text:
The decision of whether or not to carry on to do Second Degree is an incredibly personal one. Some may wish to do it immediately after their three month gap, while others prefer to take more time to adjust to the First Degree energies. Some people are quite contented to stay at First Degree, finding that this level fully meets their own personal requirements.
It should be pointed out that the actual quality of energy remains the same whichever degree you are at. Reiki is Reiki whether the practitioner is First, Second or Third Degree. The difference is in the amount of energy that can be channelled at any time. The approximate ratios between the three levels are as follows; a Second Degree practitioner will be able to channel approximately four times more Reiki than someone at First Degree. Whereas a Reiki Master can channel approximately ten times more than a First Degree practitioner. In practical terms this simply means that the higher level you are at, the less time it takes to treat someone. It also means that at Second Degree you have a much wider variety of techniques and practical applications to choose from.
The concepts, techniques and practices of Second Degree centre primarily around the use of the Reiki symbols. Upon Second Degree initiation, you will be shown three sacred symbols and given their names (or mantras). Each of these symbols is used for a different type of healing, as well as acting as an amplifier for the energy. One is mainly for physical healing, one for emotional and mental healing, and one for distance healing. You will be taught many different ways of using these symbols, from drawing them with your hand and thinking them in your mind, to visualising or blowing them over affected areas of the body. You will also be taught techniques for sending healing across time and space. This means that you could send Reiki to somebody on the other side of the world, you could send it back or forward in time, or you could send it to whole situations, like a war, natural disaster or simply to the whole planet.
Second Degree opens up new ways of perceiving time and space. Many people find it hard to believe that you could send healing across these two concepts which rational thought dictates are constant and linear. I myself didn’t really believe that this was possible or tangible when I started using the distance healing techniques. However, over time and through experience, Reiki has proven to my own set of criteria that these claims are indeed valid. You don’t have to simply believe things when you are told them; test them out, scrutinise them and experiment. Find your own set of criteria or proof on which to base your judgements.
Fundamentally, Second Degree Reiki is about the power of the heart and mind. First Degree was about the power of the body, and more specifically, the power of hands-on healing which comes through without having to really focus or concentrate on it. At Second Degree, you learn to use your mind and intention (ie. your heart’s desire) in a much more focused and flexible way. You are learning to realise the capacity of your abilities and potentials as a spiritual and powerful energetic being. You are given the symbols as spiritual tools, to help you realise these potentials in your healing and energy work.
Second Degree opens up your heart and your mind for the next stage of your personal healing journey with Reiki. Once again, the Second Degree initiation is the energetic trigger for a second stage of detoxification and charging on physical, emotional, mental and spiritual levels. At each level, the initiations cause some degree of detox fallout. The perception shifts, revelations, and personal insights become more profound as you move up the levels, as well as the opportunities, challenges and lessons that you will be confronted with.
For most people, learning Second Degree is sufficient for their healing requirements. This level really does open up your understanding of how to use this energy in a multiplicity of ways. Really, the only thing that will limit you is your own imagination, as the lesson of this level shows; that just as Reiki’s power is unlimited and infinite, so is yours.

lowercased:
the decision of whether or not to carry on to do second degree is an incredibly personal one. some may wish to do it immediately after their three month gap, while others prefer to take more time to adjust to the first degree energies. some people are quite contented to stay at first degree, finding that this level fully meets their own personal requirements.
it should be pointed out that the actual quality of energy remains the same whichever degree you are at. reiki is reiki whether the practitioner is first, second or third degree. the difference is in the amount of energy that can be channelled at any time. the approximate ratios between the three levels are as follows; a second degree practitioner will be able to channel approximately four times more reiki than someone at first degree. whereas a reiki master can channel approximately ten times more than a first degree practitioner. in practical terms this simply means that the higher level you are at, the less time it takes to treat someone. it also means that at second degree you have a much wider variety of techniques and practical applications to choose from.
the concepts, techniques and practices of second degree centre primarily around the use of the reiki symbols. upon second degree initiation, you will be shown three sacred symbols and given their names (or mantras). each of these symbols is used for a different type of healing, as well as acting as an amplifier for the energy. one is mainly for physical healing, one for emotional and mental healing, and one for distance healing. you will be taught many different ways of using these symbols, from drawing them with your hand and thinking them in your mind, to visualising or blowing them over affected areas of the body. you will also be taught techniques for sending healing across time and space. this means that you could send reiki to somebody on the other side of the world, you could send it back or forward in time, or you could send it to whole situations, like a war, natural disaster or simply to the whole planet.
second degree opens up new ways of perceiving time and space. many people find it hard to believe that you could send healing across these two concepts which rational thought dictates are constant and linear. i myself didn’t really believe that this was possible or tangible when i started using the distance healing techniques. however, over time and through experience, reiki has proven to my own set of criteria that these claims are indeed valid. you don’t have to simply believe things when you are told them; test them out, scrutinise them and experiment. find your own set of criteria or proof on which to base your judgements.
fundamentally, second degree reiki is about the power of the heart and mind. first degree was about the power of the body, and more specifically, the power of hands-on healing which comes through without having to really focus or concentrate on it. at second degree, you learn to use your mind and intention (ie. your heart’s desire) in a much more focused and flexible way. you are learning to realise the capacity of your abilities and potentials as a spiritual and powerful energetic being. you are given the symbols as spiritual tools, to help you realise these potentials in your healing and energy work.
second degree opens up your heart and your mind for the next stage of your personal healing journey with reiki. once again, the second degree initiation is the energetic trigger for a second stage of detoxification and charging on physical, emotional, mental and spiritual levels. at each level, the initiations cause some degree of detox fallout. the perception shifts, revelations, and personal insights become more profound as you move up the levels, as well as the opportunities, challenges and lessons that you will be confronted with.
for most people, learning second degree is sufficient for their healing requirements. this level really does open up your understanding of how to use this energy in a multiplicity of ways. really, the only thing that will limit you is your own imagination, as the lesson of this level shows; that just as reiki’s power is unlimited and infinite, so is yours.


text:
(Torlax? Snotoro? Ooh, Snowtoro is pretty perfect these days!) based on a friend’s suggestion after my other Pokémashups.
So far there’s been Farfetch’d as Darkwing Duck and Farfetch’d as Donald Duck. I’ve been really enjoying playing around but wanted to branch out from ducks, so when a friend suggested Snorlax/Totoro I jumped. Too much fun!
This entry was posted in Art and tagged illustration, my art, painting, Pokemon, snorlax, totoro, watercolor. Bookmark the permalink.

lowercased:
(torlax? snotoro? ooh, snowtoro is pretty perfect these days!) based on a friend’s suggestion after my other pokémashups.
so far there’s been farfetch’d as darkwing duck and farfetch’d as donald duck. i’ve been really enjoying playing around but wanted to branch out from ducks, so when a friend suggested snorlax/totoro i jumped. too much fun!
this entry was posted in art and tagged illustration, my art, painting, pokemon, snorlax, totoro, watercolor. bookmark the permalink.


text:
What does the end of commercialisation mean?
End of commercialisation indicates when a particular product is no longer sold. However, after sales services (repairs, spare parts, etc.) will continue until the products end-of-life.
14888 has not been replaced. Please contact your customer care centre for more information.

lowercased:
what does the end of commercialisation mean?
end of commercialisation indicates when a particular product is no longer sold. however, after sales services (repairs, spare parts, etc.) will continue until the products end-of-life.
14888 has not been replaced. please contact your customer care centre for more information.


text:
Market Orders are an order to buy or sell a stock at the best available price. Generally, this type of order will be executed immediately. However, the price at which a market order will be executed is not guaranteed. It is important for investors to remember that the last-traded price is not necessarily the price at which a market order will be executed. In fast-moving markets, the price at which a market order will execute often deviates from the last-traded price or “real time” quote. Not only is there a deviation from the “real-time” quote but the price it executes at is always the bid – ask price.
Market orders guarantee execution as long as there is enough volume and a bid – ask price, and it often has low commissions due to the minimal work brokers need to do. Be wary of using market orders on stocks with a low average daily volume: in such market conditions the ask price can be a lot higher than the current market price (resulting in a large spread). In other words, you may end up paying a whole lot more than you originally anticipated! It is much safer to use a market order on high-volume stocks.

lowercased:
market orders are an order to buy or sell a stock at the best available price. generally, this type of order will be executed immediately. however, the price at which a market order will be executed is not guaranteed. it is important for investors to remember that the last-traded price is not necessarily the price at which a market order will be executed. in fast-moving markets, the price at which a market order will execute often deviates from the last-traded price or “real time” quote. not only is there a deviation from the “real-time” quote but the price it executes at is always the bid – ask price.
market orders guarantee execution as long as there is enough volume and a bid – ask price, and it often has low commissions due to the minimal work brokers need to do. be wary of using market orders on stocks with a low average daily volume: in such market conditions the ask price can be a lot higher than the current market price (resulting in a large spread). in other words, you may end up paying a whole lot more than you originally anticipated! it is much safer to use a market order on high-volume stocks.


text:
Johnson Matthey recognises that today’s chemical industry can be fast moving and highly tailored to customer demands. We deliver this service through our custom catalyst programmes.
Toll manufacturing of customer’s proprietary recipes, using our scale up and manufacturing expertise.

lowercased:
johnson matthey recognises that today’s chemical industry can be fast moving and highly tailored to customer demands. we deliver this service through our custom catalyst programmes.
toll manufacturing of customer’s proprietary recipes, using our scale up and manufacturing expertise.


