What Do You Do When Your Church Is Stuck in the Past?
Most people don't like it.
Many church members resist it.
And it's tough to lead the way.
But if you want to lead your church to healthy growth, you're going to have to lead them through change. After all, churches that are stuck in the past can't impact the present culture or make a difference for future generations.
But what do you do when you know change is necessary but your church doesn't agree? How can you lead a church to change when the people want to stay rooted and grounded and stuck in the past?
Here are seven practical suggestions.
1. Give people the benefit of the doubt.
Before we talk about what to do and what to say, let's talk about the mindset you must have.
Miss this and every single action you take will be misinterpreted.
Church people, who like things the way they are, are NOT the enemy.
They just have their preferences.
They may be outdated. They may even be irrational. But they are their preferences and change is hard.
Most people don't want to give up their preferences and aren't at all interested in changing what they like. You and I don't want to do it either. It's human nature.
So let's give people the benefit of the doubt.
The old approach you want to change was once a new approach people fought to implement. The outdated thing that needs to be changed was once a new approach that came with a cost. There are likely people that fought hard to implement what you want to change.
It's easy to step into a situation and suggest changes to what other people started. But isn't it a lot harder to throw YOUR ideas out the window? That's a good perspective.
People who like their church the way it is aren't necessarily opposed to reaching people. They just like things the way they are. We all do.
Older people struggling to adapt to a changing culture do not need a lecture, they need a pastor.
Yes, your church needs to change. But lead change with a shepherd's heart, not an iron fist.
2. Publicly and continually acknowledge the sacrifices made in the past.
When Joshua assumed leadership from Moses and led the people into the Promised Land, he didn't throw Moses under the chariot.
He assumed leadership and ushered in a new era for God's people, but He did it in a way that honored the past. In fact, Joshua 1:7 tells us how the people of Israel connected Joshua's leadership to what Moses began.
"As we followed Moses, we'll follow you," they said.
In order to lead your church to where God wants it to be, you don't need to exclusively focus on the future.
You might need to remember the past.
This might mean recognizing people who served in previous years. This might mean publicly thanking previous pastors. This might mean creating physical memorials or displays around the campus.
The Bible is full of memorials and markers. In order to lead your church to the future, it's not always necessary to abandon the past.
But we're not really fans of having battles and wars in church leadership. Instead, I want to encourage you to find common ground.
Set aside the battleground mentality and focus on creating unity of purpose.
For example, if a new pastor wants to lead a church to transition from a traditional worship style to a more modern approach, music and worship style is not the place to start.
Instead, what that pastor decided to focus on a way to reach the community that everyone, young and old, could support?
Serving people in the community doesn't depend on style or service times.
Raising money for world, US or local missions is something most people will support.
Partnering with a local school can involve existing ministries within the church.
Putting together a team of people to identify the #1 need in your neighborhood can get the church thinking in the right direction.
Find programs and initiatives that can have cross-generational, style-free appeal.
There are attachments to programs, ministries, and styles that might be too much to change at first. A fresh worship style might be the RESULT of a new focus, not a forced adoption and unwelcomed change.
Besides, changing programs without changing the culture will not result in lasting change.
Those are three things you can do to encourage progress in a church that wants to stay grounded in the past or rooted in the current preferences. Once you've identified some changes to make, here are more suggestions on how to lead.
4. Create a communication timeline.
When you've decided to change and area ready to lead, one of the smartest things you can do is develop a communication timeline. Decide how you're going to communicate, then build your plan. You don't have to wait until questions and complaints start coming in to formulate a response; think through everything in advance.
And here's the thing…the bigger the change, the more time you need to communicate.
It's called the principle of the runway.
A single-engine plane can land in a small field. But a 747 loaded to capacity needs a runway that's 7,500 to 10,000 feet long. Anything shorter could be a disaster.
You might need to spend three weeks meeting with people individually to get them on board.
You could widen the circle with an informational meeting explaining the change.
You might want to spend two weeks announcing what's coming and explaining the heart behind it.
You might need to create a FAQ page on your website with real answers to real questions.
You might want to capture stories and testimonials from people who have been through similar changes.
You might want to allow key people to honestly share their story about their reluctance to change but their willingness to embrace it for the greater good.
You want to send a snail mail letter to the congregation or a select group of people.
Think through all of this in advance and build a timeline that feels like it's too long. You won't regret being patient or over-communicating.
5. Appeal to emotion, not just logic.
The reason stories work so well in communication is because stories are connected to emotions.
Facts may inform, but stories inspire.
So when you're talking about change or trying to get people to buy into a fresh direction, make sure you fill your stories with emotion.
There are two ways you could respond.
Option one is based on logic.
"Billy, I hear what you're saying, but times are changing. Ecclesiastes 2:10 says, 'Don't long for the good old days…this is not wise.'" The Bible says we have to change.
Option two is based on emotion.
Option 1 is a valid response. It's true. And it's Biblical.
But Option 2 is going to make a bigger impact because it's emotional and heartfelt, not just intellectual and reasonable.
As you build your communication timeline, be careful not to fill it with facts, stats and reasons.
Tell stories and engage the heart.
6. Once you make a decision, commit to it.
If you've prayerfully reached a decision and communicated the change properly, then it's time for resolve.
Remember, people are naturally inclined to resist change. It doesn't mean they don't believe in the vision of the church; it just means they are human beings. Pushback is normal, so be firm in your commitment to the future.
In some cases, there are people who are openly or vocally opposed to the vision. You should handle those cases with grace, but remember a shepherd's job sometimes involves the hard end of the stick.
Caring for people and shepherding them doesn't mean wavering from a firm commitment to the church.
If you don't have a firm commitment to the direction your church is going, you'll end up compromising. And too many compromises lead to a ministry where nobody is happy.
I can take you to many churches with blended worship styles where nothing is good and nobody is happy.
Clarify what you're trying to do and then commit to it.
If you need help creating a one year plan and direction for your church, our "Creating an Annual Plan" course will give you a roadmap (plus three powerful templates). The course comes with three coaching videos suitable to watch on your own or with your leaders.
You'll create a one-page ministry plan for your entire church. This results in incredible unity. Then, each ministry in your church will create their own version of the plan…one that SUPPORTS the church not fights against it. Finally, we'll walk you through putting this on a big picture calendar so the most important things in your church get the proper communication and focus.
7. As you talk about why things are changing, remind people what is NOT changing.
As you patiently lead your church, remember that change is hard. People like their preferences.
So in the midst of your vision casting and forward motion, remind people what isn't changing. Make sure you tell people what will always stay the same.
The Church has been around for more than 2,000 years and has gone through many cultural changes. But through all of that, the Great Commission and the Great Commandant have remained the north star.
No matter what kind of change is needed in your church, remind people that the most traditional part of the Gospel will never change.
Your tactics will come and go, but your purpose will stay the same.
Your programs may change with the times, but your mission takes precedence.
The church has already gone through many, many changes. Life is about change. Leading is about change. It can be a good thing.


The new Kérastase Blond Absolu range dares you and your clients to think differently about their blonde hair, bringing together independent women to showcase the full blonde spectrum and the comprehensive care it requires.
With decades of luxury haircare experience under their belts, Kérastase shouldn't have many firsts left, but the brand is doing something entirely new in 2019 – they're going blonde. Kérastase are launching their first ever range to cater exclusively to blonde hair, with specifically ultraviolet care made for bleached hair.
The range addresses essential needs for your blonde clients, such as fiber care and tone perfection, all packaged into an impressively customisable range that speaks to the full plethora of blondes that exist. Hyaluronic Acid acts as a hero facet, while the properties of Edelweiss Flower also ensure optimum care. The range promises both individual and illuminated blonde across the full scope of blonde.
Kérastase is aware of the damage and broken integrity that happens during a blonde service, making care all the more paramount. The range targets issues of increased porosity, decreased vitality and unstable colour. The powerful fusion of active ingredients ensures it can dually care for the quality of the hair and the substance of the colour itself, utilising the skincare ingredient of Hyaluronic Acid with natural ingredients and Ultraviolet Neutralisers to ensure colour purity and ultimate care. Each blonde hue stays authentic and true to the tone your client chooses.
The collection of six products are divided into rituals to bathe, treat and texturise the hair, all while reforming and illuminating blonde hair. Welcome the suite of products, each packaged in modern, luxury silver and lilac. Bain Lumière is the hydrating illuminating shampoo, which hydrates and treats the hair in a concentrated formula for soft hair, smooth fiber and brilliant colour. The Bain Ultraviolet anti-brass purple shampoo is specifically made with blue and purple colour to reduce brassiness for instant bright blondes, boosting colour luminosity in impressive fashion.
The brand's Cicaflash is an intense fortifying treatment, a new hero product that has the texture of an opalescent gel. The product is able to treat like a mask but has the tactile functions of a conditioner, creating a lasting shield against erosion while also moisturising the hair in a weightless manner. The Masque Ultraviolet is an anti-brass product to neutralise colour and add luxury pampering to your clients' hair rituals, in a rich, penetrative texture that ensures nourishment and radiance.
The collection is finalised with Cicaplasme and Booster Cicafibre. The Cicaplasme is a universal fortifying heat protecting serum for stronger hair. It can be used on wet or dry hair to protect the hair from heat and allow for a smooth texture. The tool unifies damaged areas and seals the ends for comprehensive hair texture. The Booster Cicafibre is the all-new addition to the brand's exclusive array of custom-blended professional treatments, collectively titled Fusio-dose. The formula contains vitamin E to rebuild the surface of the hair as a post-service fortifying booster, instrumental both in-salon and at home.
These innovative products can be matched and utilised as necessary, and as prescribed by each client's hairdresser, to cater to various types of blonde hues. Clients who individually wear highlights, extreme lightening, more traditional blondes and other variations will each require their own prescribed ritual as built by the versatile products.
The brand's bold campaign, titled #YouDareWeCare and #TheBlondeIDare on social media, congregates diverse and strong female influencers and entrepreneurs to delve into their diverse blonde looks and why they wear it. Models, vloggers, athletes, designers, bloggers and other inspirational women explain the personal value their blonde hair holds to them – such as the ability to be themselves, be confident, be strong and be free – before putting that value onto your clients to identify why they love blonde and what unique blonde hue they will choose. With this personal decision also comes the need to keep their blonde hair absolutely premium.
From Marilyn Monroe-esque icons of our past, to continuous popularity on social media, blonde hair is more than a trend or even just a colour, it's an attitude, a lifestyle and a statement – each look coded as unique, original and specific to the person who chooses to wear it. Kérastase speaks to that mentality with Blond Absolu, using clever and new-age technology for tailored hair and colour care, and working with the influencers and the mindset that continues to put blonde clients into salon chairs.
Watch it fly off the shelf.
professional stylists who can understand just what you need. Salon select members have met these standards, and will provide you with the very best in Hairdressing.


