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LGBTQ Magazine
Morals Clauses for Employees of Catholic Institutions, and the Terrible Price the Whole Church Pays for the Attack on Gay Folks
Posted on the 19 May 2014 by William Lindsey @wdlindsy
Some of you probably saw this posting last week at Iglesia Descalza. If not, I wanted to bring it your attention, since it's a perfect complement to what I posted around the same time about the new contract being imposed on teachers in Catholic schools in Cincinnati (with similar contracts beefing up anti-gay restrictions for Catholic teachers in Oakland, Hawaii, and perhaps other places now).
The tack taken by Rebel Girl at Iglesia Descalza as she looks at morals clauses in contracts of employees of Catholic institutions, and how they're now being used to fire people right and left, is this: she points to the serious toll this activity takes on the entire Catholic institution. She writes:
Behind these public names are many many other Catholic church employees we will never know about. How many gay and lesbian employees are afraid to marry their loving partners because they can't afford to lose their jobs? Worse still, how many single women have terminated an unexpected pregnancy in order to keep their employment? And how many are demoralized and afraid to speak up for justice because the institutional Church, in practice, is not the liberating and merciful place Pope Francis wishes it to be? We need to work towards the day when our church workers and teachers don't have to trade their freedom of expression and association for a paycheck.
And then she lists 19 folks fired by Catholic institutions in the past several years (with an invitation to readers to add more names) under terms of morals contracts that target in quite specific ways gay folks who are open about their identities, gay folks who marry a same-sex partner, people who support openly gay folks, or unmarried women who become pregnant. The first person in this list is Colleen Simon, who has just been fired as coordinator of social ministries for the diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph after it became public knowledge that she is married to Rev. Donna Simon, a Lutheran minister.
Readers of National Catholic Reporter recently hashed through the Kansas City story, in response to a "Morning Briefing" column mentioning it, and I'll be frank: if my understanding of what the Catholic church is and stands for depended solely on the kinds of things I can read in such online discussions, I'd run away as fast as my feet could take me. The responses of many Catholics in this discussion to the firing of Colleen Simon are so ugly, so mean-spirited, so bitter and reductionistic in their understanding of what it means to be Catholic, that I want no part of the church for which they stand.
It is an eminently unwelcoming church, and it's designed to be that way — for gay folks. One of those applauding Colleen Simon's firing in this column has posted previously that nothing that any gay couple ever does in the bedroom is pleasing in God's eyes, while anything and everything a heterosexual couple does delights God. This is in direct contradiction to the Catholic magisterial teaching she claims ardently to defend, which is very clear about the many things married heterosexual couples may do sexually that are, so we're asked to believe, deeply offensive to God — things like using contraceptives, or having non-vaginal sex that results in orgasm without the insertion of the penis into the vagina.
What this hyper-orthodox contributor to NCR discussion threads, who has left comments at my own blog in the past, wants is a definition of Catholicism that quite specifically targets gay folks and makes them unwelcome in her church, while heterosexual folks like herself who may or may not adhere to the same principles used to beat gays about the head with are fully welcome. She wants to use the catechism (which she ludicrously defends as infallible!) as a weapon against her brothers and sisters who are gay, while ignoring the many ways in which, taken literally and in a fundamentalist way, it also condemns her own actions and lifestyle, including her penchant for using illegal recreational drugs, something she has celebrated in comments both here at Bilgrimage and in other threads at Catholic blog sites.
Do you see my point? There are not a few Catholics — this woman is one of many; she stands within a strong movement in American Catholicism that is intent on defining Catholic identity over against those who are gay — who have succeeded in communicating to the culture at large today that the very essence of Catholicism is about condemning and excluding those who are gay. The contracts full of morals clauses now rolling off the press in Catholic dioceses fast and furious underscore that message.
They and the hateful discriminatory actions they spur on fully explain how the Catholic church in the U.S. richly deserves its reputation in the public eye as the religious body most unfriendly to gay people among all religious bodies. And as this happens, the response of many liberal Catholics who remain institutionally affiliated, and of the "official" Catholic groups advocating for better treatment of gay folks in the Catholic church, continues to be so faint-hearted and so painfully parochial that it is totally beside the point for many of us who have been shoved to the margins during this dark period of Catholic history, and who are being shoved to the margins right now in increasing numbers and with increasing institutional fury.
I read Father James Martin's recent appeal for a simply loving stance towards gay folks in the Catholic community, and I think, "That's nice. But what does it have to do with me, when all is said and done? What do Catholics who think this way propose to do to reach out to me and others who have been savagely excluded from the church's institutional life and from these conversations?"
Then I read the responses to Father Martin's column both at America (that's the link I've just provided) and at the Bondings 2.0 blog, and my sense that none of this . . . niceness . . . really touches my own life only increases. This is love without the teeth of justice.
It's love that talks love but doesn't act love, when it comes to the real human lives of many of us who have been so unjustly shoved outside the Catholic conversation, and whom these liberal advocates for love never find ways to bring back inside. The price the pay for their cozy institutional affiliation seems to be, in fact, that within their own conversations, they replicate the insider-outsider dynamics of the church they want to change, mirroring its own unjust ways of making some people more human and others less human.
None of this touches my real life, where there's such joy right now that Steve and I have finally been able to marry, but where all my conversations about celebrations and church events to mark our recent marriage are occurring outside my eminently unwelcoming Catholic community. Because they have to do so. Because my local Catholic community will not welcome Steve and me as a married couple.
Because we must do our celebrating apart from our local Catholic community, where our local bishop has recently recommended to us and other Catholic gay folks the atrocious, insulting, and totally false "third way" approach of right-wing religious and political groups that are seeking to co-opt the term "love" for what is the opposite of love, as they consign their gay brothers and sisters to a life of unchosen perpetual chastity and belief in the bogus promises of reparative therapy.
I'd rather celebrate, frankly. I'd rather celebrate a life of shared love that I've found to be full of amazing grace, and I'd rather spend my time with others who celebrate my life with Steve and who understand, as we do, that the call of Jesus is to live with a love that includes and welcomes everyone, and which does not single out sectors of the human community for special stigmatization and special condemnation.
As I celebrate, I won't hold my breath for my liberal Catholic friends or even the groups within the Catholic church who claim to affirm gay folks to join me in celebrating. They're too timid to do that. They're too institutionally comfortable. It's easier for them to write Steve and me off as losers who haven't played the Catholic game as adroitly as they have, and who have therefore earned the marginal status that these liberal advocates for gay inclusion only rubber-stamp on behalf of the institution they defend, even as they seek to change it.
Rebel Girl is right: the Catholic church in the U.S. pays a terrible price for such behavior. It militates against the meaning of Catholicism at the most fundamental level possible.
And that will not be lost on more and more younger Catholics who refuse to deal with their gay friends and family members in the cruel way now anointed as the special Catholic "third way" of "love"!
The quotation at the top of the posting is from a July 2009 conversation Bill Moyers conducted with Cornel West, Gary Dorrien, and Serene Jones. Clicking on it should make it larger.
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With only a month to go before Avengers: INFINITY WAR hits cinemas Disney has released a series of incredible character group posters showcasing this epic and the unbelievable cast of characters!
The first poster, in purple, features Thor as well as the Guardians of the Galaxy.
The red poster in the series showcases Iron Man, Doctor Strange, Wong and Spider-Man.
Next, we have the blue poster featuring Captain America, Bucky, Nebula, Mantis and Shuri.
The yellow poster features Scarlet Witch, Vision, Falcon and War Machine.
Finally, the green poster features Black Widow, Hulk, Black Panther and Okoye.
Avengers: INFINITY WAR hits the theaters on April 27th and marks an unprecedented cinematic journey that was ten years in the making and spanning the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe. The Avengers and their Super Hero allies are called to sacrifice it all in an attempt to defeat the powerful Thanos before his blitz of devastation puts an end to the universe.
Readers are encouraged to keep following with Chip and Co. for the latest in Infinity War news and updates.


Great article, you made some very interesting points. I happen to think that the option of 'Privateers' is exciting, isn't Richard Branson our first Privateer?
Jude – Yes! The argument could be made that Branson and all of the aspiring suborbital spacecraft providers (XCor Aerospace, Blue Origin, etc.,) are privateers.
However, they can't yet make it to full orbital space yet, meaning their craft can't be used to rescue or transport astronauts to the space station, deploy or service satellites, and they certainly can't go to the moon. It's here that the leaders of the private spaceflight programs from Boeing (the CST-100), Lockheed (the MPCV), the Sierra Nevada Corp (Dreamchaser), and from SpaceX (Dragon) may be more accurately considered the first privateers.
