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LOS ANGELES — A group of 733 female artists gathered on Sunday in the sunny courtyard of the Hauser Wirth & Schimmel gallery for "Now Be Here," which its organizers call the largest group portrait of working artists taken in this city's history.
Some better-known figures included Alison Saar and her mother, Betye Saar (at 90, the oldest participant); Helen Pashgian; Barbara T. Smith; Alexis Smith; Catherine Opie; Meg Cranston; Stanya Kahn; Liza Lou; and Liz Glynn.
The portrait project was organized by Kim Schoenstadt, a conceptual artist who shows her own work at a smaller gallery downtown Los Angeles: Chimento Contemporary.
Ms. Schoenstadt said that she had the idea for a group photograph after seeing Hauser Wirth & Schimmel's debut show, "Revolution in the Making: Abstract Sculpture by Women, 1947-2016," which closes on Sunday. "They had this inspiring show of female artists, and I just thought: There are so many more artists who weren't included."
Emails meant to be forwarded along drew hundreds of participants. Ms. Schoenstadt has created a website to publish the official group photo and participant list, with plans to ultimately add links to the artists' own websites.
Ms. Opie described the group as "cross-generational," noting during the event: "I just saw Jo Ann Callis, who was my teacher at CalArts, and I've already seen some of my former students from U.C.L.A."
Micol Hebron, a Los Angeles artist and educator who wore a bikini top decorated with realistically rendered nipples to the event — the sort of feminist stunt she likes to post on Facebook — called it "the best reunion ever; it really feels like one big family, supportive and not competitive."
She noted, though, that she originally had some reservations about participating because of the location. "Hauser Wirth & Schimmel has been using one-off events to boost the impression that they are feminist, but they do not represent a lot of women artists — only around 30 percent," she said, drawing the figure from her ongoing "Gallery Tally" project.


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Iowa HiMSS April 2017 Social Event
April 24, 5:00pm, CDT - 8:00pm, CDT
Join us in having a fun evening before the Iowa HIMSS April Chapter Meeting at our social event at Backpocket Brewing Pilot Pub.
415 3rd St. SE
Cedar Rapids, IA 52401
Drinks and appetizers will be provided. Please register to RSVP.

subset: commoncrawl


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What is Data Discovery?
One of the biggest problems in business intelligence is the mismatch between those in the company who know how to prepare data for analysis, and those who need to run these analysis and use the insights, day-to-day.
Data discovery tools get around this by making it easier for non-IT staff to access complex data sets and draw out the information they need, without the technical know-how this required in the past.
These tools are getting more and more sophisticated all the time. As Rita Sallam, Research Vice-President at Gartner (who coined the term 'data discovery'), puts it:
"Data preparation is one of the most difficult and time-consuming challenges facing business users of BI and data discovery tools, as well as advanced analytics platforms. However, data preparation capabilities are emerging that will provide business users and analysts the ability to extend the scope of self-service to include information management, and extract, transform and load (ETL) functions, enabling them to access, profile, prepare, integrate, curate, model and enrich data for analysis and consumption by BI and analytics platforms."
So… What is Governed Data Discovery?
Data discovery tools are great, but they aren't always able to keep up with the pace of change, especially when new data is being added to the back end all the time.
That's where the idea of governed data discovery (GDD) comes in.
It's really just a more complete and extensive approach to data discovery, which shifts power over data preparation and analysis from IT to the business side of the enterprise.
Governed data discovery systems need to do three things:
Offer Centralized Self-Service
There should be a central, built-in interface that allows users to manage business intelligence and run analyses at will, on a self-service basis.
Provide Data Governance
It's not just the tools that need to be centralized. All data used by the company should be held in a central location that can be accessed, updated and shared by colleagues throughout the organization. This provides a "single version of truth" across the entire business, ensuring that insights are up-to-date and valuable and that there is a data governance strategy in place.
Most of your team are hitting their targets, but profits are stagnating. When you take a look at your KPI dashboard, you see that renewal rates are falling, eating into your profits. You realize your team is too focused on new sales at the expense of nurturing relationships with existing customers, so you play around with your KPIs to place more emphasis on securing renewals than bringing in new clients.
See an example:
Be Secure
Just because you're making data available to employees across an organization doesn't mean you can take your eye off the security ball. Confidentiality issues are paramount, and you'll need to keep data safe from hackers and cybercriminals outside the company, as well as protecting it internally, too.


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In 2007, Mr Tambourine Man, Corigliano's 2003 settings of seven Bob Dylan poems, was recorded in Buffalo's Kleinhans Music Hall with soprano Hila Plitmann, along with Corigliano's Three Hallucinations (1981) from the film Altered States [Naxos 8.559331] The Naxos recording hit the street last October and will probably be reviewed in ARG by the time you read this article.
More recently, on October 18-19, Falletta and the BPO performed Corigliano's Violin Concerto (2003) with Concertmaster Michael Ludwig as soloist. Derived and expanded from the composer's score for the film The Red Violin, it was recorded in concert by Naxos along with Corigliano's Phantasmagoria on TheGhosts of Versailles (2000) and is only the second recording of the concerto (Joshua Bell's was the first in 2007).
The concerto opens with a version of the lengthy Chaconne used in the film, a forceful, serious, obsessively pulsed yet not overbearing statement. It is countered by 'Anna' Theme', a soulful, haunting, almost bittersweet melody that lingers in the mind. Through the long first movement, the almost pointillistic Pianissimo Scherzo, the calming Andante Flautando, and the Finale that the composer calls "a race between the violin and orchestra" there are recurring, unifying references to these two main subjects. At every turn, violinist Ludwig was in complete command technically and expressively, whether in moments of overbearing bravado, running passages where the violin's role seems more a concertante instrument than a soloist, or whispered embroidery barely above the threshold of audibility.
So much happens in this music that detailed observations would require extensive space. But in listening to this Corigliano Fest, a larger sense of what drives his music came to mind. An electric charge seemed to surround and power Corigliano's music. That applied to the drama of the Tambourine Man songs, the ghostly flutes and Rossini and Mozart quotes in the Phantasmagoria, and the violin concerto's array of ear-shattering percussion bursts, blazing brass interjections, and exquisite moments of violin rumination over punctuating harp figures. There is no implication here that the orchestra sounded amplified. But the music's presence hung in the air, commanding one's attention so starkly that it seemed impossible that this could be happening without someone having plugged the orchestra in before the first downbeat. This is high voltage music, even in low amperage moments like the tender 'Anna's Theme'. And the good news for BPO audiences and buyers of their Naxos CDs is that Falletta and the orchestra seem to have become ideal purveyors of Corigliano's unique musical message.
In the middle of the Corigliano Fest, Falletta also offered the composer's 1986 Fantasia on an Ostinato, based on the opening of the slow movement of Beethoven's Symphony No. 7. That reconfirmed her flair for inventive programming, because she concluded those May 30-31, 2008, concerts with the Beethoven Seventh.
- Herman Trotter, American Record Guide, January/February 2008
John Corigliano Biography & Discography
JoAnn Falletta Biography & Discography
Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra Biography & Discography
Michael Ludwig Biography & Discography


