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Hiring A Luxury Home Builder
Many people choose to build a good home with the money they have saved over their lives. A home takes a lot of time to build. In order to build a home, you need builders. In many cases, a team of builders is needed to build a home. This is often the case when it comes to luxury homes. Luxury homes need a special sort of builder. They need builders who are qualified to design and construct a luxury home. A luxury home takes longer than a regular home to build. One of the things that set a luxury home apart is the size of the home itself. The size is usually much larger in luxury homes. Luxury homes are almost always twice as large as regular homes. This means that they have an average of five to six rooms per floor as compared to an average of six to eight rooms for a regular house.
The reduction in the total number of rooms per floor also means that the rooms of a luxury home are more spacious. Spacious rooms are preferred by rich people because they often have more good and household items than regular people. Spacious rooms set luxury homes apart. It takes a lot to qualify as a builder for luxury homes. You have to study to become one for four to six years on end. Many colleges teach you how to become a luxury home builder. A luxury home builder costs three to four times as much as a regular home builder. This is because of the superior quality of services offered by luxury home builders Melbourne.
Many people choose to become a luxury home builder because it pays so we'll. It is one of the highest paying professional out there. It helps people who are in need of money and provides them with jobs. It is an excellent way of providing the country with workers who know their craft and people who are willing to contribute to the nation. Hiring a luxury home builder is very easy. Almost anyone can do it these days. In most cases, children as young as three to four year old make such appointments. This is because the entire process is very simple.
There is hardly any complication involved. A luxury home builder is often a phone call away. They can reach you in as short a time as one to three hours. At most, they take three to four hours to reach you. A luxury home builder often works as a part of an agency. This allows home builders Glen Iris to pool their resources together. This gives them more chances to find work. It also divides up their costs in such a way to benefit them.


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Chatbots and intelligent messaging solutions can help you deliver smarter customer service with a better customer experience at a very attractive cost per contact. To achieve the kind of results that get you promoted, it's important to consider a customer service solution in its entirety. Overlook one key element of the solution stack, and it'll never achieve its natural flow.
We use the technology stack in this post to talk about goal and transaction oriented Chatbots both internally and with our customers. You can use it as a checklist to make sure you're not overlooking a critical part of a Chatbot solution for customer service.
The Chatbot Technology Stack
In all the Chatbot excitement we often see enterprises overlook critical parts of a customer service solution like easy transfer to an agent or an easy admin interface. Use this 9-layer framework as a checklist to help you think about the questions you're not asking.
Customer Input/Output
The way the customer interacts, with the system using voice, chat, messaging, app or web. As an example, I interact with my friends using the chat app on my mobile phone. I can type as input or use TypeTalk as a voice to text input. This also includes the user interface and mode the bot uses to respond to the customers.
Channels and Devices
The devices and channels used. This includes messaging platform (eg, Facebook Messenger), online chat, SMS, email, website and hardware (Alexa, Google Home). If the bot can use multiple channels, then omni-channel interactions are managed here.
Comprehension and Conversation
This converts the input from the customer into language the computer/bot understands. And it converts bot language into human language (voice, text etc). The conversation is managed here with the ability to ask a question, queue several messages at once, and track when an interaction has ended. One goal is to manage loose probabilistic conversation (the way you and I talk) to structured services the bot understands. Today, the capabilities of this layer are improving rapidly using machine learning and other AI technologies.
Once the Chatbot understands what the customer says, it can choose or generate a response, based on the current input and the context of the conversation.
Workflow is where the task, question, or Job to be Done gets performed and managed. Lots of power resides in here and AI technologies are driving new levels of engagement.
Two types of interactions are managed here:
- Push (like an outbound call) – here the bot will push out help or information. For example, the Chatbot can provide a reminder in a conversation to make sure that someone has not forgotten about items in their online shopping basket (if they haven't checked out). Or it could send out a survey at the end of an interaction.
- Pull (like an inbound call)- this is where the customer initiates the workflow. For example, the customer can ask "What's my balance?"
There are three types of responses that Workflow can generate:
- Static responses - the bot selects from a predetermined list of responses. The static response could also be a template in which a dynamic response is inserted. "Your flight departs in" XX "hours" is an example.
- Dynamic responses- the bot use resources, such as a knowledge base, to get a list of potential responses, and then score them to choose the right response. This is particularly appropriate if you chatbot acts mainly like an FAQ system.
- Generated response – the bot generates a response on the fly without using canned responses. This technology will take some time to mature, and requires a very large data set and deep learning algorithms.
Data and Services
The bot accesses knowledge and services to do tasks in this layer. APIs connect to CRM systems, services, Knowledge Management, payment platforms, authentication, ecommerce platforms or whatever is needed to complete a task.
Connect to an Agent
The bot also needs to provide seamless access to a customer service agent if and when it's needed. For example, I start an interaction to order new running shoes with a bot. I get all the info I need but have a question that the bot cannot answer. The bot asks if I want to talk to an agent and sends the interaction history and context to an agent. Designed properly this is a friction-free, branded experience.
Also, remember that routing, queuing and agent desktop needs to be included in the solution when an agent is involved.
Don't let it be a surprise: Bots need to transition smoothly to agents.
One of the most challenging parts about designing a Chatbot is to make the conversation flow as naturally and efficiently as possible. Administration allows you to easily build and manage conversations and workflows. So far, most Chatbot platforms are not designed to be administered by the contact center staff.
Three types of analytics can be used for the Chatbot (not considering the voice interface).
- Descriptive- Answers the questions: What happened? What to do? This is typically BI and historical reporting that summarize what happened.
- Prescriptive - Answers the questions: What could happen? What is likely to happen? Text mining can be applied to the text interactions to determine patterns, infer data (like sentiment), and make suggestions.
- Predictive - Answers the questions: What should we do? What should be done? What can we do to make a certain thing happen (like get customers to self-serve for a claim status check)? What is best, What is right? We can use algorithms to forecast possible outcomes and provide next-best-actions.
When analytics are applied to Chatbots, the interactions with the customer can become more useful, quicker and easier.
Compliance and Security
Technologies used by enterprises must meet security and compliance standards. I won't go into detail here, but compliance always needs to addressed.
More on Intelligent Assistance
Intelligent Assistance and Chatbots are going to change the way customer service is provided. We hope this post provides some insight on the basics of Chatbots so it's not so confusing.
Here are a few additional resources on the Chatbot tech stack you might like:
- Chatbots 101 (Forrester, Dec 2016)- you can download from us here (limited time)
- Executive Q&A: Boost Your Chatbot IQ (Forrester, Dec 2016)
- This Chatbot platform feature comparision matrix provide more tech details.
- This article is an excellent read: Designing the chatbot stack...
- Dan Miller and the Opus ResearchTeam rock Intelligent Assistance
Reach out to use if you want to talk more. You can also pilot our messaging app and Chatbot to get hands-on experience in your contact center. Learn more about our Intelligent Messaging pilot here.

subset: commoncrawl


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Center FAQs
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Frequently Asked Questions
Before you enroll your child, you may have some questions. Please see our FAQ below.
QWhat are the operating hours for a JEI Learning Center?
AA JEI Learning Center generally opens in the early afternoon on most weekdays. For specific center hours, please contact your nearest location.
QHow often do students come to the center?
AStudents come to the center once a week. The weekly session for each subject is typically one hour long.
QWhat is the student to teacher ratio?
AClasses typically have a ratio of five students to one teacher.
QWhat does a typical class session consist of?
AEach week, students receive one workbook for the subject they are enrolled in. Instructors will review the key concept pages of the week with the students.
QHow much homework is there?
AStudents are offered homework to reinforce concepts taught at the center. JEI recommends daily practice in small doses to increase retention.
QHow long does it take to complete homework?
AHomework will vary by the child's ability level. Typically, it will take less than half an hour per day.
QHow is student progress measured?
AStudents will take weekly evaluations that assess their progress on the most recent concepts, but also upon completion of the level, will take cumulative level tests to ensure mastery.
QHow much is monthly tuition?
ATuition will vary from center to center. Most JEI Learning Centers are individually owned and operated. Please contact your nearest center for more details.
Please contact our franchise business consultant team
if you have any further questions.


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Arjun Rampal Looks Forward to a Super Set from Elijah Wood
Published: 03rd September 2015 06:26 PM | Last Updated: 03rd September 2015 06:32 PM | A+A A-
NEW DELHI: It will be music and music fans galore at Bollywood actor Arjun Rampal's premier members-only nightclub, where "The Lord of the Rings" star Elijah Wood will perform as part of his music tour in India.
Wood, who will perform in Mumbai on Thursday night, will be in the capital on Friday to regale fans as he spins the disc with Zach Cowie, who is the other half of their Wooden Wisdom DJ duo. They reached Mumbai on Wednesday night for their three-city India tour.
"Zach, Fitz and I DJ Lap Club in Delhi, 4th! @rampalarjun, @laptheclub, @lucidasia, @Shv8, @hardlyanonymous @alifazal9 @turquoisewisdom," Wood tweeted.
Arjun welcomed the Hollywood star to his club.
"@woodelijah welcome to @laptheclub looking forward to a super set from all of you. This Friday Night Elijah Wood on turntables," Arjun tweeted on Thursday.
Hosted by "Bobby Jasoos" actor Ali Fazal, Wooden Wisdom will be visiting Hyderabad as well.


