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They looked like enormous sleeping bats. Until you moved closer. Then the faces became visible under the layers of glass. He had seen exhibits similar to these before in the Ashmolean Museum at Oxford; primordial insects trapped in amber. But these were unmistakably human heads. Those that faced him had their eyes shut; their hair was smooth, and their features, though distorted, were peaceful, and even beautiful. Taking out a rock-cloth, he rubbed the surface briskly. No sparks. It was difficult to see in the half-light. He had left his pocket torch back at the pensión.
It was only a beginning, but the past two weeks' field-work had already yielded results. The guide, Jorge, knew the terrain blind. They had struck out every morning at daybreak in a battered Toyota pickup and had returned after dusk, laden with organic soil samples wrapped in aluminium foil. He had taken hundreds of photos of recent road-cuts. Each colour-coded cross-section was a diagram of geologic time; the distinctive dark grey colour and mafic compostion at the base was almost certainly late Pleistocene, whereas the younger yellowy-orange layers could be dated to somewhere around the end of the last Ice Age. Other deposits revealed the fallout from three small and seven medium size, maybe even larger, explosive Holocene eruptions, stretching over a period of 7,500 years, more or less. He would have liked to have gone on discovering and compiling the material evidence, but time was limited; the laboratory in Pasadena where the samples would be chemically analysed for carbon dating was becoming impatient. And not only this, but things had taken a strange turn – he was getting noticed.
The previous Sunday – Jorge's day off – he had been picked up by the local police. They took him quite by surprise. He had spent the day out by the lagoon, taking a packed lunch with him and sitting there among the reeds, surrounded by flamingoes and volcanic ash. He had been dozing when a body came between himself and the sun. He looked up and saw the outline of a uniform.
– Está por acá! – the figure said, raising its arm.
Before he could get up onto his feet another figure stood over him. This one was shorter, also in uniform.
– Qué hace por acá, señor?
He started to explain that he had been sleeping and then interrupted himself and asked if there was anything wrong. The two policemen seemed uninterested and turned to each other instead. Then the smaller one said:
– Venga con nosotros, por favor.
Fifteen minutes later they were back at the little two-roomed barracks in the village. They asked for his passport and then he had to wait while they filled out a report in the adjoining office. Flies buzzed around a small triangle of sunlight on the floor. A little faded almanak reading "No hay mejor amigo que El Señor" hung askew on the cracked plaster wall and an ancient ceiling fan helped circulate the stifling air.
The lieutenant came back and asked him for his signature. He looked over the flimsy pink form quickly and saw that it contained nothing but the details of his passport, the date and point of entry to the country and the expected duration of his visit. The comments section was left blank.
The sun was low in the sky when he reached the dusty highway leading back to the village. A maze-like pattern of 4×4 tyre-tracks led off on either side, but he stuck to the public road, although this would considerably lengthen his journey. He knew that there had been no volcanic activity in the area for at least 8,000 years. He also knew that no human head could survive intact the massive temperatures and pressures generated in the lava flows produced by volcanic eruptions. This train of thought led him unexpectedly to the Hungarian archaeologist he'd met here the previous summer, who had told him to look out for old mine shafts strewn with shards of obsidian, that strange volcanic glass that Pliny named after the traveller who supposedly first discovered it. Over a couple of bottles of malbec in the hostel on New Year's Eve, she had explained to him that you could learn a lot about pre-Columbian peoples' economies and ways-of-life by studying the geographic distribution of bits of worked volcanic glass. It had been a highly valued commodity in a civilization where iron was unknown, she said, and was unique in that it had had both ritualistic and everyday uses at all levels of society. The earliest European chroniclers had mentioned with dread the macuahuitl, a thick wooden club with three obsidian blades on either side, capable of chopping off a horse's head with one blow. She had seemed to relish this description, and drew her hand lengthwise across the side of her neck bearing her wine-stained teeth.
There was a bus leaving on Tuesday and another on Friday. The village would get busier in the New Year; prices for beds would be hiked up as backpackers arrived from the city, and this weekend, to celebrate a total lunar eclipse (due to occur shortly after 2am on Monday) cyclists from this village and the next would compete in a 50k road race that took in the surrounding countryside. There would be a festive atmosphere in town, with old folks sitting out on the porches chewing coca leaves and children dressed in traditional costume.
It was not till many years later that Claudia Svjerni, research professor of ancient civilizations at the Universidad Libre de Buenos Aires, recalled her drunken conversation with that scrawny, sun-burned Austrian. Taking advantage of the two week's pre-term vacation, she took a plane to Mendoza to visit the newly opened Museo del Altiplano. The Museum, funded jointly by the Argentinian government and a Canadian mining consortium, had been purpose-built to house the by now infamous ´Wall of Heads`, a discovery made several years previously by two American meteorite hunters amongst the lunar-like volcanic plains of Catamarca. Despite the fact that almost 13 million dollars had been spent in transforming a disused train station into a state-of-the-art cultural-interpretive centre, curated by an international group of scientists, the exhibition had stirred up a considerable storm of dissent from the start. The exhibits had been labelled "kitsch" and "totally out of context" by the influential Revista Antropológica del Sur, and the city of Santiago de Catamarca had taken a lenthly, unsuccessful suit against the Federal government, demanding the return of the heads to their native province.
Claudia was pleasantly surprised to discover that the exhibition was for the most part well-laid out, informative, and despite the rather steep entry fee, apparently well worth a visit. Given the unprecedented nature of the find – over two dozen mummified human heads lodged in a shelf of rare transparent volcanic glass, and almost perfectly preserved after a period of over four hundred years – it was no wonder that controversy had ensued. The only thing that slightly grated on her nerves was the pan-piped music that greeted the visitor on entering the main hall. Nothing, however, not even the glass-cased array of obsidian projectiles, darts, knives, daggers and clubs, could prepare the visitor for the experience awaiting him in the last dimly lit, temperature-controlled room:
Twenty seven sleeping heads, each inserted in its bubble-shaped niche, lit from the left by spotlights that diffracted crazily through the glass. Some of the heads were in profile, but mostly they faced outwards. Her audioguide explained that, whereas no contemporary evidence had yet emerged to support this conjecture, the heads had almost without doubt belonged to an expeditionary force of Spanish soldiers. Whether they had been killed in Catamarca or elsewhere was unclear as no other remains had been unearthed. The cleaness of each decapitation made it likely that each neck wound had been caused by a single blow with a heavy obsidian bladed club, probably from behind. In modern times, due to the discovery that an obsidian blade can reach almost molecular thinness, this versatile material had found a less gruesome but equally clinical application, being used in open-heart and eye surgery. The sensible, matter-of-fact voice in her earphones continued – "It is thought that each of these heads represents a different phase in the lunar cycle. The indigenous people believed that the Moon was made of silver and that each night it arose from the centre of the Earth banishing the Sun from the sky until daybreak. It is probable that this expiatory sacrifice was occasioned by …" An awful sense of recognition came over her as she came to the final row of heads. There, a familiar face, a pale waxing gibbous, three-quarters full, was nested amongst its swarthier companions.


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Breast cancer and HRT FactsheetDownload factsheet
Breast cancer is very common. Each woman in the UK has a 1 in 8 chance of developing breast cancer, regardless of whether they take HRT or not. This means that if you take HRT your risk of breast cancer is 1 in 8, and for women who do not take HRT the risk is also 1 in 8.
There are certain factors that increase your risk of developing breast cancer and these include simply getting older, being overweight, drinking alcohol, smoking, not exercising regularly, and having young family relatives who have had breast cancer. However, many women develop breast cancer without any of these risk factors.
At Newson Health, the most common reason we hear from women who are scared of taking HRT, is they are worried about the risk of breast cancer. Here are some facts about HRT and breast cancer which we hope will reassure you.
The most common reason we hear from women who are scared of taking HRT, is they are worried about the risk of breast cancer. Here are some facts about HRT and breast cancer which we hope will reassure you.
Young women taking HRT do not have a greater risk of breast cancer
What many patients and doctors do not realise is that women who are under 51 years of age have absolutely no increased risk of getting breast cancer, regardless of the length of time they take HRT for. This is because women who take HRT when they are young are simply replacing the hormones that their bodies should otherwise be producing. The average age of the menopause in the UK is 51 years.
It is really important that women and doctors are aware of this. If you do not have the correct type and strength of HRT when you are young, you will have an increased risk of developing osteoporosis (weakening of the bones) and heart disease. Taking HRT reduces these risks.
Women who have had a hysterectomy and take HRT do not have a greater risk of breast cancer
Numerous studies have shown that women who take estrogenonly HRT do not have a higher risk of breast cancer. Some studies have actually shown these women have a lower risk of breast cancer than women not taking HRT.
The increased risk of breast cancer with taking combined HRT is very low or not increased at all
Some studies show that taking combined HRT (i.e. HRT containing both estrogen and a progestogen) may be associated with a very small increased risk of breast cancer. However, the media have misinterpreted this information and presented the risk as far greater than it actually is, leading women to feel confused and anxious about the perceived risk of breast cancer.
The increased risk is related to the type of progestogen in the HRT. Taking micronised progesterone (the body identical progesterone) is not associated with an increased risk of breast cancer, for the first five years of taking it. After five years, the risk of breast cancer is very low and seems to be lower than the risk for a woman taking the older types of progestogen.
Even for women taking the older types of progestogen, the risk is very low. A recent review of all the research studies concluded that current scientific evidence (for older types of progestogen) does not confirm, or dispute, that taking HRT causes breast cancer.
The level of increased risk of breast cancer, with the older types of combined HRT, is similar to the level of risk of breast cancer that any women has if they are overweight or drink around two glasses of wine a day.
In addition, there is no evidence that shows there is an increased risk of death from breast cancer, in women who take HRT.
If you have a strong family history of breast cancer, or have had breast cancer yourself in the past, you might still be able to take some types of HRT. It is best to discuss your options with your GP, or a doctor who specialises in the menopause.

