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Product Details
MegaWarrior Roof Cargo Basket by Yakima®. This may be the most sensible accessory you can buy for your roof rack. The spacious 52"L x 48"W x 6.5"H cargo basket is sized for larger vehicles like trucks and SUVs, and it's ideal for a variety of cargo including luggage, camping equipment, and fishing gear. It's also perfect for securing odd-size items with a cargo net (sold separately). And you won't have to give up carrying any roof rack accessories because the basket crossbars can accommodate Yakima carriers for boats, skis, bikes, etc. This rugged galvanized steel powder coated basket includes a fairing to reduce wind noise, and attaches quickly and easily with a universal attachment system to round, square, factory, and aero crossbars. An optional 22" extension is available to expand the MegaWarrior's capacity and it can be locked to the roof rack with the optional locking bracket.
|Weight: 35 lbs.
|Exterior dimensions: 52"L x 48"W x 6.5"H
|Maximum capacity: 130 lbs.
|Material: Weather-Resistant Heavy-Duty Steel
|The inherent heat of engine operation will also accomplish curing
Ideal Carrier
Ideal carrier for a wide range of cargo.
Universal Mounting System
Universal mounting system enables quick and easy attachment to round, square, factory, and aero crossbars.
Custom Fairing
Includes custom fairing to reduce wind noise.
Steel Tubing
Manufactured from galvanized steel tubing.
Backed by a limited lifetime warranty.
This cargo basket is so useful, once it's mounted on your roof rack you won't ever want to take it down. Sized for larger vehicles like trucks and SUVs, this 52"L x 48"W x 6.5"H basket has the capacity to carry gear you don't have room for or may not want to carry inside your vehicle, including luggage, camping equipment, sports gear, gas cans, and off-road accessories. And the dimensions of the basket can be expanded with the addition of an optional 22" extension. A cargo basket is really great for odd-size items that can be difficult to secure on a roof by themselves. Load them into the basket, secure with the optional cargo net and you can be on your way.
The MegaWarrior, and optional extension, are manufactured from durable galvanized steel tubing that is further rust-proofed by powder coating. With its universal attachment system it mounts quickly and easily to virtually any rack system including those with round, square, factory, and aero crossbars. A custom wind fairing is included to reduce noise, making the basket an unobtrusive addition to your roof rack.
Another reason your cargo basket can remain in place is that its crossbars will accept Yakima accessories. It even includes an adjustable crossbar that can be moved to accommodate the accessories' crossbar spacing specifications, so even with the cargo basket installed you can still mount Yakima boat, ski, and bike carriers. And speaking of carriers, Yakima has developed a line of accessories that enable the MegaWarrior to carry a spare tire, off-road lights, axes, shovels, and a Hi-Lift Jack. The Locking Bracket is another option that is available to prevent the theft of your basket from the roof rack. It locks the basket to the crossbars and includes 2 SKS lock cylinders and keys.
The MegaWarrior Roof Cargo Basket comes with all necessary hardware and detailed, illustrated assembly/installation instructions. It's backed by a limited lifetime warranty against defects in materials and workmanship.
Yakima® Products, of Beaverton, Oregon is one of the world's largest manufacturers of cargo and recreational equipment carrying solutions. Founded 40 years ago in its namesake city, Yakima's guiding principle is that gear should be carried on the outside of the vehicle to make room for more friends inside. To achieve that goal the company makes roof rack systems for any style roof, and an array of roof rack, receiver hitch, trunk lid and hatch, and trailer mounted carriers. Yakima's designers and engineers are outdoor enthusiasts, campers, and travelers just like you, and they listen and learn what other enthusiasts need and want while participating in those activities. The combination of their own personal experience with that of other enthusiasts enables them to create the finest carriers and accessories for bicycles, watercraft, skis & snowboards, and cargo & camping. Yakima products are manufactured using the highest quality materials and the best engineering practices, and Yakima is so confident that you'll be completely satisfied with your purchase that they're backed by a "Love It Till You Leave It" lifetime warranty.


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Abiding Savior Lutheran Church offers the LOVE TO KNOW SUMMER CAMP each summer.
The camp is a fun-filled learning experience for children ages 3-12. This camp, centered in a Christian environment, is sure to please all the children and parents alike. The amazing hours, the themed weeks, the love of experienced, dedicated, and educated directors and counselors definitely creates the perfect experience for the ones you love the most! Themed weeks, guest speakers and the potential for field trips will allow all children to experience activities with the following themes: Circus, American Ninja Warrior, Disney, Sports, and Service.... just to name a few! The camp is conducted in a peanut and tree-nut free environment. All directors are certified in first-aid, CPR, and EPI.
5-Day/Full-Day Program: $165/week
5-Day/Half-Day Program: $95/week
3-Day/Full-Day Program: $115/week
3-Day/Half-Day Program: $65/week
*All programs are available for each week*
Week of June 4th: American Ninja Warrior(Abiding Savior Style)- Do you have what it takes to be the next American Ninja Warrior? Join us for a week full of fun and challenging obstacles to see if you are a Ninja Warrior!
Week of June 11th: Disney- The man, the myth, the legend. Walt Disney. Come learn how it all started and explore the magical land where all of your dreams come true!
Week of June 18th: Mad Science... Here Comes the BOOM!- Join us for a week of plants, space, and plenty of experiments.
Week of June 25th: We are Family, Celebrating our Service Heroes- Campers will learn more about our armed forces, police officers, and firefighters. It will be a special week honoring those who serve and protect us.
Week of July 2nd: God Bless America- We will learn the history behind the first 4th of July, why freedom is important to our country, and why we actually set off fireworks. *No camp July 4th! Happy Independence Day!
Week of July 9th: Chef Oooh La La- Join us this week as we make some yummy treats for our tummies. Campers will practice their cooking and baking skills with fun (peanut and tree nut free) recipes.
Week of July 16th: Christmas in July- Tis' the season to be... summer? This week we will be playing Christmas games, learning abut Jesus' birth, and getting in the Christmas spirit, in July.
Week of July 23rd: Lions and Tigers, and Bears, OH MY!- This week we will learn about all of God's creatures big, small, short, and tall.
Week of July 30th: Inventor- Thomas Edison, Albert Einstein, and Benjamin Franklin were all amazing inventors. This week at camp will be dedicated to challenging and developing campers creativity, innovation, and problem-solving skills.
Week of August 6th: Go Pro Sports- Come join our summer team as we learn the ins and outs of many different sporting activities.
Contact Stacey VanNest for more information: 314-280-3809 or firstname.lastname@example.com

subset: commoncrawl


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Like everything else ...
... Tor is safe to use for people who know what it is, and therefore how it can be used appropriately and safely. It's not like the documentation is light on warnings about what can be seen at exit nodes, although that should be obvious anyway.
When using Tor, bear in mind that someone else can see your traffic, but not where it came from and where it's going. If I send an HTTP request via Tor, the content of the request itself and the content of the response will be easy to intercept at the exit node.
Encryption helps but as the article mentions it's not perfect if it is subject to man-in-the-middle attacks since the exit node can still have a snoop.
Tor is for anonymity. If you are sending password or credit card information you are volunteering to sacrifice your anonymity to the system you are sending that information to. While there are conceivable example where you might want to identify yourself to the destination system and still use Tor, they are few and far between.


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Evolution & Creationism: Why Can't We Get Along?
Westminster | Website
This event occurred in the past.
Join instructor Julie Castillo to explore what's really at the heart of this centuries-old animosity. Look for common ground, seek a meeting of the minds, and search for a viewpoint that allows these diverse positions to peacefully co-exist.


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Dipika reaches Gold Series semis, creates historyAugust 17th, 2012 - 5:06 pm ICT by IANS
Canberra, Aug 17 (IANS) India's Dipika Pallikal recorded a straight sets win over American Amanda Sobhy at the Australian Squash Open to become the first Indian to enter the semifinals of a Gold Series event.
Following her win over sixth seeded Frenchwoman Camille Serme, Dipika played brilliantly in her quarterfinal against Amanda, who had earlier caused an upset beating World No.3 Jenny Duncalf in the pre-quarters here at the National Convention Centre.
The Indian, in her third appearance here, stamped her authority over the 19-year-old Amanda with a 11-5, 11-7, 12-10 win.
"Yesterday, I started slow. But today I paid special attention to warming up well before the match. I started well and in the first two sets, was 6-0 and 6-1 up against Amanda," said Dipika after her victory.
"I knew that she played very well in the front area, so I stuck to my game plan and pinned her to the back corners."
Proud of her protege, squash legend Sarah Fitzgerald said: "Dipika's win today is important for her confidence and belief that she can go one step further. She played aggressive and smart squash today and did not let her opponent get into the match."
Dipika reached her career-best ranking of World No.14 in February under the training Fitzgerald, which made her the highest ranked Indian squash player ever.
"Three years ago, I entered Australian Open as a qualifier and made it to the main draws and last year I lost in the first round. So coming here this year as the 11th seed and entering the semifinals feels very special," said the 20-year-old.
Dipika will next face World No.4 Laura Massaro from England for a place in the final.
"It is going to be a good match tomorrow. Last time I played against Laura it was a very close match and I lost three sets to two, but it is a new day tomorrow. She is the World No.4 and a very experienced player, so it will be a tough match and I am looking forward to it."
Dipika created history in May by being part of the first Indian women's team to win the Asian Squash Championship title.
- Squash: Dipika shocks Serme to enter last 8 - Aug 16, 2012
- Dipika loses in semis of Australian Open squash - Aug 18, 2012
- Australian Squash Open concluded - Aug 19, 2012
- Dipika goes down fighting in Punj Llyod squash - Dec 17, 2010
- Dipika loses to Nour - Jun 29, 2010
- Ghosal in semi-finals of Chennai Open squash - Mar 05, 2010
- Dipika in semis; Anaka bows out - Jun 28, 2010
- India suffer second defeat in Squash World Cup - Mar 09, 2011
- Matthew-Willstrop set up all England final in Punj Lloyd squash - Dec 18, 2010
- Joshna enters WISPA Challenger squash final - Apr 22, 2011
- WSF Squash: India to meet Egypt in final - Feb 04, 2012
- Ghosal lone Indian survivor in Chennai Open squash - Mar 04, 2010
- Ghosal goes down fighting in Chennai Open squash - Mar 07, 2010
- Dipika loses title clash at Tournament of Champions - Jan 27, 2012
- Squash World Cup: Malaysia shock France to enter semis - Mar 10, 2011
Tags: australian open, belief that, camille, canberra, close match, dipika pallikal, draws, face world, game plan, gold series, indian squash, jenny, last time, opponent, quarterfinal, quarters, sarah fitzgerald, smart squash, squash player, straight sets


