salvation Army’s long history of caring for the neediest, Joan Kroc chose them as the best organization to run the centers.
The Grand Rapids, Michigan, Salvation Army made a successful bid to build a center.After three years putting this dream together, on October 21, 2010, the 99,000 square-feet, building on 20 acres of land at 2500 South Division near Alger, the Ray and Joan Kroc Center will open its doors. With a mission of transforming lives through arts, music, education, wellness, recreation, and worship, the Kroc Center will happen thanks to streams of generosity.
Yes, the Kroc estate donated $47 million to Grand Rapids. But the necessary $15 million in matching funds came from a giving Grand Rapids community that understood what this high-end learning, playing, and worshiping center will mean to the thousands of families who live within a mile of it. Every thing inside – from the swimming pool/lazy river/slide to the climbing wall to the 300-seat auditorium to the fitness equipment and computer center – is state-of-the art.
Peter Wege and the Wege Foundation have been involved from the beginning as a major donor and as a green-building influence. Indeed, Wege’s environmental leadership contributed to the Salvation Army’s daring decision to install a geo-thermal heating/cooling system rather than the standard fossil-fuel burning systems. One direct result of that choice is t
The green playing field behind the crane covers the deep wells pulling up water warmed by the Earth to fuel the Salvation Army’s 99,000 square-foot family center’s heating/cooling system.
This geo-thermal system helped the Salvation Army’s Grand Rapids Kroc Center earn enough extra LEED points from the U.S. Green Building Council to qualify for a silver and perhaps a gold medallion.
hat G.R.’s Kroc Center has moved up from earning the United States Green Building Council’s LEED certification to the silver level and maybe even the gold award from environmental construction.
(Above photo – James Mueller, development office/Salvation Army, Terri McCarthy, Wege Foundation, S.A. volunteer Julie Lovell, head of the new Kroc Center Major Roger Ross, and Ellen Satterlee, of the Wege Foundation, stand in front of the inside equipment running the geo-thermal heating-cooling system for the Kroc Family Center at 2500 South Division. Economicologist Peter Wege helped influence the Salvation Army to install the environmentally friendly system that draws on warmed water from the earth instead of burning fossil fuels.
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Could have been worse…. we could have been buying a teapot so a cave is quite normal in comparison (apparently in China several families can, and do, live in a red teapot).
Travelling to Spain from Cyprus is not an easy task out of season. Usually you have at least one stop off in the UK, France or Bulgaria. However, Cobalt have added a new route from Larnaca to Madrid. Madrid itself is not perfect for us as it is at least a 5 -6 hour drive to the cave, near to Baza but, we felt it was worth while as we would only be in Spain for a few days before returning to our work in Cyprus.
The flight to Madrid landed ahead of schedule and the drive down to our rented accommodation in Zujar was an easy 5 hours (once we managed to negotiate the exit out of the airport!). It had been a long day and to bed we went.
Our first full day was to be the admin day. To buy anything of note in Spain you have to have a NIE number. Like most things when in a different country everything is easy if, you know what you are doing, where you need to go and can read the detailed forms that you have to complete. Honestly, we did not have a clue so we put our trust in Sean (our estate agent from Spanish Inland Properties) to guide us through the necessary process. It made the task of getting an NIE so much easier than it could have been. We began with a visit to the local bank to pay our fee and get the appropriate forms stamped and then off to the local police station where we produced our passports together with the relevant forms. Most spaniards are friendly smiling people but not Mr policeman. Don’t get me wrong, he was efficient and did his job but not once did he attempt to smile or appear pleasant. He was there to do a job ……full stop. The whole process took about 10 minutes, but that was because Sean had completed all the forms on our behalf and lead us to the correct desk at the correct office (this in itself saved lots of time and legwork). Thank you Sean, we will be back I am sure. Lots more questions coming up!
Our next task of the day was to complete the paperwork for our new Spanish bank account. This account had already been set up on our behalf by Sean which meant that half of the work had already been completed before our arrival. To have on line facilities and a debit card for our new account we needed to provide proof of who we were and sign our lives away as you do at any bank when setting up new accounts. The whole process took about 30 minutes but it was all very painless. Pedro, the bank manager, was one of the loveliest bank managers I have ever met. No English was spoken but again, we had Sean. Job done and time for a quick coffee before John and I gave the cave another inspection. Me being me, I wanted to measure the ‘rooms’ that were already there as I had convinced myself that the measurements on the plans were incorrect. But no, all measurement were as near as damn it. Everything looks smaller when in a raw state.
The following day was ‘the day we bought a cave’. Again, our trusted Sean lead us back to the bank to pick up the bankers drafts and off we went to the Notary’s office in Baza. As usual we were early but that was ok as coffee was at hand.
Things began to happen when our solicitor arrived and the ‘soon to be’ ex owners of the cave. It was time to go over the paperwork and ensure all was well and everyone agreed with the documents that had been produced for the sale/purchase. This was the point when our first major hiccup occurred. I say major as it was to us but in Spain perhaps just a blip!
In the distance you can see the triangle farming land that is actually specified on the deeds. To the right is the start of the scrub land on the bank which was verbally added to the deeds on the original purchase.
The outline of land as drawn on the plans that surrounded the cave did not represent what we thought we were buying. There appeared to be a triangular piece of farming land ‘over the road’, from the cave but no land to the side. This land to the side (which is scrub land) stretched from the entrance of the cave and followed the top edge of a small hill and went up and over the top of the cave. This area was going to be quite important in our future plans as it was perfect for patios/seating areas and had a great view of the Jabalcon Mountain, that towers over the back of the cave . The owners (we had not yet signed) told us that when they originally purchased the land they had a verbal agreement with the original owner, the farmer, that they would own the hill to the left of the cave and not the field as was drawn on the plans. The farmer wanted to keep the field to grow crops. The farmer was quite happy to exchange the arable land for the hill full of scrub which was quite useless to anyone. This is all very well and good but…..nothing was done about this change of land on a legal footing i.e. altered on the plans or the deeds. It was all taken on a verbal agreement hence on paper we appeared to own something that we really did not want and really did not need. After an hour of discussions it was agreed by all parties that the unwanted farm land would be taken off our deeds and the hill added. At least, that is what we think was agreed anyway. Time will tell. It got very confusing and we were all getting very muddled as to what, where and when. Sometimes there has to be trust and that is what we did, trust in those that know the Spanish system far better than us.
Another couple of coffees later and we headed towards the Notary’s office for the final piece of legalities. Everything was read out to us in Spanish by the lady Notary and translated into English by our solicitor. Money was paid over, deeds were signed and we became the proud owners of a cave.
Hip hip hooray! We left Baza a little bewildered, very weary but a happy couple. We owned our dream cave.
We were tempted to go back to our rented accommodation for a rest but…..we could not resist another visit to our cave before returning to Cyprus early the following day. It may have been the last look for this trip but it was the first visit as the proud new owners. We stood on the ‘patio’ and asked ourselves whether we had done the right thing. Our answers where ‘Most certainly, unequivocally, definitely yes’. The job was done.
NEXT STEP – I need to meet face to face with an architect so that we can walk the area that we now own and arrange for the new plans to be legally produced and added to the deeds. This will then hopefully correct what should really have been done years ago by the previous owners. This meeting will also be the ideal time to discuss my ideas and plans for the cave reform. Hopefully we can then get the plans and drawings of the reform drawn up and put forward to the Baza planning office for approval. I think this may be quite an adventure so we may need tons of good luck and lots of crossed fingers especially with the ideas I have to put in front of them. We will see.
I also need to seriously consider our best options for electricity, water, Internet and waste and that is just the beginning. If anyone has any suggestions I would love to hear from you. Please. X
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Posted in Adventure, Baza, Cave house, Caves, dream home, Dreams, family, Granada, Life, Love, Spain, Uncategorized
Next > 3. Cave Living. Why?
May 21, 2017 at 6:57 am
All very exciting, and the beginning of a great adventure. We have some friends who’s son who is just finishing university, and his course has been to do with power generation, so we will make some enquiries. Good luck and best wishes.
May 21, 2017 at 6:59 am
Hi both, yes please. I am looking at log burners and alternative energy as we speak. More info the better. xxx
August 5, 2019 at 5:57 am
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Why should singles have all the fun? If you’ve been married for quite a long time, you’re probably experiencing what a lot of married men and women are experiencing – boredom in the bedroom. Now, you may have been hearing how single men and women are hooking up with other singles and they’re having the type of fun that is a distant memory for you. What if you can have the same fun? What if you can also hook up with other people like you? You’re just looking for a bit of fun in bed – something that your wife or husband can’t provide. That's where we come in... This is the best way to have an affair. It's risk to do it with someone you know or too close to home that's the best way to get caught. You have to be more discreet with affair dating and this is why you have to do so online. Your adventure will start with checking out other people looking to have a bit of fun on the site. You can wink at them or message them or chat in real time and get break the ice. Once you've raised the heat a little, you can arrange a meetup somewhere neutral (hint: not somewhere your wife or husband goes!). Using this website, you can have your cake and eat, and no one will be any the wiser. Well, except you and the lucky guy or girl that you’ll have fun with. Use our features to find your target and start the affair with some flirting through chat or email. Once you’re ready, that’s when you can take your affair offline by meeting up and doing what you’ve always wanted to do – get to know someone else other than your husband or wife.
If you’re an unhappy wife, you have to know that you’re very much welcome to fool around here. You could be just curious about it, either way you will find what you are looking for. There are lots of women looking for someone like you and it’s time for you to have a little bit of fun with them. With us your discreet encounters are 100% private. No one need or will know about your activities online. All you have to do is join free and upload your profile. Let’s be real. When it comes to infidelity seems that women are getting ahead of men. That’s a fact from a recent social study. So what are you waiting for? Get some fun tonight. We are giving you the right tools, you just have to use them wisely.
How to Get Away with Adultery
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There are some posts where God works on my heart by just marinating a subject for a while. He gives me something–either by my own revelation, or a comment from someone–and then adds on top of it as the weeks pass. It’s a gradual process but by the end of it, I feel so strongly about it, that I can barely type fast enough to get it off my chest. This post is that and even THEN some. Unfortunately, I’ve wanted to write about it for a couple weeks now, but because of a million other things in life, “deep writing” gets pushed to the backburner.
I’ve found this really interesting problem and frustration with those who are trying to figure out this whole healthy life. It’s the problem of motivation in health–of keeping longevity and sustainability. I get a lot of questions from people asking me what my motivation is. How do I keep going day after day? Well friends, it’s a multi-faceted answer, but I think that I’ve found out the reason that you haven’t gotten to that point.
It’s because you are confused. It’s because you haven’t found YOUR health sweet spot.
Yes–you are confused. You are trying to fit a spot in your health journey that is not your place to be. You are trying to be like me, your sister, or your favorite instructor, when in reality, that’s not where your sweet spot is! Now don’t take this as gospel. I don’t necessarily think it’s always as clear cut as this, but as I was thinking (and talking!) through this example, I really believe it rings true for many. When you have confidence in WHY God has placed you in a spot, then it’s MUCH EASIER to stay motivated to stay in that spot. Still confused? Well, I am going to try to help it make sense.
The bottom level is the biggest level and that’s the level of STEWARDSHIP. It’s the level where all of us should be. I don’t think that any of us can deny that the stewardship of our health is something that God has given us (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Basic stewardship of the body will look different for everyone. Maybe it means a 3-day a week walk or having only 1 soda a day instead of 3. You may not love exercise and you despise vegetables. But it’s because you want to be obedient to God (and want to avoid unnecessary health problems!), you do what you do.
Training expected to produce a specific character or pattern of behavior, especially training that produces moral or mental improvement.
We are a very undisciplined society. I mean, can you argue with me here? That’s why for some of us, it’s good to have something to keep us in line. Discipline comes in when we are looking at areas where we COULD do something but choose not to (1 Corinthians 10:23) . It’s at that moment when we can choose good, but instead we choose better. Areas of discipline often separate those who are just along for the ride with those who are in the driver’s seat. This hits many areas of life–our finances, our faith, our mind, and yes, our health. For me, my health is a very natural spot for me to stay disciplined and to practice this “skill” in my life. This means I may make some choices that some may disagree with me, but because it’s good for me and my life, I will do it. Example: I CAN have more calories of “x” in a day, but I choose not to because it’s not necessary. I CAN get away with exercising 3 days a week, but enjoy the discipline that striving for 5 gives me. I hope it is starting to make sense.
The final tier is the PLEASURE tier. As you can see, this is the smallest tier but, let me tell you, it’s a very important one! For some of you, health is much more than stewardship and discipline. It’s your lifeline. It’s what makes you move and breathe. It gets you jazzed up and ready to go full speed in life. Maybe it’s a gift God’s given you (1 Corinthians 12). Maybe it’s what keeps you creative and fully in-tune with your family each day. These people enjoy working out and find new ways to explore it. If we have a spare 30 to 60 minutes in a day…yes…we would be pumping some iron or out for a run. We are “those” weird people.Yes-we can see the pleasure and feel the pleasure of God in this area and are thanking Him through it (Colossians 3:17)!
Now, I need to let you into some ground rules to the triangle.
1.) God can move you up and down this triangle as He pleases. Don’t be surprised if this happens and be open to the Spirit’s leading.
2.) There is no good, better, or best here. Those at the pleasure tier are no better than those at the stewardship tier. We are all just different.
3.) There are to be no judgements of those who are above you or below you on this triangle. IT IS NOT OUR CALL to decide who gets to do with the gifts, resources, time, and talents that God has given each of us. Please –can we stop with the wars in this area?
4.) OWN YOUR SPOT. Don’t apologize for where God has you. Once you prayerfully figured it out, own it until God moves in you!
5.) Chances are, you will have to let go of some physical goals you have in mind. What do I mean? Well, you (probably) can’t live at a stewardship level, hoping to having the physique, strength, and endurance as one at the pleasure level. And those of you at the pleasure level, as others are going for their 2nd piece of cake, will have to back off because it won’t get you to your goals.
Picture taken by my fantastically talented friend, Christina of Grace Designs Photography
As usual, there is a personal story tied to each of my blog posts. I truly am just like you–living out my life-trying to figure it out one day at a time. God is gracious enough to give me a platform and a voice to share it, so I want to be obedient to Him when He calls.
To no surprise to you, I hit all 3 tiers! Health is stewardship for me. It’s a way to enact discipline, and yes, it’s also a very pleasurable thing for my life. If you heard me on my Women Living Well webcast, you know that health has been a seed planted in my heart since a small age. I have to let you in on something that God has been working on with me though.
I have struggled with my intense desire with it.
I’ve often questioned myself as to why I love it so much. Why I feel I need it so much in my life? Am I less of a Christian because I do enjoy pumping iron and sprinting? But what about this intense passion that He’s created deep within me? What about the feeling I get when I’m in my sweet spot?
Shamefully, I’ve backed down on what God has shown me because I’ve worried about what others thought about me. I’ve allowed what God has revealed to me in the quiet to be drown out by the voices clammering around me in the light. I’ve made apologies for why I’ve been like this. I’ve tried to push it down, but I’m here to tell you that I’m done with that. I KNOW beyond a doubt why God has wired me this way. I know what makes me tick. What makes me a better wife, mom, friend, and ministry leader. And because of that, I will protect that in everyway that I can.
Again, this doesn’t mean that I’m not open to God’s movement. Not at all. This doesn’t mean that I am on my game at all weeks in my life. Listen, there are a lot of moving parts to my day and I am constantly juggling priority with what is thrown to me in my lap. The difference is, I have a goal. I know what makes me tick and what makes me walk with God deeply, so I will do my best to keep at it.
So for you today, I want you to breathe a sigh of relief. If you have prayerfully considered this triangle and found to be at the stewardship area, then OWN it! If God is telling you to use health as a discipline in your life, then find out in what ways He’s trying to do that and then go for it! And finally, if God has graciously given you this gift as a place of ministry, creativity, and pleasure, then friends, be ok with that. NO APOLOGIES NEEDED.
Finally, EVERYONE has a pleasure activity. EVERYONE has something that reenergizes them and makes them feel that all is right with the world. I encourage you–I plead with you–FIND that thing! I was in Bible study a few weeks ago, and a gal was sharing how she was gardening and that’s the place where God just speaks to her and she is at full peace. Well, friends, she needs to make sure some gardening is happening in her life! Maybe for you it’s painting, writing, cooking, or serving someone–I want you to find that spot. If it brings you closer to the Father by clearing your brain and making you go back to HIM for HIS GOOD THINGS, then done in balance, it needs to be something you try and incorporate in your life! I love this song by “The Afters” and this verse. It sums up what I want to leave with you today.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on this long, long tangent! What do you have to add? Does this help provide in clarity or help you breath a sigh of relief in this area? What pre-conceived ideas do you need to let go of? What do you need to chase after? Oh, I’m praying for you all as you read this and would love to know what God is saying to you!!
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Rock it. Work it. Love it. Fridays
Candice on October 29, 2013 at 10:18 pm
I love this post. It really it home with me when you said that we try and be like everyone else so much that don’t find our own sweet spot. That is me in a nutshell. I have spent so much time trying to be like others I know and haven’t even asked God who HE wanted me to be.. I will do that tonight, finally take this to God and ask him to light my path to my sweet spot. Thank you Claire for all you do.. I will let you know how my journey goes. :0)
Sarah on October 29, 2013 at 10:20 pm
Love this visual! I also love that you’re claiming your God-given gift here. Health is not superficial. You are a gift.