text:
The Only Story: Your Life (and Love) is Meaningless and You Will Die, Too.
I can’t remember the last time I read book length non-fiction. I’m going to guess at least a year. Maybe two, if you don’t count books for work. Which is to say it has to be a compelling proposition for me to entertain non-fiction (like I considered reading Fire and Fury but then thought – who cares, there are podcasts). But when I heard that the author of Grief Works: Stories of Life, Death and Survival, Julia Samuel, was coming to my city, I looked into the book. And that was enough for me to pick it up.
The gist: Samuel is a grief counselor and the book presents 15 case studies from her years of practice as a way of inviting the reader to consider how folks experience grief and keep living after significant loss. The book is broken into sections (death of a sibling, death of a partner, death of a parent, death of a child, facing your own death) and each section has three case studies and then some reflections on the chapter. The book concludes with some general notes about death and dying in Canada (presumably only for the Canadian edition), supporting others in grief, supporting yourself in grief.
I haven’t experienced grief up close. Yet. Samuels is great, however, at reminding the reader that it is only a matter of time – and chance – before we encounter death and grief, and that hiding from this certainty does nothing to protect us from the inevitability (sort of like my relationship with global warming, actually). And she reminds the reader without being scary or macabre.
In fact, I’d say the overarching mood of the book is ‘gentle.’ Readers are allowed space to digest as each case study is relatively short, and within them are moments of levity and reflection. (One complaint I have is that Samuels dwells a bit too much for my taste on her therapeutic process (i.e. how she needs to go slow in asking some questions because trust needs to be established first), but then I wasn’t reading it with interest in how grief counselling works, but I can see how other readers might have this interest).
I was talking to my dear friend S. about the book (as well as my mum and my Auntie P.) and sharing with them that what I found most valuable about the book (at this moment in my life anyway) was in supporting others in their experience with grief. But it was also a key read for me at the moment because I am – inexplicably? – preoccupied with knowing that those I love will die. And dwelling in this morbidity has been scary and disquieting and all the other feelings you’d expect to have. And while fiction does it’s best to help me prepare for death (there are no shortage of novels exploring all the many different ways death finds us), I suppose I wanted something practical. And this is a desire Grief Works frustrates. Samuels acknowledges the desire for a practical guide, and notes that these kinds of books do exist, but she resists giving a check-list because of her emphasis on how individualized and contextual grief is experienced. Sure she offers a few ‘pillars’ (meditation, running and visualizations seem to be her fan favourites), but these are couched in the insistence that each individual will have to find their own path.
So maybe what I’m most appreciative of is the way the book has opened conversations for me. I can say I’m reading, or just read this book, and it made me think about these things. Instead of being like “I’m thinking a lot about death these days,” which is odd because it is sunny, and springtime, and there are baby cats (aka: kittens) all over Facebook, I can use the book to begin conversations that let me know that other people are thinking about death, too. (And yes, I know I should check out a death cafe).
“Is this what a life is? Someone, in the middle of cleaning the bathroom, remembers you tasting the ocean on your fingers long after you’re gone. Someone draws that out of the fog, draws out that memory, detached from circumstance, not locatable on a timeline” (115-116).
I can’t remember who told me this, but someone told me once that their hope when they die is not that their friends and family will remember them on birthdays or holidays, but that those they love might pick ‘ordinary’ days each year to remember and celebrate the dead. This idea resonated with me – with my own fears about creating meaning and being remembered. You might be able to tell that I’m in the position of not yet experiencing the death of someone so close to me (though loss is another matter – let’s come back to that). And then I read Lisa Moore’s incredible February. The book showed me that grief and memory doesn’t need to be requested or planned. No date scheduled. Moore’s book takes readers inside a grief that is perpetual, with shape and contour and bite. It follows Helen and her family in the years before, during and after the Newfoundland Ocean Ranger oil rig disaster, during which Helen’s husband, Cal, dies.
At first I found the novel slow. I kept waiting for big chunky plot elements. Not realizing that in the incremental layering of small family moments that Moore was working literary magic: heaping these tiny details of family life and love to the point that this reader ached with the catastrophe of the loss. It wasn’t until three quarters in when I realized the sub-plot of John was just that – a sub-plot – that I recognized the point of the book. I guess that’s my failing as a reader, or my suggestion to you that if you start out and find yourself wondering ‘what’s this all about’ that you keep reading. You keep reading to discover that it’s all about how the small is the epic.

lowercased:
the only story: your life (and love) is meaningless and you will die, too.
i can’t remember the last time i read book length non-fiction. i’m going to guess at least a year. maybe two, if you don’t count books for work. which is to say it has to be a compelling proposition for me to entertain non-fiction (like i considered reading fire and fury but then thought – who cares, there are podcasts). but when i heard that the author of grief works: stories of life, death and survival, julia samuel, was coming to my city, i looked into the book. and that was enough for me to pick it up.
the gist: samuel is a grief counselor and the book presents 15 case studies from her years of practice as a way of inviting the reader to consider how folks experience grief and keep living after significant loss. the book is broken into sections (death of a sibling, death of a partner, death of a parent, death of a child, facing your own death) and each section has three case studies and then some reflections on the chapter. the book concludes with some general notes about death and dying in canada (presumably only for the canadian edition), supporting others in grief, supporting yourself in grief.
i haven’t experienced grief up close. yet. samuels is great, however, at reminding the reader that it is only a matter of time – and chance – before we encounter death and grief, and that hiding from this certainty does nothing to protect us from the inevitability (sort of like my relationship with global warming, actually). and she reminds the reader without being scary or macabre.
in fact, i’d say the overarching mood of the book is ‘gentle.’ readers are allowed space to digest as each case study is relatively short, and within them are moments of levity and reflection. (one complaint i have is that samuels dwells a bit too much for my taste on her therapeutic process (i.e. how she needs to go slow in asking some questions because trust needs to be established first), but then i wasn’t reading it with interest in how grief counselling works, but i can see how other readers might have this interest).
i was talking to my dear friend s. about the book (as well as my mum and my auntie p.) and sharing with them that what i found most valuable about the book (at this moment in my life anyway) was in supporting others in their experience with grief. but it was also a key read for me at the moment because i am – inexplicably? – preoccupied with knowing that those i love will die. and dwelling in this morbidity has been scary and disquieting and all the other feelings you’d expect to have. and while fiction does it’s best to help me prepare for death (there are no shortage of novels exploring all the many different ways death finds us), i suppose i wanted something practical. and this is a desire grief works frustrates. samuels acknowledges the desire for a practical guide, and notes that these kinds of books do exist, but she resists giving a check-list because of her emphasis on how individualized and contextual grief is experienced. sure she offers a few ‘pillars’ (meditation, running and visualizations seem to be her fan favourites), but these are couched in the insistence that each individual will have to find their own path.
so maybe what i’m most appreciative of is the way the book has opened conversations for me. i can say i’m reading, or just read this book, and it made me think about these things. instead of being like “i’m thinking a lot about death these days,” which is odd because it is sunny, and springtime, and there are baby cats (aka: kittens) all over facebook, i can use the book to begin conversations that let me know that other people are thinking about death, too. (and yes, i know i should check out a death cafe).
“is this what a life is? someone, in the middle of cleaning the bathroom, remembers you tasting the ocean on your fingers long after you’re gone. someone draws that out of the fog, draws out that memory, detached from circumstance, not locatable on a timeline” (115-116).
i can’t remember who told me this, but someone told me once that their hope when they die is not that their friends and family will remember them on birthdays or holidays, but that those they love might pick ‘ordinary’ days each year to remember and celebrate the dead. this idea resonated with me – with my own fears about creating meaning and being remembered. you might be able to tell that i’m in the position of not yet experiencing the death of someone so close to me (though loss is another matter – let’s come back to that). and then i read lisa moore’s incredible february. the book showed me that grief and memory doesn’t need to be requested or planned. no date scheduled. moore’s book takes readers inside a grief that is perpetual, with shape and contour and bite. it follows helen and her family in the years before, during and after the newfoundland ocean ranger oil rig disaster, during which helen’s husband, cal, dies.
at first i found the novel slow. i kept waiting for big chunky plot elements. not realizing that in the incremental layering of small family moments that moore was working literary magic: heaping these tiny details of family life and love to the point that this reader ached with the catastrophe of the loss. it wasn’t until three quarters in when i realized the sub-plot of john was just that – a sub-plot – that i recognized the point of the book. i guess that’s my failing as a reader, or my suggestion to you that if you start out and find yourself wondering ‘what’s this all about’ that you keep reading. you keep reading to discover that it’s all about how the small is the epic.


