So now you are able to create simple scenes using primitive objects. But a scene is not only made up of objects. There are more things that belong to a complete scene. Some of them will be described now. This chapter is really easy, because Ultimate 3D does everything automatically. You just have to tell it what you want.
Ambient lighting is the light that is everywhere. If you look around in your room you'll probably notice that there's no place that's absolutely dark. Even if something is not directly lit there's always enough adventitious light to brighten it up a bit. Of course everything is actually lit by something else. Objects reflect light and that's what lights the objects that are not directly lit by light sources. But simulating this behavior would take awfully huge amounts of computing time. For that reason there's the ambient lighting.
The new color of the ambient light. The values for these parameters have to be in the range from 0 to 255.
By default the ambient lighting has the color (128|128|128). So if you write SetAmbient(255,0,0) everything will glow red. If you write SetAmbient(0,0,0) all objects except for those that have an emissive material would be totally black. By changing the ambient lighting you can strongly influence the atmosphere of your game. You can switch between day and night or you can create an apocalyptic atmosphere by using red light.
Another thing that's very important for the atmosphere is the background image. Ultimate 3D supports three different kinds of backgrounds. Currently you are using the first one � a solid color. The background color can be changed by changing the values of the variables control.BG_r, control.BG_g and control.BG_b. You can give them values in the range from 0 to 255.
The second kind of background is called a sky sphere. In this case you have one 2D image that contains a 360� picture of the environment. This picture gets used as the texture for a sphere that surrounds the scene. The disadvantage of sky spheres is that you get strange distortions at the top. All degrees of latitude meet in one point there. That is not that pretty. But in most games it's usually not necessary to look straight up. So most of the time sky spheres are useful anyway.
But what about games where the background has to look good in all directions? The best example for this is a space shooter. Words like up and down have no meaning in space. For cases like this Ultimate 3D supports another kind of background that does not lead to any distortions: a sky cube. A sky cube is not made up of one 2D image, but six quadratic images that get put together into a cube. As with the sphere, the cube surrounds the whole scene. Creating the pictures required for sky cubes is more difficult than creating sphere maps. But the results are better indeed.
This function loads either a sphere map or six textures for a cube map depending on the parameter given.
You have to enter a string for this parameter. If the string contains only a file name, this file will be loaded and used as the texture for the sky sphere. If the file string contains a * sign this sign will be replaced by the words "Front", "Back", "Top", "Bottom", "Left" and "Right". So Ultimate 3D loads six different files. They will be used for a sky cube.
If you do not want to use a background anymore you can call UnloadBackground(). Then the solid color will be used again.
Thick fog is rare in most parts of the world. In computer games it occurs more often. But actually there's almost always a little bit of fog. On rainy days everything that's far away gets gray and colorless. On really hot evenings everything that's far away has a very dark orange tone. So you can almost always use fog; usually it looks quite cool. It supports the impression of real depth. However, using too much fog will make people think you couldn't offer a higher visual range. In some cases this may actually be true. Then fog is the lesser of two evils. It's better than having everything just disappear when it gets too far away from the camera.
The fog color. The values for these variables have to be in the range from 0 to 255.
The distance values for the fog. Everything that's closer to the camera than StartDistance will not be influenced by the fog. Everything that's farther away from the camera than EndDistance will have the fog color. Everything in between these values Ultimate 3D will interpolate linearly.
If you want to disable fog simply call DisableFog().


text:
Retortillo de Soria – gmina w Hiszpanii, w prowincji Soria, w Kastylii i León, o powierzchni 172,77 km². W 2011 roku gmina liczyła 197 mieszkańców.

Przypisy

Gminy w Kastylii i León

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
The Rise and Fall of Chicago's First Black-Owned Theater
In 1904, political operator and gambling boss Robert T. Motts opened the Pekin Theater in Chicago. Dubbed the "Temple of Music," the Pekin became one of the country's most prestigious African American cultural institutions, renowned for its all-black stock company and school for actors, an orchestra able to play ragtime and opera with equal brilliance, and a repertoire of original musical comedies.
In his book, The Pekin: The Rise and Fall of Chicago's First Black-Owned Theater, historian Thomas Bauman reveals how Motts used his entrepreneurial acumen to create a successful Black-owned enterprise.
For example, Motts had a philosophy of hiring only African American staff, and heavily embraced multi-racial upper class audiences. In addition, his theater also served as a community center, social club, and fundraising instrument.
Sadly, the Pekin's prestige and profitability faltered after Motts' death in 1911 as his heirs lacked his savvy, and African American elites turned away from pure entertainment in favor of spiritual uplift.
But, the theater had already opened the door to a new dynamic of both intra- and inter-racial theater-going and showed the ways a success, like the Pekin, had a positive economic and social impact on the surrounding community.
Reginald Lewis Was America's First Black Billionare — Long Before Oprah and Bob Johnson!
Black Kings (and Queens) Ruled Europe For Almost 700 Years
Martin Luther King, Jr. Was Arrested 29 Times For Committing These "Crimes"

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Hell has no fury like a woman scorned, a "husband and his mistress" discovered when they were accosted in a scene reminiscent of the television series Cheaters that played out in Cape Town.
This is according to eyewitness Uzair Achmat, who recorded the incident.
Achmat said he was standing at a friend's shop in Athlone on Monday when it happened.
"We were chilling, smoking cigarettes when we saw this commotion starting, but we didn't really know what it was.
"We decided to go outside to see what it was all about. When we eventually figured it out, we found out that the wife actually caught the husband cheating," Achmat told SowetanLIVE.
According to Achmat, the man was purportedly with his "mistress" in a car.
"The fight escalated and she took various things out the car and threw them into the road. He just got out, picked it up, went back to the car and he just disappeared."
Achmat said the woman's son arrived on the scene later.
"The lady went into the car and started beating the other lady he was caught with.
"While she was hitting the lady, the son also started beating her [the alleged mistress] through an open window" from the other side of the car.
"My video wasn't that on point, because I was a bit scared they would throw their violence at me," Achmat said.
He said the woman made it "aware" to people in the vicinity that they were husband and wife.
In the video, the "mistress" is seen shouting and crying hysterically.
A person in the background is heard shouting: "Mo**r her" (beat her up).
The woman gets out of the car. The wife lunges towards her in an attempt to hit her over the head with what looks like a brick.
A few seconds later a man is seen smashing the windscreen of the car.
The wife has another go and starts shoving the husband through the window of the driver's seat.
Using "choice language", she accuses him of cheating.
"Everyone was just watching. When the lady picked up the brick, the car guards eventually tried pulling her away. The people told the son that he should not hit a female, but he just went on busting the car with bricks while the lady was in the car," Achmat said.
Achmat said the police did not arrive on the scene.
By Wednesday, Achmat's post had received more than 5,500 shares and 1,300 comments.
"Women who cheat have no respect for the next. They don't care about the kids, nothing. But then again you can't only blame them, but the men too," a comment read.
A second comment read: "A total shame ... No one helped, what a disgrace."
"What was wrong with that man, he could have driven away," the comment thread read.
Western Cape police would not comment and said no case had been reported.
Why do women make excuses for cheating men?