Certainly if someone buys one of these, or if larger-scoped organizations buy these craft and offer them as a service, (GoldenSpike or Planetary Resources), they themselves could certainly adopt the moniker "privateer" … And personally, I hope that they do!


Excess belly fat is not only a common vanity issue but also a serious health risk. However, it is a completely preventable health risk.
You have absolute power to do something about your excess body fat. So how bad do you really want to get rid of it?
Regardless of whether you want to get rid of excess fat for health reasons or because you want to look better, there is no better time than now to start learning how to lose belly fat once and for all. With the correct mindset, motivation and action plan fat loss can be quite easy and enjoyable.
There are many ways to achieve significant fat loss results. Today we are going to share some of our best fat loss tips with you so you can finally start to get rid of that dangerous belly fat once and for all. Don't procrastinate any longer. Step up and take massive action today. Start applying these simple tricks to your everyday life and you will be well on your way to achieving the body of your dreams. Good luck on your fat loss journey.
Getting the recommended 8 hrs of sleep per night will help you recover both mentally and physically so you are ready to tackle your health and fat loss goals. Lack of sleep can also cause weight gain due to hormone disruptions. For example cortisol, a fat storage hormone tends to increase during periods of reduced sleep. Remember the more hours that you are awake the more hours that are available to over eat.
It is very common for people to avoid starting an exercise or diet regime as they tend to make excuses and procrastinate. People may make excuses such as "I don't have the time" or "I am too overweight". In order to stop making excuses you must face your fears and acknowledge your limitations. Be honest with yourself. Write down the barriers to weight loss that you expect to face. Come up with an action plan to help overcome these barriers that are preventing you from getting the body of your dreams. The fact that you are looking for tips on losing belly fat tells me that you are ready to make changes. Changing your thought patterning does require some work. The trick is to reprogram your subconscious as this is the major driving force behind positive behaviour change. Read more about reprogramming your mind for weight loss success here. Remember fat loss is very achievable. Stop making excuses and just get started by focusing on making changes, not dwelling on the past.
Before starting a diet you need to ensure that you are truly motivated and focused on weight loss success. In order to develop the discipline and determination to succeed you must use techniques such as goal setting and visualization. The concept of weight loss motivation is quite complex so if you would like to learn more about developing strong weight loss motivation I suggest you read our Weight Loss Motivation 101 article here. We also recommend the Weight Loss Motivation Bible (affordable and effective program). Read our review here.
Why do you want to lose weight? Is it for health reasons? Is it so you can be more active for your family? Is it because you want to live a long active life? Whatever your reason it must be compelling. Spend the time everyday focusing on why losing fat is so important to you. I understand this can be easier said then done. Sometimes life just gets in the way. In this case audio books can come in very helpful in helping you gain the correct perspective. Find out more about the leading weight loss audio program here.
One of the best things you can do to start losing belly fat is to remove sugary sodas from your diet. These drinks are full of empty calories. This means that these drinks only provide you with nasty chemicals and sugars. Instead of soda, substitute for plain water, soda water, teas or fruit juices. Fruit juices can provide many health benefits. There is quite an art and a science to juicing for fat loss. To learn more about juicing for fat loss read this article.
Leading juicing program "Juicing for Fat Loss". Click image to learn more.
If you want to burn fat you should eat foods that contain fiber. Fiber can help you feel full and it also acts as a natural appetite suppressant. Beyond providing many health benefits and keeping you fuller for longer, fibre can also help lower blood cholesterol levels. One of the best sources of fiber are beans, which contain 8 grams per 1/2 cup. Fibre is also abundant in most veggies and whole grains.
Harness your rawest emotions and channel them into a positive determined mindset. Remember how bad it feels when you want to go to the beach but are too ashamed to take off your shirt. Think about how horrible a future in which you are riddled with obesity related chronic disease would be. Get emotional and use it to fuel your fire.
When first embarking on a fat loss journey it is very easy to become overwhelmed and believe it is going to be difficult. If you think like this you are already defeated. With the correct plan (we have reviewed some of the world's most popular diets here) and mindset weight loss can be easy. Just take it one day at a time. Step by step. Small changes add up quite quickly.
There are just so many fat loss diet programs on the market today. Some are designed to help you lose weight super fast, some are designed just for women, some for men only. Some require exercise and others a purely diet based. To help you out. We have searched the marketplace and located the world's most popular diets. We have also comprehensively reviewed and rated them. Check them out here.
Positive affirmations are repetitive positive goal orientated statements that feed your subconscious mind . These statements must be very specific to the goals you want to obtain. They can be coupled with visualizations to make them even more profound.
Keep a food diary of all the foods you have eaten over the course of a day. This can be a tedious but very rewarding task. The food diary will allow you to see where you have gone wrong. More importantly it can show you how many days you have eaten well. This can be a great reminder to not to go and undo all of your hard work.
By eating slower you will signal to your brain that you are feeling fuller at a relatively lower food intake then if you were to eat fast. Research has shown that it can take around 10 minutes or more for the signal that you've started to eat to make its way to your brain. Chew your food well to release all nutrients to help send the satiety signals to your brain. Also use a knife and fork to help slow down the eating process.
If possible team up with a family member and friend for your weight loss journey. Set goals together, prepare meals together and workout together. Having a partner in weight loss success can provide the little extra motivation and support that you may need to get the body of your dreams. Be there to pick each other up when the times get tough. Also, tell your family about your weight loss goals so they can support your healthy behavioural changes even if they are not participating.
Simple carbohydrates usually contain high glycemic sugars that tend to spike blood sugar levels. This results in insulin spikes which drives these sugars into the cells of the body. This can be detrimental to your fat loss results as insulin can cause these simple carbohydrates to be converted and stored as body fat. Foods to avoid include things like lollies, soda and sugary cereals etc.
It is very common for your subconscious mind to be lured in by the temptations of junk food. Have you ever said that you were not going to eat something and then before you know it you have it in your hand and are munching down on it. Only stock your fridge and cupboards with healthy options. This will help reduce the incidence of home based binge eating of the wrong foods. Also be sure to stock your workplace with healthy options. Of course you will have to show true dedication when eating out.
There is so much information out there on the internet. Some companies will tell you anything to sell their products. To sort the fact from the fiction it is always important to approach the topic of weight loss with an open mind and critical thought. Learn about the science behind the diets or supplements. Find out if the authors of these programs are credible. We understand that some people just don't have the time to do the research. In this case perhaps you would find our program reviews helpful .We have done all of the investigative work for you. Check out our highest rated programs and read the reviews to learn about the pros and cons.
Fat binders are a great weight loss solution for people who have trouble controlling their eating behaviours. Essentially fat binders mop up the fat you eat and make them indigestible allowing the fat to safely travel through your body without being absorbed. Leading fat binder pill Proactol XS can actually bind up to 800x it's own bodyweight. This product is backed up by some really nice research that is worth checking out. We recently reviewed this leading fat binder pill. You can read our comprehensive review here.
To achieve significant fat loss you need to take in less calories through foods or start burning more through exercise and supplementation. Start to read the nutritional labels on foods so you can become more aware of exactly where you may be going wrong. Once you gain an understanding of nutritional labelling you will be able to look for lower calorie substitutes.
Correctly prescribed yoga can be a great way to torch that stubborn belly fat. Best yet yoga also provides many additional benefits such as improved flexibility and mobility. We recently reviewed the leading yoga program called "Yoga for Belly Fat". This program provides excellent value for an extremely affordable price. There are other yoga programs on the market but none that are developed to target fat loss as well as this program does. It also comes with some really helpful diet and weight loss resources such as diets and recipes. We recently reviewed the program so if you want to learn about whats included in the program plus an indepth look into the pros and cons I suggest checking out our Yoga for Belly Fat review.
Remember, we humans are hunters and gatherers by nature. Food should be viewed as a means of providing our body with the macronutrients, vitamins and minerals that our body requires. Try not to get to caught up on putting food on a pedestal. Instead learn what your body truly needs to function optimally without putting in empty calories that will lead to weight gain. Use food as fuel. Nothing more.
Fast food chains are everywhere. Wherever you look there are advertisements trying to lure you in to try there next delight. Remember these companies don't care about you and your health. They are just out to make money. Learn more about choosing healthy foods on our site. These days more and more health conscious restaurants/cafes are opening up so there is no excuse not to choose an alternative healthy option over conventional junky fast food.
Foods like apples, celery, and other fruits and vegetables, are not only low in caloric content but also take the body a much longer time to digest. Fibrous fruits and veggies like these take longer to chew making it less likely for you to overeat.
To optimize fat loss results it is always best to follow a diet plan that is tailored to your specific needs. Perhaps you could contact a local dietician who could help you design a nutrition and exercise regime. There are also many well respected health coaches available online. If you are after a cheaper alternative there are prepackaged programs available that allow for personalisation of the program. For women we recommend The Venus Factor Diet and for men we recommend The Adonis Golden Ratio.
