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Will Greer June 12, 2017 Florida, gender, nerd culture, sexuality
Nerdland Diary: Three Days in the Tropics of MegaCon
How's this for colorful and distracting?
Sci-fi and fantasy conventions are typically a sensory overload of cosplay, celebrities, merchandise, "geek-themed" entertainment, and overwhelming crowds. This Memorial Day Weekend, I attended MegaCon 2017 in balmy Orlando, Florida for three days. During my first forty eight hours, I spent enough money to impress a stock-photo model, befriended Rogue of the X-Men, and watched the original Magenta from The Rocky Horror Picture Show storm offstage. On the third day, I had a photo op with geek goddess Felicia Day. It was quite a time. The following is an account of those three days. All of the photographs are my own. No names have been changed to protect anyone. But in all truth, I didn't try to learn everyone's name, either.
International law requires that Sci-fi/Fantasy conventions must have at least one Slave Leia present at all times (this Leia was also a very nice person).
Day One: I arrive late in the morning, and mill around the vendor room. Friday is one of the slower days at MegaCon, but that doesn't mean it isn't crowded. With all of the people—many of whom are decked out in colorful, and occasionally distracting, costumes— the scene is overwhelming and hypnotic.
The amount of merchandise in the vendor room is staggering in both quantity and variety. I wander around this maze of commerce all morning. Initially, I planned to catch Matthew Lewis (Neville Longbottom in the Harry Potter movies) in an audience Q&A session, but instead I keep browsing this cavernous space that MegaCon's website calls "400,000 square feet of shopping madness!"
Early in the afternoon, I run into my friend, Saida, who I had not seen in almost a year and a half. Her friend, Angie, is dressed as Rogue of the X-Men. She's made the costume herself, and has done a hell of a job with it. As Angie and I chat, it turns out we have both recently ended a relationship and are respectively trying to debug our romance coding. Adding movie references and jokes to the mix makes for nice conversation as the three of us head to the Rocky Horror panel.
We take our seats in a hangar-sized conference room, and a few minutes later Barry Bostwick, Patricia Quinn, and Nell Campbell walk out onstage. If you know nothing about the classic 1975 film, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, or its cast, well, where have you been for the past forty two years? Anyway, when Bostwick greets the room, "Hi! My name is Brad Majors…", a large contingent of the audience rebuts, "Asshole!" The exchange echoes one of the more famous pieces of counterpoint dialogue that fans shout at midnight screenings of the film.
All three actors have aged well. Bostwick appears healthy but, in but his dapper white suit, bears a strong resemblance to Kenny Rogers. Quinn and Campbell aren't trying too hard to hide their age, either, and they look good. In mesh stockings that complement her long, muscular legs, Quinn exudes the vibe of a retired Rockette. Campbell, with her gold-spangled jacket, looks like someone you'd see buying snacks for her grandchildren at Dean & Deluca.
As they take questions from the audience, Campbell and Quinn's chemistry apparently begins to sour. Campbell frequently interrupts Quinn, or mugs to the crowd when Quinn is talking. Before long, Quinn stands up and turns to her, saying "Stop it! Stop it now! You're really annoying me!" Bostwick gamely tries to keep the peace, and Quinn sits down again to take another question from the audience.
Patricia Quinn, really annoyed.
But Campbell keeps trolling her. After a final interruption—this time to say "Patricia Quinn has lost her girlish charm"—Quinn stands up and walks off stage without a word. Campbell sidles into the now-empty chair next to Bostwick and leans back with glee. For his part, Bostwick looks a little flustered. Was this a contrived fracas? Some manufactured drama to excite the crowd? I can't tell, but my gut says probably not. Otherwise, fans of Patricia Quinn aren't going to get their money's worth. Either way, the mood lifts when an eight-year-old boy dressed as Peter Pan says Rocky Horror is his favorite movie and Bostwick brings him up on stage to do the Timewarp.
When the panel finally lets out, I decide to head over to the five p.m. Sci-Fi Speed Dating session. And God bless her, Angie agrees to come with me. Saida, who has a live-in boyfriend, opts to see a live shadowcast of the movie, Clue, instead. When Angie and I reach the hallway outside the designated conference room, we're greeted by an imposing, sandy-haired thirtysomething dressed as Obi Wan Kenobi (from the prequels, not the original trilogy). He looks up from his phone, "Are you here for Sci-Fi Speed Dating?" Angie and I nod. He looks at Angie and says, perhaps as a warning, "Oh wow, you're really good looking!" Then he asks me for twenty dollars.
While I'm digging through my wallet, a dark-haired woman in a cool-looking top hat compliments my t-shirt. Suddenly, I feel less skeptical of the whole enterprise. But before I can talk to her, Obi Wan directs me to a copse of diffident-looking men, most of whom are in their early to mid-twenties.
As I approach the other suitors, a man dressed as Darth Vader doffs his helmet to reveal that, in addition to his slight stature, he has heavy jowls and a lazy eye. "Is this your first time speed dating?" he asks. I reply, "Yes," and he shrugs. "All you have to do is just be yourself." If this guy's idea of being himself is showing up to speed dating dressed as the one of galaxy's most infamous Sith Lords, then I have a sincere respect for him. That kind of Jedi-grade dilligaf almost makes up for the time he double-crossed Lando Calrissian.
Obi Wan corrals the women into the room and, after a stern warning for the men to be respectful, sends us in after them. The next hour is a blur of coquettish grins and earnest, hurried small talk. Like clockwork, Obi Wan moves us to the next person every three minutes. I have never shifted from being intrigued to bored with such rapid frequency in my life. I meet one woman I really like, who's a photographer. I confess to her that I live in Atlanta, but can't help saying that I'll travel to Orlando more if I really like someone. In the end, I only get one phone number, but not from her. But I took Darth Vader's advice, so all I can do is shrug.
Angie seems to have gotten a number from practically every guy she's talked to. I'm not surprised. She gave her number to no one, which doesn't surprise me, either. After we compare our experiences, and talk a little more deeply about improving our relationship habits, we agree to become friends on Facebook. By then, it's almost seven o'clock, and I've been at MegaCon since roughly 10:30 a.m. It's time to go home, and Saida is kind enough to give me a ride.
Day Two: This is MegaCon's biggest day. Friday was plenty busy, but Saturday is a crushing glut of sheer humanity. Exact figures are hard to come by, but roughly 100,000 people attended MegaCon in 2016. Its organizers expect a similar level of attendance for 2017. But you don't need a precise count to know what a metric fuckton of people looks like.
Most of today's attendees are packed into the vendor room, and aggressively visible cleavage flaunts at almost every turn. Here in the endless exhibition hall of the Orange County Convention Center, an immense mammary moon has coaxed the necklines of at least one third of the attendees and half the vending staff into low tide. There are two reasons for this surfeit of ample pride: 1) most Con-goers congregate in the vendor room, and 2) even before Gene Roddenberry put Nichelle Nichols in a little red dress, the purveyors of what we now call geek culture knew that sex sells.
The unabashed capitalism of MegaCon should surprise no one. Cons are expensive, and this one is no exception. A runty gyro and a bottle of soda cost me thirteen dollars. T-shirts you can buy online for about fifteen dollars cost twenty five here. Many of the collectors items and handcrafted goods available in various booths are even more expensive.
Nerd gear by the bucketful.
The best part of the vending area is Artist Alley. Here you can bask in the warm glow of indie commerce as individual illustrators and artisans cheerfully display their work. Their gift for small talk and evident passion make it easy to forget that they, too, want your money. Yet it is still exciting to talk with someone who created what they're selling, and much of the artwork is genuinely engaging. 13X Studios, for instance, makes custom-painted Friday the 13th masks. The proprietor, a friendly giant with tattooed arms, describes his work with a moving sense of pride. I bought one of his masks as a gift for my friend, Michael. He's an avid horror fan. Plus, he and his wife Heidi are being nice enough to let me stay at their home in lieu of a motel.
Saturday is also the day when the bigger celebrities most often appear, one of whom is Eliza Dushku. It may surprise you that, on her own, this kind-of-famous actress draws as big a crowd as three cast members of the original Rocky Horror Picture Show. For those who have no idea who she is, or only remember her from the cheerleading flick Bring It On, you should know that Dushku was once a prodigy of Joss Whedon. If you are now asking, "Who's Joss Whedon?", well, I'm glad you're reading this.
In 1997, Joss Whedon created the TV series, Buffy the Vampire Slayer.[1] Even after twenty years, the show is renowned for its witty, stylized dialogue and sophisticated character arcs. Buffy the Vampire Slayer (a.k.a. just Buffy to fans) was also a pioneer of feminist television. Whedon was one of the first showrunners who deliberately set out to challenge the medium's conventions of gender. Characters like Archer's Lana Kane, or even Ziva Davis on NCIS, owe a debt to Buffy Summers' canny blend of womanly toughness and high-to-low brow sensibility. Persona-wise, Whedon is warm, funny, and laser-focused. Watch this parody commercial he made during the 2012 election. Whether or not you jibe with the politics, you'll still laugh.
More recently, Whedon wrote and directed Marvel's Avengers and its sequel, Age of Ultron. But he is not just high geek royalty, or merely an articulate, charming spokesman for geek culture. Joss Whedon is a perfect example of the highly specific, occasionally insulated, genre universes that geek fandom tends to accentuate. Disciples of Joss call their fandom the Whedonverse.