SUBCONTRACTORS and new home clients are counting the costs after another Gold Coast builder collapsed this week.
Future Urban Residential, a Varsity Lakes-based business, went into liquidation late on Monday, leaving homes unfinished and subbies bills unpaid.
The Queensland Building and Construction Commission is investigating the collapse and has referred the case to Federal regulator ASIC.
Q1 HOMES LIQUIDATOR SUSPECTS "ILLEGAL PHOENIX ACTIVITIES"
Future Urban's sole director, makeup saleswoman Kirsty Thew, was last night yet to lodge any documents showing the scale of the collapse, however the company was licensed to complete up to $12 million worth of work a year.
The QBCC suspended Future Urban's licence last Wednesday after complaints from at least two unpaid subcontractors.
Ms Thew, and her husband Andrew Thew who worked as general manager of the company, are former employees of Queensland One Homes, which went into liquidation owing more than $6 million.
The Gold Coast Bulletin has attempted to contact the couple for a response through their liquidator, by email and at their Mudgeeraba home.
Mr Thew returned to his home late yesterday but declined to talk to the Bulletin.
The company's website was taken down last week and their phones have been disconnected.
Subcontractors' support group Subbies United last night called for people who may be owed money to come forward so the full impact of the collapse could be quantified.
Those hurt in the collapse have been dismayed by social media posts by the couple heading off on a cruise just after Christmas, about the time some clients and subbies say the company stopped paying its bills.
Future Urban's licence was cancelled at the company's request on January 30, and was reinstated briefly last Wednesday after Mr Thew became the company's nominee licence holder.
The licence was suspended again the same day - but Mr Thew's individual licence was still active last night.
A QBCC statement said it began investigating Future Urban Residential on February 2.
"On February 21 we suspended its licence over concerns it wasn't meeting financial requirements," it said.
"As part of our investigations, we have referred this matter to ASIC.
"At the time Mr Thew applied for a QBCC licence, he met all the legislative requirements and we had no basis to refuse the application."
Kirsty Thew, makeup seller and sole director of Future Urban Residential.
The statement said the QBCC had also commenced exclusion action against the company and had contacted potentially-affected homeowners.
"If you're a subcontractor and you're not getting paid by a company you've done work for, it's important you let us know - you can do this by submitting a moneys-owed complaint form which is available on our website," it said.
John Goddard of Subbies United urged anyone with a potential claim against the company to email him on support@subbiesunited.com.au.
"Many of them will feel lost - I can put them in touch with each other and help advise them on where they can go from here."
GKirsty and Andrew Thew in their Queensland One Homes uniforms.
WHEN she's not running a multimillion-dollar building company, Kirsty Thew flogs makeup online for mail order company Younique, posting pouty filtered selfies and getting excited over shimmery eyeshadows.
While her husband Andrew is not a director or shareholder of Future Urban, it is his builder licence the company has traded with since its own company licence was suspended last week.
The Bulletin has seen multiple emails where Mr Thew discusses accounts and contracts of Future Urban with clients and subcontractors, in some cases with his email signature dubbing him the company's "general manager".
The company is owned by Ms Thew, also the sole director, and her 19-year-old son Kyle Thew, an MMA enthusiast who lives in New South Wales.
The couple worked for failed Gold Coast builder Queensland One Homes, appearing on their Instagram page.
Andrew Thew, when he was construction manager for Q1 Homes.
Mr Thew was Queensland One's construction manager - but both have gone to great lengths to distance themselves from that company.
Online, the Thews appear a loving couple, with Mr Thew often making guest appearances on his wife's "Skin Bling Bling" makeup page, trying on face products together and smiling goofily.
Just after Christmas, before paying outstanding balances for work done by their subcontractors, the smiling couple paid a visit to Sydney, where they boarded a 10-day Carnival island cruise.
"This ship is our home for the next 10 days," Ms Thew posted to Facebook with a photo of the ship, adding three grinning emojis and six hashtags.
"Looking forward to checking it out!"
One of Kirsty Thew's Facebook posts.
Earlier in the year, Ms Thew posted another photo of her face to celebrate buying a new luxury car.
"Love my Audi! (heart heart heart) What a great night at the launch of the new Q2! Canapés and cocktails, rubbing shoulders with the GC Titans and meeting some lovely people with my hubby #workhardplayhard #Audi #ilovemyaudi," she wrote.
Future Urban director Kirsty Thew.
The couple have kept a far lower profile this week - the Future Urban website is dead, their phones are disconnected and there was no sign of Ms Thew at their Mudgeeraba home, purchased in 2015 for $655,000.
An elderly man at the split-level house in the quiet dead-end street said the pair would not be coming home yesterday.
"We appreciate your time, thank you," the man said three times before asking the Gold Coast Bulletin to leave and phoning police as neighbours looked on.
Mr Thew returned to the home several hours later but did not speak to the Bulletin.
GOLD Coast subcontractors are once again carrying the can for a failed building company - with local small businesses working for by Future Urban owed at least $750,000 - an amount that's expected to grow sharply once the true scale of the collapse is known.
Among them is landscaper Paige, who only wants her first name published, and claims she is owed $41,000 by the company.
Paige was wary of dealing with Future Urban as she'd previously been stung in the Queensland One Homes-Empire Constructions debacle and she knew Andrew and Kirsty Thew had previously worked for them.
Queensland One Homes director Paul Callender will face a public examination this year after a liquidator found company records had been destroyed by water after being left in the back of a ute.
"They told me they used to work for Q1 but didn't like how they operated and that's why they left," she said.
"(Ms Thew) assured me that they would never run their business like that and everything would be fine.
"But for the first couple of invoices, we were chasing payment - we started getting read receipts for our emails and we could see when we were chasing payments she was reading the emails but not replying."
Andrew Thew dealt with subcontractor claims and signed emails as the company's general manager.
Paige's business had paid its suppliers and, after weeks without reply, Paige finally got a swift phone call and email from Ms Thew after telling her she'd made a complaint to the building regulator.
"Within two minutes she called me," Paige said.
"She left a message saying she understood my frustration. I said `I don't care what you say, I'm going to the QBCC'."
Plumber Garret Waller says he is owed $17,000 by Future Urban, for two jobs done this year.
He said he'd submitted a quote for work on a 10-unit project in Brisbane by Future Urban just last week.
"We don't usually do work for the smaller builders," he said.
"I don't think we'll get that money back."
Future Urban Residential's website was shut down last week.
THE Sorrell family are supposed to be living in this home - instead they're stuck outside its unfinished shell wondering how it all went so wrong.
Kristi and Martin Sorrell planned to move their two young kids to the Gold Coast from Brisbane - and changed schools this year so they could start fresh in their new Future Urban Residential home at Ormeau Hills, which was due for completion two weeks ago.
But instead of moving in, the family has had to stay on at their Brisbane rental, leaving Ms Sorrell to ferry the kids to their Gold Coast school each day, before returning to Brisbane for work and coming back to the Gold Coast in the afternoon to pick them up.
They have no idea how long they will have to carry on like this - paying for fuel for the daily drives and still paying rent after shelling out almost $250,000 for a home they can't live in.
The family is among many stung by failure of Future Urban Residential - the latest in a string of Gold Coast builder collapses.
Like other clients of Future Urban, the Sorrells trusted its operators Kirsty and Andrew Thew to deliver what they promised, so handed over progress payments as they were due.
No work has been done on their new home since before Christmas.
"This was our first time building a home - and we were in the dark most of the time," Ms Sorrell said.
"We had no access to the site supervisor and they promised fortnightly updates by email and we never got those.
"We had to constantly ask them and we got fobbed off all the time."
Ms Sorrell said Ms Thew had contacted her just before Christmas demanding a $59,000 payment so that Future Urban could pay their tradies.
"I got it paid straight away so she could pay the tradies before Christmas - but I saw one the cabinet-maker at the site and he said he hadn't got a cent," Ms Sorrell said.
"We're just continuing to pay rent. When we found out their building licence was suspended we called their mobiles and they were disconnected."


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Iran, Not Saudi Arabia, Is to Blame for Yemen's Humanitarian Crisis
by Con Coughlin
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/15581/iran-not-saudi-arabia-is-to-blame-for-yemen
Now, with the humanitarian crisis reaching a critical juncture with an estimated 80% of Yemen's 24 million population in need of assistance, aid organisations are finally waking up to the central role the Iranian-backed Houthis have played in creating the disaster.
As humanitarian officials prepare to meet in Brussels this week -- Thursday -- to discuss the Yemeni aid crisis, the main topic of discussion will be what has been described as the unprecedented and unacceptable obstruction tactics being employed by the Houthis that are preventing vital aid supplies from reaching the country's starving population.
In their latest bid to seize control of the aid distribution, the Houthis have recently imposed a 2 percent levy on all the international aid agencies operating in the country, prompting one aid worker to claim that the Houthis could be using the aid money to finance the war.
Whatever the outcome, no one will be in any doubt that it is the Iranian-backed Houthis, and not the Saudi-led coalition, who are primarily responsible for creating Yemen's disastrous humanitarian crisis.
As Yemen's humanitarian crisis reaches a critical juncture, with an estimated 80% of the country's 24 million people in need of assistance, aid organisations are finally waking up to the central role the Iranian-backed Houthis have played in creating the disaster. Pictured: Displaced persons fill water containers at a makeshift camp in a village in Hajjah province, Yemen, on May 9, 2019. (Photo by Essa Ahmed/AFP via Getty Images)
In the five years since Yemen was plunged into its bitter civil war, it has invariably been the Saudi-led coalition, which enjoys the support of the US, Britain and France, that has been blamed for causing what is widely regarded as the world's greatest humanitarian disaster.
Throughout the conflict the main focus of coverage in most of the Western media has been on the role played by the Saudi military in intensifying the conflict, with Riyadh taking the lion's share of the blame for the estimated 100,000 Yemenis that have died.
The Saudis, it is true, have not always covered themselves in glory in the way they have conducted the military campaign, with frequent reports of Saudi warplanes attacking civilian targets.
The Saudis, though, are not the only outside power that has involved itself in the Yemeni conflict. The Houthi rebels, who provoked the civil war in the first place by overthrowing the country's democratically elected president, Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi, in 2014, have received backing from Iran, with the Revolutionary Guards regularly supplying the Houthis with weapons, including long-range missiles.
The Iranian-backed Houthi rebels, moreover, have been instrumental in escalating the conflict. Not only has the steady flow of weapons smuggled in from Tehran enabled the Houthis to sustain their offensive against the Saudi-led coalition. It has also enabled the Houthis to expand the conflict well beyond Yemen's borders by using Iranian-made missiles to launch a series of attacks against neighbouring Saudi Arabia.
Now, as the humanitarian crisis reaches a critical juncture, with an estimated 80% of Yemen's 24 million population in need of assistance, aid organisations are finally waking up to the central role the Iranian-backed Houthis have played in creating the disaster.
In what aid officials have described as "an extremely hostile environment", the Houthis have been accused of harassment and obstruction as they seek to prevent humanitarian supplies from reaching the 6.7 million Yemenis who are said to be on the brink of starvation.
Washington has responded by threatening to suspend much of its humanitarian assistance to Yemen on March 1 if the Houthis continue to insist on their aid levy.
Such a move, if implemented, would add considerably to the already dire conditions affecting large swathes of the country. It would also, however, highlight the challenge of managing aid operations in areas controlled by an Iranian-backed rebel movement that is openly hostile to the West.
"We're in an unfortunate situation and we're trying to work the problem," said a senior official at the US State Department. "If such an action were taken, it would be one that was forced by basically unprecedented Houthi obstructionism."
A final decision will only be taken following a crunch meeting of aid agencies and donors this week in Brussels, where the thorny topic of how to respond to the Houthis' tactics will be discussed, as well as the implications of suspending aid to a country that is already teetering on the brink of total collapse.
Con Coughlin is the Telegraph's Defence and Foreign Affairs Editor and a Distinguished Senior Fellow at Gatestone Institute.
© 2021 Gatestone Institute. All rights reserved. The articles printed here do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editors or of Gatestone Institute. No part of the Gatestone website or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied or modified, without the prior written consent of Gatestone Institute.
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6 Reader Comments
El Toro • Feb 13, 2020 at 23:39
Iran is the heart of Shia Islam and as long as Sunni nations like Bahrain and Saudi Arabia mistreat their Shia citizens, throughout the world, the Iranians will have moral and material support. That is the necessary understanding that must be accepted first before Yemen ever stops fighting.
Reply->
Paul Klee • Feb 13, 2020 at 20:58
The US response to the world's greatest humanitarian crisis is to offer the Palestinian Authority $50 billion to refrain from threatening Israeli Jews for 4 or 5 years. The world's priorities have been so grostequely skewed by the international news media and diplomatic corps that famines affecting millions are treated like intermittent fasting compared to the Palestinian or Rohingya question.
Juanita Skelton • Feb 13, 2020 at 20:23
Is the obstructionism just the manifestation of the levy? Or, is there more obstructionistic policies being implemented, such as, stealing the aid, or confiscating the 2% levy by theft?
Bisley • Feb 13, 2020 at 16:23
Whatever humanitarian problems there are in Yemen are primarily due to the civil war -- and the Houthis couldn't prosecute a civil war on any effective scale without the aid they get from Iran. This isn't going to stop until one side destroys the other (unless the regime in Iran is replaced first, and the Houthis are left without the resources to continue). It would probably take a full-scale invasion and occupation to crush the Houthis and drive Iranian influence out of Yemen -- and that's what's needed if Yemen isn't to become an Iranian satellite, and a base for future Iranian aggressions, terrorism, etc.
Sina • Feb 13, 2020 at 11:54
Saudi Arabia plus America and UK as well as a few other countries are the real reasons behind the humanitarian crisis. Saudi Arabia stated the bombing and continues to do so. Iran used the opportunity to do what it does best: asymmetrical war against Saudi Arabia. Having said that Houthis are not under the Iran's command and act independently. The root cause of Houthis uprising and their fight against their government has nothing to do with Iran. A cursory look at the history of Yemen will clarify all this.
Franck Prissert • Feb 13, 2020 at 08:50
Con, thank you for the update. The context of Yemen needs to be put in a larger perspective. Pardon the obvious, but Iran is Russia's proxy. Put another way, the Ayatollahs without Putin, or Primakov before him, would not be in charge. So when one thinks Iran, it means Russia. Now, who would want to take over Yemen, and why? It is one of the poorest countries on the planet. Barren, no mineral resources, nothing. Except geopolitically - the Bab el Mandeb Strait, across the Horn of Africa. It controls access to the Arabian Sea to the West of the Arabian Peninsula, much like the Strait of Hormuz to the East. If Iran, meaning Russia, gets hold of it, it will have encircled the Middle East.
Why does the Arabian Sea matter? Because it is the marine access to India, and then China. Putin's bingo, Eurasia. Team Obama let Putin to this stage, effectively trashing the Truman Doctrine, while snubbing KSA, newly elected el-Sisi, and Netanyahu, and "resetting" first with Putin, then with Rouhani. Which is why, as soon as Salman became the new KSA regime, it strengthened ties with Israel and led to what is now MESA, the Middle East Strategic Alliance. So yes, you are absolutely right, Iran is killing Yemenis, with a purpose. KSA and MESA are "simply" preventing Russia from gaining full access to the Arabian Sea. President Trump knows this, so do the Europeans, but they are entrapped in their own dialectic. For more on this, my book "Between Obama's Lines - How We Almost Lost The Middle East, The Cold War, and The Atlantic Alliance."
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Belgium: Fruit and leafy vegetables in REO Veiling rooftop greenhouse
The definitive design of the REO Veiling rooftop greenhouse has to be ready at the beginning of December in order to open in 2018. Inagro lifts the veil about the design.
The rooftop greenhouse will be placed on top of the boxed warehouse of the REO Veiling, on the ring road to Roeselare, Belgium. The frontside greenhouse will certainly become a beacon along the ring road with its height of 21 metres. It will rest on five cylinders, which will serve as a rainwater reservoir (approximately 2,000 m3). In the 12-metre high cultivation space, vegetables will be continuously accessible for the general public, Inagro can already reveal.
"The entire greenhouse will be provided with diffuse glass, except for the frontside greenhouse and the side of the entrance hall. Although cultivators indicated negative experiences with diffuse glass a few years ago, current materials have been significantly improved, both in the amount of light that penetrates the glass and its sensitivity to dust. In order to prevent illumination nuisance to the environment, all cultivation compartments are provided with an illumination-proof screen."
Inner furnishings
Within the greenhouse, about 6,000 to 8,000 m2 will be divided into cultivation compartments. A row of compartments for leafy vegetables (green rectangle in the diagram) will be separated from a row of fruit (red rectangle) by means of a technical corridor with mostly day stocks for food solutions. At the request of the cultivators, some large compartments are provided with about 700 m2, representative of practice, besides some smaller compartments.
Hydroponic cultivation
At 8 metres altitude and on a concrete surface, all cultivation will be done without soil, in the form of hydroponic cultivation in gutters (NFT) and cultivation on floats (DFT). For heating, the rooftop greenhouse can count on the heat of REO Veiling's WKK, and on the heat produced by the nearby waste incinerator of MIROM. Through a European project, it is now also being researched whether the smoke gases of MIROM can be used for CO2 provision as well.
The rooftop greenhouse is being designed by the research institution Inagro, REO Veiling, and the winners of the design competition: META Architects from Antwerp and Van Bergen Kolpa Architects from Rotterdam, the Netherlands, engineering firm Tractebel, advisor on greenhouse technology Smiemans Projecten, and a team from the University of Wageningen (WUR). The concept is currently being completed and then recorded in a specification book. This will then serve as the basis for the public tender of the project.
Please click here to read more about the plans for knowledge exchange and demonstration of new techniques.


