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Matter Of Fax
This story appears in the October 1998 issue of Entrepreneur. Subscribe »
W hen Microsoft integrated faxing capabilities (Microsoft Fax) into its Windows operating system, many people feared the demise of stand-alone fax programs. Others predicted the popularity of e-mail would curb the use of fax machines. But this hasn't been the case: Faxing is still one of the most popular modes of transmission. With faxing, there's no worry that the attached document will be unreadable, a common occurrence when sending files via e-mail.
Although the fax software field has narrowed, it certainly hasn't disappeared. In fact, Microsoft's move has encouraged the development of more robust fax programs--giving you the ability to do everything from sending and receiving faxes to turning your computer into a full-blown communications center, complete with voice messaging and paging capabilities.
At the most basic level, faxing from your PC saves you the hassle of printing a document and taking it to a fax machine. If you're a frequent traveler and take a laptop on the road, having access to a fax program gives you the ability to receive and send high-quality faxes regardless of whether you have a printer handy. Essentially, any fax machine becomes your "printer"--just send yourself a fax to your hotel's front desk.
Other reasons for employing one of these affordable programs include broadcast faxing, which involves creating one document and sending it to dozens of individuals; and faxing via the Internet, which allows you to send long-distance faxes for the cost of connecting to your ISP. Faxing via your computer also gives you the ability to keep extensive logs of incoming and outgoing faxes, much like the way you track your e-mail messages.
Of course, to use fax software, your PC must be equipped with a fax modem, and if you have voice-oriented telephony features, you'll need a voice-capable modem. All the programs reviewed here run under Windows 95.
Cassandra Cavanah is a Los Angeles freelance writer who has reported on the computer industry for nine years.
By Popular Demand
By the time you read this, Symantec's WinFax PRO 9.0 will be on store shelves. WinFax PRO is the bestselling fax software program on the market. The program comes with TalkWorks, software that allows users to use their PC as an answering machine. TalkWorks also supports fax-on-demand, giving others the ability to dial in to your computer and request documents to be faxed back to them.
WinFax is simple to install and set up. For quick access to its features, WinFax adds an icon to the Windows toolbar for sending and receiving faxes. When you're ready to send a fax, just click on the icon, and the WinFax PRO wizard takes you step by step through the process. It lets you add recipients to your address book, compose a fax cover sheet and attach files to be sent. Before sending the fax, you're given the opportunity to view its layout. From the WinFax icon on the toolbar, you can also enable or disable the incoming fax feature.
To access the more sophisticated features, you have to actually open the WinFax program. Here you can design your own cover sheet or choose one of WinFax's existing templates.
You can also sign up for Internet faxing, which allows users to send faxes via the Net, cutting down on telephone costs and enabling you to do large-group broadcast faxing that ensures all recipients receive their faxes at the same time. Setting up the Internet faxing component was fairly simple, but using it was a different story. First of all, I couldn't determine the charges incurred from using it (though it did say I was getting a free 30-minute trial for signing up). Next, when I attempted to send a fax via the Net, the link to my personalized mail box on the fax service's Web site (http://www.netcentric.com) didn't work, so I couldn't track it. And Symantec's otherwise extensive Help section didn't offer enough details on Internet faxing for effective troubleshooting. I did, however, receive an e-mail message from the fax service within 30 minutes that answered all my questions.
The 9.0 version has two key features worth noting. First, there's a new fax-sharing feature for LANs that enables small offices to load a host copy of WinFax on a single machine that has a modem and dedicated phone line. This means you won't have to equip every machine with a modem and data line. Additionally, true road warriors should benefit from improved support for digital cellular standards, which promises to make sending and receiving faxes from mobile environments easier.
WinFax includes seamless support of Microsoft Exchange and Outlook phonebooks and lets you fairly easily import data from other address book programs.
Get The Message
As with WinFax, HotFax MessageCenter lets you not only send and receive faxes but manage other aspects of your office communications, including voice mail and paging. This program has all the same features as WinFax, including Internet faxing (a feature HotFax takes more pains to explain). I found HotFax an even easier product to use. Its interface was clean, and simple navigation made sending my first fax painless. Though HotFax lacked wizards, I found I didn't need them.
Navigating HotFax's cover sheets was less cumbersome than with WinFax. There were plenty to choose from; however, their design and style lacked a certain sophistication.
Adding records to HotFax's address book was simple, but this program lacks the more extensive support of address book programs that WinFax features. Importing is possible, but you can only import generic XBASE files, which may require some fumbling to convert your address book files to XBASE.
This program can also act as a host, letting users dial into your PC to access files or faxes. And if your modem supports voice features, HotFax will launch its Command Console for dialing and receiving voice calls. Like WinFax's TalkWorks, MessageCenter gives you a way of managing voice calls on your PC.
Can We Talk?
Communicate! Pro dubs itself "the ultimate communication solution." This program is designed for people who want all their communication needs serviced by a single source. Communicate! Pro's interface is a large graphic that looks like a telephone/answering machine; you access functions with the click of a button.
Although the other programs offer capabilities other than faxing, Communicate! Pro is the only one that has taken the spotlight off faxing and moved the focus to other communication functions, including substantial support of e-mail and Internet browsing. For the purpose of this column, we focused on the fax capabilities.
From Communicate! Pro's interface, I clicked on the "send quick fax" button and was faced with an extremely detailed screen that let me input a phone number and add it to my phone book; it then showed me the cover page in full-screen mode (something I didn't ask to see). Hitting the "send" button gave me a message indicating the success of my activities, but my modem failed to dial out. In trying to ascertain the problem, I checked out the fax log and couldn't even locate a record of the fax.
I found Communicate! Pro too feature-intensive, so much so that I couldn't dig beneath its layers to easily perform the functions I required. I wouldn't turn to Communicate! Pro if faxing was my main concern.
The Wrap-Up
If you're not taking advantage of your PC's fax modem for sending and receiving faxes, you're missing out.
For general faxing, I'd recommend HotFax over WinFax due to ease-of-use factors. However, WinFax is a great choice for Microsoft Outlook or Exchange users. Communicate! Pro is more appropriate for power users who are willing to take the time to learn the program's extensive features.
New And Notable Software
- Intuit's Quicken Home & Business 99: There are plenty of enhancements in the newest version of Quicken Home & Business, including a new Accounts Payable feature and a new Statements feature for keeping track of customer invoices. Intuit has also added more ways to analyze and improve your financial situation with a new Financial Activity Center and what-if scenarios. There's also a new QuickEntry feature that lets you input transactions faster than ever. Quicken Home & Business 99 retails for $89.95. Check out http://www.intuit.com/quicken or call (800) 4-INTUIT.
- Kai's Power SHOW: This $49.95 program lets you bring all your digital images, from digital cameras, scanners, Web sites and presentation slides, into one program. The end result is a show that can be shared with friends or business associates via computer monitor, projector, printer or the Web. Call (800) 846-0111 or visit http://www.metacreations.com
- Dr Solomon's Anti-Virus Deluxe: With a little foresight, you can avoid any potential problems caused by a virus. Anti-Virus Deluxe includes a full tutorial that explains what viruses are and comes with NetGuard for protecting your PC when cruising the Web and downloading files. You can also schedule regular virus scans to make sure nothing has invaded your system. Anti-Virus Deluxe costs $59.95. Call (888) 377-6566 or visit http://www.drsolomon.com


