Fit Fluential Mom: Coupon Apps for Your Smartphone!
Every mom & dad can appreciate a good deal these days! Since almost every parent also has a smartphone, why not get apps that help you shop & save money at the same time. The apps below are free (one of them is $.99) and can help you compare prices for products in store and online!
This is the only shopping app that has been consistently updated and improved since day 1, and Macworld promises to keep listening to you and bringing the features you want!
✔Also provides prices from online retailers like Amazon, Buy.com and TigerDirect.
✔More than 20,000 retailers who all submit their data to ShopSavvy covering more than 20,000,000 products.
✔If you want to pick up the item locally, you can immediately get directions with Google maps.
Take ShopSavvy with you when you shop and remember to ask retailer if they price match other local retailers.
YOWAA! instantly goes about finding deals and coupons in your geographic area. Choose the offer you like best and visit the store. When you walk up to the cashier, just show the Yowza!! deal on your device and let them scan the barcode or type in the coupon code. That's it—you just saved money!! No clipping. No stashing coupons in your wallet or purse. No need to remember which location that restaurant coupon was good for. Yowza!! takes the hassle and guesswork out of saving money.
These aren't just a bunch of coupons we found on the internet—we went to each merchant on your behalf and got them on board. And we're not done! More merchants are being added every day. Best of all, the app is free!!


Parties, papers, and all-nighters! Oh My! We've all been here, haven't we. Late nights may lead to not-so-bright mornings, and nobody likes hearing that they look tired. While coffee is usually the fix of choice, there is also a quick and easy trick for the ladies (sorry guys). White eyeliner is a life saver when it comes to tired-looking eyes. By simply adding a small amount to the tear ducts and lower water line of your lashes, you make your eyes look bigger, wider, and more alert. Try adding this step into your makeup routine for brighter looking eyes!


You can read some of the highlights from Twitter-land by clicking here.
You can watch one of Neil Cole's teaching sessions by clicking here.
You can watch one of my teaching sessions by clicking here.
BIG THANKS to ERICK BAUMAN for making the LiveStream happen. He did so all the way from Manhattan! Pretty cool. So thankful for Hal and Robert and Billy and Adam and Sharon and Lindsey and Ashley and Julia and so many others who made the conversation happen. And thanks to Neil Cole and Alan Hirsch and JE Caterson and others who joined us to facilitate conversation. AWESOME TIMES!
If you are in Central FL and want to connect to one of the Reproducing Churches network groups, please let me know. I will try to point you in the right direction.
How are you living sent? Leave your story and feedback from the highlights above here.


Most of us have fond childhood memories of Christmas morning being one of the most exciting mornings of the year, but most don't realize just how impacting a child's Christmas gift can be. In this promotion for a British department store, Elton John shares his own Christmas childhood memories and shows how one gift changed the course of his life, and the history of music, forever.
In the clip, Elton John's life is seen in reverse, beginning with his current life as a huge superstar, then transitions into his time as a struggling artist, until the video finally reaches the early stages of his childhood where Little Elton is shown unwrapping an enormous present to reveal a full-size piano.
His parents beam as he crawls onto the bench and begins to play. Little did they know this was the beginning of an enormously successful career for their little boy!
Today, Elton John is a legend, and millions have been inspired by his musical genius that all started on that special Christmas morning many years ago.
Check out the video for yourself, it's sure to bring lots of your own Christmas memories to the surface!


The proposed Eugene city auditor's office would have sweeping authority to examine not only the operations and spending of the city's municipal government, but also the Eugene Water & Electric Board, the Lane Transit District and even private garbage haulers, according to a lead advocate of the measure.
That apparent expansive scope came to light over the weekend when a disagreement emerged between the city's lawyers and City Accountability, the group that qualified the measure for the May ballot, over whether the auditor would have the authority to examine the operations of EWEB.
City lawyers claimed that the auditor would not have that power. City Accountability said the auditor would.


Have Fun at The Wave Pondok Indah Water Park!
Have you already planned your weekend with your family? Well, although it is still weekday, it will be fun to plan your weekend from days before. If you are looking for a place that is still in Jakarta but fun to be visited, Pondok Indah Water Park can be your amusing destination. Yup, this place will definitely cheer you and your kids up!
Pondok Indah Water Park has 6 interesting rides, which are Aqua Play, Wave Pool & Sandy Beach, Wizzard Slide, Lazy River, Tube Slide, and Olympic Swimming Pool with an area of 1000 m2. Wow! Every guest will be addicted with the hilarious rides here. The must try is Flow Rider. This is the most favorite ride here where you can surf like on the beach. Isn't it hilarious?
It is located at Pondok Indah Mall 1, precisely at Street Gallery. For weekdays, you will only pay Rp100.000,- and Rp150.000,- for weekends. While for over 6 pm, the six rides will be closed. But you can still swim at the Olympic pool until 9 pm. If you want to swim after 6 pm, the entrance fee will be only Rp50.000,- on weekdays and Rp75.000,- on weekends. There are stalls selling food and beverage here, so you don't have to worry if you are suddenly feeling hungry or thirsty. Completed also with tables and chairs with umbrella, you will feel like sitting at the beach. So, will this be your destination on the weekend tomorrow?


Though the jerseys have long been turned in and the skates packed away for the season, hockey was honored one final time March 8 with the awards banquet at the Hazen Un-commons. In a special joint boys and girls banquet, Novas head coach Jeff Dietz took the stage first with a replay of the season. Finishing the year 8-13-0 didn't make State as a team but has several individual moments of excellence over the winter months.
But Dietz was also quick to mention that all these accomplishments are not due to one person or one aspect but a true statement to the team and everyone involved in the sport, including the often overlooked statisticians.
When he was tense and focusing on the upcoming game, coach Dietz joked that the statisticians "babysat me more than you know." With constant reminders, "do you have this or here is that. Thank you for all your great work."
All-West Region Team honors were announced with forward Kara Dietz, defense Payton Borud and goalie Paige Bruce receiving the nod.
Bruce, Dietz and Sara Silverthorn were chosen for the Ice Time North Dakota Hockey Magazine's N.D. High School Girls All-Senior team.
Dietz also took home first of three statistical awards with the points leader. She scored 19 goals this season and added 11 assists for a tally of 30 points, currently 13th on the state scoring leaderboard.
Borud was close behind her teammate with 12 goals and 13 assists for 25 points, 20th in the state scoring leaderboard. Borud was also named the Plus/Minus winner with a final rating of plus 32.
On the defensive side of the game, Bruce was given the Achievement award. Stopping 641 shots on goal this season it's not hard to see why the senior was an automatic choice. Bruce has been between the pipes for the Novas since her seventh grade season, in which she has seen 3,600 shots come her direction.
Silverthorn was honored for her many years of dedication to the sport as well, taking home the Hardest Worker award.
"I base a lot of my decision on what are they doing when we're not looking," coach Dietz said.
But Sara wasn't the only Silverthorn player added to the family trophy case, as her younger sister Mary was given the Most Improved plaque.
Sharing the top honor of the night was the indispensable pair of Dietz and Borud, being named Co-Most Valuable Player.
"I really like to pick out all the little things … all the little things for her just added up," coach Dietz explained.


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Home / Rings & Things / What is a Wedding Band?
What is a Wedding Band?
Women's and Men's wedding bands are a cherished piece of jewelry symbolic of the eternal love and commitment between the bride and groom as they set out to build a life together. Wedding bands are sometimes referred to as wedding rings, but both terms mean (mostly) the same thing. There are a couple minor differences, which we will go into further along in this article.
However, for the shortest definition, when a bride and groom get married, they exchange wedding bands during the wedding ceremony, as a symbol of their commitment as they exchange vows and promise to love each other forever.
Also, keep in mind that a wedding band is quite different from an engagement ring, although occasionally an engagement ring might be given as a matching piece to a future wedding band. This is common with brides and grooms that purchase matching wedding sets or interlocking wedding and engagement rings.
Wedding Bands Throughout History
Rings: The Victoria, The Forever
Our current century isn't the only generation that goes gaga over exchanging wedding bands. Wedding bands or some variation thereof have been around since caveman days. In prehistoric times, rings given to indicate love and commitment were made from plant matter like leaves, twigs, and grass. Not nearly as enduring as today's wedding rings, to be sure, but they did the job.
The Ancient Egyptians had ring traditions too. Again, these rings were often made with plant matter, like reeds, sedges, and papyrus braided and twisted to fit the finger. Since these rings obviously didn't last very long, those smart Egyptians started making their rings from other materials, like bone, leather, and ivory. These rings the Egyptians exchanged were more of an expression of devotion, while the Greeks exchanged rings as a token between lovers. Rings in marriage ceremonies didn't start showing up until a little later in time.
However, it's believed the custom of wearing a wedding ring on the third finger of the left hand, a common practice in today's marriage ceremonies, was passed down from Ancient Egypt. Egyptians thought there was a vein that ran from the finger to the heart called the "vein of love."
A lot of our modern day symbolism originated with the Ancient Egyptians too, such as the circle symbolizing eternity, with no beginning or end, and the opening symbolic of stepping into the unknown. Highly romantic notions, which is likely why they have withstood the test of time and remain such a big deal today.
Eventually, the Romans came along and we started to see rings worn in actual marriage. They were considered a public pledge of commitment to the marriage contract, and typically were only worn by women. It didn't become the norm until modern times for men to also begin wearing wedding bands as a way to symbolize their commitment to a woman.
Eventually, this practice rose exponentially during times of war when couples spent a lot of time apart and wanted a reminder of their special someone. Today of course, men and women both wear a wedding band and often go to great lengths to delineate their own personal style and creativity.
Difference Between an Engagement Ring and a Wedding Band
Rings: The Lovely, The Eternity
One of the biggest differences between a wedding band and an engagement ring is that an engagement ring is always given before a couple gets married, whereas a wedding band is given during a wedding ceremony. Engagement rings come in different styles and designs, the same as wedding rings, although engagement rings are sometimes more intricate and flashier. Wedding bands, depending on your taste and style, tend to be less ornate and simpler in design.
Engagement rings are also usually given to a woman to wear, however in today's culture it's increasingly common to see men wearing an engagement ring as well. Wedding rings on the other hand, almost always adorn the ring fingers of both men and women after they are married. In the West, it is a tradition for a wedding band to be worn on the ring finger of the left hand.
In certain other countries and cultures however, the wedding band is worn on the ring finger of the right hand. Regardless of which hand you wear your wedding ring on, the meaning and symbolism behind the wearing of the ring remains largely the same, at least according to society today. It means you are married and have vowed to be wholly committed to another person, in sickness and in health, through all the days of your life.
Tradition dictates that if you give a woman an engagement ring, she may wear it on the left hand, but during the marriage ceremony it gets moved to the right hand until the wedding band is placed on her finger. Once she has the wedding band placed on her finger, the engagement ring can be moved back to the left hand, but the wedding band should have first place, closest to the heart. Although not all couples may adhere to this tradition, it's most common.
Are Wedding Bands and Wedding Rings the Same Thing?
Rings: The Evermore
Essentially, yes. There is little to no difference between a wedding band and a wedding ring. If you really want to get nit-picky, you could say that a wedding "ring" is styled and designed more for a woman, while a wedding "band" is styled and designed more for a man. This can be true, but it's not always true. Wedding rings for women eventually evolved into something that looks more delicate and feminine and may have more style and pomp than a wedding band made for men.
Men's wedding bands are often very simple in style and by comparison, more budget-friendly than a woman's wedding ring, since there is not as much detailing and/or gemstones in the design. However, that's not to say there are not wedding bands for men that give the middle finger to simple and flaunt plenty of flash and bling. It's just not as common, perhaps because wedding bands for men are larger and require more material to make.
Therefore, choosing a style that's intricate or encrusted with jewels could mean a big hit to the wallet. Many of the wedding bands for men today blend simplicity with a variety of design elements to produce a wedding band that's still masculine and attractive but isn't over-the-top. Single rows of stones are popular, and so is the practice of blending metals and materials to make a look that's unique.
Are Engagement Rings a Requirement?
Rings: The Sweetheart, The Desire
Not necessarily. Some couples prefer to decide together on wedding rings and may opt to skip buying an engagement ring entirely, so their funds can be put toward their dream wedding ring set. This can be preferable for reasons other than budget too, like not being able to find a wedding ring that matches the engagement ring. This is a common problem if you don't buy both the engagement ring and the wedding ring as a pair right out of the gate. Though you can sometimes return to the same jewelry store and buy the match later, waiting can be risky as new inventory is brought in and old inventory makes its way out.
What is a Wedding Band Worth?
Rings: The Daisy, The Desire
Matching bracelet: The Hope
There's no way to answer this question accurately, since every wedding ring is priced differently depending on size, style, and design. However, generally engagement rings are the most expensive, while wedding bands are more modestly priced.
This is largely because engagement rings tend to be flashier and more intricately designed than wedding bands. They have delicate designs and are decorated with precious gems of varying sizes and may be made from highly precious metals. On the flip side, wedding bands, especially for men, are made from less precious metals and boast few, if any gemstones.
However, even though flashier engagement rings are the norm, that doesn't mean the opposite can't be true. Some couples decide to invest in a simple engagement ring, solely so they can save their dollars and get their wedding bands of choice.
At the end of the day, the decision to wear a wedding ring and/or an engagement ring is a personal choice. With so many styles and designs to choose from, it's easier than ever to find a wedding band perfect for your lifestyle and personal preferences. And no matter what kind of wedding ring you wear, the symbolism doesn't change. Love and commitment is the name of the game!
How to Wear an Engagement Ring and Wedding Band: A Helpful Guide
Does the Wedding Band Go on First?

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


I've made no secret of the fact – in my DublinLive.ie columns and beyond – that I love a good moan, but it occurred to me this morning that I've been non-stop negging of late.
And when it comes to Dublin, that's a little bit criminal; there are so many things about our capital city that fill me full of joy and enthusiasm and creativity. Believe me, they're there – you just have to open your eyes.
Seriously beautiful buildings abound in our capital city, but they can sometimes be hard to see beyond the shop windows and ads and the hoarding that's currently making up our city's landscape. Just look up – George's Street and Dame Street are home to some of the most incredible facades in town. College Green – between the Bank of Ireland building and Trinity College's main gates – is another great shout, and even the dreaded Northside has its moments; check out the dome above Penneys on the corner of Mary Street and Jervis Street, or the Victorian design of Arnotts (Ireland's largest department store, FYI) on Henry Street.
You don't know your city until you've seen it from the roof of an open-top bus. Sure, you may laugh at the OTT gushing coming from the bus' on-board sound system, but you could do worse than take a fresh look at Dublin from a tourist's perspective – and, who knows, you might learn a thing or two!
Okay, okay – so, artistically, the stiletto in the ghetto won't be to everyone's taste but, when it comes to a Dublin landmark to meet under, the Spire is the new Clery's clock (RIP).
It's not all about the tourist hot spots, I swear, but there's a good argument to be made for the Little Museum to be a mandatory visitation spot for all Dubliners (and, er, Kildare blow-ins – ahem). It's full of a history you probably won't have heard before, comprising artifacts donated by Dublin residents, all of which together make up a colloquial history that tells a story. And, for once, it's not just a story of rebellion, Civil War and Switzer's windows.
As Europe's largest enclosed park (yes, really), the Phoenix Park deserves a lot more reverence than we currently give it. In fact, depending on which side of the city you live on, you probably only know one aspect of it. Maybe it's the zoo and its cutesy café, or the Papal Cross and the (sporadic sightings of) its resident deer. In fact, the Phoenix Park is 1,752 acres in size – and is well worth a visit, changing its appearance several times each season. You can even rent a bike, which is a super fun way to explore the park.
For a lot of Dubliners, Temple Bar is a thorn in the city's side – all stag dos and tourist restaurants (no, thanks, I don't want to come in for a €12 Irish stew) – but if you take the time to really get into it, Temple Bar's actually pretty deadly. Take Cow's Lane, for example, home to Queen of Tarts (a delicious, er, tart emporium – insert obvious joke here) and Find, a gorgeous little homewares shop with a great gift selection, and soon to be the location of online interiors store April & the Bear's first brick-and-mortar shop. It's also got Temple Bar Gallery, the Gallery of Photography, the IFI arthouse cinema (which also has a great café) and three branches of Siopaella, a clothes and accessories boutique that also functions as an upmarket consignment shop for designer gear.
Dublin's public transport system gets a lot of flack – soon you won't get change from a fiver for a trip on Dublin Bus – but, when you think about it, the DART is a wonder. I learned this when I had French friends come to stay for a weekend, and they were incredibly excited about taking a trip up and down the coast from Howth to Greystones. On a bright day, it's a little bit gorgeous.
What have I missed? I'm always looking for new ways to appreciate my home town (whatever, my Kildare past is in the past) – whether that's by taking a fresh trip on the bus or just lifting my gaze away from my phone.


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Pfizer Phase 3 Coronavirus Vaccine Data Slated For October
Grant M. Gallagher
Upping the phase 3 investigational vaccine trial size to 44,000 participants will also allow for the enrollment of new populations.
Pfizer and BioNTech are planning to expand the enrollment of a phase 3 COVID-19 vaccine trial from 30,000 to 44,000 participants. Pfizer's CEO has announced that the firm hopes to have a coronavirus vaccine beginning to roll out by the end of the year.
Upping the phase 3 trial size to 44,000 participants will allow for the enrollment of new populations, according to a press release published by Pfizer.
The BNT162 mRNA vaccine program uses messenger RNA, unlike other adenovirus based candidates.
The trial expansion is intended to include adolescents as young as 16 years of age and people living with HIV, Hepatitis C, or Hepatitis B infection, as well as provide additional safety and efficacy data.
In the statement announcing intent to expand the trial, representatives of the 2 companies also estimated when efficacy results will be available.
"The pivotal trial is event-based and there are many variables that will ultimately impact read-out timing. As stated previously, based on current infection rates, the companies continue to expect that a conclusive readout on efficacy is likely by the end of October," the statement reads.
While Pfizer is a household name in pharmaceuticals, not everyone is likely to have heard of BioNTech.
According to the Pfizer release, the company's collaborator Biopharmaceutical New Technologies is "a next generation immunotherapy company pioneering novel therapies for cancer and other serious diseases."
The US government will pay the companies $1.95 billion upon the receipt of the first 100 million doses of BNT162, following US Food and Drug Administration authorization or approval. The US can also acquire up to an additional 500 million doses.
Recap: Key Phase 1 Data
A recently released manuscript describes key safety and immunogenicity data from the US phase 1 trial for the BNT162b2 vaccine candidate, which at 30μg recorded 7 days after the second dose elicited SARS-CoV-2-neutralizing geometric mean titers (GMTs) in younger adults (18-55 years of age) that were 3.8 times the GMT of a panel of 38 sera of SARS-CoV2 convalescent patients, and in older adults (65-85 years of age) the vaccine candidate elicited a neutralizing GMT 1.6 times the GMT of the same panel, demonstrating strong immunogenicity in younger and older adults.
In addition, BNT162b2 administration was well tolerated with mild to moderate fever in fewer than 20% of the participants.
Read more.
Global COVID-19 Perspectives:
Herd or Human Immunity?
Evaluating Age Based Coronavirus Strategies With Martin Kulldorff
How Has the COVID-19 Response Impacted People Living in Slum Neighborhoods?
International Coronavirus 'Lockdown' Encroaches on Tuberculosis Epidemic Control


According to What Mortgage, fewer tenants are in arrears thanks to a booming job market. Over 44,000 job vacancies have been created in the first quarter of the year.
If you're a graduate, then you might be considering using a recruitment agency for your job search. This is arguably the easiest way to find your ideal vacancy, especially in more competitive sectors.
A majority of organisations prefer to use recruitment agencies than search for candidates themselves. You'll therefore have the best possible change of being employed by a reputable company. At least 90% of vacancies are carried out this way.
A good recruitment consultant will ensure you're well-informed about a vacancy. They can tell you about the company and its culture, and provide interview tips, before actually going forward. You will gain much more insight into a company through a recruitment agency than applying any other way.
You only need to register your CV once rather than applying for multiple vacancies. This will save you plenty of time and hassle by matching you with the right companies.
Your details will remain confidential and not be spread anywhere else.
It reduces the leg work for both you and the company.
Gregory Martin are ideal for candidates based anywhere in Hampshire and Surrey. To register your CV today, simply click here.


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Mary McCartney found forging her own identity 'overwhelming'
2 January 2023, 11:05 am ·2-min read
Mary McCartney found it "overwhelming" figuring out her "own path".
The 53-year-old photographer - who is the daughter of Beatles legend Sir Paul McCartney and his late first wife Linda - admitted she was "confused" about how she could step out of the shadow of her famous parents when she was younger.
She said: "Finding my own path was overwhelming at times. Working out how to make my own mark felt confusing. I loved taking pictures, but assumed everyone could. Then one day a friend showed me her awful holiday snaps and I realised maybe I did have something."
While the 'If These Walls Could Sing' director acknowledged her familial connections "opened doors" for her at the beginning of her career, she doesn't think she'd have carried on working for so many years if she wasn't talented enough.
She told Observer magazine: "I think a lot about how my surname shaped my career. Yes, the name opened doors at the start, but that's not sustainable. I wouldn't have got gigs for so long, I don't think, if people didn't like what I delivered."
The photographer had an "adventurous" childhood and despite travelling the world with her parents, Mary insisted she and her siblings Heather, Stella and James, never found their glamorous life "particularly interesting".
She said: "Adventurous is how I'd describe my childhood. Our parents [Paul and Linda McCartney] toured the world, and we went, too. It was full of contrasts.
"In remote, quiet corners, we'd have nature-filled family time. Then we'd watch them fill stadiums, have our car chased and be stared at all the time.
"None of us kids found them particularly interesting."
Mary regards her siblings as her "best friends".
She said: "My siblings are still my best friends. Stella and I in particular have a real closeness. We're two years apart, and shared a bedroom growing up. On the road we only had each other for entertainment. We check in with each other every morning."
The Andrew Webster era in New Zealand has begun with a comprehensive 48-12 victory over Wests Tigers as the Warriors kicked off their 2023 preseason trial matches impressively.New recruits Luke Metcalf and Te Maire Martin dazzled at Auckland's Mt Smart Stadium as the Warriors ran in nine tries to two on Thursday night.
Earthquake hits Indonesia's Papua, at least four dead
At least four people have been killed and several buildings damaged after a shallow, 5.2-magnitude earthquake struck Indonesia's easternmost region of Papua.


Charlie and the Rays is a female-fronted band with deep roots in Seattle. The band evolved from sisters Jordan and Rebecca Stobbe, and their childhood friend Gracia Bridges, busking in the streets of Pike Place Market as teenagers. The band combines harmonies and guitar to create a unique sound that mixes folk, classic rock and blues. The group performs across the greater Seattle area.
Charlie and the Rays partnered with Verity to write an original song inspired by "truth."


Soaring utility prices and year-round sun make home solar panels a cheaper, smarter choice for a lower electricity bill in Bean Island.
Since 1978, RGS Energy has been providing residents and business owners here in Bean Island with unbeatable solar energy solutions. From solar panel installations to repairs and maintenance, our team of renewable energy professionals are the unbeatable team to trust. When you choose RGS, you'll be given a cost savings analysis to support your ROI for your investment in solar. You can trust our team; we have completed over 25,000 solar installations across America, and we're the premier choice for all things solar. Get started with RGS Energy, Bean Islands #1 Solar Company™, online today or call us at 877.747.4338!


Khaki or navy blue uniform style pants, shorts, skirts, capri pants, jumper–w/DVA logo, etc.
***To ensure that your purchase meets school requirements, we highly recommend purchasing from the designated school vendors provided.
Below you will find a list of our approved vendors; click the respective links to see pricing.
*We recommend that you purchase P.E. uniforms from ZTrends.
8th St & Orange Ave.
Outgrowing uniforms? Please consider donating it to our Uniform Exchange. Please use this link for details.


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Author: John Gendo Wolff, Roshi
Reading in Ann Arbor, Nov. 18
The Tea Room at Crazy Wisdom. Looks like fun!
I'll be reading from my book, The Driftwood Shrine: Discovering Zen in American Poetry (Sumeru, 2016) at Crazy Wisdom bookstore (114 S. Main Street, Ann Arbor, Michigan) on Saturday, November 18, at 4:00 PM. Look for me in the Community Room!
Posted on September 12, 2016 September 6, 2016
It's Finally Out!
The Driftwood Shrine: Discovering Zen in American Poetry (ISBN 978-1-896559-28-5, $19.95 USD, 160 pages, 6 x 9)
I'm so very happy to report that The Driftwood Shrine: Discovering Zen in American Poetry has finally made its appearance!
You can now buy a copy ($19.95) from your fave online book seller. Alternatively, your local bookshop can order it directly from the publisher–just given them the title, the ISBN (978-1-896559-28-5), and the publisher's contact information, as follows:
THE SUMERU PRESS INC.
Canada L4E 1A3
www.sumeru-books.com
john@sumeru-books.com
If you buy from an online seller, I'd appreciate a review!
And please do let me know if you find the book helpful in your practice and in your appreciation of poetry. That would please me more than anything!
–Gendo Sensei
Posted on September 5, 2016 February 21, 2017
Teachers, Part II
The Driftwood Shrine was dedicated to two profoundly influential teachers in my life: Dr. Michael Atkinson. Michael Atkinson and Susan Myoyu Andersen, Roshi. Below is an excerpt from the book about Myoyu Roshi.
At some point about fifteen years ago, I traveled with a friend to Indiana, sent there by a former teacher, to study with Susan Myoyu Andersen, Roshi. I arrived at dusk on a beautiful spring evening and was standing on the porch when she arrived. The trees seemed to slide into a dark silence as she silently floated from the car to the house. She seemed transfixed. I didn't want to interrupt her deeply concentrated state. But as she floated up the steps of the porch, I suddenly blurted out an introduction. She turned and gave me a radiant smile. Even in the dim light, her blue eyes glinted. "It's nice to meet you," she said, and then she was gone into the house.
I cannot convey the full range of spiritual gifts of trust, harmony, joy, and gratitude that I received from Myoyu Roshi, but will just acknowledge here a single one: acceptance of myself. One of the ways that Myoyu Roshi taught me to accept myself was to be a stickler for the details of zendo etiquette—the formal proceedings of ceremony, chanting, eating, and other activities of monastery life, themselves the legacy of her 20-year discipleship under Taizan Maezumi, Roshi, founder of the Zen Center of Los Angeles. Following such forms was not just Zen boot camp behavior but a matter of practicing the traditional "perfections," or paramitas, especially kshanti-paramita (patience, or forbearance) and virya-paramita (effort). From this I learned that tradition, when viewed in the right way, is neither a set of arbitrary constraints nor (as is often popularly believed about Zen) a "militaristic" demand for conformity. When viewed in the right way, tradition is the means by which our real personalities are revealed. When our habits of projecting an idealized personality are temporarily suppressed by the tradition of form, a more genuine, authentic, and unique self—an exquisitely beautiful, natural self —appears in its place.
In actuality, that true self is always there; it is only that its presence is obscured by the curtain of self-centered delusions that are perpetually cast over the mind by a desperate ego. A roomful of people who are eating in exactly the same way, from identical sets of bowls, and in accord with a traditional set of manual maneuvers (the oryoki ritual meal), may at first appear to be supper with choreography. But closer inspection reveals that each person is blossoming out of the soil of tradition in a way that is unique. At time, this phenomenon of psychological transparency is so pronounced that each person's thoughts and feelings come into sharp relief. And because each person in the sangha is connected to every other by the same formal tradition, their unique qualities intermingle and harmonize, producing an atmosphere of serenity and reassurance. In that kind of environment, one more readily sees just how reasonable and natural it is to accept who we are, just as we are.
The enso, or Zen circle (Image copyright © 2014. All rights reserved.)
After my first retreat with Myoyu Roshi, several months passed during which we had no contact. When I thought about this gap in our contact with one another, I thought of the enso, a traditional circle that represents the Zen path. The enso is usually painted with a gap in it, which suggests that one can never really complete the path. But I had also seen the enso painted with no gap at all. In fact, at Mt. Tremper, New York, where Diado Loori Roshi used to teach, I once saw a t-shirt with a closed enso image and the words, "No gap!" painted above it. So at my second retreat with Myoyu Roshi, I asked about this.
"At the Mountains and Rivers Temple," I said, "they teach 'No gap!' What do you teach?"
Without a moment's hesitation, Myoyu Roshi said, "It's so wonderful to see you again."
Susan Myoyu Andersen, Roshi
Choosing Images for a Book
I remember being struck dumb when the publisher at Sumeru asked if my book would have any images. The thought hadn't occurred to me. But once it did . . . .
It's easy to toss a handful of eye-candy into your writing and assume it's going to make everything a lot better. Doing it thoughtlessly, however, is pretty pointless. The point of an image is to convey that which is hard to understand with words alone.
Some may insist that a picture is worth a thousand words, and thereby signal a secret wish to do without words. But a picture's value, whether at the wholesale price of 1,000 words or the New York stock exchange value of 100,000 is only that–a relational value, a worth of words, that the ancient Chinese knew full well, anointing their extraordinary works of ink with poetry, the words of ink–and of blood and brain.
Tian An Men, The Gate of Heavenly Peace, 1901. (Photo credit, Wikipedia)
Today, it's very expensive to reproduce art in print. You have to pay "subventions" fees to rights holders, and that doesn't begin to address the added production cost of color images in a book that is otherwise black and white.
So you have to choose your images carefully. They have to "work" in black and white, if possible; they have to be public domain, if possible; and they definitely have to provide added value to whatever it is you have to say. In The Driftwood Shrine, I was fortunate to find an old, public domain image that helped me explain to my readers the Chinese cultural concept conveyed by the word "gate"; it isn't something you swing wide while trundling through with the wheelbarrow. A "gate" is a wall. A barrier. Thus, the ancient collection of meditation objects that has been known for the past several centuries as The Gateless Gate–a barrier that is not a barrier except that–and because–it is (in) the mind.
If you want to resolve barriers between people, it is not enough to go through the door in the gate, waving a white flag. That will do nothing to remove the dividing line between people. The whole barrier must be removed. It is also not enough to get the parties to negotiate a truce because that also does not remove the barrier.
Most people will assume that getting rid of the barrier means doing so physically, as was done when the Berlin Wall was taken down and East and West Germany were re-united. But this response, while symbolically and functionally helpful, still doesn't get rid of the ultimate cause that produces barriers in the first place. Barriers therefore remain—they just take another form. This is why wars cannot be won or lost. The barriers that are physically and politically dismantled "after" a war are just reflections of Mind. It's good to take them down, but if the causes remain, then the physical barriers will eventually be rebuilt, often in another part of the world. So what are you going to do?
–from The Driftwood Shrine
Well, it's pretty simple, actually. If you want to know Zen, just walk through this "gate," and all will be well. You just have to "see" it clearly. What is this "gate"? What is it that you see?
"Goso said, "It's like a buffalo trying to pass through a lattice window. Its head, horns, body, and legs have all passed through. But its tail cannot pass through. Why cannot the tail pass?" (Image Copyright © 2015 Onwards by John Gendo Wolff, Sensei)
Posted on October 5, 2015 February 21, 2017
Teachers, Part I
Dr. Michael Atkinson. (Doesn't he look like an archaeologist?!)
There is nothing—I literally mean nothing&mfash;like a good teacher. A teacher is a master of lightning bolts and silk, rage with a smile, trackless deserts of sameness, and an unerring guide to the oases of surprise and joy.
For me, one such teacher the University of Cincinnati's Professor Michael Atkinson. I met him while an undergrad majoring in anthropology, a dreamer who envisioned a future of archaeology. Little did I know that Michael, a professor English, would become
. . . the Dr. Leakey to my psychological and academic Olduvai. Michael was a brilliant teacher who not only galvanized my interest in literature but graciously read my juvenile poetry and encouraged me to continue writing. I took all of his courses, including Eastern Thought and American Literature, a course that taught me about the mental and artistic spaces which Asian spiritual traditions and American poetry had been sharing for two centuries. I learned about the fascinating parallels between the cosmic "I" of Whitman's "Song of Myself " and the touchstone of Vedantic Hinduism, Bhagavad-Gita; about the surprisingly large number of American poets who had taken an interest in Buddhism, sometimes becoming converts; and I learned how the poetry of writers as diverse as Henry David Thoreau and W. S. Merwin, or Jack Kerouac and T.S. Eliot could be so brilliantly illuminated by Buddhist notions of impermanence, emptiness, attachment, and nirvana. These experiences made up the watershed that changed the course of my life.
I looked deeply into myself, questioning what it was I was doing with my life. And Michael supported this search as much as he had encouraged me to keep on writing. A Buddhist himself, trained primarily in the Vipassana tradition, he was in a perfect position to guide me and some of his other interested students in our beginning meditation practice. Sitting with him, I eventually started to realize that my future was not going to be about archaeology in the literal sense, but in the sense that I would be unearthing the self, using the tools of poetry and Zen.
Henry David Thoreau's "Royal Gift"
Readers will surely want to know about the title of this book, The Driftwood Shrine. It's actually is a reference to a story chronicled by Franklin Sanborn, Henry David Thoreau's biographer. I'd been interested for a very long time in historical East-West connections and had taken every reasonable opportunity to acquaint my literature students with a few basic tenets of both Hinduism and Buddhism—ideas that I hoped would help them understand the unique and passionate interest that so many American poets have had in Eastern thought. One year, while I was on sabbatical, I used my time to read to deepen my understanding of the influence of Eastern thought on American writers. It was then that I came across an anecdote that not only captured the nature of my long-standing interest in East-West connections, but illustrated the rapt kind of enthusiasm with which the American Transcendentalists had sought out books on Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism in the early decades of the 19th century. I explains, as follows, in my book:
English: crayon portrait of Henry David Thoreau as a young man (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
According to the story, Henry David Thoreau received a "royal gift" of forty-four books on Eastern religions from his English friend Thomas Chomondeley. They were exceptionally rare books which Thoreau cherished for the rest of his life. Thoreau shared the news of their arrival as one might, he said, "share news of the birth of a child," then proceeded to shelve these treasures in a bookcase that he had made out of driftwood from the Concord River, an act by which, as the biographer Franklin Sanborn put it, Thoreau had given "Oriental wisdom an Occidental shrine."1
One might think that Thoreau's "driftwood shrine" was an unfitting container for the sophisticated wisdom of a tradition like Buddhism. To me, however, that wisdom was all the more at home in its simple, worn, and worldly wooden case. Zen is always about what is readily at hand—a broom, a coffee cup, a window box full of weeds. "Grasses and trees, fences and walls, tiles and pebbles," wrote the great master Eihei Dogen, "carry out buddha work." The naked immediacy, the humble acceptance of things as they are, the acknowledgement that all things and beings are a reflection of ultimate reality—all these are common to the nature of driftwood and Dharma alike. They are qualities that can be discovered now in the poetry of Americans—many, many of whom have been influenced by the light of the Buddha-dharma.
English: Broom (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
1Christy, Arthur. The Orient in American Transcendentalism: A Study of Emerson, Thoreau, and Alcott. New York: Octagon Books, 1963. Print. 40.
My Book has a Publisher!
English: Main Pod of the CN Tower in Toronto, Canada Deutsch: Turmkorb des CN Tower in Toronto, Kanada (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Today, I received a contract from Sumeru, an excellent publisher of Buddhist books in Toronto, Canada. Sumeru has offered to publish my book, The Driftwood Shrine: Discovering Zen in American Poetry, and I am so pleased!


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What Pizza Hut's Crown Crust Pizza Says About Global Fast Food Marketing : The Salt Pizza Hut's latest offering, available only in the Middle East, is a cheeseburger-pizza hybrid. The combination either makes foodies' stomachs turn - or growl. But from a global perspective, it's not that different from how ethnic cuisines are marketed in the U.S.
Eating And Health
Foodways
What Pizza Hut's Crown Crust Pizza Says About Global Fast Food Marketing
May 2, 201210:35 AM ET
Ted Burnham
The new Crown Crust Pizza from Pizza Hut Pizza Hut Middle East/YouTube hide caption
Pizza Hut Middle East/YouTube
Perhaps you've heard by now of the Crown Crust pizza, the pizza-cheeseburger hybrid recently unveiled by some of Pizza Hut's international franchisees. Available only at Pizza Hut Middle East, this fast food chimera features a vaguely crown-shaped crust studded with "cheeseburger gems," topped with lettuce and tomato, and drizzled with "special sauce."
Many foodies have decried it as a "culinary abomination," "a sign of the apocalypse," or proof that America is finally losing its monopoly on gluttony. A reviewer at Serious Eats, who tried the Crown Crust in Dubai, wrote: "There seems to be no rational explanation as to why this pizza was created."
But Leila Hudson, director of Middle Eastern and North African Studies at the University of Arizona, and a restaurateur herself, says the Crown Crust probably looks a lot less bizarre to Middle Eastern consumers than it does to us.
It's actually pretty similar to the way ethnic cuisine is marketed to the U.S., Hudson tells The Salt. She calls it "the China Buffet Effect," after those all-you-can-eat establishments where Americans pile lo mein and Kung Pao chicken next to crab Rangoon and fortune cookies, without regard for regional boundaries. The average Chinese person might find it weird to put those foods together on one plate. But to the average American, who can't tell Szechuan from Hunan cuisine, it's all just "Chinese" food.
Similarly, in the Middle East, pizza and burgers equally conjure up the exotic national identity of "American" cuisine. Why wouldn't you eat them together?
Pizza Hut did not provide much information on the origin or intent of the new product when we asked, but it did email us this statement: "The chefs at Pizza Hut make it great with pizzas featuring different toppings and styles to match global tastes."
Despite the hype, the Crown Crust is neither the first, nor the weirdest gimmick that international franchisees have used to make pizza more palatable to local consumers.
There's the Indonesian version of the Crown Crust from 2010, which had breaded chicken fingers, mozzarella sticks, and honey mustard sauce in place of cheeseburgers. And the Korean Shrimp Roll pizza from 2007, featuring what looks like a ring of three dozen whole fried shrimp, each perched atop a detachable "cheesy bite" crust segment.
Or 2009's Golden Fortune Cheesy Crown from Malaysia, with prawns, fish, pineapple, and a cheese-puff crust you can use to win over your reserved mother-in-law during Chinese New Year (at least, it works for the young woman in the commercial).
Hudson says international brands like Pizza Hut are trying to appeal to an emerging global middle class. Pizza has a leg up on other fast food options in cultures where meals are often communal, she says, like the Middle East.
"You would typically order for the entire table," Hudson says. Pizza fits the mold because "everyone is eating basically from the same plate." Nevertheless, she says, the latest Crown Crust is "a Frankenstein monster of marketing trends that's probably too clever by half."
And if previous attempts to force burgers and pizza to coexist are any indication, it may not be long before the Crown Crust crumbles. If you blinked, you may have missed the time McDonald's sold pizza.


""I go with my eye, and my heart," says floral designer Elisabeth Stanley-Jones, explaining what inspires her to create innovative arrangements such as this truly original Christmas centerpiece. One of the talented team of designers at 1-800-Flowers | John Wolf in Savannah, Georgia, she chose a mix of Dendrobium orchids, mini hydrangeas, roses, hypericum, kale and Ti leaf ribbon, presenting it all in a clear glass cube vase, for a gift that's certain to command attention throughout the holiday season. "Complementing the beauty of the flowers is the versatility the oblong shape of this design provides, making it an ideal decorative accent for a long dining room table, a countertop or a mantel," says Elisabeth. Arrangement of green Dendrobium orchids, green mini hydrangeas, red roses, white kale, red hypericum and assorted Christmas greenery Arrives in a clear glass cube vase; measures 5""H x 5""D Arrangement measures approximately 10""H x 25""L Our florists hand-design each arrangement, so colors, varieties and container may vary due to local availability In August 2015, several of the floral industry's most gifted designers, representing local flower shops across the country, gathered at the headquarters of 1-800-Flowers.com to explore new ideas and create exciting new products at the 2015 Fall Floral Design Council."


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NATIONAL HATE CRIME AWARENESS WEEK BRINGS COMMUNITIES TOGETHER TO CONDEMN RACISM IN ALL ITS FORMS
Community groups across the UK are urging the public to show solidarity and support for people who have experienced hate crime during National Hate Crime Awareness Week
In a webinar 'Standing in Solidarity', at 6.30 pm on Tuesday 13th October, hosted by COVID-19 Anti-Racism Group (CARG) in conjunction with Tell MAMA, community leaders will call for solidarity with all communities facing racism. The webinar will also explore practical steps that could be taken and will continue to highlight prejudices faced by people of East and Southeast Asian heritage in the UK.
Incidents of hate crime against people of East and Southeast Asian heritage have increased by 300% in 2020. CARG is garnering support through a public petition that calls the UK Government to move from merely condemning racism to taking concrete action. Almost 5,000 people have signed the petition which calls for the Government to unequivocally condemn all COVID19-related racism.
This unique national webinar and petition are part of CARG's programme, which includes enhanced collaboration with Police Forces from multiple areas, the Crown Prosecution Service, community leaders and politicians across Britain and within diverse community groups. Besides addressing the rise in racism and hate crime directed towards people of East and Southeast Asian heritage, CARG stands in solidarity with people from all backgrounds to recognise, report and condemn racism in all its forms.
Full statement with 214 co-signees
CARG Press Statement October 2020


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A growing trend in international arbitrations (IA) has led to a record-setting caseload over the past year. Driven by the restrictions imposed by the pandemic and the nature of the proceedings that make virtual hearings well-suited, international arbitrations have quickly become a preferred method for resolving cross-border commercial disputes. In the future, international arbitrations are also likely to continue to be favored as a "greener" and more efficient alternative to achieve a settlement.
For decades, DOAR has supported arbitration hearings worldwide, including in Hong Kong, Toronto, London, Paris, Singapore, Mexico City, Moscow, and Copenhagen. In 2020, DOAR worked closely with the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to support the first remote hearings for both institutions.
DOAR understands and can cater to the uniqueness of international arbitrations, whether in-person or virtually. No matter the format, you can count on DOAR to be in lockstep with counsel and in control of the required technology.
At DOAR, we understand that international arbitrations depend on highly sophisticated evidence presentation. Our consultants are known in the industry as being the best—not only for their diligence but also for their savviness in managing the proceedings. They have expertise in organizing a repository of evidence and presenting deposition videos, interactive timelines, summary charts, and documentary evidence quickly and reliably.
30+ Years in the Legal Industry
Supported 2000+ Trials, Hearings, Arbitrations, and Mediations
Advised 300+ Law Firms Worldwide
Experience in 15+ Countries
Evidence Repository and Maintenance
Graphics Consulting and Design
3D Design and Animation
Evidence Presentation Consulting
Remote and On-site Technical Support
Gosling v. Mauritius
DOAR's consulting team was proud to support Mauritius, represented in the proceedings by Foley Hoag LLP, with the development of graphics and evidence presentation during an international arbitration under the auspices of the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). In a majority opinion, the tribunal rejected the claim brought by UK investors that challenged Mauritius' protection of the first UNESCO World heritage site commemorating resistance against slavery.
BM Muhendislik ve insaat AS v United Arab Emirates
BMEC, a construction company that performed land reclamation work in Abu Dhabi, filed a lawsuit against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for breach of contract. The case bounced around the UAE legal system for over 16 years. DOAR was proud to support BMEC with the development of graphics and evidence presentation.
Metro de Lima Consortium v. Peru
Representing the Republic of Peru, Foley Hoag LLP secured a victory in an ICSID claim concerning the design, construction, and operation of the underground metro line "Línea 2" in the city of Lima. DOAR was proud to assist the Foley Hoag legal team with the development of graphics and evidence presentation during the complex construction arbitration.
Al Rushaid v. National Oilwell Varco, Inc.
In an international arbitration at the ICC in Paris, DOAR provided graphics and evidence presentation to support Al Rushaid Parker Drilling, Ltd. (ARPD) in a claim against National Oilwell Varco (NOV) that alleged NOV conspired with three corrupt ARPD employees to defraud the company in a kickback conspiracy. Our efforts aimed at discrediting expert witness statements and highlighting missed deadlines and a coverup scheme over time.
When It Counts.
Count on Us.
When It Counts. Count on Us.


Dr. Kardami was born in Corinth, Greece, and completed her undergraduate degree in Biology at the University of Athens, Greece. She obtained her PhD degree in Kings College, London, UK, and continued with post-doctoral training at the Pateur Institute (Paris, France), and at Berkeley, University of California, USA. She started her independent career as an Assistant Professor at the University of Manitoba, in 1987, and is now a Professor at the Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science. She is also a Scientist at the St. Boniface Research Centre in Winnipeg, MB.


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Storbladet Lind (Tilia platyphyllos) er et op til 30 meter højt træ, der i Danmark f.eks. ses i parker og alléer. Det kendes fra Småbladet Lind på sine hårede bladstilke og årsskud.

Beskrivelse
Storbladet Lind er et stort, løvfældende træ med en først kuglerund, senere højt cylindrisk krone. Stammen er kraftig og ret med opstigende hovedgrene. Barken er først spredt behåret og rød på lyssiden, men grøn på skyggesiden. Senere bliver den mørkegrå og svagt furet. Til sidst er den grå med flade kamme. Knopperne er spredte og ægformede, mørkerøde med spredte hår.

Bladene er 6-12 cm lange (uden stilk), næsten runde til ovale og har skævt hjerteformet grund. De har tydelig spids og en skarpt savtakket rand. Oversiden er håret og mørkegrøn, mens undersiden er bleggrøn med tæt hårklædning langs nerverne. Blomsterne sidder i små, hængende stande. De enkelte blomster er gulhvide og duftende. Frugterne sidder flere sammen på et bredt forblad. De er runde og tydeligt ribbede. De modner godt og ses af og til selvsået i Danmark.

Rodnettet består af et hjerteformet, dybtgående system af hovedrødder og talrige, fint forgrenede smårødder lige under overfladen. Se i øvrigt under Småbladet Lind.

Højde x bredde og årlig tilvækst: 30 x 20 m (45 x 30 cm/år).

Voksested
Storbladet Lind vokser på fugtig og næringsrig bund i Mellem- og Sydeuropa. Her danner den (sammen med andre løvtræer) slutstadiet i tusinder af års skovudvikling.

I Danmark ses den sandsynligvis kun som oprindeligt vildtvoksende på øer og i isolerede skove i den sydlige del af landet. Den plantes i parker og alléer.

Kilder
 Signe Frederiksen et al., Dansk flora, 2. udgave, Gyldendal 2012. .

Eksterne henvisninger
 Arne og Anna-Lena Anderberg: Den virtuella floran, Naturhistoriska riksmuseet

Træer
Gule blomster
Lind

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Quarter notes: Second
In a nutshell: Seahawks 28, 49ers 6. The Seahawks made it 21-0 on the third play of the quarter, when Red Bryant blocked David Akers' 21-yard field attempt with his right hand and Richard Sherman returned the block 90 yards up the sideline for the score. The 49ers got their field goal when a Russell Wilson pass went off the hands of rookie running back Robert Turbin and linebacker Patrick Willis intercepted the carom. Akers kicked a 33-yarder after the defense held. The Seahawks came right back and drove 60 yards in a 13-play drive that consumed almost 8½ minutes to Wilson's 6-yard TD pass to Anthony McCoy. Lynch carried six times for 23 yards, while Wilson was 3 of 3 for 21 yards. But the 49ers then drove 31 yards in seven plays to a 54-yarder by Akers with 31 second left in the half.
Player of the quarter: Sherman. He scored on the 90-yard return with the blocked field goal and just before that prevented the 49ers from scoring a TD by batting away Colin Kaepernick's third-and-goal pass to Michael Crabtree in the end zone.
Play of the quarter: The blocked field goal, as Heath Farwell helped clear a lane for Bryant, who used almost every inch of his fully extended 6-foot-4 frame to bat the ball. Sherman did the rest to score the third TD by the special teams this season.
Number of the quarter: 28. The Seahawks hung that many points in the first half on the team that entered the game allowing the fewest points in the league.
December 23, 2012 – 7:12 pm
Comments Off on Quarter notes: Second


Porta offers you a range of highly durable, attractive and strong hardwood timber beams. Available in various diameters and lengths from 2.4m to 5.4m in F27 Karri & F34 Cumaru hardwood timbers. Durable hardwood beams are ideal for external applications such as pergolas, verandahs, landscaping and anywhere a durable timber with low to negligible leaching is needed.


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Mitchell: State senator pushing bill to erase immunity for civil suits for self-defense
N&V Staff
(Thomas Mitchell, 4TH ST8) – Mark Twain may or may not have said of the Nevada Legislature, which he covered as a reporter in the mid-1800s, "No man's life, liberty, or property are safe while the legislature is in session."
But the statement is true nonetheless.
Take Senate Bill 254 introduced by state Senate Democratic Majority Leader Aaron Ford. This bill would make any person who forcibly defends his or her property and family against a robber or attacker subject to being sued by the attacker in civil court for damages. Current law prohibits such a farce.
Ford's bill specifically strikes this language from the law: "Force which is intended or likely to cause death or bodily injury is immune from civil liability in an action to recover damages for personal injuries to or the wrongful death of a person against whom such force was used if the use of such force was justified under the applicable provisions of chapter 200 of NRS relating to the use of such force."
This is a sop to trial lawyers and a blatant threat to law abiding citizens who use self-defense.
And Ford, an attorney, is said to be contemplating a run for attorney general? Any future opponent for any office he seeks should pound him about the head and shoulders with this atrocity.
Mr. Mitchell publishes the 4TH ST8 Blog.
Column originally published at 4TH ST8.
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Preventing and controlling the spread of noncommunicable diseases is a national health priority for the social and economic development of Vietnam (Vietnam MOH, 2016).
To support the Government of Vietnam in this effort, the Abundant Health project is designed to increase the proportion of people who are aware of the risk factors of such diseases and to increase the proportion of eligible patients who are screened, risk stratified and treated for diabetes and hypertension. This community-based, integrated prevention and control program is being implemented in 11 public commune health stations in the Tan Phu District in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
FHI 360 leads the project with the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health and other local stakeholders. The project uses a Collaborative Improvement model to integrate prevention, screening, treatment and management of hypertension and diabetes into the workflow of commune health station (CHS) staff and community collaborators. In addition to hypertension (HTN) and diabetes (DM) screening at community outreach events, the project supports routine screening for all adults meeting the established criteria at commune health stations, no matter the reason for their visit.
The CHS team risk stratifies and diagnoses patients, prescribes first-line treatment for HTN and DM and provides ongoing management. For patients with complicated cases/co-morbidities, they are referred for specialist care.
Other activities of the program include: 1) Training CHS staff on quality improvement, and HTN and DM service provision. It also includes supportive supervision visits to CHS staff and clinical case reviews 2) Development of a data management system for HTN and DM services which is linked with existing platforms in the Department of Health system. Note that from March 2016 through May 2017, the pilot phase included five commune health stations.Beginning in June 2017, six additional sites were added.
The Pfizer Foundation provided grant funding to FHI360 to support implementation of this project. The Pfizer Foundation is a charitable organization established by Pfizer Inc. It is a separate legal entity from Pfizer Inc. with distinct legal restrictions.
References: Vietnam Ministry of Health. Plan for People's Health Protection, Care, and Promotion: 2016-2020. Hanoi, March 2016.


