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When I had knitted the Mostly Warmness cowl to the length (or rather teeth number) specified it seems a little snug on my neck. It's superwash so will no doubt stretch, so I don't know whether to graft the 2 ends together now or do one more tooth! For the cowl size…I wondered about blocking the cowl before I graft the ends together, any advice appreciated. It's garter stitch grafting which I haven't done before. So I parked it and did a few rows on my Habitation Throw.
Well I tried to get my spinning mojo back by spinning a completely different fibre but I only did a tiny bit and my shoulder started to feel a bit sore, so I basically withdrew from Tour de Fleece at the end of week 1 and that's a shame as I have enjoyed spinning during the event in past years. However, I have still enjoyed chatting to my team and looking at spinners yarns and fibre from around the world on the Facebook group.
It officially ends today and whilst I am disappointed not to have taken part fully, I am pleased that in the last few months I have finished some long term spinning WIPs so perhaps my race just started earlier this year 😉
Round-up: I finished the BFL seacell blend, attempted combining nepps into a yarn and started the Llama Love fibre above.
I have warped my loom with my adapted Fibonacci pattern, it goes from left to right in blues and right to left in greens…in hindsight I wished I had done the largest number with the darkest shades, rather than the smallest number. Especially as the palest shades aren't great.
However, this is just an experiment, as I've not used 8/4 cotton on a full tea-towel before, only when doing the hem sections of projects with 8/8 cotton. I am also thinking next time I may just use 2 high contrast colours for the warp as maybe the sequence would 'pop' more. Anyway, I just need to get weaving now, I'll be using 8/4 white cotton weft on one towel and trying 8/2 white cotton on the 2nd. Did I accurately measure my warp before winding on??? Nope! So these will end up different length towels (yet again).
Other News
Next week I would like to get some more lampshades and fairies made so that should give me a good sense of purpose. I'm going to be sending a friend in Colorado a couple of fairies, but will make a selection for the shop as well.
Coach trips stop in my town and some of the coaches park at the station and the very first shop the tourists walk to/past is the gallery where my items are sold.
When our kitchen renovation/construction starts (don't ask me when as it's a sore point right now) there'll be no space for wet felting so I was thinking I need to make as many of the felted fabric pieces as possible and I could keep constructing them once the kitchen is out of action for the wet process. That's the plan anyway.
This has been a challenging week for me and after a chat with my GP on Friday we have a plan to help turn things around including helping me get more sleep. It isn't a problem getting off to sleep, it's a problem staying asleep, but thank you to everyone who suggested apps and smells etc to help.
This is a Year of Projects post. Officially the Group is in its 11th year, but this is my 4th year participating. If you would like to find more about the Year of Projects Group on Ravelry.


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A.N. Other Joins Magenta As President
Adrian J Cotterill, Editor-in-Chief
Dear John do you really know what you have let yourself in for? Ed.
News just in that Magenta Research has appointed John D Dace as President.
Dace joins Magenta from Liberty AV Solutions where he served as President, overseeing all worldwide operations. He joined Liberty in 2007 as Vice President of Sales and Marketing. Prior to his tenure at Liberty, Dace held executive positions at Chief Manufacturing and the 3M Company.
He's a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and served in the United States Marine Corps from 1983-1989 (achieving the rank of Captain at the time of his discharge) and he may well need to call upon some of those military skills to deal with his new boss Mortensen.
John is based at Magenta's New Milford, Connecticut headquarters and we truly wish him ALL THE LUCK in the world.

subset: commoncrawl


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This cross is given to you in love, respect, and admiration. A symbol of faith, it shines with the light within and was shaped by hands with skill and care. In the wisps and swirls of color, it is truly one-of-a-kind…just as God made YOU. I am blessed to call you Grandma, my unique gift from above. May you guide me, love me and keep me in prayers.
Does your child have a Grandma who makes an invaluable contribution to family life or is just simply fun and amazing? Would you like to say a simple thank you for babysitting or express gratitude that she provides you with quality childcare? Maybe you'd just like to thank her for the fact that she is just simply there when you need her.
Wear your faith proudly with this Personalized Cross Necklace. Perfect for special occasions or everyday wear, our Personalized Cross Necklace is a wonderful gift idea for you or your loved one.
The gorgeous pendant can be further personalized on the back with a name, date, or short message, up to 20 characters. This is a gift that will surely be treasured for years to come!
Sizing is appropriate for all ages and tasteful for both men and women. Crafted in high polished stainless steel, this piece will resist tarnishing and is hypoallergenic for sensitive skin. Includes a luxury adjustable snake chain (18" - 22") and attaches with an easy-to-use lobster clasp.
Cross Necklace Details
- Polished stainless steel
- Pendant height: 1.3" (33.5mm)
- Pendant width: 0.8" (19mm)
- Adjustable snake chain (18" - 22")
- Lobster clasp closure


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I don't remember if I mentioned this before, but it was declared that this 2014 would be a year where we will observe a greater revelation of God's love. Right now, I just have to say, January is just finishing, and already we're seeing so many things happening that we could not deny the reality of that declaration.
Are these positive things, you ask? Not necessarily. You must understand that the some of the greatest demonstrations of love come from the most trying of situations, for individuals and families alike. Suddenly all sorts of cheesy love songs come into mind… but it all fades compared to THE greatest demonstration of love, some 2000 years ago… A horribly tortured, and humiliated Jesus Christ was nailed to a cross in Calvary. Though in unspeakable pain and in anguish we can only imagine as indescribable, I believe He was in perfect grace and peace when He said one of the most powerful phrases – 'It is finished.'
I receive e-mail devotionals from Joseph Prince's New Creation Church almost daily, and in one of his recent messages, he elaborated on 2 Peter 1:2, which goes as follows in the King James:
"Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, According as his divine power hath given unto us all."
The way I understood Pastor Prince, he pointed out that it was clear that if we desire grace and peace to abound more in our own lives, it is through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord. We've been trained in the past year to see people and events through God's eyes… through the eyes of love. We've had practice last year, but I dare say that we've been seeing more action and more events unfolding this month that are more exciting that all the events we've observed for the whole of 2013 combined.
New opportunities revealed. New goals established. Updates and milestones to reach old goals. New mountains. New revelations. Clearer targets.
Greater revelations of God's love, indeed.
By God's grace we are seeing that our enemy is not the people who strike us but the one enemy behind them. By His grace we are also realizing how trust in Jesus Christ is vital. I'm personally seeing how He is all I need. I'm continuing to see how I have every blessing in Him.
His body paid for my sickness, poverty, and failure. His blood was the cost of my freedom in the presence of His Father, and now, as Christ is, so are we who believe, in this world. So even if it seems that our enemies have the upper hand, we are able to stand fast in the liberty by which Christ has set us free. We are able to speak to the mountain, and it will be flung into the ocean.
I believe that a great part of the greater revelations of God's love are for our edification, and for all men to draw closer to the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
These are exciting times to live in. To God be all the glory.
God bless and keep you. Jesus loves you.
email me at firstname.lastname@example.com.
May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord lift His countenance upon you and give you His Shalom. – Numbers 6:24-26


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Indulge yourself for a visit to "Italy" and spend a weekend stay in our hotel.
On Saturday evening, we will be happy to welcome you at an exquisite tasting dinner in the Toscana Restaurant, which offers first-class meals prepared from homemade ingredients and delicious wines.
The whole evening will be accompanied by a music program and a pleasant atmosphere.


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Deir Ezzor, SANA- A militant of US occupation –backed QSD militia was killed after being shot in al-Busayrah city in Deir Ezzor eastern countryside.
Local sources told SANA reporter that popular factions shot fires directly on one of QSD militants near a park in al- Busayrah city, east of Deir Ezzor, killing him instantly.
Hybah Sleman/Shaza Qriema