"Snow Tracks," a compilation featuring Northeastern Pennsylvania artists and performers with NEPA ties, will be released next week by Highway 81 Revisited and Scranton Made in conjunction with the inaugural Holiday on the Square event in downtown Scranton.
To hold you over until then, have a sneak preview of the compilation and listen to Okay Paddy's "Louisa." The previously unreleased song was recorded during the sessions for the "Where You Went?" EP, which was released in 2007 and unfortunately turned out to be the Scranton band's swan song.
"Louisa" was recorded by Nick Krill at Old Brown Shoe in Clarks Summit. Okay Paddy featured Mike Quinn, Pat Finnerty, John Parise and Brian Craig.
"Snow Tracks" will be digitally released Dec. 6. Check back here for the link to download the free album then.


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"I gained a lot of experience and evolved. My wrestling and ground game has improved a lot," Oezdemir said. "I fought the best of the best. All my fights are top 10 guys. Jiri will be first guy who's not in the Top 10."
Currently ranked No. 7 at light heavyweight, Oezdemir may need another win or two to get in that title conversation again. But it's a step in the right direction. And because of Prochazka's fighting style, Oezdemir believes it's a matchup he can flourish in.
"He's been a champion in Japan for a while now, but he's had some different rules" Oezdemir said. "He's a brawler and he likes to come in and that's exactly what I like."
Visit Abu Dhabi: http://www.abudhabievents.ae/
Volkan Oezdemir
UFC's 2020 By The Numbers
Recap an incredible year of UFC by the numbers.
Fight Of The Night Power Rankings
The Final Fight Of The Night Power Rankings Is Here.
UFC Unfiltered with Jim Norton and Matt Serra
Listen to every episode of your favorite UFC podcast, featuring Jim Norton and Matt Serra.
Welterweight Title Bout
Masvidal
Sat, Jul 11 / 10:00 PM EDT
UFC Fight Island, Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
You are here : Home Centre approves setting up a turtle sanctuary in Allahabad
New Delhi: Amid uncertainty over the fate of existing turtle sanctuary in Varanasi, the government has given its go ahead for setting up a new centre to conserve this aquatic creature in Allahabad.
Idea of this project - called 'Developing River Biodiversity Park and Turtle Conservation Programme' - along Ganga-Yamuna river system in Allahabad is to protect rich aquatic biodiversity of both the rivers and preserve all those species which act as natural cleaning agents.
Turtles, being carnivorous, can help scavenge half-burnt corpses and naturally aid in cleaning the river water.
The project, approved by the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), includes a Turtle Rearing Centre (permanent nursery at Triveni Pushp and makeshift annual hatcheries) in Allahabad. It also includes setting up a river biodiversity park at Sangam (confluence of the rivers Ganga, Yamuna and mythical Sarasvati).
The clearance to this Rs 1.34 crore project was given by an executive committee, headed by the NMCG's director general U P Singh, last week. "The centre in Allahabad will, however, not be a 'sanctuary' in technical terms as notification of sanctuary has certain legal connotations and it may then restrict works on waterways", said an official.
The Allahabad project will be in addition to a rescue and rehabilitation centre for turtles at Sarnath near Varanasi which the government had set up through Wildlife Institute of India (WII) under the NMCG's biodiversity project.
The turtle sanctuary in Varanasi was set up in 1989 under the Ganga Action Plan-I. Its fate, however, remains uncertain at present as there has been discussion within the Union environment ministry over demands of its de-notification.
Though the Varanasi centre continues to be a 'sanctuary', there has been demand from certain quarters to de-notify it on the ground that the ongoing sand extraction on one side leads to increased pressure on the 'ghats' which may lead to their caving in. They argue that sand removal from the other side is not possible due to area being notified as 'sanctuary'.
On the other hand, there are studies which show that sand extraction on the convex side is not affecting the ghats' stability in any way. It also indicates that the 'sanctuary' notification and consequent restrictions on the activities in the area has led to growth of vegetation on the other side.
"A final decision in this regard will be taken by the environment ministry", said an official of the water resources ministry.
The Allahabad project will provide much needed platform to make the visitors (at biodiversity park) aware of their place in the ecosystem and their roles and responsibilities. It'll also improve their understanding of the complexity of co-existence with the environment and help generate awareness for reducing the impact of human activities on critical natural resources.
The water resources ministry in its statement on Wednesday noted that the sustenance of more than 2000 aquatic species including threatened gharials, dolphins and turtles in river Ganga exemplifies the rich biodiversity of this lifeline to over 40% of the country's population.
Rivers Ganga and Yamuna at Allahabad are home to some of the most endangered fauna like turtles (Batagur kachuga, Batagur dhongoka, Nilssonia gangetica, Chitra indica and Hardella thurjii) and other aquatic animals such as Gangetic dolphin, Gharial and numerous migratory and resident birds.
Source: The Times of India


text:
const METHODS = ['DELETE', 'GET', 'HEAD', 'PATCH', 'POST', 'PUT'];

// Dependencies:
import fs from 'fs';
import path from 'path';
import { setProxyConfig } from '../utilities';

// Scripts:
const INIT = fs.readFileSync(path.resolve(__dirname, '../../../scripts/init.js'), 'utf8');

export class MockRequests {
    constructor (
        browser,
        config
    ) {
        this.browser = browser;
        this.config = config;

        addMethods.call(this);
        monkeypatchGet.call(this);
    }

    clear () {
        this.initialised = false;
        return this.browser.executeScript(INIT);
    }
}

function addMethods () {
    METHODS.forEach(method => {
        this[`when${method}`] = (matcher, options) => {
            return when.call(this, method, matcher, options);
        };
    });
}

function monkeypatchGet () {
    let { browser, config } = this;
    let mockRequests = this;

    if (!browser.originalGet) {
        browser.originalGet = browser.get;
    }

    browser.get = function (destination, timeout) {
        mockRequests.initialised = true;
        return browser.originalGet.call(browser, createProxyUrl(config, destination), timeout);
    };
}

function when (method, matcher, options = {}) {
    let { config } = this;
    let { body, headers, passThrough, status } = options;

    body = body || {};
    headers = headers || {};
    matcher = matcher.source.replace(/\\/g, '\\\\');
    passThrough = !!passThrough || false;
    status = status || 200;

    body = JSON.stringify(body);
    let key = JSON.stringify({ method, matcher });
    let response = JSON.stringify({ body, headers, matcher, method, passThrough, status });
    let mock = createMockResponseScript(key, response);

    if (!this.initialised) {
        return setProxyConfig({ mock }, createProxyUrl(config, '/mock-requests/add-mock'));
    } else {
        return this.browser.executeScript(mock);
    }
}

function createMockResponseScript (key, response) {
    return `window.__tractor__.mockResponses['${key}'] = ${response};`;
}

export function createProxyUrl (config, url) {
    let { domain, port } = config;
    return `http://${domain}:${port}${url}`;
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


