text:
tsv-utils 1.2.0
eBay's TSV utilities. Command line tools for large, tabular data files.
To use this package, run the following command in your project's root directory:
Manual usage
Put the following dependency into your project's dependences section:
This package provides sub packages which can be used individually:
tsv-utils:common - Routines used by applications in eBay's TSV Utilities project.
tsv-utils:csv2tsv - Convert comma-separated values data to tab-separated values format (CSV to TSV).
tsv-utils:keep-header - Execute a unix command in a header aware fashion.
tsv-utils:number-lines - Number lines
tsv-utils:tsv-append - Concatenate TSV files. Header aware, with support for source file tracking.
tsv-utils:tsv-filter - Filter lines in a tab-separated value file.
tsv-utils:tsv-join - Join lines in tab-separated value files.
tsv-utils:tsv-pretty - Print TSV data aligned for easier reading on consoles and traditional command-line environments.
tsv-utils:tsv-sample - Weighted reservoir sampling on delimited data files.
tsv-utils:tsv-select - Output select columns from TSV files.
tsv-utils:tsv-summarize - Run aggregation and summarization operations on fields from TSV files.
tsv-utils:tsv-uniq - Output unique lines in TSV files using a subset of fields.
Command line utilities for tabular data files
This is a set of command line utilities for manipulating large tabular data files. Files of numeric and text data commonly found in machine learning, data mining, and similar environments. Filtering, sampling, statistical calculations and other operations are supported.
The tools were originally developed in Perl and used for day-to-day work in a large scale data mining environment. One of the tools was re-written in D as an exercise exploring the language. Significant performance gains and agreeable programmer characteristics soon led to writing additional utilities in D. Information on the D programming language is available at dlang.org.
File an issue if you have problems, questions or suggestions.
In this README:
Additional documents:
- Tool reference
- Tips and tricks
- Building with Link Time Optimization (LTO) and Profile Guided Optimization (PGO)
- Performance Studies (quick access: 2018 Comparative Benchmarks)
- About the code
- Other toolkits
Talks and blog posts:
- Faster Command Line Tools in D. May 24, 2017. A blog post showing a few ways to optimize performance in command line tools. Many of the ideas in the post were identified while developing the TSV Utilities.
- Experimenting with Link Time Optimization. Dec 14, 2017. A presentation at the Silicon Valley D Meetup describing experiments using LTO based on eBay's TSV Utilities.
- Exploring D via Benchmarking of eBay's TSV Utilities. May 2, 2018. A presentation at DConf 2018 describing benchmarking studies conducted using eBay's TSV Utilities (slides here).
Tools overview
These tools perform data manipulation and statistical calculations on tab delimited data. They are intended for large files. Larger than ideal for loading entirely in memory in an application like R, but not so big as to necessitate moving to Hadoop or similar distributed compute environments. The features supported are useful both for standalone analysis and for preparing data for use in R, Pandas, and similar toolkits.
The tools work like traditional Unix command line utilities such as
sort, and
grep, and are intended to complement these tools. Each tool is a standalone executable. They follow common Unix conventions for pipeline programs. Data is read from files or standard input, results are written to standard output. The field separator defaults to TAB, but any character can be used. Input and output is UTF-8, and all operations are Unicode ready, including regular expression match (
tsv-filter). Documentation is available for each tool by invoking it with the
--help option. TSV format is similar to CSV, see Comparing TSV and CSV formats for the differences.
Speed matters when processing large files, these tools are the fastest the author has found. See the 2018 Comparative Benchmarks Update for comparisons with similar tools.
The rest of this section contains a short description of each tool. There is more detail in the tool reference.
- tsv-filter - Filter data file rows via numeric and string comparisons.
- tsv-select - Keep a subset of columns (fields). Like
cut, but with field reordering.
- tsv-summarize - Summary statistics on selected fields, against the full data set or grouped by key.
- tsv-sample - Sampling and permutation of input lines. Several sampling methods are available.
- tsv-join - Join lines from multiple files using fields as a key.
- tsv-uniq - Filter out duplicate lines using fields as a key.
- tsv-append - Concatenate TSV files. Header-aware; supports source file tracking.
- tsv-pretty - Print TSV data aligned for easier reading on the command-line.
- csv2tsv - Convert CSV files to TSV.
- number-lines - Number the input lines.
- keep-header - Run a shell command in a header-aware fashion.
Filters lines by making numeric and string comparisons against individual fields. Multiple tests can be specified in a single call. A variety of numeric and string comparison operators are available as well as regular expressions. Example:
$ tsv-filter --ge 3:100 --le 3:200 --str-eq 4:red file.tsv
This outputs lines where field 3 satisfies (100 <= fieldval <= 200) and field 4 matches 'red'.
tsv-filter is the most widely applicable of the tools, as dataset pruning is a common task. It is stream oriented, so it can handle arbitrarily large files. It is fast, quite a bit faster than other tools the author has tried. This makes it ideal for preparing data for applications like R and Pandas. It is also convenient for quickly answering simple questions about a dataset. For example, to count the number of records with a non-zero value in field 3, use the command:
$ tsv-filter --ne 3:0 file.tsv | wc -l
See the tsv-filter reference for details.
A version of the Unix
cut utility with the additional ability to re-order the fields. It also helps with header lines by keeping only the header from the first file (
--header option). The following command writes fields [4, 2, 9, 10, 11] from a pair of files to stdout:
$ tsv-select -f 4,2,9-11 file1.tsv file2.tsv
See the tsv-select reference for details.
tsv-summarize performs statistical calculations on fields. For example, generating the sum or median of a field's values. Calculations can be run across the entire input or can be grouped by key fields. Consider the file
color weight
red 6
red 5
blue 15
red 4
blue 10
Calculations of the sum and mean of the
weight column is shown below. The first command runs calculations on all values. The second groups them by color.
$ tsv-summarize --header --sum 2 --mean 2 data.tsv
weight_sum weight_mean
40 8
$ tsv-summarize --header --group-by 1 --sum 2 --mean 2 data.tsv
color weight_sum weight_mean
red 15 5
blue 25 12.5
Multiple fields can be used as the
--group-by key. The file's sort order does not matter, there is no need to sort in the
--group-by order first.
See the tsv-summarize reference for the list of statistical and other aggregation operations available.
tsv-sample randomizes or sample lines from input data. Several sampling methods are available, including simple random sampling, weighted random sampling, and distinct sampling.
Simple random sampling operates in the customary fashion, randomly selecting lines with equal probability. When reordering a file, lines are randomly selected from the entire file and output in the order selected. In streaming mode, a subset of input lines are selected and output. This occurs in the order of the input. Streaming mode operates on arbitrary large inputs.
Weighted random sampling selects input lines in a weighted fashion, using weights from a field in the data. Lines are output in the order selected, reordering the file.
Distinct sampling selects a subset based on a key in data. Consider a query log with records consisting of <user, query, clicked-url> triples. Simple random sampling selects a random subset of all records. Distinct sampling selects all records matching a subset of values from one of fields. For example, all events for ten percent of the users. This is important for certain types of statistical analysis.
tsv-sample is designed for large data sets. Algorithms make one pass over the data, using reservoir sampling and hashing when possible to limit the memory required. By default, a new random order is generated every run, but options are available for using the same randomization order over multiple runs.
See the tsv-sample reference for further details.
Joins lines from multiple files based on a common key. One file, the 'filter' file, contains the records (lines) being matched. The other input files are scanned for matching records. Matching records are written to standard output, along with any designated fields from the filter file. In database parlance this is a hash semi-join. Example:
$ tsv-join --filter-file filter.tsv --key-fields 1,3 --append-fields 5,6 data.tsv
This reads
filter.tsv, creating a lookup table keyed on fields 1 and 3.
data.tsv is read, lines with a matching key are written to standard output with fields 5 and 6 from
filter.tsv appended. This is a form of inner-join. Outer-joins and anti-joins can also be done.
Common uses for
tsv-join are to join related datasets or to filter one dataset based on another. Filter file entries are kept in memory, this limits the ultimate size that can be handled effectively. The author has found that filter files up to about 10 million lines are processed effectively, but performance starts to degrade after that.
See the tsv-join reference for details.
Similar in spirit to the Unix
uniq tool,
tsv-uniq filters a dataset so there is only one copy of each line.
tsv-uniq goes beyond Unix
uniq in a couple ways. First, data does not need to be sorted. Second, equivalence is based on a subset of fields rather than the full line.
tsv-uniq can also be run in an 'equivalence class identification' mode, where equivalent entries are marked with a unique id rather than being filtered. An example uniq'ing a file on fields 2 and 3:
$ tsv-uniq -f 2,3 data.tsv
tsv-uniq operates on the entire line when no fields are specified. This is a useful alternative to the traditional
sort -u or
sort | uniq paradigms for identifying unique lines in unsorted files, as it is quite a bit faster.
As with
tsv-join, this uses an in-memory lookup table to record unique entries. This ultimately limits the data sizes that can be processed. The author has found that datasets with up to about 10 million unique entries work fine, but performance degrades after that.
See the tsv-uniq reference for details.
tsv-append concatenates multiple TSV files, similar to the Unix
cat utility. It is header-aware, writing the header from only the first file. It also supports source tracking, adding a column indicating the original file to each row.
Concatenation with header support is useful when preparing data for traditional Unix utilities like
sort and
sed or applications that read a single file.
Source tracking is useful when creating long/narrow form tabular data. This format is used by many statistics and data mining packages. (See Wide & Long Data - Stanford University or Hadley Wickham's Tidy data for more info.)
