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Theme - The Cross
Scripture - Luke 9:23-24 - "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.
Quote - NT Wright - "The message of Easter is that God's new world has been unveiled in Jesus Christ and that you're now invited to belong to it."
Thought -
Today we return to the source, the root of this weeks story. Why did Jesus take Peter, James and John up the mountain and give them the gift of witnessing Transfiguration? Because he had just announced that the culmination of his ministry and mission would be a cross and death. Jesus announces this and then challenges the disciples with this radical and shocking redefinition of what it means to be his disciples. They too, must deny themselves and take up their cross...daily.
How often have we heard someone describe a challenge they face, a tragedy they are living through, a pain they experience as 'the cross they have to bear?' How many times have we said it ourselves. But that isn't quite accurate. Notice that Jesus says the disciples must 'take up' their cross. So he isn't describing the challenges that happenstance brings into our lives. He is describing an active choice to let go of safety and security to accept a burden. John Howard Yoder explains it this way; ' "The believer's cross is no longer any and every kind of suffering, sickness, or tension, the bearing of which is demanded. The believer's cross must be, like his Lord's, the price of his social nonconformity. It is not, like sickness or catastrophe, an inexplicable, unpredictable suffering; it is the end of the path freely chosen after counting the cost.'
This is not to say that Christ is not present with us when the inexplicable and unpredictable happens. Today's story shows that explicitly. We know that Jesus is the incarnation of God, God with us, because Jesus hears the cries of suffering of those caught up in the pain of the inexplicable and traumatic. Christ is the very promise of God to be with those who suffer and struggle with forces beyond their own control, whether that be disease or broken relationships or political oppression. But when Jesus says to the disciples that they are to take up their cross he is telling them that they are called by God not only to face their own personal struggles, but to take on the suffering and struggles of others as their own. And he is saying that when forgiving and being reconciled with the enemy, when being hospitable to the other, generous to the poor, friend of the outcast, goes against popular opinion and causes suffering and doubt, fear and pain, THAT is their cross.
That is an incredible challenge, a high calling. That is why the gift of transfiguration is given. Because we are being challenged to a high purpose which is to take on the suffering of others as our own, to respond with hope, hospitality and wholeness and to maintain solidarity to the outsider, even when we will not be supported, thanked or appreciated. The transfiguration is a glimpse of Christ's resurrection. Jesus died because he would not abandon or forsake the vulnerable, the oppressed, the outsider. The transfiguration shows that loss and trauma and pain is not the end of the story of our mission when we take up our cross. The glory of God's reign and its new creation, is our story and our reward.
Prayer - As we approach the season of Lent, we celebrate the gift of your resurrection, crucified and risen Lord. For it reminds us the cost of discipleship, the risky demand of carrying a cross, and blessed reward of solidarity with you, which is hope and life. Remind us that your death on the cross was not the action of an angry God, but the gift of a loving God and fill us with that kind of love that risks much in or order to serve the least.
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June 2020


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It's that time of the year when many families are away from home, visiting family and friends or escaping the cold in favor of a warm, sunny destination and thieves know that this time is a prime time for houses to be vacant. Today's guest post is from Angelo DiGangi, a sales associate at a Home Depot in the Chicago suburbs. He's also a frequent contributor of tips for homeowners, including home automation products at Home Depot and today he's sharing tips on ways to use your smartphone to control your home.
By Angelo DiGangi
You are half way to work, thinking about all the things you have to do that day when you suddenly wonder if you locked your front door.
"I must have," you say to yourself, knowing that you would certainly be late to work if you turned around now and checked. But the thought keeps gnawing at you, and now you're anxious and distracted all morning until you can break away during lunch and check.
This has happened to everyone at least once in their life, except perhaps the homeless and the absurdly rich. For the majority of people in between those extremes, these concerns are an annoyance. But the days of wondering if you locked the door, turned the stove off, changed the thermostat, or activated the home security system are coming to an end. With a few taps on your smartphone, you can put your mind at ease and focus on the things that really matter: you know, how to get your kids out of bed and ready for school in a timely manner and if the neighbor will ever return that leaf blower.
Here are six ways to take advantage of new apps on your smartphone to control your home.
1. Home Security Systems
A home security system is by far the best way to protect your home from burglary, but it only works if the system is turned on. Now you can control your home security system on your phone from just about anywhere.
Most security system providers (ADT, FrontPoint, Vivint, etc.) have apps that allow you to control your home security system via your smartphone. If you are shopping for home security systems, be sure to ask your security provider about those options.
2. Automated Smart Locks
Traditional metal keys are becoming a thing of the past. One company, Lockitron, is leading the way in that department. The Lockitron system not only allows users to lock or unlock their doors through their mobile app on their smartphone, but it gives the user the ability to grant access to family and friends. Even if the person you're granting access to doesn't have a smartphone (we all have that family member or friend that still lives in the Dark Ages), he or she can open your door through text message.
3. Illuminate!
Why would you want to have to actually get up and turn on or off a light in another room when you don't have to? That's for crazy people! Now you can even control your lights through your smartphone. Belkin's WeMo system is a great example of the home automation systems that are starting to take hold. The WeMo system allows you to control your lights and virtually all your electronics through your smartphone. You no longer have to get out of bed to make sure that your porch light is on.
4. Feed the beast that lurks in your home…with your smartphone
Automated pet feeders aren't exactly a new phenomenon, but one company, Pintofeed, is allowing you to feed your pet remotely using your smartphone. You can control when your pet gets fed and how much. For those of you with multiple pets, you can control more than one feeding station and you can also share access with friends and family and get notifications on when your pet has been fed. You can set up an automated feeding time, or manually control when your pet is fed.
Pintofeed is the leader in this new industry right now, but based on its popularity (it raised over $50,000 on Indiegogo to get started) more companies are sure to follow.
5. Surveillance Cameras
Like the home security systems mentioned above, surveillance cameras are a great way to protect your home (or business) and they now can be monitored remotely from your smartphone. Remote access to your cameras gives you flexibility and peace of mind, so when you're sitting on that beautiful beach sipping a fruity drink, you can see that those kids you left behind are home from school.
There a lot of options to choose from so you can control what exactly what you want and what is in your budget. Many home security systems offer this as an addition too.
6. Be a thermostat dictator
Gone are the days when you get home from work and find that your darling children have been fooling with the thermostat and your house is an icebox. With products like the Nest Thermostat you can control the temperature of your house with your smartphone and revel in the reduction in your utilities bill.
What are some other ways to use your smartphone when it comes to controlling devices in your home? What other products are out there to take advantage of new technology?
Angelo DiGangi is a sales associate at a Home Depot in the Chicago suburbs whose other interests in the electrical department range from home security systems to led lighting.

subset: commoncrawl


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Foam grades & types
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Please click on the shape below that closely resembles what you would like to order. Next you will be asked to enter the dimensions of your shape. Finally you will be offered the choice of foam type and wrapping and the total price, always including VAT and FREE delivery.


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"The customer service desk was outstanding! They made sure Joey and I were ok getting on and off the boat."
Joey loves swimming, The Cat in the Hat, and candy. His only wish was to be able to swim in a very big pool. Joey's wish was revealed to him and sponsored by Kids Wish Network board member Andrew Gottlieb after being nominated Hero of the Month by Joe DiMaggio Hospital. Joey was ecstatic when he learned about his wish trip to go on a 6-day Carnival cruise. This was the first time Joey or his mom had been on a cruise and Joey couldn't wait until his special day.
Joey's wish began as the Carnival cruise ship sailed out of Miami, Florida. The Carnival crew made Joey and his mom feel right at home the moment they stepped onto the boat. "The customer service desk was outstanding! They made sure Joey and I were ok getting on and off the boat," said Joey's mom. Joey suffers from cerebral palsy which makes it impossible for him to stand or walk independently and so Joey requires constant supervision.
After boarding, Joey and his mom settled into their cabins where Joey was greeted by towel animals and tons of candy. Joey spent a ton of time swimming in the ships pool and lounging in the hot tub. Not only did Joey get to swim in the ships pool but he also went to the Ocean World water park in the Dominican Republic and played in the Kid Splashers Water Park in Atlantis, where he went down tons of fun water slides.
Joey's favorite activity on the cruise ship was the arcade. He spent hours playing tons of fun video games with Joey's favorite being the Jurassic Park arcade game. Joey even got to hang out with the ships entertainment director and Joey even entered into a dance competition which he won. Not only did Joey win a Carnival Sensation ship replica, but he also got to participate in a Dr. Seuss stage show. To top off Joeys fantastic trip he got to make his very own stuffed Cat in the Hat at Build-A-Bear Workshop. Joey was even surprised with a delicious cake from the dining room crew.
Kids Wish Network would like to thank the following sponsors for making Joseph's dreams become a reality:
- Andrew Gottlieb
- Carnival Cruise Line