Like it or not, it is a legacy that Eliza Dushku must bear. When she was seventeen, Whedon cast her as Faith, a badass vampire slayer with a dark side who was Buffy Summers' frenemy and, later on, just plain enemy in the show's third season. Dushku imbued Faith with enough complexity to merit a recurring role in the Buffy spin-off, Angel. After those shows ended, Whedon created the series, Dollhouse, with the explicit intent of showcasing her versatility as an actress. Dollhouse lasted barely two seasons but, like all Whedon creations, it still has its die-hard fans. In other words, Eliza Dushku is kind of a big deal to to a specific breed of nerd.
This is the second time I've seen Dushku at a Con. The first time was in 2013, at DragonCon in Atlanta, and back then it seemed like she never quite felt the love. She hit all the right tones—"such a great show," "the cast was like a family," yadda, yadda, yadda— but they always sounded more like just notes instead of music. So I'm curious to see how she did this time around.
Four years later, it seems like Dushku has found her Con-groove, appearing at once charming and a little offbeat. Early on, she remarks that "having your adolescence documented on film is really weird." On playing Faith, she says she enjoyed "setting people on fire without getting arrested." Dushku also shows a real knack for parrying confusing questions by turning them back onto the enquirer to start a brief conversation. At the end, a young man asks her advice for writing strong, believable women. Dushku says that strong female characters need more than just awesome fight scenes. To work, they need "nuance in facing adversity." It is a classically Whedonesque answer that draws thunderous applause.
Dushku's rapport with the audience appears to strike a nimble balance between authenticity and polish, which gives fans exactly what they need. Watching her, a Buffy fan can feel secure that the people who helped shape their cultural touchstone are not only kind and decent, but are also equally attached to it. She is relatable enough to be believable, but just distant enough to not trample the myth. Is this what Eliza Dushku is really like in person? It doesn't really matter here; she knows how to deliver.
Eliza Dushku: Keeping the Faith.
Afterward, I go back to Artist Alley to pick up some postcards to mail to friends. By the time I'm done wading through the crowd, the day is drawing near a close, and my calves and back ache. I badly need to sit down, and I know just the place to do it: the Buffy the Vampire Slayer shadowcast. A shadowcast is where a group re-enacts a movie or TV episode as the original plays on a screen next to the stage. The original in this particular shadowcast is the musical episode and Buffy fan favorite, "Once More… with Feeling."
Before it starts, one of the actors announces that heckling and singing along are strongly encouraged. As it gets going, the show takes on a very advertant Rocky Horror vibe. Whenever Dawn—Buffy's little sister, who many fans despise—says a line, people shout "No one cares!" An inflatable mattress suffices as a few different props: bed, table,coffin. Costume changes are quick, public, and sloppy. Clearly, the actors are having gobs of fun, so the audience does, too. The shadowcast's scrappy joy buoys my sagging spirits and briefly salves my aching body. I also learn that the climactic number, "Walk through the Fire," still gives me goosebumps. And I'm not the only one. In unison, a room full of people sings, "I touch the fire and it freeeezes me."
Uh, guys, maybe we should start caring about Dawn.
Day 3: Sunday begins as my friend, Heidi, and I are carting her yawning four-year-old daughter down I-4. Sunday is MegaCon's slowest day and, for me, it will be the shortest. Keeping the pace of the past forty eight hours is something that I am no longer built for. Even without a toddler in tow, Heidi, who's taught me the nifty trick of taking Aleve before your muscles start hurting, is not built for it either. And it's just as well. I have only one goal for the rest of the Con: my photo op with Felicia Day.
Felicia Day is a very bright star in Nerdiverse. For the past fifteen-odd years, she has done a remarkable job turning geek identity into an effective brand. Early in her career, Day had a recurring role in the final season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. She also starred opposite Neil Patrick Harris in Whedon's internet musical, Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog. In the foreword to her memoir, You're Never Weird on the Internet, Whedon calls Day "a personal hero." Day also has a recurring role in Supernatural, a series with its own legion of hardcore fangeeks. Her web series, The Guild, won ten awards during its six-year lifespan. In 2012, she launched a YouTube channel called Geek & Sundry, which includes Tabletop, a board game-themed show hosted by geek superstar and Star Trek alumnus, Wil Wheaton. Since April 2017, Day has appeared on the revival of Mystery Science Theater 3000. If Eliza Dushku is kind of a big deal to a certain breed of nerd, Felicia Day is a huge effin' deal to lots of different nerds.
Once inside, Heidi and her daughter whisk off to Artist Alley. I make my way to the photo op area, where a crowd gathers around a yellow rectangle taped to the concrete floor of the exhibition hall. To the left is a long row of prefab barriers. Inside the rectangle is a man in a matching yellow shirt. He asks everyone who's come to meet Felicia Day to raise our hands, and then tells us we'll have to wait. He then waves people who've paid to meet Matthew Lewis through the rectangle and past the barriers.
This low-tech mode of crowd control vaguely reminds me of a post-apocalypse, as if the Man in the Yellow Shirt got to decide who will eat and who will toil in a salt mine. But maybe I just have an active imagination. Thankfully, it's not too long before he waves us through, and we all go and stand in another, longer line confined by yellow tape. The front of this line abuts a row black-curtained booths. After about twenty minutes, a woman emerges from the nearest one and starts herding people inside.
A voice booms from behind the curtain. "Ready! One! Two! Three!" The line moves. "Ready! One! Two! Three!" The line moves again. I look at my watch. It's 2:45. I count the rest of the line and figure that, if every picture takes thirty seconds, I'll be done in about an hour. Then I start to count time between chants of "Ready! One! Two! Three!" About five seconds elapse between each one. I think, Really? That fast? I'm still trying to do the math when I'm waved through the curtains.
Felicia Day is standing in a tiny stall with an orangish-yellow, Olan-Millsy backdrop. It's a lot like getting your yearbook picture taken in middle school. Had I had time to reflect, I'm sure it would have felt just as awkward, too. Smiling, Ms. Day looks me square in the eye and says, "How are you?" Starstruck, I manage to reply, "It's really nice to meet you." Our exchange feels almost cozy, except for the hulking, bald photographer in a black golf shirt who yells, "Ready! One! Two! Three!" I turn toward the camera. A bright light flashes. Before I can say "Thank you," I'm being whisked out the back. It isn't until I pick up a print of the picture that I notice that Felicia Day had placed her hand on my shoulder.
Ready or not.
I meet Heidi at the other end of the vendor room a few minutes later. We wander for another half hour before her daughter starts getting antsy. So we call it a day (no pun intended). Within an hour, I'm sitting at the dinner table with her family and eating hot dogs for dinner. My three days of MegaCon are over.
So much happened in those three hectic days that it's difficult to process at first. Obviously, I enjoyed myself. Equally obvious is that my own experience doesn't touch on the multiple fandoms who a) might feel offended that I didn't talk about them, because b) I have no interest in them. Sorry, anime fans, you'll have to write your own, Joss-Whedon-free articles.
This was my fifth Con, and I am still left kind of agog by the hypersexuality of geek culture. At MegaCon, or any other Con, it's impossible to throw a Sorcerer's Stone without hitting someone in a skimpy costume.[2] And most of these scantily-clad Con-goers are women. Nonetheless, the sexuality of cosplay is very complicated. Cosplayers' motives are varied, and often difficult to determine at a glance. For some Con-goers, a revealing costume is a body-positive statement, a rebellion against narrow social standards of physical beauty. Also, it is not uncommon for women to dress as their own representation of traditionally masculine characters. Transgender cosplayers add even more nuance to the issue. There are, however, a lot of 'sexy' cosplay outfits that seem to be the geek culture equivalent of 'slutty' halloween costumes. This kind of clichėd objectification can seem tiresome, but to say I am immune to their intended effect would be a brazen lie. Overall, though, I'd say that such outfits reflect a contradiction of geek culture: a lot of sci fi and fantasy genres empower women, but many of the same also bear virulent strains of misogyny.
The sexualized aspect of Cons also illuminates the fine tensile thread that binds fandom to the commodification of identity. Just as sex sells because it appeals to basic desires, fandom sells because people are wired to construct ipseity—and the Con industry extracts a handsome profit from this natural instinct. MegaCon is owned by Informa Canada, whose revenue in 2016 amounted to nearly two billion dollars. Cons also stimulate the local economy. In 2014, Megacon generated some twenty one million dollars' worth of business for its host city. In anticipation of MegaCon 2015, the Orlando Business Journal cheered, "Rejoice, Orlando! The nerds are coming back with their money."
Afterwards, the experience of Cons always leaves me with a strange mix of feelings. On one hand, I can't escape the unsettling sense that I'm watching an illusion. One the other, I embrace that illusion. Cons inextricably blend the pure joy of fandom with run-of-the-mill capitalist trickery, and it makes for a heady concoction. Despite my critiques, I willfully supped MegaCon's fantasies. I didn't worry too much whether or not Eliza Dushku was faking it. I spent scads of money in the vendor room. I politely asked women in risqué cosplay if I could take their picture. As I posed with Felicia Day, I quashed my suspicion that she and I were just cogs in an enormous commerce machine. I also never wondered if she was faking it, either. Such is the magic of the Con. And I know I'll be back for more. I already have my ticket to DragonCon 2017.
William Greer is a Master's student in public history at Georgia State University and Tropics of Meta's digital content coordinator.
[1] He also wrote the screenplay for the 1992 film starring Kristy Swanson, but the studio changed it so profoundly that fans still debate if it should be included in the canon.
