Ryan Pond made all the right moves in traffic at Buttonwillow in April and walked away with two Spec Miata wins, bringing his total to five for the 2018 season.
Coming off a two-win weekend in March at Willow Springs, SoCal standout Ryan Pond scored another double tap at Buttonwillow Raceway in April.
Starting from pole on Saturday, Pond made some errors in the opening moments of the race, which allowed Rob Burgoon squeak past and take the lead. Burgoon held the lead for most of the race when the front runners hit lapped traffic. A 944 Spec was shown a blue flag, but the driver was unpredictable and Burgoon lost a position.
That left Pond on his own to take the win on Saturday.
For Sunday's race, the field did a standing start, a first for the SoCal region drivers. Hannah Grisham started from pole and she took the lead into Turn 1 followed by Pond, Dennis Holloway and Burgoon.
Burgoon got around Pond in the Sweeper on lap two and then passed Grisham when she locked up in the Off Ramp. The three traded positions the whole race as they dealt with lapped traffic. In the end, it was Pond on top again.
Burgoon was right on his bumper in second at checkers, with Grisham just behind him.


text:
$: << File.expand_path('../rubylib/lib', File.dirname(__FILE__))
require "galaxy_tool"

class LinkGenerator < GalaxyTool::Base
  option_banner "Usage: #{$0} --url-list-file <filepath> -o <output-filepath> [-i <info-filepath>]"

  option :url_list,
    :long => "--url-list-file <filepath>",
    :class => String,
    :description => "read url list from <filepath>.",
    :proc => proc {|file| File.read(file).split("\n").map{|id| id.split("\t")[0].chomp }.uniq },
    :required => true

  option_output :short => "-o",
    :long => "--output <filepath>",
    :description => "use <filepath> as output file path."

  option_info :long => "--info <filepath>",
    :description => "use <filepath> as info file path."

  option_error_handler do |optparse, exception|
    $stderr.puts "Error: " + exception.message
    $stderr.puts optparse.help
    raise exception
  end

  def main(output)
    options[:url_list].each do |url|
      if url !~ /http:\/\//
        url = "http://" + url
      end
      output.print "#{url}
\n"
    end
  end
end

if $0 == __FILE__
  LinkGenerator.new.run(ARGV)
end

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


I enjoy keeping fit, I'm a firm believer in live and let live.
Our past is what makes us today. I won't judge you.
I enjoy dining out, cinema, walks and travelling abroad. I love the sun !!
I'm very young at heart, if your looking for a 48 yr old that feels 48, then I'm not your man. I like to look good and feel good.
I love my East/West fusion and having an understanding of both cultures is important.
I'm more like a loaf of hovis 50/50, taste like white but all the goodness of brown and full of fibre.
I hope this doesn't offend anyone. It's just my crazy sense of humour.
I'm not a big fan of family drama neither. Don't get me wrong I love my family but let's keep the drama at arms length.
I have 2 grown up sons both married and living their own lives.
Someone that likes to look good and enjoys keeping fit.
Physical attraction is a must, I need to get close to you to get to know your personality and beautiful mind.
Someone that's career minded and still full of life.


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1) What is your favorite part about traveling?
2) Are you filming/video more now that you are older.
3) Are you part of the music choices?
4) If you could choose the next trip, where would you go?
Can't wait for part 2. I admire your courage and tenacity to make these trips happen.
You just got yourself into the final video.
I see you are still using that tailgate shower room.
Why can't I find it in the webshop anymore?. I still need one of those.
Could tell me what was the total weight of your syncro during this travel?
Not sure to be honest Jean-Michel, depends on where we are heading. We keep our personal luggage as light as possible and only really fill the tanks and water carrying containers when we need to.


I am very sorry everyone! I have not been able to write a single post in the last two weeks! Live is just crazy over here. April was a very busy month: Wrote an article for the ASHA schools division, wrote an article for the Canadian Association, article published on the S&L Magazine, presented at the Maryland Speech and Hearing conference, presented at an award cerimony in Fort Worth ( I was one of the finalists on a innovation award!!!). I hope to get back on my GeekSLP feet soon.
For now, this is just a quick post to make an announcement on my up-coming presentations: I will be presenting at Florida State University in two days. April 20th for the communication department.
I have created a video on the "Techsolving" presentation, and I will post a link here in just a few days.
I hope you are all enjoying your April month… if you are in Florida: I will see you there!
I love everything you are doing w ith ipad apps in therapy and I have decided to incorporate this tool into my treatment toolbag. The provlem is I'm not tech savvy (I have the basic skills down, but not much more) so I'm not sure where to begin and what's best to add. I treat adult mTBI pts on a large military installation. I address mostly executive function deficits, such as attention/memory deficits, word finding skills, language processing and abstract reasoning and problem solving skills. I was wondering if you give any training seminars or workshops that I could attend. Any info you can offer me witll be greatly appreciated.


text:
DA.AI Brand Story
The eco brand, DA.AI, originates from Taiwan and looks out to the world with a global perspective.
With a core mission of providing eco-friendly fashion products, the company adheres to the standard of keeping its product sources, from raw materials to manufacturing, 100% eco-friendly. The company's recycled polyester, made from post-consumer PET bottles, saves about 66% of energy consumption, and reduces carbon emissions with about 33%, compared to using virgin materials.
DA.AI Technology, which has been promoting the brand "DA.AI," was established in 2008. The company is Taiwan's first non-profit company dedicated to producing eco-friendly products and one of the world's first non-profit companies which donates 100% of its net proceeds to charity. DA.AI adheres to Master Cheng Yen's concept of "Coexist with the Earth" by integrating Tzu Chi recycling volunteers' efforts and manufacturers' eco-friendly production concept, and using recycled resources as raw materials to manufacture eco-friendly products. This process not o
nly activates a new life cycle for used PET bottles, at the same time, it also reduces the consumption of new resources, solving problems associated with Taiwan's massive volume of plastic recyclables.
In addition to the development of eco-friendly apparel and everyday life products made from recycled fabrics, DA.AI is also a pioneer in integrating environmental protection and charitable work by turning recycled PET bottles into warm fleece blankets. Through Tzu Chi volunteers' efforts, DA.AI has distributed over 450,000 eco-friendly blankets to people suffering from disasters in over 26 countries. These blankets not only give warmth to the suffering people, they also transform the love of the volunteers into concrete aid, thereby reflecting the concept of "extending an article's life and creating blessings and wisdom."
Since its establishment, DA.AI continues to develop new eco-products and further increase the quality of its recycled polyester fibers. DA.AI also collaborates with supply chain vendors from the textile industry to develop new functions for eco-fabrics, such as ventilation and moisture absorption, cooling and heating, odor removal, anti-static, water resistance and anti-radiation, etc. With "Eco Concepts & Green Living" as the theme, DA.AI plans to present a complete series of eco-friendly textile products and deliver the message of protecting our Mother Earth through recycling resources and reducing carbon emissions. DA.AI hopes to encourage and inspire more people to work towards conserving resources and reducing global warming.
DA.AI recycled polyester yarn
DA.AI Technology's development of recycled textile raw materials includes recycled poly chips, recycled polyester fibers, recycled fabrics, and finished product such as clothing, beddings, and everyday textile products made from recycled materials. The environmental production process was certified with "Global Recycling Standard" from the Peterson's Control Union (Dutch), confirmed that all stages beginning from obtaining the raw material to the applications of materials from suppliers are in compliance with the recycling standards. In addition, DA.AI Technology's recycled polyester fibers were awarded with EPA's "Green Mark" certification. The green eco-friendly fleece blanket made with 100% recycled polyester has also won the Carbon Lable Certifications from both of the German Rheinland Group and the EPA, which executed our promise of CSR.
DA.AI Technology works with approximately 5,400 Tzu Chi recycling stations in Taiwan. Near 2,000 tons of PET bottles are collected and recycled by the 72,000+ environmental protection promoters from Tzu Chi recycling stations each year, and 150 million PET bottled has been recycled and regenerated up to date. The Tzu Chi environmental protection promoters classify all of the plastic products, and carefully sort out #1 PET bottles, clean, remove caps and bottle rings, then group them by clear, green, and mixed colors. After the bottles are sorted and cleaned, the bottles are sent to plants to be sliced, granulated, and snagged into yarns. Tzu Chi environmental protection promoters' love and their work ensured the quality of the materials, which also helped to increase the yield rate of the yarn. Along with manufacturers' professional technology, high quality recycled polyester yarns are produced.
DA.AI Technology implements water-saving concept by avoiding yarn/piece dye because for each ton of fabric dyeing, 100 tons of water are used. The waste water with chemical dye will create a secondary environmental pollution; therefore, DA.AI Technology uses the original color from the bottles without additional dyeing. The clear bottles will create white yarn, while the green bottles will create green yarns, and mixed colors will create earth toned colors. DA.AI Technology is also expecting to develop recycled polyester threads, buttons, and other materials to achieve the so-called "Cradle to Cradle" concept.
DA.AI Technology also built a complete production traceability management system, starting from the Tzu Chi recycling stations, through recycling plants, chemical fiber plants, to garment supply chain factories. Information such time, source, number of PET bottles and other information are registered to fully implement quality management, and to ensure the recycling status and results. Transparent information is available to the public to show our integrity, and the approach is also for the promotion of the production of recycled products. DA.AI Technology looks forward to become the bellwether of the green industry, and hopes to work with anyone interested in environmental protection, and CSR. We wish to bring more people together, and guard our Mother Earth with love and wisdom.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Investigation launched into "illegally" leaked footage of Australian TV presenters slamming Novak Djokovic
In the viral clip, the presenters can be heard calling Djokovic an "arsehole".
The controversy surrounding Novak Djokovic's Australia border control mess continues as footage of two news presenters on a prominent TV station criticising the tennis player has leaked online.
In the clip which has gone viral, 7 News anchors Mike Amor and Rebecca Maddern can be seen during an off-air studio exchange weighing in on the ongoing saga.
Boris Johnson regularly witnessed "wine-time Fridays" at Downing Street during pandemic - report
"Whatever way you look at it, Novak Djokovic is a lying, sneaky, arsehole," Maddern is heard stating.
Amor responded: "He is an arsehole," before adding: "He got a bulls**t fu**ing excuse and then fell over his own fu**ing lies which is what happens, right? That's what's happened."
The pair then go on to question the Australian authorities' handling of the situation.
"Novak Djokovic is a lying, sneaky arsehole, whatever way you look at it…" Off-air footage of Australian news anchors Mike Amor and Rebecca Maddern giving their thoughts on the Djokovic saga leaked #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/GR2GYdJ4C8
— Auskar Surbakti (@AuskarSurbakti) January 11, 2022
Appearing on 3AW, Seven Melbourne managing director Lewis Martin said he had spoken to Maddern and that she was "incredibly apologetic" but added: "At the end of the day, it's a private conversation."
"They know this from a broadcasting perspective... the mic is always on," he explained.
Downing Street held two parties on night before Prince Philip's funeral – report
"But in this instance, it doesn't mean that they are not entitled to have a private conversation and nor should they think that it's being recorded and it's being distributed."
Martin said an investigation into the recording and distribution of the footage has commenced and is well-advanced.
"It's a private conversation. It's been illegally recorded and it's been illegally distributed," he stated.
"I can assure you that we won't be leaving any stone unturned to find out how it's happened.
"We're going to be looking very thoroughly through what's happened here.
"We've got broadcast operations people that are looking at this from last night."
Main image via AuskarSurbakti/Twitter
World News,
Novak Djokovic.
Prince Andrew fails to get Virginia Giuffre sex assault lawsuit dismissed
Boris Johnson finally admits he attended No 10 garden party
Steve Hopkins
Over half of Europe's population predicted to catch Omicron in next six to eight weeks
Man receives genetically-modified pig heart in "first-of-its-kind" transplant
Violence erupts between police and Novak Djokovic fans in Australia
Andy Murray fires back at Nigel Farage over support of Novak Djokovic