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Observations: Lord Of The Time Lords
Yes, that's exactly the reference it appears to be. 0=)
Just for reference, this is a bit of a throw-back to Inherently Religious (Some things are sacred by default, no matter our efforts to 'secularize' them) and Speculating Faith (The Speculative genre should be the safest place in the fiction world to ask 'what if,' and that includes discourse on what God is not).
I feel like I've been thrown into several conversations lately on God: who and what he is, what he's like, what he's not like–the very nature and character of God himself. I recently did a three-part segment on my personal blog titled Painting God in which I tried to demonstrate how little we know of him, and how to paint over what he's painted for us is to attempt to change his nature–all only to discover several other people were posting on the same thing.
The world aligns a particular way once you've started to feel you've some grasp on who your God is. I have no delusions I'll ever exhaust the great adventure that is getting to explore the depths of my Creator and Sustainer, but I feel comfortable enough saying I've a pretty general idea of the core of his nature. He spent a significant amount of time trying to explain and describe himself, so I don't think it impertinent to number myself among those who've tried to pay attention.
I surmised at one point that speculative fiction is a legitimate place (or should be) for rooting out characteristics that make up the Person who created the cosmos. For better or worse, I still maintain the veracity of the claim.
I'll be honest: I'm one of those weird people who really doesn't go looking for theology in a story. If I see something, it'll capture my attention for weeks. If I don't, well, it was just a book/movie anyway. It's not watching with my brain off: it's not like I won't notice a particular slant. It's that unless I'm having something crammed down my throat or something has become grotesque in nature, I'm in it for the long haul. But that said, I've found shards of light in the strangest places. I've mentioned Elf, despite its flaws. Star Wars and the Matrix are both used ad nauseum (even though I'd take significant issue with Neo being any form of 'Christ figure.) A few other s, at least for me, included:
-The Lakehouse (due to the time/space nature of it, the woman must wait for her love to provide the means for them to be together; all attempts by her to force or accelerate the matter only make them further apart; her lover alone–and they know each other only through letters–can make it work)
-Sweet Home Alabama (she leaves him; and he waits years for her to come back)
-Doctor Who (details below)
-The Dresden Files (Harry was trained by evil wizards; he's easily tempted by evil, but he's also repulsed by it; and the one person whom even Harry would call righteous is a Christian guy who tolerates but never condones Harry's magic; and, oddly, Michael is someone Harry wishes he were like; yes, I know some of the content in the DF is pretty solidly on the edge of my tolerance, but I'll still make the point with Harry suspended between good and evil.)
-Criminal Minds (often includes lengthy conversation on good, evil, and the human condition)
-Human Target (former assassin seeking repentance by protecting people, includes a team of misfits and, well, some shady guys)
-Leverage (The pilot sold me with Nate's lines about halfway through: "Each of you knows what you can do. But I know what all of you can do." Broken and falling off a cliff himself, Nate, in essence offers them a new way of life to embrace or reject at will.)
Now, I know those connections likely weren't intentional (although, with Jim Butcher, I'd be more surprised if he didn't intend Michael that way), but it doesn't mean I didn't see them. Why aren't there more book titles? Um, honestly, I'm still a newbie to the "secular" book world and I needed examples from guys who aren't, to my knowledge, professing Christians.
The horse is dead, so I'll let the point be: All storyworlds tell us something about the way the way the world is, and invite some form of solution. There's a reason something in our gut lights afire when we see injustice and oppression, and there's a reason we get such immense satisfaction out of seeing justice done and mercy extended.
What God is Not
So on to the title. As I said, it's not like I don't see the flaws in the shadows, the faint illustrations. Nate's a drunk and a liar. Harry's a player. And so on. But in the same way we can generate discussion on who God is, we can generate it on who God isn't.
Honestly, I'm convinced the new Doctor Who show does that wonderfully. (Minor aside: I'm a late-comer to Doctor Who. I started with the Season 1 relaunch a couple months ago, and I've finished through season two and begun season three. The pilot episode didn't endear me to the show, and since then there's been one other episode (season two, the Satan Pit, if you care) that I didn't care for). It's arguably a very humanistic show, and by and large gets away with it because the Doctor is fascinated with humans and their capabilities, emotions, vulnerabilities, and so on. What makes humans strong also makes them weak, so to speak.
Now there's a few things on the Satan Pit episode:
- A 900 year old man should have some idea of what he believes. (I will ignore what I maintain is a character breach in that episode for now.)
- Despite the rather silly claim he doesn't know what he believes, the Doctor actually does have a pretty black and white view of right and wrong. How he executes that sense of justice/revenge is another question, but for the most part he comes down pretty solid on the dignity of all people and their inherent right to live as free people.
So, on that front, while he does make the silly comment (sorry, Whovians, it was quite absurd) that he doesn't know what he believes or who he believes in, deity-wise, he's quite clear on what is not divine. Ruling by fear, conquest, chain, and whip is the dominion of Hell, not Heaven. Destroying people's lives and livelihoods for your own gain is evil. Setting yourself up as a false god is evil, and the false god must be destroyed.
The other interesting point is that while others describe the Time Lords as somewhat godlike, the Doctor himself makes it known he is not, nor does he set out to be, a god. "I'd make a very bad one," he says. And with that dark streak in him, he really would.
Anyway, I didn't set out looking for any of this. But after writing those earlier posts and thinking on it awhile, then running across Doctor Who upon the prompting of a friend, I found that it very neatly seems to illustrate my point (for now, at least). I definitely wouldn't take it much further than that, as it really isn't the show's intent and they fudged what could have been a very profound moment in the particular episode. (They backed off the question. As a writer, I think they were better off not bringing it up if they feared losing some of their audience, or letting the Doctor answer more solidly than he does.) But the themes of human nature and divine nature have continued to appear in the thematic sense, and I find the exploration intriguing.
So I guess this is the end of it: Even the Time Lord knows he's bound to something bigger and older than himself. Even the Time Lord submits to the Lord who made the time and space he plays in and protects.
Fantastic column, Kaci!
Every humanistic story, worldview or origins belief must, at some point, borrow something from Christianity to survive. Thus humanism demonstrates that while it can be a cool religion (but a religion), it can't sustain itself with its own tenets. And Doctor Who, with all its messianic allusions — yes, they continue; watch for a particularly intense one, almost too much, in the Christmas special Voyage of the Damned — just keeps proving that over and over.
Doctor Who is such a grab bag of so many people's worldviews and ideologies, it's difficult not to ascribe whatever you want to it. I confess that it's one franchise that I watch mainly for the sheer audacious, popcorn-laden romp, and hold at a very generous arms' length for spiritual resonance. I'm also with RJ Anderson in preferring Moffat's take much more than Davies (so far, anyway).
But I am one of those people who notices parallels of God everywhere I turn. I believe it's written into the fabric of every human being, whether they acknowledge it or not. The scriptures say that God will use what man intends as defamation to glorify himself even further, and that if we left off praising him then he would cause the very stones to cry out in praise.
I really enjoyed reading Joseph Campbell's work in college, amused by his astonishment at the uniformity of themes in human mythology, his marveling at how they could be so universal, and chuckling to myself. What fascinated me most was his observation (and I'd have to go back and find exactly which of his works this was in), that the Cinderella story was the most common story thread in all of humanity. Cinderella is a story of the redemption of a bride from abjection. Sound familiar?
I think the most wonderful experience I've ever had along these lines was when I was watching Forrest Gump for the umpteenth time. I've always loved Forrest Gump more than just another good movie, and I never really could articulate why. Then I was watching the scene where he's telling Jenny about all the beautiful things he saw in his travels. "I wish I could have been there," she says, full of regret at the bad circumstances and choices that made her life the complete opposite of his. He looks at her and says, "You were." And then it hit me. Forest looks at Jenny and honestly does not see everything she's done. All he sees is the woman he loves. The rest of it does not exist. It's the way that Christ sees us when we are under the atonement. The sin literally does not exist for him. He can't condemn what isn't there. It was such a beautiful parallel that I started crying.
Anyway, interesting topic. I'm working my way through Leverage right now.
I wandered onto this post only because of the title, but found this post interesting, and plan to repost it on my Whovian blog. (linked to in my name)
I just started watching DW over Labor Day 2010, but have watched all the new series and some of the classic seasons too. I also admit to wondering about some of the theological implications of the show and its appropriateness for Christian viewers.
The classic series doesn't really use this imagery as much, partially because the Doctor isn't the last of the Time Lords there. Season three's ending definately plays up the Christ imagery, but there's one episode in the season four specials– "The Waters of Mars"–that drives home the differences between the Doctor and Jesus. 'The Lonely God,' as he is referred to, is also a terrifying, untrustworthy god.
The Eleventh Doctor/series five is almost a polar opposite, but as you said, a closer reflection. One scene especially rang chords with me:
"You need to start trusting me; it's never been more important."
"But you don't always tell me the truth."
"If I always told you the truth, I wouldn't need you to trust me."
God doesn't always tell us 'the truth' in the sense of 'what we want to hear'–he requires faith. And that's a lesson that can get old, but it was inspiring to see it from a new angle.
I think one of our most important roles as Christians engaging the popular culture is pointing out these inevitable glimmers of truth that emerge in secular stories, movies, music, etc.
Amen, Fred. And like this:
[The Apostle Paul speaking] "Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, 'To the unknown god.' What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you."
— Acts 17: 22-23
Moreover, even evil people can "give good gifts," Christ Himself reminds us:
[Jesus speaking] "[W]hich one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!"
— Matthew 7: 9-11
I love how He does say these people are "evil," so we're not off the hook! But His main point is that if evil people can do good things, that demonstrates in a lesser-to-greater argument how much more amazing and good God is.
He does say at one point in a later episode that he believes in Time(if I remember correctly). I have so much more to say, but it can't really be said until the End of Time(no, seriously.)
So once you finish season 4 and the 2009 specials, I'mma pick this conversation right back up.
It was the Ninth Doctor who didn't know what he believed and I think he was WAY traumatized by being the sole survivor of the Time Lords.
I tend to think of the Doctor in his many regenerations as being a bit like a person with multiple personality disorder— the same guy but not quite the same guy.
But I also wasn't thrilled by the Satan Pit episode mainly because the 'Satan' creature reminded me too much of King Kong or Godzilla, but without Godzilla or KK's charm. Sometimes Bigger is NOT Better.
Kaci, that's one thing about characters whose scriptwriters imbue them with Nonviolence Ethics. They can either always "win" by Being Clever simply thanks to the writer assuring that things Always Working Out, Mostly, or else the Nonviolence Ethic is wholly inconsistent.
So that leads to some other slight anomalies in Who's character development. The Doctor may wonder about whether in the Time War he should have killed all those Daleks (and they rub it in his face all the time), and then doesn't bat an eye when destroying the Racnoss in The Runaway Bride. 'Tis inconsistent. Made-up moralities always are. Fortunately, I think other Who writers (such as Moffatt) know this and they haven't been as overt about the Doctor's selective Respect Any Kind of Life thing. When some lives want to kill others, they gotta die.
Donna didn't even begin to appeal to me until the last five minutes or so because she wouldn't stop screaming
Oh, just you wait until Series 4. 😀
[…] by way of recap, in my previous entry I surmised that even the Time Lord answers to a higher power–whatever that power may be. My […]


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Big B in Prakash Jha's Aarakshan
Multiple National Award winning filmmaker Prakash Jha recently made the acclaimed film Raajneeti which was also a box office hit.His next film would be titled Aarakshan and will star megastar Amitabh Bachchan in the lead role. The film also stars Ajay Devgn and Manoj Bajpayee. Shooting for the film will begin in December this year and the entire film will be shot in Bhopal.
Jha said his new film intends to accomplish two tasks: first, to explore if reservations have generated enough opportunities for the lower castes; second, to try and shed misunderstandings on the issue.