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Diving into South East Asian Culture
I arrived home from Thailand to 'Icemageddon' which descended on much of Ontario just before Christmas, which made me appreciate the time in Thailand and Cambodia that much more! My trip started with a 10 day comfort tour "Highlights of Thailand" with Intrepid, followed by a whirlwind trip to the centuries old ruins of Angkor Wat in Siem Reap, and finally ended with a week SCUBA diving in the world renowned waters surrounding Koh Tao in the Gulf of Thailand. This trip allowed me to dive head first into the sights and sounds of what the region has to offer. Everything is so vibrant, the colours, tastes and people never ceased to amaze me!
After 35 hours of transit I arrived at the hotel in Bangkok equipped with everything from a rooftop pool to 7/11 next door to (my personal favourite) the "best pad Thai in Thailand" across the narrow almost solely pedestrian street. The Pad Thai certainly was good (maybe not the best in Thailand) but the Indian curried crab was out of this world. I had a free day to explore Bangkok before meeting my Intrepid group, so I checked out the Taling Chan Floating Market.
It was a great experience and much less touristy than some of the bigger floating markets around Bangkok. There was lots of food to try and a ton of puppies to play with (which is always a highlight in my books). Some of the treats the market had included fried ice cream and roti— basically fried dough covered in sweetened condensed milk. Another point of interest was the giant catfish at the side of the canal; I came to recognize that they were everywhere and never got any less creepy. There were swarms of them waiting to be fed some bread by a passersby.
Next on the agenda was Chatuchak market, Bangkok's largest weekend market. I was on a mission to find a massage. This market is bigger than anything I have ever seen, and I consider myself a market connoisseur. I walked around looking at some questionable food (fried crickets, anyone?), some cute 'one size fits all' clothes and more food before I stumbled upon a 250 Baht an hour massage kiosk. I would have stayed there all day had it been appropriate. My Intrepid tour took me to all the highlights of Bangkok including the Grand Palace, Wat Arun, and Jim Thompson's house. While these sites were all interesting in their own rights, I went to Thailand to get off the tourist trail.
Intrepid's itinerary took me to a remote H'mong lodge, cycling through the ruins of Thailand's former capital and to a picnic with a local family (and consequently the best meal of the whole trip). I took a Thai cooking class in Chiang Mai, but never will I be able to reproduce the Massaman tofu curry I had that fateful day. I explored night markets and had a 'fish pedicure' or a massage almost every night. It was great to people watch and unwind after longs days of visiting ancient temples and braving the throngs of cars and people on the roads. The shopping didn't hurt either.
I decided to fly from Bangkok to Siem Reap instead of taking a bus; although it was a little more expensive it sure saved time. The service on these tiny planes is reminiscent of 'the good old days' of air travel. The flight attendants were extremely hospitable, and everybody got a small lunch kit with dessert and drinks included! This was for a flight that took less than 2 hours door to door.
Siem Reap is a charming little city. When I wasn't exploring the ruins of the Angkor Complex I was taking in everything this town had to offer. A highlight for me was seeing the circus. It was part show, part social engagement, and fully entertaining. This company has helped to train at risk youth in the arts of acrobatics, dance and theatrics. The show is hugely entertaining on its own, but coupled with the fact that it is funding a good cause makes it an event not to miss.
I have always wanted to explore the ruins of Angkor, and this trip let me see a vast majority of them in 3 days. Even with the mass of humanity milling about, the temples and ruins really are magical. I found seeing bullet holes from the Khmer Rouge Regime era really astonishing; how anyone could want to harm these beautiful structures is beyond me. The sandstone used to construct many of temples (or Wats) has a beautiful warm tone to them which lends itself perfectly to photography.
Tonle Sap was an unexpected highlight of my time in Cambodia. In the wet season people get to work and school on small boats, and in the dry season you can walk on roads that were once fully submerged. I did just a short half day tour to a village on Tonle Sap and was able to catch a glimpse of life that is constantly in transition. During the wet season many people will farm fish, shower and grow vegetables in the water under their houses. Children look as comfortable leaping from one boat to the other as they would walking on dry land. I was enthralled justwatching a way of life so different from my own.
I am mostly a land dweller unless I am Scuba Diving. I don't like to swim in pools, or even in the ocean unless I have a tank strapped to my back and a regulator in my mouth. Forget trying to get me to jump into a cold Northern Ontario lake! Koh Tao is the smallest inhabited island in the Chumphon Archipelago easily accessed by ferries from Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and from the mainland town of Chumphon. It sits in the Gulf of Thailand and the water temperature does not often dip below 27 degrees Celsius. The visibility can exceed 40m year round (average of 20m) except for monsoon season (late October-early December) where visibility can get as poor at 5m. I was there for a week in mind December and had at the worst visibility of 7m and best 18m. It was not an ideal time to dive, but beggars can't be choosers! I was able to do a night dive, which I've never done before. It was not as unnerving as I had expected and it was really thrilling to see some phosphorescent plankton. I saw many different species of tropical fish and huge schools of trevally and barracuda but will have to go back during whale shark season.
My accommodation wasn't great, but there are amazing restaurants on the Island—the best being Barracuda. Their seared tuna with bubble and squeak and Thai Fusion whole red snapper were to die for. The island is more expensive than the rest of Thailand, but still cheaper than western standards. I obviously continued my trend of getting massages every other night, and I managed to finish my trip without going bankrupt.
To top off an already great trip, my flight from Tokyo to Denver was on a brand new 787 Dreamliner. I never thought a long haul flight could be comfortable, but this plane proved me wrong. I usually sleep on planes, but I found myself completely distracted by the amount of TV and movies that were available. When I did fall asleep it was nice being woken up gradually instead of having the blinding cabin lights come one all at once. I look forward to flying in one again!
As with every destination I visit, I look forward to exploring this region in more depth. It's amazing how quickly three weeks can fly by.
February 7, 2014


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The Challenge of Accepting the 'Other': Jewish Attitudes Toward Converts
Date: Jan 04, 2021 - Jan 04, 2021
Time: 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Sponsor: Online Learning
Location: Online
Category: Online Learning
The Challenge of Accepting the "Other" with Dr. David Kraemer
Part of our series "The 'Other' in Jewish Text and Tradition"
January 4, 2021, 2:00 – 3:30 p.m. ET
One of the best ways to understand the identity of a community or people is to consider what happens when someone who is originally an "other"—a "foreigner"—approaches to become a member of the community. How does the community respond? Does the community permit the "foreigner" to become one of its own? What residual attitudes are expressed toward one who began as "other" and part of the community? In the case of Jews and Judaism, all of these questions pertain to the case of the convert. In this session, we will examine how the convert has been viewed and treated in Judaism, from antiquity and through the ages. By doing so, we will gain a more nuanced understanding of who "we" are.
This session is part of the series "The 'Other' in Jewish Text and Tradition." If you have previously registered for another session in this series, your registration admits you to all sessions in the series, and you may attend as many as you'd like.
Dr. David Kraemer is Joseph J. and Dora Abbell Librarian and Professor of Talmud and Rabbinics.
Note: The Zoom link for this session will be in the confirmation email that you will receive after you register.


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Noticing error code 229 on your Lennox® furnace?
This means your furnace is ignited at high speed because its low pressure switch didn't close.
It's best to allow an Expert like one from Strogen's Service Experts in Rochester work on repairing or replacing this part. Our technicians are ACE certified, which means they're well-equipped to fix a furnace error like this one.
We want you to be absolutely happy with our furnace repair in Rochester. That's why we back all of our work with a one-year 100% Satisfaction Guarantee.*
Two-stage furnaces have multiple pressure switches to let the system to run at different speeds—and use less energy. These switches also guarantee your furnace runs safely and vents extraneous gases from the heat exchanger.
Your low pressure switch may not be functioning properly if your furnace inducer motor begins in high speed and high ignition, then weakens and shifts into low-fire mode about 30 seconds afterward.
Your system will communicate something's amiss with a red flash from its indicator light, which it uses to exhibit error codes. It has this red light to flash code, like Morse code.
You may notice fast flashes or an alternating slow flash as it announces a fault code.
A blocked vent or a draft can also create the error, so your Strogen's Service Experts professional will check other parts of your furnace first.
The price to fix your furnace relies on what's wrong with it and how long it takes to repair it.
You can expect to pay between $40 and $350 if you need a new low-fire pressure switch.
When you need to have your furnace fixed, contact the Experts at Strogen's Service Experts to figure out the fault code and take care of the issue.
Call us at 603-923-4570 or schedule an appointment online today.


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Locked and loaded
Victor focused on making deep playoff run with talented, experienced roster
The Victor football team is working with an entirely new offensive backfield heading into the 2017 season.
But you know what? The Blue Devils did the very same thing last fall, along with a new linebacking corps, and that worked out quite well, remember? It wasn't perfect, of course, with Victor coming up just short in the Class AA state championship game.
But the Blue Devils have made quick work of pushing 2016 where it belongs: In the past, because the 2017 season is upon them and there's no mistake that they are a marked team.
That's what happens when you pile up the success that Victor has, and the Blue Devils are more than eager to embrace the challenge. So let's take a look at what the Blue Devils are expecting as they get ready to open the 2017 season.
Last season
Victor finished with a 12-1 record, losing to Troy (21-20) in the Class AA state final at the Carrier Dome. It was a heartbreaking end to a season that showed so much promise, so the Blue Devils are eager to redeem themselves. Another Monroe County and Section V title are part of the plan, but there's no question that the Blue Devils don't expect to play their final game of the season in Monroe County.
2017 schedule
Six of the seven teams Victor beat in the 2016 regular season are on this season's schedule, starting with Aquinas on Friday. That was a 13-7 win for the Blue Devils, their closest margin in a win. The Aquinas game is the first of three straight road games to open the season as the Blue Devils won't play their first home game until Friday, Sept. 22 when Pittsford comes to town. So while the Blue Devils have just three home games this season, they all come in the final four weeks of the regular season. The only break in that final stretch is the Oct. 6 game against Churchville-Chili, where Victor is officially the visitor, but the game is at SUNY Brockport, site of the Section V Class AA semifinals (Oct. 28) and final (Nov. 4).
Junior Hudson Alread (5-11, 185) is the new quarterback and like most Victor QBs of recent seasons, he'll have a sizable stable of running backs from which to choose. But coach Geoff Mandile likes what he sees in Alread as a QB and isn't afraid to let him air it out once the Blue Devils establish the run. "He's intelligent, works hard and makes great decisions," Mandile said of his QB.
On the ground, senior Chris Varone (6-0, 225) was part of the regular mix last fall and will get plenty of touches this season. He's joined in the backfield by senior Charles Nwuguro Jr. (6-1, 185), junior Sutton Boland (6-0, 190) and senior Nick Popielec (5-9, 185).
That's a lot of options, but they won't end there. Seniors Andrew Russell (6-3, 190) and Mitchell Cain (6-0, 185) will line up as wideouts, but will also scoot through the backfield to get the ball on sweeps, reverses and the occasional Wildcat set.
Russell and Cain also are legit threats to stretch the defense, along with junior Kordell Jackson (6-2, 185) and senior Sean Delaney (6-0, 175), and have sure hands. They'll be reliable targets while senior Mike Novitsky (6-5, 265) adds another dimension as the tight end.
"They make you defend the whole width of the field," said Mandile.
It's clear the Blue Devils have plenty of options to move the ball, but they'll certainly miss the contributions of sophomore RB Joseph Theede (5-9, 180), whose season ended with an injury suffered the first week of practice.
Up front, the Blue Devils have two starters back, and half of another one. Senior Seth Bartkoski (6-2, 235) and sophomore Sam Castiglia (6-4, 23) are back, along with junior CJ Williams (6-4, 300). Williams is a left tackle who was a starter until a leg injury ended his season early.
That said, the Blue Devils still have some holes to fill up front, but there is plenty of size from which to choose. Mandile said three or four players are in the mix.
With Novitsky, Bartkoski and senior Mason Everhart (6-2, 190) established on the line, the Blue Devils are searching for one more to fill out the 4-3 alignment. There's little doubt they'll plug lanes and pressure the quarterback but no matter what they do, Mandile is excited about the potential of his linebackers.
Varone, Boland and Tommy Ryan (6-0, 195) were starters last fall and are among the seven or eight total back for Victor. Mandile said this is one of the best LB crews he's coached in his seven seasons with the Blue Devils, and Ryan is the leader of the pack.
"He's talented but smart," said Mandile. "He diagnoses things well."
Behind them is a DB unit led by Jackson, Nwuguro, Russell and Cain, all of whom bring plenty of experience.
Not unlike every team, health is key for the Blue Devils. Mandile likes the talent up and down his roster, but said he's also got a handful of two-way starters. So if one of those players gets hurt, it's two positions he needs to fill.
"We've got some depth, but we have to stay healthy," said Mandile. "We've got some young guys, too, so we need to improve each week."
That "each week" theme has been addressed, because Mandile and the Blue Devils know they have a target on their back because of last season's success. That's what happens when you're a state finalist and the Blue Devils are very clear about their intention to get back to the state final this season.
But, that trip won't be handed to them.
"I told the kids you can't push fast forward," said Mandile. "We have a bulls eye, but we talk about embracing it … We're talented, but no one guy is going to do it for us. We're a team."
Class AA
As defending champs with plenty of returning starters, Victor remains the team to beat in Class AA. But the Blue Devils will have some challengers, and with lots of talk about a resurgence at Aquinas, the Week 1 game is one of those challenges. Pittsford will again be strong and McQuaid is a program on the rise that gave Victor some fits in last year's semifinals.