By the way, I teeter between discipline and pleasure.
Jenn on October 29, 2013 at 10:33 pm
Totally agree w/your comment Sarah. I also go back & forth between discipline & pleasure
Awesome post Clare!! Thank you so much for all you do.
Amanda L on October 29, 2013 at 10:21 pm
Beautifully written, Clare! I love your passion and your confidence to know that it is God who has placed that passion in your heart. The witness is beautiful. Lifting weights and being fit is not just OK; it’s beautiful! And when lived in a spirit of modesty and discipline, it is holy and can bless all areas of our lives. I am reminded of a blog of yours when you asked the question, “Why do you work out?” You challenged us to dig deep into our “why?” to discern if it was to feel/look superior, impress others or really to live as good Christian stewards. For me, I have lived all of these and was truly convicted by that piece.
Along the path of trying to attain the body I had so long desired, I was plagued with injuries – tore all of the muscles around my rotator cuff and have 2 very weak, fluid-plagued knees. With 3 of my 4 joints compromised, I could no longer run to my heart’s content or lift weights above my shoulders. What followed was a year of inactivity and Great Depression. Upon reading The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch, I was in awe of his ability to overcome any obstacle that stood in his way. His attitude was that every “no” is placed in your life to help you discover how badly you want whatever it is being blocked.
After praying for clear direction, I met a trainer who walked through nutrition and working out with me…step by step. After hours of explaining clean eating and maximizing my work outs, she helped me to discover a freedom that had gone untapped – clarity and confidence! Now I am working towards living a healthy life/fit body for the glory of God! thank you for your witness =)
Dee Campbell on October 29, 2013 at 10:29 pm
I loved this, and I think that we change tiers at different times in our lives. I have been feeling very low because I can’t fit everything in that I feel I need becuase I am trying to live what others think. My hubby and I have raised our children and now we are raising our great neice and nephew and stepping into that roll is very important now but it has placed me where I am not at the top tier but I am teaching to little people, 8 and 10 year old the value of caring for their bodies by exercising and eating right. But right now I just can’t jump and leave to do things I have to plan everything.
Coleen Austin on October 29, 2013 at 10:34 pm
Love this post! On the days Im scheduled to run my motivation comes from God. So my run starts out at stewardship. Half way through my run I push myself to finish because I want to improve, I want to better myself and my timing. At the end I get the pleasure. I accomplished sticking to my goal and I feel like I can take on my Mom/wife duties with life in me. I’ve been running for a month now, every other day for 30 minutes, and my husband and four boys have told me I’m different. I’m smiling more, cooking from scratch again, keeping the house clean, and they just love being around the new me. It has majorly decreased my anxiety as well. I’ve also started noticing my body is toning up, which I’m loving! lol
Leslie Sperling on October 29, 2013 at 10:54 pm
Thank you! Like anything else, we are at different places in our lives. I’m post baby and 50 lbs over weight. But God has clearly said to me “Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.” (1 Timothy 4:8 NLT) I want to make it apart of my life again and have the disciple I had before, but for now I am focused on Him. I will be sure not to think the new girl at work is crazy after reading your post…she runs on her lunch break. She obviously finds pleasure in it. I can respect that.
Clare on October 30, 2013 at 9:16 pm
And as you focus on Him, He may or may not change how you feel in this area. Be open to God’s guiding here! So glad you are seeking Him!
Laura on October 29, 2013 at 10:57 pm
I loved this! I listened to the webcast and this ties in with what you shared so well. We recently bought a treadmill and I have found pleasure in that time with God. It’s also fun to push myself and see weight coming off. I really was afraid that I wouldn’t be able to get a handle on this area of my life but praise God for helping me to find balance! Thanks for sharing all of this!
Jen on October 29, 2013 at 10:58 pm
At a time in my life where I seriously need to refocus my energies on my health, this was a welcome breath of fresh air! Thank you for allowing the Lord to speak through you!
Elizabeth on October 29, 2013 at 11:09 pm
Thank you for the encouragement. I, too, enjoyed your WLW talk from last week.
My self-esteem has taken a major hit this past year with a surprising 10 +/- pound weight gain, after a lifetime of being effortlessly thin.
So…44 1/2 years of not exercising regularly is a very hard habit to break. I liked what Coleen said. I hadn’t thought about how much my whole family would benefit. (I did do a walk video pretty faithfully, with some of my children, from Jan.-May, but I lost the momentum with vacation and the hot summer. I know: lame, lame.
So, time to get back on the bandwagon with walking and learning weight training for the first time ever. I need to use it, so I don’t lose it!
Melodie on October 30, 2013 at 5:53 am
Thank you so much for your post and for your honesty. I did your 5 week challenge (first time I have consistently worked out in years) and I LOVED it. It was really something I looked forward to every day. Doing your challenge really changed my way of thinking about working out and being healthy, I loved the way we incorporated verses and I loved having a partner to pray with and for during this time. Before I always felt like it was me against the world trying to get thin but I now know that it is me and God together working towards being healthy both physically and spiritually. I have been struggling with many things and during the challenge I really felt God showing me that I don’t need to focus so much on the number of days that I do well (workout and eat healthy) but that I need to just take it one day at a time and give myself grace when needed. Also your talk on WLW was awesome! Thanks for all that you do Clare and how you are letting God use you for His kingdom.
Clare on October 30, 2013 at 9:15 pm
Thank you so much for your encouragement! You are doing great–keep seeking God and running that race each day!
Myra on October 30, 2013 at 9:50 pm
“I now know that it is me and God together working towards being healthy both physically and spiritually.”
Deb Sanders on October 30, 2013 at 7:07 am
Oh my, God knows what we need at just the right time! This was it for me! I have been struggling with my eating choices lately. Still been going to the gym, but my diet choices have been not so good! This helped me understand a little better & I hope now I will get back to where I know God wants me to be. Thank you so much for your obedience in God’s leading!
Andi on October 30, 2013 at 7:30 am
What this post spoke to me was 2-fold:
1. That I need to quit saying “hate” as in “I hate getting up early to exercise” and say a more affirming, “I haven’t found my sweet spot yet!” Much better!
2. And if we work hard in the discipline part (my biggest weakness, giving up too soon) that sweet spot is right around the corner and something I can look forward to.
Leanna on October 30, 2013 at 9:02 am
Oh my goodness this blog post speaks volumes to me!! Thank you! Something that I certainly needed to read. You have given me some things to pray about.
Clare on October 30, 2013 at 9:14 pm
Good to hear!
Tanya on October 30, 2013 at 9:07 am
Thank you for sharing this. I have reached a motivational slump lately when it comes to getting in physical activity. I compare myself also to an ideal I think I should be. I have never thought of things this way and will be asking God to shed light on my health journey and where He thinks I should be.
Naomi on October 30, 2013 at 10:04 am
Thank you so much for this! I have struggled with my weight my whole life. About 5 years ago I finally got the courage and discipline to attack it and lose it! I have kept off about 75 pounds for those five years, and through 2 babies! PTL! I definitely go between discipline and pleasure. I think sometimes other ladies around me think I’m crazy and over the top for the amount of exercise I do but I absolutely love it! I love to encourage others in their health walk but struglle with feeling like I’m coming across as judgmental or condescending. I will definitely share this article! Thank you so much for your insight into the spiritual side of our health. I think it is really overlooked in our culture of excess! God Bless!
Clare on October 30, 2013 at 9:14 pm
I know what you mean as I struggle with similar feelings. Honestly, I just try and live my life as authentically as possible and when the time is right, I find that those come to me for advice and I can then give it to them. My rule of thumb with friends and family is to not bring this up unless asked for. It’s a touchy subject for so many but don’t underestimate your gift. Let your light shine!
Dani Joy on November 1, 2013 at 3:05 pm
Naomi, I feel the same or did, I have had a bit of a slump. Trying so hard to keep the weight off. Do you have a blog or website. I have a blog and Fb group to encourage ladies, but I am finding I need some more push!
Carol on October 30, 2013 at 10:07 am
Wow Claire,thank you so much for this post. It brings such insight. Truely God is using you in calling His people to a higher level.
Jennifer on October 30, 2013 at 11:45 am
This is exactly what I feel The Lord has been saying to me lately. Like, exactly. I’m still working on that email. BTW. got a bunch written and the draft got deleted. Ugh.
Kymberlee on October 30, 2013 at 11:46 am
Thank you for this post! Your words and insight inspire me to continue in my journey and to find that balance and sweet spot that is just right for me.
Angie on October 30, 2013 at 11:53 am
Thank you for this post. I am fighting to get out of the trap of belittling myself because I’m not like the rest of the girls in they gym. I struggle to even go, and haven’t been for some time. I watch everyone around me just flow through things so easily, and here I am struggling to walk on a treadmill. As I read this my eyes were being opened to what I am doing, and all that I am missing out on in my relationship with God. I’m trying to mold myself into someone He never intended me to be. I just want to keep reading and re-reading this post.
Clare on October 30, 2013 at 9:12 pm
I even struggle with that! There is always someone who is putting in more time, doing it better, or looking like you want…That race gets old, which is why I want you to just find your spot and run it! You can do it!
Alicia on October 30, 2013 at 11:55 am
Thank You for this post. It really made me think. I love it
Paula on October 30, 2013 at 12:22 pm
This is perfect and timely. I have been struggling with “getting into shape” , and have made the mistake of comparing myself to others. That is never a good idea, especially when i remembered those others have done some things to improve their looks, that I can not and will not do. I am not against surgery to improve ones looks, if that’s what you want to do..I just needed reminded that I am special in GOD’S sight and that I am working and finding my sweet spot to achieve my goals…no short cuts for this gal, and no more comparisons…I am unique and am happy to be unique.
Melissa on October 30, 2013 at 12:31 pm
I am so happy and relieved to read this post this morning! I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that the Lord planted a seed inside me 4 years ago ..a seed to run. Yes, physically run. Now you must understand that 4 years ago I could barely run from one light pole to the other light pole on our block with out gasping for air and feeling a “stitch” in my side. I loved the feeling I felt when I finished though. Like all the lies that say “You Cant, your a quitter, you never finish what you start”…just had to SHUTUP!
I began training after about a year of running, building on my mileage and began entering 10Ks. I have done one every year since and also did a half-marathon last October. My desires have changed from running long distances(longest was 13.1) to now wanting to pick up my pace and become faster. Part of this decision is because I feel like I am a heavy runner, and slow with a 12 to 13 minute mile. I weigh 16o and have had a goal to weigh a healthy 135 to 140. I eat healthy and I know that you can never outrun a healthy diet . running makes me hungry though! SO I am increasing protein, veggies and little fruit in the morning. I used to feel like I was idolizing running. It gave me clarity, grounded me, made me feel alive, and I had such a desire to do it. From this post I know see that this is a gift to be used to glorify the Lord. He has place these desires in me and I am forever thankful!
Tess on October 30, 2013 at 1:47 pm
I LOVE the realization that you have made regarding NOT apologizing for your passion! So many times we allow fear to set in and take control. Fear of what others think about us hinders our ability to fully live out our calling from God. It is easy for us to tease fit and healthy people due to our own insecurity about our fitness journey. I am SO thankful that you are living out God’s calling as your words and actions have spoken to me and God’s light is being revealed through you! Thank you!
Clare on October 30, 2013 at 9:10 pm
SO easy to let fear set in! All this just pushes me further along in my faith, which is how I know it’s OK to keep pursuing it! Glory to God! Thank you for your kind words!
Lesley on October 30, 2013 at 5:35 pm
I truly loved this post as it makes so much sense and truly points to God. Worship is where I find my sweet spot and I need to listen to Christian music when I work out. It truly motivates me. As far as why I exercise? I can honestly see all three areas but as you stated I move back and forth between them. May the Lord bless you as you continue to serve Him! You are a blessing!
Marlo Perdicas on October 30, 2013 at 9:00 pm
After reading this twice and talking to God about it, I have made some realizations. I have been wanting to be in the Pleasure tier, but the reality is that I am in the Discipline tier. I just completed your living and active challenge and am enjoying continuing the journey with slow but positive results.
When I am exercising I feel great, I am motivated, I feel Pleasure. However, when push comes to shove and my daily routine presses me, the reality is that I want to be with my kids, serve others at church and elsewhere, etc.. Those become my priorities. So instead of being in the Pleasure tier, I fall back to the discipline tier. Boy was I really feeling guilty about this for a long time, striving to be somewhere I wasn’t. But you’ve made a very good point. I shouldn’t feel guilty. My gift of teaching and serving my family and my community win out. That’s why I am hear. And I shouldn’t feel guilty for doing God’s work OR for being in the middle tier. They are both great places to be!
Thanks for the insight!Oh, and I’m that person who wants the second piece of cake.
Clare on October 30, 2013 at 9:09 pm
Oh, I have the same tugs even though I am at the pleasure tier! I just have to create time and say no to other things so that I can fit in family, marriage, volunteering, cooking, ministry, and health! I don’t want to make it sound like any of us who are in the pleasure tier aren’t doing these other things–we just do it maybe in place of other things, like say, a spic -n-span clean house, or greatly organized office….not that I’m speaking from experience or anything. ha!
Kortney on October 31, 2013 at 7:12 am
Thanks for the encouragement today! I find myself in the pleasure tier (most of the time but find myself having to be apologetic to others about it, or justifying why I love to workout so much. It is a frustrating thing when others around you who aren’t in that same spot, or haven’t found their “sweet spot” try to drag you down or make you feel guilty for making health and fitness a priority. I love how you said to own it! It’s easy to try to please others and not stick to the disciplines that allow me to feel my best and essentially be the best version of me. So, today I am going to work on owning it! And in that, hopefully lead by an example that would encourage others – but be ok with them saying I’m cray- cray haha
Stefani on October 31, 2013 at 8:37 am
I loved this post and it reenergizes me! I have definitely been unmotivated lately and allowed the enemy to creep in. I can now see through your awesome visual that I’m trying to be at the Discipline tier and allow guilt to invade when I eat a cookie, or don’t work out for an hour and maybe only 20 minutes. So thank you for helping me feel a little more at ease and own that I am soooo at the STEWARDSHIP tier and that’s okay. Like you mentioned in your WLW video I am an all or nothing girl so I assume that I should be working out like an Olympic athlete and to do so is less than acceptable and even think God is disappointed in me when I don’t. I lost 45 pounds this past year and I am learning losing it was the easy part. Finding the motivation to continue the journey to health (and not just for a supermodel body) is my challenge. Oh Claire how it’s so true that health is so much more than just exercise and what we eat and it truly is spiritual! This post was just the encouragement I needed. Thank you!
Kathy on October 31, 2013 at 2:07 pm
AWESOME site. Feel so blessed to have come across it. God is so good to give you just what you need and this post is just that. THANKS!!
Brandy on October 31, 2013 at 4:03 pm
How fun to find a passionate Christian who also loves to work out! I’ve been an athlete my whole life and have not found many Christians who are passionate about staying healthy. In fact, I recently received some judgement from a friend who thinks women shouldn’t look so strong!
I’m firmly in the pleasure zone – I’d work out as much as my husband would hang out with our 3 little ones. And I’ve questioned in the same way…why do I love it so much? I’m trying to stop questioning the way God has wired me, and start using it as an opportunity to talk to nonbelievers at the gym. Maybe I can share the good news with them and be salt and light, even during INSANITY!
Katie on October 31, 2013 at 4:56 pm
I really appreciate your post! I have found my “sweet spot” with my exercise and then either life becomes too busy or I set goals out of my own desires instead of OWNing my spot where the Lord has placed me. I literally did let out a sigh of relief reading your words and feeling like that is what God has wanted me to hear! He’s been looking to me to chill and just be me rather than strive and miss the image of others I admire.
Thanks again!
Your sister in Christ,
Kandi on October 31, 2013 at 9:40 pm
Wow! Wow! Seriously, this just made so much sense to me! I feel like as I prayed and thought about it, I can see how God is guiding me to the discipline tier in exercising and stewardship tier in eating, but sometimes I think I need to hurry up and be more disciplined in eating (ie: cutting out all sugars cold turkey only to last two days and binge on some major crap) instead of receiving the grace that God has given me for today and walking in that grace.
Gosh – I’m still just stunned – this just makes sooo much sense to me! And thank you for owning your gifting and ministry in this area of health and fitness. You just really clarified the difference between those things being your god, to those things bringing glory to God, and you inspired me not to shut off my gifts because everyone else may not be as enthusiastic about them.
Clare, thank you so much for sharing this word that God gave you!! You just blessed my socks off!
Dani Joy on November 1, 2013 at 3:00 pm
Yes, balance is so ImPortent and finding our niche for this time in our lives, finding what God wants for us. I love your blog and this post is right on! It’s exactly what we have been thinking.
My husband and I began a Sports ministry two years ago in Gijon Spain” we have been trying to get it off thground, trying to use the talents he has given us, and block out the criticism. Unfortunately we are afraid of losing support and we are in great need. It is what God put on our hearts and we are going to keep on until He moves us.