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Learn more.
An unbiased study was conducted by a pharmaceutical company that compared market leading brands of syringe filters in situ to the MicroSolv AQ™ syringe filters. The results were that MicroSolv AQ™ (Advanced Quality) filters were not only the quality leader but can be purchased at quite a substantial cost savings. The MicroSolv brand of syringe filters were designed for analytical instrumentation with sample chemistry in mind so little to no adsorption occurs on the membranes. Click on the PDF Attachment below to download the full article. Click here for more information: Syringe Filters Information
© Copyright MicroSolv Technology Corporation, all rights reserved.


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Anxious over the government's anti-profiteering drive under the goods and services tax regime, companies in the segments of fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) and information technology (IT) software are planning to petition the high courts in Delhi and Mumbai, seeking more clarity on the clause. While the government has not yet prescribed rules or guidelines to compute profiteering, it has sent notices to some companies, including Hardcastle Restaurants, Lifestyle, and Pyramid Infratech. "There is a lot of ambiguity in the anti-profiteering clause," said a representative of an FMCG company, who did not wish to be identified. He said product prices were not based on taxes alone but on supply and demand conditions, supplier cost, and other factors. The companies planning to move the HCs have not received an anti-profiteering notice but are filing petitions in anticipation. Another company in the FMCG sector said a change in profits between the pre- and post-GST regime would also be based on factors like lower logistics cost and seamless movement of goods across the country. An IT company representative said its clients were questioning it for not passing on GST benefits. "The issue is, how to compute these benefits?" he asked. It will take 10-15 days to file the writ petition. "If the government comes out with rules before that, we will not file it," he added. According to the anti-profiteering rules, "Benefits of input tax credit should have been passed on to the recipient by way of commensurate reduction in prices." "The absence of a prescriptive methodology to determine profiteering is making it difficult for taxpayers to determine the quantum of benefits required to be passed on, if any. In several cases, customers have been insisting on the benefits being passed on, leading to an increasing need for a standardised methodology," said M S Mani, partner at consultancy Deloitte India The anti-profiteering authority has so far got 169 complaints alleging that suppliers of goods or services have not passed on GST benefits to customers. The Director General of Safeguards, the investigative arm of the Department of Revenue, has sent notices to Pyramid Infratech, Honda Motor Vehicles, Lifestyle International, and Hardcastle Restaurants (master franchisee of McDonald's) on this ground.
It has asked these companies to provide their balance sheets, trial balance, and profit-and- loss accounts for the past year. The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has also pressed for clear guidelines on anti-profiteering, saying the issue could lead to hardship for smaller players. "Another challenge is complicated compliance. The government would need to compare the cost of every product before and after the GST to determine the amount of tax benefit applicable. Manufacturers or suppliers might also deal in several products that are not distinguished in their accounting books; determining the price margins for individual products will be difficult," said the CII. "Tax authorities will need to be sensitive to natural business outcomes and avoid undue harassment. Also, the clause gives relatively less time for preparation and adoption of the new provisions." The anti-profiteering mechanism is a three-stage process. There is a state-level screening committee for local complaints and a standing committee for national-level complaints; then, investigation by the Directorate General of Safeguards, and then a probe by the decision-making body, the National Anti-Profiteering Authority. Meanwhile, the government is looking at simplifying the anti-profiteering application complaint form to facilitate complaints from citizens. Bipin Sapra of consultancy EY said: "While the simplification of the complaint form would make it easy to file complaints, it is important for the government to do preliminary verification before initiating an inquiry."
via Jittery over govt's anti-profiteering drive under GST, firms may move court | Business Standard News


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This Tech Tip reprinted with permission by java.sun.com
Public key encryption allows you to provide a public key that can be used to both decrypt messages you have encrypted and encrypt messages that only you can decrypt. Dr. Ronald L. Rivest, Dr. Adi Shamir, and Dr. Leonard M. Adleman are the R, S, and A of the RSA encryption code. The three were the ACM's 2002 Turing Award Winners for their work in public key cryptography. At the ACM Turing Award Winners page, you can find presentations from June 7, 2003 by them on the "Early Days of RSA", on "Cryptology: A Status Report", and on "Pre-RSA."
The RSA encryption algorithm begins with the random and independent selection of two large primes p and q, for example, p=11 and q=31. The next step is to calculate N=(p)(q). For p=11 and q=31, N=(11)(31)=341. Next an integer e is selected between 3 and N-1 (inclusive) that has no factors in common with (p-1)(q-1). In this case, (11-1)(31-1) is 300. The number 300 can be prime factored as (2) (2) (3)(5)(5). So e must not be a multiple of 2, 3, or 5. The algorithm does not require you to choose a prime number. For example 49 or 77 would do. To keep the numbers small and simple, let's choose e= 7.
Next, the algorithm requires an integer d such that (d)(e)=1 (mod(p-1)(q-1)). The Java programmer's equivalent of mod is the remainder operator. In this example, e = 7 and (p -1)(q-1) = 300, so the number d requires that 7d % 300 = 1. One way to find this number is to look at one more than the multiples of 300, then check for the first one that is divisible by 7. In other words, you would check 301, 601, 901, and so on. The number 301 is divisible by 7 (43 times 7 is 301), so d = 43.
Two pairs of numbers are important. The number N = (p)(q), known as the RSA modulus, is a component of both pairs. The first pair is (N,d), which is known as the RSA private key. The second pair is (N,e), which is known as the RSA public key. The number d is the RSA private exponent (d=43). The number e is the RSA public exponent (e=7). You publish or otherwise make known the public key. You keep the private key (in particular d) and the original prime numbers (p and q) a secret.
So where does the Java programming language come into the RSA picture? It comes in through the java.security package. Using this package, you can generate the pair of keys for the RSA algorithm. You do this by first creating an instance of a KeyPairGenerator for the RSA algorithm, initializing it with the desired key size in number of bits. Then you call the generateKeyPair() method to generate the RSA key pair.
KeyPairGenerator generator = KeyPairGenerator.getInstance("RSA"); generator.initialize(1024); KeyPair keyPair = generator.generateKeyPair();
The algorithm is passed to the factory getInstance() method as a String. If the algorithm is not supported by the installed provider(s), a NoSuchAlgorithmException is thrown.
Each provider must supply (and document) a default initialization. If the provider default suits your requirements, you don't have to save the intermediate KeyPairGenerator object. You can simply generate the key pair with one line of code. However, if you need to generate more than one key pair, you can reuse the KeyPairGenerator object. This gives you much better performance than using a new KeyPairGenerator object every time.
import java.security.KeyPairGenerator; import java.security.NoSuchAlgorithmException; import java.security.KeyPair; public class AsymmetricKeyMaker { public static void main(String[] args) { String algorithm = ""; if (args.length == 1) algorithm = args[0]; try { KeyPair keyPair = KeyPairGenerator .getInstance(algorithm) .generateKeyPair(); System.out.println(keyPair.getPublic()); System.out.println(keyPair.getPrivate()); } catch (NoSuchAlgorithmException e) { System.err.println( "usage: java AsymmetricKeyMaker <RSA | DSA>"); } } }
The String is not case sensitive and so RSA could be entered as rsa, Rsa, or any other variation. If you run the program like this:
java AsymmetricKeyMaker RSA
You should see output that looks like this:
SunJSSE RSA public key: public exponent: 010001 modulus: b24a9b5b ba01c0cd 65096370 0b5a1b92 08f8555e 7c1b5017 ec444c58 422b4109 59f2e15d 43714d92 031db66c 7f5d48cd 17ecd74c 39b17be2 bf9677be d0a0f02d 6b24aa14 ba827910 9b166847 8154a2fa 919e0a2a 53a6e79e 7d2933d8 05fc023f bdc76eed aa306c5f 52ed3565 4b0ec8a7 12105637 af11fa21 0e99fffa 8c658e6d SunJSSE RSA private CRT key: private exponent: 78417240 9059965d f3843d99 d94e51c2 52628dd2 490b731e 6fb2317c 66451e7c dc3ac25f 519a1ea4 198df4f9 817ebe17 f7c73c00 a1f96082 348f9cfd 0b63421b 7f45f131 c363475c c1b25f57 ee029f5e 0848ba74 ba81b730 ac4c0135 ce46478c e462361a 650e3356 f9b7a0c4 b682557d 3655c052 5e3554bd 970100bf 10dc1b51 modulus: b24a9b5b ba01c0cd 65096370 0b5a1b92 08f8555e 7c1b5017 ec444c58 422b4109 59f2e15d 43714d92 031db66c 7f5d48cd 17ecd74c 39b17be2 bf9677be d0a0f02d 6b24aa14 ba827910 9b166847 8154a2fa 919e0a2a 53a6e79e 7d2933d8 05fc023f bdc76eed aa306c5f 52ed3565 4b0ec8a7 12105637 af11fa21 0e99fffa 8c658e6d public exponent: 010001 prime p: e768033e 21646824 7bd031a0 a2d9876d 79818f8f 2d7a952e 559fd786 2993bd04 7e4fdb56 f175d04b 003ae026 f6ab9e0b 2af4a8d7 ffbe01eb 9b81c75f 0273e12b prime q: c53d78ab e6ab3e29 fd98d0a4 3e58ee48 45a366ac e94dbd60 ea24ffed 0c67c5fd 3628ea74 88d1d1ad 58d7f067 20c1e3b3 db52adf3 c421d88c 4c4127db d03592c7 prime exponent p: e09942b4 76029755 f9da3ba0 d70edcf4 337fbdcf d0eb6e89 f74f5a07 7ca94947 6835a805 3dfd047b 17310dc8 a39834a0 504400f1 0ce6e5c4 413df83d 4e0b1cdb prime exponent q: 829b8afd a1984168 c2d1df4e f32e2653 5b31b17a cc5ebb09 a2e26f4a 040def90 15be104a ac92ebda 72db4308 b72b4ce1 bb58cb71 80adbcdc 625e3ecb 92daf6df crt coefficient: 4d8190c5 7730b729 00a8f1b4 ae526300 b22d3e7d d64df98a c1b19889 5240141b 0e618ff4 be597979 95195c51 0866c142 30b37a86 9f3ef519 a3ae6469 14075097
If you are new to Java programming, this output highlights the value of properly overloading the toString() method. The text that begins "SunJSSE RSA public key:" is the result of calling the toString() method in the class RSAPublicKey. It contains the value of the public exponent which was referred to as e, and the modulus N. The text that begins "SunJSSE RSA private key:" is the result of calling the same method in the class RSAPrivateKey. It contains the private exponent d and the modulus N. It also contains the public exponent e and the generating primes as well as some other data. If you are encrypting data you should be careful about how you send the public key values. However, if the values are being used to authenticate a transmission, you should make them publicly available so that others can verify that a file, for example, originated with you and was delivered unaltered.
If you rerun the code and pass in the String DSA, you will find values for p, q, and g in both the public and private keys. A value for y is provided in the public key and for x in the private key. The algorithms are different and so the information that must be calculated and shared differ.
So how do you use this key pair for encryption? In the case of RSA, you begin by taking some text that you want to encrypt, and turn it into a number m that is less than the modulus. You'll learn more about this later. However, it's easy see the importance of choosing large primes. That's because the product of the primes determines the size of what can be encrypted. For example, suppose m=2. Then you encrypt by calculating c=m^e (mod N). In other words, you raise the number that you are encrypting to the power of your public exponent, and take the remainder when dividing by the modulus. In this example, 2^43 is 8 more than a multiple of 341, so you send the encrypted message c = 8.
Decryption requires you to repeat the process with the private key. Take c^d (mod N). In this example, calculate 8^7. Then take its remainder when dividing by 341. You get back the original message of 2. This is, of course, no accident and will always happen. The result follows from an application of Fermat's little theorem which results in m^(e d) = m (mod N). For security, each party encrypts with the other party's public key.
You can find more information about the RSA algorithm here. You can find more information about the DSA algorithm here.
Copyright (c) 2004-2005 Sun Microsystems, Inc.
All Rights Reserved.