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Quinoa with Pine Nuts & Kalamata Olives
July 31, 2009 at 2:11 pm 11 comments
Quinoa (pronounced "keen-wah") is one of my favorite foods. It's so versatile and yummy…and it also has all of the essential amino acids our bodies need, which means it's naturally a "complete protein". And let me tell you….this recipe I am about to share will knock your socks off. I LOVE IT. I can't get enough. Oh my. It's so easy and can be used as the main dish or as a side dish. It's also makes great leftovers…warmed up, eaten cold, or you could even top your salad with it!
I love the flavor combination involved…the strength of the olives offset by the creamy goodness of the avocado. Mmmmmm mmmmmm. 🙂 The pine nuts give it just the right amount of crunch and the fresh herbs and lemon juice keep it tasting light and delicious. I chose to add some organic goat cheese to ours and it was perfect! You could also add some big chunks of artichoke hearts, I think they would work nicely as well. A tip…get the highest quality kalamata olives you can find, it's worth it.
I'm always amazed when people tell me they've never tried quinoa. And to that I say: "You've never felt the quinoa LOVE?? That's nonsense". So for those of you who are clueless when it comes to quinoa, this is a great dish to start with. Let me know what you think!
Quinoa with Pine Nuts & Kalamata Olives
Sunflower Market Recipes (I grabbed this one off of their recipe stand in Boulder, CO)
2 cups quinoa
1 cup pine nuts
1/2 cut pitted kalamata olives
1/4 cup finely chopped shallots
2 garlic cloves, minced
4 cups veggie broth
1/2 cup fresh chopped flat leaf parsley
1/4 cup fresh chopped cilantro (double this if you're my mom, the "International Ambassador of Cilantro)
2 avocados, diced
2 lemons
Sea salt & ground black pepper
Bring veggie broth to a boil and add quinoa. Cover with a tight lid and let it simmer for 15-20 minutes, or until it fluffs nicely with a fork. Remove from heat and set aside.
Heat 1 T olive oil in a skillet over medium-low heat. Add pine nuts, shallots, and garlic. Saute util golden brown, about 8 minutes. Transfer quinoa to a large mixing bowl. Add the sauteed pine nuts, shallots, parsley, cilantro, and avocados. Add the juice of the 2 lemons for dressing. Sea salt and pepper to taste (I didn't add any more salt because it was already quite salty from the olives and veggie broth…but do what you want!).
11 Comments Add your own
Awesome quinoa recipe! I am always looking for more things to do with this yummy grain. We'll be making this tonight along with kale pesto stuffed mushrooms 🙂
This one looks like fun, I look forward to trying it out and feeling the love!
Hey Sara!
We bought some quinoa a year or so ago, but have yet to try it … *GASP*! Any clue how this recipe would taste raw? How different is the taste between cooked quinoa and soaked/sprouted quinoa? Suppose I could just try it myself, eh? lol
So, kale might not be my thing, but quinoa is! We had this last night with dinner and it was WONDERFUL! The pine nuts give you a nice crunch, the lemon juice keeps the avocado from browning and the olives and cheese (we added feta) gives it that extra saltiness that I personally love. My husband went back for seconds (and that never happens). Thanks for sharing – hope you have more quinoa recipes up your sleeve!
The recipe sounds good. I have not used quinoa in grain form, I have only had it as a pasta.
Thanks for sharing it!
Hi! I recently found your blog and tried this recipe (with a few variations) tonight for dinner…and it was delicious! Thanks! 🙂
Made it for dinner last night – amazing! Thank you for broadening my culinary horizon!
Oops – I meant to ask…do you happen to have the nutritional info for this recipe? Thanks!
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text:
Black Diamond RockLock Twistlock Review
Our Verdict
Compare to Similar Products
This Product
Black Diamond RockLock Twistlock
|$22.95 at REI
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|$17.95 at REI
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|Check Price at REI
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|$12.95 at REI
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|Overall Score
|Star Rating
|Versatile, great for use with double ropes and belaying, auto-locking gate mechanism, wide gate opening
|Versatile, lightweight, relatively affordable, lots of gate clearance, gate security stripe
|Twist-lock is easy and fast, versatile shape, lightweight, secure
|Very light, affordable, visual indicator on screw gate, full-sized offset-D
|Light, small, least amount of revolutions needed for screwgate to lock or unlock
|Heavy and bulky
|Screwgate can get stuck closed, aluminum I-beam construction wears out quicker than some
|Pricey, slightly less gate clearance than HMS style
|Gate spring squeeks, less versatile than HMS style
|Expensive compared to alternatives, the least amount of gate clearance
|Bottom Line
|A fantastic and secure carabiner choice for belaying, rappelling, or for master points
|The best and most versatile locker at a reasonable price
|A favorite due to its versatile shape and very easy to open twist-locking gate design
|This lightweight offset-D is not only a perfect choice for the budget conscious, but for anyone who wants top performance
|Our favorite personal locker is great for building anchors
|Rating Categories
|Black Diamond RockL...
|Petzl Attache
|Petzl Sm'D Twist-Lock
|CAMP USA Photon Lock
|DMM Phantom
|Overall Utility (25%)
|Ease of Unlocking and Locking (25%)
|Compactness and Weight (20%)
|Gate Security (20%)
|Gate Clearance (10%)
|Black Diamond RockL...
|Petzl Attache
|Petzl Sm'D Twist-Lock
|CAMP USA Photon Lock
|DMM Phantom
|93 g
|57 g
|51 g
|44 g
|41 g
|Gate Closed Strength (KN)
|Sideways Strength (KN)
|Gate Open Strength (KN)
|Gate Clearance (cm)
|2.5 cm
|2.6 cm
|2.2 cm
|1.8 cm
|1.6 cm
|Visual Locking Indicator?
|Carabiner Shape
|Large Pear/HMS
|Lock Closure Type
|Twistlock, also comes in screw lock or triple action
Our Analysis and Test Results
The RockLock Twistlock is an HMS or pear style locker, which means it is designed to be compatible with a Munter hitch. While people rarely belay using a Munter hitch these days, it can be very helpful to know how to in case you drop your belay or rappel device, and it requires a large, rounded basket for optimal function. The round stock of this carabiner helps reduce friction, while also improving durability and hopefully longevity, but has the notable downside of making it quite heavy. We tested the Twistlock version, which features a double-action auto-locking gate that is easy to use with only one hand. The RockLock also comes in a Screwgate option that is a fair bit cheaper, although neither is expensive overall compared to the competition.
Performance Comparison
Overall Utility
HMS/pear shaped lockers such as this one can be used for literally any purpose you will encounter while climbing, and are therefore the most versatile of all lockers. Their primary purpose, however, is as a belay/rappel biner. The wide, rounded, basket made of round stock is designed to accommodate a Munter hitch, which it does well. The side effect of this design is that it easily accommodates two ropes while rappelling without pinching the ropes and increasing friction, like what happens if you try to rappel using an offset-D shaped locker. The reduced friction is ideal for any sort of belaying scenario, including when using an ATC in guide mode and belaying off the anchor. In this case, we prefer to use a round HMS locker like this one to trap the rope, and use a smaller, lighter offset-D for attaching the device to the anchor.
That said, for use primarily while belaying, the RockLock does not have the anti-crossloading features found on many other belay specific lockers in this review. The crotch is designed extra wide and flat so that a belay loop sits nicely in place, but there is nothing to actually hold it in place. We found that the RockLock works well as a master point of an anchor or for attaching ourselves with a personal tether, although may be a bit heavy and large for this last purpose.
Ease of Unlocking and Locking
The double-action Twistlock feature means that one has to perform two actions to open the gate: twist the locking mechanism a half twist to line up the openings properly, and then pull the gate open. In general, this method is fairly easy compared to screwgate lockers, and certainly takes less time. Opening the gate can be performed with one hand, although the gate twists to the left, so we found it a bit easier with our right hand than left hand. The only downside is that you must perform this action every single time you want to open the gate, which can be a little bit of a pain depending on how often you use it. The upside is that the gate automatically locks itself every time it closes, and this locking is based upon spring action, so no effort is required.
Compactness and Weight
On our independent scale the RockLock Twistlock came in at a weight of 93g, which translates out to roughly 3.3 ounces. This made it the single heaviest locker in our entire review, heavier even than all of the anti-crossloading lockers, most of which include added features that contribute to a higher weight. Considering the round stock construction and the overly large size, it's easy to see how this locker ended up being so heavy, but this is also a fairly serious downside that would convince us not to consider carrying more than one of them at the most.
Gate Security
Because of its spring-loaded, double-action locking mechanism that snaps closed and locked the moment it's released, this is one very secure locker. We find it to be much more secure than screwgates because one never needs to remember to lock it — locking just happens automatically. Similarly, there is no need for a visual indicator to assist with knowing if its locked or not, because it's locked if it's closed. While a triple-action locking gate might be even more secure, we have a hard time imagining scenarios where this gate would open on its own, causing an accident.
Gate Clearance
We measured the gate clearance on this locker at 2.5cm, which is very nearly the largest of any we measured. A wide opening accommodates getting knots on and off the basket and over the nose, which is pretty easy regardless of what type of knots. With a basket so large, we found that it's not at all unreasonable to fit two knots on this locker, or two items clipped to it.
The retail price for this locker is a bit higher than your average screwgate locker, and indeed, if you purchase the screwgate version instead of the twistlock version you can expect to save over 30%. However, it is far cheaper than most of the anti-crossloading, belay specific lockers that we tested, and remains more versatile than most of those due to not having the added special features that prevent its use for purposes other than belaying. As one of the higher scorers in our overall testing, with the only notable downside being the weight, we think you will find good value here.
The Black Diamond RockLock Twistlock is a large HMS style locker that is versatile for nearly any purpose, but specializes in belaying and rappelling. Because it can be used for so many different things, and is also very secure due to its auto-locking gate, we think it makes for an excellent first locker, and is useful for nearly everyone. Most climbers should find no reason to need more than one, though, as it's likely more practical to round out the rest of the rack with lighter and smaller offset-Ds.
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The Exhibition of the Royal Academy of Arts, The Ninety-Fourth, 1862
Start Date: 5 May 1862 (Presumed)
End Date: 26 August 1862 (Presumed)
Type: Annual exhibition
Description: The annual exhibition of the Royal Academy of Arts (now the summer exhibition).
Policy: Source contains "Notice To Exhibitors" which outlines rules for submission, requirements for frames, etc. Ex.: "No works which have been already publicly exhibited".
Organizing Institution or Venue
Organized by Royal Academy of Arts
Exhibition committee member William Calder Marshall
Appointed to the 'committee of arrangement' for sculpture in 1862.
Citing this record
'The Exhibition of the Royal Academy of Arts, The Ninety-Fourth, 1862', Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture in Britain and Ireland 1851-1951, University of Glasgow History of Art and HATII, online database 2011 [http://sculpture.gla.ac.uk/view/event.php?id=msib7_1217776220, accessed 30 May 2023]