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Kob Inn Hotel, Qora Mouth, Wild Coast, Transkei, Eastern Cape.
Cottage style bungalows with en-suite bathroom. Broad, deserted beaches on either side. Boating, water-skiing, canoeing, board sailing on the river. Fresh fish and seafood regularly on the menu. Pub on the edge of the rocks. Billiard table and dart board. Deep-sea fishing charters. Rock, surf and river fishing. Tennis court, swimming pool, satellite TV. Baby sitting service. 600-m airstrip.
Kob Inn is on the seafront close to Qora Mouth, which is on the coast southeast of Idutywa, which is on the N2 northeast of East London, which is at the intersection of the N2 with the N6. ALKobinn
Contct: Box 18137 Quigney 5211
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Thursday, November 10, 2016
Put Down the Not My President Protesters
But, a message to all the protesters; Never forget that while right-wing domestic terrorism and violence is coddled and encouraged in this country (See the Two Bundy Insurrections and the repeated threats of assassination during all Trump rallies) agitation perceived to be coming from the left is never, ever tolerated. It won't be long before Faux News and conservatives begin calling on their allies in the FBI to put you down violently.
Sure enough beloved Right-Wing Sheriff David Clarke of Milwaukee County, who just last month was encouraging conservatives to take to the streets with torches and pitchforks if Trump lost, is declaring these protests must be "quelled".
Expect more, louder, and increasingly angry calls from conservatives for the use of Violence by the State against the protesters.
3 comments:
- Cygnus said...
And don't forget that all protesters must be demonized as property destroying anarchists. One person kicking a trash can gives the excuse to subdue the other thousand protesters.
- November 11, 2016 at 3:44 PM
- Grung_e_Gene said...
Cygnus, I always found it cheaply cynical that a political party which venerates the destruction of private property as a founding myth of inestimable importance, the Boston Tea Party, would be upset by damage to private property. But, then I recall it's the downtrodden whom they are demonizing and conservatives are lick spittles who exist to comfort the comfortable and afflict the afflicted.
- November 11, 2016 at 4:11 PM
- Dervish Sanders said...
I hope the protests continue throughout his entire presidency. BTW, re "never forget Trump lost the popular vote but won the election", I say he lost the electoral college as well. Or he would have, but Kris Kobach's "Interstate Crosscheck" helped the Republicans boot enough Democratic voters off the rolls to give Trump the electoral college.
As per the Thom Hartmann Program today: the exit polls deviated quite a bit from the "official" results in North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Florida - and these states would likely have gone to Clinton. People showed up to vote, it was discovered that they were not on the rolls, and they were given provisional ballots. Which are not counted. But they didn't know that, and told the pollsters they voted for HRC. Thus the discrepancy, known as "Red shift". Or, in this case, "Orange shift".
Donald Trump was right. The election was rigged. In his favor.
- November 11, 2016 at 8:30 PM


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3035 Valley View Lane
Dallas, TX 75234
9:00 am (Traditional)
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Learn More
3601 Huffines Blvd.
Carrollton, TX 75010
Service Times:
Welcome! At the Vista Ridge Campus, we currently host a Thursday night service at 6:45 pm and two Sunday morning services at 9:15 & 11:00 am. Each of these services include energetic and passionate praise and worship experiences accompanied by a worship band, and feature contemporary worship music commonly found in many churches today. The Thursday service benefits from the same message and service content as the Sunday services, and is the first service of the "weekend."
A team of volunteers works to make Kids Branch happen every weekend.
Kids Branch is for children 3 months - 5th grade and runs the length of each of our Sunday services. Check-in opens 15 minutes before each service begins. After checking their children in at either the Kids Branch Welcome Center or one of our kiosks, parents may escort them to their age-appropriate class room where they are greeted by our designated Kids Branch Small Group Leaders. Your kids will love participating in large group activities and small group lessons where they can find each other, find some friends, and find the Lord!
Branch Youth (6th - 12th grade) meets in a variety of ways. Our age-specific small groups meet weekly at both campuses. We also host Branch Camp in the summer, along with service days, overnighters, and other special events throughout the year for our students. Currently at the Vista Ridge Campus, our middle school students meet weekly on Sunday mornings and our high school students meet weekly on Wednesday nights. We encourage our high school students to attend and serve in our weekend services.
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Ryan Rainey
Campus Minister, Vista Ridge Campus
Contact Ryan, email@example.com, to find out more about the Vista Ridge Campus, Celebrate Recovery, or if you just need someone to talk to.
Copyright ©2019 The Branch Church.


