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Atheism, Barna, Christian Worldview, Cold Case Christianity, Culture Engagement, Generation Z, Millennials, secularism, Student Ministry
REBLOG: UPDATED: Are Young People Really Leaving Christianity?
January 30, 2018 January 30, 2018 by Travis McNeely
This post is a series of research summarized that addresses the problem of young people leaving Christianity.
This article was originally posted at Cold Case Christianity's website: http://coldcasechristianity.com/2018/are-young-people-really-leaving-christianity/
(Updated on January 29th, 2018)
Much has been written about both the Biblical illiteracy of teenage believers and the flight of young people from the Church. Many have observed this trend, and I too have witnessed it anecdotally as a youth pastor (and shamefully, I contributed to the trend for some time before I changed course). Some writers and Christian observers deny the flight of young people altogether, but the growing statistics should alarm us enough as Church leaders to do something about the dilemma. My hope in this post is to simply consolidate some of the research (many of the summaries are directly quoted) so you can decide for yourself. I'm going to organize the recent findings in a way that illuminates the problem:
Research Related to Spiritual Life of Teenagers:
Soul Searching: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of American Teenagers
Christian Smith and Melinda Lundquist Denton, Oxford University Press, 2005
Book Findings: The majority of teenagers are incredibly inarticulate about their faith, religious beliefs and practices, and its place in their lives. The de facto dominant religion among contemporary U.S. teenagers is what they call 'Moralistic Therapeutic Deism': A God exists who created and orders the world and watches over human life on earth; God wants people to be good, nice, and fair to each other, as taught in the Bible and by most world religions; the central goal of life is to be happy and to feel good about oneself; God does not need to be particularly involved in one's life except when God is needed to resolve a problem; and good people go to heaven when they die.
Almost Christian: What the Faith of Our Teenagers is Telling the American Church
Kenda Creasy Dean, Oxford University Press, 2010
Book Findings: Dean affirms what Soul Searching called 'Moralistic Therapeutic Deism' "If teenagers lack an articulate faith, it may be because the faith we show them is too spineless to merit much in the way of conversation."
The Teen Guide to Global Action: How to Connect with Others (Near & Far) to Create Social Change
Barbara A. Lewis, Free Spirit Publishing, 2007
Book Findings: More teens are embracing a nebulous belief in God. Yet there's been an "explosion" in youth service since 1995 that Lewis attributes to more schools emphasizing community service.
The State of Theology
Ligonier Ministries and Lifeway Research (2015)
Study Findings: In this survey of theological beliefs, researchers asked self-professing Christians to respond to a series of statements related to classic, historic Christian doctrine. In every answer offered related to these theological beliefs, young people between the ages of 18 and 34 consistently held heretical views at a higher percentage than older respondents. Young people who identify themselves as Christians, are far more likely to hold views that aren't Christian.
Research Related to the Attitude of College Professors:
Politics and Professional Advancement Among College Faculty
Stanley Rothman, S. Robert Lichter, Neil Nevitte (2005)
Study Findings: "Nearly three-quarters" (72%) of faculty members describe themselves as politically liberal, according to 1999 data from the North American Academic Study Survey (NAASS), up from 39 percent in a 1984 survey by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.
How Religious are America's College and University Professors?
Neil Gross, Solon Simmons (2006)
Study Findings: About 25% of college professors are professing atheists or agnostics (5-7% of the general population is atheistic or agnostic). Only 6% of college professors said the Bible is "the actual word of God". 51% described it as "an ancient book of fables, legends, history and moral precepts." 75% believe religion does not belong in public schools.
The Religious Beliefs and Behavior of College Faculty
The Institute for Jewish & Community Research Review – Staff (2007)
Study Findings: The study revealed several findings related to the political and religious views of professors, including the following key discoveries:
"Most Faculty Believe in God, but Atheism Is Significantly More Prevalent among Faculty Than the General Public
The proportion of faculty who self-identified as atheist is over five times the proportion of people who self-identified as atheist in the general public.
Faculty Are Much Less Religious Than the General Public
The American public is much more likely to say that religion is very important in their everyday lives and to attend religious services more frequently than faculty.
Faculty Feel Warmly about Most Religious Groups, but Feel Coldly about Evangelicals and Mormons
Faculty have positive feelings toward Jews, Buddhists, Catholics, and Atheists.
Faculty Feel Most Unfavorably about Evangelical Christians
This is the only religious group about which a majority of non-Evangelical faculty have negative feelings.
Faculty Are Almost Unanimous in Their Belief That Evangelical Christians (Fundamentalists) Should Keep Their Religious Beliefs Out of American Politics
Faculty who are secular/liberal are more likely to favor separation of religion and government, and those who are religious and conservative are more likely to advocate a closer connection between religion and government.
Although Faculty Generally Oppose Religion in the Public Sphere, Many Endorse the Idea That Muslims Should Express Their Religious Beliefs in American Politics
Faculty are far less likely to endorse Evangelical Christians expressing their beliefs in American politics."
Compromising Scholarship; Religious and Political Bias in American Higher Education
George Yancey (2011)
Book Findings: "Religiously conservative academics are at a distinct disadvantage in our institutions of learning, threatening the free exchange of ideas to which our institutions aspire and leaving many scientific inquiries unexplored."
Research Related to the Decreasing Christian Population in General
American Religious Identification Survey
Barry A. Kosmin, Egon Mayer, and Ariela Keysar (2001)
Study Findings: The number of people who identify themselves as Christian has dropped from 85% in 1990 to 76% in 2008. About 52% of American adults identify themselves as Protestant or other non-Catholic Christian denominations, according to the. That's down from 60% in 1990.
America's Changing Religious Landscape
Pew Research Center (2015)
Study Findings: "The percentage of adults (ages 18 and older) who describe themselves as Christians has dropped by nearly eight percentage points in just seven years, from 78.4% in an equally massive Pew Research survey in 2007 to 70.6% in 2014. Over the same period, the percentage of Americans who are religiously unaffiliated – describing themselves as atheist, agnostic or "nothing in particular" – has jumped more than six points, from 16.1% to 22.8%."
Gallop Religious Identification Poll
Gallop Daily Tracking, Frank Newport (2015)
Study Findings: While the number of Americans identifying as Christians is still high (75%), it has dropped 5% since 2008
Five Key Findings on Religion in the U.S.
Gallop National Poll (2016)
Study Findings: This national poll about the religious affiliation of Americans revealed the following (among other findings):
1. America remains a largely Christian nation, although less so than in the past. 74% of Americans identify as some form a Christian, only 5% identify as affiliated with a non-Christian religion. when last polled in 2008, 80% of Americans identified themselves as Christian.
2. The trend away from formal religion continues. Approximately 21% of Americans say they are either atheist, agnostic, or have no religious affiliation. This is up 6% since 2008.
3. Americans continue to say that religion is losing its influence in American society. 72% of Americans say that religion is losing its influence on American life.
The Persistent and Exceptional Intensity of American Religion: A Response to Recent Research
Sociological Science Study (2017)
Study Findings: This study, examining General Social Surveys from 1989 to 2016, found the following:
1. The number of people who report they are strongly affiliated with a religion is in the minority but does not appear to have changed much from 1990 to 2015.
2. Less than 40% of Americans say they have strong religious affiliations. Those who say they are not strongly affiliated are leaving the church, down from approximately 55% in 1990 to approximately 42% in 2015. Those who claim no affiliation with religion have grown from 8% of the population to approximately 22% during the same time.
3. Only approximately 8% of the populations attends church multiple times in a week. The number of people who said they attended "sometimes" has dropped from approximately 79% to 69% from 1990 to 2015. Those who never attend church has risen from 14% to nearly 25% in the same time frame.
4. Approximately 33% of the [population described the Bible as the "Literal Word of God". The number of people who describe the Bible as "Inspired, But Not Literal, has dropped from approximately 53% to 47% from 1990 to 2015. The number of people who describe the Bible as a "Book of Fables" has risen from approximately 15% to 21% during that time.
5. The number of people who identify as "Evangelical" has remained somewhat steady during this time frame, at approximately 29%. The number of people who identify as having a "Non-Evangelical" affiliation is down from approximately 66% to 51%. The number of people who say they have no religious affiliation is up from approximately 8% to 23% during this same time frame.
Research Related to the Flight of Young People from the Church
Why Christian Kids Leave the Faith
Tom Bisset, Discovery House Publishers (1997)
Book Findings: In this very early study, Tom Bisset interviewed people and asked them when, why, and how they abandoned their faith. He identified four prominent reasons:
1. They left because they had troubling, unanswered questions about the faith.
2. They left because their faith was not "working" for them.
3. They left because they allowed other things to take priority.
4. They left because they never personally owned their faith.
Southern Baptist Convention Data
Pinkney, T.C., Remarks to the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee, Nashville, Tennessee (2001)
Study Findings: Data from the Southern Baptist Convention indicates that they are currently losing 70-88% of their youth after their freshman year in college. 70% of teenagers involved in church youth groups stop attending church within two years of their high school graduation.
"The Religiosity Cycle"
Gallop Poll Study (2002)
Study Findings: The results indicate that teens are more religious during their early teen years, and that religiosity begins to decline as teens near adulthood. When asked, "How important are your religious beliefs?", 63% of 13- to 15-year-olds answered "very important," compared to 52% of 16- to 17-year-olds. Church attendance also drops during the teen and young adult years and begins to climb as adults age. Fifty-four percent of teens aged 13 to 15 reported having attended church in the past seven days, as did 51% of 16- to 17-year-old teens. The figure drops to 32% among 18- to 29- year-olds but rises again to 44% among 50- to 64-year-olds and 60% among those aged 75 and older. 69% percent of 13- to 15-year-olds report being members of a church or synagogue, compared to 59% of 16- to 17-year-olds, 60% of 18- to 29-year-olds, 72% of 50- to 64-year-olds, and 80% of those aged 75 and older.
The Southern Baptist Convention's Family Life Council
Southern Baptist Council on Family Life report to Annual Meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention (2002)
Study Findings: 88% of the children in evangelical homes leave church at the age of 18
George Barna, Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, IL (2005)
Book Findings: If current trends in the belief systems and practices of the younger generation continue, in ten years, church attendance will be half the size it is today.
Christian Smith and Melinda Lundquist Denton, Oxford University Press (2005)
Book Findings: Students leave faith behind primarily because of intellectual doubt and skepticism (page 89). "Why did they fall away from the faith in which they were raised?" This was an open-ended question there were no multiple-choice answers. 32% said they left faith behind because of intellectual skepticism or doubt. ("It didn't make any sense anymore." "Some stuff is too far-fetched for me to believe." "I think scientifically and there is no real proof." "Too many questions that can't be answered.")
"Most Twentysomethings Put Christianity on the Shelf…"
Barna Study (2006)
Study Findings: A majority of twenty-somethings – 61% of today's young adults – had been churched at one point during their teen years but they are now spiritually disengaged.
The Last Christian Generation
Josh McDowell, David H. Bellis, Green Key Books (2006)
Book Findings: 63% of teenaged Christians don't believe that Jesus is the Son of the one true God. 51% don't believe that Jesus rose from the dead. 68% don't believe that the Holy Spirit is a real entity. Only 33% of churched youth have said that the church will play a part in their lives when they leave home.
Assemblies of God Study
Dayton A. Kingsriter (2007)
Study Findings: At least half and possibly over two-thirds of Christian young people will step away from the Christian faith while attending a non-Christian college or university. Between 50% and 66.7% of Assemblies of God young people who attend a non-Christian public or private university will have left the faith four years after entering college.
LifeWay Research Study
LifeWay Research and Ministry Development (2007)
Study Findings: 70% will leave the faith in college. Only 35% eventually return. 7 in 10 Protestants ages 18 to 30 – both evangelical and mainline – who went to church regularly in high school said they quit attending by age 23. 34% of those said they had not returned, even sporadically, by age 30. That means about one in four Protestant young people have left the church. "The most frequent reason for leaving church is, in fact, a self-imposed change, 'I simply wanted a break from church' (27%)." "The path toward college and the workforce are also strong reasons for young people to leave church: 'I moved to college and stopped attending church' (25%) and 'work responsibilities prevented me from attending' (23%)."
Barna Research Group director David Kinnaman, Baker Books; (2007)
Book Findings: Christians in their 20s are "significantly less likely to believe a person's faith in God is meant to be developed by involvement in a local church. This life stage of spiritual disengagement is not going to fade away."
Rethink: Is Student Ministry Working?
Steve Wright, InQuest Ministries, Inc. (2007)
Book Findings: 63% don't believe Jesus is the Son of the one true God. 58% believe all faiths teach equally valid truths. 51% don't believe Jesus rose from the dead. 65% don't believe Satan is a real entity. 68% don't believe the Holy Spirit is a real entity
Religious and Political Self-Identification, 1990-2008
Barry A. Kosmin & Juhem Navarro-Rivera (2008)
Study Findings: This research, based on the American Religious Identification Survey 2008, addresses the religious beliefs and behaviors of those born from the early to mid-1960s to the late 1970s to early 1980s:
1. Generation X has weakened its ties to Christianity (85% in 1990 v. 75% in 2008)
2. Generation X has secularized over time. In 1990 11% were Nones compared to16% in 2008; 13% of Generation X did not identify with a religion (including Don't Know and refusals) in 1990, compared to 21% in 2008
3. Generation X Christian groups became more female dominated over time (with the exception of the Protestant Sects) while the Nones and Other Religions became more male dominated.
Souls in Transition: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of Emerging Adults
Christian Smith, Patricia Snell (2009)
Book Findings: Among American adults, emerging adults are significantly less religious.
Generally speaking, the importance and practice of religion declines among young adults. No more than 15% of the total emerging adult population, embrace a strong religious faith. 30% tend to customize their faith to fit the rest of their lives. They often have strong religious upbringing but tend to be more discriminating about what they will adopt. A smaller group, about 15%, believe in some higher power but are not sure what that is or means. About 25% of the emerging adult population may claim to be religious or even appreciate religion—but it simply does not matter. 5% of all emerging adults have had little to no exposure to religious people, ideas, or organizations. 10% of emerging adults are skeptical of religion and reject the idea of personal faith. They tend to hold critical, derogatory, and antagonistic attitudes towards religion.
The Present Future: Six Tough Questions for the Church
Jossey-Bass, San Francisco (2009)
Book Findings: 90% of youth active in high school church programs drop out of church by the time they are sophomores on college.
Already Gone: Why your kids will quit church and what you can do to stop it
Ken Ham, Britt Beemer, with Todd Hillard, New Leaf Publishing Group/Master Books (2009)
Book Findings: Church youth already are "lost" in their hearts and minds in elementary, middle and high school – not in college as many assume.
After the Baby Boomers: How Twenty- and Thirty-Somethings Are Shaping the Future of American Religion
Robert Wuthnow, Princeton University Press (2010)
Book Findings: "Unless religious leaders take younger adults more seriously, the future of American religion is in doubt." The proportion of young adults identifying with mainline churches, is "about half the size it was a generation ago. Evangelical Protestants have barely held their own."
"Spirituality in Higher Education": The Higher Education Research Institute at UCLA
Alexander W. Astin, Helen S. Astin, and Jennifer A. Lindholm (2010)
Study Findings: 52% of college students reported frequent church attendance the year before they entered college but only 29% continued frequent church attendance by their junior year.
College Transition Project
The Fuller Youth Institute (2010)
Study Findings: Current data seems "to suggest that about 40-50% of students in youth groups struggle in their faith after graduation."
Generation Ex-Christian: Why Young Adults Are Leaving the Faith… and How to Bring Them Back
Drew Dyck, Moody Publishers (2010)