Somerset County will provide health care to county employees, their dependents, and retirees at an on-site health center managed by a private company.
The Somerset County Freeholders voted unanimously to award a contract to Princeton-based Integrity Health, LLC to operate the new health center. Douglas Forrester, a former mayor of West Windsor and the 2005 Republican gubernatorial candidate for New Jersey, is the president of Integrity.
Caliguire said the process to set up the health center took over a year and the county evaluated companies before choosing Integrity.
Employees will receive primary care services at one location. Officials said this will eliminate expensive and unnecessary emergency room charges and allow primary care to be coordinated with hospitals and specialists to minimize repeat doctor visits.
The new health center will be called the Somerset County Partnership Health Center. The center will provide primary care physicians, lab services, and a full pharmacy. Use of the health center by eligible county employees will be strictly voluntary, officials said. Employees will not pay a copay when visiting the center or receiving prescriptions there. The center will be open seven days a week and staffed by board-certified professionals. The center is scheduled to open later this year.


Use your logical reasoning skills and solve this numerical riddle.
Find out how the numbers in the table are connected and then find the missing number.
The table is a random arrangement of odd numbers from 13 to 29.
15 is the only odd number missing from the series, hence the missing number has to be .
35 even number hoya h or 15 bhi Fir ansr according to odd number 15 kese hoga?????


