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My cousin Tamuka sat with his knees folded in front of Mudzimumitatu and spat out the brownish liquid he had been instructed to drink. All the five elders of the village and Musafare; a close friend of Mukoma Zorodzai, congregated in the small thatched hut with the intention of finding out what had caused the sudden death. The men sat quietly and observed Mudzimumitatu cast his lots in front of Tamuka who now sat stone-faced with his head down. I was only allowed to the rite to help Sekuru mobilise, as age had begun to shake hands with his eyesight. Mudzimumitatu the n'anga, was known for his witch hunt expertise and reversing curses all over the villages. He was the one to go to if one wanted a husband, if one wanted to get rid of a husband or if one wanted someone's husband. He is the reason why I am able to narrate and fully describe what I saw, as he is the one at the helm of restoring my eyesight due to my albinism. He began to lament something in a language which was not amongst the six languages common in the village. The men all sat motionless, gawking at him.
He took a swig from the large clay pot he held in his hands, the same clay pot from which he had instructed Tamuka to drink from. Mudzimumitatu began to dance in a ritualistic style circling Tamuka, as his sidekick, Mhinduro began to clap his hands chanting, huyai, svikai, taurai repeatedly as he sat with his head between his knees. The elders joined in and began to clap and chant in unison. He would dip low and jump so high I thought he would go through the thatched roof. He would circle around Tamuka and stroked him with his staff which had tassels and fur with a golden brown hue. He took another swig and spat at Tamuka and stood behind him. Each swig was met with vigorous claps and louder chanting.
I clapped in unison, not out of awareness of what I was witnessing but out of fear of Sekuru sending me outside to run errands for the women who were in the cooking hut. I made sure I was not to make noise or any sudden movements as Sekuru would see it as a sign of disrespect of the spirits and the importance of the event at hand. The traditional healer raised his right hand, beckoning us to stop chanting and clapping. He took a few steps and knelt in front of Tamuka and held his head in his hands.
" Taura, before the turmoiled spirit of your brother undertakes its own justice. Confess my son.", he said now in shona. Sekuru slowly nodded his head, as much as he was as blind as a bat; his hearing was still very sharp. Tamuka said nothing with his eyes fixated on Mudzimumitatu, tears brimming in his eyes. He no longer looked like the tall and strong fourteen-year-old who taught me how to make herbal sunscreen for my dry patched skin. We would race each other the long distance to the Growth Point to buy a small Vaseline and on our way back, we would pick the various ingredients in the small forest near the compound. As he sat in front of us, he looked shrunken and helpless.
"Are you sure you have nothing else to confess aside from what you have told the congregation?", he continued, still holding Tamuka's head. Tamuka uttered a yes and tried to look down again, but Mudzimumitatu could not let him. He began to make a roaring sound which sounded animated but after a while sounded as real as that of the king of the jungle. It was said to be one of the three spirits that possessed him; shumba introduced himself with a roar and the host's body would have a menacing facial expression, his body rigidly standing at attention; feet apart, arms hanging and his palms in fist formation. The shumba spirit was known for being stern and interrogatory, leaving its prey on its hands and knees begging for mercy.
Legend has it if angered or deceived; the shumba spirit will ask the sabhuku to have all the elders in the village bring beer made from finger millet to sabhuku's hozi. Each morning for three consecutive days, Mudzimumitatu will sit at the door of the accused before sunrise and lament to the spirit of the dead to reveal themselves in the house of the accused. A few moons ago, in Hwedza the village east of ours, a woman who was accused of permanently disposing of her newborn children, was asked to confess why all her children died within three weeks of being born. Rumour has it, it was because she wanted constant attention and sympathy from people as her husband worked in Harare and would only come home four times a year. She would always claim she was cursed or unlucky because even after being prayed for by prophets and pastors or being to the traditional healers, all her six children died, at birth or a few weeks after. For the ones that die at birth, I once heard Mai Kwayedza, the village midwife, tell Sekuru that during birth, she would close her legs when the head was out. On the third day in this particular case, Mudzimumitatu had the village crier summon the whole village to the cemetery where they found the woman with five small skeletons carefully placed next to her as if they were asleep, holding a small rotting corpse, which she was trying to nurse.
The shumba spirit huffed and puffed around Tamuka, he asked him to stand and face the west and call Mkoma Zorodzai's name. Tamuka implemented as instructed. He was told to narrate his story again as he faced the wall. Mhinduro began to take out different objects from Mudzimumitatu's nhava. Some of the objects looked very strange, there was an object that looked like Sekuru's nhekwe but it was big and was wrapped around with snakeskin. He unwrapped it and placed a small carving of a snake and positioning it behind Tamuka. My cousin began to narrate the story of how Mukoma Zorodzai was found dead in the Bottle Store after Tamuka had taken his mbuva for that day.
It was last week Friday when Maiguru gave Tamuka Mukoma Zorodzai's mbuva to take to him at the Growth Point where he spent most of the afternoon playing njuga. It had been Mukoma Zorodzai's birthday, and to celebrate Maiguru had killed him the last hen on the compound. I remember Tamuka telling me he had been annoyed by this because he had planned to take Sekuru's cockerel and have it mate with the hen. He recounted how Maiguru instructed him to take it straight to him and not pass through our compound as he always did. She had warned him to deliver the food whilst it was still hot or else Mukoma Zorodzai would be in one of his moods when he came back. He recalled how Maiguru had a black eye and busted lip, evident of the row they had last night as every other night. He had told me he had heard muffled screams and hollow diii diii from his gota. Tamuka confessed that on his way, he had only taken a few minutes off course into the forest to look for matohwe as they were in season. He said as he was walking back to the road, he came across a herb that was a perfect remedy for man'a. The herb would be crushed, mix with water and with just a smidgen of the venom of a chivi. He had learnt all this from his father, who he shared with Mukoma Zorodzai but with different mothers. He said after picking the herb, he stuffed it in his pocket and proceeded to go to the Growth Point. He reported he did not recollect touching the food with his hands knowing how poisonous the herb was, but he remembered shaking hands with Mukoma Zorodzai.
As soon as he confessed this, sneers and hollers broke the silence. Everyone knew Zorodzai never washed his hands. That is why at every gathering, he was always given his own plate. People had made him believe it was because he was well respected amongst the men, but it was solely because of his habit of licking his fingers with every bite and never washing his hands before his meals. It was only a matter of time until his quirk caught up with him. The unfortunate part was Tamuka being inculpated of it.
Tamuka began to cry facing the wall, I wanted to go over to him and comfort him but I knew better. Mhinduro raised his right hand, commanding silence in the room. Mudzimumitatu was, at this moment, sitting on the floor with his knees folded and head down. He uttered a strange noise and within a few seconds, he was hissing. I do not want to believe what I saw, but I know what I saw. His skin began to shimmer and took a darker hue. He began thrusting his tongue in and out of his mouth like how a snake darts its tongue in and out. Mhinduro instructed all of us to cover our heads and to shield our eyes. Out of curiosity, which I now regret, I saw him lying on the floor and began to slither the way a snake does around Tamuka. His sidekick launched a dead rat which I think he had taken from his nhava and threw it towards the traditional healer. Just like a snake, he leapt and clutched the rat whilst still mid-air. I saw him swallow it whole and reposed on the floor. Mhinduro began the chant and rhythmic clap again and we all joined in. He darted his eyes at me but I quickly looked away.
" Zvakanaka mwanangu. All is well. I know my children very well and soon you shall see their true colours. I, their mother have spoken. You shall see them by their fangs, their scaled skin and their deceitful ways.", a croaky, female voice spoke. I could not see a woman but when I glanced at Mudzimumitatu, his lips were moving simultaneously. I involuntarily jounced with fear, my eyes and ears could not fathom what I was witnessing. Sekuru, turned towards me, reached for my ear and pulled it hard enough I could feel blood well up. He did not say anything to me but I clearly knew what he meant. I sat up properly and paid attention to the event at hand, slowly rubbing my ear. Mhinduro took out another small container from his nhava, this one was covered in crocodile skin with a string that appeared to have teeth attached to it. He unwrapped it and took out a small carving of a crocodile. He summoned us to start the chant again, louder and with vigour. This time around he did not instruct us to look away. Still lying on the floor, Mudzimumitatu stretched his legs and arms away from his body and slightly lifted himself off the floor. He resembled the posture of a crocodile, but his scraggy figure did not do him justice. His mhapa and shashiko were coming undone due to his action-packed ritual, I quickly looked away as his male member was beginning to show as he began to belly crawl around the room. His eyes were blinking rhythmically and with each blink, the colour of his eyes appeared to be change. Tamuka was still stood facing the wall, he had stopped crying but I could sense his fear from where I was sitting.
Mudzimumitatu let out a loud hiss which caught Sekuru off guard, almost toppling him over from the stool he sat on. I quickly helped him up and went back to my designated seat. We were ordered to be silent. Mhinduro began to sprinkle the liquid that was in the clay pot on Mudzimumitatu. He began to huff and puff, his sidekick sprinkling the liquid gyrating him. " Why do you summon me when the one before me has revealed the truth?", his voice thundered across the room. It was no longer the brittle voice that had alarmed me earlier. " Munondinyaudzirei! I am of the water, return me to the water where I belong". The elders looked at each other and then at Tamuka. He still seemed as himself and there was nothing out of the ordinary. Was it a hoax? Had Mudzimumitatu now lost his touch? They all began to mumble and grumble amongst themselves. Had they been cooped up in this small hovel for nothing? Mhinduro began to pack their belongings, Mudzimumitatu sat on the floor, leaning against the wall, perspiring and drinking from one of the clay pots filled with water. He no longer looked as menacing as before, his skinny legs were stretched out as he gulped down the water.
" Pangu ndapedza. As you have heard the spirit say. If you may guide Mhinduro to your kraal to fetch my cattle, I would very much appreciate it.", he suggested, getting up to leave. The elders scratched and shook there heads, loss for words, but afraid to say anything as they feared being cursed. " Ah varume, what is th-", Musafare was cut mid-sentence by a loud wail that came from the direction of the kitchen. All the men scrambled out of the hozi to investigate.
" Mwari wangu, Mai Pamidzai kani! Yuwi, heano mashura!", Mai Kwayedza cried as she ran towards the men. As soon as she approached them, she fainted. Behind her, Kwayedza was not far behind, terror plastered on her face. Musafare ran towards and held her before she collapsed. He interrogated her as she lay limp in his arms.
" What is it? Speak, chii chaitika?", he asked.
" Mai Pamidzai, she tur-."
" You mean Zorodzai's wife? Is it? What happened? Iwe taur-", he asked, vigorously shaking her so she could stay conscious.
" Vawira musadz-, she fell into the pot of sadza.", she reported, tears running down her face.
The elders all looked at each other, confused and getting annoyed. These women always made everything dramatic. Mai Kwayedza was still on the ground, motionless and no one attending to her.
" What are you saying? Asi wakupenga? Are you going mad?", Musafare barked at her. I stood next to Sekuru who listened attentively. Tamuka had now joined us but stood from a distance.
" Mai Pamidzai was cooking sadza a-and as she was mixing the sadza in the big pot, s-she just fell in. I think it was her, I do not know.", she began to cry, trying to free herself from Musafare's grip.
" Iwe taura, she fell into the pot? Did you help her out?"
" Y-yes, but instead of her, w-we found a snake."
At that, the elders hurried over to the kitchen, they could hear the clamour of women and children, shouting and crying. I stayed behind with Sekuru who reached over to Tamuka and held him close.
" My job here is done.", Mudzimumitatu said as he herded four cattle out of the compound, Mhinduro following not far behind him with his nhava.


