text:
What is the difference between Moissanite and Cubic Zirconia? This question is not so difficult to answer given that both stones perform so differently in many respects. The main thing that they have in common is the fact that they are both man made stones. In addition, they are both diamond simulants, meaning that they try to mimic the look and feel of genuine diamonds.
That said, there is a huge difference between the two. If you want to skip reading the rest of the text, here is your answer right at the beginning. Cubic zirconia (CZ) stones are no real match for moissanite diamonds if compared across the whole range of features. The only advantage of cubic zirconia over moissanite that I can think of is their relatively low price.
To support the above claims, let us examine the physical and optical properties of both gems, step by step.
Moissanite is silicon carbide, a compound with chemical formula SiC. On the other hand, cubic zirconia is zirconium dioxide, ZrO2. Moissanite is composed out of silicon and carbon, whereas CZ in its crystal lattice contains zirconium and oxygen. Diamond, as you probably know, is pure carbon. If you compare both of them to diamond, moissanite comes much closer. In fact, moissanite can be understood as being obtained by replacing some of the carbon atoms in the crystal structure of diamond with silicon. Even the local bonding is very much preserved, because silicon has the same valence as carbon and can be accommodated in the same environment. Cubic zirconia is much more different, as it contains zirconium, which is a relatively heavy element with totally different properties. This is why CZ has a higher specific gravity — around 6 — which is almost twice as much as moissanite's specific gravity of 3.2.
The crystal structure of Moissanite is hexagonal, with stacking order ABAC for tetrahedral structures. The structure of CZ (cubic zirconia) is obviously cubic. This as a consequence has the fact that moissanite is not isometric, and is doubly refractive, unlike cubic zirconia or diamond.
The double refractivity means that each light ray entering a double refractive crystal or gemstone is decomposed into two rays, unless the crystals are observed from a special direction called optical axes where there is no such effect. Moissanite is often cut in such a way that the table facet is perpendicular to its optical axis, so if you look at it from the top facet of the stone you won't see this doubling effect. On the other hand, it can be argued that the very same doubling effect contributes to the increased beauty of moissanite. i.e., it leads to high brilliance (refractive index) and fire (dispersion).
Let us take a look at the optical properties of Cubic Zirconia and Moissanite, in particular, their brilliance and fire. The brilliance is closely related to the refractive index of the material. In case of moissanite it is around 2.7 which is considerably larger than the refractive index of diamond (2.4) or cubic zirconia (2.15). If you decide to buy a moissanite diamond we are sure you will appreciate this amazing property of moissanite. The brilliance simply tells you how much of the incident white light is being reflected back to your eyes. That feature is heavily dependent on the artistry of cutting and polishing. The brilliance of CZ obviously lags behind both diamond and moissanite. When it comes to their fire, that is, to their properties of dispersing light, moissanite has a dispersion of 0.1 which is considerably larger than 0.06 which is the value of cubic zirconia. In this case they both have larger fire than diamond with its merely 0.04. In practical applications this means that there will be more rainbows (colored light) in both moissanite and CZ than what you would see in diamonds.
The cubic zirconia gems are perfectly transparent and perfectly white. That is one of their notable features, one that sets them apart from the other more valuable precious stones and simulants. Even if you are not trained in gemology, you will be able to tell CZ from moissanite or diamond. Due to the complicated process of production, moissanite diamonds are neither perfectly white and transparent, nor flawless. They often possess slight greenish or even yellowish hues, along with some imperfections in the structure. In this respect moissanite is more similar to diamond.
Recently some colored moissanite samples have appeared on the market. The colors range from a peach pink, canary yellow, and beautiful intense light green to dark green.
When it comes to durability, the durability of a gemstone is determined largely by its hardness. But, other factors can also come into play, such as internal strains in the structure, so be careful. Even though all three stones, moissanite, diamonds, and cubic zirconia, are relatively hard, that does not mean they are unbreakable. The hardest and most durable is diamond with the maximum possible hardness of 10 on the corresponding scale. Moissanite is dangerously close with 9.2, and the least hard of them is CZ with 8-8.5.
Another property worth examining is the toughness. It is the resistance to breaking. Cubic Zirconia has a very poor toughness when compared to Moissanite: 2.4 versus 7.6. Moissanite is almost three times tougher, i.e., three times more resistant to breaking and chipping.
Moissanite is by far more resistant to dirt than CZ. All kinds of dirt, cosmetics, oils, powders, etc. will stick to CZ's surface more easily, resulting in a significant loss of luster. While Moissanite will accumulate dirt with time, it will be at a much slower rate than CZ. Just a little bit of dirt will make your cubic zirconia look dull, so you would have to clean it more often when compared to moissanite gemstones.
When it comes to comparing prices, you should know that here we are able to give only general guidance. The actual prices depend on a number of factors, including design, use of other complementary stones and precious metals in the process of jewelry manufacturing, etc.. As a general rule, diamonds are understandably on the top, followed by moissanite diamonds, whereas cubic zirconia can be so inexpensive that they are readily used in costume jewelry production.
The metaphysical properties of diamond and its spiritual significance and symbolism are generally well known. What about Moissanite and CZ? As artificial stones, their metaphysical power is diminished, especially if compared to natural diamonds. But you should take into consideration that even natural diamonds are often artificially enhanced. There are also some rare finds of natural moissanite, however that's not even close a gem quality material.
Check the video below to compare the look of similar size standard cubic zirconia ($3-$6 per carat), lab-grown white sapphire ($240+ per carat), lab-grown Moissanite ($400+ per carat), and D color internally flawless ideal cut 1.12 carat genuine diamond ($50,000+ per carat).
At the end, let us summarize. Are you in a dilemma what to choose: Moissanite or CZ? Choose moissanite by all means. Provided that you can afford the more expensive moissanite, we cannot actually think of a situation where cubic zirconia would be a better choice.
The author is a blogger and owner of moissanitediamonds.net.
Moissanite is basically silicon carbide, which as far as I know is used as an abrasive and is relatively common. How come it is so expensive?
The abrasive silicon carbide is in a form of polycrystalline powder and as such relatively inexpensive. Moissanite is a sizeable single crystal, and as such very veru difficult to make and thus very expensive. Charles & Colvard hold the patent for moissanite production.
Christmas and Crystals — 5 Gemstones You Cannot Miss This Festive Season!

