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Church Cemetery Inverted
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As a dream when one awaketh...Psalms 73: 20
It might seem like a dream
Where colors are inverted
As head stones stand in light
For the dead converted
In a church yard at night.
Poetry by me AJP
I am not sure what made me decide to use the negative filter on this church yard cemetery picture that I shot a few years ago but it did make an unusual effect. From the negative filter I then converted the color into black and white as I felt the colored version was too much on the unreal side.
I shot this after a lutefisk supper in October of 2008 as we were leaving the church.. It reminds me of being white washed with snow .....In the bottom of the picture you can see the shadows are turned white of my husband and I where I am shooting the picture.
Please view in Light box for best results! Thank you!
Thank you so much Barbara Kurth for the spotlight on 3-25-2014! Very appreciated!!!
24 responses
Donna Mullins (Deleted) gave props (24 Mar 2014):
Very unique this way Andrea. I love the effect. Great entry!
Andrea Petersen said (24 Mar 2014):
Thank you for loving it, Donna...I just felt like I had to do something different than the norm
to portray a cemetery church yard..
Donald Garrett gave props (24 Mar 2014):
A very unique and beautiful entry!
Sarah Springer (Deleted) gave props (24 Mar 2014):
I actually tried this myself today after shooting in a cemetery. Mine was not so good, your image is way more successful !
Ann Reece gave props (24 Mar 2014):
A lightbox must!!! I really like this reverted view of your photo, it is beautiful and unique!!!
Heather Mellon gave props (24 Mar 2014):
I love the effect of the negative filter.. it makes for a striking and beautiful image! A great entry Andrea!
Michele Wambaugh (Deleted) gave props (25 Mar 2014):
Wonderful & spooky entry, Andrea!
Davide Simone gave props (25 Mar 2014):
Barbara Kurth said (25 Mar 2014):
This caught my eye right away Andrea ! How original and creative !! I love it and the scripture is so perfect for this !
Lynn E. Harvey gave props (25 Mar 2014):
Creative indeed! A standout!!
Robert Larrazolo gave props (25 Mar 2014):
Well done!
Evelyne Schulte gave props (25 Mar 2014):
Very creative entry!
Betty Maxey gave props (25 Mar 2014):
Hey, this almost looks infra red! I like how this turned out!
Betty Maxey gave props (25 Mar 2014):
Upon further inspection, the shadows add a lil spookyness!!!
Leslie Hunziker gave props (25 Mar 2014):
So different.....I love it.
Patty Gross gave props (25 Mar 2014):
Very creative processing, Andrea! I really like this wonderful photo. Very well done!!
Kathryn Meyer gave props (25 Mar 2014):
Whoa! Very catchy; love the clean lines and stark contrasts.
Thad Zajdowicz (Deleted) gave props (26 Mar 2014):
Love it!
Sonia Adam Murray gave props (26 Mar 2014):
A beautiful entry Andrea!
Ken O'Brien gave props (27 Mar 2014):
This is just stunning,wonderful entry.
rekha nag gave props (28 Mar 2014):
Wow! The filter has worked very well!! Outstanding outcome!!
Deborah Downes gave props (28 Mar 2014):
Love the effect. A must see in the lightbox.
Jyri Vissak gave props (29 Mar 2014):
Beautiful composition and tones!
John Linton gave props (4 Apr 2014):
Walkin' to the head of the line in JPG's Theme Park!
Also by Andrea Petersen
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The basic excel settings: YOUR OBJECTIVE
You are already working with Excel 2010. Some of your colleagues, however, do not have access to this version yet. You will have to save the workbooks you have created with Excel 2010 in the Excel97-2003 file format, so that your colleagues will be able to open them. You can set this as your default file format, so that you do not have to set it every time you save a file. You can also automatically preselect a certain folder as default path. This way, you avoid having to browse to this folder every time you save a file. You can set which format Excel automatically selects in Excel Options. In addition, you can also adjust numerous excel settings regarding the appearance and behavior of Excel. In this learning module you will learn how to call up Excel Options and apply changes there.
The basic excel settings :HOW DOES IT WORK?
To change the basic excel settings, first click on the tab. Then click on the command.
This opens the Excel Options dialog box. In the first category, General, you can adjust the default font and your user name.
In the Save category you can control how Excel saves files.
You can here preset the file format in which Excel will save files by default. If you have to exchange files with people who are still using previous versions of Excel often, you should set the file format to the compatible Excel97-2003 Workbook (*.xls) format.
In the Save category, you can also set how often your file will be automatically saved.
Here, you preset the default location for saving your files.
Once you have entered all the excel settings click OK.


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January 29th, Tucson: Lecture by Geoffrey Batchen
Center for Creative Photography | U of A School of Art
Lecture by Geoffrey Batchen: "In Absentia: The Politics of Cameraless Photography"
Friday, January 29, 2016, 5:30 PM
"How can a photograph of nothing—of nothing discernable or apparently significant—be said to offer some useful political purchase on the world it inhabits? How can a photograph that represents, but does not depict, a given situation be freighted with historical knowledge and import? Confining itself to examples of cameraless photography, from the 1830s to now, this paper will ask these questions with a view to determining a politics for such photographs in the present. In fact, given our contemporary context, cameraless photographs assume that photography is always already a politics; to engage the visual and chemical grammar of the photograph is to dispute and challenge that fixity of that politics. To make such photographs returns photography to a unique, hand-made craft and away from global capitalism and its vast economies of mass exploitation. Not that these photographs are innocent; on the contrary they are often generated by actions that are toxic, radioactive, enigmatic, violent, dangerous. Nor are they "abstract." Instead, I will argue, they redefine the nature of photography's realism as well as its potential as a political agent."
Center for Creative Photography
Room 108
1030 N. Olive Road
Tucson, AZ 85721-0103
A PDF of this announcement is available here.


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Glendale Pedestrian master plan
Client: City of Glendale Location: Glendale, CA
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See the Glendale Pedestrian Plan at http://www.bestreetsmartglendale.com/


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Beauty the bald eagle
This bald eagle named Beauty was fitted with a remarkably life-like prosthetic beak. More than 5 years ago, she narrowly escaped a poacher after a bullet shattered her beak.
Until the prosthetic was attached, Beauty relied on human handlers to feed her, but thanks to the new beak she can again grasp her own food.


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Playlife Gambler Boys Adjustable Inline Skates
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link lovin' – february 2014
Zingerman's // Portraits of Boston // Retronaut
What I'm reading: The Orientalist: Solving the Mystery of a Strange and Dangerous Life by Tom Reiss
What I'm listening to: Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey: The Lost Legacy of Highclere Castle by the Countess of Carnarvon
What I'm playing: Papers, Please by Lucas Pope
What I'm eating: Shepherd's pie. I'll need to make it again so I can take photos!
// Michigan pals, pre-order your paczkis from Zingerman's while there's still time. I've pre-ordered all five flavors, chocolate pudding, sweet ricotta cheese, rose hip, plum, and raspberry. Can't wait!
// Love me some dumplings. These homemade pierogies by the Sugar Hit are on my to-make list.
// Still keeping warm this winter with lots of soups. This Curried Cauliflower Apple Soup is a new favorite.
// This Fennel, Mint, and Pea Salad from Chef in Disguise makes me long for spring.
// Our last attempt at making a dutch baby resulted in a shattered plate and scrounging the table (and yes, the floor) for bits of pancake. Maybe I'll give this Blueberry Lemon Dutch Baby by Hungry Girl Por Vida if I'm feeling adventurous.
// A couple years ago, I bought a springform pan to make a cheesecake recipe I found from Smitten Kitchen. I never made the cheesecake and I'm not sure if I've ever used this springform pan. Would this Chocolate Peanut Butter Cheesecake finally get me to use the pan? Probably not, but I would so eat this if someone made it for me.
// My favorite Lynda instructor's tips on Finding Client Zero.
// Erin E. Flynn's tips on how to choose a color palette for your website. I found this quite helpful, as I'm hoping to launch a redesign of the blog in the next month.
// Pop up ads are back – Sigh. No, I don't want to sign up for your newsletter. Go away forever.
Everything else:
// The 1863 Brighthon swimming club is happy to see you. Some more so than others.
// As much as I love Humans of New York, Portraits of Boston is a close second in terms of photography and stories.
// A piece on how it is expensive to be poor in America, written by Barbara Ehrenreich, the author of Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America.
// The Names They Gave Me – shout out to everyone with a goofy name who dreaded roll call.
// From The Smithsonian Mag, Beautiful Anatomical Skeletons, Posed and Photographed As Sculptures
// Duran Duran on repeat forever.


