We're excited to announce a few things happening with the Feminist Library On Wheels this month!
If you're interested in participating in F.L.O.W. as a volunteer, join us on February 3rd from 10am-1pm for a mini retreat to talk about the mission statement we drafted in July 2018, our plans for the future, and how we do what we do. This gathering will be in lieu of our usual monthly meeting, and give you a chance to get to know us better.
Come during our usual office hours on February 17th from 10am-1pm for a letter-writing gathering to support people who have been incarcerated. Inspired by gloria galvez's residency and the work of Critical Resistance, we'll talk about the prison industrial complex and prison abolition, and write notes of support to women and LGBTQ people inside.
We've long admired the work of Ola Ronke and The Free Black Women's Library in Brooklyn, NYC, "a free interactive traveling biblio-installation that features a collection of over 900 books written by Black women, as well as films, performance, readings, workshops and conversations." Now Asha Grant is starting a chapter here in Los Angeles! For the month of February, please help us build their collection: every book by a Black woman writer in our donation box this month will be a gift to The Free Black Women's Library LA. Follow the project on social media to stay up-to-date and find out about more ways you can support their work.
F.L.O.W. has quite a few books on the subject of imprisonment and the carceral state. If you're curious to know more you might check out two collections of life histories: Inside this place, not of it: Narratives from women's prisons, edited by Ayelet Waldman, and Wall Tappings: An Anthology of Writings by Women Prisoners, edited by Judith A. Scheffler. We also have writer, activist, and educator Walidah Imarisha's creative nonfiction memoir, based on her own experience of sexual assault and accountability, and the experience of her adopted brother Kakamia, Angels with Dirty Faces: Three Stories of Crime, Prison, and Redemption. For deeper historical context, try Talitha L. LeFlouria's Chained in Silence: Black Women and Convict Labor in the New South, which traces the experiences and labor of black women in the increasingly profit-driven prison system in Georgia from the 19th through the 20th century. Historian Jennifer Manion's Liberty's Prisoners: Carceral Culture in Early America examines the development of American prisons by going back to its first penal institutions, in 18th-century Philadelphia. In our politics section you can also find civil rights lawyer and legal scholar Michelle Alexander's 2010 The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness.
If you've been following the UTLA strike here in Los Angeles, another book to expand your understanding of the workings of the prison industrial complex would be Heather Ann Thompson's Blood in the Water: The Attica Prison Uprising of 1971 and Its Legacy, the first definitive history of the uprising and winner of the Pulitzer Prize for history in 2017. Or you could check out revolutionary German socialist Rosa Luxemburg's Reform or Revolution & The Mass Strike, two of her most important works, complete with notes and explanatory material (this year marked 100 years since her assassination). We even have books on strikes for younger readers, like Diana Cohn's bilingual Si, Se Puede!/Yes, We Can!: Janitor Strike in L.A., about a young boy who helps his mom during her janitors' strike (published by Cinco Puntos Press, which specializes in bilingual children's books--they also printed Subcomandante Marcos' The Story of Colors/La Historia de los Colores: A bilingual folktale from the jungles of Chiapas); or Joan Dash's We Shall Not Be Moved: The Women's Factory Strike of 1909, which details the labor organizing of women garment workers in New York around the turn of the 20th century. Young ones might also be inspired by Monica Brown's Side by Side/Lado A Lado: The story of Dolores Huerta and Cesar Chavez.
Remember you can browse our shelves any time the work space is open, 10am - 6pm Monday-Friday, during our office hours every other Sunday (check the calendar), or look online in our searchable catalog.


US-based media have been reporting that Japan has become the biggest holder of the US treasuries, surpassing China last month. However, this is true only in regard to single countries. If we consider the European Union member states collectively, then they appear to be the biggest holder of the US treasuries. It has been so almost one year long. Unfortunately, the EU's holdings are artificially overstated because of some financial havens and they are going in the opposite direction to the trend: up rather than down.
According to the latest data from TIC (Treasury International Capital System), the EU was in possession of $1242 billion of US Treasuries in November 2016, $9 billion more than one month earlier. The EU was the only one from three biggest holders that increased its amount of US treasuries in November, while China and Japan continued to lower their holdings.
China is militarizing the South China Sea, or is it?
China is by far the most powerful contestant. Neither the Philippines, nor Malaysia nor Vietnam can compare, though they, especially Hanoi, dare to put up a fight and stave off the encroachment on its sovereignty. China, true, is willing to sit down to the negotiation table, yet insists on bilateral talks; the smaller contestants prefer group talks. And they all look to the United States, if for different reasons. China is trying to expand its regional clout, the smaller countries are defending their rights. And the United States? Failure to respond to the Chinese challenge entails serious consequences such as damage to Washington's status of the world superpower and loss of American credibility, not only in the eyes of the few South-East Asian nations concerned but also others, like Japan. The eyes of the world are thus focused on the South China Sea.
'Chinese dream' only for the chosen few?
China's Communist Party leaders are working on the 13th Five-Year Plan this week. One of the main targets for the next years will be reducing social disparities within the country. Is it possible?
How much does China depend on the world?
The quarterly report on China's economical growth was a hot topic in the media Monday. The world and especially emerging markets, are significantly impacted by the Chinese economy. The big question is: how much does China depends on the rest of the world?
The coming years will be crucial for the Chinese economy and decisive for the realization of the "Chinese dream" of a prosperous society. This dream is to be achieved through the 13th Five-Year-Plan. This conglomerate of strategic goals will have a cascading effect; it will affect the global economy as well.
Many see the Five-Year-Plan (FYP) as a Stalinist holdover of China's old command economy1; disregarding those "Guidelines" is a mistake. Investors should be fully aware of China's five year economical cycles. China's economic cycles are dictated by the elite of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and not by the invisible hand of the market.
Apple has cut prices on products in China by nearly 6 percent.
The price cuts in China are for products including the iPhone, iPad and AirPods.
Speaking during a visit to Hawaii, Tsai said requests had been submitted to buy new F-16fighters and M1 tanks.


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Splatoon 2 Review: I Ink, Therefore I Am
By	Jack Fennimore
Updated Jul 24, 2017 at 7:46pm
Game: Splatoon 2
Consoles: Nintendo Switch (Reviewed)
Developer: Nintendo EPD
Splatoon for the Wii U was one of the most notable games to come out of 2015, a year overflowing with notable games. The game reinvigorated the stale shooter genre, providing a bright, colorful, family-friendly twist that emphasized clever use of terrain, positioning, stealth, and ink coverage over sheer kill streaks. Add to that its strong art style providing something wild even for the wacky world of Nintendo, and you have an instant classic.
Nintendo thankfully decided to not overcomplicate things for the sequel, a lesson I'm sure they learned well with the abrasive Star Fox Zero. All of the joy and surprisingly strategic gameplay of Splatoon has been preserved for Splatoon 2 while adding most of the content and updates from the original. But while Splatoon 2 is indeed everything you loved about Splatoon, I'd hesitate to say that it's truly everything you loved and more.
Splatoon 2's main course is its online competitive multiplayer mode. In Turf Wars, players are tasked with covering the map in more of their teams' colored ink than the opponents'. Players can also transform into a squid, which grants them increased speed while swimming in their ink, speedier ink recovery, and the ability to climb up inked walls. Going into opponents' ink slows you down and drains your health. Players can also bring up the map with the X Button and then warp to any teammate on the map.
Screenshot by Jack Fennimore
The main crux of strategies in Turf Wars revolve around spreading as much ink as possible. Taking out opponents is a huge help as it prevents them from fighting for a couple of seconds and cuts their special weapon meter in half, but it's not the main goal of the match. Because of this, Splatoon 2's gameplay is much more focused on environmental awareness and strategically covering the map as opposed to hunting down enemies. Even players who aren't that good at fighting can contribute. You're constantly looking around the area and checking the map to see if there are any spots you missed or if the enemy are covering your team's ink. You're also sneaking past enemies to paint ink, only fighting when you have your side sufficiently inked and it's time to move to enemy territory.
When you do have to engage with opponents, your squid-transforming abilities combine beautifully with your inking ones. You can face enemies head on if you have the weaponry for it, but it's often best to hide in your ink and ambush opponents or climb up a wall and rain ink from above. Ink streams from weapons and the areas they paint are much more noticeable than your standard bullets, allowing you to find opponents easier. However, you can use this to your advantage to bait opponents into traps. You can also cut off opponents with your ink if they try to escape. But you'll have to keep a careful eye on your ink reserves and retreat when necessary.
Once you get to level 10, you can join in Ranked Battles where it becomes an almost entirely different game. Instead of inking the whole map, you ink a small section of it whether it be a static point on the map or a floating tower you have to shepherd to your opponent's side of the map. Either that or you have to take the powerful Rainmaker weapon to the end of the map. Either way, defeating opponents matters a lot more since you're running into them constantly. The reward of XP is a lot more high stakes, with wins securing big bonuses and losses getting you almost nothing. Splatoon 2 improves upon the Ranked Matches from the original, having your HUD be more descriptive and having you lose rank points after a couple of losses as opposed to every time. All of the chaos of Turf Wars is essentially concentrated to specific points on the map. You're constantly in a tug of war with your opponent as you furiously take down opponents and ink your turf. For those looking for a high risk, frantic challenge, this is where it's at.
But no matter what mode you select, you'll always be in for a good time. The unique gameplay lends itself nicely for beginners, but there are so many mechanics for advanced players to take advantage of. Matches are chaotic and speedy, giving you a rush every time you play. They also often come down to the wire; there were some matches I was sure we would win before being proven otherwise.
Adding to the craziness is the weaponry, with each type giving players different roles. For instance, rollers are used for spreading wide areas in ink as well as close combat while Chargers are used for sniping opponents from afar and creating long lines of ink for teammates to swim through. Adding to that are sub weapons like grenades and protective walls, which act as secondary sources of both spreading ink and beating opponents. Finally, your special weapon can be unleashed after spreading a certain amount of ink and can turn the tide of battle if used correctly. Weapons come in sets, offering different stats and firing patters as well as different combinations of sub weapons and specials. If there's a specific setup you want for your tastes, there's a good chance you'll find it. Adding to that is stylish clothing gear that can grant passive abilities such as making you swim faster or having defeated enemies respawn slower at the cost of slowing your own respawn time. Players can combine their weapons on the battlefield for big results. You can toss out an Autobomb to distract an opponent while another sneaks up and hits them with the Octobrush.