Book Findings: The departure of young people from the Church is acknowledged and several categories of "leavers" are identified, including "Post Modern Leavers", "Recoilers", "Modern Leavers", "Neo Pagans", "Rebels" and "Drifters.
You Lost Me: Why Young Christians Are Leaving Church . . . and Rethinking Faith
David Kinnaman, Baker Books (2011)
Book Findings: Nearly three out of every five young Christians disconnect from their churches after the age of 15.
Lost in Transition: The Dark Side of Emerging Adulthood
Christian Smith with Kari Christoffersen, Hilary Davidson and Patricia Snell Herzog, Oxford University Press (2011)
Book Findings: Young adults are unable to think coherently about moral beliefs and problems. Young adults have an excessive focus on consumption and materialism as the good life. The prevalent lifestyle of young adults includes routine intoxication and drug usage. The sexual encounters of young adults are not practiced in an environment of physical, mental, or emotional health. Young adults appear to have an inability to care about, invest in, and hope for the larger world through civic and political participation.
Listening to Young Atheists: Lessons for a Stronger Christianity
Larry Taunton, Fixed Point Foundation (2013)
Study Findings: Taunton interviewed members of atheist college groups (the Secular Student Alliance and Freethought Societies). "These college groups are the atheist equivalents to Campus Crusade: They meet regularly for fellowship, encourage one another in their (un)belief, and even proselytize. They are people who are not merely irreligious; they are actively, determinedly irreligious." Taunton eventually recognized an emerging pattern in those he interviewed, and he identified several characteristics of young "determinedly irreligious" college students:
1. They had attended church at one time
2. The mission and message of their churches was vague
3. They felt their churches offered superficial answers to life's difficult questions
4. They expressed their respect for those ministers who took the Bible seriously
5. Ages 14-17 were decisive
6. The decision to embrace unbelief was often an emotional one
7. The internet factored heavily into their conversion to atheism
Churchless: Understanding Today's Unchurched and How to Connect With Them
George Barna and David Kinnaman, Tyndale Momentum (2014)
Book Findings: Barna Group conducted tens of thousands of interviews with unchurched people and discovered the following:
1. The number of churchless Americans has jumped by nearly one-third in just 20 years
2. If unchurched Americans were their own nation, they'd be the eighth largest on Earth
3. The younger you are, the more likely you are to never have been to church
4. The younger the generation, the more post-Christian it is
Study Findings: "While many U.S. religious groups are aging, the unaffiliated are comparatively young – and getting younger, on average, over time… One of the most important factors in the declining share of Christians and the growth of the "nones" is generational replacement. As the Millennial generation enters adulthood, its members display much lower levels of religious affiliation, including less connection with Christian churches, than older generations. Fully 36% of young Millennials (those between the ages of 18 and 24) are religiously unaffiliated, as are 34% of older Millennials (ages 25-33)… As a rising cohort of highly unaffiliated Millennials reaches adulthood, the median age of unaffiliated adults has dropped to 36, down from 38 in 2007 and far lower than the general (adult) population's median age of 46.4 By contrast, the median age of mainline Protestant adults in the new survey is 52 (up from 50 in 2007), and the median age of Catholic adults is 49 (up from 45 seven years earlier)."
Choosing a New Church or House of Worship
Study Findings: In this seemingly unrelated study, researchers surveyed religious "nones" (78%) who said they were raised as a member of a particular religion before shedding their religious identity in adulthood, and asked them to explain, in their own words, whythey no longer identified with a religious group. They discovered the following themes:
About 50% said a "lack of belief led them to move away from religion. This includes many respondents who mention 'science' as the reason they do not believe in religious teachings, including one who said 'I'm a scientist now, and I don't believe in miracles.' Others reference 'common sense,' 'logic' or a 'lack of evidence' – or simply say they do not believe in God."
About 20% said they were in "opposition to organized religion in general. This share includes some who do not like the hierarchical nature of religious groups, several people who think religion is too much like a business and others who mention clergy sexual abuse scandals as reasons for their stance."
About 18% said they were "religiously unsure. This include(d) people who (said) they (were) religious in some way despite being unaffiliated (e.g., 'I believe in God, but in my own way'), others who describe(d) themselves as 'seeking enlightenment' or 'open-minded,' and several who (said) they are 'spiritual' if not religious."
About 10% said they "may hold certain religious beliefs, but they (were) not currently taking part in religious practices. And most of them simply (said) they (didn't) go to church or engage in other religious rituals, while others (said) they (were) too busy for religion."
Exodus: Why Americans are Leaving Religion—and Why They're Unlikely to Come Back
Betsy Cooper, Ph.D., Daniel Cox, Ph.D., Rachel Lienesch, Robert P. Jones, Ph.D., Public Religious Research Institute (2016)
Study Findings: "Today, nearly four in ten (39%) young adults (ages 18-29) are religiously unaffiliated—three times the unaffiliated rate (13%) among seniors (ages 65 and older). While previous generations were also more likely to be religiously unaffiliated in their twenties, young adults today are nearly four times as likely as young adults a generation ago to identify as religiously unaffiliated. In 1986, for example, only 10% of young adults claimed no religious affiliation. Among young adults, the religiously unaffiliated dwarf the percentages of other religious identifications: Catholic (15%), white evangelical Protestant (9%), white mainline Protestant (8%), black Protestant (7%), other non-white Protestants (11%), and affiliation with a non-Christian religion (7%)."
"In the 1970s, only about one-third (34%) of Americans who were raised in religiously unaffiliated households were still unaffiliated as adults. By the 1990s, slightly more than half (53%) of Americans who were unaffiliated in childhood retained their religious identity in adulthood. Today, about two-thirds (66%) of Americans who report being raised outside a formal religious tradition remain unaffiliated as adults."
More importantly, the study found that most Americans who leave their childhood religion do so before reaching adulthood. 79% percent of young adults age 18 to 29 who become religiously unaffiliated report making this decision during their adolescent and teen years. In years prior, those who abandon religious belief reported doing so much later. Only 38% of people over the age of 65, for example, reported leaving their religion during their childhood years.
CARA National Study
Mark M. Gray, Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (2016)
Study Findings: (While CARA only surveys young Catholic believers, their results parallel the findings of Christian surveys as reported in this article). "The first CARA study, commissioned by Saint Mary's Press, involved a survey with a random, national sample of young people, ages 15 to 25, who had been raised Catholic but no longer self-identified as such. The second CARA study, made possible through funding from the John Templeton Foundation, involved a survey of a random sample of self-identified Catholics, ages 18 and older, and focused on matters of religion and science." Most young people said they left the Church by the age of 13: 63 percent said they left between the ages of 10 and 17. 23 percent say they left before the age of 10. Those who left cited the following reasons:
"Because I grew up realized it was a story like Santa or the Easter Bunny."
"As I learn more about the world around me and understand things that I once did not, I find that the thought of an all-powerful being to be less and less believable."
"Catholic beliefs aren't based on fact. Everything is hearsay from back before anything could be documented, so nothing can be disproved, but it certainly shouldn't be taken seriously."
"I realized that religion is in complete contradiction with the rational and scientific world, and to continue to subscribe to a religion would be hypocritical."
"Need proof of something."
"It no longer fits into what I understand of the universe."
NextGen Research
Larry Barnett, Next Generation Project (2016)
Study Findings: The NextGen research revealed the following key points:
1. Christianity's decline in the U.S. spans every population segment – young and old, male and female, within every race, at all income and educational levels, and in every geographic region.
2. The presence or absence of doubt was found to be the single best predictor of Christian affiliation and spiritual health, compared to several hundred other factors.
3. Adults (and teens) who are younger, highly educated, knowledgeable, high-achieving, technologically engaged individuals who may have religiously diverse friends are the most likely to leave the faith.
CIRP Freshman Survey
The Cooperative Institutional Research Program (2017)
Study Findings: The CIRP Freshmen Survey of first-time students at 184 U.S. colleges and universities collects data on incoming college students' background characteristics, high school experiences, attitudes, behaviors, and expectations for college. This survey revealed the following key points:
31 percent of incoming freshmen are religiously unaffiliated, a threefold increase since 1986, when just 10 percent identified this way. Because the survey is administered to students before they arrive on campus, the decline of religious identity noted in these cross-sectional studies cannot be attributed to college experience. Religious attendance is also falling precipitously among incoming students.
Gen Z: The Culture, Beliefs and Motivations Shaping the Next Generation
Barna Research Group (2018)
Study Findings: Barna's most comprehensive research study investigating the perceptions, experiences and motivations of 13- to 18-year-olds in Generation Z, reports the following:
1. 59% of students in this age group Identify as Christian or Catholic (down from 75% for "Elders"). 21% say they are atheist or agnostic (up from 11% for "Elders'). 14% say they have no religious affiliation (up from 9% for "Elders")
2. Students in this age group offer the following "barriers to faith":
a. "I have a hard time believing that a good God would allow so much evil or suffering in the world" (29%)
b. "Christians are hypocrites" (23%)
c. "I believe science refutes too much of the Bible" (20%)
d. "I don't believe in fairy tales (19%)
e. "There are too many injustices in the history of Christianity" (15%)
f. "I used to go to church but it's not important to me anymore" (12%)
g. "I had a bad experience at church with a Christian" (6%)
3. Students in this age group struggle to reconcile science with the Bible. 24% side with science (up from 16% for "Boomers"). 31% believe science and the Bible refer to difference aspects of reality (up from 25% for "Boomers"). 28% believe science and the Bible can be used to support each other (down from 45% for "Boomers). 17% consider themselves on the side of the Bible (up from 13% for "Boomers", but down from 19% for "Millennials").
4. Students in this age group hold positive perceptions of the church in the following areas:
a. The church is a place to find answers to live a meaningful life (82%)
b. The church is relevant for my life (82%)
c. I feel like I can "be myself" at church (77%)
d. The people at church are tolerant of those with different beliefs (63%)
5. Students in this age group hold negative perceptions of the church in the following areas:
a. The church seems to reject much of what science tells us about the world (495)
b. The church is overprotective of teenagers (38%)
c. The people at church are hypocritical (36%)
d. The church is not a safe place to express doubts (27%)
e. The faith and teaching I encounter at church seem rather shallow (24%)
f. The church seems too much like an exclusive club (17%)
6. When students in this age group were asked why they didn't think church was important, they gave the following reasons:
a. "The church is not relevant to me" (59%)
b. "I find God elsewhere" (48%)
c. "I can teach myself what I need to know" (28%)
d. "I think church is out of date" (20%)
e. "I don't like the people who are in church" (15%)
f. "The rituals of church are empty" (12%)
While this survey of books and studies is less than complete, it does provide us with powerful cumulative, circumstantial evidence supporting the claim that young people are leaving the Church in large numbers. More importantly, it appears that most of these young people are leaving prior to their experiences in college. But, while universities may not be the chief cause of the youth exodus, they certainly play a role in affirming and strengthening a secular worldview in the minds of young people who have already left the faith. Some studies have attempted to isolate potential responses that can be employed by parents and Church leaders:
Research Related to Potential Responses to the Flight of Young People from the Church
Youth Theological Initiative at Emory University in Georgia.
Elizabeth Corrie
Book Findings: There appears to be no shortage of teenagers who want to be inspired and make the world better. But the version of Christianity some are taught doesn't inspire them "to change anything that's broken in the world." Teens want to be challenged; they want their tough questions taken on. "We think that they want cake, but they actually want steak and potatoes, and we keep giving them cake," Churches, not just parents, share some of the blame for teens' religious apathy. "…The gospel of niceness can't teach teens how to confront tragedy. It can't bear the weight of deeper questions: Why are my parents getting a divorce? Why did my best friend commit suicide? Why, in this economy, can't I get the good job I was promised if I was a good kid?"
Christian Smith, Patricia Snell, Oxford University Press (2009)
Book Findings: Parents are the most crucial and powerful socializers in the lives of their adolescents. The adolescent years are not the time to disengage as a parent. Growing adolescent independence often necessitates negotiation. If adolescents experience parents who are religiously withdrawn and functionally absent, then the faith of an emerging adult likely will also be vacuous, directionless, and empty. The more adults involved in the lives of adolescents, the better off they will be. This will mean that ministries to youth and families must find ways to incorporate loving, agenda-free adults into the lives of the ministry. Ministries to youth matter now more than ever. With the breakdown of the family and the systemic erosion of adult support, congregational youth ministers are more necessary than ever before.
Christians Are Hate-Filled Hypocrites…and Other Lies You've Been Told: A Sociologist Shatters Myths From the Secular and Christian Media (2010)
Bradley R. E. Wright, Bethany House (2010)
Book Findings: Parents of students who did not leave the church emphasized religion twice as much as those who students who left the church. Students who stayed in church through college said that the first thing they do when they have doubts or questions was to talk to their parents and then read their Bibles.
Book Findings: Nearly 25% of the 18- to 29-year-olds interviewed said "Christians demonize everything outside of the church" most of the time. 22% also said the church ignores real-world problems and 18% said that their church was too concerned about the negative impact of movies, music and video games. 33% of survey participants felt that "church is boring." 20% of those who attended as a teenager said that God appeared to be missing from their experience of church. Many young adults do not like the way churches appear to be against science. Over 33% of young adults said that "Christians are too confident they know all the answers" and 25% of them said that "Christianity is anti-science." 17% percent of young Christians say they've "made mistakes and feel judged in church because of them." Two out of five young adult Catholics said that the church's teachings on birth control and sex are "out of date." 29% of young Christians said "churches are afraid of the beliefs of other faiths" and feel they have to choose between their friends and their faith. Over 33% of young adults said they feel like they can't ask life's most pressing questions in church and 23% said they had "significant intellectual doubts" about their faith.
Families and Faith: How Religion is Passed Down Across Generations
Vern L. Bengtson. Norella M. Putney, Susan Harris, Oxford University Press (2013)
Book Findings: Several key findings were discovered in this 35-year study of families, focusing on the question of how religion is passed across generations:
1. Parents continue to be the single greatest influence on their children's faith.
2. When a child sees and hears that faith actually makes a difference in Mom and Dad's lives, they're much more likely to follow suit.
3. Young adults are more likely to share their parents' religious beliefs and participation if they feel that they have a close relationship with those parents.
4. Young Christians who leave the faith are far more likely to return when parents have been patient and supportive – and perhaps more tolerant and open than they had been before the prodigal's departure.
5 Reasons Millennials Stay Connected to Church
Study Findings: This research included a series of national public opinion surveys conducted by Barna Group to find the most effective ways to keep millennials connected to the church. The listed the following strategies:
1. Develop meaningful relationships with millennials
2. Teach millennials to study and discern what's happening in the culture
3. Help millennials discover their own mission in the world, rather than ask them to wait their turn
4. Teach millennials a more potent theology of vocation, or calling.
5. Help millennials develop a lasting faith by facilitating a deeper sense of intimacy with God
There you have it; a short summary of some of the research being done on the exodus of young people from the Church and some of the reasons they give for their departure. Can a case be made that young Christians are leaving the Church in record numbers? Yes. Can a case be made that many of these young people are leaving because the culture around them has impacted them deeply and caused them to question the truth claims of Christianity? Yes, again. So, what are we going to do about it? What can be done? Visit our Youth section to get a few ideas.
