Our latest edition of the Artist @ Work series features an interview with Michelle James, CEO of The Center for Creative Emergence and founder of the Capitol Creativity Network and Quantum Leap Business Improv.
Michelle is a business creativity consultant, facilitator and coach who has pioneered concepts related to creativity and improvisation in business for 15 years. She recently produced a sold-out Creativity in Business Conference in Washington, DC. She performs with Precipice Improv and is an abstract painting artist.
Enjoy learning more about Michelle's thoughts about the creative process, as well as how to blend artistic creativity with the needs of the business world!
Creative Liberty: Tell us a little bit about The Center for Creative Emergence and how you developed it as a business entity.
Michelle James: CCE is a company is a creativity coaching, consulting and training company for individual, groups and organizations, dedicated to "mainstreaming" creativity and integrating the split we've been living between creativity and business. We help solopreneurs and creatives do anything from create their unique signature to design a program to develop a new income-generating business using their creativity.
(CCE's) development was mostly nonlinear. I was simultaneously engaging different avenues of learning and exploration – organizational development, psychology, improv, the arts, the brain, bodywork, philosophy, healing, coaching and other modalities, with a work history in marketing and media – until it all came together in an "emergence," in which the disparate parts formed into a new whole. I needed to create and income-generating business structure where I could bring in my experiences, training/education and the whole-brain modalities that were most alive for me, and the only way I could do that and not feel like I was losing a part of myself was to create my own business. I learned a lot about the principles of creative emergence in the process.
The linear progression of the business is that I went from working in the media and marketing (and having my creative and philosophical pursuits on the side) to owning a creative services business, to co-owning an organizational development company (bringing creativity in through the back door), to finally establishing CCE, which has the convergence of creativity, purpose and serving a greater good front and center.
How would you differentiate personal creative efforts from organizational or business-related creativity? What are the similarities and differences?
Similarities: Creativity is everywhere, in everyone and in every group, organization, culture and system. It is always there, and can always be accessed and used for the good of that person, group or system. Creativity is transformative by its nature and changes the status quo. Resistance (contraction in a creative process) then shows up. Moving through it – and not turning back – is the key. For me, every person, group or system has infinite creative potential, and the potential to align him/her/itself to its highest potential.
Differences: Personal creativity and business creativity might have different objectives, i.e., creating for self expression vs. creating a new product or a new business structure. Individual creativity allows you to go deeper, have more space, feel less self-conscious, have unfettered expression, and create from internal motivation and expression. Organizational creativity allows you to access a collective intelligence/creative field, where the creativity of whole is greater than the sum of the parts. Business creativity, to me, is using your creativity to both create and achieve your business objectives and structure.
With that said, the more you follow your passion and purpose, the less you may tend to experience personal and work creativity as different … if you're willing to make necessary changes and follow your creative impulse. It might mean some structural changes in your work and life, and that can be tough at first … and may require long periods of being in ambiguity – in between the trapezes – in trial and error.
Being in that exploratory ambiguity is part of the creative process. Real creativity is messy. It can leave loose ends along the way … but there is always a larger creative intelligence at work, and the loose ends often come back later as completely coherent part of the NEW structure you are creating.
How does your Emergence Focus approach to creativity differ from other more traditional approaches? What can artists learn from this approach?
Emergence focus allows a large space for exploration and the unpredictable. I call it Emergent Space – where something emerges (an insight, idea, etc) that changes, usually by expanding, the course of the original plans, and still often includes them. Goals are seen as flexible guideposts, not static end points. It focuses on what's next, not a static future vision.
Visioning processes are great and I recommend them to discover what calls to you and to serve as a compass, with a flexible destination. The emergence focus is specifically engaging what is in front of you and unfolding/creating what is next. In other words, as you create what is next, the "what's next" after that emerges, and so on. That way, you remain flexible, adaptive and creative as you are go along, and can adapt your vision in light of new information, inspiration or awareness. It also focuses on the "yes-and" not "either-or" way of navigating seemingly conflicting ideas. If the question is "Do I do x or y?" and you are passionate about both, then the answer is "Yes"…it just requires going up to a new level of creative thinking to emerge a way they can both co-exist. For example, often my clients have 2 or 3 different business ideas. When they engage the emergence process, a new can structure emerge that allows all 3 to be part of the business, rather than having to eliminate one.
Creative emergence contains the balance of both structure and flow. Generally, those who feel more comfortable in flow – often artists – learn how to build structure to contain, direct and focus the flow. Those who are more comfortable with structure – often business people – learn how to unleash more creative flow to help take their work or business to the next level.
What are common struggles that businesses have related to innovation or creativity?
Being prepared to handle what happens when real creativity is unleashed in a system. It means change – deep, real, and often uncomfortable change. And it comes with resistance – being able to navigate the natural resistance that comes with transformation. People will feel anything from energized to terrified … the entire range must be accommodated through a creative process. Also, willingness to let go, (because) change means some people will opt out of that system.
The fear of failure and the fear of the unknown are the 2 biggest blocks to creativity – almost all other fears can fall under one of those. That's why I believe improvisational theater training should be mandatory for all employees (and leaders) – improv principles and practices are one of the most accessible, easy and enjoyable ways to help people shift those fears. Through improv, you can't help but develop a new relationship to the unknown, failure and risk-taking. The unknown becomes potential, failure becomes an invitation to create, and risk taking is exploration. Once you get comfortable with the unknown, and see failure as an essential part of the exploration, it is earlier to move past struggles and into new creation.
What are some common errors that people, particularly artists, make about the intersection between making art and making a living?
Many artists, like anyone else in our culture, have a set of foundational belief systems that have separated the business bottom line or generating income from creativity. Some take pride in being the "staving artist" and not "selling out." Some carry negative stereotypes about business/business people that can interfere with the creating of a thriving business for themselves. The old paradigm was not very appealing to creatives, unless perhaps you were working in a creative services department or a creative services business. But … a new business paradigm is emerging that is different – one that can serve the greater good, make a profit, AND use your creativity. It requires everyone to leave old foundational beliefs behind, and embrace more expansive and inclusive models of creativity, the arts and commerce.
How can creative people leverage their aptitude for innovation in the world of business?
Meet the business world where it is – engage in classes, trainings, coaching, whatever you need to understand how the business works. That will help you in finding or create opportunities to bring your unique gift to the world and get paid for it. Create your niche based on your passion, and structure it to include the bottom line. Artists who value the bottom line are more likely to find ways to generate a healthy one.
Create a business, or work for one, that already values creativity as part of their culture. Align your belief systems to a new, healthier paradigm of business. If you can get beyond old models and stereotypes, and into the essence of business as service and value exchange, then it's easier to leverage your creativity within it.
Tell us about why you developed the Capitol Creative Network and the Creativity in Business conference.
To establish a community of practice for those of us interested in applied creativity – the practical applications of creativity in the business world, and to give us an opportunity to regularly and consistently explore and experience a variety of approaches to weaving creativity and business together. CCN was established in 2004. Before then, I had participated in various arts, holisitc, organizational development and business groups, but none that were exploring business through the lens of creativity, and using whole-brain creative process at every meeting to do so.
At CCN, we have a different creativity facilitator each time, and at the Creativity in Business conference there were several break-out sessions from which to choose, each focused on a different type of creative process. There are as many ways to facilitate creative process as there are people called to do it. I am passionate about giving people an opportunity to experience different dimensions of their creativity, and applying it to life and work.
What can live creativity-oriented events provide that online social networks cannot?
There is still something special that can happen in a live group. A group field can emerge – a collective creative intelligence – in real time that is greater than the sum of its parts. There is a shared "we" space that informs the creative process.
Co-creation is dynamic and immediate, and responds to real-time feedback. Since 55 percent of communication is non-verbal, you can experience a richer, more embodied context and intimacy. The resonance is immediate. You connect more with the whole person, not just their ideas. Emotions and energy, which fuel the creative process, are more easily cultivated.
For this to happen often requires consciously setting the conditions for a generative group field. Sometimes, if the container is not set, live groups can fall into a comfortable groupthink that inhibits the creative process. Social networks also have some advantages. I advocate engaging multiple channels of collaborative potential – live and online, small group and large.
Where do you see your efforts to promote creativity in the workplace going over the next decade?
I can really only answer it from the lens of emergence, which can't be fully predicted. I am committed to the "meme" of emergence, foundational creativity, whole-person/whole-system creativity and generative work structures. I trust that if I remain directed, present to my purpose, create from what is in front me now, say 'yes' to what feels most alive and vital (and 'no' to what does not), pay attention to emerging patterns and feedback from the world, and adapt to new information and advances, I will evolve my work in ways that I can actually not imagine now. That's how emergence works. Evolving technologies and social systems, and my continued evolution and growth, will inform and expand my vision along the way – and surprise is the critical, and most rewarding, element.
I think in terms on "entry points" – what I know now and what is next. Some of ways I see my efforts being expressed now and next are more live and online events, experiential workshops, and interactive products. I am writing a book(s) on foundational creativity and the practices and principles of creative emergence, and plan to create videos on these topics. I see myself working help entrepreneurs and organizations at foundational levels structure their for creativity and innovation; working with creativity from multiple levels: cognitive, intuitive, somatic, energetic, consciousness and the soul at work – possibly establishing an online community; and bringing in more whole-brain, improvisation-based, intuitive and bodied-centered practices into the business arena through a variety of channels.
I would like to remain a life-long learner and creator, so whatever I do, I have to balance my knowledge/experience with a "beginner's mind" to keep my own creativity actively engaged and a living, evolving vision.
What do you think a greater appreciation of the creative process at work would mean for American businesses? American artists?
I believe creative energy is the most transformative energy there is – it has the power to change all situations. Once it is more valued, engaged, and cultivated in our work culture, anything is possible. We are starting see shifts in now only how we create, what we create, and how we do business. Most businesses are still operating form old foundations, modeled after mechanical processes instead of organic, creativity-centered, living-system foundations.
Once creativity permeates the work culture, structures will change dramatically. I can't predict how it will look because it will be co-created by all of us, but I believe we will see more aliveness and ingenuity in the work place; blurred boundaries of what was previously siloed; more adaptive, dynamic business models; and more work climates that feed the soul and inspire contribution to a larger whole.
Is there anything else we haven't covered that you think is relevant?
Once we let go of outdated, limiting notions of who and what is creative and embrace a larger framework of creativity, then it's easier to cultivate it in every workplace. We need FOUNDATIONAL shifts in how we think, interact, and engage. We need to integrate previously unrelated disciplines to create new, more inclusive ones. It's time to let go of inhibiting paradigms and embracing more holistically generative ones. This is already beginning to happen, and the more conscious focus and attention we put toward it, the more quickly it will evolve.
« The December edition of Creative Liberation e-newsletter is OUT!
I agree that online social networks can not beat the offline liveliness. I guess both has their advantages and disadvantages.


