text:
Archive for the 'Religion' Category
Seeing Jesus as a revolutionary heretic
Although it has nothing whatsoever to do with the Environment, I would like to mark the Jewish festival of the Passover – and the Christian celebration of Easter – by inviting all readers to pause for a moment of reflection: To take a moment to consider the story of the Last Supper (i.e. Jesus sharing the Passover meal with his followers the night before he was arrested) from the perspective of those who were actually there.
To do this, it is necessary to understand the religious beliefs and practices of Jewish people 2000 years ago. Therefore, if you will bear with me for a few moments, that is exactly what I will now do – with reference to one particular chapter of one book within the Old Testament (OT).
The Pentateuch is the Latin word used to describe the first five books of the OT (i.e. Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, & Deuteronomy). However, scholars like to make things complicated and – therefore – divide these 5 books into 6 parts, as follows:
(1) Pre-history [Genesis Ch.1-11],
(2) The Patriarchs [Genesis Ch.12-50],
(3) The Exodus [Exodus Ch.1-18],
(4) The Law and the Tabernacle [Exodus Ch.19 – Numbers Ch.9],
(5) The Wilderness [Numbers Ch.10-36],
(6) The Speeches of Moses [Deuteronomy].
Leviticus lies wholly within part (4). It is, however, a great deal more than just a book full of Laws: It also forms the basis of much Jewish and Islamic teaching; provides a context to understand the rest of the Bible; and highlights the radical way in which Jesus fulfilled a great deal of OT prophecy. Chapter 17 of Leviticus is possibly one of the most challenging aspects of the latter because, in it, God is reported to have said:
I will set my face against any Israelite or any foreigner residing among them who eats blood, and I will cut them off from the people. For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar… (Leviticus 17: 10-11)
This command, not to eat blood (deliberately or otherwise), must be seen in the context of contemporaneous pagan practices – and those discovered since (e.g. cannibalism) – all of which were based on the belief that drinking the blood of sacrifices empowered those who did it.
Non-Christian theologians often say that Jesus hijacked the Passover. But, in fact, he seems to have done a great deal more than that: There are four accounts of the Last Supper in the New Testament, and all four of them describe Jesus identifying his blood with that of a sacrifice; and/or commanding his followers to drink the wine as if it were his blood (which they clearly did). Jesus therefore identified himself with the Lamb of the Passover, but he also identified himself with another important date in the Jewish calendar – The Day of Atonement – as described in Leviticus chapter 16.
This involved the selection of two goats: the first of which was sacrificed as an atonement for sin; whilst the second was sent away into the desert having had the sins of all the people ceremoniously transferred onto it (i.e. 'the scapegoat') by the High Priest.
In Matthew 5:17, Jesus says, "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfil them." However, in fulfilling it, Jesus appears to have rendered its continued observance unnecessary. The writer of the Letter to the Hebrews perhaps puts this best: "But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins. It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins" (Hebrews 10: 3-4).
As it happens, both Jews and Muslims seem to have realised this some time ago – as neither routinely make ritual sacrifices anymore! However, both still observe the practice of not drinking the blood of animals. Leviticus 17 is also the basis of the opposition of Jehovah's Witnesses (JWs) to having blood transfusions.
From its very earliest days, therefore, the practice of those that came to be known as 'Christians' to meet to re-enact the Last Supper was the main reason for Jewish opposition. It is also one of the reasons why, even today, Christianity is seen as heresy by Jews, Muslims, JWs, and many others.
If I have not already upset you enough by this very politically-incorrect post, there is one other way in which I think the existence of Leviticus 17 should inform our attitude to the central message of Christianity: I have a scientific background and, as such, I know – and have known – many people who invoke the 'Christianity is a myth' reason for not considering the message more carefully. According to such people, Christianity was invented by the followers of Jesus after his death or – even more outrageously – by St Paul (who was an expert in Jewish Law).
One of the main reasons this argument has become so popular today is that it is now widely understood that St Paul was the first to actually write down the story of the Last Supper. However, there is absolutely no reason why any self-respecting Jew – let alone St Paul – would make up a story like that of the Last Supper because it directly contradicts chapter 17 of Leviticus. Similarly, they would not have made up the story of the Crucifixion because they believed the long-awaited Messiah would lead them to a great victory over their Roman oppressors. In short, if you were a Jew, 'You could not make this stuff up!'
I shall leave the final word (almost) to one of the greatest Christian philosophers of the last century, C. S. Lewis:
A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. (C.S. Lewis in Mere Christianity)
Happy Easter to one and all. (Normal service will be resumed shortly)
The imprudence of being earnestly Oakwood
I concluded yesterday's post, entitled 'The importance of being earnestly wrong', by quoting a wonderfully circular argument from Oakwood. This was the assertion that "…you cannot show any one of these [opinions] to be inaccurate, except by appealing to 'the consensus'…" In reality, the scientific consensus regarding climate science is no more the subject of legitimate debate than the consensus views that: the Universe and the Earth were not created in six days little more than 6000 years ago; the Sun does not orbit the Earth; humans did not co-exist with dinosaurs; and the Earth is not flat.
There are therefore some things about which we humans are no longer wrong (with the exception of those whose approach to science is prejudiced by their ideology or theology).
Yesterday's post also contained a TED video of a March 2011 talk, entitled 'On Being Wrong', given by Kathryn Schulz. This is so good – and so fundamental to appreciating the predicament that Oakwood is in – that I have embedded it here once again.
Schulz warns against automatically assuming that people with opposing views are either ignorant of all the relevant facts, intellectually incapable of processing the information, or deliberately stating things they know to be false. However, she also makes the fundamental point that most people don't know they are wrong – they are just as convinced that they are not wrong as those who are actually right. This makes it critically important that everyone be willing to accept that they may be wrong. I have done this a lot; and I still do it regularly. However, with regard to climate science, I repeatedly find myself coming back to the logical proposition that:
Doubting the science can only be justified by asserting that the consensus is unreal, unreliable or unreasonable. This does not require all scientists to be liars; but it does require the vast majority of genuine experts to be either stupid, mistaken or mendacious.
Not only would such (implausible, improbable, or insidious) things be without precedent (and require an awful lot of people to be wrong or corrupt), there is also a clear precedent – in the tobacco industry – for the business-funded disputation of highly inconvenient science (which only required a few people to be corrupt in order to fool an awful lot of people).
So, then, because I think it highly instructive – and since it is impossible to breach the confidentiality of someone who chooses to remain anonymous – Oakwood's email to me is reproduced below (entirely without permission) with rebuttals included in bold text:
"You are entitled to your own opinions but not your own facts." Yes, that applies to everyone. Here are a few facts:
IPCC models did not predict the current temperature pause. If the IPCC has [now] said 'because of what we know about the ocean's massive heat capacity compared to the atmosphere, and the potential for aerosols from growing economies such as India and China, a 15 to 20 year pause is possible'. Of course, they didn't say that [before], and only come up with the theory after the event. The IPCC do not do the modelling; they merely synthesise the results and summarise the implications. This is therefore statement of belief in either widespread scientific incompetence or political conspiracy. Furthermore, since (1) ice continues to melt (at sea and on land); (2) sea level continues to rise; and (3) ocean pH continues to decline, warming has clearly not stopped. See also 'How reliable are climate models' and 'Global Warming Has Stopped' on SkepticalScience (SkS).
Proxy temperature data studies cannot reproduce instrumental data for recent decades – when temperatures are at their highest. Therefore, we cannot rely on them to say anything about previous 'high temperature' episodes, such as the MWP. This is a complicated issue but this argument has been comprehensively and repeatedly discredited. For example, see 'Response by Marcott et al' on Real Climate (with links to other sources of info). As for the MWP, see 'How does the Medieval Warm Period compare to current global temperatures?' on SkS.
While so much is made of the Arctic's 'record' low, little is said about the Antarctic's 'record' high, except 'well that's different'. Antarctica is geographically isolated and affected by the hole in the ozone layer but, despite this, the West Antarctic and the Antarctic Peninsula are warming as fast as the Arctic. See also 'Antarctica is gaining ice' on SkS.
The IPCC finds NO convincing link between extreme weather events (floods, drought, hurricanes) and global warming. Their best is 'medium confidence' (for heavy precipitation). (More warm days and fewer cold days is not 'extreme weather', but simply a logical outcome of the fact temperatures rose over the 20th C). The IPCC has been repeatedly shown to understate all kinds of risk. Historical analysis of weather in the Northern Hemisphere has shown that extreme weather is becoming more frequent. Multi-decadal change like this cannot be explained without reference to human activity.
IPCC and climate scientists have no idea when the pause will come to an end. Their 'accurate' models cannot tell them. This does not matter. Arguing that warming has stopped requires falsification of the evidence that increased atmospheric CO2 is the dominant factor. See 'It's not us' on SkS.
The 97% consensus includes most AGW-sceptics, including me. That is: CO2 is a greenhouse gas; its concentration has increased over the 20th C; it has very likely made some contribution to warming. This myth has been repeatedly debunked. This piece on the RealSceptic blog is the best source of information I have yet seen on how and why this argument is entirely bogus.
There is general agreement amongst climate scientists that a doubling of CO2 on its own will create about a 1dgC rise. CO2 is not acting alone and it is the totality of change that is causing problems. Apart from that facet of reality, this is a very misleading argument, as explained by Michael Mann himself on the LiveScience blog.
Anything more relies on the belief/assumption that positive feedbacks will significantly outweigh negative feedbacks. Ongoing change despite a pause in surface warming implies warming effects are outweighing cooling effects.
But, we've had all these discussions before. But you cannot show any one of these facts to be inaccurate, except by appealing to 'the consensus' and making nonsensical statements about 'believing all scientists to be liars'. No, Martin, the practice of science is not about saying: 'If you disagree with me, you're calling me a liar'. I have not called Oakwood a liar but, I must admit, he/she does seem to be remarkably incapable of accepting that he may be wrong.
It's about proper open debate. The fact that the vast majority of 'sceptics' are libertarians and/or free-market ideologues proves that the ongoing 'debate' is driven by policy implications not any residual uncertainty regarding science. See this excellent essay by Stephan Lewandowsky on The Conversation blog.
While still a minority, there are plenty of climate scientists and experts who do not believe AGW is a major threat. For this to be valid the pool of "climate scientists and experts" would have to be broadened to include all kinds of scientists whose expertise is not relevant. Since we do not generally allow this when discussing evolution or cosmology, why should we do it for climate science?
Of course the answer to that final question is that, as with evolution and cosmology, some people are ideologically opposed to accepting the nature of reality.
Are we all Britain haters now?
Here in the UK, the Daily Mail has got itself a lot of publicity for printing an article last Saturday entitled "Man Who Hated Britain". The article was about the late father of Ed Milliband, who is the current leader of the Labour Party (and could therefore be our next Prime Minister). For the avoidance of any doubt, I must declare that I think such an eventuality would be a disaster for Britain. However, I digress…