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Bunches of riesling ice wine grapes.
Icewine is one of the latest-harvesting of all, and although higher average annual temperatures have affected yields in traditional production regions like Germany and Canada, new countries like China now have the opportunity to make their own varieties and cash in on a very premium product.
With one of the stars of this year's Apprentice series launching her own icewine at the Wine & Spirits Show this week, we wanted to enlighten our readers on this niche but expensive wine.
Keep scrolling to find out all about the hard-to-find serve.
Ice wine grapes are harvested in the winter, then poured directly into this press to extract the juices.
Let's start at with the basics. Ice wine (or Eiswein in German) is a type of dessert wine that can only be produced in cold climates. It is made with grapes that have been frozen while they're still on the vine. This is because the sugars in the fruit, unlike water, do not freeze, so while the grapes themselves are frozen, it's possible to concentrate their flavours when it's time to harvest. Unlike other sweet wines like Sauternes, the grapes aren't affected by noble rot, and so their characteristic refreshing sweetness balanced by high acidity. is entirely reliant on the power of the elements.
Although we know that ice wine was being made in ancient Rome, the first modern example comes from Franconia in Germany, in 1794.
While frozen, the must (which I'll use instead of grape juice given the fruit is partially frozen), is then pressed using a special machine (see video below for a run-down from Niagara College in Canada, resulting in a smaller amount of more concentrated, very sweet wine.
The whole process from harvest to press can take around six hours, and must only be done when the weather conditions are right, so it can be risky (in some years, the grapes might not freeze at all). Sometimes harvests might not happen until after the new year.
The juice is then separated from the seeds and stems before fermentation begins. It may take months to complete the fermentation because of the grapes' high sugar levels, and the wines can age for many years.
Some wineries do freeze their grapes artificially — a process called cryoextraction — although it's only permitted in countries that don't normally produce icewine and don't have regulations for its production in place.
Although in theory you can make icewine from anything, typical grapes used include Riesling, considered to be the noblest variety by German winemakers; Vidal, which is popular in Ontario, Canada; and Cabernet Franc. Some producers are experimenting with other grapes like Chenin Blanc and Merlot. Those made from white grapes are usually pale yellow or light gold in colour when they are young and deepen with age, or pink when made with red grapes.
Cabernet Franc Icewine bottles.
A combination of risk, labour-intensive winemaking and government regulations make it difficult to find a cheap icewine. In some years, the frost may not come at all before the grapes rot or are otherwise lost. In fact, German producers are making less icewine now than they were in the 90s and 80s thanks to rising annual temperatures linked to climate change. This means its production is limited to a handful of countries where temperatures consistently drop below freezing over the winter.
Freezing the grapes also creates a naturally lower yield, so there is less wine in circulation overall, making it rarer and more valuable.
As well as this some countries, such as Austria, Germany, the United States, and Canada, require that the grapes have to be frozen naturally, so cost-saving artificial processes have to be ruled out.
Inniskillin Winery in Ontario is known around the world for it's ice wine.
Canada and Germany are the world's largest producers of ice wines, and about 75% of the ice wine in Canada comes from Ontario.
But ice wine is also made in European countries where frosts can be guaranteed. Austria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Georgia, France, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania Luxembourg, Poland, Romania, Moldova, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland all have icewine-making precedents.
Japanese icewine is also a sough-after product. Japanese producers make a red ice wine each winter at the Furano Winery. Chinese wineries, meanwhile, have started making icewines of their own. In the US, you can find icewine producers in Pennsylvania, New York, and Ohio.
Fruity desserts are a great match with Reisling-based ice wines.
As it's unaffected by noble rot and fermented slowly, icewines retain many primary characteristics which set them apart from their botryatised counterparts. It is luscious, intensely flavoured, with aromas and flavours of ripe tropical fruits like lychee and pineapple when made with white grapes, although wines made with red varieties can give more concentrated strawberry flavours.
Much like Sauternes, icewine is a perfect match for strong cheeses such as Roquefort, Gorgonzola, or Parmesan. Milder cheeses aren't strong enough to stand up to the drink's lusciousness, but cheese-based desserts — cheesecake, for example — are.
Salty hours d'oeuvres like tapenade or salted nuts both enhance the fruity acidity of the wine, while balancing out the high sugar levels.
The high acidity also means you can opt for richer foods like patés. If you've tried Foie Gras with Sauternes, try swapping it out for icewine next time.
Finally, similar to Riesling, Icewines go well with spicy foods, which are often hard to match with wine. This is because of its higher sugar content. Curries and aromatic Thai dishes which are usually difficult to match would go well with an icewine with pronounced tropical flavours.
Red icewines, made with Cabernet Franc, shine when paired with richer desserts made with chocolate, which bring out their red fruit flavours.
Hi I got a few bottles of icewine for six years now and it change the color it getting dark brown now, is that normal it still ok to drink it , please let me know if it still ok. Thankyou
Dark brown occurring in wine usually indicates oxidation. Maybe the closure is allowing oxygen into the bottle.
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Glenrinnes Distillery
LVMH Vins D'exception
London, UK
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London, UK
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Petworth, UK
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Creamy and spicy tomato and capsicum soup with and coconut milk (low FODMAP, gluten free, vegan)
We don't eat much tomatoes in our house, my little boy is a picky eater and my husband utterly dislikes tomatoes. From time to time, I picked up some gorgeous tomatoes and made a dish, ate it all by myself with great contentment.
Today I roasted a batch of tomatoes and red capsicums. I roasted the vegetables and separated them into two batches. With the first batch, I made a spicy soup with coconut milk; with the second batch, I made another spicy soup with ginger, chili and tea (recipe to follow).
According to Monash University, common tomatoes do not contain FODMAPs, perfect for a hearty FODMAP dish – eat freely and according to appetite.
Recipe is as follows : Read the rest of this entry »
Pan fried pumpkin with a miso sauce (gluten free, vegan)
I found it difficult to create pumpkin dishes – pumpkin is so beautifully tasty already, I don't want to ruin its natural goodness.
Because pumpkin is so sweet, a bit of saltiness will enhance its flavor. Miso and pumpkin actually work quite well. It is also a very simple dish to prepare.
Golden coconut flan
I learned about flan when I was working as a waitress in an Asian restaurant during my university days. I have to say, my flan is so much better than that restaurant's.
Recipe is as follow: Read the rest of this entry »


