text:
Offshore Wind Power: A Clean Energy Victory for Wildlife!
Amber Hewett | November 15, 2018
The Block Island Wind Farm, operating in Rhode Island state waters, remains the only offshore wind project in the U.S. Virginia is on track to host the second! Photo: Deepwater Wind
Virginia to Build the First Two Offshore Wind Turbines in Federal Waters
For years, states along the Atlantic Coast have been striving to get offshore wind turbines built in federal waters. 2018 has been rich with progress, particularly in the Northeast region, but no state has yet won the race to be first. Though Virginia has hardly been a front-runner to date, a recent turn of events put Dominion Energy on track to pioneer construction within the next year.
Earlier this month, Virginia's State Corporation Commission approved a two-turbine demonstration project, Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW), to be built 27 miles from shore. CVOW is a collaboration between Dominion Energy and the leading global offshore wind developer, Ørsted. The project will generate 12 megawatts (MW) of clean energy – enough to power 3,000 homes in the Commonwealth – and will provide lessons to hopefully inform larger offshore wind development in the years ahead.
In 2013, the U.S. Department of the Interior auctioned a 112,800 acre area of federal waters designated for offshore wind development just over 23 miles off of Virginia Beach, and Dominion placed the highest bid. For the five years since, Dominion has cited concerns about the high cost of offshore wind energy as reason for postponing build-out of the wind energy area – ultimately capable of supplying power to more than half a million homes. In the meantime, areas of federal water have been leased, spanning from Massachusetts to North Carolina, and states are grappling to figure out exactly how to seize the massive opportunity within them.
Wildlife and Offshore Wind
Kemp's ridley sea turtles. Photo Credit: USFWS
Rising sea levels brought on by climate change are eroding beaches and destroying the critical nesting grounds Kemp's ridley sea turtles rely on to lay their eggs. All along the coast, similar impacts are threatening species like piping plovers and Florida Key deer. Currently, carbon-emitting coal plants and other fossil fuel-generated energy are contributing heavily to climate-disrupting carbon pollution. But with renewable energy like offshore wind power, we can reduce our contribution to climate change and protect the critical coastal habitats sea turtles need to survive.
The National Wildlife Federation is committed to ensuring that as offshore wind power moves forward, the highest standards of wildlife protection are in place every step of the way. Because offshore wind power is new to the nation, we have the opportunity to do this right from the start. NWF is working closely with developers, state and federal government officials, conservation partners, and many ocean users to ensure that wildlife and habitat protection is considered at every decision point, from siting to construction, and ultimately during operation and maintenance of offshore wind projects.
The scale of the challenge and the opportunity
Offshore wind power is America's largest untapped clean energy solution. The gradually sloping continental shelf and strong, consistent wind speeds make the U.S. Atlantic Coast home to one of the world's most ideal sites for offshore wind power development. On top of that, the resource is in close proximity to the strained urban energy markets that dot our coastline – it's abundant, clean energy right where we need it most. And with strict measures in place to avoid, minimize, and mitigate impacts to the surrounding ecosystem, offshore wind power has the potential to be among the most wildlife-friendly energy resources within reach. Harnessing just a fraction of the potential offshore could replace carbon-polluting power plants dominating our energy profile and driving climate change.
National Wildlife Federation works closely with developers, government officials, and conservation partners to ensure that species like the North Atlantic right whale will be carefully protected throughout every stage of offshore wind development. Photo by New England Aquarium, Collected under NMFS permit 14233
European nations have been building offshore wind turbines and advancing their technology for nearly three decades – and they now host a collective total of over 4,000 turbines powering millions of homes and businesses with clean, local energy. Finally, in 2016, Rhode Island managed to install America's first five turbines. The Block Island Wind Farm stands in state waters, which typically extend three miles from a coastline. Beyond three miles (where the wind is often stronger and more consistent), falls under federal jurisdiction and requires coordination between state and federal officials, offshore wind developers, ocean users, and members of the public for any development to move forward. That is an orchestra no one has yet to successfully conduct – but many states are getting close.
Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Maryland are all at various stages of getting a project in the water. The list of incentives is long. Offshore wind power can help states meet urgent greenhouse gas reduction targets. It will create thousands of jobs in-state and in the surrounding region – the industry supports 80,000 jobs in Europe. And once projects make up a significant portion of a state's energy mix, they will help buffer ratepayers from spikes in the volatile fossil fuel market.
Taking on as transformative an endeavor as offshore wind development has the potential to be requires foresight. It requires early investments in research, stakeholder engagement, infrastructure development, and workforce training. It has to be done right, with stringent measures in place to protect marine and coastal wildlife and habitat every step of the way.
The Block Island Wind Farm's turbines stand 600 feet tall, the same size as the two planned off of Virginia. Photo from Deepwater Wind
The challenge is great, but the opportunity is greater. Finding a path forward holds immense environmental and economic promise, and will likely inspire other states to follow. Virginia is forging a path different than that of any other state leading the way – and it looks like this path will get us 3,000 homes closer to a clean energy future by 2020. We'll take it. And we look forward to working closely with Virginia's leaders ensure that these first two turbines clear the way for many more to follow. Communities, wildlife, and wild places are counting on us getting this right and going big, sooner rather than later.
Conservation | clean energy, climate change, offshore wind, Virginia
Written by Amber Hewett


According to Pro Football Focus, opposing offenses targeted Hayden on 101 passes last season and completed 70 for 772 yards and five touchdowns. Hayden finished the year with one interception and eight passes defensed.
Coach Jack Del Rio, though, said this week he believes Hayden has made progress this year – including breaking up two passes in extended action against the Buccaneers last Sunday after Smith departed two plays into the game.
"Throughout the offseason, he's been very purposeful, very intent on having a good year for us, and I think he has," Del Rio said.
Other inactives – The Raiders were down two members of their starting defense against the Broncos. Defensive tackle Stacy McGee (ankle) was also inactive, missing a second consecutive game.
Also inactive for the Raiders were quarterback Connor Cook, cornerback Dexter McDonald, tackles Matt McCants and Vadal Alexander and tight end Ryan O'Malley. Offensive tackle Menelik Watson (calf) was active for the first time since his injury in Week 3, but replacement Austin Howard remained on the starting line.
The Broncos' inactives were quarterback Austin Davis, receiver Cody Latimer, corners Aqib Talib and Kayvon Webster, guards Connor McGovern and Billy Turner and defensive tackle Darius Kilgo.
Taking a stand – Broncos linebacker Brandon Marshall was one of the first players to join 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick's protest of kneeling during the playing of the national anthem and continued to kneel for the first eight games of the season. Marshall, though, opted to stand for the anthem before Sunday's game in Oakland.
"Going forward, I will be standing for the National Anthem – not because everything is perfect, or because I'm changing my stance on things. But because of my hope for what we can become," Marshall wrote.
Et cetera – With the possibility of a move to Las Vegas still hovering over the Raiders, the hours before kickoff Sunday saw a plane flying over the Coliseum trailing a banner that read: "Vegas: If you build it, we won't come." Some fans carried signs with the same message.
▪ Sebastian Janikowski's second field goal of the first quarter was also the 400th of his career, which ranks ninth all-time.