lowercased:
what is the difference between moissanite and cubic zirconia? this question is not so difficult to answer given that both stones perform so differently in many respects. the main thing that they have in common is the fact that they are both man made stones. in addition, they are both diamond simulants, meaning that they try to mimic the look and feel of genuine diamonds.
that said, there is a huge difference between the two. if you want to skip reading the rest of the text, here is your answer right at the beginning. cubic zirconia (cz) stones are no real match for moissanite diamonds if compared across the whole range of features. the only advantage of cubic zirconia over moissanite that i can think of is their relatively low price.
to support the above claims, let us examine the physical and optical properties of both gems, step by step.
moissanite is silicon carbide, a compound with chemical formula sic. on the other hand, cubic zirconia is zirconium dioxide, zro2. moissanite is composed out of silicon and carbon, whereas cz in its crystal lattice contains zirconium and oxygen. diamond, as you probably know, is pure carbon. if you compare both of them to diamond, moissanite comes much closer. in fact, moissanite can be understood as being obtained by replacing some of the carbon atoms in the crystal structure of diamond with silicon. even the local bonding is very much preserved, because silicon has the same valence as carbon and can be accommodated in the same environment. cubic zirconia is much more different, as it contains zirconium, which is a relatively heavy element with totally different properties. this is why cz has a higher specific gravity — around 6 — which is almost twice as much as moissanite's specific gravity of 3.2.
the crystal structure of moissanite is hexagonal, with stacking order abac for tetrahedral structures. the structure of cz (cubic zirconia) is obviously cubic. this as a consequence has the fact that moissanite is not isometric, and is doubly refractive, unlike cubic zirconia or diamond.
the double refractivity means that each light ray entering a double refractive crystal or gemstone is decomposed into two rays, unless the crystals are observed from a special direction called optical axes where there is no such effect. moissanite is often cut in such a way that the table facet is perpendicular to its optical axis, so if you look at it from the top facet of the stone you won't see this doubling effect. on the other hand, it can be argued that the very same doubling effect contributes to the increased beauty of moissanite. i.e., it leads to high brilliance (refractive index) and fire (dispersion).
let us take a look at the optical properties of cubic zirconia and moissanite, in particular, their brilliance and fire. the brilliance is closely related to the refractive index of the material. in case of moissanite it is around 2.7 which is considerably larger than the refractive index of diamond (2.4) or cubic zirconia (2.15). if you decide to buy a moissanite diamond we are sure you will appreciate this amazing property of moissanite. the brilliance simply tells you how much of the incident white light is being reflected back to your eyes. that feature is heavily dependent on the artistry of cutting and polishing. the brilliance of cz obviously lags behind both diamond and moissanite. when it comes to their fire, that is, to their properties of dispersing light, moissanite has a dispersion of 0.1 which is considerably larger than 0.06 which is the value of cubic zirconia. in this case they both have larger fire than diamond with its merely 0.04. in practical applications this means that there will be more rainbows (colored light) in both moissanite and cz than what you would see in diamonds.
the cubic zirconia gems are perfectly transparent and perfectly white. that is one of their notable features, one that sets them apart from the other more valuable precious stones and simulants. even if you are not trained in gemology, you will be able to tell cz from moissanite or diamond. due to the complicated process of production, moissanite diamonds are neither perfectly white and transparent, nor flawless. they often possess slight greenish or even yellowish hues, along with some imperfections in the structure. in this respect moissanite is more similar to diamond.
recently some colored moissanite samples have appeared on the market. the colors range from a peach pink, canary yellow, and beautiful intense light green to dark green.
when it comes to durability, the durability of a gemstone is determined largely by its hardness. but, other factors can also come into play, such as internal strains in the structure, so be careful. even though all three stones, moissanite, diamonds, and cubic zirconia, are relatively hard, that does not mean they are unbreakable. the hardest and most durable is diamond with the maximum possible hardness of 10 on the corresponding scale. moissanite is dangerously close with 9.2, and the least hard of them is cz with 8-8.5.
another property worth examining is the toughness. it is the resistance to breaking. cubic zirconia has a very poor toughness when compared to moissanite: 2.4 versus 7.6. moissanite is almost three times tougher, i.e., three times more resistant to breaking and chipping.
moissanite is by far more resistant to dirt than cz. all kinds of dirt, cosmetics, oils, powders, etc. will stick to cz's surface more easily, resulting in a significant loss of luster. while moissanite will accumulate dirt with time, it will be at a much slower rate than cz. just a little bit of dirt will make your cubic zirconia look dull, so you would have to clean it more often when compared to moissanite gemstones.
when it comes to comparing prices, you should know that here we are able to give only general guidance. the actual prices depend on a number of factors, including design, use of other complementary stones and precious metals in the process of jewelry manufacturing, etc.. as a general rule, diamonds are understandably on the top, followed by moissanite diamonds, whereas cubic zirconia can be so inexpensive that they are readily used in costume jewelry production.
the metaphysical properties of diamond and its spiritual significance and symbolism are generally well known. what about moissanite and cz? as artificial stones, their metaphysical power is diminished, especially if compared to natural diamonds. but you should take into consideration that even natural diamonds are often artificially enhanced. there are also some rare finds of natural moissanite, however that's not even close a gem quality material.
check the video below to compare the look of similar size standard cubic zirconia ($3-$6 per carat), lab-grown white sapphire ($240+ per carat), lab-grown moissanite ($400+ per carat), and d color internally flawless ideal cut 1.12 carat genuine diamond ($50,000+ per carat).
at the end, let us summarize. are you in a dilemma what to choose: moissanite or cz? choose moissanite by all means. provided that you can afford the more expensive moissanite, we cannot actually think of a situation where cubic zirconia would be a better choice.
the author is a blogger and owner of moissanitediamonds.net.
moissanite is basically silicon carbide, which as far as i know is used as an abrasive and is relatively common. how come it is so expensive?
the abrasive silicon carbide is in a form of polycrystalline powder and as such relatively inexpensive. moissanite is a sizeable single crystal, and as such very veru difficult to make and thus very expensive. charles & colvard hold the patent for moissanite production.
christmas and crystals — 5 gemstones you cannot miss this festive season!


text:
By the end of the first century, the church of Jesus Christ faced serious challenges from without and within. The Roman Empire began persecuting Christians. Suffering and oppression were the common fate of believers. False teachers threatened to destroy God’s people. The Judaizers were quickly followed by the Gnostics.
Gnosticism, which developed into a full-blown heresy in the second century, menaced the church for several hundred years. “By the beginning of the third century nearly all the more intellectual Christian congregations in the Roman Empire were markedly affected by it.” [Renwick #1].
Gnosticism was a unique blending of Jewish legalism, Greek philosophical speculation and Oriental mysticism. It refers to “the thought and practice especially of various cults of late pre-Christian and early Christian centuries distinguished by the conviction that matter is evil and that emancipation comes through gnosis” [Webster].
“Gnosticism,” stated Gwatkin, “is Christianity perverted by learning and speculation” (II, 73). The intellectual pride of the Gnostics changed the gospel into a philosophy. The clue to the understanding of Gnosticism is found in the Greek word from which its name is derived — gnōsis, “knowledge.” The Gnostics claimed to be the elite, the wise, the philosophers, to whom was revealed a secret knowledge which the overwhelming mass of mankind could never know. [Renwick #2].
Until the middle of the twentieth century, most information concerning Gnosticism came from the church fathers who opposed it. However, in 1945 a collection of Gnostic scrolls were discovered at Nag Hammadi in Upper Egypt which shed more light on this teaching. This discovery confirmed the accuracy of the church fathers in addressing this subject.
The Greek word gnōsis occurs 29x in the NT (Luke 1:77; 11:52; Romans 2:20; 11:33; 15:14; 1 Corinthians 1:5; 8:1, 7, 10, 11; 12:8; 13:2, 8; 14:6; 2 Corinthians 2:14; 4:6; 6:6; 8:7; 10:5; 11:6; Ephesians 3:19; Philippians 3:8; Colossians 2:3; 1 Timothy 6:20; 1 Peter 3:7; 2 Peter 1:5, 6; 3:18).
According to Thomas, it is derived from the verb ginōskō [to come to know, recognize, perceive], and is defined as “a knowing, knowledge” .
Knowledge comes from God the Father (Romans 11:33-36, esp. vs. 33), Christ Jesus (1 Colossians 2:1-4), and the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:6-11; 13:8-10; 14:6).
John the Baptist (Luke 1:76-77) and the inspired apostles (2 Corinthians 2:14-17; 4:5-7; 6:4-7; 2 Corinthians 11:6) disseminated knowledge. Disciples of Christ should be filled with knowledge (Romans 15:14-16; 1 Corinthians 1:4-8; 2 Corinthians 8:7; Philippians 3:8-11; 1 Peter 3:7; 2 Peter 1:5-11; 3:17-18).
Dangers are also present with knowledge: rebellion (Luke 11:45-52, esp. vs. 52), hypocrisy (Romans 2:17-24, esp. vs. 20), pride (1 Corinthians 8:1-3), carelessness (1 Corinthians 8:4-13, esp. vs. 7, 10, 11), a lack of love (1 Corinthians 13:1-7, esp. vs. 2; cf. also Ephesians 3:14-19), and a reliance upon human speculation (2 Corinthians 10:1-6; 1 Timothy 6:20-21).
Gnostics believed that matter is wholly evil, and the physical body completely corrupt. However, this position denies repeated declarations of Scripture. The creation account repeatedly says, “God saw it was good” (Genesis 1:10, 12, 17-18, 21, 25) or “very good” (Genesis 1:31). According to the KJV translation of Psalm 19:1, “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.” Everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is gratefully received (1 Timothy 4:4-5).
Gnostics taught that the true God is unknowable and unapproachable, infinitely removed from the physical universe. How could One who is pure and perfect create a material world so corrupt and alien to the divine nature? “He did not,” they answer. Gnosticism affirms the fullness of deity is separated from the world by a series of emanations, aeons, or angels, “all of which are necessarily imperfect, the highest of them being more spiritual than the grade immediately below. Of these aeons there is a gradation so numerous that at length the lowest of them is almost wholly corporeal, the spiritual element having been gradually diminished or eliminated until at last the world of mankind and of matter is reached, the abode of evil. In this way the gulf is bridged between God and mankind. The highest aeons approximate closely to the divine nature, so spiritual are they and so free from matter. These form the highest hierarchy of angels, and these with many other grades of angelic hosts are to be worshiped.” [A. M. Renwick, ISBE, Revised].
When one of these aeons was sufficiently remote from the Supreme God, and was on the borderland of light and darkness, he created the world, and did so badly. This was the Demiurge, i.e., the God of the Old Testament. Actively hostile to Supreme God, he created the evil material world. Therefore, according to Gnostic philosophy, Jehovah/Yahweh, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the Creator of the world, is not the ultimate Supreme Being. He is neither unique, good or competent.
A more blasphemous doctrine cannot be imagined. Holy Scripture affirms that God is singular, (Deuteronomy 6:4-5), good (Psalm 73:1), and also knowable (1 John 4:6-8).
Gnostics believed that Jesus was only one of many intermediaries between God and man. However, New Testament Epistles affirms that Christ holds a unique and supreme position (Colossians 1:15-20; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; Hebrews 1:1-4).
Gnostics denied the incarnation of Jesus Christ. Assuming the physical body is inherently wicked, they argued that God could not have come in the flesh. Therefore, Jesus was not fully human, but only appeared to be flesh and blood. Lacking a real body, he was a phantom, spirit, or ghost. However, Scripture declares “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Moreover, “the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us” (John 1:1-3, 14; cf. also 1 John 4:1-3).
Prideful of their privileged class, Gnostics claimed to possess secret knowledge inaccessible to the mass of humanity. Accordingly, the hope of salvation was not by grace through faith, but in esoteric understanding, mastering secret passwords and formulas, etc. However, the Bible says we must guard against human philosophy and speculation (2 Corinthians 10:5-6; Colossians 2:8-9; 1 Timothy 1:3-4).
Gnosticism led to two extreme, opposite moral views: asceticism and licentiousness. Since the material realm is evil, one should withdraw from the world and abuse the physical body. Since the flesh is carnal, one may sin in the body, while serving God in the spirit. However, God’s Word condemns both asceticism (Colossians 2:20-23; 1 Timothy 4:1-5) and immorality (Romans 6:1-7; 1 John 3:4-10).
Gnostics made drastic changes to the Bible. One Gnostic sect worshipped the serpent. One school turned the Scripture upside down and taught that Pharaoh and Ahab were saints while Moses and Elijah were sinners. In the Gospel of Judas, the one who betrayed Jesus is the hero of the plot rather than a villain. In contrast with such faithlessness, let us stand with the Psalmist, who said, “The sum of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous ordinances is everlasting” (Psalm 119:160). Let us agree with Agur, who said, “Every word of God is tested” (Proverbs 30:5-6), and Paul, who affirmed, “All Scripture is inspired by God…” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
In historical terms, Gnosticism was an active religious movement during the 2nd and 3rd centuries. In comparative terms, it survives in the smorgasbord approach many today take toward religion. Recognizing the folly of trusting in human wisdom, let us be content with simple New Testament Christianity (Matthew 11:25-26; 1 Corinthians 1:18-31).
BDAG = Frederick William Danker, ed., A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed., (Chicago, IL: The University of Chicago Press, 2000).
Renwick #1 = Alexander M. Renwick, “Gnosticism,” Baker’s Dictionary of Theology, (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1960), p. 237-238.
Renwick #2 = H. M. Gwatkin, Early Church History (2nd ed 1909), quoted by A. M. Renwick, The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Revised, G. W. Bromiley, ed., (Logos Library System; Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1988, 2002), s.v. “Gnosticism,” Vol. 2, Page 484.
Thomas = Robert L. Thomas, New American Standard Hebrew-Aramaic and Greek Dictionaries: Updated Edition, (Anaheim: Foundation Publications, Inc., 1998, 1981).
Webster = Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary. 10th Edition, (Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster, c1993, 1996).