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I met Jon Gentile some 20 years ago and immediately learned of his great passion for the Martial Arts. An instructor and practitioner way ahead of his time, Jon owned and operated American Filipino Self Defense, where he taught the Rossi Kun Tao system. Unlike other schools in town in that era, Jon was open minded and always looked to expand the curriculum at his school, as well as his own proficiency in styles and systems well beyond the one he had perfected back home in Connecticut. Having studied and learned from legendary former students of Bruce Lee, Larry Hartsell and Dan Inosanto, Jon embraced and ultimately passed on techniques that encompassed all ranges of fighting. In 1995, Jon was one of the first schools in Las Vegas to teach what we now refer to as Mixed Martial Arts with classes in Kun Tao, Jeet Kune Do, Submission Grappling, Sambo, Shoot Fighting, and Filipino Stick/Knife just to name a few. Put simply, the white belts in Jon's classes knew quite a bit and had the confidence to prove it. How do I know? I was one of them.
Because Jon and I still work together to this day, there has been no shortage of Martial Arts related conversations that typically range from the results of recent UFC events to the state of tactics training in our line of work. Knowing my passion for writing about movies, Jon suggested we put to use our experiences in chosen craft and create a Top 10 List for the Best Martial Arts Films of all time. Both of us love movies as well as Martial Arts and our knowledge in both subjects is vast, yet the perspectives are different in the way we view what is worthy of such a list and what is not. The task at hand is to put the 10 Best Martial Arts Films in ranked order from ten to one, including two additional films given Honorable Mention. The results are as follows:
10. Blood Sport (1988) Watch the Trailer
The true story of Frank Dux (Jean-Claude Van Damme) and his participation in the Kumite, an underground tournament in Hong Kong featuring fighters from around the world. I can't help but to think Rorion Gracie and Art Davie, the original owners of the UFC, watched "Bloodsport" and hatched their idea for the now mainstream American version. Though not in a cage, the film follows fighters from nearly every discipline, pitting them against one another to determine which style is the best. The film launched Van Damme into a career of making movies just like it over and over again throughout the 1990s, introducing his famed jumping helicopter kick paired with bad acting. For all its faults; however, the film is and remains a classic if for no other reason many a VHS cassette copies were worn out by anyone who was into Martial Arts at the time.
9. The Raid (2011) Watch the Trailer
Rarely will a Martial Arts film waste time with the complexity of a well thought out plot when the filmmakers would clearly rather be choreographing fight sequences instead. The Indonesian action film "The Raid" fits that bill perfectly as the plot is reduced to that of your typical video game, but quite possibly features some of the best Martial Arts action sequences ever filmed. The pace is fast and furious as the opening shot has a van load of SWAT team members being briefed on their mission. A ruthless drug kingpin resides near the 30th floor of a building and their orders are to go get him. Problem is, they must start at the first floor on foot and work their way up as they encounter endless hoards of the bad guy's henchman. These encounters allow for the cast and crew to stage fight sequences that set the bar for both technique and brutality in a modern film.
8. Fist of Legend (1994) Watch the Trailer
Not long before Jet Li made his way from Hong Kong to the United States and took mainstream audiences by storm with his performance as the villain in "Lethal Weapon 4", the Kung Fu expert and overseas action star made what I believe to be his best offering in a Martial Arts film, "Fist of Legend". Taking place in 1937, the story follows Chen (Li) and his return to Shanghai, only to find his long time teacher and mentor dead and his school constantly bullied by the Japanese, who now occupy the country. Li demonstrates unmatched speed, fluidity, and bone crushing force in every fight scene, along with skills which individually speaking are likely the best of any actor from every movie on this list. His skills play on screen as if he is a Bruce Lee 2.0 if you will. The final fight sequence against the so called undefeated Japanese General, who killed his master, is one for the ages.
7. Kung Fu Hustle (2004) Watch the Trailer
Famed film critic Roger Ebert said of "Kung Fu Hustle", "Imagine a film in which Jackie Chan and Buster Keaton meet Quentin Tarantino and Bugs Bunny", a description that holds true and then some. Director Stephen Chow's extraordinary concoction of the zany and the hilarious mixed skillfully with inventive twists and hard core Martial Arts action makes for one creative film recipe. The story takes place in a 1940s Shanghai housing complex with its occupants hell bent on defending their homes from the nefarious Axe Gang. The choreography of sequences involving hundreds of actors fighting at the same time, along with the creative use of household items as weaponry, creates some of the most complex action sequences ever put to film.
6. Ong-bak (2003) Watch the Trailer
Muay Thai expert Tony Jaa burst on the scene when his first film to make it to an American film screen created a buzz which anointed him as the next big action star. No one at that point had brought such a brutal, yet acrobatic, Muay Thai skill set to the screen and though his films thereafter proved to be a rehash of this one, it can't be denied that Ong-bak stands as perhaps the best Muay Thai Martial Arts film ever made. Doing away with techniques, such as kicks and punches, traditionally used in Martial Arts films, Jaa infused the choreography with a massive dose of devastating knees and elbows. Gone were the types of scenes stuffed with overlong exchanges between evenly matched opponents. Jaa has brutal intentions with every strike thrown and finishes opponents in the film with a normally life ending exclamation point.
5. The Legend of Drunken Master (1994) Watch the Trailer
Jackie Chan has long been somewhat of a gold standard as a star of Martial Arts films for the better part of four decades now. While his films are typically low in the plot and story department, Chan has excelled in both action choreography and a strong emphasis on stunt work. One of the best parts of watching a Jackie Chan film is the end credits in which a series of fight sequence outtakes are shown that sometimes end with Chan seriously injuring himself. What sets "The Legend of Drunken Master apart is the fact he basically reinvented his Kung Fu fighting style to show how it might look if the person using his legendary techniques was under the influence of alcohol. His character in the film struggles mightily when fighting sober, but when he guzzles red wine something happens. He literally transforms himself into an unpredictable fighting machine, who is nearly impossible to hit as he moves in a way that defies the laws of balance. Chan doesn't necessarily get stronger with alcohol, but he definitely departs his normal mindset for one who believes he can and will defeat anyone.
4. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000) Watch the Trailer
Nominated for 7 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, director Ang Lee's best film to date is also a crown jewel of Martial Arts films, featuring superb acting, beautiful cinematography, a rousing score, and gravity defying fight sequences among the best ever captured. The film would go on to win four Oscars and was a box office sensation world wide. This was the film that made the use of wire work in Martial Arts choreography the common technique it is today. Lee tells the story of Master Li Mu Bai (Chow Yun-Fat), a warrior swordsman is on the cusp of retirement and wishes to part with his most prized weapon, the Green Destiny. Set during a period in China when it was said Zen warriors could float through the air, walk on water, and scale rooftops with ease, Lee stages a number of action set pieces that push the envelope on both style and jaw dropping skill.
3. The Karate Kid (1984) Watch the Trailer
If you grew up in the 80s as a teenager, "The Karate Kid" was required viewing as it displayed the attributes of dealing with themes important to kids in high school and combined them with a stateside version of the tropes which make the very best Martial Arts films. Easily the most quotable film on this list, director John Avildsen and screenwriter Robert Kamen tell the story of Daniel Larusso (Ralf Macchio), a high school age teen who has just moved to Los Angeles and is almost immediately bullied by a group of kids who train at one of the most fearsome Karate dojos in the area. When his apartment complex handyman observes the bullies, led by the notorious Johnny, beating Daniel up, he singlehandedly fends off the group and agrees to train Daniel in the art of Karate. The story culminates in a tournament that pits Daniel against Johnny in one of the most memorable scenes in all of film history.
2. Enter the Dragon (1973) Watch the Trailer
Observed by some as the best Martial Arts film ever made, "Enter the Dragon" was the first film starring Bruce Lee to receive a wide release in America and thus catapulted him to superstardom. His untimely death in 1973 cut short what was certain to be a long and influential film career, making it impossible to predict how high he would've ascended in both film as well as Martial Arts. His philosophy behind his signature fighting style, Jeet Kune Do, encouraged his students to be open in their training and seek out techniques from all styles and disciplines, using only what works for each individual person. It's amazing when you think about his death being over 40 years ago and then examining how embedded his namesake, his ideals, and his persona are in our society today. In some way, every film on this list, as well as nearly every Martial Arts film made post 1973, pay homage to Bruce Lee in some capacity. You have to wonder if the Martial Arts film genre would even exist outside of Asia today if not for his massive fingerprints on popular culture.
1. Kill Bill: Volume 1 & 2 (2003-4) Watch the Trailer
The easiest decision to make for this list, "Kill Bill" as one epic story is the greatest Martial Arts film of all time. I named Quentin Tarantino's masterpiece number one on my 2000-2009 All Decade list and it has a place in my All Time Top 25 Films, checking in at number ten. "Kill Bill" pays homage and respect to each and every Martial Arts film before it with everything from the casting of "Kung Fu" star David Carradine as the film's namesake to the costuming of The Bride in a yellow and black jump suit similar to the one Bruce Lee wore in "Game of Death". The fight sequences in "Kill Bill" would stand on their own and still ensure the film a spot on this list, but what makes "Kill Bill" stand alone at the top is the writing by Tarantino himself. The action scenes, as good as they are, only enhance what is a compelling story that is expertly directed and acted. The film plays like a "Disneyland" of Martial Arts, including numerous fighting styles and techniques ranging from swordplay to the five-point-palm-exploding-heart-technique used during the film's conclusion. Though the story is told in non linear fashion, we follow Uma Thurman's The Bride, beginning with her horrific wedding day and then through the series of events that occur where she is hell bent on revenge. The sequence in which The Bride takes on the Crazy 88s gets the most attention, but have you had a more shocking experience at the movies when The Bride's fight versus Elle Driver (Daryl Hannah) comes to an abrupt and decisive halt?
Honorable Mention: "The Best of the Best" and "Rapid Fire"
1. The Way of the Dragon (1972) Watch the Trailer
Bruce Lee v Chuck Norris- Roman Coliseum sets the stage for the final fight. Ignited martial arts to where it is today. Traditional versus non-traditional fighting.....a must watch classic.
2. The Hunted (1995) Watch the Trailer
Samari v Ninja- Freaking train scene is awesome fight. One of the best choreographed scenes ever. Weapons fighting is on the money! Stars John Lone and Chris Lambert. Lone plays a great ruthless villain.
3. Rapid Fire (1992) Watch the Trailer
His best movie- Brandon Lee- Fast and good......good story and plenty of action. Trapping and Jeet Kune Do can be seen all over . Glimpses of Bruce Lee do come to mind!
4. Blood Sport (1988)
Before the UFC there was Blood sport-----styles competing in a ring. Some very authentic exposure to this style v style. Quite simply entertaining.
5. The Raid (2011)
Simple story and easy to follow. The movie exposes effectiveness in street fighting intertwined with a police story. Superbly done. Introduced audiences to Indonesian Silat fighting techniques. The story shows an innovativeness of different fighting techniques mixed with weapons. New entry.
6. Kill Bill (2003-04)
Great revenge story ! Has scenes running of brutality with a similar twist of the Chinese Connection. Great fight scenes and character development as you expect from Tarantino!
7. The Matrix (1999) Watch the Trailer
Mainstream Sci Fi movie. Great, clean, and fast fight scenes. Major stars and one liners.
8. Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon (2000)
Good story with romance and martial arts-Plot was very good and surprised many viewers. It was a good cross over movie.
9. The Karate Kid (1984)
Influence and story popularized martial arts and a story of bullies set the stage. Pat Morita steps in to help a troubled youth played Ralph Macchio who begins to see the light. Good story will have you cheering in the end. Feel good movie and blockbuster.
10. Ninja Assassin (2009) Watch the Trailer
Sleek and dynamic- This guy is a ninja machine. Simplistic plot but who cares. This guy piles up the bodies where ever he goes! Korean Pop star Rain plays the kick ass ninja against his clan run by Sho Kushi- who many have known from early ninja cult films like Revenge of The Ninja and opposite Van Dam in Black Eagle. Non stop action!
Honorable Mention: "The Legend of Drunken Master" and "Enter the Dragon"