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As a reminder, UFC 157 takes place Saturday at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif., and the event kicks off at 6:35 p.m. ET (3:35 p.m. PT).
In addition to the pay-per-view main card, FX and Facebook carry the prelims for the 12-bout lineup.
In the headliner, newly minted women's bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey (6-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) meets Liz Carmouche (7-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC). It marks the first female bout, first women's title fight, and first all-female main event in UFC history.
In the co-headliner, light-heavyweight contenders clash when Lyoto Machida (18-3 MMA, 10-3 UFC) takes on Dan Henderson (29-8 MMA, 6-2 UFC).
The full UFC 157 lineup includes:
MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view, 10 p.m. ET)
- Champ Ronda Rousey vs. Liz Carmouche – for women's bantamweight title
- Dan Henderson vs. Lyoto Machida
- Urijah Faber vs. Ivan Menjivar
- Court McGee vs. Josh Neer
- Josh Koscheck vs. Robbie Lawler
PRELIMINARY CARD (FX, 8 p.m. ET)
- Lavar Johnson vs. Brendan Schaub
- Mike Chiesa vs. Anton Kuivanen
- Dennis Bermudez vs. Matt Grice
- Caros Fodor vs. Sam Stout
PRELIMINARY CARD (Facebook, 6:35 p.m. ET)
- Brock Jardine vs. Kenny Robertson
- Neil Magny vs. Jon Manley
- Nah-Shon Burrell vs. Yuri Villefort
For more on UFC 157, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.
(Pictured: Ronda Rousey)

subset: commoncrawl


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Five Trades That Will Have the Most Impact on the Major League Baseball Playoffs
Major League Baseball's trade deadline has come and gone, which means it's time to dust off the infield dirt and see which moves could have a significant effect on those teams eyeing deep October runs. Here's a look at five of them:
Perhaps no team read this year's trade market better than the Rangers. Texas general manager Jon Daniels was focused on one thing leading up to July 31 -- improve the pitching staff. With few rotation arms available at a reasonable cost, Daniels turned his attention to solidifying a bullpen that unraveled in the Rangers World Series' loss to San Francisco last year.
After nabbing Baltimore's Koji Uehara and the Padres' Mike Adams, the Rangers armed themselves with two of the top relievers available and a pair that will compliment and preserve young closer Neftali Feliz. In what could form a potent 7th and 8th inning tandem, Uehara and Adams boast a combined 113 strikeouts and just 17 walks. Further, Uehara (0.69) and Adams (.073) have the lowest WHIP among all pitchers who have thrown at least 45 innings pitched, while Adams' 1.13 ERA is the second best mark in MLB among all pitchers with at least 45 innings pitched. They both limit free passes and can pile on the strikeouts, highlighted by Uehara's strikeout-to-walk ratio (8.00), which is the second best among all relievers, behind only the Giants' Sergio Romo.
The moves promise to have an impact on the race for the American League West in a big way, especially given the fact the team chasing Texas -- the Angels -- chose to stand pat.
In one of the more unheralded trades of the deadline, the Detroit Tigers traded for Seattle Mariners starter Doug Fister. No pitcher has been let down by his team more than the 27-year-old righty and his 3-12 record bears the proof. Fister is one of only two AL pitchers who have double-digit losses, while sporting an ERA under 4.00. He's also the only pitcher in the majors with double-digit losses and a WHIP under 1.20 (1.17). Despite a solid 3.33 ERA, Fister has been victim to the lowest run support in the majors at 3.02 runs-per-game, something that's made him somewhat of an afterthought at the deadline.
But make no mistake, the Tiger's addition of Fister could help keep Detroit afloat in one of baseball's toss-up divisions. Already claiming the best 1-2 punch in the Central in Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer, trading for Fister provides Detroit a trio of quality arms to give itself a chance in a playoff series.
If there's one team that likely punched its ticket to the postseason with a trade that shored up a glaring weakness, it's the Giants. San Francisco finally got the middle-of-the-order bat it managed to do without during its title run but desperately needed this year after losing catcher Buster Posey for the season.
Carlos Beltran came at a cost -- pitching prospect Zack Wheeler -- but a sustainable one given the quality of arms the Giants already posses. Beltran, who's enjoying a resurgence while staying injury-free, brings an all-star bat to the Bay that has the potential to affect the postseason in the same way it did in Houston in 2005.
The Giants were in dire need of offense and got one of the best bats available. Will it be enough to repeat as champs? It might not. But it's almost a guarantee to get them into the playoffs and allow them the chance to defend their title.
If Beltran wasn't the top offensive player moved at the deadline, then it was Hunter Pence. And it says here that's likely the case.
Philadelphia's daunting threesome of Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, and Cole Hamels has lived up to the hype, but these Phillies aren't your 2008 offensive juggernaut anymore. Despite a lineup that features a pair of the game's top hitters in Ryan Howard and a healthy Chase Utley, the Phils have watched their lineup grow older and slower with each passing season and one wondered if it they had it in them to hold off a charging Atlanta squad down the stretch in the National League East.
Well, after acquiring Hunter Pence from the Houston Astros, the Phillies lineup is without a doubt more balanced, potent, and complete. The 28-year-old outfielder is an energetic sparkplug who offers great defense and speed on the basepaths to go with an aggressive approach at the plate that instills fear in opposing pitchers.
The best part of this trade for the Phillies isn't Pence's bat or his team-friendly contract, it's that they kept him away from the Braves. It could be the difference between a pennant and home-field advantage.
While Ubaldo Jimenez was the only player who shouldn't have been traded this year -- a talent too good to move is almost implicitly considered the top acquisition -- his full impact may not be felt in the final two months of the season.
Forget the Indians coughed up some serious young talent to get him -- and they did, in a pair of projectable high-ceiling arms -- because any time you can move prospects for an established major leaguer with payroll-friendly years left on his deal, you have to do it. Not to mention, it's the type of trade a fanbase dreams of when its club is in contention this late into the season.
But although the 27-year-old flamethrower was arguably the biggest talent to move by the deadline, the team that acquired him may be the furthest from contending of the five clubs listed. The trade theoretically should help the Indians hold off the Twins, but to say they are head and shoulders above the Tigers and White Sox would be simply untrue.
They still have holes in their lineup and starting rotations, and it may not be enough to get them into the playoffs. However, Jimenez makes them a better team today, tomorrow, and next year, and that's why it was one of the steals of the deadline.


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Clerk's shooting prompts call for safer stores
Clerk injured while trying to retrieve stolen purse
The shooting of a convenience store clerk who was trying to retrieve a woman's stolen purse has prompted a call for new laws to make stores safe.
Yousaf Haroon suffered a life-threatening gunshot wound to the stomach at the Food Shop near Gregory Boulevard and Cleveland Avenue. Prosecutors have charged Murad Jones, who police said confessed to the shooting during questioning.
"When are we going to have a safe city? A safe community?" said MD Alam, a friend of Haroon's.
The Food Shop, like many convenience stores in the Kansas City area, is owned and staff by immigrants from the Middle East and South Asia.
Alam said perhaps a hundred times in the last couple of years, those businesses have been targets of some sort of crime.
"We do not need to see every second day someone named Muhammed, Ilsuf or Tony get shot and killed," Alam said.
When he mentioned Tony, he was talking about Tony Singh, a father working two jobs who was fatally shot while getting ready to finish his shift at a south Kansas City convenience store.
Alam has led a push to get lawmakers to take up what he calls Tony's Bill, which would give clerks in those stores more protection. It would require convenience stores to put up bulletproof glass around the cash register areas and have at least two people on duty during late or overnight hours.
"Please, please, those elected officials, do something! If we need to sweep out, to clean out crime, let's do it," Alam said.
He said local business owners from the Middle East and South Asia wonder if they need to take their business out of Kansas City because of their fears of crime and violence. He said those owners plan to have a meeting with top Kansas City police officials.


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The Konami code is a secret branding, a geek stigmata—all it takes is that one brief flash, and you're immediately recognized as one of US. Is it any surprise then, that if you enter that hallowed sequence on DP's new Pogue-o-Matic gadget finder, you get to watch him do a special trick?
Just type in the magic words (up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, b, a, enter) on the front page, and you will be rewarded. But as Adam points out, an additional 30 seconds of Pogue hamming it up might not juice you the same way as unlimited lives in Contra did back in the day, but our hats are off to you David Pogue, as well as the NYT code monkeys that dreamed this up. [Pogue-O-Matic]


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A collection of scholarly works about individual liberty and free markets. A project of Liberty Fund, Inc.
The Tale of Beowulf, sometime King of the Folk of the Weder Geats, trans. William Morris and A.J. Wyatt (London: Longmans, Green, and Co., 1910). https://oll.libertyfund.org/titles/1055,
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An English translation of the tale. Beowulf is one of the first literary masterpieces of the English language, written in Old English in the eleventh century. The story itself is thought to have been originally composed sometime between 700 and 750. Although certain places and events are indeed historical, the main character of the story, Beowulf, is thought to be a fictional, archetypal hero. It recounts the life of Prince Beowulf of the Scandinavian Geats, who fights various monsters, returns to his father's kingdom a hero and soon becomes king himself, ruling for fifty years in peace until a frightful dragon appears. Once more Beowulf must fulfill his responsibilities, even unto his own destruction.
The text is in the public domain.
This material is put online to further the educational goals of Liberty Fund, Inc. Unless otherwise stated in the Copyright Information section above, this material may be used freely for educational and academic purposes. It may not be used in any way for profit.