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LawnSite Member
- Location
- wv
Any of you guys out there have the dfs bagging system, what kind of price did you pay for the system already have the mower. I'm trying to buy one of these none around this area, so I would just like a little input on the price of these things so I can get the best deal. If the dealer is quoting the right bagging system, he possibly said maybe less than $2000.00. What do you all think.


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Decentralization – the Need of the Hour for Europe
By Professor Franz Schausberger, Professor for Modern History, Member of the Committee of the Regions of Europe, former Governor of Land Salzburg
The 2009 Lisbon Treaty has strengthened the subsidiarity principle, enshrined local and regional identity, encouraging several Member States to carry out institutional reforms to enhance decentralization. In general terms, the degree of decentralization has therefore increased in many countries in recent years.
Although EU Member States are under no obligation to choose a particular model for their institutional structure or for decentralization, it has to be pointed out that the EU treaties recognise and respect local and regional self-government, showing that the EU sees local and regional democracy as one of the foundations of its own legitimacy.
However, the effects of the financial and economic crisis that erupted in 2009 and the following debt crisis had negative effects on the process of boosting decentralization.
Hence we have to note a contrary trend in some Member States, in which the financial autonomy of local and regional authorities or the right to self-government at sub-national levels has been substantially curtailed.
National and European public debates in the context of the current economic and financial crisis were often combined with the erroneous assumption that the behaviour of sub-national authorities is preventing national budget targets from being hit, despite the national states' main responsibilities for the crisis.
Financial and debt crisis are seriously threatening the real economy of cities and regions.
In some Member States the situation is used as an excuse to further centralise powers, to devolve powers without providing corresponding financial resources or to rationalise, reduce or abolish sub-national bodies altogether, which will end up weakening local and regional democracy, a trend that is based on the mistaken assumption that transferring public services to the central government level will make them more cost-effective.
On the contrary, the relationship between national governments and the European institutions has profoundly changed. The national states are not able to solve their budget problems autonomously, so the budget surveillance power is shifted more and more to Brussels.
As a reaction, in many of the Member States the economic criteria in the current economic and financial crisis have distorted the democratic foundations of regional and local autonomy. This violates the European principle of subsidiarity.
Specificly in times of crisis, the benefits of regionalization and decentralization should be used to overcome these severe problems: in many policy areas, decentralised executives are significantly more efficient, both from the point of view of cost and in terms of the quality of services and their proximity to the citizens.
Local and regional authorities, as grassroots institutions, are aware of people's needs and are best placed to define and respond to their needs at a time of crisis.
In these difficult times it is important for the people of Europe to identify with their regions and cities, which play a particularly crucial role as a counterweight to the increasingly international, global and therefore anonymous, nature of job markets and economic relations.
Strong regional and local authorities can make a key contribution to reduce the current social and economic disparities between Europe's regions, helping to reduce the negative consequences of a rural exodus from poor regions to big cities. There is a positive connection between decentralization and successful, sustainable European regional policy.
As studies are showing, cohesion policy produces better results in devolved Member States. Cohesion policy is implemented particularly inefficiently in centralised Member States since centralised administrations are often unfamiliar with regional problems and challenges and therefore the sub-national authorities should be much better involved in the management of the funds.
Functioning local and regional administrations and effective decentralization should be based on the principles of subsidiarity, proportionality and multilevel governance and conducted through democratically elected and fully representative bodies that are accountable to their people.
In this respect, all EU Member States are called on to establish an appropriate legal framework for their sub-national authorities at the highest possible level.
The European Commission's recent report on public finances in the Economic and Monetary Union concerns financial decentralization and highlights the fact that own resources, i.e. independently raised sub-national taxes, are a more efficient funding tool than transfers from central government.
Regions that are primarily financed from their own resources manage the available funds in a responsible manner and therefore have solid public finances. Therefore the Member States should replace transfer payments, as far as possible, with own financial resources.
These are numerous good reasons for strengthening regions and municipalities in Europe. It is essential that any vision for the future of Europe includes the regional and local levels.
I think a Convention on these subjects is necessary, including greater recognition of local and regional democracy in future treaties, considering to what extent decentralization together with effective local and regional self-government could become a condition for EU membership.
In this sense decentralization has to be put on the European agenda.


text: categorized question QandAEditors I'm wanting to provide a bit of determinism to the constructor method, and was wondering if I can simply make <CODE> sub new { my $value1, $value2 = @_; ... } </CODE> <P>and <P> <CODE> sub new { my $only_value = shift; ... (not the same as above ...) } </CODE> Am I looking for too much here? Or is there just no way to really effectively pull this one off other than putting it in one constructor that does the logic and passes off to other subs based on the values it gets? Thanx. Mike 1838


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Go either super light or super dark.
This was a light bulb moment for me. I tend to go middle of the road because it's safe (see, be brave above :). But light or dark are where you make a statement, and more than likely where you'll be the happiest. As I thought through this I realized the design decisions I was happiest with were the ones where I was brave and either went super light, or super dark. Hmmm. She's on to something here!
Oh, and I'm also completely inspired to spend a lot of money on a painting I love. Seriously, this woman makes a strong case for investing in art. Now, to find my dream painting :).
You can find AB's Design Camp recap here. Dewit, ya'll! :)


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Nill Family History
14-Day Free Trial
Nill Name Meaning
North German: from a personal name, a reduced form of Cornelius. South German: nickname for a big, crude or unmannered person, related to Middle High German nel 'peak' or nol 'rounded elevation'.
Source: Dictionary of American Family Names ©2013, Oxford University Press
Similar surnames: Nell, Noll, Dill, Lill, Zill, Gill, Will, Hill, Nigl, Bill


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Perennia is hosting and organizing a series of four workshops around Nova Scotia in November for small and medium-sized food producers and processors preparing to take a product to market, new to the food processing business or considering value-adding. Dates and locations are: November 1-2 (Windsor); November 3-4 (Bridgewater); November 7-8 (Truro); and November 9-10 (Sydney).
The main focus of the day-and-a-half workshop is helping participants understand their responsibilities as food producers in the areas of regulations, packaging, labelling and food safety, and how to build successful partnerships with suppliers. Also covered will be how to market and sell your product successfully once it is created, including how to build relationships with retailers and wholesalers, the role of market research, how innovation and incubation can help your product, and how to develop a sales and marketing plan. Funding is being provided by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.
For more information, the dates, the agenda and how to register visit: http://www.perennia.ca/events/producttomarket/.
The deadline to register is October 15!


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To list
Selective laser melting (SLM)
3D objects are produced from metal powder using high-power laser beams. In contrast to selective laser sintering (SLS), the material to be processed is heated only slightly, if at all, and is melted at the specified points at laser temperatures of up to 1,250°C. A scraper then applies a new layer of powder to the build platform. In order to avoid undesirable effects such as deformation of the component or curling during manufacturing, the object is created on a support structure, which is firmly welded to the build base and must then be removed manually.