text:
FSM 243 / FN 352 "Witnessing Adventures! No.2" 7/93
"The Family Singers" Perform at the White House!
From Ado, Jay East & Team, U.S.A.
(Editor's note: In December, 1992, a group of Family teens were offered an open door of singing at the U.S. White House, & subsequently the U.S. State Department! Needless to say, it was quite an exciting & unique event, as well as a sobering & important one--to be performing right in the home of the President of the United States!
(But before reading the amazing account of how the Lord anointed the teens' performance, we'd first like to set the stage by sharing with you the very encouraging & feeding message that Mama Maria sent to the teen singing group prior to their presentation, to help inspire them to go in the strength of the Lord & in the power of His might!)
TO THE WHITE HOUSE SINGING TEAM!--From Mama Maria (Editor's note: This can be applied to all of our singing teams.)
Maria #199 ML#2863
Dear Shepherds & Teens, 12/92
1. God bless you! I love you very much, & am praying for you as the day of your performance draws closer. God bless you for putting your all into the preparations for this show, & filling your hearts & minds with His Word to help give you the strength from Him that you'll need, so that out of the abundance of your hearts your mouths will sing & speak.
2. In praying about your upcoming performance, I've been thinking that compared to the other choral groups & singing troupes which will be performing at the White House for Christmas, alongside them your group may appear unprofessional & more untrained. Unlike members of a highly trained & technically perfect choral group, your main ministry has been that of witnessing & winning souls, for which you'll reap eternal & everlasting rewards. So that's why we're suggesting that you & your singing group just be yourselves & be natural & not try to take on more than you are equipped for or can be trained for in this short period of time. Nor should you feel that you should try to compete with other very professional groups who have probably been together for years & whose main goal has been to learn to sound good for the System, & to make their mark in the World musically.
3. I was thinking how, in spite of the fact we aren't usually nearly as polished & professional as System groups, the Lord often opens doors for us to perform right alongside them. And although according to System standards we're not as professional, refined, polished or trained as most of the World's groups, the Lord always comes through our precious Family performers so beautifully, & people sit up & take notice.--Not of our great talents & abilities & musical perfection, but of His Spirit shining through us.
4. It reminds me of the Scripture, "Now when they saw the boldness of Peter & John & perceived that they were unlearned & ignorant men, they marvelled & took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus" (Acts 4:13). The people who were listening to Peter & John's preaching & witnessing were probably used to hearing speakers all the time who were much more polished & eloquent than Peter & John. So listening to Spirit-filled Peter & John was probably quite an unusual occurrence, & their difference from the other speakers was enough to draw people's attention to them.
5. The most obvious difference initially was that Peter & John were rough & uneducated. But the people were drawn to Peter & John because of this initial difference. As they kept listening & watching, they realised that what they were seeing & what they were so fascinated with was God's Spirit taking over these ignorant & unlearned men & making them glow with the Lord's presence. This gave Peter & John the ability to touch others in a way the people had never felt before.
6. Perhaps you teens, as well as you adults, are often tempted to think, "We're so inferior & we don't measure up. We don't compare so favourably with all these Systemites & all their talents & expertise & professionalism." But why would you want to? Do you want to have people look at you & say, "Listen to those singers! They're so skilled! We can see that they've had expert musical training, & their voices are so well-trained & their harmonies are perfect & their stage presence is impeccable!" Or would you rather have them look at you & say, "These folks really stir us! These are the ones who move us & touch us & do something to us! We're not quite sure what it is, they may not be perfect, but when they sing, we feel like they're singing right to us, personally! Their singing reaches out to us & into our hearts, & we feel enthralled when they sing, we feel loved! We can see a real peace about them & a light on their faces & a warm glow that somehow is missing from the other singers. This group has really won our hearts!"
7. Would you want to have the people see you as professional, polished, refined, tutored & highly trained, but without His Spirit, His Light & life-giving Love? Or would you rather have the people see Jesus in you, & feel Jesus flowing through you, even if they happen to see your weaknesses & your untrained or unprofessional qualities in the process? Wouldn't you rather have His treasure in your earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, & not of you? For it is not you who live, but Christ Who liveth in you. For when you are weak, then He is strong, for His strength is made perfect & manifested in your weakness. It's the lame who take the prey. (See 2Cor.4:7; Gal.2:20; 2Cor.12:9; Isa.33:23.) In fact, if you were so polished & musically perfect, people would have a lot harder time seeing Jesus in you. They would instead think that the beauty they were seeing was coming from your talent & your skill & your ability.
8. So, although your performance may seem average & simple in comparison to other groups, I believe that when you sing, the power of the Lord's Spirit & His Angels & His Holy Spirits will flow forth through you & will make your music take on a very special quality that none of the others will be able to match. But it won't be anything of you; it will be Jesus Who is singing through you! And we're praying that His Heavenly magic will touch many hearts & stir them & help them to think about Jesus, & that even though you may not be able to talk to them, in some way they will feel Him reaching out to them.
9. So be confident that with the Lord on your side, you're unbeatable & you're brilliant as you shine with His Light! And as you're faithful to follow step-by-step, the Lord will show you more & more why He has opened this door. God bless & keep you all! Our heartfelt prayers are with you!
With much love always,
Mama Maria
Caroline, a member of the White House staff was assigned to take care of us during our visit, & when we arrived, she began by taking all of us on a VIP tour of the East Wing. She explained that there would be a slight delay in our performing. Then suddenly, just as we finished the tour, she rushed us into the East Room & asked that we start our show immediately! So with no time for tuning up or sound-test preparations, the teens started off the show with "Joy to the World!", accompanied by one guitar! (Although we had all the BMTs to the songs in our programme, we had also practised all of the songs acoustically in case of power failures or any other such unexpected mishap.--And TTL we had!) The teens were singing in the large East Room, which all the visitors from the general public on a tour of the White House passed through.
Halfway through that first song, while the equipment for playing the BMTs was still getting set up, a group of children afflicted with cerebral palsy, accompanied by their teachers, began passing through as the day's first visitors from the general public. Some of the children were screaming & having what appeared to be epileptic fits when they entered the room, but as soon as they heard the teens singing, the fits stopped. One Secret Service man remarked that it was the music that had calmed them down. We were told later that throughout the rest of the tour they were very well-behaved, & one of the directors from their school asked about the possibility of us performing another show for them, as the children had enjoyed the music very much & really absorbed it.
First Lady Barbara Bush unexpectedly showed up in this same line with the handicapped children! For a few moments, she quietly watched the teens perform & observed the children's positive reaction to the music. Then she walked over & stood alongside the teens, continuing to watch their performance. As soon as the first song finished, Mrs. Bush greeted each of the teens one-by-one with a big hug & kiss in front of the onlooking crowd! Our personal White House chaperon later remarked that this was a highly unusual thing for Mrs. Bush to do!
When we first arrived at the White House, we had given one of Mrs. Bush's aides a Treasure Attic Christmas Video to deliver to her. Included with the Video was a note, saying that the Video was a gift for her grandchildren & wishing her & the President a Merry Christmas. Apparently, as soon as she received the Video & knew we were there, she rushed down to see the teens.
As Mrs. Bush stood beside the teens, she made the following announcement to the visitors who were passing through the East Room at that time: "This great group came up from Florida, & they're friends of our son. We met them there in our recent travels. But we're thrilled you're here. That's great! And what a special group you're singing for [the handicapped children]."
After Mrs. Bush left, the teens went on with the programme, singing non-stop for the next two hours! They had planned several breaks in the show, of course, but our personal chaperone had left us temporarily in order to check on something & the Secret Service man on duty said he couldn't authorise anything, not even a break! But the Lord anointed the teens with incredible physical & spiritual stamina & they sang like Angels, in fulfilment of prophecy & prayers! It was so beautiful to see them radiate the Lord's Love to the crowd & fill the halls of the White House with the Spirit of God & the Message of the true meaning of Christmas as the Holy Spirit took over! Many of the thousands of people who passed by in the course of the teens' performance were awed by what they saw!
The teens were very relaxed & were warmly greeted with waves & smiles by many of the passers-by, & between each song they wished those passing a Merry Christmas, which seemed to touch their hearts. Some, obviously Christians, gave a "thumbs up" sign as they heard the name of Jesus & the Salvation Message in the songs. Others smiled from ear to ear. One lady from Miami had seen the teens working at the shelter in Homestead when she took food to the Hurricane victims. She was very excited & moved to see them again in this very different setting! Some people said they came through twice, waiting in long lines for another chance to see "The Family Singers"!
The Secret Service men waived the normally very strict rules & allowed us to not only take exclusive photos, but also to video the teens during both their VIP tour & performance. PTL! When one visitor on the GP tour questioned a Secret Service man why we were allowed to take pictures & video & they weren't, he answered, "They were invited by the President & Mrs. Bush to perform!"
At the end of the performance, we were served a special snack by some of the White House cooks. The man who served us said that Mrs. Bush had specifically asked him to take good care of the teens! While snacking, the teens also had the opportunity to witness to Caroline a little more about our lifestyle, & she was very positive. During the conversation, Caroline said that she couldn't imagine any other job that would enable her to meet as many people as she does unless she did what we are doing! She also remarked that the teens were still smiling just as big at the end of the show as they had when they first came in, & she was very impressed. PTL!
As we were leaving, our sweet hostess gave each of us a big hug & we felt a very special closeness to her. PTL! Many of the Secret Service men congratulated the teens on their performance & commented on the music, which they said could be heard throughout the White House. One Secret Service man said it was refreshing to hear Christmas songs that were different from the traditional ones & he liked it very much! PTL!
There were battles all the way--first with the computers not having our names recorded at the checkpoint at the gate, & then unexplained equipment failures during the show--but the Lord got a victory in every instance! PTL! At the gate, they soon let us through, even without official clearance, & when the sound system went out, the teens continued on steadfastly "a cappella" & then with guitars. From a comment one of the Secret Service men made later, he thought it was part of the show! PTL!