Now, on a different note, what happens when you had your sweet spot health wise and now your body is rebelling? I can’t seem to get back to that high metabolism fat burning I had a year ago. I am exercising 40 min a day 4-5 times a week three of those days with weights. I am eating a low carb diet with a free day. I have been maintaining for a few years now but it doesnt feel like a sweet spot anymore. I am struggling to keep the weight off. Even leAding challenges and fitness classes. I love what I do but feel like my body is stuck. Do you have any insight?
Beth on November 2, 2013 at 2:43 pm
Clare, thanks for sharing this post. Right now I’m looking for the pleasure. I’ve been in the other tiers and I know I need to find that sweet spot in the pleasure part of health and exercise. I know it’s good for me. I know that when I’m disciplined I’m better. I want to have fun though too! It’s been a drudgery…Thanks for the grace woven throughout your post!
I guess the best “workout” is the one that you will do! I’ll keep looking for that. I found out that I really like (like I’m additcted to it, kind of like) riding a tandem bike with my husband. Now that the weather is getting cold I’m going to find something else….not really a hard core workout, but it is a way to stay healthy physically. Peace!
Ashley on January 25, 2014 at 9:17 am
This is a great explanation! I love it! I want so badly to be in the pleasure level, but honestly, I struggle to stay in the stewardship one. And, I can see that God is using fitness to mold me into a more obedient believer. I have never been one to exercise or be active, but God has been working on me, showing me that this is a part of the Christian walk. We have started a ‘church fit’ group at my church, and it is a great tool for me to stay focused. Thank you so much for this and your blog/Facebook posts!! You are a great encourager!
Rebecca on November 3, 2013 at 12:57 am
Thank you for this post and your whole blog! What you said makes a lot of sense and is very helpful. The comparison game and the guilt cycle is rough. Have you read or seen A Million Little Ways by Emily Freeman? This, Claire, is your ART! God Bless!
Denise Ross on January 25, 2014 at 5:47 pm
Wow! I’ve had the last few months thinking on what makes me tick, what gives me joy, joy that I can spread to others in my renewed attitude. I have a few different sweet spots actually. My painting while listening to praise music- max volume- lol, running – I’m training for a half marathon, God willing this coming July I’ll be running it. And cooking/baking for both my family, friends and work colleagues. I’ve actually just figured out that it’s ok to love all three, feel rejuvenated by all of them in their own way and be thankful that they each bring me Joh, peace and closer to our wonderful God. Is there anyone else out there who has more than one?
Cindy on January 25, 2014 at 7:13 pm
Clare – I am so glad you shared this again on Facebook. How did I miss reading it before today? It’s just what I needed to read. God has wired me differently and your post echoes how I have been feeling lately. Thank you. I’m passionate about healthy living and I believe God has called me to encourage others.
Ashley on January 27, 2014 at 10:43 am
This is a great explanation! I love it! I want so badly to be in the pleasure level, but honestly, I struggle to stay in the stewardship one. And, I can see that God is using fitness to mold me into a more obedient believer. I have never been one to exercise or be active, but God has been working on me, showing me that this is a part of the Christian walk. We have started a ‘church fit’ group at my church, and it is a great tool for me to stay focused. Thank you so much for this and your blog/Facebook posts!! You are a great encourager!
Lisa on January 28, 2014 at 2:48 pm
Thank you so much for this “long tangent!” It was exactly what I needed to read today. I purposely went to your page for encouragement in exercise. I am currently at the ‘stewardship’ level, and longing for the ‘discipline’ level. I managed to exercise for 30 min 3 times last week. My goal is to 1.Start each day with at least 15 min (though that seems not enough) of time alone with God and His Word. 2. Followed by, at least 30min each day of exercise. On weekends I would like to enjoy some physical activity with my family.
I believe these are very doable goals – and with blog posts such as yours, I believe will inspire and encourage me to keep it up. The true motivation is to take care of the gift of health The Lord has given.
Thanks again for being an encourager…and thanks for being so honest too.
Our Home Of Many Blessings on April 27, 2015 at 3:32 pm
Love this! I added you to my Provebs 31 page,and do your workouts also!Thank you for posting!
Maritza on July 11, 2017 at 2:19 am
Wow! I needed to read and hear this! I put so much pressure on myself for when I do not train, or when I eat something unhealthy! I think it is also a body image and self respect for me. Thank you so much Clare for this.
Angela on March 11, 2019 at 11:56 am
Trying to find my way in my health journey. I stay frustrated with my health and especially my diet and was led to your website today, Clare. Thank you for this.
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Clare helps women find the clarity and confidence in the front lines of their life. For the women who are tired. Worn down. There is more for you in life. Whether you are finding blocks in motherhood, work, relationships, or faith – you will find renewed clarity and confidence to move forward.
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TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran has begun producing enriched uranium at 60% purity at the country’s underground Fordo nuclear plant, official media reported Tuesday, describing it as a response to a resolution by the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog.
The increased enrichment, reported by the official news agency IRNA, was seen as a significant addition to the country’s nuclear program.
From Vienna, the U.N. nuclear watchdog — the International Atomic Energy Agency or IAEA — said the 60% enrichment at Fordo comes on top of similar production at the Natanz plant in central Iran.
The IAEA also said that Iran plans a “significant expansion” in its production of low-enriched uranium at Fordo and a second production building at Natanz. Fordo is some 100 kilometers (62 miles) south of the capital of Tehran.
Enrichment to 60% purity is one short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90%. Nonproliferation experts have warned in recent months that Iran now has enough 60%-enriched uranium to reprocess into fuel for at least one nuclear bomb.
IRNA did not give details on the amount of the enriched uranium being produced at Fordo.
Later Tuesday, a joint statement from Germany, France and Britain — the three Western European countries that remain in the Iran nuclear deal — condemned Iran’s latest action to further expand its nuclear program.
“Iran’s step is a challenge to the global non-proliferation system,” a statement from the three said. “This step, which carries significant proliferation-related risks, has no credible civilian justification.”
“We will continue to consult, alongside international partners, on how best to address Iran’s continued nuclear escalation,” the statement added.
On Monday, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Nasser Kanaani, said his country was taking the steps in reaction to a resolution adopted last week by the IAEA.
The resolution, approved by the IAEA’s board of governors, called for Iran’s cooperation with a probe by the agency into man-made uranium particles found at three undeclared sites in the country.
The joint statement by Germany, France and Britain said that Iran’s claims that its latest actions are a reaction to that resolution were “unacceptable.”
Earlier this month, the IAEA said it believes that Iran has further increased its stockpile of highly enriched uranium. As recently as last week, the agency criticized Tehran for continuing to bar the agency’s officials from accessing or monitoring Iranian nuclear sites.
A separate report said IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi is “seriously concerned” that Iran has still not engaged on the agency’s probe into man-made uranium particles at the three undeclared sites — the key sticking point in the talks for a renewed nuclear deal.
It has been nearly two years since IAEA officials have had full access to monitor Iran’s nuclear sites, and five months since the surveillance equipment was removed.
The IAEA’s assessment came as efforts to revive Iran’s 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, which eased sanctions on Iran in return for curbs on its nuclear program, have stalled.
The United States unilaterally pulled out of the nuclear deal — formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA — in 2018, under then-President Donald Trump. It reimposed sanctions on Iran, prompting Tehran to start backing away from the deal’s terms.
The semi-underground enrichment facility in Natanz is home to thousands of centrifuge machines. Iran began 60% enrichment in Natanz in 2019.
Natanz was target of sabotage in 2021 , an explosion that hit new halls for installing centrifuge machines as Iran called that a “nuclear terrorism” and a shadow war between Tehran and Israel, the prime suspect in the sabotage, raged.
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Interested in participating in a carbon credit market to get paid for practices like cover cropping? you also share important article.
It allows users to create auction alerts if what theyre after isnt for sale at that specific time. Features include clear visibility of plants needs, water-demand, health, and growth based on direct plant-sensing; smart AI-based irrigation recommendations; irrigation/nutrition scheduling and planning; and seamless execution of irrigation/nutrition plans.
Having real-time updates that are relatable to the farmer are key in todays world. Please emailyour nomination to us atagonline@agriculture.com. Be sure to check out this years list of agriculture apps, many of which reflect the trends identified by our experts.
iPad,iPhone, Drift App organizes seed trait information in your fields and neighboring fields in order to mitigate potential spray drift damage each season. Kisan Yojana.
Android,iPad,iPhone, The Farmobile DataEngine is a powerful platform to collect, standardize, view, and share data. Thank you for sharing such a nice and informative Blog. 5. A Web-based customer service dashboard allows the advisor's organization to see open cases, resolution status, and farmer feedback in real-time. Growers, PCAs, or plant nutritionists can search for deficiency symptoms by crop to access images of visual symptoms. Display analyzed data in heat maps or graphical formats. Android, iPhone, iPad, BeCrop is a proprietary technology developed by Biome Makers, integrating genomics, AI, and ag data to identify the microbial biomarkers and provide a meaningful explanation of soil function in agriculture, including biodiversity, crop vulnerability and nutrition. Great summary of activity in the app space. Wondering whether cover cropping will improve your soil productivity? The app lets you maximize equipment use and other resources to get the greatest profit possible and allows farm owners to get a fair market price for services offered. When the reel stops retracting for any reason, a shutdown signal is automatically sent to the pump. Agtech companies are not immune to this one-and-done dilemma, as they also only have one shot to impress new users. Start with loading boundaries, target points, and zones for each field from historical data files.
Farmland Finder is hoping to modernize and equalize the farm buying game.
FarmHand. The app also offers a secure payment system. There are over 250 farm equipment auction companies currently registered on the platform. The latest feature isFrames by Agworld, which is a low-threshold API structure that allows other technology providers to visualize data in Agworld without having to go through the expense of creating bespoke two-way data integration. Android,iPad,iPhone, The app enables growers, crop consultants, farm staff, precision specialists, and operation managers to truly work as one. A monthly subscription fee applies, but users can pay month to month.
You can also map field boundaries and layout grids for sampling on the fly. No internet connection? Thanks for compiling and sharing this to everyone , [] Best Agriculture Apps for 2021CropLife machine vision Google News [], I really wouldnt call this the best ag apps, but a general list. Grower360 provides the portal to let customers view their accounts in real-time, see past activity, and view the details needed to make informed decisions. Below are nine apps that put their digital money where their mouths are. Enjoy social media but prefer to keep it focused on farming or connect with other farmers? 4 Apps that Increase Irrigation Efficiency, Successful Farming partners to expand podcast network, 5 ways digital agriculture tools helped farmers in 2020.
And a good user experience can create the kind of loyalty to keep them coming back for more, increasing engagement and confidence each time. Agworlds document management, data capture tools, farm maps, library of labels and SDS, and communication tools improve your workflow and increase your production efficiency. Set up alerts so that you never miss an important event. The app lets users diversify herbicide protocols to prevent resistant weeds from spreading by entering the sites of action they are already using and browsing a list of others that can be used to help diversify.
In order to make the growers work easier in the day-to-day, companies should strive to create simpler, more intuitive app experiences. Growing Degree Days Calculator provides weather-based GDD calculation that measures heat accumulation and helps predict outcomes such as the approximate date the crop will reach maturity. App data is now saved to iCloud automatically. Create growth, disease, insect, water, weed, and other reports to track crops during the season. The toolsetis designed for agronomy service providers, specialty crop advisors, crop consultants, andagri-service companies like retail providers and regional cooperatives. This article is very very useful I like it, The article you have shared is amazing! Learn more >>. One of the most important parts of every app is accessibility, or the ability for users to interact with an app, says Reinder Prins, Chief Marketing Officer for Agworld. From scouting solutions to easy management of your clients documents, Farm Dog digitizes your operations in order to improve efficiencies and grow revenues. The one-stop portal provides your business with those tools that save you time in the field and in the office, improve your communication with your clients, and provide the data management solutions that your business requires. The BeCrop portal provides all the information regarding a crop in the palm of their hand. It describes its service as creating a network of experienced ag laborers in real-time that can be filtered by location, ratings, work experience, availability, and more.
why? With over 4,000 members on the platform to date, it provides an opportunity to share resources, advertise events, crowdsource hacks for farming problems, and features articles about a variety of topics like cover crops and understanding mycorrhizae. Access the four eKonomics calculators in the field or on the go so you can maximize your return on investment and minimize your time searching for answers. [], Oh, wow! But what are some of the characteristics of a good user experience? Heres a breakdown of what you can expect to find in the slideshow, which will receive updates throughout the year. I especially like Mix My Sprayer because it allows you to input the chemicals you routinely use to a user-defined list and quickly calculate tank-mix amounts with multiple choices for units.
An informative post! Keeping track of scouting data can be a nightmare especially if multiple parties are involved in the process.
The PUC is a cellular-and-GPS device that plugs into a farm machines diagnostic port, listens to the sensors, and sends the engine and agronomy data to the DataEngine, where it is organized, standardized and sent to your Farmobile DataEngine account for easy access. The design of the application needs to be consistent to where it allows for easy navigation that enhances the user experience.
Designed with a mobile-first user experience, ag retailers' customers will have access to their data on any deviceanywhere, anytime.
FarmHQ constantly monitors the status and speed of your reel, tracking run progress and watching for equipment failures. With the new RF-C1 Irrigation Controller and DropControl App manage your farm through the cloud or using bluetooth connection directly in the field. Data refreshes every 30 minutes and Agrology models curate intuitive and easy to implement alerts and insights that are sent directly to the mobile app.
iPhone, iPad, Sirrus helps agronomists and farmers collaborateon farming decisions by making field data accessible and easy to collect. Advisors can manage multiple farmer service tickets through a dashboard and remote video that allows them to see what the farmer sees in real-time. Prioritize fields to scout and sample, navigate to areas at risk, and record observations with just a few clicks. For many app developers, it all starts with access. Ive also included several older apps that may have been off your radar but are definitely worthy of downloading.
As the agribusiness industry moves faster and faster, mobile ag professionals need the ability to quickly find actionable insights whenever and wherever decisions are made. GROWERS Rally helps retailers connect with customers digitally, creating a professional experience for the farmer-retailer relationship. Spend less time fielding clerical phone calls and get down to business faster by starting the conversation informed.
A farmer came up with the concept while workingwith a farmland private equity group and attempting to buy equipment for his own farm. The app is the most convenient way to access, capture, manage and share your farm data from anywhere. Agrology customers own and control their data, enabling them to put their farms data to work for their business. The Farm21 app allows growers and crop consultants to save and share scouting data from fields.
Want more agriculture apps? 9. Models used in the app predict the risk of plant diseases occurring by using statistical models coupled to weather information for user-selected dates. He is responsible for managing an array of online products, including newsletters, websites, video, and social media.
Access to these insights into your farm helps you proactively manage your day to improve logistics and productivity, as well as increasing confidence that your jobs are being executed as planned. It tells you when and where to spray based on traits planted in your field and neighboring fields, weather conditions, and nozzle pressure/size. It features ratings and reviews and allows local workers to list their work experience. Buyers can sign up to use the site free of charge to browse listings or purchase a premium service that provides access to information about comparable sales, soil mapping, satellite imagery analysis, and yield-related data. Gain insight into your daily and weekly operations. Information is provided 'as is' and solely for informational purposes, not for trading purposes or advice.
2. The user-friendly app lets you order chemicals and plant nutrition products directly to your door or to one of our warehouses for easy pick-up. Allowing farmers who want to capitalize on their investment (equipment being the most prevalent) to connect with other farmers that need help. Field nodes simultaneously monitor and control system performance as well as control components like valves and pumps. Learn more >>, The latest update for the AFS Connect Farm mobile app includes support for prescriptions and large square balers; new layer visualizations; machine utilization maps; and more.
Hopkins originally joined MMW in 1994 as an editor for Greenhouse Grower magazine before transitioning to Business Manager of its MeisterPro division. The E-Luminate Mobile app helps farmers get a real-time look at their farm and see their data in a new way - all from their iOS smartphone or tablet. Everything is stored centrally on the platform from which you can share insights with your crop advisor, grower, and customers. GeoPard Variable Rate (VR) prescription maps are used for fertilizing, crop protection, seeding, irrigation, desiccation, and optimization of crop inputs and yield while preserving resources. In my work as an agronomist a lot of tasks are solved by software and applications. Field- and vehicle-specific data is more accessible than ever, with complete field and vehicle lists visible alongside the map. Reduce input costs by focusing on the relevant areas of your fields. Android, iPhone, iPad, Grower360 from SSI gives growers timely access to their information, creating a better relationship with ag retailers by enhancing the customer experience. Manage your schedule and track farm task completion. Have an app youd recommend to other farmers? He has a Communications Degree from Cleveland State University. Especially in agriculture, where users are often in the field, out in the glaring sun, or using the app with dirty fingers during scouting activities, its important for an app to be as accessible (readable) as possible.. It is transferring over more and more to the agtech space where our partners and their customers expect a similar experience. Its your data, collected independently, standardized by Farmobile, and made available to view, share and use. Farmers enter the specific equipment that theyre hunting for and can instantly search every auction on the site. Labor is divided into three categories: livestock, crops, and transportation. Growers can view field boundaries, soil tests, maps, weather data, and a detailed timeline of activity for each field. Need help harvesting a crop by someone who does it well? Valley Insights, powered by Prospera, allows you to get real-time notifications of issues in your fields, so you can take immediate action.