lowercased:
by the end of the first century, the church of jesus christ faced serious challenges from without and within. the roman empire began persecuting christians. suffering and oppression were the common fate of believers. false teachers threatened to destroy god’s people. the judaizers were quickly followed by the gnostics.
gnosticism, which developed into a full-blown heresy in the second century, menaced the church for several hundred years. “by the beginning of the third century nearly all the more intellectual christian congregations in the roman empire were markedly affected by it.” [renwick #1].
gnosticism was a unique blending of jewish legalism, greek philosophical speculation and oriental mysticism. it refers to “the thought and practice especially of various cults of late pre-christian and early christian centuries distinguished by the conviction that matter is evil and that emancipation comes through gnosis” [webster].
“gnosticism,” stated gwatkin, “is christianity perverted by learning and speculation” (ii, 73). the intellectual pride of the gnostics changed the gospel into a philosophy. the clue to the understanding of gnosticism is found in the greek word from which its name is derived — gnōsis, “knowledge.” the gnostics claimed to be the elite, the wise, the philosophers, to whom was revealed a secret knowledge which the overwhelming mass of mankind could never know. [renwick #2].
until the middle of the twentieth century, most information concerning gnosticism came from the church fathers who opposed it. however, in 1945 a collection of gnostic scrolls were discovered at nag hammadi in upper egypt which shed more light on this teaching. this discovery confirmed the accuracy of the church fathers in addressing this subject.
the greek word gnōsis occurs 29x in the nt (luke 1:77; 11:52; romans 2:20; 11:33; 15:14; 1 corinthians 1:5; 8:1, 7, 10, 11; 12:8; 13:2, 8; 14:6; 2 corinthians 2:14; 4:6; 6:6; 8:7; 10:5; 11:6; ephesians 3:19; philippians 3:8; colossians 2:3; 1 timothy 6:20; 1 peter 3:7; 2 peter 1:5, 6; 3:18).
according to thomas, it is derived from the verb ginōskō [to come to know, recognize, perceive], and is defined as “a knowing, knowledge” .
knowledge comes from god the father (romans 11:33-36, esp. vs. 33), christ jesus (1 colossians 2:1-4), and the holy spirit (1 corinthians 12:6-11; 13:8-10; 14:6).
john the baptist (luke 1:76-77) and the inspired apostles (2 corinthians 2:14-17; 4:5-7; 6:4-7; 2 corinthians 11:6) disseminated knowledge. disciples of christ should be filled with knowledge (romans 15:14-16; 1 corinthians 1:4-8; 2 corinthians 8:7; philippians 3:8-11; 1 peter 3:7; 2 peter 1:5-11; 3:17-18).
dangers are also present with knowledge: rebellion (luke 11:45-52, esp. vs. 52), hypocrisy (romans 2:17-24, esp. vs. 20), pride (1 corinthians 8:1-3), carelessness (1 corinthians 8:4-13, esp. vs. 7, 10, 11), a lack of love (1 corinthians 13:1-7, esp. vs. 2; cf. also ephesians 3:14-19), and a reliance upon human speculation (2 corinthians 10:1-6; 1 timothy 6:20-21).
gnostics believed that matter is wholly evil, and the physical body completely corrupt. however, this position denies repeated declarations of scripture. the creation account repeatedly says, “god saw it was good” (genesis 1:10, 12, 17-18, 21, 25) or “very good” (genesis 1:31). according to the kjv translation of psalm 19:1, “the heavens declare the glory of god; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.” everything created by god is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is gratefully received (1 timothy 4:4-5).
gnostics taught that the true god is unknowable and unapproachable, infinitely removed from the physical universe. how could one who is pure and perfect create a material world so corrupt and alien to the divine nature? “he did not,” they answer. gnosticism affirms the fullness of deity is separated from the world by a series of emanations, aeons, or angels, “all of which are necessarily imperfect, the highest of them being more spiritual than the grade immediately below. of these aeons there is a gradation so numerous that at length the lowest of them is almost wholly corporeal, the spiritual element having been gradually diminished or eliminated until at last the world of mankind and of matter is reached, the abode of evil. in this way the gulf is bridged between god and mankind. the highest aeons approximate closely to the divine nature, so spiritual are they and so free from matter. these form the highest hierarchy of angels, and these with many other grades of angelic hosts are to be worshiped.” [a. m. renwick, isbe, revised].
when one of these aeons was sufficiently remote from the supreme god, and was on the borderland of light and darkness, he created the world, and did so badly. this was the demiurge, i.e., the god of the old testament. actively hostile to supreme god, he created the evil material world. therefore, according to gnostic philosophy, jehovah/yahweh, the god of abraham, isaac and jacob, the creator of the world, is not the ultimate supreme being. he is neither unique, good or competent.
a more blasphemous doctrine cannot be imagined. holy scripture affirms that god is singular, (deuteronomy 6:4-5), good (psalm 73:1), and also knowable (1 john 4:6-8).
gnostics believed that jesus was only one of many intermediaries between god and man. however, new testament epistles affirms that christ holds a unique and supreme position (colossians 1:15-20; 1 timothy 2:5-6; hebrews 1:1-4).
gnostics denied the incarnation of jesus christ. assuming the physical body is inherently wicked, they argued that god could not have come in the flesh. therefore, jesus was not fully human, but only appeared to be flesh and blood. lacking a real body, he was a phantom, spirit, or ghost. however, scripture declares “in the beginning was the word, and the word was with god, and the word was god.” moreover, “the word became flesh, and dwelt among us” (john 1:1-3, 14; cf. also 1 john 4:1-3).
prideful of their privileged class, gnostics claimed to possess secret knowledge inaccessible to the mass of humanity. accordingly, the hope of salvation was not by grace through faith, but in esoteric understanding, mastering secret passwords and formulas, etc. however, the bible says we must guard against human philosophy and speculation (2 corinthians 10:5-6; colossians 2:8-9; 1 timothy 1:3-4).
gnosticism led to two extreme, opposite moral views: asceticism and licentiousness. since the material realm is evil, one should withdraw from the world and abuse the physical body. since the flesh is carnal, one may sin in the body, while serving god in the spirit. however, god’s word condemns both asceticism (colossians 2:20-23; 1 timothy 4:1-5) and immorality (romans 6:1-7; 1 john 3:4-10).
gnostics made drastic changes to the bible. one gnostic sect worshipped the serpent. one school turned the scripture upside down and taught that pharaoh and ahab were saints while moses and elijah were sinners. in the gospel of judas, the one who betrayed jesus is the hero of the plot rather than a villain. in contrast with such faithlessness, let us stand with the psalmist, who said, “the sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous ordinances is everlasting” (psalm 119:160). let us agree with agur, who said, “every word of god is tested” (proverbs 30:5-6), and paul, who affirmed, “all scripture is inspired by god…” (2 timothy 3:16-17).
in historical terms, gnosticism was an active religious movement during the 2nd and 3rd centuries. in comparative terms, it survives in the smorgasbord approach many today take toward religion. recognizing the folly of trusting in human wisdom, let us be content with simple new testament christianity (matthew 11:25-26; 1 corinthians 1:18-31).
bdag = frederick william danker, ed., a greek-english lexicon of the new testament and other early christian literature, 3rd ed., (chicago, il: the university of chicago press, 2000).
renwick #1 = alexander m. renwick, “gnosticism,” baker’s dictionary of theology, (grand rapids: baker book house, 1960), p. 237-238.
renwick #2 = h. m. gwatkin, early church history (2nd ed 1909), quoted by a. m. renwick, the international standard bible encyclopedia, revised, g. w. bromiley, ed., (logos library system; grand rapids, mi: william b. eerdmans publishing co., 1988, 2002), s.v. “gnosticism,” vol. 2, page 484.
thomas = robert l. thomas, new american standard hebrew-aramaic and greek dictionaries: updated edition, (anaheim: foundation publications, inc., 1998, 1981).
webster = merriam-webster's collegiate dictionary. 10th edition, (springfield, ma: merriam-webster, c1993, 1996).