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Darkest secret
I hate myself and think about dying more days than not. I have since elementary school. Nothing ever changes. Nothing matters. I have the most beautiful perfect little 2 year old girl. I want so much more for her than I have had. I fail at everything. I want better for her.
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There is beauty in everyone including you. You made a beautiful child. Be strong for her and I guarantee that things get better.
Read the purpose driven life - can be found at the library
Your beautiful child came from you. Any beauty you see in her has come directly from you. Cherish yourself as you cherish your daughter, for she is your reflection.
Stay alive for her.
If you want better for your child, you'll have to take better care of yourself. Please consider getting therapy so that you can bolster your confidence and self esteem. Take care now.


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Pirate101- Kingsisle - released a new video today of the items included in the Boochbeard bundle and I have to say they look Epic! Here's the video:
Very nice? The Boochbeard bundle is a great bundle, probably the bet I've ever seen, this bundle is worth a lot more than $89.99 It offers so much for very little! Guess what my favorite item out of this video is... It's the House!! Very cool, never knew a house could have a Volcano (wizard101 me speaking) I think this is a great house anyone can enjoy and you can invite so many Pirates over! If you would like to purchase this bundle go to the link below..
I hope you purchase this great bundle to show all of the Pirates in the Spiral once the game is released!
See you around the Spiral soon!
~Edward Lifegem


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Savioke, Inc. and Travel Tripper Products Earn Runner-Up Titles
CHICAGO – (March 3, 2016) – Hotel Technology Next Generation (HTNG), the membership association that unites the world's hospitality companies and technology innovators to solve industry challenges, announced that its members have awarded the 2016 "TechOvation Award" to the Interel Water Management System.
The First Runner-Up innovative solution was Relay, delivery robot for hotels by Savioke, and the Second Runner-Up was Travel Tripper's Travel Tripper Rate Match. HTNG CEO Michael Blake, Hotel Technology Editor-in-Chief Abby Lorden and emcee Nick Price, presented the awards at the annual HTNG North American Conference in Amelia Island, Florida on March 3rd, 2016.
"We at Interel truly appreciate the support and validation of HTNG and the hospitality industry's technology leaders", said CEO Florian Gallini in accepting the award. "We trust the industry will recognize the immense opportunity for water savings and sustainability that the Interel Online Water Management System delivers and the social responsibility that comes with it."
The Interel Water Management System is the world's first TCP-IP based hospitality guestroom water management solution. It delivers precise, intuitive and attractively designed capacitive touch, icon-based guestroom basin and shower control panels, combined with a future-proof, innovative electronic water valve controller.
The first runner-up technology from Savioke was Relay, delivery robot for hotels is the first autonomous robot for hotels. It delivers amenities to guest rooms quickly (typically under 5 minutes), delighting guests and leaving staff free to interact with guests.
Travel Tripper's solution Travel Tripper Rate Match is a price matching widget installed into a hotel's booking engine. When a guest checks for rates availability, the widget instantly compares the hotel's current rate with several OTAs.
HTNG's TechOvation Award is the next generation of the association's hospitality technology innovation competition, which launched seven years ago as the "Most Innovative Hospitality Technology Award." Proudly, this event continues to acknowledge and gratify top technology innovation within the hospitality industry. Together with official media partner Hospitality Technology, this year's event featured 15 contestants who presented their most innovative solutions for 2016 in a five-minute timeframe on stage. From the pool of presented hospitality technologies, three finalists were selected by a panel of hospitality IT executives and consultants. The three finalists continued on to a final round where the entire audience at the HTNG 2016 North American Conference determined the ranking of the final three.
The winner and runners-up can immediately start using the award's seal on product promotional information and packaging. The association's website has information about all 15 contestants.
View our 2016 TechOvation Award Winners page here.
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About Hotel Technology Next Generation
The premier technology solutions association in the hospitality industry, HTNG is a self-funded, nonprofit organization with members from hotel and hospitality companies, technology vendors to hospitality and other industry members including consultants, media and academic experts. HTNG's members participate in focused workgroups to bring to market open solution sets addressing specific business problems. HTNG fosters the selection and adoption of existing open standards. Where necessary, it also develops new open standards to meet the needs of the global hospitality industry.
Membership in HTNG is open to hotel and hospitality companies, technology vendors to hospitality, consultants, academics, press and others. Currently more than 400 corporate and individual members from across this spectrum, including most of the world's leading hotel companies and technology vendors, are active HTNG participants. HTNG's Board of Governors, consisting of top IT leaders from hotel companies around the world, itself has technology responsibility for nearly 2.5 million guest rooms. HTNG publishes workgroup proceedings, drafts and specifications for all HTNG members as soon as they are created, encouraging rapid and broad adoption. HTNG releases specifications into the public domain as soon as they are ratified by the workgroups. For more information, visit www.htng.org.
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Source: Hotel Technology Next Generation
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Hotel Technology Next Generation
+1 (847) 303-5560
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And here's the second half of the story I started earlier, this one 'given' to me one day last week as I stood in a room chatting away with seven male teenagers and one grown woman.
"Ready to go?" I said to the seven teens who were departing on an expedition with me, and took a few strides toward the front hallway of the house we were in.
"Wait, what's THAT?" one teen suddenly said, pointing down toward my boots, where a cloud of purple silk was seen to be pooling around my ankles.
"It's my slip!" I yelped, no less surprised to see it than I would be to see a small fire licking its way up my calves. But come to think of it, the elastic at the waistband did seem a little shot when I had put the thing on an hour before.
The one other woman present was, by this time, laughing so hard she couldn't talk, and that was funny all by itself. But it paled in comparison to what one of the male teens then said:
"What's a slip?"
I might as well have been wearing a whalebone corset for the way they looked at me as I tried to explain.
Something has happened in the culture if full slips and half slips have disappeared so thoroughly from the radar of the under-30s ……
Which leads me to ask this question of anyone who might know the answer. Why on EARTH does every young woman under 40 now go bare-legged, even in the depths of winter?!