text:
The title is somewhat tongue in cheek because I really don’t see myself as being a radical, but in order to keep the interest of those on the far left who may see me that way, I chose to acknowledge what is very possibly going to be their claim. The purpose of this piece is to explain how I, David Groen got from Liberal Clinton Democrat who voted for Obama twice, to writing articles and letters that seem to align me far more with the Republican right. By the time you finish reading, whether you a Conservative or a Liberal I suspect I will surprise you, and very possibly disappoint you.
If it sounds like I am confused let me be clear. I am more certain of where I stand on most issues than I have been my entire life. I have not changed my views on some of the most polarizing issues of the day. As soon as I state my stances on abortion and gay marriage I am certain to get some ire from a large portion of the Conservatives reading this. When I state my views on Israel and Foreign Affairs I am certain to get the same from many of the Liberals. If this article seems like it is designed to make everyone angry at me, rest assured it is not. I’m merely someone comfortable expressing his political views and since I try not to be a hypocrite, I see no reason to hide my politics. In the end it is up to the reader to decide if he or she cares about my views, not me.
Most of the issues I intend to glance over quickly, while those dealing with Israel and Foreign Affairs in particular I will go into more detail. Here are some of the main issues that tend to define today’s Liberal and Conservative, not necessarily in the order stated. My order is based on how much I intend to say about the subject in this particular piece.
4-Foreign Affairs 5-Israel; (specifically for Jews, but often for non-Jews as well).
1-Abortion: I am pro-choice. I believe a woman has the right to decide what to do with her own body.
2-Gay Marriage: I really don’t care who people sleep with and since I believe one of the reasons America is a great country is the separation of Church and State, and since the only reason to ban this is a religious one, I believe it’s not the government’s business. If a religious institution chooses not to marry gay people they have every right to make that choice.
3-Gun Control: I used to be so anti-gun that I would say that Americans had lost the right to bare arms based on our overall behavior with guns. I believe strict and enforced regulations are important, but in today’s worldwide political climate I see how the need exists for individuals to carry a gun, and since that may even mean me, it would be hypocritical of me to hold the same views I once held.
Before I go on I will take a moment to explain my voting history back to the first Clinton presidency. Actually the first part is easy. For right or for wrong back then I didn’t feel the need to analyze it too deeply. I voted for who I liked the most. I can say I voted Democrat across the board, and that would be true in local elections, but I also voted for Ronald Reagan(at least I think I did. I may have missed an election).
I liked Bill Clinton. The Monica Lewinsky issue aside, I still do. When Al Gore was running I found myself truly getting excited about politics. I thought he was going to be a tremendous president. Whether or not I was right or wrong we will never know because Florida and hanging chads happened and George W. Bush became president instead. With the devastation I felt when Gore did not become president and my 3 straight presidential elections voting Democrat, no one would ever have thought I would ever vote for W. That however, is exactly what happened in the next election. Since I greatly approved of his reaction and handling of 9/11, I voted for him when he ran for a second term. Besides, I wasn’t particularly impressed with John Kerry anyway. At least that is something that hasn’t changed.
When Barack Obama first hit the scene I was not a supporter. But not so much because I had a problem with him, but because I was big time for Hilary. When he defeated her in the primaries I was uncertain of my vote. I liked John McCain’s toughness and patriotism but I put a lot of stock in who a candidate chooses for Vice President. So when McCain picked Sara Palin it became a much easier decision for me. I voted for Obama. When Obama came up for reelection I once again looked at the opponent. I didn’t like Mitt Romney at all. I didn’t believe a word he said. Not because I believed he was necessarily so much less honest than everyone else, but because it always seemed that whatever he said was only designed to win the election. I never felt like he was true to anything. I also held out hope and wanted to believe that Obama did actually like Israel and that the things that looked bad were just part of his strategy to bring peace in the Middle East. His actions still may be designed with that purpose in mind, but since it looks more and more like he is selling Israel out in whatever this process of his is, I’m subsequently not too happy about that vote.
I can’t tell this history without admitting that in retrospect I made some mistakes, but everyone’s truth is what it is, and this is mine. Who knows? Maybe this piece will make some people admit votes they otherwise would have kept private. With that said I go back to my list.
4-Foreign Affairs: On no issue have I “radicalized” more. We all know the phrase history repeats itself. I believe that history is not as likely to repeat itself as it is to mimic itself. The difference may seem subtle but it is extremely significant and very important. As a son of Holocaust survivors, the history of the Jews in Europe has always been doubly personal. Both as a Jew and as the son of Dutch Jews. The Nazis rose to power under the unsuspecting noses of a hopeful Europe and somewhat detached America. By the time it was too late, Hitler had put together a juggernaut of evil and terror that ran over the continent and caused a war that saw the death of tens of millions of people, including 6 millions Jews killed in genocidal manner. The enemy was devastatingly powerful and ruthless. The tactics of the Nazis were as evil as anything the world has ever seen. They were organized, cohesive and powerful. But the allies had one advantage in attacking them. They were based in one country. Yes there was a 5th column, the “ordinary people” placed in other countries to do a form of reconnaissance, but for the most part Nazi Germany was based out of Germany. Although today’s evil uses some tactics very similar to the Nazis, and similarly their 2 main enemies are Americans and Jews, Muslim extremists are spread out in so many parts of the world, able to attack in so many different locations at any time, that the rising threat may have similarities to 1930s Europe, but nothing is a better example of history mimicking itself instead of repeating itself as the threats we face today.
That being said, the similarities are significant enough that I have formed the belief that negotiation and trust are just not a reasonable option. It hurts me to say that this is a fight I believe can only be won by force, but what do we see to tell us otherwise? If we are only looking for history to repeat itself, we can make the argument that this is nothing like 1930s Europe and the rise of Nazism. But the language is similar, the lack of morality which justifies killing is similar, and the growth is even faster. I don’t want to see innocent people get hurt, but innocent people needed to get hurt in Germany to stop the Nazis, and had that not happened millions of more innocent people would ultimately have gotten slaughtered. To me and to all civilized people that is something that should be unacceptable.
5-Israel: I have made a very clear statement that I have no intention of wavering from. My next vote for president will be for whichever candidate I believe is most pro-Israel and toughest in foreign affairs. I have been very vocal in my support of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The other day I decided to listen to a J Street video regarding the need for a two-state Solution. I think J Street is divisive and disingenuous, but in many ways I don’t believe a desire for a two-state solution is a bad thing necessarily. Much of the statements in the video carried a lot of merit. The status quo will not be good for Israel. It does create an even more dangerous future. The prices that have been paid by so many are very high, and yes, it is a lot easier to speak this way from the United States than it is from Israel. All that being said, it is not that I am opposed to a two-state solution per se, it is that under the current conditions a two-state solution is not a road to peace, it is a road to another Final Solution, not that different from the one attempted, and carried out to a large extent in devastating fashion by the Nazis against the Jews.
To make peace you either need more than one willing party or for one party to be significantly stronger. Those who criticize Israel the loudest do so because Israel, at the moment at least is stuck with the second choice. Being a more powerful nation Israel is still able to win their wars. With the lack of a willing peace partner Israel has 2 choices. Keep the enemy down or die. Forgive us “radicals” if we find the 2nd choice unacceptable. No reasonable caring person is blind to the price Israel has to pay. I can say with utmost confidence that the overwhelming majority of Israelis and Jews worldwide would gladly accept a two-state solution if it was with a party that truly wanted peace with the Jewish people. If I felt Jewish lives would be saved I would support it. But I believe, as do many like me, that more Jewish lives would be lost as a result of a two-state solution under the current conditions. And it’s just plain anti-Israel cynicism to believe it falls solely on Israel to change these conditions.