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Posted by Esteban Pumpernickel December 09, 2010 Posted under - face melting airbrush, flying in the air is cooler in ms paint, getting paid to blog, HAIL BA.KU, I luv u Olympic
Posted by Nigel S. Peppercock August 25, 2010 Posted under -
Sharing waves is a lot like sharing women.. Some people are into that, and thats cool... But it's not really for me... Unless I'm sharing women with women, then it's all gravy... Think about it..
good stuff
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'I was heartbroken': Bride's despair as wedding venue announces sudden closure
PUBLISHED: 10:27 13 March 2019 | UPDATED: 13:09 13 March 2019
A heartbroken bride-to-be has spoken of her shock after discovering her dream wedding venue was closing – one day after handing over her deposit.
On Sunday, Debbie Finnegan from Lowestoft paid her £300 deposit to secure Carlton Manor Hotel for her big day – only to find out the next day it was closing down.
The well-known wedding venue, in Carlton Colville, shocked many in the area when it announced it would be closing on Sunday, March 17.
Miss Finnegan said: "It's an ideal location, good parking and space for the family to stay as well.
MORE: What are your rights if your wedding venue is cancelled?
"My daughter got married there five years ago – it was brilliant.
"We had gone to a wedding fair there about a month ago and booked the venue."
Miss Finnegan had dreams of marrying Christopher Blake at the venue in May 2021 in front of 200 guests.
And while she is aware others have been placed in a far worse predicament due to the sudden closure it has had a ripple effect for every other part of her wedding.
The 49-year-old said: "Chris didn't believe me when I told him; he thought I was joking.
"It's hard enough as it is to find a venue; I was heartbroken.
"There are some more serious ones who are down for June and July.
"I went there on Monday and saw their wedding organiser, she was quite shocked, she didn't know it was happening.
"I was annoyed that they took my deposit on Sunday if this was in the pipeline – these things aren't decided overnight."
"It's a lot of inconvenience on my part."
Miss Finnegan and her fiancé are currently in the process of recovering the deposit and finding a replacement venue before rescheduling the entertainment, wedding cars and decorators booked for Carlton Manor.
She added: "I feel sorry for all the staff there, they didn't know this was coming."
The shock closure of the hotel and venue has been blamed on the current economic situation by its owner.
In a statement on the closure Dee Mauree said: "The decision was an extremely difficult one to make and was reached after much reflection and consideration.
"Due to the current economic climate and its uncertainty, keeping the hotel open in its present format is unfortunately no longer viable at the present time."
If you value what this story gives you, please consider supporting the Lowestoft Journal. Click the link in the orange box above for details.


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This is Reagan. She is sweet, giddy, and full of life. She's also more of a morning person than I could ever be (and I like mornings). But she also is 12 months old and is allergic to dogs, peanuts, and eggs.
Just as we had with her older brother, we exposed her to peanuts early to prevent a peanut allergy. I mixed some peanut butter into her oatmeal and she loved it. Five minutes into mealtime, however, she broke out in a hot pink rash all over her face and down her neck.
Four weeks passed and we were sitting at the pediatric allergist. Seven allergy tests, two blood samples, and what seemed like an entire day later, it was confirmed: Ray is allergic to peanuts, enough so that we can't safely do a tolerance test with her.
She takes Zyrtec daily to help with the dog allergy. If anyone eats peanuts and kisses her an hour later, her face breaks out in a hot red rash. A few random reactions later (full body rash and vomiting) and we discovered she can't tolerate eggs, either.
So here we are. When life begins with the second kid, you think it's going to be smooth sailing. You've already navigated nursing in public, fevers, nap schedules and sleep regressions, teething, packing for trips, first steps, solid foods, and so much more. Baby #2 should be easy. And then God throws you a curve ball and she arrives three weeks early with double the labor time as the first, has colic for months, and requires that you carry an epi-pen for her allergies.
My goal as mom is not to "deal" with my daughter's allergies. My goal is to help her thrive, regardless, because a mom will do anything for her child. We'll figure it out together and enjoy the challenge.