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The next time you visit a friend's home or workspace, look around. Chances are, you'll find some type of indoor plant on display. Incorporating greenery—even something as low-maintenance as a succulent—into your surroundings is a growing trend. That's because plant care can be treated as an extension of self-care, especially in a concrete jungle like Manila.
Often, you pine for long weekends and count the days until you can escape to nature once again. Taking care of a plant makes the gap between your VLs more bearable because this activity has been found to be relaxing. Here's why:
1. Being around potted plants has a lot of physiological and psychological benefits.
According to an article published in Psychology Today, being surrounded by plants can lower your blood pressure, improve your reaction time, make you more attentive, and decrease your anxiety. In addition, a study published in the Journal of Physiological Anthropology has found that indoor plants promote comfortable, relaxed feelings. Who knew having a little bit of nature nearby could affect you so much?
2. Plants improve indoor air quality.
Plants are natural air purifiers. They can diminish toxic chemicals found in cigarettes and paint, among other things. Additionally, plants can make the air more humid, which is a plus if you have dry skin, dry throat, or sinus congestion.
3. Houseplants can help you sleep.
Are you tossing and turning at night? Certain types of plants, like lavender and jasmine, can soothe you with their scents. Try placing some lavender by your bed to help you catch some Zs.
4. Plants force you to take a break.
The best cities invest in parks and shared community spaces for a reason. We live in the digital age, and whether you notice it or not, it's hard to disconnect from your screen. Being around plants can take your mind off whatever's causing you stress, even if it's only temporary.
If you don't have the time or patience to take care of your own plants, you can still enjoy all the benefits they can bring by residing in an area surrounded by lush greenery, like The Florence at McKinley Hill. This garden-inspired residential community lets its residents enjoy colorful gardens and open spaces in the heart of Fort Bonifacio. At The Florence, your mind and body will be rejuvenated.
Learn more about The Florence at McKinley Hill here.
This article was created by Summit Storylabs in partnership with Megaworld.


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Why Consider Canada? Part 3: Packaging
Packaging of products targeted for Canada must meet strict regulations, and address the language and culture of the Canadian market
Why Consider Canada? Part 2: Navigating Retailer Negotiations
Five retailers represent about 85 percent of its grocery sales: Loblaws, Sobey's, Metro, Costco Canada, and Walmart Canada
VIDEO Q&A: RSVP Solutions Group, Part 2: Meeting Follow-Up
RSVP Solution Group's Andrea Leiser and Andre Galinas discuss how sellers can get the most from their meetings at ECRM events
VIDEO Q&A: RSVP Solutions Group, Part 1 - Maximizing Your Meetings
RSVP Solution Group's Andrea Leiser and Andre Galinas discuss how sellers can get the most from their meetings at ECRM events
Why Consider Canada? Part 1: Canada Basics
Why consider doing business in a country with a population about the size of California, spread across a land mass slightly larger than the US?
Before & After your Meetings: Tips for Suppliers
Strong prep and follow-up is just as important as the meeting themselves
Questions for Success: A Supplier Checklist
Here's how to make sure you have all bases covered in your 10- and 20-minute meetings
Paper Chase
By leveraging the digital tools ECRM provides, you'll make it easier for buyers to do business with you.
ECRM's 'Extended Family'
ECRM's event attendees can stay connected via social media.
The Power of Storytelling
Your products and packaging should tell a story.
Suppliers: Get Out from behind Your Desks!
There is nothing like getting out into the field and seeing your customers face-to-face.
How NOT to do an EPPS Meeting
The heart of ECRM's events are the Efficient Program Planning Session (EPPS) meetings. Avoid these mistakes at all costs!


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Project Management: Leadership 302i
- Course Delivery: On Demand
- Duration: 0.5
This action is made for individuals and is designed to build integrity and trust. As an individual working for a company, you will perform this action on your own. By performing this action you will learn how to increase the consistency between your actions and the company values. You will determine how your actions and behaviors support the company values, and then will discuss these thoughts with your manager, identifying what you can do to improve.
Why Choose 360training.com?
- Fast and easy courses completion
- Get an education faster than at traditional colleges!
- 100% online - No classroom attendance required.
- Online customer support
- Over 500,000+ certified nationwide.


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What is the Jordan Trail?
The ideal time to hike in Jordan varies by region. In the north, March and April are best; in the south, February and March are the most pleasant months. During these months, temperatures are comfortable, the forests and meadows of the North are green, the orchards are in bloom, the streams are flowing, and flowers are abundant in both the mountains and deserts. Walking between September and mid-November offers similarly pleasant weather, but the flowers and greenery are entirely gone after the hot summer months. The winter months are the coolest, but it may occasionally rain and even snow during that cool season. Pay attention to weather forecasts if planning a winter hike; aside from infrequent cases of extreme weather, though, winter hiking in Jordan can be quite pleasant. The truly hot months are late May to mid-September; during this time, most consider the weather too hot for trekking – especially in the South and at low elevations. Also, check the Muslim calendar to see if Ramadan falls over the dates you are considering walking. While hiking the trail is possible during the Muslim holy month, some services – including public transportation and many shops – may be limited in their availability.


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Effective control of ileitis
Pork producers rely on Tylan Soluble (tylosin tartrate) to manage ileitis, the No. 1 enteric disease in the U.S.1 Tylan Soluble accumulates in the cells of the swine intestinal lining where the infection occurs2 to inhibit the growth of Lawsonia intracellularis (the causative agent of ileitis3). Lawsonia impairs the ability of cells to develop properly, which can reduce the pig's ability to absorb nutrients. Tylan Soluble, which is mixed into drinking water for swine, offers effective control of porcine proliferative enteropathies (PPE, ileitis) associated with Lawsonia intracellularis when followed immediately by Tylan Type A Premix in complete feed.
Those are a few of the reasons pork producers have trusted the Tylan name since 1961.