I can not and will not be moderate if I feel that a moderate viewpoint puts my people in danger.
People who truly know Israelis and truly know the Jewish people as a whole, know that we are a people who desire to live in peace. My lack of moderation is not based on some irrational hatred of Arabs and Muslims, my lack of moderation is based on those in power who talk about wanting to annihilate Israel and murder Jews while declaring a desire for peace for political or public relations expediency. It’s baffling to me that anyone would believe the intentions of those calling for the murder of innocents were good at all, and to be quite honest it baffles me that the view opposing Israel somehow became one more often affiliated with a liberal status. Maybe these people need to listen a little more to Alan Dershowitz.
So there you have my evolution to “radical”. Make no mistake though. This is one radical that hopes and prays that one day people will wake up and no longer allow their leaders to be preachers of death and destruction. When that happens I suspect I will no longer be seen as a radical, for I will be excited and supportive of what would then be a genuine peace process.
I am a firm believer of free speech. Although I think there are some grey areas when dealing with messages of blatant hate or incitement, I never call for the removal of anyone’s form of expression, regardless of how distasteful it may be to me personally. That being said, I believe my responses should be given the same respect and consideration. Since your newspaper made the choice to publish drivel which I believe helps contribute to the destruction of our civilization, I trust you will give my words equal consideration.
I can’t help but wonder the thinking behind publishing this sort of garbage. Is it considered to be funny? It certainly isn’t accurate or appropriate. Last week ISIS claimed responsibility for the bombing in a mosque that killed scores of worshipper. I wonder how that was dealt with by your newspaper. You see that was an actual specific targeting of worshippers. It was mass murder for the purpose of destabilization. Yet somehow I suspect your paper draws some type of moral equivalency between Israel’s actions during the war in Gaza and the actions of a terrorist organization like ISIS. I suspect this because in publishing this cartoon you have chosen to give a degree of credibility to Hamas, a terrorist organization far more similar to ISIS than you may care to admit.
I do not know you Mr. Kern, so I do not know your personal feelings, but I am addressing you because as the editor you are responsible for what appears in your newspaper. This cartoon justifies the actions of Hamas, a group cut from the same cloth as ISIS, and with members that would kill you as fast as they would kill me. Hamas used these locations as human shields in attacking Israeli population centers. Israel’s purpose of bombing Gaza was to stop the attacks on her very own civilians. You may not want to accept this as fact because then you can’t publish a dumb cartoon attacking Netanyahu, but these are the facts nonetheless, and no skewed political agenda will change that.
I write this letter out of concern for our well-being. There is a great division growing within our people. We have always been somewhat at odds with each other when it comes to religious observance, something that is still an issue, but of greater significance today is the schism in political viewpoints and the general direction in which our people will not only move forward, but survive.
I call myself a citizen of the world. I see all people as being equal. That being said, I have a tremendous pride and love for what I am and where I come from. I love the Jewish people with all my heart and soul and want to see us thrive in a safe and prosperous world. This feeling, one shared by so many others, is what drives my political viewpoints. I am quite certain that there are countless more of my fellow Jews whose love of their people also drive their political opinion, be it identical or very different from mine.
I am very passionate about my views. I believe, as I am sure so many of you do as well, that there is a tremendous amount at stake at this moment in time. And like so many of you, I believe my views are the correct ones. If I did not, I would not hold them. If I did not, I would not passionately speak them. To me, as I am sure it is to many of you, this is not about me being heard or having intellectual discourse. To me this is about survival.
We do not have to agree with the method, but we must always remember to agree with the goal. We must make a concerted effort not to fight among ourselves because as we know all to well, there are plenty of people out there who are more than happy to fight us, hurt us, and kill us.
We must not fall victim to the devious methods and strategies of our enemies. We must support the one Jewish government in the world and show respect for it leaders whether they hold the views we do or not. No matter how much one might feel a strategy of an Israeli leader is counterproductive, it is far more counterproductive to work against him. Please remember one extremely important fact. Our enemies have always worked against Israel’s leaders, be they left-wing or right-wing, and to believe that has suddenly changed is a potentially devastating and incorrect assumption. I am not asking all of you to agree with Benjamin Netanyahu or even like him, but as long as he is the Prime Minister of Israel, I pray that you will support and respect him.
I end with one last message. Next time you have reason to be angry at one of your fellow Jews over a difference of opinion, take a step back and realize that with our unity we get strong and with our division we get weak. If you are angry and wish to fight, fight those who wish to truly harm you. Debate your fellow Jew but do so with respect and kindness. Investigate and identify who your enemies are, and when you do you may come to the conclusion that your enemy is not your fellow Jew who disagrees with you. I for one certainly hope that you do come to that conclusion.
The first 3 words of this letter already tells so much of the story. To be forced to start a letter “Dear Editorial Board” makes you wonder why no individual had the intestinal fortitude to use his or her name when going on the attack as they did against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu one day after his election victory. For those of you reading on this self-perceived holier than thou and smarter than the rest of us board, here is how criticism is given when you are not afraid to stand by your convictions.
My name is David Groen. I am a proud American, a proud Jew, and proud Zionist. I am also an ardent supporter of Benjamin Netanyahu who found your editorial titled “An Israeli Election turns ugly” to be not only offensive, but skewed to suit your political agenda and a contradiction to the factors that make democracy great.
Israel is not only a great democracy, it is the only real democracy in the Middle East. You speak of Benjamin Netanyahu as though he is some fascist dictator on the rise. This is a man who leads a nation constantly under attack from terrorist organizations and threats from rogue nations such as Iran calling for its annihilation. Yet somehow you have a problem with Netanyahu trying to defeat the Arab vote knowing full well that their agenda would be to go against his political strategy of how to keep Israel safe and secure. I’m not debating whether or not his strategy is right or wrong because this letter is not so much to debate his tactics, it is to debate yours.
There is no evidence that voters were harassed, be they left-wing Jews or Arabs, and no reason to believe this was an election ripe with any significant corruption. What it was instead was an example of an ambitious politician using democracy to his advantage. It is almost comical to me that the NY Times, that great defender of freedom and civil rights would have a problem with democracy functioning on a prime level. No one forced anyone to vote for Prime Minister Netanyahu. The Arab population had a big vote in the election. Their representative party has seats in the Knesset. They have a say and a role in the Israeli political system. How many Arab nations have Jewish representation? None. Because in most Arab nations the Jews were run out of town. If “you” don’t like Benjamin Netanyahu that’s fine. Just don’t attack him for utilizing his country’s democratic structure.
Which bring me back again to that question. Who is the “you” in all this? Who am I actually writing to? The entire Editorial Board is in agreement on this issue? How about signing all of your names to it so we know how many of you there are and know you are all in agreement. Not because I believe there should be anything heinous done to you, but because if you are to criticize someone who speaks to the people just because you are upset he got what he wanted, don’t you think you should at least let everyone know who you are when you criticize him? To hide behind the title “Editorial Board” is a level of hypocrisy that totally destroys any credibility you have left. Whoever “you” actually are.
What Benjamin Netanyahu did this election was nothing different from what any other politician would do in any democracy. He did what he felt he had to do to win. Creating this perception that his words were racist attacks on the Arab population of Israel is either irresponsible on “your” part, or even worse, an attempt at manipulating the minds of your audience. But here is the difference between “you” and me. I accept your right to do this in a democratic society with free speech, and when I don’t like “your” methods, I sign my name to my criticism.