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We proudly announce a release of our new series of articles and interviews about the CG industry. This way we show you background of this industry with people and companies that are essential for it. Whole series start with an interview with the Executive Director of The DAVE School and renowned 3D Artist, Steve Warner. In this interview he uncovers what makes the biggest progress in the CG industry according to him or what we can expected in the future and many others interesting information. We would like to thank again Steve for his time on this interview and for more information about DAVE School visit their website: DAVE School
Q: You are the executive director of one of the best CG school. How does one become a director of a prestigious school like DAVE school? How long you are the leading person/you stay in front of DAVE school?
A: I came to the DAVE School in late 2008 to work as the 3D Modeling instructor. About a year in, the founder of the school, Jeff Scheetz, sold the school. He stayed on for a year during the transition of ownership, and then left in October of 2010. Jeff knew that I have a strong background in both 3D and education (having authored books, written magazine articles and created training videos to help aspiring artists), so he recommended me as his replacement. Based on his recommendation, I was able to land the job. I've been in the role for about a year now. In that time, I've revamped the school's curriculum, redesigned the school's website, launched an international ad campaign to boost awareness, and established strategic alliances with studios and organizations like the Visual Effects Society.
Q: What inspires you by your work?
A: I don't really consider myself to be a fine artist – I'm a commercial artist – so my work tends to reflect the Art Director's needs more than my personal preference. That said, my background in advertising probably has the biggest influence on my work. I tend to view everything from a product presentation standpoint. That's different than many artists (especially comic or film artists) who tend to think in terms of scenes and stories. I'm constantly thinking about how the final work is being presented and what it's communicating.
Q: You have a lot of experience from the world of CG. Where do you see the biggest difference between the CG industry when you started and now?
A: That's a good question. I created my first computer animation in 1980 and my first videogame in 1981. The graphics were primitive by today's standards, so one of the largest changes I've seen is the quality of computer graphics as a whole. Another major change has been the democratization of graphics hardware and software. I distinctly remember when a high-end graphics "workstation" referred to a $250,000 machine. Now it refers to a $2,500 machine. Similarly, software like Wavefront was only available on expensive workstations. Now, you can put a full featured program like Blender on your laptop for free. The industry has changed as well. Twenty years ago, artists did almost everything "in camera." Today, everything comes out in passes and is assembled in a dedicated compositing program. And of course, the expectations have changed as well.
If I had to narrow it down to one thing, I'd say the expectations have changed the most. In 1993, the dinosaurs in Jurassic Park awed audiences around the world. It took roughly 3 years to make that film. Now, people expect that same level of quality in episodic television shows. Producers and directors and even the audience themselves are no longer dazzled by the mere presence of computer graphics. They expect it. And they expect it on shorter deadlines and lower budgets.
Q: And what is the biggest difference you see in styles and techniques of modeling and animation? In what you see the biggest progress?
A: In terms of modeling, ZBrush completely changed the industry. ZBrush's "organic" modeling capabilities changed the entire look of 3D models and it made modeling fun. ZBrush allowed traditional artists to leap into the digital environment. And it freed us from the polygonal boundaries of traditional programs like Maya, Max and LightWave.
In terms of animation, not much has changed because the fundamental principles of animation set forth by the original Disney animators haven't changed. The tools are a bit different, but the techniques for giving life to an inanimate object are largely the same.
There have been a lot of improvement lately in the area of rigging and motion capture. A site like Mixamo.com and its ability to auto-rig a character is mind blowing. I also think the Microsoft Kinect has the potential to change the way low-budget motion capture is done.
Q: Growing number of 3D movies and 3D effects also increase the demand for 3D artists. What can we expect in the closest future?
A: The demand for 3D and VFX is greater than ever. Unfortunately, the deadlines and budgets are not keeping pace with demand. And so we're seeing a lot of jobs in the U.S. go overseas. While I fully embrace the open market, outsourcing jobs to India and China does not solve the core problem – namely that of expectations. Moreover, it has spread the problem to other countries. (Those who want a better understanding of the issues can read the Visual Effects Society's open letter to the entertainment industry at http://www.visualeffectssociety.com/system/files/15/files/open-letter-vfx-industry-may-2011-final.pdf )
While the demand for 3D is increasing, the market is actually shrinking. The global economy has weakened and many long-time animation and VFX studios have closed their doors. It's harder these days to get a job as a 3D artist. That's not to say the jobs aren't out there. But the market is more competitive. Artists wanting to find work in the entertainment industry these days require more than just skills.
Q: Many of our readers want to become 3D artists. What you would recommend to them? What should they do first? (Buy many tutorials, finish school of CG, choose the right software or join many competitions)
A: I've asked countless studios what they are looking for. Without fail, they have all said the same thing: A good attitude. You're going to be working long hours. You're going to be faced with crazy deadlines. You're going to have to fight to come up with solutions to tough production problems. In an environment like that, you want to make sure that the person next to you has a positive attitude, is a good team player, and can keep their sense of humor about them. Otherwise, the workplace becomes miserable. This industry is small. If word gets out that you have a bad attitude, getting your next job is going to be tough.
Beyond attitude, you need to hone your problem solving skills. Those who are looking for a magic button to solve their production problems might as well look for a different job. I've used Maya, Max and LightWave. They each have their own strengths and weaknesses. Being a good problem solver allows you to work around the inherent problems in the software you are using. And that's what makes you a valuable employee.
Lastly, develop your critical eye. The ability to look at your own work and identify what's wrong is invaluable. Seek critiques from other artists online. Ask for honest opinions and don't get offended when someone doesn't like your work. Take that as an opportunity to make the work better. This is especially important for artists who want to work in the industry, as directors and producers change their minds on a regular basis. So divorce yourself from the personal investment in your work. Love the process. Be open to change. And constantly strive to develop a critical eye towards your own work.
Q: Working in the CG industry often means permanent education. Is additional education also necessary for such experienced artists like you? How this education looks like?
A: I've been working as a professional 3D artist for over 20 years. And yet I still feel like I'm only scratching the surface of my understanding of this field. So yes. Absolutely. Continuing education is a necessity! Twenty years ago, you could learn a single 3D package. Today, mixed pipelines are the norm. That means you have to keep up with the latest developments in a wide range of software applications, not just one. And you have to continually press yourself to develop new techniques as you work. But learning is the fun part for me (and I suspect many others).
I stay up to date the way most people do. I get the latest software releases and dive into the new features. I try to figure out where they fit into my workflow. Some tools I immediate adopt because I can see a use for them. Others I do not. On occasion, I will grab a book or video to help with the learning, but these days that's rare. I find that I understand software better if I dive in, experience problems, then work to find resolutions on my own.
Q: Do you still remember your first model? What was it and which software did you use?
A: I don't remember the first model, but the software was Aegis Modeler (written by Stuart Ferguson). Modeler was a dedicated 3D modeling application for the Amiga computer. You needed a separate application for animation and rendering. That was (typically) done in Aegis Videoscape (written by Allen Hastings).
Both Modeler and Videoscape were picked up by NewTek in the late 1980s and eventually released as LightWave 3D in the early '90s. About a decade later, Stuart and Allen (along with a large chunk of the LightWave development team) left NewTek and went on to create Modo. I've tried Modo, but still prefer Modeler (and have co-authored several books on LightWave). It's one of the fastest and easiest applications out there. The level of control you have is simply amazing.
Q: What are your next plans for the future? / What are your next steps?
A: I continue to work as a freelance 3D artist in my spare time. And on occasion, I put out tutorials. I recently did a print/web tutorial for Pixologic on how to enhance your demo reel using the power of ZBrush 4.
In terms of the school, I'm continuing to refine the existing curriculum and develop new programs to better meet the needs of the 3D/VFX industry. I am dead set on building one of the most highly regarded visual effects schools in the world, so almost all of my time and energy is spent pursuing that goal. I have a grand vision of the future. It's going to be amazing!
Tags: Steve Warner, Executive Director of The DAVE School, 3d rendering software, 3d animation software, online tutorials, 3D education, autodesk university, design school, 3ds max modeling tutorial, interview


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Intel has reached an agreement to produce chips for a small start-up company, marking the first such venture in the company's long history as a silicon fabricator.
The deal sees the chip giant making silicon for tiny start-up Achronix Semiconductor Corporation, which is specialising in high-performance field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) for 100G and 400G Ethernet networking, along with LTE mobile communications - and are designed to work alongside central processors from the likes of Intel, rather than the competition.
It's likely this particular aspect of the company's creations that has lead Intel to open its doors to its ultra-modern manufacturing facilities for the first time ever, offering Achronix the chance to churn out chips based on a 22nm process size - significantly smaller than is offered by specialist foundries such as TSMC.
This reduction in process size will give the company a significant lead over its rivals in the industry, meaning that Achronix chips will be likely faster, lower powered, and run cooler than those from established rivals such as Altera - at least, until the 22nm process becomes mainstream.
The production will start with the company's Speedster22i FPGA family, which Intel will produce in its high-end fabrication facilities - an honour normally reserved for the company's own chips.
John Holt, chief executive at Achronix, claims: "Intel has the best process technology in the world and we are privileged to have formed this strategic relationship, which enables simultaneous improvements in speed, power, density and cost," and looking at the specifications he might be on to something."
According to Achronix, the move to a 22nm process size - significantly ahead of anyone else in the FPGA market - means that the company's products will offer 300 per cent higher performance, a 50 per cent decrease in power draw, and come in at a 40 per cent discount compared to competing technologies.
So far neither Achronix nor Intel have said when the first Speedster22i chips will be rolling off the production lines.


text:
Get the Ultimate EMS Muscle Trainer Here >>
When should replace it?
1. Obviously when you feel the conduction performance decreased.
2. When it loses its adhesiveness, the adhesive surface(gel) dries out or is gouged or dirt/grime that cannot be removed.
How long can the gel sheets last?
About 30 times, if you use and maintain them it the right way.
How to maintain them in a right way?
Clean/dry your skin before using; Stick them back to the cardboard after using.
Package included:
- 2X EMS Replacement Pads
Call us 1-888-824-5146


text:
Growing population and mismanagement of water resources made water scarcity problem. Today water scarcity problem is seen everywhere. In many places, people are finding difficulty in finding pure drinking water. There are many Private Water Supply in Chennai who supply pure drinking water. The little effect from us today makes a good change tomorrow. Here are some tips the little effect we make today to save water for tomorrow.
Turn off faucets: Don't let the water run uselessly as wash dish, face or hand. Turn off the tap whenever during brushing the teeth shaving. Another way is to fill water in a mug and use them for washing the teeth or shave saves water.
Bucket bath and low flush: Avoiding shower and takin bucket bath will save 80 % of water. Today we can find low flow shower head and low flush toilet using this we can save 40% of water.
Reuse water: Water that is used to rinse vegetables and fruits can be deposited and used in the garden. Learning to reuse the water is necessary to step to save water, by this method we can save every drop of water.
Dishwasher: Dishwasher can save a great deal of water than washing the utensils in hand. Using the dishwasher when it is fully loaded is advisable.
Washing machine: While washing the clothes in the washing machine make sure it is fully loaded. The usage of a washing machine when it's fully loaded will save both water and electricity. The washing machine can be found us front load and top load. Uses of a front load washing machine are appreciated because it uses less water compared to the top load.
Water by hand: Hand watering use 33% of water less than the automatic irrigation system.
Collect rainwater: Rainwater is free water that is collected easily by construction rainwater harvest in the house. Using rainwater harvest rainwater can be saved and can be used during the summer season.
Use Tanker Lorry Water Suppliers in Chennai to get drinking water to follow the above steps to save water for the future generation.