Villages have always been an integral part of India. A few years ago most of the population was living in villages. Today due to various reasons, villages have been vacated and most of the people have moved to cities in search of jobs, education, superior infrastructure and comfort. Today the younger generation will get a glimpse of village life after visiting Gramsanskruti udyan at Pashan.
Located in Pashan at Someshwarwadi is a newly built theme park by PMC 'Gramsanskruti Udyan'. To reach here one might take Baner road from Pune University and take a left turn at Someshwar Chowk. This park is situated just next to Someshwar temple. This theme park is a good show case of how a self sufficient village used to be.
Entrance wall of the park is nicely decorated and looks like a fortification of fort. After entering we are greeted by a beautifully decorated wall depicting different festivals celebrated even today with great enthusiasm and vigour in villages. It has wata pournima scene (Worshipping of Banyan tree) which is performed by married ladies wishing long life for their husbands, Gudhipadwa i.e. celebrating the beginning of new year as per the Hindu calendar, Nagpanchami (worshipping snakes as they are friends of farmers) and many more.
In the earlier days villages use to be self sufficient. All people's needs were getting satisfied in the village itself. Mahatma Gandhi had the idea of self sufficient village in his mind.
In this park they have created small houses to display different professions. One can see scenes such as a doctor performing a surgery on a patient, a family asking for loan from a merchant, a tailor shop, Bangles shop (kasaar), perfumes shop, sculptor, potter, blacksmith, goldsmith, cobbler,washer-man, fortune teller etc.
There is a superb detailing in clothes, attire and hair styles which infuses life in the life less statues.
Different aspects have been taken care of for the houses e.g. the colours which are seen are very typical to those found in village houses and also the interior structures i.e. of wooden columns and use of frames of Gods and saints to decorate the house.
The utensils,furniture,ornaments of villagers, curtains, doors and even the facial expressions of the villagers all the precise details have been taken care of and altogether give a feel of being there.
A little ahead one can see a village school which used to take place in the shadow of tree. I am sure it will make you nostalgic if you have spent your childhood in a small village.
It also introduces concepts of farming. Agriculture is still the main occupation in India. Even today India is second in the world in the farm outputs. This park has a good display of main farming concepts like land preparation, seed selection, seed sowing and harvesting.
The next section has a replica of Patil wada. This used to be the residence of the most important person of the village. He could be called as the leader of the village and a had major role to play in dispute solving, celebrations and events. Minute details have been captured here like the entrance, sitout place for discussion and hearing complaints of villagers, inner rooms and even the cow shed.
When you go forward, this park has a jungle section which we did not find that impressive since we had already seen good quality detailed statues earlier.
When we speak of a village a few things come to our mind very quickly. Those are simplicity, straightforwardness, openness, naturalness, innocence and selfless help.
A trip to this park will give you an inside look into the village life, barter system, Gram Panchayat and rural occupations.
One will get a nice exhibit by looking at weekly bazaar here. Weekly bazaar used to be (still it is present in villages ) an amalgamation of shopping, buying necessities, little bit of entertainment and enjoyment, amusement for kids and a good business opportunity for stalls or shop owners.
This park has been created with the efforts of about 1000 plus creators. I wonder will they ever get recognition for their fabulous work individually. Will they ever be recognized as sculptors or will they remain just mere workers?
The statues have been built with cement and concrete so they become more hard with rain and sunshine. Only some colour touch up is done yearly.
We surely get to see various facets of village and village life but I had few things which were causing a concern in my mind. Parking space is not provided separately. One has to park the vehicles in front of the gate. As the theme park will get popularity it will cause a major problem for parking. Another point was, the park has over 400 statues and all are must watch, they might provide sit-outs after some distance so that senior citizens would also be able to enjoy it properly. Also they have provided small information boards in Marathi which also could be in Hindi and English.
While leaving the park I heard a remark from one elderly lady of about 80 years that this is what she had experienced in her childhood. Does that mean the kind of lifestyle we are having now will only be seen in a theme park 100 years later?? Only time will tell…..
Do visit Someshwar Temple of Peshwa era which is just next to the park.
In the excitement of sharing vast information sometimes you get confused and struggle to find a take off point. Same was the case with Mahuli. There is so much to reveal and express. But this time that chaos has brought the clarity and harmony. Let us continue the amazing kaleidoscope of temples, greenery, Krishna river, farms, people and heritage in Kshetra Mahuli Part 2.
On the river banks of Kshetra Mahuli, RadhaShankar temple is situated. This temple was built in 1762 AD by Radhabai Taisaheb in the memory of her husband Shankararao Pantasachiv. Surprisingly Nandi idol is on the same square of the temple structure here, usually it is built separately just outside the Shiva Temple. On the left hand side of the door Ganesh Murti is there. Ganesh idol is also carved on the main entrance of all these temples underlining the fact that this deity had the immense importance in the Peshwa era and was most worshipped.
There is also a Hanuman idol coloured in saffron colour. Some different stone carvings could be seen in this temple.
Very near to this place is self manifested Ganesh.
Behind the Datta Temple there is Badrinarayan Mandir built in 1905 AD by Radhabai Joshi/ Moropant Joshi. Once a very big and beautiful temple, it is in ruins now.
History would be incomplete without ruins, they tell us a story of the past. But isn't it important to preserve and look after these forgotten places?
Built by Parshuram Anagal in the 17th century Rameshwar temple is an elegant stone temple. Impact of Mughal architecture can be easily noticed by looking at the domes of this temple. This temple has a vast courtyard as compared to other two temples of Kshetra Mahuli. On entering the temple premises one shivling is seen. The Nandi idol here is bigger and carved with heavy bells design. Inside the sanctum sanctorum the main Shivling is there.
Kashi Vishweshwar temple is an amazing example of temple architecture. It is a magnificent piece of art.
The Nandi idol has been recently painted in white and golden colour and the square on which it is placed is also worth watching. Various designs are used to decorate this square and the design is not even repeated once.
Inside the temple numerous columns are beautifully decorated with diverse designs of parrots, peacocks and swans.
Outside the temple huge deepmala (tower like structure where oil lamps could be kept) is there which is approximately 45 to 50 feet in height.
Krishna river (4th biggest river in India after Ganga, Brahmhaputra and Godavari) originates in Maharashtra near Mahabaleshwar. With its most fertile soil no wonder it is regarded as Lokamata (Mother) by people. Krishnabai Utsav is celebrated in different places in Wai, Mahabaleshwar , Limb, Kshetra Mahuli, Sangam Mahuli, Karad, Amanapur, Narsinhwadi even till Karnataka. This celebration starts from Vaishakh shudh Ekadashi and ends on Vaishakh Pournima as per the Hindu calendar which usually falls in the month of May. 5 days of celebration are filled with Bhajan, Kirtan, Katha Kathan etc. During this celebration various competitions take place. Various camps are organised such as Blood donation, free medical check up for needy people, uniforms and books distribution to the poor and deserving students.
This type of festivity takes place almost in each village and town where ever Krishna river is present. People from all age groups and all social strata participate in this. The jubilation and glee of the place is contagious. Large number of people have now migrated to bigger cities like to Mumbai and Pune , but they flock to Kshetra Mahuli during Krishnabai Utsav. This shows the immense faith and love for their native place.
There is a connection of this celebration with Shivaji era. There was a priest called Shendye Shastri in Wai. He had pleaded to the Krishna river to protect Shivaji Maharaj from the mighty and evil Afzalkhan. Afzalkhan had started his journey towards Shivaji Maharaj's capital and was destroying the pilgrimage centres on the way. He had a huge army with him and anticipating this danger Shivaji Maharaj shifted his headquarters to Pratapgad. As we know Shivaji Maharaj with his guerrilla war fare techniques killed Afzalkhan and destroyed his huge army.
This Shendye Shastri took a vow to Krishna river saying that if you save our king from this difficult phase we will celebrate your festival every year on all the banks where ever you appear. His wish was fulfilled and from that time this celebration takes place every year without any break.
Near Kshetra Mahuli there is a place called Krishnadham. This is an Ashram of Yogi Krishnanad maharaj. This place is a picture perfect beauty. The winding steps here lead you to a tranquil and soothing place very near to the river. This will make you forget about your worries and will take you in a trance.You will feel like never leaving this place. I wish to relish every moment spent here.
Kshetra Mahuli would impress the travelers of various interests. It has been a shooting location for some superhit movies like Sant Tukaram, Gunj Uthi Shahanai etc.
Many persons of national presence and historical importance belong to this place. To name a few Shrirang Jadhav, an Olympic wrestler who participated in Helsinki Olympics, Kirtankar of national fame Govind Aphale and Charudatta Aphale who delighted the entire nation by their auspicious and divine compositions and above all Nyaymurti Ramshastri Prabhune who was famous for his impartial and fair justice in the court of Madhavrao Peshwe.
Ramshastri Prabhune even told Madhavrao Peshwe that now he has accepted the Kshatriya dharma so his duty should be to govern and protect his subjects and he should not spend so much time in religious processes/ rituals. Because of his fearless and outspoken nature he did not hesitate to tell Raghoba dada Peshwe (Raghunath Peshwe) to take the death penalty (dehant Prayachitta) for his involvement in the murder of Narayanrao Peshwe. Such a courageous person who would not spare even the supreme authority is difficult to find these days.
Mahuli got its reputation in Peshwa era primarily because of Ramshashtri Prabhune.
This was a short tale of this sacred town of Kshetra Mahuli. It is one such landmark which has historical tales, architectural splendor and jubilant people. Do take out time and visit this place.
Don't forget to take kandi pedha of Satara (Yogesh Sweets Modi Pedhewale and Ladkar are well known) and famous brinjals of Krishna banks on your way back.
Chatushrungi Mandir is a picturesque temple situated on Senapati Bapat Road (S.B.Road), Pune. Unlike other temples in Pune this one has a vast area. It is located on a hilltop at about 90ft. height.Once you enter the temple premises you will see few shops selling Prasad, coconuts and flowers. Recently this temple has been renovated and decorated so you would get to see a few nice statues on the way to the top.
This temple has 160 steps. Children would enjoy climbing the steps and elders too would find it easy as they are not too steep.
At about 50,60 steps there is Ganesh Temple. Before starting any sort of work we always take the blessings of Lord Ganesh. As per Hindu tradition lord Ganesh is worshipped before any other deity. This temple has red columns and the inner walls are painted with gracious designs of colourful leaves and flowers. In this temple Ashtavinayak idols (8 Sacred places of lord Ganesh) are engraved on the walls in saffron colour.
After taking blessings of Ganapati one might proceed to the main temple. On the way to the main temple you will see different sitouts. The exquisite brick stone structures painted in pleasant pink red colour will make you stay there for some more time.
Once you reach the temple you would see that the actual temple area is very small. This Goddess is self-manifested (swayambhu). Money lender of Peshwas Mr.Durlabhshet was a great devotee of Saptashrungi devi. He found this idol at the hilltop and he started this temple. He had also started a Chatushrungi Rupee during those times. Currently the temple is looked after by Angal family.
Devi idol has been decorated with pearl nath(nose ornament), a crown and many necklaces. The temple is decorated with photos of different prominent goddesses.There is no permission to go inside the sanctum sanctorum so just outside it two idols have been kept ; one of brass and another of silver.You can offer haldi kumkum and flowers to these idols. During the Navratri festival this temple is extremely crowded and the long queues cross the spacious expanses of this temple and come out on the main Senapati Bapat road.
What makes this temple so special is that it is not just a divine and religious destination but it is a very clean place amidst the nature. The temple authorities plant trees here regularly and one can see various trees and birds in this area. We can get good view of Pune from top.
During one of our recent visits to this temple we got to see a kite plucking dry branches of small plants and taking it away to build a nest on a far away tree. It was an amazing thing to watch. We kept looking at it for several minutes.
This is a place where one can enjoy the song of nature and can inhale the freshness of air.
Visiting this temple daily could be a good exercise to get a healthy body and a peaceful mind.
On your way back do eat at Durga snacks(located at the starting point of the temple) a wholesome plate of Upma and nice masala chai.
There is always something special about every visit, every trail, every moment and every experience. I visited Bhuleswar twice. First time it was with a group of trekkers and an expert historian and the next visit was with my family. Both the trips were magical and miraculous.
Bhuleshwar Temple is situated about 53 Kms from Pune and 10 Kms from Yawat. To visit this temple from Pune you need to catch the Pune Solapur Highway. Just before Yawat you will find Kamat hotel on the left hand side and Kanchan hotel on the right hand side if you are going from Pune. Take a right turn and follow the Malshiras road to reach Bhuleshwar temple. Be careful on the inner ghat road. On the way you would see Suhana Masala factory, Nishigandh and Custard Apple plantation, Dwarika Krishi sankalp etc. Take a right turn and you will reach an entrance arch saying Bhuleshwar Vana Udyan. This temple is situated on a hilltop. There are two very sharp turns before reaching the top. Be extremely careful.
Bhuleshwar temple was built in 1230 AD by Yadava rulers. It was deformed and destroyed by Mughal attackers. In 1629 Adilshahi Sardar Murar Jagdev destroyed and looted Pune completely and he literally deployed donkeys to plough the fields in Pune. He constructed a fort here which was known as DaulatMangal Gadh. He used it to keep a watch on Pune city from this fort. It is said that later Shivaji Maharaj and Peshwas did some restoration of this temple. One can still find some signs of earlier Muslim rule by looking at Eidgah (open air gathering place normally on the outskirts of the city).
Now Bhuleshwar temple comes under the Archaeological survey of India and is a protected monument.
Once you reach the temple you won't be able to guess from outside what the temple would be from inside. From outside it has an appearance like a mosque which reflects the social impact on the architecture of that era.
When you enter the temple premises from the first few steps the saga of magical carvings starts.
Normally Nandi idol is outside the Shiva temple but in this one you will find a big one inside the temple. It is huge and beautiful ornaments are carved on it.
On the walls there are carvings from Ramayan, Mahabharat etc. The most prominent scenes like Draupadi Swayamwar, Mahabharat war, Shriram Bharat meeting, Kidnapping of Seeta by Ravan,Churning of the ocean etc.