The 10th annual Dancing with Vero's Stars, to be held May 12 at Riverside Theatre, will showcase fresh new faces and a multitude of talents and attitudes not only on stage but from the four-person judge's dais.
Always keeping a mixture of entertainment, experience and professionalism streaming from the Judges panel, some old faces, sprinkled with one new one, will be sitting at the helm of decision-making this year.
A new and exciting welcome goes to the ever upbeat and highly qualified dancer Barry Johnson who started dancing at 7 years of age after watching the Fred Astaire movie "Top Hat" and then never stopped! Co-owner, with his wife, of the Melbourne Ballroom, Barry is living his dream by teaching, dancing, and competing.
Returning to the judge's panel for his third year is Vero Beach native Chris Foster who went on to achieve greatness in the world of entertainment that includes performing on cruise lines, featured roles in metropolitan and global productions, modeling in television commercial and billboard advertisements and choreographing world tours for celebrity artists.
Finishing up the trio of Judges is the fourth year return of well-known, Vero Beach High School award-winning drama teacher of 31 years, well-seasoned actress, choreographer, director, and mentor to many hopeful thespians, "Miss" Dee Rose Imbro! Dee has professionally performed, choreographed and directed while impressing upon her students … no matter what level of performance they are, if it doesn't come from the heart, it doesn't mean a thing.
The fourth chair at the Judge's dais is for Vero Beach's version of Price Waterhouse-and that is local CPA, Ross Cotherman of Rehmann, who happily returns to oversee and authorize the voting tabulations for the 3rd year. With over 30 years of accounting experience, Ross is in charge of Rehmann's auditing services for the State of Florida, as well as a major supporter of local non-profit organizations.
This year's dancers and their instructors are Dr. Katya Bailor with Manolo Soler, Tammy Bursick with Joe Wynes, Ben Earman with Kaylan Keathley, Richard Giessert with Marianella Tobar, Dr. Giuliana Diaz Jones with Joe Tessier, Tor Jones with Karren Walter, Angela Novak with Sergio Cisneros, David Thomas with Yvonne M. Miller, Ron Toperzer with Shari Tessier and Tracey Zudans with Robert Scott.
The 10th Anniversary of Dancing with Vero's Stars is just around the corner, at Riverside Theatre, Saturday evening May 12. Event proceeds will benefit the IRC Healthy Start Coalition and Riverside Theatre's programs and services The mission of the Healthy Start Coalition is to establish and support a local system of care that optimizes the health of moms, babies and their families living in Indian River County.. For more event information, visit www.Dancingwithverostars.com. For ticket availability call 772-563-9118.


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The Super-Curriculum
Old Speech Room Gallery
Old Harrovian Achievements
Home Learning Academic Support and Resources
Vaughan Library
Marie Staunton, Head Librarian
The Vaughan Library is over 150 years old and was designed in Victorian Gothic style by George Gilbert Scott, who also conceived St Pancras Station in London. Refurbished and enlarged 15 years ago (with the addition of the mezzanine floor), it is staffed today by qualified librarians and open daily for boys to study, browse and enjoy quiet space. There are over 30,000 items of stock, including books, CDs and DVDs, as well as a wide range of daily newspapers, magazines and journals. Our online resources include Naxos Music Library and Oxford Online Collection. The reading room houses a large collection of fiction and literary criticism, and the upper floors support our academic subjects and boys' wider areas of interest. There is a large universities and careers section, along with subject resource guides, reading lists and displays on new and prize-winning books, as well as classic and favourite reads. The IT room has PCs, scanners, printers and photocopiers, and doubles as a presentation suite. Every new boy and member of staff has an introduction to the Library early in the autumn term and there are subject-specific inductions throughout the year. The Shell Reading Group meets fortnightly to discuss books and films with games, quizzes and refreshments, and chess sets are always available for boys to play. For more information, contact the Head Librarian. In addition to the Vaughan Library, each House has its own 'Reader' and there are libraries in most departments.
Every boy has a high-spec, networked computer for 1-to-1 learning, connected across the entire School site to filtered internet via a high-speed 1000mbps link. Our classrooms are fully equipped with robust wifi, data projectors, smartboards, document cameras and a plethora of subject-specific ICT hardware. There are seven dedicated ICT Suites located in academic departments. All boys follow a core Computing programme in their Shell year, and have the opportunity to take Computing as a GCSE. The School makes strong use of virtual learning tools, while at the same time exercising discernment rather than following fads.
House Tutors
Each boy is assigned a tutor who is connected to his Boarding House. His tutor sets him targets at the start of each term, for review at the end, and helps him to establish good patterns of work (by checking that his files are well organised, for example, and his prep diary up to date). Tutors normally do one duty night a week in the Boarding Houses, during which they will review the academic progress of their tutees. Sixth Form Tutors liaise closely with the Academic and Universities Director and support their tutees' university applications. Pastorally, Tutors also attend Chapel with their tutees, eat lunch with them during the week and take them out on Saturday evening trips.
Academic Scholars
Our Master in Charge of Scholars encourages the brightest pupils to take charge of their learning, meeting with them regularly to discuss their interests, outcomes and goals so that they develop a truly independent approach. Our Super-Curriculum offers a vast range of interest groups, activities and competitions, strongly supported by individual departments. For more information, contact the Master-in-Charge of Scholars.
Boys receive a comprehensive end of term report from each of their Masters, their Tutor and their House Master, as well as a briefer half termly report with effort and achievement grades. Once a year, we invite parents to the School to discuss their son's progress with the Masters who teach him and, when appropriate, future subject choices. Beyond this formal reporting cycle, parents may correspond with their son's House Master at any time during the School year.
Each boy is taught study skills, primarily by his Tutor and subject departments. Our approach to teaching how to learn is personalised and subject-specific; boys studying a language, for example, are taught techniques for learning vocabulary, while in the humanities they cover how to structure essays. As Fifth Form boys approach their GCSE examinations, they are given further advice on revision and technique, and some are nominated for a one-day seminar on the art of learning.
In order to manage the academic and social demands of life at Harrow, boys must be fairly fluent in the English language. Screening for EAL occurs at Common Entrance and, when a boy reaches Harrow, in his English lessons and through dedicated EAL tests. In those cases where a boy needs extra support, teaching is provided by specialist EAL teachers working in the Learning Skills department.


Home Columns Good Old Time Hockey Is Back !
Good Old Time Hockey Is Back !
Yup, in the past week, we've been witness to some good old time hockey. I mean there were scraps, name calling, chirping, and whatever else the days of the Bruins and Canadians brought us back then. I am not referring to the Hounds on the ice, but the Hounds on the Page.
My friends, I am referring to the Sault Greyhounds Facebook Fan Page. Because of the passion and love we have for this team, we at sometimes let our emotions boil and in some cases get out of hand. ( I plead the Fifth) Accountant by day, and Hound critic by night, we are all guilty of it and last week was a doozy. The issue at hand was whether or not GM Kyle Raftis did the right thing at the trade deadline for the Hounds this year and the years to come.
Many of us were of the opinion that with such a good season so far (3rd overall). the Greyhound should be thinking of going deep in the playoffs and all the way instead of the opinion of selling off our assets (Frost/Hayton etc) for draft pics…..2nd round in particular as we are missing those in the next couple of years. The heat that came to fruition was the most intense when the trade deadline was within 24hours of being reality and the Hounds didn't make any major moves while others did; Guelph, Saginaw etc.
In the end, the Hounds made a few moves ; they traded seldom used 19-year-old defenceman Anthony DeMeo to Sudbury, they acquired Aden Peca ( a solid character guy) and they made a huge move in my opinion of convincing star Czech Republic RW Jaromir Pytlik to navigate 6,748 km to play the second half of the season with our boys.
The off ice heat was so intense that GM Kyle Ratis felt it necessary to clear up a few rumours with our good friend Peter Ruicci from the Sault Star. Kyle related that the Hounds were not close to any major deals, there were discussions about certain players, and no kid was asked to waive a trade clause. Between Kyle and superstar coach John Dean, it boiled down to the fact that the kids have caught on to John (Jordan/Jamie) and his staffs coaching style and program quicker than expected and the chemistry was too good to upset aside from the big move of signing Pytlik.
We can already see that things around the league are changing; the London Knights are where they are usually as they are……. almost in first overall and it's a matter of only a week or two. They have just knocked off Saginaw and handed them their first loss in about 14 games, and they have just slapped Ottawa back into reality as they schooled them with an 8-4 loss.
This goes to show that championships are won on the ice and not on paper. The Hounds found this out last year and the Bulldogs went to the Mem Cup even though the Hounds had hotel reservations since the beginning of the year.
Moving forward, the Soo Greyhounds have just completed a homestand with 3 wins and 3 soft wins at that. The last two games saw the Hounds play a sloppy couple of games where they should have dominated. The reason behind this, in my opinion, is that they were slotting in a couple of the newly acquired boys (Peca/Pytlik) and the kids are just adjusting to their new lines. It will be a matter of a couple more games and I think all the wrinkles will be ironed out.
Of note this weekend that I cannot refrain from mentioning is that the most grit on the Hound teams comes from one of the youngest (16 anos) on the team in Rising Star Ryan O'Rourke. This kid plays with so much heat that I'm surprised the ice doesn't melt underneath him. Every shift he plays with so much passion that I think he is going to be a top 10 (league-wide) defenceman in points next campaign. This kid lets the opposing forwards know that they are in for a battle every time they take their shifts.
This week finds the boys in North Bay, Barrie, and Sudbury and quite possibly young defenceman Drew Wawrow that was acquired in the Sudbury deal will get his first start. Speaking of Sudbury, that should be a really good game as Sudbury has been really good this year whereas for the better part of the last 5 years the Hounds/Wolves matchup has been a snoozer.
Until next week, here are some words to live by.
Great article again, Ernest. Love reading your stuff!!