text:
How to Get Apple Arcade
Curious about Apple's mobile gaming subscription service? Here's how to get access to 100 mobile titles for just $4.99 per month.
By Lance Whitney
10 Dec 2019, 2 a.m.
How to Get Apple Arcade How to Sign Up Search for Games View a Game Download a Game Game Apps Game Controls How to Exit a Game How to Switch Between Devices How to Cancel Apple Arcade
Apple Arcade is a new way to play games on your iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV. Instead of downloading and paying for games individually, you pony up $4.99 per month to access a range of different titles with no ads or in-app purchases.
The service gives you unlimited access to 100 new games. While that might not sound like much—compared to the almost 1 million games available in the App Store—the games in Apple Arcade have been carefully curated to weed out any potential duds. It also allows you to download any game you want, so you don't have to worry about internet accessibility.
Your subscription can be shared with as many as six family members, and the service works with Screen Time and parental controls so adults can restrict access for their kids. You can also start playing on one device and pick up where you left off on a different device. If you don't want to share your personal data, you can opt out and still play.
To access and play games through Apple Arcade, you must have an iPhone or iPod touch with iOS 13 or higher, an iPad with iPadOS 13.1 or higher, a Mac that's running macOS Catalina 10.15 or higher, or an Apple TV with tvOS 13 or higher.
Open the App Store from any supported device. Apple TV users will find an Apple Arcade icon on the home screen. Whatever method you use to get there, click on the button for Try It Free to kick off your subscription. Once you authenticate your subscription, you're ready to start playing.
Search for Games
Similar to the App Store, the Arcade home screen presents games via different sections. For instance, you can view the most popular games of the week, the newest additions to the service, games you can play with friends, or the easiest to learn titles.
Categories will help you track down puzzle games, multiplayer titles, RPGs, platformers, and more. Search for a game you want to view, and the app will tell you if it is available in Apple Arcade.
View a Game
Tap on a game that interests you. Swipe or scroll down the description page to see the conditions and requirements, screenshots, ratings and reviews, and other information. If you want to see the game in action, there are screenshots and video clips for each title.
Download a Game
If you want to try the game, tap the Get button to download the game. Then tap Play to dive in. To deliver full functionality, the game might request permission to collect your progress, rankings, and other profile details.
If you're cool with the collection of such information, tap OK or Go Online. If not, tap Offline and you can still play the game offline, though not all features will work. You can then play the game and access any settings. Apple Family members who subscribe to Apple Arcade cannot access any of your saved data.
Any game you download will be saved as an icon on your home screen for later access. After this, games you no longer want to play can easily be deleted just like you would remove any other unwanted app.
On an iPhone or iPad, you can play by using the device's touch screen, just as you would for any game from the App Store. Mac users will use the keyboard and trackpad, or a mouse if you own one. Apple TV owners use the Apple TV remote.
If you prefer the playing experience only a game controller can offer, all of these devices can also be paired with a Bluetooth gamepad. This means your PlayStation 4, Switch, and Xbox One controllers can be used to play on iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple TV.
How to Exit a Game
To exit a game on an iPhone or iPad, just swipe it off the screen as you would any other app. On a Mac, you would typically hit the Esc button to call up an options menu through which you can exit the game. If you're on an iPad, the game is stored in the recently used section of the dock. Apple TV users can access an options menu from which you can quit games.
How to Switch Between Devices
You can continue and resume your game progress from one device to another. So you can start a game on your Mac and then continue it on your iPad, for example. To do this, make sure you're signed into both iCloud and Game Center with the same Apple ID on both devices. Close the game on your first device and then open it on a second device, and it should place you at the point where you left off.
Some games may require you to save your game progress to resume gameplay from the same point. Either way, it's always a good idea to save any progress before you close out of an app. As long as you're signed into iCloud and Game Center, the synchronization of gameplay should work with your iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV.
How to Cancel Apple Arcade
If you ever have the need to cancel Apple Arcade, you will find a few different ways to perform the task. Like any service downloaded through the App Store, you can unsubscribe on iPhone, iPad, or Mac. If you choose to re-subscribe at a later point, you should still be able to access your old game data. However, Apple cautions that some data may be deleted after a certain amount of time.
Google AI Can Turn Text Prompts Into Music
Footage Shows Near-Miss Earth Flyby of Asteroid 2023 BU
Watch Out, Software Engineers: ChatGPT Is Now Finding, Fixing Bugs in Code
Apple Trims Trade-In Values on iPhones, Apple Watches
About Lance Whitney
I've been working for PCMag since early 2016 writing tutorials, how-to pieces, and other articles on consumer technology. Beyond PCMag, I've written news stories and tutorials for a variety of other websites and publications, including CNET, ZDNet, TechRepublic, Macworld, Popular Science, Time, Fortune, US News & World Report, and AARP Magazine. I spent seven years writing breaking news for CNET as one of the site's East Coast reporters. I've also written two books for Wiley & Sons—Windows 8: Five Minutes at a Time and Teach Yourself Visually LinkedIn.
More From Lance Whitney
Make a Movie: How to Create and Edit Videos in iMovie on Your Phone
Better Browsing: 25 Hidden Tricks Inside Apple's Safari Browser
Stay Informed: How to View Photos of Your Snail Mail Before It Arrives
Instant DJ: How to Add Music to an Instagram Story
Sick of Social Media? How to Deactivate or Delete Your Instagram Account