J. Warner Wallace is a Cold-Case Detective, Christian Case Maker, Senior Fellow at the Colson Center for Christian Worldview, and the author of Cold-Case Christianity, Cold-Case Christianity for Kids, God's Crime Scene, God's Crime Scene for Kids, and Forensic Faith.
Apologetics Atheism Barna Barna Research Group blog books Christianity Cold Case Christianity discipleship Evangelism Evidential Apologetics faith Gen Z J. Warner Wallace life Millennials Nones Religion Student Ministry Truth wordpress Work Youth Ministry
ReBlog: Gen Z's LGBT, & Atheism Growth Rates
Converge – The Importance of Bringing Together Two Separate Parts of our Lives.
One thought on "REBLOG: UPDATED: Are Young People Really Leaving Christianity?"
Terry Shearer says:
Hey Trav
Its been a while. How have you been bro? Thanks for pulling this together man. It is most helpful. We are looking at trends down here in Australia and I found this most helpful. All in one place. Very similar culture.
*Terry Shearer* *Assistant Executive Director* PO Box 15 Kilsyth, Vic, 3137. Office (03) 9761 7086. Mobile 0431 329 931 || ourdailybread.org [image: Our Daily Bread Ministries]
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Littleton,
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Hotels deals in LittletonSearch hotels
Littleton is a town in Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 5,928 at the 2010 census. Situated at the northern edge of the White Mountains, Littleton is bounded on the northwest by the Connecticut River. The primary settlement in town, where 4,412 people lived at the 2010 census, is defined as the Littleton census-designated place (CDP), and is centered on the intersection of U.S. Route 302 with New Hampshire Route 116, along the Ammonoosuc River.
Find more things to do, itinerary ideas, updated news and events, and plan your perfect trip to Littleton
Littleton Articles
The ultimate New England fall foliage road trip
Editor's note: Please check the latest travel restrictions before planning any trip and always follow government advice. Trip length: 5–7 days; 424 miles (682km)Best time to go: Late September to mid-OctoberEssential photo: Kent Falls set against a backdrop of autumnal colorsTop experience: Ziplining through the tree canopy in Bretton Woods The brilliance of fall in New England is legendary. Scarlet and sugar maples, ash, birch, beech, dogwood, tulip tree, oak and sassafras all contribute to the carnival of autumn color. But this trip is about much more than just flora and fauna: the harvest spirit makes for family outings to pick-your-own farms, leisurely walks along dappled trails, and tables groaning beneath delicious seasonal produce. Lake Candlewood is the perfect place to start a New England fall foliage road trip © Alan Copson / Getty Images1. Lake Candlewood With a surface area of 8.4 sq miles, Candlewood is the largest lake in Connecticut. On the western shore, the Squantz Pond State Park is popular with leaf-peepers, who come to amble the pretty shoreline. In Brookfield and Sherman, quiet vineyards with acres of gnarled grapevines line the hillsides. Visitors can tour the award-winning DiGrazia Vineyards or opt for something more intimate at White Silo Farm Winery, where the focus is on specialty wines made from farm-grown fruit. For the ultimate bird's eye view of the foliage, consider a late-afternoon hot-air-balloon ride with GONE Ballooning in nearby Southbury. The drive: From Danbury, at the southern tip of the lake, you have a choice of heading north via US 7, taking in Brookfield and New Milford (or trailing the scenic eastern shoreline along Candlewood Lake Rd S); or heading north along CT 37 and CT 39 via New Fairfield, Squantz Pond and Sherman, before reconnecting with US 7 to Kent. The Litchfield Hills of Connecticut have possibly the best fall colors in the world © DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images2. Kent Kent has previously been voted the spot in all of New England (yes, even beating Vermont) for fall foliage viewing. Situated prettily in the Litchfield Hills on the banks of the Housatonic River, it is surrounded by dense woodlands. For a sweeping view of them, hike up Cobble Mountain in Macedonia Brook State Park, a wooded oasis 2 miles north of town. The steep climb to the rocky ridge affords panoramic views of the foliage against a backdrop of the Taconic and Catskill mountain ranges. The 2175-mile Georgiato-Maine Appalachian National Scenic Trail also runs through Kent and up to Salisbury on the Massachusetts border. Unlike much of the trail, the Kent section offers a mostly flat 5-mile river walk alongside the Housatonic, the longest river walk along the entire length of the trail. The trailhead is accessed on River Rd, off CT 341. The drive: The 15-mile drive from Kent to Housatonic Meadows State Park along US 7 is one of the most scenic drives in Connecticut. The single-lane road dips and weaves between thick forests, past Kent Falls State Park (currently closed due to COVID-19) with its tumbling waterfall (visible from the road), and through West Cornwall's picturesque covered bridge, which spans the Housatonic River. The picturesque covered bridge in West Cornwall, Connecticut © Jeff Hunter / Getty Images3. Housatonic Meadows State Park During the spring thaw, the churning waters of the Housatonic challenge kayakers and canoeists. By summer, the scenic waterway transforms into a lazy, flat river perfect for fly-fishing. In the Housatonic Meadows State Park, campers vie for a spot on the banks of the river while hikers take to the hills on the Appalachian Trail. Housatonic River Outfitters runs guided fishing trips with gourmet picnics. Popular with artists and photographers, one of the most photographed fall scenes is the Cornwall Bridge (West Cornwall), an antique covered bridge that stretches across the broad river, framed by vibrantly colored foliage. In the nearby town of Goshen is Nodine's Smokehouse, a major supplier of smoked meats to New York gourmet food stores. The drive: Continue north along US 7 toward the Massachusetts border and Great Barrington. After a few miles you leave the forested slopes of the park behind you and enter expansive rolling countryside dotted with large red-and-white barns. Look out for hand-painted signs advertising farm produce and consider stopping overnight in Falls Village, which has an excellent B&B. The Berkshires turn crimson and gold, making for a spectacular fall, in the hills of Massacusetts © DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images4. Berkshires Blanketing the westernmost part of Massachusetts, the rounded mountains of the Berkshires turn crimson and gold as early as mid-September. The effective capital of the Berkshires is Great Barrington, a formerly industrial town whose streets are now lined with art galleries and upscale restaurants. It's the perfect place to pack your picnic or rest your legs before or after a hike in nearby Beartown State Forest. Crisscrossing some 12,000 acres, hiking trails yield spectacular views of wooded hillsides and pretty Benedict Pond, Further north, October Mountain State Forest is the state's largest tract of green space (16,127 acres), also interwoven with hiking trails. The name – attributed to Herman Melville – gives a good indication of when this park is at its loveliest, with its multicolored tapestry of hemlocks, birches and oaks. The drive: Drive north on US 7, the spine of the Berkshires, cruising through Great Barrington and Stockbridge. In Lee, the highway merges with scenic US 20, from where you can access October Mountain. Continue 16 miles north through Lenox and Pittsfield to Lanesborough. Turn right on N Main St and follow the signs to the park entrance. Driving to the summit of Mt Greylock in autumn is a sensory overload © PM 10 / Getty Images5. Mt Greylock State Forest Massachusetts' highest peak is not so high, at 3491ft, but a climb up the 92ft-high War Veterans Memorial Tower rewards you with a forested panorama stretching up to 100 miles, across the Taconic, Housatonic and Catskill ranges, and over five states. Even if the weather seems drab from the foot, driving up to the summit may well lift you above the gray blanket, and the view with a layer of cloud floating between tree line and sky is simply magical. Mt Greylock State Reservation has some 45 miles of hiking trails, including a portion of the Appalachian Trail. Frequent trail pull-offs on the road up – including some that lead to waterfalls – make it easy to get at least a little hike in before reaching the top of Mt Greylock. The drive: Return to US 7 and continue north through the quintessential college town of Williamstown. Cross the Vermont border and continue north through the historic village of Bennington. Just north of Bennington, turn left on Rte 7A and continue north to Manchester. Manchester's architecture looks even better shrouded in fall colors © DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images6. Manchester Stylish Manchester is known for its magnificent New England architecture. For fall foliage views, head south of the center to 3828ft-high Mt Equinox, the highest mountain accessible by car in the Taconic Range. Wind up the 5.2 miles – with gasp-inducing scenery at every hairpin turn – seemingly to the top of the world, where the 360-degree panorama unfolds, offering views of the Adirondacks, the lush Battenkill Valley and Montréal's Mt Royal. If early snow makes Mt Equinox inaccessible, visit 412-acre Hildene, a Georgian Revival mansion that was once home to the Lincoln family. It's filled with presidential memorabilia and sits nestled at the edge of the Green Mountains, with access to 8 miles of wooded walking trails. The drive: Take US 7 north to Burlington. Three miles past Middlebury in New Haven, stop off at Lincoln Peak Vineyard for wine tasting or a picnic lunch on the wraparound porch. Go out on Lake Champlain for a leaf-peeping adventure and you might run into a mythical sea creature © Larry Gerbrandt / Getty Images7. Lake Champlain With a surface area of 490 sq miles, straddling New York, Vermont and Quebec, Lake Champlain is the largest freshwater lake in the US after the Great Lakes. On its northeastern side, Burlington is a gorgeous base to enjoy the lake. Explore it by foot on our walking tour. Then scoot down to the wooden promenade, take a swing on the fourperson rocking benches and consider a bike ride along the 7.5-mile lakeside bike path. For the best off-shore foliage views we love the Friend Ship sailboat at Whistling Man Schooner Company, a 43ft sloop that accommodates a mere 13 passengers. Next door, ECHO Lake Aquarium & Science Center explores the history and ecosystem of the lake, including a famous snapshot of Champ, Lake Champlain's mythical sea creature. The drive: Take I-89 southeast to Montpelier passing Camels Hump State Park and CC Putnam State Forest. At Montpelier, pick up US2 heading east to St Johnsbury, where you can hop on I-91 south to I-93 south. Just after Littleton, take US 302 east to Bretton Woods. The Bretton Woods have leaf-peeping as well as high adventure just waiting to be explored © thrmylens / Getty Images8. Bretton Woods Unbuckle your seat belts and step away from the car. You're not just peeping at leaves today, you're swooping past them on zip lines that drop 1000ft at 30mph. The four-season Bretton Woods Canopy Tour includes a hike through the woods, a stroll over sky bridges and a swoosh down 10 cables to tree platforms. If this leaves you craving even higher views, cross US 302 and drive 6 miles on Base Rd to the coal-burning, steam-powered Mount Washington Cog Railway at the western base of Mt Washington, the highest peak in New England. This historic railway has been hauling sightseers to the mountain's 6288ft summit since 1869. The drive: Continue driving east on US 302, a route that parallels the Saco River and the Conway Scenic Railroad, traversing Crawford Notch State Park. At the junction of NH 16 and US 302, continue east on US 302 into North Conway. Wrap up your fall foliage road trip in North Conway, a scenic finale © Nils Winkelmann / EyeEm / Getty Images9. North Conway Many of the best restaurants, pubs and inns in North Conway come with expansive views of the nearby mountains, making it an ideal place to wrap up a fall foliage road trip. If you're traveling with kids or you skipped the cog railway ride up Mt Washington, consider an excursion on the antique Valley Train with the Conway Scenic Railroad; it's a short but sweet roundtrip ride through the Mt Washington Valley from North Conway to Conway, 11 miles south. The Moat Mountains and the Saco River will be your scenic backdrop. First-class seats are usually in a restored Pullman observation car.
Forget Basketball—Who Won the Battle of the Breakfasts?
The Kentucky Wildcats may have won the 2012 NCAA Championship, but who was the victor in the battle of the breakfasts? Every March there are countless brackets going around, but none was more delicious than BedandBreakfast.com's Breakfast Recipe Challenge. I helped determine the finalists (tough job, I know) and fans of cozy inns voted. The ultimate victor? Bittersweet chocolate waffles topped with mint buttercream and strawberry sauce from the Lyttleton Inn in Littleton, Massachusetts. The waffles narrowly bested the pumpkin pancakes with carmelized pecans served at the Gracehill Bed and Breakfast in Townsend, Tennessee, a carb-lovers' final two if there ever was one. The final four also included the relatively healthier-sounding blueberry granola breakfast bake from Lord Camden Inn in Camden, Maine, and the lobster frittata from the Mill House Inn in East Hampton, New York. See all 16 finalists here, as well as all the recipes if you want to recreate the battle in your kitchen. But it's probably easier to book a night at an inn and let the chefs cook for you. MORE FROM BUDGET TRAVEL 15 International Food Etiquette Rules That Might Surprise You America's Best Food Regions World's Best Street Food
DESTINATION IN New Hampshire
Franconia Notch (elev. 1,950 feet/590 m) is a major mountain pass through the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Dominated by Cannon Mountain to the west and Mount Lafayette to the east, it lies principally within Franconia Notch State Park and is traversed by the Franconia Notch Parkway (Interstate 93 and U.S. Route 3). The parkway required a special act of Congress to sidestep design standards for the Interstate highway system because it is only one lane in each direction.The notch was home to the Old Man of the Mountain, a rock formation which collapsed in 2003 but whose profile remains a symbol of the state of New Hampshire. The notch is located primarily in the town of Franconia but extends south into Lincoln. It is bordered to the east by Franconia Ridge, comprising Mount Lafayette (5,249 feet/1,600 m), Mount Lincoln (5,089 feet/1,551 m), and Little Haystack Mountain (4,780 feet/1,460 m), and to the west by 4,080-foot (1,240 m) Cannon Mountain and the sheer face of Cannon Cliff. The notch's height of land is located near its northern end, at the base of Cannon Mountain. Echo Lake lies just north of the high point of the notch, with an outlet that flows into Lafayette Brook, then the Gale River, the Ammonoosuc River, and finally the Connecticut River, which enters Long Island Sound at Old Saybrook, Connecticut. Just south of the height of land, Profile Lake lies beneath the cliff that once held the Old Man of the Mountain. Profile Lake is the source of the Pemigewasset River, the primary tributary of the Merrimack River, which flows to the Gulf of Maine at Newburyport, Massachusetts.
Whites Mountain
The White Mountains are a mountain range covering about a quarter of the state of New Hampshire and a small portion of western Maine in the United States. They are part of the northern Appalachian Mountains and the most rugged mountains in New England. The range is heavily visited due to its proximity to Boston and, to a lesser extent, New York City and Montreal. Most of the area is public land, including the White Mountain National Forest and a number of state parks. Its most famous mountain is 6,288-foot (1,917 m) Mount Washington, which is the highest peak in the Northeastern U.S. and for 76 years held the record for fastest surface wind gust in the world (231 miles per hour (372 km/h) in 1934). Mount Washington is part of a line of summits, the Presidential Range, that are named after U.S. presidents and other prominent Americans. The White Mountains also include the Franconia Range, Sandwich Range, Carter-Moriah Range and Kinsman Range in New Hampshire, and the Mahoosuc Range straddling the border between it and Maine. In all, there are 48 peaks within New Hampshire as well as one (Old Speck Mountain) in Maine over 4,000 feet (1,200 m), known as the four-thousand footers. The Whites are known for a system of alpine huts for hikers operated by the Appalachian Mountain Club. The Appalachian Trail crosses the area from southwest to northeast.
Mt Washington
Mount Washington is the highest peak in the Northeastern United States at 6,288.2 ft (1,916.6 m) and the most topographically prominent mountain east of the Mississippi River. The mountain is notorious for its erratic weather. On the afternoon of April 12, 1934, the Mount Washington Observatory recorded a windspeed of 231 miles per hour (372 km/h) at the summit, the world record from 1934 until 1996. Mount Washington still holds the record for highest measured wind speed not associated with a tornado or tropical cyclone.The mountain is located in the Presidential Range of the White Mountains, in Coös County, New Hampshire. The mountain slopes lie within the boundaries of several unincorporated townships, with the summit itself lying in the township of Sargent's Purchase. While nearly the whole mountain is in the White Mountain National Forest, an area of 60.3 acres (24.4 ha) surrounding and including the summit is occupied by Mount Washington State Park. The Mount Washington Cog Railway ascends the western slope of the mountain, and the Mount Washington Auto Road climbs to the summit from the east. The mountain is visited by hikers, and the Appalachian Trail crosses the summit. Other common activities include glider flying, backcountry skiing, and annual cycle and running races such as the Auto Road Bicycle Hillclimb and Road Race.
Waterville Valley is a town in Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 247 at the 2010 census.Waterville Valley attracts many visitors in the winter months with alpine skiing at Waterville Valley Resort and many miles of trails for cross-country skiing. During the summer, attractions include a golf course, tennis courts, and a variety of hiking options. The Mad River flows through the town, providing great views all year round.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