Afterwards, as we rejoiced in all that the Lord had done, we realised that our singing in the White House was not only a Family "first" but it was also a White House first to receive His Endtime Children!
PRAYER REQUEST: For further contact with the Bushes & others met through this performance.
U.S. State Department Hears the Glad Tidings!
The day that the latest round of Arab-Israeli peace talks began at the U.S. State Department* in Washington, D.C., some Family teens were there!--Singing about Jesus! As with the teens' performance at the White House, this was just as much of an historical event for the State Department as it was for us. One man, after seeing the teens sing, said that he had never seen such a thing take place in the 44 years he has worked for the State Department! (*The State Department is the branch of the U.S. government that handles U.S. foreign policy & diplomatic relations & operates the U.S. embassies worldwide.)
(Editor's note: A very dear & long-standing lawyer friend was instrumental in working it out for the Family teens to be able to sing at the White House, & helped arrange several other appearances for them in the State Department building. He assured his associates that they would have the best party in the building this year, & acting upon his enthusiasm, they sent out invitations to quite a number of other people in the building.)
There is an immense amount of security there & all of the nearly 8,000 workers must pass security checkpoints to go in & out of the building. However, we found that we were able to move around freely in the building, sometimes without an escort. It was actually quite a miracle to be able to perform in the cafeteria & at two office parties, as it is prohibited to sing religious Christmas carols or talk about Jesus in this or any government building! Even our friend who made the necessary arrangements for us was amazed at how we were allowed to sing in the cafeteria, no questions asked!
The Lord took over, as He did at the White House, & the name of Jesus & His Message of Salvation echoed throughout the huge cafeteria for thousands to hear as the teens sang non-stop for 45 minutes! The sweet manager of the cafeteria even asked them to turn the volume up, as some people in the back said it was difficult for them to hear. This same man danced in the aisles to the rhythm of "Feliz Navidad"!
Christians came out of the crowd to ask in amazement, "How can you get away with this? How did you even get in here?" In a well-to-do suburb of Washington, D.C. there had just been a major protest by Christians because the local government, out of fear of reprisals from the AC-run American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), had outlawed the singing of traditional Christmas carols because they are "religious". So to sing in the heart of the State Department about Jesus, Salvation, His Birth & Second Coming & the real meaning of Christmas was nothing short of a miracle!
We had several Family adults throughout the cafeteria monitoring the volume & audience response & it was interesting to note the varied reactions. There were those who sat with eyes glued on the teens during their whole show, & others who didn't appear to outwardly pay any attention at all. The teens remarked how they could easily tell who in the crowd was interested, & they would sing to & pray for them. One of the teen girls said that she prayed for some young men who looked rather stern & bothered, & after the next song, they began smiling & obviously enjoyed the music.
In order to proclaim to all in the cafeteria who we were, as well as to help document the event, we hung a huge banner--eight feet high & eighteen feet long--on the wall behind the singing team. It read, "MERRY CHRISTMAS, STATE DEPARTMENT!--FROM THE FAMILY SINGERS!" It was a fantastic way to let everyone know who we were! PTL!
Later that afternoon, at the office party our dear friend had arranged for us to perform at, the mood & setting were quite different from that of the cafeteria. The teens sang & danced & preached the Gospel through song to many of his important associates. It was obvious that the Word "Jesus" was "strong meat" for some. There were those who stayed there clapping, enthralled with each song, & there were others who quickly moved to another room as soon as the name of Jesus & praises of His Love rang out. Throughout the afternoon, a number of people approached us declaring their own Christian faith. Little by little, we heard people acknowledging the conviction & enthusiasm of the teens.
The teens said they felt that these stiff, proud government officials--many of whom were lawyers or researchers--just didn't know how to react to the Message in our beautiful Christmas songs & that they sensed very strong "peer pressure" amongst them.
It helped break the ice & melt hearts when the teens mingled with the crowd after singing, to talk & explain our Work. We were told later that one woman who attended the party was so enthusiastic about our teens when she related the story to her husband, that he said he wished he could "trade in" his 15-year-old daughter for one of our teens who were so bold & sang with such conviction. It reminded us of the story of the woman at the well, where the townspeople first believed in Jesus because of the woman's testimony. (See John 4:39.) As we packed up to leave, one State Department lawyer encouraged our friend to take the teens to another office party on a different floor, where all the lawyers for the State Department were gathered. "Crash it!" he said. "These bureaucrats need to have the true Spirit of Christmas infused into them!"
Led downstairs & then through now nearly empty corridors of the State Department by our two very enthusiastic Don Quixote guides, we arrived at the party. The teens lost no time setting up their equipment, as one of the adults approached a group of men to explain that we were about to sing. Unbeknownst to her, one of them was a high-ranking member of this department & host of the party. This very top lawyer, who is frequently in the news, very cordially introduced the teens saying, "Please meet `The Family Singers' who sang in the White House last week!"
With that, the teens broke loose with "Feliz Navidad" & a medley of Christmas songs done with lively dancing & a lot of rhythm! Although surprised with the teens' boldness in getting out the Message, the crowd & our two dear friends loved it! The host of the party, ever playing the part of a lawyer, went up to our close friend & jokingly asked how he felt this performance stood legally in light of the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment, which is (mis)interpreted to promote separation of church (religion) & state (government). Our friend said that before inviting us he had studied it in great detail & felt it was just fine!--Ha! They both had a good laugh.
Many people we met wanted the teens to sing at other parties or gatherings, & we gave out lots of business cards bearing our name, "THE FAMILY SINGERS", address & phone number. One lady attending the party asked if we would be willing to perform in prisons, & offered to introduce us to her husband, who is an administrator of correctional institutions. Another man from the department of commerce, eating in the cafeteria during the performance, told the teens that he had heard them singing down the hall & just had to come in & see them. Another man, on an important committee there, asked if the teens would sing in an old folks' home near his house!
An official from the National Institute of Health was also touched. He is a Christian & wants to get to know us better. The only reason he came to the office party, he said, was to meet us, because he'd heard so much about us from our friend. Others who work at the State Department as career employees said they want to make sure the teens come back next year! PTL! Another man offered to help us get our activities publicised in local newsletters & expounded on the importance of good PR.
Unlike the White House performance, both teens & adults had many opportunities to witness personally & mingle with the many important people attending. Quite a few of these people were executive lawyers & we were able to give many a complete witness about our way of life & beliefs. There were also the secretaries & security guards who were inspired by the teens' singing & asked for tapes of the songs, or some way to stay in touch.
The next evening, our dear friend who set up these engagements told us that the teens had been the talk of the State Department that day & that many of the people he spoke to were quite impressed. According to him, the teens were a particular hit with the older, conservative types.--Ha! He said one man was even persuaded of the virtues of home schooling after talking to one of our teen girls! Upon hearing how many business cards the teens collected from those they witnessed to at the party, our friend was notably impressed. "Those guys don't give their cards to just anyone!" he said. Because of the change in government with the election, many of the people we met no longer hold these posts. We're so glad we got to witness to them before they left Washington, & we're sure His Word won't return void.
It was definitely an outpouring of the Spirit in a traditionally very stuffy & ungodly place!--In fact, one of the most staunch AC strongholds in the American government! Quite an unusual setting for our Christmas show, but one obviously engineered by the Lord to get the Message out! PTL! He did it!
PRAYER REQUEST: For our dear friend who had the faith to arrange these shows & for the Lord's leading & wisdom in any follow-up of those met & won during this visit to the U.S. State Department.
Presidential Candidate Bill Clinton Receives Poster!
From Marc, U.S.A.
(Editor's note: A scouting team of Marc, Ahlai & EA Rebecca had just arrived in Austin, Texas, when they heard from a university student that Bill Clinton, then campaigning for the U.S. presidency, was due to speak at a political rally near the school library in just a few minutes! Here's their exciting account, written before "Another Sign of the End!-Clinton's Election!" [See ML#2827, GN 535].)
When we heard that Bill Clinton was due to arrive on campus any minute, we immediately headed for the rally site, praying that the Lord would make a way for us to get close enough to say a few words to Mr. Clinton & give him a Poster. When we got to the spot, we found a crowd of nearly 7,000 people waiting in the hot Texas sun to hear Mr. Clinton speak. The crowd was very fired-up & enthusiastic in their support of Clinton.
After listening to Clinton's speech, we learned that he would be attending a meeting with his Texas campaign managers in the library before proceeding to the next city on his campaign tour. When we saw his motorcade leave the library without him, we went around to the other side of the building. Sure enough, that was where he was planning to make his exit. We were also able to determine immediately which door he would be using, as barricades were being erected & security was beefed-up. It looked pretty impossible to get anywhere even close to the door. Suddenly, a policeman stepped up & told us,"If you want to move over there by the door, that would be OK." Wow!
We waited there for an hour & a half, & during that time got word that Mr. Clinton would be shaking hands with those standing by the door, exactly where the policeman told us we could stand! PTL! One of God's little miracles! We prepared a Poster, "Signs of the Times!", & a little note which said, "We love you & we are praying for you!--On behalf of The Family Christian Missionaries."
When he finally came out, he started down the line, shaking hands in the usual campaign style. As he got closer, we could clearly see that he was very tired & worn. His eyes were puffy & he was moving quite slowly through the crowd. When he got to us, we shook hands, & Ahlai presented him with the Poster, repeating the message on our note, "We love you, & we're praying for you." At that, he stopped in his tracks. Still holding Ahlai's hand, he said, "Would you do that for me? Please, I need your prayers!"
It was a very touching moment & we felt it was a real sincere heartcry for help & for strength that he knew he didn't have. Our impression was that he wasn't so much asking for us to pray for his campaign or for him to win the election, but for him personally, as he was obviously having trouble coping with the pressures he was being faced with. He then took the Poster & put it in his pocket. As we left, we prayed together for the Lord to make sure he read it.