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The City of Cape Town's disaster response teams remain on high alert as a result of the severe weather system that is developing, and which is set to bring heavy rainfall as from Thursday night and Friday over the Cape Peninsula.
The South African Weather Service has informed the City's Disaster Risk Management Centre of the following weather watches that have been issued:
- WATCH: Heavy falls of rain Thursday night and Friday over the Cape Metro, Overberg; including the southern parts of Cape Winelands and West Coast Districts.
- WATCH: Localised flooding is expected on Thursday night and Friday in the Cape Metro, Overberg, southern parts of Cape Winelands and the West Coast Districts.
- WATCH: Disruptive snowfalls are expected over the western high-ground of Western Cape and south-western highground of the Northern Cape late on Thursday spreading to the southern-eastern highground of the Western Cape on Friday.
The City's Disaster Risk Management Centre has analysed the weather watch and is preparing for the potential heavy rains in the Cape Peninsula that will extend over the weekend.
The situation will result in the already wet soil in low-lying areas being saturated, and the above normal river levels will make areas vulnerable to flooding.
There is also a risk of landslides, mudslides and rockfalls on the City's mountainous areas, and particularly where there are steep slopes due to periodic heavy rains. Residents who live in these areas are advised to ensure that they take precautionary measures and to consult with their private insurance companies for appropriate cover for emergency repairs to be undertaken.
Useful contact numbers:
- Flooding, blocked drains and service disruptions: Dial 0860 103 089 or SMS to 31373.
- Electricity outages/disruptions: Dial 0860 103 089 or SMS to 31220.
- Road Closures: The City's Transport Information Centre can be contacted on 0800 65 64 63 regarding delays on roadways and deviations.
- Weather Reports: listen to alerts on the radio and television, or visit www.weathersa.co.za , or call the weatherline at 082 162.
- Emergencies: Dial 107 from a landline or 021 480 7700 from a cellphone. The sooner you phone, the sooner help will arrive.
The City's disaster response teams are in close contact with the South African Weather Service in order to keep a watchful eye on the inclement weather conditions.
For further information regarding storms, gale-force winds, snowfall, landslides, mudslides and rockfalls as well as precautionary measures to prevent damage, please visit the Disaster Risk Management Centre's website.


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- Gardening is a kind of disease. It infects you, you cannot escape it. When you go visiting, your eyes rove about the garden; you interrupt the serious cocktail drinking because of an irresistible impulse to get up and pull a weed. ~Lewis Gannit
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Category Archives: Reduce Reuse & Recycle
Bargain Books
Coinciding with the first day of school, I thought I'd tell you about some fabulous books I picked up last week. Being a mom of three I was fully entrenched in back to school shopping last month. At a visit … Continue reading
Posted in Reduce Reuse & Recycle 1 Comment
Creating a Two Tiered Children's Container Garden!
I had a plan to share with you all my first how-to video. Sadly I was hit with nothing but problems during the filming, including a broken camera. I was camera-less for a few excruciating weeks. Although the Children's garden … Continue reading
Market Treasures.
I brought home a little treasure from the Port Coquitlam Farmer's Market yesterday. This once-a-milk-dish has been creatively turned into a home for hens & chicks. An ironic little twist for this little cow. I picked it up from Petal … Continue reading
How to make a row cover….in the middle of the night!
Years ago, before I found passion in the dirt, I managed a specialty knife store in Burnaby's Metrotown Centre. We sold mostly kitchen knives, but also a dizzying array of sporting knives. With a few decorative swords for good measure. … Continue reading
Posted in Garden Projects, Reduce Reuse & Recycle, Tools, Vegetable Garden 8 Comments
NWFGS: Paradise (to be) Regained – …borrowing Thoreau
The inspiration sprung as part of a high school senior project. From there the design blossomed, realizing the idea that every person can make a difference. That change can be beautiful. Bringing wonder to ordinary objects, in a playful yet … Continue reading
Posted in Reduce Reuse & Recycle 3 Comments
Book rehabilitation!
I've been spending a lot of time at the library, borrowing their books. This has been worked as a temporary fix, until I can get my hands on my own. I didn't appreciate how much good garden reference books cost … Continue reading
Posted in Reduce Reuse & Recycle 5 Comments
Unexpected planters: On the shelf.
This week I've been potting up the thrift store finds I picked up recently.First I stuffed the wooden box with a couple colourful Gerber Daisies. I added a hook so that it could be hung and sent it off to … Continue reading
Posted in Patio Garden, Reduce Reuse & Recycle 10 Comments
Unexpected planters: Thrift store edition!
Deals were to be had this week at Value Village. Now I won't bore you with the pretty sandals I found, nor the darling little dress I pick up for the kidlet. But you may be interested in what I … Continue reading
Posted in Reduce Reuse & Recycle 17 Comments
Recycling an old flame
I've been eyeing my husbands fire pit for some time now. We got it a few years back & enjoyed many lovely evenings by the fire. However for the better part of the last year or two it's sat untouched … Continue reading
Posted in Reduce Reuse & Recycle 19 Comments
Scattered along the driveway
My love hate relationship with the pots has begun for the year.I absolutely love when perennials are intermixed with bulbs and annuals.A pot is at it's best stuffed full of beautiful blooms and spilling over with foliage.But spring brings a … Continue reading
Posted in Patio Garden, Reduce Reuse & Recycle Leave a comment


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Hey Everyone
It's Just Add Ink Challenge time again. This week our challenge is to Just Add…..Mae. We get to check out my fellow design team member Mae's blog and choose a card we would like to CASE. After narrowing it down from the many I could've chosen, I decided to CASE this gorgeous card (click here to take you to Mae's original post).
I love the colours she's used so I've kept my colour scheme similar. I really love Basic Gray, but don't use it as often as I would like. I added Cherry Cobbler to the Basic Gray and teamed it with my new fave DSP – Twitterpated. Here's what I came up with:
Thanks for taking a look.


