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Earth : Asia : South Asia : Maldives
The Maldives (Dhivehi: ދިވެހިރާއްޖެ Dhivehi Raajje) [5] are an archipelago of 1,192 coral islands grouped into 26 coral atolls (200 inhabited islands, plus 80 islands with tourist resorts) in the Indian Ocean. They lie south-southwest of India and are considered part of Southern Asia.
Formerly a Sultanate under Dutch and British protection, the Maldives are now a republic. Long ruled over with an iron fist by Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, who did not hesitate to jail dissidents and was re-elected five times in more or less rigged elections, resistance to his rule culminated in violent rioting in 2003 and 2004. Under international pressure, free and fair elections were finally held in 2008, and Gayoom gracefully conceded defeat to opposition leader Mohamed Nasheed, "Anni". Following protests that started on May 1, 2011, Mohamed Nasheed was forced to resign from office on February 7, 2012. Mohammed Waheed Hassan , supported by the former dictator, was appointed president of the Maldives. There have been reports on violence and human rights violations by the security forces against protesters backing Nasheed. The next elections are to be held in July 2013.
The Tsunami of 26 December 2004 caused extensive damage to the Maldives - of a population of only 290,000, over a third was directly affected by the tsunami and more than 15,000 people were left homeless. The economic damage alone was over 62% of the GDP or US$470 million.
The immediate response from international donors and agencies mobilized more than US$400 million in aid after the disaster, much of which was used to help misplaced persons rebuild their homes and infrastructure damaged by the waves. As of December 24, 2010, six years after the tsunami, the number of persons living in temporary shelters had fallen from 15,000 to only 1,600 people.
Tourism, Maldives largest industry, accounts for 20% of GDP and more than 60% of the Maldives' foreign exchange receipts. Over 90% of government tax revenue comes from import duties and tourism-related taxes. Over 600,000 tourists visited the islands in 2006. Fishing is a second leading sector. The Maldivian Government began an economic reform program in 1989 initially by lifting import quotas and opening some exports to the private sector. Subsequently, it has liberalized regulations to allow more foreign investment. Agriculture and manufacturing continue to play a minor role in the economy, constrained by the limited availability of cultivable land and the shortage of domestic labor. Most staple foods must be imported. Industry, which consists mainly of garment production, boat building, and handicrafts, accounts for about 18% of GDP. Maldivian authorities worry about the impact of erosion and global warming on their low-lying country; 80% of the area is one meter or less above sea level.
Maldivians are almost entirely Sunni Muslim, and the local culture is a mixture of South Indian, Sinhalese and Arab influences. While alcohol, pork, dogs and public observance of non-Muslim religions are banned on the inhabited islands, the resort islands are allowed to exist in a bubble where anything goes.
Note that the weekend in the Maldives runs from Friday to Saturday, during which banks, government offices and many shops are closed. You won't notice this at the resorts though, except that lunch hours may be shifted for Friday prayers.
The Maldives are tropical, with plenty of sunshine and temperatures around 30°C throughout the year. However, rainfall increases considerably during the April-October southwest monsoon, particularly from June to August.
The Maldives are formed of 26 atolls, or atholhu in Dhivehi — the source of the English word. These are not single islands, but giant ringlike coral formations hundreds of kilometers wide that have fragmented into countless islands.
Atoll naming is complex, as the atolls have both lengthy traditional Dhivehi names like Maalhosmadulu Dhekunuburi, and snappy code names like Baa that refer to administrative regions and may consist of more than one geographical atoll. The code names are actually just the letters of Dhivehi alphabet, but being easier for non-Maldivians to remember and pronounce, the code names are popular in the travel industry and are hence also used here. Of the 20 administrative atoll groups, only (parts of) 10 are open to tourism, and from north to south these are:
Resort Islands
Get in
The Maldives have a remarkably easy visa policy -- Everybody gets a free 30-day visa on arrival, provided that they have a valid travel document, a ticket out and proof of sufficient funds, defined as either a confirmed reservation in any resort or US$100 + $50/day [6] in cash. This can be extended up to 90 days at Male, but you'll need to indicate where you're staying for that long. See the Department of Immigration and Emigration website [7] for details.
Importing alcohol, pork or pornography (very broadly defined) into the Maldives is forbidden and all luggage is X-rayed on arrival. On the way out, note that exporting sand, seashells or coral is also forbidden.
By plane
Practically all visitors arrive at Malé International Airport (IATA: MLE, ICAO: VRMM), located on Hulhulé Island right next to the capital Male. The airport is served by a wide array of flights to China, India, Sri Lanka, Dubai and major airports in South-East Asia, as well as an increasing number of charters from Europe. Many flights stop in Colombo (Sri Lanka) on the way.
Gan Airport (IATA: GAN, ICAO: VRMG), on the southern atoll of Addu, also serves an international flight to Milan several times a week.
Departure taxes are included in your ticket.
British Airways now flies directly from London Gatwick to Male 3 times a week (Sunday, Tuesday and Friday)
Cathay Pacific Airlines flies 4 times a week from Hong Kong (Wed, Thu, Sat, Sun)
Singapore Airlines flies daily direct from Singapore to Male, with late night timings.
Turkish Airlines flies directly from Istanbul Ataturk to Male 5 times in a week.
Emirates flies direct from Dubai to Male', twice a day.
Austrian Airlines flies between Vienna and Male once a week (outbound Vienna on Wednesday, inbound on Thursday morning)
By boat
There are no regular passenger boats to the Maldives. Even yachts usually steer clear, as navigating around the reefs is hazardous and permits are expensive.
Get around
Getting around in the Maldives takes three forms: boats, sea planes (air taxis) and private yachts. The boats are the Maldivian equivalent of a car, while planes and private yachts are mainly reserved for tourists.
Air taxis and boats prefer not to operate at night, so if you arrive at the airport after dark and are going to a distant resort, you may have to spend the night in Male or at the airport hotel in Hulhule. Private transfers, though expensive can be opted for resort transfers, instead of spending the whole night at Male. Private transfers could cost anywhere between US$500-800. On the way back, there may also be a significant gap between the time your transfer arrives and your flight departure. Check with your resort or travel agent.
Independent travel to inhabited islands other than Male requires an Inter Atoll Traveling Permit (IATP) [8], and receiving one requires Rf.10, a copy of your passport and — the hard part — an invitation from a resident of the island you wish to visit. Permits are not necessary for the organized island-hopping tours arranged by resorts and liveaboards.
By plane
No point in the Maldives is more than 90 minutes away by plane from Male, and visitors to the more far-flung resorts use air taxi services. There are two main operators: Maldivian Air Taxi [9], with red and white planes, and Trans Maldivian Airways [10], with yellow and blue planes. The services are largely identical, with both flying DHC-6 Twin Otter seaplanes that take around 15 passengers.
Scheduled inter-island services are provided by Island Aviation [11], which flies from Male to Gan, Hanimaadhoo, Kaadeddhoo and Kaddhoo. Travel permits are required.
By boat
The taxi boats generally take tourists to and from the islands in the North and South Male atolls. They come in all different shapes and sizes depending on the quality of the resort you stay in — the Four Seasons has a large enclosed motor cruiser with drinks and food, while the lesser resorts have open sided dhoni fishing boats.
Maldivian Dhivehi, a close relative of Sinhala (spoken in Sri Lanka) but with borrowings from Urdu, Hindi, Arabic and many other languages, is the official language. It is written in a remarkable hybrid script called Thaana, which uses Arabic and Indic numbers as the base of the alphabet, written from right to left with Arabic vowel signs. The script is thought to have originated as a secret code for writing magical formulas so that outsiders can't read them, which would also explain why the ordering of the alphabet is, as far as linguists can tell, completely random!
English is widely spoken, particularly by government officials and those working in the tourism industry. English is the language of instruction in schools, which means that you will be able to communicate with the locals with varying degrees of difficulty.
Since Maldives happen to be a popular destination for German and Italian holiday goers, a sizeable number of local resort workers are able to speak fluent German and Italian. This may vary depending on the resorts you plan to visit, though.
Diving and snorkelling
Aside from making the water bungalow rock on your honeymoon, the primary activity on the Maldives is scuba diving. The atolls are all coral reefs hundreds of kilometers away from any major landmass, meaning that water clarity is excellent and underwater life is abundant. Manta rays, sharks, even a few wrecks, you name it, you can find it in the Maldives.
While diving is very good by world standards even in the immediate vicinity of Male, visibility and the chance of encountering large pelagics increases as you head to the outer atolls. Many divers opt for liveaboards, which can actually work out much cheaper than paying high resort fees. Currents vary considerably, with generally little inside the atolls but some powerful streams to be found on the sides facing the open sea. Water in the Maldives is warm throughout the year and a 3mm shorty or Lycra diveskin is plenty. Diving is possible throughout the year, but rain, wind and waves are most common during the season of the southwest monsoon (June-August). The best time for scuba diving is from January to April, when the sea is calm, the sun is shining and the visibility can reach 30 m. Decompression chambers can be found on Bandos in Kaafu (15 min from Male), Kuredu in Lhaviyani Atoll and at Kuramathi on Alifu.
The one downside to diving in the Maldives is that it's quite expensive by Asian standards. Prices vary considerably from resort to resort, with specialist dive resorts offering better prices, but in general, you'll be looking at around US$50 for a single boat dive with your own gear and closer to US$75 without. Beware of surcharges: you may be charged extra for boat use, guided dives, larger tanks, etc. On the upside, safety standards are usually very high, with well-maintained gear and strict adherence to protocol (check dives, maximum depth, computer use, etc) being the rule rather than the exception.
The Maldives is becoming an increasingly popular surfing destination. Turquoise water and perfect waves makes it an ideal and uncrowded destination for surfers looking for smooth surfing conditions.