text:
Serie A Match Preview: Genoa vs. Torino
Match Date: 30 November 2013 (local)
Match Venue: Comunale Luigi Ferraris
The past four matches of Genoa have been very agreeable for the side. While their most recent combat only resulted in a draw 1-1 with Milan, three matches before that were staggering clean sheets. These sufficed the team's need for a robust reaping in the new season, especially after they kickstarted their campaign in dismaying results.
To battle in the relegation is no longer a dilemma for Genoa (at least for now and in the coming weeks), having been able to bag 18 points in 13 matches. Gian Piero Gasperini's players have soared into the top seven, the side's best position this season so far.
After eight consecutive weeks of zero wins, Torino have finally breathed life into the Italian top-tier league after thrashing Catania and bagging their third victory 4-1 this season. This enabled the squad to improve slightly in the rankings, from number 14 last week to number 12 this week. There are good signs coming for Giampiero Ventura's lads.
Despite the massive win in their most recent battle, Torino are still not spared from major disasters. Their inconsistency is witness to their fluctuating run—a mixture plights and successes—in the season. They may be excellent at counter attacks but they are also frail at defending set pieces.
Online betting tip: Based on overall form and degree of reliability, Genoa have the upper hand over Torino. In addition, the sides' past five meetings have also favored (mostly) the home side, winning three of those and drawing the remaining. Wagering between 1.89 and 2.04 for Genoa could open up opportunity for substantial earnings.
Genoa | Image source: zimbio.com


text:
LCNB, Waynesville Police Department, and Wayne Local Schools are sponsoring a Shred Day along with Prescription Drug Take Back Day. The event will be April 27th from 10 am-2pm and will be held in the parking lot in front of the Middle School Building.
Prescription Drug Take-Back Day is a safe, convenient, and responsible way to dispose of unused or expired prescription drugs. IF you cant make this event remember there are two locations in Waynesville you can dispose of your expired or unused prescription drugs. You can drop of items at either The Waynesville Police Department or the Waynesville Pharmacy during normal business hours.
Guidelines for Proper Disposal of Unused Medications
Shredding your own sensitive information, keeping confidential information secure is essential. Holding on to documents you no longer need which aren't kept in a secure area can pose a threat to your identity and can cause a data breach. Items such as tax returns (3 years or older) Photo IDs, Bank statements, Voided checks, Employee pay stubs, Credit card information, Copies of sales receipts, Documents containing sensitive information such as name, address, phone number or email.


text:
Federal Criminal Law | Serving New York, NY
New York Criminal Law Firm
New York Criminal Law Firm
Miedel & Mysliwiec LLP is unique in its approach to individual and corporate representation. Unlike bigger firms, we spend time getting to know our clients and ensuring that they understand every aspect of their case.
We also believe that clients are a critical part of the defense team and we include them in all phases of representation. Because each client comes to us with different needs and concerns, we work collaboratively to determine their individual goals and pursue those objectives vigorously. Whether clients seek to resolve their legal issues quickly through a negotiated disposition or defend the charges against them through aggressive litigation, we have the knowledge, experience and skill to secure the best case outcomes possible.
We recognize that our clients frequently have not just one, but a whole host of complex legal and nonlegal needs. At Miedel & Mysliwiec LLP, we identify those needs and work tirelessly to address them. Because we are a boutique firm, we have the ability to offer cost-effective, flexible representation that adjusts to each client's unique requirements.
Contact us today if you need legal assistance with any of the following:
Call Miedel & Mysliwiec LLP today at 212-616-3042 to arrange your initial consultation.


text:
NEW DELHI, March 7 (Xinhua) -- The armies of India and Oman are carrying out joint military exercises to acquaint themselves with each other's operating procedures to strengthen counter insurgency and counter terrorism capabilities, officials said Tuesday.
The two armies began the joint training in northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh on Monday.
"A fourteen days joint training exercise of the Indian Army and the Royal Army of Oman exercise AL NAGAH-II commenced on Monday in Himachal Pradesh," an Indian military spokesman said. "The training contingents are comprised of platoon strength troops from both the armies."
A platoon consists of around 40 to 50 soldiers.
Officials said the aim of the joint exercise is to enhance existing military relationship.
"The aim of the Joint Exercise is to acquaint both forces with each other's operating procedures in the backdrop of counter insurgency, counter terrorism environment, " the spokesman said.
"The exercise will also enhance the interoperability between both the armies in conducting joint operations and cement bonds of friendship between the two countries."
According to officials senior military observers from both countries will be witnessing the validation phase of the exercise.
The last joint exercise between the two armies was held at Muscat in Oman in 2015.


text:
capcvet.org Companion Animal Parasite Council. Resource for all things parasite: General information on parasites, parasite prevention recommendations, parasite prevalence maps.
dogsandticks.com Resource for tick information.
heartwormsociety.org Information for owners about heartworms: basics, life cycle, maps, videos.
cdc.org Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC is focused on human health and there is a lot of great information here. Some of it also applies to our pets.
APHIS pet travel website The USDA's page with information about interstate and international travel with your pets.
catvets.com There is a lot of information here for cat owners, including behavior and care tips, feline house soiling, declawing alternatives, environmental needs, vaccinations, and more.
felinediabetes.com Resources for owners of diabetic cats. Catinfo has some great information on cat diets in this chart if you are looking for very low carb diets for your diabetic.
dogdecoder.com An app about decoding dog behavior.
7 things all dogs need This is from the behaviorist Dr. Sophia Yin's blog. Lots of good points here.
haveyouseenyourcatlately? Good cat resources, including information on health and wellness and common feline illnesses.
painfreecats.org A large percentage of cats develop arthritis by their older years. We often don't recognize the signs because cats can be so good at hiding pain. This website provides information.
What is my pet's quality of life? This can be such a difficult thing to objectify for older pets that are struggling with things such as vision loss, loss of mobility, or other changes associated with aging. Lap of love provides some helpful information, charts and daily diaries to score and keep track of quality of life. Pawspice also provides quality of life measuring charts available to download. And here is a quality of life scale adapted from Alice Villalobos, DVM.
icatcare International Cat Care has lots of general health and behavior information about cats.
ASPCA Poison Control Center: Contact information for the poison control center and information regarding toxins that pets might be exposed to.
Tufts HeartSmart website is dedicated to helping improve the health of pets with heart disease. There is information on diet, disease management, symptoms, at-home monitoring and more.
Tufts Veterinary Nutrition is an excellent resource for all sorts of nutrition topics.
WSAVA Global Nutrition Committee Nutrition Toolkit is another great nutrition resource.
Did you know over half of cats and dogs in the US are overweight or obese? See the pet obesity prevention site for facts, tools, and tips.
Banfield has compiled a report from millions of pets in the US regarding the overall health of pets.
Information on kidney disease: IRIS Kidney, and specifically for cats, see Cornell's page on feline kidney disease and felinecrf.com.
Is your cat urinating inside? Here is some information from icatcare.
FLUTD (Feline lower urinary tract disease) information from icatcare and Cornell's page.
Do you have a fat cat? You are not alone. Here is some information from icatcare.
Indoorpet Indoor cat initiative is a great place to find information on enriching your cat's invironment.
Information on giving subcutaneous fluids to a cat from icatcare.
How to introduce a new kittne to a resident cat from icatcare.
Know of any other good resources? Send them my way!


text:
|hargrett library :: manuscripts and photographs :: manuscripts finding aids :: search results :: item display
Descriptive Summary
|Hargrett Library
|Martin, Lena Emerson, d. 1966
|Lena Martin letters
|1.0 folder(s)
|Coll. Number:
Lena Emerson Martin, a native of Coweta County, Georgia, taught chemistry at the Lucy Cobb Institute and Georgia State College for Women. At the start of World War II, she went to work as a chemist for the Davidson Chemical Company in Baltimore in its explosives division. After the war she worked as a chemist with the U. S. Rubber Company in Hogansville, Georgia.
The collection consists of letters written to Lena Martin dated 1918, and 1942-1945. Letters are mainly from Dr. Edward Dawson (referred to also by his nickname of "Dr. Dorsey") and Leo Lucker, and regard packages, family matters, and current events. The collection also includes a copy of a letter dated 1865, a photograph of Battalion Staff, an issue of Current Events dated 1915, and a funeral announcement of William II dated 1918.
Lena Martin letters, ms2253, Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, The University of Georgia Libraries.


text:
3D Printed Cortex Cast is Custom Made for Patient
A media student from New Zealand has designed a 3D printed an exoskeletal cast that could eventually replace traditional casts made from plaster or fiberglass.
Jake Evill, a media design graduate from Victoria University in New Zealand, worked with the orthopaedic department of his university to use 3D printing to create a cast which overcomes the limitations of traditional casts. They came up with the Cortex which is lightweight, washable, breathable and can be worn underneath sleeves.
Traditional casts are bulky, annoying to wear, become itchy as the arm can't be washed, heavy and cumbersome, and difficult to remove once the fracture has healed. The Cortex is better in every respect, bar one. It takes longer to produce as the patients arm has to be 3D scanned and then the custom exoskeleton has to be 3D printed.
"At the moment, 3D printing of the cast takes around three hours whereas a plaster cast is three to nine minutes, but requires 24-72 hours to be fully set," says Jake Evill.
Before printing special computer software calculates the optimum lattice structure that fits the patient, with denser support around the patient's fractured bone. After the Cortex is printed in nylon material it is ready to be worn, and has one side open for access with built-in clip fasteners that keep it in position around the fractured limb.


text:
Improve safety, reduce production delays, increase efficiency
Confined space, uneven surfaces and time-pressured production processes mean that oil and gas equipment manufacturers face particular challenges when moving large components safely and efficiently. We're here to help, thanks to solutions that work in the most challenging of production environments, reducing the risk of accidents and improving manoeuvrability in difficult spaces.
The world's leading oil and gas equipment manufacturers trust us to move loads from 500 kg up to 200,000 kg, with machines that can be bespoke to fit the customers' needs.
Our pedestrian-operated tugs and tows lessen or eliminate the need for overhead cranes and forklift trucks, offering all-round visibility and cutting the frustrating downtime that's a common experience when waiting for a trained and licensed forklift operator.
We're helping customers in Oil & Gas move:
To arrange a consultation with one of our oil and gas specialists, call us on +44 (0)1335 301030 or submit your enquiry.