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Monday, December 28, 2009
Massasaugas from over the years...
The Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake is Michigan's only species of venomous snake, and the Wolverine state is considered to be the stronghold for the species which is declining throughout its recognized range. In fact, its a is a candidate species for federal protection by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and could be listed within the next few years. Ever since I got into herping a few years back, I've managed to compile quite a few field encounters with this species and have also kept a large photo collection of those encounters. So here's a big collection of photos of Massasaugas I've encountered over the years...
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Some weekends during the fall can be quite slow around CMU's campus, especially when there isn't a home football game. But with the weather being pleasant through late October, these type of weekends allowed me to get out and herp the areas surrounding campus. With a little work on my own and some help from local herper Bryson Church, I was able to come up with a few target areas for some species that are particularly concentrated around campus. One one particular weekend, I headed a local area where a bunch of boards and debris had been discarded, and began flipping around and made a few nice finds.
Northern Red-bellied Snake - Storeria occipitomaculata
Five-lined Skink - Plestiodon fasciatus
American Toad - Bufo americanus
Later on, I moved to a strectch of river that has some nice mature woodlands along the banks. The area is ideal habitat for state threatened Wood Turtle. Along the way, we made a stop at drying vernal pond that serves as a breeding site for some salamanders, and flipped this nice looking sal.
Spotted Salamander - Ambystoma maculatum
I then decided to walk along the streamside to see if anything was out basking on logs or wandering about the woodlands. The temperature was in the mid 70s and perfect conditions for things to be out along the river.
As I was walking along this particular bank, I noticed a sound ahead of me which sounded like something moving around in the bushes, as I came around the bend in the river I looked ahead of me to see this.
A very attractive male Wood Turtle. My first one from the river system surrounding campus, I was quite excited to find this old fella. He was content to sit in his spot and allow me to spend a few monutes taking some photos of him.
Wood Turtle - Glyptemys insculpta
Eventually the old fella had decided he didn't want to be photographed anymore. He wandered on his way back towards the river, and I watched him as he went. I noticed the beautiful bright yellow tint to this individual's carapace, I have not seen another Wood Turtle with this bright of coloration. It was nice to be able to encounter this species as it is one of my favorites, and I look forward to seeing them in the wild next season.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Return to Southern Illinois
After a two year haitus, I finally was able to find a weekend to make my return to the southern region of Illinois. The area is not only unique geologically; limestone bluffs several hundred feet adjacent to a massive swamp, but also it is unique herpetologically. With the region's location geographically, there is a overlap of not only northern and southern species, but also eastern and western species. So after a long day of class, my two friends and I began our long journey from Central Michigan's campus to the Shawnee National Forest. After driving through some herrendous thunderstorms, we arrived to around 1 AM and immediately hit some area. The weather was a bit cool, but rains had brought out the amphibians and our first species was one I was hoping we would see.
Bird-voiced Tree Frog - Hyla avivoca
The following morning we woke early in order to spend our first morning in the forest. The weather was cool, but temps were to reach the low 70s in the mid afternoon, a perfect day for herp movement along the limestone bluffs. It took til about mid-day for the sun to crest over the bluffs and hit the hillsides, but once that happened the area came alive. Our first snake find of the day was not surprisingly, a western cottonmouth. The massive cypress swamp coupled with limestone bluffs with crevices that serve as dens, creates a perfect environment for this species. Cottons are by far the most dominant snake species in the area. The snake was a juvenile around 10 inches in length.
Western Cottonmouth - Agkistrodon piscivorus leucostoma
The swamplands of the area are home to a plethera of amphibian species, including aquatics such as the Lessier Siren. There is an almost eerie appearance to the dead stands of strees which populate the swampy expanse.
Several sections of the forest are bisected by roads which pass through great habitat. And sometimes simply walking these areas can be productive. The roads soak up warmth from the sun and provide a great area for snakes and other herps to bask upon.
Here's a few of the common inhabitants of the area as found basking on the roadways...
Western Ribbon Snake - Thamnophis proximus
Yellow-bellied Water Snake - Nerodia erythrogaster flavigaster
As the day progressed, the sunlit sloped near the bluffs became the area of focus. Almost immediately after setting into the bluffs, we found our largest cottonmouth of the trip. This adult easily reached three feet in length. It was content to sit and hold its ground, which worked out fantastic for photographic purposes.
Western Cottonmouth - Agkistrodon piscivorus leucostoma
Within minutes of letting the cotton on its way, we came across our first of several black rat snakes for the trip.
Black Rat Snake - Pantherophis obsoletus
After looking for snakes, we decided to focus one of my favorite salamander species. The crevices in the limestone bluff walls are often wet and serve as perfect habitat for Plethodontid salamander species which require moisture to breath through their skin because they lack lungs. Within a few minutes, we turned up several individuals. They are one of the most attractive salamander species in eastern North America in my opinion.
Cave Salamander - Eurycea lucifuga
Another species that makes its presence felt often is the Rough Green Snake. This arboreal species is a common inhabitant of the region. And although their vine-like appearance and green coloration make them very cryptic, their sheer numbers ensure that eventually you'll come across one.
Rough Green Snakes - Opheodrys aestivus
On Saturday, the area became very heavy with visitors. So we decided to head about 30 miles away from our location to try another productive site which would be nowhere near as crowded. Several species of salamanders inhabit the area, and it didn't take long to find our target species at the site.
Marbled Salamander - Ambystoma opacum
With all that we had seen, I would've considered at that point the trip to be a complete success. However, what we stumbled upon next is one of the most things I've ever seen in the wild. Mud snakes are a thing of an almost mythical aura in the area, and to find one is something that some people who visit the area frequently have never seen. It's not that mud snakes are rare, its just that their habits of being a swamp snake rarely buts them outside of an aquatic environment where they spend the majority of their life searching for their prey, sirens. Imagine my disbelief when our group stumled across this scene near a swamp edge.
Yes, that is indeed a Western Mud Snake engulfing a Western Lesser Siren. Two lifers at once, and in a fashion I would have never expected. Unfortunately, as soon as I snapped this shot the snake regurged the very much still alive siren, which quickly flopped back into the swamp. However, it did allow us to get a great chance to look the mud. It was amazing way to end another trip to southern Illinois. I'll be back next fall...
Western Mudsnake - Farancia abacura reinwardtii
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Review of 2014 Oscars
10 Things That Could Have Made the Oscars Better
10 Things That Could Have Made the Oscars Better
The 2014 Oscars have come and gone, and in all honestly, they were a little boring. There, we said it! Nothing was particularly terrible, but so much could have been improved upon. Host Ellen DeGeneres was slightly underwhelming, but it wasn't entirely her fault. Here are some things we either missed from this year's ceremony or wished didn't happen at all — take note, 2015 Oscars producers.


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The lid doesn't line up well and I don't understand what the handle on the back of the can is for. I've put some serious thought into this and just. Don't. Get. It.
I also think that it's bizarre that there is a lot of feedback in alignment with mine. Why not just fix these issues? Just a thought.
Vital Link: Amazon


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Atmospheric phenomena were formerly often classed as aerial meteor or airy meteors (winds), aqueous meteor or watery meteors (rain, snow, hail, dew, etc.), luminous meteors (the aurora, rainbow, sun halo, etc.), and igneous meteor or fiery meteors (lightning, shooting stars, etc.).
That list has possibly made me unreasonably happy. I'm a word geek :)


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Caudwell Xtreme Everest (CXE) is a large healthy volunteer field study investigating human adaptation to environmental hypoxia. More than 200 individuals were studied at sea-level and in four laboratories on the trek to Everest Base Camp (5,300 m). Fifteen physicians climbed high on Everest and continued the studies as they ascended; eight of these individuals reached the summit of Everest and succeeded in sampling arterial blood at 8,400 m on their descent. Core measurements included cardiopulmonary exercise testing, neuropsychological assessment, near infra-red spectroscopy of brain and exercising muscle, blood markers and daily recording of simple physiological variables. The goal of CXE is to further our understanding of human adaptation to cellular hypoxia, a fundamental mechanism of injury in critical illness, with the aim of improving the care of critically ill patients.
|Original language
|Pages (from-to)
|Critical Care
|Issue number
|Publication status
|Published - 1 Aug 2007
- hypoxia
- human adaptation
- care of patients
Fingerprint Dive into the research topics of 'Caudwell Xtreme Everest: a field study of human adaptation to hypoxia'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.
Cite this
Grocott, M., Richardson, A., Montgomery, H., & Mythen, M. (2007). Caudwell Xtreme Everest: a field study of human adaptation to hypoxia. Critical Care, 11(4), 151. https://doi.org/10.1186/cc5921