The episode also establishes that she has picked up some basic legal knowledge working with Monk, as evidenced in a scene where Natalie tries to withhold Roderick's name from Captain Stottlemeyer on the grounds of client confidentiality. She pursued a career in the advertising industry, first as a marketer for mobile photo-sharing application Peep, and then as an media planner for Good Apple Digital. They broke his jaw and both of his legs. Traylor Elizabeth Howard born June 14, is an American actress. How Much Have You Seen?


How to upload image into project?
For a couple of days I'm trying find some tutorial or some information at forum about this. And I've already found how to change graphic uploaded in Blender but I've didn't found nothing more.
You can try to use the next functions: replace_image, change_image.


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Dominican University of California – Alumni Affinity Direct Mail Appeal
Click the image to the right to download the complete sample
Alumni Affinity Direct Mail Appeal
Sophia De Quattro
Annual Giving Manager
Direct Mail Appeals
What fiscal year did this effort occur?
This appeal is segmented by affinity. The undergraduate alumni segments focused on the decade of attendance. We enlisted alumni from each decade to be signers. Photos and references were sourced from our archives. Graduate-only alumni and friends of Dominican received custom letters.
What makes this unique
Dominican University of California has an incredibly rich heritage. Our alumni and friends of Dominican are fond of the origin of our institution and the values it was built on. While we typically segment our lists by alumni, community, and parents of current students, this was our first attempt to truly customize the appeal by incorporating facts and images relevant to the segments. Overall, we generated 16 different segments: alumni from the 30s-50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, 00s-18, graduate-only alumni, and community members that made a gift in FY19; and alumni from the 30s-50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, 00s-18, graduate-only alumni, and community members that last made a gift in FY18 or earlier. Additionally, enlisting our alumni base to be signers and accessing our archives to incorporate images into the appeal instills nostalgia in our audience. By reminding our supporters of their connection and why they love Dominican University of California, they are more likely to give back to the community that has provided them with invaluable experiences.
AGN Members receive unlimited access to our resources, discounts, and other benefits. Click here to learn more.