text:
The University wordmark and school wordmarks are printed in a custom-mixed ochre ink that has no corresponding Pantone color because of the custom blend. This color will be referred to as Pepperdine ochre. All other text is printed in blue ink, Pantone 2945.
Title Line
The title line is centered below the masthead, and all type is capitalized. The title line may be used for the name of a program, institute, or center, or it may be used to denote a specific office, such as OFFICE OF THE DEAN. No personal names may be used.
Contact Information Line
The contact information line is limited to one line of text only. The address should be included in the footer at the bottom of the page with the state spelled out as "California" rather than abbreviated. The University ZIP code or a ZIP+4 code may be used. Telephone numbers should be listed with a hyphen separating the area code and the main number without the word "Telephone:" preceding. Fax numbers may be denoted by printing "Fax:" before the number. The word "Fax" should have an initial capital followed by
lowercase letters and should not be printed in all uppercase letters as "FAX." No E-mail or web addresses may be included in the contact information.
Standard margins (1.25 inches left and right, 2.5 inches top, and 1.25 inches bottom) must be maintained, regardless of output device.


text:
Opened 13 years ago
Last modified 8 years ago
#600 closed defect (Fixed)
circuitlist.c:1165 crashing bug
|Reported by:
|Owned by:
|Core Tor/Tor
|shamrock, nickm
|Actual Points:
|Parent ID:
The Tonga tor server crashed with:
Feb 04 10:20:36.880 [err] Bug: circuitlist.c:1165: assert_circuit_ok: Assertion !c->onionskin failed; aborting.
Debian Etch
[Automatically added by flyspray2trac: Operating System: Other]
Child Tickets
Change History (10)
comment:1 Changed 13 years ago by
Stack Trace
Core was generated by `/usr/sbin/tor'.
Program terminated with signal 6, Aborted.
#0 0x00002b6d59ec107b in raise () from /lib/libc.so.6
(gdb) backtrace
#0 0x00002b6d59ec107b in raise () from /lib/libc.so.6
#1 0x00002b6d59ec284e in abort () from /lib/libc.so.6
#2 0x0000000000411ecd in assert_circuit_ok (c=0x2aaaec25da30) at circuitlist.c:1128
#3 0x00000000004130ee in _circuit_mark_for_close (circ=0x6d87, reason=28039, line=6,
file=0xffffffffffffffff <Address 0xffffffffffffffff out of bounds>) at circuitlist.c:948
#4 0x0000000000416fed in command_process_cell (cell=0x7fff51522950, conn=0x2aaac31072d0) at command.c:430
#5 0x000000000042f7dd in connection_or_process_inbuf (conn=0x2aaac31072d0) at connection_or.c:989
#6 0x0000000000426b72 in connection_handle_read (conn=0x2aaac31072d0) at connection.c:1837
#7 0x0000000000456440 in conn_read_callback (fd=<value optimized out>, event=<value optimized out>,
_conn=<value optimized out>) at main.c:456
#8 0x00002b6d597b80e2 in event_base_loop () from /usr/lib/libevent-1.1a.so.1
#9 0x000000000045605c in do_main_loop () at main.c:1423
#10 0x00000000004561e9 in tor_main (argc=<value optimized out>, argv=0x7fff51522fe8) at main.c:1973
#11 0x00002b6d59eae4ca in libc_start_main () from /lib/libc.so.6
#12 0x00000000004068ba in _start () at ../sysdeps/x86_64/elf/start.S:113
(gdb) print c
No symbol "c" in current context.
comment:2 Changed 13 years ago by
Lucky confirms that this is a relatively stock 0.2.0.18-alpha:
15:34 < Lucky> Tor version 0.2.0.18-alpha (r13293) (standard build from
weasel's repository
comment:3 Changed 13 years ago by
From Lucky:
(gdb) print *c
$2 = {magic = 2561392719, n_conn_cells = {head = 0x0, tail = 0x0, n = 0}, n_conn = 0x0,
n_conn_id_digest = "Á\017°8ÂnH\a,Ô°h\031mÔà\212DÅx", n_circ_id = 0, n_port = 9001, n_addr = 1408974652,
streams_blocked_on_n_conn = 0, streams_blocked_on_p_conn = 0, state = 3 '\003', purpose = 1 '\001',
package_window = 1000, deliver_window = 1000,
onionskin = 0x2aaad6e0fb40 "CilyR).D\232[À](³é+2\234ëhXúª\211
_}72¾\177¨þ¸1\231W\213\r\206\tµ\2004#\nîb\tBV]éJNP\017P\224ZÛ\023fË\233ý\226á¦Xs\002\200|íL \210ùAçL\têAð\216÷ZÉy\221EC", timestamp_created = 1202116777,
timestamp_dirty = 0, marked_for_close = 0, marked_for_close_file = 0x0, next_active_on_n_conn = 0x0,
prev_active_on_n_conn = 0x0, next = 0x2aaad3981d90}
comment:4 Changed 13 years ago by
Initial analysis:
The assert is coming from inside the circuit_mark_for_close in command_process_destroy_cell().
This is an OR circuit (magic 0x98ABC04F, purpose 1). It's complaining that the circuit's state is open (3), but
its onionskin is still set.
I can confirm that the only places in the code that sets circ->state to 3 are all in circuitbuild.c:
circuit_n_conn_done(), circuit_send_next_onion_skin(), and onionskin_answer().
circuit_send_next_onion_skin() is out, since that can only get called on origin_circuit_t.
comment:5 Changed 13 years ago by
circuit_n_conn_done() always frees the onionskin before it answers sets the state. It looks like this circuit
didn't get circuit_n_conn_done() called on it.
comment:6 Changed 13 years ago by
Added/refactored code in r13394 to try to either track this down or make it go away.
comment:7 Changed 13 years ago by
Lucky, has this shown up again since r13394?
comment:8 Changed 13 years ago by
I have not seen this issue since the upgrade. Feel free to close as Verified Fixed.
comment:9 Changed 13 years ago by
flyspray2trac: bug closed.
Seems to be fixed
comment:10 Changed 8 years ago by
|Tor Relay → Tor