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Quarantine Diary
I'm fascinated by the idea of military discipline in a life.
I don't idealize it, especially the punitive, harsh, and exacting control of one person over the other. I admire the focus and the identification of what is important and what is not.
Because I do not often share that focus, and I sometimes wonder if a little more would be more liberating.
I made some phone calls today and scheduled on some of the platforms. Two meetings – one on the PPP, and the other on energy transformation. We've had some amazing success: first, Chase has been calling our churches back. And we've gotten some good press.
Second, we were able to negotiate free wifi with a new tower in the Bronx. This will give students staying at home one tool to stay on top of classes.
Third, the state pledged $10 million dollars to invest in energy transition, which will give a number of institutions the ability to take the first step and get off of carbon.
And last, the governor said he was willing to work with churches to provide testing. It was a great shout out, because we've been telling him we want to help.
I was able to get to the laundromat. It's closing early these days, but I want to still support our local businesses. I also like that they fold the clothes for me. It's a small price to pay.
Found a correct size bolt for my iphone tripod. I'm glad I did because I didn't want to have to get another on the way to becoming an influencer or vlogger.
My brother, his wife and I shared dinner over facebook. He made a lamb ragu; I ate my leftover vindaloo.
Tomorrow my goal is to go for a walk, stretch and swing the kettlebell around. I don't know what time I will do it, but perhaps I will first imagine myself as a soldier, doing the work to prepare for whatever war awaits.
Third Sunday in Easter. Two services. Sixteen people Zoomed.
A few were regular members for whom this was their first time joining. One, a woman who has been suffering from dementia, looked happy to see faces. I'd spent several hours over the last few weeks trying to connect her to zoom before finally reaching one of her children.
And there she was, brightly smiling. I'd run into her yesterday in front of the church. She said, "I'll see you tomorrow at church" but I wasn't sure if she would be hooked up. I was worried she'd actually walk over.
Luis, who has been helping me with the power point we would use for the service, said we avoided a zoombombing attempt. I wonder if it was a parishioner who has been living in Florida and calling from her phone rather than using the app. "It was a lot of numbers" he said. She'd called me five minutes before the service trying to get in.
I forgot the small circular light that allows me to be visible. The computer camera isn't adequate, but most laptop cameras are now sold out because of the pandemic. There simply aren't any more $70 Logitech cameras out there, except for the ones being sold for $200 on ebay.
Fucking gougers.
That and hair clippers. Tempted to just shave the head, and stop shaving the beard.
Was going to bring some AAA batteries home, but the remaining sixteen ones in my desk had clearly expired, some kind of fuzz accumulating at the very end. Looked online to purchase some rechargable ones and then proceeded to buy Amazon ones, because they're cheap, and I felt guilty because it's Amazon.
My housemates were on a cleaning tear, so the kitchen and shared bathroom got mopped. Because of the virus, I've been sending small amounts to the cleaner until this passes.
I've been wanting to create a video of making chicken Vindaloo, but I've run out of onions. So after my two hour nap, I went to H-Mart, the large Korean Chain which has been taking this seriously for a long time. Everyone who enters is given a spritz of hand sanitizer, a disinfectant wipe and gloves. I didn't see anyone without a mask.
H-mart has some unusual choices. They have one egg brand that sells brown and blue eggs, and the yoke is one of the deepest amber oranges I've ever seen. They have some British and Finnish butters. And of course, they have marinated meats and kim chi. Kim chi has become and essential, in part because I find it livens up eggs and soups. I picked up one quart, along with some mild Korean red pepper and some fermented pepper paste. My plan is to make this Korean dish named Dokk Dori Tang in the near future. It's essentially a braised chicken stew with potatoes, carrots and peppers.
I filmed my making of the chicken vindaloo, but it will be fundamentally unhelpful. But who actually watches cooking videos to follow?
Some emails about applying for the PPP.
My legs feel tight and achey. I could blame it on the virus, but mainly its because I haven't been stretching or lifting.
The dishes are finished. Good cooking is mainly about putting everything in place, and then doing the dishes.
Only after you've mastered the art of preparation and clean up will cooking seem like a joy.
The sun is out and it is warm and breezy. Families are riding their bikes.
Yesterday I put together a compost bin. The nuts and lugs required grease and muscle, but I used just enough to make it stable. Today I emptied the refrigerator of expired food and placed it in a bowl with the coffee grounds from this morning. I browse the internet for worms.
Went to church and stood in front while people drove by. A few parishioners visited and we all stood apart, with our masks and related quarantine stories. I didn't know exactly what to say when people asked me what I was doing. But he new heating system is on, it feels comfortable, and people were impressed as they went in . There is no dampness anymore.
I peruse FB. People are disposing of food and killing hogs. A friend of mine is dancing and wearing glitter and bringing joy and health but I waited too long to start with them and my body seems slightly achey.
The beans in the instapot have finished. A sermon must be written for the teleprompter. I read of blood clots and think of survival.
Visiting Israel
A few months ago I was invited on a trip.
The American Jewish Committee (also called the AJC), who has been holding various interfaith events in Westchester for nearly two decades, also invites leaders from throughout the country to experience Israel.
I've never been, and I haven't had the resources to go. I also knew, from a few friends, that this would be a well crafted tour. I'd go with about ten other Christians – pastors, human rights activists, academics, and interfaith leaders – to learn about various dimensions of Israeli society.
I'd arrived in Tel Aviv Saturday evening after a nine hour flight. I couldn't sleep much on the plane, but used the time to catch up on a few films: the latest final Star Wars Movie (Fun!), Bombshell (timely!), and Queen and Slim (provocative!), so by the time I got to the hotel I was pretty exhausted. Fortunately, there was nothing on the agenda: we'd gather, introduce ourselves to each other, and be able to head to bed.
They set us up in a lovely hotel called the Carlton while we were here. The breakfasts, in particular, were luxurious. Plenty of different sorts of fish, various cheeses, Jewish foods from throughout the world, as a variety of pastries. I chose smoked mackerel, a baked egg dish of some kind, with a few tapenades. And the fruit was spectacular.
Of course, we've been getting an overview ranging from the theoretical to the practical. The first talk, a well respected political science professor, a moderate who advises Avi Lieberman, gave a whirlwind talk lifting up the religious and historic political tensions within israel. AFter visiting churches, we visited the house of a proud Palestinian Arab Christian Israeli who used the opportunity to sell us coffee.
We then toured each the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation, and the Yitzhak Rabin center each a paean to their particular subjects. The first praised Israel's culture of innovation, funded by the government. The tour guide of the center, a thin recent graduate with glasses, noted there were more than 60,000 start-ups in Israel, and was proud to tell us that 98% failed. Only to fail is to succeed he noted, which is helpful when you have money willing to take that risk. And the tour of Rabin's center highlighted the tensions within Israeli society, even before he was assassinated.
Our personal guide, a dynamic and fashionable former attorney from Tel Aviv, mentioned that his assassination was as intense for Israeli society as the JFK or MLK assassinations were. They remained seared in Israeli society.
It's been a broad trip so far. Questions of land and commerce; of shifting identities; of security come up over and over. The perceptions we form over the media contrast strongly with the everyday experience of most people. And then there is the backdrop of religion and commerce, each of which seem dependent upon the other.
Hospitality and the Budget
I think churches underfund their hospitality budgets.
And it's one of the most important responsibilities of the church.
Hospitality isn't a substitute for outreach or social justice. It precedes them.
By hospitality I include funding a priest to take out parishioners and new members. Dinners that welcome seekers. providing cookies and coffee to organizations that use the parish hall. Ensuring that the coffee is wonderful. Buying gifts for volunteers and new pledgers, or high quality birthday or condolence cards.
One obstacle is that we think reaching out must be sacrificial or burdensome, so funding dinners, parties, or beauty seems excessive or wasteful.
But the direction of the gospel is that our resources should be directed toward caring for others, even if it's an expensive jar of perfume.
Hospitality is one of those practices that works, however, because it builds and deepens relationships over time. A priest who can take out a member of the parish and their family, who can host without breaking their bank account, and who can express gratitude through gifts, will build strong relationships.
Psychologists and sociologists call these practices commitment mechanisms. They strengthen relationships and help deepen the attachments that people have with other people.
I would put in the parochial report a line item asking parishes how much they spend on hospitality and seek how it tracks with church growth. Include every penny the priest spends on other people, on gifts, on swag, on making people at home, and see what the consequences are.
The Church: a Hub for Communities
We need a new way of explaining our institutions to people unconvinced about church.
For some, a church as a monolithic organization with very clearly defined membership boundaries. In some communities you are a member, for example, if you are baptized and confirmed in a congregation, you show up on Easter and or pay $50 in five installments. In other congregations the rules are more rigorous – membership means tithing, membership in a small group, and signing on to a political agenda.
Membership rules can provide a clear direction for an institution and help harness a community's energy. It's a lot of work to be out in an indifferent world; it's easier to coordinate people who have identified an affection for the church.
I suggest there is a way to harness those who have an affection for the church but have not decided about the church's religious language. While the worshiping congregation is still the apostolic core, the boundaries within that core do not exhaust the church's work. Churches are not clubs, but networks of relationships and have access to the world in a number of different ways. We should focus on studying the networks we inhabit and how we can enhance them.
A "network" sounds technical, but it more accurately conveys the way people think of themselves as individuals connecting with others. Group membership has become a lot weaker and individuals are less willing to commit to a group of people or an institution. Given that many people are allergic to the costs of commitment, the church will have to find a way to reframe its work in this challenging, ever-shifting environment.
One way is to remember that the physical plant is the hub of other networks. It is also a geographic hub where other networks of people happen. They are also networks of free information and financial exchange: newsletters, bulletin boards, thrift shops and tag sales. Individuals themselves are networked and participate in a variety of institutions.
Churches as networks clarifies about how the church is relatively effective even in an age of decline. While our membership might diminish, churches still harness the power within their networks to remain effective. By continuing to be a publicly engaged place, the community may decide to support it in small ways.
