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Exemplore
UFOs & Aliens
The Voronezh UFO Incident
Jana is an amateur everything when it comes to space, nature and science. She loves exploring mysteries, both classic and new.
Park road in Voronezh. | Source
As the story begins, we find three children. Their names are given as Zhenya Blinov, Vasya Surin and Yuliya Sholokhova. The girl and two boys all attended the local school. On that fateful evening of September 27th, the friends decided to go and play in the local park. It was about half past six and the weather was warm.
The UFO Lands
At about that time, they noticed something in the sky. Depending on whom you ask, the description of the UFO varied. The children saw something that was banana-shaped. As a crowd gathered, some described a pink brilliance that turned into a red ball, or sphere. Its diameter was about 10 yards. Everyone watched in stunned silence as the ball landed.
The Entities
A hatch lowered. The actual number of aliens reported also varied, swinging between one and three. Another member of the crew appeared to be a robot. The aliens were humanoid, around nine feet tall and had small heads. This next feature didn't exactly help the story's credibility—but each alien had three eyes.
At least one alien had a disk on its chest. They wore silvery suits, described as "overalls" and bronze boots. Their fashion was added in later editions, days after the story was first printed and people wanted to know more.
Tall and Human Like
The aliens were described as lanky and with human-like bodies. | Source
A Little Unfriendly
The aliens communicated with each other. Exactly how that went down is a little low on the details, but they made a triangle appear in the air. The thing was described as being very shiny. Then, they activated the robot simply by touching it.
This was too much for one of the boys, who screamed. Apparently lacking sympathy for the natives of the world they just landed on, one of the aliens stared at the boy. The act that not only silenced the child but also allegedly paralyzed him. Worse, they pointed some kind of tube at an unnamed 16-year-old boy and made him disappear. It wasn't clear what the teenager did to deserve this.
The Physical Evidence
The creatures seemed very interested in the park. They took a quick stroll through the area with their robot (described as a short entity). Once they boarded the craft and took off again, the vanished teenager reappeared. Reports about aliens leaving their spaceships often include eyewitness statements of the creatures taking samples. In this case, the beings left something behind.
Investigators identified the landing site—a circle with a diameter of around 20 feet. There were also several dents, resembling "elephant footprints." The creatures also discarded two rocks. According to the news articles, these looked like red sandstone or hematite. However, when scientists analyzed the rocks, they claimed the results showed the substance was not from Earth.
Lieutenant Matveyev
UFO investigators view police officers as good witnesses, because of their observational and investigation skills. This doesn't mean that the odd cop cannot lie. The police officer in this case was Lieutenant Sergei Matveyev, stationed at the Voronezh district police station.
To his credit, his report was sober. He never claimed to have seen the aliens. Also, when he saw the UFO in the air, he didn't immediately assume it was extraterrestrial. His first thought was that he was tired and seeing things. However, the object's silence and speed at low altitude convinced him that something strange was going on.
TASS News Agency Building
The government-owned TASS is the biggest news agency in Russia. | Source
The Case of TASS
TASS was a press agency known for its seriousness. However, when it ran the story on October 9, 1989, the sensationalist tone made many people suspicious. Even when pressed, TASS never admitted to a hoax. The correspondent who handled the story, Vladimir Lebedev, was pretty offended by those who didn't take the story seriously.
Lebedev said he spoke to many of the witnesses, including the three children and the experts who examined the landing site. In a phone interview, he mentioned that Genrikh Silanov (from the Voronezh Geophysical Laboratory) also spoke to the three kids. When Silanov separated them and asked they draw the craft, all three sketched similar UFOs. The craft described in this case was the banana-shaped version and apparently, it left behind the letter X in the sky.
The journalist, Lebedev, also dropped a bombshell—he claimed three landings had occurred, between September 23 and 29. This meant that the "Voronezh incident" was the second landing. It's not clear how they knew about the first, or third.
Why TASS Was Doubted
Apart from the sensationalist voice from the once-serious agency, many felt that there were additional reasons for a hoax. There were the statements without evidence and the add-ons (the clothing and the two extra landings). Additionally, at the time, the Soviet Union's power was failing. It was downright depressing. Debunkers claim an alien story was published to perk things up. Another reason, given by some, was that newspapers were experimenting with how far they could go with a fake story, given that media freedom was relatively new. To be fair, these reasons stand on the same shaky ground as the UFO story itself.
Several other things never came to fruition either. The director of the regional health center, Vladimir Moiseyev, claimed that he wanted to medically examine the three young witnesses. As far as anyone can tell, this never happened. The X-producing banana was also not original. This type of UFO was first described in a 1976 article published by a magazine called Saga. Although it was American and no longer in circulation by the time of the park incident, there's always a chance that the children got their hands on a copy.
The Voronezh case is generally viewed by the media as a hoax. Most UFO fans and investigators might agree that the facts are a little thin on the ground and that there's a lack of photographic and medical evidence. No one's even sure where the two rocks are. However, there are undoubtedly believers that something landed that night (or three nights) in a park in the city of Voronezh in 1989.
http://time.com/3475954/voronezh-ufo-report-1989/
https://www.nytimes.com/1989/10/11/world/ufo-landing-is-fact-not-fantasy-the-russians-insist.html
https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1989/10/10/back-in-the-ufo/bcac9950-8ea1-47d7-8539-e16aec4542e1/?utm_term=.f9ebcff38f6e
This content is accurate and true to the best of the author's knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.
© 2019 Jana Louise Smit
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9 months ago from South Africa
Thanks Tim, I'm very glad that you enjoyed it. I encountered no mention of a nuclear station during my research. However, you're right. I've also read several cases where UFOs show an attraction to our energy plants, stations and grids. It's a very interesting phenomenon in its own right.
Tim Truzy
9 months ago from U.S.A.
Interesting. I wonder if this area was near a nuclear weapons installation. UFO's have been visiting them for decades. Also, it wouldn't be surprising if these children's minds were manipulated a bit by the aliens or whatever they encountered. Great work. Loved it.
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BKD Energy Practice Hires New National Consulting Leader
News Release Oct 15, 2020
DALLAS – Brian Matlock, the national practice leader for BKD National Energy & Natural Resources (ENR) Practice, is pleased to announce the addition of Coleman Rowland as the practice's national consulting leader. Rowland, who served as the North American oil and gas advisory leader for an international firm, brings 30 years of oil and gas experience.
Matlock said adding Rowland to the ENR practice was a big win for BKD CPAs & Advisors. "Bringing in Coleman will significantly expand our advisory service offerings and will improve our ability to provide our oil and gas clients with Unmatched Client Service®," he said.
South Region Managing Partner Tom Watson echoed Matlock's statement. "Growing our ENR practice has been one of the top focus areas of our Governing Board. We are actively investing in new talent to help solve our clients' most complex problems and are thrilled to have Coleman join our team," he said.
A recognized name in the ENR industry, Rowland will join BKD as a managing director in the firm's Houston office, where he will begin building an internal audit practice that will serve all industry groups. Rowland has experience in leading successful large-scale transformation initiatives, improving financial management processes in multinational business environments and assisting clients in solving complex problems in domestic and global markets.
"I'm excited for this new opportunity, and I'm looking forward to helping expand our advisory offerings in the Energy & Natural Resources sector," said Rowland.
Rowland is a member of the Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants and has served on the Greater Houston Partnership Energy Advisory Committee. He is a graduate of Texas A&M University with a bachelor's degree in accounting and management information systems and holds an MBA from the University of Houston.
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Category: Miscellanous
Can Indian Team create History at Australia?
Can India create History? Can India win Test Series at Australia? Can India break ice of 63 years? These are the question for discussion in media.
India has not won any test series in Australia against Australia. Though last time under the leadership of Dravid, India were so close win a series. But eventually finished at a draw. India has lost 7 Test series out of 9 series and could manage to draw for 2 times.
But this time Australia is not a team as it was. The winning percentage in 44% in last 3 years. Whereas India has won all the test series played in last three years except the england tour. The current form of some of the players like Virat, Dravid, Rohit creates great hope for Indian cricket lovers. And the form of Indian Bowlers Ashwin, Ojha,Umesh and came back of Zaheer adds to the hope.
So, there is a great hope for Indian Team creating History in Australia.
S.manoharan
Yes. The Indian team is going to make a record in the history of Cricket by the Australian tour. The good Team of India was selected for this tour. All the persons in the team are in good form. There will be 4 Test matches and two T20 matches is going to be happened in between India and Australia.
MS Dhoni, Sachin and Virot Holi are in god form. So, The Indian team will do a good record in The land of Australia.
S.Manoharan.