subset: commoncrawl


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The IASME Governance standard was developed over several years during a government funded project to create a cyber security standard which would be an affordable and achievable alternative to the international standard, ISO27001.
The IASME Governance standard allows the small companies in a supply chain to demonstrate their level of cyber security for a realistic cost and indicates that they are taking good steps to properly protect their customers information.
The IASME Governance assessment includes a Cyber Essentials assessment and GDPR requirements and is available either as a self assessment or on-site audit.
Based on international best practice, IASME Governance is risk based and includes key aspects of security such as incident response, staff training, planning and operations. IASME Governance incorporates Cyber Essentials assessment and an assessment against the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
The IASME Governance Audit involves an on-site audit of your governance processes and procedures covered by the IASME Governance standard. IASME Governance Audited is an independent on-site audit of the level of information security provided by your organisation. It offers a similar level of assurance to the internationally recognised ISO 27001 standard but is simpler and often cheaper for small and medium-sized organisations to implement.


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View All Calendars is the default. Choose Select a Calendar to view a specific calendar. Subscribe to calendar notifications by clicking on the Notify Me® button, and you will automatically be alerted about the latest events in our community.
Hutchinson Zoo
Come on out to our annual haunted train ride, Little Train of Horrors. This year we will also have the Zoo exhibits open for you to enjoy while you are waiting for your ride.
The Hutchinson Zoo has partnered with the Hutchinson High School Thespian Club to bring you a perfectly blended scary & funny haunted train ride. This year we will also have the Zoo open You won't want to miss it!
(Due to the nature of the ride we do not recommend kids under the age of 4, and parental guidance for kids 5-8 years old).
Tickets are $6 per person and must be purchased in advance online or in the Zoo Gift Shop; seats are limited so purchase early to guarantee a spot!DATES & TIMES:
Friday Oct 22, 6 PM to 8:30 PM
Saturday Oct 23, 6 PM to 8:30 PM
Friday Oct 29, 6 PM to 8:30 PM
Saturday Oct 30, 6 PM to 8:30 PM
*Rides depart every 30 minutes and boarding begins 5 minutes ahead of your ticket time. Late arrivals forfeit their ticket.*


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As part of Access Classics, academic staff from UCD School of Classics visit schools to conduct tailored workshops. These visits moved online in 2020 owing to Covid-19 restrictions, but we have begun to offer in-person workshops again! To arrange a c. 45-60 minute workshop at your school, simply get in contact: firstname.lastname@example.com or firstname.lastname@example.com. Please note that were are happy to continue offering virtual visits as well.
Below is a flavour of some of the activities and workshops we conduct. Skip to the bottom of the page to read some testimonials from schools!
Ancient Greek workshops!
During these workshops, we introduce students to the Ancient Greek alphabet and do a series of decoding exercises, deciphering some commonly used Ancient Greek words that we still use today!
Pottery painting!
Using some pottery "fragments", we introduce students to the world of Greek painted pottery, particularly the fun and stylized paintings of Geometric pottery!
Artefact handling sessions!
Armed with a box of artefacts (some real and some replicas) kindly lent by the UCD Classical Museum, we help immerse students in the ancient world by presenting everyday objects, such as an oil lamp, a coin and a replica strigil!
A day in the life…
This interactive workshop asks students to create their own 'day in the life' in the ancient world by picking options to a series of questions. What are your options if you get a headache? What festival would you like to attend? Would you wear make-up laced with lead!?
Topic-specific workshops!
Working with teachers, we offer topic-specific workshops to students who currently study Classics, including Alexander the Great, the context of Greek tragedy, Oedipus, the ancient Olympics and Virgil.
Come see us in UCD!
We are delighted to welcome students to the UCD School of Classics! The School contains the UCD Classical Museum, which gives students the opportunity to see up close artefacts from around the ancient world, including Greece, Mycenae, Rome, Egypt and Cyprus. Visits to the museum can be arranged (depending on availability) through the museum curator. Information about the museum and contact details can be found here.
Sandymount Park Educate Together Secondary School, 2021
Some student feedback!
"I would definitely recommend this to other students because it would be useful for other people that want to learn about daily life in Ancient Greece."
"I really enjoyed it as I learned about the origin of many words that we still use today."
"It was really interesting and I really enjoyed how interactive it was."
"I liked how interactive it was and the different choices kept me engaged throughout."
"Dr Bridget was really enthusiastic and engaging which made the visit even more enjoyable."
Dundrum College of Further Education, 2020
Our Level 5 Classical Studies students were thrilled to have a guest lecture this year from Dr Bridget Martin of UCD Classics. The lecture was so accessible, dynamic and engaging – pitched at just the right level, and giving the students a valuable insight into the study of Classics at third level. Bridget's knowledge and passion for Greek tragedy really made the topic come alive for our students, and has inspired them to read the prescribed plays with new perspective. We really hope to collaborate with UCD Classics again in the future. (Sorcha Duggan, Classical Studies Teacher, Dundrum College of Further Education)
Mount Sackville Secondary School
We had the great privilege of Dr. Martin zooming into our first-year history class during the lockdown to talk about Ancient Rome. The lesson was tailored completely to the students' questions and interests and Dr Martin provided a fascinating insight into the lives of Ancient Romans. The lesson provided a way for the students to engage with the information in a very accessible and meaningful way. Her enthusiasm for the material was infectious and the students greatly enhanced their knowledge of the topic in just a single forty-minute period. (Ciara Forristal, History Teacher, Mount Sackville Secondary School)
Blackrock College, 2019
Thanks to Access Classics for a wonderful series today. They spoke with 3rd years for a taste of Ancient Greek and 5th years on Classics at third level. TY had a fantastic opportunity to handle some objects from the Classical Museum, UCD. Not only was it a fantastic learning experience, but free and so easy to organise. We look forward to having you back. (Dr Louise Maguire, Head of Latin, Blackrock College)


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A Tall-Tale Storyline (SpinArt, 2001) was even more studio-conscious,
using every possible trick to secrete all sorts of cliches of power-pop and
folk-rock, thus making the overall proceedings more eclectic.
The eight-minute Go Home preceding the catchy
Suicide Will Make You Happy, and classic effervescent tunes such as
My Favorite Green Hill and
What Sees the Sky coexisting with the instrumental 2.22.1.
External contributions (drummer Sean Byrne, bassist Mike Walker, multi-instrumentalist Brian McTear) were also more significant.
As his studio skills increased, so did the variety on his albums.
We're Already There (I and Ear, 2005) took the liberty of juxtaposing
another romantic ditty, Another One Goes By, with
the quasi-industrial The New American Apathy,
the psychedelic For Energy Infinite,
the Kraftwerk-ian instrumental Kenyan Heat Wave.
But too many of Stolzfus's pop songs sound third-rate imitations of the
classics. Basically, there is only one per album that is truly worth hearing.
He fares a lot better in the eccentric-arrangement department.
Se sei interessato a tradurre questo testo, contattami