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One of the best things about watching your favorite artist live on Ustream is that you never know exactly what they're going to do. They could play unreleased tracks, drop exclusive info on upcoming collaborations or tour dates, prank call a fan's ex, or engage viewers with a little impromptu freestyle. We've compiled what we think of as the "top 5" best freestyles of all time on Ustream, so take a listen and be sure to follow these channels if you want to see them the next time they go live!
Which one is your favorite? Are we missing one? Tell us in the comments!


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It's been an eventful spring for Texans rookie tackle David Quessenberry.
The sixth-round pick has seen extensive first-team work at right tackle thanks to injuries that have kept Derek Newton and Brennan Williams off the practice field and he's also been dealing with a strange series of events involving a white Ford truck he borrowed from his uncle for use during OTAs and minicamps. The truck was stolen last Friday from the parking lot of Quessenberry's hotel and recovered in Texas on Wednesday although police believe it made at least one trip across the border to Mexico before it was found.
"It was used for human smuggling. That's what they're being charged with along with grand theft auto," Quessenberry said, via Tania Ganguli of the Houston Chronicle. "It's pretty easy to tell when you can look at a truck and see things that are hollowed out and where people have been laying down. It's a no-brainer that they were using it for that."
That story had a happy ending for Quessenberry and his uncle and the football side of things looks like it has a chance to work out well for the rookie too. Right tackle was a troublesome spot for the team last year and coach Gary Kubiak said he's impressed enough with Quessenberry's progress to leave the door open for a starting job this season.
"You never know. There have been some sixth- and seventh-round draft choices in this league start and [become] great players. With the work he's getting, he's going to get a good chance to have that type of situation as a young player, so we'll see what happens," Kubiak said.
As the saga of the truck makes clear, life throws its share of curveballs. Training camp will tell us whether a sixth-round rookie starting for the defending AFC South champs is one of them.


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After missing most of last season with a back injury, University of Michigan forward Mitch McGary seemed likely to head back to Ann Arbor for another year of work on his sketchy offensive game and another deep run in the NCAA tournament. Instead, he'll be declaring for the NBA draft—all because he got high.
Yahoo's Dan Wetzel has the story, which is significantly dumber than you'd think. As Michigan was celebrating their Sweet 16 win over Tennessee, it seems, some NCAA guy grabbed McGary—who hadn't played in months—and demanded he submit to a drug test. It came back hot, as McGary had smoked weed two weeks before. If he'd failed a Michigan test, McGary would have been in for a three-game suspension; this being an NCAA test, though, he was in for a year-long ban. (Adding to the absurdity, the NCAA recently announced that, among other policy changes, it would be halving the suspension for "street drugs," so that McGary would have been subject to a penalty even the NCAA thinks is draconian.) Understandably enough, he's going pro.
This is pretty ridiculous; whether or not we've come to accept it, the idea of schools and a profiteering cartel forcing anyone to piss in a jar is outrageous. It's also pretty telling; the NCAA, which constantly reminds us that so-called student-athletes are students above all, is penalizing McGary for doing something normal and healthy that millions of his peers do. Happily, though, no one seems to be pretending otherwise.
Wetzel has McGary expressing some perfunctory remorse ("This was a learning moment for me") and coach John Beilein expressing some perfunctory disappointment ( "This is not Mitch McGary"), but the thrust of his report is that the NCAA is running a guy out of college due to a perverse and archaic policy. Whatever; McGary got high, and now he'll get paid. Things work out in the end.
Photo via Getty


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Have you ever done anything that made you feel like a dunderhead? Maybe a little bone-headed, thick, numb-skullish?
Here is my grin and bear it oops post about a recent post I wrote. I somehow believed that 6 April 2010 was the second tuesday of the month. I wasn't paying attention to the dates, otherwise I would have caught it. Since I thought it was the second tuesday of the month I got in a hurry to put out my T-SQL Tuesday Submission or the syndicated form of it at SSC. This is a part of the meme started by Adam Machanic and being hosted this month by Aaron Nelson.
I enjoy participating in this meme. I learn something new each month revolving around the topic presented each month. I think some pretty cool stuff is demonstrated and it helps me to learn.
The end result is I was a bit early this month since the real date for submission is not until 13 April 2010. I had the option of removing my post and delaying the publication until next week. I felt I had better take my lumps rather than republish the same thing in a week. Especially after enough people had already read the article.
Sorry for any confusion this mistake may have caused people that read the article. The content is still good, but just don't think of it as a TSQL Tuesday submission.


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dictionary, published list, in alphabetical order, of the words of a language. In monolingual dictionaries the words are explained and defined in the same language; in bilingual dictionaries they are translated into another language. Modern dictionaries usually also provide phonetic transcriptions, hyphenation, synonyms, derived forms, and etymology. However, a dictionary of a living language can never be complete; old words fall into disuse, new words are constantly created, and those surviving frequently change their meanings. The modern dictionary is often prescriptive rather than descriptive, for it attempts to establish certain forms as preferable. The most remarkable case of this sort is the dictionary of the French Academy, which is both widely admired and ignored. The popular American attitude of the 19th cent. toward dictionaries gave them a nearly sacred authority, but in the 20th cent. the dictionary makers themselves began to replace notions of purity (especially based on etymology) by criteria of use, somewhat ahead of analogous developments in grammar. Because of the unprecedented scientific advances of the 20th cent., many scientific terms have come into popular use and consequently have increased the size of general dictionaries.
Sections in this article:
- Introduction
- Illustrative Examples and the Oxford Dictionaries
- Notable Recent Dictionaries
- Early English Dictionaries
- The American Dictionaries of Webster and Others
- Bibliography
The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2012, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.
See more Encyclopedia articles on: Literature: General