Splatoon 2 offers brand new kinds of weapons. Dualies are two guns held akimbo which grant the player dodge rolls for evading enemy fire. While you're immobile after the roll, your guns become more accurate as they combine their fire. There's also an umbrella weapon that fires ink in a shotgun-like pattern, and can deploy an umbrella for protection and even fire it to move forward while under cover. However, while the umbrella is playable in single player, it won't be available in multiplayer until a later update. New Sub Weapons include the Autobomb which seeks out opponents after being thrown, the Toxic Mist which slows opponents and drains their ink, and the Curling bomb which slides on the ground and bounces off walls before exploding.
By far the most drastic change to come to multiplayer are the new special weapons, which completely replace the ones in the original game. The specials are not nearly as disruptive as the old ones and require much more thought to use, and thus are not nearly as abusable. For example, the Inkjet has you hovering in the air via ink jets Super Mario Sunshine-style while firing exploding projectiles. However, you're still vulnerable to attack while in the air. Ink Armor protects you from one attack and activates for all players but there's a bit of a delay before the effect is applied.
Another welcome change is the fact that maps are a lot bigger and complex than they were in the original. Splatoon's battles often took place in tight spaces and had very linear maps. Splatoon 2's maps have the same narrow passages and choke points as the original's, but there's a lot more space and more routes to take. One map taking place in a biking track has a wide area with multiple walls to hide and a long stretch of land making up the track itself. A map in a shipyard has long stretches of land with narrow beams connecting them and moving platforms for vantage points. Thanks to the extra real estate, the ink-slinging gameplay is allowed to shine even more. Fans of the original maps need not fret as there are some fan favorites in the rotation as well. I do have to say that its occasionally frustrating when you fall into a death pit that was obscured by the map.
The biggest addition from the original game is Salmon Run, a cooperative horde mode (think Gears of War for kids) pitting a group of players against an onslaught of gormless salmon enemies. You collect eggs from defeated enemies, but your main goal is to secure golden eggs from powerful boss enemies and bring them to a container before some enemy retrieves them. Ink spreading is still a major factor as enemies have their own ink trails that constantly need to be covered up. Teamwork is also a big help, not just in letting teammates know where the boss enemies are but in helping to take them down. Some boss enemies requires you to lure it away so that another player can shoot its backside. Successful matches grant you bonuses you can use in the main game such as extra money and gear. It's a very fun mode that that's way more than a simple distraction. However, I would have loved to choose different difficulty modes as opposed to having everything randomized.
Single player returns as well, pitting you against the Octarians in stages across five worlds. In usual Nintendo fashion, stages have you traversing a series of obstacle courses separated by checkpoints revolving around one central gimmick. Gimmicks include rails to grind on, mats to unfurl, and of course bounce pads. I found myself enjoying these levels more than the ones in the original game. The level design, while still fairly linear, is more intricately designed and often takes you across winding platforms and even different pathways. The secrets are also very well hidden but not impossible to sniff out. Gimmicks often return and combine with new ones for more interesting gameplay. Adding to that is the fact that you can use more weapons than just your standard shooter, a feature that was exclusive to Amiibo figures in the previous game. Let's not forget about the bosses, which offer more challenge and spectacle than the original ones. While the single player hits many of the same beats as the original, I found it to be a much more engaging time overall that's neither too long nor short and neither too easy nor hard. Aside from some frustrating sections where you have to ride on robots and lead them forward with trails of ink and jump across rotating platforms, it's a good time overall.
Whether you're playing on a controller, in handheld mode, or even with the Joy Cons in each hand and the Switch on a table, the motion controls are surprisingly intuitive. It's a good way to quickly catch opponents and spray ink around while you're moving. I found it best to move the camera horizontally with the control stick and then move it vertically with the motion controls. In the event it does get out of whack, you can always reorient yourself with a quick tap of the Y button. While I occasionally struggled with aiming chargers, I wouldn't honestly play any other way. Though you can adjust them or turn them off completely if you like.
The only problem with controlling the game is when swimming up walls, which requires ink to be at the very top of a wall to have enough distance to jump up to the top. Otherwise, you'll have to repeatedly jump up to spread some ink and then make it up. It's a constant irritation in single player which has you swimming up way more often than in multiplayer.
Presentation is as great as it's always been, taking influence from Japan's urban and pop culture and mixing it with Nintendo's brand of silliness. With the move to more powerful hardware, the visuals are more technically polished. The character designs, especially for the new ones, I found more memorable and fun. And the music is way more catchy than the original, being less repetitive and much more varied with its instrumentation.
While Splatoon 2 is great, a lot of its success is the result of the base set by the original game. The sequel borrows liberally from the original, taking not just the base premise and game design but a lot of the character and environment design, weapons, gear, modes, and even some of the single player bosses. It's not completely the same, but it still feels very familiar and only has some improvements implemented. But that's not the problem. The problem is that while Splatoon 2 takes and sometimes improves upon elements of the original, it also retains a lot of its problems. They may seem small, but the fact that they weren't ironed out in the sequel is a bit insulting.
You still only get to select from two maps for each multiplayer mode. While there are more maps and the rotation appears to happen more often, it's still exhausting to play on the same map three or four times in a row. You have to listen to Pearl and Marina tell you about these maps as well as any updates every time you boot up the game without any option to skip, just like with the Squid Sisters from the original game. They're funny, but I don't want to have to waste a minute of my time before playing the game. In battle, you still only have two options for communicating with players: saying "This Way" or "Booyah." The options for communicating with other players without resorting to the convoluted process of voice chat is pitiful. And in order to switch gear, you still need to exit out of the group of people you were matched with and then reenter the matchmaking process. There's also no loadouts to speak of, with you having to change each piece of gear separately instead of having presets to change into.
Actually, there are loadouts in the game, but not in the game itself. You see, in addition to locking out some of the coolest gear in the game (power armor is best armor), Splatoon Amiibo figures also have exclusive access to the ability to save your gear setup onto the figure so you can place it on the system and change into it. A feature that could have genuinely improved the game can only be accessed by hunting down expensive, plastic twerps.
One of the most disappointing parts of the game is the fact that you cannot play minigames as you're searching for matches. In the previous game, you can play a fun Doodle Jump-like game on the Wii U Gamepad while players join your game. In Splatoon 2, the most you can do is change the pitch of the music with the left control stick. This is especially upsetting when you consider that Splatoon 2 has an excellent rhythm minigame in the hub world – a minigame so polished that it could have been its own standalone product.
I appreciate Nintendo not innovating for the sake of innovation, a trap they find themselves in all too often. Everything that made the original Splatoon such a classic has been preserved in Splatoon 2, with some improvements to give the game a fresh coat of ink. I also appreciate the tons of content to chew through, a big criticism of the original Splatoon before it received all its updates. But sadly they didn't bother to change many of the problems of the original, and even created some new ones. However, Splatoon 2 is still the great game that made such a splash in 2015. It just could have been a bit more than that.
Multiplayer is chaotic, fast, accessible, and fun
Salmon Run is a great, new addition
Single player is even better than before
Some improvements refresh the already great game
Basically everything you loved in the original Splatoon
Problems from the original remain unchanged
Amiibo figures lock out good content, though not as much as the original game
No minigames during matchmaking
Some frustrating level design in single player
Swimming up walls can be a pain
Splatoon 2 Specials: How to Use & Counter Them
Splatoon 2: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know
Published Jul 24, 2017 at 4:12pm
Game Review, Games, Nintendo Switch, Splatoon 2
Does Splatoon 2 get cooked? Or is it off the hook? Find out in this in-depth review.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


The WWE only get's a certain amount of Brock Lesnar appearances per year, per his contract. They sure wasted one tonight. Paul Heyman started off the show with a rather good promo, several times eluding to Lesnar leaving WWE soon for UFC. He gave more then one innuendo about it.
While it was a great promo as Heyman pretty much foreshadowed Angle and the WWE pulling a "Montreal Screwjob" type of finish to keep the belt in WWE just in case Lesnar leaves for UFC (Kayfabe), it was a completely wasted appearance by Lesnar. He did nothing in the entire segment except stand next to Heyman and grin.
Why would the WWE waste money on that little of a showing? Not only that, ,but there was a good chance that Lesnar was already on a plane back home by the time the main event started.
To compound the puzzling question of it all, is not too much later in the evening it was a thrilling 3 Way Dance between Samoa Joe, Braun Strowman and Roman Reigns that tore down the house!
After the Reigns victory over Joe, it would only make sense that Lesnar would run out and lay out all 3 of his future opponents. Sadly, Lesnar was nowhere to be found at that point, and as I referenced before, was more than likely already long gone from the building.
Granite, Jon Jones calling out Brock Lesnar after a victory over Daniel Cormier Saturday Night at UFC 214, had everyone talking, and the WWE more then likely wanted to take advantage of the buzz currently surrounding Lesnar right now.
However, it still seemed like a total waste. Even more so of a waste then the pointless house shows he has done as of late as well.
As for his reply to the challenge, he decided to answer Jones through the Associated Press, simply stating "Be careful what you wish for young man".
Lesnar retired from MMA earlier this year due to his suspension following UFC 200, and he will not be able to actually compete in the octagon for at least six months as he needs to re-enter USADA's testing pool once he is no longer suspended.
However, some believe that the UFC Higher Ups may be able to make that suspension go away in time for UFC 217 in November at MSG.
The Hardy Boyz defeat Anderson and Gallows – Wow, they have taken Anderson and Gallows and made them pretty much pointless. Don't be fooled by the Hardy Boyz victory either, bad things are on the way, and they will become Broken very soon.
Ambrose refuses to trust Rollins, he will team with him, just not trust him. This points to a surefire Ambrose heel turn.
The WWE is making Akira Tozawa into the next Stone Cold Steve Austin refusing to give up in the sharp shooter. Only problem with that is Titus O'Neil is not over, and Tozawa doesn't have 2 percent of the charisma that Austin did. 205 Live is all but done, barely alive.
One of the best Bray Wyatt promo's in awhile tonight. No doubt about it, him and Balor have chemistry that he simply didn't have with Orton or Rollins, this is working!
Kalisto has gone from rising star to perennial jobber, all from one botched promo over a year ago. Simply not fair. Cool to see Elias Sampson get a TV victory.
Still a little shocked they are going with Bailey vs Bliss yet again, instead a rematch of Banks vs Bliss that could have stole the show at SummerSlam.
Cass went over Big Show by DQ, but then got knocked out. None of this will matter once SummerSlam gets here and Show puts Cass over for good as anyone can seeing coming a mile away.
Some good things about RAW, some bad things and even a few great things. The beat rolls on.