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Intema Solutions rebrands to React Gaming Group
Intema Solutions, a renowned Canadian iGaming firm, has announced that it has successfully rebranded as React Gaming Group following a smooth transition period. All of the company's esports and betting operations will be conducted under the RGG symbol.
Although the rebrand will make it such that common shares will trade on the TSX Venture Exchange under the new RGG symbol and name, the company has noted that the rebranding process occurred without any modifications to the share capital or consolidation of existing shareholders' interests.
The rebrand, according to React Gaming CEO and president Laurent Benezra, came about after the acquisition of eSports betting platform Loot.Bet earlier in 2022. Benezra noted that it was past time to take stock of the group's involvement in the iGaming and eSports industries.
The acquisition of Loot.Bet has proven to generate significant income for the firm, and as a result, React Gaming is confident in its ability to extend its betting and online gaming activities into a variety of new and lucrative areas.
With more than 500,000 registered customers, Loot.Bet is one of the world's most popular esports betting sites. A competent staff of more than 50 individuals supports the company's activities, which include live gambling and online gaming. Benezra noted that the firm would undertake marketing campaigns in the next weeks in order to increase the size of the 500,000-member Loot.Bet community and, as a result, attract new users.
The React Gaming Group Grows
With the acquisition of Loot.Bet, the React Gaming Group now has 5 companies in total under its umbrella; the other four being Team Bloodhounds, Generationz Gaming Entertainment, Parabellum, and HypeX.gg.
HypeX.gg is an esports social gaming platform that focuses on peer-to-peer gaming in the esports industry. The site hosts a large number of tournaments, all of which are open to the public and give real money awards as rewards. As participants participate in games, their statistics are immediately updated.
Generationz Gaming Entertainment is a company that specializes in providing customized esports and sports solutions. With the firm's services, partners may start their own new gambling sites while receiving experienced coaching from React Gaming's staff to assist them through every stage of the process.
Squad Bloodhounds is a Canadian Fortnite team that aims to promote fan interaction by posting content on its social media outlets, which include YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter.
Finally, Parabellum is a professional esports group based in Toronto, Canada, that competes in games such as Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Rainbow Six Siege, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Rocket League, and other popular titles. Northern Shield Academy, which supports players' esports careers and includes content makers and streams from North America, is administered by the team as a subsidiary.
React Gaming, a major iGaming firm, is well-known for its commitment to investing in technology that give players with the greatest possible gaming experiences. The firm provides maximum involvement in the iGaming market, which is expanding at a rapid pace, through the use of intelligent data.


Marc E. Bassy is gearing up to release his upcoming project Groovy People in the next few weeks and just dropped the first single. "You & Me" features G-Eazy on the last verse and he does his usual thing. The real highlight is Marc's vocal execution throughout. Don't hesitate and press play below and be on the lookout for more info on Groovy People in the near future.
Even after being nominated for eleven Grammys this year, Kendrick still found time to rehearse and perform a brand new song on The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon. Similar to the song K.Dot performed on Stephen Colbert's show a few months back ("Untitled #1"), there is no recording a just the live performance. I will say, this song may be better than some of the tracks on To Pimp A Butterfly because of how much it grooves. Don't miss out and check out the performance for yourselves below.
Game drops off a brand new track with a feature from Diddy. "Standing on Ferraris" is just a single in preparation for the release of his upcoming album The Documentary Pt. 2. This song finds The Game name dropping. From Kanye West, to Rick Rubin and even onto Khloe Kardashian. Check it out below and let us know what you think.
The wait is almost over. TDE's Jay Rock has his debut album 90059 available for pre-order on iTunes that could drop anytime. His lead single of the same name, "90059" also just got a new video. The video features Lance Skiiiwalker and SZA while the beat is produced by Tae Beast. Watch the clip below and go pre-order the album on iTunes today.