We were also able to meet his wife Hillary, who was much different than her husband. Her countenance was quite hard, & when we handed her a Poster she immediately handed it to one of the security men & didn't seem too happy about us giving it to her in the first place. There was a sharp contrast between her spirit & her husband's.
P.S.: We just received a short personal note from Bill Clinton, addressed to "The Family" & mailed to the address on the Poster we gave him. The letter reads as follows: "Dear Friend, Thank you so much for the poster of Jesus & His teachings. Hillary & I appreciate your thoughtfulness. Sincerely, Bill Clinton"--So it seems that he did get to read the Poster as we prayed he would! PTL!
Why Search?--I've Already Found It!
From Teen Justin, Australia
Recently, when I went with another member of the Family's legal team to the office of some of the lawyers defending us, I had a chance to talk to J., the son of one of the lawyers. I first met J. about a month ago & talked to him a little then, but it wasn't until this second meeting that I actually got to ask him more about himself & witness to him a bit. He's about 22 years old & he doesn't have a job so he usually just hangs around the offices & does odd jobs for anyone who needs his help. When I saw him, he was going through a set of Daily Breads that his father had for legal purposes, & marking all the controversial stuff that might come up in court.
We got into talking about different systems of government, mainly Communism, & he told me that a few years ago he belonged to a Socialist youth group that sells Socialist newspapers in the city. He's read Karl Marx, etc. He left the group a while back because he thought that they were too weird.
He also said that he had bought a Bible just recently, but he hadn't had the time to read it yet, so I suggested that he begin with the New Testament. When I asked him if he believed in Heaven, he said that he wasn't sure. He went on to say that his stepmother was a Buddhist & he had attended a few Buddhist youth camps held in the mountains. Just about all of the other kids there were either Vietnamese or Chinese & he didn't much like the camps. I asked him if he had ever gone to church, & he said that he hadn't & wouldn't want to.--Ha!
When he was about 16, he said, he took off from home & travelled around, just doing his own thing & getting heavily into drugs, mostly methadone & heroin. He had been caught & said that this turned out to be a very heavy time in his life. He also named quite a few different countries he travelled to with his parents when he was younger. Having rich parents, he's had everything he's ever wanted, but it's easy to see that he isn't satisfied with it.
All throughout our conversation he was drinking & smoking. He offered me a beer as well, but I declined. He looked really tired & worn out.
He asked me about my schooling & whether or not I was doing anything besides working on the case. I told him that right now I'm getting training in office organisation & management, & learning computer & typing when I'm not helping on the case. He said he envied me because I had Home Schooling & he wished that he could have done that when he was young.
By this time he had finished going through DB8, so I picked it up & flipped to the Letter, "In Search of Truth!" I told him that would be a good one for him to read.
Next, he started telling me that he believes everyone, when they get to be about my age, should launch out on their own to see the World & decide what they want to do with their life. So I explained to him that I have already made my decision to stay in the Family & serve Jesus. It isn't necessary for me to go searching for something worthwhile to do with my life because I've already found it. A little earlier he had asked me about "The Age of Decision!", which he had seen listed in the table of contents of one of the DBs, so I explained briefly what the Letter is about.
While explaining why I didn't need to leave the Family to "find myself", I was able to explain more extensively that most people usually decide what they want to do with their lives in their teen years. By that time, the teens in the Family have nearly all made their decision to stay, just as I have. Apparently not satisfied with that, he asked me why I didn't just leave for a couple of years to see the World & then rejoin. So I explained that if I were to leave for even a short time, I would probably miss out on a lot of the exciting things that are going on in the Family right now & also miss a lot of the training that I could be getting.
Then I asked him how long he thought the World could last, anyway. He said that he thought that it would be generations before anything major happened. So I explained that we believe that the World will end soon, when Jesus returns. "The way it's going now," I said, "it couldn't possibly last much longer." I told him about Matthew 24, where it says that evil men shall grow worse & worse, & there shall be famines & earthquakes & wars. I also suggested that he read the whole Chapter when he got a chance.
I asked him what he thought about our Family, & he said that he likes the way we didn't condemn people for enjoying themselves & don't try to be "holy" or act self-righteous when we witness. He feels that we are normal people & not at all like what our accusers say we are.
He didn't get saved this time, as he is still not convinced that there is a Heaven. I was kicking myself for not having a Bible with me, as I could have answered a lot more of his questions if I had. I only hope that I'll get another chance to witness to him. Until then, I'll send him some things to read & write him a letter.
Talking with J. really showed me that the rich are just as dissatisfied as everybody else, & they also are searching for the answers. I think J. is. Please pray for him, that he'll really want the Truth & that the Lord will work in his life.
PRAYER REQUEST: For J. & for loving, Spirit-led handling of all the lawyers & other precious friends & helpers the Lord is bringing to us through the present wave of persecution; & for the Lord to continue to grow up our young people to help with these very important witnessing opportunities.
Teens Pray against Gay (Sodomite) March! --And the Lord Answers!
From a California Home, U.S.A.
When someone spotted an announcement for a Gay March being planned for the next day, the teens prayed fervently against it. One of the teens prayed specifically, "Lord, send an earthquake to stop it! Shake 'em up tomorrow, Lord!" The next morning, at approximately 5:20 a.m., Los Angeles had the biggest earthquake in 40 years! 7.4 on the Richter scale! The teens jumped out of bed & started praising God, thrilled at His direct answer to their prayers several hours earlier! The quake was also followed by many aftershocks.
Our Home felt the shock waves but, TTL, He protected us marvellously as He always does. Witnessing teams were mobilised & Los Angeles got the warning message while everyone was still quite shaken up! It turned out to be one of the most fruitful days of witnessing we've ever had. PTL!
Better than Gold!--The Real Champions of the Barcelona Olympics!
From the Barcelona Olympics Road Trip Team
(Editor's note: The Area Shepherds received a message from Dad & Mama asking, "What would you think about having a team of witnessers congregate in Barcelona to hit the Olympics with our `Religious Persecution' Statement? It seems that this would be something that our older teens & EAs in particular, would love to do!" So a small commando team of Family teens & adults was commissioned to champion the Truth at the Barcelona Olympics. Witnessing daily throughout the Games, they distributed over 35,000 Posters & 37,000 Statements & won many souls! Here is what these fearless front-liners had to say about their experiences while still in the thick of battle:)
Reuben, 17: I was real thrilled to be chosen for this mission as it has always been my desire to go on such adventures. When I first heard about it I got the verse about "the time when the kings go forth to battle" (2Sam.11:1). That's just what it's like--a real battle in the spirit!
Getting out & firing away with the Posters & Statements is super exciting, especially seeing the mixed reactions of the people. I try to look people straight in the eye with a big smile when I give them the Statements. They usually respond with a smile, but when they see what it is all about, their smiles don't always stay so big & bright. Some see the "Religious Persecution?" Statement & sort of mock it, to which I reply, "Well, read it & watch out! You could be next!" That kind of sets them back & gets them thinking. Others look rather shocked. A few people get really mad. But TTL, if I give them another big smile, that sort of cools their hot heads. In spite of those who reject it, the Message is really getting out & there are also many sheep here who are turned on to it. TTL!
Joy, 16: It's such fun to pour out our hearts to these people & meet them head on with the Truth! When they find out who we are & ask why we get persecuted, I quote or show them all the verses about how "all that live Godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution" (2Tim.3:12).
Auntie Joanna: We study portions of the Statements every day to "fill up our hearts" & "know whereof we speak" because we have to be ready for anything. Some of the people get mad & just crumple the lit up in our faces, some are indifferent, & others read it with interest. The first day, because we were distributing our tools free of charge, a lot of Posters ended up on the ground, but every time we go out now there are fewer & fewer. Sometimes we see people picking them up & collecting all the different titles!
Reuben: One funny thing is how many little old ladies come & ask for the Posters. Some of them get "Pleasures of Paradise!" or "Heavenly Homes!", & they really like them.--Ha!
Uncle Francisco, Spanish national: The first day while Postering, I met a 20-year-old girl from Barcelona, & when she saw one of our Posters she said with amazement, "I have a lot of these Posters in my room!" I witnessed more to her & she asked me about the persecution. I shared a few verses with her about persecution & explained our side & she really got turned on. She received the Lord & was very thankful. The last thing that she said to us was, "Please, be careful!"
We also found a 25-year-old man with long hair who already had a Statement in his hands. We gave him "Heavenly Homes!" & he read it right there in the street. He came to me 20 minutes later & asked me, "Are you the COG?" I explained to him about the Family's origins & our beliefs & he agreed with them all. I also told him my testimony. When I explained that I didn't receive Jesus by going to church, but as a result of reading one of Dad's Letters, he was so moved he almost cried. I invited him to receive Jesus & he prayed with all his heart.
Joy: While out Postering, I met a huge professional basketball player from the American "Dream Team". At first I was kind of taken aback & I didn't know what to say, but he was just standing there like a big sheep & I had to do something, so I just started talking to him about Heaven & Jesus, & he prayed with me right there! As I showed him different verses, he just drank it all in. PTL! The verse "Be not afraid of their faces!" really came to life for me. Hallelujah!
We also meet lots of people who are really broken. They came to the Olympics with their hopes up high, but when they or their heroes don't win, their whole Olympic dream collapses & they are crushed. Thank God we have something that's real to give them!
U. Francisco: We also run into a lot of churchy people who are unhappy about our Posters about Heaven. When the teens witness to them with real conviction & back it up with verses, it is so powerful that the churchy people just stop talking & listen.
Daniel, 15: Just before leaving for this trip I read the series of GNs about the Family being unique. There are so many Christian groups out on the streets here, but none of them are like us. It is so amazing to see that even adult System Christians do not know a fraction of what we teens in the Family know & can quote from the Word! Every time I go out, I become more convinced that what we have to give the sheep is a hundred times better than what those other groups offer. I noticed that we are practically the only ones getting people saved & talking to them personally. A few other groups are just carrying signs that turn the youth here off. One churchy sign read, "You are going to the Lake of Fire, No joke!" While witnessing, I've had people tell me that instead of helping them to love Jesus more, these signs make them more rebellious. I am so thankful that we can witness the meat of the Word in a winsome way, using our Posters & Statements! PTL!