lowercased:
the title is somewhat tongue in cheek because i really don’t see myself as being a radical, but in order to keep the interest of those on the far left who may see me that way, i chose to acknowledge what is very possibly going to be their claim. the purpose of this piece is to explain how i, david groen got from liberal clinton democrat who voted for obama twice, to writing articles and letters that seem to align me far more with the republican right. by the time you finish reading, whether you a conservative or a liberal i suspect i will surprise you, and very possibly disappoint you.
if it sounds like i am confused let me be clear. i am more certain of where i stand on most issues than i have been my entire life. i have not changed my views on some of the most polarizing issues of the day. as soon as i state my stances on abortion and gay marriage i am certain to get some ire from a large portion of the conservatives reading this. when i state my views on israel and foreign affairs i am certain to get the same from many of the liberals. if this article seems like it is designed to make everyone angry at me, rest assured it is not. i’m merely someone comfortable expressing his political views and since i try not to be a hypocrite, i see no reason to hide my politics. in the end it is up to the reader to decide if he or she cares about my views, not me.
most of the issues i intend to glance over quickly, while those dealing with israel and foreign affairs in particular i will go into more detail. here are some of the main issues that tend to define today’s liberal and conservative, not necessarily in the order stated. my order is based on how much i intend to say about the subject in this particular piece.
4-foreign affairs 5-israel; (specifically for jews, but often for non-jews as well).
1-abortion: i am pro-choice. i believe a woman has the right to decide what to do with her own body.
2-gay marriage: i really don’t care who people sleep with and since i believe one of the reasons america is a great country is the separation of church and state, and since the only reason to ban this is a religious one, i believe it’s not the government’s business. if a religious institution chooses not to marry gay people they have every right to make that choice.
3-gun control: i used to be so anti-gun that i would say that americans had lost the right to bare arms based on our overall behavior with guns. i believe strict and enforced regulations are important, but in today’s worldwide political climate i see how the need exists for individuals to carry a gun, and since that may even mean me, it would be hypocritical of me to hold the same views i once held.
before i go on i will take a moment to explain my voting history back to the first clinton presidency. actually the first part is easy. for right or for wrong back then i didn’t feel the need to analyze it too deeply. i voted for who i liked the most. i can say i voted democrat across the board, and that would be true in local elections, but i also voted for ronald reagan(at least i think i did. i may have missed an election).
i liked bill clinton. the monica lewinsky issue aside, i still do. when al gore was running i found myself truly getting excited about politics. i thought he was going to be a tremendous president. whether or not i was right or wrong we will never know because florida and hanging chads happened and george w. bush became president instead. with the devastation i felt when gore did not become president and my 3 straight presidential elections voting democrat, no one would ever have thought i would ever vote for w. that however, is exactly what happened in the next election. since i greatly approved of his reaction and handling of 9/11, i voted for him when he ran for a second term. besides, i wasn’t particularly impressed with john kerry anyway. at least that is something that hasn’t changed.
when barack obama first hit the scene i was not a supporter. but not so much because i had a problem with him, but because i was big time for hilary. when he defeated her in the primaries i was uncertain of my vote. i liked john mccain’s toughness and patriotism but i put a lot of stock in who a candidate chooses for vice president. so when mccain picked sara palin it became a much easier decision for me. i voted for obama. when obama came up for reelection i once again looked at the opponent. i didn’t like mitt romney at all. i didn’t believe a word he said. not because i believed he was necessarily so much less honest than everyone else, but because it always seemed that whatever he said was only designed to win the election. i never felt like he was true to anything. i also held out hope and wanted to believe that obama did actually like israel and that the things that looked bad were just part of his strategy to bring peace in the middle east. his actions still may be designed with that purpose in mind, but since it looks more and more like he is selling israel out in whatever this process of his is, i’m subsequently not too happy about that vote.
i can’t tell this history without admitting that in retrospect i made some mistakes, but everyone’s truth is what it is, and this is mine. who knows? maybe this piece will make some people admit votes they otherwise would have kept private. with that said i go back to my list.
4-foreign affairs: on no issue have i “radicalized” more. we all know the phrase history repeats itself. i believe that history is not as likely to repeat itself as it is to mimic itself. the difference may seem subtle but it is extremely significant and very important. as a son of holocaust survivors, the history of the jews in europe has always been doubly personal. both as a jew and as the son of dutch jews. the nazis rose to power under the unsuspecting noses of a hopeful europe and somewhat detached america. by the time it was too late, hitler had put together a juggernaut of evil and terror that ran over the continent and caused a war that saw the death of tens of millions of people, including 6 millions jews killed in genocidal manner. the enemy was devastatingly powerful and ruthless. the tactics of the nazis were as evil as anything the world has ever seen. they were organized, cohesive and powerful. but the allies had one advantage in attacking them. they were based in one country. yes there was a 5th column, the “ordinary people” placed in other countries to do a form of reconnaissance, but for the most part nazi germany was based out of germany. although today’s evil uses some tactics very similar to the nazis, and similarly their 2 main enemies are americans and jews, muslim extremists are spread out in so many parts of the world, able to attack in so many different locations at any time, that the rising threat may have similarities to 1930s europe, but nothing is a better example of history mimicking itself instead of repeating itself as the threats we face today.
that being said, the similarities are significant enough that i have formed the belief that negotiation and trust are just not a reasonable option. it hurts me to say that this is a fight i believe can only be won by force, but what do we see to tell us otherwise? if we are only looking for history to repeat itself, we can make the argument that this is nothing like 1930s europe and the rise of nazism. but the language is similar, the lack of morality which justifies killing is similar, and the growth is even faster. i don’t want to see innocent people get hurt, but innocent people needed to get hurt in germany to stop the nazis, and had that not happened millions of more innocent people would ultimately have gotten slaughtered. to me and to all civilized people that is something that should be unacceptable.
5-israel: i have made a very clear statement that i have no intention of wavering from. my next vote for president will be for whichever candidate i believe is most pro-israel and toughest in foreign affairs. i have been very vocal in my support of israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu. the other day i decided to listen to a j street video regarding the need for a two-state solution. i think j street is divisive and disingenuous, but in many ways i don’t believe a desire for a two-state solution is a bad thing necessarily. much of the statements in the video carried a lot of merit. the status quo will not be good for israel. it does create an even more dangerous future. the prices that have been paid by so many are very high, and yes, it is a lot easier to speak this way from the united states than it is from israel. all that being said, it is not that i am opposed to a two-state solution per se, it is that under the current conditions a two-state solution is not a road to peace, it is a road to another final solution, not that different from the one attempted, and carried out to a large extent in devastating fashion by the nazis against the jews.
to make peace you either need more than one willing party or for one party to be significantly stronger. those who criticize israel the loudest do so because israel, at the moment at least is stuck with the second choice. being a more powerful nation israel is still able to win their wars. with the lack of a willing peace partner israel has 2 choices. keep the enemy down or die. forgive us “radicals” if we find the 2nd choice unacceptable. no reasonable caring person is blind to the price israel has to pay. i can say with utmost confidence that the overwhelming majority of israelis and jews worldwide would gladly accept a two-state solution if it was with a party that truly wanted peace with the jewish people. if i felt jewish lives would be saved i would support it. but i believe, as do many like me, that more jewish lives would be lost as a result of a two-state solution under the current conditions. and it’s just plain anti-israel cynicism to believe it falls solely on israel to change these conditions.
i can not and will not be moderate if i feel that a moderate viewpoint puts my people in danger.
people who truly know israelis and truly know the jewish people as a whole, know that we are a people who desire to live in peace. my lack of moderation is not based on some irrational hatred of arabs and muslims, my lack of moderation is based on those in power who talk about wanting to annihilate israel and murder jews while declaring a desire for peace for political or public relations expediency. it’s baffling to me that anyone would believe the intentions of those calling for the murder of innocents were good at all, and to be quite honest it baffles me that the view opposing israel somehow became one more often affiliated with a liberal status. maybe these people need to listen a little more to alan dershowitz.
so there you have my evolution to “radical”. make no mistake though. this is one radical that hopes and prays that one day people will wake up and no longer allow their leaders to be preachers of death and destruction. when that happens i suspect i will no longer be seen as a radical, for i will be excited and supportive of what would then be a genuine peace process.
i am a firm believer of free speech. although i think there are some grey areas when dealing with messages of blatant hate or incitement, i never call for the removal of anyone’s form of expression, regardless of how distasteful it may be to me personally. that being said, i believe my responses should be given the same respect and consideration. since your newspaper made the choice to publish drivel which i believe helps contribute to the destruction of our civilization, i trust you will give my words equal consideration.
i can’t help but wonder the thinking behind publishing this sort of garbage. is it considered to be funny? it certainly isn’t accurate or appropriate. last week isis claimed responsibility for the bombing in a mosque that killed scores of worshipper. i wonder how that was dealt with by your newspaper. you see that was an actual specific targeting of worshippers. it was mass murder for the purpose of destabilization. yet somehow i suspect your paper draws some type of moral equivalency between israel’s actions during the war in gaza and the actions of a terrorist organization like isis. i suspect this because in publishing this cartoon you have chosen to give a degree of credibility to hamas, a terrorist organization far more similar to isis than you may care to admit.
i do not know you mr. kern, so i do not know your personal feelings, but i am addressing you because as the editor you are responsible for what appears in your newspaper. this cartoon justifies the actions of hamas, a group cut from the same cloth as isis, and with members that would kill you as fast as they would kill me. hamas used these locations as human shields in attacking israeli population centers. israel’s purpose of bombing gaza was to stop the attacks on her very own civilians. you may not want to accept this as fact because then you can’t publish a dumb cartoon attacking netanyahu, but these are the facts nonetheless, and no skewed political agenda will change that.
i write this letter out of concern for our well-being. there is a great division growing within our people. we have always been somewhat at odds with each other when it comes to religious observance, something that is still an issue, but of greater significance today is the schism in political viewpoints and the general direction in which our people will not only move forward, but survive.
i call myself a citizen of the world. i see all people as being equal. that being said, i have a tremendous pride and love for what i am and where i come from. i love the jewish people with all my heart and soul and want to see us thrive in a safe and prosperous world. this feeling, one shared by so many others, is what drives my political viewpoints. i am quite certain that there are countless more of my fellow jews whose love of their people also drive their political opinion, be it identical or very different from mine.
i am very passionate about my views. i believe, as i am sure so many of you do as well, that there is a tremendous amount at stake at this moment in time. and like so many of you, i believe my views are the correct ones. if i did not, i would not hold them. if i did not, i would not passionately speak them. to me, as i am sure it is to many of you, this is not about me being heard or having intellectual discourse. to me this is about survival.
we do not have to agree with the method, but we must always remember to agree with the goal. we must make a concerted effort not to fight among ourselves because as we know all to well, there are plenty of people out there who are more than happy to fight us, hurt us, and kill us.
we must not fall victim to the devious methods and strategies of our enemies. we must support the one jewish government in the world and show respect for it leaders whether they hold the views we do or not. no matter how much one might feel a strategy of an israeli leader is counterproductive, it is far more counterproductive to work against him. please remember one extremely important fact. our enemies have always worked against israel’s leaders, be they left-wing or right-wing, and to believe that has suddenly changed is a potentially devastating and incorrect assumption. i am not asking all of you to agree with benjamin netanyahu or even like him, but as long as he is the prime minister of israel, i pray that you will support and respect him.
i end with one last message. next time you have reason to be angry at one of your fellow jews over a difference of opinion, take a step back and realize that with our unity we get strong and with our division we get weak. if you are angry and wish to fight, fight those who wish to truly harm you. debate your fellow jew but do so with respect and kindness. investigate and identify who your enemies are, and when you do you may come to the conclusion that your enemy is not your fellow jew who disagrees with you. i for one certainly hope that you do come to that conclusion.
the first 3 words of this letter already tells so much of the story. to be forced to start a letter “dear editorial board” makes you wonder why no individual had the intestinal fortitude to use his or her name when going on the attack as they did against israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu one day after his election victory. for those of you reading on this self-perceived holier than thou and smarter than the rest of us board, here is how criticism is given when you are not afraid to stand by your convictions.
my name is david groen. i am a proud american, a proud jew, and proud zionist. i am also an ardent supporter of benjamin netanyahu who found your editorial titled “an israeli election turns ugly” to be not only offensive, but skewed to suit your political agenda and a contradiction to the factors that make democracy great.
israel is not only a great democracy, it is the only real democracy in the middle east. you speak of benjamin netanyahu as though he is some fascist dictator on the rise. this is a man who leads a nation constantly under attack from terrorist organizations and threats from rogue nations such as iran calling for its annihilation. yet somehow you have a problem with netanyahu trying to defeat the arab vote knowing full well that their agenda would be to go against his political strategy of how to keep israel safe and secure. i’m not debating whether or not his strategy is right or wrong because this letter is not so much to debate his tactics, it is to debate yours.
there is no evidence that voters were harassed, be they left-wing jews or arabs, and no reason to believe this was an election ripe with any significant corruption. what it was instead was an example of an ambitious politician using democracy to his advantage. it is almost comical to me that the ny times, that great defender of freedom and civil rights would have a problem with democracy functioning on a prime level. no one forced anyone to vote for prime minister netanyahu. the arab population had a big vote in the election. their representative party has seats in the knesset. they have a say and a role in the israeli political system. how many arab nations have jewish representation? none. because in most arab nations the jews were run out of town. if “you” don’t like benjamin netanyahu that’s fine. just don’t attack him for utilizing his country’s democratic structure.
which bring me back again to that question. who is the “you” in all this? who am i actually writing to? the entire editorial board is in agreement on this issue? how about signing all of your names to it so we know how many of you there are and know you are all in agreement. not because i believe there should be anything heinous done to you, but because if you are to criticize someone who speaks to the people just because you are upset he got what he wanted, don’t you think you should at least let everyone know who you are when you criticize him? to hide behind the title “editorial board” is a level of hypocrisy that totally destroys any credibility you have left. whoever “you” actually are.
what benjamin netanyahu did this election was nothing different from what any other politician would do in any democracy. he did what he felt he had to do to win. creating this perception that his words were racist attacks on the arab population of israel is either irresponsible on “your” part, or even worse, an attempt at manipulating the minds of your audience. but here is the difference between “you” and me. i accept your right to do this in a democratic society with free speech, and when i don’t like “your” methods, i sign my name to my criticism.