684 Through his grace, the Holy Spirit is the first to awaken faith in us and to communicate to us the new life, which is to "know the Father and the one whom he has sent, Jesus Christ."
1989 The first work of the grace of the Holy Spirit is conversion, effecting justification in accordance with Jesus' proclamation at the beginning of the Gospel: "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
1999 The grace of Christ is the gratuitous gift that God makes to us of his own life, infused by the Holy Spirit into our soul to heal it of sin and to sanctify it.
2003 Grace is first and foremost the gift of the Spirit who justifies and sanctifies us.
2010 Since the initiative belongs to God in the order of grace, no one can merit the initial grace of forgiveness and justification, at the beginning of conversion.
161 Believing in Jesus Christ and in the One who sent him for our salvation is necessary for obtaining that salvation. "Since 'without faith it is impossible to please [God]' and to attain to the fellowship of his sons, therefore without faith no one has ever attained justification, nor will anyone obtain eternal life 'But he who endures to the end.'"
1816 Service of and witness to the faith are necessary for salvation: "So every one who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven; but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven" (Mt 10:32-33).
153 Faith is a grace. When St. Peter confessed that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, Jesus declared to him that this revelation did not come "from flesh and blood", but from "my Father who is in heaven". Faith is a gift of God, a supernatural virtue infused by him. "Before this faith can be exercised, man must have the grace of God to move and assist him; he must have the interior helps of the Holy Spirit, who moves the heart and converts it to God, who opens the eyes of the mind and 'makes it easy for all to accept and believe the truth.'"
1966 The New Law is the grace of the Holy Spirit given to the faithful through faith in Christ.
This fact that Catholics believe in salvation by grace through faith is the first and most important thing to establish before any discussion on salvation can be undertaken. If you, as a Catholic, begin by discussing the importance of the sacraments, or of good works, or merit, or indulgences, or anything else, then you will simply be talking past your opponent. After all, he probably enters the discussion already thinking that Catholics are Pelagian and so will filter any talk of sacraments, or works, or merit through that misunderstanding. But, once you lay the groundwork by affirming what he himself believes, then you can begin to show how sacraments and everything else fits within that belief in the primacy of grace and faith.
Catholic "Initial Justification" and Protestant "Faith Alone": Significant Common Ground?
However, in the Book of Acts, we see that the apostles were baptizing people "in the name of Jesus Christ" (2:38; 10:48) and "in the name of the Lord Jesus" (8:16; 19:5). Are the apostles being disobedient? No.
It makes more sense to say that Luke is simply differentiating the Christian baptism from the other baptisms of the day, such as John's baptism (cf. Acts 1:5,22; 10:37; 11:16; 13:24; 18:25; 19:4), Jewish ritual washings (Gk "baptizo"; cf. Mk 7:4; Lk 11:38), and the baptism for the dead (cf. 1 Cor 15:29).
We also can't forget that, according to Matthew's gospel, the command to baptize in the name of the Trinity was Jesus' final word to His apostles before He ascended into heaven. They are a sort of last will and testament to them. This means that those words are very important, and you can bet the apostles hung on every last word of it. To think that they would then go forth and baptize in some other way is nonsensical.
"The Lord himself told his disciples that they should baptize all peoples in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit . . . for indeed, legitimate baptism is had only in the name of the Trinity"
By baptizing as Jesus' commanded, the Church is simply doing what Christians have always done.
Is the Rosary "Vain Repitition"?
Some anti-Catholics are fond of using Mt 6:7 against the practice of praying the rosary. But, does that passage really apply?
Mt 6:1-8 "Beware of practicing your piety before men in order to be seen by them; for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. 2 "Thus, when you give alms, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 3 But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your alms may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 5 "And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 7 "And in praying do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
Protestants may be more familiar with the KJV rendering of vs. 7: "But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking." At any rate, the context is crucial here. What this reveals is that Jesus was not condemning repetition as such, but vain repetition, that is, saying words over and over so that you can be seen and heard by men and receive their praise. Jesus is speaking against those people who pray, not out of humility and adoration of God, but so that they can be known for their so-called piety. Catholics don't pray the rosary with that intention, thus this passage does not apply.
Mt 26:39,42,44 And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, "My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt." [...] 42 Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, "My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, thy will be done." [...] 44 So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words.
Ever read the Psalms? They are filled with repetitive prayer. Psalm 136 repeats the phrase "his steadfast love endures forever" 26 times! Worship in heaven is also repetitious: "day and night they never cease to sing, 'Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!'" (Rev 4.8).
It's clear from this that, when it comes to praying, the intentions of the heart are what matter most.
What are some examples of sins against the Holy Spirit?
The primary sin against the Holy Spirit is the act of disbelief of the Spirit's divinity and His working in Christ and through the Church. This can also take the form of despair over one's soul, in which a person considers oneself beyond the saving power of the Holy Spirit.
When Jesus comes again, heaven and earth will pass away. He will usher in a new heaven and a new earth, in which all evil, and sin, and suffering, and weakness, and temptation, and hunger, and every ill-effect of sin and the devil on earth will be definitively destroyed. On that day, heaven and earth will come together to be one place of perfect peace and happiness where Jesus reigns forever and ever (cf. Rev 21:1-5). By saying that His words will outlast even the entire created order as we know it, He is emphasizing the permanent relevance and power and timelessness of His word.
I've heard that Jesus could've been as old as a toddler or possibly even older when the three wise men came. Does the Church have an age range established?
The Church usually does not define incidental matters of history like this. So, there is no authoritative teaching on the matter.
When and why did the Orthodox churches branch away? Why is Catholicism broken up? Why wouldn't the pope unite them?
Well, it isn't that Catholicism is broken up, it's that several groups of Christians have separated themselves from Her over the years. There had been many years of theological disputes and hurt feelings between Christians in Western and Eastern Europe leading up to 1054 AD, when representatives from both sides excommunicated each other. This was the "straw that broke the camel's back", so to speak, and was the impetus for many churches in the East to form what would be known as the Eastern Orthodox Church. However, since the Eastern Orthodox Church maintains a valid apostolic succession and all seven sacraments, there are still many ties that bind us. Especially since the Second Vatican Council, the Popes of the Catholic Church and the Patriarchs of the East have made every effort at reunification. I think there is good reason to believe that one day we will be one Body again.
Having recently defended the divinity of Jesus and the creative work of the Father, it seems only fitting that I would spend some time on the Holy Spirit. Specifically, I am striving here to defend the divinity and unique personality of the Spirit. This has probably been the most difficult of the three to write, but I think that a convincing case has been made.
"With the Father and Son, He is worshiped and glorified." I hope I have done Him justice.
2 Cor 13:14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
That three Persons would share a single name -- and two of them are most certainly divine -- strongly implies coequality among Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The passage from 2 Cor is much like it.
Jn 14:17, 23 (cf. 1 Cor 3:16; 6:19) even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him; you know him, for HE DWELLS WITH YOU, and will be in you. [...] 23 Jesus answered him, "If a man loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and MAKE OUR HOME WITH HIM.
1 Cor 3:16 Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit DWELLS IN YOU?
Acts 5:3-4 But Peter said, "Anani'as, why has Satan filled your heart to lie TO THE HOLY SPIRIT and to keep back part of the proceeds of the land? 4 While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? How is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but TO GOD."
Acts 7:51 (cf. Exo 16:8; Psa 78:17) "You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist THE HOLY SPIRIT. As your fathers did, so do you.
Exo 16:8 And Moses said, "When the LORD gives you in the evening flesh to eat and in the morning bread to the full, because the LORD has heard your murmurings which you murmur against him--what are we? Your murmurings are not against us but against THE LORD."
Psa 78:17 Yet they sinned still more against him, rebelling against THE MOST HIGH in the desert.
Acts 28:25-26 (cf. Isa 6:3,8-10) So, as they disagreed among themselves, they departed, after Paul had made one statement: "The Holy Spirit was right in saying to your fathers through Isaiah the prophet: 26 Go to this people, and say, You shall indeed hear but never understand, and you shall indeed see but never perceive.
Isa 6:3,8-10 And one called to another and said: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory." [...] 8 And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" Then I said, "Here am I! Send me." 9 And he said, "Go, and say to this people: 'Hear and hear, but do not understand; see and see, but do not perceive.' 10 Make the heart of this people fat, and their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed."
In Isaiah, it is the LORD of hosts who tells Isaiah to say to the people that they will hear but not understand and see but not perceive. However, in Acts we see that it was THE SPIRIT who said this to Isaiah.
1 Cor 6:11 (cf. Ezek 37:28) And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.
Ezek 37:28 Then the nations will know that I the LORD sanctify Israel, when my sanctuary is in the midst of them for evermore."
1 Cor 12:4-6 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of working, but it is the same God who inspires them all in every one.
2 Cor 3:6,17-18b who has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not in a written code but in the Spirit; for the written code kills, but the Spirit gives life. [...] 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. [...] 18b for this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
"The Lord IS the Spirit" That is a clear affirmation of His divinity.
Heb 3:7-9 (cf. Exo 17:7) Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, "Today, when you hear his voice, 8 do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness, 9 where your fathers put me to the test and saw my works for forty years.
Exo 17:7 And he called the name of the place Massah and Mer'ibah, because of the faultfinding of the children of Israel, and because they put the LORD to the proof by saying, "Is the LORD among us or not?"
Heb 10:15-17 And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying, 16 "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds," 17 then he adds, "I will remember their sins and their misdeeds no more."
Jer 31:33-34 But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it upon their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34 And no longer shall each man teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the LORD; for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more."
In Jeremiah, THE LORD said he would write the new covenant on their hearts and remeber their sin no more. But, in Hebrews, it is the Holy Spirit who said this.
2 Pet 1:21 because no prophecy ever came by the impulse of man, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.
How can a movement, an inspiration by the Holy Spirit be considered from God if the Holy Spirit is not God? Some may say, "Well, the Holy Spirit is the force, or power, or inspiration from the Father to men." But this does not give the Holy Spirit enough credit. The Spirit is more than an invisible power, He is a Person, the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity.
Jn 14:17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees HIM nor knows HIM; you know HIM, for HE dwells with you, and will be in you.
Jn 14:26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, HE will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
Jn 16:13-14 When the Spirit of truth comes, HE will guide you into all the truth; for HE will not speak on HIS own authority, but whatever HE hears HE will speak, and HE will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 HE will glorify me, for HE will take what is mine and declare it to you.
Rom 8:26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit HIMSELF intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words.
1 Cor 12:11 All these are inspired by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as HE wills.
The fact that "the Spirit HIMSELF" is said to do things shows that the Spirit is operating out of his own identity and personhood, instead of the Father simply using the Spirit as I would use a pencil. The Spirit is not a mere instrument of the Father, He is HIMSELF the cause of His actions.
The Holy Spirit does things that only God can do for the simple fact that HE IS GOD. This is very important. The last thing we want to do is blaspheme the Spirit, which is an "eternal sin" that "will not be forgiven" (cf. Mt 12:31-32; Mk 3:29).
In my previous post, I defended the divinity of Christ against a "Christian" who didn't believe that Jesus was God. Well, there is another member who believes that the Nicene Creed is wrong when it says that the Father created all things because, to him, the Son created all things -- NOT the Father.
This too required me to defend something that I had always just taken for granted. I mean, isn't it a no-brainer that the Father created all things? I thought all Christians believed that, but apparently I'm wrong. At any rate, here is what I was able to find from Scripture that attributes the act of creation to the Father.
Acts 17:24-31 The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by man, 25 nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all men life and breath and everything. 26 And he made from one every nation of men to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their habitation, 27 that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel after him and find him. Yet he is not far from each one of us, 28 for 'In him we live and move and have our being'; as even some of your poets have said, 'For we are indeed his offspring.' 29 Being then God's offspring, we ought not to think that the Deity is like gold, or silver, or stone, a representation by the art and imagination of man. 30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all men everywhere to repent, 31 because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed, and of this he has given assurance to all men by raising him from the dead."