With a focus in elevator-to-grower relationships, growers see their elevators brand and data through a white-labeling approach. Users have access to a wealth of field information when they select a map from the main map screen. Open Range. Learn more >>, Smartwyre's mobile product catalog and pricing provides field sales representatives up-to-date product and pricing information that grower and retailer customers are demanding. Todays users expect mobility when it comes to technology offerings. You have mentioned the great points that what we see is a strong rationalization of agtech providers to integrate with other providers where it makes sense. Users can scout crops for pest pressures and easily record and collect observation photos; create and share recommendations from the field; generate PDF reports and share via email or text; soil sample using a grid, zones, or previous soil sampling points; and much more.
Think of how you shop on Amazon from your phone or tablet to quickly reorder or buy something. 4. This eliminates timing errors that damage crops and waste water, energy, money, and time. Android, iPhone, iPad, Market+ by Indigo is the digital merchandising application for the ag supply chain that increases efficiency, optimizes assets, and unlocks sustainably sourced contracts, to expand revenue opportunities.
To use, farmers input readily available information like the total area of the farm, information about crop- protection management and soil cultivation, and the estimated area of habitats like watercourses, ponds, and hedgerows. All are free and available in Google Play and Apples App Store. To see all exchange delays and terms of use, please see https://www.barchart.com/solutions/terms.
Farmmee connects you with haulers. The apps listed in the slideshow were either introduced or significantly updated in 2021. If users have an agtech app that they already use every day, it can often make sense for other/new providers to work together with this incumbent provider instead of trying to force users to include another app in their daily routine., A prime example of this is the new Frames by Agworld in the Agworld app. Great to be able to see all my contracts in one place and see what I needed to do next to get paid., Finally! The Spray Planner displays your fields in order of Sprayability Index, which factors in current weather conditions, seed trait/herbicide compatibilities in your fields and surrounding fields, as well as nozzle pressure and size. Listening to end users to understand the tools they need is important to drive adoption.
A farm laborshortageis putting serious pressure on producers. It also neutralizes some of the awkwardness or hurt feelings that can happen when an owner chooses to sell to one neighbor over another. The increased communication ask between ag retailer/coop and farmer has grown exponentially.. It can quantify the effect of different farm management practices providing the user with an objective way to gain recognition or premium payments for using certain practices or to assess whether a new practice is worth scaling up farm-wide. Learn more >>, John Deere's Operations Center Mobile (formerly MyOperations) takes remote management of your field operations and equipment to the next level. Based on real-time data from the plant, the fruit (in relevant crops), and the irrigation system growers can avoid stress, optimize water delivery, and achieve better and higher yields. The system also provides ground truth data on soil matric potential, soil moisture, soil conductivity, soil temperature, and actual irrigation events.
We cannot assume every grower will be able to navigate a more complex application the experience needs to be as clear as possible. Farmers can connect with multiple advisors from different companies to submit and receive support in real-time via video. Record notes, harvests, soil health, crop or field amendments and treatments, and more. Your branded Grower Portal, powered by AgVend technology, is an integrated web and mobile application that keeps your customers digitally connected to your business. Ag Butler. Oh, wow!
The budget in this early stage is 250.000 and we are raising 100k in this stage and small investors are welcome as we are not approaching big funds (too early) . on demand mobile application development. The goal of Drift App is to give growers and applicators an easy-to-use tool to manage spray operations, so that we can spray more herbicide on-target, keeping our fields clean and protecting our traits from regulation in the future. Hi any clue who would like to participate in a small scale starting app for agritrade for small farmers which we want to uplift to a more marketplace type functionality for import and export .
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Walking down the streets of New York City for the very first time, I noticed several artists drawing tourists in the middle of the pathways in the city. Gazing at their artwork, I couldn't help but wonder, "If I asked them to draw me, would they include my facial, port wine stain birthmark? Would they ask if I want it included in the image? Or would they make that decision without asking me?"
While I didn't act on that idea in that moment, a few weeks later I found myself contacting several artists with one goal in mind: To see how many people would naturally include my birthmark in an art piece, and to see how each artist interprets it.
As I started this journey, there were only two rules that I gave each artist:
1. Each piece must remain politically neutral.
2. My character must remain modest in her attire.
Sometimes when we look in the mirror, we don't like what we see. We're having a bad hair day, a new pimple randomly appeared on our face over night, we've been bullied, or we've just never been friends with our reflections.
While this blog entry rooted from an idea attached to my birthmark, I've had days where I've struggled to embrace my appearance because of "normal" reasons. My hair never wants to cooperate, I've always struggled with my weight, and while my birthmark as a whole doesn't bother me - my face isn't symmetrical because of the extra blood flow...And that's all my personal, internal dialogue going on there. I've also been turned into a meme because of my difference, been told I'm "contagious", and was once approached about being on the shows "Too Ugly for Love"/"The Undateables".
Trust me, I get it. It's hard. It can be a constant, uphill battle - both internally and externally.
Yet, in the last four months, I've worked with 50 artists, and no two artists have drawn me the exact same way. So, no matter how we see ourselves in the mirror, odds are...That's not how the rest of the world sees us.
To start my social experiment, I went to San Francisco. The day I went, there were very few artists out working due to some morning rain. However, I was able to meet four different artists. Here are the images that were created:
The first artist I met asked me if I wanted my birthmark in the image. With a smile, I told him, "Sure!" We talked the whole time, getting to know one another. At some point it came up that I was once turned into a meme - which went viral to 30 million people. Excitedly he exclaimed, "I thought you were the meme lady!! Wow. I never thought I would see someone's picture online, then see them in-person, and draw them." He is from the US, and you can follow him here on Instagram.
As this artist from Russia started drawing me, he pointed to my face and asked, "Is that permanent? Do you want that in the drawing?" He told me he often asks men the same question about their facial hair because "maybe they forgot to shave that day". About 15 minutes later, he told me, "I don't know if this is rude to say or not - but it looks as though you were punched in the face." #YouShouldSeeTheOtherGuy
This artist was from China, and never brought up my birthmark.
This artist sat by the first artist mentioned above, and is also from the US. As he listened to our conversation, he told me, "I wouldn't of asked you if you wanted it in the picture. It's a part of your character." So, I asked him to draw me too.
After my interactions with the four artists in San Fransisco, I knew I needed to take this social experiment a step further. It was time to take it online.
Going to both Craigslist and Fiverr, I emailed several artists, asking them to draw me. Two of the artists requested at least 5 photos, so I made a rule: every artist that draws me will receive the exact same photos. So, I sent two photos where my birthmark is super obvious, two where it's hidden by special makeup, and one where it still shows - but the color is calmed down due to a lower-end makeup brand. After attaching all five images, I ended each email with, "Please let me know if you have any questions! I can't wait to see what you come up with."
I emailed 8 artists online. In the end...
- One artist Googled me and found my blog, and quickly learned that my birthmark is something that I celebrate.
- One artist added my birthmark, without asking about it.
- Two artists asked me if I wanted my birthmark in the image.
- The rest initially left it off, until I asked them to include it.
Here are some of the images I received, and some of the stories behind them:
Many of the artists left my birthmark out of the image when they weren't told to add it. However, I was okay with that, knowing there is so much more to me than my birthmark. If an artist didn't include the mark without my prompting, I would ask them why. This artist (from New Zealand), for example, explained, "You're birthmark wasn't left out intentionally (I happen to think it's beautiful), its only a part of the process in creating the art. The style only shows the shadows that are created by outlines (hair, face, glasses) and depth of facial feature curves (mouth, eyes, nose, smile lines). If your birthmark happened to have deeper lines like a scar perhaps, then the lines would be there to show it. I certainly hope I didn't offend you - I really do happen to think you're birthmark is beautiful. :-)"
This artist from Venezuela specializes in a few different styles, one being Disney. Going off my favorite Disney Princess, Belle, this is what was created. And since it's based off of Belle's character, I asked him to include the book, "Looking for Lovely", which was written by one of my favorite authors, Annie F. Downs. Looking for Lovely was written to help encourage others to search for the little lovely things in life, during the good times and the bad - which is what I've strived to do for years. Life is too hard to dwell in the hardship, and those little lovely moments are crucial, which is a lesson I learned early due to my journey with a facial difference - and just by living every day life. But y'all...Read. This. Book. Find your lovely.
The cool thing about this Picasso style image is that the artist (from Argentina) included my birthmark without asking about it. They also added purple highlights - which I sometimes have, but weren't included in any of the images I sent them.
This artist from Venezuela originally left my birthmark off the image that she created. Messaging her back, asking why it was left off, she explained to me, "I didn't know if you wanted your birthmark. In the beginning I wanted to make a lot of flowers on your face that represent the birthmark but I was not sure. So I just let the flower around you." In addition, she also explained that she has a cousin who has a birthmark just like mine. While she's never drawn her cousin, she is certain her cousin would ask her to leave off her birthmark.
A Social Experiment Turned into a Celebration
After a while I wondered how the images would differ, if I intentionally asked people to include my birthmark in their art. What would people come up with if I asked them to celebrate the birthmark, and/or a part of my story?
Encouraging me along the way, when the artists found out about my project, several of them offered to draw my images for free and/or at a discounted rate - which was extremely kind of them, and I am forever grateful for their sweet hearts.
Interestingly enough, one artist (from Japan) left my birthmark off, even after I asked them to include it from the get-go. Also, out of all the artists I messaged with - only one told me they did not want to be a part of my project. When I inquired why, the artist from Spain told me, "...This is not my type of project. My beauty in my eyes should not be the same to you, so I think I can't satisfy you in my own ways, it will be different which may worry you." That being said, I'm not sure if they meant they didn't find my birthmark to be beautiful, or they were afraid of being given full creative rights to celebrate it without specific parameters.
Here, however, are some of the amazing pieces I did receive...
My good friend, Rick Guidotti (from the US), is a camera guru. He's an award winning, former fashion photographer who used to photograph models, such as Cindy Crawford. Through his organization, Positive Exposure, he now travels the world photographing people with different medical conditions, celebrating every single person he meets. (He's even done a TEDx Talk, which you can find here.)
This was created by artist Ossain Cardenas, from the United States. Looking me up on Instagram and here on my blog, he saw a picture of my favorite "She Will Not Be Moved" necklace and included it without any prompting. He told me, "I felt the message on that necklace was the perfect piece to complete the portrait...I believe it gave my interpretation of your image more power."
This artist is from Serbia, and while sharing what inspired this image, she told me, "I was thinking: so what if she has a birthmark on her face, she has energy that can hold the whole universe." Definitely a favorite! (Okay. Real talk. I may say that about every piece listed here...But this one is definitely on my "top 5" list.)
While I've never given a TED Talk, it is on my God-sized dream board to do so, and it was important to me to have this image drawn. Working with the artist, she asked me if I preferred a more realistic look, or more cartoon style. Wanting to give her wiggle room to be as creative as she wanted, I let her pick - with the request of including one of my favorite necklaces from Natalie Grant's collection, "She Will Not Be Moved", and a bracelet from 3Strands Global - an organization fighting back against human trafficking. This artist is from South Africa, and as it turns out, we both have TED Talk dreams! I want to give a talk, and she wants to do animations for them. (What are the odds I would ask an artist to create an image representing my TED Talk dream, and that they would also have a TED Talk dream too?)
In January, at an event called Dare to Be, one of my God-sized dreams turned into a God-sized reality: I shared the stage with the woman who said "yes" to speaking, so that I could say "yes". I shared the stage with Natalie Grant, and her British pal, Charlotte Gambill. While I have a video of this moment, I don't have a good picture. So, I asked my new friend, Sara Erb (also from California), to draw this moment for me. Once again, I gave her freedom in how she chose to celebrate this moment, and I love what she came up with.
The sweetest 5-year-old in the world drew this picture for me. Rayna, my cousin, drew us together by a house that "we're going to buy and live in together for forever". It doesn't get much sweeter than that. (Rayna is from California.)
My dear friend, Brittany Echols (from Alabama), drew this piece for me. After drawing this piece, she told me what inspired her creation, "While I was creating this piece I thought about the purpose behind the piece. Often beauty is defined in certain terms or ideas. It seems to be black or white. This is beautiful, and this is not. Beauty is often found in the most unexpected places and it's not black and white. Beauty is often found in one-of-a-kind pieces. Crystal Hodges is that through and through! She is beautiful and one-of-a-kind on the inside and out!" You can follow Brittany's blog here.
A couple of years ago, my friend Denise Nicholes, wrote a superhero story for me. So, in turn, I thought it would be fun to have a superhero created in honor of the story Denise wrote for me. The character's name is Amethyst, which is represented by the "A" on the shirt. And I have to say - I love the pink highlights in the hair! (This was drawn by an artist here in the United States.)
Let's be real. Floating books, flying pens, and a map? This. Is. So. Me. (This artist is from Indonesia, and she totally gets me.)
I've probably said this about all the images during the last four months, but this is definitely one of my favorites. This artist is from the beautiful country of Uruguay, and even included my dog, Ruby. I mean, come on, y'all...I'm a paper doll! How cool is that? When I asked her about how most people react to being drawn, she told me, "Sometimes people want me not to draw their glasses or make them look younger, or straight hair instead of curly. Nobody seems really happy with themselves!...I thought that you couldn´t be prettier: Your purple spot seems to me a watercolor brushstroke!!"
While I gave this artist the freedom to be as creative as she liked, I did request this image. It took me nearly 24 years before meeting anyone with the same conditions that I have (a Port Wine Stain birthmark and Sturge Weber Syndrome), and I wanted this moment to be celebrated. Drawn with me is my friend Sophia. She's from Australia, and has quite the story. To learn more about Sophia and to hear more of her story, you can find her page here on Facebook. The artist who drew this is from Macedonia, and was excited to be a part of this project.
This artist is from Venezuela. This was the first time she's drawn a person in this style, and I think she did a great job! Looking at this art piece, my friend Gabby told me, "I like that she made your face asymmetrical, since the birthmark does affect the symmetry."
Trying to figure out the right color for my fin and for the background, we talked about different possibilities. I threw out a few colors, one being blue, since that's the color of my eyes. The artist replied, "I liked your suggestion of blue because it helped bring out the color that makes your birthmark shine and be truly you. :)" This talented artist is from the US, and you can follow her here on Instagram.
Drawing me in a Tim Burton style, this artist from Macedonia told me, "Like the sky, every person is beautiful. The sky can have loads of shapes, and colors, but no matter what it's still beautiful. Behind the clouds the sky is always clear."
This was drawn by my new friend, Bryce Westervelt, from the United States. He told me some stories about some clients who requested to be modified so much that they became more of a "Utopian" version of themselves, after requesting some major artistic "plastic surgery." Talking about my project, he told me, "It is, in a way, very vulnerable to allow someone else to depict you - to dare to be seen how someone else sees you."
(This was drawn by an artist from Russia.)
Okay. So I PROMISE this was created before I found out about the Pokemon GO app. Gotta love being a 90's kid!
(This was created by an artist from Mexico.)
Interestingly enough, while I often have jokes about color coordinating my clothes to my face/birthmark, I literally never wear orange. Yet, so many of the artists incorporated orange into their creations - and it looks amazing. (This artist is from Pakistan.)
"Everything is AWESOME."
(I know - I now have the song stuck in my head too...Oops.)
This artist is from Vietnam and I love that she included my Winter Jam concert swag in this piece.
Several people have told me in the past that my birthmark looks like a heart. Recently, an article was published about my story, which also describes it as a heart shape. So, I thought it was interesting when this artist from Bosnia and Herzegovina saw it the same way.
My dear friend, Anna Donahue, drew this for me. She's 11 and drew this before ever meeting me. This summer I had the joy of meeting her and her family last month, and hearing about Anna's journey with Spina Bifida. (You can learn more about a nonprofit her mom, Annie Beth, started called Signposts Ministries here.)
So...What now?
I don't know where you're at in your life journey. But please know - from your physical appearance to your talents and passions, you are beautifully (or, swaggfully, if you're a dude) and wonderfully made. You're talented, and one of a kind. Your dreams are worth fighting for, and you are worth more than you know.
Follow me on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. You can also find me on Snapchat: crystal.hodges
39 comments:
Missy Scott August 22, 2016 at 4:32 PM
That was AMAZING, my friend! I'm simply floored.
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Crystal Hodges August 22, 2016 at 4:35 PM
Thanks, friend! These aren't even all the images that I received. I have a minion one, Peanuts character, and several more! There are so many talented artists out there!
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Unknown August 22, 2016 at 4:55 PM
I loved all of the paintings. They are beautiful just like you! You are an inspiration to us all!
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Crystal Hodges September 5, 2016 at 3:16 PM
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Anonymous August 22, 2016 at 5:01 PM
Awesome as always! Why not make a little "grid" of all the pics together, or all the "other" ones that you didn't feature. I"d love to see that!
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Crystal Hodges September 5, 2016 at 3:17 PM
I'll definitely have to do something to feature all the pieces. :-)
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Unknown August 22, 2016 at 8:41 PM
What an incredible idea of having different artists draw you!! You are so creative to think of this idea. I love love it!! Brilliant!
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Crystal Hodges September 5, 2016 at 3:17 PM
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Brandon Robinson August 22, 2016 at 11:25 PM
Wow it's an honor to be apart of this social experiment! Great post!
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Crystal Hodges September 5, 2016 at 3:16 PM
Thank YOU for being a part of it! I'm so thankful for you.