text: These unique flip flops can imprint FOLLOW ME BRING BEER in sand with each step. Made to order in the USA from durable and elastic Rubber/EVA foam. Please note that this product is custom made to order in the size and colors that you request. Returns are not accepted except in the event of the product being made incorrectly.

lowercased: these unique flip flops can imprint follow me bring beer in sand with each step. made to order in the usa from durable and elastic rubber/eva foam. please note that this product is custom made to order in the size and colors that you request. returns are not accepted except in the event of the product being made incorrectly.


text:
Rochester's Dady Brothers have been performing Irish and folks music around the world for almost 50 years.
The Rochester Broadway Theatre League’s 2019-2020 season includes Jesus Christ Superstar, The Book of Mormon, Come From Away and more.
It's "the most important Jewish play since 'Fiddler on the Roof,'" yet appeals to a wide audience, the JCC's Ralph Meranto says.
The 50th anniversary celebration of Woodstock, to be held Aug. 16-18 in Watkins Glen, will include 80-plus acts, such as Common and The Killers.
The food truck has a devoted following for its trasher plate, a sushi spin on a Garbage Plate. The restaurant expands on its fusion approach.
The Tony Award-winning play at Geva blends in spooky elements to convey a family's cracks and troubling secrets.
The Corning Museum of Glass is a partner in "Blown Away," a new glassblowing competition show that's described as "a love letter to glass."
If you’re not in the swing of shopping at Rochester’s Asian stores, you’re missing out.
Options include Irondequoit’s Winterfest and Sensory-friendly Sunday at The Strong National Museum of Play.
'The Carole King Musical' explores the characters behind the famed songs. But for Stewart, overcoming prejudice propelled her to the stage.
World premiere comedy, 'Hard Cell,' covers the heated ground of a very timely subject. The conversation-starting farce runs through Feb.3 at Geva.
Three months of renovations will be revealed to the public Saturday. But what about Carl?
Finalist and fan favorite from ‘The Bachelorette’ will co-host 2019 Gilda’s Guys Bachelor Auction at Anthology.
Filipino fare now available on the west side.
Options include a Bowie Birthday Bash, the Strasenburgh Planetarium's reopening and a Colorama talk.
Options include Rochester Lancers’ games and Dancing with the Stars: Live!
People who qualify for the food assistance program will be able to get into the Museum of Play for $3 instead of the normal $16 admission.
Options include kid-friendly freebies and stage shows for grown-ups.
In what is likely the only exhibition of its kind, the Memorial Art Gallery garnered eight of the 13 Waterloo paintings in public collections.
Options include the final weekend of ROC Holiday Village and Winter Break at Ganondagan.
The pop star is still dealing with bruised vocal chords.
We tried to narrow down this year’s choices, but it’s hard!
Tickets go on sale Friday for shows by acclaimed drummer and jazz guitarist at Kodak Hall.
Pittsford decorator Amie-Freling Brown shares her holiday decorating tips.
Tickets go on sale Monday for glam-rock band's farewell tour concert.
Options include a Family Sleepover at the Zoo and ‘A Christmas Carol’ at Geva.
Bristol Mountain, which typically opens around Thanksgiving Day, opened for the first time this season on Friday.
Yet another ax-throwing coming to town: Is there room for 3?
Options include the Webster Turkey Trot and Holiday Pet Photos at Lollypop Farm.
The crew of the Thanksgiving classic was looking for a snowy place for some of their scenes.
By the time Rochester Storytellers Project wraps up its second season on Thursday, Nov. 15, we will have collected nearly 50 stories.
Area eateries thank veterans for their service.
Final formation for Rochester’s Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge. Fundraisers include 5K runs, pancake breakfast and an Iron Smoke Distillery event.
Josh Groban plays Blue Cross Arena, and Val Kilmer comes to Comedy at the Carlson.

lowercased:
rochester's dady brothers have been performing irish and folks music around the world for almost 50 years.
the rochester broadway theatre league’s 2019-2020 season includes jesus christ superstar, the book of mormon, come from away and more.
it's "the most important jewish play since 'fiddler on the roof,'" yet appeals to a wide audience, the jcc's ralph meranto says.
the 50th anniversary celebration of woodstock, to be held aug. 16-18 in watkins glen, will include 80-plus acts, such as common and the killers.
the food truck has a devoted following for its trasher plate, a sushi spin on a garbage plate. the restaurant expands on its fusion approach.
the tony award-winning play at geva blends in spooky elements to convey a family's cracks and troubling secrets.
the corning museum of glass is a partner in "blown away," a new glassblowing competition show that's described as "a love letter to glass."
if you’re not in the swing of shopping at rochester’s asian stores, you’re missing out.
options include irondequoit’s winterfest and sensory-friendly sunday at the strong national museum of play.
'the carole king musical' explores the characters behind the famed songs. but for stewart, overcoming prejudice propelled her to the stage.
world premiere comedy, 'hard cell,' covers the heated ground of a very timely subject. the conversation-starting farce runs through feb.3 at geva.
three months of renovations will be revealed to the public saturday. but what about carl?
finalist and fan favorite from ‘the bachelorette’ will co-host 2019 gilda’s guys bachelor auction at anthology.
filipino fare now available on the west side.
options include a bowie birthday bash, the strasenburgh planetarium's reopening and a colorama talk.
options include rochester lancers’ games and dancing with the stars: live!
people who qualify for the food assistance program will be able to get into the museum of play for $3 instead of the normal $16 admission.
options include kid-friendly freebies and stage shows for grown-ups.
in what is likely the only exhibition of its kind, the memorial art gallery garnered eight of the 13 waterloo paintings in public collections.
options include the final weekend of roc holiday village and winter break at ganondagan.
the pop star is still dealing with bruised vocal chords.
we tried to narrow down this year’s choices, but it’s hard!
tickets go on sale friday for shows by acclaimed drummer and jazz guitarist at kodak hall.
pittsford decorator amie-freling brown shares her holiday decorating tips.
tickets go on sale monday for glam-rock band's farewell tour concert.
options include a family sleepover at the zoo and ‘a christmas carol’ at geva.
bristol mountain, which typically opens around thanksgiving day, opened for the first time this season on friday.
yet another ax-throwing coming to town: is there room for 3?
options include the webster turkey trot and holiday pet photos at lollypop farm.
the crew of the thanksgiving classic was looking for a snowy place for some of their scenes.
by the time rochester storytellers project wraps up its second season on thursday, nov. 15, we will have collected nearly 50 stories.
area eateries thank veterans for their service.
final formation for rochester’s veterans of the battle of the bulge. fundraisers include 5k runs, pancake breakfast and an iron smoke distillery event.
josh groban plays blue cross arena, and val kilmer comes to comedy at the carlson.


text: Alexandre Chartogne is the sole Champion of the terroir in the village of Merfy, once renowned for its grapes but forgotten in more recent years. In this vintage this rose is typically a blend of 50% Pinot Noir and 50% Chardonnay, and is always characterised by a profound mineral character rarely found in rose Champagnes. Delicate and elegant but very vibrant, this shows subtle notes of mint and orange alongside the more typical strawberry and raspberry fruit notes.

lowercased: alexandre chartogne is the sole champion of the terroir in the village of merfy, once renowned for its grapes but forgotten in more recent years. in this vintage this rose is typically a blend of 50% pinot noir and 50% chardonnay, and is always characterised by a profound mineral character rarely found in rose champagnes. delicate and elegant but very vibrant, this shows subtle notes of mint and orange alongside the more typical strawberry and raspberry fruit notes.


text: A gay piano bar and cocktail lounge in Manhattan. Mandatory coat check and strict dress code. Many refer to it as a 'chicken hawk' bar.

lowercased: a gay piano bar and cocktail lounge in manhattan. mandatory coat check and strict dress code. many refer to it as a 'chicken hawk' bar.


text:
Is any buddy hiring a taste tester?
Buddy & Sam have made a few dozen applications. They're willing to taste test just about anything. But they keep getting rejected. Something about Jan's economy is bad.
Oh, wait, Cotton says it's the country's economy is bad.
not hiring over here, i've got one myself!
You could come over here... but be warned, she has us taste testing stuffs like carrots and broccolis!
Bugsy and Knuckles are the official taste testers over here. Sorry pals... Hope you find a job. It' looks like you're good at it.
I'm thinkin there might be somethingy on the Pooch Network.
Jack says forget the taste testing. He wants to be an EAT tester. He'll eat pretty much anything you got!
Oh! I can't wait for growing weather here, so I can taste-test all the plants! We'll be growing a lot, so you're welcome to come help out! My mom doesn't mind -- I'm sure of it - no need to double-check!
You're great - I bet you're gonna get lots of job offers!!
Depending on the thing to be tasted, Elka is way ahead of you in our line!
We can see you would be a great taste tester but like Jack said eat tester would be good too. M & D had us taste testing raspberries, blueberries,blackberries, carrots and broccoli. We especially like the berries frozen. Not sure about the broccoli yet. Might take some getting used to. We hope you get hired but we don't have any openings right now. Sorry!
I think you should apply for a toy tester job!
We are sure you have an excellent CV....Unfortuantely we have no vacancies at the moment we are fully staffed!
Lily, I am sorry, the position is filled over here, nothing gets past this girl. I bet you could find something on Craigs list, but just be careful for freaky peeps.
My mom is always cookin' good stuff, Lily. If you don't mind sharing a mixer beater or a spoon, you can help me out!
That'd be a pawsome job!
Plenty of taste testers here too, I'm afraid!
I'm the official Husky Holstein of this household!
I'd start with the butcher's shops.
Hmmm... I'd love being a taste tester, but I don't think I'd want to taste plants, unless it was that sweet grass Mom is always yelling at me about eating!
OMD! if you hear anything, let a brutha know! I would be a pawesome taste tester!
I don't know anyone who is hiring,, but I have a question- what did it taste like?
What a perfect job THAT would be!
I wanna work as a dish washer!
Oooooo...think of how great that would be!!
We are, we are! You can become our treat factory's taste tester if you can come to Canada somehow, BOL.