Note from this that "The God who made the world and everything in it" (vs. 24) is also the one who "has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness BY A MAN whom he has appointed" and whom he has risen from the dead. This "man," of course, is Christ. The one who appointed Jesus and rose Him from the dead is obviously the Father. Thus, the Father is the one who made the world and everything in it.
2 Cor 4:6 For it is the God who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.
Note here that "the God" is the one who gave us Christ, meaning that "the God" is a reference to the Father. Thus, it is the Father who said, "Let light shine out of the darkness." Here Paul is quoting Gen 1:3, where "God" created light. This means that it is the Father who created light and, consequently, is responsible for all of the other acts of creation in Gen 1.
Eph 3:9-11 "and to make all men see what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things; 10 that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places. 11 This was according to the eternal purpose which he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord,"
Note that the "God who created all things" is the one who has realized His eternal purpose in Christ Jesus our Lord. This means that the "God" in question is the Father. Thus, the Father has created all things.
In this passage, the God who gives life to all things is distinct from Christ Jesus, therefore the "God" in question, who gives life to all things, is the Father.
Heb 2:10 For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through suffering.
The pioneer of our salvation who was made perfect through suffering is the Son. The Father is the one who perfected the Son through suffering. Therefore the Father is the one for whom and by whom all things exist.
Rev 5:6-7 And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders, I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth; 7 and he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne.
At first, one would think that the figure from Rev 4 who sits on the throne and is accredited by the twenty-four elders with creating all things is Jesus. He is, after all, the King of Kings who sits at the right hand of the Father. But, later on in Rev 5, we read that the Lamb takes the scroll from the hand of him who is seated on the throne. The Lamb is most surely Jesus. This means that the figure on the throne who created all things is the Father.
Note that, in affirming the creative work as an act of the Father, I am not implying that the creative work was no longer that of the Son. What I'm really trying to do is affirm the creative work as equally that of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This follows logically from what Catholics believe about the Trinity.
Each Person of the Trinity possesses fully the one divine nature. This means that each Person possesses all of the prerogatives and powers that come with being divine. One of those actions that is proper to the divine nature is the power to create out of nothing. Thus, each Person of the Trinity -- the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit -- possesses the power to create out of nothing.
Since the Persons of the Trinity are distinct BUT NOT SEPARATE (otherwise the unity of the One God would be destroyed), what is predicated of one must be predicated of the other two. There is no scenario in which one Person of the Trinity does something, and the other two just sit back and twiddle their thumbs. They, all three, are present together, doing everything and being everything that is God. Thus, if creation is predicated of the Son, it must also be predicated of the Father and the Holy Spirit -- and we see from Scripture that it is.
We are already in agreement that the creation of all things is also predicated of the Son. But, it is still helpful to list the passages which show this.
Psa 33:6 By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and all their host by the breath of his mouth.
Jn 1:1-3,10 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God; 3 all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. [...] 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world knew him not.
Col 1:15-17 He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation; 16 for in him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or authorities--all things were created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
Heb 1:2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.
Heb 11:3 By faith we understand that the world was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was made out of things which do not appear.
Rev 3:14 "And to the angel of the church in La-odice'a write: 'The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God's creation.
It should be seen from this that the Son is duly accredited with the creation of all things.
Gen 1:2-3 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep; and the Spirit of God was moving over the face of the waters. 3 And God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light.
Could it be that it was the Spirit moving over the waters that caused everything to spring into being? This is a mysterious passage that seems to attribute at least some causality to the Spirit. There are other passages in which this becomes more explicit.
Psa 104:30 When thou sendest forth thy Spirit, they are created; and thou renewest the face of the ground.
This too is a clear reference to the creation of the Spirit.
Gen 1:26-27 Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth." 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
1 Cor 8:6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.
Paul clearly shows us here that all things are equally from both the Father AND the Son.
You can find the strangest people on Facebook.
I'm a member of this FB group called "Apologetics: Defending the Faith (and Discussion)" (my series of "Facebook Apologetics" posts came from my interactions with that group). One of the members calls himself a Christian but refuses to admit that Jesus is God. Crazy, I know ... but it did give me the opportunity to research something I had always just taken for granted and to find out where it is exactly that Scripture supports the divinity of Christ. This post is what I was able to come up with.
Exo 3:13-14 Then Moses said to God, "If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they ask me, 'What is his name?' what shall I say to them?" 14 God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And he said, "Say this to the people of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.'"
By taking upon Himself the Divine Name, Jesus is declaring His divinity. At any rate, how can He exist before Abraham and not be God? If Jesus is not God, then His words here are completely nonsensical.
Jesus' words during His Temptation in the desert are also instructive. When Satan tempted Jesus to throw Himself off a cliff, even presuming to quote Scripture so as to make the temptation more persuasive, Jesus responded by saying, "You should not tempt the Lord your God" (Mt 4:7) -- in reference to Himself! Satan was tempting God by tempting Jesus, and Jesus made sure Satan knew it.
Jesus also called Himself the "Son of God," which, to the Jewish mindset, was a very radical statement. During Jesus' trial before the Jewish leaders, the High Priest said to Jesus, "I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God" (Mt 26:63). Jesus responded by saying, "You have said so" (vs. 64), or as the NIV has it, "Yes, it is as you say." The High Priest responded by tearing his robes and saying, "He has uttered blasphemy. Why do we still need witnesses? You have now heard his blasphemy" (vs. 65). Later, before Pontius Pilate, the Jews said, "We have a law, and by that law he ought to die, because he has made himself the Son of God" (Jn 19:7). They knew that to declare oneself to be "the Son of God" was to declare that one was of the same nature with God. The son of a father always takes on the nature of the father. Or, as the Letter to the Hebrews tells us, the Son "reflects the glory of God and bears the very stamp of his nature" (1:3).
When Jesus healed the crippled man by the Bethzatha pool, the Jews rebuked Him for healing a man and telling him to carry his pallet on the Sabbath. Jesus responded to them by saying, "My Father is working still, and I am working" (Jn 5:17). Immediately after this, John is sure to tell us, in case we are not convinced, "This was why the Jews sought all the more to kill him, because he not only broke the sabbath but also called God his Father, making himself equal with God" (vs. 18).
Jesus, in order to make this more explicit, even says to the Jews, "I and the Father are one" (Jn 10:30). When they heard this, "The Jews took up stones again to stone him" (vs. 31). Jesus answered them, "I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of these do you stone me?" (vs. 32) The Jews answered him, "It is not for a good work that we stone you but for blasphemy; because you, being a man, make yourself God" (vs. 33).
Finally, when John, in his Revelation, saw a vision of "the Son of Man", this figure said to him, "Fear not, I am the first and the last" (Rev 1:17). This Son of Man is equating Himself with "the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty" who said, "I am the Alpha and the Omega" (vs. 8). And of course, this Son of Man is Jesus, who took this title upon Himself many times throughout His ministry (28 times in Matthew's gospel alone, see here).
There are also many passages where the apostles and followers of Christ call Him "God". John began his Gospel with these words: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the word was God." (Jn 1:1) We know that this "Word" is the Second Person of the Trinity made man -- Jesus Christ -- for John says a few verses later, "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father" (vs. 14). John also called Jesus "the true God and eternal life" in his first letter (5:20).
Peter, for his part, accused the Jews in the Temple of killing "the Author of life" when they asked that Barabbas be released and sent Jesus to be crucified (cf. Acts 3:12-15). And yet, Timothy is clear that it is God who gives life to all things (cf. 1 Tim 6:13). Thus, Jesus cannot be the Author of life unless He is God. Peter specifically called Jesus "our God and Savior" in his second letter (1:1), as did Paul (cf. Titus 2:13). Paul also said of Christ that "in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily" (Col 2:9). According to him, Christ is the one, "who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped," or, as the Douay-Rheims has it, "thought it not robbery to be equal with God" (Phil 2:6).
Heb 1:5-8 For to what angel did God ever say, "Thou art my Son, today I have begotten thee"? Or again, "I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son"? 6 And again, when he brings the first-born into the world, he says, "Let all God's angels worship him." 7 Of the angels he says, "Who makes his angels winds, and his servants flames of fire." 8 But of the Son he says, "Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever, the righteous scepter is the scepter of thy kingdom."
In this passage, the Father is addressing the Son by saying, "Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever." It is fitting that God Himself would provide the final seal upon the witness to Christ's divinity.
When Jesus saved his apostles from the storm by walking on the water and calming the storm by His own power (itself an expression of His divinity), Matthew tells us, "And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, 'Truly you are the Son of God.'" (Mt 14:33). Of the man cured by Jesus of an unclean spirit it is said, "when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped him" (Mk 5:6). When Jesus asked the man who he had cured of blindness if he believed in the Son of man, "He said, 'Lord, I believe'; and he worshiped him" (Jn 9:38).
After Jesus' death, He continued to be worshiped. When He appeared to Thomas after His resurrection and Thomas was able to actually see and touch the wounds of the Risen Lord, "Thomas answered him, 'My Lord and my God!'" (Jn 20:27-28) When He appeared likewise to His disciples, "they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him" (Mt 28:9). Jesus later appeared on a mountain in Galilee and "when they saw him they worshiped him" (vs. 17). When Jesus ascended into heaven, the apostles "worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy" (Lk 24:51-52, KJV).
Acts 9:10-17 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Anani'as. The Lord said to him in a vision, "Anani'as." And he said, "Here I am, Lord." 11 And the Lord said to him, "Rise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for a man of Tarsus named Saul; for behold, he is praying, 12 and he has seen a man named Anani'as come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight." 13 But Anani'as answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to thy saints at Jerusalem; 14 and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call upon thy name." 15 But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; 16 for I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name." 17 So Anani'as departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came, has sent me that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit."
Note that it is "the Lord" who told him to go and find Saul (vs. 11), yet when Ananias told Paul what he heard in prayer, he said that it was "the Lord Jesus" who sent him so that Saul might regain his sight and be filled with the Spirit (vs. 17). This can only mean that Ananias spoke with Jesus Himself in prayer. This is both an act of worship and a clear indication that Jesus is God. How else can Jesus be prayed to and be revealed in prayer?
Of course, Jesus continues to be worshiped in the Church up to the present day and will be worshiped forever and ever.
Hopefully it is clear from all of this that Jesus considered Himself to be God and that the followers of Christ considered Him to be such, as evidenced by their many references to Jesus as God and their acts of prayer and worship towards Him.
There is of course much more that could be said in defense of Jesus' divinity. For example, I could list the attributes of God that Jesus possesses, I could list the various miracles He performed (which witness to his divine power), I could analyze the other titles of Christ (such as "Lord," "Savior," "Prince of Peace," etc.) which are a clear witness to His divinity. In the future I may enlarge this post to include those things. But, I think that, for now, this is a good start and is on its own all the evidence one needs in order to prove from Scripture that Jesus is God.
"The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all" (2 Cor 13:14).
What is the teaching of the Council of Ephesus?
It renewed the condemnation of Pelagius, who taught a works-based salvation. If anyone tells you that Catholics believe in salvation by works, tell them that we condemned that heresy almost 1600 years ago!
You can read the proceedings of the Council here.
After the person in question has been deceased for at least 5 years, then a request can be made to his or her bishop to begin an investigation of the person's life to discern if he or she is a worthy candidate for canonization.
If a Catholic goes to Confession and then dies as he walks out of the confessional, will he go straight to heaven? What is the difference between temporal punishment and other types of punishment?