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Home Buyers Remain Despite Reduction of Stamp Duty Holiday
Homeowners Facing Affordability Issues as Financial Storm Looms in the Horizon
Homeowners Encouraged to Prepare for Another Rate Hike in February MPC Meeting
Home Buyers and Homeowners to Face Affordability Issues but Remortgage Could Help
Homeowners Distracted by Holidays Expected to Seek Remortgages to Save Money
There is Good News and Bad News in the UK Housing Market
Remortgaging is Opportunity to Save and Shield the Household Budget
Experts Warn Homeowners to Shop for a Remortgage or Lose Out on Current Savings
Shopping for a Remortgage is a Strategy Encouraged by Experts for All Homeowners
UK House Prices Decline and Homeowners Encouraged to Shop for Remortgage
Quick and Easy Strategy for Homeowners to Save Money in the New Year
13th September 2021 by Tim Latham
The stamp duty holiday was extended in March to keep home buyers interested in purchasing property. The tax relief was pushed for a few more months and was due to be reduced at the end of June and then completely be eliminated at the end of September. The rush to buy as the March deadline neared caused concern that without the discount home buyers would retreat. The extension kept the housing market busy, but despite the 30 June deadline to reduce the savings, buyers have remained and demand is still strong.
The average house price in August rose by 0.7% according to Halifax. The new average house price was another record high at £262,954, bypassing the previous record of £261,642 in May.
House prices increased the highest level in Wales which was up by 11.6% year on year. The south-west of UK recorded a 9.6% increase, with the north-east increasing by 8%. Northern Ireland recorded an increase of 9.3% and Scotland recorded a growth of 8.4%.
As home buyers remain more interested in country living versus city life, London has seen a minimal average house price increase compared to other areas with August revealing a 1.3% annual rise. The London average house price, though not increasing at levels as impressive as other areas, is still at an astounding £508,503.
The stamp duty holiday was certainly a motivator for buyers, but driving demand in the market is seen as more likely the desire for more space and in a country setting due to the needs brought about by a pandemic lifestyle. Homes that were once suitable and enjoyed became less so as lockdowns caused by the pandemic revealed a greater need for space to work from home, study from home, and play at home.
Along with the desire for more space in the home, low interest rates on mortgages helped fuel demand. Some lenders are currently offering interest rate deals at below 1%. Borrowing cheaply has not been reserved only for home buyers, as homeowners have been able to save substantially with low interest rate remortgages.
The stamp duty holiday is due to end at the close of this month and that could cause another rush to buy, but long after the tax discount ends the desire to find a pandemic lifestyle dream home will remain, especially as we come upon colder months. The inability to comfortably be outside will remind people of how valuable space and garden areas were last winter. Therefore, forecasts for the housing market to continue to see high demand is favorable through the beginning of next year.
Obligation Free Remortgage Quotations
A Remortgage Broker Could Be the Perfect Guide to the Best Remortgage Deal
Homeowners Remortgage to Save Money and Make Home Improvements


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A true inspiration to us all…
November 2, 2018 June 15, 2020 adminLeave a comment
Early in 2017, I received a message from one of Mitch's close friends at St Pauls College, Sydney Uni, to let me know there were boys from the College undertaking fundraising for Chris O'Brien Lifehouse on behalf of Cooper and another young sarcoma patient, Jack Gibson from Sydney Uni, who had then recently been diagnosed.
I was torn. Such generosity of spirit by the boys at this college, many of whom had known Cooper since he was an eleven year old, yet it was accompanied by such devastating news of yet another young life, and another family affected by this insidious cancer. I offered whatever support I could to the family through the College, whilst acknowledging this family's likely need for privacy. A sarcoma diagnosis has the propensity to rock even the strongest of individuals, lives, and families to the core. It is savage, relentless and life-altering.
At that time, unbeknownst to me, there were in fact two fundraising events that had taken place, involving students from St Paul's, St Andrew's and Wesley Colleges, together with many students who were not attending the university, but were friends, or had a close association to the cricket club. The latter groups were very close to Jack, his younger brother Harry, and the Gibson family. This culminated with the shaving of heads in the St Paul's bar one night in a very personal statement of support to Jack. As Suzie, Jack's mum described it so beautifully – the gesture " was about so much more than fundraising for us. Jack's brother, his friends from school and cricket were all devastated when he was diagnosed with cancer and felt totally helpless. They wanted to do something to help but didn't know what. They recognised he needed their support and when he started to lose his hair as a result of his treatment, they realised how confronting this was for Jack so they all immediately decided to shave theirs as a show of support and solidarity, whilst raising an outstanding sum of $36,000 for Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, where Jack received his treatment.
Cooper at this stage had not responded to mainstream treatments, and we were frantically sourcing global clinical trials and treatment options. It was indeed a stressful time, yet I clearly remember my thoughts had wandered to this young patient and his family so often. A young man with the same cancer, treated at the same cancer hospital, a similar age, the same passion for sport and attending the university Cooper intended to attend, following in the footsteps of his older brother. The similarities were there, yet even within the same sarcoma subtype, outcomes can differ greatly.
Jack's name would come up regularly over the months ahead, as it turned out, so many members of our social circle overlapped into Jack's world. We were able to keep abreast of his progress and to eventually know his treatment had been successful. I remember the overriding feeling of joy and relief I felt, when this was confirmed by his mum Suzie.
Jack has an extraordinary family who have been by his side his side throughout his sarcoma journey. Their love and support has never waned, and despite the hell they have experienced at the hands of this cancer, they are simply the loveliest people you could ever hope to meet.
September of this year , we held our Chairman's dinner, hosted at the NRL Museum, NRL HQ, and Jack selflessly agreed to speak to our high profile collective of guests, about his diagnosis and subsequent gruelling treatment. In doing so, He captivated our guests, providing them with valuable insight into the life of a sarcoma patient. This was the first time Jack had spoken publicly of the road he had travelled, and to do so, showed such courage and bravery. You could hear a pin drop in the room as this articulate young man spoke.
It is such a great privilege and honour to welcome Jack to our Executive Committee, and each of us is looking forward to working with this amazing young man, and to make a quantifiable difference to those patients living with a sarcoma diagnosis.
Cancer community
Cooper Rice-Brading Foundation
CRBFNews
Sarcoma awareness
NRL Legends of League Dinner


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Where Playoff Baseball Meets Fantasy Football
in Editorials
by Christiaan Sorensen 09/18/2016, 8:18 AM
Ok, so we've gone over why the Dodgers need to give Justin Turner all the monies, why Yasiel Puig is the Dodgers' ex they won't leave alone, and why, as fans, we root for laundry.
Today, we're going to combine two of my favorite worlds and explain why fantasy football helps me deal with Dodgers playoff baseball.
First, for those don't play fantasy football, a quick primer:
Fantasy football is a game where you pick players based on the stats they produce at position X. Each team has a QB, a couple of running backs, 2 or 3 wide receivers, and you set your line-up weekly, based on how you feel each player will perform. You want players who put up a ton of points, and you base who you play on how you think they'll do in a given week.
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers playing a soft New Orleans defense? Start that guy. Receiver Antonio Brown at home vs. Cleveland? START THAT DUDE.
[button color="red" size="big" alignment="center" rel="follow" openin="newwindow" url="https://www.dodgersnation.com/watch-dodgers-los-angeles-cable-mess/2016/09/18/"]How to Watch the Dodgers in Los Angeles During the Cable Mess[/button]
As October looms on the horizon, the Dodgers are blessed with the quality problems that come with having so much depth that you have to make difficult decisions, and I'm going to apply my fantasy expertise to help the front office choose who gets to play October baseball.
Let's start with starters…
That Kershaw guy? He's a combination of Aaron Rodgers and Antonio Brown, mixed with Adrian Peterson and a little Rob Gronkowski. He's not only coming, but he's our clear cut game 1 starter.
Next up would be King Kenta. Mr. Consistency. Team leader with 15 wins, and, as of now, our most reliable right handed starter. Kinda like Drew Brees; you may not know what the rest of the team is gonna do, but you can count on him to do his job, and produce results at that position.
I trust our front office, so my wishes of having Julio Urias as our #3 starter are now shelved. I don't mind him in the bullpen, but I do see him as a quality starter, and at #3 he would flourish. That being said, he has an innings count and since he's still so young (barely 20), I trust that what we're doing is ensuring that we'll see Julio starting for the Dodgers for decades to come, so I'm ok with him coming out of the pen rather than starting.
This is where Rich Hill fits in perfectly. Mr. Almost Perfect Game. He has nasty stuff, he's relatively fresh since his 9yr blister just went away, and tossed back to back shut-outs before finally showing that he's human in Arizona, where anyone with a bat can hit 30 hr's a year. I imagine Rich is a little like the running back Chris Johnson, now with Arizona. A little older, and he's been on a few different squads, but he just goes out and get's it done, no questions asked.
[graphiq id="hPAqih7y79r" title="Rich Hill 2016 Complete Pitching Splits" width="600″ height="797″ url="https://w.graphiq.com/w/hPAqih7y79r" link="http://baseball-players.pointafter.com/l/7338/Rich-Hill" link_text="Rich Hill 2016 Complete Pitching Splits | PointAfter" ]
The fourth starter in playoff baseball is a tough spot to be in; the way the playoffs are exploited on TV, the games are stretched out to the point where a team only really needs 3 starters, given their #1 can go on 3-4 days rest. That said, Jose DeLeon could fit well into that #4 role. Why Jose? Well, he's not broken Brett Anderson, broken Brandon McCarthy, not shaky Scott Kazmir. He's young and his arm has a ton of juice in it. Think Russell Wilson, the quarterback for the Seahawks. Guy has all the physical tools, and the mental acumen to accentuate them.
As a rabid fan who's watched a fair amount of games this year, I am certain that starters going 3 innings and giving up 5 earned runs is not going to fly in the postseason. So, I encourage the front office to take advantage of their fruitful scouting, and pen Jose in as the #4 starter come playoff time. Yes, this means leaving off Anderson, McCarthy and Kazmir.
The bullpen has done nothing short of carry the 2016 Dodgers. Kenley Jansen is our closer, and Joey Blanton has dazzled as the 8th inning hold guy, and I see nothing to change that. Outside of those two, names like Grant Dayton, Pedro Baez, Josh Fields, Jesse Chavez, and Josh Ravin come to mind. Adam Liberatore needs to show me something in the next few weeks to cement his place on the October roster, as he hasn't looked quite as filthy as he once did a few months ago, when he had a 3 thousand inning scoreless streak. JP Howell is on the fence; a lefty coming out of the pen is invaluable, and JP has shown some ability to get outs, but he does pitch to contact at times, and that does sometimes get him in trouble. All in all, we are blessed with a very deep, very talented bullpen. They're the backbone of the team, just as the defense is for the Super Bowl 50 champion Denver Broncos were. Very deep. Very young. Very fast. Scary.
Position players is where this gets sticky, but again, there is not enough credit to give to the front office for the depth we have.