[2] Please do not actually throw rocks at Con-goers, or anybody for that matter.
Posted in Florida, gender, nerd culture, sexuality and tagged Buffy, Comic Cons, comics, geek, geek culture, MegaCon, nerd culture, nerds, sci-fi, sexuality, Star Wars. Bookmark the permalink.
The Real Drunk History: Exploring the Rise of Craft Beer in Atlanta
The Long History of Americans Getting Their Drink On: Our Interview with William Rorabaugh


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Holbrook Junior Recognized at Statewide Tobacco Prevention Event
© 2018 Marilyn Humphries
Youth in The 84 Movement march through Boston Common.
Jessica West, Arts & Entertainment Editor
Sarah Ryan, a junior at Holbrook Middle High School, won the Statewide Youth Leadership Award at Kick Butts Day at the State House for her dedication to Holbrook's Chapter of The 84 Movement, an organization dedicated to preventing tobacco use by young people. She also received official citations from the Senate and the House of Representatives commemorating her accomplishments.
When asked about receiving the award she said, "I was absolutely blown away. I never really expected to win – it kind of felt like a dream. I just hope sharing my experience helped other people. I wanted my speech to show people that they don't have to fit in a certain box to make a difference, they just have to be themselves."
Holbrook's Chapter of The 84 Movement has dedicated their year to flavored tobacco restriction, on both a local and a statewide level. On May 2nd, students attended Kick Butts Day (KBD), an event that empowers youth to stand up against the tobacco and vaping industries. While the percent of youth that use traditional cigarettes has decreased significantly, e-cigarettes have become a major problem among youth. KBD calls attention to this problem and gives young people the platform to tackle it.
The event started with a trivia game about The 84 and youth tobacco use. Students had the chance to win "swag" such as water bottles, hats, and sunglasses. Following that, the youth marched through Boston Commons shouting chants like "Strawberry, Peach, Mango, e-cigarettes have got to go!" Their signs had sayings like "Tobacco should NOT be cheaper than chips," calling attention to the fact that flavored cigars can cost as little as 99 cents.
At the State House, there was a training on legislative visits led by members of the Statewide Leadership Team, including three Holbrook students – Sarah Ryan, Rachel Cohan and Hayli Manning. During the training, students learned how to speak with legislators in a professional setting. Later, Holbrook met with three legislative aides to talk about e-cigarettes and how harmful they are for youth.
When asked about the event, Rachel Cohan said that Kick Butts Day was a "huge success." She adds, "I think that it provided a fantastic opportunity for youth to let their voices be heard by our changemakers."
The event ended with an award ceremony. Holbrook was nominated for the Local Community Change Award for our recent local policy work.
Jessica West, Staff Writer
Jessica West is a freshman and this is her first year writing for The Holbrook Hub. She is very involved in music, and she has participated in drama and...

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Tritium Charges Ahead of the Competition
Recently we wrote a piece on 8 Innovative Aussie Companies You Should Know About. Since then, one of these companies has gone from strength to strength, making waves in markets all over the world. We are talking about Tritium. A Brisbane-born manufacturer of pioneering DC fast-chargers for Electric Vehicles. Their fast chargers boast individual capacities from 50 to 350 kilowatt, and is one of the world's top sellers in the area. Tritium charges ahead of the competition.
Tritium Fast-Chargers at a Car Park
In the month since we included Tritium on our list of Innovative Aussie Companies, the business has been listed on the Nasdaq, entered into a supply agreement with a leading provider of e-mobility solutions across the Middle East and Africa, and has now announced that it will be establishing a manufacturing facility in Tennessee USA.
The announcement has come as part of the US Government's Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act introduced under US President Joe Biden in November 2021. The Act, also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Plan, authorises funds for Federal-aid highways, highway safety programs, transit programs, and for other purposes.
In addition to strengthening sovereign manufacturing capabilities, creating jobs and building infrastructure for the future, the Act has a particular focus on addressing climate change and bolstering the technologies that will assist in reaching 2050 emissions targets.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is expected to provide $7.5 billion of investment for deploying a network of 500,000 EV chargers along highway corridors in the United States. This network is intended to facilitate long-distance travel, as well as shorter distance travel within communities, to provide convenient charging options and encourage the electrification of transportation across the country.
Tritium CEO Jane Hunter with President Joe Biden at the Announcement of the New Manufacturing Facility
For an Australian-born company to be bought in to help fulfil America's bold new infrastructure plan is a testament to the world-leading talent and products we develop in this country. Tritium has been designing and building ground-breaking technology in e-mobility and renewable energy for a couple of decades now. The group was founded by University of Queensland Alumni Dr David Finn, Dr Paul Sernia and James Kennedy who came together competing in the World Solar Racing Challenge in 1998. After forming Tritium in 2001, the company has developed from a small power electronics start-up to a global manufacturing organisation operating across three continents and with customers in over 40 countries. Their customers include some of the largest global energy companies, automotive manufacturers and government agencies. Not only has their superb understanding of battery technology and renewable energy allowed them to develop impressive DC fast-chargers but they've been manufacturing the units in Australia too. Tritium charges ahead of the global competition.
Tritium's new DC fast charger manufacturing facility in Lebanon, Tennessee is currently expected to include up to six production lines, employ more than 500 people over the next five years and produce more than 10,000 DC fast charger units per year, with the potential to produce approximately 30,000 units per year at peak capacity.
"I welcome Tritium to Tennessee and thank the company for its commitment to create more than 500 new jobs in Wilson County," said Tennessee Governor Bill Lee. "Our state's highly-skilled workforce and position as a leader in the EV industry continue to attract companies like Tritium to Tennessee."


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Types of Lottery Games and How to Play the Lottery Online
By admincab December 2, 2022
data sgp the United States, there are many types of lotteries. Some of them are single-state lotteries, while others are multi-state lotteries. These lottery games vary in the types of games they offer, the payout amounts, and the chances of winning.
Powerball and Mega Millions are two types of multi-state lotteries. These lotteries offer players the opportunity to purchase tickets in batches of up to 100, which are then drawn together in a single draw. This means that the amount you win may increase each time the draw is held. In addition, Mega Millions has an additional pool of numbers. If you purchase a ticket, you have a chance to win a jackpot that could be worth over one billion dollars.
Another type of multi-state lottery is the Iowa Lottery. In addition to Powerball and Mega Millions, the Iowa Lottery offers the Cash4Life and Lotto America games. This lottery is also part of the Multi-State Lottery Association.
The Colorado Lottery is a multi-state lottery that has been around since 1983. During this time, the lottery has been able to donate over $10 billion to help support the state's general fund. It has also helped to fund several state-sponsored programs, such as open space conservation, wildlife habitats, and problem gambling treatment.
The Vermont Lottery is another multi-state lottery, and its three most popular games are Megabucks, Mega Millions, and Powerball. It also has several in-house games. The Vermont Lottery also donates all of its profits to the Vermont education fund. The lottery is one of the few states that offer instant win games. These games are similar to scratch-off tickets that are sold at gas stations. They are also played online.
The Minnesota Lottery participates in Powerball, Mega Millions, and several other multi-state lottery games. This lottery is part of the Multi-State Lottery association, which also includes the Iowa Lottery. In addition to these games, the Minnesota Lottery offers four local games.
The Connecticut Lottery is another state lottery that has been around for over two decades. It offers multiple draw games, including the Cash4Life and Lotto America games, as well as the Multi-State Draw games. In addition to these games, the Connecticut Lottery also donates funds to public schools, towns, and cities. Profits from the lottery go to support state programs, including state education programs, the Common School Fund, and the state's general fund.
The New Hampshire iLottery is an online lottery that was established in late 2018. It offers players the opportunity to win major drawings and instant payouts. Unlike other instant games, this lottery uses numbers selected from a pool of numbers. It also has a single Keno game that offers a top prize of $100,000.
The Mississippi Lottery is a multi-state game that offers players the chance to win a jackpot. The lottery is also one of the few state-sponsored lotteries that offers players the option of buying tickets online. Players can purchase tickets online in just a few minutes, and then receive their winning tickets at their homes. Buying lottery tickets online has been a growing practice for some states. In the US, more states are expected to allow online lottery ticket sales in the future.


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What is Divorce In India If Marriage Is Not Registered?
7,861 5 mins
This blog gives hands-on information on how to file for a divorce in India if the marriage is not registered.
The procedure starts with filing a Mutual Divorce petition with the help of a lawyer. Then the courts provide a date for the final hearing which is usually after six months after filing the petition.
Divorce or Closure of marriage is a procedure for ending a marriage legally. This is also referred to as the ending of a marital partnership. The term 'Divorce' means canceling or reformation of official accountability and marriage commitments. Divorce is a very emotional topic.
Many people are afraid to talk about it because they don't want to hurt anyone or cause trouble. They also don't want to admit that they have failed at their marriage, which is considered shameful in most societies.
Divorce is, however, becoming a non-taboo subject in India of late. There are several reasons why couples decide to get divorced. Some include infidelity, domestic violence, financial problems, and even mental health issues. Splitting up or ending a marriage for a couple should be a legitimate and logical decision under any country's law.
Divorce is mostly a painful experience for those involved and even friends and family. Here are a few facts one should consider before filing for divorce:
These rules in India are conjoined by many factors, especially religion;
The Hindu Marriage Act of 1955 administrates religions like Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and Jainism;
The Muslim Marriage Act of 1939 administrates the discontinuation of Muslim marriages;
The Parsi Marriage and Divorce Act of 1936 administrate Parsi divorces;
The Indian Divorce Act of 1869 accounts for Christians; and
The Special Marriage Act of 1956 administrates the bond of marriage between any two religions.