Start to think of housework as valuable physical activity that all adds up to your daily energy expenditure. The more you housework you do the more fat you burn. Try to appreciate the physicality of jobs such as vacuuming the house or mowing the lawn.
Many people start their day with a sugary breakfast. This can be either knowingly or unknowingly. Sugar can be hidden in many common breakfast cereals. It is also common for people to start the day with fatty pastries and meats for brekky. Instead choose wholesome low sugar options such as whole grains breads, cereals, fruits veggies and lean meats.
Always chew your foods thoroughly when eating. Chewing helps optimize digestion of nutrients. This means that is is easier for your body to utilise them for the metabolic processors required. As I mentioned earlier chewing your foods can also help you feel fuller meaning that you will tend to eat less.
Studies show that most overweight women who struggle with weight loss have Leptin hormone resistance. These women typically can't lose weight as easily as others. The body actually detects this state of Leptin resistance as starvation. This is very counterproductive to weight loss as the body responds by switching to fat storage mode. Leptin resistance can also downregulate thyroid function and metabolism. Having these components down regulated means that you are essentially burning less calories per day. We are only aware of one diet plan that tackles this issue effectively. You can read our review of this diet here and also learn more about leptin resistance and how it may be inhibiting you from achieving the body of your dreams.
Try not to eat for at least 3 hrs before bed. At this time of the night your hormones are prepped for fat storage mode. You will also be sedentary for the following 8+ hours so any energy consumed before bed will likely be stored as body fat rather than be utilised for energy.
Have a large healthy meal and a glass of water before you go shopping for groceries. When you are full you will be less likely to purchase poor food choices. Hunger can cause impulse buying and when your at the shops temptation runs rampant. Fill yourself up before shopping and you will overcome the temptation at hand.
Protein is the major building block of human life. It also helps us feel fuller for longer. Most effective weight loss diets are usually high in protein. Sometimes it is difficult to take in adequate protein through foods so a supplemental powder may be handy. Do your research when choosing a protein powder. Be sure to choose from a respected company who minimises the likelihood of contamination. For high quality protein powder we recommend checking out bauernutrition.com. The most popular protein supplement is whey protein which is derived from dairy. Vegetarian options such as soy, rice and carob proteins are also available.
Spicy foods can really help spice up your metabolism. This means that throughout the day you will be burning more calories than if you didn't consume the chilli. Of course different chillies have different effects on the body. So do your research to find which ones are right for you.
enzymes. Enzymes help the nutrients in foods get to where they need to go within the body meaning that you can maximise the nutritional profile of the food. Enzymes are most effective when foods are consumed raw. So be sure to enjoy raw or lightly cooked fruit and veggie options. Juicing can also be a great way to turn bland vegetables into tasty juices.
Do you ever find yourself eating when you're not hungry? Sometimes emotional stress can lead to binge eating. Perhaps you feel peer pressure to eat and drink more when socialising with friends. You must be aware of your true eating requirements at all times. Get a diet plan and stick to it. Show determination. If you are out with your friends socialising make healthy choices such as choosing water over alcohol or soda.
Spend the time learning what a healthy snack is. There are many healthy options available such as nuts, fruit, low fat/sugar yogurt. Always be prepared when you know that you are going to have to purchase a snack while you are out. Familiarise yourself with shops that sell healthy snacks so you are not caught out buying unhealthy choices.
If you decide to eat while watching TV you are more likely to overeat. The brain requires visual feedback to help create a sense of satiety from the foods we eat. Take a good look at your food throughout your meal and you will find that you will eat less at a sitting rather than putting masses of food away while watching your favourite shows.
If you are on a diet, eating just a few restaurant meals per week may throw you off track. It is very difficult to quantify exactly how many calories are in your restaurant meals. For example even if you decide to choose a "healthy" salad option you could potentially be taking in more calories than a large Mcdonald's meal. The dressing could be loaded with oils. The main objective of a restaurant is to make their food taste great. To do this they use large amounts of sugar, fat and salt. Remember if you want to lose weight you need to change the way you perceive food and make sacrifices. Start to enjoy the tastes of natural healthy foods rather than sweet, sour and fatty. Trust me, if you stick to a healthy regime your palate will change and you will wonder how you ever ate so much restaurant or fast food.
Take the time to jot down the things that may trigger you to overeat or binge eat. Perhaps it is a stressful day at work, perhaps you overeat when socialising with friends. It is guaranteed that you will face these triggers in your life. You need to spend the time developing an action plan.
Weigh yourself weekly. Keep track of your exercise achievements. These things will help you stay motivated. It will also provide a reference point to how far you have come. One day you will look at these photos and wonder how you ever "let yourself go" so far. Best yet, you will feel proud of your accomplishments and know that you will never be turning back.
How to lose belly fat tip #39: Control the Portion Size of Your Meals.
In order to lose belly fat you must control your food intake. A great tip to reduce the amount you eat is to serve food up on a smaller plate. Remember not to serve yourself up seconds.
Veggies and fruits are full of vitamins minerals and fibre. Eating these foods will nourish the body plus keep you feeling fuller for longer.
Take the time to incorporate all of you senses into the preparation and eating of your meals. Smell the food, take note of the colours, feel the texture of the food. This will help tell the brain it's time to eat. Better yet when you're finished it will help you tell your brain that feeding time is over.
Women in particular can tend to crave chocolate. Sorry to say but the only way to curb chocolate cravings is to go cold turkey. Simply don't store any in the house. Resist it while you are out. The cravings will downgrade once you have resisted temptation for a while.
Set short and long term goals and when you achieve them reward yourself with a pre planned gift. Don't go stuffing yourself at an all you can eat buffet. Instead take yourself clothes shopping or spoil yourself to a weekend away.
Using a smaller fork or spoon can help those of you who struggle with overeating. Smaller utensils will mean it will take longer to consume a meal. Therefore you are more likely to get fuller quicker.
Joining an online forum can be a great way to stay motivated to lose weight. In an online weight loss community you can chat with likeminded individuals who are embarking on the same weight loss journey as you. This is a great way to remain accountable. Two of the best diets that provide access to community forums are Venus Factor (women only) Adonis Golden Ratio (men only).
Use the scales to check your progress at regular intervals. Every couple of weeks is a good amount. Any more often and you could become disheartened. Remember that weight is not necessarily the best indicator of weight loss particularly if you are doing resistance exercises. In this case use your waist measurement as a guide of your progress. Remember you are after fat loss not weight loss. The way your clothes fit can also be a great indicator of your fat loss progress.
Have you ever ordered a coffee and then decided to have a sweet treat on the side. Try to avoid the coffee shops so you don't have to fight the temptation.
Keep positive on your journey and good things will happen. Positive thoughts lead to positive behaviours. Believe in yourself.
Try to snack at regular intervals (every 3-4hrs) as this will prevent the chance of binge eating after a fast. Eat snacks that are high in fibre and protein to ensure you stay full until the next meal. Not eating for extended periods of time puts your body into state in which it starts to break down muscle tissue for energy. Worst yet, in this state it actually starts to conserve fat stores.
Being overweight is a leading factor in the onset of many nasty chronic diseases. These include leading killers such as heart disease, stroke and diabetes. Fear can be a powerful motivator. A list of these horrible potential outcomes may inspire you to make changes before it's to late for you. We recently wrote an article on the dangers of belly fat that you may find helpful.
Protein is the building block of life. Protein helps to repair and replenish your body. Protein also creates a sense of satiety meaning you feel fuller for longer. Approximately 20% of the calories per gram protein are burned during digestion. This is significantly higher than when compared to carbohydrates from which only around 5% are used up during digestion. Therefor by substituting carbs for protein at every meal you are essentially placing yourself into a fat burning state for longer.
Add eggs to your breakfast.Eggs contain protein called albumin which can help keep you feeling fuller for longer, plus it stimulates your metabolism.
Alcohol is very destructive for fat loss. Alcohol is high in calories and usually contains additional sugars. Another issue is that while people are under the influence of alcohol they tend to make poor decisions. Often when under the influence dieters will lose focus and eat foods that they would not eat if sober.
If you fail to plan you plan to fail. Take the time to make to make a nutritious meal to take to work.When you are at work, you may be tempted to eat from vending machine and fast food cafes if you are unprepared. Be proactive rather than reactive when it comes to eating.
Find a diet that is science based, realistic and safe. Investigate the program to see if the outcomes match with your goals. Find out more about the world best programs here.
Set realistic and achievable short term goals. Write your goals down on paper. Don't push your short term goals too far away. By achieving your goals you will be become more and more motivated.