It also has Ganesh, Shankar and Vishnu in Female form.
In the Pradakshina marg one would see a beautiful light and shadow effect. It gives an individuality to each and every sculpture.
There is a sculpture of group of artists playing various intruments like flute, Mridangam, Pakhwaj, Shehnai etc. One could understand that there was great recognition, appreciation and respect for art in different forms.
While we were appreciating the beauty of the sculptures it was causing immense pain to see deformed idols. What wonder the temple would have created if it was intact with all the carvings???
Once you enter the sanctum sanctorum the scene is completely different. All the materialistic emotions of life are displayed outside and once inside the temple there is not even a single carving denoting complete detachment and renunciation of the material world.
There is also a story associated with this temple that if you offer a pack of Pedhas to this Shivling and keep that pack below the mask of Shiva at least one Pedhha disappears. It is said that many people have experienced this. We have not tried it so can't comment anything about this.
This place is very much crowded during Mahashivratri and Shravani Somwar but on rest of the days very few people visit this temple. The care taker told us that they are getting different information from different sources. They are collecting it and planning to put a board outside for visitors to get some information.
If you climb down about 50 steps you will reach a water storage of ancient times. It is covered with rocks so water is stored there from many years and very less evaporation takes place. There is also a Shivling here. If you peep inside you will see different compartments of water. Those different compartments might have been used for different purposes like drinking, cleaning, washing clothes etc.
It is a unique place where intricately carved sculptures will surely take your breath away. I would recommend that you make a complete one day trip to visit this place and study it in detail. Do take a powerful torch with you to admire the real grandeur of the carvings.
One would simply wonder at the marvelous piece of art the sculptors have created. They have infused life into the life less stones. It is a must visit for art lovers.
Take care of the last two sharp turns and most important take a powerful torch with you to observe the sculptures in detail.
Do visit Kanchan hotel on your way back (On main highway). It is a beautiful place with innovative interior and earthen decor. Good place to have snacks.
In Pune every Punekar has a deep faith on either Sarasbaug Ganapati or Dagadusheth Halawai Ganapati. Every age group has a reason to visit this place. There are regular morning walkers, children, youngsters, women just everyone.
Sarasbaug is located on Bajirao Road very near to Swargate, one of the major bus stands of Pune. It is very close to Nehru Cricket stadium.
There is a parking area just opposite the temple. An overbridge connects the parking area with the garden. From this overbridge you can get a beautiful view of Parvati hills.
On entering the garden you need to climb down few steps. You will see a small artificial waterall . Nice spot for clicking photos.
From here you may head straight to the temple. On the temple foot steps we saw an artist drawing Ganesha picture by using different names. There is also an artist who makes small Ganapati idols using Areca nuts(Supari). Don't forget to take one with you on your way back as a souvenir or blessing what ever you may call it.
Shimant Nanasaheb Peshwe started Devdeveshwar Sansthan as per the orders of his mother Kashibai. In the year 1750 during his tenure he gave orders to construct an artificial lake along the Ambil stream near the Parvati foothills. While creating the lake 25000 square feet island was kept to construct temple and garden later.
Later Shrimant Sawai Madhavrao Peshwe constructed a small temple on the island in the year 1784 and installed Siddhivinayak Ganesh idol there. He gave a very poetic name to it Sarasbaug which reminds us of beautiful Saras birds a type of crane, frequently mentioned in Sanskrit literature.
The temple is beautiful and airy. The marble flooring and red columns make the temple look fascinating. Lanterns surrounding the temple enhance its beauty. Inside the temple Ganesh Stotra (Atharvshirsh and Falashruti) is inscribed.
Like the other temples you won't normally find long queues here except on Major celebration days like Ganesh Jayanti and Sankashti Chaturthi. So normally darshan is very peaceful and no pushing and rushing required.
At 5:30 AM daily Panchamrut Pooja is done. Snan of Ganesha idol and decoration with beautiful flowers takes place. This decoration is done in front of the devotees and then Sansthan aarti takes place. After that around 6:40 AM devotees do aarti in chorus.Evening aarti takes place at 7:15 PM which is performed by a group of devotees.
They also arrange beautiful musical programs during various auspicious days.
Just behind the temple there is a collection of various Ganesha idols on display. Earlier there used to be a nominal charge for visiting this display but now it is completely free.
It is a great visiting place. It has a huge garden. Children enjoy playing and running in the vast expanses of this garden. Children can enjoy themselves by buying colourful balls just for Rs.20 and playing them. The lake, though not very clean provides the right environment for aqua life. Please avoid throwing any food items in the water or don't try to feed the fish.
Adjacent to Sarasbaug is Peshwe Park Urja Udyan which has a collection adventure games.
I remember going to Sarasbaug for celebrating full moon night (Kojagiri). It was a great experience.
We always blame the government for not cleaning public places unfortunately we are the ones creating lot of garbage, throwing the wrappers of balls, plastic bottles, unfinished food items, papers etc on the lawn and making the place inelegant. It really feels bad. Every evening you get to see this garbage picture in Sarasbaug though they have kept dustbeens at every 5 metres distance.But one very good thing is when you visit the place next morning its completely clean. Thanks a lot to these cleaners and sweepers. Wish we could learn something from them.
I remember visiting this temple every year during Diwali on Narakchaturdashi day. We used to get ready and wear new clothes and head straight to the temple early morning. The atmosphere used to be not just holy but it was a simple bliss.
Every visit to Sarasbaug leaves us calm yet energetic for rest of the routine.
Location : Near Swargate bus depot and Nehru stadium.
Has it ever occurred to you that you plan to go somewhere and suddenly a plan changes and you get to visit a different place all together? This is how our Ramdara trip happened. My friend had mentioned to me about this place earlier but got a chance to visit this one very recently. It is about 26 km from Pune.
To Visit Ramdara you need to follow Pune Solapur road. You will pass through Hadapsar, Manjari , National Research Centre for grapes etc. On the way you will see HP fuel tanks on the left hand side while going from Pune. You need to cross one bridge and immediately after the bridge take a right turn into Loni village.
You need to pass through the village to reach there. On entering the village you are greeted by Ambernath vegetable market. You need to go inside for about 5.7 Km. Inside the village surprisingly there is a cement road though narrow. There are different shops on both sides. Once you cross the village a dirt road (kaccha road) will start.
The journey from here till Ramdara was a nature lover's delight. There were fields on either sides capturing our attention. We saw Cabbage, Cauliflower, Coriander, Fenugreek fields. Also Sugarcane and Banana plantation were seen.
There is a slight slope and 2 sharp turns. Then you will reach an entrance arch welcoming you into the temple and its surroundings. On entering we saw huge trees of various types and greenery was in the air.
It is a great place to go with family and have your food in the shadow of a tree.You can relish the beauty of nature but you don't have to worry about your safety and security. That's a nice feeling.
There is a small temple like structure where 10 incarnations of Vishnu (Dashawatar) i.e.Matsya, Kurma, Varaha, Narasinha, Vaman, Parshuram, Ram, Krishna, Buddha and Kalki are sculpted. It has been protected by grill in order to keep it safe, secure and clean.
Inside the main temple there are idols of Shreeram, Sita and Lakshman and in the same inner sanctum there is a Shivling. In the temple, 15th Chapter of Bhagvad Geeta is inscribed on the wall in which God Krishna explains the Purushottam Yog: The realization of the ultimate truth. Surrounding this temple beautiful and colourful sculptures are present of various saints and sages such as Surdas, Kabir,Guru Nanak, Dnyaneshwar, Tukaram, Tulasidas, Swami Vivekanand, Shankaracharya, Narad, Valmiki, Vyas etc.
This temple is surrounded by water from three sides, Just outside the temple few coconut trees are seen.
There is a picturesque nature trail circling the temple. You would get to see various birds like Coppersmith Barbet, Orange headed ground thrush, Black winged kite, Oriental white eye, Plum headed Parakeete,. There are sit outs/ huts like structures made to sit and observe the beauty of nature. We also observed the nests of weaver birds. Water body attracts many types of cranes, swans and ducks as well. A Massive tamarind tree was seen covered fully with mouthwatering tamarinds.
Children have a gala time when they are amidst the nature and we also set them free. Kids and adults can enjoy themselves by climbing on trees.
On many trees artificial softwood nests were attached. Those were used by birds for laying eggs. This place is a good collage of flora and fauna.
There are 2 small snacks outlet where you can get chips, water and other snacks like missal, Vada pav etc. But the real fun is to carry your homemade food in a picnic basket and enjoy eating it in the lap of nature.
Aga Khan Palace is situated on Pune Nagar highway near Bund garden. It is now known as Gandhi national memorial. It was built in 1892 by 3rd Aga Khan , Sultan Mohammad Shah Aga khan. It served as a source of employment to the famine struck villagers in the nearby area. It took about five years to complete the place of this work and around 1000 people were employed here at that time. The total cost incurred was about 12 Lakhs. The palace covers of about 19 acres of area out of which 7 acres is built up. This palace has Italian arches architecture and superb corridors.
In 1969 Prince Karim El Hussenum Agakhan IV came to India and donated this palace with surrounding land to Government of India Gandhi smarak Nidhi, New Delhi in memory of Mahatma Gandhi and his philosophy.
In 1942 during Quit India movement Gandhiji was arrested in Mumbai and was brought to Aga Khan palace at Pune on 9th August 1942. He was kept here along with his wife Kasturba Gandhi and Mahadev Desai and few other prominent freedom fighters like Sarojini Naidu. Gandhiji was interened here for 21 months , and was released on 6th may 1944. Kasturba Gandhi and Mahadev Desai expired at this place so this place has tremendous historical importance. Kasturba expired on 22nd February 1944.
Now this place has a museum which comprises of five halls. In the first hall big statues of Gandhiji and Kasturbaji are kept. In the other halls one can see an assortment of Gandhiji's clothes, utensils,slippers, his writing desk, bed, Kasturba Gandhi's saree and other personal items. There is also a letter written by Gandhiji to his secretary Mahadev Desai whom he always thought as his younger brother. This place has various old photos and paper cuttings related to Gandhiji on display. Photos of Gandhiji's visits with Dr.Babasaheb Ambedkar, Maharshi Karve in Pune have been displayed.
The rooms where Kasturba and Mahadev Desai were interened have been well preserved.
I would like to mention few things about Kasturba.
Kasturba Gandhi was a great wife of a great person, wife of our father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi, Kasturba was six months elder to her husband. She suffered a lot due to Mahatmaji's thoughts on simple living. Once in Africa she was severely ill and had to be operated. But Gandhiji did not allow her to go to the hospital and she was operated at the doctor's house without giving chloroform. What a courage and strength! She participated in Satyagraha (non violent resistance) with Gandhiji in India and Africa.By nature she was mature and always tried to find a way without any sort of aggression.A great salute to this patient and broad minded lady.
In the same campus there are samadhi's or marble memorials of Kasturba and Mahadev Desai and a small amount of Gandhiji's ashes is kept near these samadhis.
This palace has a beautiful and well maintained garden. This place is often visited by families with their kids. I also saw many foreigners visiting this place.
Though they have mentioned about the library I was not able to locate it. Also the khadi shop was not open sadly so was not able to see the things kept there for sale.
This palace has been declared as a protected monument of national importance by the Archaeological Survey of India.
Last month we got an opportunity to visit Mahatma Phule Museum located on Ghole road in Pune. I had never visited it earlier though the edifice had always captured my attention.
The Phule Museum is a must see for an engineering student. Most of them have not visited it (including me) though.
To welcome you at the entrance gate is a Howitzer gun (Cannon) made in 1859 in Kazipoor Bengal.
On entering you see a half statue of Mahatma Phule. This museum was established in 1875 after an industrial exhibition. It was named as Lord Reay Museum. It was earlier located in the Phule market tower. The new building was built in 1964 at Ghole road and in 1968 it was named after the great social reformer Mahatma Jotiba Phule.
Industry and engineering: The things to see here are Hydro electric system model with external line, Model of area irrigated by Neera canals from Bhatghar dam. It's a huge layout with the model starting from the Arabian sea. There is also a model of Koyna Hydro electric scheme, Model of steam engine, model of sugar mill, model of coconut oil mill model of peanut oil mill, Industrial uses of electricity, display of different ball and roller bearing samples.
Geology and Minerals: Rocks, stones and minerals collected from different parts of India are displayed in this section.
Craft and Small Scale Industries: This section has art in white marble, art in grass and leaves, art of brass ware, art in bronze and copper ware, different types of leather, paper mache work, art in bidariware, wood carvings, chinaware, art in ivory, stone age weapons, fossils, intricate stone carvings, art in bamboo ware and clay .They have displayed old photos of forts like Raigad, Pratapgad, Chakan etc.
Armory: Different types of weapons, guns rifles of Mughal and Maratha empire. Also few weapons of British soldiers of Shivaji's era. It also includes collection of swords, shield and mail.
Farming and Forestry: This section displays improved agricultural implements, indigeneous agricultural implements, Insects on crops, different uses of coconut tree, Gobar gas model. Different birds, animals and marine fishes are displayed. Beekeeping is explained with the help of chart and models. We also noted huge skull of an elephant and horns of a bull. There is a huge skin of crocodile killed in 1870 which is kept at the entrance showcase.
Few other attractions at this place are marble statue of Edward VIII Prince of Wales and a huge bell weighing 300 kg.
They also have a small garden where botanical trees are planted. Many schools have their field trips there. There is a huge library on the top floor where mostly the students of MPSC and UPSC come and study.
It is in all a great industrial museum with good models and charts. It is a must visit for metallurgy, agriculture, mechanical and other science students. Sadly during my two visits to the museum I was not accompanied by any other visitor. Such a vast treasure of information is still not able to reach the entire mass population of Pune. I came to know that many schools arrange their field trips to this museum and give project assignments based on the museum. But sadly most of the citizens of Pune have not yet visited it and not explored the immense benefit of this place.
The museum could be maintained in a better way and it could be kept clean and updated with new models and charts. It can make use of new technology to attract people. The display area could also be properly lit in order to achieve the desired impression.