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The following goes against my libertarian ideals so I would welcome a better way.
If we want a free press, we could do it with legislation, but not the way so many lefties propose.
First of all, no one man should control a national newspaper, or in fact any television station. It is a recipe for the greedy and power hungry to control governments.
But neither should legislation curtail the press to go about their lawful work.
In addition, we need different rules for different cases.
For example, we can be more relaxed on the politics of newspapers which have a cover price and are sold in newsagents. Free newspapers should have a 4" x 2" banner at the top of page one stating the party the newspaper supports or, if they don't want to do that, be in the same class as television news and be put into public ownership.
National Newspapers:
These should be forced to go onto the stock exchange, if not already, and no one person permitted to hold more than 5% of the shares. It should be a criminal offence if (a) any person tries to find a way around this and (b) tries to use undue influence on an editor with threats or bribery.
This way we might get some fairness. If these newspapers are chargeable, then they do not need a political banner at the top. We are not here to molly-coddle the public, and must assume they like the politics of their favourite newspapers if they are paying to read them.
Local newspapers:
As I said above, if delivered free (no matter that they sell some in local shops) they need the 4"x2" banner at the top, in the banner colour of the party they support and the party name in readable letters. And, again, it should be a criminal offence if (a) any person tries to find a way around this and (b) tries to use undue influence on an editor with threats or bribery.
At the moment large chains often own local newspapers and whilst it may not be feasible to treat these newspapers the same way as national newspapers, such as public ownership, the chains should have a two year period to divest themselves of titles and retain only one newspaper title. It is wrong for a chain with many newspapers in a constituency to be able to decide who wins at an election.
Television news:
These must be treated as national newspapers (BBC,ITV, Four, Five and Sky) and be hived off into public ownership, once again with no person owning more than 5% of the shares. Whether the present owning corporation is a public company or not. The BBC News, in this case as a public limited company, would be permitted to advertise.
I know all this sounds a little complex but the result could eventually be news media actually delivering, on the whole, unbiased news.
After WW2, Marxists, knowing they were too small to do any harm, so they infiltrated the teaching profession and television news. This is why the teaching profession is so biased towards the left, as is television news.
My plan won't change this initially, but biased managers will find that the majority of people who have money to spend are the workers, mainlystaff on the right, and unless the company reduces its bias, people with money won't watch or buy goods and the advertisers will disappear.
In addition, the government will not have to interfere with any news reporting which would be an incredibly dangerous road to go down.
An eclectic collection of thoughts & ideas which have set me thinking, or more often cussing.
On this blog I promise to write the truth, the whole truth, or something like the truth, so help me God!
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Tuesday, 14 April 2015
British Media - a solution
Written by Ampers at 12:44 pm
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"The children of God should not have any other country here below but the universe itself, with the totality of all the reasoning creatures it ever has contained, contains, or ever will contain. That is the native city to which we owe our love." --Simone Weil
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Spitting at the conventional wisdom: Some thoughts on (my) blogging
I suppose that, were I to consistently follow this advice, I'd get more page views. More people would read my stuff. Fewer people would navigate to the page, realize my piece was the length equivalent of an academic article, and promptly navigate away. More people would come back for the next post.
And, of course, some of my more faithful readers and commenters would no longer be getting what initially drew them to this blog. Some of the readers who've said they were powerfully impacted by the substance of this blog might not have been so impacted.
So, call me a rebel, but I'm going to keep writing posts that are just too damned long. I spit in the face of conventional wisdom! Nya!
But seriously, I don't think there are any rigid "rules" of good blogging. There are blogs that aren't worth reading. But a blog, like a book, is a format that allows for a diversity of approaches. There are short books and long ones, academic books and popular ones, punchy, provocative books and deliberate, thoughtful ones. The key question is whether there's a niche for the kind of blogging that you do, whether what you have to say contributes in some small or large way to people's lives. And the beauty of blogging is this: If the only life that your blogging contributes to is your own, that's enough to justify doing it. It doesn't cost anything (or needn't), so if you enjoy doing it then who cares if there's an audience of 10 or an audience of 10,000?
Those of us who blog don't all do it for the same reasons. And not only do different bloggers have different aims and motives for their blogging, but an individual blogger's aims and motives can change from post to post. This is certainly true of me. Sometimes I want to tell a story. Sometimes I want to develop a line of argument and solicit the kind of instant feedback that blogs offer. Sometimes I want to promote my books or other writings. Sometimes I have a viewpoint that I think will help other people live richer lives. Sometimes I have a distinction to make that I think will help people think more clearly on a topic. Sometimes I want to rail against perceived injustices. Sometimes I want to be funny.
As followers of this blog know, a lot of my blogging addresses religious issues in a philosophical way intended to spark substantive conversations--establishing a vanue where thoughtful disagreement and productive dialogue is possible (productive at least in the sense of hopefully advancing deeper understanding of divergent perspectives). While I try to be less technical and "academic" even in such blog posts than I would be in a philosophical article, I also try to be more rigorous than the 500-word-limit-punchy-post-rule allows. The kind of blogging I do in these cases may not generate mass-market appeal, but that doesn't mean there isn't a place for it.
Sometimes, however, I want to use the blog to participate in an important public conversation--and so I want the post to be appealing and accessible enough to actually be read by a wider audience. I think of the conventional wisdom about blog length and content, not as some rule that you have to follow for your blog to be a good blog, but as advice that can be helpful to follow when you want your message to reach a wider audience. At the same time, I want such posts to introduce into the broader public discourse ideas and arguments and distinctions that I think will be actually be helpful and meaningful. In other words, I want what I say to provoke thought and conversation, hopefully across conventional divides and polarities.
But finding the balance between writing in a way that is likely to be heard and writing in a way that is true to my understanding of how controversial conversations ought to be approached--that's not easy. As I get increasingly focused on my current book project--on homosexuality and Christianity--I will undoubtedly be offering more blog posts that I hope will have an impact on an ongoing public conversation that's defined by strong opinions, polarization, and passion. And I'm not, in this conversation, a neutral party. I have my own commitments, my own passions. I'm not a mediator in this dialogue, but a voice for a certain view. But I want to be a voice that is clear and helpful, one that deepens understanding of the position I espouse and the reasons behind it. And I hope that my posts can stimulate productive reflection and conversation as opposed to simply reinforcing ideological divides.
One of the challenges on the issue of homosexuality and the church, however, is that I care about this issue because I care about the people who are affected by it, LGBT friends and family who I think have endured considerable hardship and suffering because of traditional views and the actions which follow from them.
And this means this isn't just an issue. There are some topics where "agreeing to disagree" is a way of showing mutual respect in the face of uncertainty. But given my understanding of what is at stake when it comes to such matters as the moral condemnation of homosexuality and opposition to same-sex marriage, to agree to disagree is to agree to let real people continue to be harmed.
When people you love are being harmed by a practice, sometimes your humanity demands something other than thoughtful conversation about the ethics of the practice. Imagine that a child is being deeply hurt by peer abuse, but those peers don't consider it abuse at all. To them, it's "no big deal." They're just having fun. In that case, there is an important place for standing with the victim and saying, "This is a big deal! This IS abusive. It's NOT okay!" Even if saying these things doesn't convince the abusers, it may be the very thing that the victim needs in order to feel less alone, in order to feel loved in the face of that treatment, in order not to be crushed by the abuse.
Sometimes a blog post can be a gesture of solidarity with the victims of social marginalization, a gesture that would lose its power if it were less passionate, if it were more academic, if it were more "open" to the perspective of those who believe the social marginalization is justified. How do you balance the desire to thoughtfully engage with those who disagree with you--in this case, with thouse who regard a marginalizing practice as morally right--with the desire to express solidarity with those who, in your experience, are deeply harmed by the practice?
I raise all these issues not because I have good answers, but because I want to be honest about some of my struggles on these matters.
I'm sure there's a blogging rule against such meta-level posts--and against using the term "meta-level" in a blog post. Call me a rebel.
19 comments:
Eric, I look forward to hearing about your new project more as it unfolds. I'm interested to see what your viewpoint and training will bring to the conversation. I'm hoping you'll be staking out new ground... :-)
If you don't already know about it, you may be interested in a forthcoming book by Justin Lee over at the Gay Christian Network. (http://gcnjustin.tumblr.com/book) Justin's book is also a different approach to a debate that is pretty polarized these days...
My own work one day (hopefully) will look at the intersection of Eastern Orthodoxy and queer theology. My hope is that your, Justin's, and if I may be so bold, my own work will all open different avenues to help us move past the standard arguments and reframe the issues...
"And this means this isn't just an issue. There are some topics where "agreeing to disagree" is a way of showing mutual respect in the face of uncertainty. But given my understanding of what is at stake when it comes to such matters as the moral condemnation of homosexuality and opposition to same-sex marriage, to agree to disagree is to agree to let real people continue to be harmed."
I could imagine having to take two different strategies here. As you know there are those Christians whose thinking and perspective on this has been completely shaped by one way of reading and understanding the Bible. They can only really "hear" an argument that somehow deals with the subject in a way that takes the Bible and church history seriously.
There is another strategy too though and it comes down to the problem philosopher Peter Singer began to see when it came to ecological issues. Unless we begin to see certain issues as having some intrinsic objective status as in being wrong or "evil" beyond the sense of meaning something like, "I don't like white wine," it becomes very difficult to mobilize people into changing their thought patterns and actions.
When a majority of people, those who have the power, are discriminating against a weaker minority- history tells us (examples are slavery, ancient infanticide, women's rights, and civil rights) that usually appeals had to made wherein the abuse was deemed "wrong" in an objective sense. In other words, it didn't matter what the majority thought or that it was presently culturally "normal" or "okay" to treat a minority differently. The appeal was to something greater than our selves collectively, something objective and outside our personal opinions or feelings even though our inner and subjective selves would often agree with the appeal. In other words our conscience was pricked. We were made to feel ashamed and to see that it was "wrong" to make people of a different skin color sit in the back of the bus or whatever the form the abuse was taking.
The "facts" didn't change. People were still the same color (or attracted to the same sex) but our perspective changed. Our minds changed. Our hearts changed. How has that happened historically and what do you take from that? As you suggest above, how do you get people to see that this is not just a subjective disagreement where we can "agree to disagree" as if we were talking about what wine is preferable but something along the lines of the Civil Rights Movement?
It would be interesting to hear how you would speak to those two types of audiences.
- Bernard BeckettMay 15, 2012 at 6:36 PM
Hello DarrellReplyDelete
I'm not sure there's as much work for objective moral truth to do here. Isn't it sufficient for the issue to become personal, as Eric suggests, and at this point our capacity for empathy is triggered. Whether we choose to narrate that empathy as a connection to objective moral good, or rather as a personal yearning for a particular kind of moral peace, seems to me to be less important than you paint it.
I was linking the issue to what Peter Singer has come around to sort of admitting when it comes to ecological issues. See: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2011/may/25/peter-singer-utilitarianism-climate-change
I think any sort of movement to see that a minority receives love, respect, and equal treatment must be based upon an appeal to an objective morality as, historically anyway, it seems to be what finally moves people (pricks their conscience) to really change their minds (hearts).
In other words, one can make all sorts of secular appeals that it is "practical" "constitutional" or "fair" to treat and give gay people the same rights we all expect, but this didn't work for African Americans after the Civil War or for any other minorities I am aware of. It took an appeal to something larger—something transcendental and objective. Maybe you can give me an example from history where the appeals were purely secular and subjective.
Another aspect to this is the person who would say that there is nothing inherently wrong or intrinsically evil to how we are treating gay people right now, it is just culturally acceptable. Either is fine or equally valid—we simply have to choose what we want. It seems to me that such an attitude is not what will mobilize most people to change either their own thinking or the culture at large. It amounts to saying, "who cares—whatever."
Anyway, people like Peter Singer and others are beginning to see it as very important.
- Bernard BeckettMay 15, 2012 at 8:22 PM
Hi DarrellReplyDelete
I'm not sure where we'll get using history, because the cases we are making are probably both supportable by the same examples - does empathy drive the narrative, or is the narrative necessary for empathy? I don't see how one could use the historical to test those propositions.
Certainly, history is full of examples of people acting according to the beliefs that their path was righteous. Sometimes this led to progress, other times to unimaginable atrocities. The catholic/protestant warfare in Europe maybe stands as a good example of belief in objective morality going somewhat awry. Stalin could be an example of a leader who, feeling pretty sure he was serving history's greater purpose, made the world a far worse place. And I think the fact that some of the societies we'd immediately identify as having created the safest, most inclusive communities are also those with some of the lowest reported rates of religious belief, suggests there may be something to the argument that empathy can be cut free from meta-narratives of righteousness.
None of this is conclusive, of course, and you will have no trouble providing counter examples. I'm not one who argues religion does more harm than good, I think to do so requires a naive skewing of the data, but I suspect the reverse is also true. To argue that we must commit to notions of objective morality (and here I don't speak of consensus morality, which I think is a very powerful motivational tool) in order to see progress, is, I think, to make a case that is very hard to establish empirically.
In my country, gay rights have typically been advanced by those more disposed towards relativistic viewpoints, and opposed most vehemently by those who are certain there is such a thing as objectively right. Just one case, but it's made an impression on me.
I will readily admit that those with, what they think are Biblical or religious reasons, are often the hardest to convince in the area of same sex attraction. As I noted, Eric will need to address that audience.
However, I've met plenty of conservative people who are nominally religious and hardly know the Bible from a phone book who are just as prejudiced against gay people as any group I know.
I still think Peter Singer has a point and it is significant, given his philosophical background, to have come around to see the importance of an objective morality. Do you think he has a point? If so, how would that help Eric?
