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There's a tricky balance that I'm trying to achieve in this week's blog. On the one hand, I want to let folks know about our schedule and give some links to the courses (pun intended) that we'll be playing in Ireland and Scotland. On the other hand, I want to do this in a sensitive manner so that it doesn't look like I'm gloating. Much.
The four of us – Glenny, Robin, the Chief and I – leave tomorrow for our much anticipated pilgrimage to the home of golf. In our usual dysfunctional fashion we are leaving from the same airport (Vancouver) but at different times, landing in the same city (London) but at different airports (Heathrow and Gatwick) and then flying to Ireland with different airlines. Potential for a cock up of monumental proportions? Pretty high, I would say. It has to do with a) Glenny's obsession with air miles and b) my need to be back by June 2nd to caddy for B B at the Times Colonist Open in Victoria. The others, fairly sensibly, are extending their stays to do a bit of tourism – the Chief getting extra points for involving his wife in his visit. The rest of us will have to hope that expensive gifts for our spouses will do the trick, although Bandito Juan is on record as saying that the likelihood of this ploy working is about the same as our chances of breaking 80 on any of the courses we'll be playing – slim to none.
Volcanic ash permitting, we land at Shannon airport (Ireland, for the geographically challenged) on Friday afternoon and tee off at Lahinch the following morning. On Sunday we play the Greg Norman designed Doonbeg before travelling to Ballybunion to play 36 holes at the Ballybunion Old Course and Cashen. (We'll be staying at the gorgeous sounding Teach de Broc hotel. Don't ask me how to pronounce it – Gaelic isn't one of my languages). By this stage we should have discovered whether the Chief being teetotal has given him an unfair advantage. If it has, clearly the committee (Robin, Glen and I) will have to make the appropriate handicap adjustments for the remainder of the trip.
On Tuesday we leave the west coast of Ireland to fly to Edinburgh. Unfortunately, the trip organiser (that would be me) failed to realise that there are no direct flights from Shannon to Edinburgh on that date, so that instead of nipping across the Irish Channel we'll be flying south to London in the morning and then catching a flight up to Scotland in the afternoon. Guess who'll be paying for supper that night?
We'll be staying at the Greyfriars Hotel in St Andrews, and over the next five days we'll be playing Kingsbarns (twice), Carnoustie, the New Course (built in 1895) and finally, of course, the Mecca of golf, the Old Course itself. As I plan to make haggis and whisky my staple diet for those five days, this second part of the trip could be considered more a feat of endurance rather than an opportunity to show of my golfing skills to caddies who may or may not be impressed by my attempts to clear the Swilken Burn with my nine wood.
So to sum it all up: the trip's been a long time in the planning, and we're hoping to behave fairly respectably, score reasonably well and not bring shame on the name of Glacier Greens Golf Club (oh god, I'm feeling the pressure already). One of us will return to the Valley as the newly crowned King of the Celtic Challenge, but I hope all of us will be able to resist the temptation of giving you a blow by blow account of the nearly 1,000 shots each we're likely to make over the course of the nine rounds. Unless you ask, that is, in which case you have been warned…
All da best.
Dave B.
P.S. My good friend Peter came round last night to share some good news about his battle with the Big C. He was bearing a ten pound note on which he'd written in felt tip "Four beers, please" and said it was to go towards our expenses. When I pointed out that it might not be quite enough to pay for a round he made it clear that Robin, Glen and the Chief took priority and I would have to go without. So when it happens, as it inevitably will, that I drive a ball into one of the scariest sand traps on that side of the Atlantic, I do solemnly swear that as I try to extricate myself from the bunker I will shout out " This is for you, Dobbs!"
P.P.S. Many thanks to Ben Davies for his patience in showing me how to attach links. He's created a monster! I can link anything now! With any luck, he'll be able to show me how to attach photos when I get back. A picture may be worth a thousand words, but this week's blog is only 812 words long…


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Miguel Maestre
The Crazy Bull
Having worked for many years in various kitchens around the world, Miguel Maestre is one talented Spaniard who has made Sydney his home. Born in Murcia in the south of Spain, his love for food was pre-determined from a young age. Miguel's passion for food and life is infectious, and he has developed a talent for incorporating Spanish ingredients and cooking styles into his Australian menus.
Miguel at 27 was head chef of "Number One" the Godfather of Australian Cuisine Tony Bilson's Bistro, working alongside Australia's leading French Chef Manu Feildel. After meeting Ferran Adria at the number one restaurant in the world "El Bulli", he opened the biggest Spanish restaurant in Australia "El Toro Loco" in an outstanding waterfront location at Manly Beach. At the age 29 he was the chef at the most prestigious event in Australia 'Emirates Melbourne Cup' building a strong reputation in the cooking scene.
Miguel has been awarded by His Majesty The King of Spain the highest award a citizen can receive " The Order of Civil Merits " for his extraordinary service to the nation for the benefit of Spain in the Australian media.
He is the owner of Maestre Family Food selling an exciting range of Spanish products including 4 different types of spanish cheeses, Jamon, Paella, Sangria, Spanish Rice and Potato Chips. These are currently sold in Woolworths and Independents throughout Australia.
Follow Miguel on Social!

subset: commoncrawl


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Key Features
- 4K Ultra HD (3840x2160) recording (150 Mbps, 24/30p) to SDXC (UHS-I U3) cards
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- 2-channel XLR audio inputs with phantom power
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- 0.24-inch color viewfinder (1.56M pixel)
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- Includes handle unit, SSL-JVC50 7.4V battery, and AC adapter
The JVC GY-HM200U 4KCAM Compact Handheld Streaming Camcorder provides 4K Ultra HD recording and professional features in a versatile, handheld form factor. It features a 1/2.33" backside-illuminated sensor that supports Ultra HD (3840x2160) resolution video at 24/30p, and 8-bit 4:2:2 Full HD 1080p video from 24p to 60p. The camcorder is equipped with a 12x zoom lens that provides a 35mm equivalent focal range of 29.5 to 354mm, with a 24x dynamic zoom mode available when recording HD video. Designed to fit into professional workflows, the camcorder comes complete with dual XLR audio inputs, 3G-SDI and HDMI outputs, and JVC's dual codec Advanced Streaming Technology.
When equipped with an optional Wi-Fi or 4G LTE modem, the GY-HM200U becomes a streaming camcorder that allows you to deliver a live video feed in the field directly from the camcorder. Through its dual codec support, the camcorder can stream live HD video to hardware decoders, Ustream, Wowza streaming engines, and ProHD Broadcaster servers powered by Zixi, while simultaneously recording video internally to SDHC/SDXC media cards. A variety of streaming protocols, including RTMP, allows delivery to popular streaming websites and content delivery networks (CDN). Zixi's Advanced Streaming Technology (AST) provides content-aware error correction and bandwidth shaping, while JVC's Streamconfidence delivers real-time feedback of LTE and streaming status in the viewfinder.
For composing and monitoring video, the camcorder features a 3.5" LCD and a 0.24" viewfinder, both with a smart focus assist function. Additional features found on the camcorder include built-in ND filters, built-in stereo microphone, wired remote control support, and nine assignable function buttons. A top handle unit, which includes the XLR audio box, comes included, along with a 7.4 VDC 4900mAh battery and AC adapter.
Note: External microphone not included.
- 4K Ultra HD Recording at 150Mbps
- The camcorder records up to 4K Ultra HD (3840x2160) video at 24/30p to UHS-I Speed Class 3 (U3) memory cards at 150Mbps. Recordings are made using the Quicktime (.MOv) file format and are compatible with many popular editing systems.
Live 4K HDMI Ouput
- Connect a 4K Ultra HD monitor with a single HDMI cable and view the camera's live 4K signal. You can also playback recorded files directly from the camera. Additionally, the camcorder downconverts UHD signals to standard HD for output through the built-in SDI or HDMI connectors.
4:2:2 Full HD Recording at 50Mbps
- The camcorder records broadcast-quality 4:2:2 Full HD 1080p signals up to 60p at 50Mbps, making it an ideal camera for general HD production work. 50Mbps files are stored in the Quicktime (.MOV) format for easy editing. Conventional AVCHD (4:2:0) recording is also possible, providing wide editing compatibility in an array of standard HD and SD formats.
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- Lower resolution H.264 files (480x270p and 960x540p) may be recorded simultaneously with Full HD files. These files are significantly smaller than HD files, making them more suitable for immediate posting to the web. A file recorded in the 960x540 mode is approximately 1/10th the size of a Full HD file recorded at 35Mbps, and therefore takes a fraction of the time to post. The smaller files may be quickly imported to an iPad for easy editing using iMovie or Pinnacle Studio.
Advanced Streaming Technology
- When equipped with an optional Wi-Fi or 4G LTE high-speed broadband modem, the camcorder can deliver a live video stream directly to USTREAM and YouTube, while simultaneously recording HD video internally to SDHC/SDXC memory cards. Transmission at selected resolutions and bitrates is possible independent of the recording mode. The GY-HM200 offers a range of streaming options from basic point-to-point to cloud streaming with advanced error correction.


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The new Nokia 3310, which was revealed in last year's Mobile World Congress, initially intended to capitalize on eager customers with nostalgia as its selling point. But apparently, the magic of the throwback device wasn't just a one hit wonder as improved versions of the popular feature phone were slowly rolled out into the market.
According to the folks at The Verge, the 3310 will soon have another version that's capable of handling LTE connectivity. Currently, the 3310 only has a 3G and 2G version, both of which were unveiled and launched last year.
There's one downside though. Naturally, better internet connection usually means lower battery life, which is unfortunately the case for this version. From 14 hours, battery life is estimated to go down to just five hours with LTE usage.
The 3310 4G is expected to be launched during MWC 2018 later this month. So far, it will only be released in the Chinese market. There's also no price yet but it's probably safe to say that it will cost more than previous models launched at $59 (or roughly P3,000).