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Board of Directors
Tish Bayer, President
Tish Bayer has lived in Washougal since 2005. She moved to Washougal with her husband, John, to retire from being a Development professional with not for profit organizations for 25 plus years. As with John she raised five children and has 11 grandchildren with one great grandchild. She loves serving in the community and began leading the Camas-Washougal Historical Society in 2022.
Alma Ladd, Vice President
Betty Egger, Treasurer
John Bayer, Secretary
John Bayer has lived in Washougal for 15 years and is a retired middle school teacher. He was originally born in New York but lived in Ohio most of his growing up years. He transplanted to Washougal in 2005 from San Jose, CA. He lives with his wife Tish who he married in 1967. He raised 5 children and has 11 grandchildren and one great grandchild. He loves reading, history and beautiful environment here in Washington.
Marilyn Brown, Public Relations/Publicity
James Cobb
Jim was born in Portland Oregon and grew up in the East Mill Plain area west of Camas. He is a graduate of the old Union High School and married his wife, Lois, in 1967. He has lived in Washougal since 1965 and is retired from the USAR after 30 years of service. He worked in the construction trades as a bookkeeper, driver, and mechanic, and was Washougal's first city Jr. Engineer. His other activities include Secretary of North Bank Masonic Lodge in Washougal for 20 years and active member of the International Shrine Clown Association for 35 years.
Lois Cobb
Lois Cobb has served the Historical Society since 2006. Currently she is the Volunteer and Tour Coordinator. Lois is a lifelong Washougal native. She retired as a Level A Pharmacy Tech. Lois and her husband, Jim, have been married since 1967 and have five children and six grandchildren.
Dorothy Durkee
Richard Johnson
Ivar Godtlibsen
Josh Stahly
Josh Stahly was born in Spokane, WA. After attending flight school in North Dakota, he and his wife Jodi moved to the Vancouver/Camas area in 2006 to fly for Horizon Airlines. Josh has been a volunteer at the museum for the past 10 years. In 2015 Josh transitioned to Alaska Airlines. Jodi is also a pilot for Alaska. They have one daughter, Lydia. They keep busy with soccer, tennis, traveling, and crafts.
Jason Ferrier
Jason Ferrier has lived in Washougal for 10 years after moving from Texas. He has worked as an architectural project manager for 20 years and enjoys hiking and outdoors, bonsai, history, landscape design and vegetable gardening, logging, and building stuff. His wife Alice is an art teacher with Washougal and his daughter Aria is an environmental student at the University of Washington.
Pat Suggs
Pat grew up in Los Angeles. After college she and her husband moved to Washougal 47 years ago. Their family consists of six daughters and 19 grandchildren, mostly boys. She's worked for many years for the Washougal School District. She's been a substitute teacher and a para educator. She's always loved history and genealogy. She'll gladly help you research your local ancestors.


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Sperm Whales Show Signs of Toxic Contamination
Dec 20, 2010
Yahoo! News 'This is the first time this kind of pollution study has been done on a whole ocean level using a threatened species as a sentinel species,' said Celine Godard-Codding, the lead researcher and an environmental toxicologist at Texas Tech University.
tags: Texas Tech in the News


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The start of every new year brings exciting and different challenges, but one especially intriguing at Casady School this year is a brand new schedule for the Upper Division. Before, the day was structured in a way that all classes would meet everyday with a 7 period schedule and optional time at the end known as the double. This changed up schedule utilizes block periods in a rotation, meaning that unlike the previous schedule classes will not meet every day.
Based on this, a class will only meet 4 or 5 days out of 6 at the teachers discretion. This is because of one of the most significant changes: the addition of two spaces called the X25 and X55. Both spaces allow teachers the flexibility of either extending their class time to 80 minutes once a week or choosing to meet 5 out of 6 days per rotation at normal length. Conversely, if a teacher chooses to take the 25, class will only be held 4 days out of 6. With these added spaces in a day, teachers are given the ability to add fun activities at the end of their class (using the x25), or are able to keep a tighter schedule and strong communication with students (using the x55).
Although every significant change takes some getting used to, many students have been able to adapt well, including myself. As a freshman last year, it was slightly terrifying having to learn a schedule that it seems everyone around me knew already, so going through this transition as a division is incredibly comforting to newcomers and the incoming 9th graders.
Something that is important to remember is that not only is this a substantial adjustment for us students, but it is also totally transforming for teachers and upper administration, as well. Everyone in our community is adapting to and taking advantage of the changes we have been given in our day to day school/work life to create a special kind of learning environment.
On the other hand, one thing that I know has been a large adjustment is the lack of bells or passing time between classes. At the beginning of the year, getting to class on time is already a chaotic endeavor, but is seems for the time being the lack of bells has not improved students' ability to do this. Putting aside this small wrinkle, I believe the new schedule preserves what the Casady mission of mind, body and spirit means, as we still attend chapel and participate in sports every day.


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Ideas To Create A Website For Online Learning
In today's digital world, many students dislike the traditional mode of learning and they are preferring the e-learning over traditional learning. Online learning became an essential part of education in recent years. It became a great revolution in contemporary education and it made a big change in the education system. Due to the flexibility of getting an education many students prefer online courses and training.
Such an increase in the number of programs many institutes offer various disciplines to offer online programs to people across the globe. For that, there is a need for a website and many people prefer professionals to create their website so that they could run their online programs. Professional website developers would guide you and suggests to you how to enhance the visibility of a website.
Not only, institutes and foundations are offering online degrees but many individuals also offer different online courses at the reasonable price or even sometimes free of cost so that students may attract toward such offers. This is the reason there is an increase in the number of website developers who design websites according to the demand of a client.
People can browse on the internet and get access to different website developers who are offering their services. Website design agency Edinburgh also offers website developing services along with customization of the website, getting your website ranked on google, enhance your visibility and visitors, and also guides you about the basic techniques and strategies. Then, you only need to promote your website on different platforms and upload such content that enhances the visibility of your website.
Many institutions offer various degrees and courses so that students can easily learn the new things at their homes. Online education has provided many benefits to foreigners who can afford admission in universities due to finance issues. They can enroll themselves in different online programs and get benefit from there. Learn Scottish accent is also one of the platforms from where you can learn the language and explore the different cultures through it. They offer different accent to learn through their online courses. This is one of the easiest ways to get knowledge or learn different languages and accents just by sitting at home.
Online education has many benefits for the students and they rely on e-learning more than traditional education. This is the reason every single organization wants to design their website so that people could know more about them and their programs that they offer. Many students also give online tuitions and writing services. They also need website developers to promote their abilities and let people know what they are offering online tuitions and learning the standard language.
This became a trend in today's age where everything can be done through the internet. You only need to know how to use technology because it captures the mind of every single entity on this planet. People are born with the help of technology and they are using it in different ways till their death. It is not a big deal to promote online education or creating websites for online learning. People need to be creative and technical about such issues and they can tackle the things easily.


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Learn the skills needed to create a basic short film in iMovie with graphic artist Mike Means in the Computer Lab.
October 5-6 Monday & Tuesday 6:00-8:00
$40 • Two Day Workshop
Photoshop Workshop October 26-27, 6:00-8:00 with Mike Means
$40 • A two day workshop for teens and adults, Photoshop is also scheduled upon request.
Basic Photoshop for beginners covers navigation through the Tools and Palettes and basic color correction. Take a fun tour of some neat aspects and filters available to create art or just improve simple pics.