The best period for surfing in the Maldives is between March and October; the biggest waves occurring in June, July and August. This paradise is exposed to the same swells as Indonesia is, except that its higher latitude and its South-East exposure offers cooler and less hardcore surfing. The recent O'Neil Deep Blue Contests held in the Maldives has placed Maldives firmly on the world's surf map. While most of the recognized surf breaks are in Male' Atoll, there is certainly more to be discovered.
Specialized companies organize tailored multi-day boat trips in the region, allowing surfers to move easily from one point to another and maximizing the surfing time.
The local currency is the Maldivian rufiyaa (MVR, Rf), divided into 100 laari. However, by law resorts price services in US dollars and require payment in hard currency (or credit card), so there's absolutely no need to change money if you're going to spend all your time at the resorts. Most hotels have a shop but this is limited to diving and holiday essentials (sun cream, sarongs, disposable cameras, etc.) Some excursions from resorts will take you to local islands where there are handicraft type things to buy, but they are typically made outside the Maldives and sold at outrageous markups.
If you are heading to Male or the other inhabited atolls, exchanging some rufiyaa will come in handy. The coins, in particular, are quite attractive and make an interesting souvenir in themselves, but the smaller denominations are rarely used or seen. The official exchange rate to the US dollar is floated but practically 15:1, but while dollars are near-universally accepted, shops usually exchange them at 15:1 or even 10:1.
If you want to get a local SIM card, there is a Dhiraagu shop (the primary local telecom company) just to the left of the airport arrivals area upon exiting. A local cell number is needed to purchase time at many wifi spots around the country (sometimes reachable from where liveaboards anchor for the night).
There's no way around it: the Maldives is expensive, and there is limited budget accommodation or transport. Resorts have a monopoly on services for their guests and charge accordingly: for mid-range resorts, $1000 per week per couple is a conservative budget for meals, drinks and excursions, above and beyond the cost of flights and accommodation. Practically anything — including hotel rooms if booked locally — gets slapped with an arbitrary 10% "service charge", but tips are expected on top.
There are a few Inns and B&B on the more populated atolls for the budget minded travelers.
All the resorts are self contained so they have at least one restaurant, which generally serve the type of cuisine expected by their guests. ( i.e. modern European or generic Asian). Breakfast is almost always included, and most resorts offer the option of half-board, which means you get a dinner buffet, and full board, which means you get a lunch and dinner buffet. These can limit the damage compared to ordering a la carte, but your options are typically very limited and drinks are often not covered, not necessarily even water. If you're planning on drinking a lot, it may be worthwhile to go all inclusive, but even this typically restricts you to house drinks.
The only other place to find food is Male. This comes in two forms. Either small restaurants aimed at the tourists (of which there are a couple of nice Thai restaurants), which are often expensive, or small cafes called hotaa, selling local Maldivian food at prices as low as Rf.20 for a complete meal.
Maldivian cuisine
Maldivian food revolves largely around fish (mas), in particular tuna (kandu mas), and draws heavily from the Sri Lankan and south Indian tradition, especially Kerala. Dishes are often hot, spicy and flavored with coconut, but use very few vegetables. A traditional meal consists of rice, a clear fish broth called garudhiya and side dishes of lime, chili and onions. Curries known as riha are also popular and the rice is often supplemented with roshi, unleavened bread akin to Indian roti, and papadhu, the Maldivian version of crispy Indian poppadums. Some other common dishes include:
Snacks called hedhikaa, almost invariably fish-based and deep-fried, can be found in any Maldivian restaurant.
As the Maldives are Muslim, alcohol is banned for the local population. However, nearly all resorts and liveaboard boats are licensed to serve it, usually with a steep markup. The expatriate liquor permit which used to allow expats to buy alcohol for their own consumption has been removed. The only place near Male, aside from resorts, where people can drink alcohol is at the Hulhule Island Hotel, commonly known as HIH or the airport hotel.
Maldivians generally do not drink alcohol although this is less true of the younger generation. They are, however, unhappy about being filmed or photographed while drinking.
Tap water in resorts may or may not be drinkable -- check with management. Bottled water is extortionately priced, with US$5/bottle being typical.
Aside from the capital Male, there are no hotels in the Maldives, only resorts. Most resorts take up their own island (1500x1500m to 250x250m), meaning that the ratio of beach to guests must be one of the best in the world and it is hard to imagine that you would ever have to struggle to find your own private piece of beach to relax on. Many have a "no shoes" policy and with such soft sands it is easy to love this idea.
The range and themes or the resorts is impressive, and most people will find one they like. Broadly speaking, however, they can be grouped into three brackets:
A Maldivian classic is the overwater bungalow, built on stilts directly above a lagoon. While these look fabulous and sound appealing, they have their downsides:
These factors vary from resort to resort, so research carefully. A good one is definitely worth trying at least once, but many Maldives repeaters prefer a bungalow with a private beach.
When considering where to go, factor in transport time and costs from the airport: the more far-flung resorts generally require an expensive seaplane transfer and you may have to stay overnight at the airport on the way. On the upside, the further away you are from Male, the more peaceful the islands and the better the diving.
Many resorts, especially the smaller dive-oriented ones, cater largely to a single nationality, leading to "Italian" resorts, "Dutch" resorts, "German" resorts, etc. While almost all welcome any nationality and have some English-speaking staff on hand, you may be cut off from any evening entertainment and have problems eg. diving if you don't speak the local lingo.
On the other end, there are low budget accommodations. These accommodations are not island resort but are Inns and B&B that are locate on the larger atoll with local population. One example is Equator Village on Addu Atoll, a former RAF base converted to a 78 room hotel. Cost is around $100-150us pp/per day all inclusive (includes regular brand alcohol). Another unique location is Keyodhoo Guest House, this guest house is located on top of a recreation center build by Australian after the tsunami ($20 pp/per night). Most travelers to these locations are scuba divers for the diving or adventure travelers. Other Inns/B&B can also be found on Vaavu Atoll, Dhaalu Atoll, Kaafu Atoll, North and South Male Atoll. Only a few of these Inn/B&B have their own pool. Be sure to inquire if bikini is allowed on the local beach. Travel between the inn and beach are usually very close but be sure to dress appropriately with Maldive customs.
The education system, although having many problems such as poor student literacy rates in English (the medium of instruction for most subjects), is freely available for all Maldivians.
There is one university in Maldives (Maldives National University)which was Inaugurated on February 15, 2011, the university was previously known as the Maldives College of Higher Education which was established on January 1, 1999, as part of a restructuring and rationalization of all government-run post-secondary education in Maldives. Operated under the aegis of the Department of Higher Education and Training, MCHE is the only public degree-granting institution on the island. The college offers a range of degrees, diplomas, and certificates, with particular emphasis on engineering, health science, education, tourism, and management. The average enrollment at MCHE is around 4,000 students in long-term (that is, more than one academic year) programs, and around 2,000 in short-term (shorter than one academic year) courses .. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maldives_National_University
Getting a job in the Maldives can be tricky. It is not the kind of place where you can just turn up and start job hunting. Generally the resorts take on a mix of local and international staff so you need to approach the resort Human Resources departments. There is a good mix of jobs but a lot of the roles are diving based (divemasters, instructors, photographers, etc).
Most resorts are predominantly one or two nationalities so finding the resorts that match your language skills helps. After that experience always helps (especially for diving instructors as the Maldives are well known for their strong currents and half of the time the currents will take you straight out into the Indian Ocean).
Generally if you get a job with a resort then they will get you a work permit and pay for your flight, food and accommodation. They don't really have much choice-- it's hardly as if you can pop out to the supermarket and pick up a pizza for dinner.
All foreign workers have to have a series of medical tests before you can start work in the Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital. This includes a blood sample (lots of tests including HIV as well as x-ray etc). It is quick and easy but they are very uncommunicative about what they are doing.
Stay safe
There is very little crime in the tourist resorts as the tourists generally stay in the resorts since there is not much to do outside. This means that you can feel safe on your own at all times. Generally Maldivians are honest, helpful and welcoming people although you are unlikely to come into much contact with them in resorts.
There are no drugs anywhere in the resorts but most Maldivians have easy access to drugs, reportedly 50% of the young generation are drug addicts; there is a growing drug problem among the local population and so petty crime to support it has arisen. Take the usual precautions such as not leaving money and valuables lying around. Take note that every $50 US you spend at a bar or restaurant represents 10 days' wages for cleaners.
Anti-government street rioting occurred in Male between 2003 and 2005. Political tensions have been relieved by the opposition victory in the elections of 2008, but came back in second half of 2011 and continue through 2012.
LGBT Visitors
Beware violence and discrimination often happen toward LGBT people and the government turns a blind eye towards it. Homosexuality is illegal and you can get whippings, house arrest, deportation, and up to 6 years in jail.
Stay healthy
There are no serious problems with diseases in the Maldives. Beware that tap water may not be drinkable at all resorts: enquire locally. The Maldives are malaria-free, but some islands do have mosquitoes and catching dengue fever from them is possible, albeit highly unlikely. For those coming from regions infected by yellow fever, an international certificate of inoculation is required.
Most of the problems come from diving or sun related injuries. Heat stroke always cause problems in the tropics but couple that with divers spending hours at a time on a boat wearing a wetsuit and overheating of one form or another is a real issue. Keeping this in mind, such injuries will be easily avoidable as long as you drink lots of water and get into the shade as much as possible.
Lots of the resorts have their own doctor or nurse and most are within easy reach of the decompression chambers. Male has an efficient and fairly modern hospital but bear in mind that it is a long way to get medevaced home from.


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Sovereigns of The Skies: Birds
Do they not see the birds suspended in mid-air up in the sky? Nothing holds them there except Allah. There are certainly Signs in that for people who have faith. (Surat an-Nahl: 79)
Like everyone else, you have most probably wanted to fly like a bird. Looking at birds, you may think flying is easy, but it is not as easy as it seems!