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JenniferSaake.blogspot.com August 23, 2016 at 6:17 PM
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Crystal Hodges September 5, 2016 at 3:16 PM
I'm so glad!
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JenniferSaake.blogspot.com September 6, 2016 at 4:46 PM
I linked to your post from http://strokeofgrace.blogspot.com/2016/09/facing-difference.html
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Matt August 24, 2016 at 8:50 AM
This was a really clever and interesting experiment! Thanks for sharing it.
Also, it's great to hear you sharing your story about having a port wine stain in such an open an positive way. I'm sure you're helping a lot of people. Keep up the great work!
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Crystal Hodges November 3, 2016 at 6:00 PM
Thank you for reading, Matt!! I'm glad you liked this entry. If you're interested in seeing the rest of the images, I just posted part two last night. :-)
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Rachel Lee September 9, 2016 at 10:46 AM
Crystal... We need a gallery to display them all.
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Crystal Hodges November 3, 2016 at 5:58 PM
Wouldn't that be fun?? I'm actually working on a video right now to display them all in one spot - I figure it's the next to best thing for now.
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Tracie Miller October 12, 2016 at 6:09 AM
I really enjoyed reading the article and seeing the pictures. Thank you for creating that. As a mother of a son with a facial PWS I want him to embrace it as you do, but I do worry about how others will treat him. Thank you for your transparency and openness. God is definitely using you!
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Crystal Hodges November 3, 2016 at 5:58 PM
Thank you for your comment, and for coming to my blog. I'm so glad that this blog entry has encouraged you! If you're interested in seeing the rest of the images, I just posted part two of Embrace You. Check it out! :-)
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Natasha Jordan November 7, 2016 at 9:45 PM
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Crystal Hodges February 2, 2017 at 9:40 AM
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Unknown December 3, 2016 at 8:41 AM
Love this! The universe one is pretty amazing. My daughter has a hemangioma in almost the same spot. We treated it for medical reasons,and now for cosmetic as well tho there will always be a shadow of it there, which is good with me bc it's very much a part of who she is while it doesn't define her. I feel like you have that perfect balance and know that's not an easy thing.
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Crystal Hodges February 2, 2017 at 9:41 AM
I usually do have a good balance, although there are a few off-balance days. You sound like a wonderful mother, and I'm sure your kiddo will grow up with a good and healthy balance as well! :-)
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Unknown May 4, 2017 at 9:32 PM
nice
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Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian(as)Muslims who believe in the Messiah, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Qadiani (as), Love for All, Hatred for None.
After reciting Tashahhud, Ta‘awwuz and Surah al-Fatihah, His Holiness, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad(aba) said that he would continue on from his speech delivered at the Jalsa Salana UK 2019, regarding the various rights which must be fulfilled, in light of the Holy Qur’an, and traditions of the Holy Prophet(sa). His Holiness(aba) said that it is in acting upon these teachings, that the rights of others can be honoured and fulfilled. By not acting upon these teachings, the problems of the world cannot be solved, nor can the rights of various parts of society be fulfilled.
His Holiness(aba) said that we have no need to adhere to the standards of rights which are set by worldly people, nor do we need to be defensive about our teachings. Rather, we should propagate our teachings of honouring the rights of others, so that true peace and harmony can come about in society. It is true, that the rights of society cannot be honoured until and unless it is accepted that there is One Creator of this universe, there is none worthy of worship except Him, and no partners should be associated with him. When this is done, and true belief in God is established, then the world can move towards establishing true peace.
Be Grateful to Mankind in Order to be Grateful to God
His Holiness(aba) said that God has enjoined at every step to honour the rights of His creation. In fact, He has said that until we are grateful to our fellow people, we cannot be grateful to God. Thus, Islam presents beautiful teachings of fulfilling the rights of others.
His Holiness(aba) said that further to the rights he has mentioned previously, he would continue by mentioning the rights of others which are taught by Islam. In fact, Islam’s teachings are so thorough, that it establishes the rights of even animals. Not only does Islam teach these rights, but teaches how to implements and enact them as well.
His Holiness(aba) said that Islam teaches to honour the rights of friends. One should befriend those who are pure of heart, and then honour that friendship. God Almighty states in the Holy Qur’an:
‘O ye who believe! take not others than your own people as intimate friends; they will not fail to corrupt you. They love to see you in trouble. Hatred has already shown itself through the utterances of their mouths, and what their breasts conceal is greater still. We have made clear to you Our commandments, if you will understand.’ (3:119)
His Holiness(aba) said that God Almighty has included friends in the sphere of close relatives, showing thereby the manner and care with which they should be treated.
His Holiness(aba) said that Islam teaches to honour friendship for the sake of God. Any other friendship is merely temporary, whereas a friendship for the sake of God carries a firm and strong bond, which is beyond mere friendship and can therefore be sustained. This also increases the love with which friends treat one another. The Holy Prophet(sa) said that anyone who prays for their brother when they are not present, angels pray for the same to be accepted in favour of the supplicant. Brothers here include friends as well. This is the manner in which Islam has fostered love between friends. Islam also teaches that friends should not be upset with each other and refrain from speaking with one another for more than three days. Furthermore, Islam teaches that one should also uphold the friendships of their parents, even after they have passed away, thus establishing the honour of friendships for generations.
His Holiness(aba) quoted the Promised Messiah(as) who likened his care for friends to a body which, when experiencing pain in one part, experiences pain throughout the body. The Promised Messiah(as) said that his restlessness for the wellbeing of his friends is like a mother’s restlessness for the wellbeing of her children. The Promised Messiah(as) related an incident of two friends, one of whom went on a journey. Whilst one was on a journey, the other requested the key to his safe and took some money. When the other friend returned and was informed of this, he became very happy, and due to this happiness, freed the worker who had not stopped his friend from doing so. This incident was to exhibit the close bond which friends should develop.
His Holiness(aba) said that Islam has enjoined fasting for Muslims, but has established rights for those who are ill. God Almighty says,
‘The prescribed fasting is for a fixed number of days, but whoso among you is sick or is on a journey shall fast the same number of other days;’ (3:168)
Thus, Islam has established the rights of those who are ill and exempted them from fasting, so long as they are ill, and until their health is restored.
His Holiness(aba) said that Islam also teaches to fulfil the desires of those who are ill. Once, the Holy Prophet(sa) was visiting someone who was ill, and that person expressed their desire for some bread. The Holy Prophet(sa) said that if a person who is ill desires something to eat, then an effort should be made to provide that for them. Islam also teaches that there is a great reward for those who visit the ill, thus advocating the rights of the ill.
His Holiness(aba) said that there was once someone who wished to see the Promised Messiah(as), but was unable to walk due to an ailment in his feet. The Promised Messiah(as) vowed to visit him, and the next day he fulfilled this promise and visited that person. It is recorded that at times, those who were ill would go straight to the door of the Promised Messiah(as) seeking medicine and expressing their grief, sometimes even staying for an hour at a time. Yet the Promised Messiah(as) would not usher them away, but instead would listen patiently and attentively. The Promised Messiah(as) expressed that tending to the ill is also a matter of faith, and something which should not be neglected by true believers.
His Holiness(aba) said that one of the five rights which one Muslim has over the other as stated by the Holy Prophet(sa) is to visit the ill.
His Holiness(aba) said that Islam has also established the rights of orphans. God Almighty says,
‘And come not near the property of the orphan, except in the best way, until he attains his maturity, and fulfil the covenant; for the covenant shall be questioned about.’ (17:35)
Taking Care of Orphans
Islam says that if one is able, they should spend out of their own pocket to care for orphans, and if they are unable to do so, then they should be extremely deliberate in their spending from the wealth of orphans. Furthermore, Islam says that when an orphan reaches the age of maturity, their wealth should be given to them. It is also stated in the Holy Qur’an:
‘Nay, but you honour not the orphan, and you urge not one another to feed the poor.’ (89:18-19)
Thus, Islam warns that there is punishment for one who does not honour and respect orphans. In this way, Islam has protected what is perhaps the weakest faction of society.
His Holiness(aba) said that once the Holy Prophet(sa) joined his index and middle finger together and said that one who takes care of orphans will be as close to him in heaven as the two fingers joined together. The Holy Prophet(sa) also warned that one who does not fulfil the rights of orphans and women should fear the wrath of Allah. The Holy Prophet(sa) said that the reward of one who takes care of three orphans will be equivalent to the reward of a person who stays up all night in prayer, fasts during the night, and strives in the way of Allah.
His Holiness(aba) quoted the Promised Messiah(as) who said that one should take care of orphans and the needy, and do so not for their own benefit or gain, but only to attain the pleasure of Allah Almighty and attain His nearness.
His Holiness(aba) said that Islam also teaches to uphold and fulfil oaths, thereby establishing the rights of oaths. God Almighty states in the Holy Qur’an,
‘Excepting those of the idolaters with whom you have entered into a treaty and who have not subsequently failed you in any thing nor aided anyone against you. So fulfil to these the treaty you have made with them till their term. Surely, Allah loves those who are righteous’ (9:4)
Thus, one of the qualities of righteous people is to uphold and fulfil oaths. It is recorded that the Holy Prophet(sa) said that one who breaks their oath, the Holy Prophet(sa) would be at odds with them on the Day of Judgement. On another occasion, the Holy Prophet(sa) said that there were two non-Muslims who were killed, and they also had pacts with the Holy Prophet(sa). Thus, the Holy Prophet(sa) gave their families blood-money for them, thus showing that even oaths with non-Muslims should be upheld.
His Holiness(aba) said that there is the famous incident at the time of the Treaty of Hudaibiyah, which took place even before the treaty had been completed. One of the conditions was that if any person feld from Makkah to the Holy Prophet(sa), they would be returned to Makkah. As the treaty was being written, a Muslim who had fled from Makkah and the persecution he faced there and came to the Holy Prophet(sa) requesitng to remain with him. However, the Holy Prophet(sa) said that he could not allow him to stay. He said that even though the treaty had not yet been signed, the condition had been written down, and so he honoured this oath.
Rights of Others During Wartime
His Holiness(aba) said that Islam has also established the rights of those at war. Often, those at war are merely trying to enforce their might, and though they claim to fight for rights, they are usurping the rights of others. If Islam gives permission to fight, it is only and solely for the purpose of establishing peace and religious freedom. It is stated in the Holy Qur’an,
‘Those who have been driven out from their homes unjustly only because they said, ‘Our Lord is Allah’—And if Allah did not repel some people by means of others, there would surely have been destroyed cloisters and churches and synagogues and mosques, wherein the name of Allah is oft commemorated. And Allah will surely help one who helps Him. Allah is indeed Powerful, Mighty—’ (22:41)
Islam states that if men were left free, then religion would be destroyed altogether. Islam thus enjoins justice as it is stated in the Holy Qur’an,
‘O ye who believe! be steadfast in the cause of Allah, bearing witness in equity; and let not a people’s enmity incite you to act otherwise than with justice. Be always just, that is nearer to righteousness. And fear Allah. Surely, Allah is aware of what you do.’ (5:9)
His Holiness(aba) said that whenever the Holy Prophet(sa) appointed a general or commander, he would advise them to act with righteousness, to be fair and just, to not transgress and, if the opponents lay down their arms and cooperate, to cease fighting. It is also recorded that the Holy Prophet(sa) would enjoin any envoy departing that they should strive to establish compassion, and should not level an attack until they have first invited the opposing party to peace. He would also instruct that no children, women or elderly people should be harmed.
His Holiness(aba) said that these days, people raise allegations against Islam, yet the same people carry out air-raids destroying hospitals and schools, or end up harming and killing innocent people. Yet the teachings of Islam are to foster peace and fulfill the rights of others.
His Holiness(aba) said that even at times of war, Islam has established the rights of opponents. Islam forbids Muslims from mutilating or humiliating the bodies of those opponents killed in battle. Furthermore, Muslims are instructed not to act deceitfully in battle. Women, children and elders should not be harmed. When going into another city or country for battle, the residents and citizens should not be harmed or terrorised, as is done by those who invade countries these days and carry out air-raids. The faces of opponents should not be harmed. Prisoners should be tended and cared for and given the same things to eat and wear as one eats and wears themselves. Similarly, Islam teaches not to destroy buildings, or cut down fruit-bearing trees.
His Holiness(aba) said that these days, when countries are at war, they are threatening the other with nuclear warfare; in fact in the last world war, nuclear bombs were actually used. However, when we look at the history of Islam and the examples of Companions(ra), we find that they never acted unjustly or cruelly in any way.
His Holiness(aba) said that these are only a few rights which he mentioned. If these rights are upheld, then true peace and harmony can be established in the world. However, if the world neglects the fulfilment of these rights, then the world should prepare for a global war.
His Holiness(aba) said that we must pray for the world to avoid such destruction, and that humankind may be able to recognise the One, True God. His Holiness(aba) prayed that may all Ahmadis remain safe and be saved from any and all hardships.
His Holiness(aba) then led the silent prayer.
His Holiness announced that the total attendance at the Jalsa over the three days was 8,887, of which 6,709 were men and 2,168 were women. Also, there were over 3,000 people who gathered in various mosques around the UK to watch the Jalsa Salana.
At the end, His Holiness(aba) said that people from different parts of the world could be seen taking part virtually in the Jalsa Salana, despite the varying time differences. This too is an extraordinary thing to behold. His Holiness(aba) prayed for all those who attended around the world.
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Matthew Pakkala is Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of World Oil Corp. He is responsible for overseeing World Oil’s operations and finances including asset management, information technology, logistics, accounting as well as family office functions. Matthew plays a central role in defining the strategic direction of the company with World Oil’s board and strives to balance World’s long-term vision with the short-term business needs to create value for its customers, employees, suppliers and shareholders. Prior to joining World Oil, he was a Senior Managing Director with FTI Consulting in the corporate finance and restructuring group for 15 years. He has held senior executive positions and key advisory roles in a variety of prominent pharmaceutical, construction and retail organizations throughout his career. Matthew holds an M.B.A. from the Anderson School at UCLA, a J.D. from Loyola Law School and a B.A. from UCSD.
Chief Legal Officer
Christopher M. Norton is Chief Legal Officer of World Oil and has responsibility for all legal affairs of the company and its affiliates and subsidiaries. Prior to joining World Oil, Christopher served as an executive and chief legal officer for both publicly-traded and private companies, including MPG Office Trust (formerly Maguire Properties Inc.), a public REIT with a portfolio of approximately 16 million square feet of rentable space, where he served as Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, and Andell Inc., a private investment firm and family office based in Beverly Hills, California, where he served as Senior Vice President, Business Affairs and General Counsel for the family office and its portfolio of operating companies, including the Chicago Fire Soccer Club of Major League Soccer (MLS). Christopher began his legal career at Latham & Watkins LLP, where his practice focused on real estate, finance and corporate transactions. Christopher holds a J.D. from Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law and a B.S. from Brigham Young University.
Executive Vice President of Operations and Engineering
Jeff Baxter joined World Oil in 2015. He oversees the recycling, refining and terminal operations for the World Oil companies including the technical, engineering, and construction management for the Recycling and Environmental Services divisions. Jeff came to World Oil from Vertex Energy, where he was Director of West Coast Operations and Projects. At Vertex Energy, he had oversight of the Western United States manufacturing operations, which included used oil re-refining and lubricant product blending. Jeff received both his B.S.E. & M.S.E degrees in Chemical Engineering from The University of Michigan and has over 10 years of experience in petrochemical and recycling facility design and operations. He went on to earn an MBA from the Booth School of Business at the University of Chicago and is a licensed Professional Engineer. Jeff was a member of the University of Michigan Men’s Rowing Team and continues to support their efforts.
Vice President of Sales and Marketing
Shane Damelin is the Vice President of Business Development for World Oil Recycling and World Oil Environmental Services. He is responsible for Sales, Marketing and Business Development for the Recycling and Environmental Service companies. Shane has been with World Oil for over 20 years having lead roles in finance, mergers and acquisitions, and sales and marketing. Shane has extensive financial and marketing experience in the collection and recycling of used oil, and environmental services.
Vice President of Environment, Health & Safety
Over the last 25 years, Sue has built strong relationships with business and environmental regulatory agencies in the pursuit of environmental regulation streamlining and compliance. In her current role as the Vice President of Environment, Health & Safety at World Oil Corp., she is integrating retail, refining, recycling, terminals and transportation operating companies into one corporate EHS program. Sue has held environmental roles at WSPA, BP and CCEEB (as the CED executive director) and her experience also includes work with a wide range of organizations; from small- and medium-sized operations in printing, glass, the wine industry, and manufacturing, to much larger, multinational organizations in the chemical, mining, and petroleum industries. Sue achieved a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Drexel University in Philadelphia and has a Professional Engineering license. She also holds a Masters of Science in Environmental Management from the University of San Francisco.
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Andrew Ross is Professor of Social and Cultural Analysis at New York University, whose work combines scholarly inquiry, investigative reporting and activist perspectives. Much of his research concerns the built environment in sites as far afield as Phoenix, Arizona and Abu Dhabi. His latest book, Stone Men (Verso, 2019) looks at the stone industry in the West Bank and the complex role of this material in the Israeli colonization drive and Palestinian resistance. Matan Kaminer, a member of LeftEast’s editorial board and also a student of labor and colonization in Israel/Palestine, spoke to Prof. Ross about his book and its implications.
