"There are many ideas in Shabbos, but perhaps the most basic is that it represents an end-point, the tachlis of a process.
The week is a period of working, building; Shabbos is the cessation of that building, which brings home the significance and sense of achievement that building has generated.
It is not simply rest, inactivity. It is the celebration of the work which has been completed."
Who among us cannot relate to celebrating the end of our work week and the beginning of our two days of joy? Let's do it together!
"In order to think positively, a person should contemplate every situation they are in and see it as good, and consider how it can become even better. It's important to understand that every little bit helps.
A person needs to understand that little, tiny, baby steps are like giant strides and leaps in personal growth. They are accomplishments that can go a long way in their life and the lives of others as well."
Shabbat is a time to remember and Purim is a time to forget. Having the maturity to know WHAT TO REMEMBER and WHAT TO FORGET is a spiritual practice of great value. What a privilege it is to have teachers to help me grow in wisdom now.
Welcome to the Tribe, David!
It's a joy to celebrate with my friend David today, his first Shabbos as a member of the Tribe.
We welcome you with open arms, David!
"My parents created a profound tradition when we were very young: addressing one child at a time, they would recite the traditional Hebrew blessing and then each of them would gift an impromptu personal blessing from the heartsoul"
These words by Ilana Lerman in her post on Ritualwell.org began her story called Building Blessing Muscle. She recalls how her parents placed their hands on the shoulders of each child in turn and spoke individual blessings upon each of the three of them every Shabbat Eve.
Such a beautiful picture for us all this Shabbos as we light our candles with our children present in the room with us, or in our hearts. We can always bless them with our "heartsoul" as did Illana's parents.
"The candle, which symbolizes the words of Torah, is considered a guide to life, safeguarding us from stumbling.
A candle of G-d is the soul of man.
The benefit of the candle is that it purifies the soul.
Candles differ from other goods in this world, which becomes reduced when shared with others. From one candle you can kindle thousands of candles without diminishing the light of the original candle.
In the same way, when we fulfill a mitzvah even if it seemingly comprises expense and effort, we do not get depleted but rather recharged with renewed spiritual energy."
The days are finally getting longer now, so our Shabbos will arrive a minute or so later than last week. I love this time of year because it is such a great time to remember to bring Light out of the darkness in our lives and in the world.
Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan's classic work called Sabbath - Day of Eternity is provided by OU.org online, and reading it will surely warm up this dark time of year for you as it does for me.
Enjoy the intelligent, compassionate teachings of Rabbi Yaakov Zalman Labinsky in his 20-part audio program on building our inner sanctuary in order to receive the Divine Presence on Shabbos.
"The last night and day of Chanukah is called Zos Chanukah. It is a night where the gates of prayer are open for our heavenly requests. It is a time that encapsulates the power and holiness of all the preceding seven nights of Chanukah. Our Sages teach us that we still have one last opportunity for the judgment of Yom Kippur to be finalized which is the 8th day of Chanukah. One can accomplish on the 8th day of Chanukah requests that even great Tzadikim cannot accomplish during Neilah of Yom Kippur. Let us use this opportunity to strengthen our prayers Torah study mitzvos and tzedakah."
Happy 5th Night of Hanukkah!
Enjoy a very clear and accessible refresher article about "how to do Hanukkah" on The Jewish Magazine online.
It's not only a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to bring light into the darkness, but it's a Once Ever time for us all to shine when we put the first candles in our hanukias this week on Wednesday night, the beginning of Hanukkah.
I, for one, am ready to shine brightly in this world!
What a privilege to know that people all over the world are lighting their Hanukkah candles with me, including many who are not in the USA where we are also celebrating Thanksgiving.
Turns out, the fact that the first night of Hanukkah coincides with the eve of Thanksgiving, November 28th this year is based on some pretty amazing calendar calculations that will not occur again for thousands of centuries.
So, essentially, we are very, very fortunate to be alive and celebrating Thanksgivukkah this year in the United States and all around the world.
From an email from Rabbi Yitzchak Schwartz this week - "We Jews on the other hand realize that the imperative direction of our spiritual growth is to eventually bring the outer surrounding light inside ourselves to become an inner graspable light."
"Hashem is unfathomable but He wants to have a relationship with us in this world. Thus He creates something, a portion of light, a Name for Himself through which we can relate to something that He desires from us, which is that we love and fear Him and know that He is all there is."
And finally, this quote from my JewishAmerica email on Parashat Vayeshev this week, "Furthermore, when things look dark, G-D may drop clues to let us know that he is with us. Picking up on these clues can give us strength and encouragement to deal with crisis."
Selecting the candle holders to light up our Friday night goes on earlier in the day now since daylight savings time is no longer observed here in north Texas USA.
I was standing by the table, waiting in the dark when my husband suddenly came in the front door, returning from work. "Hold on," he said, "I'll be right there..."
Many families struggle to gather before sunset, and I am grateful it worked for us this first week of early Shabbos.
There are too many other struggles in families and in the world, and the whole purpose of kindling the Shabbos lights is to welcome the peace of the Sabbath Day into our homes and into our crazy, busy lives.
Honestly, when my husband and I bond over Kiddush at the Shabbat table each week, it is a precious bond, a high point, a threshold into intentional peace we choose to share.
We both value this opportunity and genuinely welcome it, as it signals the end of the pressures of our work week and the beginning of our "real life" at home together.
The lack of a "real life" at home for families scattered by school and activities and work and shopping and sports and hobbies and caring for others is truly a source of trouble in this world. We are scattered and stressed so much of the time that it seems normal to us.
Kindling the lights of Shabbat each week reminds me what is normal to my Creator, and what is available to me, too - the light and the peace of the Sabbath, the Shalom Bayit, the peace at home. How I treasure it!
The Smoothness Factor - Do you wonder about it, too?
I often wonder about things that go very smoothly in my life, by contrast to other issues, events and relationships that seem to be awkward and difficult, even chaotic.
Do you wonder about the "smoothness factor" in your life, too?
"Get yourself back into the area of the smoothness factor. Put on your smoothness factor glasses.
See the ease or the dis-ease of various events in your life, relationships in your life and challenges in your life. See the pressures and the pleasures and see how smooth they are, or their lack of smoothness. See them in the light of smoothness, as an indication of business that has been accomplished in previous lifetimes, or not.
And then act upon it with that awareness, that understanding, that consciousness. Then you can re-frame your ability to cope and to respond to immediate challenges, and see them as rectification of previous lifetimes.
This will make your responses more primal and more profound."
The Golden Gate is on the east side of the wall around the old city of Jerusalem, and leads directly to the Temple Mount. It is the source of rich history, some of it rather speculative in nature.
But more importantly, it might possibly be the source point of our very rich future in Messiah. So, maybe these photos I post today will unite and ignite our attention on this important spot on earth right now. Can't hurt, can it?
As one blogger named Shalom Ben Issac writes, "Jews believe that the Mashiach (Messiah) will enter Jerusalem from the east through the Golden Gate and as he enters the Temple Mount he'll bring redemption to the Hebrew nation."
Naturally, Christians and Muslims have their own differing theories. Looks like we will all be watching what happens there soon enough.
To celebrate our beginning the Torah again this Shabbos, I've transcribed an excerpt from Rabbi Dr. Akiva Tatz speaking in 2011 on the Kabbalah of "the two lights."
What better time than now, in the energy of Bereshit, Genesis, the first book of Torah, and especially, "..let there be light."
"The first light must be strong enough to open up a space for all things to exist in later.
Not just to light up the darkness, but to even create the place where the darkness is in the first place.
And that's called the First Light, or in chasidic literature it's called Ohr Rishon, the First Light, and it is perfect, incredibly strong, but it's not destined to last.
It's destined to be there only long enough to open that space and then it goes away, and it leaves a tremendous aching emptiness, a longing for the light that was once there. But, it leaves a darkness.
The longing, the absence of the light, the feeling of what was once there brings in a second light.
The second light becomes the soul and the residue [of the First Light] becomes the body,"
We are, all of us, body and soul, made of the light and made for the light.
What a great concept to consider this Shabbos Bereshit!
It's the first day of Succos, and this photo adapted from Joel Seshold's Flicker stream is a beautiful symbol , isn't it?
The full moon awakened me, just in time to see it emerging within heart-shaped clouds, like a divine embrace.
That's how I want to feel this season of joy. Spiritually, I am in a divine embrace that is tangible and undeniable, and it's my responsibility to remember this privilege as I move through my Succos days and nights, and also thereafter.
"Embrace is hinted at in the sukkah: Just as a person embraces his child in love, encircling him with his arms, and sheltering him with his head, so here for the joints of the arm there are the two walls according to their rule, plus a third wall at least as wide as a handbreadth, and the third, the handbreadth, is the hand, and all of it is a parable for the situation of being embraced, of our being drawn near to Hashem [God] in joy and purity."
Last week, the Times of Israel posted Ilan Ben Zion's report of a real-life treasure trove of ancient gold discovered by archeologist Eliat Mazar.
"The find, unearthed in the area adjacent to the Southern Wall of the Temple Mount known as the Ophel, was dated to the early 7th century CE, in all likelihood the time of the brief Persian conquest of Jerusalem."
Mazar speculates that, "the hoard of gold and silver objects, found beneath the floor of a Byzantine-era house meters from the massive walls of the Temple Mount, was brought by Jews who returned to the city after the Persians conquered it from the Byzantines in 614 CE."
While reading about the Jerusalem treasure today, I found myself thinking about our Yom Kippur service yesterday. There were not very many people gathered in our little Temple to pray.
Apparently many Jews do not treasure Yom Kippur as I do.
Now, this is not a comment about what other people should do on Yom Kippur, or how it should be done correctly. I am simply stating that Yom Kippur is true treasure to me in my life.
My annual opportunity to seek and find spiritual treasure during the whole month of Elul, on Rosh Hashana, during the 10 Days of Awe and of course on Yom Kippur is beyond monetary valuation. It is priceless. And I find it over and over, regularly, without fail.
I can count on finding spiritual treasure because it's already scheduled for me. It's right on my calendar every year!
Maybe the comparison between a fortune in ancient gold coins recently found near the Temple Mount and the value I place on the High Holy Days is politically incorrect in this world right now.
Mercifully, it's not this world that matters in the long run, other than seeing and knowing it as preparation for the World To Come.
To me, Yom Kippur is for Preppers of the World To Come!
And what could be more exciting than that? Well, possibly Succot, the Season of Joy that will soon be upon us. It starts this Wednesday evening, September 18th.
"Those who don't stop growing come to happiness from being Jewish and from realizing a connection to One who is focused on giving us every opportunity to become great in ways we can't imagine."
See Rita Brownstein's adorable DIY Sukkah lights and make some for yourself this year.
"Have you ever seen a flame leap back to its source, like when sparks ignite from a camp fire, and then fall back into the fire itself?
We each have a spiritual spark within. It is a spark that is purely a piece of our Creator, and it lives in each of us. Though it is usually covered in layers of spiritual and physical shells, on Yom Kippur that innermost spark shines out and comes close to its source.
Yom Kippur is the one day of the year when we have the power to access that spark. It is a day when we can truly be our most real spiritual and physical selves.
This Shabbat is Yom Kippur. When we light our candles today, we are welcoming the opportunity to access that truest, most pure part of yourself. Have a meaningful Yom Kippur and Shabbat Shalom from FridayLight!"