Joc is our center fielder, but Yasiel and Kiké can play center too. Andre Ethier is back, and Josh Reddick is finally hitting the ball. Lefty splits aside, we have depth galore in the outfield, and even if we have to face 900 lefties in a row, Doc and the front office has done enough shuffling of the order that we'll find production everywhere, from the leadoff spot to #8.
Infield is pretty cut and dry; Gonzo is our anchor at first, JT is our anchor at third, and Chase plays a mean 2nd base. Corey Seager doesn't even come out of the game against lefties, so that part of the roster is easy to predict. Howie can back up Chase, Kiké can back up Corey and JT can back up Gonzo if needed. Depth meets versatility. Just like the NFC champion Panthers; there's not one aspect of that team that overwhelms you; top to bottom, they're relentless. Deep everywhere, and playmakers at every position. A very tough team to play.
As a former backstop, I cannot tell you how great of a job Yasmani does framing pitches. Words don't do it justice; he is simply the best behind the plate, and what he does is nothing short of art. That framing will come in handy in the playoffs too; an extra strike here and there will lead to an extra out, more counts in the pitcher's favor means the batter is now pressing a little to not make an out. I can go on and on; Grandal is a catching Jedi. He can also hit the ball out of the yard on a consistent basis, being 2nd on the team with 25 dingers as of writing. Kind of like Phillip Rivers; an elder statesman on his team, but he can still put the kids to share with his arm, or in Yasmani's case, his bat.
The front office has put a lot of work and resources into building a team that has gone from 8 games out of first, to 4 games in front of 2nd place Giants, and pulling away. Depth at virtually every spot, and quality depth at that, should make choosing who makes the playoff roster like picking your weekly fantasy football lineup.
[button color="red" size="big" alignment="center" rel="follow" openin="newwindow" url="https://www.dodgersnation.com/julio-urias-will-play-a-huge-role-in-the-playoffs/2016/09/17/"]Julio Urias Will Play a Huge Role in the Playoffs[/button]
Written by Christiaan Sorensen
Lifelong Dodger fan living on the beach in San Clemente; I love all things Dodgers/Lakers/Kings and Denver Broncos (#champs). Honored to be able to write about the best franchise in sports, the Los Angeles Dodgers.
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Buena Vista Social Club and Ruben Gonzalez Reemerge with Doc & Reissue
By John Ephland I Jul. 17, 2017
Omara Portuondo and Eliades Ochoa from The Buena Vista Social Club.
(Photo: Montuno Producciones, S.L)
It begins with a mention of the late Fidel Castro, the leader of Cuba's 1959 revolution. Thus, the sides are drawn, politically, in what should be viewed as a celebration of this great island nation's emergent history and ongoing, incredible cultural contributions to the world.
A summer 2017 worldwide release, the film Buena Vista Social Club: Adios is a follow-up to the 1999 film Buena Vista Social Club, an international co-production directed by Wim Wenders with much assistance from Ry Cooder. Running just under two hours, this new feature-length documentary charts the history of Cuba and Cuban music, with insightful commentary and, of course, splendid performances galore.
Named for a danzon, the Buena Vista Social Club recorded a Grammy-winning album by the same name in 1996 that inspired the original documentary. Adios begins with the origins of the club itself, narrated by member Juan de Marcos. We see the present-day setting where there was once a thriving club scene and "a society for black people"—it's now the site of a modern gym. There's a definite whimsical element to everything that follows, the tributes to many 20th-century Cuban masters of what was essentially son music both loving and informative.
"The golden era of Cuban music" spanned the decades of the 1940s and '50s. Adios traces the original lines that were formed as Spain invaded Cuba, slavery was introduced and the musical elements coming from Europe and Africa merged to create the melting pot of a new musical form. We learn of Cuba outlawing slavery in 1886, but also how the conga drums were still a banned instrument up until the 1940s.
This new Wenders/Cooder production has choice clips of historic artists like Arsenio Rodriguez, Compay Segundo and Ibrahim Ferrer performing for television and elsewhere, mostly in black and white. A hilarious Winston cigarette commercial, featuring Club member Omara Portuondo in an all-girl singing group, adds to the charm.
Serving as a kind of extension of the original documentary, Adios takes us for brief visits to New York City's Carnegie Hall, Ronnie Scott's club in London and to Amsterdam, as the players enjoy their better-late-than never (1998) worldwide celebrity status, performing before adoring audiences.
We get to see the ends of the island, Santiago and Havana, serving as hubs, with Havana having the lion's share of clubs and thriving night life. That was up until the revolution and Castro's mixed reactions to this music, a music which was both vital to the society's vibrant tourism and which represented much of what the revolution stood against. The film doesn't dwell on this but gives the impression that the musicians were behind their new leader and his shift to a new political climate. There is also an open-eyed look at how some musicians struggled to make ends meet despite the ongoing, deleterious effects of racism.
Adios also conveys the heartwarming reality of when the Buena Vista Social Club performed at the White House in 2015 with President Obama, and when Obama visited Cuba in 2016, not to mention the group's performance in London's Hyde Park.
The legendary 19th-century Cuban writer/poet José Martí is invoked in another loving context, pointing to the spirited and joyous, if arduous, legacies that the Buena Vista Social Club called forth: "Music is closer to the true world than the material world."
Among the highlights of the Buena Vista Social Club: Adios documentary is a focus on pianist Ruben Gonzalez, an integral member of this now-transient musical aggregate. Originally recorded at the same time as the original Buena Vista Social Club album in 1996, Introducing Ruben Gonzalez (World Circuit) finds this amazing virtuoso finally debuting as a solo artist at age 77 after having first recorded with Arsenio Rodriguez's classic band back in 1943.
This reissue, which sold more than a half-million when it was first released, includes two extended and one unreleased track, and is also available in a 180-gram vinyl format. Along with the notoriety that the Buena Vista Social Club generated, Introducing Ruben Gonzalez served as a kind of late-career boost for an artist who, at the time, no longer had a piano, due to wear and tear, and was suffering from arthritis. He died in 2003.
Clearly, Gonzalez sounds ageless, inspired on all 10 of the tracks here, playing solo but also with other Club musicians, including bassist Orlando "Cachaito" Lopez, timbale player Amadito Valdes, bongo player Roberto Garcia, conga player Carlos Gonzalez and trumpeter "Guajiro" Mirabal. One would never guess there was anything holding Ruben back, physically or otherwise, at this late date. With no rehearsal, this is a collection of classic Cuban material played in a descarga/jam-session style, a combination of lovely and endearing melodies coupled with alternately entrancing and rhythmically dazzling workouts. DB


The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) has announced plans to sanction Fidelity Bank and 27 other companies for failing to meet post-listing requirements and default in the release of their operational reports and financial statements.
The list of offenders which also include Skye Bank and Unity Bank has three mortgage bankers, five insurance companies, one investment management firm and 15 other firms in various non-financial sectors.
According to the NSE, the companies failed to submit their interim report and accounts for the period ended June 30, 2018. Such default is marked out by the Exchange as a corporate governance failure, which attracts monetary fines, "naming and shaming" tag, suspension of shares from trading and delisting in incurable cases of default.
It further noted that twenty of the firms missed the regulatory deadline of July 30, while Fidelity Bank, which audits its half-year results, missed the August 29 deadline.
Under the listing rules, a late submission attracts a fine of N100,000 daily for the first 90 calendar days of non-compliance, another N200,000 per day for the next 90 calendar days and a fine of N400,000 per day thereafter until the date of submission.
With these, late submission under the first instance of 90 days could attract N9 million, the additional 90 days will attract N18 million while such delay beyond the first 180 days to the next 180 days could attract as much as N72 million, bringing fines payable by a defaulting company within a year to N99 million.
The list of sanctions shows fines ranging from a low of N0.1 million to as high as N51.4 million. Companies had been fined more than N400 million and N500 million in 2016 and 2017 respectively for failure to submit accounts within scheduled periods.
There are 15 companies currently under suspension for failure to meet scheduled submission of financial statements. Forty one monetary fines have so far been placed on companies in 2018, more than 38 monetary fines slammed on companies in 2017.
Deap Capital Management & Trust Plc.
Dn Tyre & Rubber Plc.


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autogas system
LPGTEC
LPG system
We prefer to fuel this car than to learn how to say its name properly. Thanks to an ex-factory autogas system, the family van from Rüsselsheim drives for half the price, although the conversion process has not been conducted with half the usual quality. The system has been well integrated into the car and looks like a regular equipment option, not an aftermarket one. What other aces has the large Opel got up its sleeve?
© OpelThe 140 PS engine provides performance, the autogas system provides savings
The Zafira Tourer is the fifth model in Opel's range sporting a dedicated, tailor-made LPGTEC autogas injection system. The Tourer is the latest iteration of the firm's compact seven-seater van, currently available along its predecessor, renamed Zafira Family. The LPG system effectively cuts fuel bills (by approx. 40%) and CO2 emissions (from 156 to 139 g/km), which means all seven people onboard travel cheaper and with clear conscience.
However, the car itself is not exactly cheap. The money-saving Zafira, equipped with a 140 PS, 1,4-litre turbo engine (with hardened valves and valve seats plus a tuned ECU) means spending at least 97750 zlotys (approx. 24000 euros at current exchange rates), which is quite attractive a price anyway thanks to a bonus offered on 2013 model year cars manufactured in 2012. Unfortunately, a brief look at the price sheet shows that the LPG system is priced at 7500 zlotys (over 1800 euros – quite hefty in Polish conditions), so a lot of kilometres will pass before the investment pays back. Definitely it is nowhere near no time at all.
© OpelThe petrol-to-LPG switch has been nicely integrated into the centre console, where it is easily accessible
Every cloud has a silver lining, as they say. Or do they? As Opel claims, the engine's performance is the same on LPG as it is on petrol. We have mentioned the power already (140 PS regardless of the fuel you use), whereas the torque is also constant at 200 Nm and available in a wide range of engine speeds – from 1850 up to 4900 rpm, so effectively it has been "spread" over the entire useful rpm range. Together with the 6-speed manual gearbox, this translates to decent road performance and equally decent fuel consumption – according to Opel, as little as 8,6 l LPG per 100 km on average. With an approximately 60 l tank on board (located in the spare wheel well, beneath the boot floor, and filled through a valve fitted next to the petrol filler, under the same flap), the car has nearly 700 km of range on a single fill-up. For the sake of monitoring the level of the cheaper fuel left, a single dual-function indicator has been used instead of the usual diode instrument, which can sometimes be only arbitrarily precise. The LPG switch – with an inbuilt diode signaling that the autogas system has been activated – is composed into the centre console, where it does not stand out aesthetically or functionally among other buttons.
Just like all the other LPG-powered Opels, the Zafira Tourer is converted at the Opel Special Vehicles facility in Rüsselsheim. The entire car (autogas included) has a 2-year warranty, exactly like any other Opel, regardless of the fuel it uses. Hopefully we will be able to look closer at the autogas Zafira Tourer and describe it in more detail. Meanwhile, we wish the van lots of interest from buyers!