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In the western state of Myanmar called Rakhine, fighting has broken out between the Buddhist people and a group of Muslims called Rohingya. Fighting between the two has been going on since June this year, but in recent weeks, the fighting has flared up. Majority of the citizens of the Rakhine state are Buddhists. The Rohingya are a small group of Muslims. The government of Myanmar doesn't consider the Rohingya as citizens of Myanmar even though many of them were born there and have lived there for many years. The government considers the Rohingya to have illegally come over from the neighboring country of Bangladesh, and doesn't offer much support for them. Many people of the Rohingya group are leaving their homes and running away from the area because they fear for their lives. Almost 90% of Myanmar's population is Buddhist, and about 4% is Muslim.
Myanmar, known as Burma until 1989, got its independence from the United Kingdom in 1948. From 1962 until 2010, Myanmar was rued by military governments. In the last couple of years, Myanmar has been going through changes and is moving towards becoming a more democratic country. In 2010, elections were held in Myanmar and a new government was elected. Thein Sein became the country's president. In 2010, the country also changed its national anthem, its flag, and even its official name from "Union of Myanmar" to "Republic of the Union of Myanmar". Earlier this year, the government removed a law that had been in place for about 50 years. The owners of print publications (such as newspapers and magazines) in the country would no longer have to go through government approval before printing their articles.
The capital of Myanmar is Naypyidaw and the largest city is Yangon. The official language of the country is Burmese and its currency is the kyat. One very popular food is mohinga, which is noodles in a fish soup. A unit of weight commonly used in Myanmar is called "peiktha" or "viss" (1 peiktha or 1 viss = 1.63 kg = 3.6 pounds).
Myanmar is known as the "Land of Pagodas", because there are many pagodas in the country. A pagoda has a distinct bell-shaped top and is often used by Buddhists as a religious building. One of the landmarks of the country is the Shwedagon Pagoda , a sacred Buddhist pagoda in Yangon.
Image Credits: Ralf-André Lettau for the image of Shwedagon Pagoda; Wagaung for the image of mohinga


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Bourbon Vanilla, ground
For pastries, fruit salad, desserts and more.
The soft and sweet taste of Bourbon vanilla masterfully supplements sweet desserts ranging from ring cakes to crème brûlée. However, a delicate hint of vanilla goes well with fish and light salads as well. In the 19th century, this African beauty was named after the island of Réunion which, at that time, was still called Île Bourbon.
Vanilla orchids, whose pods we like to enjoy, originally come from Mexico where Aztec rulers are said to have appreciated the delightful aroma in their hot chocolate as far back as the 14th century.
5 g
Discover the ingredients
* from organic agriculture
** from biodynamic agriculture
° allergen
** from biodynamic agriculture
° allergen


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By Aryenish Birdie | August 17, 2017
Over the coming year, Encompass plans to roll out a white ally group. However, this week we've seen an uptick in white folks asking what they can do to support people of color (POC) in the wake of Charlottesville, so we developed this short list. This list is by no means exhaustive but it's a start. Please feel free to add your own thoughts and ideas in the comments section.
- Listen with an open mind and heart
Take time to read, watch, and listen to POC voices. It's important to know when to stop talking and absorb the information around you. Be cognizant not to "whitesplain."
There's a difference between being an ally and an anti-racist. Allyship requires knowledge about how racism/white supremacy impacts our society/individuals and a willingness to push back even if it's uncomfortable.
- Be comfortable with being uncomfortable
Addressing race requires us all to be uncomfortable at times, but it's the only way we can grow and strengthen. As you wade into this territory know that you will be challenged and it will be uncomfortable––it's okay––know you will come out the other side a better person for it.
- Follow prominent vegans of color
Social media makes it easy to hear the words of people who've been speaking about these issues for decades. Take time to digest what they have to say and then share these insights with your communities.
Some great places to start: lauren Ornelas of Food Empowerment Project, Breeze Harper of The Sistah Vegan Project, Aph Ko of Black Vegans Rock, and Liz Ross of the Vegan Advocacy Initiative.
- Take an inventory of your social circles and workplaces
Ask yourself, "How homogeneous are the spaces I tend to occupy?" Asking this basic question might help shed light on the fact that POC don't tend to feel welcomed by our movement––they don't see themselves reflected.
- Support POC
POC are a huge part of our movement. Unfortunately, they don't get the attention and praise that they deserve. Offer to financially support them. Offer to support them with your platforms. Offer to support them on social media.
- Show solidarity with other social movements
Take time to show solidarity, via social media but also in the streets, with other social movements without asking for anything in return.
- Speak out when you hear or see something problematic
One of the best ways white folks can support POC is to stand up to other white folks when they see or hear problematic encounters. This may happen when POC aren't in the room. Make sure your intentions are clear: microaggression won't be tolerated when POC are around or when they aren't.
If POC are present and vocalize their opposition to something troublesome, defer to them. Offer support and solidarity but step back and let them lead if they want to.
- Stop pretending to be "color blind"
In her excellent TED talk, Mellody Hobson speaks about why we should be "color brave," not color blind. The problem isn't that we see color; it's what we do when we see that color (consciously or subconsciously). Race is one of the most uncomfortable and divisive issues in our country, but pretending not to see color is not the solution.
Color blindness doesn't mean there's fairness and equality. Being color blind means we're ignoring the problem. Instead of avoiding race, let's deal with race head on—we'll be better for it and so will the animals. If we truly believe in equal rights and equal opportunity, we need to have real conversations about this issue.
A few "Don'ts":
— Don't give up
These issues are complicated and challenging. Don't give up if you feel overwhelmed or like it'd be easier to avoid it––this is when you know you're onto something.
— Don't be surprised when racism rears its ugly head
Statements like "I can't believe Charlottesville is happening in 2017" can undermine the racism POC feel on a daily basis. POC deal with race-based violence, hate, microaggressions and more all the time. Statements like this, although well-intentioned, undermine the experiences POC experience because the shock illuminates that there's a world of privilege out there where white folks can ignore race-related issues. POC don't live in that world.
— Don't ask POC to speak on behalf of an entire community
When you see something problematic, it's not OK to ask one person to speak on behalf of an entire group of people. This is tokenizing and makes people very uncomfortable.
— Don't ask POC to only speak about race issues
POC are brilliant organizers, campaigners, creatives, and more. Don't only solicit their opinions about race issues (and be sure not to use them as your "race teachers"). Be intentional to include them and their ideas in all the work that you do.


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Patient & Visitor Information
Patient Information
At the Rehabilitation Hospital, we want to make sure you don't encounter any unwanted surprises as a patient. That's why we've included information on everything you need to know about your stay in this section. What a typical day is like, when your visitors can drop by, insurance information and patient safety guidelines are just a few of the topics covered.
The Rehab Hospital accepts patients 14 years of age and older.
Visitor Information
Official visiting hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. You should limit your guests to two at a time. In order to ensure your well-being, the nurses and therapy team have discretionary authority regarding the number of visitors and the length of stay. However, we know that sometimes the best medicine for anyone is having loved ones nearby. That's why we sometimes make exceptions to the rule. If you have family members who are unable to come during the designated visiting time, please notify your nurse so that special arrangements can be made. Family members or friends may also eat with you in the dining area by paying a nominal fee.
Adults and children with a communicable disease must, of course, refrain from visiting.
Rehabilitation Hospital is a smoke- and tobacco-free hospital. Smoking, including the use of e-cigarettes, vaping devices and other similar products, along with the use of any other tobacco products, is prohibited in the hospital and on the campus grounds. Alcoholic beverages are also prohibited.


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TiVo's latest newsletter:
©2008 TiVo Inc. The TiVo logo, TiVo, and WishList® are registered trademarks or trademarks of TiVo Inc. worldwide. TiVo Inc. 2160 Gold Street Alviso, CA 95002-2160. All rights reserved. Please feel free to review our Privacy Policy.
TM & © 2008 Lucasfilm Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Used Under Authorization.


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Painting the Light with Philip Jackson
(Gallery talk and sketching)
and SATURDAY, JUNE 16, 9:30 A.M.–NOON and 1–3:00 P.M.
(Still life painting studio sessions)
COST: $35 (includes materials and all sessions)
Open to adults with all levels of experience, University of Mississippi Associate Professor of Art Philip Jackson will lead a two-day workshop on still life painting. Space is limited for this workshop, and pre-registration is required.
Philip Jackson is an Associate Professor of Art at the University of Mississippi in Oxford where he currently teaches and heads the painting program. His work is part of the permanent collections of art museums in Evansville and Fort Wayne, Indiana, Huntsville, Alabama and most recently the Mississippi Arts Commission in Jackson, Mississippi.
His paintings have been featured in a number of premiere magazines, including, Art in America, Southwest Art, American Art Collector, and American Artist Magazine. He has received grants from the Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation in Montreal, Canada, a two-time recipient of the Mississippi Arts Commission Fellowship, numerous scholarly research grants from The University of Mississippi and most recently was named this year's fellow of the $15,000 Jane Crater Hiatt Fellowship.
He received his BFA from the Columbus College of Art & Design in Columbus, Ohio and his MFA from Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio, and studied abroad at (SACI) Studio Art Centers International in Florence, Italy.
Working in the established genre of still life, Philip R. Jackson takes a traditional subject and invigorates it with a fresh contemporary vision. Jackson's paintings are seen through the eyes of another world. Overlooked and commonplace, objects are suspended in a single moment. However, it is in the intimate act of seeing that one can observe an unveiling universe. Bathed in light, the mystery of each object is revealed. The haunting silence of what has happened or the inevitable finish of what is yet to come fills the air with anticipation.


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Step up both your style and sound quality with our range of Master & Dynamic accessories. Renowned for blending luxurious materials with innovative technology, your playlist has never looked so good.
With its roots in NYC, this technology label has cool at its very core. Distinct features such as classic leather finishes feel timeless, while stainless steel accents add an urban undertone. Blend the brand into your streetwear by opting for oversized headphones from this collection of accessories by Master & Dynamic in a pared-down colour palette. To complete the outfit, team with a sporty leather bag and high-top trainers to tie together a weekend-worthy vibe - whether you're listening to music or not.
There's no denying it: every Master & Dynamic accessory looks as good as it sounds. For those whose style is a little more elevated, the collection of monochrome designs with sharp silhouettes will be right up your street. Small earpieces, slender headbands and high-shine finishes are subtle yet smart - perfect for complementing those long hours concentrating at your desk. To toughen up sleek accessories by Master & Dynamics, look for textured touches and dark stainless steel contrasts that feel bold. Rich, deep hues are a great alternative to monochrome; slip on with your navy suit, trench coat and black brogues to effortlessly accent your morning commute.