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I am from the Canadian Reformed Church, a church with which you (OPC) have formed sister-church relations. I was just wondering what your thoughts on the Christian lifestyle are. Below is a joke-list. In it there are a couple of things I don't agree with (#4, 5, 6). I will admit that this is just a joke-list, but I find that many reformed people do smoke and drink, and go to bars. What should our stance on this be? I used to smoke, and felt very guilty about it before God. That is why I quit. Just wondering.
I agree with you that the "Reasons I am a Calvinist" are frivolous and entertaining. Of course some of them deserve answers, so I will attempt to give such answers.
1, 2, and 3: It may be that Dutch Calvinists were more stiff and traditional in their go-to-church clothing than others, but since the 60's those distinctions have fallen away. At best, they were expressive of their attitude (Calvinists, I mean), that is, of the Calvinist high concept of the worship of God. That attitude persists, but in light of James 2 (look it up and read it), the matter of clothing is irrelevant in OPC churches today. It's not a matter of whether we follow the older tradition of "Sunday clothes" (myself included), but the attitude of the heart that is most important.
In a congregation I served more recently, we had men in dungarees take up the offering. They were cleanly dressed and were suitably attired by Biblical standards. John Calvin's French origin has no bearing on the man. The quip about Calvin Klein (if meant seriously) would be offensive. Of course, I don't assume the author meant it seriously. Personally, my respect for John Calvin's life and ministry would prevent me from writing about his origins frivolously.
I agree with your concerns in 4 through 6. Take smoking and drinking: In my childhood and youth I remember hearing of a saying in Dutch (I am not Dutch) which said, "Tis not a man that doue not smoke," including the "Dominee" (pastor). And in those days it was pretty much true! But I've known too many long-time smokers who have died of lung cancer or emphysema. The latter disease is one of the most horrible ways to die that I as a pastor have ever witnessed!
As to the drinking of alcoholic beverages, the Bible permits wine, but warns against strong drink (Proverbs 23:29-35). Also, Ephesians 5:18 speaks concisely to the question. If drunk with wine, the drinker is under the control of the intoxicant. If filled with the Spirit (a subject I won't go into here), then the indwelling Spirit is in control (through the sanctified intellect). (See also Romans 8:9).
Putting together numbers 4 and 5, the right or wrong of practices have to do with certain of the Commandments: "You shall not murder" (Exodus 20:13). The First and Second Commandments also apply. As to self control, Galatians 5:23 applies. How can we be led by the Spirit through the Word and, at the same time be mastered by a severe addiction? That is not to say that all who smoke or drink wine are addicted. So we do not necessarily believe that we can judge a person who smokes or makes moderate use of wine.
I myself refrain from both by choice. But I judge no man who has a different choice unless and until I perceive that he's "hooked" on something. The important thing is that Christians have liberty to make choices of anything that the Word of God doesn't forbid. Had I taken up smoking in my childhood home, I would have been sinning, since my father strictly forbade it to his children. The Fifth Commandment ("Honor your father and mother...") settled the matter.
7 is almost totally frivolous. True, dispensationalists spend a lot of energy discussing prophecy, etc. But Calvinists are also concerned with a biblical understanding of prophecy. After all, the Bible has a lot of prophecies—some fulfilled and some yet to be fulfilled. Calvinists are concerned about life and culture as all Christians ought to be (1 Corinthians 10:31). As to the "local pub," that sounds British to me but doesn't require exegesis.
As to 7, Scotland is the historical source of Presbyterianism, and we are Presbyterians. But not all Calvinists are Presbyterian. There are Dutch Calvinists, also French, German, and (from the former sources) American Calvinists, and many more! Bagpipes are Scottish and fascinating. They are a cultural phenomenon. Calvinists do not despise culture, nor are they ruled by it. They are interested in all cultures. But as one missionary friend put it, we are not required to make Christianity conform to various world cultures, but we labor to Christianize the cultures.
Number 8 is not true. It may be that some Calvinists talk and act "smart." But being biblical Christians, they recognize that they are as sinful (of themselves) as all of fallen humanity. Matthew 15:15-20 is confessed as true of themselves by serious Calvinists. See also Matthew 5:3-4; 25:30; Romans 7:14-25. We confess our native total depravity. In ourselves we can do nothing good; but through the grace of God in Christ we can do what is pleasing to God, but not even that perfectly He receives our obedience as our thankfulness for His saving mercies. Only Christ's perfect obedience can satisfy the Law's demands. And that obedience is imputed to us who believe through His death on the cross. 9 is similar to 8. Genuine Calvinists do not pride themselves on their "social acceptability," and—if they are genuine Calvinists—they are often less "socially acceptable" than the other churches you mention.
10 is absolutely incorrect. No man becomes a member of any church by fatalistic appointment. True, the Bible teaches that "The decrees of God are his eternal purpose, according to the counsel of his will, whereby for his own glory, he hath foreordained whatsoever comes to pass" (Westminster Shorter Catechism-Q. 7). That is what the Bible means by foreordination. But the Bible also teaches human responsibility. "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved"; "Choose you this day who you will serve.."; Jesus said, "Come to me, all you who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest." And there are many more.
How can I reconcile these intellectually? I struggled long and futilely on that question. But I believe both because the Bible teaches both! I don't fully understand it, but I believe it. And believing it brings me great peace. I was made in the image of God. Our God is a choosing God, and he made me a choosing creature. Of course, being a depraved sinner, I could not of myself choose him (John 6:44), but he drew me to himself, gave me a new heart to believe (John 3:3 & 5), and I came to him (John 6:37; Romans 8:28). It was so great a relief that I was not required to figure it all out in my small-capacity mind. I found Deuteronomy 29:29 to say it just right: "The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and our sons [children] forever, that we may do all the words of this law."
I could have disposed of the questions in a shorter way, but I believe it profitable to set my answers in their biblical contexts. I hope this has been a profit to you.
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Chaplains and Military Personnel