According to The Hindu Marriage Act of 1955, the male and the female partner in a marital bond have the right to get a divorce in India on more than one ground. Section 13 plays a vital role in Mutual Consent Divorce.
Filing for Divorce in India
According to The Special Marriage Act of 1954 – Section 28 https://legislative.gov.in/sites/default/files/A1954-43_1.pdfand The Divorce Act of 1869 – Section 10A, divorce is provided under mutual authority. On the other hand, a contested divorce is when one of the two partners refuses to agree to the breakdown of the marriage. According to The Hindu Marriage Act, Section 13B, the following are the procedures and conditions applicable for filing a break-up in a country like India:
There is a clause in the system that both partners in a marriage have to stay apart for a minimum period to file for a divorce;
When both partners fail to settle issues between them;
When both partners agree to a mutual separation.
When all the above three conditions are met, a couple can file for divorce Alimony, regardless of whether their marriage is done in court or temple in India. This rule is also applicable to couples who have not registered for their wedding.
Now let us look at the following chart to understand more about filing for a divorce in India:
File a petition for a divorce
Both husband and wife must be present in the court/authority
Oaths are taken and statements are recorded
The first action passes to the next action
Final appearance before the court/ authority
Final verdict on the divorce
Mutual Divorce Procedure
Point 1: Divorce file petition
It is of no use to spend hours on the internet searching for phrases like "how to file a Divorce case in India against my wife/husband?"! Instead, look for mutual divorce procedures. This is a joint petition filed by a couple to discontinue their legal/unregistered marriage. The divorce file will be presented to the official District court: https://districts.ecourts.gov.in/ for further procedures. A couple has to forecast the reasons and conditions behind the discontinuation of the marriage. Their reasons should be valid enough for the next step to be considered.
Point 2: Couples have to appear before a Judge in a court
After the first procedure is well accounted for under the court's concern, the couple will be asked to appear before a judge in the court for the first round of hearing, where they will be asked about their reasons and conditions provided. The court's obligation is to reunite the couple, but if the couple makes firm decisions for discontinuation, the court follows the next procedure.
Point 3: Statements and Oath
After going through the file petition and considering the factors for the breakdown of the marriage, the court will start recording the statements provided by the couple under oath.
Point 4: First Action
After recording the statements, the first action is quickly passed by the court, and a time period of half a year is provided to the couple to appear for the second action to be followed.
Point 5: Final Hearing
After the first 6 months of the file petition, both the partners in the marriage are summoned to appear before the judge in the court for the final hearing on the disclosure of their marital bond.
Point 6: Final Verdict
When a couple of files for mutual divorce in India, a few strong conditions are to be kept under notice as a couple can not ask their partner for any kind of alimony, ward custody, maintenance cost, or property portions.
Once the court equally verifies all the points, the final verdict of divorce is stated to the couple to discontinue their marital bond.
Some characteristics cannot be neglected for both partners in a divorce file:
According to the law and court, there is no particular fixed amount to ask for alimony or maintenance support costs by either of the couples;
One of the crucial aspects is taking custody of their offspring. This must be done under mutual consent that should not harm the upbringing of the ward in any manner, and
The properties of both parties should be discussed among each other and should be distributed equally among them.
Let us now look at the documents required to file a divorce in India
Address proof;
A marriage certificate or photo which was taken in case of a temple marriage or non-registered marriage;
Present photographs of both husband and wife;
Evidence that the couple has been living separately for a particular period;
IT statements;
Details of their profession;
Family details; and
Property Details of both husband and wife.
In any religion in our country, a marriage is considered a solid and sacred bond between couples to happily and peacefully carry throughout their lives. Earlier, getting a was a strong taboo in India, but thanks to the present judicial system, it has changed considerably. Presently, the judicial system and court provide various laws and systems to end an unhappy marriage. Lawyers can handle and guide anyone going through a divorce procedure in India.
How to File a Divorce Petition In India?
What is the Procedure for Divorce?
What is Non Amicable Divorce?
How Much Does It Cost for Mutual Divorce In India?
Divorce By Mutual Consent In India
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What Are The Indian Laws For A Mutual Divorce Case?
Divorce by Mutual Consent is one of the easiest and smoothest ways to get a divorce in India. Unlike in…
Is The Cooling Off Period Same for All Couples That Apply For Mutual Divorce
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When a Marriage Cannot Work: Takeaways From the Supreme Court
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Heidi and Spencer's book is an embarrassment
In the volume's one honest line, Spencer Pratt admits he'd hate himself too if he could. Join the club.
Nov. 3, 2009, 2:18 AM UTC / Source: msnbc.com
By Courtney Hazlett
Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt's new book is pretty representative of America at its worst. The title alone, "How to Be Famous: Our Guide to Looking the Part, Playing the Press and Becoming a Tabloid Fixture" goes a long way toward illustrating the couple's involvement with some of our most odious pillars of society.
But if you stopped at the book's title, you wouldn't make it to other insipid chapters, like the one titled "Pretty on the Outside," which reminds the audience that fitness is important because "celebrities are there to look hot for the common people. It's our job."
"Pretty On The Outside" is not followed by a chapter called "Pretty On The Inside," but rather "The Paps Are Your Friends." If you happen to think the camera-wielding locusts who cause accidents and invade privacy are actually not your friends, Speidi has a message for you: "We find these people embarrassments to the industry."
Pot, there's a kettle I'd like you to meet.
"How to Be Famous" also includes a chapter titled "Women's Weapons of Mass Destruction." Those "weapons" in question? Tears.
FLORIDA HIGHWAY PATROL / HO
Slideshow 20 photos
Celebrity scandals of 2009
From David Letterman's bizarre confession to Jon and Kate's divorce to Tiger Woods' spectacular crash.
Montag writes: "A crying woman trumps all things … let's pretend for one second you MIGHT be wrong in an argument one day. Just go to the waterworks and all is forgiven, isn't it? … Even the most hardened villainess can break people down with puppy-dog eyes and a few tears."
Hey Heidi, quick question: Why did you have to lump an entire gender into your scurrilous web of fame whoring tactics? I shudder to think, and do doubt, that a vapid essay about the upside of emotional exploitation could do anything to really move the needle on that front but nonetheless, it's counterproductive to continue to perpetrate such ideas. Women work hard enough to be taken seriously, this does no good.
Actually, nothing in this book does any good. That's not to say that there's no value in entertainment for entertainment's sake, that plenty of people (present company included) make their living in a way that's at least tangential to the business of fame. However, this fame game has gone too far.
Is it all a joke?Montag and Pratt happen to be among the rare breed of reality-bred famous people who possess a lack of self-awareness that actually comes from an acuity of the same. The only way to explain the contradiction is to conclude that they're in on the joke.
Celebrity Sightings
Jake Johnson and Damon Wayans Jr. on the "Let's Be Cops," red carpet, Selena Gomez is immortalized in wax and more.
If being in on the joke means navigating fame in a way that minimizes the hurt that can come from it, then by all means, Speidi, go forth and continue to do your thing.
The bigger issue rests with those who don't understand the very real downsides, that sometimes when the cameras roll, lives can fall apart. The image of a Jiffy Pop bag-like balloon supposedly containing a little boy and skipping through the Colorado air should stand as example enough that there are those who don't understand the consequences of manufactured celebrity.
There might be only one genuine line in the 134 pages of sage wisdom and collected glamour shots that make up "How To Be Famous." On page 14, Pratt, in a moment of rare brevity, says, "If I weren't me, I'd hate me."
I was taught to never actually hate anyone, so I'll stop short. But I will say this: They didn't need to play the music of Britney Spears and R.E.M. for detainees at Gitmo, they could have just read a few pages from this book.
Courtney Hazlett delivers the Scoop Monday through Friday on msnbc.com. Follow Scoop on Twitter @courtneyatmsnbc


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Home1 / Award winners2 / 2014 Young Scientist Award Winners Katarzyna Zabielska and Katja ...
Katarzyna Zabielska: developing tools against injection site sarcoma
The 2014 AMYSA for Basic Research was presented to Katarzyna Agnieszka Zabielska, assistant professor at the department of small animal diseases at the Warsaw University of Life Sciences, for her work on the effect of biocomplex of colloid gold nanoparticles with doxorubicin on feline injection-site fibrosarcoma (FISS). She was also the first to grow feline fibrosarcoma cell lines on chick embryo chorio-allantoic membrane. Treatment of FISS is a challenge for practitioners. The effectiveness of the most commonly used cytostatic drugs against FISS, doxorubicin, is debatable while it also has many side effects. By associating it with colloid gold nanoparticles, its effectiveness may be enhanced. "Developing a FISS cell line and studying the anti-FISS effects of gold/doxorubicin complexes may all sound very far from veterinary needs", commented professor Marian C. Horzinek, chairman of the European Advisory Board on Cats Diseases (ABCD). "However, Katarzyna convinced the audience that her findings can be effectively used as a preclinical model in feline oncology."