This idea should be studied. The theory is focusing on Sunday attendance will not be the only way of analyzing effectiveness. Numbers and quality of connections, and group involvement should also be analyzed. One of the major strengths as a hub is that Churches provide a physicality, a structure that makes other kinds of connection easier.
It works in way that social media does not. Physicality is one of the central anchors of the theology of church catholic. By its nature, social media is to be used mainly as a tool to enhance and amplify the central work of the church – which is to provide a physical place for people to connect.
For example: the priest, through his/her work embodies a hub in a series of networks: they serve on boards and committees in the community; they meet with other leaders; they challenge their public officials. This is to recognize that this is a central aspect of the priest's work. A priest is, in some ways, a public consultant for a variety of institutions.
A priest is also in an unusual occupation where s/he is in part a blank figure upon which other people transfer their own emotional needs. Priests who have some emotional resilience can be effective in bridging a wider variety of communities. One role they have is to coach and counsel others to do the same. The priest becomes a model that encourages other people to do their own connecting in the world. They themselves embody the hub of a network.
This should not seem particularly easy, but it should give us some hope. We have plenty of resources – both in the quality of our leadership and our physical wealth. However, there is a skill and strategy to building networks that our inclusive theology conceals. Just telling people they are loved can seem meaningless, weak, and insincere. Saying we are accepting isn't the same as being accepting. Being accepting takes place in physical environments that people share. It takes a reframing of the daily work of clergy and the ministers of the church to practice this effectively.
My own congregation, for example, has the networks of people who rent the building – which include yoga teachers, dancers, Buddhists and ethnic groups. We are behind an elementary school. We are two blocks from a Methodist center. We have two parks a couple blocks away. In our city there are at least three private universities. How might a congregation strategize to merely connect with those institutions in order to simply learn about their work – not just the institutions, but the people who make their lives in those institutions? The connections we have made have ensured that we are vibrant, even if our numbers have grown only modestly.
It is congruent with the church's theology in a number of ways. If God is a sort of information that relates to people, then connecting – physically – might just be what the church does. What we do remains important, and the skills are available. The question is whether we can readjust our behavior and do the work. How do we hold ourselves accountable to make the connections with our local institutions and become a more effective hub of reconciliation, or relationship, of hope?
The Benedict Option and a Boisterous, Noisy, Generous, Faith
Generous. Boisterous. Noisy.
That's the description Giles Fraser used when writing about what was lost in the English Reformation.
Rod Dreher learned the wrong lesson from Benedict.
Dreher's Benedictine option rightly critiques the consumerism inherent both in modern religiosity and in American culture, but he supplants it with his own rigorous, protestant, self-righteous, judgmental moralism that could not be farther than the world the Benedictines inhabited.
"A religion of inwardness, devoid of external pegs or props. Sitting in an empty room, mid the ruins of smashed statues, in silence, doing nothing." Except judging gay people and women, Inwardly sanctified and horrifyingly self abusive and judgmental.
Or an ordered and practical Christianity, built on the liturgical rhythms of the church and centred on the Mass— inclusive, noisy, generous and non-judgmental. "boisterous God-infused praxis,"
I'll take the noisy, generous Benedict. Not the imaginary, self-righteous one.
A Commentary After Reading Ten Essential Steps for a Godly Life from an Episcopal Webpage
Breathe.
You are who you are.
Give yourself a mini sabbath.
Your life is not meant to be a spectacle, but theater.
God did not promise happiness, but disappointment.
Later, redemption.
Drink water.
Through the human hand,
the lilies of the field,
in vindication and defeat,
becomes Beauty.
When talking to God, use the inner voice in public.
When complaining to the priest, use a cartoon accent to underscore your seriousness.
Sometimes it's not about you, but about them. They are doing the best they can.
It's always about you.
Eat real food.
Go to parties.
Use the prayerbook.
Organizing, cleaning, and tidying, are also prayers.
Even in the mess, however, is the Trinity.
Lift a glass.
When the glass reaches your lips,
heartily express the pleasure of the first sip.
Throw yourself a little dance party.
You are not finished.
Reductive Argument, #1
Capitalism: money moves
Marxism: capitalism changes everything
Christianity: let's dance
Humility and Politics
Over the last several weeks, I've been receiving links from friends about the rise of the Christian left. Christian progressives are now coming to Jesus, and learning to vote for the Democratic Party. After all, if the Republicans are doing it, why can't we?
I, myself, understand the attractions of partisanship. I respect the complexities of aligning any group of people around a specific cause. I also appreciate that most people have degrees of passion for the party, ranging from the ideologically pure to the unsentimentally practical. My own personal litmus test has been reproductive health, and at this time only one party seems to have room for it. It was not always so.
My own personal journey has swung wildly from one place to another, and now I find myself as a Red Tory, an Anarcho-Monarchist, a skeptical Democrat who would have made a good Laguardia, Millicent Fenwick style Republican. I'll throw my hat in the ring as a citizen, but it's not because I'm a Christian, but because I believe government should work on behalf of all people. One can be a good citizen without having Christian beliefs.
Some Christians, however, mislead themselves if they believe that a Christian faith leads to easy, single, "Christian" answers to specific policies. Nor can Christianity be the proper platform for a political party or vice versa. Episcopalians, of course, have our jokes: there was a time where we were the "Republican party at prayer"; and "How do you tell the difference between a Democrat and a Republican in an Episcopal Church? The Altar Rail." The Republicans represented the good-government pro-property rights establishment, and priests tended to be more supportive of anti-discrimination policies.
Then, however, priests were respected as conversation partners. And that's what they were. They wouldn't have told people how to vote or made much of the parties. In a church context, relationships may be prior to righteousness. But that sort of understanding is slowly eroding.
In our current context conservative evangelicals have been seduced by political power, demanding an ideological rigor that mainline, Episcopal churches should reject. They will get their reward. I offer that the alternative to provide deeper spiritual foundations – to inculcate habits of reflection and relationship that are prior to engaging the public square. While I do think conservative evangelicalism is false and dangerous, as a religion and as a political force, I do not confuse it only with policies with which I disagree.
Not all of my beliefs about politics arise from my faith. My trust in demand side economics (St. Keynes), for example, or my opposition to the war on drugs (St. Friedman), or even my vague trust in American Diplomacy (St. Fulbright), don't arise only from my theological position. I distinguish between the Marxist intuition that capitalism changes everything and the contradictions cannot hold from my catholic one which says, we're still all sinners who we need each other, or you can't serve both God and Wealth. They are distinct, and alternately harmonious, and contradictory.
We should strive to inculcate the ability to handle, even with discomfort and tension, nuance, complexity, and ambiguity in the world. This arises from the virtue of humility. Instead, on social media, cable news, and politics, we reward leaders who enter the public from a position of hubris, where portraying vulnerability, caution, and prudence are seen as weaknesses.
This makes it harder for politicians to adjust when they understand more deeply than their constituents. They are penalized for learning, and so push through agendas and policies they may not even understand themselves. They are not equipped to serve the common good, but only those who will vote for them, because they are surrounded with people who confidently defend, through money and power, their own narrow interests.
Obviously humility does not easily develop in persons who enter business and politics. Most public officials must appear decisive and display a sense of confidence and righteousness to be convincing. It's a double bind because on one hand we want our politicians to be honest, but we penalize them when they try to bring together constituencies that often have opposing interests. A crucial way through is for us to recognize that one can have direction and humility.
Peter Werner wrote in the NYtimes that humility allows us to understand the world is unfathomably complex. Our knowledge is incomplete. Humility is not to be confused with indecisiveness, but is a confidence in being able to change our minds. In our current context, however, too often we seek vindication rather than truth.
The alternative, certainty, abdicates our responsibility to think more deeply and understand the values of those who think differently. But a practice of humility recognizes we are "better off if we have within our orbit people who see the world somewhat differently than we do…. this requires us to actually engage with, and carefully listen to, people who understand things in ways dissimilar to how we do."
But as this article notes, many Christians have "traded a faith that privileges humility and elevates the least of these for one that derides gentleness as the province of wusses." They've traded the gospel for machismo.
We have something to contribute. In an article, "The World Outsmarts Us," the author shows that we are not built to address of the complexities we now face. The way forward, he writes,
"It's time we asked whether political frustration, anger and resistance to conflicting ideas results in part from a basic lack of ability to sense how the present world works. The best defence against runaway combative ideologies isn't more facts, arguments and a relentless hammering away at contrary opinions, but rather a frank admission that there are limits to both our knowledge and our assessment of this knowledge. If the young were taught to downplay blame in judging the thoughts of others, they might develop a greater degree of tolerance and compassion for divergent points of view. A kinder world calls for a new form of wisdom of the crowd."
This should not be news to faithful, apostolic Christians in the Benedictine tradition. The emphasis on practice, rather than an easy moralism, builds the spiritual and emotional skills to handle the complexities that humility teaches us. Both the the great Organizational Design theorist Edgar Schein and the Benedictines agree that one of the most useful and spiritually insightful practices is humble inquiry. It's a willingness to admit ignorance, to cultivate curiosity, and to desire to understand. It's even in the baptismal blessing.
The fundamental work of Episcopalian Christians is to develop practices of reflection and relationship. As our great saint Vida Scudder once said, we are to cultivate the powerful habits of "voluntary self-control and a sympathetic imagination." With these in mind, the goal of having the humble stance.
Our knowledge is limited. Our understanding, incomplete. And so, we move, even though the paradoxes, tensions, and nuances that make of up our common life will always be present. We can eschew perfection in favor of the good; we learn from our mistakes and correct them. Through this, we can diminish the vitriol that diminishes a healthy partisanship, and rebuild the fundamental networks that – through the various churches and other social and spiritual institutions around us – have made our republic possible.
RT @bookcritics: Congratulations to the winner of the NBCC's inaugural Toni Morrison Achievement Award, the Cave Canem Foundation! 1 day ago