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Funeral of our friend will make it difficult to be in Washington for Trustee's meeting.
letter, Winthrop, McIlvaine, trustee
Dr. Winthrop
16 Dec. 1869
My dear Bishop,
The sermons at St. Ann's on the [?] reached me last week, and I read [?] one Sunday evening with the greatest interest. You have given ever testimony in a [?] that cannot fail to make its mark.
I am beginning to doubt whether the Funeral of our great friend will have taken place in the Peabody in Season for those of us who attend it to be at Washington on the 3rd. Wednesday of January. The [?] and its contents will come slowly, and stop Lancashire for coal. It will take the least part of a week to complete the ceremonies after the arrival. If we had foreseen the course of events, we might have fixed Berton as the place of meeting their [?] for the Lectures, and summoned there all on to the funeral. As it is, I [?] say since of the distant members will come on. Mr. Macalester contacted me that he is coming. As our Secretary is about, the members [?] and I take informal notice of the meeting. I will write to [?], as I do now to [?], and if any postponement is found necessary, I will telegraph to each one before the time arrives. If there should be us seeing great [?], we may all be able to reach Washington before the 19th. I pray [?] to come prepared to aid our [?] friends in shaping an appropriate tribute. I hardly dare to ask [?] to come on to the funeral, glad as we should all be to see [?].
My wife writes with me in affectionate remembrances,
Believe me ever,
Dearest Bishop,
Yours most sincerely,
Rt.Rev. Winthrop
Rt. Rev. C.P. McIlvaine
Recommended Citation
Winthrop, Robert C., "Letter to Charles Pettit McIlvaine" (1869). Charles Pettit McIlvaine Letters. 312.


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After seing this you will understand why Dior is haute couture.
© Adrien Dirand
From this summer till January 2018, the Musée des Arts Décoratifs located in Paris right next to the Louvre hosts a tremendous exhibition (that you must have heard about) of the infamous haute couture brand Dior, and more precisely of its history and evolution. Through 3 thousand square meters and more than 300 dresses made from 1947 to just recently, the evolution and influences of the different stylists of the brand are beautifully portrayed. Among them are, obviously, Christian Dior, but also Yve Saint Laurent, John Galliano, Raf Simons, and just recently Maria Grazia Chiuri.
© Adrien Dirand
Once you get in the exhibition, after a very long line, you are faced with 70 years of Dior fashion: you start with right at the beginning, in 1947, i.e. when everything started, and discover not only the first Dior dresses but shoes, perfumes, and specially drawings and sketches by Christian Dior himself. You also get a background on the stylist's life and understand what shaped and oriented Dior's brand. Nevertheless, having been to the exhibition, I have to admit I found that there were many more than beautiful pieces in the first rooms of the exhibition but that for some of them they were all piled up and it was therefore not always easy to distinguish everything, specially with the amount of people there was.
© Adrien Dirand
The directors of the project, Florence Müller and Olivier Gabet, have made this exhibition a real success with more than 200 thousand visitors. Together they have organized the exhibition in a way that puts forward the artistic dimension of fashion and that shows Christian Dior's relationship with painting and flowers; the stylist said that "After women, flowers are the most divine creatures", and indeed, his dresses do look like beautiful flowers:
It is, once again, a great exhibition, and whether you're a fashion addict, a parisian or a tourist I'd more than recommend seing it.


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A well-known local activist and artist, Kristin White campaigns for women's rights and environmental issues and is a cofounder of Social Justice Bermuda, dedicated to tackling issues of racism and injustice. She owns St. George's Long Story Short bookshop and helps connect visitors to Bermuda's history and culture through her guided tours.
This interview is part of The World Made Local, a global collaboration between the seven international editions of Condé Nast Traveller in which 100 people in 100 countries tell us why their home turf should be your next destination.
How would you describe Bermuda in your own words?
It is a very unique place geographically. Arriving in Bermuda, you see nothing but ocean, ocean, ocean, and then, all of a sudden, you start to see the reefs and the telltale sort of turquoise waters that surround the island. And from that point forward there is this sense of calm and magic. I truly believe it is a very magical place.
And we have been a massive part of every world event, playing a major role, for four centuries, in the maritime Atlantic. And so the history, the culture, the uniqueness of Bermuda makes it a very magical place to live and visit. There is a renaissance happening right now in Bermuda, where Bermudians are excited to be Bermudian.
What excites you about Bermuda right now?
Definitely the young artists; there are some incredible young artists right now, and a lot of them are Black women. Gherdai Hassell had her first solo exhibit at the Bermuda National Gallery, and it is incredible. It's a work of collage and reimagining, using historic artefacts from out of Bermuda's archives. There's also Hana Bushara. She's a singer-songwriter and so young. I'm just in awe of what she's creating. We used to have a very strong literary and artistic tradition, and then it became very sanitised for tourism. Bermudians never saw themselves reflected in art, and I think that has been damaging to us. So I'm excited about this new generation of artists because they are going to be what helps the world to better understand Bermuda, not just as a tourism destination but as a living, breathing, vibrant place where people live.


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Pastor Gary
Senior Moderator and Staff Trainer
Staff member
Senior Moderator
Staff Trainer
Good Day, Friends; This is the time of year when many persons become ill with colds and the flu. We all do our best to keep from becoming ill, but sometimes our best is not good enough to stay healthy. So it is with sin. We do our best to do what is right in God's eyes, but sometimes evil gets to us like a virus and we fall short. When we become physically ill, we have physicians to heal us. When we become spiritually ill, we have God to take care of us. All we have to do is ask Our Father in prayer, to forgive our sins, and He hears us and heals us and gives us comfort. Please read with me in the Book of Jeremiah 17:14 (NLT), "O Lord, if you heal me, I will be truly healed; if you save me, I will be truly saved. My praises are for you alone!" May God Bless.


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UFC on FX 2 Preview
The UFC has continued to expand their fighting roster with more and more fighters and more weight classes. This was true late last year when Dana White introduced the new Flyweight class that would bring in another lighter weight class. The Flyweight division would be made up of 125 lbs fighters as the UFC continues to add more fighters to improve their talent. UFC on FX will feature this new weight class for the first time and even though it is not the main event it will take the most focus. Thiago Alves and Martin Kampmann will be the main event but the focus will be on the first ever UFC Flyweight Tournament. Four fighters will enter the octagon for the first time at 125 lbs as they fight in the semi-finals of the tournament. The winners will move on to the title fight and a chance at winning the first ever UFC Flyweight title. First up Demetrious Johnson who will take on Ian McCall and the in the second semi-final Joseph Benavidez will take on Yasuhiro Urushitani. Demetrious Johnson was one of the top Bantamweight fighters in the UFC even earning a title fight against Dominick Cruz. Johnson came in to the UFC during the WEC merger and since entering the UFC as a Bantamweight has gone 2-1 with his one loss against Bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz. Johnson has made an impact in the UFC already with his great speed conditioning and he will try to make more of an impact as he looks to become the first Flyweight Champion. To do that he will need to first beat Ian McCall who will be making his UFC debut. As a member of the WEC McCall fought some of the best light fighters in MMA but did not make the move to the UFC after the merger. He moved on to smaller shows and will come into the UFC on a four fight win streak. A good ground and pound artist McCall is also known for his endless pace and will try to make an impact in the UFC. Johnson and McCall will be a fast paced fight that is sure to thrill the crowd. Overall Johnson seems to be the more experienced in the UFC already having a title fight and experiencing the top of the MMA world. McCall is a bit of a wild card but has proven that he knows how to win fights the big question could be if he can perform on the biggest stage. Expect a full three rounds in this semi-final with a win by Johnson in a split decision. With one Semi-Final done another familiar face will take on a newcomer as Joseph Benavidez will take on Yasuhiro Urushitani. Joseph Benavidez will make his third appearance in the UFC as he will try to continue his three fight win streak. Benavidez had much the same path as Demetrious Johnson as he joined the UFC with the WEC merger but unlike Johnson did not get a title shot. He was on his way when the UFC added the Flyweight division. Now he is one step away from a different title shot in the new flyweight division. Benavidez is much like most other fighters with great speed and stamina but his biggest X-Factor is training with Team Alpha Male that produces some of the best lighter fighters in the UFC. With training partners like Urijah Faber, Chad Mendes, TJ Dillashaw, and Danny Castillo, Benavidez has some of the best light fighter to train with that could give him an edge. He will need this edge as he will take on veteran fighter Yasuhiro Urushitani who will continue his long career by entering the UFC for the first time. Urushitani has fought in almost every promotion in Japan but has spent most of his time in Shooto. The 35-year-old will finally make it to the big show with the new weight class as he looks to finish off his career as the UFC champion. Urushitani is a rare light fighter who has some big power. He is currently riding a 5 fight win streak where 3 of the 5 wins came by TKO or KO. Urushitani will try to bring this power to the Flyweight division and provide some excitement in the lighter weight classes. Benavidez has the advantage on training partners but Urushitani has fought in enough fights to see the best of the best. Urushitani seems to be on a great path leading to this fight and looks to win the fight as he will earn the TKO victory in round 3. With the Flyweight tournament starting the main card will be the main focus of UFC on FX with four fighters beginning their path to the first UFC Flyweight championship.
With a lot of focus on the Flyweight tournament the main event may take a back seat but it still promises to be a great fight. Thiago Alves will take on Martin Kampmann in Australia as the two heavy-handed middleweights try to move up the division. Thiago Alves knows what it is like to move up the rankings in the welterweight division after making it to the top of the division in 2009. He did not stay long though as he lost to Georges St. Pierre in the title fight and began to fall down the rankings. Losses to Jon Fitch and Rick Story have hurt Alves's climb back to the top but he will try to string together more wins with this fight. Coming off of an impressive submission win over Papy Abedi has put Alves back on track and adding Martin Kampmann to the list of wins will only help the Brazilian. Meanwhile Martin Kampmann has seen his share of title runs but has yet to finish the run off with a title fight. Winning his first five fights Kampann seemed on the fast track to a title shot but was beat by Nate Marquardt sending him down the rankings again. Since then it has been up and down with Kampmann stringing wins together but never enough to earn a shot at the top of the division. Coming off of a Split Decision win against Rick Story Kampmann will look to put two wins together as he looks to climb up the ladder again. Neither fighter will earn a title shot if they win with the welterweight division jumbled at the top. A win will be the start of a serious title run though as winning this fight could go a long way to getting the top contender spot when the top of the division clears out. Both fighters have good ground game but also have devastating power that makes this fight an even one that is sure to excite the Australian crowd. Although they may not be the main focus they will try to take the focus by putting on a great fight.
Fight Card:
Main Event:
Thiago "Pitbull" Alves vs. Martin "The Hitman" Kampann (Sportsnet/FX)
Main Card:
Joseph Benavidez vs. Yasuhiro Urushitani [Flyweight Tournament] (Sportsnet/FX)
Demetrious "Mighty Mouse" Johnson vs. Ian "Uncle Creepy" McCall [Flyweight Tournament] (Sportsnet/FX)
Court "The Crusher" McGee vs. Constantinos "Costa" Philippou (Sportsnet/FX)
James Te Huna vs. Aaron Rosa (Facebook)
Anthony "The Hippo" Perrosh vs. Nick "The Quiet Assasin" Penner (Facebook)
Cole "Magrinho" Miller vs. Steven "Super" Siler (Facebook)
Kyle Noke vs. Andrew Craig (Facebook)
TJ Waldburger vs. Jake "The Hitman" Hecht (Facebook)
Mackens "Da Menace" Semerzier vs. Daniel "The Pit" Pineda (Facebook)
Oli Thompson vs. Shawn "The Savage" Jordan (Facebook)