More importantly, what I hear in Eric's post (and maybe he is not even trying to make this point), is that this is an issue that rises above personal subjective preference, where we agree to disagree. We can agree to disagree over whether or not fish should go only with white wine. Why? Because it is a personal subjective preference. At the end of the day, who cares? However, when we say that gay people should be treated with love and given the same rights we all enjoy—we are saying something different. Do you see that distinction? How does an objective morality help or hinder that distinction?
I'm not saying one must believe in an objective morality to support gay rights. I also recognize that those who do hold to an objective morality can use that to justify their prejudice.
I still think Singer's journey important and significant for this issue and I still think it helps to say that gay people need to be loved, accepted, and given the same rights not because of what I say or a billion people say or don't say, but because it is the "right" thing to do.
- Bernard BeckettMay 16, 2012 at 2:18 AM
Hi DarrellReplyDelete
I certainly think the Singer article is interesting, and that there's lots more to be said on this. I once had a discussion with Singer on animal rights where I essentially ran the line that his case needed to slip in an appeal to moral objectivism to work (he was unimpressed). So, it doesn't surprise me that Singer is now finding himself challenged in this way, I think personality-wise he may well always have had objectivist instincts.
To address your questions directly, yes I see an important distinction between the preference people might show for wine, and their beliefs about the rights of homosexuals. In the first case, I couldn't care less about their preference, in the second I want them to think like I do. I strongly prefer to live in a world where others have the ability to flourish, and I actively work to try to bring about that world.
What I don't yet see is why this set of preferences I have (including the preference for influencing the way others think - I'd hardly be a school teacher otherwise) need to be developed within the context of objective moral values. In other words, I find the step from 'I wish to live in a world where homosexuals are afforded the same rights as everybody else' to 'it is morally wrong to deny homosexuals the same rights as everybody else' an unnecessary one.
I would argue the first step gets us to where we need to be: passionate people engaging in open minded debate, open to understand the preferences of others and ready to negotiate. I don't yet see what extra thing the second step might offer. If anything, mightn't there be the danger that believing one is right from the outset just turns the negotiation tribal? Especially if the opposition are also objectivists.
What am I missing?
Amen! The internet should be about diversity, so it's a shame to see it so often be about homogenisation, where a culture of conformity and conventions leads everyone to communicate in the same way, about the same things, until every topic under the sun needs to fit in a rigid 140 character tweet.ReplyDelete
I have a similar philsophy about my blog: write thoughtfully, write well out of respect for your reader, and fight against the ever-quickening pace of online culture (and the superficiality that inevitably tags along with it). In fact, I purposefully conjured its name (volnaiskra) from a word that means "slow" in honour of that.
I also regularly break another cardinal rule of blogging: I don't stick to one subject. Today I write about anthropocentrism, tomorrow about computer games, and the next day about religion.
For these (and no doubt other) reasons, I have a regular readership of almost zero. But I kind of like it like that. I know that somewhere out there are other slow and patient thinkers like me who appreciate reading content that's had some thought put into it and wasn't written hastily at a bus stop. I know that from time to time, someone like that will find my blog through a random google search. And so I write with those moments in mind, hoping that they'll enjoy my blog as I enjoy blogs such as yours.
Hi Bernard, Darrell,ReplyDelete
The Canadian Conference Catholic Bishops has just issued a pastoral letter urging Catholics to speak out against, among other things, same-sex marriage. Presumably, they hold that the latter is evil in an absolute sense.
There doesn't seem to be a purely rational answer to this: one's good is another's evil. Opposite values simply clash, each side claiming to defend absolute truth or whatever. Stalemate.
However, there is an emotional answer: getting "personal", empathize with others. Empathy is a universal human emotion (that we also find in chimps, for example). It often seems to me that absolute values (or the like) is most useful to preempt these basic human emotions – while no theory is needed to act on them.
Not to say that invoking absolutes cannot be useful when it's time to convince others – but this is a different matter.
Bernard and JP,ReplyDelete
Thank you for the thoughtful responses. I don't want to take away from what I think is another one of Eric's points and that is to not make this an abstract academic discussion where we forget this involves real people facing serious problems. I get that.
Most prejudices dissolve over time by actually getting to know the "other" and realizing the similarities and universal nature of our all being in this world together.
"What I don't yet see is why this set of preferences I have (including the preference for influencing the way others think - I'd hardly be a school teacher otherwise) need to be developed within the context of objective moral values."
Then where is the distinction? If we mean something different from when we say "I don't like spinach" and "I don't like seeing gay people not being able to legally marry," where does that difference lie? Why shouldn't I treat the two statements the same if I really believed they are just personal preferences? What is the appeal to? In other words we don't feel we need to "influence" someone to hate spinach. But we do feel the need to "influence" others to either support or deny (or simply be neutral and not care) another's ability to be legally married. Why? Just because we "feel" and emote more one over the other?
Bernard, I think what you are missing is history. For instance, take the modern Civil Rights Movement here in the US. What we find are appeals to something greater than our individual reason or utility. We find that it wasn't dispassionate abstract academic papers or charts and graphs that persuaded people to change their minds about African Americans. Changing the laws helped but those did not change hearts. What changed people's minds? It was sermons.
The "I Have a Dream" speech is what people remember. All "God's children." That is what I think you are missing. If you can give me a comparable movement where people were mobilized and had their hearts changed by secular reasoning alone grounded in relativistic ethics, I would be happy to hear it.
Man, this is way too long. Try this:ReplyDelete
"I don't hold with the '500-word-blog-posts' rule. The whole point of blogging is to reach as wide a possible audience with longer, more philosophically sophisticated posts. Besides, that way I get great feedback on my work. So STFU with all that 'no long posts' nonsense."
See? The whole post in less than fifty words. Who needs length?
[Joking aside, I of course hope you never change: long thoughtfulness is what I come by here for. Oh, and to leave snarky comments. That too.]
- Bernard BeckettMay 16, 2012 at 7:31 PM
Hi DarrellReplyDelete
As I've said, I'm cautious about using history to back up our respective viewpoints, because I suspect we'll just end up using our interpretations of history in a way that doesn't advance the discussion. Nevertheless, as you've asked again, let me try three possible cases of empathy-led revolutions.
In NZ history, we have a indigenous/colonist partnership that, while far from perfect, is often seen as an outlier, with greater degrees of power sharing and respect than was the colonial norm. Some historians have argued that the demographic nature of early European migration led to high levels of intermarriage, and this in turn led the relationship between peoples in a different direction. In essence, once you've eaten together, laughed together, mourned together, it becomes more difficult to reduce people to easy racial stereotypes.
Or consider the powerful influence of photojournalism in the Vietnam war. The argument goes that the ability of the population to see the damage, triggered the empathy that ultimately drove the turn in public sentiment. Ditto the coverage of soldiers' bodies coming home. Certainly great care is now taken to stage manage the coverage of military conflicts, which tells us something.
Or, the modern end-poverty campaign, which can be traced back perhaps to the LiveAid movement of the 1980's. In this case, leading activists (Bob Geldof for example) spoke of realisation coming not through a process of moral reasoning, but rather one of being exposed, via television, to images of the dying, and being moved to an emotional state where not acting was no longer an option for them. Fundraising campaigns aimed at poverty elimination are much more likely to aim at this emotional chord than to an appeal to our sense of justice.
Your other question, what is there to appeal to, in the absence of moral imperatives? Why, if it all comes down to personal preference, might I be driven to act, to want to contribute to the world, change it? The answer is simply, empathy. There is a part of my nature that causes me to suffer when others suffer, and to feel uplifted when that suffering abates. To answer that personal calling is, for me, to live more fully. That this empathy is a part of not just my nature, but of human nature, is the thing that gives me hope.
I wrote a response to you, but turns out it was 2,000 characters too long to be accepted by this commenting system. Pretty apt considering the original blog post, I think!
I've instead published it here: http://www.volnaiskra.com/2012/05/on-morality-and-empathy.html
Thank you for those examples. However, some I don't find as quite analogous to the issue of gay marriage or civil rights as to minorities. For instance the photojournalism during the Vietnam War. As to the example of indigenous people of New Zealand (I assume you mean the Maori) I would disagree if you are positing intermarriage as the main reason for the partnership. In fact, from this source we are told that the low level of friction between the Maori and colonists was more along these lines: "But the truth was that a major reason for the lack of friction was that the two people lived apart and rarely met." We also read-"European religion and culture have over two centuries had a massive influence on the Maoris. They are now mostly Christian…" ("http://www.historytoday.com/keith-sinclair/new-zealand-declared-british-colony)
But to all your examples, are you saying they arose and were led by people who were purely secular ethical relativists? That is what I was looking for. You seem to be saying, "What does it matter—why do we need an idea of objective morality?" Perhaps you thought I meant that people cannot be good nor do good without God or objective morals. I mean no such thing. Of course people can.
However, the point was that historically people have been moved by appeals to an objective morality whereas I can think of no example where people were moved to action on the behalf of minorities by the writing, sermons, speeches, organizing, and sacrificing of those (the leaders) who identified themselves as purely secular ethical relativists. I don't think you've provided an example to show otherwise.
The other problem is that you throw out the word "empathy" as if it were this magical word that explains itself or operates without an object in mind, history, or context. We can find "empathy" in nature, but nature is not empathetic. Pure nature is about survival. Empathy has to be cultivated. Empathy has to be refined and is a long process that lies within a philosophy or world-view (or faith/religion). Some cultures were not (are still not!) empathetic to minorities or strangers. What changed that? Well, the history of Western Civilization is that Christianity had a lot to do with that change.
It is very easy to toss around the word "empathy" after two thousand years of the Christian cultivation and shaping/investment of that word with what it should mean and how it should make us think and act.
- Bernard BeckettMay 17, 2012 at 6:03 PM
Hi VolnaiksraReplyDelete
Well, I would in the main agree with you. Absolutely, our capacity for empathy would appear to have a biological basis, and the way in which this plays out is then highly influenced by cultural and lifeline factors. No argument there.
What's more, for anybody who wishes to live in a world where we treat one another with gentleness and respect (and I certainly do) it makes perfect sense to contribute to and support a culture where empathy is valued, practised and developed. I work as a school teacher, and pretty much this sits as my core work task.
And I agree that many/most world religions have at their core an attempt to develop just this type of capacity, and that too is something I value.
So, is there anything here we disagree on? Maybe it's to do with the way you've interpreted my claims regarding objective morality? I don't claim that we're better off to abandon belief in objective morality, for example. I do claim, (and this, if I'm interpreting Darrell correctly, is the issue he and are digging towards), that belief in objective moral truths is not a precondition for individual moral motivation, nor is a precondition for what he and I would both judge to be social progress.
In essence, I argue against the claim that moral relativism necessarily collapses into 'anything goes'. This is, I believe, a case of false reasoning, and I think you may have edged towards it in your 'release the prisoners' example. So, if you're interested in continuing the discussion, that might be a fruitful area to explore.
Thaks for your time.
- Bernard BeckettMay 17, 2012 at 6:22 PM
Hi DarrellReplyDelete
As I say, historical interpretations are fraught. Your choice of the man we refer affectionately to as 'Kiwi Keith' for support, is a fine example of this.
I think I misunderstood what you were looking for by way of historical example. I don't know of any ethical relativist who led a major movement of the type you're seeking. It may well be nonesuch exist. After all, such relativism is a minority view, and further, relativists are much les slikely to say 'follow me, I have seen the light' for obvious reasons. The relativist's default position is more negotiation than colonistation.
I'm not sure what this lack, should it exist, establishes. It certainly doesn't establish social progress requires such leaders. It may well be that incremental change is more positive and lasting than revolutions (and here we must balance the positive achievements objectivists against some of their immeasurable damage, hence my use of Stalin as a possible example).
And I'd also ask whether the modern secular states are doing a worse job at protecting the rights of minorities. The US, with a history of strong allegience to Christian theologies, has variously embraced genocide, slavery, imperialism and a tolerance for poverty that is unusual by Western standards. I wouldn't lay any of this at Christianity's door, all of these things have had complex causes, but it challenges the view that Christianity necessarily contributes to social progress.
We may well agree on what I possibly misunderstood was your key objection. You seem to be saying that relativists are indeed capable of being motivated to treat others well, and I initially I thought you were saying this is more likely if a person holds objectivist beliefs.
As for the idea that current secular thinking is influenced by Christian ideology, well of course it is. In exactly the same way Christian theology owes a debt to Greek and Jewish frameworks. We'd be foolish, as we move through history, not to pick and choose all that is best (according to our own aspirations) from that which has gone before.
As always, it's stimulating to discuss this. Thank you.
I started to offer some comments on this discussion thread--relating to the issue of relativism in ethics--but my remarks became so lengthy that I decided to make them into a post. That post is now up.ReplyDelete
@ Bernard:ReplyDelete
aargh! I did it again. My response posted here: http://www.volnaiskra.com/2012/05/on-moral-relativism-and-objectivism-and.html
- Bernard BeckettMay 21, 2012 at 2:12 AM
Thanks VolnaiksraReplyDelete
Well said, and again, we disagree on very little here.
As is so often the case in philosophical discussions, the disagreement appears to be over what we mean by relativism.
For my part, I am using relativism to describe the position where the only guide to what is right or wrong that is available to us, is how we personally feel about it. And, explicitly, how we feel about it is a function of our personal history, both biological and cultural.
Such feelings will sometimes converge, at least within confined groups, and under these conditions all the 'measurers' will report the same moral conclusion, which has a whiff of objectivity about it.
This is analogous to how I think about taste in music, say. I may love a piece of music, and use normative terms to describe it, without believing others should reach the same conclusion.
The difference is that moral decisions are often about behaviours which will affect me, and so, in pursuing my ideal world (self interest) I will often hold opinions about other's moral stances, despite being a relativist. It is in my interests they have a different point of view.
Furthermore, because I have a capacity for empathy, and a cultural history that sees empathy express in a certain way, it will often be in my self interest to wish to see good come for others, even although it may appear to be at my expense. The calculation is that the damage their pain causes me is greater than the gain I get from inflicting it (so, despite being a relativist, I give to charity, for example).
You are using relativism in a slightly different sense, and I suspect this is all our disagreement amounts to. I am primarily interested in the assertion, often made, that belief in moral values that are more than just inventions of biology and culture is needed in order to construct the best (as understood by the participants in the conversation) outcomes. Were it true, it would be an interesting argument in favour of religious belief, but my sense is it requires a trick to get it over the line.