Basically, the Daily Mail's argument is that, if for no other reason than that he died in 1994, many people may not realise that Ralph Miliband was a passionate believer in the political philosophy of a certain Karl Marx (oh and, yes, he was Jewish as well). Choosing to ignore the fact Milliband senior joined the Royal Navy and settled down to married life here after the War, the Daily Mail based its entire article on something he wrote in his diary when he arrived here as a refugee from the Nazis (at the tender age of 17).
Despite asking for and being given a right to reply, Ed Milliband has had to put up with the Daily Mail refusing to apologise and – indeed repeating its criticism of his father. In essence, therefore, the Daily Mail's position is that you cannot love Britain if you are a Socialist. However, this is nothing new; this has always been the position of the Daily Mail – they have just never found such a blunt way to say it before. The Independent newspaper has helpfully summarised the whole story in this article yesterday.
Unfortunately for the Daily Mail, this is an easily falsifiable argument; especially when you consider that the newspaper routinely uses xenophobic headlines to attract readers: It does not matter whether the subject is radical Islamic preachers, environmental protestors, or climate scientists – according to the Daily Mail they all hate Britain.
With regard to radical Islamic preachers in Britain, I agree it does seem somewhat hypocritical to criticise the country in which you have chosen to live. However, to be entirely fair, they have chosen to work here; and they are living here in the hope that they can turn the UK into an Islamic state. Does this mean that they 'hate' Britain? No it does not; it just means they don't like it the way it is.
Exactly the same logic applies to environmental campaigners and climate scientists. To label them as anti-British (anti-Western or anti-progress) is grossly unfair. They are not anti-British – they just believe Britain would be better if it was not at war with Nature.
So what is the Daily Mail up to? I think it is essentially peddling xenophobia. This may well have originated as an evolutionary survival mechanism. However, today, in the absence of any predators, xenophobic tribalism is essentially a maladaptive coping strategy: It is a method of absolving oneself of responsibility for anything; and shifting the blame for everything on to somebody else.
This is essentially what climate change denial is: Many of those of a religious persuasion tell themselves humans cannot be changing the Earth's climate (because God won't allow that to happen). Many of those of a humanist persuasion tell themselves that we are not changing the Earth's climate (because that would require us all to admit we have made a mess of things).
Seen in this light, we would all appear to be planet haters now. If we can admit this to ourselves and to each other; I think that this might be the first step on a long road towards doing something about it.
In the meantime, my response to those who think there is still something inherently evil about Communism is as follows:
It is amazing how so many – who no doubt consider themselves to be very much right-of-centre politically – forget that the first people to be called "Christians" would today be described as Communists.* So, I think a little less contempt is called for; and a lot less hypocrisy.
Marxism is essentially Industrialism without the Capitalism. Whereas Marxism prioritises production; Capitalism prioritises consumption. As such, both are deeply mired in the unsustainable delusion of 'growthmania'. It may be that Capitalism has proven itself far better at wealth creation, but, neither system has proven to be very good at providing equal opportunity for all.
* The Bible makes it clear that, in the very earliest years at least, Christians formed a self-supporting community of people within which property and food were shared. Therefore, those who think there is something inherently evil about Communism have got stuck in the past: McCarthyism never did do anyone much good; and it is now at least 50 years out of date.
Having said all that, I am still not a 'Watermelon' (i.e. green on the outside but red on the inside). I remain a (non-financial) supporter of the Conservative Party and, as such, I live in the hope that one day soon it may stop allowing ideology to prejudice its attitude to science; and accept what climate scientists are telling us will happen if we do not take radical steps to decarbonise our economies by 2050. For goodness sake, even business leaders are now saying we must do this. What the hell are we waiting for?
UPDATE: On 1 October 2013, in a welcome attempt to put the record straight, The Daily Telegraph has re-published its very fair-minded obituary of Professor Ralph Milliband from its edition of 7 June 1994. (H/T Roger Davies [@4589roger] on Twitter).
Conservatives for conservation (of a habitable planet)
Whilst I am aware of – and have previously quoted – Lord Deben (i.e. leader of of the Committee on Climate Change – the advisory group David Cameron and George Osborne are ignoring so studiously), I was not aware of the campaign he is heading on Twitter. Thanks must therefore go to John Havery Samuel for alerting me to James Murray's Are the Green Tories preparing a fight back? article on the BusinessGreen website.
As a child, just about everyone in the UK will probably remember learning about the story of Elijah humiliating the prophets of Baal on Mt Carmel (i.e. as recounted in 1 Kings 18 in the Old Testament). However, not all may recall the crisis of faith that followed this tremendous victory (see 1 Kings 19). Although I have never really had the moment of victory, I often feel that I have sure spent a long time having a crisis of faith. However, once you appreciate that I am a socially-conservative environmental realist (see links below if you don't believe me), I think my persistent feeling that I am in an extreme minority becomes entirely understandable.
I would very much recommend that you read the entire story (i.e. of Green Conservatives preparing a fight back) on James' blog. Hopefully these opening paragraphs will encourage you to do so:
One of the bright spots in an otherwise pretty dispiriting summer for the UK environmental movement has been the unlikely emergence of Tory grandee John Gummer as Twitter's latest eco-warrior. Now known as Lord Deben, the former Environment Secretary and current chair of the independent Committee on Climate Change has provided a beacon of centre-right common sense on matters environmental – and all in 140 characters.
He has argued that fracking may be useful, but will never provide a silver bullet for the UK's energy crisis; repeatedly challenged "climate deniers and dismissers" to provide one example of a credible institution that supports their crackpot theories; and taken numerous pot shots at ill-informed anti-green commentators and several of his climate denying colleagues in the Lords. All because, in his own words, "no reasonable person would ignore expert opinion and wager his children's future on the contrarian views of people who are not peer reviewed".
It has been a breath of fresh air and a useful reminder that not all Conservatives have signed up to the reckless vision being relentlessly promoted by Lord Lawson and the Murdoch press – a vision whereby fracking miraculously saves the economy and climate change is either not really happening or left to look after itself. They may not have access to the media foghorm enjoyed by their less progressive colleagues, but there are some Tories who still understand the existential threat posed by climate change, the value of the green economy, and the relationship between conservation and Conservatism. The big question for the UK's green political scene is whether or not there are enough of them and whether they can wrestle back control of a narrative that Lord Lawson and his friends have recently steered in their own direction.
For those that would challenge my assertion that I am (or can be) 'socially conservative', I can only refer you to things I have written on this blog previously:
A brief history of mine (12 March 2012).
Why I am not a socialist (25 June 2012).
Why I am not [just] a capitalist (26 June 2012).
Similarly, for those that would challenge my assertion that I am an environmental realist, I can only refer you to the following:
The problem with inverting reality (31 January 2012).
Conserving mass, water and energy (11 July 2012).
Lack of perspective
I have referred to St Augustine of Hippo before, to highlight the folly of invoking conspiracy theory rather than dealing with nature of reality. However, even though they have little to do with the theme of this blog, I hope readers will not mind me sharing these amazing quotes:
"The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page."
"Men go abroad to wonder at the heights of mountains, at the huge waves of the sea, at the long courses of the rivers, at the vast compass of the ocean, at the circular motions of the stars, and they pass by themselves without wondering."
Read more of the wise words of St Augustine on the Brainy Quote website.
Science Denial Alive and Well Among Policy Makers and Right Wing Heroes
This is just brilliant. Some readers and viewers may not appreciate the irreverent humour but, I am sorry, sometimes humour is the best way to make the point that, in spite of all the evidence to the contrary, insisting that humans may not actually be the primary cause of climate change is as absurd as insisting that the Earth may not almost be spherical.
Originally posted on Climate Denial Crock of the Week:
GEORGETOWN – Sussex County Council members are not on the same wave length regarding the debatable issue of sea level rise.
At the May 7 council meeting, Susan Love, a planner with the Department of Environmental Control and Natural Resources'Coastal Management Program, delivered an update on progress made by the state's Sea Level Rise Advisory Committee, which is developing an adaptation plan for the state that will provide a path forward for planning for impacts of sea level rise.
Ms. Love's presentation drew no love from councilmen Samuel Wilson, R-Georgetown, and Vance Phillips, R-Laurel.
Mr. Wilson cast doubt sea level rise even exists.
"They don't have no facts. It's almost BS, to be honest with you," said Mr. Wilson.
"Man has been on this earth … according to the Bible … about 6,000 to 7,000 years," challenged Mr. Wilson. "Salt (water) may intrude. You're…
View original 171 more words
Who says the Bible is irrelevant?
Please do not worry that I am suddenly turning all Evangelical on you. Far from it. I just cannot get over how relevant the following words seem. They were written by former Pharisaic Jew, Saul – known to Christians as St Paul – to his young protegé, Timothy, in 66-67 AD.
But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God… (2 Tim 3: 1-4)
I am trying hard to fend-off a potential Messiah complex with regard to environmentalism but it seems, to me at least, an incontrovertible aspect of modernity that we have now fulfilled this 1950 year-old prophecy. However, as regular readers of this blog may well be able to guess, what concerns me more is that the greatest failure of modernity arose out of the Age of Enlightenment: This seventeenth-Century revolution in natural philosophy meant that Western science emerged from the Dark Ages but, from it, along with all the positive benefits of building on Chinese and Islamic scholarship, we sadly inherited the idea that humans are superior to Nature – rather than part of it. This is a fallacy that underlies the inability of many to accept the reality of ACD (i.e. anthropogenic climate disruption). Either that, or they are deluded into thinking that:
1. Humans are incapable of affecting their environment (despite the precedents of industrial pollution causing Acid Rain and CFCs creating the hole in the Ozone layer); or
2. God will not allow humans to trash the Environment (due to infantile reliance upon things like Genesis 9:15: "I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life." Yes, Senator James Inhoffe [R-OK], I am looking at you).
The dustbin of failed evolutionary experiments?
Once again, as I did in my previous post, I must credit xraymike79 as the source of the title for this offering, as it also featured in the quotation from his recent post.
For ease of reference, however, here is the relevant part of that quotation once again:
…Know that this culture of self-worship and materialism is sending our species to the dustbin of failed evolutionary experiments, most certainly by the end of this century if not mid-century. The evidence is all around us if only we care to open our eyes.
So, then, what are these "failed evolutionary experiments"; and why might we be about to join them in the dustbin? Indeed, what does it mean to suggest there is a dustbin? I ask this latter question because, as I often seem to find myself saying, the concept of waste disposal is an illusion: Nature does not do waste disposal; it only ever does recycling.
However, there is an even more fundamentally-challenging aspect to xraymike79's turn of phrase, which is the suggestion that the emergence of complex life on Earth is the result of an unguided process. Jean-Paul Sartre's question "Why is it that there something rather than nothing?" is answered with the following equation: Nothing + Time + Chance = Something.