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- Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford did not have a good day, going 25 of 42 for 222 yards and two interceptions with no touchdowns. He had a largely ineffective Calvin Johnson going which shows, yet again, how Stafford performs without him. It's an interesting case for 2014.
- Lions running back Joique Bell took over the running back role in Detroit with 91 yards rushing on 20 carries and a touchdown along with ten catches for 63 yards. If Stafford fails to get anything going downfield, Bell is looking like his safety valve.
- Giants linebacker Jon Beason continues to play well with his new team, racking up 11 more tackles. He's had 84 tackles in 10 games in New York. His cap number in 2014 shoots up so don't expect Beason back.


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Our family loves this quick and easy stroganoff! We are definitely going to be packing this down in a vacuum sealer to take on our camping trips next year.
1/4 cup Thrive Sour Cream powder
1/3 cup Thrive Espagnole (Savory Beef Gravy)
1/4 cup Thrive chopped onions (FD)
1 cup Thrive Large Beef Dices (FD)
1 1/4 TBSP Thrive Salad Seasoning Blend
1 tsp of Thrive Chef's Choice Seasoning Blend
1 tsp Garlic powder
2 cups egg noodle pasta
To assemble the jar meal:
Layer ingredients into a quart size jar, seal tightly and store in a dark, dry place (like a pantry). I usually cook my mixes within a few weeks of assembling them but if you would like to store them for more than a few months you can store them in a vacuum sealed container or add an oxygen absorber.
To cook:
Bring 4 1/2 cups of water to a boil. Pour contents of jar into the water and reduce heat to a simmer. Cook for 12-15 minutes (or when noodles are done). Cover and set for 8-10 minutes.


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Filed under: Things I've never done that I've always wanted to learn how to do.
Also filed under: Things I love about REI #537.
Rappelling. It's a thing you do if you climb out in the world a lot (which I don't). It's a thing they raffle off for fundraisers. It's a thing that looks kind of fun. It's a thing I've never done. Until Sunday.
Because REI is super rad, learning how to rappel was as easy as signing up on a website and showing up.
Easy, but not simple. There were a lot of steps, mostly centered around teaching us how to not die rappelling carelessly.
How to not die rappelling carelessly, artificial top rope environment edition:
1. Climb up. Tension.
2. Set two anchors. Test them out.
3. Come off belay.
4. Set up the rappel rope. I finally used both holes in my ATC!
5. Make sure the rappel setup works.
6. Set up third hand.
7. Make sure the third hand works. Will it stop you?
8. Unset anchors. Your third hand's got you!
9. Rappel down.
10. Profit!
It's hard to explain what the rappel should look like, and what the third hand looks like. That's what internet guides are for. Mostly, I'm documenting what we learned.
How do we set up all those anchors, not lose the rope, and tie a third hand? With knots! And maybe some hitches. And maybe learn about the difference between knots (which can exist on their own) and hitches (which require something else to exist) along the way. I won't talk about them all here, but…
A knot I've never tied before but find super cute: The barrel knot. Great for keeping your rope from flying off at the end! Oh, and did I mention super cute? It's super cute!
We learned a couple third hand hitches: The autoblock and the prusik. The idea is to make a hitch that allows the rope to slide if you position it so it's loose, but cinch tight if you let go to stop you from falling. I'd never thought about using ropes in this manner and am all of a sudden finding knots and hitches super interesting. Also, I find the prusik very symmetrically pleasing.
I wish the word symmetric were a palindrome of symmetrical letters.
We also used a bunch of slings, and clipped all sorts of stuff to our harnesses. I say stuff and not gear here because even though it's gear, it's only a small and gentle subset of what you'd use for outdoor lead climbing. Still, it was nice to finally use a few of those loops on my harness.
Now I know how rappelling works! And I can say I've done my own non-careless setup and lowered myself without dying. :)


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TGIF: The Friday the 13th edition
The Roughriders managed to escape Friday the 13th without any incidents.
It was actually business as usual as the Riders completed the bye week under a clear blue sky. It was chilly but rather comfortable.
John Chick and Marcus Adams both returned after missing a couple of practices with the flu. Chick spent Thursday in bed but had recovered enough to answer questions about being named the West Division's most outstanding defensive player. I'll have his thoughts about the award online later and in Saturday's Leader-Post.
As expected, it was rather relaxed at practice. The special teams loosened up by practising the old kick the ball back and forth out of the end zone for a while. It looked kind of chaotic but fun.
Rey Williams and Marcus Adams swapped jerseys but there isn't any disguising Chunky. Williams was swimming in Adams' jersey and Chunky appeared to stretch Rey's jersey to the limit.
There really wasn't a lot more. They finished around 12:45 p.m., fulfilled their media responsibilities then headed for the locker room. The players have the weekend off but Kavis Reed and Marcus Crandell will be in Calgary scouting the West Division semifinal. It's the first time in 33 years that the Riders have had that opportunity. There will be more on that story online later and in tomorrow's paper.
There are approximately 100 tickets left for the West Division final. They are mostly singles but I was told there are still some pretty good seats remaining.


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Summer Infant Ear Thermometer Kit , White/Teal
Take babys temperature with a fast and accurate, one second reading using the Summer Infant Ear Thermometer Kit. A glow feature on the screen indicates whether or not your child has a fever. Ear tips come in two different sizes for use with infants and toddlers. Also included is an oral thermometer as a convenient bonus. Pediatric tip for infants plus a toddler tip for extended use. Glow feature on screen to indicate fever or no fever, great for night time use. Memory feature holds up to 12 past readings. The thermometer reads in both Celsius or Fahrenheit options. Oral thermometer included for an added reading. Dimensions: 6.5H x 1.5W.
List Price:


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Correcting apologists who "corrected" Sam Harris/
I was sent a link to a YouTube video in which two Muslim apologists argue against Sam Harris, of course without making any logical, empirical arguments, while using regurgitated bullshit and misrepresenting Harris's views. Take ten minutes to watch the video, by London Dawah Movement (2014), and then we'll delve into the ignorance of what these two men say. Also, I use the recent interview between Harris and Cenk Uygur to represent Harris's views (2014).
Irrational belief through a lens
They start by calling Sam Harris a god of atheism, more or less. I'd like to point out here the distinction between being an informed academic who can argue for his views and being a totalitarian authority figure who cannot be questioned, like the gods of the Bible and the Quran. Even Sam Harris's own followers, by which I mean people who read his work, not people who worship him, don't necessarily agree with everything he says. This is okay; he is not the ultimate authority, and he can admit if he is wrong.
They then say one of the things they wish to refute is Sam Harris's argument that religious belief is irrational, and more specifically that belief in miracles is irrational. Here's where the irony literally made me laugh out loud. They argue that it is rational to believe in miracles, because the complex universe has laws and was created by their specific god, who has the power to do as he pleases (except end misery, of course). They basically argue that belief is rational because the belief is true because the belief says so; they presuppose that their god exists without laying out an argument for it. That is not rational.
Thereafter, they misrepresent Harris's views by saying he generalizes and puts all religions in the same basket. This is untrue. He criticizes all religions, but from a base of logic, he makes the argument that it is illogical to assume all religions are equally good or equally bad. What Harris says is that there are ideologies that are more prone to violence, just like there are ideologies less prone to violence.
Harris also does not generalize about Muslims. He readily acknowledges that there are good Muslims, but based on the Quran, he can say the doctrine of Islam is barbaric. He says Christianity is barbaric, as well, mentioning that the Old Testament is even worse than the Quran, but contradictions in the Bible and the peace-loving Jesus make it easier for Christians to cherry pick the good parts, whereas the Quran is a straightforward story of conquest and spreading the faith.
I'd like to argue that it is illogical to always say the worst variants of religions don't represent the true faith. I don't have the same knowledge as Harris, who could probably make this argument better, but the more literal interpretations of religions like Islam and Christianity represent the core material better, i.e. things like the subjugation of women and discrimination of homosexuals, both of which can be found in the holy texts.
The apologists then go on to criticize the notion that the universe and life are the product of chance, without a creator. They seem to dislike the idea that we are an "accident" and even say that, while Harris views religion as irrational, it is actually irrational to believe in scientific theories that contradict a creator and intelligent designer, like the Big Bang and evolution. They say it is irrational to believe the universe didn't have a creator.
The problem with what they're saying, and why they are, indeed, irrational, is that they presuppose that life can't come from non-life and presuppose that the ability to think can't exist without a greater mind that made it so. The irony here, and there always seems to be irony involved in apologists' arguments, is that they think it is irrational for our intelligence to exist on its own, and so they argue there must exist an even greater intelligence that does exist on its own. This goes against all logic. If our universe can't exist without a designer, who must be even more complex than the universe, then why can the designer exist? He warrants an even more complex designer.
They also commit the standard sin of an apologist: comparing evolution to something complicated just coming together by chance, in this example the glasses one of them wore. There have been worse phrasings of this argument, like an explosion tossing debris into the air and the debris falling down and randomly constructing a house. Or, as I saw in the comments section of the video, someone compared monkeys becoming humans to a transformer becoming a car. It's just absurd.
Evolution is first of all a gradual process; it's not about an instantaneous change, like in Pokémon. It is second of all not random. Genetic mutations are random mistakes, yes, but the selection of which genes are passed on and survive is not random at all; they are, indeed, naturally selected based on environmental pressures and mating rituals. Evolution perfectly explains the complexity of life, without the need for a creator even more complex than the creation. Evolution is simple, yet nuanced and capable of countless fantastic forms of life. Something to be noted, though, is that evolution is not a mind or something that physically exists; it is just a process.
As for the universe, to say it is perfectly ordered is an exaggeration, I believe. To argue that our planet is perfect for life and therefore God exists, which they didn't do here, but it is related to what they're saying, is also illogical. Why? Because there are billions upon billions of worlds in space, so chances are at least one is suitable for life. In fact, I dare say there are worlds inhabited by extraterrestrial life, somewhere out there in the dark beyond. I can't say that for sure, as it hasn't been observed, but if there is nearly an infinite amount of worlds, it stands to reason that more than one planet is suitable for life.
No scientist has claimed that there was nothing that exploded and created something (at least not "nothing" as a layman understands it), as is the straw-man variant of the Big Bang. The Big Bang is theorized to have created the universe, but no one knows what, if anything, preceded it; there could be something, but there could be nothing. If you need to believe a god did it, fine, but know that it is a more or less baseless assumption and it places said god very far away from us.
There's no conclusive evidence that life was created through abiogenesis, even though there's an argument to be made. So if you need to believe a god originally made life, fine, but know that said god is still very far away (and there's still no evidence for it). However, evolution does not allow for a god: evolution is an everlasting process to fine-tune species to their current environment; it works through random mutations and non-random selection that arises naturally from environmental pressures. There's no room for God there.
Theists see the world through the lens of their religion. All they know is that there is a creator, and so they see a need for their creator in all they observe, even though there is no evidence or logical basis for said creator's existence and there are explanations with evidence and logical bases for no creator being needed.
To blindly follow an agenda
The Muslim apologists then say Sam Harris and his followers like to call themselves "bright", but that it's not bright to follow blindly. The Muslim who linked their video to me said I accused religion of standing on a foundation of indoctrination (which I did), when it is people who follow Harris who are indoctrinated. The irony is that the whole idea of religions, like Islam and Christianity, is to follow a totalitarian leader—Allah or God—without questioning; the idea of religion is to follow blindly. That is what indoctrination is all about. Poor children are indoctrinated by their parents, authority figures, culture, and everything around them to believe in the one true faith, which cannot be questioned. Theists who become atheists finally question their faith, and life-long atheists have not been indoctrinated, as there is no one preaching to them about one definite truth.
The apologists say people follow Harris because he has authority. But they follow Allah because Allah has authority. They even say that the only purpose of life is to worship Allah. Furthermore, the reason why Harris has authority is because he can argue logically. He wasn't born with authority. And that's not to mention that he doesn't have ultimate authority; I don't necessarily agree with him on everything. But he does make very compelling arguments, and what must follow is that someone else makes even more compelling arguments about why he's wrong. This is what the two apologists in the YouTube video and many others attempt to do, but they fail miserably.
They say he has an agenda. Clearly, someone who defends their faith has no agenda, though. Right? Everyone has an agenda. Harris definitely has an agenda. It is not to destroy all Muslims, or even Islam itself, but to modernize the religion and bring the Muslim world into the twenty-first century. He is right, because there is a problem with fundamentalist Islam. Of course not all Muslims fall into the category, but extremism occurs so much more in the Muslim world than the secularized world.
I know this sort of thinking may be seen as bad and wrong by theists. Many believe with what seems like absolute certainty that they are right and their god exists and his holy text is the ultimate authority. But to a rational human being who doesn't view religion through a lens, religions that are hundreds of years old will have antiquated and thus dangerous moral values, not to mention that they contradict scientific knowledge. That's why holding holy texts as the infallible word of a flawless god is a bad thing.
The apologists try to paint Harris as a hater who has sermons to his followers. They said lecture first, but then corrected to sermons. Well, he doesn't preach from doctrine; his word is not the absolute truth, and what he says is supposed to be scrutinized and criticized. Furthermore, they say he makes up narratives about Islam that they've never heard of before. They do not give an example of a narrative that would be wrong. This is the fundamental problem with the video: they argue against Harris without stating specifics and thereafter rebutting them with their own arguments. They just say he is wrong and then move on.
They say Harris is trying to force his agenda down people's throats. What he actually does is to argue for his views, using logic and facts. What he says is up for debate; the whole point of his books and lectures is to get people to think, even if they disagree. That is the nature of philosophy, academics, and science. Religion, however, is about one strict truth that derives from pretty much one source—the holy text.
Coming to the next part of the video, the lens through which the Muslim apologists see life is absolutely impressive. They used the classic meaning-of-life argument. They made up a narrative, like Harris does, although Harris does it better, by saying that in this hypothetical scenario, there are no religions. Then they say, "Now, Sam, tell me: what is the purpose of life?"
Silence follows the question, and the one who asked it, rhetorically to the other one, says, "Exactly." They say Islam has a purpose, which is to worship their god, whereas if there is no god, there's no purpose. They say they have a clear belief, while Harris doesn't have that, as if this is proof of theirs. Personally, I find it a very bad purpose to blindly worship a creator. Furthermore, the reason why Allah supposedly made us is so we can worship him, which is to say he had no real purpose for creating us. That's what we humans do; you know: Why science? Because we can. There can never be an absolute, objective purpose, for if we have a purpose in that a god made us for something, then what is the purpose of said god?
What is important here is the lens of religious indoctrination. These poor apologists are certain that there MUST be a purpose of life and therefore their specific god exists. Why must there be an objective purpose? How is purpose a prerequisite for existence? It is, of course, not, but the very idea of there being no higher purpose to life is like poison to the logic organ of a theist. Just to humor them, I will say that purpose, like morals, is not objective; purpose is subjective, because we make our own meaning. My life has purpose because I enjoy living, I make people happy, and I hopefully leave a legacy. Other people will have other purposes, but when you get down to it, the fact that we enjoy living is enough of a purpose.
If purpose actually is a prerequisite for existence, what is God's purpose? Just like God would need a creator that's even more complex than him, he needs a purpose that is even higher than him. And his creator must also have an even more complex creator with an even higher purpose. It continues for all eternity. This is why religion is irrational and illogical.
The Muslim apologists list a variety of reasons why their belief is superior, like that their religious text has a beginning and so there must be a cause, objective morals, and that they have consciousness and a yearning for purpose, none of which can be explained by atheism, according to them. They say this falsifies atheism, as there is more to the world. This is just another nonsense argument.
Both science and religion have a theory about the first cause, science saying it's the Big Bang and Islam and Christianity saying it's God. Neither has a cause for this first cause, and yet theists quickly try to refute the Big Bang by using this argument, while they don't do that for their own first cause. God can somehow be causeless, which is illogical, as I've argued earlier in the blog post. In fact, the Big Bang is not science's final answer, as scientists will keep digging, but apologists don't go further than God.
Objective morals do NOT exist. Our conscience could very well be the result of evolution, as we evolved to become highly social creatures that depend on one another. And there are some logical solutions that are necessary for a society to function, such as not murdering each other and not stealing from one another. If morals were objective, they would remain the same throughout history and would be the same throughout the world, but that is something that cannot be observed. As societies evolve and our understanding increases, our morals change. Even so, intellectual equals will also disagree about what is or isn't moral. We find different values in different parts of the world. And so on. Objective morals simply don't exist. At least not in the rigid capacity that religion proposes, i.e. that they are rigidly absolute and come from a deity. It doesn't matter if it is knowledge or morality; if something is considered unchangeable, it will be problematic for the advancement of humankind. However, perhaps objective, but flexible morals could be said to exist in the form of empathy.
Consciousness and yearning for purpose are harder. Consciousness is electric signals in our neural networks. Animals with more complex brains are, of course, smarter, but also more aware; it can even be shown that a few animals do possess some kind of empathy, if they are social creatures, which gives credibility to the notion that we got our conscience from evolution. An example would be dolphins helping other animals, even humans, escape from danger with no benefit to themselves. But if electric signals is all that constitutes consciousness, I can't say; what I can say is that one cannot assume God did it. Time and time again through history, God of the gaps has been replaced by expanded knowledge. Throughout history, every mystery ever solved has turned out to be not magic, as Tim Minchin says.
As for yearning for higher purpose, I don't believe humans are programmed to want to worship a deity. It is possible, in the sense that we evolved as social creatures and therefore want to fit in so we can survive. But I have never felt the urge to have a totalitarian god treat me as little more than a slave. What I will concede is that humans do have a yearning to be special, or to have a higher purpose, if you need to phrase it like that. But it's not necessarily about religion; it's just about anything that gives us an identity, includes us in the collective, but also makes us feel like something more than we truly are—animals.
To sum it up, the Muslim apologists argue that atheism is wrong because there is more to the world. They give examples of what supposedly needs a metaphysical explanation. But they never say why there needs to be a metaphysical explanation, when I say what they listed is either irrelevant, conditioned behavior, or explainable through science. It seems to me that theists desperately grasp after purpose, trying to fill the void of no evidence and logic.
Harmful religion
The Muslim apologists say that Harris states religion causes harm and is against science. They, of course, disagree, but quickly become hypocrites by saying religions other than Islam have harmed the progress of science. They say it as if Islam, which dominates a more primitive part of the contemporary world, is beneficial to science, while Christianity, which dominates, but has been marginalized in the more civilized parts of the world, has hindered science. They mention ancient scientific progress made in the Muslim world, but I say both religions have hindered science, definitely historically, but demonstrably so today. There's a lot of fringe science (like concluding that women who do not dress modestly cause earthquakes) and denial of science (like evolution).
The apologists try to blame millions of deaths on atheism and say that Islam is harmless—at least in comparison to atheism. They say that Harris's followers are blind to the harm of atheism, which has killed eighteen million people in the last hundred years, while Islam has not even come close to that. The problem with this argument is that atheism has no doctrine or collective beliefs; it is, in fact, the lack of belief, so atheism itself cannot in any conceivable way have been the cause of those deaths. For example, communism does not get its doctrine from atheism, so however many were killed fall under the category of communism. There is no category for atheism, which is merely a disbelief in gods; it's nothing more and nothing less. There are no real variants of atheism, like there are variants of religion; the closest atheism gets to that is the different levels of certainty with which to say there's no god.
When it comes to religion, however, while the religion is not always to blame for horrors committed by believers, very often can a direct link be established between the belief and the acts of terror, like Harris points out many times. People don't blow themselves and many others into pieces because of poor living conditions or hatred of an enemy; the only reason one does that is because of severe indoctrination. This doesn't just include religion, but any ideology that shares the same fundamental dogma. An example would be the notion of honor and the dedication to the emperor of Japan during World War II.
Religion falls into that category, because if one believes with certainty that there is a perfect god, who wants infidels to die, and even offers a reward for killing infidels, of course one is willing to offer up one's life! There is nothing to lose, but everything to gain, not to mention the believer has been conditioned into blindly worshipping God and accepting that God must be worshipped, because he has the moral right to be the dictator. Atheists and theists are all just people, but the difference is that atheists are less inclined to do crazy favors for an imaginary friend.
Final notes
Throughout the video, the two apologists use foul tactics, like misrepresenting science and Harris's views. In the end, they mention that Harris talks about a nuclear strike on the Muslim world, but what they fail to mention, like Harris has explained, is that the nuclear strike is a very hypothetical argument about doing a first strike, under certain conditions. Harris argues that if an Islamist regime had access to long-range nuclear weapons, it would not work to play chicken like with the Russians during the Cold War. Neither the Americans nor the Russians actually wanted to pull the trigger and be bombed in return, but an Islamist regime that sees it as their mission to kill infidels would gladly die in doing so. Another Cold War would be impossible in such a situation; one side would end up being struck by a nuclear weapon, and if it were the west, they would likely strike back and the net result would simply be a lot of unnecessary death, some of which may have been avoided if a first strike had been ordered.
What one needs to remember is that this is a very hypothetical scenario, not relevant in present time. The morals of a first strike are questionable, because such a devastating attack would kill mostly innocent civilians, like during World War II. The world is unfortunately not black and white; there are no easy answers. What Harris wants is a peaceful transition from fundamentalist Islam to a modernized version of Islam that does not inspire the same kind of violence as it does now. He does not want to kill all Muslims, or any for that matter.
The apologists speak of Harris having a continuous obsession of atheism and science; they say he is conflating how and why. They use the example that one can explain how a car works, but the how says nothing about why the car exists. They say the how and the why are separate, but that Harris conflates them. This is the end note of the video, and another brilliant display of viewing the world through the lens of religion.
They presuppose that there must be a purpose. They presuppose that there must be a why. They presuppose that there must be a creator. Science can explain how humans work, and it can also explain how we came to be, which is the same as the why, except there's no intrinsic purpose. How we came to be—why we exist—is because we are the result of evolution. That's it. There is no prerequisite for our existence, such as a purpose or intelligent designer. It is the lens of religion that says there must be.
Correcting Sam Harris - LDM Show - #TeachSamHarris. (2014). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_diSCxNcTmA
Sam Harris and Cenk Uygur Clear the Air on Religious Violence and Islam. (2014). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVl3BJoEoAU