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We use our many years of experience to offer you the widest choice in design and innovation.Browse all internal Doors
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Door Warehouse are here to offer you the widest choice in design, innovation and security.Browse All External Doors
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A huge range of styles to choose fromBrowse all Windows
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We supply & fit replacement stair parts to enhance the beauty of your home.Browse all Stairs
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From your first enquiry we can take care of everything from the measuring to the installation and make buying your doors and windows stress free.
Our thermally efficient external doors and A+ windows can help to lower your energy costs over the year.
All our fitters are Certass registered which means they're specialist installers and the best fitters around - they also accept multiple cups of tea and biscuits.
We're so confident with the quality of our products that we offer a 10 year guarantee on all doors and windows.
No pushy sales tactics. Our team aims to give you all the info you need to make the right decision for you and your home
We have one of the largest ranges of doors & windows across North Wales and offer a number of different options from colours, styles and fittings.
At Door Warehouse we understand how stressful it can be spending hours scouring across the internet for the best solution only to be let down by unreliable tradesmen, low quality products and poor service.
We believe your customer journey should be easy and stress free throughout. In fact, since we opened our doors in 1992 we've helped provide thousands of people with the best solution and high quality products at the most competitive prices.
We'll take care of everything from the measuring to installation with our Certass Registered fitters and even those final finishing touches. We're so confident in our products that we'll even offer you a 10 year guarantee on all our doors and windows.
Door Warehouse's surveyors and installers are Certass accredited.
If you're looking for a new front or back external door, we can work out your price and mock up any designs based on either measurements or a photo of the existing door/opening.
Please contact us with your requirements to and we'll take it from there.


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Fluffernutter Friday: Werewolves of Hespeler
Look what they've done to my town…
Lovely downtown Hespeler has been turned into Bear Valley NY while the TV crews shoot werewolve drama, Bitten.
So, who stars in this Bitten? Let's just say, it's not every week that Supergirl Laura Vandervoot is using the men of your town as her prey.
To quote the late great Warren Zevon, Aooooo.


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Productive thought is rooted in words. Coping success and the power to forgive someone for hurting you is rooted in the Holy Spirit, but it's also true that the Holy Spirit gives me the power to persevere when fear, anxiety and depression paralyze me.
Never underestimate the power of saying Jesus' name alone over and over again. It's a great mystery how God is active in our human experience because we are accustomed to the seen reality we have with the people we interact with on a daily basis. If you're single obviously you don't wake up to companionship, but at some point you have interaction with others.
One of my favorite passages is in Romans 8. It talks about the Spirit interceding with groans that words cannot express. The context is the Spirit praying to the Father on our behalf. Celestial beings "gossip" about us. Satan is a celestial being, and the book of Job is clear that Satan and God discussed the life of Job. You know the story. In that sense the Spirit talking or groaning to God about Daniel Tomlinson is not a mystery. The Greek work for miracle can also be translated sign, and those things that amaze us like a miracle are merely signs of God's activity. They aren't amazing so much to beings who have observed them for thousands of years. That's comforting to me.
Greatness as some call greatness is the end result of words being shared. Greatness cannot happen when words are not exchanged. God and the heavenly hosts not sharing words would be as ludicrous as the sun not rising in the east. Conversation, communication and faith are embedded in the life of Jesus' followers, and when those things break down dark nights of the soul are inevitable. Even when we disagree with the fear and anxiety of another human being we are empowered to be with them without one word of judgement. We are empowered to be a vessel of God's power to them even when we resent their lack of faith. I guess that statement is clearly judgmental, but I cannot escape the fact that life here and now is one huge paradox. I cannot judge another human being, even my offspring, but I do. When Jesus told the criminal on the cross that he would be with him in paradise he did not condone the crimes he had previously committed. God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are masters at resolving these paradoxes, and even though evil is great among us, so is goodness.
Our pain is great. It always will be till Jesus reveals himself again, but it does not paralyze us continually because when we call upon the name of the LORD paralysis can be undone. We are not condemned to a life of sin no matter what someone says. We have been given incredible power through words to throw off the chains that drag us into pits of despair. They do not thrust themselves upon us the way a man might force himself into a woman because that is not God's way with his children. Love does not insist on its own way. It takes into account whether a particular action in a given situation is appropriate, and if it is it acts accordingly. Oh what a message for our times. Oh what a message for any time.
What are you allowing into your mind and heart? If you force your agenda, thoughts, opinions and moral "superiority" on others you will isolate yourself to your own doom. I know people like that. I've been that person. I have to repent (change) daily from sin that so easily entangles me because I'm afraid I'm one whom Satan knows by name (see Joe Beam's Seeing The Unseen book). I'm not afraid in the sense that the boogie man looks in his closet for Chuck Norris, but I am respectful of Satan's power to undo me. He won't because the blood of Christ covers me, and his resurrection was a contract signature that cannot erase my salvation. Wow!
Jesus' words are my life. I don't always follow them because the sinful nature is as real as my spiritual nature. They collide frequently on my journey.


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Preach the Gospel
"Saul was one of the witnesses, and he agreed completely with the killing of Stephen. A great wave of persecution began that day, sweeping over the church in Jerusalem; and all the believers except the apostles were scattered through the regions of Judea and Samaria. (Some devout men came and buried Stephen with great mourning.) But Saul was going everywhere to destroy the church. He went from house to house, dragging out both men and women to throw them into prison."
Acts of the Apostles 8:1-3 NLT
Yesterday I shared the story of Sauls conversion, how God used him mightily to spread the gospel to the known world, and how his name was changed to Paul in Acts 13:9. I included this passage of Scripture (Acts 8:1-3) as a reference to his zealous and vicious efforts to destroy the church of the Lord Jesus prior to his born again experience in Acts 9.
Today I want to focus on the result of the persecution. When this persecution took place the church had grown to a great number. Some estimate the number to be up to 20,000.
Let's rewind a moment. In Acts 1:15 we read:
"During this time, when about 120 believers were together in one place, Peter stood up and addressed them." NLT
This group of 120 are the ones who abode in the upper room as Jesus had instructed in Luke 24:49 to wait for the promise of the Father. Jesus refers to the Holy Spirit as "Paraclete" - the Greek word for the "comforter, encourager, counselor, and advocate" in John 14:16. The Holy Spirit was going to be sent to empower them. These believers were now capable of having the presence of God's Spirit deposited inside them because the blood of Jesus had, once and for all, purged their transgressions.
"With his own blood—not the blood of goats and calves—he entered the Most Holy Place once for all time and secured our redemption forever."
Hebrews 9:12 NLT
In Acts 2 we read that this empowerment occurred. The church (God's people) was instituted by Jesus in Matthew 16:18. In Acts 2 the church was inaugurated and empowered when they were baptized by His Spirit. This equipped them to preach and teach the gospel with His anointing. Mary, the physical mother of Jesus was among the number (see Acts 1:14). Even she had to be baptized by the Holy Spirit! Yes, Mary is a respected woman in history. However, she was a human vessel that God used to give birth to the physical Lord Jesus! We call Him the Son of God because He was Divine in His origin, pre-incarnate as God in the beginning (see John 1:1-18; 8:58; 14:8-12; Colossians 1:15-16; 2:9; I John 1:1-5 and more), yet born in human flesh through the woman named Mary. She gave birth to Him humanly. He gave birth to her spiritually. She was here because of Him. He was the Creator and yet he came here among us through the avenue of a baby by a woman. His Father is God!!! Only a sinless blood could redeem us. His blood was sinless because God was His Father!!! He did this to experience humanity in every facet - from conception to adulthood (see Hebrews 4:15). Mary was no more than a human vessel, like any of us, who must have the Spirit of God re-deposited into our lives through the born again experience. Moses, Daniel, Peter, Paul, Billy Graham, etc. We all have to be born again. None of us are holy without the blood of Christ!!! We all need the Spirit of God to baptize us with His presence and power!!!
Getting back to the number within the early church. In Acts 2 we read that 3,000 were saved on the day of Pentecost (see Acts 2:41).
In Acts 4:4 we read:
"But many of the people who heard their message believed it, so the number of men who believed now totaled about 5,000." NLT
Acts. 4:4 indicates the number of men. When we add the women and children to that equation we easily come to approximately 20,000 people associated with the early church.
There is one problem: The church is just in Jerusalem! God wanted the church to go to all the world (see Matthew 28:18-20 and Mark 16:15-20).
Acts 1:8 says:
"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
Acts of the Apostles 1:8 NLT
Up to this point (Acts 8:1-3) the church is only in Jerusalem. God used the persecution to drive the laity to other regions of the world. He even used the main persecutor (Saul - Paul) to proclaim His truth to the world. From Acts 8:1 through the end of the book of Acts we read how the church took the gospel to the known world of the time.
In Acts 8:1 we read that all the believers "except the apostles" were scattered to the regions of Judea and Samaria. This meant that the laity (members, not overseers) of the church were dispersed. These laity established homes and began sharing their faith with the society around them. We read from Acts 13 and beyond how God used the church to send out missionaries like Paul and Barnabas to preach the good news of the kingdom to the world. This continued until even Caesars household (the Roman Emperor) had even heard the gospel.
"And all the rest of God's people send you greetings, too, especially those in Caesar's household."
Philippians 4:22 NLT
In Acts 28:17-31 we read that Paul preached under guard to the Roman authorities and anyone else who came to his place of lodging.
We, too, must be about our Father's business of preaching the gospel to the world until Christ Jesus our Lord returns!
Preaching the gospel is every believers responsibility!! No, not everyone is a pastor but everyone can proclaim the message of salvation through Jesus Christ!
Are you??
"And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come."
Matthew 24:14 NLT
Curtis R. Norris
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Rev. Curtis Norris
March 2020