This week's safety message is: The National Weather Service is issuing Wind Chill Warnings and Advisories for most of the region for the next few days with wind chills dropping to -40 at times in Northeast Missouri and Western Illinois. These kinds of conditions can result in frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 10 minutes. Please remember to dress in layers, cover exposed skin, and limit time outside during the coldest hours. The Clayton Fire Department would like to ask that you check on your elderly or homebound neighbors to be sure they are staying warm.


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Alan Moore Calls Superhero Fans "Emotionally Subnormal"
By Russ Burlingame - September 6, 2017 08:03 pm EDT
In a new interview with The Guardian, legendary comics writer Alan Moore took aim at the success of superhero films, particularly of Marvel's The Avengers, calling it "alarming" that adult moviegoers are paying in droves to see superhero films.
"I haven't read any superhero comics since I finished with Watchmen," the writer said in a discussion on his latest work, Fashion Beast. "I hate superheroes. I think they're abominations. They don't mean what they used to mean. They were originally in the hands of writers who would actively expand the imagination of their nine-to-13-year-old audience. That was completely what they were meant to do and they were doing it excellently. These days, superhero comics think the audience is certainly not nine to 13, it's nothing to do with them. It's an audience largely of 30-, 40-, 50-, 60-year old men, usually men. Someone came up with the term graphic novel. These readers latched on to it; they were simply interested in a way that could validate their continued love of Green Lantern or Spider-Man without appearing in some way emotionally subnormal. This is a significant rump of the superhero-addicted, mainstream-addicted audience. I don't think the superhero stands for anything good. I think it's a rather alarming sign if we've got audiences of adults going to see the Avengers movie and delighting in concepts and characters meant to entertain the 12-year-old boys of the 1950s."
[ed. note: The Avengers first appeared in September 1963, but this has little bearing on his overall sentiment.]
While this isn't the first time he's claimed not to have read any superhero work in years, he's written a great deal of superhero fiction since then, most notably things like Tom Strong and Promethea--both of which were aimed squarely at an over-13 audience--at his America's Best Comics label under Wildstorm. He continues to this day working on League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, which takes the tropes of superhero team-up stories like The Avengers and applies them to literary heroes like Allan Quatermain and Tom Sawyer.
Riot Names Six League of Legends Champions Getting Prestige Skins in Early 2020
Taika Waititi Being Recruited for Star Wars Movie
The Flash: Ezra Miller Shares Amazing Behind-the-Scenes Photo of Crisis on Infinite Earths Cameo
The Walking Dead Ratings Decline Addressed By AMC Chief
NBC's Peacock to Offer Early Episodes of The Tonight Show and Late Night
Fallout 76 Is Shutting Down Vault 94
Deep Silver Announces Survival Horror Compilation For Nintendo Switch
AEW Dynamite Posts Another Strong Rating With Bash at the Beach Special


GOLD COAST, Australia — Jamaica's Danniel Thomas Dodd took the women's shot put title with a new record at the Commonwealth Games currently underway in Gold Coast, Australia.
She struck gold with a winning throw of 19.36 metres. This is also her first senior gold medal in the event.
In second place is Dame Valerie Adams of New Zealand with a throw of 18.70, while third place went to Canada's Brittany Crew with a throw of 18.32.


1. Put 3 tablespoons of the oil in a medium skillet over medium-low heat. Add the garlic and cook, stirring occasionally,until the garlic turns golden, about 10 minutes; set aside.
2. Meanwhile, combine the lime juice and sugar in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Set aside.
3. Fill a large bowl with water and ice and set aside.
4. Heat the remaining 3 tablespoons oil in a skillet over high heat. Add the vegetables and some salt and cook, tossing, just until brightly colored. Keep warm.
5. Bring a large pot of water to a boil and salt it. Cook the noodles until tender, 30 seconds. Drain and transfer to a large skillet set over high heat with the butter and lime syrup; add salt to taste and cook, tossing, until well mixed and creamy. Put the noodles in a warmed serving bowl; drizzle liberally with the basil-mint paste, top with the vegetables, garnish with the sesame seeds, and serve.
From Asian Flavors of Jean-Georges by Jean-Georges Vongerichten Copyright (c) 2007 by Jean-Georges Vongerichten Published by Broadway Books.
JEAN-GEORGES VONGERICHTEN became a culinary star when he first began cooking at Lafayette in New York City. He went on to establish the charming bistro JoJo in New York; introduced "fusion" cooking at Vong (three stars from the New York Times), which now has an outpost in Chicago; created the four-star Jean-Georges and hugely successful Spice Market and 66 in New York; opened Rama (Spice Market meets Vong) in London; and opened several acclaimed restaurants in cities from Shanghai to Las Vegas. He lives in New York City, when he is not traveling to oversee his existing restaurants or open a new one.
I thought this was a fabulous recipe. It was so unique and impressive. It was trouble to blanche mint and basil but that is the keep the bright green colors. I added radishes and baby bok Choy. I have both sauces left for another recipe. Would definitely make this again.
I tried this recipe because I thought the combination of flavors sounded interesting. However, they really didn't work for me and my family. None of us enjoyed this, sadly. :( Cannot recommend it.
The concept of lime-flavoured noodles is novel and works fairly well, but the dish is nothing special and is not worth one's time.
good recipe, I used way less butter and oil and it was still good. Also I would definitely at least double the veggies, more is better.
Made this for a dinner party of 8 and everyone loved the dish and thought the flavors were very unique! Like previous reviewers, I don't understand why the recipe calls for so many different pots and pans. Next time I'm going to consolidate and I'm not going to blanch the herbs. I added some Siracha for more heat and I excluded the sesame seeds since one person was allergic. I don't think we missed anything without the sesame. I also used quinoa noodles to make it a little healthier and added 1/2 of green peas for a little pop and sweetness. I'll def make this again!
this is an ok recipe, but it seems like its too much work for what it is. Maybe it's the way it's written. Like the earlier poster i couldn't understand why it said to blanch the basil and mint. Also, the preview said it's sweet, sour, and spicy, but i only got sweet. Still the flavor is good and i would make it again, but without blanching the greens and maybe less butter. and there's no need to use so many pots.
The previous reviewer was right. If you follow the recipe as it's written you will dirty 3 pots and 2 pans. You only need 1 pot of boiling water (for the noodles and blanching the herbs, as yes I'm not sure that's necessary either) and a large skillet for cooking the garlic, vegetables, and creating the lime sauce. All that said, this dish was ok -- flavors are interesting but I felt kind of gross after eating because of the excessive amount of oil and butter the recipe calls for.
I made exactly as instructed except I used korean vermicelli (like glass noodles), and just a tad less oil. It's delicious and interesting, but it's one of those recipes that dirties a zillion pots and pans. The lime syrup could be cooked in the same big pan that the noodles will be mixed into. Also, do the mint and basil really need to be blanched and dunked in ice water? I'm going to try this again with some shortcuts to see if it still tastes as good. As is, a few too many dirty dishes for the result.
I can't enter a fork rating because I ran out of sesame seeds and had to use tahini instead. I think this affected the texture of the sauce to make it a little too gloppy. I also used buckwheat soba noodles. But I don't think either change altered the flavor much, which is good. The sweet lime with the mint was just perfect. Next time I make this, I'll add more heat to the vegetables. This was a good start to a meal that could be excellent.