Some scientists, such as George Smoot (Wrinkles in Time) and Paul Davies (The Mind of God) have asserted that the Universe appears to be perfectly designed to accommodate us – effectively a statement of the Anthropic Principle. However, I find it hard to refute the argument, made by people like Richard Dawkins and Stephen Hawking, that we are here because the Universe is the way it is – effectively a statement of existential Selection Bias.
For people of a theistic persuasion (like me for example), such notions are very challenging. However, I dislike the arrogance of people like Dawkins and Hawking, who – rather than just assert that they do not believe in God – appear to want to insist that they have proven that God does not exist. Although they present cogent arguments and justifications for their atheism, I prefer the position adopted by Stephen J. Gould – that science and religion represent non-overlapping magesteria. This is the proposition that science seeks to answer "how" questions, whereas religion seeks to answer "why" questions. If so, it would appear to be self-evident that trouble ensues when either party steps outside the boundaries of their legitimate enquiry.
It was for this reason that Young Earth Creationism had been rejected by the vast majority of Christian theologians even before Charles Darwin was born. They had, in essence, followed the advice of St Augustine (354-430AD) in The Literal Meaning of Genesis, and Thomas Aquinas (1225-74AD) in Summa Theologica. For example:
Holy Scripture can be explained in a multiplicity of senses, [and] one should adhere to a particular explanation only in such measure as to be ready to abandon it if it be proved with certainty to be false, lest Holy Scripture be exposed to the ridicule of unbelievers, and obstacles be placed to their believing… (Thomas Aquinas, 1273AD)
As I said to my son recently, "just as scientific theories like evolution should not be used to reject religious beliefs; Biblical texts should not be used to reject scientific facts". I hope you will agree that this is a nice turn of phrase too, but, it belies the fact that all knowledge in science is provisional. However, in my defence, I must protest that "should not be used to reject things most scientists consider to be beyond reasonable doubt" …does not sound quite so good.
So then, back to big question: Is evolution a random process with no pre-ordained purpose; or has it been guided by someone or something? Well, I think I am going to dodge the bullet on that one; but I will say this: I was astonished recently to learn about the 'Maximum Power Principle' – as proposed by Howard T. Odum – that suggests that Darwinian-style natural selection tends to produce organisms "that maximize power intake, energy transformation, and those uses that reinforce production and efficiency". For background to this, please see this comment (and those that follow it) by Paul Chefurka on Guy McPherson's Nature Bats Last blog.
If you look at Chefurka's comments, you will see that he blames the 'Maximum Power Principle' for the fact that humanity seems set on a path to self-destruction (and unintended ecocide), i.e. that our consumption of resources is biologically-driven. Some may say, as I did initially, that this explains an awful lot but, upon further reflection, I am inclined to think that this could be used as an abdication of ultimate responsibility for our not leaving this Earth in as good a state as we were fortunate enough to find it.
Be that as it may, the evidence from the fossil record suggests that the vast majority of species that have ever lived are probably no longer with us today. However, that does not make them "failed evolutionary experiments". Indeed, I would argue that some species that have survived through to the present time look like failed evolutionary experiments (and I do not mean humans). What sense is there in that? Why do some species appear to have got stuck in a time-warp? Is it enough just to say they are adapted to their niche environments?
I am therefore ambivalent about the question of whether evolution must be seen as purposeful or self-selecting process. However, I think xraymike79's turn of phrase is useful because it has the potential to shake us from our anthropocentric complacency. Furthermore, I think it almost demands that – instead – we embrace the ecocentric reality around us: Apart from a few dairy cows that might experience some significant discomfort for a while – most of life on Earth would not even notice if we humans disappeared. As Edward O. Wilson observed, we may be the most intelligent life form on Earth – and we may be at the top of every conceivable food chain – but humans are not the most important life form on Earth. That honour probably goes to fungi – Nature's most effective and efficient recyclers.
Unfortunately, we humans seem determined to go down fighting and, unless we wake up to the reality that we cannot subdue and dominate Nature – we must seek to live in harmony with it – it seems increasing likely that we will cause the widespread breakdown of many essential ecosystem services upon which all life on Earth depends. This is because we are currently in the process of deconstructing the benign and stable environment that has made life possible. As such, the Hockey Stick may have now turned into a Scythe:
That being the case, we must all hope this does not herald the arrival of the Grim Reaper himself. :-(
See also:
The Sceptics' Creed
For this spoof of the Anglican version of the Nicene Creed I apologise to all those who lack a sense of humour:
[All stand]
We believe in some gods,
like Professor Ian Plimer,
writer of 'Heaven and Earth',
of all that is mean and not green.
We believe in some lords; John Christy
and in Richard Lindzen.
Endlessly they are proven wrong and yet still,
from their shite we recite,
true lies from sad guys,
opinions, not facts,
of one thing we are certain,
through them all truths were made.
For us and for our salvation
they came down from science:
by the power of our human folly,
they became embedded in ideology,
and made their plan.
For our sake they were crucified by climate scientists;
they suffered 'death' and were 'buried'.
On the third day they rose again
in accordance with the sceptics;
they returned to their jobs,
and are seated in academic tenure.
They will come again in future to fudge the reason and the facts,
and their soapbox will have no end.
We believe in the wholly spurious, our god, the slither of doubt,
which precedes our judgement of evidence.
With the money and the vice it is worshiped and glorified.
It is supported through the profits…
We believe in one wholly cynical and irrational church.
We acknowledge one purpose; for the pursuance of greed.
We look for the perpetuation of growth,
and the life of the World to shun.
[Please be seated]
Copyright © Martin Lack 2013
Fostering denial in the C of E (Part 2)
This is the second half of my rebuttal of the ideologically and theologically prejudiced denial of climate science by the Rt. Rev. Peter Foster, Bishop of Chester. The first half was published yesterday (and should be read first in order to understand the context and what it is that I am reviewing).
Having reduced the evidence for ACD to something that is contingent and uncertain, Bishop Peter describes concern over ACD as "climate alarmism". However, use of such a pejorative term (implying that there is no cause for alarm) can only be justified by belief that the modern consensus regarding climate science is unreliable, unreasonable, or unreal. This in turn requires that the majority of climate scientists must be either stupid, wrong, or deceitful.
Bishop Peter's next target is computer models, which he describes as expensive and complex; and cites the data-mined, de-contextualised, emails illegally obtained from the CRU/UEA (a.k.a. 'Climategate') as evidence of scientific malpractice and/or dishonesty. He then takes a swipe at all the vested interests "springing up" who have a reason to engineer "alarm". Unfortunately, the reality is that the fossil fuel industry is by far the largest vested interest – receiving tax credits and subsidies many times greater than either academia or the green economy.
Next, Bishop Peter attempts to minimise the significance of a 0.8 Celsius rise in temperatures over the last 100 years by reference to the Medieval Warm Period (MWP) and Little Ice Age (LIA); and attacks the validity of the famous Hockey Stick graph (i.e. in the IPCC's 2003 reports). However, these concerns (that current warming is not unprecedented) have been widely debunked; so I will not attempt to do so again here.
Next on Bishop Peter's list of 'expert' witnesses is the Professor of Earth Sciences, Ian Plimer; and his book Heaven and Earth, which is a lengthy re-statement of a variety of contrarian ideas and second-hand opinions including the "volcanoes are causing the warming" and "CO2 is plant food" memes). Unfortunately (for Plimer and Co.) this has also been widely discredited (e.g. here by Michael Ashley in The Australian newspaper). With regard to the latter meme, recent research has repeatedly found that any positive effects of CO2 increase are irrelevant when account is taken of negative impacts of increased temperature and shortage of water – as experienced in the USA this year.
Once again, Bishop Peter equates concern over ACD with religious belief – something that, in doing my MA research, I found to be most common amongst economists. This suggests to me that Bishop Peter is merely repeating arguments fed to him by his friends at the GWPF. Whatever the case may be, equating concern over climate change with religious belief is yet another fallacious argument; as it requires great faith to dismiss all the evidence for the reality of the problem.
Next, Bishop Peter completely mangles the truth that secular humanists fool themselves that we can control Nature, in order to bolster a fallacious argument that it is foolish to think we can have any impact on our climate. This is swiftly followed by the argument that the ACD problem, even if it were proved to exist, is probably too costly to fix: Yet more economic rationalism from the GWPF me thinks; and completely at odds with the view of most commentators today – that ACD is a problem we can no longer afford to ignore. Sadly, economic arguments will always be the last bastion of denial of science – especially if doing something to stop things getting worse will impact negatively on massive vested interests in the maintenance of "business as usual".
Next, Bishop Peter turns his attention to carbon capture and storage (CCS), correctly observing that, despite much talk, it is still little more than a concept. However, if CO2 is not the cause of the problem – who cares? Surely, then, CCS is an irrelevance; a complete waste of time and money? I am afraid I am at a loss to understand the point being made. What is clear, however, is that Bishop Peter believes that we should burn fossil fuels simply because they are there (because God has provided them for us to do just that).
Nearing the end of his walk-through of debunked contrarian ideas, Bishop Peter laments the fact that UK government policy "is in a mess" and admits that the use of hydrocarbons is unavoidable for some purposes. I agree – aviation is an obvious example. However, that leaves huge scope for substitution in other processes; what we lack is the political will to take action. However, what Bishop Peter completely fails to do is to acknowledge that policy is a mess because policy inaction is the goal of those that deny that burning fossil fuels is damaging our environment– and always has been. Denial of responsibility is a tried and tested business strategy, pioneered by the manufacturers of organic pesticides and the tobacco industry.
In his final paragraph, Bishop Peter calls for "a non-political debate" about policy. However, this is a tacit admission that he thinks climate change is a hoax and a politically-motivated conspiracy designed solely as an excuse to tax people more heavily. In his final sentence he even claims that expenditure on the "unproven" science is hurting the poorest in society. Sadly, this is yet more reality inversion – what is now hurting the poor the most is the consequence of decades of denial orchestrated by the fossil fuel lobby.
And so it can be seen that, in the course of less than 1000 words in the Church Times, Bishop Peter neatly affirmed his support for all six pillars of climate change denial, namely that:
1. Global warming is not happening.
2. Global warming is not man-made.
3. Global warming is not significant.
4. Global warming is not necessarily bad.
5. Global warming is not a problem.
6. Global warming is not worth fixing.
Just one problem with that hypothesis; most scientists, economists and environmentalists have long since concluded that it is. Therefore, for his part in peddling such scurrilous misinformation, I believe Bishop Peter should be truly ashamed of himself.
In light of the comment made on yesterday's post by thefordprefect (referring to the irrationality of a certain Evangelical Declaration on Global Warming), it seems appropriate for me to repeat part of my response here:
Not all Christians are fully signed-up members of The New Flat Earth Society… The Evangelical Climate Initiative (2006) is (or was?) an alternative viewpoint: One endorsed by many Christian charities; including the UK's Tearfund (i.e. The Evangelical Alliance Relief Fund).


text:
Categories for this product:
Craft Caddy Lamp
Not yet rated (write a review)
Regular Price: $84.99
Sale Price: $63.74You save 25%
SALE - only: $63.74! Please note, an additional shipping charge of $7.00 will be added to this item due to size and weight. For orders sent to Guam, Puerto Rico, Alaska, Hawaii and foreign countries we reserve the right to bill for actual shipping charges. This is a revolutionary caddy with built in lamp! The OttLite gives you complete detail for close up work with color accuracy, reducing glare and eyestrain. The lamp is collapsible and has a handle for easy portability. Check out the extra outlet on the base to plug in your tools. PLUS the storage trays are removable so you can put your supplies right where you need them as you stitch! The caddy has a 10" diameter base and the lamp adjusts from 5" to 20" so you can get the light just right!
This item is nonreturnable without customer service approval.
Layaway Available!
This item is eligible for layaway. Pay for this item with your credit card over a 45 day period in easy 1/3 increments, with the option to pay off the balance early! Layaway option available at checkout.
View more layaway eligible products »
Average Customer Rating:
Review this product and share your opinion with fellow stitchers.
There are no reviews (write a review).

subset: commoncrawl


text:
The buoyancy compensator (BCD) is the bulkiest, and sometimes the heaviest, piece of scuba diving equipment. As airlines lower luggage weight limits, divers are faced with skyrocketing baggage fees. Many dive equipment manufacturers have created lightweight and compact travel BCDs to make dive travel easier. This review profiles three great, travel-friendly BCDs: the Aqualung Zuma, the Cressi Travel Light, and the Seacsub Airone.
• Aqualung Zuma
•BCD Dry Weight (large size): 4.4 pounds
•Inflation Style: back inflation
•Integrated Weight System: yes
•Price: $395 (according to the Aqualung website)
What Makes This Travel BCD Easy to Pack?
The Aqualung Zuma roles up and fastens with a Velcro strap for easy packing. With specially designed low-profile deflation valves, this BCD also lays almost flat inside a suitcase.
Why Is This Travel BCD Good for Diving?
The Zuma is a back-inflation style BCD. This reduces compression on the chest, both on the surface and underwater. With an easy-to-use integrated weight system and highly adjustable padded straps, this BCD will adjust to comfortably fit almost any diver.
What Does This BCD Have That Other Travel BCDs Might Not Have?
The chest strap of the Aqualung Zuma moves up and down into any position. This is a great feature for drysuit divers who may want to move the chest strap away from the drysuit inflation valve, and for any diver who feels choked using standard BCD chest straps.
Anything I Might Find Annoying?
The Zuma has been streamlined to reduce weight and bulk. There are no d-rings on the shoulder straps of the BCD, and only four small d-rings above and on the side of the integrated weight pockets. This BCD has only one fold down accessory pocket. Divers who plan on bringing many accessories underwater, or who are accustomed to using shoulder harness d-rings, may feel the lack of storage potential on this BCD.
• Cressi Travel Light
•BCD Dry Weight (large size): 5.7 pounds
•Inflation Style: vest
•Integrated Weight System: yes
•Price: $444 (MSRP)
What Makes This Travel BCD Easy to Pack?
The Cress can be folded up and fastened with an integrated Velcro fastener so that it rolls up tightly.
Why Is This Travel BCD Good for Diving?
Easy to manage interated weight pockets click securely into the sides of the BCD. The Travel Light comes with trim weight pockets on the back of the vest, which allows divers to comfortably distribute weights for a better position in the water. Strategically placed metal alloy d-rings and storage pockets make it easy for divers to bring accessories along for the dive.
What Does This Travel BCD Have That Other BCDs Might Not Have?
The rear deflation valve on the Cressi Travel Light is interesting in that the pull string for the dump has been moved forward to hang in front of the diver's cummerbund. This eliminates the need for divers to reach behind them to use the rear deflation valve.
Anything I Might Find Annoying?
The Travel Light is a fairly standard vest-style BCD that has been streamlined to reduce weight and bulk. Most divers will find it intuitive to use. The non-standard position of the rear deflation valve may be a positive attribute or not, depending upon the diver.
• Seacsub Airone
•BCD Dry Weight (large size): 4.96 pounds
•Inflation Style: vest
•Integrated Weight System: no
•Price: $485 (msrp)
What Makes This Travel BCD Easy to Pack?
The Seacsub Airone can be folded up and stored in a customized zip-up carrying bag.
Why Is This Trvel BCD Good for Diving?
The Airone does not have an integrated weight system, and is designed for divers to use weight belts. Trim weight pockets are located on the back of the BCD, permitting divers to move a portion of their weight off the belt. Some divers find this helps their swimming positon. This is a relatively basic BCD, and all air release valves and pulls, straps, d-rings, and pockets are in more-or-less standard places. With little or no instruction, most certified divers will find this BCD easy to strap on and go.
What Does This Travel BCD Have That Other BCDs Might Not Have?
The chest strap on the Seacsub Airone adjusts to two different postions. This is useful for drysuit divers who may want to move the chest strap out of the way of the drysuit inflation valve. Many divers will enjoy the fact that they can position the chest strap to maximize comfort.
Anything I Might Find Annoying?
While the d-rings on the Airone are well-positioned, they are plastic, and may not last as long as some metal d-rings.
Travel BCDs at a Glance
|4.4 lbs
|back/ rear
|5.7 lbs