Dear parents,Family Life classes are only for 5th grade student. Permission slips were sent out Monday, December 17, 2018. Thank you all for your fast response, we had a great outcome!
Six grade parents, please use this time that we are on break to get your student up to date with Tdap vaccine. Students need this vaccine before entering 7th. grade along with a second Varicella vaccine.
Physical Exam and Dental Exam forms are required for all Kinder and First gradestudents, please take this Winter Break to get forms to your child's doctor and return to the school as soon as possible.


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Training a Light on Brain Disease
Keith J. Winstein
Seeking more precise ways to take control of nerve cells and probe the mind, researchers are lighting up the brain. Using flashes of light delivered via fiber optics threaded through the skull, they have made mice run in circles and flies flap their wings.
These techniques may someday lead the way to more effective treatments for brain diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and epilepsy, which are poorly understood and generally lack cures. Drugs are clumsy, neuroscientists say: They flood the entire brain with chemicals, instead of treating only the part that needs fixing.
Light delivered via fiber-optic cables causes a mouse's brain cells to fire. Raag Airan/Karl Deisseroth
The new technique, called "optogenetics" because it combines genetic engineering of brain cells with fiber optics, could someday yield advances in treating mental and neurological diseases. Yet it also raises concerns about the prospect of Orwellian mind control and intelligence enhancement.
Sending 'Spikes'
So far researchers have only experimented upon flies, rats, mice, monkeys and worms. Tests on humans are at least five years off, but tinkering with the brains of mice has already suggested a new way to treat Parkinson's disease in people.
"This allows us to really start to speak the language of the brain," says Karl Deisseroth, a psychiatrist and professor of bioengineering at Stanford University who is one of the pioneers of the method.
Optogenetics works by zeroing in on selected sets of the brain's interconnected nerve cells, or neurons. Some neurons are thought to control memory, while others handle speech and still others the motion of muscles. Neurons send out signals to other neurons in the form of electrical "spikes" -- tiny electrical zaps that encode information or control muscles.
Fly Trials
In a 2004 experiment, scientists at Yale University showed it was possible to control particular neurons inside a fly. They bred a type of fly with a nerve that responded to light stimulation by firing off a spike. Then they fired a laser beam aimed at the nerve. Immediately, the flies responded -- in this case by jumping up and trying to fly.
"For the longest time, neuroscientists were forced to be passive observers of brain activity," said Gero Miesenböck, who led the Yale experiment and is now at Oxford University. Controlling neurons in a living being changes that, by letting researchers tinker with the brain while it's working -- much like flipping circuit breakers in a house to see which lights are connected to the same circuit.
Since the 1990s, doctors have stimulated neurons in people with severe brain diseases by surgically threading electrical wires through the skull into the brain. Companies like Medtronic Inc. MDT 0.05% sell devices called brain pacemakers, which are aimed at slowing the progression of Parkinson's, a neuron disease that causes tremors and slow movement. At least 30,000 patients use the products, which cost about $80,000 to implant. The treatment has reduced symptoms and improved quality of life for patients with severe Parkinson's.
But the surgery is elaborate and has a high risk of complications, since the devices must stimulate neurons deep inside the brain. And electrical zaps affect too much of the brain indiscriminately, doctors say, leading to side effects such as depression and falls. Specific cells can be targeted using light and genetics.
Neurons don't normally respond to light. In a 2005 paper, Dr. Deisseroth and another researcher, Ed Boyden, showed how to "infect" certain nerves with a virus that made them light-sensitive. The genetic-engineering technique takes a protein from a kind of pond algae that is attracted to light and places it inside the shell of a kind of virus widely believed to be benign. Then the virus infects certain nerve cells so that they, too, send out electrical spikes when illuminated. But only the infected cells respond to light, affording more precision than using electrical wires.
"There's a lot of things you can do with light that you can't do with electrical and magnetic fields," says Dr. Boyden, now a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. "Light can be focused. Light can be aimed." He is looking at treatments for epilepsy and blindness using the new technique.
New Findings
Meanwhile, Dr. Deisseroth's lab at Stanford has published papers and videos on controlling mouse brains with light. In one video, a mouse is made to run in circles when a light goes on -- and reverts to normal behavior as soon as it's switched off. (See related YouTube video.) Other mice are made to prefer certain rooms of a maze because researchers illuminated parts of their brains to stimulate a feeling they were given a "reward" such as food when they went into the rooms, even though there was no actual treat.
In March, Dr. Deisseroth published research in Science magazine suggesting Parkinson's may be easier to treat than previously thought, after using optogenetics to map out the brains of mice. By flipping on and off neurons deep inside the mouse brain -- the same neurons that Medtronic's brain pacemaker treats in a person -- researchers discovered that those nerves were connected to ones on the outside of the brain that might be easier to stimulate.
The finding suggests that "the actual cells that are most important [in Parkinson's] are at the surface of the brain," not deep inside, Dr. Deisseroth said, and means they could be stimulated by using magnets instead of surgery.
"We only could have come to this insight using optogenetics," Dr. Deisseroth says. "It has the potential to radically change the way Parkinson's is treated."
Still, it may be five years or more before optogenetics can be used on people -- and the specter of people optically souping up their brains is still science fiction. Approval to conduct a study that would involve infecting human brains with a virus that makes them susceptible to light would require much more research on the safety and long-term effects of the technique.
Write to Keith J. Winstein at keith.winstein@wsj.com
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Seeking more precise ways to take control of nerve cells and probe the mind, researchers are lighting up the brain.


