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Court records show actor Adrian Pasdar has been charged with drunken driving, and his arraignment is scheduled for later this week.
The 44-year-old actor was arrested Jan. 27 after authorities say they spotted him speeding and veering over two lanes of traffic on a Los Angeles freeway.
He was charged with one count of driving under the influence on Friday. City attorney spokesman Frank Mateljan says Pasdar's arraignment is scheduled for Wednesday.
The actor's manager, Will Flaherty, declined comment.
Pasdar plays Nathan Petrelli on NBC's "Heroes." He's married to Dixie Chicks singer Natalie Maines.
Related Content from AccessHollywood.com:
VIEW THE PHOTOS: "Heroes: Countdown to the Premiere" Party
PLAY IT NOW: 2008 NBC Upfronts: 'Heroes' Returns This Fall
PLAY IT NOW: Dish Of Salt: 'Heroes' At Paley Fest
MORE ACCESS ON THESE TOPICS: DUIs - Courts - TV - Heroes - NBC


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What a weekend for Suunto Ambassador, Kilian Jornet. His victory, combined with his remarkable Vertical Race win on Saturday, leaves the Catalan athlete as the interim leader in the overall rankings with two races left to go in the Championship.
An elated Kilian said afterwards: "A gold medal in the star race is very stimulating. I won this race in 2011 and attaining this medal after four years means something special to me. The Individual Race is the most important race and that is why I am so happy to have won a second gold medal in these Championships."
Kilian on his way to victory in the Vertical Race. © ISMF / Verbier 2015
Kilian still has two more shots of winning a medal when he participates in the Team Race with his friend and colleague Marc Pinsach on Wednesday, and the Relays to end the World Championship on Thursday.
Kilian added: "I am very pleased to have achieved the two victories. Now it's time to think about the Team race, which will surely be quite spectacular."
Emelie on the ascent in perfect conditions © ISMF / Verbier 2015
Jornet wasn't the only Suunto Ambassador tearing up the mountain on Sunday – Skyrunning World Champion, Emelie Forsberg competed in the ladies' Individual event, and managed to secure a 4th place finish.
She said: "I'm very happy with the results, especially after the individual race. I'm on my way back to shape after a long summer break. Also the ambiance and organization were perfect in Verbier. The crowds cheering us were so inspiring, I love all the things around races," she added.
For more race info go to: www.verbier2015.ch

subset: commoncrawl


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Rates: Starting at $21.00/visit for cats, $24.50 per visit for dogs (One Pet)
- Additional pets: $3.50
- Difficult, willful, or hyperactive pets start at an additional $3.00
While you're traveling, let Snaggle Foot come to your home to care for your pets as an alternative to kenneling or boarding. Because we know that some pets do better without the noise and confusion of a facility. So why not let us come to your home and care for your pets where you know that they'll be happy and comfortable!
Our most popular pets are cats and dogs, but we've also provided pet sitting services for other household and exotic pets such as parrots, rabbits, caged rodents, and reptiles.
A typical pet sitting visit consists of:
- Exercise or playtime with your pets
- Feeding, water refresh, treats
- Specialized one-on-one attention.
- And of course, we will always make sure your home is left safe and secure and your pets are happy and healthy.
We at Snaggle Foot feel that our service offerings are beneficial to pets and pet owners alike. For instance:
- Pets get to stay in their own, familiar environment. Your pets experience no additional stress when you travel.
- Your pets maintain their regular feeding and exercise schedules, and they get to sleep in the comfort of their own beds.
- You feel safe and secure knowing that we are watching over your home while you are traveling.
- We can bring in the mail, alternate the lights, water your plants, and take care of other home maintenance issues.


text:
Givers and Takers
The generosity of Jews towards their needy brothers reaches its peak at Pesach time. Millions of dollars in cash and grocery items were distributed to needy families in Israel by charitable organizations and municipalities.
One organization made its appeal for funds by featuring on television the heart-wrenching tale of a giver turned taker. A businessman showed viewers ten years worth of receipts for over 10,000 Shekels in monthly donations he gave to a local food aid organization. Viewers then saw film footage of this same fellow standing in line to receive aid from that same organization after his thriving business collapsed and left him with debts.
People who heard this story could not help seeing it as a vindication of the Talmudic comparison of charity to a wheel with givers sometimes becoming takers.


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Saturday, November 5, 2011
Haunt Gallery
25 comments:
- Rowan said...
Love the colors! I am as always in AWE!
- November 5, 2011 at 1:47 PM
- NecroBones said...
Hey great! Even as a more "modest" display, it's still classic and very Halloween. The lighting looks incredible for being so subtle.
I wanted to ask though, are those JOLs in the tree full-size pumpkins or did you use smaller ones? Man, it looks like you did a lot of carving. I'm dead after making two. :)
- November 5, 2011 at 1:48 PM
- MorbidMariah said...
As always, beautiful haunt, beautiful photos.
- November 5, 2011 at 1:53 PM
- Jay's Shadow said...
These pics are beautiful!(sorry I used a girly word) Ireally like the purple, orange and green together. What did you use for the purple?
I'll have to get you to make me one of those pumpkin sentinels sometime....I LOVE those.
- November 5, 2011 at 3:25 PM
- Marrow said...
LOVE them.
So cool to finally get a feel of the layout of your haunt. You could do some pretty cool stuff with that long porch. Tunnels and passageways...
I really love the entrance to the porch with the cornshocks and ivy, and all the scattered tree limbs.
You are sure to get many, many years of amazing haunts out of this yard!
- November 5, 2011 at 3:39 PM
- Dave Lowe said...
I have to say, I think the single greatest creation I've seen this season has been that hat on your witch. The impossibly tall point makes me smile every time I see it. It's silly being a small detail, but it just so perfectly Halloween.
- November 5, 2011 at 3:52 PM
- Sharon Day said...
That video was the best horror short I've ever seen. I could watch it over and over and over again.
- November 5, 2011 at 4:22 PM
- House Bloodthorn said...
I'm diggin' it, hep cat. Diggin' it the most. Great job as always, man.
- November 5, 2011 at 4:26 PM
- Grim said...
Very nice! The lighting (and everything else) is amazing! Love the Halloween tree.
- November 5, 2011 at 5:27 PM
- Aron said...
2 questions - what's your pumpkin budget, and how do you carve so many so fast? I know you take days off but my hand is tired after 2!!! Great work :)
- November 5, 2011 at 6:26 PM
- Jeff said...
Very, very cool as expected. Really diggin the lighting and overall ambiance. Stupid question I suppose but what lighting are you using in those jacks and how much per? That..
Is absolutely killer...they blaze as if on fire yet it manages to avoid over illuminating the surroundings.
- November 5, 2011 at 6:38 PM
- Rot said...
I used two purple bulbs from Lowes...only 25 watts each. In reflector light fixtures to make them a little brighter.
Those are smaller pumpkins in the tree...cantaloup-sized mostly.
Each of the larger pumpkins have two tealights inside. Just one for the smaller ones.
We carved them all over the course of two days/nights. My brother came over and the three of us sat and watched horror movies during the stupid snow storm carving most of them. Bean and I carved the rest on Sunday. Our hands were sore for a few days. And the bag of seeds and guts weighs a ton.
- November 5, 2011 at 7:58 PM
- Rot said...
The walkway up to the porch was fun to have. There's a trellis/archway covered in morning glories. Bean tied strings so they'd be hanging down to brush visitors' faces as they approached and left. I saw so many people reacting as though they had just walked through a spider web.
Old classic gag..works every time.
- November 5, 2011 at 8:00 PM
- Rot said...
And thanks, everybody : )
- November 5, 2011 at 8:10 PM
- Heather said...
Love, love, love the pics! Swamp foetus is exceptional! Man I dig your props! Another outstanding year!
- November 5, 2011 at 8:42 PM
- Eddie said...
Hi Rot. Long time lurker on your site and first time poster. Your creations are truly inspiring to this emerging haunter! How did your new neighbors react to the haunt?
- November 5, 2011 at 9:39 PM
- Eddie said...
Hi Rot! Long time lurker, first time poster here. Your creations and blog are truly inspiring to this emerging haunter. I'm curious how your new neighbors reacted to your haunt?
- November 5, 2011 at 9:41 PM
- Rot said...
The neighbors seemed to really dig that the newbies on the block went all-out for Halloween. Lots of people were taking photos and lingering around the Halloween Tree, so I think it was a hit. Almost everyone commented on how much they loved the smell of roasting pumpkin..which was everywhere in the air around our place.
- November 5, 2011 at 9:44 PM
- RahneFan said...
Just gorgeous. So much atmosphere. I like every single pumpkin you make/carve.
You know, haunters would probably pay good $ to camp in a tent in your haunt for a weekend. Seriously. How big is the area? One gets the impression you have acres.
- November 5, 2011 at 10:13 PM
- Jeff said...
...and I agree with Dave on that witch hat, I kept pausing the film during "the walk" and looking at it over and over. How...in the H did you make that so tall, shaped so perfectly...I don't wanna know. Just in awe here in the 'burgh brother, bewildered, total geeked out awe.
- November 5, 2011 at 11:18 PM
- Rot said...
Not even an acre : )
I don't even know specifically at the moment how large the lot is, but that's all the way I frame the shots. I try to limit how much of the neighborhood is captured. Just to make it seem a little more other-worldly. It's a corner property, which is cool.
- November 6, 2011 at 7:02 AM
- Pam Morris said...
beautiful, beautiful pumpkins! and the tree makes me want to watch the old "The Halloween Tree" video again. (why don't they release that on DVD...) anyway, spectacular display, Rot--your work embodies every glorious element of Halloween.
- November 6, 2011 at 7:12 AM
- Anonymous said...
As usual these are gorgeous photos!
I love the lighting....that purple and orange together are great.
Your "the man"!!!
- November 6, 2011 at 2:06 PM
- Wikkedmoon said...
Yes, I dig.
- November 6, 2011 at 3:04 PM
- Goneferalinidaho said...
- November 6, 2011 at 7:53 PM


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I know this question must be probably asked before, but as I don´t find the proper thread I´ve decided to open this, also to make it more visible to people who could be in my same situation.
Firstly I suppose that not having english as my first language, it must be no impediment to find some tutor with my same language (spanish, it´s not that much rare). Also, that being the tutor-student relationship basically based on the Diary, I think that they don´t necessarily need to live even in the same country. At the same time for that same reason there´s the possibility that some member lives in my same country though there´s no physical school implanted. But in any case, I´m well aware that for certain ceremonies like that of the Neophyte, it requires a physical presence of the tutor, etc. For that purpose I could arrange things with time, etc. But before that (the Student phase, all the Probationer year...) it´s necessary to meet physically in any occasion for any purpose?
It will help a lot to know this kind of things for the people in my same situation, I must be wrong but I think I didn´t find anything along those lines in the many A∴A∴ info I´ve checked. Thanks.