text:
Our present headquarters is located in Chicago. Our service area extends over the entire Downtown area. We can serve the needs of residents in this area, whether you happen to live in the Downtown subdivisions or at any point along the line. If you are planning to make a move to this area, let us know. We will happy to show you all of the available properties in the area that fit your specific needs.
Whether you are buying or selling a home, one thing is clear: You desire and deserve the best possible service from your real estate agent. Our goal is to make sure that you are able to buy or sell your property in a timely manner. We will work with you to get you the best possible price while minimizing the amount of red tape and regulations you have to deal with.
@properties is the service that stands behind all of its dealings with a full guarantee of first-class quality. Whether you are buying, selling, downsizing, or upsizing your home, we will work hard to give you the best, most satisfactory experience.
Get in touch with us today to learn more about what we are willing and able to do for you.

lowercased:
our present headquarters is located in chicago. our service area extends over the entire downtown area. we can serve the needs of residents in this area, whether you happen to live in the downtown subdivisions or at any point along the line. if you are planning to make a move to this area, let us know. we will happy to show you all of the available properties in the area that fit your specific needs.
whether you are buying or selling a home, one thing is clear: you desire and deserve the best possible service from your real estate agent. our goal is to make sure that you are able to buy or sell your property in a timely manner. we will work with you to get you the best possible price while minimizing the amount of red tape and regulations you have to deal with.
@properties is the service that stands behind all of its dealings with a full guarantee of first-class quality. whether you are buying, selling, downsizing, or upsizing your home, we will work hard to give you the best, most satisfactory experience.
get in touch with us today to learn more about what we are willing and able to do for you.


text:
Let’s not twist the facts - people are, by nature, biased. Even people who say, “I’m not biased,” can be biased. This is perfectly natural because experiences instinctively shape viewpoints (also called stereotypes), depending upon what one has experienced (in the past) and will unconsciously shape a person’s opinions (in the future). Unconscious biases, therefore, work on people much like gravity: you can’t see it, but that doesn’t mean it’s not working.
Biases are not only unfair, they can actually stymie corporate innovation and performance, which limits corporate profit.
People tend to hire people similar to themselves - the Similarity-Attraction Effect says that people are more positive about people when they share a familiarity of some sort. Conversely, people feel more negative about a dissimilar person, regardless of qualifications.
People are suspicious of anyone who they perceive may threaten their status. This could be anything from “fear of hiring your replacement” and neglecting to properly train to “fear that someone is more qualified” and thus purposely hiring for incompetence.
Relying on outdated methods like the typical resume review, traditional interviews, and gut instinct to make your hiring decisions can limit your success. To reduce bias, to increase the quality of hires, and to create an inclusionary corporate culture, attracting top talent requires changing the way you make decisions. Although it’s impossible to completely eliminate hiring bias completely, changing the way you make decisions by replacing gut instincts with predictive analytics may help you discover a new driver of increased profits.
Predictive Analytics, like behavior-based assessments and best practice behavioral benchmarks, level the playing field using behavioral data and predictive algorithms. Assessments, like PeopleKeys’ DISC style report, can predict which candidates will be most likely to excel based off of behavioral benchmarks from top performers in that role.
Other variables, such as skills, education, and experience, should be considered. All things being equal, the behavioral and cultural fit of the candidate should be used for hiring decisions.
A standard set of questions for each candidate should be asked to make it fair and objective. If you see a candidate scores low in a necessary behavioral dimension, you can ask specific open-ended interview questions (suggested questions are included in your DISC hiring report) to try to expand on that behavioral dimension in the candidate’s own words.
Hiring shouldn’t take all of your time. To hire right, you would need to fully understand the nature of the work, skills, qualifications, and behavior needed for a given role prior to posting a job and conducting interviews. PeopleKeys® provides businesses the tools needed for reducing bias when hiring. Using PeopleKeys’ predictive hiring products, as well as Repcruit® - an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) equipped with PeopleKeys® patent-pending predictive hiring technology, with added behavioral benchmarks for a chosen job role, you can behaviorally screen and rank candidates, and also have your job posting published live. For businesses in need of an all-inclusive and affordable sourcing to hiring platform solution, try Repcruit®, powered by PeopleKeys.

lowercased:
let’s not twist the facts - people are, by nature, biased. even people who say, “i’m not biased,” can be biased. this is perfectly natural because experiences instinctively shape viewpoints (also called stereotypes), depending upon what one has experienced (in the past) and will unconsciously shape a person’s opinions (in the future). unconscious biases, therefore, work on people much like gravity: you can’t see it, but that doesn’t mean it’s not working.
biases are not only unfair, they can actually stymie corporate innovation and performance, which limits corporate profit.
people tend to hire people similar to themselves - the similarity-attraction effect says that people are more positive about people when they share a familiarity of some sort. conversely, people feel more negative about a dissimilar person, regardless of qualifications.
people are suspicious of anyone who they perceive may threaten their status. this could be anything from “fear of hiring your replacement” and neglecting to properly train to “fear that someone is more qualified” and thus purposely hiring for incompetence.
relying on outdated methods like the typical resume review, traditional interviews, and gut instinct to make your hiring decisions can limit your success. to reduce bias, to increase the quality of hires, and to create an inclusionary corporate culture, attracting top talent requires changing the way you make decisions. although it’s impossible to completely eliminate hiring bias completely, changing the way you make decisions by replacing gut instincts with predictive analytics may help you discover a new driver of increased profits.
predictive analytics, like behavior-based assessments and best practice behavioral benchmarks, level the playing field using behavioral data and predictive algorithms. assessments, like peoplekeys’ disc style report, can predict which candidates will be most likely to excel based off of behavioral benchmarks from top performers in that role.
other variables, such as skills, education, and experience, should be considered. all things being equal, the behavioral and cultural fit of the candidate should be used for hiring decisions.
a standard set of questions for each candidate should be asked to make it fair and objective. if you see a candidate scores low in a necessary behavioral dimension, you can ask specific open-ended interview questions (suggested questions are included in your disc hiring report) to try to expand on that behavioral dimension in the candidate’s own words.
hiring shouldn’t take all of your time. to hire right, you would need to fully understand the nature of the work, skills, qualifications, and behavior needed for a given role prior to posting a job and conducting interviews. peoplekeys® provides businesses the tools needed for reducing bias when hiring. using peoplekeys’ predictive hiring products, as well as repcruit® - an applicant tracking system (ats) equipped with peoplekeys® patent-pending predictive hiring technology, with added behavioral benchmarks for a chosen job role, you can behaviorally screen and rank candidates, and also have your job posting published live. for businesses in need of an all-inclusive and affordable sourcing to hiring platform solution, try repcruit®, powered by peoplekeys.