In NBC's version of the "Good Place," there is apparently frozen yogurt, philosophy puns and Jacksonville Jaguar jokes, but also a revealing look at why the Christian idea of grace is so important.
The critically acclaimed sitcom, The Good Place, finished its third season with yet another wild twist in what has been a dizzying run for the quirky show about moral philosophy and the afterlife.
The show, created by Michael Schur of The Office and Parks and Recreation, does not present viewers with a Christian version of heaven. Upon learning she died and is now in the good place, Eleanor (Kristen Bell) asks which religion got it right.
From there, Michael brings all the new residents together to explain how they qualified for eternal bliss—the points system. Every act they did on Earth is calculated based on its goodness and then given a point value. Only the people with the very highest point totals make it.
In the world of The Good Place, a person receives +814,292.09 points for ending slavery and even +1.06 for eating a sandwich. But loses -433,115.25 for committing genocide and -5.55 for using "Facebook" as a verb.
Some of the point totals go beyond the specific act to get to motivations and the feelings of others. Fixing a broken tricycle for a child that loves tricycles nets a person +6.60 points. But fixing a broken tricycle for a child who is indifferent to tricycles only adds +0.04 to a person's total.
One of Eleanor's fellow good place residents, Tahani (Jameela Jamil), notes some discrepancies with the point totals. She speaks glowingly about all the charity work she has done and how much more she has done than others, until she suddenly realizes the problem. All her good works have been tainted by her heart.
In Tahani's case, she was driven by what others thought of her. She realizes all her good works weren't really good at all. They weren't for the benefit of others but done from a selfish place.
As Eleanor and Tahani, along with two other neighborhood residents, moral philosopher Chidi (William Jackson Harper) and amateur DJ/devoted Jaguars' fan Jason (Manny Jacinto), begin to untangle the points system involved in admittance to the good place, they discover things are even worse for humanity.
Not only are humans judged by their actions and the motivations behind those actions in "The Good Place," they are also judged by the unintended and unseen consequences of those actions. Buying a flower for someone may net a person points, until one factors in the environmental impact of driving to the florist or the horrible working conditions where the flower was grown.
The all-seeing algorithm doling out points based on good behavior seems comforting on the surface for many until they stop and realize just how much bad is mixed into what they see as good.
When there is no God to worship, only a cold, hard computer calculating our eternal fate, we realize we don't actually want to think about heaven and hell in terms of fairness. When we're face to face with the points, we realize that being fair leaves humans without much hope.
On NBC's The Good Place, there is salvation in self-improvement. The four humans work together and become better people for the time they spend with each other. Like the quartet of travelers from The Wizard of Oz, Eleanor, Chidi, Tahani, and Jason learn what it is they're lacking personally and grow as people through the first three seasons—even to the point of self-sacrifice.
Yet, the very point system the show has established demonstrates how pointless the entire exercise is. The third season ends with them all essentially in the same place as they started. Their quixotic journey, while filled with hilarious moments for the viewer, must be torture for the participants—the very type of eternal torture they are trying to avoid.
This "good place" has every flavor of frozen yogurt one could imagine along with a ton of unimaginable flavors, but it's lacking the thing it needs most: grace. If there is a point system, we've all failed. None of us could make it.
In The Good Place remaining loyal to the Cleveland Browns gains you +53.83 points, but even devotion to an inept team won't gain you access to heaven. For that, we've always needed grace.


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December 21, 2019 / 3:13 AM / a month ago
Acciari scores 2nd straight hat trick as Panthers bomb Stars
EditorsNote: adds to second, third, sixth and ninth grafs
Dec 19, 2019; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Mikhail Sergachev (98) scores a goal against the Dallas Stars during the first period at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Noel Acciari scored his second straight hat trick, racking up three consecutive goals during Florida's five-goal second period, as the Panthers defeated the Dallas Stars 7-4 on Friday night in Sunrise, Fla.
Pavel Bure is the only other Panthers player ever to record consecutive hat tricks, accomplishing the feat in February 2001. But Bure scored 437 career goals, including 60 each in back-to-back seasons.
Acciari, meanwhile, had scored just 18 goals in parts of his first four seasons with the Boston Bruins entering the current campaign. Signed as a free agent in July, Acciari — who had never had even a two-goal game until Monday night against the Ottawa Senators — now has a career-high 11 scores this season.
It's been quite a run for Acciari, a 28-year-old undrafted player from Rhode Island who was signed by Florida as a fourth-line grinder type.
His improbable barrage started right after Panthers coach Joel Quenneville adjusted all four of his lines on Monday, and the unit of Acciari, Jonathan Huberdeau and Vincent Trocheck has erupted with a combined eight goals and 18 points in two games.
Huberdeau, Trocheck, Anton Stralman and Colton Sceviour also scored for the Panthers. Huberdeau had three assists, Trocheck and Aleksander Barkov had two apiece, and Acciari had one.
Goalie Sergei Bobrovsky made 27 saves as Florida ended the longest homestand in franchise history with a 5-4-0 record.
Stars goalie Ben Bishop was pulled in the second period after stopping just 14 of 20 shots on goal.
Dallas got two goals from Tyler Seguin and one each from Jamie Benn and Denis Gurianov. Corey Perry added two assists.
Panthers defenseman Keith Yandle played his 831st consecutive game, breaking out of a tie for fourth all-time with Dallas' Andrew Cogliano on the all-time NHL list.
Florida, the fresher team since it had been off since Monday, outshot Dallas 15-7 in the first period, and the Stars were fortunate to trail only 2-1 after the first 20 minutes.
Huberdeau opened the scoring with a power-play goal, and Gurianov tied it when he found a loose puck in the low slot and zipped the puck past Bobrovsky's stick.
But, with 14:48 expired in the period, Stralman's fluttering shot from above the right circle — which would've gone wide of the net — bounced in off the left skate of Roope Hintz.
The Panthers never trailed again, scoring five straight goals in the second.
Acciari ended that run and got his hat trick on a short-handed penalty shot that went five-hole with 8:35 left in the second.
Asked what he was thinking about on his first career penalty shot, Acciari smiled and said: "Don't fall."