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Stories and Activities for 3-5 year olds with Rosie Everson. Prior registration required. Sign-up is weekly and takes place beginning one week prior to each session. Call or stop in to sign-up. Sessions take place at 10:30 am and are repeated at 1:30 pm
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Library Jumble for children 3 to 5 years old at 10:30 am repeated at 1:30 pm
November 16, 2017 @ 10:00 am - 11:15 am
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An event every week that begins at 10:00am on Thursday, repeating until November 16, 2017


text: Authors of animation movies try to make the illusion of motion or change. By this way, they means rapid succession of sequential images. It is minimally offers from each other. Moviemakers think the illusion as in motion pictures in general to rely on the beta movement. The exact causes are still unclear. Sometimes there are different forms of animation. They do not feature a succession or sequential images. In addition, there do not considered full animation. For example, the physical movement of image parts through some mechanics in lantern slides. It usually happens now of the projector in phantasmagoria, which provides some picture shows. The methods of creation in this genre usually include the tradition movies creation method. In addition, this film genre involve stop motion animation of dimensional objects. Sometimes there are clay figures and paper cutouts.


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As a busy working woman I often struggle to fit everything into my schedule in a timely manner (like waiting till the last day of the month to get my car inspected). And unless I'm physically maimed I find it way too easy to put off those non-essential doctor's appointments. But as my mother always says, "preventative medicine is the best medicine" and I recently became curious about the new trend in home health screening test kits.
I reached out to the folks at EverlyWell, who currently offer 12 at home health tests. From Cholesterol and Lipids to Women's Fertility, there's no need to let stress over your crazy to-do list cause any procrastination. EverlyWell will ship you a kit, you complete the sample on your own time and ship it back, how simple! They work with certified labs and all results are reviewed by a physician, you can learn more about the details at EverlyWell.com.
I tried out their Food Sensitivity test, ever since my mom and best friend went gluten free I've been curious to learn more. "Gluten intolerance" has been a hot health topic for years, with lots of opinions ranging from fact to fad on the trend. Food Sensitivities (or intolerances) are different than food allergies. A food allergy is a histamine response in the body that can range from mild to life threatening. According to the EverlyWell website "Unlike a true food allergy or severe medical conditions like celiac disease, an antibody IgG immune response has been demonstrated to offer guidance on what foods may be the best to eliminate. Rather than randomly eliminating foods over many months and assessing your change in symptoms, as improvement in symptoms is always the best test, you can have a directed elimination plan."
The test kit arrived quickly and the packaging and instructions were pretty easy to follow. Unlike all that Ikea furniture you haphazardly throw together, I do recommend reading all the instructions thoroughly before you begin. You wouldn't want to end up pricking your finger and then trying to struggle to get an envelope open...not that I would know.
My results came back in a week and it's extensive. They test 96 of the most common foods and then categorized your reaction from "Class 0" (low reactivity) to "Class 3" (high reactivity) providing specific info on each food tested. My results returned nothing higher than a "Class 1" (mild reactivity) but I think that's because I already eliminated eggs a few months ago. Best part, if you have further concerns you can take the results to your doctor and not have to start from square one!
The home health test revolution may not be for everyone, but for those of us who want to stay on top of our health but struggle with busy lives; I do think it has the opportunity to be a catalyst for preventative health education and action.
*The information in this article in not intended to treat, diagnose, cure or prevent any disease. All content is provided for educational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualifies healthcare provider for any question you have regarding a medical condition, and before undertaking any diet, exercise or health related program.