And also from me, Mia Sherwood Landau. May your life and your spiritual growth be immeasurably blessed this year and always.
Watch Joan Nathan demonstrating how to make traditional braided challah, and special round loaves for Rosh Hashana... it's like having your own Jewish mother or grandmother showing you how it's done.
Still looking for a place to make a donation, your tzedaka this New Year? Consider Project MOT, care packages to Jewish military personnel.
Should we not ask again and again and still again, "Where is the Beis HaMikdash?" I miss it so. I'm in Jerusalem but the shinning crown of the Holy City is absent and my joy cannot be complete until I see its glory restored."
"This Rosh Hashanah has to be different. It just cannot be another Rosh Hashanah. It has to be different.
You and I, we could bring redemption to our people.
Every person, every individual is a special, unique creation of God. We are not mass-produced.
God created each and every one of us, custom-made, with a unique purpose.
So, this year we have to make a difference, we MUST make a difference, for ourselves, for our families, for Am Israel and for the world."
"Every word of prayer makes an impression and isn't wasted. Sometimes much later their effect is felt, sometimes in a very different way than was intended. The principle is that there is nothing ever lost.
However , there are many levels of impact. Just as each person's life outlook is different, as is reflected by the fact that no two faces look alike---so too , no two prayers impact are alike."
"In Jewish mysticism, there is a concept of two ways of relating to our Creator. One way is for our Creator to reach down to us with help or inspiration. Another way is for us to do our work here on the ground and to reach up to him to ask for help.
It's rare for our Creator to just make changes for us. However, according to mystical sources, when we do everything in our power to bring this redemption for ourselves in combination with asking our Creator for help, that's when the He will generally meet us in the middle. We reach up and He reaches down (metaphorically speaking.)"
"Now, when the "King is in the Field" let us renew our emunah and pull ourselves out of whatever difficulty we may be going through and really ask Hashem from the depth of our pain to fulfill our needs, hopes, and aspirations, to redeem us NOW!"
Women of the Wall "...has announced that it will hold a special Selichot service at the Western Wall on Sept. 1.
Selichot are the penitential prayers and liturgy recited each night starting in the Jewish month of Elul and up until the High Holy Days."
Is it any coincidence that this week's Parshat is about spiritual enemies? May the Almighty Creator of the Universe give us all the strength and wisdom to stand in the midst of changes, which surely include a woman's equal right to pray at the Western Wall.
I especially loved reading Quincy Jones' words today, "...when we don't get the welcome we feel we deserve, it's important to not sit back and wait for it. It likely will never come.
You've got to look for it in other ways and other places. Just keep looking until you find a door of welcoming that's opening up. You may have to do some pushing to get it to open all the way. Then walk on through."
Oh yeah, and it's especially true on Shabbat.
I guarantee that your understanding of human relationships and of our enduring relationship with Shabbos can change forever right now, too.
Just click and listen to Rabbi Shais Taub as he tells us how it can work out, if we choose.
Yes, it's a choice. We can see ourselves as men and women, and we can see the Shabbos in a new way, and a way that actually works.
Shabbat is set aside and there are many sights, sounds and tastes for us to enjoy at home, or wherever we may be. Right now I am inclined to share the English translation of one of my favorite sights and sounds.
Adon Olam is a powerful prayer, by sight (reading) and by sound (listening). It is available for us all, for all time.
and Hashem will always be here.
He helps me in my time of trouble.
He is there when I call to Him.
and when I wake up in the morning.
pray like a young child."
Shabbat is universally about family, and about our relationship to our ultimate, lasting and forever family relationship with Hashem.
Even if we find ourselves alone when we begin the Sabbath, we are not alone. We are part of an enormous and enduring family, and our candle lighting celebrates our family relationship that never ends.
" Our 'FATHER-IN-HEAVEN' [who is also portrayed as 'IMA' or 'Mother' in certain Providential situations according to the Kabbalah], is Someone that we, His children, can always turn to for help and guidance in any and every situation that we find ourselves in. "
May the enduring love of our Creator and Heavenly Father, Hashem, wrap us up in the beauty and safety and warmth of his love, and may we all be blessed.
"There is a spiritual pilot light, or Pintele Yid, in every Jew that never is extinguished, and the Shema is a spark that causes that hidden light to grow and strengthen. We suffer when we are not connected to this truth without understanding why. The perpetual presence of the Shema pilot light gets obscured by layers of worldly impurity that comes with exile, true exile: the distance from knowing Hashem. Every time we say the Shema, the light that is within us grows stronger, purifying us with the truth, connecting us to a wellspring of emunah (faith)."
"...I recite the Shema Yisrael daily, not only during our morning prayers but also in my spiritual healing practice, as the power of the Shema Yisrael - unifying Hashem expels darkness and negativity.
These six powerful words corresponding to the six points of the Magen David (Star of David), is a shield of protection from negative energy."
Thanks to Rabbi Yosef B Friedman of Kehot Publication Society for his interesting email on The Kabbalah of Shema that arrived this morning.
"Where is God? Why can't I sense His presence?
Rabbi Ashlag teaches that we can't sense God's presence because we have put a rival in His place, we have placed our ego at the center of our focus and God is left in a corner.
Amen and yet again, Amen.
"...this Shabbat is called "Shabbat Chazon" after the first word of the book of Isaiah which is the Haftorah for this Shabbat.
Chazon means 'vision' or 'seeing'.
One may benefit from this state of unity and be granted an opportunity for unique and penetrating vision into not only his personal spiritual status, but also into that of the entirety of the Jewish people as well."
"Shabbat is a special day when our inherent eternal connection with Hashem is activated. There is never any mourning on Shabbat. On Shabbat we all rise up from mourning to delight in eating, drinking, festive clothes and new fruits. Therefore, the Shabbat preceding the 9th of Av is especially suitable for the kind of repentance of 'doing good' through visualizing the Temple. The purpose of the vision is not just to comfort us, but to inspire us and elevate us to turn the vision of the Third Temple into physical reality."
Summer is a good time to remember Birkat ha-Gomel, the Prayer for Traveling, although it is really an all-purpose prayer for surviving all types of dangerous situations.
Traditional prayer of thanks to be recited by one who has survived a dangerous situation.
(Masculine) Baruch Atah Adonai Eloheinu Melech ha'olam, ha-gomel l'hayavim tovot sheg'malani kol tov.
(Feminine) Brucha At Ya Eloheinu Ruach ha'olam, hagomelet l'hayavim tovot, sheg'malani kol tov, selah.
Blessed are You, O Lord our God, ruler of the Universe, who bestows kindness on those who are committed, and who has granted to me all kindness.
(Masculine) Amen. Mi she g'malcha kol tov, hu yigmalcha kol tov, selah.
(Feminine) Amen. Mi she g'maltaich kol tov, hee tigmalaich kol tov, selah.
May the One who has granted you all kindness always grant kindness to you, selah.
Click photo for a delightful Wilderness Torah video.
And enjoy some precious songs recorded by Wilderness Torah campers, and start to dream about your own summer travel and camping as you listen here.
Nine yr-old Molly Mittman, camper at Greene Family Camp in Texas, climbed the 40 foot high ropes course this summer, despite the fact that she uses crutches to walk on the ground.
"Shabbat is a mindset that is patterned after a future era when there will be nothing lacking, not in people or in anything else. All will be experienced as being whole and perfect just as it is, and there will be no need to rectify anything or anyone else including ourselves."
"When you wake up in the morning you get to choose which route to take. As one wise person said: The difference between successful people and unsuccessful people is that smart people hate doing the same things that unsuccessful people hate doing-but successful people do it any way."
Sean D'Souza is a smart guy who helps people write well. I enjoyed this quote from his email today.
Shabbat Shalom from FridayLight.org and from me!
10. Your grandma probably did it, and so did her grandma.
9. It gives your two minutes to yourself.
7. Since G-d created light first, when we light Shabbat lights we bring forth the first light that G-d created. Deep!
6. The candles brings honor and joy to Shabbat!
5. They bring peace into our home and into the world.
4. The act of lighting brings Torah into our homes.
2. G-d especially loves this mitzvah!
1. It is a mitzvah for women, and it gives us a special connection to G-d and to the Jewish People.
What are your Top Reasons?
"Speak to Aaron and say to him: 'When you kindle the lamps, be sure to place the wicks in these spouts so the seven lamps shine toward the central shaft of the candelabrum.' "
When you kindle the lamps: This phrase can be read to mean "When you ascend with the lamps."
In the book of Proverbs, King Solomon compares the G-d's commandments to an oil lamp: "For a commandment is a lamp." The lamp-apparatus comprises several parts: the vessel, the oil, the wick, and the flame. Nonetheless, the essence and purpose of the lamp is not its physical apparatus but the light that shines from it."
These are the opening words and hidden meanings in our weekly Torah portion, and they are special to me.
"The commandment to kindle the menora is symbolic of every Jew's obligation to involve himself with others and exert a positive influence on everyone with whom he comes in contact. All of us are commanded to ignite the Divine spark in our fellow Jews and light up our surroundings."
Let's all do it with our Shabbos candles tonight - let's exert a positive influence in the world by igniting light in our surroundings.
"Kabbalah teaches a version of the Relativity Factor. The idea is that the perspective of a person is dependent upon whether he is looking up or looking down.
When people are looking beyond themselves to something that is more or greater than they are right now, they feel themselves to be small, and that what waits for them is very big.
Whereas, if they are looking at something that is smaller than they are, then they feel themselves to be very big."
We always have a choice, an opportunity to ourselves and to see others in perspective. The only way I know how to do that is to ask God for help. I ask God to show me other people, situations and myself the way he sees me.
"Thus, we affirm our belief that rather than competing for importance and power, the energy we receive from the Divine source must be circulated equally among us."
She is talking about the arrangement of the tribes around the Mishkan, as well as the social hierarchies we find ourselves immersed in today. Keeping in mind that we are here with the continual challenge to see things the way they really are, meaning the way God sees them, we can stand back and pray for an attitude adjustment to our perspective when necessary.
I must say, that opportunity presents itself to me MANY times every day!
"Midbar can be defined as wilderness or desert; the word bamidbar means "in the Wilderness", teaching us that if we wish the Torah to impact on us and elevate us, we have to make ourselves like a desert. Even as a desert is barren, so too must we divest ourselves of all pre-conceived notions and allow the Torah to re-shape us. Even as in a desert there are no diversions, so we cannot allow anyone or anything to distract us from our Torah study."
It is so inspiring to me as I begin to understand that counting the Omer is an opportunity to enhance my growth, in this season of new growth each year.
"Practically speaking, all you need to do is identify yourself with the Jewish people, with the goals of Har Sinai, with the idea of mamleches kohanim v'goy kadosh—a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. You need to choose a small action, a miniature practice, to do every day that represents your willingness and desire to make a positive change."
So, that is what I am doing now. I am endeavoring to make ONE positive change in order to glue myself to my people and to the goals of Mount Sinai.
What are you doing during this Omer period that will have lasting impact on your relationship to the Jewish people and to Torah?
Oh, I also spoke to a woman on the phone today who is not Jewish, and when I happened to mention that I am Jewish, because we were discussing spiritual matters, she said, "Well, whatever your grandmothers gave you, I respect that." Gee, that's an interesting thing to say, isn't it?
I know that my "grandmothers" go back to Sinai and she probably has no idea what she really said, in that regard.
How fortunate I am this Shabbat Eve, in considering my relationship to my people and to Torah!
First and foremost, we fulfill a commandment when we light Shabbat lights. But on a personal level, lighting Shabbat lights is a way to bring the lights of our great-grandmothers to life."
Please feel free to share in the comments for us all to enjoy.
Shabbat.com Eshet Chayil Video - Lovely!
Click photo for a short, lovely video by Shabbat.com, the world's largest social network for Jewish people offering and looking for a place to spend Shabbos.