text:
LAWTON Okla_ It was caught on tape: two men brutally beating
and robbing a Lawton man, and police need your help identifying them.
Police say the attack happened last Tuesday night
around 10:00 PM outside the Comanche County Juvenile Detention Center.
The attack is seen clearly on the tape: the two men
got out of a car, approached a man, and started to beat him. Despite
some cuts and bruises, the victim is doing fine.
The man told police he was riding his bicycle, when
a white car in front of him started backing up and tapped his tire. When he
tried to go around the car, two men jumped out, chased him and beat him right
on the doorsteps of the detention center.
The helpless man runs towards the locked doors of
the Juvenile Detention Center but can't get in. You can see him
from inside frantically pulling on the doors just before his attackers drag him
back. Seconds later, the two men are on top of him punching, kicking, and
stomping him.
"I think it's very disturbing," Lawton Police
Detective Jason Roberts said, "The fact they are at a juvenile detention center
and they no qualms as far as walking up and robbing him. If they are willing to
do that there, they're willing to do just about anything anywhere."
They don't give up until the man is lying helpless.
That's when they empty his pockets and casually walk away.
Believe it or not, it only took employees about a
minute to come to the door to see what was going on, but because the beating
happened so quickly, the attackers were already driving off.
Luckily, the victim was able to get to his feet and
explain to employees what had just happened.
Police have identified the suspects' car as a white
mercury cougar.
The men are believed to be Hispanic or Native American.
One of them stands about 5'8", and the other is about 6'. Both are believed to
weigh around 250 lbs.
Police believe one of the men was wearing a black T-shirt
with this unusual Marilyn Monroe print, with the Texas area code '325' tattooed
on her neck. If you can identify the man wearing it or have information, call Crimestoppers
at 355-INFO, or text the word 'BUST' and your information to the number '274637'.
Telephone: (580) 355-7000
Fax: (580) 357-3811
Email: email@example.com
EEO Public File Report
FCC Public File
DTV Quarterly Activity Station Report
Contact Us
Can't find something?


text:
|You Are Here:
Stylish stainless steel pepper mill features two plastic containers. Ceramic mechanisms that can be adjusted for fine and coarse grinds. Includes a cap that catches leftover grinds from spilling on to counters, tables or shelf tops. Constructed of FDA compliant materials.
Product Dimensions: 5-1/4"H x 2-1/8"W x 2-1/8"D.
Imprint Area: 1-1/8"H x 1-1/8"W.
Price includes one location laser engraved imprint. Packaging: gift box.
Item Colors
*Stock item colors shown on website are for reference only and may not match actual item color. Please request a sample for exact colors.
Additional Information
|Imprint Area
|See Description
|Standard Production Time
|7 days. (Rush production may be available. Learn More)
|7.05 oz
|Stainless Steel
|Starline USA
Question & AnswerAsk Question Live Chat
General FAQ
This product has not been reviewed. Be the first to review this product and share your thoughts with other customers
Create your own review
Create your own review
How to order


text:
Post by Eorl @ 10:10am 14/02/14 | 1 Comments
Mario Kart 8 will be released on May 31st, Nintendo revealed today during their first Nintendo Direct event for 2014.
A new trailer accompanying the announcement showcased a horde of racers coming to the Kart series: Bowser's Koopaling minions Iggy, Larry, Lemmy, Ludwig, Morton, Roy and Wendy.
Revealed last year, Mario Kart 8 will incorporate new anti-gravity mechanics to shake up the standard driving formula. Tracks will now include sideways and upside-down parts to further hurt your brain while trying to win that golden cup. You can watch the trailer below to see the new Koopalings in action.
Posted 03:20pm 15/2/14


text:
- Studio: Columbia Pictures
- Release Date: Jul 14, 1969
- Starring: Dennis Hopper, Peter Fonda
- Summary: An alcoholic attorney (Nicholson) hooks up with two part-time, drug-dealing motorcyclists (Fonda and Hopper) in search of their "American Dream." Heading from California to New Orleans, they sample the highs and lows of America the beautiful in a stoned-out quest for life's true meaning. (Sony Pictures)… Expand
- Director: Dennis Hopper
- Genre(s): Drama, Crime
- More Details and Credits »
Score distribution:
Positive: 7 out of 7
Mixed: 0 out of 7
Negative: 0 out of 7
Someday it was inevitable that a great film would come along, utilizing the motorcycle genre, the same way the great Westerns suddenly made everyone realize they were a legitimate American art form, Easy Rider is the picture.
Fonda and Hopper's now-classic film hit the old guard with the force of a rifle shot to the head. [Review of re-release]
A finely observed film but insufficiently developed as a satire of middle America. [Review of re-release]
Fonda himself has given this a fine production dress, with associate Bert Schneider, and the brilliant lensing, excellent music background ballads, especially Bob Dylan's "Easy Rider," are fine counterpoints to this poetic trip along Southwest America.
The film may be a relic now, but it is a fascinating souvenir - particularly in its narcissism and fatalism - of how the hippie movement thought of itself. [Review of re-release]
With the exception of Nicholson, its good things are familiar things - the rock score, the lovely, sometimes impressionistic photography by Laszlo Kovacs, the faces of small-town America.
Score distribution:
Positive: 4 out of 7
Mixed: 0 out of 7
Negative: 3 out of 7
May 25, 2013"A man went looking for America, and couldn't find it anywhere..." With a blistering rock-and-roll soundtrack, a host of trippy cinematic techniques, and dialogue that represented a very unique period in American history ("They're not scared of you. They're scared of what you represent to them.) "Easy Rider" from 1969 is a hallmark American film, and a great independent feature success.
The ultimate counter-culture classic, "Easy Rider" directed by first time director Dennis Hopper, jolted a Hollywood in transition when it became an unexpected hit in 1969, encapsulating the freewheeling spirit of the times, and the divide between the youth culture and the Establishment. This unconventional classic, which Time magazine hails as "one of the ten most important pictures of the decade," continues to strike a chord with audiences of all ages to this day.
After securing a major drug deal in Los Angeles, two free-spirited potheads Billy (Dennis Hopper) and Wyatt, a.k.a. Captain America (Peter Fonda), buy choppers and hit the road, traveling from Los Angeles to Mardi Gras in New Orleans to experience "the real America." Along the way, they encounter rednecks, experiment with LSD, visit a hippie commune, end up in jail, all in the name of living the American dream. While inevitably dated, it remains worthwhile, highlighted by Laszlo Kovacs photography, a great soundtrack, and Jack Nicholson star-making performance as a boozed up lawyer who tags along for the ride. Nicholson earned a Best Supporting Actor nod, while Hopper and Fonda continued to solidify their reputations.
"Easy Rider" was the official U.S. entry at the 1969 Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Best Film by a New Director prize (Hopper). Opened across the country in September 1969, it mesmerized critics with its perspective look at America. The film also received two Oscar nominations-Best Original Screenplay and Best Supporting Actor (Nicholson). Highly influential in its camerawork, storyline, and 60's rock soundtrack--"Easy Rider" endures as the ultimate psychedelic road-trip.… Expand
Aug 27, 2010Just as the film explores what the limits of freedom are in an unjust and prejudiced world, the actual movie pushes the limits of the quality of a picture produced by two drugged-out stars on the road, defying the logic of big, Hollywood, money-bloated moguls. But just as the taste of total freedom turns sour in the movie, the question of whether this movie should be considered a classic is a shaky "I don't know..."… Expand
- 1:17
- (2 views)


text:
Really good CD if it had the song And Our Love on it then it gets 5 Stars but for the price you cant go wrong there is some pretty good songs here besides the classic Kind Of A Drag.
i grew up listening to the buckinghams, i even saw them in concert. this is a great collection of there songs. it sure brings back great memeries. thanks again to Oldies for bring this cd back. i am very happy with all the cds i have purchased so far from Oldies.


text:
The Doctor Says "Say aaaaahhhhh"
Beginning Reading
Michelle Jones
For students to become successful readers they must learn the important vowel correspondences. This lesson will help children identify /o/ and the phoneme represented by o. Students will learn to recognize /o/ in spoken words by learning a meaningful representation (sound you make when a doctor looks down your throat), practice finding /o/ in words, read short /o/ word in letter boxes and further their skills with reading Under the Big Top and an assessment sheet for further practice.
Teacher supplies:
· small whiteboard (with permanent primary paper outline on it)
· expo marker
· eraser
· Poster board with tongue tickler written on it
· List of words: Frog, stop, mop, tip, fog, bed, trot, moss, bat
· highlighter
Supplies Per student:
· 1 popsicle stick
· 2 sheets of primary paper
· 2 pencils
· Letter boxes and Letters: f, r, o, g, s, t, p, m, I, b, e, d, t, r, s, a
· Copy of Under the Big Top
· Paper with tongue tickler printed on it
· Highlighter
1." In order to become expert readers we need to learn the secret code that tells us how to pronounce words. Today we are going to work on the short vowel o, like in the word top. When I think of o I think of when I go to the doctor. My doctor always says "say aaahh" and he sticks a Popsicle stick on my tongue and then I say "aahh". [Show graphic image] Let's try that together. Everyone get your Popsicle sticks and place it in the middle of your tongue {model for students} now let's say "aaahh". Great job guys. Let's try that a few more times. Now let's try it without the Popsicle stick, good job! Today we are going to learn the special sound that o makes, what it looks like, how to write it, how to hear it whenever we talk, and how to recognize it whenever we read."
2. "We spell o with the letter o. Let's see if we can find o in this tongue twister. {Display poster board with tongue twister}. "We like to hop on top of Pop." {Hand out tongue tickler paper and highlighter to students] Let's look at this again together. Raise your hand if you see a letter O in this tongue tickler." [When the student points out an o they are supposed to say the sound the letter o makes and then say the word. Next the whole group would highlight the letter o they just pointed out. This is continued until the all the letter o's are recognized. Then the tongue tickler is read again by the whole group.
3. "Now that we know what o sounds like let's write it. [All students get paper and pencil ready] This is how we write the letter o [demonstrate on whiteboard while giving verbal directions]. "Start just below the fence. First write a little c then close it up. Now let's try writing o. I am going to show you guys how to write it one more time, watch closely. [Demonstrate again] After I check your paper and tell you that you've done it right I want you to write ten more perfect o's like the ones you just did."
4. "Now we are going to use out letter boxes to spell words with the /o/ sound, but we will also review some words with other vowels so we can hear and see the difference in these vowels and the short o vowel. Before we start let's make the o sound a few times. Good job." [Pass out the letters and boxes needed] "What if I want to spell the word mop? "My mom makes me mop." To spell mop in letterboxes, first I need to know how many phonemes I have in the word so I stretch it out and count: /m//o//p/. Now I know I need 3 boxes. The first sound I hear is /m/, the word starts with /m/, so in my first box I'm going to put a m. Next I heard that /o/ right after the /m/ so I'm going to put an o in the 2nd box. Let's say the word again slowly stretching out the sounds. Mmmmoooooooppppp .I think I heard /p/ at the end right after the /o/ so I'll put a p right after the o to end my word. Now, I want you to try some. As I call out a word, I want you to put the letters in your boxes. If you need help raise your hand and I will help you. Remember to count the phonemes so you will know how many boxes you need."
5. Now, I am going to write some of the words we just spelled with our letters on the board. I want you to read them aloud to me together. If you hear the "aaahhh" sound in the word, I want you to give me thumbs up and if you don't hear it I want you to give me a thumbs down. Let's practice a word together. [Write the word log on the board]. This word says, mop. See how our o is in the middle. This says /o/. It starts with /m/ and ends with /p/. Put it all together and this says mop. (Thumbs up). Now you try. [Write the words from the letterboxes on the board].
6. Next I will have the students to whisper read the book, In the Big Top while I observe their reading. "This book is about a family who wants to go to the circus. They want to bring a lot of things and a lot of people to the circus with them, but they only have one little car to get them there. Can everyone and everything fit? Will they make it to the Circus?" After the students have finished reading the book I will have them go back and pick one word from each page that has the o sound and write it on their second sheet of primary paper.
7. For the assessment I will pass out a worksheet that requires them to have understanding of the letter o sound to complete successfully. I will also use their activity they did with the book In the Big Top, to further assess their knowledge of the sound o.
Murray, Bruce. Teaching Letter Recognition. http://www.auburn.edu/rdggenie/letters.html
Leslie Sidwell O'Neal. Hop on Pop - Short 'o'. http://www.auburn.edu/academic/education/reading_genie/openings/onealel.html
Return to Epiphanies index


text:
Pranayama: The Air We Share
In yoga philosophy, the breath is synonymous with the body's life force, which takes the form of prana, the energy that flows through the universe. While we experience prana in the food we eat and the sunshine we absorb, we are constantly connected to this life force by the air that cycles through our body. Both literally and metaphorically, our breath powers our life and brings us together. Since every organism on the planet shares the same air, the breath that sustains us also unites us with every living creature on Earth.
While asana practice comprises the third limb of yoga, as outlined in Pantanjali's Yoga Sutras, pranayama makes up the fourth. Derived from the sanskrit words prana, which means breath and life force, and ayama, which means extension, pranayama offers exercises in extending the reach of the breath. Pranayama uses conscious breathing to explore the spiritual and physiological connection between breath and prana. Its exercises are designed to boost the body's vital energy and project it into the world as an extension of the life force that all living things share.
Pranayama exercises are gentle and simple to practice. While they complement the asanas, they also offer an alternative way to find peace when the body is recovering from illness or injury.
Midweek Pranayama and Meditation
TogetherYoga's pranayama and meditation sessions are open to everyone and offer a chance to explore the mind-body connection that the breath forges both within and between the self and others. Sessions will open with pranayama exercises designed to focus the attention on the breath in preparation for a meditation practice that clears the mind and encourages the body to release any tension that has accumulated over time.
While pranayama and meditation are easy to understand and perfect for independent exploration, both can take time to develop into a regular practice. TogetherYoga's 90-minute Midweek Pranayama and Meditation sessions offer explanation, technique, guidance, discussion, and support. The workshops will begin with an introduction to an image, technique, or theme that the group will explore through pranayama exercises and a guided meditation. The evening will conclude with an open discussion of any questions and insights that arise from the experience.
Suggested donation for this session is $10 per person. No one will be turned away, but everyone is asked to consider the personal and communal value of the program in determining their contribution.


text:
Family Law
Sperm Donor Who Claims Parental Rights Seeks Cert
Posted Mar 21, 2008 9:30 AM CDT
By Debra Cassens Weiss
A sperm donor who lost his bid for parental rights is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to hear his appeal.
The Kansas Supreme Court ruled against Daryl Hendrix in a 4-2 opinion released in October, the Associated Press reports. The court upheld a Kansas law that says sperm donors have no parental rights unless there is a written agreement to the contrary.
Hendrix had claimed he had an oral agreement with his twins' mother, lawyer Samantha Harrington, to share custody.
Jeffrey Leving, a lawyer who promotes fathers' rights, represents Hendrix.
"This is a very significant case, not only for the world of fathers' rights, but also for the rights and fair treatment of children," Leving told AP. "Many fathers are criticized for not being there. Here we have a father who wants to help, but he was cut off at the knees."
Add a Comment
We welcome your comments, but please adhere to our comment policy. Flag comment for moderator.