text:
Introduction: Confronting Distinguished Bigots
I am not a Roman Catholic, and I did not write this book in defense of the Church. I wrote it in defense of history.
While growing up as an American Protestant with intellectual pretensions, I always wondered why Catholics made such a fuss over Columbus Day. Didn't they see the irony in the fact that although Columbus was a Catholic, his voyage of discovery was accomplished against unyielding opposition from Roman Catholic prelates who cited biblical proof that the earth was flat and that any attempt to reach Asia by sailing West would result in the ships falling off the edge of the world?
Everybody knew that about the Catholics and Columbus. We not only learned it in school, the story of Columbus proving the world to be round also was told in movies, Broadway plays,[1] and even in popular songs.[2] Yet, there they were every October 12: throngs of Knights of Columbus members accompanied by priests, marching in celebration of the arrival of the "Great Navigator" in the New World. How absurd.
And how astonishing to discover many years later that the whole story about why Catholic advisors opposed Columbus was a lie.[3]
By the fifteenth century (and for many centuries before) every educated European, including Roman Catholic prelates, knew the earth was round. The opposition Columbus encountered was not about the shape of the earth, but about the fact that he was wildly wrong about the circumference of the globe. He estimated it was about 2,800 miles from the Canary Islands to Japan. In reality it is about 14,000 miles. His clerical opponents knew about how far it really was and opposed his voyage on grounds that Columbus and his men would all die at sea. Had the Western Hemisphere not been there, and no one knew it existed, the Niña, Pinta, and Santa Maria might as well have fallen off the earth, for everyone aboard would have died of thirst and starvation.
Amazingly enough, there was no hint about Columbus having to prove that the earth was round in his own journal or in his son's book, History of the Admiral. The story was unknown until more than three hundred years later when it appeared in a biography of Columbus published in 1828. The author, Washington Irving (1783–1859), best known for his fiction — in The Legend of Sleepy Hollow he introduced the Headless Horseman.[4] Although the tale about Columbus and the flat earth was equally fictional, Irving presented it as fact. Almost at once the story was eagerly embraced by historians who were so certain of the wickedness and stupidity of the Roman Catholic Church that they felt no need to seek any additional confirmation, although some of them must have realized that the story had appeared out of nowhere. Anyway, that's how the tradition that Columbus proved the world was round got into all the textbooks.
By Washington Irving's day, this was a well-worn pattern, as many vicious distortions and lies had entered the historical canon with the seal of distinguished scholarly approval, so long as they reflected badly on the Catholic Church (keep in mind that Catholics were refused admission to Oxford and Cambridge until 1871, and some American colleges did not admit them in those days either). Unfortunately, unlike the Columbus story, many of these equally spurious anti-Catholic accusations remain an accepted part of the Western historical heritage. Indeed, a survey of Austrian and German textbooks conducted in 2009 found that the falsehood about Columbus and the flat earth was still being taught in those nations![5]
It all began with the European wars stemming from the Reformation that pitted Protestants versus Catholics and took millions of lives, during which Spain emerged as the major Catholic power. In response, Britain and Holland fostered intense propaganda campaigns that depicted the Spanish as bloodthirsty and fanatical barbarians. The distinguished medieval historian Jeffrey Burton Russell explained, "Innumerable books and pamphlets poured from northern presses accusing the Spanish Empire of inhuman depravity and horrible atrocities. . . . Spain was cast as a place of darkness, ignorance, and evil."[6] Informed modern scholars not only reject this malicious image, they even have given it a name: the "Black Legend."[7] Nevertheless, this impression of Spain and of Spanish Catholics remains very much alive in our culture — mere mention of the "Spanish Inquisition" evokes disgust and outrage.
But it wasn't only angry Protestants who invented and embraced these tales. Many of the falsehoods considered in subsequent chapters were sponsored by antireligious writers, especially during the so-called Enlightenment, whose work was condoned only because it was seen as anti-Catholic rather than as what it truly was — although more recently such scholars have paraded their irreligion as well as their contempt for Catholicism.[8] In his day, however, Edward Gibbon (1737–94) would surely have been in deep trouble had the bitterly antireligious views he expressed in The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire not been incorrectly seen as applying only to Roman Catholicism. But, because in the days of the Roman Empire Catholicism was the only Christian church, Gibbon's readers assumed his attacks were specific to Catholicism and not aimed at religion in general.
Although Gibbon was one of the very first "distinguished bigots," he is in excellent company — the list of celebrated, anti-Catholic scholars (some of them still living) is long indeed. We will meet scores of them in subsequent chapters, some of them many times. Worse yet, in recent years some of the most malignant contributions to anti-Catholic history have been made by alienated Catholics, many of whom are seminary dropouts, former priests, or ex-nuns, such as John Cornwell, James Carroll, and Karen Armstrong. Normally, attacks originating with defectors from a particular group are treated with some circumspection. But, attacks on the Church made by "lapsed" Catholics are widely regarded as thereby of special reliability!
In any event, should you doubt that your knowledge of Western history is distorted by the work of these distinguished bigots, consider whether you believe any of the following statements:
▶ The Catholic Church motivated and actively participated in nearly two millennia of anti-Semitic violence, justifying it on grounds that the Jews were responsible for the Crucifixion, until the Vatican II Council was shamed into retracting that doctrine in 1965. But, the Church still has not made amends for the fact that Pope Pius XII is rightfully known as "Hitler's Pope."
▶ Only recently have we become aware of remarkably enlightened Christian gospels, long ago suppressed by narrow-minded Catholic prelates.
▶ Once in power as the official church of Rome, Christians quickly and brutally persecutedpaganism out of existence.
▶ The fall of Rome and the ascendancy of the Church precipitated Europe's decline into a millennium of ignorance and backwardness. These Dark Ages lasted until the Renaissance/Enlightenment, when secular scholars burst through the centuries of Catholic barriers against reason.
▶ Initiated by the pope, the Crusades were but the first bloody chapter in the history of unprovoked and brutal European colonialism.
▶ The Spanish Inquisition tortured and murdered huge numbers of innocent people for "imaginary" crimes, such as witchcraft and blasphemy.
▶ The Catholic Church feared and persecuted scientists, as the case of Galileo makes clear. Therefore, the Scientific "Revolution" occurred mainly in Protestant societies because only there could the Catholic Church not suppress independent thought.
▶ Being entirely comfortable with slavery, the Catholic Church did nothing to oppose its introduction in the New World nor to make it more humane.
▶ Until very recently, the Catholic view of the ideal state was summed up in the phrase, "The divine right of kings." Consequently, the Church has bitterly resisted all efforts to establish more liberal governments, eagerly supporting dictators.
▶ It was the Protestant Reformation that broke the repressive Catholic grip on progress and ushered in capitalism, religious freedom, and the modern world.
Each of these statements is part of the common culture, widely accepted and frequently repeated. But, each is false and many are the exact opposite of the truth! A chapter will be devoted to summarizing recent repetitions of each of these statements and to demonstrating that each is most certainly false.
It seems pertinent to point out that I did not set out to write this book from scratch. Rather, in the course of writing several other books on medieval history[9] as well as on early Christianity,[10] I kept encountering serious distortions rooted in obvious anti-Catholicism — the authors often explicitly expressed their hatred of the Church. Having written asides in these earlier books on many of the examples listed above, I finally decided that the issue of distinguished anti-Catholic history is too important and its consequences too pervasive to be left to these scattered refutations. So I gathered, revised, and substantially extended my previous discussions while adding new ones. In doing so, I have not attempted to "whitewash" Church history. In these same earlier books, I wrote at some length on such matters as corrupt clergy, brutal attacks on "heretics," and on more recent misdeeds and shortcomings of the Church, such as covering up for pedophile priests and the misguided advocacy of liberation theology. But no matter how much importance one places on these negative aspects of Church history, it does not justify the extreme exaggerations, false accusations, and patent frauds addressed in the chapters that follow. Faced with this enormous literature of lies, I have heeded the words of Columbia University's Garrett Mattingly (1900–62), "Nor does it matter at all to the dead whether they receive justice at the hands of succeeding generations. But to the living, to do justice, however belatedly, should matter."[11]
You may be wondering, if these are notorious falsehoods, why do they persist? In part because they are so mutually reinforcing and deeply embedded in our common culture that it seems impossible for them not to be true. One easily assumes that in our "enlightened" times, surely these claims would have been rejected long ago if they were false. I confess that when I first encountered the claim that not only did the Spanish Inquisition spill very little blood but that it mainly was a major force in support of moderation and justice, I dismissed it as another exercise in outlandish, attention-seeking revisionism. Upon further investigation, I was stunned to discover that in fact, among other things, it was the Inquisition that prevented the murderous witchcraft craze, which flourished in most of Europe during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, from spreading to Spain and Italy. Instead of burning witches, the inquisitors sent a few people to be hanged because they had burned witches.
Be assured that you will not be asked to take my word on these refutations. Sometimes I have done basic research needed to overturn one of these spurious anti-Catholic claims, and in those cases I document my findings so fully that anyone can check them. But, in most instances, I am simply reporting the prevailing view among qualified experts. Unfortunately, even though they often grumble because a particular anti-Catholic fabrication lives on, most of these experts continue to write only for one another and do not undertake to share their knowledge with the general reading public — the Columbus myth remained in the textbooks and popular culture for decades after scholars had traced it back to its fraudulent origins.[12] I have undertaken to make the work of these fine scholars widely available, taking care to cite and fully acknowledge their work — short biographies of major contributors will be presented in each chapter.
Finally, I am not a Roman Catholic, and I did not write this book in defense of the Church. I wrote it in defense of history.
Rodney Stark. "Introduction: Confronting Distinguished Bigots." Bearing False Witness: Debunking Centuries of Anti-Catholic History (West Conshohocken, PA: Templeton Press, 2016): 5-7.
Reprinted with permission of Templeton Press and Rodney Stark.
The Author
Rodney Stark is a leading authority on the sociology of religion. For many years, the Pulitzer Prize nominee was professor of sociology and professor of comparative religion at the University of Washington. In 2004 he became Distinguished Professor of the Social Sciences and co-director of the Institute for Studies of Religion at Baylor University. He is the founding editor of the Interdisciplinary Journal of Research on Religion. Stark has authored more than 150 scholarly articles and 32 books in 17 different languages, including several widely used sociology textbooks and a number of best-selling titles. Among his books are: Bearing False Witness: Debunking Centuries of Anti-Catholic History, The Rise of Christianity: How the Obscure Marginal Jesus Movement Became the Dominant Religious Force in the Western World in a Few Centuries, How the West Won, The Victory of Reason, The Triumph of Faith: Why the World is More Religious Than Ever, God's Battalions: The Case for the Crusades, and The Victory of Reason: How Christianity Led to Freedom, Capitalism, and Western Success.Copyright © 2016 Templeton Press
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The Basic AT SET (AT Soap, Lotion, Gel)
Set includes:
- 1 AT SOAP 24: 320ml
- 1 AT LOTION 24:100ml
- 1 AT GEL 24: 110g
This is our most popular basic set that adds loads of moisture to the skin, and at the same time it soothes irritated skin and helps eczema calm down immediately.
This 3 step programme gives the skin so much water it looks refreshed and plumped up like babies' skin. All products can be used on eyes. There is no need for eye cream or toner in our system. How good is that??


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Easy Slow Cooker BBQ Ribs
Do you have any foods or meals that are on your bucket list? By bucket list I mean that list of 'it would be nice to try and make some day when I have more time, energy and kind of know what I am doing?'. Well ribs has been one of my 'bucket list' meals. My husband loves them and the boys have always enjoyed them when we have eaten out together. As a #mumofboys I thought it high time that I had a crack at making them. Oh the slow cooker. Seriously one of my life savors in the kitchen. In fact I have even written blogs about just why I love them so much before! There is the misconception that you always need to have liquid in with meat in the slow cooker but here the ribs cook in their own juice! Simple, sugar-free (or at least low sugar) and ribs do not often seem to feature much. In particular I really did not want to add sugar to the rub or use a sauce laden with refined sugar. So I created a bit of my own recipe using spices I like (these can be easily adjusted) and a really healthy barbecue sauce from Get Real Foods. This company is amazing and make healthy sauces from vegetables, free of refined sugar. I highly recommend checking them out.
2 x large rib racks (this feed four comfortably)
Barbecue sauce (Get Real Foods)
3 Tb paprika
2 Tb Chinese five spice
2 Tb chili powder
1 Tb crushed peppercorns
Olive oil
5 Whole Star AniseDirections 1. Prepare the rub for the ribs. This can be so easily adjusted to suit your preferences. All my boys (big and small) are used to a lot of flavour and really like it so if you are unsure just drop the spices down a bit - try 1-2 tablespoons of paprika, 1 tablespoon of Chinese five spice with some salt will add good flavour. 2. Cover the ribs well with the rub - use your whole hands to gently massage it into the meat (keep watch for my vlog on this). 3. Using a brush gently cover the ribs with the barbecue sauce. 4. Spray or bush a little bit of olive oil in the base of the slow cooker (just to stop it sticking). Place in the ribs and pop in about 5 star anise. Cook on low for approximately five hours (depending of how many ribs in there). 5. That's it! You can also quickly put another layer of sauce on top and place in the oven at 200 degrees on the top rack to give the ribs a bit of a shine....but to be honest I skip this as two hungry toddlers never allow for it!! The meat literally falls off the bone and goes nicely with a coleslaw. Just quietly I did get called a domestic goddess and the 'best mummy ever' after making this so I am totally going to claim both of those! P.S You can check out the video of these recipe over on my You Tube channel plus for more ideas, I have two slow cooker recipes in Healthy Easy Dinners for Busy Mums xxx Dr Julie Bhosale


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- Diane Cooper, RN, M.Ed. GNP
"Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things"
Youth Caregivers provide assistance to a sick, disabled or elderly person. C.O.M.E.'s SHARKS Program provides monthly support group services and respite to students in collaboration with their school's counselor, dean, nurse, and parents. Ariella is from Brooklyn and a 2017 SHARKS Award recipient. She is a granddaughter, a daughter, a sister, a student and a blessing and a Youth Caregiver.
My granddaughter, Ariella has been exceptionally helpful during my illness for the past four years. At the onset of my illness she was nine years old, she is now thirteen years old and very responsible. Since the onset of my illness in 2014, she has been assisting me in the home with chores and light housekeeping. She pre-pours my medication and reminds me to take them on time. During the summer and other school holidays she accompanies me to medical appointments. Sometimes, she holds my hand so tight and secure for fear of me falling. I usually have to ask her to loosen her grip.
At night just before Ariella retires for sleep she will call me on the telephone and ask "are you ok, do you need anything? I'm going to sleep now". On Sundays her mother drives us to church and my granddaughter usually comes to my apartment to walk me out to the car. When we arrive at church, she walks me to my seat in the sanctuary before she goes upstairs where she sits with her family. When church is over, she returns to walk me back out to the car. This is only a small example of her love and dedication. She also does my hair and polishes my nails and toes. She deserves appreciation and recognition because she is not only helpful to me; she is an example to her younger brother who tries to compete in his own way.
Do you know a youth caregiver?
Nominate a Youth Caregiver. Nomination form on our website at comeoutreach.org. Join the SHARKS as we host a Purple Day in support of Alzheimer's' research.