Forward estimates of the major categories of revenue, for the period from 2001-02 to 2004-05 are provided in Table B1.
(a) Includes FBT, agricultural levies and other taxes.
The forward estimates of revenue are underpinned by the conventional assumption of no change in current policy. Consequently, the forward estimates of revenue only reflect projected growth in economic parameters and policy measures contained in this and previous budgets, including those associated with The New Tax System.
Taxation revenue generally moves in line with economic activity during periods of steady economic growth (as depicted by the economic projections in this Budget), but tends to swing more sharply during periods of economic contraction and rapid expansion (in particular, more sharply than nominal GDP growth).
Total tax revenue is expected to remain at around 20.9 per cent of GDP across the forward estimates, with a slightly lower estimate in 2002-03. Lower tax revenue in 2002-03 in part reflects a one-off deferral in the timing of tax payments from annual Pay As You Go (PAYG) taxpayers that are not registered for the GST.
A projected increase in income tax as a proportion of GDP over the forward years is offset, in contrast to last year, by a decline in indirect tax as a proportion of GDP, mostly reflecting the decision to abolish petroleum excise indexation.
Non-tax revenue is expected to decrease in 2002-03, reflecting lower projected dividends from GBEs and other associated entities (including the Reserve Bank of Australia). Non-tax revenue is expected to remain at around 1.3 per cent of GDP in 2003-04 and 2004-05.