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Guns n'Roses guitarist Ron walks away from serious multiple smash – and then gets straight back to work making music
Guns n'Roses guitarist Ron 'Bumblefoot' Thal survived a potentially fatal car accident on Tuesday after a driver ploughed into his vehicle and forced it into another two.
He miraculously walked away from the pile-up, which totalled his Toyota – and after dealing with the associated paperwork he got straight back to work making music.
Bumblefoot, 41, posted a photo of the wreckage via his Twitter account and commented: "Thank you Toyota for the functional seat belt, air bags and crumple zone. You saved my skull."
He added: "SUV just ploughed into me at full speed. My car is totalled and two other cars she smashed me into. I'm well enough to tweet, which means I'm not dead yet."
The guitarist spent yesterday arranging a rental car and filing his insurance claim, saying: "I've spent 24 hours dealing with car rental, insurance and collision folks, banks and police – as the injuries begin to reveal themselves."
Responding to well-wishers he added: "Oh, please – I'm in Guns n'fucking Roses. This is all like a walk in the park!"
But last night he was back in his studio working on a new solo track called Cat Fight. He commented: "It's finished. I've just go to transcribe it and get all the extras ready to go."
In January last year former GnR guitarist Gilby Clarke was seriously injured in a hit-and-run incident while riding his motorcycle. The driver was never identified. Clarke said later: "It knocked me down for six months. I couldn't work and I get around with a cane, so it has been tough. It has been a hard two years for me and for the rest of the country, but with this on top on of it? It was hard."


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The neck scarf is having a resurgence. BIG time. Bandanas and silk scarves worn around the neck are no longer reserved for those in western flicks or 50's sock hops. (Though I always did admire Marty's blue neck bow in Grease...) This trend is the perfect way to jazz up any outfit with a case of the "blahs" and works with just about any outfit. Throw one on to add some personality to sleek workwear or tie it on to top off a casual look with a denim jacket. There's also about a million ways to tie these scarves. Test it out with the french twist, square knot, neck wrap, or slip knot. I recently found a navy scarf bandana at GAP that is long enough to tie multiple ways. That might be a great place to start your collection.
It's always helpful to see how other people wear a trend. Here is some inspiration spotted on Pinterest. Be sure to follow my "Trends I Love" board to see more style spotting.


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Amid and arid are easily confused words.
The spell-check application of most word processing software programs would not catch a slip-up of these two words. Spell-check is looking for words that aren't in its dictionary, and words that resemble words in its dictionary but are possibly spelled wrong. Spell-check isn't perfect. It doesn't know and can't guess what word you wanted or what word you meant, it can only judge the words on the page. If you used words that are all spelled correctly, it gives you a pass anyway.
Autocorrect suggests words that start with the same letters. It's suggesting what word you may want to save time, but quite often, its suggestions are pretty off base. They don't help you out, but they do make you laugh.
Amid (pronounced "uh-mihd") is a preposition. It is used to indicate something being in the midst of other things, or being among other objects or events. It can also mean following certain events, a consequence.
Arid (pronounced "err-rihd") is an adjective. It describes dry, non-humid air. It's frequently used to describe desert climate. As they say in Arizona, it's a dry heat.
The following story uses both words correctly:
Ari sought solace in an arid climate to recover from a recent bout of bronchitis. He also looked forward to some solace amid rumors that his high profile marriage was falling apart. There weren't many paparazzi or gossip columnists to be found in New Mexico's southern desert. Though you might look like "that guy from TV", no one cared to confirm it.
What a respite to be ordinary for a change, to be not talked about, he thought.


text: hey everyone! hope you had a fantastic break and that your holidays were nice and relaxing. for most of us it's back to work as usual, for those lucky students you've got a few extra days to kick back and relax. all that aside, the fmh crew will be returning to the airwaves on thursday january 10th at our usual time and place on the radio dial. we thank all you loyal listeners from vancity, cowtown, tdot, hali, the uk, poland, romania and of course, oz. we've got some new stuff that we think you'll really enjoy so be sure to check us out on or any time after next thursday. much love to you all and let's kick the shit out of 2008 shall we?


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Archive for the 'Design' Category
Why all world maps are wrongTuesday, January 24th, 2017
Global Carbon Credit 2015Monday, July 18th, 2016
The Impending Disappearance of World's Natural ResourcesWednesday, January 13th, 2016
Hmmm… quite worrying… but doesn't come as a surprise… (PDF with end dates here)
Flex ProjectorTuesday, January 12th, 2016
Great tool to see the differences between different projections, with the differences visible for the latitudes too.
Projection WizardTuesday, January 12th, 2016
Get the right projection for a chosen extent, be it equal-area, conformal or equidistant.
Panomax – Incredible Interactive Panoramic PicturesTuesday, January 12th, 2016
Wow, pretty impressive panoramic views, with multiple functions, like time lapse, archive, panning, …
Countries Under the Most Strain in the European Migration CrisisTuesday, January 12th, 2016
Interesting, simple display of migration trends, in total numbers and as percentage of the population. NYT
The True Size Of A CountryMonday, December 14th, 2015
Very interesting to see how countries "loose" size while dragging them over the earth. Due to the usual global projection, Greenland for example looks really huge, but, when compared correctly in size with African countries around the equator, it looks rather shrinked….
Live Global DataWednesday, October 28th, 2015
We'll Have What They're HavingFriday, August 14th, 2015
Schöne Grafik mit kleinen Detail-Ansichten der National Geographic.
Global Peace IndexWednesday, June 17th, 2015
The Global Peace Index measures the state of peace in 162 countries according to 23 indicators that gauge the absence of violence or the fear of violence. It is produced annually by the Institute for Economics and Peace.
This year the results show that globally, levels of peace remained stable over the last year, however are still lower than in 2008.
Since last year, 81 countries have become more peaceful, while 78 have deteriorated.
Many countries in Europe, the world's most peaceful region, have reached historically high levels of peace. 15 of the 20 most peaceful countries are in Europe.
Due to an increase in civil unrest and terrorist activity, the Middle East and North Africa is now the world's least peaceful region for the first time since the Index began.
Globally the intensity of internal armed conflict has increased dramatically, with the number of people killed in conflicts rising over 3.5 times from 49,000 in 2010 to 180,000 in 2014.
The economic impact of violence reached a total of US$14.3 trillion or 13.4% of global GDP last year.
The most peaceful countries are Iceland, Denmark and Austria. The countries that made the biggest improvements in peace over the last year, generally benefited from the ending of wars with neighbours and involvement in external conflict. The biggest improvers were: Guinea-Bissau, Cote d'Ivoire, Egypt and Benin.
Syria remains the world's least peaceful country, followed by Iraq and Afghanistan. The country that suffered the most severe deterioration in peace was Libya, which now ranks 149th of 162 countries. Ukraine suffered the second largest deterioration: following a popular revolution which brought down the administration of Viktor Yanukovych, Russia moved to destabilise the country, meaning it scored poorly on organised conflict indicators.
'2014 was marked by contradictory trends: on the one hand many countries in the OECD achieved historically high levels of peace, while on the other, strife-torn nations, especially in the Middle East, became more violent. This is a real concern as these conflict become even more intractable they spread terrorism to other states.'
Steve Killelea, Founder and Executive Chairman, Institute for Economics and Peace
Changing Projection (Center)Wednesday, April 29th, 2015
Interesting how the projection, or better the center and everything around changes dynamically, when one moves around…
Conflicting views: Public versus scientistsFriday, March 6th, 2015
Battling Infectious Diseases in the 20th Century: The Impact of VaccinesFriday, March 6th, 2015
Interesting to see the what happened after vaccines have been introduced.
Website launched: Global Environmental Goals (GEGs) LiveTuesday, November 25th, 2014
There is a multitude of internationally-agreed environmental goals and objectives, which are part of outcome documents of relevant United Nations summits and conferences, resolutions of the General Assembly, decisions of other global intergovernmental conferences, multilateral environmental agreements and decisions of their governing bodies. The compendium of those goals and objectives is called the Global Environmental Goals (GEGs).
The purpose of the GEGs-Live website is to provide up-to-date information on the progress towards achieving these GEGs. In addition, it puts the information into the context of the currently elaborated Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The variables and data are mainly drawn from UNEP's Environmental Data Explorer.
Users can access the information they are searching for either through the GEGs or the SDGs, as parallel points of entry. Based on the user's choice, the website shows the direct interlinkages between politically-agreed goals and targets on the one hand, and relevant underlying data for monitoring these on the other.
This website is a value judgment-free effort by UNEP to provide up-to-date information to show progress achieved on issues identified in the GEGs and the currently elaborated SDGs. It is intended to better inform both decision-makers and the general public.
F1 racing winners and ageWednesday, October 22nd, 2014
Great overview and display of the combination age, winner, top-10, other of Formula-1 races.
Visualizing the major causes of death in the 20th CenturyWednesday, October 22nd, 2014
The Graphic ContinuumWednesday, October 22nd, 2014
Good overview of all those different display possibilities that we have…
Climate Economy ReportMonday, October 13th, 2014
Very interesting website. For once, for the report (N. Stern is the key person behind). But even more for the website design. It's like an interactive ebook brought online, with video which can play (fullscreen) in the background, links in all directions, pages which just need to be scrolled down for overview, and to the left for deeper look into it…
Pretty cool… Although, still, I don't read the stuff, as I don't like reading text on screen…