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Over the last couple of years I've repeatedly made jokes about how I'm "no good in the kitchen." I'm notorious for using the excuse that my mother never really cooked as justification for my disinterest in fulfilling that role. I've admitted that on numerous occasions E and I have had to pitch the meal I attempted to make and order Papa Johns instead. (For the record, no shame here, I love Papa Johns.)
When we feel insecure or have bought into the lie that we're no good at something, we tend to overcompensate by taking jabs at ourselves.
Truth be told, I'm not disinterested in cooking. That couldn't be further from the truth. I love food and believe it's a universal love language. I've been trying to ignore the Holy Spirit who's nudging me to take a warm meal or a simple PB&J sandwich out to the corner where someone lives. The someone most see as homeless, lazy, drunk, delusional, and potentially dangerous.
"I'm not a good cook. I'll leave that up to somebody else," I tell myself.
And I carry on with my life. I scroll and see pretty foods with luscious colors all over Instagram and Pinterest, two places that have simultaneously awakened my cooking ambitions and affirmed my lack.
But lately I've been thinking a lot. (Probably too much for my own good.)
I love my husband like it matters, and it does. I schedule dates with girl friends like it matters, and it does. I pray like it matters, and it does. I write like it matters, and it does. So maybe if I cook like it matters, it will.
And I don't mean that by cooking I will matter more or I'll resemble Julia Child.
I mean that by doing something as if it matters, subconsciously makes it matter.
And with this mentality, we can undo lies and replace them with truth.
And with this new belief I can no longer ignore the nudge that I'm supposed to take a meal to the person sleeping on my corner.
So each time I set out to the Treasure Island grocery store on my corner to fill up my cart with ingredients for a recipe I want to try, I'm undoing a lie. I'm replacing that insecurity with truth.
Each time I obey the nudge from the Holy Spirit (despite feeling awkward), like taking a sandwich to her or a container of soup to him, I'm experiencing a taste of what Jesus' life was really like.
It might even be an acquired taste, but something keeps drawing me back.
No more jabs. Just soup.
Three-cheese Tortellini Soup with Italian Sausage and Kale
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 16 oz hot Italian sausage, removed from casings
- 1 cup chopped yellow onion
- 1 cup chopped zucchini
- 1 cup chopped carrots
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 5 cups low-sodium beef broth
- 1 (8 oz) can diced tomatoes
- 1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 9 oz. refrigerated three cheese tortellini
- 2 cups packed chopped kale
- Olive oil into the heated pot, crumble sausage and stir, breaking up sausage occasionally, until cooked through
- Transfer cooked sausage onto a plate with several layers of paper towels
- Now saute onions, carrots, & zucchini for 3 minutes in the leftover olive oil
- Add garlic and saute 1 minute longer.
- Stir in beef broth, tomatoes, tomato sauce, and season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Bring to a light boil, return sausage to pot, cover pot and reduce heat to medium-low and allow to simmer until carrots are nearly tender, about 15 minutes.
- Stir in tortellini and kale then cover and cook 5 minutes longer.
- Serve warm with Parmesan cheese if desired (Note: as the soup rests the tortellini will absorb more broth so you can expect it to get thicker)


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The week before last, we had a very interesting encounter with army ants (identified by Kathy, one of my blog readers – thank you!). It was interesting for us, but not so much for our bees who got evicted from their home and all their larvae carried off.
Since then we have had two more visits from these ants but nothing really happened. About a week after the first visit I again noticed the ants in the driveway. They were going up the side of the house in a few areas but with no real purpose, and they were also exploring any outside walkways and patios. A few of them went in the front door but didn't get much farther than a couple feet from the door. They hung around for a couple hours, apparently finding nothing that interested them, and again vanished without a trace. I couldn't get a clear idea of where they were coming from or where they went, and they just milled around in a disorganized fashion while they were here.
Yesterday we had another visit and again, disorganized milling about. They seemed less interested in going up the side of the house and more interested in the patio and outside walkways – the carport, the patio, and the laundry room between, and they only ventured a very little ways into the house. We went bike riding and again, when we returned, they had all vanished.
There was a small beehive in the bush outside the front door, and yesterday my husband found it empty and abandoned. I didn't see it get attacked but it's certainly possible. The beehive on the side of my next door neighbor's house is still active and thriving though, so all is not lost (like one ant attack will wipe out the bee population 😀 )
Very curious creatures, these army ants. I'm glad I have a bit of experience with them, and understand that they don't seem to be a threat to us or our home. Just give them a little time and they will move on.


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Plumbing Contractors
In some cases, a smaller plumbing company is headed by a certified plumbing contractor; if you deal with such a company for your smaller plumbing tasks, you may be more comfortable by sticking with that company for larger issues. However, when major plumbing problems are present, you shouldn't depend on your local handyman to fix the problem as he or she is not likely to have the tools or man power to do the job fast and effectively.
Here is where plumbing contractors and plumbers are simply not interchangeable; certified plumbing contractors have specific training that the average plumber doesn't have, and it's that training that prepares these professionals for these larger, far more involved jobs.
Gas connections and flues for heating systems (not including forced air units), installation of water heating units (including solar panel and hydronic heating and cooling systems), and the installation and maintenance of safety devices like gas control valves, water conditioning equipment, back flow prevention equipment, and gas earthquake valves are all jobs where plumbing contractors are likely to play a role.
When you are entering a major building or remodeling project or dealing with a major plumbing problem, taking a little time to find the right plumbing contractor could save you plenty of hassle during and after the project. Since the projects these professionals deal with are generally expensive, a bit of legwork before you select your plumbing contractor could end up saving you thousands! Before you hire, get recent references and estimates from at least three different companies, and make sure that you meet with each before you make your decision. Meeting in person will give you a better idea of how well this company works with your needs, and may give you a few hints as to the service you can expect from each. In many cases, homeowners who meet with each company they get estimates from have no problem telling which company they should hire. And remember, no matter how great an estimate one company offers, a low price is never a substitute for good service, since you often end up paying the difference in headaches and miscommunications!
For more information http://www.mrdrain.net/sanjose/plumbing.php
This article is free for republishing
Source: http://www.goinglegal.com/plumbing-contractors-2139343.html
Source: http://www.goinglegal.com/plumbing-contractors-2139343.html