U. Francisco: Barcelona is also full of police. While getting out the Statements, we move around every half hour to avoid the police asking us what we are doing. Still, we get stopped quite a bit by secret police & local policemen. That's when we really feel the prayers of our Family. We've had some Posters & Statements confiscated, but in the end, the Lord has gotten a victory every time!
During our second day, a secret policeman stopped us & told us that it is totally forbidden to give out any type of literature during the Olympics. He was ready to call the local police to haul us in, but we witnessed to him & the Lord changed his mind.
Another time, we witnessed to a policeman who stopped us & he gave us permission to distribute for another half an hour. We talked some more & told him we had enough Posters to last us a whole hour. He smiled & agreed to let us distribute one more hour in his area. Other times, we've seen the police stop other people from passing out literature of various kinds, but they let us keep going, right in the same area. PTL!
Another morning, two secret police stopped two teens & me while distributing. In the beginning they were quite tough, asking for our passports & calling in the area police. But when we started talking about Jesus, they became much sweeter & started telling us all their trials & problems. One of them even apologised for stopping us. They left us, smiling as they shook our hands. PTL!
In yet another incident, after being stopped by two secret police & witnessing to them for about 10 minutes, they got really turned on. About that time, the area chief came & we also witnessed to him & told him our personal testimonies, explaining that Jesus did so much for us that we want to repay Him by giving Him to others. We gave the chief the Poster, "Pleasures in Paradise!" & the "Religious Persecution?" Statement. He looked over them quickly, smiled at us & said, "God bless you! The Lord be with you!" The two secret police told us to continue our job, shook our hands & took copies of the Statement & Posters for themselves.
Daniel: It is really exciting to be able to hit Barcelona back with the Message & show the Devil that we are not going to take his attacks lying down. I can see how these Statements are a real testimony to the people of Barcelona, as well as the whole World, that we are not going to hide our light away. We are proud to be in the Family & we will stick up for what we believe, no matter what it costs! I know it is also going to be a real warning to all of our enemies around the World that we are not just going to back off when they persecute us. We are going to stand pat, knowing that the Lord is always faithful to give us the victory in the end. God bless Grandpa & Mama Maria for having the vision for us to give our Message to the whole World during the Olympic Games!
"Hearts Aflame" Light Black Sea Resort!
From Auntie Mimi & the Black Sea Teen Team, Europe
(Editor's note: For an entire month, a team of JETTs, teens & EAs witnessed & busked their hearts out to the many thousands of young people & tourists who flock to the resorts along the coast of the Black Sea in Romania. Following are excerpts from a report by Auntie Mimi, who accompanied them:)
We've had so much fun pow-wowing our witnessing & sharing testimonies & tips each morning over breakfast. We also take time to dive into the Treasures, ET classes, Poster Book, & our Bibles so that we'll know where to find the best answers & Scriptures for the many questions these kids have.
Busking on the beach is so powerful! Our teens, JETTs, & EAs just burn free. "Get on fire, & the World will come out to see you burn!"--And they do! Many people stay to meet & talk with us personally & often comment with surprise, "You're so alive & have such Spirit. It's so different from our religion! We can see you're so happy!" It's like inviting people into the very essence of our lives, which is the ecstasy & fullness of all the love, freedom of the Spirit & joy He's given us.
Often, after singing a few songs, we have whole groups of people sitting before us, waiting to be fed. We can't possibly personally witness to them all, so we split them into groups & give them classes right then & there, sticking to simple truths about Salvation, God's Love, the Bible, etc. It reminds us of the seminars we give to potential disciples, friends, Catacombers, etc., throughout Eastern Europe, but this is done right on the "highways & byways", calling in "whosoever will". The teens, EAs, & Catacombers are up every night until midnight or later, witnessing & giving classes.
Almost as soon as we arrived, we met a group of other Christian teens who were also putting on a show with pantomime. Some were Canadian, some Swiss, & some Romanian. They were very sweet & sincere, & David & Sapphire had an immediate rapport with them. Every night they came to be fed, to listen & to learn from us.
When our teams read the new series of Letters from Dad & Mama on "We Are Unique!" it was being vividly confirmed by the way these Christian kids were drawn to us for feeding & strength. They kept saying, "You've got something we don't have! Your music & songs have such Spirit. You know so much Word!" It sure made us feel for these sweet "other sheep" & made us more thankful than ever for all we have!
The greatest difference, of course, is that we have a Shepherd who has taught us so much over many years. These System kids lack a Shepherd, & while they love the Lord enough to witness to others during their holidays, they couldn't hold a candle to our teens, who burn so brightly & are like giants in the Spirit by comparison. Our younger generation are such fighters & have such a firm foundation & knowledge of the Word, & best of all, a burning desire to love & win lost souls into His Kingdom! I was so proud of them!
PRAYER REQUEST: For follow-up of those won by the Black Sea Summer outreach team.
"A Very Present Help in Trouble!"
From D. & B., Catacombers in war-torn Yugoslavia
(Editor's note: The following are excerpts from a letter received from B. & D., two of our faithful Catacombers from war-torn Sarajevo, in what used to be Yugoslavia. They fled to Serbia before the heaviest fighting started. Both are safe, TTL, but please pray for their continued protection & that of our other dear Catacombers & sheep who have not yet been able to get out. B. & D. are 19 & 20 years old.)
Dear Brothers & Sisters,
We love you very very very much! We were so so happy to receive your letter, which came just at the time when we needed it most. We were jumping for joy, we were hugging each other, etc. Thank you so much for all the literature you sent us & all the Posters, because we already ran out of them. We are fine, TYJ! Your letters are giving us so much hope & encouragement that we want to do even more for the Lord. TYJ!
Our brothers & sisters from Sarajevo are not able to write to you, but we can tell you some of the miracles of protection, how God is protecting them in this time of war. We were able to hear from our sister M. & she told us that she had a hard time hearing from God, but we comforted her that God will talk to her & reveal Himself to her when she needs Him the most. Thank God, that's what happened! She was in the flat with her mom & her grandmother & she was standing in front of the mirror trying on a dress. But then suddenly she heard a voice telling her that she needed to get out, to go to the cellar & stay there, & that she needed to take her mom & grandmother with her also. This voice was telling her to do this as soon as possible. So she asked her mother & grandmother to go to the cellar with her, but her mom didn't see any reason why she should do that. M. couldn't say that God told her to get out of the flat because they wouldn't believe her. But when they saw her conviction, thank the Lord, they went down & stayed for a while. When they came back up, they saw that their flat was completely shot up. There were bullet holes all around & especially in the place where M. was standing when that voice told her to get out. Grandmother was lying in the bed when M. called her to leave & there was a bullet in the bed exactly where her head had been. They all knew that the Lord had saved them!
Another time, two of our Sarajevo catacomb girls were witnessing to another girl on the phone when suddenly they heard some shouting through the phone, then everything went silent. They put the phone down & prayed for her. After a while she phoned back & said that bullets had shattered the mirror that was right over her head & all the glass had fallen on her, but she didn't get even one little scratch. Thank God! TYJ! (See Psalm 91:7; 46:1.)
(B. & D. sent a donation & said:) "We would like to send you more. Actually we would like to start tithing. The rest of our money we are saving to buy some Bibles for other brothers & sisters. Thank you so much for all the literature. Please send us more Posters. We love you very very very much!"
PRAYER REQUEST: For peace as well as openings to comfort & get the Salvation Message to as many as possible, particularly the refugees, wounded, soldiers & others in life-threatening situations.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Avon Theatres and Productions (New York City Police Department)
Sam OstIe filed this request with the New York City Police Department of New York City, NY.
Multi Request Avon Theatres and Productions
Submitted Oct. 15, 2021
Est. Completion March 9, 2022
From: Sam OstIe
Subject: New York Freedom of Information Law Request: Avon Theatres and Productions (New York City Police Department)
Pursuant to the New York Freedom of Information Law, I hereby request the following records:
Files held on Avon Films and the Avon Theater Chain active in New York City and Times Square throughout the 1970s and 1980s with theaters including:
The Park Miller, on 43rd Street between 6th Avenue and Broadway.
Avon 42 on Avon 42nd Street Theatre 133 W. 42nd Street, New York, NY10036
Avon-on-Love on 125 W. 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036
Avon-at-the-Hudson on 141 W. 44th Street, New York, NY 10036
Avon 7 on 724 7th Avenue, New York, NY 10036
Avon Theatre - on 251 West 45th St
The Avon 9th Street Theatre on 289 9th Street
Sam OstIe
From: New York City Police Department
Subject: [OpenRecords] Request FOIL-2021-056-15526 Submitted to New York City Police Department (NYPD)
Your request FOIL-2021-056-15526 has been successfully submitted to the New York City Police Department (NYPD).
The details of your request are shown below.
Request Title: Avon Theatres and Productions (New York City Police Department)
Request Description: Other Request
Request Type: Other Request
Type of Request:
Report #:
Precinct:
Upload documents directly: https://www.muckrock.com/
Requester's Contact Information
requests@muckrock.com (mailto:requests@muckrock.com)
Street Address (line 1):
You can view the request and take any necessary action at the following webpage: https://a860-openrecords.nyc.gov/request/view/FOIL-2021-056-15526. (https://a860-openrecords.nyc.gov/request/view/FOIL-2021-056-15526)
Subject: [OpenRecords] Request FOIL-2021-056-15526 Acknowledged
The New York City Police Department (NYPD) has acknowledged your FOIL request FOIL-2021-056-15526. (https://a860-openrecords.nyc.gov/request/view/FOIL-2021-056-15526) You can expect a response on or about Wednesday, March 9, 2022.
Additional Information: Your request has been assigned to Officer Tanchajja (646-610-6431) Note: Due to issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic there may be extensive delays, lasting up to one year, in determining your request.
Please visit FOIL-2021-056-15526 to view additional information and take any necessary action. (https://a860-openrecords.nyc.gov/request/view/FOIL-2021-056-15526)
Subject: [OpenRecords] Request FOIL-2021-056-15526 Closed
The New York City Police Department (NYPD) has closed your FOIL request FOIL-2021-056-15526 for the following reasons: (https://a860-openrecords.nyc.gov/request/view/FOIL-2021-056-15526)
The Freedom of Information Law allows access to existing documents and does not necessitate the creation of a document. I am unable to provide access to these documents on the basis that your request does not reasonably describe a record in a manner that would enable a search to be conducted by the New York City Police Department.
You may appeal the decision to deny access to material that was redacted in part or withheld in entirety by contacting the agency's FOIL Appeals Officer: foilappeals@nypd.org within 30 days. (mailto:foilappeals@nypd.org?subject=FOIL-2021-056-15526%20-%20Appeal)
There are no files associated with this request.