text:
Posted March 23, 2016 by Jeff McCollough & filed under Preventative Maintenance.
It used to be that if a car made it to 100,000 miles, it was a sign that the owner gave it special attention and care. Those days, though, seem to be long gone, and high-mileage vehicles have become the new norm. As a recent article in Time magazine points out, the average car on the road today is 11.5 years old meaning that with typical mileage estimates, the average car should have more than 122,000 miles on it.
There are several factors that go into keep a car on the road for such a long period of time. Of course, some luck plays into it when it comes to avoiding accidents that may debilitate your car, but part of it also comes down to old-fashioned TLC. If you take care of your car, you can get a long life out of it. To help you try and close in on 200,000 miles, here are some tips to keep in mind.
Once a month you’ll want to check the air pressure in the tires, ensuring the car has a smooth and even ride. This is one check that most people neglect, so take the time to check and your tires – plus your gas mileage and alignment – will thank you. Also rotate the tires so they wear evenly, allowing you to maximize the lifespan of your wheels.
You’ll want to change the oil and the filter routinely. Depending on the specifications for your vehicle, your mileage limits may be higher or lower, but typically at least every 7,500 miles. Check other vehicle components like coolant levels and wiper blades at the same time you freshen your oil to help keep everything running smoothly.
There are also a few major milestone marks to keep in mind. At 36,000 miles, the passenger compartment air filter or cabin filter should be replaced – see our recent blog for more about this oft-overlooked filter. That filter should also be changed again at 72,000 miles, at which time you’ll also need to install a new engine air filter. The 72,000 mile mark is also the time to check the evaporative control system of your engine that filters out pollutants that come from gasoline evaporating.
Of course, you also need routine maintenance and there are several components to make sure you get checked out at every service visit. Every time that you head to the shop, make sure to use recommend fluids for all vehicle lubricants, coolants and other fluids. Automakers have specific recommendations for engine fluids in your manual, so double check those are being used correctly. For example, one thing that many people don’t necessary check for is the quality of oil, and many more recent models require a semi-synthetic oil or better to keep components running properly. Failing to maintain your vehicle to the manufacturer’s recommendations could leave you looking for new vehicle recommendations instead!
At Builders Transmission, we can check your car from hood ornament to trunk latch at every service appointment. As professionals with more than 50 years proudly serving Broken Arrow and the greater Oklahoma region, we can help keep you and your vehicle on the road for many miles and years to come. Schedule your next service appointment today by calling us at 918-251-1792.

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posted march 23, 2016 by jeff mccollough & filed under preventative maintenance.
it used to be that if a car made it to 100,000 miles, it was a sign that the owner gave it special attention and care. those days, though, seem to be long gone, and high-mileage vehicles have become the new norm. as a recent article in time magazine points out, the average car on the road today is 11.5 years old meaning that with typical mileage estimates, the average car should have more than 122,000 miles on it.
there are several factors that go into keep a car on the road for such a long period of time. of course, some luck plays into it when it comes to avoiding accidents that may debilitate your car, but part of it also comes down to old-fashioned tlc. if you take care of your car, you can get a long life out of it. to help you try and close in on 200,000 miles, here are some tips to keep in mind.
once a month you’ll want to check the air pressure in the tires, ensuring the car has a smooth and even ride. this is one check that most people neglect, so take the time to check and your tires – plus your gas mileage and alignment – will thank you. also rotate the tires so they wear evenly, allowing you to maximize the lifespan of your wheels.
you’ll want to change the oil and the filter routinely. depending on the specifications for your vehicle, your mileage limits may be higher or lower, but typically at least every 7,500 miles. check other vehicle components like coolant levels and wiper blades at the same time you freshen your oil to help keep everything running smoothly.
there are also a few major milestone marks to keep in mind. at 36,000 miles, the passenger compartment air filter or cabin filter should be replaced – see our recent blog for more about this oft-overlooked filter. that filter should also be changed again at 72,000 miles, at which time you’ll also need to install a new engine air filter. the 72,000 mile mark is also the time to check the evaporative control system of your engine that filters out pollutants that come from gasoline evaporating.
of course, you also need routine maintenance and there are several components to make sure you get checked out at every service visit. every time that you head to the shop, make sure to use recommend fluids for all vehicle lubricants, coolants and other fluids. automakers have specific recommendations for engine fluids in your manual, so double check those are being used correctly. for example, one thing that many people don’t necessary check for is the quality of oil, and many more recent models require a semi-synthetic oil or better to keep components running properly. failing to maintain your vehicle to the manufacturer’s recommendations could leave you looking for new vehicle recommendations instead!
at builders transmission, we can check your car from hood ornament to trunk latch at every service appointment. as professionals with more than 50 years proudly serving broken arrow and the greater oklahoma region, we can help keep you and your vehicle on the road for many miles and years to come. schedule your next service appointment today by calling us at 918-251-1792.


text: Eric has one final question before we leave. Why is it that all the HYACINTHS here at Keukenhof stand up straight. In his garden they always tend to flop especially when they're fully in bloom? At home the hyacinths are too great, too large. When they grow up they're going to be heavy. But Hans has a trick. He takes an iron pin but you could also take an old bicycle wheel and break the spokes out and have the same pin. They keep them straight up by stuffing the pin in the top of the plant at the flower, then run it down through the stem. It will then stand straight up. When you don't do that they will fall over, then it typically rots in two days. Of course the customer is disappointed. But they keep them straight and by doing that you keep them one week or ten days longer and looking fresh. And that's the trick that they use at Keukenhof. They do it to almost all the hyacinths and that is why you see they are straight. That's an outstanding tip.

lowercased: eric has one final question before we leave. why is it that all the hyacinths here at keukenhof stand up straight. in his garden they always tend to flop especially when they're fully in bloom? at home the hyacinths are too great, too large. when they grow up they're going to be heavy. but hans has a trick. he takes an iron pin but you could also take an old bicycle wheel and break the spokes out and have the same pin. they keep them straight up by stuffing the pin in the top of the plant at the flower, then run it down through the stem. it will then stand straight up. when you don't do that they will fall over, then it typically rots in two days. of course the customer is disappointed. but they keep them straight and by doing that you keep them one week or ten days longer and looking fresh. and that's the trick that they use at keukenhof. they do it to almost all the hyacinths and that is why you see they are straight. that's an outstanding tip.


text:
Owls head coach Carlos Carvalhal has reignited the row over Barry Bannan’s red card call, criticising Football League officials for not giving his side more decisions.
Influential midfielder Bannan has been forced to sit-out their last three matches following his controversial sending off at Nottingham Forest.
Wednesday appealed the decision, but the Football Association decided against overturning the call.
What has added to Carvalhal’s frustration is that the FA have rescinded West Ham United midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate’s dismissal against Crystal Palace last Saturday. Kouyate was given his marching orders following a challenge on Dwight Gayle but is now available for their up-and-coming clash with Arsenal.
“West Ham’s appeal was considered and they were successful,” said Carvalhal. “If you compare the situation with Barry’s, I think it is similar.
Scotland international Bannan is expected to be restored to Wednesday’s starting line-up when they travel to Bristol City this weekend.
Carvalhal said: “Barry is an important player to us and everyone was a little concerned what would happen in the three games without him. We gave a strong answer, winning the three games he missed. We are happy that Barry is coming back. But our team, during the season, can win without most players.

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owls head coach carlos carvalhal has reignited the row over barry bannan’s red card call, criticising football league officials for not giving his side more decisions.
influential midfielder bannan has been forced to sit-out their last three matches following his controversial sending off at nottingham forest.
wednesday appealed the decision, but the football association decided against overturning the call.
what has added to carvalhal’s frustration is that the fa have rescinded west ham united midfielder cheikhou kouyate’s dismissal against crystal palace last saturday. kouyate was given his marching orders following a challenge on dwight gayle but is now available for their up-and-coming clash with arsenal.
“west ham’s appeal was considered and they were successful,” said carvalhal. “if you compare the situation with barry’s, i think it is similar.
scotland international bannan is expected to be restored to wednesday’s starting line-up when they travel to bristol city this weekend.
carvalhal said: “barry is an important player to us and everyone was a little concerned what would happen in the three games without him. we gave a strong answer, winning the three games he missed. we are happy that barry is coming back. but our team, during the season, can win without most players.


text:
Mohammad Mustafa, Delta State Commissioner of Police yesterday, said the kidnappers of four priests in a border community between Delta and Edo states last Tuesday would soon be arrested.
Mustafa who hinted that the abductors had started communications, added that in the next few days, the clerics would be rescued by the police.
Mustafa made the disclosure in Ughelli while briefing newsmen at the end of a meeting with policemen serving in Ughelli Police Area Command.
He described the visit as a routine visit to the command which he said was geared towards improving its service delivery to the public.
On the kidnap of the priests, he said: “We are on it. We have already picked some people around those areas and the hoodlums have opened up a line of communication but we are encouraging people not to pay ransom for kidnap.
“We are tracking them and definitely, in the next few days or hours, we would be able to rescue them,” he added.