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10.2.15 0
Hello again! (Blast from the past...)
Dear Stranger,
loads of things happened since I last logged in blogspot ( it feels so old-school right now!).
What has life brought you?I got a Masters degree.
Got married.
Moved countries.
Travelled quite a lot.
Became an entrepreneur for real.
And just last week spoke in front of 300 people about innovation.
I should feel worn by now but I feel... centered.
I feel like I AM HERE.
Does that make sense?
Maybe it's because I also took up meditating (and doing "painted meditations, too) ;)
Part of what I've learnt is to not open and close doors.
Before, I used to move and I'd become a whole new person, almost. I'd leave old me behind and crate new me.
But I realized that wasn't too good.
It was exhausting and infuriating.
I never felt like I was growing.
So that's what brings me here.
Long story short, Nosideup is back.And it's a new. grown-up Nosideup.
It's a Nosideup made by an Art theorist and an Innovation consultant, not just a designer/artist.
This time the portraits aren't anonyomous, but of fabulous women that are super inspiring and I want to share with you.In fact, this time around you get a teeny tiny fanzine telling you the story behind the image.
What do you think?
That said, you won't find me here anymore, but over here.
That's my new home.
This feels a bit like a reunion doesn't it?
Sit down, grab a drink, and tell me what you've been up to by sending me an email here.
Stay awesome,
PS: Want 15% off? just use the coupon Nosidegram15 before the 10th of March of 2015.


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You are likely to find your mailbox and email inbox filled with credit card offers these days and it seems it is easier for credit card companies to know who you are while you might not know anything about them. The American Express Platinum Card wants to change that, they want you to know everything about them because the more you know the more you will want the Platinum Card to be the one card you pull out for every purchase.
The first thing that struck me about the American Express Platinum Card was how highly their customers thought of them, who know better than the people who actually own the card. When it comes to rankings, they really begin and end with J.D. Power and Associates and for the fifth year in a row, American Express was ranked as "Highest in Customer Satisfaction with Credit Card Companies." What exactly should you take away from that? Well that means if you have a problem American Express will work to fix it, if you need assistance, they will assist you and if you are looking for one of the many services offered with the Platinum Card, they will make sure you have access to it.
Great customer service is one thing, but I'm sure you are asking what else am I going to get for my $450 annual fee? To put it simply, a lot! You really have to view the Platinum Card as much more than a credit card, because it is. It is really a lifestyle product, meaning that it is going to enhance your way of life and at the same time make your life a little easier.
If you travel internationally you simply must own the Platinum Card, once you have it you will wonder why you did not pick one up sooner. The Platinum Card will allow you to join the Global Entry program. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Global Entry program allows expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travelers to bypass lines at majorU.S.airports when returning from traveling abroad. Platinum Card members who apply and pay the application fee of $100 with their Platinum Card will receive a statement credit and you will be set with this membership for five years. If you have ever had to wait in one of those lines you will instantly realize this is one feature you can't do without. You also gain access to more than 600 international airport lounges in more than 100 countries, so no more sitting in an uncomfortable chair in who knows what type of terminal you are waiting in. PriorityPassSelect extends the existing airport lounge program that provides access to all domestic airport lounges for AA, USAir and Delta. Finally you eliminate those nasty international travel fees. You will avoid incurring 2.7% foreign currency transaction fee on every international purchase when using the Platinum Card abroad. A few international trips and you will completely forget about that annual fee.
The travel features of the Platinum Card are really amazing, but there is so much more. This being the holiday season, the BIO (By Invitation Only) offers can make for a truly one-of-a-kind gift. The BIO program is just one of the many ways the Platinum Card offers Card members unparalleled access and special experiences, created with their areas of interest and passions in mind—from food and wine to fashion and entertainment to travel and sports. If you are looking for something special this holiday season, then this is a great feature to use.
If you are as tired of reaching into your wallet and deciding what credit card to pull out as I am, make things a little easier on yourself. Tear up all your cards, shred those applications and stick with just one card, the American Express Platinum Card.
For more information on the American Express Platinum Card, visit: www.americanexpress.com/exploreplatinum


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Last week's tornado isn't keeping Ennis from dancing.
The 47th annual National Polka Festival begins Friday night as planned, even as Ennis continues to recover from the EF-1 tornado that blew through the heart of the small city.
A number of businesses remain closed but hope to reopen soon. But others are in limbo, and there is concern that many historic buildings will have to be torn down.
The latest news from around North Texas.
"We had some worries since so much of our downtown is blocked off, but our city has done a great job at redirecting the parade," said Puddin McCarty, owner of Puddin's Cafe. "I love that it's going down a neighborhood street. It will have a sense of community."
McCarty said the recovery effort will also help ensure a strong turnout for this year's festival.
"I think a lot of people are coming home not just for the polka festival; I think a lot of people are coming home to help support our community," she said.
The polka festival is one of the largest annual events in the city and is a driving force for small businesses in the community.
"It's a large event for our economy, because we fill our hotels, our restaurants are happy and also our retailers," said Jeannette Patak, Ennis Chamber of Commerce president.
The Chamber of Commerce believes the festival is on track to maintain its financial boost to the economy. This year's festival has 150 vendors, the same as last year. The chamber had to turn away additional vendors for space reasons, Patak said.
The National Polka Festival celebrates Czech heritage. It's held annually during Memorial Day weekend.
The festival begins at 7 p.m. Friday with an opening dance featuring polka music and the King and Queen Dance Contest, where participants and nonparticipants are encouraged to wear traditional Czech kroj (folk costumes).
The downtown festivities begin at 10 a.m. Saturday with a parade with floats, bands and colorful costumes.
More: National Polka Festival


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Potters for Peace: Point-of-Use (POU) Ceramic water filter
The Millennium Declaration (2000) and commitment by the International community show a political will for increasing access to safe drinking water. Solutions at the federal and local level are making progress but dependent on many factors. Laying pipe for access to water needs a large capital investment and takes a large population to justify the investment in construction and a suitable method of treatment. WHO, UNICEF, IRC and others are seeking local solutions at point of use, such as the ceramic water filter made locally, from local materials. This method of POU water treatment developed by Potters for Peace (PfP) creates a local solution of creating a ceramic filter from local materials which the general population have been using for water storage for many generations making it quickly accepted by users. This solution achieves the goal of rapidly increasing access to clean water at the lowest possible cost through a local solution.


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According to team owner Mario Bertuccio, "We are still shocked, and very sad for what happened to Brett McCormick at Assen. For this reaon, in his respect during the fourth round of the superbike championship that will be held at Monza next week, we have decided that nobody else will ride the fourth bike, and haven't accepted the offers recently." Bertuccio continued, "The fourth bike belongs to Brett, we have in high esteem him and this is our sign of our great affection for him."
The injured Canadian rider was expected to return to Canada on a private airplane this week. Inside Motorcycles will continue to provide updates on the reigning Canadian Superbike champion's condition.


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SEJournal Online is the digital news magazine of the Society of Environmental Journalists. Learn more about SEJournal Online, including submission, subscription and advertising information.
Special Report: Part Five
By LISA MEERTS-BRANDSMA
Uganda's fertile soils and mild climate not only support a rich diversity of flora and fauna, but also allow 80 percent of the country's land to be under cultivation, and more than 80 percent of its citizens to live as farmers.
Yet it's a nation under pressure. The size of Oregon but with almost ten times the number of people, Uganda's population has grown from eight million to 34 million in the last 50 years, and one estimate has that number quadrupling, if fertility rates remain at their current level, by 2045. The bottom line: The famed "Pearl of Africa" is staring down at a complicated and uncertain future whose success will depend on the people's ability to grow enough food.
Because the people here, as in many other developing nations, are so dependent on agriculture, the effects of climate change will only compound the situation.
In fact, it's already begun.
This summer, I spent three months living with Ugandan farmers to understand their challenges. Many pointed to climate change as something they needed to address. Uganda has two growing seasons each year, and farmers said they have seen the timing between the dry and rainy seasons shift. They now struggle to know when to plant crops, a problem that easily leads to crop failure.
I witnessed such a mistake when a peasant farmer named Mogeisa Immelda took a hard rain in early June as an opportunity to plant beans. At first, they flourished and she promised she would harvest them in September. One month later, they had withered to yellowed stalks. Immelda had counted on at least one more rain falling to water the plants, but it never came.
Joel Hartter, a geographer at the University of New Hampshire, has been comparing how Ugandans in the western region of the country perceive climate change to weather data he has collected.[DISCLOSURE: Hartter, a faculty member at the university where I'm receiving my degree, contributed grant funds to support my reporting.]
Weather has inherent variability, he says, and Ugandans are not quite right when they say the timing of the seasons has changed. His data show the amount of rain received during the rainy seasons has remained relatively consistent over the last 30 years.
But Ugandans are correct when they say things are different. The rains now come in pulses instead of steady streams, or downpours compared to long drizzles, and there are longer periods between rainfall events. That causes soils to dry out so that when the next rain comes, they are too parched to absorb the water. The runoff then takes top soil and nutrients with it, the long-term effects of which are decreased fertility and crop yields.
Since the poorest and most vulnerable farmers, whose life circumstances turn season by season, tend to live far from the cities, they are far from groups like farmer's associations and other non-profits that could teach them new farming techniques. So, most farmers work their land using traditional methods, hearing about new farming technology only through the local grapevine or, if they can afford one, the radio.
Climate change is only one piece that Ugandans must adapt to in the coming years, and non-profits devoted to improving the lives of farmers say education is at the root of the solution. They are experimenting with demonstration farms and hands-on learning models, which have been good starting points to help farmers improve the way they farm.
But given the grave implications of overpopulation, the country's dependence on agriculture and the effects of climate change on the poor, a lot of work remains to be done.
Lisa Meerts-Brandsma is a journalist and graduate student in the University of New Hampshire's Master of Fine Arts in Non-fiction Writing program. She spent the summer reporting in Uganda for her thesis, a work of literary journalism entitled, "Salt, Soap, School and Soil." She can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Back to the Special Report main page.
* From the quarterly newsletter SEJournal, Fall 2013. Each new issue of SEJournal is available to members and subscribers only; find subscription information here or learn how to join SEJ. Past issues are archived for the public here.