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Views & Reviews about Writing and Reading
Salmon Poetry
Poems Published
Liffey Sound FM
Floorshows
Salmon Poetry Books
The Sunflower Sessions
All=Time Favorite Novels
'Lucan Sound' local radio station at 96.4FM: 'Poetry & Politics'
by	tvivf	on April 26, 2010 April 26, 2010
Last Sunday(25th April) I was the guest on Niamh Bagnell's regular Sunday Scrapbook proramme on our Lucan local 'Liffey Sound' station (96.4FM). It's a weekly show at 4.00-5.00pm which features various writers dealing with various themes . The show has featured many excellent poets in the past few weeks (Raven, Anamaria Crowe-Serrano, Steve Conway, Ross hattaway…) so I had to be on my toes with at least passable stuff. You can hear the programe on <http://sundayscrapbook.blogspot.com>
I took 'Politics & Poetry' as a 'theme' because a lot of my work strays into
the worlds of buying and selling, marketing and hoarding, the environment, political partying (as distinct from just partying, though sometimes the two go together), the R-Word (we're all not suppoesed to SAY that terrible word, remember?… because it might get even worse if we do), and all the things of the daily life we all must lead, whether we like it or not. And we have to like it because the alternative is … oblivion! And who wants that? Nobody's a Zen freak around here, right?
The oldest poem I dealt with was 'Campaign' from my first collection ('Dispatches and Recollections', publ. by Lapwing) way back in 1998. It was a reflection on some political work I was involved in around that time as a member of the Workers Party and examines the ins and outs of electioneering on behalf of a small left-wing party and the attempt to get across a 'socialist' message. If the poem draws any conclusions it's probably that these types of attempts are really difficult, even given the high level of unemployment and job-losses that existed then, and exist now again. How much a party can spend on its campaigns is a huge factor, some would say the ONLY factor.
But don't go away! It's not all poems about party political politics on my radio show! There're others on various topics, political yes, but in the sense of dealing with people and their concerns. One of these poems, written around the same time as 'Campaign' dealt with the headlong pursuit of consumerism which began in real earnest in Ireland around the end of the 80s when the mantra was The More We Spend the Better Off Everyone Will Be. Also I tried to get a dig in at the notion of 'brands' and 'labels'. The poem was called 'Come Live with me and be my Coke (TM)' and it was published ina UK magazine in 1994. Here it is:
COME LIVE WITH ME AND BE MY COKE (™)*
(or: The only good thing on the box is the ads)
I would arise and go where sun-tanned people
drink Seven-Up (™)* all day, chew Juicy Fruit (™)*,
where the requisites of life are very simple:
a swimsuit, a Swiss bank-account — and youth.
I long to chase Californian, unclad ladies
along a waters edge where palm trees lean,
then lie for hours in sun-creamed meditation
until it's time for Sugar Puffs (™)* and cream.
Come live with me and be my Coke (™)*, my darling —
or better still I'll climb up on the box —
Quick, before this adverts over, pull me
down and in and safe aboard your yacht!
We'll drink our Coca-Cola (™)* in the sunshine
and soar the surf and talk of Dear Old Ireland (™)*
where it's 1.00 am November (weather's awful)
and the only thing that soars is unemployment.
*(TM) Registered Trade Mark. All rights reseved
And so it's a big thank you to Niamh for her invitation. It was great to be on the show. Some of the other poems will appear in my forthcoming book 'And Suddenly the Sun Again' to be published next month by Seven Towers Ltd. I absolutely expect you to run out and buy it.
Previous Post: Dublin Institute of Technology, Kevin Street.
Next Post: 'Mary Barton', by Elizabeth Gaskell, Publ. 1848
Niamh B says:
April 26, 2010 at 2:25
Thanks again Eamonn for doing a fantastic show, and yes I am getting ready to run out and buy the next collection as I type… I'll have a set then!
tvivf says:
Well, that's another name to add to my fan club. I'll be in double figures soon!
Ross Hattaway says:
Just back from playing cricket in Toulouse – nous lost, as our bowling was too loose… (can we beat the French at anything?) – so will listen this week.
It was aired last week. But you can listen/download from http://sundayscrapbook.blogspot.com


