text:
Licenses & Classifications
MEP Contracting and Fit Out Works
MEP Third Party Testing and Commissioning
MEP Facilities Management
Approvals and Appreciations
About Us Home Divisions
AL Gahazal Contracting & General Maintenance LLC. was established in 2006 as one of the most diverse "GRADE- A'' Electromechanical Contracting Companies in UAE, with corporate office in Abu Dhabi, and two branches in Dubai & Ajman. We are recognized and approved by major Developers, Consultants and Contractors within UAE.
AL Gahazal Contracting & General Maintenance LLC. has built a reputation which is synonymous with Quality, Efficiency and Speed. We are able to deliver dynamic solutions and optimal returns to our Clients in all stages of construction through strategic planning, geographical operations and advance benchmarking to adapt the spontaneous changes brought by market's challenges.
Al Gahazal Cont. & Gen. Maint. LLC. Offers complete MEP Contracting Solutions from Design, Supply, Installation, Testing & Commissioning of MEP Systems, which includes: Lighting, Power, Fire Alarm, ELV, Plumbing, Fire Fighting and HVAC. We are offering complete MEP 3rd Party Testing & Commissioning as per local authority's requirements.
Al Gahazal Cont. & Gen. Maint. LLC. is an approved DEWA, FEWA and ADDC 1st Category Contractor.
Al Gahazal Cont. & Gen. Maint. LLC. is an ISO9001:2015, ISO14001:2015 & OHSAS 18001:2017 certified company, recognized and approved by QRS Assessments, ''an International Accrediting and Assurance Body'', and a ''leading global supplier of Integrated Management System Certification registered under DAC/IAF''. We are committed to Safety & Environment regulations of UAE and adheres to the policies embodied by ISO14001:2015 (Environmental Management System) & 18001:2018 (Occupational Health & Safety).
Al Gahazal Cont. & Gen. Maint. LLC. is composed and supported by committed proactive Management, consolidated team of specialized dedicated Engineers, staff and supervisors who are very well experienced in various aspects of Engineering, Design, Procurement, Commercial Terms, Construction and Commissioning activities. Project management teams ensures Quality, Cost-Effective and Timely Delivery of services.
Al Gahazal Cont. & Gen. Maint. LLC. has multi trades highly skilled technicians, 200 plus Skilled employed Workers, 300 plus trusted and reliable outsourced manpower supply which allows us to capture a sizeable share of the market. The commitment and hard work revealed by our Workforce enables us to deliver innovative solutions and value-added services.
Al Gahazal Cont. & Gen. Maint. LLC. has completed numerous major prestigious projects, and continue to work on more iconic projects that vary in complexity, size and value. Our projects are comprising from Commercial, Residential buildings, Villas, Hospitals, Malls, High Rise Towers, Universities, Schools and iconic developments. We had undertaken complete MEP turnkey and large scale MEP Fit Out Projects in a relative short span of time.
Al Gahazal Cont. & Gen. Maint. LLC. has developed a comprehensive customer care & focus approach program to minimize any challenges that may arise on any project. Our objective is to achieve client's satisfaction by completing and committing to our contractual obligations.
Al Gahazal Cont. & Gen. Maint. LLC. has built its foundation on intense service-oriented business relationships with Partners, Associations, Clients, Contractors & Employees. Our reputation is based upon recommendations, and this distinguishes our difference from other market competitors. The code of conduct of Al Gahazal Cont. & Gen. Maint. LLC stems from traditional values. Trust, Honesty, and Transparency are our Cornerstone Values towards Success .
Finally, Al Gahazal Cont. & Gen. Maint. LLC. management believes that CUSTOMER's SATISFACTION is our Threshold of our Achievement.
Al Gahazal Cont. & Gen. Maint. LLC. believes in careful and methodical thinking about every aspect of a project. Taking the time to think about individual requirements and dynamics of each element of a project ensures that AGC can focus on surpassing the goals of our clients.
The "build" phase is the culmination of the "think" and design processes. Physically realizing the vision behind the project while delivering the wishes of all Clients.
We ensure that our employees have the necessary qualifications, experience and resources to skillfully and professionally complete each project. We are committed to continual improvement, and we do not compromise on quality or safety. Our aim is to always exceed the expectations of our clients. We are dedicated to delivering innovative, creative and best value solutions. Our workforce is committed to identifying and implementing new and improved construction techniques that delivers enhanced value to our clients.
Ensuring the design process is managed effectively, is the most crucial aspect of creating a successful outcome for any project.
By articulating our values, our managers and employees have a clear road map on how they should act every day in order to serve our clients and to ensure that it is achieved. These values are practiced across all AGC divisions and carries the code of conduct while executing the Project.
We consistently operate in a transparent, fair, ethical and accountable manner with all clients, suppliers, employees and other partners. we are committed on delivering the projects based on our promises.
Our mission is to be recognized as a provider of innovative, cost effective solutions by utilizing our technical excellence, while working closely with clients. We believe that the clients' satisfaction is achieved by first carefully listening to our client and then studying his needs and suggesting thoroughly studied solutions and finally executing the works in accordance with the set plan, which will guarantee that the goals of our customer are always fully achieved.
Our "Vision" is to be the superior in the MEP Contracting, Facilities Management services & 3rd party Testing & Commissioning. To be known as the "MEP Contractor of Choice" by developing relationships based on trust with our clients and business partners with a reputation for timely delivery, quality workmanship, superior staff and transparent approach.
ORGANIZATION CHART AND PERSONALS
Waqas Ahmad Abdul Khaliq
Owner and Chief Executive Officer
Matesam Kasem
Khalid W. O. Awwad.
Branch MEP Manager
Maria Barrera
Al Gahazal Group of Companies
AL GAHAZAL
CONT. & GEN. MAINT. L.L.C. ABU DHABI.
CONT. & MAINT. DUBAI
AL GHAZAL
CONT. & GEN. MAINT. L.L.C. AJMAN.
WASA INTEGRATED
ELECTRONIC SOLUTIONS LLC. ABU DHABI.
ELECTROMECHANICAL L.L.C.
Al Gahazal Contracting & General Maintenance LLC. was established in 2006 as one of the most diverse "GRADE – A" Electromechanical Contracting Companies in UAE, with corporate offices in AbuDhabi, and two branches in Dubai & Ajman.
Al Gahazal Cont. & Gen. Maint. LLC. believes in careful and methodical thinking about every aspect of a project.
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text:
True stories, short stories and stories for children	by Lois February 21, 2021 February 24, 2021
It was a perfect east coast day and the west facing beach of Snettisham was deserted. As usual a brisk wind blew, lifting the fine sand and flinging it against legs and into eyes, a perfect afternoon for flying a kite.
Having grown up in China, Alex was an expert, and within seconds of letting go, his precious kite was aloft and tugging at its string. The little children were entranced and ran with him as he let it pull him along. The sea was nothing but a shiny silver line on the horizon, but the tide would come in quickly enough, dangerously quickly enough, later. The grownups were able to amble in a leisurely fashion, walking off their lunch, chatting, catching up with family gossip, exchanging news and funny stories. Jo walked with them, although she barely listened to them, but she wasn't interested in kite flying or entertaining little children, she'd leave that to her brother.
Alex had stopped and the two little cousins danced around him, super-impressed by how easy he made flying a kite look. The grown-ups caught up and they all stood squinting up at the paper and cane construction, gay with brilliant colours Chinese characters, spinning ribbons as it dipped and danced and bobbed. Let Richie have a go with your kite! his mum said, and being a kind boy Alex bent to his young cousin who was over excited and overawed by the almost teenager. Take hold of this, don't let go, have you got it, have you got it? But Richie was barely listening, imagining himself running along the beach as Alex had done, the kite flying so perfectly, or lifting him up and carrying him away for an adventure like a little boy in a cartoon on TV. Take hold, have you got it? But Richie didn't have it, and the kite lifted and, free at last, tumbled away from them.
Alex bounded after it, his long legs galloping across the sand, running as fast as he could, chasing and chasing, until the family could only see him as a tiny figure in white shorts and a turquoise shirt. Jo and the little children began to trot after him, but it wasn't long before his resigned figure could be seen, jogging back along the beach.
It was the worst day of her life, she would never get over it, she would never be happy again, not ever, ever, ever. Her mum had said Never mind, Gem, never mind, we'll go to the beach and have a nice picnic, and maybe we'll pick up some chips in Hunstanton later. That wouldn't make up for it, and she hated the beach and she didn't want a picnic because she knew the sandwiches would be soggy and the cake squashed and the orange juice warm and she would get sand everywhere and her swimming costume would stick to her and she just hated everything and her life was over.
Gem had heard Uncle Phil say to her mum Never mind, Sash, never mind, just as her mum had said to her. Never mind Sash, you're better off without him. I never did like him, the oily tyke, you'll be fine, sis, I'll always be here for you and Gem, your bro will never let you down. Uncle Phil and mum didn't know that she was hiding under the cane chair on the verandah where they were sitting. Mum was trying not to cry and Gem was trying not to cry – who wanted to go to Sally Bunnell's stupid party anyway? Who cared if everyone else was going and there was going to be a magician and Sally Bunnell's uncle was a famous actor and not someone who painted pictures of the beach. Gem didn't want stupid chips when Sally Bunnell's mum had made a chocolate birthday cake with four layers, not three or two and with ice-cream in the middle not jam.
Mum and Uncle Phil were in the hall calling her, thinking she was upstairs and Gem wiggled out from under the cane chair and went to find them. Uncle Phil called her princess and told her they were going to have the best fun on the beach. Mum's face was very red because she had been crying, but Gem didn't say anything because her own face was red too and Uncle Phil was pretending not to notice. It wasn't far to the beach but they got into Uncle Phil's sports car and he drove them through Hemsby singing silly songs and telling even sillier jokes, to the carpark by the beach. Mum got out and went straight to the public toilets, even though they had only just left home.
I know you and Mummy are upset because daddy has left home, but you've got to be a brave soldier-girl and help Mum now. I'll always be here to help you if you need help, but you're a tough cookie, sweetheart, and speaking of cookies, I have a big bag of them which we can eat after our picnic. Gem said, thank you Uncle Phil, but her nose was blocked with crying about Sally Bunnell's party that she wasn't going to, even though she knew the cookies Uncle Phil had were made by his housekeeper and were the best in the world he said, and he knew lots because he'd been in the army and gone to lots of places.
Mum came back and Gem saw she had powdered her nose so it wasn't red and shiny now, and they went through the dunes and down the old grey wooden steps to the beach, as usual a brisk wind blew, lifting the fine sand and flinging it against their legs and into their eyes. They found a nice spot, although it looked the same as everywhere else, and Uncle Phil put up the stripy canvas windbreak, and Mum put out the picnic rug and weighed it down with pebbles, Swim first or picnic? Uncle Phil said, and just as Gem decided that a swim first, even though the sea was such a long way out, when something bashed into the windbreak making them all jump.
Good grief, look at this!! Look what the wind has brought us! Uncle Phil shouted with a laugh and Mum and Gem got off the rug and went and saw, and it was the most beautiful kite Gem ever could imagine. She asked whose it was, and they looked around but the beach was deserted, whose could it possibly be? Where had it come from? She was entranced by its brilliant colours, and the magical writing which Uncle Phil said was Chinese. Can we fly it Uncle Phil? Can we? Can we? They certainly could Uncle Phil said.
Look mum, look! Me and Uncle Phil are going to fly the kite and I don't care if I wasn't invited to Sally Bunnell's birthday party!! I bet she hasn't got a kite like this! And if we find the little boy or little girl whose kite it is, we can give it back and they will be happy and we will be happy because we've played with their kite!
Gem sat on the picnic rug looking at the wonderful kite and pretended she didn't hear what Mum and Uncle Phil were whispering to each other as he wound up the string before they went to fly it. Is Sally Bunnell Beryl Bunnell's daughter? whispered Uncle Phil. Yes, and that poor child must be having the worst birthday ever, fancy that cow leaving her daughter on her birthday of all days! It made Gem laugh to herself, did Mum think Sally Bunnell's mum looked like a cow? What did she mean? And where had she left Sally Bunnell? Well it didn't matter now anyway, because Gem had a kite and she was having a picnic with Mum and Uncle Phil and they would have cookies made by Uncle Phil's housekeeper which would be a billion times better than Sally Bunnell's chocolate birthday cake.
HemsbySnettisham
Imagine you need a pen-name…
The Sea-Board Of Mendip

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
'Numer of endemic species in lake Baikal is 1,455'
Islanders arrange bears' picnic to prevent ravenous wild animals entering towns and villages
Shortage of fish in rivers had led to hungry beasts prowling close to homes.
A local company named Gidrostroy dumps its fish waste in an open space in the forest: specially so the bears can come and eat. Picture: Natalia Golubkova/Sakhalin Info
Across many areas of Russia this summer there have been reports of ravenous bears encroaching into residential areas in search of food. On Iturup - one of the Kuril Islands in the Far East of Russia - locals came up with a solution to make them safer from potential attacks.
A local company named Gidrostroy dumps its fish waste in an open space in the forest: specially so the bears can come and eat. The site is four kilometres from Kurilsk, and seems to prevent the bears venturing further into town to scavenge in garbage bins.
But now the the bear glade has become an attraction of its own, a real life local wildlife park, with locals watching from the safety of their vehicles. The picnic site for bears was put in place after an attack on a 14 year old boy close to garbage bins last year. He was savagely injured but doctors saved his life.
The bear glade has become an attraction of its own, a real life local wildlife park, with locals watching from the safety of their vehicles. Pictures: Natalia Golubkova/Sakhalin Info
Pavel Kravchenko, deputy general director of Gidrostroy, said: 'Sometimes you can see more than ten bears eating at once.' But he complained that some locals had illegally shot at the bears. 'Once there were people who were shooting. You know, there are a lot of idiots, they just came to shoot for 'fun',' he said.
The island has experienced a dearth of fish in local rivers, normally a staple for bears. This year Gidrostroy has fished only 500 tons of pink salmon, compared with 10,000-30,000 tons in other years.
Despite the lack of fish, the community-minded company made residents safer by dumping their leftovers from fish processing at the picnic spot. Three local rivers - Kurilka, Rybatskaya, and Kuibyshevka - were said to be virtually without fish.
wild animals Siberia


text:
DMZ hiking trail closes to prevent spread of ASF
A demilitarized zone (DMZ) hiking trail on the east coast will be closed indefinitely this week as part of the government's efforts to fight the spread of African swine fever (ASF) in inter-Korean border areas, officials said Monday.
Goseong County in Gangwon said it will shut down the Goseong DMZ Peace Trail program on Tuesday, following similar decisions by two other border towns in the central and western border regions on Sept. 19 to halt their own DMZ trail programs.
Goseong launched the nation's first DMZ Peace Trail program in April as part of Seoul's efforts to allow visitors to experience inter-Korean peace and the security situation on the Korean Peninsula.
The DMZ, which is about 250 km long (155 miles) and 4 km wide, is one of the world's most heavily fortified borders, with the rival Koreas technically in a state of conflict as the Korean War (1950-1953) ended in a truce, not a peace treaty. The second and third DMZ Peace Trail programs kicked off in the central border town of Cheorwon, Gangwon, in July and the western border city of Paju, Gyeonggi, in August.
Goseong's county officials said the suspension will remain in place until the situation settles down in order to prevent further spread of the highly contagious animal disease, protect local livestock farmers and support the nationwide campaign to terminate the ASF crisis.
South Korea's quarantine authorities have been implementing disinfection operations at major roads and rivers near the inter-Korean border, as the country has experienced nine ASF cases since Sept. 17. ASF is not harmful to people, but it is fatal for pigs and there is no known cure.
"There has not been any ASF outbreak reported in the Goseong area, but the suspension of the DMZ trail program was inevitable to join the nationwide efforts to contain the highly infectious swine disease. We also ask for greater understanding from those who have long-waited for the opportunity to explore the scenic coastal border areas," a Goseong official said.
The Goseong DMZ trail was particularly popular among tourists wanting to have a closer look at North Korea's scenic eastern coast, lakes and mountains.


text:
Карпино — деревня в Пашском сельском поселении Волховского района Ленинградской области.

История
На карте Санкт-Петербургской губернии Ф. Ф. Шуберта 1834 года упоминается деревня Карпина, состоящая из 32 крестьянских дворов.

КАРПИНА — деревня принадлежит Казённому ведомству, число жителей по ревизии: 37 м. п., 51 ж. п.. (1838 год)

Деревня Карпина из 32 дворов отмечена на карте Ф. Ф. Шуберта 1844 года.

КАРПИНО — деревня Ведомства государственного имущества, по просёлочной дороге, число дворов — 16, число душ — 43 м. п. (1856 год)

КАРПИНО НА ПАШЕ — деревня казённая при реке Паше, число дворов — 23, число жителей: 70 м. п., 72 ж. п.
КАРПИНА (СКОРОДУМОВО) — деревня казённая при реке Паше, число дворов — 7, число жителей: 21 м. п., 17 ж. п. (1862 год)

Сборник Центрального статистического комитета описывал её так:

КАРПИНА ПЕРВАЯ (ПАША) — деревня бывшая государственная при реке Паше, дворов — 17, жителей — 80; лавка. (1885 год)

В XIX — начале XX века деревня административно относилась к Доможировской волости 3-го стана Новоладожского уезда Санкт-Петербургской губернии.

По данным «Памятной книжки Санкт-Петербургской губернии» за 1905 год, деревня называлась Карпина Первая (Паша) при реке Паша.

В 1917 году деревня входила в состав Доможировской волости Новоладожского уезда.

С 1917 по 1927 год деревня Карпино входила в состав Карпинского сельсовета Пашской волости Волховского уезда.

С 1927 года, в составе Пашского района. В 1927 году население деревни Карпино составляло 212 человек.

По данным 1933 года деревня Карпино входила в состав Карпинского сельсовета Пашского района. Административным центром сельсовета являлась деревня Надкопанье.

В 1953 году население деревни Карпино составляло 35 человек.

С 1955 года, в составе Новоладожского района.

С 1963 года, в составе Волховского района.

По данным 1966 года деревня состояла из двух частей Карпино левый берег и Карпино правый берег, и входила в состав Пашского сельсовета Волховского района.

По данным 1973 и 1990 годов деревня Карпино входила в состав Пашского сельсовета.

В 1997 году в деревне Карпино Пашской волости проживали 8 человек, в 2002 году — 11 человек (все русские).

В 2007 году в деревне Карпино Пашского СП проживали 2 человека, в 2010 году — постоянного населения не было.

География
Деревня расположена в северо-восточной части района на автодороге  (Паша — Загубье).

Расстояние до административного центра поселения — 8 км.

Расстояние до ближайшей железнодорожной станции Паша — 7 км.

Деревня находится на левом берегу реки Паша.

Демография

Примечания

Населённые пункты Волховского района

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Owner/operator of high end gear including Sound Devices and Lectrosonics.
Experienced with audio and timecode for all camera lines from Arri to Sony.
Carnet holder with passport, vaccinated and ready for international travel.
Maintain and repair audio and video equipment. Maintain sign-out logs and archive student projects and hard drives. Tutor and assist students.
Exceptional listener and clear communicator. Will arrive to set on time, prepared, and organized. Knowledgeable about sound equipment, cameras and connections. Experienced working with Arri, RED, SONY, Blackmagic and Canon cameras.


Read the full LandRover/RangeRover keyless Entry Relay Theft article.
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Read the full Land Rover Discovery Appeal Broadens With Launch Of Two Special Editions article.
Read the full RANGE ROVER EVOQUE CONVERTIBLE - A CONVERTIBLE FOR ALL SEASONS article.
Read the full LAND ROVER DEBUTS 2016 RANGE ROVER SPORT article.


If Telman's cooking is an accurate reflection of Baku in that era, get us a plane ticket and a time machine. Sebze korma, a tender lamb shank stewed in spinach with the bright call of dill, is probably a distant relative of the Persian stew ghormeh sabzi, but much less complicated. The bozbaş – a wedding dish, according to Sadaqat – was a stew of bone-in lamb chunks and potatoes in a thin soup amped up with salça (tomato and pepper paste). We suspect this dish is favored by Azeri wedding caterers not because it is dainty and precious, but because you can cook it in one giant pot and feed hundreds of people with it. It's very agreeable, if lacking in distinction. The chicken was dry but coated in a spicy gravy of onions that could be a great starting point for other dishes.
Telman's masterpiece of the day was piti, a lamb stew well known in the eastern Anatolian city of Kars, where many people of Azeri origin live. It is not, however, one of the regional specialties that enjoy much attention in Istanbul, which made Telman's piti all the more exotic. Telman brought the tankard-shaped clay pot over to our table and poured its contents into a bowl, dredging the sides with a spoon and slapping it on its bottom for anything that might have clung onto the inside. People who wrinkle their nose at a kebab and critique it as "too lamby" or "muttony" can't even imagine the olfactory shock wave of lambiness unleashed on the dining room by this piti. Unless you come to lunch prepared with a hazmat suit, you will radiate piti well into tomorrow.
That morning, Telman had loaded the clay jar with on-the-bone fatty lamb chunks, cooking them slowly with chickpeas, tail fat, potatoes and onions, producing a thin but pungent pot liquor that was spiked with bright yellow turmeric. At some point he tossed in a handful of dried sour cherries, which held their puckering smack even in the company of all that lamb. It was a fruity flourish no piti in Kars has ever attempted.
Mirroring Azerbaijan's geographical position, Azerbaycan Sofrası is within whiffing distance of a fine Iranian restaurant and a short stroll from a rollicking Georgian place in the bus station. To skip this opportunity to eat good, honest Azeri soul food for those well-known pleasures is understandable. But it would be a real pity.


text:
Q: Resizing Bootstrap toggle switch I am using a bootstrap toggle switch and it is very small at the moment I want to make it bigger. Here is the only code I used to make this no further css used then the classes of bootstrap.

   <input type="checkbox" class="custom-control-input" id="customSwitches">
   Fullscreen

Please help me resize this switch if its possible.
I tried using height and width css variables but they did no good as far as resizing the element.

A: You can try this. Not sure if this is what you mean

label.custom-control-label {font-size:30px;}

.custom-control>input {width:20px;height:20px}

   <input type="checkbox" class="custom-control-input" id="customSwitches">
   Fullscreen

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Q: Capture RTSP in command line I want to continously capture the rtsp video(CCTV) in ubuntu. (in Putty)
I have tried to use OpenCV in Python to open rtsp, however, the program will terminate suddenly.
video_capture = cv2.VideoCapture("rtsp://stream_link/")
while True:
    ret, frame = video_capture.read()
    cv2.imwrite(name,frame)

Then, I turned to use vlc.
vlc -vvv rtsp://192.168.1.128:1554/11 --sout=file/ts:/media/path/to/save/location/recording-$(date +"%Y%m%d%H%M%S").ts -I dummy --stop-time=480 vlc://quit

Also, a huge brunch of error.
I am asking for help how can I capture the rtsp in ubuntu in command line. Thank you.

A: Using ffmpeg is almost always the best idea:
ffmpeg -i rtsp://wowzaec2demo.streamlock.net/vod/mp4:BigBuckBunny_115k.mov test.mp4

To capture only the first 5 seconds you can use -t 00:00:05 like this:
ffmpeg -i rtsp://wowzaec2demo.streamlock.net/vod/mp4:BigBuckBunny_115k.mov -t 00:00:05 test.mp4

Update: The only thing which comes into my mind why someone downvoted this answer is probably because I didn't write how to segment the received stream continuously, so here is how to do it:
ffmpeg -i rtsp://wowzaec2demo.streamlock.net/vod/mp4:BigBuckBunny_115k.mov -c copy -map 0 -segment_time 4 -f segment output%03d.mp4

This will receive the rtsp stream and create output000.mp4, output001.mp4 etc. each 4 seconds long.


Lots of people will tell you that they could never work from home, but for many workers it is the perfect way to juggle the demands of home and working life.
Yes, it takes a certain amount of discipline and from an employer's point of view it also demands a high level of trust. How do you know that your employee is not sitting at home with his or her feet up, watching daytime television?
The truth is that remote working, as it is called, is becoming increasingly popular, and companies and employees alike can benefit. It is important to set goals and for both parties to agree that they can be achieved.
But there are plenty of benefits. For the remote worker, it removes the stress involved in getting to and from work. It also means that young children can be dropped off and picked up from school around their daily work schedule. Employers may worry that staff will take advantage, but the reality is rather different. Research has proved that people who work remotely are actually more productive.
What about the sense of being on your own? Sitting in front of a computer with nobody else for company may not suit everybody, but if you provide a solid support network and set up a schedule that involves remote workers spending some time in the office then they will feel involved.
Those considering taking the plunge into remote working will probably have some questions to ask. If you have never been a part of an all-remote team, it might seem hard to imagine that any company with 50 or more people could work this way.
However, if your remote workers are motivated, good communicators and are able to cope with a mixture of autonomy and teamwork, then remote work may be perfect for them. Many experts believe that are more benefits to working from home than you would ever experience in an office. For a start, there are no office politics to deal with.
Here at Accountants etc. we look at some of the potential benefits of remote working.
Contrary to popular belief, people actually get more done when they have autonomy and are left to their own devices - for starters, there are fewer distractions at home. According to a nationwide productivity survey, 65% said they believed that remote work would boost their productivity. And a staggering 86% said that working alone allows them to "hit maximum productivity." Their managers agree, with 66% saying that employees who work remotely increase overall productivity.
There are lots of distractions in an office environment, especially for those who work in an open-plan office - statistics prove that people are 15% less productive in such an environment, struggle to concentrate and dislike the fact that they have no privacy. There is also the added advantage that if you work from home you can wear what you like, whereas if you have to go into an office then you have to dress accordingly. For many people, this is a big issue.
Once again, you'll probably be surprised to learn that remote workers actually feel more engaged than those who work in an office. There are several reasons for this, and one of them is that people have to make a greater effort to connect since there is no chance of running into a co-worker in the hallway. So interactions are more purposeful. And, of course, video chats are an excellent way to foster relationships - with 92% of remote workers saying that it improves teamwork.
A recent survey revealed that proximity in an office environment actually leads to complacency - with people failing to connect with colleagues who work just a few feet away from them. More worrying, the same survey showed that 20% of employees actually regard their workplace as a hostile or threatening social environment.
If you don't have to commute, it means you have more time for your family and friends. In other words, if you work from home you are going to have more peace of mind. Remote workers also get more sleep and exercise and they eat better because rather than grabbing an unhealthy snack at their desk they will wander into the kitchen and make something to eat. They also have a more positive attitude, so experience less stress.
Anybody who has ever worked in an office will know just how unhealthy it can be. If one person comes in suffering from a cold, within days the entire workforce will be coughing and spluttering. People who work in open-plan offices are 62% more likely to take time off sick than those with a separate office. Office workers take an average of 3.1 sick days a year, compared to the 1.8 sick days for those who work from home.
Surely the greatest benefit of remote work is that it makes people happier because it provides them with the opportunity to pursue their passions both in work and in life. Fifty-one percent of remote workers spend more time with their partners, which has helped them experience greater job satisfaction.
Lack of control over work spaces can make workers miserable. Research proves that cubicles are dreadful - with workers desperate for some sunlight and fresh air. Perhaps the most telling thing of all is that office workers are more likely to quit their jobs than their remote counterparts.


Prime Day generated $1 billion in sales, but does this really come at a surprise?
There's no doubt Amazon and this year's Prime Day was a huge success -- okay, it was record-breaking. Prime Day generated $1 billion in sales, making it the best sales day ever for the company. But does this really come at a surprise?
Data from our Future of Retail report reveals it's no surprise that the number one selling item on Prime Day was the Echo. With one in three shoppers (33%) planning to make a purchase via a voice-controlled device in the next year and one in five having already done so (19%), the Prime Day results speak to more than just a popular item, but a potential further shift in consumer purchasing habits.
The data also follows what we found in our report - that about one in four consumers already own a voice-controlled device (24%) and one in five additional consumers (20%) plan to own a voice-controlled device in the next year. Further, with three-fourths of consumers (16% out of the 20% who report ownership) who currently own voice-controlled devices reporting it's an Amazon Echo, these sales will likely continue to rise.
In addition to spiking July sales, Amazon's biggest goal for Prime Day is to "experiment and learn more about the customer experience and willingness to shop in new ways." For example, last year's Amazon Prime Day heavily focused on driving consumers to shop on mobile, and this year it encouraged consumers to order on its voice-controlled device.
The genius behind Prime Day isn't the Black Friday-grade sale, but in Amazon's behind-the-scenes strategy to use the day as a beta test for new product releases like Amazon Echo and still-developing approaches to delivery with Prime Air.
Businesses should take a leaf out of the Amazon playbook in drawing data around their customers to iterate their business strategy at scale. Listening to the VoC (voice of the customer) to act on big data insights is the best way to guide the customer experience and direction of the company as a whole.
What else can be learned from Amazon and its Prime Day success?
As Amazon continues to take over the retail space and e-commerce becomes the primary focus of most brands, small and mid-sized retailers must update their strategies to remain competitive. Amazon's differentiators - shipping price, fast website speed and easy browsing experience - are all key factors that influence consumers' purchasing decisions. But last year's Prime Day checkout mishap reminds us that the online experience can be just as critical to shopping behaviors as price and convenience.
With so many customers abandoning websites for simple things like poor content or slow loading time, all brands should really be focusing on the baseline features that will compel customers to complete purchases and keep them coming back.
Amazon's major draw for consumers is its convenience -- so much so that many of them cite this as the top factor in shopping there. But price can also be a strong driver of customer loyalty, and Amazon is smart to provide an added incentive in offering major deals and discounts to its Prime members on Prime Day. What's more, offering exclusive deals and early access to promotions plays into what the modern consumer wants from their status as a loyalty program member: priority, personalized offers and early access to benefits.
Where it's difficult to ignore Amazon's massive and historic success can't be ignored. Now, we'll wait and see how other retailers follow suit. And for customers? Sit back, relax, and expect more epic deals to come your way, soon.


text:
James Memorial Trophy je v kanadsko-americké NHL udělováno od roku 1953 nejlepšímu obránci. Tuto trofej získávají obránci podle počtu hlasů od členů Asociace profesionálních hokejových novinářů (Professional Hockey Writers Association).

Trofej věnovali jako vzpomínku na svého zesnulého otce čtyři děti někdejšího majitele Detroitu Red Wings Jamese Norrise.

Vítězové

Galerie vítězů

Trofeje a ocenění NHL
Ocenění nazvaná po osobách


text:
Ergun Caner Latest Sermon: Still Telling the Same Stories, Still Stretching the Truth
As I have blogged over the past year, Ergun Caner has still continued to make his rounds on the preaching circuit. He really has not slowed down his preaching schedule since he was removed from his post as president at Liberty University's seminary last summer. This summer he is very active, preaching in church camps including Tim Lee's youth camp, and FBC Jax's middle school and high school camp.
But one thing about Caner's preaching over the past year: there are hardly any sermons online. Even when he preaches at churches that do have sermon video/audio feeds, you won't find Caner's sermons posted.
And after listening to his latest sermon - preached at Brookwood Church in Burlington, North Carolina on June 26, 2011 - there is probably a good reason that you won't find publicly posted sermons.
Caner is still stretching the truth about his past, and is still trying to maintain his image of being a devout Muslim and Turkish immigrant and almost-terrorist. Of course he can't still make the claims of being a Jihadist trained in Beirut, or being raised in Istanbul learning of American culture by watching Turkish television...but he STILL is not being completely honest with his audiences.
So parents of FBC Jax, when Caner is with your young people at camp, don't be surprised if he uses it as an opportunity to mislead them about his past to rebuild his brand just as he did in this sermon. While Caner has the potential to do much harm to young unsuspecting Christians who trust their church leaders and parents to do right by them - having Caner in will certainly benefit your pastor who is Caner's co-author. Pretty sick stuff.
Some excerpts from last Sunday's sermon at Brookwood Church:
"Turkish, immigrant, Yankee. I know. Turkish, born in Stockholm, Sweden, but Turkish - immigrant, Yankee. Raised as a Sunni Muslim, got saved in Columbus, Ohio. Why in the world would I be telling you all this? Because I have heard and seen my people before - even Christians who come out of my background - and sometimes they're very hard to understand. [speaking now in a fake, heavy Middle Eastern dialect]: 'I am very happy to be here, thank you so much, take this as a spoon from my country, please pass it around, thank you'. Do you know why you can understand me? Seventeen years ago, God got me married to a girl from Brookwood church....Turkish, immigrant, Yankee, married a girl from Hall River, North Carolina."
Actually, it was a kid raised in Ohio married a girl from North Carolina - big deal. So again, Caner is trying to plant the idea that he came here as a person who didn't speak the language, or that had a heavy accent, that he and "his people" were very hard to understand, and that it was his marriage to a country girl that allowed people to understand him when he speaks. If he were truthful, he would say that when he came here to the states he was two years old and has never spoken anything but English. Given that he has outright lied for years about when he came to America, if Caner had any ounce of integrity he would make it very clear when he came to America, which was in 1969 as documented here.
"Now I'm the proud father of two amazing half-breed children. My boys who are half Turkish, half green-level (?)..."
No, his boys are not "half-breeds" - and I'm not sure what that means anyways. My wife is Puerto Rican, so my kids are half Puerto Rican, and I would never, ever call them "half breeds". That is nuts. His kids are not even half Turkish given that Caner's mother is Swedish. But at least Caner doesn't claim that they speak Arabic, as he did when he spoke to the Ohio Free Will Baptist men back in 2007.
"[complaining about having to get up early at camp to preach]: That means I had to be awake at 7 o'clock. Which means I had to get up before anybody else was showering which would be 6 o'clock. I'm up before Jesus and the Mexicans at 6 a.m. getting ready for today."
Caner still making stereotypical racial references. Wonderful. What is interesting about the sermon at Brookwood is how little the crowd responds to his jokes.
"If you're a Christian grump you're a caffeinated Christian. I'm Turkish, we eat coffee."
He's actually not Turkish. He was born in Sweden, and raised in Columbus, Ohio. He might like lots of strong coffee, but he is not Turkish.
"That's what they [his wife's family] call me: 'Butch'. My name is Ergun Mehmet Janel - Ergun Caner. They don't call me Ergun Caner, they call me Butch."
Sure, his family calls him Butch. That was a name that Caner used pre 9/11, as indicated here. He was known as "Butch Caner", or "E. Michael Caner." No, his name is not "Ergun Mehmet Janel" as he still claims. It is not even "Ergun Mehmet Caner". His legal name is "Ergun Michael Caner" and prior to 9/11 he pastored as Butch Caner or E. Michael Caner. Again, Caner can't avoid stretching the truth to further his brand of being the former Muslim.
Speaking about his conversion as a high schooler:
"You see in Islam, we have atonement. That is why we kill ourselves and take you with us. That is why we get on buses, why we get on planes. We think that by shedding our blood it's gonna give us salvation....That Jesus strapped himself to a cross, and I would have to strap a bomb to myself."
He speaks for Muslims and paints all Muslims as terrorists. Not all Muslims believe that they gain salvation by killing people. Again, Caner seems to want his listeners to think he was taught as a child that he needed to strap a bomb to himself to gain salvation.
"That night we go to afterglow [night of his Christian conversion]. That's where everybody goes to Denny's I-Hop, Huddle House...I got to tell the waitress that I was saved, and I got to eat every piece of ham they had on the menu."
There is little evidence to support that he was so devout that he couldn't eat ham, as written about here. His parents divorced when he was young, and his mother fought against him being raised in the Muslim faith. It is highly unlikely that his mother prohibited him from eating ham.
"My mom, she's a church planter in a place called Truth or Consequences, New Mexico....and if she ever shows up witnessing to you, you'll know it. Heavy accent, tiny little woman, smoking....ripping filters off of Pall Malls.... 'Filters are for wimps' [Caner quoting his mom using heavy middle eastern accent]. She'll be at your door "I want to tell you about Jesus" [again, in middle eastern accent].
Only problem is, Caner's mother would not have a middle eastern accent. She is Swedish.
Anyways, why rehash all of this?
Because Caner is still not being honest with congregations. He is still preaching his stories in Southern Baptist churches, and worst: he is still preaching to young people. And First Baptist Jacksonville is giving him access to their middle schoolers and high schoolers for a week isolated at camp.
One would think that when he was caught red-handed lying for nearly a decade, that he would have an about-face and be completely honest, staying away from any stretches of the truth, and being absolutely clear about his past, particularly those parts that he lied about in the past.
But instead, it's more of the same.
But he does it all for Jesus, so it must be OK.
He is going to be there for 2 more weeks, would love to hear excerpts from these sermons as well.
His wife grew up in and graduated high school in Burlington NC not in Haw River (which is next to Burlington). Once again a needless lie. Why lie about something like this?
'His wife grew up in and graduated high school in Burlington NC not in Haw River'
Where she grew up may not be where she is from. Caner grew up in Ohio but he is not from there. If he said he was, we would be adding another lie to the list.
'Once again a needless lie.'
Maybe,maybe not. More proof would be needed to confirm such.
'Why lie about something like this?'
He may not be. We need to be careful in what we say are lies (and you may be correct in your assertion) or we could be speaking a lie.
June 30, 2011 7:39 AM"
Ooops, I made a mistake she moved to Burlington from Raleigh before starting high school. So she grew up in Raleigh and not Haw River.
Either way, she is not from Haw River and therefore he did lie.
When George Bush lied, people died.
This is a lot different.
It is just preaching, everyone knows that preachers will beef up a story to make it sound better.
Spurgeon did it too.
"When George Bush lied, people died.
Not all preachers beef up their stories and it is not just preaching. This is about trying to win souls to Jesus.
What is wrong with asking the leaders of our churches, colleges and conventions to have some integrity and to be as honest as possible. Men of God should hold themselves accordingly and not lie about things they know are lies or make fun of or make stereotypical racial references.
I am sorry there is nothing that can be said to justify what this man does in the name of God and the comments he makes are crass, ignorant and down right shameful.
A key part of Caner's past seems to center around Columbus, Ohio. FBC Jax has just started a church plant in Columbus, Ohio. What are the odds?
People like Caner have confidence in two things-the ignorance of their audiences and their own ability to charm.
Their charm lets me them get away with almost anything, so why give that up?
Most people do not read this blog, and their pastors obviously keep them as uninformed as possible, so they have no reason to disbelieve what the charming preacher is telling them.
The same thing happened with a murder suspect recently. He wasn't arrested for about three years after the murder. During that time, they have an email where his sister is concerned re his life and how he's got this possible murder charge hanging over his head. He explains to her that most people don't know a thing about his wife getting murdered.
Then at his recent trial, he himself goes on the stand and gains sympathy and becomes more human for his audience. He simply does what has always worked well for him. (And it did help him because the jury was hung 8-4 to acquit. They declared a mistrial.) I'm not saying his performance was the only influence, of course, but he was a very good talker. In fact, he had worked mainly in sales.
Another similarity is the "nerve" they show. They simply are not fearful people.
I think Sharon has been absolutely right about Caner.
I was in an office the other day and the person had a plaque with a quote on it by DL Moody that said "If I take care of my character my reputation will take care of itself."
Caner has not taken care of his character and seems unable to. (That's why I am certain he's a pathological liar with a personality disorder)
Some have said that Caner ought to be left alone. In reality any bad press that Caner receives (like the recent TV news spot) is Caner's own fault. None of this would be happening if Caner had taken care of his character.
The Squirrel said...
"People like Caner have confidence in two things-the ignorance of their audiences and their own ability to charm."
Isn't that the classic definition of a scam artist?
Watchdog,
I think you ought to consider a post on Peter Lumpkins. When you exposed the Caner issue, Lumpkins wrote that those who pressed that Caner "lied" were the ones who were actually "biased," not to mention void of "reality." He also accuses (in the title of one of his multiple posts of Caner defense, no less) that people who have sought to bring accountablity to Caner have had some kind of breakdown. That post, titled "Matt Svoboda on Ergun Caner: A Picture of Complete Meltdown in Understanding the Necessary Requirement for Public Accusation of Alleged Moral Failure" defends Caner to the hilt, attacking anyone who thinks Caner has lied.
Now, Mr. Lumpkin is going after Dr. Mohler for saying "the SBC has lied" about homosexuality. It would be interesting for you to do a compare and contrast between the two issues that Peter has weighed in on and evaluate what could best be called an eggregious inconsistency and at worst a moral lapse of character for what is being done.
P.S. As you know, I have not always defended Al Mohler's positions, so this is not a protection of Dr. Mohler as much as it is a question to you if you see the hypocrisy of Caner's defenders.
'Ooops, I made a mistake'
I am sure glad it was a mistake and not a lie. Regardless if you ask or not, I forgive you for your lie, uh, I mean mistake.
'I think you ought to consider a post on Peter Lumpkins. '
Gracious Wade, that is gracious. 8-)
The most gracious thing Watchdog could do for the SBC is delve into why there is a culture of protection for blatant liars and an environment of denigration for those who are attempting to be honest and transparent.
'The most gracious thing Watchdog could do for the SBC is delve into why there is a culture of protection for blatant liars and an environment of denigration for those who are attempting to be honest and transparent.'
It may be if we are to called to live a life exposing the SBC. This is just as dangerous as the legalism going on in the SBC towards churches who do not conform.
Wade you are a very bright person do you not see the personal attacks, in many of the comments, being made against those who the watchdog is exposing? What is happening here is crossing the line from exposing to vilification of individuals. Maybe not directly within the original posts but the open discussion which quickly slides down that slope into personal attacks. Do you not see this?
June 30, 2011 10:12 AM"
One thing about my mistake, I immediately owned up to and corrected it. Furthermore my statements can be proven by school records.
Caner has purposely lied about who he is and where he came from. His lies can be proven and he has denied any wrong doing. He continues to lie to this day and still remains defiant saying these are simple mistakes.
I made the mistake and immediately corrected it. Caner makes "mistakes" and continues making these same "mistakes". How do you forget where you were born?
Caner sold books and charged speaking fees based upon these lies or "mistakes". Guess what, that not only makes him a liar "serial mistaker", it makes him a cheat, a fraud and a thief. He needs to thank his lucky stars that the feds do not investigate him because if that does happen he could be facing criminal charges since he sold books online and sent them through the mail based upon these simple "mistakes".
'One thing about my mistake, I immediately owned up to and corrected it. Furthermore my statements can be proven by school records. '
I am in no way defending Caner. This discussion does not have to be an either for him or against him. If Caners words are going to be held against him, then so should ours.
I am glad you owned up to your mistake. Caner has owned up to his misspeaks. He did not call them a lie, he said he misspoke. You did not call your statement a lie but said it was a mistake. You did own up to your mistake, so has Caner. You did it quicker then him but only after being exposed.
Since Haw river does not have a school district, do you know if those people from Haw river attend Alamance Burlington School district schools? Maybe his wife calls Haw river home. Do you know if this could be?
I'm not defending Caner but have heard him in the past using humor (some good, some not so good). I would want to know the full context of what was said at Brookwood before I passed judgment as to whether his current stuff was intended to be funny but failed to be.
It does seem you want a pass for making a mistake and do not want to be seen or called a liar. You admission of the mistake was a blessing. Is there a reason you could not give Caner a pass for confessing he misspoke? Maybe we should, maybe we shouldn't.
I'll see if I can find the sermon from Brookwood and listen to it then find if I think he was attempting to be funny or not. Until then, thanks for saying you misspoke (made a verbal mistake).
You can listen to Caner's Brookwood sermon by clicking on the hyperlink in the blog article that goes to Brookwood's website. It is on the front page of their site, at least for now.
Moses Model said...
I am reminded of Disney's new show, "Shake It Up". There are two characters who immigrated to the United States during the 1st Grade. The joke is that they still speak with extremely obnoxious eastern European accents.
"Is there a reason you could not give Caner a pass for confessing he misspoke? Maybe we should, maybe we shouldn't."
I am sure at times he misspoke in his preachings and for those I give him a pass.
However the statements that he makes continuously about where he was born, grew up, how he grew up and his other statements are lies.
These are lies that helped create a persona by Caner to bank off 9/11.
As far as the schools and where his wife lived is concerned, I went to school with her, I knew her and knew where she lived and it was not in Haw River.
Arce said...
Immigrating ca age 2 does not result in a heavy foreign accent.
The person who said he had made a mistake corrected it and apologized. Caner has yet to correct his lies, has not apologized for them, has not repented of them to those to whom he lied (thousands of church goers, hundreds of military personnel, and now hundreds of middle and high school students), and has not ceased the sinful behavior.
It is one thing to make a small mistake, but these are major factual issues about his life, family and education that were told to make him a credible critic of Muslims and so that he could profit from it, both in his career (he has) and financially (he has). He has sold his soul for status and financial gain.
Ergun Caner has the unique distinction of "poisoning the well" of the spread of The Gospel, especially to Moslems.
'The person who said he had made a mistake corrected it and apologized.'
Not true. Therefore a lie.
'It is one thing to make a small mistake, but these are major factual issues about his life, family and education that were told to make him a credible critic of Muslims and so that he could profit from it, both in his career (he has) and financially (he has).'
So a small mistake is of lesser concern to you? is this true of God?
I am in no way defending Caner but if one is going to portray him as a liar (even if he deserves it), needs to make sure they are totally truthful when calling him out. Stating a lie to expose a lie is still a lie.
When does a lie become a mistake or a mistake become a lie? Who gets to draw that line?
Turretinfan > Misstatements vs. Lies - Dr. James White and Dr. Ergun Caner in Contrast - James White Video
Turretinfan > Who Can Speak Truth? ("An Ulima" and "Caliphats" Surrounding Caner's Father) - James White Video
So, James White is the final authority on what constitutes the difference between a mistake and a lie?
Who gets to make that decision?
There is a huge difference between making a mistake of fact out of ignorance, and deliberately lying about things one knows about one's past. The Anon who posted about where Caner's wife grew up was mistaken, innocently, about a portion of where the wife grew up, having known her in high school. He checked and corrected his error and apologized for it.
Caner's lies are of a totally different character, because he should know the truth about where he grew up, what he did and did not do. When people have checked the public records, Caner is proved to have lied. Never lived in Turkey, never was trained to be a jihadist suicide bomber, grew up watching TV in Columbus, OH not Turkey, came to this country ca 2 years of age from his birthplace, Sweden. And was raised by divorced or legally separated parents, and lived with his mother, who was not a Muslim.
Those are facts about Caner that he has lied about.
Arce,
You have now stated twice:
'He checked and corrected his error and apologized for it.'
I find no where he apologized. You have said twice, he did. I responded once already saying he did not yet you want to assert this same mistake (misspeak, lie) again. Why? There have only been 25 comments and finding an apology should be rather easy, especially when you have been told there has been no apology.
Why keep making the same mistake over again?
Just to get your input. Are lies now simply " self-contradictory statement of fact"?
Sure seems to me that many people have redefined the meaning of telling a falsehood.
When people who claim the blood of Christ can't tell the difference between what is true and what is not true, then we can't complain when the unbeliever points to us as says "I want no part of that".
I don't want any harm to come to Ergun or his family. But any harm he is experiencing is self-imposed. I continue to pray for him.
The difference between C.S. Lewis and Ergun Caner is that Lewis did not place himself in his stories. Caner did. Caner made himself the central figure in the fictional stories he told from the pulpit.
I look at him like Mark Twain.
Mark Twain told stories like he was actually there.
Mark Twain told stories to drive home a truth.
Not defending Caner but it seems he has to justify his outrageous lies somehow.
I like Mark Twain!
Mark Twain didn't pretend to have crediblity on a particular topic. Caner did. Caner lied.
There's a common similarity here.
Tom Rich told lies about Mac Brunson's motives.
Ergun Caner told lies about his background and who he was.
Politicians lie to us everyday.
Everyone lies. Conclusion reached.
Peter Lumpkins > Matt Svoboda on Ergun Caner: A Picture of Complete Meltdown in Understanding the Necessary Requirement for Public Accusation of Alleged Moral Failure
I lied this morning.
I told my wife that I like this blog.
I appreciate your question and your spirit. I have told our staff that if and when there is a public apology from Ergun Caner I will invite him to come speak at Emmanuel. I, too, want Caner and his family to prosper, and I consider him a brother in Christ.
Now, to your question. Are lies now simply "self-contradictory statements of fact"?
Interestingly, the definition of Caner's testimony by Liberty's investigation committee as "self-contradictory statements of fact" is illogical. I think what they are attempting to do is exonerate Dr. Caner from INTENTIONALLY lying by saying, "he just stated facts, but on different occasions, the facts were "self-contradictory" and there was no motive to intentionally mislead."
Either way, there is deception involved and a public apology is required because it was a public offense.
It seems like now that Ergun has been caught and exposed, yet continues to fabricate, he must be pathological.
Pathological behavior, no matter how much love and forgiveness it receives, cannot be trusted.
But NOT to worry! I'm sure our troll will compare him to someone in scripture for us, and it will all be OK.
What was I thinking.
healtheland said...
The problem is that what Ergun Caner is doing is no different from what a lot of preachers who rely heavily on biography and narrative do. The homiletical scene is FULL of people who rely on half-truths, distortions, exaggerations, inventions and outright fabrications, and has been for quite some time. Lots of folk know that if always telling the truth about events and personalities were a requirement for the position, there would be a lot of empty pulpits and pastor-less churches.
In light of this, Caner and his supporters are taking the position that he is being singled out for doing basically what lots of other preachers do, and that his being singled out is mostly due to the improper motives of his accusers. They are taking the position: why go after Caner and not everybody else? Why is everyone else allowed to spout "factual statements that are self-contradictory" and given "pulpit license" except Caner? Why is Caner being held to a higher standard than so many other evangelical and fundamentalist preachers, including those whom Caner himself learned from and emulated?
Of course, these folks are being disingenuous as to how "Butch Caner" was transformed into "Ergun Mehmet Caner." You see, prior to September 11th, having a Muslim/Arab (though are Turks actually Arab? ah what does it matter) background was actually a hindrance in the circles that Caner was teaching and pastoring, so it was in his interests to be as "American" as possible in a lot of places that were still coming to grips with the whole "integration" thing and what not. It was only after September 11th that being an Arab ex-Muslim became a positive instead of a negative, and being a former terrorist trainee who was an expert on the Muslim religion and culture was more to it.
So, while "tall tales" and "fishing stories" are regrettably common in the pulpit, Caner's going from "Butch Caner" to "Ergun Mehmet Caner" exceeds even the exaggerations and lies that are "normal" for the pulpit. The problem is that the personalities and institutions that accepted and embraced the small liars yesterday and will again tomorrow aren't going to be very likely to oppose a big liar today.
I believe Mark Twain's books are found in the fiction section of the library.
No, Turks are not Arabs. Though I assume their close proximity to the Arab world means that there must be some racial overlap. This is where we get into Caner saying that he didn't mean to leave this impression. He seemed to identify closely with Arab Muslims in his sermons. Lebanon and Egypt are both largely Arabic countries. All of the 9/11 hijackers were Arab. He seemed to imply that there was a close alignment in the 1960-70s between Arab Muslim terrorists and Turkish Muslims.
This guy is the DEVIL in the flesh. He ought to be arrested, flogged, whipped, mocked, scourged, deprived of food and water for days, spit upon and more.
He ought to have all the money taken back from him that he has made preaching in churches and camps the past ten years WHY? To show him you cannot and should not lie, cheat, steal, mislead, and mock God's name. He has made a very nice and high-income living at the hands of other Believers. He is a modern day "snake oil salesman," and any person or preacher (BRUNSON inlcluded) who helps him promote his pack of lies, ought to be whipped right along with him. That's my take... wanna know how I really feel? I'll tell you if you want to know! The Bible says there will be wolves in Sheep's clothing, and CANER is one of the biggest out there! Turn or BURN CANER!! Now or never!
Any parent of FBC JAX that lets their kid go to youth camp with Caner as camp preacher ought to be examined by a psychiatirst!. I would not let mine go -- not in a million years...NOT EVER!!
"Any parent of FBC JAX that lets their kid go to youth camp with Caner as camp preacher ought to be examined by a psychiatirst!. I would not let mine go -- not in a million years...NOT EVER!!"
If everyone feels so strongly, why not go and publicly picket the camp instead of just venting in the blogosphere.
I think that would be more effective, especially if the media was alerted to the ruckus.
maybe he believes his own hype . . . in that case, God help him
if not, he is a liar and an opportunist . . .
and in that case, God help the Church
Ga Blogger said...
I am so glad I am not a member within the Baptist denomination any longer.
Leaving was so refreshing.
Hope every one enjoys the Baptist ride.
I am not smarter than most of those who listen to all those within the Baptist Mafia, I just have some " good ole' God given - common sense."
hopeandfaith said...
It seems that Ergn, a.k.a "Butch" believes that this Jesus we are proclaiming just has to have some public relations help. Obviously, we have reached a new era in which showmanship and smoke and mirrors is the new norm for reaching the lost. Standing before an audience and opening your Bible and telling the Good News must be passe....We are fooled and fooled again by people who enlighten us.....and the only reason they can is because we have been complacent in knowing the Bible. I long for a time when you can depend on a church's biblical teaching....not sermons on touchy/feely, not 20 minutes of musical banality....just the Word. I am too distrustful now of any man who stands as the Shepherd of His Flock....I am saddened, but I stand on the Rock that is Christ Jesus....Butch will be better served to remember that Jesus needs no grease paint and joking on his behalf.
'This guy is the DEVIL in the flesh. He ought to be arrested, flogged, whipped, mocked, scourged, deprived of food and water for days, spit upon and more.'
Do you really believe all of this?
I heard the entire Brookwood sermon last night.
1. Caner is doing 11 (Eleven) Summer Camps this summer.
2. Caner appears to be doing well for his speaking gigs.
3. After listening to his Brookwood sermon, I personally would pay Caner NOT to preach Brookwood sermon any where or any sermons similar to this.
4. I truly felt bad for the listeners of Brookwood sermon.
Thy Peace - good observations.
I thought the sermon fell absolutely flat. There was hardly any laughter at his jokes, scant applause when he was done. It was either a VERY small congregation, or his sermon was not received well or both.
The sermon itself, was more about him and his family and his background and his jokes, than about the lesson in the bible. It was the worst sermon I've heard him deliver. He preached from Acts, and the going back and forth between the bible and using his family as examples was ridiculous. It was obvious that the point of his sermon was HIM and not the bible lesson. He was interested in convincing them them that indeed he is "Turkish, Muslim, Immigrant", and that he never lied.
I've compared Caner's style to that of Perry Noble. Perry's favorite topic in his sermon is Perry, and Perry's wife and kids. So it is with Caner.
I could also do without Caner describing his wife as "hot", and drawing out the "h"..."hhhhhhhot". Why do the rock star preachers want to tell people how "hot" their wives are? Noble does it, Caner does it, Furtick does it. What public figures EVER brag about how "hot" their wife is? Why is Wade not telling his congregation how "hot" his wife is?? Because Wade is a mature, serious man. Caner and Noble and Furtick, well, not so much.
And to make it all worse, Brunson on June 29th tweeted the following:
"@erguncaner for so they persecuted the prophets. Your in real good company. Be of good cheer."
Funny, I thought the OT prophets were persecuted for telling the TRUTH, not for lying. How twisted.
Brunson is an enabler of Caner, to the detriment of the youth at FBC Jax.
Used to be that the pastor of FBC Jax guarded the flock as best they could from the likes of Caner...sure is a different day.
"I am so glad I am not a member within the Baptist denomination any longer.
Need I say more?"
I, too, am a former Baptist. I think there are a lot of us out there. We should form a club. Actually there are already ex-fundie support groups.
Anyway, I think what makes Baptist World so much like a soap-opera is that it's always been about personalities. It's all about preachers up there behind the pulpit screaming and stomping around and telling you you're all going to hell! So preachers who are good at drama and big on the power trip of it all get lots of followers (groupies?)
I think "healtheland" made some great comments also. Just like with politicians, if you started strictly fact-checking sermons, a lot of preachers would be embarrassed-not all. But that's not quite the same thing as purposely misrepresenting where you were born and where you grew up. I don't know of any preachers who do that.
Caner seems to have created a persona and wants to keep presenting that persona. It's sorta like Stephen Colbert-he's "in character." Except with Colbert, we KNOW he's doing this. We KNOW he's just entertaining us.
Sharon - I liken "Ergun Mehmet Giovanni Janel" (Caner's name he used when preaching at FBCJ after 9/11), the former terrorist personna that led to his books and speaking tour, to the characters of Sacha Baren Cohen. Cohen made a movie called "Borat", and made an entire movie from a fictional character he created and portrayed. I remember he stayed in that personna for a long, long time. Even when the movie was out, his appearances on Leno and O'Brian's show were made "in character".
That is what congregations on his speaking tour get - a real life Borat.
And the kiddos at FBCJ will have a blast. Caner will talk about being persecuted, and will drum up the "Turkish, Muslim, immigrant" line, talk about his "hot wife", his "half breed kids", etc. And a good time will be had by all.
Did anyone see this? Sent it to Tom but not sure if he's seen it yet. The guy who was dean of LU's seminary right before Ergun Caner has been forced to step down from the presidency of Tennessee Temple because of plagiarism. (the book was written 15 years ago and actually was used as a textbook at LU according to some)
Former LU Seminary Dean forced to resign from Presidency at Tennessee Temple
WD,
Yeah, I think that's a good comparison-Caner and the Borat character. Both are very entertaining.
It's like Caner is in the entertainment branch of the Baptist world. There are plenty of powerful men in that world, but they took different routes to obtain that power. Maybe if he was promoted as a Christian entertainer instead of a preacher. What do they call him, anyway? I guess he's not really a pastor, since he doesn't have a church. Do they call him an evangelist?
Re the article on the Tennessee Temple president having to resign-the comments are hilarious!
Sharon...I loved #6..."At least I wasn't caught dancing!"
Which reminds me....I saw a dean of one of LU's VERY important schools dancing it up big time at a function. Heh heh
Ergun Caner will be speaking twice in NJ in August if anyone wants to go see if he's telling the same ol' stories:
http://mbchazlet.org/events.shtml
The NJ appearances are by way of DVD:
Len Ferm will be leading the presentation of this DVD series on apologetics from Veritas Evangelical Seminary. The series is based on 1 Peter 3:15: "Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense (apologetic) to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear." One lesson will be presented each week followed by a time of discussion. Everyone is welcome to attend. For more information, please contact the church office (732-739-1282).
Course Schedule:
July 5: Norman Geisler - Responding to Relativism-The Case for Absolutes
July 12: Gary Habermas - Reliability of the Gospels
July 19: Steven Collins - Archeology Confirms the Reality of the Bible
July 26: William Dembski - Scientific Case for Intelligent Design
Aug 2: Gary Habermas - The Case for the Resurrection of Christ
Aug 9: Ergun Caner - The Secret of Islam
Aug 16: Norman Geisler - If God, Why Evil?
Aug 23: Ergun Caner - Why I Am Not a Muslim
Aug 30: Ron Rhodes - 10 Keys to Answering Cultists at Your Door
Fighting for the Faith: Dr. Ergun Caner (aka Echmed the Fake Terrorist) Reemerges
Starting just after the 17 minute mark. Please, no laughing, it's serious business.....
Actually, it is very sad.
Erp said...
Strictly speaking Caner was a Turkish citizen by birth (Turkey considers anyone Turkish if a parent, particularly a father, was Turkish; he was not Swedish despite being born there and having a mother who was Swedish though if he were raised there he could have claimed it). He might have lost Turkish citizenship upon becoming a US citizen (I believe Turkish law has changed over the years in this regards); however, if he did not, his children are also Turkish as well as US. However that is a bit like being Irish because one grandparent was Irish (legally correct but not necessarily culturally correct).
From the available evidence, culturally he had some Turkish influence but probably more Swedish/American given that he was mostly raised by his mother and maternal grandmother and in the US though that might depend on how close he was to his father when growing up.
I heard that Ergun Caner is preaching at Cross Church, Ronnie Floyd's church in Arkansas, sometime in July. I don't know why these pastors invite charlatans like Caner to preach behind their pulpits. It's a disgrace. I guess Caner's message of fearing and hating Islam is too important to these pastors, even if it is filled with falsehoods. They know that gullible, uninformed Christians will eat up anything Caner says. These days, it seems the truth doesn't really matter anymore, even behind the pulpit.
The sermon at http://brookwoodchurch.com/ isn't there anymore.
Since, many of you have downloaded/listened to it, could you post the MP3 somewhere?
I knew Caner as an undergraduate at Cumberland College, KY. We knew him only as "Butch". I'm writing this because I was puzzled by his saying (as quoted on this webpage): "Do you know why you can understand me? Seventeen years ago, God got me married to a girl from Brookwood church."
At Cumberland College, Butch spoke perfect, perfect English, without a smidgeon of any sort of accent. That was several years before he met his wife.
Here is a link to a 'sermon' he 'preached' on July 31, 2011. The topic of this talk is Ergun Caner, despite what the title would suggest.
http://canyoncreekbc.org/resources/online-media/audio-sermons/audio/13-the-samaritan-woman.html
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SDS (Safety Data Sheet) included with shipment.
Gas lot number, concentration, and expiration date clearly marked on bottle.
Select from standard gases and concentrations including ammonia, carbon dioxide, etc.
17L regulator sold separately (see equipment options).


A display of up to eight Lamborghini Miuras will be shown at the 2019 London Concours, which takes play on June 5-6 at the Honourable Artillery Company HQ in the heart of the City of London. The organisers have chosen 2019 for the special line-up to mark the forthcoming publication of the definitive book on the model, "The Lamborghini Miura", by Kidston SA this summer, and to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the Italian Job. The scene in which the Miura is driven up Italy's beautiful Gran San Bernardo pass, its V12 singing, is often referred to as one of cinema's greatest ever automotive scenes.
The Concours promises a Arancia (orange) Miura, just like the Italian Job car, along with examples in Giallo Sole (yellow), Bianco (white) and Azzurro Cielo (sky blue). The display will be one of the highlights of the London Concours, which will feature over 100 important cars, curated across seven distinct classes including "The Icons" and "The Innovators". It's billed as "the ultimate automotive summer garden party" and tickets are available now.


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Home > Lighting > General Motors Installs more than 50,000 LED Fixtures and Save $2 Million Energy Cost
General Motors Installs more than 50,000 LED Fixtures and Save $2 Million Energy Cost
Since 2017, General Motors (GM) has begun LED lighting system replacement for its facilities all over the U.S. with the help from Current by GE. Until now, the company has installed more than 50,000 LED fixtures and is incorporating sensors and controls into the new light fixtures to create a future-proof digital ceiling to improve its intelligent infrastructure and enhancing sustainability.
GM has continued to demonstrate leadership in sustainability through superior operational efficiency. In 2015, GM's Lighting Strategy Committee began to focus on lighting improvements for large production centers. Current then demonstrated how LED could be a cost effective option regarding its reliability and technology.
(Image: Current by GE)
Account Manager Gene Taylor talked about the cooperation with GM, "We built a commercial and technical business case for LED going step-by-step. There are many types of lighting environments that GM has to think about—from assembly to production to paint—and they wanted a fixture that appropriately fit those different areas. It also had to be affordable, given the tens of thousands of lights that would be going up, and we were able to alleviate those concerns in multiple iterations. The strong dialogue between our teams can't be understated here; it takes excellent communication to successfully steer a project this size."
To date, Current has shipped more than 50,000 fixtures to over 20 GM facilities in North America and continues to install LED fixtures in the remaining sites. The last of the installations are expected to be completed by 2020. The automaker is already saving over US$2 million annually compared to its old fluorescent and HID lighting, and GM projects that number to increase as installations continue.
LED lighting is just another way GM is helping its facilities uncover opportunities for energy improvements. In 2016 alone, the company's commitment to reducing energy intensity enterprise-wide saved US$73 million and avoided 388,000 metric tons of carbon emissions, equivalent to the electricity use of 57,000 homes.
Current by GE
Osram's Digital Technology Lights up the History of St. Peter's Basilica Improved Office Lighting at the New Microsoft Technology Center Supported by Luminis
Guggenheim Museum Bilbao Illuminated with Zumtobel's Tailored Lighting System
GE Current Provides Durable and Efficient Lighting Solution for Petrol Station Chain
Zumtobel Group Illuminates Germany's Largest Football Stadium
Marseille's Orange Velodrome Becomes 100% LED Illuminated with Signify
The World's Largest Airport in Beijing Lit with Osram's Connected Lighting Solutions
Human Centric Lighting Fixtures Installed in an Office in Stockholm, Sweden
Luminis Lights up Historic Chicago Residential Architecture
Tridonic Supports IoT Smart City Project in Darmstadt Germany
Bat-friendly LED Lighting Set on UK's Highway
Zumtobel Lights up New Entrance Building for Berlin's Museum Island


AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands - 22 November, 2016 – The latest addition to the Gerkens® cocoa powder range from Cargill is an intense dark red cocoa powder – with unique color attributes that make it the only powder of its kind on the market.
Produced as a result of a Research & Development (R&D) breakthrough by Gerkens® technical specialists at the Gresik cocoa processing facility in Indonesia, and exemplifying Gerkens® end-to-end innovation capabilities, this new cocoa powder is the latest Gerkens® development driving innovation in food ingredients and applications.
Gerkens® dark intense red cocoa powder is ideally positioned for chocolate ice cream, drink and dessert applications which reflect the premium trend towards intense rich colors and flavors, as well as the use of contrasting colours and multiple chocolate shades.
Gerkens® cocoa powder innovation is backed by a dedicated R&D centre for cocoa at Wormer in The Netherlands, with over 100 varieties of cocoa powder produced as a result of its work.
Linked to this R&D centre are a wider global network of application centres and development facilities across five continents, home to scientists and technologists, undertaking research on emerging trends, supported by the knowledge and expertise of food scientists, nutritional experts, and technicians from different sectors.
Gerkens® has been delivering world-class powders made from the best beans for more than 50 years. Following its acquisition by Cargill in 1987, Gerkens®' Dutch technology has travelled the globe. We have processing facilities in Holland, France, Germany, Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire, and Indonesia – bringing our spectrum of powders closer to you and your consumers. For more information, visit Cargill.com/gerkens.


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There's still time to enjoy these Cleveland-area Christmas attractions
by: Jen Steer
CLEVELAND (WJW)– If you're looking to get in the holiday spirit, there are plenty of ways in Northeast Ohio from Christmas lights to the Christmas Story House.
Akron Zoo Wild Lights
500 Edgewood Ave., Akron
Select dates from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tickets are $13 for adults and $9 for children ages 2 to 14. Prices are lower for Akron Zoo members or if you buy pre-sale tickets.
The Akron Zoo gets in the holiday spirit with thousands of lights, dozens of displays and fun photo ops. There's also costumed characters and Santa!
(Photo courtesy: Akron Zoo)
Ashtabula County's Lights on the Lake
1700 East 1st St., Ashtabula
Friday, Saturday, Sunday through Dec. 31 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Suggested donation of $5 per car.
More than 70 displays along Lakeshore Park's 54 acres with Lake Erie as the backdrop.
Castle Noel
260 S. Court St., Medina
Check the website for dates and times. Tickets start at $23.50 for adults, and $19.50 for those 12 and under. You can book online.
Castle Noel is America's largest year-round, indoor Christmas entertainment attraction. It houses props from Christmas movies like "The Grinch," "Elf" and "Christmas Vacation." There's also animated window displays from New York City department stores.
Castle Noel tours are sold out through the end of the year.
The Christmas Cave
4007 White Gravel-McDaniel Rd., Minford
Open Fridays and Saturdays from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Admission is free, but donations are appreciated.
This self-guided, 30-minute light display winds through an underground mine. More than 28,000 people visited last year.
Kevin Craft Photography
Christmas Story House and Museum
3159 West 11th St., Cleveland
Open year-round, except major holidays. There are extended hours during December. Tickets are $15 for adults, $11 for kids ages 3 to 12, and children 3 and under are free.
Take a tour of Ralphie and Randy's house, check out props from the classic movie "A Christmas Story," and buy your own leg lamp at the gift shop.
(FOX 8 photo)
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Wild Winter Lights
3900 Wildlife Way, Cleveland
Select dates until Jan. 2. Walk-thru tickets are $20 for non-members and $18 for members. Tickets are $60 a car for non-members and $54 for members for the drive-thru.
More than a million lights and hundreds of light displays brighten up the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. Enjoy a walk through with carousel rides, costume characters, ice carvers and choirs. Drive-thru dates also available.
Wild Winter Lights at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo on November 19, 2019 during the "Walk Through" (Kyle Lanzer/Cleveland Metroparks)
Wild Winter Lights at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo on December 15, 2019. (Kyle Lanzer/Cleveland Metroparks)
Wild Winter Lights preview at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo on November 12, 2020. (Kyle Lanzer/Cleveland Metroparks)
Country Lights Drive-Thru
8800 Euclid ChardonRd., Kirtland
Until Dec. 22 from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tickets available online and in advance only. $27.50 per carload.
The Lake Metroparks Farmpark gets a festive makeover. Enjoy the ride, which takes 20 to 45 minutes, from the comfort of your own car.
Deck the Halls at Stan Hywet
714 North Portage Path, Akron
Select dates until Dec. 30. Check online for times and to purchase tickets,
More than a million lights help bring the theme, "Lights, Cameras, Christmas" to life. That gardens will dazzle this year with three holiday songs choreographed to lights.
Holidays in the Hay Candlelight Tours
10825 East Blvd., Cleveland
Thursdays, general admission is $20.
The Cleveland History Center offers tours of the Hay-McKinney Mansion and museum galleries. Refreshments provided.
Magic of Lights
19201 East Bagley Rd, Berea
Until Jan. 2 from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Advanced tickets start at $21 for standard vehicle, $50 for limo and $80 for bus.
The Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds transforms into a dazzling drive-thru light experience with LEDs and digital animations.
(Photo courtesy: Magic of Lights)
FOX 8 Cleveland Weather // Quick Links: Select a weather link: Maps and Radar Akron Canton Weather FOX 8 Forecast Weather Alerts LIVE look at the FOX 8 Woollybear cam Closings Traffic Get Weather & News Apps
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In this episode Xue Mei will talk with The founders of Tink, a popular personal finance app in Sweden. Tink has made financial data attractive and easy to understand. They are growing fast and now the banks who were reluctant to collaborate with them, are now knocking on their door wanting to help make Tink even better.


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Check out recent coverage, blogs and press releases on Wrightsville Beach for the latest news and headlines.
New Historical Highway Marker in Wrightsville Beach honors Pioneer East Coast Surfing
On Sunday, October 18, an enthusiastic group of historians, surfers, town officials and descendants of early East Coast surfer Burke Haywood Bridgers, gathered at the corner of Waynick Blvd. and Bridgers Street at Wrightsville Beach. Everyone was there to celebrate surfing with the official unveiling of a state Highway Historical Marker that honors Wrightsville Beach as the birthplace of surfing in North Carolina.
The Pioneer East Coast Surfing marker recognizes that early surfing activity was organized by Burke Haywood Bridgers and others in 1909 in Wrightsville Beach. Bridgers was among the earliest to bring surfing to the Atlantic side of the mainland United States.
The marker ceremony was led by John Sideris, vice-president of the Wrightsville Beach Museum of History Board of Directors. NC Ukulele Academy owner Kent Knorr performed a stirring ukulele rendition of "The Star Spangled Banner" as waves appropriately splashed in the background.
Guest speakers included Wrightsville Beach Alderman Lisa Weeks; Rep. Rick Catlin (NC House of Representatives); Ansley Wegner (N.C. Historical Marker Program), n J. Skipper Funderburg (author/surf historian who submitted the marker application); Dr. Chris Fonvielle (UNCW history professor); Amy Rose (District Director for the Southern N.C. District of the Eastern Surfing Assn.); and Kim Hufham (New Hanover County TDA president/CEO). Each spoke about the importance of the ocean and surfing to the economy of Wrightsville Beach, along with personal anecdotes about the local surf culture.
Ms. Hufham read the Proclamation signed by NC Governor Pat McCrory that proclaims September as Surfing Month in North Carolina. She presented the Proclamation to the Wrightsville Beach Museum of History for inclusion in its Waterman Hall of Fame exhibit.
The ceremony concluded with applause as the new NC Highway Historical Marker was unveiled by J. Skipper Funderburg and descendants of East Coast pioneer surfer Burke Haywood Bridgers. A reception followed at The Blockade Runner Resort where the Wrightsville Beach Museum of History honored its 2015 inductees in the Waterman Hall of Fame.
The new historical highway marker to honor Pioneer East Coast Surfing helps further establish Wrightsville Beach as a premier surfing destination and follows in the wake of national surfing recognitions for Wrightsville Beach, including National Geographic magazine's roundups of the World's 20 Best Surf Towns and Last Best American Beach Towns. Other accolades include Outside Magazine's list of Stateside SUP Hubs and Men's Health list of Summer Hot Spots.


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Flowers Are Nice, But What Moms Really Need This Mother's Day Are Better Work-Life Policies
Mary Beth FerranteSenior Contributor
Founder of WRK/360- Creating Workplace Cultures That Care.
Instead of flowers and a nice brunch, what we actually need is systemic change for working parents
Working Mom and Baby
Robert Yu
Don't get me wrong: I love flowers (preferably pink Gerber daisies).
But it's not the Mother's Day gift I'm craving. We've turned Mother's Day into another Hallmark holiday, and while it's nice to shower moms with love, we're missing out on an opportunity to really focus on what mothers in 2019 actually need.
Instead of flowers and a nice brunch, what we actually need is systemic change for working parents , particularly working mothers who often put in tens of thousands of dollars of unpaid labor during their working lives. Mothers still spend much more time on childcare and housework than fathers. That "invisible labor" — all the unpaid hours that make up a mother's life — adds up.
The "maternal wall" is a very real thing. More than 4 in 10 working mothers say that they've reduced their working hours in order to care for a child — which, inevitably, affects their ability to rise within an organization and continues to keep women underrepresented in leadership roles. If we want to support our working mothers and their career goals, there has to be concrete policy change.
When it comes to actual change that's going to move our culture and the structure of work in a direction that would also support working families, I turned to sociologist, Pr. Caitlyn Collins, author of Making Motherhood Work.
She has a few recommendations that — well, seem like common sense. But for the U.S.? We've still got a ways to go.
The United States has the least generous benefits, the lowest public commitment to caregiving, one of the highest wage gaps between employed men and women, and among the highest maternal and child poverty rates of any Western industrialized nation. But what is especially striking about Pr. Collins' research, is that American moms simply don't expect any support and continually blame themselves for not being able to "do it all."
I know I felt the exact same way. I was supposed to be this high powered, professional women who could easily jump back into work, and that balancing a job that requires way more than 40 hours a week, was just about having the right mom-hacks in place. When I was in the thick of it, getting no sleep and dragging my hospital grade pump to and from the office, I was too exhausted to even realize that working motherhood is much more supported in other areas of the world
We can learn a lot from what other countries have done (and even what some states in our own country are doing). But we have a long way to go until the whole country offers what all mothers deserve.
According to Collins, a few basic recommendations could make a world of difference for working families (especially mothers).
Paid parental leave for both mothers and fathers: This is a no-brainer! Especially when we have unprecedented bi-partisan support, 75% of Republicans and 90% of Democrats support paid parental leave programs, according to PL+US.
Access to universal childcare: This would start with universal pre-K and would take a stepping stone approach to younger children.
Shift the conversation from work-life balance to work-life justice: There are political and economic advantages when we support families through policies that value caregiving and value all parents' ability to have careers and care for their families (whether they're a mother or father).
But if we look at the statistics, there's no denying that mothers are the ones doing the vast majority of housework and childcare. (Remember that stat from earlier about 4 in 10 working mothers saying they had reduced their hours to care for their children? Only 28% of working fathers said the same). Working mothers are the ones who would most directly benefit from universal childcare or paid parental leave policies. Congress is listening. On Wednesday, May 8th, the House Ways & Means committee held a four-hour hearing specifically on paid family and medical leave.
So for Mother's Day this year? Buy the flowers. Book the massage for your mama. But also, think outside the box. Think about what would make life truly easier for your mom (and every mom). Make the call to your senator or representative. Share your story with Congress today. Start fighting for what your mom really deserves, work-life justice.
Mary Beth Ferrante
Mary Beth is a mom of 2 and advocate for creating inclusive workplaces that care for their employees through flexibility, empathetic leadership and breaking down
Mary Beth is a mom of 2 and advocate for creating inclusive workplaces that care for their employees through flexibility, empathetic leadership and breaking down caregiver bias. She is the Founder & CEO of WRK/360, a consulting and coaching platform designed to support managers and people leaders to become the empathetic leaders needed for the future of work. As a former SVP in the finance industry, she always valued growing my career and like so many other career-driven mamas, she was surprised to hit the Maternal Wall. Her own experience propelled her to dive deeper into maternal bias, to influence changes to workplace culture and to advocate for a national paid leave policy. Her work has been featured in Forbes, Today, Working Mother, FairyGodBoss, ScaryMommy, and more.