A bird uses great energy when it takes wing because it has to lift all its body with its tiny wings. Yet, once it is up in the air, Allah has made it easy for it to remain aloft without expending too much effort. Birds can fly for a long time by allowing themselves to rely on the wind.
This way, they hardly tire since they consume very little energy. When the effect produced by the wind diminishes, they begin to flap their wings again. By means of this feature Allah has given birds, they can cover very long distances and migrate to remote destinations.
There are bird species that can cover distances between 1000 to 40000 kilometres (621 and 24840 miles). Considering that it is 40000 kilometres (24840 miles)around the earth, you can conceive better the long distances covered by birds.
Passing over the oceans, they have no chance to take a break and rest. How birds maintain their direction during their thousands of kilometres long flights still remains a mystery. Each year, birds migrate to their destinations without losing their ways. This holds true for young birds as well as adults.
It is interesting that birds' legs, so slender and little in comparison to their bodies, can carry their entire bodies. It is amazing that so many muscles, veins and nerves can exist in such a slender leg! If birds' legs were thicker and relatively more bulky, it would be more difficult for them to fly.
Almost all birds sleep on one leg. This does not upset their balance since their body weight is concentrated on this one leg. Allah has created birds with the features that enable them to maintain such a delicate balance.
One of the best sensory organs of birds is their eyes. Apart from the ability to fly, Allah has also granted birds superior sight, because, flight, which is itself a miracle, becomes extremely dangerous unless it is supported by superior sight. Birds can see objects at a distance much better than human beings and have a wider angle of vision. Noticing the dangers beforehand, they accurately determine their speed and the direction of their flight.
Birds' eyes remain fixed in the eye sockets, that is, they can't move their eyes as human beings can. However, they can widen the angle of vision by rapidly turning their heads and necks.
Furthermore, night birds such as owls have very large eyes. Some special cells in their eyes are sensitive to dim light. The vision of barred owls, for example, is 100 times keener than that of human beings. Thanks to this feature, owls can see and hunt very well at night.
The eyes of water fowl, on the other hand, have been created for clear underwater vision. While we can't keep our eyes open underwater for even 45 seconds, water birds can easily catch insects and molluscs in water as they plunge their heads into it. Since this is the only way for them to feed themselves, they must have clear vision underwater. For this reason, Allah has created a special structure in their eyes, which permits seeing underwater. Thanks to this structure, these birds don't have dim sight underwater; they see very clearly and can immediately swim towards their prey.
Hearing is also very important for birds. Some birds have eardrums that enable them to hear very low sounds. Being able to see very well in darkness and underwater and being able to hear very low sounds are abilities that human beings don't possess. Indeed, we don't need these faculties very much, because, we can readily lead our lives without them. However, it is impossible for birds to eat, feed their young, and continue their lives and their race without these abilities.
The ears of owls are very sensitive to sound. They have better hearing than human beings. There are hair-like bristles on both sides of an owls' face, which collect sound waves and send them into the inner ear. These bristles also separate one ear from the other and thus the sound coming from the right is largely heard by the right ear. Moreover, the ears are not positioned symmetrically on the head. One ear is higher than the other. So, the owl perceives the sounds from different directions and, although he does not see it, he correctly determines the location of the creature that makes the sound. This is a very important advantage in snowy weather, when it becomes hard to find prey.
Some birds produce various voices to mislead their predators. For instance, many bird species that make nests in holes in trees hiss like snakes when they are disturbed. So, predators attempting to attack the nest stay away from it, assuming that there is a snake in it.
Besides, our Lord has given some bird species webbed feet to help them swim faster when they are in water. These webbed feet are similar to flippers. If you have ever worn flippers while swimming, you will know how it helps you swim. Some species have such flippers at birth.
Some bird species build fake nests to protect their young from predators. Especially in Africa and India, animals which feed on bird eggs are legion. For this reason, African wrens protect their eggs in a real nest surrounded by many fake nests. The snakes living on trees in tropical regions are very poisonous. For this reason, the entrances to the nests of the penduline-tit colonies peculiar to that region are secret and complicated. Moreover, as another precaution, these birds make their nests on acacia trees with densely thorny branches, and deceive their predators with many empty – fake – nests.
Have you ever paid attention to the beaks of the birds that fly around us everyday? Allah created these beaks, which vary from one species to another, with very important functions. Birds' beaks have the most appropriate shapes that enable them to feed in their environments. The beaks of birds that feed on fish, for example, are generally long and ladle-shaped, making them good fishers. If the bird feeds on plants, then the beak of the bird has a perfect match with the plant on which it feeds. As these examples show, Allah's creation is flawless and complete because He gives all creatures the features they need.

subset: commoncrawl


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People of almost any age can run for exercise. It can be done almost anywhere at minimal cost, and you do not have to be an athletic superstar to participate. Nevertheless, there are some basic guidelines you should know to help keep your running program productive, safe, and injury-free.
Running Shoes
Your running shoes do not have to be the fanciest or most expensive. But they should fit properly and comfortably, be well cushioned, and give your feet proper support. If you run on trails, you will want to buy shoes for trail running to grip the terrain and protect your feet.
Find a local running store that does gait analysis to help you select your shoes. You will be asked to try on different running shoes. The sales person will watch how you run in different shoes to determine which ones will provide the best support for your running style.
Expect to replace your shoes every 3-6 months or 350-500 miles (563-805 kilometers). By that point, the shock absorbing ability of the shoe will have lessened. If your legs begin to get sore, they may be a sign it is time to replace your sneakers.
Though often overlooked, safety concerns should be a part of your running routine on the road or on the trails. All runners should follow these basic safety rules:
- Run in familiar neighborhoods or trails close to your home. If you are away from home, plan your run ahead of time to choose a route that is safe and has support services along the way.
- Do not run in dark, secluded areas, especially at night.
- Avoid busy, highly trafficked streets. You should also avoid rural roads that may have fast drivers or lots of curves and hills.
- Run on the shoulder of the road facing traffic. This will make you more visible to drivers.
- Take responsibility for staying clear of motor vehicles, pedestrians, and bicyclists. Obey traffic signals and other pedestrian safety rules.
- Never assume a driver can see you.
- If you do run at dawn, dusk, or at night, wear bright clothing, including at least a piece of clothing with specially designed reflectors.
- Avoid wearing headphones while running, as they decrease your awareness of surroundings.
- Consider carrying a mobile phone in the event of an emergency.
- Wear insect repellent if you are running on trails, especially in areas that increase your exposure to ticks and mosquitoes.
- Wear sunblock and UV-protective sunglasses when running during the day to protect against skin and eye damage.
Avoiding Injuries
Running injuries tend to be nagging rather than severe, but they still require attention. The best approach is to avoid them. Common runner injuries can be avoided by taking simple steps.
- Keep your shoes in good shape. Always wear socks to avoid blisters.
- Do not over-train. Never step up your running by more than 10% per week for any given increase. Take time to adjust to that level before increasing your running again.
- Vary your plan by following a long, hard run one day with a short, easier run the next.
- Cross-train to help strengthen all of your muscles and reduce your chance of injury.
- Begin each run with a warm-up and follow each run with a cool down.
- Stretch to increase flexibility.
- Vary the surfaces on which you run. Include roads, trails, and hills, for example.
- Rest to allow your body to recovery after a difficult race, such as a marathon.
Treating the Inevitable
No matter how careful you are, you are likely to suffer a running-related injury. Generally, running injuries can be divided into 4 grades:
- Grade I—Minor pain noticed after running.
- Grade II—Discomfort or tightness noticed while running, but does not limit activity.
- Grade III—Pain felt while running that begins to limit activity.
- Grade IV—Severe pain while running that forces you to stop.
In most instances, running-related injuries begin as a grade I or II injury and progress to grade III or IV if not treated. The key is to treat the injury quickly and properly.
Immediately ice any area that is painful or tight from running. Apply ice wrapped in a towel for 15-20 minutes. Ice as many times as possible each day until the symptoms improve. It is important to rest your injury . Failing to rest a low-level injury can make it worse. In general:
- Grade I may require 1-2 days rest.
- Grade II requires 4-7 days rest.
- Grade III requires 2-4 weeks rest.
- Grade IV may need 6 weeks or more of rest.
Use anti-inflammatory medications to control inflammation, not pain. Masking pain so that you can continue to exercise after an injury will lead to a more severe injury. If a grade III injury does not improve after a week of proper treatment, consult with a sports medicine specialist. Grade IV injuries require immediate medical attention.
Come back slowly from an injury. Recognize that it will take at least as long as the time you took off due to the injury to work back to the training level you were at prior to the injury.
Unless you have access to an indoor track or live in a mild climate, you will have to deal with extremes of heat and/or cold. However, if you take the proper precautions, neither temperature extreme should slow down your running.
Running in extreme heat poses the danger of heat exhaustion, which is severe dehydration. It can also cause heat stroke, which is a failure of the body to regulate heat level. This can cause damage to your organs. To avoid heat-related injury from running, take the following steps:
Stay well hydrated, but avoid over-hydration, which may result in hyponatremia—a dangerously low level of sodium in the blood.
- Drink 10-15 ounces of fluids 10-15 minutes prior to running, and a cupful every 20-30 minutes while running depending upon your individual needs and the temperature.
- If your urine is clear, then you are well hydrated. If it is dark, you will need to drink more fluids.
- Build slowly, gradually increasing your running in hot weather, so as to give your system time to adjust. And take into account your fitness level, since the less fit you are, the more likely you are to suffer heat-related injury.
- Run early in the morning before it gets too hot. Stay in the shade, when possible.
- Wear light-colored and breathable clothing.