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Tuesday, August 23rd, 2016
- This juice fast is tougher than I thought but I'm grateful for how my body feels.
- I didn't feel like working out…but then I did it and I felt so good!
- Showers. I love the feeling of a shower after a workout. So lovely.
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Wiley Rein's prominent Insurance and International Trade Practices have again been named among the best in the nation by Law360. The publication's "Practice Groups of the Year" list recognized each group's notable accomplishments and significant litigation matters in 2012.
This is the third consecutive year that the International Trade Practice, chaired by Alan H. Price, won the Law360 honor. Wiley Rein is the only firm representing the petitioner in trade cases that was recognized for three years in a row. The Insurance Practice, led by Daniel J. Standish, won for the second year in a row.
For each of the two practice areas, Wiley Rein was among five law firms selected by a team of Law360 editors who received almost 550 submissions from across the nation.
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Wiley Rein chairman Richard E. Wiley, International Telecommunications Group chair David A. Gross, Telecommunications Group chair R. Michael Senkowski and Appellate Group co-chair Helgi C. Walker have been selected by their clients and peers to be included on the 2013 International Who's Who of Regulatory Communications Lawyers list. The directory, a publication of the London-based Who's Who Legal, selects its honorees through independent research featuring input from general counsel and private-sector attorneys.
Of the four Wiley Rein partners selected, the directory notes: Mr. Wiley has "significant experience in the field as a former chairman of the FCC"; Mr. Senkowski is "internationally recognized for his expertise"; Mr. Gross is "one of the leading experts on telecom issues" and Ms. Walker is noted as "an outstanding litigator" who is "vastly knowledgeable in regulatory matters involving common carrier, wireless, cable, internet and broadcast issues."
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Wiley Rein has announced the election of five new partners – Jon W. Burd, Robert E. DeFrancesco III, Claire J. Evans, Brian H. Pandya and Christopher B. Weld – effective January 1, 2013. The firm has also promoted two associates – Jeremy J. Schofer and Andrew G. Woodson – to of counsel.
"These promotions reflect the notable and hard-earned achievements of a group of outstanding lawyers," said firm chairman Richard E. Wiley. "We congratulate them for these well-deserved accomplishments and applaud the dedication they have shown to their clients and the firm."
Jon W. Burd, promoted from associate in the Government Contracts Practice, litigates bid protests before the U.S. Government Accountability Office, the U.S. Court of Federal Claims (COFC) and federal agencies. He also conducts internal investigations involving allegations of contractor fraud or abuse in conjunction with U.S. Department of Justice and Inspector General subpoenas, suspension and debarment proceedings and employee whistleblower claims, and helps clients develop and maintain internal compliance programs. Mr. Burd previously served as a law clerk for the Honorable Lawrence J. Block of the COFC. He is a member of the COFC Bar Association's board of governors and co-chairs the American Bar Association's Section of Public Contract Law, Acquisition Reform & Emerging Issues Committee.
Robert E. DeFrancesco III, previously of counsel, is a member of the International Trade Practice who focuses on all aspects of trade remedy proceedings. He has particular expertise in U.S. antidumping and countervailing duty proceedings and has appeared before the U.S. Commerce Department, the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC), the U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT) and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. A former law clerk at the ITC's Office of General Counsel, Mr. DeFrancesco also serves as an assistant adjunct professor of international trade law and regulation at George Mason University School of Law.
Claire J. Evans joined the firm as an associate following her clerkship for the Honorable Clarence Thomas, U.S. Supreme Court. Ms. Evans, a member of the Communications, Appellate and Intellectual Property Practices, represents clients in connection with complex litigation and regulatory matters. She specializes in issues surrounding wireless technologies and new media, with an emphasis on copyright, patent, administrative law and constitutional concerns. Ms. Evans also served as a law clerk for the Honorable David B. Sentelle, U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, the Honorable Michael Chertoff, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and the Honorable Jerome B. Simandle, U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.
Brian H. Pandya, formerly an associate, is a member of the Intellectual Property and Litigation Practices. Mr. Pandya represents clients in matters relating to the enforcement and procurement of intellectual property rights, with a particular focus on patent litigation and counseling. He litigates patent disputes involving technologies such as consumer electronics, software, telecommunications, biotechnology and pharmaceuticals. Mr. Pandya clerked for the Honorable Leonard Davis, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas.
Christopher B. Weld, previously an associate, is a member of the International Trade Practice. Mr. Weld represents clients on trade law and policy matters, including antidumping and countervailing duty investigations, global trade policy and trade negotiations, export control regulations, trade sanctions regulations and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. He litigates trade disputes before the Commerce Department, the ITC, the CIT and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and represents clients before Congress and the executive branch on potential changes to U.S. trade laws, trade remedies and trade negotiations. Mr. Weld clerked for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts.
Jeremy J. Schofer, previously an associate, is a member of the Communications and Corporate Practices who specializes in communication, government contract and corporate transactions. He has extensive experience negotiating competitive cable franchise agreements and representing clients publicly before local governments. Mr. Schofer was named to Legal Bisnow's list of "30 Under 30" in 2008 for exceptional young talent.
Andrew G. Woodson, promoted from associate in the Election Law & Government Ethics and Litigation Practices, counsels political candidates, federal office holders, corporations, trade associations and other organizations in complying with state and federal campaign finance, ethics and lobbying laws. He defends and assists clients in U.S. Federal Election Commission enforcement proceedings, U.S. House Ethics Committee inquiries and grand jury investigations. Mr. Woodson also counsels candidates running for federal office at all stages of the electoral process and litigates in state and federal court to protect clients' First Amendment rights.
* * *
George R. Pitts, one of Washington, DC's most prominent bankruptcy law practitioners, has joined Wiley Rein LLP as a partner in its Bankruptcy & Financial Restructuring Practice. For more than 25 years, Mr. Pitts has handled complex insolvency cases and commercial litigation in courts throughout the United States. Over his distinguished career, he has represented numerous financial institutions in connection with a wide range of difficult matters, including multiple jury and bench trials.
Mr. Pitts comes to Wiley Rein from the Washington, DC office of Dickstein Shapiro, where he had been a partner since 1995. Handling bankruptcy cases spanning 10 states and the District of Columbia, he has represented debtors, financial institutions, financing companies, franchisors, creditors' committees, trustees, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the Resolution Trust Corporation. His other casework has involved receiverships, mechanics' liens, foreclosures and issues related to the Uniform Commercial Code. His extensive litigation experience includes federal and state trials involving unfair competition claims, insurance, real estate, business torts, truth in lending and commercial and partnership disputes.


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We all have one: that food we just don't like. Something we simply can't tolerate — an ingredient that can make a whole pot of soup inedible, a whole pizza flavored with that certain undesirable something.
I've noticed that while many people are honest about things like just not liking onions, or hating the texture of sour cream, chefs (and probably other culinary professionals) feel ashamed when they don't like an ingredient.
I once confessed to a chef that I didn't like olives. He said, "Then taste one every chance you get. Eventually you will sit down to eat one and enjoy it." His idea was that it's not acceptable to be a culinary artist and just not like one of the ingredients–chefs should be able to see the value in everything they have available to create with. But still, you'll find that many chefs have some ingredient they secretly despise, from something as simple as tomatoes to something as "out there" as sea urchin or sweetbreads.
It's been three years since I heard that advice about olives, and I'm here to report that I am finally showing signs of crossing over. I don't know why I ate so many olives when I knew I wouldn't enjoy the experience, but, as predicted, I'm starting to like them — the kalamata variety, anyway. The others are still a no-go.
This tapenade is sort of like an olive gateway — the addition of capers, garlic, and parsley makes it just familiar enough, and spreading it on sourdough toasts gives me a lot of other flavors to layer with the briney olive.
Here's one way to serve the tapenade — on toast with soft-boiled eggs and a drizzle of olive oil — but you could serve this any number of ways: mixed with olive oil for smothering crackly bread; with hummus; spread on a sandwich; with ricotta cheese and tomatoes on toasts; on a mozzarella, basil, and tomato panini; the list goes on. Any way you look at it, it makes a great refrigerator staple and an impressive (yet super easy) condiment for entertaining.
I made the eggs for these toasts in a sous vide, a machine that circulates water and keeps it at a constant temperature. It allows you to cook food in vacuum-sealed bags to an exact temperature. It's great for getting a perfect medium-rare steak, but I used it for some 68 C eggs, which you can simply cook in the shell, like you would when boiling eggs. Back in the restaurant, we cooked eggs to maybe 60 or 65 (I'll have to peruse my old recipe book) and used the resulting yolks to make a paste (egg heaven). These 68 C eggs are slightly firmer. You can gently crack and serve them with some egg white still on, or just spread the yolks across toast and top with tapenade. I recommend the latter.
If you want to serve this tapenade with soft-boiled eggs and don't have a sous vide, just cover several eggs in water, bring to a boil, remove from heat, put a lid on it, and wait 7-10 minutes. Then submerge eggs in ice water before gently cracking (by rolling against the side of your sink, for example), and slice them or rinse off the whites to reach the yolks. Try these two how-tos if you're looking for a more specific guide to soft– and hard-boiling eggs.
Kalamata Tapenade
Makes 2 ½ cups
2 ¼ (275 g) kalamata olives, pitted
¼ cup (50 g) capers, rinsed
1 garlic clove, peeled
¼ cup fresh parsley leaves (optional)
1 Tablespoon fresh-squeezed lemon juice
¼ cup olive oil + more for storage and serving
Cracked pepper, for serving
1. Add olives, capers, garlic clove, parsley, and lemon juice to a food processor and pulse until you reach a consistency between sand and gravel — you want pieces the size of tiny couscous grains or slightly smaller.
2. Add olive oil gradually, pulsing a bit more to combine.
3. To store, cover with a layer of olive oil and refrigerate in an airtight container. The olive oil will solidify in the refrigerator to make a seal across the top of the tapenade. If using fresh parsley, I recommend using this tapenade or freezing it within a week, as the parsley can go wilty. If not, this should keep indefinitely — as long as any other pickles or olives would in your refrigerator.
When serving, it's common to thin tapenade with more olive oil, depending on your tastes. How would you serve this briney delight?


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There are a few details that need to be worked out before the sale of 90 acres of land from the school district to the city of Washington is finalized. Superintendent Dave Sextro says the likely agreement will have the city will provide half the money upfront and pay interest on the remainder. School board members were expected to sign the contract last week, but Sextro says legal council was giving the document a final review. The city has said they plan to build a wellness park on the property.
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A collection of scholarly works about individual liberty and free markets. A project of Liberty Fund, Inc.
The Parallel Bible. The Holy Bible containing the Old and New Testaments translated out of the Original Tongues: being the Authorised Version arranged in parallel columns with the Revised Version (Oxford University Press, 1885).
|Available in the following formats:
|Facsimile PDF
|This is a facsimile or image-based PDF made from scans of the original book.
A parallel version of the Old and New Testaments with the King James Version in one column and the revised Version in another column. This title is available only in PDF because of the enormous file size, HTML versions are available for each Testament separately.
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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2018 Gubernatorial Candidate Surveys
Last month, the Ohio Aviation Association sent major party candidates for Ohio Governor a brief survey to gauge their positions on aviation funding and policy issues. Our goal was to provide our members with information regarding the aviation policy platforms for Gubernatorial candidates. On May 8th, Ohio voters went to the polls to select candidates for office in the Primary. Former Ohio Attorney General and Consumer Finance Protection Bureau Director Richard Cordray won the Democratic nomination while current Ohio Attorney General and former United States Senator Mike DeWine won the Republican nomination. Both candidates responded to OAA's survey. Click below to read each item:


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Alistair Darling, Back from the Brink: 1,000 Days at Number 11, p. 269:
If I could increase gradually the rate of VAT to 19 or even 20 per cent, I could scrap the National Insurance increase. I could compensate low earners with a package of measures to negate the impact of the VAT increase. On top of that, I could surprise people by cutting both the basic rate of income tax and corporation tax in order to boost growth. I tried this out with Gordon, but was met with an emphatic no. I talked to both Peter and Ed Balls, trying to convince them that we needed something big if we were to come out of this with any momentum at all. While Peter this time had an open mind, Gordon and Ed remained implacably opposed to the VAT increase. There was nothing more I could do, so we stuck with the tax measures previously announced.
Two years later, and thanks to Brown and Balls, not only do we still have their increased NI and income taxes, we also have 20% VAT.
Thanks, guys. Thanks a fucking bunch.
One Response to "The budget that never was"
That last line sums it up.
They have a guy who has ideas but they screw him and us.
We have the same problem in Spain. Rubalcaba, government Vice-President for 7 years with zombie Zapatero is standing for President in November. After being the fundamental part of the worst (responsive to polls but without a single idea) governments ever in Spain, with the wrong response to every crisis they have faced, he now knows what is necessary to pull Spain up.
Same here as there: Tax the rich (whatever that means) and that will allow the creation of 300,000 jobs for young people. Where do these guys get it from? Empty slogans to allow their parish to feel good about themselves.
Are they incompetent, ignorant, liars or evil? Or all 4?
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Here's a little thing I need to confess. For a while, I harbored bad feelings towards the gluten-free community. I guess I just thought it was really suspicious that all of a sudden everyone and their grandma was allergic to gluten. And I was all, okay, some people are obviously explosively allergic, like the way people have serious, life and death peanut or shellfish allergies, and that is something you don't want to joke about.
But ASIDE from that, I kept thinking, I understand that gluten might not make you feel good, but are you really allergic to it? Or are you just paranoid and pampered? Of course, personal choices are different, like deciding not to eat meat anymore, but this complete running from gluten? Even when someone makes you delicious cookies? Even just once every now and then? I mean, how many people on the edge of existence do you see turning down bread? It always seems to be the people with plenty who turn out to have weird food allergies.
Nowhere in that thought process did I stop and think, Wait, is it really my job to decide how allergic other people are and monitor their eating habits based on my conclusions? Which is to say, I never stopped and thought that other people's allergies or eating habits just aren't my business.
Anyway, I was harboring all these little weedly, uncomfortable, insensitive thoughts. And then. And THEN. I had to get allergy tested because of my extreme hay fever. While I was expecting the results to show very high allergies to grass, dust, and mold, I was pretty shocked to see a host of foods I've always just "not liked that much" on the allergy list (like cantaloupe and walnuts), along with…wait for it…wheat.
… … …
… … … …
So, then I felt pretty stupid.
But, don't kid yourself. Did this girl stop eating bread and pasta and turn around and embrace the gluten-free community? No. No, she did not.
Instead, I pretended it was all bogus, and I started eating more wheat (and walnuts and cantaloupe too) just to prove that it was all hogwash. One little problem, I DID feel a ton better if I ever did limit my wheat intake (go figure). So, now I'm in this place where I have to admit that mild to moderate food allergies are real, even if we didn't start recognizing them as a culture until recent years. EVEN if they're not severe and deadly, they're real, EVEN IF it is slightly annoying to cook for them at potlucks, and people have a right to not eat wheat if it makes them feel better. Many of you arrived at a similar conclusion before I did, I'm sure.
Still, for my own self. I can't cut wheat out entirely, because: 1) Pasta, and 2) Wheat is everywhere, and I don't want to be unnecessarily difficult when people have gone out of their way to cook something for me. I mean, considering it doesn't make me sick so much as "less good." This is probably not an advisable stance.
All of this to tell you, I made a gluten-free dessert. And I loved it. I imagined it would be tasty but just missing that certain je ne sais quoi, but it wasn't. It was rich and satisfactory and delicious, and a great alternative to pecan pie–no baking, no fuss, and no corn syrup either.
I used Steen's cane syrup (it's just boiled, reduced cane sugar) instead of Maple syrup, because I didn't want the maple overtaking the pie flavor I was going for.
Note: Omitting the chocolate, not toasting the nuts, and swapping the Steen's for raw honey would make also make this raw/paleo? Pershmaps? I'm not an expert.
Pecan Pie Bars
Makes an 8×8 pan of squares
2 cups dates, pitted
3 cups pecans halves or pieces
1 cup dried, flaked, unsweetened coconut
3 Tablespoons coconut oil
2 Tablespoons Steen's syrup
¼ cup water
¾ teaspoon salt
Optional: 1 ½ cups dark chocolate chips
1. Toast pecans on a sheetpan in a 375 F oven for 10 minutes. Set aside to cool.
2. In a food processor pulverize 1 cup pecans and all the coconut flake until a coarse meal forms. Add 1 cup dates, 1 Tablespoon coconut oil, and ½ teaspoon sea salt, and process until a smooth paste forms.
3. In a plastic- or parchment-lined 8 x 8 baking dish, press crust mixture into a smooth layer. Freeze while preparing other ingredients.
Chocolate Layer (Optional)
1. In a double boiler, melt chocolate chips without burning. Pour most of the chocolate onto the crust and spread into a smooth layer. Return crust to freezer. Reserve remaining chocolate and set aside.
Deliciousness Layer
1. Back in food processor, blitz 1 cup pecans until the size of pencil erasers or smaller, and set aside. Add remaining 1 cup dates, ¼ cup water, 2 Tablespoons coconut oil, and 2 Tablespoons Steen's syrup to processor, and blitz well. When nearly smooth, add in the 1 cup pecan pieces, process briefly, only until combined.
2. Pour this filling over the crust and chocolate, and spread until smooth. Press remaining 1 cup of pecans into the top. Drizzle with remaining melted chocolate (reheat, if necessary).
3. Freeze for several hours, preferably overnight, then lift out with plastic and slice. Store in fridge or freezer.


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While the cost of computer upgrades may be getting lower for the most part, computing can still be an expensive hobby if you are an enthusiast. Whether you enjoy playing games or using professional computer aided design or movie editing software, you're going to need some PC optimization to get all of the power you possibly can out of your machine. Hardware upgrades, while always providing the best PC tune up, are prohibitively expensive for many of us. Fortunately, there are a few free ways to make a considerable boost in performance.
1: Get Rid of Unused Programs and Files
This applies to both new computers and ones which you've owned for years. New computers are often in more need of PC optimization than any other computers, since they often come with a great deal of 'bloatware' or junk software installed. Getting rid of all of this preloaded rubbish is essential for any PC tune up. It makes Windows take far longer to load, it hogs system resources and, in the worst case scenario, it causes system instability.
To begin with, enter the "Programs and Features" section of the Control Panel and remove everything that you don't use. If you're not sure about a particular program or feature, it's safer to leave it. Be sure that you know exactly what you're uninstalling before continuing.
The next step in your PC tune up is to remove all other junk on your PC. Run Disk Cleanup to remove all unused temporary files, Internet data and anything else that you no longer need. It's safe to check all of the boxes and let Disk Cleanup do the work for you.
2: Prevent Unwanted Programs Starting at System Startup
The most essential part of PC optimization is to have as few programs running in the background as you can. Do you really need programs such as Skype, MSN Messenger or Steam running constantly in the background? All they do is take up system resources and make Windows take much longer to load. Many programs configure themselves to start up on Windows logon by default.
Stop this from happening by typing 'msconfig' into the 'Search programs and files' box in the Start menu. Open the program and navigate to the 'startup' tab. Deselect any programs that you don't want starting automatically when you log in to Windows. You can safely deselect any program from here, but if you are unsure about something, you might prefer to leave it. You can always change the settings again letter.
3: Defragmenting Your Hard Disk
Last but not least, defragmenting your hard disk is a must for your PC tune up. This is also the case with a new PC, especially after you've just installed all of your programs on it and copied over all your files. Also, after a few months of using the computer, PC optimization becomes even more important, especially with regards to the hard disk. When data is copied to the disk, it is fragmented. This means that the data contained by a file will be scattered all over the physical hard disk, rather than being located in one place. For obvious reasons, this is not very efficient. Run Windows Disk Defragmenter to complete your PC tune up. It may take some time, but you'll notice the difference if you haven't run it in a few months.