Nature: The shruken and sealed forms of various Ultras, monsters and alien beings.
Spark Dolls (スパークドール Supāku Dōru) are the transformed bodies of Ultras, monsters, and Aliens from various universes.
Some time prior to the series, a multiversal war named the Dark Spark War raged between the side of good and the side of evil, with the participants being comprised of the Ultramen versus the monsters and aliens for the universe. In the middle of the battle a dark giant appeared, looming over everyone else and transformed them into Spark Dolls. It was then that an Ultraman named Ginga fought the dark figure however their battle ended in a draw, resulting in both being changed into Spark Dolls locked away in their respective devices. The devices and the Spark Dolls fell to Earth where the Ginga Spark was eventually found and housed in the Ginga Shrine as a holy object. Years later, Hikaru Raido found the Ginga Spark and the presence of this object caused the various Spark Dolls hidden around his hometown to being to activate. In response the villain's lackey Alien Valky, Alien Icarus and Alien Nackle Gray began going about giving the Dark Dummy Spark to corrupt minded individuals to sow chaos on Earth.
In aftermath of Ginga's battle with Lugiel, the curse befall on the Spark Dolls was lifted as they return back to their homeworlds.
The Spark Dolls appeared again in the second season of Ultraman Ginga. Their sudden appearance seems to be caused by the Alien Chibu known as Exceller. Their origin is unknown, but some dialogue implies that may have also been in some manner of battle. It is also noted that the Victorium Crystals apparently have a similar energy signature to that of Spark Dolls. Ultraman Victory, a subterranean Ultra Warrior portrayed the ability to partially manifest their powers through the use of Ultrans.
In Ultraman X, Spark Dolls were scattered around the globe and stored beneath the Earth's surface and in its oceans. They were also treated as OOParts, possibly since said world is a parallel dimension in contrast to the Ultraman Ginga timeline. However, a strange purple solar flare bathed the Earth and triggered OOPArts from around the world, thus they awakened and rampaged, causing worldwide panic. Due to this, Xio was formed and fifteen years later, Ultraman X arrived on Earth to fight these threats. Ultraman X's Xanadium Ray had a similar effect to Dark Lugiel, which involved turning/reverting a target to its Spark Doll state.
Later, Sparks Dolls from defeated Kaiju and Seijin would be kept by Xio as they used the Spark Dolls' elements in creating Cyber Cards. This is eventually an advantage for the Spark Dolls as their consciousness were shared to the Cyber Monster, allowing them to fight in the reality even with their original bodies in stasis. However, for them to be used, the user must gain their approval first. Once the negotiation turns out to be successful, their Spark Doll would appear and the user Realize them.
Daichi's Gomora vibrating after detecting a nearby threat.
As it seems that the traits of Spark Dolls in this world were reduced to mindless dolls, but eventually they are observant and well aware of the surroundings. At the very least, they had the ability to foresight any danger they would face by vibrating themselves to alert anyone. Thankfully via the usage of Gao Diction from Xio Devizer, humans are capable understanding their messages.
The only known conscious Spark Doll appeared to be Ultraman Taro, however, Ginga spoke in episode 6, revealing that he too, was still conscious, which was why Hikaru cannot transform at will.
Despite speaking in Spark Doll Theater, all of Hikaru's Spark Dolls have had their consciousness sealed (Spark Doll Theater is a comedy show and not canon).
Spark Dolls are the first transformation items to have a major toy-line, as they replace the Ultra Monster Series and the Ultra Hero Series.
Their toys are officially known as the Ultra Hero 500 and Ultra Monster 500 series, due to the fact that the figures are 500 Yen each, excluding DX Series.