Special double-CD edition of SATANIC WARMASTER's third album, Carelian Satanist Madness. SATANIC WARMASTER needs no introduction nor explanation, and nor should the modern classic that is Carelian Satanist Madness. Originally released in the dark days of 2005, this album emerged during the peak of Finland's black metal underground, and mainman Werwolf - here recording everything, save session drums - led the way for all others well into the next decade. All the triumph and tragedy, mysticism and madness, literally EVERYTHING that is sacred and pure in authentic and dedicated BLACK METAL is here distilled to its proudest and most poignant essence. To deny this is to deny black metal itself. Feeding the fires forever more is this new 2-CD edition, which hereby includes the 10th anniversary concert where Carelian Satanist Madness is performed in its entirety, along with the previously released collaboration track with Bizarre Uproar, available on CD for the first time.


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text:
Patriots: Bill Belichick was scouting Derek Rivers more than a year ago
By Mark Daniels@MarkDanielsPJ
FOXBORO — Bo Pelini is used to NFL coaches contacting him during the pre-draft process. He's certainly used to hearing from Bill Belichick, so it wasn't a surprise when the Patriots coach called him about a few players his staff was scouting.
But Pelini was caught off guard when Belichick asked him about Derek Rivers. Especially since that conversation took place during the 2016 offseason, and Rivers was an underclassman who wouldn't be available for another year. Although both coaches spoke about multiple prospects, one being Vincent Valentine, whom the Patriots took in the third round that year, the Youngstown State coach was pleasantly surprised when the topic turned to Rivers.
Pelini always thought the defensive end was a perfect fit for the Pats. The coach's intuition rang true last weekend when the Patriots drafted Rivers in the third round.
"I had talked to Bill about him a year ago when we were talking about somebody for what would've been the 2016 draft," Pelini said. "So, that's kind of how he works. He's so detailed and always thinking ahead. I think he already started doing his homework on (Rivers). I thought it was ironic that's where he ended up. I think it's a great fit for him. I think it's a really good fit for both the kid and the team."
Pelini knows the ins and outs of the NFL after coaching defensive backs and linebackers in the league from 1994-2002, including a stint as the Patriots linebackers coach, under Pete Carroll, from 1997-99. When he met Rivers, after becoming the head coach at Youngstown State in 2015, the biggest thing that struck him was the player's versatility — a must for Patriots defensive players.
During Rivers' time with Pelini, the coach used him in a variety of ways — lining him up as down lineman, standing up and even back in coverage. Under Pelini, the 6-foot-4, 250-pound Rivers was an FCS third-team All-American in 2015 and a second-team selection in 2016. Last season, he set personal bests, finishing with 14 sacks, 19½ tackles for a loss, 58 tackles and three fumble recoveries.
The Patriots met with him at the Senior Bowl in February, held a private workout with him in April and then brought him to Gillette Stadium for an official visit to test his knowledge some more.
"He's a smart football player," Pelini said. "The kid's intelligent. I think he can do a lot of different things to help them. I know that (the Patriots) put a big premium on that because that's a very multiple defense that they play. They grilled him on his visit and found him to be a very good fit for what they want him to do."
Rivers became the fourth defensive player from Pelini's system drafted by Belichick, joining Valentine, Alfonzo Dennard and Bo Rudd. Newly signed running back Rex Burkhead also played under Pelini. Although those players played at a higher level with Pelini at Nebraska, Belichick wasn't scared off by River's production at a lower level.
"(Rivers) played … in a good program there with Coach Pelini, who we know very well," Belichick said. "Bo does a great job with his players and his team. Derek's been in a good system, has been well-coached. Even though he's from a smaller school we'll see what he can do for himself here, as well, when all is said and done."
"(Pelini)'s an NFL caliber coach. He started off in the league so everything we did at Youngstown prepared me for this moment here," Rivers added. "I learned so much from Coach Bo and just culture and doing all the little things right. I mean, I credit Bo for a lot of my successes."
Rivers' talent and versatility will be a welcomed addition, but the defensive end's demeanor off of it is also noteworthy. A team captain, Rivers was the team's scholar athlete of the year. It was a big jump for a kid who couldn't qualify for a Division I school out of high school and had to spend a year at Fork Union Military Academy.
"First and foremost, he's a high-character young man. A tremendous leader, a great kid," Pelini said. "He has a 'want to' that to me is off the charts. He's going to work real hard at it. Understands that he's not the finished product yet, he's still got a lot to learn like every other young football player. But he's going to apply himself the right way. I think he's a tremendous kid and has a lot of potential to do a lot of different things."
When Rivers was at Gillette Stadium on Thursday, he spoke about what becoming a member of the Patriots meant to him. It didn't take long to figure out why Belichick was looking at him a year ago.
"It's all culture. It's a culture and it's a mindset. I think they definitely bring that," Rivers said. "That's what Patriots Way means — blue collar and hard work. You get after it each and every day. We're going to go hard. That's how it was (at Youngstown). That's what Bo brought. That same type of culture. That same type of attitude."
That's one reason why Pelini thought Rivers, who grew up in Kinston, North Carolina, was a perfect fit for the Patriots. When he first met Rivers, he remembers talking to his coaching staff about the defensive end's next possible landing spot. Pelini said it would have to be a place that would help develop his skills and bring out his potential.
"I said, 'God, I'd love to see him go to the Patriots,' " Pelini said. "I thought it was a good fit for their system — how they play and what they do, how they move their guys around. I think this is going to be a great opportunity for the kid. Now it's up to him."


PRESCOTT VALLEY, Ariz. – The Northern Arizona Suns had a first quarter to remember. It's the second half they'd like to forget.
The NAZ Suns jumped out to a 21-point first quarter lead, largely thanks to a 15-0 run to start the game, but they couldn't hold on, losing at home Tuesday night to the Salt Lake City Stars 100-89.
The Suns (2-6) forced the Stars (4-3) to miss their first 12 shots of the game, while forcing four turnovers, so the Stars came up empty in their first 16 possessions. NAZ held its largest lead at 24-3 with 3:14 left in the opening frame, closing the first 12 minutes up 29-11. The 11 points for Salt Lake City were the third fewest in a quarter by any team in the NBA G League this season, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
The second quarter was much of the same, with NAZ holding a firm advantage until the end, with Salt Lake City entering halftime on an 11-3 run. That run would turn into a 25-8 run, making it just a two-point game a few minutes into the third quarter. With 1:02 left in the third, the Stars took their first lead, a lead that would extend to as high as 15 with a few minutes left in the fourth quarter. The Stars outscored the Suns 61-39 in the second half, outrebounding them 29-17 in the same timeframe.
For the game, Salt Lake City shot 27 more free throws, shooting 22-of-36 from the charity stripe compared to NAZ's 5-of-9 clip.
George King led the Suns with 20 points on 7-of-11 shooting, including 5-of-6 from beyond the arc, to go with nine rebounds and three assists. This was King's fourth 20+ point game of the season, a mark that leads the team.
Each member of the Suns' starting five scored in double-figures, as Jawun Evans tallied 14 points, six assists, five rebounds and two steals, while Aaron Epps, Peter Jok and Eric Stuteville each scored 12 points.
The Stars' bench outscored the Suns' bench 44-19.
Salt Lake City was paced by Naz Mitrou-Long and his 29 points on 8-of-14 shooting (4-9 3FG, 9-11 FT) and nine rebounds. Willie Reed notched 15 points, eight rebounds and three blocks, while both Tyler Cavanaugh and Jairus Lyles led the bench with 15 points apiece.
The Suns will get two road games immediately after Thanksgiving, with a Friday matchup against the Stockton Kings at 8 p.m. MT, and a Saturday game at the Agua Caliente Clippers at 8 p.m. MT. The Stars will wrap up a three-game road trip at the Santa Cruz Warriors on Friday at 8 p.m. MT.