In this scenario, files have been used to capture related data sets, the difference between data sets being a condition represented by the file. For example, results from different variants of an experiment might each be recorded in their own files. Retaining the source file as an output column preserves the condition represented by the file. The source values default to the file names, but this can be customized.
See the tsv-append reference for the complete list of options available.
tsv-pretty prints TSV data in an aligned format for better readability when working on the command-line. Text columns are left aligned, numeric columns are right aligned. Floats aligned on the decimal point and precision can be specified. Header lines are detected automatically. If desired, the header line can be repeated at regular intervals. An example, first printed without formatting:
$ cat sample.tsv
Color Count Ht Wt
Brown 106 202.2 1.5
Canary Yellow 7 106 0.761
Chartreuse 1139 77.02 6.22
Fluorescent Orange 422 1141.7 7.921
Grey 19 140.3 1.03
Now with
tsv-pretty, using header underlining and float formatting:
$ tsv-pretty -u -f sample.tsv
Color Count Ht Wt
----- ----- -- --
Brown 106 202.20 1.500
Canary Yellow 7 106.00 0.761
Chartreuse 1139 77.02 6.220
Fluorescent Orange 422 1141.70 7.921
Grey 19 140.30 1.030
See the tsv-pretty reference for details.
csv2tsv does what you expect: convert CSV data to TSV. Example:
$ csv2tsv data.csv > data.tsv
A strict delimited format like TSV has many advantages for data processing over an escape oriented format like CSV. However, CSV is a very popular data interchange format and the default export format for many database and spreadsheet programs. Converting CSV files to TSV allows them to be processed reliably by both this toolkit and standard Unix utilities like
awk and
Note that many CSV files do not use escapes, and in-fact follow a strict delimited format using comma as the delimiter. Such files can be processed reliably by this toolkit and Unix tools by specifying the delimiter character. However, when there is doubt, using a
csv2tsv converter adds reliability.
csv2tsv converter often has a second benefit: regularizing newlines. CSV files are often exported using Windows newline conventions.
csv2tsv converts all newlines to Unix format.
There are many variations of CSV file format. See the csv2tsv reference for details the format variations supported by this tool.
A simpler version of the Unix
nl program. It prepends a line number to each line read from files or standard input. This tool was written primarily as an example of a simple command line tool. The code structure it uses is the same as followed by all the other tools. Example:
$ number-lines myfile.txt
Despite it's original purpose as a code sample,
number-lines turns out to be quite convenient. It is often useful to add a unique row ID to a file, and this tool does this in a manner that maintains proper TSV formatting.
See the number-lines reference for details.
A convenience utility that runs unix commands in a header-aware fashion. It is especially useful with
sort, which puts the header line wherever it falls in the sort order. Using
keep-header, the header line retains its position as the first line. For example:
$ keep-header myfile.txt -- sort
It is also useful with
sed, similar tools, when the header line should be excluded from the command's action.
Multiple files can be provided, only the header from the first is retained. The command is executed as specified, so additional command options can be provided. See the keep-header reference for more information.
There are several ways to obtain the tools: prebuilt binaries; building from source code; and installing using the DUB package manager. The tools have been tested on Linux and Mac OS X. They have not been tested on Windows, but there are no obvious impediments to running on Windows as well.
Prebuilt binaries
Prebuilt binaries are available for Linux and Mac, these can be found on the Github releases page. Download and unpack the tar.gz file. Executables are in the
bin directory. Add the
bin directory or individual tools to the
PATH environment variable.
For some distributions, a package can directly be installed:
| Distribution | Command |
| ------------ | --------------------- |
| Arch Linux |
pacaur -S tsv-utils (see
Build from source files
Download a D compiler. These tools have been tested with the DMD and LDC compilers, on Mac OSX and Linux. Use DMD version 2.070 or later, LDC version 1.0.0 or later.
Clone this repository, select a compiler, and run
make from the top level directory:
$ git clone https://github.com/eBay/tsv-utils.git
$ cd tsv-utils
$ make # For LDC: make DCOMPILER=ldc2
Executables are written to
tsv-utils/bin, place this directory or the executables in the PATH. The compiler defaults to DMD, this can be changed on the make command line (e.g.
make DCOMPILER=ldc2). DMD is the reference compiler, but LDC produces faster executables. (For some tools LDC is quite a bit faster than DMD.)
The makefile supports other typical development tasks such as unit tests and code coverage reports. See Building and makefile for more details.
For fastest performance, use LDC with Link Time Optimization enabled (LTO). See Building with Link Time Optimization for instructions. The prebuilt binaries are built using LTO, but it must be explicitly enabled when building from source. Several tools are configured to be built using Profile Guided Optimization (PGO). See Building with Link Time Optimization for instructions turning this on.
Install using DUB
If you are a D user you likely use DUB, the D package manager. DUB comes packaged with DMD starting with DMD 2.072. You can install and build using DUB as follows (replace
1.1.13 with the current version):
$ dub fetch tsv-utils --cache=local
$ cd tsv-utils-1.2.0/tsv-utils
$ dub run # For LDC: dub run -- --compiler=ldc2
dub run command compiles all the tools. The executables are written to
tsv-utils/bin. Add this directory or individual executables to the PATH.
See Building and makefile for more information about the DUB setup.
The applications can be built with Link Time Optimization (LTO) enabled when source code is fetched by DUB. However, the DUB build system does not support this.
make must be used instead. Building with Link Time Optimization.
Setup customization
There are a number of simple ways to ways to improve the utility of these tools, these are listed on the Tips and tricks page. Bash aliases, Unix sort command customization, and bash completion are especially useful.
- Registered by Jon Degenhardt
- 1.2.0 released 5 years ago
- eBay/tsv-utils
- github.com/eBay/tsv-utils
- Copyright (c) 2015-2018, eBay Software Foundation
- Authors:
- Sub packages:
- tsv-utils:common, tsv-utils:csv2tsv, tsv-utils:keep-header, tsv-utils:number-lines, tsv-utils:tsv-append, tsv-utils:tsv-filter, tsv-utils:tsv-join, tsv-utils:tsv-pretty, tsv-utils:tsv-sample, tsv-utils:tsv-select, tsv-utils:tsv-summarize, tsv-utils:tsv-uniq
- Dependencies:
- tsv-utils:number-lines, tsv-utils:tsv-filter, tsv-utils:tsv-pretty, tsv-utils:tsv-uniq, tsv-utils:tsv-summarize, tsv-utils:tsv-sample, tsv-utils:tsv-join, tsv-utils:csv2tsv, tsv-utils:tsv-append, tsv-utils:common, tsv-utils:keep-header, tsv-utils:tsv-select
- Versions:
2.2.3 2021-Jun-13 2.2.2 2021-Jun-13 2.2.1 2021-Jun-13 2.2.0 2021-Mar-14 2.1.2 2020-Oct-11
- Download Stats:
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2929 downloads total
- Score:
- 2.5
- Short URL:
- tsv-utils.dub.pm


text:
The alleged rise in part-time workers
Rick Holmes
Rob and others have been singing in remarkable harmony the tune that the Affordable Care Act is "forcing" employers to turn full-time jobs into part-time jobs. That's a hypothesis that ought to be able to be tested, right?
So Matt Yglesias did, providing the convincing chart above (with his own annotations). It seems pretty obvious it was the recession, not Obamacare, that made all those part-time workers.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
In the summer of 2010, I started writing an article titled "Marathoner Louis Tewanima and the Continuity of Hopi Running, 1908-1912." The article was recently published in the Western Historical Quarterly (Autumn 2012, Vol. 43.3, pp. 324-346), which is the official journal of the Western History Association.
Louis Tewanima was from the village of Shungopavi on the Hopi Reservation in northeastern Arizona. In January 1907, he and ten other Hopis traveled to Pennsylvania to attend the Carlisle Indian Industrial School. While at Carlisle, Tewanima received fame and notoriety by winning several running events, which gave him opportunities to compete in the 1908 (London) and 1912 Olympic Games in Stockholm, Sweden. At the Stockholm Olympics, he won the silver medal in the 10,000 meter race.
Over the years, a number of people, especially non-Hopi individuals, have written about Louis Tewanima. The majority of the scholarly literature on Tewanima is found in Peter Nabokov's Indian Running or larger narratives on Natives and sports, most notably Joseph B. Oxendine's American Indian Sport Heritage and John Bloom's To Show What an Indian Can Do.
Although popular audiences often read Tewanima's story in newspaper articles, magazines, and books, these publications tend to focus on his participation in the 1912 Olympic Games in Stockholm, and many of them perpetuate a romantic portrayal of Tewanima by retelling accounts of him running after rabbits as a young man and running to Winslow, Arizona, "just to see the trains [go by]."
Contrary to one contemporary writer who noted that Tewanima was "almost totally forgotten," scholars have remained intrigued by his accomplishments, although they are often overshadowed by accounts of his Carlisle teammate, Sac and Fox athlete Jim Thorpe. While references to Tewanima grace the pages of many articles and books, further studies are needed, particularly ones that interpret his accomplishments within the contexts of Hopi and American sport culture.
In my article I argue that Tewanima's story represents his ability to redefine Hopi running in the twentieth century and shows how he maneuvered within American and European perceptions of Natives and sports. His participation in running events also tells of a time when white Americans situated indigenous people on the fringes of U.S. society but embraced them when they brought honors to the country by representing the nation in athletic competitions at home and abroad.
Furthermore, Tewanima's involvement in marathons and Olympic races demonstrates the ways Americans used his success to advance the ideals of U.S. nationalism as he simultaneously continued the long tradition of running among his people.