There's little chance we see a musical genius of Prince's level for a very long time, that's for sure. Questions will be indeed rampant about how his death could have happened, but there will be no questions at all about what a vital musical legacy was left by the Purple One himself.
The life, career and death of David Bowie.
...with The Bootleg Series Vol. 12: The Cutting Edge 1965-66, that pivotal peak in Dylan's sprawling, tremendous career is laid out bare. It's a journey that takes Dylan from a curiosity of the media to a near celebrity with interviewers hounding him en masse.
In this LP, one discovers that the yearning, clear-headed, ambitious young woman's viewpoint in Taylor's lyrics work well no matter what musical context they're put in.


Nutrition – Are There Really Benefits to your Skin?
When you take skin care as seriously as BeauSynergy, we are always improving and testing new treatments that help improve your skin. With over 20 years experience, we've compiled a list of our 6 best skin care treatments at the best skin care clinic, that will help restore your skin to make it smooth and glowing.
Danné DMK has been at the very forefront of what we do at BeauSynergy since we were introduced to it in 2008. We continue to use these products and treatments due to the incredible success at combatting acne, rosacea, sun damage and pigmentation.
The treatment starts with an initial consultation, analysis and scan with one of our advanced skin specialists, where we can identify the symptoms and causes of your skin conditions and so decide on the treatment plan and a homecare regime that will best suit your skin requirements.
We will also advise you on the best way to help keep any acne , rosacea, sundamage, pigmentation, and in-growing hairs etc at bay using products that work in conjunction with Danné products, changing lifestyle habits that may aggravate your skin condition and any other advice we think will help you.
Voted one of the winners of the best skin care clinic, BeauSynergy use IPL laser skin rejuvenation treatments involve the use of Intense Pulsed Light (IPL/VPL) or lasers which stimulate collagen and elastin production deep within the dermis. This increases the skin's elasticity and strength, making the skin look softer and smoother. This safe, simple technique improves skin texture and colour, whilst reducing pore size, fine lines and wrinkles. It is particularly effective on: face, neck & hands.
As we age, our facial muscles and skin begin to lose definition and elasticity. Our Ultimate non surgical Facelift, similar to Caci but in our own opinion is better, is one of our best skin care treatments; it's a lot cheaper than going under the knife and a more natural approach to giving your skin the 'lift' and definition youthful look you are after. The treatment works by sending a small but painless electrical current through two metallic ball probes which are placed around different areas of your face. This tenses and stimulates the underlying muscles, giving them a small but effective "workout".
After a course of Non Surgical Facelift treatments, your facial muscles, and the skin on top will be lifted, tighter firmer facial muscles as well as your skin becoming smoother and brighter.
Thread veins (also known as spider veins or facial veins) are old, unused, or enlarged capillaries. They are found just underneath the surface of the skin and appear as fine red or purple lines. The most common areas where thread veins can be found are on the nose and cheek although less commonly they are found on the ears and chin. Although there is no exact known cause, they are thought to be a symptom of age, sun exposure, alcohol smoking and in those who have suffered from acne or rosacea. Thread veins are harmless, but can cause self-esteem issues if they cover large areas of the face.
Although they are harmless and benign, if they appear in noticeable places such as near your face, eyes, or neck, it can lead to self-esteem and confidence issues. Thankfully, our skin tag removal treatments are quick, easy, little pain and very affordable.
Microneedling is a term used to describe many different treatments, all designed to repair the skin, reduce the appearance of skin damage, anti ageing, sun damage, scarring and stretching.
At Beausynergy we are experts in repairing the skin, including: reducing the appearance of skin damage and repair small scars and stretch marks using EDS Dermastamp – also known as DermaPen.
You can find more information about Microneedling here.