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Petter Hansson
producent & partner, Tender Industries
A senior producer with long and broad experience from the television- and commercial ad industry and founding partner of Tender Industries, a new company that develops technology and business solutions in streaming media, TV and Webb. Starting his career in the early ninties after graduating from Santa Monica College in Los Angeles, Petter Hansson established himself as a producer for commercials in Scandinavia. In 2000 he was headhunted to Modern Times Group and based in the UK. He worked for 10 years within the group with various positions from CEO for documentary film company Modern Televison, to executive producer for reality shows like Survivor. He is also a founding partner in Saga Film, a hybrid company between television, film and internet. The company is specialized in making interactive films where the viewer takes part in the action, this is spread throughout the world with viral effects with millions of viewers. Petter Hansson is constantly looking for and committed trying out new technical ways of telling a story.
31 Jan 2013 - 01 Feb 2013
DagsVara 2013
Stockholm - Sweden


Rama Kandra We meet Sati's father Rama Kandra in the Train Station but we first see him in Reloaded in Le Vrai Restaurant. He's being hauled off in this scene and we can assume this is tied to his negotiation with the Merovingian to get Sati out of the mainframe. Rama Kandra, (usually Ramchandra) was an incarnation of Vishnu in Hinduism. He destroyed demons in his quest to rid the world of evil.
Kamala Sati's mother Kamala is another name for Laksmi which is the Hindu goddess of wealth and good fortune.
The Rama Kandra family are tied closely to the themes of Hinduism in the Matrix. Bernard White, who played Rama Kandra told Cinescape magazine that he had a copy of the Bagavad Gita with him all the time during filming. He also did a live performance of the Bagavad Gita in L.A. and urged Matrix fans to see it because it's a 'great spiritual inspiration for the Matrix films'.
Club Hel The club that the Matrix crew visit to learn how to find Neo obviously stands for Hell. The Merovingian rules the 'underworld' here like Hades from Greek mythology. Hades was also the character who stole Persephone and forced her to live with him in Hell.
Trainman Programs are smuggled in and out of the Matrix by the Trainman. He built the Train Station program and the Merovingian controls what goes in and out.
Navras plays over the closing credits of Revolutions, and the words of the main chant are taken from the Upanishads.
Lead us from fear of death to knowledge of our immortality.
And if that doesn't symbolize the entire Matrix Trilogy, I don't know what does.


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Florizina (cunoscută și ca floretin-2′-β-D-glucopiranozidă) este o glucozidă a floretinei (o dihidrocalconă), aparținând unui grup de flavonoide biciclice.

Se regăsește în principal în fructele necoapte de Malus (măr) scoarța rădăcinii de măr, și în cantități mici în căpșuni.

Importanță și farmacologie
Florizina este un inhibitor competitiv al SGLT1 și SGLT2, concurând cu D-glucoza pentru legarea de transportor; aceasta reduce transportul renal al glucozei, scăzând cantitatea de glucoză din sânge (glicemie). Florizina a fost studiată pentru a putea fi utilizată ca tratament farmaceutic al diabetului zaharat de tipul 2, dar a fost înlocuită de analogi sintetici mai selectivi și cu efect mai puternic, precum sunt empagliflozina, canagliflozina și dapagliflozina. Florizina nu este un eficientă ca medicament deoarece, atunci când este administrată oral, este transformată aproape în întregime în floretină sub acțiunea enzimelor hidrolitice din intestinul subțire, acest compus fiind lipsit de efect.

Note

Vezi și
 Canagliflozină
 Dapagliflozină
 Empagliflozină

Calcone
Glucozide

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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My Word List
How, Where, Why: What Adverbial Phrases Will Tell You
An adverbial phrase is a group of words that refines the meaning of a verb, adjective, or adverb. Similar to adverbs, adverbial phrases modify other words by explaining why, how, where, or when an action occurred. They may also describe the conditions of an action or object, or the degree to which an action or object was affected. Consider the following sentence: "He drove the school bus as carefully as possible." The word drove is the verb, and the adverbial phrase as carefully as possible describes how the driver performed the action.
Adverbial phrases don't contain a subject and a verb. When these elements are present, the group of words is considered an adverbial clause. The following sentence is an example: "When the show ends, we're getting dinner." Whether it's a phrase or a clause, an adverbial construction is dependent on the main subject and verb. It can't form a complete idea on its own. In the previous example, the show is the subject of the adverbial clause, and ends is the verb in the adverbial clause. This group of words has no meaning on its own, but it explains when the subject plans to perform the action of getting dinner.
Types of Adverbial Phrases and Clauses
The structure of an adverbial phrase or clause changes depending on the type of word it modifies and how it refines the meaning. This passage from W.B. Yeats' poem, "He Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven," contains two adverbial phrases: "I have spread my dreams under your feet;/Tread softly because you tread on my dreams." In both instances, the phrases describe where the actions occur.
Adverbial phrases can also function as infinitive phrases by incorporating infinitive verbs when they describe why an action is occurring. An infinitive verb is made up of the word to and a root verb (such as watch or find). For example, if you were to say "I went into town to visit my friend," the adverbial phrase to visit my friend would clarify why you went into town. This can be considered an adverbial phrase because it describes the verb went.
Another common use for adverbial phrases is to describe the frequency of an action. In the sentence "Jamie called her mother almost every day," the adverbial phrase functions as an adverb of time and describes how frequently Jamie calls.
Adverbial phrases may also overlap with prepositional phrases, as the latter usually consist of a preposition, a noun or pronoun, and modifiers that describe where or when the action is occurring. Jane Austen provides a useful example of a prepositional phrase in this line from Persuasion: "Many a noble fortune has been made during the war." The word during is a preposition, and the war is a noun phrase. Together, they function as an adverbial phrase to offer greater detail about the specific time period.
As Langston Hughes demonstrates in the poem "Youth," adverbial phrases and clauses are limited only by imagination. The stanza "We have tomorrow/Bright before us/Like a flame" contains two back-to-back adverbial phrases, showing how figurative language gives writers the flexibility to modify words in creative ways. Adverbial phrases have diverse constructions, but they always modify the meaning of a verb, adjective or adverb by answering questions such as How, Where and Why?
Get that essay, email, or letter to Nana over the finish line with a little writing help from Grammar Coach™. Get grammar check, spelling help and more free!
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Expand your vocabulary daily
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I've wanted to start a Gal site for a while now, and with her new project Wonder Woman (2017), I finally decided to start one. I decided to open the site very early in time for Wonder Woman, which means the gallery is far from complete. However, I hope to work on the gallery during the year for the site to become a better resource.


Realtek High Definition Audio is a MEDIA hardware device. This driver was developed by Realtek. The hardware id of this driver is HDAUDIO/FUNC_01&VEN_10EC&DEV_0663.
Download the driver setup file for Realtek Realtek High Definition Audio driver from the location below. This download link is for the driver version 6.0.1.6493 dated 2011-11-01.
This driver was installed by many users and received an average rating of 3.1 stars out of 63503 votes.


Staying active can be hard sometimes, staying active AND stylish is nearly impossible. I'm not a gym kind of person, but I like to try to stay moving and try to get my heart rate up a few times a day and with the Misfit Shine Wearable activity tracker I can keep track of all kinds of pertinent health information.
In this picture, I have the disk installed backwards.
The Misfit Shine elegant wearable tracker, available at Best Buy features a sleek disk shaped display that is fully interchangeable between the sport band, leather band, necklace or the magnet clip, which is included in the package. (as seen below).
Shine is a gorgeous device that will empower people to be more proactive about their personal health and will make an excellent gift for anyone on your holiday shopping list.


This is just a very quick note to say thank you, everyone, for your awesome support and continued readership over the past year! Without that I don't know that I would put in the effort!
The Nanolab series continues in popularity, which warms my cockles! They make for an awesome homelab, and I have a handful of posts almost ready to go for 2016 to continue this series.
Finally, and most interestingly considering current industry trends, the Docker HOWTO series has definitely proven very popular, even though so far I have stuck to the absolute basics! I will definitely endeavour to expand on this series throughout this year.
So that's it for now, just a quick one. I hope you all had an awesome New Year (I spent mine this year watching Star Wars: The Force Awakens woohoo!) and wish you all the best for the exciting things to come in 2016!


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BT EE merger given go ahead
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has provisionally cleared BT's £12.5 billion anticipated acquisition of EE
By Holly Ashford
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has provisionally cleared BT's £12.5 billion anticipated acquisition of EE.
The CMA inquiry group has been looking at how the tie-up would affect competition in a number of different areas of the telecoms sector. As well as looking at how the merger might affect competition for services to consumers, the group has considered whether it might alter the merged company's incentives to continue supplying services to other comms providers on a wholesale basis.
"As BT is a smaller operator in mobile, it is unlikely that the merger will have a significant effect on competition," said John Wotton, inquiry chair. "By the same token, it is unlikely that the merger will have a significant effect on competition in the retail broadband market, where EE is only a minor player."
The inquiry also looked into how the merged company might try to disadvantage competitors which it supplied with services including wholesale mobile or broadband services. It decided that in some areas it would be unlikely that they would have both the ability and incentive to do so, and in others that the effects of their attempting to do so would be limited.
"Having considered all the evidence, the group does not provisionally believe that, in a dynamic and evolving sector, it is more likely than not that BT/EE will be able to use its position to damage competition or the interests of consumers," concluded Wotton.
The announcement represented a particular victory for BT, as CCS Insight principal analyst Kester Mann pointed out, "Rivals such as Sky, Vodafone and TalkTalk have repeatedly expressed concern over the dominant position of the proposed new entity, particularly around mobile spectrum and backhaul. It is sure to further fan the flames of their calls for structural separation of Openreach from BT, currently being considered as part of Ofcom's digital review of the UK market."
Both companies were swift to welcome the decision, with EE stating it wants to complete the deal "quickly", and stating that it will create "a new combined company designed to benefit both British consumers and businesses, while helping to propel the UK to the very front of global telecommunications", according to the company's CEO Olaf Swantee (pictured).
The extent to which the merger will benefit the British consumer will be seen following the deal's closure, but for BT the gains are more clear-cut. Assuming it receives final approval, the deal "would allow BT to launch a potent strategy to cross-sell broadband and TV services to 'new' mobile customers," said Mann, as well as giving the company "immediate access to an extensive retail network that would enable it to articulate the merits of a multiplay service."
Tags ⋅ acquisition ⋅ broadband ⋅ broadcast ⋅ BT ⋅ Business ⋅ ccs insight ⋅ cma ⋅ EE ⋅ media ⋅ merger ⋅ mobile ⋅ News ⋅ telecoms ⋅ TV ⋅ tvbe ⋅ TVBEurope
TalkTalk attacks BT EE 'digital champion' report
EE pens exclusive BT Sport deal
EBS wins BT Sport contract for multi-platform EPG data support
BT to charge for BT Sport
CMA approves BT's EE takeover
BT debuts enhanced BT TV app
BT confirms talks around potential sale of BT Sport
EE and BT Sport partner on Match Day Experience