Olivier Bellanger grew up in Monthou sur Cher, a scant hour east of Tours in the center Loire. He obtained his agricultural diploma in 2000, and spent the next 8 years working for various domaines in the Loire, notably Philippe Tessier. In 2008 he got the opportunity to buy 6 hectares of vineyards in Thesée near his native village. He immediately converted them to organic farming.
The land was affordable partly because there were no associated buildings, so it was only later that he secured a cellar. He vinifies in a friend's winery where he rents space. He now farms about 10 hectares, and sells some fruit to other wineries to keep his cash flow reasonable. He is committed to local grapes and deplores the regulations that reward ripping up old vine native varieties that are not in fashion, or not allowed in the regional appellation.
His own wines of course are a real labor of love. He's still fine-tuning his blends and adapting to vintage conditions. The results are always exciting and convincing. And delicious.


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Home > College of Arts & Sciences > School of Communication, Media & the Arts > SCMA Faculty Publications > 127
Communication, Media & The Arts Faculty Publications
Gender, Race, and Class in Media : A Critical Reader
Bill Yousman ed., Sacred Heart UniversityFollow
Lori Bindig Yousman ed., Sacred Heart UniversityFollow
Gail Dines ed., Wheelock College
Jean M. Humez ed., University of Massachusetts
Gender, Race, and Class in Media provides students a comprehensive and critical introduction to media studies by encouraging them to analyze their own media experiences and interests. The book explores some of the most important forms of today's popular culture—including the Internet, social media, television, films, music, and advertising—in three distinct but related areas of investigation: the political economy of production, textual analysis, and audience response. Multidisciplinary issues of power related to gender, race, and class are integrated into a wide range of articles examining the economic and cultural implications of mass media as institutions. Reflecting the rapid evolution of the field, the Sixth Edition includes 18 new readings that enhance the richness, sophistication, and diversity that characterizes contemporary media scholarship.
ISBN 9781544393421 (pbk.)
Yousman, B., Bindig Yousman, L., Dines, G., & McMahon Humes, J. (Eds.). (2020). Gender, race, and class in media: A critical reader (6th ed.). Sage Publications.
School of Communication, Media & the Arts
Mark Congdon Jr.
Candace Parrish


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CNN Original Series "Chicagoland" Showcases the Realities of Chicago
Hello again! Lareka Renee here, a part of Billy Dec's intern team at Rockit Ranch. I wanted to share with you my thoughts and opinions of CNN's Original series Chicagoland, which also features Billy! Enjoy!
Robert Spicer, the Culture and Climate Specialist at Christian Fenger Academy High School, shares his thoughts on Chicago kids being scared to walk to school. You can help Robert, Billy, Principal Liz Dozier, and Fenger alum Juanita Jordan keep Fenger safe through their fundraiser.
CNN's original series Chicagoland has showcased some of the many trials and triumphs of the Windy City. We've been able to see the culture and entertainment of this extraordinary place and the great pride that is within the individuals whom live here. From the art and diversity to sports and politics, we've gotten a great glimpse of what it's like to be a Chicagoan. However most of us are already familiar with these things: what Chicagoland has finally offered to the rest of nation are the other realities of this all-American city. The show blatantly yet educationally describes the hardships of being a young minority in Chicago's inner city.
Chicagoland has illustrated to us so vividly the rapidly growing gang and youth violence in addition to the struggling education system, the fight for street territory, and senseless murders of innocent children and adults alike. The wars found right here in the streets of Chicago are under multiple theories of what has brought this city to such a turmoil: gentrification, poverty, oppression, unequal education, and underdeveloped resources are all precisely valid reasons behind the crimes committed and the poor state of the neighborhoods and people. Nonetheless, what I wish Chicagoland offered viewers were more of the organizations and communities of people combating the crime, unacceptable education levels, and changing laws for the children giving them a normal chance at life, like the organization Lost Boyz Inc., for example.
Lost Boyz Inc. was founded in 2008 by activist LaVonté Stewart whose vision was to create a safe haven for poverty stricken, at risk youth, with the goal to keep them occupied and out of trouble or harm's way. Most of the participant children come from very humbled backgrounds without much to look forward to from day to day; Lost Boyz Inc. offers a reason to look forward. Their founding principles rely in revitalizing organized sports to teach discipline, character, and sportsmanship as well as promoting public safety and stimulating the economy. The organization is producing good active leaders from the young boys who join. With almost six years of establishment, Lost Boyz Inc. now has a plethora of sponsors who believe that change will happen by molding our leaders of tomorrow now.
"My son was headed down a path of destruction, I couldn't do too much with him, the streets had a very strong hold. Thanks to Lost Boyz's mentorship, Corey quit the gang, graduated 8th grade with a B average and got accepted with a baseball scholarship to high school."
– Olivia S.
Much like Lost Boyz Inc., the Black Youth Project (BYP) is an online platform that aims to education, empower, and battle the violence of Chicago while clarifying the misconceptions of the people. Their organization is based upon 3 major concepts:
Knowledge. The site produces research about the lives and experience of black Chicago youth as it relates to their civil and social engagement.
Voice. BYP offers an outlet for black youth's social, political, and artistic expression without inhibitions or censorship. They are able to voice thoughts, feelings and concerns about the issues that plague or surround them.
Action. With culturally informed data, the Black Youth Project targets black Chicago youth and their allies to begin being the change the city needs.
The site also offers what they refer to as the "BYP 100," made up of 100 black activists around the country summoned by the Black Youth Project to propel communities of color forward.
There are an array of big and small organizations such as the ones discussed here, and it's important that we all stay aware of not only the beautiful things the City of Chicago offers us, but the side of Chicago not broadcasted in mainstream media.
You can watch clips and episodes of CNN's Chicagoland here.
billy decBlack Youth Projectcharitychicago public schoolschicagolandChristian Fenger Academy High SchoolcnnCNN Original SeriescpseducationfundraiserLaVonte StewartLiz DozierLost Boyz Inc.Robert Spicer
Soul City Church Hosts 'The Big Find': Chicago's Greatest Easter Egg Hunt!
Join the PurpleStride to Fight Pancreatic Cancer and Help Coach E!
GIRLS 4 SCIENCE KICK'S OFF THE START OF SUMMER WITH THE 6TH ANNUAL GARDEN PARTY FUNDRAISER


Matlock Farm Park, an Attraction in Matlock, Derbyshire.
Matlock Farm Park is set in part of a 600 acre working farm, providing a great day out with varied activities for all the family. the park has a varied selection of animals to see including llamas, goats, peacocks and red deer to name a few.
The pet rabbits are always a favourite with the children along with the opportunity to help feed the young lambs (seasonable).Children will learn about the countryside, experience the many pleasures and have tremendous fun as they go.
There are specially designed playgrounds and even a go-kart track for the kids and many places for the adults to relax if they wish. Special event days are held throughout the year, please ring for details. Group party bookings and children's birthday parties are also catered for, please ask for details.


Offering the comfort and performance you'd expect from a Giro shoe, the Cylinder Women's MTB Shoes combine a snug, comfortable fit with easy adjustments, and a stiff nylon sole.
Combining a single set-and-forget strap at the front of the shoe with a Boa L6 dial, the Cylinder Women's Shoes are easy to put on and take off, while providing 1mm adjustments to fine tune the fit.
The Co-Moulded nylon and rubber lugged sole of the Cylinder Shoes provides high levels of stiffness and support while pedalling combined with traction when off the bike. Additional rubber protection areas boost durability and protect your feet from bumps and scrapes.