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Jesus walked on this biblical lake - now it needs a saviour
Story highlights
The Sea of Galilee is not isolated, it is part of a water basin comprising the Jordan River and the Dead Sea, too. If it shrinks, everything else shrinks faster.
The Sea of Galilee is not isolated, it is part of a water basin comprising the Jordan River and the Dead Sea, too. If it shrinks, everything else shrinks faster.
"Shortly before dawn, Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake...
when the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified
'it's a ghost' they said, and cried out in fear...
but Jesus immediately told them: 'take courage, it is I. Don't be afraid'."
It is a passage from the Holy Bible, Matthew 14:22-36. It tells the story of one of Jesus's most famous miracles.
Some 2,000 years ago, Jesus walked across the Sea of Galilee - the water body between Israel and the occupied Golan heights - according to the Bible. Today, that doesn't require a miracle.
The Sea of Galilee, one of the holiest places in Christianity, is Israel's largest freshwater reserve. But long periods of drought and over-pumping have brought the lake low. A reedy island has materialised at its southern edge, and will soon be a peninsula. Holiday-makers and fishermen teeter over expanding boggy beaches to reach the waterline.
"Because last years we did not have enough rain and also we have a big exploitation water, the water is going slowly down, down, down and we don't know where it will stop," said Meir Sternberg, a local.
Rocks are seen above the low-water level of the Sea of Galilee. (Reuters)
The Sea of Galilee was last full in 2004. Today, its shores are six metres wider, just two centimetres from the lowest level ever recorded. If the lake shrinks too much, its water would become saltier and negatively affect animals and plants relying on it.
It is a largely man-made disaster. Drought and overpumping have hit the Sea of Galilee hard.
Israel sees a solution in desalination, in which it is a world leader. It plans to double the amount of Mediterranean seawater it processes and pipe half of it 75 kilometers (47 miles) to the Sea of Galilee.
"(We) are doing it in order to save our nature, to fight global warming, I mean to prevent the effect, the devastating effect of global warming on the Sea of Galilee and also to create a very significant water storage for the entire state of Israel for time of emergencies," said Yuval Steinitz, Israeli energy and water minister.
"If he (Jesus) is coming back, we will make sure that he will have to make a real effort to walk on the water once more," Steinitz joked.
The project requires an investment of more than $600 million.
The problem is larger than Israel - all the fresh water reserves in the region are currently at a 100-year lows.
Finding a common solution is imperative.
Man walks towards an island that has materialised at the southern edge of the Sea of Galilee. (Reuters)
The Sea of Galilee is not isolated, it is part of a water basin comprising the Jordan River and the Dead Sea, too. If it shrinks, everything else shrinks faster.
"We need this water, not only for us but also for the Jordanians, because they are in a very very tough conditions now from the water problems point of view," said Giora Shaham, Israel's Water Authority Director.
Until now, desalination and water recycling have been enough to keep the situation under control.
But as Israel enters the sixth year of drought and temperatures keep rising, new efforts are required. Israel's meteorological data shows that the country has become warmer by two degree celsius since the 1980s. When it rains, it rains too little, and the dry and cracked land finds it difficult to absorb rainfall.
Preserving the lake would free Israel to offer Jordan more water under a 1994 peace treaty.
"If there is irreversible damage done to the Sea of Galilee, to the Jordan, to this whole ecosystem, Israel's enemies could use it against her," said David Parsons, vice president of the International Christian Embassy in Jerusalem, which oversees evangelical outreach to Israel.
"It could also affect Christian tourism to the land. It's very good to see Israel taking responsible steps now to address this, finally."
Mussels and shells are seen on the ground at a shore of the Sea of Galilee in northern Israel. (Reuters)
Israel's plan provides for piping in 120 million cubic metres annually. Steinitz hopes to see that almost tripled in a cabinet vote next month. Such capacity, he said, would replenish the Galilee by 2026.
He predicted a small bump to consumers' water tariffs, to help defray the $622 million infrastructure cost.
Still, with a national election due in 2019 and an unusually wet winter looming, some worry the Sea of Galilee could be again neglected.


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'Want to make out?', the message popped up in the corner of her screen. She quickly closed the window and looked at the clock. Time for her lunch break. Taking off her headphones, she got up and left the office which was already half empty. He waited for her by the staircase. "Let's make a … Continue reading Lunch Break
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Double Room
It's been a long day. They had wrapped up the full programme of city tour and museum visit in a restaurant in the old town. Their rented accommodation was located centrally but still affordable since they had agreed to share a twin room. Exhausted the two couples dropped onto their beds. Andrea was the first … Continue reading Double Room
Cross Country
The final stop on the train line had dropped them off in near wilderness – or at least that is how it felt to them, being used to the facades and the bustle of the inner city. Over the roofs of the low houses one could see trees and open sky all around. As they … Continue reading Cross Country
Catching Up
The last of their other friends had just left. "Thanks for sticking around for the clean up," he said. "No worries," she replied. "I'd feel guilty leaving you behind with all those half empty wine bottles." With that she poured the remnants of a red into her glass and sat down on the sofa. "You … Continue reading Catching Up
The Flat Mate
Sounds of a television greeted them as they stepped through the front door. "I guess my flat mate is still up," he observed. The short hallway opened up into the living room where a staircase led upwards. Stretched out on the sofa lay a young man their age with tussled black hair, dressed in only … Continue reading The Flat Mate


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When they finished singing, there was no applause.
It wasn't the first time this had happened. Singer Hannah Tenpas said it doesn't bother her or the rest of the group, though.
- Photo By Jayson Mellom
- COMFORT AND JOY The Threshold Singers write and perform a cappella songs to bring some measure of comfort and cheer to people grieving, sick, or nearing death.
"We're not a performance group," Tenpas said. "When we sing for people we want to really create an intimate, heart-to-heart connection with them. We don't sing for the accolades and the applause. It's singing for people who are maybe not conscious, but at least hearing is the last sense that goes away."
Tenpas is the "song mama," or coordinator, for Hospice San Luis Obispo County's Threshold Singers. The group is a chapter of the national organization, Threshold Choir, and they sing in a cappella to provide a song bath of sorts for those who are grieving, sick, or experiencing a life-threatening illness. The idea is to offer a little peace, tranquility, and calm at the end of life.
- Photo By Jayson Mellom
- IN REMEMBRANCE At Hospice SLO County's annual Paws to Remember ceremony on Dec. 10, the Threshold Singers sang calming musical numbers for grieving pet owners.
All of the songs the Threshold Singers perform are written by chapter members, like "We are all just walking each other home," which the SLO chapter aptly performed at Hospice SLO County's Paws to Remember pet remembrance ceremony on Dec. 10 at their downtown offices. The song was inspired by a Ram Dass quote.
Threshold singer Sylvia Alcon remembers going to a local nursing home to sing for a woman with breast cancer whose daughter and ailing mother were also there.
"We told them, 'Hopefully we can just create a space for you to relax and be here,'" Alcon said. "We noticed other people were coming from other parts of the nursing home to listen. It was a very good feeling. We were all very teary-eyed. We felt as though we had done what we came to do."
Almost 15 years ago, Alcon's husband died, and she said hospice was very helpful to her. She wanted to give back and even did the training to be an in-home hospice volunteer, but it brought back too many memories.
"So when I heard about this singing and I realized I would be with other people, it just felt like the right thing to do. And I do love singing," she said.
The singers perform in groups of three or so to create the intimate feeling they strive for and to not overcrowd people's homes or nursing or hospital rooms. The SLO chapter meets twice a month to practice. Tenpas said the only requirement for new members is the ability to carry a tune and a desire to be a part of the group.
"There's something really magical that happens when we sing for other people," Tenpas said. "It's intimate. If this sounds like something that would be beneficial, that someone would enjoy, we're happy to bring it to them." Δ
Arts Writer Ryah Cooley can't sing, not even a little. Contact her at [email protected].


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The Heart of Mindfulness
by: Jon Aaron
For our retreat coming up in June, we were inspired to call it "The Heart of Mindfulness," which has a nice double meaning.
On one hand, this retreat explores the core teachings which form the basis of most mindfulness practices offered today whether through Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction or other programs. Even shiny new meditation apps are often utilizing these core teachings, which go back 2600 years or so.
The heart of mindfulness also refers to non-judgment—or heartfelt curiosity. This is a crucial component of mindfulness practice. Without heartfulness, mindfulness is hardly more than paying attention. When this element of compassion is integrated with the mind's capacity to sustain attention then things start to change. Yet too often, in the rush to develop "productivity" or "focus" in our culture, this dimension gets lost.
The danger of titles is that they reify what they name. We might start to think of mindfulness as a "thing" to obtain (in only 8 weeks! 28 days!) or an instrument we can call into service when needed. In truth, mindfulness is a capacity that we were all born with before life interfered and various habits got in the way of its flourishing. Rather than taking this quality and turning toward our experience more fully, we've been trained (knowingly or not), to turn away from our experience. Worse, we've taken on such absurdly busy lives that we forget to attend to what's right in front of us.
The "heart" of mindfulness is this quality we were born with to be fully present with our direct experience. As this quality is "re-awakened," compassion—another human capacity—is awakened as well.
The heart of the teachings which allow us to break down obstructions are most clearly defined in two interwoven Buddhist sutras—the Four Establishments of Mindfulness (Satipatthana Sutta) and Mindfulness of Breathing (Anapanasati).
These comprehensive teachings, which have been passed down to us by generations of meditators, offer tools to both help us see these obstacles clearly and recognize when they have fallen away. At any point, the fruition of our practice can shine through. In the case of the Anapanasati sutra, there are 16 steps to follow. In the first couple of steps as we learn to know the body breathing, and we begin to see both the obstructions and their falling away more clearly. Even in these early stages, we can start to have insights into the nature of reality. This strengthens our mindfulness, which in turn brings more opportunities for insight…
In a retreat setting, we have few day-to-day external distractions and are supported by the practice of noble silence. As a result of this slowing down and reduction in input, the process of seeing obstructions with kindness, and experiencing them falling away (at least momentarily), is more accessible to us. We see more, and this provides greater confidence. Add to this the support of practicing with others, and the heart of mindfulness shines through.
About the Author: Jon Aaron
Jon Aaron is a leading MBSR teacher, teacher trainer and mentor and dharma teacher in New York where he teaches at New York Insight and other centers. He is a co-founder of the MBSR Teacher Collaborative of Greater New York and a founding member of the Global Mindfulness Collaborative. He has been leading retreats in the US and elsewhere for the past seven years. Recently with his partner Upayadhi, he established Space2Meditate


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Aquacranial at Timberhill
All massage sessions are by appointment only, so please call or click to schedule your appointment today!
If you need to cancel an appointment
At least a 12-hour notice is required for cancellation of an appointment. If you cancel less than 12 hours before or do not show up to your appointment, you will be charged a No Show fee of 70% of the cost of your session. You will no longer be able to book online and payment of your fee will be due before your next appointment. Exceptions can be made for emergencies. Please contact us as soon as possible.
Tardiness: Appointment times are as scheduled and cannot extend beyond the stated time to accommodate late arrivals. Please be on time for your appointment.
Sickness: Massage is not appropriate care for infection or contagious illness. Please cancel your appointment as soon as you are aware of infection or contagious condition. If it is within the 12-hour notice period, the cancellation fee will be waived.


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Ferro da stiro a temperature basse. Massima temperatura 100 °C
Lavare a secco (qualsiasi solvente)


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Once we have evaluated your dog's placement, we can begin our North Lauderdale dog training sessions at a park nearby, in your home, or at our home. Private sessions are available, as well as group sessions for multiple dogs at once.
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Justice came.
Category: Politics
Kindess is as Kindness does…
One of my favourite images from this week:
This is a wonderful example about how the content of character overrides the colour of skin – people helping people. This is what it's all about!
Bravo to Patrick Hutchinson! And to whomever took that photo!
We have one planet people, we are ONE race. We are indubitably in this together…
Thoughts and questions on Covid-19
Hello human family!
Lately, our strange and unique world has seen some great challenges. So many thoughts and questions have been running through my mind – and I am sure that it's the same for many of you.
I've been thinking of the families who have lost loved ones due to the corona virus and it's got me thinking about the adage, "When an old person dies, he takes a library with him." How many libraries have been lost in the last few months because of one little, yet incredulously powerful virus? My heart goes out to all of you…
Yet, this sheds an astonishing light on how poorly we treat the most vulnerable people in our societies. It's almost as though, once people reach a certain age, we "put them away" in places that could not possibly bring them comfort, which, ironically, makes them more vulnerable.
I never thought that our seniors could be so negligently and thoughtlessly ignored, even though people are being paid to attend to their needs. I never thought that doctors, nurses, EMTs, hospital staff, porters, food servers, janitors, cleaning staff would be even more vulnerable than the patients streaming in to hospitals.
I never thought I'd be a cheering fan of truckers, but as long as they are delivering the food to our grocery stores and supermarkets, I'll continue cheering them on. (thank you truckers!) and thank you to every employee of every place that sells food – without all of you, this pandemic would have been far more horrendous!
Thank you to the bus drivers, teachers (who are well underpaid!) and all essential workers for keeping things going while the rest of us shut down.
Thank you to the Canadian government and health officials who have been there for us, informing us, supporting us and giving us the truth of the situation. (So proud to be a Canadian!) Thank you to all the anonymous, un-thanked volunteers who are delivering food to the most vulnerable. You are heroes and sheroes too! Thank you to the food banks who are overwhelmed with requests and under supported.
Thank you to all those following the social distancing requirements, staying home and wearing masks while you have to be out and about. You too are an important part of this recovery process!
And thanks also to the "covidiots" who necessitate embarrassment; I never thought we would need new lessons on how to properly wash our hands or explanations of what "six feet apart" looks like.
I had long held out hope that pollution levels in India, Los Angeles and China would dissipate, and yet, look at what happens when we are forced to stay home with our families, loved ones and liked ones? Jellyfish have been spotted in the canals in Venice! People are hearing bird song in places in which birds had disappeared and more importantly, we have had no choice but to surrender to our surrounding ecosystems.
Why (and when) did it become normal to continually and substantially harm our environments? It took a global health crises for us to realise what was possible if we all just stopped for a bit…
People, let's not ever go back to the previous way of environmental degradation. We have the power to shape a new normal, so when we are able, let's all go plant hundreds of trees.
Goodness knows, the Amazon is in trouble. Let's not add to it… Look at what happens when we give Nature the time she needs to repair herself.
Have you also noticed the tanking of gas prices? I've written on this blog before that if all of you wanted to see lower gas prices, all you had to do was stop driving for a bit.
This is nothing new. Given how many people have stopped driving for a month or two, we're seeing major environmental response. Please don't throw that away for the sake of the dreaded rat race. We have one planet. There are no other options.
Moreover, when did it become normal for world leaders to publicly request that all governments globally work together to solve this crisis? Did the fact that "we're all in this together" not register? Do certain leaders think that their part of the continent will be spared given who's in charge? Denial is a dangerous game when it comes to pandemics. Let's stop electing people who clearly don't give a ****.
How many of you complained that you didn't have enough time with your families? How many of you wished you didn't have to see your bosses on a day-to-day basis? How many of you wished "that you could just slow down for a little while?"
It seems, my friends, we were all making the same wishes…
But there are lessons here for those who ponder- Only the One who Made us could make the entire world stop, answer all our wishes, show us who the real heroes are and expose the awesome regenerative power of Mother Nature simultaneously!
Take this time and use it well. Don't waste it on the hustle; the old rat race has run its course. Nature is showing us what really happens when we're not paying attention.
Speaking of paying attention, it's been bothering me that we pay certain people so much money to act in plays or movies. We give them awards and as much air time as they want – even just for cutting their hair. Yet, we pay our teachers less than many essential service workers. We pay our footballers, basket ball players and baseball players more money than can be justified whilst we under-fund and undervalue teachers, janitors, porters, food servers and biological researchers – these are the people who will find a cure for cancer – and for the Novel Corona Virus.
Don't get me wrong – GO RAPTORS! – I love a good match as much as anyone else, however, are we all not questioning priorities at the moment? One of the Italian biological researchers said it well, "You pay Messi 1 million Euros per month while you pay researchers 1800 Euros. You want a cure? Go ask Messi."
How many of you, whilst schooling your children at home, have had the thought "I don't know how teachers do this every day…"? It's time to show, and place, appreciation where it belongs.
And how is it that we read one article on what is happening, or what needs to happen and we become sudden subject matter experts who can diagnose one another and prognosticate as to when things will open up again?
Also, HOW do people get away with having mass protests under lock down? Because yet again, the almighty dollar reigns supreme? Has Covid taught people nothing? Without your health, the rest of anything else becomes irrelevant.
And WHEN did it become okay to pack in a small flight without any pre-screening, health or temperature checks? Or any instructions that masks must be worn throughout the flight?
Speaking of planes, how long will it take before I can travel again? How long before I can see my antipodean family? When can I rush into a grocery store for a midnight milk run? When can I sit with loved ones in a café or restaurant without fear of infection? When will there be a vaccine and how will they get it to everyone?
I'm sure many of you have the same questions. I think the most important fact of the matter is this: family matters. Your loved ones matter more than the hustle, the drive, the status of how many and how much…
We have to trust that "this too shall pass," and when we emerge from this world of isolation, let's all be that much kinder to each other. Do we not deserve that?
Love each other. That's the only real rule.
Hey Vancouverites,
Thank you for one of the most peaceful protests we've seen in a very long time. Thank you to everyone who made signs (on recyclable and reused materials) and thank you to all the parents who stood beside their little ones. This strike/protest matters. You matter. Our world matters. "One love, One heart, Let's get together" and make this right!
Some of my favourite photos:
All photos ©Safreena Rajan
People of all walks of life attended this rally from very young to young at heart and all people in between. The human family was well represented today. Well done Vancouverites!
Kudos to the VSB for "Letting" kids skip school to attend. I get the feeling though, that the majority of the 100,000 people in the downtown core would not have asked permission.
The Earth is in trouble people. Let's not leave it in the hands of those who clearly don't care.
Thank you to everyone in every city, province, state, nation, country who walked or who supported those who walked today. Shout out to the Policeman who directed traffic using his sandwich and coke bottle as sign posts for traffic to follow! (Unfortunately I couldn't get a pic, but I'm thankful I live in a place where the police have our safety first in mind and can make us laugh.) And thankful I live in a place where signs like this result only in messages being delivered and more cardboard being recycled!
Thank you to the Climate Strike Team, Fridays for the Future, Greta Thunberg and all the lovely people who, like me, have been fighting this fight for years. There is much to be done. Today was a fantastic start!
Tel Aviv….
is the capital of the rogue state of Israel.
Nuff Said.
If it walks like a duck, and squaks like a duck… it must be terrorism
Let me preface this post by stating that my heart is broken for all those affected by the heinous act of terrorism that took place this past week in Las Vegas, Nevada. My thoughts and prayers are with all those who have lost friends and loved ones, all those injured and all those traumatized by this event. May God bless each and every one of you…
It seems to me that the world has been going crazy. Every time I turn around, there is another violent, gruesome attack of some sort. And every time I turn around, Muslims are being blamed. A whole group of people, being blamed for the barbaric actions of a few. I cannot even begin to tell you how wrong that is.
But what really concerns me is this: when a "dark-skinned follower of 'Islam' perpetrates a hate crime, he/she is a terrorist." However, when a Caucasian commits a barbaric act, he is a "gunman." This DOUBLE STANDARD is a hate crime in and of itself. It is a targeted, deliberate act of prejudice. Western Media outlets have their own agenda and will only refer to Muslims as terrorists.
How many people have to be slaughtered before the person(s) committing the crime can be called a terrorist? The challenge with how terrorism is defined in the West is that the term itself is directly correlated to a "religious" ideology rather than the very personal nature of the crimes themselves. All we have to do is look at what Israel is doing to Palestine and one can see deliberate, political, religious acts of hatred being perpetrated in the name of "self-defense." The other challenge with defining terrorism is that it is tied in to a "political" ideology. So if the 'gunman' in Las Vegas was settling a personal score, where does that fit in to the above definitions?
It doesn't. The definitions themselves have to be redefined. Stop blaming an entire segment of the world's population for the actions of a few. Do your own research; don't let the biased, bigoted news you see portrayed by Western media outlets be your entire basis of evidence. Seek knowledge for yourself.
This man in Las Vegas doesn't fit the "criminal profile," of a terrorist. However, he committed a brutal, terrifying act of violence which struck fear into the hearts of everyone in a given location. Why is that not called "terrorism?"
Earlier this year, when Muslims in London coming out of a mosque after prayers, were rode down by a Caucasian male in a white van, it still wasn't called terrorism, even though that 'man' was shouting hateful words towards the Muslim group. Even though he said he wanted to "kill all Muslims," he was still referred to as a "deranged lunatic." He committed an act of terrorism, shouted political ideology as he was dragged away by police and it took three whole days before British broadcasters began quietly using the term "terrorist." An off duty reporter with the BBC, who was speaking with a group of young Muslim Youtubers, turned off his camera and his microphone and said to the group, "look guys, I'm going to be honest with you. The media outlets have their own agenda and won't say what you want them to say."
At least he was honest. So here's what I say to the Western Media outlets:
"Sac up. Grab yourself by the parts that matter and stop being biased by what your producers are telling you is truth." YOU KNOW BETTER.
To all the people who are so quick to blame Muslims when something goes wrong in the world, stop. If you want to know Islam, speak to a Muslim. If you want to know the truth about how Muslims are treated, look at the Rohingya. As of 2015, 61% of hate crimes in Canada were against Muslims. (as per the Canadian Human Rights commission.) If you really want to know what prejudice feels like, speak to a member of the First Nations.
What the world needs to do is love. Love is the key to all things. Love is stronger than hatred. Love is stronger than bias. Love is stronger and more powerful than darkness. We are one human race. We share one planet. And the same God made us all.
"We must be louder than those who make headlines by their acts of hatred. We must call out acts of intolerance no matter how small, because even small acts can embolden the hatred and anger that lead to devastating consequences. Our diversity is our greatest strength."
~ Marie-Claude Landry
president elect who??!!
America – just when I thought you couldn't possibly surprise me anymore….
It's time to colonise Mars.
'nuff said.
You will be missed.
To the Moon and Barack!
I wanted to send a personal thank you to American Voters for re-electing President Barack Obama. But I have very specific reasons for which I wanted to say thanks.
I say thank you because although many of you voted for Mitt Romney, you did not elect a deluded, farcical, "cut between an Attila the Hun in global warmongering and Jack-the-Ripper in capitalist savagery," as Hamid Dabashi, Al-Jazeera contributor and Professor of Iranian Studies and Comparative Literature at Columbia University calls him. Mitt Romney would have bankrupted America and taken war to an already war-torn Syria. To those of you unfamiliar with Syria and its regional politics, Syria is not Tunisia, it is not Libya and it is not Egypt. It is uncomfortable ground; ground which needs protection and careful, decisive, well-planned and wisely executed action.
I say thank you because you didn't elect a President who pays less in taxes than you do and less than you ever will because of the very same tax loopholes and expenditures he talked about shutting down. You need to ask yourself what a presidential candidate really stands for when the taxes he pays amount to "chump change," in financial rhetoric. You have to ask yourself if your candidate really "gets it." It was clear from the get-go, that Romney didn't.
I say thank you because you didn't elect a President who couldn't and who wouldn't, though asked on countless occasions, specify an economic plan which would outline exactly how and through what means new jobs would be created, the deficit and government spending reduced. If Romney was indeed a business man who could "solve problems" then this would have been a walk in the park for him. Instead, he couldn't answer the question. In fact, time and again, he and Paul Ryan refused to specify their plan.
I say thank you because you didn't elect a President who, for the last four years has been on a personal mission to make Barack Obama "a one-term President." To quote Bill Clinton, "it takes a lot of brass," to accuse someone of non-bipartisanship when that someone has been hell-bent on precluding the President from doing his job.
I say thank you because you elected a President who gets it. You elected a man who understands that the only way to get things done in Washington is through bipartisan cooperation even when that cooperation is short-lived or outright non-existent. Historically, the issue of health care and insurance for every American has been a very sore point in American politics, but here you have a president who is looking at the much larger picture of ensuring that when workers are healthy and don't have to worry about health coverage, those same workers are far more productive.
You elected a man who won an unprecedented and historical presidency. To those of you on the far right of the political spectrum, I say this: it should never, ever come down to the melanin count to determine who has the right to become President. So when every parent, of every race looks to his or her children, and says to them that they can become anything, it will hold true.
I say thank you because you elected a President who has much work to do. Especially when it comes to closing, once and for all, Guantanamo Bay. When America finally holds true to international law, to the Geneva Convention, the International Convention on the Rights of the Child and the International Human Rights Declaration then it will truly be an independent nation. I say thank you because President Obama, and whoever comes after him, needs to learn that the unfettered access to prisoners of war, without being informed of their rights and to be detained indefinitely, without trial, has to end. This President and all who follow him need to learn that people in Afghanistan and Iraq are not going to be grateful about having their countries taken over and taken to the brink of extinction just because an American President (GW) decided that their lives were "less than." President Obama needs to learn that praising Israel continuously and making the protection of the state of Israel America's number one priority is not going to help achieve peace in the Middle East. If America is indeed a sovereign nation, then there is no reason it needs to have Israel determine its foreign policy. Obama has work to do in stopping drone attacks because he has no right to determine who lives or dies in nations and regions which have historically been problematic. Drones solve nothing. Let us hope that President Obama will get that.
I say thank you because America and the world need an economically viable and stable America. Were it not for the absolute failure of George W. to recognise that banks and financial institutions require regulation and were it not for the spending of $80 billion per annum on a war that no one wanted or needed, President Obama would not have inherited the economic mess that resulted in a near world-wide collapse. You Republicans can go ahead and blame the President for this mess, but you really should hold your own accountable. You elected a puppet who had no business being in the White House, let alone being Commander In-Chief and then you expect that President Obama can fix it in one term, with an undeniably resolute republican party blocking his every move! That, my friends, is called impudence.
If Mitt Romney had won the election, all I would have written was this: Hide your money under your mattresses because that is the only place it will be safe. Since we have witnessed a different turning of the proverbial tide, I will say this: for economic situations to rebalance themselves, there is a requirement to spend and save simultaneously. Money is like blood flow—it needs to circulate in order to grow. Without spending, there can be no saving and vice versa. President Obama gets that.
You may ask why a Canadian cares so much about who is in the White House? Because who you elect has a direct effect on my country's relationship with your government. Additionally, your government tells me how countries like Syria will be the recipients of dialogue and conversation rather than bombings. People like me have friends and relatives all over the world and we want to know that the "leader of the free world," will maintain dialogue and be thankful for the opportunity to do so. Your country is deeply divided and has been for many years. Perhaps if more of you were to do your homework, rather than relying on tub-thumpers like Sarah Palin, Michelle Bachman and Newt Gingrich, you would come to learn that you personally have work to do. Being a citizen is not just going to the polls when there is something about which to vote. You have a voice; you can choose to get educated and stop living on lies. You can choose to have faith in your country. People all over the world laugh at America and call you stupid. That is because you make such a fuss over the middle name of a president when those very people who call you stupid are being shot, tortured and even killed just for dissenting against their own governments. President Obama gets that.
I am beginning to believe that while President Obama still has a great deal to learn, there is almost nothing he cannot achieve. He was right to run on Hope and Change in 2008. America was in dire need of those two very indispensable commodities. Indeed, so too was the world.
I say thank you because you elected a President Unprecedented. Never before, in American history, has an African-American male been elected to the White House twice.
If Tupac could see this now….


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Merriam-Webster announced that "austerity" saw more than 250,000 searches on the dictionary's free online tool. This was probably due to greater coverage of the international debt crisis. Therefore, it was announced by the company as Word of the Year for… Read More ›
Posts for 2010
BBC Poor Sports reporting and lost charter
The BBC sports coverage team have a lot to answer for. Sometimes I feel that on the whole the BBC are a private club. I'm not doubting the abilty of the presenters to present edited highlights. Certainly, the crew that… Read More ›
Interfaith Youth Trust a 2010 review
In both 2009 and 2010 I was honored to be elected Chair of the Interfaith Youth Trust (IFYT). The Trust is registered with the Charity Commission. The working name is the Inter Faith Youth Trust. The Trust (Alma Royalton-Kisch Trust)… Read More ›
Reaching Sikh Youth requires investment and trust
In September 2010 we were happy to learn that we won 3rd place at this year's Sikhnet Film Festival. The festival is in my view both innovative and inspiring. It is one of those initiatives that hopes to motivate people… Read More ›
BBC1 Remembrance: The Sikh Story – Review
I wrote these notes as I watched tonights episode of BBC1's Remembrance: The Sikh Story. Firstly, as per normal it's ridiculous that programmes of such calibre and importance are shown at such a late hour. I'm also not sure how… Read More ›


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Our challenge is to be ready and game appropriate strategies
The present era of late modernity has many defining characteristics but none more accurately delineates this period then globalization, interdependence of nation states and the onset of localized events with global ramifications. In the recent past, we have witnessed Chernobyl and Fukushima disasters, the 2008 global financial crisis, and the present coronavirus global pandemic. Each of the aforementioned calamities originated as localized happenings that resulted in significant global consequences for governments, organizations, and households. Late modernity, therefore consequently, yields a risk adverse society exacerbated by uncertainty and chance where we have little influence over factors that are outside of our control.
As a former United States Marine, business owner and entrepreneur, business consultant and investor, I have grown to realize, and accept, that the environs of business is often liken to turbulent stormy seas, forever will be besieged by uncertainty and chance. Uncertainty coupled with chance frequently breads a crippling mind-set of fear, inaction or wrong deeds, and void of a strategy; the actions of leaders become impetuous possibly leading to unintended consequences and folly. Whether speaking of governments, military, organizations, or households, leaders of those institutions must distinguish between skill sets and one's disposition when it comes to responding to crisis.
In the present coronavirus global pandemic, I have witnessed individuals and leaders of organizations from many diverse backgrounds respond to this crisis in a myriad of ways. Some have responded with stress, anxiety, feelings of being overwhelmed, fear and hopelessness in the face of financial ruin. While others seem to proceed with business as normal demonstrating good courage, steadfastness, and feelings of calm and comfort originating from their disaster preparedness plans. Yet, others find comfort and courage in faith while, at times, vacillating between the aforementioned groups. Whichever group(s) we fall into, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have serious effects on individuals and society.
What is happening now has happened before, and what will happen in the future has happened before…
Notwithstanding, all leaders, whether in governments, military, organizations or households must continuously self-evaluate his or her disposition for preparedness, the ability to respond to a crisis with speed, adaptability, resoluteness, precision while gaming strategies in response to crisis. Our disposition and how a leader responds to a crisis, is made from conscious choices. It is our disposition that lead us away from reason and good success towards folly and outcomes that are fraught with unintended consequences. Tomorrow will bring with it a new day, but with new and old challenges. As King Solomon correctly admonished: "What is happening now has happened before, and what will happen in the future has happened before…"
For the leader going forward, our challenge is to be ready and game appropriate strategies of mitigation for future crisis.
Augustus R. Jones
Managing Director / GRMC, LL.C


