This past week of settling in has left me time for my thoughts to wander to things that I'm excited for and things that make me nervous. I'd like to overcome the things that make me nervous and make a contentious effort to seize all that Greece has to offer. What better way to do this than by creating a bucket list. Think of it as a shorter version of my 'Kicking the Bucket' page above.
This is the first post in the series that I'm calling 'Girl Vs Greece'. Here's also a sneak peak at some pictures I've taken from this trip already.
Have you visited Greece before? What do you recommend I do?
What would you add to your summer bucket list?
You can read more about me and my relationship with Greece here.
You make me wish to visit Greece!
I think I may have one story going up tomorrow for you.
One tick down many more to go.
this all sounds so fun! I would love to visit some day!
I hope you get the opportunity!
The pictures are some of my favourite picks so far.
I hope you get the chance to go, one day!
It's right at the top with very good reason!
I CAN'T WAIT TO SHARE ALL THE ADVENTURES WITH YOU!
Greece sounds so cool! It is definitely on my TBT list. I would love to see you go without English for a day!
I need to pick a good day to go without English. It needs to be a day when I'm out and about.
Hikes and walks sound lovely! I haven't done many hikes here before! That would be a lovely change!
What was your favourite part of Greece?
I'm trying to improve whatever photographic skills I have.
I loved this post, Steph! Being bikini body confident is definitely on my checklist this summer too! Great post!
I think that despite confidence, we should strut our stuff anyways!
I hope you can! Till then, I'd love to show you parts of it whilst on this trip.
It's funny how I just read your flight-essentials post, before you aeroplane-d to Greece and there you are, in Greece for a week now? Whenever I create my own bucket-list for the Summer Holidays, I only ever complete five tasks out of the forty I've listed. I hope you have better success at achieving your targets and enjoy you time in Greece!
And now that I'm actually replying to you, its been about 3 weeks!
I should have a re-fresh of what I even put on my bucket list!
I haven't heard of Souvlaki Row...so I'm taking that as a good sign!
YES! I forgot to put loukoumades on the list and i'm yet to eat some but that's a really good one!
A walking tour of Athens also sounds like a lot of fun!


One stunning collection includes 1 each of a red, pink and yellow canna. Three plants in all. Gorgeous planted in mass.
When you order 2 collections you receive six plants and so on.
Cannas can be grown in zones 3-11 however they are hardy only in zones 8-11. In zones 3-7 treat as a tender bulb and lift prior to first frost and store in 40-50 degree area. Cut down to 3"; start to water in late winter/early spring to promote new growth and replant after last frost in spring.


A blend of fresh carrot puree, aloe, and ginger essential oil make this Castile soap incredible soothing and gentle on the skin.
• This soap is very high in vitamins A, E, and Beta Carotene, all of which can help to heal skin irritations and reduce wrinkles and scar tissues.
• These same ingredients, when combined with pure Castile soap, make this bar a soothing skin moisturizer.
• Essential oil of ginger has been added not only as a distinctive fragrance, but also to help warm the skin and relax the mind.


text:
Bodendenkmäler in Albertshofen

|}

Anmerkungen

Weblinks

Einzelnachweise

Albertshofen

Albertshofen

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
HomeD2Baseball
West Chester's Wright and Jefferson's Galligan earn D-II honors
By Patrick Gordon, Managing Editor Tuesday, April 27, 2021 0 Comments
Every week during the regular season, the Philadelphia Baseball Review will honor a Division-II Player and Pitcher of the Week.
For the week ending on April 25, the Philadelphia Baseball Review recognizes West Chester outfielder Zack Wright as Player of the Week and Jefferson hurler Jack Galligan as Pitcher of the Week.
Wright finished the week 13-for-26 with two homers, 12 runs scored, three doubles, and 12 RBIs. He's now hitting .375 on the season with five homers and 24 RBIs.
Galligan surrendered one run over six innings for Jefferson on Saturday in a win over Post. He collected nine strikeouts and scattered five hits. His ERA sits at 2.73 on the season.
Founded in 2006, the Philadelphia Baseball Review covers all aspects of baseball in the Philadelphia region.
Tags D2Baseball Philadelphia Baseball

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Spinal Stenosis is a group of conditions that results in narrowing of the spinal canal. There are three types.
Central Stenosis-This is the narrowing of the central portion of the spinal canal.
Foraminal stenosis-This is the narrowing of the foramen which results in compression on the nerve root.
Far lateral recess stenosis-This is the narrowing of the lateral portion of the spinal canal.
Spinal Stenosis results in back pain, dysthesias and unilateral or bilateral numbness in the buttocks, thighs, and leg. Symptoms typically start in the buttocks and radiate to the legs but can occur vice versa. The pain intensifies with walking and standing and is alleviated by sitting.
A MRI or CT scan can make a confirmative diagnosis as well as physical examination of the patient. Non-operative treatment options include rest and physical therapy. NSAID medication provides effective pain and inflammatory relief as well. In addition, facet and steroidal injections have proven to be beneficial in treating neurogenic pain.
Surgical intervention is recommended for treating spinal stenosis that has not been relieved by non-operative measures after 3-6 months of use. Laminectomy and Foraminotomy are the operative choice through which decompression is achieved from bone removal and widening of the narrowed portions of the spinal canal. In addition, adjunct fusion might be required to improve stability of the spine. These surgical interventions have a high success rate but might require lifestyle modifications to achieve maximum benefits, although long term pain relief cannot be guaranteed.


Is there ever a wrong time for sticky buns? Especially homemade, bacon and pecan topped sticky buns?! It might seem like a daunting task, but the only thing difficult about making these from scratch is waiting for them to proof when you just want to eat them! This is one of those baked goods that you think of as going out to get and never cooking yourself. But making these with your own hands really pays off where taste is concerned. Handmade food will always taste better than store bought. The neat thing about this recipe is that it's super easy to customize. These ones were made with bacon and pecans, but who is to say you couldn't use some bourbon in the drizzle? Or raisins in the filling? Try this recipe out, get inspired and be proud of being an awesome baker! Anything that takes 3 and a half hours to proof is worth being excited about.
Into a large bowl, add warm water, yeast, and 1 tbsp of sugar. Gently swirl once with a spoon and let sit for about five minutes, or until the yeast becomes slightly foamy. Add remaining sugar and salt. Stir until incorporated. In a separate bowl, whisk together milk, oil and the eggs then slowly stir into the yeast mixture. Start mixing in the flour, about 2 cups at first, until completely incorporated. Add the rest of the flour in 1/4 cup increments until the dough is sticky but not sticking to the sides of the bowl. This is also a great time to dive in with your hands and mix the dough, even knead it on a clean counter to better incorporate the flour. Once mixed well, place the dough in a lightly greased bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and a dish towel or cloth and place in a dark, warm place. Let rise for 1-2 hours or until the dough has doubled in size.
While the dough is rising, begin working on the caramel glaze. In a medium saucepan, combine all of the required ingredients and whisk constantly over medium heat until the butter has melted and the mixture has combined. Remove from heat. Drizzle some of the caramel glaze into the bottom of your DoveWare casserole pan. Set aside the rest of the glaze for later.
Once the dough has finished rising, mix together the brown sugar, cinnamon, cloves, salt and nutmeg in a small bowl. Roll out the proofed dough into a 16 inch by 12 inch rectangle (or something close to that; the beauty is in making it your own!). Pour melted butter over the dough and distribute using a pastry brush or spoon. Sprinkle the brown sugar and cinnamon mixture over the melted butter. Then, drizzle about half of the caramel glaze onto the dough as well. When you're happy with the filling being evenly distributed, it's time to roll! (Get it? A pun!) Starting at the top of the long edge of the dough, tightly roll the dough in on itself. When you reach the end of the dough, gently pinch the seam together and place that side down. Using a VERY sharp knife, cut the dough into 12 pieces. Place each roll into the pre-caramel-glazed casserole dish.
BUT! It's not time to bake yet! These babies need to go through a second proofing. I know, a lot of time for some cinnamon rolls BUT the end result is SO WORTH IT.
Cover the baking dish with plastic wrap and let rise again for 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
Don't worry, you're almost done! Once the rolls have risen for an additional hour or so, bake them in an oven pre-heated to 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 25-30 minutes or until the tops are a perfectly, drool-worthy brown. Remove them from the oven and allow to cool while you make the topping.
For the topping, mix the remaining caramel with the bacon and chopped pecans. Drizzle the desired amount over the sticky buns.
To serve, use a spatula and gently remove the requested sticky bun. Drizzle with additional topping and bacon if you'd like! We all know that calories don't count for dessert. Enjoy these buns knowing that you have just made them completely from scratch!