A number of individuals helped me along the way as I conducted research and revised the article for publication, especially my colleagues in the American Indian Studies Program, and the Department of History at the University of Illinois. I am also thankful for the assistance of various Hopi individuals, including Tewanima's relatives, the remarkable editorial staff of the Western Historical Quarterly, the Journal's three anonymous reviewers, and officials with the Hopi Cultural Preservation Office for their support of my work.
If you would like to download a copy of my essay, please visit the following link: https://beyondthemesas.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/marathoner-louis-tewanima-and-the-continuity-of-hopi-running-1908-1912-whq-autumn-2012.pdf


text:
I recently began creating non-traditional depictions of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Baby Jesus. And by "non-traditional", I mean non-European. Below is an Indian and Japanese depiction respectively. I got plenty of inspiration from images I saw online, and then added my own spin. Both are hand-drawn with Micron pens.
Just to be clear, I'm not creating these alternative cultural depictions to be gimmicky.
I have a deep, personal appreciation for such images because they have helped me better grasp the universality of our God and His plan for mankind. I am ethnically Chinese and grew up in Muslim-majority Indonesia. For years, I was subconsciously frustrated and estranged by singularly European depictions of Christian figures.
As my friend Christopher wisely said, it was healthy for Europeans to try to depict religious figures in terms familiar to their culture, but unfortunate that imperialism forced those depictions on the rest of the world.
I'm hoping to work on Chinese and Indonesian versions next, because of these cultures' special closeness to my own heritage and identity. If you have any suggestions on other cultures you would like to see (some great suggestions I've received are Mongolian and Maori), do let me know!
I hope these images will be a blessing to your journey as they have been to my own. Have a wonderful Advent! 🙂


text:
Study suggests glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists related to adolescent weight loss
Preliminary evidence from a clinical trial suggests that treatment with glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists was associated with reduced body mass index and body weight in adolescents with severe obesity, according to a report published Online First by JAMA Pediatrics.
GLP-1 receptor agonist therapy, approved for adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus, reduces body weight by enhancing satiety and suppressing appetite, even in patients without diabetes, according to the study background.
Aaron S. Kelly, Ph.D., of the University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, and colleagues conducted a three-month, placebo-controlled trial followed by a three-month open-label extension during which medication was offered to all patients. A total of 22 patients (12 to 19 years of age) completed the trial, in which the medication exenatide was administered subcutaneously (injected).
"The results of this clinical trial extend the findings of our previous pilot and feasibility study and offer additional evidence, within the context of a randomized, placebo-controlled trial, that treatment with a GLP-1 receptor agonist significantly reduces BMI and body weight in adolescents with severe obesity," the authors note.
Exenatide caused a greater reduction in BMI compared with placebo (-2.7 percent). Researchers also observed a further reduction in BMI during the open-label phase for those patients initially randomized to exenatide (cumulative BMI reduction of 4 percent). The medication also resulted in a reduction, on average, in systolic blood pressure of -6mm HG, although researchers note it did not reach the level of statistical significance.
"In conclusion, data from the current study provide evidence that GLP-1 receptor agonist treatment reduces BMI and elicits a potentially meaningful reduction in SBP in adolescents with severe obesity," the authors conclude.
More information: JAMA Pediatr. Published online February 4, 2013. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2013.1045


text:
"The tools are unimportant; we have all we need to make magic: our bodies, our breath, our voices, each other."
As November drew to a rainy close, we had a small family full moon ritual on our back deck and incorporated a simple gratitude ritual into it. The sky was overcast so we couldn't actually see the moon, but my four-year-old daughter wanted to get out glow sticks left over from Halloween. We had so much fun dancing around with them and making patterns together in the dark night. We sang a chant I recently made up:
Hallowed evening
Hallowed night
We dance in the shadows
We offer our light.
We did a simple gratitude practice by placing corn kernels in a jar, one for each thing we are grateful for from the past month. We started out slowly and taking turns and then we sped up and the gratitude offerings came tumbling out, over one another. Even the one-year-old added corn, rapidly yet with great concentration to make it actually go in the jar. We drummed and called out, "We are ALIVE! We are GRATEFUL! We are POWERFUL! We are CREATIVE!" When we finally decided to close our ritual and go back inside, the moon peeked out from behind the clouds to briefly say hello and it felt like a blessing on the magic we'd just created together.
As we went back inside, I felt relaxed, happy, and connected. For being something very simple, not particularly pre-planned, and semi-chaotic, it felt like one of our deepest and most connected personal family rituals. The quote above from Starhawk floated back into my mind and I reflected that when I try "too hard" to get things ready for a perfect ritual, I often end up feeling a disappointed. Sometimes I feel like giving up on holding ceremonies with my children entirely. Last year, as we prepared to walk our Winter Solstice Spiral, the baby had a poopy diaper that extended up his back. I often end up snapping critically at whomever isn't doing it "right." My boys make fart jokes. My husband gives long-suffering sighs. Our circle looks more like a lopsided peanut. Our humming together discordant and off-key. As we lie on the ground together on the Spring Equinox to do our "Earth Listening" practice together, the kids wiggle and fight, pushing one another off the blanket and exclaiming in loud voices so no one can hear what we're listening for. We listen to a shamanic drumming CD, but the only one to reach a trance state is the baby as I pace back and forth with him in a baby carrier. The four year old ends up crying because she doesn't see anything and she wanted to see something cool. Martyrpriestess emerges to complain that she doesn't know why she even bothers trying to do nice things for anyone if this is how you're all going to act.
I recently finished reading Under Her Wings: The Making of a Magdalene, by Nicole Christine. A theme running through the book was the concept of "As Above, So Below and As Within, So Without." I read this book as part of my research for my dissertation about contemporary priestessing and as I read, I kept thinking, I want to hear from the Mamapriestesses, from the Hearth Priestesses! Where are the other practicing priestesses with children at home? I noticed in Christine's book that the bulk of her work took place after her children were grown and, to my mind, she also had to distance or separate from her children and her relationships in order to fully embrace her priestess self. I notice in my reading and my research group that many women seem to come to priestess work when the intensive stage of motherhood has passed, or they do not have children. Is there a very good reason why temple priestesses were "virgins" and village wise women were crones? Where does the Mamapriestess fit?
As I read Christine's book and witnessed her intensive self-exploration, discovery, and personal ceremonies and journeys, I realized that in many ways personal exploration feels like a luxury I don't have at this point in my parenting life. How do we balance our inner journeys with our outer processes? Christine references having to step aside and be somewhat aloof or unavailable to let inner processes and understandings develop, since our inner journeys may become significantly bogged down in groups by interpersonal relationships, dramas, venting, chatting, and so forth. For me, this distance for inner process exploration isn't possible in the immersive stage of life as a mother. And, yet, I also know in my bones that I'm not meant to give it up. How does the As Within and the So Without actually work?
I return to our Full Moon gratitude ritual. My oldest son, 12, whose height is rapidly extending into manhood, totes his tiny brother on one hip with practiced ease, offering his own glow stick and helping my little one hold his into the air. He expresses gratitude for the fun he's been having this month with his new video game and, "I'm grateful for you for doing things like this with us, Mom."
My second son, 9, my bravest child, crawls willingly into the darkness under the deck to retrieve lost glow sticks, poked purposefully down porch cracks by the one year old. He returns, triumphant, holding the bundle of sticks aloft.
My daughter, nearly five, tips her face back, looking up at me with eyes alight, "I'm glad to be a Goddess Girl!" she calls out…
Molly has been "gathering the women" to circle, sing, celebrate, and share since 2008. She plans and facilitates women's circles, seasonal retreats and rituals, mother-daughter circles, family ceremonies, and red tent circles in rural Missouri. She is an ordained priestess who holds MSW and M.Div degrees and she is currently writing her dissertation about contemporary priestessing in the U.S. Molly's roots are in birth work and in domestic violence activism. She has worked with groups of women since 1996 and teaches college courses in group dynamics and human services. Molly is the author of Womanrunes: a guide to their use and interpretation, Earthprayer, Birthprayer, Lifeprayer, Womanprayer, and The Red Tent Resource Kit. She has maintained her Talk Birth blog since 2007 and writes about thealogy, nature, practical priestessing, and the goddess at her Woodspriestess blog. Molly and her husband Mark co-create original birth art jewelry, figurines, and goddess pendants at Brigid's Grove.
Note: If you have children at home, I'd love to hear from you about the Mamapriestess topic! If you do not have children by choice, how does this play into your spiritual work? If you do not have children and that is not by choice, how does this play into your spiritual work?
Additional resources:
- This year our family is incorporating a Solstice Prayer Wheel into our month: It's Time for the
First Candle On our Solstice Prayer Wheel
- My husband and I created a free bundle of Goddess greeting cards available for anyone to decorate on their own or together.
- Source for corn ritual: Some Quick Thanksgiving Magic – Jess Carlson
- Winter Solstice Ritual Outline for Families
- Another great offering from Jess Carlson, a free gratitude journal: End the Year with Gratitude! – Jess Carlson
- 30 Days of Yule ~ A Daily Sacred Pause to Welcome the Return of the Sun


text:
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TAMPA, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Lightning have signed general manager Steve Yzerman to a four-year contract extension.
The Lightning have made the playoffs twice in four seasons under Yzerman's watch, reaching the Eastern Conference Final in 2011.
Tampa Bay has already qualified for this season's playoffs and is currently in third place in the Atlantic Division.
"I'm grateful for the opportunity to continue the process we started four years ago and would like to thank (owner) Jeff Vinik for entrusting me with the responsibility of leading the Tampa Bay Lightning," Yzerman said in a statement. "I'm very excited about what lies ahead for our organization and truly enjoy working with a fantastic group of people in Tampa Bay."