MK: Palestine/Israel is often thought of as “poor in natural resources,” particularly by comparison to its oil-rich neighbors in the Middle East. You show that stone for building is actually a critical natural resource. What difference does this make for our understanding of the country’s history and current political economy?
Image by Andrew Ross
AR: It’s an instructive comparison. The West Bank’s stone industry is hardly a secret – it’s the largest private sector employer by far – but it does not get much attention from Palestine-watchers. Not even the international solidarity community has shown a great deal of interest in the everyday livelihoods of Palestinians. As a labor studies scholar, that was a point of entry for me, since at the time I started my field research I had been focused on the conditions of migrant workers in the Gulf States. Palestinians who cross the Green Line into Israel, and indeed any of the West Bank’s internal barrier checkpoints, are “migrant workers in their own land,” so when I was barred entry to the UAE, I continued it in Palestine. The big difference with regard to resources, of course, is that Palestinians own their stone industry, but are not in control of it. Most companies are small and family-owned, but Israeli authorities determine the distribution of the product: 75% is sourced to Israel, and only a small volume is permitted to be exported. Palestinians suffer from the same “resource curse” as oil-rich countries to some degree, because the environmental damage from quarrying and factory processing is considerable, and reliance on a single, extractive industry is economically risky, especially when Israel denies access to the deposits in Area C (the part of the West Bank under full Israeli control) . But it’s a resource with a very deep cultural history behind it. The craft of Palestinian stonemasons is venerated and had been highly prized for centuries.
MK: What are the consequences of being forced to rely on this extractive industry for Palestinians? What are its environmental and health effects?
AR: It is a win-win situation for the Israelis. After 1967, they effectively outsourced their stone industry and the environmental hazards associated with it. For West Bank Palestinians it is a mixed blessing. While wages are higher in the industry than in any other manufacturing sector, the environmental costs of strip mining are quite high, and due to the lack of effective regulation employees are vulnerable to the well-documented health impacts of working with stone. An acquaintance at Beit Jala hospital told me that 80% of the cases there are from the stone villages, and the complaints correspond to these documented occupational ailments. But it’s a sensitive issue, especially cancer, and so the problems are not spoken about publicly. I spent a good deal of time inquiring into safety standards and their implementation.
Image by Andrew Ross
One of the big challenges is that this is an industry of small family owners, so it is not only undercapitalized, but also under-regulated and under-professionalized. The other is that Palestinian Authority officials do little to inspect workplaces, and the unions in the industry are weak. There is no real pressure on employers to supply safety equipment, and the codes of manliness often deter workers from wearing them.
MK: Are stocks of building material expected to run out?
AR: Much of the good remaining stone is in Area C and is all but off-limits to Palestinian producers for the time being. They have to smuggle in equipment and work around the clock on the weekend to avoid harassment by soldiers. There is a good deal of anxiety about dwindling supplies, but also a well-founded faith that the authorities will open up access to Area C extraction. After all, there is no good reason for Israelis to shut down the industry – it serves their construction industry very well – but they make the logistics difficult enough to keep Palestinian producers down, and operating only on the buyers’ terms, as with most other aspects of the Occupation economy.
MK: The book points to the importance of technological changes in the construction industry to what one could call the “material politics” of the conflict. Can you highlight a few instances of such change for our readers and discuss their consequences?
Image by Andrew Ross
In the book, I follow the path of stone and labor from the quarries through the factories and across checkpoints into Israel and the settlements. At every point along the way, the Occupation regime throws up challenges, some technological in nature. At the quarries, for example, Israeli authorities do not allow Palestinian producers to use dynamite for extraction—stone has to be sawn out of the ground. That’s a huge disadvantage when Palestinians have to compete with producers in other countries and with the handful Israeli-owned crushing facilities in Area C. At the construction end of the chain, technology and building standards in Israel have not kept up with international norms because of over-reliance on cheap labor from the West Bank and overseas migrants. The result is a high casualty rate on the job. You can see the same predicament in the Gulf states.
MK: I found your discussion of the Israeli shift from stone to concrete in construction very illuminating. It resonates with other scholars’ analyses of capitalism and the modern state as preferring homogeneous, “smooth” materials over the chunky materiality of found reality, which requires a lot of embodied, specific skill to manipulate. Does this analysis resonate? Can you reflect on the reasons for this technological shift and its effects?
AR: The original rationale behind the shift was the decision to reduce reliance on skilled Palestinian masons who worked with local stone; I cover this in some detail in a case-study of the “Battle of Tel Aviv.” Excluding Arab labor from the building of Tel Aviv generated so much conflict that the Jewish founders chose to substitute new materials – silicate brick, then cement and concrete – for the staple regional sandstone known as kurkar. Over time, a “cult of concrete” developed, and concrete became the signature mark of Israeli modernity – its tough, unyielding and enduring character was supposed to reflect the profile of the brave new state.
Image by Andrew Ross
For sure, there were many capitalist efficiencies to be gotten from the use of concrete, not least from de-skilling that accompanied its introduction. But a lurch in taste toward worn and seasoned surfaces took place after the Occupation of the Old City in Jerusalem, largely driven by the religious interest in exposing the landscapes of Jewish antiquity. On the secular side, in the real estate market, by the 1980s and 1990s, the rough texture of vintage stone had made a sharp comeback. The rage for antique décor – what I call Ottomania – kicked in. The march of gentrification into the urban quarters of Haifa, Jaffa, and Jerusalem that remained intact after the War of 1948 saw renovated old buildings fetching top dollar on the real estate market. Anything old is now valued highly, to the degree that Israelis want “weathered” stone from Palestinian producers. That relatively new appetite for non-smooth vintage surfaces is nothing if not a niche capitalist development, and hardly unique to the region, but it is in sharp contrast to Israeli efforts to eradicate all physical remnants of the region’s built heritage after 1948, and it is resulting in the displacement of Palestinians from the remaining old urban quarters, in Jaffa especially, but also in Haifa and Jerusalem.
Image by Andrew Ross
MK: Earlier you mentioned codes of manliness. The book’s title is (emphatically?) Stone Men. What kind of gendered dynamics did you observe around stone quarrying and construction work in Palestine?
AR: It’s a masculine trade, and women in the industry are generally found in clerical and sometimes managerial, roles. (Workforce participation among Palestinian women is one of the lowest rates in the world.) Because much of the industry is family-based, the intergenerational bonds between fathers and sons are very important, as is the relationship between brothers who often work on the same construction crew. Due to increases in automation, the handheld craft of chiseling and dressing stone is in decline and men who still do this piece work enjoy a certain status, often at the cost of their health, while those who work with machines are sometimes seen as lacking the right masculine “stuff.” One of the long-term shifts in male employment is from farming to waged labor, and it has political consequences. As the attachment to livelihoods on the land weakens, it is easier for settlers to take over that land, whether through sales or through expropriation by the authorities. Arguably, this has been Israeli policy since the occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip in 1967, directly enabled by the employment of male Palestinian construction workers inside Israel, and, to a much lesser degree, of women in Israeli agriculture. That said, the skills learned on the job are often applied to building the family home in the West Bank so it’s not a one-way street.
MK: Your book sheds a light on one meaning of stone that even people very interested in Palestine have tended to miss. But stone also has another meaning, which is very visible in discourse on Palestine: that of the stone as a weapon, as in the phrase “the children of the stones” used to describe the youth of the First Intifada or Palestinian uprising. What kinds of connections do you see between these two meanings?
Image by Andrew Ross
AR: The meaning of the “stones of Palestine” has shifted somewhat since the heyday of stone-throwing in the Intifada, even though it’s still common to find youth slinging them at soldiers in clashes. The new meaning has to do with the revival of interest in the built heritage of the region, and the efforts of restoration groups that have sprung up over the last two decades to bring old buildings back to life, along with some of the venerable masonry skills. Vintage stone-and-mortar dwellings do not (yet) have the added value that timeworn real estate has in Israel, but they have other, more political, meanings. Restored and listed buildings are bulwarks against seizure by settlers, they are markers of longstanding indigenous Palestinian residence on the land, and they are key to reviving rural food economies and networks.
Among my interviewees in this field of architectural conservation (I studied the work of Riwaq in Ramallah, Taawon’s Old City Revitalization Program in Jerusalem, and the Center for Cultural Heritage Preservation in Bethlehem) there were not a few who saw this campaign to restore the built Ottoman-era environment as putting “Palestinian facts on the ground.” I suppose you could see that as using cultural heritage as a kind of weapon, one used to defend territory, retain land, and reinforce national pride. In addition, and in contrast to Israel’s “biblical archeologists,” who are interested only in artifacts and buildings from ancient Jewish kingdoms, the Palestinian work in this field is more likely to preserve the mish-mash of historical layers, reflecting the legacy of all the peoples who have lived in historical Palestine over the centuries.
MK: Finally, I found your extension of the idea of “sweat equity” in the book to have quite sweeping implications. If workers have some right to the fruits of their labor which is not exhausted by the wages they are paid, should this principle be limited to the case of Palestinian workers in Israel? If generalized, does the principle imply a total rejection of the capitalist logic of ownership?
Photo by Andrew Ross
Ironically, this problem harks back to Locke’s labor theory of property that underpins the North American version of settler colonialism – the principle that you earn rights to the land on the basis of your labor. Historically, that hasn’t worked out well for most laborers, but it got dusted off and re-applied for the Zionist version of settler colonialism, and was a core dogma of Labor Zionism that prevailed over Jewish settlement in Palestine until the 1970s. But who really built the houses of Zion? For sure, Jewish “pioneer” settlers did some part of that labor, though they had to learn their skills from Arab artisans, whom they then tried to exclude from workforce through the doctrine of “Hebrew Labor.” But the historical evidence shows that Arab workers were always preferred. They were better and cheaper, and they still are. For more than a century, Palestinians have had a hand in almost every asset built between the river and the sea. Should that sweat equity help to reinforce the case for equal civil and political rights in a single state? That is one of the proposals advanced in the book. Is it a rejection of the capitalist logic of ownership? Perhaps, insofar as it challenges the distinction between labor-for-hire and what is often thought of as entrepreneurial labor. But the larger principle has to do with the collective labor that goes into the building of communities, cities, and states. These days, all over the world – whether in New York, Shanghai, Abu Dhabi, Tel Aviv, or Sydney – exploited migrant labor is the workforce standard for such enterprises. The difference, in Israel and the settlements, is that Palestinians have been forced (and it pretty much is a compulsory workforce) to construct houses, roads, and walls on land that was once their own. What kind of rights should flow from that century-long record of contributions?
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Matan Kaminer is a political activist and anthropologist. He has been active in the Israeli conscientious objection movement and Palestine solidarity work, in national and municipal electoral politics, and in organizing with migrants and refugees. He has a PhD from the University of Michigan, with a dissertation on settler-farmers and migrant farm-workers from Thailand in Israel’s Arabah region, and is currently a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Haifa. Matan is a member of the board of Academia for Equality, an organization for the democratization of Israeli academia and society.
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Team training is one of the most important ways that you can ensure your team’s success on the field or court.
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In New Zealand last week we celebrated Hospice Awareness Weak and to tell you the truth I’m not sure how impactful the week actually was. In part this was due to my lack of traditional media consumption; I don’t watch TV, I only occasionally read the print version of the newspaper, but I do listen to about an hour’s worth of national radio during my morning and afternoon commutes.
I’d love to know from my fellow Kiwis just how effective last week was in terms of raising awareness of hospice? Did people learn that most of the patients we look after are between the ages of 45-68 years old? And that most of our work is done in the community, visiting folk in their own homes? Did people arrive at a new understanding that ~70% of admissions to hospice inpatient units are for symptom management? That we aim to discharge most of our patients back to their homes? Yes, that does mean that ~30% of our admissions are for end of life care…and because of how precarious their health status may be, that there is of course a large overlap between these groups. People who come in for symptom management may deteriorate and may need to stay for end of life care. Did you know that the converse can occur too? That people can be admitted for end of life care, but may actually improve, and sometimes be fit for discharge home? What follows is one recent example.
He had been in hospital for a number of weeks, and had deteriorated markedly over the course of the last five days. Metastatic badness affecting his lungs and bones, causing severe shortness of breath and pains. The team treating him had diagnosed that he was dying and had placed him on the local revamped version of what had been the Liverpool Care Pathway, a clinical tool to ensure that adequate comfort measures were employed at the end of life. The doctors told the family that he might only have three days left to live.
He was transferred to the hospice inpatient unit and was deemed to be critically unwell. Two days later he was still very unwell, but was still holding his own. His symptoms were managed with medications and other non-pharmacological techniques. Despite medication in patch form he still had a strong desire to go outside to catch some “fresh air,” at least ten times a day, and five times per night. His pain was brought under control and over the next three days his appetite improved…yes, he had outlived his prognosis. There was always a member of his family at his side, both day and night. He had a lot of visitors, some from distant places, they brought with them gifts of his favourite foods, which were promptly devoured.
By the end of the first week he could self-propel himself outside for more “fresh air” breaks. He enjoyed the visits from friends and family, some of whom he had not spent time with for ages. He went for excursions outside with his children, which he enjoyed immensely although they left him exhausted afterwards. His condition had stabilised. Was it something to do with the more relaxing environment? The loving attention from his family? They certainly all enjoyed the bonus time that they had with him. Maybe the air was fresher than it had been in the hospital? We started to plan for his discharge, and a suitable residential care facility was booked for him. He would have to stay over the weekend as they couldn’t admit him until next Monday.
His breathing at times worsened markedly, but calmed down again after treatments. He went out on Saturday to proudly watch a future NRL player bring home to the family the “player of the match” award. He slept well that night. The next day he went to visit his mother’s grave, very appropriate for the second Sunday in May, which is when we honour our mums here in Kiwi-land.
“Living every moment” is the motto of the Hospices of New Zealand. We work hard to buy our patients comfort in order for them to at least have the chance to do what they want to with their remaining life time. Our patient certainly made the most of the extra time that he had been granted in the two weeks that he stayed with us. He was able to spend quality time with his loved ones, sometimes they just hung out and listened to music together. He took the opportunity to continue to create memories with his loved ones. Everything still looked good for discharge on Monday…and then…
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This entry was posted in #FOAMPal, #PallANZ, Clinical, Ideas, Practice and tagged family, hospice, hospital, humour, life, love, memory-making, music by James. Bookmark the permalink.
3 thoughts on “Palace of Care – Living every moment”
CatherineSpence on May 26, 2017 at 6:42 am said:
Nice challenge James, (looking forward to the continuation…). Hospice Week did pass by without huge fanfare- but thee were some great media events (NZHerald on line during the week). My reflection is that this si a week to celebrate meanignfulness and purpose in our work in honour fo the people we care for – and I am not sure I got that sense. I am not even convinced all Hospice care staff (clinical and non-clinical, support and retail) were even aware in any meaningful way, that it was in fact Hospice Awareness Week – talk about an oxymoron – lack of awareness in awareness week.
Our respective media teams did a very good job, but I am not sure all of us were “with” them. And this points to something else we need to become aware of and take care of – who we are as deliverers (terrible English, sorry) of Hospice care and service….more on that another time (as you say, to be continued….)
James on May 27, 2017 at 9:22 pm said:
Yes, I agree. Our brains may have heard about the week, but our hearts were elsewhere. How can we expect Joe and Jane Public to engage with us, when our own people aren’t even engaged. Surely NZ can do better than this. Maybe when we both have more free-time…next year…we can do something about it.
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We’ve been doing a series beginning back in August where I spoke on what’s called in some circles, apologetics. It’s defending Christianity and the Christian faith and in August I spoke on the Bible, “Is it Truth or is it Fiction?” And in that meeting, what I did was laid out the evidence of why Christians believe that God has chosen to communicate and reveal Himself in a permanent written document. And we closed that time by pointing out that very clearly Jesus, Who claimed to be the Son of God, declared, and confirmed that this was the primary means that God has chosen to speak to us through the ages, through the written word. And as we closed that session, the point that I made was that really the question shifts from is the Bible the word of God to is Jesus Who He claimed to be. Was He the Son of God? Is He the Son of God? Because if you think about it, God and only God has the authority to speak on the legitimacy of the Bible. I don’t have the authority to tell you that, but Jesus does, assuming He is the Son of God.
Last month in September, we took almost 50 minutes and laying out the evidence that points to Christ being divine. And I must say, I think those of you who were here would say that the evidence is very compelling. And of course, the real question is, are people really willing to examine the evidence that’s there and because often the answer is no. But that’s really the extent of the review, and so, where we are this morning, and what I would like to do is pose a question to you that is if the Bible is the Word of God, and if Jesus is the Son of God, how is that relevant to my life today? What does He have to say to me, in other words, that would be of value to me, a man that lives in a frenetic world, a complex world? We’re all busy. We all have a lot going on. What does He have to say to me that would be of value?
You know, in the Bible there’s a real interesting incident in the New Testament and you read about it in Matthew 17, where Jesus takes Peter, James, and John, and He takes them to a high mountain top.
There’s nobody else within miles. And while they’re there, it says a bright cloud overshadows them and it says, Peter, James, and John are terrified. They fall on their faces. And then they hear the words of God, the Father, a huge event in history. I mean, rarely in the New Testament that you see God, the Father speaks. And here are three men that are obviously going to be very important in the forming of the early church and you’d think He might have a lot to say to them and He utters only one sentence. And this is what He says, “This is my beloved Son in Whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him, listen to Him.” That’s all He says. And then they look up and they’re just all standing there by themselves.
You know, I believe this is what God would say to you and I today, if God the Father came and spoke and we found ourselves on our faces on the floor. I think He would tell us, listen to the words of Jesus. Listen to what He has to say to you and to your life where you are. And of course, we live in a generation that says, well, why should I? It’s kind of like a guy that I know one of you invited to come to one of these breakfasts and his response was “I get enough of that on Sunday. I don’t need any more of that. I’m a busy man.”
So why should we listen to Him? What does He have to say to me? What does He have to say that’s relevant to my life? I’m going to share just three quick reasons and then I’ll launch into what I want to share this morning from His words. The first reason is that His words are true. In Matthew 24:35 and Mark 13:31, He says, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.”
In other words, what he’s saying is they have everlasting application to a man’s life. Whether you lived a thousand years ago, or whether you live a thousand years from now, or whether you live today, My words will have an everlasting application to your life. A second good reason, and I was talking to Drayton about the series, and he pointed this out and this hadn’t dawned on me, but in John 12:48-49, he says, “My words that I declare to you are from God, the Father.” And he says, one day your life will be judged by My words. And I don’t know about you, but that gets my attention. One day, our lives will be judged by His words.
And the final thought on this is that in Mark chapter four, Jesus warns us. He says, be very careful, be very careful to who and what you listen to. I think it’s very clear what He’s saying, the reason why, is our lives are shaped by so many things, by so many influences. Have you ever stopped to think about what has shaped my ideas about life, about God, about religion and about all the other essential issues of life that govern my existence? Have you ever thought about that? Where did I get the ideas that I have? Where did I get the beliefs that I have? Where did I get the perspective that I bring to my life? And furthermore, what if the influences that have shaped my life, what if they’re wrong? What if I’ve been misguided? I couldn’t help but think about, this is a number of years ago, talking to a guy whose ideas about God had been shaped by the rock group, Jethro Tull.
You know, now you think about it, not necessarily a good source, maybe a good source for music, but not a good source for ideas and thoughts about God. And this is why I really contend that we all need One who serves as a true compass to lead us to what is true, to what is accurate, to what is wise. And I contend that Jesus is that compass. Because as the Son of God, He has the authority to tell us both about living and about dying. And if you read the four Gospels, you realize He has much to say to each one of us. He talks about love and relationships. He has a lot to say about money and wealth. He talks about the storms of life that we’ll face one day, He talks about fear and anxiety and dealing with that. He talks about arrogance and humility, hypocrisy. He lays out all different types of principles for life through the parables. And probably most importantly, He talks very clearly and very often about death. He talks extensively about the Kingdom of God. He talks about the judgment. He talks a lot about hell.
You know, shouldn’t, if you think about it, when you consider all of these issues, shouldn’t we be listening? Shouldn’t we be listening to His voice, to His words? Because ultimately, if you think about it, Jesus addresses life’s most substantive issues regarding our existence and yet we so often find no play place for His words in our lives.
This is an interesting book that I have that’s been sitting on my bookshelf for years and I’ve just kind of gotten around to start reading. And it’s called Making Sense of it All, by Thomas Morris, and Morris is a philosophy professor at Notre Dame and the book, so much of it is on Blaise Pascal, kind of critiquing his work. And he makes an interesting statement at the beginning of the chapter, “The Folly of Indifference”, about how people are so indifferent about the ultimate issues of life. And it says in this paragraph, “If a person gets utterly lost in the woods, it’s most unfortunate, but to be absolutely unconcerned about it is unreasonable. Yet so many people who spend weeks mastering a new video game, months learning a tennis serve, or years perfecting a golf swing will not invest a few days or even a matter of hours in the effort to understand better some of the deeper questions about life. The words of Christ, God Himself; what could be more important?”
And so, this morning I want to take for say the next 25 minutes or so, a couple of Jesus’ statements in the New Testament and maybe expound on them for a few minutes, because I think they have significant application to each of our lives. Every single one of us and Drayton will pick up on the same theme next month when we meet.
And I want to start by reading just two different passages from the book of John. In John chapter six Verse 35 (John 6:35), Jesus says, “I am the Bread of Life. He who comes to Me shall not hunger. And he believes in Me, shall never thirst.”
And then in the next chapter, chapter seven (John 7:37-38), He says something very similar. “Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out saying, if any man is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me as the Scripture said from his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water.”
You know, in these two different passages, Christ is talking about a hunger and a thirst within each of us that only He can satisfy. I mean, that’s a pretty bold statement. I mean, in one sense, it’s radical to say, I am the Bread of Life and I’m the One that’ll satisfy the hunger in your life. He obviously wasn’t talking about the hunger of the body, the stomach. He was clearly talking about the soul because in John seven, where I just read from, He talks about the innermost being of a man or a woman’s life. He’s referring to the soul. Now the soul is something we don’t think about too often. We may use it sometimes in our vocabulary. You know, we’re soulmates. You know, we talk about something from the bottom of my soul, but if you were asked, what is the soul, “what is the human soul?” I would venture to say, none of us could really define it real clearly.
Let me read to you what a guy by the name of Dallas Willard, how he describes the soul. And as I read this, ask yourself this question, how important is my soul? How important is the care of my soul? What role does the soul play in my life and in my existence? Willard was the head of philosophy at Southern California for years. He has recently retired, and he says this, “What is running your life at any given moment is your soul. Not external circumstances or your thoughts or your intentions, or even your feelings, but your soul. The soul is that aspect of your whole being that correlates, integrates, and enlivens everything going on in the various dimensions of the self.” And then listen to this. It says, “It is the life center of the human being. It regulates whatever’s occurring in each of those dimensions and how they interact with each other and respond to the surrounding events and the overall governance of your life.” And then listen to this, last sentence. “And the soul is deep in the sense of being basic or foundational and also in the sense that it lies almost totally beyond conscious awareness.” Think about that. He’s saying our souls lie almost totally beyond our conscious awareness.
Let me ask you this question. What is the driving force in your life? What really drives you? Have you ever thought about what causes us to yearn for the things that we yearn for and why we desire to achieve the things that we desire to achieve?
This got me interested yesterday. I was talking to a guy, a friend, very driven person, very successful guy. And he says, well, what are you going to talk on tomorrow and I told him, and he said, let me tell you something you ought to talk about. He said, why are our desires so insatiable? He says here, you know, I live in a big, beautiful home in Mountain Brook. I have everything I want in life. He said, but I want more. He says, there’s something within me, that’s insatiable. He says, you need to talk about that. And I said, well, I’m probably going to touch on it tomorrow, but I said, that’s a good, good question. It’s a good issue. You know, I contend that if we could all peel back the layers of our lives and get to really the inner chamber of our hearts and souls that we would all find and all discover that we are attempting to satisfy this hunger and thirst of the soul that Christ speaks of.
I just finished reading a book, an outstanding book, called Soul Survivor, by Philip Yancey. And the subtitle is, “How My Faith Survived the Church.” And he talks a lot about how he struggled so much with Christianity and the hypocrisy of the church. And then he points to ten or so different individuals that kept him hanging in there. A lot of them were people that were dead like Tolstoy, G.K. Chesterton. He even speaks of Gandhi.
But one of the more fascinating ones is a guy by the name of Henri Nouwen, a Catholic priest. And Nouwen who spent most of his life caring for the outcast in society, for instance, men dying of AIDS who had been abandoned by their families. He spends a lot of his life in the homes for the mentally challenged and the mentally retarded, just a very Godly, compassionate man. And in reading about Nouwen, and as I read him and Yancey’s words, they point out something very significant. They say it really doesn’t matter whatever your lifestyle is, and you know, we look around our culture, our society, we see people with all different types of lifestyles and values. He says, but whatever your lifestyle or your life or the life that you’ve been driven to pursue, they both say very clearly, whatever it is, we’re all motivated by this thirst of the soul.
And of course, we don’t necessarily recognize it because I think Willard is correct. The soul lies almost totally beyond conscious awareness, but we do all know this. There’s something that drives me. There’s something that pushes me forward in this life. There’s something that drives me down the path of life that I am currently on. Augustine called it a restlessness of the soul. And you know where you see this probably most clearly, and I think it probably disturbs a number of us, where you really see this, this restlessness, this drive, is in the lives of our teenagers. And I know you as parents will understand this, but what is it that really makes them tick, that causes them to live the way they’re living, to pursue the pursuing? I contend it’s the thirst of the soul.
Now I’m going to go off in some different directions here, but I promise you I’ll bring all this back together. A couple years ago, I did a study on the book of Psalms in the Bible. The Bible has 150 Psalms. Some of them are rather lengthy. And the one thing that struck me in reading the Psalms was that God’s desire for our lives is that we would have a life of rejoicing, a life of gladness, a life that overflows with joy. And yet, I have to admit that as I look around in the culture that we live in, as I talk to men regularly, I don’t see that at all. In fact, I almost see just the opposite out there. I see a lot of despair. I see a lot of fear. I see a lot of insecurity and boredom and loneliness. A lot of depression, basically a lot of pain. What strikes me is that the soul of modern man seems to be very troubled.
And I want to share with you a couple of examples of what the media tells us is going on in our culture. Just a couple of examples. The first one, fascinating Wall Street Journal, June 7th, 2002, one of the lead articles talks about you know what one of the nation’s newest and biggest health concerns is? Insomnia. Men can’t sleep. Some people call it an epidemic, says John Shepherd, president of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine in Rochester, Minnesota. And he says, everyone agrees. It’s getting worse. I wonder how many of you suffer from that.
It talks about we live such troubled lives. A lot of fear, a lot of anxiety, a lack of peace, a restlessness. Can you relate to that? Forbes magazine’s most recent edition about why our kids are going so bad. It says, “What Makes Your Children Self-destruct”. And it goes on to talk about all of these new businesses that are being formed to help troubled kids, troubled teenagers. It says, “if you want to get on the next wave of a good investment, invest in these new institutions.” I’m not saying that they’re bad. Just pointing out that they’re there.
You probably saw the most recent edition of Newsweek, “Teen Depression: What’s Going on in the Lives of our Teenagers?” Why is this such an epidemic?
But the two, my most two favorites, this one really kind of tickles me a little bit is a four-page article in the September 16th edition of Newsweek. It was called “The Science of Happiness.” This is the subtitle: “We’ve tried health. We’ve tried wealth. We’ve tried Prozac, but still, we’re not content.” It goes on to say health, wealth, good looks, and status have astonishingly little effect on what the researchers call subjective well-being. See they don’t call it happiness. These researchers, don’t you love it. They call it subjective well-being. You know, what do you want out of life, subjective well-being. And then they go on to say, “In America notes, Hope College psychologist, David Meyers, real income has doubled since 1960. We’re twice as likely to own cars, air conditioner, and clothes dryers, twice as likely to eat out on any given night, yet our divorce rate is doubled, teen suicide has tripled, and depression has increased tenfold. Somehow, we’re not cut out for the ease that comes with wealth.”
And what this article really does is, and indicates, is that science is trying to figure out how to make us happy. It’s become a scientific problem, or not necessarily happy, but how to bring this subjective well-being into our lives.
The final quote I want to read to you comes from a book by two psychiatrists, Frank Minirth, and Paul Meier. You may have heard of the Minirth Meier clinic out in Dallas. Now there’s over 31 of their clinics. They help people that are struggling with their emotional problems and depression. This is a quote from one of their books.
“As a further point of clarification, Dr. Minirth and I,” they write together, “are convinced that many people do choose happiness, but still do not obtain it. The reason for this is that even though they choose to be happy, they seek for inner peace and joy in the wrong places. They seek for happiness and materialism and don’t find it. They seek for joy and sexual prowess but end up with fleeting pleasures and bitter long-term disappointments. They seek inner fulfillment by attaining positions of power in corporations and government, or even in their own families but they remain unfulfilled. I have had millionaire businessmen come to my office and tell me they have big houses, yachts, condominiums, and Colorados, nice children, a beautiful mistress, an unsuspecting wife, secure corporate positions, yet they live with suicidal tendencies. They have everything this world has to offer except one thing, inner peace, and joy. They come to my office as a last resort, begging me to help them to conquer the urge to kill themselves. Why? The answers are not simple. The human mind and emotions are a very complex dynamic system. But what strikes me is what he talks about. Two words, peace, and joy. It seems to be lacking. We can’t seem to find it.”
You know, what strikes me and causes me to be perplexed is why is it, I read this recently, that our society has produced more freedom and more prosperity than any in the history of mankind and yet we also lead the world in so many categories of social pathology, starting with suicide. Why is that? You know, one thing that strikes me is I read all of these articles and I have a big stack of them. Why is it that no one seems to know how to produce this subjective well-being that scientists call it, or that inner joy or that inner peace and joy? Why is it? And reading that article from Newsweek it’s as if they’re trying to come up with a pill, we can all take so that we’ll always be happy. And yet it seems to be elusive.
So, what I want to do as I close this time is attempted to bring some light to this. Maybe to help you understand yourself, maybe to help you understand your teenager, maybe to help you understand us or understand our world, our culture.
Let me ask you a question. I want you to think about this. When somebody asks you, what do you think of when you think of God? What is your first thought? What is your first reaction? What do you think of God? What does He like? Do you think of Him as some kind loving, grandfatherly figure? Or do you see Him the way I saw Him for so many years, a serious strict taskmaster, kind of like a drill Sergeant. You see Him as somebody who was very demanding of life, or as some people who’ve shared with me recently, they see Him as somebody that really doesn’t care. He’s uncaring and indifferent towards me and my life. You know, the Bible teaches a great deal about the nature of God and what He is like. And there’s one characteristic that whenever I ask this, nobody ever thinks that God would be like this, which makes me realize that we have a distorted view of God. But you know what the Bible tells us one of God’s characteristics that you would never think of Him. The Bible says that God is a joyful God. You may be thinking ‘no way’.
There is no way for joy and holiness to coexist, but the Bible is very clear. God is a joyful God. In the book of Nehemiah. It says chapter eight, verse 10 (Nehemiah 8:10) “for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” One six (Nehemiah 1:6) speaks of the “Joy of the Holy Spirit” the third person of the Trinity. Psalm 16:11 says, “In the presence of God, there is fullness of joy.” And then, most significantly, Jesus tells us in John 15, He says, “I desire to give you My joy and that your joy would be made full, complete, overflowing.” Isn’t that interesting?
He says My desire is to give you My joy. Christ there is telling us guys that I am the source of joy and I desire to give it to you so that overflows out of your life. Remember that verse we read back when we started in John seven, “from your innermost being will flow of rivers of living water”. That’s His desire for us. But the question is, is we don’t seem to find it. Let me ask you this. What is your life experience today? If you had to describe the last year of your life, what would you describe it?
Does it overflow with joy? Do you have that inner peace that Christ speaks of?
You know, in the book of Job, he makes an interesting statement? He says this, and this I think explains why we struggle so much with life, he says, “The joy of the godless is momentary.” In other words, what he’s saying there is that there is a joy in this life that can found apart from God. And I think we’ve come to believe that that’s true.
I’ve been reading an interesting book on how our culture has become so hedonistic, fascinating book, I haven’t finished it, but almost half of the book is on a Greek philosopher by the name of Epicurus. I don’t know if you’re familiar with him, Epicureanism. And he was the one that conceived of the idea that pleasure is humanity’s chief good. And what’s interesting is that the guy that wrote this book contends that the train of thought set in motion by Epicurus has had a major impact on Western culture. And Epicurus’ primary belief, one of his primary beliefs was this: pleasure and the good life consists in freedom from disturbance. And for Epicurus, the great disturber in life is God. He believed that God is the great disturbance that keeps us from the good life. God is incompatible with pleasure. And that’s why he said, you need to dispense of God if you’re going to experience a full life. And I think many of us subscribe to this philosophy today. It’s okay to believe in Him, but let’s don’t let Him interfere with the way I live my life.
Back in May of 2001, I spoke on “Purpose in Life,” that was the topic and many of you weren’t there, because there was only about 50 people there but I talked about something that I think really pulls all this together. I think it helps us understand who we are and what drives us. You know, we come into this life with a physical dimension and also a spiritual dimension. We have a body, and we have a soul, and we have certain natural physical desires that must be met. You think about the basic physical desires of your life. When you enter this world, you’re hungry, you get thirsty, and you get tired, and that’s it. And then you hit puberty and a fourth desire kicks in, your sexuality.
Those are the four basic desires of the body. But guys, think about how the Western world has elevated these four desires so that the desire of the body, the central side of life, has become the center of our existence. We’ve elevated them to that point. Think about that. Think about eating. We are covered up with advertisements. We’re bombarded with things on eating. There’s a restaurant on every corner. Life is about eating and drinking, whether it’s Pepsi or Coke or Budweiser or Coors or the finest wines or the finest whiskeys, think about how so much of our life is focused on eating and drinking and then resting or sleeping or pampering ourselves. I mean, don’t we all yearn just to be able to kick back and relax? Isn’t that why we love to go to the beach? I mean, that’s what the good life is about. Resting our tired bodies. And then sex. I mean, what more can, I mean, what do you say about sex? We live in a society that is just saturated with it. We’re bombarded with it, and I’d be quick to point out, there’s nothing wrong with the pleasures of life. I mean, they were God’s idea, and they can be very delightful in their proper place. The problem is we elevate them to the point that they become the center of our very existence.
And what has happened for many people is that pleasure and sensuality provide the basic reason for being alive. It’s like B.F. Skinner. I don’t know if you know of B.F. Skinner, he’s one of the forefathers of modern psychology. He was a godless man, and this was his view. He says the object of life is to gratify yourself without getting arrested. Think about that. That’s the object of life to gratify yourself without getting arrested. Guys, what we fail to remember is that we’re not just a body that has desires. We have a soul that has desires as well. What is it the soul desires? Joy, Inner peace, Love, contentment. You know, when you ask somebody, what do you want out of life? They don’t say to eat, to have sex. They talk about issues of the soul. That’s what we really yearn for. That’s what drives us. We think the path that we’re on will get us there. If only I had more of this, if only I had more of that, but it just never arrives. When you get right down to it, what has happened, and hopefully you see it, is that we attempt to satisfy the spiritual yearnings of the soul with the physical pleasures of life. And it doesn’t work. It can’t work.
In fact, C.S. Lewis says, it’s impossible. The body cannot satisfy the soul. Conversely, if you’re starving to death and you come to me, I don’t tell you, go pray. I tell you, go eat. The body needs food. The soul needs God.
I want to share with you one final illustration that really will pull all this together. It’s a story I tell a lot and I’m almost finished. It’s probably been over 10 years ago. I had a meeting in Atlanta, Georgia on a Monday morning at eight o’clock. As you know, they’re on Eastern time, so, for me to make that meeting, I needed to go over Sunday night and spend the night. So, I went over Sunday night, checked in the hotel about 8:30 and I hadn’t eaten, and I said, I need to go get something to eat. As you know, on a Sunday night in Birmingham, it’s very difficult to find a place other than fast food, but right down the street from my hotel was a Houston’s. It’s kind of a chain that you may be familiar with, kind of like a Fridays. So, I get a magazine, I think I can go and eat dinner and you know, quiet dinner, and read my magazine.
Well, it’s a little before nine, I pull up to Houston’s and it’s jam-packed, jam-packed. And I go in there thinking, you know, how long is it going to take me to get a table? And the hostess says, it’ll take you a while, but there’s a seat up there at the bar, if you want to go eat up there, you can. So, I say, that’s great. That suits me. So, I go down, go up, sit down, order, open my magazine and am reading and I can’t help but notice right next to me, there are two very boisterous, excited, laughing women who were very beautiful. They were beautiful women. And you know, I’m sitting here reading my magazine and they’re just laughing and having fun. And I’m having a hard time concentrating and I’m sitting there trying to listen to what they’re saying. And finally, one of them makes a remark to me, I mean, they felt sorry for me. And we ended up getting into a conversation and what’s interesting is that these two women worked at strip clubs there in Atlanta. I assume you’re familiar with that term, strip club.
And we get into this conversation, and I’m sitting there eating my meal, talking to them, and you know, what I find out is that they had, you know, they’d been working till six o’clock in the morning and then they’d slept all day and around six o’clock had shown a up at Houston’s and had been there for three hours. But as we talked, the conversation got more serious, and we talked about their lives. And I thought, you know, these two, these two people, they’re carefree. And then I asked them a question and they were dead silent. I asked this question, if you could rate your life on a scale of one to 10, with 10 being the highest and one being the lowest, how would you rate it? Because we were talking about what they were going to do with their lives, and they got really silent. And the first girl said a three, and then the second girl and just, this it’s really, it pains me even to think, she said, almost crying, negative 10. And I was dumbfounded. And I remember looking around the restaurant and looking and next time you’re at dinner and notice people laughing and having a good time and carrying on, just like these two girls, I wonder how many people are like these two girls and faking it? That’s what they were doing.
What I’ve come to realize is that you can be having the time of your life and yet be dying on the inside. You can be having the time of your life and yet be empty. Do we fake it? Do we live with this pretense as we go through life, live this pretense in front of the watching world, in front of our peers, in front of our business associates? That’s the one thing that struck me. There was a second thing that struck me and, you know, these women, who initially seemed to be so happy to me, what struck me, the reason they were happy is they’d been drinking for three hours. And I share that because if you think about it, we depend on so much outside stimulus for our lives to experience what we think will provide the joy and the peace that we want. It could be anything, whether it’s something you eat or drink or a sporting event, a round of golf, we need something outside of us to stimulate us, to make us happy. Of course, as soon as it’s over, you’ve got to go find something else. It’s great while it’s happening, but then, what’s next. And I share that because that’s a very important point to understand because the joy that Jesus speaks of does not depend on any kind of outside influence because it comes from the depths of the heart and the soul. It comes from within. It’s spiritual, and that’s why Jesus says in John chapter six, it is the Spirit that gives life, the flesh and pleasing the flesh, profits nothing. It’s okay, but it’s of no real value. It is the Spirit that gives life. And then what He says after that is, and the words, there again, there’s Jesus’ words, the words that I have spoken to you, that I have given to you are both Spirit and are life.
One of my favorite incidents in the New Testament, and I’ll wrap this up really quickly is when Jesus encounters the Samaritan woman at the well. Now, I don’t know if you know that the Samaritans and Jews can’t stand each other. It’s kind of like the Palestinians and the Jews today. And here, Jesus encounters, a woman who obviously had led a troubled life. She’d been married five times and the man that she was living with wasn’t her husband. And she she’s sitting there getting water from the well, and Jesus says, would you give Me some water? And she says, well, I’m surprised that You’d speak to me. You being a Jew and me being a Samaritan. He said, if you knew Who you were talking to, I could give you Living water. Living water, she says, well, bring it on. Give me some of it. You know, fill me up. And of course, she’s thinking He’s going to give her something to drink, to put in her body. Kind of the way we think. Something outside of her that was going to make her feel better. But listen to Jesus’ words to her, when she says, give me some of this water. He says, “Everyone who drinks of this water here in this well shall thirst again. But whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst. But the water that I shall give him shall become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.”
Guys, one of the things you’ll notice in the Bible is that water is often used as a metaphor representing the spirit of God and it’s so critical to understand that the mark of a Christian is that the Spirit of God resides in the innermost being of your life. That is the primary mark of a legitimate true Christian.
You know, we easily slip into thinking that a Christian is merely a person who believes in Jesus up here, but the Bible is clear. He must reside here. And that’s why it says, as we receive Christ Jesus, the Lord, He comes into our lives. He gives us a new heart. He gives us a new spirit, and this is the clearly the mark of what it means to be a Christian.
And the problem is, and you read even in the New Testament that people didn’t understand that. Listen to what Paul says to the church of Corinth in II Corinthians chapter 13. I believe he could say this easily to the people of the churches of Birmingham, Alabama. He says, “Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith.” Examine yourselves, are you really in the faith? “Or you do not recognize this about yourself. That Jesus Christ is in you, unless indeed you fail the test.”
He goes on in Romans to say the very exact same thing when he says, Paul says, “However, you’re not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you, but if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.”
Do we pass the test? Do we belong to Him? This is something we’ll be talking about as we pursue this series. And I’m sure Drayton will touch on this when we meet in November.
I want to close with one final illustration and a verse and then we’ll be finished. You know that Newsweek article that I read to you, “The Science of Happiness”? They made an interesting comment. They said the research indicates that when people win the lottery, they have this huge surge of euphoria in their lives and then they say though, after six months, these same people return to the same level of satisfaction they experienced before their sudden change in fortune. I wonder why that is. I’m sure some of you are thinking, ‘that wouldn’t happen to me if I won the lottery’. And I guess the point that I would leave you with here, and I hope as we leave this morning, that we all realize that money can’t purchase what is of real value in this life. Now I’m not in any way denigrating wealth, because there’s so many who do use it for good, but I think it’s so important that we leave here realizing it can’t buy what really matters. It can’t purchase me a good marriage, a meaningful family life, solid friendship, wisdom and understanding, most significantly, it can’t satisfy the soul. These are things that cannot be bought.
It’s kind of interesting, everything I’ve said this morning can be pretty much summarized in one sentence in the Old Testament. And I’ll leave you with this. “For my people,” this is God talking, you’re not talking about the Philistines, “My people have committed two evils. Number one, they have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters. And number two, they have made for themselves cisterns, broken cisterns that can hold no water.”
We as humans struggle in life so much because we forsake the fountain of living water and in the process, we construct a strategy for life that we hope will capture joy and inner peace. Only to find that we have constructed vessels that are broken and cannot hold water. And thus, we have this continual thirst that drives our lives. Remember Jesus’ words. I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall not hunger and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.
Let us close in prayer. Father, we thank You that You are the fountain of life and that You, as Jesus says, desire to give us Your joy, to make us full and complete, overflowing with that living water that You offer the spiritually thirsty. Father, I thank You for these men and their lives, their friendship, this time together. I pray that You would use this to challenge us of where are we in our relationship with You. How do we stand with God? Where is my soul? Father, we acknowledge just our need for You. And we’re again grateful for the lives that You’ve given us, our families, our friends, and all the blessings of this life. It’s in Christ’s name we pray, Amen.
I’ll see y’all on the 22nd of November. Thank you.
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Anchoresses were medieval women who chose to pursue a particularly demanding form of monastic life, namely complete isolation from the world. Once enclosed, they would typically live out their lives in a small cell, servants delivering their food and the priest hearing their confession being the only people with whom they would have contact.
So I was intrigued when I found out that there is a historical novel titled The Anchoress by Robyn Cadwallander. What possible story could a life that is by design limited and uneventful inspire?
Sarah is a young woman who vows, after the death of her sister in childbirth, to never risk her life in that way. Over the objections of her father, she secures a benefactor who would sponsor anchorite life, and she is enclosed in a stone cell attached to a small church in the village of Hartham, England.
What should be the end of the story, turns out to be just the beginning because Sarah’s past keeps intruding on her isolation and starts affecting those around her. By degrees we learn that Sarah is not just running away from her grief, but also from something more sinister. Sir Thomas, the son of a local baron, had once tried to seduce her in a violent episode that left her deeply traumatized.
Thomas is upset with Sarah escaping his clutches, and in an act of vengeance rapes her maid Anna, still almost a child, who becomes pregnant and subsequently dies. When the news of the pregnancy spreads through the village, both Anna and Sarah are blamed for the scandal, even though everyone suspects the identity of the father and the circumstances of the conception.
The story unfolds slowly and is interwoven with Sarah’s meditation on faith, vocation, the desirability of the path she had chosen, and the rules to which anchoresses are bound. The life of enclosure begins to take an emotional and physical toll. Will Sarah stay the course, or will she abandon the cell like one of the previous anchoress did?
The Anchoress is about whether it is possible—or wise—to turn one’s back on the world and one’s past. It is also a study of the fear and contempt with which women met for most of history, the abuses they suffered, and the impunity with which those abuses tended to be committed.
I am a great lover of the Middle Ages, and I wrote a novel set in that era. But, despite the great architectural achievements and the strength of monastic learning, it was probably one of the worst times in history to be a woman. With rampant lawlessness and institutional misogyny, it is no wonder that some would have seen their only hope for safety in sealing themselves in a tomb-like cell.
Of course, the great irony, both then and in more recent times, is that many of those abuses were either enabled or covered up by the Church itself.
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Published by patkarolina
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April 28, 2018
abuse, blog, book blog, book blogger, book review, Books, Christianity, England, fiction, God, history, inspiration, literature, Middle Ages, monastic, monasticism, novel, rape, reading, religion, review, women writers, women's fiction, writing
4 thoughts on “The Anchoress by Robyn Cadwallader”
May 1, 2018 at 4:54 pm
This sounds like an interesting ( and quite disturbing story ) . Is it more historical or literary?
May 12, 2018 at 2:21 pm
It does sound like an interesting book, although I disagree with the conclusion that ‘it was one of the worst times in history to be a woman’. Maybe it was in the church, but in secular society women could inherit and administer land, run businesses, and even bring a case in the courts. There were female authors in the Middle Ages, as well as a considerable number of powerful women in the political sphere.
Medieval woman arguably had more rights over property and who they married than they did in the ancient world. Certainly, there were inequalities, and there was misogyny- mostly from the church, but there were times when it was worse. For instance, contrary to popular opinion, adultery was never a capital offense in the Middle Ages – that was a trope from Arthurian Literature. The Puritans briefly made it so, but not Medieval people. Medieval women could even divorce their husbands on certain grounds: I can think of a couple of examples on the grounds of non-consummation and force.
May 12, 2018 at 6:14 pm
Thank you for commenting on my post. You are right in many ways, which is why I wrote that it was “one of the worst times”, not “the worst time”. Also, the fact that the Church was the source of misogyny and inequality cannot be seen as mere blip in the otherwise (supposedly) female-friendly medieval world. The Church was immensely powerful, its teachings permeated every facet of life – public, domestic, even intimate, and that made its attitude towards women unavoidable to said women in everyday life. Finally, yes, there were powerful women in the Middle Ages, but they were either royal wives or daughters, or women who claimed to have visionary experiences. Outside of this narrow group, few had access to education or were accorded sufficient respect. Those who ran businesses were typically widows who inherited them from their late husbands (in most cases taverns, inns, etc.) and experienced regular harassment in the course of running their business. This forced many to remarry, at which point the business would be taken over and become the property of their new husband.
May 27, 2018 at 4:17 pm
There were great women doctors of the church during middle ages like Saints Teresa of Ávila (St. Teresa of Jesus) Catherine of Siena; Thérèse de Lisieux ; St. Hildegard of Bingen, while there were a hundred or so Saints that are too many to list here. Most of these women led monastic lives, without which they would not have become saints in the first place.
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The Mayanot Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem offers a highly academic Judaic Studies curriculum taught by dynamic staff in a welcoming atmosphere.
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By Mayanot - September 04, 2012
Last year, the Mayanot Institute of Jewish Studies developed the Mayanot Exhibition Program. The program gives artists the opportunity to exhibit five pieces of their work in the Yeshiva for a period of four months. At the moment, the work of Yitzchok Moully of New Jersey is on display. Rabbi Yitzchok Moully is the Youth Rabbi at the Chabad Jewish Centre in Basking Ridge, NJ, as well as being an artist. Rabbi Moully has pioneered the ‘Chassidic Pop Art’ style, which combines traditional Jewish and Chassidic images with the vibrant colors and forms associated with Pop Art. Moully’s work has been featured in many publications and was shown on an episode of ‘Oprah’s Next Chapter’ in which Oprah Winfrey visited several Chassidic families. Mayanot is a desired location for Jewish artists, or artists dealing with Jewish themes, to exhibit their work. Mayanot has become a hub of learning for Jewish adults from across the world. Apart from the students, there are many visitors who come to Maya
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Winters and David are back and up to no good (as usual). In other news, I’ve been falling a bit behind due to a busy schedule so I might need to delay next week’s page. I will of course give you all a heads up beforehand.
STATUS UPDATE: Oct 18th
Hey guys, I’ve been having a rough couple weeks symptom wise, so page 358 may be later than I planned. I’m going to try to have it up Fri at the latest.
The fatigue has kind of blindsided me as I was doing really well up till now. I wish I could give more warning for things like this but everything with MS is so up and down that I have a hard time knowing when it’s going to hit the hardest. I’ve got a lot of plans for the comic and it is frustrating when I’m too slow to get actual work done on time. I just got to remember that it’s not a race.
As always I can’t thank you guys enough for your understanding. It really does help keep me going on bad days.
STATUS UPDATE: Oct 20th
Well, it looks like I spoke too soon. I made a lot of pacing mistakes on page 358 and had to redraw most of it. Due to that and my current bout of fatigue the page has taken way longer than I planned on. I should be back on track Wednesday next week (normal update time). I’m currently coloring the page so I don’t foresee any more hold ups.
Thanks so much for your patience.
–Holly and Drew.
I think I called it.
Where’s a power failure when you need one?
Why do I get the feeling (based on David’s expression in the last panel) that someone just broke in to their spy feed?
Hey guys, unfortunately I won’t be able to get the page up this week. We just had thanksgiving here in Canada and due to my busy schedule I haven’t had a lot of energy to work. Things should be back on track for the following Weds, thanks as always for your patience!
Just adding to my original comment what I wrote in the blog post. I’ve been having a rough couple weeks symptom wise, so page 358 may be later than I planned. I’m going to try to have it up Fri at the latest.
The fatigue has kind of blindsided me as I was doing really well up till now. I wish I could give more warning for things like this but everything with MS is so up and down that I have a hard time knowing when it’s going to hit the hardest. I’ve got a lot of plans for the comic and it is frustrating when I’m too slow to get actual work done on time. I just got to remember that it’s not a race.
As always I can’t thank you guys enough for your understanding. It really does help keep me going on bad days.
Take your time. We understand your health goes first. And as much as we love your comic and want more of it, we certainly don’t want you to feel like produce something that was rushed, or sub-standard with what you can provide.
We don’t want our favorite artist to burn herself out either.
Keep hope: Winter is coming. We just got 6 inches of snow in Sherbrooke (2h from Montreal). Ok, it will all melt by the end of the week, but hey! It’s a start.
Yes! Bring on the snow!
Also thanks for the kind words. I’m really glad I didn’t rush the upcoming page as I think it looks much better now that I was able to fix a few things.
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