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Cholesterol Channel
Related Channels
Generic Niaspan
Brand-name and generic forms of Niaspan (niacin extended-release) are currently available. The generic version comes in three strengths and is made by Teva Pharmaceuticals and other manufacturers. The FDA has given generic Niaspan an "AB" rating, meaning it is equivalent to the brand-name version.
Generic Niaspan: An OverviewNiaspan® (niacin extended-release) is a prescription medication that has been licensed to treat several conditions. For example, it is used for:
- Lowering cholesterol in people with high cholesterol. Niaspan can lower both total and LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) and raise HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol).
- Lowering triglyceride levels in patients with hypertriglyceridemia (high triglycerides). Triglycerides are fat-like substances found in the body.
- Reducing triglycerides or cholesterol levels in patients who are already taking another cholesterol medication, such as a statin (Crestor®, Pravachol®, Lescol®, Mevacor®, Altoprev®, Lipitor®, Zocor®) or bile acid sequestrant like cholestyramine (Prevalite®, Questran®, Questran® Light, LoCholest®), colestipol (Colestid®), or colesevelam (WelChol®). Niaspan is also better than most other cholesterol-lowering medicines at raising HDL cholesterol.
- Reducing the risk of another heart attack in patients with a history of both a heart attack and high cholesterol.
- Slowing the progression of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) in patients with a history of coronary artery disease (CAD) and high cholesterol.
Niaspan is made by Abbott Laboratories. However, it is also available in generic form.
Niaspan Drug
List of references (click here)
Niaspan [package insert]. Cranbury, NJ: Kos Pharmaceuticals, Inc.;2007 April.
Food and Drug Administration, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. Electronic orange book: approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence evaluations. FDA Web site. Available at: http://www.fda.gov/cder/ob/. Accessed April 28, 2014.
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD


text:
Family Support is a non-entitlement publicly funded program designed to assist individuals living with an intellectual/developmental disability maintain a cohesive family unit, both living at home, and within the community setting.
Each individual approved for Family Support will receive an Individualized Family Support Plan (IFSP), which will identify the services and supports that are determined to best help the individual and family members, along with an allotted budget for these services and supports. Only those services and supports listed on the IFSP are eligible for Family Support funding.
Program Services
Services and Supports
Some examples of eligible services and supports include:
- Dental Care
- Medical Care
- Vision Care
- Occupational Therapy
- Physical Therapy
- Speech Therapy
Supports and Services
Some examples of eligible services and supports include:
- Specialized Medical Supplies
- Specialized Nutritional Supplements
- Incontinence Supplies
- Arts, Social and Cultural Activities
- Sports, Fitness and Aquatics
- Summer Camps
Learn More About Services and Supports (link coming soon)
* Please note that some services and supports have eligibility prerequisites and not all individuals are eligible for some services. For more information, please speak with our Family Support Coordinator. *
BDI provides Family Support through a state contract with the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD). In order to be eligible for services, individuals must be:
- Three years of age or older
- Diagnosed with an intellectual/developmental disability
- Able to provide supporting documentation of intellectual/developmental disability diagnosis
- A resident of Clayton, DeKalb, Fulton, Gwinnett or Rockdale county
How to Apply
Click the link below to download the application form.
Please send completed application and supporting documentation to:
Program Services
Resources for Current Family Support Participants
Selecting Providers
Selecting the right services and supports for your loved one is often overwhelming. We have compiled a list of some providers that other families just like you have selected to work with them and their loved one.
Community Provider List (link coming soon)
Medical and Nutritional Supplies
BDI is excited to offer medical and nutritional supplies (e.g., incontinence supplies, chucks, food thickeners and so much more) through Professional Medical Fulfillment (PMF). This service offers direct-to-door delivery of the name brands you know and love, ensuring families always have the supplies they need.
Requesting Funding for Services and Supports
To utilize allocated Family Support funds, participants must complete and submit a Family Support Request Form and supporting documentation (e.g., receipts, invoices, prescriptions, timesheets, etc.) to AADD's Family Support Coordinator. Click the links below to download the Family Support Request Form and guidelines for submitting an invoice.
1) Guidelines and Sample Invoice
2) Request a Change to Your Services and Supports
Submitting a Request
BDI knows that families are busy and we are dedicated to helping families navigate their requests for services and supports in the easiest possible way – EMAIL! This allows families to make request anytime of day, when most convenient for them!
We also accept requests received via U.S. mail or fax.
Please send completed Family Support Request Form and supporting documentation to:
Kendell Hargett
Intake and Admissions Case Manager
* Please note that photographs of completed request forms and supporting documentation cannot be accepted and will be returned to families unfulfilled. Thank you for understanding. *
Independent Contractors
BDI is dedicated to the individuals and families we serve. Our families select the vendors and contracts that meet their needs. Family-selected vendors and contractors must provide the required documentation before services and/or supports can be provided. Please note that BDI does not accept unsolicited applications for contractors.
Family-selected contractors: Please send all correct and complete required documentation to our Family Support Coordinator at firstname.lastname@example.com.
1) Independent Contractor Requirements


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Legs twined. Our fingers climbed each other through the night. Scarves undone. My locks tangled yours Little brown vines. Inhale the moment Before memory wakes us – We are supposed to be angry About something Inconsequential. We use eggshelled silence To mask the sleep in our step. Courteous and unremarkable We play at passive anger…
Tag: kiss
strawberry kiss
The memory is a strawberry Fresh on the vine With a twisting pluck- It is mine A red gem gleaming in the sun Tart freshness and sugar sweet There's a hint of the earth in it A safe dirt kind of taste The way a garden smells after rain And the earth is in me…
(this love is homemade) [micropoem]
There's a warmth in your mouth, your kiss, unlike others – a sense of belonging, fitting; you taste like home.
(because I was tired of your constant public reminders I was only almost beautiful)
A micropoem – – – I swallow the drinks he serves Like it's your touch – The alcohol warms me in places Your kiss would have landed.