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davidl on January 16th, 2010
At least Martha is amusing, video: From Robert Coata National Review: Here's the transcript (via the Brown campaign): Dan Rea: Umm Would Barack Obama be in if this thing was not this close? Martha Coakley: Umm it's hard to know, I think that he uh is welcome in Massachusetts and I'm sure everybody is happy […]
davidl on January 16th, 2010
Fausta: I have been reading on the aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti, and of course, soon enough one finds stupidity strewn along the path. First Danny Glover, who believes the earthquake was caused by global warming and climate change: Video: Hat tip: Tim Blair, Daily Telegraph(UK). If Glover has half the brains of a […]


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Israel cargo shipping company Zim Integrated Shipping Services (ZIM) announced that it has joined the Digital Shipping Association (DCSA) dedicated to digitization and standardization in the container shipping industry.
ZIM CIO, EVP Eyal Ben-Amram, said: "We are excited to join DCSA and to contribute to the digital transformation. We firmly believe that digital innovation will shape the future of the shipping industry, and our multi-service approach embodies this belief. Standardization is the right way to improve the eco-system of all stakeholders".
A month ago, DCSA was created by four founding members — A.P. Moller – Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd, Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) and Ocean Network Express (ONE).
Four more shipping giants - CMA CGM, Evergreen Line, Hyundai Merchant Marine (HMM), Yang Ming Marine Transport Corporation - have joined since then.
The DCSA is a neutral and non-profit association established April 2019 in Amsterdam, and once regulatory approval for the new members has been gained, they will represent 70 percent of the market. With nine of the largest container shipping lines in the world, both from Asia and EMEA, DCSA now represents a substantial part of the industry.
"We are thrilled to have additional members joining the DCSA on our journey to drive standardization and interoperability in the industry, with CMA CGM joining as a founding member," Thomas Bagge, CEO of DCSA, commented.
As of July 1, 2019, Henning Schleyerbach will be taking on the role of the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of DCSA.


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7 Things Particular People Are Tired of Hearing. 5 various Actions In which Say Your dog Loves You
Folks who are in associations seem to be more interested in their solitary friends' adult dating lives rather than their own. Using 'interest' as part of your love daily life also comes along the most annoying and foreseeable comments, including 'You're a complete catch; I actually don't discover why you're nevertheless single. '
And that, of course , leaves you actually thinking, 'Well, THANKS . If I perceived why When i was still individual, we wouldn't be experiencing this discussion. '
Firstly: There is NOTHING wrong with staying single, which means that don't allow your Debbie Downer friend explain any otherwise.
Secondly, as soon as someone demands you a animal or rhetorical question for your love everyday living, it's definitely okay to produce them repent (a little) even inquiring. Let's deal with a few situations when becoming witty and even 'lovingly sarcastic' could eliminate the unlimited pestering.
1 . 'It'll happen once you least hope it. '
Well… not really. Let's said this way: You're just as vulnerable to meet your perfect match during a Starbucks are designed with Sunday together with in 'da club' on Saturday night. I implore you to let them know that will you're visiting continue lifestyle your life because you were and peruse forward to getting together with the right man or women in simply being the right man or woman.
2 . 'Don't everyone ever have lonely? ' (The respond to is indeed. )
We all find lonely, yet I'd acquire lonely in excess of miserable in the relationship any day. And you can respond with, 'Of course! Exactly why do you think I'm hanging out with one? ' Together with take it from us: being alone is WAY much better than being disillusioned lying adjacent to a man each night who people doesn't like you or no longer fits your needs.
3. 'Aren't you anxious you won't be able to experience kids? '
If the famous people well in 40s are still having toddlers, then there's a pretty good chance you could as well. Inform your overbearing colleague that they're your women parts, and also get to the particular place and even time to animal a child.
4. 'You should try online dating services. '
An excellent leaf blower friend rewards up and even excitedly reminds you that will there's this new thing identified as online dating, you are able to kindly inform her to hype off. We've ALL attempted online dating. If you appreciate it, you're probably still using it; when you didn't, then you don't need to be mentioned to. Perhaps you might ask when your friend might be up for nipping a few shots of everyone during the impending holiday season to use as a profile photo!
some. 'There are lots of fish while in the sea. '
Sure there tend to be! However , it'll take concerning 10 harmful dates to acquire one that in all probability consider regarding date and second. More salmon doesn't continually equal a greater chance. Might be consider sharing with your companion that the key phrase hasn't been recently popular ever since the '70s. As well as, what a fun time to ask for a new fix-up!
6. 'You're just way too picky. '
There's a difference between recognizing what you want within the person in addition to being nit-picky because you're trying to find a problem with anyone. (On other hand, if you are date doesn't make over $100K a year as well as you'd come to be willing to scrap your meeting due to insufficient funds, you should review your non-negotiables. Consider flicking the conversing around along with asking actually was of which made your company's friend interested in her gentleman. )
7. 'You should i want to set people up… '
Listen: Unless you're hand-delivering Gerard Retainer, a bottle of champange, and The exact Notebook in Blu-ray, let's save which will set up for your niece. Certain blind periods work out; whenever a blind date will go bad, cautious creative to obtain yourself outta there. A basic 'no thank you' succeeds for that a single. Sometimes it's fun to possess a friend provide someone they need you to meet up with in a crew setting, for that reason try indicating a lower-pressure activity once they really want one to meet someone.
It's crucial to keep an attractive outlook with being individual and having faith that you, at some point, match a friend or wife or husband. Since most people are so occupied with your enjoy life (more so as compared with you), it's time to get creative with all your responses to the generic thoughts your nanny has required you twenty times. Joyful dating!
Guys seem to be difficult to read by just definition. And when it comes to learning if what exactly you've have is the real deal, it involves additional effort rather than plucking petals from a plants and witnessing what you arrive at. But regardless of guarded your own man may perhaps be, there are some basic actions the fact that spell out L-O-V-E.
Here are a few Dating through Dignity approaches to tell when your man adores you.
1 . This individual listens.
A great listener is usually an attractive together with important quality even in the first stages involving dating, even so it becomes even more important as a relationship becomes worse. A man who all listens into the little details of your life and makes sure to guide you towards he recalls them it isn't just expressing his or her respect to suit your needs, but he's also getting his really like.
credit card He protects you.
http://myasianmailorderbride.com/ Correcting things near your apartment… Bringing through soup, frigid medicine, along with your favorite film when you're sick… Reflexively protecting you from imminent danger… These are most ways a male expresses your importance in order to him inside most natural method he is aware how. His or her efforts to help you feel safe and sound and booked are apparent evidence of his / her feelings available for you and his wish that you find out his power to provide for you in the future.
3. The person includes you in future ideas.
Speaking of the near future, a man within love will talk about it with you and include everyone in it usually. Whether getting more functional long-term plans such as welcoming you like his night out to a wedding party months gone or talking about serious designs such as matrimony and kids, her automatic add-on of a person in his long run means your dog wants you there for it.
4. The guy introduces you others the guy loves.
A working male is not going to create time for you to meet up with mom in cases where he's never thinking about a little something serious. Any time a man handle to tell you about his friends and family, he's but not only proud showing you away from to the people who all matter quite possibly the most to the pup, but they clearly hopes they'll enjoy you all he really does.
5 various. He states that it.
All actions to one side, the only text you can count on to determine whether he is in love with you are the most obvious ones: 'I love anyone. ' If a fellow is truly, crazily, and excited about you, he / she won't be capable of keep it compared to you. And he'll want to make confident you're cognizant of it generally and often!
Prefer to find out your most fertile days? Utilize this calculator to find out your next ovulation and interval dates within the nice schedule format.