Opel Karl LPGTEC - as cheap as it gets
Opel Corsa LPG - finally here
Opel Insignia ecoFLEX - autogas goes premium


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Okanagan areas of British Columbia U-Pick Farms - 2021 PickYourOwn.org
Clickable CNBC County Map
Looking for a local, pick-your-own farm in Okanagan areas of British Columbia? Farms are open and safe! Scroll down this page and you will see the U-Pick farms in Okanagan areas of British Columbia, sorted by county. Those that offer organic or sustainably grown produce are identified by the words "organic" and/or "sustainable" in Green, next to their name (see "What does Organic mean?"). The U-pick crops they offer follow the name of the farm. To search the page for a specific crop, use Ctrl-F (or on an ipad or Mac, use their "search on this page" function) If they have a website, the name will be in blue and underlined; click on it and it will open their website. If you find anything outdated or inaccurate, see the customer and farmer menus (as appropriate) at the top menu bar to submit updates and corrections and help me keep each current!
What's in season in January 2021, and other timely information:
Okanagan areas of British Columbia U-Pick Farms and Orchards in 2021, by county
Click on the resources drop-down above, if you need a county map
If you are looking for recipes, freezing, canning, jam directions and information about saskatoons see this page.
Blind Rooster Berry Farm - No pesticides are used raspberries (red), rhubarb, saskatoons, Haskaps, Fresh eggs
3660 Anderson Road, Kelowna, BC V1X 7V8. Phone: 250-718-4373. Email: [email protected]. Open: Daily from mid - May to end of August, 8 am to 7 pm; Please check the website for further information. Click here for current open hours, days and dates. Picking updates: Click here for picking updates. Directions: Our farm is located east of the Kelowna airport. From Old Vernon Road, turn east onto Anderson Road. Farm is 300 metres up the hill at the corner of Black Road and Anderson Road. Click here for a map and directions. Haskap season is typically from mid-May to first week of July; Saskatoon season is typically from mid-June to mid-July; The Raspberries have 2 crops, the first from mid-June to mid-July and the second from mid-August to end of August;. We do not use pesticides on the crops. Payment: Cash, Cheque. (UPDATED: May 15, 2020)
Blueberry Haven - Blueberries, grapes
1052 Webster Rd, Kelowna, BC V1P 1C2. Contact form: Blueberry Haven's contact form. Open: UPDATE for 2019, Their website and Facebook pages are gone; Does anyone have current information, are they still offering pick your own or are even open? If so, please write me, their last reported hours were Blueberry picking will likely begin in July, so check their website in June for updates. Blueberry Haven is a naturally-grown U-Pick blueberry farm located in Kelowna, BC. It is a 2nd generation  family-run operation with approximately 1200 bushes. The main variety is Bluecrop with a few other species for cross pollination. Generally the season runs through July and August. We also have grapes with a good variety of blue (Coronation), red (Sovereign Opal), green (Himrod) and pink (Champagne) that are all seedless. All without spray, of course! They are really quick and easy to pick. The grape season runs through September and October. Payment: CASH or CHEQUE only. Cheque with current ID. Due to the shortness of our season we don't accept credit or debit cards. (ADDED: May 09, 2018, JBS)
Bobby's Cool farm - UPDATE: July 23, 2016: The owner tells me they are now permanently closed
2436 Orlin Road, West Kelowna, BC v4t1n2. .
Cherries U Pick - New owners, now closed to U-pick
Lake Country, BC v4v 2c3.
Jays Berry Farm - Minimizes chemical and pesticide use, blueberries, U-pick and already picked
12125 Pow Rd, Lake Country, BC V4V 1G2. Phone: 250 766 1117. Email: [email protected]. Open: 9am to 5pm daily from July 15th to mid - September. Directions: Take Oceola Road from Highway 97 in Winfield to the top of the hill. As you descend towards Okanagan Lake, look for the Jays Berry Farm sign and turn left on Pow Road. Click here for a map and directions. We minimize use of pesticides and other chemicals. Payment: Cash, only. Click here for our Facebook page.
Kempf Orchards - Uses integrated pest management practices, cherries, U-pick and already picked, concessions / refreshment stand, porta-potties are available, picnic area
1409 Teasdale Road, Kelowna , BC V1P 1C8. Phone: 250-765-1797. Email: [email protected]. Open: Monday to Saturday from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm; Sunday from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm. Click here for current open hours, days and dates. Directions: Click here for a map and directions. We use integrated pest management practices. Payment: Cash, Cheque. Click here for our Facebook page. We offer apricots and peaches already picked as they are ready.
Lakeside Orchards - cherries, Other fruit or veg, U-pick and already picked, porta-potties are available, picnic area, weddings and wedding parties
4750 Lakeshore Road, Kelowna, BC V1W 4H6. Phone: 778-477-1786. Email: [email protected]. Open: From July 12 to August 15, Monday to Sunday, from 10 am to 6 pm. Directions: From Highway 97. Turn south on Pandosy Road, which becomes Lakeshore Road. Travel approximately 10 kilometers. Cherry stand is on the west (lake) side of the road on the corner of Lakeshore and Crighton. Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. Old fashioned fruit stand with beautiful orchards to walk through, take photos and pick lots and lots of delicious cherries - Lamberts, Vans, Sweethearts, Staccatos. We provide buckets and ladders. Accompany your cherry bounty with our own cherry cookbook, For Love of Okanagan Cherries. Enjoy cherry recipes from Cherry Tarts to Grilled Spareribs with Cherry Cola Glaze to Chocolate Dipped Cherries. We also sell Cherry Bark Woodchips for your smoker or fireplace.
UPDATE: July 22, 2013: A visitor tells me they are now permanently closed, but the visitor provided only very vague information, so I have not removed this farm. Call before you go!
Little Church Organics - CERTIFIED ORGANIC, cherries, concessions / refreshment stand, restrooms, school tours
3609 Gordon Drive, Kelowna, BC V1W4M8. Phone: (250) 862-3276. Email: [email protected]. Open: Click here for current open hours, days and dates. Picking updates: Click here for picking updates. Directions: Heading south on highway 97, turn LEFT onto Gordon Drive, following it past Lanfranco Road. It is located between Lanfranco Road and Casorso Road. Look for the produce sign with the little green church on top!. Click here for a map and directions. Greens and Lettuce: June to October Beets: June to October Carrots: June to October Cherries: Late July, early August to September Cucumber: June to September Garlic: Late July to September Herbs: June to October Onions (various): June to October Peppers: July to October Strawberries: July to September Swiss Chard: May to October Tomatoes: July to October. We are certified organic for all crops! Payment: Cash, Debit cards, Visa/MasterCard. Click here for our Facebook page. Little Church Organics is a six acre farm which was established in 2010. The farm is located in Kelowna BC on the rich fertile soils near the beautiful and historical Mission Creek, and has ties to Father Pandosy who is known as the founding father of Kelowna. In 2010 the commitment was made to grow all crops on the farm following sustainable, organic agricultural practices. As a result you will find tasty, healthy food that is grown in a manner which contributes to a healthy environment and community.
Mike and Lizzy's Cherry U-Pick - cherries,
4801 Lakeshore Place, Kelowna, BC V1W 4H6. Phone: 250-863-4431. Open: Sunday through Monday from 8 AM to 2 PM starting June 29, 2016. Directions: In Kelowna, turn south off Highway 97 onto Pandosy Street. Continue south on Pandosy as it becomes Lakeshore Road. Continue on Lakeshore Road to the intersection of Lakeshore and Chute Lake Roads. Turn right then immediately left into our parking lot. Click here for a map and directions. July 3,2015 to approximately July 30,2015. Payment: Cash, only. We are a friendly family run farm with 6 varieties of lush, mature cherry trees and a beautiful view of Okanagan Lake. Children are welcome but no pets,please.We provide buckets,stools or ladders and bags for your fruit, with boxes available for purchase or bring your own containers. (UPDATED: June 06, 2016)
Okanagan Gourmet Garlic Farm - Uses natural growing practices, garlic,
2690 Granville Road, Kelowna, BC V1V2G5. Phone: 250-808-7034. Email: [email protected]. Open: July 20 to August 30 Sunday, Monday, Tuesday 9 am to 1 pm Thursday, Friday 9 am to 1pm. Click here for current open hours, days and dates. Picking updates: Click here for picking updates. Directions: Glenmore Road/Cross/Longhill/Granville. Click here for a map and directions. Garlic scapes: June 15 to June 30 Garlic: July 28 to August 30. We use natural practices, but are not seeking organic certification. Payment: Cash, only. Click here for our Facebook page. Garlic.
Bellmann Specialty Produce - raspberries (red), restrooms
4990 North Grandview Flats, Armstrong, BC V0E 1B5. Phone: 250-308-8254. Email: [email protected]. Open: May to November daily from 7 am to 7 pm. Directions: Click here for a map and directions. You pick raspberries July 10 to August 10. Payment: Cash, only. Click here for our Facebook page.
Bright Angel Farm - cherries, raspberries (red), porta-potties are available, picnic area (bring your own food), farm animals
6896 Herry Road, Vernon, BC V1B 3T4. Phone: 250-558-5552. Email: [email protected]. Open: Every day, when fruit is in season, from 8 am to noon, afternoons and evenings by appointment. Directions: North end of Vernon, off of Pleasant Valley Road. Click here for a map and directions. Raspberries starting June 30th; Cherries starting July 4th. Payment: Cash, only.
Davison Orchards - tomatoes, peppers, pumpkins, farm market
3111 Davison Road, Vernon, NA, V1H 1A2. Phone: (250) 549-3266. Email: [email protected]. Open: Daily from May 1 to October 31; Spring Hours: 8:30 am to 5:30 pm. They also have prepicked apples, peaches and squash.
A visitor writes: "I love going there during the spring, summer and fall. Everything is of the highest quality and competitively priced."
Geier's Fruit and Berry Farm - Cherries, Strawberries, plums
3820 - 40th Street SE, Salmon Arm, BC. Phone: 250-832-2807. Email: [email protected]. Open: mid-June through late September; typically, strawberries: Last week in June to mid-July; cherries: approximately July 15th to mid August; plums (various types) end of August to early October; Please call closer to harvest for exact picking times and starting dates; Call ahead for availability. Tours are available by appointment. Directions: Geiers is located just 4 km south of TransCda Hwy, near the Industrial Park. Pick your own ripe fruit and vegetables.