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K-Mag Has No Interest In Sub Role… At Haas
Michelle Foster Tuesday 9th February 2021 4:00 PM
Guenther Steiner shouldn't even bother contacting Kevin Magnussen if Haas need a substitute driver this season as the Dane doesn't have "much interest" in that.
Magnussen parted ways with Haas at the end of last season, switching his focus from Formula 1 to the IMSA SportsCar Championship with Chip Ganassi Racing.
The 28-year-old was informed by Haas last year that 2020 would be his final season with the team, Haas instead opting for an all-rookie line up in Mick Schumacher and Nikita Mazepin.
The team has yet to confirm its reserve driver with the role going to Pietro Fittipaldi last season.
The Brazilian made two substitute appearances, replacing Grosjean after he was injured at the Bahrain Grand Prix.
This year Steiner says he may call on his former drivers should a sub be needed.
"I think we have to take a third driver this year, as we did last year, because of COVID," he told Motorsport-Total.com. "You never know when it hits you. If you ever need a third driver on the track, it's now.
"I wouldn't mind if they [Grosjean and Magnussen] were free, I think they'd love to come back. I didn't ask them, but I don't think they have any bad feelings."
But while Magnussen says there no hard feelings, he's not interested.
"Guenther is a good friend, as are many people in the Haas F1 team, but any talk about racing, like a one-off race, I don't have much interest in that," he told Autosport.
"I like to be fully focused on what I am doing and I miss winning. I've done seven years of F1, [so] doing one more race, I don't think is that interesting."
Check out the brand new Puma range on the official Formula 1 store!
That, though, doesn't mean he'd say no to every team on the grid.
"If Mercedes came and asked me if I wanted to drive, I think everyone would look at that very seriously," he said.
"[But] I have given F1 a very fair shot; I think I have done my best to try to be successful.
"I've done it and feel like I'm ready to go and win some stuff again — that's really where I'm at."
Haas Kevin Magnussen
Nico Hulkenberg on why F1 'disconnection' will be 'very positive' for 2023
Haas announce January date for 'livery launch' of 2023 challenger
Guenther Steiner wants US driver Logan Sargeant at 'the American team' Haas
Guenther Steiner
Thomas Maher 30 Jan 2023
Scrap the Sprints: F1 should consider mini 'Race of Champions' as a qualifying format


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After Office Hours // 4 More Business Lessons Learned
Nobilis Limited // Welcome to Nairobi Garage
Coworking Spaces // 5 Practical Future-of-Work Adaptations
It's been said that the 2010s were a decade of disruption. The retail sector was rocked by Amazon, the hotel sector by Airbnb, and the taxi service sector by Uber. The film industry was heavily swayed by streaming giants such as Netflix, and the traditional news outlets by social media platforms such as Twitter.
There has also been disruption in the commercial real estate industry, thanks to coworking spaces. Many might say it was the pandemic, but that would be a short sighted view. It might have been the straw that broke the camel's back, but not so much the cause. We simply would have to agree that things were not really working well before the pandemic.
Stress & burn out levels were on the increase, and work-life balance was nearly impossible to attain. The workforce was largely unengaged, and activities such as unsustainable commutes were heavily affecting climate change.
Effects on Coworking Spaces
Community workspaces have been around for a while now, with Hackerspaces growing out of Berlin, Germany in the 1990s. It's only until 2005 that the concept of coworking spaces came together as a professional concept.
The financial depression of 2008 led to the rise of coworking spaces, and since then the sector saw a dramatic surge in demand. However, just like any sector across all industries, the coworking space sector was highly affected in 2020.
In a report "Coworking Spaces Global Market Report 2020-30: COVID-19 Growth and Change", by research and markets,the report showed that the global coworking spaces market declined from $9.27 billion in 2019 to $8.24 billion in 2020 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -12.9%.
The decline was mainly due to economic slowdown across countries owing to the pandemic outbreak and the measures to contain it. The increase in the number of people working from home or remotely owing to lockdowns also limited the growth of the market.
For instance, in March 2020, many companies working from home owing to the pandemic, led to operators of coworking spaces seeing an almost 50% decline in footfalls.
Despite the hard times, there is still hope for coworking space operators, and developers with most experts stating that remote work is not going anywhere as the report further shows that the coworking market is expected to recover and reach $11.52 billion in 2023 at CAGR of 11.8%
Despite the massive hit the industry has taken, we have also experienced a changing attitude, more so now as businesses go back to the office, that will make coworking a top option for businesses in the future.
Indeed, we've been provided with the challenge to rethink how, why, and where people work . On our end we're sharing a few predictions we thinking will happen in the world of coworking going forward:
Enclosure Becomes Priority
In the last couple of years, organizations heavily adopted the open-plan style of office layouts. Now, due to the need to cater to the increased health & safety concerns, office plans will have to change to allow for physical social distancing ensuring a virus-safe working environment.
Organizations might be forced to cut up larger spaces into private offices, and enclosed workspaces. It will also mean sitting fewer people per enclosed space. For instance, instead of the usual 6 people per enclosed space, it could reduce to 4 to comply with regulations around social distancing.
On the other hand, coworking space operators might be forced to adjust their closed quarter communal spaces, and hot desking modules to focus more on the safety and comfort of users.
Office Space // The Drive to Flex is on Course
There will also be increased physical distancing throughout the whole workspace by including signage of how many people can be in a space at the same time for examples in elevators, and common areas.
This can easily be achieved by implementing the six feet office concept, which is designed to increase boundaries, and maintain a distance of 6 feet between workers at all times to decrease the risk of contamination.
Many of these office design adjustments will not only affect the commercial real estate but also the work culture itself.
Age of Agile Environments
All workspaces should focus on how they will empower members with options, and choices. Coworking spaces will become ecosystems that are fluid and able to be agile environments suited to meet our needs as they evolve.
Even before the pandemic, a lot of organizations were already making the shift from long-term leases to more flexible terms offered by co-working spaces. A trend that is likely to grow, perhaps even more rapidly, post-pandemic.
In addition to organizations that need flexible leases or setups, co-working space operators will need to prioritize agility in their product offering.
Coworking office packages should be designed with maximum flexibility in mind. An example would be offering short-term licenses agreements that quickly adapt to space requirements, allowing members to adjust on the space as their teams grow.
Fostering Healthy Spaces
Governments may have lifted lockdowns, and restrictions, but it's still up to individual organizations to figure out ways to reopen their workplaces safely.
As organizations start to consider going back to their workspaces, management will have to rethink the purpose of place and create compelling environments that entice people to be there.
Coworking spaces will have to give priority to pandemic hygiene protocols in their offering to ensure comfort of the different member organizations in their spaces.
Access to sanitizing stations, regular wiping down of surfaces with disinfected water, and scheduled HVAC maintenance for the air filtration system are key ways to ensure the communal area remains virus-free.
Leveraging Tech
All workspaces will be forced to embrace smart technologies that help create spaces that are more responsive to teams. Technology also provides the opportunity to shift towards usage of the Internet of Things (IoT) technologies which help place safety at the hands of the user.
Installation of responsive tech such as automatic door openers, sanitizer & soap dispensers, temperature gauges, water faucets, smart lighting & doors all would ensure reduction of shared touchpoints in the workplace.
Coworking spaces will continue to leverage the shared economy and make it easier to apply many more mitigations than when installation is for just one company in a traditional office space.
Nairobi Garage member working in a cosy pod, at one of our 3 Coworking spaces in Nairobi, Kenya.
Operational Shift
It is important to note that we are not out of the woods yet with COVID-19 continuing to swing on a pendulum, and birth new mutant variants. Workspaces must have, at minimum, temperature checks on entry, visitor registration, and mandatory face masks wearing within the office space.
As organizations around the world begin to reopen, coworking space operators should by now have airtight pandemic policies that cover everything members need to know about safety & hygiene in the workspaces, and how contact tracing will be conducted in the event of a positive case confirmation.
Such a clause may contain information on what to do if one contracts the virus, how to let people know of the exposure, suggested guidelines for self-isolation and self-quarantine. Also, what steps will be taken to disinfect the entire workspace alongside how the return-to-the-space plan will be implemented.
Keep in mind that these steps are simply a starting point designed to guide your organization in implementing strategies that work for the coworking space, and its members.
We all may be feeling the undue pressure right now, and we still can't clearly tell the future. However, we remain hopeful that things will continue to look up and we will go back to connecting, and collaborating even more in the near future.
Remember that apart from saving on costs, time and energy, coworking spaces offer the opportunity of being part of a vibrant community.
There are also personal benefits to being a coworking member, such as, you've been already working remotely for years. Therefore, you mostly likely have already made the mental shift from 'work' being a physical place to it being a satisfying experience.
It also means, you've honing qualities such as being: driven, flexible, entre/intrapreneurial, innovative, connected, resourceful, and resilient. Basically, skills which provide psychological strength, allowing you to overcome extraordinary challenges.
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