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Mysterious people are attractive because humans are naturally curious and want to know more about them. When you allow people's imaginations to fill in the gaps about you, they'll be drawn in to see if their assumptions prove to be correct. You can become more mysterious by following a few simple steps.
Make eye contact. Making eye contact shows that you have confidence. Also, when you make eye contact with someone, it shows that you're interested in learning more about them. Make sure that you don't hold eye contact for too long – about two seconds is a good length – lest you come off as creepy or intimidating.
Be calm. Animated people don't leave much too the imagination because they are the center of attention. To be attractively mysterious, be calm, somewhat serious, and relatively even-keeled. Be the calm at the center of the storm, no matter how lively things are around you.
Learn a lot about a few things. You're mysterious and intelligent. Because you won't be talking about yourself much, you'll need to learn about some topics that you can talk about at length. Not only does this keep the conversation away from your personal story, it shows that you're passionate enough about a subject to learn it.
Make sure that the topic is interesting and not polarizing. For example, presidential candidates might be interesting but they're also polarizing. Instead, the impact of farm-produced fish on the environment is interesting and likely to not be very polarizing at all.
Ask questions. Asking questions is an excellent way to be mysterious and attract people and serves a few purposes. It allows you to keep the conversation away from your personal details, it shows interest in another person, and, most of all, it allows that people to talk about themselves. People will think you're especially interested in them and be flattered that you wanted to hear their story.
Make them smile. Just because you're mysterious doesn't mean that you can't be charming. Make people smile. Smiling makes people feel good and it makes people instantly feel warmer toward the person that made them smile. Don't be afraid to smile yourself, too. This shows a good-natured appreciation of life that is attractive to just about everyone.
You don't have to talk to someone to make them smile. When you're making eye contact, give the other person a little smile and watch, they'll return the favor.
Change the topic. Just because you're not going to spend much time talking about yourself doesn't mean that you can't direct the conversation. This works because changing topics fairly frequently shows your audience that you're not only mysterious, but that you're confident and knowledgeable about a variety of topics.
Look for natural opportunities to change topics, which will come up typically in someone else's response to something.
This is a great time to ask a question, which will direct the conversation in another direction.
Be an alpha or a flirt. Depending on your gender, being mysterious can be a sign that you're an alpha male or a flirty female, two archetypes that are attractive to almost everyone. Mysterious people exude confidence, and that confidence can be interpreted differently depending on your gender. What is fairly universal, though, regardless of gender, is that mysterious people are quietly in control, but not flamboyant of attention seeking.
This idea refers back to the psychology of attraction, which posits that attraction is physiological and psychological, and that the two inform one another.
What universal element do mysterious people share?
They can subtly insert their stories into the conversation.
Nope! Most mysterious people avoid sharing too much personal information, as this helps them to cultivate the aura of mystery. There are many other topics to talk about instead of yourself. Pick another answer!
They are quietly in control.
That's right! Other people in the conversation may not realize the mysterious person is in control, but there's a good chance they are! Mysterious people are skilled at subtly shifting conversations, asking questions, and making people feel comfortable so they will share their stories. Read on for another quiz question.
They can start up a good debate.
They are experts on one topic.
Try again! As a mysterious person, you're not going to share too much personal information. Still, you want to be able to contribute to the conversation. Rather than learning all there is to know about one topic, seek out information on several interesting and unique themes. Pick another answer!
Keep some things to yourself. When talking to someone, don't tell them your life story. You're not an open book. Instead, you're mysterious and need to leave gaps in your story. That will encourage people to ask questions, think about what you've said, and fill in the gaps of your story with their imaginations.
A great way to approach this idea is to only answer questions that you're asked about yourself as opposed to simply offering up information. Even when you're answering questions, give as little information as possible while still satisfying the questioner.
If someone asks you about your weekend, make some vague reply such as "I met up with some friends and we did some things in town." If they question you further, just say nothing and smile mysteriously.
Don't always be available. If you're always available, you might seem eager and you certainly won't appear mysterious. Instead, you want to be available occasionally, although usually not, which will make your attentions almost seem like a reward.
This applies to phone calls, texts, video chats, and get-togethers. If your phone rings, let it go to voicemail. If you receive a text or direct message, don't read it right away. If they suggest that you get together, don't enthusiastically say yes. Check your calendar first. You're mysterious when you're often unavailable.
Don't be a flashy dresser. You don't want to stand out in a crowd because of your flashy clothes, bright colors, or loud patterns. Instead, you want to keep your clothing somewhat modest, but still different from everyone around you. Darker colors are more mysterious.
If people around you tend to wear jeans, for example, consider wearing boot cut jeans. If everyone wears boots, consider loafers.
How can you work to leave some gaps in your story?
Allow false rumors to spread about you.
Not exactly! Rumors may help the mysterious aura for a short time. It's best to dispel them when you can, however, as they can turn against you quite easily. Choose another answer!
Tell different people different versions of your story.
Only answer questions asked of you.
That's right! Rather than openly sharing information, you should aim to only answer direct questions and to do so vaguely. This will help you to remain honest while still cultivating an aura of mystery. Read on for another quiz question.
Don't answer calls or texts right away.
Try again! Remaining a little unavailable and not springing to return contact will help you to cultivate your air of mystery. Still, this helps you to keep your distance, not to leave gaps in your story. Guess again!
Think outside the box. Try to be more creative and think outside the box. Your love interest is attracted to your mysterious demeanor, and creativity is a sign of a confident, mysterious person. Creativity shows that you can be playful and disciplined and that you view the world from a unique perspective. Share that uniqueness with the object of your affection to maintain the mystery.
Creativity doesn't just mean artistic. You might not have an artistic bone in your body and that's just fine. Be creative with your answers to people, your solutions to problems, or even how you spend time with your partner.
For example, rather than suggesting dinner and a movie, be creative and take your partner to a place they've never been, like a state park, for a picnic and bring a book of your favorite poems to read with them.
Be unpredictable. Being unpredictable lends to your mysterious demeanor. This doesn't mean that you should act of character with your love interest or confuse them. Even worse, hurt their feelings. Being unpredictable simply means defying your own routines and patterns every now and then. This will demonstrate that there are still some secrets up your sleeve and keep it interesting.
For example, if you always grab a coffee on your way to work, decide to go for a jog instead one day.
Or, if you always wait for your love interest to call you, surprise them with a phone call.
Remember to reciprocate. Your love interest is attracted to you and perhaps you've taken your relationship to another level. Remember, you can be mysterious and still reciprocate feelings and interest. People tend to feel more attracted to those who they feel are attracted to them, so reciprocate their interest in you.
For example, you can still be mysterious and bring your love interest flowers or send a simple text that says, "thinking of you." Small gestures mean a lot, especially from a mysterious person.
What kind of unpredictable behavior can make you more seem mysterious?
Turning off your phone for a few days.
Not exactly! If you do want to become completely unreachable, it's important to notify the people in your life who will need to contact you. There are less disruptive ways of demonstrating unpredictable behavior. There's a better option out there!
Checking out a new restaurant for lunch.
That's right! Unpredictable behavior doesn't have to mean you change everything about yourself, simply that you alter something in your regular routine. This could mean changing the morning coffee for a workout, skipping the regular lunch spot, or calling your partner instead of waiting for their call. Read on for another quiz question.
Try again! Before you adopt a puppy or a kitty, make sure that you're really ready for the responsibility. Usually, try to make your unpredictable behavior a little less permanent. Choose another answer!
I think that when a man is mysterious, it drives me crazy. How can I not feel like a creep when I try to find out more?
Be subtle when you're asking. You can also act mysterious yourself to make him want to know more about you. If being mysterious doesn't work out for you, try being more seductive. You can get anything out of a guy by being seductive.
The best way to be mysterious in order to attract people is to leave them with unanswered questions about yourself. Ask questions about others rather than speaking at length about yourself. Be unavailable sometimes, like by declining invitations occasionally or letting people's calls go to voicemail. Show that you are unpredictable by changing up your routine and planning creative outings. Read on to find out more about how to reciprocate someone's interest while maintaining your mystery!
Act a bit shy. This is a great opportunity to flash your smile.
Memorize lots of random facts, and employ them when that certain subject pops up in chance conversation.
Do not let your crush catch you idle. When you are seen absorbed with things all the time, it makes them wonder about what you are up to.
Only talk when people talk to you.
Don't spend a lot of time in one place; moving around makes people wonder what exactly is so important you have to go do it.
Learn a lot of general knowledge or interesting, unknown facts.
Silently stare at your crush from time to time, but blink and slowly look away when they see you staring.
Keep your self neutral but charming.
Don't be too mysterious. This can lead to suspicion, a HUGE turn-off.
Drop your mysterious pretense a little when you finally catch the object of your affection, but don't ditch it completely. You want to keep them on their toes, always anticipating your many surprises.
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I would like to give you an update on the renovation of the Sanctuary floors in the Church. The work will begin around September 4th and will last for a few weeks. We will continue to have our Masses here at our Church. Our Funeral Masses will be at Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in Three Bridges. They have so graciously given us permission to have our Funeral Masses there while we are under construction. Our clergy, deacons and liturgical ministers will travel to St. Elizabeth Ann Seton on those days.
We would like to thank the Creter family of Flemington Granite, for the generous donation of the marble that will be used to replace the Sanctuary floor. The cost of installation was also donated by generous parishioners. These donations have made it possible for this renovation to happen.
We are waiting for the final adjusted plans for The Perpetual Adoration Chapel to be completed. Once that occurs, we will send them to the Diocese for a final approval and out for bids. We are hoping that we can start on this project in the New Year.
As more priest scandals hit the headlines, the words of the creed at Mass can start to sound hollow: "I believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church." How can we look at a Catholic Church that has had such bad men in leadership positions and call it "holy"? The readings for this Sunday, the 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B, explain how: The Church is holy in its origin, its purpose, its means and its fruits.
First, the Church is holy in its origin.
Jesus came from Bethlehem; the name of the town means "house of bread." He changed water into wine as his first miracle and multiplied loaves of bread as the only miracle recounted in every Gospel. He announced the Eucharist as the ultimate test of his disciples, after which many left him and one decided to betray him. He instituted the Eucharist as his last act before his Passion and death. His side poured out blood on the Cross, and after he rose from the dead he met his disciples on the road, broke bread with them and then disappeared, leaving only his real presence in the Eucharist to stay with them.
This is the first reason the Church is holy: because it began from the heart of Jesus Christ reaching out to give the world his body and blood.
Second, the Church is holy in its purpose.
The Church also exists to do what the Psalm says: "When the poor one called out, the Lord heard, and from all his distress he saved him." The whole purpose of the Church is to reform sinners and heal sin's victims. For every predator who has used the Church for sinful purposes, there are thousands of spiritual healers who Christ uses to reach us through the Church to forgive us, restore us and refresh us.
Third, the Church is holy in the means she uses.
The primary way Christ sanctifies us in the Church is through the sacraments, especially confession and the sacrament confession prepares us for — the Eucharist. The first reading presents a beautiful vision of the Church and the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, which are given through the seven sacraments.
The ultimate feast laid out by the Church is the Eucharist, where we receive Jesus Christ himself in the ultimate sacrament, which has the power to change us. "For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink," Jesus says.
Fourth, the Church is holy in its fruits.
The major "fruits" of the Church are its saints — canonized or not. The centerpiece of the church's Year of the Eucharist in 2004-2005 was the canonization of several saints who spread Eucharistic adoration in Poland, Chile, Sicily and Italy. But every saint is a Eucharistic saint — from St. Paul, who stressed the need to be worthy to receive the "body and blood," to Mother Teresa, who relied on the Eucharist to give her the strength to serve the poorest of the poor.
The Church is holy in its origin, its purpose, its means and its fruits — and it can be holy in each of our lives for the same four reasons, starting this Sunday in the Communion line.