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mohammad mustafa, delta state commissioner of police yesterday, said the kidnappers of four priests in a border community between delta and edo states last tuesday would soon be arrested.
mustafa who hinted that the abductors had started communications, added that in the next few days, the clerics would be rescued by the police.
mustafa made the disclosure in ughelli while briefing newsmen at the end of a meeting with policemen serving in ughelli police area command.
he described the visit as a routine visit to the command which he said was geared towards improving its service delivery to the public.
on the kidnap of the priests, he said: “we are on it. we have already picked some people around those areas and the hoodlums have opened up a line of communication but we are encouraging people not to pay ransom for kidnap.
“we are tracking them and definitely, in the next few days or hours, we would be able to rescue them,” he added.


text:
The first procedure in any crisis is to call Police/Fire/Rescue at 911 and then the Building’s Management Office at 415 495 8181 x1.
The City of San Francisco requires each company to develop an Emergency Team. The team members are trained by the Building’s Fire Safety Director to help communicate with and direct coworkers during emergency situations.

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the first procedure in any crisis is to call police/fire/rescue at 911 and then the building’s management office at 415 495 8181 x1.
the city of san francisco requires each company to develop an emergency team. the team members are trained by the building’s fire safety director to help communicate with and direct coworkers during emergency situations.


text:
Scientists have successfully produced a live birth using sperm derived from frozen prepubertal testicular tissue. The work in rhesus macaques is groundbreaking because currently there is no way to preserve fertility in prepubertal boys undergoing cancer therapy. For men and women, including young girls, sperm and eggs can be frozen.
In the experiment, published in Science, scientists at the University of Pittsburgh, USA, took testicular tissue from young monkeys. They froze it and then after six months they grafted it back under the skin of the same animals.
As the animals went through puberty the grafted testicular tissue developed and produced testosterone. Active sperm was retrieved from the tissue and used to fertilise eggs. Eleven embryos were implanted in female macaques, resulting in one live birth, a baby called Grady.

lowercased:
scientists have successfully produced a live birth using sperm derived from frozen prepubertal testicular tissue. the work in rhesus macaques is groundbreaking because currently there is no way to preserve fertility in prepubertal boys undergoing cancer therapy. for men and women, including young girls, sperm and eggs can be frozen.
in the experiment, published in science, scientists at the university of pittsburgh, usa, took testicular tissue from young monkeys. they froze it and then after six months they grafted it back under the skin of the same animals.
as the animals went through puberty the grafted testicular tissue developed and produced testosterone. active sperm was retrieved from the tissue and used to fertilise eggs. eleven embryos were implanted in female macaques, resulting in one live birth, a baby called grady.


text:
Following 2 years of development extensive field trials and 4 years on the market the `Xpanda Bra`,Brand is now growing and becoming more available in retail outlets across the UK and Ireland and online worldwide.
The bra has been designed to benefit women in a number of situations including: during pregnancy whilst breast are very tender and fluctuating in size; for breastfeeding mothers who need flexibility before and after feeds’ or for mothers that are away from their child and can relieve pressure to each cup with a simple adjustment until ready to feed or express for a later feed.
Xpanda Bra is available in black, white or a natural skin tone; and across a range of sizes from 32B/C to 40GG/H .The bra has non-stretch soft cotton cups, which provide support and comfort without the need for stiff fabrics or underwires. It is also ideal for use with breast pads and shells when that extra space is required.
The concept of Xpanda Bra was born when Diane, wife of the company’s Managing Director Declan McDonnell, found it impossible to find a bra which would accommodate her changing breast size during the later stages of pregnancy and an extended period of breastfeeding.

lowercased:
following 2 years of development extensive field trials and 4 years on the market the `xpanda bra`,brand is now growing and becoming more available in retail outlets across the uk and ireland and online worldwide.
the bra has been designed to benefit women in a number of situations including: during pregnancy whilst breast are very tender and fluctuating in size; for breastfeeding mothers who need flexibility before and after feeds’ or for mothers that are away from their child and can relieve pressure to each cup with a simple adjustment until ready to feed or express for a later feed.
xpanda bra is available in black, white or a natural skin tone; and across a range of sizes from 32b/c to 40gg/h .the bra has non-stretch soft cotton cups, which provide support and comfort without the need for stiff fabrics or underwires. it is also ideal for use with breast pads and shells when that extra space is required.
the concept of xpanda bra was born when diane, wife of the company’s managing director declan mcdonnell, found it impossible to find a bra which would accommodate her changing breast size during the later stages of pregnancy and an extended period of breastfeeding.


text:
Self Help « Kathy Murphy, Ph.D.
“Tis the season for Gratitude. Your in-box is probably full of reminders.
After six weeks of sitting still and being quiet in our sweet little Spanish casa in San Luis Obispo, we are finally back out on the highway again. We’ve gone from SLO living to life on the run. And we have run into some of the most wonderful places, people, and experiences.

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self help « kathy murphy, ph.d.
“tis the season for gratitude. your in-box is probably full of reminders.
after six weeks of sitting still and being quiet in our sweet little spanish casa in san luis obispo, we are finally back out on the highway again. we’ve gone from slo living to life on the run. and we have run into some of the most wonderful places, people, and experiences.


text:
Are you ready for a relaxing holiday in Italy, immersed in the rhythms of nature? Enjoy delicious healthy food, prepared with fresh local produce and created with the refined imagination of our Italian chef; a good night’s sleep in one of our attractive rooms designed for an intimate and comfortable stay; and massages, spa treatments and relaxation in the beauty farm to recharge your energy.
We have two beautiful rooms for our guests, decorated with great care and attention located in the peace of the woods, with a 360-degree panorama of the surrounding rural landscape. These special rooms have been designed to give you a serene night’s sleep after the pleasures of your vegetarian dining experience. The rooms have a private bathroom and are equipped with hairdryer and towels for both everyday use and use in the wellness area. The rooms are cleaned daily. There is free Wi-Fi throughout the agriturismo. There are bicycles available for guests, and there are disabled facilities.
The vegetarian and vegan restaurant is situated on the main floor; it is tastefully decorated in a classic country style with walls painted in natural pastel colours, and the wooden beams and terracotta tiles that are typical of the Italian country houses in the Marche region.
In the restaurant you can also enjoy a breakfast buffet in Italian style, with homemade cakes and pies , as well as homemade jams, biscuits, and traditional-style bread, non-dairy milk (for those who want it) and different kinds of teas, plus fresh Italian cheese and eggs.
We also sell our own farm products, including high-quality Italian olive oil, jams, biscuits and organic vegetables (when available).
The Wellness Program begins in the Italian countryside surrounding the medieval village of Belforte del Chienti in Marche, Italy, in a beautiful, rural setting where nature goes hand in hand with personal well-being.
Our extra-virgin olive oil Vanesio plays an important role in the massages: it has a relaxing effect and is nourishing and moisturizing for both the skin and the hair; adding essential oils further contributes to a sensation of physical and mental well-being.
The infrared sauna is an additional help in removing waste and impurities that are formed in our body by food and pollutants: they are simply exuded, or sweated out, in a temperature that is for us Mediterraneans acceptable, from 40° to 45°.
Our Wellness Program also includes a hydro massage to cleanse the body of toxins that are sweated out: a complete relaxation.

lowercased:
are you ready for a relaxing holiday in italy, immersed in the rhythms of nature? enjoy delicious healthy food, prepared with fresh local produce and created with the refined imagination of our italian chef; a good night’s sleep in one of our attractive rooms designed for an intimate and comfortable stay; and massages, spa treatments and relaxation in the beauty farm to recharge your energy.
we have two beautiful rooms for our guests, decorated with great care and attention located in the peace of the woods, with a 360-degree panorama of the surrounding rural landscape. these special rooms have been designed to give you a serene night’s sleep after the pleasures of your vegetarian dining experience. the rooms have a private bathroom and are equipped with hairdryer and towels for both everyday use and use in the wellness area. the rooms are cleaned daily. there is free wi-fi throughout the agriturismo. there are bicycles available for guests, and there are disabled facilities.
the vegetarian and vegan restaurant is situated on the main floor; it is tastefully decorated in a classic country style with walls painted in natural pastel colours, and the wooden beams and terracotta tiles that are typical of the italian country houses in the marche region.
in the restaurant you can also enjoy a breakfast buffet in italian style, with homemade cakes and pies , as well as homemade jams, biscuits, and traditional-style bread, non-dairy milk (for those who want it) and different kinds of teas, plus fresh italian cheese and eggs.
we also sell our own farm products, including high-quality italian olive oil, jams, biscuits and organic vegetables (when available).
the wellness program begins in the italian countryside surrounding the medieval village of belforte del chienti in marche, italy, in a beautiful, rural setting where nature goes hand in hand with personal well-being.
our extra-virgin olive oil vanesio plays an important role in the massages: it has a relaxing effect and is nourishing and moisturizing for both the skin and the hair; adding essential oils further contributes to a sensation of physical and mental well-being.
the infrared sauna is an additional help in removing waste and impurities that are formed in our body by food and pollutants: they are simply exuded, or sweated out, in a temperature that is for us mediterraneans acceptable, from 40° to 45°.
our wellness program also includes a hydro massage to cleanse the body of toxins that are sweated out: a complete relaxation.