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Technology, Conciousness, Intelligence
"Nagel's classic "What is it like to be a bat?"must be one of the most influential papers on consciousness of the last century, and it's still very relevant.
Nagel's aim is to launch a kind of counter-attack against physicalist arguments, which would reduce the mental to the merely physical, and which were evidently getting into the ascendant in 1974 when the paper was published. Tempting as it may be to fall back on the familiar kind of reductionist approach which has worked so well in other areas, Nagel argues, phenomenal, subjective experience is a special case. Reductive arguments always seek to give an explanation in objective terms, but the essential point about conscious experiences is that they are subjective. The whole idea of an objective account therefore makes no sense – no more sense than asking what my inward experiences are really like, as opposed to how they seem to me. How they seem to me is all there is to them. Any neutral, objective, third-person explanation has to leave out the essence of the experience. The point about conscious experience is that there is something it is like to see x, or hear y, or feel z."


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I can't get the game itself to load. I have a good enough system according to the box, I was able to install everything correctly with no problem. But when I click on the launch window, nothing happens. I've tried downloading the latest DirectX, the latest drivers for my video card, and the game still won't start. I don't know what else to do.
"I have a good enough system according to the box"
How about listing your specs & letting one of us be the judge?


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Kinesiophobia is a condition in which an individual has a fear of moving which results from a feeling that he/she will injure or reinjure him/herself. Research shows this fear in combination with other psychological factors can play a significant role in the development of chronic pain. A recent analysis of a randomized controlled trial assessing physical therapy outcomes of patients with sciatica showed those individuals with a fear of movement benefitted more from physical therapy at decreasing leg pain at 1- year follow up. In theory, physical therapy may decrease fear of movement and improve outcome by educating the patient, by reassuring that movement will not harm, by guidance of mobility, by enhancing functional ability and by using individualized flexibility and strength exercises.
Verwoerd A, Luijsterburg P, Koes B, Barzouhi A, Verhagen A. Does kinesiophobia modify the effects of physical therapy on outcomes in patients with sciatica in primary care? Subgroup analysis from a randomized controlled trial. Phys Ther J. 2015; 95(9): 1217-1223.


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Here is your must-see and drink itinerary through these two Italian towns.
Here is your must-see and drink itinerary through these two Italian towns.
Venice is legendary for its canals, but it also deserves credit as the birthplace of one of the world's treasured cocktails: the Bellini. We asked Francesca Nonino, the third generation of Italy's artisanal award-winning Grappa Nonino (which is produced outside of Venice), to share her top spots for the perfect Venetian mix of cocktail tradition and innovation.
STOP 1 The Gritti Palace hotel bar delivers the ultimate Venetian drinking experience with its muraled ceilings, marble floors, gold-leaf accents, recessed booths and white-clad waiters. "If you have time for only one cocktail, have it here," Nonino says. She loves the grappa-inspired Friuli Bellini, a deluxe concoction of Nonino Chardonnay Barriques Grappa and fresh white peach puree.
STOP 2 Any mention of cocktails in Venice would be remiss without including the Belmond Hotel Cipriani, which was founded by the inventor of the Bellini, Giuseppe Cipriani. The Cipri-Ami Martini may be its second-best claim to fame, with gin, mashed lime, wild fennel, fresh pear, star anise, Peychaud's and cane sugar.
STOP 3 At Hotel Londra Palace's Londrabar, head bartender Marino Lucchetti "is well-known for serving amazing traditional or with-a-twist cocktails from exclusively seasonal ingredients," Nonino says. The Bellini Londrabar, with white peaches, is only prepared May to September, but he serves two riffs on the cocktail: the Rossini with strawberries or the Romantic Passion with passion fruit.
The Baron's gin and tonic
Valtellina is Italy's Aspen—but with wine. While other tourists are peeling off for Lake Como or heading west to Piedmont, Valtellina quietly awaits. Located in the Lombardy region, it rests on the fringes of the Alps and comes with stunning scenery, impeccably balanced nebbiolo wines, Michelin-rated dining and, in season, plenty of skiing.
STOP 1 First, stop at award-winning Nino Negri, the cellars of which are in a restored medieval fortress. The wines are polished, silky and powerful—be sure to taste the flagship 5 Stelle Sfursat.
STOP 2 Bresaola, salted beef dried in the mountain air, is one of Valtellina's prized specialties, as is its Bitto PDO cheese, with cheese festivals each October. Casimiro Maule, Nino Negri's winemaker of 47 years, who retired last April, recommends dining at the region's Michelin-rated restaurants, especially Ristorante Lanterna Verde, for its impressive wine list and local trout served with puntarelle and anchovies.
STOP 3 At ARPEPE Winery, the Sassella Stella Retica Riserva stands out. Plus, Triacca's La Gatta Estate, formerly a 16th century Dominican convent, offers vineyard tours and tastings. Don't miss La Gatta Riserva—you'll rarely see it in the States.
A buonanotte cocktail
Photography by: Main photo courtesy of Nino Negri