text:
Leslie J. Daigle, PT
Mr. Daigle received his undergraduate degree from Nicholls State University and his physical therapy degree from Duke University Medical Center in 1968. Pioneering in private practice physical therapy, Mr. Daigle was the first physical therapist in the city of Thibodaux. In addition to his years of experience, Mr. Daigle has had extensive training in orthopaedic manual therapy, sports therapy, post-operative rehabilitation, geriatrics, hand therapy, foot and ankle therapy, orthotics, exercise theory and techniques, and industrial rehabilitation. He has completed courses through notable post-graduate institutes such as the North American Institute and McKenzie Institute in addition to many others. Mr. Daigle has enjoyed focusing a portion of his expertise on the evaluation and treatment of various foot problems and is also skilled in the fabrication of customized foot orthotics.
Eddie J. Himel Jr., PT, MPS, DSc, OCS, Cert. MDT
Dr. Himel holds a post-professional Doctorate of Science degree (DSc) in physical therapy orthopaedics . He received his undergraduate degree from Nicholls State University and his physical therapy degree from LSU Medical Center in 1981. He is an Orthopaedic Certified Specialist (OCS) through the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties, is certified in Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy (Cert.MDT) through the McKenzie Institute and is one of the first several physical therapists in Louisiana to receive training in Dry Needling. Dr. Himel has also completed numerous post graduate courses in manual and manipulative therapy, women's health, foot/ankle therapy, custom foot orthotics, sports rehabilitation, vertigo, spinal rehabilitation, functional movement systems (FMS), Sportsmetrics certification, medical conditions screening, and industrial evaluation and rehabilitation. Dr. Himel is a certified WorkSTEPS provider.
John L. Daigle, PT, OCS, COMT
Mr. Daigle performed his undergraduate work at Nicholls State University and earned his physical therapy degree from LSU Medical Center in 1991. He is a Board Certified Clinical Specialist in Orthopaedic Physical Therapy (OCS) and is a Certified Orthopaedic Manipulative Therapist (COMT) through the North American Institute of Orthopaedic Manual Therapy. Mr. Daigle is the only physical therapist in Louisiana with the COMT credentials from the North American Institute. He has also completed numerous advanced post-graduate courses in various manual therapy approaches, orthopaedics, sports therapy, vertigo and vestibular rehabilitation, spinal rehabilitation, and industrial evaluation and rehabilitation. Performing pre-employment screening and functional capacity evaluations, Mr. Daigle is also a certified WorkSTEPS provider.
Steven Landry, OT, CHT
Mr. Landry received his occupational therapy degree from Northeast LA University in 1995. He earned the specialization of a Certified Hand Therapist (CHT) in 2002 through the Hand Therapy Certification Commission (HTCC). Mr. Landry has obtained advanced clinical experience in the treatment of upper extremity related orthopaedic and neurological conditions. He has completed numerous courses on the topics of custom hand splint fabrication and manual therapy, as well as treatment protocols for the hand, wrist, elbow, and shoulder region. Mr. Landry is also a Certified Functional Capacity Evaluator and has a background in the fields of ergonomics, jobsite analysis, and pre-employment testing.
Tracy Peltier, PT, CMT
Mr. Peltier performed his undergraduate work at Nicholls State University and earned his physical therapy degree from LSU Medical Center in 1993. He earned a certification in Orthopaedic Manual Therapy (CMT) through the Ola Grimsby Institute after completing a two-year Orthopaedic Manual Therapy residency program. Mr. Peltier has also completed numerous post-graduate courses in various manual therapy approaches, orthopaedics, pediatrics, foot and ankle therapy, office ergonomics, strength training, and post operative rehabilitation. Performing pre-employment screening and functional capacity evaluations, Mr. Peltier is also a certified WorkSTEPS provider.
Ben Schexnayder, PT, DPT
Ryan Ocker, PT, DPT
Ryan Ocker performed his undergraduate coursework at Nicholls State University and earned his
Doctorate Degree in May of 2018 at LSU Health Sciences Center of New Orleans. Ryan is very excited to re-join the DHD family as he previously worked here as a tech while attending Nicholls State. He was born and raised in Houma and currently resides in the Broadmor area with his wife, Peyton. Ryan's main interests are in orthopedic rehabilitation, manual therapy, and vestibular rehabilitation. He is certified in functional dry needling.


Spring Break – What to Read? What to Write?
So I have this glorious week of freedom floating ahead of me, tarnished only by my still-sick kitty who comes home tomorrow and a relationship's end that has left me feeling empty – but still, I'm excited about having a whole week with only a few papers to grade, a few emails to answer, and only two meetings to attend.
I'm going to finish up reading The Ghost Writer by John Harwood. It's something I randomly picked up at the library when looking for something light and distracting to read. I found just that, except that I keep reading it before I go to sleep, and as much as I love ghost stories, this isn't the best move when I'm in a house by myself.
I also want to finish up Sharman Apt Russell's Standing in the Light, her new book that is due out in June. (Thanks, Sharman, for the early read.) It's thoughtful, encourages me to get outside in this gorgeous spring, and pushes me to see the divine in what is around me. I'd put it on your "pre-order list.
I have other things to read, too – two towers by my bed in fact – including Dan Kennedy's Rock On: An Office Power Ballad and The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion.
As for writing, I need to finish up an interview with Russell and put some of my shorter work out into the universe. I also need to plow through some more reading and writing about ghosts.
All in all, it's a busy but open week. I love that.


text:
Q: Create hyperlink to file on active sheet I am trying to create a button which prompts the user for a file then creates a hyperlink in the active spreadsheet.
Goal: after the file is uploaded subsequent users can click on the hyperlink to view the file.
What I have tried, create an ActiveX control in Excel, but representing the input as a hyperlink output in a cell is the problem.
Private Sub CommandButton1_Click()

Dim sFullName As String
Application.FileDialog(msoFileDialogOpen).Show
sFullName = Application.FileDialog(msoFileDialogOpen).SelectedItems(1)
End Sub

Insert reference to pdfs
Sub InsertObjectAsIcon()
'lets user browse for a file to insert into the
'current active worksheet.
'all are inserted as icons, not "visible" objects, so
'to view they will need an appropriate viewer/reader
'at the recipient end.
'
'This one shows how you could set up to use
'several different icons depending on the type of file
'inserted.  You'll have to experiment by recording
'macros while inserting various file types to build
'up a list to use, just add new Case Is = statements
'do deal with the file types.  Be sure to enter the
'file type in all UPPERCASE.
'
  Dim iconToUse As String
  Dim fullFileName As String
  Dim FNExtension As String
  fullFileName = Application.GetOpenFilename("*.*, All Files", , , , False)

  If fullFileName = "False" Then
    Exit Sub ' user cancelled
  End If
'choose an icon based on filename extension
  'get all after last "." in filename
  FNExtension = Right(fullFileName, Len(fullFileName) - _
   InStrRev(fullFileName, "."))

  'select icon based on filename extension
  Select Case UCase(FNExtension)
    Case Is = "TXT"
      iconToUse = "C:\Windows\system32\packager.dll"

    Case Is = "XLS", "XLSM", "XLSX"
      iconToUse = "C:\Windows\Installer\{91140000-0011-0000-0000-0000000FF1CE}\xlicons.exe"

    Case Is = "PDF"
      iconToUse = "C:\Windows\Installer\{AC76BA86-1033-F400-7761-000000000004}\_PDFFile.ico"

    Case Else
      'this is a generic icon
      iconToUse = "C:\Windows\system32\packager.dll"
  End Select

  ActiveSheet.OLEObjects.Add(Filename:=fullFileName, Link:=False, DisplayAsIcon:=True, IconFileName:=iconToUse, IconIndex:=0, IconLabel:=fullFileName).Select3

End Sub

Private Sub CommandButton1_Click()

InsertObjectAsIcon

End Sub

A: This code opens the common file dialog, filtered to show .xslx files. It picks up the path to the file, then inserts it into the activecell. There's also an inputbox asking for a short text name, if you don't want to see the full path.
Sub FileToLink()

Dim strFileName As String
Dim strShortName As String

strFileName = Application.GetOpenFilename("Excel Documents (*.xlsx), *.xlsx")

If strFileName = "False" Then
    Exit Sub ' user cancelled
End If

strShortName = InputBox("What do you want to call this link?", "Short Text", strFileName)

ActiveSheet.Hyperlinks.Add Anchor:=Selection, Address:=strFileName, TextToDisplay:=strShortName

End Sub

You can substitute strFileName = Application.GetOpenFilename("All Documents (*.*), *.*") to show all files. It doesn't matter to the link what file it is, as clicking on the link will invoke the application linked with that file type.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
```
http://soundbible.com/995-Jab.html

Recorded by Mike Koenig
Attribution 3.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
```

## jump.ogg

```
https://opengameart.org/content/jumping-man-sounds

CC0
```

## ragtime.ogg / ragtime.mp3

```
https://soundcloud.com/jacaranda-trilhas-sonoras/james-scott-01-frog-legs-rag

Title:  Frog Legs Rag (1906, piano roll)
Artist: James Scott
Album:  Frog Legs: Ragtime Era Favorites

Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/
```

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Iran Seeking Allies to Fight US
Tensions between the US and foreign powers such as Iran, China, and Russia have prompted an unprecedented response— negotiations that may see a tip on the International power scale.
Iran seeks agreements with Russia and China to create a coalition against the United States https://t.co/nDBtLdpnay
— Web24 News (@Web24News) July 23, 2020
A new push to form an international coalition against the US comes as Iran seeks to extend a 20-year deal with Russia and as the Islamic Republic talks about a 25-year deal with China. Iranian Foreign Minister, Mohammad Javid Zarif, arrived in Moscow on Tuesday, hoping to negotiate the renewal of the two-decade agreement. This was following a landmark deal that involved oil and arms sales. The contents of the deal were not made public.
The collaboration between Tehran, Moscow, and Beijing draw concerns that experts say could challenge the US' attempt to maintain international influence. Washington has concerns that this relationship could reshape the international balance of power. The US has attempted to hinder its strategic competitors with sanctions of varying degrees.
Russia, China, and Iran have all responded with defiance. All three have engaged in unprecedented naval exercises in the Indian Ocean, despite tensions being high in the Persian Gulf.
The US is struggling with the coronavirus pandemic as well as civil unrest, while managing a recession and pursuing hardline unilateral foreign policies. This is creating the conditions necessary for the three countries to find a common ground.