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Probably a weird thing to say, but Judges is my favorite book in the OT. It feels like the Wild West. There is a sense of law vs. lawlessness in the claiming of this new land. And much like the European visitors who tried to take the land from the Native Americans, the would-be settlers were not always behaving as though they were righteous or just. Judges gives us a picture of people vacillating between right and wrong. It feels real, gritty, and more relatable than the wanderings in the desert we've been dealing with the last couple of weeks. Still, this book also contains some HORRIFIC passages, and none are worse than the Jephthah's daughter debacle. What a disaster of a promise Jephthah makes and what an awful result.
On to the notes!
- Judges 1 – Here's the first reference to Jerusalem (I think?). Amazing to see this important city enter through violence. It is still such a divided place today and it began as a divided place in Judges. Just a preview of what's to come…
- Funny how just a generation after Joshua dies, the people forget the Lord. Do we have the same problem? Do we take for granted the exploits and sacrifices of our parents? Grandparents and beyond?
- "Then the Israelites did what was evil in the sight of the Lord…" We run into this phrase an awful lot over the next 20+ chapters, don't we?
- Othniel doesn't get very much of a story, just a short paragraph in chapter 3. I wish there was more to his backstory.
- Judges 3:12-30 – WOW that's a lot of violence all of the sudden. Killing a guy in the bathroom? Again, best book in the OT. Wild stories.
- I love the introduction of Deborah. Here we have a very strong female leader who takes up the mantle when the male general is unwilling to do so alone. If this isn't great rationale for female leadership and ordination, then I don't know what is. Deborah is called by God to lead the people with her gifts, talents, and faith. I want my daughter to know this story. I want my son to know this story. I want all people to read the scripture with an eye toward the whole – what is God's ultimate message about our relationships with one another, strangers, friends, and even our enemies.
- Judges 6 – The Sign of the Fleece – Gideon may be blessed, anointed, and touched by God, but he doesn't have a ton of trust in God, does he? It's funny how he test God once and when God passes, he decides to retest God. What does he think, the first time was a fluke? God got lucky?
- And the very next chapter we get an army chosen because they drink like dogs? This stuff is hilarious, awesome, fantastic, and hopeful. I really, really enjoy this book.
- Judges 11 – Jephthah's vow feels like the beginning of the end for the book. Why do we make deals with God that God does not ask us to make? Why would you bargain with God when there is no need to bargain? This poor girl. What an awful story…
- And onto the scene burst Samson! Here is yet another child of promise, born to a previously barren mother. There will be many more of these individuals in the scriptures that follow. My favorite Grateful Dead song? "Samson and Delilah" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQXv4JL0Fzg
- The Samson chronicles are great to teach kids…until everybody starts dying…and we have to deal with the weird sexual stuff…and the genocide…and animal abuse…and blindings…and, well, I'll take back my previous statement.
- And after Samson comes another passage I didn't really learn in Sunday School. Judges 19 describes the horrible rape of two women and the civil war that follows between the various tribes involved in the incident. You'll notice that God is absent from this section. The people were without any clear leadership, faith, or hope.
- Ruth was one of the first books I preached on when I became thepastor at The Peoples church. I love the way this book provides a hope that was missing in Judges. It's kind of a palate cleanser for the end of the last book. Now THIS is a story you can teach to all ages. After the NC-17 Judges, we have the more digestible PG Ruth…with a few scenes of adult situations (threashing room floor comes to mind).
- Who are the people picking up the sheaves in our culture? Do we leave the sheaves out for them?
- Names are important.
- Everyone has the responsibility for another person. We are all called to take care of others, aren't we?
- Boaz and Ruth are part of the lineage of David, and a little farther down the line, the genealogy of Jesus. Makes you start to wonder about all the questionable characters in Jesus' background.
1 Samuel
- We're just starting this book today.
- We encounter yet another child of promise. Hannah prays for a child and is eventually rewarded. So what does she do with her new baby? Gives him away to the temple.


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The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is increasing filing fees for many immigration applications and petitions by an average of 21% beginning on December 23, 2016. While the filing fees for some applications and petitions will remain the same, others will see significant increases.
According to the Department of Homeland Security, the fee increases reflect the current cost of processing immigration applications and petitions. The increased fees will also provide additional funding for certain programs that did not receive additional Congressional appropriations. This is the first fee increase since 2010 when USCIS increased fees by 10%.
Below are a few of the highlights of fee increases for some of the more common immigration applications and petitions:
- The Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker (I-129) will increase from $325 to $460.
- The Application for Employment Authorization (I-765) will go from $380 to $410.
- The Application for Travel Document (I-131) will increase from $360 to $575.
- The Application for Regional Center Designation under the Immigrant Investor Program will be increased from $6,230 to $17,795
- The Annual Certification of EB-5 Regional Center (Form I-924A) increases from $0 to $3,035.
- The Immigrant Petition by Alien Entrepreneur (I-526) will increase from $1,500 to $3,675.
- The Petition for Alien Relative (I-130) will increase from $420 to $535.
- The Petition for Alien Fiancé(e) (I-129F) increases from $340 to $535.
- The Application for Naturalization (Form N-400) will increase from $595 to $640 (not including the biometrics fee). However, for applicants that fall within a certain range of the federal poverty guidelines, the filing fee will be $320.
- The Application for Certificate of Citizenship (N-600) will increase from $600 to $1,170.
- The Application for Replacement Naturalization/Citizenship Document (N-565) will increase from $345 to $555.
You can find a full list of the new filing fees on the USCIS website, https://www.uscis.gov/forms/our-fees.


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Bethenny Frankel's Ex Jason Hoppy Arrested for Harassment & Stalking
Bethenny Frankel's ex husband Jason Hoppy was arrested last week after some scary incidents.
"Jason Hoppy, a 45 year old male, was arrested on Friday, January 27, at his residence," the NYPD said (via Us Weekly). He called his ex "numerous times via email and FaceTime, and approached victim making verbal threats."
"The complainant said Hoppy had sent numerous emails and FaceTime calls numbering in the hundreds after a cease and desist letter was sent on November 22, 2016," the NYPD added. "On Friday, January 27, the suspect approached her and a friend at her child's school at around 8:15 a.m. and tried to provoke a fight. He said, 'I will destroy you, you can get all the lawyers you want, you've been warned.'"
Jason was reportedly arrested for harassment in the first degree and stalking in the fourth degree.
"There are no words to express how saddened Mr. Hoppy is over his ex-wife's unjustified actions. His only concern is his daughter and intends to vigorously fight these false charges. We fully intend to do our talking in the courtroom," Jason's lawyer in a statement.


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School pupils in modern Romeo & Juliet production
York pupils have been testing their dramatic talents in a vibrant production of Romeo & Juliet, which completes a three night run tonight.
The young thespians, all pupils at St Peter's School in York, have taken to the stage in thoroughly modern dress; appropriate for a thoroughly modern production. Here the famous love story almost takes a supporting role, the focus instead being on the hatred, violence and ultimate folly of the Montague-Capulet feud.
Jo Lawrence, Head of English at St Peter's and Director of the play, said: "The play has a large cast of 32 – mostly fourth form with some third form.
"We've focused around the ridiculousness and explosive nature of all the fighting, with the line 'What's in a name?' possibly being the most important, as it exemplifies the stupidity of the feud."
Preparations started in December for the production, with the hard work and dedication of the young actors being rewarded by sold out seats. Demand was so high that an additional preview night was added.