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Operating in the Caribbean
An aerial view of ALTESSE
ALTESSE's stern - easy access to the water
Bow lounging area and the tramps
Aft Cockpit lounging and dining area
Flybridge dining area
ALTESSE's popular flybridge area
Altesse's custom-built "champagne lounging deck"
Enjoy ALTESSE's unique "Champagne Deck"
360 degree views from the saloon
Watersports galore!
Guest suite forward
Aft starboard guest suite
Guest aft port suite
ALTESSE's "Champagne Deck"
Anchored in Great Harbour, Jost Van Dyke
Guest head and shower
Can we interest anyone in a fresh berry parfait fo
the aft cockpit with the "Champagne Deck"
ALTESSE's galley
ALTESSE's powerful tender
Stefan & Chloe: Sailing, working and loving together since 2007
Chloe and Stefan were liveaboard cruisers (sailing in the Pacific, Indian Ocean, Red Sea, Mediterranean and Caribbean) long before they started to run crewed charters in Latin America and the Caribbean in 2015.
Captain Stefan (MScEng, RYA Yachtmaster, PADI Dive Instructor) was born in Berlin, Germany, and developed a love of the wind and sea as a teenager, sailing his first dingy at age 16 and is a keen surfer, kitesurfer and freediver. He got his master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, which led him to a successful career managing specialist multimillion dollar engineering projects in Europa and Australia. However, his first love was always the ocean, so he decided to return to Europe the slow way; sailing solo on his own yacht, over the Pacific Ocean...and managed to get as far as Bali before meeting Chloe; which was to change his life's course forever. After sailing all over the world together (over 45,000nm) for several years, it was time for a new project, so Stefan started designing and building luxury houseboats in Europe. 13 houseboats later, they decided it was a sailor's life for them after all, and never looked back.
Chef Chloe Chand (BA Hons, RYT Yoga Teacher, PADI Rescue Diver) was born in London, England and had a professional career in project management before developing an aversion to chairs and retrained to become a yoga instructor and teacher, working for various charities and universities. Her passion for education, the environment, spirituality and anthropology has led her all over the world – living everywhere from Barcelona to Borneo. Chloe has trained at the prestigious Ashburton Chef's Academy in the UK and her cuisine favours fresh, locally-sourced ingredients to create healthy, rainbow-coloured and seriously flavourful recipes. European food is at the forefront of her culinary repertoire, as well as more exotic influences from her travels (including South East Asia, India and Morocco). Vegan menus are one of Chloe's specialities.
Chloe and Stefan have a soulful love of the ocean and sailing, which they enjoy sharing with guests. Their warm, upbeat personalities, exceptional hospitality and joie de vivre is all part of what will make your vacation unforgettably wonderful!
Relaxing in nature, yoga and watersports are at the forefront of what they offer. Unwind in a stunningly beautiful, carefree environment, leaving your 'everyday' behind you; sit back and soak up the sun with a Caribbean breeze in your hair; experience diving, free-diving, surfing, wake-boarding snorkelling and hiking – as well as other fun activities, such as scavenger hunts, murder mystery themed dinners, etc.
Chloe & Stefan share time and space with guests and enjoy being personable, making you feel comfortable and at home on your sailing vacation. Playing guitar and stargazing over a nice glass of wine and good conversation is part of what they provide to create a wonderful holiday atmosphere and memories which last a lifetime. Aboard Altesse, most guests arrive as clients but leave as friends.Ashtanga yoga. In her free time she can be found practicing yoga, playing the guitar, island-hopping on the SUP or freediving.
Stefan and Chloe are looking forward to welcoming your clients aboard the luxury, custom-built ALTESSE.
ALTESSE offers bespoke charters 3 queen guest suites and an amidships suite with upper & lower single berths.
This trip was bound to be memorable; sunshine, white sandy beaches, crystal clear waters, amazing food and the perfect getaway. What I wasn't expecting was that we would be walking away with two new friends, who somehow feel like family in only 6 short days. All the late night chats and giggles, early morning greetings with smiles - we are going to miss your company the most! I honestly could not have dreamed of a better couple to have shared this special 60th milestone with. What an incredible week on the water - not a single dull moment and we all felt so at ease from the moment we stepped onboard. You are both such a treat to be around and we could not be more relaxed. You managed to give us a truly magical experience, touching our souls with your dedicated work, authentic attention and inspiring stories. This is one of the best experiences we have had - and you are the reason!
Full moon glowing, had us all beguiled.
Connected forever as one solid dream team!
When you are planning a big family event a year in advance - the danger is that you will "big it up" so much in your mind that when all reach the BVI, it doesn't quite match what you planned/hoped for. Completely the opposite was our experience - with a fantastic crew, fabulous boat and great weather.
The itinerary was just what we wanted - and great anchorages - thanks to Stefan's planning. Chloe's meals were superb - and we do all love our food in this family!! Our preferences had carefully been taken account of, so it was just the sort of food we were looking for, and a real luxury being able to sit back and just wait for our next delicious appetiser/ cocktail or meal… added to all that the boat was immaculately clean and well cared for, there were so many activities on offer such as yoga, snorkelling, hiking – I even went tubing! Honestly I cannot rave enough!!!
So thank you - a great family experience - and a truly unforgettable 60th birthday for Steve 😀
The Forsyth party
Whether you're looking to experience life on a sailing yacht, trying new water sports in the caribbean sea, exploring beautiful islands, or simply relaxing on the open waters, Chloe & Stef have so much to offer. Not only did they provide a high-quality, tailored experience where my interests as the customer were always put first, but looking back on the time we had, I found myself engrossed in such comradery that only true friendships are founded upon. It was bittersweet to move onto the next part of our trip as I was instantly nostalgic of the times we shared and still long for our next encounter. I most certainly wish for anyone to have this uniquely amazing opportunity. Thank you, Chloe and Stefan! Fair winds and following seas!
The Nix party
Stefan and Chloe are such cheerful and thoughtful people. Chloe made awesome food, Stefan was a primo captain and divemaster. Hands down they were the best part of the trip.
Chef was incredible - I would describe the food as first class - colorful, flavorful, delicious. She was very attentive to our individual idiosyncrasies (my daughter not eating anything, my son wanting jalapenos on everything, everyone wanting to eat at different times, etc). Stefan and Chloe read us perfectly, picked the places off the beaten path and were always conscious of how the weather would impact things like our comfort, having meals, etc. They were just wonderful, making the vacation extra-special with a treasure hunt, murder mystery dinner and games. They really spoiled the kids which I appreciated. So accommodating and thoughtful in so many unexpected ways. I would trust them with my family again without hesitation.
The Maddick party
My family and I left with 2 new friends and many wonderful memories to last a lifetime. Stefan and Chloe are the ultimate hosts and from the moment they met us we felt welcomed, safe and spoilt rotten! Our time consisted of seeing a band, exploring islands, sailing, diving, going on hikes, snorkelling, surfing, SUP, playing games, doing yoga…and lots of wonderful meals!!! We absolutely loved every minute of our trip and wouldn't hesitate to recommend this experience to anyone. Thank you so much el Capitans!!! (Both of you!) ❤
The Etherton party
This was an amazing experience for us, sailing under wind power and feeling so comfortable in and around the water. You'll share the space with a beautiful couple who are passionate about sailing and who are very good at accommodating land lovers like us. We had no experience sailing, but we were interested in learning and they really taught us a lot about operating the boat. Chloe and Stephan are just as happy to leave you to relax and let them do the work though. Steph has been sailing all his life and Chloe for years with Steph - we felt extremely safe all the time onboard. The boat comes with an adventure of a lifetime and is well equipped with everything needed to have a great time. Loads of options - we love diving and got the chance to see some beautiful fish, reefs and wrecks. We are also foodies and Chloe's kitchen was another highlight for us - we shared restaurant quality food and excellent conversation. This has been the most memorable holiday and is undoubtedly the best way to see any destination where Chloe and Steph have a sailboat.
The Rim Party
The experience was extraordinary, Chloe and Stefan are the best hosts. They are cool, easy to "live" with, not boring or awkward at all, they'll do everything to make you feel comfortable on the boat. During the day, they took us to beautiful locations, we used the paddle boards and the kayak a lot and they took us to more remote anchorages which felt very VIP :D. We enjoyed watching the stars while singing and playing the guitar, drinks flowed - perfect holiday atmosphere. The communication with Chloe was fantastic and she cooks amazingly well –everything was so delicious! Stefan is the Captain, he has a LOT of experience sailing, and you'll feel very safe with him. I recommend this to everyone! Book it now, before somebody else does!


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It's my life, I have the right to do what I want...
Famous last words, eh?
Right to love who I want.
Right to my body.
Right to wave flags, bear arms.
Rights Rights Rights
We all have them.
We get all caught up in making sure we have don't lose our rights, we lose sight of one important factor.
The only right we have is to love well. Period.
All others have died with Christ.
We technically have all the rights and freedoms of the world. And most people do live as they please.
Even Christians.
But biblically? The Bible says just because we can do something doesn't mean it's good for us.
All things are lawful," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful," but not all things build up. Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.(1 Corinthians 10:23,24)As Christians we are called to live different lives than those who don't know Christ. (Tweet This!)
"Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor;" (Romans 12:10)We don't have the right to ignore those that are suffering and in need because of our preconceived notions of those from different countries. Or be worried we won't have enough for ourselves if we give to others.
We are called to lay down our rights and love others with a radical love that will bring people to their knees before God.
We have a choice, we always have a choice. We get to give unmerited grace because it has been given to us by God.
Easier said than done, no?
I don't want to make a choice based on fear, politics, or religion. I want to listen to the spirit God has given me and do what He has called me to do. I know this isn't easy. But the ways of God aren't.(<==Click to Tweet)
I believe each time we decide to show favor to another person by dying to our right to be right it gets easier and easier.
Next time you are tempted to claim your right to something, think about if it is in the best interest of your neighbor. Think about the pride that God said would become our downfall if we didn't repent of it.
Do you see some rights you lay claim to that need to be laid down?
Linking with my girls: Coffee for Your Heart, RaRa Linkup, #TellHisStory, Soli deo Gloria, and Thought-Provoking Thursday


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Every now and again a movie is released which creates a major change in society and the way it thinks, such is the power and influence of Hollywood at its best.
In The Heat of the Night is a classic example and it forced middle class Americans in 1967 to take a long hard look in the mirror to confront their attitudes towards race and prejudice.
Norman Jewison's racially-charged murder mystery won several awards in the 1968 Oscar ceremony, which that year had been delayed a couple of days out of respect for the death of Dr. Martin Luther King, the leader of the African-American Civil Rights Movement, who had been assassinated the previous week.
As the film went on general release there were reports of all-white audiences in the Deep South cheering in theatres, giving their full-throated approval of Sidney Poitier's portrayal of a proud black man who refused to be intimidated by Rod Steiger's redneck police chief in a small Mississippi town.
This was nothing less than extraordinary given the political context at the time but this particular movie made ordinary Americans see racism for the vile doctrine it is.
If anyone was expecting such a seminal moment from Kathryn Bigelow's new movie Zero Dark Thirty about the demise of al Qaida leader Osama bin Ladin, they will be disappointed. In fact if anything, the film will fans the flames of prejudice in those countries where burning the American flag is already a regular occurrence.
Zero Dark Thirty is so wrong on so many levels that it is bordering on being irresponsible. While the re-enactment of torture scenes might be authentic, the truth is Osama bin Ladin was tracked down through good, old fashioned intelligence work. In other words, not a drop of blood was spilled nor so much as a Chinese burn.
For the last two years, I've embroiled myself in an academic study which involved interviewing scores of torture victims from various wars and conflicts since 1945, and one of the most powerful testimonies came from US Republican Senator John McCain; a dyed-in-the-wool supporter of the War on Terror but vehemently opposed to torture.
His was probably the one voice that George W Bush listened to and then tried to dismiss and silence such was the power of his personal experience and belief that torture does not work.
So when it emerged that a team of Navy Seals had taken down the world's most wanted man thanks to intelligence from a courier, the first question on McCain's lips was did the courier reveal OBL's whereabouts through torture? It was not an unreasonable question and the response he got from the head of the CIA with regards to the raid on the Pakistan hideaway in Abbottabad was a firm "no".
Former CIA Director Leon Panetta even wrote to Senator McCain in May 2011, stating: "…no detainee in CIA custody revealed the facilitator/courier's full true name or specific whereabouts. This information was discovered through other intelligence means."
However, Bigelow's film gives the impression that OBL was eliminated purely via intelligence gleaned from full on, no holds barred torture. While this method of intelligence gathering probably now has the full approval of the unquestioning sheeple who've turned Zero Dark Thirty into a box office hit, there is an intellectual force at play which finds the methods of interrogation portrayed in the film as abhorrent.
Torture is not only morally and legally wrong under international law; it is also unreliable and rarely effective, as I discovered in my own research. Of course I'm not the only one to reach this sort of conclusion and it is something which must have influenced the Oscar judging panel. This could be why Bigelow could have become the second casualty of the film by way of not being nominated for the coveted gold statue … the first casualty of Zero Dark Thirty was the truth.
But perhaps the most irresponsible and dangerous clip in the film portrays how a doctor was coerced by the CIA in an unsuccessful attempt to get DNA via blood samples from children living in the mystery house in Abbottabad. It's true that a real life doctor – Shakil Afridi – is now in prison in Pakistan for using the cover of a hepatitis vaccination program for the CIA to try and identify the occupants of the house suspected as OBL's hideaway.
However, in Bigelow's movie, the doctor and his team wear jackets which suggest they are providing polio drops. The significance of this scene was not lost on Rob Crilly, Pakistan correspondent of The Daily Telegraph, who said last week: "In a country where polio has made a comeback in recent years, the film provides yet another blow for health workers trying to eradicate the disease and prevent Pakistan acting as a reservoir to reinfect the rest of the world."
As I write this, news is just coming in of reports that at least nine women who were vaccinating children against polio have been shot dead in northern Nigeria by gunmen. The killings are already drawing comparisons with a series of incidents in Pakistan last December where five female polio vaccinators were also shot and killed.
These fresh waves of hostility towards immunization drives in Nigeria, are being fuelled by some who claim the vaccines are part of a western plot to sterilize young girls and eliminate the Muslim population.
Zero Dark Thirty will do little to dispel this nonsense and plenty to encourage it. Bigelow's film is grossly inaccurate and irresponsible and has possibly already cost the lives of innocent aid workers.
The film may yet go down for having a major global impact, but for all the wrong reasons. This is Hollywood at its worst … a disaster movie in every sense.