It all started the day I began praying with a white pine tree.
to visit a grove of towering white pine trees.
It was there I first noticed her.
at least 75 feet in height.
Greener than the sun-kissed grass of a nearby meadow.
Much taller than the rest of the trees.
closed my eyes, and bathed in her sap and pine needle aroma.
She stood elegantly in all her wisdom.
One could tell she had endured much.
Woman stood apart from the rest of the grove.
She'd grown up quietly, calmly, assuredly.
trees nearby to give her shelter.
But that was all good.
She learned adversity in the midst of storms.
in the sun and in the soil.
And she thrived, this pine tree I called Woman.
She never tired of me.
Nor did I tire of her.
I began thinking more positive thoughts.
I could never have imagined possible.
Why had I thought those things impossible before?
Because I was a single woman.
could not dream, be, or succeed the way that a man could.
until that day when I found solace beneath a white pine tree.
And that was how my prayerful life took hold.


text:
Holy One Thousand Martyrs
Holy Martyr Mardonios
Holy Martyr Stratonikos
Translation of the Relics of Saint Donatos of Euro...
Synaxarion of the Holy Martyr Goudelia of Persia
Holy Martyr Petronia
Holy Martyrs Tryphon, Trophimos and Dorymedon
Holy Hieromartyr Alkison, Bishop of Nicopolis (+ 516)
Saint Herodion, Founder of Iloezersk Monastery (+ ...
Saints Euthymius and Chariton, Abbots of Syanzhema...
Holy Martyr Alexander and the Thirty Martyrs With Him
Holy Martyrs Eustathios the Roman and Kallinikos
Holy New Hieromartyr Anthimos the Iberian, Metropo...
Saint Sabbatius of Solovki the Wonderworker (+ 1435)
Holy Apostles Mark, Aristarchus and Zenon of the S...
Holy Marytrs Philemon the Bishop and Fortunianus
Holy Fifteen Martyrs Who Drowned at Sea
Holy Martyr Gaiana
Saint Ephraim of Perekop the Wonderworker (+ 1492)
Holy Martyr Chera
When Fr. Benedict Petrakis Resurrected his Dead Be...
Saint Euphrosyne of Suzdal (+ 1250)
Saint Arsenius the Great, Catholicos of Georgia (+...
Saint Sergius of Radonezh Resource Page
Holy Martyrs Paul and Tatta and their children Sab...
Monastery of the Panagia of Filerimos in Rhodes
Holy Venerable Martyr Galaction of Vologda (+ 1612)
Saint Nicander of Pskov (+ 1581)
Saint Dorothy of Kashin (+ 1629)
Encomium on the Conception of Saint John the Bapti...
Conception of Saint John the Baptist Resource Page
A Weeping Icon of the Holy Mandylion in Patmos
Holy Martyrs Isaac and Martin
Holy Martyrs Eusebius, Nestabus and Zeno who were ...
Holy Six Martyrs, who were Armor-Bearers of Empero...
Holy Martyr Eusebius
Holy Prince Oleg of Briansk, who was Tonsured with...
Holy Martyrs Michael the Prince of Chernigov and T...
Holy Venerable Martyr John the Egyptian and the Fo...
Holy Martyrs Artemidoros and Thallos
Oxyrhynchus, the Egyptan City Once Full of Saints
Holy Martyrs Bidzina, Shalva and Elizbar, Princes ...
Holy Martyr Kastor
Holy Martyrs Sophia and Irene of Egypt
Holy Hieromartyrs Herakleides and Myron, Bishops o...
Holy Martyrs Haralambos and Panteleon with their C...
Holy Martyrs Maximos, Theodotos, Hesychios and Ask...
Gospel Commentary for the Sunday After the Holy Cr...
Origins of the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy...
Why Every Christian Should Wear A Cross
Holy Martyr Valerianos the Infant
Holy Martyr Theokles
Hagia Sophia To Remain a Museum
Saint John of Prislop
The Historical Development of the Feast of the Nat...
Saint Athanasius of Serpukhov the Elder (+ 1401) a...
Saint Bassian of Tiksnensky in Vologda (+ 1624)
Holy Martyrs Macedonios, Theodoulos and Tatian of ...
Holy Martyr Okeanos
Saint Euphrosynos the Cook ... Cooking
Saint Theodora of Vasta Resource Page
Miracles of Saint Theodora of Vasta
Documentary on the Church of Saint Theodora in Vasta
Saint Paul the Obedient of the Kiev Caves
Saint Joasaph of Kubensk, Wonderworker of Vologda ...
Holy Martyr Chariton
Gospel Commentary for the Sunday Before the Holy C...
Saint Sophronios, Bishop of Akhtala in Iberia (+ 1...
Holy Martyr Artemidoros
Holy Martyr Severus
Holy Martyrs Rufus and Rufianus
Synaxarion of Saint Kassiani the Hymnographer
Saints Symeon (1476) and Amphilochius (1570) of Pa...
Saint Macarius of Optina (+ 1860)
Holy Hieromartyr Macarius of Kanev (+ 1678)
Holy New Martyr Lygeri of Chios (+ 1822)
Saint Eleutherius, Abbot of Saint Mark's Abbey in ...
Consecration of the Church of the Most Holy Theoto...
Homily on Saint Babylas of Antioch (St. John Chrys...
Saint Symeon the Wonderworker of Gareja (+ 1773)
Finding of the Sacred Relics of the Holy New Marty...
Holy Three Thousand Six Hundred and Twenty-Eight (...
Holy Martyr Sarbelos
Translation of the Relics of Saint Nektarios the W...
Saint Constantine the New, Emperor of the Romans (...
Holy Hieromartyr Aristion, Bishop of Alexandria
Holy Martyr Archontios
Holy Martyr Zenon
Gospel Commentary for the Fourteenth Sunday of Mat...
The Month of September in the Orthodox Church
St. Dorothy of Kashin (Feast Day - September 24)
By Fr. Seraphim Rose
Saint Dorothy was born in 1549, in the prosperous early part of the reign of Ivan IV (the Terrible), and died in 1629 during the peaceful reign of the first Romanov Tsar, Michael Theodorovich; but her whole life, beginning when she was twelve years old, passed in the midst of the most frightful conditions of rebellion, anarchy, famine, plague, and foreign invasion.
This holy nun of the latter times was of noble blood, and some say that she was of the family of the Princes Korkodinov, but neither her place of birth nor her name before receiving the monastic tonsure are known to us. She was given in marriage to Theodore Ladygin and by him had a son, Michael; they lived in the region north of Moscow, where the city of Kashin is located. In the first decade of the 17th century, Kashin was laid waste by invading Poles and Lithuanians, and St. Dorothy's husband fell on the field of battle in defence of the city.
Thus it was that, having lost her husband and her earthly happiness in the midst of the terrible misfortunes of the Russian land, St. Dorothy, already a woman of mature years, resolved to abandon the world and seek, in prayers and struggles, not a temporary happiness which is so often darkened by various evils, but rather a heavenly and eternal blessedness. By Divine inspiration she chose for herself a peaceful and soul-saving refuge in the Convent of the Meeting of the Lord in Kashin. This monastery, renowned for treasuring the holy relics of St. Anna of Kashin, the Princess Schema-nun and miracle-worker (†1368, Oct. 2 and June 12), had just been laid waste together with the city, and how many labors and deprivations and struggles stood before her when she entered it! With great effort she made for herself a humble, confining cell in the midst of the ruins, and here she devoted herself to prayer, fasting, obedience, and other holy struggles known to God alone. Here amidst the ashes she found a large Icon of the Korsun Mother of God, which she kept in her cell, and which later became celebrated for working many miracles.
The whole territory where this peaceful hamlet once lay presented itself as a virtual wilderness of dark forests, endless birch-groves and desolate lakes and ponds abundant with birds and freely-roaming wild animals. This was also the native country of highly-esteemed desert-dwelling saints whom St. Dorothy could not but hold very dear to her heart; for she did not retreat, to console her old age, to one of the well-established convents which abounded at that time in Moscow, bit chose the silence of the Kashin wilds, for which she had been preparing her whole life long. Just eight miles from Kashin had lived St. Macarius of Kolyazin (+1483), who had the custom to roam the woods like a new Adam amidst wild beasts who walked with him like sheep. His nephew, St. Paisius of Uglich (1504), joined him as a boy and reached such heights that the Most Holy Mother of God visited him when he was at prayer with his disciple St. Adrian and St. Cassian (1504), the friend of St. Nilus of Sora. Not far away also was Soliger Lake with St. Nilus (1554) living in it on Stolbensk islet. Another native of Kashin, St. Sabbas of Vyshera (1460), having returned from Mt. Athos, became a stylite. All these angel-like men founded monasteries, and the fragrance of their life spread far and wide and inspired ascetic exploits. All this constituted St. Dorothy's spiritual inheritance in her melancholy abode and raised her mind to higher visions and thoughts divine.
At the same time she strove to help all the many inhabitants of the city and the surrounding area, who lived in great affliction and misfortune. By her word of consolation, by her heartfelt kindness, and by gifts of money, she strove to help everyone and encourage and raise up all those who suffered in this most oppressive time. All the possessions remaining to her after the death of her husband she either spent for the restoration of the convent or distributed to the poor. For herself she kept nothing except prayer, tears, and struggles. Having been accustomed to live amidst wealth and abundance, now she did not even know where to find her daily bread, and she had to endure every kind of deprivation and need. But with God's help she endured everything with greatness of soul and with firm faith in Divine Providence. In her small, one-windowed cell she had a place hidden from the eyes of men, where she wept, prayed, and sighed before the Lord God day and night over her own salvation and that of her fellow men. Especially did she pray for her husband, for the suffering city, and the holy convent. She sought one thing: the most difficult and sorrowful struggles, in order to cleanse her soul of sins and prepare herself for blessed eternity.
The Lord heard the fervent prayer of St. Dorothy for the restoration of the Convent of the Meeting of the Lord. Soon after she had settled in the ruins, they began to resound with the spiritual rejoicing of the sisters, who little by little returned to the convent when the danger had passed. The rumor of the exalted spiritual life of St. Dorothy and her deeds of mercy attracted to the convent also many other virgins and women who were seeking the salvation of their souls. Thus the monastery was re-established, and when enough sisters had gathered together, an abbess was needed for them. But St. Dorothy, who by her numberless labors and struggles and gifts had been responsible for the restoration of the monastery, hated all glory and outward honors, and in her great humility she decisively refused the high position of abbess, preferring to continue her ascetic life in the calling of a simple nun. Thus, for the rest of her life the Saint served for all as an example of love of labor, patience, self-sacrifice, and naming love for and trust in God. Her whole life exhaled the fragrance of the great women-strugglers of Christian antiquity, and likewise of those who preceded her in her native land: St. Anna of Kashin, St. Euphrosyne, the great foundress of convents and monasteries in Polotsk (+1173, May 23), St. Febronia of Murom (+1228, June 25), St. Euphrosyne (+1250, Sept. 25), the great virgin-ascetic of Suzdal, daughter of St. Michael of Chernigov, and others.
Such a life did this holy woman live almost in our own days. For it is not the times that are at fault if we do not see now the abundance of holy men and women who flourished in earlier centuries; it is rather our evil will, and lack of determination, and want of faith. But Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, and forever (Heb. 13:8).
In the year 1615 St. Dorothy received the Great Angelic Schema and redoubled her labors of asceticism and piety. Finally, after twenty years of struggles in the Convent of the Meeting of the Lord, the holy Dorothy came to the end of her much-suffering life, in the eightieth year of her age. On the eve of the feast of the great and holy inspirer of monastic struggles in the Russian North, St. Sergius of Radonezh, on September 24, 1629, St. Dorothy peacefully reposed in the Lord. From that day she has stood before the Lord with the burning lamp of flaming love for God, and with the oil of good deeds done for her neighbor and of the grace of the All-Holy Spirit which she acquired by her holy life. She passed over from death unto the life prepared for all who love God, from an earthly into a heavenly habitation, where she has yet greater boldness of intercession before the Almighty.
The holy remains of St. Dorothy were buried near the main convent church of the Meeting of the Lord, on the north side. Over the grave a memorial of white stone was erected with pillars carved out of it, and the inscription on this memorial survived in almost perfect condition until the 20th century.
St. Dorothy remained in spirit with her monastery even after her repose. Her memory was kept sacredly by the sisters down to our own times. Many have been the miracles of healing and supernatural help worked at her grave for those who have come with faith in her intercession before God. A list of these miracles was kept in the monastery. But her memory became especially revered over two centuries after her repose because of her appearances to Abbess Antonia of the Saint's convent.
ABBESS ANTONIA MEZENTSOVA (†1875, Jan. 26) was truly a saint. A spiritual daughter of the great 19th-century saint, Priest Peter of Uglch, she was so penetrated with true Orthodox monastic spirit that St. Anna of Kashin would appear to her and tell who of the sisters ought to be tonsured into the great schema and even where the ancient schemas were to be found.
Abbess Antonia had been a sister at a convent in Suzdal and had agreed, at the persuasion of her godmother, to transfer to the Kashin Convent of the Meeting. But the 20-year-old novice grieved greatly at leaving her first monastery, where the relics of the pious Princess Sofia (wife of John IV) reposed, supposing that she would be deprived of the grace which she had known there, for St. Sofia-Solomonia of Suzdal (l542, Dec. 16) worked many great miracles in her Protection Convent, which was founded and spiritually directed by the great St. Euthymius of Suzdal, friend of St. Sergius of Radonezh
But then, after tearful prayer at night, she saw in a dream that she was entering the Convent of the Meeting in Kashin, which she had not seen before; but by reason of the great crowds of people she could not enter the monastery. After many efforts she finally entered, and being astonished at the great numbers of pilgrims, she asked the reason for this; she was told that the relics of St. Dorothy (of whom she had never heard) were being opened for her canonization. This vision cut short the grief of the future Abbess Antonia and gave her the assurance that there was a righteous one reposing in the Convent of the Meeting also, and that her transferal there in 1839 was not without the will of God.
After some years in the Convent, the novice Alexandra (as she was then called) entered a particularly difficult period of spiritual trials. One day in this period, when she had not slept for several nights out of sorrow, she went to the monastery church for Matins, and after sitting down for the reading of the kathismata, she fell into a light sleep. Suddenly an unknown Schema-nun stood before her after coming out of the northern door of the Altar. She held in her right hand a wooden cross and a lighted wax candle, and in her left hand a smoking censer. Her mantle was gathered up and hung over her left arm. She stood right in front of novice Alexandra and directed a penetrating glance at her, as if seeing through her inward grief. Immediately the novice arose, but the vision had already vanished, and no one around her had seen it; and in her heart she felt an indescribably joyful feeling, as if she had never been in a sorrowful state. When she returned to her cell after Matins, she hastened to sketch with a pencil on paper the Schema-nun she had seen, whom she recognized as St. Dorothy, whom she deeply revered and often called upon in prayer. Several years after this she painted the Icon of St. Dorothy in full stature, exactly as she had sketched it that morning under the impression of that wonderful vision, only adding the Kashin Convent churches and other buildings behind the figure of St. Dorothy.
Later Mother Antonia became Abbess in the Convent of St. Dorothy, and out of her reverence for the saint she desired to show some special veneration for her memory. Many times, when visiting her holy Elder, Father Peter the fool for Christ's sake of Uglich, she would hear from him these words of reproach: "Dorothy is not honored among you!" This greatly grieved Mother Antonia, and finally she asked the Elder what she should do to venerate the holy one. He replied sharply and decisively: "Build a chapel!" In obedience to her holy Elder, she had a small chapel erected out of sheets of metal in a single morning in the summer of 1857,fearing that someone might tell the local bishop and he might forbid the construction if it were long underway. The bishop, however, when he found out about it, approved this veneration of St. Dorothy, and in 1870 Abbess Antonia was able to build a larger, stone chapel over the Saint's relics.
During these years St. Dorothy appeared many times and worked many miracles in her convent. A certain nun, Mother Seraphima, loved to spend the midnight hours with her cell attendant in the convent church. One night they came to the church at midnight and to their amazement saw a strange nun praying by a window, even though the church had been locked and no one could have entered. Another time at midnight they saw in the church an extraordinary light, all the candles were burning, and a nun was praying before the Altar. Many other sisters also were vouchsafed such visions of St. Dorothy.
Troparion, Tone 8
To thee O Mother, was truly preserved what is according to the image of God;* for, having taken up thy cross, thou didst follow after Christ,* and thou didst teach in act to despise the flesh, for it passeth away,* but to be diligent over the soul, as a thing immortal.* Wherefore thy spirit, O St. Dorothy,' doth rejoice together with the Angels.
From The Northern Thebaid, St. Herman of Alaska Brotherhood, 1995.
Labels: Female Saints, Fr. Seraphim Rose, Saints of Russia, Saints of September