text:
Here's Dwight Jaynes' follow piece on the trade idea. It's not very insightful. He applauds the Steve Nash idea (yuck), mentions Felton, who would be an ok consolation prize if we were getting something more, Johnny Flynn (seriously?), and Tony Parker...along with Antonio McDyess, who I'm pretty sure saw was going to retire, but Parker would be my number 1 choice outside of Deron Williams if it were possible. Obviously these are my opinions, feel free to form your own. I'm not sure why Devin Harris isn't mentioned when Utah is shopping him so hard right now, and I'm surprised he doesn't mention Chris Paul....lol. http://www.csnnw.com/pages/landingdwight?Getting-down-to-business-what-sort-of-ve=1&blockID=536374
Dwight Jaynes thinks the following quote from the "extended" Peter Vescey column (doesn't provided a link to that column) is a major bomshell, which Dwight views as credible: "I'm told Penn threatened to expose Miller for doing something improper. For the time being, I'll leave it at that." Dwight's smelling a major scandal here. Maybe this is just the media blowing things way out of proportion. At least Dwight thinks this latest turn of events means that KP's situation, whether there's a problem there or not, isn't tied to what happened with Penn. Nevertheless, I'm tired of all these negative off-court stories. Anyone else feel like the Blazers are becoming a soap opera again? Do other teams have these problems but we just don't hear about them?
The Oregon Ducks Elevator - Fall Camp Week 1
Why old media is dying, and why the internet will win, as seen by the microcosm of the recent transfers from the University of Oregon football program.
As part of the new SB Nation launch, prior users will need to choose a permanent username, along with a new password.
Your username will be used to login to SB Nation going forward.
Please login to your Vox Media account. This account will be linked to your previously existing Eater account.
As part of the new SB Nation launch, prior MT authors will need to choose a new username and password.
Your username will be used to login to SB Nation going forward.
We'll email you a reset link.
If you signed up using a 3rd party account like Facebook or Twitter, please login with it instead.
You must be a member of Addicted To Quack to participate.
We have our own Community Guidelines at Addicted To Quack. You should read them.
You must be a member of Addicted To Quack to participate.
We have our own Community Guidelines at Addicted To Quack. You should read them.
Choose an available username to complete sign up.
In order to provide our users with a better overall experience, we ask for more information from Facebook when using it to login so that we can learn more about our audience and provide you with the best possible experience. We do not store specific user data and the sharing of it is not required to login with Facebook.


text:
Torian Graham hears from MD, TX (offer), Kentucky, Baylor
Torian Graham has heard from Baylor, Texas(Offer), Maryland, FSU, Clemson and Kentucky since he decomitted from NC State.— ScoutsFocus (@scoutsfocus) August 12, 2011
Looks like MD is on the trail, but TX has already offered. Trying to pull off another Sterling Gibbs. Kentucky, Baylor, Clemson, FSU are also talking to him.


text:
The University of Vermont and UMBC women's soccer teams played through 110 minutes, but neither team could find the back of the net as the America East match ended in a 0-0 tie.
Both teams pick up a point in the America East standings with the draw. The Catamounts move to 2-11-1 overall and 1-3-1 in the league. UMBC is 1-9-4 on the year and 0-3-2 in the conference.
Both goalkeepers had outstanding efforts in their respective nets. Lauren Kadet finished the game with 10 stops for the Retrievers, while Ally Ramos was credited with seven saves for Vermont.
With 9:20 remaining in the second half, UMBC had its best scoring opportunity of the game. Ramos saved Preslie Quaranta's shot with a diving, fingertip stop to her right.
With eight minutes left in the first overtime session, UVM's Bre Pletnick had a one-on-one look at the net, but Kadet came up with a diving stop on her shot from eight yards out to snuff out Vermont's best opportunity.
Vermont returns to action on Sunday (Oct. 14) when it travels to Albany for a 2 p.m. match at the Turf at College Park in Schenectady, N.Y.
---Courtesy UVM Sports Information
Quick Links
PO Box 4508
All content © Copyright 2000 - 2014 WorldNow and WCAX. All Rights Reserved. For more information on this site, please read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.


text:
Home > Post > Post 2 > Post 2 News Release > 2004 News Archives > News Release
News Release
TFC Stu Recke
Public Affairs Officer
Kentucky State Police
Post 2, Nortonville
(270) 676-3313
Click here to e-mail TFC Stu Recke
KSP Post 2 Shop with Cops Program in Madisonville
Date of News Release: 12/17/2004
Madisonville, KY - On Tuesday, December 14, 2004 the Kentucky State Police Professional Association from Post 2 conducted its 8th annual "Shop with Cops" program at the Parkway Plaza Mall in Madisonville. Twenty-one children and their families were treated to pizza at Godfather's. Next, was a shopping trip to Goody's where each child was allotted $100 to spend.
Post 2 personnel that participated in the event were Sgt. Todd Jones, Sgt. Brent White, Det. Tim Bailey, Det. Devin Brewer, Det. Ben Wolcott, Tpr. Lonnie Kavanaugh, Tpr. Stu Recke, Dispatcher Wendy Ball and Dispatcher Jayde Conyers. The pizza and shopping were provided through funds by the Kentucky State Police Professional Association and private contributions.


text:
cooking with kids :: rolly-polly pancakes
breakfast is by far the easiest meal around here. in fact, some days i serve only breakfast foods all day because it's easier than fighting to get my 3.5 year old to eat a chicken nugget or godforbid a vegetable.
given that many of his favorite breakfast foods are sweet or have sweet syrup on top, I try to make healthy versions of things that go under the syrup like waffles, pancakes and french toast. whatever a mom can do to keep healthy and still edible, you know?
with that, I give you Rolly Polly Pancakes. part crepe, part pancake, all YUM. these are particularly fun for kids, because you can roll just about anything up inside them creating many different tastes in one snack-sitting. we like bananas, walnuts, raisins, jam, almond or peanut butter and sometimes even O's (Joe's Os or Cheerios). cold glass of soy milk and we're good to go!
definitely use a non-stick pan--don't bother with any other kind unless you are French or like a good cry.
recipe from the Kinderhof Cookbook.
3 eggs
1 cup whole wheat pastry flour (or all-purpose is fine, too)
1 1/2 cup soy milk (or cow)
2 tsp. vanilla extract pinch of salt
1. beat all the ingredients with a whisk or in the blender until smooth. let the batter stand for about a half hour.
2. heat your pan on medium, add a bit of butter to the pan and ladle about 1/3 of a cup into the pan. tilt and swirl until evenly spread.
3. cook for about a minute, until the edges can be easily lifted. flip and cook lightly on the other side--20-30 seconds.
4. slide onto a plate, slather with the fillings of your choice, roll and eat!
got any fail-safe kid recipes you wanna share? i'm all ears!
Labels: cooking with kids, crepes, healthy snacks, pancakes


text:
"Unlucky Items" were once offered at LuckyVitamin but their luck has worn out. Usually due to popularity, manufacturer decision, product changes or supply issues we no longer carry the following items by this brand. Select an item to view more information and suggested comparable alternatives.
In 2007, the Supreme Protein® management team set out to create the world's first true gourmet protein bar composed entirely of high-quality proteins such as whey isolate. To achieve that end, Supreme Protein®, Inc. utilizes the varied talents of a top-notch group of noted experts in the field of candy-bar technology and sports nutrition, as well as product research and development. In a marketplace dominated by bland protein bars with questionable nutritional content, Supreme Protein®, Inc stands alone in manufacturing the world's only true gourmet protein bar. In addition to its high-quality protein blend, Supreme Protein® also contains healthy fats, including flaxseed oil, an excellent spectrum of vitamins and minerals, and zero trans fat. It is the category's foremost combination of flavor and function.


text:
You are asked to make 1 Liter of 5M Sodium Chloride (NaCl). How many grams of NaCl are needed?
My name is Teesta and I need your help with this Chemistry problem that I listed above.
Can you please help me?
Sat, 2013-01-05 14:22
5M = 5moles per litre. Each
5M = 5moles per litre. Each mole NaCl has a mass of 23+35.5 = 58.5g (using simple atomic masses). So 5 moles would weigh 5 x 58.5g