Yzerman, who has one year remaining on his initial contract with Tampa Bay, also served as general manger of Canada's gold-winning Olympic men's hockey teams in 2010 and 2014.
Yzerman spent 27 seasons with the Detroit Red Wings as a player, captain and front-office executive prior to joining the Lightning.
The Hall of Famer ranks sixth in NHL history with 1,755 career points. He is a four-time Stanley Cup Champion, winning three as a player in 1997, 1998 and 2002 and another as a member of Detroit's management team in 2008.
"Since the day Steve agreed to serve as our vice president and general manager, he has worked tirelessly to transform our hockey department and establish the groundwork for sustained success", Vinik said. "We are very pleased with Steve's job performance thus far, and I am fully confident Steve remains the right person to continue to lead us."
The Lightning also announced Monday that Steve Griggs has been promoted to president.
Griggs had served as the team's chief operating officer since 2010.
He also spent six years in various roles with Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment.


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Adrian College men's basketball struggles in 2nd half
The Adrian College men's basketball team started hot, but finished cold Wednesday night in its loss to Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association opponent Kalamazoo, 66-56.
There were big ups and big downs for the Bulldogs (4-12, 0-5 MIAA) as the 3-pointer was both beneficial and hurtful to their offense.
In the first half, the Bulldogs shot 6-for-13 from downtown, while only shooting 3-for-11 in the second half against Kalamazoo (7-9, 2-3).
"We knew Kalamazoo would pack the paint tight, so we would have to hit jumpers," said Adrian coach Mark White. "The first half went well for us. We were able to knock down our shots. The ball wouldn't fall in the second, and that's what led to the comeback for them."
The first half consisted of a lot of back-and-fourth, slow-paced, half-court offense for each team. Both Adrian and Kalamazoo tried to establish themselves in the paint. However, each team's thriving defense made it difficult to find good looks.
Adrian guard Wesley Reed started hot for the Bulldogs, hitting two contested 3-point shots to open the game. The 3-pointer would continue to be the difference for the Bulldogs for the remainder of the first half.
Adrian would also continue to look impressive on the defense end, hustling back every possession, crowding the ball and forcing turnovers.
As good as the Bulldog defense was performing, Kalamazoo was right there with them, packing the paint, allowing no easy baskets and forcing the Bulldogs into contested jump shots. Luckily for the Bulldogs, they shot well with Reed hitting four 3-point shots in the first half and Rickey Jackson giving them a boost on offense.
The Bulldogs excelled on the offense glass, grabbing six first-half offensive rebounds, compared to Kalamazoo's one. These second-chance points and six 3-pointers would help give Adrian a 33-23 lead at halftime.
The second half looked much different for both teams. The Hornets would turn up their offense, while Adrian struggled to get the ball to fall through the net.
Adrian was outscored 43-23 in the second half.
"Their determination and passion is what killed us in the second half," said White. "They made more plays than us. We knew they would be tough, and we had to meet that challenge. We just were unable to get the level of basketball we wanted in the second half, and they took the game away from us."
Kalamazoo opened the second half on a 5-0 run, cutting the halftime gap in half. As time went by, Kalamazoo figured out its offense, while Adrian struggled to knock down its jump shots.
The Hornets took their first lead of the game with just under 11 minutes to go after an old-fashioned 3-point play.
The more the clock ticked, the more the Hornets were pulling away with the lead. However, with just over five minutes to play, Adrian guard Curtis Gordon became hot from downtown, hitting back-to-back 3-pointers on consecutive possessions.
The back-to-back 3-pointers left the Bulldogs down three points with 3:30 left.
The Hornets were then able to use their half-court offense effectively, running down the clock and eventually finding a good shot on the next few possessions.
Despite the game still being somewhat within reach, the Bulldogs elected to force 3-pointers down the stretch and were unable to hit some good looks, eventually leading to their defeat.
Jackson led Adrian with 16 points, and Reed added 14.
"This was a tough game to lose, but we have to grow from every experience and keep working hard," said White.
The Bulldogs will travel to Alma on Saturday for another MIAA contest.


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On average, 265 bicycle and 600 pedestrian crashes are reported to the Metropolitan Police Department each year in the District of Columbia. Approximately 2,700 pedestrians and bicyclists are injured every year in the Washington region, and 89 are killed. Pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities accounted for 23% of the total traffic fatalities in the District of Columbia, suburban Maryland and northern Virginia from 2004-2008. What's disappointing is that many of these fatalities could have been avoided. By exercising some caution and extending some common courtesies, future tragedies can be avoided. The following tips should help drivers, bikers and walkers share the road and get where they're going safely.
- Pedestrian Safety is a Two-Way Street [PDF]
- Share the Road [ PDF]
Behaviors motorists and walkers should avoid and fines for associated violations.
Tips for Drivers
Drivers are reminded to turn on vehicle headlights at dusk and be vigilant in looking out for cyclists and pedestrians. Additionally, drivers should:
- Stop for pedestrians at crosswalks.
- Slow down and obey the posted speed limit.
- Yield to pedestrians and cyclists when turning.
- Look before opening your door.
- Be careful when passing stopped vehicles.
- Allow three feet when passing bicyclists.
Tips for Cyclists
When travelling on city streets, cyclists should follow the same rules of the road as motorized vehicles. This means stopping at stop signs; obeying traffic signals and lane markings; and using hand signals to let others know your intention to stop or turn. Furthermore, cyclists are advised to be aware of their surroundings:
- Don't wear headphones; you need to be able to hear if a car is approaching.
- Slow down and check for oncoming traffic before entering any street or intersection
- Do your best to anticipate hazards and adjust your position in traffic accordingly.
- Be predictable: ride with the flow of traffic, on the right, and in a straight line – not in and out of parked cars on the side of the street.
Be visible and wear the proper protective gear. DC law mandates that riders under 16 are required to wear a helmet while cycling in the District of Columbia, but it's a good idea for bikers of any age. Make eye contact with motorists to let them know you are there (but don't always expect them to see you). And stay visible by riding where drivers are looking (i.e., do not pass on the right). Bicyclist should be particularly mindful of their visibility to other vehicles in the evening, especially when biking during rush hour or later. Legally, cyclists must have a front white light and a red rear reflector and/or a rear red light.
- Get more Smart Bicycling Tips from Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA)
- Get cycling tips and hand signals from the Street Smart Campaign
Tips for Walkers and Runners
Whether you're going for an afternoon stroll, commuting to work on foot, or getting some exercise, walking and running are great activities. However, it's importing to pay attention. When walking or exercising, especially in the early morning or at dusk or dark, pedestrians should keep the following tips in mind:
- MPD encourages walkers to use signaled crosswalks when possible. Use extreme caution when crossing at intersections without signals.
- Look both ways before crossing the street.
- Never run between cars into the street.
- Wear clothing that allows drivers and people to see you. That means no dark clothes after dark or early in the morning.
- Exercising outdoors at dusk or at night can be dangerous without some type of reflective device on your clothing. Many athletic shoes have reflective qualities built in, but also consider a vest complete with reflective tape.
- Keep alert! Dawn and dusk offer convenient shadows for muggers and other crooks.
Runners are also reminded to ALWAYS carry identification with them when they go out. If carrying a license seems too inconvenient, please consider purchasing an identification bracelet or tag for your shoe. New products designed especially for runners, bikers and other athletes have recently come on the market. A simple internet search for "identification bracelet" will provide numerous results.
- Get more safety tips for walkers and runners
Report Aggressive Driving
Aggressive driving is a combination of unsafe and unlawful actions that demonstrate a conscious and willful disregard for safety. The following offenses are included: running red lights and stop signs; following too closely, or tailgating; changing lanes unsafely; failing to yield the right of way; improper passing; and speeding. And aggressive driving is against the law.
Aggressive drivers may target bikers as well as drivers of other motorized vehicles. It's in everyone's best interest to avoid an aggressive driver rather than to engage him or her. Bikers can do that by getting out of their way and steering clear of them on the road; staying relaxed – remember, reaching your destination safely and calmly is your goal; not challenging them; avoiding eye contact; and ignoring rude gestures.
Whether you're on a bicycle or in a car, you should report aggressive driving if you see it. Police will need to know the following information:
- Description of Vehicle (color, make, model, license plate state, and license plate number).
- Description of driver (sex, race, age, hair color, height, weight).
- Location of incident.
- Date and time of incident.
- Description of what happened.
- If you're willing to be a witness, be sure to provide your name, address and phone number.


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Answer: The sect known today as the Jehovah's Witnesses started out in Pennsylvania in 1870 as a Bible class led by Charles Taze Russell. Russell named his group the "Millennial Dawn Bible Study." Charles T. Russell began writing a series of books he called "The Millennial Dawn," which stretched to six volumes before his death and contained much of the theology Jehovah's Witnesses now hold. After Russell's death in 1916, Judge J. F. Rutherford, Russell's friend and successor, wrote the seventh and final volume of the "Millennial Dawn" series, "The Finished Mystery," in 1917. The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society was founded in 1886 and quickly became the vehicle through which the "Millennial Dawn" movement began distributing their views to others. The group was known as the "Russellites" until 1931 when, due to a split in the organization, it was renamed the "Jehovah's Witnesses." The group from which it split became known as the "Bible students."