Katja Silbermayr: non-invasive detection of Demodex mites
The 2014 AMYSA for Clinical Research went to Katja Silbermayr, from the Institute of Parasitology at the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna (Austria), for her work on developing a non-invasive and specific test for feline demodicosis. "Katja Silbermayr has developed a very valuable tool for detecting and discriminating feline Demodex mites from faecal samples, which will be of great help for practitioners", commented Dr Jean-Christophe Thibault, Merial's Technical Director for Biologicals (Europe, Middle East and Africa). "Especially when considering that treatment of Demodex infections can be long-lasting, this non-invasive detection method may be used to assess treatment success more easily and to monitor patients on a long-term basis".
ABCD & Merial Young Scientist Awards
The ABCD and Merial Young Scientist Award, created in 2008, is funded by Merial and is presented to young scientists in veterinary or biomedical sciences, who have made an original contribution in the field of feline infectious diseases and/or immunology – "although we are relatively open-minded on the topic", added Jean-Christophe Thibault. This year, both award-winning topics "were slightly outside the scope of viruses and bacteria. But most importantly, they were dedicated to the overall progress in feline health and welfare".
Applicants should have published their findings in a journal listed in PubMed or Web of Science or have had them accepted by another recognised assessing body. Candidates should be based in Europe, have completed a veterinary or biomedical curriculum, and be under 35 years of age at the time of application. Applications in the fields of both basic and applied sciences are welcome.
For further information, please contact Karin de Lange, ABCD secretary, kdelange@aksent-vet.com.
June 2014 – Two ABCD & Merial Young Scientist Awards (AMYSA) were presented this year, for Basic research and for Clinical research. The award ceremonies took place on the 19th of June in Riga (Latvia), at the occasion of the congress of the International Society of Feline Medicine, organised by International Cat Care.
Photo attached (credit: ©iCatCare). Caption ABCD & Merial Young Scientist Award winners Katarzyna Zabielska (second left) and Katja Silbermayr flanked by Jean-Christophe Thibault (Merial) and professor Marian Horzinek (ABCD).
The European Advisory Board on Cat Diseases (ABCD) is an independent panel of 17 leading veterinarians from eleven European countries, with an expertise in immunology, vaccinology and/or feline medicine. The ABCD was set up to compile guidelines for the prevention and management of major feline infectious diseases in Europe, based on current scientific knowledge. For more information, please visit abcdcatsvets.org.
Merial is a world-leading, innovation-driven animal health company, providing a comprehensive range of products to enhance the health, well-being and performance of a wide range of animals. Merial employs approximately 6,000 people and operates in more than 150 countries worldwide. Its 2013 sales were $2 billion. Merial is a Sanofi company. For more information, please see merial.com.
GUIDELINE for Lungworm disease
GUIDELINE for Disinfectant choice in feline veterinary hospitals,...


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Community Contact
Wounds into Wisdom The Receiving With Roots in Heaven The Woman's Kabbalah Ashreynu
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Igniting a Heart of Compassion
This week the old Jewish cemetery in my hometown was vandalized. Almost 200 gravestones were crushed or knocked flat off their bases, many in the historic section dating back to the 1800's. My eldest brother Danny is buried there outside of St. Louis, as is my little cousin Menachem who died at seven. I have long imagined both their souls to be my spirit guides. It hurt my heart to think that their physical resting places had been trashed by blind hatred.
Since the First of 2017, 54 Jewish communities in the United States and Canada have received threats. This one was real. And it was also an unprecedented act in our country, which (let us remember) was founded upon religious freedom and tolerance. The photos of overturned graves sent shivers through me, reminders of Russian pogroms and Nazi horrors.
Apparently, I was not alone. Many others were also moved, and launched into action. I wept to learn that the Muslim community of St. Louis had banded together to raise funds to repair our old Jewish cemetery. Their original goal was $20,000, which was raised in three hours. By the end of the first day, they had gathered a staggering $90,000.
Their website, launchgood.com, said this:
"Muslim Americans stand in solidarity with the Jewish-American community to condemn this horrific act of desecration against the Chesed Shel Emeth Cemetery. We also extend our deepest condolences to all those who have been affected and to the Jewish community at large."
Who would know better, or share our pain more than members of the Muslim community, who themselves have endured a steady uptick of rancorous threats, public assaults, arson on their beloved holy sites, and hate filled verbal abuse? Hate crimes against Muslims in America now equal that of the period following 9/11. I bless these beautiful people with all my heart.
Do the Breitbart fellows who ride on Trump's coattails have any idea of the strength of the coalitions they are seeding? For example, on January 28—just hours after Trump signed his ill-fated executive order barring refugees from entering the US and restricting travel from seven Muslim countries—a mosque in Victoria, Texas was burned to the ground. The rabbi of that community's synagogue went right over to the Imam and offered him his spare keys. Come and share our temple, he said. We have more than enough room. The arson of Victoria's mosque also grabbed international attention. Within 10 days, people around the world had donated more than $1.1 million to aid in its cleanup and rebuilding.
Although we are an exceedingly divided and morally challenged society, although our leadership is frighteningly untethered, although hatred has been unleashed in epidemic levels, it seems that moral red lines still exist. And when they are crossed, the heart of compassion is ignited.
Yesterday a bright red and white banner mysteriously appeared at the base of Lady Liberty welcoming refugees. Daily non-violent protests against Trump's immigration policy continue around the country. And every day, surprising acts of human decency prevail.
Tirzah Firestone February 23, 2017
The Demure Wisdom of the Chimpanzee
Tirzah Firestone March 4, 2017
World Shifting: A Love Army is Formed
Tirzah Firestone December 21, 2016
Connect with a growing global community dedicated to changing the future by healing the past.
© 2019, Tirzah Firestone. All Rights Reserved. Website: UnchartedArts


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Maine Republicans play Trump card in uphill battle to unseat Angus King
October 1, 2018 Daily Brief, Donald Trump, Elections, Governor LePage, U.S. CongressAngus King, Brent Littlefield, Brett Kavanaugh, Bruce Poliquin, Chellie Pingree, donald trump, Donald Trump Jr., Eric Brakey, Janet Mills, Jared Golden, Jeff Flake, Lisa Murkowski, Margaret McBreairty, Mark Holbrook, Marty Grohman, Michaela Murphy, Paul LePage, Rand Paul, Shawn Moody, Susan Collins, Zak Ringelstein
Good morning from Augusta, where Republicans are hoping for a campaign boost from the White House as President Donald Trump's eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., will visit Portland today for a state GOP fundraising event.
The private event is mostly aimed at a U.S. Senate race, but the fundraising will help Republicans down the ticket. The event is largely aimed at boosting state Sen. Eric Brakey's run to unseat Sen. Angus King, an independent who caucuses with Democrats. Democrat Zak Ringelstein of Falmouth is also running. Brakey is seen as a longshot, but he has national connections that have already drawn U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Kentucky, to Maine as well.
When the president's son was in Maine in during the 2016 campaign, he said Republicans who didn't publicly support the senior Trump — a group that included U.S. Sen. Susan Collins and Rep. Bruce Poliquin of the 2nd District at that time — were "just protecting themselves and the little environment they've created."
Gov. Paul LePage will also attend the evening reception at the Holiday Inn By The Bay, as will Mark Holbrook, who is running against Democratic 1st District U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree and independent state Rep. Marty Grohman.
However, neither Poliquin or Republican gubernatorial nominee Shawn Moody, who is running a close race with Attorney General Janet Mills, a Democrat, will be at the event today. Brent Littlefield, a strategist for Moody and Poliquin, cited previously scheduled events and the Trump Jr. event's focus on Brakey's race.
But the event could still help them via the party coffers. Tickets for the general event at 6 p.m. go for $100 per person or $175 per couple and there is a preceding private reception starting at $1,500 per person. The Maine Republican Party has been the biggest pro-Moody outside spender so far in the governor's race.
This election will be a test of how far Poliquin's district has swung rightward without Trump on the ballot. Since Poliquin won his seat in 2014 after two decades of Democratic control, the 2nd District has swung from Democratic-leaning to Republican-leaning, though his 2018 race with Assistant Maine House Majority Leader Jared Golden and two independents is still one of two dozen or so that could determine control of the U.S. House of Representatives.
This was underscored by Trump's 2016 win in the district. Republicans won the district back by wooing voters in the interior of the district, including in greater Lewiston and Auburn and the St. John Valley. Democrats made gains in Hancock and Waldo counties.
Golden is from Lewiston, so he could be well-suited to get some voters back. Poliquin out-polled Trump in the district overall, but he under-polled Trump in some historic manufacturing areas that could go Democratic under the right circumstances. That lasting Trump influence will be a theme come November.
Maine meets TANF work requirement
The LePage administration says the federal government has slashed long-standing penalties hanging over the state around the assistance program. During LePage's tenure, the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program shrunk by 70 percent between 2010 and 2017 because of statutory changes — including a 60-month lifetime limit — and fewer applicants, according to a legislative report.
Among TANF recipients, the federal government requires states to have a work participation rate of at least 50 percent of the overall population and at least 90 percent in two-parent households. The state began meeting both of those standards in the 2016 fiscal year.
In a statement, the Maine Department of Health and Human Services said the state was facing a total of $28 million in penalties dating back to 2007 for failing to meet standards, but that the federal government now considers Maine compliant and potential penalties have now been reduced by 90 percent.
Maine's senior senator remains a pivotal figure in the intense political battle over the president's Supreme Court nominee. Sen. Susan Collins on Friday tweeted that she agreed with Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake's proposal to delay a floor vote on the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to allow the FBI to investigate allegations that Kavanaugh sexually assaulted women when he was in high school and college. Mainers who tried to make their feeling known to Collins were frustrated because the phone system to her office failed, so some showed up Sunday at her Bangor home to make the case that Kavanaugh is a poor choice for the high court. Collins and Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski are the only two of 51 Republican senators who have not signaled support for Kavanaugh, meaning that their votes will likely decide the fate of his nomination.