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I'm guessing you are here because your birth story included a Csection. Perhaps it was planned, perhaps not. Either way you are now healing from major surgery. OK, I know that technically speaking a Csection is not "major surgery" because the uterus – the giver and nurturer of human life – is not considered to be a "major" organ?!?! I am a woman, a mother, a feminist, and a doula in Amsterdam; and because I am writing this post we will define a Csection as major surgery here.
So you are healing from major surgery whilst also facing those intense cocooned days of living with your newborn baby, waiting for milk to come in, comforting and feeding your newborn baby, trying to remember to eat and drink enough yourself, not to mention your whole body and system recovering from 8/9/10 months of pregnancy…..
all. at. the. same. time.
(Image credit: Helen Carmina Photography)
Now, as many clients and friends will testify, I am a great believer and fan of the body's ability to heal itself miraculously – but given that there is so much going on for you after having had a baby, a major surgery and a major rite of passage – a little helping hand to support it in it's recovery and reacclimatisation can go a long way to a happy healthy postpartum period.
Here beneath you will find a comprehensive list of holistic healing tips to help your body, mind and soul heal and thrive following a Caesarean birth.
Practical Hacks
# Bed and bedroom # Rework it for practicality's sake. Leaving the remarkable ease of a hospital bed with hoists and levers and buttons to raise you up and down to your heart's content can be a big shock to the system. When you arrive home head straight to your bedroom with someone on hand to do the heavy lifting (in NL we are so lucky to have Kraamzorg for this support) and make the necessary adjustments.
- Make sure baby is close; to you and/or your partner. Consider safe co-sleeping to make sure they are really close. Having baby as close as possible will limit the moments where your heart might break a little bit as you are struggling to get up and reach baby.
- Get something to step up onto your bed if it's high, something strong and sturdy to hold on to as you lower yourself if it is low.
- Set up an adequately sized bedside table (this may mean drafting in a larger or wider temporary table) which is big enough to house a big bottle of water, a tea pot full of tea (see below), a breast pump or a baby bottle, your mobile phone and it's charger (maybe you will need an extension lead), a lamp suitable for use in the night, a muslin cloth, pain meds, and if there is any room left – a little bowl of healthy nibbles to be topped up by your loved ones every 12 hours – think fresh fruit, nuts, crackers, dried fruits, dark chocolate (it helps the oxytocin keep on flowing and boosts serotonin don't you know?!)
# AIR to the wound as much as possible # Lie down whilst baby sleeps or is carried by your partner and just let clean dry air reach the wound – in the very immediate days that might mean that you need to hold the belly up off the wound as your body begins to reacclimatise to not having a full pregnant belly anymore. NB. If you have been advised to have the wound covered for the first 3 – 5 days – perhaps simply allow for 30 minutes to an hour in between dressing changes to let the air get to it. Please note I also advise against using a hair dryer to "blow dry" the wound. There can be all kinds of particles in the air, which when heated and concentrated into a directed stream of air toward the incision can be completely inconducive to successful wound healing.
# Nothing more than water! # In the first couple of weeks water is all that is needed to wash the wound; and the most important thing: dry it scrupulously (moist patches of skin can be breeding ground for fungal infection; see aromatherapy hacks for antifungal oils) – see the old cotton sheet tip hereunder – these strips can make soft, clean and reusable drying cloths too.
# Pain medication # Keep on top of the dose for the first few days. Double check with your healthcare providers if the pain relief you are prescribed is compatible with breastfeeding. Many medications work by building up a certain level in the blood; so when you take a dose set an alarm or get someone to remind you when you are due to take the next dose in order that your dose remains on an even keel and so that you don't get caught unawares by intense pain.
# Big 'Bridget Jones' knickers # When lying naked in bed skin to skin with baby isn't possible for whatever reason – big Bridget Jones knickers to the rescue. At least 5cm above your belly button (if you can find them!!!), 100% cotton, at least two sizes larger than you would normally wear (they will help keep the sanitary towels in place too!) and if you can bear it; have someone take a photo of you doing your most seductive hip shaking in these pants – so you never forget the comfort of these hip huggers!
# Rip it up # Additionally, tear up or cut up an old cotton sheet – get it washed in a hot hot wash (60 degrees plus) and tear it into strips about 15cm x 25cm in size, to fold or roll up and to tuck between your wound and the aforementioned Bridget Jones knickers.
# One step at a time # Keep moving. Slowly but surely, a little bit more each day. Keeping moving helps our whole body to heal, regulate and keep functioning optimally through good circulation and good flow of the lymph and other fluids. Keeping mobile can also help to prevent a build up of trapped gases. You don't need to head out of the door if you don't feel ready, but stroll around the house, if you have a garden have a wander in the garden. Don't carry or lift anything heavier than baby though remember, and do what you need to do to help your body feel safe and supported; even if that means physically holding your abdomen with your hands as you walk for a few days.
# Sleep When Baby Sleeps # The original and best restorative modus operandi for our bodies. Potentially easier said than done with a newborn baby; so I mean it when I say "Sleep when baby sleeps!" The washing, the cleaning, the ironing, the phonecalls, the social media updates can all wait: sleep is where the healing is at!
# "It takes a village" # Every family needs extra help after the birth of a newborn, but following a Caesarean birth, with rest being as fundamental to physical healing as it is; organising a meal train, or someone to come and entertain siblings or the dog, someone to put a load of washing on and peg yesterday's load out on the line (you get the idea) can really make a difference to your peace of mind and the logistics of those early weeks. I can't speak for elsewhere but I know that here in Amsterdam and elsewhere within The Netherlands, we have some incredible mother-led communities and organisations being initiated by volunteers that are easily accessible for all. You can find the Postnatal Support Network of Amsterdam here, and I have no doubt that you will find someone in your area that can point you in the right direction for help and support. If not: reach out to friends. You can set up a WhatsAp or Facebook group for those friends in your circle who can offer some support and get used to asking for what you need during the coming few days, weeks and months.
Food & Drink
# Water Water Water # Aim to drink at least 2 litres of pure water a day (on top of teas and broths). This is essential for rehydrating after surgery and a hospital stay which can be notoriously drying for the body. It also helps prevent infection, flush out inflammation and traces of analgesia and antibiotics, help keep the bowel and urinary tract moving and flushing, along with providing enough hydration as your body begins to produce breastmilk too!
# Wholesome Good Food # This is important however you give birth, but especially after a Caesarean. A varied, well balanced diet rich in protein, good fats, minerals, vitamins and fibre will help your body attribute the necessary nutrients to all the different bodily functions happening at once (as mentioned above). Foods which help to fight inflammation are also helpful for your body right now.
Spicy / Herbal Hacks
Get the kettle on! Tea time!
(head over here for the tea set!)
Nettle tea, dandelion tea, fennel tea and breastfeeding teas such as the Weleda tea will all help to promote breastfeeding but also assist your body in flushing out all the excess fluids your body produced during pregnancy, aswell as help your body cleanse out all the pain medication, anaesthetics, antibiotics and IV fluids that you may have received during the Caesarean and immediately afterwards.
Warming spices: ginger, cardamon, cinnamon, turmeric – hello Chai latte! In Traditional Chinese Medicine giving birth to a baby represents a serious interuption to the flow and force of one's qi or "chi" as we commonly say in the West. It is therefore considered essential to post partum healing to replace the lost heat after any birth, but giving birth via major surgery is considered an even greater deficit in chi.
Also worth noting: turmeric is not only a warming spice but one of nature's greatest anti inflammatory substances (over the counter anti-inflammatories include Advil/Nurofen/Naproxen), and is a galactagogue (a substance which encourages the production of breast milk) so turmeric can truly have a multitude of highly beneficial side effects. See this link for a wonderful recipe for a rich nourishing turmeric "golden milk" at no. 7 & a simple but tasty turmeric tea at no. 1 It is worthwhile noting that Turmeric is best absorbed by the body when paired with black pepper; again more info via the link above.
Raspberry Leaf Tea – whilst after any other type of birth I would encourage the use of Raspberry Leaf Tea, following a Cesarean I would encourage caution. Longer term certainly helpful as it is such a wonderful uterine tonic at any stage of a woman's life, however for the first six weeks following the operation I would personally be limiting this tea to once every few days.
Peppermint Tea or Peppermint Oil – whilst normally both peppermint tea and oil would be wonderfully helpful after surgery on or around the abdomen for gas or trapped wind, following a C-section during the period of time where you are likely to be trying to initiate breastfeeding – peppermint oil is understood to interrupt milk supply and production. See instead the aromatherapy section further down the thread.
Breastfeeding Hacks
Find the position that works the best for you and your baby. Maybe it is sat upright holding baby in the "rugby ball" position. Perhaps you can lie on your side with baby adjacent to you (this might not be possible immediately after a Cesarean). If you are sitting cross legged it can be really wonderful to put a cushion or pillow underneath each of your knees as it takes the strain off your abdomen. If the breastfeeding pillow which you bought with every good intention in the world isnt working for you – don't hesitate to try without!
Please head over here to KellyMom.com (a great source of breastfeeding information and support) for their take on setting yourself up for successful breastfeeding after a Caesarean birth.
Milk Production/Pumping – I just want to be upfront and honest that milk production can take a little longer following a Caesarean (and analgesia); and so pumping might well be suggested to "improve" or hasten milk flow by increasing milk removal; especially helpful in the early days when you and baby are both learning how to breastfeed. Please don't despair, this does not mean that "you can't breastfeed after a Caesarean", this does not mean your breasts "aren't working". In those early days it can feel like you're climbing a mountain on your hands and knees, but keep in mind that in fact it is the first 8 weeks post partum which determines your milk production and flow, and each day you are probably noting that you feel a little bit better, a little bit stronger: have faith – this too shall pass! All that said, given that it can be more difficult to initiate breastfeeding after a C-Section, if you have any pain or doubts about baby's latch or your breasts, then make sure to consult a well recommended Lactation Consultant or Peer to Peer Breastfeeding Counselor to iron out any issues before they take route. Lastly; due to the IV fluid that you receive when you undergo a Cesarean birth combined with the fact that baby doesn't withstand the compression of a vaginal birth; babies born via Csection can have a slightly higher birth weight than their vaginally born counterparts. This can in turn mean a slightly elevated weight loss in the early days…remember to bring this into any conversation about baby's weight loss (even if it's just a personal reminder to reassure yourself) and perhaps consider waiting one more day before intervening with supplementation.
Probiotics – after having been exposed from the inside out to bacteria which are so different from our own microbiome in an operating theatre, and then receiving a big dose of antibiotics; taking probiotics in the form of supplements, or drinking yoghurt or water kefir, or eating fermented foods like Sauerkraut can really help mothers and their babies readjust their microbiome from the inside out. Studies are showing us that our guts are fundamental to good health, and unfortunately also show that having a Csection can have a detrimental effect on our babies' gut health. I say "can have" because I believe that we can redress this difference. The probiotics have a great impact on breastmilk milk quality but also on our internal healing as they can help to reduce gas, constipation and bloating which are common post surgery side effects. Of course if you choose to feed formula then supplementing your baby with a dose of probiotics for babies is a healthy supplementation. I personally have had positive experiences using Bio-Kult and ABC Dophilus probiotic powder for babies from Solgar.
"Skin to Skin" – this is so helpful for promoting bonding, breastfeeding hormones, improving the microbiome of the infant and mother, regulating temperature of mother and baby, and don't get me started on the yummy squishy smell of the newborn. (Be still my ovaries!) Make sure your room temperature is warm enough, and snuggle up together in bed – include your partner too!
Aromatherapy Hacks
When using essential oils on the skin they should always be diluted in a carrier oil. Good carrier oils include coconut oil, sweet almond oil and grapeseed oil; all of which are readily available – some even in super markets.
Immediate post partum the ways that aromatherapy can work are not related to the wound but more to the healing going on in the abdomen, specifically helping to eliminate trapped gases or constipation with gentle light touch massage around the upper abdomen.
Fennel, cardamon, ginger; all helpful should there be any trapped gas, or constipation. If you're feeling a little warm or your temperature is up then fennel with it's slightly cooling properties would be a wiser choice. The other blessing here is that all three of these herbs and spices are traditionally used as galactogogues – substances that promote and enhance milk production. Please remember that the key to increasing milk production is milk removal (which is where pumping can be very helpful to maintain a regular rhythm on top of feeding baby on demand). To take a galactogogue, either as a herb, essential oil, or tea; but not maximise the milk removal can result in engorgement, and other related issues – which is the last thing you want when you are already recovering from major surgery and learning how to breastfeed!
Please note it is wise to use only one drop of whichever one essential oil you choose to use on your body, as new mothers and their babies remain very sensitive to smells of all kinds (it is nature's way of protecting the newborn). Dilute even one drop with a small teaspoon of carrier oil.
Rose, lavender, and chamomile to relax and restore. Bergamot and/or neroli to lift the spirits during the day. These essential oils could be used on a warm or cool compress on your face or your neck, or could be diffused gently in the room. Again; less is more.
Following the first 6 weeks of healing the wound should be healing nicely – or certainly appear to be doing so from the outside. From the six week point in the healing process, gentle massage and wound care on the skin can be supportive in successful longer term healing. Once again; go gently with the dosage – start with just one drop of whichever oil you choose in a teaspoon of carrier oil. Also, go gently with your touch and pressure – be mindful of how your wound is feeling. Start out for the first couple of months with light touch massage once or twice a week gently increasing if it feels comfortable; and then 3-4 months post partum introduce massage with an electric toothbrush or a vibrator (yes a vibrator!) if it feels comfortable for you. The gentle pulsation of the toothbrush or vibrator is thought to discourage adhesions from forming amongst tissue and organs.
Frankincense – a healing essential oil with antiseptic, antibacterial and anti fungal properties, it is also a cicatrisant (which means it promotes effective healing and regeneration of the skin/wounds/scars). It is also an effective digestive oil; when used externally through massage it can help to relieve trapped gas.
Lavender – wonderfully calming (but not necessarily the best essential oil to promote sleep as it actually improves mental function), antibacterial, antiviral and proven to be an effective essential oil for pain relief. It has also been understood to speed up the healing process of wounds, cuts, burns, and sunburns because it improves the formation of scar tissue.
Chamomile – antidepressant, antispasmodic, sedative, anti-inflammatory, and cicatrisant (see above), wonderful for promoting skin healing and regeneration too; calming properties for even the most sensitive skin.
Carrot Seed Oil – antiseptic, antiviral & disinfectant, carminative (removes stubborn trapped gases), It stimulates both circulation and metabolic function; which in turn can promote good healing. Carrot Seed essential oil stimulates the growth of new cells and tissues. It also tones the skin and prevents it from hanging loose or showing signs of aging. It has a soothing earthy aroma and is known to promote relief from stress and anxiety, which having a refreshing effect on the emotions.
One last word of caution; even after the 6 weeks…go gently; especially if you are breastfeeding. One or two drops in a heaped teaspoon of carrier oil is more than enough. The body is so sensitive for the first 4 months after giving birth; and whilst essential oils are natural, they are powerful and can impact on the function of the uterus and the production and regulation of hormones amongst other things, so over use can result in heightened sensitivity.
Homepathic Hacks
I carry the Helios Homeopathic Childbirth Kit in my doula bag – always! I know many other doulas do, and I find it to be very helpful during all stages of labour, birth and post partum parenting. It has five powerful remedies in an adequately potent dose to assist inside out healing following a Cesarean Section too.
Arnica: a common addition to many first aid kits, Arnica is useful for all new injuries, and can help reduce soreness, bruising, tissue damage, and bleeding related to surgical procedures. Very helpful for alleviating bruising, swelling, and soreness during recovery from most surgeries.
Bellis perennis: commonly referred to as Bellis Per. Useful when bruising and trauma occur to soft tissue, and/or to deep internal tissues after surgery involving the abdomen, breasts, or trunk-especially if a feeling of stiffness or coldness has developed in the area.
Calendula: to help complete the healing of deep wounds (a Csection incision means cutting through seven membranes) along with preventing inflammation, suppuration and infection at the site of the wound. Calendula also helps prevent keloid formation of the scar.
Staphysagria: useful when pain persists at the site of a surgical incision, or after procedures that involve the stretching of a sphincter muscle. It is also indicated after surgeries involving reproductive organs (prostate surgery, hysterectomy, C-section, episiotomy) or the abdomen, stomach, and rectum (including hemorrhoids). Staphysagria may also help after operations on traumatic injuries.
Hypericum: particularly useful for injuries, wounds and surgeries involving nerve rich areas of the body.
I took the remedies above for three weeks on rotation. The Helios Childbirth Kits include the remedies at a very potent dose (200c), so for clients I recommend two weeks at the strongest dose as included in the kit, then acquiring the same remedies at a lower potency (30c) for another week or two. For more specific advise on any other symptoms you are experiencing I recommend finding a qualified homeopathic practictioner in your area.
Rescue Remedy: another favourite from my doula bag! This is very helpful for the emotional side of the healing and coming to terms with the experience, along with those moments of potential overwhelm which come with just having had a baby, and are exacerbated by the intense aches and pains that come with Cesarean recovery. A few drops under the tongue when you feel like you need it; as an added bonus it is very "cleansing" for the body too.
Psychological & Emotional Healing
Acceptance and Integration – these are simple, commonly used words which psychologically are the foundations of a healthy processing of any difficult experience in life, including difficult or traumatic birth experiences. First of all, tell your story as often as you feel comfortable sharing it. Seek out your partner, your friends and family, your healthcare providers, a therapist, your doula (or post partum doula), the neighbour, the dog(!)…anyone who can listen to you unconditionally and non-judgementally, and simply allow you to speak things out and recall things one by one to make sense of how it all unfolded. This is a very important step for your brain in processing the experience; this is one of the primary ways in which it organises difficult or traumatic events.
Journaling – could you find the time to write down a few words each day about your feelings about the Caesarean, your recollections, what you're grateful for from the experience, how you feel you are healing each day, what disappointments and concerns have come up for you that day? It doesn't need to be worthy of Anne Frank; it might just be a list of words, it may be a collection of pictures or diagrams, you could use video or voicenotes. Again, journaling in this way can be incredibly helpful in assisting the brain to process the experience and not file it away as a trauma. The three feelings you should pay keen attention to and treat with extra special care are guilt, shame and fear; if these feeling persist then consider getting a referral to a therapist.
Support Groups – there is a lot of support, empathy and healing to be found in the experience of sharing birth stories with others who have gone through a similar kind of birth experience (particularly if that experience was far away from the experience that you were hoping for). It is important to find a group which is facilitated by someone who you feel safe with, and who can hold space for all members of the group, and who can be relied upon to maintain healthy, non judgemental, mature and open communication in the sessions. I know many birth workers (myself included – click here to join the Cesarean Support Network NL); midwives and doulas, along with coaches and therapists who host group meetings in person; there are also organisations such as the International Cesarean Awareness Network (ICAN) that have local chapters just about everywhere in the world. Facebook and other online forums also have a variety of virtual support groups which can be sources of tremendous value; especially when they are international and there are people online around the clock.
VBAC/ Vaginal Birth After Cesarean – one of the most difficult things I have read about women who give birth by Caesarean Section is that they are significantly less likely to choose to have more children because for many the experience of having the surgery, and recovering from surgery is too much to imagine going through a second time. I do maintain that some of that is because there is so little follow up care from health care providers, and somehow such a stigma attached to Cesarean birth that there are few resources out there on successful short, medium and long term strategies for healing successfully from a C-Section. Please keep in mind that the outdated adage "Once a Caesarean, always a Caesarean" is NOT TRUE. Many women go on to experience vaginal birth following a C-Section; so please don't let your experience of having had a Csection put you off planning a VBAC. Most doulas have experience supporting VBAC; and as I do run a VBAC Support Group in Amsterdam, I hope to write a comprehensive VBAC post in the not so distant future *watch this space*.
Longer Term Healing Hacks (6 weeks +)
Keep working on Acceptance and Integration – this journey can make leaps and bounds and take long rests over many months and years.
Body work – consider seeing a chiropractor, an accupuncturist, an osteopath, a cranio sacral therapist, a somatic coach, a Mizan therapist, an energetic healer, or an Arvigo practitioner. Whilst the mind commands a lot of our attention, our bodies can often go ignored, and our bodies store a lot which actually we often need to release. Seeing any one of the therapists mentioned above (and there are many other types of physical therapy that can help – you need to work out what is good for you) could have a very supportive role in healing the body from the experience of surgical birth.
Massage or cupping – one of the potential complications with longer term healing following a Csection is adhesive scarring (internally). By massaging the area directly around the scar (as mentioned above with an electric toothbrush*** or vibrator), the adhesions are understood to be less likely to form. Gentle cupping (non therapeutic grade) around the scar after a few months can also discourage adhesions (extensive scar tissue) from forming. It can also be very beneficial for gently removing any inflammation and/or stagnation in the area of the scar; improving sexual response, improving the functioning of the uterus, and bringing blood flow, lymph flow and warmth back into the region. A great practitioner for this is Mirjam Heemskerk of Gentle Beginnings here in Amsterdam; she specialises in holistic recovery in the post partum period. You can visit her and her wonderful work over here.
(I have successfully used my Philips Sonicare toothbrush for both excellent teeth cleaning and Caesarean scar healing! *** Not the brush end; the body of the toothbrush!)
Further reading
What can you add??? What worked for you???
Leave your comments with your own tried and tested healing hacks, or your experiences with the suggestions above – I would so love to hear if this helped you in anyway.
Lastly; please get in touch with feedback or questions, or if you would like a consultation to help process your birth story, to plan your next birth, or for coaching or doula support in any capacity; I am available in person in Amsterdam, or online via Skype/FaceTime. You can find out more about my doula support packages here. We can arrange an appointment via email:
"Doula Amsterdam" "Amsterdam Doula" "Doula in Amsterdam" "Holistic Doula Amsterdam" "Holistic Doula" "Doula services Amsterdam" "Amsterdam Doula Support" "Birth Support Amsterdam" "Amsterdam Birth Support" "Doula Support Amsterdam" "Doula Amsterdam" "Amsterdam Doula" "Ilena Doula" "Doula Ilena" "Ilena Standring"