What do Jehovah's Witnesses believe? Close scrutiny of their doctrinal position on such subjects as the deity of Christ, salvation, the Trinity, the Holy Spirit, and the atonement shows beyond a doubt that they do not hold to orthodox Christian positions on these subjects. Jehovah's Witnesses believe Jesus is Michael the archangel, the highest created being. This contradicts many Scriptures which clearly declare Jesus to be God (John 1:1,14, 8:58, 10:30). Jehovah's Witnesses believe salvation is obtained by a combination of faith, good works, and obedience. This contradicts countless scriptures which declare salvation to be received by grace through faith (John 3:16; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5). Jehovah's Witnesses reject the Trinity, believing Jesus to be a created being and the Holy Spirit to essentially be the inanimate power of God. Jehovah's Witnesses reject the concept of Christ's substitutionary atonement and instead hold to a ransom theory, that Jesus' death was a ransom payment for Adam's sin.
How do the Jehovah's Witnesses justify these unbiblical doctrines? First, they claim that the church has corrupted the Bible over the centuries; thus, they have re-translated the Bible into what they call the New World Translation. The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society altered the text of the Bible to make it fit their false doctrine, rather than basing their doctrine on what the Bible actually teaches. The New World Translation has gone through numerous editions, as the Jehovah's Witnesses discover more and more Scriptures that contradict their doctrines.
The Watchtower bases its beliefs and doctrines on the original and expanded teachings of Charles Taze Russell, Judge Joseph Franklin Rutherford, and their successors. The governing body of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society is the only body in the cult that claims authority to interpret Scripture. In other words, what the governing body says concerning any scriptural passage is viewed as the last word, and independent thinking is strongly discouraged. This is in direct opposition to Paul's admonition to Timothy (and to us as well) to study to be approved by God, so that we need not be ashamed as we correctly handle the Word of God. This admonition, found in 2 Timothy 2:15, is a clear instruction from God to each of His children to be like the Berean Christians, who searched the Scriptures daily to see if the things they were being taught lined up with the Word.
There is probably no religious group that is more faithful than the Jehovah's Witnesses at getting their message out. Unfortunately, the message is full of distortions, deceptions, and false doctrine. May God open the eyes of the Jehovah's Witnesses to the truth of the gospel and the true teaching of God's Word.
For further information: Watchtower Investigated


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Literature, history and mythology is littered with great heroes and heroines, those mystically imbued figures whose short poetic lives have enriched ours, and whose tragic and doomed love affairs have become the stuff of legend. As a child I was first aware of Shakespeare's star-crossed lovers, Romeo & Juliet, and their struggles against a world so determined to tear them apart. Their torn loyalties of family, responsibility, duty, honour, and the forbidden love they held for each other, seemed to mirror the angst we teenagers inevitably felt. Luckily at my school, we had a rich diet of Shakespeare, Twelfth Night, Anthony & Cleopatra (another doomed couple), Julius Caesar, Hamlet (unrequited & destructive love), Othello (jealous, possessive love) & Macbeth (the manipulation of love). I was fascinated by the interplay of characters, how each couple and individual reacted to the circumstances they found themselves in, the choices they made, whether destiny played a part, how love could be corrupted or could corrupt others. As a hopeless romantic, (Shh! Don't tell anyone! I try not to admit it and refrain from reading any chick-lit, 'slushy trash' as I call it, hey…sci-fi/fantasy girl here!), I do see the allure of such characters and such stories and how they ultimately convey the human condition in all its absurdities, frailties, flaws and its glory.
Growing up, my reading lists widened and as my love of the fantasy genre and its origins took hold, I began delving into ancient mythology. The wonderful Welsh sagas of The Mabinogion (based on tales from 1190-1350) and particularly Sir Thomas Malory's Le Morte D'Arthur (1485), is still a favourite of mine, and the eternal love triangle of Arthur, Guinevere & Launcelot. Somehow, you can still sense the searing pain of betrayal in Arthur's heart, the conflict in the lovers and their guilt at their actions, yet their total inability to stop themselves falling in love. Of course, it is as true today as it was in 600AD, you cannot help who you fall in love with. I remember watching John Boorman's mesmeric 1981 film Excalibur, with its incredible visuals and Carl Orff's thunderous Carmina Burana spurring the horses on through the mists of battle. But still, through all the magic and heroism, it was the tragic love story that kept haunting me. As I'm typing this, I'm sitting looking at a beautiful print of The Lady of Shalott by John William Waterhouse (1888), based on the famous Tennyson poem and all that doomed heart ache just comes flooding back.
When you think of the greatest and most tragic love stories you probably think of the ones I've mentioned and of Tristan & Iseult (Isolde), Paris & Helena, Orpheus and Eurydice and perhaps poor Pyramus and Thisbe. Having lived in ancient Babylonia in neighbouring homes, they fell in love with each other as they grew up. Their respective families were fervently against the match, so one night the two lovers hatched a plan. They decided to meet up under a mulberry tree in the nearby fields, and run away together. Thisbe reached the tree first, but frightened at seeing a lion approach with blood stained jaws, she ran and hid in some rocks, dropping her veil as she ran. The lion picked up the veil just as Pyramus arrived. Devastated at seeing Thisbe's veil in the lion's bloody mouth, Pyramus took his sword out and killed himself. When poor Thisbe eventually emerged from the rocks and saw her beloved Pyramus dead, she too took his sword and killed herself. 😦
Then, you have the sad tale of Heloise and Abelard, which is perhaps the most tragic love affair of all, especially as it is a story based on an actual event. Being fact rather than merely myth, makes us all marvel at the power of sacrifice and the power of love. Heloise (1101-1164) and Peter Abelard (1079-1142) had their story immortalised by British poet, Alexander Pope in 1717, who turned it into a piece of classic literature, 'Eloisa to Abelard'. Heloise and Abelard were ridiculously in love and doomed to a tragic end in mid 12th century France. Abelard was a well-known French philosopher, considered one of the greatest thinkers of the 12th century. Heloise, was the niece and pride of the Canon Fulbert, who wanted her to have the best education possible. Abelard became the girl's live-in tutor, 20 years her senior. A romance blossomed between them, a romance that so enraged her disapproving uncle that he had Abelard castrated shortly after they were discovered. Distraught, the lovers entered a monastery and nunnery and wrote a set of now-famous letters to each other up until their death, though they never met again.
These tragedies both real and imagined have inspired such a rich tapestry of stories. As a huge fan of fantasy, from the world's first ever story, The Epic of Gilgamesh to Beowulf to The Lord Of The Rings, Narnia and Game Of Thrones etc., I still like my fantasy to have that tragic element, that hint of doomed love or sacrifice. In the classic tradition J.R.R.Tolkien of course, being a scholar in ancient Nordic and Celtic mythology, was able to bring many of these elements into his work, particularly in The Silmarillion.
The Silmarillion, I book I still adore and one which I am very lucky to have a cherished first edition of, has two tragic love stories which really wrench at the heart. The first of course, is the heroic story of Beren and Luthien, later mirrored in the love story of Aragorn and Arwen in LOTR. Here, the story of Beren and Luthien (with similarities to Orpheus and Eurydice) tells of the love between a mortal man, Beren and the most beautiful immortal elf-maiden, Luthien Tinuviel and the struggles and obstacles they face in their quest to be together. But for me, by far the more tragic love story and the one which is the antithesis to Beren's story, was the darker tale of poor Turin Turambar. Despite being a great hero, Turin Turambar, seems forever cursed with ill fortune and the very worst of luck. He battles valiantly against evil foes, yet whatever he turns his hand to seems to go wrong. Eventually both Turin and his sister Nienor are enchanted by a mighty dragon, Glaurung. Under its enchantment, they fall in love with each other and live as man and wife. But, when Turin kills the dragon and the spell is lifted, they are driven mad by the realisation of their sins and they both commit suicide. This perhaps, is Tolkien at his darkest, but still as a reader, you cannot help feeling such sorrow and sympathy for these two sad characters.
My personal favourite though, and a story that inspired Tolkien himself, has to be the story of Sigurd and Brynhild, from the Volsunga Saga. Sigurd (Old Norse: Sigurðr) and Brynhild from the Volsunga Saga (ancient Norse mythology
c.1000AD), is a bittersweet tale of romance, heroism, greed, betrayal and tragedy. The later German hero, Siegfried from the Nibelungenlied (1180 to 1210) (The Song of the Nibelungs) and Wagner's Ring Cycle, is based on Sigurd and the Volsunga Saga. Basically, urged on by Loki and Odin, Sigurd kills the dragon Fafnir and takes his treasure hoard. He bathes in the dragon's blood to become invincible, and meets Brynhildr 'shieldmaiden', who in some incarnations of the story is a Valkyrie imbued with supernatural powers. They fall in love but Brynhild prophesies his doom and marriage to another. They part temporarily. Sigurd travels to the court of Gjuki, whose wife, Grimhild poisons him with an 'Ale of Forgetfulness' to force him to forget Brynhild so he can marry their daughter, Gudrun. Meanwhile, Gunnar, Gudrun's brother courts Brynhild who is still waiting for her beloved Sigurd. To win Brynhild over, Gunnar devises a plan and convinces an enchanted Sigurd to help him. Unable to get near to Brynhild himself, but seeing that Sigurd can, Gunnar swaps bodies with him to seduce Brunhild and break her defences/powers, enabling him to seize his prize thereafter. Eventually, all deceptions come to light. Gunnar plots against and kills Sigurd, in some stories Brynhild then kills him, but the story ends with Sigurd and Brynhild finally reunited in death as she throws herself onto Sigurd's blazing funeral pyre! What a way to go!
The map to the human heart is a complicated route indeed, full of hidden perils, surprises and joyous heights!
Now…you may well ask, why on earth I am exploring tragic love affairs in literature, myth and history? Why the sudden interest?