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BUILDING BESPOKE CARS IN WILMINGTON, NC
Ever dream of owning your very own bespoke car? Osprey Custom Cars, based in Wilmington, North Carolina, builds one-of-a-kind vehicles for clients worldwide. What started for chiropractor Aaron Richardet, as a hobby to keep him close to home when his kids were young, is now a multi-million dollar business refurbishing and custom building overland vehicles.
By Chris Martin
Pursuing his passion for vintage Land Rovers and staying true to his favorite quote, "Fear is the disease, hustle is the antidote," Richardet created Osprey Custom Cars, based in Castle Hayne, North Carolina, in 2004. With his team of 22, in a 22,000 sq/ft workshop, they design and build cutting-edge, highly specialized overland vehicles that can be seen in collector's garages from California to Martha's Vineyard or even the showroom of SEMA in Las Vegas. Richardet and his team take pride in the notion that 'if you can dream it, they can build it!'
Few could argue that there have been many remarkable advances in motor vehicle technology in the past five years, from driver-assistance to infotainment. But, what may have been lost in the process, is timeless charm and simplicity in design, found in the 80s or 90s Land Rover Defender. Who wouldn't want to preserve the history of a trailblazer? This is where Osprey Custom Cars come in. They can combine the old charm with the latest automobile technology, and custom builds a vehicle from the ground up. They focus on classic Defenders, Broncos, and old FJ restomods.
"I have had a deep passion for the Land Rover Defender ever since I first saw them in 1994 on my way to a concert," says Richardet. "It's a vehicle whose family tree can be traced back to the original 1948 Land Rover."
"The US stopped selling the Defender in 1997, so prices went up. Many people held onto these vehicles knowing their value would increase, and are now looking to restore them. Most of the cars have a story behind them and have been in a family for years, and are ready for a second life."
Richardet, a practicing chiropractor in Wilmington, started Rover Recycler company, stripping down old Land Rovers and selling them for parts on eBay. The business evolved into working on Discoveries and fitting them for off-road vehicles with racks. Soon he had a few clients that were looking for modifications and customizations. "I grew up on a farm, so I was always tinkering with machinery. I wanted to start a business that I could have fun with and turn my hobby into something more. I also had a young family, so I wanted something I could do at home in my own time, that didn't take time away from them on the weekends." says Richardet. Now, he balances (his self-admitted) very-scheduled-schedule, between his practice and the Osprey workshop.
Richardet handles all of the clients personally, from start to finish. "Most of my day is consumed with parts location and design of new projects, as well as discussing projects with potential customers. I meet with clients, mostly virtually these days, and we develop a game plan of what they ultimately want. Most of our builds are 100-175k, so people are placing a lot of faith and money in me."
Paying attention to every last detail is what has garnered Osprey their stellar reputation. Their builds have involved everything from laying down African teak flooring, adding secret gun compartments, custom engraved exteriors, installing biometric scanners, and painting jobs that match houses.
"I once had to drive one of our vehicles onto the Fox Studios set for "Planet of the Apes." We had to make a truck look post-apocalyptic and worn out. A totally new challenge for us because the things we normally have to fix had to be added to these trucks," laughs Richardet.
Every detail and add-on to each build are carefully recorded before the Osprey team draws it up and presents the design renderings to a customer. The process, depending on the amount of work, takes anywhere from 4-6 months and all of the vehicles, regardless of the customizations, come with a GM LS3 engine, six-speed automatic transmission, heated leather seats, navigation, backup camera, Bluetooth, keyless entry, and remote start.
Richardet's latest project is the all-new build, 2021 OC90 Soft Top, which has been re-imagined in the footsteps of the classic 90s Defender. The body is a deep Santorini Black with matching wheel arches and trim, were carefully mated to the chassis. The power comes from a high-revving 62. L Corvette LS3 engine. The 6-speed automatic transmission is controlled by a custom push-button gear selector with an LED display, conveniently mounted in the custom center console. The heavy-duty transfer case with central differential lock (CDL) distributes constant power to all four wheels, ensuring 435 horsepower. It rides on rugged, matte black 16" 'Wolf-spec' steel wheels wrapped with 285/75R1 Cooper® Discoverer® AT3 XLT all-terrain tires.
2021 OC90 Soft Top
A wire mesh grille was added to the front end, along with gloss black light surrounds, a black side intake vent with gray wire mesh insert, and gray chequer plate wing top protectors. To tow the requisite "toys," the vehicle is fitted with a NAS-style rear step bumper, complete with a 2" hitch receiver, jacking/recovery points, trailer wiring harness, and a color rearview camera. A heavy-duty swing-away rear tire carrier brings up the rear, allowing full access to the cargo area via the drop-down tailgate.
The bespoke interior is complete with heated XS-spec Black Rack & half-leather front sport seats with contrasting white stitching and a dark wood-rim steering wheel with polished aluminum spokes. It also comes with a touchscreen infotainment system compatible with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The tight-fitting black soft hood with zip-out rollable windows nicely tops things and gives it a classic "safari" look at home at the country club as it is offroad.
Osprey Custom Cars now builds 40-50 cars per year and more than 500 in the decade since the business started. Richardet credits a lot of his success to establishing the company in Wilmington. "It's where I call home, and it's been an awesome place to raise a family. But, it's also been great for finding qualified people in a niche market and luring them into the area. There is a wealth of knowledge to tap into, with so many successful entrepreneurs who have retired here, networking goes a long way."


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For meetings and live events: I charge a day rate plus expenses, including travel. A half-day rate may apply for local projects.
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"Be bold, be bold, and in all you do, be bold." It's a Geothe quote I live by. As a result, I like to draw with bold black lines and add pops of color as I can, I often go back to add the color during breaks. My work style tends to be high energy, youthful, and dynamic. Some say it matches my personality.
Personally, I value fun quite highly. I also prioritize communication, respect and kindness. I'll probably wear pink to your event.
I'll be facing the Wall. I need to be able to listen and then translate the information. It requires my full attention. If I've caught up to the presenter I'll stand back and listen quietly. But get used to seeing my backside. It's my task to capture the essence of the info, so I'll be busy. I will represent theories, topics, strategies as well as insights and a-ha moments!
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I'm tickled pink to put my markers to your message.


So more goodies your way ladies….brand new Mesh Head from Lelutka as well…called Korina and she is a beauty!! Strong and unique are some words that can describe her. This beauty also comes with the new hair bases, created with the default avatar UV map, and in two options. Also, note that Korina will only be available at Skin Fair for the entire duration of the event which opens on March 8th, and it will be available at the LeLutka store after it has ended.
I'm pairing Korina with some brand new Glam Affair appliers made just for the new Korina mesh head and its also available at Skin Fair…..


Dental Select's MaxRewards feature offers groups of 2 or more enrolled, increasing max benefits over time to a maximum of $2,000.
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How do I add this to my already existing plan?
Simply contact your broker or Dental Select account rep to add the MaxRewards feature at renewal at no extra cost.