We at Biotech Era Transforming India (BETI) Research and Training Centre is basically a high qualitySpawn Production Laboratory run by Biotechnology and Microbiology Experts besides conducting research internships and trainings.
We provide high grade first generation Mushroom Spawn of all varieties.Our laboratory works on the basic principles of biotechnology by processing material by biological agents to provide goods and services.
Th Founder and Director Dr. Pooja Dubey Pandey (Ph. D. Biotechnology) with her vast 10 years of experience in the field of research, academic and industry is very much dedicated for the empowerment of women and growth of the society by her quality work. She has been awarded various awards like M.P. Young Scientist, International Poster presentation and many more besides her research contributions which resulted in several national and international publications.
As we believe in developing lab to land technology we have developed certain micro nutritious products.
Single cell protein (SCPs) have played important role in overcoming malnutrition and various other problems.
Currently our team is working to develop novel/ mini food produced using waste substrate from agriculture.
Experienced TeamOur experienced and research oriented team has come up with innovative and field aplicable ideas to meet the crisis of food and environmental issues.Skill Developmentwe help students understand bioscience and develop skills , products and technology which are ultimately applicable for the benefit of society and health.
B.Sc, M.Sc., B. Tech., Biotechnology, B.E. Biomedical Engineering, B. Tech., Food Technology, B. Tech., Pharma Technology, M. Tech., Biotechnology, B.Pharm, M.Pharm, M. Sc., Biotechnology, M. Sc., Microbiology, M. Sc., Biochemistry, M. Phil., Biotechnology, M. Phil., Microbiology, M. Phil., Biochemistry are encouraged to apply.


Bio - Terri is a self-proclaimed Mom on a Mission! She has always had a passion to help others. She holds a BS in psychology & a Masters in Early Childhood Special Education. After working as a preschool teacher, director & early interventionist throughout Colorado and as a contractor for the US Air Force in England she resigned and went on to raise her family.
After a few years, she decided to pursue a career in health & wellness and has worked for The Juice Plus+ Company for nearly ... More...Terri is a self-proclaimed Mom on a Mission! She has always had a passion to help others. She holds a BS in psychology & a Masters in Early Childhood Special Education. After working as a preschool teacher, director & early interventionist throughout Colorado and as a contractor for the US Air Force in England she resigned and went on to raise her family.


The world's most expensive cities to live in have been revealed in a major survey of almost 300 population hubs.
The destinations are named in the 14th Annual Demographia International Housing Affordability Survey: 2018.
It analysed 293 metropolitan housing markets in nine countries — Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, the UK, and the US — in the third quarter of 2017.
Using the "median multiple" approach, which involves taking an area's median house price and dividing it by — the median household income. So if the aver gae income was $50,000 and the average house cost $250,000, the median multiple would be 5.
The method found 26 "severely unaffordable" locations, with the worst offenders in the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and China.
The survey also looked at all cities, non-major markets included — which is the data we've compiled below.
Scroll down to see the 10 most expensive cities to live in around the world in 2018.
10. Tauranga, Western Bay of Plenty, New Zealand — New Zealand's housing is severely unaffordable with an overall median multiple of 5.8, and in Tauranga the average home costs 8.9 times the average income.
=9. Salinas, Monterrey, California, USA — Located in the county of Monterrey, Salinas — a city with a population of less than 150,000 — has a median multiple of 9.1.
=9. San Francisco, California, USA — Tied with Salinas is hilly, much more populous San Francisco, also with a median multiple of 9.1.
8. Honolulu, Hawaii, USA — The beachy Hawaiian capital, which sits on the south coast of the island of Oahu, has an unaffordable median multiple of 9.2.
=7. Los Angeles, California, USA — LA is the second least affordable city in the US, with a median multiple of 9.4.
=7. Santa Barbara, California, USA — The fourth — but not the last — Californian city to reach the top 10, Santa Barbara has a median multiple of 9.4.
6. Melbourne, Australia — With a median multiple of 9.9, Melbourne has deteriorated from 6.3 in 2001, and under 3.0 in the early 1980s. Since 2001, median house prices have increased the equivalent of more than three years in pre-tax median household income.
5. San Jose, California, USA — The least affordable housing market in the San Francisco Bay Area, San Jose has a median multiple of 10.3.
4. Santa Cruz, California, USA — Also located in the Bay Area, Santa Cruz is the least affordable market in the US with a median multiple of 10.4.
3. Vancouver, Canada — The least affordable market in Canada with a median multiple of 12.6, Vancouver has experienced the greatest housing affordability deterioration among major markets in the survey, rising by more than 2.35 times from 5.3 in 2004.
Downtown Vancouver is seen at dawn.
2. Sydney, Australia — The country's least affordable market, Sydney has a median multiple of 12.9, a rapid deterioration considering the rate was 6.3 in 2001. The UBS Global Real Estate Bubble Index rates Sydney as having the world's fourth worst housing bubble risk (tied with Vancouver).
1. Hong Kong, China — The least affordable housing for the eighth straight year with a median multiple of 19.4 — the highest ever reported in the survey, up from 18.1 last year.


(Natural News) Green tea has many evidence-based health benefits: it can make your heart healthier and it helps lower your risk of various types of cancers. You can also drink this beverage if you're constipated and looking for a natural and effective laxative.
Next : A bitter pill to swallow: Is chronic dieting actually CAUSING weight gain?


The street musicians are back in the cities and the coastlines are warming up, flowers are blooming and outdoor seating in the piazzas is popping up as quickly as the tulips; summer is coming, and Europeans couldn't be more excited. Stepping off the plane for a summer in Europe is exciting, stupendous, astounding, breathtaking, and sometimes a little annoying because of things you may miss from home – but seriously, it's guaranteed to be one of the best summers of your life.
The heat of the summer is inevitable in Europe – especially in Italy, and other more southern areas. Regardless of where you are, there are ways to beat the head (even if you don't have AC where you're staying). Eat lots of frozen treats – granitas and gelato in Italy, for example. Have a fruit smoothie with locally grown fruits. Staying hydrated isn't usually a problem in the cities (or even the little towns like Interlaken, Switzerland) because of the numerous water fountains located around the area. Some, like the one in Piazza Signioria in Florence, even have sparkling water as an option. This water is either glacial or at least pretty cold and much better than spending your money on bottled. Take advantage of it.
Also, make sure you stroll at night – when the city comes alive after the sun has set. Dress up for it and sit outside the bars or in the outdoor seating areas in restaurants (no open container laws usually!) and enjoy the summer night surrounded by the beauty of Europe. Take the high road and go to a vantage point above the cities as well. Most illuminate their most coveted monuments so a view of the cities at night is just as beautiful, if not more so than the day. Plus, the heat has resided so you may even enjoy yourself a little more. *Side note – in some cities at night, the mosquitoes are out. Prepare yourself by bringing repellant or at least a lotion to cool the bites afterwards!
Make sure to hit the beach at some point. Most Europeans do during the summer to beat the heat as well. Difference is – most beaches are paid here – meaning you throw a couple Euros their way, and you get to be treated like royalty with beach lounge chairs and your own umbrella. Usually this cost also includes showers (because the seas are pretty salty here) and sometime of changing area and food shack. Though different, it's cool to feel welcome and fit in on a beach here. If you really miss just lying on the sand with your towel, you usually still can on a small area of "free beach" but it definitely isn't as nice as the others.
But most of all, experience the European lifestyle as it is in the best season to see it – when everything is bustling and booming, and the European citizens are happy that the long winter is over. What you may miss with barbeques and Fouth of July parties, you'll get back with food festivals in piazzas and beauty that is insurmountable. Good Luck with the flight over, and we'll see you in the city!


This week's pair of Celeb BFFs first met as cast mates on the children's television show Barney and have now ventured off into having their very own television shows/movies on the Disney Channel. The 2 lovely ladies that we're talking about are none other than: Selena Gomez & Demi Lovato.
These 2 gals are genuine examples of BFFs. They value their friendship so much that they put it above and beyond EVERYTHING. In a recent interview with People Magazine, The 16 year-old best friends made sure to note that they'd definitely sacrifice boys for friendship, "I'm very protective of our friendship. I think I'd be like, 'You can have him, because I don't want to ruin our friendship.' Then she'd be like, 'No, you can have him,' and then we'd end up not liking him" says Demi.
Boys usually can impair or break a friendship and that right there shows how much love these BFFS have for one another.


text:
Q: Django video in template, seems to detect media but not working Please i have been working on this for a while but don't seem to find the problem. I am trying to get a video from the uploaded files to work on the template,but all i keep getting is a blank video, although when i view the  page source or inspect the video element, it seems to be pointing to the right video, and all solutions i have tried to make this work proved abortive.
Below are my codes:
MY MODEL:
class Sermon(models.Model):
topic = models.CharField('Topic', max_length=50)
pub_date  = models.DateField('Sermon Date')
timestamp = models.DateTimeField(auto_now_add=True, auto_now=False)
last_edited = models.DateTimeField(auto_now_add=False, auto_now=True)
type = models.CharField('Type', max_length=50, choices=sermon_chioices)
audio = models.FileField(upload_to='audios', default="Not Available", blank=True, validators=[validate_audio_extension], null=True)
video = models.FileField(upload_to='videos', default="Not Available", blank=True)#can be changed if the video will recide in the system
outlines = models.FileField(upload_to="outlines", default="Not Available", blank=True,)
user = models.ForeignKey(User, verbose_name="User", editable=False)

class Meta:
    ordering = ['-pub_date']

def __unicode__(self):
    return self.topic

def get_absolute_url(self):
    #return reverse('sermon_detail', kwargs={'pk': self.pk})
    return reverse('sermon_detail', args=[str(self.id)])

MY VIEW:
class SermonDetails(DetailView):
    model = Sermon
    template_name = 'agonopa/sermon_details.html'
    context_object_name = 'sermon'

    def get_context_data(self, **kwargs):
        context = super(SermonDetails, self).get_context_data(**kwargs)
        #context['sermons'] = Sermon.objects.all()
        return context

#Sunday Service List
class SundayServiceSermonList(ListView):
    model = Sermon
    template_name = 'agonopa/sermon.html'
    context_object_name = 'sermon_list' #'ss_sermon_list'
    queryset = Sermon.objects.filter(type__exact="SUNDAY SERVICE")

    def get_context_data(self, **kwargs):
        context = super(SundayServiceSermonList, self).get_context_data(**kwargs)
        context['title'] = 'Sunday Service'
        return context

MY TEMPLATE:
{% if sermon %}
    <h3>{{ sermon.topic}}</h3>
    {{sermon.outline}}
    {{ sermon.pub_date}}

 {% endif %}
 <video  loop class="embed-responsive-item thumbnails" controls>
        <source src="{{ MEDIA_URL}}{{sermon.video.url}}" type="video/mp4">
    </video>

MY MEDIA SETTINGS:
import os

BASE_DIR = os.path.dirname(os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__)))
PROJECT_DIR = os.path.dirname(BASE_DIR)
MEDIA_URL = '/media/'
MEDIA_ROOT = os.path.join(PROJECT_DIR,'churchsite_static_root','media_root')

The Server returns things like this in the terminal:
[28/Nov/2015 11:38:10]"GET /agonopa/sermon/3/ HTTP/1.1" 200 377
[28/Nov/2015 11:38:10]"GET /media/videos/wowo_Boyz_5gQAbzG.mp4 HTTP/1.1" 404 2344

Thanks for your help in advance, and for further clarification on the question pls do let me know.
It should be noted, that i have tried many solutions from stakeoverflow, and several blogs but none seems to works, so i had to post it here.