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For an online casino, its dream punter is someone who bets big and frequently. The online casinos identify these betters or gamblers are their most valuable customers and assets. They pull all kinds of stints and strings to make sure that these customers stay with them for a longer run.
For this, they provide an experience that makes the customers feel the need to come back for more. When you join an online casino website and plan on spending time on the high limit bets, then you should definitely check out their high roller benefits they offer. For casinos, high rollers are royalty to them. When you are a high roller in an online gambling website, you are eligible for rewards and benefits that regular rollers and customers won't have access to.
You can compare these rewards and benefits if you are looking for the best gambling site that caters all your needs. Here are some benefits of being a high roller in Casino.
- High Roller Bonus Offers
Anyone who has played at an electronic gambling platform knows that casinos are always apprehensive to keep their players active. They achieve this by offering bonuses to the customers on the money they deposit. For instance, there could be a 50% bonus for up to $100 deposit. That is, if your total deposit is $50, then you will get to play with $75. The online gambling platforms want to make sure that their big players are getting the VIP treatment and experience. So on a regular basis, the casinos will offer these kinds of offers and bonuses on higher amounts for their high rollers.
- VIP Programs
Most of the online casinos offer VIP programs to their high rollers where they earn points as they play. The high rollers later convert the points they accumulated into rewards. As a high roller, you will experience vast opportunities to enjoy a lot of extra bonuses and rewards. Some types of rewards and perks you could enjoy being a high roller include cash rewards, merchandise, tournament entries, and more.
- A Dedicated Personal Host
Casinos value their high rollers. They treat them like royalty and hence, appoint them a personal host. The personal host's job is to assist the high rollers day and night, catering their gambling requirements. Not only that, these personal hosts can also be used for organizing luxury services like booking airline tickets, car hire, hotel bookings, and more.
- Unlimited Transaction Limits
Being a regular online casino player, you are aware of the fact that the deposit and withdrawal limit is set. Well, this will not be the case if you are a high roller in an online gambler. The dedicated host will make sure all your transaction requirements and will help you find out ways to work out the transactional limitations.
- Exclusive Games
Being a loyal customer, the casino is more likely to offer you access to exclusive games that regular players can't play. These games are simply the high-stakes versions of the classic casino games.


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Thoughts, poems, and ponderings.
The Merriam-Webster Dictionary gives this definition for "colloquy":
1 : conversation, dialogue
2 : a high-level serious discussion : conference
Monday, April 30, 2007
We're LID!
Rick received the phone call today from our Adoption Agency letting us know our Log In Date or LID. LID is when your dossier is officially logged into the China database for adoption. Our LID is April 10, 2007! Now, the long wait continues, but at least we know that we are officially accepted for adoption in China. The current wait time for a referral of a baby from Log In Date is approximately 17 months. That, of course, can change -- it can be shorter (hopefully) or longer. I've added a ticker counter at the top of this blog to count the days from LID to our referral. You can keep up with the wait time by checking there.
Posted by Unknown at 10:49 PM No comments: Links to this post
Labels: Adoption updates
Friday, April 06, 2007
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World Book Day
The Centre for Learning Resources recently joined the rest of the world to commemorate the World Book Day. Activities that marked the event include; appointment of Library Ambassadors, Video Clip on the importance of reading, and an award presented to a Faculty member, Dr. Nwozor Agaptus, who was adjudged to be outstanding in driving library usage among the students of Landmark University.
Revamping the Omu Aran Public Library
The CLR proposes to collaborate with the LMUCDII to revamp the Public Library in Omu Aran. This is to further drive and improve reading culture of members of the Omu Aran Community. Also, the St. Paul's Anglican Primary School library has been pencilled down for book donation.
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Sherry Tinsman MetalsmithE-198
Sterling Silver Large Mixed Metal Heart Earrings with Amethyst
Regular price $218.00
These wonderful abstract earrings feature a textured sterling silver heart with a vibrant amethyst stone, a copper spiral and a brass dogwood flower.
Measure approximately 1" across.
Sterling Silver, Amethyst, Copper Spiral, Brass Dogwood Flower & 14k Gold posts.
All the stones used are 100% natural. Because of this the stones may vary slightly.


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The Immortal Rules Book Giveaway
Looking for this summer's must-read? The Immortal Rules by New York Times best-selling author Julie Kagawa is one of this season's most anticipated releases. The literary blog-o-sphere is buzzing about its upcoming release and MTV's Hollywood Crush debuted the cover of The Immortal Rules, calling it "…your new favorite vampire story of all time." An advance review by the literary review magazine Kirkus went on to say "Kagawa has done the seemingly impossible and written a vampire book, the first in a planned series, that feels fresh in an otherwise crowded genre. She mixes paranormal and dystopian tropes……creating a world that will appeal across audiences."
Here's a little about the book, The Immortal Rules, the first installment in the Blood of Eden series from HarlequinTeen,(retails $18.99):
In the dark days since the insidious Red Lung virus decimated the human population, vampires have risen to rule the crumbling cities and suburbs. Uncontested Princes hold sway over diminished ranks of humans: their "pets." In exchange for their labor, loyalty and of course, their blood, these pets are registered, given food and shelter, permitted to survive.
Unregistered humans cling to the fringe, scavenging for survival. Allison Sekemoto and her fellow Unregistereds are hunted, not only by vampires, but by rabids, the unholy result of Red Lung-infected vampires feeding on unwary humans. One night, Allie is attacked by a pack of rabids, saved by an unlikely hero…and turned vampire.
Uncomfortable in her undead skin, Allie falls in with a ragtag crew of humans seeking a cure, or cures: for Rabidism and for Vampirism. She's passing for human…for now. But the hunger is growing and will not be denied. Not for friendship—not even for love.
Due to a general lack of time, I rarely do book reviews anymore. However, after being offered the opportunity to read New York Times Best Selling Author Julie Kagawa's latest book, the first in a new vampire series, I was intrigued. I was a fan of the Twilight Series, have read most of the Sookie Stackhouse books (the ones HBO's True Blood is based on), so I wanted to be among the first to read what is being hailed the next BIG vampire series.
And purchase your copy here: The Immortal Rules (Blood of Eden)


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With 45 performances covering theater, jazz, dance, the organ and more, Fairfield University's Quick Center for the Arts has something for everyone this season.
Peter Van Heerden, executive director, said that there's a number of factors that go into creating a winning season.
"One is looking at what you've done in the past, and being a higher-education institution, we look at the intellectual quality of the work that we put on the stage and how those works can stimulate conversation or open up new conversations about things that may be happening within the context of higher education," he said. "Obviously, entertainment is also a big one. For me personally, it's also about selecting work that will challenge people's perspectives about what good art is and look for new and exciting work."
Lori Jones, director of programming and audience development for the Quick Center, said the range and variety of a season should appeal to both its core customers and new audiences.
"There's never really a time when we're considering artists or speakers when we're not thinking about both sides of the coin," she said. "They are both important. Our core is always happy to share what's important to them, but we want to continue to build our audiences and being on the University campus, we want to think about what our students would be interested in to become art patrons as well."
The season begins on Sept. 9 with two unique performances (5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.) by modern dance company Bandaloop, which will reimagine the laws of physics with vertical performances on the outside walls of Fairfield University's science building
"Their work is spectacular, invigorating and really exciting," Van Heerden said. "It's the first week that the students are back and there will be a lot of action happening, and we thought it would be a great opportunity to bring a new experience to campus."
The performance takes place on the walls with the audience standing on the grassy knoll to watch. And the group will be on campus all week, running workshops for students and community members, so expect lots of people hanging off buildings on the campus then.
Amelia Rudolph, Bandaloop's artistic director, doesn't like to think of the dance troupe as acrobats, but more as a group that takes dance into a new realm of public space.
"We'll be doing several pieces of signature choreography and audiences will get a taste of what we do as a company, which is bring dance in a way that they haven't seen it before," she says. "Our dance is in a different space and a different location and has a different relationship to gravity."
Van Heerden noted that the performance is just one of two this season where a group is breaking down the fourth wall of the Quick Center and taking art into the community.
"We are also bringing in Theatre For One (March 22-24) this spring, and they create this cubicle and you go in and have a three-minute one-on-one theatrical experience," he said. "It's all about breaking down the conventions and the rules of theater and bringing work out into to public and community."
On Sept. 16 and 17, the Quick will present the U.S. premiere of the South African opera adaptation of Verdi's Macbeth, staged by Third World Bunfight, under the direction of Brett Bailey.
"I've known Brett for a number of years and I think he's a visionary theater maker, and we've been negotiating for a year and a half to bring him out to the States and we had the opportunity to bring Macbeth this season," Van Heerden said. "It's 400 years since the death of William Shakespeare so it's a great time to take this work to stage."
Ten musicians from the Greater Bridgeport Symphony Orchestra will be taking part in Macbeth, which has a unique spin on the Bard's classic story. This version is set in the Great Lakes region of Central Africa, where a Congolese warlord and his ambitious wife murder their leader and unleash atrocities on the crumbling African province that they seize.
"The show still resonates because it's things we don't want to accept, things we're scared of facing, and knowing reality we tend to fix situations in our heads and pretend as though things aren't the way they are whereas they are," said Nobulumko Mngxekeza, who plays Lady Macbeth. "There are some places people are still scared of practicing their own human rights. The show gives the reality of situations in an indirect way."
Also in September, the American Music Series curated by Brian Torff begins on Sept. 20, with a focus on American music. Each session (Also Oct. 13, Dec. 13, Dec. 16) will include an expert in a specific genre, and there will be a performance element, as well as wine and cheese served.
"The American Music Series is part of a new program started last year and it's our way of being able to work both with faculty members on campus and the experts in the field on a broader level," Jones said. "Brian is a faculty member and an acclaimed bass player who has toured with many artists over the years. This is a way to learn more about jazz and American music."
Next, political satirist P.J. O'Rourke hits the stage on Sept. 22, no doubt ready to tackle the upcoming election.
"It's going to be pretty fabulous to have him on stage. I think there's no better person to really navigate this conversation at this moment and time," Jones said. "He has such a wonderful sense of wit and humor but also takes the content very seriously and knows how to help an audience think a little more broadly about what it is they're looking for and what's going on in our country."
Overall, the Quick Center will present 45 events through May. Other noteworthy productions include the Israeli-based Vertigo Dance Company on Nov. 4; Grammy winner Rosanne Cash on Dec. 7; and virtuoso organist Cameron Carpenter on Jan. 28.
"Not all music is an ecstatic vehicle, and much of the music I love occupies other psychological territory, but ecstasy is my motivation as a performer," Carpenter said. "It may be in the deep yearning of Rachmaninoff or Debussy, or my own naïvely triumphant extemporization of Bach's cello preludes, but the drive is the same. And it of course is best experienced live. Only live performance still confronts the listener with the element of risk, and risk-taking is part of what makes music exciting."
For a complete list of performances, visit quickcenter.fairfield.edu/16-17-season.