Beautifully remodeled home with a large front deck and fenced backyard. The interior has been modernly updated and has tons of natural lighting. The main living & kitchen area features luxury vinyl flooring, you have a center island in the kitchen with stainless appliances, under cabinet lighting, tile backsplash and gorgeous granite. The bathrooms have tile flooring with a custom tile shower in the master en suite. You have a full basement with both interior and exterior entrances, a great place for additional rooms, workshop or home gym. Call today for your private showing.


The DNA of God's global Church includes the reproduction of believing communities in every nation. Thus, in everything we do, our aim and passion is to see churches formed and self-reproducing, especially in places where there are few or no churches today.
From Australia to Spain, from Brazil to Algeria, how we go about this is as varied as the people we seek to reach.
Church planting is long-haul ministry that calls for vision, commitment, flexibility, patience and sensitivity to spontaneous opportunity. In OM, this often means working hand-in-hand with national churches that have a specific vision to establish new fellowships in particular areas. It also involves training in missions.
There is intentional, systematic sowing of God's Word that can be as open as literature distribution, public meetings and events, or more discreet through the use of cutting-edge technologies to help establish fellowships despite cultural opposition. As people come to Christ, they are discipled to grow in their faith and develop into leaders of new faith communities, no matter where they're planted.
This is the rewarding part: You may not see waves of spiritual response, but you will have the privilege of helping develop new fellowships and training the people God has chosen for His Church. If you want your faith to stick and impact others, church planting is as basic as it gets.
Prepare the ground. Plant and water the seed. Watch God grow it.
Do you have a heart for the people from a South Asian background? Are you willing to learn what 'British Asians' a fusion of South Asian and British cultures, means? Do you want to get to know them, share the Gospel and disciple young believers?


text:
Q: Wordpress - Function to Run After Post is Added or Saved I would like to create a Woocommerce Product whenever a post of post type "award_category" is either added or updated.
Award Categories contain a number of ACF fields and I would like to carry some of this data from an award category post to a Product post.
This is the code I currently have which runs every time an award category is saved:

*

*It sees if there is already a product with the same name

*If there isn't, create a new one

*If it has either created a new one or if there is an existing one, update the ACF field called 'description' for this post

function save_award_category($post_id) {

    // Get Post Object

    $post = get_post($post_id);

    // Check if There is a Product with the Same Name

    $product = get_page_by_path($post->post_name, OBJECT, 'product');

    // If Product With Same Name Doesn't Exist

    if (!$product) {

        // Create Product Post

        $product_id = wp_insert_post(array(
            'post_title' => get_the_title($post->ID),
            'post_type' => 'product',
            'post_status' => 'publish'
        ));

    }

    // Get Post ACF Field Group Array

    $post = get_field('all_fields', $post->ID);

    // Update Product Description with Post Description

    update_field('description', $post['description'], $product_id);

}

add_action('save_post_award_category', 'save_award_category');

The problem I am having is that the Post Description I'm pulling through is either empty (when you first add an award category) or it pulls through the former product description (before it was saved).
I am absolutely convinced I am using the wrong Wordpress hook as the award category post is being saved AFTER I try and grab the ACF fields from it.
I hope I've explained myself well enough and hope you can offer some assistance!

A: You can use wp_after_insert_post hook that recently added in version 5.6.0
/**
 * Fires once a post, its terms and meta data has been saved.
 *
 * @since 5.6.0
 *
 * @param int          $post_id     Post ID.
 * @param WP_Post      $post        Post object.
 * @param bool         $update      Whether this is an existing post being updated.
 * @param null|WP_Post $post_before Null for new posts, the WP_Post object prior
 *                                  to the update for updated posts.
 */

function save_award_category( $post_id, $post, $update, $post_before ) {

    if ( get_post_type( $post_id ) == 'award_category' ) {

        // Get Post Object

        $post = get_post( $post_id );

        // Check if There is a Product with the Same Name

        $product = get_page_by_path( $post->post_name, OBJECT, 'product' );

        // If Product With Same Name Doesn't Exist

        if ( !$product ) {

            // Create Product Post

            $product_id = wp_insert_post(array(
                'post_title'  => get_the_title($post->ID),
                'post_type'   => 'product',
                'post_status' => 'publish'
            ));

        }

        // Get Post ACF Field Group Array

        $post = get_field( 'all_fields', $post->ID );

        // Update Product Description with Post Description

        update_field( 'description', $post['description'], $product_id );

    }

}

add_action( 'wp_after_insert_post', 'save_award_category', 10, 4 );

Or you can use updated_post_meta hook.
/**
 * Fires immediately after updating metadata of a specific type.
 *
 * The dynamic portion of the hook name, `$meta_type`, refers to the meta object type
 * (post, comment, term, user, or any other type with an associated meta table).
 *
 * Possible hook names include:
 *
 *  - `updated_post_meta`
 *  - `updated_comment_meta`
 *  - `updated_term_meta`
 *  - `updated_user_meta`
 *
 * @since 2.9.0
 *
 * @param int    $meta_id     ID of updated metadata entry.
 * @param int    $object_id   ID of the object metadata is for.
 * @param string $meta_key    Metadata key.
 * @param mixed  $_meta_value Metadata value. Serialized if non-scalar.
 */

function save_award_category( $meta_id, $post_id, $meta_key = '', $meta_value = '' ) {

    if ( get_post_type( $post_id ) == 'award_category' ) {

        // Get Post Object

        $post = get_post( $post_id );

        // Check if There is a Product with the Same Name

        $product = get_page_by_path( $post->post_name, OBJECT, 'product' );

        // If Product With Same Name Doesn't Exist

        if ( !$product ) {

            // Create Product Post

            $product_id = wp_insert_post(array(
                'post_title'  => get_the_title($post->ID),
                'post_type'   => 'product',
                'post_status' => 'publish'
            ));

        }

        // Get Post ACF Field Group Array

        $post = get_field( 'all_fields', $post->ID );

        // Update Product Description with Post Description

        update_field( 'description', $post['description'], $product_id );

    }

}

add_action( 'wp_after_insert_post', 'save_award_category', 10, 4 );

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
It Comes at Night (engl. für "Es kommt in der Nacht") ist ein Horror-Thriller von Trey Edward Shults, der am 18. Januar 2018 in die deutschen Kinos kam.

Handlung
Der Film setzt nach dem Untergang der Zivilisation in einer postapokalyptischen Welt ein, in der ein unbekanntes Virus Menschen und Tiere befällt. Dabei wird das Leben einer Familie porträtiert, die aus dem Vater Paul, seiner Frau Sarah, dem gemeinsamen Sohn Travis sowie dem Familiengroßvater Bud besteht, die gemeinsam in einem abgelegenen Haus in einem Wald lebt. Neben der Abgeschiedenheit vom Rest der Welt plagt die Familie eine starke Ratlosigkeit, da Bud von dem Virus infiziert wurde. Die sich ausbreitende Krankheit macht sich dabei durch Symptome wie Furunkeln auf der Haut und schwarzen Augen bemerkbar und endet anscheinend in einem qualvollen Tod. Mithilfe von Schutzmaske und Handschuhen scheint man einer Infektion aber vorbeugen zu können. Nach langem Ringen entscheidet sich die Familie dazu, Bud zu erlösen und den Leichnam anschließend zu verbrennen. Nicht nur Trauer setzt der Familie zu, ebenso leben die Nichtinfizierten in dieser Welt in ständiger Angst, selbst infiziert zu werden.

Eines Nachts bemerkt die Familie, dass jemand versucht, in ihr Haus einzubrechen. Nachdem Paul den Einbrecher überwältigt hat, bindet er ihn zunächst an einen Baum, um kein Risiko einzugehen. Am nächsten Tag stellt sich in einem Gespräch zwischen Paul und dem Fremden namens Will heraus, dass dieser auf der Suche nach Wasser und Nahrung für seine Frau und seinen Sohn war, die nicht weit entfernt untergekommen sind. Nachdem sowohl Vorteile wie die Bündelung von Ressourcen und erhöhte Verteidigungsfähigkeit als auch Nachteile wie ein potentielles Infektionsrisiko diskutiert wurden, entscheiden sich Paul, Sarah und Travis dafür, die Fremden im Haus aufzunehmen. Auf dem Weg werden Paul und Will von zwei bewaffneten Männern angegriffen, doch Paul wehrt die Angreifer ab und tötet sie.

Zurück in Pauls Haus werden Will, seine Frau Kim und deren Sohn Andrew zwar freundlich empfangen. Paul verdeutlicht jedoch, dass es strenge Regeln gibt, denen sich die Neuen unterordnen müssen. Durch den zwischenmenschlichen Umgang miteinander entsteht zunächst ein harmonisches Zusammenleben. Die Angst vor dem Virus und der Krankheit, die sich ausbreitet, besteht aber nach wie vor. Eines Abends ertappt Paul Will jedoch bei einer Lüge und wird zunehmend misstrauisch.

Später scheint Stanley, der Hund von Travis, etwas im Wald zu wittern und läuft davon. Travis, Will und Paul verfolgen ihn, verlieren ihn aber aus den Augen und können ihn wegen des plötzlich aufhörenden Bellens nicht mehr finden. In der darauffolgenden Nacht erwacht Travis wegen eines Alptraums und findet Andrew schlafend in Buds altem Zimmer. Er begleitet ihn zurück in das Zimmer seiner Eltern. Dann hört er an der Tür ein Geräusch, die er geöffnet auffindet. Er alarmiert die anderen, die Stanley tödlich verletzt im Eingangsbereich finden. Wie auch bei Bud verbrennen sie Stanleys Leichnam.