A: It seems to me that your MEDIA_ROOT is way too high (as in no longer within your project). When I use the settings you use, I get a media root directory of ../../../churchsite_static_root/media_root/ relative to your settings.py file. I would expect churchsite_static_root to be one directory up from settings.py (or at the same level as manage.py).
Go into Django shell and check the media root path to see if it seems reasonable (and confirm that your files are actually there):
python manage.py shell
>>> from django.conf import settings
>>> settings.MEDIA_ROOT

Try the following in your settings.py and let me know if it helps:
import os

BASE_DIR = os.path.dirname(os.path.dirname(__file__))
MEDIA_ROOT = os.path.join(BASE_DIR, 'churchsite_static_root', 'media_root')

Be sure you have something like this in your site's urls.py if using python manage.py runserver:
# For Django>=1.8:
if settings.DEBUG:
    urlpatterns += static(settings.MEDIA_URL, document_root=settings.MEDIA_ROOT)

# For Django<1.8:
if settings.DEBUG:
    urlpatterns += patterns('',
        (r'^media/(?P<path>.*)$', 'django.views.static.serve', {
        'document_root': settings.MEDIA_ROOT}))

A: I simply imported settings, and then static, and also added the if Debug: to my urls.py, thus the program looked as below:
Urls.py:
from django.conf.urls import include, url, patterns
from django.conf import settings
from django.conf.urls.static import static
from django.contrib import admin
from agonopa.views import SermonMonthArchiveView, SermonYearArchiveView

urlpatterns = [
    # Examples:
    # url(r'^$', 'churchsite.views.home', name='home'),
    url(r'^$', 'agonopa.views.home', name='home'),
    # url(r'^blog/', include('blog.urls')),
    url(r'^agonopa/', include('agonopa.urls')),
    url(r'^grappelli/', include('grappelli.urls')),
    url(r'^admin/', include(admin.site.urls)),

]

if settings.DEBUG:
    urlpatterns += static(settings.MEDIA_URL, document_root=settings.MEDIA_ROOT)

That's all to it. Thanks to Mike Covington in all.
Also note, that the media settings, template and other files above didn't change for the whole stuff to work.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
California makes it easier to thin vegetation fueling wildfires. Will it make a difference?
A helicopter dumps water on a Mt. Baldy wildfire. California regulators have made it easier to approve tree-thinning projects designed to slow massive wildfires.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
SACRAMENTO —
California regulators said Tuesday that they have streamlined the state's permit process to speed up the approval of tree-thinning projects designed to slow massive wildfires that have devastated communities in recent years.
The state Board of Forestry and Fire Protection approved a vegetation management program based on more than a decade of analysis of the potential environmental damage from removing different types of fuel, ranging from alpine trees to chaparral.
That will allow new projects to use the preapproved environmental analyses rather than starting fresh each time to meet the requirements of California's strict environmental laws.
Gov. Gavin Newsom equated it to the emergency orders he issued nearly a year ago to speed up approval of 35 forest management projects intended to help protect more than 200 communities in high-risk areas.
The orders suspended some requirements and regulations, which his office said reduced the usual three- to five-year timeline to less than a year while still protecting the environment.
The projects generally involve thinning or clearing trees or brush along wide paths near vulnerable communities so that wildfires slow down and can be contained while they move through areas with less fuel. Other projects aim to restore a more natural balance between fire and forests.
Critics say the fuel-thinning projects wouldn't have slowed the wind-driven infernos that devastated communities in recent years and largely leveled the town of Paradise more than a year ago. Nor will they help with slower-moving forest fires unless the breaks in fuel are maintained for generations, they note, including by weeding out more flammable brush and grass that would naturally grow where trees are removed.
State regulators say they expect the streamlined process to create efficiencies that will help California eventually meet its goal of treating 500,000 acres of non-federal land annually. The state is responsible for more than 20 million acres of wildland, but the new program will not be used in considering plans for commercial timber harvests or residential development.
President Trump has repeatedly criticized the state's Democratic leaders for not doing enough to manage forests to prevent wildfires.
Newsom's office pointedly noted that the federal government owns nearly 58% of California's forestland, while the state owns 3% and 40% is privately owned. The federal government is attempting to match the state's goal of treating 500,000 acres each year.
"The scale of the wildfire crisis in California is unprecedented, and we need a response to match the scale and severity of this challenge," Newsom said in a statement.
CaliforniaClimate & Environment
The Associated Press is an independent, not-for-profit news cooperative headquartered in New York City.


text:
What can I do instead of marriage?
Question: What can I do instead of marriage?
How can I get married but not legally?
What is a substitute marriage?
What is a non traditional marriage?
Do you have any rights if you are not married?
What is non traditional love?
Can unconventional relationships work?
How can you show your love without being physical?
Fortunately, there are numerous alternatives to legal marriage including common law, domestic partnership, and cohabitation agreements. Each option offers some (but not all) of the benefits of traditional marriage and has advantages and disadvantages.
A commitment ceremony is defined as a marriage ceremony in which two people commit their lives to each other, but it isnt legally binding. Commitment ceremonies might look the same as legally binding weddings, but at no point does the couple go off to sign paperwork and make the marriage legal by government standards.
A surrogate marriage describes the arrangement where a woman is infertile or dies young and her family substitutes another woman to bear children for the husband.
a marriage that deviates from the traditional patterns of marriage in a society. In the United States and western Europe, such marriages may include those that permit the partners to have sexual relations with other people. Compare traditional marriage.
Even if you were not legally married or do not meet another states criteria for common law marriage, you may have limited rights similar to divorcing couples. You may also have rights after you separate if there was a written or verbal contract promising financial support, such as a cohabitation agreement.
Nontraditional Love describes a homosexual world in which mixed-sex marriages are forbidden. The homosexual society is intolerant of dissidents. Intimacy between the sexes is rejected. At the heart of the novel is a love story between a man and a woman who are forced to hide their feelings and pass as homosexuals.
So as long as you and your partner are happy and healthy, chances are, all things that might be considered "unconventional" in your relationship are actually totally OK — awesome, even. If you and your partner practice consensual non-monogamy, and its working for you both, thats something you should be proud of.
Giving compliments is a classic way to show affection for someone without touching them. Try telling the person what you like most about them or noticing something new about their appearance when you see them. Make sure to offer genuine compliments and say why you appreciate that specific thing about the person.


This is one of the most beautiful, most touching things I have seen. It brings tears to my eyes every time I watch. I've changed my desktop background to a still shot, to remind me. Remind me of the beauty of passion and the importance of the journey. Remind me to look into someone's eye, to try to truly see. Remind me of the volume and multitude of things that can be expressed without speaking a word. It touches my heart.
One Big Awesome Tide Pool.


text:
District Bridge Project (Rehabilitation) (2000425)
Title District Bridge Project (Rehabilitation)
Description Bridge Thin Deck Overlay, I 94 EB over NICTD RR, 01.73 E US 20
CN NHPP Interstate - - - $528,199 - - - $528,199
CN State Match - $45,000 $5,000 - - - - $50,000
Total Construction - $45,000 $5,000 $528,199 - - - $578,199
CE NHPP Interstate - - - $100,000 - - - $100,000
Total Construction Engineering - - - $100,000 - - - $100,000
Total Programmed $200,000 $45,000 $5,000 $628,199 - - - $878,199
2 22-00 2022 2022-2026 TIP adoption 2023 State Match $0 $0 $5,000 $0 $5,000
1 20-09 2021 July 2020 Amendment #9 2021 State Match $200,000 $0 $0 $0 $200,000
1 20-09 2021 July 2020 Amendment #9 2022 State Match $0 $0 $45,000 $0 $45,000
1 20-09 2021 July 2020 Amendment #9 2023 State Match $0 $0 $5,000 $0 $5,000
1 20-09 2021 July 2020 Amendment #9 2024 NHPP Interstate $0 $0 $528,199 $0 $628,199
2 22-00 2022-2026 2022 TIP DISTRICT BRIDGE PROJECT (REHABILITATION) PROGRAMMED
1 20-09 July 2021 LOCAL DISTRICT BRIDGE PROJECT (REHABILITATION) PROGRAMMED 08/03/2020


This month, we are sharing Wandile's story with our Ubuntu Teammates. Wandile joined Ubuntu Football in 2011, and now he is one of our young professionals playing for Ubuntu Cape Town FC. On top of his football success, we are just as excited about the growth we have seen in Wandile as a leader, a student, and a society changer. He is studying and working towards a degree in Sports Management from ETA college in Cape Town, as well as playing professional football.
— What was it like when you first joined Ubuntu?
— What's the biggest challenge you have overcome?
— What is your biggest accomplishment so far?
— After professional football, what is your dream job?
— What is the biggest lesson you have learned so far?
— What has been the biggest challenge of your football career?
— What advice would you give to a boy who just joined Ubuntu?
— What made you decide to pursue a degree in Sports Management?
For the full story, click the button below, and join our family as an Ubuntu Teammate!


any update on the 1.0 release?
I have an issue with the version 1.0 of the mod .When ever i fix the VIDEO settings to play this mod according to my pc specs .After a short play through and saving .When i exit the mod and try to run it again .After loading the save game .I face a black screen in which i can only hear the sounds and nothing else .I recently tried to run it again after allowing the application in windows defender . And my save game was not there anymore .Need help please with this issue .