- Pay attention to humidity. Recognize that the combination of heat and humidity affects your system. For example, 85ºF (29ºC) heat with very high humidity puts more strain on your system than 95ºF (35ºC) heat with very low humidity.
- Recognize that many health conditions, including type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, the flu, and obesity, as well as many medications, can lower your heat tolerance. If you are uncertain about a condition or medication, check with your doctor.
Running in cold, wintry weather can lead to injury from slips and falls, strains or pulls due to cold muscles, and frostbite. To avoid these injuries, take the following precautions:
- Warm up well before you begin each run.
- Avoid icy areas and snowy areas. But if you must choose, remember that snow gives you much more traction than ice.
- Consider wearing traction devices over your shoes in snowy or icy conditions. They can be purchased at a local running store.
- Recognize that not just cold, but cold and wind causes cold-related injuries, including frostbite.
- To help maintain warmth throughout your run, begin your run heading into the wind and return with the wind at your back.
- Make sure your entire body is protected. Pay special attention to your head, ears, hands, and feet, which are most likely to suffer frostbite. Since a great deal of heat is lost through your head, be sure to wear a warm hat. In extreme wind and cold, wear a ski mask or other protection for your face.
- Wear proper clothing. Wool is warm and helps whisk moisture away from your skin, but it can be heavy. Polypropylene and Gortex clothing are warm, allow evaporation of sweat, and have the benefit of being lightweight. A layer of nylon can also help lessen the effect of wind. On your feet, try a thick sock over a thinner sock as long as this does not make your foot fit too tightly in your shoe.
- After running, change out of wet clothing to avoid hypothermia.
Medical Check
Finally, as with any training regimen, it is best to get a check-up with your doctor before you begin.
- Reviewer: EBSCO Medical Review Board Michael Woods, MD
- Review Date: 09/2017 -
- Update Date: 11/19/2013 -


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With soybean planting well under way in some areas of the state and almost complete in other areas, Connie Strunk, SDSU extension plant pathology field specialist reminds growers to scout their fields for seedling diseases as plants begin to emerge.
"Even though most soybean seed has been treated with a fungicide seed treatment, no seed treatment product is effective against all seedling diseases and under all conditions," Strunk said. "It is important to look at what protection the seed treatment offers and the performance it delivers."
Most seed treatments offer a limited time of protection against seed and seedling diseases. Depending on soil temperature and soil water content, the chemicals are effective for about two weeks after planting.
"Damping off can occur in two ways: before emergence, where the seedlings fail to emerge because of a fungal attack, or post-emergence, where the seedlings are killed by fungal attack after emergence," Strunk said.
If your soybean field has been affected by seedling blight or damping off, Strunk says it is helpful to identify what seedling disease caused the infection. Proper diagnosis will help with fungicide seed treatment selection for replanting purposes and even for next year's planning.
The two fungi most often associated with damping-off in South Dakota soybean fields are Pythium and Phytophthora. Strunk says it is difficult to distinguish between these two seedling blights without lab testing.
"Phytophtora typically has a brown discoloration extending from the soil line up the stem of the soybean plant. Pythium attacks soybean seedlings planted in cold, wet soil whereas Phytophthora attacks soybean seedlings in warm weather generally around 80F," she said.
She adds that Rhizoctonia is another seedling disease that attacks soybean seedlings in warm weather (80F) and is often seen in late-planted soybean fields.
"With Rhizoctonia you will often see a reddish-brown colored lesion on the hypocotyl and lower stem of the plant but this is not observed above the soil line," she said.
To learn more about this and other agronomy topics, visit www.iGrow.org.


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Brain Sync conscious evolution
BRAINSYNC meditation CDs and guided imagery techniques are proven to significantly improve mental performance. In two decades, nearly 3 million Brain Sync users have experienced the powerful benefits of deep meditation to accelerate healing, learning, recovery and personal growth. Brain Sync brainwave technology blends advanced meditation techniques with harmonically layered binaural beat frequencies. Try this free guided meditation online. It features theta waves, soothing guided meditation music and Kelly Howell, who Body Mind Spirit magazine called "The best voice in guided meditation".
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Macdonald hits winner on debut
Charlie MacDonald scored the winning goal on his MK Dons debut as they edged out Stevenage 1-0 to stay top of League One.
Last Updated: 27/08/11 5:50pm
Charlie MacDonald scored the winning goal on his MK Dons debut as they edged out Stevenage 1-0 to stay top of League One.
The striker, signed from Brentford on Friday as a replacement for Sam Baldock, tapped in the only goal of the game in the 51st minute to condemn Boro to their first league defeat.
The Dons dominated the first half but they struggled to unlock a well-drilled Stevenage defence as Adam Smith, Dean Bowditch and Shaun Williams all blazed speculative long-range shots off target.
The only clear chance of a drab first period fell to Boro midfielder Lawrie Wilson, who fired Byron Harrison's cutback straight at keeper David Martin following Shaun Williams' defensive error.
But the Dons upped the tempo after the break and MacDonald put them ahead just six minutes after the re-start, tapping in Luke Chadwick's unselfish square pass after Stephen Gleeson's exquisite chip had sent him clear.
Boro piled forward late on in search of an equaliser but Martin tipped over substitute Michael Thalassitis' dipping drive and Jon Ashton had a header cleared off the line by Chadwick as the Dons hung on.


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Main Content
Cancer Registry Home
General Information
The Indiana State Cancer Registry was established "for the purpose of recording all cases of malignant disease and other tumors and precancerous diseases required to be reported by federal law or federal regulation or the National Program of Cancer Registries that are diagnosed or treated in Indiana, and compiling necessary and appropriate information concerning those cases, as determined by the state department, in order to conduct epidemiologic surveys of cancer and to apply appropriate preventive and control measures." (IC 16-38-2-1)
We acknowledge the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, for its support of the Indiana State Cancer Registry, under cooperative agreement 5U58DP000838-03 awarded to Indiana State Health Department. The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.


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Assume $M$ is a manifold and $q : E \to M$ is a covering map. I have been told a few times that a covering space of a manifold is again a manifold. Indeed, it is easy to verify that $E$ is both Hausdorff and locally euclidean. I am worried about whether $E$ needs to be second countable.
If $E$ is not connected, then it does not need to be second countable. Take the standard covering map $\coprod_{i \in \mathbb{R}} M \to M$.
Question: If $E$ is connected, then why is it second countable?


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Hope College will host its 71st annual Nykerk Cup competition on Saturday, Nov. 5, at 8 p.m. at the Holland Civic Center, located at 150 W. 8th St.
The event, one of a variety of activities scheduled during the college's Parents' Weekend, will feature approximately 200 members of the freshman and sophomore classes competing in song, plays and oration. The participating classes this year are the freshman Class of '09 and the sophomore Class of '08.
The public is invited. Admission is free.
The competition, first held on March 16, 1936, is named in honor of the originator of the program, John Nykerk, a professor, college dean and founder of the Hope College department of music. The event is continuously staged before a large audience.
The planners are making arrangements to have the competition carried live on local cable channel 15.
The sophomore song will be "Over the Rainbow," with music by Harold Arlen arranged by Teena Chinn. The sophomore song will be coached by seniors Rachel VandeGiessen of Flemington, N.J., and Suzzy Lockwood of Kentwood.
The sophomore song morale coaches are seniors Nick Erdman of St. Joseph and Bill Flavin of Palos Heights, Ill.
The freshman song will be "Build Me Up, Buttercup," with words and music by Tony McCauley and Michael D'Abo and arranged by Mac Huff. The freshmen song will be coached by juniors Ana Frikker of Troy and Kristen Greshel of Trenton.
The freshman song morale coaches are juniors Matthew Boote of Deerfield, Ill., Billy Statema of Zeeland and Daniel Wizner of Hemlock.
The sophomore play will be "The Phantom of the Nykerk," written and coached by seniors Rachel Achtemeier of Dubuque, Iowa, and Jennica Avery of Rochester, N.Y.
The sophomore play morale coaches are seniors David Weatherly of Shelby Township, Michael Dominiak of Dearborn and Andrew Moore of Budapest, Hungary.
The freshman play is "Do You Yabba Dabba Do?," written and coached by juniors Lauren Grumm of Grand Rapids and Jennifer Stults of Grandville. The freshman play morale coaches are juniors Adam Carpenter of Auburn Hills, Matt Dannenberg of Zeeland and Josh Payne of New Baltimore.
This year's oration theme is "Gifts of Change." The sophomore orator will be Anna West of Birmingham, whose speech is titled "(Welcome to) Our Global Neighborhood." She is coached by senior Anne Bast of Grand Rapids. The freshman orator will be Barbra Rubio of Holland, whose speech is titled "The Voice of Liberation." She is coached by juniors Lara Wagner of Northville and Deborah O'Connell of Wyckoff, N.J.
The general chair of Nykerk is senior Amy McEwan of Canajoharie, N.Y., and general chair-elect is junior Laura Johnson of Grand Rapids. The senior treasurer is Jessica Higgins of Baraboo, Wis., and the junior treasurer is Anna Marshall of Levering. The senior publicity chair is Christina Judson of Hoffman Estates, Ill., and the junior publicity chair is Katy Eagen of Lake Bluff, Ill. The secretary is Shannon Harburn of Okemos. Senior Amanda Berlinski of Worth, Ill., and junior Becky Kolak Des Plaines, Ill., are the production coordinators.
The weekend will feature a variety of other performances and presentations in addition to the Nykerk Cup competition.
The gallery of the De Pree Art Center is featuring a series of paintings of the Hope campus by Bruce McCombs, professor of art, through Wednesday, Nov. 23. The De Pree Art Center is located on Columbia Avenue at 12th Street. The gallery is open Sundays and Mondays from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.; Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and on Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Admission is free.