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I was asked to preach last Sunday (9.18.05) at my congragation. Even though I had about a month to prepare, I didn't finish until Sunday 2:00 am. It was difficult for me to convey what Hosea 2.16-17 and 19-20 stirred in me. This is the sermon I gave, but you might see some additional thoughts on these passages in the posts to come.
What do we think we can hide from our God? Is there some corner of your heart that is veiled from His sight? Is there some thought you keep in the depths of your mind that is somehow kept from His knowledge? The book of Hebrews says,
" For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account." (4.12-13)
This is an echo and a reiteration of Proverbs 15.11:
"Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the LORD; how much more the hearts of the children of man!"
The realm of the dead and the abyss are not hidden from God; so, is there some deep part of your life you think to hide from His eye?
We are all laid open and bare before our God, and this fact is the reason John exhorts us to walk in the light.
" This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us." (1 John 1.5-10)
Don't misread this: John is not telling us that we have to get everything perfect before we can walk with God. No, he is telling us that we might as well be honest about the fact that we have sinned. Only then can we receive forgiveness; you have to honestly admit you've done wrong before you can receive forgiveness.
Real honesty is a hard thing. It is easy to be general with our statements (i.e.- we are all sinners; I'm just like everyone else), but that is only surface honesty. Dig down deep: What are your indulgences? What wrongful or shameful acts do you justify as not that bad? What double standards do you hold others to? What idols do you keep polished and well fed? When we answer these questions honestly, we find our selves in the same boat as Israel. Sure, we may not engage in out right worship to false god's and goddesses, but still… however subtle the ways, we play the whore with our unfaithfulness to God.
The book of Hosea is a record of God dealing with an unfaithful people whom He still loves. Never forget this: however unfaithful our actions might be, God always loves us the same. Saint or sinner, God sent His only son to die for you… for me… for anyone who would believe and receive eternal life. His love for us is ever unchanging. It is who He is; it is His nature, His essence. God is Love (1 John 4.16). But let us not be fooled; God's love is not the mush, fuzzy, feel good imposer thing that we humans think it is. God's justice is part of His love, just as mercy, compassion, and patience are. Look at Exodus 33.18-23 and 34.5-7 with me. I want us to understand who our God is; who it is that loves us with agape love, unconditional love; who it is that we are unfaithful to.
Ex. 33.18-23 (RSV)
Moses said, 'show me your glory, I pray.' and He(Yahweh) said, 'I will make all my goodness pass before you, and will proclaim before you the name 'Yahweh'; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. But,' He said, 'you (Moses) cannot see my face; for no one shall see me and live.' And Yahweh continued, 'See, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock; and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by; then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back; but my face shall not be seen.'
Ex 34.5-7 (RSV)
Yahweh descended in the cloud and stood with him (Moses) there, and proclaimed the name 'Yahweh'. Yahweh passed before him (Moses) and proclaimed, 'Yahweh! Yahweh, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, yet by no means clearing the guilty, but visiting the iniquity of the parents upon the children and the children's children, to the third and the forth generation.'
First of all, our God has a name. His name is not a way to get His attention or to address Him as I would use anyone else's name (i.e. 'Hey Adrien' or 'Jenipher, could you…') . His name is not a way for me to label Him, like the names we give to objects and animals (i.e. chair, table, cat, dog). His name is *everything* He is, His character, His nature. It is the fullness of all that He is, the reason He does what He does and speaks what He speaks. Moses first heard God proclaim His name when He spoke through a burning bush. Ex 3.13-15:
Then Moses said to God, "If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they ask me, 'What is his name?' what shall I say to them?" God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And he said, "Say this to the people of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.'" God also said to Moses, "Say this to the people of Israel, 'The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.' This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations.
The name of God is: 'I AM WHO I AM'. There is no condition, there is no explanation, there is no other way to describe the self-extant one. Now, we don't say 'I AM' when we say the name of God; we say Yahweh. This is connected to a Hebrew verb that means 'to be'. Literally, Yahweh translates out 'HE BE'. (There's some Biblical ebonics for you) For grammatical purposes, we translate it 'HE IS' or 'YOU ARE'. Whenever you read in the Bible 'LORD' in all capital letters, it is 'Yahweh'
Yahweh is our way of saying 'You are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, yet by no means clearing the guilty…' Yahweh is our way of saying 'He is merciful, full of grace, patient with us, overflowing in kindness and faithfulness, and forgiving. Yet, to those who will not accept the atonement gift He offers, He hold them to their guilt.' Yahweh is another way of saying 'God is love'.
There is enough in these verses for an entire sermon series. But I want us to look now at Hosea, and keep in mind who Yahweh is as we see how He deals with unfaithful people. The book is made up of several words or oracles given to Hosea from Yahweh. The first word (chapters 1-3) is God indictment of Israel for playing the whore with other god's (the Baals). The core of Yahweh's charge and judgment against His people is found starting in 2.5:
For their mother (Israel) has played the whore; she who conceived them has acted shamefully. For she said, 'I will go after my lovers, who give me my bread and my water, my wool and my flax, my oil and my drink.' Therefore I will hedge up her way with thorns, and I will build a wall against her, so that she cannot find her paths. She shall pursue her lovers but not overtake them, and she shall seek them but shall not find them. Then she shall say, 'I will go and return to my first husband, for it was better for me then than now.' And she did not know that it was I who gave her the grain, the wine, and the oil, and who lavished on her silver and gold, which they used for Baal. Therefore I will take back my grain in its time, and my wine in its season, and I will take away my wool and my flax, which were to cover her nakedness. Now I will uncover her lewdness in the sight of her lovers, and no one shall rescue her out of my hand. And I will put an end to all her mirth, her feasts, her new moons, her Sabbaths, and all her appointed feasts. And I will lay waste her vines and her fig trees, of which she said, 'These are my wages, which my lovers have given me.' I will make them a forest, and the beasts of the field shall devour them. And I will punish her for the feast days of the Baals when she burned offerings to them and adorned herself with her ring and jewelry, and went after her lovers and forgot me, declares the LORD.
Israel chased after 'other lovers'; they decided that these Baal's could provide for them better than Yahweh. In fact, Israel forgot that it was Yahweh alone who truly gave them grain, wine, oil… the essentials of life; It was Yahweh Himself who gave them silver and gold as well… the luxuries of life. They choose to spend these essentials and these luxuries on false god's.
So, what do we spend the things of our lives on? Are we chasing after a lover other than Yahweh? Are we using the necessities of life we are given to honer someone other than God? Perhaps even to honor ourselves?
Israel offered worship to false god's called Baal's. The word Baal simply means 'master', and there were 'masters' for everything. In one Bible dictionary I found 10 listings of different Baal's mentioned in scripture, and there were hundreds more. These were Canaanite deities, and the worship practice varied from one to another. Some required a simple offering of goods; some demanded sexual orgies to ensure the harvest; some even called for the sacrifice of children in a fire.
Compare these false god's with Yahweh: they are not merciful and compassionate, there is no love. These idols demanded and demanded and took and took, and could never give the things they promised. But still Israel chased after them. Instead of being Yahweh's people, Israel wanted to be like the nations around them. They wanted to be successful and rich; they wanted to be well liked; they wanted to have security and protection from a human army and a human king. They were just like we are. We forget that the Lord takes care of us. We try and attain success according to man's standard. We think we need more and more and more… It is much more subtle, but things and people all around us (even our selves) want to be our master, our Baal.
So Yahweh proved that He alone is truly God, and He frustrated Israel's plans and efforts. The whole reason the nation went into exile was because it was the only course of action that God had left to take to save them from their own unfaithfulness without utterly destroying them.
We rarely think of hard times as discipline. As soon as something goes wrong in out lives, or as soon as something gets uncomfortable for us or threatens our security we start calling it an attack from the enemy, and start pleading for God to fix it and make it all better. In some cases, we act like spoiled children who just didn't get their way, so we throw a temper tantrum of sorts and expect God to fix it according to our ideas.
Now, I am not by any means advocating that the enemy never attacks. We know He does, and we need to understand what is a spiritual attack that we might be apart of God's work to heal and counter that attack. And I am not suggesting that when ever something in our life goes wrong we should try and figure out what we are doing wrong… God is not into giving us a cold or a flat tire because we didn't pray enough. That is not who Yahweh is. But, He does direct and orchestrate our lives in such a way that all things (good or bad) can and are used by Him to direct and lead us to deeper intimacy with Him. He is sovereign and omnipotent; He can do things like that. He has it under control, and we can trust that Yahweh is all about love… and love seeks the best for the beloved. Our best is only found in intimacy with Him.
This is why God disciplined Israel. Hosea 2.14-16:
Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak tenderly to her. And there I will give her her vineyards and make the Valley of Trouble a door of hope. And there she shall answer as in the days of her youth, as at the time when she came out of the land of Egypt.
And in that day, declares the LORD, you will call me 'My Husband,' and no longer will you call me 'My Baal.' For I will remove the names of the Baals from her mouth, and they shall be remembered by name no more.
Yahweh was not competing for the position of Israel's master; Yahweh wanted to be her only lover, her husband to whom she would be faithful. He wanted Israel to remember the covenant He had made with her at Sinai, to remember that the covenant was based upon His name… the one he declared to Moses. God's desire was and still is to live among His people in such an intimate way that the only picture we have to try and describe it is marriage.
He says 'No more will you remember the names of other lovers you chased after. No more will you ignore me and distract your self with these false masters. No, you will understand that this trouble you find your self in is actually bringing you Hope, because you will walk through it and find yourself closer to me.'
God wants to be our husband, not our master. He wants to have an intimate relationship with us. Look down at vs 19-20:
And I will betroth you to me forever. I will betroth you to me in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love and in mercy. I will betroth you to me in faithfulness. And you shall know the LORD.
This isn't a picture of religious rules and fear of punishment. This isn't a picture of us trying our best and hoping that it is good enough to find the favor of God. This is Yahweh making us His own forever, giving us righteousness and justice, showing us steadfast love and mercy. This is Yahweh producing faithfulness in us so that finally we might cling only to Him. This is our God keeping His word to Ezekiel (36.26-27):
I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.
And you shall know Yahweh!
In keeping with the picture of us as the bride, I would say that this knowledge is not academic head knowledge, neither is it some deep belief that can never be shaken. To know God in this context is to experience Him in the deepest, most intimate way possible. In Genesis 4.1 is says that Adam knew Eve. This is the kind of knowing we are talking about. Intimately knowing Yahweh.
So, how do you know Yahweh now? Do you know Him by some of the titles He holds: savior, healer, redeemer, provider, King of kings, Father, God, Lord… These are all words we have to express some small aspect of who Yahweh is and what He does in our lives. These are all good… but none of them are all of who 'He is' is. Sometimes, we use these titles as if we are trying to get His attention… like some spiritual intercom. We don't get God's attention; we acknowledge His continual presence and converse with the one who is omnipresent and with us always.
This, and so much more, is intimacy. But, we need help getting there. We have already admitted that we play the whore just as Israel did. We might be more subtle about it, but that doesn't change the fact that we are unfaithful. We do not know Yahweh as we should! How could we ever hide this gaping wound of infidelity? We need healing; we need His discipline. Hebrews 12.5-13 says:
And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? "My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives." It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed.
I need this! We as a congregation need this! The body of Christ needs this! We are called the bride of Christ; let us have the desire and perseverance to be intimate with Yahweh just as He desires and perseveres to be intimate with us.
Hosea 2.19-20:
And I will betroth you to me forever. I will betroth you to me in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love and in mercy. I will betroth you to me in faithfulness. And you shall know the LORD.
Oh God, let us know You!