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Q: wait and wait on time differences? I faced this question in one of the Interview.
What is the difference between wait and wait on time in threads?
I know wait method Causes the current thread to wait until either another thread invokes the notify() method or the notifyAll() method for this object, or a specified amount of time has elapsed. But I am not sure what is wait on time he is asking.
Can any one please explain what is wait on time means?
Thanks in Advance.

A: They probably mean Object.wait(long timeout) vs Object.wait(), read java.lang.Object API for details

A: void wait();
Enter a monitor's wait set until notified by
another thread.
void wait(long timeout);
Enter a monitor's wait set until notified by
another thread or timeout milliseconds elapses.
void wait(long timeout, int nanos);
Enter a monitor's wait set until notified by
another thread or timeout milliseconds plus
nanos nanoseconds elapses

A: From Java Doc

public final void wait(long timeout)
                  throws InterruptedException

Causes the current thread to wait until either another thread invokes the notify() method or the notifyAll() method for this object, or a specified amount of time has elapsed.


Walking down Brick road you realize that the houses are very similar, except from some minor differences. Brick road 3 and 4 are semi-detached, and this post shows you what hides behind the door of number 4, the brick building. It is the home of a small West-African family, and their house is the witness of their love for music, their home country and the colours of Africa.
I have made this brick house collection in tribute to immigrants all over the world. They richen the design, food, music and fashion and are important contributors to the culture they come to, and make our neighbourhoods colourful and interesting. If you want to customize the house yourself, I've also uploaded the house skeleton (Brick road no. 20), without indoor wallpapers, furniture or apartment facilitation. Make your own row of "same, same, but different" houses! There are four decorated (#2, #3, #4 and #5) and three undecorated (#1, #11 and #20) houses in the Bricktown series.
Ground floor: Hall, kitchen, sewing room, living room, W.C.
First floor: Three bedrooms, bath, W.C.
There are items on this lot that are not from the basic game, as listed below. Note that CC items will be installed in your game with the house. Items from The Store, Expansion packs (EP) and Stuff packs (SP) that you don't have will be replaced with items from the base game. If you want the house to show up in your game exactly as in the pictures, you will need the expansions/stuff packages below and the listed items from the Store.


Situated in the historic market town of Pickering on the edge of the North Yorkshire Moors, The White Swan Inn is a traditional 16th century coaching inn offering the ultimate in fuss free luxury and relaxation. It is the fusion of real Yorkshire hospitality and homely comfort which makes them so special.
Whether you book a smartly designed hideaway room, vintage room or a treat room or are simply visiting to dine in the restaurant, a warm and friendly Yorkshire welcome awaits you from one of the team with a can-do attitude, nothing really is too much trouble.
If you'd like to come and visit The White Swan Inn, simply enter your postcode, starting address or current location in the form below, and we'll provide a route for you via Google Maps.


Why hack into Apple devices when the userbase is willing to pay to have their device infected?
Adware Doctor is a $5.00 app available on the macOS app store which is a rip off of Malwarebytes for Mac with some extra data harvesting included. The app will grab all your history from Chrome, Firefox, and Safari and send it off to parts unknown as well as a list of running processes which implies it can get around Apple's sandbox implementation. The researchers who discovered this also informed The Register of other apps which have the same behaviour, including Open Any Files, Dr. Antivirus, and Dr. Cleaner. The new version of macOS, due in the near future, should ameliorate this issue but in the mean time you should check what apps you have installed on your devices and reconsider your next purchase on the App Store carefully.
"As Wardle – an expert in Apple security – noted, Adware Doctor, which sold for $4.99, was the fourth-highest grossing app in the "Paid Utilities" category of the macOS App Store."