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EA stock gets iPhone 5 bumpSeptember 12, 2012: 2:34 PM ET
Shares of Apple (AAPL) barely budged while the company was unveiling the iPhone 5 Wednesday afternoon. But gaming company Electronic Arts (EA) enjoyed a nice little bump after one of its racing games was featured during the event.
EA's stock was down slightly just before the Apple press conference again and then immediately spiked more than 2% as soon as people started raving in live blogs and on Twitter about how cool the game looked.
EA was not the only stock that was moving on the iPhone 5 news. Shares of semiconductor company Rubicon Technology (RBCN) popped nearly 3% after Apple showed off the iPhone's new camera, which featured sapphire crystal display technology. Rubicon is a leader in that field but it is unclear if Apple's camera was using any products from Rubicon.
Shares of other chip companies known to be part of the Apple ecosystem also moved higher. Qualcomm (QCOM), Cirrus Logic (CRUS) and ARM Holding (ARMH) were each up more than 1%.
It probably makes some sense for component makers and software firms like EA to get some lift thanks to a coveted blessing from Apple. Shares of the big U.S. carriers that offer the iPhone -- Verizon (VZ), AT&T (T) and Sprint (S) -- were also up more than Apple.
But let's be honest here. If you think the iPhone 5 is going to be a big hit, the best stock to own to play that is Apple.