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Order free swatches to see and feel your fabrics before selecting. Choose up to 10 swatches. Limit of one swatch of the same pattern/color per order.
10 0
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false pdp {"scheme":"product2_cr"}
Sorbonne Performance Area Rug is rated out of 5 by 4.
Rated 5 out of 5 by LInda Sartori from Stand Out? Why? You want to read, read. Great rug! Just right for me, maybe not you. It feels good to lie on with doggie. Mysterious and plain as day. It very much brightens the area!
Date published: 2022-12-18
Rated 5 out of 5 by Kubie from Beautiful design and product value! Beautiful design and texture to this rug! The more you see it - the better is gets. Amazingly soft - best large area rug I've purchased. Love it.
Date published: 2021-03-10
Rated 4 out of 5 by brieadina from Pretty rug Pretty rug. It's not super plush and it's a tad on the shiny side but we like it. The colors seem to change with the light. During the day, the blue is pale like a silvery baby blue but at night the blue seems to turn darker into more of a navy. Kinda cool surprise.
Date published: 2021-09-15
Is the blue in this rug Navy Blue? I need the exact description of the blue. Is the rest of the rug white and beige?
I have a BISSELL carpet cleaner would I be able to use on this rug?
Product:900017-Sorbonne Performance Area Rug


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Home > Newsroom > News Releases > ANNOUNCING 2016 ELDERS & YOUTH CONFERENCE KEYNOTE SPEAKERS AND AGENDA HIGHLIGHTS
For Immediate Release [email protected]
October 5, 2016 907.677.1700
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – The 33rd annual statewide First Alaskans Institute Elders & Youth Conference will take place October 17-19, 2016 at the Carlson Center in Fairbanks, Alaska, with a special Warming of the Hands pre-session on Sunday, October 16th. This one-of-a-kind convening works to lift up the faces of our peoples while connecting our youth to our Elders. We engage in critical dialogues on issues to encourage positive change within our Alaska Native community while building relationships, strengthening our knowledge and celebrating our cultures.
Our 2016 Conference theme "ANCESTRAL IMPERATIVE: Adapt. Unite. Achieve." is a call to action and our keynote speakers exemplify the heart of what this means. We are so excited and proud to announce the following speakers for the conference:
Elder Keynotes: Our 2016 Elder Keynotes will be Mr. and Mrs. Raphael and Vivian Jimmy (Yup'ik) of Mountain Village on Tuesday, October 18th. Raphael and Vivian Jimmy love to celebrate and share their Yup'ik culture through singing and drumming, and leading their Anchorage dance group Kuigpagmiut Dance Group.
Youth Keynote: Our 2016 Youth keynote will be Ms. Joan Inga Barnowsky (Sugpiaq) of Old Harbor on Monday, October 17th. Joan is in the 6th grade and is homeschooled in her home community. She loves Alutiiq dancing, and volunteering for her home community.
New Conference Feature: Warming of the Hands Pre-session and Reception: We invite all conference participants to join us at 12:00pm on Sunday, October 16th at the Morris Thompson Cultural & Visitors Center (101 Dunkel St., Fairbanks, AK 99701) to kick off this year's Elders & Youth Conference. This opportunity allows us to not only come together and build community going into the conference, but it also creates more time for us to deepen the dialogues and connections we have with one another through our Men's and Women's Houses as well as making more time for Regional Breakouts. This expansion of time is in response to the wonderful feedback provided by past conference attendees that they need and want more time together. We'll close out the day with a Warming of the Hands Reception.
Agenda highlights include: cultural performances from some of our beautiful Native dance groups; Men's and Women's Houses to encourage healthy relationships and our roles to sustain them; hands on work sessions to promote our Ancestral Imperative to live our ways of life and strengthen the knowledge and identity we have as Native peoples to be solution-focused on the challenges of our time, followed by topical and issue-based workshop tracks themed in Culture, Values & Language, Health, Wellness & Safety, Land, Law & Policy, Leadership & Education and others, to create space for deeper connections and transference of knowledge. Our 5th Annual Chin'an Cultural Celebration will take place on Monday evening from 7-9:30pm at the Carlson Center – all are welcome and invited! Tickets are available during the conference at Registration and at the door for $5.
Broadcast & Webcast
Those not able to attend in person are invited to watch the conference live on GCI channel 907, 360North, ARCS and on the web via our website: www.firstalaskans.org. Registration is available online until October 17th and onsite registration will begin at 7:30 a.m. on Monday, October 17th at the Carlson Center. The registration fee is $45.00 for youth, chaperones, and other adult participants, while the fee is waived for Elders.
FAI is a statewide nonprofit organization whose purpose is to advance Alaska Natives. The Elders & Youth Conference is made possible through the generous sponsorship of organizations and businesses across the state.. Further conference information, the full agenda and complete sponsor listing are also available online at www.firstalaskans.org.
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2016 Elders & Youth Conference Keynotes and Agenda Highlights Press Release (pdf)


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Anne Burras was only 14 when she arrived in Jamestown, Va., in 1608.
For a time, Anne was the only English woman in a colony of about 200 men. She married two months later, faced near starvation, miscarried after receiving a severe whipping for violating martial law, survived a deadly attack by Native Americans and eventually bore four daughters.
Hers is one of dozens of narratives featured at "Tenacity: Women in Jamestown and Early Virginia," an exhibition at Jamestown Settlement running through Jan. 5, 2020.
Its purpose is to tell the little-known stories of the English, African, and Native American women who created Virginia. Each riser on the stairway that leads to the exhibition galleries is inscribed with the name of a woman. At the entrance to the gallery, a wall panel challenges visitors to "Remember the names of these women and speak them."
The collection illustrates how the material culture of several worlds collided in Virginia: Powhatan clay pots, cups made from turtle shells, bone awls, English silver bodkins, straight pins — even a goffering iron to make neck ruffs, an important part of European clothing in the 17th century. There are luxurious furnishings from the plantation period, including a Japanned cabinet from Europe and one of the oldest known pieces of Virginia-made furniture — a magnificent court cupboard. And there are items for children — a fruitwood rattle and an elaborately carved walnut high chair.
The original English settlers at Jamestown in 1607 were all men and boys. English women started arriving the following year. One early female arrival was Joan Pierce, who landed with her daughter aboard the ship Blessing in 1609. Her husband was aboard another vessel that was wrecked in a storm, and mother and daughter found themselves alone in Jamestown to face the "starving time," the brutal winter of 1609 and 1610. The family was reunited the next year and became successful planters. Their names appear in the "Muster of the Inhabitants of Virginia" on display.
Still more women were needed to make the colony successful. The Virginia Company of London, promoters of the Jamestown settlement, recruited English women to journey to Virginia to become wives for the settlers. In 1621, 56 "young, handsome, and honestlie educated Maides" made the voyage.
Many of these women were recruited for their skills. They could make butter and cheese, brew, bake and cook, plus raise children and tend to the sick — as evidenced by the oak medicine chest of the time (dating from between 1550 and 1625) on loan from the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.
Some details about the 56 women are found in the Ferrar Papers, documents compiled in the early 17th century by the Ferrar family for the Virginia Company. An actual page is on display on loan from Magdalene College-University of Cambridge. The papers have been digitized on touch screens for modern readers.
As if a hostile environment wasn't enough, women faced harsh laws after arriving from England, including the ducking chair, a hideous device as torturous as it was humiliating. Women, for the most part, received this punishment for not controlling their "brabbling" tongues. They were repeatedly dunked in the water for up to 30 seconds at a time. Metal restraints bound the victim's wrists, waist, and legs. Betsey Tucker, charged by a Virginia Court in 1634 for disorderly speech, was sentenced to this punishment in such a chair.
Women in Virginia accused of sex-related crimes might be forced to stand in front of their congregations wearing nothing but a linen shroud. In 1627, Jane Hill was charged with fornication and was forced to suffer this shame. On view is a linen sheet, from the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, similar to ones used in 17th-century Virginia.
The contributions of Native and African women were essential in the development of Virginia. Cockacoeske, leader of the Pamunkey tribe, tried to maintain the integrity of Indian lands against the encroachment of the English. For her role in negotiating the Treaty of Middle Plantation between the Virginia colony and several native tribes, she was awarded a silver frontlet by King Charles II. This exquisite, ornate metal work emblazoned with Charles' royal seal is on display, with the title "Queen of the Pamunkey" clearly visible at the bottom. She would have worn this six-inch medallion in a crown on her forehead.
One of the first recorded Africans to arrive in Virginia was Angelo, an enslaved woman from what now is Angola. An English privateer captured her and other slaves from a Portuguese ship and in 1619 landed in present-day Hampton, Va. Little is known of her life, although records place her at William and Joan Pierce's plantation in Jamestown in 1625. On view is a page from the 1623-to-1624 Census of Virginia, on loan from the British National Archives, which clearly shows her listed.
A panel tells the story of Elizabeth Key, a mixed-race enslaved woman who sued for her and her son's freedom. After several trials, she won her case in 1656. Key claimed that because her father was white, she and her son should be free. The court agreed but a later case declared that the status of children would be determined by their mother's status, not the father's.
All of these women, English, African, and native, fought desperately for survival. Depending on their roles, they toiled in the fields, raised families, endured hunger, worked for their freedom, suffered under oppressive laws and sought to protect their way of life.
"The women with tenacity were able to survive," said Bobbie Falquet of Williamsburg, Va., playing on the theme of the exhibition. "They came with hope that this would be a better place."
Standing near the display that tells the story of Angelo, the enslaved woman, visitor Paula Stensvaag, said: "I have been paying more attention to the names because we remember men, like John Rolfe, but not many of the women." Angelo's was one of those names that Stensvaag, of Colorado, had never heard before.
"But I know it now," she said.


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SEATTLE — Seattle police are searching for the person who shot a man several times and left him to die in a busy part of Capitol Hill.
Officers responded to a report of a man who had been shot near Broadway and East Howell Street near Cal Anderson Park after 8 p.m.
When officers arrived at the scene, they found a man who had been shot three times. He was taken to Harborview Medical Center, where he was stable Monday night.
Security guards at Seattle Central College told police they saw a man who matched the description of the shooter in a classroom. Officers ran up and down the street with guns, surrounded the campus and scoured the area for more than an hour while students sheltered inside, but did not find anyone matching the suspect's description.
"I guess they were thinking the guy who shot the person actually went into the school, and so they came in there with like the SWAT team, with guns drawn and were asking, 'Hey, have you seen the guy with a green beard,'" said student Saadiq Kamali.
Witness Terrell Campbell shot video of the victim with his cellphone as the chaos unfolded.
"They pushed us back a little bit ... ambulance came and they started running out with the stretcher and turned the dude over, patched his back up," said Campbell.
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Police said the victim told officers he was shot by a man in his 50s but couldn't provide more.
Detectives are working to determine what led up to the shooting.
Anyone with information about the case is asked to call the Seattle Police Department's tip line at 206-233-5000.
More news from KIRO 7
- Police: Substitute teacher molested kindergartner during recess
- Gas station employees accused of taking $40,000 in lottery winnings from customers
- Deputies issue warning about purse snatchings at Costco stores
- Decomposing body found on trail in Tacoma
- Do you have an investigative story tip? Send us an email at firstname.lastname@example.com
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₦7,500.00 – ₦8,000.00
When you dance to your own rhythm, life taps its toes to your beat.
This t-shirt is crafted from pre-shrunk ring-spun cotton. A modern unisex fitted shirt that features a set-in cover stitched neck and double-needle stitching on the sleeves and hem.
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Why does counting votes take so long?
Well here we are, it's a few days post election and we're still counting votes. It seems odd, right? We should know by now who won and who lost. Part of the problem is that racist piece of crap the electoral college. That isn't the only issue though, if you want to know why we still have no clue who won, we need to remember that this was a manufactured problem.(more…)


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PAW Calendar Cat of the Month, Lucy!
I already featured a sneak peak of Lucy, the PAW fundraiser calendar cat for the month of May, but now it's her time to shine!
Lucy was definitely the boss in their house, constantly running in front of Chuck to make sure she was getting first choice of the treats and attention. Despite being in control, she was such a sweet, friendly kitty and loves humans even though she spent time on the street in her past.
About this project: In the spring of 2013 I had the honor of photographing 13 adorable cats who once belonged to the Lethbridge PAW Society but who now have comfortable, happy homes to call their own. Each of these cats were featured in PAW's 2014 calendar, showing off the good that comes from people graciously donating to the society and providing foster homes for the abandoned cats.
Lucy was so inquisitive about everything. I love how alert she was with her big blue eyes!
Lucy's favorite spot is in her little basket. I didn't think she'd fit, but like a true cat, she managed to cram right in! :)
I'm not sure how happy Chuck is with Lucy's energy, but he puts up with it ;)
About PAW Society:
PAW (People for Animal Welfare) is based in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, and has been arranging the adoption of homeless cats since 2000. It is a non-profit society in the Province of Alberta and a Registered Canadian Charity.


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Liturgy LinesReturn to Liturgy Lines
Making New Catholics Welcome
Many parishes will have initiated new members into the Church at the Easter ceremonies. What happens to them now?
This post-Easter period of the RCIA journey is known as the 'Period of Postbaptismal Catechesis' or 'Mystagogia'.
The following quote from the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults suggests several ways in which new members of the Church can be more closely incorporated into parish life during this period:
This is a time for the community and the neophytes* together to grow in deepening their grasp of the paschal mystery and in making it part of their lives through mediation on the Gospel, sharing in the eucharist, and doing the works of charity.
(*The term 'neophytes' is the title used to refer to the newly initiated during the Easter Season.)
I will look at how parishes can make their new members feel welcome and included through the celebration of the liturgy.
The key is clearly the Sunday Masses of the Season of Easter. Every effort should be made to have the neophytes and newly received present each week, preferably as a group but at different Mass times, so that during the season every member of the parish community has contact with its new members on as many occasions as possible.
By now, the newly initiated will be more at home in the liturgy and more comfortable with being the centre of attention, so it should not be difficult to arrange for them to sit in the front rows of the church with their godparents, families and other supporters during the Sundays of Easter.
The newly initiated should be intentionally included in the homily and the General Intercessions, not just for a week or two after the Easter Vigil, but on each of the seven Sundays following, up to and including Pentecost.
These new members of the parish can begin to take on some roles in the liturgy according to their charisms, such as bringing up the bread and wine in the procession of gifts, or reading the petitions during the Prayer of the Faithful.
Some of the newly initiated could be invited to offer a brief reflection on the journey of faith that they have been travelling. These could be delivered personally after communion at Mass (after the text has been checked with the Team leader and/or PP!) or printed in the parish bulletin.
The parish's celebration of the Pentecost Vigil can be fruitfully used to help its new and not-so-new members recall the joyful Easter Vigil celebration that was held seven week earlier. The Sacramentary provides special texts for the Vigil, several readings from which to choose, and a solemn blessing. This is a time to use again the symbols of fire and to have a blessing and sprinkling of holy water.
If the bishop visits the parish for the confirmation of children during the Easter Season, as is often the case, the bishop should be invited to preside at a celebration of the Eucharist with the neophytes and be personally introduced to them.
In a sense, Christians spend their entire lives in mystagogy as they reflect on what it means to live in Christ. Let us pray for the neophytes, and for ourselves, that we may come to see Christ more clearly, to follow him more nearly and love him more dearly day by day during this season of Easter.


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Since the last post, I've completed putting together the tailcone structure and match drilled everything. I've subsequently taken it all apart and deburred all holes and any remaining edges.
In the meantime, I wasn't completely happy with how my elevator trim tabs came out, so I got new parts to re-do them. The 2nd time went worse than the first.
The goal here is to bend the tabs to close out the ends of the trim tabs. It seems like it should be relatively easy!
I didn't have trouble bending the tabs on the skins, but these have given me trouble.
After messing up the first bend of my second attempt, I went off to do some reading on VAF. It seems lots of other have also had trouble with these tabs, so I guess it's not just me. I also realized that I didn't use any adhesive on the blocks so they moved slightly while attempting to bend the tab. Once I used some double-sided carpet tape, the next attempts went a little bit better. Probably passable, but I had already managed to crack the skin during my first bend.
The first set of trim tabs I attempted are shown below.
Below is yet a 3rd set of new skins for the trim tabs. After doing some reading, I've decided to do what others have done, and that is to cut off the tabs and fabricate small riblets to put on the ends instead. It might take me a few tries to get those correct, but I have lots of scrap trim tab metal to work with.


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The fall's product launch onslaught may have slowed down, but now we're looking ahead to next year. A new Pixel 6 may be joining the lineup, according to 9to5Google. A leaked Pixel 6a spec sheet reveals the mid-range phone's capabilities, and though it looks like the Pixel 6a will look like its pricier siblings and run on Google's custom Tensor ship, it might pack in the Pixel 3's outdated camera hardware.
Earlier this week, leaked Pixel 6a renders showed that the forthcoming phone shares a similar design to the rest of the lineup. The 6a appears rectangular and includes the Pixel 6's signature sharp corners. There's also the black camera bar on the back, which houses a few lenses and flash.
However, the camera hardware on the inside is not the latest and greatest. The Pixel 6a could use a Sony IMX363 sensor, the same one used in the Pixel 3 and every release up to the Pixel 5a. That means the 6a won't offer the same camera performance as the Pixel 6, because the latter has a much larger image sensor that allows it to capture so much light.
But Google has shown that it can do wonders with camera software, and the fact that the Pixel 6a might have the Tensor chip inside it bodes well for its capabilities. The Tensor Processing Unit, or TPU, drives all the machine learning smarts of the Pixel phones. While camera performance wouldn't be quite the same as the top-tier Pixel 6 Pro, for instance, it might be almost as capable—the same way previous A-series Pixels managed to impress at their middle-of-the-road price points.
Google could also use the Pixel 6a to push its on-device language processing capabilities, which are made possible with that TPU chip. And I imagine there might be mention of all the things Google Photos can do as a result of that hardware helper, like Magic Eraser, which technically works on other Pixel devices if you sideload a particular APK for Google Photos, but which relies on the TPU chip to perform its replacement processing.
Perhaps the most exciting part of the Pixel 6a including Google's chip is that the company could offer extended software update support—even longer than the three years provided to past devices. Google has promised that the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro will have software update support for up to five years, made possible by that homegrown chip. Imagine paying only $400 for a phone, which is how much the A-series have historically cost at launch, for a smartphone that lasts you five years.
This is all to say: Even if these rumored specs are not set in stone, it sounds like Google's most affordable smartphone may be getting a meaningful upgrade—even if the camera isn't quite as good as we hope.


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Tuesday at 11: A local college ministry's student outreach luncheon has been accused of serving food to a group of hungry students on campus.
Our correspondents interviewed students, who gave statements seeming to confirm the allegations.
"We heard there was a luncheon," said one student, a freshman who commutes over 100 miles a day. "So we came. I'm hopeful that what we're about to eat is indeed food."
Another student said she lacks cooking equipment in her dorm and needed something to eat between her tightly-packed classes. "This is soup," she said, between sips of the unsalted canned bean water, puckering her lips. It's good. Really. I'm thankful. I'd be going hungry without it."
The ministry director was quoted as saying, "Really? We thought we had made it perfectly clear that none of what we were serving was actual food or intended to be taken as such. We're totally innocent. I mean, if we were claiming that any of this bilge was edible, that would be an insult to starving beggars. We weren't sent here to feed people. Just look at our budget. All of this cost $5.37, including the napkins."
Besides the alleged soup the outreach has also served technical tacos, purported potatoes, and so-called salad, which was observed by our reporters to contain a few leaves of iceberg lettuce.
Update: Allegations that the ministry was serving food without a permit have been dropped on the grounds that they were not serving food.


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Everyday carry items have to clear new hurdles these days. Because while the number of items we might like to have with us at all times keeps growing, we still only have two hands. And bags start getting pretty darn heavy.
To make the cut now, an item usually has to serve a few distinct purposes. In the case of an emergency item, that usually means some daily functionality crossed with a healthy dose of just-in-case features that just might save the day should a worst case scenario break out.
The DanForce G1 checks both of those boxes with flair, serving both as a crazy convenient daily use flashlight with some added extras for those emergency situations.
Funded by over $400,000 in pledges on Kickstarter, the G1 is dubbed the world's first modular flashlight, a light system striving to meet the needs of events both mundane and extraordinary.
Right out of the handy carrying case, the G1 is outfitted to serve as an effective, compact everyday carry flashlight, with a CREE LED performance chip spitting out 750 up to an impressive 1080 lumens across its adjustable light spectrum range of up to 1,000 feet.
But this modular marvel is actually a 12-in-1 lighting tool, featuring an array of configurations and attachments that aim to make it the first and last light you'll ever need.
By attaching the extension tube, the light becomes a larger, heavy duty model that can even smash windows if needed. The body also doubles as a power bank with its own compass built right in. Then there's the added range of extras that come with the set, including a lantern attachment, a bike mount, red and green lenses, a safety rope and more.
Water-resistant, dust-resistant, scratch-resistant and practically nuclear bomb resistant, the G1 also runs for up to 10 hours on a single charge, making it an optimal emergency light kit to carry in your car or in your travel bag at all times.
Regularly $99, you can save $30 right now off the price of the full DanForce G1 Modular Flashlight Kit and get it for just $69.99.
Prices are subject to change.
Do you have your stay-at-home essentials? Here are some you may have missed.


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1 Lb. ground beef
1/4 Cup chopped onion
4 Eggs
1/3 Cup sliced ripe olives
2 Cups corn chips or crushed tostados
2/3 Cups evaporated milk
1 Can tomato sauce (8 oz.)
1 Envelope enchilada sauce mix
1 Cup shredded cheddar cheese
Brown meat and onions. Drain. Spread in bottom of a pan, 10x6x1 1/2. Beat next 4 ingredients and pour mixture over meat. Sprinkle with olives and chips. Bake uncovered 20 to 25 minutes at 350 degrees. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake 3 to 5 minutes longer.
Appetizers & Beverages ● Soups & Salads ● Main Dishes ● Side Dishes & Vegetables ● Breads ● Desserts
©Copyright 2005 Food-Recipes-Free-Online.com
►For permission to reproduce our recipes on your website, click here ◄
Chicken & Green Chilies Casserole
Spicy hamburger and green chili in a rich tomato base, served over corn chips. Everyone then tops the mixture with their favorite fresh toppings... sharp cheddar cheese, shredded lettuce, avocados, fresh diced tomatoes, black olives, sour cream, salsa, etc. This is a hit with teenage boys with huge appetites!


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The following VOMI Virtual Organization Academy Standards apply to each and every single engagement:
- Our Virtual Organization Leadership Executive Training, Assessment and Certification program is strictly restricted to Existing Staff Members as well as New Hires who have already officially started work with their new employer.
Hence, the official starting date of employment for a New Hire must not be contingent on their successful completion of any training or other services offered by VOMI Virtual Organization Academy.
- Each introduction to VOMI Virtual Organization Academy ("VOA") begins with a preliminary introduction to virtual organizations by Virtual Organization Advisors.
In the grand scheme of things, it is a far-reaching business decision as well as a very smart and small investment.
- Each Enrollment Application is 100% Confidential. VOA will never privately or publicly disclose, confirm or deny the name of any client organization or government which has engaged VOA for its services; nor will VOA do so with respect to the name of any Enrolled Candidate.
- Each engagement is conducted in accordance with the following: 1) the tenets of the virtual organization management discipline pioneered by the founder of VOA since 1997; and 2) best practices, policies and procedures for building highly sophisticated Virtual Organizations staffed by a world-class Virtual Organization Leadership Force that is able to operate anywhere across the globe in a 100% Virtual or Virtual Organization environment.
That means VOA is NOT your typical remote worker, virtual team, or flexible workforce consulting firm that you encounter by the millions on the Internet whose knowledge and services have absolutely nothing to do with virtual organization management, virtual organizations, and virtual organization leadership.
- All Virtual Organization Leadership Executive Training, Assessment and Certification activities are conducted via videoconference in a 100% virtual organization environment. We Practice What We Preach!
That means no phone calls of any kind either to or from faceless individuals; no travel of any sort across the globe in order to meet with and schmooze potential clients, members of the Executive Leadership Team and other Corporate Officers, and Government Officials.
- Each Client Enrollment must adhere to VOA's terms of engagement as outlined throughout this website. That means, regardless of the size of any organization or institution or government – and regardless of the size of the potential financial oportunity – VOA will never submit any private, personal, confidential or proprietary information of any kind in order to be listed on any Authorized Corporate Trainer Vendor List or to become an Approved Business or Official Government Contractor.
Likewise, VOA will never request such information from any potential or current clients.
- VOA requires Advance payment in full for all services to be rendered.
In order to proceed, please click here to submit a request to Virtual Organization Advisors for a deep insight into virtual organizations and virtual organization leadership.
In the grand scheme of things, it is a far-reaching business decision as well as a very smart and small investment.


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Mikoshi win means pride, work, shopping!
March 16, 2014
In this guest-written article, junior Joelene Kuaana goes behind the scenes to show the hard work put into interpreting the annual Maui Mikoshi design contest theme, the excitement of seeing a winning design come to life, the pride in representing KS Maui at the Honolulu Festival, and all the other experiences (aka shopping) of the Japanese Club's busy trip to O'ahu, March 9-10.
A Mikoshi, by definition, is a Japanese shrine that is traditionally held up on people's shoulders during festivals. It resembles a house and is usually decorated in gold. If you asked the twenty students who attended the Honolulu Festival on the dense evening of March 9 what a mikoshi is, most would reply with "heavy."
Although it is heavy, you shouldn't be fooled by the bruises acquired by the students. The mikoshi we carried through the long streets was so much more than temporary bleeding and the drizzle of warm rain we endured.
The Japanese Club worked on our mikoshi design for weeks before we found it appropriate to submit. The theme, Jubilation: One Heart, One Pacific, and One World was the elephant in the room whenever we gathered as a council. How were we going to do this? How would we be original? Would we finish on time? Did we even have a chance?
We sacrificed a lot of things (one being the free SAT test date for the juniors) and gained a lot of things. As people, we fought and bickered and stressed over little things. Our determination to win two years in a row turned us hostile and competitive–sometimes with each other.
That all changed when Mr. [Kealii] Mossman met us by the stairs of the glass building and announced that we were winners. Nothing before that mattered because we won. We actually won, and we were going to attend the festival.
Weeks of anticipation, school work, and nights with four or less hours of sleep later, we were all packed up and ready to fly at seven in the morning.
The first day, a Saturday, was accompanied by the unveiling of our hard work. The deal with the Maui Mikoshi Contest is this: you submit the idea, and they make it. The mikoshi is revealed at the Convention Center on Oʻahu, and afterwards there are plenty of exhibits to attend, like the Cosplay Café, a booth dedicated to Nagaoka Fireworks, calligraphy, and even a picture-taking booth where you can rent a kimono to wear in your pictures. An obon dance is performed in the middle of the room with all the exhibits, and there's a lot to eat, as well. When we had to leave the convention center to check into our hotel, we dressed up for dinner and headed out to Ala Moana Shopping Center to get some shopping out of our systems.
On the day of the festival, we met up with fellow parade-goers and socialized with various dance groups (modern and traditional), cultural groups (aborigine, Korean, and Chinese), and even some students from Maui. After practicing carrying the mikoshi and yelling the response of "Yashai!" to the leader's "Yashoi," we were ready to march by the time the sky turned dark and the city lit up.
The blocks we marched were long, the mikoshi slipped once or twice, and our legs were tired, but the energy of the crowd (some even joined in when we chanted) and the pure adrenaline of attending such a celebration surged through our blood and carried us through the enormous stretch of Kalākaua Avenue. This was what we were here for: to unite and to bear the honor of carrying this mikoshi, our mikoshi.
When we reached the end, we rushed to find a grand seat to the Nagaoka fireworks on the beach. Quiet. Then a giant blossom of fire erupted into the sky, and before we knew it, we were staring into a garden of flames. It was a spectacular sight, and, for once, we were all quiet as we watched the Nagaoka Fireworks become a new sun. The displays of green, blue, yellow, white, and pink lasted for nearly half an hour until the sky dimmed and the smoke cleared from the launching pad's place out in the ocean. Still, it seemed as if the sky was stained with the color, and our hearts could not cease their quickened pace.
When Monday came around, we lugged ourselves to Waikīkī (more shopping), because we wanted to go to the parade again. We couldn't believe it was over. Even as we packed our luggage, boarded the plane, and landed in Kahului once again, we could still hear the cheers for our mikoshi, feel the thunder of the fireworks, and smell the smoke from the pyrotechnics of the parade.


text: In these last few chapters Paul has been trying to help his Jewish readers understand that their circumcision isn't a badge of honor or some ticket to heaven. He continues in that conversation here in chapter four. Verse 10 & 11 remind us that circumcision wasn't the way in which they were justified – but a symbol of their heart transformation. In the same way, my baptism isn't a badge of honor. My baptism is not proof of my salvation. It's an outward symbol of a heart transformation that already took place. It's simply as a sign or a "seal" as verse 11 says in the NIV. As we see in verse 16, we are saved by faith – not by works. My baptism is not my salvation. Just as the Jews couldn't hold their cicumcision over the heads of the Gentiles – neither can I hold growing up my entire life in a church over someone else's head. We are all sinners who can be saved by the amazing grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ.