text:
Article Text
Statistics from Altmetric.com
In 'Is prostitution harmful?' I argue that if casual sex is acceptable, then so is prostitution.1 Anna Westin, in 'The harms of prostitution: critiquing Moen's argument of no-harm', raises four objections to my view.2 Let me reply to these in turn.
Westin's first objection is that it is 'fundamentally problematic [to] categorise sexual ethics into merely two types', the type that accepts casual sex and the type that does not. The reason why, she explains, is that this 'incompletely frames the contemporary discourse in sexual ethics'. She points to the views of Linda McDowell, Roger Scruton, Raja Halwani and the Roman Catholic Church to illustrate the breadth of contemporary ethical theorising about sex.
Westin is right that I do not provide an account of contemporary sexual ethics. Neither …
Competing interests None.
Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; internally peer reviewed.
Request Permissions
If you wish to reuse any or all of this article please use the link below which will take you to the Copyright Clearance Center's RightsLink service. You will be able to get a quick price and instant permission to reuse the content in many different ways.
Copyright information:
Linked Articles
- Feature article
- Commentary
- Commentary
- Commentary
- Responses


text:
Here's uber cutie Mila Kunis prancing around Beverly Hills and definitely starting to look pregnant, and I'm not just saying that because she's starting to show a baby bump, which you can totally make out even better thanks to her flimsy top and jeans. If you ask me, the biggest sign that she's really pregnant is because she looks twice as busty than usual. Yeah, I could totally be a doctor for celebs, eh? Enjoy!
Category: Mila Kunis
I don't know about you guys, but I was really disappointed in Mila Kunis lately. Ever since she got named Esquire's Sexiest Woman Alive, I haven't seen a single picture of Mila that backs that choice up. But, today I finally got some pictures that are not lame candids. Here is Mila Kunis nude at the premiere for her new movie Oz The Great and Powerful, proving that she can clean up nice. But we all knew that. I just wish Mila would bring this hotness more consistently.
Mila Kunis Sexy For Esquire
Esquire magazine have chosen this year's "Sexiest Woman Alive", and it's none other than the always uber cute and sometimes uber sexy Mila Kunis! Well, if you ask me it looks like they have lost their minds. Don't get me wrong, I love Mila and think she's a very hot piece, but sexiest? Maybe cutest. However, enjoy these pictures of her, it's some of Mila's best work.
Mila Kunis Shows Her Sexy Stomach
Now that we found out that Mila Kunis is getting the Ashton Kutcher bone nightly, we need to learn to accept this before we can move on. Until then, here are some pictures of her walking around in some frumpy jeans and loose fitting top. Of course this is not how I imagine Mila when I think about her, but she's absolutely gorgeous and she's giving me a peek at her cute little belly and I like it.
Mila Kunis See Through Cleavage
I don't know what's happened to Mila Kunis, we hardly ever see her anymore, it makes me sad. But I'm sure she missed me, so I'm glad to see she showed up to the premiere of Ted last night. Clearly she knew I was waiting for her to come out with some sexy shots, why else would she hit the red carpet in such a sexy dress. Well, at least the see through top half of the dress is sexy. Enjoy
69th Annual Golden Globe Awards Pictures
69th Annual Golden Globe Awards was last night and that means that there were sexy women parades during the night which includes my favorite celebrity babes like Angelina Jolie, Kate Beckinsale, Salma Hayek, Mila Kunis, Natalie Portman, Jessica Biel, Jessica Alba, Sofia Vergara, Stacy Keibler, Maria Menounos and many other… Enjoy the pictures.
Mila Kunis GQ's Knockout Of The Year
GQ magazine have just named uber cutie Mila Kunis as their "Knockout of the Year", and here's an exclusive photo to help celebrate the occasion… Actually I think this picture is a little older, not that it really matters, but how can you not love a picture of Mila in her little undies? Enjoy
Mila Kunis Hot At The Movie Premiere
Here are some pictures of Mila Kunis looking hot as always at the premiere for her new movie "Friends With Benefits". I'd love to see her new movie, just to see this hottie in some sexy little outfits, but I don't think I'll be able to sit through all the garbage and lame jokes. Especially because this Timberlake douche. Instead, I will be satisfy these pictures and her hot ass in tight dress. Enjoy

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Adore Tank Top Raisin
غير متوفر بالمخزن
The Adore yoga singlet crafted from the softest stretch cotton is the perfect companion for a relaxing yoga session or the cool down afterwards. Supportive and utterly comfortable the top comes in a flattering raisin purple for a look that will work for any shape. The sporty singlet features a double-strap elastic racerback in gold lurex and a round neck for total ease during your favourite yoga positions. By buying cotton products from Rituals you're supporting responsible cotton production through the Better Cotton Initiative. Product details • Cotton-mix • Slim fit • Round neckline • Sleeveless • Solid colour • The model is 1.74 m tall and wears size S Order now from the official webshop.


text:
These findings should be of interest to policy makers in China because, among other implications, the results suggest that Chinese regulators should pay attention to the switching of audit partners before they reach tenure limit for mandatory rotation. Partner-level opinion shopping could be more difficult to detect in markets in which the identity of the engagement partner is not disclosed, and it may therefore be prevalent in those markets, such as the United States.
Chen, F., A. Peng, S. Xue, Z. Yang, and F. Ye. 2016. Do Audit Clients Successfully Engage in Opinion Shopping? Partner-Level Evidence. Journal of Accounting Research 54 (1): 79-112.
Opinion shopping refers to the practice by which audit clients seek alternative auditors willing to give a clean audit opinion when the incumbent auditor is likely to issue an unclean opinion. Existing studies examine whether companies successfully engage in opinion shopping through switching audit firms using data from such countries as China, the United Kingdom, and the United States. In this study, the authors examine evidence of switching audit partners within the same firm rather than switching to another firm for clean audit opinions, which they term "partner-level opinion shopping." Statements from the PCAOB suggest that partner-level rotation shopping has become a regulatory concern and the regulators believe that this practice may be more prevalent if the names of engagement partners are not publicly disclosed; however, there is no empirical evidence on the existence and extent of partner-level opinion shopping to the best of the authors' knowledge. Consequently, the authors attempt to fill this gap in the auditing literature by testing whether companies successfully engage in partner-level opinion shopping.
The authors decided to use data from China because engagement partners in China are required to sign the audit report, which enables the authors to identify partner switches before partners reach their mandatory rotation limit. The sample consists of observations from 1998 to 2012. They use an audit reporting model to determine a company's probability of receiving a modified audit opinion (MAO) with and without a partner switch.


text:
With the evolution of reproductive sciences comes the opportunity for many couples, who wouldn't have previously had the chance, to conceive. But with these new methods comes a whole list of other issues that wouldn't normally be present if the baby was conceived the 'old-fashioned' way. Everything from family genetics of the sperm and egg donor to ethics behind the relationship between children who have been conceived from the same egg/sperm donor come into play. Plus – mix-ups do happen. Over the years we have reported on quite a few couple's who have mistakenly become pregnant with another couple's embryo.
But for one Ohio couple, they experienced a mistake that is irremediable. One that has left them so angered they have filed a lawsuit against the Midwest Sperm Bank LLC.
Within days of marrying her partner Amanda Zinkon in 2012 Jennifer Cramblett become pregnant with donor sperm at a fertility clinic in Canton.
Elated to be starting a family the pair called Midwest Sperm Bank LLC outside Chicago to reserve sperm from the same donor in hopes that Amanda would someday carry their second child.
That is when they learned that she had been inseminated with sperm from No. 330, a black donor, and not No. 380, a white donor she and Amanda, had chosen.
"How could they make a mistake that was so personal?" Cramblett said during a telephone interview on Wednesday. "They took a personal choice, a personal decision and took it on themselves to make that choice for us out of pure negligence."
Months later Jennifer gave birth to a baby girl named Payton, whom they love more than life. Now, two-years-old the women are concerned about raising her in the predominantly white community where they live.
They are also worried about how Payton will be treated in her "all-white, and often unconsciously insensitive family." It has been suggested by therapists that Jennifer and Amanda move with their daughter to a more racially diverse community with good schools. But the pair are suing to prevent the sperm bank from making the same mistake again. Their lack of concern and care for how the mistake had affected her family was also a big driving force behind the decision as well, Jennifer revealed in an interview with NBC News,
"You can't just do this and say, 'Well you got a baby. So you should be happy. You should be happy you have a healthy child.' I am happy I have a healthy child. We love her more to this day. She has made us the people that we are. Never trade it for the world. But I'm not going to let them get away with no held accountable. If they had some compassion and just said sorry. But they didn't. They didn't care," she told the news channel while wiping away tears.
The lawsuit notes that the sperm bank has no electronic record-keeping and no quality controls that would have prevented it from sending the wrong sperm to fertility clinics.
They are seeking $50,000 US in damages, money their attorney says will pay for ongoing counselling.


text:
Fans get a fresh breath of new Kolohe Kai album
Rebecca Meyer, Features and Sports Editor, Reporter
April 17, 2019
Island reggae artist Roman De Peralta, also known as Kolohe Kai, is garnering attention from both island listeners and those from across the country with his album "Summer to Winter." Known most famously for hits, such as "Ehu Girl" and "Cool Down," Kolohe Kai hasn't released new music...
Take the lede
Milena Ordonez, Reporter
March 13, 2019
For the PDF version click here: take-the-lede-pdf.pdf....
Academy celebrates a better LIFE…Week
Aileen Jornacion, Photo Editor
February 23, 2016
Photo credit: Aileen Jornacion...
Students earn college credits while in high school
Janelle Medrano, Reporter
May 15, 2015
Nineteen students have enrolled in History 151 World History for the upcoming fall semester, marking the beginning of a program offering courses for college credit on the Sacred Hearts campus. The course will be administered through Leeward Community College (LCC) and taught by LCC professors. Junior...
Reflection necessary to overcoming defeat
Ashley Marie Lardizabal, Reporter
May 15, 2015
Often teens think that once they fail to achieve their goals, they no longer have the chance to reach their objective. The best way to rebound from this feeling of defeat, however, is to find motivation in what has been learned even in failure. The first step to overcoming failure is to accept that...
LIFE team readies new liturgical events
Frances Nicole Tabios, Reporter
May 15, 2015
Campus ministry has selected the Living in Faith Experience (LIFE) team for the next school year. Juniors Kayla Galima, Shayla Trinidad, Nicole Pagdilao, Janelle Medrano, Nikaela Busekrus , Summer Tsukenjo, Elizabeth Fischer, Sylvia Nguyen, Kathryn Garcia, Shannon Domingsil, Shajaira Fiesta and Haylee...


text:
Looking for a unique gift to delight your father? This white coffee mug will surely leave him mesmerized. It is a great way to make your father feel special. Designed with utmost creativity, this mug is bound to make your dad feel special and loved.
NOTE: It is a courier products and will be delivered next 3 to 5 working days.


text:
Simplify and amplify
Tesco is Britain's biggest supermarket. But after decades of growth, Tesco faced tough new competition from the discounters as well as serious reputation problems. When new CEO Dave Lewis joined in 2014, he wanted to re-establish Tesco's central role in the nation's life. He knew that the brand was fundamentally strong, but that Tesco's complex branding needed first to be radically simplified, and then to be amplified, bringing back meaning to the old slogan 'every little helps'.
Proudly Tesco, plus British Jack's
We acted as creative partner, bringing together in-house teams and specialist agencies. We helped simplify Tesco's brand architecture, with the idea that everything the company does should be 'proudly Tesco'. We created a fresh new visual identity system covering signage, store design, packaging, marketing communications, online, and even shelf-edge price labels. At the heart of this huge project, we created a new typeface, Tesco Modern, with type specialists Colophon. Alongside all this, we helped Tesco create a new brand, Jack's, named after Tesco's founder Jack Cohen. Jack's is the first truly British discounter. We created an identity that's warm, passionate and tactile, instantly recognisable from a simple tile shape inspired by the union jack flag.
Confident to grow
By revitalising its heritage, Tesco has rediscovered its sense of self. Customer perceptions of the Tesco brand have improved dramatically, and Tesco is now outperforming its rivals in both volume and value. Meanwhile, Jack's has established itself as the most exciting recent innovation in British supermarkets. Tesco now has the confidence to lead campaigns against food waste and plastic packaging, so that the business is once again a positive social force as well as a huge commercial success story.
"The Tesco brand is stronger and customer satisfaction is the highest it has been for many years."
Dave Lewis
CEO, TescoBack


text:
BEIJING and HONG KONG, April 1, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — Chinasoft International (hereinafter referred to as "Chinasoft" or "the Group") announced its financial results for fiscal year 2014. In 2014, the Group's service revenue, operating profit, and net profit attributable to equity shareholders was RMB 4.15 billion, 380 million, and 200 million respectively, realizing a YoY growth of 35%, 51%, and 35%. During the reporting period, the Group's net operating cash flow improved significantly, from a deficit of RMB 61.04 million to positive cash flow of RMB 74.80 million.
In 2014, individual lines of businesses have achieved favorable growths, noticeably in the research and development and promotion of Jointforce, Huawei, mobile, and cloud services.
I. Create an Internet based Crowd-Sourcing Cloud Ecosystem
During the reporting period, Jointforce, a crowd-sourcing platform based on cloud, continued to be perfected. Jointforce entered its beta testing in early May of 2014, and publicly debuted at the annual Ali-Cloud conference, creating a buzz across the industry. On December 12 and 16, 2014, the Group officially launched the Jointforce platform in Beijing and Hong Kong respectively, signifying Chinasoft's resolve to transform into a platform enterprise. At the end of 2014, Jointforce had over 8,100 registered developers, with nearly 700 live projects. The effects of micromanagement which increased management efficiency and lowered costs became apparent. As more of the Group's business lines migrate to Jointforce, the Group is seeing its internal resource management becoming more dynamic, and its incentive programs more appropriate. Both management and employees now have more reason to be confident for a better working environment while increasing productivity.
As of 31 March 2015, Jointforce platform is expanding rapidly with more than 27,000 registered developers, of which more than 10,000 developers are external users. The Group believes that the supply and demand of IT services is closely related and will help each other grow. The platform will fulfill the service promise of "fast completion" of projects, starting with creating a community of developers. Then, the Group will invite 100 recognized enterprises to sign up and post jobs onto Jointforce (goal during beta launch). Now, there are over 200 registered enterprises on Jointforce, of which 40 of them have posted jobs onto the platform, showing the market demand for "fast, trustworthy, and affordable" IT services.
II. Strategic Cooperation with Huawei Enterprise Business Line to Drive Innovation
During the reporting period, the Group continued to improve overall operation of Huawei related business, registering a growth of more than 88%, with steadily improving margins. The Group and Huawei signed a strategic cooperation agreement for Chinasoft to become a Gold Agent for Huawei's enterprise business line, and joining Huawei on its new goal to penetrate into ICT services industry. In the current phase, the Group is focused on having joint innovation in cloud infrastructure solutions on the enterprise level. In 2014, Huawei and Chinasoft jointly developed a new generation of tobacco manufacturing execution systems. These projects were also related to Ministry of Industry and the Internet Innovation Alliance on the front of Industrialization 4.0. For this, Chinasoft received Huawei's "Innovative Solutions Award." In the new environment of building a "secure, reliable, and self-controlled national information" strategy, the Group sees a tremendous potential through the full-on cooperation with Huawei, combined with the Group's own market insights.
III. Continue to Improve Cloud Presences in Different Industry and Contribute to Internet+
As the first Ali-Cloud Ecosystem commercial partner, Chinasoft currently has a full range of Ali-Cloud Ecosystem technical capabilities. The Group provides cloud consulting, design, solutions, planning, integration, application delivery, migration and other cloud services. During the reporting period, the Group worked closely with Ali-Cloud and completed the very first of Ali-Cloud's "Digital China" project by signing the "Cloud Above Guizhou" project (which came after the Lishui project). Furthermore, the Group signed a strategic cooperation agreement to develop e-government operation and big data platform (for public services) in Guizhou province on the Ali-Cloud.
In terms of expanding the Group's oversea cloud business, Catapult's "Solutions as a Service" has gone through a number of break-throughs and now has FUSE, an Intranet as a Service product. "Solution as a Service" received praises across the industry and earned high recognition from Microsoft. In 2015, Microsoft cloud services will push heavily in the enterprise-class projects, and on this front, Catapult's Solution as a Service is very much in line with Microsoft's objectives. In the most recent period, the sales for Microsoft Azure have surpassed the sales of Amazon cloud, giving bright outlook for the Group. Furthermore, the Group is actively putting together an elite level team to understand and learn from the American enterprise cloud market to transfer that knowledge back to the Chinese market and expand its cloud markets.
In 2014, the Group continued to work closely with China Mobile. Chinasoft successfully won the renewal of the China Mobile Fetion wireless project, the China Mobile unified communications project, the China Mobile 139 mailbox project, and the China Mobile unified payment platform. The company actively cooperated with China Mobile's three new ("New Voice", "New Info", "New Connection"). The Group is working with China Mobile on its proposed unified communications strategy on multiple fronts: the planning, drafting of specifications, designing and developing the software. Chinasoft has become the core service provider due to its leading mobile R&D in instant messaging capabilities and the scale required for large projects, marking its position in a mobile era.
In 2014, the Group signed a strategic cooperation with the Ministry of Public Transportation Management Research Institute to collect traffic big data and use scientific methods and new technology to manage, harvest, and analyze the big data. This is the true definition of the future of public transportation big data application.
The Group also signed with WeBank to build a system to access product card organizations and data preparation system. The successful signing with WeBank (considered as the representative of Internet Banks) set a good precedent and helped lay a solid foundation for the Group to enter into the Internet finance business.
Looking into the future, the concept of Internet+ has been elevated to a national policy, and the Group will take full advantage of this opportunity to transform its businesses through its cloud computing, mobile, and big data capabilities, industry giant partners, and broad vertical customer base. The Group has already made progress in the Internet+ era on the fronts of government administrative cloud, pharmaceutical cloud, mobile Internet, industrial Internet, transportation management big data, and mobile, and will continue to take advantage of the new markets opportunities sprung from the Internet+ policy. At the same time, the Group will build sub ecosystems on Jointforce, starting with the long tail markets of e-government and industrial Internet market. Software will redefine the world, and become the backbone to other industries. Chinasoft, through Jointforce, will be able to offer "fast, affordable, and efficient" services to help that. Chinasoft will be the "water provider" to all the diggers during the Internet+ gold rush, and successfully transform from the traditional IT services to an Internet based company.
For more information related to the annual result, please click:
Or visit the official website of ChinaSoft International:
Recent articles
[INVNT GROUP]™ APAC Boosts Through the...
LEWA Nikkiso Russia becomes Nikkiso Industrial...
Leave a comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.


text:
Seattle, Washington
Ian C. Bates (b.1992 in New Brunswick, NJ) is a photographic artist based in Seattle, WA. His photographs look at his curiosities of human nature in the United States. He was selected as one of the 2017 PDN's 30 New and Emerging Photographers to Watch.
His editorial clients include The New Yorker, National Geographic Magazine, National Geographic Traveler, The New York Times Magazine, California Sunday Magazine, Bloomberg Businessweek, WIRED, The Wall Street Journal, Surface, Stern, Juxtapoz and others.


text:
Wayanad is a place of mesmerizing beauty situated on the north eastern region of Kerala. The place comprises of some exotic locations and sights to behold as well as excellent opportunities for trekking and other adventure activities. There are many places to visit in Wayanad and you can choose your pick by going through this list.
The district of Wayanad is on the southern part of the Deccan plateau and this is why it comes with high and low hills in different areas. The Wayanad district is also called the "land of Paddy fields". It is the only district of Kerala that borders both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. The best feature of Wayanad is its forests. The forests of Wayanad district is more than 3000 years old, and in this article, we will tell you about some of the best locations and adventure activities you can immerse yourself in Wayanad, Kerala. Have a look!
Sights & Attractions
- Edakkal Cave
Edakkal literally means 'a stone in between.' This is a place with vast legends. One story suggests that this place was made with the arrows from Lava and Kushs, the children of Lord Ram. It is said to exist from the Ramayana era. Another story suggests that it has links with Goddess Mudiampilly. It is therefore worshiped and is a pilgrimage site. These caves have been linked to the Indus Valley civilization and draw the attention of archaeologists from around the world. There were 400 signs drawn inside the caves. The very recent one shows a man with a jar cup. These carvings are at least as old as the Indus Valley Civilization, suggesting this place had links with the same. If you are an enthusiast when it comes to ancient art, Edakkal Caves has to be included in your list of places to visit in Wayanad.But, do try and reach the caves around 10 PM. As the day passes, the temperature rises and you might not be able to enjoy Edakkal Caves well.
- Pookode Lake
Nestled between the forest and the Western Ghats, this place is ideal for a romantic boating getaway. It is one of the top 10 tourist destinations in Wayanad, and photographers and nature lovers will find solace in this place. It is said that this fresh water lake is in the shape of the Indian subcontinent and is filled with lotus flowers. You can also spot wild animals and rare birds around this lake. Situated 770 meters above sea level, this lake will give you a breathtaking view of the place. Panamaram is the name of the rivulet which originates from this lake and becomes Kabini River. This lake is an artificial one and you should only go here if you have covered the other attractions. I would not put this attraction at the top of places to visit in Wayanad.
- Kuruva Islands or Kuruvadweep
Lying on the tributary of the river Kabini, Kuruva islands is known for its geographical peculiarity. This place is sought by the adventurous as you will be provided boats and rafts from the Kerala board of tourism. It will take nearly two to three hours to cover the entire island in these boats. For tourists, there is a track along the jungle where you can take a walk under the bamboo trees. There are huts and benches at different places to take rest. Once again nature photographers will rejoice being in this place. There are a lot of orchids, birds, and wildlife, and a walk in the forest itself is quite an experience. Have a date with nature by visiting this natural water body out of all the places to visit in Wayanad.
- Thirunelli temple
Thirunelli temple is located 900 meters above sea level and the view from up there is spectacular. Of course, it is famous for religious reasons as well. It is called the "Kashi of the South" and is the only place where all Hindu rituals can be performed. Historically speaking, the locals believe that this place is where Lord Vishnu's Pratistha was done by Lord Brahma; hence a lot of rituals are performed here. People also come here to perform their ancestral rites. The temple itself is built in ancient architecture and draws a lot of curious and religious minds throughout the year. There is a holy rock inside the temple where people pray for their forefathers. To revel in the spiritual and religious ambiance, you need to include this temple on your list of places to visit in Wayanad.Source: www.pilgrimaide.com
- Meenmutty waterfalls
Just when you thought there was everything that you have seen in Wayanad, it presents you with a lovely waterfall. To reach this place you will have to go through a 2km jungle trek. This might call to the soul of the adventure lovers. The falls is effectively located at Ooty main road and is a great place to have some fun while taking pictures with your friends. Meenmutty is the word for "fish" (meen) and "block" (mutty). Since it is a waterfall, it is believed to be a place where fishes got blocked and caught. But make sure you don't go there during high inflow of water as it may be dangerous with past accounts of people having drowned. Visit this falls and splash in water to enjoy a natural habitat by including this waterfalls in your places to visit in Wayanad.
- Wayanad heritage museum
Wayanad Heritage Museum is the place where a lot of archaeological artifacts are kept. Being one of the largest museums in Kerala, it is located 12 km away from Sulthan Bathery. There are several kinds of pictorial rock edicts called Hero stones here. The Hero Stones were put upon the tombs of the heroes who died saving people. The Devasmruthi block contains relics that are as old as the Neolithic age. Local artifacts that have been recently excavated from the Malabar region have also been kept on display here. To appreciate the art and heritage of Wayand, this is a good option out of all the places to visit in Wayanad.
Source: http://www.wayanadmuseum.com/
- Jain Temple
The Jain Temple was built in the 13th century and it was inspired from the Vijaynagar style of architecture. It is prepared fully with granite. It was a shrine and later became the storehouse for ammunition during the reign of Tipu Sultan. The Jain Temple encompasses beautifully carved pillars along with a square granite slab with carvings of Mahavir Jain. People who visit find the ambiance serene and rejuvenating. The temple is the proof of the presence and stronghold of Jains in the region once upon a time.
Image Source: http://www.chaliyarresorts.com
- The Lakkidi Viewpoint
This is the gateway of Wayanad. It is located on the Thamarassery Ghat pass. Looking closely, you will observe there are nine hairpin curves through steep mountains starting from Adivaram. It is a great vantage point with awesome scenery. It is also called one of the highest locations of Wayanad. It was once the secret route used by the Adivasis of Wayanad. An English engineer, with the help of a local chieftain, identified the route through the ghats. There is a number of exotic wildlife which you can find here such as the Lion-taled Macaque, and rare birds like the Little Cormorant, Green Heron and Pond Heron. If you prefer going to places to visit in Wayanad with a view, do include this attraction to your list.
Source: unexploredplacesinkerala.blogspot.com
- Neelimala Viewpoint
This is a beautiful viewpoint from the Meenmutty falls. Right from the checkpoint of the hills, you can watch the green landscape and the foggy peak of the hills. The river streams flowing down add more to its scintillating beauty. You can call it as a perfect natural landscape which is also a good spot for trekking. Again, a good option from the places to visit in Wayanad if you like view points.
- Soochippara waterfalls
The waterfalls at Soochippara gush down from a height of 100 to 300 meters. The waterfall is popular for swimming, rafting, and even lounging in the river at times. Around the region, you will find a lot of tree top huts which offer a treat to the eyes. The overall view of Soochippara waterfalls combined with the Western Ghats is just top notch. Most tourists love to take some lazy time off and enjoy this amazing view around the waterfalls. The Soochippara Waterfalls do allow you to swim in calm waters. So, do include it in your places to visit in Wayanad if you like staying with nature.
- Pazhassi Raja Tomb
It is a very popular picnic spot in Wayanad. This place comes with an aquarium within the lush surroundings where you can avail boating facilities. The best feature of this region is the tall brooding trees and shrubs. It was also the cremation point of Pazhazzi Raja; he was known for his bravery and was popularly called as the "Lion of Kerala". He was the one who initiated guerilla warfare against the East India Company in Kerala. In this spot, he was cremated in 1805, and thus this place is called Pazhassi Raja Tomb. Take a dip in history by visiting this out of the places to visit in Wayanad.
Source: https://www.keralatourism.org
- Pakshipathalam
Pakshipathalam is located in the Brahmagiri Hills at Thirunelli. This is a challenging spot for tourists to reach as it requires you to cover 1 kilometer through wild forests, but is all worth the effort. You get to see a lot of deep rock caves on your way at the northern top end of Brahmagiri hills. These are the locations of various migratory birds and wild beasts. However, you need to get special permission from the Forest Department to go to Pakshipathalam. Apart from that, you will also need guides and proper camping equipment. Pakshipathalam can be tagged as an easy to moderate trek. However, in monsoon season, the trekking trail gets slippery and a bit tough. The trekking trail has a lot of snakes in monsoon as told by the homestay where I stayed while visiting Wayanad. So, be extra cautious and wear proper gears if you want to include this trek in your list of places to visit in Wayanad during monsoon. Of course, the trail will be very green and flourished in monsoons.
Source: Wikimapia
- The Phantom Rock
The place is 13 Kms away from Kalpetta. It is a short uphill climb that leads you to the edge of the hill. From here you will see the strange rock formation. It is almost like a skull that sits on top of the hill. The question that everyone asks is, how is that rock so well balanced on top of that hill? Because the rocks below it are smaller in size. It is really sad that the beautiful hills are torn apart to attain granite. And this is what makes the overall hills look more crippled than the Phantom Rock. You need to visit this attraction out of all the places to visit in Wayanad to understand how amazing nature can be!
14. Karapuza Dam
Now, this dam might not be one of the top sights out of all the places to visit in Wayanad. But, I am adding it here as we had a unique experience here. it was a torrential rain pouring on the Wayanad landscape and we visited Karapuza dam after the sun set. The rains and water body at Karapuza Dam created a great combination of raindrop music. The thunders roaring in the sky, along with lightning streaks made the entire atmosphere electric! We just let our hair down and soaked in rain. An awesome experience! As it was a rainy night, I wasn't able to click any pictures.
Adventure Activities
- Trek to Chembra Peak
The trek to Chembra Peak is quite adventurous – you have to cross the grasslands and the dense forests first. Only then after a two-hour climb can you reach the top of Chembra. The best time to trek through this place is during the early mornings. You can reach the top mid-morning and enjoy the sight of the terrains atop this 6,900 feet mountain. Halfway through the journey, you will notice a lake in the middle of the mountain. This lake never dries and is a beautiful sight. At present, trekking during summer is prohibited. But summer or otherwise, it is always best to get the authority's permission before trekking here. If you are interested in trekking, you need to include Chembra peak in your places to visit in Wayanad. To read more about my trekking experience to Chembra peak, read this blog: Trek to a heart shaped lake, Chembra Peak.
- Night camping with campfire
Wayanad is the perfect place to arrange a campfire in. at night the entire area transforms into something else. You will be left awestruck to see how this place is one way in the morning and entirely something else at night. You have to arrive at Chundale (near the meeting point) at 5 pm. Later, you are taken to the camp site. What do you do here? You gaze at the stars, share some memories by the campsite and tell stories that give you goosebumps in the middle of the forest! The lush green Bansura forests will engulf you and is a raw forest experience that will leave you in awe. You should definitely try camping in the dense forest of Wayanad. These campsites can be beautiful places to visit in Wayanad to stare at the night stars.
- Wildlife safari
There are many places where you can go for a wildlife safari in Wayanad. But the most popular of them is Tholpetty and Muthanga. Tholpetty is known for its vast wildlife region and Muthanga is a wildlife sanctuary. Most of the trees here are deciduous and at the sanctuary, you can spot peacocks, owls, cuckoos, babblers and jungle fowls. At Tholpetty you view the same animals. Both the sanctuaries are separated by tea plantations. It takes nearly 2-4 hours to cover the entire area, so the time slots are usually 3-5 pm and early morning 7-9 am for tourists. For the best experience, visit this place from November to May months of the year.
Source: http://www.srinistravelogue.com
- Tea plantation stay experience
Imagine living right in the middle of tea plantations and seeing the valleys covered in fog in the morning. This is the experience this place is going to give you. There are also many activities like trampoline jumps, plantation walks and outdoor gaming options here. But the best thing about this place is staying overnight in the middle of tea plantations and gazing the valleys encapsulating you from all around. These tea plantations make amazing places to visit in Wayanad and to experience the best of nature.
- Cycling tour in Wayanad
Get on with your gang and go cycling among the tea plantations. The plantation trails are rugged and wavy which bikers can enjoy. 2-3 hours of unrestricted biking here opens views you didn't know existed. There are lush green forests and wildlife you can discover on the way. If you want to catch some scenery all by yourself, this is a golden opportunity. The countryside and villages here make great places to visit in Wayanad and you should definitely experience these tours on two wheels while the mist envelops the farms.
- Spice trail of Wayanad
The Wayanad Spice trail looks and feels exactly like a kitchen full of aromatic smells. There are spice smells from the plants all around. You can directly talk to the farmers here for an oversight. The steep stairs and big boulders are also ideal for photography sessions. INclude the spice plantations in your list of places to visit in Wayanad and enjoy the flavor and aroma of spices.
- The river trails of Wayanad
Well, if you don't visit the river trails through the Kabani River then you will miss out a major part of your tour. Exploring the islands scattered over water on speedboats or hand pulled boats offers a mesmerizing experience. You will enjoy the beauty of nature as you raft along the river. While you are traversing the river, especially near the river ferries you can enjoy the scenic view of villages and breathe in the fresh air. These rivers make great options for places to visit in Wayanad.
- Rainforest trekking
Trust me you will definitely not want to miss it. Tell me, would you want to miss out the thrill and adventure when you see herds of elephants passing by very close to you? Surely not! You can listen to the various calls of birds in the wild. The guides from the local community will help you pass through these trails. You will observe a variety of footprints from animals and the guards can help you identify them. It is a one-day long trek to Nilambur forest from Meenmutty. The trail is steep and offers magnificent views of nature.
Source: https://www.keralatourism.org
- Boating/picnic near Banasura Sagar Dam
The Banasura Sagar Dam is also the largest earthen dam in India and the second largest in Asia. The dam is located on the foggy hills with a wildlife sanctuary. It also includes innumerable flowering trees. There are boating facilities here you can choose and also opt for a picnic near the dam. You should definitely include Banasura Dam in your list of places to visit in Wayanad if you like vast landscapes.
Source: http://www.banasura.com
- Trek to Sahibkkunnu
Sahibkkunnu is a land of dense forests where the wilderness will amaze you. The exciting trek is just for 7 hours and the steep ascents towards the top will make this trek a memorable one for you. From there you can enjoy a drive through the foothills of Banasura ranges. This landscape tops the list of places to visit in Wayanad for adventure enthusiasts.
- Stream walk and river dipping experience
Located on the Begur-Theopetty forest area, this is just the perfect spot if you want to spend the night in the wilds. The Kalindi River is clear here with fewer tides, so you can swim or walk across the river along the stream. You can walk down the Kalindi River that weaves through the jungle and spend a great afternoon with your loved ones. You can even take a dip in this river. Take a dip at these places to visit in Wayanad and let yourself enjoy your time.
- Bamboo rafting in Kuruva Island
For once, you have to indulge in Bamboo Rafting in Kuruva Island. There is no other way to feel the lush forested regions and explore the beautiful river streams. The river is located in between tributaries of the river Kabini which flows through Wayanad district. But you need to get the life jackets before you set off for the waters. As you move along the river, you will witness pure greenery and stunning sights of the island. If you are including Kuruva Island in your places to visit in Wayanad, you should surely enjoy this experience
27. Uravu Bamboo Craft Trail & Workshop
Meet the artists who work on Bamboo craft for a living and get to know about this cottage industry flourishing in Wayanad. The village where this Bamboo craft trail is organized makes a great inclusion in places to visit in Wayanad. You can attend a workshop here with the artisans and learn about their skills and expertise.
28. Stay in a forest stay amidst nature
A perfect inclusion in your places to visit in Wayanad is your own stay. Imagine staying amidst lush green forests, waking up to chirping birds and a mist of envelope covering your balcony rail. If you select your stay wisely, you have a great inclusion in your places to visit in Wayanad already! I stayed in Mountain Dew Homestay and I would greatly recommend it.
I hope you liked my suggestions. It would be great if you have more additions to recommend. Do feel free to asking questions or share your experience in the comment section below. You can also reach out to me to know about any places to visit in Wayanad, experiences in Wayanad or recommended stays and I will be glad to help you out.


text:
WATCH: West Kelowna evacuees coping in wake of fireOn 24/09/2018 by admin
With more than two thousand people forced out of their homes and hundreds more on evacuation alert, the evacuation centre in West Kelowna has been bustling all day.
"We got food and diapers. It is amazing, the help is really good and community is so good," says Rochelle Vella.
She along with her husband and their two young children including a newborn are among the 25 hundred people who had to flee their homes Thursday afternoon when the Smith Creek wildfire began threatening lives and properties.
Story continues below
"There are so many people working on it. You can hear the planes right now, they are good at what they are doing. I will leave in their hands, they'll figure it out," says Vella about efforts to ensure houses don't get consumed by flames.
The evacuation centre has been set up at Mt. Boucherie Secondary where all evacuees are encouraged to register.
"We would like people to register. It gives us an idea where they are first of all, if people are looking for them the only way we can connect family members is if they have registered and they call us then we can put them in touch so that is important," says Catherine Williams with the Central Okanagan Emergency Support Services.
Evacuees are also entitled to food and clothing vouchers as well as hotel accommodation for three days.
However, with the peak tourist season and the weekend, finding available rooms is proving challenging.
"The number of hotels I have called the majority of them are saying zero. We have some hotels that will be able to provide some rooms tonight possibly. If we can get people in tonight, we are happy we can get them in tonight we have to worry about tomorrow tomorrow," says Ken Thompson with Central Okanagan Support Services.
With the shortage of hotel rooms, evacuees are being encouraged to reach out to family and friends to house them.


text:
It is issued from The National Bank Of Wareham. This is a ONE BANK TOWN! This note is extremely rare, and it is getting much harder to find this type of bill! I'm not a professional grader, but the pictures are very clear so that should give you a good idea of what to expect.
This note has a ton of crisp left to it and is in great shape with no issues to speak of! It is a great rare bill!
This bill is a must have for any collector of National Currency! All my items are exactly as described. Thanks for looking and good luck! The item "$10 1929 Wareham Massachusetts MA National Currency Bank Note Bill! Ch #1440 VF" is in sale since Wednesday, October 11, 2017.
This item is in the category "Coins & Paper Money\Paper Money\ US\National Banknotes". The seller is "stoneyt66" and is located in Middletown, New Jersey. This item can be shipped to United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Australia, Denmark, Romania, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Czech republic, Finland, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Estonia, Greece, Portugal, Cyprus, Slovenia, Sweden, Indonesia, Thailand, Belgium, Hong Kong, Ireland, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Italy, Austria, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Switzerland, Norway, Saudi arabia, Ukraine, United arab emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Croatia, Malaysia, Colombia, Costa rica, Panama, Trinidad and tobago, Guatemala, Honduras.


text:
|Albums > Alnmouth > Former Blacksmith's Forge, Northumberland Street
|This is the blocked up entrance to the Blacksmith's Forge on Northumberland Street, Alnmouth. No doubt it served the needs of the many horses and carts which would have in the past hauled goods to and from the Port of Alnmouth.
Covered by a Grade II Listing, this is the listing text courtesy of The British Listed Buildings web site @ https://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/101153323-front-wall-and-gateways-to-the-hall-and-hallsteads-alnmouth#.WqvXU5cuBtQ
Entry Name: Front Wall and Gateways to the Hall and Hallsteads
Listing Date: 1 September 1988
Grade: II
Source: Historic England
Source ID: 1153323
English Heritage Legacy ID: 236927
Location: Alnmouth, Northumberland, NE66
County: Northumberland
Civil Parish: Alnmouth
ALNMOUTH NORTHUMBERLAND STREET (West side) Front wall and gateways to The Hall and Hallsteads
Garden wall and gate piers; C19 incorporating early C18 fabric.
Squared stone with cut dressings. Gateways to The Hall and Hallsteads have square piers with plinths and banded pyramidal caps; those to The Hall have attached jambs. Right wall with blocked chamfered opening. Taller right end part has blocked doorway with moulded 3-centred arch and lintel inscribed L above date 1713. T A
Altered building at rear of wall is not of special interest.
Listing NGR: NU2461010655


text:
Adding this after writing the list below. Anything at all by Scott Sigler. He basically started podcasting books. Humans usually get plague after being bitten by a rodent flea that is carrying the Y. Pestis bacteria. Rock squirrels, wood rats, ground squirrels, prairie dogs, chipmunks, mice, voles, and rabbits also can become infected with plague from a flea bite, and fleas that bite them can, in turn, transmit the infection to humans by biting them..
cheap hermes belt Regardless of which we use the alligator mouth or the Packman game character, it gives them a visualization to relate the concept to thus increasing retention. Now, I challenge you so called math experts out there to do all of your teaching without relating the subject or topic to something that your students already know, understand, or are familiar with. Go ahead, lets start with something basic and at the kindergarten or first grade level and teach them to the point of mastery the concept of the greater than less than symbols with out relating it to something they already know or are familiar with. cheap hermes belt
fake hermes belt vs real So you got a house with most of the windows removed(because they were broken at some point), floor and roof is falling apart, carpet is removed, people don give a shit about anything so the the few times they do paint they slap it on with no nothing protecting furniture and the floor, etc etc. Throw in any number of other things that typically lead down to a trashed out house: pets, storing of toys like motorcycles inside the house because they will be stolen if left outside, children, adults that stopped cleaning long ago, drug use, etc etc. And click here to find out more you got a recipe for a house like this.. fake hermes belt vs real
Hermes Bags Replica Steps are grab the container that only usually has 2 3 portions of it, drain the water from the bag, fill it up with buttermilk, portion it, put it in cornflour shake the cornflour out over the garbage, and then finally drop it. Repeat from the start every 2 3 portions or if you get lucky the waters already drained / it's already filled with b milk. Not sure why there is a bag involved, unless it a single portion bag, but it doesn sound like that. Hermes Bags Replica
hermes belt replica aaa You can now be the ultimate host to your guest and treat them to comfort and style. The puncture resistant mattress can inflate in under three minutes and features convenience solutions like a wheeled storage case that you can roll away to the closet. This bed breathes new life into the term roll away bed being that it is much more compact and has new features like a carrying handle and smooth rolling wheels along with a powder coated steel frame. hermes belt replica aaa
high quality hermes birkin replica 9 points submitted 9 days agoYesterday it seemed like water just went right through me without hydrating me at all. I usually will drink around 110oz at work throughout the day, and generally I pee a good amount of times. But yesterday man, I peed like 9000 times, it was straight up annoying. high quality hermes birkin replica
perfect hermes replica No directional pieces, no annoying planning, just drawing a line and running it.Yeah it sounds a little like delve, maybe its a bad idea, but i could actually see myself doing it, provided I could build enough resources up with a high enough cap and then spend an hour or so in the nexus like you can in delve.EDIT: Going on a rant here as well maybe but I needed to say it somewhere: STOP TAKING ME OUT OF THE MAP. I realized the leagues i hated the most, like incursion and synthesis, are leagues that make me leave my map. Abyss is okay, depths happen rarely enough that its not a big deal. perfect hermes replica
Replica Hermes I have spent more than 40 years in this work and read a lot of medical records. The toe to thumb transplant operative reports are in the top two most fascinating. The nerve that allows you to smell travels through here, and a fracture here can cause your cerebrospinal fluid to leak out of your skull and through your nose (kind of a very dangerous runny nose). Replica Hermes
Hermes Replica Could object to that, although this exception is usually waived by the extraditing country. Shores, he would not be exempt from further charges. Political offenses exception: This involves whether Assange can make the case that he is being politically targeted. Hermes Replica
Replica Hermes Bags Me: it's not really fair on him, he's only four and I'd have to explain that he's not allowed to eat any of the things he's just found whilst everyone else gets to eat the chocolate. He can eat his own chocolate so he'd know what he's missing. I'm sorry, but I just don't think it's fair Replica Hermes Bags.


text:
Sometimes I get so wrapped up in a bad feeling that I cannot discern how the bad feeling started and I cannot see the way out of it. During these times, I wonder where the existence of feeling lies, and how other people find it and separate it from the actuality of events in their worlds.
I know that I have allowed certain situations in my life to create deep-seated mistrust of reality. I am sure that people are saying words they are not actually saying, and I read more between the lines than is actually there. In a way, I think my background in the theatre has exacerbated this seeking for subtext; in preparing a script, I have been urged to understand what it is the character is not saying as much as what she is saying.
This manner of interacting with the world, of being certain that I do not have the whole story and if I just push further into it I can find the one piece of evidence that will turn its outcome, is unhealthy, and I know it is unhealthy. I see it for what it is, and I long for the days in which I believed that everyone said what they meant all the time.
But when I am chin-deep in the reaction to what someone never said, I can only feel bad, the worst sort of it: because my feeling is illogical, all of my attempts at logic as a way out frustrate and depress me.
So my earnest question for you is: how do you separate what someone is saying from what you think they might not be saying?


text:
No child should have to worry about his or her safety and welfare. Unfortunately, millions of children around the world are at risk for violence, abuse, and exploitation. There are several threats to the safety of children, most of which are interconnected. Read on to learn about these specific issues, how they are related to one another, and how they might be alleviated.
To learn more, checkout the infographic below created by Eastern Kentucky University's Online Masters of Science in Safety, Security, and Emergency Management.


text:
Image of hairstyle for men: I wake up and smell the cooking I go up the stairs to the kitchen to see Jay cooking his dinner.
image of hairstyle for men images and tubes
I must have dozed off, I woke up an hour later to an empty room. I collapse, but Jay keeps me tight he washes me and himself, and then puts me on the bed.
image of hairstyle for men
Another orgasm, and soon after I feel Jay unloading inside me again. big ass black ass , On the verge of blacking out I am covered in pleasure as I have
My head down and my hand pumping my cock made me feel feint and light headed. Hot water on the back. , thick cock suck .
His hard cock quickly buried inside me, pushing in an explosive passion. For him, and I leaned ready for my second fucking. Running his soapy hands over my body, I again submit , pics of gay dads .
free gay chat videos , Once after I got in the shower, he was in the shower with me. My ass and legs ran his sperm with vision, must have made it incredibly include.
I felt his eyes on her. , free black butt porn . We made quite a mess, and so Jay told me to jump in the shower, I got up and went to the bathroom.
In the afterglow of my climax I feel so alive so pleased with myself so happy that I did it. men sucking huge dick .


text:
If you're searching a commercial plumber in Aliso Viejo then you have landed to a right webpage. Our Commercial Aliso Viejo plumbing company is committed in providing courteous timely attention to all our customers with commercial plumbing needs.
We work to figure out your plumbing problems and attend them with great responsibility. Our working is flawless as we understand the critical situations of your commercial drainage and pipes. When your commercial plumbing systems break down our services will immediately lend a hand to get you out of the critical situation of your life. A clogged drain, busted pipe, or damaged septic system can cause an absurd impact on your day to day life in commercial premises, and our Commercial Aliso Viejo plumbing can be very useful for you.
Call Aliso Viejo plumbers for complete copper pipes replacement or clearing clogged drains, our experience will get your plumbing job completed correctly and efficiently. We offer a huge variety of plumbing services and repair for your commercials areas in Aliso Viejo. We have dedicated ourselves in high-rise as well as low-rise commercial improvements, plumbing service and new constructions. Our expert staff will inform you the time of arriving so that you know when the service plumber will reach your door step.
Our aim is to serve our clients with:
- Punctuality
- Professionalism
- Knowledge
- Competitive pricing
- Job coordination
Our office staff caters our clients plumbing needs by providing fully insured, bonded and licensed plumbers.
Call us! We are always at ready to answer your questions regarding commercial plumbing and repair services.
Aliso Viejo Plumbers © Copyright 2020. All rights reserved.


text:
Performed at 5 times. Appeared at this venue for 0.5% of all shows.
December 5th, 2018
Hodi's, Fort Collins, CO
Set 1: Gordon's Mule, The Median, Realize Your Light > Dave's Song > Mandela Effect > No Quarter
Set 2: Weight of the Word1 > Good Enough, Aldehyde > Cheap Sunglasses2 > Aldehyde
Encore: Say It Again
Notes: 1 Technical Difficulties duo jam with Mike & Dave during segue, Rob had to change his bass drum head 2 BUSTOUT LTP: 12/13/17, 77 Shows
December 8th, 2017
Hodi's, Fort Collins, CO
SET ONE: 20/201, Warren in the Window2, They're Calling for Ya3 4 > All In5
SET TWO: Uncle Phil's Parachute, Underlyer, Triangle6
Encore: A Day in the Life7
Notes: 1 Riders on the Storm (The Doors) Jam 2 Meatstick (Phish) tease 3 Unfinished 4 Enter Sandman (Metallica), NY State of Mind (Nas) teases 5 Shofukan (Snarky Puppy), Killing in The Name Of (Rage Against the Machine) and Rebubula (moe.) teases 6 Know Your Enemy (Rage Against the Machine) segment 7 The Beatles, in tribute to John Lennon's passing
BUST OUT ALERT: Day in the Life last played 2/26/2014 (423 shows)
February 9th, 2017
Hodi's, Fort Collins, CO
SET 1: Eon Don > Timmy's Blades > Eon Don > Dave's Song > Numbers and Facts, Marty > Mosquito Valley Pt. II > Bennie and the Jets > Mosquito Valley Pt. II
ENCORE: Half In, Half Out
Ordinary Average Guy [Joe Walsh] teases in Dave's Song
Marty teases in Dave's Song and Numbers and Facts
So Fresh, So Clean [OutKast] and Wots uh The Deal [Pink Floyd] teases in MVP2
Stockholm Syndrome [Muse] tease in HIHO
BUSTOUT - Bennie and the Jets last played 2014/8/14 277 shows
BUSTOUT - Timmy's Blades last played 2015/11/21 129 shows
March 31st, 2016
Hodi's, Fort Collins, CO
SET 1: Skyway, Dave's Song > Take on Me, Warren in the Window, Numbers and Facts
November 19th, 2015
Hodi's, Fort Collins, CO
SET 1: Saria's Song > Calling Out > Don't Do It, Origami > Godzilla > Underlyer > Kitty Chaser (Explosions), Random Company > All In
ENCORE: Dr. Brox
Rebubula [moe.] teases in All In


text:
In an apparent attempt to assuage concerns that she would privatize the city's water system, Mayor Catherine Pugh on Monday announced a charter amendment to keep the utilities under the city's stewardship.
The language would make it impossible for the city to divest from the water and sewer systems, calling ownership of them "inalienable."
"The City's water and sewer system is a priceless asset for the citizens of Baltimore and I am determined to do everything possible to protect this vital resource and ensure that it remains reliable, clean, and plentiful," Pugh said in a statement. "This amendment will safeguard Baltimore City's water system and require that it is always operated in the best interests of those who rely on it, and for generations to come."
The proposal comes after activists from the group Food and Water Watch raised concerns about suggested changes to the city's charter from a mayor-appointed commission to review the constitution.
An organizer with the Maryland chapter of the group, Rianna Eckel, praised the new amendment.
"This is a remarkable step," she said. "If this were to move forward, Baltimore could be the first big city to ban asset sales of the water system."
Along with suggestions for engaging citizens in the budgeting process, eliminating gender-biased language and looking at a restructuring of the Baltimore City Council after the 2020 Census, the 55-member Charter Review Commission last week proposed a change to the rules by which the city's spending board can accept bids and contracts.
But activists with Food and Water Watch said this would open up the possibility of privatizing the water and sewer systems. They would potentially have a willing partner in a French-based private utility company, Suez Environment, who reportedly reached out to the city about a deal last year.
"This is a power-grab by the Mayor that could lead to water privatization," Mary Grant, director of Food and Water Watch's Water for All campaign, said in the statement last week. "In many cities, small contracts have acted as a foot in the door for much larger, more comprehensive water privatization contracts."
Pugh and Department of Public Works Director Rudy Chow responded by releasing a joint statement assuring the utilities would remain under the purview of the city.
"Baltimore City's drinking water system is a jewel that must be maintained in the public trust," Pugh and Chow said. "From the reservoirs in Baltimore and Carroll counties, to our filtration plants in the Ashburton and Montebello communities, we share the commitment of prior generations of civic leaders to keep this life-sustaining resource in public hands."
Even though this new language announced today would ban an outright sale, Eckel said it's possible Suez or another company could come in and try to sub-lease the systems and run them for the city, or some other public-private partnership.
"This still would allow everything up to an outright sale of the system," she said. "I think this still raises the same concerns. The same concerns are still on the table."
Ethan McLeod contributed to this report.
- Friday Afternoon Headlines: Families face child care dilemma; expiring unemployment benefits worry workers, state leaders; and more - July 31, 2020
- Guinness Open Gate Brewery marks two years with two new beers - July 31, 2020
- Thursday Afternoon Headlines: University System of Maryland mandates testing; Baltimore's positivity rate remains high; and more - July 30, 2020


text:
MrPhysicsGuyRegistered User
Content Count2
Last visited
Community Reputation1 Neutral
About MrPhysicsGuy
Recent Profile Visitors
The recent visitors block is disabled and is not being shown to other users.
Requesting Status of Medical Waiver - FC1
MrPhysicsGuy replied to MrPhysicsGuy's topic in Aviation MedicineHey fellas, I apologize for taking so long to reply. Another person here was able to get the information I requested. I now have a class date of April 2018!! I really do appreciate your replies.
Requesting Status of Medical Waiver - FC1
MrPhysicsGuy posted a topic in Aviation MedicineHello everyone, I received a secondary (explanations below) FC1-eye exam on April 4th of this year. The information was eventually submitted to Texas for review on July 27th and I've been waiting patiently ever since which seems to be a longer than normal time from my research. A little backstory: I'm a civilian that began the OTS route close to, or over 2 years ago. I was selected pilot after my second round of selection / interviews and DQ'd after my left eye did not fall within waiver-able limits (I had a -3.5 correction when the limit is -3 if I remember correctly). I pushed for a re-test and both eyes fell well within the waiver-able limits. The recruiter I deal with seems to be forced to wait for results just like I am. If there's one things I've learned the most during this process is if I want it bad enough, I must take initiative to find any route I reasonably can to push things along...respectfully, of course. So, my question is if anyone here can offer advice or contact information that can help me at least make sure everything is going on track with my package. Please let me know if you need any information from me! -FC1 performed at Wright-Patterson, OH --> I have tried contacting, but with little success there. Thank you for your patience and help everyone!


text:
Looks like X Factor USA can't seem to get enough of Little Mix. Days after playing a snippet of 'DNA' Simon Cowell mentions the girls again.
This time during the interview, he praises the girls work ethic and compares them to the notorious Spice Girls.
Look at the video below…
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
Name *
Email *


text:
All woodworkers, from beginners to professionals, are invited to the Guild of Maine Woodworkers where woodworkers can meet and share their knowledge and skills with each other. Monthly meetings include demonstrations, tool discussions, and guest speakers, as well as the popular "show and tell" where members show off their woodworking projects. Meetings rotate around members' shops. Maybe you'll get some ideas for your own shop. If you need help on a project, the Guild is the place to be. See the list of events for the location of the next meeting or contact us.
Upcoming Meetings
April 21 – Guild Meeting CANCELLED Due to Virus
May 19 – Guild Meeting CANCELLED Due to Virus
June 7th – Launch of The Virginian DELAYED due to Virus
June 13 – Quarterly Meeting Architectural Talk Windham Jim & Linda Hanscom
July & August Summer Break – NO monthly meetings
July Annual Lie-Nielsen Open House – CANCELLED
September 12 – Quarterly Meeting TBD Field Trip
October 20 – Guild Meeting Ron Boes Windham
November 17 – Guild Meeting Frank Southard Sidney
December 12 – Quarterly Meeting Wes Sunderland W. Baldwin
December meeting is the Annual Business Meeting and Officer Voting
Monthly meetings are held 3rd Tuesday of each month at 6:30 except the final meeting in December which is a business meeting held the second Saturday starting at 10:00 am with lunch served and then a regular woodworking meeting starting at 1 pm.
The Guild is looking for new members. If you work with wood and are professional, hobbyist, or just getting started, send an e-mail to either Wes Sunderland, firstname.lastname@example.com or Pat Sunderland, firstname.lastname@example.com for detailed information. We look forward to hearing from you!!


text:
"Working as an EMT-I in the past, I have seen a lot of people not make it because no one around knew CPR. There is no schedule for a cardiac arrest and we never know where it will happen, but I am glad I know what to do to help give someone the best chance of surviving."
|Chelle Doll
Safety Consultant
|Chelle has trained hundreds of people in 78 different U.S. cities over the past 13 years in sales, relationship building and communication. She also has prior experience working as a 911 Operator for State Radio and as an emergency medical technician (EMT).
National Safety Council Certified Instructor and Instructor Trainer:
CPR/AED/First Aid – Adult
CPR/AED/First Aid – Pediatric
Defensive Driving Course – Alive at 25
Defensive Driving Course – Attitudinal Dynamics of Driving


text:
Falcon Ridge Grand Opening
Wednesday July 24, 2019
Join us this weekend from 11-2 for the Falcon Ridge grand opening and tour our model homes. Bring the kids for face painting and snow cones!
These townhouses feature 1,664 -1,776 square feet, 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, and 2 car garages. Located near the University at McCarran and El Rancho Drive.
For more information call Jessica and Deanna at 775-626-8324


text:
I Love Easter
It was January, 2008, and a group of pastors had gathered in the downstairs of one of the larger churches in our area to meet with a representative from a church leadership group from Boston. A number of the guys there were church planters, and it was great to hear their stories. Then the representative told us his story, how he was in the middle of resuscitating a dying church. I listened to him talk and immediately connected with him. That day, I shared that I believe we give up on the church too easily. We dismiss older or struggling congregations in favor of planting new ones.
After we were finished talking and were enjoying lunch together, I went over to him and I shook his hand. Reflecting on my own experience and realizing that this was my calling as well, I said to him, "You know, resurrection is a lot harder than giving birth but they're both miracles." He nodded to me. Upon reflection, he probably had no idea who I was and just wanted to get back to his fried chicken. But the moment was poignant for me nonetheless.
I enjoy resurrection far more than birth. (I think that's why I like Easter more than I do Christmas.) Don't get me wrong. Births are awesome. My daughter's birth was one of the most amazing moments of my life. But you can explain away birth using science and you can show how it all works in minute detail. After all, there are millions of births every year.
Resurrection, however, is an entirely different thing. You don't see resurrection every day, or every millennium. In all of Scriptures, there's only five people who were raised from the dead beside Jesus (2 Kings 13:21, Luke 8:49-56, John 11:43-44, Acts 9:36-41, Acts 20:9-12). Five people in a few thousand years? That's pretty rare.
And scientifically, there is no explanation for resurrection. There is no way anyone takes credit for it. It is entirely and totally a God-thing. It can't be otherwise. So if something dead is made to live again, you can't take credit for it and you certainly can't explain it. You can only bear witness to it and say that it was God's doing.
The Power of the Resurrection
In John 11, there is a story of resurrection. Jesus' friend and supporter, Lazarus, dies of some kind of quick acting illness. In only a couple of days, he goes from healthy and hosting parties to dead and buried. Jesus takes his time getting to the funeral, and by the time he gets there, Lazarus has been in the grave for days. The mourning is over and most people are moving on, dealing with their grief. Lazarus' sister practically reprimands Jesus for not coming on time.
When Jesus gets to the graveside, he looks around him at his friends and disciples. He tells them to move the stone blocking the tomb. They freak out on him. And Jesus says,
"Didn't I tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?"
That's it. That's all he says to them. He prays to God, and then commands Lazarus to come out, like he is ordering dinner, and Lazarus walks out of the grave.
Resurrection is an amazing thing, isn't it? When I read that story, I am absolutely blown away by how simple it was for Jesus to resurrect Lazarus. There were no rituals or special incense. There was no wiz-bang or amazing incantations. Jesus just says, "Didn't I tell you that if you believed you would see God's glory?"
BAM! Resurrection.
This book is a story of resurrection, particularly the resurrection of a couple of local congregations and their rebirth as Bedford Road Baptist Church. It is a record of Jesus saying to a bunch of people in New Hampshire, "You believed. Now stand back because God's glory is about to hit earth!"
And it did.
Jesus rocked our world, and he did it without ceremony or big pronouncement. He did it without media coverage or government funding. He did it quietly, transforming hearts and uniting people.
This series of posts is the story of that resurrection. It is our journey from the grave into the light. It is the story of Jesus calling us out, commanding us to rise, and us opening our eyes to see the new reality we had never expected.
"I am the resurrection and the life."
The People You Will Meet
In John's story of Lazarus' resurrection, we meet the people before we see the resurrection, so before we get into the story of our resurrection, let me introduce the people God used along the way.
This is not the story a single guy. Often I read church leadership books and get the impression that success stories are the tale of one man – Super Pastor – and his team of sidekicks. Although I am the pastor and did a lot of work, I am not Super Pastor.
This is a story of a community that was transformed by Jesus Christ and his vision for that community. It is the story of a team of dedicated team players who saw what Jesus had planned for his church and invested themselves wholeheartedly into it. Because they feature prominently in the story, I want to introduce them to you individually.
First, the Congregations
I'll go over the story of the two congregations later in this chapter, but let me give you their names. First, there is Grace Baptist Church. They had a building and a lot of wounds. Second, there is Heritage Baptist Church. They had me and a bunch of people who had grabbed onto Jesus' vision.
Greg J
Greg had been in leadership at Heritage Baptist Church since 1999. He grew up irreligious, became a member of a very prominent cult for some time and then, through a miraculous chain of events turned his back on his cult training and became a faithful follower of Jesus Christ. After serving in the Air Force, Greg went to law school and practices in a small city a couple miles north of us.
He is a student of the Word of God, a proud father and soon to be grandfather. When I met him in 2004, Greg was a deacon at Heritage, was leading music, teaching the adult Bible class, and leading the prayer group. He was also doing his best to lead a broken church. He was, for all intents and purposes, the interim pastor of the congregation.
Bob B
Bob served in a number of leadership roles at Grace Baptist Church, including serving as and elder and as the treasurer after the most recent split. He and his wife have faithfully served in many different roles as needed. Bob loves to laugh and is a professional presenter who communicates plainly and directly but generally lovingly.
When I first met Bob, he spent a lot of time not talking. It was a bit unsettling because I gauge people by their responses. As I've gotten to know Bob, I've discovered that he can be an excitable guy, and I think he was doing his best to be methodical and thoughtful about the process.
Ray B
(There were three elders at Grace and all their last names started with B.)
Ray was the chairman of the elder board as Grace was going through their difficult time prior to the merger. He is an engineer who works for a large aerospace firm. He and his wife, Brenda, have been in leadership at Grace for sometime. After the merger process was finalized, Ray stepped down as an elder so he could work with the teens and missions committee.
Donald B
Donald is currently our family ministry elder, but he often filled the pulpit during the split. Donald loves the Scriptures and his quiet questions are always based on the teachings of the Bible, even when it goes against his own thinking.
He is known to the kids in our church as Donald Duck, and to some of the adults as Don, although he told me when we first took a drive together, "My parents named me Donald", so I just call him Donald.
Darin Shaw
Darin is the pastor of a local church a few miles from our location. He came to New England as part of Northland Community Church in Florida. Northland believes in distributing what God gives them, so they send preachers and musicians to churches in need around the nation. As part of that program, Darin preached at Christ Church in Amherst and eventually became their pastor.
In that spirit, Christ Church helped our congregation in a time of need, which ties directly into the story of the merger. Darin did his best to help the elders of Grace. Our relationship, which was not much more than acquaintances, became crucial to the merger. But more about that anon!
Let's get into the stories of our congregations!
Grace Baptist Church and Their Troubles
Grace Baptist Church was started in 1974 by a church planter from the Conservative Baptist Home Mission Society (which is now called Missions Door).
The founding pastor, Stan Rockafellow, had already started one church in New Hampshire and started two more in the following decades. Within a few months, the church was up and running. They purchased eight acres of land just off the main road through the town of Merrimack, New Hampshire, and in 1975 constructed the first building.
When Stan left in 1979, the church had started a Christian kindergarten. This had been a component of the original vision for the church, although the school could be both a blessing and a curse. Under the next pastor, Harold Wheeler, the church continued to grow and the school continued to expand. They added an education wing in 1985, and the church and school seemed to be doing well.
Unfortunately, after Wheeler left in 1986, the church went through a series of ups and downs that tore the church to pieces. The school became a bone of contention for many people, and the church went through several pastors with the most durable lasting twelve years (1991-2003).
There were periods when the church had no leadership and when it probably had too much. They were deacon-led, then had interim pastors, then reorganized as elders and trustees led, then the congregation overrode the elders, then the pastor overrode the congregation. It was a mess.
Recognizing their struggles, the congregation asked Ted Brewer – a former pastor who had a local peace-making ministry – to serve as interim pastor and guide them through finding their feet and stabilizing. Ted, who we still support as a ministry of our church, is a caring, gentle man who did his best to teach people how to resolve conflict and work together.
By 2006, the congregation thought they had gotten through the worst of it, so they called a new pastor. They were so confident that they did a strange thing. When they first voted to call this new pastor, the motion did not carry. The congregation chose to hold a second vote, and this time, there were enough votes to call him. This division turned out to be a warning sign. In the thirteen months that he was with the congregation, this pastor alienated a lot of people and old wounds became festering sores. When he left in 2007, the church split. Most of the workers and money walked out the door. They lost the majority of their elders, as well as their treasurer and worship leader.
Grace remained without a pastor for two years. They did not even try to search for a new pastor for the first eighteen of those months. During that time, they were holding on for dear life. Financially, the church was in dire straits. Until someone donated $40,000 specifically for the purpose, the congregation did not have enough money to pay a pastor even if they called one.
Things looked bleak.
The elders, all volunteers and all passionate followers of Christ, looked everywhere for help. One congregation, Christ Church of Amherst, came alongside Grace and assisted them with music and preaching. The elders met with Christ Church's elders and pastor as they attempted to sort out their next step.
The elders then made a difficult and potentially further damaging decision. In the spring of 2009, they knew that the congregation could no longer support the Christian School. They made the hard decision to spin the school off as an independent institution. The school would finish out the 2008-2009 year and then have to find alternative facilities. One of the elders' wife was the principal of the school. Another long time member was the school secretary.
Thankfully, another local congregation had a facility that they were willing to share with the school. The school packed up their equipment and textbooks and relocated a few miles north, where they are growing and flourishing.
When the move was announced, a number of people left the church. Strangely enough, both the principal and school secretary remained with Grace. It was a hard time to be a church, and the road ahead looked pretty bleak.
At the same time they decided to spin off the school, the elders began actively looking for a pastoral candidate. They formed a search committee and received over one hundred resumes and application packets after they posted the position online.
This was when Grace's story intersected Heritage's story, so let's leave Grace for a moment and recount Heritage's story up to this point.
Heritage Baptist Church and Our Wanderings
In 1988, Paul Schultz moved his family from Illinois to New Hampshire with the goal of starting a church in Manchester. Together with a small group of volunteers from other churches in the area, the Shultzes began their work using a phone call campaign (read church telemarketing) and developed some good contacts. The following Easter, they started having public worship services in a public school auditorium and launched Heritage Baptist Church.
Growing steadily and needing more space, the congregation moved into a space in a Pipe Fitters' Union Building just outside of town in 1995. They stayed there, ordained and called a youth pastor, and were doing well – or so everyone thought.
By 2003, Paul was worn out. The congregation was a mishmash of people who were mostly established Christian who had relocated to the area or had come over from a few similar congregations over the years. He was facing some personality issues with other leaders, and he had been going full speed ahead, doing both pastoral and physical work at the church to keep things afloat. In the fall, he announced that he was stepping down as the pastor.
That is when the problems began.
Between Paul's last Sunday and my first one, Heritage went from about 100 people to 30. The youth pastor left because of a conflict with the deacons. One of the deacons left because of an issue with his son. The Union told the congregation they had to leave their worship space and find a new one. Our sound guy, Leo, was a new Christian at the time. He later told me, "My wife and I went away for the summer, and I told her 'If there's a church here when we get back, then we'll stay'." It was that bad.
Then came a near death blow. The congregation called a pastor, and he turned down the call to return to the mission field. Their hopes were dashed.
Around the time Greg contacted me, Heritage was scrambling to find a place to worship. They found a space in an old boat store and they invested most of their building fund in refurbishing the rented space. They installed HVAC and sprinklers. They built walls and offices. They removed a garage door and installed a window in its place. They did a lot of work, but they were still without a pastor.
Greg and two other deacons had set my resume aside the first time they reviewed it, but they revisited it and invited me to come preach for them.
My Journey with Heritage
At the time, I was the associate pastor of a fundamentalist Baptist church a couple towns south. I was teaching in the Christian school there, my wife Nichole was expecting our daughter, and we were planning to start a church in Manchester. It was a very busy time for us.
We had assembled a small group of people who were meeting regularly at the home of a couple friends, Tom and Becky, who had moved to New Hampshire specifically to help us start a church. When Greg sent me an email inviting me to preach at Heritage, I ran the idea by our little group and everyone thought it might be a God thing, so I went to preach for them.
When I preached at Heritage for the first time, it was only their second Sunday in their new space. You could tell that the congregation was still unsure of it – like when you buy a new suit and it is still stiff and you're not quite sure which shoes to wear with it. But it was their new home, and they were very happy to have some place to be after months of chaos.
After the service, Nichole and I talked with the deacons for a couple of hours over sandwiches. We could see that we agreed on doctrine and the cardinal issues. One thing I remember saying was that I was young, and I was still learning who I was as a minister. Although I didn't know it at the time, my youth Later Greg told me that if I had been much older, they would not have hired me. They wanted someone young and stupid enough to take some chances, do some crazy things. (Okay, they didn't put it quite that way but that was essentially the deal.)
These guys were taking quite a chance themselves. I was a young, essentially untried minister who did not have any children; and I was going to be invited to pastor a congregation composed of people my father's age. The whole thing could have blown up in their faces.
In November, they called me to be the pastor. I started the following Sunday, so there was little time for goodbyes at our previous church. While I kept teaching at the school to finish the semester, from here on out, I was a pastor.
Our church plant group came with us, which meant new faces, and things were looking up. In my gut, I knew that we needed to address the issues that had caused the problems in the previous months, but we got very busy very quickly. I was teaching three times a week, still teaching at a Christian school every day as well. We had a new baby in the family, and we had relocated our family to Manchester. The following year was more of the same. My wife and I bought a house. We got a new car. The church was growing, people were excited. Things were good.
And then, things fell apart.
Wounds which had not been addressed came to the surface. People who we thought were going to be pillars of the congregation left and took their checkbooks with them. Young couples who had joined us from a couple of other congregations got divorced. I started to hear a lot of criticism about the way we did things (or didn't do things). More chaos – and I took it all personally. Without knowing it, I slipped slowly but inextricably into a depression. My wife watched helplessly as I became short-tempered, frustrated and listless. There was even a time when she thought she couldn't go on living with me, that I was out of control.
I was out of control.
Around this time, I made a radical decision. If were were going to survive as a congregation, if my family was going to survive me being a pastor, then we needed to shift gears and we needed to do it quickly. No matter the cost, something had to give.
On a Sunday morning, I sat on a stool in front of the congregation and said simply, "I'm not sure I believe in all of this anymore. My faith is shaken, and my life is spiraling down." Then, I added the really controversial part. "Beginning next Sunday, all of this has to go. We are shutting down all the programs and ministries of this congregation. Next Sunday, at 9:30am, I will begin reading the Gospel of Jesus Christ."
And I did.
The following Sunday, with no nursery or children's church or worship music or spoken introduction, I stood up at exactly 9:30am and began reading the Gospel of Mark. The following Sunday, I read the Gospel of John, finishing the next Sunday. Finally, I read the Gospel of Matthew. At the end of those four weeks, our congregation had been somehow transformed in a way I can't really put into words. We were going to be about Jesus, because he is the Christ and the Head of the Church.
A few months later, we drafted a vision statement: Creating environments where people encounter Jesus and journey together. We plastered it everywhere. It dominated everything. People got tired of hearing me repeat it.
Then, a process kind of gelled for us. We would journey together through receiving Jesus as our Savior, Master and Model. These got put into a statement of sorts which we started repeating – over and over again. They were on our bulletins, on our contact cards, on the video screen.
People left and we let them. New people came to replace them, and we welcomed them. We converted our space from simply a useable space into an environment where people felt welcome and encouraged to grow. And as the vision statement and ideas and worship space began to change, we changed.
I don't want to give the impression that all this happened overnight. The Sunday that I read the Gospel was in the summer of 2007. We did not convert our worship space until January 2009. For two years, we did little except focus on Jesus. The changes were not so we could be more godly. They came about because we drew closer to Jesus, and in these continuing encounters with him, everything began to change.
In fact there was even a time when I had one of the most vivid dream I've ever had, and it was about the church. In getting ready to write this, I re-read the email I sent to the deacons after having the dream, and it was amazing to see how many things I saw have come to pass. (I'm not a prophet or anything, don't worry.) In the midst of everything that was happening, there was a voice in the dream that said, "Make the best of where I put you." Do I believe that was God speaking? Yes, I do. It had a tremendously calming effect on me, and then as we moved forward, we became content in where we were and what we were doing. Things fell in place.
After remodeling our space in 2009, we knew our lease was up. The economy was in the toilet, and people did not have the money to keep paying for the space. We had to decide on something to do.
During the previous year, the deacons and I had been discussing the possibility of merging with another congregation. We started exploring the options.
This whole idea of a merger may seem alien to you. It is certainly not a common thing in the Church, but the more we started thinking about it, the more it made sense. Over time, we became more and more convinced that this was, at the least, an option for us. Our reasons were essentially theological.
Jesus had prayed for his church to be one, and yet in our region there were dozens of churches who were essentially the same but were all struggling in their little niches. Whether it was the battle to keep a pastor or to manage a facility, it seemed to us that Jesus' prayer was not being lived out. The big churches kept getting bigger, and the small churches kept struggling in their little niche. Perhaps the idea of merging congregations was something that would free all of us to minister more effectively.
The road to our merger was not a string of successes. In December 2008, I had reached out to a larger church in the area about the possibility of a merger. They responded definitively that such a thing was not on their radar. They eventually called a relatively well-known church growth guru to be their pastor.
In March, I approached one of the elders of another church whose pastor had announced his imminent resignation to become a regional leader in their movement. Even though there were a number of people who knew each other in our two congregations and were quite literally about three miles apart, they did not even entertain the notion.
The following month, I approached a guy who had started a small church that was struggling to stay afloat. We talked about joining forces. We had a space they could share with us, and we could try things on for size. We even planned to get the two congregations together for a picnic; but then in June, he resigned from the church, told all the people to go somewhere else and took a position at a church in Massachusetts.
Let's leave this strand of the story right there. In order to get a perspective of the next steps, we need to rewind back to 2007.
Bike Rides and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
With all of this going on, I had met Darin Shaw in the fall of 2007. My wife Nichole was singing in a community theater production of "The Sound of Music", and she became friends with her music director. This was the age of Myspace, so they became friends online. Then Nichole hopped from her new friend's page to a guy named Jesse, who was the music director at a church in Amherst and played in a band with the pastor, who was wearing a Tampa Bay Buccaneers jersey in his profile picture.
You should know that I am a Buccaneers fan – because of a happy accident of childhood that I won't go into here. When Nichole saw this pastor, named Darin, in a Bucs jersey, she immediately called me into the computer room. In a matter of weeks, he and I were sitting at Panera Bread, talking about churches and football over coffee.
Darin and I became blogging buddies – reading each others blogs and commenting on them. Our congregations were far enough apart that we did not get together again for awhile.
In 2008, I took a part time job at an investment firm to help pay the bills at the church. Because we only had one car, I would ride my bike twenty-two miles round trip, literally over hill and dale, to get there. On the route, there were signs for Grace Baptist Church, and I would pray for that congregation as I rode by.
Little did I know that in December 2007, Grace had gone through the split I already told you about. They needed prayer.
Darin was helping them out, trying to encourage them.
At Heritage, we were rebuilding – being transformed by Jesus and glimpsing the vision he had for us. At Grace, they were at rock bottom and going down further.
It wasn't quite time for the two to come together, but the pieces were all moving into place. This catches us up to the first moment when I contacted the elders of Grace.
Originally, I had written quite a bit about the process of actually getting to the merger process, but I think it is better handled with a quick summary. I reached out to Grace, as the pastor of Heritage. They considered my qualifications as a pastor, then met with me individually. I shared Jesus' vision, and they concluded after prayer and discussion that it was His vision for them as well.
We'll pick the story up from there in our next post.


text:
I have been on a campaign against parabens for 10 years. Since I am not a chemist and most people didn't understand what I was talking about and/or my explanation was lacking, voicing my concerns was not easy. Suddenly, consumers understand and are carefully reading the mouseprint ingredient labels. EO is a local Marin County company that believes in pure products, and www.safecosmetics.org is a GREAT resource to help you stay away from the bad Stuff — a partial list to AVOID:
- Paraben, methyl paraben propyl paraben [a preservative]
- Diazolidinyl Urea
- Petrolatum
- Phthalates
- Propylene Glycol
- Sodium Lauryl / Laureth Sulfate
- Stearalkonium Chloride
- Colors / Dyes / Fragrances from synthetics
- Triethanolamine
Look for words like certified organic manufacturer and pure plant based ingredients to help you make your purchases.


text:
| рЂщвЪйшУаКК
If your are energetic and vigorous, you are feeling your oats.
If something has gone for a ball of chalk, it has gone terribly wrong.
If you shake in your boots, you are terrified.(Quake/cower in your boots are also used. You can also shake in your shoes.)
If someone tells you to fill your boots, they mean that you can help yourself to as much as you want of something.
If people are up in arms, they are complaining or protesting angrily about something.
If someone can dish it out but can't take it, they criticise people freely but dislike being criticised.
Rivers of indicates a large amount of moving liquid, like rivers of sweat running down someone's brow. It can be figurative like saying that rivers of blood will flow to indicate serious conflict.
It something doesn't amount to a hill of beans, it is worthless.
If you catch someone on the hop, you do something when they are not expecting it and are not ready.
If something is the height of folly, it is completely ridiculous and will end up badly.
Generated 0.850680 sec.


text:
Samyang 24mm F1.4 ED AS IF UMC Wide Angle Lens for Canon
Create clear and sharp images with 24mm F1.4 ED AS IF UMC
Optical construction actualizes beautiful bokeh.
Glass aspherical lens increases light penetration and Ultra Multi Coating is used to minimize ghost and flare.
- Glass aspherical lens (ASP)
- Extra low dispersion lens (ED)
- Circular aperture with 8 blades
- Inner focus (IF)
- Ultra Multi Coating (UMC)
Samyang 24mm F1.4 is a high-quality, fast aperture, prime wide-angle lens for full frame or APS-C sized sensors.
It is ideal for full frame cameras - perfect for shooting street, landscape and architecture even in low light conditions.
The sharpness is excellent, even at the edges of the frame at wide apertures, and the fast F1.4 aperture is able to give a narrow depth of field when needed.
This is a manual focus lens, with focus ring wide, easily accessible and perfectly adaptable to most photographic applications.
Accurate focus at very close distance or focus critical situations can be achieved through use of focusing in live view mode, available to most newer camera models.
Focal length: 24mm
Aperture range: F1.4~22
Optical construction: 13 elements in 12 groups (2 aspherical lens)
Minimum focusing distance: 0.25m
Number of aperture blades: 8
Angle of view: 84.1°
Filter size: 77mm
Dimensions: 83 x 97.5mm
Weight: 580g
Sensor: Full Frame
Mount: Canon EOS