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Today's featured relative in my database is my maternal 8th-great grandmother, Martha Taylor.
Martha was born January 17, 1701/02 in Virginia (probably Orange Co.), the daughter of James and Martha (Thompson) Taylor. Martha was married circa 1722 to Thomas Chew, son of Larkin and Hannah (Roy) Chew. Thomas was born circa 1700 Virginia and died in 1782.
Martha comes from the Taylor family that includes President Zachary Taylor.
Known children of Thomas and Martha (Taylor) Chew are as follows :
i. Joseph Chew b. 1725 Virginia, d. ca. 1800 Canada m. Grace Deshon
ii. Larkin Chew b. 1727 Virginia, d. 1796 Virginia
iii. Frances Chew b. 1730 Virginia, d. 1784 m. Henry Downs
iv. Hannah Chew b. ca. 1731 Virginia
v. Thomas Chew b. ca. 1733 Virginia
vi. Coleby Chew b. ca. 1735 Virginia, d. 1758 Fort Duquense, PA
vii. Elizabeth Chew b. ca. 1737 Virginia
viii. Alice Chew b. ca. 1739 Virginia, d. 1796 m. Zachary Taylor
ix. Mildred Chew b. ca. 1741 Virginia, m. James Coleman
x. Samuel Chew b. ca. 1743 Virginia, d. March 1778 Connecticut, m. Lucy Miller
xi. James Chew b. 1745 Virginia, d. ca. 1783 Virginia, m. Mary Caldwell
I descend from Thomas and Martha (Taylor) Chew through their son, James, as follows :
Martha Taylor and Thomas Chew
James Chew and Mary Caldwell
Andrew Chew and Ann Barthos
Elizabeth Chew and Nathan C. Beals
John T. Beals and Mary Davis
Nathan Thomas Beals and Elizabeth Caroline Poe
Pearl May Beals and Charles Wilson Lambertson
Clemon Beals Lambertson and June Kirk Davis (my great-grandparents)
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Martha Taylor (b. January 17, 1701/02)
at Wednesday, January 17, 2007 Posted by Travis LeMaster
1 comment:
- Unknown said...
Do you have any documentation proving the names of Andew & Ann [Barthos] Chew's children? I descend from their son Thomas and I need proof of their connection for my supplemental application to the DAR. Thank you.
By the way, I posted on Genforum some information I found about Nathan Beals and Elizabeth Chew. You may already have this, but if not, hope it adds to your tree.
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


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I would like to get people's thoughts on kyu kumite. Like it? Waste of time? What is essential to doing it well? What is it trying to teach? Does it really help you in free sparring?
Here are some of my, mostly negative, thoughts:
- The stepping seems awkward. Two whole steps backward in each pass? Very inefficient/slow way to move. Slidding is faster and more stable.
- Two wa ukes as a defense against a punch-punch combination? Is this really what wa ukes are about? I'll give you good money if you can pull off two wa ukes against someone throwing a realistic punch-punch combination.
- Why so much retreating? I almost never retreat in free sparing. Are we training bad habits? ... in people's first exposure to kumite no less.
- And what's with the lame punches. Only karate people punch like this. Chambering between strikes? I've never seen punch combinations like these in 'real' fighting.
- Where's the continuation? One punch/kick to the ribs is the end of most of the sequences... is that going to realistically put anyone out? OK, so maybe we're learning controlling movements--on the grabs that proceed the punches/kicks. But if I have control of someone, a punch to the ribs is not first on my agenda. I'm going to try to put them down with something far more devestating. And I'm going to follow it up until I'm sure they're out.
Granted, mindset counts more than anything. And if you do this exercise with great intensity you probably will get something out of it. And of course we need to start people off somewhere. Throwing them into a UFC as their first fighting experience surely is not the way to go. But, I find it difficult to justify this exercise. Show me what I'm missing!
- Tim


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ConnectiCONN Panel Appearance recording is now available! Check it out!
Welcome to Finallyinfullcolor.com
Hello! It is my pleasure to welcome you my website. This site is dedicated to the research and promotion of the history of Blacks in Comics.
As a comic book historian, researcher, collector and fan, I have spent many years tracking this subject. Since the early 1980s I have given presentations across the United States and around the world. I have taken my traveling educational exhibit on Blacks in Comics to a variety of venues. These include elementary school classrooms, public libraries, international conventions and scholarly conferences. Please contact me if you are interested in bringing this exhibit to a venue near you.
I have promised to keep this site updated on a more regular basis with current information on my presentations, books and research.
This website is a very important way that I can share my research with a world wide audience. I encourage you to check in often as I explore new areas of information. Finally in Full Color will only reach its full potential when it is interactive. Because of the scope of the topic, I realize I cannot possibly handle it all on my own. My aim is to be more of a "Guide on the side" than a "Sage on the stage."
Some people have questioned whether or not it is still necessary to have research dedicated exclusively to Blacks in comics. It's a fair question that I answer in a simple and straightforward manner. Blacks were deliberately left out of American society for many years. In comics, in those rare occasions where we were included, we were misrepresented as savages, cannibals, simpletons, and worst. It is my intent to document this history and how it is being re-written every day to reflect a more truth.
You are invited to join me on this quest. Together we can not only preserve history, but make it as well.
Prof. William H. Foster III
Comic Book Historian
It's About Time!!!
Speaking of updates, allow me to announce my new venture, The Black Comix Shoppe! Finally I can offer a service to others I have planned for many years – a definitive resource for all items related to Blacks in comics. That includes comic books, original art, posters, trading cards, action figures, and more!
Watch this space for more details regarding ordering, shipping and payment options.