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Garden to Table at Mt Vernon - Paper Pancakes with Nutmeg
Martha Washington (1731-1802) - From the Garden to the Table
While George Washington oversaw most aspects of managing Mount Vernon's pleasure gardens & grounds, Martha Washington oversaw the Kitchen Garden (The Lower Garden), allowing her to keep fruits and vegetables on the table year round.
The Kitchen Garden at Mount Vernon
"…impress it on the gardener to have every thing in his garden that will be nece]ssary in the House keeping way — as vegetable is the best part of our living in the country." – Martha Washington, 1792
Inside the Kitchen at Mount Vernon
Outside The Kitchen at Mount Vernon
In the matter of eating & drinking George Washington was temperate. For breakfast he ordinarily had tea & Indian cakes with butter & perhaps honey, of which he was very fond. His supper was equally light, consisting of perhaps tea & toast, with wine, & he usually retired at nine o'clock. Dinner was the main meal of the day at Mount Vernon, & usually was served at two o'clock. One such meal is thus described by a guest: "He thanked us, desired us to be seated, & to excuse him a few moments.... The President came & desired us to walk in to dinner & directed us where to sit, (no grace was said).... The dinner was very good, a small roasted pigg, boiled leg of lamb, roasted fowls, beef, peas, lettice, cucumbers, artichokes, etc., puddings, tarts, etc. etc." The General ordinarily confined himself to a few courses & if offered anything very rich, he would protest, "That is too good for me." He often drank beer with the meal, with one or two glasses of wine & perhaps as many more afterward, often eating nuts, another delicacy with him, as he sipped the wine.
Paper Pancakes
This delicate dessert pancake recipe from Hannah Glasse was very fashionable during the eighteenth century and might have been found on the Washingtons' table as part of a second course.
One of the most valuable tools in the Mount Vernon kitchen was Martha Washington's copy of The Art of Cookery, Made Plain and Easy...By a Lady. Martha's copy is in the Library at Mount Vernon. Hannah Glasse's (1708–1770) The Art of Cookery...was first published in 1747. It was a bestseller for a century after its first publication, dominating the English-speaking market. It was published in America from 1805.
Mrs. Washington may have owned a number of cookbooks, but her 1765 edition of Hannah Glasse's The Art of Cookery and a manuscript cookbook (now at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania) are the only ones known to survive. The manuscript book (under the title Martha Washington's Booke of Cookery) is a very early compilation of 16th and 17th century receipts and came into Martha's possession at the time of her marriage to Daniel Parke Custis who died in 1757.
Quire is a Middle English term meaning twenty-four or twenty-five sheets of paper of the same size and stock. It is used here to help the cook visualize the desired paper-thinness of the pancake. "[B]utter the Pan for the first Pancake; let them run as thin as possible," Glasse instructed. Her words were repeated verbatim in a Mary Randolph (1762–1828) recipe written some seventy-five years later.
This recipe is a modern adaptation of the 18th-century original. It was created by culinary historian Nancy Carter Crump for the book Dining with the Washingtons.
3/4 cup sifted all-purpose flour
10 tablespoons sugar, plus more for sprinkling over pancakes
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled, plus more for frying
1 teaspoon orange-flower water
Stewed fruit or preserves for serving (optional)
Lightly whipped cream for serving (optional)
Sift together the flour, sugar, and nutmeg.
Beat the egg yolks until smooth and lemon-colored. Combine with the cream and melted butter, mixing together well. Gradually add to the flour mixture, blending thoroughly. Stir in the sherry and orange-flower water. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or as long as overnight.
When ready to cook the pancakes, melt about 1 teaspoon of butter in a small sauté pan set over medium to medium-low heat. Make a small test pancake to ensure that the pan is the right temperature and that the batter has the right consistency. The batter can be thinned with a little milk or cream, if necessary; it should have the consistency of pudding, falling in splats from a spoon.
Prepare one pancake at a time, using a scant 1/4 cup of batter per pancake. Pour the batter into the hot pan, tilting it so the batter can run evenly over the bottom. Cook until slightly puffy and pale yellow, 1 1/2 to 2 minutes, until set.
Slide the pancake onto a plate, and sprinkle with sugar. Set aside in the oven to keep warm while preparing the rest of the pancakes, stacking and sprinkling sugar over each one.
Serve the pancakes plain in a stack, or serve them one at a time filled with stewed fruit or preserves, rolled (if desired), and topped with lightly whipped cream.
Research plus images & much more are available from the Mount Vernon website, MountVernon.org.
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Dirhams and Dollars
ADNOC signs agreements with Indonesia's Pertamina and Chandra Asri
ADNOC signed a MoU to develop a crude to petrochemicals complex in Balongan
Published: January 13, 2020 09:59 WAM
ADNOC signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), to explore potential development of a Crude to Petrochemicals complex in Balongan, Indonesia. Image Credit: Adnoc Group/ Instagram
ABU DHABI: The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), has signed agreements with Indonesia's Pertamina and Chandra Asri. Pertamina.
ADNOC signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), to explore potential development of a Crude to Petrochemicals complex in Balongan, Indonesia as well as a Sales Agreement in which ADNOC will supply Pertamina with up to 528,000 MT of LPG by the end of 2020. Chandra Asri and ADNOC also signed a MoU to explore potential supply of naphtha to Chandra Asri in Indonesia that would be utilized as a feedstock for their current and potential new cracker complex in Indonesia.
Dr. Sultan bin Ahmad Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of State and ADNOC Group CEO, signed each of the agreements, while Nicke Widyawati, Pertamina President Director and CEO and Erwin Ciputra, Chandra Asri President Director signed on behalf of Pertamina and Chandra Asri, respectively.
"The agreements signed with Pertamina and Chandra Asri will potentially help ADNOC to secure additional in-market presence in one of Southeast Asia's fastest-growing economies, enabling new domestic value-creation opportunities across the hydrocarbon chain. Today's announcement is a testament to the success of ADNOC's international partnership strategy, our ability to consistently deliver innovative value-creation opportunities and the UAE's strong ties with the Republic of Indonesia," said Dr. Al Jaber.
The potential Crude to Petrochemicals complex would build upon the ambitions outlined in the comprehensive framework agreement signed by ADNOC and Pertamina in 2019, while accelerating Indonesia's path towards petrochemical self-sufficiency.
The new Pertamina LPG Sales Agreement with ADNOC will allow for both FOB sales, in which customers collect product from Abu Dhabi, and CFR sales, in which ADNOC delivers product to customers. This flexibility further supports ADNOC's strategy to deliver more CFR cargos to its customers and build upon its trading and logistics capabilities.
ADNOC's potential supply agreement with Chandra Asri will further expand ADNOC's reach in Indonesia and is expected to help lay the groundwork for other potential areas of collaboration between the two companies.
ADNOC has embarked on a significant expansion of its downstream business as part of its 2030 smart growth strategy with an intention to secure markets for its core hydrocarbon products and capture greater margins throughout the value chain. As well as developing and expanding its domestic downstream operations, ADNOC is also exploring a number of targeted international investment opportunities to support its refining and petrochemicals growth ambitions.
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President/ CEO PKA Management, Inc.
With over 25 years of management and production experience in the entertainment industry, Keith Garde is an invaluable asset to the MusicIDB Board of Advisers. Among his successes, Mr. Garde was Aerosmith's Co-Manager from '88 to '95, and was one of the early pioneers in leveraging the Internet for entertainment entities, utilizing it for the digital distribution of artists' content and intellectual property.
In 1995, Keith Garde founded PKA Management, a Boston-based firm that manages national talent, manages video production and provides consulting services. Mr. Garde has collaborated on special projects for MTV, VH1, A&E, ESPN, NFL, Disney, Paramount Pictures, Daimler-Chrysler, multiple record labels and many other major corporations and artists. He also serves as special projects manager for MusicIDB CEO Brian Bahia's favorite band, Aerosmith.
TiE Group Mentor and Internet / Tech Startup Advisor. CEO & Founder of ZipperAgent. Offering technical team members and guidance.
Most Boston-area musicians know legendary Shred by reputation, if not personally. He has spent the better part of almost 30 years investing in, and building up the Boston music scene. He's also been the man behind the shows for dozens of hot rock clubs from The Middle East to Oliver's Nightclub at Cask'n Flagon.
Whether you met him as a DJ at the Paradise Rock Club or listened to him on the radio at WFNX & WBCN, there's a good chance that Shred has influenced the music that's entered your sphere on a very personal level. As Local Music Director and on-air personality at the legendary Boston rock radio station WFNX, Shred hosted the annual band competition, Rock & Roll Rumble that spawned nationally acclaimed winners Dresden Dolls, Bleu, The Sheila Divine, Darkbuster and Township.
MusicIDB is excited to welcome Shred Boston to our prestigious Board of Advisers.
Richard Berger is entrepreneur, educator, business strategist, attorney and musician. Creativity, drive and a focus to serve are the qualities that he brings to every aspect of business and personal affairs.
Richard Berger's law practice is concentrated in the areas of general counsel services, entertainment law, consumer protection and estate planning. Berger's business strategy practice is focused on business planning, negotiating deals, and raising investment for start-up and emerging companies. For five years he has taught publishing and copyright and entrepreneurship at UMASS Lowell to wonderful & gifted students.
Richard continues to grow as a musician and for the past three years has been writing and recording his debut album which will be titled "Holding a Candle." He is also in the midst of developing a number of business plans to launch one or more new companies in the upcoming year.