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"The only certainty for crew managers is change"
This is for you if you're a crew manager who wants to know how to handle the rough with the smooth
There are as many challenges in crew management as there are ships at sea and so no day is ever the same for crew managers. In fact, the only certainty for crew managers is change.
Click below to find out how crew managers can best adapt to technological changes within the maritime industry


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A range of hearing tests can be performed on both adults and children
These include noise plugs, swim plugs, musician's plugs, motorcyclists plugs, in-the-ear devices, FM systems and remote microphone options including accessories for your home, TV, telephone and office that work with your existing hearing aid
Kent Hearing is able to create and develop online learning for your company and team on a variety of diagnostic and rehabilitation topics.
Our expertise enables you to get optimum benefits from your hearing solution and aural rehabilitation.
Kent Hearing conducts hearing screening on children of all ages at school, providing parents and teachers with an individualised report
Dr Carling, AuD, has lectured globally on wide-ranging hearing loss and audiology matters
Safe, effective and quick removal of earwax by micro suction endoscopically.
Dr Carling, AuD, personally delivers talks, workshops and training sessions on identifying hearing loss and management
We have experience in writing and delivering research protocols for devices and clinical drug trials in hearing and tinnitus.


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This week, a bushel of Apple headlines, including revealing evidence in the ongoing Apple/Samsung trial; how a tech reporter's online identity was demolished through a social engineering hack on Apple & Amazon tech support.
Plus, Starbucks invests $25 million– & their entire paypoint infrastructure– in Square payments.
See the full post here on Geeks of Doom
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Geeks Of Doom's The Drill Down is a roundtable-style audio podcast where we discuss the most important issues of the week, in tech and on the web and how they affect us all.
Hosts are Geeks of Doom contributor Andrew Sorcini (Mr. BabyMan), VentureBeat editor Devindra Hardawar, marketing research analyst Dwayne De Freitas, and Startup Digest CTO Christopher Burnor. Occasionally joining them is Techmeme editor Lidija Davis.