text:
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Led Zeppelin may be facing court as legal papers are in the process of being filed by a US lawyer who claims the opening was directly influenced by the band Spirit's track 'Taurus'.
Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant.
Led Zeppelin are in legal hot water as a US lawyer is preparing paperwork which claims they ripped off the opening of their 1971 classic ballad 'Stairway to Heaven'. The lawyer is filing an injunction against the reissue of their album Led Zeppelin IV on behalf of the later guitarist Randy California, who was a member of the band Spirit. If the injunction is filed, Led Zeppelin may end up in court having to defend their creative rights and ownership of the song.
Read more: Jimmy Page: 'I'm Fed Up Of Robert Plant Playing Games'
The case rests on one line of the song and the similar instrumental, which attorney Francis Malofiy claims was stolen from another band, namely Spirit. Molofiy claims Led Zeppelin heard the line whilst they were supporting Spirit in the late 1960s. The song from which Led Zepplin allegedly stole the line and instrumental from was 'Taurus' which appeared on Spirit's 1968 debut album.
So, 43 years after the song was even released, why hasn't this injunction been filed before? Malofiy claimed "It's been a long time coming." This certainly makes sense as, in 1997, California complained about the track to a music magazine. He said "I'd say it was a rip-off, they [Led Zeppelin] made millions of bucks on it and never said thank you; never said, 'Can we pay you some money for it?'" Yet California never filed suit which his manager has recently claimed was because they simply didn't have enough money to pay for appropriate legal reputations and the band believed the statute of limitations would prevent them. The suit appears to have been prompted by California's tragic death in 1997 at the age of 45. The Spirit singer was attempted to save his son when he was swept away by a strong current.
John Paul Jones at an event celebrating Led Zeppelin in 2012.
Read more: Jimmy Page Receives Honorary Doctorate At Berklee Music College
The injunction could block the reissue of Lep Zepplin's IV album until the issue of copyright infringement is addressed. This would simply mean California's name would be added to the writing credit of Stairway to Heaven and as such California's family would profit from the royalties of recent sales (from the past three years) and any future sales should the issue be brought to court. According to Business Week, this could be more than $10 million annually.
The important of 'Stairway to Heaven' cannot be underestimated both in terms of becoming one of the best known rock ballads and for Led Zeppelin as a band. Led Zepplin consisted of lead singer Robert Plant, guitarist Jimmy Page, drummer Jon Bonham, and keyboardist John Paul Jones. As Business Week reports, Plant claimed the song was a "milestone" for the band, stating "Every musician wants to do something of lasting quality, something which will hold up for a long time, and I guess we did it with Stairway."
What do you think – is 'Stairway to Heaven' a rip off of Spirit's 'Taurus'?
Listen to Led Zepplin's 'Stairway to Heaven:
Listen to Spirit's 'Taurus':
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Other than soot, using the chimney also leads to the accumulation of creosote. Creosote is dangerous when it's not removed in good time. It's one of the leading causes of household fires. While you can get an expert to do handyman Tucson, you might want to find another option that's less expensive, especially if you use the fireplace regularly.
Inspect your chimney to determine whether it needs handyman services Tucson basically once a year or more in case you use the fireplace often. Flash a light into the flute. Scrape off some of the creosote for inspection. In case the substance is 1/8 inches in thickness or more, your chimney needs to be cleaned. In case you clean it once annually, make sure you clean it before the cold season starts.
The chimney can be warm enough for small animals to make it their home. Before you start drywall repair Tucson, inspect to make sure there are no small animals in there. If there are any, take the necessary precautions when removing them.
Get the measurements of the flute, top to bottom and side measurements. You can even use a ladder and take these measurements. Most flutes are either round or square and measure between 6 and 8 inches.
In case you are not certain about the measurements and you are just guessing, it is wise to overstate your estimates. It's better to have more piping or ropes to enable you to brush the chimney.
You should visit your local hardware store for cleaning supplies.
Make sure you dress appropriately for this. If you are worried about soot, put on some old clothes that you do not use anymore. Cover your hair. Avoid loose clothing because it's easy to get caught up in the cleaning process, and can cause accidents. You will also have to put on your dust mask and goggles.
Given the amount of dust that comes with this process, drape the fireplace accordingly. Make sure the plastic tarp or drop cloth extends by a few feet to the living room. If there's any furniture around, cover them properly, and roll back your carpet.
Once this is done, you can remove the damper from the flute. You should be able to find the damper handle from within the chimney. With the wire brush, clean the damper properly. Remove it from the chimney and then set it aside, preferably on the drop cloth. This is important so that you do not interfere with the chimney brush when you are sweeping your chimney.
Clean the entrance to the chimney. All the dirt that you cleaned should have collected at the base. Get a shovel for this, and then after that, you can return the damper handle. When you are done, follow the necessary procedure in disposing the creosote and/or soot according to the local legislation. Do not throw creosote in the trash because it's highly flammable.