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[Modifying the Fallen Star Pendant's runes inscription, increasing illusory runes to make Host compatible with its control.]
A.I. Chip sounded at this very moment.
Blue light flashed across Leylin's eyes, and many transparent patterns began appearing on the surface of the Fallen Star Pendant.
Next, all he needed to do was to proceed with the modifications according to the transparent patterns on the Fallen Star Pendant.
And the A.I. Chip could assist Leylin during his inscription process, so there would not be any mistakes.
Using a pair of tweezers to fish the Fallen Star Pendant onto a white cloth, Leylin took out a solid inscription pen and started to finely carve on the surface of the cross.
At this point, his hand was like a steel sculpture — it was as steady as possible, without even a single tremor.
This required an enormous amount of attentiveness and endurance and consumed a lot of time and energy.
As time passed, beads of sweat started to drip from Leylin's forehead.
[Fallen Star Pendant's runes modification is a success! It has newly added reinforced runes, energy dissipation runes, extension runes…]
As he listened to A.I. Chip's reminders, Leylin revealed a smile.
Immediately, he picked up another inscription pen from beside him. It had grooves on its body and was just as solid.
"Next, I shall fill in these carvings!"
Leylin lit two beakers and proceeded to melt the raw materials he had separated earlier from the magic artifacts. Those beakers now contained only liquids.
Subsequently, Leylin followed a fixed proportion and mixed the two liquids together.
Leylin played with the grooves on the pen and it split open, revealing a hole to pour water into.
Immediately, he poured the concentrated silvery black liquid into the body of the pen.
Fine runes started to twinkle and flicker around the inscription pen, producing an enchanting radiance.
With a face of satisfaction, Leylin pushed the pen nib against the tracks of the inscriptions carved earlier on, repeating the process again.
But this time, the pen left silvery black liquid in its trail, filling every notch of the inscription.
After finishing the last stroke, Leylin sized up the completely reformed cross and nodded his head with satisfaction.
Leylin used the ancient Byron language and read out two words.
*Pong* A cylindrical beam of gray light began to emit from the cross. Threads of silver light were moving along the rune inscriptions that Leylin had carved earlier.
As the silvery gray rays kept blending, they got brighter and eventually engulfed the Fallen Star Pendant in it.
When the rays completely vanished, the Fallen Star Pendant had changed in appearance entirely.
It only retained the shape of the cross but was bulkier than before.
Also, it had changed from a silvery black colour to a shade of dark red.
On the surface there were numerous fine and detailed rune inscriptions, causing the original fragments of gems to be concealed beneath it.
Leylin then took the dark red Fallen Star Pendant, noting its weight was heftier than before.
[Beep! Fallen Star Pendant's upgrade is now successful with those middle-grade magic artifacts! Current Physical Defence: 24, Magic Defence: 25!] A.I. Chip sounded again, bringing Leylin the good news.
"Physical defence rose from 13 to 24, and magic defence rose from 15 to 25! Not bad, really not bad!"
This range almost surpassed the Scales of Kemoyin's defense. It was almost equivalent to gaining another innate defensive spell. Leylin was naturally very pleased.
But there were a lot of other magic artifacts that have better innate spells. The would have another increase in power and defense in the future.
As for the Fallen Star Pendant, unless he finds even more precious materials to upgrade, it would be difficult to increase its defensive characteristics as per Leylin's requirements.
Hence, in the long run, concentrating on his own innate spells was more dependable.
"In the south coast, acolyte ranks use beginner grade magic artifacts. Level 1 Magi use middle-grade magic artifacts and the occasional beginner grade magic artifacts. Only the extremely powerful level 2 Magi have the capability to get hold of high-grade magic artifacts!"
Leylin thought of the information he saw from the Book of Giant Serpent.
Although the era of the great Magus Serholm was somewhat distant, the general distribution of power and culture throughout the south coast could be seen.
Now that the Fallen Star Pendant had been promoted to a middle-grade magic artifact, it's effective for Leylin as a level 1 Warlock. This, of course, put him in a good mood.
The Great Canyon Margaret spanned across the Inlan Dukedom and several nearby kingdoms. It was also a place that was necessary to travel through to enter the Ennea Ivory Ring Tower, controlled by the Light Magi.
Of course, this was only with regards to Magi.
Ordinary citizens of this dukedom seldom step out of the kingdom, from their birth until their death. Even their mercenaries only received missions within the kingdom.
Mercenaries and wandering bards who had travelled the vicinity could use the experience they gained to flaunt or gain respect.
"Great Canyon Margaret is filled with danger. Even a hastened journey takes several months…"
Leylin slightly frowned as he thought over the information about the Great Canyon.
Transportation in the Magus World was inconvenient, causing a great deal of inconvenience for magicians who travel far and wide.
Of course, he had another choice — he could ride in an airship.
But unfortunately, not only was this mode of transportation costly, there was only a fixed number of dates per year for its departure. Furthermore, there were stringent requirements for passengers. They needed a local family or an organisation to be their guarantor.
Leylin was already on the wanted list of Abyssal Bone Forest Academy. So naturally, he wouldn't wait for the airship and had to rush by foot.
"Your parent's good friend, that Aunt Marian, where does she live?"
Leylin asked Ivy, who was behind him.
"Angler Town beside the Great Canyon!" Ivy said in a low voice.
Leylin nodded. This girl's blood had greatly helped him. Besides, there was no clash in the itinerary. Under such circumstances, he didn't mind lending a helping hand.
"Well then! I will first send you to Angler Town to find your Aunt Marian!"
Leylin told Ivy.
"L…Lord! Is it okay if I followed you around?"
After what Leylin said, Ivy stayed silent for a moment before asking this question.
"Oh? But why? I did not treat you very well!"
Leylin was surprised. When he crossed over, he was from nobility, a respected Magus acolyte. He'd never taken care of anyone before. Ivy even suffered a small illness on this journey. Things would have taken a bad turn if Leylin wasn't a Potions master.
Moreover, every now and then, Leylin had to take from Ivy a big tube of blood. He simply could not comprehend why this girl would still want to continue following him.
Maybe, I was too charming? Or was she so oppressed that twisted feelings began emerging?
Leylin let his imagination run as he rubbed his chin.
"Is this for revenge?" But, he soon figured out what the girl had in mind.
Ivy lowered her head, obviously tacitly agreeing.
"Ivy you should be aware that due to the genetic constitution of your family, before you can find the lost meditation technique, you'll never be able to be an apprentice. Even I can't do anything about it!"
Only because Ivy and Leylin were inheritors of the same ancient bloodline, he felt that he should clarify it with her.
"I know! But I request from you to get me vengeance! For this reason, I'm willing to suffer any consequence!"
The little girl made her last effort.
"My apologies. Magus advocate fair transactions. And regardless of your wealth, health or spirit, it is not enough for me to deal with another official Magus!"
Leylin did not hesitate to reject the girl's plea.
Upon hearing Leylin's ruthless yet very real words, Ivy's shoulders trembled, hugged her knees as she sat in the carriage and fell silent.
Soon, the carriage entered Angler Town.
This was obviously a Magus gathering area. There were little, almost none, ordinary people, and the architecture of the buildings around portrayed a gloomy style that appeared cold and weird. Even the atmosphere was filled with a moist putrefying stench.
"This kind of place doesn't seem very good!"
Leylin frowned. According to his experience, these kinds of dangerous district beside the major transportation road, dwells those who harbors bad thoughts, Magus who have nowhere to turn to. Simply put, wanted criminals!
Leylin felt bad for Ivy. They followed the street and eventually got to the number plate Ivy had reported before.
Appearing in front of Leylin was a dilapidated two-story loft. Black wooden planks on the verge of collapsing revealed a decadent atmosphere.
The first floor had been converted to look like a grocery store. But it didn't seem to be doing very well, and the people who entered were but a few.
Parking the carriage at a side, Leylin pulled Ivy's hand as they entered the grocery store.
"Marian! Is Marian here?" Leylin yelled out. He did not attempt to conceal the energy fluctuations in his body as the road to Angler Town was unimpeded.
"Respected Magus Lord, how may I serve you?"
Before Leylin could finish his words, an obese middle-aged lady with a greasy grey apron and thick makeup made her way out, expressing humility and flattery.
If it wasn't for the level 3 acolyte's aura she had on her body, with this kind of image, she looked exactly like an unkind housewife.
"Is this Marian?" Leylin asked Ivy who was standing at a corner.
"Yes… Yes!" Ivy nodded her head. Leylin finally understood why Ivy was so unwilling.
By the looks of it, Ivy's parents probably did not have anyone else to turn to back then. Hence, they allowed their housekeeper to send Ivy to Marian.
"This is Ivy! Any impression?" Leylin pulled Ivy in front of him.
"John's daughter?!" Marian's face changed slightly. "About the Langster family matter, I feel sad…" Marian said as she squeezed out a few drops of tears.
"…Back then, I just happened to pass by and the housekeeper begged me to bring her here…"
Leylin briefly spoke about the cause and effects.
Upon hearing that she has to offer shelter for Ivy again, Marian's face completely turned embarrassed, as if things were already difficult for her. Leylin reckoned, if he wasn't around, Ivy would have already been chased away.
"Since it is what the Lord wants, then alright!" She replied with an ugly smile after struggling for a long time.
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text: Hollywood Flashback: In 2002, Michael Jackson Announced Plans to Launch His Own Movie Studio 8:00 AM PST 11/8/2015 by Meena Jang FACEBOOK TWITTER EMAIL ME Phil Ramey AGENCY/RameyPix/Corbis Michael Jackson AFM H 2002 "I dream great dreams," Jackson said. "Everything I've achieved started with a dream, and of all the dreams, this is the one I am most passionate about." Michael Jackson may be best remembered for revolutionizing the music scene, but in 2002, the King of Pop had other ambitions. Just months after the release of his 10th and final album, Invincible, Jackson made plans to enter the film business with the launch of his own independent film company, Neverland Pictures. The mini-studio was the result of a proposed $20 million partnership between Jackson's Neverland Entertainment and production company MDP Worldwide. The news was made public at a private dinner reception at MDP chief Mark Damon's home, where nearly 300 guests — consisting mostly of distributors who had shopped projects at AFM earlier that day — eagerly awaited Jackson's arrival. The pop icon made a rare appearance at the event, arriving arm-in-arm with longtime friend Elizabeth Taylor. "He called ?me beforehand and asked if he could bring his friend — his best friend," Damon tells The Hollywood Reporter. "When the distributors saw Michael and Liz Taylor next? to him, they all fainted. To this ?day, [some] still tell me that it was the greatest experience of their lives." At the dinner, Jackson spoke enthusiastically about his vision for Neverland Pictures: He and producing partner Raju Patel would produce family films and reboots of classic fairy tales, some of which Jackson also would direct and star in. "I dream great dreams," Jackson said. "Everything I've achieved started with a dream, and of all the dreams, this is the one I am most passionate about." But nothing came of Jackson's movie-mogul plans, as the deal never closed. "Michael had too many distractions with his life at the time," Damon recalls. "At times he was totally focused, and other times it was just a vacant stare." He had a cameo in the 2004 fantasy comedy Miss Castaway and the Island Girls (he played "a Vatican agent projected by an R2-D2-like droid") and later starred in the 2009 concert doc Michael Jackson's This Is It, which was released after his death and grossed $261 million worldwide. FACEBOOK TWITTER EMAIL ME Meena Jang email@example.com @thr


text:
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view info & map
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Located in Verona (Citta Antica), B&B The Lions is a 4-minute walk from San Fermo Maggiore and 6 minutes by foot from Porta Leoni. This bed & breakfast is 0.8 mi (1.3 km) from Giardino Giusti and 15 mi (24.1 km) from Serego Alighieri Winery.
Make yourself at home in one of the 3 air-conditioned guestrooms. Complimentary wireless Internet access is available to keep you connected. Bathrooms have showers and hair dryers. Cribs/infant beds (surcharge) and rollaway/extra beds (surcharge) are available on request.
Take in the views from a rooftop terrace and make use of amenities such as complimentary wireless Internet access and a television in a common area.
A complimentary continental breakfast is served daily from 8 AM to 10:30 AM.
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The front desk is staffed during limited hours.