Deal Of The Day becomes Deals Of The Week!
Do you love a good bargain at the eStore?
Make sure to check here every Monday to see what is on sale for the week.
I noticed that too, Las! I this this happened around the same time last year too.
I figured they would be back after all the weekend activities and first of the month stuff is gone. I hope it is not as long as before!
me too Las! I think its because they have the 12 days of Christmas, right now.
Thanks for posting this, Las!
Deal of the day is up.
Lucky you. It is very cute.


text:
Q: How do i tell Scrapy to scrape a data-url that's in the start_urls instead of the urls themselves? So i just want Scrapy to scrape a dat-aurl that is found on inside of the urls themselves. This data-url to be specific.
Because the start_urls themselves only contain the partial list whereas the this dataurls contains everything that I need to scrape.
<div id="loadMoreShops" class="border-b border-grey-bright py-4 text-center cursor-pointer text-sm text-blue font-semibold underline" data-url="https://www.apomio.de/preisvergleich-zeige-alle-angebote/171865">
        Mehr Shops anzeigen
    </div>

My current code. It does scrape already but not just not everything that I want:
import scrapy, bs4, re, csv, logging
from datetime import datetime

class ApomioSpider(scrapy.Spider):

allowed_domains = ['https://www.apomio.de']
name = "apomio"

def start_requests(self):

    self.i = 0
    self.PZN_arr = []
    self.product_names = []

    with open('PZN.csv') as csv_file:
        reader = csv.reader(csv_file)
        headings = next(reader)  # to skip the header of the csv
        for elem in reader:
            self.PZN_arr.append(elem[1])
            self.product_names.append(elem[2])

    start_urls = ['https://www.apomio.de/suche?query=' + x for x in self.PZN_arr]
    for url in start_urls:
        yield scrapy.Request(url, self.parse)

def parse(self, response):

    soup = bs4.BeautifulSoup(response.text, 'lxml')

    price_arr = []
    names_arr = []

    prices = soup.find_all("span", {"class": "block text-xs text-black font-medium"})
    names = soup.find_all("span", {"class": "w-5/6 block text-xs text-black-darker mb-2"})

    for name in names:
        name_res = bs4.BeautifulSoup(str(name)).find(text=True)
        temp = name_res.replace("\n", "").split(" ")
        new_list = []
        for elem in temp:
            if elem != '':
                new_list.append(elem)
        names_arr.append(" ".join(new_list))

    for price in prices:
        prices_regex = re.compile(r'(Gesamtkosten)([ ])([0-9]+)([,])([0-9]+)')
        result_price = ".".join(prices_regex.search(str(price)).group(3, 5))
        price_arr.append(float(result_price))

    if price_arr and names_arr:
        logging.info(f'Parsing prices of {self.product_names[self.i]}\n PZN: {self.PZN_arr[self.i]} on {datetime.now()}\n')
        self.i += 1
        for price, name in zip(price_arr, names_arr):
            shop = "Shop Name: " + name
            print(f"{shop.ljust(75, ' ')} Price: {price:.2f} €")

    else:
        logging.info(f'Item could not be found at {response.url}')

So the website that I have been scraping is called apomio.de, and I'm using the PZN (medical product identifier to scrape it). Any help would be greatly appreciated.
edit: so basically i want to scrape the data-url that's inside this element
Pic of the Element. The data url is in the code at the topmost of this post.

A: First you need to tell Scrapy to process you start_urls using different function:
def start_requests(self):

    self.i = 0
    self.PZN_arr = []
    self.product_names = []

    with open('PZN.csv') as csv_file:
        reader = csv.reader(csv_file)
        headings = next(reader)  # to skip the header of the csv
        for elem in reader:
            self.PZN_arr.append(elem[1])
            self.product_names.append(elem[2])

    start_urls = ['https://www.apomio.de/suche?query=' + x for x in self.PZN_arr]
    for url in start_urls:
        yield scrapy.Request(url, self.parse_start_urls)

And next you need to write parsing logic for your data-urls (I'm not sure what urls do you want to process here):
def parse_start_urls(self, response):
    for data_url in response.xpath('//*[@data-url]/@data-url').getall():
        yield scrapy.Request(url=data_url, callback=self.parse)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


SLS and Fluoride-Free Toothpaste without Saccharin!
This is a non-conventional toothpaste that uses safe and natural ingredients that works effectively without the use of chemicals, such as Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (a synthetic foaming agent) or artificial sweeteners or any other chemicals that may pose health risks.
This natural flavored toothpaste contains pure antibacterial herbs along with extracts to fight bacteria and bad odor while helping prevent cavities.
Formulated with organic ingredients to help inhibit the bacteria that generally cause plaque and tooth decay.
We do not add the chemical sweetener saccharin to any of our oral hygiene products.
Contains the natural whitener baking soda which easily dissolves in water and gently whitens your teeth.
It is a no fluoride toothpaste as this is a chemical known to be a by-product of manufacturing plants and considered potentially dangerous due to its side effects.
The consistency is between a tooth gel and a toothpaste.
Our natural oral hygiene products are made in the USA with organic ingredients.
Does Your Toothpaste Contain Parabens?
Methylparaben and propylparaben preservatives are known to mimic estrogen and may pose a health risk. Experts state that small amounts of parabens are used in natural products and should not pose a risk. However, it is questionable whether the slow absorption of toxins through the body creates a build up over time, therefore, increasing health risks. Why not use a paraben free toothpaste?
Does Your Toothpaste Contain SLS?
The use of SLS has drawn concerns when studies found it caused side effects such as hair loss, respiratory problems amongst others. Also known as SLES (Sodium Laureth Sulfate) considered by many to be safer, however, this ingredient has shown to have dioxins which are commonly known to deprive plants and trees from producing foliage. Why would we want it in our oral hygiene products if it doesn't need it?
Take this flavored toothpaste and remove the cap, pump 3 to 6 times to dispense the desired amount of tooth gel and brush with an all natural bristle toothbrush. Keep cap closed at all times to prevent clogging.
Note: Your taste buds may take a while to adjust to this fluoride free toothpaste. Also, most tap water has added fluoride, if you prefer to avoid this, use filtered water when brushing your teeth!
A good quality toothbrush is very important when practicing natural oral hygiene. Remember, removing plaque is partly using a cleaning agent (toothpaste) along with physical brushing (toothbrush). It is important to change your toothbrush often to get the best cleaning experience with this natural organic tooth gel.
I've using this product since a long time ago, and I feel my teeth are clean, bright and healthy. I recommend this product to anyone in caring for their teeth.
I'm trying to reduce my consumption of plastic, so this fit the bill. Toothpaste itself taste good and has the right consistency. I just wish the cap wasn't plastic, and that the bottle wasn't wrapped in plastic for shipping. I also don't understand why the glass bottle has to be so expensive and doesn't come in larger sizes.
Great gingery taste but not too strong. Lasts ages and natural ingredients that I am happy with.
Excellent. The ginger toothpaste with baking soda will keep ur teeth white. And ginger is a anti-inflammatory and can keep ur gums free from inflammation.
The products are excellent. The one suggestion is to address out-of-stock issues for an order. Amazon offers to ship (at no additional charge) when the out-of-stock item becomes available with an estimation of that time frame, and having the buyer then decide whether to include the item or not.


Data analytics in higher education is incredibly useful when it comes to tracking trends that could help you better plan and prepare for your institution's success. The only thing standing between you and these data-driven, actionable insights is your reporting software.
Sounds like an easy fix, right? Not exactly. Without the right reporting software, putting your valuable data to work for you is time-consuming, complicated and burdensome. But with the right program, you can seamlessly uncover a unified view of your data, giving you the power to improve the future of your institution.
Since no software program is the same, you really need to do your homework throughout your search for the right reporting program. Follow our tips below and you'll be well on your way to selecting the perfect software program for your institution.
And keep an eye out for a special bonus at the end of this article!
The value of anything in the world of higher education is a heavily contested matter. So, of course you're going to consider price a huge deciding factor in determining whether or not a certain software program is right for your institution. But just how much should you plan on spending and what are you going to get for your investment?
Don't let this pricing breakdown scare you! Not everyone is going to charge this much. This is just an example of how a contract could possibly break down.
Do any reports come prebuilt or are you starting from scratch?
What resources will be your responsibility to provision and maintain?
Does someone with an IT background need to constantly maintain this software?
Will you be stuck in a 5-year contract even if you don't like the program?
Also take note of how open the company is when it comes to how their pricing is structured. Is it listed on their website? Is the breakdown easy to understand? Beyond what is listed publicly, be aware of how the sales team approaches the topic of pricing and if they are willing to talk to you about everything except cost.
This is something that most higher education institutions don't usually think about, but it's one of the most important things to consider when you're searching for a data analytics software program.
If the company has no idea what these reports are or if you need to have a tech background to create and customize any of those reports, then the program is not exclusively made for higher education.
The benefits of working with a company that knows the ins and outs of data analytics in higher education are endless. With a program that everyone in your institution can use, employees will have more autonomy to access data, which will give research departments more time to focus on higher value research and deliverables.
Diving even deeper, does the company know what you mean when you say your goal this year is to see a decrease in the achievement gap or to increase student achievement in key academic outcome areas like retention, success and completion? If they don't, you may run into some communication issues throughout your relationship. And it's an understatement to say communication is imperative when you're dealing with software companies.
A vendor that knows what reports you need and how your strategic priorities work will know exactly what you're asking when you need their help. A company that doesn't specialize in any single industry might not be as fluent since they need to make a lot of different types of businesses happy.
Your data isn't going to magically appear in highly customized reports overnight. There's an onboarding process with any software company you work with that will require your data to be migrated into the new program.
On the bright side, this onboarding process shouldn't take too long. The exact time requirement will depend on how quickly you're able to provide your data. From there, it shouldn't take longer than 7 days, unless you have more complex requirements.
Try to see beyond the onboarding process. It may involve several days of a lot of work, but in the end it will be worth it when all your data is available in one, easy-to-use dashboard.
Remember: The quicker you provide your data, the faster you will be up and running!
There's a huge cost investment whenever you hire a new employee. You'll have to go through the vetting process to hire the right person, which could delay getting your reports up and running. Even after all of this, there will always be the risk of your new hire leaving in a few years, which means you'll have to start the process all over again.
Also keep this in mind: If you need to hire someone to manage your software, is it really even easy to use? A program that's truly user-friendly means you won't need to hire someone specifically to manage it, and other personnel (department heads, deans, faculty, etc.) can easily access and pull whatever data they need, whenever they need it. So, if a company is saying their software is easy to use, make sure they mean it.
We have some more important tips you should follow in your search for the perfect data analytics software. Download our free guide to see the rest!