text:
Stephenie Meyer's The Host: Three Big Money Lessons from a World Without Bank Accounts or Currency
- 0 Comments
- By Elyssa Kirkham
- March 24, 2013
Fans of Twilight author Stephenie Meyer have a new event to look forward to, with the release of The Host, a movie adaptation of her 2008 novel of the same name. But the storyline of The Host departs from the usual fare of werewolves and vampires that have been the calling card of Meyer's wildly popular Twilight saga — and enters the realm of aliens.
The Host takes place after the Souls have invaded Earth and taken over all but a few scattered pockets of humans that must hide to survive. While this sci-fi movie has a similar premise to others of the body-snatching alien genre, it is offers a much more altruistic and peaceful species of aliens. The Souls are peaceful and selfless, and this is reflected in how they have set up their economy.
Welcome to a New Age: The Economy in "The Host"
In The Host, an alien race known as Souls has invaded Earth — and human bodies. "This is the future," says the trailer, "and humanity is all but extinct. We have been invaded by another species who erase our minds to take our bodies. But there are a few of us left who still fight back."
Earth looks largely the same, as the Souls adapt the lifestyle and habits of theirs hosts. Souls drive cars, they attend college, they visit the grocery store for food, they go to work, but with one major difference: There are no bank accounts, and no need for currency at all.
Each Soul has a "Calling," a job to which they are specifically suited. It could be Healer (the Soul version of a doctor), professor, or photographer, or gas station attendant. Souls don't work for a paycheck, however; they work simply to fulfill their Calling and to contribute to their society.
When it comes to the necessities of life, the Souls have a "share and share alike" approach, taking only what and as much as they need, without exchanging currency, whether it is food, a place to live or a car. This system works because Souls are unfailingly honest — "Souls did not, as a rule, speak anything but the truth," Wanderer explains in the book. "Between Souls there was never reason for a lie."
The Human Resistance in The Host
The story's protagonist is a Soul named Wanderer, played in the film by Saoirse Ronan, who takes over the body of a young human woman (Melanie) who had been part of the resistance.
Related Articles
Wanderer finds the resistance hideout where Jared has ended up, a network of caves hidden in the Sonoran desert of Arizona. The a small group of humans have taken up inhabitance there, and subsist on whatever food and goods they can steal from the Souls, subsidized by the meager crops they are able to grow in the caves.
The humans have much less to go around than the Souls do, but the economy their small society operates is strikingly similar to that of the Souls, or a commune. Like the Souls and their Callings, each member of the resistance's society is expected to contribute, whether that is by preparing meals, tending to crops or running dangerous supply raids. The supplies are rationed out and each member receives a fair share.
Financial Lessons from Both Societies in The Host
With our consumerist, money-driven society, it's hard to imagine living as either the Souls or humans in The Host do, with no bank accounts to worry about, no money to earn or track, and no budgeting needed, but it sounds pretty nice. If you're a fan of The Host or can see the appeal of an economic system like this, here are some ways to bring a bit of the "new age" to your finances.
1. Join a Credit Union
"People helping people," is a common motto among credit unions, a motto that Souls would wholly support.
Credit unions are not-for-profit financial institutions that are owned and run by credit union members. Because they are not run for a profit, all earnings are used to improve the credit union, offer a wider range of services with lower fees and provide members with competitive interest rates and offers.
By joining a credit union, you become a member of a financial cooperative that works together to help each member see success in their own finances.
2. Give to Charity
Both the Souls and humans in The Host freely share what they have with others. In the Souls' world, nobody wants for anything, and problems like poverty, illness and hunger don't exist. Why not find a charity or cause that you feel strongly about and donate your time or money? By giving to charity, you can bring our world that much closer to the kind of harmony the Souls enjoy.
3. Take a Do-It-Yourself Approach
The small group of humans in The Host are expert DIYers. Not only do they grow their own food, but they do so in a cave with the help of a complex system of mirrors that direct sunlight down on their crops. They make their own goods like soap and shampoo, and live by the saying, "Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without."
You could try bring a bit of this attitude home by growing some of your own food — even if it starts as a simple basil plant in the kitchen window. Or you could jump on the recent bandwagon of mixing up your own cleaners, detergents and other household goods. Taking the do-it-yourself approach is often cheaper and can be a great way to add to your savings account.


text:
June 20, 2014
Only linehaul applications were covered previously with the bundled program, which extends the basic two-year warranty of a standard Eaton Fuller Reman transmission or a Flex Reman to three years with the combined purchase and installation of an Eaton Advantage Series clutch and Roadranger-approved lubricant.
"Based on the initial success and excellent reception that we have been receiving from our linehaul customers, we decided to extend the industry's best aftermarket warranty coverage to all applications," said Bill Fouch, aftermarket marketing manager for Eaton's transmission business.
Eaton Solo Advantage and Easy Pedal Advantage clutches feature extended 50,000-mile standard lubrication intervals for linehaul applications, premium patent-pending release bearings and added protection against potentially harmful driveline vibrations, according to the company.
Eaton said its Solo Advantage is a self-adjusting clutch that reduces maintenance for more uptime and is ideally suited for trucks with hydraulic linkages. The Easy Pedal Advantage clutch requires manual adjustments but is designed for quick and easy maintenance.
We offer e-newsletters that deliver targeted news and information for the entire fleet industry.
The expert, Mark Betner from Citgo will answer your questions Ask a question
Wheel end expert Jeff Geist from STEMCO will answer your questions Ask a question
Fiery Crash Video Paints Portrait of Brave and Caring Truckers
The True Causes of Rubber on the Road
Freightliner's S2G Propane-Autogas-Powered Truck Chassis
Volvo Brings Trucking Web Series to America
Peterbilt Adds New Configuration for SmartAir System
Chicago Pneumatic Announces New Impact Wrench
Mitsubishi Announces Idle Limit System Option for Canter Trucks
Fleetmatics Adds HOS Logging to Reveal


text:
All Entries in the "Thursday, September 5, 2013" Category
Schmitt captures Karl Crate Clash
BOONE, Iowa (Sept. 5) – Brian Schmitt was the big winner in the winner take all Karl Crate Clash Thursday at Boone Speedway. Schmitt started on the pole for the inaugural 12-lap Modified race, which saw the last-place car blackflagged at the end of each of the first 10 circuits. He then beat Ricky [...]
Thursday Results from the 2013 Super Nationals
IMCA Modified Race of Champions qualifiers
Heat 01 – 1. Jimmy Gustin, Marshalltown; 2. Tim Ward, Gilbert, Ariz.; 3. Mark Elliott, Webster City; 4. Cory Sample,
Winnemucca, Nev.; 5. Josh Gilman, Earlham; 6. Chad Porter, Madison Lake, Minn.; 7. Jay Noteboom, Hinton; 8. Ricky
Stephan, S. Sioux City, Neb.; 9. Wayne Graybeal, Springfield, Mo.; 10. Hank Berry, Sidney, [...]
Thornton, Allen top Modified qualifiers
BOONE, Iowa (Sept. 4) – Two first-time visitors to the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey's were first to the checkers in their Modified qualifying features Wednesday night at Boone Speedway.
Ricky Thornton Jr. made the trip from Arizona and led all 25 laps of the first race, winning ahead of Keith White, [...]
Open houses planned at Karl Performance, Harris
BOONE, Iowa – Karl Performance and Victory Chassis, and Harris Auto Racing both host open houses for drivers and fans attending the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey's.
Karl Performance, located in the northeast corner of the speedway grounds, will open its doors and offer free food and drink during its Customer Appreciation Open [...]


text:
PELICAN RAPIDS, Minn. (AP) -- A Fargo, N.D., man has died in a snowmobile accident near Pelican Rapids in western Minnesota.
The Otter Tail County sheriff's office says Jerome Kotalik was driving a snowmobile at about 2:45 p.m. Tuesday at a residence when he lost control and fell off, striking his head on a parked snowmobile trailer. Kotalik was not wearing a helmet and suffered a traumatic head injury.
Authorities say Kotalik was taking the snowmobile out for a short warm-up and likely intended to put on a helmet before going out for a longer ride with others. Helmets were sitting out at the scene.
The sheriff's office says it suspects a mechanical failure in the throttle caused the snowmobile to speed up and throw him.
Pelican Rapids is about 35 miles southeast of Fargo.
All content © Copyright 2001 - 2014 WorldNow and KTTC, a Quincy station.
All Rights Reserved. For more information on this site, please read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service and Mobile Privacy Policy & Terms of Service.
Persons with disabilities who need assistance with issues relating to the content of this station's public inspection file should contact Administrative Assistant Jodi Neyens at (507) 280-5104. Questions or concerns relating to the accessibility of the FCC's online public file system should be directed to the FCC at 888-225-5322, at 888-835-5322 (TTY) or at email@example.com.


text:
it's an interesting start, i wonder what's gonna happen next! good job, and you'll have a lot of reads before you know it, i can tell :D
ooooh! i want more!!!!!! :D its really really really really good and interesting, and i cant wait to see where you go with this!
this is very interesting! it sounds so mysterious, i wonder what the accident was... keep going, it's so amazing!
Add to your private libraryMy Library
Add this story to your public reading lists


text:
The UK Gigs Thread
View Single Post
2005-06-01, 19:45
Amon rA
Senior Metalhead
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 472
Fuck i missed napalm death tonight in bristol.
never mind, motley crue on the 18th.
"The complexity of the penguins' lifestyle testifies to a Divine Creator," said one commentator on Christian Answers. "To think that natural selection or even the penguins themselves could come up with the idea to migrate miles and miles multiple times each year without their partner or their offspring is a bit insulting to my intellect. How great is our God!"
Amon rA
View Public Profile
Send a private message to Amon rA
Find all posts by Amon rA
Add Amon rA to Your Buddy List


text:
Show detailed map of this area
Water park
Fitness room, Sauna, Solarium
Vestre Toten
Badeland Gjestegård
Badeland Gjestegård is a family-friendly accommodation facility consisting of 46 rooms of various types and sizes. All rooms have shower, bathroom, WC, TV, and access to wireless network. Completely renovated in 2007, the guesthouse provides a warm...
Read more about Badeland Gjestegård
Gjøvikregionen Turistkontor, Jernbanetorvet 3, 2821 GJØVIK | Telefon +47 611 46 710 | E-post: firstname.lastname@example.com
Old and unsupported browsers will slow down the loading time of webpages, and reduce the overall quality of your visit of this page.
It's recommended that you upgrade your browser before you continue. We have included two suggested solutions below.
For other alternatives, please visit
If you wish to continue without upgrading, just close this dialog.