It's a new month and Maine's three branches of government still haven't figured out how to implement voter-approved Medicaid expansion. Lawyers for expansion advocates and the LePage administration spent another day in court Friday, presenting their arguments about funding sources and other legal questions to Superior Court Justice Michaela Murphy, who is back on the case after the Maine Supreme Judicial Court kicked unresolved questions back to her. Little was decided by the end of those proceedings, but on Friday, expansion proponents withdrew a motion asking Murphy to hold the state in contempt of the high court's order, which was originally filed because of LePage's letter asking the federal government to reject the plan. Both sides agreed to submit legal briefs on core issues in the case by mid-October. The sides will likely present arguments to the lower-court judge before she her ruling, and any ruling is likely to go back to the high court later this year.
The governor's ongoing battle with regional workforce boards over how to spend federal dollars continues. Maine Public reports that despite pushback from local officials, the U.S. Department of Labor has approved much of a new state policy requiring Maine's three regional workforce boards to spend at least 70 percent of their budget on direct job training. The decision, which was announced during a Friday meeting of the Maine State Workforce Board, is the latest twist in a years-long power struggle between LePage and the people who oversee the regional workforce boards.
The cost of traveling for cancer treatments intensified the suffering for one Maine woman, whose plight illustrates the problems rural Mainers with cancer face. To undergo treatment for cancer, Allagash resident Margaret McBreairty, an Air Force veteran, made eight-hour trips to Boston every three weeks for five months. She estimated it cost her $1,000, on top of her $2,000 co-pay, for all her trips. Maine's rural areas generally have both the highest rates of cancer and the fewest resources to treat the disease. Washington County has the highest death rate from cancer in the state, but not a single oncologist practices within its 3,000-plus square miles, according to a September 2017 study conducted for the Maine Cancer Foundation by Market Decisions Research.
Pink plates
Ten years ago today, the secretary of state introduced the pink Maine Breast Cancer Support specialty license plate.
The initial fee is $20 above the regular registration fee. Each renewal costs an additional $15. Proceeds are divided equally between:
The breast and cervical health program within the Maine Center for Disease Control, which provides services to underserved people with breast health and breast cancer needs and provide funding for cancer research, education, and patient support programs.
The Maine Cancer Foundation, an independent Maine-based organization dedicated to reducing cancer incidence and mortality rates in Maine.
Maine Breast Cancer Coalition's Support Service Fund, a program dedicated to providing financial support for underserved people with breast health or breast cancer needs in Maine.
If you are not into specialty plates, please consider providing direct support to one of those worthy programs.
At a time when people in the political realm can agree on so little, let's hope we can all agree that cancer sucks and that we should do whatever we can to help those who are struggling with it, helping people recover from it and doing research to find a cure. Here is your soundtrack. — Robert Long
Today's Daily Brief was written by Michael Shepherd, Alex Acquisto and Robert Long. If you're reading this on the BDN's website or were forwarded it, click here to receive Maine's leading newsletter on state politics via email on weekday mornings. Click here to subscribe to the BDN.
To reach us, do not reply directly to this newsletter, but email us directly at aacquisto@bangordailynews.com, mshepherd@bangordailynews.com or rlong@bangordailynews.com.
About Michael Shepherd
Michael Shepherd joined the Bangor Daily News in 2015 after covering state, federal and local issues for the Kennebec Journal for three years. He's a Hallowell native who now lives in Gardiner. He graduated from the University of Maine in 2012 and is a graduate student at the University of Southern Maine's Muskie School of Public Service. View all posts by Michael Shepherd →
← Pressure on Collins mounts as Republicans push hard to confirm Kavanaugh	Obama endorsements, spending spikes highlight high-stakes Maine races →


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Western "pacifists" volunteer to become "human shields" for Assad's government
This is the craziest political movement I've seen in many years - western so-called "pacifists" volunteering to go to Syria to defend the Syrian government against possible US airstrikes.
The 'International Human Shields' movement, started by a group of activists in Britain and the US, plans to bring to Syria civilians from countries around the globe, who will try to deter US strikes on the country by staking out potential military targets.
Franklin Lamb, a lawyer recently appointed as the legal adviser for the group said he had been "inundated" with requests from activists including from Canada, France, Italy, the US, and Britain.
The Syrian regime has not yet indicated whether it will allow the group to enter the country, but it raises the prospect of hundreds of pacifists descending on Damascus, as happened in Baghdad before the 2003 Iraq invasion.
Many of those volunteering to go to Syria also took part in the 'Human Shields' movement that travelled to Baghdad, initially to protect hospitals and schools, and later, key government infrastructure sites.
Notice that last line - "government infrastructure sites." The people who went to Baghdad in 2003 were protecting Saddam Hussein's government. They should have been there to protect the people of Baghdad against Saddam's government.
And how can we call these people "pacifists"? They're not anti-war - if they truly were they would already have been in Syria for 2 1/2 years as "human shields" against the government's attack on its own people. They would have been embedded with the citizens of Damascus who were gassed by the government two weeks ago - men, women, and children.
These people are truly those who believe in the "anti-imperialism of fools." They despise anything - anything - the United States does, and their hatred of the US blinds them to the decades of dictatorship in Syria and the atrocities committed both by Hafez al-Assad and his son Bashar.
Ken O'Keefe, an ex-US Marine who gave up his American citizenship in disgust at Iraq war and who became a leader of that Human Shields group, told The Daily Telegraph that he has been acting as an adviser for this Syrian-focused movement. "I have been sharing my experience with Mr Lamb. I have a feeling that if the Syrian government allows it, there would be a huge inundation of volunteers," he said. "The policies of Britain and the US make no sense; we are aligning ourselves with the people who we were supposedly fighting in Iraq."
Andrew, 33, a Canadian pianist, who did not wish to provide his full name, is one of several hundred people who contacted the group to volunteer themselves as human shields. He told the Daily Telegraph that he is willing to fly himself to Damascus and to die there for this cause.
"I don't want to see Syria turn into another Libya," said Andrew. "If I had a hand big enough to squash the US tanks then I would. Democracy is America's deadliest export, they use it as an excuse to destroy countries."
The Syrian government is already doing a pretty good job at destroying the country. Hasn't he noticed what they've done to the ancient city of Aleppo?
"I think a movement of solidarity on a global scale could grab the attention of a lot of people. I think if there are that many people in the US who are willing to do that it would send a powerful message. Even if people have to die for it".
This particular group is being invited to Syria by a pro-government Syrian group that has stationed itself on a mountain overlooking Damascus where there is a large military base:
The 'human shield' strategy has also been taken up by some Damascenes. A group calling itself 'Over Our Dead Bodies' has established a sit-in at Qassioun, a mountain overlooking Damascus that is home to both a large military base and state television centre.
"We think the first target might be Syrian state media," said Ozgret Dandashi, the founder of the group. "Even if the American's attack we will stay here."
The state media? No, the military base!
In the past week some high profile Syrian actors, actresses, and sports personalities have joined the stakeout at Qassioun. Video footage showed Omar al-Hassano, a Syrian basketball player standing on the mountainside with the protesters.
Some demonstrators have brought along their children. Their cheeks painted in the colours of the Syrian flag, they waved posters of Bashar al-Assad and sang patriotic songs.
Miss Dandashi said that she and other organisers of the Over Our Dead Bodies movement had been lobbying the Syrian government to convince them to allow their foreign compatriots into the country.
"We are receiving messages from people in Britain, Italy, Germany and all over Europe who want to be human shields with us here but we have a big problem in getting them visas. We are trying to solve this," she said.
The Syrian government has launched its own propaganda campaign in recent weeks. Posters are everywhere in Damascus, warning civilians to move away from homes near government ministries.
Wise idea. Perhaps the people on the mountain should follow suit. Get away from the probable target, rather than going to it.
Full-page adverts in local papers warn Syrians to look out for "American spies" in their midst and attributing recent news of defections from the Syrian military as nothing more than "psychological warfare" by the US.
Posted by Rebecca at 9:44 AM No comments:
Western "pacifists" volunteer to become "human shi...


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1- Earth is the only planet on which water can exist in liquid form on the
surface.
2- Antarctica is the highest, driest, and coldest continent on Earth.
3- The dormant volcano Mauna Kea (on the Big Island of Hawaii) could be
considered the tallest mountain in the world. If you measure it from its
base in the Hawaiian Trough (3,300 fathoms deep) to its summit of 13,796
feet, it reaches a height of 33,476 feet.
4- Earth is referred to as the BLUE PLANET. WHY? Because from space, the
oceans combined with our atmosphere make our planet look blue.
5- The world's deadliest recorded earthquake occurred in 1557 in central
China, more than 830,000 people were killed.
6- The World's largest hot desert is the Sahara in North Africa, at over
9,000,000 km², it is almost as large as the United States.
7- Earth travels through space at 66,700 miles per hour.
8- Mount Everest 8850 meter (29035 ft) Nepal/China is the tallest mountain.
9- The sunrays reached at the earth in 8 minutes & 3 seconds.
10- Only 11 percent of the earth's surface is used to grow food.
11- The coldest temperature ever measured on Earth was -129 Fahrenheit
(-89 Celsius) at Vostok, Antarctica, on July 21, 1983.