Als Travis anmerkt, dass die Tür schon bei seiner Ankunft geöffnet war und er Andrew in einem anderen Zimmer fand, fragt Sarah, ob Andrew schlafwandelt. Kim weist dies zurück und die Spannungen zwischen den Familien steigen. Paul schlägt vor, dass sie sich für einige Tage in zwei getrennten Zimmern isolieren, um sicherzustellen, dass niemand infiziert ist.

Am nächsten Morgen hört Travis Andrew stark husten und Kim sagen, dass sie das Haus verlassen müssen. Travis teilt dies seinen Eltern mit und befürchtet, auch infiziert zu sein, weil er Andrew in der Vornacht angefasst hat. Paul und Sarah ziehen Schutzkleidung an und bewaffnen sich, weil sie befürchten, Kim und Will könnten ihre Vorräte stehlen. Als Paul Andrew sehen und untersuchen möchte, zieht Will eine Waffe und bedroht ihn. Er befiehlt Andrew, seine Augen geschlossen zu halten und fordert einen fairen Anteil an Proviant. Doch Paul und Sarah können Will überwältigen und die anderen aus dem Haus befördern. Als Will Paul draußen angreift und auf ihn einschlägt, erschießt ihn Sarah. Daraufhin versucht Kim mit Andrew in den Wald zu flüchten, doch Paul schießt auf die Fliehenden und tötet sie.

Wenig später erwacht Travis schwer krank im Bett und wird von Sarah getröstet. In der Abschlussszene sitzen Paul und Sarah, sichtlich mitgenommen und schweigend ohne Travis am Tisch.

Produktion

Stab und Besetzung
Regie führte Trey Edward Shults, der auch das Drehbuch zum Film schrieb. Shults hatte mit dem Film eigene Erfahrungen verarbeitet: "Das kommt durch den Verlust meines Vaters. Das, was Sarah in der Eingangsszene ihrem Vater erzählt, habe ich meinem Vater an seinem Sterbebett erzählt. Er hatte Angst und war voller Reue und wollte nicht loslassen. Das war eine traumatische Erfahrung, die mein Leben verändert hat. Zwei Monate später hab ich das Drehbuch geschrieben und es floss nur so aus mir heraus. In drei Tagen war es fertig." Über lange Strecken zeigt Shults die Geschehnisse aus der Perspektive von Pauls und Sarahs Sohn Travis.

Joel Edgerton spielt den Familienvater Paul, Carmen Ejogo seine Frau Sarah und Kelvin Harrison den gemeinsamen Sohn Travis. Christopher Abbott spielt den Vater der zweiten Familie Will, Riley Keough seine Frau Kim und Griffin Robert Faulkner den gemeinsamen Sohn Andrew. Bei Travis' Hund Stanley handele es sich um einen Hund mit einer ganz eigenen Persönlichkeit, so der Regisseur.

Dreharbeiten, Marketing und Veröffentlichung

Die Dreharbeiten fanden in einem alten Haus in der Künstlerkolonie Byrdcliffe Colony in der Nähe von Woodstock in New York statt. Die Produktionskosten beliefen sich auf rund 5 Millionen US-Dollar.

Anfang Juni 2017 veröffentlichte A24 einen finalen Trailer zum Film. Der Film feierte am 29. April 2017 beim Overlook Film Festival in Mount Hood seine Premiere. Am 9. Juni 2017 kam der Film in die US-amerikanischen Kinos. Ein Start in Deutschland erfolgte am 18. Januar 2018.

Rezeption

Filmgenre und Altersfreigabe
Zum Genre erklärt Simon Scholl von PC Games, It Comes at Night als reinen Horrorfilm zu klassifizieren, würde eindeutig zu kurz greifen: "Zwar gibt es einige starke Grusel-Passagen, doch im Laufe der Zeit entwickelt sich die Handlung mehr und mehr zu einem sozialen Drama, in dem die Menschlichkeit während der Apokalypse eine zentrale Rolle spielt. Das funktioniert relativ gut und verleiht dem Ganzen eine zusätzliche Bedeutungsebene. Nichtsdestoweniger bleibt dadurch viel von dem wirklich tollen Schauer-Potenzial vom Anfang ungenutzt."

Auch Antje Wessels bemerkt in ihrer Kritik, der Film sei kein Horrorschocker, wie der Trailer suggeriere, und erklärt: "Nicht irgendein Monsterwesen ist das pure Böse, sondern der in die Enge getriebene Mensch." Der Film punkte nicht über reißerische Jump-Scares, so Wessels weiter, sondern vor allem über eine beklemmende Kammerspielatmosphäre, die sich mühelos zuspitzen könne, ohne dass "es" tatsächlich nachts komme.

In den USA erhielt der Film von der MPAA ein R-Rating, was einer Freigabe ab 17 Jahren entspricht. In Deutschland ist der Film FSK 16. In der Freigabebegründung heißt es: "Der Film ist von einer intensiven, fast durchgehend angespannten und bedrohlichen Atmosphäre geprägt. Immer wieder gibt es auch Gewalt- und Tötungsszenen, die aber nicht ausgespielt werden. Jugendliche ab 16 Jahren sind fähig, die Handlung als irreale Horrorgeschichte zu durchschauen und die Geschehnisse entsprechend einzuordnen."

Kritiken und Einspielergebnis
Der Film konnte bislang 87 Prozent der Kritiker bei Rotten Tomatoes überzeugen. Im Rahmen der Golden Tomato Awards des Jahres 2017 ging der Film als Drittplatzierter in der Kategorie Best Horror Movie hervor.

Antje Wessels bemerkt auf Quotenmeter.de, dass das Marketing des Films einen falschen Eindruck erweckt habe und er kein Horrorschocker sei, wie im Trailer suggeriert: "Schnelle Schnitte, eine dröhnende Tonspur und die Andeutung von explizitem Bildmaterial sollen einen hysterischen Horrorreißer suggerieren, doch am Ende ist It Comes at Night vielmehr eine Art Hybrid aus dem Thriller-Kammerspiel 10 Cloverfield Lane und M. Night Shyamalans zwiespältig aufgefasstem Twistride The Village, wobei dieser Vergleich keinerlei Aufschluss über den Ausgang der Geschichte gibt." Der Film sei atmosphärisch dicht und emotional fordernd, so Wessels weiter, was ein hochspannendes, unaufgeregtes und nicht minder forderndes Psychospiel ergebe, das den Puls des Zuschauers ganz ohne Blut und Monster ordentlich in die Höhe schnellen lasse. Weiter bemerkt Wessels, einzelne Erzählfragmente machten allenfalls erahnbar, was die Zivilisation einst dahinraffte und unter welchen Bedingungen die letzten Verbliebenen des Super-GAUs nun leben müssen. Wessels bemerkt das Taktieren mit der Ungewissheit, kritisiert jedoch auch, dass die innerfilmische Logik nicht immer gewahrt werde und der Zuschauer manchmal ein Auge zudrücken müsse, um das Gezeigte glaubhaft im Kontext unterbringen zu können. Über Kameramann Drew Daniels sagt Wessels, dieser qualifiziere sich mit seiner paralysierenden Arbeit als einer der besten im jüngeren Genrebereich. Filmkomponist Brian McOmber seinerseits habe eine solch zurückhaltende Musik fabriziert, dass die aussagekräftige Tonspur aus fremden Geräuschen und unheimlichen Lauten noch mehr zur Geltung komme. Wessels resümiert, in dieser Kombination malträtiere It Comes at Night die Nerven des Zuschauers auch ohne Jump-Scares ganz ordentlich.

Brian Tallerico, ein Kritiker von Roger Ebert, sagt, es gebe im Film zwar keine Zombies auf den Straßen, Butzemänner im Keller oder Hexen im Wald, doch er sei dennoch einer der gruseligsten Filme seit Jahren.

Simon Scholl von PC Games resümiert in seiner Kritik zum Film: "Ambitioniertes und lohnenswertes Horror-Drama, das sich aber gerne stärker auf seine Kernkompetenzen hätte fokussieren dürfen."

Die weltweite Einnahmen aus Kinovorführungen belaufen sich bislang auf rund 19,3 Millionen US-Dollar.

Auszeichnungen (Auswahl)
Artios Awards 2018
 Nominierung in der Kategorie Low Budget – Comedy or Drama

Black Reel Awards 2018
 Nominierung als Beste Filmschauspielerin (Carmen Ejogo)

Gotham Awards 2017
 Nominierung als Bester Nachwuchsschauspieler (Kelvin Harrison)

Los Angeles Online Film Critics Society Awards 2018
 Nominierung in der Kategorie Best Sci-Fi / Horror

Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards 2017
 Nominierung in der Kategorie The Overlooked Film of the Year

Weblinks

 It Comes at Night – Offizielle Website zum Film
 It Comes at Night – Offizieller Trailer von Leonine Studios bei YouTube (Video)

Einzelnachweise

Filmtitel 2017
US-amerikanischer Film
Horrorfilm
Independentfilm
Alternativweltgeschichte
Endzeitfilm