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are a Japanese rock band. The band's name literally translates to The Dog-God Circus Troupe. Their visual element consists of the female singer wearing a kimono, and the rest of the band wearing military-style uniforms. They also wear Gothic and Kabuki style make-up.

History
In 2003 they busted out their major label debut on Zetima Records, "Inochi Mijikashi Koi Seyo Jinrui!"  Inugami Circus-dan covered X Japan's "Rusty Nail" for Crush! 3 - 90's V-Rock Best Hit Cover Love Songs-, which was released on June 27, 2012 and features current visual kei bands covering love songs by visual kei artists of the 90's.

Members
Inugami Kyouko - Vocals
Inugami Jouji II - Guitar
Inugami Zin - Bass
Inugami Akira - Drums

Discography

Albums
Jigoku no Komoriuta (地獄の子守唄) - 1999
Hebigami-hime (蛇神姫) - 2000
Ankoku Zankoku Gekijou (暗黒残酷劇場) - 2001
Kaidan! Kubitsuri no Mori (怪談 首つりの森) - 2002
Kami no Inu (神の犬) - 2003
Greatest Hits (グレイテスト・ヒッツ) - 2004
Sukeban Rock (スケ番ロック) - 2005
Kejijou no Eros (形而上のエロス) - 2006
Kago no Tori, Tenkuu wo Shirazu (籠の鳥、天空を知らず) - Oct 7 2009
Setakamui (セタカムイ) - May 12, 2010
Viva! America - Oct 20, 2010
Osorezan - 2012
Seishonen no Tame no Inugami Nyumon - 2014
Tamatsubaki Hime (玉椿姫) - 2014
Koko Kara Nanika ga Hajimaru (ここから何かが始まる) - 2015
Ougonkyou (黄金郷) - 2016
Shinjuku Go Go (新宿ゴーゴー) - 2017
Tokyo 2060 (東京2060) - 2018