Well…I'm glad to say I haven't had a tragic experience myself, but…I am, I'm afraid, witnessing one as I write this. Yes, I'm not talking about my favourite tear inducing movie, or the howls of, "NO, GOD NO!" that I heard being cried at the TV screen from my friends who were apoplectic at the death of Matthew Crawley on Downton Abbey. No…I'm talking about a real life love tragedy unfolding before my eyes right now – a scene of unparalleled sadness, of unrequited love that makes all of the previous tales pale into insignificance.
Forget Romeo & Juliet, Heathcliff & Cathy, who cares about Tristan & Isolde? This is the sad sad tale of…Tolly & Mimi…
On the 1st August 2009, four years ago this very day, I was travelling back from Bridgewater having rescued two gorgeous white balls of fluff from the most hideous living conditions you can imagine. Four years later, my beautiful white wolves, brothers Korrun & Tolly, are happy and healthy and well…totally gorgeous.
Only one problem…Tolly is in love, deeply, passionately, unconditionally…an all consuming obsessional love and one which tragically, it is completely unrequited.
Wherever Mimi goes, Tolly follows, every move she makes he mirrors, no more than two inches from her face at all times, staring adoringly, gazing, dribbling, sighing with pensive longing when she retreats upstairs. Such desperate longing, such sadness…the poor boy just hasn't realised that cats and dogs simply don't…well, it's a barrier greater than that of the Capulets and Montagues!


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White-steepled churches, country stores, black-shuttered white clapboard houses, and bobbing boats provide the backdrop to the prettiest towns in New England.
By Janice Brand
Nov 19 2015
Marblehead's "Old Town" in Massachusetts.Photo Credit : Robert Dennis
For as long as I've been driving around looking for New England's prettiest towns, I've never run out of villages that look just like their postcards. A white-steepled church fronts the town green, which is bordered by black-shuttered white clapboard houses; or squat Capes clad in weather-beaten shingles match the shacks where the lobstermen work down by the harbor.
Sometimes a friend steers me toward one of these towns. More often I'm lost, and the town is the reward for driving in circles or down endless two-lane roads.
Everyone's definition of a pretty town probably differs, but I look for a sense of time passed by, a preservation of the past, and a very real present. Qualifying towns don't have to lie far off the beaten path; they may be under your nose. And there should be somewhere to eat. I'm not being romantic when I say I've discovered most of these places when lost. I've usually been quite lost — and quite hungry.
Here, then, is a highly subjective list of my contenders for the prettiest towns in New England.
Route 114 is a sadist's idea of a road. Yes, there are signs for its twists and bends, but they're hidden behind overgrown branches. But the payoff is well worth the frustration. For beautiful coastal settings, Marblehead is hard to beat. Downtown, settled in 1629 and known appropriately as Old Town, seems to tumble to the long harbor, which is filled with fancy yachts and ringed with lush estates and yacht clubs. If you don't own a boat or have a close friend who does, the next best view of the harbor is from Crocker Park.
Settled by fishermen from West England and the Channel Islands, Marblehead, by 1649, was called "the greatest Towne for fishing in New England." By 1720 its shipowners had expanded beyond fishing into overseas trading. The oldest houses, jumbled together with minuscule gardens by the harbor, reflect the settlers' humble origins and miserly desire to save timber and preserve heat; the houses of the later shippers display 18th-century conspicuous consumption.
The layout of Marblehead follows the perverse logic of any early seaside village. Streets twist and end abruptly as they skirt the hills and rolling topography. Getting lost here — on your way to find Front Street and the harbor — is the point of going to Marblehead. Unfortunately, many visitors get no farther than the boutiques along Washington Street, which is a shame. To help you wander, stop by the chamber of commerce's information booth for a booklet with a walking tour of town.
At some point you need to make your way to Abbot Hall to see the celebrated painting The Spirit of '76, located in the selectmen's room. Make time a picnic lunch in Crocker Park.
If you think that Kittery is just the mall-to-mall strip of outlets along Route 1, you have a very pleasant surprise waiting. Make a detour on Route 103 toward Kittery Point, the oldest town in Maine, first settled in 1623.
The road rolls along to the sea, passing through sparsely populated countryside. Where there's a sharp turn, look closely for the grand (and private) Lady Pepperrell House, built in 1760. Across the street is the First Congregational Church, built in 1730.
Farther along, the Fort McClary Memorial is the remnants of a fort named for a local soldier who died at the Battle of Bunker Hill. A cluster of houses, a post office, a church, and a market describe the town.
But if you want lobster outdoors in the Maine tradition, continue on Pepperrell Road and look for the sign for Chauncey Creek Lobster Pier, which will direct you down narrow Chauncey Creek Road. On your right is the Lobster Pier. With a view of forested Gerrish Island from one of the brightly painted picnic tables on the deck and perhaps a cooling breeze coming upstream, this feels miles from anywhere. The Lobster Pier serves lobster — the lobster rolls come doused with paprika on an un-toasted hamburger bun — clams, and steamed mussels in wine and garlic. You have to bring your own wine or beer.
After lunch, take the turn onto Gerrish Island and visit Fort Foster. I'm no great fan of fortifications, but this one has a view of the distant Isles of Shoals (the far lighthouse is on White Island; the closer one is Whaleback Light at the mouth of the Piscataqua River) and rocky coast to clamber.
Most people make the trek to Kingfield, in Maine's western mountains, to go skiing at its big neighbor, Sugarloaf/USA. I can think of at least two other good reasons to visit.
Named for William King, its founder and Maine's first governor, Kingfield has matured on the ski business, but it was born on lumber mills. Main Street looks as if it would be comfortable in the Old West, its clapboard stores bellying up to the road. The Herbert Hotel, a Victorian whimsy built in 1918, has been restored with a Gilded Age feeling and acts as command center in town. For dinner, those in the know move to One Stanley Avenue, which prides itself on using fresh, local ingredients. It is known as one of the best restaurants in the state.
Kingfield has a favorite son, actually two of them. The twin Stanley brothers, of Stanley Steamer automobile fame, were born here. The Stanley Museum, in a former schoolhouse, teaches just enough about them through explanatory panels and exhibits — two restored and running Stanley Steamer motor cars, letters, some technical knickknacks — to make you realize what an amazing invention an automobile is. Look for the letter from the widow of F. E. Stanley, who died in a car accident in 1918, a most poignant description of love lost.
But the unexpected delight is the display of photographs by Chansonetta Stanley, the brothers' beautifully named and very talented sister. Long before most women had careers — or were photographers — Chansonetta captured in black-and-white photos the rural world of Kingfield (and beyond). The faces of those farm girls pictured 100 years ago look as fresh as any teenager's today. For all of Kingfield's Victorian charm, its 20th-century ski aura, and its famous Stanley brothers, it's Chansonetta's story that stays with me on the long drive home.
At the eastern side of Pemaquid Point, this town has had about as picture-perfect a harbor as one could wish for — for centuries. This was the home of Samoset, the Indian who startled the Pilgrims in Plymouth in 1621 by greeting them with, "Much welcome, Englishmen." Seems Samoset had hobnobbed with the English sailors who fished off nearby Monhegan Island.
Today New Harbor is small and sheltered, ringed with pine trees and home to as many working lobster boats as sailing boats. Best of all, you can have a nice seat from which to view all this lovely scenery at Shaw's Fish and Lobster Wharf Restaurant, 207-677-2200. Order your lobster and iced tea, then choose your picnic table out on the deck. Fishermen unload their catch, and the boat to Monhegan Island takes off from here as well. With so much to see, you'd better order a strawberry shortcake to keep up your energy.
A trip to the very tip of the peninsula will take you to the 1827 Pemaquid Light and its tiny Fisherman's Museum. Here the earth rolls into the sea with big, wave-smoothed rocks, perfect for scrambling over in late-afternoon light.
The approach is on a washboard dirt road, the perfect entrance to this secluded slice of Greek Revival New England in the Vermont mountains. This, you think, is how our ancestors traveled, being bounced about by bumps. Protected from macadam, Grafton, Vermont, is a gem of the early 1800s. True, it's had a little help in looking so pristine from the Windham Foundation, which bought and restored the entire town. But there's no denying it's pretty.
Everyone's first reaction to Grafton is to wander up and down the streets. Everyone's second reaction to Grafton is to take up residence in one of the rocking chairs that line the porch of the Grafton Inn (formerly the Old Tavern), which has been offering rooms to the weary since 1801. I'm sure that for at least that long, carloads of New Yorkers have been transformed into rocking hayseeds by this porch.
The Grafton Inn offers a small-town experience with a stay in one of the inn's rooms, in one of its cottages, or in one of the seven guest houses tucked around town. You'll be in good company — among visitors have been Ulysses S. Grant, Teddy Roosevelt, Henry David Thoreau, and Rudyard Kipling. For the active, there are 30 kilometers of hiking, tennis courts, and a natural swimming pond — but those rocking chairs are tempting.
All of that rocking and watching nothing in particular works up an appetite. The inn has a pretty greenhouse setting for its lunch guests, housed in the rustically renovated barn and furnished with a herd of Windsor chairs.
In the brilliance of autumn, half the world is climbing Mount Monadnock and the other half is visiting nearby Hancock, New Hampshire. Established in 1779, the town was named for John Hancock, who owned a lot of it but neither visited nor, according to the weighty History of Hancock, "appeared to have in the least interested himself in its welfare." Despite that, Hancock (the town) turned into a charming village with a pretty Victorian bandstand, handsome houses set back modestly from the street, and a Congregational church that dates to 1820, its bell cast in Paul Revere's foundry two years after his death. Stroll the main street, have lunch at the gourmet deli, Fiddleheads, and check into the Hancock Inn for dinner and a good night's sleep (as travelers have been doing at this inn for more than 200 years).