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Barkhana will be blown away seeing Anupama's children, Anuj will make Kapadia sad.
By New Times Of India Staff On Jun 8, 2022
TV serial Anupama is now showing that Anuj Kapadia's sister-in-law has a plan in mind. Some things are going on in Barkha's sister-in-law's mind right now. She wants Anuj Kapadia's assets and her own people to be a part of the business.
In the last episode, it was seen that Barkha was clearly telling her husband to talk to Anuj for property and business. Then Anuj and Anupama come there. But they don't know anything. Many blasts are going to happen in today's episode. Let us tell you what twists are coming.
Tonight Anupama will be seen coming home better by participating in the Youth Fest. Anupama will be very happy to meet them both. Anupama will get emotional after hearing aunt's words in the mouth of Barkha and Ankush's daughter Sara. Meanwhile, Anuj and Barkha will also be there and will talk a lot together.
Barkha will host the party at a five star hotel. He is going to invite many big people from Ahmedabad to this party. He wants Anuj and Anupama's marriage to be announced in front of everyone. Along with this, Anuj will also make a big announcement related to his business.
Anuj then tells Barkha that the party has to be canceled as he and Anupama have to go to Shah House for a walk. Hearing this, all the hopes of Barkha will be shattered. When he is alone he will think that nothing will be out of control and will make him his brother in this game.
In the latest episode of Anupama, it will be seen that the secret of Anupama's children against Barkha and Ankush will be revealed soon. Pankhi and Samar Kapadia will come home and surprise Anupama. At the same time, Anupama will be asked to come home for a walk.
Then Barkha will come to know that Anupama has three children and knowing this her feet will be shaken off the ground. Barkha thinks that Anuj's wealth and business will be her lot. In this, he will talk to Anuj about his part.
Hyundai Creta is coming to compete with the new SUV, know when it will be launched
The top 10 TV shows of the week have been announced.
On Which Platform We Can Watch the Striking Out Season 3? Renewed or Canceled!
When Will Shark Tank Season 15 Released and On Which OTT Platform We Can Watch It?
Gigolos Season 7: On Which Streaming Platform We Can Watch the Gigolos?
The Offer Season 2 Renewal Status: Is It Renewed by Paramount+ in 2023?
Who is Missy Elliott Dating in 2023? A Look At Her Marriage Rumors!
Who is LisaRaye McCoy Dating in 2023? A Look At Her Relationship Rumors!
Who is Landon McBroom Dating in 2023? A Look At Her Past Relationship!
Who is Jack O'Connell Dating in 2023? How Long Did Kaya and Jack Date?
Who is Missy Elliott Dating in 2023? A Look At Her Marriage…
Who is LisaRaye McCoy Dating in 2023? A Look At Her…
Who is Landon McBroom Dating in 2023? A Look At Her Past…

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How is the boat/sails rigged? Snug/Loose/Tight?
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That was John Constance's mission statement for his ideal world. It is carved onto the base of his statues; inscribed on a plaque in every Home; available, through Acquisition, on countless mugs and T-shirts and in cross-stitch 'Have a Happy Hobby!' kits.
Channel 43 is wont to commence its breakfast programme with various paraphrases to hearten and inspire: "No death, but from great boredom. No visible sickness of the body or mind. No thrills, no fun, but only bloody Harmony." Mugs and T-shirts for these and similar sentiments are not yet widely available.
Welcome to Harmony: a place of one hundred percent protection from almost all of the leading causes of death. Here, you are part of a thriving community, with a stress-free scheduled existence, a TV channel for every taste and the world to – Virtually – explore, from the safe, comforting confinement of your own home.
But freedom has not been sacrificed: merely redefined. And Governance can always be trusted to have the best interests of the Community at heart. In short, Rosa Larrimer is living in a stone-cold, genuine Utopia and she really shouldn't be feeling so... twitchy.
I enjoyed this as an inventive and original reading experience. There are elements of science fiction here, and Hodgkinson keeps it interesting.
A little bit Donald' Barthelme, a little bit John Barth, plus shades of science fiction. A very unique book.


Silent But Deadly (Megaphone, 1969): Tap's first live album, an acid rock epic recorded at the Electric Zoo in Wimpton. Listen for the snap-crackle-pop sound effects during Nigel's spoken intro to "Breakfast of Evil." Rated B+ (IST) See also Audible Death; Electric Zoo; Short 'N Easy.


Should the configurations listed below not meet your requirements, call our Tech Dept. for a custom order. Call our Tech Dept. for recommended tuners and plumbing installers. Plumbing kits are also available in "show" version with polished lines, distribution blocks and chrome solenoids (if included in part number).
4 cylinder Inline Sportsman Fogger without solenoids includes: 13700B nozzles, jets for 50HP - Plumbing kits are offered for those needing only the components related to the intake manifold plumbing of a direct port injection kit. Proper quantities of nozzles, lines, jets, and appropriate fittings are included.