12- About 70% of the world's fresh water is stored as glacial ice.
13- Only 3% water of the earth is fresh, rest 97% salted. Of that 3%, over
2% is frozen in ice sheets and glaciers. Means less than 1% fresh water is
found in lakes, rivers and underground.
14-The warmest sea in the world is the Red Sea, where temperatures range
from 68 degrees to 87.8 degrees F depending upon which part you measure.
15- The hottest planet in the solar system is Venus, with an estimated
surface temperature of 864 F (462 C)
16- Angel Falls in Venezuela is the worlds highest waterfall, The water of
Falls drops 3,212 feet (979 meters).
17- Asia Continent is covered 30% of the total earth land area, but
represent 60% of the world's population.
18-The total surface area of the Earth is 197 million square miles.
19- El Azizia in Libya recorded a temperature of 136 degrees Fahrenheit
(57.8 Celsius) on Sept. 13, 1922 - the hottest ever measured.
20- A 1960 Chilean earthquake was the strongest earthquake in recent
times, which occurred off the coast, had a magnitude of 9.6 and broke a
fault more than 1000 miles (1600 kilometers) long.
21- The lowest dry point on earth is the Dead Sea in the Middle East is
about 1300 feet (400 meters) below sea level.
22- The Largest Ocean of the World is the Pacific Ocean (155,557,000 sq
km), It covers nearly one-third of the Earth's surface.
23- The distance from the surface of Earth to the center is about 3,963
miles (6,378 kilometers).
24- The saltiest sea in the world is the Red Sea with 41 parts of salt per
1,000 parts of water.
25- The Angel Falls in Venezuela is the world's highest waterfall (979
meters / 3212 ft.), three times the size of the Eiffel Tower.
26- The Earth is the densest major body in the solar system.
27- The age of the earth is Loudly proclaimed by the scientific
establishment of evolution believers and the mass media as being around
4.6 billion years old.
28- Baikal Lake in Russian Fed. is the deepest lake (5315 ft) in the world.
29- Lightning does not always create thunder. In April 1885, five
lightning bolts struck the Washington Monument during a thunderstorm, yet
no thunder was heard.
30- The Sarawak Chamber in Malaysia is the largest cave in the world is
2300 feet (701 meters) long, 1300 feet (400 meters) wide, and more than
230 feet (70 meters) high.
31- The Mauna Loa volcano in Hawaii is the largest volcanoon on Earth. It
rises more than 50,000 feet (9.5 miles or 15.2 kilometers) above its base,
which sits under the surface of the sea.
32- Due to gravitational effects, you weigh slightly less when the moon is
directly overhead.
33- One-tenth of the Earth's surface is always under the cover of ice. And
almost 90 per cent of that ice is to be found in the continent of
Antarctica.
34- The coldest seas are found near the poles such as the Greenland,
Barents, Beaufort, Kara, Laptev & East Siberian Seas found near the north
pole & Weddell & Ross Seas found in the south poles. The Baltic Sea is
also considered one of the coldest seas.
35- The Nile River in Africa is the longest river (6,825 kilometers) of
36-Caspian Sea, Asia-Europe is the major lake (371,000 sq km) in the world.
37- Depending upon the amount of salt in the water, sea water freezes at
about 28 degrees F.
38- The most dangerous animal in the world is the common housefly. Because
of their habits of visiting animal waste, they transmit more diseases than
any other animal.
39- The Peregrine Falcon around 200mph (320 km/h) is the fastest bird on
the planet, the top speed recorded is 242.3mph (390 km/h).
40- The largest eggs in the world are laid by a shark.
41-The deepest hole ever made by humans is in Kola Peninsula in Russia,
was completed in 1989, creating a hole 12,262 meters (7.6 miles) deep.
42- Total fertility rate of the world is 2.59 children born/woman.
43- An African woman's lifetime risk of dying from pregnancy related
causes is one in 16, in Asia, its one in 65. In Europe, its one in 1,400.
44- There are roughly 4,000 known minerals, although only about 200 are of
major importance.
45- About 400 billion gallons water is used worldwide each day.
46- Aluminum cans take 500 years to break down.
47- Total fertility rate of the world is 2.59 children born/woman. Niger
is 7.46 (highest), India is 2.73, US is 2.09 & Hong Kong is 0.95 only
(Lowest).
48- Northern Mariana Islands is only the country where death rate
(2.29/1000) is lowest in the world.
49- Earth's oceans are an average of 2 Miles deep
50- Shanghai, China is the largest city by population (13.3 million) in
51- English is the second most spoken language (Native speakers 512
million) & the first is Chinese Mandarin (more then 1 billion speakers).
52- The flower with the world's largest bloom is the Rafflesia arnoldii.
This rare flower is found in the rainforests of Indonesia. It can grow to
be 3 feet across and weigh up to 15 pounds.
53- At least 1,000 million grams, or roughly 1,000 tons of material (dust)
enters the atmosphere every year and makes its way to Earths surface.
54- The gravity on Mars is 38% of that found on Earth. So a 100 pounds
person on Earth would weigh 38 pounds on Mars.
55- The world's population has been increased 3.1 billion in last 40 years.
56- Global Positioning System (GPS) is the only system today that can show
your exact position on the Earth anytime, in any weather, no matter where
you are!
57- The water that falls on a single acre of land during one inch of
rainfall, it would weigh 113 tons that is 226,000 pounds.
58- 180 million nos. of Valentine's Day cards exchanged annually, making
Valentine's Day the second-most popular greeting-card-giving occasion.
59- Plastics take 500 years to break down.
60- Each year, more than 500,000 women (approximate 1 every minute) die
from pregnancy related causes. The vast majority of these deaths occur in
developing countries.


text:
1 occurrence	in 1 dictionary
Reference: Balaam
BALAAM is the subject of a remarkable and intricate narrative in Nu 22; 23; 24, connected with the arrival of Israel in the Promised Land, and the relationship of the chosen people to Moab and Ammon. Balaam was a soothsayer of Pethor on the Euphrates, called by Balak, king of Moab, to curse the Israelites, who were lying encamped in the Jordan valley. He had difficulty in undertaking the task, and he found, whenever he essayed to curse Israel, that the Lord had forbidden him to do so, and that his burden must be blessing instead. At the request of Balak he changed his position again and again on the heights above the Dead Sea, in the hope of obtaining a different oracle, but the message he had to deliver remained the same, and he foretold the future splendour of Israel (Nu 24:2 ff.). Sent away by Balak without the reward promised to him if he would deliver an oracle adverse to Israel, he returned to his own land. According to one narrative, his end was full of shame. He was accused of having induced Israel to commit immorality in connexion with religious worship, a feature common in the Semitic nature-cults. It was through this charge that he became known to subsequent ages, and his name became a name of infamy (Nu 31:8,16; 2Pe 2:15; Re 2:14; Josephus Ant. VI. vi, 6). The inspiration of Balaam, contrasted with his subsequent sin and disgraceful death, his knowledge of the will of God, together with his intense desire to grasp the rewards of unrighteousness, have given rise to a notable sermon literature. Bishop Butler speaks of the self-deception by which he persuades himself that the sin he commits can be justified to conscience and to God; Newman regards him as an instance of the trouble that can come on a character, otherwise noble, when the thought of material advancement is always allowed to dwell with it; Arnold adduces him as an instance of the familiar truth that the purest form of religious belief may coexist with a standard of action immeasurably below it; F. W. Robertson makes him the text for a sermon on the perversion of gifts.
This complexity of character is, however, greatly simplified by the recognition of the various strata in the narrative. It is clear that the account of Priestly Narrative connecting Balaam with Israel's uncleanness has nothing to do with the original narrative. This original narrative is contained in Nu 22; 23; 24. According to it, Balaam was a prophet of Pethor on the river Euphrates. His fame had spread across the wilderness, and, when Balak found himself in straits through the advance of Israel, he sent for Balaam to come and curse Israel. Balaam asked God whether he should go, and was refused permission. Balak therefore sent yet greater gifts, and once again Balaam asked counsel of God. This time permission was granted. So far there had been no indication of God's displeasure; but now follows (Nu 22:22-34) the story of the ass, through which God's anger at the refusal of the seer to accept His answer, given once and for all, is manifested. If, however, the reader will pass from Nu 22:21 to Nu 22:35 he will find that the narrative runs smoothly, and that he is still viewing Balaam's character from the same not unfavourable standpoint (Nu 22:35 [cf. Nu 22:20-21] is the effort to join up the threads of the story after the interpolation). When Balaam is brought in sight of Israel, he breaks out into a burst of praise (Nu 24:5-9) which rouses the wrath of Balak. Balaam justifies himself by reminding the king that he had warned him of the constraint of the Lord (Nu 24:13). He then utters another oracle predicting the glory of Israel and the destruction of Moah and Ammon (Nu 24:17-19).
This analysis leaves out of account Nu 22:22-34,23, which seem to belong to a narrative dealing with the same facts, but placing a more sinister interpretation on the conduct of Balaam. The story of the ass is plainly out of harmony with the narrative just outlined. It is a story belonging not to the wilderness, but to a land of vineyards. It ignores the embassy that has been sent to bring Balaam back across the wilderness (Nu 22:15,21), for it represents Balaam as travelling alone. It is also extremely unlikely that so long a journey as that from the Euphrates to Moab would be attempted upon an ass. Then ch. 23, with its elaborate building of altars and offering of sacrifices, seems to belong to a later date; while the constant shifting of position in the effort to secure a more favourable oracle presents Balaam in a much more unfavourable light than before. Although the details of this analysis are not certain, we may take it that the original story proceeds from Jahwist, and that the second narrative, more complicated both in psychology and ritual, is from Elohist.