Mini-Albums
Goreizen (御霊前) - 1997
Akaneko (赤猫) - 2000
Machiwabita Hi ~ Keijijou no Eros Gaiden (待ちわびた日~形而上のエロス外伝) - 2006
Kyoko no Kyofu no Shinya Radio: Featuring Inugami Circus Dan (凶子の恐怖の深夜ラヂヲ: Featuring 犬神サーカス団) - 2007
Ju-ren (呪恋) - 2008
Yakouressha Gokuraku Yuki (夜行列車極楽行) - Nov 5 2008
Shinumade Rock - 2011
A Nightmare of the Uncertainly Principle - 2013

Singles
"Jinkou Ninshin Chuuzetsu" (人工妊娠中絶) - 2001
"Saigo no Idol" (最後のアイドル) (2-track CD+18-track DVD) - 2003
"Inochi Mijikashi Koiseyo Jinrui!" (命みぢかし恋せよ人類!) - 2003 (Oricon Ranking 78)
"Saisho no Tobira" (最初の扉) - 2004 (Oricon Ranking 59)
"Tsugou no Ii Onna / Honto ni Honto ni Gokurou-san" (都合のいい女・ほんとにほんとに御苦労さん) - 2004
"Hikari to Kage no Toccata" (光と影のトッカータ) - 2007.8
"Jigoku ni Ochita Kodomotachi" (地獄に堕ちた子供たち) - 2007.9
"Takaramono" (たからもの) - 2007.10
"BABYLONIA Koi Monogatari" (バビロニア恋物語) 2007.11
"Itsuka" (いつか) 2007.12
"Tsubasa" (翼) Apr 9, 2008
"Sweet" Oct 8 2008
"Koi wa Munekyun" (恋は胸きゅん) - April 8, 2009
"Sakura Chiru Naka" - 2011

DVD / VHS
Yoru ga Owacchimau Mae ni (夜が終っちまう前に) - 1998
Nozoki Karaku Kyouken Shibai (覘キ絡繰狂犬芝居) - 1998
Hakoiri Idou Circus ~Tent Sono Ichi~ (箱入り移動サアカス~テント其ノ壱~) - 2002
Yomi no Kuni (黄泉の国) - 2003
Sennou (洗脳) - 2003Chingonka ~Requiem~ (鎮魂歌~レクイエム~) - 2003Video Clip-Shuu - Seppuku (ビデオクリップ集・切腹) - 2004

Compilation / OtherAkai Hebi (赤い蛇) (Akai Hebi) - 2000Ijou no Utage (異形の宴) (Akaasa no Shoufu [赤痣の娼婦], Enamel wo Nurareta Apollinaire [エナメルを塗られたアポリネール]) - 2000Ijou no Utage (異形の宴) (DVD) (Enamel wo Nurareta Apollinaire [エナメルを塗られたアポリネール]) - 2000
Forever Young (フォーエバー・ヤング) (Takeda no Komoriuta) - 2001
365:TRIBUTE TO STALIN (STOP JAP) - 2001

References

External links
Official Website

Visual kei musical groups
Japanese hard rock musical groups

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


We had seen the large smoke cloud as we passed through Broadford on Skye the previous evening, but we couldn't have guessed the huge area affected.
Sgurr an t-Searraich is 1890 feet high (576m) and the summit's on fire!
This was a major wild fire, sadly one of many, after an exceptionally dry April.
How often do you see helicopters being used to water bomb a hillside in Britain?
It was fascinating watching the skill of the pilot as he completed a firefighting round - from loch to hill.
Loch Shiel (the Glenshiel one that is!) was the source to fill the 'bomb'. The pilot has downward looking 'rear view mirrors' so he can observe operations. How many gallons in the bag?
In only a few moments a full load was whisked uphill; with a long fiercely burning fire front, where to start?
this time heading for the blazing summit.
We were glad not to have walked the Five Sisters ridge the previous day, as our descent route would have proved hot and interesting!
Quite sad to see such extensive fire damage.