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Ezekiel 25
The word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, set your face toward the Ammonites and prophesy against them. Say to the Ammonites, Hear the word of the Lord GOD: Thus says the Lord GOD, Because you said, 'Aha!' over my sanctuary when it was profaned, and over the land of Israel when it was made desolate, and over the house of Judah when they went into exile, therefore behold, I am handing you over to the people of the East for a possession, and they shall set their encampments among you and make their dwellings in your midst. They shall eat your fruit, and they shall drink your milk. I will make Rabbah a pasture for camels and Ammon a fold for flocks. Then you will know that I am the LORD. For thus says the Lord GOD: Because you have clapped your hands and stamped your feet and rejoiced with all the malice within your soul against the land of Israel, therefore, behold, I have stretched out my hand against you, and will hand you over as plunder to the nations. And I will cut you off from the peoples and will make you perish out of the countries; I will destroy you. Then you will know that I am the LORD.
"Thus says the Lord GOD: Because Moab and Seir said, 'Behold, the house of Judah is like all the other nations,' therefore I will lay open the flank of Moab from the cities, from its cities on its frontier, the glory of the country, Beth-jeshimoth, Baal-meon, and Kiriathaim. I will give it along with the Ammonites to the people of the East as a possession, that the Ammonites may be remembered no more among the nations, and I will execute judgments upon Moab. Then they will know that I am the LORD.
"Thus says the Lord GOD: Because Edom acted revengefully against the house of Judah and has grievously offended in taking vengeance on them, therefore thus says the Lord GOD, I will stretch out my hand against Edom and cut off from it man and beast. And I will make it desolate; from Teman even to Dedan they shall fall by the sword. And I will lay my vengeance upon Edom by the hand of my people Israel, and they shall do in Edom according to my anger and according to my wrath, and they shall know my vengeance, declares the Lord GOD.
"Thus says the Lord GOD: Because the Philistines acted revengefully and took vengeance with malice of soul to destroy in never-ending enmity, therefore thus says the Lord GOD, Behold, I will stretch out my hand against the Philistines, and I will cut off the Cherethites and destroy the rest of the seacoast. I will execute great vengeance on them with wrathful rebukes. Then they will know that I am the LORD, when I lay my vengeance upon them."
(Ezekiel 25 ESV)
Psalm 73
A Psalm of Asaph.
Truly God is good to Israel,
to those who are pure in heart.
But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled,
my steps had nearly slipped.
For I was envious of the arrogant
when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
For they have no pangs until death;
their bodies are fat and sleek.
They are not in trouble as others are;
they are not stricken like the rest of mankind.
Therefore pride is their necklace;
violence covers them as a garment.
Their eyes swell out through fatness;
their hearts overflow with follies.
They scoff and speak with malice;
loftily they threaten oppression.
They set their mouths against the heavens,
and their tongue struts through the earth.
Therefore his people turn back to them,
and find no fault in them.
And they say, "How can God know?
Is there knowledge in the Most High?"
Behold, these are the wicked;
always at ease, they increase in riches.
All in vain have I kept my heart clean
and washed my hands in innocence.
For all the day long I have been stricken
and rebuked every morning.
If I had said, "I will speak thus,"
I would have betrayed the generation of your children.
But when I thought how to understand this,
it seemed to me a wearisome task,
until I went into the sanctuary of God;
then I discerned their end.
Truly you set them in slippery places;
you make them fall to ruin.
How they are destroyed in a moment,
swept away utterly by terrors!
Like a dream when one awakes,
O Lord, when you rouse yourself, you despise them as phantoms.
When my soul was embittered,
when I was pricked in heart,
I was brutish and ignorant;
I was like a beast toward you.
Nevertheless, I am continually with you;
you hold my right hand.
You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will receive me to glory.
Whom have I in heaven but you?
And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
For behold, those who are far from you shall perish;
you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you.
But for me it is good to be near God;
I have made the Lord GOD my refuge,
that I may tell of all your works.
(Psalm 73 ESV)
Discern Their End
Psalm 73 provides wisdom in helping God's people rest with contentment even though life may seem more carefree for the non-believer. Often times, the prosperity of non-believers can tempt us to compromise our commitments to God. The psalmist even says that the successes of the wicked make him wonder whether or not his faithfulness to God has truly been worth it.
Have you ever felt as if your faith may be holding you back from a more enjoyable way of life that the non-believing world seems to be experiencing?
It can be tiresome and extremely troubling to have such conflicting thoughts and desires concerning the prosperous lives of non-believers up against the pious lives of those who are faithful. The psalmist experiences this inner turmoil and then offers the faithful the proper perspective to resist all envy and jealousy. He writes:
"But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task, until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end."
The key to overcoming any envy of the non-believing world is to "discern their end."
Contemplate the outcome of the lives of the arrogant and the lives of the faithful, and consider the different paths on which they're heading. One path leads to separation from God and the other leads us near to God. Therefore, we can find satisfaction and contentment in the hope that we will eternal be near to God and even more so heirs to His Kingdom. Until that day, we can rest in our nearness to God. For He is our strength and portion both now and forever.