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Rebecca is an author of children's books and YA. To support her writing habit, she works as an elementary school counselor and yoga instructor. And she always makes time to dig in her garden and bake desserts.
Scroll down to learn more about the author.
Follow the links to learn more about Rebecca's picture books and YA, and click the yellow menu button in the top right corner for more!
About Rebecca W. Wheeler
Rebecca Wenrich Wheeler was raised in West Point, a small town in the Tidewater region of Virginia. From the moment she submitted her first short story to a young author's contest in second grade, Rebecca knew she wanted to be a writer. Her love of writing led her to earn a BA in English and an MEd in English education. She spent several years as a high school teacher, where she also developed a passion for mental health promotion. Rebecca completed an MA in professional counseling, and now serves as an elementary school counselor and a college adjunct psychology instructor. Rebecca also teaches yoga for the young and the young at heart, and she likes to infuse yoga and breath work in her counseling practice wherever she can. She believes the most valuable use of her time is to teach youth how to love and care for each other and the world around them. Her stories share this focus on positive relationships and a love of nature. Rebecca now lives in Durham, North Carolina, with her husband, two children, and a spoiled Siamese cat. You can follow her on Instagram @rebeccawwheeler_author.
Feel free to reach out to Rebecca!


According to the Larger Sūtra of Immeasurable Life, Amitābha was, in very ancient times and possibly in another realm, a monk named Dharmakāra. In some versions of the sūtra, Dharmakāra is described as a former king who, having come into contact with the Buddhist teachings through the buddha Lokesvararaja, renounced his throne. He then resolved to become a buddha and so to come into possession of a buddhaksetra ("buddha-field", a world produced by a buddha's merit) possessed of many perfections. These resolutions were expressed in his forty-eight vows 四十八願, which set out the type of buddha-field Dharmakāra aspired to create, the conditions under which beings might be born into that world, and what kind of beings they would be when reborn there.
Provided I become a Buddha, if in that Buddha-country of mine there should be either hell, or the animal state of existence, or the realm of hungry ghost, then may I not attain the enlightenment.
Provided I become a Buddha, if in that country of mine the beings who are born there should fall away (die) into the three evil realms, then may I not attain the enlightenment.
Provided I become a Buddha, if in that country of mine the beings who are born there should not all be of the colour of genuine gold, then may I not attain the enlightenment.
Provided I become a Buddha, if in that Buddha-country of mine the beings who are born there should not all be of one appearance without the difference of noble looking or ugly lineaments, then may I not attain the enlightenment.
Provided I become a Buddha, if in that Buddha-country of mine the beings who are born there should not be possessed of the supernormal knowledge of recollecting the previous lives of themselves (Purvanivasana i.e. knowledge of all reincarnations), and knowing the events of evolution of hundred thousand nayuta years of kalpas, then may I not attain the enlightenment.
Provided I become a Buddha, if in that country of mine the beings who are born there should not be possessed of the Divine-eye (Divyatchakchus) which can see a hundred thousand nayuta of Buddha-countries, then may I not attain the enlightenment.
Provided I become a Buddha, if the beings of that country of mine should not be possessed of the Divine-ear (Divyassrotra) which to be able to hear the preachings of a hundred thousand kotis of nayuta of Buddhas, and to a faithful observance, then may I not attain the enlightenment.
Provided I become a Buddha, if the beings of that country of mine should not all possessed the Intuitive-mind (Paratchittadjna) knowing the thoughts of all beings of a hundred thousand kotis of nayuta of Buddha-countries, then may I not attain the enlightenment.
Provided I become a Buddha, if the beings of that country of mine should not all possessed of the Heavenly-step (Riddisakchatkriya) which can in the shortest moment of one thought travelling over a hundred thousand kotis of nayuta of Buddha-countries, then may I not attain the enlightenment.
Provided I become a Buddha, if the beings of that country of mine should have arise in their minds the idea of selfishness and covetous thoughts, even with regard to their own bodies, then may I not attain the enlightenment.
Provided I become a Buddha, if the beings of that country of mine should not all be firmly abiding in a concentrated state of meditation and equanimity (Samadhi) till they have reached Nirvana, then may I not attain the enlightenment.
Provided I become a Buddha, if my light should be limited in measurement so that it could not illuminate a hundred thousand nayuta of kotis of Buddha-countries, then may I not attain the enlightenment.
Provided I become a Buddha, if the measure of my life should be limited, even by counting a hundred thousand nayuta of kotis of Kalpas, then may I not attain the enlightenment.
Provided I become a Buddha, if any being should be able to count innumerable pupils belonging to me in that country of mine, even if all the beings of those three million worlds and the whole triple chiliocosm, who after having become Pratyeka-Buddhas, count and continue to do so for a period of a hundred thousand nayuta of kotis of Kalpas, could know the balance, then may I not attain the enlightenment.
Provided I become a Buddha, the life of the beings in that country of mine should be eternal, excepting by their own free will whenever they choose to pass away from life, otherwise may I not attain the enlightenment.
Provided I become a Buddha, there should be no evil or sinful existence in that country of mine, even its very name is unknown. Otherwise may I not attain the enlightenment.
Provided I become a Buddha, if the innumerable Buddhas of the worlds of ten quarters do not glorify my name, then may I not attain the enlightenment.
Provided I become a Buddha, if the beings of ten quarters who have directed their thoughts towards the Bodhi and cultivated their stock of various merits with a fervent craving for re-birth in that country of mine, if at the moment of death, should I not appear with an assembly of retinue before them, then may I not attain the enlightenment.
Provided I become a Buddha, if the beings of ten quarters, after having heard my name always longing for that country of mine and cultivating various essential merits for the purpose of realizing their earnest wish to be born in my country, should their fulfillment be failed, then may I not attain the enlightenment.
Provided I become a Buddha, if the beings of that country of mine should not all be endowed with the glorious body perfected with the thirty-two attributes (Laksanani) of a great being, then may I not attain the enlightenment.
Provided I become a Buddha, the Bodhisattvas who come to be born in that country of mine are to be bound to that one birth only, then to become Buddha-elect (Ekajatipratibuddhas), with the exception of those who by their own free will remain in the stage of Bodhisattva-hood for the sake of delivering various beings, wearing the armour of vows to travel to all worlds, performing their Boddhisattva-duties and accumulating their stock of merit, who wish to serve the Buddhas of ten quarters, and convert the various beings in number like grains of sand of the River Ganges to the highest perfect knowledge, whose activities have surpassed the stage of ordinary beings, and who practise the universal virtue of Samantabhadra, otherwise may I not attain the enlightenment.
Provided I become a Buddha, if those Bodhisattvas in that country of mine, through the Grace of the Buddha should not be able to serve all the Buddhas throughout the countless nayuta of Buddha-worlds within a moment as short as a length of time of refreshment, then may I not attain the enlightenment.
Provided I become a Buddha, if those Bodhisattva in that country of mine who wish their stock of merit to produce any appliance to be used before the Buddhas, should such things not appear for them to their satisfaction, then may I not attain the enlightenment.
Provided I become a Buddha, if those Bodhisattvas in that country of mine should not be able to preach the law of wisdom in completion, then may I not attain the enlightenment.
Provided I become a Buddha, those Bodhisattva of that country of mine should not all be in possession of a golden body as strong as the diamond of Narayana, then may I not attain the enlightenment.
Provided I become a Buddha, the heavenly beings and the various properties produced in that country of mine should all be of supreme beauty and in boundless quantity, and in the infinity of various forms. If any being therein who even possessed the divine-eye is able to perceive the appellations and quantity of such beauties, then may I not attain the enlightenment.
Provided I become a Buddha, if any Bodhisattva of that country of mine who possesses even the least stock of merit, should not perceive the boundless shining beauty of the Bodhi-trees of my sanctuary, their height being at least four millions of miles, then may I not attain enlightenment.
Provided I become a Buddha, if any Bodhisattva of that country of mine should not all possess the wisdom of eloquent oration after having read, recited, and observed the Dharma of the sutras, then may I not attain the enlightenment.
Provided I become a Buddha, if any Bodhisattvas of that country of mine, have their wisdom of oration limited, then may I not attain the enlightenment.
When I have obtained the Buddhahood, if that country of mine should not be limpid and brilliant as to reflect the miniatures of the innumerable, inconceivable and boundless Buddha-worlds of ten quarters as one's face is seen in a bright mirror, then may I not attain the enlightenment.
If after I have obtained the Buddhahood, in that country of mine, there should be magnificent palaces towering up from the ground to the void, also the lakes, winding streams, blossoming trees, and all other properties which are compounded of various jewels and thousands of kinds of perfumes, minutely embellished in the most wondrous state surpassing all heavenly and human worlds. The scent of the perfumes should thoroughly pervade the worlds of ten quarters, whereof the Bodhisattvas, having smelt them thereby directed their minds to Bodhi; otherwise may I not attain the enlightenment.
When I obtain the Buddhahood, any being of the boundless and inconceivable Buddha-worlds of the ten quarters whose body if be touched by the rays of my splendour should not make his body and mind gentle and peaceful, in such a state that he is far more sublime than the gods and men, then may I not attain the enlightenment.
When I obtain the Buddhahood, if the beings of boundless and inconceivable Buddha-worlds should not attain the "Endurance of Nirvanic Life" (Ajatah sarvadharmah) of Bodhisattva, and the deep knowledge of "Adharanamudro" (or Dharani?) after having heard my name, then may I not attain the enlightenment.
When I obtain the Buddhahood, women of boundless and inconceivable Buddha-worlds of the ten quarters after having heard my name thereby awakened in faith and joyful aspiration, and turning their minds towards Bodhi, therefore dislike their own female lives, when they be born again, in their next life should not be incarnated into a masculine body, then may I not attain the enlightenment.
When I obtain the Buddhahood, the Bodhisattvas of boundless and inconceivable Buddha-worlds of the ten quarters after having heard my name, after their death (in their next life) will still continue their Bodhisattva-duty till they have obtained the Buddhahood, otherwise may I not attain the enlightenment.
When I obtain the Buddhahood, the heavenly beings of boundless and inconceivable Buddha-worlds of the ten quarters, having heard my name, should not worship me with prostrate reverence, and joyfully and faithfully perform their Bodhisattva-duty, and be honoured by gods and men, then may I not attain the enlightenment.
When I obtain the Buddhahood, the heavenly beings of that country of mine, should they desire a garment will be able to perceive themselves, as quick as thought, covered by apparitionally produced costumes, excellent to their satisfaction, worthy to be praised by the Buddha, without the work of sewing, washing, dying, etc. Otherwise may I not attain enlightenment.
When I attain the Buddhahood, if the heavenly beings of that country of mine should not be enjoying happiness as great as that that of the holy bhikkhus,(Asravakchava the finality of the stream of passions) then may I not attain the enlightenment.
When I attain the Buddhahood, if the Bodhisattvas of that country of mine wish to see the boundless, holy, pure Buddha-worlds of the ten quarters, they will at once behold them from the jewel-trees as though one's face were being reflected in a highly burnished, brilliant mirror, otherwise may I not attain the enlightenment.
When I attain the Buddhahood, if the Bodhisattvas of other worlds after having heard my name, should suffer from any diminution in the functional powers and not be endowed with all sense-organs in completion before reaching the Buddhahood, then may I not attain the enlightenment.
When I obtain the Buddhahood, if the Bodhisattvas hearing my name from other Buddha-countries, should not all attain the pure Samadhi of emancipation (Suvibhaktavati) from which they could serve innumerable and inconceivable number of Buddhas, Tathagatas, by a moment of thought; and if that Samadhi of theirs should come to an end meanwhile, then may I not attain enlightenment.
If after I have obtained the Buddhahood, that any Bodhisattva of other countries having heard my name, will be incarnated as a member of a noble family (if he so desires) when he dies, otherwise may I not attain enlightenment.
When I obtain the Buddhahood, the Bodhisattvas of other countries having heard my name will all obtain a combination of full virtues and joyfully perform their Bodhisattva-duty, otherwise may I not attain enlightenment.
When I have obtain the Buddhahood, the Bodhisattvas of other countries having heard my name, all will attain the "Samantanugata"(the thoroughly and equal Samadhi in a fixed state of meditation) through that Samadhi they will see innumerable and inconceivable Buddhas constantly till they have obtained the Buddhahood, otherwise may I for-bear from obtaining enlightenment.
When I obtain the Buddhahood, the Bodhisattvas of that country of mine should be able to hear the preachings of the Dharma whenever they desire (the voices of teaching will present themselves naturally to their ears), otherwise may I refrain from attaining enlightenment.
When I have obtain the Buddhahood, if the Bodhisattvas of other countries after having heard my name should not immediately reach the state of Avaivartika (i.e. not turning back from Bodhi), then I would refrain from attaining enlightenment.
When I have obtained the Buddhahood, if the Bodhisattvas of other countries having heard my name should not reach the first, second and third degrees of Dharma-endurance immediately or should turn back from the Law of Buddhas, then I would refrain from attaining enlightenment.
Chihmann, Upasika (P.C. Lee), tr., The Two Buddhist Books in Mahayana. Taipei: Corporate Body of the Buddha Educational Foundation [undated published in early 1930s]. UK edition published Oxford: Kemp Hall, c. 1935. FEP states "No copyright of this book is reserved."