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Here's a ritual from one of my favourite teachers, Robert Wilkinson of AquariusPapers:
'Whether you're in the Northern or Southern Hemisphere, there is a special [Winter Solstice] ceremony I do each year that yields some fairly spectacular results. This is not a very elaborate ritual, but it's very powerful in its simplicity.
The Solstices mark points of transition from an old "half year" of the Sun moving South or North (depending on where you are on the Earth) into the opposite direction. In the Spirit of this "coming or going," I first take a moment to note what has left my life the past year while saying goodbye on deepest levels. This creates space for that which is more appropriate to my evolution and well-being.
Then I make a list of everything I want to leave my life in the coming year, and A) find a disposable object associated with each thing (or person, or personal habit) I want to see leave, or B) I draw a picture that represents those things, people, or habits. Then I burn each individual picture in a fire, one at a time, while saying goodbye to each of those. (I make a duplicate list to check the next year to remind me of what I wanted to see leave.)
I also make a list of things I want to see come into my life in the coming year. I try to make it realistic, but also allow my imagination to bring forth what might be or could be, even if improbable. After all, it's supposed to be fun! I play with possibilities, and write them down, without getting hung up on specific forms. This is about content more than form.
Then I draw pictures symbolizing those things, and burn them, one by one, in a fire, welcoming in those better things than I've known up to now, putting it up and out into the "Spiritual atmosphere" so that Divine Mother can bring it forth in the coming months. I also make a duplicate list to check the next year.
Over the years I've done this ritual, I find very often that every single thing I want to leave actually does leave. And, I usually see most if not all that I want to appear show up in the following year. Even when one or both lists falls short by a thing or two, overall I've seen great progress year after year.
It's also very interesting to note how my lists have changed over the years, with some concerns falling away and new things presenting themselves according to my intention. And sometimes, when I have not received what I thought I wanted, it became clear why it wasn't good or necessary for me to have that which I thought I wanted.
So in this time of transition from the old year into the Winter of the new, take a moment to note what has left your life the past year, thus creating space for that which is more appropriate to your evolution and well-being. And if you feel like doing a Solstice ritual, whether this one or another, open to your greatest good and highest possibility of happiness, and you just may find a measure of that in the coming year.'
© Copyright 2013 Robert Wilkinson
Image: Winter Solstice at Newgrange, copyright The Guardian
Views: 95


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McDonald's to trial recycling unwanted plastic toys into new products such as coffee cups
The initial trial will run for four weeks in seven restaurants in the UK and Ireland.
French toymakers sign pact to rid games and toys of gender stereotypes
The charter also envisages that manufacturers will adapt the way their products are advertised.
Irish building apprentices deliver handmade toys to children's charities
The Sisk & Son construction company has been making toys for charities at Christmas for the last 40 years.
Almost 2,000 teddy bears left as tributes to Manchester bomb victims to be given to charities
The attack on 22 May saw 22 people killed and hundreds more injured.
Chiropractor in Donegal accepting toys instead of payment
The toys will be distributed by St Vincent de Paul to families in the area.
Open Thread: What was your favourite sporting Christmas toy?
The Late Late Toy Show is tonight, and we want to hear your favourites?
Warning to Irish parents as investigation finds some toys can allow children to talk to strangers
The warning comes after UK watchdog Which? investigated a number of toys on the market.
Nerf guns can cause serious eye injuries and internal bleeding, doctors warn
The warning comes after three people were hospitalised with serious eye injuries caused by the guns.
9 memories everyone has of flipping through the Argos catalogue as a kid
Sadly, the catalogue could be on the way out.
Lego announces 1,400 job losses following drop in revenue
The toy company announced it will cut 8% of its staff.
Lego boss (61) replaced 'because of his age'
Briton Bali Padda held the job for just eight months.
Poll: Do you worry about gendered toy advertisements?
Are dolls for girls and cars for boys a thing of the past?
Barbie's boyfriend Ken is now multiracial, has several body types and may even have a man bun
It's part of Mattel's drive to make its iconic dolls more diverse.
Japanese monk gives 'funerals' for old dolls' souls
It's a common belief in Japan that all things have a soul – including unwanted dolls.
Poll: Do you have a fidget spinner in your home?
What's your take? Be honest.
14 items I desperately wanted as a child that I still think of to this day
Imagine what my life would be like if I'd been let have a phone in my room?
It seems that sex toys are less dangerous than regular children's toys...
… as regards the chemicals they're made with, according to new Swedish research.
22 Toys To Fill You Full Of Christmas Nostalgia
One more sleep.
Concern over new smart toys that can 'spy' on children
Consumer watchdogs in the EU and US claim the toys break data protection laws.
Irish scientists mix silly putty with graphene to create ultra-sensitive health sensors
'G-putty' is said to be 100 times more receptive than a normal sensor and is able to detect the footsteps of small spiders.
21 toys all Irish girls who grew up in the 90s dreamed of getting
Oh those were the days.
"Mum, why isn't Wonder Woman wearing any clothes?"
Louise Phillips looks at the role models for young women and finds them lacking.
Parents are highly amused by these phallic Star Wars toys
May the Force be with you, indeed.
Three-year-old girl dies after allegedly choking on Kinder Surprise toy
The death is being investigated by a prosecutor in Toulouse.
How much do you really know about these classic Christmas toys?
You wanted to take a trip down memory lane anyway, didn't you?
22 toys every Irish kid begged for for Christmas
Nostalgia fest.
Here's where you can buy Rey toys in Ireland, after online outcry over 'sexist' Star Wars playsets
Rey's the main character in The Force Awakens, so why has she been left out?
Finally, an honest Star Wars toy advert
We could play with them… or we could keep them in the box!
22 toys every Irish kid begged for for Christmas
Nostalgia fest.
Lego will probably run out of bricks for Europe by Christmas
Won't somebody think of the children?
Here are the 13 toys that kids will be clamouring for this Christmas
According to Smyths Toys anyway.
This dad's sweet reaction to his son buying an Ariel doll is going viral
"How do you think a dad feels when his son wants to get this? YEAH!"
McDonald's: Those Minions in our Happy Meals are NOT saying "What the f**k"
What do you think?
These incredible high-tech toys turn children into Iron Man
You might want one for yourself.
Google files a patent for robot toys that will listen and talk to you
The patent says these toys will be used to help control other connected devices.
Big Hero 6 merchandise doesn't feature the girl characters and parents aren't happy
Because boys think girls are "yuck" apparently.
Play-Doh made a toy that looks like a willy, and they're absolutely mortified about it
So mortified, they're deleting every post about it from their Facebook page.


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Tweens + Teens
7 Causes of Teen Anxiety
Being a teenager can be the height of many types of anxieties. Here are 7 anxieties that teens often experience. Be on the lookout for them so you can address them before they reach a crisis point. These Talk: Teen Conversation Starters are a good place to start.
- Social (Do they fit in somewhere?)Friends (Do they have any good friends?)
- Appearance (Are they comfortable with their looks?)
- Academic (Do they have school under control?)
- Family (How is their relationship with their parents?)
- Romantic (How are they handling having/not having a relationship?)
- Responsibility (How are they handling money, driving, job, etc.)
© 2012 iMOM. All Rights Reserved. Family First, All Pro Dad, iMOM, and Family Minute with Mark Merrill are registered trademarks.


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About Us
1888rv.com is entirely focussed on helping you enjoy the RV lifestyle. Our core business is RV Park & Go, the biggest brand name in dedicated RV Parking and long term RV Storage. We also offer many other RV services related to motorhomes that we hope will be helpful to you: the RVer.
Contact Us
RV Park & Go has RV parking locations across North America. For security reasons, the direct phone information for each of our lots is kept confidential and is available to customers only. It is part of our commitment to keeping your RV safe & secure.
To contact us by phone, please call:
For other inquiries, please contact us at our Administrative Office at:
1888rv.com / RV Park & Go
80 Birmingham Street
Toronto Ontario
— Appointment Required —
Email: [email protected] (No Overnight Parking - Only Yearly Parking Plans Available)


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Tyler Christopher
Most Popular
Soap opera star best known for his portrayal of Nikolas Cassadine and Connor Bishop on General Hospital.
He dropped out of Ohio's Wesleyan University to pursue an acting career.
He has found film success in Out of the Black and Shouting Secrets.
He married second wife Brienne Pedigo in 2008 after his 2-year marriage to Eva Longoria ended in 2004. He has a son named Greysun.
He began acting with Allie Gonino on the ABC Family series The Lying Game in 2011.


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TAVARES — Now in its eighth year of production, the Lake County Adopt-a-Lake Program is requesting photographs of Lake County lakes for its 2017 Adopt-a-Lake Calendar.
The top 14 photographs, as chosen by a panel of volunteers, will be featured in the 2017 calendar. Once the semi-finalists are selected, online voting will be opened to the public on the Adopt-a-Lake webpage. The top-scoring photograph will be featured on the calendar's cover.
All photos must be of a Lake County named body of water, and must depict water somewhere in the photo. Photos must be in landscape (horizontal) orientation. Entries are limited to five photos per person. Deadline for entries is Friday, Oct. 7.
To enter photographs for consideration, email submissions to firstname.lastname@example.com, bring them on a CD to the Water Resource Management Laboratory at 12923 County Landfill Road, Tavares or mail a CD to Adopt-a-Lake Program, Attn: Cathie Catasus, P.O. Box 7800, Tavares, FL 32778.
All photos must include the identification of the water body and the name of the photographer. If selected as a semi-finalist a photo release form will be required.
The Adopt-a-Lake Calendars will be available later this year for a suggested donation of $5, with proceeds benefiting the Adopt-A-Lake Program.
The Lake County Adopt-a-Lake Program encourages local civic organizations, individuals and fraternal and business groups to adopt a segment of a lake's shoreline. The program is comprised of three separate components: Water-quality monitoring, public education and pollution prevention. Volunteers can select which aspects of the program best fit their level of interest.
For more information about Lake County's Adopt-a-Lake Program, the calendar, or to become a volunteer, contact Cathie Catasus at 352-253-1659 or email@example.com.
The USF Water Institute is committed to ensuring that our websites conform with Accessibility Support guidelines for people who need to use assistive technologies.
We are continually improving the user experience for everyone, and applying the relevant accessibility standards.
View our Accessibility Statement for more information.


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Jul 1, 2018 at 8:00 AM
The Old Orchard Beach Pier, located at the center of town, has been a long-standing historic landmark since 1898. It has gone through several remodels over the years. The current structure has been in place since 1980.
The Pier is home to several restaurants and bars, shops, and entertainment. These venues host several special events throughout the year. The summer season starts off in May with the annual Chowderfest, an opportunity to vote for the best chowder in the state. Also in May is the annual Beerfest on The Pier. This is a great way to sample beer from over 30 microbreweries and to listen to live music. If you're looking for a delicious Maine lobster, then The Pier Lobster Bake, with steamed clams and corn on the cob, may be just right for you. The Lobster Bake takes place every Thursday, all summer long. Also, weather permitting, there are fireworks at The Pier every Thursday night throughout the summer months. Then, to finish off the summer season, the annual Bikefest and annual Chilifest take place in September. The Chilifest hosts restaurants from all over the state of Maine. Cast your vote for the best chili!
The Old Orchard Beach Pier is the place to be for food and entertainment!