Hanna Orchards Farm Market - u-pick flowers
3181 11th Ave NE, Salmon Arm, B.C. Phone: 250 832-4574. Email: [email protected] Farm market offering fruit, vegetables, hard ice-cream cones, fruit smoothies, giftware, self-guided orchard tours, open garden. Over 40 varieties of modern and heritage apple varieties. Open Mid Aug. through late Oct. 8 am to 6 pm Mon. to Saturday, and 1-5 pm Sunday.
Ogilvie Orchard - Uses integrated pest management practices, QuinceOther fruit or veg,
3441 Logan Road, Westbank, BC V4T 1N6. Phone: 250-768-8930. Email: [email protected]. Open: Monday to Friday, from 8 am to 7 pm; Saturday and Sunday by telephone request - call before you come; We will have quince ready in about October; Bing cherries should be ready near end of June, beginning of July; sour/pie cherries in July; and, prune plums and peaches in September. Directions: Two blocks north of Zeller's on the Old Okanagan Highway. Turn left onto Quince Road for one block. Turn right onto Logan Road for a half a block and you are there. Click here for a map and directions. Quince: September 30 to October 31. We use integrated pest management practices. Payment: Cash, only. Our peaches are a late variety. (UPDATED: April 18, 2015, JBS, email)
Paynter's Fruit Market - apricots, cherries, pears, peaches, Honey from hives on the farm, prepicked produce, gift shop, snacks and refreshment stand, restrooms, picnic area
3687 Paynter Road, Westbank , BC V4T 1R1. Phone: 250-768-7313. Fax: 850-768-7313. Email: [email protected]. Click here for a map and directions. Crops are usually available in July, August, September. Open: July and August - 8am to 8pm, 7 days a week Sept and October - 9am to 6pm 7 days a week. Paynter's is open late June - early November; Pick your own cherries start early July, Pick your own peaches mid August Also many in season veggies and local products along with 26 flavors of Hard Ice Cream. Payment: Cash, Check, Visa/MasterCard.
Peter's Orchard - cherries, apricots, peaches, U-pick and already picked, restrooms
6244 Rimer Road, Vernon, BC V1B 3T7. Phone: 250-306-9600. Email: [email protected]. Open: July 1st to August 30th, 7 days a week from 8am to 8pm; we will be open July 1st for pick your own cherries and later in August peaches and apricots. Directions: Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Cheque. We grow mainly cherries of the export quality, with several varieties, Large in size and firm. We have parking for tour buses, friendly staff, and a beautiful clean and tidy orchard with that good kinda feeling.
Rigo-en Orchards - tomatoes, peppers, apples, peaches
6831 Bella Vista Road, Vernon, BC. Phone: 250-545-1610. Email: [email protected]. Open: August through October.Our 25 acres of land overlooking Okanagan Lake has been in our family for three generations and is currently owned and operated by Tom Ouchi. Tom grew up on the orchard and took over the family business in 1992. Our orchard has changed and adapted to include not just apples but also a variety of vegetables and fruits and is now run as a part U-Pick operation. There are about twelve acres of six different varieties of apples, around one acre of scrumptious peach trees, four acres of beautiful U-Pick tomatoes, peppers, corn, another few acres of other vegetables, and, not to mention our colourful fresh cut flower patch. A 25 acre family farm located within 4 kilometers of Vernon, adjacent to Okanagan Lake. U-pick. U-Pick tomatoes have been a huge part of Ringo-En over the years. Regular beefsteak type and roma types are grown in a scenic setting over-looking Okanagan Lake. Come by and pick your own juicy red tomatoes for a fun experience for the whole family. Not to mention yummy tomato sandwiches mmmm... Green, coloured and hot peppers available for U-Pick as well as We Pick. Great for salsas or stuffed peppers (see our recipe tab for our favourite recipes)
CC Orchards - blackberries, cherries, U-pick and already picked, porta-potties are available, picnic area, weddings and wedding parties
2119 Naramata Road, Naramata, BC V0H 1N0. Phone: 250 486-5113. Email: [email protected]. Open: Monday to Friday, from 8 am to 1 pm; Saturday and Sunday, from 7 am to 1 pm, July 1 to September 30. Directions: From Penticton, drive to Naramata along Naramata Road. As soon as you see the "Welcome to Naramata" town sign, look left. We are at 2119 Naramata Road. Click here for a map and directions. Cherries: July 1 to August 15, Blackberries: August and September. Payment: Cash, only. Click here for our Facebook page.
Covert Farms - beans, blackberries, blueberries, cucumbers, eggplant (aubergine), flowers, grapes, nectarines, summer squash, winter squash, strawberries, tomatoes, other vegetables
38614 107th Street, Oliver, BC V0H1T0. Phone: 250-498-2731. Fax: 250 498 6363. Email: [email protected]. We are open July, August, September, October. Our hours are: Monday to Sunday 7 am to 5 pm visit the website for maps and more info. Experience the Winery & Farm, take a guided tour with a farmer. Explore our vineyards and fields in our vintage 1952 Mercury Truck. Your tour ends with a private wine tasting accompanied by small bites from our kitchen. (max 10 people per tour). In season, we encourage our wine customers to try pick-your-own. The friendly staff at Secrest Organics at Covert Farms can assist with your selections and guide you along the way. They grow more than 40 different crops, so you can try something new. Freshly harvested produce is also available in their farm store, steps from our Wine Lounge. Many crops are available from late spring until first frost.
Dickinson Family Farm - cherries, and prepicked produce, restrooms, picnic area, school tours
17208 Bentley Road, Summerland, BC V0H 1Z3. Phone: 250-494-8732. Fax: 250-494-8732. Email: [email protected]. Open: Daily from July 15th until October 31st from 8 am to 5 pm; Cherries: July 15th - August 10th. Directions: Map quest page on our web site. North end of Summerland. Coming from the south - turn right at Jones Flat road and left on Bentley. Coming from the north, Turn right on Bentley road. Click here for a map and directions. Crops are usually available in July, August. Payment: Cash, only. Fruit stand with all fruits in season. We grow cherries and pears and bring all our other fresh fruit in from a neighbouring orchard in Summerland. Make a day out of it and learn about harvesting healthy fruit while you stay in our RV Camping facility. Small campsite in middle of orchard. Provide pre-booked educational orchard tours. Have the world's tallest tripod orchard ladder - in Guinness book of records. Antique equipment on site.
Gatzke Orchard and Farm Market - Pick your own fruit in season, wedding venue
15686 Pelmewash Parkway, Lake Country, BC V4V 2J2. Phone: 250-548-3444. Email: [email protected]. Open: 9 am to 5 pm, seven days a week. Directions: We are located where the Isthmus creates an earthen crossing between Kalamalka and Wood Lakes, in Oyama, 'The Heart of the Okanagan'. Take Gatzkes Tour of the Peach Jungle, 57 varieties of tree fruits grown on the 10 acres of orchard. Farm breakfasts from 6:am, lunch on the Patio Cafe, washrooms. Special Bus lanes for buses to load and unload. Here is a snapshot of what they have (in season and of course subject to change)
Apples: Available already harvested Year Round:
Transparents, Sunrise, Summer Reds, Summerland Reds, Sunrise, Jersey Macs, Early Golds, Macintosh, Spartan, Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, Gala, Ambrosia, Honeycrisp, Mystery, Tydeman Red, Fuji, Shamrock, DS99, Empire
Apricots: July and August: Gold Rich, Gold Bar, Sun Glo, Pui Sa Sin, Tilton.
Cherries: June - August: Santina, Crystalina, Bing, Van, Lambert, Sweetheart, Lapin, Staccato, Yellow Spanish, Texas Star, Rainier, Utah Giant, Centennial, Sentinel.
Nectarines: July - August: Arctic Glow, Independence, Red Gold, Early Blaze.
Peaches: July - August: Early Red Haven, Glow Haven, Fair Haven, Red Hale, White Lady, Donut, O'Henry, Mystery.
Pears: July - September: Bartlett, Anjoy, Clapps Favour, Kotsui.
Plums: August - September: Elephant Heart, June Blood, Green Gage, Golden, Portuguese, Early Italian, Late Italian, Early Black Amber, Mid Black Amber, Late Black Amber, Rancher, Mystery
Berries:
Hazcaps: May to Mid-July
Raspberries: July - August
Blueberries: July - September
Strawberries: June to July
Garlic, Corn, Heirloom Tomatoes, Peppers, Corn, Squash, Beans, Peas, Carrots.
(UPDATED: August 6, 2020 JBS)
Hillside Orchards - apples, apricots, beans, beets, carrots, cherries, corn (sweet), eggplant, grapes, herbs or spices, melons, nectarines, onions, pears, peas, peaches, peppers, plums, pumpkins, raspberries (red), rhubarb, summer squash, winter squash, strawberries, tomatoes, other vegetables, walnuts,
310 Avenue (road 18) RR#1 S36 C4, Oliver, BC V0H 1T0. Phone: 250-485-7180. Email: [email protected]. Open: 7 days a week from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm; closed on rainy days. Directions: Is located in the heart of the South Okanagan, between Oliver & Osoyoos B.C. On 310 Avenue With views of desert rolling hills & vineyards. Click here for a map and directions. As each variety of fruits and vegetables come into season, every trip you make here will reward you with different delights; Every month we have something new for you to pick ! Cherries: June To July, Apricots: Early July, Nectarines :Mid July to September, Peaches: Mid July to September, Plums: Early August, Pears: Late August, Apples: Late August to October; All our ground crops such as Beans, Corn, Beets, Pickling Cukes, Tomatoes, Melons, Peppers and other vegetables are ready from July to our first frost in October. Payment: Cash, Cheque, Debit cards, Visa/MasterCard. Hillside Orchards is a fourth generation family owned & operated farm consisting of 25 acres of fruits & vegetables , a unique farm market containing fresh picked produce , jams , syrups & honey's. Big or small, young or old...with a friend or with your family.. Hillside Orchards has something truly special to offer you...Because the rich sunshine and our divine climate allow us to grow a variety of premium quality fruits & vegetables. We are so honoured and thrilled to be chosen as the best fruitstand in the 15th Annual (2020) Best of South Okanagan. We appreciate everyone's support and business throughout the years and hope to continue providing a unique farm experience with Happy Healthy Farm Produce to all of our customers.