Before your start your weight loss journey take a picture of yourself. You will then be able to refer to this photo in weeks to come. This will provide you with the extra motivation you need to keep going.
Weight training builds muscle mass. Muscle mass is very metabolically active. That means the more muscle mass you have the greater number of calories you burn per day. You don't have to be bodybuilder status to reap the rewards. Just a small increase in muscle mass can have quite a profound effect on overall calories burnt. Plus as you lose more and more fat you will begin to look more toned rather than the "skinny fat look".
Taking a few moments while lying in bed to refresh your goals can be a great way to stay on track. Create a compelling vision of where you will be in the future. Think about what needs to be accomplished tomorrow. Think about your achievements of the days past. All of these thoughts help strengthen your resolve.
Typically foods that are boxed or bagged are highly processed. It is common for these foods to contains sugar, fats and salt. The 3 things you want to be trying to avoid when losing weight.
There will be times when you are exposed to unhealthy foods. You must have the presence of mind to be able to stop and think about how eating this food may sabotage your results. This is where subconscious reprogramming really helps. You put in the time listening to audiobooks such as those in the Weight loss Motivation Bible and when the time comes that you are exposed to the temptation you will have the inner strength to resist. You won't' have to think about why you shouldn't eat it. You will just have a deep sense of knowing that you won't.
Drinking water can help your body feel full. A glass before meals may help prevent overeating. Cold water is also reported to increase your metabolic rate so it's a win win situation.
Keep enjoying your favourite foods in moderation. You don't want your diet to be too restrictive. However, you must set realistic expectations of how often you can afford to eat your favourite foods without sabotaging your fat loss results. Look forward to your favourite meals. Enjoy it but then be sure to get back on track to shed more of that stubborn body fat.
Yes nuts are high in calories but they also keep you feeling fuller for longer. Scientists are yet to fully understand why nut consumption doesn't tend to lead to weight gain. It is currently believed that the fats in nuts may not be actually processed by the body. Research at the University of Michigan discovered that men who added 500 calories of peanuts to their daily diet gained no excess weight.
Sure there are excellent rapid weight loss programs out there such as the 3 Week Diet which promise rapid fat loss of up to 23 pounds in 21 days but you must remember that eventually your fat loss will plateau. Rapid weight loss diets are a great way to shift the dangerous belly fat quickly but then you need to find a realistic and sustainable plan that will help get you to (and keep you at ) your dream weight.
Best selling rapid weight loss diet "The 3 Week Diet". Click image to learn more!
Substitute sweet soda and fatty meals with healthy fruit and veggie juices. Juicing can be a great way to get an abundance of vitamins and minerals in your diet. If you utilise juicing plans such as the super popular "Juicing for Fat Loss" program you will learn just how easy and enjoyable juicing can be. This program does a fantastic job of helping you incorporate high fiber foods into your juices which help you stay fuller for longer.
Learn more about Juicing for Fat Loss!
Research has revealed that obesity rates are around 40% lower in people who eat breakfast regularly, compared with those who do not. It is believed that a morning meal helps regulate insulin levels making you less likely to overeat later on in the day.
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Illusion of Communication is the second of two missions released with Mirror of Discovery on January 23, 2019. It follow's Captain Killy's perversion of Pahvo and the fight to return her I.S.S. Discovery back to its own time.
Our information about events on Pahvo is... incomplete, but I believe the Terrans are undertaking a large-scale operation there. They have managed to coerce the planet's consciousness into serving their violent needs. Furthermore, they've turned Pahvo's transmitter into a potent weapon.
Time is of the essence. While the Alliance is mobilizing a larger response, we are, in effect, first res ponders. It falls to us to do what we can to stop Captain Tilly and her crew before they solidify their control of Pahvo. Failing to do so could be catastrophic.
Ideally, we should return the Discovery and her crew to their proper time and space. Under the circumstances, removing the Terran presence from Pahvo is the more immediate, logical, need.
Go to the Pahvo system in the Beta quadrant, stop Captain Killy from taking over the planet, and send the I.S.S. Discovery home.
The title of the episode is from a quote by George Bernard Shaw: "The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place."
Last modified: 23 February 2019 at 19:19.


In times of economic stress, it is common for consumers to seek help from companies that present themselves as debt relief providers. Debt settlement companies can be a considerable risk to consumers, because they generally require a sizeable payment upfront. Debt settlement scam companies may promise a money-back guarantee, but getting a refund can be difficult, if not impossible. Also, they do what you can do on your own by contacting your creditors to see if they will lower your interest rate or make some other money-saving concession.
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This is a contributing entry for Fillmore Historical Museum and only appears as part of that tour.Learn More.
1919 Rancho Sespe Bunkhouse
Listen to a narration of this entry's description by Susan Zeider.
The Bunkhouse was built in 1919 based on a design by the Pasadena firm of Greene and Greene. It was one of 3 buildings which served as dormitories for ranch workers. It had 14 rooms, each approximately 7 ft. by 13 ft. The Hull/Spalding family owned Rancho Sespe from 1895 until 1961. The ranch was then deeded to the California Institute of Technology and later sold multiple times. The large ranch was finally divided into 40 acre parcels and sold off. The James P. Finch family bought the headquarters parcel and donated Bunkhouse #2 to the Fillmore Historical Museum. It was moved in the middle of the night along Highway 126 approximately 3 miles from Rancho Sespe to Fillmore. The bunkhouse contains displays of clothing and accessories, local school history, Native American artifacts, the history of the Fillmore insectary and general displays of the history of our area. The walls are covered with some or our extensive vintage photographs. You will also find the museum office and gift shop and the Ynez Haase Library which is available to researchers by appointment.
1919 Rancho Sespe Bunkhouse #2
Not just women's fashions are displayed in the "Dress" room, the hat makes the man.
The Dress Room features the 1902 Regina Music box which once played in the Star Vaudeville Theater
Exhibit of the ranching activities at Rancho Sespe during its 1920s heyday
Exhibit of early local schools and classes
Doll Display, School Room
Native American artifact and geological exhibit
Native American pestles and mortars found in the local area
Metate and Pestle
Condor Exhibit
Fillmore's World War II Veterans
Disaster Exhibit
Fillmore Insectary Exhibit
Pioneer Exhibit
Upstairs Main Exhibit Room - Salute to Those Who Served
Upstairs Main Exhibit Room - Music in the Valley
Upstairs Main Exhibit Room - Vintage Camera Display
Fillmore Unified High School Room
El Camino Real - the book behind the Museum
Coming Soon To A Theater You: Santa Clara Valley in The Movies
The Rancho Sespe Bunkhouse contains the core of the Museum's exhibits. Everything on display has been donated to the Museum by local residents. Each of the smaller rooms would have been one ranch workers living quarters. There was a separate dining hall and bath house. A few of the rooms have been combined to allow for better display of our collection.
In the dress room you will see clothing and accessories which span the late 19th century through the mid-20th century. Some items of particular note include early 20th century bathing costumes and a display of vintage purses. You will also find a Regina Music box from 1902 which originally graced the Star Vaudeville Theater in Fillmore. It plays 27" metal disks.
The early history of Rancho Sespe is reflected in the story of T. Wallace More who bought the Rancho from Don Carlos Antonio Carrillo's heirs. In a dispute over land ownership and water rights, More was murdered. Morton Hull purchased a major portion of the Rancho from one of More's heirs and this eventually was owned by his daughter, Eudora Hull Spalding. The "Rancho Sespe" room gives a glimpse into the workings of Rancho Sespe when it was owned by Eudora Hull Spalding. The Ranch concentrated on citrus and cattle during this period
Education was of great importance to the settlers in the Santa Clara River Valley. Grammar schools were built throughout the area including Bardsdale, Sespe, Willow Grove and Buckhorn, to name just a few. The School Room provides a glimpse into these school and some of the students who attended them. Children's toys and games including stereopticons are also on display.
Exhibits of Native American baskets, stone tools and arrowheads can also be seen. Many of the stone tools were found by local ranchers as they plowed their fields.
A display telling of the resurgence of the California condor can also be seen. The Sespe Condor Sanctuary is only a few miles from the Museum in Hopper Canyon.
Also on the main floor of the Bunkhouse is the Ynez Haase Library which is available to researchers by appointment. Ynez was a Fillmore native, writer and cartographer who was instrumental in the development of the Museum.
On the second floor of the Museum are a variety of of exhibits. The Pioneer Room features photographs of early settlers of our area as well as a video which includes background on the families who settled our area. Displays tell the story of early agriculture in the Valley as well as Sespe Brownstone and the development of the oil industry.