The narrative of Priestly Narrative ascribing the sin of Baal-peor to Balaam is out of touch with both the other narratives. According to it, Balaam was a Midianitish seer who tried to bring about the ruin of Israel, in default of other means, by persuading them to give way to lust (Nu 31:8,16, Josephus Ant. VI. 6. 6). 'It has been conjectured that this story arose partly out of a difficulty on the part of the priestly narrator in conceiving of a heathen being an inspired prophet of God, partly from the need of accounting for the great sin of the Israelites' (Dictionary of the Bible I. 233). Balaam thus seems to have fallen in the estimation of Israel from being a seer of alien race, who distinguished himself by his faithfulness to the truth he knew, to becoming synonymous with temptation of a kind that was always especially insidious for Israel.
R. Bruce Taylor.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
Num	22:15
And Balak sent yet again princes, more and more honourable than those.
Messengers Sent Out
Num	22:20-21
And God came unto Balaam at night and said unto him, If the men come to call thee, rise up, and go with them; but yet the word which I shall say unto thee, that shalt thou do. So Balaam rose up in the morning and saddled his female ass and went with the princes of Moab.
Balaams DonkeyGoing TogetherMorningCovetousness, Example OfPreparing To TravelSaddling Donkeys
So Balaam rose up in the morning and saddled his female ass and went with the princes of Moab.
Balaams DonkeyMorningCovetousness, Example OfGoing TogetherPreparing To TravelSaddling Donkeys
So Balaam rose up in the morning and saddled his female ass and went with the princes of Moab. And God's anger was kindled because he went, and the angel of the LORD stood in the way as an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him.
Balaams DonkeyMorningCovetousness, Example OfGoing TogetherPreparing To TravelSaddling DonkeysConfrontationOpposition, To Sin And EvilGod As EnemyTwo Other Men
And God's anger was kindled because he went, and the angel of the LORD stood in the way as an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him. And the ass saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way with his sword drawn in his hand; and the ass turned aside out of the way and went into the field. Then Balaam smote the ass to turn her into the way.
Balaams DonkeyConfrontationOpposition, To Sin And EvilGod As EnemyTwo Other MenStandingBeating AnimalsAnimals Going AstraySeeing AngelsGod's Sword
And the ass saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way with his sword drawn in his hand; and the ass turned aside out of the way and went into the field. Then Balaam smote the ass to turn her into the way.
Balaams DonkeyStandingBeating AnimalsAnimals Going AstraySeeing AngelsGod's Sword
And the ass saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way with his sword drawn in his hand; and the ass turned aside out of the way and went into the field. Then Balaam smote the ass to turn her into the way. But the angel of the LORD stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall being on this side and a wall on that side.
Balaams DonkeyStandingBeating AnimalsAnimals Going AstraySeeing AngelsGod's SwordVineyardNarrow Things
But the angel of the LORD stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall being on this side and a wall on that side. And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she thrust herself unto the wall and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall; and he smote her again.
VineyardNarrow ThingsAccidentsInjury To FeetBeating AnimalsPressingSeeing Angelscrushes
And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she thrust herself unto the wall and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall; and he smote her again. And the angel of the LORD went further and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left.
AccidentsInjury To FeetBeating AnimalsPressingSeeing AngelscrushesNarrow ThingsNo RoomTurning To Right And Left
And the angel of the LORD went further and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left. And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she fell down under Balaam; and Balaam's anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff.
Narrow ThingsNo RoomTurning To Right And LeftBalaams DonkeyGesturesAnger, Sinful ExamplesAnger Of Man, UnrighteousAnimal RightsLying Down To RestSeeing AngelsNamed People Angry With Others
And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she fell down under Balaam; and Balaam's anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff. Then the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee that thou hast smitten me these three times?
Balaams DonkeyGesturesAnger, Sinful ExamplesAnger Of Man, UnrighteousAnimal RightsLying Down To RestSeeing AngelsNamed People Angry With OthersAnimal LifeRebukeActing Three TimesThe Dumb Speaking
Then the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee that thou hast smitten me these three times? And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me. I wish there were a sword in my hand, for now would I kill thee.
Balaams DonkeyAnimal LifeRebukeActing Three TimesThe Dumb SpeakingKilling Domesticated Animals
And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me. I wish there were a sword in my hand, for now would I kill thee. And the ass said unto Balaam, Am I not thine ass upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? Was I ever accustomed to do so unto thee? And he said, No.
Balaams DonkeyKilling Domesticated AnimalsRiding DonkeysPeople Possessing Other Things
And the ass said unto Balaam, Am I not thine ass upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? Was I ever accustomed to do so unto thee? And he said, No. Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way and his sword drawn in his hand; and he bowed down his head and fell flat on his face.
Balaams DonkeyRiding DonkeysPeople Possessing Other ThingsBowingProstrationReceiving SightSeeing AngelsGod's Sword
Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way and his sword drawn in his hand; and he bowed down his head and fell flat on his face. And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Why hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? Behold, I went out as thine adversary, because thy way is perverse before me.
Balaams DonkeyBowingProstrationReceiving SightSeeing AngelsGod's SwordBeating AnimalsActing Three TimesGod As EnemyWhy Do You Do This?
And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Why hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? Behold, I went out as thine adversary, because thy way is perverse before me. The ass saw me and turned from me these three times; and if she had not turned from me, I also now would slay thee and leave her alive.
Balaams DonkeyBeating AnimalsActing Three TimesGod As EnemyWhy Do You Do This?God KillingSeeing AngelsGod Killing Individuals
The ass saw me and turned from me these three times; and if she had not turned from me, I also now would slay thee and leave her alive. Then Balaam said unto the angel of the LORD, I have sinned; for I did not know that thou didst stand in the way against me; now therefore, if it displease thee, I will return.
Balaams DonkeyGod KillingSeeing AngelsActing Three TimesGod Killing IndividualsAcknowledge, SinIndividuals going homeIgnorant Of FactsWe Have Sinned
Then Balaam said unto the angel of the LORD, I have sinned; for I did not know that thou didst stand in the way against me; now therefore, if it displease thee, I will return. And the angel of the LORD said unto Balaam, Go with the men; but only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that thou shalt speak. So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.
Acknowledge, SinIndividuals going homeIgnorant Of FactsWe Have SinnedAngel of the LordGoing TogetherSpeaking The Word God Gives
And the angel of the LORD said unto Balaam, Go with the men; but only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that thou shalt speak. So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.
Angel of the LordGoing TogetherSpeaking The Word God Gives
Num	24:2
and lifting up his eyes, he saw Israel abiding in his tents according to their tribes; and the Spirit of God came upon him.
The Spirit Of GodCamping During The ExodusSeeing People
Num	24:5-9
How beautiful are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy habitations, O Israel! As the valleys are they spread forth, as gardens by the river's side, as the trees of lign aloes which the LORD has planted, and as cedars beside the waters.	read more. From his branches he shall distil waters, and his seed shall be in many waters, and his king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted. God brought him forth out of Egypt; he has, as it were, the strength of a unicorn; he shall eat up the Gentiles his enemies and shall break their bones and pierce them through with his arrows. He couched, he lay down as a lion and as a great lion; who shall awaken him? Blessed is he that blesses thee, and cursed is he that curses thee.
BeautifulJacob, The PatriarchassertivenessGarden, NaturalSpreadingGardensAbundance, MaterialBucketsGod Providing WaterSpilling Your Seed On The GroundBones BrokenHorns VictoriousWild OxPeople OvercomingGod Bringing Israel Out Of EgyptUnicornsCrouchingLying Down To RestLike CreaturesBlessing And CurseBlessing Through God's PeopleCursing Israel
If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the commandment of the LORD, to do either good or bad of my own heart; but what the LORD saith that will I speak?
Commands, in OTGoldSupplied With MoneySpeaking The Word God Gives
I shall see him, but not now; I shall behold him, but not near by; there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel and shall smite the corners of Moab and destroy all the sons of Seth. And Edom shall be taken; Seir also shall be taken by his enemies; and Israel shall do valiantly.	read more. Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion and shall destroy what remains of the city.
DawnForeheadsBethlehemLight, SpiritualNewsSceptreStarsThe Morning StarClosenessThe First Sight Of ChristChrist Is King Of IsraelMessianic PropheciesPeople OvercomingSurvivors Destroyed
And they also slew the kings of Midian among the rest of those that were slain: namely, Evi and Rekem and Zur and Hur and Reba, five kings of Midian; they also slew Balaam, the son of Beor, with the sword.
Five PeopleKilling KingsKilling ProphetsNamed Gentile Rulers
Behold, these caused the sons of Israel through the counsel of Balaam to commit trespass against the LORD in the matter of Peor for which there was a plague among the congregation of the LORD.
Balaams DonkeyadvisersMan's Counsel
Rev	2:14
But I have a few things against thee because thou hast there those that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols and to commit fornication.
Balaams DonkeyFreedom, Abuse Of ChristianFoodAdultery, SpiritualChastityToleranceAbuse, Of Christian FreedomFalse Teachers, Examples OfStumbling BlocksMisteachingFood For Other godsFood Offered To IdolsThey Committed ImmoralitysexSexual Immorality