Top museum in NYC. Best of the modern art.
Learn more about the City of New York!
Art, history and digital media through moving-image works.
Here you can have a master class or even participate into a workshop!
Maryland Avenue Southwest 317-343, 20024 Washington D. C.
Explore the German and Austrian art and design in NYC!
Are you interested in firefighters? This is your museum!


Awareness: Read a wonderful essay about authenticity. While it's good to be who you are (depending on who you are, I guess), the author states we don't have to say or share everything about ourselves, but feels being sincere is utmost important. During a discussion a friend stated he felt being the best version of ourselves is the right way to be. I agree.
Awareness: Mindfulness vs. Mindlessness: I've always heard chores are more joyful when one is mindful. Two chores I am always mindless (yet creatively prolific) when doing are vacuuming and mowing. While doing both of these I seem to get my best writing or other creative project ideas.
Creativity: Designed stain glass patterns, watched youtube videos and learned some great shortcuts to implement in some of my upcoming stained glass projects, can't wait to try them!
Gratitude: requests to order some of my stain glass pieces, went shopping for one thing and ran across a bargain and got that instead! DirtMan ordered me a new battery for my laptop as mine has experienced "permanent failure"!
Joy: mango mimosas in the back yard…trees, breeze, and birds, and most importantly it does not feel like 97 degrees! After plans for dinner out with friends who had to cancel we ordered in pizza…did not feel like cooking today.
Awareness: As much of an introvert as I am when I have plans I look forward to I am terribly disappointed when they are cancelled…I really do enjoy being with people when they are ones I love!
Gratitude: My sister is alive! She was hit by a car while riding her scooter, no broken bones but a small brain bleed, hospital keeping her for observation.
Joy: Texts from my sister, proof she's going to be ok. Book Club! Need I say more? (And I actually went to B&N and did not make a purchase…what a miracle! Or would that be a travesty in the eyes of a book lover?) Oldest's sense of humor.
Awareness: Helplessness is not a good feeling…oh, how I wish I could be in two places at once. How I wish I had the power to remove pain from those I love and the world in general. Sending all the healing energy I can muster. I don't think that is the draining part; it is the physical sensation of stress, the crushing of the chest, the weight of the soul, the beauty of love. I am not complaining; I am acknowledging. Love leads the way.
Gratitude: My sister was released from the hospital tonight!
Joy: My sister's voice! My first orange daylily has bloomed. There are usually silver linings in grey skies. A yard of birds and flowers! Phone call with Youngest! A lovely, inspirational FB post shared by my nephew.
Awareness: Realization unexpected things happen for a reason even often unbeknown to us.
Joy: Writer's group! Friendships and communication.
Awareness: Enjoying the gifts of nature from inside my house: the scuffle of scurrying squirrel feet across the roof, wingtips soaring past the picture window, beautiful birdsong, early morning sunlight filtering through the tree limbs, the sweet scent of gardenia sifting through an open window…and then add the melody of wind chimes and colorful garden flags waving.
Gratitude: A husband willing to change plans in the blink of an eye for me.
Joy: Having a good friend who knows what to say and when to say it and when to just listen, and best of all how to make me laugh when I need it most.
Awareness: Some things are completely out of our control, and it's a good thing if we really think about it…after all, we never really know the complete picture beforehand.
Like life, this Yucca is filled with sharp edges. However, if you focus on those you'll miss both the beauty and the sweetness. The aroma of life,let it fill your lungs and sustain you.
Gratitude: Our maiden trip with Pearl, the new car. (We let go of the Oyster and got a Pearl! Naming our cars? Yes, we are silly like that!) We made it safely to the mountains…traveled through torrential downpours where we could hardly see in front of us. At least I couldn't so it's a good thing I wasn't driving.
Joy: A mountain weekend with DirtMan, the sound of tree frogs in the night.
Awareness: No matter the clouds, the sky still sparkled with scattered stars…now that is just one delight of country life.
Gratitude: Again, reaching our destination safely. We were traveling over a mountain during another storm; torrential downpours, lightening, flooding, mudslides…mowing (five hours of it) was completed before the storms hit.
Joy: Early morning porch sounds of the creek bubbling at the edge of the field, a train whistle in the distance, and the birds singing. Dinner and drinks out with the hubby after visiting the MIL. A beautiful lightening show throughout our passage of the mountain …the black sky changes from black to blue to white in seconds, and the streaks and flashes add a bit of pizzazz.
Awareness: When the banks fill and water carves a new route…never underestimate the power of water…it will cut through what it must to move, and it will take out whatever it must to get where it wants to go.
Gratitude: Waterproof boots, Indian Pipe (Monotropa uniflora, also called ghost plant) was everywhere we hiked along the creek. This was my dad's favorite plant and we were walking the land he walked all of his life. I felt as if he was walking in spirit along with us. Hiking and photographing the family homestead and property with DirtMan….and we didn't come across any snakes, yay!
Joy: Breakfast out with my mom and DirtMan. A rainbow after traveling through a downpour. Porch sitting, enjoying nature and cloud watching with my mom, especially delightful was hearing a Bobwhite in the mix of birds. Rusty horse shoes hanging on the side of the weathered barn and workshop.
Awareness: Most breathtaking-watching the early morning fog lift from the mountain range. Beneath the rising ghosts peaks of blue and green emerge.
Awareness: I am the captain of my ship. I often make up excuses to myself why I'm not doing something when in reality I am the only one who can do the things I can and need to do. It is not up to anyone else to complete my goals or fulfill my dreams.
Creativity: Nothing specific, at least not in the "arts". However, I did read some reference material on the craft of writing.
Awareness: I had forgotten to take my amaryllis out of the shed in early spring. Last week, I took it out and it already had a bud on the stalk but only an edge of a leaf was visible. Today it has a beautiful triple bloom…however no leaves yet. How often are we lacking one thing in particular and think the rest of our assets aren't enough to carry us through? Remember you are beautiful. Remember you are enough, just as you are!
Awareness: There are things we learn in life we forget, or perhaps we simply lose technique. After a few attempts it all comes back, kind of like riding a bike.
Sometimes we appreciate the beauty of life more through glimpses rather than the big picture.
Awareness: How important it is to be there for others when you are needed, even if it's only listening. Sometimes your voice might just be what someone else needs to hear.
Awareness: Early morning quiet time outside with a cup of coffee, except nature is not so quiet…though I can't complain of singing cardinals and tohwees, chirping sparrows, scrambling squirrels, or rustling grasses. There's something soothing about starting the day with nature's noise.
Awareness: The illusion of time.
Awareness: Often small (to humans) things affect animals on a deeper level. I bathed my dog (who was not thrilled) to find the cat lay beside her, sniff her, and promptly retreat under the bed for several hours. Did she think I was going to bathe her, too?
Joy: The buyers picked up my old Suby today, and it went to a wonderful family. First rate service from our dealership…a piece of paper was overlooked that I signed but hubby didn't and instead of us having to drive to dealership city to take care of it, someone stopped by our house last night to do it.
Awareness: Watching joy pass from a little girl to a dog and back. I let Wylie out to the back yard and I could hear the squeals of delight of the little girl next door. She was all smiles as she leaned over the side gate to pet Wylie. Wagging tail, Wylie bounced up and down in exuberance. She leaned over and hugged Wylie as well as she could through a chain link fence. This sweetness lasted until Wylie heard her dogs in their backyard and she had to visit them through the back fence.
Awareness: Darkness fell over the room so quickly I felt I'd been swallowed by the night. Not the usual eye adjustment where I could see outlines and shadows.
Gratitude: Because I had Monday off I've been ahead of myself all week…so nice not to be chasing myself around!
Joy: The hoot owl is back in the neighborhood! I hadn't heard him for a long time, love listening to him call.
Awareness: I'm sitting beneath the air-conditioning duct wearing a bulky sweater and thick socks and drinking a cup of hot herbal tea. Only a fifty-something woman can appreciate the irony and necessity of this situation.