The Biology Seminar Series at Hope will feature the address "Medicinal Chemistry and New Directions in Anti-Obesity Research" by Dr. Michael J. Bishop, who is research director with GlaxoSmithKline, on Friday, Nov. 4, at 3 p.m. in room 1019 of the college's science center, located on 12th Street at College Avenue. Admission is free.
As a Sigma Xi Seminar, Dr. Garon Smith, who is in analytical/environmental chemistry at the University of Montana, will present "Honeybees as Flying Chemical Detectors: New Ways to Find Pollutants and Hidden Explosives" on Friday, Nov. 4, at 4 p.m. in room 1000 of the college's science center. Admission is free.
The college's Wind Symphony and Percussion Ensemble will perform on Friday, Nov. 4, at 7:30 p.m. in Dimnent Memorial Chapel, located on College Avenue at 12th Street. Admission is free.
Women's soccer will host Kalamazoo College on Saturday, Nov. 5, at noon, and men's soccer will host Alma College on Saturday, Nov. 5, at 2 p.m. Both games will take place at Buys Athletic Fields on Fairbanks Avenue near 11th Street. Admission is free.
Carol Beth Steiner of Rochester will perform the flute during her junior recital on Saturday, Nov. 5, at 2 p.m. in Wichers Auditorium of Nykerk Hall of Music, located along the former 12th Street between College and Columbia avenues. Admission is free.
The Faculty Recital Series will present a concert on Sunday, Nov. 6, at 3 p.m. in Wichers Auditorium of Nykerk Hall of Music. Admission is free.
The three-day Parents' Weekend, running Friday-Sunday, Nov. 4-6, will also feature activities geared toward parents of current students specifically, including a variety of open classes and discussion sessions focused on various aspects of college life.


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Xu, Man
posted on Tuesday, August 03, 2010 - 4:32 am
We have cognition measures at age 8 and age 15, but they are from different instruments. But we thought we would try to fit a multilevel model anyways. We standardised the year 8 and standardised year 15 and reshaped them into long form. We have a person level predictor called genetics (a categorical variable with 3 categories in this particular analysis) and a time level predictor called age (representing age 8 or age 15, also as the variable for time). We have made the slope of age random. We hope to test the interaction between genetic and age on the cognition.
At level 1 is time, As the cognition measures are standardised and not comparable across age 8 and age, the variances at level 1 should be near null, except for the person's rankings specific to both times (I guess). If this is the case, then meaning of the effect of level 1 time predictor, age, would be not interpretable. But do you think the variances of the slopes of age still of any meaning? I think it might represent how people move up and down in their 'yearly rankings' in the population (we use cohort data of a population).
When the model uses genotype, a level 2 variable, to explain the the variance of the slope of age, we get the gene-age interaction, a cross level interaction. But since I am not sure if the variance of the slope of age is interpretable, could I interpret the meaning of the gene-age interaction?
Many thanks!
Linda K. Muthen
posted on Tuesday, August 03, 2010 - 8:24 am
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While Occupy camps around the Bay Area were relatively quiet overnight, police in riot gear cleared out tents at Sproul Plaza in a surprise, quick raid early this morning.
Two people were arrested in the raid that started about 3:30 a.m., but otherwise the police action on the UC Berkeley campus was orderly.
During the raid, protesters shouted, "We are coming back! We are winning!"
As he was arrested, Alex Kim, a 24-year-old English major, flashed a Nixon-style peace sign as his cat perched on his shoulder. A friend offered to take care of the cat.
Also arrested was Mike Porter, 24, from the Occupy Oakland camp.
Kim and Porter face charges of unlawful lodging and failure to disperse, said UC Police Lt. Alex Yao. Porter, who is not a student, was ordered to stay off university property for seven days, Yao said.
Within a few hours after the raid, work crews had cleared out most of the debris left behind, setting aside books from the makeshift library and allowing former campers to take away large items, such as a piano.
Protesters are reportedly planning to gather again at the site about 4 or 5 this afternoon, ahead of a general assembly meeting at 6 p.m..
In San Francisco, the camp at Justin Herman Plaza was quiet throughout the night, as a small group of police officers huddled nearby, but never made a move toward a raid.
In San Jose, one man was arrested this morning after he stayed behind as campers at City Hall voluntarily cleared away their tents.
Occupy San Jose campers there were given a warning about 11:30 p.m. Tuesday that police planned to come in overnight to clear away their tents.
Protesters decided to remove the tents themselves, said Shaunn Cartwright, 41, an unofficial spokeswoman for the group. But they don't plan to pull back from their protests.
"We're occupiers, not campers," Cartwright said.
Police would not release the name of the man, whom Cartwright says is wheelchair-bound. According to Cartwright, he had discarded his wheelchair and was lying in the street expecting to be arrested.
The relative quiet in San Francisco came a after displaced Occupy protesters from Oakland and Berkeley funneled into the city, clashing with police as they stormed a downtown bank and upsetting a fragile deal brokered by Mayor Ed Lee to allow the encampment along The Embarcadero to remain in place.
As the protesters marched into the heart of San Francisco's financial district Wednesday afternoon, managers of several banks quickly locked their doors and posted security guards out front. But protesters were able to rush into the Bank of America branch as panicked employees ran to the back office and shut the bank safe.
Police in riot gear demanded the roughly 100 protesters leave the lobby of Bank of America on California Street or be arrested. But protesters continued to chant "Whose bank? Our bank!" as they danced on desktops and scribbled "Occupy Bank of America" on office calendars.
One protester pitched a tent — a symbol of the Occupy movement and a scourge of city officials — inside the bank lobby. Police pushed back protesters with their batons — witnesses reported seeing at least two people struck. By the end of the night, 95 protesters had been arrested, and no one was injured.
The confrontation at the bank came just a few hours after Lee met with a handful of Occupy S.F. protesters in an attempt to resolve the health and safety concerns at the growing encampment at Justin Herman Plaza, which faces The Embarcadero across the street from the Ferry Building, a popular tourist destination.
Lee demanded the demonstrators ban alcohol and drugs, increase the space between tents and clean portable toilets more often, among other reforms. But after a divided general assembly of the protesters Wednesday night, it remained unclear whether the campers would actually enact any of the changes before a city inspection set for early this evening.
Bay Area News Group staff writers Julia Prodis Sulek, Cecily Burt, Thomas Peele and Sean Webby contributed to this report.


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Aaron Edgar
Aaron Edgar is one of the hardest working and most in-demand drummers in Winnipeg, with good reason. He's played, toured and recorded with many artists all over the country, such as : The Waking Eyes, Imaginary Cities, Ridley Bent, Willie Mack, Grand Analog , Blast Action Hero, The Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, Jack Semple, Smokin' Joe Kubek and Benois King to name a few. He is also a teacher of all styles of drumming from beginner to professional. With his advanced program, "Aaron Edgar's Brain Exchange" focussing on more out there topics : technique to breakbeat, drum n' bass, extreme metal, double bass, time signatures, metric modulation, displacement, advanced poly-rhythmic and multi-poly-rhythmic theory and so on.
With his dedication to education he also runs his own YouTube channel (www.YouTube.com/AaronEdgarDrum) where he very frequently uploads instructional content. Within the first 24 hours of launching the channel became one of the top viewed musicians in the country! An accolade that continues to be awarded with every single upload. For a week he was featured front and centre of www.Vater.com . He's constantly uploading more and more content for his viewers along with free PDF transcriptions of pretty much everything.
Aaron is the owner of Audio Addiction Studio, which was built specifically for recording drums. The focus of this studio is on long distance remote sessions. He utilizes such equipment as API, Great River and Shadow Hills mic pre's. A wide variety of microphones including Royer Labs, Sennheiser and more. SSL Alphalink converters, the list goes on. On top of it all, an unbelievably massive selection of extremely high end drums and cymbals. A full list of gear and session details can be found on the Audio Addiction Studio website at www.AudioAddictionStudio.com
Aaron is extremely driven and continues an over the top schedule at all times. Somehow he finds time for touring, teaching, gigging, recording, writing and making instructional videos.


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- Phytochemical Info Center ...
|Phytochemical Info Center
Phytochemicals ("fight-o-chemicals") are substances that are naturally occurring only in plants. Some of them may provide health benefits beyond those provided by essential nutrients (vitamins and minerals). Eating a variety of colorful phytochemical-rich fruits and vegetables has been associated with a lower risk of some chronic diseases such as cancer and heart disease. Phytochemicals may act as antioxidants, protect and regenerate essential nutrients, and/or work to deactivate cancer-causing substances.
It is thought that phytochemicals, vitamins, minerals, and fiber, all present in fruits and vegetables, work synergistically in whole foods to promote health and lower disease risk. For this reason, many authoritative organizations, such as the National Cancer Institute and The American Heart Association, recommend getting phytochemicals from whole foods, such as fruits and vegetables, rather than from supplements.
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1 John 4 lesson 6
We closed last week with the understanding that it is the Holy Spirit that enables us to Love. He is the One who pours out God's love into our hearts – without Him working in our lives, it is impossible to love the way God desires us to. You can't give something you don't have, and without the Holy Spirit, we don't have Agape love.
As believers in Jesus Christ, as children of God we are called to have spiritual discernment.
1 Thes 5:19-21
"do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God."
Just because someone says they are a Christian doesn't mean that they are nor does it mean that everything they teach is biblical and truth.
What does it mean to discern? It is a judicial or legal term. It means to examine carefully in order to find truth in something, or fault in something.
So what does scripture have to say about discernment?
Proverbs 2:3, 5 "Yes, if you cry out for discernment, And lift up your voice for understanding,… Then you will understand the fear of the Lord, And find the knowledge of God."
We need to ask for it, desire it, cry out for it
Proverbs 15:21 "Folly is joy to him who is destitute of discernment, But a man of understanding walks uprightly."