Monday again! Can you believe the first full month of 2018 is nearly come & gone? Gosh, the days and months and years just seem to fly by the older you get. Or is that just me? I look back on places I've been or things I've done, and they feel just like yesterday. When in fact, they were many moons ago. I guess that is the funny thing about time, it just slips way. Which is why I think it is so important to fill our days with things we love! For me that is largely based around family & travel. Without those two things, I wouldn't be fulfilled or using my gifts from God with purpose. Speaking of which, I'm excited about today's post. I'm sharing my quick visit to Temple Square in Salt Lake City.
Though I am in no way associated with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I can appreciate stunning church architecture when I see it. The Salt Lake Temple was no exception! During a trip to Salt Lake City for a conference, I enjoyed a walk around Temple Square admiring this incredible temple and grounds. Everywhere I go, churches always seem to catch my eye, and this one was a stunner! The square was just about the only place I was able to visit while in this city, and it did not disappoint! The grounds took up an entire city block, and the temple shown bright from the middle.
The grounds span over 10 acres, and are full of beautiful landscaping and multiple buildings, including visitor's centers. Those from all denominations and walks of life are encouraged to visit. It is a beautiful, serene place to walk, admire, and worship. Though the beliefs of this church are not my own, I felt an immense peace walking around the square. The architectural beauty alone is enough to captivate anyone!
If you're planning a visit to Salt Lake City, I encourage you to stop by Temple Square to view the beauty yourself! Hope you have a great week!
Happy Friday friends! I hope you've had a great week. It has seemed to fly by, but here's hoping the weekend lasts a bit longer. Well, I've finally wrapped up sharing my trip to Memphis, so I have everything all in one place for you here.
To recap, a few of us from work spent a long weekend in Memphis, Tennessee exploring much that it has to offer. We enjoyed a visit to the National Civil Rights Museum, a Broadway show at the Orpheum Theatre, a tour of the birthplace of Rock N' Roll, Sun Studio, a day at Graceland, and much more! Below you'll find a list of all of the great spots we hit. Hopefully, they will help you in planning your own trip to Memphis. Thanks for stopping by!
Hello again! I'm excited you're back to see more from Graceland. Today, I'm sharing the best part, the mansion itself. Earlier this week, I shared the "across the street" portion of Graceland which houses all of Elvis' cars, planes, costumes, and archives.
The Graceland Mansion was Elvis Presley's private home open to the public to tour. Along with the home is an exhibit of some of his most special personal effects, his & Priscilla's wedding garb, Lisa Marie's baby crib, home furnishings, and more. For the most part, I'm focusing on the mansion itself. Enjoy!
These were a couple of my favorites to see. The outside of the Graceland mansion is stunning! It is quite a bit small than you might envision, but the grounds are enormous for being right in town. It was actually once a hereford cattle ranch! I enjoyed the mansion's furnishings, including the stained glass in the main living area just as you walked in. The stained glass "P" above the front door was also a beautiful touch. One of the highlights for me was see Elvis & Priscilla's wedding tux & gown. So stunning!
The mansion's furnishings are over the top, just as you would expect the King of Rock N' Roll's home to be! The decor has been resorted to the time when Elvis & Priscilla were married, as she & Lisa Marie are in charge of the estate. It is lovely that Elvis kept so many of the furnishings so things could go back to the way they were. The more recent decor pieces are on display at the mansion along with other personal effects.
Notable bits from inside the mansion were the enormous white couch in the living room, the stunning chandeliers, 1970s kitchen, the famed jungle room, the monkey in the TV room, and the incredible pleated fabric ceiling and walls in the billiard room.
Graceland is such an incredible place to visit. You can truly feel the infectious spirit of Elvis and how much he is still so much alive & loved today. If you are an Elvis fan, going through these gates up to his beloved home is a must! If you can't make it just yet, I hope you've enjoyed me sharing my visit to the beautiful home of Elvis Presley!
P.S. If you want to catch a glimpse of the famous gates closed, you'll need to visit very early in the morning. We stopped by on our way out of town at 7 am, and were lucky enough to make it just in time before they opened for the day.
Hey there friends! I'm so excited you're here today. Today's and the next post are what I've been waiting for. I'm so excited to finally share my trip to Graceland with you! Because it is so massive, has so many important parts, and so many great photos to share, I decided to break it up into two parts. Today, I'll share part 1 which will consist of the Elvis Presley's Memphis--the entertainment & exhibit portion of what is for the most part known as Graceland.
Essentially exploring Elvis' compound is broken up into two parts. The Graceland Mansion itself is located on one side of Elvis Presley Boulevard, and the exhibits (costumes, cars, planes, etc.) are located across the street. When I visited, a multi-million dollar renovation had just taken place, and the grand re-opening was just a couple of weeks prior. So it was exciting to see the exhibits in a fresh, new setting. Though our tour began with the mansion, I wanted to save the best for last. ;) So below, you'll see photos and tidbits about the exhibits portion.
Apart of what is referred to as Elvis Presley's Memphis are endless exhibits about Elvis' career and personal life. We enjoyed seeing gold records, awards, his instruments, and movie posters.
A highlight of the tour is browsing Elvis' many stage costumes. The exhibits boasted his Army uniform, movie costumes, and many of his famous jumpsuits. It was incredible to see these up close. The bead work on his costumes are stunning!
Along with costumes and cars, the exhibits feature some of his personal archives. Family photographs, home decor, his bibles, and more are on display to see. You could spend hours browsing all of the artifacts, and it all isn't even on display! I anticipate that the items on display will change from time to time.
Along with exhibits, Elvis Presley's Memphis features a couple of restaurants lovingly named after his parents, Gladys and Vernon. We decided to try out Gladys' Diner, and it was delish! The grilled peanut butter & banana sandwich, which happened to be Elvis' favorite, was amazing!
Along with all of the bits & baubles are some of Elvis' greatest passions, motor vehicles! On display are many, many of the King's cars, motorcycles, play toys like go carts and golf carts, and even a John Deere tractor! On top of that, you can also tour two of Elvis' planes, The Lisa Marie & The Hound Dog II. I quite enjoyed some of the quotes Elvis said in regards to his cars.
As you can see, there is so much to see at Graceland, and we haven't even gotten to the mansion itself yet! Check back in a day or two for the crème de la crème of Graceland, the mansion!
Hello again to another Monday. How is it the weekends pass by so quickly? There is just never enough family time on the weekends, and the weekdays are too full of work for visiting. Is it difficult for you to find that balance as well? That is something I am definitely working on! Anyway, I'm excited you are here today. I'm sharing more from my trip to Memphis, Tennessee.
Today's post is a collection of cool spots I enjoyed while visiting this super fun town. I think you would enjoy these spots as well. From entertainment to museums to food, there is so much to be seen in Memphis, Tennessee. Enjoy!
Beale Street is one of the most popular spots in the city. Catch a jazz group, enjoy a cocktail, or even dine at a fab restaurant.
The Peabody Hotel to see the famous Peabody Ducks is one of my favorites in Memphis. I can even remember seeing them as a kid!
Of course Elvis is everywhere in the city that is the birthplace of Rock N' Roll. Spend a day at Graceland or just stroll around the city to see statues, like this one at 115 Beale Street, streets, and more in his honor.
Sun Studio is another must stop spot in Memphis. Explore where Rock N' Roll was first recorded!
The National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel is an absolute must when visiting Memphis. Spend a few hours here, you won't regret it!
The Orpheum Theatre is one of my favorite spots in Memphis. Whether you want to catch a concert or Broadway show, or even just pop in for a peek, it is worth stopping by to see the 1920's era glitz & glamour!
You can't visit Memphis without having delicious food! Head down to the alley adjacent to The Peabody for some of the best B-B-Q around at Charles Vergos' Rendezvous. The charcoal style barbecue is some of the best I've ever had!
Last but not least, head down to the Mississippi River for a walk around one of the gorgeous parks, a cruise along the river in a paddlewheel boat, or just to sit and admire the scenery.
Memphis offers this and so much more! I hope you leave here today feeling inspired to visit this great American city! Have a great Monday!


text:
body {
  background: #fafafa;
  -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;
  text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;
  font-family: 'Roboto', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;
  color: #333;
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub