"I birthed you! Respect the God!"
Kanye West and Drake have hit back at rapper Kid Cudi after he accused them of "being fake" and turning their back on his career.
In a lengthy Twitter rant yesterday, Kanye's former protégé Cudi also accused both rappers of not writing their own music.
However Yeezy was quick to fire back on stage at his Saint Pablo show in Florida.
"Kid Cudi, don't ever mention Ye's name. I birthed you!" he said during a performance of 'Don't Like'.
"Don't try to say who I can do songs with. You mad 'cause I'm doing songs with Drake. Ain't nobody telling 'Ye who to do songs with. Respect the God!"
Drake also appeared to send a subtle jab at Cudi during his latest Summer Sixteen show.
"Boy you getting way to high, you need to Cud it," he said.
The feud began when Kid Cudi wrote: "The fake ones won't be lasting too much longer.
"They know I don't give a f*ck about the corny sh*t they do. I keep silent, because I don't ever want to come off like some angry hater.
"My tweets apply to who they apply – Ye, Drake, whoever. These n***as don't give a f*ck about me, and they ain't f*cking with me."
Kid Cudi has frequently collaborated with Kanye West throughout his career and was influential on albums including '808's & Heartbreaks' and 'Graduation'.
Meanwhile, Kanye West recently confirmed his upcoming joint album with Drake.


text:
Arteta on team news, loanees and Liverpool
Mikel Arteta was back in front of the cameras on Thursday morning as he faced the media for his latest press conference.
A wide range of topics were covered, ranging from the latest on Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe to discussing Saturday's opponents and paying tribute to Sergio Aguero.
Scroll down for a full transcript:
on the situation of the squad after the international break...
There are still a lot that I haven't seen yet. We will see them this afternoon and assess the squad tomorrow, see how everybody is feeling and make some decisions. But so far, no big news.
on no fresh concerns...
Not yet, no.
on Bukayo Saka...
He hasn't trained with the team yet. He's been doing some individual work. We had to pull him out of the England squad, unfortunately. He's feeling better, but he hasn't trained with the team yet.
on whether the break gave him a chance to assess what has and hasn't gone well recently...
Yes. Obviously we analyse periods during the season and we've done that now because we've had some time to think, to reflect and see a lot of the things that we are doing and as well, look at the direction we want to take in the future. Of course.
on the main areas we need to rectify at the back to improve...
One of them is related to the attention and focus that you need during the whole game. For example, the way we conceded the second goal against West Ham, where we turned our backs on a free-kick close to our box, is something that we cannot do. It just gives a goal to the opponent. And there's also the other face, that we really like, the way the team played and reacted, the character we showed and the quality that we provided on the day to come back against a really good opponent from three goals behind.
on not being able to take the same risks against a potent team like Liverpool...
Absolutely. Against these types of teams, with the quality that they have, they are going to punish you for every error that you do. Even when you don't make errors and you do everything perfectly, they are still able to break your lines, to create an individual action and to score a goal. Obviously, it is a team where nothing has to be given to them.
on whether he takes anything from the fact we are close to Liverpool...
I prefer to look at ourselves. What they have done in recent years has been incredible. Obviously the competition that they were facing with Manchester City made both teams better and I think they've been pushing each other to a different level, one that we probably haven't seen in the Premier League. That's the level that we have to reach to compete with them. This season is so different, in particular they have had a lot of issues internally with big injuries. But they're still amazing with what they've done.
on Emile Smith Rowe...
He has some discomfort in his hip and that's why they decided to keep him out. We will see today how he comes here, we will speak with the doctors and the physios and see if he is available for training tomorrow.
on whether the Slavia Prague games are more important than our league games...
The immediate priority is Liverpool. We know that if we want to climb the table and have a chance to be in Europe next season through the Premier League, we need some consistency now in the last nine games. We need to get on a run of winning matches and the only way to do it is to start against Liverpool. We don't have any margin and we have to win that game.
on what he puts Liverpool's struggles down to...
I don't know, I'm not the one to analyse what has gone wrong for them. I can talk about what they've done and what they're still producing and the stats will support that. They are, if not the best, the second best team in every department that we coaches have to analyse. But then this is football, the ball has to be in that net and the final action has to provide a moment to win a football match. Then you have some individuals that dictate the quality of your team. Sometimes you cannot predict those things, so I think it's a lot of things.
on Sergio Aguero's departure from Manchester City this summer...
First of all, I think anyone that has been close to Sergio would say the same thing. I think he's been probably the main face, or one of the three main faces, that have lifted that project. You need some leadership, you need some quality and you need players to create moments when you start to build a project like they did. Sergio is probably the biggest face of that project. It's not only the way he plays, it's his personality, his charisma, the way he is loved by everybody at that club. It's sad to see somebody leaving like him, but I think with what he's done he will be there in their history.
on whether Aguero can still score goals at the top level...
For sure. Sergio has a unique quality to see spaces that nobody else can see and to score goals in a really easy way so I'm sure that he will find the right next chapter for him.
on if he will call him and ask him to move to London...
No, no. We will see what happens with him in the future.
on if Thierry Henry was better than Sergio Aguero...
Well, he [Aguero] is one of the best for sure. The consistency that he's shown at this level and this league, I think it puts him right there with the best. We can discuss within the best, but for me, he's one of the best.
on Sergio Aguero getting a statue...
I don't know. I think when a club wants to have a gesture of recognition to somebody that has changed their history, I think it's a really nice touch. Obviously, you cannot have the stadium full of statues but I think it's a really nice thing to do if it's the right one.
on if beating Liverpool is the ideal way to regain confidence...
Absolutely. To get the moral right, to get the confidence right, to get some momentum. The more games that we win, the team is going to be in a better state to compete in other competitions. That's why my only focus is on Liverpool now.
on if winning the Europa League is the best way of getting into the Champions League...
That's the other way. We don't know what the first way will be. It will depend on our results and our performances and we need to go game by game and try to maximise every chance that we have in each of those games.
on Eddie Nketiah and the England Under-21 campaign...
I think the way the focus is at that age on development, they need results, of course, but it's true that [the Under-21s] have fed the England first-team squad tremendously well. That's when to reflect on some players needing time to adapt to that environment, to start to compete the right way like other players that were there a few months ago were doing. The coach has to get everything right and that takes time but I'm not worried about that. I think the way England is evolving as a nation in football and how much they have progressed over the years is remarkable.
on whether we will play our own way against Liverpool this time around...
I think the game dictates that. I think sometimes you have to adapt to the opponent because they're just better than you and sometimes you can make the opponent adapt. Well see, depending on what they are able to do and what we are able to do as well. Obviously, the intention and the game we want to propose is different to the one that we played last year. When you play against top-quality sides, sometimes you have to be able to adapt your game to get the results that you need.
on following Jurgen Klopp's process of building a team to win trophies...
I don't like to compare different projects. I think what they've done is remarkable. It's been really intelligent. The way they managed resources and the way they have maximised resources has been exceptional. They've done it really, really well and now it is about sustaining that. We are in different phases of that project right now but we know exactly where we are and where we want to be and in the first one of two phases. We had some priorities that we had to address to be in a position to now evolve the squad, evolve the team and start to compete on a different level and this is where we are.
on raising funds to bring in new players...
Obviously, we need support from everybody to try to do what we've done and so far we've had it. The commitment and the vision that we all share is unquestionable and we had a lot of meetings about that and we're all on the same page. We know where we are and we are very realistic about what we are. The things that we have done have consequences because it generates some instability that is necessary to make changes, but we need some stability now to grow and evolve in the way we want to do it. That time frame is the tricky thing because we need to win immediately.
on whether players who have been sent out on loan will be brought back into the fold...
That will be the thing that we have to address at the end of the season. We loaned them out because we wanted to give them some game time and see the level that they can perform at away from here, try to develop them and then bring them back here to try to use them. That's the first idea. After, we will evaluate what they've done, the level that they've shown and how much they can accomplish with the way that we want to play and the squad that we have in our hands.
on if he is happy with the performance of our loanees...
I am happier with some than others. You want to see your players play regularly and with some [players] that has not been the case.
on Alex Lacazette's good form...
I think he's been really good. I think he's been in really good form for months now. I think he's sustaining that level. He's scoring goals and he's providing the team with something different as well. His work rate has been phenomenal and it's what we want. We need those types of players hitting the best level and we want to have the chance to do that. Over the course of the season we have been missing goals, we've been missing that creativity in the final third and we need those players to step in and make that difference for the team.
on interest in Lacazette from other clubs....
I am always happy when people talk about our players and speculate on that. It means they are doing well and getting attention from other clubs. The situation with Laca will get addressed in the summer. I will speak to him and just propose a future that we want and that's it. Now I just want players focused and only focused on performing and getting the best out of them for the team.
on whether giving Lacazette a big contract would make financial sense...
Everything is related. At the end of the day, everything is related to where we are, how much we win and where we are playing next season. There are no exceptions and we all need to be clear with that and the context that we have around our industry.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


As a youth who suffers from autism, technology is a way that Dalton can connect to the rest of the world.
However, Dalton usually cannot connect to the internet for videos and other online aids because the family lives in a northern Minnesota area without wired internet service.
The satellite internet service Klang uses is spotty, at best, and costly for how little good it provides.
The boy's story illustrates a push to expand high-speed Internet, known as broadband, in rural Minnesota. Gov. Mark Dayton set a goal of making broadband available to every home and business.
The government and private investments mean that not everyone's story is like that experienced by Klang and her son.
"In general, we are seeing the momentum and the interest in the program increase," Executive Director Danna Mackenzie of the state's Office of Broadband Development said about state broadband construction grants.
The article goes on to highlights towns with and without access. It's another example of the growing interest in equitable access for all!
This entry was posted in Digital Divide, Healthcare, MN, Rural by Ann Treacy. Bookmark the permalink.


text:
@class NSView;
@class NSWindow;
@class WidgetOwnerNSWindowAdapterBridge;

namespace views {

// An adapter that allows a views::Widget to be owned by an NSWindow that is not
// backed by another BridgedNativeWidget.
class WidgetOwnerNSWindowAdapter : public BridgedNativeWidgetOwner {
 public:
  // Create an adapter that will own |child|, tying its lifetime with the
  // NSWindow containing |anchor_view|. The object is self-deleting, via a call
  // to RemoveChildWindow() made in child->OnWindowWillClose().
  WidgetOwnerNSWindowAdapter(BridgedNativeWidget* child, NSView* anchor_view);

  // Called when the owning window is closing.
  void OnWindowWillClose();

  // Overridden from BridgedNativeWidgetOwner:
  NSWindow* GetNSWindow() override;
  gfx::Vector2d GetChildWindowOffset() const override;
  bool IsVisibleParent() const override;
  void RemoveChildWindow(BridgedNativeWidget* child) override;

 private:
  // Self-deleting.
  ~WidgetOwnerNSWindowAdapter() override;

  BridgedNativeWidget* child_;  // Weak. Owned by its NativeWidgetMac.
  base::scoped_nsobject<NSView> anchor_view_;
  base::scoped_nsobject<NSWindow> anchor_window_;
  base::scoped_nsobject<WidgetOwnerNSWindowAdapterBridge> observer_bridge_;

  DISALLOW_COPY_AND_ASSIGN(WidgetOwnerNSWindowAdapter);
};

}  // namespace views

#endif  // UI_VIEWS_COCOA_WIDGET_OWNER_NSWINDOW_ADAPTER_H_

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


The Oregon Clinical & Translational Research Institute (OCTRI) is now accepting letters of intent to apply for its Biomedical Innovation Program. The program cultivates and selects promising translational projects that develop new biomedical devices, diagnostics, and software with the objective of moving innovative technologies to clinical application, making a meaningful impact on human health.
Eligibility: Principal investigators must fit OHSU eligibility requirements.
Critical elements of successful proposals will be a well-developed idea or vision for the end product and a collaboration between clinicians, scientists, and bioengineers. That collaboration will make possible the identification of a significant clinical problem, an innovative idea for a device or diagnostic to address the problem, bioengineering approaches for device or diagnostic development, voice of consumer studies, and early clinical trials.
Learn more about this and other OCTRI funding opportunities.


Yikes! It's been WAY TOO LONG since my last post, though I must say it has been nice to kind of shut off my brain and relax for the past couple weeks. But now to pick up where I left off: the Rossland NorAms.
My second race weekend of the year came Dec. 17-18 in Rossland B.C. The first day of competition was a skate sprint, and one of the most frustrating races I've ever done. Leading up to this sprint, I was feeling a little bit nervous about the course and how I would ski it, because last year's race did not go well for me, so I wanted to make sure I skied it much more efficiently and intelligently this time around. I ended up skiing it perfectly, exactly how I wanted to and didn't feel that I got bogged down or anything anywhere. This was the up side. The down side, and the lesson of the day, was that I had picked the wrong skis. So the lesson was, just because a ski tests the fastest in zone 1 (slow/easy training) does not mean they will be fast at high speeds. After 4 days of testing I was sure I had narrowed down my fastest pair, but what I hadn't considered was that all 4 of those days were skied in zone 1, and things could be different at race speed. So a very frustrating day indeed, but a valuable lesson learned.
Day 2 brought a 15km skate mass start race, and my first mass start in the Open Men category. After getting off to a slow start for the first of four laps, my body started to wake up and I began picking people off one by one for the next three laps. I got into a really good rhythm and was feeling really good, but the slow start coupled with the 5th row starting position meant that I had a lot of ground to make up. I ended up finishing 29th Open Men, and was really wishing I would have had another lap to go, as I was reeling in a pack of 5 or 6 guys. Still my second time ever cracking the top 30 though, so not a bad day overall.
So to sum up my early season races, I may not have attained quite the results I was hoping for, but all signs point to increased fitness, drastically improved technique, and becoming a much smarter ski racer. It is with these signs of improvement in mind that I am now preparing for my next set of races, the World Under 23 Trials which will be taking place in Callaghan Valley, BC January 12-15.
On a non skiing topic, I was able to make it back to Penetang this year for Christmas, and had an incredible 9 days at home. With not having plans for every hour of every day, which is usually what happens when I go home, I was able to really take some time to myself and relax, recover from 3 weeks of travel and racing, and spend some quality time with family and friends. Even the lack of snow couldn't dampen my feelings about being home :).
I arrived back in Thunder Bay on the morning of the 29th, and have been taking advantage of the snow here as much as possible. Following a very productive 3 hour ski yesterday, I was even able to take advantage of my eligibility for free pancakes at Lappe for the first time!! Nothing like some delicious Finnish pancakes to make tearing apart your body for 22km all worth it ;). I'll be here in Thunder Bay for the next week, doing some final prep. training to get ready for Trials. Next Sunday, Jan. 8th, I'll be heading out west, and then 4 days later, the racing season resumes!
Hoping you all had as wonderful Christmas holidays as I did!


text:
Gelagna succincta is een slakkensoort uit de familie van de Cymatiidae. De wetenschappelijke naam van de soort werd voor het eerst geldig gepubliceerd in 1771 door Linnaeus als Murex succinctus.

Cymatiidae

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


"The United States on Tuesday urged President Robert Mugabe to fully implement a power-sharing deal with the opposition and take steps toward democratic reform if he wants better Zimbabwean-US ties.
The US State Department issued the statement after Mugabe said earlier that Zimbabwe was ready for 'fresh and cooperative relations' with Western nations that have spearheaded global condemnation of his rule.
'We encourage Robert Mugabe to show his commitment to positive relations with the US by fully implementing the Global Political Agreement, which he signed in September 2008,' State Department spokesman Ian Kelly told AFP.
Mugabe has been accused of blocking attempts to fully implement the terms of the agreement, under which Mugabe continues serving as president and his long-time rival Morgan Tsvangirai took office in February as prime minister.
The unity government is tasked with returning Zimbabwe to stability after years of economic ruin.
These include 'ending politicized arrests and prosecutions and often violent land seizures,' he said in an e-mail message.
They also include 'replacing the corrupt officials, ending media censorship, and repealing emergency decrees and draconian laws restricting personal freedoms,' he added.
He also called on Mugabe to make a public commitment to draft a new constitution and hold national elections under international supervision and monitoring."
PREVIOUSLY: "Zimbabwe Ready for 'Cooperative' Relations with West"


Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) has released the first merit list for class 2 and onwards. Guardians of the ward can check the merit list from the KV school they have applied for. The KVS admission process also begins today for Class 2 to 11. The admission process will be done offline. Parents will have to visit the school for admissions.
The last date for admission in Class 2 to 11 is April 20. The KVS admission formalities should be completed by April 30. The admission notice for Class 11 will be put up only after 20 days of Board result declaration.
Earlier, KVS has also released the provisional list for class 1 admission on March 26. Second list was released on April 9. KVS will release the third list if the seats are vacant on April 23. Parents should keep checking the KVS School website for regular update.
Note:- If seats remain vacant in class XI even after admitting the children of KV/ neighbouring KVs then the admissions to non – KV children may be granted on the same criteria, in the sequence of categories of priority.
However, there could be instances of lower enrolment in Class XI in some KVs, especially those located in hard stations and remote areas after applying the above criteria for admission. In such an eventuality, Principal of the KV concerned should send the proposal of lowering the eligibility criteria for various streams along with the details of registration, No. of eligible students, etc. to the Deputy Commissioner of the region.


text:
The New Bachelor's Ex-Girlfriend Dishes Some Serious Dirt on Him
By Laura Beck
The next Bachelor is Arie Luyendyk, Jr. and the next Bachelor's ex-girlfriend is Sydney Stempfley and I think I've already picked my favorite out of the two.
Last Sunday, right before the franchise announced Arie as its next star, Sydney tweeted out this beautiful bit of business.
The show would be perfect for @ariejr up until it comes to choosing just one 😂
— Sydney Stempfley (@sydneystempfley) September 4, 2017
Oh, shiiiiiit. PEOPLE confirms that Sydney, 26, is indeed the ex-gf of the 35-year-old professional race car driver, and so this is most definitely real. The magazine said two sources confirmed that the two had been dating up until recently and that Arie broke up with Sydney and she's "hurt."
On her Instagram, there's a picture of the couple together on June 1:
My actual ride or die
A post shared by Sydney Stempfley (@sydneystempfley) on Jun 1, 2017 at 11:51am PDT
Young love! It is so hard! Hey, maybe Sydney can be the next Bachelorette?!
Laura Beck Laura Beck is a Los Angeles-based TV writer and frequent contributor to Cosmopolitan.com — her work has appeared in the New York Times, New Yorker, Jezebel, and the Village Voice.
12 Facst About New "Bachelor" Arie Luyendyk Jr.
ABC Confirms New "Bachelor"
ABC Wants You to Get to Know Arie Luyendyk Jr.
Reality Steve Reveals 'Bachelor' Finale Twist
Arie Luyendyk Jr. Is Doing the Most in 2019
A Montage of 'The Bachelor' Moaning While Kissing


text:
Q: How to speed up DataAdapter.Fill in C# compact framework? I am performing a SQL query and writing found rows to temporary dataset. On windows mobile device this takes about 10-12 seconds. And after doing some debugging from device, I found that majority of that delay is cased by adapter.Fill(tempDataset); (7-9 seconds).
What can I do to fix this? What do I need to do to speed up DataAdapter.Fill? Why would this take so much time?
I am using SQL Server CE and CompactFramework 3.5.
string connectionString = @"Data Source='/pathto/MYDataBase.sdf'; Max Database Size = 512; Max Buffer Size = 4096;";
string strSql = "SELECT * FROM item WHERE LastName = '" + stringLastName +  "'";
SqlCeConnection mConnection = new SqlCeConnection(connectionString);
SqlCeCommand mCommand = new SqlCeCommand(strSql, mConnection);
// Read all rows from the table into a dataset
SqlCeDataAdapter adapter = new SqlCeDataAdapter(mCommand);
tempDataset = new MYDataSet();
adapter.Fill(tempDataset);

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


SO many great sounding products!
K beauty is my absolute faveeee. All of these look amazing!!
I heard great things about korean beauty products and this one sounds nice.
The barrier creams sounds really good, I want it!
Nice post! These products sound so good.
I've always wanted Klairs products too because the reviews are just positive and I think I need it in my life. However, they're a bit on the expensive side. But I'm sure it'll be worth it, right?
thanks for the coupon to be hones i have never try this cream but maybe I will!
All these products sounds amazing!
Klairs is definitely a brand I plan on trying sometime soon as everyone seems to love the brand! Lovely to find out more about your current K-beauty wishlist babe :) Hope you're having a lovely week so far!
These all sound absolutely fabulous. I am due for a K-beauty haul and will add these to my list!
These are really amazing products dear! I'd love to try Klairs Freshly Juiced Vitamin E Mask. Heard a lot of good things about that.
I'm not a big fan of Korean skincare/makeup products cause they just don't suit my skin. I'm all for cruelty-free brands though so yay for that!
These products seem so nice!
These all sound so good!!
I have the first two products and I must say they work wonders! Especially the TECA 1% Barrier Cream, I don't know how bad my skin condition would be if without it. It literally saved me from looking all packed with pimples. I've always wanted to try the Tencel Sheet Mask too! This sale period shall make that happen soon haha!
Nice post, so good and interesting. These products sound so good.
I absolutely LOVE Kbeauty. I can definitely say I'm obsessed. I've been hearing a lot of great things from Klairs and I'm excited to try it out!
Thank you so much lovely!! Yes, me too!! Lately I'm dying to try more k-beauty products!


Do you believe the Gospel of Christ? For more information on the Gospel, read the previous posts on the subject. The Gospel is the revelation of the power of God to remove the curse that was brought upon the earth and all mankind due to the sin of Adam.
The Gospel is termed or defined as 'good news'; which begs the question: good news about what? The good news that we so often hear about in relation with the gospel, very often ends with Jesus coming to earth to die for our sins. This definition is not incorrect but I dare say that it is incomplete because the good news of the Gospel covers much more than the forgiveness of our sin.
To say that the death of Jesus was for sin alone leaves one wondering why He declared; "…I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth."—Matthew 28:18 (New Living Translation). The King James uses the word power instead of authority in this verse. So what is this power or authority and why is it needed if it is only for the forgiveness of sin? It would seem the very sacrifice of Jesus' life and the shed blood should have been enough, if it was for sin alone…but there is more…much more!
The words power and authority in this verse, have the same meaning in the original language it was written. The difference is the way we understand them; we normally see the word power in terms of strength or ability and authority in terms of someone who has legal right, or is in charge or ownership of something—that is why it is necessary to explain the difference.
Many things can have power, (animals, electricity, water, engines, etc.,), but only a person can have authority. This is significant because the enemy is into the details and he can and will confuse you if you do not understand who you are in God! We do not just have power, we have authority! How did we get this authority? Jesus gave it to us as a right and privilege for believing the Gospel of God!
My friend, please do not sleep on this! As believers, you and I have the same authority that Jesus had and can make the same claim He made; the very power or authority of God has been given unto us! Believers are no longer subject to or under the authority of the curse that this world is under. Through the Gospel, we who believe are able to see more than we have seen before. The veil (Mark 15:38; Luke 23:45) has been torn between the natural and spiritual realms.
Before the sacrifice of Jesus, man's sight was limited to that his natural eyes could see—except God gave a glimpse into the spiritual realm. Now that Jesus has torn down that divider and stands as our eternal mediator, we have the ability to see as far as our faith will allow us. I know that may sound strange, but that is the truth and the reason it is strange is because it has not been taught and therefore we have been blind to it.
But a new day has come for the Bible says: "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."—Romans 10:17 (KJV). I also like it in the Message Translation: "…The point is: Before you trust, you have to listen. But unless Christ's Word is preached, there's nothing to listen to." In order for believers to know what is ours in the Gospel, it has to be preached! God wants us to know!
It is not God's will for us to be ignorant of these things—although we have been told it is! Many have been told and taught that we haven't seen, heard, or known anything that God has for us—that it all is waiting for us in the 'sweet by-and-by'. That may have been true prior to the cross (read Isaiah 64:4), but now we all have access (Ephesians 2:13-22) unto the grace, wisdom, and mystery of God—through the blood of Jesus! Hallelujah!!
Just look at verse 10 above. The scripture teaches us, that all that vs. 9 tells us that we have been in the dark to have been revealed to us by the Spirit of God! It even goes further to say that even the "deep things of God" is available to us through the Spirit! We are without excuse my friend; the Gospel reveals not only God's will but His power on our behalf also.
There is more coming on this subject.
Hello Sebastian how very true this is,we have not yet seen or experienced the full power and authority God has placed within us,"Hallelujah"!! God is not finished with us yet,there is a day coming and I believe God is preparing us to walk in His power and authority.As we preform the signs and wonders He's going to do through us.
Yes, you are right! Thanks for adding to this discussion! God bless!
Thank you Sebastian what a powerful message, I believe also as confirmed in the Scriptures we have God's Authority but we are of course under His Authority and are to obey His guidelines, His Will, the same as Jesus chose to. God The Father is the final Authority, The Godhead does indeed have order which brings Completeness, the three ways of God being God. But as you shared Sebastian, we don't have to live in defeat, we can walk in Victory and Power. Jesus is the Gospel, to believe in God's Truth is to believe in Him, He is The Truth and the double edged Sword, His Truth is powerful and is shown in faith and actions.
1 Corinthians 15 : 27 -28 For he hath put all things under His feet. But when He saith all things are put under Him, it is manifest that He is excepted, which did put all things under Him. And when all things shall be subdued unto Him, then shall the Son also Himself be subject unto Him that put all things under Him, that God may be all in all.
Your posts are a blessing to me! I am happy you've been writing more lately! Enjoy the articles! God bless you, Sebastian!
Thank you sis! I am too…LOL!!! Bless you as well!


From September 1st, PlayStation Plus subscribers in Europe will have to pay 25% more than they do currently. This price increase affects both the one-month and three-month tiers. The annual plan will remain as it is now at £39.99.
It is unknown if this increase will affect other territories, although the price was previously increased by 51% in South Africa.


The Pride in Parenting (PIP) demonstration program aimed to increase mothers' use of preventative health care for themselves and their children, and improve the safety of child-rearing environments. It offered one year of services to mothers with newborns who received late or inadequate prenatal care. PIP included home visits in which visitors provided information on parenting, child care, health, and child development. In addition, hospital-based group sessions were offered to expand on those topics. Home visits were offered weekly from birth through 4 months of age. From 5 months to 12 months, the home visits alternated with biweekly group sessions. For more information, please read the Model Overview.


RAFELD Donovan O. & Corrinne E.
REDDING George W. & Nancy J.
REEP Hattie A.,William F.,Sarah E.
REINHARDT James J. & Della J.
REMY Hary M. & Mary M.
REPP Sanford T. & Eleanor L.
RHOADES William H. & Annie E.
RICE David J., Mary M.,Mahala B. & Kate A.
RICKEL Murray & Lois B.
RICHEY Earl A. & Mary A.
RILEY Richard A. & Nancy L.
RISSER Shirley R. & Jane Y.
ROBBINS Walter E. & Lora B.
ROBERTS William C. & Gertrude F.
ROBINSON Lyle N. & Helen R.
ROESEL Philip B. & Wilma I.
ROGERS Louise M. & Alpha P.
ROHLEDER Andrew J. & Etta M.
ROHRBAUGH William G. & Sibyl I.
ROLAND Clark W. Jr. & Mary L.
ROLAND Clark W. Sr. & Martha M.
ROLAND Dale M. & Margaret A.
ROLAND Richard Dean & Betty J.
RUDY Fred B. & Ethel B.
RUSH William D. & Barbara J.


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CVS Offering Super Bowl Tickets as Part of Vaccine Plan
By Wake Up Crew
CVS just announced they will be rolling out contests for customers who get the Covid-19 vaccine.
The chain says that customers will have the chance to win tickets to the Super Bowl, if they get the vaccine of course. But tickets to the biggest game in football aren't the only prizes on the line...
Customers could also win cash prizes, gift cards, and a trip to Bermuda!
"We're grateful for the millions of people who've received one of the well over 17 million doses we've administered at CVS Health, but we have a long way to go," Dr. Kyu Rhee, senior vice president and chief medical officer of CVS Health, said. "Getting as much of the population fully vaccinated will bring us one step closer to all the things we've missed during the past 14 months, and keep our country moving in the right direction."
The contest starts on June 1, and ends June 10.
Check out more details on The Guardian.


Wheel alignment is essential for the integrity of your vehicle and, most importantly, for your safety. The risks of accidents and damages to your car can be significantly reduced when the wheels are properly aligned. If you hit a curb or a pothole, your alignment may be skewed, and you may need to take it in for a correction. But even if you don't remember hitting anything significant with your car, you should still keep tabs on your wheels to ensure that they stay lined up over time.
The alignment procedure ensures that the wheels are parallel with one another and perpendicular to the road. When the wheels are out of their proper positioning, your vehicle handling and tire wear will be affected.
When the tires are aligned, the rotation follows a straight course, which makes it easy to steer the car. If you hit a curb or strike an object on the road, your vehicle can become off-centered, and steering will be harder. One symptom of misalignment is vehicle vibration. You may also feel your car pulling to one side as you drive. You will have to exert more effort to steer a car with skewed wheels.
Driving a vehicle with improper wheel alignment will result in uneven tire wear. If the problem is not corrected right away, the lifespan of the tires will be drastically reduced, and you will end up spending a lot of money to replace your tires prematurely.
Misaligned wheels could put undue stress on a car's suspension system. Replacing a suspension system will cost a pretty penny. Your car will burn through more fuel when your tires are misaligned. The misalignment will produce drag on the tire, which will result in the burning of more fuel.
If you suspect that you have misaligned tires, have them checked and corrected immediately so that you can avoid accidents and unnecessary repair expenses.


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Salon music from late 18th century London - Revital Raviv and Jochewed Schwarz perform Haydn's settings of Anne Hunter's poetry
Jochewed Schwarz (Lauren Pressler)
Revital Raviv (Amir Itskovich)
A concert of Haydn's settings of Anne Hunter's poems performed in the intimate setting of a private home in Kfar Saba, Israel on April 10th 2021 might be as close as one could get today to the kind of venue where these works would have originally been performed - in the salons of London. The works were performed by soprano Revital Raviv and early keyboard artist Jochewed Schwarz. In keeping with the repertoire, style, location and period, Jochewed Schwartz, who also performed a Haydn piano sonata, was playing on a 1798 Broderick & Wilkinson square piano.
Joseph Haydn arrived in London in January 1791 at the invitation of impresario Johann Peter Salomon. The composer gave a series of subscription concerts at the Queen's Ancient Concert Rooms, Hanover Square. Highly successful, they were attended by prominent London personages, these almost certainly including poetess Anne Hunter. The Lady's Magazine reported that Haydn "the celebrated composer, though he has not yet been introduced at our court, was recognized by all the royal family" and that "the eyes of all the company were upon Mr. Haydn, everyone paying him respect." Haydn's lodgings were only a short walk to the house of the famous surgeon and anatomist Dr. John Hunter and his wife Anne, who lived in Leicester Square. Following a summer spent in the countryside Haydn returned to London. Another concert season followed in early 1792, a time Haydn was also starting his arrangements of Scottish and Welsh folk songs. It was at around this time that he met Anne Hunter, (1742–1821), whose fashionable Georgian salon was a meeting place for some of London's most influential people, those including members of the Bluestockings - a group of the city's most educated and intellectual women. An evening at Anne Hunter's salon would have encompassed the full spectrum of art and learning available to the trendy Londoner of the time. Haydn and Hunter collaborated on "Dr Haydn's VI Original Canzonettas", the first of his two sets of "English Canzonettas"; the first bore a dedication to Hunter herself. The texts were published anonymously, but were, in fact, authored by Anne.Hunter and published 1794 during Haydn's second London visit. The result of this fortunate professional collaboration with Mrs. Hunter and the new possibilities presented by the more powerful English pianoforte was a true turning point in the development of the art song. The second set of Canzonettas, dedicated to Lady Charlotte Bertie, Countess of Abingdon, whose husband was one of Haydn's many admirers, includes texts by various authors, including Hunter, Shakespeare, and Metastasio. Heading each set of six is a sea song.
The first half of the house concert was devoted to the first set of Canzonettas, immensely charming and tuneful songs, somewhat in the popular style - the pastoral-cum-sentimental English tradition - indeed, suited to intimate parlour entertainment, but written so well as to now represent some of Haydn's most significant art songs. Haydn's command of English now greater, his music and the English lyrics move together hand-in-glove. The program opened with a sparkling, joyful rendition of "The Mermaid's Song", its skipping rhythmic course alive with word painting, the piano part exuberantly weaving in and out of the piece. The love songs that follow, however, all bear elements of regret and sorrow, of happiness that once existed and that would never be retrieved, although Haydn's settings, many in major keys, do not emerge overwhelmingly sad: "Recollection", in which the piano part, almost, homophonic, stays at the speaker's side throughout, "A Pastoral Song" (the signature song of Jenny Lind), wistfully musing, its gorgeous melodic line partnered with the bold, independent piano part, the understated anguish of "Despair", the sweet melancholy of "Pleasing Pain", with its subtle piano comments, and "Fidelity", evoking the storm (of the soul), nevertheless, concluding in an optimistic vein.
Separating their performance of songs from both sets of Canzonettas, Jochewed Schwarz chose to play Haydn's Sonata in E-flat major Hob. 59, one of the composer's last four sonatas, this latter group constituting the climax of Haydn's writing for solo piano. Written for an instrument with a much stronger sound and larger range than he had had available for his earlier piano music, it uses the resources of the new instrument to the utmost. Schwarz' colourful playing brought out the work's emotional depth, virtuosity, and vivacity, presented with a sense of spontaneity, freedom, attention to detail and personal touches. The sonata concludes with a Minuet that relieves the intensity of the opening two movements.
Revital Raviv spoke of Haydn's second set of English Canzonettas as being more eclectic than the first. Opening with the hearty "Sailor's Song" (text: anonymous) with its colourful (very jolly English!) depiction of bugle calls, cannons and rattling ropes, emerging zesty and uplifting, it was followed by a moving performance of "The Wanderer," set in a gloomy but beautifully depicted nature setting, its disquieting pauses and unanticipated turns of chromatic harmonies powerful and disturbing. Then, "Sympathy" (text: Metastasio, Eng. translation), superb Haydn writing, touching in its tenderness warmth and sincerity, makes way for "She never told her love", Haydn's brilliant setting of verses from Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night", written in the form of a free arioso, enigmatic in its full-blown piano solo, its striking rhetorical gestures and extreme dynamic changes - a miniature of giant demands, and certainly well handled by the artists! Following a playful reading of "Piercing Eyes", the program concluded with the original version of "Transport of Pleasure". (The text was considered too suggestive for proper English society, necessitating an alternate version, titled "Content".)
Revital Raviv's voice - bright, honeyed, unforced and unmarred by excessive vibrato - is well suited to this repertoire, as is her expressiveness, good taste and fine British English, her performance communicative and revealing thorough inquiry into the content of each song. Conceived as keyboard works with vocal accompaniment, Haydn's piano writing takes full advantage of the larger key span and the expressive qualities offered by the improved piano mechanisms Haydn encountered in the Broadwood instruments on which he played in London, pianos stronger and more robust than their Viennese counterparts. Jochewed Schwarz' playing attested to the above, distinctively endorsing the many-faceted role demanded by the keyboard in these pieces, as she set the scene for each vignette, added "comments" and subtle meaningful pauses, also giving expression to Haydn's elaborate ornamentation, all wrought in the manner of Classical performance and championed by the action and true sound of her fortepiano. Concert guests enjoyed the opportunity to hear this repertoire, not often performed on these shores. Holding such a concert in an intimate home setting elicited some lively discussion between audience and artists regarding the works and the timbres of various keyboard instruments.
"A Tribute to Alexander Tamir" - from Vilna to Jerusalem - a new film chronicling the influential Israeli pianist's life, times and career
Prof. Alexander Tamir (© Ein Kerem Music Center)
Alik Volkoviski was born in Vilna on April 2nd 1931. He began studying music at the age of five. In early 1943, the Jewish Council of the Vilna Ghetto held a music competition. The winning entry was a melody composed by 11-year-old Alik, the boy already well known for his remarkable talent as a pianist. His song "Stiler, stiler" (Hush, hush), to words written by his father, with lyrics later added by the ghetto poet Shmerke Kaczerginski became one of the best-loved songs of the ghetto. The lullaby, first performed at one of the last Jewish Council concerts before liquidation of the ghetto in 1943, is still frequently performed in memory of the Jews murdered in the Holocaust. With the liquidation of the ghetto, Volkoviski and his mother were sent to a concentration camp, where they were two of the few Vilna Jews to survive the war. After the liberation, Volkoviski moved to Israel in 1945, where, now known as Alexander Tamir, he studied piano in Tel Aviv with Eliyahu Rudyakov and composition with Yitzhak Edel. After graduating Geula High School. In 1948, he fought in the War of Independence.
Bracha Eden and Alexander Tamir met in 1951 as students of Prof. Alfred Schroeder at the New Jerusalem Conservatory (now the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance). Schroeder suggested they play as a duo. In 1955, the Eden-Tamir Duo received a scholarship to participate in the Aspen Festival and study with the Vronsky & Babin Piano Duo. Two years later, they won 1st prize in the Vercelli Duo Competition, Italy. Eden and Tamir were the first artists to play Polish composer Witold Lutoslawski's "Variations on a Theme by Paganini" outside of Poland and the first to play and record Igor Stravinsky's "Rite of Spring" arranged for two pianos - an adaptation by Alexander Tamir under the guidance- and with the consent of the composer. Eden and Tamir were instrumental in promoting Israeli works, many of which were written for them, including those by Josef Tal, Haim Alexander, A.A.Boskovich, Marc Lavry, Mark Kopytman, Karel Salmon and Ari Ben Shabtai. Senior faculty members of the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance, Prof. Eden and Prof. Tamir taught generations of students, many of them active today in music in Israel and abroad. Bracha Eden died in 2006.
In 1968, Tamir and Eden founded the Targ Music Center, Ein Kerem, Jerusalem, with the aim of enriching Jerusalem's musical life and providing a platform for young talent and immigrant artists. Now known as the Eden-Tamir Music Center, the venue, nestling in a tranquil, exotic garden, functions as a recording studio and busy concert hall. The Music Center was also Alexander Tamir's home till his death.
Alexander Tamir died on August 15th 2019. On April 2nd 2021, the date of what would have been his 90th birthday, a short film on Tamir and his life's work was shown for the first time. Sponsored by the Association of Vilna and Vilna Vicinity Jews in Israel, the film was directed and edited by pianist Ofer Shelley (founder/pianist Atar Trio), and produced by Hadassah Virshup (Association for the Lithuanian Jews in Israel); camera - Ariel Weiss, sound - Avi Elbaz. A view of the gates of the Eden-Tamir Music Centre, Ein Kerem, Jerusalem, with Bracha Eden and Tamir playing a Poulenc Waltz on two pianos sets the scene for "A Tribute to Alexander Tamir", in which colleagues and friends talk of Tamir. Speaking to Ofer Shelley were Ms. Mickey Kantor (head of the Association of Vilna and Vilna Vicinity Jews in Israel, Beit Vilna, Tel Aviv), Prof. Mordechai (Motti) Zalkin (Ben Gurion University of the Negev, researcher of the cultural, social, religious and economic history of the Jews of Lithuania), Avi Hanani (Voice of Music - Israeli radio, Israel Music Institute, Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra), Vilna-born concert pianist, pedagogue, cultural- and social researcher Dr. Zecharia Plavin (Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance), Vilna-born violinist, conductor, composer and teacher Prof. Motti Schmitt (Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance, concertmaster Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra), Dr. Dror Semmel (artistic director Eden-Tamir Music Center, member of faculty of the Edward Aldwell Institute) who was a student of Prof. Bracha Eden, Prof. Yoram Eden (director Eden-Tamir Music Center), recording engineer Avi Elbaz and Rachel Schwarz (producer of "Ponar", a film documenting Alexander Tamir's life.) Consecutively, the above speakers assembled a rich and comprehensive picture of Alexander Tamir - the person, the artist - pianist, accompanist, teacher - his radio programs, the prestigious Eden-Tamir Duo and the Eden-Tamir Music Center.
"A Tribute to Alexander Tamir" is the initiative of the Israeli Vilna Association. Growing up in the Ein Kerem neighbourhood, Ofer Shelley's piano teacher was Bracha Eden. Then, at the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance, he studied under Eden and Tamir. Many short film clips woven through "A Tribute to Alexander Tamir" - of Vilna in 1930, of Warsaw, of industry, migrant ships and scenes from Israel in the 1940s - call attention to the background and historic events of Tamir's life. Of the musical items, Nechama Lifschitz' moving performance of "Stiler, Stiler" and works (filmed at the Eden-Tamir Music Center) for two pianos of Dvořák, Poulenc and Z.Plavin, superbly performed by Zecharia Plavin and Ofer Shelley, make for a fitting tribute to Prof. Tamir and his profound influence on musical life in Israel and beyond. Beautifully made, this film is enriching and inspiring.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y12WZIuy-GQ
Salon music from late 18th century London - Revita...
"A Tribute to Alexander Tamir" - from Vilna to Jer...


Last Tuesday night Punky made the move from our room to her own room for overnight sleeps. She was already sleeping in her own room in the big cot for her day sleeps (when she would have them!) but the time had arrived to move her into her own room for all sleeps.
The first three nights she slept in there in the bassinette. I borrowed the bassinette off my good friend K, and with the birth of her third baby imminent, I need to return it so she can get everything ready for her own bundle of joy. Her baby shower is on Sunday so it will be going back then.
The first night she was in there was really hard. Not for her, but for me! I was so nervous and worried, worried that she would choke or stop breathing and I wouldn't be there to help her. But I needn't have worried as all was good, she slept fine, and I slept a little better than I had since she was born because I wasn't constantly being disturbed by all her noises.
So on Friday night, after 3 nights in her room in the bassinette, it was time to make the move to the big cot. And O.M.G! It was a revelation! She went down at about 9:30 and slept right through till 5:30am! 8 continuous hours! I could not believe it! When she woke up I got her up for a feed and she fell back to sleep, so I popped her back in the cot and she continued to sleep till almost 9am! It was amazing! I woke up feeling so good. More rested than I had since long before she was born.
Punky's face and Mia latches on to it with her mouth, it's very cute!
The best part is, she then did the same thing on Saturday and Sunday night. On Monday however she was asleep by 9:15pm, then woke for a feed at 1am, 4am and 8am, which wasn't too bad, but not as good as the big long sleeps she'd had previously. Luckily, she was back to what I am hoping is normal, on Tuesday night and was again sleeping till 5:30-6amish, waking for a feed then falling back asleep again till around 9am and she has continued that for the rest of this week. In fact she woke up at 6am this morning, had a feed and then slept till 10:30am! I was up before her and managed to eat breakfast before she woke up!
I am counting my lucky stars that has she has slept so well in the big cot, and almost wishing I had moved her in sooner. The only problem was/is day sleeps. She doesn't seem to like them, hasn't for the last 6 weeks, resists them at all costs, cries until I give in and give up. Also, while she was sleeping fantastically once she was asleep for the night, getting her to sleep was a challenge and took quite a while.
But after a big chat to my Mum and my sister E on Wednesday night (she doesn't have any kids but she has worked a lot in childcare and is fantastic with kids and knows soooo much, she was also called the Sleep Whisperer at her work because she was the only one that could get the most difficult kids to sleep) I've started on a new strategy of getting her to sleep, and so far so good.
It involves me keeping myself a lot more calm when she cries, not letting myself get frustrated, angry or upset with Punky, as she was definitely picking up on those emotions and getting herself more worked up; putting her down before she is actually asleep, when she is drowsy, and not picking her up when she cries while trying to get her off to sleep, but being there, comforting her and stroking her head and patting her till she calms again, but not picking her up.
I started on this new strategy yesterday and I've used it three times so far and it seems to be working. She definitely calms down a lot quicker because I am staying calm and in control, and she had a much longer sleep yesterday afternoon as well, about an hour and a half rather than the usual 45mins. It's hard to resist picking her up but I know it's for the best. I have also incorporated some bedtime music into the routine as well, in the hopes that eventually I'll be able to put her down with the bedtime music going and she will just go straight off to sleep.
Dave's work gave us a stuffed puppy called Violet, which you plug in to the computer to personalise (you tell it your child's name and can pick the different songs and bedtime songs it plays, as well as tell it your child's favourite colour, food and animal which it then uses in a song, and it sings a song spelling your child's name, it's awesome!) and it has music and bedtime songs and talks to your child. The good thing about it is it just takes regular batteries to keep it going, and you can choose from 2, 5 or 10 minutes of bedtime music. Plus it's the perfect size that it can go anywhere with us so when she eventually gets babysat at Mum or my mother-in-law's place overnight Violet will go with Punky.
It's amazing how much better I've been feeling now that I have started to get some decent sleep. I am really hoping and praying that these long night sleeps keep up and become Punky's normal because it makes such a difference to my frame of mind and makes me a much happier Mummy!
I'm glad to hear sleeping is going well for you both - Flynn and i had such terrible sleep problems! My advice is keep going with your new strategy. Some days it might not work but as long as your consistent it should work out well for both of you in the end.
Thats what they taught me at the TResillian sleep clinic - consistency and a calm, but firm, tone of voice is key!


Shortened breath, tight chest, wheezing—if this has been experienced firsthand, or even in a family or friend, it's more than likely to be asthma.
Caused by many factors like genetics and pollution, asthma is a very common health condition. About 1 in 13 people in the world have it. Children are more likely to have it than adults.
If unmanaged, asthma can be lethal.
But way more often than not, people with asthma can lead perfectly normal, healthy lives with the help of medicine, a healthy lifestyle, and even the additional extra support of natural remedies.
The word "asthma" comes from a Greek word meaning "to breath hard," which says the least about what people with this condition experience.
Asthma is a condition typically triggered by allergens.
These can be a wide range of things, like pollution, dander, or other airborne materials that get caught in the lungs. In some cases, asthma may be triggered by exercise or other causes.
This results in inflammation of the airways: in the mouth, nose, throat, and all the way down to the lungs. This causes difficulty breathing, chest tightness, coughing, and wheezing—and, if not helped, can cause complete airway obstruction.
IS THERE SUPPORT FOR ASTHMA FROM NATURAL REMEDIES?
Fortunately, people diagnosed with asthma—whether adults or children or those with either moderate or severe cases— get help from modern medicines that have been shown to be very effective.
But are there natural supplements or alternatives for helping asthma?
Prescriptions for asthmatics, like corticosteroids, are very important for managing symptoms and reducing the risk of asthma attacks and hospital visits. However, some medicines like these may create a dependence on them (not an addiction, to be clear) or require higher and higher doses to be just effective over time.
With that said, can some herbs and mushrooms give additional support to asthma?
Science and tradition suggest that yes, long-term use of supplemental herbs could help, in addition to doctor recommendations. Let's take a look.
One great candidate for asthma support—and potentially even treatment one day—is the interesting chaga mushroom. Unlike most other mushrooms people would think of, this edible fungus looks kind of like a lump of coal.
What makes a weird-looking mushroom-like chaga good for asthma?
For one thing, chaga was used by ancient cultures as a tea or broth medicine to protect the body and boost the immune system. Since asthma is like allergies (in that it is caused by overactive immunity), chaga was "prescribed" for respiratory issues like asthma.
But research also has a tale to tell. One study showed chaga helped treat asthma symptoms in test subjects, further securing its candidacy as a powerful botanical support for the condition.
The colorful, versatile, and hard-as-nails reishi mushroom is no trifle (or truffle!) in the world of healing.
In the wild, these mushrooms grow like enormous fans in forests and woodland areas from Asia, Europe, and all the way to North America. Like chaga, reishi was harvested and prepared into a healing tea or broth.
Like chaga, too, reishi mushroom also has powerful immune benefits.
Research connects these to mounting evidence that reishi helps asthma as well. In one study, compounds called polysaccharides extracted from the fungus were used to reduce the risk of asthma attacks—and they were noticeably very effective on test subjects.
An herb well-known for helping respiratory problems like colds and flu is bound to help asthma, right?
This can certainly be said about astragalus. Related to beans and peas found in grocery stores, this delicate, vine-like herb has a sweet and earthy taste but was used as medicine more than as food.
The polysaccharides it contains make it a powerful healer.
And especially for asthma, no less. In a 2013 study, astragalus had a marked effect on cells in airways typically triggered during asthma attacks. It also seemed to help reduce inflammation in airways and increase mucosal secretions in the lungs to restore breathing.
Burdock is an interesting plant: it's a wild weed that has bur-like seeds reminding one of Velcro. It also has dozens of healing benefits.
Burdock root happens to be a widespread culinary vegetable in Asian countries like Japan, but could also be good or allergies, respiratory issues, and—yes—asthma too, a condition where each of these issues overlap.
On top of being a nutrient-dense food, could it be an asthma treatment?
In mainstream medicine, it's not proven quite yet. Though studies show that arctigenin, an active compound from burdock, does have anti-asthma activity, and is a target in research for new anti-asthma therapies.
Also known as "hen of the woods," maitake mushroom brings lots more to the table than just being a delicious wild edible fungus. It's known for immune-boosting, that's to be sure, not too different from other asthma-helping mushroom healers.
But research has uncovered some interesting things about its immune benefits.
Maitake contains what are called "glucans," sugar-like compounds that are of intense interest in the scientific world for beneficial health effects. Studies show it is specifically good at targeting and alleviating sharp inflammatory immune responses—including those that cause chronic respiratory problems.
Could this include asthma? Quite possibly, though more studies are needed.
In ancient Indian healing practices like Ayurveda, ashwagandha is a very important medicinal herb. Historical texts show the root was used to boost energy, relieve anxiety, and even boost reproductive health as a sort of aphrodisiac and tonic.
But there's a lot more to ashwagandha than its old traditional uses.
A major review of the plant's use over time highlights that ashwagandha was known to be effective for issues like bronchitis and asthma and that it is still in place in some Asian alternative healing approaches for the condition today.
This may be due to its immune benefits, though more studies are needed.
If any herb could be called the "herbal medicine of the Vikings," this one would be it. Native to arctic regions, rhodiola rosea was used as an energizing tonic to dispel depression, protect the immune system, and more—and yes, by the Vikings and other ancient northern peoples.
According to this study it's looking quite possible, especially for those with asthma. A compound unique to rhodiola, called salidroside, had very positive effects on test subjects with allergic asthma, and could one day be explored for improvements to and replacements for modern asthma medicines.
Like rhodiola, cordyceps is known for energy-boosting and helping with mood disorders. Unlike rhodiola, cordyceps is a mushroom—but it does have potential and similarities when it comes to asthma.
What's more, the way cordyceps may help asthma is quite interesting.
In a 2016 study, cordyceps was shown to improve what was called "health-related quality of life" in people with asthma, whether it was moderate or severe. In 120 asthmatic subjects, a select few were given cordyceps, while others were given a control.
In those who were given cordyceps, quality of life was shown to be better—less attacks and asthma attack experiences.
Of the many herbs out there, few have He Shou Wu beat when it comes to the sheer number of health benefits.
He Shou Wu has a legendary reputation and deep roots in healing in ancient China. Now, asthma can be added to its already long and impressive list of possible perks for wellness.
He Shou Wu appears to help asthma by activating certain cells.
In one study, an extract of the root could help reduce "airway hyperresponsiveness" (which leads to asthma attacks), inflammation, and increase mucus production, while overall reducing asthma symptoms. It's a hopeful natural remedy, though more studies are needed.
Often compared to a similar and close relative herb, ginseng (and with good reason), many enthusiasts for natural health turn to Siberian eleuthero for a wide range of benefits: more energy, better sleep, and better resilience to stress.
Though it wasn't part of its traditional uses, asthma may be another use.
A study suggested that the herb, which hails from Asia, could help with restoring mucosal tissue irritation in sinusitis and rhinosinusitis—which means it could possibly do the same for those airways in the case of asthma, as well as the lungs, though more research is needed.
Great for asthma? Quite possibly.
Dandelion is an easy herb to overlook. Most wouldn't expect there could be value in it for those who experience asthma—or any value in it at all, as a pesky weed—though science is about to prove those who don't wrong.
Traditionally, dandelion wasn't popularly used for asthma in herbalism.
But as this study shows, it could help asthma sufferers. In the study, a phytochemical called "taraxasterol" was extracted and used on test subjects.
Impressively, dandelion relieved allergy-cased asthma in these very same subjects—which may be connected to its liver-protective benefits, though more research and studies are needed.
Like astragalus before it, licorice is another popular herb in home medicine cabinets.
It helps boost immunity in a pinch when one is facing the common cold or flu but also has reported respiratory benefits according to both traditional herbalism and science.
A carry-over for asthma benefits here is clear, and studies might just prove it.
One study put this to the test with asthmatic test subjects, and the results were promising: extracts of glycyrrhizic acid from licorice helped clear airways, improve breathing, and reduce the risk of asthma attacks.
With help from licorice root, anyone could take deeper breaths—including those with asthma.
HOW ELSE CAN ONE SUPPORT ASTHMA NATURALLY?
Supporting asthma isn't just about medicines and herbs—there are other ways to improve quality life besides these, and these can also important.
Many of these herbs are great for the immune system, which can be the foundation for better asthma health and experiencing less asthma attacks.
That's why we've included many of them in our Optimal Immune formula: fashioned for immune health first of all, which may also give asthma support a little boost, too.


Search extends to the Andaman Sea following newspaper report that MH370 may have flown for hours after contact was lost.
Malaysian authorities have expanded their search for the missing Malaysia Airlines passenger jet westward towards India, based on a newspaper report that it could have flown for hours after it last made contact.
Hishammuddin Hussein, the Malaysian transport minister, said on Thursday that the search for MH370 was being expanded after the Wall Street Journal quoted US investigators as saying they suspected the plane remained in the air for about four hours after its last confirmed contact.
The newspaper said the investigators based their calculations on data the plane's engines automatically sent to maintenance crews as part of routine maintenance procedures.
That scenario would make finding the Boeing 777 a vastly more difficult task, and raises the possibility that searchers are currently looking in the wrong place for the plane and its 229 passengers and crew.
Hishammuddin said Malaysian investigations showed the last engine data received was at 1:07am, about 23 minutes before the plane lost contact.
On Thursday two sources familiar with the investigation confirmed that manufacturers Boeing and Rollys-Royce did not receive any maintenance data from the jet after the point at which its pilots last made contact. Only one maintenance update was received during the normal phase of flight, they told Reuters.
He said Malaysia was asking for radar data from India and other neighbouring countries. India plans to deploy airplanes and ships in the southern section of the sea, a senior Indian official told the Associated Press news agency.
So far, communications satellites have picked up faint electronic pulses from the flight since it went missing, but the signals have given no indication about where the stray jet was headed nor its technical condition, a source close to the investigation told Reuters.
The "pings" equated to an indication that the aircraft's maintenance troubleshooting systems were ready to communicate with satellites if needed, but no links were opened because Malaysia and other airlines had not subscribed to the full troubleshooting service, the source said.
The search has also been hampered by a series of false leads for MH370, which disappeared without trace on Saturday while flying from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing.
Planes were sent on Thursday to search an area off the southern tip of Vietnam where Chinese satellite images published on a Chinese government website reportedly showed three suspected floating objects. They saw only ocean.
"There is nothing. We went there, there is nothing,'' said Hishamuddin.
Compounding the frustration, he later said the Chinese embassy had notified the government that the images were released by mistake and did not show any debris from Flight MH370.
An international search effort is sweeping the South China Sea, where the airliner was last known to be. A roughly similar sized hunt is being conducted in the northern stretches of the Strait of Malacca because of military radar sightings that might indicate the plane headed west after its last contact and passed over Peninsular Malaysia.
Dozens of ships and aircraft from 12 nations have been searching the Gulf of Thailand and the strait, but no confirmed trace has been found. The search area has grown to 92,600sq km.
Experts say that if the plane crashed into the ocean then some debris should be floating on the surface even if most of the jet is submerged.
Past experience shows that finding the wreckage can take weeks or even longer, especially if the location of the plane was in doubt.


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Peter Bowey Blog
Peter Bowey: Talking about Computers
Windows 10 vs macOS Mojave
Posted on April 22, 2019 November 25, 2019 by Peter Bowey
Home » blog » windows-10-vs-macos-mojave
Currently, Windows 10 is the most popular OS, beating Windows 7 with something like 800m users. As of 2017 macOS had about 100m users (as revealed by Apple). Being the most popular does not mean it is the best choice for your needs. This post is meant to give a comparison of Apple's macOS and Windows 10 so that you can decide which serves you best.
Operating Systems User Statistics
macOS design
In terms of the look and feel, macOS is designed for high res Retina displays. Today, the majority of Macs feature displays with high resolutions and the interface takes advantage of that with elegant, thin typefaces and transparency effects.
macOS Mojave Dark Mode
Other features include a Dark Mode that was introduced in Mojave (shown above). Previously macOS only allowed you to darken the menu bar at the top of the screen as well as the drop down menus that appear from that, and the Dock. With the release of Mojave you can overhaul the whole interface to use a darker, more muted colour scheme system-wide. Dark Mode makes the Mac interface a little more comfortable to use at night or in a dark editing studio, for example.
There are also various design touches that make the most of a small display. For example, you can hide the Dock, or move it to the side, or hide the menus at the top of the screen.
In terms of design Windows 10 initially lacked the clean modern look of macOS, but since it was launched in 2015 it's had a design refresh – known as the Fluent Design System – bringing more animations, translucency and blurring elements (known as Acrylic) that are supposed to make it feel like the design elements of Windows seem like they are behaving like objects in the real-world would.
The changes have brought new 3D elements, as well as more light, depth, motion, and the UI elements scale to remain usable across different devices. Changes are being rolled out gradually, with changes coming with each twice-yearly update to the OS.
With one such change was minimise, maximise and close buttons are now incorporated into the window itself, perhaps in an effort to reduce the space taken up by these interface elements, as in the case of MacOS.
MacOS UI
Back when Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak invented the Macintosh they had a philosophy that the interface should be really intuitive. As a result the Mac interface has always been really simple to use, as well as being elegantly designed – like the Mac that runs it.
macOS Dock Overview
You interface with your Mac mostly via the Dock, which can house shortcuts to your favourite apps and frequently accessed folders; the menu bar at the top of the screen; the Finder file browser; and Spotlight search.
macOS Top Menu Bar
Other differences in the way you interact with the Mac compared to the PC include the keyboard – with the Command key on the Mac essentially replicating the Control key on the PC. People will say that Macs have one button mice, but that's not strictly true – you can right click on a Mac mouse or trackpad. But there are further differences to that method of interaction.
A new feature that arrived in Mojave in 2018 was the ability to use your iPhone to directly input a photo into a document on your Mac.
macOS Mojave Continuity Camera
The Taskbar in Windows is the strip at the bottom of the screen that includes shortcuts to your favourite apps, the Start Menu, and Search. It's a little bit like the Dock on a Mac, and a little bit like the Mac menu bar. It takes up a lot less space than both, but some options are buried in this set up.
Windows 10 Taskbar Overview
Microsoft's Clipboard works across the cloud so that when you copy something it will be available on any of your Windows devices. It's the same on macOS since that feature – Universal Clipboard – was introduced in Sierra back in 2016. Windows also has a neat feature – introduced in October 2018 – where it can store multiple clippings in the clipboard, which you can view if you press Win + Shift + S.
Where the Mac has the Finder, Windows has File Explorer. One File Explorer feature in Windows 10 is a Quick Access area where you can see all the folders you browse most often, the files you have recently accessed, and folders you have 'pinned' there for ease of access.
Productivity and Setup
Both OSes offer clear and polished setup processes. You can use both without signing in to an account with Apple or Microsoft, but both offer a richer experience if you do. You'll miss out on syncing machines, voice assistants, app roaming, messages, and a whole lot of other goodies by not signing in.
Microsoft lets you install the OS with your voice using Cortana. Apple installs updates through the System Preferences instead of in the Mac App Store. Both systems automatically recognize and install drivers for common hardware peripherals such as mice, keyboards, and storage.
Included Apps
Both operating systems offer a wealth of built-in utilities and apps. You get decent mail clients, calendars, calculators, photo and video viewers and editors, screenshot tools, voice recorders, and web browsers, and apps for maps, cameras, news, weather, and contacts. Microsoft adds Sticky Notes, Skype, Translator, and Xbox gaming apps. But macOS includes a superior video editor, a preview utility, and a streaming music service. macOS also features a GarageBand music composition app and a full productivity suite.
Third-Party Software Compatibility
Both platforms have had time to develop rich ecosystems of software and services. Custom business applications are more likely to be supported on Windows, and macOS is prevalent in creative fields. That said, you can find plenty of good general business software for Macs, and Windows actually boasts more options in some creative areas, such as video editing. Both offer app stores that manage installation and updating.
Both operating systems offer decent leeway for customization, but we are beyond the days of drastic interface overhauls. That said, both OSes offer choices in desktop backgrounds, screen item sizes, and screen savers. Dark modes are the new rage, and both Mac and Windows offer them. Mac's version is a bit more fleshed out, however, with Windows File Explorer's dark mode only coming in the October 2018 Windows 10 feature update.
Cortana vs. Siri
Cortana and Siri Assistants
Cortana arrived on Windows 10 a good year before Siri made it to the Mac, and is still more capable in a few important ways. Both can open apps and web pages, tell you the weather, change system settings, do math, control smart home devices, set reminders, send emails, and search the web. Both can be invoked by voice. But Siri can't log out of or shut down the computer.
Windows has been making great strides in integrating the OS with mobile devices. Apps for iOS and Android let you pick up on one device where you left off on another, even letting you send a web page from your phone to your PC's browser. Android devices in particular are well served by Windows with the Launcher and Your Phone apps, which let you share documents and web pages and conduct SMS messaging across devices.
macOS Mojave Mobile Device Integration
But despite these promising initiatives, Apple's integration between macOS computers and iOS-running mobile devices surpasses what Windows currently offers. The macOS Notifications panel lets you send text messages by syncing up to a nearby iPhone, all your photos can be shared across devices in Apple Photos, you can transfer almost anything with AirDrop, and you can even engage in video calling with FaceTime between devices.
Apple Watch is yet another piece of the integrated ecosystem that Windows can't match. For example, you can unlock your Mac when your watch is in proximity, and the same notifications flow to both.
iWatch and macOS Integration
Windows PCs have fallen prey to far more malware than Macs in the recent past, including ransomware, spyware, botnets, and good old-fashioned viruses. But Microsoft is constantly beefing up its security, pushing Windows Defender updates, and even introducing anti-ransomware measures. Macs are much less likely to fall prey to malware.
Apple has always had a strong focus on security and privacy, and macOS Mojave includes a number of improvements to help keep you safe. Safari, for example, will block more attempts to track you across the web, while macOS as a whole will suggest strong passwords for you and warn you when you're reusing one password across several different apps and services.
With Windows 10, we have an improved in-built Defender along with more improvements using the new Microsoft Edge Application Guard. Facts are, when it comes to cyber-security, the majority of attackers will focus on Windows machines, as they are so very common by user count.
Apple generally has a good reputation when it comes to user privacy – its public refusal to back down when the FBI wanted its help breaking into a passcode-locked iPhone contributed to this – and it doubles down on privacy with a new feature that is available with macOS Sierra (and iOS 10): differential privacy. Differential privacy allows Apple to crowd-source data from a large number of users without compromising the privacy of any individual.
macOS Mojave Privacy
Microsoft, meanwhile, has faced some questions over its approach to privacy. Much has been made of 'spyware' issues in Windows 10, and rightly so.
Windows 10 is the most connected, cloud-focused OS Microsoft has released. For the most part, this is a good thing: your settings, wallpaper, start menu configuration and other things can be synced across all your devices; Cortana needs to access personal data if you want to use its full capabilities, and OneDrive integration means your files are accessible from any computer, tablet or phone.
But negating these advantages is the issue of privacy. Among other ominous warnings, Microsoft's 12,000-word EULA says "we will access, disclose and preserve personal data… such as the content of your emails, other private communications or files in private folders" in order to "respond to valid legal process, including from law enforcement or other government agencies", to "prevent spam or attempts to defraud users", to "operate and maintain the security of our services" and "if we receive information indicating that someone is using our services to traffic in stolen intellectual or physical property of Microsoft".
Windows 10 Privacy
Apple macOS or Windows 10?
In many cases the two operating systems are at parity. And you'll have your own priority weights based on your OS needs. If gaming is everything to you, for example, then Windows is a no-brainer. If you're a creative type, then you're likely better off with a Mac.
Comparing Windows 10 to macOS Sierra
As a general rule, macOS is going to have more of a clean aesthetic and appeal to creative types a bit more than Windows, whereas Windows 10 is the king of general computing and "gaming".
While Windows may seem to offer performance, value for money and configurability, there are potential downsides to consider. Until relatively recently, Microsoft did not make its own hardware, and compared to macOS, a Windows machine can be a very mixed selection of parts and drivers from different manufacturers.
Apple is renowned for some outstanding customer service (I have experienced it personally). If you have any problems with your Mac, you can call Apple to have your problem fixed promptly. Warranty support is superb for new Mac's, and they cover all cost's, and often with a new replacement.
Windows is notorious for having various hard-to-fix errors. What's more, getting your Windows machine fixed often requires sending it back to the manufacturer for some number of weeks. If you buy a Windows based Computer, make sure it has a well known brand name like HP, Dell, Toshiba or Acer as this usually works in your favour for ongoing support, troubleshooting, parts and warranty. Windows machines need service more often than Mac's, so do find a good IT service support person for your Windows device maintenance needs, and expect to get a service at least yearly!
A Mac has hardware quality, consistency and the reliability from being provided from one source – Apple. Generally, the macOS 'looks' better out of the box, and has a lot of helpful bundled applications, including Preview, QuickTime player and the excellent Finder preview, quicklook and column view. These can be replicated on Windows but only with the use of third-party apps or hacks. In terms of backup, The Apple Time Machine is an excellent one-stop solution.
Legacy Windows 7 users
With millions of legacy Windows 7 systems now ripe for replacement, many users, most certainly enterprise users, will be taking a closer look at Apple in 2020.
Windows 10 Gamers
For gaming, Windows is the obvious choice, whether you want to connect up an Xbox One or run games on the Windows machine itself. Windows is also better as far as support for virtual reality and VR headsets goes, at least at this time.
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There are about 3 adult day care providers in HIALEAH GARDENS.
Vivir la Vida Adult Daycare is a community based center located in the heart of Hialeah Gardens. Our center is designed to meet the needs of older adults, functional and/or cognitively impaired, requiring assistance and/or supervision throughout the day. We believe in no limitations for those with memory or physical limitations because all are welcomed. The Adult Daycare provides a safe and secure environment while meeting the needs of each participant in a caring and enjoyable, homelike atmosphere. The facility offers a variety of daily programmed activities, which enhance the member's mental, social, physical and/or emotional well being. It is our mission to help our participants regain their liveliness and independence in a fun setting. Our services provide a peace of mind for the participant's caregivers allowing them to return to work, run errands or just to relax. Vivir la Vida's trained staff are friendly, caring and certified to provide expert care. We are committed to bring a smile to both our participants and their caregivers because a family member's happiness is priceless.
CAMPO DE ESTRELLAS ADULT DAY CARE, INC.
The Xclusive Senior Day Care Center has provided quality care and a safe and loving environment for the frail, elderly, disabled and memory impaired in our community.


Adorable lady bug costume includes a red and black polka dot sleeveless tunic with attached black wings, and black hood with antennae. One size fits most children age 3 to 5.
Add tights from our Hosiery section!
Check out more ladybug and bee costumes and accessories in our Insects section!