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Amazon's Amazing Fulfillment Warehouse Strategy
4/2/2014 | 5 Likes | Material Handling, Assembly, Heavy Duty, Industrial Facilities,
We looked at how Walmart integrated distribution technology as part of its strategy that led it to become the largest US retail by sales revenue in 1990. This week we will look at Amazon and its aggressive approach to distribution.
Back in 1990, when Walmart's revenue first exceeded its primary retail rivals Sears Roebuck and Kmart, Amazon did not yet exist. It wasn't until four years later, that Amazon founder Jeff Bezos left his job as an investment banker at D. E. Shaw and Co. in New York City and moved to Seattle to develop the Internet-based business plan that led to the birth of Amazon.com. Bezos initially sold books online — out of his garage in Bellevue, Washington. After two months in business, his young Amazon.com website had a sales run rate of $80,000 of books per month. Within three years, Amazon went public.
Today, twenty years after its founding in 1994, Amazon has nearly 120,000 employees and annual revenue of nearly $75 billion US. Not only does it sell practically every consumer product imaginable, from books to cosmetics to apparel to household durable goods, it also is a major outlet for many business-to-business oriented products and services.
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SEE SHIPPING/PACKING STATION OPTIONS
Why the Initial Focus on Book Sales at Amazon? Amazon's Long-Tail Fulfillment Warehouse Strategy.
Clearly, Jeff Bezos likes books, but as an entrepreneur, his approach was agnostic as to which product line or business model to employ as his entry point into the burgeoning Internet marketplace. Bezos observed that online book sales offered unique advantages over traditional brick-and-mortar bookstore retail operations. A key advantage for online book sales is the searchable online catalog. Once Amazon achieved a critical mass of available inventory, it could offer consumers a breadth and depth of titles that far surpassed anything that could be physically stocked in a local bookstore or retail book chain. This "long-tail" approach plays to the strengths of Amazon's centralized distribution system that offers rapid the fulfillment to consumers at low cost.
Amazon's Choice of Fulfillment Warehouse Locations Influenced by Internet Sales Tax Policy
In its quest to offer books to customers at the lowest possible cost, Amazon also aggressively pursued what could charitably be called a "non-traditional" strategy for the location of its fulfillment center warehouses. In a traditional network of distribution centers, operations managers and supply-chain experts would typically spread out their warehouse distribution fulfillment centers across the country to maximize efficient access to large population centers.
However, this was not the case for Amazon, particularly in its early days. Amazon took note that most states charging sales tax did not require vendors to collect the sales tax on behalf of their customers — as long as the vendor was out of state and did not have any physical location ( or nexus) within the state. Consequently, Amazon, in its early days, deliberately chose to place its distribution centers in those states which either did not charge sales tax or in states with smaller populations which could efficiently service nearby states with large populations in order for those consumers to shop tax-free.
The bottom line for consumers was positive, but negative for state governments relying on sales tax and brick and mortar bookstores who had to charge sales tax.If you bought from Amazon, chances were that you wouldn't have to pay sales tax, even if you really were obligated by law to self-report and send the tax money to your local state government. In round numbers, tax-free shopping on the Internet was equivalent to a constant 10% discount on Amazon's already low book prices. State governments cried foul as they saw their sales tax dollars evaporating as a result of Amazon's aggressive approach (in their view) to state sales tax avoidance. California argued that Amazon had hundreds of "sales affiliates" within the state. These affiliates, which promoted Amazon on their websites in exchange for a small finders' fee, were a local nexus (or physical location) in the state according to California. Also, Texas argued that Amazon's Dallas-Fort Worth area fulfillment distribution center subsidiary was also a nexus; thus Amazon needed to collect state sales tax on its online sales to Texas consumers. After some serious negotiations, both California and Texas governments achieved their goal and Amazon began collecting sales tax. In exchange, Amazon received some incentive tax credits for building distribution centers in California and in Texas.
Current Locations of Amazon Fulfillment Warehouses
According to MWPVL International, Amazon has about 50,000,000 square feet of fulfillment center warehouse space in the US, in current operation (or planned to open in 2014.) Additionally, Amazon has approximately 25,000,000 square feet of fulfillment center warehouse space outside of North America. While this is less square footage than Walmart has within the US (in 2014 Walmart had 157 distribution centers with 118,000,000 ft.² ), Amazon is growing more rapidly. MWPVL estimates that in 2014 Amazon will open ten new U.S. locations exceeding 8,600,000 square feet and six overseas locations totaling 6,500,000 square feet.
Location of Amazon Fulfillment Warehouses across the USA.
How Does Amazon Categorize it's Fulfillment Warehouses?
Presently, there are seven types of distribution centers which service Amazon's growing customer base:
Large Sortable Fulfillment Warehouses: Processes items which can fit into a large box.
Small Sortable Fulfillment Warehouses: Processes items which can fit into a small box.
Non-sortable Fulfillment Warehouses: Processes items too large for box shipment.
Replenishment Warehouses: Transfer center to move goods from manufacturers to other fulfillment centers.
Customer Return Warehouses: Returns for damaged, missing, unsatisfactory or incorrectly shipped items.
Specialty Items Warehouses: High dollar items such as jewelry or specialty apparel.
Grocery Item Warehouses: Dry goods and Perishable items, like meats, dairy, vegetables
A Day in the Life of an Amazon Fulfillment Warehouse "Picker"
It may come as a surprise to frequent users of Amazon's famous patented 'One Click' sales button that even in 2014 the fulfillment process is still fairly manual. At each of its warehouse fulfillment centers, Amazon employees manually receive shipments of goods from manufacturers. They have to unload, unpack, inspect and place all the shipments into warehouse storage at the proper location, which is recorded in the computerized central inventory system. When you place an order, the computer sends out the request to one or more distribution centers, where a 'pick list' is generated. The pick list is what the Amazon warehouse worker or 'picker' uses to walk through the large warehouse facility accompanied by what is essentially a large shopping cart. Pickers keep track of their pick list tasks and progress on handheld mobile computers. These mobile computers also monitor the efficiency of the picker, who must maintain a brisk schedule as they walk throughout the facility, often more than 10 miles each day. Here is a short video which shows the pickers in action, circa 2009:
Some Amazon workers in the US and in the UK have complained about the pressure they face on the job to keep up with Amazon's promise of overnight shipping. However, things may change for these workers altogether in the near future, as we'll see in the next section.
More Amazon Fulfillment Warehouse Automation: Kiva Systems Acquisition
The need for so many manual pickers may be reduced significantly in the future as robot technology enters the field. In 2012, Amazon purchased Kiva Systems, a warehouse automation company. Kiva promises its integrated robot and 'pod' hardware and software solutions will speed up cycle times as consumers increasingly demand next day or even same-day delivery. They also promise to handle some of the particular issues facing operational teams at warehouse distribution centers. These include:
Need to improve pick accuracy to avoid losing a customer who is inadvertently sent the wrong product.
Increase flexibility and scalability to handle unexpected surges in consumer preferences as well as traditional seasonal shopping effects (winter coats versus bathing suits).
Address efficient storage of long-tail inventory.
If You Are in the Fulfillment Warehouse Distribution Market, Formaspace Can Help
Whether you are a retail giant or a local distributor, contact us here at Formaspace and speak with one of our technical furniture consultants today. We offer a wide range of industrial packing tables, sorting tables and industrial workbenches that can help you operate more efficiently. And all our furniture is backed by a 3 shift continuous use guarantee for twelve full years. No one else backs their products like Formaspace does.
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