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It seems that spring is in the air and hospitality club is not an exception.
Unceasing stream of "flirting" messages each day fills my mailbox (the smartest
ones write me directly to my e-mail or add in MSN). I already established my
personal nomination "the letter of the day" - for the most horny, unlogical and
weird letter. I'm not against intercultural friendship and communication, but
these guys definitely not looking for a friendship!!! They dont have any common
intellectual interests with me and usually start conversation with "Do u have a
webcam?", "I want to know u more/better!" or "can i see more photos of u?" (3
most popular beginnings of conversation). Cool, eh?
Even after i wrote down in my profile "pls, no flirting spam - hc is not a
dating service!" i continue to receive all this crappy messages from the males
all other the world. Btw, it was more or less understandable when i was "spamed"
by males from eastern and asian countries, but now Europe almost outrun both
Asia and East.
What the hell is wrong?! Can u see naked photos of me in my profile? No! And u
know, why? There are no naked photos of me in my profile!!! Why then all this
males continue to spam me EVERY day?! And they even dont consider it as a spam.
"I just wanted to talk with u!". Awesome.
Sorry for such angry post, but it's really not funny anymore. All this crap
really distorts the idea of hospitality club for me. It's not what i expected
when had signed this community.
Btw, i wonder if moderators will delete this post according to Forum Rules
paragraph #3. But i'm not talking about particular case - it's general
situation. And if we want to make HC better place, we should discuss negative
aspects also.
So, lets state the question this way (actually it's question to females
hc-members): how you deal with this situation?
Hey Catflower,
First of all, I would just like to say how sorry I am to hear what is happening
to you. HC is not a dating site, as you quite rightly state, and there is no
excuse for what is happening.
Secondly, of course you can talk about negative aspects, it's good that people
are warned. Particular cases fall under rule #3, because this is not a trial
where we can just "accuse, judge and punish" people by a whole forum of people
who were not involved.
So no problem either with your post.
Now, the solutions :
- Do you have a public profile ? If you have, you might consider removing the
option in your preferences.
You will find a line that reads : "Allow my profile to be visible to non-members
and search engines". Setting this to "NO" will help in most cases.
- If you don't have a public profile, then it means that an HC member is
contacting you. Try finding out who it is, and report him/her (but I imagine
it's mostly guys) through the Abuse feedback button. The volunteers in charge of
abuse can then write a mail explaining them the do's and don'ts.
How to find out who it is?
a. ask them. If they really want to flirt with you, they'll be "honoured" if you
would check their profile
b. look at the people who check your profile (click on "profile" and then "See
who has visited my profile". Of course not everybody who clicks on your profile
is a spammer, but you might be able to trace them back
[BTW : i clicked on your profile, so don't accuse me of spamming. And the fact
that you put your problem on the forum, will generate a lot of people clicking
on yours in the next day. I'm just telling you so you shouldn't be surprised and
think that they are all out to stalk you]
- Do you have your spam filter on? If not, please put him on for a while, see if
the system improves. HC has always tried to make sure no spam goes through.
But please : we need your help : If somebody does manage to reach your HC inbox,
inform Abuse who can take necessary action. If nobody tells them, they don't
Thanks a lot for sharing and I hope we can help you.
Hello Catflower,
this is of course a problem bothering all female members of the club and
unfortunatelly there are not so many ways to cope with this.
If you ask me how I do this, well I simply ignore. But if it bothers you that
much than you can check the box 'spam checking' in your profile and then
volounteers will get rid of spam before your mail gets to you.
Cheer up, enjoy spring and ingnore stupid horny males.
Though I'm not a girl, I will also add, that when you receive a message which
issue is clearly dating rather than any kind of cultural exchange (sorry ppl, I
don't consider a message like "would you marry me" ou "would you like to come to
live with me" any kind of cultural exchange in the way I think HC should work),
you can also post a "SPAM comment" as easy as just writing down just "SPAMMER"
or, better, explaining in 2-3 words in which way (f. ex. "Spammer sending open
dating messages".
It won't solve your problem on a short term, but should globally improve the way
HC works in 2 ways:
- could invite other members to do the same
- discourage some spammers to use HC so easily
Sure, all what was said before should be done too. ;)
EnjoY! (at least as much as you can)
I realize that HC is not a dating service... but then why are there so many ads
for meeting women?????
Surely there must be a way to filter out these ads when using whatever
advertising service pays for this site to exist, no?
@babsinhawaii :
some people think these ads are fun, others don't like them or are not
The way I see it : it's like a magazine or a newspaper : the advertising part
and the editorial part are separated (or at least they should be).
So that in a newspaper you can write something bad about let's say McDonalds,
but you would still be able to run an advertisment for McDonalds. This is some
form of safeguard against one newspaper being used for one-sided information.
So HC is not responsible for the content of the ads.
Now to answer your initial question : the ads are supposed to be "intelligent"
and refer to some key words in your profile.
I personally find it funny to see how they sometimes give me relevant
information (i have clicked on some interesting ones in the past) and sometimes
it is silly ads that I have no use for.
If you read the FAQ, you will see that this is still an experimental fase and
you can always use the feedback form if you are offended by some of the ads.
To give you an example of my ads at this very moment :
- Great Rail Journeys
- F1 travelling
- European City Breaks
- Polish workers.
So apart from the last ad, there is nothing that really strikes me as
But as I wrote before, it should give different ads to different HC members.
take care,
Yea, this situation is well known and its unpractical. a very good friend of
mine (member cachasa) got mails like that too. now she changes her photo, she
looks now a bit strange.
I'm not surpriesed that u get a lot uf these fucking dating-mails, but please: u
look REALY very good on this picture! perhaps u should change it. Its ugly, that
in a such amazing club like HC things like that have to be done. For sure it's
not ok, that women have to change theire pictures cause there are some idiots on
HC, but as long as we don't have a reason for this problem it will be hard to
deal with that otherwise.
I think if I would be a woman and get all these mails, I would post a comment on
theire profiles. just a short message like "memeber xxx is using HC as a dating
site". very unpractical to have someting like that :-)


text:
40/410 foam pump high quality for soap bottle from china
*Liquid dish washing
*Liquid soap
*Hand & body lotion
*Plastic chemical industry
• Silk-screen printing
• Hot gold/silver stamping
• Coating
Q:What is your main products ?
A:Our main products focus on sprayers and cosmetic packaging,
such as trigger sprayer,lotion pump, bottles,jars and so on.
Q: How to receive a price quotaion in the shortest time?
A: When you send us an enquiry, please kindly provide all the details,
such as model number, product size, tube length, color, order quantity
and packaging requirements.
We will send you a quotation within 12 hours.
Q:How about the sample?
A:We can provide free samples, but the freight for express is on buyer's account.
Q:What is the normal lead time?
A: For common design, we will send goods to you within 45 days
after we receive your 30% deposit.
For OEM products, we will send goods to you within 60 days
Q:If any quality problem, how can you settle it for us?
A: If any breakage or defect products were found, you must take the pictures
from the original carton. All the claims must be presented within 7 working days
after discharging the container. This date is subject to the arrival time of the container.
We will advise you to certify the claim by third party, or we can accept the claim
from the samples or pictures you present. Finally we will completely compensate
all your loss.
Ningbo Song Mile Imp. & Exp. Co., Ltd.
ADDRESS:11-1, Building 16, No.636 Duantang East Road,Haishu District, Ningbo 315100, China
Please let us know if you have any questions!


text:
Wabash College President Andrew T. Ford rang in the Class of 2009 on a warm and humid Saturday afternoon. Ford welcomed the 251 freshmen to the Wabash community and invited them to "save civilization."
Click to see a photo album from Freshman Saturday.
"The world needs you; civilization depends on you," he said, looking to the balcony of the Pioneer Chapel where the freshmen were seated. "That may sound far-fetched, but it's not. We as a nation have to get it right, and we're looking to you to do it... What this world needs is leaders to make peace and make life better."
Dean of Admissions Steve Klein served as emcee for the Ringing In ceremony. In giving a brief profile of the class, he noted that the 251 students included 40 legacies; 44 men who scored better than 700 on their math SATs; 34 who scored 700 or better on their verbal SATs; and 12 were either valedictorian or salutatorian of their high school class. The freshmen had an combined average GPA of 3.60.
President Ford acknowledged the accomplishments of the men when they were in high school, but quickly noted that none of that matters now.
"For perhaps the first time in your life, you're on your own," he said. "The slate is wiped clean. This is as close in life as you get to a second chance. Don't mess it up!"
President Ford also explained to parents and family members the College's singular code of conduct, the Gentleman's Rule: "The student will conduct himself, at all times, both on and off the campus, as a gentleman and responsible citizen." Then he said to the freshmen, "Sounds pretty good, doesn't it?
"But believe me when I say that when you're on your own, honesty and integrity are harder than ever before. That's when you put freedom and responsibility together."
Jon Pactor '71, representing the National Association of Wabash Men, explained to the freshmen the diversity of interests of the alumni, and how such a relatively small group of men have accomplished so much. He said, "We alumni know that if you put in the effort... you will be men of impact in what ever you choose to do in life."
Dean Klein noted that 31 freshmen attended Boy's State and 13 were Eagle Scouts. Other students he singled out, but did not name included, a NASA Aerospace Scholar; a radio game show host; several small business owners, including an eBay "Power Seller" of paint ball supplies and a web designer; a student who bicycled from Chicago to San Francisco; an Irish dance champion; an award-winning sports journalist; and two different students who climbed two different mountains with 14,000-foot peaks.
President Ford challenged the Class of 2009 to put their hearts and souls into their education at Wabash and to look out for one another. "Look to your left and look to your right, and make sure all three of you are there at graduation. We're in this together."
Before ringing in the class with the original school bell used by Wabash's first professor, Caleb Mills, Ford gave the freshmen four pieces of advice:
1) "Don't hold back; get involved now. Don't just take it in this first year;
2) "Plan on doing something you've never done before, ideally something that you are afraid to do;
3) "Ask questions... right up to the point of being a nuisance. Don't be a passive recipient of your education; you must engage while you are here; and
4) "Make a list that says, 'This is how I will know this has been a successful year'... We want your imagination to be the only limit placed on your education."
Before ringing the traditional Caleb Mills bell, Ford paused, then looked into the balconies where the Class of 2009 was seated, and said, "You can show a skeptical world that young men can live and work together with honesty and integrity."


text:
Before bidding to host the 2008 Olympic Trials for swimming, a city would have to have an Olympic-sized pool, right? And by Olympic-sized, I mean 50 meters long and many lanes wide, not those 25-yard pools that hotels and health clubs often refer to as "Olympic sized."
Wrong. Omaha, Nebraska, didn't have such a pool until May, when organizers began transforming the city's Qwest Center, a 17,000-seat arena that opened in September 2003, into an aquatics venue by assembling a temporary above-ground pool on the arena floor.
How cool is that?
Made by Myrtha Pools of Italy, the competition pool is 50 meters long, 25m wide, 3m deep, 10 lanes across, and buries nine rows of seats, reducing the arena's seating capacity from 17,000 to 14,000. The pool walls are stainless steel panels that sit atop a temporary concrete platform that's covered in sand. "It has that mushy feeling, not like a cement bottom," said Amanda Kettle, who's lifeguarding at trials and swam in the pool after it first opened.
A similar warm-up pool was built in the attached convention center.
Pool assembly began May 19-the day after a professional wrestling event was held at the arena-and construction was finished before June 5, when the Qwest Center hosted the Swimvitational, a test event before trials. Trials end July 6, and both pools must be disassembled before Tom Petty plays in concert at the arena on July 20.
The Omaha Fire Department filled both pools-each with just under a million gallons of water. After her dip in the pool, Kettle said the water was freezing-about "the same temperature as the North Sea in England," Trevor Tiffany, president of Myrtha Pools USA, told the Omaha World-Herald. By trials, the competition pool should be 80 degrees.
Although 2004 Olympic Trials were held in a Myrtha temporary pool-the company's first temporary pool-in Long Beach, Calif., it was constructed outdoors. The fact that organizers in Omaha could transform an indoor facility in a short amount of time, it's hard not to say, Wow.
"I didn't know you could do such a thing," James Meyers said. He's an American Red Cross official who is organizing the lifeguards for trials. "The whole goal was to make these pools look permanent."
Do they? I asked.
"They do," he said. "When you walk in (to the arena), they really look like they've always been there."
As long as they don't spring a leak ...
Peggy Shinn is a freelance contributor for teamusa.org. This blog was not subject to the approval of the United States Olympic Committee or any National Governing Bodies.