Where Is Area Code 949?
Covering areas that have great weather, low crime rates, and many jobs, the 949 area code is used for the wealthiest portion of Orange County. Irvine, Newport Beach, Costa Mesa, and Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton residents use area code 949.
Irvine is nestled in the heart of Orange Country. With a population that is just over 200,000, the Irvine area code is one of the best places to live in the United States. In fact, Irvine has the lowest violent crime rate of all larger cities in American, not including those small farming communities in the middle of nowhere. Furthermore, Irvine has one of the highest median incomes in the country and is home to several outstanding educational institutions. It is not surprising that the Irvine area code has one of the highest rent rates in the United States. The median gross rent in this part of area code 949 is over $1600 each month. Housing is similarly over priced in this affluent community.
Education in Irvine is outstanding. UC Irvine, Concordia University, and Irvine Valley College are all based in the area code 949. As a result, Irvine has one of the highest concentrations of people who have doctorate degrees in the country. Well over 3,000 people in Irvine have doctorate degrees, which is a huge achievement for a population that is just over 200,000. University of California, Irvine is the best known of the education institutions in the 949 area code. Known throughout the United States as a top ten research university, it is also often considered a Public Ivy school. Not only is UC Irvine nationally recognized, the university also fuels the local economy. In fact, UC Irvine supplies Orange County with more jobs than any other employer. With billion dollar construction projects, UC Irvine will undoubtedly stay ahead of the game and continue to be a top tier university in the United States.
Also located in area code 949, Newport Beach is synonymous with wealth. In fact, Newport Beach is one of the wealthiest areas in California and in the United States of America. The median price for homes in this area is over $1 million, which is affordable for 25% of its residents who earn a median household income of more than $200,000.
Several individuals have mentioned Newport Beach as the wealthiest city in the United States, but that is debatable. The Newport Beach area code is postcard perfect. The beaches have white sand and the water is crystal clear. When the sun sets it paints the sky unimaginable colors along the coastline. This may seem like a description out of a romantic novel, but it is an everyday experience for Newport Beach's residents. Naturally, the 949 area code is a trendy destination for sailing and fishing. In this area you will notice huge yachts and expensive sail boats as well as kayaks and canoes. Consequently, Newport Beach has the biggest recreational boat harbor on this coast of the United States. More than 10,000 boats are docked here, including many that cost more than most peoples' homes.
The Newport Beach portion of the 949 area code has made its appearance more than once on popular television shows. For instance, The O.C. is based on the lives of people who reside in Newport Beach. Furthermore, The Real Housewives of Orange County has been known to film scenes for the hit television show in the affluent Newport Harbor. Producers could not have picked a better backdrop to portray Newport Beach's wealth than the multi-million dollar yachts and picturesque sail boats. The name "Newport Beach" also pops up on teenage clothing articles all over the country as a fashionable slogan that is associated with a wealthy and carefree lifestyle. Hollister Co. is particularly fond of featuring "Newport Beach" on their jackets and graphic t-shirts.
Costa Mesa, California has made a dramatic change from an agricultural community to a buzzing commercial center. With just over 100,000 residents the Costa Mesa area code has maintained most of its small city charm. The population in Costa Mesa is remarkably less wealthy than its other Orange County neighbors. Residents in this part of area code 949 earn a median family income of approximately $55,000. That is only a quarter of what many individuals in other parts of Orange County earn in one year. Furthermore, Costa Mesa also experiences more poverty than the rest of Orange County. Approximately 12% of the population here is below the national poverty line.


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text:
Views from Alongside a Border
by Michael Seifert, Brownsville, Texas
Border Wall: Nov 2 2018
Court Watch: Federal Magistrates'Court
Denying Citizenship
Do Not Jail Families
On the Border, by the Sea
Separating Children from Parents
What to Watch for as a Court Observer
Willacy County Tent City
Living Between A Rock and A Hard Place: The Militarized U.S.-Mexico Border
A Glimpse of God
A Week on the Southern Border
Pauline on A Week on the Southern Bo…
Hope Sanford on A Week on the Southern Bo…
Paul D. Owen on A Week on the Southern Bo…
Madeleine Sandefur on A Week on the Southern Bo…
Hanging on for Dear… on Hanging on for Dear Life
Keep This Religion in Our Politics
It was like any other gathering of church people, any other place on earth. On the evening before an important feast day, mostly a middle-aged and older group of people, nearly all of them women, organized a prayer.
In this very Catholic part of the religious world, some of the women carried rosaries, and two of them had decorated an image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the icon of the Mexican church, and whose feast day we were preparing to celebrate.
What was different about this particular religious gathering was the place and the timing.
The place: we conducted our procession in the shadow of the wall the US had put up between the United States and Mexico. A wall the United States pierced through this land, scarcely 100 feet away, is a looming reminder of where we were.
And the timing—we were just weeks after the violence of Paris, Colorado Springs, and San Bernadino. The timing is important to note, for those who made this protest were domestic workers who live and work in the shadows of this American bordered community, some of the most vulnerable people in our area. They are indigenous people of color, who migrate only to become the undocumented scapegoats for a load of politicians taking advantage of people's ignorance and fear.
These women, unprotected and exposed, are not naive. They are very aware of how politicians stoke American paranoia. They are wise women. Women who grapple with the quality of life that the more than 11 million immigrants in this country suffer, and this group of organizers decided to speak out. For them, the worst thing that could happen in these times is to remain silent in the face of the devastating aggression rolling across America's unbalanced media.
The women are organized and created a community of domestic workers across our region (Domesticas del Valle, a project with Fuerza del Valle Workers' Center).
They are also women of faith, who on the eve of this significant feast day, needed to share the message of the Guadalupana: Be strong. Be unafraid. Be organized.
We waited a bit more for the local parish priest to show up, but after a while, our leader took the initiative and organized the procession. Those carrying the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe were placed in front, the rest of us walked three abreast, careful to stay on the shoulder of the roadway as we moved down the old Military Highway toward the parish church.
The organizer of the action had asked the sheriff's department to send a patrol car, given the dangers of walking down the Military Highway. As we lined up for the procession, the deputy, eying one of the banners ("Stop the Deportations"), we nt up to the organizer and said, "I thought that this was a religious event." She very calmly (and correctly) assured him that it was. The deputy was confused—for there was in fact a lovely image of the Virgin, and the women were singing religious songs and carrying rosaries.
He thought for a moment, and then returned to his patrol care, having decided to offer his bit of sanctuary for this community.
The women were carrying much more than banners and images of the Virgin. They were bringing to public prayer their own experiences of deep suffering and pain. One woman was left with no recourse but to sleep in a family's bathtub, another woman was subjected to bizarre and continual sexual exploitation, many have been separated from their own children and families for years, working in a strange land to feed and clothe their little ones.
They carried a powerful sense of solidarity. For all of the challenges facing them, however deep the shadows in which they lived out their lives, they are increasingly aware that there is much that connects them.
Two of the women, just a few months before, had joined hundreds of women who walked 100 miles to celebrate the arrival of Pope Francis to the United States, and to draw attention to the Pope's message of dignity and respect for the immigrant.
In order to keep that experience alive, communities who face undocumentation from across the nation gather the 11th day of each month (in recognition of the 11 million unauthorized immigrants in the United States) and to walk, together, offering hope and the strength of solidarity to their fellow migrants. The action is intended to be sacrificial in nature, for the message is a serious one. The message is also beneficial in effect, standing in counterpoint to the hateful rhetoric searing the nation.
We arrived at the church, just as the sun was setting. There was some prayer, and some photos, and then, one by one, the marchers made their way back to their places of work, or, if they were lucky, to their families.
The evening shadows lengthened, but somehow, on this evening, they did not seem as dark, or as threatening, an effect, I think, of the sense of not being out there, all alone.
December 13, 2015 Michael Seifert
Support the families


Are you a current or incoming public policy chair? See the Public Policy resources in the AAUW Member Center, including a new Branch Public Policy Chair Manual and start making plans for what will be an important year for voter registration, get out the vote efforts, and public policy discussions.
NC Women United Women's Advocacy Day, June 18. Organize a carload to come to Raleigh!
Women's Agenda Assemblies around the state this fall. Organize one in your community!