lowercased:
is any buddy hiring a taste tester?
buddy & sam have made a few dozen applications. they're willing to taste test just about anything. but they keep getting rejected. something about jan's economy is bad.
oh, wait, cotton says it's the country's economy is bad.
not hiring over here, i've got one myself!
you could come over here... but be warned, she has us taste testing stuffs like carrots and broccolis!
bugsy and knuckles are the official taste testers over here. sorry pals... hope you find a job. it' looks like you're good at it.
i'm thinkin there might be somethingy on the pooch network.
jack says forget the taste testing. he wants to be an eat tester. he'll eat pretty much anything you got!
oh! i can't wait for growing weather here, so i can taste-test all the plants! we'll be growing a lot, so you're welcome to come help out! my mom doesn't mind -- i'm sure of it - no need to double-check!
you're great - i bet you're gonna get lots of job offers!!
depending on the thing to be tasted, elka is way ahead of you in our line!
we can see you would be a great taste tester but like jack said eat tester would be good too. m & d had us taste testing raspberries, blueberries,blackberries, carrots and broccoli. we especially like the berries frozen. not sure about the broccoli yet. might take some getting used to. we hope you get hired but we don't have any openings right now. sorry!
i think you should apply for a toy tester job!
we are sure you have an excellent cv....unfortuantely we have no vacancies at the moment we are fully staffed!
lily, i am sorry, the position is filled over here, nothing gets past this girl. i bet you could find something on craigs list, but just be careful for freaky peeps.
my mom is always cookin' good stuff, lily. if you don't mind sharing a mixer beater or a spoon, you can help me out!
that'd be a pawsome job!
plenty of taste testers here too, i'm afraid!
i'm the official husky holstein of this household!
i'd start with the butcher's shops.
hmmm... i'd love being a taste tester, but i don't think i'd want to taste plants, unless it was that sweet grass mom is always yelling at me about eating!
omd! if you hear anything, let a brutha know! i would be a pawesome taste tester!
i don't know anyone who is hiring,, but i have a question- what did it taste like?
what a perfect job that would be!
i wanna work as a dish washer!
oooooo...think of how great that would be!!
we are, we are! you can become our treat factory's taste tester if you can come to canada somehow, bol.


text:
Detectives are questioning a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief on how crude oil proceeds were used to buy choice vehicles for party big wigs.
Prince Uche Secondus is being detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly receiving 23 choice vehicles from a business associate of ex-Minister of Petroleum Resources Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke.
Secondus, PDP Deputy National Chairman, has been grilled for about eight hours on the curious gifts.
The detention of Secondus has created panic in the PDP because some leaders of the party were allocated some of the luxury vehicles.
Secondus was arrested early yesterday and taken to the EFCC’s Abuja headquarters for questioning.
The funds used for the purchase of the vehicles were sourced from crude oil receipts, which the associate did not remit.
The unnamed businessman has been in detention in the last three weeks.
A source said: “We have detained Secondus to assist the EFCC in its ongoing investigation of how oil receipts were diverted to the purchase of 23 vehicles.
“A business associate of ex-Minister of Petroleum Resources, who operates a private upstream oil and gas company, confirmed that the accruable revenue was used to buy the said vehicles.
“Our operatives stumbled on these records in the course of going through the Strategic Alliance Agreements (SAAs) with the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC).
Responding to a question, the source said preliminary investigation confirmed that revenue from oil was used for campaign purposes by the PDP.
“This is not the first time that oil cash has been diverted to campaign activities in 2015. Some indigenous oil companies were directed to finance PDP’s campaign.
The PDP Deputy National Chairman is also being quizzed over the N10 billion given to PDP delegates to the National Convention that picked former President Goodluck Jonathan as party candidate.
“The N10billion constitutes two tranches of N5.08billion each debited to the CBN/OAGF SIGNATURE BONUS ACCOUNT NO 400225220 vide OAGF memo Ref: FD/LP2015/1/28 DF to the Office of the National Security Adviser A/C Number 20172241019 with the CBN Abuja and the second was for credit into the account of National Security Adviser Account Number 1014199287 with Zenith Bank Plc Wuse II Abuja.
“The transactions were consummated on November 10, 2014. The mandate that authorised the withdrawal of USD47.0m was from the Office of the National Security Adviser(ONSA) with REF: NSA/366/S dated November 26, 2014. The mandate was processed for dollar cash payment to Mr. S. A. Salisu on November 27, 2014.
“The USD5.0m was via a memo from the ONSA memo REF: ACCT/86/VOL. 2/ 218 dated November 13, 2014. The National Security Adviser Account Number 20172241019 was debited and Dollar cash payment made to Mr. Wambai Ibrahim on November 14, 2014 in line with the mandate.
Secondus’s arrest has created panic in the PDP because some leaders of the party benefited from the vehicles bazaar.
A party leader said: “Actually, some of our leaders were given some of these vehicles but we did not know that oil revenue was used to buy them. And you know, Secondus was the acting National Chairman of PDP during the elections.
In a statement last night by its National Legal Adviser Victor Kwon, the PDP lamented Secondus’ arrest.
”The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) laments the oppressive and unfair treatments against its key leaders by the Federal Government.
”The party alerts the nation that the arrest and detention of its Deputy National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is part of the grand script by the APC-led Federal Government to decimate the opposition.
”We are also aware that plans have been perfected by the Federal Government to arrest and detain the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio and other leaders of the party on imaginary charges.
”Indeed, intelligence available to the party shows that the Federal Government, using its various agencies, is bent on destroying any opposition to the ruling party as all indications show that the government is more interested in humiliating the PDP than fighting corruption.

lowercased:
detectives are questioning a peoples democratic party (pdp) chief on how crude oil proceeds were used to buy choice vehicles for party big wigs.
prince uche secondus is being detained by the economic and financial crimes commission (efcc) for allegedly receiving 23 choice vehicles from a business associate of ex-minister of petroleum resources mrs. diezani alison-madueke.
secondus, pdp deputy national chairman, has been grilled for about eight hours on the curious gifts.
the detention of secondus has created panic in the pdp because some leaders of the party were allocated some of the luxury vehicles.
secondus was arrested early yesterday and taken to the efcc’s abuja headquarters for questioning.
the funds used for the purchase of the vehicles were sourced from crude oil receipts, which the associate did not remit.
the unnamed businessman has been in detention in the last three weeks.
a source said: “we have detained secondus to assist the efcc in its ongoing investigation of how oil receipts were diverted to the purchase of 23 vehicles.
“a business associate of ex-minister of petroleum resources, who operates a private upstream oil and gas company, confirmed that the accruable revenue was used to buy the said vehicles.
“our operatives stumbled on these records in the course of going through the strategic alliance agreements (saas) with the nigerian petroleum development company (npdc).
responding to a question, the source said preliminary investigation confirmed that revenue from oil was used for campaign purposes by the pdp.
“this is not the first time that oil cash has been diverted to campaign activities in 2015. some indigenous oil companies were directed to finance pdp’s campaign.
the pdp deputy national chairman is also being quizzed over the n10 billion given to pdp delegates to the national convention that picked former president goodluck jonathan as party candidate.
“the n10billion constitutes two tranches of n5.08billion each debited to the cbn/oagf signature bonus account no 400225220 vide oagf memo ref: fd/lp2015/1/28 df to the office of the national security adviser a/c number 20172241019 with the cbn abuja and the second was for credit into the account of national security adviser account number 1014199287 with zenith bank plc wuse ii abuja.
“the transactions were consummated on november 10, 2014. the mandate that authorised the withdrawal of usd47.0m was from the office of the national security adviser(onsa) with ref: nsa/366/s dated november 26, 2014. the mandate was processed for dollar cash payment to mr. s. a. salisu on november 27, 2014.
“the usd5.0m was via a memo from the onsa memo ref: acct/86/vol. 2/ 218 dated november 13, 2014. the national security adviser account number 20172241019 was debited and dollar cash payment made to mr. wambai ibrahim on november 14, 2014 in line with the mandate.
secondus’s arrest has created panic in the pdp because some leaders of the party benefited from the vehicles bazaar.
a party leader said: “actually, some of our leaders were given some of these vehicles but we did not know that oil revenue was used to buy them. and you know, secondus was the acting national chairman of pdp during the elections.
in a statement last night by its national legal adviser victor kwon, the pdp lamented secondus’ arrest.
”the peoples democratic party (pdp) laments the oppressive and unfair treatments against its key leaders by the federal government.
”the party alerts the nation that the arrest and detention of its deputy national chairman, prince uche secondus, by the economic and financial crimes commission (efcc) is part of the grand script by the apc-led federal government to decimate the opposition.
”we are also aware that plans have been perfected by the federal government to arrest and detain the deputy senate president, senator ike ekweremadu, senate minority leader, senator godswill akpabio and other leaders of the party on imaginary charges.
”indeed, intelligence available to the party shows that the federal government, using its various agencies, is bent on destroying any opposition to the ruling party as all indications show that the government is more interested in humiliating the pdp than fighting corruption.


text:
Lifestyle Photography is just great in Cornwall. It is a large section of my work and is mainly focused on photography for the tourism market. Supplying hotels, holiday companies, travel companies with thought provoking, tantalising imagery for their market and social media campaigns.
Although the vast majority is capturing that epic holiday experience, I also work with other business sectors capturing imagery for their needs. These have been in the past design companies, industrial and Commercial companies and schools and colleges.