In the large exhibit room, visitors will see displays on the importance of hunting to the survival of early settlers. Additional displays tell the story of Fillmore's involvement in both World Wars and the local police and fire departments. The south end of the room includes displays on early entertainment such as the Fillmore Citrus Association Mexican Band and locally written music. Early radios, television and vintage cameras are on display. A working Edison Cylinder player and table top Victrola can be heard.
The Fillmore Protective District was organized in 1922 to assist in the eradication of red scale which was threatening the area's citrus crop. Four years later it built an insectary for the purpose of raising wasps to control mealy bug. The insectary continued until 2004 developing a worldwide reputation for development of beneficial insects to control pest. A room is dedicated to the history and successes of the insectary.
Of interest to the locals is the High School room with photos, memorabilia and Copa de Ora yearbooks from 1913 through to the present. Alumni and their children can page through the books recalling memories from the past.
Also on display are several volumes of El Camino Real, a text book written by Edith Moore Jarrett, the founder of the Fillmore Historical Museum.
The upstairs hallway features a look at this history of the oil industry and Fillmore Refinery. Fillmore's history as a location for movie filming since the early days of Hollywood is also featured. Finally, the natural and man-made catastrophes which have impacted the area and shaped its character are shown.
https://www.fillmorehistoricalmuseum.org/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rancho_Sespe
Outland, Charles. SESPE GUNSMOKE: An Epic Case of Rancher Versus Squatters. Ventura, CA. Ventura County Museum of History & Art , 1991.
Fillmore Historical Museum
Fillmore Historical Society
https://www.fillmorehistoricalmuseum.org/exhibits
Fillmore, CA 93015
9:00 am to 12:00 pm, 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm Wednesday through Friday 10:00 am to 3:00 pm Saturday
Created by Susan Zeider on April 21st 2020, 1:55:02 am.
Last updated by Susan Zeider on June 22nd 2022, 11:06:27 pm.

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Taste of Cinema – Movie Reviews and Classic Movie Lists
Taste of Cinema - Movie Reviews and Classic Movie Lists > Lists > Film Lists > The 20 Best Movies about Art and Artists
The 20 Best Movies about Art and Artists
Posted on April 22, 2015 September 4, 2019 by Leo Greene
14. Camera Buff (Amator) / 1979 / Krzysztof Kieślowski
There are many superlative movies about filmmaking, the so-called "seventh art" as the French say. 8½, Day for Night, and The Bad and the Beautiful come quickly to mind. These films frequently highlight the collaborative aspect that has come to define the filmmaking process since the advent of the Hollywood studio system. Camera Buff instead offers a vision of filmmaking as the intensely personal labor of a solitary artist.
Affectingly acted by Polish film star Jerzy Stuhr, Filip is an ordinary factory worker who develops an obsession with moviemaking after buying an 8mm camera to commemorate the birth of his daughter. He begins tirelessly documenting the world around him, from friends and family, to workers at the factory.
While his peers are quick to recognize the value of his work, his wife deplores the strain it has placed on their relationship. When Filip finds himself at odds with his superiors over the subject of one of his films, he is forced to come to terms with the revelatory power of his art.
13. The Hand (Ruka) / 1965 / Jiří Trnka
Jiri Trnka first became famous in Czechoslovakia for his puppet-animated adaptations of local legends and fairy tales, and is sometimes referred to as the East European Walt Disney. That moniker could not be more off the mark when it comes to this film however, which is both his last and most personal. Only 20 minutes long, it is as simple and austere as a parable.
A potter lives alone with his wheel and a potted plant. One day a gloved hand comes knocking at his door. He wants a sculpture in his image. The potter refuses, shutting him out of his room. As the days go by, the hand becomes increasingly harder to dismiss. Eventually, he has no choice but to comply.
Baldly autobiographical, the film comments on the situation once faced by Trnka, as well as that of any other artist forced to work under a restrictive political regime.
12. An American in Paris / 1951 / Vincente Minnelli
Its plot may not be anything special, and it may not have anything profound to say about art or artists, but An American in Paris can be faulted for little else.
Starring the legendary Gene Kelly and featuring a classic Gershwin score, the musical unfolds against dazzling reproductions of Parisian locations, culminating in an extended ballet sequence inspired by famous French paintings. An American in Paris comes off like an extravagant love letter from Hollywood to Paris.
11. The Blood of a Poet (Le sang d'un poete) / 1930 / Jean Cocteau
Jean Cocteau's The Blood of a Poet is about as much 'about' art and artists as a surrealist film can be. Described as a "group of allegories," the film is composed of four distinct segments which trace the theme of the danger and turmoil inherent in the artistic life. In the first segment, the Poet is drawing at an easel while the Battle of Fontenoy rages outside.
Even though he has managed to evade the ravages of war, Cocteau insinuates, he remains at the mercy of the violent act that is artistic conception. With charcoal, the Poet draws a face, which suddenly starts to move its mouth. Terrified, he attempts to smear it away, only to discover it has moved to his palm. After trying to drown it, he turns the mouth on himself in a symbolic act of onanism.
Cocteau was known as an artistic chameleon; part writer, part painter and part filmmaker, and The Blood of a Poet is a perfect demonstration of this. Every scene is overflowing with illustrations, spoken verse and sculpture, often within a single frame. There's simply nothing quite like it.
10. My Left Foot / 1989 / Jim Sheridan
Bolstered by stellar performances and a remarkable true story, My Left Foot: The Story of Christy Brown is an inspiring tribute to the life of an Irish painter and writer who lived with severe cerebral palsy. Daniel Day Lewis tackles the daunting role of Cristy with astonishing convincingness, unafraid to hint at the less savory aspects of his personality.
The film traces Cristy's development as an artist, from his early attempts at painting to his later recognition as an author, juxtaposing episodes from his autobiography with a romantic side-story. My Left Foot is the essential motivational film about an artist.
9. The Horse's Mouth / 1958 / Ronald Neame
Alec Guinness both wrote and starred in this adaptation of Joyce Cary's The Horse's Mouth. By that time, Guinness had attained the status of a household name in the UK for his work with David Lean and with Ealing studios.
Gulley Jimson is a grizzled but talented painter with a prickly personality. He lives on a ramshackle houseboat on the Thames adjacent the local pub, run by the equally ill-tempered Ms. Coker (Kay Walsh). Newly released after a short stint in jail for harassing a wealthy patron, Jimson starts scheming ways to pay back his lengthy bar tab, all the while looking for the perfect wall for his next masterpiece.
If you enjoy British comedy, this is unmissable.
8. F for Fake (Vérités et mensonges) / 1973 / Orson Welles
This is the last (finished) Orson Welles film, and by far the most unusual. Think of it as a cinema dressed like a B movie, or an avant-garde mockumentary. Whether it was to escape critical pigeonholing, or more due to the influence of his newfound cameraman Gary Graver, a low-budget filmmaker and occasional porn director, F for Fake is totally unique, yet distinctly Wellsian.
Building on documentary material shot by François Reichenbach about the art forger Elmyr de Hory, interviews with de Hory biographer and fellow conman Clifford Irving, newsreels and stock footage, Orson Welles and his girlfriend Oja Kodar hatched this ingenious but rambling meditation on authorship, art, and illusion.
Stories of de Hory's most high profile frauds are recounted by the man himself, who also agreed to be filmed while painting several astounding imitations of Picasso, Matisse, and Modigliani. It is a hodgepodge of different film stocks, edited together with an exuberance bordering on naivety. We are even witness to home-movie style interjections featuring Welles, flushed with wine and surrounded by middle aged women as he officiates for the camera in some dimly lit restaurant.
This film was widely panned on its release, but hindsight has revealed it as truly ahead of its time. Fans of Exit Through the Gift Shop in particular should appreciate the many similarities between the two films.
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Movies · Reviews
Review: Taking Woodstock
By Robert Levin · Published on August 28th, 2009
Woodstock, the epochal event of the peace, love, and rock & roll generation, hardly seems an ideal subject for Ang Lee, chronicler of perpetual misery. It's about as far a departure from the existential crisis of a big green superhero, the suppressed longings of gay American cowboys or the anguish of an illicit love affair in Japanese occupied China as possible. Yet, admittedly needing a break from all the tragedy, Lee has taken it on in Taking Woodstock, a charming but too slight piffle hitting theaters a little less than two weeks after the festival's 40th anniversary.
He and screenwriter/producer/longtime collaborator James Schamus make it their own by personalizing things. This is not the Woodstock Michael Wadleigh presented in his iconic documentary, though Lee periodically puts together exact recreations of crowd scenes from it. The music remains far off screen, a distant hum at best. Based on the autobiographical novel by Elliot Tiber, the film instead tells the story of the ways the festival irrevocably changed one man's life forever.