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Carlett Spike
CJR Delacorte Fellow and Staff Writer at Columbia Journalism Review
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Pete Vernon
CJR Delacorte Fellow, media reporter and critic at The Washington Post, where he writes the Erik Wemple blog and Delacorte Magazine Fellow at the Columbia Journalism Review
Section 2: Campaign
- Evidence for the powerful roles of polarization and partisanship
- The emotional brand wins
- Donald Trump's slogan betrays a renewed political fixation on the past
- Dog whistles and dumpster fires
- How Donald Trump bullies with his body language
- Image bites, voter enthusiasm, and the 2016 Presidential Election
- Air war? Campaign advertising in the 2016 Presidential Election
- US election: what impact do celebrity endorsements really have?
- The backlash of the loose cannon: musicians and the celebrity cleavage
- The curious case of Jill Stein
- The Green Party effect in the US 2016 Election
- US presidential candidate selection
- The #LolNothingMatters election
Moderators Anderson Cooper of CNN and Martha Raddatz of ABC News spent the second presidential debate wrestling gamely with the candidates and a vociferous audience for control of the evening, leaving the undecided voters on the stage largely redundant. A feature of the election cycle since 1992, the town-hall style was judged by some to be "the biggest loser of last night's debate."
Fewer questions, fewer good ones
The intention behind the town hall format is to bring candidates into closer contact with voters. At times that has proved insightful, as in 1992, when Bill Clinton won plaudits for his empathetic response to a question about the personal impact of the national debt. In the three cycles that followed, audience members peppered candidates with at least 15 questions per debate. However, the scattershot nature of their queries led to an adjustment of the rules in 2008.
Beginning with the Obama-McCain town hall, moderators were granted leeway to follow up on points raised by the candidates' responses to voters, resulting in an average five fewer audience questions. The goal was to foster a more sustained discussion, but with moderators taking a more active role, the audience becomes ancillary to the proceedings.
The power transfer, from audience to moderators, was particularly acute during the second presidential debate, with Cooper and Raddatz forcefully asserting themselves – and the audience fading into the background. That night, eight of the 11 questions came from undecided voters on the stage, with the remaining questions chosen from those submitted online. Cooper and Raddatz were aggressive with their follow-ups, piggybacking on every question until the final minutes, when they attempted to fit in as many audience members as possible. When the moderators did turn to the voters, those questions largely seemed lacking both in scope and substance. "Do you believe you can be a devoted President to all the people in the United States?" isn't exactly probing, and it allowed both candidates to shift into versions of their stump speeches. However, viral sensation Ken Bone did ask insightfully and concisely about energy policy, and Gorbah Hamed forced Donald Trump to directly confront the Islamophobia in which his campaign has trafficked.
Topics missed
The town hall debate normally serves as an opportunity for citizens to address personal issues they are grappling with, but after two debates this cycle a number of topics remained unaddressed. Equal pay and the minimum wage, for example, were not mentioned in either of the first two presidential debates. The issue was last asked during a question once during the 2012 debates. Additionally, many social issues remained on the sidelines, including LGBTQ rights, abortion, and the war on drugs.
Most noticeable in their absence were immigration and gun control. Trump and Clinton both managed to sneak in some talk about their stance on immigration following a question posed by a woman who identified herself as a Muslim American. The core of her question, however, was about feeling safe given the islamophobia in this country. Both nominees used it as an opportunity to address their thoughts and policies on immigration.
As for gun control, the topic was not broached throughout the course of the 90-minute debate – despite 55% of Americans favouring stricter gun laws, according to a CNN/ORC poll. In the Twittersphere, many people were upset that no questions about policing surfaced during this debate.
Personal characteristics again in focus
The main topic of the night, as in the first debate, was the candidates themselves. Perhaps unavoidably, the voters wanted to hear the candidates defend their character, and attack their opponent's, following a week that saw revelations about Donald Trump's tax holiday, Hillary Clinton's public versus private stances, and—most disturbingly—a newly released recording of Trump asserting he is entitled to sexually assault women.
The first two questions, along with several follow-ups from the moderators, focused on the candidates' behaviour, past statements, and judgment. It was not until more than 24 minutes into the evening that a question was asked about policy, when an audience member asked about healthcare.
Overall, five of the 11 questions posed by the audience in the hall and those culled from the web touched on aspects of temperament. With more than 40 percent of the questions from this year's two debates coming on the topic, 2016 has seen an unprecedented focus on character.
A longer version of this article originally appeared in Columbia Journalism Review, reproduced with permission.


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Mondo Generator – Dead Planet (Release Year – 2007)
One of the acts that took the stage at the 2007 Ozzfest was Nick Oliveri's band, Mondo Generator.
Nick Oliveri is no stranger to Ozzfest. He first took the stage in Ozzfest as the bassist for Queens of the Stone Age.
On Dead Planet, Nick handles the lead vocals and bass playing. Nick Oliveri's razor sharp voice is one that takes a couple of listens to get used to, but I find his sound refreshingly different from so many of the singers that I have listened to as of late.
Mondo Generator has a punk/metal sound that I describe as Motorhead meets Velvet Revolver. The music on Dead Planet is extremely tight. The dual guitars of Ian Taylor and Spud are far better than I could have imagined.
Dead Planet gives you a wide selection of tunes. 17 songs averaging about 3 minutes in length. The cool thing about the short song length on Dead Planet is, if you find a song not to your liking, chances are 3 minutes later you will.
Stand out tracks are All The Way Down, Lie Detector, So High, Take Me Away, and Paper Thin.
I had no expectations when I first listened to this CD, and surprisingly liked this one a lot. If you are a fan of Nick's former work in Queens of the Stone Age, get Dead Planet, you will love it. If you like the video above, for Lie Detector above, check out Mondo Generator, I think you will like them! You can hear more tracks at the band's myspace page here.
1. Basket Case
2. I Never Sleep
3. All the Way Down
4. She Only Owns You
5. Lie Detector
6. Mental Hell
7. All Systems Go
8. Like a Bomb
9. So High
11. Take Me Away
12. Life of Sin
13. Paper Thin
14. Sam Hall
15. There She Goes Again
16. Bloody Hammer
17. Sleep the Lie Away
For us, this is gonna be one of those cd's that will take a few plays to decide……
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The French government has offered six million euros (about 6.4 million US dollars) to support Mozambique's conservation areas and particularly the protection of elephants.
The project was launched in Maputo at a ceremony chaired by the Minister of Land, Environment and Rural Development, Celso Correia. It will be coordinated by the National Administration of Conservation Areas (ANAC), a specialist institution under Correia's Ministry.
Poaching has devastated Mozambique's elephant herds. The last elephant census, in 2014, showed that over the previous five years the elephant population had fallen by 48 per cent, from just over 20,000 in 2009 to around 10,300 in 2014.
Half of the French grant, three million euros, will be spent on strengthening surveillance and combating poaching in the Niassa Reserve (in the far north), and in the Limpopo National Park (bordering on South Africa's Kruger Park). This are the two conservation areas worst hit by the slaughter of elephants and rhinos. Indeed, it is now feared that both African species of rhinoceros may now be extinct in Mozambique.
A further million euros will go towards the institutional strengthening of ANAC's protection and monitoring sector.
The final two million euros will be channeled to the Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity (Biofund) to finance the conservation areas and increase their capacity for administrative and financial management.
Launched in June 2015 by President Filipe Nyusi, Biofund seeks to mobilize finance to cover the operational costs of Mozambique's 19 conservation areas and zones of special protection.
The project will last for four years. The activities to be undertaken over that period include a new national census of elephants, monitoring of elephants, notably through aerial surveillance, legal assistance for prosecuting environmental crimes, creating a data base on poaching, and opening new posts for game wardens.
In the fight against poaching and ivory smuggling, ANAC also hopes to improve its cooperation with the recently created police unit to protect the environment and natural resources, with the customs service, with the institutions of the administration of justice and with community leaders.
With this grant, French support for Mozambique's conservation since 2005 has risen to 31.5 million euros.
Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK


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|Biosequences .. Software .. Molbio soft .. Network News .. FTP
>Hypotheses >Abstract >Contralateral central nervous control may be ... > As a result of the topological transformation of the visual stimulus in the pupillary eye, the external environmental hemispace impinges directly upon the contralateral internal organismal hemispace.< Why as a result of that. It is claimed, but not stated why some visual stimulus to the "pupillary eye" should "directly" "impinge upon" contralateral "hemispace". I see no direct result of some eye transformation to straight go contralateral. >Selective pressure leads to the development of central connections Do you know where to find more data on that? And I am not sure how to formulate it here, but if it were my branch I'd point out that pressure is connected with the magic communications systems, and that to segregate stuff, as if there was just some pressure, and that is all there is to that, might be simplifying thingies a bitsy. >The consequence is contralateral central sensorimotor control. I still do not get concerning consequences, why what is written there should lead to any crossing. It is written as if there was a good reason given, but I do not preceive that. Reads more like because stuff goes into a pupil and there is some selective pressure, therefore it crosses to the other side and is reason for conlateral sensorimotor control. I do not get why that should make the crossing. Also in my head in feel like a lot of stuff from the right eye goes to right back occipital and not left back occipital (and the other way around).


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Piers Park is home to a very beautiful view of my beloved Boston. If you haven't had a chance to visit, you should! Especially an hour or so before sunset – it's stunning!
Andrew contacted me and told me that he had scouted out a few locations, and Piers Park was the perfect place for him to propose to Nicole. We met before the proposal to talk about where would be the best location for him to pop the question. He was so excited and as we talked about the session, I could tell he had already put a lot of thought and care into the day. He planned the surprise under the premise that they had a work function to go to. Like a good fiance-to-be, Andrew encouraged Nicole to pamper herself before the function and suggested she get a manicure (good thinking!). So, how did he explain their pit-stop at Piers Park? To meet up with co-workers of course! Disclaimer, there were no co-workers there 😉
I always say how much of an honor it is to share in all the beautiful moments of my couples' wedding day … I have the same feeling with proposals! Look at how happy Nicole and Andrew are in the images below – they are glowing and oh, so in love!


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Page 1 of 5
Region 2 Supplement No. 2709.11-96-2
Effective November 13, 1996
POSTING NOTICE: Supplements are numbered consecutively by Handbook number and calendar year. Post by document name. Remove entire document and replace with this supplement. Retain this transmittal as the first page of this document. The last supplement to this Handbook was Supplement 2709.11-96-1 to 2709.11,37.
Superseded New
Document Name (Number of Pages)
2709.11,30-36 5
30.5 - Adds definitions of Casual Use, Location, and Staging Area.
31.1 - Establishes fee rates for special uses based on land values.
31.31 - Establishes a transfer fee of $50 for special use authorizations.
36.7 - Establishes direction and fee schedule for photography activities on National Forest System land.
Regional Forester
30.5 - Definitions.
Casual Use. Noncommercial activities occurring on an occasional or irregular basis that ordinarily result in negligible disturbance of National Forest system lands, or their resources or improvements, and require no reclamation or restoration.
Location. Each place on National Forest System lands used for film production purposes.
Staging Area. Each place on National Forest System lands used for parking, catering, and off-set construction associated with film production.
31.1 - Methods for Determining Fair Market Value .
1. Appraisal.
b. Direct Sales Comparison. Apply rates to all new and existing authorizations which use a percentage of land value as the basis for determining a fee and which are not covered by another statutory or regulatory fee system or schedule.
The following rates have been established according to market surveys conducted in Colorado, Wyoming and South Dakota which evaluated private sector ground rent fees as a percent of land value:
(1) Fees for non-agricultural uses - 7 percent of the appraised land value.
(2) Agricultural use fees - 5 percent of the appraised land value.
Apply agricultural use fees to the following type site codes as found in the Forest Land Use Report (FLUR):
211 through 219
221 through 223
231 through 233, except for livestock areas
Type site codes 922 through 924 may be agricultural, municipal, or industrial uses. The appropriate rate may be 5 or 7 percent depending on the type of use authorized.
The appropriate rate for fees for type site code 123, recreation residence permit, is 5 percent (sec. 33.1)
Use the 5 or 7 percent multiplied by the value of the land described in the authorization to determine the annual fee (FSM 2715). Adjust fees greater than the minimum fee annually using the Cumulative Implicit Price Deflator-Gross National Product (IPD-GNP) Index as published in the Survey of Current Business of the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis.
31.31 - Transfer Fee. Charge a $50 transfer fee when there is a change of ownership of improvements and a new authorization is issued. Do not charge a transfer fee when a processing payment will be collected or for authorizations issued for group use or Ditch Bill Easements (P.L. 99-545). Charge a transfer fee for a change of ownership of improvements for recreation residence permits.
36.7 - Still Photography, Motion Picture, and Television Production Fee Schedule.
1. Require a fee for the professional use of still photography equipment, motion picture equipment, or other videotaping equipment on National Forest System lands under the following circumstances:
a. If photographs, motion pictures, or videos of National Forest users will be made with the express purpose of selling the products to those same users.
b. If photographs, motion pictures, or videos will be made under an existing contract to sell them.
c. If photographs, motion pictures, or videos of commercial products will be made on National Forest lands for advertising purposes.
d. If the photography, motion picture, or video taking is reasonably likely to adversely affect the National Forest System lands or their resources.
2. A fee is not required under the following circumstances:
a. Casual use of photography of the National Forest.
b. Professional photography where the photographer or any assistants are not under contract or being paid a salary for assignments on the National Forest System lands.
3. Fee Schedules
a. A fee is required based on the number of people at each location and at each staging area according to the following schedules:
(1) Still Photography.
Daily Rate for
Number of People Each Location
1-3 No charge
4-10 $100
11-30 $150
31-49 $250
50-100 $300
over 100$300 (or as determined by appraisal)
(2) Motion Picture and Video Filming.
Daily Rate for Daily Rate for
Number of People Location Each Staging Area
1-10 $150 $75
11-30 $250 $125
31-60 $450 $225
61-100 $600 $300
over 100 $600 $300
(3) The number of people includes actors, models, and filming and support crew. If the number of people exceeds 100, the authorized officer may order an appraisal to determine fair market value. Absent such an appraisal, the maximum daily rental is as shown on the schedules for both still photography and for motion picture filming.
(4) Charge fees for use in excess of 20 days at 85 percent of the daily rate.
b. Additional fees are required for special conditions identified in the following schedule:
Activity Daily Fee
Traffic control (road closures, $150
detours, etc.)
Use of Congressional or agency $150
identified areas such as
Wilderness, Research Natural
Authorized surface disturbances $100
(grading, removal of rocks,
use of heavy earthmoving
equipment, or animals)
Special effects (crashes, large $100
pyrotechnics, fire scenes, etc.)
c. A bond may be required for any activity requiring surface reclamation or restoration.
d. The fee schedule will be updated annually based on the U.S. Department of Labor Consumer Price Index for all Urban consumers (CPI-U), U.S. City Average.


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by Rafat Abonour, MD
What are the complications encountered by patients diagnosed with Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia? This is the question asked by all WM patients when confronting their diagnosis. Answer: there are a number of possible complications caused either by tumor infiltration in the bone marrow and/or by an abnormal level of IgM in the blood, also referred to as abnormal macroglobulinemia.
Symptoms Attributable to Tumor Infiltration
Extensive bone marrow infiltration by the abnormal Waldenstrom cells leads to reduction in bone marrow function and, consequently, reduced production of red blood cells. Progressive anemia is in fact the most common indication for initiation of treatment. Bone destruction, however, which is common in multiple myeloma, is very uncommon in WM.
Abnormal Waldenstrom cells can also infiltrate other organs, including the lymph nodes, liver, and spleen. Lymph node infiltration may be of little consequence (except that it is esthetically disturbing), or it may result in significantly enlarged nodes that cause obstruction of the bowel, blood vessels, or airways. An enlarging spleen can reduce the capacity of the stomach, and this in turn may result in a false sense of satiety. In this case one eats less, with subsequent weight loss. Other rare forms of infiltration have been reported in the lungs, bowels, stomach, head and the orbit (eye cavity). Bing-Neel syndrome is seen when long-standing, sluggish circulation causes blood vessels to leak Waldenstrom cells into the space surrounding the vessels. Such patients will complain of headache, vertigo, impaired hearing, ataxia (uncoordinated muscle movement), nystagmus (uncoordinated eye movement), diplopia (double vision), and, eventually, will succumb to coma.
Symptoms Attributable to Circulating IgM
In general, patients with WM bleed more easily either because IgM interferes with clotting factors or because IgM has the effect of coating the platelets, consequently making them less effective.
Hyperviscosity results from the increased level of IgM in the blood stream. Because IgM is a large protein, an increased amount of monoclonal IgM leads to greater vascular resistance, higher viscosity, and slower blood flow to vital organs. Symptoms of hyperviscosity are evident in only 10% to 30% of patients with WM. The most common complaints are fatigue, bleeding from the gums and nose, and retinal bleeds which can lead to blurred vision or even loss of vision. In more advanced cases, patients may experience headache, vertigo, nystagmus, dizziness, sudden deafness, diplopia, or ataxia. Untreated advanced hyperviscosity can lead to confusion, dementia, stupor, stroke, or coma.
Symptoms of hyperviscosity usually appear when the normal serum viscosity of 1.4 to 1.8 cP (centi-Poise) reaches 4 to 6 cP (corresponding to a serum IgM level of at least 3 g/dL). There are huge variations in the threshold from an asymptomatic status to one showing the effects due to hyperviscosity. Some patients with a large amount of IgM (approaching 5-7 g/dl) remain symptom-free, while others exhibit symptoms at much lower levels.
Cryoglobulinemia, the formation of cryoglobulins in the blood, is another complication related to IgM. Cryoglobulins are serum proteins or protein complexes of IgM that undergo reversible precipitation at low temperatures. While this complication may be detected in 20% of WM patients, fewer than 5% present with symptoms from cryoglobulinema such as Raynaud syndrome (blue and painful finger tips in cold weather), joint pain, purpura (purple or red spots under the skin), skin ulcers, or kidney damage.
Finally, IgM can bind to red blood cells at cold temperatures and produce a condition called cold agglutinin disease. This happens in about 10% of WM patients and leads to chronic red blood cell destruction, resulting in various degrees of anemia.
Symptoms Attributable to Tissue Deposition of IgM
IgM deposition can occur in the kidneys presenting as excess protein leakage by the kidneys, in the intestine leading to diarrhea, and in skin seen as rash or nodules.
Symptoms Attributable to Autoantibody Activity of IgM
Although IgM is intended to be our first line of defense against bacteria and other foreign insults, in WM the serum IgM most often has no specific target. In rare cases IgM can react with the patient's own normal protein, leading to various forms of autoimmune disease. In fewer than 10% of WM patients the IgM reacts with specific red blood cell antigens at temperatures below 37°C to produce a chronic red blood cell reduction and symptoms of anemia.
Peripheral neuropathies have been reported in 15% to 30% of patients with WM. The most commonly encountered symptomatic neuropathy in WM is symmetric multiple nerve involvement; other forms include cranial nerve palsies and single nerve damage. In approximately 50% of these patients, the IgM reacts with MAG, a myelin protein forming a protective coating on the nerves. Most patients with anti-MAG antibodies present with sensory complaints of numbness, paresthesias (tingling or pin pricks), imbalance, and gait ataxia caused by defective sense of position. In some patients with WM, the protein produced can be degraded and tends to deposit in tissues. This protein is called amyloid protein. Autonomic symptoms are the hallmark of amyloid polyneuropathy and consist of postural hypotension, diarrhea, impotence, and bladder dysfunction.
Symptoms Attributable to Fatigue
While fatigue is one of the most distressing symptoms associated with cancer and cancer treatment, it is frequently underreported by patients and overlooked by health care providers.
The causes of fatigue include anemia, loss of muscle mass, defective muscle energy metabolism, and/or abnormalities in the generation or use of ATP (the body's prime phosphate energy source). Neurophysiologic skeletal-muscle changes and chronic stress response are other variables encountered. In addition, systemic inflammatory response, poor nutrition, disrupted sleep, hormonal changes (for example, premature menopause), and direct central nervous system toxicity (that is, drugs which cross the blood-brain barrier, cranial irradiation). Inactivity can induce muscular wasting; prolonged rest can lead to further loss of physical strength and endurance.
How can a WM patient counter the impact of fatigue? Exercise! Many fatigued patients have difficulty believing that exercise will improve their symptoms. But patients who exercise during or after the completion of treatment have significantly reduced fatigue and emotional distress, decreased sleep disturbance, improved functional capacity, and better quality of life.
Dr. Rafat Abonour, Associate Professor of Hematology/ Oncology, is Director of the Plasma Cells Disorders Program at Indiana University. The author of numerous articles, his clinical and research activities are focused on translational research in the areas of hematologic malignancies and bone marrow/stem cell transplantation. His work on gene transfer into hematopoietic stem cells in the setting of stem cell transplantation gained national interest when the efficient transfer of the multi-drug resistant gene-1 into autologous CD34+ cells was established.
Dr. Abonour's current efforts are disease-focused and centered on incorporating novel therapy in the management of rare plasma cell disorders such as Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia and amyloidosis. As an active member of the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group, Dr. Abonour is the chair of a study looking at rituximab in combination with chemotherapy in the treatment of Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia.
An avid runner, Dr. Abonour practices what he advocates when he urges cancer patients to combat fatigue by embracing a regular exercise program.
This article was published in the IWMF Torch, volume 14.2 (Summer 2008) pages 1,5,14.


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ReviewsReview: Clash of the TitansReviews - RSS 2.0
For thousands of years, Greek myths have served as the raw material of our dreams, inspiring not only the worlds of literature, drama and visual art, but also the language of psychoanalysis. From Homer to Harryhausen, the Greeks have provided artists with many of our most important and enduring cultural references. It's at least part of what the poet Percy Shelley meant when he remarked, "We are all Greeks." It's no surprise, then, that Greek mythology has also figured prominently in games like God of War, Rise of the Argonauts, and, most recently, Clash of the Titans.
I used to argue with folks about the bastardization of Greek myths, not only in the videogame industry, but also in the wider world of books and movies. Then a couple of my fellow editors pointed out that the invention of new contexts for myths in movies like Clash of the Titans or Disney's Hercules just continue the redaction that the Greeks themselves practiced as their own myths took shape. So while I still think Brad Pitt makes a crappy Achilles, I'm comforted that the myths are vital enough to support new meanings and backgrounds for us in the 21st century. On the other hand, I'm disappointed that it serves as the subject matter for a game as terrible as Clash of the Titans.
Based on the recent remake of the old Harry Hamlin movie, Clash of the Titans crams a lot of mythology into a single narrative, which serves as the background material for a mindless, repetitive, hack-and-slash game. The fighting isn't actually all bad; the range of combos you can get using light and heavy moves is impressive and the weapon upgrades give you a sense that you're progressing with each encounter. If you have the right attitude, smashing your way through waves of skeleton warriors or the oh-so-imaginatively-named "frog monsters" is actually a bit of a thrill.
The story sets up a truly epic journey for the player, who begins as a nobody on a crappy little island and rises to challenge the very gods themselves. It's an amazing arc with plenty of memorable highlights. Unfortunately, the story is derailed by predictable missions that spoil the momentum of your hero's journey. The moment you step up to save Princess Andromeda from the Kraken, the king gratefully accepts your offer but then sends you out on a bunch of menial errands. It's like, "Thanks for agreeing to save my daughter from being eaten by the Kraken, but before you do that we have some local problems we were hoping you could help with..." This pointless redirection is made even more ludicrous by the lengths to which the story goes to remind you that 1) Princess Andromeda is going to be eaten pretty soon and 2) defeating the Kraken is impossible.
Why I'm wasting time patrolling the streets of the town is beyond me. To be fair, the king's claims that he's as powerful as the gods seems a little thin when you consider the multitude of demons and skeletons that happen to be wandering around town, but that hardly seems more important than the big showdown. In any case, it sets a precedent for the rest of the game, which alternates between the heart-stopping thrill of catching Pegasus, and the brain-numbing tedium of catching fish from a river. Even worse, you don't actually catch the fish-you just kill everything between you and a dead fish lying on the ground. It soon becomes too apparent which missions are meant to advance the story and which are merely meant to pad out the game's length. In case you're still not entirely clear about this, the fish is a pad mission.


text: Forging Roots offers handcrafted Montana-made, Montana-inspired art. Artist Amanda Garant is a Jane-of-all-trades that works with a variety of mediums -- from natural fibers to recycled metals. Made from up-cycled, locally-salvaged materials, Forging Roots' pieces are inspired by the beauty and adventure of Montana's wild spaces. Each piece is handcrafted with deliberate care, guaranteeing a unique gift for any biker, hiker, angler, mountain-lover, or river-enthusiast. Amanda began Forging Roots in July of 2018 with the hopes of producing unique, ready-to-hang pieces that bring the beauty of Montana into people's homes. As a Montana craftswoman, she performs every step of the process, from the embroidery to the TIG welding to the woodworking. Thanks for shopping handmade and supporting local artists! May your days and years be filled with all the beauty and adventure that the world and the Treasure State have to offer.


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चयनित भाषा में उपलब्ध नहीं है x
Shopping in Brisbane City is a vibrant adventure – with more than 700 stores along the Queen Street Mall (and over 1000 across the whole CBD) it can be a challenge to know where to find what you're looking for.
QueensPlaza is the glitzy home to high-end brands and Queensland's flagship five-storey David Jones department store. On the ground floor find all the luxury brands including Burberry, Tiffany and Co., Louis Vuitton, Bvlgari, Paspaley, Salvatore Ferragamo, Dior, Saint Laurent and Chanel. On the upper level you can find high-end fashion labels, Aje, Alice McCall, Zimmerman, Sass & Bide, Viktoria & Woods and Gorman, along with Mecca Cosmetica.
Downstairs is a circular food court with quick grab-and-go style eateries alongside Kikki K, Card & Caboodle, T2, plus a range of beauty stores including Get Threaded, Hairhouse Warehouse, Laser Clinics and a Coles Express supermarket.
Wintergarden is the centre with the steel butterfly sculpture over the front. Within you'll find multiple levels and tiers with a range of local and national boutiques, including a lots of dedicated menswear stores.
Just off the mall through the many entrances you'll find Veronika Maine, Cue, Dinosaur Designs, Pigeonhole, Seed and Mecca Maxima. Deep inside the centre look for COS, Aquila, Dissh, Peter Jackson, Nine West and Sheike.
Below ground you'll find a large food court and the upper level is a number of casual restaurants, including Grill'd, and a Strike Bowling bar.
Previously Broadway on the Mall, this three level retail centre now features two major international brands, H&M and UNIQLO. Walk through the mall behind the flagship stores to Broadway on Adelaide where you'll discover a treasure trove of homewares, kitchen and bathroom accessories and stationary at Daiso. You'll also find Jan Logan's elegant jewellery and Crumpler's indestructible luggage at Broadway on Adelaide.
The biggest of Queen Street Mall's shopping centres, The Myer Centre sits at the George St end of the mall. At the very top you'll find the Event Cinemas and a games arcade, along with Lincraft, Daiso and more. Towards the bottom is a massive food court spanning two levels, a Target department store and Coles Express supermarket.
In the middle floors you'll find the flagship Myer department store and keep an eye out for women's fashion stores Just Jeans, Jacqui E, Honey Birdette, Cotton on Body, Katies, Sussan, Novo, Wittner and more; menswear stores Politix, Tarocash, Florsheim and RM Williams; and jewellers and accessory stores Angus & Coote, Prouds, Pandora, Lovisa, Strandbags and Mano.
This historic arcade is an icon along the Queen Street Mall. Within the 1923-built dwelling you'll find two levels plus a basement of small, boutique stores with lots of local Brisbane fashion and jewellery designers calling the space home.
As far as jewellery designers and stores go there are more than 20 in the arcade. On the Street Level you'll find CitiGold, Hofstays, Pandora, Robert White Jewellers, Stones Diamond Ring Specialists and Vintage Watch Co, and on the Gallery Level find Ashley Douglas, Brisbane Jewellers Workshop, Bradley Fine Jewellery, Duncan Vickers Engraver, Girls love Pearls, James Tyler Jeweller, Kimmison Jewellery, and Stephen Dibb Jewellery.
Brisbane designers calling the arcade home include Tengdahl, Irma J Smith, Maiocchi, Pia du Pradal and Darb Bridal Couture. Also look out for specialty shops The Model Shoppe, and The Tea Centre.
Another historic arcade, Tattersall's Arcade opened in 1926 and takes its name from the private membership Tattersall's Club in which it is housed. All on one level, stop into high-end stores Longchamp, Optiko, Hunt Leather, Canturi, Lannah Dunn Fine Jewellery and Robert's Menswear. Cute Italian cafe Marchetti does an excellent cannoli and coffee.
MacArthur Central is home to many utility stores and the only full-sized supermarket in the city. Woolworths can be found on the basement floor nearby a BWS bottle shop and Priceline pharmacy. On the ground and upper floors find Big W department store, on the upper floor is a food court and JB HiFi.
The mall has some big international players that have opened shop. A two-storey H&M (Queensland's only store with H&M Home too) and three-storey Uniqlo sit side-by-side with massive glass window-fronts. Opposite, a three-storey Zara houses the Spanish label's woman, man and child ranges.
A number of big Australian brands call QSM home. Towards the Edward St end of the mall you'll find fashion brands Lorna Jane, RM Williams, Cue, Seed, alongside tourist shop Australia The Gift and Optus.
Towards the George St/Casino end of the Queen Street Mall you'll find large stores for Cotton On, Myer, Rebel Sport, Jo Mercer, Lush, Valley Girl, JayJays, Forever New, Peter Alexander, Sportsgirl, The Reject Shop and Priceline.
Albert St crosses over at the middle of the Queen Street Mall. Head in the direction of Elizabeth St to find streetwear brands Hype DC, Nike, Universal Store plus JB Hi-Fi and adventure-wear shop Kathmandu.
Towards the King George Square side of Albert St drop into Rocking Horse for records and more, Perfect Potion for natural oils and scents, and Off Ya Tree for alternative clothing.
Along Edward St expect to find luxury retailers such as TAG Huer, Gucci, Hermes, Cartier and much more, plus drop into Le Bon Choix for French pastries. Adelaide St has a variety of small, boutique shops including Monster Threads, Biome, Gardams and various hairdressers. Elizabeth St is like a mini Korea-town with lots of Korean eateries plus menswear shop Scotch & Soda and streetwear store Culture Kings.
If you're planning to spend the day eating, drinking, shopping and doing Brisbane City, read our guide of awesome things to do in the CBD.
For all the romantics out there, Brisbane City is the perfect place to spend time with your special someone. Plan a date night with these great ideas.
You can find a car park in The City that's easy on the hip pocket. Just take advantage of these great parking offers ...
Spent all day Saturday binge-watching Netflix and now feel like getting out of the house? We've got your back and have sourced the restaurants and bars open in the CBD on Sunday.
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