It is necessary for right living before God;
1 Cor 2:14-15 14But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." Discernment is God given and we receive it through the power of the Holy Spirit.
So just as the ability to love is poured into us by the Holy Spirit, so is the ability to discern.
Look at Philippians 1:9 "And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment,"
Love and discernment are definitely connected!
The Bible Knowledge Commentary tells us that It was Paul's prayer that the Philippians' love for other believers would abound, run over as a cup or a river overflows. But that love should be more than sentimental; it should be knowledgeable and discerning. Having genuine spiritual knowledge (epignōsis) of God and depth of insight into His ways enables Christians to love God and others more.
Back when John wrote this, there were those who professed Christ but didn't believe that He had an actual body, that's why John stresses that "Jesus came in the flesh". These were the Gnostics and Docetists.
Today we have kind of the reverse thing going on. People and other religions don't have an issue saying that Jesus was a man – but rather they doubt that He was God.
Mormons profess to be Christians yet they believe that Jesus was a created being, the spirit brother of Lucifer.
Jehovah Witnesses profess to be Christians yet they believe that Jesus was in fact the Arc Angel Michael.
Iglesia ni Cristo "which means Church of Christ" (different from what we know as The Church of Christ) similar to both mormanism and J.W.'s teaches that Jesus is a created being.
WE KNOW THAT Jesus was… is God in the flesh – 100% God, 100% man
These religions teach that Jesus was 100% man and 0 % God
So in applying verses 2-3, we know that the spirit behind these religions is demonic.
But we shouldn't just be able to discern if a religious group is of driven by God's spirit, we need to use this divine discernment to test those things which men profess or teach. Those men who profess Christ's humanity as well as His deity. Be like the Bereans spoken of in
Acts 17:11; "These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so."
Are the words being preached from the pulpit lining up with the whole of Scripture?
Does the interpretation provide continuity?
Is the desire of the one speaking to bring glory to God or self?
Jesus said in John 7:17, "If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority. He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him."
Spiritual discernment comes from seeking to do the will of God that He would be glorified.
It comes from digging into the Word of God.
Heb 5:12-14 12For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. 14But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
Without spiritual discernment it is easy to get caught up in partial truths and twisted doctrine. Satan is hard at work trying to deceive and destroy those who love God. He is skilled in deception, masterful in the art of manipulation, able to masquerade himself as an angel light. He is a counterfeiter bent on deceiving us with cheap imitations of the truth. He will twist scripture to suit his purpose, spout partial truths to create doubt. And he will use men and women behind pulpits throughout the world to spread this deception. He is just as relentless and tireless in his schemes today as he was during the time of the first century church.
Verses 4-6
The deception we see in this world, in our churches is very real.
The spirit behind this deception is very real.
It is demonic!
Eph 6:10-12
Verse 12 is speaking of ranks – military ranks
We are naive to think that issues we have are with people. The issues we have are with the demonic spirits who have influence over those people.
And yet, their influence has limitations
Romans 8:38 They cannot separate us from the love of God
-Ephesians 1:20-2,1Colossians 1:16, Colossians 2:10 Jesus has authority over them
1 Corinthians 15:24 They all have an end
Colossians 2:15 they have been disarmed by Christ. Because of Jesus death and resurrection we have victory!
Verse 4
There continues to be two sides, two kinds of people; those who are of God and those who are of the world. For the children of God, regardless of how hard Satan tries to deceive, tear down and destroy, the final victory remains ours. Why? Because, "He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world."
But because there continue to be 2 sides, we are essentially stepping out onto the battle field every day.
The false teachers of this age speak to the things of this world and those of the world embrace their teaching. 2 Timothy 4:3-4; "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables."
The In the same way the child of God embraces the teaching of his master. Jesus sais in John 10:1-5; "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers."
There is a spiritual battle raging around us. We see the effects in our churches, in the media, in entertainment, our government. We are bombarded by the warfare of the enemy. Yes, as believers we hear the voice of our master – we know the spirit of Truth intimately and yet how often do we hand little skirmishes over to the enemy and instead of being a victor, we become his weapon used against one another in the body of Christ…
Verse 7-11
We need to stop beating up the sheep.
"beloved let us love one another" this Greek phrase means, "those who are loved, let us love."
We are not commanded to love one another in order to earn God's love, or somehow become worthy of God's love.
We love one another because we are loved by God, and have received that love, and live in light of it.
This love is who we are! As children of God we are the vessels of His amazing agape love.
When I was with my dad the month before he died several years ago the Holy Spirit gave me a song and the last chorus says, "Lord I choose to be an alabaster jar filled with sweet perfume broken at your feet a living sacrifice poured out for You. May the aroma of my life forever be before your throne until the day, you take my hand, and lead me home."
My dad was an unbeliever when I wrote that. My heart was so broken over his lack of salvation. I didn't want to hold anything back.
Being loving is a choice.
This should be our heart for all those who have been created in the image of God who are perishing in their sin.
More than that –
This should be our heart for the body of Christ His sheep – the sheep of HIS pasture
Ps 100:3 Know that the Lord, He is God; It is He who has made us, and £not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
We can be so quick to pick apart and tear down our own.
It greaves me to hear Christians throwing other Christians to the wolves. We somehow forget that they are sinners just like us.
Is 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
Jesus died for that other person's sins just like He died for ours. We are very good at noticing the shortcomings of others, but how often do we see the brokenness and deep wounds that follow. Many of us have left wounded sheep in our wake of self-righteousness, others are those wounded sheep left on the wayside… this is how the world treats it's own, not how we as Christians should treat our own…
As Christians, we are all under the headship of the same Shepherd – the Good Shepherd. The lost are watching.
Verses 12-16
People are going to be drawn to the shepherd as they see His love perfected in us.
People are going to see God only when they see His love lived out in the lives of His people. That love should begin at home, within the church.
1 Cor 13talks about all the amazing things we can do in the name of God, but without love, Paul says, it is worthless.
As so we are reminded, we are encouraged to Abide!
God abiding in us
Us abiding in Him
The Spirit given to us
Abiding in love
God knows how difficult it is for us to love like this. He knows our struggles,
That's why he reminds us over and over to abide.
We need to stay close to the Shepherd – when we wonder off we become easy pickins for the enemy. This is why sheep flock together – it is protection from their predators.
Verses 17-18
When we are abiding in Christ
When we are clinging to the Good shepherd, listing to His voice, obeying His commands we have boldness in the day of judgement.
Because we are His. Nothing sticks,
Covered by His blood
Cloaked in His righteousness
When He shall come with trumpet sound O may I then in Him be found Dressed in His righteousness alone Faultless to stand before the throne
Wrapped in His perfect love.
There is no fear in that.
That is the love God lavishes on us.
That is the love that we should lavish on one another.
That is the love the lost should see when they look at the church today.


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Wednesday, February 29, 2012
All the Pretty Photographers, Milan
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
THE Traditional Winter Coat of the Milanese Man, Milan
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
On the Street….Viale Piave, Milan
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
All the Pretty Photographers, Milan
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
On the Street…..Rive Gauche, Paris
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
The Reading List…. THEN
"In each picture there is a reflection of a state of mind. ┬áPhotography does not tolerate a fixed version of the beings we photograph. ┬áIn many pictures we want to please. We say, 'Smile.' These are photos de politesse, or courtesy shots. But try as one might, the mystery that photography confers on the simplest situations prevails. There is something intangible there, an aura of the unseeable, life beyond the visible. You may call this chance, or randomness, but it is the ability of the film and the lens to capture something beyond the obvious that is, in the end, the glory of the most humble snapshot… Read the rest of this entry »
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
On the Street….Via Alserio, Milan
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
On the Street…..Via Alserio, Milan
Monday, February 27, 2012
Then & Now…Pasticceria Marchesi on Corso Magenta, Milano
A while ago I bought a book titled Milano: Fotografie (1965-1915).   I love that book.  We all know so much about the basic history of London, New York and Paris, but Milan's history is still a mystery to most everyone outside of Milan.
Did you know that Milan used to have lots of canals circling the city??
Anyway, I was looking at this old photo in the book of the Pasticceria Marchesi on Corso Magenta.  I knew I had photographed someone in front of the Marchesi a few years ago, so I went searching for the shot.  After about an hour I finally I found it.
This is where it gets funny.
From where this modern day gentleman is standing (below), the sun would throw his shadow basically in the exact same spot as the shadow in the old photo!  Even the hats are similar!
I have a few other Milan then and now shots– they're not as shocking this one, but still very cool.
Monday, February 27, 2012
On the Street…..Via Senato, Milan
Monday, February 27, 2012
Help With Pairs For The Sartorialist II
Even though itÔÇÖs Fashion Week, I canÔÇÖt stop working on my next book.┬á IÔÇÖm now deciding which images will be paired together.
It's interesting how some images really compliment others, even though they were shot years apart. This process is actually the most fun part of making a book.
While I was creating these sets I got an idea: why not let you guys in on the fun!
Think about image pairings that work based on their color, similarities or contrasts. Surprise me!
I've already come up with a lot of combinations so I'm sure we'll overlap, but it'll be great to see my work through a fresh pair of eyes.
-You can send a screen shot, combine images in a Word document, or send side by side in an emailÔÇô They donÔÇÖt have to be perfectly placed, as long as your idea comes across.
-The must be from the beginning of 2009 or later.
-They should be lo-res.
-Please send no more than your best 2 pairs.
To create a screen shot: hold down Command, Shift, 4 then move the cursor over your selection– It will save to your desktop, and you can email as an attachment.
Send images to: [email protected]
Please send no more than two combinations. I look forward to seeing what you come up with!