From Hancock take Route 137 south, and in a little over three miles look for Hancock Road on your right. This will take you past Lake Skatutakee and into the tiny town of Harrisville. This is perhaps my favorite of all. Here tidy brick buildings and a large granite mill are strung along the millstream that once powered a woolen mill. On the hill sits a long boardinghouse. The buildings are fully restored, thanks to a nonprofit group that leases them out to various businesses, including the internationally known Harrisville Designs, makers of looms and yarns for handweavers and knitters. If you turn right at Harrisville Designs and cross the bridge, you'll find a group of five millworkers' houses called "Peanut Row." Beyond these is Sunset Beach, the town's private little beach and a nice spot for a picnic. Harrisville is the village most painted by artists (even more than Hancock) and is one of the oldest existing textile communities in the country, a National Historic Landmark village. And you don't want to visit this charming small town without popping into the Harrisville General Store.
This is Sugar Hill: a bend on Route 117, a curve, and a hill. A beautiful spread of barn and fields called Iris Farm that's best seen in morning mists, a small inn called Hilltop Inn, and a restaurant devoted to flapjacks called Polly's Pancake Parlor. It doesn't sound like much, but trust me, it is. Don't miss the Annual Fields of Lupine Festival in early June.
Time and Route 5 may have passed Old Deerfield by, but history lovers do not. Along this historic town's wide mile-long Main Street, a dozen of the houses are preserved as museums. At first glance, it's not easy to tell which are house museums and which are private homes — all are immaculately restored and maintained. Twice sacked by Indian raids, Old Deerfield is preserved from modernity's raid by Historic Deerfield, which runs many of the house museums. The fascinating (and compact) Memorial Hall Museum is run by the Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association.
In a town first settled in the 1660s, there's lots of history to absorb. Some of the museums feature the architecture of the houses, others emphasize a particular collection such as silver or textiles. While Deerfield focuses on its history, it does so without the costumed guides of Plimoth Plantation or Old Sturbridge Village. A walk down Main Street takes you past houses built in the 1700s, with their dark facades, and Deerfield Academy, with its flurry of prep- school students. A walk in autumn surrounded by yellow leaves is especially pleasant.
If the number and scope of the houses is a little daunting to you (or you have a car of fidgety kids), at least visit the Memorial Hall Museum, which sums up tidily the town's history through photographs, paintings, and historic costumes. Most celebrated in its collection is the doorway of the John Sheldon House, which was razed in the mid-19th century. The door, however, warranted saving because it had survived the February 1704 Indian attack — hatchet marks and poundings are still evident, still capable of sending shivers down your spine.
When I begin to think that Cape Cod is all built up and way too popular, I drive Route 6A, skirting the northern rim, to be reminded that Cape Cod still has its charms. The towns along the way — Sandwich, Barnstable, Yarmouthport — all have handsome houses built by sea captains and town centers humming with antiques stores and markets. They also have, for some reason, an incredible number of bird carvers nesting here.
Brewster is not the oldest; settled in 1656, it's younger than Sandwich, the first town settled on the Cape in 1637. But it's my favorite for dining. It may be difficult to get reservations for dinner at Chillingsworth, but it tops the Cape's list of restaurants every year.
Antiquing along Main Street caters to both the serious collector and the seeker of collectibles. Two churches and an ancient graveyard complete the town.
In early spring the herring make a frenzied show at the Stony Brook Grist Mill on Stony Brook Road. Year-round the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History introduces children and grown-ups to nature's side of the Cape — there are aquariums of amphibians, displays of shells and bugs, and depictions of the havoc that pollution is wreaking. Check the tide schedule, then follow one of the paths behind the museum that leads out to the marshes.
When architects see something they like, they tend to stand in one place and waggle their hands a lot. Strange words like dentil, quoin, pilaster, and oriel spring from their lips. If you'd like a demonstration of this, take an architect to Old Wethersfield, just south of Hartford. Established in 1634, this town was an important port on the Connecticut River — until the river changed its course and left Old Wethersfield behind. Passed by, the town retained its past — and grew as a suburb of Hartford. Today it is an unusual community because it has at least one house in every architectural style from every period in America, from an early Colonial with overhang to low-slung ranch houses and everything in between. Architects go wild.
Wethersfield grew on agriculture, primarily onions. There are a number of historic buildings open to the public, including the Webb-Deane-Stevens Museum, a melding of three 18th-century houses. Inside you can see the contrasting lifestyles of the resident diplomat, merchant, and leather worker. George Washington really did sleep in the Webb house. Gardeners, here also is the home of Comstock, Ferre & Co., the nation's oldest continuously operating seed company.
After cruising around the streets of town, drive to the old cove, what was the original bustling harbor, to view Wethersfield's — and the country's — only remaining 17th-century warehouse. This now-quiet spot saw exports of fish and salt beef in the 1640s and imports of rum, molasses, and wool in the 1700s. All the commotion of busy trade seems very far away, especially when you're standing under a tree listening to birdsong.
Rhode Islanders quickly name Little Compton as the prettiest town in their state, but they won't tell you how to get there. This small town, down in the Sakonnet area, is not a wide spot in the road — it's a bend in the road, twisting itself around its formidable white church. This is just a warning: If you head down to Sakonnet in search of Little Compton, you should expect to get lost. The locals around this easternmost strip of Rhode Island take a perverse pleasure in not putting up road signs where they're most needed, like at intersections and forks in the road.
It's easier to get to Tiverton Four Corners, which is, if you know the way, pretty close to Little Compton. Those who make it to Tiverton Four Corners — literally just a crossroads — can stop at the gourmet's mecca, Provender, for a take-home pack of freshly baked Lemon Shortbread Cookies or Palm Beach Brownies. And some directions. Then set out across the undulating farm fields for Little Compton. The houses get closer together, there's the playing field, then the graveyard, and you can't miss the church.
The reward at Little Compton is the Commons, a diner next to Wilbur's store, an emporium of this and that and some more this. When you arrive in Little Compton, perch on a stool along the counter of the Commons and have a plate of jonnycakes, any time of day. But lunch is just as regional. Chowder comes in a sturdy porcelain cup, clam fritters are big and crunchy, and an order of vanilla ice cream would be enough to satisfy two parties with a sweet tooth each. All is best eaten on the shaded patio on a steamy summer afternoon. Here you can watch the world of Little Compton go by — a pickup truck, a pair of ladies heading for the Grange hall, the neighbors who check the notices tacked up by Wilbur's. Maybe a dog will trot by.
What are your picks for the prettiest towns in New England?


text: Am a Colorado Springs artist, educated in Philosophy at Carleton College and Lake Forest College. I work in pastels, oils and woven tapestries.Slightly abstract, I am especially concerned with color. Subject matter is usually landscape, but enjoy architecture also. Am a signature member of Pikes Peak Pastel Society. Am represented by Fare Bella Gallery in Manitou Springs, Colorado.


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NEW ORLEANS – The Millennium Falcon was originally supposed to be made from a golf cart.
When Ryan Ballard and his Mardi Gras parade organization Intergalactic Krewe of Chewbacchus first set out to raise money on Kickstarter for a parade float to carry the original Chewbacca actor Peter Mayhew and his wife, they thought a humble golf cart was the only vehicle base they could afford with their pledges. The plan was to create an amazing DIY centerpiece float on which the Mayhews – their king and queen – could ride in style during the group's parade this Saturday.
See Also: Meet the Man Who Built Chewbacca's Mardi Gras Throne
"Right when we hit the goal I started shopping," Ballard told Wired. "I knew that I wanted one of these Taylor-Dunn B-248s. ... That was like the dream machine, but those are like 12 grand. It was out of budget, we needed to get a golf cart for like $2,000 and build on that."
Then Ballard went on Craigslist – and hit the jackpot. He found a B-248 that someone was selling in Pearl River, Louisiana for less than $1,500. He called his Intergalactic Krewe of Chewbacchus co-hort Brett Powers and the two headed out of New Orleans. When they came back, they had the basis for what might be the nerdiest Mardi Gras float ever built.
Ballard came up with blueprints and diagrams scaled up from a model of the Falcon from the Star Wars movies. Other members of Chewbacchus offered ideas and concepts and soon enough they were building – a process that's taken some four months to complete
To give the Falcon its texture, the "krewe" broke down old computers and attached the parts to the exterior. To make it look as though it is flying, some 300 remote-controlled RGB LEDs were placed in the undercarriage. The throne for the Mayhews was upholstered with fur from DistinctiveFabric.com to make it look like a Wookiee, while slightly anachronistic Nintendo controllers sit atop the headlights. It's covered in Chewbaccas and has a R2-D2 "hood" ornament. There is a Star Wars logo and a Rebel Alliance emblem made entirely out of Mardi Gras beads, a Millennium Falcon armrest and even an R2-D2 ashtray.
But according to Ballard, "The quad laser cannon really brings it together visually."
Check out photos of the construction of the ultimate Mardi Gras nerd party ride in the gallery above.