text:
The Shaw Country Hotel is situated at Shaw in the county of Wiltshire less than 9 miles from Bath, the best preserved Roman city in the country and 16 miles from Bristol, the capital of the Southwest. The hotel is privately owned and managed by Nick & Paul Lewis.
This typical country hotel, reputed to be built during the late 16th century, offers superb first class accommodation, with twelve well appointed bedrooms, all with en-suite facilities. All bedrooms have tea/coffee making facilities, colour television with radio , iron and ironing board, hair dryer and trouser press. Internet access is available in all rooms.
The spacious rooms are fully centrally heated and furnished to a very high standard with views overlooking open countryside. Our luxury suite is ideal for honeymoons, or that special weekend break.
Nick & Paul provide the finest English and European cuisine for the restaurant. Together with the rest of the hand picked staff they provide a warm and friendly atmosphere and unparalleled service for all.
Finally it's not just a coincidence that the wine cellar is stocked with fine wines from around the globe to please the palate and complement the English and European Cuisine. The à la Carte menu is changed to reflect the best available produce in the relevant season. There is also a 3 Course Residents' Menu alongside our Bar Menu.


text:
Wayne County Executive Ficano's office, County Commission battle could end up in court
Wayne County Commission wants more control of executive office after pay scandal
DETROIT – Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano's ongoing pay scandal is so embarrassing to the County Commission that commissioners such as Bernard Parker feel compelled to act.
Parker authored two of three ballot questions for the November ballot to try to clean up the mess.
"There is so much controversy, people want to voice their opinion some way to resolve this so it won't happen in the future," Parker said.
This past month, the Wayne County Commission voted to authorize Michigan's governor to remove the county executive for cause. Another ballot question would give the Commission the power to oversee county executive appointee pay.
More: Wayne County headlines
In a letter dated last week, Deputy County Executive Jeffrey Collins told the Commission, "This proposed charter amendment is patently in violation of the law, and therefore would not be enforceable should it be added to the Wayne County Charter ... There is no state law authorizing such a removal."
Read: Wayne County Commission's power to approve compensation
Read: Removal of the Wayne County Executive from Office by the Governor
On executive pay, Collins wrote, "We believe the proposed amendment violates the principle of separation of powers, and therefore would not be enforceable ... therefore ... the Commission cannot intrude on matters related to the compensation of executive branch personnel."
The implication is clear: A November win could end up in court.
"If the people of Wayne County vote overwhelmingly to support this, which I think they will, they want to see balanced government. If he went to court to challenge it he would be making a big mistake," said Parker.
The Commission's attorneys advise this is constitutional. Ficano's office put out a statement Friday:
"We want to make sure the Commission is aware of a number of issues that any taxpayer in the county could raise."
Read more: Rod Meloni: Cost of ballot proposals: Big lawyer fees!
Copyright 2012 by ClickOnDetroit.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


text:
Matthew Jonas
LONGMONT — A Longmont man accused of stealing a city truck after burglarizing a city facility Wednesday evening told a police officer after his arrest that he wanted to take the truck back, but couldn't recall where he got it, according to reports.
Lloyd Arthurs also told the officer that he has outrun cops in the past and felt he would have gotten away Wednesday had he returned the truck.
Police arrested Arthurs on suspicion of felony aggravated motor vehicle theft, second-degree burglary, first-degree criminal trespass, criminal mischief, vehicular eluding, misdemeanor reckless endangerment, and other misdemeanor and traffic violations.
According to police reports, officers were called to the Boulder County Fairgrounds because a city of Longmont parks truck, with a flat tire and front-end damage, was doing doughnuts in the parking lot. Police learned that the truck was taken from a parks building at 989 Eighth Ave., which had been burglarized, and began a search for the truck.
Two garage windows were broken out at the facility, a tempered-glass window in the office was broken, the office door handle was damaged, and there were pry and cutting marks on the handle. The truck keys were taken from the office, police reported, along with a cellphone.
Police believe Arthurs drove the truck through a padlocked fence around the facility. In total, police estimated that Arthurs caused more than $2,000 in damage during the break-in and escape from the facility.
Officers tracked the truck through the city, noting that it was spotted near 11th Avenue and Francis Street at one point. An officer near 16th Avenue and Hover Street reported trying to stop the truck at about 6:30 p.m. when it pulled up to 15th Avenue and Hover Street. The truck was stopped at a light at the intersection when an officer got out of his patrol vehicle to approach with his gun drawn and pointed toward the ground; the officer called out to the driver, who did not respond. The truck then turned north onto Hover Street and accelerated. Several officers followed, but lost sight of the truck.
Another officer located the truck on the 1700 block of Giffords Drive and arrested Arthurs, according to reports. Arthurs apparently drove the truck through several yards in the neighborhood, police reported.
Arthurs told officers that he did not stop because he does not have a driver's license. He said he was looking for the building where he got the truck so he could return it. He asked the officer where he got it "'cause I bet you I could have gotten away with it if I took the truck back,'" he said, according to reports.
Pierrette J. Shields can be reached at 303-684-5273 or at firstname.lastname@example.com.


text:
NASA has a thing for shooting things into space. Comes with the territory of being NASA. And the latest thing they're shooting into the great beyond is a satellite the size of a coffee mug. A satellite like that probably has an extremely high-tech power source, right? Wrong. It's powered by a smartphone.
The cube-like mini satellites are powered by Google's Nexus One smartphones.
It's a part of the PhoneSat Project, which aims to make extensive use of commercial-off-the-shelf components, such as the smart phone. They also plan to launch these tiny satellites fairly often, considering the ubiquity of power supply and relative low cost of each satellite. They cost $3,500.
U.S. & World
News from around the country and around the globe
"Out of the box, smartphones already offer a wealth of capabilities needed for satellite systems, including fast processors, versatile operating systems, multiple miniature sensors, high-resolution cameras, GPS receivers, and several radios," NASA said.
The smartphones will indeed act as the satellites on-board computer.
From Angry Birds to the final frontier. Wild.


text:
MSIP activities align to the National Science Education Standards as well as build essential 21st Century Workforce Development Skills. The MSIP resources included on this page provide educators and student teams with the necessary information needed to complete the project.
Choose the format you intend to use and download resources. MSIP staff can assist you if you have any questions.
Mars Student Imaging Project: Distance Learning Format
After working in their classes to submit a proposal, students connect through distance learning to the Mars Space Flight Facility located on the campus of Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona. Students receive the Mars image they chose to take and learn how to use image-processing tools to enhance their image for better scientific study, and prepare peer-tutoring presentations for students at their school who were unable to travel to the facility.
In the distance-learning format, students complete the project in five steps, which your MSIP Coordinator will cover in the initial orientation phases of the project.
Please contact an MSIP Coordinator if you have questions about these five steps.


text:
You�re listening to it on the way to the beach, or when your toes are resting in the sand. Or you�re in traffic on the way to work. Luckily, you�re jamming to funky summertime beats, you�re doing OK.
You�re listening to it on the way to the beach, or when your toes are resting in the sand. Or you�re in traffic on the way to work. Luckily, you�re jamming to funky summertime beats, you�re doing OK.
Or maybe it�s when you�re walking your dog or you�re on a road trip with friends or family. Songs of the summer not only get you through the day, they also get you through the months before winter�s cold kills your fun vibes.
We asked Robin Thicke and Icona Pop why their multiplatinum hits should be named �song of the summer.� And for Miley Cyrus, Daft Punk and Bruno Mars, who weren�t available to chat, we pulled lyrics from their anthems to defend their honor.
�Blurred Lines,� Robin Thicke, featuring T.I. and Pharrell
�It has a (nice) tempo, it has a sense of humor and it feels like live music instead of that synth and digital sound, which Daft Punk has (with �Get Lucky�) and (Bruno Mars�) �Treasure� has,� Thicke said of his infectious, naughty jam, the longest-running song on the Billboard Hot 100 chart this year at eight weeks (and counting). �It makes you laugh, it�s soulful and it�s got an organic sound to it.�
�We Can�t Stop,� Miley Cyrus
�It�s our party we can do what we want to, it�s our house we can love who we want to, it�s our song we can sing if we want to, it�s my mouth I can say what I want to,� Cyrus sings on her musical coming-out anthem that was originally meant for Rihanna .
She�s ready for the spotlight.
�Get Lucky,� Daft Punk, featuring Pharrell
�We�ve come too far to give up who we are, so let�s raise the bar and our cups to the stars,� Pharrell sings on a disco-flavored beat that heals the soul. �The present has no ribbon, your gift keeps on giving, what is this I�m feeling, if you wanna leave I�m with it.�
Sounds like a plan!
�I Love It,� Icona Pop, featuring Charli XCX
�People get wild when they hear it and it�s like liberating and everybody can sing along to it. It�s a party song or it�s at least a song you can party to even though the message is coming out from a really hard heartbreak,� said Caroline Hjelt of the Swedish duo. �If you�re in the car on your way to something or festivals or pre-parties or out at the club, it works in so many ways.�
�Treasure,� Bruno Mars
�Pretty girl, pretty girl, pretty girl, you should be smiling, a girl like you should never look so blue,� Mars sings in a matter-of-fact manner over a welcoming beat on his 11th top 10 hit. �You�re everything I see in my dreams, I wouldn�t say that to you if it wasn�t true.�
How sweet.


text:
Forecasters were talking Sunday about Hurricane Irene slamming into south Florida. By Monday morning, it was north Florida. Later in the day, it was Charleston, and then Myrtle Beach.
Tuesday morning, it was Wilmington, then Morehead City. Now it looks like the Outer Banks -- or maybe not at all.
The continued eastward adjustment of Irene's predicted path has frustrated those responsible for planning emergency preparedness, although I'm sure nobody in south Florida is complaining about not being hit by a big hurricane.
But why the continued adjustments?
For starters, forecasting the path of a hurricane is not an exact science. You already knew that. Fifty years ago, meteorologists were hard-pressed to forecast the path 48 hours in advance. Now, they almost always get it right within 72 hours. It's the predictions beyond 72 hours that cause the problems.
As you might know, the path depends on a lot of factors.
In Hurricane Irene's case, the storm is expected to move into a weak area between two strong high pressure systems -- the "Death Ridge" over Texas (so named because it has been absolutely immovable this summer and has been death to any cold front or storm system that approaches), and the Bermuda high in the Atlantic.
Frequently this summer, circulation around the eastern side of the Texas Death Ridge has sent cold fronts into the Southeast. That's why we've had a lot of rain this summer and a few episodes of below-average temperatures.
That "weakness" between the two highs is called a trough, or a dip in the atmospheric flow. Hurricanes usually follow a path into such a weakness, and what happened with Irene is that computer models had a difficult time several days ago predicting how far south that trough would expand.
Imagine the trough as a roller-coaster, with the low end of the ride along the East Coast. Small low pressure systems riding along that trough can help steer a hurricane up the right side of the trough's path -- northeast, away from the U.S. coast.
Actually, we've seen this happen frequently in recent years. The last year I can remember when hurricanes barreled directly into the East Coast was 2004, when Frances and Jeanne pummeled Florida's Atlantic coast.
Some meteorologists think that as long as the Texas Death Ridge is in place (and who knows when that will break down!), the East Coast will have some built-in insurance against tropical storms and hurricanes.
Bill Reed, director of the National Hurricane Center, said in a morning news conference Tuesday that it's been tough, predicting exactly when Hurricane Irene will get caught in the upper-level flow, forcing a turn to the north and eventually the northeast. He's still not certain about the path, saying it could move back to the west or to the east.
I'm betting the east, because of the old weather saying, "The trend is your friend." And in Irene's case, the trend has been eastward.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Why does the path keep moving east?
Forecasters were talking Sunday about Hurricane Irene slamming into south Florida. By Monday morning, it was north Florida. Later in the day, it was Charleston, and then Myrtle Beach.
Monday, August 22, 2011
Irene and the Carolinas ... Monday AM outlook
Hurricane Irene is leaving Puerto Rico and moving toward the north coast of the Dominican Republic on Monday morning, and while meteorologists now have a few more answers about the storm's future, there are still many questions.
As of now, the National Hurricane Center's official forecast for Irene calls for it to have nearly 120 mph winds when it makes landfall early Saturday morning between Savannah and Charleston.
Under that path, the remnants of Irene would have a major impact on the Charlotte area Saturday, with the threat of tornadoes and flooding rain, plus a chance of damaging winds.
But that is merely one of many, many possible scenarios.
First, here's what we DO know this morning that we didn't know Sunday night:
1. Irene is a hurricane, not a tropical storm. Its top sustained winds reached 75 mph overnight, while it crossed Puerto Rico. It's rather impressive that the storm strengthened despite crossing a land mass.
2. National Hurricane Center forecasters now think Irene will only graze the northern part of the Dominican Republic, rather than go over the center of the island of Hispaniola. This means the mountainous terrain of the island is not expected to affect the hurricane's circulation. And that means a stronger Irene down the road.
Then what?
Irene is predicted to move northwest, crossing the Bahamas as a hurricane. The computer models all agree with that.
By Thursday, however, the forecasts get uncertain. A trough is expected to move into the eastern United States. If the trough is deep enough (far enough south) and strong enough, it could curve Irene back out to sea. In other words, the hurricane's track would look like the tee shot of your golfing buddy with a bad slice -- off to the right.
And some computer models predict that.
WBTV meteorologist Al Conklin noted that this morning, saying that trends mean a lot in forecasting. And the trend in the predicted path of Irene for the past 24 hours has been eastward. With each adjustment from the National Hurricane Center, the storm's forecast track has been nudged a little farther east.
Conklin noted -- and he's right -- that when this happens, it tends to continue happening. If so, Irene could become an issue only for the Outer Banks. And should that happen, Charlotte and the rest of the Piedmont would get no impact from the storm.
But to be fair, it's also important to note that a few computer models actually show the storm moving farther west than the Hurricane Center's predicted path -- into south Florida and then up through Georgia and the western Carolinas.
Joe Bastardi, a former Accu-Weather meteorologist now with Weather Bell, is predicting landfall in the Carolinas, perhaps near Charleston or Myrtle Beach.
Larry Cosgrove, another private meteorologist with a big following, is pointing toward Myrtle Beach. And, he adds, "The hurricane will trigger almost biblical amounts of rain, with lots of wind, across parts of Appalachia and the entire eastern seaboard."
Dan Kottlowski of Accu-Weather says, "A look at track forecasts suggests a higher chance of Irene tracking along or just off the coast of eastern Florida and making landfall along the Carolina coast."
Something to note ... hurricanes almost never make landfall between Daytona Beach and Savannah. That's because of the curvature of the coast line.
More later.
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Sunday night Irene update
There are no major changes in thinking tonight about the future of Tropical Storm (and eventual hurricane) Irene.
The National Hurricane Center's five-day forecast calls for Irene to pass near or over Puerto Rico tonight, then cross the northern part of the island of Hispaniola, before taking aim at the Bahamas and eventually Florida.
The bottom line: Nearly every forecaster agrees that the Carolinas should pay close attention in coming days to Irene.
At 8 p.m., the center of Tropical Storm Irene was at 17.8 degrees north and 64.9 degrees west. That's about 10 miles northwest of St. Croix, in the U.S. Virgin Islands; and 90 miles east-southeast of San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Irene's top sustained winds were 60 mph, and the storm is expected to strengthen into a hurricane Monday before hitting the Dominican Republic, which occupies the eastern half of Hispaniola (Haiti is on the west).
Hurricane warnings are in effect for Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, with tropical storm warnings posted for the Virgin Islands, Haiti and a few islands east of Puerto Rico. Tropical storm warnings also are in effect for the Turks and Caicos islands and for the southern Bahamas, with a tropical storm watch posted for the central Bahamas.
The computer models on Sunday afternoon shifted the predicted path of the storm a bit east. Some of the models show it staying east of the Florida coast and then curving out to sea. One of the highest-regarded models, the European, shows a direct hit on the South Carolina coast (possibly as a strong hurricane).
The National Hurricane Center is sticking with its forecast of a Florida landfall Thursday, and then the storm is predicted to move northward through Florida, headed for Georgia and the Carolinas.
I'll repeat what I said this morning ... a lot depends on how much interaction Irene has with Hispaniola's mountains. If the storm passes directly over the island, it will be weakened considerably as it heads toward Florida or the Carolinas. If it stays north, then look out!
Another player in this situation is a trough (weakness in the atmosphere) predicted for the East Coast late in the week. If the trough deepens and pushes a cold front south of the Carolinas, it could force Irene out to sea. If the trough is not that deep, then the Carolinas are in play.
On Sunday evening, Irene is lashing the Virgin Islands.
I received this YouTube video a short time ago from some Concord residents who are in St. Croix in the Virgin Islands. It gives you an idea of conditions there earlier this evening. http://bit.ly/oaFWGi
Very heavy rain is moving into Puerto Rico at 8 p.m. Sunday, and that island is in for a rough night.
Throughout the day, I've been monitoring messages from amateur meteorologists in Puerto Rico. About an hour ago, one of the more reliable weather watchers messaged that the winds are picking up and electricity is flickering on and off.
This could be a nerve-wracking week on the Southeast Coast.
It's Model-Watching Time for Irene
Anyone with an interest in meteorology is watching models today -- computer models.
The future track and strength of what is now Tropical Storm Irene is of intense interest across the Southeast, as forecasters and weather geeks try to determine if Irene eventually will threaten the U.S. mainland -- and how much of a threat it will be.
For the most part, the models agree on the track.
They carry the storm near Puerto Rico, across the Dominican Republic, and then brushing (or missing) eastern Cuba, before heading toward the Bahamas and Florida. Most of the models predict Irene will move into southeast Florida or along the east coast of the Sunshine State.
And after that? Will the storm curve back out to sea, or will it keep moving northward, on a collision course with coastal South Carolina?
The short answer is that nobody knows.
A trough will be setting up across the eastern United States by late in the week, when Irene approaches. How deep (how far south) will the trough extend? And will it get here before Irene does? It's too early to tell.
And it's definitely too early to tell about Irene's strength.
If the storm brushes the Dominican Republic and misses Cuba, it could be a major hurricane when it approaches the United States. But a direct assault on the Dominican Republic's 6,000-foot mountains could seriously weaken Irene, which is expected to be a hurricane when it reaches the island of Hispaniola.
We do know this is the first threat of the year for the Caribbean and the United States, but it will be early or mid week before we have a better idea on Irene's strength and course.
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Tropical Storm Irene forms in Atlantic
Well, that didn't take long!
Less than an hour after writing that a tropical depression or storm could form this evening, the National Hurricane Center began issuing advisories on Tropical Storm Irene.
At 8 p.m. Saturday, its ill-defined center was at 14.9 degrees North and 58.5 degrees West. That puts it about 200 miles east of Guadeloupe and Dominica. The storm has top sustained winds of 50 mph.
Meteorologists say one key factor will play a huge role in whether Irene becomes a strong hurricane and whether it will directly impact the United States -- the track.
The National Hurricane Center's initial track carries the storm over the island of Hispaniola (Dominican Republic and Haiti), and that's usually death for a tropical system. The mountains on that island tend to disrupt the circulation in a tropical system.
What's left of Irene also would brush the north coast of Cuba, and the Hurricane Center's initial prediction shows a tropical storm -- not a hurricane -- approaching south Florida on Thursday afternoon.
What everyone will be watching over the next 24 hours is exactly where the storm's center forms, and which direction it goes.
If the center forms a bit north of where it is now, or if Irene tracks a bit farther north than expected, it would miss the big islands and have a clear aim at the Bahamas and the Southeast coast. The reverse is true -- a track farther south would carry the storm into the Gulf of Mexico.
One thing is for sure -- Irene is a big storm, and Puerto Rico will take a pounding Sunday, with flooding rains and gusty winds.
Beyond that, we shall see.
Here Comes Tropical Storm Irene
For several days, professional meteorologists and weather geeks have been watching an area of disturbed weather moving westward in the Atlantic Ocean.
The scary thing about this system is the way that most computer models have agreed on the future of the area of showers and storms -- which was given the designation a few days ago by the National Hurricane Center of "Invest 97L." That means it's an area of bad weather that the Hurricane Center has been watching.
The system is about to become designated a tropical depression, or even Tropical Storm Irene. But more about that later.
Why is this system important?
Most of the computer models have agreed that 97L (or Irene) will become a hurricane -- or major hurricane -- and make landfall next weekend somewhere in the eastern Gulf of Mexico or Southeast Coast. That means somewhere between New Orleans and the North Carolina coast. Florida has been the bulls eye for most computer model forecasts.
The National Hurricane Center sent a plane into the system late Saturday afternoon, and on its final pass, it appears as if meteorologists found a closed circulation.
The plane sent back, via radio, a Vortex Data Message (VDM), which means they found a closed storm system. And that means 97L will become designated a tropical depression or tropical storm this evening.
Once that happens, the National Hurricane Center will begin issuing forecasts on the storm's track.
It likely will have an impact on Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands within the next 48 hours. After that, we shall see.
I'll update the blog later Saturday night, should the National Hurricane Center declare 97L a depression or tropical storm.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Some forecasters see 'Hurricane Express' coming
By any definition, the early part of the 2011 hurricane season has been quiet for the mainland United States.
Granted, there have been seven named storms, which is a large number for mid-August, but only one has affected the United States. The others were "fish storms," carving out tracks across the open waters of the central and north Atlantic.
Some meteorologists think it's about to get more active.
Granted, some meteorologists always seem to think bad weather is about to get more active, whether it's hurricanes, snowstorms or whatever.
But there's a bit of science behind the prediction of increased tropical storm activity in coming weeks, and satellite images from Africa are also rather ominous.
Leading the band for those forecasting a busy late August and September in the tropics is Joe Bastardi, who is one of the nation's best-known (and most controversial) long-range meteorologists. Bastardi worked with Accu-Weather for years but moved earlier this year to a new company, Weather Bell.
In recent days, Bastardi and others have been talking about an upcoming development in which cyclone formation decreases in the southwest Pacific basin and increases in the southeast Pacific. Some meteorologists tour the "tele-connections" theory, in which weather developments upstream -- in this case, the Pacific -- can point to changes in our part of the world.
The idea is that increased southeast Pacific tropical weather means the same thing in the south Atlantic and Caribbean. It's related to the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO), for those of you who are really into this topic.
Bastardi is predicting seven named storms (five reaching hurricane strength) in the next 30 days, with three to five storms affecting the United States.
Of course, there are plenty of critics out there who are probably armed with a list of the times when a Bastardi forecast went bust.
I'll offer this satellite photo today, showing a line of storm systems moving across Africa, headed for the eastern Atlantic Ocean. Is this a sign of increased activity, and are these some of the future tropical storms and hurricanes of the next 30 days?
We shall see. Here's the link: http://bit.ly/rcYScf
Monday, August 15, 2011
Low 60s at night ... can we take this?
Nobody is suggesting we haul out the sweaters and coats, but meteorologists are predicting morning temperatures Tuesday and possibly Wednesday in the lower 60s across the Charlotte area.
And it will be in the mid 50s across the mountains.
Such is our weather for the foreseeable future, as the upper-air pattern across the United States spells an end to the torrid temperatures of June, July and early August. Will the upper 90s return this summer? Chances are they will, but not in the current forecast period of seven days.
Computer models indicate our weather during the next week, and perhaps longer, will be dominated by a trough over the Northeast or eastern Canada. That counter-clockwise flow in the atmosphere will bring air that is somewhat cooler but definitely drier.
Dew point temperatures will be in the 50s and low 60s for the next few days, and that means even the daytime forecast highs of 89 and 90 degrees Tuesday through Thursday won't seem bad at all -- especially with the cool morning weather. Today's high will be 86 degrees in Charlotte, with low humidity.
"Today will feel more like mid-September than a dog day of August," said Justin Lane, of the National Weather Service office in Greer, S.C.
While it seems too early to write off a return of really hot weather, I'll remind you that it was six months ago -- almost to the day -- when the atmospheric pattern changed, and our steady stream of cold weather came to an abrupt end. After mid-February, we never dealt with cold weather again last winter.
The new pattern over the Eastern United States will bring another cold front into the area this weekend, reinforcing our milder conditions into the early part of next week, at a minimum.
Watching the tropics: So far, the 2011 tropical season is resembling the last two years, in that named storms are being steered away from the United States. For that matter, this year's storms aren't impacting land masses in the Caribbean either.
The sixth named storm of the year, Franklin, formed and dissipated over the weekend in the central Atlantic. Now we've got No. 7, Gert, and it's passing southeast of Bermuda.
The National Hurricane Center is watching another area of disturbed weather in the eastern Atlantic, and it's in an area that could pose a threat to the Caribbean. But it is merely a disorganized area of showers and thunderstorms -- hardly a threat to anyone, for now.
Friday, August 12, 2011
A cool-down, of sorts ... but for how long?
A couple readers have noted in the last week that we seem headed for another run at Charlotte's all-time record for 90-degree days. That's 88, set in 1954. We had 87 last year.
We've had 60 so far this year, which means we'll need a hot September to threaten the mark again.
I mention this because we're apparently headed for a break from the 90-degree weather for several days.
The jet stream in the eastern United States will take a dip, with a trough establishing itself along the East Coast. That will bring a cold front -- a bit stronger than usual -- into and through the Carolinas this weekend. And it will bring temperatures that actually will be a bit below average for a few days early next week.
We're talking about high temperatures in the middle 80s for a few days, before a return to average (about 88 degrees) by the end of next week. But there is no sign of 90-degree weather for the next week, except perhaps for today.
(By the way ... that cold front arrival late Saturday and Sunday will be accompanied by some strong thunderstorms, and the earlier storms could have an impact on the Panthers' preseason game against the New York Giants on Saturday night.)
I heard a meteorologist the other day surmise that the cooler weather next week might mark an end to the summer heat. Such a back-breaking event is not unheard of. If you remember, our nasty streak of cold weather last winter ended suddenly on Valentine's Day, and it never really got chilly again during the winter.
But I wouldn't bet on it.
The 6-10 day outlook from NOAA's Climate Prediction Center calls for below-average temperatures in the Charlotte region, and that's mostly because of the cool-down early next week. The outlook for 8-14 days calls for average temperatures (but below average in eastern North Carolina). That indicates a return to hotter weather around the 25th of the month (which, incidentally, happens to be the start of the school year for most N.C. public school students).
Accu-Weather, the Pennsylvania-based private weather company, is predicting highs in the upper 90s in two weeks.
Next week's cooler weather will put a dent in Charlotte's chances of breaking the record of 90-degree days, but it probably doesn't mark an end to the torrid heat of Summer 2011.
Tropic Outlook: In case you haven't noticed, it's getting busy in the Atlantic. A pair of Cape Verde systems are getting most attention from the National Hurricane Center. Check out the activity on the National Hurricane Center's website -- www.nhc.noaa.gov. That circle farthest to the right (farthest east) would seem to have the best chance of impacting the United States down the road.
Monday, August 8, 2011
90 degrees vs. 98 ... a big difference
A weak cold front is forecast to cross the Charlotte area at midweek, and it'll drop our daily high temperatures into the range of 90 to 92 degrees.
Some of you might be saying that's not a big deal, but I think it is.
There's a big difference between 90 degrees and 98 degrees.
I've heard a lot of complaints about the heat this summer, and it didn't make a lot of sense at first, because we've only had two days of 100 degrees or higher, and that's certainly no record.
The number of 90-degree days is a bit above average, but we don't seem to be headed toward the record of 88, set in 1954.
But I might have found the answer when I went looking at the exact nature of the 90-degree days we've had so far this year. We've had a lot of days when it was 95 or hotter -- more than any year in the last decade, except last year.
An air conditioning mechanic told me last year that heating and air conditioning systems are built to work efficiently to certain temperature limits. He said it's the same story with the way houses are insulated. I forget what he told me about the heating systems, but I remember him saying that when temperatures got above the mid 90s, a lot of systems simply can't cool a house very well.
So here's the total for the past decade (through Aug. 7 each year):
2011: 20 days
2010: 24
2009: 2
2008: 14
2007: 5 (although there were 16 days of 95 or hotter after Aug. 7 that year, including six 100-degree days; August was nightmarish).
2006: 15
2005: 4
2004: 0
2003: 0
2002: 9
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Adios, Emily ... probably
Tropical Storm Emily met its demise Thursday afternoon south of Haiti, its closed circulation torn apart and its thunderstorms scattered over a wide area.
The National Hurricane Center downgraded Emily to a tropical wave.
One of the computer models, the European, correctly predicted Emily would not survive its trip past the island of Hispaniola. National Hurricane Center meteorologist Lixion Avila noted that in his 5 p.m. tropical weather discussion.
From the start, Emily was difficult to predict. Most of the computer models forecast the storm to strengthen, once it cleared Hispaniola, and possibly reach hurricane status off the U.S. coast late this weekend. That doesn't seem likely now.
What does this mean for the Carolinas coast?
Smooth sailing, probably.
Stacy Stewart of the National Hurricane Center said Thursday evening that there is a 60 percent chance of Emily regenerating within 48 hours. That likely would happen Saturday, when the storm's remnants move over the very warm water near the Bahamas.
By that point, though, Emily's remnants -- or an Emily II -- is expected to be caught in the westerly atmospheric flow, which would steer the system quickly out to sea.
Bottom line: Chances are good you'll have a quiet weekend and start of the next week at the beach. Just keep an eye on the forecast, to make sure this unpredictable storm doesn't surprise us again.
And it'll be interesting to see how the European computer model fares when the next tropical system looms.
Will Emily threaten the Carolinas coast?
Sometimes weak tropical weather systems can be nightmarish to predict, and such is the case with Tropical Storm Emily.
But since some of you are headed to the beach this weekend or next week, here's the latest thinking on how Emily might impact the Carolinas coast.
First of all, at the time of this writing (1:15 p.m. Eastern), it looks as if Emily is dying. The closed circulation has opened, and it appears as if the mountains of Haiti and the Dominican Republic are bashing the storm. In a few hours, it's possible Emily could be history.
If that's so, ignore the rest of this.
But if it should survive, what happens?
The majority of the computer models continue to insist that Emily will make a northeast turn away from the U.S. mainland, once it moved north of about Daytona Beach, Fla. A trough in the western Atlantic is predicted to bring Emily's path from west-northwest to north-northwest, and then the system is expected to get caught in the westerlies.
The National Hurricane Center's predicted track for the storm carries it about 200 miles east of the Carolinas coast, which means beachgoers probably won't have to worry about rainy weather.
However, they will have to contend with rough surf and rip currents, from about Sunday until Tuesday.
Let's see what happens over the next few hours.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
The mess that is Emily
National Hurricane Center meteorologists are earning their pay, trying to make sense of Tropical Storm Emily.
Let's review what's happened so far:
-- The tropical wave failed to develop into a tropical storm when predicted. Low-level and mid-level circulation centers wouldn't line up properly, so the system kept spinning blobs of thunderstorms in a elliptical path.
-- Finally, on Monday evening, the National Hurricane Center's jet found enough of a center to give the system a name (Emily).
-- Late Tuesday morning, Emily came to a standstill. Some meteorologists think it might be reforming its center, south of where it previously was.
Sometime later Wednesday, Tropical Storm Emily will cross Hispaniola, and it certainly seems as if the system will have a very tough time surviving that trip across the rugged mountainous terrain. By Thursday, we might be looking at a mere tropical wave again, bringing showers and thunderstorms later this week to Cuba or the southern Bahamas.
This is only the first real formed-in-the-Atlantic tropical system of the season, and odds are there will be several more to go.
Emily looks like one of those storms that gives hurricane forecasting a bad name.
More later today.
Texas heat: I noticed that today will be the 32nd consecutive 100-degree day in Dallas. The forecast high today is 108. That's simply not right. And remember -- that's a place where snow fell last winter during Super Bowl week.
This is the second-longest streak of 100-degree days in Dallas history, and it's another sign of how truly hot the summer of 2011 has been for Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, western Tennessee and other parts of the Midwest and South.
Monday, August 1, 2011
Emily forms ... now what?
The mass of showers and thunderstorms that had defied forecasters' predictions for a day or two finally organized into a tropical storm Monday evening, and hence, we have Tropical Storm Emily affecting the eastern-most Caribbean islands.
Emily has top sustained winds of 40 mph, and the National Hurricane Center expects intensification over the next day or so, until the storm makes a predicted encounter with the island of Hispaniola (Dominican Republic and Haiti).
If it survives moving across that mountainous island, Emily could be a threat to the Southeast coast of the United States.
Some of the computer models are predicting the storm will make a run at Florida's Atlantic coast, but another school of thought has Emily being grabbed by a trough over the eastern United States and curved up the coast.
It's possible Emily could repeat the path of Earl last year -- a storm that stayed a few miles off the coast of the Outer Banks.
Then again, it's also possible Emily could be destroyed over Hispaniola.
Here's the point ... for the first time this year, we have something to watch in the Atlantic and Caribbean.
Some of you have asked for Internet sites to get more information. If the storm seriously threatens the U.S., I'll list some of those. For now, I suggest the Storm 2K website (www.storm2k.org). Click on "Forums" and then "Talkin' Tropics." You'll find a mix of comments, computer models, and even live reports from islands in the Caribbean.
Of course, there's the National Hurricane Center site, at www.nhc.noaa.gov.
More to come on Tuesday.


text:
The Defense Department confirms Maj. Nidal Hasan, the Fort Hood massacre suspect, is still drawing his pay while those injured have been denied combat pay.
Hasan, a military psychiatrist suspected of going on a shooting rampage at the Texas base that left 13 dead and 32 injured in 2009, has been paid $278,000 since the shooting, KXAS-TV, Dallas/Fort Worth, reported Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the Army has not granted combat pay or benefits to those wounded in the attack. The victims are not being given what amounts to thousands of dollars each year that colleagues wounded on a battlefield receive.
Because the incident was classified "workplace violence" rather than injuries sustained while in combat, those injured are not eligible for Purple Heart retirement or several other benefits afforded soldiers wounded on the battlefield.
That has several of the victims angry.
"You take three rounds and lose five good friends and watch seven other people get killed in front of you. Do you have another term that we can classify that as?" asked retired Army Spc. Logan Burnett, who was shot three times during the incident. "[The classification] sickens me. Absolutely sickens me. Workplace violence? I don't even know if I have the words to say."
Army rules stipulate a soldier suspected of committing a crime must receive his pay until he is proved guilty.


text:
Gnosticism (nŏs´tĬsĬzəm), dualistic religious and philosophical movement of the late Hellenistic and early Christian eras. The term designates a wide assortment of sects, numerous by the 2d cent. AD; they all promised salvation through an occult knowledge that they claimed was revealed to them alone. Scholars trace these salvation religions back to such diverse sources as Jewish mysticism, Hellenistic mystery cults, Iranian religious dualism (see Zoroastrianism), and Babylonian and Egyptian mythology. The definition of gnosis [knowledge] as concern with the Eternal was already present in earlier Greek philosophy, although its connection with the later Gnostic movement is distant at best. Christian ideas were quickly incorporated into these syncretistic systems, and by the 2d cent. the largest of them, organized by Valentinus and Basilides, were a significant rival to Christianity. Much of early Christian doctrine was formulated in reaction to this movement.
Until the discovery at Nag Hammadi in Egypt of key Manichaean (1930) and Coptic Gnostic (c.1945) papyri, knowledge of Gnosticism depended on Christian sources, notably St. Irenaeus, St. Hippolytus, Tertullian, and Clement of Alexandria. Among principal Gnostic writings are the Valentinian documents Pistis-Sophia and the Gospel of Truth (perhaps by Valentinus himself). Important too is the literature of the Mandaeans in modern Iraq, who are the only Gnostic sect extant. Gnostic elements are found in the Acts of Thomas, the Odes of Solomon, and other wisdom literature of the pseudepigrapha.
Some Gnostics taught that the world is ruled by evil archons, among them the deity of the Old Testament, who hold captive the spirit of humanity. The heavenly pleroma was the center of the divine life, and Jesus was interpreted as an intermediary eternal being, or aeon, sent from the pleroma to restore the lost knowledge of humanity's divine origin. Gnostics held secret formulas, which they believed would free them at death from the evil archons and restore them to their heavenly abode. See Valentinus for typical Gnostic teaching on the pleroma.
Gnosticism held that human beings consist of flesh, soul, and spirit (the divine spark), and that humanity is divided into classes representing each of these elements. The purely corporeal (hylic) lacked spirit and could never be saved; the Gnostics proper (pneumatic) bore knowingly the divine spark and their salvation was certain; and those, like the Christians, who stood in between (psychic), might attain a lesser salvation through faith. Such a doctrine may have inspired extreme asceticism (as in the Valentinian school) or extreme licentiousness (as in the sect of Caprocrates and the Ophites). The influence of Gnosticism on the later development of the Jewish kabbalah and heterodox Islamic sects such as the Ismailis is much debated.
See H. Jonas, Gnostic Religion (rev. ed. 1964); R. Haardt, Gnosis: Character and Testimony (1971); E. H. Pagels, The Gnostic Gospels (1979); M. W. Meyer, The Secret Teachings of Jesus (1984); B. Layton, The Gnostic Scriptures (1987); J. M. Robinson and R. Smith, The Nag Hammadi Library (1988); H.-J. Klimkeit, tr., Gnosis on the Silk Road: Gnostic Texts from Central Asia (1993).


text: by jurvetson This is a wonderful poetry book created by Harry Smith. He is an articulate poet, and is dynamic in every means, form, or shape. Harry has really opened his heart in this text and has delivered some stunning words regarding his outlook on lifetime. He articulates his belief in […] Wonderful Poetry17 Sep, 2014 in Poetry tagged Air (visual novel) / animation / Archibald MacLeish / Ars Poetica / Articulated / Book / Couplet / curiosity / Drinking song / Edgar Allan Poe / emotions / European Goldfinch / God / Haiku / Melissa Block / Mother's Day / NPR / Poetic / Poetry / Senryū / Verses / Wonderful by Manuel Marino


text:
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