Roscoe Orchards - No pesticides are used apples, apricots, cherries, nectarines, pears, peaches, plums,
603 Boundary Road, Kerenmeos, BC V0X1N0. Phone: (250) 499-5916. Email: [email protected]. Open: 10 am to 6 pm Daily from July 1 to October 1. Directions: Turn off Highway 3A at Boundary Road. North on Boundary Road , turn right before Orchard Drive. Watch for the signs,. Click here for a map and directions. We do not use pesticides on the crops. Payment: Cash, only. . No Restrooms available. No pets please. No smoking allowed. . Family owned and operated. Family, groups, and tour groups welcome. (UPDATED: June 28, 2020) (UPDATED: July 09, 2019)
Sutherland Farm Blueberries - blueberries, U-pick and already picked
4645 North Naramata Road, Naramata, BC V0H 1N0. Phone: 250-496-5767. Email: [email protected]. Open: Closed for the 2018 season ; We need to replant and don't know when or if that will be happening; No sales until further notice. Check with us in early July 2019 or 2020 and we will know how the crop is shaping up and whether or not we will be doing any u-pic. Directions: As you approach Naramata you will pass a fire hall and power station on your left. Shortly afterwards you will see a directional sign to Chute Lake. This will put you onto North Naramata Road. You will go past Clarke Road on your left and we are the next driveway on the left. Click here for a map and directions. Harvest times from mid July to early August. Payment: Cash, only. Spend a few hours in an idyllic setting with a beautiful view of Okanagan Lake and the surrounding valley, picking our delicious unsprayed blueberries. We will provide picking buckets but you will need to bring containers to transport your berries home. (UPDATED: July 06, 2018)
Steven's U-Pick Cherries - cherries, and prepicked produce
Hwy #97 Across Deadmans lake, Osoyoos, BC V0H1T0. Phone: 250-498-1013. Directions: Hwy #97, Between Oliver & Osoyoos B.C across Deadmans Lake Open: 7 Days a week, 8 am to 5 pm; We start picking our first cherries the May long weekend and continue picking till August. Payment: Cash, only. We are the largest U-pick cherry Orchard in the Sunny Okanogan !! We Have Over 6 varieties of cherries that last from May till August. So come out and have some fun!
Other Local Farm Products (Honey, Horses, Milk, Meat, Eggs, Etc.)
(NOT pick-your-own, unless they are also listed above)
Bed & Breakfasts on Farms, Wineries, Ranches and Orchards


text:
Interfaith Dialog
The place of Prophet Ibrahim in Islam, Christianity and Judaism
Faith, sacrifice, commitment and patience.
These are just some of the qualities that characterize Prophet Ibrahim or Abraham as he is called in English (peace be upon him).
So it should come as no surprise that he is revered not just in Islam, but in Christianity and Judaism as well. Prophet Ibrahim is also a great personality to discuss in dialogues between Muslims, Jews and Christians. Here is some basic information about him from the three perspectives:
"Salam (peace) be upon Abraham!" God says in the Quran (37:109).
In Islam, Prophet Ibrahim is the friend of God and the father of Prophets (Ismail or Ishmael in English and Ishaq or Isaac and the grandfather of Prophet Yaqub or Jacob). He is also one of the ancestors of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him).
Anyone who rejects Prophet Ibrahim is not a true believer in Islam. Prophet Ibrahim plays a key role in this regard.
In terms of beliefs, a Muslim must believe in all of the Prophets. This includes not just Prophet Ibrahim, but his sons Ismail, Ishaq, his grandson Yaqub and of course his descendant Prophet Muhammad.
When it comes to the five pillars of Islam, the importance of Prophet Ibrahim becomes even more evident.
The second pillar of Islam is Salah, the obligatory five daily prayers. Every Muslim who has reached the age of puberty is accountable for their prayers, be he male or be she female, whether they live in the desert of northern Arabia, a village of northern Pakistan or an urban center of North America.
During one part of each of these five prayers, Muslims must ask God to send His blessings upon Prophet Ibrahim. Now calculate this: you've got more than a few million Muslims, every day, five times a day, in virtually every time zone on this planet asking God to send His blessings on Prophet Ibrahim in the course of his/her prayer.
More importantly, the direction in which every Muslim must face when praying is towards a structure Prophet Ibrahim built with his son Ismail: the Kaba, in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
With regards to the Kaba, God says this about it: "The first House (of worship) appointed for men was that at Bakka (another name for Makkah); full of blessings and guidance for all kinds of beings: in it are signs manifest, the station of Abraham-whoever enters it attains security; pilgrimage thereto is a duty men owe to God-those who can afford the journey; but if any deny faith, God stands not in need of any of His creatures"(Quran 3:96-97).
This leads to the second way in which this Prophet, described as the intimate friend of God (Quran 4:125), is revered: Hajj.
Hajj is the pilgrimage every Muslim must make to Makkah at least once in his/her lifetime. Hajj is also an obligation no Muslim is allowed to reject or ignore. It is in this rite that Prophet Ibrahim's importance becomes even more prominent.
In general, Prophet Ibrahim's centrality to this fifth pillar of Islam is indicated by the Prophet Mohammed's statement, You must adhere to the traditions and rituals (of Hajj), for these have come down to you from (your forefather) Ibrahim in heritage (Tirmidhi).
First, the Kaba is the central structure around which the Hajj takes place. No Hajj is valid without going around this structure built by Prophets Ibrahim and Ismail in counterclockwise fashion seven times.
Second, Muslims who perform the Hajj or Umra must run in the middle portion of the distance between Safa and Marwa (two hills close to the Kaba) seven times. This is a commemoration of the sacrifice of the wife of Abraham, Hajira (may God be pleased with her) for her son Prophet Ismail
Prophet Ibrahim had settled his wife and son in the valley of Makkah by God's order to pioneers a civilization. It was from this civilization that the Prophet Mohammed was born.
Finally, Prophet's Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his beloved son Ismail for the sake of God exemplifies not only his sincere devotion to God. The commemoration of this sacrifice is practiced with the sacrifice of an animal during Hajj and one of the two Islamic holy days: Eid-ul-Adha.
Both father and son willingly submitted to God's command. God substituted a ram in Ismail's place at the last moment. God talks about this incident in Quran 37:100-107.
The sacrifice that is offered by Muslims all over the world every year (at Eid-ul-Adha) is in commemoration of the supreme act and spirit of sacrifice offered by Prophet Abraham in lieu of his son Ismail.
According to A Concise Encyclopedia of Judaism by Dan Cohn-Sherbok (Oneworld Publications 1998), Prophet Abraham is the father of Jewish people.
According to Scripture, he was the son of Terah and the father of Isaac, who was born to Sarah, and he is also the father of Ishmael, who was born to Hagar.
After leaving Ur of the Chaldees, Abraham traveled to Canaan, visited Egypt and returned to Hebron. God appeared to him in a vision. He promised Abraham that his descendants would inherit the land. God tested Abraham's faith by asking him to sacrifice his son Isaac (Gen. 11:26-25:10).
When the mother of Isaac, Sarah, died, Abraham bought the cave of Macpelah as a burial place. Abraham died at the age of 175.
According to the Oxford Concise Companion to the Jewish Religion by Louis Jacobs (Oxford University press 1999), the story of Abraham is narrated in the book of Genesis (11:27-25:18). Here is an excerpt from that section (from Genesis 22:2-13) which focuses on the Abraham's sacrifice of his son Isaac, according to Jewish tradition:
And He said, "Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you".
So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place which God had told him.
Then on the third day Abraham lifted his eyes and saw the place afar off.And Abraham said to his young men, "Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you.'
So Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife, and the two of them went together.
But Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, "My father!" And he said, "Here I am, my son." And he said, "Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?'
And Abraham said, "My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering." And the two of them went together.
Then they came to the place of which God had told him. And Abraham built an alter there and placed the wood in order; and he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the alter, upon the wood.
And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the Angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said "Abraham, Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am."
And He said, "Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me."
Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horn. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son.
A majority of contemporary scholars think that he lived in approximately the eighteenth-century before the Christian Era.
In the Jewish tradition, he is the father of the Jews and Judaism.
God's covenant with Abraham is expressed in the rite of circumcision (Genesis 17) and male Jewish children, to this day are, for the most part circumcised.
This act is called 'entry into the covenant of Abraham our father', and the name of the rite itself is the 'berit'; the 'covenant'.
Abraham is also considered the spiritual father of anyone who converts to Judaism. At a Jewish conversion ceremony, a convert is given a Hebrew name and is called a 'child of Abraham our father'.
It is through the central figure of Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him) that Prophet Abraham is given prominence in the Christian tradition.
According to the Catholic Encyclopedia Volume 1 (1999, Kevin Knight, online version), in the New Testament, the generation of Jesus Christ is traced back to Abraham by St. Matthew.
Similarly, as the New Testament traces Prophet Jesus' descent of Jesus to Prophet Abraham, it does the same of all Jews in terms of "carnal" descent.
However, in the New Testament, it is not this carnal descent from Abraham to which importance is attached but importance is placed on practicing the virtues attributed to Abraham in Genesis. Thus in John, 8, the Jews say (33): "We are the seed of Abraham", and Jesus replies (39): "If ye be the children of Abraham, do the works of Abraham".
The Catholic Encyclopedia also notes that Prophet Abraham may considered the source of Old Testament religion. From the days of Prophet Abraham, men were accustomed to speaking of God as the God of Abraham, while Prophet Abraham is not found referring in a similar way to anyone preceding him.
According to the A Concise Encyclopedia of Christianity by Geoffrey Parrinder
(Oneworld Publications 1998), Abraham is a great Hebrew patriarch and is considered the common spiritual father of the Abrahamic religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
Paul wrote of all those who have faith being children of Abraham (Gal. 3:7). Prophet Abraham's faith and example is cited by many Christian authors.
According to Luke 16:22, Jesus spoke of Abraham's bosom as a symbol of Paradise (Luke 16:22).
Christians believe God first gave Abraham a son through a bond woman named Hagar. This son was named Ishmael. God gave him a second son from his barren wife Sarah. He was named Isaac.
According to Christian tradition, God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac "to prove that he was 'worthy of becoming the father of a mighty nation, which would be as numerous as the stars in the sky or the grains of sand on the seashore'" (from A History of God, the 4,000-year Quest of Judaism, Christianity and Islam by Karen Armstrong published by Alfred A. Knopf, 1993).
hajra
Cooper 07/25/2019 Permalink
I am not saying don't follow the Jewish religion but keep in mind that just because it has been around the longest doesn't mean it is the best or you should follow it for that reason alone.
Anonymous 04/05/2018 Permalink
Reverting to Islam
Lesley Maureen O'Connell-Maritz 01/10/2018 Permalink
We recently began the process of reverting to Islam. Most helpful are the books of Karen Armstrong ,world renounded authority on the History of Religion. Before making a simplistic decision or statement I would recommend reading Karen Armstrong...in order to avoid making a mistake one will regret later.
Zan 08/17/2015 Permalink
These people went the wrong path, and Islam was sent to correct it. You still choose the path that angered the True God?
Similarities between Judaism & Islam: Rabbi's Word!