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archives: www.artsmart.co.za
email: enquiries@artsmart.co.za
national Arts Festival Banner
PAMS ORGAN CONCERT
(The rejuvenated organ)
Whoever said "singing is praying twice" is certainly not wrong. And singing in Pietermaritzburg's charming 120-year-old church St George's Garrison Church with the first pipe organ built entirely in KwaZulu-Natal, makes it ever so more special.
On September 30, 2018, the Pietermaritzburg Amateur Music Society (PAMS) Choir will be celebrating the freshly rejuvenated organ with an invitation to the well-known Pietermaritzburg-born organist Christopher Cockburn to perform a selection of organ-music to reveal the range and capabilities of this lovely old instrument.
When the British annexed Natal, they established their garrison at Fort Napier on August 31, 1843. At first it was staffed by the 45th Regiment but many regiments were garrisoned there over the years, especially during the Anglo Zulu War of 1879 and during the two Anglo Boer Wars.
St George's Garrison Church was built in 1898 as a place of worship for the troops. It played an important role in the life of the small but growing city of Pietermaritzburg, especially since the army and imperial administration provided something of a social hub for its people. At first, the military band played at services and often added secular or patriotic music as well. However, St George's finally obtained its own organ, consecrated by the bishop in December 1903. It was first heard in combination with the band of the West Yorkshire Regiment on Easter Day the following year.
What makes the organ special is that it was the first to be built entirely in KwaZulu-Natal by William Kemp. Kemp had come to Natal to install the first organ in the Pietermaritzburg City Hall for a Sheffield organ-builder in 1893 and again the second time in 1901 after the first City Hall burnt down. He decided to settle in the colony and set up his own organ building works. The organ survived a heavy storm in 1928 which severely damaged the organ, so that Kemp had to dismantle, dry out and reassemble it. Kemp's firm maintained and upgraded the organ until 1935, but it was not until 1952 that an electric pump provided the air: before that it was inflated by manual bellows and much hard labour! Finally, in 2018 the organ has undergone a major refurbishing and is back to its pristine condition.
The celebrated organ has been played by many accomplished musicians but was most particularly under the control of Mr W F Poole as organist and choirmaster for 72 years until his death in 2000, the longest recorded tenure of an organist anywhere in the world according to the Royal School of Church Music. Marianne de Jager and now Jack Frost have most recently kept the tradition of organ music alive at St George's Garrison Church.
At the organ concert, the PAMS choir will perform a feast of sacred and secular music under the baton of Nigel Fish as a prelude and postlude. "The powerful expressive poetry of the Book of Psalms depicts a wide range of emotions and conditions and inspired composers over the ages to set many of them to music," Fish said.
The audience will be treated to three very contrasting settings of the best-known Psalm 23, i.e. The Lord is my Shepherd" Firstly, the popular "Crimond" hymn (named after the Scottish village in which it was written) will be sung, followed by Franz Schubert's beautiful vocal rendition. The third interpretation of this psalm is by Howard Goodall, who composed his setting for the BBC TV series The Vicar of Dibley.
Johannes Brahms's moving How lovely are Thy dwellings fair from his German Requiem concludes the first part of the programme.
After the organ recital, two secular pieces will follow: Ronald Binge's charming Elizabethan Serenade, and then an arrangement of the British folksong Waly Waly, with its heart-rending text on the waning of love - Waly meaning "Woe is me!"
Finally, the organ will be included once more in a setting of Psalm 130 by the 19th-century composer British composer Dudley Buck, that passes from heartfelt yearning to positive affirmation. Jacques Heyns will accompany the PAMS choir.
"Choral music is not one of life's frills. It's something that goes to the very heart of our humanity, our sense of community and our souls. You express, when you sing, your soul in song," said PAMS chair, Jonathan Draper, quoting composer John Rutter.
A veteran PAMS chorister confirms the surprising benefits of group singing. "The deep breaths taken equates to that of an aerobic exercise. It increases blood flow and produces antibodies which fight off bad bacteria. I believe singing in a group also release feel-good hormones. No wonder I always feel so much better after choir practice!"
Draper emphasises that while striving for excellence the PAMS Choir "sing for joy." He believes it is a great tool to solidify and unify the nation as a cohesive voice. "The PAMS Choir needs people of all cultural and age groups who are passionate about singing. Join PAMS for choir practice on Tuesday nights at 18h30 for some basic music reading and warm up exercises and great choir practises at the Dutch Reformed Church, Beverley Road in Prestbury, Pietermaritzburg."
Follow PAMS on https://www.facebook.com/PAMSchoir/
The concert will take place September 30, 2018, at 14h30 at the St George's Garrison Church in Devonshire Road. Tickets R50 (R25 scholars). There is secure parking across the road from the church at Fort Napier parking lot. Enquiries may be directed to Mary at 082 683 0441 or marybizley@gmail.com.
Posted by ARTSMART at 6:10 PM
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Blindboss is a one-man band by multi-instrumentalist Max Histrionic hailing from California and delivering very dynamic sound, who is about to launch a new album "Our Tribe" on February 23. This is a very vivacious album with many joyful elements in it. It is one of those "morning coffee" albums. It knows the ways of how to discharge you and bring you real joy with its energetic tunes.
"Our Tribe" includes twelve songs. All the way from the opening "Roman Coke" down to the closing "Shade Struck," "Our Tribe" never stops being heady. Every song on the album is constructed in the same way. Placing this record under a genre is a double-edged sword, but the music is most of time alternative / punk rock with progressive and classic rock influences. And since we are talking about influences, the music of Blindboss recalls likes such A Perfect Circle, Soundgarden, Tool. But there is more than that. Histrionic transcends into the territory of the '70s vintage rock. So it can be said "Our Tribe" is a great harvest of modern and classic.
Overall, Blindboss' "Our Tribe" is a very effective, powerful and tasty album comprised of great vocals arrangements, intricate guitar work and strong structure. It goes to the category of "must listen to" albums released in 2018.


Now you have the ability to enroll in your chosen sessions prior to the Conference with Reserve a Seat! We strongly recommend reserving a seat as early as possible—it's the best way to help ensure your best Conference experience. Learn how.
This document was retrieved from http://www.rsaconference.com/events/us17/agenda/sessions	on Mon, 22 Apr 2019 12:41:18 -0400.


Any bookworm understands the struggle of storing hundreds—if not thousands—of their favorite stories. Unless you're #blessed with a Beauty and the Beast-style library, books spend their lives on closet shelves, in cabinets, under the bed—basically anywhere you can squeeze them until the next reread. But if reading sparks joy for you, there's a new way to keep your favorite book close and still maintain an organized (Marie Kondo-approved) home.
Thousands of books were just added to the public domain, meaning you can download them to your e-reader free of charge. According to Motherboard, books—as well as movies and songs—that were published between 1923 and 1977 remain under copyright for 95 years. As of January 1, works from 1923 are available, including plenty of noteworthy classics by Robert Frost, Virginia Woolf, Winston S. Churchill, E. E. Cummings, and Agatha Christie.
One of the most impressive digital libraries, HathiTrust offers more than 50,000 books from 1923 alone. You can also download from Read Print, The Literature Network, and Authorama. And if you're not into classics, don't worry: Just borrow digital copies of newer e-books and audiobooks straight from your local public library. Technology is a pretty great thing, huh?
By storing some books on your e-reader, you'll be able to enjoy your beloved hobby from anywhere while at the same time keeping the clutter at bay.
You can now use your Kindle in the bathtub. Or, find out if "night shift" modes on your electronics really help you sleep better.