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Hudson River Environmental Conditions Observing System
This meteorological station at
Norrie Point Environmental Center
logs temperature, humidity, pressure,
wind speed, precipitation and solar
radiation at 15 minute intervals
The Hudson River Environmental Conditions Observing System (HRECOS) is a network of near-real-time water quality and weather monitoring stations in the Hudson River Watershed. The stations are geographically distributed from Utica on the upper Mohawk River to the Hudson, down to the New York/New Jersey harbor. Stations record water quality and weather conditions every 15 minutes and transmit data in near real-time to the HRECOS website. HRECOS has a diverse user base consisting of researchers, resource managers, navigators, educators, and the general public.
You can use the links leaving DEC's website on the right side of the page to visit the official HRECOS website for:
- Current River Conditions - Users can download data and create graphs of near real-time water and weather conditions.
- HRECOS Mobile Station - The famous Sloop Clearwater is outfitted with the HRECOS monitoring equipment for tracking conditions in near real-time as it sails the Hudson.
- The HRECOS Classroom - Interdisciplinary lesson plans utilizing HRECOS data, created by collaborating educators.
- HRECOS Stories - Short descriptions of river phenomena learned from HRECOS data, written for the general public
HRECOS is operated by a consortium of partners from government and the research community:
- New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
- Hudson River Estuary Program
- Mohawk River Basin Program
- Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve
- Hudson River Foundation
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies
- Stevens Institute of Technology
- Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory at Columbia University
- Hudson River Park Trust
- Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission of New Jersey
- New York - New Jersey Harbor and Estuary Program
- Marist College
- Sarah Lawrence Center for the Urban River at Beczak


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PLANS to redevelop the Sussex House site on the High Street have been submitted to Crawley Borough Council following results of a public consultation in July.
The bid is the first phase of the Town Centre North regeneration project which aims to build a Morrisons supermarket and Travelodge hotel, creating more than 400 jobs.
Commercial property company Land Securities and partner St James's Investments held a public consultation in the County Mall which was attended by almost 650 people.
Land Securities development director Chris Ward said: "We received a lot of great feedback and some really constructive comments which have allowed us to improve the design of the buildings for this important site in the town."
All of the 66 people who filled out comment forms agreed the town centre needed to be improved.
Some 86 per cent of respondents supported the plans which include a supermarket, a 110-bed hotel, new restaurants and a 506 space town centre car park.
The design of the proposed building was supported by 83 per cent of respondents.
The topics raised most frequently throughout the consultation were the need for investment in Crawley, traffic and transport, design, the need for another supermarket, the landscape design and Bar Med.
Under the proposals the historic Bar Med building would be demolished.
Mr Ward said: "We expect the re-development of the Sussex House site to encourage more investment into the town and to kick start the Town Centre North regeneration programme. We are now looking forward to the planning committee later this year, where a decision will be made on the plans.
"If the application is successful, we hope to start construction works in Spring 2012."
The scheme has also been boosted further by the news that Travelodge have signed up to run the new hotel at the site, providing a new family and business hotel in the centre of town.
Cllr Claire Denman, Crawley Borough Council cabinet member for planning and economic development, said: "On a personal point of view it's really positive that a developer is prepared to invest in Crawley.
"At the moment it's a very depressing economic climate so it's a positive step.
"But the development control committee will have to weigh up everything put before them – I'm interested to look at the results from the developers consultation."
The majority of the 1.7 hectare site has remained vacant following the demolition of the Sussex House building in 2009.
Crawley Borough Council has yet to decide on a date when it will discuss the bid.


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Competition is healthy. It makes us strive for more, train harder and become more proficient. When it comes to the Army and field artillery paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division, it is one of the most competitive groups you will find.
So, to fuel their competitive fire, the top field artillery paratroopers from across the division competed in the 2013 Best of the Best competition on Fort Bragg Nov. 12 to 15.
To get to the event, paratroopers had to be selected at battalion level on their overall scores to see which were the best crews to compete in the event.
The first day kicked off with all the paratroopers competing in an Army physical fitness test for points.
Spc. Toran Eidsmoe, a member of the Colt team for 2nd Battalion, 319th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, along with the rest of his guys were ready for the event to start.
�We had about a month to prepare for everything,� said Eidsmoe. �We definitely felt (ready to go) Tuesday morning, we got in here ready to go with high spirits.�
After the mass physical fitness test, participants were split off into the events they were being graded on.
Spc. Michael South, assistant gunner for Battery C, 3rd Battalion, 321st Field Artillery Regiment, 18th Fires Brigade, felt they were the �Best of the Best� coming into the competition and was proud of their work prior to coming out and competing.
�We already train (for this) a few times a week. When we train, we train hard and that�s what we have to do,� said South. �We just certified on our gun a few weeks ago and got one of the highest scores in the battalion and that�s what helped us get here.�
Despite being one of, if not the youngest group of guys out here, their hard work has South confident that they will walk away with top honors.
�Our smoke calls us the young guns. We have a lot of young guys and our chief is an E-5 sergeant,� said South. �It�s just an honor to be out here representing our battalion, our brigade and to be the best of the best in the 82nd Airborne Division, which we will be.�
Those sentiments were shared by everyone on his team, especially Spc. Robert Wellman, cannon crew member.
�Our main thing is that out of all the gun crews you see here, we�re the only non-airborne group in an airborne division,� said Wellman. �So we want to prove our place that even though we�re not airborne qualified, we can kick your butt on the gun line any day.�
Wellman, who was once part of the 4th Brigade Combat Team in the 82nd Airborne Division, said he wants to work especially hard to show them what they lost.
Overseeing the events was Sgt. 1st Class Carlos Cruz, the brigade master gunner for 18th Fires Bde. Cruz understood that everything going into this training showed off everything the division is capable of and coincides with a line of effort.
�This training ties into the 82nd Airborne Divisions third line of effort which is ready and resilient paratroopers,� said Cruz. �While letting the competitors see what their peers have done to prepare for this event.�
With Fort Bragg being nicknamed the Center of the Army Universe, Cruz believes the winners of this event can keep up if not be better than anyone else.
�I would put any competitor that wins in multiple sections here against any division throughout the Army.
�The 82nd has been known as the Center of the Universe. We do the best realistic training that we can get and it shows here in this culminating event,� Cruz said.
The competition promotes the development of section skills, esprit de corps and cohesion across the division and rewards paratroopers who achieve the highest standards with the title �Best of the Best.


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The relationship between group-delay ripple and the apodization profile of chirped Bragg gratings is analyzed. Simple physical explanations are given for departures from ideal linear group delay by use of only the concepts of reflection at discontinuities and band gaps and the optical path lengths of cavities. Quantitative expressions are obtained for the amplitudes, phases, and periods of both the fast and slow components of the ripple.
© 2000 Optical Society of AmericaFull Article | PDF Article
OSA Recommended Articles
M. Sumetsky, P. I. Reyes, P. S. Westbrook, N. M. Litchinitser, B. J. Eggleton, Y. Li, R. Deshmukh, and C. Soccolich
Opt. Lett. 28(10) 777-779 (2003)
Michael Sumetsky, Benjamin J. Eggleton, and C. Martijn de Sterke
Opt. Express 10(7) 332-340 (2002)
Shin-ichi Wakabayashi, Akihiro Itou, and Tetsuya Mizumoto
J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 25(9) 1442-1448 (2008)


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A new NBA 2K18 update has been launched by the development team on Xbox One now, which addresses a selection of distinctive in-game troubles.
Originally released on September 15, 2K18 is amongst the most anticipated installations inside the franchise history, especially revolving about the inclusion of a profitable esports league set to begin in 2018 in partnership together with the NBA. Having said that, several fans have reported various bugs and glitches given that its release, forcing developers to implement multiple patches and updates to fix the troubles.
On November 27th, it was revealed that the new patch of 2K18(2K18 MT) on Xbox One has brought many alterations towards the game, the majority of them are bug fixes, which will hopefully assist fans stay clear of challenges connected to shoe styles and MyCareer gameplay.
The following could be the official Patch Notes of NBA 2K18 update for Xbox One, PS4 and Nintendo Switch:
Trivia might be re-enabled in the 2K Zone in MyCAREER as soon as all consoles have received this update. Should you have not but attempted it out, 2K Zone Trivia offers 25 VC for every question you answer correctly!
Users will no longer expertise a hang when attempting to study texts from Bryan in MyCAREER.
Fixed an issue exactly where Bryan would stop sending customers texts to choose up their endorsement VC cheques in MyCAREER.
Addressed a hang that could take place within the Gatorade Coaching Facility proper just before beginning an activity.
Addressed a case exactly where some users had been seeing their custom created footwear appearing differently in-game than how they looked in the editor.
The camera will no longer focus on the crowd when play resumes when named suitable prior to a free throw in Pro-Am and Play Now Online games.
Fixed a case exactly where the playoffs would fail to advance following completing a round during an offline MyCAREER.
Squads will now stay intact when picking out to Play Game right after finishing a Ruffles Tournament game.
Michael Jordan's tongue really should now appear a bit more Mike-like
The NBA 2K18 development group suggests that these will be precisely the same changes and tweaks launched on all other platforms.
Recent news revealed that the NBA 2K18 has sold more than 6 million copies in retail sales, although the game itself has also seen a substantial boost in microtransaction and DLC spending. The NBA 2K Series has apparently jumped 57% year-over-year with the game itself also promoting inside a higher quantity.
We must believe that NBA 2K18 will be one of our most prosperous members. A lot more info about Xbox One Patch 6 is usually located on the official NBA 2K18 Facebook web page, or you are able to check out IGXE.Com to get additional NBA 2K18 news and buy mt NBA 2K18 online.


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MIDDLETOWN, Conn. –Wesleyan University scored a pair of third period goals 2:53 apart to pull out a 2-1 victory against eighth Connecticut College in Middletown today.
The Cardinals improved their record to 6-5-2 with a 3-3 record in conference play. The Camels fell to 8-4-2 with a 5-3 mark in the NESCAC. The teams closed out the regular season series with a split. Connecticut College posted a 1-0 shutout victory in Saturday's contest.
Connecticut College got on the board with 2:24 remaining in the opening period. Junior co-captain Kate Kohl (Chelmsford, Mass.) potted a power play goal. It was goal #10 and point #21 for Kohl in a Camel uniform. Sophomore Katelyn Paiva (Rehoboth, Mass.) and senior co-captain Julie Beattie (Livonia, Mich.) both contributed with their fifth assists of the season on the marker.
The Camels enjoyed a 9-to-7 shot advantage in the first and carried a 13-to-9 edge on the shot chart in a scoreless second period. But with 12:22 remaining in regulation, the Cardinals scored the equalizer on their power play. Senior blue-liner Abigail Ruitt (Scarborough, Maine) put in her fourth goal of the season with assists going to sophomore Jackie Kilar (Weare, N.H.) and junior forward Cici Frattasio (Walpole, Mass.).
With 9:29 to play, Wesleyan took the lead for good. Senior defender Samantha Curran (Scituate, Mass.) accounted for the goal that proved to be the difference in the contest. Caroline Seibold (Reading, Mass.) and Ellery Sarosi (Ann Arbor, Mich.) assisted on the game-winner.
Allegra Grant (Winnetka, Ill.) finished with 33 saves for the Cardinals. Senior Katherine Chester (Mendham, N.J.) made 23 stops for the Camels.


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Vaginal Dryness and Menopause
Hot Flashes, sleeplessness, mood swings, loss of libido, vaginal dryness and menopause all seem to go hand and hand. More than fifty percent of women experience these symptoms during both the perimenopause phase and menopause, and most agree that hormone replacement creams can help to ease them. Vaginal dryness is a common symptom that many women experience as they go through the perimenopause phase and during menopause. It is a symptom that can really dampen one's sex life and even hinder a woman from being able to function normally.
While vaginal dryness and menopause tend to go hand in hand, it is important to realize that certain hormonal imbalances can occur at anytime and they can have an affect on our bodies. Often with hormonal imbalances, estrogen levels will decrease, causing vaginal dryness. The hormone estrogen helps to maintain fluids and keep the vagina lining healthy, elastic, and thick. Thus, when a woman's body does not produce enough, problems such as vaginal dryness begin to occur. Sometimes it can even get to the point when vaginal bleeding during intercourse may occur and vaginal atrophy becomes present. This is when an Estriol cream or oil can be very beneficial in helping to increase and thicken the vaginal skin.
Estrogen levels can drop from radiation and chemotherapies, anti-estrogen medications used to treat endometriosis and uterine fibroids, childbirth, and even from allergy and cold medications, and douching. The important thing is to know exactly what the cause is and then to take steps to relieve the symptoms of vaginal dryness and menopause. Fortunately today, there are natural remedies for women to use that can help with vaginal dryness and menopause symptoms that are truly bothersome.
Natural Remedies for Vaginal Dryness and Menopause Symptoms
No matter the cause, vaginal dryness and other menopause symptoms can be extremely bothersome. Natural remedies have long been recognized now as successful treatments for vaginal dryness as well as other menopause symptoms. Natural progesterone and estrogen creams are also recognized as healthy hormone replacement therapies. A couple of natural remedies that are known to help improve vaginal lubrication are:
- Adding soy and flax seed to your diet – both are good sources of phytoestrogens and can help increase vaginal lubrication.
- Increasing water intake – drinking at least ten 8-ounce glasses of water each day truly goes a long way in increasing vaginal lubrication.If after trying these two remedies, you are still suffering from vaginal dryness, you should get your hormone levels checked out. All too often, women will find that their estrogen and/or progesterone levels have declined. Fortunately, if this is the case, there are natural creams such as MenoBalance that help provide the relief you deserve!
Visit our store for MENOBALANCE CREAM
or Call 603 727 6216 to order retail/wholesale
Please note that it is not recommended, by leading doctors, to use Estriol Oil or Creme without balancing with progesterone. Estriol is the safest of the E3s but one should still used balanced approaches to hormonal health.
Estriol Oil and Estriol Creme are two other products by Whole Family Products and can also be found by visiting our catalog.
As with any health decisions, check with your personal healthcare provider when starting something new. These statements are for education purposes only and do not claim to treat, cure or diagnose disease.


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The moon shifted my thoughts from thoughts
From my heart to the sky…
I shifted the moon from the sky to my heart.
I wander and roam in the forest of my memories
In search of you; under the trees, by the lake
In the caves in the hills, in the flow the creek
In the silence of the dusk, your heart beat I hear
In the hear of sleeping flowers in the night
I peep in them for you…
Your whispers and yearnings drive me crazy!
I lay at the brink of the stream of affection
Gazing at the stars , searching for your smile.
seemadevi 26.1.14
My acrylic painting
Copyright © Seema Devi
Also at: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=685762854789192&set=a.101517496547067.3383.100000664526691&type=1&theater
Seema Devi is on facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/seema.devi.56


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Donegal's class of 2017 show their pedigree against Cavan
Cavan 0-11 Donegal 1-16
Donegal might be in 'transition', but the spring hasn't been at all bad for Rory Gallagher's team, who are now all-but safe in Division 1.
It would take a shock sequence of results now for the Tir Chonaill men to get mired in the relegation quicksand and an impressive attacking display on Saturday night most definitely caught the eye.
Donegal have bid adieu to nine players from their 2016 panel, but the class of 2017 are managing just fine so far - and they certainly could have been out of sight by half-time on Saturday night.
Cavan lost Killian Clarke after he was shown a red card on 32 minutes and it felt like a deception that they were within two points, 0-6 to 0-4, at the changeover.
Within three minutes of the restart Donegal had taken a firm command of proceedings, with Hugh McFadden slamming over a wonderful point and Eoin McHugh finishing a striking goal.
"We're making progress," Gallagher declared after his side's impressive performance.
"We felt that it was going to be an important night.
"It was a good performance from the boys.
"There were a lot of positives we can take from it going forward."
Ciaran Thompson kicked five points in another fine outing for Donegal's impressive young guns, while Caolan Ward and Eoghan Ban Gallagher continue to improve at this level of the game.
Clarke was sent off for a wild and reckless challenge on Gallagher and Donegal then threatened to run away with it when they struck gold in the 38th minute.
Raymond Galligan's kick-out was criminally fired into Michael Murphy's paws and McHugh then slotted home after a neat move.
For as long as they could, Cavan stayed in touch, but Donegal soon pressed their feet down and hit eight points in the final quarter.
Gallagher said: "We haven't scored heavily enough in the last couple of years.
"We have come up just a bit short in Ulster finals by not putting the ball over the bar enough.
"We have to make sure that that remains a big focus."
Cavan: R Galligan; F Reilly, P Faulkener, K Brady; M Reilly, C Brady (0-1), G Smith; K Clarke, T Corr; M Argue, D McVeety (0-2), C Madden (0-2); N Clerkin, G McKiernan (0-3, 1f), S Johnston (0-3, 3f). Subs: R Dunne for Corr (15), S Murray for Brady (h-t), N Murray for Madden (h-t), C Mackey for Johnston (45), J Dillon for F.Reilly (57), J McCutcheon for Brady (59).
Donegal: MA McGinley; P McGrath, N McGee, E Gallagher; C Ward, F McGlynn (0-1), E McHugh (1-1); J McGee, M Murphy (0-3, 3f); M Carroll, C Thompson (0-5, 1f), R McHugh (0-1); M O'Reilly, H McFadden (0-1), D O'Connor. Subs: J Brennan (0-3) for O'Connor (46), D McLaughlin for Carroll (47), M Langan for J.McGee (49), E Doherty for McFadden (55), M McHugh (0-1) for O'Reilly (65), P Brennan for Gallagher (68).
Referee: C Lane (Cork).
Belfast Telegraph


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My Photo of the Week // Living Arrows 10/52/
"You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth"
Kahlil Gibran
Linking up every week to What the Redhead Said's Living Arrows Linkie is a fantastic way to make sure that I am writing content on my blog and also gives me a chance to reflect on the week that has passed.
This week has been a long week with a distinct lack of sleep, thanks to Little L deciding that night time is better spent playing than sleeping!
Despite me feeling like a total zombie, as I looked back through the photos from last week, I came across this one that I took one night when she was refusing to sleep.
Who could possibly be cross with this cutie when she has a smile that gorgeous?


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The Non-Aggression Principle (NAP) has been said to be the "one rule of libertarianism." It can best be described as follows: "no one shall 'initiate or threaten to initiate physical force against others and their property.'" There are some thoughts I would like to share in regards to the nature of this principle.
First, NAP is not an holistic ethical standard. It is not a standard of righteousness and morality. God does not judge the sinner based on whether he lined up to this principle. Rather, it is a logical category from within the greater ethical standard (eternal Moral Law), that addresses those issues involving private property. By definition, it is the category of wrongful action (defined by moral law) which strictly regards property. Wherever moral law exists that does not relate to property (honor your father and mother), NAP is excluded.
Second, NAP is intended to answer the question: "what wrongful deeds in society can be confronted with legitimate aggression?" If a person fails to love the Lord his God with all his heart, mind, and strength, as we ought, should that person be prosecuted under the law? How about a person who makes it a habit of killing people? Both of these are the result of a sinful heart and deserve the wrath of God, but since only the latter action constitutes a breach of the Principle, it is this action that can be confronted or addressed with force. Everything else should be confronted with other means. As I wrote when discussing the New England Reformed Baptists:
The rubric by which we determine the legitimacy of punishment against the criminal is the criminal's transgression against the person and property of another individual. Beyond that, in our estimation, the Christian ought to use all sorts of "spiritual weaponry;" that is, we must use persuasion and instruction to speak truth into the life of those around us, especially those in sin. To use [Isaac] Backus' vocabulary, "The question between us is not whether it be the duty" to act ethically and obey God's commands, but rather, the question is "whether that duty ought to be enforced by the sword."
Third, NAP applies to all people, including those who are members of society's government, regardless of the form that government takes. Whether judges and police forces are part of the governance structure similar to the Hoppean/Rothbardian vision, or the Statist governance structure in Mussolini's Italy, they are not exempt from the rule that no person shall initiate or threaten to initiate physical force against others and their property. It does so happen, however, that one of the two mentioned forms of government is inherently self-contradictory. That is, the nature of Mussolini's Fascist state, by its very essence and existence breaches the Non-Aggression principle. All other government structures in history are on a spectrum as to how well they line up with this rule (on one side is liberty, on the other is totalitarianism). Among the worst violators are Mao, Hitler, Mussolini, and Stalin (which mainstream academia wants us to believe are on various ends of the political spectrum). Among the best examples of governance systems that were in many ways consistent with NAP can include Ancient Ireland, parts of pre-monarchical Europe, and the "not so wild west."
Fourth, NAP is a logical category whose political relevance is legal, not moral. Although all breaches of the person and property are forbidden in the moral law and thus have chiefly a moral aspect, the role of prosecution and restitution based on these breaches in civil society is not moral. In other words, God is the judge of disobedience against the standard (which is the meaning of sin) that he has set, and the role of the prosecutor in civil society is not a substitute for God's wrath. It may be that the prosecutor in civil society provides a glimpse or reflection of God's wrath, but the punishment initiated against the criminal is civil in nature, not moral; lest God engage in double jeopardy at the Final Judgement. Civil punishment is not intended to satisfy the wrath of God that is owed the sinner. While the authority to punish the crime may be sourced in God's wrath, justice is being rendered between criminal and victim, not criminal and God."Vengeance is mine, I will repay" (Romans 12:19).
Lastly, NAP is considered the "one rule of libertarianism" because libertarianism is a political theory that sees all criminals as being defined in terms of their aggression against the property of another person. In civil society, insofar as civil law is concerned, criminals are criminals if and only if they have breached the one rule. But there are many implications of, and deductions from, the one rule. To be brief, breach of contract, fraud, counterfeiting, and common battery and assault can all be included as a breach of the non-aggression principle. NAP tells us whether a given action has been committed which can be addressed by the means of force (if necessary).
We shouldn't think more of NAP than is needed. It is a legal and rational category, nothing else.


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The journey's end
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We're outside Narvik on the West coast of Norway with a stiff wind blowing into our faces off the Atlantic. The dogs are being loaded onto the trailers, the wind sighs into the dwarf birches and the scattered pines, and the sun's pushing through the clouds over the peaks behind us.
What have we just completed? We've reached our goal on the Skjomen fjord which slides into the North Sea and the Atlantic, from the Barents Sea approximately 1000 miles away…and this thanks to the 32 brave, gutsy dogs that pulled the five of us over some of the least hospitable tundra and taiga regions on the planet. We've travelled over glaciers, down frozen rivers, across mountain passes over 1000 metres high, in blizzard conditions, in blazing sunshine, invisible to each other at five meters, blasted by winds that devoured our cheeks, noses, ears, and brains. We escaped border patrols who would have impounded our dogs for six months if they'd caught us, we smashed into trees, lost our sleds racing downhill, capsized in water, dislocated limbs, broke ribs, performed involuntary somersaults when the dogs got side-tracked by a reindeer carcass, and lived sometimes painfully, mostly happily through conditions that would be perfectly normal in the life of a reindeer-herding Sami.
Why have we done this? To conduct field interviews with some of the first victims of climate change in order to understand how they, and their herds, are adapting to changing weather conditions – the nomadic reindeer-herding Flyt-Sami…and, at the same time, to collect data on temperature, wind conditions, snow and snowflakes for NASA's world snowflake project. This is directed by Dr Peter Wasilewski and is part of the NASA History of Winter study. The whole, from our point of view, was to look at how human beings with their animals, living and working in the Arctic – indigenous to the Arctic – are developing new survival routines for dealing with change. The NASA study, thanks to Dr Nancy Maynard, is, in fact, working closely with the Ealat Reindeer project, directed by Svein Mathisen, which is studying reindeer herder vulnerability AND| resourcefulness, in relation to climate change, using the Flyt Sami's own traditional knowledge, experience, and ground sense as well as scientific research.
It's not obvious to have such traditional knowledge recognised as relevant, and precious, although, over the last 10,000 years the Sami have been proud of how little trace they've left of their passage. "Not Lords of Nature," they say, "Just part of nature!" Yes, today, technology and mechanisation have brought walkie-talkies, GPS systems, and most of all the snowmobile to herding practices, but generally these tools are employed in a context of sustainability. Why? Because the Sami know – unlike us – how delicate, and crucial the environment is!
What have we learnt? That climate change is a reality of course – temperatures are rising, seasons are shortening for the herders, spring migration starts earlier, autumn migration later, year by year, and visibly over the last ten years. Conditions are increasingly unstable, the herders insist, and this demands from them imagination, flexibility, adaptability, on a daily basis…More important still perhaps than agreeing on the reality of climate change, is that it is neither a question or a possibility of stopping change, but more a question of learning how to live with it…
Conclusion: We can and need to learn from these indigenous Sami people, and others like them, how to live more carefully and more in tune with our environment…that climate change is a challenge, not a disaster, for us, for our children. Planet Earth is all we've got!
…and finally that for each of us this adventure was life-enhancing, challenging, and a privilege.
Gratitude is not such a big word, but it's hard to express what we've been given…by all those we met on the journey who gave their time, their thoughts, their trust and hospitiality to us…and also by our back-up team too; by Tommy Larsen, the thoughtful encyclopedia, musher, the logistics man; by Roy Saetre, the 'Yeti', bush-man, wilderness guide, and cameraman; and by Jan-Ivar Larsen, 'the Bear', snowmobile driver and mechanic, all-round fixer. All, with their humour, kindness, energy and enthusiasm have helped make this expedition a success. Thank you, and until we meet again…