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March 26 is Purple Day, the annual effort – along with National Epilepsy Awareness Month in November – to raise awareness of this neurological disorder thought to affect approximately 65 million people worldwide. The idea for Purple Day came from an epilepsy sufferer hoping to educate people about the condition and remind sufferers that they are not alone. 1
Epilepsy is characterized by recurring seizures that range in force and duration from short periods of mild trembling to longer episodes of violent shaking and convulsions in which the epileptic can do great harm to himself. The seizures typically occur without warning.
In addition to the possibility of physical injury, sufferers of epilepsy also incur what doctors call adverse psychosocial effects. Due to the uncertain nature of the attacks or as a result of the side effects of medications used to treat epilepsy, victims may become socially isolated, suffer from depression, or have difficulty succeeding in school and careers. 2
A common treatment for epilepsy is a drug called Topamax (topiramate). This epilepsy medication does not cure the disease; instead, it helps control seizures. 3
Interestingly, medical science is not fully clear as to why Topamax works. One theory is that, since epileptic seizures involve a burst of abnormal electrical activity in the brain, somehow Topamax is able to reduce that electrical activity, as well as the likelihood and severity of a seizure. 4
Topamax has also been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for prophylaxis of patients with migraine headaches. 5 Unlike painkillers or triptans, which are used at the onset or during a migraine headache in an attempt to lessen its severity, Topamax is indicated as a "maintenance" medication to prevent future migraines.
Whether used for epilepsy or for treatment of migraine headaches, use of Topamax can have side effects. These side effects include decreased white blood cell count, increased risk of infection, and increased propensity to develop kidney stones. 6
Topamax also known to cause vision problems including acute myopia, secondary angle closure glaucoma, visual field defects, redness of the eyes, eye pain and even sudden loss of vision. 7
Other side effects include cognitive and neuropsychiatric disorders such as difficulty focusing, thinking, concentrating and remembering. Additional potential side effects are suicidal behavior and ideation, depression and mood problems, and trouble speaking and formulating speech. 8
Hyperammonemia, with and without encephalopathy, and sudden unexplained death in epilepsy (SUDEP) has also been reported in patients taking Topamax.
Topamax is also associated a number of side effects for women using birth control, women who may be pregnant, and babies born to women who are using the drug. 9
Women who take an oral contraceptive (birth control pill) should be advised that taking Topamax can make birth control pills less effective. For that reason, doctors typically recommend Topamax users rely on an alternate form of birth control, such as a diaphragm or condom. 10
If a Topamax user becomes pregnant, she must alert her doctor at once. The FDA advises use of Topamax during pregnancy only in cases where the benefit outweighs the potential risk. 11
Studies indicate that there is an increased prevalence of Topamax birth defects in the babies of women who take the drug while pregnant. 12 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that use of Topamax during the first trimester of pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of oral clefts, meaning a cleft lip and potentially a cleft palate as well. 13
Finally, Topamax can have negative side effects if used in conjunction with SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) such as Zoloft and Paxil. Side effects may include an increase in dizziness, drowsiness, and difficulty concentrating. 14
Learn more about risks associated with Zoloft and Paxil.
http://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/topiramate-oral-route/description/drg-20067047 ↩
http://www.patient.co.uk/medicine/topiramate-for-epilepsy-topamax ↩
http://epilepsy.med.nyu.edu/treatment/medications/topiramate#sthash.T02IFFgl.PHZNcUuI.dpbs ↩
http://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-14494-6019/topamax-oral/topiramate-oral/details/list-sideeffects ↩
http://www.fda.gov/safety/medwatch/safetyinformation/ucm195797.htm ↩
http://www.webmd.com/epilepsy/news/20080721/topamax-may-raise-risk-of-birth-defects ↩
http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/birthdefects/features/birthdefects-topiramate-keyfindings.html ↩
http://www.drugs.com/drug-interactions/topamax-with-zoloft-2216-1469-2057-1348.html ↩


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- Can the colour of Namgrass fade?
Discolouration of the grass is prevented by the addition of a unique UV stabiliser and the special composition of the fibres of the grass. Namgrass is tested for UV stability and protection against discolouration under the most severe circumstances..
Heavy rain, prolonged exposure to the sun, frost and severe hail do not pose a problem. This is why Namgrass can offer an 8 year anti-discolouration warranty on its product range.
- What can artificial grass be used for?
There are numerous applications for artificial grass: gardens, terraces, events, the building of stands, lounges, wall covering, finishing of ponds and swimming pools, golf greens and pitches, showrooms and shops.
- Does artificial grass need maintenance?
Natural materials such as leaves, catkins of trees and seeds of surrounding plants need to be removed. This can be done by means of a leaf blower/vacuum or simply with a broom or a rake. The special layer at the bottom of the artificial grass stops any weeds from growing.
- What about animal excrements on the artificial grass?
Small faeces will decompose naturally and disappear after some time. It is advisable to remove the faeces of larger animals manually, as is the case with natural grass. Urine and such are not harmful, it will not cause discolouration of the fibres.


text: My wife and I have found Anthony to have professional integrity, as well as being reliable and honest. He has always communicated well with us giving us a realistic expectation of what we could achieve with a sale. We were also very pleased with the marketing of our property and the use of the drone to give a bird's eye view of the property. We bought the house off Anthony and had no hesitation in asking him to sell it for us. We recommend Anthony Obee to anyone buying or selling a property. Thank You Anthony.


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Chattahoochee Valley weather: Tornado watch in Columbus
A tornado watch was just issued for Muscogee, Chattahoochee, Marion, Stewart and Webster counties in Georgia and Lee and Russell counties in Alabama. It'll remain in effect until 3 p.m. EDT/2 p.m. CDT.
This means the conditions are favorable for the development of severe weather, including tornadoes, though none have been spotted yet. The National Weather Service says Doppler radar indicated a strong thunderstorm in the Benning Hills area.
The primary hazards from the storm will be large hail, damaging winds, tornadoes, cloud to ground lightning and heavy rain. Pea-sized hail has been reported. Winds could reach 35 mph.
It'll be muggy, cloudy and warm today, with a high temperature near 68 degrees. There's a 60 percent chance of rain and new rainfall could amount between a quarter and half of an inch.
Tonight expect showers and thunderstorms likely before 2 a.m. Some of the storms could be severe. It'll be mostly cloudy, with a low around 57. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.
Friday expect mostly sunny skies, with a high near 70 degrees.
Friday night the low temperature will be around 45 degrees.
Here's the rest of the weekend:
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 79. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 55.
Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 75.
To check the weather online for this area log on to: http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?CityName=Columbus&state=GA&site=FFC&textField1=32.5107&textField2=-84.875&e=0


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In Dare County, one part of the Carolina Outer Banks, lies a village with population of 3,272 people in 2010. Yet this speck of land in all the United States may prove to be at the central focus for the greatest issue of the 21st century.
The Outer Banks are a series of islands, sandbanks that stick above the waves, that stretch along the Atlantic coast of North Carolina. Hurricanes reshape them on a regular basis creating new inlets and closing old ones. However man has settled there, and he wants things more permanent, and North Carolina's highway 12 is one of his efforts to make things permanent.
What is the name of this village and why is it important? The place is named Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. On December 17, 1903, Wilbur and Orville Wright, walked into town and sent a telegram to their father to tell him of their first controlled airplane flight. Those flights actually took place four miles away, at the Kill Devil Hills. If you journey from Kitty Hawk, south on US 158, you eventually end up on NC-12.
In American History, Kitty Hawk ranks with Lexington, Manassas, and Gettysburg. These were all places where Americans hammered out their history. Its place in history has been cemented as the name has been used on an aircraft carrier, and the Apollo fourteen command module.
Why could Kitty Hawk become central in a new issue? The town lies at an elevation of seven feet above sea level. Since the ocean is rising faster here than anywhere else on the Eastern seaboard, you have a flash point for the controversy over Global Warming.
This is where the story takes a decidedly political turn, and involves the American political system. In 2011 the state authorities accepted a prediction that sea levels would rise by 39 inches in the next 85 years. That spells death for the highway and the communities along the Outer Banks.
In 2012, the Republicans took control of the state. They selected a new forecast, one that only looks 30 years ahead, and predicts a rise of eight inches in ocean level.
The story fascinates me because it combines history, science and politics. If you look at a map, you can see that Kitty Hawk cannot be defended from the rising ocean by dykes. The ocean surrounds it. What will happen?
I don't know. I have my own prediction, as do both the Democrats and the Republicans. Perhaps in 30 years the issue will be settled, one way or the other.
Just keep Kitty Hawk in mind. There are barrier islands from south of Virginia Beach to Key West and towns like Kitty Hawk along the way. What happens there, affects citizens from North Carolina to Florida.
To see some of my short stories go to www.edwardmcdermott.net