text:
Bed Breakfast Index so take a trip around. Visit the most popular destinations or explore the back roads. Either way, there is a host of fabulous Bed & Breakfast Accommodation to make the trip a supremely comfortable and memorable experience.
Adelaide Australia bed and breakfast Accommodation. One of the best times of the year to visit is during “Mad March”, when a multitude of festivals and events are held.
Perth area in Australia B and B Accommodation. If you’re looking for pristine, white sand beaches – Perth beaches will not disappoint.
Informative and entertaining travel B and B all about Australia’s island state of Tasmania Accommodation that covers many of the outstanding scenic, wildlife and cultural aspects of this special place.
New South Wales Australia Vacation Accommodation Bed and Breakfast’s in the Melbourne and Victoria areas.
Queensland, commonly referred to as the “Sunshine State”, is Australia’s ultimate outdoor holiday playground. Hike through tranquil rain forests, relax on the clean sandy beaches of an island paradise or search for dinosaur fossils in western regions of Queensland. From the fun and excitement of the Gold Coast to the adventure of the Cape York, you will know you have found a special kind of place in Queensland.
Take A Break Holiday Great Accommodation in Sydney Australia B and B accommodations for romantic weekends and quick getaways. Stay at intimate and cozy Sydney Australia B & B during your vacation. You will love the unique charm only a Sydney B and B can offer.
Gold Coast is a coastal city located in the South East of the state of Queensland, Australia.
The city is 94 km south of the state capital Brisbane. With a population of approximately 600,000 in 2011, it is the second most populous city in the state, the sixth most populous city in the country, and also the most populous non-capital city in Australia.
The Gold Coast also holds the title of the largest cross-state population of any metropolitan area in Australia, due to the inclusion of Tweed Heads, New South Wales in its metropolitan area.
The Gold Coast’s metropolitan area converges with that of Greater Brisbane, forming part of an urban conurbation of over 3 million people.
While the origin of the city’s name is debatable, the name “gold coast” was bestowed upon the city by real estate investors. The first settlement in what is now South East Queensland was as a penal colony at Redcliffe.
The Gold Coast region remained largely uninhabited by Europeans until 1823 when explorer John Oxley landed at Mermaid Beach.
The hinterland’s red cedar supply attracted people to the area in the mid-19th century. Later in 1875, Southport was surveyed and established and quickly grew a reputation as a secluded holiday destination for upper class Brisbane residents.
The Gold Coast region grew significantly after the establishment of the Surfers Paradise hotel in the late 1920s.
The area boomed in the 1980s as a leading tourist destination and in 1994, the Gold Coast City local government area was expanded to encompass the majority of the Gold Coast’s metropolitan area, becoming the second most populous local government area in Australia after the City of Brisbane.
Take A Break Holidays takeabreakholiday, Bed Breakfast Index Accommodation.

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bed breakfast index so take a trip around. visit the most popular destinations or explore the back roads. either way, there is a host of fabulous bed & breakfast accommodation to make the trip a supremely comfortable and memorable experience.
adelaide australia bed and breakfast accommodation. one of the best times of the year to visit is during “mad march”, when a multitude of festivals and events are held.
perth area in australia b and b accommodation. if you’re looking for pristine, white sand beaches – perth beaches will not disappoint.
informative and entertaining travel b and b all about australia’s island state of tasmania accommodation that covers many of the outstanding scenic, wildlife and cultural aspects of this special place.
new south wales australia vacation accommodation bed and breakfast’s in the melbourne and victoria areas.
queensland, commonly referred to as the “sunshine state”, is australia’s ultimate outdoor holiday playground. hike through tranquil rain forests, relax on the clean sandy beaches of an island paradise or search for dinosaur fossils in western regions of queensland. from the fun and excitement of the gold coast to the adventure of the cape york, you will know you have found a special kind of place in queensland.
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gold coast is a coastal city located in the south east of the state of queensland, australia.
the city is 94 km south of the state capital brisbane. with a population of approximately 600,000 in 2011, it is the second most populous city in the state, the sixth most populous city in the country, and also the most populous non-capital city in australia.
the gold coast also holds the title of the largest cross-state population of any metropolitan area in australia, due to the inclusion of tweed heads, new south wales in its metropolitan area.
the gold coast’s metropolitan area converges with that of greater brisbane, forming part of an urban conurbation of over 3 million people.
while the origin of the city’s name is debatable, the name “gold coast” was bestowed upon the city by real estate investors. the first settlement in what is now south east queensland was as a penal colony at redcliffe.
the gold coast region remained largely uninhabited by europeans until 1823 when explorer john oxley landed at mermaid beach.
the hinterland’s red cedar supply attracted people to the area in the mid-19th century. later in 1875, southport was surveyed and established and quickly grew a reputation as a secluded holiday destination for upper class brisbane residents.
the gold coast region grew significantly after the establishment of the surfers paradise hotel in the late 1920s.
the area boomed in the 1980s as a leading tourist destination and in 1994, the gold coast city local government area was expanded to encompass the majority of the gold coast’s metropolitan area, becoming the second most populous local government area in australia after the city of brisbane.
take a break holidays takeabreakholiday, bed breakfast index accommodation.


text: The Danner 5" Striker GTX boot offers real toughness in a lightweight, lower profile boot, with the feel of an athletic shoe. The boot is lined in waterproof, breathable GORE-TEX and features a full-grain leather and 1000 Denier nylon upper for durability. Danner's patented TERRA FORCE X Lite performance platform provides stability and support, and combined with the oil and slip-resistant outsole, this boot delivers superior traction. Non-metallic construction won't set off metal-based security systems.

lowercased: the danner 5" striker gtx boot offers real toughness in a lightweight, lower profile boot, with the feel of an athletic shoe. the boot is lined in waterproof, breathable gore-tex and features a full-grain leather and 1000 denier nylon upper for durability. danner's patented terra force x lite performance platform provides stability and support, and combined with the oil and slip-resistant outsole, this boot delivers superior traction. non-metallic construction won't set off metal-based security systems.


text:
Be a part of the IMT Des Moines Marathon race experience on race day without actually having to be in Des Moines in person. Participate in the IMT Des Moines Marathon or Half Marathon virtually from anywhere in the world!
Athletes participating in the IMT Des Moines Marathon Virtual Race receive an IMT Des Moines Marathon race-in-a-box shipped directly to them featuring an official athlete track jacket, race number/bib and finisher medal.
Be sure to download the IMT DMM app to stay connected during your training and on race day.
The IMT DMM 26.2 & 13.1 Virtual Race now offers the ability to participate on race in the IMT Des Moines Marathon from virtually anywhere in the world. Complete a marathon or half marathon distance in a continuous, single run. Just as you would in person.
There is no 'course time limit'. Create a self-designed course or run an existing route on a road or paved trail. Then, based on your local time zone, line up at 8 am and race with athletes from around the world.
First, register for the IMT DMM 26.2 & 13.1 Virtual Race. For $45 you will receive a race-in-a-box, including your official race jacket, bib and finisher medal. Additional shipping rates apply.
Next, download the Strava app. Then, join the IMT DMM 26.2 & 13.1 Virtual Race Club. On race day, upload your run in Strava to the IMT DMM 26.2 & 13.1 Race Club Event in order to record your results and to be included in the virtual race leaderboard and challenges.
Your Strava race result will not show up on the Challenge Leaderboard unless you complete 13.1 miles (21.1 km) or 26.2 miles (42.2 km). To ensure you meet the Challenge goal, we recommend you run a small amount over 13.1 miles during your activity (about .5km / .3mi). This will give you a buffer in the event your activity distance is shortened after upload to Strava due to the cleanup of GPS irregularities.
Athletes who complete the IMT DMM 26.2 & 13.1 Virtual Race Strava Club Event will receive a digital finishers badge in their Trophy Case. Results must be uploaded no later than 48 hours following the completion of the race.
Race results will also be uploaded to the official IMT Des Moines Marathon race results at onlineraceresults.com with access to a finisher certificate for download.
When this page loaded, the official time was 4:27:44 PM EDT.