text:
As you may have noticed, Desktop Gadgets and Sidebar are missing in Windows 8 RTM. Personally, I don't miss gadgets since I did not use them. But a lot of people have been missing them. If you can't live without desktop gadgets, there is good news for you: desktop gadgets and sidebar can be made to work in Windows 8.
My friend PainteR has created an unofficial installer which allows you to get gadgets back in Windows 8 with just a few mouse clicks. Just follow the
white rabbit setup wizard.
Note that it supports all possible Windows 8 languages, so you will get gadgets and sidebar's interface with your native language!
Wait for the installer to finish and right click on the desktop after that. You will see the familiar "Gadgets" item in your desktop context menu. Enjoy:
Before you download
- I am not sure that this is legal. Check the license agreement of Windows 7 and Windows 8 before you use this installer.
- All credits goes to PainteR. No one from Winaero is associated with this installer.
Download Desktop Gadgets for Windows 8


text:
I have mentioned about parallel processing in parallel processing strategy-1 and parallel processing strategy-2 posts. In order to prevent resource problems in parallel processing I had offered a custom code which is checking system resources for each new parallel function call.
Month: August 2014
RFC types and sample calls
There are four types of RFC in ABAP ,here is their meaning and a sample implementation for each.
Synchronous RFC : Sender waits while the RFC runs in the recipient process.
'RABAX occurred on server side' error when calling webservice
As the post name implies this error mostly caused by a syntax error in SAP system which publishes the related webservice. In that case just enter into ABAP Runtime Error transaction. There you will see a detailed explanation about your runtime error. Many reasons can cause syntax errors but as my experience you should mostly suspect about request transportation issues if you come up this error in a target SAP system lets say in Production environment.
import an external request to your SAP system
In order to import an external request ,you must have the files mentioned above. They can be acquired after downloading them to your local from another SAP system .Following steps should be followed for full cycle of export/import of a request.
move a file in SAP directories(AL11) from source path to target path
In previous posts i had mentioned about finding all files under a path in SAP directories. After finding all these files i had a requirement to move them into a permanent location from the temporary path
create variant for reuse alv reports and REUSE_ALV_VARIANT_F4 usage
For alv reports users can create alv variants and use them later. In order to achieve this alv variants can be supplied from selection-screen. Users can create and save their user-specific variant stating with 'A' to 'Z' characters and for standard variants that can be used by all users in the system starting with '/' character.
update techniques and SET UPDATE TASK LOCAL statement
In order to obtain data consistency SAP provides an infrastructure containing an different type of processor and a few ABAP commands. By this infrastructure you are bundling all your database update requests in a single LUW in order to obtain database consistency.
why should we employ a web dispatcher
There are many reasons for SAP customers to employ a web dispatcher in their system landscape. Firstly customers will locate web dispatcher in their DMZ which is bordered by two firewalls.


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I had the pleasure of joining Mark Sevco, from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center for a presentation at TMA's 7th annual People in Healthcare Summit. This event brought together senior talent professionals from the top health systems around the country. Our presentation was on: Building a New Hospital, and a New Culture – Lessons Learned.
UPMC is a fully integrated health system with over 60,000 employees and 20 hospitals. Mark is President of UPMC McKeesport and UPMC East, the system's newest campus. He's also actively involved in UPMC's international work.
Mark and his team had the unique opportunity to build a new hospital, and new hospital culture, from the ground up. That new campus now has top employee engagement and patient satisfaction scores -and not by accident. Mark's team took the position that EVERYTHING starts with employee engagement. It's not merely a "program" but the core of their success. Engaged employees are more productive and ensure an improved patient experience and achieving organizational goals.
Related: Healthcare Hiring Lessons From UPMC East President, Mark Sevco
Four facts demonstrate the impact of employee engagement:
Employees who are most engaged are 87% less likely to leave the organization.
$300 Billion – The estimated cost to US businesses due to low productivity of actively disengaged workers.
52% gap in operating incomes between companies with highly engaged employees and companies whose employee have low engagement scores.
Hospitals scoring in the top 20% on employee engagement significantly outperform the bottom 20% when looking at patient satisfaction percentile ranking.
Everyone preaches that culture trumps tactics and that talent matters. Most, though, fail to build the infrastructure and processes necessary to create real employee engagement and a truly patient-centered culture. From Mark's experience, and our work with dozens of other systems, attendees will:
Learn how to build behavioral traits into your talent strategies, from leadership to frontline staff.
Learn how to combine high tech with high touch.
Learn the value of building EVERYTHING around employee engagement.
Learn how to create the infrastructure, tools, and processes to SUSTAIN a high-performance culture and keep your team "connected to their passion", including the innovative "Health Culture Index."
A few pieces of practical advice we shared:
Make it the responsibility of the entire senior team to engage staff
Model collaboration and engagement behaviors, all the time
Tell stories – from your own experiences and from your patients'
Involve physicians and staff in critical decision making and plans. Listen, gather input, and be humble enough to ask for help
Create a culture of innovation by providing a path for raising and testing ideas. Make it safe to talk, try, fail, and learn from failure
Measure, communicate, and recognize success
A culture of engagement cannot be a vague concept. It needs to be clearly defined, understood, lived each day, and woven into the vision, strategy, and goals of the organization.
You can learn more by downloading our free whitepaper:


text:
Up until a little over a year ago, I would have called myself an atheist, a secularist; I have no doubts that many scholars might identify with labels like those or others similarly linked to a lack of faith. But I have wised up a bit since those days. On the one hand, I don't think I can really call myself an atheist as I don't think I identify with the label. I can't idealize Dawkins and, even though I am an existentialist, I cannot push aside burning questions about the value of the current trends of atheism. Am I a humanist? Yes. Am I a Christian? No. But an atheist as far as the existence of a sort of supreme being? I am not that either. Certainly, even when I did take on the label, I was not really identifying with something I was, but something I believed I was not. Consequently, I think a lot of us do that; we identify with what we aren't as a way to define what we are and, as a result, we caricaturize and label. We create whole socio-cultural groups, opinions, delusions, about others that simply don't exist. Watch Fox News or MSNBC, tune into any political debate on CSPAN, sit in at a town hall meeting for an hour and you'll immediately catch on to my reasoning. That such a thing occurs in politics is expected. But that it also exists in scholarship is something that both shocks and disappoints me.
This post deals with this fiction we all create, not just within the community of l'Accademia but with the general public as well. We fabricate these perspectives–whether about BAR and Shanks, about Jesus, about Christians, about which side we aren't on and which side we idealize–and then we distribute these fabrications to others as part of a means to eliminate, albeit unintentionally, the very purpose of scholarship: the purpose to continually challenge and question and, more importantly, to educate and disseminate information about the past for the preservation of the future. Instead of preserving the memories of the past, we are dissolving them in the bitterness of the labels we use. We are the Wormsley Commom Gang from Graham Greene's The Destructors rather than being the Solomon or Hiram of 1 Kings.
There has been a lot of discussion lately in the biblioblog-o-sphere about the battle between secularism and the seminary over Biblical Studies. Tim Bulkeley has recently posted up an article on B&I on the subject, of which has garnered as much attention as the article is enjoyable. He writes (read the whole article, it is quite good):
"The Bible's most vociferous cultured despisers, the so-called neo-atheists, argue that (read literally as some sort of instruction manual) the Bible supports all sorts of barbarity…. That's not strange, the challenge they pose is a reasonable and necessary one. What is strange is that their reading of Scripture is one that Jewish and Christian tradition across the millennia has NOT practiced. Religious reading of sacred texts has been more nuanced and careful… So how can this new wave of atheist argument get away with such misuse of Scripture? Only because vociferous groups of Christians also use and advocate just such blind simplistic readings."
In an earlier article on a subject similar to this, he also wrote words so profoundly astute I must reiterate them here:
"So, the issue at heart is about a basic attitude of either skepticism or trust towards the object of study. Jim West's person of faith trusts Scripture; therefore, he argues, their relationship to this object of study is different from, and richer than, the relationship a skeptical reading permits. By contrast, both Avalos and Lemche see such committed reading as full of social and intellectual dangers…. These two distinct genres of skepticism and trust should not be confused, for they are different…. What is needed is a frank recognition that there are two (related but different) disciplines studying the biblical texts. Then their practitioners need to identify more clearly what they do similarly and what they do differently. In such an environment, discussion of whether any, all, or no religious study of Scripture is scholarly might be possible without a slinging match. But that, of course, is not the world we live in, so we will no doubt continue to read abusive missives aimed from one set of trenches to another in the religious, as in the historical, wars."
To be fair, I can't say that I am responding directly to these articles as the former is concerned more with helping seminary students in Biblical Studies deal with the theological issues rather than the existentialism of what Tim calls 'new atheism' which is so much more common in Universities and the latter, an article in response to several discussions of the relevancy of Biblical Studies over at B&I, was about finding common footing as much as it was about establishing a dialogue. Neither of these issues are the foci of this blog post. However, their relevance is in the use of language which has become more pervasive in academia over the last few years. Roland Boer recently published a collection of essays entitled Secularism and Biblical Studies (London: Equinox, 2010), which directly engages the debate; what is the value of secular critical scholarship and what impact is it having–or could it potentially have–on Biblical Studies? "Coming out of current debates that have been flaring within biblical studies over the issue of secularism, the essays crystallize the various positions that have been taken." (via)
Yet, what is in need of clarification is why such distinctions exist at all. A few years ago, when I was first introducing myself to modern critical scholarship, I saw a flux of archetypes which in truth, for all my trials, I could find no real substance. Terms like 'critical scholar' and 'conservative scholar' and 'liberal' were tossed around as if such blatant fictional topoi were living and breathing individuals. And, I must confess, I did fall into such a trap. Niels Peter Lemche reminds us that such tactics have existed for some time and Philip R. Davies even dedicates substantial time to the discussion in his Memories of Ancient Israel (Louisville: WJK, 2008). However, Philip has done us a great service by isolating the value of the argument rather than the label by focusing–not so much on terms like 'minimalist' and 'maximalist' (though he does to some extent)–on the value of trust and the value of doubt (esp. pp. 124-169).
Trust and doubt have a large role to play in the study of the ancient world. Since history is a field formulated in and upon inductive, rather than the deductive, investigations, what will inevitably happen is that someone with more investment in the material will trust it more than a person who does not have in it as much of an investment. This is a byproduct of many different vagaries of life and little of it, if any, has to do with Biblical Studies–or perhaps, it simply shouldn't.
Alas, I may be naive in believing that scholarship can do away with such labels. I know that the biggest criticism I will receive about this post is that my idealism is not well-grounded. Some arguments are rather 'conservative' or 'maximalist' or 'evangelical' or, perhaps, "too Christian (or Jewish)" and others will undoubtedly be more 'liberal', more 'postmodern', more 'secular'–"too Dawkins-esque". But the problem with this terminology is that, as parts of language, these labels will bring in more than their share of cultural (or, as Roland Barthes might put it, their diachronic) contexts, many of which will simply not apply to the work or individual(s) to which the label is being applied.
Unfortunately, too many people are working against me on this. I do not believe that secularism is the cure for Biblical Studies. I do not believe we need to limit secularism, either. Jim West is probably more right than he knows when he wrote:
"It seems to me, at any rate, that biblical studies cannot move forward any further along the historical-critical path alone. Furthermore, it seems to me that the only useful approach to biblical studies which can move us forward is theological exegesis. And, to be honest, returning to our roots in theological exegesis as practiced most efficiently in the Reformation writings of Zwingli, Luther, and Calvin."
It's certainly true that "historical-critical tools are useful but…Theological exegesis is the missing link in most modern biblical scholarship." (ibid.) And I'm sure Jim would argue that the only way to exegete Theologically (correctly) is to have faith (and being a Baptist wouldn't hurt either–eh, Jim?). But what he doesn't argue for is fundamentalism, even if many out there would say otherwise (yes, I'm looking at you John Loftus). Jim's quite astute and an excellent scholar; I would value his exegetical prowess over Sam Harris or John Loftus (even if he were still a Christian) and put more stock in his interpretations, even if they lean away from what many would call "secularism". The Bible wasn't written by new atheists (unless, by some crazy coincidence, Carl Sagan invented a time machine, lent it to Bart Ehrman and Hector Avalos, and sent them back to do just that…)–though I have heard it argued that Job didn't believe in God (this is neither here nor there). But the Bible was not written, collected, nor edited by Baptists, Reformers (well, maybe just the KJV), or Catholics either, for that matter, regardless of what Pope Benedict would have you believe. And Jim seems to have a better grasp of that than his detractors–and Tim Bulkeley was right to point out their misuse and abuse of scripture. But again we come back to labels, don't we? Jim West, though a Baptist and seminarian, and pastor (who, admittedly, puts people to sleep), still recognizes that:
In sum, the Bible, from beginning to end, is primarily interested in God. The stage is set in the opening verse of Genesis where we learn, "In the beginning, God…." The Bible's aim is not to tell a historical tale; its aim is to tell a theological tale. For that reason its authors, minimalists all, recognized that their work and aim and calling was something other than to use traditions and tales for historical reconstruction. "What, when, and how" were of no interest to them at all; but "why and who" mattered supremely.
In other words Jim, like his portrayal of the authors of the Biblical narratives, has little interest (if any) in the historiographical background of the narratives. So it may be shocking to see him putting the contradictions on display as he does, because he, like other scholars, knows full well that "contradiction" is just as anachronistic a phrase for an ancient author as was "historiography". Does one really believe that the author of 1 Kings was any more interested in history than the Dionysius of Halicarnassus or Josephus or Livy? Does anyone believe they were less interested? Perhaps, but then they can argue that at the next scholarly colloquium. In the end, what matters is not the position that Jim holds here, but that he is defying a stereotype which I feel is often applied to Christians by other, more "secular" scholars. Indeed, the reverse is just as true. By generalizing about new atheists, Tim Bulkeley has committed himself to tearing down Old Misery's house. When one follows a part of a school or train of judgment, fabricating and building upon existing archetypes (i.e. the evil atheist or fundamentalist Christian), the arguments–the discussions–fall through the cracks. Albert Schweitzer recognized this fabrication in his day, when analyzing the first quest for the historical Jesus.
The mistake was to suppose that Jesus could come to mean more to our time by entering into it as a man like ourselves. That is not possible. First because such a Jesus never existed. Secondly because, although historical knowledge can no doubt introduce greater clearness into an existing spiritual life, it cannot call spiritual life into existence. History can destroy the present; it can reconcile the present with the past; can even to a certain extent transport the present into the past; but to contribute to the making of the present is not given unto it.
And his conclusion cements the very reason why such labels are useless:
"Jesus means something to our world because a mighty spiritual force streams forth from Him and flows through our time also. This fact can neither be shaken nor confirmed by any historical discovery. It is the solid foundation of Christianity." The Quest for the Historical Jesus (London: A. & C. Black, 1910), 397-98; German original: Von Reimarus zu Wrede: Eine Geschichte der Leben-Jesu-Forschung, Tubingen: Mohr Siebeck, 1906)
This perspective was echoed, also, by the students of Bultmann. Bornkamm wrote, quite prophetically of the current dilemma:
"Why have these attempts failed? Perhaps only because it became alarmingly and terrifyingly evident how inevitably each author brought the spirit of his own age into his presentation…" G. Bornkamm, Jesus of Nazareth (New York: Harper & Row, 1960), 13
Where is all of this leading; I know that is the question going through a lot of readers' minds. I suppose my conclusion is that labels are not useful; they do not contribute to the end-goal of academia. Let's face it, is secularism really a bad thing? Is religious theology? Is spirituality? I tend to believe all are necessary. Is there one systematic approach to the answers about the past? Is there one way to teach seminary students about the Bible without making them schizophrenic? At a university, is there a way to educate the student about the value of Theology and a spiritual reading responsibly? The question I would ask is, is there really a single, methodological way to teach the Bible? When we say Dever is a Maximalist, or that James McGrath is a progressive, what are we really doing? What exactly is Dever putting his faith in and, conversely, what is it that McGrath is not? When we read William Dever's contributions to scholarship, are we going to find postmodern thoughts and arguments, minimalistic perspectives, and some doubts as well? Certainly we will, because Dever is as much a product of his day as were the historical Jesus scholars of Schweitzer's and Bornkamm's. But I'm sure if Dever read my post here, saw that I labeled an argument of his as minimalistic, he'd probably object (and I would probably object if someone labeled something I wrote as maximalistic). But that doesn't mean that it isn't true, or that there is no common ground. Labels are not so much wrong in that they can't be true; labels are wrong in that they oversimplify and muddy the water. They cause confusion when there is none, they force us to misread, misinterpret, and misjudge.
We forget simple things; Theology is just as important as critically analyzing the historical competency of the author. History is inductive and so we must induce things about the past that are sometimes wrong. Oh well. Atheists, secularists, agnostics, should not fear the thought of having to use theology to exegete and, conversely, theists, Christians, evangelicals should not fear reason and critical perspectives about the historical core of the Biblical narratives. As Schweitzer remarks, such a history may never have existed–but the past has no grasp on the present, in that it can change it. I believe Tim is correct:
"If we continue as we have been, seeking to separate faith from biblical studies, then all we can expect to foster are sharper and wilder fights between the extremists, with the middle ground left as a muddied no-man's-land."
As a friend of mine once said, "atheism and theism died in the trenches of World War 1." Indeed. If we continue to fear each other, the answers will always elude us and, alas, the past as we know it will disappear to us entirely.
Filed under: Belief, Biblioblogging, Blog Memes, Philosophy, Politics, Scholarship, Society | 31 Comments »


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