As the picture opens that man, Elliot Teichberg (Demetri Martin), lives an unhappy closeted life in the Catskills town of Bethel, New York, where he helps his Old World parents Sonia (Imelda Staunton) and Jake (Henry Goodman) run a small motel. Elliot contacts hippie impresario Michael Lang (Jonathan Groff) when he learns of his desire to find an ideal location for an outdoor music festival, and convinces him to come to Bethel with his business partners in tow. He brings them to the rolling hills of the dairy farm belonging to neighbor Max Yasgur (Eugene Levy) and soon history is put into motion.
The majority of the movie depicts the behind the scenes machinations that made Woodstock possible and facilitated its successful carrying out, despite an influx of millions of unexpected visitors. That means lots of crowd scenes of impeccably costumed extras, ample doses of mud and nudity and impressively orchestrated chaos surrounding the Teichberg's motel. Lee clearly relishes the opportunity to crib from Wadleigh, delving into the period details with glee, and the split screens, mess of long hair, swirling colors and constant stream of ensemble activity give the film a convincing faux-documentary feel.
Unfortunately, in the sort of gamble uncharacteristic of the usually tightly controlled Lee he places the weight of the human drama squarely on Martin's shoulders. As Elliot, the comedian (starring in a movie for the first time) basically transposes his standup persona to the big screen. At times likable, at other times droll, he in large part comes across as a big blank canvas. He's too subdued and effete to be an effective protagonist, spending most of the movie reacting to things without much discernible feeling. The part badly needs an influx of the sort of passion and personality, some reflection of the festival's freeing effect, that Emile Hirsch brings to his supporting role as a Vietnam veteran and Martin seems incapable of providing. When Elliot starts gaining control of his life, standing up to his domineering mother and opening up about his sexuality, the pleasure of the victory is lost amid the hubbub.
With the attempted micro focus shortchanged by a lack of interesting characters and Lee's steadfast allegiance to the events unfolding on the Teichbergs' front lawn, Taking Woodstock feels like little more than a series of tepid historical reenactments in search of something bigger. Even for those of us born long after the festival's good vibes were subsumed by Watergate and the increasing quagmire of Vietnam, there's still distinct pleasure to be had in watching such a freewheeling spectacle churn to life. It's nice to know that Lee and Schamus have embraced the challenge of a 180 degree shift in sensibility and that the possibility exists they might do so again. Yet, ironically, when it comes to telling Elliot Teichberg's story Taking Woodstock could have used a bit more old-fashioned Ang Lee brooding and torment and a bit less forced joy.


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EV Makers Have A New Favorite Metal
Chinese manufacturers are increasingly pushing…
WTI Tops $60 On Gulf Of Mexico Shut-Ins
Oil prices ended the week…
James Burgess studied Business Management at the University of Nottingham. He has worked in property development, chartered surveying, marketing, law, and accounts. He has also…
Solar Industry Has Record Year in 2013
By James Burgess - Mar 05, 2014, 4:17 PM CST
The U.S. solar industry had its best year ever in 2013, growing 41% from a year earlier. A new report released by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and GTM Research show that a record 4,751 megawatts of photovoltaic solar power were installed last year.
Solar energy was the second largest source of added capacity in 2013, with only natural gas installing more generation. Wind energy accounted for most renewable energy installations in years past, but 2013 may have marked a point at which the market switched over to solar. As it stands, the U.S. has over 12 gigawatts of installed solar power.
By state, California takes first place by far, accounting for more than half of all installed capacity in 2013 with 2,621 megawatts. Arizona came in a distant second with 421 megawatts, followed by North Carolina, Massachusetts, and New Jersey.
Related Article: U.S. Army's $7 Billion Interest in Renewable Energy
"Perhaps more important than the numbers," says Shayle Kann, Senior Vice President at GTM Research, "2013 offered the U.S. solar market the first real glimpse of its path toward mainstream status." Large utility scale projects accounted for a large share of installations, but that is expected to slow. Indeed, the residential PV market is expected to be the major driver of growth for the solar industry as new financing schemes – such as zero upfront costs – allow the industry to expand its customer base. And costs continue to decline – the total installation cost for solar dropped by 15% from 2012 to 2013.
Costs reached a new low of $2.59 per installed watt. Solar power still only makes up a very small share of U.S. electricity generation, but as the industry grows and brings down costs, solar panels will become more common. Estimates show that the industry is expected to continue to grow rapidly, expanding by another 26% in 2014.
By James Burgess of Oilprice.com
Obama FY15 Budget Would Eliminate Oil Tax Breaks
China Declares War on Pollution


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Home » Events » Literacy Autographing
"Readers for Life" Literacy Autographing
At the "Readers for Life" Literacy Autographing, hundreds of romance authors meet with and sign books for fans in this two-hour event, with the proceeds from book sales going to literacy organizations.
In 2018, Romance Writers of America raised more than $38,000 to benefit ProLiteracy and the Literacy Coaltion of Colorado. Since 1990, RWA has raised over $1 million for literacy organizations!
According to ProLiteracy, the amount donated from the "Readers for Life" Literacy Autographing over the years has helped 40,000 adults learn to read, and in 2017, ProLiteracy recognized this accomplishment by honoring RWA with their President's Award. Thanks to all who have helped the organization contribute to this worthy cause.
"RWA's donations to ProLiteracy have helped break the cycle of poverty, elevate workforce skills, and improve the quality of life for adults worldwide," says Kevin Morgan, president and CEO of ProLiteracy. "ProLiteracy is thankful to the authors, readers, publishers, and literacy partners who have supported us and helped RWA to improve so many lives through literacy."
In 1991, RWA was nominated as one of President Bush's Thousand Points of Light for its efforts in the fight for literacy.
In 1994, ProLiteracy Worldwide presented RWA with an Excellence Award for the organization's continuing efforts in the fight for literacy.
In 2011, RWA received the Distinguished Service Award for the organization's continuing efforts in the fight for literacy.
In 2017, ProLiteracy Worldwide presented RWA with the President's Award for RWA's longstanding commitment to and investment in literacy and education programs throughout the United States and beyond.
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Margot Balboni's "Piazza San Pietro" at Cantor Art Gallery.
WORCESTER — The most unusual area art show of 2014 is "Goya: Order and Disorder," at the Museum of Fine Arts. It's unusual because that degree of quality is so uncommon. "The Italian Presepe: Cultural Landscapes of the Soul" may be the second most unusual — unusual because of its subject matter and the imaginatively varied way the exhibition gets at it. The show runs through Dec. 17 at the College of the Holy Cross's Cantor Art Gallery.
A presepe is a nativity scene. The tradition began with St. Francis of Assisi, in the Italian town of Greccio. Francis said Christmas Eve Mass there, in 1223, with straw on the altar and live animals, re-creating the manger setting. Over the centuries, the crafting of nativity scenes has become as ingrained in the Italian celebration of Christmas as trees and wreaths have in the United States. Presepi (the plural of presepe) can be religious or secular, elaborate or simple, indoors or out. They tend to the gaudy, in a good way. Some presepi lie at the intersection of sanctity and weirdness. How weird? Roman schoolchildren made a presepe out of pasta in 2012.
A picture of that carbohydrate-rich construction is among more than 50 photographs in the show taken by Margot Balboni. She and Holy Cross English professor Sarah Stanbury curated "The Italian Presepe," a show in which Balboni's photographs form the core. They not only document a wide array of presepi, from the Vatican's annual display in St. Peter's Square to one in a grotto that dates to the 16th century, and another, in Puglia, sited in a Roman amphitheater.
Balboni photographs individual nativity figures, many of them highly detailed, and the workshops where they're made and artisans who make them. There's a market in Rome's Piazza Navona for presepe bric-a-brac. You'd be surprised by the things a person can get there for a single euro. The overall effect of Balboni's pictures is of a tradition that remains highly dynamic, one that hasn't just endured but evolved.
Balboni's pasta presepe "100 Presepi Exhibition" at Cantor Art Gallery.
A sense of that evolution comes from various supplementary materials in the show: a 15th-century woodblock print, several Piranesi etchings, an early-19th-century map of the Grand Tour. An 18th-century polychrome angel and pair of terra-cotta figurines from 1810 remind us that presepi are tactile and three-dimensional. Nativity scenes, which began as a form of worship, might be seen in art-historical terms as the first installations. With its variety of objects and lively eclecticism, the show itself feels like an installation.
It's in no way meant disrespectfully to point out that presepi have a proto-pop aspect. They put entertainment and delight at the service of worship. This is the rare art exhibition that small children might take as much pleasure in as the adults who bring them. It's a shame that its run doesn't extend into Christmas school vacation.


If you read a lot of productivity literature, you may have noticed that the topic of trimming work hours comes up a lot. The assumption is that no one wants to work more, and work keeps you from doing all the other relaxing things you want to do in your life.