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Home > News about Cusco > Peruvian tour guide named finalist at World Guide Awards 2014
Peruvian tour guide named finalist at World Guide Awards 2014
Andina announced today that the Peruvian tour guide Efrain Valles is one of the finalist for the nineth edition of the World Guide Awards along with other three tour leaders. Originally there were over 2,200 nominations, later shortlisted just eight. This is when travelers and other people who know the guides, have been requested to sent in their comments, in order to help the judging panel to choose the winner.
One of the finalists will be crowned as the world's best Tour Guide later this year. Launched in 2005 in memory of Wanderlust's co-founder Paul Morrison, the Wanderlust World Guide Awards is the only global award for tour leaders and guides.
Efrain Valles, the Peruvian finalist, is graduated from Cusco's Tupac Amaru University and he spent the last 12 years leading treks across Peru and to Machu Picchu, with an infectious energy and enthusiasm onto every group he takes on.
Travelers that were so lucky to have him as their guide, described him as a "great ambassador for Peru who wants nothing for himself" and someone who communicates through "humour, smiles and hugs."
The other three finalists are Bunyong Roeurn (Cambodia), Charlie Jaques (UK, working France/worldwide) and Lewis Mangaba (Zimbabwe, working in Tanzania).
"We were all humbled yet again by the remarkable guides who had each inspired dozens, if not hundreds, of their clients and peers to write in support of them. It was heartbreaking to have to make a choice," commented Wanderlust's Lyn Hughes, one of the judges.
The full results will be announced at London's Royal Geographical Society on October 21.
215000 visitors in Cusco for JuneAntonio Banderas in Cusco


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← Re-inscriptions of 'Aus-lan'
by Jennifer Harrison
Translating Hidayet Ceylan and the Melbourne PEN Freespeak Reading →
by Matt Hetherington
Susan Hawthorne Reviews Robyn Rowland
Seasons of doubt & burning: New and selected poems
(Five Islands Press, 2011)
Robyn Rowland's poetry career spans thirty years, with her first book, Filigree in blood, appearing in 1982. Reading this volume of new and selected poems is a journey in memory, an almost autobiography. I first heard Rowland read in 1982 at the Sydney Women Writers Festival and I was very taken by her ability to phrase poems in just the right way so that a listener can follow and take in her meaning. Indeed, for some of her poems in this collection, it was as if I had Rowland's voice in my head – no easy task for a writer to achieve that. It means that the rhythm or pace or vocabulary is just right.
Seasons of doubt & burning begins with new poems, among them a number of powerfully wrought pieces. These poems travel between the known and the new; the known in the recollections of places lived in, the new in reflections on places newly visited like Japan and Turkey in the long poem 'Cherry Blossom Dreaming'. This poem manages to convey long histories of empire and poetic tradition in a form that picks up on the long lines of Rumi's ghazal form while the second part of the poem takes a surprising turn in a meditation on Japanese kamikaze pilots. What is extraordinary is the way Rowland gets inside the head of a man on his way to death.
I am still reeling from the poem 'Snap frozen' which has forceful punch to it. There is a moment while reading when you realise what is happening to a girl on the beach, what has happened to too many girls on too many beaches. It is the ordinariness of the memory which fuels the poem, and yet it is the way those memories get shifted in the discourse about what is art that captures the reader.
There is a refrain:
Nothing had happened. Nothing.
But if nothing had happened, nothing in a young girl's mind, then why could she not return to that ordinary beach?
Seasons of doubt & burning is peopled by an array of individuals who come in and out of focus at different periods of the poet's life: the mother, the father, the children, the partners and friends. All are real people. They live on the page and Rowland's ability for characterisation is second to none. These people are there during times of loss and pain, times of joy and confusion.
Individual lines hit the brain and stay there:
Drought hangs granular over the farm (1982)
I made love gallop riderless toward the darkening lake (1990)
Too much pain is held there for the line (2001)
Someone is tonguing the honeycomb of my spine (2004)
... on this hot marmalade day (2004)
Or the contrast between:
The owl tattooed on your right shoulder blade
spreads its unserrated wings for you,
its silent flight cutting the yellow buttery dawn. (2006)
When the Dark inside me came on and I was eleven (2006)
Each of these lines convey a depth of emotion without selling out to cliché. The imagery carries the line and takes the reader to a place where one's own emotions can also be accessed, re-experienced, reflected on. This, surely, is part of the work of poetry.
The poems, while packing emotional punch, do not wallow; instead the intellect is also pressed into service. There are the untold stories of Jimmy and Ethel Governor, Australian outlaws and other histories of colonisation still being played out a century later. The unrequited love poems from Perverse Serenity pick their way through the contrasting landscapes of Ireland and Australia. The rhythm of these poems – 'Young men', for example – carry the reader along as if participating in a song. So it's not surprising that some of Rowland's poems have been set to music. The music exists inside them.
Health, pain, and reflections on death round out the collection. The sequence of 'Dead Mother Poems' touches vulnerabilities in all of us. The complexity of relationship, the conflict between love as possession and love as letting go rumbles into most of our lives at some point. That the poet is able to walk through the memories – not unflinchingly but rather flinching in all places where it hurts – is testament to her ability to keep going, surviving pain, surviving love.
One poem in the New section that surprised me is entitled 'from Literary Creatures'. It is a poem in which the minutiae of three sea creatures are examined. These are not creatures readily imagined as the subject of literature but each turns out to have surprising qualities. First is the 'solitude of cuttlefish' who turn out to be incredibly smart. Some are destined for a kind of marine danse macabre. The Xiphosura – or horseshoe crab – is next, not in solitude but in colony. The poor female of the Xiphosura tribe must drag the males up the beach to ensure the next generation.
It's a struggle, dragging five males up the beach,
desperate to fertilise your load
four times each year, twenty thousand eggs.
By contrast, the female seahorse has it easy. She hands the gestation over to the male and escapes in the sea's wash. I kept returning to this poem with its marvellous images and quirky reproductive systems. What entices me is that Rowland has managed to create characters from these strange otherworldly lives.
There are many moments when landscapes are imagined in such a way that you're rendered unable to see the world in the same way again:
Another curve in the road, the sky is black, bereft.
Then behind a harem grille of cloud,
the moon, embarrassed to have risen flushed and unclothed,
reassembles her garb,
cloaks herself in silvery sheath over
shadowy nipples, purpled cleft,
to shine singular, a little haughty, above the turrets.
Beneath, only a pool of talc
on the softened skin of sea. (2006)
The moon, a subject so frequented by poets, lives anew in this poem. I recognise that harem grille of cloud. And when I see it again, I'll be thinking of this collection, this moon, this poet.
This entry was posted in BOOK REVIEWS and tagged Robyn Rowland, Susan Hawthorne. Bookmark the permalink.
About Susan Hawthorne
Dr Susan Hawthorne is a poet and a publisher. She co-founded Spinifex Press in 1991 and is the author of six collections of poetry the latest of which is Cow (forthcoming 2011). To check out Spinifex titles go to Spinifex Press and for eBooks click through to eBooks. She has supervised PhDs in writing and publishing for many years at Victoria University and is Adjunct Professor in the Writing Program at JCU. Her previous book, Earth's Breath was shortlisted for the 2010 Judith Wright Poetry Prize.
View all posts by Susan Hawthorne on Cordite →
Libby Hart Reviews Kate Newmann, Robyn Rowland and Jessica Traynor
Review Short: Susan Hawthorne's Lupa and Lamb
Robyn Rowland Reviews Margaret Bradstock
2 Translations of Robyn Rowland in Turkish
Robyn Rowland Reviews Anthony Lynch
Launch of John Foulcher's 'The Sunset Assumption'
Jessica Alice Reviews Robyn Rowland


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In this country "American" means white. Everybody else has to hyphenate.
power language America dominance
About Toni Morrison
Chloe Anthony Wofford Morrison (born Chloe Ardelia Wofford; February 18, 1931 – August 5, 2019), known as Toni Morrison, was an American novelist. Her first novel, The Bluest Eye, was published in 1970. The critically acclaimed Song of Solomon (1977) brought her national attention and won the National Book Critics...
More quotations from Toni Morrison
All water has a perfect memory and is forever trying to get back to where it was.
memory water
Grown don't mean nothing to a mother. A child is a child. They get bigger, older, but grown? What's that supposed to mean? In my heart it don't mean a thing.
The function of freedom is to free somebody else.
freedom sharing
The mattress, curved like a preacher's palm asking for witnesses in His name's sake, enclosed them each and every night and muffled their whispering, old-time love.
love sexuality lust
More quotations tagged with "America"
The melting pot failed to function in one crucial area. Religions and nationalities, however different, generally learned to live together, even to grow together, in America. But color was something else. Reds were murdered like wild animals. Yellows were characterized as a peril and incarcerated en masse during World War II for no really good reason by our most liberal president. Browns have been abused as the new slave labor on farms. The blacks, who did not come here willingly, are now, more than a century after emancipation by Lincoln, still suffering a host of slavelike inequalities.
—Theodore M. Hesburgh
history religion America race
I'm in love with this country called "America." I'm a huge fan of America. I'm one of those annoying fans — you know, the ones that read the cd notes and follow you into bathrooms and ask you all kinds of annoying questions about why you didn't live up to that. I'm that kind of fan. I've read the Declaration of Independence, and I've read the Constitution of the United States, and they are some liner notes, dude.
politics love expectations America fandom
U.S. out of North America!
USA America
In a country as big as the United States, you can find fifty examples of anything.
This is the story of America. Everybody's doing what they think they're supposed to do.
—Jeffery F. Chamberlain