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Real Madrid v Roma
Roma face the unenviable task of reversing a 2-0 first leg defeat when they make the trip to the Bernabéu on Tuesday. Mission improbable according to the bookies, who have Roma at 25/1 to qualify for the quarter-finals, though it is doable. Two teams have overturned a 2-0 first-leg deficit to progress in the knockout stages of the Champions League: Barcelona against Milan in 2013 and Manchester United against Olympiakos in 2014. The Italians would, however, be the first team to qualify from a 2-0 defeat in their home leg.
Nevertheless, Luciano Spalletti has had a galvanising effect since his return to the capital – though not if you ask Francesco Totti – with the Giallorossi now the form side in Serie A. A 4-1 victory over Champions League hopefuls Fiorentina at the weekend was the most eye-catching result since Spaletti's return, extending their league winning streak to seven – a record currently bettered only by Barcelona (11) among Europe's top five leagues.
Meanwhile Real Madrid come into the game off the back of a huge win of their own in La Liga, though a 7-1 drubbing of Celta Vigo papered over the cracks of what had been a patchy period under Zinedine Zidane by comparison. They have bounced back from a draw at Malaga and defeat at home to local rivals, Atlético, with their bid to reach a sixth successive Champions League quarter-final further boosted by the return of Gareth Bale. While Cristiano Ronaldo stole the show with four goals at the weekend, the Welshman scored on his comeback and has outperformed his team-mate for much of the season when fit, earning the highest rating for Madrid this season (8.08).
An early goal for the visitors would make this a very interesting tie but their chances of keeping Bale, Ronaldo and James Rodríguez out at the opposite end are remote. They are not quite dead and buried after a relatively even contest at the Stadio Olimpico, but Roma will need a minor miracle to cause Real Madrid's ninth consecutive two-legged defeat to Italian opposition.
Chelsea v Paris Saint-Germain
On Wednesday night Chelsea will be out for revenge for last season's exit at the hands of PSG, with the tie very much in the balance after the first leg in Paris. At the weekend Chelsea rested Cesc Fàbregas and Diego Costa, the two pivotal figures in the club's revival under Guus Hiddink. Costa has been their highest rated player since the turn of the year (7.49), with eight goals and six assists in that time, but he will need to overcome a tendon injury to fire Chelsea into the quarter-finals.
Like their hosts, PSG could only manage draw at the weekend, failing to break down a resilient Montpellier side having also made changes in preparation for the trip to England. Laurent Blanc left Zlatan Ibrahimovic, David Luiz and Thiago Silva out of his starting XI, while key midfield pairing Marco Verratti and Blaise Matuidi were sidelined. The duo may feature but fitness concerns in such key positions and the team's uncharacteristic wobble offers Chelsea real cause for optimism.
The reverse fixture in Paris remains Chelsea's only defeat under Hiddink since his return and only the second the Dutchman has suffered in two stints at the club. The home fans will also cling on to the knowledge that they have come back from greater adversity in the past against Wednesday's opponents. They secured a 2-0 home win after a 3-1 defeat at Parc des Princes two years ago and progressed at the same stage en route to winning the title in 2012 after a loss by the same scoreline in Naples.
Only two sides have managed to keep PSG at bay all season on the road though, with the Ligue 1 champions scoring in nine successive away games. That will be a priority for the home side, so it's unlikely to be as open an affair as the first fixture, with a nervy night ahead for those at the Bridge.
Borussia Dortmund v Tottenham Hotspur
With both sides entering this match at the Westfalenstadion after gruelling derbies at the weekend, they will be looking to bounce back from ultimately disappointing draws. A stalemate in Der Klassiker was not ideal for Thomas Tuchel's side as it leaves them in limbo. Defeat to Bayern would have allowed Dortmund to focus all of their energies on the Europe League, while a victory would have given the league priority. Staying five points adrift of Bayern Munich means Dortmund still have to balance their efforts.
It's an almost identical dilemma for Spurs, who also sit second in their domestic league, five points off the lead. Mauricio Pochettino has been more conservative with his Europa League selections than his opposite number thus far – with Kieran Trippier and Toby Alderweireld the only Tottenham players to start every game in the competition – but he will surely field a full strength side in Dortmund. Erik Lamela has been the star man for Spurs in Europe, with a rating of 7.87 having scored six goals in as many games, while Son Heung-min has also impressed having been used sparingly in the league.
For the hosts, playmaker Henrikh Mkhitaryan has thrived since the arrival of Tuchel. He is the top rated player for the club in the Bundesliga (7.86) and Europa League (7.87), with 10 goals and 13 assists across the two competitions this season. Mousa Dembélé and Eric Dier will be key to keeping the Armenian in check in what looks an even and exciting match-up on Thursday.
Liverpool v Manchester United
In what is the first ever meeting between these two sides in Europe, in-form Liverpool will be favourites to gain an advantage in the first leg. They recorded their third successive league victory at the weekend – managing that feat for the first time this season – defying the odds with 10 men against Crystal Palace while Louis van Gaal's side failed at West Brom.
Van Gaal has his critics but he also has a perfect record in this crunch fixture. Manchester United have come out on top in all four meetings with Liverpool under the Dutchman. Where this fixture has offered relief for his manager, European action has proven to be a godsend for Memphis, who dazzled in victory over Midtjylland last time out and is the visitors' top scorer in continental football this season with a modest three goals – one clear of Marcus Rashford following a brace against the Danes in his only European outing for the club.
While the away side again look likely to field an inexperienced side, it seems Jürgen Klopp has found his favoured system. Roberto Firmino has been the focal point of the attack this year, scoring eight goals in eight league games to earn the second highest Premier League rating of 2016 (7.98), though Daniel Sturridge looks likely to return after being rested at Selhurst Park. Despite a few teething problems in the Capital One Cup final, Liverpool look set to turn to Philippe Coutinho, Firmino and Sturridge, hoping for an attacking performance akin to that at Villa Park.
Premier League team of the week
La Liga team of the week
Bundesliga team of the week
Serie A team of the week
Ligue 1 team of the week
All statistics courtesy of WhoScored.com, where you can find live in-game data as well as player and team ratings. You can follow scores, statistics, live player and team ratings with their free app


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DEP retracts violation threat regarding proposed wind turbine in Union Beach
Credit: Written by KEVIN PENTON, Asbury Park Press, www.app.com 15 February 2011 ~~
UNION BEACH – The state Department of Environmental Protection has backed away from written comments it made last week about a proposed wind turbine here, saying on Tuesday that it will not issue the project a notice of violation.
The Bayshore Regional Sewerage Authority has a memorandum of understanding with a neighboring property owner – Jersey Central Power & Light Co. – for transferring some land needed for the air clearance of the turbine blades, said Larry Ragonese, a DEP spokesman.
The authority is expected to secure approval this week from the Freehold Soil Conservation District for disturbing grass during construction of the turbine base last year, Ragonese said.
A Feb. 8 letter by Marcedius T. Jameson, acting director of the DEP's Water and Land Use Enforcement office, said the authority would receive a notice of violation on the air clearance and grass issues "very shortly."
But Ragonese said the DEP and sewerage authority officials met Monday.
"We don't think there will be an issue," Ragonese said.
Stuart Lieberman, an attorney representing Union Beach, which is opposed to the project, could not be reached for comment.
The DEP's reversal should demonstrate to the project's opponents that the authority has made every effort to be in compliance with all related regulations, said Robert Fischer, its executive director.
"It was unfortunate," Fischer said of the Feb. 8 letter.
This article is the work of the source indicated. Any opinions expressed in it are not necessarily those of National Wind Watch.
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Editor�s note: The Press Gazette is counting down the top sports stories of 2012. Here is No. 9, Bubba Watson�s win at the 2012 Master�s.
�I had no doubt he could hit that shot. I�ve seen him hit it a hundred times at Tanglewood and the hardpan pine needles didn�t affect him one bit.� said Murray Rutledge, Bubba Watson�s Milton High golf coach.
Rutledge�s words came after watching Watson�s second shot at Augusta National.
�I thought it was going to be really bad. I sat there shielding my eyes, hooping that (Louis) Oosthuizen did not do so good,� said Milton resident Becky Paul after she and her daughter Leacy stopped to get a picture by the Bubba Watson sign in Bagdad.
People who were in Bagdad were stopping at one of the signs erected outside of the community announcing the town as the home of Watson.
Now following Sunday�s win Bagdad could be looking to erect yet another sign.
�This is the best news I�ve heard,� said David Bailly. Bailly says he was one of many who worked with Watson�s father, Gerry, to get the existing signs erected. �I think we should get to work on (another) sign.
�This is a good thing and he is a good guy. I am so happy for him.�
Bailly, who lives across the street from where Watson grew up, remembers when they first bought the home in 1987. �There were golf balls in all over the front yard,� Bailly recalls. �I am sure he is the one who hit them there.
�I think (if I were to start digging) I might find that there are still some buried there.�
Legend has it that Watson, a University of Georgia graduate, has never had a swing coach or watched video of his swing.
�When I was Bubba�s head coach his senior year, my job was to, basically, get him to the match on time. He took care of the rest,� said Rutledge. �He knew golf and I tried to talk to him more about how to treat people and how to be humble.
�Golf swing wise, I didn�t give him any advice. He was hitting it pretty far even back then.�
Even coaches who were preparing teams to face Watson saw the talent evident in the Bagdad native�s game.
�I remember when I was coaching golf at Gulf Breeze, it was already apparent he had the ability to work the ball,� said Bill Emerson, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction in Santa Rosa County. �He basically plays golf like the high school kids do today.
�They see it and try to do it, but Bubba is pretty good at making the shot he sees in his mind.�
Santa Rosa County is abuzz with excitement since the final putt on Sunday night that earned Watson the Master�s trademark Green Jacket.
�As soon as I saw it, I had to call my son (Trent Stewart), � said Vicki Wolfe. �(My son said ) he couldn�t believe it. I feel just like Bubba when he said �it�s beyond what I allowed myself to dream.��
While Milton is happy, Watson isn�t the only famous person to walk the hallways of Milton High.
�This is totally amazing. Little old Milton High School has produced so many pro athletes,� said Milton Mayor Guy Thompson. �For a small community to have the number of champions we have had is amazing.
In addition to Watson, fellow PGA golfers Boo Weekley and Heath Slocum come from Milton. The small municipality also has three former football players in the National Football League including kicker Lawrence Tynes, who won his second Super Bowl Ring when the New York Giants defeated the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis.
Another Milton standout was former Olympian Mark Everett. He appeared in three Olympics � Seoul, Barcelona and Atlanta � while winning 13 track titles in SEC champions from 1986 to 1990.
Milton is searching for a way to honor Watson.
�Right now, it�s just so new,� Thompson said. �I am sure we will do something to recognize this accomplishment.�


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I stopped giving a crap about my schooling. I went from an advanced honours student with hope of being recruited to Yale internationally to breezing by with 80%. I fucking hate school so I don't get why everyone wants me to keep studying and pushes me to try. I'm obviously still smart, but so long as I graduate is anyone really better than me? I can still have a bright future without going to Yale or some Ivy League. I really just want to enlist as a medic.
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Just follow whatever dreams you have
Can you stop reposting this I'm tired of seeing it.
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Halifax Minster began the New Year by asking questions that really matter in the first of this year's live public debates.
The Minster Series discussion focused on the ever topical subject of faith and politics.
The audience heard from guest speaker shadow mininster for employment and Labour MP Stephen Timms who challenged the widely-held belief that politics and faith should be kept separate.
A local specialised panel also offered their insight and took questions from the congregation in a public question and answer session.
Mr Timms said: "Faith is a great starting point for politics. It's the source of the values we need to make politics work: responsibility, solidarity, patience, persistence, compassion and truthfulness."
He said such values are needed to revive a damaged political structure and applauded churches for their support in social services such as foodbank provisions during recent economic hardship.
"At a time when the rich are getting richer and the poor are struggling more, faith groups are bringing people together across divides of wealth. Faith groups can lay the foundations for new politics which can bring hope," he said.
Vicar of Halifax Hilary Barber said: "Our guest speaker was well received; our local panel fully engaged with the issues he raised and lively questions were raised from the audience - which included representatives from Calderdale's youth parliament.
"The Minster Series affirms the role of the Minster - serving the whole community across the town and borough.
"We look forward to the next public discussion."
The next Minster Series will be on the topic of 'crime and punishment' on March 5, 6.30pm, at Halifax Minster.


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Electrifying, exquisite and thoroughly entertaining - Grimsby was given the glitter ball treatment as 'Strictly' came to town.
An Evening with Karen and Kevin from Grimsby saw an almost capacity audience be entertained by six of the television show's pro-dancers: Karen Hauer, Kevin Clifton, Joanne Clifton, Aljaz Skorjanec, Janette Manrara and new pro Giovanni Pernice, plus assistant choreographer Patrick Helm.
And for one Rasen resident it was an extra exciting evening.
Mark Bennett was one of three competition winners to take to the stage and dance with one of the Strictly dancers.
His partner was Joanne Clifton and Mark wowed the judges with his Samba, in particular his mid-dance splits, which lead Joanne to describe him as 'fearless'.
But it was Waltham's Helen Urquhart, dancing and American Smooth with Kevin Clifton, who topped the judges' scores and won the audience vote to take home the glitter fish trophy in the mini Strictly contest, hosted by Russell Grant.
"I just entered the competition for a laugh but never thought I would be here," said Mark.
"It has been a totally amazing experience."
It was the second year running Karen and Kevin had brought their Strictly friends to perform in the Clifton's home town and they were pleased to be back.
"It's great to be back performing in Grimsby," said Karen Hauer.
"Strictly and what we do is very family orientated - it's just great dancing everyone can enjoy."


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This Teddy contains 5 cotter pins and has glass eyes. He is stuffed with sawdust and a small amount of metalhead granulate. This bear is also moderately tinted, 100% handmade and one of a kind!
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text: CONERNEY ESTATE AGENTS are delighted to present to market this fabulous apartment for rent in Sandyford View. This apartment is on the 3rd floor of a beautiful complex with magnificent views of Dublin City. The apartment is fully fitted with all mod cons, fully fitted kitchen with large fridge freezer, dishwasher, washer dryer, cooker & hob. There is a large open plan, south facing living and dining room which leads to a bright balcony. Large main bathroom with bath and shower. Large master bedroom with en-suite bathroom and large double wardrobe. The second bedroom is also a good size with built in wardrobes and could accommodate a double bed if needs be. Set in a beautiful complex with mostly owner occupiers with parking included and free bin service. Viewing is strongly advised and strictly by appointment only. For an immediate viewing, please apply online, leave your name and number and we will get right back to you. VIEWING HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!


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Welcome to Silver Birches
Breathtaking views, close to the historic market town of Alford…
With breathtaking views of rolling hills and scenic countryside, Silver Birches offers everything you need right on your doorstep.
There's a myriad of country trails to explore, while the bustling village of Alford is located close by. Alford also boasts a dry ski slope, swimming pool and plenty of parks.
With excellent links to Aberdeen and Insch railway station just 12 miles away, this is country living at its finest.
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Living at Silver Birches
Living at Silver Birches
Silver Birches is situated in the rural market town of Alford, the gateway to the Cairngorms. It is a comforting rural community, well suited to family life.
Neighbourhood Address
Silver Birches
Covenanter Way
Opening HoursThursday to Monday, 11am to 5:30pm
Make An Enquiry
0845 075 8284


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Near the end of 2011, the GI Bill Fairness Act was signed into law as an amendment of the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
House Committee on Veteran's Affairs Chairman Jeff Miller said, "We are keeping our promise to America's student veterans using the Post-9/11 GI Bill through this legislation, enabling them to stay in the school of their choice without incurring severe fee increases."
At issue were changes to the Post 9-11 GI Bill which went into effect in August, capping the covered fees at $17,500 per year at private institutions. In seven states, that would have meant a lower coverage amount than previous years, leaving students to drop out or cover the balance out of their own pockets.
The GI Bill Fairness Act of 2011 "grandfathers" up to 30,000 student veterans in Arizona, Michigan, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Texas.
Eligible student veterans who were accepted, or who are enrolled, in a private school in one of these states prior to or on January 4, 2011, will receive payment for tuition and fees on the original maximum, in-state undergraduate fee schedule, allowing them to complete their education at the school of their choice.
If you have been in school in one of these states and feared you would be unable to complete your program, contact your student advisor or federal aid advisor.


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As I continue going through therapy for my wrist injury, I am constantly reminded of a Kingdom principle: healing and restoration is a process. Regardless of how I attempt to rush the process, complete restoration and functionality will only occur as I continue to participate along with the process and its timing. I cannot expedite the process by taking shortcuts in order to return to my regularly scheduled programming. By doing so, I run the risk of not becoming healed and restored completely and can be become a candidate for future injuries to the same place of injury.
Our bodies were designed with internal healing properties that regenerate themselves as we take proper care of ourselves. As we participate in God's plan and design for our lives, our bodies will arrive at its normal state eventually. Everything, regardless of how we attempt to manipulate them, will operate within the parameters in which God has established…to do otherwise would be a recipe for chaos and disaster.
We would do well to remember that wherever we are attempting to go and whatever it is we are attempting to do will be there whenever we arrive. Even more, we will find that things will fall into place in its designed time and not one second before. We cannot continue to force nor rush the processes of life…to do so while expecting different results is an exercise in futility…#thinkonthesethings


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Spokane County Superior Court Judge Harold Clarke looked a bit surprised Friday morning as he strolled up to the bench in his customary black robe.
The jury box was filled with children and adults in superhero costumes, among them a woman dressed as She-Ra and a young boy donning a full Ironman suit.
"Is there some kind of Marvel-DC competition here?" asked Mark Iverson, an attorney specializing in adoption cases.
In the center of the courtroom was Sheri, a jubilant 3-year-old in an Ironman costume of her own, seated on her mother's knee along with her father (Batman) and three young sisters (Batgirl, Supergirl and the Flash).
This was Sheri's final adoption hearing, and her parents had decided to make it a fun one. Dozens of friends and family members turned out, many in colorful costumes, to show their support.
"We're happy that the long, three-year process is over," Erica Wisner, Sheri's adoptive mother, told the court in her Superwoman costume.
"Excited," her husband, Steve, chimed in. "Very excited."
Saturday is National Adoption Day, which aims to draw attention to the hundreds of thousands of children who enter foster care in the United States each year. On Friday, Spokane County courthouse staff hosted a celebration in the third-floor jury selection room, complete with face painting, balloons, doughnuts and other treats, a stuffed animal "zoo" and a visit by Disney princess performers.
"The reason we do all this is to put the word out there that we need more adoptive parents," said Theresa Stone, the social worker who handled Sheri's adoption case. "The more that we can spread the word about the need, the better."
Diane Salinas, an adoption supervisor with the state Children's Administration, said 30 children ages 2 to 15 were legally united with their forever families at the courthouse on Friday. Iverson, the attorney, said his office alone handles 20 to 25 adoptions each month.
Stone said hundreds of children in Spokane County are legally free for adoption, and she urged prospective foster parents to contact the Foster Parent Association of Eastern Washington for information. The group's phone number is (509) 359-6130, and its website is fpas.org.
The Wisners, who live in Otis Orchards, have adopted all four of their daughters. In addition to Sheri, there's 6-year-old Athena, 5-year-old Kenzie and 4-year-old Klara.
Erica Wisner, 32, is a pre-school teacher. Steve, 33, works in food distribution. They have fostered Sheri since she was infant; they said her biological mom has been in and out of jail for years, mainly because of a drug addiction.
"I guess I would just encourage people to consider it," Erica Wisner said of adoption.
Amy Gladden, the woman dressed as She-Ra, is a family friend. But on Friday she identified herself as Sheri's new "auntie."
"Erica and Steve have more love to give than anyone I know," Gladden said. "And Sheri just completes the family."