The communique via which Real Madrid formally announced that Iker Casillas, "our greatest keeper," was leaving for Porto came precisely five years to the minute after he and Spain began the half-hour of extra time against Holland that would win them the World Cup.
It's a remarkable quirk of fate but typical of "San Iker." Beyond all the trophies he's won, over and above his innate talent, he's undeniably one of these sportsmen to whom things "happen." From forgetting to post his family's pools coupon on a day when they'd have won big money, to being called out of a class in secondary school to travel to Norway with Real Madrid as reserve keeper in the Champions League aged only 16, there is something about this Madrileno that magnetically draws "events" toward him.
When he wasn't first choice for Spain, his rival at the time, Santi Canizares, dropped his aftershave bottle and stood on the broken glass. Suddenly, Iker was tapped on the shoulder by the sporting gods such that the impending World Cup, Korea/Japan 2002, solidified him as La Roja's number one.
When this die-hard Madridista found a footballing soul mate, it just had to be an equally-talented Catalan and equally staunch Barcelona fan, Xavi Hernandez. Not quite love across the barricades and definitely not Romeo and Juliet, but the admiration which occasionally dared not speak its name.
When he was properly demoted from the first team for the first time in his career, by Vicente Del Bosque in 2002, it was just in time to be benched for the start of the Champions League final. Cesar Sanchez took his place. But, again, this is Iker. His career shows that it's not just him who influences the great events in his sporting life... things happen to him.
The 2002 final is at its tipping point: Madrid lead Bayer Leverkusen 2-1 but the Germans are fearfully strong and los Blancos are tiring, noticeably. Cesar then injures himself. Iker hasn't ripped the sleeves off his jersey as he habitually does (ritual, or superstition if you prefer, plays a firm part in his career) and he's caught frantically having Javier Minano, the fitness coach, hack off the cuffs of the keeper's top with scissors before Casillas races on to replace his teammate.
He looks ill-prepared; those moments before play restarts give the impression that fate has taken a turn against Madrid. Instead, the 20-year-old wins his second Champions League medal via a series of "defend the Alamo" blocks and saves that make him an all-time hero of the European Cup's most successful team.
But if Cesar hadn't injured himself... again, things happen to Iker. And it is for that reason, I suspect, that he's disliked by a few noisy, misguided, bitter souls and that there's a general tone of him being "undervalued."
Iker Casillas' time at Real is finally up, but the manner in which it ended won't change his status as a club legend.
His nickname, "San Iker" ("Saint Iker") is meant to convey that he constantly rescued his club and country with mini-miracles. Yet it also left the impression that some who used it also intended it to mean that this guy had divine protection. That luck, and a privileged life, had simply landed in his lap.
Not so. Part of his greatness, and I declare him to be an all-time footballing great, is that he chooses to make things happen. He chooses his path, his character, his manner, his goalkeeping method, how he maintains his relationships -- for better or for worse. Casillas has never been a guy who just wanders through life whistling a happy tune, secure in the knowledge that he's been given saintly protection.
His all-time knack, no doubt, has been in one-on-one moments, either in open play or in the lottery of a penalty shoot-out. The spotlight seconds when everything rests on him, Iker shines through. A man who makes great split-second choices, a man unhurried and unworried by the world watching him, a man who will take responsibility. How many of them do you know in your life? Never mind in football.
So when it's the penalty shoot-out against Spain's bete-noire, Italy, in the 2008 European Championship quarterfinal, Iker doesn't want counsel. He doesn't want more stats or encouragement. His keeper coach, Jose Manuel Ochotorena, told me: "If you watch him in moments of high tension during a match you'll see that he can change in an instant from being completely normal to completely cold and calculating. He'll tell me that he's going to let his instincts, his sixth-sense take over and that he wants to be left alone."
Iker went out and grabbed history by the throat -- repeatedly. During his three winning Champions League finals, he conceded one goal -- albeit one that was a clanger and for which he felt he "wanted the pitch to open up and swallow him." No keeper has won more international matches than him, no keeper has kept more international clean sheets than him. Had you argued at the beginning of his career that a Spanish keeper might achieve these records, you'd have been laughed out of the house.
In the past six Champions League seasons, only Manuel Neuer has kept more clean sheets than Casillas (one more, at that). It's pretty phenomenal given that Madrid don't set out to be parsimonious at the back.
Casillas and Xavi had a unique rapport that transcended the clasico though both men are now moving on.
None of these things "happened" to Casillas; he made them happen. And long ago, Iker decided that he wanted to be himself, true to his nature. He has always, always argued that he'd like to be recalled as a "decent man" than as a great keeper, a theme he repeated on Sunday at the Bernabeu while he tearfully said goodbye to the assembled media and, via them, the greater Madridista audience.
So when the time came, as captain of Madrid and captain of Spain, he felt it was time to speak out against the damage done by Jose Mourinho's "scorched earth" policy intended to destabilise Pep Guardiola's Barcelona, Casillas took action. The clasico wars had reached a level of viciousness, stoked by Mourinho, which was patently rupturing harmony in the Spain camp.
The easy course of action, one which others chose, was to show allegiance to the club flag, the one under which daily work was undertaken while swallowing personal objections and putting one's self-interest first. But Iker acted. After the Spanish Supercup battle of 2011 it was he, as Spain captain, who listened to (and heard) Vicente Del Bosque warning that if matters weren't addressed and corrected by the players he'd take measures himself.
Casillas phoned both Xavi and Carles Puyol, not to apologise for what Mourinho's edicts had brought to the clasico but to say "This has to stop ... we have to take mutual responsibility" and "No matter club differences, we have a European Championship to be won next summer." He took the grown-up route; the noble decision. The self-sacrificing one.
Mourinho disapproved. Little by little their relationship went from bountiful to frozen; increasingly, Mourinho's media friends aimed their poison darts at Real Madrid's captain until, ludicrously, Casillas was dropped for reserve keeper Antonio Adan in December 2012 when neither man's form merited the change.
Shortly afterward, Casillas was injured and suffered the longest absence of his career.
Some will now argue that he's been a lesser keeper ever since. Fine; his level hasn't been at its apogee. He's looked as if his confidence was badly rattled. For Spain still more than for Madrid, there has been a decline over the last two years. But which comes first? The chicken or the egg? At a time when he was going through major life changes -- a partner, a baby son, a long-running, fractious break-up of the management company which he and his parents ran -- Casillas suddenly found that his club coach was more foe than friend.
He admitted that he felt "isolated" like "the plague" and that he was shocked at how all of a sudden, there was a flood of articles "calling me a traitor or a dressing room leak."
It's worth noting that the only season of Mourinho's reign when Madrid won nothing was the season when Iker was both dropped and then injured. It's also worth noting that when he was given "only" the Copa and Champions League games by Carlo Ancelotti in his first season, Madrid won both the trophies in which Casillas played but lost the league during which he was benched.
I argue that during this most tumultuous time in his life, Casillas also set a record for clean sheets during those Cup and Champions League matches. Following Mourinho's choice to pull the carpet from underneath him, Casillas also won four more trophies for Madrid, keeping a clean sheet in two of those finals. But while Mourinho's choices were of course wrong-headed, created unnecessary sourness and ultimately proved ill-chosen, the very essence of Casillas' life and career choices added to the reasons for his coach turning away from him.
The 34-year-old is a "particular" player. For whatever reason, nature rather than nurture, he's someone who carries attitudes that are now almost from another era. Those who benefit from his skills accept that Iker does things his way. He'll choose to wrap himself in a bubble and get lost in his own thoughts sometimes -- he'll vest all his trust in his reactions and his instincts rather than modern, advanced training techniques.
It has meant that when things turn against him at a time when age needs to be fought just as hard as opponents and enemies do, Casillas has found that he has less to fall back on. The player who embraces modern thinking, modern techniques, who adapts and who realises that "things won't always be the way they are right now" is the one who'll weather stormy moments best. But as Paul Anka wrote and Francis Albert Sinatra sang, Casillas did it "his way."
Without question, this is something that taxed Mourinho, Ancelotti and their keeper trainers. As is the fact that Iker saw it as part of his captaincy role to discutir (discuss, oppose and sometimes even fight) with Mourinho. That was Iker acting, not letting life fall into his lap, and if it has gradually destabilised him at Madrid, turning some against him, then more the fool them. But I bet you everything I own that he neither regrets it nor would do things differently if he had his career all over again.
Speculation about David De Gea replacing him at the Bernabeu is no longer an important point given Casillas' exit.
It was only late May when Casillas was saying that "I can't conceive of myself at any other club next season." He said he welcomed the new broom of Rafa Benitez, that he was happy to compete with David De Gea should he be signed and reminding everyone that "I don't have some secret clause in my contract that I have to be number one while I'm at Madrid!"
Casillas intended to stay; he wanted to stay. And while his parents have done him absolutely no favours by hammering Florentino Perez in one of Spain's quality newspapers or by comparing Porto to a "third division" option for their son, it's clear that however you define 'forced out' that's how he feels. Like Del Bosque, Hierro, Morientes and Raul before him, another Madrid great has fallen to a signature Perez purge.
Madrid don't owe him a decision that he must stay; they are fully within their rights to turnover their squad and plan for a future beyond the 34-year-old keeper. He's a great but not automatically a part of this club's future, either in the short- or medium-term.
But where the club has failed in is in their treatment of him since the last days of 2012. There has been a lack of class, a lack of grace, a lack of appreciation and a tone of "bring him down a peg or two" -- even a sense of "payback." It's all very sad. Complacency and arrogance by those who have the fortune to employ sporting greatness often leads such lesser people to be envious, pompous and confident that there will be another "this guy" in a season or two.
Sport is littered with it. But in Iker's case, there most certainly won't. And while Iker's time to leave the club he helped make greater was always going to come along sooner than those who appreciate him would like, there was a way to wind down toward this moment. But not for the first time, Madrid failed to understand that or to choose it.
It's ironic that the club statement, written by a wordsmith rather than a decision-maker, finally shows the kind of affection, context, respect and recognition that this guy has long deserved -- albeit just when it's too late.
"... today, the greatest goalkeeper in the history of the club and in the history of Spanish football is moving on to a new stage in his footballing career. This goodbye evokes thousands of sensations and memories charged with hope, anticipation, sacrifice, strength and unique triumph. Iker has made our coat of arms even greater. He's been our captain and forged his legend here since arriving at just 9 years old.
"Our club is 113 years old and Casillas has worn our shirt for 25 of them. During that time he's become one of our finest leaders and won the respect, affection, admiration and love of the fans. Iker is leaving but his legacy is here forever. His attitude and actions in the 725 games he played in our shirt shine a light on the path for those who dream of being a part of this team."