My entire life has revolved around sports. As a child, I played baseball, football and basketball year-round. During high school, I picked up the game of golf as well. I have been fortunate enough to merge my passion with my career, always pursuing the dream to be a sports journalist. Over the last three years, I have spent time covering a number of teams at the University of Oregon, including a Final 4-bound men's basketball team and a consistently successful football team. I also have had the pleasure of covering a number of track meets at Hayward Field, allowing me to delve into the freelance reporting world. My career is still young, but I can confidently say that I have staked out my spot in the sports journalism landscape.


text:
Category: comments on movies
Verbal abuser of wife and son in Doctor Who's production team?
The end of the "The Idiot's Lantern" episode of Doctor Who, which I saw yesterday night in BBC Prime (broadcast as channel 30 in Israeli cable TV), shows Tommy forgiving Eddie, his abusive father, after Eddie was thrown out of home by Rita, his wife and Tommy's mother.
Since this scene has the psychological effect of weakening the resolve of domestic abuse victims, I wonder whether someone in the Doctor Who production team is himself an abusive husband/father, who did not have an interest in lending moral support to abuse victims, who at last decide to do something about their situation.
Author Omer ZakPosted on 2008-03-23 Categories comments on movies, crazy ideas3 Comments on Verbal abuser of wife and son in Doctor Who's production team?
The Woman from the Bubble
Today I saw the premiere of the movie "The Woman from the Bubble" (directed by Neta Levi) in the Cinemateque Tel Aviv. It is a documentary movie about few months from the life of Lee Dan, an Israeli Sign Language interpreter. Several Israelis know her face and her trademark-long hair from the bubble allotted to the Sign Language interpreter in those TV programs, which are made accessible to the deaf by Sign Language interpreting.
Near the beginning of the movie, we see the painstaking camera adjustments, which need to be made for the interpreter to be properly centered in her bubble. The movie ends with her wedding ceremony (see full disclosure at end).
In between, there are several sketches of situations of interpreting, teaching the Hearing about the Deaf, and even attempts to matchmake single Israeli deaf Arab women with Palestinian deaf men. The men turned to be male chauvinistic and to prefer hearing women, who can hear baby cries without special technology.
Three scenes stayed in my memory.
When Lee Dan interpreted in a court trial involving a Deaf man, the Deaf defendant rudely cursed the judge. As a faithful interpreter, Lee Dan had to interpret his signs and pass along the same intonation and emotions. Since the defendant signed a lot of f*** words, the judge held the interpreter in contempt of the court!
Another court situation involved a rape, in which both the rapist and the victim were Deaf. Lee Dan interpreted for both the rapist and his victim. Due to her sensitiveness, it was very difficult experience for her. Lee Dan had to render the victim's humiliation and pain AND the rapist's cold outbursts that the victim denies having wanted it at the time. After this experience, Lee Dan vowed never to interpret in rape trials anymore.
An happier scene involved a pregnant woman, who was late to give birth, and was now hospitalized. The woman and her husband were very worried because she ceased to feel the fetus' movements in her tummy. The woman was connected to a monitor, which beeped in rhythm with the fetus' heartbeats. However she and her husband, being deaf, did not hear the beeps. Lee Dan asked a nurse to move the monitor closer to the woman's bed and asked the man and the woman to touch the monitor and feel the beeps. The scene ended with a look at the relieved and happy faces of the couple.
Full disclosure: I attended Lee Dan's wedding ceremony, and saw a cameraman there. However, my non-photogenic face did not make it to the movie.
Author Omer ZakPosted on 2007-11-11 2007-11-11 Categories comments on movies, deafness1 Comment on The Woman from the Bubble
What the bleep do we know!?
I was in Dizengoff Center because I went to see the Marlee Matlin starred movie. The movie was a cumpulsory movie for me, because was different from the usual mainstream movie. However I did not fully enjoy my experience viewing it. Compared, for example, to "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy", the Hitchhiker's wins in a big way.
I did not like the philosophizations which filled the movie. Philosophy and story line did not integrate well, in my opinion. Any philosophical discussion which confuses the exterior and the interior of humans is incomplete if it does not consider also:
Korzybski's General Semantics
About the subject of love, I noticed that Amanda, the movie's protagonist, was essentially alone. While she interacted with other people, and some of her relationships were not exactly superficial, they were not deep either. Missing was treatment of the deep relationship which goes into love, in which both parties create a new joint world and bear children into it. Then the children grow out of the world created for them by their parents and build their own worlds, and then they merge their own worlds with their own lovers' worlds and so the cycle goes on.
In the movie itself, love was not deeper than relationship with a cheating husband, some flirtatious dances, or eroticism from the point of view of cognitive psychologists.
Author Omer ZakPosted on 2005-12-07 2007-08-16 Categories comments on movies, crazy ideas, deafness, memes, scifi


text:
WonderCon 2016 Recap
WonderCon 2016 has come to an end, and we had such an incredible time! This year's convention was held at the Los Angeles Convention Center.
This was our first year attending WonderCon and it did not disappoint. As we pulled into Burbank, the Warner Brothers tower welcomed us with it's weekend Batman v. Superman wrap.
Warner Brothers water tower
Despite the rough start picking up our badges, WonderCon treated us incredibly well from the start. The convention center staff was incredibly helpful in making sure we knew where we were going and showing us the fastest way to get to each panel room.
Batman v. Superman was a running theme at WonderCon, from our badges to the program
Arriving at WonderCon and getting ready to hit the exhibit hall and panels
Before hitting the exhibit hall, we rushed upstairs to catch the Bob's Burgers panel, featuring show creator Loren Bouchard as the moderator and cast members Kristen Schaal, John Roberts, Larry Murphey, and Dan Mintz!
Bob's Burgers Cast
The Bob's Burgers panel was everything that we hoped it would be. From hilarious script readings to footage from upcoming episodes for this season and next season, the panel did not disappoint. Loren Bouchard continued to tease the hopes for a Bob's Burgers album as well. We will keep our fingers crossed for that!
After the Bob's Burgers panel, we went down to the exhibit floor where I ran into The Bat Commander from The Aquabats!
It's always great to run into the guys from The Aquabats. We've had them as guests at Salt Lake Comic Con and they've also stopped by Radio From Hell a number of times while I was doing some work with them.
One of our next stops was over at Nintendo's booth where they were showcasing several new games, including the new Star Fox game that will be releasing soon.
Vanella and I at the Nintendo booth
We traveled 600 miles so my wife could continue to play video games. She was more than happy to test out the new Star Fox game.
While wandering the exhibit floor we also encountered Stephen Amell and Megan Fox signing autographs for fans of the upcoming Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows film.
Lego continued the Batman v. Superman theme on the exhibit floor with these two awesome lego sculptures of the Bat Sign and Superman suspended over the exhibit hall floor.
Funko made their presence known all throughout the floor with giant Pop! figures across the floor.
We decided to take the next day off and spend some time around Hollywood where we had to stop at the Chinese Theatre for another screening of Batman v. Superman! The crowds were excited to finally see this film. Opening weekend at the Chinese Theatre was the perfect way to see the film.
The Chinese Theatre decorated for Batman v. Superman
The next day we got up early to head back to WonderCon for the Nerdist panel! The panel was morderated by the one and only, Chris Hardwick! Joining Chris on the panel was Jessica Chobot (Nerdist News, Bizzare States), Dan Casey (Senior Editor of Nerdist), Malik Forte (Nerdist Gaming), Kyle Hill (Nerdist Science Editor), Alicia Lutes (Nerdist Managing Editor) and other members of the amazing Nerdist family who's names escape me. I had a chance to talk with Chris for a moment following the panel. It's always great to see Chris at events.
Chris Hardwick moderates the Nerdist panel at the Microsoft Theatre
Tim & Chris Hardwick following the Nerdist panel
After the Nerdist panel, we stuck around for the panel for the hit CW show, The 100. Fans were excited to see the cast and had a lot of questions for the writers after a controversial death this season. I kind of felt bad for the writers for as harsh as the fans came at them, but they handled it well.
The cast of The 100
Los Angeles and WonderCon treated us great as always! For this being our first WonderCon experience, we couldn't have asked for a better time. We can't wait to return next year as WonderCon returns to Anaheim.
Thanks for having us!
Posted by On the Mic Podcast at 6:00 PM No comments:
Salt Lake Comic Con FanX Press Conference
Salt Lake Comic Con FanX kicked off the convention today at the Salt Palace in Salt Lake City!
The press conference is always something we look forward to at Salt Lake Comic Con. We love hearing all of the upcoming events as well as getting up close and personal with the guests in attendance.
The first guest introduced is one of my personal heroes, Astronuat Buzz Aldrin!
Dan Farr and Bryan Brandenburg welcomed Buzz with some fan art made compeletly of Legos
Some of the next guest introduced to the Press included Peter Davidson (Doctor Who), Sylvester McCoy (Doctor Who) and Mitch Pileggi (X-Files, Supernatural). As many of you know, I'm huge fan of Doctor Who, so being able to meet two Doctors during the press conference was quite a treat!
Celebrity guest in attendance
Following the guest introductions, the guests tooks their spots at the interview tables where we got to sit down and listen to Buzz Aldrin. This was such an incredible experience to be able to listen to the stories of somebody that I have admired since I was a kid.
Buzz Aldrin talking to the Press
Tim and Buzz Aldrin during the Press Conference
Peter Davidson and Sylvester McCoy of Doctor Who talking with the Press.
This was such a great press conference and it was great to meet so many great actors and people we have idolized for years. It's always great to be a part of Salt Lake Comic Con.
Following the Press Conference we went to check out some of the cosplay and stop by the booth for 'You Again'. As some of you know, I have been doing a little work on this show so I had to stop by and see Andrea and show them my support as well.
Tim and Andrea at the 'You Again' booth
There was some excellent cosplay as always at FanX this year. Here's a look at a few of the great cosplayers we encountered.
X-Men cosplayers
(Photo courtesy of Chritopher James)
Probably our favorite cosplay we encountered!
(Photo courtesy of Christopher James)
Unfortunatly, our time at FanX was cut short since we had to get on the road to Los Angeles for WonderCon. Before leaving, Vanella and I had to check in to see how Han was holding up.
We will have more coverage of FanX coming up, courtesy of Christopher James!
My wife and I checking in on Han.
Thanks for having us, FanX! We will see in you September for Salt Lake Comic Con!
Episode 63 - Andrew Sleighter
LISTEN TO THE EPISODE ON ITUNES HERE
[NSFW WARNING: EXPLICIT CONTENT]
On this week's episode I have comedian, Andrew Sleighter!
Andrew Sleighter
It was great to sit down and catch up with Andrew. If memory served me right, we first briefly met at Flappers Comedy in Burbank a few years ago, but neither of us could remember for sure. Either way, it was great to sit down and talk comedy with Andrew.
Andrew performing a The Improv
Andrew and I talked about starting his comedy career in Seattle, moving to Boston to do stand up, making the move to Los Angeles, his comedy idols, working on Sports Show with Norm Macdonald, performing on Conan and so much more.
Andrew on Conan
Huge Thank You to Andrew for taking the time to sit down with me before his show at WiseGuys in Ogden. Andrew has one more show TONIGHT at WiseGuys Ogden (269 Historic 25th Street). Tickets are just $10.
Tim and Andrew following the interview
Follow Andrew on all of the social media links below and make sure to get your tickets to see him tonight at WiseGuys! Thanks, Andrew!
Enjoy the episode.
'LIKE' ANDREW SLEIGHTER ON FACEBOOK HERE
FOLLOW ANDREW SLEIGHTER ON TWITTER HERE
VISIT ANDREW'S OFFICIAL WEBSITE HERE
FOLLOW ANDREW SLEIGHTER ON INSTAGRAM HERE
LISTEN TO THE EPISODE ON PODBEAN HERE
LISTEN TO THE EPISODE ON STITCHER RADIO HERE
Posted by On the Mic Podcast at 5:33 AM No comments:
Episode 62 - 'You Again' w/ Zachari Reynolds & Andrea Peterson
On today's episode, I had Zachary Reynolds and Andrea Peterson from the new web series, 'You Again'.
It was great to have Andrea and Zach on the show to talk about 'You Again', and tell everybody about how the series came about, who the characters are, working together, their acting careers, the crowdfunding campaign and so much more.
As many of you know I have also had a small part in 'You Again' as a collaborating writer on the series, as well as an actor in one of the upcoming episodes in the first season. I am honored to be a part of this show and have loved getting know Andrea and Zach through the process.
Andrea and Zach working out a scene on set
A huge thanks to Zach and Andrea for taking the time to join me for this episode. Make sure to check out 'You Again' when it premiers this summer. Please donate to the Indiegogo Campaign as listed below and make sure to follow 'You Again', as well as Zach and Andrea on social media.
Zach, Andrea and Tim following the interview
Thanks for listening! Enjoy the episode.
DONATE TO THE YOU AGAIN INDIEGOGO HERE
VISIT THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE HERE
SUBSCRIBE TO 'YOU AGAIN' ON YOUTUBE HERE
'LIKE' YOU AGAIN ON FACEBOOK HERE
FOLLOW 'YOU AGAIN' ON TWITTER HERE
FOLLOW YOU AGAIN ON INSTAGRAM HERE
FOLLOW ANDREA ON TWITTER HERE
FOLLOW ZACHARI ON TWITTER HERE
Posted by On the Mic Podcast at 10:07 AM No comments:
Episode 62 - 'You Again' w/ Zachari Reynolds & And...


text:
<?php declare(strict_types = 1);

namespace FeatureToggle\Strategy\ComparisonOperator;

class Equal extends AbstractComparisonOperator
{

    protected $value = '==';
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Cassandra R. Davis, Ph.D.
My Focus:
Overall, my work exposes the extent to which targeted groups (e.g., communities of color, low-income, etc.), who are already more susceptible to environmental disruptions, are made more vulnerable following an event. I define environmental disruptions as anything from hurricanes to viral pandemics. I intend to identify best-practices to support these groups, as well as educators, interested stakeholders, and policymakers.
My work has been supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Natural Hazard Center - CONVERGE, the UNC-CH Provost Office, and the Carolina Disaster Fund.
My passion for seeking justice has led me to gain expertise in the field of social vulnerability for schooling communities.
My Education:
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Education, Culture Curriculum, and Change (CCC)
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Education, CCC
Wake Forest University, Sociology (major) & History (minor)
Ludwig-Maximilians Universität in Munich, Germany & The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Global Education and Development Studies Program
For more information about my professional career, please click the following link and download my curriculum vita.
© 2020 Cassandra R. Davis PhD. Proudly created with Wix.com


text:
MattMcGloin
Position Quarterback
DOB12/2/1989
CollegePenn State
Oakland Raiders2013-2017 (4 Seasons)
How will McGloin playing QB affect Raiders' receivers in Week 17?
How the NFL now has a two-pronged, long-term plan in London
Alongside a 10-year deal to host games at Tottenham Hotspur's state-of-the-art stadium, the NFL is hoping its new Academy in London can help cement American football in the U.K. market.
After battle with depression, Falcons assistant hopes to change NFL culture
Ulbrich suffered for too long before seeking help for depression. Now he wants players to view asking for help as a sign of strength, not weakness.
Baker Mayfield isn't afraid of the hype
The uncompromising, unapologetic quarterback is a big reason the Browns are the NFL's hottest team (yeah, you read that right).
Athletes join in on the FaceApp #AgeChallenge
The #AgeChallenge went viral today, and it's no surprise your favorite athletes joined in. Take a glimpse into the future with a few of our favorites.
Robert Ayers, who played for the Broncos, Giants and Buccaneers after being drafted in the first round by Denver in 2009, retired from the NFL on Tuesday.
Will Browns' season be a disappointment if they miss playoffs?
The NFL Live crew debate whether or not the Browns should be disappointed if they don't make the playoffs this season.
All NFL News


Hi where a group of New Zealanders keen to boat in your area next spring .
Think about central BC. I would love to show you around. We have lots of NZ style water to play in. June / July best for the smaller water.


text:
Food and Drink Sep 21, 2006
Liver Let Live
Chicago Has Banned Foie Gras from its Restaurants—Is Portland Next?
by Matt Davis
Despite the outlawing of foie gras in Chicago, many Portland chefs are prouder than ever to serve the controversial culinary delicacy made from the fattened livers of overfed geese or ducks—but for how long?
Chicago's ban on actually serving foie gras—also known as goose liver pâté—went into effect on August 22, and is the first ruling of its kind, going one step further than banning production, which is already illegal in 17 countries and due to be outlawed in California in 2012. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) says it now expects the US ban to spread quickly—even to Portland—despite the failure of 2005's Oregon Senate Bill 861 to ban foie gras production here, and the continued refusal of the American Veterinary Medical Association to condemn it.
As PETA representative Matt Prescott writes, "In a few years, you're going to have to go to a dark alley in Iran if you want to eat the diseased liver of a tortured duck," adding that where foie gras is concerned, "it really isn't a matter of personal choice."
I'm not sure what PETA has against Iranians, but in the US, where individual freedom reigns supreme and I can still drive a polluting four-liter Mustang if I choose, should liberal Portlanders even pay lip service to legalizing what's edible in this city? Apart from the obvious (kittens and babies), does anybody have the right to tell me what I can and cannot eat?
The issue last flared up on Portland's streets in 2004, when campaigners from In Defense of Animals (IDA) screened shocking videos of foie gras production outside local restaurants—purportedly showing ducks being cruelly treated at the two biggest US foie gras firms, Sonoma in California and Hudson Valley in New York. Force-feeding geese or ducks grain through a metal tube, which is pushed down their throats directly into the stomach, produces foie gras. Apart from the off-putting feeding process, the videos also show other scenes that might put most people off their dinner—for example, a duck incapable of running away as rats gnaw on its open wounds.
In light of the Chicago ban, Matt Rossell, the NW outreach coordinator for the IDA, says he's yet to decide whether to revive the 2004 protests, the point of which was to educate the public about what is behind foie gras. "The cruelty is not in question—there really isn't a friendly way to force-feed a duck," he says.
While Rossell agrees people should in theory have the right to choose what they eat, he believes that with rights come responsibilities, and thinks diners should take responsibility for cruelty to animals in the production of a so-called delicacy. When pressed about what this means in practice, he admits he would like to see the Chicago ban extended to Portland—so much for our freedom to choose.
In 2004, the IDA saw a victory of sorts for its protests, when foie gras disappeared from three prominent local restaurants. It's still off the menu at the Heathman Hotel, and Greg Higgins at Higgins Restaurant says it isn't there because it's not "sustainably minded." Tom Hurley of Hurley's pulled foie gras after a month of IDA weekend picketing, but since then it has discreetly reappeared on his menu—seared with both scallops and steak. Hurley did not return the Mercury's call to discuss the issue.
Meanwhile, as the foie gras hits the fan in Chicago, many Portland chefs are now making a point of serving the product. Lately Daniel Mondok, head chef at the Carlyle Restaurant, has been serving a special dish of petite rib-eye steak with foie gras in a foie gras sauce. The newly opened Le Pigeon on East Burnside is even serving a peanut butter, jelly, and foie gras sandwich!
Eric Bechard, at the Alberta Street Oyster Bar and Grill, thinks foie gras is an easy target for the likes of PETA and IDA—whom he accuses of being "fundamentalist in nature" and of using "shock-and-awe tactics" in the editing of their videos of foie gras production.
Marcus Henley, the operations manager of Hudson Valley Foie Gras in New York, agrees with Bechard. While he admits some of the IDA's video footage was taken at his farm, he says it has also been edited out of context.
"Not every aspect of animal agriculture is pretty. In any 110,000 animal population you will find an animal not doing very well in the dark hours of the night, but it is deceptive to pick that one animal out from the rest," he says.
Back in Portland, Bechard says taking foie gras off his menu would be the beginning of a slippery slope. Next, he would have to stop serving veal sweetbreads and oysters, saying that in his view, PETA and the IDA will not be happy until he is running a vegetarian restaurant—a view PETA's Prescott shares.
Like many of his fellow chefs, Bechard also points to the production of battery-farmed chicken as far crueler than foie gras. It's a point reinforced by Pascal Sauton, head chef at Carafe, who favors sustainable products and personally toured the Sonoma foie gras factory in California when he decided to add it to his menu.
"Everything I serve, I know where it comes from. I thought the Sonoma farm was impeccable, I did not see any of the craziness that's been talked about—I was even kidding at one point saying I'd like to be reincarnated as a duck over there, but what I really get upset about is battery-farmed chicken—five hens per cage, it's insane," he says.
Battery chickens—pumped full of hormones and having their beaks cut off to stop them from pecking each other to death—arguably have a worse life than force-fed geese, which naturally gorge themselves before migrating. Rossell at the IDA is, however, quick to point out that ducks in the wild rarely eat so much as to be unable to walk, as is common toward the end of their force-feeding.
Like battery-farmed chicken, foie gras production is not cruelty-free, and aspects of its production are off-putting—but shouldn't we have the right to decide for ourselves what we ingest? As Sauton says, "If you believe foie gras is not correct, don't eat it. Just don't tell people what they can eat, or chefs what to cook."
Going, Not Quite Boldly
A British Gentleman Reviews Star Trek
It's Still a Secret
Appeals Court Blesses City's Hidden Roster of Addicts
An Opaque Revolving Door
County Hires WW News Boss without Interview


Babis is the Business Development Manager EMEA at Nomitech Ltd. Responsible to approach new leads, prospects and manage existing customers, to identify and secure strategic alliances, to build and support the certified partners network, Babis is also involved in the business, R&D, sales and marketing strategy plan build while managing the EMEA operations.
An experienced professional with a 20-years diverse career history, Babis has collaborated with multiple companies from different sectors to gain a deep understanding of the senior management to the end user business requirements, offering consulting services and software that can accelerate their work and support them in achieving their goals.


text:
The Life of Muhammad: An Inconvenient Truth
by The Religion Of Peace | Feb 25, 2017 | The Life of Muhammad
Timeline of Muhammad's Life (A.D)
570 – Born in Mecca
576 – Orphaned upon death of mother
595 – Marries Kadijah – older, wealthy widow
610 – Reports first revelations at age of 40
619 – Protector uncle dies
622 – Emigrates from Mecca to Medina (the Hijra)
623 – Orders raids on Meccan caravans
624 – Battle of Badr (victory)
624 – Evicts Qaynuqa Jews from Medina
624 – Orders assassination of Abu Afak
624 – Orders assassination of Asma bint Marwan
624 – Orders the assassination of Ka'b al-Ashraf
625 – Battle of Uhud (defeat)
625 – Evicts Nadir Jews
627 – Battle of the Trench (victory)
627 – Massacre of the Qurayza Jews
628 – Signing of the Treaty of Hudaibiya with Mecca
628 – Destruction and subjugation of the Khaybar Jews
629 – Orders first raid into Christian lands at Muta (defeat)
630 – Conquers Mecca by surprise (along with other tribes)
631 – Leads second raid into Christian territory at Tabuk (no battle)
632 – Dies
"Muhammad is a narcissist, a pedophile, a mass murderer,
a terrorist, a misogynist, a lecher, a cult leader, a madman
a rapist, a torturer, an assassin and a looter."
Former Muslim Ali Sina offered $50,000 to anyone
who could prove this wrong based on Islamic texts.
The reward has gone unclaimed.
(References to copies of the Sira are included at the end)
What if a man you knew began telling people that God was routinely speaking to him and only him – and that the "revelations" he claimed to be receiving were mostly about him and his relative importance to all other people? Say, for example, that this self-proclaimed prophet insisted that God had declared him to be the 'excellent pattern of conduct' for mankind (Quran 33:21) and that others were therefore to accord him with special privilege, unwavering obedience (Quran 4:80) , wealth and earthly desires, including all of the slaves and more women than his lust could handle.
Such figures still arise from time to time. Some of the more dynamic manage to develop a small group of followers so taken with their leader's self assurance that they willingly offer their own children to him for "marriage" or even kill on his behalf.
Would it really validate the message of any such cult leader if his followers did successfully kill and seize the property of anyone who dared disagree? What if they gradually expanded their power and numbers in such fashion that eventually they were recognized as a major world religion? Would that make the cult leader's claims about himself true? Would it really change the fact that what they believe ultimately sprang from the imagination of a narcissist?
In 610, an Arab salesman with a commanding personality attracted a small cult of credulous fanatics by claiming to be a prophet. Though his "revelations" were self-referential and occasionally contradicting, he was successful in manipulating his followers with promises of heavenly reward and threat of divine wrath. The god heard only by him told them to lie and steal for him, to give their children to him for sexual pleasure and, eventually, to gruesomely murder his detractors.
There are two ways to approach a study of Muhammad. One is with reverence and the other is with skepticism. Thinking persons choose the latter. They are not influenced by the number of Muslim believers in the world today or by their force of belief because these are meaningless for determining truth. They care only about fact.
The facts presented here about the life of Muhammad and the origins of Islam are fully supported by the works of early Muslim biographers upon which all later historians rely.
To understand Islam, you must understand the harsh circumstances into which the religion was born. The Arabian Peninsula at the time of Muhammad (b.570 AD) was a barren and desolate region with scorching sun and oppressive heat by day, and chilling cold at night. There was little vegetative growth, and the nomadic inhabitants lived between jagged rocks and shifting sand dunes.
While Europe and much of the Middle East was transitioning from the Roman to the Byzantine Empire, with roads, irrigation canals, aqueducts, and a culture that included philosophical discourse and theater, the Arabians lived short and brutal lives in warring tribes with little to offer the rest of the world beyond their own harsh existence.
This partly explains Islam's inherent hostility to music and art, which some extremists, such as the Taliban, take quite literally. Islam does not encourage the pursuit of knowledge outside of itself. It is, as Oriana Fallaci puts it, it is "the religion which has produced nothing but religion."
The inhospitable climate protected the peninsula from conquest and cultural influence. No foreign army felt that sheep and goats were worth taking from the desert fighters, so the area was relatively isolated, with the exception of certain trading routes. The renaissance of knowledge that the rest of the world had been experiencing since the Greek revival was largely missed out on by the Arabs, whose entire energies were devoted to daily survival against the ruthless environment and other tribes.
For these people, morality was dictated merely by necessity, and obligations did not extend beyond one's tribe. This is a critical basis for the development of the Islamic attitude toward those outside the faith, including the moral principle that the ethics of any act are determined only by whether or not it benefits Muslims.
There were pagan religious traditions in Arabia, particularly among those based in the trading centers such as Muhammad's birthplace of Mecca. Some of these towns had Kaabas – cube-like structures that would attract pilgrims during holy months. The Kaaba at Mecca housed various idols, including the black meteorite that remains to this day.
In addition to the black rock, Muhammad's Quraish tribe worshipped a moon god called Allah. Other gods were recognized as well. In fact, the town of Mecca was renowned for religious tolerance, where people of all faiths could come and pray at the Kaaba. (This would later change once Muhammad gained the power to establish his authority by force).
Islam was created both from these crude pagan practices and from the basic theological elements of Christianity and Judaism as Muhammad [often erroneously] understood them (his inaccurate interpretation of Christianity, for example, is often attributed to an early experience with fringe cults in the Palestinian region, then known as Syria).
Early Life at Mecca
Muhammad was born around 570 AD to a widowed mother who died just six years later. He grew up poor and orphaned on the margins of society, which was controlled by tribal chiefs and trading merchants. He worked for his uncle, Abu Talib, as a camel herder. Although his uncle had some standing in the community, Muhammad himself did not rise above his lowly station until he was 25, when he met and married a wealthy widow, Khadija, who was 15 years older.
His wife's trading business not only nurtured Muhammad's natural talents of persuasion, but it also gave the successful salesman an opportunity to travel and acquire knowledge that was not as accessible to the local population. He would later use this to his advantage by incorporating the stories that he had come across into his "revelations" from Allah, particularly the tales from the earlier religions, Judaism and Christianity.
Having attained a comfortable lifestyle and the idle time that wealth affords, Muhammad would wander off occasionally for periods of meditation and contemplation. It is quite likely that he was experiencing the symptoms of a midlife crisis, including a desire for personal accomplishment and meaning.
One day, at the age of 40, he told his wife that he had been visited by the angel Gabriel in a dream. Thus began a series of "revelations" which lasted almost until his death 23 years later. The Qur'an is a collection of words that Muhammad attributed to Allah. The Hadith is a collection of narrations of the life and deeds of Muhammad. The Sira is his recorded biography. The Sunnah is said to be Muhammad's way of life, on which Islamic law (Sharia) is based.
With his wife's influence and support, Muhammad proclaimed himself a prophet in the same "lineage" as Abraham and Jesus, and began trying to convert those around him to his new religion. He narrated the Quran to those who believed him, telling them that it was the word of Allah (heard only by himself, of course).
Muhammad's Quran does not contain a single original moral value. It contributes only one new idea to world religion: Muhammad is Allah's prophet. In fact, Muhammad's "Allah" seemed oddly preoccupied with making sure Muslims knew to obey Muhammad's every earthly wish, as this mandate is repeated at least twenty times in the narration of the Quran.
In the beginning, Muhammad did his best to compromise his teachings with the predominant beliefs of the community's elders, such as combining all 300 of their idols under the name "Allah." His amalgamation of Judeo-Christian theology and pagan tradition grew more sophisticated over time. The "revelations from Allah" affirmed his own position repetitively. Even if he did not remember the Biblical stories correctly, for example, each was conspicuously modified to incorporate a common theme: "Believe in the Messenger (Muhammad) or suffer the consequences."
Preaching and Persecution at Mecca
According to early Muslim historians, the Meccans did not mind Muhammad practicing his religion, nor did they feel threatened by his promotion of it. This changed only after the self-proclaimed prophet began attacking their religion, including the customs and ancestors of the people (Ibn Ishaq/Hisham 167). This was enough to stir up the resentment of the influential leaders of Mecca, who then mocked his humble background against his pretentious claims. (See also MYTH: Muhammad was Persecuted for Preaching Islam)
Still, Mecca at the time was a remarkably tolerant society. Muhammad was allowed to attack the local customs for thirteen years, even though the town's economy depended on the annual pilgrimage attended by visiting pagans, whose religion he actively disparaged.
At first, Muhammad was only successful with friends and family. After thirteen years, "the street preacher" could boast of only about a hundred determined followers, who called themselves Muslims. Outside of his wife, his first convert was his young cousin Ali (who would later become his son-in-law and the fourth caliph of Islam). Another early convert was Abu Bakr, a wealthy merchant whose money and credulous acceptance of Muhammad can be credited with the survival of the fledgling cult. (Muhammad would later "marry" Abu Bakr's 6-year-old daughter).
Relations with the Meccans turned particularly sour after an episode known as "the Satanic Verses" in which Muhammad agreed to recognize the local gods in addition to Allah. This delighted the Meccans, who generously extended their welcome. But Muhammad soon changed his mind after his own people began to lose faith in him. He claimed that Satan had spoken through him, and he rescinded recognition of the Meccan gods (Tabari 1192, Quran 22:52 & 53:19-26).
The locals intensified their mockery of Muslims and made life particularly difficult for some of them. Although Muslims today often use the word "persecution" to describe this ordeal (justifiably, in some cases), it is important to note that the earliest and most reliable biographers (Ibn Ishaq and al-Tabari) record the death of only one Muslim during this period, an older woman who died from stress.
This fact is a source of embarrassment to modern apologists, who do not like admitting that Muslims were the first to become violent at Mecca (see MYTH: The Meccans Drew First Blood against Muhammad) and that Muhammad was the first to resort to militancy… and at a later time, when it was entirely unnecessary.
To deal with this unpleasant truth, sympathetic narratives of the early Meccan years usually exaggerate the struggle of the Muslims with claims that they were "under constant torture." They may also include apocryphal accounts that are unsupported by earliest and most reliable historians (see MYTH: Persecution of Muslims at Mecca – Many Deaths).
Modern storytellers and filmmakers (such as those behind 1976's The Message) have even been known to invent fictional victims of Meccan murder, either to dramatize their own tale or to provide justification for the "revenge killings" that followed. But, in fact, the only Muslim whose life was truly in danger was that of Muhammad – after 13 years of being allowed to mock the local religion. (See also MYTH: Muhammad was Tortured at Mecca).
The Hijra: Flight from Mecca to Medina
The death of his uncle, Abu Talib, in 619 left Muhammad without a protector against the Meccan leadership, which was gradually losing patience with him. The true agitator in this situation, however, is quite clearly Muhammad himself, as even Muslim historians note. Consider this account of what happened at Abu Talib's deathbed, as the Meccans implored him a final time for peace with his nephew:
[Muhammad's chief adversary] Abu Sufyan, with other sundry notables, went to Abu Talib and said: "You know the trouble that exists between us and your nephew, so call him and let us make an agreement that he will leave us alone and we will leave him alone; let him have his religion and we will have ours." (Ibn Ishaq 278)Muhammad rejected the offer of peaceful co-existence. His new religion was obviously intended to dominate the others, not be on equal standing with them. Meanwhile, the Muslims were beginning to become violent with the people around them.Muhammad's search for political alliance led him to make a treaty of war against the Meccans with the people of Medina, another Arab town far to the north (Ibn Ishaq 299-301). This was the last straw for the Meccans, who finally decided to capture Muhammad and put him to death. (see also MYTH: Muhammad and his Muslims Fled Mecca because of Persecution)
Although this sounds harsh against Western standards, it is important to note the contrast between the Meccan reaction and that of Muhammad when he had the opportunity to deal with perceived treachery in Medina at a later date on the part of those who hadn't even harmed anyone.
The Meccans limited their deadly aggression to Muhammad himself. This is quite clear from the episode in which Muhammad escapes his home by using his son-in-law, Ali, to trick his would-be assassins into thinking that they had him trapped (Ibn Ishaq 326). No harm was done to Ali or his wife, both of whom subsequently remained in the city for several days to complete the transfer of Muhammad's family business to Medina.
Compare this to the episode of the Banu Qurayza (below), in which Muhammad slaughtered an entire tribe of people based on their leader having switched loyalties in a conflict in which none of them even participated.
The year that Muhammad fled Mecca for Medina was 622, which marks the beginning of the Muslim calendar.
Medina and the Genesis of Jihad
Stinging from the rejection of his own town and tribe, Muhammad's message become more intolerant and ruthless – particularly as he gained power. Islam's holiest book reflects this evolution. Later parts of the Quran add violence and earthly defeat at the hands of Muslims to the woes of eternal damnation that earlier parts of the book promised those who will not believe in Muhammad.
At Medina the relatively peaceful religion, which borrowed heavily from other Judaism and Christianity, was supplanted by the militant and totalitarian form of political Islam that is now known as Islamism. During these last ten years of Muhammad's life, infidels were evicted or enslaved, converted upon point of death and even rounded up and slaughtered according to expediency.
To fund his quest for control, Muhammad first directed his followers to raid Meccan caravans in the holy months, when the victims would least expect it. This despite the fact that the Meccans were not bothering him in Medina (see MYTH: Muhammad and his Muslims were Persecuted by the Meccans at Medina).
Muhammad provided his people with convenient revelations "from Allah" which allowed them to murder innocent drivers and steal their property (Ibn Ishaq/Hisham 426). The people around him gradually developed a lust for things that could be taken in battle, including material comforts and captured women and children. (See also MYTH: Muhammad Raided Caravans to Retrieve Stolen Property).
Often the people captured in battle would be brought before the self-proclaimed prophet, where they would plead for their lives, arguing, for example, that they would never have treated the Muslims that way. The traditions are quite clear in portraying Muhammad as largely unmoved by their pleas, and ordering their deaths anyway, often by horrible means. In one case, he orders a man slain, telling him that "Hell" will take care of the poor fellow's orphaned daughter (Ishaq 459). (See also MYTH: Muhammad Never Killed Captives)
The raids on caravans preceded the first major battle involving a Muslim army, the Battle of Badr. This was the spot where the Meccans had sent their own army to protect their caravans from Muslim raiders. Although today's apologists like to claim that Muslims only attack others in self-defense, this was clearly not the case in Muhammad's time. In fact, he had to compel his reluctant warriors with promises of paradise and assurances that their religion was more important than the lives of others. (See also MYTH: The Battle of Badr was Defensive).
The Consolidation of Power
Muhammad defeated the Meccan army at Badr, which emboldened him to begin dividing and conquering the three local Jewish tribes at Medina. Their mistake was to accept the Muslim presence but reject Muhammad's claim that he was in the line of Jewish prophets. His stories from the Torah simply did not agree with their own. (Muhammad's recited version of Bible stories sounds more like fragmented fairy tales with the same moral – believe in his personal claim to be a prophet or else).
How these three tribes, the Banu Qaynuqa, the Banu Nadir, and the Banu Quyrayza met their fate is insightful into the Islamic mindset, which employs an inherent double standard in its relations with those outside the faith.
First, to try and gain their favor, Muhammad briefly preached that Christians and Jews could attain salvation through their own faith. In fact, he changed his followers' direction for prayer from Mecca to Jerusalem, which prompted the Jews' tolerance of him while he worked surreptitiously for the power to evict them. These earlier concessions and teachings were later revoked by Muhammad, since the Jews ultimately refused his religion. The rare early verses of tolerance in the Quran are abrogated by later verses such as 9:29.
The Jews' knowledge of the Torah naturally threatened the Muslim leader's credibility, since it refuted the claims that he made about himself as a prophet of God. They also saw through the Biblical narrations that he had picked up from secondhand sources and knew that these contradicted established revelation. Conveniently, Allah stepped in to "tell Muhammad" that the Jews had deliberately corrupted their own texts to hide the very evidence of his own prophethood that he had insisted were there. (To this day, Muslims have never been able to produce a copy of the "true" Torah or Gospel to which their own Quran refers).
While the Jews remained unconvinced by such gimmickry, Arab polytheists converted to Islam in numbers, which soon gave Muhammad the power to make his intentions clear that Islam would be imposed by force:
While we were in the Mosque, the Prophet came out and said, "Let us go to the Jews" We went out till we reached Bait-ul-Midras. He said to them, "If you embrace Islam, you will be safe. You should know that the earth belongs to Allah and His Apostle, and I want to expel you from this land. So, if anyone amongst you owns some property, he is permitted to sell it, otherwise you should know that the Earth belongs to Allah and His Apostle." Bukhari 53:392
The Jews of Medina were the first in a very long line of unfortunate people to be offered the opportunity to convert to Islam under obvious duress. Forcible conversion is very much a Muslim tradition started by Muhammad (see MYTH: Muhammad Rejected Conversions to Islam made under Duress)
Since they chose to hold on to their religion (and their property) Muhammad looked for reasons to go to war against the Jews at Medina. According to some Muslims, the first tribe, theQaynuqa, were driven from their homes and land on the pretext that one of their own had harassed a Muslim woman. Although the offender was killed prior to this by a Muslim, the Muslim was also killed by Jews in retaliation for the first murder.
After laying siege to the entire community and defeating the tribe, Muhammad wanted to put every male member to death but was talked out of it by an associate – something that Allah later "rebuked" him for. The Qaynuqa were forced into exile and the Muslims took their possessions and property, making it their own. Muhammad personally reserved a fifth of the ill-gotten gain for himself (a rule that he was sure to include in the Quran).
This episode helped ingrain within Islam the immature principle of group identity, whereby any member of a religion or social unit outside of Islam is just as guilty as any of their peers who insult or harm a Muslim – and just as deserving of punishment. (Muhammad's punishments usually did not fit the crime).
Members of the second tribe, the Banu Nadir, were accused by Muhammad of plotting to kill him. What is most intriguing about this episode is that it occurred after the Muslims had killed several prominent Jews on Muhammad's order, including a leader of the Banu Nadir (named Ka'b al-Ashraf). (See also MYTH: Muhammad Never Approved of Murder)
When the prophet of Islam learned that he might be targeted in retaliation (something that he claimed was "revealed" to him by Allah), he promptly laid siege to the Banu Nadir community. After forcing them to surrender, these original inhabitants of Medina were then banished from their homes and land by the Muslim newcomers, who again started to take as much as they could for themselves (Ibn Ishaq 653). (To the disappointment of his people, this time Muhammad produced a revelation from Allah that allowed him to confiscate the entire portion for himself).
In a critical example of how deception is sanctioned under Islam, a surviving contingent of the Banu Nadir (under Usayr ibn Zarim) was later tricked into leaving their fortress by promise of peace talks. The contingent of Muslims sent by Muhammad to "escort" them, however, easily slaughtered the victims once they let down their guard (Ibn Ishaq 981). (See also MYTH: Muhammad always Disapproved of Dishonesty).
The Qurayza Massacre
By the time the Banu Qurayza met their fate, Muhammad was wealthy and powerful from his defeat of the other two tribes.
The Jews of the Banu Qurayza tasted Muhammad's wrath after their leader half-heartedly sided with the Meccan army during a siege of Medina (the Battle of the Trench). By then, Muhammad had evicted the other Jews and declared that all land at Medina belonged to him, so the original constitution of the town was no longer in effect. It is important to note that the Qurayza did notattack the Muslims, even after switching loyalties (contrary to another popular myth).
Although the Qurayza surrendered peacefully to the Muslims, Muhammad determined to have every man of the tribe executed, along with every boy that had reached the initial stages of puberty (between the ages of 12 and 14). He ordered a ditch dug outside of the town and had the victims brought to him in several groups. Each person would be forced to kneel, and their head would be cut off and then dumped along with the body into the trench.
Between 700 and 900 men and boys were slaughtered by the Muslims after their surrender.
The surviving children of the men became slaves of the Muslims, and their widows became sex slaves. This included the Jewish girl, Rayhana, who became one of Muhammad's personal concubines the very night that her husband was killed. The prophet of Islam apparently "enjoyed her pleasures" (ie. raped her) even as the very execution of her people was taking place.
In some ways, women were much like any other possession taken in battle, to be done with however their captors pleased. But Muslims found them useful in other ways as well. In fact, one of the methods by which Islam owed its expansion down through the centuries was through the reproductive capabilities of captured women. In addition to four wives, a man was allowed an unlimited number of sex slaves, with the only rule being that any resulting children would automatically be Muslim.
Muhammad ordered that a fifth of the women taken captive be reserved for him. Many were absorbed into his personal stable of sex slaves that he maintained in addition to his eleven wives. Others were doled out like party favors to others. (See MYTH: Muhammad was an Abolitionist)
At one point following a battle, Muhammad provided instructions on how women should be raped after capture, telling his men not to worry about coitus interruptus, since "Allah has written whom he is going to create." (See also MYTH: Muhammad Never Approved of Rape)
Following the battle against the Hunain, late in his life, Muhammad's men were reluctant to rape the captured women in front of their husbands (who were apparently still alive to witness the abomination), but Allah came to the rescue with a handy "revelation" that allowed the debauchery. (This is the origin of Sura 4:24 according to Abu Dawud 2150).
The Origin of Islamic Imperialism
From Medina, Muhammad waged a campaign of terror, to which he openly attributed his success (Bukhari 52:220). His gang of robbers launched raids in which hapless communities were savaged, looted, murdered and raped. The tribes around the Muslims began to convert to Islam out of self-preservation.
The excuse for military campaign began to shrink to the point that it hardly existed at all. Muhammad told his followers that Muslims were meant to rule over other people. Supremacist teachings became the driving force behind Jihad (see also MYTH: Muhammad Waged War Only in Self-Defense) and Jihad became the driving force behind Islam.
The brutal conquest of the people of Khaybar, a peaceful farming community that was not at war with the Muslims, is a striking example. Muhammad marched in secret, took them by surprise and easily defeated them. He had many of the men killed, simply for defending their town. He enslaved women and children and had surviving men live on the land as virtual serfs, paying Muslims an ongoing share of their crops not to attack them again.
Muhammad suspected that the town's treasurer was holding out and had his men barbaricallytorture the poor fellow by building a fire on his chest until he revealed the location of hidden treasure. (See also MYTH: Muhammad Never Approved Torture).
Afterwards, the prophet of Islam beheaded the man and "married" his widow on the same day (she first had to pass through the hands of one of his lieutenants). Given that the woman's father was also killed by Muhammad, it isn't much of a stretch to say that true love had very little to do with this "marriage."
A Life of Hedonism and Narcissism
Muhammad's personal life became the picture of hedonism and excess, all justified by frequent "revelations" from an increasingly arbitrary and capricious god. Much like a cult leader, he demanded strict obedience from his followers, telling them that they obey Allah by obeying him (Quran 4:80, 59:7; Sahih Bukhari 89:251).
Muhammad employed circular reasoning in which the premise and conclusion each depend on the other: A is true because B is true; B is true because A is true. Surprisingly, this simple and obvious defect in thinking persists to this day among believers:
1) Muhammad is the messenger of Allah because the Quran says so.
2) The Quran is from Allah because the messenger says so.
In his later years, Muhammad shamelessly exploited his influence for personal goals, including sex, wealth and power. Allah's authority for him to pursue these earthly ambitions is actually immortalized in the Quran (suras 33 and 66, particularly).
The same man who earlier in his career had justified his claims as a prophet by saying that he "asked for no reward" from others, reversed course and began to demand a fifth or more of all booty taken from conquered tribes. According to his biographers, he became fat from living off this enormous share of ill-gotten gain. (See also MYTH: Muhammad was a Brave Warrior who Trusted in Allah to Protect him)
In the span of a dozen years, he married eleven women and had access to an array of sex slaves (see MYTH: Muhammad Married Multiple Women as a Favor to them). When he wanted a woman, even if she were the wife of another man, his own daughter-in-law, or a child as young as 6-years-old (see MYTH: Muhammad Condemned Pedophilia), Muhammad was able to justify his lust and inevitable consummation with an appeal to Allah's revealed will for his sex life – which was then preserved forever in the Quran, to be faithfully memorized by future generations for whom it has no possible relevance.
The first verse of Sura 66 is a good example of this. It was narrated by Muhammad to his wives shortly after two of them pressured him into not visiting a favorite sex slave:
O Prophet! why do you forbid (yourself) that which Allah has made lawful for you, seeking to please your wives? (Quran 66:1)
Allah (according to Muhammad) was so upset with his prophet for denying himself an afternoon of pleasure with the concubine that Allah had provided for him that it was a good thing for Muhammad that Allah was a forgiving and merciful god! (For the Muslim faithful, it must surely be a source of embarrassment that Allah evidently had more interest in Muhammad's personal sex life than he did about tolerance or universal love. The god of Islam encourages sex with slaves in several other places as well).
Muhammad used eternal paradise and damnation to solicit strict obedience to his every command: "Allah's Apostle said, 'Whoever obeys me will enter Paradise, and whoever disobeys me will not enter it'" (Bukhari 92.384).
Islam became centered completely around its founder. Of all the prophets, new converts are required to affirm only the legitimacy of Muhammad. The Muslim leader even shares the Shahada with Allah ("There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is his messenger"). To this day, every Muslim must bow down five times a day "toward" Muhammad's birthplace (Islam's "prophet" did not know the earth was round).
The prophet of Islam was also an extremely superstitious person, leaving many bizarre rules for Muslims to follow, including which direction they should defecate and how many stones they should wash their anus with afterwards (any odd number… for anyone who's curious). (See alsoMYTH: Muhammad did Away with Superstition). Sketchy hygiene apparently left him with an annoying lice infection.
Not content with waiting for Allah to act on his behalf, Muhammad had personal critics executed, including poets. One of these was a mother of five children, who was stabbed to death by Muhammad's envoy after a suckling infant was removed from her breast (see MYTH: Muhammad Never Killed Women). Other innocent people were killed merely because they were of a different religion, sometimes including children (see MYTH: Muhammad Never Killed Children).
The glaring double standards of Islam were ingrained by the prophet of Islam during his lifetime. This included commands to execute apostates (those who wish to leave Islam) and evict people of other religions from their homes.
An elderly woman named Umm Qirfa once ran afoul of Muhammad merely by fighting back when her tribe was targeted by Muslim raiders. Muhammad's adopted son tied the woman's legs separately to two camels, then set the camels off in opposite directions, tearing the woman's body in two. He also killed her two sons – presumably in gruesome fashion – and made her daughter into a sex slave. (See also MYTH: Muhammad Never Killed the Elderly).
Today's Muslims inherit this legacy of self-consumption and disregard for those outside the faith. They may or may not agree with terrorist attacks on non-Muslims, but they are nearly united in their belief that the victims have no right to strike back, even if it is in self-defense.
The Quran distinguishes Muslims from others, bestowing the highest praise for believers while heaping the vilest condemnation on those outside the faith. Islam is a true supremacist ideology. (See Is the Quran Hate Speech?)
The Taking of Mecca
Though many of the Arab and Jewish tribes were eliminated and absorbed through military victory and forced conversion, the city of Mecca remained.
In 628, six years after fleeing, Muhammad's followers were allowed to re-enter the city under an agreement whereby he set aside his title as "Prophet of Allah." This was a temporary ploy that enabled him to gain a political foothold in the city through the same "fifth column" activities that are still used today by organizations such as the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), which use their host's language of religious tolerance to disguise an ulterior agenda that includes systematic discrimination against non-Muslims.
Many of his followers were disappointed that Muhammad had made concessions to the Meccans, not understanding how it actually fit perfectly with his ultimate agenda of domination. It was during this time that he led the campaign against the Khaybar, to assuage their lust for blood, women and loot.
Technically, Muhammad was the first to break the treaty with the Meccans when he violated the portion of it that restricted him from accepting members of the other tribe into his camp. His own people also staged deadly raids on Meccan caravans (see MYTH: The Meccans were the First to Break the Treaty of Hudaibiya). Although he evidently had no personal obligation to the treaty, the prophet of Islam held the other party to the letter of the law, particularly after he amassed the power to conquer in overwhelming fashion.
The excuse that Muhammad eventually used to march his armies into Mecca was provided when a tribe allied to the Meccans conducted a raid on a tribe allied with the Medinans. Although a true man of peace would have heeded the fact that his enemy did not want war, and used non-violent means to resolve the tension while respecting sovereignty, Muhammad merely wanted power and vengeance. (See also MYTH: Muhammad always Chose Peace over War).
In just under a decade, Muhammad had evolved from trying to sell himself as a Judeo-Christian prophet, seeking followers, to an Arab warlord, seeking subjects, slaves and total dominance. The early Quran (of Mecca) tells unbelievers to 'follow the example' of Muhammad or suffer Hell. The later Quran (of Medina) tells unbelievers to 'obey' Muhammad or suffer death.
Following Mecca's surrender, Muhammad put to death those who had previously insulted him (see also MYTH: Muhammad was a Forgiving Man). One of the persons sentenced was his former scribe, who had written revelations that Muhammad said were from Allah. The scribe had previously recommended changes to the wording that Muhammad offered (based on some of the bad grammar and ineloquent language of "Allah") and Muhammad agreed. This caused the scribe to apostatize, based on his belief that real revelations should have been immutable.
Although the scribe escaped death by "converting to Islam" at the point of a sword, others weren't so lucky. One was a slave girl who was executed on Muhammad's order because she had written songs mocking him.
In what would also become the model for future Muslim military conquests, those Meccans who would not convert to Islam were required to accept third-class status. Not surprisingly, almost the entire city – which had previously rejected his message – immediately "converted" to Islam once Muhammad came back with a sword in this hand. This included his adversary, Abu Sufyan, who was bluntly ordered to "Submit and testify that there is no God but Allah and that Muhammad is the apostle of Allah before you lose your head."
Those who would not convert to Islam were banned from the city a few months later – again underscoring the dual ethics of Islam. When Muhammad was previously banned from Mecca, he described it as a "persecution" that justified his "slaughter" of those who prevented him from performing the Haj. Yet, when he attained power, he immediately chased anyone who would not convert to Islam from Mecca and prevented them from performing the Haj.
To this day, people of other religions are barred even from entering Mecca, the city where Muhammad was free to preach in contradiction to the established religion. Islam is far less tolerant even than the more primitive Arab religion that it supplanted. A person preaching the original Arab polytheism on the streets of Mecca today would be quickly executed.
Jihad and Jizya
Tellingly, some of the most violent verses in the Quran were handed down following Muhammad's ascension to power, when there was no real threat to the Muslim people. The 9th Sura of the Quran exhorts Muslims to Jihad and dominance over other religions:
"Fight those who do not believe in Allah, nor in the latter day, nor do they prohibit what Allah and His Messenger have prohibited, nor follow the religion of truth, out of those who have been given the Book, until they pay the tax in acknowledgment of superiority and they are in a state of subjection." (9:29)
The verse that follows curses Christians and Jews by name and says "May Allah destroy them" (as with other sections of the Quran, it is unclear whether it is Allah or Muhammad speaking).
Before his death, Muhammad ordered 30,000 men to march on Christian lands (which were Byzantine at the time). It is possible that he believed false rumors of an army amassed against him, but there is absolutely no evidence of such a force having been assembled. Instead, Muhammad subjugated the local people and extorted "protection" money from them – something that has come to be known as the jizya (a tax that non-Muslims pay to Muslims).
Another episode from this period that offers insight into the legacy of Muhammad is the forced conversion of the al-Harith, one of the last Arab tribes to hold out against Muslim hegemony. Muhammad gave the chief of the tribe three days to accept Islam before sending his army to destroy them. Not surprisingly, the entire people immediately embraced the Religion of Peace!
Most Arab tribes recognized Muhammad's quest for power and wisely pledged their political allegiance without a fight. This quickly presented a problem for his core band of followers, however, since they had become used to living off of what could be stolen from others via raids and battle.
Since it was against the rules to attack fellow Muslims, Muhammad began demanding tribute from his new "converts" instead, but this proved to be less profitable than the jizya – not to mention that it carried the risk of internal resentment and strife (see MYTH: Muhammad Would Never Harbor a War Criminal).
Khaybar, the remote Jewish city that had been turned into a sharecropper state on behalf of its Muslim masters was a more preferable economic model for a growing Islamic empire that had become dependent on extortion justified by religious superiority.
Years before attacking Christian and Persian lands, Muhammad wrote to governors in each, telling them, "embrace Islam and you will be safe." There was no mention of oppression or liberation cited as a justification. The only threat these people faced would be from Muslim armies. (Only six years later, 4,000 peasants in the modern-day Palestinian region would be slaughtered for defending their homes).
At the time, the wealth of other nations was an open source of envy among Muhammad's followers, which he promised to rectify. The subsequent military expansion that he set in motion may have been sanctioned by Allah and powered by religious zealotry, but the underlying motives of money, sex, slaves and power were no less worldly than any other conqueror of the time.
The Legacy of Islamic Imperialism
Muhammad died of a fever in 632 at the age of 63, with his violent religion spread over most of Arabia. His method of forcing others to convert under duress had several negative consequences, beginning with the civil wars that were immediately engaged in following his death. Many tribes wanted out of Islam and had to be kept in the empire via horrific violence.
Abu Sufyan, the Meccan leader who was literally forced to "embrace" Islam at the point of a sword actually had the last laugh. He skillfully worked his own family into the line of succession and his son, Muawiya, became the heir to Muhammad's empire at the expense of the prophet's own family. In fact, Abu Sufyan almost lived to witness his son and grandson kill off Muhammad's own grandchildren and assume control of the Islamic empire.
Muhammad's failure to leave a clear successor resulted in a deep schism that quickly devolved into violence and persists to this day as the Sunni/Shia conflict. His own family fell apart and literally went to war with each other in the first few years. Thousands of Muslims were killed fighting each other in a battle between Muhammad's favorite wife, Aisha, and his adopted son, Ali.
Infidels fared no better. Through Muhammad's teachings and example, his followers viewed worldly life as a constant physical battle between the House of Peace (Dar al-Salaam) and the House of War (Dar al-Harb). Muslims are instructed to invite their enemies to either embrace Islam, pay jizya (protection money), or die.
Over the next fourteen centuries, the bloody legacy of this extraordinary individual would be a constant challenge to those living on the borders of the Islam's political power. The violence that Muslim armies would visit on people across North Africa, the Middle East, Europe and into Asia as far as the Indian subcontinent is a tribute to a founder who practiced and promoted subjugation, rape, murder and forced conversion.
In Muhammad's words: "I have been ordered to fight the people till they say: 'None has the right to be worshipped but Allah.' And if they say so, pray like our prayers, face our Qibla and slaughter as we slaughter, then their blood and property will be sacred to us and we will not interfere with them…" (Bukhari 8:387)
It is certainly the basis not just for modern day terror campaigns against Western infidels (and Hindus and Buddhists) but also the broad apathy that Muslims across the world have to the violence, which is an obvious enabler.
As Indonesian cleric, Abu Bakar Bashir recently put it, "If the West wants to have peace, then they have to accept Islamic rule."
Myths of Muhammad
Muhammad and the Unbelievers (CSPI's Sira)
Ibn Kathir's Sira (Volume 1)
Ibn Ishaq's Sira — Life of Muhammad, A. Guillaume
Other articles you may find interesting
Islam and Western Civilisation - stay informed
Keep up to date on news and analysis on Islam's interaction with Western Civilisation
Founders at The Religion of Peace (TROP)
TheReligionofPeace.com is a pluralistic, non-partisan site concerned with Islam's true political and religious teachings according to its own texts. The purpose is to counter whitewashing and explain the threat that Islam truly poses to human dignity and freedom, as well as the violence and dysfunction that ensues as a direct consequence of this religion's supremacist teachings.
Islam is not defined by anyone's opinion, but by the Quran, Hadith and Sira. These historical texts are readily available in the information age, meaning that anyone can go straight to the source from any referenced article on our site.
While apologists of Islam generally use fragments of Quran verses, weaker hadith (Islam's version of "fake news") and contemporary opinion to soothe Western concerns, TROP explains the context, cites early biographers, and posts references only to those Hadith collections deemed most reliable (Sahih Bukhari, Sahih Muslim and Abu Dawud).


Guardian Leak Prevention system is designed to work with the app called 'Guardian By Elexa' and is capable of alerting a user via push notifications.
The push notifications will direct you to the home page of the app which tells you where a leak has been detected in your home based on position of the leak detectors. It will not send you a text notification or email.
Is it possible to install the 'Guardian By Elexa' app on MORE THAN ONE PHONE in the household, so that more than one individual can be alerted and/or take action?
In my particular case, it's currently installed on an Android device, and I'd like to make the iPhones (IOS devices) belonging to spouse and son able to receive alerts and control the valve controller, too. If only receiving alerts is possible, that's fine as well. I'm thinking of times when I'm out of town and one of them is present in or closer to the installation.
Nearly a week and no response to my comment? Really need to know how to accomplish this without confusing the valve controller and being able to manage it from the current Android app installation.
Originally posted my query February 19th. Now it's March 10th and there still has been no response. This is something IMPORTANT TO KNOW. Please respond.


text:
Il Golden Globe per il miglior film musicale, istituito nel 1959, venne sostituito pochi anni dopo, nel 1964, con il Golden Globe per il miglior film commedia o musicale.

Vincitori e candidati
L'elenco mostra il vincitore di ogni anno, seguito dagli altri candidati. Per ogni film sono indicati titolo italiano (se disponibile), titolo originale e regista.

1950
1959
Gigi (Gigi), regia di Vincente Minnelli
Damn Yankees! (Damn Yankees!), regia di George Abbott e Stanley Donen
South Pacific (South Pacific), regia di Joshua Logan
Le meravigliose avventure di Pollicino (Tom Thumb), regia di George Pal

1960
1960
Porgy and Bess (Porgy and Bess), regia di Otto Preminger
I cinque penny (The Five Pennies), regia di Melville Shavelson
Il villaggio più pazzo del mondo (Li'l Abner), regia di Melvin Frank
La moglie sconosciuta (A Private's Affair), regia di Raoul Walsh
Dinne una per me (Say One for Me), regia di Frank Tashlin
1961
Estasi (Song Without End), regia di George Cukor e Charles Vidor
Susanna agenzia squillo (Bells Are Ringing), regia di Vincente Minnelli
Can Can (Can-Can), regia di Walter Lang
Facciamo l'amore (Let's Make Love), regia di George Cukor
Pepe (Pepe), regia di George Sidney
1962
West Side Story (West Side Story), regia di Jerome Robbins e Robert Wise
Babes in Toyland (Babes in Toyland), regia di Jack Donohue
Fior di loto (Flower Drum Song), regia di Henry Koster
1963
Capobanda (The Music Man), regia di Morton Da Costa
La ragazza più bella del mondo (Billy Rose's Jumbo), regia di Charles Walters
Cento ragazze e un marinaio (Girls! Girls! Girls!), regia di Norman Taurog
La donna che inventò lo strip-tease (Gypsy), regia di Mervyn LeRoy
Avventura nella fantasia (The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm), regia di Henry Levin e George Pal

Premi Golden Globe
Premi per il miglior film


text:
JONATHAN R. GRAMMER
BRYANT REASNOR
DAN ISENHOWER
MIKE CAIN
KEN HOLTGRIEVE
Director of Land
Mr. Grammer's career spans over twenty years in both renewable energy development, oil and gas development and as an attorney. His land acquisition and consulting company has advised on over $1 billion worth of development projects and acquisitions in oil and gas, solar and wind. He has represented energy companies as an attorney in Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Colorado as well as before the U.S. Supreme Court, Oklahoma Supreme Court, U.S. District Courts for Northern District of Texas, Colorado, Nebraska, Western District of Oklahoma, Eastern District of Arkansas, Western District of Arkansas, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th, 6th, 8th, 9th, and 10th circuits.
He has served on the Board of Directors for the Texas Alliance of Energy Producers and the Federal Bar Association's Energy and Natural Resources Division. Mr Grammer has also served on the Land & Royalty Committee for the Independent Petroleum Association of America and the American Bar Association Standing Committee on Global Energy. He is a Sustaining Fellow with the United States Association for Energy and Economics.
Mr. Grammer is a contributing author to Texas CEO Magazine and has been featured in Oilman Magazine, Austin Monthly, The Pipeline, The Houston Business Journal and Solar Power World Magazine. He is also listed among 2021's Top 100 People in Energy.
U.S. Carbon Capture Solutions
5310 Harvest Hill Lane, Suite 110
© 2021 All Rights Reserved • U.S. Carbon Capture Solutions


text:
Q: How to loop nested documents from mongodb in a template using jinja? I am trying to retrieve embed documents related to the key review looping them in a template using jinja with no success.
Currently the show_reviews variable is retrieving the exact product as I can see from its print on the terminal but I can't reach the review and loop it within the template.
app.py:
@app.route('/review/product_id?=<id>', methods=['POST', 'GET'])
def review(id):
    now = datetime.datetime.now()
    name=session['name']
    post=request.form.get('review')
    reviews = mongo.db.products.find_one({"_id": ObjectId(id)})
    if request.method == 'POST':
        mongo.db.products.find_one_and_update({"_id": ObjectId(id)},{
                    '$push':{'review':{
                    'name': name,
                    'post': post,
                    'date': now.strftime("%d-%m-%Y")
                    }
                }
            }
        )
    see_review = mongo.db.products
    show_reviews = list(see_review.find({"_id": ObjectId(id)}))
    print(show_reviews)
    return render_template(
        'product.html',
        reviews=reviews,
        name=name, date=now,
        post=post,
        show_reviews=show_reviews
    )

product.html:

            {% for rw in show_reviews %}

{{ rw.post }}

            Posted by {{ rw.name }} on {{ rw.date }}

            {% endfor %}

{%if session['email'] != None %}
            <form action="{{url_for('review', id=reviews._id)}}" method="POST">

                <textarea class="form-control" id="review" name='review' placeholder="Add Review" rows="3" required></textarea>

            <button class="btn btn-success" type="submit">Leave a Review</button>
            </form>
           {% endif %}

The document structure:

A: Okay. Depending on the structure of your document, here is how you should organize your code:
app.py:
@app.route('/review/product_id?=<id>', methods=['POST', 'GET'])
def review(id):
    now = datetime.datetime.now()
    name=session['name']
    post=request.form.get('review')
    reviews = mongo.db.products.find_one({"_id": ObjectId(id)})
    if request.method == 'POST':
        mongo.db.products.find_one_and_update({"_id": ObjectId(id)},{
                                               '$push':{'review':{
                                               'name': name,
                                               'post': post,
                                               'date': now.strftime("%d-%m-%Y")
                                              }}})
    see_review = mongo.db.products.find_one({"_id": ObjectId(id)})
    show_reviews = see_review['review']
    print(show_reviews)
    return render_template('product.html', reviews=reviews, name=name,
                           date=now, post=post, show_reviews=show_reviews)

product.html:

        {% for rw in show_reviews %}

{{ rw['post'] }}

        Posted by {{ rw['name'] }} on {{ rw['date'] }}

        {% endfor %}

    {%if session['email'] != None %}
        <form action="{{url_for('review', id=reviews._id)}}" method="POST">

                <textarea class="form-control" id="review" name='review' placeholder="Add Review" rows="3" required></textarea>

            <button class="btn btn-success" type="submit">Leave a Review</button>
        </form>
    {% endif %}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


The Women's Health Initiative (WHI) was a large government-sponsored study about the benefits and risks of a popular form of manufactured hormones. To mark the 10-year anniversary of the WHI, a consensus statement has been jointly prepared by the North American Menopause Society, the Endocrine Society, and the American Society of Reproductive Medicine, and endorsed by 12 other medical societies in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. This consensus statement affirms that hormone therapy (HT) continues to have an important clinical role in the management of women with menopausal symptoms. The purpose of this statement is to reassure women and their healthcare providers that hormone therapy is acceptable and relatively safe for healthy, symptomatic, recently postmenopausal women.
The consensus statement concludes that hormone therapy continues to be an acceptable option for women with moderate-to-severe hot flashes, night sweats, and other menopausal symptoms, and it is best started in early menopause (within 10 years of the onset of menopause) or by age 59. Individualization is key, and a woman's clinical factors should be taken into account, including age, time since menopause, and medical history.
Since the WHI was first published in July 2002, some physicians have been reluctant to treat women with hormone therapy, despite the fact that many women are desperately seeking relief from symptoms that are negatively impacting their lives and relationships: mood swings, loss of libido, weight gain and insomnia. Concerns arose because the WHI found that an increased risk in breast cancer is seen with 5 or more years of continuous therapy with the hormones conjugated equine estrogens (CEE) and medroxyprogesterone acetate. This has caused considerable confusion because these hormones have been referred to under the broader terms "estrogen" and "progesterone" by the media and even healthcare professionals. In fact, CEE is from horses and is not the same as human estrogen, medroxyprogesterone acetate is NOT progesterone, and these hormones have substantially different benefit/risk profiles. The WHI acknowledged that the risks vary with different types of hormones.
My consulting practice uses bio-identical hormones such as estradiol and progesterone when customizing hormone therapy per prescription to meet the specific needs of each patient. We work together with practitioners and patients to create hormone balance and have successfully relieved symptoms in patients who have not responded to or who have experienced intolerable side effects using manufactured hormones. Your questions are welcome.


Note this week these are throwback wods we have done earlier in the year, to really test improvements. Any extra time in class this week focus recovery with mobility using the ROMWOD set up on the T.V. above the refrigerator.
Bearcrawl around the rig to the wall into a handstand hold 30 sec.


text:
Kate T. Parker's "Strong Is The New Pretty" Challenges Traditional Beauty Standards For Young Girls — PHOTOS
By Emma Lord
One of the most pressing concerns for parents in our extremely media-influenced age is trying to communicate the right messages to young girls about body image and self-esteem. Impressionable young girls are often conditioned to think that they should draw their confidence from their physical appearance — their clothes, makeup, the way that they style their hair are portrayed as being more important than anything else about them. I mean, we all know the deal: The world is basically an overwhelming hammer of messages meant to convince malleable little minds with often damaging ideas what how they should look, who they should be, and all the many, many things that are "wrong" with them. But the powerful "Strong Is The New Pretty" photo series challenges traditional notions of what makes little girls awesome, depicting young girls who are empowered not by their looks, but by living their fullest, most fearless lives.
Nobody was better equipped to capture these images than photographer Kate. T Parker, a former college athlete who runs marathons and completed the famously impossible (OK, impossible for me; Clearly, some people can actually do it) Ironman Triathlon. She created the series after being inspired by her own two daughters, who seem to have taken after her in wonderful ways. The photos feature girls in all stages of play and triumph: running races, learning to roller blade, taking a water break during a soccer match. They all have a spontaneous and unscripted feel to them, perfectly capturing the the quiet beauty that comes from sense of accomplishment or rising to a challenge. Each image is captivating and tells its own complicated story, so much more rich than a simple picture of a girl posed and smiling.
Kate wrote about the series in a blog post:
"My girls know that who they are is just perfect.
Their silly, adventurous, frustrated, happy, LOUD, athletic, fierce, funny selves.
Being themselves is enough for us. And ultimately, for them, too…that's the goal, at least.
They don't need to have their hair done, clothes matching, or even be clean to be loved or accepted.
We love them as they are, loud, dirty, competitive…just like my parents loved me for being um, the exact same way :). I wanted this series of images to show their boldness, their strength and the beauty in them, as they are."
The photos capture the beauty in the most ordinary and uninhibited of moments, when girls aren't trying to be anything for anyone but themselves.
Kate is based in Atlanta, Georgia, where she works full-time as a professional photographer. You can see more of her work on her website, her Facebook page, or her Instagram page.
Images: Courtesy of Kate T. Parker Photography