As a work-from-home parent of small children, this is not my reality. I have a fair amount of control over my time, and so I often can do things such as drive a kid to swim team practice at 4:30 p.m. on a weekday. I do want to do some of these things. The issue is that ending my work day at 4:00 p.m. more often than not means it is tough to hit a full 40 hours. Add in various during-the-day commitments, and it becomes hard to hit 35. As the work hours dip below that, I start under-investing in the "soft" side of the job: dreaming up new projects, networking, anything beyond the what's-due-tomorrow questions.
So it's always a struggle to find the right balance. In this case, achieving work/life balance might mean working a bit more. Part of working more is protecting enough hours to have a full work week.
I definitely had that goal in mind as I designed the fall activity spreadsheet. We have a lot of kids, and they are all interested in lots of things. Fortunately, many of their activities are offered multiple times per week (e.g. karate meets 6x/week and you are expected to go 2x). The spreadsheet — which is just my normal half-hour 168 hours spreadsheet — shows who goes where/when.
I had a few goals. First, we needed to max out at 2 required drivers, and that should happen as few times per week as possible. Second, I wanted one week day open, with no scheduled activities. I find it's nice to have a mid-week break. Finally, kid weekend activities needed to be done by noon so we have the afternoons/evenings open for excursions.
I'm not going to print the spreadsheet here but let's just say — it is a thing of beauty. I can work through to the evening on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. On Thursdays I can go until 6 p.m. Friday I could too, though I probably won't. On Mondays I'll be in the car from about 4:20 – 8:40 (sigh) but I'm thinking about how I can have a good attitude about this. I'm going to get some built-in one-on-one time with the 11-year-old, who seems to want that these days. And there will still be space on weekends for long runs, apple picking, whatever.
In other news: Do you live in the NYC area? I'll be doing an event at the WeWork location at 79 Madison Avenue next WEDNESDAY night (August 15th; sorry, an earlier version of this post said Tuesday). Feel free to email me for details! lvanderkam at yahoo dot com.
I've just been working on this although I hadn't thought to do it on a calendar spreadsheet. I know I need at least 1, preferably 2 days where I can stay late at work. I like 1 or 2 days to take kids to activities – I actually like seeing how swim lessons are going…add to that 3 kids, 4 therapies, twice weekly swim lessons plus one dance class. Whew. I too will be very proud of my spreadsheet once it's finished!!
@Susan – I am giving you major props for your spreadsheet right now 🙂 I made my 11-year-old come in to look at my spreadsheet when I finished it, and I told him that he needed to give me appropriate praise.
Car time can be great kid time! We have some excellent conversations, and love listening to books together (we're doing Harry Potter right now, and it's so fun to experience my younger son's first time with him). That said, it's still a pain to spend all day driving around! Even with only 2 kids, and both of them in the same activities (for now), I am also working to limit activities. Not just for my work time (though that's a big factor) but because they're happier with a balance of more unstructured time than structured. When they do have taekwondo or swimming or whatever, I usually spend that 45 mins doing research for something fun – the low-level-but-next-level work you mention that gets dropped when you're short on time. Yesterday, it was reading up on 18th- and 19th-century literary salons!
How do you protect your time? For example, this week, I intended to be 'off' to get paper drafts done. I had to give a 10 min talk Tuesday for my department to some outside funding sponsors, so fine, I came in Tuesday afternoon, and I met up with a former coworker to discuss my paper-so in the end, this was a good thing. Today, I found myself at work because outside faculty were giving a talk, and then my coordinator figured, 'hey, you're here, and we do need to do an annual meeting'. So now, instead of 4 days at home, I'll have max, 2, and I definitely haven't finished what I need to do. Even when I'm at work with plans to sit at my desk and write science, I end up getting drawn into discussions about science or asked to do things.
I am assuming it will only get worse as I return to medical school-but I'm trying to really figure out how to be truly unavailable, and make it clear that even if I am physically present, I'm not actually present.


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To The Point News » Behind The Lines » Free Articles » THE REAL HEROES OF SYRIA
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THE REAL HEROES OF SYRIA
Published January 27, 2017 | By Dr. Jack Wheeler
Northern Syria
It is astounding how much misinformation and lack of knowledge there is regarding Syria today. This is ground zero for the war on ISIS and Jihadist Fascism, yet very few know what's really going on. You are soon to be among them.
Let's start with a quick story. In the pre-dawn hours of August 24 last year, 2016, a heavily armed force of the Turkish military dubbed Euphrates Shield invaded Syria and seized the border town of Jarabulus on the Euphrates River (see map). The excuse was to rescue the city from ISIS.
What actually happened was that a series of anti-ISIS Arab Military Councils had formed their own militias in the region composed of local fighters. They had succeeded in liberating the town of Manbij from ISIS south of Jarabulus a few weeks before, and were now poised to take Jarabulus as well.
But just as they were about to enter the city, the Turkish Army arrived. Within hours, the Arab militia fighters born and raised in Jarabulus saw ISIS terrorists shave their beards, change their black garments for Turkish uniforms, and join the Turks.
In other words, the Islamist and ISIS-supporting leader of Turkey, Recip Erdogan, ordered his army into Syria not to attack ISIS as his propaganda proclaimed, but to prevent the anti-ISIS militias from defeating ISIS in Jarabulus.
There are now anti-Turkish demonstrations in Jarabulus daily. Schoolchildren are being forced to learn Turkish. Here is a link to a video showing Turkish soldiers of the Eastern Ahrar Battalion (Katiba Ahrar Al-Sharqiyah) murdering a poor sheep trader, Abdul Hakim Mahmud Alhamud from Um Al-Adasa village, caught by them between Manbij and Jarabulus. It will make you sick to your stomach.
Jarabulus is at the eastern end of the "Azaz Corridor," the epicenter of the Syrian conflict between the Euphrates River and Azaz from the Turkish border to Al Bab.
Turkey initially created the Corridor to provide a Turkish sanctuary and supply route to Raqqa, the ISIS capital. But as you can see, Erdogan's attempt to militarily seize at least the northern section of the Corridor would prevent Kurdish control of the entire border of Northern Syria from Qamishli and Syria's border with Iraq all the way to Afrin west of Azaz (that isolated purple area north of Aleppo).
For the fact is that the Arab Military Councils in the Corridor have joined with the Kurdish YPG (Peoples Protection Units). Even more significant is the formation of a coalition between Kurds, Arabs, Syriacs, Assyrian Christians, Yazidis, and Turkmen called the Syrian Democratic Council (SDC).
The SDC is the leader of all anti-ISIS, anti-Salafi, anti-Turkish imperialist, pro-democracy efforts in Northern Syria from Qamishli (the capital of Syrian Kurdistan) to Latakia on the Mediterranean. It oversees four million civilians, and a total of 80,000 police and military forces collectively known as the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
The SDF is thus fighting the radical Islamists of the Free Syrian Army (FSA), ISIS, and the invading Turkish Army. They are the only ones fighting for a free, secular, democratic Syria.
This week (Jan. 23-24), "Syrian Peace Talks" took place in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan.
It was organized by – wait for it – Turkey, Russia, and Iran, an untrustworthy trio as you can imagine. The only Syrian opposition groups were radical Islamist groups like the Free Syrian Army. The Syrian Democratic Council was not invited.
Meaning the "peace talks" were an utter fraud – as is the "ceasefire" which the talks agreed upon. It is being used by Turkey to attack and provoke SDF forces to defend themselves as an excuse to claim they are terrorists violating the cease fire.
A month ago on December 29, 2016 in Qamishli, leaders of the Syrian Democratic Council – 165 total representing the Syriac, Christian, Yazidi, Arab, Kurdish and Turkmen communities – declared an autonomous political region within Syria: The Democratic Federation of Northern Syria (DFNS).
The DFNS not only establishes Syria's first secular democracy in history, it is firmly protective of women's rights. For example, in the Arab populated town of Manbij now liberated from ISIS, there are Women's Houses where women can go to be protected from abuse, be educated on their freedoms and rights, and express their voices publicly.
At every administrative level of the SDC and DFNS (city, canton, federation), the leadership is shared between a man and a woman. The Co-President of the Syrian Democratic Council is Madam President Ilham Ahmad.
She and the other leaders and members of the Syrian Democratic Council; the Arab Military Councils of Jarabulus, Manbij, and Al Bab; the Syrian Democratic Forces; the Democratic Federation of Northern Syria, are the real heroes of Syria today.
They are not fighting to break Syria apart. They are fighting for their autonomy within a democratic federalism that holds Syria together. They are being attacked by Syria's true enemy, the ISIS-supporting Islamist regime of Erdogan, while being marginalized and ignored by the UN and world media.