text: Non-arm's length and private or domestic arrangementsWarning: This information may not apply to the current year. Check the content carefully to ensure it is applicable to your circumstances. End of attention The first element of a depreciating asset's cost is the market value of the asset at the time you start to hold it if: the first element of the asset's cost would otherwise exceed its market value and you do not deal at arm's length with another party to the transaction, or you started to hold the asset under a private or domestic arrangement (for example, as a gift from a family member). Similar rules apply to the second element of a depreciating asset's cost. For example, if something is done to improve your depreciating asset under a private or domestic arrangement, the second element of the asset's cost is the market value of the improvement when it is made. The market value may need to be reduced for any input tax credits to which you would have been entitled - see GST input tax credits. Note that there are special rules for working out the effective life and decline in value of a depreciating asset acquired from an associate, such as a spouse or partner - see Depreciating asset acquired from an associate. Last modified: 27 Aug 2007QC 27892


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Kigali Public Library is an open and public platform that inspires communities to read, discover and learn.
We provide access to educational, cultural and inspirational materials in digital and physical formats.
We host and create programs, workshops and events that foster literacy, creativity and innovation.
The library project was initiated by Rotary Club of Kigali-Virunga, the project was later developed and funded by the Government of Rwanda. The library is financially funded and operationally supported by the Ministry of Education and from the 1st July 2015, the management of KPL was outsourced to Innovation Village
Monday - Friday: 8:00am - 8:00pmSaturday: 8:00am - 5:00pmSunday: 8:00am - 12:00pm
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Kigali Public LibraryKN 8 AveKacyiruKigali, Rwanda
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We hold a remarkable collection of over 19,000 books as well as periodicals and about 1000 new volumes will be added annually to cater to our diverse KPL reading community.
Borrow books, DVD's and other materials at KPL for a maximum of two weeks.
The loan period may be renewed for another 2 weeks if the materials have not been requested by anyone else.
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For any questions related to our books or services please email email@example.com or call +250 788 500 777
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When does my membership expire?The Library membership is valid for 12 months.
What if I misplace my library card?If you misplaced your library card, a new membership card can be issued for a cost of 2000 RWF.
How many books can I borrow?Individuals can borrow up to 5 booksSchools and Institutions can borrow up to 100 books.
How long can I borrow a book for?Individuals can loan books for a period of 2 weeks, this may be renewed for another 2 weeks if the books have not been requested by anyone else. Schools and Institutions can loan books for a period of 1 month.
What happens if I do not return a book on time?Content borrowed must not exceed 14 days (renewable for another 2 weeks if the books have not been requested by anyone else), after this period a fine of 300 RWF is added daily to the member account.The content must be returned and payments must be retrieved before the member can borrow additional content.
What does 'No more charges are allowed' mean?Late fines fees for non-returned books cost 300 RWF/day, if the cumulative fees reach 20,000RWF no more charged are allowed, the library card will be suspended.
Can I use Wi-Fi at the KPL?Yes, you can use the KPL Wi-Fi using your laptop or other portable devices.
Can I reserve a PC/Tablet?Yes, you can reserve a tablet/kindle as well as a PC to use within the library. Booking can be made at the information desk.
Can I reserve a space at the Kigali Public Library?The KPL Garden and conference rooms can be rented for events related to education, literacy and culture.
Can I ask a librarian?Yes, kindly use our email service firstname.lastname@example.com for any questions or comments related to KPL content, services, events, programs and/or any concerns regarding technical issues.
How do I find an item in the library catalogue?Use the drop down menu to search by keyword, title, author, subject, tag, list, etc.After entering your search terms, you can see how many copies the library has, which locations have them, if they are checked out and if they are being held.
Can I access the online catalogue from places other than the library?Yes, you can access the online catalogue through the library website from any location, visit www.kplcatalogue.org
How will I know when my holds are available?You will be notified by email.
Can I suggest that the library purchase a certain book, audiobook, CD, DVD, etc.?Yes, you can fill the "Tell us what us missing?" list at the library counter, or request it via the library website suggestion page.
Can I share interesting links, content or comments with the KPL Community?Yes, feel free to share interesting content with us using our social media platforms:Facebook: @KigaliPublicLibraryTwitter: @KigaliLibraryInstagram: @Kigalilibrary
Can I donate materials to the KPL?Yes, the library accepts donated materials. If you or your organization is interested in donating books and materials to the KPL kindly contact us at firstname.lastname@example.com
We accept cash, Mobile money and VISA card payments
Browse the entire library collection through our E-Catalogue
A librarian is available to assist you with all your library needs, send any questions or queries to email@example.com
As a member of KPL, you can reserve and put books on hold, reservations can be done once you are logged into the system.
Send us ideas and suggestions on how we can improve our KPL services to suit your library needs, is there a particular book you want the library to acquire? Or a new program you would like us to introduce?
Our users can enjoy high speed Wifi connection and we also have an Internet café that allows members to reserve and use one of our 30 computers for a maximum of 3 hours.
Conference rooms are available to book for small to medium conferences, for a maximum of 35 people.
KPL has meeting rooms that are ideal for small business meetings and brain storming sessions.
KPL has study rooms ideal for small study groups or private study.
The KPL Rooftop (Innovation Village) and Gardens are available for rent, provided that the events promote the KPL vision of literacy, creativity, education and culture.
KPL works with partners to organize relevant and inspiring programs, activities and events for all our members.
We collaborate with existing partners and initiatives to provide fun, interactive and educational workshops for our KPL members.
We host a range of book clubs and reading programs that cater to all our members. We also encourage members to create their own clubs, fuel their interests and explore our existing collection.
Tribu ImaginaireExhibition
An Exhibition by Nelson Niyakire
7 - 28 August 2015
Umoja Village is an all-female matriarch village located in Samburu County, 380km from Nairobi. The village is a sanctuary for homeless women and girls, fleeing violence and forced marriages; this sanctuary is a stand against the traditional subordinate position of women in the Kenyan society and as such, focuses on women empowerment.
This makeshift tribe inspired Burundian visual artist Nelson Niyakire. Tribu Imaginaire (Imaginary Tribe) pays tribute to the women of Umoja Village by re-creating an imaginary village of women from all corners of Africa, seeking a safe haven grounded on unity, defiance and re-inventing of oneself.
Tribu Imaginaire is a story of dreams, culture and beauty.
Kigali Global Shapers
Once a monthEntrance: Free
The Global Shapers Community is a network of Hubs developed and led by young people who are exceptional in their potential, their achievements and their drive to make a contribution to their communities.
Young Writers' Club
An initiative by Youth Literacy Organisation (YouLI), the Young Writers' Club brings together young Rwandans who share the passion for writing, to connect, share and learn.
Meeting on a monthly basis, club members - aged between 15 and 30 - engaged in writing workshops, discussions, guest-speaker series and other creative sessions that help trigger creativity and foster writing.Entrance: Free
Initially, the club has welcomed young people who are passionate about creative writing and have been involved in writing; published or unpublished.
For any further information about the club and how to participate, please contact firstname.lastname@example.com
Abana writing Café
Venue: Innovation Village (Rooftop, Kigali Public Library)Entrance: FreeDate: Every last Monday of the monthTime: 6:00 p.m - 7:30 p.mLanguages: Kinyarwanda, English, and French
Abana Writing Café is a monthly children's book event, open to the public and serving as a platform to upcoming and established writers, poets, artists, storytellers and other enthusiasts with a keen interest in children's books. The first of its kind in Kigali, AWC is organized by Rwandan Children's Book Initiative, a project of Save the Children, whose mission is to see more children reading more and better books" in Rwanda.
The main idea is to combine three activities which people enjoy: storytelling, sharing knowledge on children's books and receiving/giving feedback on individual children's writer's projects or works.
A trip to the KPL is a trip around the world! With this membership, children up to 13 years old can explore new worlds, learn new things and expand their fertile minds through books, multimedia and age-specific activities.
The KPL Student membership is designed for high-school, university students and young researchers. Here, avid learners have access to a wide collection of academic materials, books , inspiring talks and open online courses such as ItunesU and Coursera.
The adult membership is for individuals looking to take advantage of KPL's wide variety of written, audio and multimedia content for personal or professional use.
KPL content are a source of inspiration and imagination. The storytellers membership encourages musicians, playwrights, painters, filmmakers, writers and all artists to make the Kigali Public Library the go-to institutions for their personal and professional development.
Through this membership, schools and institutions can integrate the KPL's collections and programs into their own content. Staff members from the registered institutions can also explore the KPL's inspiring collection and enhance their teaching curriculum.
We offer short-term library memberships for individuals looking to take advantage of KPL's wide variety of content and facilities for a limited period of time.
Apply for a Kigali Public Library membership online
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Your time is your most valuable contribution!We are always open to students, artists, working parents, teachers (active or retired), professionals and any other individuals willing to contribute their talents, skills and knowledge to our communities at the Kigali Public Library.
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Meaning of the name Hadad
The meaning of the name Hadad is The Syrian god of virility . Meaning of the name can play a big role in your baby's personality, that is why it is important and also fun to find out the meaning of the name when choosing a baby name for your child. By choosing the name Hadad, you might expect that some of your baby's personality could be shaped by its meaning. The history and meaning of the name Hadad is very fascinating and interesting. Name Hadad is a Boy name. The origin of beautiful and unique baby name Hadad is Muslim, although name Hadad along with the other Muslim baby names for Boys is popular in different regions of the world.
Even though name Hadad is not in the Top 100 baby names, the name Hadad is very beautiful and will make your baby stand out from the crowd.
If you think of naming your baby Hadad, you should consider buying a baby name domain for your child before it is taken by someone else. If domain name Hadad is not available, you can add your last name to the name Hadad. Many people register for baby name domains that include their baby's first and last names.
The name Hadad is a one of the popular and unique baby names, and it falls under Biblical Names category. Even though some people associate this name with biblical names, you should keep in mind that categories are designed just to give you some ideas and should not be a determining factor when choosing a baby name. Instead pay more attention to the origin and meaning of the name Hadad.
The Syrian god of virility
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