Sarah Imran 07/29/2015 Permalink
Amazing video: watch what Rabbi says about ISLAM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_X4LXVDIB2I
Md. Shahjahan Mia 11/07/2011 Permalink
We understand that Prophet Abraham is the same Prophet Jews, Christian and Muslims follow. But Eid UL Azha is not celebrated by the Jews and Christian. Why only Muslims sacrifice animals on this day of Eid Ul Azha. Was it mandatory for the people of Abraham( Peace be on Him)? Abraham did not preach Islam but preach oneness of God. This point of faith equally followed by Jews, Christian and Muslim. Prophet Muhammad ( peace be on Him) preached Islam including oneness of God.Even during the time of Abraham his people did not sacrifice animal as a religious rituals. Why it is being done after advent of Islam? Md. Shahjahan Mia
JAMES UJIJILI KAFFIN KORO 08/07/2015 Permalink
HOW did muhammad know that it was abraham and ishmael built ka'aba?, and if so then where did abraham and sarah died and been buried, which land?. i need answers from the quran.
MINNA, NIGER STATE
An answer to your question
Shams skj 04/21/2016 Permalink
In the name of Allah, the most merciful most gracious.
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
وَالنَّجْمِ إِذَا هَوَىٰ1)
By the Star when it goes down,-
مَا ضَلَّ صَاحِبُكُمْ وَمَا غَوَىٰ	(2)
Your Companion is neither astray nor being misled.
وَمَا يَنطِقُ عَنِ الْهَوَىٰ	(3) Nor does he say (aught) of (his own) Desire.
إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا وَحْيٌ يُوحَىٰ	(4) It is no less than inspiration sent down to him:
عَلَّمَهُ شَدِيدُ الْقُوَىٰ	(5) He was taught by one Mighty in Power,
ذُو مِرَّةٍ فَاسْتَوَىٰ	(6) Endued with Wisdom: for he appeared (in stately form);
وَهُوَ بِالْأُفُقِ الْأَعْلَىٰ	(7) While he was in the highest part of the horizon:
ثُمَّ دَنَا فَتَدَلَّىٰ	(8) Then he approached and came closer,
فَكَانَ قَابَ قَوْسَيْنِ أَوْ أَدْنَىٰ	(9) And was at a distance of but two bow-lengths or (even) nearer;
فَأَوْحَىٰ إِلَىٰ عَبْدِهِ مَا أَوْحَىٰ	(10) So did (Allah) convey the inspiration to His Servant- (conveyed) what He (meant) to convey.
مَا كَذَبَ الْفُؤَادُ مَا رَأَىٰ	(11) The (Prophet´s) (mind and) heart in no way falsified that which he saw.
أَفَتُمَارُونَهُ عَلَىٰ مَا يَرَىٰ	(12) Will ye then dispute with him concerning what he saw?
وَلَقَدْ رَآهُ نَزْلَةً أُخْرَىٰ	(13) For indeed he saw him at a second descent,
عِندَ سِدْرَةِ الْمُنتَهَىٰ	(14) Near the Lote-tree beyond which none may pass:
عِندَهَا جَنَّةُ الْمَأْوَىٰ	(15) Near it is the Garden of Abode.
إِذْ يَغْشَى السِّدْرَةَ مَا يَغْشَىٰ	(16) Behold, the Lote-tree was shrouded (in mystery unspeakable!)
مَا زَاغَ الْبَصَرُ وَمَا طَغَىٰ	(17) (His) sight never swerved, nor did it go wrong!
لَقَدْ رَأَىٰ مِنْ آيَاتِ رَبِّهِ الْكُبْرَىٰ	(18) For truly did he see, of the Signs of his Lord, the Greatest!
I hope this answers your question brother .
Prophet Ibrahim (pbh) preached Islam
Abd' hakeem 07/26/2015 Permalink
All prophet Ibrahim is preaching is serving of one God that means "islam". And what is Islam? Islam is an Arabic word meaning submission, it means that you totally submit to God, and worship Him only with no other partner. And sacrificing of ram every year is sunna. May Almighty ALLAH enlighting all of us & lead us to the right path. Amin. Frm Abd'hakeem
tarunlaskar 11/06/2011 Permalink
muslims follow the sunnah of prophet ibrahim (abraham) by celebrating eidul adha and sacrfising the animals as a token of love and respect towards abraham why not jews and christians while they also claim they follow the path of abraham and are his descendents
Running to remember a mother and her trust in Allah
Muslims who perform the Hajj or Umra must run in the middle portion of the distance between Safa and Marwa seven times. This is a commemoration of one mother's sacrifice for her son.
Why Eid-ul Adha matters
While in the U.S., Eid-ul-Adha comes and goes without much notice, in some Muslim cultures, Eid-ul-Adha is called Eid Kabeer or the bigger Eid. Here is why Eid-ul-Adha is important, even though it often gets celebrated with less enthusiasm than Eid-ul-Fitr.
24 ideas for simple pre-Eid-ul-Adha planning
For Eid to be truly special, we need to plan in advance. We don't necessarily need to do anything very detailed or extensive, but a little bit of work before the blessed day will make it more memorable and enjoyable for all. Here are 24 easy ideas to jump start the process.
Zamzam: Notes and facts
What's cool, refreshing and will quench your thirst in the hot, Arabian desert? If you answered (fill in the name of the latest fad soft drink), you're wrong. Zamzam is the name of the well that provides the water billions of people.


text:
Category: Miscellaneous Technology Business Food Science Language Internet Education Beauty Industry Anatomy Health Crafts Cars Home Finance Medicine Fashion Fitness Art United States Environment Travel History People World Law Hobbies
What are Fluorescent Lamps?
Fluorescent Tube Lamps
Fluorescent Light Lamps
Daylight Fluorescent Lamps
Uv Fluorescent Lamps
Buy Fluorescent Lamps
General Electric Fluorescent Lamps
Niki Foster
Fluorescent lamps produce light by using electricity to excite mercury vapor, which produces ultraviolet light. The ultraviolet light in turn causes the fluorescent lamps' phosphorescent coating to fluoresce, or glow, with visible light. Fluorescent lamps are bulkier, more complex, and more expensive than traditional, incandescent bulbs, but they are much more energy efficient and last longer, saving money in the long run. Fluorescent lamps use a ballast to control the amount of electricity that flows through the lamp, as they need only a small amount to work and would self-destruct under an uncontrolled flow.
A compact fluorescent lamp.
American inventor Peter Cooper Hewitt patented the first mercury vapor lamp in 1901. The first commercial fluorescent lamps were manufactured by General Electric and appeared on the market in 1938. They were showcased a year later in the Golden Gate Exposition and the New York World's Fair. General Electric was also awarded the patent for the invention in 1939, though it was contested by Sylvania for years to follow. Fluorescent lamps gained in popularity throughout World War II, and by 1951, more lighting was produced by fluorescent lamps than by incandescent bulbs in the United States.
Fluorescent lights use less energy and last up to six times longer than incandescent lights.
Until fairly recently, fluorescent lamps were used only in institutional and large commercial buildings. The compact fluorescent lamp (CFL), suitable for home use, was invented in the 1970s and did not become commercially available until the early 1980s. However, when it first appeared on the market, the CFL was very expensive, the equivalent of 30 US dollars today. The spiral design of most CFLs available today was invented by Edward Hammer of General Electric in 1976, but it did not reach consumers until 1995.
Home use of fluorescent lamps is still low in most countries, but the idea is gaining in popularity with the increase in awareness about energy conservation. Incandescent bulbs are now very rare in East and Southeast Asia, and Australia and Canada have enacted plans to phase out incandescent lamps within a few years. Fluorescent lamps can last 10 to 20 times as long as incandescent lamps, and current models produce a glow nearly indistinguishable from that of a traditional light bulb.
In addition to her role as a wiseGEEK editor, Niki enjoys educating herself about interesting and unusual topics in order to get ideas for her own articles. She is a graduate of UCLA, where she majored in Linguistics and Anthropology.
Miscellaneous Technology Business Food Science Language Internet Education Beauty Industry Anatomy Health Crafts Cars Home Finance Medicine Fashion Fitness Art United States Environment Travel History People World Law Hobbies
What is a Mercury Vapor Lamp?
How do I Choose the Best Fluorescent Fixtures?
What is an Artichoke Lamp?
What is an Incandescent Bulb?
What are Fluorescent Light Bulbs?
What is LED Lighting?
What are Cordless Lamps?


text:
Management /
IPA to arm accountants with broader information
12 March 2019 — 2 minute read
One of Australia's peak accounting bodies is seeking to broaden the information resources available to accountants in both Australia and the UK, for the benefit of not just accountants but also their business clients in both countries.
The Institute of Public Accountants (IPA), in partnership with Momentum Connect, has launched a multi-jurisdictional content platform, bringing together its local arm and its UK-based peer the Institute of Financial Accountants (IFA), which it acquired in 2015.
The combined entity, IPA Group, is said to have become "the largest SME-focused accountancy organisation in the world".
"We wanted a modular digital content platform that can stand the test of time, delivering a vast content range while enhancing user engagement," IPA Group chief executive officer Andrew Conway (pictured) said.
"The new site will deliver features from the IPA and IFA print magazines, local content and shared global content, on the basis of where a person is geographically located."
"When making content-related decisions, we will consider the needs and interests of our audiences. Our research shows that this goes beyond the day-to-day accounting profession," Mr Conway said.
"For example, we will put a special emphasis on articles exploring health and wellbeing, which we have previously recognised as a top priority for our readers in the small business community."
Momentum Connect director Phillip Tarrant said that the new platform is fresh, exciting and in tune with the latest technological developments.
"The news industry is constantly evolving and we are following the trends. When it comes to content that is both engaging and interactive, you cannot ignore the digital space," he said.
"While the initial focus of the new platform is on Australia and the UK, we have designed and constructed it to grow with the addition of other jurisdictions that the IPA Group may expand to in the future.
"Besides keeping members and prospective members up to date on the latest news from the accounting industry, it will also offer engaging weekly blogs, features and a monthly podcast with industry professionals."
According to IPA Group's Mr Conway, accountants are increasingly seen as a central point of advice by their business clients, beyond basic tax and accounting points, which is why the new platform looks at arming accountants with information on other areas too, such as wellbeing.
"We want people to be thinking of their own wellbeing, because in order to provide good advice to clients, you first have to have the right mindset yourself and it is perfectly fine and OK for a professional to stick their hand up and say 'I'm struggling a bit here', and actually seeking resources and tools to achieve that," he said.
"What we are trying to do with the platform is raise the awareness of the plight of members in practice and the unique challenges they face in providing services to clients."
Mr Conway added: "When you've had a really rough day and back-to-back client engagements — and that could range from deceased estates right through to matrimonial disputes to businesses facing hardship — who does the accountant speak to? We want to provide, through this platform, a window into some of the tools and resources available to members to seek assistance when they need it."
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