Here is the Founding Declaration of the Democratic Federation of Northern Syria. I encourage you to read it. They deserve our support, and hopefully will gain it from President Trump.
And let's hope President Trump will suspend Turkey from NATO. All it takes is one phone call from him to the SACEUR (Supreme Allied Commander Europe), US Army General Curtis Scaparrotti, giving him one order: That "No US service member is to coordinate with or interact with a Turkish military officer."
One legal order that takes one minute and Turkey is effectively out of NATO. Trump should do it tomorrow. Watch that video again if you can stand it.
The Political Document for the Future of Syria
Founding Statement of the Democratic Federation of Northern Syria
Qamishli, December 29, 2016
Despite the supreme sacrifices of the Syrian peoples in the last six years of the crisis, the situation has not improved; on the contrary, the crisis has expanded and become deeper.
This reveals that the crisis is structural and in order to deal with it, there must be some comprehensive and radical solutions. Given that the methods and propositions used so far have not been able to solve the crisis, it would be better to reconsider them and look for new constructive ways.
During the last phase, it has been clear that the depleting war imposed on the Syrian people does not serve the interest of any of the Syrian components regardless to ethnic, religious, and cultural identity. This war results from the regime's unwillingness to endorse a democratic change and insistence on one-party regime.
To end the Syrian tragedy, we need a radical change through establishing a democratic system, which ensures the rights of all individuals and components of the Syrian society.
What has happened in the last few years proves that we, as Syrians, do not have any other choice but the democratic solution.
However, if the Syrian regime or any other political side insisted on restoring the nation-state or imposing its own identity, this would help divide Syria because the unity based on democracy, freedom and equality can protect Syrian sovereignty and strengthen its social structure.
However, forced unity based on national, religious and sectarian fanaticism would lead Syria to collapse.
Taking this fact into consideration and given the cultural, national, and social richness of the Syrian society, it is clear that the pluralistic democratic federal system based on the notion of the democratic nation is the best system to unify Syrians while restoring the nation-state will lead to further divisions in our social structure.
There is an agreement among all the democratic political sides regarding the importance of democratic transformation in Syria. But we need to make this possible by adopting a democratic constitution.
We, the Constituent Assembly of Democratic Federalism in Northern Syria, see that the Syrian crisis can be solved through rebuilding the republic based on a democratic constitution.
We have sought to hold a dialogue with all Syrian political forces to solve our problems and decide our future. However, we have been marginalized and excluded from all the meetings that have taken place so far.
We would like to assert that since the beginning we have moved through democratic national agendas believing that, as Syrians, we can solve our own problems. Unfortunately, neither the regime nor the internal and external opposition have showed any will to hold a dialogue with us.
Although they have not provided any resolution project, they have not accepted our options too, which increased futility. Thus, we do not have any other choice but to organize the areas liberated from the terrorists democratically to protect our region from all kinds of attacks.
We also aim to create an alternative so that the Northern parts of Syria would become a model for resolution.
It is worth mentioning that the democratic federal project to be implemented is part and parcel of other federalisms we think important to be established in the future.
Since the objective and subjective conditions are not met to establish a democratic constitution for all Syria in the present time, we, in the liberated areas, are going to organize our lives according to this social contract approved by all the components living in Northern Syria till the establishment of a democratic constitution, which recognizes the rights of all Syrians.
We consider the main principles that should form the general framework of the Syrian democratic constitution are:
The democratic nation
The democratic nation consists of individuals who share equal rights and freedoms. It also consists of different cultures, religions, and ethnicities, based on individual and group rights.
A State for all
It is clear that we, as Syrians, need a new notion for a State, a State for all. This means that the State should consist of people with different languages, ethnicities, and religions.
This notion strengths the integrity and coexistence and asserts the unity of the Syrian society and soil, while a mono-ethnic State marginalizes the majority of the people, which leads to divisions and fragmentations.
Fascism produces people who follow the same styles of thinking while pluralism represents richness in nature and society. Thus, it is better to have a national spirit based on relation to the land, ecology, progress, but not in a fascist and chauvinistic way.
The democratic federal republic
Viewing the republic as a nation-state is an influential factor of marginalization as it is the strict form of the republic. It makes it impossible to have a democratic nation-state. The optimal system for a republic should be democratic.
The nation-state eliminates the democratic characteristics of societies as is the case with the previous period. If we take the cultural diversity in Syria into account, we will find out that the democratic solution is compatible with the Syrian democratic federal republic model.
What is really important here is to establish a Syrian democratic federal republic, which unifies all federations. To solve the critical issues in Syria, it is important for the system and State not to be linked to an ideology, ethnicity, or religion. Thus, it is more convenient to formulate a legal definition of the Syrian democratic federal republic as a democratic legal system for all the people.
By doing so, the principle of the democratic nation and secularism will be embodied in the definition above. Describing Syria as "The Syrian Democratic Federal Republic" without any reference to ethnic, racial, or religious terms would be more comprehensive and integral.
The democratic constitution
To lay the foundation of the democratic principles, they must be based on a constitution which truly represents all the components of the society so that their rights can always be protected.
This will pave the way for the social institutions and segments to organize and develop themselves and take their natural role in society, particularly women and youth. The democratic constitution is considered a tool that helps solve the problems of the State. It will ensure the unity of federations in a mutual State.
Self-defense is a very important issue because it protects the social and cultural identities of the Syrian peoples.
It has been proved historically that the communities which have not been able to defend themselves have been exposed to all kinds of extermination. Thus, we must ensure self-defense for all communities and individuals in Syria. Moreover, the establishment of sufficient self-defense system is crucial for a free, equal and fair life.
Women's freedom
Women's freedom is one of the most important issues in the Syrian communities. One of the main reasons for retardation in our societies is the marginalization and elimination of women's role in the process of building societies.
To get rid of the undemocratic and unfair practices against women, there must be some constitutional articles to ensure equality between men and women in all aspects of life. Thus, the active participation of women in the process of drafting a new constitution in Syria is considered vital.
We must establish an economic policy to protect the society and environment against the destructive effects of monopolized policy, which dominates the economy.
Therefore, there is a dire need for an economic policy which fulfills the society needs and ensures a fair distribution of Syrian wealth. Furthermore, we must get rid of unemployment, which has been increasing in our societies, so that every individual should have a job regardless to his/her gender, ethnic, or religious identity.
Language and culture:
Using the mother tongue and culture in the field of education, art, science, and religion is considered one of the basic human rights.
Thus, we must ensure education in the mother tongue in the new constitution for Kurds, Arabs, Syriacs, Assyrians, Armenians, Turkmen, and Chechens. This will strengthen the social and cultural structure of the Syrian communities and will pave the way for a voluntary unity among all components.
According to what has been mentioned above, we, as the Constituent Assembly of Federalism in Northern Syria, will do our best to develop a democratic solution which covers all Syria.
We assert to the Syrian general opinion that we are ready for negotiation and dialogue with all Syrian forces to establish a democratic system, which ensures peace and stability for all Syrians.
The Constituent Assembly of Democratic Federalism of Northern Syria 29/12/2016
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Final Trailer For Guillermo del Toro's 'Antlers' Unleashes A Man-Eating Monster
Jacob Dressler screengeek-social-icons email
We've been given our final look at the upcoming horror movie Antlers, which will be released later next year in April. The final trailer for Antlers promises an awesome horror movie monster – one that it smartly keeps hidden for most of the footage. It'll definitely be a suspenseful watch in the theater.
One of the most exciting aspects is that the film is based on a short story by Nick Antosca, who is not only responsible for the horror series Channel Zero – but he's also a writer on the upcoming Child's Play series. Obviously this means the movie will have a great sense of horror – especially with Guillermo del Toro as one of the producers.
In the movie Antlers…
"A small-town Oregon teacher (Keri Russell) and her brother (Jesse Plemons), the local sheriff, discover that a young student (Jeremy T. Thomas) is harboring a dangerous secret with frightening consequences."
Let's hope that the new film lives up to the expectations and previous work of everyone involved, especially Nick Antosca and Guillermo del Toro. But judging by the new trailer, we should be expecting a very intelligent and well crafted horror movie. As such, we horror fans should be in the clear – which means we can sit back and enjoy Antlers when it hits the big screen.
The film's cast will also include Graham Greene, Scott Haze, Rory Cochrane, Amy Madigan.
Antlers was produced by Guillermo del Toro, David Goyer, and J. Miles Dale. It was written by C. Henry Chaisson & Nick Antosca and Scott Cooper, based upon the short story The Quiet Boy by Nick Antosca. Scott Cooper directs the film.
Antlers will hit theaters on April 17, 2020.
What did you think of the final trailer for Antlers? Are you excited to see how the new horror movie will turn out? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section down below!
Related Topics:Antlers, Horror
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