text:
Angkor Thom - The Southern gate of Angkor Thom - A bridge across the Ocean of Milk
The ancient city of Angkor Thom was the heart of the Khmer Empire. The location where the capital city was settled, was far from the sea, so this could prevent any invasion of this city from the sea. at the same time, the defensive walls provided a solid shield against the enemies that tried to hit the Khmer Empire from the land. The Empire provided many defensive lines across its territory, but here all was made to prevent the enemies hitting the most vital places. So, inside these unbreakable walls, the houses of the kings and the government palaces were built. According to my plans, I decided to start my visit with the main buildings inside the city of Angkor Thom. So, on the first day of my trip I hired, thanks also to the help of the hotel personnel, a tuk-tuk that took me to see these places.
While coming from Siem Reap, you'll first pass by the Angkor Wat, then next the Phnom Bakeng, and then also before another temple called Banksei Chamkrong. I had planned the visit to this temple on another day, so I went straight toward Angkor Thom. The ancient city is surrounded by a huge moat and massive defensive walls. In our day, both the moat and the walls are still impressive, in spite that, through the centuries, most of the moat has been filled with soil. Now the moat has water only in the rain season, and it's still a good place only for the water buffaloes. I went there at the end of October, when the rain season was just over, so I had the good luck to see the moat filled with water.
Coming from Siem Reap, you have to go through the Southern Gate of the walls. My reference from the past, Mr. Zhou Daguan (1295 A.D.), described this place with these words "The walls of the city are about twenty li (about 10 Kilometres) in circumference. There are five gateways, each of them with two gates, one in front of the other. There are two gateways facing east, and one gateway facing in each of the other directions. Around the outside of the city walls there is a very large moat. This is spanned by big bridges carrying large roads into the city. On either side of every bridge there are fifty-four stone deities. They look like stone generals, huge and fierce-looking. The five gateways are all alike. The parapets of the bridges are all made of stone and carved into the shape of snakes, each snake with nine heads. The fifty-four deities are all pulling at the snake with their hands, and look as if they are preventing it from escaping. Above the gateways in the city wall there are five stone Buddha heads. Four of them face toward the four cardinal points, and one of them is placed in the middle. It is decorated with gold. On either side of the gates the stone is carved into the shape of elephants". His description matches perfectly what people see while coming here. His words seem like suspended in the time, and, whispering them while stepping on the bridge, among the statues of the Deities, sounds like a timeless charm.
But for me it was also interesting to know what those statues meant. Why the Khmers repeat this scene on every bridge of Angkor Thom and evoke it in other temples? What did this mean to this ancient people? So, I looked inside my books, and I discovered that it's the representation of an Hindu legend called "The churning of the ocean of milk". In short legend says that once the Gods, after a curse, lost all their powers. This brought the Demons to win over them and to rule the world. So, Indra, the King of the Gods, told the Gods to ask his brother Lord Vishnu for help, (an higher rank God). Vishnu agreed to help them, and told them a plan to gain new power. The Gods had to treat the Demons in a diplomatic way, as the Gods couldn't afford a battle. So, they asked the Demons, to work alongside the Gods to obtain the Nectar of Eternal Life, and after attaining it, they would have shared it. The nectar could be only obtained churning the ocean of milk, but none of the two armies could do it alone. On the same time, Visnu assured the Gods, that, when the Nectar would come out, he'd manage that it'd be only for the Gods. So, the Gods aligned on a continent while the Demons on the other. In the middle was placed the Mountain Mandarachar and it would be the dasher for the churning process. Then Vasuki, the king of the Nagas (deities shaped like many-headed serpents) was asked to help, that became the churning rope. So, the Gods and the Demons started to pull alternatively under the guidance of Lord Vishnu. From the churning of the ocean of milk came out many treasures, like, for example, the Moon. In the churning process, also appeared the Asparas (a very common figure in the temples, as it's both in Hindu and Buddhist religions), that could be compared to the Western, Muses and Nymphs. In the end came out the Nectar of Eternal life, and after a struggle among the deities, the Gods seized it and drank it, gaining new power and winning over the demons.
For the Khmers was also very important the figure of the Naga snake, so they felt like this legend meant much for them. So, in many temples you find the Nagas guarding them (always with less than nine heads, as there is only one, the king of Nagas to have nine heads and it can't be used so easily for every temple). Moreover many temples and citadels are crossed from one side to the other from an ideal line, usually like the opposite gates, just to remember the episode of the "Churning of the ocean of milk". So, in spite of that Angkor Thom has these ideal lines crossing it, also every gate is shaped to remember the same episode. As you can see in the first picture of this group, it looks like the gate is the mountain in the middle of the two parties. While in the second picture you can see some Demons pulling the Naga. In the short description made by Mr. Zhou Daguan, the gate is described like having the sculptures of elephants on its pillars. When you come close to the gate, you see the outline of three elephants heads. In fact, on the pillars of the Angkor Thom gates was sculptured the sacred elephant Airavata, that Indra is used to ride. While walking in this place, you are surprised how such a small place can give you so many feelings. I mean, the size is still huge, but it's still very small compared to the temples. The Angkor Thom welcomes you in this extraordinary way, and be sure that it's just little compared to the wonders that you can see later.
Angkor Thom - Bayon Temple - The towers of the compassionate king watching over his people
When you enter the walls of the Angkor Thom, you don't feel like being inside the ancient city. In fact, we're used to seeing buildings only from behind the defensive walls of the ancient cities, but here, the walls look like they are defending a forest. The street is flat and goes straight facing north. It's pleasant to go with a tuk-tuk or bike in the hot air, under the shadow provided by the very tall trees. On your way, sometimes you'll meet some spots equipped for picnics, and surely some people standing there, maybe also in company of some wild monkey. Then, all of a sudden, you see something appearing before you. What you meet on your way, looks like a rocky hill. This rocky hill has a strange shape and looks like sharp rocks are going out of it everywhere. Only when you get close to it, you discover that it's not an hill, but a very complex temple. You can see it from a distance in the second picture of this group. The majestic Bayon Temple is just before you. Again, a first look will fool you. It looks much smaller than it is. Only when you're inside of it, you can understand how big and complex it is. This temple was built by a king called Jayavarman VII. His story is quite heroic and in our days he is still somewhat worshipped like the real ancestor, the father and protector of Kampuchea.
He was a descendant of the ruling king, but he, when he was still young, already a commander of an army, decided that the court life didn't suit him, and decided to leave it. Although the royal family was settled in the city Yasodharapura, he went to live into a Buddhist monastery, in a region controlled by the Chams (the modern central Viet-Nam). But then in the 1178 A.D. the Chams, with the help of Balinese troops initiated a surprise massive attack in order to conquer the Khmers. They came from the sea, then sailed upstream first the Mae Khong river, then the Tonle Sap river, then again, the Tonle Sap lake, until they reached the shores near Yasodarapura. Here, they sailed upstream the Siem Reap river and broke into the city. The invasion was a real disaster. The city was occupied and sacked, the people were killed and also the king and is family were sentenced to death. So, from his far land Jayavarman heard the cry of the people. He gathered new troops faithful to the Khmer Empire, and he came back thirsty for vengeance. His arrival was signalled by an unprecedented clash with the invaders. The epic battle took place in the city, but the Chams couldn't stand the fury of Jayavarman. The city was set aflame by the same Jayavarman, so, the Chams fled on the lake, but he followed them with ships and continued his battle on the lake until the very last Cham ship was sunk. Now Kampuchea was again free. Now he was the new leader of a broken country. So, he decided to start new works in the country to prevent future invasions. He had a different ideas compared to those of his predecessors. In fact, even though his predecessors were of Hindu religion, he was Buddhist. He didn't believe anymore that the Gods would shield his people from invasions, as much as he didn't believe that the Gods could grow the rice fields instead of men. The Buddha could bless them, but people had to do their part.
He started new plans for the city. He founded the new city Angkor Thom and decided to build the massive walls around it to protect it from future invasions. He built many temples, like the Bayon, and many others. He decided also to build a new water reserve for the rice fields, and also streets, hospitals and shelters for the travellers. He soon became king (the scholars added the number VII to recognise him for the predecessors, otherwise, it'd be just king Jayavarman), and with his lead, Kampuchea reached it's greatest wellbeing. Some scholars also pinpoint the reign of Jayavarman as the beginning of the end of Khmer Empire. In fact, king Jayavarman VII, introduced into the higher ranks the Buddhist religion. Some kings tried to reintroduce Hinduism soon after (even destroying some parts of Buddhist temples), but were unsuccessful. Furthermore, the following kings cared more for their own businesses than for the people. They were living inside their own world within the walls of the city, while the water reserves were filling with soil, the streets were breaking and there weren't funds for the army. Now the people, according to the Buddhist religion, didn't believe anymore that the kings were Gods, so they also lost respect for them. In addition, the always less water in the water reserves didn't permit them to have as many rice harvest as in the past, and this meant also less food for the people.
After Jayavarman VII no more temples were built. The walls of the city weren't cared for, and shortly after, the new armies coming from Siam (the modern Thailand) defeated the crumbling empire many times. The end of the Angkor times is set in the 1431 A.D. after which, most of the temples were abandoned.
Anyway, these days, while entering Angkor Thom, one of the best places to see is the Bayon temple. At a first glance, this temple looks quite complicated to visit, but it's not. The temple is made up mainly of two enclosures. The first one is a courtyard that surrounds the temple, which is also surrounded by an high wall. In this courtyard, you can also find two buildings that once were libraries. While the second enclosure is the real temple, that is in stages. When you enter, you find that the part of the temple that looks on the courtyard is decorated with bas-relief, while many statues of Nagas and Singha Lions are guarding it. As soon as you step in there, you are overwhelmed by the wonder looking at those Nagas, and you can't stop thinking how it would have been beautiful when it was a lively place. You can see this place in the third picture of this group.
My reference from the past, Mr. Zhou Daguan pictures this place calling it "the golden tower", probably because most of it was covered with golden tiles. He describes the Bayon Temple with these words "In the centre of the capital is a gold tower, flanked by twenty or so stone towers and a hundred or so stone chambers. To the east of it is a golden bridge flanked by two gold lions, one on the left and one on the right. Eight gold Buddha are laid out in a row at the lowest level of stone chambers". When you pass the first enclosure, you feel like you're in the same spot described by Mr. Zhou Daguan. So, you first look on one side, then on the other, still thinking from which part to start, and in the end, you look up and you're amazed (you can see how it looks from the bottom in the fourth picture of this group). From there, you can see him. He is smiling. He is surrounding you. But the look on his face is reassuring. Now you know from where you want to start. Many gigantic Buddha faces are smiling at you, inviting you to come and see them close up. Some scholars also believe that it isn't Buddha sculptured, but he's the king Jayavarman VII himself. I'm still impressed by the beauty of the place, and I can't imagine what amazement could have been conveyed seeing this place as it's described by Mr. Zhou Daguan. If you look at it carefully, it looks like a cluster of towers, over each tower are sculptured from two to four huge faces of Buddha-Jayavarman VII. The meaning of these faces on the sides of the towers, each looking at a different cardinal points, are meant like the compassionate Buddha or the king Jayavarman VII are constantly looking in every direction to find where their people are suffering and to help them. If you count them, you can see that now there are 37 towers, while once, when more of them were erect, they were 49. It looks like a tower was built for each of the main cities of the Empire.
So, you start to walk toward the centre of the temple, planning to climb it and to see those faces from up close, but you need to stop again. In fact, you meet some columns on your way, and you can't resist the need to stop and look carefully at the beautiful Apsaras carved on them. These Apsaras are pictured in groups of 2 or 3 and are all dancing on lotus flowers. You can see a group of three Apsaras in the fifth picture of this group. They are so beautiful, that you'd like to caress them, but you can't, you don't want to ruin such a beautiful bas-relief, so you keep on looking at them. They look like they are dancing and their smiles are charming. Later you start again on your way up to the higher stages of the temple. You first have to walk through dark galleries, that open on your sides. Then you have to climb up some steep stairways, and then you reach the higher level of the temple. The centre of the temple is made of a mountain-looking structure with a chamber in the middle. It looks like Jayavarman VII, despite that he was Buddhist, also made some chambers for the Hindu deities, so this place could be shared by the people of both religions.
You can both cross through galleries of the central tower as much as you can walk around it. In some smaller houses around the central tower you can find some Buddhas and in some others you can see the places where were placed some Lingas. Again, in the beginning, the way around the central tower looks more complicate that it is in reality. It's even easy to make your way around. But there's no need to rush, as you find yourself surrounded by a very wonderful place, and it's full of things that are worth seeing. Beside the very beautiful big faces, you can also still see many wonderful bas-reliefs of Apsaras and Devatas. You can see the way around of the central tower with the towers and big faces in the sixth and seventh pictures of this group. When I was there, in spite the terrible heat from the sun and the stones of the temple, I was amazed and happy for having such a chance to see all those sculptures and bas-reliefs. The Devatas were so lovely, delicate giving to everybody such warm feelings. Everybody I'd met on my way was standing still, looking carefully at all those Devatas. In addition, the sculptors made them with such precise details that you can still see all their jewellery on them. They are all absolute masterpieces. You can see some of them in the eighth, ninth and tenth pictures. I spent about two hours in the temple, and then I decided to make my way out, promising to myself to come back in the next days.
So, I walked all the way back, down the steep stairways and through the carved galleries on the sides of the courtyard (you can see a gateway to the upper floors with carved galleries on its sides in the eleventh picture). Before leaving the Bayon temple, I still went to see the carving on the outer walls. These beautiful carvings are show both the battle that Jayavarman VII endured to free the Khmers, and also some scenes of everyday life. You can see a small piece of these bas-reliefs in the twelfth picture. Now it was time to head East and to go and see some other interesting places.
Angkor Thom - The Terrace of the Elephants
When you reach the Bayon temple, you also find a short street that, at a crossroad before the enterance of the temple, goes to North. If you follow this street, after few hundred meters, you reach a very broad open space. This place, that is about 300 metres long is called "The Terrace of the Elephants". The name comes both from the elephant bas-reliefs in all its length, and also for the three headed elephant Airavata that are sculptured on each side of the stairways that lead to the top of the walls. This open space separates two palaces called "Baphoun" and "Phimeanakas" from a line of smaller buildings called "Prasat Suor Prat" and "Kleangs". This place is the ideal place to visit after the Bayon Temple. In fact, after visiting a place with such a concentration of things that need to be seen, you can have some rest on this terrace. On the way that connects the Bayon Temple to the Terrace of the Elephants, you can also have some rest in some food shops or do some shopping as many small shops, held by local people, provide both foods, beverages, books, and souvenirs. A thing is worth saying about the books. Most of the books that can be found here are fakes of the originals. So, if somebody buys them, they must be aware that it could be bad-copy of the original. I mean, the text would be the same, but the pictures and maps (if you buy a guide-book) could be of very low quality. Anyway, you can still buy some top quality books.
After some rest in the shadows of the small restaurants, the Terrace looks even more beautiful. In fact, the Angkor archaeological site, is a place that needs to be visited slowly, without any rush. When you're entering the terrace, with the golden sun and emerald grass, you can decide if going to see the king's palaces on your right, the other terrace on the end of the Terrace of the Elephants, or the other small buildings on your left. It's advisable to see first the palaces on the right, then the terrace at the end of the Terrace of the Elephants and in the end, to spend some minutes to see the "Prasat Suor Prat" and the "Kleangs". It can also be pleasant to start to walk, slowly along the walls, and to see, in all their beauty, the elephants bas-reliefs that cover the terrace in all its length.
Angkor Thom - The Terrace of the Leper king
On the end of the Terrace of the Elephants there is one more, smaller terrace. In fact, here the Terrace of the Elephants ends with a stairway, and a new, smaller terrace starts. This new terrace is called "The Terrace of the Leper king". This place is a high terrace, on which it's walls are carved with bas-reliefs showing the heaven. You can see it in the first picture of this group. The strange name of this terrace, was given after the finding, on the top of it, of a statue covered in moss. The moss made it look like a man affected by leprosy. To reinforce the leprosy idea, in addition appear some scripts from the past, one from Mr. Zhou Douguan, that described leprosy as a very common illness in ancient Kampuchea. It looks like the king Jayavarman VII was also affected by it. Anyway, recent studies said that the statue could have been the God Shiva or some other God. In fact, this was the place where the funeral pyres of the royals were lit. So, the statue should represent the God that would judge the soul of the dead. It is very interesting to walk before this wall, and to see all these carvings. They look rather like they repeat themselves over and over, but it should just show a multitude of deities waiting for the soul in the heavens. They are smiling, while welcoming into the heavens. On both sides of the terrace there are short stairways that lead to the top of it. And, after having climbed them, there you can find him, the Leper king statue. He's resting sitting on the Javanese position, with his right knee up. The statue is naked and somebody customarily dresses it with orange cloth. The statue look to the East, as a symbol of rebirth, like the sun that is reborn every morning. Anyway the statue that you find before yourself isn't the original one. The original one is in the museum in Phnom Penh, even if, this one is still very beautiful. You can see it in the second picture of this group.
But the mystery of the statue isn't the only one that can be found here. In fact, the archaeologists, while making the digs and clearings around the terrace, found a buried passage. This passage goes between the statue of the Leper king and the external wall. Now comes the mystery. Why was it buried? Some scholars say that probably, the king didn't like the work, and decided to bury it, and start a new one over it. Some other scholars, looking at the faces of the statues, seeing that many were looking almost sad or angry, and made a new theory. Maybe this is a representation of the underworld. As outside was heaven, deep underground would be the hell, quite similar to the outer heaven, but still a sad place. You can see the entrance to the "underworld" in the third picture of this group. Once you walk all your way through the "underworld passageway", you find yourself on the opposite side of the terrace, and it's worth visiting one more time the heavens with the reassuring smiley faces of the deities. This a small and mysterious place, that is worth being seen from close up over and over again.


In the bay of Old Bank you will find the marvelous Ecological Hotel Aqua Lodge, an ecological boutique hotel built on the sea with 4 standard bungalows, 3 Honeymoon Suites and 2 rooms in the main building. A fantastic idea is the water window in the bungalows through which one can observe the maritime life and the turquoise sea.
From the private terraces of the bungalows, which offer a great sunset every day, you can start snorkeling and kayaking (at no extra cost); Part of the hotel is a 3-hectare nature reserve, which can be explored on your own or discoverd with the gardener.
What can you do here? Relax and rest, enjoy bathing, snorkeling and the underwater world, in the vicinity of the hotel is a colorful coral reef – distance is 3 minutes.
By kayak you can explore the island and also the nearby village of Old Bank.
The Hotel owned private Reserva Natural offers a lot of wildlife: red and green frogs, only to be seen on Bastimentos, excellent hiking trails and great tour offers, (Zapatillas, Coral Key, Cueva de los Murciélagos, Playa Estrellas, Punta Hospital and others) Dinner on the sea and the best sunsets.


Outgoing Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, has advised his successor to go around the country and adopt measures that would enhance security.
Speaking after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari together with his successor, he said, "I want to inform Nigerians that today I am 60 years and I think I have reached the pinnacle of my career.
"So I am going to handover to my successor, the incoming Inspector General of Police. He is an officer I know very well. We knew each other in the past, we have worked together and I wish him success.
"The advice I will give is that just like in our time, he should try to go round the country and adopt measures to ensure that the Nigeria Police Force give maximum protection to lives and property, " he said.


Will my skin soak up the calories in skin cream?
Given that a normal sized person, a grown up person, has a skin surface area of maybe 2 square metres and given that we're about 70% made up of water on the inside, we would lose a lot of water across the skin if it didn't perform efficiently as a protected barrier. It carries out this remarkable feat primarily through a very thin specialised layer, the stratum corneum. This layer on most parts of the body is only 1/100th mm thick. Under the microscope, stratum corneum looks a little bit like a brick wall. The bricks are the skin cells. All the bricks can take out water, the lipids filling the spaces between them provide an oily film into which water transfers reluctantly. Remember that old adage that water and oil don't mix. So, what happens when we apply oil-based creams to our face to provide some moisturisation during cold dry winters? Is the oil or fat in the cream absorbed into the body making us put on weight? Well, the short answer is no. Not to any extent that you would notice around your waistline. The function of the oily part of moisturising creams is to reinforce the lipids in the stratum corneum and to make it even more difficult for water escape. But where do the oils of the fats go in the end? Well, they mix in with the natural lipids of the stratum corneum and some may well move gradually into the deeper layers of this thin barrier. But once on the other side, they encounter an environment which is very watery. In oily substance, this is not an attractive place and therefore, fat transfer out of the stratum corneum will be very slow and unfavourable.
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Maulana Abdul Haq (Urdu : عبدالحق, Pashto : عبدالحق, 'Abdul-Ḥaqq; 11 January 1912 –7 September 1988) of Akora Khattak, sometimes referred to as Abdul Haq Akorwi (Urdu : عبدالحق اکوڑوی, 'Abdul-Haqq Akoṛwī) was a Pakistani Islamic scholar and the founder, chancellor, and Shaykh al-Hadith of the Islamic seminary Darul Uloom Haqqania. He was involved in politics as a member of the political party Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam. He served three times in the National Assembly of Pakistan and was an active proponent of the Khatm-i Nabuwwat movement.
Darul Uloom Haqqania is an Islamic religious seminary located in Akora Khattak, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan. The seminary propagates the Deobandi trend of Sunni Islam and was founded along the lines of Darul Uloom Deoband. It has been dubbed as The University of Jihad due to the methods and content of instruction along with the future occupations of its alumni.
Abdul Haq completed his religious education in India at Darul Uloom Deoband. He taught at Deoband for four years until difficulties arose due to the independence of Pakistan. In 1947, he founded Darul Uloom Haqqania in Akora Khattak, one of the first Islamic seminaries to be established in Pakistan. He taught hadith at the madrasah for the rest of his life and was well known by the title "Shaykh al-Hadith".
The partition of India in 1947 eventually accompanied the creation of two independent dominions, India and Pakistan. The Dominion of India became, as of 1950, the Republic of India (India), and the Dominion of Pakistan became, as of 1956, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan (Pakistan). In 1971, the People's Republic of Bangladesh (Bangladesh) came into being after Bangladesh Liberation War. The partition involved the division of three provinces, Assam, Bengal and Punjab, based on district-wide Hindu or Muslim majorities. The boundary demarcating India and Pakistan came to be known as the Radcliffe Line. It also involved the division of the British Indian Army, the Royal Indian Navy, the Indian Civil Service, the railways, and the central treasury, between the two new dominions. The partition was set forth in the Indian Independence Act 1947 and resulted in the dissolution of the British Raj, as the British government there was called. The two self-governing countries of Pakistan and India legally came into existence at midnight on 14–15 August 1947.
Peshawar District is a district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. It is located about 160 km west of the Pakistan's capital Islamabad. The district headquarter is Peshawar, which is also the capital of Khyber Paktunkhwa.
Mardān is a city in the Mardan District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, Pakistan. Located in the Valley of Peshawar, Mardan is the second-largest city of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, after the nearby city of Peshawar.
Chhachh or Chach is a region consisting of an alluvial plain extending from Attock District of Punjab, Pakistan, southwest of Topi and Swabi.
Meerut, is a city in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is an ancient city, with settlements dating back to the Indus Valley civilisation having been found in and around the area. The city lies 70 km (43 mi) northeast of the national capital New Delhi, and 453 km (281 mi) northwest of the state capital Lucknow.
Dars-i Nizami is a study curriculum or system used in traditional Islamic institutions (madrassas) and Dar Ul Ulooms, which originated in the Indian subcontinent in the 18th century and can now also be found in parts of South Africa, Canada, the United States, the Caribbean and the UK.
Maulana Abdul Haq was the founder member of Jamia Millia Islamia (A Central University), New Delhi, India. He was elected as a member of foundation committee of Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi which was headed by Sheikhul Hind Maulana Mahmood Hasan. Such committee has several other members such as Maulana Abdul Bari Farang Mahli, Maulana Mufti Kifayatullah, Maulana Shabbir Ahmad Usmani, Maulana Hussein Ahmad Madani etc.
Deobandi is a revivalist movement within Sunni Islam. It is centered in India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh, has spread to the United Kingdom, and has a presence in South Africa. The name derives from Deoband, India, where the school Darul Uloom Deoband is situated. The movement was inspired by scholar Shah Waliullah Dehlawi (1703–1762), and was founded in 1867 in the wake of the failed Sepoy Rebellion in northern India a decade earlier.
Manazir Ahsan Gilani was an Islamic scholar from the Deobandi school of thought, which is one of the major Islamic schools in Indian subcontinent. Maulana Manazir Ahsan Gilani is often referred as Muhaqiqe Islam, Sultanul Qalam and Mutakallime Millat. He was born on the 9th of Rabiul Awal 1310 H in a village called Gilani in Bihar. His father's name was Abul Khair. Their Arab descendants reached the Indian subcontinent about three centuries ago via Iran and finally settled in a village which came to be known as Gilaan. His elementary education was at home and then he stayed in Tonk for six years studying under the revered Maulana Syed Hakeem Barakaat Ahmad. Thereafter, he was admitted in Darul Uloom Deoband and studied Bukhari and Tirmizhi from Shaikhul Hind Maulana Mehmood-ul-Hasan and also accepted Shaikhul Hind as his spiritual mentor. He also studied Muslim from Maulana Anwar Shah Kashmiri. His other teachers at Darul Uloom Deoband include: Maulana Shabir Ahmad Usmani, Mufti Azizur Rahman Usmani, Maulana Habibur Rahman Usmani and Maulana Syed Ashghar Hussain Deobandi. While at Darul Uloom Deoband, he was noticed by his teachers to have special qualities which outshined him from the rest of the students.
Muhammad Masihullah Khan Sherwani Jalalabadi was an Indian Deobandi Islamic scholar known as an authority in Sufism. He was among the senior khalifahs of Ashraf Ali Thanvi, who gave him the title "Masih al-Ummah".
Maulana Hassan Jan Madani was a Pakistani Islamic scholar. He was born on 6 January 1938 in Prang, Charsadda. He was Shaikhul-Hadith at Darwesh Masjid in Peshawar and used to deliver Friday sermons in the same mosque. He was also the vice president of Wifaqul-Madaras, the largest board of Islamic universities (Jamiat).
Sayyid Muḥammad Anwar Shāh ibn Mu'az̤z̤am Shāh Kashmīrī was a Kashmiri Islamic scholar from former British India. During his career, he taught at a number of prominent institutions, including the Darul Uloom Deoband which contains a gate named in his honor. He authored a numbers books on Islam, which were published in Arabic and Persian.
Jamiah Islamiah Talimuddin Dabhel, popularly known as Dabhel Jamiah Islamiah or Jamiah Islamiah Dabhel, is one of the historical institutions of higher Islamic education in the sub-continent. Maulana Ahmed Hasan Bham, student of Maulana Ahmad Miya Lajpuri established the Jamia in 1908 A.D. It is situated at Dabhel, surat, India.
1 2 "Molana Sami Ul Haq". Darul Uloom Haqqania. Retrieved 7 October 2012.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Molana Abdul Haq (R.A)". Darul Uloom Haqqania. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Muḥammad Akbar Shāh Buk͟harī (1999). اکابر علماء دیوبند / Akābir 'Ulamā'-i Deoband (in Urdu). Lāhaur: Idārah-yi Islāmiyāt.
1 2 Qurayshi, Ijazul Haq. "Maulana Abdul Haq - Islami Tahrikuno Asar". khyber.org.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Khattak, Quraysh. "Maulana Abdul Haq". khyber.org.
↑ "Maulana Samiul Haq". Senate of Pakistan. Retrieved 26 July 2012.
↑ "5th National Assembly" (PDF). National Assembly of Pakistan. Retrieved 7 October 2012.
↑ "6th National Assembly" (PDF). National Assembly of Pakistan. Retrieved 7 October 2012.
↑ "7th National Assembly" (PDF). National Assembly of Pakistan. Retrieved 7 October 2012.
↑ Maulana Allah Wasaya. Qadiyaniat Defeated in the Parliament.
↑ Muhammad Taqi Usmani; Sami ul Haq (January 2005) . Qadianism on Trial. trnns. Muhammad Wali Raazi. London: Khatme Nubuwwat Academy. p. 209.
↑ Long, Justin. "Darul Uloom Haqqania: Training Camp for Islamic Leaders, Afghani Taliban". Network for Strategic Missions. Retrieved 7 October 2012.


The Shepherd's Conference has finished with a bang by MacArthur. This years conference has been titled The Inerrancy Summit, and it has assembled a stellar gathering of speakers: Alistair Begg, R. C. Sproul, Steve Nichols, Ligon Duncan, Carl Trueman, Mark Dever, Steve Lawson, Greg Beale, Derek Thomas, Al Mohler, Sinclair Ferguson, Iain Murray, Kevin DeYoung, and no I didn't make this up.
Most of the sessions are on Vimeo, and more audio and video options will be coming later, I presume.
There is only video available for this conference, from what I can find.
Southern Seminary held The Expositor's Summit in 2012 and it featured speakers including Al Mohler, Russell Moore, Ray Ortlund, Hershael York, Dan Dumas, Daniel Montgomery, Kevin Smith and Alistair Begg.
Alistair Begg, John Piper and John Lennox come together in a conference that is a real treat to listen to. This trio is a uniquely fitted group of men that shine with distinctive voices, backgrounds and convictions that resonate with combined power. The Q&A session is testimony to this.
Each one of these men and their messages are equally marvelous and helpful. Begg with his down to earth wisdom and pastoral insight; Piper with his rational theological power and motivation; and Lennox with his sharp discerning mind and articulate clarity.
I must point out that this conference was my introduction to John Lennox. Lennox is a mathematician and philosopher of science at Oxford, and a Christian. He is one of the most formidable opponents to the new atheism crowd. The man is a wealth of wisdom.
This certainly was a great conference and I commend it highly.
It's always a pleasure to listen to Alistair Begg — good theology, biblical preaching mixed with a great Scottish voice.
Alistair preached two sermons, one on Revelation 7 called 'The Vision Glorious' and another on Acts 17 called 'Some Strange Ideas'.
This year the speakers were Voddie Baucham, Derek Thomas, Edward Lobb, and Keith Getty.
Alistair Begg is a good ol' Scot who is one of the few faithful expository preachers in the contemporary church. He has been pastor of Parkside Church in Cleveland, Ohio for 22 years and operates the ministry Truth for Life. Alistair is hard hitting, yet a pleasure to listen to.


text:
Update in Garcia case
The hearing scheduled before Superior Court Assignment Judge Peter Bariso on the voters' lawsuit challenging the eligibility of Carmelo Garcia to run for General Assembly in LD 33, originally scheduled for 10 a.m. tomorrow, has been moved to Friday at 2 p.m.
The change in time follows an unsuccessful attempt by Garcia to have a federal, rather than a state judge, decide the issues in the case.
Late this afternoon, U.S. District Judge Claire C. Cecchi issued a 6-page opinion remanding the case back to Judge Bariso. In granting the remand, Judge Cecchi wrote that "it would be more efficient for Judge Bariso to continue with the resolution of this matter" since Judge Bariso has already begun considering the issues involved and had previously issued an order stopping the printing of ballots.
The lawsuit claims that Garcia is ineligible to run for the state legislature because he simultaneously serves as the executive director of the Hoboken Housing Authority, an agency that receives over $10 million annually in federal grants.
Filed Under: New Jersey Politics, nj back room
SEE ALSO: Healy in the face of Fulop attack: 'No one's been vetted the way I have'


Location of Manhuacu on a map.
Manhuacu is a city found in Minas Gerais, Brazil. It is located -20.26 latitude and -42.03 longitude and it is situated at elevation 641 meters above sea level.
Manhuacu has a population of 54,607 making it the 53rd biggest city in Minas Gerais. It operates on the BRST time zone, which means that it follows the same time zone as Belo Horizonte.