lowercased:
be a part of the imt des moines marathon race experience on race day without actually having to be in des moines in person. participate in the imt des moines marathon or half marathon virtually from anywhere in the world!
athletes participating in the imt des moines marathon virtual race receive an imt des moines marathon race-in-a-box shipped directly to them featuring an official athlete track jacket, race number/bib and finisher medal.
be sure to download the imt dmm app to stay connected during your training and on race day.
the imt dmm 26.2 & 13.1 virtual race now offers the ability to participate on race in the imt des moines marathon from virtually anywhere in the world. complete a marathon or half marathon distance in a continuous, single run. just as you would in person.
there is no 'course time limit'. create a self-designed course or run an existing route on a road or paved trail. then, based on your local time zone, line up at 8 am and race with athletes from around the world.
first, register for the imt dmm 26.2 & 13.1 virtual race. for $45 you will receive a race-in-a-box, including your official race jacket, bib and finisher medal. additional shipping rates apply.
next, download the strava app. then, join the imt dmm 26.2 & 13.1 virtual race club. on race day, upload your run in strava to the imt dmm 26.2 & 13.1 race club event in order to record your results and to be included in the virtual race leaderboard and challenges.
your strava race result will not show up on the challenge leaderboard unless you complete 13.1 miles (21.1 km) or 26.2 miles (42.2 km). to ensure you meet the challenge goal, we recommend you run a small amount over 13.1 miles during your activity (about .5km / .3mi). this will give you a buffer in the event your activity distance is shortened after upload to strava due to the cleanup of gps irregularities.
athletes who complete the imt dmm 26.2 & 13.1 virtual race strava club event will receive a digital finishers badge in their trophy case. results must be uploaded no later than 48 hours following the completion of the race.
race results will also be uploaded to the official imt des moines marathon race results at onlineraceresults.com with access to a finisher certificate for download.
when this page loaded, the official time was 4:27:44 pm edt.


text:
What do beached whales have to do with depth, and bridging gaps? Questions I attempt to answer in this next installment. Audio and text below. Enjoy + happy Friday!
Baked together in midday sun.
Enormous and abrupt, a miracle.
A gift from God, one whispered. Marvelous.
The whale was grey, like a circus elephant.
She did not act like one.
Like a truck stopped to let off exhaust.
Take it home, of course it will. It’ll be fine.
It’s evolved enough for this.
And could not help her even if they tried.
No touch of light scattered throughout the waves.
Like a full bunch of black grapes.
But emptier than all that air somehow.
Perhaps a heavy one to send her home again.
She poured it all into a nameless song.
It rang out like an echo in a canyon.
And every evolved person heard and could not catch her breath.
Each felt her face grow hot, indignant—felt his eyes alight with sudden tears.
Why oh why does she give so much life?
And we will never ever pay it back.

lowercased:
what do beached whales have to do with depth, and bridging gaps? questions i attempt to answer in this next installment. audio and text below. enjoy + happy friday!
baked together in midday sun.
enormous and abrupt, a miracle.
a gift from god, one whispered. marvelous.
the whale was grey, like a circus elephant.
she did not act like one.
like a truck stopped to let off exhaust.
take it home, of course it will. it’ll be fine.
it’s evolved enough for this.
and could not help her even if they tried.
no touch of light scattered throughout the waves.
like a full bunch of black grapes.
but emptier than all that air somehow.
perhaps a heavy one to send her home again.
she poured it all into a nameless song.
it rang out like an echo in a canyon.
and every evolved person heard and could not catch her breath.
each felt her face grow hot, indignant—felt his eyes alight with sudden tears.
why oh why does she give so much life?
and we will never ever pay it back.


text:
WatchTech - Help- Anyone know any info on this brand?
Help- Anyone know any info on this brand?
A very good friend presented me this watch. I would like to restore it.
Don’t expect too much in terms of resale value.
It was in production between 1966 and 1973.

lowercased:
watchtech - help- anyone know any info on this brand?
help- anyone know any info on this brand?
a very good friend presented me this watch. i would like to restore it.
don’t expect too much in terms of resale value.
it was in production between 1966 and 1973.


text:
African mega-fauna is often neatly divided between the predators and the prey. The predators – lions, cheetah, leopards, wild dogs, hyena, jackal, etc. live primarily by hunting and eating the prey – antelope, rabbits, squirrels, even giraffes and elephants occasionally.
Predators have their eyes directed forward to better stalk their prey. They live a primarily sedentary life, generally sleeping in the shade, between hunts. Prey have their eyes located at the sides of their heads to help them see approaching predators. They are constantly on the lookout, often in motion and tend to live in herds. When they graze, they usually have a “scout” watching for predators approaching. It’s an interesting dynamic to watch.
Our guides are very in tune with animal behaviors. Multiple vultures in a tree indicate a carcass nearby for example. One evening we were returning to camp just after dark when we heard impala making loud sounds and running parallel to our safari vehicle. Our driver quickly stopped, turned around, drove about 50 feet, shown the spotlight into the shrubbery and highlighted a leopard. Wow! He knew what had frightened the impala and exactly where the predator (in this case a leopard) would be.
The Big Five, so-named because these were the desired trophy kills, could be divided this way: predators – lions and leopards, prey – Cape buffalo, elephant and rhinoceros. These magnificent animals have been hunted nearly to extinction, but many are coming back. We’ve seen many examples of the beautiful lions and leopards in the parks we’ve visited. Elephants, though rare in some areas are plentiful in others, with more than 50,000 in Chobe National Park alone. Cape Buffalo abound. Only rhinos are still seriously endangered because of poaching. We’ve been fortunate to see several white rhino (rare) and one black rhino (extremely endangered).

lowercased:
african mega-fauna is often neatly divided between the predators and the prey. the predators – lions, cheetah, leopards, wild dogs, hyena, jackal, etc. live primarily by hunting and eating the prey – antelope, rabbits, squirrels, even giraffes and elephants occasionally.
predators have their eyes directed forward to better stalk their prey. they live a primarily sedentary life, generally sleeping in the shade, between hunts. prey have their eyes located at the sides of their heads to help them see approaching predators. they are constantly on the lookout, often in motion and tend to live in herds. when they graze, they usually have a “scout” watching for predators approaching. it’s an interesting dynamic to watch.
our guides are very in tune with animal behaviors. multiple vultures in a tree indicate a carcass nearby for example. one evening we were returning to camp just after dark when we heard impala making loud sounds and running parallel to our safari vehicle. our driver quickly stopped, turned around, drove about 50 feet, shown the spotlight into the shrubbery and highlighted a leopard. wow! he knew what had frightened the impala and exactly where the predator (in this case a leopard) would be.
the big five, so-named because these were the desired trophy kills, could be divided this way: predators – lions and leopards, prey – cape buffalo, elephant and rhinoceros. these magnificent animals have been hunted nearly to extinction, but many are coming back. we’ve seen many examples of the beautiful lions and leopards in the parks we’ve visited. elephants, though rare in some areas are plentiful in others, with more than 50,000 in chobe national park alone. cape buffalo abound. only rhinos are still seriously endangered because of poaching. we’ve been fortunate to see several white rhino (rare) and one black rhino (extremely endangered).


text:
The Poverty-Environment Initiative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UN Environment) is a global programme that supports country-led efforts to put pro-poor, pro-environment objectives into the heart of government by mainstreaming poverty-environment objectives into national development and sub-national development planning, from policymaking to budgeting, implementation and monitoring.
With both financial and technical support, the Poverty-Environment Initiative assists government decision-makers and a wide range of other stakeholders to manage the environment in a way that improves livelihoods and leads to sustainable growth. The Initiative works with key government partners to raise awareness, influence policy making and strengthen the mainstreaming of poverty-environment into budget processes, sector programmes and sub-national planning. The overall aim is to bring about lasting institutional change and to catalyse key actors to increase investment in pro-poor environmental and natural resource management.
The Poverty-Environment Initiative publishes a biannual newsletter that is delivered via email straight to your inbox.

lowercased:
the poverty-environment initiative of the united nations development programme (undp) and the united nations environment programme (un environment) is a global programme that supports country-led efforts to put pro-poor, pro-environment objectives into the heart of government by mainstreaming poverty-environment objectives into national development and sub-national development planning, from policymaking to budgeting, implementation and monitoring.
with both financial and technical support, the poverty-environment initiative assists government decision-makers and a wide range of other stakeholders to manage the environment in a way that improves livelihoods and leads to sustainable growth. the initiative works with key government partners to raise awareness, influence policy making and strengthen the mainstreaming of poverty-environment into budget processes, sector programmes and sub-national planning. the overall aim is to bring about lasting institutional change and to catalyse key actors to increase investment in pro-poor environmental and natural resource management.
the poverty-environment initiative publishes a biannual newsletter that is delivered via email straight to your inbox.