text:
in: *Florathel Galaxy - Nations, Minmus' Articles, Nations
Kingdom of Saihera
39,488 CE - Today
The flag of the Kingdom of Saihera.
The territory of the Kingdom of Saihera, located in the halo of the Florathel Galaxy.
Spacedragon II
Kardashev Type
K2.4
Capital(s)
Dimostah
Major Worlds
Suloom
Galactic Halo
Governmental Information
Societal Information
Founding Species
Scargass
39,488 CE
Most Major Conflict
War of Saiheran Succession
The Kingdom of Saihera is the fourth largest nation in the Florathel Galaxy. It is the only nation exerting control over large sections of the Galactic Halo of the Florathel Galaxy, and it is very spread out because of the sparseness of stars in this region. Technically because of this, it is actually the largest nation in the galaxy by area, but no one uses that criterion these days. The Kingdom of Saihera is notably partially run by a monarchy, though this is almost entirely a figurehead with no power beyond Saihera and surrounds. Because of the extreme sparseness of systems, the Kingdom is notably underdeveloped, with many portions of its territory in crippling poverty. This has not stopped it from being the one of the most influential nations in the galaxy, with an event directly caused by it, the War of Saiheran Succession, leading to the creation of the United Nations of the Florathel Galaxy.
The Kingdom of Saihera occupies a large amount of the sparse Galactic halo, a feat achieved by no other nation with the debatable exception of the Pecay-Po Federation of Nalachi. Because of the sparseness of the Galactic Halo, the Kingdom must be very decentralized, with those on the outer reaches being effected very little by what happens in the heartlands. Apart from its vast claims in the Halo, the Kingdom of Saihera controls very little in the galactic disk itself, apart from small regions colonized in the Providence Neutral Zone. The Kingdom of Saihera does however control a portion of the Rapier Ring, which it holds relatively tighter than the surrounding regions because of its higher density.
1 Capital
2.1 Legislative Branch
2.2 Executive Branch
2.3 Judicial Branch
3 Worlds of Note
The capital of the Kingdom of Saihera is the planet Dimostah, a desert world orbiting the red dwarf Saihera. Dimostah is very dry and almost lifeless other than non-native intelligent individuals, and is an ecumenopolis, with a population of over ten trillion. Dimostah is not the homeworld of the Kingdom's founding species, the Scargass, but was the major center of population after the supernova of their original home star, Tegerelis, which destroyed their original homeworld. This occured long before they gained the technology to stop supernovae, which forced them to evacuate to the relatively nearby Saihera System.
The Kingdom of Saihera is a constitutional monarchy, with some key differences. The Monarch's power is quite huge over things in the core regions of the Kingdom, and literally nonexistent in the borderlands. However, the Monarch is not the only piece of government, which is split into the Legislative Branch, a branch for voting on possible laws to be passed or vetoed by the Monarch (vetoing very rarely happens), the Executive Branch, the Monarch and cabinet, and the Judicial Branch, the highest court.
The Legislative Branch is composed of a Parliament and a House of Nobles. Parliament is composed of ordinary individuals from throughout the Kingdom elected from each jurisdiction, and any member can propose a bill to be voted on. Once this bill passes with a majority (at least 1/2 of the house), it is passed to the House of Nobles, consisting mostly of members of the noble families, though the Monarch can appoint pretty much anyone to the House of Nobles. The House votes on it, and if the bill passes that, it is sent to the Monarch, who invariably simply passes it. The rare cases where he/she does not almost always involve violations of the constitution of the nation so egregious that if passed would "destroy the nation as we know it". If the bill does not pass the House of Nobles, it is sent back to Parliament and modified a bit. Then it is sent back, and if it fails, the bill is dropped.
Some people wish to get rid of the House of Nobles, as they have blocked many key relief bills for individuals in crushing poverty near the edges of the Kingdom. It is also seen as preserving the inequality pervasive at the founding of the nation.
The Executive Branch, a branch charged with enforcing the laws passed by the Legislative Branch, and is composed of the Monarch and his/her appointed officials. They are charged with enforcing the laws and occasionally vetoing really bad ones that get passed by the House of Nobles. The Executive Branch contains such important officials as the Minister of Defense, Minister of Health, so many other ministers, and of course the Monarch. The Monarch can decide how to enforce the laws, giving them a bit more power then it looks like they have, effectively rendering a law null and void by deciding not to enforce it.
The Monarch is a hereditary office, except in cases when the current monarch has no sons or daughters in which case it is elected. Where the current monarch has multiple children, the Monarch themself chooses which child will rule next, but if they don't do this, then the eldest child is the heir. This can lead to problems, such as when King Oram suddenly died, leaving behind quadruplets who were the same age, before she could choose which one. They began fighting, which exploded into the War of Saiheran Succession. After these events, there wer many who wished to abolish the monarchy entirely.
The Judicial Branch of the Kingdom of Saihera takes the form of the Great Court. The Great Court is composed of twelve individuals, randomly selected from the graduation lists of law schools. This selection process is repeated every fifty years to make a completely new court. Due to this random selection, any bias is as low as possible.
The only non-random portion of the Great Court is the fact that it is always presided over by the Crown Prince (or princess) of Saihera, currently being Princess Akrena. The Crown Prince essentially enforces the rules of court, and votes only in the instance of a tie among the other twelve members.
Worlds of Note
Radul
Galactic Halo, Capital Sector
Galactic Halo, Radul Sector
Unique Attributes:
*Florathel Galaxy - Nations
Minmus' Articles


text:
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<input type="{{ type|default('text') }}"  name="{{ name }}" value="{{ value|e }}" size="{{ size|default(20) }}" />
{% endmacro %}

{% macro textarea(name, value, rows ) %}
<textarea name="{{ name }}" rows="{{ rows|default(10) }}" cols="{{ cols|default(40) }}" >{{ value }}</textarea>
{% endmacro %}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Q: How do I see if multi-word substring in a string exists in dictionary? I'm trying to check a string for key words, and if the word exists, get the value from the dictionary. The problem exists when the key word is a multi-word phrase.
So I have a dictionary:
Dictionary<string, string> d = new Dictionary<string, string>(StringComparer.InvariantCultureIgnoreCase);

d.Add("keyword1", "D2");
d.Add("keyword2", "D3");
d.Add("keyword3", "D4");
d.Add("keyword4", "D4");
d.Add("keyword5", "D5");
d.Add("key word six", "D6");

And I have a string, which may look like the following but will be a random sentence:
string errormessage = "This is an error regarding Key Word Six";

I'm currently using the following to check the errormessage and see if any words appear in the dictionary:
string code = null;
string theDcode = null;

foreach (string word in errormessage.Split(' '))
{
    if (d.TryGetValue(word, out theDcode))
    {
        code = theDcode;
    }
}

The problem is that I can't search for the string "Key Word Six" since I'm reading the string word by word and the foreach loop sees each word separately. This works great for single word key words. How can I handle checking for a multi word key word?

A: You could iterate the items in the dictionary instead and check the string for matches.
string errormessage = "This is an error regarding Key Word Six";
var d = new Dictionary<string, string>(StringComparer.CurrentCultureIgnoreCase);

d.Add("keyword1", "D2");
d.Add("keyword2", "D3");
d.Add("keyword3", "D4");
d.Add("keyword4", "D4");
d.Add("keyword5", "D5");
d.Add("key word six", "D6");

string code = null;
foreach (var item in d)
{
    var i = errormessage.IndexOf(item.Key, StringComparison.CurrentCultureIgnoreCase);
    if(i >= 0)
        code = item.Value;
}

This would however also give you matches inside of words. testkeyword1test for example.
EDIT
For possible better performance (untested) you could use a regular expression.
string code;
var reg = new Regex(GetPatternString(d.Select (x => x.Key)), RegexOptions.IgnoreCase);
foreach (var match in reg.Matches(errormessage))
{
    code = d[match.ToString()];
}

And helper function
private static string GetPatternString(IEnumerable<string> values)
{
    var sb = new StringBuilder();
    foreach (var oldStr in values)
    {
        sb.Append("(");
        sb.Append(Regex.Escape(oldStr));
        sb.Append(")|");
    }
    return sb.ToString(0, sb.Length - 1);
}

A: Try iterating through just the keys of the Dictionary object.
foreach (string word in d.Keys)
{
    //Checks here
}

A: I suspect a single dimensional dictionary (there must be a better word but I don't know it) will not work. You need a tree:
A trie like structure:

key =
 key word =
   key word 6 = D6
   key word 7 = D8

So when you find a match on key, you compare the next work and so on.
Now, what would you do if you have entry for both 'key word" and "key word 6"? Its a domain question, whether to stop at first or last match

A: I guess the algorithm isn't terrible but you'll have to do a loop that checks for something like
"This is an error regarding Key Word Six"

*

*This

*This is

*This is an

*This is an error

*This is an error regarding

*This is an error regarding Key

*This is an error regarding Key Word

*This is an error regarding Key Word Six

*is

*is an

I guess you'll have to find all the unique substrings in the incoming search. It could easily be done with a loop. But then if I search with "is an", is that the equivalent of "an is"? Does the order of the words matter? Things start to get complicated in a hurry. Seems like you'd want to defer to something like Lucene or some search library out there.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Q: Cannot extend partition after failed bootcamp install I got an error while trying to install Windows 10 on my Mid 2014 Macbook Pro via Bootcamp Assistant.
The error occurred whilst partitioning the disk: Your disk could not be partitioned. An error occurred while partioning the disk.
I'd set the partitions to be equal sizes, 250GB each.
I followed a fix that involves restarting into single user mode and running /sbin/fsck -fy but that didn't do anything to help.
I'm now left with a mac partition that's 250GB and free space that's 250GB, but cannot extend the main partition into the free space:

If I click partition and remove the freespace and extend the Macintosh HD volume I get this error: The provided Core Storage logical volume has an incorrect size.

I'm happy to give up on bootcamp and installing Windows 10, but I'd like my harddisk back!!!

A: Apple's Bootcamp is intended to be the beginning and end for where you handle partitioning. You can try opening Bootcamp Assistant and see if they will let you recover your space from here. I know I have done this before.
I've also run into the same problem with Disk Utility when it comes to Bootcamp partitions.


text:
Chaconne (for Cello Quartet)
Edited by: Watkins, Stephen
Score and Parts (Vcl. 1-4) -
Bach Chaconne Arranged for Cello Quartet
Arranged by Stephen Watkins
Title: Chaconne from Partita No. 2 in D minor (for Cello Quartet)
Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach
Edited By: Stephen Watkins
Instrumentation: Violoncello Ensemble
Pages: 15 for the score and 6 for each violoncello part
This arrangement, of what is to me an object lesson in how to make the very most both emotionally and technically of one instrument, starts from the premise that surely what one violin can do four cellos should also be capable of. Actually, although it is playable by four very good cellists there may be a case made for doubling parts so that the double stopping necessary in places becomes more 'natural' in the flow of the music.
The arrangement style actually owes a lot to the textures that I used in an arrangement for cello ensemble of the C minor Passacaglia for organ. In making the statement that this is not just an arrangement of the piece there are passages where material from the cello suites is woven into the texture in an attempt to make a natural marriage between the cellos of the arrangement and the violin of the original. In paying homage to Bach, it seemed fitting to me to combine references to these two styles of writing at which, among others, he still for me and many many others remains simply what we aspire to.
-Stephen Watkins