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International Fight Week kicks off with a bang, as the UFC will host two action packed cards on back to back days in Las Vegas, Nevada. the 175 Weidman versus Machida will be the first of two cards of the weekend, with the 'TUF' Finale Edgar vs. Penn card on Sunday. The Weidman versus Machida early prelims will be shown exclusively on Fight Pass at 7 pm EST, switching over to FOX Sports 1 at 8 pm EST. The main card itself will not be live until 10 pm EST, only on pay per view. This card, along with all the festivities during International Fight Week will be covered by the Guardian Liberty Voice. Be sure to stay tuned for any live updates throughout the week.
[C] Chris Weidman (11-0) vs. #3 Lyoto Machida (21-4) – Middleweight Championship Bout Machida will make take his first stab at the middleweight title; as Weidman looks to defend his belt for the second time, and fight someone outside the name of Anderson Silva, for the first time in almost two years. The path taken to get to Silva was somewhat of a questionable one, with Weidman's most notable victory was over the fading Mark Munoz. Machida has fought some of the toughest competition to date, noting his days as the former light heavyweight champion in the UFC. Outside of Silva, Weidman has not fought a fighter of Machida's caliber and exquisite karate style before. "The Dragon's" movement is hard one to match, along with his lightning fast kicks and punches when he decides to attack. Weidman would do himself a favor if he could close the distance, and back Machida against the cage. Grappling and wrestling should be the champion's plan of attack if he wants to remain champion in the division. The MMA Spotlight wants to believe in Weidman's reign as champion, with a win outside of Anderson Silva should do just that; but the MMA section just does not think it will happen. Lyoto Machida via Unanimous Decision.
[C] Ronda Rousey (9-0) vs. #2 Alexis Davis (16-5) – Women's Bantamweight Championship Bout "Rowdy" Ronda Rousey is looking to put her win total in the double digits, as Alexis Davis hopes to become the first woman to defeat one of the brightest stars in the UFC. Davis has had an impressive run in the organization thus far, knocking off opponents such as, Jessica Eye; riding a five fight win streak into her title bout with Ronda. When it comes to women's MMA though, Ronda Rousey is just incomparable to any of the women in the UFC. Rousey has finished all nine of her opponents with ease, and it does not seem as if her time at the top will come to an end any time soon. Alexis Davis may give Rousey her toughest fight to date, using her black belt in BJJ to fend off Rousey's grappling prowess; but it still will not be enough to defeat the women's champion. Ronda is learning at a rapid pace, and showed in her last fight that she can finish opponents anywhere inside the octagon. Ronda Rousey via Technical Knockout.
#12 Stefan Struve (29-6) vs. Matt Mitrione (7-3) – Heavyweight Bout Stefan Struve is finally making his return to the octagon, after suffering a broken jaw at the hands Mark Hunt over a year ago. Finish or be finished seems to be the motto for the "Skyscraper"; in 35 career fights, only one has ever gone the distance in his career. It has been quite awhile since we have seen the heavyweight prospect in the cage though, which may make him subject to some ring rust coming into this bout. Matt Mitrione is coming off an impressive knockout victory over Shawn Jordan back in March, but has only won two of his last five fights inside the UFC octagon. Struve will have the reach, and the length; to keep Mitrione at bay, look for Mitrione to close the distance and pin Struve against the cage. Lookout for Struve in any situation, as the dutch kickboxer is known for having a deadly submission game as well. Struve has the experience, and the higher ceiling of potential then Mitrione does, hopefully ring rust does not defeat yet another fighter upon their return. Stefan Struve via Submission.
Urijah Hall (9-4) vs. Thiago Santos (9-2) – Middleweight Bout Urijah Hall was able to bring out his inner monster when he stopped Chris Leben, can he find the will power to take out Thiago Santos as well? One of the biggest question marks of Hall's career, is his killer instinct; president Dana White notably questioned that during Urijah's two fight losing streak. Thiago Santos on the other hand, has had only three fights go to decision; the Brazilian is always looking for the finish each time he steps inside the cage. Both are coming off TKO victories, and both are looking to gain some steam in the middleweight division. If Santos allows Hall to sit outside and execute his wide array of kicks; it will be a long night for Santos. Santos will be looking for the same as well, both will approach the bout with similar styles. The MMA Spotlight is not completely sold on Hall and his determination to finish fights after the Leben fight; Santos though, the section tends to beg to differ. Thiago Santos via Technical Knockout.
Marcus Brimage (6-2) vs. Russell Doane (13-3) – Bantamweight Bout This is where some may call into question, why is Urijah Faber not on the main card, and this fight is? Doane has one UFC fight under his belt, while Brimage suffered a gruesome loss to the rising Dublin featherweight star, Conor McGregor. Brimage has only two finishes to his resume,and Doane has made a career of finishing lesser known opponents. Either way, the fans must deal with the cards dealt to them; and this is the first fight to kick off the main card July 5th. Doane is currently on a two fight win streak, finishing both opponents in the process. Just going off that alone, Doane has an opportunity to make quite the impression on the organization, opening a main card on possibly the biggest event this year. Russell Doane via Unanimous Decision.
"The California Kid" Urijah Faber, will square off with Alex Caceres as the headliner on FOX Sports 1. Submission wizard, Kenny Robertson and Ildemar Alcantara will also take place on the FOX Sports prelims as well. For all International Fight Week and UFC coverage, follow the Guardian Liberty Voice throughout the week leading up to July 5.
Commentary by Justin Huffman
Follow Justin's coverage in the MMA Spotlight section
Guardian Liberty Voice Sports Writer leading the coverage in MMA
MMA Fighting
Bloody Elbow
MMA Mania


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I should start off by noting that I am absolutely no expert in building online communities. I hate myspace. I pretend I hate it because of how much I hate giving Rupert Murdoch money, but really it's because it's way too much for me, in that old-man curmudgeonly sort of way. I never even got into LiveJournal, with the communities there. And there are likely innumerable other ways of forming communities online that I'm not even aware of. Even more to the point of this post, I've basically failed in my personal attempts to create a groupblog out of Feminist Allies, after several go-rounds.
That said, I'll be really interested to see what happens over at feministing, when they make some intricate changes to their format, allowing others to create blogs (or 'diaries') under the feministing label. It looks really interesting, and they're doing some fundraising to support the upgrading, so if you like to support those great women over there, I encourage you to go check it out and donate.
I'm trying to take a wait-and-see attitude. They note that the new site will have diaries 'like DailyKos', which I think is an unfortunate comparison, since one of the things I don't like about DailyKos is the way in which the format of that site has allowed the marginalization of feminists from the discussion, at times. Feministing's site may well solve some of the problems around marginalization, and given the neato-ness of the women who run it, I have high hopes. And yet, there's something else I don't like about the 'diarist' format, a la DailyKos and the like--it reminds me of a kind of informational pyramid scheme, where a small group of people reap rewards from lots of other people's writing. And then there's the whole notion that something has to be 'branded' (in this case, helping to create feministing as a brand of feminism) in order for it to have more value, which squicks me somewhat (says the guy whose blog doesn't even have a proper banner).
On the other hand, such criticism is really silly before I see what happens in this particular case. It may be that a wonderfully informative site becomes even more informative, and more of a community.
Wait and see. Wait and see.


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ROSEVILLE, MN, March 30, 2015 – WinterLogic, Inc., the industry leader in EDA fault simulation solutions, is proud to announce that today marks the tenth anniversary of its founding.
Ten years ago, WinterLogic co-founders Jason Campbell, Brian Davenport and Bryan Walsh set out to expand the Z01X fault simulator to meet the needs of the most advanced integrated circuits (IC) and systems on a chip (SoC).
Today WinterLogic's Z01X is widely recognized as the leading functional fault simulator on the market. In manufacturing test, the software is used whenever functional or BIST patterns are needed. This ranges from small non-scan products such as security chip cards, to the most complex full-scan SoC for high-end smartphones. Z01X is also used by companies developing mixed-signal designs and IPs such as SerDes and DDR PHY. In functional safety testing, Z01X is used to perform complex fault injection campaigns in order to efficiently achieve IEC 61508 compliance and ISO26262 certification of automotive chips.
From the three original founders, the company has grown to seventeen employees.
Key milestones:
- 2005: first fault simulator with automatic testability analysis and optimal test ordering
- 2009: first fault simulator with full IEEE 1364 Verilog 2001 support (including behavioral)
- 2012: first fault simulator with both RTL and gate-level fault injection capabilities
- 2015: first fault simulator with stuck-at, transition, bridge, IDDQ, and transient fault models
"When most semi-conductor companies moved to scan technologies, we recognized there would always be a need for functional fault simulation," says Jason Campbell, President of WinterLogic. "Over the years we've streamlined and advanced our fault simulation algorithms so that today Z01X is by far the fastest and most powerful fault simulator available. We continue to invest over 80% of our revenue in the technology to meet the evolving needs of the semiconductor community."
"Z01X is used by half of the top-twenty semiconductor companies in the world, and four of the five largest semiconductor fabless companies," says Olivier Bolon, WinterLogic's Director of Sales & Business Development. "This is an enormous achievement for an independent, self-funded EDA company. In 2014 we experienced a record year, with over 50% growth and many new customers - all number one in their respective fields: mobile, networking, telecom, microcontroller, and automotive sensors. And our business outlook for 2015 and 2016 is excellent."
About Z01X
WinterLogic's Z01X is the only commercial fault simulator with the capacity and performance to successfully fault grade the largest SoC for wireless, graphics, computing, and automotive. It is used for both RTL and gate-level fault simulation, and is up to 10X faster than any other fault simulator on the market.
With its advanced feature set, speed and capacity, WinterLogic's Z01X is the tool of choice for meeting stringent automotive manufacturing and safety standards such as ISO 26262 and IEC 61508. Z01X is capable of exhaustively injecting and simulating faults on complex automotive devices to verify safety logic and develop robust diagnostic tests and Software Based Self-Tests (SBST).
Contact Information:
Olivier Bolon
WinterLogic, Inc.
Tel (US): (408) 757-0141
Cell (FR): +33 6 99 41 15 15


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UR Activities
Positive activity programmes are designed by YOU! We offer fun opportunities like:
- regular weekly groups
- regular half-term activities
- occasional day trips and seasonal trips
- overnight experiences and camping weekends
- educational opportunities with ASDAN qualifications
Choose what activities you would like to take part in and we will plan to do them together!
…and so much more!
- new opportunities
- tonnes of fun
- make new friends
- build independence
- learn new skills
Join In
If you are aged between 7 and 18 years old then join us! There is plenty to choose from across Medway and Kent – even the opportunity to join us on overnight trips across the UK (or further!)
You will need an adult to contact us to find out more about what we can offer you in your area.
Activity Highlights
Read more about what we have recently done:


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Citadel Guilds > Cartographer's Guild
The Magnificent Maps Match
(1/2) > >>
The Cartographers believe firmly in the idea of competition. And since they have engineered for themselves almost a complete monopoly on the map-making market, that competition turns to almost complete ruthlessness inside the inner-workings of the guild. To rise from the lowliest rank, that of the cartographer, minor minion, to cartographer, branch office head (level ten), used to require certain... less-than legal means. Magic and herbs (not the friendly sort of herbs, if you catch my drift) were used. And so, the moderator of the Cartography Guild decided to iron out the leveling u... I mean, the promotion process. It turned into a contest. But first, the ten ranks:
Note: the name of the rank is always put after the cartographer. For example: you wouldn't be median minon, you would be cartographer, median minion.
Level one--------------------minor minion
Level two--------------------middling minion
Level three------------------median minion
level four--------------------minion
level five--------------------archivist's assistant
level six---------------------archivist
level seven-----------------copier's assistant
level eight------------------copier
level nine-------------------manager
level ten--------------------branch office head
If you continue to gain levels once you have become level ten, you stay as a branch office head.
To focus the productive energy focused on mapmaking, the guild-leader issued the Magnificent Maps Match, a contest. Only cartographers could issue maps (nor can you if you're still trying to fulfill the requirements to join the guild) for the contest. The cartographers as a whole (including those with pledges) will vote for the top three in a poll. You cannot vote for yourself. The six highest level cartographers, and the moderator of the guild, will then vote on which of those three is first, second, and third. Like before, they cannot vote for themselves. First gets one sub drop off for a cartography guild quest and gets 2 stat points, while second gets 2 stat points and third one. To submit a map for the contest, post on this topic under the contest declaration with a link back to the sub. Only subs posted here will be considered in the consideration. All time limits will be put into each contest declaration's post.
Further explanation will be given as required. The first such Magnificent Maps Match will be given as soon as two people fulfill the requirements and become cartographers, so that it becomes a fair contest.
Can I submit my world map here?
Of course you can submit your world map here. But bear in mind that A: I haven't started a Match yet (I had kind of forgotten about this), B: to enter the Match when I start it (and we might have two Cartographers, so I might be able to start it) you'd need a location sub, and C: Your currently working through the requirements to be a cartographer, so you can't submit for this anyway.
So, there are a few members now anyone up for this?
Right now, we have four people as Cartographers, but with Dozus AWOL, for Match purposes that makes three. So, we theoretically could run a match, but right now I would prefer to wait for another person, so that way someone loses, to increase the spirit of competition. Also on the list for excuses for me to not run a Match right now is that I'm in the middle of another Guild Quest, which I really should finish.
So, Renlim, here is what I shall say: I will post a match in one week, and according to match rules that will give everyone another week to make an idea and finish it. This will also give me time to determine/remember the parameters and restrictions the match will have, such as whether it will be free-text friday oriented, or various combinations of category oriented, etc.
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The communications between the FDIC and legal counsel for SecurityOne Valuation Services, LLC (SecurityOne) have been substantially unproductive. We do recognize the FDIC is dealing with a lot of issues other than those of SecurityOne and believe we have established a good working relationship. Therefore, we have been patient in awaiting some meaningful response. However, that patience is near exhaustion. SecurityOne starts from a position of disadvantage; that is SecurityOne is not even sure what the FDIC's current position is. At this time we have not received any of the requested documents regarding the account at Platinum Community Bank. These documents will be key to resolving SecurityOne's issues with the FDIC.
SecurityOne is in doubt as to what restrictions the FDIC is unilaterally imposing on significant liquid assets of SecurityOne. However, we simply do not have information adequate to evaluate the potential outcomes.
This is unfortunate for all of us. There have been various threats of litigation from vendors against SecurityOne Valuation Services LLC. We are hopeful that these vendors will reconsider any legal remedies at this time. Consequently, once our vendors begin legal proceedings for collection on SecurityOne Valuation Services LLC, it is most likely the entity will have no choice other than to file for bankruptcy protection. This will not be beneficial to anyone involved and will only reduce SecurityOne's ability to pay its creditors if the funds are released. Additionally, there would be more government intervention.
Thank you for your patience and we apologize for the inconvenience.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Security One Valuation Services - UPDATE from Todd Barfield
It's been about a week since we posted the email from Todd Barfield. He provided some information about what is going on with the FDIC and checks issued to Appraisers from Security One Valuation Services, LLC; many of which were returned to the depositor unpaid.
Since many readers and commenters are still asking questions, and there has been no apparent resolution, we asked Todd Barfield for an update on the situation. Here's what he has to say:
That's all we have for you at this point. Please let me know if you hear any news; good or bad.
Posted by Frank Gregoire at 6:45 PM
Labels: AMC, HVCC, Security ONe
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


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Joe Scarborough: The 'boos' are getting louder at Trump speeches, Compares HIm To Mussolini
Jake Baker · March 13, 2018 · Featured, Media-Entertainment, Elections, Left Wing Ideology, Leftist Bullies
By: Nick Givas, DCNF
MSNBC host Joe Scarborough compared President Donald Trump's speech in Pennsylvania to a Benito Mussolini rally Monday on "Morning Joe," calling his approach un-American.
"Well, you know, the president likes funny names," Scarborough said. "He actually talked about the fake media. He got people booing. The booing is getting stronger by the day whenever he goes out there and whips up like it's a Mussolini rally. And yes, that's what I said."
Scarborough lamented the damage Trump was doing to the mainstream media's reputation and claimed he is hoping his supporters will start to threaten members of the press.
"There is certainly nothing American about what Donald Trump did in Pennsylvania when he tries to turn an entire audience, whether it's against Katy Tur or whether it's against Chuck Todd or this weekend he went after Maggie Haberman. But when you're in rallies like that and you whip your supporters into a frenzy, there are real life consequences to that," Scarborough concluded.
"Threats follow, often death threats. And that is actually, Mike, unfortunately that's exactly what [Trump] wants," Scarborough said of the Saturday speech.
For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact [email protected]
Article source: http://www.bizpacreview.com/2018/03/12/joe-scarborough-the-boos-are-getting-loud...Morning Joe, Idiot, Joe Scarborough, Donald Trump, Leftist Bullies, Benito Jussolini, Lefttist Nonsense


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Greetings comrades. It is I, your El Presidente, reporting to you live from behind Miley Cyrus. Why? Because even a former Cuban dictator enjoys a good twerking!
My friends, I am the bearer of potentially devestating news. Christopher Nolan might be out as a producer of Superman/Batman. The rumor stems from Warner Bros. announcement of Ben Affleck's casting as Batman. In the press release, both Nolan and his wife Emma Thomas were not mentioned in the list of producers for the film.
When I conducted my own research into the rumor, my network of spies uncovered a recording of a conversation between Nolan and Affleck that could explain why he left the film.
Nolan: Okay, Ben. We're going to try some common Batman lines. I want you to say "Swear to me" in your angriest, most gravelly voice.
Affleck: Sweah ta me, ya fuckahs.
Nolan: No, the line is "Swear to me." Try it again, without the cursing or the accent this time.
Affleck: Sweah ta me, ya fuckahs. I think was like wicked pissa, don't you think?
Nolan: No, not at all. That was the opposite of wicked pissa. Try it again, without the accent. And angrier this time.
Affleck: SWEEEEEEEAH TA ME, FUCKAHS!
But don't be alarmed. This could very well just be another example of incompetence at WB. It wouldn't be the first time after all.
I shall keep you posted when more news arrives. Until then, my friends!


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Flower Power
We had a change of venue for the summer staff meeting. Instead of the typical stuffy conference room, one of the managers opened up her home to the group—well, actually, she opened her yard since the house itself was too small to accommodate all of us.
Any outdoor even in this part of the world is a pretty risky proposition, even in August, because the weather can turn grumpy in nothing flat. Fortunately, the sun stuck with us throughout the afternoon. And the food, as I may have mentioned, was supreme.
Unfortunately there was one awkward moment. About midway through the agenda, I looked down to find the hostess's cat attempting to make sweet love to my shoe—with my foot still in it. Picture Pepé LePew at his most insistently amorous—that's the sort of attention that the cat was inflicting on my shoe. I tired tucking my foot under me to discourage Mr. Romance Kitty, but he jumped into my lap and attempted to retrieve the shoe from above, which, as you might imagine, was a bit of a scene. We finally had to interrupt a fascinating discussion about the finer points of library administration so that I could explain the hypnotic effect my footwear sometimes has on cats. See, this year I noticed an unusually large crop of volunteer catnip sprouting between my patio pavers. Normally, I'd pluck these seedlings out with the rest of the weeds, but since marauding neighborhood cats had decimated my usual catnip patch, I decided to let it go ahead and grow. It wasn't long before the act of walking across the patio began to transfer the magic aroma onto my shoes. These are shoes I normally wouldn't wear to work, but they seemed just right for a potentially muddy staff meeting. I had no idea they would become the center my manager's cat's borderline pornographic fantasies.
So, to end the distraction, I surrendered my shoe to the cat by taking it off and tossing it behind a bush where it and the kitty could continue their courtship in the privacy they both deserved. At the end of the meeting, when I rescued my shoe, it was still damp. Ew.
My patio has looked like hell most of the summer with weedy clumps of catnip growing everywhere. But I harvested it all today, and it's not a bad yield for a volunteer effort. I'll let it dry on racks in the garage for a couple of days before making the kids strip the leaves off the stems and store them in Ziploc baggies (when I made them do this chore last year, it was the first time in recorded history that they actually insisted on taking showers in the daytime). Our special "Meowie Wowie" blend has proven very popular with our cat-burdened friends. Just don't get pulled over with a baggie of it in your car. You really don't want to be in the position of saying, "No, really, Officer—it's just catnip."
USDA inspectors get to work grading the newly harvested crop.