Monday, February 27, 2012
On the Street……via Festa del Perdono,Milan
Sunday, February 26, 2012
On the Street……Faded, Creased, Cuffed Denim @ Pitti Uomo
I saw this gentleman wearing a similiar look two years ago, and have loved the idea ever since.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Marni Fall/ Winter 2012
Sunday, February 26, 2012
On the Street…..Via Senato, Milan
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Jil Sander Fall/Winter 2012
A rare standing ovation after Raf's last show for Jil Sander.
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Vintage Photo
Friday, February 24, 2012
On the Street……Pier Paolo Piccioli, Milan
Friday, February 24, 2012
Style Profile…. Mr. Kurino
You've built one of the most influential retail empires out there, where did you begin?
My first job was at Suzuya, I began on the floor then worked as a buyer.  It was one of the most successful Japanese retail chains during the 70s.  This all led to my current position as co-owner of United Arrows.
Has this influenced the way you experiment with clothing?
I always play when getting dressed, which really depends on my inspiration; one day I may be an 80ÔÇÖs musician in London, another day IÔÇÖm a preppy Italian guy. When I followed the glam rock style I wore a bleached out denim jacket with fake snakeskin on the sleeve.
Friday, February 24, 2012
Jil Is Back!
Can bringing back the original ever be wrong? Will she stay the course or totally surprise us with a new direction?
Could there be anyone better than her at the helm?
Friday, February 24, 2012
On the Street….After Max Mara, Milan
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Prada Fall/ Winter 2012
Thursday, February 23, 2012
On the Street…..Carlos, Florence
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Pardon My French With Garance Dore
I gotta tell you about Garance's new show Pardon My French. Obviously I love the show (I'm a biased boyfriend) but the thing I love most is seeing Garance push herself to try something new. The fact that she's exploring an idea that hasn't really been done in the blog world is one of the big reasons why I respect her so much as an artist.
As you'll see in the videos, she's just as charming in real life as she is in her writing.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
On the Street…..After Gucci, Milan
Thursday, February 23, 2012
What's Next For Raf?
Hey guys, we hear from the gossip that Raf is leaving Jil Sander (Saturday's show will mark his exit) and potentially going to Dior or YSL.
Personally, I'd love to see him at Dior, but where do you think he should go? Dior or YSL?
Thursday, February 23, 2012
On the Street…..Before Gucci, Milan
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Gucci Fall/Winter 2012
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
On the Street…..Mr. Lapo Elkann, Milan
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
The New Search Page!
Recently I promised a few new site updates.  Well, here's another update!!
We've cleaned up the tag section of the search page, making it more organized and clear, so you can search by 'People, Places, or Features' with all tags listed to make everything more intuitive and visual.
Don't forget that you can search multiple tags at once, as many as you want, and click 'Search' on the top right to see results for all.
Hope this makes things a bit easier to navigate– stay tuned for more updates.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
On the Street…….London Legs, London
Fur and bare legs… It's a thing. ┬áLots of people say "If it's cold enough for fur, then it's too cold for bare legs." ┬áQuotes like that, to me, seem like getting dressed based only on a concept rather than reality. ┬áI find that if my core is warm (especially my arms and legs) some cool weather feels good and seems to balance my body temperature.
We have to remember that when people go out for the day, they're not spending hours and hours walking around outside– we're in and out of shops, in and out of cars, in and out of apartments– ┬áIf anything, I get too warm during the winter wearing my coat around all the time. ┬áAlso, remember that the temperatures in the morning and at the end of the day (when we're going back and forth to work) are different than at lunchtime when the sun is in full force.
Dressing for the weather is a very inaccurate science, and quoting tired concepts or rules only shows a lack of understanding for the variety in our lives.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Burberry Fall/Winter 2012
Another great Burberry collection.  The outerwear was reimagined, refit and restyled for a hip young lady.
Actually, this brings up a point. I was a bit surprised as to how many of the London collections seemed totally based on dressing for the cocktail hour.  There were so few clothes had any relation to cold weather. I guess it's a business strategy, but a very narrow one.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
On the Street….Anna and the Worst Umbrella Ever, New York
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
On the Street…..Lexington Ave., New York
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
The Reading List…. Cafe Society
Cafe Society captures a time when there was such a thing as an international playboy– a time when 'jet set' had not yet become ironic, but was a new phrase meaning sexy and modern. ┬áLooking at these pictures, it feels like a glamour that we'll never recapture– but, mark my words: there are photographs being made today that will, 40 years from now, create the same feeling that these images do for us today.
Glamour is not lost, sometimes It's just hard to see.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
On the Street…..Tenth Ave., New York
Monday, February 20, 2012
On the Street…..Hudson St., New York
Monday, February 20, 2012
On the Street…..Mr. Blasberg, London
Monday, February 20, 2012
Style Profile….Eva Fontanelli
Editor of Elle Italia
Which cultures or sub-cultures have influenced you lately?
Since IÔÇÖm currently traveling in Morocco, I find myself wrapping scarves mixed with jewelry around my head like the old Berber womenÔÇöI look forward to wearing long gypsy dresses, sequined pieces, and pastel colors for the spring.
What are the most interesting pieces youÔÇÖve picked up when traveling?
An old, colorful Peruvian bag and an Argentinean pendant.┬á I really cherish the pendant; itÔÇÖs a gaucho medallion, in silver and mother-of-pearl, with the initials of someone very special.
Monday, February 20, 2012
On the Street & In the Mini, London
Monday, February 20, 2012
On the Street…..Hudson St., New York
Sunday, February 19, 2012
On the Street…..Seventh Ave., New York
Sunday, February 19, 2012
On the Street……Weekend Feet, New York
I think (no, I know) that it really helps the shape of the leg when Uggs are rolled down, cutting the leg in a more narrow part of the calf.
I've also found that having a dog that matches your Uggs also helps the overall look!
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Vintage Photo
Friday, February 17, 2012
On the Street….The Graphic Mix, Florence
Friday, February 17, 2012
Style Profile… Maddalena Pelucchini
My boyfriend Nicola and I own a shop in Arezzo, Tuscany called VOGA–┬áI enjoy my work so much!┬áWeÔÇÖre complimentary in the sense that I work closely with customers, and he loves working on the business side– he's rigorous and tidy, while I am quite the opposite, so our respected roles suit us well.
What do you find challenging about owning a shop together?
Things are more difficult now that we have a baby.  She stays with us in the shop sometimes and travels on buying trips. It's definitely harder to place orders during the buying meetings and run around fashion week carrying all of her things in addition to all of mine!
You always seem to be running around in heels…
I still wear heels every day regardless of how busy I am. I wouldnÔÇÖt wear sneakers or a down jacket, they're too casual for me, it doesn't feel right.┬áEvery morning I get dressed based on my shoes… I even pack them in my carry-on when traveling in fear of losing a pair!
Friday, February 17, 2012
On the Street…..Studded Boots, New York
Thursday, February 16, 2012
On the Street…..Shoulder Strength, New York
Thursday, February 16, 2012
On the Street…. West 15th Street, New York
Thursday, February 16, 2012
A Conversation With…. Scott Sternberg, Band of Outsiders
Tell me about the images that influenced you the most when designing your Fall collectionÔÇŽ
Images from Richard Prince, such as the Cowboy 'rephotograph' (above), as well as images from artist Gabriel Orozco. ┬áI'm always referencing film stills– most recently from The Last Movie, El Topo, Holy Mountain, Solaris, and Sergio Leone's Dollars Trilogy.
Last August I went on a trip to Casa Barragan and ever since have been looking to the images I captured on the streets of Mexico City for inspiration.
Which cultures or sub-cultures do you find yourself referencing the most?
I'm always trying to look at the masculine ideal as it might be expressed in cinema or otherwise in culture during different eras– the idea of the cowboy as one of those masculine ideals really intrigued me this past season. ┬áIt was less about a specific sub-culture of cowboys but more about exploring an antiquated image of men and masculinity that is at once totally irrelevant to our daily lives, yet still a constant reference in media and fashion.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Ralph Lauren Fall/Winter 2012
Thursday, February 16, 2012
On the Street….Leaving Michael Kors, New York
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Michael Kors Fall/Winter 2012
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
On the Street….West 39th St., New York
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
On the Street… After Michael Bastian, New York
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
On Photography…. Alec Soth
The images in your current show, Broken Manual,┬áconvey a sense of extreme distance between you and your subjects – much more so than your previous work. Will you tell us about this shift?
A portrait doesnÔÇÖt necessarily reveal the soul of the sitter– the final picture is as much about the photographer (and the viewer) as it is about the subject. IÔÇÖve often said that when I make a portrait what IÔÇÖm really photographing is the space between the sitter and myself.
In the case of Broken Manual, I really wanted to extend that space. The work is about distance and the longing for separation.
How do you make the decision to remove a subject or object from the context?
Every photograph of mine removes a subject or object from context– IÔÇÖm not a big believer in documentary truth.
Everything happening outside of the frame is also lost: sound, smell, and most importantly time. If anything, photography is the art of stripping the world of its context. But of course, one does this to various degrees. With Broken Manual, I wanted to make something fragmentary and, well, broken. So I varied my approach from picture to picture.
How does removing these elements help to create the image that you see, regardless of the context surrounding it?
The idea of escape is a beautiful fantasy, but in reality it isnÔÇÖt functional. We need other people, but it is still fun to fantasize. Last weekend my five-year-old son made a cardboard house– he was lone pirate in that house, but a few hours later he needed Mommy. Most of us arenÔÇÖt much different.
Do you feel exposed when having a big opening of your work?
IÔÇÖve never been more nervous for a show than this one, and IÔÇÖve been trying to figure out why. I donÔÇÖt think it is about my relationship with the subjects, it has to do with something more personal. I joke that Broken Manual is my midlife crisis projectÔÇŽbut it isnÔÇÖt such a joke.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
On the Street….Broadway, New York
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Marc by Marc Jacobs Fall/Winter 2012
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
While We're on the Subject of….Nick Sullivan, Milan
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
On the Street…New York Camo-Lot!
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
On the Scene…..Tiniest Editor At J.Crew Presentation, New York
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
On the Street….15th Street, New York
Monday, February 13, 2012
Marc Jacobs Fall/Winter 2012
Monday, February 13, 2012
On the Scene…. At Thakoon, New York
Monday, February 13, 2012
The Season of…..The Raspberry Knit Cap, New York and Florence
Monday, February 13, 2012
On the Street…. After DVF, New York
Monday, February 13, 2012
On the Street….West Street, New York
Sunday, February 12, 2012
What To Wear On A Snowy Day Of NY Fashion Week?…..Orange!!
Sunday, February 12, 2012
On the Scene…. At Billy Reid, New York
I saw this young lady standing in the back section of the Billy Reid show on Friday night.
I couldn't help but notice how serene a person can look when they're doing something they love.
Look at how gracefully she holds the camera, like a musician holding an instrument.
It wasn't a big or ground shaking moment– just a small, nice moment.
Saturday, February 11, 2012
White Jeans In The Front Row
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Fashion Week Begins… 14th St., New York
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Vintage Photo
Friday, February 10, 2012
On the Street…. Quai Malaquais, Paris
Friday, February 10, 2012
Why Are There Swim Suits in Feburary?
About a year ago I did a post called Why can't I buy gloves right now?  which I've been thinking about lately while riding my bike in the cold to Fall shows. I talked about how the delivery of goods to fashion stores each season (like Barneys or Saks) never really seems to be at the right time.
The problem is on cold days like these, when it's freezing cold in February, I can't find a pair of gloves because stores are full of swim suits and spring merchandise. However, yesterday in WWD I noticed that both Prada and Marc Jacobs are doing capsule collections [for Fall '12] that you can buy immediately following their shows.
It's great to see designers delivering goods that are buy now/ wear now: even though this show says Fall/Winter 2012, Winter 2012 is happening right now! if they're shipping immediately, what they're actually giving you is Fall 2012/ Winter 2013. The knock-on effect of this trend is that two years down the line, will designers be able to have collections available immediately after their shows?
Imagine what this could mean ten years from now: Instead of having 2 shows per year, what if designers showed all four seasons and collections were available immediately? (We're already seeing this seed planted with designers showing pre-fall/pre-spring collections that are becoming just as important as their main show)
Let's say a designer, Michael Kors for example, showed Winter 2022 in January, Spring would show in April, Summer would show in June, and Fall would show in September…
Maybe this trend towards immediate shipping is a way to finally start filling the stores with season-appropriate merchandise.
Friday, February 10, 2012
On the Street….Viale Piave, Milan
Thursday, February 9, 2012
On the Street…. Dr. J…Peskowitz, Milan & Paris
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Style Profile… Holli Rogers
Have you always worked in fashion?
I started in the Neiman Marcus buying office which eventually led to my current role as Fashion Director of Net-a-Porter.
Did you have any early influences that sparked your interest in clothes?
My 7th┬ágrade science teacher never wore the same outfit twice. ThatÔÇÖs always stuck in my head and has encouraged me to dress differently every day.
What do you read to begin your day?
I read The Economist and The Cut for daily updates and love flicking through UK or Australian ELLE D├ęcor. However, I am obsessed with Assouline books at the moment, especially the Chanel leather-bound set by Francois Baudot & Francois Aveline!
Thursday, February 9, 2012
On the Street…..Via Manzoni, Milan
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
On the Street…. Boulevard Vincent Auriol, Paris
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
The Sartorialist II Arrives in September 2012!
The other day I announced on Twitter the forthcoming release of my second book, The Sartorialist II, which will be available in September 2012.
I'm excited to work on another book, especially since the process and final result of the first one was so rewarding. The book signings were exhausting, but they were also a great opportunity to meet so many of my readers. I look forward to doing the whole thing all over again and making it even better this time!
With a long project like this, I think Twitter will be a great way to keep you guys updated so you can follow the process of creating a book, from the issues faced to the rewarding results.
IÔÇÖm also working on a way for you to potentially contribute to the final result of The Sartorialist II, right now we're just trying to figure out exactly what that process will be. Again, thank you for making the first book such a success, I can't wait to complete the next.
Oh, P.S.– One of the things that I've been working on over the past several months has been saving some of my favorite images, instead of posting on the blog, as exclusives for the next book.┬á Since IÔÇÖm addicted to sharing the best of what I find with you, itÔÇÖs really killing me to save these images instead of posting them on the blog, but I think it will make the book that much stronger!
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
On the Street…..Via Pancaldo, Milan
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
On the Street…Mr. Barbera, Florence
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
The Reading List…. The Modern Century
"A great deal of what is generally classified as photojournalism is in fact not reportage but illustration — a matter of providing an appropriate (attractive, somber, diverting, dramatic, comical, lively, unobtrusive) image to fill the space. ┬áThe alacrity with which Cartier-Bresson could grasp the social sense of any circumstance and distill it into an image made him one of the most accomplished illustrators of the twentieth century."
Henri Cartier-Bresson: The Modern Century
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
On the Street…..Lincoln Center, New York
Monday, February 6, 2012
On the StreetÔÇŽÔÇŽ.Vieille du Temple, Paris
Monday, February 6, 2012
Question For…. Nick Wooster
YouÔÇÖre a fashion role model and Internet style icon, what do you think others see in you that has inspired this?
I can only imagine itÔÇÖs because IÔÇÖm willing to ÔÇśgo thereÔÇÖ and take chances. ┬áGetting dressed is really the only area in my life that I can say I am fearless; IÔÇÖm terrified of so many things, yet am somehow not afraid to wear anything. For me, itÔÇÖs always been rather innate. As a 5 year old I was specific about the way everything fit, even a t-shirt.
What do you find is the biggest challenge for guys who want to look good, but donÔÇÖt know where to start?
Whenever itÔÇÖs out of their comfort zone, guys need a blueprint– they have an event: what do I wear? TheyÔÇÖre going to a black tie: what does that mean? TheyÔÇÖre going to meet their in-laws: how do I impress? I think that overall guys are interested in acquiring a wardrobe based on problem solving; finding something cool that fits into their lives.
All the young bloggers geek out about double monk strap shoes and tailoring– very old school, traditional elements. Cool doesnÔÇÖt necessarily mean avant-garde.
The thing that started it all was probably casual Friday; the thing that was supposed to be liberating fucked things up more than anything.
Monday, February 6, 2012
On the Street…..quai Malaquais, Paris
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Vintage Photo
Saturday, February 4, 2012
The Sartorialist: Lunch For 25
About a year ago, Scott and I were sitting at a small Trattoria in Florence. The place looked amazing– not only the simple and traditional decor, but also the irreproducible Italian atmosphere and overall elegance of the gentlemen.
"Doesn't this place look like the best fashion story ever?" I asked Scott.
Saturday, February 4, 2012
The Sartorialist: Lunch For 25
About a year ago, Scott and I were sitting at a small Trattoria in Florence. The place looked amazing– not only the simple and traditional decor, but also the irreproducible Italian atmosphere and overall elegance of the gentlemen.
"Doesn't this place look like the best fashion story ever?" I asked Scott.
"Yes!ÔÇŁ He said,┬áÔÇťReal, cool, diverse– It's like if all the best dressed guys I know got together for lunchÔÇŽ.. We should just do that!┬á┬á Get my favorite guys together in one room, it would be so much fun. These guys have so much in common and yet, for most of them, their paths never cross. Just imagine, someone like Gianluca, with his dreadlocks and modern-minimalist aesthetic sitting next to Lino, with his old-school Italian charmÔÇŽ. Mr. Kurino and Simone Righi discussing their first suit, Kanye and Terron talking about whatever it is those two super funny characters could dream upÔÇŽ IÔÇÖm just guessing, but I bet these guys would really hit it off. ┬á What a great way to forge new friendships.ÔÇŁ
"Scott… You should do it!!!" the idea sounded fantastic to me.
And that's what Scott did. I can tell you, I was so jealous not to be in Florence for The Inaugural Sartorialist Lunch. But, here are a few photographs and a video to let you share the first of what we hope will become a biannual event that grows every year through a continually increasing diversity of style and deepening camaraderie between friends.
Hope you enjoy,
Garance & Scott
*We would like to thank Simone and Guido in Florence for their helping to make this event happen, it would not have been the same without you.
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Vintage Photo
Friday, February 3, 2012
On the Street….. Via Guelfa, Florence
Friday, February 3, 2012
Go Giants!!
Friday, February 3, 2012
On the Street….Rue Linne, Paris
Thursday, February 2, 2012
On the Street…. At The Fortezza, Florence
Thursday, February 2, 2012
The Funniest Booth at Pitti Uomo…. Andrea Pompilio
Thursday, February 2, 2012
On the Street……Spring St., New York
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
On the Street….Via Bigli, Milan
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Style Profile…. Victoire Chopinaud
IÔÇÖm currently studying at l'Ecole de la Chambre Syndicale┬áde la Couture, the fashion school in Paris where "masters" such as YSL, Dior and┬áVionnet came before me. They've taught me that itÔÇÖs not just about fashion… it's about style, attitude, and character.
I've finally learned to embrace color thanks to my travels to Italy, my textile studies, and my work with Proenza Schouler in New York. I used to wear only black!
Do you find inspiration in any heirloom pieces?
I recently discovered fabric samples that had been used for one of my grandmotherÔÇÖs coats- black velvet with golden embroidery and pearls… ItÔÇÖs so precious, I can't wait to re-use it!
Also, this half-season coat from my mum with a black and grey ÔÇťpied-de-pouleÔÇŁ pattern.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012