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Easton residents want accused predator's name taken off park
EASTON -- Ted Alexander Jr. always was the last one dropped off after Boy Scout meetings.
The driver, his Boy Scout leader, would take the 8-year-old to a parking lot on Black Rock Turnpike and they would wrestle in the car. Sometimes, the man would shove Alexander's head into Toth's crotch.
The man was Stephen Toth.
Shortly after his death in 1985, the town named a park after him. Many knew Toth for helping children, serving on the Parks and Recreation Commission and volunteering his time to the Boy Scouts and Little League.
Others say his reputation is tainted and want the name of Toth Park changed.
The Parks and Recreation Commission is scheduled to vote on the change Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at the Helen Keller Library. The park is at the intersection of Black Rock Turnpike and Redding Road.
The commission received numerous emails and petitions from residents in favor of changing the park's name, said Commissioner Steven Lichtman.
Elizabeth Wenzel, a resident, said she collected about 700 signatures on a petition she started in September. "It just doesn't seem logical to have a park named after someone who may have treated children badly," she said Wednesday afternoon.
Although Toth never was sued or convicted on charges of child abuse, the speculation is enough of a reason to rename the park, she said. "It's not my mission to say that he's guilty," she said. "My mission stops when the name comes down."
More InformationEaston meeting The Parks and Recreation Commission is scheduled to vote on the name change Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at the Helen Keller Library. Visit http://www.eastonrec.com/info/meetings for more information.
Residents have suggested changing the park's name back to Easton Town Park or Aspetuck Park, Wenzel said.
Alexander and at least one other man who said Toth molested them began asking commissioners to change the name of the park in 2004, he said.
Alexander met Toth when he was 8. Toth was his bus driver and owner of the school bus company, he said. Alexander accepted Toth's invitation to join the Boy Scout troop he led.
"I thought of this guy like a grandfather," said Alexander, now 64 and living in Vermont.
But commissioners told Alexander in 2004 that his story was too vague. "They didn't believe me," he said.
Alexander never said anything about the incidents to his parents. Alexander's father, Theodore G. Alexander Sr., 82, had no idea Toth was abusing his son in the 1950s and 1960s, he said Wednesday. "It's a good thing I didn't know about it. He would have died sooner," he said. "He was a big guy, but that wouldn't have mattered."
Michael Powel, who said Toth also assaulted him, traveled to Connecticut from his home in St. Petersburg, Fla., in 2004 to urge the commission to take Toth's name off the park. Powel, who died in 2008 from brain cancer, said Toth tied him up, blindfolded him, performed sexual acts on him and photographed him in compromising positions. The abuse started after he joined his Boy Scout troop in 1968 and continued for three years, sometimes at the park named after him, Powel said in 2004.
Powel also alleged that Carlo Fabbozzi, a former Trumbull town councilman and janitor/landscaper for St. Theresa's Church, and a priest, Rev. Joseph Gorecki, abused him in the late 1960s and early 1970s. As a result, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Bridgeport agreed to pay $200,000 to Powel's family last year. Powel also won a $10 million verdict in 2006 against Fabbozzi but was unable to collect it.
Fabbozzi could not be reached for comment Wednesday.
Powel was the driving force behind getting the name of Toth Park changed, Alexander said.
Les Eckert, a retired police lieutenant for the Easton Police Department, also came forward in 2004 and said Toth tried to tie him up when he was a boy. After hearing their testimony, John A. Cunningham, the commission chairman at the time, said the case was open and the commission needed more evidence.
Gary Simone, who has been the town's parks and recreation director for 17 years, said Wednesday that he remembered the allegations from 2004. "We had our doubts," he said.
There are people who still speak highly of Toth, a World War II veteran who served in the D-Day invasion at Normandy and received accolades from author and activist Helen Keller, he said.
Simone said he's not taking the allegations lightly, but he wants the process to be fair and wants to do the right thing.
"Thomas Jefferson was (having sex with) all of the slaves," he said. "Should we take him out of the history books?"
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Hands on: Fable III
Playing Fable III is a lot like Fables I and II, only better, stronger and a little more modern.
...I like brits wearing stockings too...It's one of my endless kinks.
I always wonder how the game will do on PC, what the control layout will be, would we have to drag people with the moust or tab button?
Good question. They've been pretty tight-lipped on a PC release at all, so I imagine that it will come out months later like it did for Fable 2.
The version I played was on the Xbox 360.
it sounds alot alot like fable 2 but i'll have to wait and see i guess.
Just like Fable 1 and 2, they said they wanted to do more then they could actually do. I think they already scraped the Kinect part, first it was a total Kinect game, then it was with Kinect elements, I haven't seen a word in months. They also wanted RTS type stuff, wonder how much of that they actually kept.
Oh and please cut out the part in this game like the previous two where you get imprisoned for years, just doesn't make good story telling.
I liked Fable 2. It was just too short, had bad character development and not enough side quests.
Also, it was way too easy to get people to like you. Waaaay too easy.
well, i will still be getting it when it comes out.
Yeah it was. I practically had the village women throwing their pantaloons at me!
I'm so happy right now :D
I'm such a fanboy...
Thank god this game is looking good. I was gonna get it regardless, what with me being helplessly caught up by Molyneux's infectious enthuiasm and all, so hearing that it's going well is really good news
My mind has given me a movie, and IT'S AWESOME!
I do like the idea of owning a store, and having to manage it occasionally, even though it might get a bit tedious when you own a town's worth of shops over the entire world and have to keep going back and forth...
And dragging people everywhere!
My mind is one WEIRD thing...
Sounds like Fable 2.5 but regardless, I am here to finish the franchise and I will buy this game. It's so casual that it's just enjoyable for me. It doesn't has to be Dragon Age: Origins, the game has it's charm.
The man behind it is certainly contributing to it, for the worse or better.
I actually played Fable 1 and had a great time with it, please note I had heard nothing about the game before hand. It's still one of my favorite games.
I then played Fable 2, it was process heavy on the 360, chugged up quite a bit, also glitchy. My first game glitched up near the end and thus I was unable to continue and had to start the whole game over again. One thing it did right though was the multiplayer.
Ive got alot of faith, and hope in Fable3...and really hope it will live up to it on release...it has alot to prove after 2
I am excited about fable 3, just the fables all sort of never lived quite up the hype, I wasnt aware of the hype about fable 1 at the time, due to not having internet, so to me it felt like a great game, but we know what the hype is now, fable 2 would've been great if it wasnt for the gaping plot holes, the inability to die and the end.
I'm trying not to get caught up in this one, just in case, now I don't think Molenoux does it on purpose, I feel he does guenuinly believe and want to do the stuff he says, just in the end they run out of money or tech and it reflects badly on him due to his over enthusiasticness, but you can't really fault him for that, at least he's trying to be genuine and enthusastic about gaming unlike some people.
Looking forward to it. I was one of the few who enjoyed fable II. And the first one was hands down th ebest thing on the first xbox. I spent days on that game.
That seduce/divorce mission piqued my interest, showing how you can be nasty or nice with your mission objectives.
So it sounds just like more Fable?
It doesn't sound like you saw much that wasn't in Fable 2, even the mission sounds like one in Fable 2, except there the girlfriend was a ghost trying to break the husband's heart.
They better have the ability to attack children though. That makes me sound like a horrible person, but even if I never did it in Fable 2, the lack of the option felt world-breaking to me.
It's never a good idea to judge a game after drinking. They always seem better. Even when they're not. Although the fact that you were drinking gin probably has a direct link to how funny you find John Cleese. If I'd been a little liquored up, I'd have probably done the same thing ie, sit at the menu trying to get him to say "Ni! Ni!"
so its good?
I hopin that the PC gamers dont get the shaft again and not have a PC release.
Well good. Its more of the same, so i'll buy it. Fable was always a bit different.
Sounds great. I've been avoiding all info coming from Moleneux, for the exact reasons you mentioned. He overhypes his products to the moon. I didn't listen to anything he said about the first 2 Fables, and I enjoyed them immensely.
I don't think Fable 2 was released on the PC.
I'm sooo excited for Fable III, can't wait to explore!
With all due respect, you can't really make comments comparing Fable 3 to 'past fables' (not to mention the heading you've given the review) when you yourself acknowledge that you have never played Fable 2. It completely devalues your preview.
..it'll take a lot for me to get interested in this because of last time T_T...oh pete...
You know, I kind of agree. But I've talked with enough people in the office who have played Fable 2, and seen a lot of footage, so I do get a sense of what worked in that game and what didn't.
Hate to tell you this Greg, but aside from the new clothes, holding hands, and the butler interface, every single interaction you talked about was describing the introduced features of Fable 2.
Fair enough, but as others have said, a lot of what you have described (even down to holding the button to prolong an expression) sounds pretty much exactly the same as Fable 2. Maybe you could give it a go and update the article to let people know how some of your favourite features/interactions differ between F3 and F2? Watching and discussing is all well and good, but I'm sure you must agree that it's really no substitute for hands-on experience. After all, you wouldn't post a full review of a game if you'd only watched it and talked about it would you?
"Before, there was a pause as you shifted from magic attacks to melee to ranged. In III, you can seamlessly swing your sword, fire a few rounds from your gun, then switch to a lightning blast."
I didn't love Fable 2, but it did have the fluid weapon swaps like you describe.
Is it just me, or does everyone who likes the Fable games seem to make some sort of 'dirty whore' type character at one point or another :P
I can't wait to get my hands on this game! =D


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Chinese architecture: The Pagoda
In the first centuries AD, the coming of Buddhism did not strongly affect the Chinese architectural style. Although there was considerable building activity, temples continued to be constructed in the native tradition. The only distinctly Buddhist type of building is the pagoda , which derived from the Indian stupa . Several masonry pagodas are extant that date from the 6th cent. In the T'ang period (618–906) pagodas were usually simple, square structures; they later became more elaborate in shape and adornment.
In the 11th cent. a distinctive type of pagoda was created in the Liao territory. Built in three different stages, with a base, a shaft, and a crown, the structure was surmounted by a spire. Its plan was often octagonal, possibly as a result of the influence of Tantric Buddhism in which the cosmological scheme was arranged into eight compass points rather than four. One of the finest Liao structures is the White Pagoda at Chengde.
- Introduction
- Structural Elements
- Early Architecture
- Architectural Development: T'ang Dynasty and Thereafter
- The Forbidden City
- The Pagoda
- The Chinese Ground Plan
- Modern Styles
- Bibliography
The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2012, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.
See more Encyclopedia articles on: Architecture


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These 40 bundles dropping out of a U.S. Air Force Globemaster III over Afghanistan last December aren't just any supplies, they're filled with liquid fuel. That's right, this is a shot of a gas station operating at 30,000 feet.
If the U.S. Army has to airdrop its Humvees into remote and unfriendly locations, it makes sense for the fuel to arrive the same way, as it does here with these 40 bundles. Cost? About $11 a gallon.
The U.S. Department of Defense announced plans Monday to cut its energy demand, which consumed five billion gallons of oil in 2010, at a cost of $13.2 billion. The military says 80% of the supply missions in Afghanistan were to shuttle fuel, and 3,000 soliders have been wounded or killed between 2003 and 2007 in attacks on fueling convoys in Iraq and Afghanistan. It's not just liquid fuel for vehicles; the DOD estimates by 2012, infantry soliders will be hauling an average of 50 batteries each, weighing about 18 lbs. total, into battle.
Photo: USAF photo by Staff Sgt. Andy Kin