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Something that I been thinking of doing but putting it off – to housekeep my links. There are new links that I need to update and some old links that I need to remove. Anyone who wants to exchange, put a comment in this post.
(Anything for cheap publicity. Image source: http://www.freedigitalphotos.net)
Meantime, have a read of the latest comedy from some UMNO clowns with regards to eggs:-
The Seputeh Umno Youth division lodged a police report today against Seputeh MP Teresa Kok, claiming she had insulted the Royal Malaysian Police and the egg, which is an essential food of the underprivileged.
The division's deputy head Alawi Dahalin and several other members lodged the report at the Brickfields police station.
"By saying this, she had insulted the police and the poor. Eggs are an important food for low-income earners and the poor. As an elected representative of the people she should not have said that," he said.
The only insult to egg is the fact that some idiots' brain is also in the size of an egg.
Enjoy your weekend.
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A unique and delicious blend of black cavendish and Virginia tobaccos flavored with a delicate cherry flavor for a round and smooth taste.
Notes: Also called "Hausmarke Ruby" in Europe.


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Life in a superinsulated solar house. More about the life than about the solar.
Good heavens, I hope it stops soon!I saw on the news about the flooding in Tennessee - terrible!
Amazing. Hope it doesn't get any worse!
I've seen the news and the flooding that's happening. I hope the rain subsides soon, and that you'll be o.k. Send some our way!


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"When I was young I wanted to become a doctor. It was my dream to help people and be of consequence to them.
I didn't become a doctor. Still, I do help and guide many people in my role as Personnel Coordinator at abflexkracht. It is a very versatile job and it gives me pleasure. I am glad that I can do something for them. I usually offer practical solutions, sometimes I simply lend them an ear and other times I console them.
I think poppies are beautiful wildflowers. You can see them pop up along the roadside and on most uncultivated pieces of land. How special is that!"


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Recommended reading to enrich your travel to the Land of the Thunder Dragon
Oyssey Guide Bhutan, by Francoise Pommaret
Vivid guidebooks by Odyssey, as with Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand guides, the Bhutan edition is loaded with graphics and photographs that make the book a great souvenir as well as guidebook material.
The Raven Crown: The Origins of Buddhist Monarchy in Bhutan, by Michael Aris
"The definitive account of the modern history of Bhutan as seen through the 20th-century Wangchuk dynasty, which has ruled the kingdom since 1907. Based on Bhutanese chronicles, this gorgeously produced, informative book features 106 rare historic photographs from archives in Bhutan and the United Kingdom. Originally published in 1994. The late Michael Aris lived in Bhutan from 1967 to 197 as a historian and tutor of the children of the royal family."
Bhutan: The Land of Serenity by Matthieu Ricard (2012)
A perfect souviner and reminder of your trip to Bhutan. Matthieu Ricard is a Buddhist monk who left a promising career in cellular genetics to study Buddhism in the Himalayas 35 years ago. Matthieu spent eight years in Bhutan with Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, a revered Tibetan Buddhist master, and has continued to return to the "land of the thunder dragon" throughout his life, discovering on each occasion another of its invaluable treasures. His experiences are recorded here in this exceptionally beautiful book, a voyage to the heart of Bhutan, a land where spirituality and daily life are intimately linked. 184 color illustrations. As well as bestselling author, translator and photographer, he is an active participant in current scientific research on the effects of meditation on the brain. He lives and works on humanitarian projects in Tibet and Nepal.
The Blessings of Bhutan, by Russ and Blyth Carpenter
Not a travelogue, this is instead an introduction to Bhutan -- its people, customs, religion and history -- as interpreted by a husband-and-wife team who has made Bhutan their second home.
Married to Bhutan (2011) by Linda Leaming
"As one of the few Americans to have lived in Bhutan, Linda Leaming offers a rare glimpse at the peaceful mountain kingdom so many have only dreamed of. For over ten years, Leaming has lived and taught in the small town of Thimphu, where there are fewer than 100,000 people and no traffic lights. "If enlightenment is possible anywhere," she writes, "I think it is particularly possible here." The Bhutanese way of life—quieter, slower, and more tranquil—can seem daunting to most Westerners, consumed with time, dates, speed, and efficiency. In Bhutan, people rarely check their e-mail and take their time answering their telephones. But, as Leaming shows us, a little patience—over a cup of warm tea and friendly conversation—can help soothe the most distressed mind and soul."
"In this funny, magical memoir, Leaming takes us with her on her travels through South Asia, sharing her experiences as she learns the language, customs, and religion; folklore of a revered Tibetan holy man who gave blessings to the people by whacking them on the head with a big wooden phallus; her unlikely romance with a Buddhist artist; and her discoveries about the unexpected path to happiness and accidental enlightenment, where true bliss resides. Married to Bhutan is a reminder that following our dreams is the way to be truly happy." —Amazon
Radio Shangri-la by Lisa Napoli (2010). "What I discovered on my accidental journey to the happiest kingdom on earth," states Lisa Napoli who left behind Los Angeles for a new adventure in the land of the thunder dragon. "In this smart, heartfelt, and beautifully written book, sure to please fans of transporting travel narratives and personal memoirs alike, Lisa Napoli discovers that the world is a beautiful and complicated place—and comes to appreciate her life for the adventure it is."
So Close to Heaven, The Vanishing Buddhist Kingdoms of the Himalayas • by Barbara Crossette (NYT Journalist).
A New York Times Asia correspondent writes of Bhutan and neighboring kingdoms of Ladakh and Sikkim in the Himalayas, strongholds of Tantric Buddhism in an increasingly homogenized world. It's part travelogue and part history -- a personal portrait of the region.
Journey in Bhutan: Himalayan Trek in the Kingdom of the Thunder Dragon by Trish Nicholson. If you are trekking in Bhutan, a must read. "Journey in Bhutan: Himalayan Trek in the Kingdom of the Thunder Dragon" is not a guide, it is the trip. Through informed and sensitive narrative and personal journal, Trish Nicholson shares her experience trekking and absorbing local culture and history in the Land of the Thunder Dragon, the unique Buddhist Kingdom of Bhutan hidden deep in the Himalayas."
"An anthropologist and storyteller as well as a photographer, the author takes us on knee-wrecking gradients over passes three miles high, following the footsteps of Buddhist pilgrims, to meet yak herders families. We listen to monks chanting in ancient monasteries, and enter fortified dzongs containing religious treasures. We visit shops with smoked yak cheese, car parts, felt boots and silver coated biscuits on the counter. The author's photographs – 37 original colour plates – let us see for ourselves the sacred mountains, smiling people, and amazing architecture."
"In this Year of the Dragon, if you are unlikely to get to Bhutan any other way, this book will take you there. If you've been, or plan to go, it will enrich your experience. For those who like to dig deep, there are suggestions for further reading, a glossary, historical time-line, and a survival guide to Bhutanese Buddhism." —Amazon
Beyond the Sky and the Earth • Zeppa's memoir of her time as teacher in a remote village shows her growing love and commitment to the people and culture."
Buttertea at Sunrise • A Year in the Bhutan Himalaya, by Britta Das (1996)
This travel narrative is an old favorite.
In Search of the Thunder Dragon, by Sophie Shrestha (Illustrator), Romio Shrestha (Illustrator),
Travellers and Magicians (DVD, 2003). The first feature shot on location in Bhutan, this film, directed by a respected lama, follows a young official on his odyssey across the country. Along the way he is joined by a mischievous monk, an elderly peddler and an old man with his daughter.
The Cup (DVD, 2002). A wonderful story for children. A humorous story of a monk determined to watch a match of the World Cup on TV, despite disciplinarians at his monastery. The film features local novice monks in main acting roles.
Why choose Indochina Travel? We take you to places, organize experiences, and introduce you to local people that no one else does. Whether celebrating an anniversary or planning a family trip, our journeys offer unforgettable experiences in Bhutan, Land of the Thunder Dragon.
Read on to plan your perfect Bhutan tour? Contact us by clicking below or calling us in San Francisco at (628) 256-0093 .