On this day, I faced the rift between the follow and the leader within myself; with a healthy dose of Divine Trust in the end; had a bad fall in the afternoon; and made great progress despite suffering knees and feet. Read on for more!
I woke to the sound of tents rustling, quiet murmurs of people shaking off the morning dew; and I was covered in morning due; as was my sleeping bag. The sky was a very dark shade of blue, with a twinge of lighter blue in the eastern horizon. This was the earliest I have gotten up and out of the sleeping bag.
I could barely see, and my back and hips were sore. The cold and moist air brought crisp vitality to my body and boosted me quickly through packing up mini-camp. I fumbled through the motions in the dark and managed to hit the road just as the sun was peeking above the eastern horizon. What a lovely and early start!
I could barely see any better, so I followed the animating and moving figures ahead of me hoping that I was following the walking pilgrims. Trusting that no matter what, that I was going to the right place - towards Talpa de Allende.
After I could see again, I was indeed following the other pilgrims, blind.
The path went from straight to curvy, going through forest. I once again got to enjoy the refreshing and invigorating energy that the trees and soil were giving me, and that I was participating in the natural energetic cycle again. Cold air was streaming in through my nostrils, hot, spent air exhaling through my mouth; as the Cadence built up - A, B, C, D, A, B, C, D towards what I called the Locomotive pace.
The forest gave way to a scene of rocks, and I had to quickly slow the Locomotive to accommodate my progress through the rocks. Other pilgrims were passing me left and right, as they were not deterred by the rocks; and as I looked ahead, I saw that there was no path amongst the rocks, except for what the long train of pilgrims were making.
This progress continued for another hour or so, while more pilgrims were passing me. Eventually no more pilgrims passed me, and I was left alone, with no pilgrims to follow and mark the path. I was a little lost by this time as the forest had completely given way to a endless field of large rocks. I had relied so much on following the other pilgrims so much this morning that I never built up my own navigation and resources in preparation for this moment!
My pace slowed to a crawl as I wallowed in my dismay. In a way I was suffering, and in another way, I was immersing and relishing in this emotion, this experience. Tears steamed up to my eyes and formed droplets like forming condensation. A few drops managed to hit critical mass and roll down my cheeks. The feeling of dismay was rolling and cycling out of me like my hot breaths were earlier when I was in Locomotive mode.
I continued to step blindly forward - "direcho" as the Spanish word goes (straight ahead), and I started to scan the horizon. I saw what looked like a distinct "chink" in the horizon, as if it were a gateway of some sort, and decided that I was going to walk towards that until I found a path again.
I continued like this for a long while, as the air began to warm up, as the rocks continued onwards before me. All I could do was Trust the Universe.
Then, a path formed again, being very curvy and wended its way through rock walls; until it led back along the main highway and a long and *extremely* crowded series of huts! The trust paid off, and my stomach suddenly let out a loud hungry protest. It was time for breakfast. My body wanted fatty, hearty, thick food.
I eventually found an empty spot in the sun - everyone else was avoiding it and was crowding all the available shade and shadows. I was alone in a 8 person table and a waitress came to take my order. There are no menus except for what is listed on the neon cardboard signs. I ordered Chilaquiles with eggs; and a large bowl of menudo. The chilaquiles came first, with the eggs and some sort of sour cream with the thick consistency of yogurt. I wolfed that down as the tortillas arrived and sopped up the sauces, chile salsa, and the cream with a couple of them.
Thick, hearty, fatty serving of Menudo. The best I hever ever seen!
This was by far the best bowl of Menudo I have ever presented with. Normally I did not like this dish because there was always too much "limp" and "purpose-less" fat, and little substance. This was not the case. In fact, I felt the Earth's abundance from it and dove in with gusto; as yet more tortillas arrived.
I also ordered a two liter jug of orange juice, which actually came as agua fresca de nataranja (orange), and ended up being an appropriate accompaniment. I relished this second dish as sun continued to slowly climb the sky and aided in building an immense sweat. A great sign of soup working itself through me, cleansing me for the day ahead!
I finished up and paid a tad less than a hundred pesos. I got up and felt the weight of the meal. It was going to a hardy store of energy, but it meant I had to carry it! I looked around and there were so many people, pilgrims and mainstreamers, like a sea of upright sardines, animating. I was very disoriented and had no idea where the road leading to Talpa was!
I made my way to the highway and followed it east, and saw a few scattered pilgrims who were equally disoriented and confused. We ambled our way through the crowds, and some of them resigned to follow the highway as it became more devoid of people in its transition back to a lonely road.
I was in turmoil. I was missing the woods, the nature, the lack of urban influence and was yearning for it as the steps along the highway continued, sun beating at my back. I spotted a group who had a camp set up and I approached them. They asked if I wanted food and I indicated that I was full. They asked my need and I responded that I was looking for the pilgrim road. They understood my yearning and dismay and told me to cut across the fields and farms across the highway. I will find the road and plenty of pilgrims to follow. I did as directed and indeed found them, on the lovely road in nature, flanked by nature and farms.
I was overjoyed and annoyed at the same time. How did I miss the road?! The feelings stayed with me as I rejoined the train of pilgrims. Looking back, I must have lost my way during the rocks and missed the road. However, if it were not for straying, I would not have had such a great breakfast. Things work out the way they work out and I am still alive and back on the path to Talpa again.
Overjoyed to see this pilgrim train again. Look, even a toddler was going!
The Locomotive pace began to build up again and for the next couple of hours, the road breezed under my feet and I kept pace with the other pilgrims, leapfrogging and being leapfrogged by a particular family with small children walking. Pretty soon we came to a series of huts going through a rural town; and it was time for refreshment. I sweated profusely the last couple of hours, huffing and puffing at a locomotive pace.
I came across a vendor w1ith a half full giant container of agua fresca, and asked for a liter of it - lime with chia seeds. He did not have a large enough cup, so I asked for two cups. He looked at me strangely, trying to figure out how I would manage it with only one hand. He helpfully suggested that he fill a bag, and stick a straw. Good enough for me!
I paid and walked on, liquid bag in hand, drinking via the straw as I walked. The way through the hut town was slightly rocky and uphill, flanked by low stone walls. The afternoon path continued this way until we rejoined the highway. Eventually we came across another series of huts and I stopped when I spied a large pile of coconuts, and a man wielding a machete, hacking at them to make suitable agua containers natural style. I found a space on a thin log bench to sit on and watch Mr. Coconut Machete work.
I got thirsty again, the desire for coconut reaching a peak and walked over to ask for one. He obliged and asked if I wanted the full meal? This entailed me drinking from the coconut, then him converting the coconut into a dish of the flesh served with chile, salt, and lime juice. Delightful! I accepted and partook in that mini-meal. Soon, it was time to move on. The sun now marked the early afternoon and there was a long way to go, I felt.
The long, afternoon road alongside the highway.
The path turned into a straight and steady double file road, with thin patches of dry grass separating the two files. I spent time criss-crossing between the two paths, as the procession of pilgrims was steady as cars going along a two lane highway, weaving between each other to accommodate different paces. There was only tall, dry, and yellow field grass hiding us from the highway. On occassion, horsemen would pass us, clearly marked by the clip-clopping.
At one point, I missed a step to avoid a rock without being conscious of it and I fell, *hard*. Falls are much harder when there is a heavy load on the back to fuel the extra momentum downward and forward. My knees hit the dark dirt first and I slid forward on my right knee, then came through a few tumbles led by the backpack and eventually ended on my side, looking back.
A horseman was right behind me going at a locomotive pace and both he and the horse had to break their momentum to avoid crushing me underneath. As I watched him stop, barely aware of what was going on, immersed in a sea of pain, and not having registered the fall. My eyes swam as I saw him jump off the horse and come to aid me. I felt many hands bring me upright and I was up again as the horseman took a last step off the stirrups. He saw that I was upright and got right back onto the horse, not being needed; and continued on.
The other pilgrims wordlessly checked me and the pain was subsiding a bit as I registered the events for the last dozen seconds or so. There was pain on my right knee and my pants were shredded along the legs, covered in dark dirt. I checked myself for broken bones or limbs and found none, just a lot of pain. I indicated to the other pilgrims I was fine and they continued on. I took a gingerly step, one after anotheer and found that I could walk.
I continued onward too, but at a slower pace.
The road lost its grassy surroundings and soon was right alongside the highway, with a thin and gravelly path serving as a curb. We had no choice but to walk along this modest path. This continued on until the sun had made its way halfway from its high point towards the western horizon; and the Rutas del Peregrino finally diverged from the highway again, much to our collective relief!
Finally! Relief as the rutas diverges from the highway!
The road gets into more woodsy nature and starts to gently curve and progress downhill, with increasing shade on either side of the path. We all enjoyed the change in pace and continued this way for a while until the path straightened and started a steady uphill again.
Slight downhill through the woods.
My locomotive pace and Cadence slow to a crawl as I realize how tired I am after such a long way. Once again pilgrims were passing me left and right and I trudged onwards, sweat streaming down my torso, beneath my dirt caked shirt.
Somewhere along the way, I stopped at a hut to rest a bit. I noticed that my feet were swollen and pressed up against the shoe very hard making them painful to walk on, especially at the toes. I took off my shoes and noticed a blister beginning to form on one of the toes on my left foot. Instinctively, I took out a second sock and put it over that food, knowing that I was making a trade. An even tighter fit for extra protection for that toe. It took me about half an hour to put that shoe back on.
As I continued to walk, I decided to call my friend, Lloyd to catch up, ask him for advice on the blister, and help pass the time and distract me from the pain. We had a lovely conversation and I got plenty of knowledge on what I needed to do with that blister.
Just when I could not take it anymore, and my left knee was beginning to protest loudly, I saw a sea green awning and a few giant containers of agua fresca and a few chairs! I sat down at one of these chairs and requested a liter of an inviting amber colored agua-fresca.
It turned out to be a fine agua fresca de pina (pineapple) and I proceeded to nurse it as I rested and massaged my left knee and investigated for injuries on my right leg, as it was in pain as well. Turns out I scraped my right knee and all of the skin was off, leaving flesh covered in dirt. During my ascent on the Spine of the Devil yesterday, I dislocated my left knee and spent some time on one of the ascending huts hitting it back into pace, not noticing the pain because of all the sugar and fire coursing through me. This knee was just extremely sore now and needed time to rest.
While I continued to nurse my drink and knees, I checked the maps on my phone for the 3rd time today. The morning started out with 23km remaining (as the crow flies), then 19 km at the menudo restaurant. The current reading was 13 km remaning. There were so many curves and deviations along the way that the actual route did not match the distance.
At this rate, I was not going to make it to Talpa tonight as projected by others along the way. It will have to wait until tomorrow. I rested until both knees calmed down and the pain subsided.
I got up to continue on. The sun was now about 2 inches from the horizon, and the road became cobblestone and was facing the sun in a moderately steep uphill. I settled into a tortoise pace once again and walked on the right hand side of the road, feet shuffling back and forth, as I walked in a small zig-zag to accommodate all factors.
Along the way, I checked my maps. 10.5km, then 7.8km an hour later. Another half hour passes and it read 7.7km. Apparently it was still quite twisty of a road. The scenery became quite pastoral, the cobblestone gave way to red soil; farms, fields, and tractors adorning the sides of the road.
As the sun was only half an inch from the horizon, I was seeing pink from all the burn-in at looking at the sun as I walked to it. I spotted a giant sign to the right, and it welcomed pilgrims for the night, and that the church was undergoing construction for the next few years. I took that as a sign to rest here for the night and went into the secluded field that had a single small structure - a fancy alter to a virgin, with steps where pilgrims bent their knee and prayed and express their Gratitude to this particular virgin.
I found a spot in an energetically sound and flat patch of grass and proceeded to slowly set up mini-camp. Several other pilgrims came in as the sun was setting; and I eventually laid down to rest and enjoy some time off my feet.
I took off my shoes and felt my feet sigh with relief as they swelled; and I left my socks on. Eventually I got up and walked over to Thank the resident virgin at the alter, following the example of other pilgrims; and did this in silence. I decided to scout ahead a bit, and found a portable hospital facility; and a long series of huts. Something told me to not seek my needs at these places and that it would be fine to head back to my mini-camp.
I stumbled back to my mini-camp, sat down and started to unpack my backpack, to look for my evening food supplies and my toiletry bag with my little first aid kit. What I had left for food were cookies in a tube, Pringles style; a can of tuna from a few days ago; crackers; a cucumber; an onion; and five limes. I decided to eat all but the limes and the onion, as those things required a knife to cut them. I did not carry a knife with me as I was advised to not carry anything that could be seen as a weapon in Mexico.
Pilgrims were setting up their tents as the night progressed and the moon rose; and a bright yellow light turned on and illuminated the entire area. I eventually got all my medical supplies sorted and treated my right knee, cleaning it until the flesh was exposed to cooling air; and using some herbal clay to create a shell scab.
I put everything away and proceeded to arrange my backpack towards sleeping arrangements. I looked around for places to use as a bathroom for the night; found it and settled in for the night. Sun hat covering my face to block out that yellow light.
Sleep came in steadily and I was soon in a dreamless slumber.
99.92 km traveled so far; 21.03 km traveled this day.
I fell in love about how you enjoyed the walk even if it's so tiring. Also, the appreciation of yours in the earth or in the nature that really makes me happy. Every scroll I make is so interesting and wanted it to try. It also tells us the importance of discipline, follow and the leader. The hard works will pay off at the end of every journey and we'll be amazed of how we succeed in this. It was an amazing journey for you and thank you for sharing it with us.
Glad you got some inspiration out of reading my journeys thus far. I have seen a few of your comments from my other entries. Thanks for taking the time to read my humble blog.
A pilgrimage is a religious journey that shows the dedication and belief of a person. The destination here was the town of Talpa located in Jalisco, Mexico. People go there to experience first hand the power of the virgin Mary. This place is one of the most historic locations for all Christians. This is a really great post because they show the culture of the people and how they worship the virgin Mary. They also show how dedicated they are to their belief system. This made me realize how important it is to stay firm with what I believe in and to keep on believing even though times are tough. This shed a new light in me. I give my gratitude to whoever wrote this. Thank you so much.
You are welcome. I am glad something shed some light or you on your own journey o self.