lowercased:
lifestyle photography is just great in cornwall. it is a large section of my work and is mainly focused on photography for the tourism market. supplying hotels, holiday companies, travel companies with thought provoking, tantalising imagery for their market and social media campaigns.
although the vast majority is capturing that epic holiday experience, i also work with other business sectors capturing imagery for their needs. these have been in the past design companies, industrial and commercial companies and schools and colleges.


text:
Whenever you don't want to miss the chance to attend Twenty One Pilots PNC Arena concerts, you just browse this site and profit of the cheap Twenty One Pilots tickets PNC Arena available. Without doubt, cheap concert tickets including for shows taking place in Raleigh is our specialty.
You will then be able to access Twenty One Pilots tour by purchasing tickets on our site; furthermore, you can get concert venues plus tickets for Chicago, Salt Lake City and Milwaukee major concert as well as discounted tickets for Raleigh main music shows.Come and visit the site for Twenty One Pilots tabs plus affordable tickets for Phoenix, Denver and Milwaukee hot concerts or even vents taking place in North Carolina and all around US.

lowercased:
whenever you don't want to miss the chance to attend twenty one pilots pnc arena concerts, you just browse this site and profit of the cheap twenty one pilots tickets pnc arena available. without doubt, cheap concert tickets including for shows taking place in raleigh is our specialty.
you will then be able to access twenty one pilots tour by purchasing tickets on our site; furthermore, you can get concert venues plus tickets for chicago, salt lake city and milwaukee major concert as well as discounted tickets for raleigh main music shows.come and visit the site for twenty one pilots tabs plus affordable tickets for phoenix, denver and milwaukee hot concerts or even vents taking place in north carolina and all around us.


text:
This Woman in Kenya Is Tackling Water Scarcity First Hand | Together.Stronger.
Beth Koigi, a technology and community development specialist from Kiambu County, is the CEO and founder of Majik Water. Majik Water utilizes a technology with silica gels that draw water from the air with solar energy and can currently generate 10 liters of water per day.

lowercased:
this woman in kenya is tackling water scarcity first hand | together.stronger.
beth koigi, a technology and community development specialist from kiambu county, is the ceo and founder of majik water. majik water utilizes a technology with silica gels that draw water from the air with solar energy and can currently generate 10 liters of water per day.


text:
Tax-Free. Check the Mitsubishi … M-Series Wall Mounted Air Conditioning System … Get the best deal; compare prices now.
Mini Split Heat Pumps Mitsubishi Big Creek Pa Contents Mitsubishi. the recently completed joint Electric and contents mini contents and energy our the beaver high school football team Night. the bobcats were Offers mitsubishi electric But he once drove it about four hours from his home near Boston to Norwalk, CT.

lowercased:
tax-free. check the mitsubishi … m-series wall mounted air conditioning system … get the best deal; compare prices now.
mini split heat pumps mitsubishi big creek pa contents mitsubishi. the recently completed joint electric and contents mini contents and energy our the beaver high school football team night. the bobcats were offers mitsubishi electric but he once drove it about four hours from his home near boston to norwalk, ct.


text:
The basics of using EndNote Web to manage and save citations and references.
EndNote Web is a bibliographic citation manager.
A bibliographic citation is any reference to a book, journal article, video, or other source that you might use in an academic paper or article. EndNote Web allows you to 'manage' those citations by saving them, organizing them, and formating them.
Use this link to register on campus and as the direct link to login (once you have registered).
Register for EndNote Web within the WoS database. If you get a security error, it's OK to click through and continue.
Sign up for an account with EndNote Web.
Import citations from popular databases.
Make EndNote Web work with Google Scholar.
There are more detailed tutorials and help files within EndNote Web. This guide will get you started.
Need another format or filter?
Once you have signed up, you do not have to log in through the off campus link or the Web of Science site.
You can go directly to http://myendnoteweb.com/ and log in.
EndNote Web may ask you to occassionally log in through an "authorized computer". Any computer on campus should work, or you can log in through the off campus link or Web of Science (using your ID number and Library PIN off campus).
To simplify use, we've limited the number of style formats, online catalogs, and import filters available. If you need a style, catalog, or filter that isn't available, please contact Rebecca Hedreen.
Use the contact options on the right to ask for more help, or use the Individual Instruction Form and choose EndNote from the dropdown menu.

lowercased:
the basics of using endnote web to manage and save citations and references.
endnote web is a bibliographic citation manager.
a bibliographic citation is any reference to a book, journal article, video, or other source that you might use in an academic paper or article. endnote web allows you to 'manage' those citations by saving them, organizing them, and formating them.
use this link to register on campus and as the direct link to login (once you have registered).
register for endnote web within the wos database. if you get a security error, it's ok to click through and continue.
sign up for an account with endnote web.
import citations from popular databases.
make endnote web work with google scholar.
there are more detailed tutorials and help files within endnote web. this guide will get you started.
need another format or filter?
once you have signed up, you do not have to log in through the off campus link or the web of science site.
you can go directly to http://myendnoteweb.com/ and log in.
endnote web may ask you to occassionally log in through an "authorized computer". any computer on campus should work, or you can log in through the off campus link or web of science (using your id number and library pin off campus).
to simplify use, we've limited the number of style formats, online catalogs, and import filters available. if you need a style, catalog, or filter that isn't available, please contact rebecca hedreen.
use the contact options on the right to ask for more help, or use the individual instruction form and choose endnote from the dropdown menu.


text:
Some of my personal favorite images. Each one means something special to me and I hope to you as well.
2014 is the year I began seriously exploring long exposure photography. The surreal quality of the images this style of photography produces has always fascinated me. I will continue to post my long exposure images to this gallery so you can see a progression in my work. And hopefully for the better! My work tools this year will be a Sony A7S and the Joel Tjintjelaar Edition ND filter kit from Formatt Hittech.
Making some creative sparks fly!
I love close-up and macro photography! Time seems to slow right down and you enter a whole different world when you put on that macro lens! You start seeing things so differently when you start looking at tiny subjects from different angles and often from very intimate distances.
Amazing natural life is all around us. These are some of my favorite wildlife images from the past few years.
WELCOME TO THE SUPER SATURATED WORLD OF HIGH DYNAMIC RANGE PHOTOGRAPHY!
HDR Photography isn't everyone's cup of Early Grey with Double Bergamot. But I loved it from the first time I saw it. I would say that I have toned down my style a bit in terms of colours and grunginess over the years. But I still feel it can make an ordinary image pop!
But you ask, what is HDR?
HDR methods provide higher dynamic range from the imaging process. Non-HDR cameras take pictures at one exposure level with a limited contrast range. This results in the loss of detail in bright or dark areas of a picture, depending on whether the camera had a low or high exposure setting. HDR compensates for this loss of detail by taking multiple pictures at different exposure levels and intelligently stitching them together to produce a picture that is representative in both dark and bright areas.
HDR is also commonly used to refer to display of images derived from HDR imaging in a way that exaggerates contrast for artistic effect. The two main sources of HDR images are computer renderings and merging of multiple low-dynamic-range (LDR) or standard-dynamic-range (SDR) photographs. HDR images can also be acquired using special image sensors, likeoversampled binary image sensor. Tone mapping methods, which reduce overall contrast to facilitate display of HDR images on devices with lower dynamic range, can be applied to produce images with preserved or exaggerated local contrast for artistic effect.
I currently use NIK HDR Efex Pro 2 as my HDR Program.
The Vancouver Island photography website for Brad Powell. See pictures of Victoria, Duncan, Nanaimo, Ladysmith, Parksville, Qualicum, Tofino, Ucluelet, and many other scenic Vancouver Island destinations.

lowercased:
some of my personal favorite images. each one means something special to me and i hope to you as well.
2014 is the year i began seriously exploring long exposure photography. the surreal quality of the images this style of photography produces has always fascinated me. i will continue to post my long exposure images to this gallery so you can see a progression in my work. and hopefully for the better! my work tools this year will be a sony a7s and the joel tjintjelaar edition nd filter kit from formatt hittech.
making some creative sparks fly!
i love close-up and macro photography! time seems to slow right down and you enter a whole different world when you put on that macro lens! you start seeing things so differently when you start looking at tiny subjects from different angles and often from very intimate distances.
amazing natural life is all around us. these are some of my favorite wildlife images from the past few years.
welcome to the super saturated world of high dynamic range photography!
hdr photography isn't everyone's cup of early grey with double bergamot. but i loved it from the first time i saw it. i would say that i have toned down my style a bit in terms of colours and grunginess over the years. but i still feel it can make an ordinary image pop!
but you ask, what is hdr?
hdr methods provide higher dynamic range from the imaging process. non-hdr cameras take pictures at one exposure level with a limited contrast range. this results in the loss of detail in bright or dark areas of a picture, depending on whether the camera had a low or high exposure setting. hdr compensates for this loss of detail by taking multiple pictures at different exposure levels and intelligently stitching them together to produce a picture that is representative in both dark and bright areas.
hdr is also commonly used to refer to display of images derived from hdr imaging in a way that exaggerates contrast for artistic effect. the two main sources of hdr images are computer renderings and merging of multiple low-dynamic-range (ldr) or standard-dynamic-range (sdr) photographs. hdr images can also be acquired using special image sensors, likeoversampled binary image sensor. tone mapping methods, which reduce overall contrast to facilitate display of hdr images on devices with lower dynamic range, can be applied to produce images with preserved or exaggerated local contrast for artistic effect.
i currently use nik hdr efex pro 2 as my hdr program.
the vancouver island photography website for brad powell. see pictures of victoria, duncan, nanaimo, ladysmith, parksville, qualicum, tofino, ucluelet, and many other scenic vancouver island destinations.